Official Lair (PS3) Thread

[digitalpress]

OK... SOMEONE must have bought this.

I was so looking forward to it, the preview videos looked fantastic but I must admit I'm hedging now that I've read some "professional" reviews. I'd really like to hear what the real gamers think of it. Is it a bust or just garnering low numbers due to its over-hype?

[heybtbm]

This is the 2nd lowest rated PS3 game so far. I'm stunned. I thought this was going to be a system selling title. A 4.9 (poor) from IGN? Wow.

It seems most of the criticism stems from the poorly implemented "Sixaxis" controls that can't be turned off. It makes me wince whenever I hear things like that. I think it's safe to say Sony sunk this baby...not Factor 5. People are already calling Factor 5, "Factor 4.9".

...kind of funny actually.

I'll wait for this one to hit $20. I have a feeling Lair will drop, fast. FYI: Sony quietly waved the street date from Sep. 5th to yesterday (Aug. 30th). Maybe they want people to buy it before word gets around.

[esquire]

I was looking to pick this up, but then I saw the IGN review as well. Sucks you can't turn off the Sixxaxis controls. However, I think the review was not being all that fair when it stated:



Worse? You can't corner or move with any precision in Lair (http://ps3.ign.com/objects/761/761161.html). I missed the toro and thought that I could just turn around and go back to the beast, but my turn was so wide that by the time I was facing the right way, I was already over my foe.

Why would expect to corner? You're flying a huge freaking dragon.

I am not sure what to do now. It does look real purdy though.

[dojosky]

To Be Honest STAY AWAY from it unless you want to spend the $$$ or wait until you get it DIRT CHEAP ! one of my friend who works at SCEA says its short 4 hours .. he finished it in 4 hours !!! but for those who wants to buy it its your own decisions and business :)...

[Dangerboy]

I was surprised as anyone that they broke street date, specifcally since I was behind the counter at the time it happened.

Considering the very slow (but hopefully rising) somewhat success of WarHawk, perhaps Sony figured dropping Lair early would get people's minds off of WarHawk's "crappy head-set"**.

I wonder if Sony ever looks over Olaf's old resume...

**Several customers comments, not mine. Haven't seen it.

[BHvrd]

The day this hits the bargain bin i'm all over it. There's just no denying the amount of bad reviews it has gotten, but word of mouth doesn't seem to be as bad, but not golden either.

No multiplayer anyway, and I always find it hard to justify spending that much money on a game with no multiplayer.

This be bargain bin gold, arrrgh.

[neogamer]

The day this hits the bargain bin i'm all over it. There's just no denying the amount of bad reviews it has gotten, but word of mouth doesn't seem to be as bad, but not golden either.

No multiplayer anyway, and I always find it hard to justify spending that much money on a game with no multiplayer.

This be bargain bin gold, arrrgh.


Completely agreed! If you are on a budget, skip this! If you want something pretty to look at, buy it. I bought it and love to watch it! Unfortunately, its a horrible to play. The controls are horrible. Panzer Dragoon it is not!

Great bargain bin game though!

[Trebuken]

I read a review that says it it takes a few hours of play to get used to the sixaxis. I am sorta' doubting it's a four hour game...maybe there are longer paths...

[Dangerboy]

Honest to god customer conversation today, as he was trading in Lair.

Jason: "So, I have to know, how was this?"
Customer: "It was such a disapointment (LONG sigh), I should have never traded in my 360."

@_@;;

[esquire]

Digging up an old thread....

Has anyone re-visited this game since they have added analog control support for free off the Playstation Store? I just downloaded the added content and was thinking about finally putting some time into it now that I am not forced to use the Sixxaxis controls.

[m117]

Never went back to play Lair, but this topic brings up a thought. I'm realizing just how much of a turnaround the PS3 has made as far as its game library, and public perception. I'm looking at Lair but only if I can pick it up for $20 or less.

[heybtbm]

Once I heard about the analog control download, I picked it up for cheap ($14 or so) at Target earlier this year. I haven't even opened it yet. Too many good games and too little time to play them.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Never went back to play Lair, but this topic brings up a thought. I'm realizing just how much of a turnaround the PS3 has made as far as its game library, and public perception. I'm looking at Lair but only if I can pick it up for $20 or less.

I think that's par for the course for Sony product.

They're always strong out of the gate with the technology. PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 all had attractive selling points, yet none had exceptionally strong first 1-2 years at retail or in their respective software libraries.

Sony seems to be a great "long-distance runner" (pacing itself early and then sprinting for the final stretch) and if 10 years is their desired retail life for the PS3 (no reason not to believe them considering that the PS2 creeping up on that number and still selling) then I'm pretty sure that not only is the best is yet to come, but that a smaller and smaller segment of the gamer public will take such pleasure in slamming it. (Though, there will always be somebody doing that.)

[Norizo]

They're always strong out of the gate with the technology. PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 all had attractive selling points, yet none had exceptionally strong first 1-2 years at retail or in their respective software libraries.


Uh, I'm not sure about the PS1, but the PS2 had an AMAZING first year. (2001)

GTA 3, MGS 2, Zone of the Enders, Dark Cloud, Ace Combat 4, Devil May Cry 1, Burnout 1, Final Fantasy 10, Gran Turismo 3, Jak and Daxter, Ico, Onimusha 1, Silent Hill 2, Twisted Metal Black, Shadow Hearts 1, Okage, Klonoa 2... there's probably others I'm missing.

They also had a great second year, though I'm not sure of what exactly came out. Their launch seemed pretty weak, I think it was just mostly sports games. The only stand-out title I can think of is Timesplitters 1.

Compare that to 2007 for the PS3, which was just Warhawks, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Motorstorm, Ratchet and Clank Future, and Folklore.

Not a single console this gen, unless you count the DS, has had a first year remotely that good.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Uh, I'm not sure about the PS1, but the PS2 had an AMAZING first year. (2001)

GTA 3, MGS 2, Zone of the Enders, Dark Cloud, Ace Combat 4, Devil May Cry 1, Burnout 1, Final Fantasy 10, Gran Turismo 3, Jak and Daxter, Ico, Onimusha 1, Silent Hill 2, Twisted Metal Black, Shadow Hearts 1, Okage, Klonoa 2... there's probably others I'm missing.

They also had a great second year, though I'm not sure of what exactly came out. Their launch seemed pretty weak, I think it was just mostly sports games. The only stand-out title I can think of is Timesplitters 1.

Compare that to 2007 for the PS3, which was just Warhawks, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Motorstorm, Ratchet and Clank Future, and Folklore.

Not a single console this gen, unless you count the DS, has had a first year remotely that good.

While I don't disagree that the above titles were system defining and top sellers.

PS2 launched in 2000

almost every one of those games were released a calendar year later.

There was a palatable drought of quality software right up till those games began launching, and I was in game retail during that time, hearing it from consumers, and feeling it myself.

PS1 was a bit different overall, but it wasn't until FF7 which was about a year into that system's life that it started to pick up steam sales-wise.

Sure, you cant get in there and measure this with an electron microscope ... but there's a definite pattern that seems to be repeating itself, unlike MS and Nintendo which seem to have much less "patterend" activity at retail and with software releases.

[Norizo]

While I don't disagree that the above titles were system defining and top sellers.

PS2 launched in 2000

almost every one of those games were released a calendar year later.

There was a palatable drought of quality software right up till those games began launching, and I was in game retail during that time.

That's why I diffrentiated those from the launch year. Launch years don't really count as first "true years" for a console's life-cycle, considering how nearly all consoles have been released shortly before the holidays.

Back on that topic, I can only think of Tekken Tag Tournament as another well-rated launch title for the PS2.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

That's why I diffrentiated those from the launch year. Launch years don't really count as first "true years" for a console's life-cycle, considering how nearly all consoles have been released shortly before the holidays.

Back on that topic, I can only think of Tekken Tag Tournament as another well-rated launch title for the PS2.

I respectfully disagree with you.

A system's first year on the market IS it's first year on the market.

Development cycles start aproximately a year or so before launch.

(also) I haven't tried LAIR with or without analog controls, but that control option should have been in there at launch. There's simply no excuse for how that went down.

[heybtbm]

(also) I haven't tried LAIR with or without analog controls, but that control option should have been in there at launch. There's simply no excuse for how that went down.


Remember that 3rd place or not, Sony still calls the shots for games on its console. They wanted a showcase for their Sixaxis system, so when the opportunity presented itself, they nixed the analog control for Lair.

My take: It's the result of one ignorant non-game-playing Suit (in a very high position) wanting Sixaxis-only control and a thousand "Yes Men" following through with the Suit's demand. Common sense was thrown out the window and the public ended up with a terrible controlling game.

The speed at which the patch came out proves that the game was originally intended to use either Sixaxis or Analog controls. I seriously hope Sony learned their lesson.

[esquire]

Can we get back on topic?

Has anyone tried the analog controls yet?

[Emuaust]

Well I actually got back around to play it over the last weekend, its funny you ask as I have been talking about it all day at my shop, I say its a really good game with the patch, not quite A+++ grade but a damn good game, once you are able to control it you really get a look at the quality in sound and visuals, worth a pick up for sure if you get it cheap!