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Hunting Elusive Game

July is always a quiet month where games are concerned, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If this month bore even half the gaming fruits of that which the Christmas holiday period produces, I would possibly be seeking a second job to fund my unadulterated gaming impulses. My current expendable cash deficiency means I’m forced to be especially discriminate when it comes to new releases. How does this discrimination translate to my shopping experiences exactly? Well I regularly find myself standing completely motionless, staring at the three or more £40+ games I yearn to buy like some Madame Tussauds waxwork model of Celeste O’Neill. I gaze longingly at them until I am rudely prompted by whomever I happen to be shopping with to make my choice.

More than I want to buy most new releases, however, I want to get hold of some older games. I’ve been hunting high and low to find some good bargains, but it’s been in vain – these games cost almost as much if not the same as new ones!

Ranked in order of desire, below are the three big hits I have been tracking.

3. Resident Evil 0; Developer: Capcom; Platform: GameCube; Release; November 2002

Resident Evil 0Okay, so it’s not got a patch on the first Resident Evil and some people might understandably assume the ‘0’ in the title stands for its Metacritic score (which is actually surprisingly positive for a game built around such a hackneyed formula). Despite its flaws I actually found it somewhat enjoyable to play. Considering the current state of survival horror, where this genre has apparently managed some incestuous carnal rendezvous with its sister genre ‘action’ and resultantly spawned a lovechild incapable of successfully representing either, I would sure enjoy treading these familiar grounds once again. So I was disappointed to find that the UK price tag for an unused copy currently stands at around £40. That’s £40 for a format no one even uses anymore.

2. Parasite Eve; Developer: Square Enix; Platform: PlayStation; Release: March 1998

Parasite EveParasite Eve 2 is a survival horror title constructed from RPG gameplay mechanics, and I found it to be an unexpected Japanese gem. You might not think it by my description, but PE2 truly kicked ass. Mitochondrion ass, that is. It got me hooked, made me want to locate and play the first game and then left me feeling dejected. Despite my consistent web-based pursuit I couldn’t find a copy of the original Parasite Eve available to buy anywhere. The game was never released in the UK, but there is currently one available to buy on eBay, accompanied by a strategy guide and a hefty ‘buy now’ price of £49.99. With Parasite Eve 3 due for Japanese release this year, I so do want to buy now.

1. Shadow of the Colossus; Developer: Team Ico; Platform: PlayStation 2; Release: February 2006

This monumental game has a suitably colossal shadow, and one that I have been chasing for a good while now. My longstanding plan to acquire a copy at bargain price was thrown out completely after reading James’ passion-fuelled blog last month on Team Ico’s latest project, The Last Guardian. It worked to remind me of my shameful lack of experience with SOTC. So, one look on Amazon later and I’m informed that a used copy could set me back around £25. Not exactly the bargain price I’ve been looking for, but it’ll be worth every penny, I’m sure.

Shadow of the Colossus

These are my most sought after games, and I’m resolving right now to obtain them before I buy a single other new release. They seem a tad costly, but it does kind of make me feel better to know that Kizuna Encounter is currently going for around £5,000 plus.

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12 responses to “Hunting Elusive Game”

  1. The Rook avatar
    The Rook

    I have played all of the above and want another Parasite Eve game. From what I read a while back, I think Parasite Eve 3 is a PSP title, I hope I have that wrong.

    I remember trying to find a bargain Halo 2 before I played Halo 3. I finally found one and got bored playing it so never finished 2 or even played 3.

    I may be able to help here thou. I believe I have Resi 0 at home on the shelf. If I have then you can have for the bargain price of telling me where to send it. I’ll let you know when I get home again.

  2. Gene avatar
    Gene

    I got SOTC from Goozex. It seems a lot of people have it on hold there, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long, and it’s only $15 in real world money.

    I now want to buy a copy of Digital Devil Saga 2…I bought the original from a short-lived Amazon $30 deal and now I’m hooked. It’s the 2nd best Atlus RPG after Persona 4 – too bad they’re so rare. I may just have to splurge and pay the extra 10 bucks.

  3. Del Torro El Sorrow avatar
    Del Torro El Sorrow

    I’m a little confused, because you said on the “title” part, Parasite Eve then spoke all about Parasite Eve 2 and then the picture was of Parasite Eve one…here’s Parasite Eve 2 for £5

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crave-Parasite-Eve-2/dp/B00004TNYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1248081012&sr=8-1

  4. Barry avatar
    Barry

    I still have the original parasite eve (US) :p

  5. Celeste avatar
    Celeste

    I was actually discussing the whereabouts of the original Parasite Eve game, not PE2. I have made it a little clearer in the text. I had originally clarified this just before posting, but the text seems to have somehow deleted itself. I’ve got PE2 and played it about 3 times so far. PE1 might seem a little crude in comparison, but I still bet it’s got a lot of charm. Thanks for rubbing it in, Barry. ;P

    Gene – thanks for this info 🙂

    Rook – well ain’t you a little angel! I will send you the details on a little-known social networking site called facebook. Let’s do business…

  6. Michael avatar
    Michael

    Nice blog Cel! 😉

    I could possibly maybe lend you SotC if you wanted… I couldn’t give it away for good though.

    My must-have purchase is Rogue Galaxy which I, clearly, still haven’t bought.

  7. Jake avatar
    Jake

    I can do you SotC or Resi 0 as well.

  8. Celeste avatar
    Celeste

    Wow, thanks Jake. 🙂

    This is turning into the best blog eva!

  9. Barry avatar
    Barry

    Well since Parasite Eve was never ever released over here in the UK, you will have a very hard time finding it. Once you do have it in your posession, your going to have to make sure you have an imported console to play it on as well.

    I wouldn’t mind lending you my copy to play, but you will need a US machine to play it. :s

  10. Celeste avatar
    Celeste

    Thanks for the offer Barry. I couldn’t possibly, though. The pressure caused by its scarcity would make me so nervous that my hands would probably spasm and I’d accidentally snap the game. Then we’d both be stuck!

  11. Dave G avatar
    Dave G

    I was lucky enough to play two of those…Parasite Eve was addictive and it amazed me that it didn’t make it to the UK. SoTC is one of only a handful of PS2 games I still own, even though I don’t own the console to play it on (traded it when I bought my PS3). I just can’t stand the though of ever giving up my copy!

  12. Ramsden avatar
    Ramsden

    Gah… I’m having similar problems hunting down a reasonably priced copy of Shadow of the Colossus in good condition right now myself.

    Still, nothing compared to what I went through to get Skies of Arcadia Legends on Gamecube, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey for PC, or Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the PS2 long after their initial releases.

    Sometimes you just get lucky and stumble across a cult or obscure older game in the pre-owned section mess of a small games shop. Though it is pretty annoying to go through all that hassle only to get the game you so desperately wanted made available a short time later via XBox Live, as happened with Dreamfall and will be happening again shortly with Marvel vs. Capcom 2… d’oh.

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