What are you currently playing?

[BrawlMan]

I've never played Sega Bass Fishing but I'm pretty sure that handles better than this.

It does.

Still, it's not the worst break in the game's pace.

It is for me.

 

[BrawlMan]

I've been playing so more LSA. I swear, the parts where you're at the later parts of the Frost Kingdom, remind me so much of Bujingai's later stages, but easier and better platforming. It's almost like they're cousins.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Finished Pipistrello 100%. Fantastic experience, start to finish. I don't remember the last time I played something that was exactly this comfortable yet challenging.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

That's a wrap on Sonic Adventure.

I think it still holds up really well, and while I acknowledge some of that is based on the mods I installed, the core of the game is still there and still works, better than the sequel IMO. The level design is less frustrating, the collision's less spotty, the controls don't feel overly sensitive, and even the weaker parts of the game are still pretty fun. The story is pretty weak, though as a first attempt at actually having one it isn't too bad; the animations in cutscenes in particular really let the presentation of that story down, though, and SA2 has it beat by far on the story and cinematics front, for what that's worth (a fair bit, admittedly). Nonetheless, if, as the meme goes, Sonic had a rough transition to 3D, then ironically it was the first game of that transition that was arguably the least rough of them for a while.

For the next 24 hours on Steam it costs less than $5, and for that price it's an absolute steal; even at the current full price it's still pretty worthwhile. Just make sure to install the mod pack so that, if nothing else, your controller works. I have played Sonic Adventure with a keyboard. I would not recommend that to anybody else.

 

[Drathnoxis]

My charmless, demon bell, no more attack upgrades NG+ playthrough of Sekiro is progressing. The chip damage from blocking is huge, and there's so much posture damage that running out of posture mid boss combo is actually a big deal. Wolf's posture was pretty meaningless on the first run since it'd mostly break at the end of boss combos and wouldn't matter, but it's definitely not the case now. I'm up to Owl and definitely not looking forward to ISS.

 

[Dalisclock]

Made it inside the Tower on El Shaddei.

You know, I get that platforming is part of these games but man when there's a bunch of floating platforms on the way to the tower and I keep falling because the camera angles aren't good it kind of annoys me a bit, just saying. Especially when Lucifiel starts a phone call with God and I get to keep hearing the first bit over and over because that's where I keep dying. The running commentary of Lucifel talking to God is amusing though.

I have to admit I kind of like the stages where it's 2d and you see some really cool backgrounds while you're running/platforming/fighting. The first one is apparently Enoch running for like 300 years and apparently having little side adventures looking for the big spooky tower while the credits roll. There's another where you're platforming in front of big stained glass windows which have Rennaisence depictions of angels on them(Gabriel is a lot more female then I would have imagined).

Also the choir singing during the approach to the tower stage is interesting. It's mentioned people in the city below are celebrating but I'm not sure if they're celebrating because you're hear or because they like living in the city around the big spooky tower. Either way it creates a interesting picture, especially because it's like African/ Native American/something else(?) sounding.

Oh, and unlike what the bible would have me believe, Ezekiel is a girl. Who knew?

Such a weird game.

 

[meiam]

Started metaphor re fantazio.

I like the irony that a game that's literally called METAPHOR, start with a text saying "any comparison to realife event or organization is purely coincidental".

 

[Worgen]

Started metaphor re fantazio.

I like the irony that a game that's literally called METAPHOR, start with a text saying "any comparison to realife event or organization is purely coincidental".

Its just a metaphor, man.

 

[BrawlMan]

@NerfedFalcon, @hanselthecaretaker2, @Worgen, @Dalisclock, @Johnny Novgorod, @Old_Hunter_77 , and @CriticalGaming, Lost Soul Aside I just beat now. I'll have my full thoughts later, but I enjoyed the game overall.

First playthrough completed! It was worth the wait for me, and I got what I wanted. I will make this quick

PROS:

• Fast and fluid combat with great looking levels. Especially the latter levels, starting around Chapter 3.
• Weapon variety is on point. Weapon swapping is at the flick of wrist, and you get 4 selectable weapons. Said weapons have elemental variants (fire, ice, lightning, etc.) as you get further into the game.
• The soundtrack is god-like! I really hope there is a physical release of that soundtrack. Or at the very least, not stuck with the digital deluxe upgrade on the PSN or Steam store.
• Kaser and Arena have the best interactions in the game, with Arena being the standout MVP voice in the English dub. Both actors did a great job overall, and the writing helps whenever it's just two or them interacting with supporting characters.
• Boss battles have more than a few standouts, and some of the most fun I've had in a long while for this genre.
• The story is simple, but I don't consider LSA's story and character bad. A little under cooked for some of the towns-folks, but the supporting fit their character description or archetype well. That said, more than a few of the side characters get their own development that is consistent. It reminds me of some those corny, but endearing action games and their side characters you would find in the 2000s. Hell, I will include the RPGs by Japanese devs from that era as well.

CONS:

• Certain parts of the game do feel padded. Either with puzzle/platforming challenges, or by adding boss refights that weren't fun the first time around. The platforming doesn't out stay its welcome in most sections, there are bosses that should have been cut for pacing and timing.
• The game does have jank, and certain sounds are either missing or feel too soft. The parry sound is pretty good though. There are some hit detection issues or not as strong feedback when you're the one getting hit.
• Some bosses can be really overpowered. This doesn't happen often, but when it does, it gets annoying.
• Checkpoints. They are mostly consistent, but there are moments where this is not the case. Chapter 4 especially, where they should have added checkpoint as soon as you're at the boss battle for that area. If you die for any reason at the boss, you have to do the two fights all over again, before preceding to the boss. Not to mention, it has that stupid one-hit kill laser gimmick (which started in Chapter 2's alternate dimension.) where you have strike specific spots with the Heavy Sword to make a shield to block it. The timer is much more strict the second time around. There is a way around this somewhat, but just starting before Kaser and Arena's dialogue finishes, and the time starts ticking down.

Overall, it's a good action game that is what I call a B-Rank/low 8 out of 10 for me. Though for most, this game would sit at a 7.5. Whenever the team can get that update out to fix some of those checkpoints, add in better hitting sound effects for specific weapons and cut-scenes, and adds in those extra checkpoints for specific chapters, I give the game a better grade and move it up a little.

This game is worth the $60, but if those who are on the fence, wait until the game is $40-$50 in price. Or at $30 for those who are really in a tight bind or stingy. I admit, I only paid $20 (what my pre-order stopped at), because I traded in games I wasn't going to play anymore or didn't find interesting. I still would have paid full price, when given the choice.

You and your team did well Bing Yang. Y'all did well.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

@NerfedFalcon, @hanselthecaretaker2, @Worgen, @Dalisclock, @Johnny Novgorod, @Old_Hunter_77 , and @CriticalGaming, Lost Soul Aside I just beat now. I'll have my full thoughts later, but I enjoyed the game overall.

First playthrough completed! It was worth the wait for me, and I got what I wanted. I will make this quick

PROS:

• Fast and fluid combat with great looking levels. Especially the latter levels, starting around Chapter 3.
• Weapon variety is on point. Weapon swapping is at the flick of wrist, and you get 4 selectable weapons. Said weapons have elemental variants (fire, ice, lightning, etc.) as you get further into the game.
• The soundtrack is god-like! I really hope there is a physical release of that soundtrack. Or at the very least, not stuck with the digital deluxe upgrade on the PSN or Steam store.
• Kaser and Arena have the best interactions in the game, with Arena being the standout MVP voice in the English dub. Both actors did a great job overall, and the writing helps whenever it's just two or them interacting with supporting characters.
• Boss battles have more than a few standouts, and some of the most fun I've had in a long while for this genre.
• The story is simple, but I don't consider LSA's story and character bad. A little under cooked for some of the towns-folks, but the supporting fit their character description or archetype well. That said, more than a few of the side characters get their own development that is consistent. It reminds me of some those corny, but endearing action games and their side characters you would find in the 2000s. Hell, I will include the RPGs by Japanese devs from that era as well.

CONS:

• Certain parts of the game do feel padded. Either with puzzle/platforming challenges, or by adding boss refights that weren't fun the first time around. The platforming doesn't out stay its welcome in most sections, there are bosses that should have been cut for pacing and timing.
• The game does have jank, and certain sounds are either missing or feel too soft. The parry sound is pretty good though. There are some hit detection issues or not as strong feedback when you're the one getting hit.
• Some bosses can be really overpowered. This doesn't happen often, but when it does, it gets annoying.
• Checkpoints. They are mostly consistent, but there are moments where this is not the case. Chapter 4 especially, where they should have added checkpoint as soon as you're at the boss battle for that area. If you die for any reason at the boss, you have to do the two fights all over again, before preceding to the boss. Not to mention, it has that stupid one-hit kill laser gimmick (which started in Chapter 2's alternate dimension.) where you have strike specific spots with the Heavy Sword to make a shield to block it. The timer is much more strict the second time around. There is a way around this somewhat, but just starting before Kaser and Arena's dialogue finishes, and the time starts ticking down.

Overall, it's a good action game that is what I call a B-Rank/low 8 out of 10 for me. Though for most, this game would sit at a 7.5. Whenever the team can get that update out to fix some of those checkpoints, add in better hitting sound effects for specific weapons and cut-scenes, and adds in those extra checkpoints for specific chapters, I give the game a better grade and move it up a little.

This game is worth the $60, but if those who are on the fence, wait until the game is $40-$50 in price. Or at $30 for those who are really in a tight bind or stingy. I admit, I only paid $20 (what my pre-order stopped at), because I traded in games I wasn't going to play anymore or didn't find interesting. I still would have paid full price, when given the choice.

You and your team did well Bing Yang. Y'all did well.

Thanks for the run-down.

Seems like deep Steam sale consideration worthy for me. If/when I do get back in the mood for some high-flying action fighting after burning out on clicking A button on dialogues and menus for Persona, I'm more likely to go back to the Devil May Cry source before checking it out.

Critics are mixed with some harsh comments but they feel like the whole "fatigue" thing to me. Not to dismiss particular criticisms, but it does seem like a "if you want more of this sort of game, here it is," which is fine.

 

[BrawlMan]

Critics are mixed with some harsh comments but they feel like the whole "fatigue" thing to me. Not to dismiss particular criticisms, but it does seem like a "if you want more of this sort of game, here it is," which is fine.

Some of the critics can suck it, but I know this is really these smaller channels with over-inflated egos that are doing this or worse the most. They're all upset because they didn't get everything they imagined.

Gaming Bolt can fuck off again too. They didn't hate the game, but it's clear they rushed their review out and didn't even finish the game.

The only people I trust with their reviews are Noisy Pixels, Podcast Now, and BaldSquid. So far anyways. I'll throw in max as well, even though he only played the demo and even he had a better idea about what the game was going to be about, than these other fools with imaginary and overly high expectations.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Oh hey look, Silksong... I'm actually fucking playing it. Neat!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Bought Silksong from work and had my girlfriend boot up the console back home, get it installed and send photo proof and I'm still not quite believing it.

Tomorrow's my off day so yay.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Punch one more ticket for the Silksong train.

 

[Worgen]

Silksong is awesome.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Beat Charmless Bell NG+ Owl in Sekiro after like 3 hours or attempts. Good lord was that hard! I had to be able to perfect parry every one of his moves for like 10 minutes straight because he regenerates posture so fast, I do so little damage, and there's not a lot of opportunity to attack his life bar. It was brutal.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'm a bit iffy on the diagonal downward attack though. It's a fine attack and all, but it being mapped to 'down' eventhough it isn't actually down, but still serves the same function as the downward attack in Hollow Knight where it is straight-up down is kinda fucking with me.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

I will note that Silksong doesn't take nearly as long as Hollow Knight to start getting actually difficult. Enemies and bosses that deal more than one mask of damage with their attacks start appearing very early on, Hornet's heal isn't as versatile as the Knight's (in exchange for being able to heal her relatively faster), and the equivalent boss to Hornet in Greenpath is significantly tougher; if you aren't already familiar with Hollow Knight or other melee-combat-focused 2D platformers at the very least, you might have a rough time just diving into it, and as Shinji noted there's aspects like Hornet's diving attack or larger hitbox that may even make the transition challenging if you are. It's doable, of course, and so far I'd say it's well worth pushing through the tough fights, but first-time players should be aware that this game doesn't pull any punches.

So far, though, I haven't run into anything as difficult as Malekith the Black Blade, so there's that.

 

[Drathnoxis]

It might be good for Silksong to have its own thread.

 

[BrawlMan]

It might be good for Silksong to have its own thread.

NEVER!

I finished Mitsuhide's final chapters in Samurai Warriors 5. So the game is technically done.