What are you currently playing?
- Thread starter Nick Calandra
- Start date
It's historical alchemy, which is basically cooking with herbs and historically was the precursor to chemistry, while still at the time having some magical mythology surrounding it cause most people were uneducated.
They explain it in these little historical entries in your journal, how things like frog's eye or bat's wing were codenames for herbs like thistle or wormwood.
Basically alchemy is using a base (water/wine/oil/liquor), adding herbs to it and boiling it for a precise amount, then either distilling it or just outright pouring it in a vial, and if you time your steps and boil it for the correct amount you get better potions or poisons. None of them do magical things. It's stuff like making you recover from hangovers, giving you a bit of strength, some are perfumes which give you a temporary boost to charisma, some are poisons which you can dip your arrows in and use em to debuff enemies.
Best thing I made is a sedative derived from Poppy flowers. Used it to drug a bull and paint dicks on him to spite a village chief. Fun times.
No fantasy stuff at all basically.
The perfume and poison stuff sound fun. I knew it was historical alchemy, but calling them potions confused me. It made me think of health potions and the like.
There are some sort of like health potions made from Marigold, but they're not instant, you drink em and have like a slow passive regen over hours that heals you. And they don't heal injuries, just recover health, if you got like a bleeding cut or a broken leg you gotta treat em with actual treatments like bandages or go to a doctor.
But yeah some things are a bit "game-fied" to not hold you back too much, like if you sleep you slowly recover, and if you drink some chamomile poition it buffs that recovery so you can be near dead to full health in like a 5 hour nap, but for the most part they're low-ish power level and totally historical. Like if you get a bad cut and don't bandage it up you will bleed to death. You always need some bandages on you.
I've been to the Weeping Peninsula already, but I'll consider going to Raya Lucaria at least.
Finished The Swapper, and it's one of those short and sweet puzzle-platformers where they focus on exactly one mechanic and make the most out of it, which is always neat. The "narrative designer" for the game, Tom Jubert, has a hell of a resume too. FTL, Subnautica, The Talos Principle. Go Tom.
Now I'm playing Escape from Tethys. I think it's solo-developed. It's a Metroid-y game in the vein of Axiom Verge and Astronite and Xeodrifter, very much on the cheap side, with grimy NES graphics and numb pea-shooting combat, but makes up for it with some pretty good map design and fun secret hunting. The console version has ungodly loading times for some reason.
Now I'm playing Escape from Tethys. I think it's solo-developed. It's a Metroid-y game in the vein of Axiom Verge and Astronite and Xeodrifter, very much on the cheap side, with grimy NES graphics and numb pea-shooting combat, but makes up for it with some pretty good map design and fun secret hunting. The console version has ungodly loading times for some reason.
NG2B - Rachel's Chapter sucks on the harder difficulties. I only died once, but I spent most of the chapter spamming machine gun and UTs. The boss you can literally beat by DMC2ing it on the harder difficulties, and spam UTs when the mobs show up. On to the awesome plane stage now!
I think I am becoming addicted to NG2B's harder modes. @NerfedFalcon, @CriticalGaming, @Old_Hunter_77, and @hanselthecaretaker2, please help me! What to do I do?!
Used a save point right in the middle of the last boss, whose timing was annoying as hell.
That makes eleven Tomb Raiders finished. But only three from Core Design. Already couldn't see myself playing the Survivor trilogy again, and now the Legend trilogy is a stretch too.
Tomb Raider 2013 (2013-03)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2014-12)
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2015-01)
Tomb Raider: Legend (2015-11)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (2015-12)
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016-12)
Tomb Raider II (2017-05)
Lara Croft GO (2017-06)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2021-01)
Tomb Raider (2024-12)
Tomb Raider III
That makes eleven Tomb Raiders finished. But only three from Core Design. Already couldn't see myself playing the Survivor trilogy again, and now the Legend trilogy is a stretch too.
Tomb Raider 2013 (2013-03)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2014-12)
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2015-01)
Tomb Raider: Legend (2015-11)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (2015-12)
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016-12)
Tomb Raider II (2017-05)
Lara Croft GO (2017-06)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2021-01)
Tomb Raider (2024-12)
Tomb Raider III
Last edited:
- Apr 1, 2009
- 15,227
- 4,074
- 118
- Gender
- Whatever, just wash your hands.
Playing Metaphore, finished the cathedral and left the main city. Holy crap that first dungeon took forever, I'm glad I didn't try and do mess around before doing it, like I could in Persona 5. But even with that its really fun, the combat is great, the characters are starting to grow on me, the world is interesting. The plot of what we are doing is... well, I kinda wish your group was going in for slightly more selfish reasons but whatever. I also kinda wish the game fucked with the player more. LIke the game is pretty racist against your character tribe but aside from some people being big dicks, it doesn't seem to have any real impact on gameplay, it would be cool and annoying if you went to certain parts of the city and your valuable time was taken up by guards hassling you, or if you went into the wrong shop the shopkeep might accuse you of stealing and get the guards to hassle you. It would be annoying as hell, but also much more fitting for how your tribe seems to be viewed.
Also playing Everspace 2. I initially wasn't sure about it, I enjoyed the first Everspace well enough I suppose, but its combat always felt kinda clunky and you were so limited in how you could interact with the world since you were stuck in a space ship. Everspace 2 does a really good job of getting past both of those, combat is still clunky compared to a game like Chorus which has fantastic arcade space combat, but the new ship types make it much more enjoyable then in the original. Like a gunship will be able to shread anything that comes under its crosshairs, a drone carrier can sit back and let its pals deal with the enemy and one of the light fighters can zip around enemies and pepper them with shots. Really it feels like the default medium ships are the least interesting since they don't seem to really stand out. The game is also good at giving you a variety of side missions and tasks. For instance, pretty much each new zone you go to will have a secure cargo container which usually has to be opened by putting an energy sphere into a slot for it, but doing that can be pretty varied, sometimes its just a simple find where you get the sphere, sometimes you have to race to get it where it needs to go, one time I had to send the sphere down a series of pipes, they are kinda fun little puzzles for good rewards. So yeah, much better then I expected.
Also playing Everspace 2. I initially wasn't sure about it, I enjoyed the first Everspace well enough I suppose, but its combat always felt kinda clunky and you were so limited in how you could interact with the world since you were stuck in a space ship. Everspace 2 does a really good job of getting past both of those, combat is still clunky compared to a game like Chorus which has fantastic arcade space combat, but the new ship types make it much more enjoyable then in the original. Like a gunship will be able to shread anything that comes under its crosshairs, a drone carrier can sit back and let its pals deal with the enemy and one of the light fighters can zip around enemies and pepper them with shots. Really it feels like the default medium ships are the least interesting since they don't seem to really stand out. The game is also good at giving you a variety of side missions and tasks. For instance, pretty much each new zone you go to will have a secure cargo container which usually has to be opened by putting an energy sphere into a slot for it, but doing that can be pretty varied, sometimes its just a simple find where you get the sphere, sometimes you have to race to get it where it needs to go, one time I had to send the sphere down a series of pipes, they are kinda fun little puzzles for good rewards. So yeah, much better then I expected.
I am cleaning up old files and just found the Dark Souls II pre-order bonuses, including the MP3 soundtrack. "Date modified" says 2014. The music was so bland. So generic and bland. Constantly with the Hollywood-style chanting. Almost always loud. I forgot. Nothing compared to Demon's Souls.
The 42-page digital artbook is bland too.
It's nuts how long they have been repeating themselves.
The 42-page digital artbook is bland too.
It's nuts how long they have been repeating themselves.
Hi-Fi Rush almost finished.
The last boss reminds me again of why they have to give the win to you with these checkpoints that replenish you with full health that you didn't enter the checkpoint with. The weird design sets players up for failure. They did not design thoughtfully because they knew they had the checkpoints, just like with Arkham City's bosses. It also is simpler to stand still and wait for the counters, so there's little of the motion that makes actual fights and fights in movies so entertaining.
Thought through most of the game that it's strange for one about music, in this style, to have almost no songs. 90 percent instrumentals. The last two levels do have songs, and they suck. The one in level 11 doesn't even fit the action.
Story was just stupid anime bullshit.
Edit: Finished the game. No attacks purchased, because I'm tired of that carrot on a stick crap, being locked out. Thought late in the game, "Maybe it is a 3/5, maybe I'm being unfair," but last two levels made me think again, "Why?" 2/5.
The last boss reminds me again of why they have to give the win to you with these checkpoints that replenish you with full health that you didn't enter the checkpoint with. The weird design sets players up for failure. They did not design thoughtfully because they knew they had the checkpoints, just like with Arkham City's bosses. It also is simpler to stand still and wait for the counters, so there's little of the motion that makes actual fights and fights in movies so entertaining.
Thought through most of the game that it's strange for one about music, in this style, to have almost no songs. 90 percent instrumentals. The last two levels do have songs, and they suck. The one in level 11 doesn't even fit the action.
Story was just stupid anime bullshit.
Edit: Finished the game. No attacks purchased, because I'm tired of that carrot on a stick crap, being locked out. Thought late in the game, "Maybe it is a 3/5, maybe I'm being unfair," but last two levels made me think again, "Why?" 2/5.
Last edited:
Right now I am playing on Mentor (Very Hard) and currently on Chapter 9. I've mainly been switching between the Dragon Sword, Lunar Staff (this weapon is a life savor), and Vigorian Flail. Dragon and Lunar I have at Level 3. Vigorian I have at Level 2. I am saving my Yorbs (Yellow Orbs) to level up the Eclipse Scythe to Level 2. It gets really useful in the latter half of the game by Chapter 12. I've been mainly spamming UTs for certain fights, as that's what your expected to do for the mobs. The bosses on the other hand, you can still do it, but it's only recommended for specific ones. Though you're really expected to learn their patterns, grabs, and attack tells.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (IV) remaster runs like crap for me, whereas I to III ran wonderfully. I don't get it. I vaguely remember this lame opening. Have 60 minutes logged on Steam in 2017. I don't want to know Lara Croft as a child, just as I did not want to see Indiana Jones as one. Keep them one-dimensional, barely saying anything.
The Angel of Darkness (VI) is far worse than I expected. Dislike the looser modern movement and heavy tutorials. Tomb Raider has lost its innocence. Now it's mainstream and has to treat the player with kid gloves.
The Angel of Darkness (VI) is far worse than I expected. Dislike the looser modern movement and heavy tutorials. Tomb Raider has lost its innocence. Now it's mainstream and has to treat the player with kid gloves.
So, if I understand your tastes correctly, you want a game that:
-doesn't play too much like another game that it isn't a direct sequel to (unlike Elden Ring);
-doesn't rely on putting checkpoints during boss fights (unlike Hi-Fi Rush);
-doesn't use too much loud chanting in the soundtrack (unlike Dark Souls 2);
-and is made by a dev team that's from the country it's set in to ensure they did their historical research properly (unlike Ghost of Tsushima)...
By any chance, Ezekiel, have you tried Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? Genuine question. There's a non-zero chance you might actually like it.
-doesn't play too much like another game that it isn't a direct sequel to (unlike Elden Ring);
-doesn't rely on putting checkpoints during boss fights (unlike Hi-Fi Rush);
-doesn't use too much loud chanting in the soundtrack (unlike Dark Souls 2);
-and is made by a dev team that's from the country it's set in to ensure they did their historical research properly (unlike Ghost of Tsushima)...
By any chance, Ezekiel, have you tried Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? Genuine question. There's a non-zero chance you might actually like it.
That doesn't make much sense, because even certain games from 6th generation and many games from 7th generations offered mid boss fight or fairer checkpoints by comparison. You're still punished for dying via losing letter grade, encouraging the player to try harder. Zeke seems to forget that fact, and blames all of his failures and shortcomings on the game.
Last I checked, he's not a fan of Sekiro either.
Black & Sigma 1 are much harder compared to II:Black & Sigma 2. OG Ninja Gaiden II (2008) is way more difficult than all of those for the right and many wrong reasons.
I'm going off what's in the posts, and what's in the posts is 'mid-boss checkpoints are bad game design'.
Black Myth Wukong fits the above descriptions too, so maybe that one?
