Your video game hot take(s) thread
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BTW, Hunted: The Demon's Forge is pretty fun so far. I know the developers regret making this game, but it at least has a sense of fun and I like the dynamic between the warrior and the elf. Kevduit is right though: this game is literally Norse God of War, but in a generic European medieval fantasy setting. The game is an over-the-shoulder hack n slash with a light and heavy attack button (the face buttons and they cannot be changed nor altered), a bald warrior with a beard, constantly calls their companion by noun 85% of the time (GURL instead of BOI), doesn't have jump and instead a dodge roll, and has the occasional puzzle where your AI partner assist with completing the puzzle. The only other differences being this game is much more light hearted and less serious, and the game can be played in co-op. Why did critics hate this game again?
I am still early in, but this a fun old-school meets the then new-school dungeon crawler. The game has plenty of jank, don't get me wrong, but combat still has some sort of satisfaction and weight to it. I may be speaking a bit too early, but I am having fun at the moment.
I am still early in, but this a fun old-school meets the then new-school dungeon crawler. The game has plenty of jank, don't get me wrong, but combat still has some sort of satisfaction and weight to it. I may be speaking a bit too early, but I am having fun at the moment.
I would have gone with League of Fighters.
Not all optional content is perfect. Nor really optional, but there are games that get it right, and there are games that get it wrong.
Always remember seeing this game in rental store, but never picked it up. Looks to be an interesting jank.
Sonic CD has been nicknamed Sonic 1.5 by the fans since the late 90s and early 2000s when more people got exposed to the game via emulation or the Gems Collections port. Yuji Naka and the old members of Sonic Team even admitted that Sonic CD is a mission pack/expanded version of the first game. CD even takes place after 1, but before 2. Meaning Amy met Sonic before Tails did.
As far as "better", not by much. I appreciate the love, but it's the soundtrack (either version) that keeps the game playable. The Spin Dash is weak, unless you're playing a fan mod (or the Origins port from what I heard) that makes it more like the Sonic 2 Spin Dash. The Super Peel Out can be useful, only by immediately curling Sonic into ball. Otherwise, it's unnecessary and risky damage. Especially if you're going back to the past to destroy the Robotcizer machines. This is a YMMV, but the levels rely way more on exploration and less on speed even more than Sonic 1. This is even more so, if you're trying to get the Good Ending. I don't mind exploration in a Sonic game from time to time, but I am here to speed like crazy. The only other way is to just focus on getting 50+ rings and complete each bonus round without fail so you get the good ending by default.
Not that, between the speed cap and the actual level design, it's possible to speed all that much in Sonic 1 either outside of Green Hill and Star Light Zones. I'd argue that CD actually has more opportunities for going fast, as well as better exploration between the basic level design and the time travel stuff even if you're not going for Roboticizers. As for the new moves, even if they're not great, they're still a welcome expansion to Sonic's moveset compared to what he has in the original game (not a lot).
The overall point I'm making is that CD holds up better than 1, but that's less 'hot' than calling it 'the good version'.
Only when you're talking about Palmtree Panic, Collision Chaos, most of Wacky Workbench, Stardust Speedway and only the first act of Metallic Madness.
To each is their own, but both hold up about almost the same for me. Even though I don't play either much any more: I do admit I go back to Sonic 1 more compared to CD, because I can do the former on a dime and get good ending without much effort from playing it so much. A similar case for CD, but it's been a long minute since I have touched the game. CD I really only go back for the soundtrack and the battle against Metal Sonic.
A lot of good Sonic games have a few bad (or at least, less good) levels in them. Metropolis, Marble Garden, Sky Deck, Crazy Gadget, Planet Wisp Act 2 (Generations), Huge Crisis, to name a few. On balance, I'd say more of CD than 1 hits for me.
Marble Garden Zone rarely ever gave me nor my brother much trouble. Some people say it's bad level, but that's because they're usually trying to rush it, or play it exactly like Green Hill. Labyrinth Zone on the other hand, is a bad level, even when you know what to do and where to go.
Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Saints Row 2 are best open world games ever made! I am not sorry.
Even when I am playing it as 'itself', it still ends up taking an extremely long time with a lot of forced slow mechanics (zip line elevators, the miniboss in Act 1 appearing several times, the auto-scroller when Robotnik shows up at the end of Act 2). That's why I think it's a bad zone, not because I was expecting it to be something it's not.
I agree with you that Labyrinth is terrible, and IMO Tidal Tempest in CD manages to fix most of its problems. Fewer underwater BS points like having to run through retracting spikes in slow motion, the above-water areas actually have some places you can build up a decent run-up in, and as mentioned before being able to time-travel opens up multiple extra routes. That, and Act 3 in each zone being dedicated mostly to boss fights (and seeing which future you got) means that you don't end up spending longer anywhere than you really want to. With, admittedly, the possible exception of Wacky Workbench if you don't know the routes well.
A broader point that I also hold about Sonic level design, and platformers in general: It doesn't matter how fun a level/game is "once you learn it" if the process of learning it isn't fun in and of itself. If you can't have fun bumbling through a level trying to work out the best path, then you're not going to stick around to learn the best path so that you can have fun. And I know what you're going to say: "That applies to Sonic CD as well". Yes, it does. I just had a lot more fun playing through it the first few times than Sonic 1.
Fine by me. Like I said before: to each is their own.
Contra Hard Corps is so much more fun and re-playable than Contra III: The Alien Wars. Even when you take US version of Hard Corps in mind. I still prefer the Japanese version, as you can at least take three hits before dying. Contra 4 is still the best Contra game of all time. I don't like Shattered Soldier nor Neo Contra much either.
A lot of people (yeah, yeah, I know) say that their least favorite thing in Sonic games is 'automated' sections where you only have to hold forward (if that) for extended periods of time without slowing down, jumping, attacking or (in the 3D games) moving to the sides to avoid obstacles or grab extra Rings/powerups. I do see where they're coming from... but a lot of the same people also say that City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2 is one of their favorite levels in the entire series.
A level whose most notable feature is the part where you run away from the GUN truck. In a straight line without moving left, right, or jumping for about 30 seconds.
Makes you wonder.
(Admittedly, this is more about people who play games than games themselves, but still.)
A level whose most notable feature is the part where you run away from the GUN truck. In a straight line without moving left, right, or jumping for about 30 seconds.
Makes you wonder.
(Admittedly, this is more about people who play games than games themselves, but still.)
Ironic , because plenty of the 16 bit games have automated sections. Even if they're fewer in numbers compared to the 3d titles. I usually don't mind a majority of the automated sections. Though the storybook games are nothing but automated stages. Especially secret rings. No thank you.
To every developer of a "quirky, Earthbound-inspired indie RPG": If I cannot picture your protagonist eating a hamburger that they found in a trash can, then your game is bad.
There's a bit of a trend on console digital stores lately where any popular PC game ends up having multiple slop clones - apparently many using AI - of them shovelled weekly to daily intro the digital shelves. Schedule one? Uhhh, no..., how about 20 000 Schedules?! A load of police simulators, plus anything with the word "simulator" slapped on, whatever you can imagine, there's a shovel-slop game claiming to be its "simulator" out there. This has been a thing for a while though, and have mostly begrudgingly tolerated the obvious scams.
But lately, one has really baffled me, one I assume is supposed to be clones of perhaps an actual popular PC game? Cos of consistent variations of the same concept. And that is "digging a hole simulator" .... replete with pictures of garden hole, and sometimes, if you're lucky, even a shovel!
Is that really a popular genre on PC right now? Are things ok, PC gamers? Do we need a talk? Mayhaps a welfare check?
But lately, one has really baffled me, one I assume is supposed to be clones of perhaps an actual popular PC game? Cos of consistent variations of the same concept. And that is "digging a hole simulator" .... replete with pictures of garden hole, and sometimes, if you're lucky, even a shovel!
Is that really a popular genre on PC right now? Are things ok, PC gamers? Do we need a talk? Mayhaps a welfare check?
Some people saying Ninja Gaiden 4 has bad or has the worst level design in the series, really don't know a damn thing. They're claiming the levels drag on for way too long. They need to get their eyes checked or have their nostalgia glasses in full swing. It's gotten to the point where some people are defending 3/Razor's Edge's level design. RE's levels aren't exactly bad, but there is less vertically, and are mostly empty rooms or hallways. There is not much environmental interaction compared to past titles or 4. I admit some of the wind valley levels drags a bit, but once you replay all of these levels, most of them go by surprisingly fast.
People forget that Vanilla Ninja Gaiden II have later levels that go on forever, or just cram rooms with so many mook and monsters. Not to mention the frustrating sub-bosses or unbalanced bosses in general. The game had production troubles and it shows.
I love the the platforming and traversal challenges in this game. They're not too easy, nor ever too hard and tedious. There is one of them I find annoying at very end of the underground levels. Platinum actually pulled a DmC (2013) with the platforming, but it's much more fun and engaging and not as automated. More so when it comes to the rail grinding segments, and certain combat areas that involve wall running.
People forget that Vanilla Ninja Gaiden II have later levels that go on forever, or just cram rooms with so many mook and monsters. Not to mention the frustrating sub-bosses or unbalanced bosses in general. The game had production troubles and it shows.
I love the the platforming and traversal challenges in this game. They're not too easy, nor ever too hard and tedious. There is one of them I find annoying at very end of the underground levels. Platinum actually pulled a DmC (2013) with the platforming, but it's much more fun and engaging and not as automated. More so when it comes to the rail grinding segments, and certain combat areas that involve wall running.
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Double Dragon Revive is what The Bouncer and Urban Reign should have been. Especially when talking about the former. This game gives me even less reasons to go back and play either PS2 exclusives. Revive itself feels like a 2.5D PS2 game in the best possible way.