What are you currently playing?

[Drathnoxis]

I've started replaying FF7. I still wish this game had gotten a proper remaster. I think the pre-rendered backgrounds are still really nice, detailed, and atmospheric, but are so low res that they just kind of look blurry and muddy on a modern screen. It might be better if I had a decent CRT, or was playing it on RetroArch, but I'm not sure my computer is good enough to handle the filters. All I want is the original renders at a higher resolution and maybe some very slightly tweaked models. They probably deleted all that stuff 20 years ago, though.

Edit: actually my one CRT is actually pretty decent still. I have it set up to do a direct comparison now and I'll take some pictures to post once my camera has charged up. The only problem is that one of the capacitors in the TV is making a high pitched whine that is absolute murder on the ears.

 

[Worgen]

I've started replaying FF7. I still wish this game had gotten a proper remaster. I think the pre-rendered backgrounds are still really nice, detailed, and atmospheric, but are so low res that they just kind of look blurry and muddy on a modern screen. It might be better if I had a decent CRT, or was playing it on RetroArch, but I'm not sure my computer is good enough to handle the filters. All I want is the original renders at a higher resolution and maybe some very slightly tweaked models. They probably deleted all that stuff 20 years ago, though.

Just download the ai upscaled mod for it.

FF7 Remako HD Graphics Mod Beta Released

The site for the Remako Mod, a Final Fantasy VII mod that uses AI to improve the graphics of this classic JRPG.

captrobau.blogspot.com

 

[Drathnoxis]

Just download the ai upscaled mod for it.

FF7 Remako HD Graphics Mod Beta Released

The site for the Remako Mod, a Final Fantasy VII mod that uses AI to improve the graphics of this classic JRPG.

captrobau.blogspot.com

Heyyyy, that does look pretty good! I don't know if I want to restart to play it, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for next time.

The game does look significantly better on CRT anyway, not sure if you'll really be able to tell in the photos, but it's clearly noticeable in person.

Spoiler: comparison images

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Just download the ai upscaled mod for it.

This is just me, but given the choice between AI upscaling and just playing the game in windowed mode at the original intended resolution, I would take the latter over the former every day of the week.

Besides, even if you clean up the backgrounds, in FF7 in particular you still have to look at the same models. I don't know why they went with tiny arms and huge hands, but once the initial shock wears off and you're still looking at them for the next 30 hours of gameplay... I say this as someone who has beaten FF7 and enjoyed it a hell of a lot, there is only so much you can do to make the original graphics better, and it isn't enough to make them 'good' even for a PSX game. The graphics were the draw in 1997, and I get why, but these days it's the story and the gameplay, and the latter's got its own issues.

Point is, downloading a mod to make one part of the graphics slightly better (using AI, at that) feels superfluous to me.

 

[BrawlMan]

@NerfedFalcon, @Worgen, and @ExtraWildGames, I finally picked up Slave Zero X (PS5) on sale at GameStop. The cashier threw in extra deal and I only had to pay $18 for the game and a 1 year warranty. I checked and they fixed all the bugs and crashes for all versions, so now it's actually worth going through now. I still have to install the game. I let you know the rest when I get the chance.

 

[Worgen]

Point is, downloading a mod to make one part of the graphics slightly better (using AI, at that) feels superfluous to me.

I'm not the one who is complaining about Square not just remaking the game. I just finished rebirth and I have really enjoyed the remakes so far.

 

[BrawlMan]

I finished Street Fighter Alpha 3 (PS1) World Tour Mode with Sakura. I leveled her up to Level 23. Getting your character LV30 and LV31 unlocks Guile and Evil Ryu. I am not doing all that, so I can go to the Dreamcast or any other version to have these characters unlocked from the start. It's still a great mode that mixes RPG elements into a fighting game. I can still replay the fights as much as I want though. The way it's done in this game is still unique to the contemporary fighting games of today, and of the past.

After that, I switched to the Dreamcast version to play Dramatic Battle with good old Ryu and Ken.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Made it up to Beast Clergyman, and while I'm not ready to give up yet, if it's going to happen, it's probably going to be against this guy. He is obscenely fast, darting in and out of your range before you can react, and if you do react it has to be to dodge roll; good luck healing or summoning ashes, because his projectiles are as fast as his melee attacks; and the worst part is, I managed to get to P2 on my first attempt, and subsequently haven't even gotten close to the transition, including multiple deaths where I literally did not manage to hit him once.

Because I, thirty hours ago, decided to commit everything I have to an unga bunga Strength build for an Ultra Greatsword, and it's been working right up to now. I know that it's not 'bad design' to have certain builds be better or worse at certain fights, but I'm genuinely not sure how a Strength player with a slow weapon can keep up with this boss's movements or attacks, and I doubt there's enough poise in the world to trade - or enough Vigor to outlast a full combo, for that matter.

Four bosses left in the game, and number four might be where it ends. What a sad state of affairs.

 

[Worgen]

Because I, thirty hours ago, decided to commit everything I have to an unga bunga Strength build for an Ultra Greatsword, and it's been working right up to now. I know that it's not 'bad design' to have certain builds be better or worse at certain fights, but I'm genuinely not sure how a Strength player with a slow weapon can keep up with this boss's movements or attacks, and I doubt there's enough poise in the world to trade - or enough Vigor to outlast a full combo, for that matter.

In the base game I did a str axe/great sword build and the only boss I summoned anyone for was Melenia... Actually scratch that, I also summoned for Radahn since you are kinda intended too, it did take me awhile since I was operating under Dark Souls 1 Siegmeyer quest logic where if he dies then he just dies and I didn't realize that summons would come back if they died. At least for awhile then I looked it up and just summoned for the fight.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

In the base game I did a str axe/great sword build and the only boss I summoned anyone for was Melenia... Actually scratch that, I also summoned for Radahn since you are kinda intended too, it did take me awhile since I was operating under Dark Souls 1 Siegmeyer quest logic where if he dies then he just dies and I didn't realize that summons would come back if they died. At least for awhile then I looked it up and just summoned for the fight.

So far I've done it for Radahn obviously, Morgott (more because I wanted to than because I felt like I had to), and Godskin Duo. And I probably would for Beast Clergyman if one was available, but I can't.

Back in DS1 I definitely summoned Solaire to help me with Ornstein and Smough, and there's a couple of times in DS3 that I got actual player Sunbros to help, Abyss Watchers was the big one I remember doing it for.

 

[BrawlMan]

@NerfedFalcon, @ExtraWildGames, and @Worgen, Slave Zero X is fun so far. All the moves are already unlocked from the start. The upgrades are stat increases like health, super meter, etc. All of your moves have directional and fighting game style inputs you have to figure out on your own. There is a 3rd Strike style parry, you can dodge, dash, slide kick, double jump, and even your taunt can cause damage when used right. You will be fighting waves of dudes from all sides. The game has a strict scoring system, so it's high combo numbers and don't get hit to get those S-Ranks.

I dig the 90s Bio-Cyberpunk anime, PS1, 2.5D aesthetics.

 

[Drathnoxis]

FF7.

Isn't Shinra dropping the plate on Sector 7 really stupid? Like, they are trying to get rid of 5 or 6 terrorists and they destroy a massive chunk of their city. I get that it's only a slum and they don't care... but isn't there a city on top of the plate as well? The rich one? Wouldn't that get destroyed too? Also, they only manage to kill half the terrorists, and only because they stayed to try and defend the sector instead of just running away.

 

[Bedinsis]

Picked up Ever 17. It's probably the least Uchikoshi-like of his games that I've played so far.

 

[ExtraWildGames]

@NerfedFalcon, @ExtraWildGames, and @Worgen, Slave Zero X is fun so far. All the moves are already unlocked from the start. The upgrades are stat increases like health, super meter, etc. All of your moves have directional and fighting game style inputs you have to figure out on your own. There is a 3rd Strike style parry, you can dodge, dash, slide kick, double jump, and even your taunt can cause damage when used right. You will be fighting waves of dudes from all sides. The game has a strict scoring system, so it's high combo numbers and don't get hit to get those S-Ranks.

I dig the 90s Bio-Cyberpunk anime, PS1, 2.5D aesthetics.

Oh yeah that game? I've heard of it, but people said it was kinda bullshit cheap in terms of bosses. I think I heard of a patch that fixed a lot of those issues.

 

[BrawlMan]

Oh yeah that game? I've heard of it, but people said it was kinda bullshit cheap in terms of bosses. I think I heard of a patch that fixed a lot of those issues.

The patches made the bosses easier and they buff the player a bit more. I know most of the patches fixed either performance issues and bugs on PC and consoles. With PC needing a lot of performance updates. I am playing the PS5 version.

 

[meiam]

FF7.

Isn't Shinra dropping the plate on Sector 7 really stupid? Like, they are trying to get rid of 5 or 6 terrorists and they destroy a massive chunk of their city. I get that it's only a slum and they don't care... but isn't there a city on top of the plate as well? The rich one? Wouldn't that get destroyed too? Also, they only manage to kill half the terrorists, and only because they stayed to try and defend the sector instead of just running away.

Well in the original Shinra value the reactor more than the people, they already lost two reactor at this point, so they're getting desperate and would rather lose a sector than risk losing the other 6 reactors. Shinra also doesn't know who or what Avalanche is, so they could assume it was a bigger outfit.

In the remake, it makes no sense because Shinra is the one blowing up their own reactor (for no reason), so yeah that one is just plain stupid.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

Wanderlust (demo)

This much-anticipated indy game has some folks that were involved with Stanley Parable so hype is real. It is a cozy management game, though, which is not normally my thing (though, as my wife likes to tease/remind me, I did play the ever loving snot out of Stardew Valley).

This is the one where in the trailer it's a warrior chick who manages a tea shop then sits on a bench and has violent flashbacks. So I guess I was hoping for some meta or wacky gameplay thing happening here. But the demo- which is very short, so who knows how accurate a representation it is- is just dialogue (mostly not voiced) and... well, management stuff.

It's like an Animal Crossing vibe where you walk around collect things put on other things press button get things. *zzzzzzzzzzzz*
Characters and dialogue are very cute and it all looks very nice but if it's just a cute management sim with fancy dressing than I'm probably gonna have to sit this one out. I'll wait for reviews to tell me if there's more to it. I mean I get that running your little tea house with chill vibe and pretty colors is the main game and that's fine but I think I need a little something more, like some interesting plot twists or something.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

FF7.

Isn't Shinra dropping the plate on Sector 7 really stupid? Like, they are trying to get rid of 5 or 6 terrorists and they destroy a massive chunk of their city. I get that it's only a slum and they don't care... but isn't there a city on top of the plate as well? The rich one? Wouldn't that get destroyed too? Also, they only manage to kill half the terrorists, and only because they stayed to try and defend the sector instead of just running away.

They're an evil corporation. "Making an omelette requires breaking eggs" is their motto. And breaking a few million eggs to get six omelettes? Well, that's just the price of doing good business.

In the remake, it makes no sense because Shinra is the one blowing up their own reactor (for no reason), so yeah that one is just plain stupid.

The reason is to make Avalanche look worse than they are and turn public sentiment against them, so that when they go to kill Avalanche there won't be a public outcry about it. After all, they're terrorists, they have to go for the sake of your freedom. Recall as well that Shinra plans to abandon Midgar for the Promised Land soon anyway, so what happens in Midgar and to its population doesn't matter to the President. (Drath, that spoiler'll be safe to open once you leave Midgar.)

 

[BrawlMan]

Slaver Zero X again. I defeated one of the five major bosses. There are 6 levels total in this game, and each level has its own sub-level. Right now I am on level 3. You can level select, and you can select the sub-levels within there too, if you want to grind and gain more money faster for upgrading your stats. The first major boss, Hercules, wasn't too bad. It took me three tries. It's all about knowing when to dodge and punishing his whiffs. He only has two faces, but his attacks hurt like a mother-fucker.

The ranking system is too punishing though. You so much as get any scratch damage, and good bye to even getting a B-rank half the time. I still try to go for no damage, but I am making to a point of just completing the game and having fun.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Beast Clergyman continues to be impossible. I've made it to the second phase a couple of times, by somehow dodging his impossibly meaty claw shockwave attacks, finding space to heal, and getting lucky attacks in just before he jumps out of reach, but every time he's killed me with Literally Judgment Cut, either by pulling it out at unexpected times, clipping me with the literal edge of the AoE beyond where the lines actually are, and one time, clipping inside a pillar and just spamming me with projectiles and refusing to ever come down.

I beat Orphan of Kos with a level 70 character, and that was five years ago when I was a lot less experienced with hard action games. What is it going to take to kill this thing?