What are you playing?

[iconoclast]

Infamous: Second Son
Rented this from gamefly and platinumed it. This is the first Infamous game I've played and I thought it was okay, but totally forgettable. Combat is mediocre, the boss fights are crap, all of the powers feel samey, and traversing the city is dull until you unlock infinite sprint and/or the flying ability. It's still not engaging at that point, but at least you can get where you need to be pretty quickly. On the upside, it has great graphics and I thought the story and characters were decent enough, but overall I didn't think the game was half as good as Sunset Overdrive (which I also went back to and completed 100% recently). There's just nothing interesting at all about the gameplay, aside from using the environment to swap abilities. That's a neat mechanic.


Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair
Played through this twice so far with the Wing Diver on Hard & Hardest. It's a pretty nice upgrade over the original:

+ Enemy configurations change slightly on Hardest and Inferno. You'll start to see enemies that only appeared in EDF4's DLC missions, like golden ants, silver spiders, red dragons, red bees, purple ants (a higher class of red ants), and even a giant golden queen ant.
+ The Japanese wiki says that around half of the missions were remixed. I'll take their word for it.
+ NPC allies appear more frequently, and they have more varied weapons. Sometimes they even appear in tanks. This helps make some of the missions feel like an all-out war rather than you and your little squadron vs. the universe.
+ There are far more enemies and NPC allies in general.
+ New lighting - Explosions and lightning illuminate the field now. It looks really nice imo.
+ New enemies - The most notable being a giant Godzilla-sized enemy (who appears in four new missions). I think he's more interesting to fight than the monsters from the older games because he's got a larger moveset and more mobility (he can dash sideways and leap forward). Red bees and purple ants are also new.
+ New weapons & vehicles - The Air Raider got the Depth Crawler, which I guess is for the underground missions, and a giant mech to punch Godzilla with. The Wing Diver got a new lightning gun, and the Ranger got a new grenade launcher, shotgun, and a new cascade missle launcher, I think. The Fencer didn't get anything lol.
+ A bunch of small balance changes and improvements: you can quickly recover after getting ragdolled, your allies now have health bars, the Shield Bearer's movement speed was greatly increased, the Retiarius can no longer shoot its web through buildings, and you can free yourself from the constraint if you damage its body enough, Rangers & Fencers can roll/dash through small obstacles (like guardrails), you can use the chat commands in single player, etc
+ Tech improvements - 1080p, fast load times, higher framerate (it can still get choppy when shit hits the fan, but that's EDF), etc
- Cave missions are pitch black now. You have to rely on a flashlight and whatever light the explosions and lightning gives off to see more than 15 feet in front of you. This is the only change I don't like. It makes these missions even more of a turtle fest, since rushing into the darkness might get you instantly killed by a spider or ant that you couldn't see.

So yeah, it's a really great game. Definitely the best one on the PS4.

[tiesto]

Aria of Sorrow is still god tier gaming. Probably will start up Circle of The Moon next.

circle of the moon is not god tier gaming

Best post-SOTN CV game is probably Order of Eccelsia. Nice level of challenge, even though it's a bit less focused on exploration and there's a bit too much in the way of palette-swapped areas.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Aria of Sorrow is still god tier gaming. Probably will start up Circle of The Moon next.

circle of the moon is not god tier gaming

Best post-SOTN CV game is probably Order of Eccelsia. Nice level of challenge, even though it's a bit less focused on exploration and there's a bit too much in the way of palette-swapped areas.

I never played Eccelsia or Portrait. If I can track down copies of those I'll check them out provided I can find my old DS Phat in my parents' basement next time I visit.

[Cheddahz]

bought a time card for final fantasy xiv: a realm reborn (need to get ready for the expansion pack) and i'm hooked again 

[Cerveza mas fina]

Finished Monument Valley.

Good little puzzle game that doesnt overstay its welcome.

[Fifstar]

Started Arkham CIty. Actually dying a lot, feels harder than the first game. Although this is probably partyl due to me being weaksauce and partly due to being careless.

[sarslip]

ever just throw in nintendoland and be like, oh yeah, this sucks  :'(

[Stoney Mason]

Finished Monument Valley.

Good little puzzle game that doesnt overstay its welcome.

Yeah that is a good game.

[sarslip]

Finished Monument Valley.

Good little puzzle game that doesnt overstay its welcome.

Yeah that is a good game.

played a bunch on a plane ride, it was pretty cool, i should finish it.

[chronovore]

Started Arkham CIty. Actually dying a lot, feels harder than the first game. Although this is probably partyl due to me being weaksauce and partly due to being careless.

It’s harder.

I played through it once before learning the combat system. I played a metric shit-ton of Arkham City, and gold-medalled the combat challenges throughout. I determined to go back and play through Arkham City, and had my ass repeatedly handed to me. I was very surprised.

[tiesto]

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse - just beat level 6-1. And this game is surprisingly tough (to get gold medals / collect all the treasures / do the challenges). Definitely recommended if you liked the DS game from years back.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Playing the Shadow of The Colossus PS3 re-release. Wander stumbles like craaaaazzzzyyy in this version and it just sucks the fun out of the game.

[sarslip]

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse - just beat level 6-1. And this game is surprisingly tough (to get gold medals / collect all the treasures / do the challenges). Definitely recommended if you liked the DS game from years back.

i just beat Canvas Curse with the lady last week.  We both liked it.  will probably get this one too at some point.  and yeah we finished with like 33% completion and being like fuck all that hard shit.

Started Lego Movie, it's, actually... really good.

[sarslip]

Kirby games 

[Takuan]

Quit playing MH4U entirely and been obsessed with Dark Souls 2: SOTFS. Game's the tits. It definitely feels a bit less refined in world and encounter design than Dark Souls, but I'm having fun all the same. Last night I wrecked the skeleton lords boss in one shot, only to get rolled by the horse chariot fuck immediately after.  He dies tonight.

[Fifstar]

Started Arkham CIty. Actually dying a lot, feels harder than the first game. Although this is probably partyl due to me being weaksauce and partly due to being careless.

It’s harder.

I played through it once before learning the combat system. I played a metric shit-ton of Arkham City, and gold-medalled the combat challenges throughout. I determined to go back and play through Arkham City, and had my ass repeatedly handed to me. I was very surprised.

Arkham Asylum was also much more controlled. Every encounter is it's own setting that is clearly separated. In this game you drop down some house and suddenly are surrounded by five guys with guns. Also in the first half of the first game most encounters boilded down to hang from a statue and grab a guy as soon as he walks underneath. This one forces you to do go a bit more out from the start.

[studyguy]

Been playing Warframe with some friends.

Fuck this game sucks. Literally just grind all day.
Grind items, use items to grind making new weapons, grind weapon to be able to use new weapons, grind etc etc etc

Why the fuck am I playing this.

[demi]

> Destiny players

[Mr. Nobody]

Bought Guacameele and Shovel Knight both on Vita


portable 2D goodness 

[archie4208]

Finally beat all the levels in Tropical Freeze.  World 7 was brutal.

I didn't get all the puzzle pieces or do hard mode, but I'm going to put it on the back burner for now and start Ys 6.

[chronovore]

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse - just beat level 6-1. And this game is surprisingly tough (to get gold medals / collect all the treasures / do the challenges). Definitely recommended if you liked the DS game from years back.

i just beat Canvas Curse with the lady last week.  We both liked it.  will probably get this one too at some point.  and yeah we finished with like 33% completion and being like fuck all that hard shit.

Started Lego Movie, it's, actually... really good.

Did you get it on sale? I picked it up for $5 on the XBL Market a few weeks back, and... it’s a lot of game for $5.

Been playing Warframe with some friends.

Fuck this game sucks. Literally just grind all day.
Grind items, use items to grind making new weapons, grind weapon to be able to use new weapons, grind etc etc etc

Why the fuck am I playing this.

Is it fun?

[sarslip]

tried to get into CoD AW singleplayer, 

i walked maybe ten steps off the path to an open area, and it auto-placed me back on the "rail" and scolded me.

and then later:
"CROSS THE STREET MITCHELL!  MITCHELL, GET ACROSS THE STREET!  MITCHELL!" etc

game is really bossy even by CoD standards.

[tiesto]

Shovel Knight is awesome, definitely my favorite indie game from last year. Challenging but still fair, my only complaints were that the boss fights weren't too interesting - mostly just going ham on the boss and trying to outlast them. And that a lot of the game feels like (a still great) retread of a lot of the NES greats, if you're a huge retro gamer like I am.

[suppadoopa]

Time & Eternity

It's fuggin horrendous. Not even ironically enjoyable at all

[VomKriege]

Crysis, Crysis 2, Dishonored :

I know the PS3 port of Crysis is a gimped, bug-riddled version of the classic one, but it is good fun nonetheless and it is a relief to play a game with a no-bullshit added open world : no collectibles, only the game. Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon was fun for what it was and didn't overstate its welcome but I couldn't shake ultimately how hollow a lot of the content is in the Ubi formula. The design up to this point has been excellent (I'm pretty early in, attacking the North Korean base), with the possibilities opening up along your skill. I know it will all go in the drain at some point... Something infuriating though is the fact that Crysis 2 offers less display & sound options than the first game for some reason, namely muting the nanosuit. I like Crysis 2 as well, but it is more by the numbers I guess (super-shit story by the way).

Dishonored is good too, plot itself is nothing to write home about but all the rest is really nice and the art direction is excellent. That being said, I have some very long non-game dry spells in between my short gaming binge, so I may be lenient and easy to impress. Still one of the most polished universe I played since Deus Ex : HR (a much lesser game in many aspects).

[The Legend of Sunblade]

I played Crysis on PS3 as well and was surprised at how much I came out liking it. It had been a long time since I played an "open world" game that was really about the open world and not a collecathon in disguise. I liked being given the complete and utter freedom to tackle every objective however I wanted without being given some nonsense modifiers like "be stealthy!" or "kill x dudes by y method".

[Takuan]

Fucked up the horse rider and pile of corpses boss last night

Managed to stumble upon a new area connected to Majula that I totally missed before. Thought long and hard about murking some named NPC with a pretty sword, but decided against it. I'm totally getting why people were pissed about the game when it first came out, the area design is just utterly plain in a "we don't have anymore time to spend on this, let's release it as is" way. I'm talking PS2-tier geometry in the environments and some very shitty textures. No biggie, still top-tier enjoyment.

[Mr. Nobody]

In the past 2 days, I've bought 7 Wii games

Super Mario Galaxy
Donkey Kong Country Returns
The Trauma Center trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Punch-Out!!

along with SMG2, that brings me to a total of 8 Wii games which is coincedentally equal to the number of Wii U games I own (the symmetry  )

[Cerveza mas fina]

Started playing Shadowrun Dragongall, already liking it more then the first one. Shame music is the same

Also playing on an ipad rocks compared to a pc.

Shovel Knight

Finally got to play this bad boy and my god is it a gem. Loving every minute of it.

Is it a straight up challenging platformer or a metroidvania?

It lools so tempting

[demi]

In the past 2 days, I've bought 7 Wii games

Super Mario Galaxy
Donkey Kong Country Returns
The Trauma Center trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Punch-Out!!

along with SMG2, that brings me to a total of 8 Wii games which is coincedentally equal to the number of Wii U games I own (the symmetry  )

Now that everyones moved on to how shittyWiiU is, Wii actually has quite a library to check out.

Heres my current collection, missing a ton of stuff I'd like to get.

Arc Rise Fantasia
Baroque
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Endless Ocean: Blue World
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
Kirby's Dream Collection
Klonoa
Little King's Story
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Metroid: Other M
Opoona
Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
Rhythm Heaven Fever
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
The Last Story
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Trauma Team
Wario Land Shake It!
Xenoblade Chronicles
Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure
Sonic Colors

[chronovore]

tried to get into CoD AW singleplayer, 

i walked maybe ten steps off the path to an open area, and it auto-placed me back on the "rail" and scolded me.

and then later:
"CROSS THE STREET MITCHELL!  MITCHELL, GET ACROSS THE STREET!  MITCHELL!" etc

game is really bossy even by CoD standards.

Battlefield 3 was this for me and my friend. There was one parking lot with snipers on the far end. After rushing through and getting ganked a couple times, we paused to note that the approach on the far side had a cinderblock wall with a clear gap in it. We thought A-ha, just get through that and flank the snipers; that must be the answer! Entered the area, briefest of timeout countdowns, forcibly returned. Not only was it on rails, the game-design language was even unclear.

[Rufus]

I bought Out There Somewhere for the cards, but it turns out it's actually a neat little game. Catchy music, doesn't overstay its welcome (finished in 2 hours according to Steam) and the puzzles (all based around your teleport gun) are juuust tricky enough without being frustrating.

[VomKriege]

I played Crysis on PS3 as well and was surprised at how much I came out liking it. It had been a long time since I played an "open world" game that was really about the open world and not a collecathon in disguise. I liked being given the complete and utter freedom to tackle every objective however I wanted without being given some nonsense modifiers like "be stealthy!" or "kill x dudes by y method".

I find it also make the game not (too) frustrating on the highest difficulty despite the hard checkpoint system, each part of the level can be tackled differently and it actually forces you to find a viable route and execute things flawlessly. The second game is more rigid and have some annoyances (infinite respawning at points, while the first game seems to have finite enemy forces) but it is true nonetheless. The sequel is actually a "cinematic shooter" done right, the pseudo Zimmer-soundtrack is excellent and the setting finds a good balance, it's fetishized alright without being too bombastic. It was pretty exciting to dive in both games without too much forewarning, made for real tense play.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

In the first game where you must regroup with Prophet traversing a river bed with two massive Korean patrols on each side. I pussied it out because taling them head on is suicide in Delta difficulty.

It was also funny trying to flank the village coming from the sea. Tought I was doing dandy until I saw the posts with a skull. "Minefield ? May as well try to go through" only to be blown 5 seconds later.

[close]

The first game also kind of manage some sort of verisimilitude : finite enemies, reasonable defense positions... As I said I liked Deus Ex, but navigating Detroit Corridor city was jarring. But on the other hand the map is not too overwhelming unlike a Far Cry 2.

[Purple Filth]

Warframe

gotta get those prime parts 

[Barraco Barner]

GTA V

Finally got this as I had a 25% off coupon on GMG. I would have pre-ordered but was worried that it would be a shitport like 4. I also didn't last long with the 360 version due to the crap frame rate. So happy to see that performance is excellent, even on my 560 Ti. ~smooth like the Sleeping Dogs PC port.

[eleuin]

Suikoden 2

Only 5 hours in but 

[daycru]

Playing so much PC GTA V that I'm marveling at the quality of shadows in real life, then going "wait a goddamn minute."

[Bebpo]

I did that too

[Bebpo]

So I'm having pretty much the best gaming experience since 1998 right now between playing Bloodborne, GTAV, Super Robot Wars Z3-2, Batman Origins and now Xenoblade X.  Outside of Batman, the rest are all huge amazing games and Batman's a pretty fun sandbox too plus you're Batman.

I think I'm totally good until MGSV.  Plus got that Ys VI and Witcher games to play if I've got time to kill before then.

[Supermanisdead]

Suikoden 2

Only 5 hours in but 

That's how I felt when I first played it a few months ago. It's probably in my top 5 games ever now. So perfect.

[tiesto]

Played a whole shit ton of pinball at Pinfest yesterday. Including an absolutely pristine Whirlwind table 

[Cerveza mas fina]

RE Revelations 2 Raid mode is more fun then the main game so far.

Not bad Capcom

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I'm at the last chapter of the Borderlands Presequel.  Part of me wants to finish it just because but the game is kind of so-so so I'd like to avoid the sunk cost fallacy of wasting another 1-2 hours if I'm not feeling it.

[suppadoopa]

replaying doos eggs human revolution 

why can't all wRPGs be like this game?

[Positive Touch]

wrpg-style dialog trees and choices + non linear levels that serve as small-scale open world sections + anything that isn't gameplay based on old d&d = amazing experience

[VomKriege]

wrpg-style dialog trees and choices + non linear levels that serve as small-scale open world sections + anything that isn't gameplay based on old d&d = amazing experience

I liked the game a lot but you can really see the budget dwindling and the deadlines pressure as you advance through it. The beginning is fantastic, the end not so much...

[Rufus]

Montreal was supposed to be another hub. Upper Hengsha was also planned, but now you only see it through windows. 

[VomKriege]

Beyond the cut content, it is also apparent in the game. The first mission has all those intricate options to challenge the player conceptions and possibilities to finish it

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Start of the mission being on a timer, for once when the game says "Hurry up" it means it, the fact that you can meet the rebel leader down the road if you let him live, etc...

[close]

But you see less and less of that through and the game ends up on a whimper with some of the most generic gameplay possible.

I suspect some character development got binned as well, maybe Malik who kind of exit the game in passing. I liked the not-too overt buddy relationship you have with her but it felt unconcluded.

[Rufus]

Yeah, they adressed the relative lack of reactivity in the commentary. Blew their load on Detroit. That one thing in Hengsha and the one involving Malik are the only other instances I can think of. The pay off is nice at least, even though you have to be pretty dense for the former.

Sarif badgering you via intracom to attend to the hostage situation was a late addition, too. They had the VA record those lines while he was on vacation in Hawaii or something.

[sarslip]

i finished CoD AW... meh.  That Kevin Spacey likeness tho   

[Fifstar]

Finished the main story mode of Batman Arkham CIty. Great game. Fighting mobs is more fun. I also like how the game has pretty even ascend in difficulty, both brawls and the takeouts against enemies with guns get progressively harder. Gunna play more the side missions now. This game didn't really have the Metroid feel of the first game (it was only a feel in Asylum anyways, as it's still was massively guided) and I liked the "levels" in asylum a bit more, but the city made up for that. Liked the riddler Challenges more in Asylum, I didn't like particular those where you have to deactivate switches without missing a switch.

[zomgee]

For some dumb reason I'm replaying the MGS series. Currently in 2. Completely forgot I had to blow up a jet. And I also forgot how wordy this thing is.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Finished Demon's Souls for the first time. As is the case with the rest of the series, it was excellent. I didn't super love the whole nexus hub set up, and the upgrade system was kinda just a big farm-fest. Also I'd say this game has the most flat bosses, but I give it a pass for that since it was the first in the series and didn't have the resources the following 3 games had at their disposal. Overall, I enjoyed it. Shortest one in the series too, or maybe I'm just getting good enough at these games that I can just cruise through them (23 hours).

Since I've now beaten all the souls games I'd rank them as DS > DeS = BB > DS 2

[The Legend of Sunblade]

I really like the bosses in Demon's Souls cause they're the kinda gimmick bosses that Dark Souls tried to do with Bed of Chaos, but failed utterly at. Sneaking past the Dragon God still feels awesome to do, the False Idol's revival mechanic is really clever and encourages exploration, the Old Monk blending PvP with a major boss fight (tho i assume its pretty dead by now), etc.

Pulling out and using the Storm Ruler against the Storm King for the first time. 

When you realize that Garl Vinland is the real final boss of Valley of Defilment. 

Getting Soul sucked by Old King Allant and losing soul levels every time. 

[BobFromPikeCreek]

I think the Old Monk would've been really cool if PVP were still a thing in this game, but as it is now I fought the embarrassingly lame AI phantom and beat it in less than a minute.

I sniped Storm King with my Lava Bow... I wish I read about this dude first because using that sword looks like it would've been bad ass.

Vinland was a disappointing chump and then his waifu just committing suicide was really underwhelming.

Dragon God was just 


But yeah. After Bloodborne the slower, more deliberate combat was hugely enjoyable. I hope the two franchises can co-exist, because I like both the combat systems. Hopefully From has the B Team on Dark Souls 3, because FUCK EVERYBODY DS2 WASN'T THAT BAD.

Also, yes. Bed of Chaos is still the series' worst boss by a mile.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

I thiiiiink I might play King's Field since I never have. Is it ok to start with 4? I want to ease myself into the jank.

[tiesto]

Finally beat that damn dragon boss in Gravity Rush. I was trying to attack him with flying kicks that would connect maybe 1 out of every 20 tries, but all you needed to do was stand next to him, wait for the dragon head to attack you, dodge it then melee the shit out of it. Took me like 3 minutes to beat him once I figured that out.

So I've been making good progress, just boarded the ark and beat the flying snake monster but took another spill. Fun game once you get over the awkward camera and controls. Art style is splendid and the game is so fresh and original.

Also playing more Kirby and some Rescue Rangers 2.

[VomKriege]

For some dumb reason I'm replaying the MGS series. Currently in 2. Completely forgot I had to blow up a jet. And I also forgot how wordy this thing is.

MGS2 is a drag. I had the same issue with 3 when I tried to replay it some time after my initial rush, the intro gets quite some time to get going.

[Kara]

There's even too much talking in Revengeance.

[demi]

I thiiiiink I might play King's Field since I never have. Is it ok to start with 4? I want to ease myself into the jank.

Ancient City is perfectly fine. Theres also Eternal Ring on PS2.