PSN Tuesday: Lair goes analog, Super Stardust HD expands
by Ross Miller 
{ Apr 15th 2008 at 1:00PM }
Also this week, Super Stardust HD expands its universe with new modes: Endless, Survival, Bomber and Time Attack. Arcade Mode now features the Easy difficulty. A new Retro soundtrack has also been added
Update: SCEA has confirmed that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will headline the return on PS Store's regularly scheduled Thursday updates this week (April 17th). We'll post the full release list when it becomes available.
Check out the complete list of this week's content after the break. For a listing of Europe's goodies, head over to PS3 Fanboy.
Add-on Content:
- Super Stardust HD Solo Add-on Pack ($4.99)
- Lair Dragons and Control Pack (free)
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue "Beyond the Apex" trailer (free)
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue "Friendly Fires" video (free)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jnas @ Apr 15th 2008 1:04PM
LEAAAVE LAAAIR ALLOOOOONE!!
*sobs*
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 15th 2008 1:15PM
Would've, but Sony trying to teach reviewers "how to review" is NEVER going to leave.
Matt B @ Apr 15th 2008 1:55PM
And the $800 Halo3 bags sent to reviewers didn't show them how to review the game, right???
Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ Apr 15th 2008 2:17PM
At least for Halo they didn't put in a guide that literally said how to review the game.
JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 15th 2008 2:30PM
THE DRAGON JUST GOT PREGNANT!!!
dabamf @ Apr 15th 2008 1:04PM
So are websites going to re-review LAIR now?
Obie @ Apr 15th 2008 1:04PM
Talk about too little too late.
el serpiente @ Apr 15th 2008 2:02PM
Yeah, I agree they did wait WAY too long to patch this game. But given the savage beating this game received in the media, which also coincided with the peak of mass sony-hatred, I doubt it is as bad as many are making it out to be. I'll give it a whirl, if anything, it is a gorgeous looking game. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. But if the gameplay isn't any deeper than rogue squadron, i'll be disappointed...
dabamf @ Apr 15th 2008 1:05PM
So are websites going to re-review LAIR now?
FOXHOUND @ Apr 15th 2008 1:13PM
PS3.IGN.com stands by their original score. :o
dabamf @ Apr 15th 2008 1:23PM
Interesting...
That's a good article, thanks for the heads up.
tuco01 @ Apr 15th 2008 1:15PM
This is just sad. If they had changed it when everybody on the planet, save some fanboys, had told them too, it would have been responsive. Now it is just pathetic.
Kayel @ Apr 15th 2008 1:07PM
Analog or no, the game still wasn't fun.
Tranando @ Apr 15th 2008 1:19PM
Bzzt wrong. It was a very good game, potential AAA material, let down by hopeless enforced sixaxis control.
The patch should help it sell the number of copies it deserves to sell.
I hope the developers sacked their testing team, and those that rushed the product out prematurely.
Kayel @ Apr 15th 2008 1:30PM
Maybe the idea was potentially AAA, or maybe you got a different game that I did, but what I played wasn't fun. It was a cookie cutter rogue squadron game except without the x-wings and lasers and any idea of what the hell was going on. It was fun in the late 90's, but I expect more from games now. The game seems like it looks good at first glance, but the level design and graphics overall got old very fast. 95% of the time when I was shooting machine gun-style fireballs at dragons in the distance, I honestly couldn't have told you what I was shooting at or whether or not they were enemies. I was excited when I got the game. I tried to stay excited through the first level, but by the time I got to 5 or so, I sadly put it on the shelf where it's been ever sense. The motion controls were a few of the nails in the coffin, but definitely not all of them.
Shagittarius @ Apr 15th 2008 1:44PM
I agree this game had way more problems than the motion controls, in fact as much as I hate motion controls I would argue that in this particular case the motion controls were the LEAST of the games problems.
I think now that were getting analog controls people will discover that it wasn't actually bad motion controls that made this game confusing.
Maybe they will patch some of the gameplay as well, like a stealth patch...
NATO_Duke @ Apr 15th 2008 1:49PM
"Bzzt wrong. It was a very good game,"
Dude, all you ever do is kiss Sony's ass shamelessly.
E.J. @ Apr 15th 2008 2:10PM
@Tranando
No one's gonna buy the game just because of the patch. The most that's gonna happen is that hardcore gamers that know about this improvement will give it a rent.
Nate @ Apr 15th 2008 4:20PM
I wouldn't say no one is going to buy it. If it were brought down to $40 new, I would buy it now. As is, I'll probably pick it up off eBay. From all the reviews I've seen, the major problems were
1.) motion controls were hard to get used to
2.) too much like rogue squadron
#1 is valid, but lots of people also said once they got used to it, it wasn't a big deal. And they just addressed that in this patch
#2 is stupid and I wish people would stop saying it. Who cares if it's just like another game. That doesn't make it bad (unless the other game was bad). SSBB is just like SSB... does that make IT bad? of course not.
Kayel @ Apr 15th 2008 4:56PM
The problem was that the mechanics for rogue squadron are outdated now, and aren't good enough anymore. The killer is that a lot of the mechanics are actually WORSE than the old rogue squadron games. The lock-on system is awful, and the combat system is unresponsive. I'm not being biased against the game. I wish every game could be a smash hit, it would make being a gamer a lot better, but this game just doesn't get it done. SSB, SSBM, and SSBB were all very different games. They took big steps forward even though the mechanics are the same. Lair took some steps forward, but they were more like drunken staggering, and they didn't work.
Eggy @ Apr 15th 2008 1:09PM
you haz them now!
Btw. it's still PSN thursdays. :D
nerrrrrrd @ Apr 15th 2008 1:09PM
I'm getting tired of the "I can haz" jokes...yet I laugh when I'm rick rolled. I have a real love/hate relationship with the internet.
...so what's this about Lair? zzzzzz.
xFenixKnightx @ Apr 15th 2008 1:15PM
I never seem to get tired of the "I can haz" jokes. Especially if its a cute little pussy saying it. lulz
Soooo, I can haz demo? :D
Co @ Apr 15th 2008 1:35PM
"Especially if its a cute little pussy saying it"
WHOA! Let's keep it PG buddy! Little kids runnin' around this place, ya know...
Shagittarius @ Apr 15th 2008 1:46PM
Do Co away mad, just Co away.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 15th 2008 1:16PM
I'd tap that.
Nigeria - MK: 0430-8491-9123 @ Apr 15th 2008 1:23PM
How?
skidawg @ Apr 15th 2008 1:17PM
ok, still wondering when the Pixel Junk Monsters expansion is coming out. that is the most addictive friggin game. anyone know when?
WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 15th 2008 1:19PM
The motion controls did not bother me. What I didnt like about the game was the confusion as to what your objectives were and where to go.
Waiting for the REAL update...thursday.
Martez @ Apr 15th 2008 1:36PM
Tasty. Analog controls + 25% off all used games at Gamestop = I'm getting Lair.
New SSHD content means I'll be playing SSHD even more.
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 2:38PM
Agreed. SSHD is so under appreciated. Even here all the fanboys are so busy either bashing or defending LAIR that SSHD simply goes under the radar yet again. Such a shame.
Anyway, I played some of the new modes last night. Some those modes are insanely hard, but a lot of fun. There's also an option for custom soundtracks... was that before? If it was, I didn't notice it.
Martez @ Apr 15th 2008 3:04PM
Yeah, it's been there.
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 4:09PM
Hmm... guess I just never looked before. I only noticed it this time because I saw that the release notes mentioned the retro soundtrack. Anyway, the additions as nice. I love SSHD. I personally think it's the most enjoyable dual analog shooter around.
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 4:10PM
the additions *are* nice.
Martez @ Apr 15th 2008 4:11PM
Agreed.
el serpiente @ Apr 16th 2008 2:51AM
Seconded. Do you guys use anything other than the Gold Melter? I don't.
Mike @ Apr 15th 2008 1:42PM
I R still shitty gaym
Co @ Apr 15th 2008 1:45PM
lol best post so far...
NATO_Duke @ Apr 15th 2008 1:51PM
Agreed. Nice post.
License to ill @ Apr 15th 2008 1:50PM
Guess I'll give it a rental...
deaftly @ Apr 15th 2008 1:56PM
Shit painted gold is still shit.
Curmeo 2.0 @ Apr 15th 2008 2:00PM
i rented Lair after i heard that the 1.92 OS update improved SIXAXIS motion sensing lag. it was true, the controls did handle better. i immensely enjoyed the game: the beautiful HD graphics displaying the flowing water, the ultra-detailed and larger than life dragons, the huge number of troops and creatures at a time, the story, the musical score, the gameplay. the motion sensing controls envisioned by the dev team wasnt to replicate the Warhawk or MotorStorm motion sensing controls. they actually wanted you to move the SIXAXIS controller as if you were controlling a flying dragon with flapping wings as opposed to a vehicle or air craft. to this end, the controls take some getting used to, as opposed to MotorStorm/Warhawk where its pretty straight forward. but once you get a hold of them which really take just a few mins, you'll have a damn good time.
i dont know if the Famitsu team reviewed the game after playing it with the 1.92 0S update, but they definitely loved the game giving it a 34/40. it goes to show that just because US reviewers think a game sucks doesnt make it the law.
j.howlett @ Apr 15th 2008 2:09PM
i can agree with that
Van Faulk @ Apr 15th 2008 3:15PM
That is the most spurious excuse ever.
Oh it was supposed to control badly. That's more realistic!
Lair was a bad game. maybe you can look past the graphical issues. or the dated gameplay. or the fact hideously short length. or the fact that the missions were pretty much ripped straight from rogue squadron.
You might even be able to pretend that all the massive bugs and clipping/framerate/loading issues don't bother you. But don't give me that bull about how the motion controls weren't utter garbage. Look, i have a ps3 too. I know that it can make you wish for a game, ANY game to play aside from RFOM, but Lair ain't ever gonna be it to anyone but the fanboys.
It's really sickening how sony fanboys insist on propping up bad games made by has been devs simply because they are exclusives to their platform. It would be like xbox fans saying that Vampire Rain wasn't that bad. Or wii fans talking about how Ninja Bread man was horribly underrated.
j.howlett @ Apr 15th 2008 4:05PM
i'm sick of people bustin out the word fanboy when they can't see the other side of the issue. the controls weren't difficult to learn to me and the game had a setting i liked. i've played other games with dragons where it felt like controlling a plane with computer guided missiles. people go " dur like its possible to know what a controlling a dragon feels like lol its a mythical creature". but it felt natural enough to me. i don't know what its like hanging off the back of giant creatures while trying to stab there special spot but i think SOTC gave a nice aproximation. the looks damn good even with its faults. i've played games that were supposed to be so much better than another graphicly with none of that pop in you see in this other title but i boot it up and the cut seen loads everything halfway through. i'm not saying its the best but it dosen't deserve all the hate and ridicule either
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 4:13PM
@Van Faulk
"Oh it was supposed to control badly. That's more realistic!"
Ummm... he didn't even say that. And there's plenty play other than Resistance. Has been for a long timenow.
j.howlett @ Apr 15th 2008 2:05PM
i like lair, the controls were a snap for me. mybe because of fl0w and all the Wii i played prior. i hate i have to sit through that THX thing when i want to play. the thing that bus me about lair, and alot of games where your part of a larger force, is you have to take care of every thing. why is it up to me to fly all the way across the map to take care of stuff when i'm busy ripping off rhino heads. can't the guy flying round doing nothing take care of that catapult? but thats a complaint i have with alot of games. why do i always have to disable the tank, take out the sniper, drive us to the location?
Faar @ Apr 15th 2008 2:53PM
Screw Lair! Stop talking about that damn game (and no, I haven't ever played it - it might actually be good for all I know), the REAL news here is the SSHD update!
All I can say is JESUS BLEEDIN CHRIST... Incredible!
Try the Endless mode after a few minutes. O-M-G. I've never seen anything like it. NEVER. And it never slows down either, never drops a frame, it just keeps flowing, smooth-smoothly. Simply, incredible.
If you don't love this game and get deeply impressed by its intense visuals there's something wrong with you. That, or your login name is Fernando Rocker... :P
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 4:19PM
Thank you! I'm glad to see there are more people out there that appreciate SSHD. It's an awesome game. And, yeah, I tried out endless mode. Freaking crazy. Most of the new modes are insane. SSHD may actually be my favorite original game on PSN and XBLA combined.
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 15th 2008 4:10PM
the additions *are* nice.