What are you currently playing?

[Piscian]

I finished Jedi Fallen Order Last night. Pretty great story, but goddamn was that game buggy as fuck. I ended up playing it on easy just because I got tired of unresponsive controls, cheese combat and straight up bugs. Theres a scene late in the game where your light saber is broken so you cant use it, but the PS5 version just had it always out and the model was broken I was just walking around with a doubleblade light sabers up my ass and it would actually randomly freeze the game.

It's a shame because it was a very entertaining game. Really pretty visuals, really immersive story. It's short though, like really short, I did a fair amount of exploring before getting bored of collecting skins and I'd be surprised if the game was 12 hours. It felt like they had maybe 75% of the game done and there was a rush so the last 25% or so is cobbled together.

Complaints aside I was still excited to play survivor but apparently its got massive bugs on PC, the main system I wanted to play it on, and PS5. If you check metacritic its got like a 9/10, but users score across PS5/PC are like a 5/10. Goes to show a the disparity I guess. Think I'm forced to wait a couple weeks for patches.

 

[thebobmaster]

After telling myself to just pick a fucking game and stick with it until I finish it, I've been playing through Persona 5 Strikers. Gameplay is take it or leave it for me, never been much of one for musuo style gameplay, but I love the story on it. The villains feel more like actual people who have just gone wrong rather than just messed up people like in the original, which I appreciate.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I continue to be amazed at the level design of Jedi Survivor. Just like the previous game there's only a handful of planets that you keep traveling between, but unlike Fallen Order it manages to expand on each planet's map constantly. The only slight annoyance is how the game can fall into feeling a bit like you're doing clean-up whenever you acquire a new Force power that opens up previously unreachable areas. Even with the fast travel it can feel a tad menial. Still, the levels feel huge without coming across as big empty open-world spaces. The level design in God of War: Ragnarok already wasn't great, but Jedi Survivor's levels put into stark contrast of trash they were.

Also, skill-based traversal in a AAA game... who knew that was still possible. For at least the last 13 years AAA games have treated platforming and traversal gameplay as some necessary evil. 'Well, I guess we should have the protagonist climb something now, otherwise it'll just feel like they're walking all the time. ' But Jedi Survivor goes pretty hard on its platforming, and it's honestly more satisfying and well paced then the combat sequences. So to pull in another Sony AAA game; Horizon, go sit in the fucking corner next to Ghost of Tsushima.

Oh, and while the soundtrack isn't anything special, there's one or two tracks in there that really hit hard. I think one plays during the meditation chambers.

 

[BrawlMan]

So to pull in another Sony AAA game; Horizon, go sit in the fucking corner next to Ghost of Tsushima.

I can't speak for Horizon, but I like the platforming in Ghost of Tsushima. It wasn't perfect and not the most challenging, but there was something therapeutic about it. Plus, the optional get to the top of the hidden shrine challenges did have some challenge to a good amount of them. Though it's nice to see large scale platforming return in 3D AAA games like Jedi Survivor and Hi-Fi Rush. Though HF could've gone a bit less on the platforming, but I appreciate what Tango accomplished.

EDIT: I went back to Bot Vice to try the challenge missions and they're fucking hard. I still recommend the game for the main campaign alone, if you want an old-school style arcade gallery shooter with SNES style graphics. The soundtrack is amazing too by the way. You can usually find it cheap on Steam or eShop.

 

[sXeth]

Strayed Lights.

An indie sort of Journey style game, but with combat loosely based on Sekiro. Enjoyable thus far, hasn't gotten too crazy on the difficulty yet though.

Spoiler: first hour

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

Subverse

Yes the adult game by the studio that got banned from Patreon.

I'm shockingly impressed. Some stuff is kind of repetitive stuff that varies from light Xcom combat to sort of bullet hell segments.


What stands out to me is the writing. I can't believe they've managed to actually write characters that seem almost more 3D and with depth than many AAA games while having a pretty complex plotline with different schemes and machinations going on with the different groups. It's kind of like "The Expanse" but a space opera with the writing and tone run over to make it more in line with what you'd expect a porn version of The Expanse to look like.

I could actually see like HBO or some other company taking the plot to this, giving it a once over to remove the dumber more edgelordy aspects and actually being able to make a show out of this that would be part The Expanse and part Handmaids tale but in space.

 

[Chimpzy]

Powerslave Exhumed

Remaster of an old Saturn/PS1 fps with an Egyptian theme. Also a bit of a metroidvania, several years before Metroid Prime. Kind of. There's no real interconnected world looping back on itself, but several levels have multiple exits and/or health upgrades and collectables that can only be reached with the right item or weapon, so you have to replay them to progress or find goodies you couldn't grab the first time. Tho one weapon kind lets you grenade jump, so if you can soak the self damage, you can sometimes cheese yourself into levels early or skip whole sections of a level. Overal it does mostly capture that metroidvania feel of exploration tho. Aside from that, it's a pretty good Doom style fps, so levels tend to be pretty maze-like button/key hunts, you know, your early fps fare.

Some issues tho, like how it's almost impossible to avoid taking damage in the many narrow hallways because either you character or enemy projectiles hitboxes are much wider than they seem. Also the pots/barrels/statues scattered around the levels that when destroyed randomly drop health or ammo, spawn one of the pest enemies, or are trapped. Annoying because sometimes when you're hard up for health/ammo destroying them ends up a net loss because you spent ammo destroying them, then more ammo to kill the spawned enemies. And you don't want to melee them either, lest a trapped one blows up in your face probably killing you. Fuck, even destroyiing them at range isn't always safe, because some trapped ones spawn multiple homing projectile that can knock off half a health bar each.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

Also, skill-based traversal in a AAA game... who knew that was still possible. For at least the last 13 years AAA games have treated platforming and traversal gameplay as some necessary evil. 'Well, I guess we should have the protagonist climb something now, otherwise it'll just feel like they're walking all the time. ' But Jedi Survivor goes pretty hard on its platforming, and it's honestly more satisfying and well paced then the combat sequences. So to pull in another Sony AAA game; Horizon, go sit in the fucking corner next to Ghost of Tsushima.

I'm currently playing through it as well, I'm like halfway through maybe?
And yeah there were parts where I'm mad at the traversal and I'm realizing that part of it is exactly what you say- I'm just so used to it being trivial so that when it's not, I'm confused and annoyed.
There's this section where you have to do platforming with wind blowing you around and I got so ANGRY lol... but it was good really.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'm currently playing through it as well, I'm like halfway through maybe?
And yeah there were parts where I'm mad at the traversal and I'm realizing that part of it is exactly what you say- I'm just so used to it being trivial so that when it's not, I'm confused and annoyed.
There's this section where you have to do platforming with wind blowing you around and I got so ANGRY lol... but it was good really.

There's some of those optional force echo challenges that are all platforming, and they're fucking bonkers.

 

[BrawlMan]

I'm just so used to it being trivial so that when it's not, I'm confused and annoyed.

Exactly. Too many AAA games have gotten lazy or don't want to bother challenging the player with platforming. I get it in certain cases (the PS2 era was notorious for that platforming or platforming that went on for way too long), but don't be too insulting to your core audience.

 

[Absent]

Exactly. Too many AAA games have gotten lazy or don't want to bother challenging the player with platforming. I get it in certain cases (the PS2 era was notorious for that platforming or platforming that went on for way too long), but don't be too insulting to your core audience.

Yet again, there are people who don't like platforming (hello) and don't see Star Wars as a platforming franchise. And expect more swordfights, shootouts, piloting, than supermarioing.

I didn't like Fallen Order, because to me it really seemed to use Star Wars as a skin to its own weaker version of Prince of Persia, with environments less believable, less "lived in" (the original revolutionary trademark of Star Wars) than mere pretext to samey gameplay (all these exact same slope tracks in different colors made me feel I was playing a modded snowboard simulator). And, less than the bugs (and price), what will keep me away from it is certainly the fear of getting more of that. More of what felt to me as endlessly shoehorned linear platforming in my Star Wars. To be fair, I already had that impression in some movies (oh that factory "level" in attack of the clones).

Anyway, I don't think it's a matter of challenge. I think it's a matter of genre expectations. An Indiana Jones adaptation going all Tomb Raider makes sense. But I'm still hoping for Star Wars games to be more... Max Payne? Far Cry ?

...Morrowind ?

 

[BrawlMan]

Yet again, there are people who don't like platforming (hello) and don't see Star Wars as a platforming franchise. And expect more swordfights, shootouts, piloting, than supermarioing.

You're not wrong, but I don't mind platforming when it's done right or makes sense. I do have a preference for combat over platforming. I made a note about this when it came to Hi-Fi Rush. Fallen Order I didn't enjoy, cuz the pacing was just not right, and I didn't like the Dark Souls inspired gameplay. Platforming was actually the least of my issues with FO.

I didn't like Fallen Order, because to me it really seemed to use Star Wars as a skin to its own weaker version of Prince of Persia, with environments less believable, less "lived in" (the original revolutionary trademark of Star Wars) than mere pretext to samey gameplay (all these exact same slope tracks in different colors made me feel I was playing a modded snowboard simulator). And, less than the bugs (and price), what will keep me away from it is certainly the fear of getting more of that. More of what felt to me as endlessly shoehorned linear platforming in my Star Wars. To be fair, I already had that impression in some movies (oh that factory "level" in attack of the clones).

Ironically, there were plenty of Prince of Persia fans that were happy with the platforming, cuz they haven't gotten the game in over a decade by that point. Can't say I blame them.

Anyway, I don't think it's a matter of challenge. I think it's a matter of genre expectations. An Indiana Jones adaptation going all Tomb Raider makes sense. But I'm still hoping for Star Wars games to be more... Max Payne? Far Cry ?

Star Wars can fit multiple game genres when done right. But it best worked when it came to third person action. Don't forget that there were a decent amount of first person Star War games that are actually good. Star Wars escape many other gaming genres, but it honestly fits best when it's doing third person action hack and slash. Your Devil May Cry and God of War (Greek era). That's what the first two Force Unleashed games are. I really wish the FO series would have just taken from FU and kept going from there.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yet again, there are people who don't like platforming (hello) and don't see Star Wars as a platforming franchise. And expect more swordfights, shootouts, piloting, than supermarioing.

I didn't like Fallen Order, because to me it really seemed to use Star Wars as a skin to its own weaker version of Prince of Persia, with environments less believable, less "lived in" (the original revolutionary trademark of Star Wars) than mere pretext to samey gameplay (all these exact same slope tracks in different colors made me feel I was playing a modded snowboard simulator). And, less than the bugs (and price), what will keep me away from it is certainly the fear of getting more of that. More of what felt to me as endlessly shoehorned linear platforming in my Star Wars. To be fair, I already had that impression in some movies (oh that factory "level" in attack of the clones).

Anyway, I don't think it's a matter of challenge. I think it's a matter of genre expectations. An Indiana Jones adaptation going all Tomb Raider makes sense. But I'm still hoping for Star Wars games to be more... Max Payne? Far Cry ?

...Morrowind ?

Yet, Jedi are gymnasts. This was a thing in the first trilogy. So to have a Star Wars game where you play a Jedi in a world that is open for exploration and NOT have them be able to perform gymnastic feats to get past obstacles would feel lacking.

Not every third-person AAA game should have platforming, but if you are going to have the protagonist be an athletic action hero who travels across the land you're gonna have to have a good reason why they can't just vault over an 8-foot high wall or pile of rocks. And games that do need to provide something more engaging than God of War, Horizon, Uncharted, and Ghost of Tsushima have thus far. And thankfully Jedi Survivor is the first AAA game in a very long time that does.

 

[Piscian]

Yet, Jedi are gymnasts. This was a thing in the first trilogy. So to have a Star Wars game where you play a Jedi in a world that is open for exploration and NOT have them be able to perform gymnastic feats to get past obstacles would feel lacking.

Not every third-person AAA game should have platforming, but if you are going to have the protagonist be an athletic action hero who travels across the land you're gonna have to have a good reason why they can't just vault over an 8-foot high wall or pile of rocks. And games that do need to provide something more engaging than God of War, Horizon, Uncharted, and Ghost of Tsushima have thus far. And thankfully Jedi Survivor is the first AAA game in a very long time that does.

I tend to agree, you can only have a Jedi swing a light sabers in so many directions. Using the Jedi powers to solve environmental puzzles, to me was vastly more interesting than combat. I think thats really the best use of superheroes. You then provide things to be solved with their powers. Portal, Prototype, Infamous, whatever. I will say what disappointed me was that the vastly majority of exploration in Fallen Order was rewarded with light saber skins and poncho colors. I really feel like they had the framework for the game and there was some kind of time constraint from EA that forced them to pair down the "reasons" to explore significantly. Typical EA Bullshit I think.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I tend to agree, you can only have a Jedi swing a light sabers in so many directions. Using the Jedi powers to solve environmental puzzles, to me was vastly more interesting than combat. I think thats really the best use of superheroes. You then provide things to be solved with their powers. Portal, Prototype, Infamous, whatever. I will say what disappointed me was that the vastly majority of exploration in Fallen Order was rewarded with light saber skins and poncho colors. I really feel like they had the framework for the game and there was some kind of time constraint from EA that forced them to pair down the "reasons" to explore significantly. Typical EA Bullshit I think.

It's what I hope gets worked on in the upcoming Spider-Man 2. I like the previous two games quite a lot, but beyond the fighting there's little that requires actual skill. Webswinging virtually auto-pilots itself with zero risk for failure, and you can't screw around with your powers outside of a combat scenario.

As for the exploration rewards in Survivor... Yeah, mostly you'll be finding cosmetic stuff again, though you will find more meaning things this time as well. I think the problem here is that it being a Star Wars game where you play a Jedi, there's little upgrades they can give you that aren't Health or Force. Them wanting to remain inside the typical Jedi framework stops them from giving you crazy armor buffs or upgrades to your lightsaber. They probably can't or don't want to give you some of the insane shit something like God of War does, where you summon ice hurricanes or shoot laser beams from your lightsaber.

 

[Bartholen]

Finished Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. A good 6-7/10, about what I expected. The gunplay of BL3 is as tight as ever, and the story is way more tolerable than the dreck of BL3. The dynamic of spells and melee weapons makes for way more interesting combat than grenades and generic melee attacks, and if this game had taken off at all, they would probably offer some very interesting synergies to explore. The overworld mechanic is also a very nice addition, being both fitting to the narrative framing, but also incentivizing exploration in a confined environment. Speaking of, the environments in this game are probably the best in the entire series. It leans maybe a bit too hard on the tropical pirate theme, but 1. there's still good variety nonetheless and 2. those tropical environments do look stunning. The D20s hidden around each level are actually a pretty good exploration challenge, since they actually give you the incentive of increased drop luck. They might not even do anything as far as I know, but I was always happy when I spotted their golden glow hiding somewhere.

Sadly, it being basically just a lengthy BL3 DLC (about 20 hours to beat the main story), it also shares pretty much all of BL3's problems. While its more whimsical story and characters are better than the insufferable tonal disaster of its forebearer, it's still way too satisfied with its dialogue, which clashes super hard with the fast-paced combat. At times you can be left jumping around for what feels like minutes listening to asinine dialogue (that's admittedly funny in spots) waiting for the goddamn objective marker to show you where to go. The difficulty and drop rates are equally buggered. I started on Hard after barely dying in BL3 at all, and this was even easier. Even bosses with multiple healthbars feel like they melt like butter in Death Valley. The drop rates are just overgenerous. They don't shower you with legendaries as much as in BL3, but you're still going to have Purple gear in every slot by like level 10.

But probably the worst thing about this game doesn't have to do with its merits as a game at all, but just how aware it makes me of the passage of time. I started playing this series when I was 17, and I'm 30 now. And that's fine, life moves on regardless of any of us, but this series just feels like it's stuck in 2013 and refuses to let go. They actually make a "bitches like x" joke. Like come on guys, you inform us at the end that this game was made during the pandemic, come up with something new! Tiny Tina's "kooky exterior hiding unbearable trauma and sadness" element has been thoroughly explored, you can let it go now. I'd be perfectly fine if this game was the swan song of the series. Considering the looter shooter trend is drawing its dying breath even in the mainstream (anyone seen Redfall? Jesus Christ), it's time the OG series that basically created the genre should bow out with some degree of dignity left.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Finished Owlboy. It's a mixed feeling.

I liked just about everything but man is the ending a buzzkill. The game is a fairly straightforward adventure about a kid trying to prove himself while saving the world from evil sky pirates, but then during the home stretch it goes off the rails with ramblings about The Loop and The Hex and The Anti-Hex and it lost me in its rush to build up all the lore that should've been sprinkled throughout a 10 hour game in like 10 minutes. It's a also a bummer that you never fight the Big Bad that the game's been cockteasing in cutscenes forever, and that we also end on some End of Evangelion bullshit mindscape to provide closure and meaning. What a disappointment.

 

[jojithepainter]

Just started Catherine: Full Body, excited to see to what extent the third love interest will mess things up
Loved and still love the original release, I think it's the most resonating romantic story in video game history ever. I stewed over the different endings of the original game for months after rolling credits, let's see if the updated edition is better

 

[meiam]

Finished Owlboy. It's a mixed feeling.

I liked just about everything but man is the ending a buzzkill. The game is a fairly straightforward adventure about a kid trying to prove himself while saving the world from evil sky pirates, but then during the home stretch it goes off the rails with ramblings about The Loop and The Hex and The Anti-Hex and it lost me in its rush to build up all the lore that should've been sprinkled throughout a 10 hour game in like 10 minutes. It's a also a bummer that you never fight the Big Bad that the game's been cockteasing in cutscenes forever, and that we also end on some End of Evangelion bullshit mindscape to provide closure and meaning. What a disappointment.

That would explain why I literally don't remember the end of the game despite being sure I finished it.

Just started Catherine: Full Body, excited to see to what extent the third love interest will mess things up
Loved and still love the original release, I think it's the most resonating romantic story in video game history ever. I stewed over the different endings of the original game for months after rolling credits, let's see if the updated edition is better

I could never get into the love story because neither Catherine were interesting to me. I ended up getting the "bad" ending where the main character stayed single but I couldn't think of a better scenario, both of them were just awful human being.

 

[Worgen]

What stands out to me is the writing. I can't believe they've managed to actually write characters that seem almost more 3D and with depth than many AAA games while having a pretty complex plotline with different schemes and machinations going on with the different groups. It's kind of like "The Expanse" but a space opera with the writing and tone run over to make it more in line with what you'd expect a porn version of The Expanse to look like.

That isn't surprising. Good porn with characters that are more then sex toys is going to have fleshed out characters for an emotional connection. How is the rest of the game? Cause last I heard about it, it sounded like it did everything mediocre... or something.