What are you playing?

[demi]

Played Shinobido 2 Vita -- Decent tenchu gaming

went back to play Tenchu 1 & 2 -- realised maybe it's not a good idea to go play old stealth games they never work well. Tenchu Wrath of Heaven still in the air

Took a detour to play Bust a Groove to test out some emulators on my new PC. Bust a Groove is still goated

Playing Natural Doctrine Vita (you know that game thats like $5 always on PSN) -- this is like dark souls xcom. You can go through a map all the way only to find out you fucked up and get gangbanged, resulting in a game over and have to start (from checkpoint/beginning). It's "ok" though, but you won't find me encouraging people to play it

Vita > Switch

[paprikastaude]

First level of the No More Heroes spinoff - so far it wasn't the worst thing. Not sure if I should continue in multiplayer. Especially since I want to read everything.

[Polident Hive]

Played Shinobido 2 Vita -- Decent tenchu gaming

went back to play Tenchu 1 & 2 -- realised maybe it's not a good idea to go play old stealth games they never work well. Tenchu Wrath of Heaven still in the air

Was playing Tenchu 3 the other day and really enjoying it. Tenchu 3 is of the time where PS1 series came to PS2 but still played like PS1 games. Like how Armored Core 2 had aiming with the shoulder buttons. Their Shinobido games are what you remembered the Tenchu games being.

[Nintex]

First level of the No More Heroes spinoff - so far it wasn't the worst thing. Not sure if I should continue in multiplayer. Especially since I want to read everything.

Played this a few weeks back and even though I liked the overall vibe the gameplay is awful.
Especially the level 'inspired' by Hotline Miami that was repetitive as hell. For this to work they really needed to change the mechanics.

That first level? That's how the entire game plays for 3 levels now with some 'twists'.

[Svejk]

Tenchu 3 and Kurenai are the bee's knees.  Those, especially with T1, have Grandmaster Class OST's too.   Wish Sekiro was more Tenchu-like than Souls-like.   

[Joe Molotov]

Bought .hack//G.U. Recode for $7.50 on Steam, and decided to give it a whirl. I played the original .hack series back on the PS2 but never got around to GU.

when my closeted gay friend won't shut up about Avatar 2: The Way of Water

[Joe Molotov]

The fact that characters' mouths don't move during in-game cutscenes but do during prerendered cutscenes is weirding me out. I had to check online to make sure this wasn't just a bug, but apparently it is a feature.

[BIONIC]

Finished a wonderful replay of FF7 Remake + Intermission.

So now, of course, I’m playing Dirge of Cerberus

[Bebpo]

Hahahahahhahaa

[chronovore]

Finished a wonderful replay of FF7 Remake + Intermission.

So now, of course, I’m playing Dirge of Cerberus

Tired of enjoying life?

[BIONIC]

Finished a wonderful replay of FF7 Remake + Intermission.

So now, of course, I’m playing Dirge of Cerberus

Tired of enjoying life?

It’s been going suspiciously well these days, so I needed to balance it out somehow.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

DoC for a PS2 shooter hasn’t been that bad so far honestly (5 chapters in). Last time I played it was almost a decade ago and I maintain that the gameplay has some neat ideas. The real issue is the story and characters woof

I’d honestly take a Crisis Core Reunion type remake/remaster

[close]

[Pissy F Benny]

I still need to play intermission

[BIONIC]

It’s pretty good for DLC. Yuffie is a lot of fun to play as. If you enjoyed the main the game there’s a lot to like.

[Pissy F Benny]

I've had it on my ps5 for nearly a year ready to be played, just never got round to it

[paprikastaude]

Meanwhile I'm replaying OG FF7. Still fun. And even if it isn't always pleasant to look at, it still has the best atmosphere of all FF7 products - less is more I can't believe an actual faithful remake of FF7 with fixed camera angles will be a mobile game with lootboxes

[Nintex]

Meanwhile I'm trying to KILL CHAOS

I've beaten the shit out of the Chimera but still no CHAOS and now I have to find some Crystal bullshit? What the fuck.

[paprikastaude]

I barely had Aeris in my party, now the romance scene before her death was with Tifa instead 

[demi]

Meanwhile I'm replaying OG FF7. Still fun. And even if it isn't always pleasant to look at, it still has the best atmosphere of all FF7 products - less is more I can't believe an actual faithful remake of FF7 with fixed camera angles will be a mobile game with lootboxes

Should wait a week

[Polident Hive]

Finished a wonderful replay of FF7 Remake + Intermission.

So now, of course, I’m playing Dirge of Cerberus

Play the Japanese version. Heard that’s worse. Throw in a keyboard and mouse. Go all in for the true experience.

[Joe Molotov]

Meanwhile I'm replaying OG FF7. Still fun. And even if it isn't always pleasant to look at, it still has the best atmosphere of all FF7 products - less is more I can't believe an actual faithful remake of FF7 with fixed camera angles will be a mobile game with lootboxes

Should wait a week

Sit your ass down and drink your goddam tea!!!!!!!!!!

[Polident Hive]

Axiom Verge 2 is on PS gamepass this month. What it’s making me think is how overwhelming the sub genre has gotten since the first. People, and Jeff Gerstman, hyped up that first as a great modern Metroid. This was 2014? Thought it was fine then. Now there are a dozen highly regarded games, including two actual Metroids, three if the AM2R fan game counts. And many more under the radar games, like Kunai and Gato Roboto.

Anyway, it’s fine so far. The gimmick here seems to be hacking enemies.

[Svejk]

Axiom Verge 2 is on PS gamepass this month. What it’s making me think is how overwhelming the sub genre has gotten since the first. People, and Jeff Gerstman, hyped up that first as a great modern Metroid. This was 2014? Thought it was fine then. Now there are a dozen highly regarded games, including two actual Metroids, three if the AM2R fan game counts. And many more under the radar games, like Kunai and Gato Roboto.

Anyway, it’s fine so far. The gimmick here seems to be hacking enemies.

I still need to try the first one.  What intrigues me most is knowing it was just one guy who made it.  That and Northern Journey... I find that freakin awesome.

[thetylerrob]

Meanwhile I'm replaying OG FF7. Still fun. And even if it isn't always pleasant to look at, it still has the best atmosphere of all FF7 products - less is more I can't believe an actual faithful remake of FF7 with fixed camera angles will be a mobile game with lootboxes

Should wait a week

Sit your ass down and drink your goddam tea!!!!!!!!!!

Lets dance asshole!!!!!!!
 

[demi]

Dont take it personal... bitches

[demi]

Lets dance asshole!!!!!!!
 

He actually says this in FF7R lol

Then during the final boss he says the well thought out line - "Bring it on, bitch"

https://youtu.be/8CGxQS_ZMDw?t=43

[paprikastaude]

Playing Turok for the first time. Probably not a pleasant game with N64 fog and controls, but the remaster is fun. A by the numbers FPS, but one gotta appreciate the 90s atmosphere. The only bad part so far was the first boss.

[Potato]

Turok was great in a Goldeneye-less world. Its flaws were immediately obvious when Bond came out though.

[Nintex]

Started playing Rise of the Tomb Raider on the Xbox Series X.

Back when it launched I got it on PC. I don't see much difference between the 3 graphics modes (High Framerate / Visual Fidelity / Native 4k) so I kept it at high framerate. Still a shame they never got around to giving this a proper Xbox Series S|X release like Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This game is still fantastic, improves on the first of the reboot trilogy in almost every way. However it is a bit more open-ended and open-worldy than the previous game. I still haven't seen a game that renders snow and ice better than this game. It just looks so good.

Turok was great in a Goldeneye-less world. Its flaws were immediately obvious when Bond came out though.

A friend of mine had it. I just remember it was cool to shoot dino's. It didn't have any multiplayer though so we didn't play it much.
Most of these N64 games in PAL land were a hot mess. 50hz - 576i (so they ran slightly worse at a slightly higher resolution) and fog, fog everywhere.

[Polident Hive]

Played Turok 1 on PC for the first time recently and enjoyed it. Simplicity of run around, shoot things, collect stuff. Tried the Turok 2 remaster afterwards and couldn’t get into it.

[Nintex]

Turok 2 is sort of the prototype for Metroid Prime but not a very good prototype. 

Doom 64 did what it tried to do better and PowerSlave: Exhumed is considered to be another 'spiritual predecessor' but I've never played it.

[Pissy F Benny]

Turok 2 is sort of the prototype for Metroid Prime but not a very good prototype. 

Doom 64 did what it tried to do better and PowerSlave: Exhumed is considered to be another 'spiritual predecessor' but I've never played it.

Also sounds like a no longer acceptable genre of homosexual pornography

[Nintex]

Played more Stranger of Paradise another game that sounds like a no longer acceptable genre of homosexual pornography

The gameplay is fun but the level design is kinda 'eh' at times. Also not enough CHAOS and ANGST in the last few levels I played.
In some story beats they sometimes 'forget' that Jack hates everything, has no time for exposition and just wants to kill CHAOS. 

When he picks up a piece of hidden lore, Jack should say something like: "I ain't reading that shit" but unfortunately he doesn't.

[Polident Hive]

Turok 2 is sort of the prototype for Metroid Prime but not a very good prototype. 

Doom 64 did what it tried to do better and PowerSlave: Exhumed is considered to be another 'spiritual predecessor' but I've never played it.

PowerSlave is awesome. Played the EX version years ago, which is enhanced futher for the modern release. If there’s a sore spot to the Metroid Prime comparison, it has first person platforming in a build engine type game.

[Svejk]

Finished Metro 2033 Redux last night.  Pretty good. Short and sweet.  Besides some questionable AI and story that could use further depth (which I bet the book has), it was fun and immersive from beginning to end.  It was exactly what I was wanting to play and jived with it the whole time.  Some parts were immersion breaking though, like when Artyom would most likely say something, he's just the silent protag.  Just seemed weird.  Also the enemies were like magnets to you when not in stealth.  Other than that, the balance of survival inventory management and the added gameplay elements (like charging your flashlight to wiping your mask) really added to the immersion.  There were a few times filters and bullets ran low, but never to the point of straight running out.

Ready to move on to Last Light.  Good stuff.

[Bebpo]

Yeah, 2033 Redux is the only Metro game I've played and I enjoyed it from start to end as well. Been meaning to get to Last Light at some point. Was a neat setting solid shooter with nice gfx.

[Svejk]

Yeah, 2033 Redux is the only Metro game I've played and I enjoyed it from start to end as well. Been meaning to get to Last Light at some point. Was a neat setting solid shooter with nice gfx.

I loaded up Last Light for just a minute and it feels like it just picks right up from 2033.  I can't wait to continue and see what they improve on.

[Pissy F Benny]

Playing persona 5 royale (will go back to golden after the update drops) and holy shit I'd forgotten just how dark the first part of the game is

[demi]

Muh rape muh abuse of power

[Polident Hive]

Once again find myself playing The Last Guy and asking why they were mad at Pierre Taki for doing coke.

[Joe Molotov]

 

[Joe Molotov]

GU is pretty terrible, btw. Combat is just mash X and occasionally push the special move button. The protag is an emotionally stunted edgelord and everyone else is an enabling doormat. A typical conversation goes like...

Haseo: "Eat shit and die, I never want to see you again."
Atoli: "I'm sorry you feel that way, Haseo. Let's hang out again later."
Haseo: "I hope everyone you know and love dies in a fire."
Atoli: "Look how pretty these flowers are, Haseo!"

Haseo: "Help me fight in the battle arena, you dumb bitch."
Atoli: "I don't like the battle arena."
Haseo: "Fuck you, then get out of my face!"
Atoli: "Okay, I'll help!"

So far the only good character is the mysterious femboy with a cat. He won't let you pet the cat, though. To me, this is bad game design.

[Bebpo]

Yeah, I told you the original .Hack trilogy is the only good one.

[Himu]

I booted up Breath of Wild, which I didn't beat and haven't played in years, and have no idea what the fuck. I've taken out two main dungeons so far. I don't remember how to play this game at all.

[Nintex]

I booted up Breath of Wild, which I didn't beat and haven't played in years, and have no idea what the fuck. I've taken out two main dungeons so far. I don't remember how to play this game at all.

You don't play it, you experience it.

Anyway we ran down a hallway and Jack was pissed.
So Ash was like: "Don't you think it's weird we have these memories Jack?"
And Jack said: "I don't give a shit". And then some other character brought it up and Ash was like: "Better not say anything in case Jack hears us"

We enter the boss room and the boss starts talking so Jack says FUCK YOU I DON'T GIVE A FUCK and punches the boss in the face.

Finally Stranger of Paradise remembered what it was supposed to be.

[Himu]

*nervous laughter*

[Himu]

Gears of War 2 - pretty dope.

[Kestastrophe]

Nice, playing Gears Tactics here

[Himu]

Nice, playing Gears Tactics here

How is it? It looks sweet.

[demi]

Trying to play these translated games I missed out on.

Tried Racing Lagoon -- really could not get into it. But I had to try "the racing rpg"

Playing Brave Prove right now. Basically a wish.com version of Beyond Oasis. Nice 2d, mid gameplay. Confusing maze-like areas and dungeons. Supposed to be a short game at least.

[chronovore]

Started Death Stranding. Holy fuck, this is WAY TOO MANY CINEMATICS. Kojima won’t let us play the damned game. I played for over 2 hours and maybe 20 minutes of it was actual game.

[MMaRsu]

Dunkey said the first half is cinematics, then you play the game for 50 hours and then its more cinematics

[Potato]

Lol, who would willingly subject themselves to that shit?

[Pissy F Benny]

Me

I enjoyed the story in Death Stranding, it's complete nonsense, just like I wanted

[Bebpo]

Started Death Stranding. Holy fuck, this is WAY TOO MANY CINEMATICS. Kojima won’t let us play the damned game. I played for over 2 hours and maybe 20 minutes of it was actual game.

The intro is very cutscene heavy.

The starting area is training mode.

Real game starts at map 2.

[Himu]

Ugh.

I'm so sorry Chrono had to experience that.

[Beezy]

I'm about 30 hours into Octopath Traveler and I just realized that you can fast travel to towns you've already been to.

[HardcoreRetro]

I'm about 30 hours into Octopath Traveler and I just realized that you can fast travel to towns you've already been to.

 

[Svejk]

Little more than half way through Metro: Last Light.  It's more of the same of 2033, but that's good.  So far, there's really nothing improved over 2033.. as a matter of fact, they botched the dairy.  How tf did that happen?  When you find a new note, and press the button to open, it doesn't open directly to the new one.. it just defaults to the top.  I've missed a few because I don't have time to scroll through them all.  There was a part that made me chuckle a good bit.. it was so "Slav", it reminded me of the good ol days. 

By request of my son, I've been playing through Super Castlevania IV.  Never fully played through it.  It's way longer than expected.  There's some gameplay flaws and the music is severely lacking compared to other entries, but it's still relatively solid.  May actually attempt to finally beat Bloodlines after this.  That game always kicked my ass.

The Castlevania juices were flowing, so I started a new game of Bloodstained.  So glad Iga made this game.  It just slaps as a proper Vania should.  I still wished they didn't go with the cell shaded direction (I voted against it during the KS), but it still looks great.  The progression in it is butter.. It's just done so right when compared to other Metroidvanias of late... As it should.

Found a decent PS2 emu for Android that runs Phantasy Star Generations 1 & 2 flawlessly, so I've been playing PS2 mostly.  I'm numb to the awful art direction now, so I've made progress.  Actually getting sucked into the improved battles, with charge attacks and timed parries/blocks.  Reminded though how brutal these dungeons are.  These devs were sadistic back then, but that's how it was.  Still a classic.

[Bebpo]

I'm about 30 hours into Octopath Traveler and I just realized that you can fast travel to towns you've already been to.

better late than never!

[Bebpo]

Since the new year I haven't been gaming much. Just been playing some VA-11-Hall-a here and there and running through the latest FF14 patch this weekend.

I'm like 2/3rds into VA-11-Hall-a (ps. I kind of hate the name because it's a pain in the ass to write out). It took me a bit to get into. The gameplay is extremely light and it's just a VN. The writing took some adjustment since it's somewhat crass and horny, but then again the setting is a BAR with drunk people and drunk people at a bar are gonna be saying crass and horny stuff, so it fits. It threw me off initially because I thought it was a Japanese game and Japanese writers don't write like that. But then I looked it up and saw it was made in Venezuela! I'm pretty sure this is the first Venezuelan game I've played. They really nailed the visual style of Snatcher-like Japanese PC Engine games.

After I got past the first few hours and the story started moving and characters would keep coming back and develop I dug it. I like the characters, the writing is pretty funny (the boss Dana is their best character for sure), and it switches it up enough with the characters that pop up and world lore events that it stays interesting.

The music is good, but I wish it had a proper soundtrack. Just giving you a ton of tracks and letting you make your own playlist is fine for the bartending mini-game but means the story stuff doesn't necessarily get the dramatic music at the dramatic moments. For the sequel I'd rather they did a traditional ost as well as increased the gameplay elements. I'd also like it if you had dialogue choices to respond to the customers instead of just being a VN.

But hey, it makes me want to mix drinks and change lives, so good game so far.