What are you currently playing?

[laggyteabag]

I tried to replay The Last of Us with my girlfriend, but she didn't really like playing it, and I couldn't be bothered to continue by myself.

She found the exploration and resource management pretty boring and cumbersome, and has admittedly never been too great at combat or stealth (she doesnt play too many games, but is trying to play more). She seems to be somewhat invested in the characters and the world, but the gameplay doesn't really do it for her, and watching me for 15 hours isn't exactly her idea of fun - so she respectfully bowed out, and went back to playing The Sims.

As for me, I like the story, and I like the characters, but I already know what is going to happen, and I can't really be bothered to play 15 hours of it again - especially as I only played it for the first time in October, last year. Im still super excited for the sequel on Friday, but I will probably just refresh myself of the first game's events with a "Game Movie" version from YouTube.

On another note, when I was playing it with her, I stuck the game on the super easy mode, and it is really quite amazing how changing the difficulty can really change the tone of the gameplay. I played it initially on Normal/Hard, and I found that Stealth and resource management were both encouraged, and necessary to succeed, and the tension of pretty much every encounter was at 100%, all of the time.

On easy mode, the game can become much more of a shooter, if you want, but you can still get overwhelmed if you miss your shots, or have to reload. Id definitely suggest it, if you want to replay the game differently.
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Otherwise, im grinding out some more CoD MW 2019, as it is a 2x XP weekend. I've been playing Hardcore exclusively, because I found the normal mode favoured only a small handful of guns, and using almost anything else put you at a comparative disadvantage - so Hardcore is much more freeing, if you want to experiment with some of the other weapons and attachments.

On that same note, weirdly, even though I often find CoD LMG's to be slow and cumbersome, which is an opinion that has not changed in this game, I have only one more gun to go, before I have 100%'d each of their attachments, whereas I have barely even touched most of the Assault Rifles and SMGs, despite vastly preferring their playstyles and relative speed. Maybe I just hate myself?

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I tried to replay The Last of Us with my girlfriend, but she didn't really like playing it, and I couldn't be bothered to continue by myself.

She found the exploration and resource management pretty boring and cumbersome, and has admittedly never been too great at combat or stealth (she doesnt play too many games, but is trying to play more). She seems to be somewhat invested in the characters and the world, but the gameplay doesn't really do it for her, and watching me for 15 hours isn't exactly her idea of fun - so she respectfully bowed out, and went back to playing The Sims.

As for me, I like the story, and I like the characters, but I already know what is going to happen, and I can't really be bothered to play 15 hours of it again - especially as I only played it for the first time in October, last year. Im still super excited for the sequel on Friday, but I will probably just refresh myself of the first game's events with a "Game Movie" version from YouTube.

On another note, when I was playing it with her, I stuck the game on the super easy mode, and it is really quite amazing how changing the difficulty can really change the tone of the gameplay. I played it initially on Normal/Hard, and I found that Stealth and resource management were both encouraged, and necessary to succeed, and the tension of pretty much every encounter was at 100%, all of the time.

On easy mode, the game can become much more of a shooter, if you want, but you can still get overwhelmed if you miss your shots, or have to reload. Id definitely suggest it, if you want to replay the game differently.
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Otherwise, im grinding out some more CoD MW 2019, as it is a 2x XP weekend. I've been playing Hardcore exclusively, because I found the normal mode favoured only a small handful of guns, and using almost anything else put you at a comparative disadvantage - so Hardcore is much more freeing, if you want to experiment with some of the other weapons and attachments.

On that same note, weirdly, even though I often find CoD LMG's to be slow and cumbersome, which is an opinion that has not changed in this game, I have only one more gun to go, before I have 100%'d each of their attachments, whereas I have barely even touched most of the Assault Rifles and SMGs, despite vastly preferring their playstyles and relative speed. Maybe I just hate myself?

I’m kinda doing the same thing in anticipation of Part 2. Started a run on Grounded a while ago and just got back into it last night. Only at the subway area before the Capitol building, so basically just after the first major stealth/combat encounter involving a variety of enemy types.

The game is a great example of how difficulty level can change player perspective. As you mentioned, easier difficulties make encounters like these completely trivial or at least manageable if not playing well, as I remember being able to slop my way through it originally on Normal (Survivor?). On Grounded however, that’s where it gets outright thrilling. The part in the skyscraper where Joel has to scout ahead and clear a path for Tess and Ellie is designed very well. The first enemy’s a stealth gimme, but then you really need to know your surroundings, plan a route and learn how to isolate the runners from the clickers. Otherwise you’re quickly overwhelmed and dead meat. The game also doesn’t exactly tell you that eliminating all threats is vital, but hints at it via Joel struggling to unblock the door by himself.

What makes it interesting is you can still have a fighting chance with a 2x4 or the limited ammo, but only if other enemies are either dead already or far enough away that you could get back into hiding if the noise attracts them.

 

[BrawlMan]

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 - I finally got the PS4 version physical. It is so much fun playing this on a fight pad. I am rusty as fuck, but I don't care!

Cuz it's MARVEL BABEYH!!

I got Street Fighter V Champion Edition and will pop that in tonight. Maybe Shadow of Colossus tonight, but most likely tomorrow.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Managed to defeat the Four Kings by wearing heavy enough armor to tank their hits so I didn't need to get as good at dodging or blocking. Stone Armor is one of the best newbie support tools in the game, especially combined with Havel's Ring. One Lord down, three to go.

 

[Dalisclock]

Managed to defeat the Four Kings by wearing heavy enough armor to tank their hits so I didn't need to get as good at dodging or blocking. Stone Armor is one of the best newbie support tools in the game, especially combined with Havel's Ring. One Lord down, three to go.

Sounds like you didn't fall into the trap of summoning Witch Beatrice. She's more of hindrance than a help.

 

[meiam]

Managed to defeat the Four Kings by wearing heavy enough armor to tank their hits so I didn't need to get as good at dodging or blocking. Stone Armor is one of the best newbie support tools in the game, especially combined with Havel's Ring. One Lord down, three to go.

At release the pyromancer spell that gave you more armor/poise was redicuously broken, combining it with heavy armor you could pretty much cheese any boss by just activating it and mashing attack.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Sounds like you didn't fall into the trap of summoning Witch Beatrice. She's more of hindrance than a help.

I honestly didn't even know that was possible for that fight. I didn't find a summon sign the one time I went down unhollowed, so I just did it as 'normal'.

 

[Crowchild]

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game & finishing Thronebreaker

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Managed to defeat the Four Kings by wearing heavy enough armor to tank their hits so I didn't need to get as good at dodging or blocking. Stone Armor is one of the best newbie support tools in the game, especially combined with Havel's Ring. One Lord down, three to go.

I personally kinda recall them being the toughest, at least on NG+. Good to hear your progress. What would you say is your biggest pro and con of the game so far?


On topic, after Dark Souls 3 I’m having a conundrum trying to decide what to play for the rest of the week. I want to go back through TLoU (Remastered) before Part 2 which I plan on getting into ASAP. But I also booted up Infamous: Second Son which was fun to flail around in. Then there’s God of War which I still have three Valkyries to defeat, along with finding all the ravens and treasures for the Platinum.

Then of course further yet is The Witcher 3, which at one point was the game I wanted to build a new PC for. It’s not surprising I’m taking my sweet time with it though. I played the original over the course of about four years and it’s a much smaller game. I currently have about 60 or so hours into 3 and I started it nearly two and a half years ago. Then I also wanted to finish Kingdom Come: Deliverance after that.

Basically there’s too much to play and not enough time. In these cases it makes me miss when it was the other way around.

 

[Dalisclock]

I honestly didn't even know that was possible for that fight. I didn't find a summon sign the one time I went down unhollowed, so I just did it as 'normal'.

I suspect that summon doesn't show up unless you've already summoned her elsewhere. Not that you're missing anything. Her DPS is fairly low which totally doesn't make up for the health boost the 4 kings get.

 

[Dalisclock]

Reached Act 2 of the The Saboteur. Comparing this game to Grand Theft Auto is apt, because that's about how seriously it takes itself in the realism department. While it doesn't say when in WW2 it takes place, other then the Occupation of Paris(so 1940 to 1944), it's clear anachronisms abound. Zeppelins are all over the place(Zepplins were used in Warfare in WW1, but were pretty much done by the time WW2 got going) and are used to hunt you down at high alert levels, there are double barreled heavy tanks which I'm pretty sure either didn't exist or never entered mass production, V2 rocket sites are all over the map(years before the Normandy Landings), the STG 44 is available from the beginning of the game(the 44 stands for 1944), and there are more giant german cannons then probably even were made during WW2. Then again, there are songs on the soundtrack that weren't written for decades(one of which is from 2006) after the war, but sound like they could be from the period.

Still, it's a lot of fun and blowing up anything with a swastika on it never gets old. I'd forgotten about the disguise mechanic, where it's possible to steal a german uniform and use it to walk right up to your target, something Assassins Creed didn't even let you do most of the time and I think only Hitman really adopted.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

I personally kinda recall them being the toughest, at least on NG+. Good to hear your progress. What would you say is your biggest pro and con of the game so far?

The biggest thing I like about the game is how it both allows and encourages you to experiment with your loadout. A hard area or boss can suddenly be made easy (or easier, anyway) by switching to a different armor set, or a new weapon that allows you to attack faster or from a longer range, or a spell that covers something they do... There's been a lot of eureka moments, probably more than in any other single game I've ever played.

As for what's not so great, sometimes the difficulty curve seems a little wacky. I know it's largely a result of the game's world design, but I still haven't managed to kill the Hellkite, or even get past it alive. And following from the above point, nothing I've done so far has worked. This thing could be a boss, and it's definitely harder than quite a few of the actual bosses, which considering other minibosses like the Undead Dragon or the various NPC Darkwraiths feels like this one is being pushed too hard. And of course I nearly quit over the Anor Londo snipers, as related several pages ago.

Overall, though, I'd say that some difficulty spikes don't make the overall experience bad. It kinda sucks that nobody plays online in PTDE anymore, but the game's still perfectly enjoyable with only NPC summons and invaders.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

The biggest thing I like about the game is how it both allows and encourages you to experiment with your loadout. A hard area or boss can suddenly be made easy (or easier, anyway) by switching to a different armor set, or a new weapon that allows you to attack faster or from a longer range, or a spell that covers something they do... There's been a lot of eureka moments, probably more than in any other single game I've ever played.

As for what's not so great, sometimes the difficulty curve seems a little wacky. I know it's largely a result of the game's world design, but I still haven't managed to kill the Hellkite, or even get past it alive. And following from the above point, nothing I've done so far has worked. This thing could be a boss, and it's definitely harder than quite a few of the actual bosses, which considering other minibosses like the Undead Dragon or the various NPC Darkwraiths feels like this one is being pushed too hard. And of course I nearly quit over the Anor Londo snipers, as related several pages ago.

Overall, though, I'd say that some difficulty spikes don't make the overall experience bad. It kinda sucks that nobody plays online in PTDE anymore, but the game's still perfectly enjoyable with only NPC summons and invaders.

There are some cheap tactics to use on the perched dragons in these games if needed, and there’s no shame in it. I’ve rarely ever taken them on through pure melee, and it’s sometimes impossible to anyways. It’s kinda like you said already, how changing gear or tactics can make a former impenetrable wall start to crumble. Usually there’s always a easier way, but sometimes - and it seems to be increasingly the case in later entries in the series - you’re stuck with either powering through a tough encounter or spending considerable time respec’ing via a build change to gain a better advantage.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

There are some cheap tactics to use on the perched dragons in these games if needed, and there’s no shame in it. I’ve rarely ever taken them on through pure melee, and it’s sometimes impossible to anyways. It’s kinda like you said already, how changing gear or tactics can make a former impenetrable wall start to crumble. Usually there’s always a easier way, but sometimes - and it seems to be increasingly the case in later entries in the series - you’re stuck with either powering through a tough encounter or spending considerable time respec’ing via a build change to gain a better advantage.

I tried that, but the Hellkite just gets health regeneration if you try to snipe it from below the bridge. Meaning that you kinda have to fight it in melee, which is where it just flies around using its unavoidable breath attack.

Edit: Though, speaking of dragons, I just defeated Seath the Scaleless. His attempts to kill me by attacking my framerate were ultimately fruitless, and other than the scripted time, but that doesn't count, he failed to kill me even once.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I tried that, but the Hellkite just gets health regeneration if you try to snipe it from below the bridge. Meaning that you kinda have to fight it in melee, which is where it just flies around using its unavoidable breath attack.

Edit: Though, speaking of dragons, I just defeated Seath the Scaleless. His attempts to kill me by attacking my framerate were ultimately fruitless, and other than the scripted time, but that doesn't count, he failed to kill me even once.

Cool. Seath caused me some trouble initially until I learned his attack patterns which weren’t too involving. You might need to try different higher damage arrows or level a longbow a bit more, but the health regen can be overcome. At least that’s how I remember beating him at least once, from the small doorway underneath the bridge. Just needed a ton of arrows (at least 100), the light kind IIRC.

 

[sXeth]

Been picking up Path of Exile, which could be best described as Diablo, but with some actual depth injected into it. An opinion which may be coloured by my only really playing Diablo 3 (I have played the other 2, but barely in passing at friends houses).



I am kind of wondering where the catch in the freetoplay model is in it. Stash tabs don't seem like they'd be a major draw outside of true hoarders, and the insanely ludicrously priced cosmetics (one piece is like, 20-30 bucks CAD) aren't particularly embedded

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I am kind of wondering where the catch in the freetoplay model is in it.

There really isn't one. I've been playing the game for years, across multiple major patches, without putting a penny into it.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

And that's Bed of Chaos handled... Now I just have to go back and fight Nito. Well, I've already gone back and fought him, but I keep losing because there's too many minions. And that ranged attack that if you aren't close enough to Nito that you can't see the skeletons, you only have an audio cue with very strange timing to avoid it. And if you're locked onto the skeletons to clear them out, then you won't be able to see Nito winding up for an attack... and I'm fairly sure you can't even clear them out anyway even if you can stop them from reforming, because Nito just keeps making more. Nothing but bad options, until eventually you get so overwhelmed by skeletons that you can't even move to dodge roll. Then you die. Again.

I already brought a divine weapon like someone suggested above, but I'm still not getting anywhere.

 

[Dreiko]

Finally got around to starting p5r today, am about 9 hours in, 4 days remaining in the first deadline so about to start doing the palace. I like what they did with Kasumi and how they sprinkle her around a bit at the start. But yeah, not much else to say, p5 is prolly the best jrpg ever and this continues that and refines it even further. Game oozes style, uses top level seiyuu for every character, music is amazing, enemies are weird and awesome, turn based combat that is fully traditional but also evolved all over the place. Though I dunno how it'll be later on but recharging bullets feels very OP lol. So far I'm using them sparingly unless I get hit hard and don't wanna risk have to using a revival item cause it's early.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I was playing Back to the Future for the NES. I made it as far as the dance and the game was glitching out so I couldn't get past it. You need to catch notes, flats, and sharps on your guitar, but the sharps were the same color as the background and I could only see them 20% of the time. It was completely impossible for me to succeed at that point, and I had enough lives for 2 tries. It's probably okay, since I wouldn't have gotten past the Delorean anyway. I made it there once, but you only get one shot no matter how many lives you have, and a single mistake is all it takes for Marty to be stuck there.