What are you currently playing?

[Bob_McMillan]

Finally finished Phantom Liberty.

Dogtown? Fuck yeah.

The side quests? Fuck yeah.

The main plot? Ehhh.

CDPR clearly wanted to hike up the moral ambiguity of the game for PL. It's almost funny how every single gig or side quest has a "hard" decision that needs to be made. And yet, more or less, either choice results in the same outcome. Which was fine for these meaningless side quests, but for the main story... The choice you have is so morally ambiguous that I just cannot give a shit about either side. I don't care what happens to these characters, they're all awful people. Practically irredeemably so.

Overall a fun experience, but I was pretty bummed out by the ending. I sided with Songbird mainly because I thought Idris Elba's performance was just that boring and because I wanted to fuck over NUSA. It felt so silly siding with Songbird despite her fucking you over constantly. The devs noticed this too, since they give you dialogue that makes it clear you're only siding with her grudgingly, but they don't actually provide V with a reason for his actions.

Yeah, adding this one to the list of "games that would be better without branching narratives".

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I started on Hardcore on account of having played the original just last year, but if I'm being honest it still doesn't feel like that much of a challenge. I'm still at the very start though, so that's probably bound to change.

I'd say that regardless of what difficulty you're playing the game is at its most challenging/demanding at the very beginning.

There're some exceptions that I won't spoil because the game plays a lot with your expectations if you're an OG fan.

OP: Ultros released today and I'm having a blast figuring the fuck out of this game. On paper it's a metroidvania with roguelite elements - explore a cavelike labyrinth while gaining abilities, lose everything at intervals. Except you don't reset yourself on death but rather whenever you defeat a boss. You quickly gain back some stuff like your sword and certain abilities while the skill tree resets completely, unless you've locked down certain skills with collectible thingamajigs (which, fortunately, you can reassign at leisure).

The first boss is a fairly standard charging beastie; second was a decent duel. The combat and movement set is tight, responsive, perfectly satisfying. Game encourages style points by handing rarer drops if you mix your moves and don't get hit against an enemy. Drops all restore HP to some degree when consumed but their main point is to load you with different kinds of nutrients which you use to unlock skills. I like a quaint upgrade system that allows for some customization, like Xeodrifter. The mix and match, coupled with the ability to lock down some skills for keeps, doesn't make the reset frustrating at all (as you'd fear).

 

[Piscian]

Finally finished Phantom Liberty.

Dogtown? Fuck yeah.

The side quests? Fuck yeah.

The main plot? Ehhh.

CDPR clearly wanted to hike up the moral ambiguity of the game for PL. It's almost funny how every single gig or side quest has a "hard" decision that needs to be made. And yet, more or less, either choice results in the same outcome. Which was fine for these meaningless side quests, but for the main story... The choice you have is so morally ambiguous that I just cannot give a shit about either side. I don't care what happens to these characters, they're all awful people. Practically irredeemably so.

Overall a fun experience, but I was pretty bummed out by the ending. I sided with Songbird mainly because I thought Idris Elba's performance was just that boring and because I wanted to fuck over NUSA. It felt so silly siding with Songbird despite her fucking you over constantly. The devs noticed this too, since they give you dialogue that makes it clear you're only siding with her grudgingly, but they don't actually provide V with a reason for his actions.

Yeah, adding this one to the list of "games that would be better without branching narratives".

I put down Phantom Liberty an hour or so in. Im still in the cinematic point where you're helping the president and idk. I really don't care to be locked into this story. Im sure it opens up anytime now, but I ended up taking a break.


Instead Im playing Persona 3 Reload. I feel very lucky yo be experiencing this game for the first time. I imagine the remake value depreciates a bit if you've already played a game but its all brand new for me so Im a happy camper.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

OP: Ultros released today and I'm having a blast figuring the fuck out of this game. On paper it's a metroidvania with roguelite elements - explore a cavelike labyrinth while gaining abilities, lose everything at intervals. Except you don't reset yourself on death but rather whenever you defeat a boss. You quickly gain back some stuff like your sword and certain abilities while the skill tree resets completely, unless you've locked down certain skills with collectible thingamajigs (which, fortunately, you can reassign at leisure).

The first boss is a fairly standard charging beastie; second was a decent duel. The combat and movement set is tight, responsive, perfectly satisfying. Game encourages style points by handing rarer drops if you mix your moves and don't get hit against an enemy. Drops all restore HP to some degree when consumed but their main point is to load you with different kinds of nutrients which you use to unlock skills. I like a quaint upgrade system that allows for some customization, like Xeodrifter. The mix and match, coupled with the ability to lock down some skills for keeps, doesn't make the reset frustrating at all (as you'd fear).

Heck yeah.
I'm deciding between this and Lysfanga as my next game, both of which released today.

 

[gorfias]

Finished Batman Telltale The Enemy Within.

Well. At least I didn't get the Auschwitz ending I got with Become Human: Detroit but still felt like I couldn't do anything to have a happy ending. Glad I played it though.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I have actually been working up a sweat on Beat Saber and have beaten my first Expert level. Though I still don't hold a candle to this guy.

​

(I do dance a little on occasion, though.)

 

[Casual Shinji]

I picked up the Tomb Raider remaster of the first three classic games, because hey it's Tomb Raider; a blast from the past, I haven't played these games in years, and before the series got all cinematic and lame, and -oh wow this is why we don't play these games anymore.

It has a modern control option, and me being stupid figured modern controls meant modern camera as well. Nope.

 

[XsjadoBlaydette]

Banishers: Ghosts of new Eden.
Tbh hadn't seen any promotion simply assumed from glimpsing the cover n name alone it may have been some variety of hackneyed Uncharted knock-off.

Spoiler: The cover aforebementioned

After noticing it was made by Don't Nod and may be a real videogame however, out went assumption and in came slightly revised assumption with fresh haircut and dapper custom-tailored socks. Budget haircut and dapper custom-tailored socks, mind you, this is a AA shindig with AA pricing.

Intro before the title drop explainis the surprisingly literal title, where had kinda just blanked it almost instantly due to reading like yet more rando coolish conflicty sounding words many a game title before indulged in. So was a disarming "ohhhhh, you weren't bullshitting huh?!" moment once the drop gently nudged my dismissive, forgetful tendencies.

Completed first case solution/choice so far, gotta say the writing and voice acting is going real hard here - we got all the British dialects flexing their charms - the 2 protag lovers: one with perhaps the most soothing of stern voices could listen to every night before sleep and omg finally a Scottish non-caricature, softly spoken protagonist! (Don't Nod will never know or care how much that means to me). The other characters are performed believably too, to the point the "moral choice" moment at the end of the first proper case seriously was a tough one cause I got so emotionally invested in struggles and desires of even comparatively brief characters, though it did take till just before that moment to become properly hooked into what the situation was.

Combat may be somewhat less appealing for some though, as of speaking with a tad creaky and confusing lock-on behaviour that isn't outside the realm of patch fixes. Not necessarily bad to play,, but for now I'd say it isn't the main draw of this game just like the motion capture (or lack of). Skill trees likely unlock the more fun options.

In all, is a bit like a budget Witcher ghost investigation story with unique approach to narratively-entwined moral choice system where it feels like it makes more sense and actually matters, along with some culmination of familiar combat approaches yet to find its footing in the early game. Superb voice acting, pleasantly surprised to care about game characters and story. Worth a gander for that alone.

 

[Old_Hunter_77]

Banishers: Ghosts of new Eden.
Tbh hadn't seen any promotion simply assumed from glimpsing the cover n name alone it may have been some variety of hackneyed Uncharted knock-off.

Spoiler: The cover aforebementioned

After noticing it was made by Don't Nod and may be a real videogame however, out went assumption and in came slightly revised assumption with fresh haircut and dapper custom-tailored socks. Budget haircut and dapper custom-tailored socks, mind you, this is a AA shindig with AA pricing.

Intro before the title drop explainis the surprisingly literal title, where had kinda just blanked it almost instantly due to reading like yet more rando coolish conflicty sounding words many a game title before indulged in. So was a disarming "ohhhhh, you weren't bullshitting huh?!" moment once the drop gently nudged my dismissive, forgetful tendencies.

Completed first case solution/choice so far, gotta say the writing and voice acting is going real hard here - we got all the British dialects flexing their charms - the 2 protag lovers: one with perhaps the most soothing of stern voices could listen to every night before sleep and omg finally a Scottish non-caricature, softly spoken protagonist! (Don't Nod will never know or care how much that means to me). The other characters are performed believably too, to the point the "moral choice" moment at the end of the first proper case seriously was a tough one cause I got so emotionally invested in struggles and desires of even comparatively brief characters, though it did take till just before that moment to become properly hooked into what the situation was.

Combat may be somewhat less appealing for some though, as of speaking with a tad creaky and confusing lock-on behaviour that isn't outside the realm of patch fixes. Not necessarily bad to play,, but for now I'd say it isn't the main draw of this game just like the motion capture (or lack of). Skill trees likely unlock the more fun options.

In all, is a bit like a budget Witcher ghost investigation story with unique approach to narratively-entwined moral choice system where it feels like it makes more sense and actually matters, along with some culmination of familiar combat approaches yet to find its footing in the early game. Superb voice acting, pleasantly surprised to care about game characters and story. Worth a gander for that alone.

Here's a the review I watched for this game:

Basically he compares it to one of their previous games Vampyr which had shitty combat and excellent story and characters and mood. Since I agreed with his take on Vampyr I figured I'd agree with his take on this one and the footage looked like it would be the case.

 

[XsjadoBlaydette]

Here's a the review I watched for this game:

Basically he compares it to one of their previous games Vampyr which had shitty combat and excellent story and characters and mood. Since I agreed with his take on Vampyr I figured I'd agree with his take on this one and the footage looked like it would be the case.

Was thinking of Vampyr at times while playing for sure. Though I think a few ppl tend to love getting a bit hyperbolic when describing these type of videogame combats: while noticeably flawed, I certainly wouldn't call it shit. It's more like a halfway compromise between soulsborne and simple, is manageable avenue for practicing stamina-based combat outside the daunting entry points of dark souls for anyone who hasn't got on well with DS yet still curious about it all, IMO. If it was as shit as they say I would've dropped it quick (it don't take much I assure you, lol). But then again, I've no idea what standards most these people are working from when they communicate their criticisms. Vampyr, I mean, this new game doesn't have stamina, is more a dodge/bumper attacks/bonfire rests/ghost-double-character-switch-up-moves-jobby.

 

[Piscian]

Here's a the review I watched for this game:

Basically he compares it to one of their previous games Vampyr which had shitty combat and excellent story and characters and mood. Since I agreed with his take on Vampyr I figured I'd agree with his take on this one and the footage looked like it would be the case.

Its funny calling them a AA publisher when 2022-2023 saw AAA publishers put out so much empty bug ridden trash. Like UBisoft can say they spent 500mil or whatever on FarCry 6, but it looks like an indie steam asset flip.

 

[Bartholen]

I've arrived at the castle in the RE-4-make, and it's given me a similarly surprising feeling like playing the original did. It feels almost strange to play a game that doesn't feel like it's trying to get me into a mental loop and keep me playing it for 6 hours straight. Almost every game I've played in the last year has been like that: Dragon Age Origins, Cyberpunk 2077, Total Warhammer, Slay the Spire, Batman Arkham Knight, Baldur's Gate 3 and so on. It's downright liberating to feel you can just put down a game and come back to it later. It's like watching episodic TV in a good way: each section has its own special bit, and once it's over it's over. You get a bit of riding on a boat, a bit of horde defense, a small escape sequence. They're not tutorials for whole new gameplay mechanics, they're just one-off bits. And I feel like that's kind of missing from the kind of modern games I play.

 

[BrawlMan]

You get a bit of riding on a boat, a bit of horde defense, a small escape sequence. They're not tutorials for whole new gameplay mechanics, they're just one-off bits. And I feel like that's kind of missing from the kind of modern games I play.

Ironic, because the production trouble OG RE4 had, Shinji and his team were mostly throwing in anything that worked desperately and were luckily able to pull it off.

And I feel like that's kind of missing from the kind of modern games I play.

You've been looking in the wrong places. Plenty of indie and AA games got that covered. Besides, even back in the day, not every game could do a genre roulette or one off sections well.

 

[Piscian]

I've arrived at the castle in the RE-4-make, and it's given me a similarly surprising feeling like playing the original did. It feels almost strange to play a game that doesn't feel like it's trying to get me into a mental loop and keep me playing it for 6 hours straight. Almost every game I've played in the last year has been like that: Dragon Age Origins, Cyberpunk 2077, Total Warhammer, Slay the Spire, Batman Arkham Knight, Baldur's Gate 3 and so on. It's downright liberating to feel you can just put down a game and come back to it later. It's like watching episodic TV in a good way: each section has its own special bit, and once it's over it's over. You get a bit of riding on a boat, a bit of horde defense, a small escape sequence. They're not tutorials for whole new gameplay mechanics, they're just one-off bits. And I feel like that's kind of missing from the kind of modern games I play.

Ill back you up on that. Capcom seems to like doing episodic narratives. RE5 was literally Chapters. That is kind of a pleasant feeling like the game is telling you to go stretch and order a pizza.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Ill back you up on that. Capcom seems to like doing episodic narratives. RE5 was literally Chapters. That is kind of a pleasant feeling like the game is telling you to go stretch and order a pizza.

That's one of the things that I've always loved about Resident Evil 4, the whole game is made up of fun set-pieces with distinctive settings, enemy/territory layouts and gameplay conceits. Whenever you reach a save point you're at the end of a micro adventure and on the threshold of starting another. You can feed the addictive "just one more go" loop or call it a night and feel satisfied, either works like a charm.

This should be a no-brainer for any game that parses its story in chapters but few pull it off as well as RE4.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Seeing all the love for REm4ke is making me want to play it again, but I'm committed to clearing the Golden Age of Call of Duty at this point. Think I've got one long or two short sessions left in Black Ops before Modern Warfare 3's up next.

Because the whole CoD series went on Steam Sale at once just this week, the friend who got me interested in this marathon sent me the Warchest, containing the first three games by Infinity Ward: Call of Duty, United Offensive, and CoD2. Out of those the only one that really interests me is 2, so I might add that to the end of the list after BlOps 2 before I move on to something else.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

Turned out it was one session and Black Ops is finished. Honestly, the way it uses cuts during missions instead of being continuous from one end to the next makes it feel kinda... disconnected. I know that's sort of the point during Mason's interrogations, but especially in the final mission it just takes a lot out of it. I didn't absolutely hate it, but I'd say it's the weakest of the Call of Duty games I've played so far, including the ones I played before not as part of this marathon.

Next on the list is the MW3 replay. I remember not hating it the last time I played it, but I was a lot younger then, and also a lot less keyed into the Call of Duty franchise, or most things really. Been having a pretty good time with Hardened difficulty so far so I'll probably just keep that up.

 

[hanselthecaretaker2]

That's one of the things that I've always loved about Resident Evil 4, the whole game is made up of fun set-pieces with distinctive settings, enemy/territory layouts and gameplay conceits. Whenever you reach a save point you're at the end of a micro adventure and on the threshold of starting another. You can feed the addictive "just one more go" loop or call it a night and feel satisfied, either works like a charm.

This should be a no-brainer for any game that parses its story in chapters but few pull it off as well as RE4.

Uncharted was kinda like that. Mileage may vary on the latter two sequels but eh. I recall the hours melting away on each while never feeling stressed about when or where I had to call it a night.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Uncharted was kinda like that. Mileage may vary on the latter two sequels but eh. I recall the hours melting away on each while never feeling stressed about when or where I had to call it a night.

I tend to agree but Uncharted's "problem" was that whenever you started a chapter it usually took a good while of slowly walking down a forest path or a busy marketplace or sneaking around instadeath before getting back into the proper fun part of the game. RE4 nailed downtime without making it feel like a detraction.

This became especially egregious when games 3-4 became enamored with flashback chapters that didn't just feel like a pause from regular gameplay but from advancing the story as well.

 

[Worgen]

Finished up Chorus. Pretty awesome, the plot goes a bit overly metaphysical, but the gameplay and new abilities continue to be extremely fun to use. Its certainly got the most fun space combat I've seen in a game, would recommend.

Decided to grab Helldivers 2. Its pretty cool, but you can feel that it was designed around a controller with how aiming feels, but it still works really well with mouse and keyboard. I really like the tongue in cheek dialog and plot with 'super earth' and 'super democracy' etc. The combat is extremely satisfying, enemies being blown into chunks, orbital strikes making huge explosions, air strikes shredding enemy groups. I've only done a few multi matches so far, seems to work well, you do have to worry about friendly fire, but unlike most games, it ends up being more funny then frustrating.