What are you currently playing?
- Thread starter Nick Calandra
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I've been playing Blue Prince for quite a while, and weirdly only got the pun like last week. And I work with blueprints constantly. We don't really call them that I guess.
The game is really solid if overly random at times. Basically you enter a house composed of a grid and every time you move from tile to tile you choose a layout of a room from a set of 3 options, and you progress through the structure. When you can't progress any further the day ends and you start over. This is super similar to a number of boardgames I've played when you have a deck of tiles and you build the dungeon as you go, but I'm blanking on any names.
Unlike the boardgames you have a few ways to affect what room options you get which is good, but the game is narratively and clue focussed so you really just need certain rooms at times and not getting them is tradegy. As an example I'm trying to do a thing where I need to get 5 categories of rooms in my build. Each of those categories has options of two to five rooms in them that I need to do my puzzle. I had one category left and 16 rerolls to get it. Didn't get it. My friggin garbage luck.
It's a good approach to puzzles though. On the base level the goal is to inherent the mansion by getting to the last room. This is readily achievable in probably less than 30 days on average - each day being one run. I got to the end just under that and I wasn't exactly killing it in terms of puzzle competence. After you get to the end you can keep going if you're into it - there are more puzzles and more story to uncover. I'm on day 100 and something at this stage, slowly uncovering more stuff, solving puzzles and pushing through . But the initial end is early enough that it's easy to "win" in a reasonable amount of time and then make your decision on whether to keep going or not. The ending you get is reasonably satisfying so you aren't left too cold if you do stop.
The biggest complaint I have is that the random nature of the game, and the "finish in any order" nature of the puzzles leads to periodic annoyance. Half the time when you bust your ass and figure out a super hard thing your reward is a clue to another puzzle. Early game that clue was often related to a puzzle I hadn't even found yet, now I'm making more progress but instead I get clues to shit I figured out previously. Or narrative story information that I already figured out. More rewards for puzzles that are either bonuses or new areas would be really appreciated. Especially like.. at this point in the game consumables like keys jewels or money shouldn't be a problem for me but I still periodically get screwed by not having enough. Just give me extra gems to start the day or more keys or whatever as a reward to help me pick up the pace now that I've worked my way out of the weeds.
The game is really solid if overly random at times. Basically you enter a house composed of a grid and every time you move from tile to tile you choose a layout of a room from a set of 3 options, and you progress through the structure. When you can't progress any further the day ends and you start over. This is super similar to a number of boardgames I've played when you have a deck of tiles and you build the dungeon as you go, but I'm blanking on any names.
Unlike the boardgames you have a few ways to affect what room options you get which is good, but the game is narratively and clue focussed so you really just need certain rooms at times and not getting them is tradegy. As an example I'm trying to do a thing where I need to get 5 categories of rooms in my build. Each of those categories has options of two to five rooms in them that I need to do my puzzle. I had one category left and 16 rerolls to get it. Didn't get it. My friggin garbage luck.
It's a good approach to puzzles though. On the base level the goal is to inherent the mansion by getting to the last room. This is readily achievable in probably less than 30 days on average - each day being one run. I got to the end just under that and I wasn't exactly killing it in terms of puzzle competence. After you get to the end you can keep going if you're into it - there are more puzzles and more story to uncover. I'm on day 100 and something at this stage, slowly uncovering more stuff, solving puzzles and pushing through . But the initial end is early enough that it's easy to "win" in a reasonable amount of time and then make your decision on whether to keep going or not. The ending you get is reasonably satisfying so you aren't left too cold if you do stop.
The biggest complaint I have is that the random nature of the game, and the "finish in any order" nature of the puzzles leads to periodic annoyance. Half the time when you bust your ass and figure out a super hard thing your reward is a clue to another puzzle. Early game that clue was often related to a puzzle I hadn't even found yet, now I'm making more progress but instead I get clues to shit I figured out previously. Or narrative story information that I already figured out. More rewards for puzzles that are either bonuses or new areas would be really appreciated. Especially like.. at this point in the game consumables like keys jewels or money shouldn't be a problem for me but I still periodically get screwed by not having enough. Just give me extra gems to start the day or more keys or whatever as a reward to help me pick up the pace now that I've worked my way out of the weeds.
I think the biggest problem with the structure is that 90% of the point of the game is solving the puzzles but you spend 60% of your time playing the roguelite, and the roguelite isn't that good. Once you've made it to room 46, the roguelite aspects only serve to get in your way. If you were to look at the game solely from that aspect, with all the puzzles stripped out, at that point there isn't even a way to win a run and you probably understand the mechanics well enough to fill out the house every time. The roguelite was a puzzle that you've already solved, and then have to keep solving over and over to get a chance to access the rest of the puzzles.
- Apr 1, 2009
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- Whatever, just wash your hands.
Tried Nightreign and while I think I could get into it, I don't like the lag I get, its not much but enough that it annoys me. And I kinda don't really feel like getting deep into a multi game like it right now.
So I returned it and grabbed the dlc campaign for Warhammer 40k Battlesector called Deeds of the Fallen. Now Battlesector is one of the best 40k games around as long as you want a turn based tactics game, if you do its fantastic, good graphics, fun mechanics, well done character abilities etc etc. It has plenty of secondary game modes that are like mini-campaigns, but only one story campaign till now. In the original campaign you play as the Blood Angles with a few occasional Sisters of Battle units thrown in. In the new DLC campain you are entirely focused (so far) on playing Sisters of Battle. So far the campaign isn't as good as base campaign, but its not bad, just not quite as good. You play Sisters vs the Orks, its pretty fun shooting them with bolters then having a canoness running it to finish off the stragglers with her chain sword. After a mission you can alter your army composition and upgrade your commanders which can give other units other weapons and abilities, its well done and I look forward to playing more.
So I returned it and grabbed the dlc campaign for Warhammer 40k Battlesector called Deeds of the Fallen. Now Battlesector is one of the best 40k games around as long as you want a turn based tactics game, if you do its fantastic, good graphics, fun mechanics, well done character abilities etc etc. It has plenty of secondary game modes that are like mini-campaigns, but only one story campaign till now. In the original campaign you play as the Blood Angles with a few occasional Sisters of Battle units thrown in. In the new DLC campain you are entirely focused (so far) on playing Sisters of Battle. So far the campaign isn't as good as base campaign, but its not bad, just not quite as good. You play Sisters vs the Orks, its pretty fun shooting them with bolters then having a canoness running it to finish off the stragglers with her chain sword. After a mission you can alter your army composition and upgrade your commanders which can give other units other weapons and abilities, its well done and I look forward to playing more.
Chapter 5, the last one, after nine years off and on. Bully is completely linear, holding your hand the WHOLE time. No freedom to discover the solution or a path whatsoever. Always go to the blip on the map. I have no idea why this game is beloved. I had real issues with Deus Ex, but it was way more respectful.
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Playing Dramatic Battle mode in Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper on Capcom Fighting Collection #2. Before that, I did some SSS No Damage Runs of DmC 2013.
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I caved and bought Owlcat's Rogue Trader on steam sale, 50% off.
Not enjoying it anywhere near as much as Pathfinder Kingmaker. I think Kingmaker had a step up in basically being 3rd ed DnD rules, which I'm pretty familiar with thanks to the number of RPGs that use them, but even so RT levelling just seems to have a really bewildering number of level up talent options. I played a fair bit of WHFRP back in the day so I'm familiar with the general D100 system but RT talents having an equation in them to work out numbers and certain stat functions and how they are derived never being that well explained...ugh honestly just a bit dense a rule set. It's been a while since I looked at the DH and RT PnPs but I'm pretty sure they weren't quite as equation based.
I preferred the free roaming combat in Pathfinder rather than grid squares as well. It just gives it that, "oh yeah, it's yet another GW turn based tactics game" feel.
Otherwise it's very 40K in all the ways I hate. Which was honestly what I was expecting, so I can't really complain there.
I ended up playing for a day, got to the first main mission (after doing the navigator and assassin missions), found the tech priest and then stopped and uninstalled. It just gave me the "well that was a waste of a day, wish I hadn't done that" feeling. Partially my fault for staying inside all day, might have been less annoyed of I'd done something else as well, but I had done that with Kingmaker a few times and been a lot less bothered because I at least enjoyed the game a lot more.
Ultimately I don't think I'll go back to it, if I'm stopping this early in it's not made a great impression. I might finish kingmaker at some point in the future but this one is pretty unlikely.
Not enjoying it anywhere near as much as Pathfinder Kingmaker. I think Kingmaker had a step up in basically being 3rd ed DnD rules, which I'm pretty familiar with thanks to the number of RPGs that use them, but even so RT levelling just seems to have a really bewildering number of level up talent options. I played a fair bit of WHFRP back in the day so I'm familiar with the general D100 system but RT talents having an equation in them to work out numbers and certain stat functions and how they are derived never being that well explained...ugh honestly just a bit dense a rule set. It's been a while since I looked at the DH and RT PnPs but I'm pretty sure they weren't quite as equation based.
I preferred the free roaming combat in Pathfinder rather than grid squares as well. It just gives it that, "oh yeah, it's yet another GW turn based tactics game" feel.
Otherwise it's very 40K in all the ways I hate. Which was honestly what I was expecting, so I can't really complain there.
I ended up playing for a day, got to the first main mission (after doing the navigator and assassin missions), found the tech priest and then stopped and uninstalled. It just gave me the "well that was a waste of a day, wish I hadn't done that" feeling. Partially my fault for staying inside all day, might have been less annoyed of I'd done something else as well, but I had done that with Kingmaker a few times and been a lot less bothered because I at least enjoyed the game a lot more.
Ultimately I don't think I'll go back to it, if I'm stopping this early in it's not made a great impression. I might finish kingmaker at some point in the future but this one is pretty unlikely.
Finished (& Platinum'd) Astro Bot. Lots of fun, very straightforward and pure experience, could use more challenge (even in the challenge levels).
Also finished Hellpoint. Got the 'true' ending for the main game & beat the primary DLC bosses.
Hellpoint was mostly fun, and an enjoyable sci-fi setting for a Soulslike, and I always enjoy the mixing of sci-fi and occult aesthetics (a-la Event Horizon). But the game also has some bloody jank and bullshit. Hidden, impossible-to-spot holes in the ground in pitch black areas, plunging you to instant death is an example.
And though most bosses were perfectly manageable, the 'true' final boss-- the Sentient + prodigal spawn-- is terribly put together. The arena is pitch black with no visible floor and pinpoints of stars in the distance in every direction (including down), making it impossible to accurately judge your distance from your enemy. The borders of this arena are not marked by anything except invisible walls. And while the Spawn is fighting you in melee, the space monster is shooting you from off-screen, so the attacks are impossible to see coming unless you've angled the camera properly to keep him in frame while fighting someone else. Said attacks from off-screen have buildups of a fraction of a second, and one of them was a reliable insta-kill.
I've fought many much harder bosses-- Orphan of Kos, Isshin, Eigong, NKG, Promised Consort. This was much more frustrating than they ever got even with much lesser difficulty.
Now, after a 10 year absence from a game I was obsessed with back in the day, I've started a new playthrough of Guild Wars Prophecies with a friend after building her PC.
Also finished Hellpoint. Got the 'true' ending for the main game & beat the primary DLC bosses.
Hellpoint was mostly fun, and an enjoyable sci-fi setting for a Soulslike, and I always enjoy the mixing of sci-fi and occult aesthetics (a-la Event Horizon). But the game also has some bloody jank and bullshit. Hidden, impossible-to-spot holes in the ground in pitch black areas, plunging you to instant death is an example.
And though most bosses were perfectly manageable, the 'true' final boss-- the Sentient + prodigal spawn-- is terribly put together. The arena is pitch black with no visible floor and pinpoints of stars in the distance in every direction (including down), making it impossible to accurately judge your distance from your enemy. The borders of this arena are not marked by anything except invisible walls. And while the Spawn is fighting you in melee, the space monster is shooting you from off-screen, so the attacks are impossible to see coming unless you've angled the camera properly to keep him in frame while fighting someone else. Said attacks from off-screen have buildups of a fraction of a second, and one of them was a reliable insta-kill.
I've fought many much harder bosses-- Orphan of Kos, Isshin, Eigong, NKG, Promised Consort. This was much more frustrating than they ever got even with much lesser difficulty.
Now, after a 10 year absence from a game I was obsessed with back in the day, I've started a new playthrough of Guild Wars Prophecies with a friend after building her PC.
Yeah, I think there is a maximum point at which the rougelite kind of runs its course. I do think it got me a lot further into the game than I would normally be able to so it definitely gave me benefits outside of gameplay but I really wish there was a way to just earn a point at which you can sit down and draw out the house in advance. Normally I drop puzzle games early because I get caught up trying to finish individual riddles or puzzles and I sort of go in circles before getting bored and giving up. The random room nature kept me from being able to do that so I just kept collecting puzzles and answers at random which was all good and kept me engaged right until there were no longer enough puzzles to give me something to do every run. And then that turned into me just seeking out one room layout over and over, and now I'm kind of clocking out and using guides to find optimal room groupings to mop up everything left efficiently.
Last screenshot I took before finishing the epilogue and deleting the game.
John Marton's floorplan sucks. Look at the map in the corner. He wedged the living room between all the rooms and a long hallway. The light can only enter from the windows at the far ends! All the early 20th century floorplans that I've looked at have the living room (and some of its windows) in the front of the home.
John Marton's floorplan sucks. Look at the map in the corner. He wedged the living room between all the rooms and a long hallway. The light can only enter from the windows at the far ends! All the early 20th century floorplans that I've looked at have the living room (and some of its windows) in the front of the home.
Never underestimate people's ability to make really bad designs. You have to take into account that a lot of homes back then weren't designed by architects and were made by people building their own homes. My great Aunt's house had a bedroom that was only accessible from another bedroom. The rationale was that when they built the house they had babies and put the kid's room connected to their room. Obviously, once the kids get older this ceases to be a benefit and now they need to walk through your bedroom every time they get up in the middle of the night.
Finished Remnant: From the Ashes, which happened far sooner than I'd expected, only about 10 hours in. Which is surprisingly short for a modern game, let alone a proto-soulslike. It's a very Borderlands 1 -esque experience, in that it feels like a solid core idea around which everything else was just kind of slapped on. The story was both completely generic yet somehow incomprehensible, I rarely had an idea of what I was doing or to what end. There are no interesting characters, the leveling up is literally just various number increases (and very incremental ones at that), and the enemies don't offer much variety. The levels are repetitive and not terribly interesting in terms of terrain or combat dynamics. The core gameplay is very solid, which manages to elevate the experience overall, but there's so much room for improvement. Remnant 2 is installing as I'm writing this, so I'm curious how it builds on the first.
- Apr 1, 2009
- 15,477
- 4,261
- 118
- Gender
- Whatever, just wash your hands.
Still playing Deeds of the Fallen dlc for 40k Battlesector and its still fun, but its tough enough that sometimes you just want to shoot things in the face yourself and Selaco had an update.
So when not playing Battlesector, I'm playing Selaco on the hardest difficulty. I only played through it once before, when it first launched in early access. Its still really killer, the gunplay feels fantastic, graphics look great, effects are still damn impressive for anygame, let alone one done in the GZdoom engine. But I am just playing the base campaign again, since I beat it before the random run update I can't do any of that stuff... not that I'm sure I would right now, cause I did only beat it once, maybe after this run.
So when not playing Battlesector, I'm playing Selaco on the hardest difficulty. I only played through it once before, when it first launched in early access. Its still really killer, the gunplay feels fantastic, graphics look great, effects are still damn impressive for anygame, let alone one done in the GZdoom engine. But I am just playing the base campaign again, since I beat it before the random run update I can't do any of that stuff... not that I'm sure I would right now, cause I did only beat it once, maybe after this run.
Apparently you're supposed to "reroll adventures" so that you get new bosses to fight. Myself, I never bothered.
Most level have 2 alternate boss, which also have alternate weapon reward.
Been addicted Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper again. I've treating Dramatic Battle Mode like crack right now. I did a full Survival Run with Fei Long. He is busted as fuck, and I love him.
Ninja Saviors I finished on Hard mode, but could not get the 1cc unfortunately. Oh well, no big deal.
DmC 2013 again, and doing some no damage runs.
Streets of Rage 4 Survival Mode with Adam. I got to level 34 and died.
Ninja Saviors I finished on Hard mode, but could not get the 1cc unfortunately. Oh well, no big deal.
DmC 2013 again, and doing some no damage runs.
Streets of Rage 4 Survival Mode with Adam. I got to level 34 and died.
Trudging through The Silver Case. Two things can be true: I can experience and appreciate Suda51's paranoid postmodern hysterical realism Y2K punk noir thriller by way of Auster/Pynchon/Murakami... but also, at the end of the day, when I just want to play a game, it's kind of a bummer being sat with a visual novel. Whatever itch I need scratched from booting up the ole console that's not it. Also I'm a big reader, and I'm always reading something, so being saddled with both Oliver Twist and Suda51's wattpad crack fic is a bit much.
Also it's kind of annoying that you can only save the "game" whenever there's a rare moment of interactivity and you're given control over a character, since 85% of the game is scrolling through textboxes (to the Chinese torture of a typewriter clanking at every letter).
Also it's kind of annoying that you can only save the "game" whenever there's a rare moment of interactivity and you're given control over a character, since 85% of the game is scrolling through textboxes (to the Chinese torture of a typewriter clanking at every letter).
I finally put in the work and managed through what is undeniably my least favorite area of Elden Ring so far: the Haligtree. What the actual fuck, dude?? Mobs that hit like mini-bosses, mini-bosses that hit like actual bosses, Scarlett Rot status everywhere, another goddamned ulcerated tree spirit, and "Pest Thread Alley" towards the end might as well be up there with "the archers" from DS1 or Shrine of Amana from DS2 as patently unfair.
Now I'm standing at HER fog door. I'm too mentally defeated right now to even try.
Now I'm standing at HER fog door. I'm too mentally defeated right now to even try.
Yeah, I have no patience for his really early projects. Even Killer7, Which does have much more going on for by comparison. I admire him for his talents still.
How much do you have even left at this point?
I've already beaten the main quest, so just the DLC. I avoided the Haligtree and Malenia in the base game almost entirely since it's all optional, and is notoriously difficult, but I decided to go for it.