I really have no clue why this game isn't working for me.  I love ARPGs, the skill system is quite impressive, and I love dark games.  I think this game looks terrible aesthetically, however.  Nothing is appealing, wondrous, grand, or even creepy.  It just all looks like a big brown mush and the enemies all look terrible from that aerial view.  As for the barter system, I'm having a hard time figuring out in my head what I should pick up and use to barter with.  Having so many plated vests drop (some with two green gem slots, others with one red and one blue, others with three, others with OH FUCK IT I DON'T CARE ANYMORE) drop means that they start to lose value in my eyes.  I get that they're trying to make everything meaningful and special, but it makes sifting through my inventory a giant chore.  Then there's the fact that all of the low level armor is equivalent to gluing tin cans and buckets to your character.  Again, nothing about this game looks cool or special.  I know that's a picky thing to discuss about a game, but I'm not going to spend hours in a world that I'm not interested in.  There are monsters in the first act of D2 that give players a sense of wonder (the exploding demonic rouges, giant mosquito nests, and even the fallen shaman raising his comrades back to laugh).  In comparison, I'm just killing random dudes wearing shitty looking rags and giant ticks in Path of Exile.  I get that the game gets more interesting, Stephen, but I'm completely turned off by the opening of this game. 

My problems with the combat are way more difficult to articulate, unfortunately.  Something just feels wrong.  I'm constantly swarmed by dozens of enemies that do very little damage on their own, spells and attacks don't feel powerful, I'm constantly whiffing an extra attack after my main target falls, there's very little feedback in terms of how much damage I'm doing and what's "strong,"  enemies either take too many hits or not enough, it just feels like the same D2 combat that we've all been playing for ten years.  That's fine and some people will really appreciate that, but say what you will about D3 and all of the problems with that title, the combat is freakin' fantastic.  Everything has a weight and feeling that makes the game feel special and alive (and I know you agree with me, Stephen, so I'm not arguing with you here).  Even the way enemies die (acid vs. locust, cleave vs. blowdart) adds to the sense of player empowerment.  I guess what I'm saying is I want Path of Exile's open ended character customization combined with D3's amazing combat.  Can't win 'em all, I suppose...

I don't hate the game, by any means.  The skill gems are cool and the passive tree is absolutely incredible and fun to investigate.  I just think the moment to moment action is fairly weak and repetitive, the barter system confuses and turns me off, and the art direction is a little lousy.  The creatures look good up close, but the isometric camera doesn't do them any favors so far away.  It's like Dark Souls if you had an aerial view. 

Finally got an update on my Wizard's Edition.  UPS says it should come in by the end of the day on Monday.

So let's recap; I pay nearly 110 dollars for a special edition that comes in six days after release.  Yeah...

*watches video*

Wow.

That... that might make me buy a Wii U.

No problems.  I try to look at both sides of every argument.  People went nuts when D3 didn't work at exactly 12:01 AM on launch day and that really pissed me off.  At the same time, some people still can't get the game to run properly with the internet connection, and that's just wrong.

Now let me tell you about my experience trying to get this special edition of Ni no Kuni....

Based on message board responses (take that as you will...), it looks like they overstocked the WE orders and were forced to cancel a ton of sales.  Looks like I'm still getting one as of now.  I still have a charge on my credit card, the UPS tracking number is ready to go once it ships, and the DR rep said I was still good.  I'm going to call again this afternoon.  I have a sneaking suspicion that even though I purchased this damn thing back in August I'm going to end up screwed in the end.  

In any event, there will be much ranting on the next podcast...

I'm one of those angry people waiting for a WE right now.  I've received no notifications from Namco or DR about my order.  I called to make sure it was still processed (some people got an email on the day of release saying their orders were canceled) and only by pouring over the Namco forums was I able to find a way to check my UPS package using the original order reference number.  This whole thing is terrible.  I'm hoping to get my copy by the end of next week. 

I had no intention of downplaying the troubles some people had with D3, Lard.  Stephen's right, I was just commenting on the Error 37 meme that took over the internet and was only an issue for a few hours.  It sucks that some people had (and still have) constant problems with D3, and I do think there should have been an offline mode.  The problem was the overall vision for D3 and the idea of commerce through the online component.  That development never really took hold that the game's current state is a result of that. 

Just played the Rising demo on PS3, and I know there are a lot of fans on here (I'm a huge Metal Gear fan myself), but I won't be picking this game up.  Maybe I'm just not used to it, or maybe I'm terrible at Platinum style action games, but this sucker just feels sluggish and awkward to me.  The camera is way too slow, the cutting mechanic feels terribly imprecise, and the hits/combos lack any kind of impact.  Not really sure what to make of this game now, but the demo turned me right the hell off.  Glad some people are really excited, but I'm sitting this one out. 

Not trying to start a war here or anything, but I just got done playing the Rising demo.  Yeah, kinda think it sucks....

I always play an Infiltrator in Mass Effect.  There's just something terribly satisfying about completely breaking almost every combat encounter in the game. 

Snipe.  Snipe.  Snipe.

Oh shit, somebody is coming close to me.

Cloak and run to the other side of the map.

Snipe.  Snipe.  Snipe. 

Also check to make sure you aren't using an ad-blocker extension if you're using Chrome.  That screwed me up the other day. 

I think it also depends on what the audience is criticizing.  Look at Far Cry 2.  That game had a lot of potential and a wonderful atmosphere, but it was crippled by the constantly spawning enemies and obnoxious malaria shit.  Critics and fans (rightfully) attacked these mechanics, and it looks like addressing these issues lead to some of Far Cry 3's success.  I agree that developers should stick to their vision, but they need to also listen to feedback. 

Our End of the Year Spectacular episode of Random Encounter is now live!  Enjoy!!

Bioware stated that DA3 is looking at a Q4 release this year, and there have been rumors of a move to the next generation of consoles because the game is using Frostbite. 

And I would pick up that FE3DS bundle in a heartbeat if it was an XL.