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Post by Kestrel on Jun 3, 2023 7:14:45 GMT
Picked up Star Trek: Resurgence yesterday (PSA: you can get an EGS coupon for free that gives you 25% off it, valid for another week or two, I think) and managed to play it for a couple hours. Initial impressions are... mixed. If you're not a Star Trek fan, I wouldn't recommend it; if you are a Star Trek fan, I definitely recommend it, if only because it's the first real attempt at authentically adapting Star Trek into a video game since Bridge Commander. It's got its issues -- limited graphics options, overreliance on QTEs, inconsistent performance, stiff character animation and voice acting, iffy controller support, no real puzzles and (embarrassingly) no manual saving or auto-saves (uses chapter-checkpoints instead). BUT it really nails the "fantasy" of golden age Star Trek: simply living aboard one of these impossible starships, talking to people and performing the fairly mundane duties of a Starfleet officer. A call-back to a time when Star Trek could wring out a ton of drama and emotion and character development mostly from a bunch of characters sitting around a conference table talking to each other. But there's plenty of higher-stakes drama and mystery to keep things interesting, too. Really hope we see more games like this going forward. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on 3DS. Yeah I’ve had this one on the backburner for a long time. Did an initial run back in 2015, got stuck on the Shadow Temple boss. Finally picked up the game again this year, cos why not, and actually finished it! It’s exactly what you expect from a Zelda game and does that well, so I had a good time with it. I think the Shadow Temple is where I stalled out, too. I keep meaning to go back to it, but then I get distracted.... think you'll move on to Majora's Mask 3D after, or are ya' just gonna dive into TotK?
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Post by sherlock on Jun 3, 2023 7:50:29 GMT
Picked up Star Trek: Resurgence yesterday (PSA: you can get an EGS coupon for free that gives you 25% off it, valid for another week or two, I think) and managed to play it for a couple hours. Initial impressions are... mixed. If you're not a Star Trek fan, I wouldn't recommend it; if you are a Star Trek fan, I definitely recommend it, if only because it's the first real attempt at authentically adapting Star Trek into a video game since Bridge Commander. It's got its issues -- limited graphics options, overreliance on QTEs, inconsistent performance, stiff character animation and voice acting, iffy controller support, no real puzzles and (embarrassingly) no manual saving or auto-saves (uses chapter-checkpoints instead). BUT it really nails the "fantasy" of golden age Star Trek: simply living aboard one of these impossible starships, talking to people and performing the fairly mundane duties of a Starfleet officer. A call-back to a time when Star Trek could wring out a ton of drama and emotion and character development mostly from a bunch of characters sitting around a conference table talking to each other. But there's plenty of higher-stakes drama and mystery to keep things interesting, too. Really hope we see more games like this going forward. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on 3DS. Yeah I’ve had this one on the backburner for a long time. Did an initial run back in 2015, got stuck on the Shadow Temple boss. Finally picked up the game again this year, cos why not, and actually finished it! It’s exactly what you expect from a Zelda game and does that well, so I had a good time with it. I think the Shadow Temple is where I stalled out, too. I keep meaning to go back to it, but then I get distracted.... think you'll move on to Majora's Mask 3D after, or are ya' just gonna dive into TotK? I don’t even own a Switch, so sadly not (I’m very behind the world games console-wise). The only other Zelda game I actually own is Link Between Worlds so I’ll start that up soon. It’s a franchise I’d like to get more into, but that would mean delving into second hand market for Nintendo games.
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Post by Kestrel on Jun 4, 2023 6:18:41 GMT
ALBW is pretty great, if short. Fortunately I think 3DS games are still priced pretty reasonably, outside of a few unfortunate outliers (like the Dragon Quests). I definitely recommend trying to find a copy of Majora's Mask, if you can -- it's one of the most unique and memorable games ever made, and still holds up beautifully today. There's really nothing else like it.
Spirit Tracks is also pretty fantastic, and worth checking out. But DS games are, I think, considerably more expensive these days.
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Post by tuigirl on Jun 4, 2023 9:24:52 GMT
Nobody talking about Warhammer 40000 Boltgun yet? I have been an avid Warhammer fan for 25 years now. Most of the modern games I cannot play, since I always appear to have laptops slightly out of date and do not have the money (or dedication) to pay for a gaming computer. So I was very happy that a game came out that is nostalgia old-school and plays well on my old laptop.
I have seen the reviews, and for some reason, people either absolutely love or hate this game.
I love it. It is visceral, brutal, very satisfying and there is an integrated easter-egg hunt where you have to search for secrets. If you are like me and play this in short bursts, then it is awesome. However, I can definitely see that if you played this for longer periods, it would become repetitive. The enemies stay pretty much the same, just become "upgrated" later on (e.g. so you do not kill Chaos Marines anymore, but Champions, with slightly different weapons). Plus, the game does not really have a story. Do you even need a story? You are a genetically enhanced armoured killing machine, an Angel of Death of a brutal post-apocalyptic Fascist regime, and your goal in life is to kill everything that is even remotely looking heretical. So you basically kill everything and anything that moves. End of story. You also have to like old-school shooters (plus their at times frustrating mechanics!) and pixels.
So yeah, recommended if you needed some Burn! Maim! Kill! in your life.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Jun 4, 2023 9:40:15 GMT
The first Assassin's Creed.
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Post by The Brigadier on Jun 4, 2023 16:29:39 GMT
Star Wars : Battlefront II
With the Anniversary Edition upgrade a couple of years ago having permanently crippled my progress through Skyrim : Special Edition (Dawnguard was finished, Dragonborn was 3/4 complete, and the main quest had me almost knocking on Sovngarde's door...); the retirement of all my playable characters in Star Trek Online last year after a decade of on/off playing (as diverting as the initial episodes for the Federation / Klingon / Romulan / Jem'Hadar and Temporal Recruit characters were, eventually they all ended up on a repetitive slog to level 65), and the inevitable death of my aging gaming laptop a few weeks ago...I've been stuck for something to play just to let off a bit of steam from the stress of daily life.
Until that is, I picked up a cheap second hand copy of Battlefront II for the XBox.
While I'm not yet confident / skillful enough to participate in battles with other players, I have progressed on solo player mode sufficiently to play in expert mode in ground battles. There is something utterly joyful and stress relieving in taking Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader into the heart of the enemy in full on "Leeroy Jenkins!!" mode, or dispatching the AI team in the most over the top way possible with land mines or rocket launchers as one of the "grunts" (its all in the timing...😈)
Space battles on the other hand, are the complete opposite...🤦♂️ - my hand/eye coordination when flying a vessel is just appalling. I can take Iden Versio through the forests of Endor without too much difficulty, but once she is in a TIE fighter I can successfully crash into every bit of space debris. EVERY. SINGLE. BIT.
Rewarding, frustrating and a whole lot of fun, it has certainly sorted out the maddening itch.
If I can just get the flying figured out...🚀💥🤦♂️
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Post by Kestrel on Jun 11, 2023 7:31:32 GMT
It's really a shame there aren't any really good, modern space combat games for Star Wars (or, really, anything else). I did recently get into Freespace 2, arguably the best game in the genre, and it's crazy how well it holds up, especially with all the graphical overhaul mods that modernize it, And it's all free, and even has a special launcher app (Knossos) that makes it really easy to play total-conversion mods. If you're looking for great space combat, check it out. It also has a really cool accessibility feature built-in for some mods, but possible to add to anything with a bit of work: automatic aim-adjustment. Makes playing with a gamepad or just casually feel so, so good. More like an arcade game than a sim. Nobody talking about Warhammer 40000 Boltgun yet? I have been an avid Warhammer fan for 25 years now. My intention is to build a PC sometime this summer, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying out some of the Warhammer games (it's not really an IP I'm very familiar with). My current PC is about 12 years old and well below most modern min-specs, so there are quite a few games I'm looking forward to checking out (like Stray). Would you say Boltgun serves as a good introduction to the universe, or would I be better off looking elsewhere? I've also got my eye on Dawn of War, Space Marine, and the Total Wars (love map-painting games and who can resist the allure of summoning up armies and armies of skeletons?). Also very much looking forward to having a CPU that can handle more complex 3D modeling. One thing I've really loved doing while listening to BF audios, among other 5ihgs, is play around modeling starships.
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Post by tuigirl on Jun 11, 2023 8:43:45 GMT
It's really a shame there aren't any really good, modern space combat games for Star Wars (or, really, anything else). I did recently get into Freespace 2, arguably the best game in the genre, and it's crazy how well it holds up, especially with all the graphical overhaul mods that modernize it, And it's all free, and even has a special launcher app (Knossos) that makes it really easy to play total-conversion mods. If you're looking for great space combat, check it out. It also has a really cool accessibility feature built-in for some mods, but possible to add to anything with a bit of work: automatic aim-adjustment. Makes playing with a gamepad or just casually feel so, so good. More like an arcade game than a sim. Nobody talking about Warhammer 40000 Boltgun yet? I have been an avid Warhammer fan for 25 years now. My intention is to build a PC sometime this summer, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying out some of the Warhammer games (it's not really an IP I'm very familiar with). My current PC is about 12 years old and well below most modern min-specs, so there are quite a few games I'm looking forward to checking out (like Stray). Would you say Boltgun serves as a good introduction to the universe, or would I be better off looking elsewhere? I've also got my eye on Dawn of War, Space Marine, and the Total Wars (love map-painting games and who can resist the allure of summoning up armies and armies of skeletons?). Also very much looking forward to having a CPU that can handle more complex 3D modeling. One thing I've really loved doing while listening to BF audios, among other 5ihgs, is play around modeling starships. Well, you should be able to play the older Dawn of War games (which are still some of the best strategy games ever made. Dawn of War II does not come close and is more a tactical RPG and I have not even bothered with III).
Space Marine is AWESOME. It is extremely satisfying. Plus, there are a ton of mods, so you can transform the boring vanilla Smurf (derogatory term for the bland Ultramarine poster boys) into something much cooler, like a barbaric Space Wolf or a insane enraged Death Company Blood Angel.
Is Boltgun a good introduction to the universe? It has no story. You are just a Space Marine (fanatical indoctrinated fascist super soldier) doing his job = killing everything that moves. It is a good game for blowing off some steam.
If you want to learn about story and lore, you are better off reading one of the books than playing any game, to be honest. Most of the Black Library books are now also on audio book /audible.
If you do not know anything about the universe yet, I always recommend reading / listening the Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett. The first trilogy (Xenos, Malleus, Hereticus). It is a sci-fi thriller centered on an inquisitor (secret fanatical police) and his gang, and the stories slowly introduce you to to main background bits of Warhammer 40k.
To this day, this trilogy remains one of the best Warhammer books ever written.
My laptop is sadly also not good enough for Total War. I would like to one day give second life to my old Fantasy armies of Empire and the Dark Elves.
As for Stray- what an amazing game. I am still blown away. It deserves the praise it gets, because it really has some unique story-telling and the characters are fantastic. It also nails the depressing dystopian atmosphere.
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Post by Kestrel on Jun 12, 2023 13:40:25 GMT
As for Stray- what an amazing game. I am still blown away. It deserves the praise it gets, because it really has some unique story-telling and the characters are fantastic. It also nails the depressing dystopian atmosphere. All very good reasons to play the game, but if I'm being honest 100% of my interest in the game is just being able to play as a cat. Controlling humans (and assorted anthropomorphs) is boooooooooring. Everything else is just a bonus.
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Post by christmastrenzalore on Jun 23, 2023 12:05:25 GMT
Tales of Berseria I've been playing this game on and off for about a year now. I'd play a big chunk of it, but then something would always disrupt it. But a night or two ago, I finally marathoned myself towards the end.
Pretty great ending. They really back-load a lot of the revelations and character climaxes.
I don't think I ever quite got a hang of the underlying mechanics. The Artes system and interface is a lot to get your head around when you aren't having month long gaps between play sessions. But I mustered my way through and found a system that worked for me.
Now just the side-quests and mini-games to wrap up when I feel like it.
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Post by tuigirl on Jun 24, 2023 9:35:28 GMT
Brotato. Surprisingly fun. It was cheap, and I was curious what the fuss (and the memes) were about. I usually do NOT play these types of games, but thought, I could as well widen my horizon. The game is quite hard, requires some thinking and planning (choosing the right upgrades and weapons for your built) and is as crazy as it sounds (you basically play as a berserk Mr. Potato Head). It has no story. I am just surprised that this apparently simple game is so well made, polished and just fun to play and I can understand why it has such glowing reviews.
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Post by Star Platinum on Jun 29, 2023 18:03:27 GMT
I finally finished Tears of the kingdom the other day, the main plot line at least.
Nintendo really captured lightning in a bottle for this game. After 130 hours of gameplay, and probably many more on the horizon, I’m just as hooked as I was at the start. The sense of wonder this game inspires is unmatched and I will definitely be carving out time to revisit this, and change up how I went about doing things. (Turns out my wandering meant I kneecapped one of the major quest lines in the game)
I’ll definitely try to work with the building aspect of the game more in the future, I’ve seen some insane creations, including the starship enterprise itself!
This game has been worth every single penny, even at it’s eye watering $89 price point.
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Post by Kestrel on Jul 1, 2023 8:45:21 GMT
I finally finished Tears of the kingdom the other day, the main plot line at least. Nintendo really captured lightning in a bottle for this game. After 130 hours of gameplay, and probably many more on the horizon, I’m just as hooked as I was at the start. The sense of wonder this game inspires is unmatched and I will definitely be carving out time to revisit this, and change up how I went about doing things. (Turns out my wandering meant I kneecapped one of the major quest lines in the game) I’ll definitely try to work with the building aspect of the game more in the future, I’ve seen some insane creations, including the starship enterprise itself! This game has been worth every single penny, even at its eye watering $89 price point. Ooh, I haven't seen an Enterprise yet, I'll definitely have to look into that. I have seen the Macross and Gundam-inspired robots. Ooh, and the Ace Combat-inspired DFA bombers. I think I'm about halfway through the main story. I agree completely with everything you've said. It's a staggeringly impressive game. Even the bits I'm disappointed by are still better than almost anything else out there. I do feel like I've only scratched the surface of the building systems. I hope to eventually start building some seriously crazy things to help me take out those big overworld bosses, because boy do I suck at the combat. So far I've mostly just played around with hover bikes, cars, and that fishing trawler boat.
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Post by tuigirl on Jul 2, 2023 18:34:34 GMT
Firing up Path of Exile again.
It has been YEARS.
In fact, it has been so long, my old characters are still there, and have their equipment, but their progress has been reset to Level 1.
Back in the day, there was a PC Computer Game exhibition at the local museum in Palmerston North (New Zealand) and we went to the museum that day for something completely different. Since the developer of Path of Exile is from Wellington, they did a promotion and handed out goodies and if you signed up and paid 30 dollars or something along the line you got a key to the closed beta and you also got the promotional Kiwi pet.
That was the main draw for me. I am a bird person and was working with kiwi. So I signed up and got the kiwi pet.
I also got a ton of coins for cosmetic stuff which I never had used.
I played around with the game a bit but actually I never got into it. It just looked too drab, to dark, and it is VERY difficult compared to my ARPG favorites Torchlight and Grim Dawn.
I gave up on it.
So today I fired it up again, created a new character (a summoner, the necromancer witch) and used those cosmetic coins to buy an awesome steampunk cosmetic armor as well as a black cat with glowing yellow eyes as pet.
And I am having fun!
It has a learning curve, and it is not just "randomly bash buttons"- you actually have to put some thought into it.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Jul 9, 2023 0:29:55 GMT
Finally revisiting GTA V.
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Post by sherlock on Jul 9, 2023 8:30:59 GMT
I’ve started Untitled Goose Game. Terrorising undeserving people just trying to go about their lives never felt so satisfying.
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Post by tuigirl on Jul 9, 2023 17:38:58 GMT
I’ve started Untitled Goose Game. Terrorising undeserving people just trying to go about their lives never felt so satisfying. That game is awesome. Very fun being pure evil.
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Post by Kestrel on Jul 9, 2023 18:18:36 GMT
I still -- quite vividly -- remember the time I was attacked by a goose as a child. I was on a bicycle at the time, which evidently the goose did NOT like. Those birds are terrifying.
EDIT: On-topic, this week I am now beginning to build my new PC! Very excited to (finally) be able to play some new(ish) AAA games. Just in time for Baldur's Gate 3! Ive heard some mixed things about it, but I think I'll pick up the new Microsoft Flight Simulator from the Steam sale to try out, too. I wonder how moddable it is... apparently it uses satellite data to simulate the entire earth's surface, which is cool, but that's a ton of terrain, so it'd be nice if you could teleport to specific locations or fly at ridiculously impossible speeds (Mach 10+ go go go!).
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Post by christmastrenzalore on Aug 2, 2023 12:50:44 GMT
Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode Thanks to some dedicated fan-translators, I could finally play this game that never made it across the pond. I'd already played the original PSP version, but this rerelease adds an entire sequels worth of content all throughout the game. And I still haven't even done the X-Antibody Sidequest so who knows how much more is in there.
I have some niggles here and there, but honestly, it might be my favourite in the whole Digimon World line. Lots of quality of life improvements from the original game, and with more hand-crafted detail and secrets than it's follow-up Next 0rder. It's a shame they never brought it over officially.
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Post by Kestrel on Aug 3, 2023 5:27:19 GMT
Unless I am very much mistaken -- and I've been awake and not in a good state for the past 44 hours, so this is very possible -- today is Baldur's Gate Day.
If any of y'all are fortunate enough to be diving in right away, I demand to know your character builds!
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