Saturday Get Together: Tourist Trophy and Ace Combat: Zero

So, let's do a little recap, shall we?

Tourist Trophy: The photogenic subject matter is just oh-so-ripe in Tourist Trophy, but where is the Arcade photo mode for two-player? Split screen orientation? Two-player garage trading/selling? Loading multiple garages at all!?

Why, oh why must Polyphony disappoint.

On the upside, well, we've already discussed what we love and hate about the single player game. So, this is just a downside list. There are no good points about multiplayer.

Ace Combat: Zero: No 720p or 1080i? No support for PS1 dual shock (I know, it's ancient)? Had it not been for that fact, we could have had a hell of time playing all the different things available in multi-player mode.

I'm gonna have to buy AC:4 just to make sure, but I think the graphics on the planes has gotten worse. The planes look like something my N64 coughed up (okay, maybe with the RAM expansion). IGN's pictures don't look a thing like we saw. This is not this.

Even this picture is faked. Where is the plane being shot down on the radar? And look how jaggy and gritty this picture is.

I'm crying out foul-play on Namco.

On the upside? The bands of ace pilots are fantastically hard. A good challenge to break up the monotenous Belkan pilots and ground troups. I just finished level 7...sticking Anti-air missils in windowed bunkers...oh, your so sneaky!

I think we also liked the inclusion of a merc/knight system. Wound a bad guy: should you a) let him limp home or b) finish him off with a two-shot of missles? It's a nice change of pace. The second time around in this game is going to be seriously fun blowing up all the poor yellow targets. Those innocents in the tents never.saw.it.coming.