What are you currently playing?

[wings012]

I was playing Prey again. Cause a friend of mine started playing it for his first time so we did some parallel playing over discord. I also kinda forgot a lot of the finer details of the game. He finished before I did though and I've lost my motivation to finish my second playthrough.

In my first playthrough years ago I went with minimal Typhon powers in order to not trip the turrets. Well, I sure was foolish. The turrets honestly aren't worth shit, getting trashed easily by a basic phantom. Granted you can get creative with luring enemies into massed turret ambushes.

Psychoshock is hella broken. I also used the stun gun a lot where I previously didn't and it's amazing against Technopaths. I'll see if I can muster the willpower to finish the game again over this week or over the upcoming weekend but not really feeling it anymore.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

In Earthbound's Magicant, Ness wears pajamas, but in Mother 2 he's naked, while we're on this thread.

Also, I started Dark Souls 3, took the Knight class because I'm still a casul at heart. Made it up to Road of Sacrifices, after dying multiple times to the knights on the High Wall. Those guys don't mess around even by the series' standards.

You’ve been blazing a trail through this series lately. I can’t recall but did you also do all of Dark Souls 2 before Bloodborne?

Just funny to me as it’s taken me years to get through it all, for various reasons.

Dark Souls 3 does some weird stuff with poise and also shields that make it play significantly different from 1 and 2. You might as well assume that you don't have poise in Dark Souls 3 because it doesn't work the way you think it does. Blocking with a shield also takes significantly more stamina than in previous games, and shields have a lot less stability.

I think it makes the game harder early on because of muscle memory and expectations built up from the previous games.

Enemies in general are also just a bit faster and more aggressive, because your character is also significantly faster and more responsive. Honestly, of all the Souls games I think it feels the best to play, though weirdly enough it's the one that I've beaten the fewest amount of times.

The Long, Desperate Search To Understand Poise In 'Dark Souls 3'

Months after release, a frustrated Dark Souls community finally has the answers it's been looking for. It shouldn't have taken this long.

www.vice.com

Basically,

”For Dark Souls 3, FromSoftware quietly removed how poise worked in the original game, while keeping the mechanics of Dark Souls 2. Now, poise exists when you attack with a weapon, but no longer protects you from being staggered while standing around. Additionally, some weapon arts, like one inspired by the dash move from Bloodborne, enable poise while the player is moving. Essentially, Dark Souls 3 only provides poise while players are active.“

Yay. Thanks for being as cryptic as ever FROM, even with game mechanics. It makes sense that it’s tied to being active/aggressive though, considering the series has leaned that way since Bloodborne.

 

[meiam]

I was playing Prey again. Cause a friend of mine started playing it for his first time so we did some parallel playing over discord. I also kinda forgot a lot of the finer details of the game. He finished before I did though and I've lost my motivation to finish my second playthrough.

In my first playthrough years ago I went with minimal Typhon powers in order to not trip the turrets. Well, I sure was foolish. The turrets honestly aren't worth shit, getting trashed easily by a basic phantom. Granted you can get creative with luring enemies into massed turret ambushes.

Psychoshock is hella broken. I also used the stun gun a lot where I previously didn't and it's amazing against Technopaths. I'll see if I can muster the willpower to finish the game again over this week or over the upcoming weekend but not really feeling it anymore.

Yeah the reward for foregoing typhoon mod is pretty pointless, I think instead the station robot (med, engineer, science) should have been hostile to you once you have too much typhoon and would require some sort of hacking to use.

 

[Dalisclock]

Been playing through Carrion this weekend. I'm not finished yet but I think I'm close so I feel like I can render judgement.

It's a generally good game, using a fairly unique hook of playing as the monster from any given Horror movie, with nods to the ALIEN films in particular even if the creature itself is more of a Shoggoth. You get upgrades that give you new powers as you progress, which unlocks further progression routes you may not have noticed before. So basically a metroidvania with a horror theme. Enemies ramp of as you go which keeps you on your toes, in particular exo-skeleton troopers who eventually upgrade to FUCKING FLAMETHROWERS(which can kill you dead fast) and there are mini-mechs(with mini-guns) that act as mini-boss enemies.

Eating Humans(most humans, anyway) adds to your mass, which slowly upgrades as the game goes on, and each of the 3 levels(indicated by a handy meter) has certain abilities only it can use, so juggling this is important, because certain puzzles can only be solved at certain mass levels. There are pools of pink liquid placed around the game world(normally near where you need it) that allow you to deposit mass in big fleshy balls that you can leave and later come back and eat to regain the mass.

The game does nicely feel like it hits the "You are the monster hunting down terrified humans" theme at times(you can do the monster scream to manipulate them) and certain upgrades(such as covering yourself with murder spikes) keeps the game from getting stale. That being said, the game does feel like it's wearing out it's welcome despite this. Most of the environments are kinda samey and the lack of the map occasionally leads to wandering around trying to figure out where the hell to go next or how to get back a previously inaccessible route.

The other problem is that generally, each major area revolves around finding a series of nodes that you infest and act as save points(which also replenish your mass) and there are big blast doors that will open once you capture all the save nodes. The number of nodes you need increases as you get to later areas but it doesn't vary much from this, so eventually boils down to "FInd save nodes, proceed to next one, repeat until exit door opens, move to next area". Despite the fact the game is only like 5-6 hours long, it's starting to wear thin and that's not a good sign. It feels like the game needs either a little more variation in progression or be a little bit shorter.

There's no plot to speak of, other then a tiny bit of background told by some interactive flashback segments. It's you, the monster, and trying to get the hell out of the elaborate underground base alive. There's hints that there's more to the story based on some of the environmental details but no more then hints. In particular, the fact the monster is revealed to have been found in an apparently abandoned facility, and there are weird, alien looking corpses(one of them described as "Cyclopean") in there as well. The fact the entire thing seems to take place on earth leads to some fridge horror but it's never really elaborated on.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Is Overcooked (base game) worth it on PSN? Or is this one of those LittleBigPlanet scenarios where the sequel makes the first game practically irrelevant?

EDIT: Fuck it, sold.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Finished Mario RPG again. It's neat how little grinding you need to do in the game. As in, none. I fought practically no non-essential fights and finished the game at level 15. Smithy and the guy before him was a little tedious, but that was about it. I don't think I'd ever go for a true low level run though, just because I don't want to reset a billion times trying to lose the lucky egg game.

I still really like the game. I'm not a fan of Smithy's design or the factory level, but the majority of the game is really fun and makes just the right amount of fun of the Mario universe. It's amazing how much they got right about the game. No random encounters, varied and unique locations and events, and timed hits are fun and liven up the turn based combat. Most importantly, the game always starts the cursor over your most recently used save slot and not over the new game button! There are games made today that still can't get this right and it's been done perfectly in a game from 1996.

Anyway, I still love the game. I'll probably replay it again in another couple years.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

You’ve been blazing a trail through this series lately. I can’t recall but did you also do all of Dark Souls 2 before Bloodborne?

Just funny to me as it’s taken me years to get through it all, for various reasons.

I didn't do the DLC or all the optional bosses, but yes, I have finished 2 as well.

Also, technically it did take me a pretty long time to get through all of these, since I played DaS1, Bloodborne and 3 almost when they came out (well, when PTDE came out, in the former case), but I didn't get into any of them at all back then, so I barely made any progress (Undead Parish, Gascoigne, Undead Settlement respectively was where I fell out.) It's less that I'm that much better at games since then, more that I've just gotten some perspective and appreciation for the series.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I didn't do the DLC or all the optional bosses, but yes, I have finished 2 as well.

Also, technically it did take me a pretty long time to get through all of these, since I played DaS1, Bloodborne and 3 almost when they came out (well, when PTDE came out, in the former case), but I didn't get into any of them at all back then, so I barely made any progress (Undead Parish, Gascoigne, Undead Settlement respectively was where I fell out.) It's less that I'm that much better at games since then, more that I've just gotten some perspective and appreciation for the series.

That's too bad. The DLCs for Dark Souls 2 are arguable the best part of that game.

 

[meiam]

Finished Mario RPG again. It's neat how little grinding you need to do in the game. As in, none. I fought practically no non-essential fights and finished the game at level 15. Smithy and the guy before him was a little tedious, but that was about it. I don't think I'd ever go for a true low level run though, just because I don't want to reset a billion times trying to lose the lucky egg game.

I still really like the game. I'm not a fan of Smithy's design or the factory level, but the majority of the game is really fun and makes just the right amount of fun of the Mario universe. It's amazing how much they got right about the game. No random encounters, varied and unique locations and events, and timed hits are fun and liven up the turn based combat. Most importantly, the game always starts the cursor over your most recently used save slot and not over the new game button! There are games made today that still can't get this right and it's been done perfectly in a game from 1996.

Anyway, I still love the game. I'll probably replay it again in another couple years.

Not one word about the soundtrack? Criminal!

 

[Ezekiel]

Finished Evil Within 2. It's fine. I don't really get why people think this is so much better than Shinji Mikami's original. I thought that game had a creepier atmosphere and better scenarios.

Now on to Dishonored 2.

 

[Kyrian007]

I've gone back to Grim Dawn. I haven't played it since before the DLC was released and have been fairly surprised at how much improvement has been made for free to the base game as well. I still haven't bought the DLC, but might because it contains more character classes as well as more content.

I had expected to have gone back to Borderlands 3 after the release of the 3rd DLC... but just haven't had any inclination to. Kinda says a lot really.

 

[BrawlMan]

Finished Evil Within 2. It's fine. I don't really get why people think this is so much better than Shinji Mikami's original. I thought that game had a creepier atmosphere and better scenarios.

Several reason: better story, more fleshed out characters, and more interesting gameplay. I like EW1, but it is Shinji literally doing RE4 again, but with a less interesting cast. Sebasitian and Joseph just get carried around, next to completely clueless, while everyone else jerking them around in on what is happening. I do like Ruvik, but it's clear Shinji is more of a I just want cool monster and set pieces kind of guy, instead of story. It's pretty clear he barely had an idea on what he wanted for a sequel, and as much as I respect the man, I am glad he stepped down and some new blood take the director's chair. I will give EW some credit for slightly more interesting monster designs; especially if we're comparing the Haunted to the Lost. I like em both anyway. I know certain fans loved the washed out look for the first game, but for me personally, that visual style had already become old hat and played out by 2014. Also, the first game was super buggy and took a decent amount of patches to become playable and get rid of the stupid black bars. That was there for a "cinematic experience" when really they only hindered gameplay. The black bars could literally cock block you from doing important action commands or button presses. Watch Two Best Friends playthough of the first game to see their frustration with the black bars as much as they liked the game.Their playthrough of the 2nd game shows why people enjoy the 2nd game more. I prefer both EW games over RE7, and I call the former the true RE 7 & 8 for me. What sucks is we most likely won't get a 3rd game due to poor sales. Betheshda acted like dumb asses again and released this and Wolfenstein II around the same time in an already busy market.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I’m still on a Red Dead 2 kick, going for 100% slowly but surely. I love how one thing flows into a number of completely unexpected encounters. Like most recently it started off playing blackjack all night (in game) to get the last challenge of hitting three times without busting and winning the hand, the final of three locations. This was in Blackwater. I was nearly dozing off as it was taking over a half hour. I kept hoping it wouldn’t turn into another Pure Bladestone type of affair, as I drifted off. Then someone at the table got excited and woke me up a bit. The next hand I played, I ended up at twenty on my fourth card and lo and behold was dealt an ace on my fifth. The dealer had 18. Finally. Eight down and only two gambling challenges to go. The next one was winning three games in a row of dominoes, but after losing once I said the hell with it for a while.

Headed out and stopped by the homestead to see how things were, shoveled some shit and milked the cows for once in a long, long time to give uncle (or wifey, or the kid?) a break, then went to look for some more dinosaur bones and rock carvings in Mt Shann just north of Strawberry. Not long after departing I stumbled upon a guy’s campsite by the river on another one of my ill-navigated shortcuts, and he wasn’t the friendly type. I tried to defuse the situation nicely, but he ultimately had to be a jackass, saying something like, “Yup, just another yellow belly” as I was leaving. I knew my chances of intimidation were slim because he had already pulled a gun on me.

Got off my horse, walked down the hill towards his tent and surprised him around the corner with a quick lasso tackle. When I was looting him (yeah, I’m playing as a bit of a prick...John hasn’t completely shaken his dark side yet) his dog attacked me. I kicked him off and no sooner his owner began to struggle loose, so I knocked him out. Then the dog latched onto my leg again, so I kicked him off again. Sadly, he stopped moving after that. Not 100% sure he was dead because I don’t recall getting an honor ding, but I still felt bad, and realized in retrospect I should’ve fired off a couple warning shots after the first bite.

Anyways, I picked up his owner who was still conscious but not struggling much other than a grunt or groan, and carried him over to the river. Put him blind shallow enough water to where he still had a fighting chance. As for his dog, I also carried him to the river and watched him float away. I got out of there before seeing if his owner got free or not, but if he did it’s best he didn’t wake up to his (almost 100% sure) dead dog. *sigh*

I checked the map and noticed I still needed to catch a legendary fish in Owanjila Lake. But as I crossed the river I noticed a rare ? on my compass. Went to check it out and found a guy sitting on a cliff looking out over the horizon. I thought oh it’s probably just another fool that “needs” something, or possibly he has a treasure map he’s willing to part with.

Turns out, he was a writer that Arthur had spoken highly of during some past interaction with John way earlier in the game. John mentioned this to the guy, and he was beyond humble; instead beelining straight to a near pathetic level of self-loathing. It struck me as a bit sad actually. We talked for a while, he thanked me for the conversation and told me where he was staying if we ever wanted to talk again, which he hoped to do. I do as well because he seemed to be one of the more interesting, down to earth characters in the game, and completely random.

I pressed on to get my fish, and it was a big, beautiful small mouth bass. I strapped it down to my steed and headed into town to deliver it, then headed up the mountain for what I originally set out for. Of course I’m also studying the wildlife along the way, because that’s another part of the 100% requirement along with skinning what can be skinned. I’m about halfway to my marker, still in the foothills and I hear some yokels arguing back and forth a bit off the path. I normally would’ve went to check it out immediately, but I was tracking a bighorn I needed for my compendium. As I’m riding by the yokels, BOOM!! Then quiet. I cynically thought to myself yup, of course those idiots probably blew themselves up.

Got my bighorn skin and backtracked to the blast site and saw them; well, chunks of them at least. Also noticed the culprit of their angst: An opened safe. The dumbasses actually managed to get it open but destroyed the contents in the process, which appeared to be a couple nice wads of cash that I could no longer pick up. I then thought gee, I should’ve let the bighorn go, scared off these fools and open it the proper way. I won’t be deviating from my standard operating procedure in these cases anymore.

By this point it was getting dark, and along the way I found another peculiar site. Found my rock carvings and dinosaur bones, then took a moment to breath in the surroundings. My horse needed it to, because the thin, cold air up there was wearing her out a bit. I gave her some snacks, then headed back down the mountain into Strawberry to mail out my findings.

That all happened over about an hour or so of real time since leaving the blackjack table, and better part of a day’s worth of game world time. I might’ve lost track of time though too.

 

[Worgen]

Still working on Persona 4, but I think I'm on the last dungeon now. Trying not to get into anything else big since Horzon Zero Dawn comes out soon. I beat Halo CE on legendary so for a cooldown game (one where I can just jump in for 30 min without being warframe) right now I'm trying to finish up Jet Lancer.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Still working on Persona 4, but I think I'm on the last dungeon now. Trying not to get into anything else big since Horzon Zero Dawn comes out soon. I beat Halo CE on legendary so for a cooldown game (one where I can just jump in for 30 min without being warframe) right now I'm trying to finish up Jet Lancer.

What's the in-game date?

 

[Worgen]

What's the in-game date?

Well, I just finished that dungeon and its now december 25th.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Well, I just finished that dungeon and its now december 25th.

Right. Spoilers, so don't click 'reply' unless you already read them: In the original game, the timeline skips ahead for an epilogue. In Golden, you might still have more to do, if you got a certain Social Link to the maximum rank; otherwise, I'm pretty sure it just goes to the last day anyway. I'm not particularly familiar with Golden, I only played the original.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

In Horizon Zero Dawn I unlocked the ability to pick up items off the ground and search bodies while mounted.

The triangle button is used to pick up items while mounted.

The triangle button is also used to dismount.

"What idiot decided that was a good idea?" I think to myself as Aloy jumps off the strider for the 16th time in a row while I try to pick up wood to make arrows.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Dark Souls 3: I made it through the Cathedral of the Deep, and have moved on to the Farron side of the Road of Sacrifices, as far as the Abyss Watchers' boss room. The Abyss Watchers are also the first boss that has actually managed to kill me. I've died to groups of regular enemies and to falling off of things, but the bosses are finally stepping up as well.

 

[Worgen]

Dark Souls 3: I made it through the Cathedral of the Deep, and have moved on to the Farron side of the Road of Sacrifices, as far as the Abyss Watchers' boss room. The Abyss Watchers are also the first boss that has actually managed to kill me. I've died to groups of regular enemies and to falling off of things, but the bosses are finally stepping up as well.

Hrmm, I could have sworn that the Abyss Watchers was before the Cathedral of the Deep... But, it has been awhile since I last played through DS3.