What are you currently playing?

[Drathnoxis]

Anybody playing Slitterhead? I'm watching SGF play it and it seems pretty cool. It's a new horror game from the creator of Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush. You are some sort of ghost, body hopping between random people to fight giant body snatching insect monsters.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

I've been playing Ys 10 since shortly after launch. I'm getting close to the end of the game but I think I still have a few chapters left.
It's honestly fantastic, and easily one of the better Ys games in recent memory. Falcom dropping the amount of playable characters from 7 or so down to 2 did wonders for the gameplay and story, no doubt freeing up a ton of resources so they could make the rest of the game better.

The quality of the character writing and dialogue is noticeably stronger too. We're a long way away from NIS' blunder that was the original Ys 8 translation. Music's higher quality than Ys 9 too, though I still feel like 8 had a really solid array of styles and vibes in each area... while 9 and 10 strongly focus on the electric guitar. I realize that was how it was back in the day, but I kinda liked the musical variety Ys 8 put out. Ys 10's music is still great though.

Falcom's new engine is also awesome, it's such a huge step above what they were running for nearly/over a decade. I can't wait to see what they'll do with it once they get more practice with it under their belt.

I'm going to be sad when this game eventually wraps up. It's been a fun ride so far

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Playing Worldless, a Metroidvania from Spain. Could be a coincidence but isn't there an inordinate amount of MVs hailing from Spanish indie studios? Unepic, Ghost 1.0, Laika: Aged Through Blood, The Knight Witch, Astronite, both Blasphemous games...

Worldless takes the Cocoon route of cosmic fable by way of basic geometry and pretty lights. You play as what looks to me like day one concept art of Rayman, running around the obligatory Metroidvania cave system and learning the wonders of dashing and double jumping. Uniquely, your fight enemies in turn-based battles that are a mix of rhythm game and the active time system. You protecc and you attacc but most important of all you work to break elementary blocks and build up a gauge in order to absorb the enemy and gain a skill point...acc.

I gather that enemies are limited (combat is quite rare) and each of them has a unique look and a unique pattern of attacks and vulnerabilities, so you're basically fighting a mini boss at the end of every other platforming gauntlet. The game manages to land that sweet spot of being demanding enough to be engaging without being too difficult or too punishing.

 

[Worgen]

Remembered I had a save near the end of Half Life and decided to just beat it before starting on Half-life 2 episode 1. I forgot that the G-man really makes it sound like you have been hired for something and I'm disappointed that we never really got to see what that was. In Half-life 2 the intro kinda makes it seem like you might be back for something but its just back on earth and if I remember right, the episodes make the G-man more of an antagonist then a...whatever he is in the first game and even the base game of HL2. Just kinda seems like narratively they could have explored so much more without kinda retconning events like they seemed to have done. Also, I really wonder who owns what rights to Opposing forces (developed by Gearbox, not sure if they or Valve own the main character and such) since we never got a peep out of Shepard, who I think the G-man just kept on ice.

 

[gorfias]

Well, what did you think?? And before you answer, know that I love that game, and I do not take criticism of it... lightly.

LOL, it was fantastic.
Right after the win, I started replaying Portal and I'm amazed at what a fun little game that was, but Portal 2 turns the volume up to 11.
The graphics, given they both came out during gen 7 consoles, are super polished: a huge upgrade from P1. They look great to this day. They look like they belong in a movie with a $300 million budget.
The gameplay, puzzles and new features are just terrific.
The voice acting and story telling are a cut above the OG as well.
Rather than a fun little curiosity, Portal 2 is a fully fleshed out and sensational game. 10/10.
One thing P1 still does better? The credits. This never gets old.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Portal 2 was trash. It tries really hard to be as funny as the first game and doesn't even come close.

Everyone's entitles to their opinion... except this one. I choose violence. Meet outside in 30 minutes.

LOL, it was fantastic.
Right after the win, I started replaying Portal and I'm amazed at what a fun little game that was, but Portal 2 turns the volume up to 11.
The graphics, given they both came out during gen 7 consoles, are super polished: a huge upgrade from P1. They look great to this day. They look like they belong in a movie with a $300 million budget.
The gameplay, puzzles and new features are just terrific.
The voice acting and story telling are a cut above the OG as well.
Rather than a fun little curiosity, Portal 2 is a fully fleshed out and sensational game. 10/10.
One thing P1 still does better? The credits. This never gets old.

I trust the promise of physical harm didn't influence your spot-on review?

But seriously, glad you enjoyed them. Both Portal 1 and 2 are timeless classics anyone can enjoy at any time, and I'm glad you didn't let their age deter you from experiencing them.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Anybody playing Slitterhead? I'm watching SGF play it and it seems pretty cool. It's a new horror game from the creator of Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush. You are some sort of ghost, body hopping between random people to fight giant body snatching insect monsters.

Yeah with the caveat of a clunky slow tutorial start and budget limitations it's an alright curiosity so far, - if the footage hasn't done anything to turn you off it yet then odds are on the side of good. Though my progress has been distracted early with other mysteries whose names remain unnamed taken to the grave of nameless games.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Towers of Asgahba
Do not in any way connect this to my previous communication. They are completely unrelated. The human brain loves to line the dots, how'd you think religion/superstition took off? But you must resist this primal temptation. Reject your coding, son. Resist think! 'Ave a drink. maybe a lil spliff or a line by the sink? All good? Sorted? Aight then!

With all due respect, this cheeky kunt didn't work at all when first booted up. So tbh first impressions weren't the warmest. Yes it says it's early access title, and yes I accepted all the usual associated risks while purchasing, is just that to engage in the community testing/feedback process it's kinda implied the product is supposed to function first. Luckily a redownload of the game seemed to fix it. Less hassle than feared.

Is a farm building/exploration/ecosystem management/combat/tribe/survival-lite where you're dropped into land more barren than the American dream and post-brexit UK's bastard stillborn offspring, then passive-aggressively asked by the locals to make it lovely and teeming with the ruthless amoral violence of nature instead.

Looks pretty. Tickles a basic need in the mind to see greenery and creatures flourish while building farming villages.

Combat was a tad irritating at first cos you don't get weapons till a few quests in, meanwhile these spindly worthless little twat spiders roam about and when they spot you they will chase you to the bitter bloody ends of the earth unless you cower in your home settlement waiting for them to bugger off from boredom, as trying to attack with the garden tools are no match for their DPS. That being said, as soon as they gave spear I been sprinting at the fuckers going "ahahahahahah who's in charge now you gross lil scuttle-turds!?" Other than that, can't tell if it's good yet. It is merely distracting.

 

[BrawlMan]

Anybody playing Slitterhead? I'm watching SGF play it and it seems pretty cool. It's a new horror game from the creator of Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush. You are some sort of ghost, body hopping between random people to fight giant body snatching insect monsters.

Yeah with the caveat of a clunky slow tutorial start and budget limitations it's an alright curiosity so far, - if the footage hasn't done anything to turn you off it yet then odds are on the side of good. Though my progress has been distracted early with other mysteries whose names remain unnamed taken to the grave of nameless games.

I have no interest until all the bug breaking jank is really patched out. Civt Has a review archaic man watching. He loves the game but he knows, it's not a game for everyone.

​

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Towers of Asgahba.

Forgot to add but missed the edit window: this game started with a "we smol bean indie Dev plz understand" notice screen. Not a problem. Is just the having to sign a EULA agreement before access to game is permitted didn't quite feel like scrappy indie freedom fuzzies, especially when it says it's for EA too! They tricked me! Quantic Dream did the same with Dustborn. Both distinct indie aesthetics while the usual loud publisher logos hide uncharacteristically in the closet waiting to jump out through the startup screen only after they got the money. The meta has evolved.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Picked up Watchdogs 2 again after my brief 30 minute stint with it about a month or so ago, and I'm completely lost. It's one thing to come back to a game after a significant span of time and have to relearn the controls, but this Ubisoft shit... fuck's sake, every button brings up a submenu or item wheel each with their own 4-5 smaller icons; I have no idea what does what. And then I proceed to my first non-tutorial objective hoping I could intuit the game if I just moved along, and they throw like 3-4 MORE mechanics at me, each with their own menus and submenus! It's overwhelming in a VERY bad way.

It's one thing to have a game that offers a lot over time, but another to have a game that just dumps everything on you basically all at once. This makes me want to just play Watchdogs 1 again; I don't recall ever feeling like I was juggling cats executing the game's basic premise. I really enjoyed my time with it and was hoping for more of the same with this sequel, but so far, it just feels like Ubisoft: The Game, "now with 40% more ICOOOOOONZZZZ!"

Well, I've come around on Watchdogs 2. I've played it for a few more hours, gotten used to the [still] cludgy interfaces and menus, and found myself thoroughly enjoying it. The world is BIG; I had no idea! Haven't had this much fun in a non-Elden Ring open world since... well, since GTA V when it first released in 1924 or however godawfully long ago that was.

I've dismissed the story entirely; I don't know what I'm doing or why, and my partners in crime who keep calling me with exposition are annoying, but in between those bits, I like the hacking puzzles and general fuck-aroundery such.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

In the latest update, Holocure (in its quest to be every game ever) added, among a lot of other things, a rage platformer called 'Tower of Suffering'. It's basically a miniature version of Jump King with a couple of quality-of-life features to make it beatable for non-rage-game players, including a power meter so you can gauge your jumps more easily and the ability (albeit extremely limited) to place checkpoints you can return to as many times as you need to. It's still ultimately a rage platformer, though, so long falls, impossible-looking jumps and general 'why' moments are inevitable.

At least it was short enough that a guy like me who's never actually played Jump King could beat it and see the cute girl at the top.

As for the actual 0.7 update, basically it just made the game even bigger and better like all the other updates so far. New units, new mechanics, new minigames, a couple of new stages to kick your ass until you get those new mechanics unlocked and mastered. Game's good, and if you liked Vampire Survivors I'd suggest taking a look even if you know nothing about VTubers.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Everyone's entitles to their opinion... except this one. I choose violence. Meet outside in 30 minutes.

I would but I have 20 puzzles consisting of searching a giant room for the 2 portalable surfaces to do first so I might be late. And you'll probably only throw a potato at me or something anyway.

 

[ExtraWildGames]

Just beat GunGrave:Gore on hard. Fun Game!

Though the Ranking system is uhh.. not that great.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Adding to the "just beat" game category to say I wrapped up Ys 10.
What a great game. I had a lot of fun with it... and it capped off in just the right away. Couldn't be more pleased.

Next up on my list to play is Rogue Flight

 

[Bob_McMillan]

Played Space Marine 2 Operations for a few hours, since I was lucky enough to find a squad that didn't just leave after a single mission. I stayed up way too late past my bedtime, but fuck me it felt great. I love that I can just pick this game up again after so many weeks of not playing and comfortably murder a bunch of nids and heretics. It's like a live service game without any of the fomo.

 

[Worgen]

Tried the demo for Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Its pretty damn good. Gets rid of a lot of the bloat that the series had built up over the years. It really puts me in mind of Dynasty Warriors 2, at least from the battle you fight, it still has some world map stuff and extra stuff. Its a bit weird how you play what seems like a non-voiced character just called the wanderer, but you don't seem to get any character creation, outside of choosing weapons and customizing your squad and such. But it plays well and looks good and is fun, so yay, Dynasty Warriors seems back.

 

[meiam]

Tried the demo for Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Its pretty damn good. Gets rid of a lot of the bloat that the series had built up over the years. It really puts me in mind of Dynasty Warriors 2, at least from the battle you fight, it still has some world map stuff and extra stuff. Its a bit weird how you play what seems like a non-voiced character just called the wanderer, but you don't seem to get any character creation, outside of choosing weapons and customizing your squad and such. But it plays well and looks good and is fun, so yay, Dynasty Warriors seems back.

Might come back to the franchise then, later title definitely lost me.

 

[Worgen]

Might come back to the franchise then, later title definitely lost me.

Its pretty cool, like you do have way more moves then in DW2, but they tend to make sense, like you have a few moves that use your squad to either do a ranged volley, charge, or even encircle an enemy.

 

[BrawlMan]

Its pretty cool, like you do have way more moves then in DW2, but they tend to make sense, like you have a few moves that use your squad to either do a ranged volley, charge, or even encircle an enemy.

I'll be playing the demo in a few. It just finished downloading.