You can't really measure load times as a sign of quality, you just can't.

I could go out and buy a SSD today, and suddenly any shit game is good cos it loads in 3 seconds? Really?

Crysis is a great example, it takes a buttload of time to load, but I would say Crytek poured their souls into it like they do with all their titles, there's just a lot of stuff to load for each map.

If a game takes forever to load a map for no conceivable reason then sure something is wrong, but you would have to go on a case by case basis, I don't think blanket statements work here or are fair. 

if no one else wants it. Not sure its my type of game but free is free :) 

What's your steam name? 

n_gulati should be it. 

I can't believe some of you haven't played it... You should be ashamed of yourselves. 

steam wants your email address >.> 

n_gulati at hotmail dot com. 

 

I haven't played Portal (or HL2 for that matter).
Portal looks like ugly box rooms. I'll give it a shot one day though. 

yes, portal is ugly box rooms. that said, it's somewhat necessary for the puzzles and it's a consistent theme of the game. 

:p

The test chambers are boxxy, but it's the puzzles and GLaDOS' personality that really make portal a fun game. 

The rooms are boxy, but I wouldn't say the are ugly. It's minimalist and fits with the rest of the game, they are believable, nothing ever seemed ugly to me as I played it.
Portal 2 looks gorgeous. 

Portal is a beautiful game :) 

much appreciated. I might finally play it. Although I still havent played HL 2, and sleepy gifted me that years ago :) 

Is a massive temptation.

Portal1 is well worth the effort, it last about an hour and is very well realised. 

Yeah I know, I was being more general in the statement. Good games generally have a level of polish to them that bad games don't - and thats on art/design/tech. 

is a massive disappointment.

Portal is nice! 

Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Yay or Nay? 

 

17 seconds. And you dont even have a computer! 

In modern Tomb Raider games does Lara still control like she's a fucking tractor? :p 

Underworld is pretty cool, though be warned the flame effects in the first level for some reason brings my framerate to a slow crawl. This is weird because it is literally just some small corridors, whereas later it renders huge, open, magnificent, gorgeous vistas without a hitch. Just so you know and don't dismiss it on the first level.

Actually Tomb Raider Anniversary is my favourite of the reboots, because it has that same great underemphasis on combat as the original did. 

will pick it up.

thanks czg. 

about HL2? 

http://www.celephais.net/board/view_thread.php?id=23795&start=3177

each to their own though, i absolutely love it