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the shizzle => shootin' the shit => music, art and culture => Topic started by: squeek on November 09, 2005, 10:55:39 am

Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 09, 2005, 10:55:39 am
Recently I've started play computer games again.  After an obsession with online Counter strike and half life many years ago through xbox games, MAME 2 player games I then had a slump and didn't play any games for a while bar a few on my girlfriends Nintendo gamecube.

I've now got a laptop with a graphics card that can run new games and have revived my love for all things polygony.  So here's a run down of what I've been playing:

Age of Empires III : Despite now liking one of the prequels as it seemed like a farming game with a bit of fighting I really enjoyed this.  The gameplay is good, the interface is quite clean, it's pretty stable, graphics are good.  It's maybe a little short on the single player, and the difficulty doesn't seem progressive as you work through it.  ie the last level isn't very difficult.

Half life 2 : Excellent game, varied, very polished, lots of thought put into the structure, lots of little touches.

Max Payne : Not that impressed, 'bullet time' seems like cheating when you use it, and seems very samey and the film noir theme doesn't really keep me interested.

Total Annihilation : Old game, but it seems pretty good I haven't played enough to get a good opinion of it yet.

I've just got darwinia which looks lovely and quite innovative and have ordered Chronnicles of Riddick: Butcher Bay, which is about a running a meat stall I think.

So what else is worth having a dable at or leaving well alone?

Anyone played any MMORPG I keep on hearing about?
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on November 09, 2005, 11:41:45 am
transport tycoon still amuses me, despite being at leats ten years old.

older, and better, are:
Lemmings- obviously
Commander Keen series- original platform game
Xenon 2 Megablaster - Chees music and fantastic blasting for the angry
Italia 90- the world's worst football game is good for a laugh, and you can easily make crap teams win the world cup.

</nostalgia>
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 09, 2005, 12:10:50 pm
I've not got round to playing CS Source yet through fear of losing half my spare time like I did with CS.  I enjoyed UT, is 2004 the same, but with new guns/levels/graphics?

Andi-E - suggestions that I don't have to dig legacy hardware out of the loft to play might be more useful!  Xenon 2, was featured in one of the PC mags a year or so back for a how-to-make-your-own-game feature.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on November 09, 2005, 12:11:45 pm
Quote from: "squeek"
Andi-E - suggestions that I don't have to dig legacy hardware out of the loft to play might be more useful!  Xenon 2, was featured in one of the PC mags a year or so back for a how-to-make-your-own-game feature.


you could download them probably
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2005, 12:38:31 pm
Ah squeek, a man with impeccable taste in hobbies. Well, apart from liking CS  :x get a grip, honestly. Anyway, games yes...

Newish:

Far Cry - excellent game, just get it. One of the few FPS games where the design of the game and technology involved makes a notable difference to the gameplay.

Quake 4 - good game, decent sequel to Q2, nice style and plenty of action.

Doom3 - good game, very atmospheric and downright scary in a few places, nice monsters.

Dawn of War - great if you like Warhammer 40k toy soldiers, but even if you don't it's an objectively good, functional, and stylish RTS.

Riddick - good choice, another good game, good graphics, stylishly done, control system can be a bit ass but the atmosphere and style is well worth it.

MMORPG:

Guild Wars - this is what I did all summer following the foot debacle. Nice graphics, some very nice settings, well controllable, it's the first MMORPG I tried and I think it's a pretty damn good one. Can be a HUGE time-sink if you explore lots tho (I've clocked up triple figure hours  :shock: )

Older games:

Blade Of Darkness - excellent, underrated 3rd person hack-em-up. Strong style and very interesting combat.

Enclave - good fantasy 3rd person hack-em-up, good and varied settings and good controls.

RTCW - good FPS, nice balance of straight-up shooter gameplay and good designs.

Undying - good FPS, interesting gameplay and some great settings and atmosphere.

Battlezone 2 - well old now but the graphics were astounding at the time, and the combination of FPS and RTS gameplay is almost unique and very well done.

Can post more if you want. If I had to narrow it down to a few suggestions it would be: Far Cry, Q4, Blade, BZ2.

Oh, finally, UT2K4 is alright, not as good as UT though, doesn;t have the same elegance.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on November 09, 2005, 01:08:56 pm
this week, oi arve been mostly playing:
http://www.commander-keen.com/
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 09, 2005, 02:00:10 pm
Quote from: "andi_e"
you could download them probably


I could probably download most things!

My brother's back home tonight for a few days and he's bringing Far Cry back for me, I'll see how I do.

Fiend - Can you play guild wars offline? Or is that I missing the point?

I've actually got Blade of Darkness at home, but have never played it, think I bought it with some Christmas vouchers I got.  I suppose I should install it, especially as it comes recommended.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 09, 2005, 03:21:55 pm
My recent/current games.

PC
F.E.A.R - very good FPS but a real system hog.
Quake 4 - pretty boring, generic shooter - can't even be bothered finishing it.
Swat 4 - Excellent tactical shooter - hard but realistic....ie you die easily!
Far Cry - Very good, but I prefer the Xbox version really.

Xbox
Halo 2 - The definitive shooter - online is still probably the best game around.
Far Cry - very good, but no Halo beater.

PS2
Darkwatch- Fun shooter
Resident Evil 4 - Superb puzzler/shooter - my current game
Sly 3 - Nice platformer - a real fun game.
Tony Hawk AW - to be honest I'm pretty bored of this game now, and the latest one doesn't offer much to interest me again.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Palomides on November 09, 2005, 04:35:01 pm
Meanwhile, back in the late nineties...

I am somewhat limited by old hardware, as I only have a PC with a 650Mhz Athlon and a 16MB Voodoo3 vid card.

I've played and enjoyed a few good FPS (I don't really go for RTS games) like

Halflife (duh!) and derivatives - Opposing Forces, CS, Gunman Chronicles
Deus Ex
NOLF
Jedi Knight
UT
Serious Sam
QuakeII
(also played Thief but never got into it.)

Can anyone recommend any good FPS that I've overlooked that will run well on my creaky ol' hardware??

The only ones I can really think of are Soldier of Fortune and maybe Blue Shift.

Upgrading isn't really a priority - to run more recent games like RTCW or Farcry I'd have to upgrade both processor and graphics card - so tha'd be a new PC then
 :roll:
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 09, 2005, 06:45:27 pm
Quote from: "andi_e"
Xenon 2 Megablaster - Chees music and fantastic blasting for the angry


What are you playing Xenon2 on Andi? Me and my brother used to be well into that game, think it was on his Atari ST. Groundbreaking at the time, especially with it's use of 'proper' music, well 'Bomb the bass' anyway.

....

Found this copy of the original http://takegame.com/shooter/htm/xenon2.htm

and this http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/downloads/games/xenon2000/index.htm which is an more modern version, only 5 years old!

Watch the original, couldn't get the sound to work then it crashed my machine. Hmmm. New version is quite fun, not quite as frantic as the original, pity.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Jonboy on November 09, 2005, 07:07:39 pm
I'am still trying to complete Horris goes skiing on the spectrum.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2005, 08:08:49 pm
Squeek... You have to be online to play Guild Wars, the way it works is there is a network of cities/towns where everyone hangs out online, then you play missions/quests from those towns - and the missions/quests are generated just for the party you are in (i.e. you don't get the whole bloody web wandering in). You can play the missions/quests with bots (henchmen) instead of real people - I mostly do that as you can explore a lot more and people can be knobs sometimes - but you still need to be online to play.

Give Blade a try - it's quite hard but it's rewarding, the combat is kinda like a fighter game, you find key combos and they perform specific attacks whose suitability depends on your weapon/opponent/circumstances. Makes a good change from snore-a-thons like Rune. Nice and violent too. The Amazon is the easier character to start with, BTW.

Bubba... no offense but your perception must have been addled by too much radiation from console games if you think Halo > Far Cry! Maybe Halo 2 was vastly better but it's not on the PC anyway. And okay, Quake 4 is generic but it does what it does - standard FPS in pretty engine with Q2 atmosphere - pretty well IMO.

Palodimes... You could get a better GFX card really cheap these days. Like £30 for something half-decent. Hell I have an NVidia Geforce GF2 I could swap you for a pint of Hoegaarden ;). But in the meantime...

Battlezone 2.

Blade Of Darkness.

Undying.

Return To Castle Wolfenstein.

....are what you need in your life, in that order. All should run reasonably, maybe not at the very highest setting but they will still look nice. I played them all on a P3 600 with either Voodoo3 or GF2. Oh and good to remind people of Deus Ex - squeek and anyone else, you really should play that. Dated graphics and kinda cliched idea but top-notch exploration and sneaking and stuff and one of the very few games to really deliver what it promised.


Gruff... just me being arsey really, I just really don't like the style of CS and it's derivatives - realistic multi-player only stuff, bletch. Games are good to escape from the mundane real world and other people...
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 09, 2005, 09:28:22 pm
For the Xbox collection I would add Ninja Gaiden. Awesomely hard (the difficulty level a la those old arcade games is set at 'smash the controller against the wall in a tantrum') but very rewarding.

And whilst Doom 3 is good, the 'expansion' Resurrection of Evil sucks balls.

Roll on March next year when the Xbox 360 comes out (here anyway). Some fantastic looking stuff on that (Dead Rising, Resident Evil 5 etc)
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 09, 2005, 10:29:21 pm
Quote from: "Fiend"
Oh and good to remind people of Deus Ex - squeek and anyone else, you really should play that. Dated graphics and kinda cliched idea but top-notch exploration and sneaking and stuff and one of the very few games to really deliver what it promised.


Well it's funny you should mention that because at the same time I bought Blade of Darkness and didn't play it, I also got Deus Ex, and didn't play it!  So I'll get on both those cases, or at least into them and remove the CDs.


Quote
Gruff... just me being arsey really, I just really don't like the style of CS and it's derivatives - realistic multi-player only stuff, bletch. Games are good to escape from the mundane real world and other people...


Ah, I like CS because I don't run round killing terrorists or taking hostages and planting bombs in the mundane real world  ;)  I really like CS because it's one of the few multiplayer FPS online games (at least back when I played it) where dying had any consequence when you were playing.  In all the others your died count only goes up one, whereas in CS you can't play until next level, lose money, etc, instead of just respawning.

Bubba - does Farcry not look at lot worse on the Xbox compared to the PC version, and does playing with a crappy joypad after playing with a mouse not infuriate you?  I hate playing FPS on consoles now because joypads feel so clumsy compared to using a nice mouse.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 10, 2005, 05:55:25 am
Quote from: "Fiend"
Bubba... no offense but your perception must have been addled by too much radiation from console games if you think Halo > Far Cry! Maybe Halo 2 was vastly better but it's not on the PC anyway


Halo 2 over Xbox live is the best shooter ever imho - the single player is probably worse than Halo, but XBL lifts it above everything else. To put it into perspective, Half Life 2 multiplayer is shit in comparison.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 10, 2005, 09:23:17 am
Quote from: "Bubba"
Halo 2 over Xbox live is the best shooter ever imho - the single player is probably worse than Halo, but XBL lifts it above everything else. To put it into perspective, Half Life 2 multiplayer is shit in comparison.


Why? I'm not questioning your judgement, just wondering as I've not played Halo 2, and only played Halo briefly and only in multiplayer mode (which is shit because you get a quarter of an already low res screen and you can see where everyone else is).
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on November 10, 2005, 10:06:16 am
Quote from: "Obi-Wan is lost..."
Quote from: "andi_e"
Xenon 2 Megablaster - Chees music and fantastic blasting for the angry


What are you playing Xenon2 on Andi? Me and my brother used to be well into that game, think it was on his Atari ST. Groundbreaking at the time, especially with it's use of 'proper' music, well 'Bomb the bass' anyway.


quality music. i was (and still would) play it on a knackered old 386 that went to join the big motherboard in the sky last year  :crying:
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Palomides on November 10, 2005, 10:19:23 am
Andi - I have just downloaded Commander Keen.
Old school like whoa. But in a good way!

Fiend - I assumed that I wouldn't be able to run RTCW, as the free online version (Enemy Territory) needed higher specs. I'll look out for it  :P . I won't pursue you for a beer-technology swap, as I now live a long way from Sheff.

Following gruffs revelation of his xfire user id, I feel compelled to share that I used to play internet UT with the name "mistake".
I found it amusing that someone, somewhere would be playing against me and see the words "You were killed by mistake" on their screen.
Note to self: acquire life.

Oh and Squeek - if we're talking about games from a few years ago don't bother with Daikatana. So bad, so very very bad.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on November 10, 2005, 10:23:42 am
Quote from: "Palomides"
Andi - I have just downloaded Commander Keen.
Old school like whoa. But in a good way!

in my youth (earlier on before you poke abuse) i completed 4, 6 and keen dreams.

i just found this database for mega oldschool madness on the game front:
http://www.victorclaessen.nl/files.asp?section=games
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 10, 2005, 11:15:04 am
Quote from: "squeek"
Why? I'm not questioning your judgement, just wondering as I've not played Halo 2, and only played Halo briefly and only in multiplayer mode (which is shit because you get a quarter of an already low res screen and you can see where everyone else is).


Halo was only designed for LAN, not online multiplayer like H2 is.

You'd only have a quarter of a screen if you've got 4 controllers plugged in - i'd never play like that coz you wouldn't see anything. Most people just play with one person per xbox over live.

And H2 looks way way better than H1.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 11, 2005, 01:57:43 pm
Anyone getting an Xbox 360?

I've pre-ordered but might not have the cash for it...
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 11, 2005, 02:22:58 pm
Might do, if a nice software hack comes out like for the Xbox, I quite like the idea of Microsoft subsidising my hardware.  I'd like to have the whole mame collection running again if they get a working port of it.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 13, 2005, 09:50:42 pm
Quote from: "Bubba"
Anyone getting an Xbox 360?

I've pre-ordered but might not have the cash for it...


Maybe. Still waiting to see the price tag here before comitting. But then Huxley (the 'Halo' thats gonna sell the machine) does look pretty fucking awesome. Check the movie thats available - I can't remember where it is.....
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on November 14, 2005, 12:31:18 pm
I don't think I'll bother with a 360 now, I'm going to stick with my laptop and maybe get a Nintendo Revolution as they sound great.  Nintendo always seem to think of better ideas for the next generation of consoles rather than add twice as many buttons and sticks to the controllers and try to make it run twice as many polygons (which admitedly can be very useful).  It's a shame they seem to be lagging behind at the minute.

I've completed HL2 now (last level's great) and have moved onto Riddick (I've only played it for 20 minute though) which looks very nice all the armed guards have really good textures bumpmapped onto them, although the menus are a bit overdone. I've got a new high resolution mouse that's really good too, especially as I have a few more buttons at hand now.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: moose on November 14, 2005, 02:23:38 pm
Quote from: "squeek"
I don't think I'll bother with a 360 now, I'm going to stick with my laptop and maybe get a Nintendo Revolution as they sound great.  Nintendo always seem to think of better ideas for the next generation of


from what I've heard the Xbox360 is still plagued with problems in spite of its iminent release.  Several of the anticipated killer apps are still incomplete - not forgetting that appearance at the big trade show (E3?) recently where the showpiece Rare games were incredibly slow and glitchy.  No backwards compatibility except with a very small number of selected games either (Halo's 1&2).  Plus that shit over it being available in a version without a harddrive so that most games won't be able to take advantage of what was one of the original Xbox's main plus points.  Still, couldn't happen to a nicer company....

The Revolution on the overhand sounds pretty intriguing - motion/tilt senser based controllers etc.  Shame the usual Nintendo thing will happen - incredibly poor marketing, no sales, bugger all games availability... hey ho
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 16, 2005, 12:50:56 pm
I've just got a 360 and to be honest it's completely awesome. I'm not a Microsoft fanboy either.

No bugs or problems at all, the interface and integration with Live are the best I've seen and it's worth getting for one game....

...Call Of Duty 2. I'm not a big fan of WW2 games but this game is without doubt one of the best games ever made. It's just amazing, especially in High Definition (playing on my monitor with a VGA lead, can't afford an HD telly).

Considering COD2 is a PC port, I reckon the proper 360 games we'll be getting down the line will be something to behold.

Some might say, why not play COD2 on a PC then? Well, to get graphics this good, you'd need to have a state of the art PC with a graphics card that would cost more than a 360 on it's own.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: moose on December 16, 2005, 02:00:57 pm
Quote from: "Bubba"
Well, to get graphics this good, you'd need to have a state of the art PC with a graphics card that would cost more than a 360 on it's own.


remember reading that some hardware gurus stripped down a 360, counted the cost of the components and found that it was around £100 more than the cost of the console.  Okay, microsoft probably get a hefty discount but when you factor in assembly and distribution they must be taking one hell of a loss   (even more than they did with the original Xbox).
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 16, 2005, 02:14:05 pm
I had a quick play on PGR3 and wasn't that impressed to be honest, although there weren't any other cars racing as it was time trial round a course.  I'm sure it's pretty good, the specs look decent, but in two years time the graphics will be equivolent to a £80 graphics card, and the games will still cost £50 (unless a good hack comes out like the xbox :wink:).  

I'm not entirely sure about xbox live knowing exactly what you're doing and telling everyone else, like watching a film or listening to mp3s etc.  It's maybe a bit too much.

I think in the end, the reason I'm not overwhelmed by it, is it's just an xbox with updated hardware and HD support, likewise that's what the PS3 will be.  Graphics aren't everything to games, and to be honest sometimes they don't even improve a game.  When we had all the latest games on a hacked xbox on a lovely TV we ended up playing MAME games more than the xbox games because ultimately they were more fun.
My friends got a 360 and a big HD tv (52") so I'll probably have a go on that after christmas and have a better opinion of it.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 16, 2005, 02:19:23 pm
Quote from: "moose"
remember reading that some hardware gurus stripped down a 360, counted the cost of the components and found that it was around £100 more than the cost of the console.  Okay, microsoft probably get a hefty discount but when you factor in assembly and distribution they must be taking one hell of a loss   (even more than they did with the original Xbox).


How much do they make per game sold though?  Ã‚£5?  how many games sold in total 50,000,000?  That's why they subsidise the consoles because they make money on every game sold even though they've paid nothing to develop or publish it.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: moose on December 16, 2005, 02:37:00 pm
Quote from: "squeek"
How much do they make per game sold though?  Ã‚£5?  how many games sold in total 50,000,000?  That's why they subsidise the consoles because they make money on every game sold even though they've paid nothing to develop or publish it.


I do realise that (the old Gilette razor business model).  I just  thought it was an interesting mark of their determination to break the market - the phenomenal short-term losses they seem prepared to take.  Interestingly I read that in the USA only 0.9 games are being sold per console - a fair number of people must be sticking with bundled software and waiting for the killet app's... looks like Mr Gates may have to wait even longer for profit.  Incidently the Xbox never did break even (£75 loss per unit even at the orignal price and the penalty of not breaking the japanese market I guess).
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 16, 2005, 02:53:13 pm
Good points, I suppose it's still a drop (or at least a bucket) in the ocean to MS.  Maybe they should have sold them on ebay and started making profits straight away  :wink:
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 16, 2005, 03:06:35 pm
Quote from: "squeek"
I had a quick play on PGR3 and wasn't that impressed to be honest, although there weren't any other cars racing as it was time trial round a course

Well, to be honest, how far can racing games go anyway? Nothing recent really plays better than Gran Turismo / Forza anyway.

Quote from: "squeek"
I think in the end, the reason I'm not overwhelmed by it, is it's just an xbox with updated hardware and HD support, likewise that's what the PS3 will be.

Well, what did you expect :lol: Consoles aren't going to suddenly start projecting holograms into the middle of your living room and sucking your dick overnight!!

Quote from: "squeek"
Graphics aren't everything to games, and to be honest sometimes they don't even improve a game.  When we had all the latest games on a hacked xbox on a lovely TV we ended up playing MAME games more than the xbox games because ultimately they were more fun.

Absolutely - a good example is Perfect Dark Zero - looks great, but plays very average - but COD2 is awesmome for the immersion and gameplay, not just the graphics, though things like the desert heat-haze and the smoke effects are pretty impressive.

You'd probably like a lot of the Xbox Live Arcade games - old 2d games but with lots of polish and very cheap to buy.

Your comments about xbox live...well, you can just show yourself as offline if you prefer it...
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on December 16, 2005, 03:09:13 pm
Quote from: "Bubba"
Well, what did you expect :lol: Consoles aren't going to suddenly start projecting holograms into the middle of your living room and sucking your dick overnight!!....


 :lol:

Damn Bubba - you should patent that idea before Sony get their mitts on it...
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 16, 2005, 03:29:16 pm
Quote from: "Bubba"
Quote from: "squeek"
I think in the end, the reason I'm not overwhelmed by it, is it's just an xbox with updated hardware and HD support, likewise that's what the PS3 will be.

Well, what did you expect :lol: Consoles aren't going to suddenly start projecting holograms into the middle of your living room and sucking your dick overnight!!


:lol: Every other generation of console has tried to improve the interface, with shoulder buttons, triggers, quad-buttons, anaolgue joysticks.  This one hasn't, in fact by stating no game can assume the xbox has a hard drive it might have taken something away from it.


Quote from: "Bubba"
Absolutely - a good example is Perfect Dark Zero - looks great, but plays very average -

Shame from Rare they've made some of the best games there are, I hope this isn't a start of their downfall.

Quote from: "Bubba"
You'd probably like a lot of the Xbox Live Arcade games - old 2d games but with lots of polish and very cheap to buy.


Sounds good I didn't know you could do that.

I'm not saying they're awful, or am stubbornly against the xbox for no reason.  It just hasn't, so far, inspired me to get one from what I've seen and heard.  The beige one I played looked like a PC with a slightly fancy case, they're huge.  I haven't played it anywhere near enough to formulate a fair opinion, I'm sure they'll have lots of great games and given the spec they should run very well.  The revolution sounds like a great idea and is the only 'next-gen' console that might drag me off my  PC to play games.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 16, 2005, 03:44:34 pm
Quote from: "squeek"
:lol: Every other generation of console has tried to improve the interface, with shoulder buttons, triggers, quad-buttons, anaolgue joysticks.  This one hasn't, in fact by stating no game can assume the xbox has a hard drive it might have taken something away from it.

The 360s software interface is the best yet on any console, and the new controllers are a big improvment (and have new shoulder buttons). Wireless controller is very nice too.

The hard-drive thing is weird, and to use the core system you have to buy a memory card, which should really be included.

That said, the DVD drive is dual layer so can contain 9gb per disk or thereabouts - the hard drive is really just for downloadable content. We'll have to see what blu-ray offers on ps3.


Quote from: "squeek"
Shame from Rare they've made some of the best games there are, I hope this isn't a start of their downfall.

Given that they've taken 6 years to produce what is a pretty average game, it may well be.

Quote from: "squeek"
I haven't played it anywhere near enough to formulate a fair opinion, I'm sure they'll have lots of great games and given the spec they should run very well.

It's going to take time for these consoles to show their real potential. As far as launch games go, COD2 is the most impressive, and Condemned is meant to be fully terrifying, but I think it'll take a year or two for the really awesome stuff to appear - stuff coming out on PS2 is still pushing the limits of that console, and it took years from the Xbox launch 'til we got Halo2 multiplayer. The developers kits were only released by MS fairly recently, so no developer has had all that much time to get to grips with them.

I'm really just looking forward to Halo 3 multiplayer....and playing Halo 2 in HD when I can find a hard drive...
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: moose on December 16, 2005, 05:08:02 pm
Quote from: "squeek"

:lol: Every other generation of console has tried to improve the interface, with shoulder buttons, triggers, quad-buttons, anaolgue joysticks.  


I think all of those interface leaps were invented by Nintendo - the D-pad certainly was (thats why no other console makers can use a plain cross shape), I also suspect shoulder buttons first appeared on the SNES, and triggers and analogue sticks on the N64.  The touch-screen on the DS and the tilt-sensing pad for the Revolution shows they are thankfully still commited to going their own way.  Innovation is not really Microsoft's bag, though they are pretty good at refining things given a few generations: the new 360's joypad is very nice... But then it had to be as one of the main japanese gripes about the original Xbox was the size and cumbersomeness of it's pad  (admittedly they did bring out a smaller version but the damage to their reputation had been done).

Quote from: "squeek"

Shame from Rare they've made some of the best games there are, I hope this isn't a start of their downfall.


I think the downfall has been well underway for a while.... they've done bugger all of any worth since being bought by microsoft .  Their last few games for Nintendo were critically panned as I recall too.  I suspect most of the people responsible for their classics (Goldeneye etc) left to form new studios.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 16, 2005, 08:52:49 pm
Quote from: "moose"
I think all of those interface leaps were invented by Nintendo

They may be great innovators but it hasn't got them that far, and they're now very much in 3rd place. I was really suprised that the Revolution was specced so low, given that it could have been a good chance to rejoin the next console war, but at least they have their loyal following.
To me though, that seems bizarre - it's like all the xbox fanboys who hate ps2, et vica versa - I don't get it, I just want to play the best games irrespective of platform.


Quote from: "moose"
Innovation is not really Microsoft's bag, though they are pretty good at refining things given a few generations

I dunno, there's xbox live, but then innovation is no use if you've not got the resources to bring it to market.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 17, 2005, 02:47:13 pm
There was a very good article about the Revolution and Nintendo's thinking behind it in Edge a few months ago.  Saying they think the gaming market might be reaching saturation point, ie the people who already play games will buy the new consoles and new games, but it won't appeal to anyone else.  Nintendo's vision of having people play games that are more 'fun' and a lot quicker and easier to develop, than having massively expensive and developed games is interesting.  The revolution pricing is quite different too, they will actually make money on the hardware from the word go, and it will (apparently) be a lot cheaper than MS and Sony.  I hope they do reasonably well and don't completely lose out, as I think they make great games (even if sometimes they're a little too cute and kiddy) and the gaming world would be worse without them as a driving force.

I quite like Edge magazine it's written for adults instead of kids, although the vocabulary is sometimes a little flowery.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on December 18, 2005, 10:06:24 pm
This looks damn good for the 360 -

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2029/Huxley-Trailer/

 :D
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 18, 2005, 11:26:47 pm
It looks nice, but there was no gameplay footage in there I don't think.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on December 19, 2005, 12:29:03 am
Yeah, its a bit of a shame. Its a good concept tho and should be pretty awesome online if they pull it off.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Palomides on March 30, 2006, 04:08:17 pm
Quote from: "Fiend"

... But in the meantime...

Battlezone 2.

Blade Of Darkness.

Undying.

Return To Castle Wolfenstein.

....are what you need in your life, in that order. All should run reasonably, maybe not at the very highest setting but they will still look nice. I played them all on a P3 600 with either Voodoo3 or GF2. Oh and good to remind people of Deus Ex - squeek and anyone else, you really should play that. Dated graphics and kinda cliched idea but top-notch exploration and sneaking and stuff and one of the very few games to really deliver what it promised.


Well, just to bring this thread back to life (alright, alright, I know it's been too long..)

Recently I have subjected my creaky ol'PC to the downloadable demo of RTCW. It's OK I suppose, but I don't really go for that horror-style gothic ting.

However, I managed to pick up No-One Lives Forever (NOLF) in a supermarket for 6€.
O
M
G!!!

How did I miss this - a 60s Spy caper with a cracking 3D engine, a plot that's right out of Bond (erm, maybe more Man from UNCLE  :D ), cool weapons, vehicles, and jokes that are funnier than Austin Powers. And goats too.

I even managed to kill a couple of hours on internet multiplayer last night - yes, other people are still playing this too. Quality.


(http://arstechnica.com/reviews/4q00/nolf/forever4.jpg)
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 30, 2006, 08:38:10 pm
Recent goodness on the console front has been;

- GRAW
- COD2 Multiplayer Patch - it now plays like it always should
- Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - this game is amazing.
Title: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 31, 2006, 10:17:20 am
I got thoroughly addicted to Guild Wars last year. Great game.

Haven't played much this year due to various life crisises  :roll:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on December 13, 2006, 12:00:10 am
I've found it.

The holy grail of retro gaming is right here, in my sweaty hands.

Oh yes. I can feel the huge pixels oozing out of it as we speak.

It's the hard drive off an old 386 that died about six years ago- and right now, ti contains my childhood's gaming obsessions.

Lemmings, Outrun, Llamatron, Willy Beamish, Accolade Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, Duke Nukem, Commander Keen, Xenon 2, the whole works...

 8)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on December 14, 2006, 04:12:30 pm
don't get me started on duke nukem  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dr T on December 15, 2006, 03:35:22 pm
commander keen...
so cool...
must get me another copy.....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on December 17, 2006, 10:48:48 pm
Enjoyed all the Halflife games and replayed the second one over the past few days. Would agree with Andi_e that Transport Tycoon was a master stroke.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Richie Crouch on December 18, 2006, 12:00:50 am
I wish I could find my disks for James Pond, Quake 1/quakeworld, Champ Manager 96/97, Unreal Tournament and Syndicate... Classics!

The original Tribes was awesome too along with half life 1 + tfc/cs/dod/s&i/action hl mods  :bow:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on January 05, 2008, 04:36:51 pm
i can't believe its actually here

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aUXoekeDIW8 (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aUXoekeDIW8)



Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 05, 2008, 05:40:57 pm
Since this has been raised from the dead.

I've been enjoying Timeshift (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sierra-UK-Timeshift-PC-DVD/dp/B000CSK3RU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1199554593&sr=8-2) recently. It is, without any possible deviation or originality, Half-Life 2 with bullet time, simple as that. Generic, on-rails, scripted bollox, in theory - BUT it IS actually a rather fun game. Enemy are fun to fight against, challenges are good but balanced, weapons all feel meaty and powerful. Graphics and animations are good, and it runs very smoothly on my 4 year old PC. Where it really shines is combining the "time-slowing" gimmick with the good graphics - watching slo-mo death animations and explosions is always satisfying. For some standard shooter fun, I'm rating it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on January 15, 2008, 12:42:43 pm
Thread back from The Dead.

Call of Duty 4 on the X-Box 360 - pretty amazing stuff.  There's a sniper stage set 15 years ago in Chernobyl that's just jaw dropping.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on January 15, 2008, 01:16:58 pm
good resurrect...

assasins creed: gone off it, v pretty.... simple, dull gameplay

GRAW2: short near perfect single player ( good shooting / tactical balance, managing your team easy and only really necessary on the later levels on harder settings), i'll tell you about the co-op once my f8cking network is working again.

fall of man: short furious FPS, really liked the story. online real hard to get into - the standard is soo high!!

 i know this is a bit of an odd one; Wii brain academy!!! good group game, esp for the family, Wii sports is better for after the pub though...

slowly getting into Uncharted... not what i thought it would be, it's no tombraider... but it is a fine game indeed.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatboySlimfast on January 15, 2008, 03:21:53 pm
Quote
Call of Duty 4 on the X-Box 360 - pretty amazing stuff.  There's a sniper stage set 15 years ago in Chernobyl that's just jaw dropping.

agreed, very good indeed
The online death matches are fuking insane, very claustrophobic and intense
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Duz on January 15, 2008, 08:22:53 pm
don't get me started on duke nukem  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ahem....."I'm gonna rip off your head and shit down your neck"

Duke Nukem delivers on his promises.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 15, 2008, 08:24:29 pm
A lot of people say there's too much autoaim on COD4 to make the online game skillful, but i'll reserve judgement until I play it.

Luckily with Halo 3 they significantly toned down the autoaim from Halo 2 so the actual shooting game has got more skillful, especially if you play MLG style settings. A few things need to be patched, but that's coming soon apparantly. Halo 3 is still the daddy of online shooters as far as i'm concerned. You can enjoy it as a noob or you can compete with some nasty good people as you get better. I got teamed up against a pro player the other day. He killed me. A lot. The other nice things around H3 are the way you can edit all multiplayer maps and share your own versions amongst friends or post to the web for anyone to download. You can also replay and edit films of any game you've played changing camera angles/player view/etc/etc and again share these online. Fantastic.

But recently i have been playing the rather marvellous Bioshock. It's rare for me to bother with a game that has no multiplayer these days but this game is a really worthy exception. It's an FPS, but is far more imaginitive than your typical run and gun shooter like COD/Halo. The weaponary itself is very imaginitive but the main thing is the drop dead gorgeous art deco style graphics and the immersive gameplay. A true landmark in console gaming.

Check out the number of 100% review scores here (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bioshock)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bungle. on January 15, 2008, 09:36:38 pm

But recently i have been playing the rather marvellous Bioshock. It's rare for me to bother with a game that has no multiplayer these days but this game is a really worthy exception. It's an FPS, but is far more imaginitive than your typical run and gun shooter like COD/Halo. The weaponary itself is very imaginitive but the main thing is the drop dead gorgeous art deco style graphics and the immersive gameplay. A true landmark in console gaming.

Check out the number of 100% review scores here (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bioshock)


I agree BioShock is Excellent and although it is a big call is probably the best single person shooter i have played.

You can see the look and feel and check out some footage on the site below
http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock/


I am also currently still enjoying lego starwars on Xbox 360 however that may just demonstrate that i havent moved on as im sure these were my main interests in the late 70's as well .......
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on January 15, 2008, 09:51:47 pm
I too have been very engrossed in Lego Star Wars on the Wii, particularly in co-op mode with the missus.

Courtesy of virual console, I'm also on a retro ride and am reaquianting myself with the controller smashing frustration of Gradius 3 and R-Type. Man those old shoot 'em were tough. The neighbours must think I've got tourettes!  ;D

Bioshock looks to have got stiffed by Mario Galaxy in the Game of the Year stakes tho - Whilst I love Mario (and haven't played Galaxy) surely it can't be *that* good?

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on January 16, 2008, 01:17:38 pm
Bioshock looks to have got stiffed by Mario Galaxy in the Game of the Year stakes tho - Whilst I love Mario (and haven't played Galaxy) surely it can't be *that* good?

It's the best game on the Wii by miles and one of the best games I've played in a long time.  Some of the galaxies contain a lot more ideas than whole games.  The second player idea is good too because it makes it easy for a player of lesser ability to have a go (ie my girlfriend) with you helping them.  I'm currently on my second play through.

I've not played bioshock, which looks very good, but I doubt I'd think it was better than Galaxy.

I'm currently playing a bit of Guitar Hero III too, which is surprisingly fun online, I've not played any of the prequels.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 17, 2008, 09:41:42 am
Downloaded the Bioshock PC demo a while back. Only played a bit but it was pretty cool. I was struggling a bit getting the right gfx/performance balance though. I think I could get properly into it though (just been gaming other stuff). I was hoping it would be like Deus Ex in an art deco sub-aqua world, not sure how accurate that is.

Also downloaded the COD4 demo last night. Only played a couple of minutes (in some frantic middle east map) and it is also pretty cool but highly confusing. There's a lot of shooting going on, I have no idea who (in the distance) is on my side or not, nor where to go given there's smoke and shit everywhere. Which, I suppose, is a fair representation of war and shizzle!! Also seems to be millions of movement options I can't be arsed with. Again I think will reward a dedicated play. Not a fan of realistic stuff really, but maybe this one...

Downloaded Crysis demo, haven't played it apart from the intro. Faces look amazing. Don't know whether it's worth playing much given I don't have the hardware to really do it justice.

In the meantime.... part way through Dark Messiah of Might and Magic which is a nicely done fantasy FPS (a rarity in itself). Think that's the one for now...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 27, 2008, 06:05:30 pm
Call of Duty 4 on the X-Box 360 - pretty amazing stuff.  There's a sniper stage set 15 years ago in Chernobyl that's just jaw dropping.

Finished the demo level (on the PC of course). This is the one where you have to rescue a tank "Warpig" in the Middle East. Woah. Pretty damn cool. Got the hang of it a bit more this time. Very impressive atmosphere, the smoke and explosion effects in particular.  Reassuringly with most settings on, it still ran well on my aging machine. Seriously tempted.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 27, 2008, 06:24:00 pm

For the price of a good graphics card you can buy a console and forget performance woes forever :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on January 27, 2008, 06:29:31 pm
I agree - there's also something not fun about PC's... I don't think I could stand having to boot up Windows as it would feel too much like work.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Drew on January 27, 2008, 07:37:27 pm
Not really a game as such... but... well it only takes up 5-10 minutes of your time:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120034796455789469.html?mod=fpa_editors_picks (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120034796455789469.html?mod=fpa_editors_picks)

Download from here:
http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/passage/ (http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/passage/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 27, 2008, 07:51:32 pm
HA the console vs. PC debate is wheeled out again!!

I wouldn't touch a console with a 20' clipstick. PC: Mouse and keyboard, far better gaming ethos due to more control/interaction options, far better choice of quality games, far more customisability, far better internet community. I will - grudgingly - grant that price (of the PC, obviously games are cheaper) and tech issues can be an issue, and slowly some decent games are getting onto consoles. Even so....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 27, 2008, 07:53:32 pm
P.S. Bubs, can we have this in the music art and culture section please?? Some modern games are more culture than a lot of so-called culture...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 28, 2008, 09:35:15 am
Mmmm ok, I'm moving it...

As games become more and more advanced, and the development costs become vast, I predict that more and more big games will be released across PC and all the "next-gen" consoles.

It's already happened with the PS3/360 - a lot of big games are released on both consoles. Obviously things like Halo 3 which is controlled by Microsoft or Gran Turismo which is controlled by Sony will never be released for the "other" console, but many things will.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on January 28, 2008, 12:31:30 pm

For the price of a good graphics card you can buy a console and forget performance woes forever :)

Until the next one comes out of course...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on February 26, 2008, 07:10:10 pm
I've never been one for consoles. Ages ago I bought a Sega Saturn, bit of a mistake there. A while ago my g/f bought me a ps2 for Christmas and I used it a bit and enjoyed it but its now sat below the tv gathering dust (probably sell it fairly soon if anyone's interested?). This week (after getting very bored) I wandered in to HMV and realized that I COULD just about operate an Xbox 360 controller with my hand (in cast) so I bought one. Jeez online gaming takes consoles to a next level. I've currently only got two games:

Halo 3 - Absolutely amazing, it's taken up hours of my time so far, however i'm still shit.
Assassins Creed - only put it in once, it looks stunning but seemed to take ages to get going no doubt due to the complex controls.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lizzy on February 26, 2008, 08:32:26 pm
I just got Assassins Creed, it's awesome! It's a bit tedious at the beginning though.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 26, 2008, 10:48:47 pm

Good man! Halo 3 is great :)

My tips are:
- turn down your aim sensitivity to about 3 or 4 rather than the default which is too high. Learn to use the Battle Rifle and then just learn the maps - have fun:)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on February 26, 2008, 10:57:54 pm
I just got Assassins Creed, it's awesome! It's a bit tedious at the beginning though.

thats what I was finding...he's a pretty damn good climber though  ;D


Good man! Halo 3 is great :)

My tips are:
- turn down your aim sensitivity to about 3 or 4 rather than the default which is too high. Learn to use the Battle Rifle and then just learn the maps - have fun:)

ok..will do. I keep finding places on the maps which explain where various b*stards kept sniping me from.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 27, 2008, 09:01:24 am
Games are good things when you're injured  8)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on February 28, 2008, 04:16:50 pm
Games are good things when you're injured  8)

damn right. Although as of yesterday i was discharged and hence I no longer think of myself as injured, just inhibited by PAIN! Seeing as though holding a kettle seems to be tricky it should be interesting to see how this 'climbing thing' goes, maybe it'll be back to xbox for a while longer.

Having worked out the maps a bit i'm not dying nearly as much on maps such as valhalla when it comes round to team snipers.

Bubba where is the sensitivity setting for the controllers on Halo 3? can't seem to find it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on February 28, 2008, 06:19:25 pm
Paul,

go on


you're the right body shape...

the cross training would help...



come over to leg shavers anonymous mate!!!

you NEED a road bike!!!

oh yes, another convert in the making..  8)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 28, 2008, 06:24:29 pm
Fatdoc that is sick and perverted and very close to deserving a good sound puntering!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 28, 2008, 11:24:53 pm
Bubba where is the sensitivity setting for the controllers on Halo 3? can't seem to find it.

press start button for settings, then go right with left stick into settings tab, then controller settings, then "look sensitivity" - i use 3 but 4 would be ok too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 01, 2008, 08:46:20 am

Also consider switching the control scheme to Bumper Jumper - gives you more control over your aim whilst leaping about trying to pop people in the noggin.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on March 01, 2008, 12:26:50 pm
What does that do exactly?

How many people on UKB have halo 3 with xbox live?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 01, 2008, 02:13:46 pm

Bumper Jumper puts jump and melee on the back bumper buttons - it just means you never have to remove a finger from the right stick whilst in combat...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on March 01, 2008, 03:42:02 pm
hmmm I reckon i'd strugle to adjust at this stage. Not doing too badly now by all accounts.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 01, 2008, 06:11:14 pm

I know what you mean - i changed after about 2 months play; it took a few confusing days until i got used to it but has been fine since. Don't worry, it's not a huge difference, it just means you can still turn whilst firing which can be really useful.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 03, 2008, 11:34:25 am

Been really enjoying Tomb Raider Anniversary (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85827) over the weekend. It's a multi-platform release, ie ps2/wii/psp/360/pc  but curiously no PS3 version as far as i can tell.

It's basically a remake of the very first TR game and fans of the series will recognise many parts of it. But it plays great and looks pretty good, though not exactly next-gen on the 360.

It's a nice stop-gap until the real next gen version of TR, Underworld (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=91799) is released later this year and it only costs £20 too :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 03, 2008, 01:31:56 pm
i loved this game.

really good retro and modern game all in one.

last great ps2 game - fittingly from Lara.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on March 06, 2008, 03:50:43 pm
Has anyone felt the need to buy any additional cooling stuff for their 360? i've just been reading horror stories and although MS have accepted liability for the issue i'm happy to pay a little extra to avoid the hassle (although some attatchments look useless).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 06, 2008, 03:55:04 pm
told you to get  a ps3!!

seriously, bubba will know.. for what it's worth everyone I know who has a 360 (with the exception of bubs) has had 1,2 or even 3 send off to get fixed type events. this cant be doing bill gate's fortune much good - i heard he got demoted 1 point in the worlds richest list today... shame.

looks like MS make their hardware about as well as their software IMO


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 06, 2008, 04:02:38 pm
looks like MS make their hardware about as well as their software IMO

would be nice to see BG come a cropper as a result of his own legal rigour...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on March 06, 2008, 09:11:09 pm
My 360 had to go back before Christmas after suffering the dreaded 4 rings of death - it was from the so-called 'dodgy' batch of late 2006 though.  To be fair to Microsoft they sent me a new console and ported over the hard disk contents and settings so it was basically plug in and go. They must have lost millions in revenue and profit though given they were also paying UPS to pick up and deliver for free and they've extended the warranty for three years.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2008, 03:08:28 am

MS rushed the initial consoles out and many suffered failure. The new ones are ok. They probably did waste a lot of money on returns/repairs but who cares when they effectively won the console war and established the 360 on the market at a reasonable price.

Until recently, unless you were a fan of the PS3 only titles like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, etc there was little logic to buying a PS3 over a 360. In fact the only people I know who've bought one are Fatboyslimfast/Fatdoc and one guy at work whereas I know about 50 people who bought one or more 360s.

But now that HD-DVD is dead in the water buying a PS3 makes a little more sense coz you get a cheap Blu-ray player. If that's no use to you then i still can't see any point in buying one over a 360 - the 360 has more games, a better and much busier online gaming network, and is much cheaper even after you've added in the cost of a live subscription.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 07, 2008, 08:43:02 am
Does a 360 do all the other shit that you can use a PS3 for? Like accessing your PC so you can watch films / listen to music through it etc? I'm a total dunce with stuff like this but my mate in Edinburgh was showing me his setup with a PS3 and it worked really well.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 07, 2008, 09:35:21 am
TBH i think the ps3 is the *media hub* one to go for, esp if you want blu ray... i admitt with hdmi and a HDTV it looks cool, not a £5 at least more to buy for each film though IMO.

Bubs has fair points on the ps3, which has not been in the market nearly as long as the xbox. the online gaming on the ps3 is fine, busy busy busy.. and free!

basically, the xbox is made by MS, they are all c8nts and i'm not buying anything off them is there is an alternative. I still get to play all the games i'm interested in, so it was a pretty easy choice for me!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 07, 2008, 09:50:40 am

basically, the xbox is made by MS, they are all c8nts and i'm not buying anything off them is there is an alternative.

This is a good way of making puchasing decisions Jon.  :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2008, 10:33:26 am
Does a 360 do all the other shit that you can use a PS3 for? Like accessing your PC so you can watch films / listen to music through it etc?
Yes, especially if you use Shista :)  I did it when it first came out using XP and it was a bit fiddly but I believe support is better now.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2008, 10:43:40 am
basically, the xbox is made by MS, they are all c8nts and i'm not buying anything off them is there is an alternative.
I'm sure Sony are all sweetness and light. Do many big corporations get big by being nice to competitors?

I'm not an MS fanboy by any means but when I see what Billy boy has done with the  Gates Foundation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_and_Melinda_Gates_Foundation) it makes me realise that he's actually a bit of a hero.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stubbs on March 07, 2008, 10:47:31 am
but when I see what Billy boy has done with the  Gates Foundation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_and_Melinda_Gates_Foundation) it makes me realise that he's actually a bit of a hero.

I like the way he doesn't go on about how much he does for charity, like other celebs do. Kind of shits on Bonno and Geldoph's contributions!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on March 07, 2008, 01:44:21 pm
does anyone else experience halo rage whereby your emotions become entirely controlled by your plus or minus kill score
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2008, 01:58:18 pm
A little, yes.

I'm currently sucking at Team Doubles and it's depressing. Some days i play good and some days I suck balls. I've dropped from a 44 to a 38 in doubles this week  :boohoo:

Whilst we're on H3, check out this very cool in-game screenshot panorama stitch-up: http://timcrowson.smugmug.com/photos/251871853_49C9X-O.jpg

And here's a little warning about playing too much Halo 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkF0McZKIw
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on March 07, 2008, 07:22:18 pm
does anyone else experience halo rage whereby your emotions become entirely controlled by your plus or minus kill score

maybe this explains all the racial abuse that goes on before/after games  :jaw:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on March 07, 2008, 08:28:05 pm
the level of racial abuse on their disturbs me I mean its fair play telling somone they have aids but racism I give it the red card
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 08, 2008, 12:56:59 am

Aye, it is pretty depressing sometimes - I just report all racists after the game; i've given up trying to talk sense to them. Enough reports and people get banned. I also report all racist gamertags and use the "avoid player" feature so i don't have to play with them again.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lizzy on March 08, 2008, 07:41:09 am
To lift your spirits, a blast from the past if you want it: http://www.frankklepacki.com/ (http://www.frankklepacki.com/)

It's got all the music from the Command and Conquer games.

Hell March. Need I say more?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 08, 2008, 09:13:38 pm

Aye, it is pretty depressing sometimes - I just report all racists after the game; i've given up trying to talk sense to them. Enough reports and people get banned. I also report all racist gamertags and use the "avoid player" feature so i don't have to play with them again.

i have yet to experience this on ps online gaming, thank god.

I'm currently a little bemused by unreal 3, could be incredible online, i'm getting confused with the speech - if fully supported then the tactics element raises it up to the good and the great... i cant find a way of talking freely to others as yet... this will lower the game by a saddening degree.

my loathing of MS isnt the corporate thing, although the control they have over the global economy and the workings of governments is a bit scary... it's the degradable OS and general software glitchyness that pisses me off. Nothing's perfect, but you get the feeling that QC isnt on the MS agenda.


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Houdini on March 09, 2008, 01:54:39 pm
At university I was basically hooked to Streetfighter EX+2 alpha

Here's version IV (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31613.html) (I don't game now, but this still looks great.)

Ken vs Zangief (always had the hardest special moves to master did Zangief)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQO0ZN6Uu0Q
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on March 09, 2008, 04:01:28 pm
lizzy is bang on with the death march knowledge have a wad point :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lizzy on March 09, 2008, 08:16:56 pm
Haha cheers Moo. "Blow it up" is good too.

Ah I miss my days of Red Alert...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on March 10, 2008, 11:46:15 am
http://www.hallpass.com/media/supercrazyguitarmaniacdeluxe2.html

Done all the songs in amateur and got perfect. Got a perfect on the second song in the pro section too but cant even touch the rest.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 18, 2008, 05:42:00 pm
I've just joined the 8 million other saddos in the world that have pre-ordered GTA IV, looks more involving and less rampage type gameplay.... the on line team battles look top notch... though i've yet to fathom out what the co-op modes will be (i'm hoping for a lot here, it's a game style I love on line  - such as Ghost recon team co-op)

Might even get the game in the 1st tranche  :'(  it's massively hyped and over subscribed, as the PS3 online is currently swamped - and now not working (no CoD 4 for me then this evening  :'(), and i've noted Xbox live has the same occasional block it seems the ISPs that bargained on us all getting BBand for just a bit of surfing and email will have to pull their socks up.. on line gaming is a massive phemomenon!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 18, 2008, 05:58:04 pm

The multiplayer in GTA IV is looking great - i'll definitely be getting it unless the reviews are dire.

Otherwise i'm still plugging away on H3 - have got to skill level 46 out of 50 now so getting there....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 18, 2008, 06:06:05 pm
My birthday is coming up so I really shouldn't but i'm heavily tempted to purchase COD4... PGR4 demo is also pretty good, love how they've managed to deal with wet surfaces etc. very good.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 18, 2008, 06:27:54 pm

If you're going to get one recent game then I'd get GTA IV - the single player will be virtually un-finishable and the multi is looking shit hot.

No reviews yet, apart from one 100% one but take a look at these:

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/865/865088p1.html

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/855/855555p1.html

All of the GTA games have been amazing, even the first top down one, but with multiplayer it's going to be sick as fuck.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 18, 2008, 07:22:06 pm
I'm a bit of a late comer to this whole gaming lark, my Wii is my first and only console, but I'm currently HUGELY impressed with Mariokart which I got on the day it came out. It's so playable it stupid, the whole wiimote as wheel thing works so well you won't believe it. Mariokart DD on the gamecube is one of the few games I'd played quite a bit (on my brothers GC) and this is just as good. Shame it doesn't seem to have the team (2 on 2) options of DD but the whole online thing is great. Been whipping some euros but careful of those Japs, they are just too good. Also got that No More Heros thing, but although it probably lives up to the good reviews its gets, not really my bag, wiping out bad guys got kinda tedious after a while and doesn't make me laugh out loud like Mariokart does.  :thumbsup: I'm currently planning on getting two more Wiimotes so we can have four player projector sessions at certain forthcoming events,  ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 18, 2008, 07:29:22 pm

I must get a Wii.

I love gaming - my view is that it's better than watching telly. I don't watch TV at all these days.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 18, 2008, 08:14:29 pm
i got a wii on launch... easy to get - not extra cost shite

it's simply ace....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on April 18, 2008, 08:33:34 pm

I love gaming - my view is that it's better than watching telly. I don't watch TV at all these days.

I completely agree, it really pisses me off when people whinge about games being a waste of time, whilst keeping one eye on Eastbenders, or any other generic crap.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 19, 2008, 04:35:08 am

Exactly - they're interactive and can be immensely skilful.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 19, 2008, 08:09:24 pm

I love gaming - my view is that it's better than watching telly. I don't watch TV at all these days.

I completely agree, it really pisses me off when people whinge about games being a waste of time, whilst keeping one eye on Eastbenders, or any other generic crap.

Word

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Drew on April 19, 2008, 11:49:44 pm
Not sure if this has been mentioned... but... well... it's free:

Track Mania (http://www.trackmania.com/en/index.php?lang=en&rub=news_info&id=94)

Woohoo! I worked out how to do the hyperlink thingy so it doesn't just print the URL!  :beer1: makes it harder!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on April 20, 2008, 02:11:48 pm
Good find Drew, just wasted a afternoon on this.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 22, 2008, 11:11:16 pm
well on the way through town I thought I might try and buy COD4 whilst trading in Assassins Creed. I did neither as they offered me £6 for AC then wanted £42 for a second hand copy of COD4, the game of the year edition only costs £3 more new. Madness but I guess thats how they make money.
:thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 23, 2008, 05:11:00 am

Where's that? Gamestation seem to give the best money back.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 23, 2008, 09:08:20 am
Game
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 23, 2008, 12:51:00 pm

Yeah, Game are always shite for trade-ins.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on April 23, 2008, 01:00:07 pm
I'm a bit of a late comer to this whole gaming lark, my Wii is my first and only console, but I'm currently HUGELY impressed with Mariokart which I got on the day it came out. It's so playable it stupid, the whole wiimote as wheel thing works so well you won't believe it. Mariokart DD on the gamecube is one of the few games I'd played quite a bit (on my brothers GC) and this is just as good. Shame it doesn't seem to have the team (2 on 2) options of DD but the whole online thing is great. Been whipping some euros but careful of those Japs, they are just too good

Mario Galaxy is very good if you haven't got it already, no multiplayer (really), but a superbly thought out game, especially in level design.

PM me your Mario Kart Wii friend code if you want to add me.  Then we can race against each others time trail ghosts.  I'm spending so much time trying to beat my friends so I can send him my ghost to beat back.  I've still got a lot of unlocking to do too, 6 characters?  Maybe more.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on April 23, 2008, 04:33:50 pm
Have you played Mariokart online, I hear the singleplayer part is pretty poor.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on April 23, 2008, 05:05:59 pm
Have you played Mariokart online, I hear the singleplayer part is pretty poor.

I've completed all the cups on 50cc and 100cc, but yet to do any more on single player, but that must add up to 10 hours or so.

I've played quite a bit of the online, not really any battles as that mode doesn't seem to click with me like the rest.

I've read the good reviews and the bad reviews.  most of the bad reviews seem to be of a non-online enabled review DVD which to be honest is poor, and they shouldn't be putting a review up when they haven't actually tested a large section of the game.

The single player is sometimes appears unfair and frustrating, but is very good fun and I've enjoyed playing it so far and don't see why not.  I like the fact that you've never won until you've crossed the finishing line, and the fact that if you're quite far behind you've always got the chance of catching up.

It's one of those games that most people will buy and enjoy a lot, but will never get a lot of critical acclaim.  Reading the Edge magazine review it sounds like they wanted it to be more like a realistic racing game, whereas it's actually just a hectic and fun racing game.  You always have the time trial modes to do perfect laps without getting hit anyway, and you compare yourself to your friends and the rest of the world on that.

Being able to play 2 player splitscreen online is good too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 23, 2008, 07:52:20 pm
Have you played Mariokart online, I hear the singleplayer part is pretty poor.

I've completed all the cups on 50cc and 100cc, but yet to do any more on single player, but that must add up to 10 hours or so.

I've played quite a bit of the online, not really any battles as that mode doesn't seem to click with me like the rest.

I've read the good reviews and the bad reviews.  most of the bad reviews seem to be of a non-online enabled review DVD which to be honest is poor, and they shouldn't be putting a review up when they haven't actually tested a large section of the game.

The single player is sometimes appears unfair and frustrating, but is very good fun and I've enjoyed playing it so far and don't see why not.  I like the fact that you've never won until you've crossed the finishing line, and the fact that if you're quite far behind you've always got the chance of catching up.

It's one of those games that most people will buy and enjoy a lot, but will never get a lot of critical acclaim.  Reading the Edge magazine review it sounds like they wanted it to be more like a realistic racing game, whereas it's actually just a hectic and fun racing game.  You always have the time trial modes to do perfect laps without getting hit anyway, and you compare yourself to your friends and the rest of the world on that.

Being able to play 2 player splitscreen online is good too.

 2 player racer splitscreen, apart form an old version of Mortal Combat there is no better post pub gaming session to be had IMO
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Plattsy on April 24, 2008, 08:28:56 am
2 player racer splitscreen, apart form an old version of Mortal Combat there is no better post pub gaming session to be had IMO

Oh yes. Scorpion with his hook and chain. "Get over here!"

The repetition of this move could cause drunken arguements.  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 26, 2008, 04:27:36 am

IGN GTA IV video review (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/827005/grand-theft-auto-4/videos/gta4_review_042508.html)

I'm buying it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Drew on April 26, 2008, 03:36:08 pm

IGN GTA IV video review (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/827005/grand-theft-auto-4/videos/gta4_review_042508.html)

I'm buying it.

Shit. Not again. Last time I bought a console was the PS2 when GTA-VC came out. Now it looks like I'm gonna be buying another console!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 28, 2008, 02:16:39 pm
The reviews are all in awe of the game (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/grandtheftauto4)

If you're buying a console just for this game then:

- The PS3 version looks marginally better apparantly; comparison here (http://kotaku.com/384422/which-version-of-gta-iv-should-you-buy-we-compare-the-ps3-and-360-versions)

- But, and it's a big but; the 360 version will have future downloadable content for the game, with each download supposedly offering another 10 hours of playtime. There are rumours of some PS3 content, but the fact that Microsoft paid a lot of money to Rockstar for the downloadable stuff makes me suspect it will be a poor second.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 28, 2008, 05:06:09 pm
as the ps3 CoD levels will be chargable (£5 apparently) i'm sure the ps3 will see the same downloads, but delayed like the extra levels in Cod4...

i've preordered my GTA4, i doubt i'll get it for a few days though, demand is huge!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 28, 2008, 05:38:02 pm

No, the downloads won't be the same because MS paid $50 million for the rights to exclusive downloads for the 360 only.

I'm sure the PS3 will get some extra content but at the moment it's a big unknown.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 28, 2008, 09:35:44 pm
Argghhh!!!

I've just sat down for a quick game of Halo 3 but i'm getting "Information could not be retrieved from xbox live", I was still able to play a custom game but not enter matchmaking. So i did the connection tests and the only thing out of the ordinary is my Nat type is moderate. Nothings changed in the last day so I don't know what could cause it to stop working, any ideas Bubba et al? (BTW - nice vid) I'm guessing that its probably just playing up tonight. Is changing the Nat type to open going to effect anything on my (secured) wireless network?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 28, 2008, 09:40:08 pm

Aye, live is iffy tonight - i can't play anything on XBL - might be something to do with the GTA IV release.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Drew on April 28, 2008, 10:03:11 pm
Just a query, and I thought this was the best thread to ask it. Are Apple's (in general) shit for games? I have heard that there are only a few games which can be played on Apple computers (be it an iMac, or a Macbook). Is this right?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on April 28, 2008, 10:43:36 pm
Just a query, and I thought this was the best thread to ask it. Are Apple's (in general) shit for games? I have heard that there are only a few games which can be played on Apple computers (be it an iMac, or a Macbook). Is this right?

Don't know what performance would be like, but you could either use VMware (http://www.vmware.com/products/desktop_virtualization.html) or use Apple's BootCamp (http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html) to dual boot with windows and run any games under that.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 29, 2008, 01:03:10 pm
dowloaded the cod4 ps3 variety pack last night... double xp all week on the levels... good timing for gta4 :(

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 29, 2008, 05:08:24 pm

Hmmm the GTA IV multiplayer doesn't seem to be holding up too well - try to enter games and everyone hangs.

Ah well, at least the single player is great :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on April 29, 2008, 07:21:06 pm

Ah well, at least the single player is great :)

Bubba you tease, you can't just tell me that! Give me a little more to go on, is it as awesome as the hype says?.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 30, 2008, 10:19:13 am

Hard to say for sure yet - i've only really scratched the surface.

It certainly seems to live up to being a GTA fit for the current consoles and the storyline/character detail is superb. The combat is improved, driving takes a lot more skill and it certainly looks and sounds great. I'm still only on the beginner missions though so it'll probably show it's true colours when the whole city is unlocked, etc.

Keen to try the multiplayer once i've become more confident with driving/shooting.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on April 30, 2008, 10:28:39 am
Keen to try the multiplayer once i've become more confident with driving/shooting.

Hope that doesn't spill over into your current job  :lol:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 30, 2008, 10:54:40 am

Nah, when i'm working I use the tried and trusted hammer/rolled up carpet/ditch technique - hardly original but still so effective :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on April 30, 2008, 11:26:48 am
Yeah, I hear the procedural animation was worth the wait. Do they still deny access to parts of the city with roadblocks and the like? So jealous.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 30, 2008, 02:02:48 pm
Yeah, I hear the procedural animation was worth the wait. Do they still deny access to parts of the city with roadblocks and the like? So jealous.

yeah, *terrorist threat*

it's all very more real.... my girlfriend (in the game) just sacked me off for twating some bloke and getting busted... all very odd, i've been on it 30 mins and no one's dead yet. you do get a true empathy for the characters though..
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 30, 2008, 04:19:56 pm

Hope you capped her ass for dumping you.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stubbs on April 30, 2008, 04:25:10 pm
i've been on it 30 mins and no one's dead yet. you do get a true empathy for the characters though..


What the first thing you did wasn't walk out into the streets and start punching people until the cops turn up, punch the cop until you can get his gun, shoot a few people until swat turn up and you can get a machine gun, etc.... or is that not possible any more?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 30, 2008, 05:45:12 pm
i've been on it 30 mins and no one's dead yet. you do get a true empathy for the characters though..


What the first thing you did wasn't walk out into the streets and start punching people until the cops turn up, punch the cop until you can get his gun, shoot a few people until swat turn up and you can get a machine gun, etc.... or is that not possible any more?

well possible... i've transgressed the law somewhat now.... but the pleasure of knifing innnocents - to get cash, not getting stars and keeping the girlfriend sweet is the plan... i'm sure i'll get to shag her!


i've not dared go online yet... the driving is way hard!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on May 03, 2008, 09:13:37 am
I've shagged Michelle three times already, the option were you get to take her up the arse is ace!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on May 03, 2008, 09:58:33 am
I found her so annoying I nearly shot her in the face.

If you haven't got to a certain mission yet, she's not what she seems anyway...she's a wrong 'un!

I'm enjoying the game more as I get into it - it's one of the best for sure.

It's a shame you can't make videos of your gameplay like you can in Halo 3 - there's a couple of cool things i've done it would be good to save and share with friends.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on May 03, 2008, 10:27:36 am
Yea her whiny nasal accent is starting to get to me too, went round to to see if Faustins widow wifey was up for some action but she weren't answering the door!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on May 04, 2008, 05:10:19 pm
Faustin's still alive, gonna take him asap i hope.. i'm in the process of killing his daughters boyfriend at the mo... having a mare on a motorbike  :'(

before killing vlad i didnt kill the hit he ordered, i'm hoping that will come back to aid me in missions to come..

god, faustin's got it coming... he's just got me to kill dimitri's cousin for no reason (apart from his coke and vodka pyschosis that is)

getting $890 for stealing a motorbike was nice, got full armour, 300 uzi shells, 2 fast cars and $2000 left!!

yet to date michelle for the 3 rd time... she's not one for the late night call...


BTW, the ps3 mulitplayer is also shagged  :'(
not had a game yet!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on May 07, 2008, 10:54:19 pm
Jeez three leaf clover is intense :'(
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on May 08, 2008, 01:02:11 pm
still not killed the biker  :'(

new plan is not to chase too hard, go after him in a car, let all bikers go to park,stop car, hide behind car & take them out in controlled behind cover  manner, driving into them is  a mare and i'm not fast enough on the bike to kill him when he's on his own...

also, in reality:


the weather's great and i'm actually doing some regular exercise - damn. no time!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on May 08, 2008, 04:00:43 pm

Three Leaf Clover is hard, but the rewards are very very worth seeing it through :)

I'm at 47% now - huge game!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on May 09, 2008, 01:03:20 am

Three Leaf Clover is hard, but the rewards are very very worth seeing it through :)

I'm at 47% now - huge game!
Ur not kidding about the rewards :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on May 09, 2008, 09:04:11 pm
miles behind you  :'( went on today, got the mission 1st go.... saved again to do it daylight!... BIG difference, and i got to have it with the girlfriend... not bad me thinks...


found extra shotgun ammo in stripclub, but alledgelly on xbox this is a walk in and then out and then back in again way of upping your shotgun ammo, the ps3 only lets you have 16 slugs  :'(


just got patch for the online, should actually work now  :wall:


i'll have a go tomorrow!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on May 10, 2008, 11:05:13 pm
Do you think patches are the way forward for consoles now their permanently plugged into the interweb? PC owners have been putting up with this shit for years, it's a fucking scandal. They've managed to release fully working games for years on consoles, now it looks like they don't have to.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on May 12, 2008, 12:24:52 pm
Do you think patches are the way forward for consoles now their permanently plugged into the interweb? PC owners have been putting up with this shit for years, it's a fucking scandal. They've managed to release fully working games for years on consoles, now it looks like they don't have to.

I don't think it's the right way to go.  Big release:  magazines give massive marks because they don't have time to actually play all the functionality before the review is published, especially online, then release a patch to fix all the online problems.  I'd rather they were released later and be right, but once the hype train gets going with the marketing then they're getting pushed to get it out when that's peaking.

I'm never really in a rush to play games the minute they come out anyway, I've still got loads of games to play through.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on June 02, 2008, 09:54:23 am
GTA IV is a disappointing empty game it just made me want to play San Andreas again for all the things it lacked, So many things were taken out of this game; car customization, working out, flying planes, base jumping, weapon skills, gambling, buying property....that's just to name a few, and they really haven't been replaced by anything either. This makes the game feel empty compared to it's predecessors and often leaves me struggling to find things to do when free-roaming. Amazing graphics though.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on June 02, 2008, 10:05:32 am

Yeah, once you've finished the "story" there is little incentive to keep playing. I suspect that multiplayer is supposed to fill that gap, but it's not really grabbed me that much...i'll give it another go sometime but for now it's Halo 3 again for me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on June 02, 2008, 12:36:31 pm
Well I was given PGR4 about 3 weeks ago now and i'm pretty disappointed with it, the demo seemed really good and the arcade mode is however the multi player is absolutely toss due to the narrow tracks, it might as well be some variation of Burnout for all the racing that goes on. A bit of a shame.
Halo 3 for me as well...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on June 02, 2008, 12:53:28 pm
GTA IV is a disappointing empty game it just made me want to play San Andreas again for all the things it lacked, So many things were taken out of this game; car customization, working out, flying planes, base jumping, weapon skills, gambling, buying property....that's just to name a few, and they really haven't been replaced by anything either. This makes the game feel empty compared to it's predecessors and often leaves me struggling to find things to do when free-roaming. Amazing graphics though.

Interestingly I agree.

I'm still a way off the end.... and i enjoy it immensely. The driving is easier, the shooting way better, none (or few) of those well annoying Timed missions.

But there are in fact only 2 mission types... and I was expecting some sort of scarface empire building type of concept... seems a bit of an *assassins creed*, i.e: what there is awesome, but there could have been so much more.

I have to say that i've played all the other levels I can to get away from gunning down bikers in the subway.. the mission's still there and the having to drive there, fail, get back there scenario is really starting to grind.. A complaint mentioned in the reviews is no quick start to the missions once failed... I agree. I've only noticed it now cos I've hardly failed on a mission before.

I tried the online for 30 mins... bloody hard unless you know the map inside out etc... i'll see if there are some less frantic parts to it... but the deathmatch didnt seem that good to me. A group of mates online with speech would be cool for the cops / robbers.. not tried it yet


Online for me I think will be back to CoD4 once the single player is finished.

I wonder if the choices you make on who lives  / dies during the game actually make a difference??? So far I've followed the maxim of *honour amongst theives* I'll read the spoilers once i've finished!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on June 05, 2008, 05:11:00 pm
Saint's Row 2 trailer takes the piss out of GTA IV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNjHftzNcJg
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on June 05, 2008, 05:19:10 pm
now, that's gonna be mine!!!


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on June 11, 2008, 02:45:36 pm
Just a heads up for the gamers in case you miss it. Put a post in the For Sale/Wanted forum asking after Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on Gamecube. Let me know if anyone fancies selling.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: milksnake on July 10, 2008, 03:33:51 pm
I've been playing medieval total war 2 quite a lot. It's good but the campaigns a bit long winded. still cant beat the frenchies at agincourt though.
other than that the doom trilogy gets my vote, number 4 is on the way
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on July 15, 2008, 06:55:01 pm
Do you think patches are the way forward for consoles now their permanently plugged into the interweb? PC owners have been putting up with this shit for years, it's a fucking scandal. They've managed to release fully working games for years on consoles, now it looks like they don't have to.

I don't think it's the right way to go.  Big release:  magazines give massive marks because they don't have time to actually play all the functionality before the review is published, especially online, then release a patch to fix all the online problems.  I'd rather they were released later and be right, but once the hype train gets going with the marketing then they're getting pushed to get it out when that's peaking.

I'm never really in a rush to play games the minute they come out anyway, I've still got loads of games to play through.

I concur. It is bollox. Is PC gaming the prime industry where you're expected to pay for an unfinished product and then later download additional material to get it to work?? Thankfully I seem to not have too many problems with games but even so the "rush it out and fix it later" policy takes the piss a bit.

On the subject of much needed patches though, I'm totally addicted to Gothic 3. For all it's bugginess and crappy combat it is the most convincing, involved and atmospheric portrayal of a fantasy universe I've seen yet :)

Oh and I just got Gears Of War for some light relief. You console kiddies will know this one already of course...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on July 15, 2008, 07:16:46 pm
Gears of War - lost interest in that pretty quickly.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on July 15, 2008, 07:22:27 pm

Paul - did you watch that H3 film I sent ya? Mental skillz.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Plattsy on August 21, 2008, 03:45:33 pm
Played a downloaded version of 1942 (looks like an upgraded version of the original) on my mates Xbox360 last night. Only got about 6 levels but it is really intense on the lowest skill setting of 5 (God knows what 5 is like). Good fun for a fiver and provides a pretty good bogging of the eyes* factor.

* severe lack of blinking due to game intensity causing extreme drying of the eyes.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on August 21, 2008, 06:40:34 pm
I think the same team have done an updated version of Commando aswell, also on Live. It comes recommended.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: MB on August 22, 2008, 12:17:53 pm
I downloaded a demo from xbox live called Schizoid the other day. Even the demo is pretty good especially in the Uberschizoid mode. The idea control a blue ship with left stick, a red ship with the right and avoid touching any enemies which are not the colour of your ship. Sounds simple, it's not!

Well worth checking out the demo at least.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 22, 2008, 04:00:59 pm
Gears of War - lost interest in that pretty quickly.

Me too - during the first level actually. The control system feels crap.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stubbs on August 22, 2008, 05:58:30 pm
Persevere for a little while - the control style comes into its own as the game gets harder and you get used to it - running or jumping between cover whilst avoiding fire is awesome.  I actually prefer the Gears control style to the Halo one.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: milksnake on September 06, 2008, 05:57:28 am
has anyone else been playing eve online? started my 14 day free trial yesterday and I have to admit at the moment I'm hooked, it's such a fucked up game. you can do pretty much anything you want to, be a miner/ pirate/ merc/ trader/ the only worry I have is that  it is going to demand too much more of time than i am prepared to give. tonight I didn't get to thr pub untill gone ten because I had to complete a mission before I could dock and log off (it is 100% real time so cant leave the game when you want to, you have to complete the mission you accepted and dock before  you can log off, if you leave your ship in space some cunt will kill you before you log on again)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 06, 2008, 10:50:19 am

I got addicted to WoW for a while but never tried Eve - I've decided not to touch MMORPGs again as they take up far too much time. In the end I sold my WoW account for £200 though so it wasn't all lost.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 06, 2008, 11:20:39 am
Bubba you want a Guild Wars account?? Guild Wars mage/healer & Nightfall dervish/somethingorother. On penultimate map of GW with nuff gold lots of items etc etc, 1/3 way through Nightfall but plenty explored already. Will do you a mate's rate given it's UKB and all ;).

Have heard interesting and similar things about Eve - pretty cutthroat and gripping.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 06, 2008, 11:42:07 am

Nooooo! but thanks :)

Halo 3 still satisfies my gaming desires and it's easy to pick up and drop as you want without having to spend days grinding and levelling.

Anyone tried Second Life btw? Not exactly a game I guess. I tried it and thought it was terrible, can't see why people love it so much.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on September 06, 2008, 02:00:29 pm
I've been playing a MMORPG, and have found it has sucked out my old life to be replaced with endless grinding for shiny items. I complain about doing this in real life, yet will happily spend six hours dribbling in front of a computer for a +55 sword of muthafucking destruction. Why are they so addictive?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: milksnake on September 07, 2008, 03:48:36 am
yeah, I've got my eye on a crow interceptor, Ive made 2million credits already, so only 14 million to go.... :(
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on September 07, 2008, 09:54:46 am
How powerful is your computer Milksnake, I've been considering playing Eve for a while, just wondering how it would run. Good luck with the grinding!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: milksnake on September 09, 2008, 02:51:25 am
er, quad core, 2 gig DDR2 memory and 1023 meg Graphics card, if that means anything to you (had to check the box myself) its complete overkill for eve though, even with the grapics patch you apparantly dont need that much.
       
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: moose on September 09, 2008, 11:39:12 am
long, but fairly interesting piece on red-rings-of-death problem on the Xbox360 - hubris, coverups etc

http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/05/xbox-360-defects-an-inside-history-of-microsofts-video-game-console-woes/ (http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/05/xbox-360-defects-an-inside-history-of-microsofts-video-game-console-woes/)

some remarkable figures - the production lines initially had a 68% passrate, the yield on the main chip was 16%, yet  they denied that there was a problem for years... until a $1bn writeoff,
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 09, 2008, 12:26:24 pm

That's strange timing since my (original) 360 has just given up the ghost with the red-rings...

...i'm just about to embark upon a self-repair job, which basically involves replacing the thermal past on the CPU and GPU. Hope it works.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 09, 2008, 12:45:31 pm
I've been playing a MMORPG, and have found it has sucked out my old life to be replaced with endless grinding for shiny items. I complain about doing this in real life, yet will happily spend six hours dribbling in front of a computer for a +55 sword of muthafucking destruction. Why are they so addictive?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dEHw3zEafNI (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dEHw3zEafNI)

 ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 09, 2008, 01:20:24 pm
Does anyone know if theres a surfing game planned for playing with the Wii balance board? Would be fun and a pretty obvious step.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Houdini on September 09, 2008, 01:20:48 pm
I don't game at all but could be persuaded by Spore.  Love the idea.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 09, 2008, 01:30:50 pm

Because of EAs extremely over the top DRM system that gets installed along with Spore, it is now becoming one of the most pirated games ever.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on September 09, 2008, 01:34:13 pm

Because of EAs extremely over the top DRM system that gets installed along with Spore, it is now becoming one of the most pirated games ever.

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 09, 2008, 01:50:38 pm

Article about it here (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080908-gamers-fight-back-against-lackluster-spore-gameplay-bad-drm.html)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: 220bpm on September 09, 2008, 02:34:52 pm
Its certainly not a MMORPG, but this has been a passion for the last couple of years:
http://www.lfs.net/ (http://www.lfs.net/)

By far and away the best car racing simulator available  :great:

Ps - I also see Red Alert is available for free download, if thats yer kind of thing
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on September 09, 2008, 03:36:20 pm
long, but fairly interesting piece on red-rings-of-death problem on the Xbox360 - hubris, coverups etc

http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/05/xbox-360-defects-an-inside-history-of-microsofts-video-game-console-woes/ (http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/05/xbox-360-defects-an-inside-history-of-microsofts-video-game-console-woes/)

some remarkable figures - the production lines initially had a 68% passrate, the yield on the main chip was 16%, yet  they denied that there was a problem for years... until a $1bn writeoff,


Mine blew up last year after playing Ghost Recon and I wasn't alone by all accounts.  Luckily MSoft had already implemented their 'save our asses' programme and paid for UPS to collect the machine, replaced the entire console and peripherals but uploaded all my saved game information and I got 6 months free on XBOX Live. It must have cost them a f*cking fortune as everyone I know has had their 360 replaced or repaired.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 09, 2008, 03:44:28 pm
So you reckon Microsoft will go bust because of it then? :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on September 09, 2008, 04:13:31 pm
So you reckon Microsoft will go bust because of it then? :)

One can live in hope  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on September 09, 2008, 04:25:28 pm

Because of EAs extremely over the top DRM system that gets installed along with Spore, it is now becoming one of the most pirated games ever.

Most people who will get Spore have no idea what DRM is.

The fact the vocal minority are banging on about pirating it so much just means games like this will stop coming out for PCs and move onto consoles where pirating isn't as easy or commonplace.

I'm not saying it's right, but pirating on the PC is a major problem and you can see why publishers will start to move their big games away from it, or move to online only games, or some online digital distribution that knows what you've purchased like steam.

I'm not that bothered about Spore, but will probably get round to playing it one day.


I've mostly been sinking my gaming teeth into No More Heroes on the Wii which I completed last night and is pretty good, along with Advance Wars on the DS which I've been slowly working my way through and enjoying, which surprised me because turn based strategy hasn't captivated me in the past.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on September 09, 2008, 07:08:26 pm
So you reckon Microsoft will go bust because of it then? :)

One can live in hope  ;D

I doubt it, they were obviously aware of a problem at launch, but really wanted to get a steal on Sony by releasing early. I mean the original X-box still had at least another couple of years in it, and they just dropped it like a stone. Whether it was all worth it is another matter entirely.

As for P.C. games, many games publishers are moving to the consoles, and scaling down their P.C. games cos of piracy. Crysis was a biggie, apparently a few million more people play the game online than actually bought it. Why the hell these companies don't make their games available for download legally like steam? and the like bewilders me, and smacks of shooting themselves in the foot. Just like the music industry did when I-tunes decided to rape their profit margins.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 12, 2008, 12:42:44 pm
Yay!

My RROD 360 problem has been solved by a bit of messing about along with 8 bolts and washers   :beer2:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 13, 2008, 06:19:45 pm

Been playing Spore a bit - it's good fun but not mindblowing so far. The version i have won't allow any online interaction which i feel will be a big part of the game in the future.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 06:49:42 pm
I've been playing campaign mode on halo 3 again, its really good. The problem is now i've returned to my previous levels of shitness online! The other thing is that now the worlds worst trip hazard is once again weaving its way around the flat as I WILL NOT pay over the odds for a wireless adapter.
I've just been looking at some alternatives:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114158 (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114158)
(bit pricey!)

or there seems to be plenty of online tutorials for using a wireless access point, ebuyer has one for 15 quid which looks like a good investment but after last weeks trouble I don't know if it's just asking for things to go wrong, anyone had any experience with this?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: unclesomebody on September 21, 2008, 07:27:41 pm
You want to go wireless? What about your latencies? I thought gamers always wanted low latency systems, in which case you should invest in some duck tape and fix that cable down!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 07:38:03 pm
 :great: It's masked down right now! (The other option is to get out the drill and wallop a cable through the wall) You have to remember I live with my other half and while she'll entertain me building stupid balcony boards, buying stupid cars that don't work and rust away and being the injury prone fool that I am she prefers her flat not to look like its mid-way through an episode of changing rooms.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 21, 2008, 07:40:03 pm
Uncle is right - I tried and then ditched wireless for playing Halo. It's not a huge difference but there is a difference. I started killing better when I returned to wired.

When I did try wireless (on the original Xbox) I used a wireless adapter. It was pretty easy to set up.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 08:40:59 pm
file under don't bother then?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 21, 2008, 09:12:48 pm

It's only going to be an issue for shooters like Halo - everything else I doubt you'd notice. Depends how bothered you are too - i'm not obsessive but I do like to do my best :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 09:21:08 pm
my wired connection currently on my desktop is running at 100 Mbps and my wireless (on a cr*p laptop) is only achieving 5 Mbps, thats quite a big hit although I don't know if a lot of that is down to the uselessness of the laptop (i'm tempted to scrap it and get a E pc).
I must admit I'm tempted though, it's always interesting to try these things (if a little geeky).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 21, 2008, 09:30:31 pm
Speed isn't really the issue, it's latency - the higher your ping the more you will suffer against opponents with lower values. I suspect using wireless just introduces a small bit of latency.

It's the same reason Americans rule in Halo 3 - bungies server are located in the US so we will always suffer around 100ms of higher latency than them. Put on the "best connection" filter when looking for a game and you're more likely to get matched with other Euros and end up with fairer games.

In Halo 2 I used to route my XBL connection through my PC and run a firewall that discarded all US IP addresses. It could take a long time to get a game, but when you did it was a game worth playing. Not sure you can do that with H3, I should try it out...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 10:32:09 pm
I've already worked out that I get my ass kicked no matter what I do. I should really get back on MLG though and get a decent skill level, i'm only on 5 as i've only had 3 ranked matches out of several hundred!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 21, 2008, 10:34:44 pm

It's all practice... And in Halo teamwork is everything. I miss having a good team to play with. I've hit lvl 46 on my own, with a team i'd be a general fo sho!

MLG is probably the most intense playlist. I've met a couple of professional players in there when it started out!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 21, 2008, 10:48:19 pm
Well I'm sure I'll see you on there at some point, if I ever get this transfer report concluded (maybe a faster process if I wasn't faffing with routers and reading so many different forums) although my supervisor seems to have evolved into a nit picking witch.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on September 22, 2008, 12:29:28 pm
latency is a bit issue for me on COD4, my ps3 is wireless, 2 floors below the router... some days the family will bw shoutingat the screen - it's so obvious... i get a 25% signal at best

isnt there a way of using the existing wiring in your house to either boost wifi or connect hardwire?

also, i have to say from the above that the free ps3 gaming experience is far poorer than the xbox, you have far more options / utilities than I.

- i'm not buying MS stuff though, but i'd pay for a better online gaming experience for sure.


Game of the weekend (had virus, felt shite - did nought) is the Force Unleashed on wii, great single player hack, force and slash... superb story. I watched episode III first to get to the point where the game starts... good and dark... the bosses are excellent, normally i'm not a fan of boss type games - this one has sucked me in!
the two player could have been a true Wii event, but i find it's not deep enough, random button / remote swirling wins over considered strategy
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on October 21, 2008, 10:33:31 pm
Saints Row two has actually turned out to be a pretty decent game, much more fun than GTA's last outing and if only the comedy was as good as GTA's it would be near perfect  ie the radio is no where near as funny but apart from that it's well worth a try. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: bigd942 on October 21, 2008, 11:07:58 pm
These are good but not cheap, use them in at work and reckon I'll need one to connect up my Freesat once iPlayer comes online for it.

http://www.netgear.co.uk/wallplugged_adapterkit_hdxb101.php (http://www.netgear.co.uk/wallplugged_adapterkit_hdxb101.php)

Dom
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 22, 2008, 02:55:02 pm
thanks, looks the business, i'm a bit low on plugs round the  back of the telly though... need to think on this
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on October 22, 2008, 03:35:29 pm
I don't normally do games,

but the new Shaun White Snowboarding for the Wii + Balance Board may have helped me decide on a Xmas pressie.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/UBI-Soft-Shaun-White-Snowboard/dp/B001AMGOES/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1224685934&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/UBI-Soft-Shaun-White-Snowboard/dp/B001AMGOES/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1224685934&sr=1-2)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on October 22, 2008, 11:09:54 pm
thanks, looks the business, i'm a bit low on plugs round the  back of the telly though... need to think on this

Or an AP to use as a repeater or won't this help?

Bubba - or anyone - what do you think of Halo 3.5 ?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on October 23, 2008, 06:21:40 am

You mean the upcoming campaign expansion for Halo 3? Not fussed really - I didn't think the H3 campaign was much good anyway, i'm only a fan of the multiplayer really. I very very rarely return to the campaign.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on October 30, 2008, 03:32:42 pm

Tomb Raider: Underworld demo is up - very nice indeed, a true return the original; looks great and plays nicely too.

Xbox Live only I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 01, 2008, 03:56:53 pm

Another good one - try the Mirror's Edge demo - it's on PSN and XBL. It's a first-person free-running/fighting game and plays really slickly.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=33-y6NPl4kY (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=33-y6NPl4kY)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on November 01, 2008, 07:57:36 pm
Good shout Lord Bubbs, this looks top, the aesthetics look great, how does it play? I hear there's not much gunplay in it, just running round. EA seem to be on a role at the mo, anyone played Dead Space? It looks great.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy popp on November 05, 2008, 09:56:58 pm
Parental guidance required. My son (nearly 15) wants Resistance 2 for Xmas. Its rated it 18 but he says its not really any different to 1, which is rated 15. I don't play games at all. Do I believe him?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 05, 2008, 11:09:38 pm
If in doubt, I would say no. The gaming "system" is often under fire and cracked down on / disapproved due to violence etc etc, and rigidly enforcing age limits is one thing in it's defence. Obviously this is a political point rather than a personal one but the limits will be there for a reason and in the abscence of other factors heeding them makes sense.

However, Googling Resistance 2 and reading some reviews may help decide matters.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 06, 2008, 02:01:56 am
Parental guidance required. My son (nearly 15) wants Resistance 2 for Xmas. Its rated it 18 but he says its not really any different to 1, which is rated 15. I don't play games at all. Do I believe him?

there's some gameplay footage in this:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V44sh3zqT_o (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V44sh3zqT_o)

to be honest it doesnt look that bad to me, i'd believe him.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 10, 2008, 12:47:51 pm
Another good one - try the Mirror's Edge demo - it's on PSN and XBL. It's a first-person free-running/fighting game and plays really slickly.

Tried this last night and whereas its really slick I can't see how they're going to squeeze an entire game out of it? the demo was starting to become a bit repetitive after a few goes.
ps - I don't really like the crunching/breaking sounds when you screw up and deck out, they're nasty.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy popp on November 10, 2008, 06:13:11 pm
Forgot I posted my question, cheers for replies lads.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 10, 2008, 10:56:22 pm
Forgot I posted my question, cheers for replies lads.
Just been a TV advert for fallout 3 on E4, I agree with what I said earlier; it doesn't look too bad.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 11, 2008, 01:13:50 am
So, anyone got Gears of War 2 yet- Does it live up to the hype?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 11, 2008, 02:26:12 am

Just finished the campaign on GOW2 - it's a lot of fun - full on cheesy shootfest but the graphics are truly stunning and it plays really well.

Will attempt some multiplayer tomorrow.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on November 11, 2008, 09:02:51 pm
fallout 3.

if you want RPG it's useable, fun, gory and enticing.

be aware its glorified turn based combat, but damn well done... a lot of thinking and easy controls, even for the console.... I'm impressed
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 12, 2008, 01:44:22 am
Will attempt some multiplayer tomorrow.
There's a really sweet MP mode called "Horde" - 5 players are faced with increasingly difficult waves of enemies - it gets very intense and I've just had a game lasting nearly an hour!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on November 12, 2008, 08:54:48 am
Fallout 3 is great fun Oblivion with guns anyone. Anyone thinking of getting farcry 2 should be aware that there are save game issues, well that's what I've experienced!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 12, 2008, 03:23:29 pm
Lagers Jr has a Nintendo DS and has recently mentioned that a few of her friends have a "chip with loads and loads of games on". A bit of research pointed me in the direction of a variety of flash cards, SD adaptors and such that can be used to store NDS games and also let you play pirated games on the NDS.

A bit of gentle questioning (in the style of Colombo) at the schoolgate has revealed that parents have bought "Fire Cards" which came with CDs with nds files that parents can transfer to their kids cards. The interesting thing about this is that these are some of the same parents who absolutely will not let their kids watch snide DVDs - as far as I can tell this is only due to the fact that kids get bombarded with the message (on TV and on DVDs) that it is a criminal offense to copy DVDs, but don't hear the same message about NDS games - nothing to do with ethics about intellectual property rights  :shrug: Maybe these parents actually believe they have bought a legit copy of hundreds of games?

Lagers Jr has already asked me whether owning such a card would be "as bad as copying DVDs".
It's a very hard thing to decide - steal software so the poor little mite can play the same games as her friends, but lie to her about its legal status and thereby get myself into a right tangle; or tell her the truth, but tell her that she must lie to everyone about the source (nasty position to put a kid in - will cause her to have no respect for rule of law); or just buy the genuine games at full price and get her to appreciate the value of hard work and prudent saving.

Anyway, that's not what I was posting about. What I was wondering was (and I have tried a few Go Ogle searches) can viruses be transmitted via NDS files?

Any reccommendations on what cards are best?

I bought Mrs Starfish a DS for her birthday last week. She has been complaining about her brain rotting during pregnancy so I thought a bit of Brain Training might help. Also, she loves logic puzzles and there are a few of that type of thing for the DS (came bundled with Prof Layton's Mysterious Village - ace). I have fewer scruples about contemplating intellectual property theft in order to help Mrs S stay sharp.

Initially, Mrs S beat my brain age of 36 by scoring 32. However, a more focused approach has got me down to 26 (YYFY).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 12, 2008, 03:35:07 pm
Lagers Jr has already asked me whether owning such a card would be "as bad as copying DVDs".
It's a very hard thing to decide - steal software so the poor little mite can play the same games as her friends, but lie to her about its legal status and thereby get myself into a right tangle; or tell her the truth, but tell her that she must lie to everyone about the source (nasty position to put a kid in - will cause her to have no respect for rule of law); or just buy the genuine games at full price and get her to appreciate the value of hard work and prudent saving.

The latter. Paid for by the 1.5% rate cut so not actually costing you anything in real terms.

Win win!  ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 12, 2008, 03:52:29 pm
The money that has been handed to me by The Bank of England has been ring fenced to enable me to work part time when Mrs Starfish's maternity leave runs out so that we can afford to have a Largers Mk III after that. Besides, the more I gain the more greedy I become.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 12, 2008, 03:59:02 pm
I would tell her the truth straight, and get her to spread the word to all her friends, so that their parents have to field the difficult moral questions. It would be worth it just to put them on the hotspot.

(Although it's easy for me to say).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 12, 2008, 04:22:09 pm
I would tell her the truth straight, and get her to spread the word to all her friends, so that their parents have to field the difficult moral questions. It would be worth it just to put them on the hotspot.

(Although it's easy for me to say).

The combination of my cynicism and Little Lagers' directness has already caused plenty of embarrassment at the school gate. Usually this has to do with religion, politics or school rules. The rest of the time it causes problems with the witch that I fooishly chose to be Lagers Jr's mother  :wave:  :whistle:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 14, 2008, 09:47:38 am
For nonX360-owners who don't read the For Sale section but might want Gears Of War PC for a good price yo. (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10405.0.html)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 14, 2008, 01:14:59 pm

GOW is so old, GOW2 purleeze! ;)

Any WoW addicts Liching it up then? I'm still glad I kicked the habit or now i'd be feverishly grinding my way to lvl 80...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 14, 2008, 01:19:24 pm
I'm not sure how many X360-less PC owners will be playing GOW2 anytime soon though...

I've had two friends accuse me of being a WOW player. I've never even downloaded a trial!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 14, 2008, 03:20:00 pm
Easy mistake to make though.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 14, 2008, 03:40:43 pm
So, anyone got Gears of War 2 yet- Does it live up to the hype?
GOW2 is worth buying for the Horde mode multiplayer alone. It's seriously good. Great maps, wonderful graphics, extremely intense gameplay and great enemy AI. ***** (that's five stars, not an expletive) from me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 15, 2008, 12:25:46 am
Sweet - I played the old GOW when I borrowed a friends 360 but I thin this one is finally going to convince me to go out and by my own machine. Besides, I wanna play Resident Evil 5 as that looks awesome.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 19, 2008, 11:07:03 pm
So what does everybody think of the new dashboard for xbox 360?

I'm quite miffed that a lot of it doesn't seem to work too well right now, I can't download any demo's or do anything with marketplace. I'm not too sure about the whole mini me thing either.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 20, 2008, 01:50:45 am

I quite like the optional install to hard drive feature (which the ps3 has) - my dvd drive is pretty fucked and it helps my load times a lot.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 20, 2008, 09:12:19 am
Any ppl with a PC playing Left4Dead - good new online Coop zombie shooter from Valve?? If so, I'll be on sometimes as "Shambler", look me up and invite me aboard yo.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 20, 2008, 12:55:26 pm

I quite like the optional install to hard drive feature (which the ps3 has) - my dvd drive is pretty fucked and it helps my load times a lot.

have you had the halo3 message that says it will slow things down?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 20, 2008, 01:56:57 pm

It slows down the campaign but I'm not sure about multiplayer. I never play campaign anyway.

It's improved my GOW2 times noticeably.

It also stops the noise from the dvd drive which isn't a bad thing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 20, 2008, 09:37:38 pm
So I'm gonna get my 360 on around xmas and will be straight onto GOW2 multiplayer. Whats the deal with the online play - are you restricted to country/continent only players or can I jump in with some of you guys and blast away.

(and don't worry - I'm not completely shit as I played the first one to death on a borrowed 360  :) )
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 20, 2008, 09:44:58 pm
So I'm gonna get my 360 on around xmas and will be straight onto GOW2 multiplayer. Whats the deal with the online play - are you restricted to country/continent only players or can I jump in with some of you guys and blast away.

(and don't worry - I'm not completely shit as I played the first one to death on a borrowed 360  :) )

You can play whoever you like generally, either by random selection (matchmaking), where you can specify to only play people who speak the same language or by having a custom game where you can invite mates.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 20, 2008, 10:05:07 pm
Sweet - Thanks.

We should have a UKB team if there isn't one already.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 20, 2008, 11:10:21 pm
For those Nintendo DS owners who don't already have one, I can reccommend the R4 SDHC that stores games on a micro SD card. Less than £20 delivered from MemoryBits with their Christmas 15% off - that's including the R4, a 2GB micro SD card and a USB reader/writer.
Nice and easy to drag and drop ROMs from hard drive to micro SD. With most NDS games being less than 32MB you can fit loads on a 2GB card. That's, like, games, games, games times 60 or something.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 21, 2008, 12:58:47 am
We should have a UKB team if there isn't one already.
It'd be good to have a Horde team - i've got to level 45/50 once when we by luck got a good team that communicated well.

You may have issues playing with Europeans from Australia though, just because of the horrible latency you'll get from that far away....I know this is an issue in Halo.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on November 21, 2008, 01:31:22 am
I've been asked if its something i'd like for Xmas...

The problem is I never seem to take Halo out of the machine so its likely to just go on the shelf unless it really is THAT good.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 21, 2008, 02:54:10 am

Well I never removed H3 from my box until I got this :)

I don't think it's as skillful as Halo but the Horde mode is superb and the campaign is nice too. The graphics are much better than Halo and it just makes a nice change. I think you'd like it but probably go back to Halo after a while. That said, it's not left my box since I got it...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 21, 2008, 04:22:37 am
True.

Average net speeds here are pretty damn fast tho. I would hope in something like Horde Mode (which sounds awesome) that if there is a slight lag it shouldn't be to much of a handicap against bots.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 21, 2008, 01:46:32 pm

It's not a question of speed, it's latency from whoever the host is. But yeah, it would be much less important in Horde than against other players.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 21, 2008, 03:45:40 pm
Just ordered Shaun White snowboarding and a Wii Fit board! Suggested it as a family present for Xmas and Mrs Obi thought it was a great idea!  :kiss1:

Ordered it from Argos, but something odd is going on with the price of Wii Fit, all year they have been £70, now they have shot up to £100 in all stores! Cheeky fuckers. The worse is Argos which still lists it on its own as £70 but is always out of stock, but bundled with a £25 game it is £115!  :-\ The link to the £70 'accidentaly' directs you to a duvet.  Suspicious. :spank:

Still managed to get free delivery (with code 'AFD10'), and they are bound to be sold out for Xmas soon.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2008, 06:51:57 pm
Does the duvet look any good?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on November 28, 2008, 06:42:14 pm
OK, Xmas has come early... Xbox has just arriver from Amazon, Flat screen from IT247.com, 1 day after the order. I was waiting for them to arrive before I tie everything together with cable. Now, Monitor has female VGA input only and no speakers. XBox has A(for me) either Triple A/V pins or scart adapter. See my problem? Should I just get the MS VGA adaptor as my Stereo has the old 2 pin red/white input? Or what? Is there another canny way? I have no telly, by the way.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 02, 2008, 12:41:57 pm
OK, Xmas has come early... Xbox has just arriver from Amazon, Flat screen from IT247.com, 1 day after the order. I was waiting for them to arrive before I tie everything together with cable. Now, Monitor has female VGA input only and no speakers. XBox has A(for me) either Triple A/V pins or scart adapter. See my problem? Should I just get the MS VGA adaptor as my Stereo has the old 2 pin red/white input? Or what? Is there another canny way? I have no telly, by the way.

xbox or xbox 360? If this is an xbox 360, then the only way to get HD video is to use a VGA cable, component cables or if you have an Elite HDMI.  So in your case you should probably get the vga to get a better resolution anyway, then attach the cables to your speakers.  The vga cables aren't very much here, I ordered some things from there before and had no problems:

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.608~search.360%20vga (http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.608~search.360%20vga)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on December 02, 2008, 12:50:24 pm
Just ordered Shaun White snowboarding and a Wii Fit board! Suggested it as a family present for Xmas and Mrs Obi thought it was a great idea!  :kiss1:

Ordered it from Argos, but something odd is going on with the price of Wii Fit, all year they have been £70, now they have shot up to £100 in all stores! Cheeky fuckers. The worse is Argos which still lists it on its own as £70 but is always out of stock, but bundled with a £25 game it is £115!  :-\ The link to the £70 'accidentaly' directs you to a duvet.  Suspicious. :spank:

Still managed to get free delivery (with code 'AFD10'), and they are bound to be sold out for Xmas soon.

We are getting a Wii for xmas, so got a wii fit in anticpation (got it as a bundle with family ski, which you can also play with the fit), and getting SW Snowboarding as well. There has been a real shortage on the fit, so we got it asap.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on December 13, 2008, 05:16:36 pm
Ah, while we're on the Wii...punter question, sorry:

Have bought my Mum a Wii (on her request I might add) for Xmas, got the Wii Sports package with an extra controller - just wondering if there's owt else she'll need to get it going on the day? I'm assuming that it's got all the TV interconnects in it, it's stuff like AA batteries and shit I was worried about.

Cheers muchly in advance Nintendo owners...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: squeek on December 13, 2008, 05:25:08 pm
Ah, while we're on the Wii...punter question, sorry:

Have bought my Mum a Wii (on her request I might add) for Xmas, got the Wii Sports package with an extra controller - just wondering if there's owt else she'll need to get it going on the day? I'm assuming that it's got all the TV interconnects in it, it's stuff like AA batteries and shit I was worried about.

Cheers muchly in advance Nintendo owners...

When you say extra controller, do you mean extra wiimote, or extra wiimote and nunchuck?  If you don't have two sets of wiimote+nunchuck (you get one set of both with the wii) you can't play two player boxing on wiisports.  All batteries and cables come in the box.  You can use a better quality component cable for the video if the tv supports it, but you have to buy it separately and it isn't necessary.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on December 13, 2008, 05:56:17 pm
It's an extra Wiimote (i.e. no nunchuck) but I'm sure that'll be fine...I'll let her know when I give it her.

Cheers ft' knowledge!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on January 02, 2009, 07:04:31 am
One week of real flu  =  level 10 on fallout3. This masterstroke of RPG meets gorefest with total open world structure and reasonable quest variety is the game of 08 for me. I'm not a rpg fan per se, but this offering from Bethesada studios is the best gaming experience i've had on the ps3. That includes cod4, lara, resistance et al... I'd suggest only the hankerings for another Hitman would better this...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on January 08, 2009, 02:16:12 pm
Does anyone else think the guy who says "Resident Evil 4" when the game starts loading sounds like Trigger from Only fools and horses?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 08, 2009, 02:35:56 pm
Just ordered Shaun White snowboarding and a Wii Fit board! Suggested it as a family present for Xmas and Mrs Obi thought it was a great idea!  :kiss1:


How you enjoying it? I'm really enjoying the Snowboarding, just need to set sensitivity up right for each event. Also gout Guitar Hero III which I am terrible at but getting better. Struggling with continual tempo change on QOTSA 3s AND 7s.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on January 12, 2009, 10:30:02 pm
Got a Wii for Christmas can anyone recommend some good games please.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on January 12, 2009, 10:41:40 pm
Halo 3, you'll need a 360.
.
.
.
.
Sorry...

I played on gears of war 2 for a fair bit before surrendering it to my g/f's brother for christmas. He was quite shocked when I kicked his ass on return from Font on multiplayer. It's a good game but can't keep my attention the same way as halo 3. Campaign mode was good with two people but still...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 12, 2009, 11:20:00 pm
PC owners, you need this in your life. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left4Dead)

When you've got it, search for Shambler and add me as a friend. Then we shoot zombies, ya?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on January 12, 2009, 11:30:28 pm
 I hear this game is outstanding Fiend, shame I can't play. Is it not limited by only having 4 'levels'? And are they planning on releasing more? Available for 360 too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 12, 2009, 11:44:46 pm
It has 4 campaigns, each with 4 or 5 levels (I forget which), so 16-20 normal FPS size levels. However the monster placement and sometimes item placement changes each time (possibly dynamically), so there's so freshness there. Plus skill levels are reasonably challenging.

I find it quite replayable because it's simple, effect, stylishly done and atmospheric zombie fun AND most importantly it is proper true full on CO-OP, which is cool.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on January 13, 2009, 02:52:47 pm
I shall be picking my copy up tomorrow for usage on Saturday night in a Travelodge near Heathrow....and COD5, both for co-op fun. Tommy has big plans for us on Sat/Sun at W/Way but he'd better get the meat of it in on Saturday 'cos I imagine I'll be in Zombie state come Sunday morn.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 13, 2009, 03:38:17 pm
Got a Wii for Christmas can anyone recommend some good games please.  :thumbsup:

Depends what you want. Mario Galaxy looks amazing, but not played it. Loving Shaun White snowboard, but would be crap without Balanceboard. Guitar hero is good fun. There are assorted silly party games, depends what you like; mario Karts, mario and sonic olympics, etc etc.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 16, 2009, 02:55:35 pm

When Halo 3 goes bad (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7826663.stm)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 16, 2009, 03:39:26 pm

When some random psycho kid who happens to play computer games goes bad (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7826663.stm)

 :whistle:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 16, 2009, 10:24:24 pm

WoW will turn you into a fatty (http://apina.biz/11996.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 04, 2009, 02:50:15 pm

Just fixed my 2nd xbox 360 RROD for free :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 04, 2009, 10:13:57 pm
I'm still thrashing away on GOW 2. Made it to level 36 on Day 1 public the other day. The one slip up and everyone got killed. :'(
I've got UPnP running on my router but I really need to get my NAT open (its on moderate I think) as I never get host (even on Oz matches) and I have a good superfast download/upload. Might even affect some of the mega lag I get playing yanks.

So I'm gonna use port forwarding. I think I need to set a static IP for my PC and for the 360 and then follow the instructions for my router on Portforward.com for Xbox live.

Anyone done this before and did it work/help?

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 05, 2009, 11:20:21 am
Yes, you should definitely forward the XBL ports!  I just put the 360 in my router's DMZ so all ports are open to it.

Well done on 36. I got fed up with quitters so am back to endless games of H3.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on February 05, 2009, 07:10:48 pm

Just fixed my 2nd xbox 360 RROD for free :)

Why don't you ask Microsoft for a job? It'd save them millions...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on February 05, 2009, 09:10:35 pm
This week I have mostly been...
...playing Call of Duty 4.

It's awesome  :bounce:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 05, 2009, 09:59:53 pm
Yes, you should definitely forward the XBL ports!  I just put the 360 in my router's DMZ so all ports are open to it.

Thats sounds easier. How to you go about it? These are my isntructions but I don't know what all the terms mean and I'm a bit confused as to 'who is who', so to speak:

1/ Check the 'Enable DMZ' box
2/ From the 'Select your WAN Connection' drop-down list, select the connection type for which you wish to add the DMZ
3/ From the 'Select your LAN Group:' drop-down list, select the LAN group for which you wish to enable the DMZ
4/ Select the 'DMZ Host IP address' from the 'Select a LAN IP Address' drop down list. If your IP address is not listed, click 'Add LAN Clients' and follow instructions in 'To add a LAN Client'
5/ Apply/Save

Does doing this add any security risk or affect your standard net connetion settings?

Thanks for any help you can give! 

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 06, 2009, 06:34:03 am

What router have you got?

You only put the 360 in the DMZ so security isn't an issue.

It's helpful to map each attached device (PC/360/Laptop/etc) to it's own specific LAN IP address by using the MAC address of each device. That prevents the scenario of an automatically allocated IP address being the one that ends up in the DMZ which would then become a security issue.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 06, 2009, 10:07:02 pm
Its this one

http://www.opennw.com/products/broadband/624w.php (http://www.opennw.com/products/broadband/624w.php)

Cheers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 08, 2009, 09:21:52 am
I found a manual for your router online (http://www.opennw.com/_pdf/624W_R07.xx_Tech_Ref.pdf)

Looking at this I think you want to do something like this:

Look on page 64 - "LAN Clients". In here, you want to force the router to allocate specific LAN IP addresses to your devices. Why do you need to do this?
Firstly, you want to force the 360 to always use a specific IP address and that address only. Once that is set up it is safe to configure that IP address as the one in the DMZ.
Secondly you want to force your other devices (PC/laptop/etc) to always use IP addresses that are not the one the 360 will use - you don't want your PC ending up in the DMZ accidentally.

It may only be necessary to specify the IP for the 360 - the router may then never allocate that IP to other devices but I'm not sure how your router handles things.
One advantage of mapping all your devices to a specific IP using the MAC address is that you can then dissallow any other connections. This means nobody else can connect to your router without you specifically allowing them to which offers a nice security bonus.

So, anyway, how do you find out your MAC addresses?

On your PC, just do this:
- Press WindowsKey + R to bring up the Run window
- Type "cmd" and hit enter to bring up a command window
- Type "ipconfig /all" and hit enter.
- Look for the line that says "Physical Address" - that is your MAC address, copy it down.

On the 360, you need to do this:
- Navigate to the System area of the Xbox Dashboard.
- Select Network Settings.
- Select Edit Settings.
- Select Additional Settings.
- Select Advanced Settings.

The MAC address will be displayed toward the bottom of this page where it says Wired MAC Address.

Once you've got the MAC addresses for the 360 and any other computers that connect to your router, go back to page 64 of the manual and follow the instructions there to set up a LAN client for each device. I'm not 100% sure which sequence of LAN IP address to use for your router but it looks like:
192.169.0.100, 192.169.0.101, 192.169.0.102, etc.

Anyway, once you've set all that up, apply and save/restart.

Now check that your PCs and the 360 can still access the web and that they are using the IP addresses that you would expect. On your PC just do an ipconfig and on the 360 go to "My Xbox" ==> "System Settings" ==> "Network Settings" ==> "Configure Network". These should now be showing the IP addresses that you wanted.

Phew! Once all that's done, go back to your router and follow the instructions for the DMZ - see page 57.  On that page, specify the IP address allocated to the 360 and apply.

That should do it....I hope ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on February 08, 2009, 04:12:18 pm
 :bounce: Just bought an 80Gb PS3.  Main selling point is multimedia (uPnP and ability to get add on to turn it into PVR, easier than earache from the wife about building a PVR  :P).  Plus added bonus of paying some games  :thumbsup:

Paid £250 in Zavvi which seemed reasonable and left around £50 (compared to the £300 elsewhere) to get games that we might play (bundles with soccer and other games weren't floating our boat).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 08, 2009, 10:40:05 pm
Thanks for taking the time to do that Bubba - You're a star. I'll have a crack in the next couple of days.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: St Hubbins on February 10, 2009, 08:37:16 pm
No mention of the Wii on here then?

Despite the bad reviews I've got quite into Call of duty: World at war.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on February 10, 2009, 09:39:39 pm
I'm with you Hubbins. I have World at war and Modern warfare. I hear theres a Nazi Zombie house defence option, but as I have yet to have time to invest in the game, I cannot find it. Any clue? I also have left 4 dead. Graphics are toss but playability is through the roof. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: mbleazard on February 26, 2009, 07:52:22 pm
any left for dead fans on x box or pc?

sorry if its already been mentioned but couldnae find it!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 26, 2009, 08:01:19 pm
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,4653.msg180495.html#msg180495 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,4653.msg180495.html#msg180495)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on February 27, 2009, 08:28:13 am
No mention of the Wii on here then?


Obi-Wan mentioned his a while back. I'm still enjoying Shaun White Road Trip. and guitar hero.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tomrix on February 27, 2009, 10:45:21 am
I'm with you Hubbins. I have World at war and Modern warfare. I hear theres a Nazi Zombie house defence option, but as I have yet to have time to invest in the game, I cannot find it. Any clue? I also have left 4 dead. Graphics are toss but playability is through the roof. Highly recommended.

Zombie level is unlocked when you complete the single player campaign on any difficulty. There was also a new xboxlive/PS3 release for the game yesterday that apparently unlocks the Zombie level for all!! Well worth unlocking although single player campaign is a bit disappointing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on March 06, 2009, 05:12:40 pm
I'm quite tempted by Left4Dead for the 360. I see Fiend is on the PC, but is anyone on here on the 360 version?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on March 06, 2009, 06:37:53 pm
Yep. Its involving. Graphics seem a bit bollocks and gunshot/death effect are also a bit 1990's but it IS involving and probably worth it all in all. Best as two player split screen I reckon for some mate elbowing action.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 06, 2009, 11:08:49 pm
I'm quite tempted by Left4Dead for the 360. I see Fiend is on the PC, but is anyone on here on the 360 version?

Seem to be all the rage, highly recommended by my friends, seems to bring out the best in people, and forces co-op, which makes a change from the drivel you usually get in online shooters.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 08, 2009, 12:46:41 pm
Pro standard Halo 3

Two pro MLG teams play Team Slayer on The Pit. From the viewpoint of Ogre2, one of the top players of all time.

Best watched in HD at youtube rather than the embedded one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yKLBw2Zbio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yKLBw2Zbio)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on March 08, 2009, 10:04:42 pm
Was thinking of L4D as I quite like some team action, ooeer.

Still can't drag myself away from GOW2 Horde tho. Standard seems to have reason quite alot if my last few public games are anthing to go by as I'm now regularly hitting the 30's with a bunch of randoms. The message about defending a base seems to finally be getting through. The new TU3 should be out soon tho and will hopefully fix most of the remaining gameplay problems and ridiculous host avantage and I'll finally be able to play MP again.

Roll on Friday and Resident Evil 5 - Looks awesome!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 08, 2009, 11:18:28 am
Quote
Nintendo will release a new WiiWare game called Rock n' Roll Climber that uses a combination of the Wii controller and Wii Balance Board to simulate rock climbing. The rock n' roll angle is a bit flimsy as far as we could tell — after the player climbs the rock wall the character celebrates by shredding on a rather conveniently-located electric guitar at the top.
 :dance1:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/25/gdc09_nintendo_keynote/ (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/25/gdc09_nintendo_keynote/)

(http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20090325/img_5723_620x414_610x407.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 08, 2009, 11:36:00 am
Xbox live Gold has finally ran out, over 1000 games of Halo 3 in a year which is worrying considering I've hardly played on it for 2 months.

I downloaded the COD5 World at War demo, WOW is all I have to say, captivating play and stunning graphics...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: BB on April 08, 2009, 11:40:32 am
The multiplayer on COD5 isnt nearly as good as COD4. Most disappointing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 08, 2009, 11:58:33 am
really, so if you were to buy one now which would you opt for?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on April 08, 2009, 02:01:35 pm
Get Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare and allow me to whup you.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on April 08, 2009, 03:14:50 pm
I guess I'll have to loudly mention the pro's and con's of each as my birthday is rapidly approaching...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on April 08, 2009, 03:52:36 pm
really, so if you were to buy one now which would you opt for?

COD4
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: St Hubbins on April 11, 2009, 07:55:15 pm
Quote
Nintendo will release a new WiiWare game called Rock n' Roll Climber that uses a combination of the Wii controller and Wii Balance Board to simulate rock climbing. The rock n' roll angle is a bit flimsy as far as we could tell — after the player climbs the rock wall the character celebrates by shredding on a rather conveniently-located electric guitar at the top.
 :dance1:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/25/gdc09_nintendo_keynote/ (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/25/gdc09_nintendo_keynote/)

(http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20090325/img_5723_620x414_610x407.jpg)

Anyone bought it?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 12, 2009, 12:18:15 am

It's only been announced, it's not available yet. Apparently it will be able to use the balance board - not sure how that will work?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: St Hubbins on April 12, 2009, 11:34:35 am
i reckon its just a stepping motion for feet and button press on remote and nunchuck?

Looks like a balance bar on the bottom of the screen so may be like the tightrope game on wii fit.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on April 16, 2009, 12:26:17 pm
sorry but watching pro halo players just don't compare with people who've been playing quake for faaaaaaaaaaaaar too long this is fatality the most successful quake player of all time quake is so much faster than halo and there aint no auto aim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRMn1tj5-Nc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRMn1tj5-Nc)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 16, 2009, 12:34:28 pm
Fair point but Q3A is Q3A, NOT Quake (although IIRC Fatality cut his teeth in Quake itself). Interesting to see there was less rail whoreage than I expected, maybe that's reserved for floater maps.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on April 16, 2009, 12:55:37 pm
i think you're dead right fiend and to be fair i'm sure there are plenty of wads playin halo but i guess i'm just stuck with my old counterstrike nostalgia.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on June 07, 2009, 02:28:39 am
My gaming is mothballed for now (dead 360, too much other stuff to do) but Microsoft's new vision for the 360 is really something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tmr8VDqN8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tmr8VDqN8)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on June 07, 2009, 03:12:47 pm
I am buying that the day it comes out.

I now hereby announce I will have something microsoft in my house....

I'm blown away by that....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on June 07, 2009, 11:04:43 pm
how are they going to integrate Halo with that  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on July 01, 2009, 03:55:48 pm
BBC commissions Charlie Brooker games TV show http://www.videogamer.com/news/bbc_commissions_charlie_brooker_games_tv_show.html (http://www.videogamer.com/news/bbc_commissions_charlie_brooker_games_tv_show.html) should be good  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on July 01, 2009, 04:48:15 pm
My gaming is mothballed for now (dead 360, too much other stuff to do) but Microsoft's new vision for the 360 is really something:

Does it come with a loud hailer so it can hear you over the noise of the fan and dvd player  :-\
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on July 02, 2009, 10:26:08 am

New 360s aren't that loud. I've currently got Paul B's Elite on loan whilst he's gallivanting around Europe and it's fine.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on August 01, 2009, 07:53:54 pm
Fallout 3 is great fun Oblivion with guns anyone.
Been playing this recently. Great fun but the end of the main quest finishing the game rather spoils the whole sandbox feel.

Luckily the Broken Steel DLC alleviates this...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on August 01, 2009, 09:38:26 pm
Miles awY from gettin done on Fallout 3.

I keep on getting distracted, for hours!

However I did become the proud owner of an unlimited ammo Gatling gun on RE 5 se soir. A fine game!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on August 01, 2009, 09:45:46 pm
I am patiently awaiting the next Call of Duty (modern warfare 2) which will be 2 player............... :bounce:

I must be ready to bring my 'A game'.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on August 03, 2009, 12:33:26 am
Are you on COD Modern Warfare? Hit me up with a server ID and bring it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on August 03, 2009, 07:37:03 am
Just rented red faction guerilla.

Bit of a GTA in the time of total recall. Not as varied but
the explosions are something else... Satisfying to turn the local populace against tryanical rule!!

Rent 1st..

Not looked a on line, doubt it will anything special.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatboySlimfast on August 03, 2009, 10:08:01 am
for all COD4 ps3 users, perhaps give it a few days before going on line, a major glitch/hack was discovered on friday I think which enabled users to fly/float around the gaming areas with invincibility. It is majorly annoying and ruins the whole game. Infinity ward are fixing it now but it remains to be seen when this will be rectified
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on August 14, 2009, 04:32:11 pm

Trials HD on XBLA (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/trialshdxboxlivearcade/) - seriously good fun little game :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 03, 2009, 04:28:22 pm
Been playing WOFL aka Return To Castle Wolfenstein 2 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/ACTIVISION-Wolfenstein-PC-DVD/dp/B0026FCH26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1251991326&sr=8-1) - do NOT believe the average scores and reviews because they are simply wrong.

So far, I'm about 50% in, this game does a couple of things wrong:

- the movement is very sluggish and the headbob is vile.
- it could do with more variety in enemies early on.

HOWEVER, it does a lot right, including things a lot of modern games don't:

+ it runs great even on an old box with no slowdowns on the most complex maps.
+ loading times are really really quick.
+ there are lots of secrets and exploratory little bits.
+ you get optional side-missions and some choice how you do things.
+ the atmosphere is good.
+ graphics are pretty good as are most levels.
+ the Veil dimension is really cool and adds a lot of gameplay options, most situations can be tackled in at least a few ways.
+ the deaths are good and gory.
+ weapon upgrades and stuff are fun.
+ gameplay is mostly fair and fun and keeps you on your toes.

Basically it's a good standard stylish non-groundbreaking FPS with some little diverse extras that actually add to the game rather than fucking it over.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on September 03, 2009, 07:02:10 pm
What about the bosses?

I hate them in fps...

In last one I played there was one.. A huge evil fat Gestapo bitch.. And that was ace... But only due to being able to hide behind a pillar an watch her contort as you dragged her evil Nazi ass in to death by multiple rockets

if the bosses are easy but visually cool then fair go.

Personally I'm gonna wait for...


Cod6
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 03, 2009, 09:52:57 pm
That's a good question fatdoc, I'm not a fan of crappy bosses (as they usually are too). I've heard some grumbling about later bosses, but also that they are okay if you use the veil. I've only faced one boss and it was fine as bosses goes, didn;t take much fannying about and only a few attempts.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on September 03, 2009, 10:20:37 pm
Did she look like this?
(http://blogidaho.biz/wildenstein.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jovial Geordie on September 08, 2009, 11:23:04 am
Recently got Batman: Arkham Asylum for Xbox and was quite pleased with it.

Great backgrounds, a good selection of characters that are not normally seen in the games such as Zsasz / Killer Croc / Oracle, massive levels and a good story line.

Unlike previous batman games, where it is just mash the buttons in the direction of an enemy, this one has a lot more emphasis on stealth, which is can lead to some quite amusing moments and with the Riddler challenges it will take a while to get 100 % completion. Personally I find this a better adaptation of the Batman franchise as it is darker in content and character, similar to that of the latter novels.

I can find the controls sometimes a bit fussy, especially later on in the game when you have more items and the constant moving back and forth from place to place can get tedious, but overall one of the better games I have played this year.

The lack of on-line gameplay means I probably won't be playing this constantly and more than likely will trade it for Modern Warfare 2, but defiantly worth a rental and some time.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on November 12, 2009, 08:12:04 pm
Microsoft switch off 1 million xbox's! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8356621.stm)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 13, 2009, 01:12:50 am

To be fair it's well known that using a modded box online will get you banned - it's always been the way.

They haven't turned them off exactly, you just can't use Xbox Live anymore.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: robertostallioni on November 13, 2009, 02:53:12 pm
UKB - Every day's a school day.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 13, 2009, 07:15:11 pm
Just tried the L4D2 demo, it's good, basically more L4D, but a bit prettier, a bit more varied, new settings etc etc. Which is all one needs really. Still looks great and runs smooth on an old PC, still good fun coop gameplay.

If anyone gets the game let me know and we can hook up. I'll be the one staring at walls and running into gunfire  :wall:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 20, 2009, 04:35:27 pm
Left 4 Dead 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/550/) is finally out here. As highly reccommended as the first. Easy to pick up, easy to get into, everything functions nicely and bags of character.

If anyone is playing it, I use the name "Shambler" on Steam.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: vivahate on November 20, 2009, 06:22:55 pm
Might look into L4D2, did a couple of campaigns on the first one and it just seemed like the same repeatable tactic (get into a room and shoot zombies at a bottleneck) the whole way, never really got into multiplayer. Did I miss out on much?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2009, 10:46:59 pm
Well it is pretty much more of the same - but quite a lot of that MORE... More campaigns, more variety, more different zombies, more specials, more weapons, more "power-ups", more challenge, more blood and guts (quite a lot more of that, it's rare to kill a zombie without some body part or other going flying), melee weapons too which are both tactical and brutal (and relate heavily to the "more gore"). Graphics seem pretty cool too (detailed maps) and still runs smooth on older PCs.

If you didn't like the first, you might not like this, but I've found it considerably greater challenge than "bottleneck zombies in a room". As with the first one, the atmosphere/style is strong and very well functioning coop gameplay is the real highlight.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on December 04, 2009, 10:02:52 am
Has anyone got or played Uncharted 2 ?
Videos look great and someone at work is raving about it
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on December 04, 2009, 07:10:53 pm
After my xbox gathered dust since last Christmas it's now fully active and I'm 7 hours into Dragon Age Origins and really enjoying it now I've got to grips with the somewhat demanding Tactics system.  It's made the headlines in the US today due to several elf on elf and elf on human gay sex scenes and plot lines... I wondered why there was an 18 certificate on the box..

MW2 is in my Christmas Stocking..
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on December 05, 2009, 05:20:20 pm
Has anyone got or played Uncharted 2 ?
Videos look great and someone at work is raving about it

it'a better than Cod6... in campaign.

my eldest has done  it 4 times over.. and is thus banned from the ps3 for a week to get his homework done.

a fine game, only gets hard in the higheest difficulty setting, so good for kids & adults. the gunfights are really good.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 11, 2009, 04:08:54 am
Well it took a while - obviously some stupid MW2 kids have been reporting me :lol:

My rather stupid gamertag "A Pork Throbber" has been vetoed by MS. I know it was childish but that was the point and it raised many laughs in pre-game lobbies.

So now I'm "Veiny Spear" - let's see how long that one lasts :)

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on December 12, 2009, 08:56:09 pm
Well it took a while - obviously some stupid MW2 kids have been reporting me :lol:

My rather stupid gamertag "A Pork Throbber" has been vetoed by MS. I know it was childish but that was the point and it raised many laughs in pre-game lobbies.

So now I'm "Veiny Spear" - let's see how long that one lasts :)

 :thumbsup:

Just saw an advert for some kinda new Halo, any clues?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 12, 2009, 11:41:47 pm

Halo ODST? I guess you've been away when it was released - it's really like a big Halo 3 addon with:

- A new campaign (you don't play as MasterChief) story played in a slightly more open world setting than the usual Halo campaign. It's ok, but all a bit dark visually - nothing special.
- A new "Firefight" mode - just like the Horde mode in GOW2 - good fun!
- All of the Halo 3 multiplayer on one disc, ie all the maps including four new ones.


Unless they've already started advertising Halo Reach which is basically Halo 4 out next year.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on December 13, 2009, 11:54:05 am
No you're right it was ODST I think... the horde mode sounds good but if there's a new one coming out next year I think I'll wait!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Eddies on December 15, 2009, 12:07:56 pm
http://machinarium.net/demo/ (http://machinarium.net/demo/)
This is total genuis
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on December 15, 2009, 04:34:33 pm
Left 4 Dead 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/550/) is finally out here. As highly reccommended as the first. Easy to pick up, easy to get into, everything functions nicely and bags of character.

If anyone is playing it, I use the name "Shambler" on Steam.

Je suis "Durbs_Toast" - and also am excellent cannon/zombie fodder
Title: Maybe getting a console
Post by: Jim on January 16, 2010, 10:31:20 am
slightly off topic but can' be arsed starting my own thead
I'm looking to replace my HTPC with a console that can also be a media server (ie play content over a network) and also used as a bluray player.
I have only a short experience of doing it on a PS3 when I set it up for a friend once. Does XBOX have a bluray drive?
Is there any benafit on either? I will be mostly playing .MKV, .avi and .mp4 files. Do either or both support 5.1/DTS/DD surround sound etc..
Also with regards to games, which have better games for a non-gamer gamer with very little time on his hands (ie arcade style)?
Cheers
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 16, 2010, 10:51:02 am

Xbox 360 went with HD-DVD which is now dead, though rumour has it they will be offering Blu-Ray in the future. I'd go with a PS3.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on January 16, 2010, 05:39:50 pm
PS3 works well as a client playing uPnP served media (video has to be over cable for decent playback really), but as far as I'm aware doesn't have the ability to set up and configure it as a media server under the Sony OS.

If you want to set it up as a server you'll have to dual boot and install Linux, from where you can install and set up uPnP servers.  I'm ostensibly doing this myself at the moment, but its on a back burner as I've not had the time to dedicate to it.  I've got Linux installed and running, but need to get various kernel upgrades (to support bluetooth and the native six-way controllers) and other tweaks before it will be anything near working (also need to get the additional PlayTV module so it can work with TV).  I used my usual distro Gentoo and it wasn't that straight-forward, but I think Yellow Dog (http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/) may be another good one to look at.

Major downside is that there is currently poor support for Blu-Ray playback under Linux (all down to licensing software/codecs), but this was supposedly simplified recently (http://themediaviking.com/software/bluray-linux/) but I've not tested it yet.


If you go down this option you'll have to get one of the older PS3's as Sony removed the ability to install another OS from the Slim's.  Its also a good idea to get a larger HD, I grabbed a 500Gb and swapped the 80Gb that came with it out.

Not a great gamer myself, but enjoy playing Ratchet & Clank (platform stuff), Little Big Planet, WipeoutHD and Tekken5.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 16, 2010, 06:09:20 pm
Ratchet & Clank
I love R&C :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on January 16, 2010, 06:44:55 pm
I miss tekken... I've never really found anything similar on the Xbox that wowed me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on January 16, 2010, 06:55:44 pm
 :agree:

We used to have drunken Tekken 3 sessions that would sometimes end up in a real life ruck in the living room :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Eddies on January 16, 2010, 08:12:53 pm
Ive just completed Assassins Creed 2 on the X-Box... MINT
Really enjoyable game, spent lots of nights/snow days hooked on it.
WHAT NEXT?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on January 16, 2010, 10:08:50 pm
:agree:

We used to have drunken Tekken 3 sessions that would sometimes end up in a real life ruck in the living room :)

TBH it posed quite an issue when picking consoles.

Xbox 360 with Halo or PS3 with Tekken  :devangel:

Worryingly I played over 1000 online games of halo within a year. Do you still play a lot Bubbs? Obviously I haven't been on for ages.

Ive just completed Assassins Creed 2 on the X-Box... MINT
Really enjoyable game, spent lots of nights/snow days hooked on it.
WHAT NEXT?

Jeez I couldn't be bothered to stick Assassins Creed 1 long enough to be able to use all of the controls, overly complex.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on January 16, 2010, 11:01:26 pm
but did you finish AC2??

dont get me wrong...
but did you see the truth in it's entirety??

it takes longer than the whole campaign.. old school. awesome..
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Eddies on January 16, 2010, 11:36:24 pm
but did you finish AC2??

dont get me wrong...
but did you see the truth in it's entirety??

it takes longer than the whole campaign.. old school. awesome..

Ahh... Well.. Errr... Not Yet!
Ive still got some of the gylphs left to unlock... Ive not put it down yet.
My fav game since Final Fantasy
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jim on January 17, 2010, 12:42:53 am
why do you need the larger hard drive? all the stuff I want to watch will be streamed via LAN from my main PC or eventually from a NAS and the games come on blurays don't they?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on January 18, 2010, 07:42:17 am
why do you need the larger hard drive? all the stuff I want to watch will be streamed via LAN from my main PC or eventually from a NAS and the games come on blurays don't they?

Hard-Drives (/storage) are cheap so I grabbed one because with the PlayTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayTV) you can effectively turn the PS3 into a PVR and 80Gb wouldn't have stored much TV.  Added advantage is that you can also install all your games to the HD and not have to faff around changing discs (also gives lots of space for downloading games and films to the HD).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on January 18, 2010, 09:04:00 am
I miss tekken... I've never really found anything similar on the Xbox that wowed me.

You can get Tekken 6 for the 360 for the first time and its excellent.

See here http://au.xbox360.ign.com/objects/142/14288369.html (http://au.xbox360.ign.com/objects/142/14288369.html)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on January 18, 2010, 12:36:41 pm
YYFY
Title: Re: Maybe getting a console
Post by: slackline on January 20, 2010, 07:08:51 pm
slightly off topic but can' be arsed starting my own thead
I'm looking to replace my HTPC with a console that can also be a media server (ie play content over a network) and also used as a bluray player.
I have only a short experience of doing it on a PS3 when I set it up for a friend once. Does XBOX have a bluray drive?
Is there any benafit on either? I will be mostly playing .MKV, .avi and .mp4 files. Do either or both support 5.1/DTS/DD surround sound etc..
Also with regards to games, which have better games for a non-gamer gamer with very little time on his hands (ie arcade style)?
Cheers

If you're not arsed about games then you might want to consider one of these bad boys...

(http://www.scan.co.uk/Images/Products/1092915-a.jpg) (http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=31384&ms=msso0124)

Now it does indicate that it doesn't support Media Centres, and this thread (http://wdtvhd.com/index.php?showtopic=8732) suggests that some sort of WDTV variant does work with network served media.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jim on January 21, 2010, 10:55:37 am
Well I want it as a bluray player mainly.
I was thinking of getting a LG BD390 bluray player and network media player but for the same money I could have the ps3 and play the odd game when I get chance.
I could also just buy a bluray rom drive for the htpc I have but it just becomes complicated then and the ps3 should just work out of the box.

Anyone seen or know of any good deals? I'm after a ps3 slim (preferably 250gb) with a game or 2 (tekken 6, little big planet, ratchet & clank, wipeout. anything like that. none of the involved games, more arcade style), 2 controllers and the media remote control. Preferably pay with paypal as I have a fair bit of credit in there that I don't want to pay to get out nor do I want to leave it there.
Cheers
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on January 21, 2010, 01:07:30 pm
Yet another oversight of mine, missed the importance of the blu-ray player.  :spank:

Good gamers have bigger brains (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8471182.stm) (Original abstract (http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/bhp293) the study looked at whether initial size of a specific area of the brain predicted acquisition and improvement in video games, so its not addressing whether you develop and acquire the skills as a consequence of playing video games more frequently).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 21, 2010, 02:09:36 pm
Some bigger parts of the brain. Doesn't say if other parts are smaller.

They no doubt have bigger bellies and asses too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on January 21, 2010, 02:20:35 pm
Some bigger parts of the brain. Doesn't say if other parts are smaller.

 :agree: I was exceptionally tardy in my choice of words there, apologies.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 01, 2010, 05:39:14 pm
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/superpiipii.html (http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/superpiipii.html)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 24, 2010, 11:44:24 am
Have started dabbling in QuakeLive. Nickname "Shamblerrr"  :-*
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 24, 2010, 02:13:53 pm

Thoroughly enjoyed Bioshock II.

The Bioshock games are some of the most beautiful and atmospheric around imo and good fun shooters too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 24, 2010, 09:31:39 pm
Never played Bioshock and will prob pick it up now its platinum.

I've just finished Dantes Inferno which I thought was great (and pretty fucked up in places). Just waiting for God of War 3 now which is likely to be the reason to own a PS3.

Anyone played Alien Versus Predator on the 360? I had it pre-ordered but the reviews/reception it got were very poor so I canned it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: BB on February 24, 2010, 09:50:06 pm
I'm off work after my knee op so I just picked up bayonetta, brutal legend and darksiders after finally completing AC2 yesterday. Has left 4 dead 2 left over from Christmas, but was not very impressed.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 24, 2010, 10:04:27 pm
Utter heresy not liking the utterly ace L4D2, you might as well donate your console / PC to charity  >:(
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 24, 2010, 10:09:23 pm
Bayonetta is bonkers - I didn't get on with that.

Close to finishing Darksiders now. I thought this was a great game although the combat is a little basic and the bosses fights disappointingly easy.

Fiend - Our censored version of L4D2 is only fit for the bin.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 24, 2010, 10:35:43 pm

I must revisit Bayonetta now I've got a better screen. Agreed looks bonkers.

I'm still nuke hunting on MW2 - got 4 or 5 so far.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 24, 2010, 11:02:31 pm
I must revisit Bayonetta now I've got a better screen. Agreed looks bonkers.

I couldn't see what the fuck was going on most of thime  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on February 28, 2010, 03:53:42 pm
I've just bought MW2. There's definitely a steep learning curve to it when playing on live. It seems like newbie's get the added disadvantage of having less tools at their disposal to start with just to make it even steeper  :great:

PM if anyone fancies a few Multiplayer games.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: richdraws on March 05, 2010, 04:12:40 pm
I made this go and buy it now, its proper good fun x

(http://uk2.shopto.net/boxart/PS3SO07.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 05, 2010, 04:22:50 pm
Heavy rain on the way for me.. looks unique..
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 05, 2010, 09:26:43 pm
Heavy Rain?

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/yh/sheffield_forecast_weather.html (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/yh/sheffield_forecast_weather.html)

Doesn't look too bad, get out on t'grit on Sunday I reckon...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 06, 2010, 03:00:42 pm
not bad  ;)

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on March 09, 2010, 08:25:34 am
Battlefield Bad Company 2 = The shizzle.

Looks gorgeous, plays even better.
Didn't get utterly spanked online either which makes a pleasant change
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on April 19, 2010, 08:32:15 pm

Trials HD on XBLA (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/trialshdxboxlivearcade/) - seriously good fun little game :)

Ha ha! Was playing this at my mate's place over the weekend - agree it's a great game, *just* frustrating enough to keep you coming back!

In fact, am thinking about taking the plunge and upgrading my PS2 and getting an XBox...take it the "Elite" package is the one to get as it's 180 sheets and comes with more storage?

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Eddies on April 19, 2010, 08:39:13 pm
This is gonna be BIG!
Red Dead Redemption Gameplay Introduction Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMxSUGZ6TU&feature=player_embedded#ws)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on April 19, 2010, 08:57:42 pm
In fact, am thinking about taking the plunge and upgrading my PS2 and getting an XBox...take it the "Elite" package is the one to get as it's 180 sheets and comes with more storage?
Yeah, Elite is the one to have, also has an HDMI port which the normal one doesn't have.

Still loving BC2 here - fucking awesome online - tense games that reward teamwork over personal KDR.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on April 23, 2010, 09:14:27 pm
In fact, am thinking about taking the plunge and upgrading my PS2 and getting an XBox...take it the "Elite" package is the one to get as it's 180 sheets and comes with more storage?
Yeah, Elite is the one to have, also has an HDMI port which the normal one doesn't have.

Still loving BC2 here - fucking awesome online - tense games that reward teamwork over personal KDR.

Nice one - that's the route I'm going down, doubt I've got the time to divert to getting *really* into games like I used to, but would like to have a go at GTA IV, Forza, Tekken 6 et al...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on May 24, 2010, 12:28:54 pm
Anyone got Red Dead Redemption yet?

The Observer's film critic Philip French (aged 74) was raving about it yesterday and the Amazon reviews are all glowing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on May 24, 2010, 12:57:00 pm

It's basically GTA re-skinned so I don't think I'll bother. A GTA re-skin isn't a bad thing, I'm just a bit bored by GTA, even if it is set in the Wild West!

Still playing BC2 a lot, and the upcoming Onslaught Mode (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/battlefield-bad-company-2-onslaught-hands-on) sounds good fun so that'll keep me busy for a while.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 24, 2010, 01:48:12 pm
RDR does sound pretty amazing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/may/09/red-dead-redemption (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/may/09/red-dead-redemption)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on May 24, 2010, 01:53:03 pm

Yes, but be aware that it is identical to GTA, just re-skinned to a Western theme instead of urban gangsters. Underneath it is the same game engine.

So if you didn't like GTA, it's unlikely that you'll like RDR unless you're some Western freak or something :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on May 24, 2010, 11:57:49 pm
I picked RDR for the PS3 the other day and I've gotta say that I love it.
Theres something great about just pegging it around on your horse, and exploring the countryside and its the first the first game thats ever actually made me feel bad about my actions (apart from the Hercules face smashing bit in GOW3).  I like the way the honour system works and how past actions come back to haunt you later on.

The graphics and sound are fantastic and there is just so much depth to the game, with so many things you can do depending on what you feel like- even if you just want to play poker for hours you can. I like the combat system which which is is kind of Gears of Waresque in its cover based shooting and its easy to pick up.  Theres nothing like riding into town with your first 'live' bounty after a big shoot out with his boys and you've lassoed and hog tied him and chucked him on your horse. Defo my fav game in a long time and well worth the spend.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bowie on June 11, 2010, 01:26:00 pm
been having massive amounts of childish fun with RPG and danger close on the new (resurgence?) levels released last week for MW2. more variety than the previous upgrade between the maps - trailer park in particular is good fun. there's a classic 'doom' style corridors one as well which is v frantic.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on July 09, 2010, 05:54:36 pm
Having had a drunken gaming session at a mate's place last week, I got myself Blur last weekend...excellent driving game.

It's in no way as in-depth as Turismo, think more Need For Speed crossed with Wipeout. You basically compete in a bunch of races in various cars, but with powerups in the ilk of the aforementioned Wipeout - rockets, mines, boost etc etc.

It's great fun, definitely works as a pick up and play arcade racer - looking forward to getting some mates round for multiplayer races soon.
 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dr T on July 09, 2010, 06:43:32 pm
Am currently tearing my hair out playing Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hatsworth_in_the_Puzzling_Adventure)
a very old school platform outing
not sure if I'm enjoying it as such but it certainly is a challenge
anyone else played it?
if not it's a real recomendation for those who like simple platforms  (and tetris)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on August 21, 2010, 05:10:15 pm

PS3 Cracked? (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-hackers-may-have-broken-ps3-security)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on August 21, 2010, 06:59:53 pm

PS3 Cracked? (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-hackers-may-have-broken-ps3-security)

Lose the question mark and click on the linked article 'Digital Foundry vs. PSJailbreak'.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on August 22, 2010, 08:21:17 pm
Digital Foundry vs. PSJailbreak' (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-vs-psjailbreak-article).

I expect Sony will release something to block this or kick hacked machines of their network(s) at the very least.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on August 23, 2010, 11:05:22 am
Initial reports that they can detect usage (http://www.reghardware.com/2010/08/23/ps3_mod_chip_psn_band/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 14, 2010, 12:20:37 pm

Well Reach is in my 360 - hope it's better than the (rather iffy imho) beta.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 14, 2010, 01:29:42 pm

Well Reach is in my 360 - hope it's better than the (rather iffy imho) beta.

I await your response and I'm wondering if a trade in of BC2 and MW2 both of which don't get that much attention these days might just cover it?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 14, 2010, 01:32:13 pm
£35 at Sainsburys word.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on September 14, 2010, 07:30:25 pm
any thoughts on the next MW?

I've seen the stuff all over the web... seems more balanced... basically same engine...

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 14, 2010, 09:12:45 pm
any thoughts on the next MW?

I've seen the stuff all over the web... seems more balanced... basically same engine...

All I know is its going to cost me when I trade it in  ;D, I definitely settled into BC2 more than MW2 in the end but then again I end up enjoying online stuff more than campaign mode.

First impressions of Halo Reach are a bit mixed.

Visually great
Horde mode equivalent is good (would be better in a group online but currently the servers are down).
MP maps are a bit uninspired
Weapons seem good (the pistol coming back into play more like the original)
Jetpacks - Hmmm
Being able to customize your spartan; Monetizing gimmick. Why on earth would you want to pay for a game, pay for an online subscription and then (if you don't have enough points) pay for a virtual helmet for your spartan?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 15, 2010, 12:16:32 am
I agree with Paul for the most part.

It looks great however the campaign is quite short and certainly not groundbreaking.
The spartan AI is terrible - The don't seem capable of killing anything.
The sound isn't that impressive- its good but none of the weapons have the kind of 'oomph' like in say GOW2.
There are loads of weapons - I loved the 'Hammer of Dawn' copy laser pointer thing for calling an airstrike.
I really like the abilites things too - Jetpacks included.
Firefight is great - I always loved Horde and never played this before as I didn't bother with ODST.
Some many modes - You really can choose exactly what you want to play.
I really like the customisable armour thing. It doesn't cost you Microsoft Points - Just credits earnt playing MP.

I can see myself playing this for a long time. Or at least April next year when GOW3 comes out.

 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on September 15, 2010, 12:51:13 am
I'm pretty sure it does once your credits run out. Now I see they keep going up as I play more but this will plateau I expect.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 04, 2010, 09:09:44 pm
Got sucked into Starcraft II. Pretty standard sci-fi RTS with generic story, but seems very polished and detailed. I'm enjoying it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 05, 2010, 06:14:12 pm
this is looking good.

less manic and more balanced than mw2, with some bc2 influences


havnt yet seen the bonuses you get for *taking the hill* / objectives... I think they will have to be highly incentivising... as your kill ratio obviously goes down the shitter if you arnt careful.

I'm gonna get this

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGy2_bC6f0&NR=1&feature=fvwp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGy2_bC6f0&NR=1&feature=fvwp#ws)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 07, 2010, 08:14:44 pm
Left 4 Dead 2 'The Sacrifice' Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfAndzsCmI#ws)

Been playing this. Awesome free download for the awesome Left 4 Dead 2. The game that just keeps on giving...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 16, 2010, 04:56:53 pm
Got me some doubts on medal of honour:

- single player very good, as in new environments, good story... though as always too short. It's better than MW2 single player for sure.

- all single fps these days are the warm up for the main event: online, and it aint got me hooked....

why?

well, it's a bit like battlefield, but there is a fair bit of randomness a la mw2 ( kilstreak rewards basically, which I have failed to get 1 in 3 hrs online !!).. and its too hard to see.. and the spawn sites can be covered by a sniper... and there's no killcam. killcams have their faults... but if you can cover the spawn sites then you should be revealed IMO.

example.... snow level...I spawn 6 times in a row to die in less then 1 second... by the same guy... who then gets the points to motor attack the site.

i aint good, but the game is not all I wanted it to be....

I'll hoping for the balanced version of mw2 ( black ops) to impress..

AND

coz of the EA code thingie you put in I dont think you can rent it on console to see if you would by it.. as you cant get online!!

all in all, not recommended.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Paul B on October 16, 2010, 07:08:08 pm
It can't be as bad as Halo Reach, I played a ridiculous amount of Halo 3 online so when this came out I dutifully traded in BC2 and MW2 expecting them never to enter the machine again. That was clearly a f*ck up.

SWAT is the main redeeming factor, the single player is just not that interesting.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 16, 2010, 07:47:30 pm
There is a redeeming factor.

The tier 1 mode.

Online, campaign. One life, timed for medals and global scorecard.

Single player is anti USA, interesting and tense in parts.

Mulitplayer is not for me. Me2 with no killstreaks is better.

Let's hope the radio controlled buggy with c4 on it ( really) doesn't piss me off too much
On the new MW!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on October 17, 2010, 10:41:13 pm
I can't believe this has been put back til Nov next year (fuck you Microsoft!)
At least it gives Epic a chance to not fuck up the multiplayer again.

And this time round we're getting a beta! Yay!
Plus dedicated servers, speeded up character movement and host migration finally.

Can't wait!

Gears of War 3 Multiplayer gameplay + Developer Interview (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b84V4RkPwNM#ws)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on November 08, 2010, 01:51:03 pm
Has anyone got or played either 360 kinect or Playstation move ?
I've read mixed reviews of both systems.
The kinect appears to need a lot of space and have some lag issues
The move is apparently very accurate but doesn't have any decent games to go with it yet

Its really for family gaming
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 08, 2010, 03:02:11 pm

Its really for family gaming

Get a Wii.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on November 08, 2010, 03:06:07 pm

Its really for family gaming

Get a Wii.

Got a Wii. Just wondered how much better/different the new systems are
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 08, 2010, 03:11:15 pm
I'd hold off until they've been out for a while so that any niggles have been sorted and some decent games have been written for them.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on November 08, 2010, 03:33:17 pm
yeah that's probably a good idea
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 08, 2010, 03:40:02 pm
At least wait for that window beween start of post Xmas sales and VAT going up!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2010, 10:05:07 am
Games games games.

Am dabbling - very ineptly - in Starcraft2 multiplayer. Id is: Shambler , number: 946
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on November 09, 2010, 11:55:33 am
my copy of Black Ops is waiting for me, mrs fatdcoc making a delightful supper of sausage cassoulet, gonna get me some cold beers, and the telly is booked all evening.

 ;D

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on November 09, 2010, 12:54:19 pm
my copy of Black Ops is waiting for me, mrs fatdcoc making a delightful supper of sausage cassoulet, gonna get me some cold beers, and the telly is booked all evening.

 ;D

When you get bored you can check out the Arcade mode "easter egg" (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-11/09/call-of-duty-secret-mode).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 09, 2010, 01:00:58 pm
Shame but it sounds exactly the same as MW2 - corridored single player, same multiplayer. I guess why would they mess with a successful formula? I'll stick with Reach for now. 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wipey Why on November 09, 2010, 06:56:44 pm
I have played it a bit and it is quite good. Much like MW2 but I really enjoyed that and was playing it up until last week
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on November 09, 2010, 10:49:54 pm
Initial 5 levels say better than MW2.

More balanced, less helo kills randomly.. More skill.

Clearer graphics.

Seems fair And fun
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 10, 2010, 02:45:08 am
I recently picked up this pairing as an upgrade to my old Turtle Beach X4s as I got sick of having to swap the cables between the 360 and PS3 (and have then have no chat on the PS3) - I wanted something universal. While not wireless anymore (which I didn't really need) its an upgrade to Dolby 7.1 (from 5.1) although I can't really tell the difference.

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/ps3-gaming-headsets/ear-force-dpx21.aspx# (http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/ps3-gaming-headsets/ear-force-dpx21.aspx#)

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/audio-processors/ear-force-dss.aspx# (http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/audio-processors/ear-force-dss.aspx#)

The sound quality is phenomneal at a decent price and anyone who plays Reach, COD, MW, GOW etc competitively should consider getting a good headset like this. You really can hear where people are by footsets, reloading, where shot come from etc and it seems a pretty good advantage - No fucker sneaks up on me anymore!

You can also use them on a PC and IPods, portable DVD's etc. Well recommended.
 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on December 01, 2010, 09:57:26 pm
Has anyone got or played either 360 kinect or Playstation move ?
This stub article (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827892.300-the-kinect-revolution.html) hints of great potential for Kinect
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on December 01, 2010, 10:15:01 pm
Interesting point re getting the hard/software into the home rather than just a game sell.
Must admit I hadn't thought of that
Im still undecided if I should go for one though :-\
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on December 02, 2010, 12:00:55 am
As mentioned in the article Xbox Kinect has already been hacked to work (rudimentarily, but improving) under linux (http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2010/11/10/we-have-a-winner-open-kinect-drivers-released-winner-will-use-3k-for-more-hacking-plus-an-additional-2k-goes-to-the-eff/) (the guy didn't even own an X-box  :lol:).  Subsequent development of the driver is ongoing here (http://groups.google.com/group/openkinect/?pli=1).

Guess its likely a case of time till someone hacks the ps3 move in a similar manner.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on December 02, 2010, 02:39:40 am
Finally get to blow the dust off the Wii after picking up my copy of this today:

http://au.ign.com/videos/2010/11/19/donkey-kong-country-returns-video-review (http://au.ign.com/videos/2010/11/19/donkey-kong-country-returns-video-review)

Looking forward to some retro-platforming fun. :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on January 13, 2011, 12:36:21 pm
Anyone got GT5 ?
If so would you care to share your thoughts on it ?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on January 13, 2011, 02:42:17 pm
Just downloaded The Orange Box. Best value for money on anything I think I've ever seen!
Half Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2, Team Fortress 2 AND Portal for next to f all.

Anybody want to play Team Fortress 2?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 13, 2011, 02:50:08 pm
How was NZland Will?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 13, 2011, 03:56:02 pm
Anyone got GT5 ?
If so would you care to share your thoughts on it ?

I have it and really like it. But then I am not really a driving game aficionado, so possibly don't know the pros and cons of various titles.

However here we go. It seems very realistic, the handling of cars changes a lot between models. Not an arcade racer at all. Some powerful cars are seriously twitchy, but very satisfying when you nail a corner at full tilt. I like the career mode, since it forces you to race a variety of models and not just your typical sports cars. Career mode starts off quite easy, but quickly gets quite challenging. It gets very tense, when you are on the last race of a difficult championship and you know one errant corner and you will lose the whole things, which i really like (unless i crash of course). Graphics are superb. Sound is very good. I like the ability to customise cars. We took a really rubbish and tiny daihatsu pick up and maxed all the setting on it (expensive) and raced american muscle pickup trucks. Great fun.

Couple of cons: 1. The menu layout in career mode is weird, but doesn't affect the playability. 2. The cars don't really get damaged, which is a bit of a flaw since you can rage into other cars and walls to take the lead, but once the races get harder this doesn't help anyway. 3. The custom track constructor is really odd. One slight change of settings and the shape of the whole track changes. But then you have enough tracks to race without needing to make new ones.

Overall, i think it is a great game. But i haven't really played many of the competitors. Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on January 13, 2011, 04:05:32 pm
OK cheers for that.
Did you play the first one ? - I thought that was great not only for the great (at the time) graphics,sound, sheer number of cars, but the way that the game was balanced and got you to think that you could win if you had just one more go.
The second and third didn't do that as they'd changed the AI for the CPU cars so you could never really get away and one mistake would prove too costly.
 

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 13, 2011, 04:14:39 pm
OK cheers for that.
Did you play the first one ? - I thought that was great not only for the great (at the time) graphics,sound, sheer number of cars, but the way that the game was balanced and got you to think that you could win if you had just one more go.
The second and third didn't do that as they'd changed the AI for the CPU cars so you could never really get away and one mistake would prove too costly.
 

I played the first one a few times at friend's houses, but never owned it, so can't really comment on the similarities.

There are still loads of cars to drive, ranging from old school classics, to supercars, racecars and bog-standard family estates.

The career mode is good for the 'one more go and i'll win that race' since you tend to require a certain type of car for the race, say a 70's japanese car. So you go to the 2nd hand garage, buy one that fits the bill (sometimes it can be hard to find one) try it out and realise is needs serious turbo/intake/exhaust adjustments to win. You race it again and now it has the power, but is sliding all over the place, so you go back to the garage and change the tyres and suspension. Now you have a winning machine, but it will probably still be close. The real challenge is to make a car a winner without squandering your hard earned race winnings. And certainly it isn't all over if you overcook the occasional corner. However once they get ahead it can be tough to catch them.

Haha, after all this i think i'll go home and have a few races.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on January 15, 2011, 01:10:15 pm
How was NZland Will?

[:off:]

Excellent thanks. Fieldwork was very successful and it was great fun doing it. A beautiful and dramatic country full of contrasts of which I only saw a small portion. I'll be back!

[/ :off:]
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on February 01, 2011, 10:48:11 pm
Dead Space 2 (http://reviews) is a lot of fun.

Survival horror 3rd person shooter.

* Though I've linked to the 360 page, it's also available on PC & PS3.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on February 01, 2011, 11:42:33 pm
Dead Space 2 (http://reviews) is a lot of fun.

Survival horror 3rd person shooter.

* Though I've linked to the 360 page, it's also available on PC & PS3.

Just started playing Dead Space, and its good so far, but I can't stand the over-the-shoulder point of view, much prefer first-person-perspective (and you can't fucking invert the look up/down :furious:).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on February 01, 2011, 11:53:23 pm
Dead Space 2 (http://reviews) is a lot of fun.

Yeah its great - much better than the first. Multiplayer isn't up to much but then I didn't really expect it would be as thats not what Dead Space is about.

Been playing the demo of Bulletstorm a bit and really like it for silly FPS blasting fun. Got the Epic Edition pre-ordered to make sure I get my code for guaranteed access to the Gears of War 3 beta!!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 23, 2011, 06:39:34 am
I popped in to Game yesterday and had a play on a 3ds.

I was surprised at how "instant" the 3D effect is. I was expecting to have to stare at the screen for a while until things started to look 3D, but all you have to do is look.

The 3D goes into the screen rather than coming out of it - it's like looking into a diorama made out of cardboard cut outs. I don't know if I was missing something, but all the objects appear to be flat, but in different planes. I suppose I was expecting the objects themselves to look 3D.

I didn't play enough to see how the games used 3D as anything more than a bit of a presentation novelty, but it was pretty cool seeing full colour 3D without any glasses.

Now, if they can make a screen the size of my living room wall and rig it up to something like a PS3 motion sensor then I'd feel like the 21st Century had arrived and wouldn't feel too cheated by the lack of jet packs and mono rails (I'd still like one of those flying surf boards though)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 23, 2011, 08:39:20 am
http://www.futurehorizons.net/hoverboard.htm (http://www.futurehorizons.net/hoverboard.htm)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on March 23, 2011, 08:39:51 am
mono rails

They've got them in the US already

(http://images.wikia.com/simpsons/images/5/59/Springfield_Monorail_2.PNG)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on March 23, 2011, 08:41:47 am
Dead Space 2 (http://reviews) is a lot of fun.

Survival horror 3rd person shooter.

* Though I've linked to the 360 page, it's also available on PC & PS3.

After reading this, I started, and have just finished DS Extraction. Found it great fun, never really enjoyed shooters much,  but none of the others in the series on Wii yet.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 23, 2011, 09:23:15 am
Games games.

Played a few recently:

COD4 : MW - pretty spectacular style but irritatingly cheesy war/weaponry pr0n and annoying gameplay where you always die from grenades. Quite obviously designed to appeal to dickheads, but the way it's put together makes it just about interesting.

Crysis - bloody excellent, the polar opposite of COD4 in having solidly great gameplay that allows you to play properly and explore all the useful options available to you. Looks great and some cool spectacles too.

Bioshock - very good and intriguing. Kinda the opposite of Crysis in style and pace, but shares the same gameplay spirit of giving you lots of cool and useful options. Looks a bit cruder but strong style and atmosphere.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on March 23, 2011, 10:37:37 am
I played Bioshock a month or so ago (well finished playing it a month or so ago), very atmospheric and enjoyable game.  Picked up the sequel at Game (http://www.game.co.uk/PS3/Shooter/First-Person/~r340217/Bioshock-2/) for a couple of fuck-alls (currently out of stock though).

Currently playing Dead Space (not keen on the over-the-shoulder POV) and Ratchet & Clank : A Crack in Time (childish fun, but reminds me of Dizzy (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Dizzy_%28series%29)).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 23, 2011, 05:35:33 pm
Yeah I got BS2 for a fuck all and a half. Got other things to try first tho. Also picked up DS a while back but have heard that both it and DS2 don't allow full key rebinding, apparently DS2 might be patched for it so will just get that I reckon...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on April 01, 2011, 10:22:32 am
Crysis - bloody excellent, the polar opposite of COD4 in having solidly great gameplay that allows you to play properly and explore all the useful options available to you. Looks great and some cool spectacles too.

If this is Crysis2 then I agree, yes it's great.  The campaign mode is really absorbing and the gameplay is great. Not touched the multiplayer options yet.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on April 01, 2011, 10:26:35 am
The "be the weapon" tagline amuses me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on April 01, 2011, 10:52:05 am
I've been playing Crysis 2 on the xbox for a while and for me the jury is still out. The AI is some of the worst I've experiened with enemies just standing around, running in circles, and failing to react to things happening right in front of them. Its quite distracting and I'd expect more from a AAA title. Its also very slow to start - I hope it gets better, otherwise I can't see myself playing it after the Gears 3 beta begins on 18 April. Plus I fucking hate guns with ironsights.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on April 04, 2011, 10:28:14 am
I'm only two hours into crysis 2.

atmosphere = brilliant.

lighting =  astounding.

only just got to the aliens... thank god I found that shotgun.

AI seems thick one minute, then sees you v easily the next. yet to work out how to be more effective. I'm using the stealth a lot.

Think i'm near an important bit...

It's not Deus EX, but it's good.

the story mix of I am legend / 28 days later / robocop is fucking cool.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on April 19, 2011, 12:03:19 am
Been playing the Gears of War 3 beta since last nite - It's fucking amazing! Zero lag (dedicated servers), super fast, beautiful graphics and many cool new touches. Probably the best multiplayer I've ever been on. Only runs til 15th May and only way to get in now is to pre-order the full game at a participating games store or get hold of a new copy of Bulletstorm Epic Edition.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on April 19, 2011, 08:53:07 am
Bulletstorm always amuses me, I wonder if it's a nod towards Bonestorm in the old Simpsons episode?

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/5888 (http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/5888)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 26, 2011, 08:19:31 pm
Been on a semi-retro tip playing Far Cry 2, aka That African FPS Game that is definitely not a sequel to Far Cry in any shape nor form especially not developers, engine, spirit, characters, protagonist, enemies, weapons, settings, theme or goddamn anything.

Anyway, I like the following things about it:

+ Looks great in almost all ways.
+ Setting (including characters and scenery) is refreshing.
+ Atmosphere is strong and holistic and enhances setting (including music and weather).
+ Gameplay works adequately well.
+ Plentiful gameplay touches (vehicles, collisions, buddy rescues, wound healing, diamond finding, weapon degradation) enhance the gameplay rather than detract.
+ Blowing things up is very cool.

Things I don't like:
- Too many Caucasians.
- Can't take multiple missions at once.
- Takes a while to get places.
- Too much jungle not enough desert.
- Fighting enemies in foliage is annoying.
- Despite being Africa it's not bloody bright enough.
- I keep forgetting to save.

Overall I'm really rather liking it. The pros are all stronger than the cons and it seems well worth the 0.4 fuck alls. (http://"http://www.amazon.co.uk/UBI-Soft-Far-Cry-PC/dp/B0010DX5L2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1306437418&sr=8-4")
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on May 27, 2011, 09:03:27 am
Randomly. has anyone completed The Conduit? Is it just me or does it get seriously fucking hard all of a sudden when you have to get into the monumnet by the river? Made good progress up to this point and then totally shut down.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on May 27, 2011, 08:37:17 pm
I had a really good spell before Easter and got quite a way through but can't seem to play now as I'm on a really tough stage but have lost the reflexes and the knowledge so just keep getting killed. 

Got a copy of LA Noire but fear its just good looking linear button mashing...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on May 28, 2011, 10:24:22 am
After I wrote that I went back on to Crysis and just walked through that stage I was struggling with  without firing a weapon.  Chris, i reckon there are times when it's better to stealth your way through it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on May 28, 2011, 07:10:38 pm
I tried stealthing it, picking them off with a sniper rifle, but they just keep coming through the portals and you get nowhere unless you get in and destroy the portals
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 16, 2011, 12:17:16 pm
Finished Far Cry 2, was good for reasons mentioned above, but not great cos it was too long and not varied enough.

Started Dead Space 2 (with the essential remapping control patch to fix the broken initial release), it's Doom 3 with better monsters and atmosphere but cumbersome over-the-shoulder perspective and annoyingly counter-intuitive controls. Very good in some ways but I wish I was fighting the monsters more than the auto-aim/run/use/weapon-change control problems.

Also started Bulletstorm (after 30 minutes fucking around with Games For Windows Live just to get started), it's Painkiller with less stupid horde combat and more stupid gungho OTTness. It looks very cool, easy to control and pretty fun. A good contrast.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on August 17, 2011, 09:56:34 am
Sony announces PS3 price cut and new stripped down, cheaper PSP:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/aug/16/sony-announces-playstation-price-cuts (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/aug/16/sony-announces-playstation-price-cuts)

Intrigued but the cut-down PSP, I used to have one and really loved it - until some lowlife nicked it out of my bag in a boozer in East London. Might get me one of the new ones, was great for gaming when travelling / on holidays etc.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on August 17, 2011, 01:08:23 pm
New ones don't have WiFi (according the RegHardware (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/08/17/sony_to_launch_budget_psp/)).

Which led me to this report (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/08/09/ps3_controller_gets_android_support/) of an Android app that allows you to use your phone as a Six-axis controller (for £1.03, although it sounds a bit flakey)!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on August 17, 2011, 01:20:04 pm
Sony also announce Playstation (3D) TV (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/08/17/sony_prices_up_playstation_telly/).

(Shouldn't this thread by in Computers, technology and the internet (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/board,26.0.html) sub-forum?).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on August 17, 2011, 01:46:38 pm
Depends on your view of gaming "culture" or if the term is an oxymoron.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on August 17, 2011, 02:19:23 pm
 :-\  Well there is certainly a "gaming culture", I guess whether that is considered "cultured" is the crux.  Bothers me not, its just I went looking for this thread in the Computing section.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 17, 2011, 07:27:54 pm
Gaming is an interactive media art form  :yes:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on August 23, 2011, 08:17:58 am
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/online_gaming (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/online_gaming)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 23, 2011, 02:48:59 pm
 :lol:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 24, 2011, 01:32:35 pm
ASSNOOB GAYNOOBERS NOOBLE GAYGAY  :clap2:

In Squeek's honour I've been playing plenty of games recently, mostly Bulletstorm and Dead Space 2 in addition to SC2 and watching my geek girl play Mass Effect until she can't see straight.  :2thumbsup: :icon_beerchug:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fatboy on August 24, 2011, 01:56:04 pm
Hilarimoose!!

In other news I am so psyched for the imminent release of Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge (http://rugbychallengegame.com/)!
There is no confirmed release date for Europe yet but the Aussie and NZ editions are being released next week and the following week respectively, so I reckon it will be maybe the week after for us over in this part of the world.

The are some great videos over on the developers YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/sidhenz?blend=9&ob=5).
There is an 'official' rugby world cup game (RWC 2011 (http://rwc2011game.com/england/)) about to be released but is just a rehash using an old engine and having played the demo is cack after 5 minutes.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: superfurrymonkey on August 27, 2011, 10:46:57 pm
This is amazing. Wonderputt a very original online putting game http://www.kongregate.com/games/dampgnat/wonderputt (http://www.kongregate.com/games/dampgnat/wonderputt)  :clap2:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 03, 2011, 10:36:49 pm
 Deus X.

very inspiring world to lose yourself into. 2 of us playing it in the house... so many different paths.. few convergancies... varied zero frustration game play.. hard.. very hard... sucks you in.. the multiple influences of the old game still there.. with added global media control over society and the wealth gap regarding medicine and your chances for passing your DNA on to the next generation across all societies deepening being a new feature...

stealth, big guns & intelligence all play a big conscious part in the game.

a true 2011 video game.. no FPS arcade shooter.. you wake up thinking how you could have done better..


a must for all, on all platforms. this is what we play single player video games for.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on October 04, 2011, 11:41:31 pm
I've been playing Dead Island on the 360 for a while and with installation and the recent patch, many of the launch problems are fixed. Great co-op and lots of fun plus all the gore you could want. A fair bit of RPG type stuff so kinda like Fallout but with zombies. I enjoy the fact that there aren't many guns (even when you get them they're only really good on humans) and although the fps melee combat can be a hit-or-miss (geddit), once you've got it dialled its pretty intuitive.

But.... Dead Island got booted for the mighty Gears of War 3 which I've gotta say is fucking awesome. Excellent campaign and they finally got the multiplayer right. No lag, good weapon balance and fun maps. Plus horde has been upgraded with the tower defence style elements. I can't see this leaving the tray for a long time........
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: miso soup on October 05, 2011, 08:59:49 pm
I always go back to Dirt 2 sooner or later.  One of the best games ever.  Looking forward to Dirt 3 but I don't buy games until they're in the 2 for 20 pound section at Blockbuster.  Been playing Battlefield 1943 a lot recently but only if my mates are on, Dirt 2 is the only game I ever play online with randoms.  Crysis 2 was a bit crap I thought, was quite nice in terms of atmosphere and stuff but not enough to make up for it being a very bog standard first person shooter.  Far Cry 2 I also thought was good but a little short of great.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 06, 2011, 09:30:29 pm
Just finished Bulletstorm, Singularity and Dead Space 2 in quick succession...

Just ordered RAGE, Space Marine and Crysis 2...

Waiting for Deus Ex HR, Dead Island and Alice Madness Returns to drop in price a bit...
Pretty good time to be a PC action gamer  :bounce:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: BB on October 07, 2011, 02:34:01 am
Pretty good time to be a PC action gamer  :bounce:

...and a shut-in!  ;)

"MOM! I NEED MORE HOT POCKETS!"
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 07, 2011, 10:00:49 am
LOL, not sure what a shut-in is but the weather does a damn good job of shutting us in up here. Okay it's glorious today....and then pissing down all weekend. I need my shooter games!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 12, 2011, 10:28:43 pm
RAAAAAAAGE!

The racing bits are utterly awful. The driving inbetween missions is pointless.

The rest of it rocks. Gameplay is solid, albeit in a modern duck and shoot FPS way rather than a classic visceral ID way. The vibe of the wasteland is pretty cool - helped in part by the graphics and scenery being awesome. Ambient sounds work nicely with it too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 25, 2011, 10:26:55 pm
Finished Rage. It was very cool apart from the last mission which was rushed and characterless. I really wanted more of the rest of it. The looks and atmosphere are stunning and the gameplay is fun. I got used to the driving bits in the end, it's mainly the first obligatory race track that is utterly awful.

As a contrast, and while waiting for DX3:HR, I dabbled in the original Gears Of War as some simple shooter action to pass the time. It is a very interesting experience considering how this was lauded as such a classic game....

Pros:
+ It looks pretty cool for the time, still looks good today.
+ The squad system works pretty well.
+ Flanking enemies is quite fun.

Cons:
- Everything is in a shade of grey.
- Squad members are generally stupid and go down easily.
- You can revive them but can't be revived yourself.
- The checkpoints are sometimes badly spaced and there is no manual save.
- Some checkpoints are right as unskippable cutscenes start, forcing tedious reviews.
- Unskippable intro clips/logos.
- Far too many cutscenes, all the bloody time and spoiling immersion.
- The characters and dialogue are completely awful.
- Both your squad and the enemy models have irritatingly juvenile proportions.
- Picking up items is slow and tedious.
- The blood is daft cartoonised nonsense.
- There is no context for how it starts.
- The health indicator is in possibly the worst position ever, right where it gets completely obscured by gunfire and right where you're trying to look through the hud.
- The enemy look almost identical to your squad members (and have little character regardless).
- The gameplay is super-repetitive.
- The cover fighting is very artificial with concrete shit everywhere.
- The shotgun is completely useless given the gameplay when you get it.
- Running controls are awful: lag before running, change in perspective, awful lack of turning, awful headbob.
- Can't vault/mantle obstacles without going into cover briefly first.

Basically it's striking me as a clear and objective bad game. How was it ever popular again??

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 26, 2011, 10:51:05 am
I'm thinking of losing my world....

Elder scrolls anyone??

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 26, 2011, 11:16:27 am
"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" E3 Gameplay Demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic6dKnv3WdU#ws)

Looks okay ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Big Dave on November 03, 2011, 12:58:30 pm
GTA 5 trailer now out!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/nov/02/gta-v-trailer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/nov/02/gta-v-trailer)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wipey Why on November 03, 2011, 01:07:25 pm
I have been enjoying the new Forza. If you are into cars it is definitely worth a look.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 03, 2011, 05:53:40 pm
But no Porsche :(

Reckon GTA V will be an essential purchase.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wipey Why on November 08, 2011, 01:32:28 pm
Has anyone picked up Modern Warfare? I have read some reviews and it is tempting me into buying the game and renewing my Xbox live subscription.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 09, 2011, 09:39:56 am

Not bothering with MW3 - sounds very similar indeed to MW2 (no shit!) and I didn't think that MW2 was that good. 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Plattsy on November 09, 2011, 10:05:18 am
Word from my fanatical gamer colleague is it isn't as good as he expected. Graphics haven't moved on, if at all. Nowhere near as good as Battlefield3.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2011, 11:27:35 am
The critically acclaimed COD4/MW1 was enough to put my off that series for life. Stylish and refined yes, but daft, incoherent, and totally on-rails war/weaponry pr0n for teenagers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on November 09, 2011, 11:47:01 am

Agree the COD campaign has always been way too corridored but my complaint is the uncompetitive multiplayer. 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on November 09, 2011, 09:46:10 pm
I'm on to Dark Souls at the moment. Amazing game but utterly punishing with a difficulty level to make most people destroy the controller and trade in the game within the first hour. However, once you persevere tho it gets so much better. No button mashing, much strategy, and ALOT of patience make this a very 'adult' game and its certainly not for everyone (esp anyone looking for a fun time!)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on November 09, 2011, 09:56:21 pm
i too will not be selling my soul to mw3... even if the killstreaks are corrected to be gunfire only.....

i am however now resigned to spending the winter months trying to take on the powers of dragons...

I'm going elder scrolls skyrim on 11/11/11

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2011, 10:06:50 pm
I think you have a good point there fatty. Never played Morrowind nor Oblivion and don't give a bawbag about the background but Skyrimming does look rather cool....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 15, 2011, 12:34:00 pm
Interesting article here about the internet backlash against MW3 and game reviews in general:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/nov/10/modern-warfare-3-internet-hatred (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2011/nov/10/modern-warfare-3-internet-hatred)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: joeisidle on November 15, 2011, 01:24:57 pm
I'm sure lots of people on this thread are probably already familiar with them but these sites have some great video game reviews/discussions that are actually quite entertainingly presented;

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation)
(funny if overly critical ranting mixed in with the odd solid gold recommendation)

http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/show/extra-credits (http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/show/extra-credits)
(a more in depth discussion about the state of gaming as a whole, very nerdy but fascinating stuff if you're that way inclined)

http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/3/ (http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/3/)
(the quick look videos on here are brilliant; two or more people sit down and play through different parts of a game for about 45 minutes or so, talking about their impressions of it. It's way more informative than most reviews I've seen and is a real help for anyone on a limited budget trying to work out which of the latest rush of Christmas releases to buy)


Also, Skyrim looks utterly epic
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Falling Down on November 15, 2011, 02:09:18 pm
I got Skyrim on Sunday and first impressions are very positive although I've only played about four hoursn and barely got started.  Its certainly a big step forward from Oblivion in all areas.  I'm finding the interface much more intuitive and the combat is miles better.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on November 15, 2011, 03:32:01 pm
I agree.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2011, 10:26:29 am
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378861_282969828407863_100000845457191_832329_940190825_n.jpg)

14 hours in, I'm liking it, but...

<Fiend> yes
<Fiend> don't play skyrim
<Fiend> its the most generic and pointless bag of shit i've seen
<Fiend> just about the only redeeming feature is the dragons are kinda impressive, but then you have to kill them rather than befriend them and lead a massive dragon army to fuck the shit out of all the tedious human twats
<Fiend> i do like it
<Fiend> and it's a good game
<Fiend> but also shit at the same time
<Fiend> it's the definitive fantasy RPG etc etc.....and all that entails
<Fiend> if i hadn't played gothic 3 and guild wars i might be impressed with it

 :blink:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fried on November 23, 2011, 11:29:25 am
I've decided as part of my current midlife crisis that I need a games console.

Wii looks like it doesn't have so much software.

PS3 looks expensive.

and the Xbox?

I'd like a descent driving game, some teenage weapon po rn. I don't want to play on-line, just while away some foggy Sunday winter afternoons.

My last console was PS2. Although I do own a DS.

Any suggestions for consoles and essential games?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on November 23, 2011, 11:44:37 am
I plumped for a PS3 as its an excellent blu-ray player and will also act as a uPnP/DLNA client on the home network (allowing me to view/listen to all music/video/films that are on my comptuer/NAS/wife's laptop/visitor's laptops).  It also appealed as at the time I could install GNU/Linux on it, but a year or so later some wanker at Sony decided to remove that feature as part of a firmware "update", tossers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: mr__j5 on November 23, 2011, 12:29:31 pm
I plumped for a PS3 as its an excellent blu-ray player and will also act as a uPnP/DLNA client on the home network (allowing me to view/listen to all music/video/films that are on my comptuer/NAS/wife's laptop/visitor's laptops).

Xbox is a uPnP Media Client too.
I have used it connect to the windows software that Sony used to recommend for media streaming to PS3 (can't remember its name). But if you have vista or newer then it will just connect to your windows media player shared content.


I don't have a PS3 but the differences between the 2 consoles for a normal games player are pretty small. The majority of titles are available on both, so it really only matters if you want a specific game such as Forza or Gran Torismo.

One thing that puts me off PS3 is I hear that to play many games you have to install them on to the HDD which can take over an hour in some cases, because BluRay aint that great at that kind of thing. On Xbox just chunk in the disc and play, but you can install it to HDD if you want to speed up load times.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on November 23, 2011, 12:36:08 pm
I don't play masses of games (probably got about eight titles in total), but haven't had to install any of them.  But that obviously shouldn't be generalised beyond my sample and I'm sure others will know more/have different experiences.

Does Xbox play blu-ray discs?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fried on November 23, 2011, 12:38:48 pm
Excuse my ignorance, but if I were able to play films from my computer would a games console be able to read subtitle files. At the moment I have to watch subtitled films on my PC because my 'freebox' doesn't support them.

That would be really useful. I was still thinking that games consoles were just for playing games...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on November 23, 2011, 12:41:35 pm
I use Handbrake (http://handbrake.fr/) and for subtitled films I've found I have to opt to force them to be burned into the film (which is actually fine as for foreign language films I'm never going to watch them without and for those with a smattering of foreign languages/subtitles they're only there when they would be anyway).

Opting to have them encoded and toggle when playing back when copied onto the PS3 never worked, and I expect you'd have even less luck turning them on/off when streaming over a home network.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wipey Why on November 23, 2011, 12:47:06 pm
Does Xbox play blu-ray discs?

I think the new Xbox plays HD DVDs. On the old one you had to buy an additional thingy for it.

the differences between the 2 consoles for a normal games player are pretty small. The majority of titles are available on both, so it really only matters if you want a specific game such as Forza or Gran Torismo.

 :agree: The only thing I would add to this is that the PS3 controller is more conducive to playing beat-em ups but the Xbox controller is better for shooting games.  They are about the same for driving games.

If you do buy one I would recommend looking at a second hand one from Gamestation. Much cheaper and you still get a warranty so if it dies just take it back and they'll replace it with another one.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fried on November 23, 2011, 01:06:11 pm
I use Handbrake (http://handbrake.fr/)

I'll check that out when i'm at home, it's blocked at work.

Thanks for all the other stuff, it'll give me something to think about this afternoon.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 03, 2011, 12:52:17 am
Massive nerd alert!

Terraria (http://www.terraria.org/) has just had a major patch released with tons of new content.

This game definitely won't appeal to everyone, but if you like your old school 2d platformers and also more than a touch of RPG/Adventure gaming it is worth a punt. Very similar to Minecraft in basic idea (except 2d), but with lots more baddies/treasure/fighting. Oddly addictive, for me anyway.

Nerd alert over!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 29, 2011, 11:58:35 am
Skyrim...

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385468_306355779402601_100000845457191_898710_287752126_n.jpg)

135 hours / level 58 / 300,000 gold (no stealing / farming / grinding at all) / 150 dungeons cleared / 3000-ish total kills

The awesome (in order):
 
+ Skies are stunning
+ Weather is varied and great
+ Controls are smooth and responsive (with FOV 90)
+ Blackreach, nuff said
+ Dwarven ruins in general
+ Unrelenting Forcing enemies off cliffs
+ Summoned Atronachs are cool and characterful
+ Some rather cool varied dungeons even if it doesn't seem that way at first
+ Dual wielding Legendary Ebony / Daedric weapons w/ dual enchanting 2 x health steal / 1 x fire damage / 1 x stamina steal and watching enemy just melt away
+ Random events that seem to happen in the world.
+ Nordic setting
+ General conviction of setting and NPCs with good variety in their attitudes
+ Mammoths and giants
+ Fast travel very useful

The suckage:

- Was very buggy before the LAA patch and still slows down sometimes
- Not enough variety in enemy and most are pretty generic
- Terrain is strictly previous-generation mediocre compared to skies and effects
- UI is very cumbersome and SLOW
- Very imbalanced early on with unkillable dungeon bosses at lower levels
- IMBA against close combat in general but too easy later on
- Easy to break quite a few quests
- Tiresome having to sell to 10+ different merchants after higher-level dungeons
- Too big really, should have made it a bit tighter and more varied
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on December 29, 2011, 09:07:02 pm
fuckin hell..

have you been on speed and not worked for 6 weeks?????

JESUS

I'M  stoked, gutted and nauseous.

total...

total respect.

BTW as  35 hr noob I basically agree..

I av seen me kids on the other nu years games... I aint losing focus.

just one little spoiler.. did u do the assassin quests..? it seems just too dirty...

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 29, 2011, 09:30:14 pm
Uggggggggggggggh been ill / no climbing / no training / no social life / no life.

Haven't done the Dark Brotherhood shizzle yet, apart from the introductory one where you have to kill the orphanage owner, that was quite funny, little girl happily spouting "Killing one person seems to solve many problems", psycho wee shite. Not really that interested in sneaky thiefy stabby type quests...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on December 29, 2011, 10:16:35 pm
OK.

good.

I too did her in, then avoided their quests and now have the same elven armour rating etc... without that guilt of killing on my consciousness,

stop larfiing u lot... i wake at night about this.

i think i'm gonna be sick.

I think i need some more time off this reality.


hand better... i need some serious board sessions...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 16, 2012, 02:31:25 pm
I've been playing Dead Space on my phone. Pretty amazing to say it's a phone.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on January 16, 2012, 02:46:44 pm
Hmm, need to finish playing that on the PS3, great atmosphere, but not very taken by the over-the-shoulder point-of-view.

Hadn't realised such games were available on Android though.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 16, 2012, 03:01:01 pm
Yup. It's pretty cool.

Dead Space for ANDROID (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKIaygeh8PY#ws)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2012, 03:12:59 pm
I liked DS Extraction, will give that a go. Probably ruin my eyes on the tiny screen.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 16, 2012, 03:22:01 pm
I've only done the first 6 chapters but it works fine on the S2 and the controls are surprisingly easy to get on with on a phone screen. I don't know if this would be the same on a smaller screen.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 31, 2012, 08:56:16 pm
Just completed the main quest in Skyrim and have done pretty much everything else except generic Radiant quests and the Stormcloak/Empire war thing cos I can't be fucked with that. Gonna call it a day until DLC comes out.

185 hours / level 64.9 / 600,000 gold (no stealing / farming / grinding at all) / 200 dungeons cleared / 4000-ish total kills

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: miso soup on March 09, 2012, 02:18:32 am
I Am Alive!

There's climbing in it!  Buildering!  A climbing shop with a climbing wall.  Placing pitons.  You run out of stamina, desperately try to cling on and then plummet to a grisly death just like real life.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 08, 2012, 04:07:07 pm
An important question for any PS3 gamers out there . . . which game next?

The options are (in no particular order):


In general I am pretty open minded about games. I generally like a good story, shooting/fighting and puzzles. For example I loved Red Dead, Mass Effect 2, Uncharted 3, Batman: Arkham Asylum (just finished), GTA IV, Portal 2. On the flip side I though COD4:MW was really boring. Run here, shot that, repeat repeat repeat .  . . (even though it got bummed by critics), Assassin's Creed 2 was good for awhile but got boring and repetitive. I haven't played a real in depth RPG in awhile. I'm intrigued by the current crop but scared of the time commitment. Also I don't really like horror games. 

Thanks for any pointers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on May 09, 2012, 12:23:16 am
An important question for any PS3 gamers out there . . . which game next?

Dark Souls!!

It amazing and definitely the best game I've played in a long, long time (and I hate rpg's). The in-depth hit/block/dodge/parry & riposte fighting system is great and yes - it is a tough game but if you make it through the first couple of hours you'll be hooked. It'll all make sense when you realise that you can't button mash your way through every fight and patience wins the day (because pretty much any enemy can kill you in seconds). Mistakes are punished quickly and the fear of imminent death all the time gives the game a unique feel - the complete opposite to so many other games which make you feel like a badass killing machine all the time. This isn't a 'feell-good' game and not something you'd play to unwind but if you make it through, its a very rewarding experience. My game of the (last) year.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 09, 2012, 08:43:58 am
Cheers for the recommendation. I'd never heard of it, but just watched a couple of reviews. It looks very heavy! But also amazingly good.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Moo on May 28, 2012, 12:41:01 pm
I know it's a bit pointless asking because the series has so badly lost it's way but has anyone had a go with the new ghost recon?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on June 05, 2012, 09:06:07 pm
After having no games console for 10 years I've had a very early mid life crisis and now own an X Box 360. I have the arcade version with no hard drive.

This leaves with no where to save DLC which is now all the rage. I was just wondering if anyone had used a USB stick to save these too and played games from them? The memory Nazi's at Microlog allow no more than a 16 gig stick. I was thinking of a USB 2.0. What do people reckon?

And how do I enter pokes for Double Dragon with no keyboard?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 10, 2012, 11:16:11 am
SYM 026 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR8rsu6T8aQ#ws)

 :o
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 24, 2012, 02:01:11 pm
Borderlands 2 anyone. Pretty ace.  :ninja:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 06, 2013, 03:29:47 pm
Anyone had a play with a WiiU? Price has dropped already.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on March 06, 2013, 03:42:03 pm
Good fun but you have to like the whole "Nintendo thing" in terms of software ATM
Speculation in the trade press that price will drop further so you might want to hold on a bit
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 06, 2013, 04:59:54 pm
Cheers Dolly, yeah I'm not really in any hurry. We don't use the old Wii a lot but think the kids will increasingly want to use it. I like the fact it's backwards compatible with the Wii games we have, also like the idea of Lovefilm streaming in HD, (current Wii only does SD)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 06, 2013, 05:08:57 pm
Just played:

Dishonoured - very cool steampunk action/stealth FPS, good fun.

Still playing:

Skyrim Dragonborn DLC - more of the same but I am addicted.
Starcraft II - esports etc etc.
Space Marine - suitably done but really not captivating me.

Not yet playing:

Crysis 2
Crysis 3
Far Cry 3
Dead Space 3

Adding to the list of games I'll want to buy but not get round to playing:

Starcraft II Heart Of The Swarm
Bioshock Infinite
Tombraider reboot
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 06, 2013, 10:47:09 pm
Crysis 3,

Didn't like 2, too polished... Didn't feel in the game..

3,

damn yeh!

Recommended.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2013, 05:26:31 am
Dishonoured - very cool steampunk action/stealth FPS, good fun.
Might get this. Meant to pick it up last year then forgot about it.

And definitely

Bioshock Infinite

...if it's anything as good as the first 2 games. Not so sure about Tombraider, might wait and grab a 2nd hand copy.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on March 07, 2013, 01:40:20 pm
Did you play bioshock 2?
I own it, but havent played out of respect for the first one.
Is it an acceptable follow up?

Personally I have been playing quite a lot of the F2P MOBA game "League of Legends", very satisfying going from complete n00b to not being a complete n00b, as well as finally getting into some of that online multiplayer experience that I had avoided for fear of the 12 year old xboxlive crew.

Just nice to hang out on a skype call with some other video game nerds from time to time.

I used to play SC2 as well, but am finding LoL a far more enjoyable experience...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 07, 2013, 01:56:19 pm
Oh dear God Baldy and to think I wadded you on the DFB Poll thread. LOL stealing the e-sports glamour away from SC2, grrrrrrr.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 07, 2013, 02:13:01 pm
I really enjoyed Dishonored, it's one of the few games I've gone back to after finishing. The whole thing just ties together so well, the level at the masked ball is one of my all time faves. It does have some flaws but is well worth playing.

Just battling my way through Arkham City then it's back to Skyrim and the DLC.

Anyone know if The Witcher 2 is worth picking up?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2013, 02:20:31 pm
Did you play bioshock 2?
Yeah, loved it, similar to first game really.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on March 08, 2013, 10:29:03 am
Oh dear God Baldy and to think I wadded you on the DFB Poll thread. LOL stealing the e-sports glamour away from SC2, grrrrrrr.

I think I only enjoyed sc2 playing it with my friends, and when they stopped playing, it stopped being so fun.
the co-op modes are 'looked down upon' as it were.

I didn't want to swap, but then I decided to give it a go and I found out I really enjoyed it... I am an e-sports monster.
 :sorry:

I'll probably still pick up HOTS, if only to play the campaign.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 08, 2013, 10:33:28 am
Heh.

I only play teamplay online 2v2 or 3v3. More fun....hanging out with homiez on Skype, banter and moral support. 1v1 is too competitive and stressful in comparison.

HOTS campaign should be good, WOL was really slick and polished. Going to be fun messing around with Zerg.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on March 08, 2013, 10:40:23 am
Well if I pick it up in the future then I'll drop my Bnet deets on here, maybe have a game or two if you arent Super-Gosu.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wood FT on March 08, 2013, 11:57:14 am
I really enjoyed Dishonored, it's one of the few games I've gone back to after finishing. The whole thing just ties together so well, the level at the masked ball is one of my all time faves. It does have some flaws but is well worth playing.

Hadn't heard of this so checked it out, looks great, but also came across a game called  'Journey' that won a pile of awards. Sounds very interesting as a concept just from reading reviews, has any one on here had a go on it? Sorry if this has been covered
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 08, 2013, 12:13:05 pm
Well if I pick it up in the future then I'll drop my Bnet deets on here, maybe have a game or two if you arent Super-Gosu.

Nice one. Shambler946 I think I am. fiendophobia on Skype.

Keeping it strictly high silver in teamplay, not too far above noob ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 22, 2013, 04:32:51 pm
I really enjoyed Dishonored, it's one of the few games I've gone back to after finishing. The whole thing just ties together so well, the level at the masked ball is one of my all time faves. It does have some flaws but is well worth playing.

Hadn't heard of this so checked it out, looks great, but also came across a game called  'Journey' that won a pile of awards. Sounds very interesting as a concept just from reading reviews, has any one on here had a go on it? Sorry if this has been covered

I have played both dishonoured and journey, both of which are good but in very different ways.

I really liked the setting for Dishonoured and the choices you get in solving each mission. You can approach each level in such a variety of ways. I usually started off trying to be sneaky before getting discovered and having to go for all out chaos. Great fun, definitely recomend.

Journey on the other hand is good for different reasons. It is very beautiful and the soundtrack is lovely, but i'd struglle to really call it a game. It is very short and you can't die. It is more like an arty type expereince or interactive story. I think it go some much love, because it is very different from the norm.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wood FT on March 22, 2013, 05:37:12 pm
Cheers
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 22, 2013, 05:44:41 pm
Dishonored is not really the longest game either but this encourages you to play again in different ways. This is one of the few games I've gone back to after finishing and played through again, Bayonetta being the other.

And as Jamie says the setting is great, I think it was Viktor Antonov the guy who did the design for Half Life 2.

Well worth picking up, I think I got a copy for 20 quid.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 22, 2013, 07:19:37 pm
Dishonored is not really the longest game either but this encourages you to play again in different ways. This is one of the few games I've gone back to after finishing and played through again, Bayonetta being the other.

And as Jamie says the setting is great, I think it was Viktor Antonov the guy who did the design for Half Life 2.

Well worth picking up, I think I got a copy for 20 quid.

Ahhh, that makes sense. It did have a half life 2 feel to it. I haven't played back through it again, but I know some DLC is coming out at some point, so I might get that. Definitely a really good game and refreshing not to be told how to approach each level.

As an aside I noticed you are playing Arkham city. Man, I loved that game. Even after completing it, i played for ages trying to get the riddler trophies. Eventually my wife had to tell me "love, you are not batman"! The truth hurts sometimes!

I'm currently playing Ni No Kuni, which I'm really enjoying. I was a fan of the Studio Ghibli films, but I've never really played JRPGs. The animation is beautiful. Really engaging story (if slightly cheesy at times). I like the battle system, but i believe some people don't. Overall definitely worth it for a change from my usual games.

Also apologies for my terrible spelling and grammar in the last post (and probably this one).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 22, 2013, 07:24:58 pm

Eventually my wife had to tell me "love, you are not batman"! The truth hurts sometimes!


We've all been through it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 24, 2013, 08:42:10 am
Crysis 2

Aka Crysis Of Duty on-rails linear shooter...

Pros:
+ Graphics are very good.
+ Cityscape is well done.
+ Gets truly spectacular later with city destruction and alien interference.
+ Gameplay works well as usual in CryX series.
+ Fog / hazy effects particularly good, and enhance atmosphere.
+ Aliens are pretty cool and a good tough challenge.
+ Intensity ramps up nicely later on, as does diversity.

Cons:
- Extremely consolised as follows:
- Linear levels boring compared to Crysis.
- Too few options to explore around
- Suit voice is very annoying.
- City a bit boring at first.
- Tactical options on HUD are silly handing-it-on-a-plate nonsense.
- Too broken up with cutscenes, intermissions, transmissions, etc.
- Lots of things to pick up and fuck all you can do with them.
- Otherwise limited and haphazard interactions i.e. can only shoot half the lights, can't shoot infected, etc etc.

Overall it is not the open exploratory sequel to Crysis that I expected, but I did enjoy it. By the end, the consolised hand-holding, disjointed progress, gung-ho vocals and tedious immersion-buggering map scenes were annoying me far more than the linearity - but were in turn well compensated for by the gameplay, reasonable diversity, graphics, and spectacle of the city. Sure it is so much COD-like I could feel by brain rotting each time I played it, but as a shooter it's pretty fine and I'm definitely going to get C3.

Also had a great moment when I nearly got jumped by a Seph on a rooftop and got alerted by his shadow from the evening sun and shot the fucker in the face before he buttraped me....don't thnk I've had such a good demonstration of the possible gameplay benefits of a pure graphical enhancement before...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Muenchener on March 24, 2013, 09:51:01 am
My most up to date experience of gaming is Elite on a BBC Micro and Angry Birds and now my son has convinced Frau M that an Xbox for his birthday is a good idea.

He wants a flight sim. It's his tenth birthday and neither of us has any experience of such things, so full-on airline pilot training realism is out of the question, but I want something with a bit of aeronautic skill/learning requirement not a mindless shooter.

Help!  :please:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 24, 2013, 05:23:41 pm
PCs are far better for flight sims, but this Metacritic page may help you see what's available (not a great deal). You can drill down to detailed reviews, etc.

http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/genre/date/flight/xbox360?view=detailed (http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/genre/date/flight/xbox360?view=detailed)

I've never played any of them so unfortunately can't help with a personal recommendation.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 24, 2013, 05:33:31 pm
Ace combat is about the only one that come to mind.

This is also supposed to be ok.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 25, 2013, 05:40:26 pm
Strictly for the geex:

WH40k: Space Marine

+ Ruined forgeworld background is good
+ All weapons useful, satisfying and characterful (apart from GL)
+ Bomb squigs very cute, Bloodletters very cool
+ Violence is great- lots of blood and flying bodies
+ Very true to 40k universe
+ Intense gameplay, requiring a good mix of aggression and caution.
+ Progress and missions pretty smooth and natural.

- Very clunky controls and running screenshake annoying.
- Utterly on-rails progress (it's like a FPS side-scroller as far as lack of interaction with the cool backgrounds)
- No interaction with anything nearby either.
- Graphics strictly previous generation and quite bland.
- Checkpoints often before cutscenes / a long way before tough fights
- Save points at boss battle so bad I didn't complete the game
- Voices boring and Ork voices grating.

...

Next up: re-downloading Far Cry 3 after buggering up my first installation by uninstalling the pointless annoyance that is U-Play (like Steam isn't enough already). Waiting for Tomb Raider to arrive (but banned from playing it until my burd has a chance to). Waiting for DS3 and Cry3 to drop in price as since EA also insist on pointless annoyances with Origin even for physical fucking copies, I want to give them as little money as possible.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 25, 2013, 10:58:29 pm
Tomb raider is very worthwhile....

* disclaimer* I am so fond of these games I named my daughter after Ms Croft.

Great story, true 18 rating mind... And it rings true to the premise.. On how Lara became Lara.

Puzzles too easy, replay limited. Gun fighting superb. Graphics very impressive for a ps3 game. Beginning 30 mins too much hit the button as displayed on the screen.. Character development outstanding thereafter.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: r-man on April 01, 2013, 11:44:46 pm
Anyone a fan of RTS's?

Years ago, I worked on an MMORTS for an indie startup company. The game was dubbed Dawn of Fantasy. It had grand ambitions, but limited finances. Many of the staff, myself included, ended up doing a lot of work for free. Various disasters struck - funding collapses, advertising failures, a horribly buggy release... But the company struggled on, releasing patch after patch, and eventually reaching a point where it seems like the game might now have finally realised its potential. It's been a long time since I worked for this company, but I really hope this game does well. If you are interested, check it out here (looks like there is a discount on it right now):

http://store.steampowered.com/app/227180/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/227180/)

"Dawn of Fantasy: Kingdom Wars is the first full 3D MMORTS with real-time siege combat."

If anyone gives it a go, I'd be interested to know what you think.

p.s. Ignore metacritic reviews - they are based on the buggy release from over a year ago. Check out the steam forum feedback if you want to see what people think of the current incarnation.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 11, 2013, 10:55:35 am
This is rather lovely:

http://www.dampgnat.com/wonderputt (http://www.dampgnat.com/wonderputt)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 17, 2013, 06:51:01 pm
An important question for any PS3 gamers out there . . . which game next?

Dark Souls!!

It amazing and definitely the best game I've played in a long, long time (and I hate rpg's). The in-depth hit/block/dodge/parry & riposte fighting system is great and yes - it is a tough game but if you make it through the first couple of hours you'll be hooked. It'll all make sense when you realise that you can't button mash your way through every fight and patience wins the day (because pretty much any enemy can kill you in seconds). Mistakes are punished quickly and the fear of imminent death all the time gives the game a unique feel - the complete opposite to so many other games which make you feel like a badass killing machine all the time. This isn't a 'feell-good' game and not something you'd play to unwind but if you make it through, its a very rewarding experience. My game of the (last) year.

Hi Carnage,

This recommendation still haunts me. I haven't had the guts yet to buy Dark Souls, but it crops up everytime I think about getting a new game. My main worry is that it will be too hard and too nerdy. But I do like a challenge and the gameplay video I watch look cool. And also you say that RPGs aren't your thing really and you loved it. Is it more really an action game? Hmmmmm what to do. I think I should pick it up and give it a go, but then I haven't played the other big RPG in recent years Skyrim and that gets a lot of love too. I've never played any of Bethesda's other games either. Any thoughts to help my dilema? Anyone else played either or both and fancy aiding my decision. My wife is going away for a few weeks and I need a distraction that takes up the time and am not sure which one to wade into.

Cheers James
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on April 18, 2013, 12:24:02 am
I've pm'd you.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 18, 2013, 03:50:21 pm
I've pm'd you.

Bought Dark Souls now. Will report back. Slightly scared!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 09, 2013, 09:09:27 pm
Three games that look great and play okay to varying degrees:

Tomb Raider 2013
Excellent omnious tropical island graphics and atmosphere. Quite spectacular and pretty convincing. Some of the setpieces are really memorable and the characters are pretty decent, Lara especially comes across nicely. Control feel is fairly annoying and early Quicktime Events are game-spoiling rubbish. Actual combat is good fun, if easy, and jumping malarkey is usually fine.

Dead Space 3
Excellent gritty hardcore sci-fi graphics and atmosphere. Varied with good strong style and details. The different environments from previous DSes really shine, like the ice-planet and ship graveyard. Control system is just as awkward and counter-intuitive as DS2, QTEs are invariably awful and puzzles pointless. Actual gameplay is fine and new weapon customisation and enemies are pretty cool.

Metro Last Light
Excellent grimy decaying post-apocalypse graphics and atmosphere. Luxuriously bleak and well-detailed. Pretty much as convincing a post-apocalypse world as I've seen, both the ruined surface and in particularly the well-populated and characterful settlements. In one underground camp I found a drunk Russian singing folk songs at a pen of pigs before passing out and revealing his attire of bomber jacket, furry boots, and fake Adidas tracksuits, and thought this must actually be an interactive documentary. Controls and combat are both straightforward and good with very little bullshit getting in the way of honest FPS gameplay. Humans are a bit easy compared to monsters but all else progresses smoothly with some fine eerie moments too.

All recommended, MLL then TR then DS3.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 09, 2013, 11:44:28 pm
This will sell a fuck load of Xbox Ones.........

Titanfall -- Gamescom 2013 Gameplay Demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTgtxnv61FM#)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 10, 2013, 09:39:57 am
More derivative and soulless MP bollox, stick some Mechs in COD/Halo/BF3 and this is what you get. Still that is right for the vacuous console kiddy market.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on September 10, 2013, 10:17:26 am
Sod all the first-person-shooter ting, this is out very shortly!

Grand Theft Auto V: Official Gameplay Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-xHcvug3WI#ws)


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on September 10, 2013, 10:28:19 am
Are there any fans of "proper" games?
Board/tile etc?

Personally I'm a bit of a Carcasonne addict, and Settlers of Catan too...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zen on September 11, 2013, 11:11:29 am
Less than a week until GTA 5.

That is fucking all.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 11, 2013, 11:32:14 am
Don't see much that corresponds to either grand theft AUTO nor gameplay in that trailer. Gameworld looks great but the game looks like a weird mish-mash of the sims along with an interactive movie where you only occasionally control your character in-between cutscenes and dialogue...

Hmmm, I might be a moaning arse about modern games, well aside from the ones I listed above. Someone post some PC action games I can get excited about.....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 11, 2013, 12:18:17 pm
Don't see much that corresponds to either grand theft AUTO nor gameplay in that trailer. Gameworld looks great but the game looks like a weird mish-mash of the sims along with an interactive movie where you only occasionally control your character in-between cutscenes and dialogue...

Hmmm, I might be a moaning arse about modern games, well aside from the ones I listed above. Someone post some PC action games I can get excited about.....

What about Total War: Rome II (http://uk.ign.com/games/rome-total-war-2/pc-136961)?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 11, 2013, 12:38:59 pm
GTA 5 will be good when its released on PC. Not interested in console...

I played Metro for about 5 minutes before uninstalling... Actually that happens with alot of games... Dishonoured, Dues Ex... etc etc...

Arma 3 will be good. Not played any of the alpha or beta but have Arma 2.

DayZ will be awesome when it comes out... Been playing the mod since it appeared. Never felt such elation AND fear from a game before. Fucking brilliant.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 11, 2013, 04:43:50 pm
I played Metro for about 5 minutes before uninstalling... Actually that happens with alot of games... Dishonoured, Dues Ex... etc etc...

Why? Just curious...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 11, 2013, 06:26:50 pm
More derivative and soulless MP bollox, stick some Mechs in COD/Halo/BF3 and this is what you get. Still that is right for the vacuous console kiddy market.
The vertical movement mechanics look great fun.  I'd reserve judgement until I'd played it to see how it hangs together, but I guess it's easier just to reel out tired anti-console prejudice. And how many really non-derivative shooters are there anyway?

Gameworld looks great but the game looks like a weird mish-mash of the sims along with an interactive movie where you only occasionally control your character in-between cutscenes and dialogue...
GTA really isn't like that at all but I don't think that video really shows that much gameplay - not sure how you've managed to avoid playing it tbh, it's been going 16 years.  It's super-fun but can get repetitive at times.  Best thing is the open world and the random messing about to be done in it.  It's certainly nothing whatsoever like the Sims.

FWIW I thought the latest Tomb Raider was a real dissapointment. Yeah, it's very pretty (played PC version with settings maxed) but the cliched characters, crap enemy AI, annoying "pr0no screaming" Lara and terrible control mechanics spoiled it.

I should probably play DS3 with the new Xbox coming out soon I'll save my pennies for that instead.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 11, 2013, 09:53:58 pm
but I guess it's easier just to reel out tired anti-console prejudice.
Damn right. Although it's as much prejudice against any dumbed down mass-marketting gaming. You should see how much I hate the COD series  :chair:

Quote
And how many really non-derivative shooters are there anyway?


That is a fair point </grudging> Dishonoured has been the closest recently - relatively fresh gameworld and genuinely playful gameplay mechanics. I dunno, you tell me, I'd be keen to play them.

 
Quote
It's certainly nothing whatsoever like the Sims.


I meant all the dicking around, playing tennis, customising tattooes, choosing which jeans your character should launder next. Hardly as HOOD as I expected.

BTW I am about to play Crysis 3 (derivative) then Bioshock Infinite (semi-derivative but at least a characterful setting). Then I don't know what  >:(
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 12, 2013, 05:27:37 am
I agree with you on COD and stopped playing it quite a few games back.  It's well presented but the combat is basically who starts shooting first wins; it's too "spray and pray" and offers no depth.  I'm still a Halo MP fan though.  Although I have a fairly powerful PC atm, I still prefer playing on the console; I don't really like mouse/keyboard.

I've got Dishonored but it didn't grab me after the first 10 minutes. On a new PC I also thought that the graphics were a bit dissapointing though I think it's a console port and the current consoles are very long in the tooth now.

All that stuff in GTA is extra and basically just stuff to spend your ill-gotten gains on.  If the MP implementation is better in GTAV it could be a real winner - the shot at the end of the trailer gives me hope.

I must get Crysis and you should enjoy Infiinite - not as good as the original imo but still a beautiful and fascinating game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2013, 10:45:08 am
Dishonoured is pretty previous-gen graphics, yes. But IMO the gameplay makes up for it, the "Blink" power is the most fun I've had in a gaming while.

Crysis 2 was not really an improvement over Crysis (another game with great gameplay IMO), a bit dumbed down and a bit linear, although it was good in it's own right and pretty spectacular later on, enough for me to get C3

I did try Far Cry 3 briefly but it was so exactly a blend of FC2 gameplay in a FC1/Cry setting that I couldn't bring myself to continue.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 12:22:16 pm
Sorry, I didn't play Metro: Last Light, I played 2033.
Never a fan of the futuristic type games (if its got guns I like them to be real guns!). Also not a fan of fantasy games with powers etc. Downloaded Dishonoured on the pretence that it was a good stealth game (also like these except for splinter cell things....) but when the powers were introduced (right near the start from memory?) I tried to stick it out... Lasted maybe 2 hours before it annoyed me.

Far Cry 3 I quite liked. I played 1 and 2. Enjoyed 2 for the open world and gameplay (besides the stupid respawning of guards and the repetitiveness of go to this area, kill everyone, then do objectives...). 3, I finished and enjoyed. Think I got to about 90% before I got bored of having to grind to get the last 10%... Also one of the main reasons I'm not interested in RPGs... I hate the grind.

Hitman Absolution I quickly played through and finished the story but didn't do anything with finesse... Have started going through it to get Silent Assassin but haven't played in a couple of months. Just doesn't seem as engrossing as or have the replay-ability of Blood Money (I LOVED Blood Money...).

Assassins Creed 3 was very fun. Looking forward to Black Flag. Wasn't sure how well the Civil War era would work but I think they did a very good job. Replay-ability is very high on this one. Think I might have uninstalled it for space but remember being around 95% completion...)

On the COD type games. Hate them. Not interested in multiplayer (besides DayZ, and even then I avoid other players...). Played all of the single player campaigns though and quickly uninstalled afterwards (except for Black Ops 2, see future bit... Ain't gonna play it.). Of all of the Modern Warfare and Black Ops series', I enjoyed the story of Black Ops 1. Apart from the big twist at the end means almost 0% replay-ability... I did actually download it again to run through it. I do like that Treyarch (Black Ops makers) do actually try new things as opposed to the Infinity Ward (Modern Warfare makers) stick to the book and only the book method... But hey, it sells massive numbers and that's all that matters.

After all that, favourite games are still Commandos 2 (2001), Empire Earth (2001), Medal of Honour: Allied Assault (2002) and Age of Empires 2 (1999). I haven't tried the AOE 2 HD release yet but I really want to!!! :D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 12:22:59 pm
Oh and Counter Strike.... Play that every now and then......

GTA 4 I didn't really enjoy. I just don't like any of them that are set in Liberty City. Such a rubbish restrictive map... Give me Vice City and San Andreas any day....

Last of Us I was looking forward to until it WASN'T released on PC. Dumbasses.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2013, 12:44:46 pm
Fair enough. I'm not a fan of real guns. If it's got anything it's got to be futuristic or fantasy games with powers etc  :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 01:04:37 pm
Please tell me you don't play WoW.... :lol:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 12, 2013, 01:39:12 pm
Last of Us I was looking forward to until it WASN'T released on PC. Dumbasses.

Naughty Dog is owned by Sony, so Last of Us will never be on PC or Xbox. Like Halo will never be on PS3.

Fiend have you tried Borderlands 2. Not really a shooter fan, but got addicted to that one.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on September 12, 2013, 01:49:42 pm
I finally got to finish The Last of Us the other day.

I borrowed my mates PS3 in return for the game (after I had finished it). It was well worth it!

Quite genuinely one of the best games I have ever played. The 10/10 ratings are well deserved.

The visuals are absolutely brilliant. A scene near the end with giraffes walking around the desolate remains of the Salt Lake City hospital courtyard, elicited the same response from me as it did from the characters. I distinctly remember catching my breath and saying 'Wooaoh!'.

The storytelling is some of the most engaging I have ever played through. The characterisation in particular was utterly compelling. Indeed, while watching the most powerful cutscenes, I had my heart in my mouth and I'll admit to more than a little wetness around my eyes.

These two things alone would be enough to make any game gain some plaudits, but the actual gameplay is varied and interesting as well!
While the enemies tend to be relatively similar throughout the game, the ways by which you interact with them changes with every encounter.
The lack of ammo means that you need to make a choice between stealth or run and gun. Making it out of an area sometimes took me several attempts, and often left me succeeding with dumb luck and a slither of health left.

I played on Hard, and I think that is worth doing - any more health and ammo would have made the game a little too easy imo, and subtracted from the feeling of helplessness in the face of everything you run into.

My game time was in the region of 20 hours. So if you are the type of person that would pay for the cinema, or a few pints down south, it really is worth its value in time.


5* - Absolutely Fantastic
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 01:53:04 pm
 :'( Rub it in!!
Really want to play it...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on September 12, 2013, 02:11:20 pm
If it helps, I also pre-ordered and played Game Dev Tycoon on Steam... and it was not so great.

I played a little of the prequel (Game Dev Story) on my mates phone while waiting for our plane home, and it grabbed me as a really nice idea that had some scope for being good fun.

The sequel, however, seemed to remove some of the fun elements and replace them with what must have seemed like a cleaner and more streamlined approach. I think this took away a little from the gameplay though, and made it harder to understand what you were aiming for.

There is a tutorial of sorts, but it leaves much to the suspicion, and I think the game might be better off played with a notepad open on the desk, and possibly a guide open on another screen.
I mean, a Space Pirate Adventure on the N64 sounded pretty sweet to me so I sank around 300k into development...Game said no. Back around.

The 'menu' system was a little weak, and made finding the information you would like, a little more arduous than ideal.

That said, in much the same style as Civ 4, I played through the night and after 'one turn more' finally left me red eyed and broken, I went to bed at about 6am. The owner of an imaginary multi million, triple platinum selling development company that was working on building the worlds first MMO.

I think it probably says more about the game to say that I still haven't picked it back up...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2013, 02:32:39 pm
God no, WOW is the COD of RPGs. I played Guild Wars instead.

Had a look at Borderlands 2 but didn;t like the graphics style unfortunately.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 12, 2013, 03:49:41 pm
I'm inheriting an XBOX 360 gratis from geeky brother-in-law as he is getting a new XBOX (One?). YYFY. Will need some advice on some good games shortly.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 03:59:08 pm
Red Dead Redemption.
Trials Evolution.
GTA.

Thats about it...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 12, 2013, 04:12:59 pm
I know he's played RDR to death, so will hopefully get that.

I liked Blazing Angels on the Wii, might like to get a similar old fighter plane sim.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 12, 2013, 05:01:02 pm
I'm inheriting an XBOX 360 gratis from geeky brother-in-law as he is getting a new XBOX (One?). YYFY. Will need some advice on some good games shortly.

Jackaus, surely RDR is just GTA in different clothes, so both would be overkill?

- Halo 4 if want a decent multiplayer shooter, single player a bit shit
- Forza series for driving
- Bioshock (all of them)
- Dead Space 2, probably 3 (see above)
- Splinter Cell series for stealth stuff
- Portal 2 for something different and genius

A bit of a list here: http://www.videogamer.com/top-games/xbox360-games-all-time/ (http://www.videogamer.com/top-games/xbox360-games-all-time/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 12, 2013, 05:08:38 pm
Yeah Red Dead is basically GTA on a horse.

It actually is a really good game. Played it for ages on an old flatmate's 360. I'd still get both.
Portal 2 is awesome...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on September 12, 2013, 07:03:45 pm
RDR goes on for a long time it seems, quite a lot of travel to and from missions.

A brief interlude of herding cattle stands out in the memory, and an unforgettable introduction to 'mexico'. But otherwise, despite the sandbox world, it seems a little guided, and two dimensional. More importantly it isnt as fun as going on a killing spree in GTA:SA

Still, the story arc is pretty neat, the characters are interesting, and the ending is unmissable!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 12, 2013, 09:57:17 pm
I'm inheriting an XBOX 360 gratis from geeky brother-in-law as he is getting a new XBOX (One?). YYFY. Will need some advice on some good games shortly.

The Gears of War trilogy. The first two are a bit dated and worth playing for story, but the third one is excellent.

If you like a bit of punishment, get Dark Souls- its one of greatest games of this era.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2013, 10:06:43 pm
GOW1 was vile, it is everything that is bad about modern gaming summed up in one stupid, crass, vacuous, horribly controlled, badly save-pointed mess. It is hard to believe that the company that made the then utterly delightful Unreal could churn out this drivel. Maybe 2 and 3 improved on the first one somewhat (it's hard to see how they could make it worse), but GOW 1 is the only game I've played for a few hours and then given up on.

Bubba's reccomendations seem on the money. DS2 vs DS3 is a tricky one, DS3 is definitely better but it helps having played an earlier one to immerse you in it.

Shooterwise, Deus Ex HR and Dishonoured would be the other top picks.

Edit. WTF, recalling GOW has traumatised my mind as well as my stomach. Skyrim, Skyrim, and more Skyrim. If you have any inkling towards fantasy games, you need it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 12, 2013, 10:15:00 pm
You seem to like RPG's - did you play my other recommendation?

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2013, 10:21:01 pm
Dark Souls.....nah. I have heard a lot of good things about the design of it, but just sounds too gruelling for me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 12, 2013, 10:35:07 pm
Its gruelling but fair. No button mashing but balanced, patient combat, beautiful open world/environments, great boss fights and very innovative MP/PVP. Its not as hard as people make out, once you get the gist of it, it just doesn't hold your hand at any stage. If you do decide to try it, get the PTD edition which includes the DLC. You also, need to download DSfix as the PC port wasn't that hot in some areas and this makes it look amazing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 12, 2013, 11:05:26 pm
Cool, I'll see what I get "bundled" with it. More  Dead space sounds good another one I liked on the wii. Tbh I don't think I would bother with any  online multiplayer stuff.

Is a kinect worth getting? Looks like a bit of fun but not any serious games.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 12, 2013, 11:35:00 pm
Tbh I don't think I would bother with any  online multiplayer stuff.
Why not? Playing with/against other humans is far more rewarding than playing with/against programmed AI...and I suspect it will remain so for quite a few years to come.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 13, 2013, 12:25:09 am
Is a kinect worth getting? Looks like a bit of fun but not any serious games.

No - its a bit rubbish. Fun for kids but probably not worth it if you've already got a wii.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on September 13, 2013, 06:18:21 am
I'm inheriting an XBOX 360 gratis from geeky brother-in-law as he is getting a new XBOX (One?). YYFY. Will need some advice on some good games shortly.

As a very occasional gamer, I got an XBox a couple of years ago and not got many games...I'd recommend:

GTA IV (or V when it comes out)
Batman Arkham Asylum
Forza (I got 3 as 4 had only just come out)
Trials (prepare to launch your controller across the room in frustration though!)



Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 13, 2013, 09:27:02 am
Burd has been playing the Batman Arkham stuff, they do look very good if you like Batman.

I much prefer single player to multiplayer by a very long way. Apart from geeking out in Starcraft2 with Brad ;)

Edit: Carnage I may yet try Dark Souls when I run out of stuff. Maybe.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 13, 2013, 10:06:12 am
I just finished playing Spec Ops: The Line and holy moly! That game is amazing. The story gets really dark and affecting. Not particularly long, but it packs quite a punch!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on September 13, 2013, 10:36:53 am
Tbh I don't think I would bother with any  online multiplayer stuff.
Why not? Playing with/against other humans is far more rewarding than playing with/against programmed AI...and I suspect it will remain so for quite a few years to come.

Guess it would be fun playing against mates, but as I am generally shit at these type of games I have no real desire to get pwned by a spotty little adolescent in Nebraska.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 13, 2013, 10:50:32 am
It's not as bad as you think - the better MP games attempt to match players based upon skill level so you'll generally be playing other people as shit/good as you but with a bit of leeway to allow you and others to progress.

That said I've been matched against semi-pro teams occasionally and it's quite depressing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on September 17, 2013, 01:12:14 pm
Valve's thoughts on the future of gaming...

Gabe Newell at LinuxCon 2013 9/16/2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzn6E2m3otg#)

Discussion on Reddit (http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1milkf/gabe_newell_linux_is_the_future_of_gaming_new/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on September 24, 2013, 09:41:49 am
Valve's thoughts on the future of gaming...

Gabe Newell at LinuxCon 2013 9/16/2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzn6E2m3otg#)

Discussion on Reddit (http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1milkf/gabe_newell_linux_is_the_future_of_gaming_new/)

SteamOS announced (linux based OS for home-gaming) (http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Muenchener on September 24, 2013, 03:33:16 pm
UK created in Minecraft by Ordnance Survey sumemr student (http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2013/09/24/how_big_is_blighty_22_beelion_minecraft_blocks/)

M Junior will be downloading this to his XBox as soon as I catch the little blighter, whether he wants to or not.



Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on September 24, 2013, 04:48:59 pm
So anyone else been enjoying GTA V then?

I got it last week and have barely scratched the surface - in fact only just prepping for the first heist. Despite the frustrations (changes to all the controls, especially after I've played GTA IV quite a bit recently, also the noddy "how to play the game" introductory non-missions) it is so good. The cityscapes are amazing, the car physics have been tweaked so it's so much easier to drive irresponsibly (especially compared with GTA IV's oversteer-o-physics).

Only done probably an hour or two of time on it but I have laughed out loud at some of the dialogue / radio chatter on numerous occasions...someone with a very good eye for satire has been working on that game!


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carnage on September 24, 2013, 11:33:29 pm
Yeah - I've been giving this some love since release day and enjoying it alot. They've certainly put the humour back in it after GTA 4. Just driving around, esp when you upped your handling skills is amazing and whilst the slowdown stuff is a bit weird, it makes hammering along and cornering at top speed so much fun. Like you I've barely scratched the surface (I haven't even unlocked Trevor yet). I just keep getting sidetracked doing silly things and exploring. Sometimes I just crack up - like in the mountain area when I punched out a guy to steal his dirt bike and then got mauled by a cougar which came out of nowhere. Almost seemed like natural justice!! ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 25, 2013, 05:30:57 am
It's exceptional.  Agree that the driving is much better and the humour is superb.  Flying is also much better.

Not sure about it's replay value after the main missions are done but then there'll be DLC and multiplayer so will have to see what they bring.

Some of the heist missions could do with being more of a challenge but on the whole it's a very impressive game and a fitting title to wave goodbye to the 360/PS3 with.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on October 26, 2013, 02:18:31 pm
Cool, I'll see what I get "bundled" with it.

Ok, so got the xbox,
With it came;

Blur
Assassins creed double pack
Halo 3
Halo 4
Halo Reach
Gears of War
gears of War 2
Sega rally
Split second velocity
Street fighter x tekken
Tekken 6
Marvel vs cap com 3
FIFA 13

So given my woefully little free time, Where to start? Not too bothered about the punch up games or FIFA. Quite keen to give AC, GoW or halo a go, but given I've never played any of these things before apart from a dabble in rogue trooper and a modern warfare or two don't want to play something that's going to be a bit too hard.

Also has anyone got any recommendations for flight sim type combat games. Enjoyed blazing angels on the Wii and looking for something similar
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 26, 2013, 03:05:53 pm
Ok, so got the xbox,
With it came;

...
Gears of War...


Take it back for a refund  :sick: >:( :ras: Don't play GOW it will put you off gaming, dire in every aspect, the only game I've played partway through and uninstalled because it was such rubbish. Played Halo 1 on the PC and it was as mundane and forgetable as shooters get, I can't imagine the sequels have got much better. Ass Creed / 2 are meant to be very good, diverse and entertaining.

If you can fork out on a few games, recent action game wise, Dishonoured for gameplay and style, Metro LL for atmosphere, Tomb Raider and Dead Space 3 for stylishness (TR is easy, DS is hard). Crysis 1 is great fun gameplay too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 26, 2013, 03:25:40 pm
To pass ( waste) some time I got a bargain priced far cry 3.... Very good.. What assassins creed should have been, but more depraved, and thus enchanting. I've binned skyrim... Too buggy and listless..
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 26, 2013, 03:34:42 pm
Oh yeah. FC3 I binned, but only because it was exactly like FC2 but in exactly the same setting as FC1/Cry1, and I'd played enough of that already. If you haven't I'm sure it would be a great game, good recommendation. Skyrim is amazing despite being occasionally buggy and listless, a truly vast amount to do and thus a big timesink, not for the father of two I don't think.

Edit: Deus Ex HR if you want Cyberpunk but it is more of RPG timesink.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on October 26, 2013, 09:31:33 pm
Deus X.. Fully recommended...

Father of four!!  :2thumbsup:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dolly on November 08, 2013, 10:36:31 am
Why playing video games is good for you
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/mp2013120a.pdf (http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/mp2013120a.pdf)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 08, 2013, 10:51:24 am
Path Of Exile...

+  looks pretty nice for an isometric ARPG
+ nicely open class system and skill tree
+ monsters are pretty stylish
+ environments distinctive and varied
+ gem system for combat skills is good fun

- isometric perspective sucks
- mouse only movement sucks
- randomly generated maps and spaced way-points get frustrating
- prone to a lot of disconnects
- in-game map is useless

But...

There's one more positive point...

+ completely FREE  :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 11, 2013, 12:20:18 pm
Take it back for a refund 

Bit difficult - it was given to me for free! Getting to grips with Assassin's Creed, bit tricky but getting the hang of it.

Still fancy a flying sim / fighter planes if anyone can recommend one over another?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on November 11, 2013, 01:54:11 pm
Which AC is in the double pack? 1 and 2? I didn't play 1 or 2 but came in to the series at Brotherhood (AC 2 part 2) and all since.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2013, 11:10:11 am
Sorry Jack, I had to look then forgot to reply - it's 1 & 2.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on December 02, 2013, 01:11:39 pm
Steam has a sale on at the moment. Shit loads of stuff massively discounted.
store.steampowered.com (http://store.steampowered.com)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: r-man on December 02, 2013, 01:19:49 pm
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/charlie-brooker-videogames-changed-the-world/4od (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/charlie-brooker-videogames-changed-the-world/4od)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 30, 2014, 08:48:57 pm
Okay so I'm looking for some different gaming ideas....I'm mostly an FPS/3PS player, but I've tried a little bit of other genres:

I've tried definitive modern RTS - Starcraft 2

I've tried definitive modern iso-RPG - Path Of Exile, Torchlight 2

I've installed definitive modern turn-based strat - XCom

I'm running low on games to play, so I am wondering what other genres I could dabble in?? Ruling out any sport games, side-scrollers or racing games as I would rather switch off the PC and stare at the wall, what other modern (not after 2D pixelly shit sorry) classics could people recommend?? Space strategy? Empire building? Survival? Give me ideas please. AAAAAAA perfectly acceptable too....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on February 04, 2014, 12:38:17 pm
You could give Bastion a shot,
World of Goo perhaps?
Braid

All modern classics from the indie pc crowd.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on February 04, 2014, 12:53:44 pm
Have you tried Spec Ops: The Line? Military shooter, but with a much more hard hitting story.

I have also been enjoying DMC: Devil May Cry. Action game with an over the top story (tongue in cheek), good combat, platformy bits. Nothing too serious, just fun.

Lastly, the batman games. Arkham City and Arkham asylum are both excellent, not played the most recent effort (Origins?), but supposed to be good too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2014, 12:57:33 pm
Deadspace series is good.

Portal variants if any exist for PC.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 04, 2014, 02:45:48 pm
Thanks for the suggestions.

Played DS2 and DS3, liked them despite the awful controls.

Portals are both PC games and I might get round to them at some point.

Sorry would rather play a toilet un-blocking sim than a military shooter  :sick:

Bastion - looks too cutesy for me but have heard good things, might check it out more.
Braid - not into 2D stuff sorry.
World Of Goo - ditto.
Batman games - have seen t'burd play them, they do look very well done, but probably have seen enough!
DMC - looks okay but doesn't really grab me.


In the end I have gone for Fallout New Vegas, Sins Of A Solar Empire, XCom and Overlord II. Will see how I get on.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: miso soup on February 06, 2014, 04:14:46 am
+1 for Portals.  X-Com is good.  Fallout is good but might just make you want to play Skyrim.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 06, 2014, 11:17:29 am
243 hours of Skyrim and then uninstalled!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on February 06, 2014, 11:52:36 am
Sorry would rather play a toilet un-blocking sim than a military shooter  :sick:

I'd normally totally agree with you. I tried to play Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and quit after a couple of missions. But Spec Ops somehow grab me.

Another one I thought of was borderlands 2. I really enjoyed that, probably played this more than any other game over the last year. And the DLCs.

Both Portals, I agree are very good. Especially the co-op in 2. And I normally don't like co-op.


I thought Fallout 3 was one of the most overrated games I have ever tried to play. I found it super boring. But other people think it is one of the best games ever. And i guess if you like Skyrim you are probably onto a winner.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: miso soup on February 07, 2014, 05:21:23 pm
Oblivion / Fallout 3 / Fallout New Vegas / Skyrim is all essentially the same game, and Skyrim is the best version of it.  I reckon if you've played Skyrim you'll be underwhelmed by any of the others, and if you caned Fallout Skyrim might just feel like more of the same.  Although I do know people that have put hundreds of hours into all four of them.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 07, 2014, 06:25:24 pm
Sounds like a fair assessment. At least the styles/themes are fairly strong and distinct.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on February 07, 2014, 10:17:40 pm
I tried both Skyrim and Fallout 3. Uninstalled Fallout after 5min and Skyrim after 10. Not exaggerating... Couldn't stand them.

I played the demo of Spec Ops. It didn't grab me, felt very much like a cover shooter (Gears of War (which I didn't like)) but I've heard the story in it is pretty amazing. But... It was the demo, didn't take notice of any story in it...

Still haven't done the co-op in Portal 2. Really need to get on to that. Always a game I re-play every couple of months. Very fun.

I bought a bunch of indie games in the steam sales.
Things like:
Hotline Miami - Extremely fast top down shooter. Fuck me its insane... Very good but very hard.
Fez - Heard great things about it but just hasn't drawn me in at all.
Limbo - Very good side scroller puzzle game. Trying to do it without watching any videos when I get stuck. Can be done in about an hour, I've been playing it for weeks.. Very well done.
Stanley Parable - Mind fuck of a game... I've heard it called "a thesis on what is possible with a game, rather than a game". I still haven't finished it.

Oh and I'm still playing Age of Empires 2 HD..... :D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on February 17, 2014, 10:08:55 am
Right. Fuck all other games. Get Papers, Please. Absolutely brilliant. I am addicted...

Only a couple bucks on Steam. You play as a immigration officer in a fictional Eastern Block country in the early 80s. You have to make the most moral choices ever, do either let people into the country or reject them. I've split up families and had wives beaten because they wouldn't co-operate when I rejected them... I've let in shady guys who I've already been warned about by women earlier that day, then in the next day's newspaper, he's killed a bunch of prostitutes (the women who warned me...). I've taken bribe's to let terrorists in, I've had terrorists blow themselves up in crowds when I reject them.
Fuck me is it fun....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on February 18, 2014, 02:41:05 pm
Seconded,

I have been playing for the last week or so, and it is so enjoyably 'pick up and play' that I dont feel I need to play more than a level or two at a time. This in turn leads to me playing about 5 or 10 levels at a time.

My favourite point was when my 'son' gave me a crayon drawing to put on the wall, so I did. This then lead to me having my pay docked for having non official documents on the wall. I got the last laugh, because it meant that he didnt get any medicine that evening.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on February 19, 2014, 09:30:38 am
My favourite point was when my 'son' gave me a crayon drawing to put on the wall, so I did. This then lead to me having my pay docked for having non official documents on the wall. I got the last laugh, because it meant that he didnt get any medicine that evening.
Ahahaha... Haven't had that yet!

I was umming and ahhing about buying it, then I saw on Steam how much time you had put into it... Definitely swayed my decision!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 02, 2014, 02:04:25 pm
Been playing quite a bit of XCom: Enemy Unknown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XCOM:_Enemy_Unknown) recently. I'd put if off for ages as I didn't think I'd like the slower pace of turn-based games, and the first few missions felt pretty drab, but once the options have opened up, I'm really liking it.

Pros:
- Game is properly tactical, using cover, overwatch, weapons choice, flanking etc, and is generally rather addictive and moreish.
- %-based nature of combat is interesting and treads a good line between satisfaction and amused exasperation.
- Presentation of both bases and battlefields is well themed and coherent.
- Tactical UI is pretty good and grasping the battlefield is quite slick.
- Turn-based nature is actually a pleasant change from relentless high APM RTS or twitchy FPS.

Cons:
- Manual is RUBBISH and you have to read everything everywhere on screen very carefully to pick up mechanics.
- No easy key navigation around Geoscape
- GFX don't really take advantage of the Unreal 3 engine nor the slower pace.
- Tile based nature of scenery is a bit obvious in places.

Not sure how far I am into it now, no doubt I will get my ass kicked soon, uninstall it in rage, and come to re-write this or something :P
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 02, 2014, 04:12:11 pm
Also some general geekery (can you tell I'm injured and can't climb/train much  >:( ): A genre/alphabetical list of all the games I've played, with some favourites highlighted:

FPS:
Aliens Vs Predator 2
Bioshock
Bulletstorm
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 1
Crysis * - great fun gameplay with suit, and very pretty
Crysis 2
Crysis 3
Daikatana
Dark Messiah
Deus Ex * - brilliant immersion and roleplaying, actually lived up to promise
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Dishonoured * - some of the best fun and varied gameplay in any modern game
Doom 3
Far Cry * - excellent exploratory gameplay and great gfx
Far Cry 2
Giants
Gunman Chronicles
Half Life
Half Life 2 * - everything HL1 should have been, really immersive
Halo
KISS: Psycho Circus
Left 4 Dead * - brilliantly executed coop zombie fun
Left 4 Dead 2 * - as above but even better
Metro Last Light
Painkiller
Prey
Quake * - favourite game ever, perfect control feel, great visceral gameplay, and everlasting customisation
Quake 2 * - excellent progression, not as atmospheric but still great shooter fun
Quake 4
QuakeLive
RAGE
Requiem: Avenging Angel
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Singularity
Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force
Timeshift
Undying
Unreal * - absolutely beautiful at the time, and thrilling immersion through an epic game
Unreal Tournament
Unreal 2
Wheel Of Time
Wolfenstein reboot

3PS:
Alice
Alice: Madness Returns
Armed And Dangerous
Chronicles Of Riddick
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Enclave
FAKK2
Max Payne 2
Mechwarrior 3
Rune
Severance: Blade Of Darkness * - brutal and challenging combat, rewarding
Space Marine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Tomb Raider 2013

RPG:
Gothic 3 * - really immersive, in a gritty, varied and superbly themed world
Guild Wars * - endless exploration with solid mechanics
Path Of Exile
Skyrim * - utterly addictive exploration in a vast and dramatic world
Torchlight 2

RTS
Battlezone 2 * - the perfect blend of RTS and FPS, slick and stylish
Black And White
Dawn Of War
Mechcommander 2
Starcraft 2 * - thematically excellent and flawlessly presented esport

Tried but deleted:
Dark Souls - broken PC port, mouse doesn't work even with fixes.
Far Cry 3 - too similar to all FCs + Crysises
Gears Of War - utterly awful in every way
Quake 3 Arena - terrible gameplay and theme compared to UT, fixed for QuakeLive
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: richieb on March 02, 2014, 05:16:06 pm
Been meaning to mention this for a while but been unsure cos its essentially a bit of a plug. Mind you it could well backfire if no one likes the game.
I don't play games at all but my brother is a developer and his latest - 'Sir, you are being hunted' is meant to be pretty good of its type. I don't understand gaming terminology enough to work out if it might be of interest to anyone on this thread to be honest. Ignore me if not.
I think its a PC, Mac  and Linux thing rather than a console thing and it's on steam (whatever that is).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 02, 2014, 05:28:11 pm
I think its a PC, Mac  and Linux thing rather than a console thing and it's on steam (whatever that is).
0mgz0r, we have teh n00b in here!!
;)

I've heard of SYABH but not followed it nor tried it. Apparently it's a "procedurally-generated British horror in which tweed-wearing robots hunt you for sport. Roam the landscape, scavenge for food, hide breathlessly in the undergrowth, flee in terror, and even fight back with stolen weapons. Sir is a stealth and survival game unlike any other. " sort of FPS survival game. I suspect it could be pretty characterful....

http://store.steampowered.com/app/242880/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/242880/)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 16, 2014, 10:32:58 pm
Finished this recently....took a while to get everything organised for the final mission, which made it a bit repetitive although the missions were still fun. The ending was a bit abrupt but quite adequate. Found a few more niggles but a lot more fun, it really is a great game.

Been playing quite a bit of XCom: Enemy Unknown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XCOM:_Enemy_Unknown) recently. I'd put if off for ages as I didn't think I'd like the slower pace of turn-based games, and the first few missions felt pretty drab, but once the options have opened up, I'm really liking it.

Pros:
- Game is properly tactical, using cover, overwatch, weapons choice, flanking etc, and is generally rather addictive and moreish.
- %-based nature of combat is interesting and treads a good line between satisfaction and amused exasperation.
- Presentation of both bases and battlefields is well themed and coherent.
- Tactical UI is pretty good and grasping the battlefield is quite slick.
- Turn-based nature is actually a pleasant change from relentless high APM RTS or twitchy FPS.
- Almost all options/equipment, and all classes,  have tactical viability.
- Psionics opens up a lot more fun.
- Later enemies are genuinely challenging and encourage more thoughtful tactics
- Having your soldiers getting progressively bosslier to deal with said enemies is rewarding.


Cons:
- Manual is RUBBISH and you have to read everything everywhere on screen very carefully to pick up mechanics.
- No easy key navigation around Geoscape
- GFX don't really take advantage of the Unreal 3 engine nor the slower pace.
- Tile based nature of scenery is a bit obvious in places.
- Missions get quite repetitive later on.
- Quite a lot of waiting around for essential research to complete.
- Massive and pointless difficulty spike on battleship (aborted mission after 3x1 hour attempts, compared to completing final mission first go)

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 21, 2014, 07:22:56 pm
Been really enjoying these two tablet games:

The Room (http://www.fireproofgames.com/the-room)

The Room 2  (http://www.fireproofgames.com/the-room-two)

Great value for several hours of atmospheric puzzling.  Available for both Apple and Android fondleslabs.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Oldmanmatt on March 22, 2014, 01:07:36 pm
Yeah, Polly and I found the room 2 slightly disappointing, in as much as it followed too closely to the first in it's style; making it too predictable. Good though and probably better if you play them back to back as two chapters if the same game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 23, 2014, 09:21:43 am
Just completed the first one after your recommendation. 69p well spent.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 17, 2014, 02:43:22 pm
Bump.

Anyone been playing anything good recently. My brother and I are spending the evenings sitting slack-jawed and drooling, whilst slaughtering the denizens of hell in Diablo 3 for PS3. Fantastic fun, shocking (as in bad) story and weirdly addictive.

Also played Proteus. More of an experience or interactive art piece than game, which was strangely good. And left me feeling quite contemplative for the rest of the evening.

Last but not least, I played Valiant hearts, which is a really good story set in WW1. Quite moving and very cool comic book graphic style.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: miso soup on September 17, 2014, 09:14:35 pm
Assassin's Creed IV:  Black Flag.  Best pirate game ever.  The previous best pirate game ever being Pirates, and that was a long time ago.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on September 18, 2014, 11:47:10 am
The last of us.

Picked up a second hand copy, couldn't stop until completed. It's been lauded as the best character development in a game for a very very long time. I think it's defo one of the best.

In addition, the gameplay is excellent, the story totally unpredictable. It's a real journey.

I think it's the best zombie / killer crazed infection mutating  humans / end of society / media I've  experienced, this includes films.

Word of warning, the intro is sickening, but serves purpose to set the context.

Best game I've played for 2 years, at least
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 18, 2014, 01:06:12 pm
Thief 4: Decent game, amazing presentation. The best graphics and atmosphere to date. Quite consolised and apparently linear compared to previous incarnations, but the sheer style of it is worth a look.

Bioshock Infinite: Decent graphics, good fun game. Starts off a bit grating but gets progressively more involved and spectacular. Stylish setting and quite hardcore combat too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 18, 2014, 02:13:33 pm
Yeah, I've played bioshock infinite and really enjoyed it. Agree some bits are quite hard. Story gets better and better as it goes, and even though I knew it would have a twist, it still caught me massively off guard and left me pretty speechless.

Played black flag too. Really enjoyed the pirating stuff. Great fun, attacking and pillaging other ships and forts. Not so convinced by the assassin parkour style stuff. Would have preferred just a straight up pirate game. But overall very good.

Anyone picked up a new console? I'm still on my ps3. Will pick up a ps4 at some point, looks like a couple good games have come out. Destiny seems to be getting a mixed reception. Anyone tried it?

Cheers Jamie
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on September 19, 2014, 05:47:53 pm
Destiny seems to be getting a mixed reception. Anyone tried it?
I've got Destiny on X1.

Single Player - meh, can't be arsed. Played first bit but got bored.
Co-op / raids / etc - has potential.
Multiplayer - plays really really well (as you'd expect from Bungie) with great maps.

I'm quite enjoying it atm but I'm not sure I can be arsed with the RPG style long term commitment of having to grind gear/materials/etc to remain competitive. I'd prefer something where you can just pick it up again after a month off and still be able to compete on an even playing field. 

It's been a good diversion but I suspect I'll return to BF4 until H5 comes out.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 23, 2014, 04:49:10 pm
Destiny seems to be getting a mixed reception. Anyone tried it?
I've got Destiny on X1.

Single Player - meh, can't be arsed. Played first bit but got bored.
Co-op / raids / etc - has potential.
Multiplayer - plays really really well (as you'd expect from Bungie) with great maps.

I'm quite enjoying it atm but I'm not sure I can be arsed with the RPG style long term commitment of having to grind gear/materials/etc to remain competitive. I'd prefer something where you can just pick it up again after a month off and still be able to compete on an even playing field. 

It's been a good diversion but I suspect I'll return to BF4 until H5 comes out.

Hmmm, good knowledge Bubba. Not really a multi-player person (maybe because I always get spanked!), so I think I may give destiny a miss.

Also I forgot. Hotline Miami is absolutely awesome. Super fast paced top down carnage. Amazing music. Weird story. Highly recommend.

Hotline Miami PS3 Trailer (HD) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPHyMmXldjU#ws)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on September 23, 2014, 05:55:43 pm
I too have been hitting the Diablo 3 crackpipe pretty hard, I can't actually think why. It's just a glorified button masher but god damn I want those lvl 50 paldrons of fire.

GTA Online too, although it is starting to become a little boring.

And Dwarf Fortress too, anyone else indulged in the 'worlds hardest computer game' ???
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 23, 2014, 01:00:35 pm
Styx: Master Of Shadows.

STYX: Master of Shadows - E3 2014 Gameplay | EN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmBUHoVHsIc#ws)

Just started this. Basically a much less gritty Thief 3PS stealth-em-up with distinctly pre-gen graphics.

But...

YOU GET TO PLAY AS A GOBLIN.

Seems pretty fun.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 03, 2014, 10:09:21 am
The Evil Within.

The Evil Within - Every Last Bullet Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1_lfjOQAi4#ws)

Tried the demo of this, available here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/268050/ (http://store.steampowered.com/app/268050/) - the above trailer is pretty much exactly how the demo is.

Horrible camera movement, horrible swaying character movement, horrible field of vision, horribly clunky combat and interaction, basically consolisation at it's most pointlessly cumbersome.

BUT.....I still enjoyed it enough to play 2 hours of the demo and order the game. There's plenty of gore and creepiness, the atmosphere is good horror style, the graphics are decent, the combat is actually quite tactical, using traps, killing certain enemy to get their weapons to kill others, and the whole "plot" is quite WTF and intriguing, I actually want to know what is going on which is a rare thing for me to care about. If you think, say, Dead Space character control is all slick and smooth and you want a horror game, you might love this.

I've also got:
Alien Isolation
XCom: Enemy Within
Metro 2033 Redux
Bioshock Infinite DLC

stocked up. So fairly well prepared for a grim winter :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on November 12, 2014, 12:10:08 pm
Recently spent a whoppnig £7.50 on Banished which is surprisingly addictive.
Somewhere between a realtime Civilisation and The Sims (in terms of micromanagement). I've learnt I'd be a terrible town-planner, and I don't really mind if people starve to death.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 12, 2014, 02:59:49 pm
I've heard about that, but not tried. Maybe I should give it a look. Apparently it is quite hard and you whole town can easily starve to death over the first winter. Is that right.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is getting some good reviews. I imagine that should be up Fiends street. I'm tempted but it look like it takes 80+ hours just to get through the story! That is like two full weeks at work!

Currently playing a bit of borderlands; prequel which is good but very similar to borderlands 2. More of a giant expansion pack than an actual new game.

Also still addicted to diablo 3 when my brother is free. Co-op all the way. I imagine it is pretty dull single player.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on November 12, 2014, 04:40:58 pm
Yeah, it quite harsh in some infuriating ways, but once you've learnt it's ways things make more sense, so a fair amount of starvation happening. First winters are fine, it's around year 15 I struggle.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Evil on November 13, 2014, 09:48:18 am

Currently playing a bit of borderlands; prequel which is good but very similar to borderlands 2. More of a giant expansion pack than an actual new game.

Ah, I've bought a copy of this, but haven't got around to playing it yet and actually we've not quite finished Borderlands 2  :-[, which is totally my kind of game, running around getting increasingly ridiculous guns and shooting a variety of creatures/things :wub:. Yes please. I'm quite happy for more of the same really  :great:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 13, 2014, 10:51:35 am
Yeah I really enjoyed borderlands 2. Also did a couple of the expansions. Tiny tina one is pretty funny. Nothing like the feeling of finding a really good gun. Personal favorite of mine. I found a sniper rifle, with burst fire whilst zoomed that also had a high chance of fire damage. Felt like an absolute bad ass for awhile. Until the next shiny. Expect more of the same in the presequel. I playing as claptrap which is pretty amusing, if a bit random at times.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Evil on November 13, 2014, 11:09:51 am
Yeah I really enjoyed borderlands 2. Also did a couple of the expansions. Tiny tina one is pretty funny. Nothing like the feeling of finding a really good gun. Personal favorite of mine. I found a sniper rifle, with burst fire whilst zoomed that also had a high chance of fire damage. Felt like an absolute bad ass for awhile. Until the next shiny. Expect more of the same in the presequel. I playing as claptrap which is pretty amusing, if a bit random at times.
Sweet, looking forward to it...and might go back for the expansions at some point too. :wub:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 06, 2015, 02:19:29 pm
I've been playing Shadow of Mordor on my new shiny PS4 (very exciting Christmas present from the wife!)

And it is awesome! Everything I want in an open world game. You actually get to take-on each orc Warchief how you want rather than a series of scripted events. The upgrades feel like actual improvements and make sense with the story. Not the prettiest game, but so much fun to play. As a good sign I keep forgetting to actually do main story missions because I just enjoy raging around, collecting things, fighting orcs and riding the caragors (kind of ugly lion things you can ride).

Highly recommend.

Also played Octodad with the wife which was hilarious co-op fun and the perfect length for one evening. She also played the silent hill teaser P.T. whilst I cowered in fear, genuinely very creepy!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 10, 2015, 03:58:46 pm
Anyone playing anything good?

I've been playing Apotheon. A 2d puzzle platformer and fighter, which has a beautiful art style. It looks like the painting on a Greek pot. Gameplay is mostly good, although sometimes feels clumsy.

Also played Infamous: Second Son. Which was really good. Running all over the city with superpowers doesn't get old fast. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 10, 2015, 10:01:26 pm
XCom Enemy Within - sequel / DLC / expansion to XCom Enemy Unknown - more of the same with a few tweaks. I.e. it's still brilliant.

Before that:

Warmachine Tactics Demo - quite stylish and looks totally faithful to the tabletop game, but currently pretty clunky and not nearly as slick as XCom.

Bioshock Infinite Lost At Sea DLC Part 1 - quite nice to blend Infinite and the original, although it didn't captivate me as much.

The Evil Within - horrible console controls / perspective and wildly incoherent, but some some pretty cool scenes and enemy and some good horror moments.

Currently installed and next up:

Alien Isolation, Space Hulk Ascension, Metro 2033 Redux

HTH!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 10, 2015, 10:41:01 pm
I've been playing Alien Isolation and have been enjoying it a lot. A highlight was breathing too heavily into my mic whilst hiding and the alien looking right at me!! Only on the console versions I think though.

I'm still trying to finish Dark Souls but the GTA 5 heists are finally live and are a lot of fun from what I've been told although I haven't been able to get online and confirm yet.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 11, 2015, 02:34:26 pm
Good lists guys.

My wife is quite keen to play Alien Isolation. Looks pretty scary to me. I'm not very good at survival horror, how you finding it.

I've never tried the XCOM games. Might give them a whirl if you think they're good.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on March 11, 2015, 03:34:20 pm

Bioshock Infinite Lost At Sea DLC Part 1 - quite nice to blend Infinite and the original, although it didn't captivate me as much.

It's a good add-on, but it's ridiculously hard - and not always in a challenging way. Ammo and Salt is so scarce you have to be a ridiculously good shot, combined with a slightly too forgiving death penalty meaning it's often just a case of dying lots to progress.


Banished
Cute little indie town management game, the original is slightly limited in scope, but excellent mod support.

Hitman: Absolution
I suck at this game, but it's very involving.

Stranded Deep
Currently in Alpha, but surprisingly deep and involved survival game


Also, lots of boardgames, but not sure how much interest there is on here for them?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: blacky on March 11, 2015, 05:28:14 pm
Destiny seems to be getting a mixed reception. Anyone tried it?
I've got Destiny on X1.

Single Player - meh, can't be arsed. Played first bit but got bored.
Co-op / raids / etc - has potential.
Multiplayer - plays really really well (as you'd expect from Bungie) with great maps.

I'm quite enjoying it atm but I'm not sure I can be arsed with the RPG style long term commitment of having to grind gear/materials/etc to remain competitive. I'd prefer something where you can just pick it up again after a month off and still be able to compete on an even playing field. 

It's been a good diversion but I suspect I'll return to BF4 until H5 comes out.

Hmmm, good knowledge Bubba. Not really a multi-player person (maybe because I always get spanked!), so I think I may give destiny a miss.

Also I forgot. Hotline Miami is absolutely awesome. Super fast paced top down carnage. Amazing music. Weird story. Highly recommend.

Hotline Miami PS3 Trailer (HD) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPHyMmXldjU#ws)

Destiny is amazing in my opinion. I prefer the PvE side, which is cooperative and lots of fun on raids if you get in with a good group. The downside of the game is that it's a major grind to level up and obtain the best weapons. It might say something about my personality but I haven't put another disc in my PS4 since December  :o Hit me up if anyone fancies a raid some time!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 11, 2015, 09:02:30 pm
Hmm I should probably have revised my review because I have spent the last 6 months quite addicted to Destiny. It served a purpose as pretty much the only way I could switch off from the stress of my partner's illness.

The downsides are: shit story, repetitive day to day tasks, buggy raids, stupid upgrade decisions by Bungie.

The good things are: The raids....well Vault of Glass anyway which is amazing, Crota's End feels more like a long strike. The multiplayer.

I'm glad that now I have 3x32 characters and every weapon I want/need (just 1 exotic to get I think), all the raid armour and all items from CE hard mode...so now I don't need to grind for anything; well until the next expansion anyway.

I can now just play a bit of multiplayer, an occasional raid and then turn it off again. It's actually fun again now.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 11, 2015, 09:43:49 pm
Alien Isolation is very good, especially if you're a fan of the 1st film. It creates a very tense atmosphere. Without giving too much away it does become more of a 'traditional' 1st person shooter later sadly but even then is still good. But the actual game design is brilliant, retro futuristic just like the film, like Dead Space the setting of the game is the real star.

Nice one on the Destiny waddage Bubba, it really seems to polarise opinions eh?? I don't think I spent enough time with it.

I did manage to get onto GTA5 and can report the heists are a lot of fun, I think I'll be playing this more again now.

And one game I didn't mention was Titanfall, I love this game, reminds of Unreal, Quake etc, so fast. Best FPS at the moment in my opinion. And to make things better, all the current DLC has just been released for free across all platforms with the main game being very cheap. Get to it..

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: blacky on March 12, 2015, 12:29:03 pm

Nice one on the Destiny waddage Bubba, it really seems to polarise opinions eh?? I don't think I spent enough time with it.


Waddage indeed, you must have put some serious time in! I've got one 32, a 31 and a fledgling titan. Apparently I've put nearly 7 days into my 32 character :o Agree that once you're levelled or nearly so, it becomes a lot more fun / less time consuming. Hopefully the next DLC will provide a bit more meat and a little less grind than the last.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 12, 2015, 12:36:23 pm
I've never tried the XCOM games. Might give them a whirl if you think they're good.
They are genuinely great games. I'd never tried turn-based strategy before but gave XC:EU a go and could see why it was so highly acclaimed. Very polished, very well produced, and the tactical gameplay is really addictive. It does have a steep learning curve though!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on March 12, 2015, 04:46:04 pm

Nice one on the Destiny waddage Bubba, it really seems to polarise opinions eh?? I don't think I spent enough time with it.


Waddage indeed, you must have put some serious time in! I've got one 32, a 31 and a fledgling titan. Apparently I've put nearly 7 days into my 32 character :o Agree that once you're levelled or nearly so, it becomes a lot more fun / less time consuming. Hopefully the next DLC will provide a bit more meat and a little less grind than the last.

Well I can be a proper sad twat. Found the last char easy to level because you just pick up gear for it from the other two.

The next DLC had better be a lot better than Dark Below or I can't see the game having much of a future.  It also needs a proper social hub - The Tower is shit.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatdoc on March 14, 2015, 09:00:32 am
Saints row 3. For a fiver. All the best bits of a crime sim.. Designed for fun, fun fun.

Add in smattering of infantile innuendo and some stereotypical media induced sexual stereotypes with drone controlled urban warfare and there u go.

Frankly, it ace we have
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Plattsy on March 28, 2015, 03:32:13 pm
Loads of 80s Spectrum 48/128k games from the 80s for that nostalgia hit.

http://torinak.com/qaop/games (http://torinak.com/qaop/games)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 01, 2015, 04:59:58 pm
The clocks have changed, the evenings have lengthened, I've got back training at Ratho.....and the weather is fucking vile. Welcome to summer. Thus:

Space Hulk Ascension:

Revamped version of a fairly recent game based on the classic Games Workshop boardgame (which has no doubt been a firm favourite pastime of rest days at gites and bunkhouses throughout the bouldering world). I struggled a lot on the first mission, gave the 2nd mission 3 attempts to convince me not to uninstall the game, just scraped through, and have found it surprisingly moreish...

+ It's a very accurate recreation of the boardgame.
+ It's a very accurate portrayal of the 40K universe and themes.
+ Has a high and distinct tactical challenge.
+ Surprisingly addictive given how frustrating it can be.
+ Easy to dip and just play a mission or two.
+ Satisfyingly visceral bloodbaths when it all goes to plan.
+ Budget price.

- It's a very accurate recreation of the boardgame.
- It's a very accurate portrayal of the 40K universe and themes.
- Has a high and distinct tactical challenge.
- Surprisingly frustrating given how addictive it can be.
- No story and very little context given.
- Missions are quite repetitive.
- Corridor maps are dull and graphics are minimally used.
- Corridor gameplay and Terminator movement is very clunky.
- Steep learning curve cliff if you're not familiar with the game.

If anyone is thinking of trying it, here's some pro-tips from a previous noob:

1. Overwatch overwatch overwatch.
2. See 1.
3. Always save APs for overwatch until you've got everything planned.
4. Upgrade APs as soon as possible.
5. Flamer's area-denial and Psychers prescience are life-savers.
6. Remember that turning costs APs, certain combinations of square movements are better than others.
7. Avoid close combat like the plague: Miss a shot and you can shoot again or overwatch or shoot with other squad members. Miss a CC attack and you're dead. Unless you're facing a flank for a 100% kill, CC is a waste of time (as is having CC-only Termies in the game at all!)
8. If you find a big square room get in it straight away as they are easy to defend.
9. Don't leave your back turned to a Genestealer.
10. Moving square by square can give you more shooting options.


Divinity Original Sin:

On a bit of a tactical / strategic / role-play tip at the moment, so this highly acclaimed combination of classic RPG progression and turn-based gameplay seemed to fit the bill. Except it's so difficult and long-winded that I have given up.

+ Ticks all the classic RPG boxes.
+ Has seemingly endless abilities, classes, stats, items, options, etc etc.
+ Turn-based strategy does offer something different.
+ Looks pretty nice in a bright cartoony sort of way.

- Ticks all the classic RPG boxes - the biggest pile of by-the-numbers cliches I've ever seen.
- Has seemingly endless abilities, classes, stats, items, options, etc etc - and there's no introduction or explanation of any of them and there's so much to wade through that you could get a standard 15 hours gameplay of just learning all that shit.
- Cartoony style is not to everyone's taste and cheerful and cheesy dialogue grates like barbed wire across the bawbag.
- Combat is ludicrously difficult even once you've grasped some of the options, and there seems to be nowhere to ease you into it.
- Initial quests / themes are entirely unengaging.

Also downloaded Grey Goo , will report back.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 04, 2015, 03:05:11 pm
A little update on what I've been playing.

Wolfenstein: New Order

I really enjoyed this. Actually quite a good story. Excellent shooter. Quite a tough challenge for me. Cool set pieces, but definitely not 'on rails'. Bit slow to get going but good once your up and running. Wife found it pretty obnovxious. It is violent and pretty much a constant Nazi murder fest, therefore a touch 1 dimensional, but it also seems pretty self aware of this and is quite tongue in cheek . . . .

Counterspy

Good, very pretty, little stealth game. I got it as part of ps plus and thought it was excellent. But it is short, so probably not worth loads of money.

Transistor

Enjoyed this one. Odd battle system, but good once you get the hang of it. Weird story, that i didn't really follow. Art style and music are beautiful. Again part of ps plus . . . so easy to enjoy 'free' games.

Currently playing Far Cry 4.

I think the story and main character are a bit lame. Very paint-by-numbers action story. But the world is great fun to mess around in. Taking over out-post, climbing towers, hunting wildlife. All good. A giant playground of fun. Just ignore the story (in my opinion). Also, too many collectibles!

Anyone else playing anything good. I fancy trying out bloodborne.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 04, 2015, 06:04:07 pm
WOFL:TNO was pretty good although not that memorable. Will still play WOFL:TOB esp at £15 price tag.


Recently played/tried:

Grey Goo.

Recent, modern, reasonably reviewed RTS. Basically if you want a re-skinned version of SC2 with annoying fog of war and clunky controls, then this is the game for you. As an added bonus it's very obviously purely a multiplayer game with a minimal SP campaign tagged on. No real intro, 3 short campaigns for each race, minimal extra theming, bland story. I got fed up after the 3rd mission which is supposedly extremely easy and was stupidly hard, gave up and uninstalled it. Waste of £30.

Evil Within: The Consequence DLC

More awful controls, terrible camera movement, naff boss fights, annoying death trap gameplay and incoherent plot/theme - and again with enough pacing, variety, shocks and scares and gory fucked up monsters to keep it entertaining despite all that. Part 1 was kinda bland and unengaging, Part 2 was worth getting with more variety, action, and interelation with the main story. I liked it despite myself.

Path Of Exile (replaying Acts 1 & 2)

In anticipation of Act 4 being released hopefully shortly, and leaving Act 3 for now to warm me into that. Entirely typical isometric ARPG with endless character / weapon customisation, an entirely forgettable and pointless story, pretty nice graphics for the genre, varied locations, and decent combat. Nothing special but as always well worth the price of fuck all fuck alls!


Just started:

Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea DLC Part 2

First one was okay but not as engaging as the main game and quite frustrating difficulty-wise. This already promises to be better with a fresh focus on stealth and better story-telling. The intro is pretty damn cool too.

Dawn Of War II

After getting bored and frustrated with Generic Goo, I thought I'd try something with a different spin on RTS - smaller, squad based, RPG elements, no base building, etc etc. Plus I'm liking the GW themes at the moment. DOW2 is taking a bit of getting used to though, awkward unit selection / camera movement controls (top tip for devs: if you're giving the player camera controls and mouse movement, don't put camera controls and unit commands on the opposite fucking sides of the keyboards and then don't give any rebinding options, I don't have a fucking third hand to use the QWERTY area, arrow keys and fucking mouse all at once) and not that immersive yet. But I expect I will get into it...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on May 04, 2015, 08:43:07 pm
For anyone into their old school pre-diablo style RPG's I can highly recommend Pillars of Eternity, awesome game, nice plot, lots of customization and replayability.

on the 4X strategy side of things, Stardrive 2 is very good, and Galactic Civilizations 3 is AWESOME. They are just finishing up the beta (early access is available on steam, e.g. you pay for full game and can play the beta and get the full release, which should be May 15th or something).

Homeworld remastered collection (also on steam) is also very cool : )
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 04, 2015, 11:52:59 pm
I know it got highly rated, but I tried to see what Pillars Of Eternity offered over Path Of Exile, and all it seemed to be was the vicarious thrill of paying for it  :devangel:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 05, 2015, 03:59:58 pm
Hi Fiend,

I guess it wasn't that memorable. But compared to some others played I actually finished it. I absolutely hated COD4: Modern Warfare when I tired that. I got only a bit into Metro Last Light, so compared to those two which other people love, I preferred Wolfenstein for sure.

I think i'll definitely check out The Old Blood too.

Cheers Jamie
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 06, 2015, 12:24:33 am
Okay, COD:MW, now we are talking seriously unmemorable! Well produced yes yes but enough to put me off the COD series for life.

I really liked Metro: LL, the graphics and theme and atmosphere were impressive. I've got 2033 Redux on that basis.

I've got TOB, well, in theory, 25 / 34 gig downloaded, sheesh!!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on May 06, 2015, 03:40:27 am
Can't remember which one I played, think it was the 2033 but Metro was awesome. Somewhat change of track, but did anyone play Warhammer 40k: Space Marine? the geek in me loooves it, even though it's not a 'hard' game
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 06, 2015, 10:30:28 am
Yup, I probably posted a list of pros and cons a while back but the upshot was it was pretty fun: linear, on rails, previous generation graphics, endless 40K cliches, BUT on the other hand, nicely playable, a good romp through the 40k universe, and good visceral combat (tricky enough I thought.)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 08, 2015, 10:05:07 pm
Okay so basically TOB is a mission pack for TNO, mission pack price, mission pack length. But generally it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Exactly the same style as WOFL:TNO? - tick!

Yet more WOFL after dozens of reboots? - tick!

Flaming Nazi zombies dropping from the sky? TICK!

Good fun straight up shooter action in cool environments? - tick.

Still has a few niggles - masses of hitscan enemies, some artificial arenas, lots of invisible walls - but it seems well worth the pleasing budget release price. I think I'm enjoying it more than TNO, less farting around with the rebel base and NPCs, more exploding heads. Runs smooth and controls very smooth with nobob 1 (which fucks the scope though).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on May 14, 2015, 08:39:05 am
About halfway through an absolutely amazing game called Ori and the Blind Forest. Super well made Platform game, I think it's on Steam among other places, and probably on the xbox.

Pretty much a showpiece in what you can do with art-driven story. There is hardly any dialogue in the game. Incredibly crafted levels, stunning visuals, some absolutely fiendish levels, some of which can really be quite unforgiving. There are plenty of vids on youtube to give you an idea what it's about, though they don't really do it justice. My only criticism is it's not always that obvious where to go, and if you miss something that isn't all that obvious then you can spend a hell of a long time banging your head against the wall to figure it out. Had to consult a guide on youtube twice. 9/10
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Grubes on May 14, 2015, 09:03:40 am
I got ori free with my Xbox 1 I bought the other week played it for 10mins or so and gave up as I did not get it. 2d side scrolling platformers just seem dated to me. It felt like it was just there to showcase what a Xbox 1 can do visually.

Could be fun to play with my nephew but I don't see what this brings to the table that sonic 2 didn't on the megadrive?
I guess if I played it more I could get into it more but with my other games being Dragon age inquisition, GTA 5, Neverwinter and halo 1-4 (which I have not even played yet. I doubt I will rush back to ori
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on May 14, 2015, 10:11:15 am
I got ori free with my Xbox 1 I bought the other week played it for 10mins or so and gave up as I did not get it. 2d side scrolling platformers just seem dated to me. It felt like it was just there to showcase what a Xbox 1 can do visually.

Could be fun to play with my nephew but I don't see what this brings to the table that sonic 2 didn't on the megadrive?
I guess if I played it more I could get into it more but with my other games being Dragon age inquisition, GTA 5, Neverwinter and halo 1-4 (which I have not even played yet. I doubt I will rush back to ori

I definitely think it's not a game for everyone, but if you are into those arcadey style things then I think it will fit. It definitely is a take it or leave it game. Apparantly it's similar to Metroid (on the ps2?) that was quite a succesful side-scroller type game (I don't know).

On a totally different note...Witcher 3 is coming out soon (dead excited). I've never played any of the previous ones, from the looks of things they are elder scrolls type games?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Grubes on May 14, 2015, 10:53:58 am
I have played the board game which is very good.
I heard the computer game was very long but heard very good things about it
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 14, 2015, 03:29:45 pm
Ori and the blind forest looks really good. I really love a platformer. Unfortunately it isn't on ps4. I believe when they refer to it being metroid or metroid-vania they are referring to the games from the NES, SNES and PSone era. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroidvania In these games there are branching paths and hidden area which are only reachable once you have received a certain skill or equipment. Therefore there is lots of exploration and back tracking. Guacamelee was a really good example from quite recently which i enjoyed.

Witcher 3 look amazing (its getting excellent reviews). I am just always wary of the time commitment big RPGs require to get the most out of them. Still I think i'll make an exception for this one, getting a bit tired of Far Cry 4. Really good fun, but gets repetitive after awhile.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: hstmoore on May 14, 2015, 03:58:57 pm
If you like Ori then give Rayman: Origins and Rayman: Legends a try.

They're very similar in that they're both side-scrolling platformers with excellent artwork, but with Rayman games you can play multiplayer (up to 4 players, really good fun with a few friend) and there are more extras (such as mini-games and collectibles) which contribute towards it being a bigger game.

The Rayman games also have a big focus on music. Each collection of levels on the Rayman games has a 'music level' where your actions in the level trigger the music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N97EY7aHNOg

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 18, 2015, 01:42:06 pm
Hi hstmoore,

Yeah the wife and i played some Rayman Legends and really enjoyed it. The multiplayer is good until the levels get quite hard, when it is hard to keep together without one player dying. The music levels we got were very good.

Started playing a bit of hohokum, which is free with ps plus last night. Totally weird, but very nice music and kind of weirdly relaxing. :-)

Jamie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du5K_CtwSm8
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 27, 2015, 02:26:58 pm
It truly has been great gaming weather this May  >:( >:( >:(

Dawn Of War II

I played DOW years ago and enjoyed it, can't remember that much about it though. DOW2 takes the 40K RTS genre in a  different direction by removing the base building and army reinforcing aspects and replacing them with smaller squad micro-management and RPG-progression elements, and I certainly like this. It makes for a fresh experience that's more RTTactics than RTS, whilst the loot-collecting and squad upgrading is highly addictive (arguably more fun than the main gameplay!). I do find the key controls, small reticle and squad selection a bit clunky, even after essential rebinding (who the fuck makes a game with mouse and keyboard controls, puts the hotkeys around QWERTY and the camera controls on the fucking arrow keys???? No I don't have a third hand FFS), but aside from that the general functionality is good and it's pretty easy to get into but challenging enough, particularly to do the missions efficiency. Theme-wise it's pure 40K cliches, with plenty of interaction and talking heads in-between missions to keep the whole thing coherent - if you like 40K then this will definitely hit the mark, if you're not familiar with it the tight focus of the game and tactical/RPG combination is well worth a look anyway.

God that's a fucking boring review. I need a shit.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 27, 2015, 05:23:07 pm
I bought the Witcher Wild Hunt and wow! Maybe I am easily amazed, but this game has fully got its hooks into me.

Pros:
Fantastic story and characters, even the sidequests, all set in a dark world (think game of thrones) where things are very grey and decisions have real consequences.
Fun combat and quite challenging on the hard difficulty. On mini-bosses you can't just button mash, you need to plan your strategy and be quite defensive.
Gwent (the inbuilt card game). For some reason I find this compelling. Like when i got into poker in Red dead redemption.
The world is very pretty and feels properly lived in. Details everywhere and it is vast. Almost overwhelming!

Cons:
Really not many at all.
Slightly rough framerate on the ps4 sometimes.
Few weird bugs etc
Sometimes the camera is a bit wayward.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on May 27, 2015, 07:30:37 pm
Dark Souls 2.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 27, 2015, 08:13:40 pm
I played Dark Souls 1 and enjoyed it up to a point. I got the the undead burg and then had had enough. I just found it a little to punishing for my liking and also I prefer my main story and bit more up front. Dark Souls story was very obtuse and hidden in item descriptions and character chat. I see that Bloodborne has been getting good reviews but am a touch wary after burning out on Dark Souls.

Some described The Wither Wild Hunt as Red Dead Redemption set in a fantasy medieval world and that kind of makes sense to me. I loved Red Dead and am really enjoying the Wither so far.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 27, 2015, 08:17:53 pm
Dark Souls 2.
Unplayably broken PC port. Wasted £20 and 2 hours trying to get it to work, then deleted it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 29, 2015, 06:50:35 pm
Dawn Of War II - Chaos Rising mission pack.

All of the above, and more. This enhances very nicely on DOW II with a basic but solid Chaos-orientated plot, more exposition, a bit of intrigue, some cool new settings, and some neat new gameplay stuff including higher levels, a psyker, and a corrupt-vs-pure meter with associated mission specifics. A spot-on addition to the game and TBH I wish it was longer, the premise and settings are enough to have made a game-length out of it.

Now down to: Alien Isolation & Metro 2033 Redux.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 31, 2015, 11:48:35 am
Looks cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syhcF0Mx0j0


Also downloaded Lords Of The Fallen, inferior DS/2 clone but apparently playable in the PC version.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on May 31, 2015, 01:36:23 pm
Nearly finished playing Dying Light, pretty neat game though in all honesty it seems too easy. If you know what you are doing with these kind of games then it seems a total waste of time doing anything other than the main story line, not enough challenge or interest to make it worth it. Looking forward to playing Witcher :D

As an aside, does anyone else pirate games and then buy the good ones to support the developers? Back before torrenting etc I was totally sick of buying games and finding out they are a pile of crap 1 hour into the gameplay and feeling conned
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 31, 2015, 02:04:18 pm
No I am as ethically pure when it comes to games / books / music as I am with climbing ;).

My view is that someone has put a lot of work into making it so deserves payment for it, as well as the blindingly obvious that it's quite simply theft and I'm amazed anyone can be so stupid to think otherwise. Plus a lot of this stuff can be ridiculously good value for the price, there's plenty of £20 games I've got 60 hours of fun gameplay out of - having said that I do often wait for prices to go down as I'm not often in a rush for the latest release, Dying Light @ £40 on Steam can lick my sac.

However I have been a bit stung by my own honesty and the cretinous lack of demos in many modern games (how fucking hard is it just to shove out one small level for people to download and see the game actually works okay??). Dark Souls 2 (although I really should get a refund as it's non-functional product on the PC), Grey Goo, Divinity Original Sin, Dead Island, Endless Space - a lot of money wasted on games that really need a Try Before You Waste £30 On Bollox option. Then again if you watch enough Youtube videos you can generally get a good enough impression.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Derek Mild on May 31, 2015, 05:40:10 pm
All I've played for the last few years is DOtA 2 online, now that is sad
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on June 02, 2015, 10:26:15 am
Most exciting gaming news this year...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E_-2wIJIzQ

Super-SYKED!!

You guys really need to play XCom Enemy Unknown / Enemy Within if you haven't and get ready for this...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on June 02, 2015, 04:00:23 pm
Looking forward to playing Witcher :D

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this game. So good! It has properly sunk its teeth into me. I'm verging on obsessed. You are in for a treat. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on June 02, 2015, 09:43:33 pm
I am very jealous of people playing Witcher 3.

Fiend, is it that bad? I heard the 1st DS's was awful on PC but the sequel was better. I've a few friends who haven't said its a piece of shit.

Still Dark Souls 2.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on June 02, 2015, 10:51:08 pm
FWIW I really enjoyed DS1, with the primary annoyance being that GFWL completely ruined the experience for me - no messages/invades/friends.

I tried playing it once, and gave up when I sucked - but on my second attempt (6 months to a year later) I stuck with it a little bit (and avoided the Dark Knight unlike the first time) and really got into it... I haven't played in a while, and now I'm scared to go back and hit that learning curve again...

Make sure you have a game pad though before trying to play.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on June 05, 2015, 11:54:36 am
Zods I know plenty of people who get on fine with DS/2, I do have a strong aversion to spending more time downloading patches, user-hacks, 3rd party fixes and everything else to get rebindable controls than to actually play the game (and get the graphics right) - coming from a strictly PC & FPS background, having that basic functionality is fundamental to me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Baldy on June 05, 2015, 01:13:26 pm
I'd recommend picking up a wired 360 controller Fiend.

You can rebind any of the keys you want then - outside of the game.

If you prefer a keyboard then there isn't much I can say though...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on June 05, 2015, 02:14:20 pm
M+KB4LYFE, bitches!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on June 06, 2015, 09:55:09 pm
Holy crap Xcom2 ! :O :O :O that trailer is sick!

I've just started playing Witcher 3 and honestly the graphics are totally sick. I've got an ok pc with a SSD and it runs absolutely fine on low/medium settings. Rendered cut scenes look more 'real' than 'real' life. Skyrim on steroids. Just spent 10 minutes wandering around collecting herbs and marveling at the landscape. What a hippy :\ There are ghouls that need slaying!  :whistle:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on June 06, 2015, 10:30:08 pm
Low graphics settings  :jaw:


(http://i.imgur.com/osR3if8.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on June 07, 2015, 05:32:03 pm
TheTwig you are in for a treat! What a game! Insert superlative, insert hyperbole, etc etc . . . . :-)

Best game i've played in years (definitely straight into top ten). It is massive and long too, but i just am not getting bored, if anything i'm getting more drawn into the story and characters!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on June 09, 2015, 10:54:40 am
TheTwig you are in for a treat! What a game! Insert superlative, insert hyperbole, etc etc . . . . :-)

Best game i've played in years (definitely straight into top ten). It is massive and long too, but i just am not getting bored, if anything i'm getting more drawn into the story and characters!

It's in one of those categories of games where it really is enjoyable to complete every little thing in it, and explore every single corner. Even pretty good games like farcry, fallout, WOW (in the old days..), elder scrolls etc haven't kept me this interested in the little side stories.  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on June 09, 2015, 01:11:31 pm
I have to say I found Fallout 3 really monotonous. I was really looking forward to playing it, since it got rave reviews. But I just felt I was totally missing the point. It didn't engage me at all. I enjoy the FarCry and GTA games etc, but they feel more like a giant digital playpen, where you can just got out and have fun without really paying attention to the story/world etc. The Withcer's story, character and world have definitely caught my attention. I like the way every quest, regardless of size feels like it fits into the world naturally. Gwent feels a little out of place, but enjoy it anyway.

Interestingly I'm not really a completionist and I don't mind 'missing' sidequests etc. In fact i feel this adds to the engagement, since i feel like i pick and choose the quest and activities that are interesting to me and i don't feel like there is a ticklist of things i have to finish. Just going through the world in a natural manner, making the difference that i can. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on June 12, 2015, 02:09:06 pm
Gwent is good fun. Once you learn how you can beat the AI most of the time though obviously luck and your deck makes all the difference. It's hard to beat the 'big hitters' when you have a crap deck or draw. regardless I've had some wicked games. I can count the number of times I've sat looking at the screen yelling 'you cheeky bastard' ha ha.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: psychomansam on June 12, 2015, 02:10:50 pm
board games anyone?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Grubes on June 12, 2015, 02:32:42 pm
yup want suggestions or opinions?

Family games
Hare and the tortoise - card based race game. Very simple 15-20 mins per game. I play this with my 5 year old nephew and friends who are mid 20's to late 40's
Sheriff of nottingham - a great game of lying and deceit. Especially fun if people are willing to roleplay/act a bit. better for older kids 9+.
Treasure island/desert - Cooperative game fighting against the game. Really fun.
Adventure tours - fun game very easy.

Keep an eye out for looney quest. Fantastic game. I played a demo as part of voting for games awards recently. Its like an old arcade game but as a board game

Flux (many variation) - The rules keep changing. Card game of randomness

Not so Family
Zombiecide is great fun for co oprative miniature fighting game.
Witcher - great fun! takes hours though.
Xcom - fun but hard. each round is times and the pressure builds. Co operative against the game.

Wil Wheatons tabletop on youtube is worth a watch for reviews of games.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on June 12, 2015, 02:35:04 pm
Family games
Sheriff of nottingham - a great game of lying and deceit.

Ah, that great bastion of family virtues- lying and deceit.  :lol:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on June 13, 2015, 02:08:51 pm
Rather pleased to have earned this - Destiny players will understand...

(http://i.imgur.com/hWNsaqD.png)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Grubes on June 14, 2015, 07:14:53 am
Family games
Sheriff of nottingham - a great game of lying and deceit.

Ah, that great bastion of family virtues- lying and deceit.  :lol:
Have you never played games where uncle dickhead* makes rules up so he always wins or aunty cheat who is always the banker and never seems to run out of money etc?

*not really a dickhead but you know what I mean ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on June 14, 2015, 11:08:34 am
Ha, good point!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on June 15, 2015, 04:27:28 pm
Rather pleased to have earned this - Destiny players will understand...

(http://i.imgur.com/hWNsaqD.png)

no idea but that looks gorgeous  ;D I'm guessing you beat the hardest raid boss or something? ;)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on June 15, 2015, 06:01:10 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KApp699WdE

Doom4, Fallout4, Dishonoured2 footage/trailers/reveals. Only watched the D4/D2 bits, psyched for both!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Bubba on June 15, 2015, 07:49:41 pm
no idea but that looks gorgeous  ;D I'm guessing you beat the hardest raid boss or something? ;)
It is a very pretty game :)

The screenshot is from an area called The Lighthouse which you can only gain access to if you get a "flawless" run in the high end weekly "Trials of Osiris" PvP playlist. You have to win 9 games of 5 rounds of elimination without losing a game...which is hard because it attracts the best PvP players.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 16, 2015, 10:50:57 am
This sounds pretty amazing:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/12/no-mans-sky-18-quintillion-planets-hello-games
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on July 16, 2015, 11:55:32 am
TBH I'm not that excited about procedurally generated stuff (be it planets or dungeons). It's a good way to get a lot of STUFF from combining various variables, but it doesn't look like it gives the planets a lot of character or depth. Quantity over quality....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on July 17, 2015, 09:46:38 am
What fiend said. Maybe I missed something obvious but I couldn't understand what the 'point' of that game was. This coming from someone that at one point has enjoyed pretty much every genre of game, my little pony fandom games being the exception  :P
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on July 17, 2015, 10:00:47 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L3AeCib1F8

This is what I'm psyched for at the moment. Strong style, just looks pretty neat (squad based tactical gameplay).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: iain on July 17, 2015, 11:20:55 am
This sounds pretty amazing:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/12/no-mans-sky-18-quintillion-planets-hello-games
It kind of does but the cartoony style doesn't do it for me, I'll give it a try though. The 'point' of NMS is the journey to the centre of the galaxy/universe, we'll see if the gameplay/mechanics are varied enough to hold the interest while you do that.

I've been meaning to mention this for a while, actually has the real stars/planets in our galaxy that we know about, with everything else procedurally generated:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/05/elite-dangerous-review

It looks beautiful. Some in game footage from a film competition earlier in the year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eRngZbJq_A  - has some post processing effects added
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zegdpVNvvew

However despite the amazing visuals and good mechanics...
TBH I'm not that excited about procedurally generated stuff (be it planets or dungeons). It's a good way to get a lot of STUFF from combining various variables, but it doesn't look like it gives the planets a lot of character or depth. Quantity over quality....
this lets it down. Procedural mechanics/narratives that draw you in are hard and Elite hasn't done it yet, although they're still developing and adding to it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 17, 2015, 05:12:58 pm
Been slowly getting into Satellite Reign: http://store.steampowered.com/app/268870/
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFZVXG0g40Q
 
A bit slow to start but I quite like it. The story is unengaging and the missions seem repetitive so far, but it functions pretty well, the style is done real nicely (especially if playing on a drizzly evening) and the soundtrack is nice.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Gallant on September 17, 2015, 05:24:48 pm
I've accidentally sunk 54 hours in MGS: PP, and I'm yet to complete the main story, game is telling me I'm 43% complete or so.
It's fairly addictive, and there are far less cut scenes in it that the majority of the previous games, and the removal of a codec in favour of cassette tapes you can listen / relisten to at any time is fairly handy.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 23, 2015, 11:02:13 am
Just started SOMA: http://store.steampowered.com/app/282140/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTmKpKKHBO8

Story-based sci-fi survival horror thing. Never played Amnesia but the videos of this looked good enough to pre-order. So far so good. Good graphics and theme (just got to an underwater bit which is very cool), good easy controls, obligatory creepy atmosphere, and intriguing enough story. Hasn't been much actual gameplay but for the vibe of the world it seems worth it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on September 27, 2015, 11:54:42 am
Bought a new gaming PC, should be arriving this week. Finally get around to starting so many games in my Steam account.......
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 27, 2015, 12:06:31 pm
I completed the Witcher. Amazing game, but my goodness was it long! Even when you think you are near the end, it still goes on for several hours. Overall all I think it is one of the best games I have ever played. Absolutely loved it, but it is a serious time sink. 10/10.

Now playing Mad Max. Good fun. Pretty mindless. Anyone who has played Far Cry type games knows the score. Story is pretty non existent. Characters are good though and I like the world. Fun car combat and clearing out camps. 7/10.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 02, 2015, 03:31:56 pm
Gallant, I have been trying to get my head around the appeal of MGSV. I enjoyed the first one on PS1 and quite enjoyed the second, but after that they seemed to just weirder and weirder. A lots of people seem to say this one is really good fun, but I feel a bit apprehensive. What is it that makes it work for you? Anyone else had a go at it?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Gallant on October 02, 2015, 05:30:51 pm
I think with this one it's a combination of ridiculous map size (running from side mission to side mission can eat up an hour or two if they're on opposite sides of one of the two maps (Afghanistan and Africa), a plot that isn't central to game play (I've had friends who've only played MGS when it was first on the PS1 pick this up and just enjoy sneaking about / murdering everything in sight rather than feeling alienated because they didn't get what was going on) and the addition of both base and troop management is quite nice. I'm largely playing it sneaking about, aiming largely to never get spotted and avoid the enemy unless I can put him to sleep silently and send them off to work for me. It's also absolutely stunning environmentally, and the day / night mechanics whilst a little flawed (Sun always sets at about 6pm, always rises at about 6am) mean that guard shifts have to rotate so you need to plan your route into bases around that.
It's a Metal Gear Solid game in that the characters are from previous games, with minimal additions from what I gather thus far, there's the odd bit of bullshit 'science', and you can choose to sneak, but it's far less linear and you don't get smacked down entirely if you don't play missions one exact way, most missions are fairly forgiving in fact - the time slowing down when you alert a guard to give you the chance to take him out is interesting, though if you think it makes it too easy it can be turned off in settings.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 14, 2015, 12:44:20 pm
Just finished SOMA, 13 hours although I suspect most people will do it in less. It's a pretty captivating 13 hours though. Runs out of steam a bit at the end and the two main plotlines don't seem to relate much to each other. BUT aside from that it's really good throughout. Atmosphere, gfx and sound are top notch, it's very vibey especially underwater, and the story is fairly gripping.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Gallant on October 14, 2015, 06:23:24 pm
An update on MGS, having now finished it - a very lacklustre ending (it basically doesn't actually finish as a game) somewhat damaged this game in my eyes, though aside from that, and continuing to play through, it's still an exceptionally fun and time consuming game!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 15, 2015, 03:23:04 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqUx2SOTAQ

LOLZ NOTHX.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: andy_e on December 15, 2015, 03:25:59 pm
Warning: no climbers were consulted in the making of this game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: rich d on December 15, 2015, 04:21:52 pm
Similar to my footwork to be fair
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JackAus on December 19, 2015, 08:43:31 am
Mad Max.

Put over 30 hrs into it and I'm prob halfway through the story missions. I have been doing A LOT of side stuff though.

Great combat (both on foot and in car), amazing scenery for a desert and whoever animated the explosions/fires deserves a medal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbdv1GzxAto
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 19, 2015, 09:27:26 am
I've heard good things about it. Looks like Far Cry set in a desert with Batman combat and if you want that sort of thing I assume it is very good...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 29, 2015, 02:08:35 pm
Been playing Diablo 3 for no good reason, it is nice though. GFX aren't cutting edge but the atmosphere and style are good. It is also ridiculously easy on "expert" skill. Worth £15 if you want chilled-out RPG-lite gaming, the demo on battle.net is a good intro.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 04, 2016, 02:01:06 pm
Fiend. My brother and I spent quite a lot of time playing Diablo and loved it. Really good as a co-op game. Maybe a bit repetitive on your own. We constantly were adjusting the difficulty to make it hard enough. I think there are actually two scales. One overall difficulty and one sort of risk vs reward scale.

I'm playing a lot of Rocket League at the moment. Was sceptical at first. But it has the one more game thing going strong. One of the very few online games I've actually enjoyed playing. Very addictive.

Just started Batman: Arkham Knight. Very good. Although I still think the original was the best since it was a much tighter concept, it's getting a little too overblown now with lots of side missions.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 04, 2016, 02:15:20 pm
JamieG. I've only played Diablo3, and the Reaper Of Souls expansion. I found the difficulty quite screwy, D3 main game was waaay too easy on Expert, I did all the bosses without dying, and only ever died when getting caught out by the explosions of dead "Molten" monsters! This was also not using gems and not using the best items I had available (I was sticking to Legendary only even if I collected better Rares), also I am not a ARPG-veteran-min-maxing-optimal-build dweeblord either. However Reaper Of Souls was definitely harder, I'd say 20% harder for mobs, 50% harder for Elites, and 200% harder for bosses - I had it on Master most of the time but had to drop back to Expert for bosses. I understand there had been some difficulty tweaking throughout Seasons and patches, not enough IMO.

However I generally didn't mind the ease of it, and yeah it was a bit repetitive gameplay-wise (although the various effects and destructible scenery were cool), I found it was just nice to waltz through a variety of often very cool environments. ROS was particularly good for this, the Westmarch areas have an impeccable gothic fantasy vibe. Compared to, say, Path Of Exile, which was harder, much more involved build-wise, and had technically better graphics, but didn't have as good a sense of place or atmosphere.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 04, 2016, 02:52:02 pm
Hi Fiend, Oops missed the 3. We only played Diablo 3 co-op on the PS3 and so are definitely not veterans. Not my usual type of game but definitely sunk a huge number of hours into it. Co-op was really good, since I think they scale the mobs, bosses etc to you level which adds to the chaos. We had some quite good tactics going on. I played more defensively and provided crowd control, Robbie was the main damage dealer. Excellent game. Probably the worst story I've ever seen though! Maybe I should try the expansion out. Sounds good.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 04, 2016, 05:57:06 pm
Yeah story is 50% cliche 50% cheese! The ROS expansion is only one act but thematically I'd say it's the best act in the 5 total, well worth it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 05, 2016, 05:43:11 pm
I recently played Her Story

http://www.herstorygame.com/

A very cool FMV game where you are investigating a murder by searching for and watching short clips of an interview with a woman on a old police database. Not much game i suppose, just searching for videos and watching them. Although I did find myself actually keeping notes. But an excellent story that saying anymore would spoil. Only costs a few quid on Steam and can be finished in a 2-3 hours. Highly recommend if you fancy something a bit different.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on February 14, 2016, 06:51:07 pm
Is anybody playing XCOM2? I'm getting absolutely hammered. Practically everybody is gravely wounded ALL THE TIME, the Avatar project is more than halfway done and seems to be speeding up big time.

Firaxis has a global stats page that tallies up the totals of everybody playing the game worldwide. Zero people have completed it on any difficulty  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on February 14, 2016, 07:22:41 pm
After one of the lads at work set up his Raspberry Pi to use as a retro arcade / console gaming platform on one of our breakout area's TVs I've been revisiting the old PS1 Tony Hawks Skateboarding 2 and had forgotten was a class (and ahead of its time) game it was!


Imagine my delight when I then found that while the more recent games of the series have been woeful, you can download Tony Hawks HD, which is a reboot of the old games (same levels, challenges etc) but with the luxury of better graphics / physics.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 14, 2016, 08:09:14 pm
Will I'm leaving XC2 for a bit until it gets patched for stability and other issues, although I am very hyped for getting on to it at some point.

It's meant to be hard from what I've heard, my gaming geek friends online are loving it though. One completed it last night.

Did you play EU/EW?? And know all the general principles??
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on February 14, 2016, 09:54:25 pm
Yep I'd done Enemy Within so was familiar with the game. There's a few nice changes to gameplay which can make some situations easier, e.g. reloading no longer ends your turn, but there are plenty of things which make it harder.

Most noticeable is that the time constraints of the game progression are much stricter which means you can spend less time ensuring that you always have a technological edge over the baddies - which makes the combat sections of the game much more unpredictable. Most of the missions are on a strict timer as well. If your soldiers get gravely wounded (happens all the time) they have a chance of becoming "shaken" which means they start missions with 0 willpower! In EW my squad would panic very very rarely, even in the early game, in most missions now somebody loses it. If you can get a shaken soldier through a fight without taking any damage whatsoever AND scoring at least one kill, they recover their will, become immune to being shaken, and get a boost to their Will score. It's like the game is designed so that just about every soldier will have to go through this process at some point.

Basically its fucking nails, but in a good way. You should get on it now. My Mac is just about running it and I even had to remove a line of code from the game file which expressly forbade the game from running on a machine with a graphics card as shit as mine! I mean, it looks a bit like Pong, and the loading screen between base and missions (a view of inside the Skyranger) goes on for so long it's like you're sitting in on the flight in real-time, but...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: TheTwig on February 15, 2016, 12:09:14 am
Im playing it on hard difficulty and trying to beat the last level. It is fucking nails. Considering the final level of EU/EW was dead easy on classic ironman for me, this is a big step up.

As usual, the start/mid of any X-com game is the hardest. Once you get magnetic gun tech everything starts to get easier.

In general X-com 2 is a massive step-up in every area over Xcom. Flanking/ambushing works way better, and the conceal thing is nice. What skills your troops get makes a massive difference. In general I find 2x snipers, 2x grenadiers and 1 ranger 1 specialist the best setup. Building high-aim high-crit snipers is pretty much the key to beating the game.

GFX/loading wise I've never had any big problems, though the start and end of missions (looking at the inside of the skyranger) does go on for longer than I would like.

8.5/10
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 21, 2016, 09:51:59 am
Been playing Deserts Of Kharak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7beE0NgnmU

If you want some slick sci-fi RTS in the desert action, you could do a lot worse than this. Easy controls, smooth camera, good sense of scale, good graphics and heavy sound effects.....and no fucking base-building. Although it is very deserty and as usual you miss out on 90% of the GFX details as you have to be zoomed out to play effectively.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 18, 2016, 07:06:36 pm
I just completed Bloodborne and thought it was totally amazing. After struggling to really 'get' Dark Souls, Bloodborne totally sucked me in. Absolutley addicted. On new game plus now finding all the secret areas etc I missed first time through (when I was playing no guide). Might have to try Dark Souls 3. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 18, 2016, 08:28:21 pm
I too struggled to "get" Dark Souls due to console-focused releases, bad PC ports that were broken to the point of scarcely being valid, apparently unfeasible gameplay of endless reloading boss arenas with no skill settings and no saving. BB did look great but PS4 only....

On the other hand..... DARK SOULS 3....

Fuck me this a spectacular game. The dark fantasy style, theme, aesthetics and graphics are great - I'm playing on mostly Low settings to get the smoothest gameplay, and even then just scene after scene looks superb, it's like the gothic game equivalent of Wester Ross or something.

I'd heartily recommend it to anyone, I'm finding the much feared gameplay fine (even if, yup, it's another broken PC port with limited key rebinding and menus that don't adapt to KB&M, wtf how can devs not program this in??), sure there are some frustrating moments and you can't romp through casually, but there are enough options and bonfire save points to keep it bearable. As well as the graphics, the exploration and convoluted progression is superb, it's not open world and it's not linear, you explore around in many ways and end up linking it all up - really addictive and gripping.

Also the characters have English accents, and enemies - who are really characterful and freaky - fall off cliffs which never gets boring.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 19, 2016, 10:27:21 am
I'm definitely going to have to give Dark Souls 3 a shot, but the Old Hunters expansion for Bloodborne waits first. If you can fiend i'd recommend trying Bloodborne, but you'd need to come over to the dirty console side. :-) Beg, borrow or steal.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 19, 2016, 01:32:08 pm
Never!! #pcmasterrace

If it gets ported tho.......
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 19, 2016, 02:52:21 pm
Embrace your dirty console peasant side! Get down in the filth with us and enjoy! You know you want to . . .

Unfortunately I doubt Bloodborne will get a port, I believe Sony stumped up the cash for it and wanted it to be a PS4 exclusive. A bit like Demon Souls back in the day and I don't think that ever got a port.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 21, 2016, 09:52:28 pm
Just popped out of the Catacombs in DS3 to see this:

(https://scontent.fman2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/t31.0-8/12977118_1100213836683454_1287327359628105903_o.jpg)

 :jaw:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 22, 2016, 10:12:56 am
That is a pretty looking game. And you know all sorts of monstrosities lie in wait.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slackline on April 29, 2016, 09:21:48 am
 :-\

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppc7HHliOA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwUG-_hiZ-I
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 29, 2016, 10:23:47 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kub5vOaT0V8

For the Games Workshop massive in tha house  :)

Hit me up for some coop on: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197971710064/

Plenty of new game psyched at the moment. Doom4, Deus Ex5, Battlefleet Gothic, Total Warhammer, Rise Of The Tomb Raider.....got Dishonoured 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 to look forward to at some point, and still got Alien Isolation, Metro 2033 Redux and Dying Light to play.

DS3 GOTY so far tho....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 21, 2016, 12:49:10 pm
DS3.

Okay so this is an obviously flawed game:

-  The boss balance is completely fucked up. Some are so easy to be disappointingly negligble, some are so frustratingly hard there can never be any pleasure in the fight. And most of the latter are farcically simple when cooped. Totally unbalanced compared to the game in general.
- The boss arenas mostly spoil the gameflow and are quite arbitrary and out of character with the general progression / exploration of the game.
- The story / plot is entirely incomprehensible and obscure... "Learn it through the game, nub", yeah whatever I heeded all the available lore and it still made no fucking sense.
- The NPC quests are even worse, almost all of them are based on totally secret random conditions and actions that are impossible to quest and almost certainly fail on the first time playthrough.
- The PC port is adequately poor especially bad rebinding and not changing menus to kb+m style (despite the game obviously being perfectly playable with kb+m).
- Bonfire spacings are quite screwy.
- Lothric area always loads like a slideshow.
- Ithryll Dungeons and Smouldering Lake corridor sections are a bit meh.
- Online aspect is an immersion-spoiling mess of invasions messages and bloodstains everywhere.


But....but but but.....

+ The dark gothic fantasy aspect is done perfectly.
+ It looks utterly amazing in style and design (even on Low graphics).
+ Some of the scenes are mind-blowingly good - popping out in front of Ithryll Of Boreal Valley is THE more stunning scene I've seen in 18 years of gaming.
+ The exploration and interconnectivity is amazing.
+ The monsters and enemies are very cool, characterful, varied and impressive - including many of the bosses. Some of the designs are bonkers, some are inspiring, some of the attacks are hilarious/disturbing.
+ The non-boss combat is generally good, fair, and interesting, and the enemy variety and styles make it pretty rewarding.
+ The amount of optional areas and secrets are great.
+ Some of the NPCs are cute / cool (Onion Bro!)
+ The overall world is so well done and immersive (despite the obscure / unconvincing lore), that it is actually a wrench to reach the end and stop exploring it.

In short I'd say it is maybe 80% perfect?? But that 80% is actually just SO good, it's worth 112.5% extra, so I give it 90% perfect.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on May 21, 2016, 05:38:58 pm
Most of those points sum up most of the Dark Souls series Fiend!

Having been a fan of the series this one has left me a little flat. It's surprising what once felt brutal, difficult and refreshing in the 1st game felt to me like a comfort blanket in this one. Yes it's very good but it doesn't really 'move' the series on tbh. None of the bosses were really a challenge and like I said it all felt rather familiar. It only took me 60 hours to complete too compared to double that for the 1st one. I think the yearly development cycle is starting to show though with a lack of distinct bosses , design etc.

But it's still Dark Souls and the pvp is brilliant, the level design is excellent etc and they could do another few and I'd still lap it up but I hope they try something new.

Shame you don't want a ps4 Fiend as its made me realise just how good Bloodborne is...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 21, 2016, 05:58:15 pm
Yeah my first DS game so I will have quite a different viewpoint on it - although from what I've seen the GFX are an improvement with this one??

One boss took me 60 attempts (and 4 hours grinding for souls in between), so after that I just cooped any hard ones, absolutely zero inspiration to spoil the game with another grind that long.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 24, 2016, 10:52:30 am
Been very quiet here on the games front. But with the announcement of a new Read Dead game coming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmA6MrX81z4

and a new Nintendo console/handheld hybrid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uik5fgIaI

I thought I should get the ball rolling again.

I've been playing Deus Ex - Mankind Divided which is pretty good. Good choice of options between sneaking around and going in guns blazing. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

Also recently played a few of the so-called walking simulators. Including Virginia, which was good but short and weird. And Firewatch, which I really enjoyed. Incredibly beautiful art style. Intriguing story.

Also played Inside, which has been getting a lot of love. I enjoyed it but i think some of the love is a bit over the top. It is very pretty and has some nice puzzles.

Also played Blood and Wine expansion for the Witcher 3. Amazing, of course, more witcher could only possibly be a good thing in my book. Nice way to send off Geralt.



Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 26, 2016, 10:26:24 pm

I've been playing Deus Ex - Mankind Divided which is pretty good. Good choice of options between sneaking around and going in guns blazing. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.


In my Steam library ready and waiting :)

I've been playing Rise Of The Tomb Raider which is pretty good. Very much more of the same TR2013 which is no bad thing, and it looks stunning. The snow and ice and weather effects you encounter early on could even turn me to winter climbing. If I was a bloody idiot.

Recently finished The Solus Project (neat execution, a few good scares, but too long and not enthralling enough), Metro 2033 Redux (as classily bleak and atmospheric and good as Metro LL), and Battlefleet Gothic Armada (one for the 40k geeks, quite repetitive but very moreish and well-executed), and Doom4 (absolute blast, a reassuringly fun blend of visceral gameplay and modern production values).

PC gaming is looking well fruity at the moment. Will Dark Souls 3 DLC and  Titanfall 2 distract me from DX5, Mordheim, Total Warhammer and XCom2, or will Dishonoured 2 get there first?? Jeez.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 27, 2016, 11:18:42 am
I'm definitely keen to play Rise of the Tomb Raider. Enjoyed the first reboot. I'll ask Santa for it.

OMG I forgot about DOOM! That was absolutely awesome. I was smiling constantly whilst playing and the soundtrack is absolutely pumping! Good shout.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 19, 2016, 12:58:50 pm
Titanfall 2 - and there I was thinking that AAAAAA+++ flagship Call Of Interactive Movie Boredom games were only worth a cursory slagging off on internet fora for ruining quality PC gaming. But this is actually a blast. Looks absolutely stunning (although some interior level design is weak), has a nice buddy style with your Titan, and plenty of varied gameplay with the pilot mobility and the Titan arsenal. A bit "gamey" and "setting you up for MP" in places but good slick fun overall.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 22, 2016, 09:35:50 am
Top Three Games 2016?? #masteraceonly

1. Dark Souls 3
(just the best dark fantasy vibe ever, mesmerising)
2. DOOM 4 (a very reassuring blend of old skool and new skool)
3= Titanfall 2 (short, linear, and gamey but great fun and great gfx)
3= Rise Of The Tomb Raider (like the first reboot but better, just really good all round)

Okay that's almost 3. Honourary mention to Homeworld Deserts Of Kharak (solid, stylish, streamlined RTS) which very narrowly misses out, and several I haven't played which should be on:  Dishonoured 2, Deus Ex MD, Total Warhammer, and XCom2 .

Been a great year for gaming overall.  :spank:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on December 22, 2016, 09:45:28 am
XCOM2 was my game of 2016 (mostly as it took nearly a year to finish it...) but enjoyed every minute.

Planet Coaster is good fun, wish I had more time to devote to it (pesky child and woody contruction and life...). Relieving my Theme Park / RCT childhood with better graphics (though possibly considerably easier than those were...)

I didn't get on with Homeworlds: Deserts of Kharak, despite really enjoying the original series. It might be because I'm terrible at it and don't find the controls intuitive...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 22, 2016, 10:06:23 am
I suspect most of my top 3 games of 2017 are actually going to be 2016 ones like XCom2!

Have you played much ground-based RTS already? I've sunk a couple of hundred hours into n00bing the hell out of SC2 in the last few years, and found Kharak to be pretty steady (I liked the lack of base-building), I can't claim to have played it efficiently but it felt fairly okay to control.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on December 22, 2016, 10:29:27 am
Not for a while; Dawn of War 2 was probably the most recent, but before them - lots of AoE2, , Warcraft etc. (Old skool!). I bought Kharak in a fit of nostalgia (and Steam Sale), it's not really my current type of game.

I should probably spend more time on it, but seem to just resort to chucking everyone to attack everything, and then getting annoyed when they inevitably get wiped out as resources are more scarce than normal games so what to build is quite a big decision.
But yeah, generally I find myself trying to remember what key does what, getting annoyed with navigating the maps, and the tactical view is oddly clunky.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on December 22, 2016, 10:38:39 am
Can't say I've played much on my aged XBox 360 this year but I have enjoyed:


Tony Hawks HD:


Nice retro nostalgia. All the same courses and challenges, but with better graphics. What's not to like?!


FIFA 2016:


Only got it as my work has this on XBox One and there are a fair few people playing it on breaks, but am finding it surprisingly addictive. Never really a huge fan of football games before but it's really good, even on the lesser console.


Only really play one-off matches but what I've seen has been great - it's surprisingly hard to score, and the AI seems to be quite subtle. I actually jumped off the sofa and punched the air after scoring an 89th minute winner for West Ham against Liverpool the other night!


Have actually had approval to get an XBox One (partly as we use the 360 as a DVD player and catchup streaming system) so going to see what I can pick up in the sales.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 22, 2016, 01:38:44 pm
My top games this year (although they may have come out earlier)

Doom - I can't remember grinning ear to ear this much with any other game. Total blast. Awesome soundtrack. This is how i remember shooters feeling.

Bloodborne - Dark Souls never quite clicked. I liked the idea but found it cumbersome. Bloodborne on the other hand was absolutely amazing! Super creepy atmosphere, tough but fair gameplay and weird monsters. Can't recommend enough, but be patient.

Firewatch/Virginia - Enjoyed a couple walking sims this year, both had good stories and pretty artwork. Really nice change of pace. Don't get the whole 'they're not games' crowd. Who cares as long as they are enjoyable/meaningful!

Dirt Rally - Not played a racing game in awhile, but i do love some rally. Absolutely amazing game, but hard as nails. Nothing quite beats the feeling of flying along a welsh forest track nailing every corner before absolutely blowing it and rolling your car down the hillside. Addictive.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 09, 2017, 03:00:26 pm
Been awhile since I've done an update:

Dishonoured 2 - Very good. More of the same, but that is no bad thing. Enjoyed the new powers. Tried to stealth it, failed and murdered everyone. :-)

Rise of the Tomb Raider - Ok. Didn't click with me as much as the original reboot. Felt like the pacing was all over the place and the story was totally stupid. Some nice tombs to solve though, but nothing hard.

Witness - Absolutely amazing. If you like puzzles. Its hard to explain why it is so good, but i just loved it.

Shovel Knight - Old school platformer. Brilliant nostalgic fun! Great music.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 10, 2017, 10:01:02 am
Rise of the Tomb Raider - Ok. Didn't click with me as much as the original reboot. Felt like the pacing was all over the place and the story was totally stupid. Some nice tombs to solve though, but nothing hard.
Can't argue with that. My main criticism was that the pacing went from Skyrim-esque open-world explorathons to tight linear shooting arenas, sometimes with little in between. I didn't mind the story (don't really pay attention to game stories) nor the ease of tombs (can't be fucked with long-winded puzzles), I liked the amount and aesthetics of tombs.

Me, recently:

Grim Dawn - best of the "recent" triptych of fairly similar ARPGs. It's got the grit and style of Path Of Exile (but not the randomly generated maps thank fuck) blended with the fun and spectacle of Diablo 3. All the ARPG cliches you could ever want from an instantly forgettable story, entirely overcomplicated 3-4 tier character system, dungeons with giant spiders etc etc JESUS CHRIST WILL IT NEVER END. But it plays smoothly and looks great, the world detailing is the best I've seen.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197971710064/screenshots/?appid=219990&sort=newestfirst&browsefilter=myfiles&view=grid

Mordheim - if you thought XCom was too relaxing and casual, this is the one for you. Warhammer dark fantasy warband-based turn-based tactics. Full of RNG, utterly unforgiving, and often rather satisfying. Despite semi-randomised missions, the game world has good graphics, decent style and atmosphere, and the warbands are pretty characterful. Using direct 3rd person control for movement is pretty fresh too. Gameplay makes you try fucking hard, I have actually chewed on the desk with tension in at least one mission and shouted "Get in OGRE BRO" during others. Not finished it yet but highly recommended so far if you like that sort of thing.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197971710064/screenshots/?appid=276810&sort=newestfirst&browsefilter=myfiles&view=grid

Deus Ex 4 - I got initially turned off by yet more tediously overblown cyber-cliches and the most utterly boring designed-by-committee main "character" ever to spoil a game, but have got properly into this now. It's either a well-presented near future semi-story-based RPG.....or a well-presented near future steal-the-fuck-out-of-everything explorathon secret-hunting sim. Guess what I chose. Despite some graphically issues the world is really detailed and rewards a lot of exploration for both looting and admiring the design. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197971710064/screenshots/?appid=337000&sort=newestfirst&browsefilter=myfiles&view=grid
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 10, 2017, 03:06:48 pm
Hmmm Grim Dawn sounds interesting. Been awhile since I went down the ARPG route. Really enjoyed Diablo 3.

I enjoyed Deux Ex 4, but never actually finished it. Got a bit tired of stealthing my way through everything.

Also been playing some Spelunky. That is a great game for short play sessions. Hard though, so easy to die!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 13, 2017, 05:32:32 pm
Dark Souls 3 DLC 2....

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/89352276835615002/43DBA069ADA5D3AF828D5B14212E2199C7587242/)

Crazy combats, bloody frustrating bosses, distinctively awesome designs and mad monsters. If you like DS3 you need this, it is great.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: richieb on April 14, 2017, 09:34:49 am
Hey up game wads. I still don't know anything about gaming, but our kid's latest err...open-world first-person shooter 'The Signal from Tolva' is out if anyone is interested.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/457760/
 
 
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 14, 2017, 10:12:48 am
That looks pretty well done!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 09, 2017, 10:06:11 am
Been dabbling with games over this summer

Space Hulk Deathwing:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/298900/Space_Hulk_Deathwing/
Quote
Okay so there are issues:

-The UI and menus are quite fugly.
-The command wheel is a bit janky.
-The dialogue is as pompous as ever.
-The graphic style is a bit repetitively grey and grim.
-The central crosshair twitch is still there.
-It's pretty maze-like.

BUT:

+It's more fun in single player as you get to explore the environments a lot more.
+The graphics are good, if dark.
+The level of GRIMDARK40Kpr0n is exceptional.
+The grey corridors are broken up well enough:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=911201446
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=911201331
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=911201240
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=911201044
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=908483572
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=907817491
+Combat is decent. It's shooting 'stealers what do you expect.
+The weapon effects are proper epilepsy-inducing. I can see this would piss some people off but I kinda like it. Assault Cannon is constant strobing, Flamer fire obscures everything. It kinda works with the "I am a fucking powerful terminator but even I can't see wtf is going on when there is bullets and stealer limbs flying everywhere".
+There's mini-progression, relic collecting and micro-upgrading, which is nice enough.

In short, I'm enjoying it, and if you want to experience the Space Hulk vibe from a FPS perspective....this works.

Finished this a while ago, it is quite short but still good. At £15 well worth it.


Battletech Beta:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/637090/BattleTech/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqwzQOGGdyo

Exceptionally functional, logical, and playable squad-size turn-based mech combat game. Right from the earliest videos they seemed to have gameplay functionality spot on and Lo! it is pretty much perfect, really intuitive and logical. It's one of those games, a bit like XCom EU, with fairly limited combat options but lots of interesting combinations and possibilities of those. Easy to learn hard to master. The early access is skirmish only and still in alpha but it works bloody well - enough for me to play 20+ hours already. Unfortunately it's been delayed to 2018 but if you like the idea of the game it should be an essential purchase.


Divinity Original Sin 2
http://store.steampowered.com/app/435150/Divinity_Original_Sin_2/

I tried DOS1 because I'm a sucker for attractive ARPGs (although this is pure RPG rather than Grim Dawn ARPG). Seemed far too complicated and although the turn-based combat was cool I got my arse kicked so far sideways my PC fell off the desk, and I uninstalled it. For some reason recently I decided to try DOS2. Seemed far too complicated and I got my arse kicked so far sideways I got a nosebleed. But I reloaded, turned the difficulty down, avoided any combat and focused on gathering loot until I sort of got used to it....

And now I'm really enjoying it. It's a pretty different RPG experience for me. I don't know where the fuck I'm going, I don't know what the fuck is going on. Half the paths take me into combat that is instant death. There's a billion incomprehensible skills and items and crafting options. I'm out of my depth, my little party is out of it's depth....and surprisingly I'm really liking that. It feels genuine and "real", we're dumped in this world, banded together, with a decent knowledge of our basic skills, and just have to get on with it. It makes a refreshing change from the "player is god" style of Diablo 3 etc. It also looks bloody lovely. So yeah a pretty good timesink for the current wank weather.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: kelvin on September 09, 2017, 04:29:32 pm
I've not played games since Gran Turismo 3 but I wandered round my lad's place last Saturday - he's a bit of a serious gamer. Changes his graphics card every six months or so, watercooled PC etc and his latest purchase is an Oculus Rift headset. I wasn't expecting much as I couldn't wear my glasses plus my right eye is 6/60 vision but set the thing up and wow. I didn't expect anything like that.

So bloomin' impressive.

 :great:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 25, 2017, 09:34:47 am
http://store.steampowered.com/app/337000/Deus_Ex_Mankind_Divided/

DX5 free trial + 75% discount. I really liked it. Very stylish and detailed explorathon.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 30, 2018, 11:01:45 pm
Recently finished Grim Dawn and it's DLC, the best ARPG around IMO, all the classic ARPG cliches you could want, really nice super-detailed graphics, good bestiary, much better world than Path Of Exile, much grittier style than Diablo3.

Getting semi-close to finishing Mordheim City Of The Damned, hard, frustrating, but rewarding and well presented, turn-based Warhammer tactical game.

Also recently finished Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, some entertaining parts and good gameplay, great graphics, but a complete mess of pacing, tone, too many cutscenes and too much thrown in.

Just started Prey which is a complete contrast, only a few hours in but more captivating and convincing than the whole of Wofl2 already. Intriguing and atmospheric right from early on.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: fatneck on February 01, 2018, 04:01:48 pm
Not sure if this is the right thread but over Christmas we got and particularly enjoyed;

Dixit (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39856/dixit) - totally unique French game based on oral descriptions of fantastical pictures. Very good.

Nmbr9 (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/217449/nmbr-9) - superb spacial awareness testing game. Again, totally unique and great fun.

Both highly recommended!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 04, 2018, 11:24:51 pm
Just finished PREY after 30 hours, which simultaneously felt long (because it was continually interesting) and not long enough (because I didn't want it to end).
 
A few flaws with it:

1. The future art deco style is a matter of taste.
2. Navigating the station can become tiresome - slow inside, confusing outside.
3. The initially thrilling Typhon lose a bit of impact in the late game.
4. The crew quarters are unrealistically small.
5. The lack of a reflection in the many mirrors is jarring.

Errrr.

That's it.

I dock it a percent for each of those flaws - down to 95%

Everything else is excellent. Really spot on. Single player gaming at it's best, up there with the top plot-driven intelligent FPSes and continuing their traditions perfectly. I know I'm late to last year's party, but if anyone is sitting on the fence, just do it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 29, 2018, 10:53:43 am
One for the cute massive in tha burrow: Ghost Of A Tale
http://www.ghostofatale.com || http://store.steampowered.com/app/417290/Ghost_of_a_Tale/
 
Aka Mouse Souls: Prepare To Styx Edition. Basically if what you really want in gaming is a direct combination of Styx (gameplay mechanics), Wind In The Willows (characters and theme) and a hint of Dark Souls (map unfolding and occasional traps), then this is the game you've been waiting for. And it's actually really well done, if you don't mind slow gameplay as your routes and quests slowwwly unfold (around a tiny game world). The setting and plot are fine, the control system is refreshingly direct and responsive, and the mouse Tilo is endearingly cute and well animated. There's a few issues: some graphical glitches, textures are a bit busy, night time is very gloomy, navigating the world is slow, and it really could have done with voice acting. But I really liked it (and I am not a fan of cartoony cuteness) and reckon it's well worth a look...

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/920298637144396628/731203107D408C0EF7C3A75F7813F7F3D9C52553/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/920298545216277464/B80C69D6C990C1749A58FB6F7903A8A70B5D11D2/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/920298545216276184/B11C1A6EE5BE58403820FD2C47A0B3DD8537379F/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/920298545216275795/85F7832D35ECD5B6F3F91F38A4DAF37867FC9996/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/919172870849266573/29810E2D7D007CE79DA0DC60C3653B46B9015B3E/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/919172995946285489/E10B23534E215661A3D12B86B8D502F9DDDDA071/)

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 29, 2018, 10:59:00 am
And from tiny meeses to giant robots: Battletech
https://store.steampowered.com/app/637090/BATTLETECH/

It's out, and entirely unsurprisingly, it delivers. Slick and very functional turn-based combat in the classic easy to grasp hard to master vein, well themed settings, properly chunky and satisfying weapons / effects, and a full single player campaign (with a lot of waffly story I'm trying hard to ignore). XCom with 30m tall battle mechs?? Just get it.

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/919174772921367976/5936B87A78D436FC10FF77E186FEE9B6B62EB920/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/919174947564247015/569F4295AA134D6FA11C6D727AC60547422D0119/)



Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on July 24, 2018, 09:29:55 am
Of specialist and old fashioned interest, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvowTA3y6No

2 decades overdue, I made a Quake custom level. Pretty pleased with it as a first ever level so I did a walkthrough and explanation.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 14, 2019, 10:58:19 am
Been a good autumn for catching up on games. Not many games released of interest this year as I refuse to be held hostage by Epic Games anti-consumer, anti-competitiveness, anti-choice EGS exclusives, but still some good stuff.

Game Of The Year: A Plague Tale - Innocence.

Pretty much as good as "young children avoiding pestilent rats" sims go. My Steam review:

Quote
A truly beautiful narrative game. Sure it has the usual narrative / interactive movie pitfalls (linear, restrictive, stealth-lite / puzzle-lite gameplay is mostly adequate rather than exceptional - although it does get progressively more interesting, apart from the dire and obtuse boss combat), BUT as far as the genre goes it really is a captivating experience. Graphics are excellent and are fully harmonious with the art direction and atmosphere rather than just being good for the sake of it, the whole presentation is of a rich and realistic medieval world. With the surprisingly endearing characters and characterful (and sometimes gruesome) hazards, it is quite enthralling.

It's also only £20 at the moment so if you have any taste, decency, or shreds of humanity left, you'll get it:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/752590/A_Plague_Tale_Innocence/

Here's a few shots to give some flava:

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/759348527525777021/B1C7358FCCD544E5467F991F8FB1B326ADD0CF82/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/759348753106273993/102F29060BE8069C48E2394ADD68E5283EE889EC/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/759348849933770433/AAD8E8B084458A6E0B15A0D801BC5738D1AD0400/)

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/777363736099516572/9DA87166A689E79A7A2BC932DFC2413463B2D712/)

Other stuff:

Dishonoured 2: Death Of The Outsider

Part sequel, part DLC, all the usual Dishonoured tricky gameplay / stylish dieselpunk goodness, but also a fantastic final level that's the aesthetic highlight of the series.


Battletech: Heavy Metal

More mech mashing. Battletech is now a classic game and this just adds more of the same, albeit at a steep price. But the new mechs are stylish and full of character, new weapons are useful, and the new flashpoint is nice enough.

Warhammer 40k: Mechanicus

Turn-based Strategy is one of the most thriving genres at the moment. This 40K offering is very "gamey" and "arena-y" and lacks a proper sense of exploration and progression, but more than makes up for it with great fun gameplay that gives you far more options than the usual TBS normal, allowing for some really enjoyable and rewarding action. Nice to see devs really focusing on the gameplay and pulling it off.

Mutant Year Zero: Seeds Of Evil

Yet more TBS, and this one is full of ALL the character that W40K:M lacks. Good exploration, great characters, lovely atmosphere graphics for the genre, and the gameplay is streamlined but still fun. This is the DLC to the main game and continues the high quality with additional challenges and a strong theme.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on December 14, 2019, 11:33:05 am
Got a relatively free weekend with no outdoor climbing plans so... As I type this I'm downloading the latest expansion / DLC for Grim Dawn called 'Forgotten Gods'. Grim Dawn itself is an excellent aRPG game (slower paced and story-line driven in comparison to Diablo 3 / Path Of Exile) can often be picked up on sale for sub <£10 prices along with the first couple bits of DLC.

I often go out of my way to avoid games that get a little rapey in their use of DLC / Season passes etc - mainly because I game so little it isn't worth it but also I dislike that sales model.

This game though is such good value, the developers really have put work in with their continued updates and additions, they definitely earn they ££! Also there is a decent modding community, probably best after having played through the game you can try out some mods. That is my plan after playign Forgotten Gods... want to try out something called 'Grim Dawn Reborn 3.0':

https://www.nexusmods.com/grimdawn/mods/71

Can be downloaded from the above link if anyone fancies :)





Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 14, 2019, 11:36:51 am
Grim Dawn - best of the "recent" triptych of fairly similar ARPGs. It's got the grit and style of Path Of Exile (but not the randomly generated maps thank fuck) blended with the fun and spectacle of Diablo 3. All the ARPG cliches you could ever want from an instantly forgettable story, entirely overcomplicated 3-4 tier character system, dungeons with giant spiders etc etc JESUS CHRIST WILL IT NEVER END. But it plays smoothly and looks great, the world detailing is the best I've seen.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197971710064/screenshots/?appid=219990&sort=newestfirst&browsefilter=myfiles&view=grid

I concur with Grim Dawn overall. However Forgotten Gods ran so slowly on my machine (like proper bugged to shittery slowly) that I had to cancel it for a refund.

Talking of ARPGs (with a bit of TBS too), I'm going to dive into Divinity Original Sin 2 next. I played 50 hours of the Early Access and even that truncated version was a GOTY for 2017 or whenever it was. Definitely one to see one through the grim winter evenings.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on December 15, 2019, 10:10:59 am
Ahh that sucks it didn't run well :/ If it was some sort of early release bug it might have been patched now? But decent that you got a refund. I've started the new Oathkeeper class from the beginning so won't get to the new content for a while...

DOS2 is another excellent game. I did a co-op online play through with a friend. Lots of fun. Equally good as a solo player. So much flavour and back story to all the characters. No spoiler but Loshe was a particular fave, some powerful 'hits you in the feels' parts to her play through. Have fun!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 15, 2019, 05:45:35 pm
Oooh I might make sure I have her then.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 18, 2020, 10:07:06 am
Crzylgs help! I've started DOS2 with Lohse (2handed+metamorph) as main char, Red Prince (dual wielding semi-tank), Sebille (scoundrel + support), Fane (archer + necro support), got well into the Driftwood area and I'm finding it pretty gruelling. Despite my personal playstyle being very exploratory / looty I still find myself underpowered for most combats (I'm lvl 12 facing lvl 13-14), especially first attempts because almost all the non-magister combats seem to involve some unpredictable instant death trick (possessed dwarf that mutates into a voidwoken with more hp and armour than my entire party, assassins with infinitely castable invisibility, endless oil blob voidwoken, scarecrows with non-cancellable terror  etc etc etc). I'm juggling gear, crafting scrolls etc etc, abusing teleport as much as I can, but I'm still having to save-scum to fuckery to get anywhere, which TBH spoils the otherwise fun exploration and immersion. Help! (And no, "rebuild entire party" is not ideal). P.S. This is after 120+ hours in DoS1 and DoS2 EA plus probably 1000 hours combined in RPG and turn-based strat games in general. HUH.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on January 18, 2020, 03:35:28 pm
Been quite a while since I've played it tbh but seems like there could have been quests you've missed that you might be able to double back to so that you're not under-levelled?

I remember there are some quests / areas that either difficult to do or easy to miss when you first play though.

In terms of tips:
- stealing from NPCs (unless this is against your RP rules) can be very beneficial in terms of affording better items/spells etc.
- Not wanting to rebuild your entire party but if you could work in a Summoner it might make things easier. It always seemed very powerful to me as you essentially gain a throwaway party member to distract enemies with.

I think once you gain a couple more levels you'll be able to benefit from a greater variety of skills and abilities that really complement each other. There are certain combos that work really... I can't remember all the skill names but things like rain > freeze for an AoE CC ability. Basically all CC abilities are powerful in this game. Depending whether you party ends up doing more magic or physical damage you can target your CC against the other type of enemies. This allows you to 'nuke' down a target or two that you're strong against, then have way less incoming damage to deal with for rest of battle.

Hope that was of some help, sorry can't be more specific is a game i enjoyed and played through with a friend co-op but didn't play over prolonged duration for everything to be burned into memory.


Haven't been playing much recently apart from a little gem called 'Mindustry'. I imagine its a rather 'marmite' game, essentially explained as 'Factorio + Tower Defense':

https://anuke.itch.io/mindustry

You can get it for 'name your price' here directly from the game developer 'Anuke'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1127400/Mindustry/

Or buy on Steam for £5.


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 18, 2020, 10:15:33 pm
Cheers dude. I've got a couple of chars who can do basic summons so am using that all the time. I'm using teleport and knockdown for CC but i think I need to up my game in that area. I've started making sure I explore in a circle around driftwood rather than going too far in one direction and getting out of my depth. Will keep plodding on...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 23, 2020, 07:19:13 pm
If you're somewhat lacking in psyche for another great ""winter"" weekend's forecast, there are some great games in the Steam Sale at the mo:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/374320/DARK_SOULS_III/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/637090/BATTLETECH/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/417290/Ghost_of_a_Tale/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/552500/Warhammer_Vermintide_2/

About 10 fuck alls each for those, all were legit great at full price.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/752590/A_Plague_Tale_Innocence/

20 fuck alls for that and one of the most beautiful games you'll ever play.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 25, 2020, 11:00:33 pm
Crzylgs cheers for the pro-tips, I guess I still have some noobism as I didn't know the CC acronym!! I guess I have neglected it as many of the turn-based strats i've played recently - especially Battletech where there is a single "knocked down" option that doesn't even take a turn out - haven't featured it majorly. So now I have nudged things that way, I'm still lacking AOE CC, but I've got:
Lohse with Knockdown, Battering Ram and Chicken Claw, and Summon Oily Blob
Red Prince with Knockdown, Battering Ram, Teleport and Shocking Touch
Sebille with Sleeping Potion and Teleport
Fane with Teleport and Summon Bone Widow plus the usual selection of special arrows.
So now once I strip physical armour off I can keep the main enemies perma knocked down - often after using teleport or wings/flight/linked pyramids to get myself in advantageous position and also to teleport the main enemies away from support, then use tele and summons to keep them out of the way. I've managed to get through a few fights first go this evening which is a merciful relief. There are still some that are as imba as fuck or impossible first go unless you know a specific trick (Blackpits Aethera Boss, lamenting horror with infinite void howl stack, that fucking burning bitch with her one-bo first turn attack etc etc etc). But it's better.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on January 26, 2020, 11:42:51 am
No worries, glad to help. Am sure you've figured it out by now but for any others CC was referring to Crowd Control. Any ability that can hinder your opponents ability to control their character, either preventing movement, silencing spellcasting ability, or making them completely skip a turn.

In my younger days I was a bit of a veteran of all sorts of Player Vs Player games... CC plays an integral role to these so I've always highly valued it.

Some (easier/more straight forward) games you can ignore CC and simply 'nuke' down enemies one by one... But in DoS, especially on harder difficulties well organised, thoughtful and often even sequential chained together CC is a must!

Seems like you're nicely getting the hang of it and doing much better now  :punk:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on February 15, 2020, 11:46:05 am
Storm Ciara and now Dennis has resulted in me finding a little gem called Battle Brothers:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/365360/Battle_Brothers/

Haven't sunk many hours into it yet but reviews seem mostly positive and from my initial messing around its a fun mixture of RPG and Squad building/management.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 24, 2020, 01:01:58 pm
Seems we're going to have more time for games so hears a few of my favourites from the last year or so.

Hollow Knight - Amazing metroidvania in a beautiful arty bug inspired world. Great atmosphere, controls really well and quite a challenge. Overall one of my top games of all time.

Obra Dinn - Weird murder mystery puzzle game on a Marie Celeste type ship. Very cool and unique game from the same guy that did Papers, Please (also excellent).

Bloodbourne - If you want to fully embrace the grim plague type aesthetics  of current times, this is an amazing game. Absolutely nails, obtuse and simply divine. One of the best games I've played. Not relaxing at all!

Currently playing the Outer Wilds. So far so good exploring a weird solar system trying to unravel the time looping mystery. Will report back, seems very cool.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 24, 2020, 07:16:26 pm
Good bump Jamie.

I'm about to finish Divinity Original Sin 2 which is as good an ultra-detailed immersive timesink RPG as it ever gets (and was 50% off on Steam yesterday).

Then I got stacked up: Black Mesa (Half Life remake), Dragon's Dogma, Jedi Fallen Order, and Metro Exodus. I'm putting Doom Eternal on hold until the price drops, but there's plenty of previous Epic Game Store exclusives coming to Steam later this year.

My topical pick for these times is of course: A Plague Tale: Innocence. Unlike Bloodborne it is not at all nails nor obtuse (indeed the polar opposite in many ways), but it is absolutely beautifully presented and thoroughly captivating as "walking sims with lite stealth and puzzle sections" go. Plus, rats, lots of rats.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 24, 2020, 09:45:28 pm
I really enjoyed the last Doom. Just so much fun. And quality soundtrack.

Plague tale sound interesting. Might have to check that out.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Murph on March 25, 2020, 09:00:11 am
Currently playing the Outer Wilds. So far so good exploring a weird solar system trying to unravel the time looping mystery. Will report back, seems very cool.

Absolutely loved outer wilds. Just whizz about in your comedy spaceship enjoying the (quantum?) physics until the sun explodes. It really is quite a beautiful game. Kid-safe and educational too if anyone needs to consider that.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on March 25, 2020, 02:37:57 pm
Have I posted about STEEP on here? ski, snowboard, wingsuit, parapente or even extreme sledging down some great mountains. Graphics are amazing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Trail on March 25, 2020, 03:32:18 pm
Currently working my way through Witcher 3 (bit late to it as have a switch) and Untitled Goose game.
Any game where you get to stroll round as a goose honking at ppl and being a dick is on to something :lol:! Even got my other half curious enough to start playing
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 25, 2020, 05:51:59 pm
I've heard Untitled Goose Game is really good. Need to check that out too.

Witcher 3! Now we're talking. I loved that game. Epic time sink though. I've had to back off massive games like that since the little one came along. No chance I can play 100+ hr games anymore. Although I do have a switch which has been great on the train (although obviously not at the moment). Enjoy.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on March 28, 2020, 09:43:06 am
Tabletop Simulator - was a friends birthday yesterday who is quite a keen board game player (think Dixit, Carcassonne, 7 Wonders, Splendor) originally was planning a board game get together which had been cancelled with the Corona shutdown.

I've recently discovered Tabletop Simulator... Knew of its existence for a long time but had always ignored for some reason, anyway it is superb! After my suggestion we managed to organise a group of 8 of us (with varying IT expertise) to all install TTS get on Discord for voice comms conference room style and had an evening of eating nachos and drinking beer. Was a really fantastic change of vibe from the last couple weeks.

Had so much fun I was tempted to joint post this to 'Good things that happen since Corona' thread but probably more appreciated in here.

For more of an overview of exactly what TTB is, I'll give it my best shot:

The 'game' itself simply acts like a framework/sandbox then other people add content to the Steam Workshop where they have essentially uploaded. You'll find a vast array of games from humble card and board games to people ripping entire Warhammer armies to allow games of 40k, Killteam etc.

I've been really impressed with it and for £15 is an absolute bargain. Can see myself using it a lot of the coming weeks but also beyond any lockdown simply to pay board games with people who love around the country/world  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on March 29, 2020, 03:15:41 pm
When you say "vast array" of games, is there a list anywhere of all the games you can get for it? My interest is definitely piqued as we often have games nights which are obviously cancelled at the moment. Can you get Catan, Citadels, Istanbul, Smallworlds etc etc etc on there?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on March 30, 2020, 01:01:02 am
I did the honours and can confirm all those games are there. You're probably harder pushed to find something that isn't there! You can search the 'Steam Workshop' for TTS here:

https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/about/?appid=286160

This is the easiest way to get games. All you have to do is to own TTS on Steam, search the 'Workshop', click 'Subscribe' and the content will be available for you to host. ONLY the host needs the game, when you invite others to join it is shared to them. There is no messing around moving files around on your PC or having to do anything remotely technical. Other content can be found elsewhere, for instance I like some of Games Workshop's offerings (40k, Killteam + Warcry) due to copyright you can find these if you look online a little harder.

Honestly if you have regular games nights I'm sure you'll love TTS. As I mentioned the group I played with most of them were much more board game savvy than IT savvy and they were all really impressed!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on March 30, 2020, 01:40:16 pm
This sounds very promising. I'm guessing that it doesn't work having two people playing separately on one machine, passing the laptop between them?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on March 30, 2020, 03:49:30 pm
That definitely can work but might be little hit and miss depending on the game / how (if at all) it is scripted. We had people doing that on Friday and worked fairly well.

What people who were playing as a two did was to use mobile phones - with the Discord App downloaded - so that they could independently chat and not feel left out in that respect. Rather than say sharing a PC headset. If you do this you'll probably have to mute each other else a funky feedback loop/echo of sorts will occur.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on April 03, 2020, 09:49:46 pm
If anyone does check out Tabletop Simulator I can highly recommend a game called 'Wingspan'. One of the best board games I've played. Its a deck/engine builder type game. Seemed fairly complicated/daunting when rules were being explained but after you've taken a turn or two it begins to make sense. Costs ~£80 for the physical version but is on TTS for free and has a legit advertised 'Wokshop' plugin (that looks almost sponsored or like it should be paid content) I have no idea how that is possible but not complaining  :shrug:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on April 03, 2020, 10:14:06 pm
We just finished a game of Catan. Fairly simple, but I think the version that we used from the Steam Workshop made things pretty easy. Sitting at a desk with a mouse would definitely be an advantage. None of us has Discord so we just started a Whatsapp group video chat.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 04, 2020, 11:55:22 am
I got my wife Wingspan for her birthday recently. We've only had one game so far. Was really good fun. Does seem daunting at first but quickly started to make sense. Beautiful illustrations on the cards.

Another computer game that I forgot to recommend is Dead Cells. Really good rogue like game. Lovely art, great character progression. Fun weapons.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 07, 2020, 09:42:59 am
Finished DOS2 and can recommend it as one of the very best super-detailed RPG timesinks around as long as you can put up with the unbalanced cheese-reliant combat (which is actually okay if you play it in a "meta" way by playing the system).

Now on to Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order which has horrible floaty controls and drunk camera movement, broken combat balance, erratically mis-placed checkpoints and too much parkour as well as a main character who is an utterly uninspiring Disney-friendly soggy turd which I guess fits in well with the usual Jedi / human story which is by far the worst thing about Star Wars, BUT it does look amazing, has cool worlds and monsters, and is thankfully fairly chock-full of SW tech / vehicle / scenery pr0n which has always been by far the best bit about the franchise.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 07, 2020, 10:06:11 am
Finished Outer Wilds. One of the most creative games I've ever played. Most definitely not your usual AAA fluff. Gives you that amazing feeling of discovery like few games I've ever played. It also has a surprisingly good writing, story and characters. Occasionally a bit janky and some 'puzzles' are really quite obtuse, especially towards the end (I cheated, got some hints and watched some YouTube). But overall a really fantastic experience. Recommended for people that like exploring a cool world (solar system), learning its secrets but not if you are an action junky. Quite a slow game.

Now playing pure AAA fluff. Borderlands 3. Feels exactly the same as Borderlands 2 (and the expansions I played). The humour is juvenile, the story stupid and you just shoot everything that moves. And I LOVE it. It's a massive guilty pleasure. I like the art, the bazillion guns and I obviously have a puerile sense of humour. Ace!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 11, 2020, 02:35:09 pm
Okay in case anyone needs the best pure ARPG in recent years here it is for 4 fucking fuckalls:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/219990/Grim_Dawn/

Beautiful graphics, stylish enemies, fun gameplay and all the fantasy rpg cliches you could want, grittier, less cartoony, and more challenging than Diablo 3, and more stylish, better themed and less dweeby than Path Of Exile.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on April 30, 2020, 08:29:42 am
FAO Gamers: the two most recent Deus Ex games (Human Revolution and Mankind Divided) are properly good, and are now cheap as dirt on GOG - go get 'em: https://www.gog.com/news/dungeon_siege_and_deus_ex_series_now_available_on_gogcom
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 05, 2020, 11:51:27 am
Two 3rd person action games I've been playing recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5yMfC9LQM
https://store.steampowered.com/app/870780/Control_Ultimate_Edition/
CONTROL - finally released properly on Steam. Bloody brilliant. It's as good as the trailer implies, albeit with more intrigue / exploration / subtlety, although the combat is as fun and riotous as it looks. I never thought I'd be into wandering around an office block but it's the theme is exceptionally well done and quite captivating. It reminds me a lot of Prey 2017 (high praise!) with the combination of a "limited" world, plentiful exploration / unfolding, a very purposeful theme and an intriguing sense of menace. I've not finished it yet, but like Prey I've got the feeling I'll regret coming to the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBei3JUz5s
https://store.steampowered.com/app/617290/Remnant_From_the_Ashes/
Remant: From The Ashes - quite different and very worthwhile in it's own way, with the caveat that some of the boss combat difficulty spikes are broken as fuck (i.e. 10x-20x +++ times harder than the normal maps / combats, I had to cheat through 3 (the WeMod cheat trainer works fine) and spend hours levelling up for one....oh and another boss arena took me 42 attempts / deaths, whilst the previous 3 large maps of the main gameworld had taken 3 deaths over 2 hours). Aside from that, this is a good, meaty, Soulslike game with shooting instead of melee and some fairly freshly themed worlds instead of the standard dark fantasy. Fun to mooch around, but notably the controls and gamefeel are surprisingly good for a 3rd person game - very crisp and direct, the combination of aiming, shooting, dodge-rolling and reloading in quick succession is satisfyingly slick and makes the non-boss combat quite a blast.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 05, 2020, 06:45:31 pm
+1 for Control. I've been playing through it on the PS4 and really enjoying it. Not sure how far through I am, but definitely enjoying seeing the mystery unfold. As Fiend says pretty ominous and weird atmosphere that manages to avoid most of the sci-fi type cliches.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Plattsy on September 11, 2020, 02:29:24 pm
Played a few hours of Hotshot Racing last night. Pretty good arcade racer. Polygon look with responsive quick controls. Huge nostalgia feel for 90s games like Outrun and Ridge Racer. In fact there's probably a bit of all those games in HR.

Also played a couple of chapters of The Turing Test. So far I'm really enjoying it. A sci-fi puzzler a lot like Portal.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Aussiegav on September 12, 2020, 08:59:38 am
I’m looking for a hand held game option. Sick of having adverts to contend with on the iPhone.
An option  that has simple shooting style games. PSP hand consoles aren’t around anymore
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 12, 2020, 09:17:04 am
Nintendo Switch is the best option at the moment. If you are only interested in playing it in handheld mode (i.e. never docked to the telly) then you can by a lite version which is cheaper. https://www.nintendo.com/switch/lite/

As for games. Do you mean first person shooters? Then maybe the new Doom games which are on switch.

Or more top down shooters? Maybe something like Enter the Gungeon.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Aussiegav on September 12, 2020, 09:40:22 am
Cheers

I’ll have a look at the lite.
Yes, first person shooters and years ago I had force unleashed which was good as well.
I remember playing Doom in the ?? early90s. Used feel sick if I played it too long
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2020, 09:49:46 am
The FPS genre, despite appearances, has died a bit of a death compared to the glory peaks of the Doom / Quake / Q2 / Unreal era and the HL2 / Far Cry 1 era. A lot of them tend to be big, homogenous interactive-movie / MP-focused / sandbox (delete as applicable, preferably from your hard drive) franchises like Call Of Duty  :sick: , Battlefield, Far Cry, Halo, etc etc. Or even worse, another sodding battle royale clone. (In contrast RPGs, 3rd person souls-likes, and turn-based strat have been as strong as ever.)

Proper, slick, creatively atmosphered action-orientated SP FPSes are somewhat rarer. Doom 2016 / Eternal are the flagships. Wolfenstein reboot series showed promise but turned into a messy OTT parody if itself. Dishonoured / 2 are brilliant games but errr slightly more on the "sim" style of intelligent FPS like Deus Ex. Prey 2017 does even more so and is also brilliant. There's been a resurgence in "modern retro FPSes" using retro graphics and retro gameplay to recreate the halycon days but they're almost all dire and completely miss the point.

The Nintendo Switch is meant to be very good for what it is.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on September 12, 2020, 10:08:31 am
I really like my switch. It was perfect for when I was commuting on the train for an hour each way before lockdown. And I started playing it more than the PS4 at home too since I could just sit in bed and play it. Obviously the games aren't as pretty as they are on the PS4 but to be honest I don't really notice since i play it handheld most of the time.

Another first person shooter that is supposed to be good (although I haven't actually played it) is superhot. Its sort of a mix between a shooter and a puzzle game. Any other types of game interest you?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Aussiegav on September 12, 2020, 11:32:25 am
Been in Clash for god knows how long. Got to TH11 and then fizzled out.
Just looking for something to play while in bed of an evening or in between dead hangs 😂😂
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on September 12, 2020, 12:32:20 pm
Maybe off topic, but: XCom Enemy Within on  IOS, also Titan Quest. Both proper paid for games so no adverts. Maybe Warhammer Quest for something simpler.

(I recommend these as someone who has tried quite a lot of mobile games and has learnt to utterly despise the mobile gaming market, the business model, and almost all games within it)

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/xcom-enemy-within/id881270303
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/titan-quest-hd/id1424977227
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/warhammer-quest/id573516833
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 27, 2020, 10:10:49 pm
Been tasked with getting the lad a headset for his X BOX one. He's never really played much co-op games before, but he's getting SW Squadrons for Xmas, so I think it's time.

Selection is a bit over whelming though, is there much difference between £20 and £50?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 28, 2020, 12:32:02 pm
These ones seem to get pretty good reviews. And won't break the bank.

https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/turtle-beach-recon-70-headset

Haven't used them myself, since I'd need friends to play with . . .  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on January 21, 2021, 09:02:38 am
We got him a set, but for now he seems to be happy to play on his own.

Visually impressive game, but seems a bit samey? I've tried it, but it's a lot harder than he makes it look!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Durbs on January 21, 2021, 10:17:35 am
Very late to the party, but it was on silly offer on the UbiSoft store, so picked up Assassin's Creed Origins. My first foray into AC, and lots of fun. Gorgeous looking game. Good story until the end, now just happily plodding around Egypt mopping up the quests.

For Board Game fans - I've been using Board Game Arena, which is a tie-in of Board Game Geek. Has some good games on there, Premium membership is only £22 p/a and lets you play with others in your house (and usefully friends/family playing in a different house) , share laptops etc.

Good range of games on there, and mostly well implemented. The UI for the lobbies, community etc is terrible, but the games are well done.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 15, 2021, 11:15:55 am
I've been neglecting this thread, but not neglecting gaming due to obvious reasons, so here's a few updates....

2020 GOTYs:

1. Control
https://store.steampowered.com/app/870780/Control_Ultimate_Edition/
Brilliant smart intriguing 3rd person action with a likeable character, good exploration, and a characterful setting. Essential.

2. Metro Exodus
https://store.steampowered.com/app/412020/Metro_Exodus/
Great post-apoc FPS with strong atmosphere, fantastic detailing, and some good variety.

3. Hellpoint
https://store.steampowered.com/app/628670/Hellpoint/
Sleeper hit soulslike action RPG in a weird slightly abstract gothic sci-fi setting, plays and controls nicely (the "controller recommended" warning is a complete lie, it's fine with m+kb and slicker than the soulslike average)


And on the subject of Hellpoint I've been getting back into Soulslikes recently (despite boss combat frustrations, I generally love the exploration and convoluted level design), I managed to get a couple of bargains recently that I've been enjoying:

Lords Of The Fallen
https://store.steampowered.com/app/265300/Lords_Of_The_Fallen/
A few years old but not that dated, albeit a bit slow and clunky control-wise. I tried this years ago, didn't get on with the soulslike combat, had a strop and deleted it. A £2.50 repurchase on GOG sale was well worth it. Not a classic of the genre but plenty fun enough.

The Surge
https://store.steampowered.com/app/378540/The_Surge/
Another one, like Hellpoint with a different setting to the norm - this time corporate / industrial near-future sci-fi. Not my favourite style but it's still pretty cool, and also like Hellpoint, the controls are quick and smooth


* Worth noting that all of these games are massively discounted at the moment (ending today I think) due to the Steam Lunar New Year sale.... *


I've also got Sekiro stocked up, waiting for Nioh on discount. And got a couple of TBSes loitering in the background - Phoenix Point and Necromunda (hoping to do the last one at the same time as painting a classic Escher model for it).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on February 15, 2021, 11:29:01 am
I liked Control a lot too when I played it. It starts off strong in both story and gameplay, but I felt it fizzled out a little towards the end. Still well worth it overall.

I think the best game I've played this year was Hades. Really nice roguelike (or maybe rougelite) with cool ancient greek gods inspired story, excellent art/music and addictive gameplay. Played it for far too long really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD8x5xLHRho

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on February 15, 2021, 02:59:09 pm
Good luck with Sekiro Fiend, no shields to hide behind in that game!!!

Hades looks great. I can't wait for it and Disco Elysium to come out on PS4.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on February 15, 2021, 03:38:47 pm
I’m not brave enough for sekiro. I loved bloodborne but it was stressful. And when I had more time before kids. Sekiro looks too much.

Disco Elysium looks ace. I believe it’s coming to switch too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on February 15, 2021, 04:57:23 pm
JamieG - Control didn't really fizzle for me, I liked the pre-ending, but also I jumped straight into the two DLCs which were really good.

I've seen a lot of love for Hades for sure.

Zod's, I always start with a shield and never use it, relying on dodging instead. I'll report back with my moaning and ragequitting :D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on February 16, 2021, 02:09:38 pm
Good luck with Sekiro Fiend, no shields or dodging to hide behind in that game!!!

Hades looks great. I can't wait for it and Disco Elysium to come out on PS4.

Corrected.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on February 17, 2021, 02:59:05 pm
Anyone had any experience with XBox controllers and "stick drift"?

Last night my left stick went a bit mad, and even a nudge up or down simulates holding it fully in that direction. This is a pain when playing, but even more annoying when trying to navigate game menus!

Tried all the homespun fixes I found to no avail. Have purchased a "repair kit" for £6 off eBay in an attempt to not spend £55 on a new controller for the second time in under 12 months...figured I've got nothing to lose.


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: iain on February 17, 2021, 05:26:41 pm
Anyone had any experience with XBox controllers and "stick drift"?

Last night my left stick went a bit mad, and even a nudge up or down simulates holding it fully in that direction. This is a pain when playing, but even more annoying when trying to navigate game menus!

Tried all the homespun fixes I found to no avail. Have purchased a "repair kit" for £6 off eBay in an attempt to not spend £55 on a new controller for the second time in under 12 months...figured I've got nothing to lose.

Worth trying the warranty if it's that recent?

https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/help/hardware-network/controller/controller-warranty
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on February 17, 2021, 07:03:02 pm
Good shout - had assumed as my receipt etc were long gone this wasn't a go-er, but it worked!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: iain on February 17, 2021, 10:20:55 pm
Good to hear  :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 12, 2021, 08:58:28 pm
Good luck with Sekiro Fiend, no shields or dodging to hide behind in that game!!!
Well you got your wish for vicarious rage I guess....

Quote
uninstalled and permanently deleted sekiro

fuck that shit

mechanics suck arse

too many fucking bosses, too many fucking bosses surrounded by mobs you have to kill every time, loosing XP and coins on death without any possible retrieval, the fucking dragon rot mechanic,

the combat mechanics and relying on parrying is okay, and the stealth and grappling hook are great, but too much fucking horseshit getting in the way of actually enjoying that

from software better buck up their fucking act for elden ring

(well less rage and more contemptuous disinterest I guess)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 26, 2021, 12:43:42 pm
And thence back to properly enjoyable and nice Soulslikes, with a twist...

Ashen...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/649950/Ashen/

I'm maybe 8 hours in and really enjoying it, despite it not being my usual aesthetic style. Quite soothing for a soulslike too.

It's got the very standard soulslikes mechanics: 3rd person combat, refillable health flasks, fairly easy to die, spaced save points, lose all your souls on death and have to re-collect them, boss combats, etc etc. BUT it brings in a fair bit new to the genre: distinct theme/setting, very stylised graphics, AI companion, home "base" that slowly grows, NPCs you meet to populate that home base, various directed side-quests, a more open world than most soulslikes - and so far nice serene music too.

Maybe a nice one to try given the forecast this weekend.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Zods Beard on March 26, 2021, 03:33:33 pm
Shame about Sekiro Fiend, it is a very tough game. Less arduous with regards to save points etc but by far the most challenging From Software game.

I've looked at Ashen but haven't bought it. Surprised your not playing Valheim TBH.

I am looking forward to Disco Elysium releasing on PS4 next week.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: iain on March 26, 2021, 04:01:52 pm

And thence back to properly enjoyable and nice Soulslikes, with a twist...

Ashen...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/649950/Ashen/

I'm maybe 8 hours in and really enjoying it, despite it not being my usual aesthetic style. Quite soothing for a soulslike too.


Nice to see someone else enjoying this, I think it's a brilliant game. I'd highly recommend co-oping it if you can, I played through it with my brother and it was a lot of fun and avoided the sometimes flaky AI with the companion.

Be prepared for some difficulty spikes, I think I read you didn't like that much in Remnant (which is also a better game in coop imo)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 26, 2021, 05:18:41 pm
I hate difficulty spikes in any games, and yeah some of Remnant's were bullshit even by soulslike standards, I've heard rumours of them in Ashen. I'm quite prepared to cheat through them if necessary these days.


Zod's it was the meta in Sekiro more than the combat that did my fucking tits in.
Quote
it's like they carefully looked at some of the more frustrating bits of soulslikes and semi-subtly made them worser
losing xp on death kinda sucks......so we'll make that worse into a permanent loss
having to run back from save points to retry boss combats kinda sucks.....so we'll make that worse by having unskippable mobs around the boss
dying time after time kinda sucks......so we'll make that worse by having a worsening problem each time you do
being underpowered and fragile kinda sucks......so we'll make that worse that you can't even grind for health / power

Anyway. Valheim, heard good things but sounds a bit open-worldy / unfocused / proc-gen for me personally.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 30, 2021, 04:48:07 pm
A couple more things I've played recently.

The Gardens Between - Nice little puzzle game with quite interesting time manipulation mechanic. Not too hard, pretty art style and not too long to outstay its welcome. Definitely a nice little time sink for a few evenings. Seems to be pretty cheap a lot of the time too. Quite a twee story about childhood friendships too but I enjoyed it.

Slay the Spire - Roguelite card battle game. Wasn't convinced after the first couple runs then it really started to get it's teeth into me. Once you start to unlock some of the better cards it improves. Feels excellent to get a really strong build going and get the cards combining into powerful attacks. Definitely would recommend if you are into that kind of thing. Quite a quirky art style too with occasional quite funny descriptions and asides for characters.

Talos Principle - Good 3d puzzle game in the vein of something like portal/portal 2 (or less so the witness). But not nearly as good as any of those. Totally ignoring the story as it seems to be some sort of pseudo-philosophical nonsense (that requires reading reams of text) which I can't be bothered with. Worth a go if you like puzzle games but would definitely recommend others before it including Portal, Portal 2, The Witness and Baba is You all of which are much better and more interesting.

Abzu - Got it free with a recent PlayStation play at home initiative. Wouldn't normally be that bothered with it except that my two year old daughter likes to sit and watch me play since it is full of bright and colourful fish. She was even learning to push the stick to steer the character a bit although we did spend ages going in circles. Definitely a very chilled out and pretty experience similar to things like Journey. Worth a go if you just want to totally chill out and look at nice fish.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 15, 2021, 11:11:41 am
Two things might be happening at the moment.

1. The dank showery weather this weekend might be preventing you having an Ascent of your own on the rock.

2. You've had the sudden and dismaying realisation that whatever cyberpunk media you've been dabbling in just doesn't have nearly enough outrageous detailing and amazing graphical atmosphere that you really need.

So here's the solution!!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/979690/The_Ascent/

Isometric-ish twin-stick-shooter-controlled ARPG-lite. Controls are a bit janky and I'd prefer it in a true Grim-Dawn-style ARPG format, and the RPG aspects are a bit light.....BUT.....Holy fucking DETAILS. The world building is astonishing. Absolutely packed to the brim in cyberpunk styles designs and vibes. So if you like the sound of that, get it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 03, 2021, 08:27:39 am

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wVDeLtyz8rs

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1231840/Climber_Sky_is_the_Limit/

Demo available. Tuck in!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on October 03, 2021, 10:40:03 am
Sorry too busy managing my beaver based empire in Timberborn :)

Good fun if you like sim/management games. It's not overly complex at face value but then there are some slightly hidden advanced mechanics that take a bit of figuring out. The game is based around a wet / dry season cycle, water being essential for growing crops and making power for advanced materials. So you end up with some very funky dam, floodgate, irrigation shenanigans going on.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 11, 2021, 10:45:42 am
(https://scontent.fman4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/264659800_10160342321983623_1129097028916722992_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=yVqK-6wAooYAX84cvmS&_nc_ht=scontent.fman4-2.fna&oh=00_AT_fL2gZ29MuzKmocbuYCk_-buI5rCGfG6tOOY67I3MBaA&oe=61B97323)

Back to the OG...

An online gaming friend encouraged me to play Dark Souls Remastered (which is incidentally an almost fully functional PC port for a change) as he loves the original (but hasn't played any other soulsbornes nor other soulslikes, da fuck). And then got completely irate with me because I 1. Started with the Master Key gift and did most of the first third of the game completely arse over tit and upside down, and 2. Kept moaning that it wasn't as good as DS3. Which it isn't, but I can imagine it was pretty amazing at the time and as the first of the series, and once I got past the usual frustrating gameplay and lack of fast travel, I've really got into it myself, I wouldn't say it's fully distracted me from injury and lack of climbing, but it's had a tiny numbing effect on my.....soul.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 29, 2022, 11:48:20 am
Okay so a belated Games Of The Year 2022 which due to my backlog and a lot of 2022 releases actually being log, only contains one 2022 game....

Ashen:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/649950/Ashen/
Unusual stylised soulslike with some nice additional extras like side-quests, evolving characters / hub, coop, etc. Some good exploration and lovely vibes in this, definitely a soulslike that transcends the genre a bit.

The Ascent:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/979690/The_Ascent/
Ultra-detailed and atmospheric cyberpunk world that is a constant pleasure to explore and battle around despite the rather light RPG elements.

Dark Souls Remastered:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/570940/DARK_SOULS_REMASTERED/
The OG. It didn't have the impact it could on me due to playing Dark Souls 3 recently, but undeniably great (and brutal). There's a good reason it spawned one of the best gaming sub-genres around.

...

And talking of soulslikes, I'm now on Nioh, which is more like a blend of classic ARPG-style missions / combats / looting / gear-munching in 3rd person, with soulslike savepoints and XP mechanics, all wrapped up in an entirely incomprehensible Japanese story. It misses out on the fantastic connected world exploration of Dark Souls, but makes up for that with genuinely useful looting, great graphics, characterful monsters and mythologies, and a much more forgiving meta.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/485510/Nioh_Complete_Edition___Complete_Edition/


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 14, 2022, 07:00:36 pm
My gaming knowledge doesn't go beyond a bit of tabletop RPG stuff, but my gamer friends seem to think this bundle for Ukraine is a good deal:

https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine

"Contains a mix of video games (mostly windows, some mac, some linux), ttrpgs, and solo rpgs," according to one of the aforementioned friends..

Specifically on the ttrpg side, and for another good cause: https://itch.io/b/1308/ttrpgs-for-trans-rights-in-texas

Basically, they're great if you want to pick up a giant grab-bag of indie stuff to explore for a tiny fraction of its normal price (and throw some money at people doing good work).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 13, 2022, 11:37:53 am
Let's talk Elden Ring !!!!

Wellsy, your time, also I've got a mate who lurks on UKB and has ragequit ER so  :wave: @him too.

Okay so Elden Ring is clearly massively flawed:

- PC port is bolloxed as usual with inadequate key rebinds, and very clunky menus.

- Mouse movement is also bolloxed, being cripplingly slow on highest settings, then if this is overcome in Window's settings, the horse riding is nauseatingly jerky and bow-aiming is near-impossible.

- The game runs really slowly, partly because the graphics scalability is woeful (i.e. still looks amazing on lowest settings, and could have been scaled down further).

- "Invisible monster" bug took months to be fixed.

- The lore and story is even more utter gobbledegook and before, managing to simultaneously be tediously generic and off-puttingly incomprehensible. It's like FromSoft put "generic epic fantasy cliches" into an AI text simulator, then translated it to Japanese and back to English using Google translate.

- The copy'n'paste dungeons and re-used monsters / bosses are blatantly lazy filler design.

- The open world can be a bit dull and tedious with too much empty wandering and lack of design.

- The aesthetics and splendour sometimes rely too much on BIG for the sake of BIG and overwhelm the viewer by size rather than purpose.

- The general aesthetics of the open world areas are a bit bland / chromatically jarring with the endless rocks and trees being a bit tiresome.

- As usual some of the progression / exploration can be just as obscure as the lore with quests / areas requiring specific actions that are easy to miss / bugger up, and/or outright obscure secret-hunting.

- The monster design is quite variable in quality from mundane (endless zombies and oversized real world critters) to OTT and bonkers (without logic to the combination).

- In short it's a weird mish-mash of open world, tight but basic dungeons, and more conventional souls-like interconnected maps, almost certain to annoy both open-world RPG players who will get frustrated with the bosses / difficulty / FromSoft obscurity, AND traditional Soulsborne players who will get fed up with some bland emptiness and endless wandering around picking flowers and mushrooms.



OTOH it's GOTY2022 and I'm fucking loving it  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wellsy on May 15, 2022, 05:55:02 pm
Hmmmm tbh I have a lot of thoughts

I'll start by saying I think this is the best Fromsoft game ever, I think it's directly better than all of them except Bloodbourne and while BB is better in some ways overall I think ER is superior

I'd say playing it on a PC is probably hideous and essentially an exercise in sadomasochism, and not even the fun kind.

I liked the lore and the world. I liked the open world. I'm a big fan of melancholic wandering through a vast empty ruin as a theme and this delivered. I do agree that it could be repetitive but I would say that what they made is truly gorgeous.

It's a Souls game, with everything that entails. I think that at what it's trying to do it succeeds magnificently at though.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 15, 2022, 08:01:29 pm
I'd say playing it on a PC is probably hideous and essentially an exercise in sadomasochism, and not even the fun kind.
Not at all. Despite them buggering up the port AS USUAL, it plays and controls absolutely fine with #pcmasterrace M+KB (I don't use horse much, and only use the bow to snipe, so the over-fast movements of those isn't a big issue). I've played plenty of Soulslikes (DSRM, DS3, Nioh, Remnant, Ashen, The Surge and Hellpoint (which falsely claimed a controller was very important, and actually controlled the smoothest of the lot)) on PC and apart from fucked ports (that would be extraordinarily easily fixed if they tried) they're all inherently fine. None of that #consolepeasant nonsense for me,

Quote
It's a Souls game, with everything that entails.
Except it's not. It's a direct mixture of a Souls game with an open world RPG game, and everything that entails (very open-ended, lots of exploration, sometimes little interconnectivity, fast-movement option to compensate for size, plenty of crafting and resource-gathering options, the ability to avoid a lot of bosses, etc etc). It is exactly Dark Skyrim, or Elden Scrolls, and in that context...

Quote
I think that at what it's trying to do it succeeds magnificently at though.
:agree: is definitely correct. It's not the best Souls game around. It's not the best open world RPG around. It IS by far the best Open World Soulslike (released this spring).

P.S. I didn't post all the good things, but there are definitely quite a few.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wellsy on May 15, 2022, 08:43:19 pm
I used to be a PC guy but I don't really play games so much any more so I can't really justify the investment.

I think that I probably enjoy this the most out of FS games personally with the possible exception of Bloodbourne, which truly was a masterpiece.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 16, 2022, 11:06:28 am
Okay so a few minor things I like:

+ quality-of-life tweaks are great: no stamina use outside of combat, open world mobs refill health flasks, all merchants buy almost all stuff so all collecting has value.

+ accessibility tweaks are great: almost all bosses are optional, bonfire spacing much closer, bonfires / stakes closer to bosses, coop / spirit ashes for all bosses, easy to explore / grind / level up

+ combat seems to give the player lots of valid options depending on playstyle preferences, with added bonus of spirit ashes and ashes of war

+ amount of exploration is as good as any open world RPG, plus loot selling makes it generally worthwhile

+ as usual some of the monsters are completely bonkers and very cool

+ the larger legacy dungeons are great in classic Soulslike style

+ the underground world is also great and atmospheric and almost an entire game in itself

+ the ambient music is really nice (i've unusually turned it back up from 20% that I usually set game music to)

+ occasional combats between other groups of enemies is a cool touch

+ the scenery and backdrops and vistas of the world as shockingly, anal-wart-poppingly, stunning in many and various ways. I've actually been laughing out loud about how ridiculously spectacular it looks in some areas.

+ the changing of the weather, day/night, and related ambience is a great touch.

+ the whole vibe of the world is a bit darker, a bit creepier, a bit WTF-ier than the open world average which provides a strong and gripping atmosphere

+ in short, I'm 140 hours in and I don't want to leave it  :wub:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 16, 2022, 12:37:00 pm
Bloodbourne, which truly was a masterpiece.

Absolutely agreed. That game properly got under my skin, it just kept getting weirder and weirder (and better). Definitely one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. I'm not normally that into those types of games, but I found it both so stressful and compelling to play. Weirdly though I never want to play it again, maybe because I like remembering the experience more than the idea of playing again.

On another note, I just started Disco Elysium. So far so good. Brilliant, dark and funny writing, wonderfully realised world, slow pace where you poke around for clues/dialogue, hopefully it can maintain it for the whole game.

Other recent games I played include:

Alba: Wildlife Adventure - very light hearted game with a cool art style and environmental message. Would be good for younger kids.

Banner Saga 2 - Excellent tactical, turn based RPG. I'm in it really for the story, world and art which are all excellent. The gameplay, combat is fine in so much as it keeps it all ticking along. Only one more to go in the Saga, looking forward to it.

Genesis Noir - Cool idea and art. Gets weird. Overall a little to arty farty for me and I felt the gameplay was too simple and let it down. An interesting game rather than a good one, I think.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 26, 2022, 06:28:49 pm
Forgot I had also recently played 'I am dead'. Weird narrative indy game that involves a kind of slicing through object to find hidden things gameplay. Nice story and art style. Interesting and quirky characters. Not sure the gameplay could quite sustain it for the whole game but the story was good and kept me interested.

(Disco Elysium is still going strong. In fact its got even better, if it sticks the landing then it will definitely have to be somewhere near the top of my best games list. Lets hope it pans out.)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: CapitalistPunter on May 26, 2022, 09:20:15 pm
 About to give Metal Gear Rising a go, mostly because of all the shitposts everywhere about it. Does look like a great game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: tommytwotone on June 14, 2022, 11:04:58 am
After reading a "best games of 2022 so far" thing the other day, I downloaded Olli Olli World for our kids' Switch.

Skating game, kind of mashed up with a platformer. Nice cutesy cartoon-y graphics. Gameplay actually pretty tough. Highly recommend, and it's only about £15 or something now.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on June 17, 2022, 12:28:03 pm
Finished Disco Elysium. Absolutely brilliant game. Loved it.

I'm going to struggle to do it justice by trying describing it. It isn't without flaws or weaknesses, but if you are at all interested in narrative and story in games then it is a must play. Dark, funny, sad, brilliantly written, fantastic sci-fi/noir world and for me very thought provoking. It definitely has some things it wants to say and isn't afraid to say them.

Saying that I can't recommend it for everyone since there isn't much 'game' in there (in an action kind of way), but the way you uncover the story, world and characters is brilliant. And I found it very compelling, but would understand if some people hated it.

(I played it on my switch and it definitely struggled a little at points, including a couple frustrating crashes, probably better on something with a little more oomph.)

Trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk_K5DM0UTk&ab_channel=GameSpot
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Evil on June 17, 2022, 04:40:35 pm
Disco Elysium is high on my list of games to play once I have some time to, so appreciate the review
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 22, 2022, 10:01:48 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSyRf8rAjTs

Finished Elden Ring after 179 hours @ lvl 177, and cheating the final boss (and skipping Malenia) because fuck and indeed that. Explored everywhere, looted everything, cheesed most bosses by being massively overlevelled, and still died 39472 times.

Fantastic experience. Actually sad to leave it, it's an iconic and memorable world.


Now onto STRAY https://store.steampowered.com/app/1332010/Stray/ because who doesn't want a really cool 3rd-feline cat sim!!

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 22, 2022, 07:24:10 pm
Some strong reviews:

https://thesepaintedhands.tumblr.com/post/690393815046094848/my-boy-did-the-same-thing
https://imgur.com/gallery/2RWfrtM

I am actually fascinated that the game designers have evidently managed to capture feline movement well enough that real cats register it as Cat, or at least Cat???, and then attempt to locate the Cat??? or join them on their adventure.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 22, 2022, 07:57:08 pm
Well, https://twitter.com/gamingbible/status/1493555698034036742

But actually: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/07/stray-review

Quote
It’s a good thing that Stray developer BlueTwelve Studio already told us in an interview that all animations in the game were made by hand. No motion capture was used, and thank god for that, as seeing the feline hero limping was convincing enough for me to call animal protection services.

If anyone wants a short and sweet action/adventure cat sim in a sort of cyberpunk world with simple gameplay and a cool atmosphere, I'm sure this is the best short and sweet action/adventure cat sim in a sort of cyberpunk world with simple gameplay and a cool atmosphere around.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 23, 2022, 01:32:51 pm
Yeah, I was thinking "captured" in the artistic sense, not motion-cap specifically.
 
Meanwhile, I seem to have fucked up my back (really really hoping it's not a disk injury) so I've decided to embrace failure as an existential experience by playing Disco Elysium.

It was this Tweet and the replies which sold me on it:

https://twitter.com/burgerdrome/status/1557225827993268225
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Catcheemonkey on August 23, 2022, 06:41:14 pm
Make sure you get The Horrific Necktie off the ceiling fan - it's got to be the best character in the game. And there are a lot of great characters.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on August 23, 2022, 09:16:35 pm
Yeah, I was thinking "captured" in the artistic sense, not motion-cap specifically.
 
Meanwhile, I seem to have fucked up my back (really really hoping it's not a disk injury) so I've decided to embrace failure as an existential experience by playing Disco Elysium.

It was this Tweet and the replies which sold me on it:

https://twitter.com/burgerdrome/status/1557225827993268225

Sorry to hear about your back but happy to hear about Disco Elysium. Enjoy.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carliios on August 24, 2022, 06:45:59 pm
Yeah, I was thinking "captured" in the artistic sense, not motion-cap specifically.
 
Meanwhile, I seem to have fucked up my back (really really hoping it's not a disk injury) so I've decided to embrace failure as an existential experience by playing Disco Elysium.

It was this Tweet and the replies which sold me on it:

https://twitter.com/burgerdrome/status/1557225827993268225

I downloaded it off the back of this comment and it’s incredible! Thanks for the tip off  :beer2: hope your backs feeling better!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 24, 2022, 06:50:00 pm
WELLSY rescue me from these Discoheads, how did the rest of Elden Ring Sting go for you??  :devil-smiley:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on August 24, 2022, 09:00:25 pm
You should all be playing Stellaris.

Also a new season of Diablo 3 is starting this Friday and looks to be as fun and bonkers as ever with the new seasonal bonuses :D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: danm on August 24, 2022, 11:11:23 pm
Has anyone, anywhere ever finished a game of Stellaris?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 07:02:47 am
Make sure you get The Horrific Necktie off the ceiling fan - it's got to be the best character in the game. And there are a lot of great characters.

I got the Horrific Necktie but it never spoke to me, alas -- I suspect one of my stats was too low for that.

Anyway, I'm plotting a second run with wildly different stats, to see just how different you can make it, so we shall see ...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 07:06:43 am
Yeah, I was thinking "captured" in the artistic sense, not motion-cap specifically.
 
Meanwhile, I seem to have fucked up my back (really really hoping it's not a disk injury) so I've decided to embrace failure as an existential experience by playing Disco Elysium.

It was this Tweet and the replies which sold me on it:

https://twitter.com/burgerdrome/status/1557225827993268225

I downloaded it off the back of this comment and it’s incredible! Thanks for the tip off  :beer2: hope your backs feeling better!

 :beer2: Delighted I could pass it on!

It's looking like the back thing is a disc injury, which is really fucking tedious, but OTOH not being able to do anything except sit in a chair and take ibuprofen is really great for maximizing gaming time.

I finished my first Disco Elysium playthrough yesterday, and holy shit it's amazing; I'm contemplating an immediate second run because you can clearly take it in some wildly different narrative directions (or at least fail and die in other entertaining ways).

I rec staying as unspoiled as possible -- there was stuff in the endgame I did not see coming at all, and which I found unexpectedly moving.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Catcheemonkey on August 25, 2022, 08:20:50 am

I got the Horrific Necktie but it never spoke to me, alas -- I suspect one of my stats was too low for that.

Anyway, I'm plotting a second run with wildly different stats, to see just how different you can make it, so we shall see ...

I think it’s the Inland Empire stat that enables a lot of wonderful conversations with inanimate objects.

There’s so much to love in this game isn’t there. I enjoyed that in my play-through even Harry’s tie had its own story arc.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on August 25, 2022, 11:24:39 am
Has anyone, anywhere ever finished a game of Stellaris?

Very, very occasionally. The end game is a bit of a slog though and my PC does not enjoy it. Also, you've essentially won after ~150 years so might as well 'go next' :D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on August 25, 2022, 11:47:02 am

I got the Horrific Necktie but it never spoke to me, alas -- I suspect one of my stats was too low for that.

Anyway, I'm plotting a second run with wildly different stats, to see just how different you can make it, so we shall see ...

Not sentences you would use every day :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 02:20:36 pm

I got the Horrific Necktie but it never spoke to me, alas -- I suspect one of my stats was too low for that.

Anyway, I'm plotting a second run with wildly different stats, to see just how different you can make it, so we shall see ...

Not sentences you would use every day :)

And yet, among the more normal sentences you can say about Disco Elysium.

Quality experience.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on August 25, 2022, 02:59:42 pm
Really glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was fantastic. I often find I play RPGs in the way closest to the decisions I would actually try to make. I struggle to really 'role play'. Thus when the 'sorry cop' achievement/cop style came up it really made me laugh. Apparently I just went around apologising constantly for what an utter shambles I was. Quite telling. :-)

If I play it again, I think I'll have to go for the super arrogant, disco obsessed, meat head and see what happens. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 03:51:13 pm
WELLSY rescue me from these Discoheads, how did the rest of Elden Ring Sting go for you??  :devil-smiley:

Fiend, you saying you don't want to get bonuses on specific checks by strategically wearing the Flare-Cut Trousers and the Man From Hjelmdall T-shirt?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wellsy on August 25, 2022, 03:56:42 pm
WELLSY rescue me from these Discoheads, how did the rest of Elden Ring Sting go for you??  :devil-smiley:

Genuinely loved it from start to finish. I think it's brilliant. BUT I think Blood Bloodbourne is actually a bit better, in my view it's the real masterpiece. Especially in that the Hunter's Trick Weapons are better even than the cool weapon arts and all that (twin-blade 4 life)

One thing I will say about Elden Ring is I thought it was a little easier than other FS games. Thoughts?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 06:24:07 pm
Really glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was fantastic. I often find I play RPGs in the way closest to the decisions I would actually try to make. I struggle to really 'role play'. Thus when the 'sorry cop' achievement/cop style came up it really made me laugh. Apparently I just went around apologising constantly for what an utter shambles I was. Quite telling. :-)

If I play it again, I think I'll have to go for the super arrogant, disco obsessed, meat head and see what happens. :-)

The game's real hard mode: making decisions that Lt Kitsuragi will silently judge you for.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on August 25, 2022, 07:27:35 pm
Really glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was fantastic. I often find I play RPGs in the way closest to the decisions I would actually try to make. I struggle to really 'role play'. Thus when the 'sorry cop' achievement/cop style came up it really made me laugh. Apparently I just went around apologising constantly for what an utter shambles I was. Quite telling. :-)

If I play it again, I think I'll have to go for the super arrogant, disco obsessed, meat head and see what happens. :-)

The game's real hard mode: making decisions that Lt Kitsuragi will silently judge you for.

Tell me about. I was having flashbacks to my Church of Scotland upbringing. The guilt was powerful. 😂
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 25, 2022, 09:48:29 pm
After some experimentation, I've just started another playthrough on Hardcore Mode because I genuinely think that may be less stressful for me than trying to play too drastically against my own instincts (and the silent judgement of Kim Kitsuragi).

(Yes, I too hit "sorry cop" on my first playthrough.)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carliios on August 25, 2022, 10:17:54 pm
After some experimentation, I've just started another playthrough on Hardcore Mode because I genuinely think that may be less stressful for me than trying to play too drastically against my own instincts (and the silent judgement of Kim Kitsuragi).

(Yes, I too hit "sorry cop" on my first playthrough.)

Ahhh I fully avoided sorry cop! Didn’t want to feel sorry for mysel. Also went tee total  :lol: I feel like he needed a detox
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 26, 2022, 07:42:27 pm
Genuinely loved it from start to finish. I think it's brilliant. BUT I think Blood Bloodbourne is actually a bit better, in my view it's the real masterpiece. Especially in that the Hunter's Trick Weapons are better even than the cool weapon arts and all that (twin-blade 4 life)

One thing I will say about Elden Ring is I thought it was a little easier than other FS games. Thoughts?
Yay!! Hours? Level? I know a couple of soulslike fans who also think it's inferior to BB. But I do think ER should be judged as a soulslike-open-world-rpg hybrid.

Yes I think it is easier, simply because you can avoid a lot of bosses in the open world, and use exploring and looting to level up a lot. Suits me fine TBH!


Fiend, you saying you don't want to get bonuses on specific checks by strategically wearing the Flare-Cut Trousers and the Man From Hjelmdall T-shirt?
Do I get bonuses for strategically wearing 3/4 length shorts, compression stockings, and a Devourment vest??


Anyway after the sedate feline charms of Stray, I'm continuing my foray into cyberpunk worlds by getting straight onto the just-out Ascent DLC:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1802470/The_Ascent__Cyber_Heist/

Aka that isometric twin stick shooter RPG-lite game that is so packed with luxurious graphics, stunning detail, and classic cyberpunk atmosphere that your eyes could melt out of their sockets and dribble onto the floor.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 26, 2022, 09:01:26 pm
{accidental double-post while trying to edit.}
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 26, 2022, 09:02:49 pm
Fiend, you saying you don't want to get bonuses on specific checks by strategically wearing the Flare-Cut Trousers and the Man From Hjelmdall T-shirt?
Do I get bonuses for strategically wearing 3/4 length shorts, compression stockings, and a Devourment vest??


That seems exactly like the sort of outfit you can build in DE, and would probably be game-breakingly powerful.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 26, 2022, 09:20:50 pm
Doesn't work IRL tho alas!!

The Ascent DLC is pretty hard and brutal, btw. So if anyone played the base game and wanted more of a walloping, there you go....
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on August 27, 2022, 07:49:17 am
quote author=Carliios link=topic=4653.msg665084#msg665084 date=1661462274]
After some experimentation, I've just started another playthrough on Hardcore Mode because I genuinely think that may be less stressful for me than trying to play too drastically against my own instincts (and the silent judgement of Kim Kitsuragi).

(Yes, I too hit "sorry cop" on my first playthrough.)

Ahhh I fully avoided sorry cop! Didn’t want to feel sorry for mysel. Also went tee total  :lol: I feel like he needed a detox
[/quote]

Yeah, I rejected "sorry cop" when it was offered, but felt uncomfortably seen! I detoxed Harry too.

Really impressed by how much the game gets you to commit to character choices.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Wellsy on August 27, 2022, 02:08:29 pm
Genuinely loved it from start to finish. I think it's brilliant. BUT I think Blood Bloodbourne is actually a bit better, in my view it's the real masterpiece. Especially in that the Hunter's Trick Weapons are better even than the cool weapon arts and all that (twin-blade 4 life)

One thing I will say about Elden Ring is I thought it was a little easier than other FS games. Thoughts?
Yay!! Hours? Level? I know a couple of soulslike fans who also think it's inferior to BB. But I do think ER should be judged as a soulslike-open-world-rpg hybrid.

Yes I think it is easier, simply because you can avoid a lot of bosses in the open world, and use exploring and looting to level up a lot. Suits me fine TBH!


Fiend, you saying you don't want to get bonuses on specific checks by strategically wearing the Flare-Cut Trousers and the Man From Hjelmdall T-shirt?
Do I get bonuses for strategically wearing 3/4 length shorts, compression stockings, and a Devourment vest??


Anyway after the sedate feline charms of Stray, I'm continuing my foray into cyberpunk worlds by getting straight onto the just-out Ascent DLC:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1802470/The_Ascent__Cyber_Heist/

Aka that isometric twin stick shooter RPG-lite game that is so packed with luxurious graphics, stunning detail, and classic cyberpunk atmosphere that your eyes could melt out of their sockets and dribble onto the floor.

Hours: too many to think

Level: 152 I think?

I'm gonna replay from new rather than NG+ I think.

I think it's as hard but feels easier because stuff is more escapable, yeah
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on August 30, 2022, 10:50:17 am
For the Elden Ring fans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSyRf8rAjTs
The microwave sequence  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_76bhHXwA
The ambulance, and the xp gathering  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGV-Xok5M7s
The lobster and the crab  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP2khjSSQAk
Heeding the warning messages  ;D

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Carliios on August 30, 2022, 02:17:27 pm
Not sure I’ve seen it posted here but for any fellow swashbuckling pirate wannabes the new Monkey Island comes out September 19 and I’m very very excited. One of my favourite game series of all time!

https://youtu.be/trrGZu_o_Ek
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on September 01, 2022, 04:09:08 pm
Really glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was fantastic. I often find I play RPGs in the way closest to the decisions I would actually try to make. I struggle to really 'role play'. Thus when the 'sorry cop' achievement/cop style came up it really made me laugh. Apparently I just went around apologising constantly for what an utter shambles I was. Quite telling. :-)

If I play it again, I think I'll have to go for the super arrogant, disco obsessed, meat head and see what happens. :-)

I can highly rec playing again with different stats even if you're not sure you can roleplay differently, because you get a wildly different experience right from the start -- what you can notice or interact with changes, how you perceive other characters, the hunches or gut feelings you get, etc.. There are all these layers of info and dialogue options and potential actions that you might or might not get depending on your skill allocation.

And some of the skills -- like Authority or Electrochemistry or Half-Light -- tend to prompt you in ways which can push you to develop the character differently (or make you have to actively push back against them). It's fascinating.

The Thought Cabinet also continues to be the strangest, most delightful mechanic. I'm trying to avoid learning out of game what the Thoughts do, because having to commit (or not) blind is a lot of fun.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on September 14, 2022, 01:38:19 pm
Currently 65% off on Steam, in case anyone fancies taking it for a spin:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on October 14, 2022, 12:42:10 pm
Now I seem to be doing this gaming thing -- anyone got recs for games that are available on macOS and don't require reflexes?

The very limited amount of motor co-ordination my brain is capable of is all reserved for climbing.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 14, 2022, 02:02:22 pm
What kind of games do you think you'd like? There are a lot of games that don't require reflexes but are very different from each other.

Some games I've enjoyed recently that might fit:

Baba is You - puzzle game about changing the rules by moving words. Weird and tricky but very cool.
Creaks - really cool art style with nice puzzles, really enjoyed this one.
Roki - kind of a little bit puzzley but nothing that taxing. Just a nice story set in Scandinavian folklore.
Slay the Spire - Excellent card building roguelite. Once you get a good run going it feels awesome. Got a bit addicted to this one.
Her Story - this was amazing! You are searching through an old database of police video clips of interviews with a woman about a missing man, trying to work out what happened. I don't want to say anymore since anything extra is potentially a spoiler. But I thought it was great. I think the guy who made it has now made a couple more similar games in the same vein if you enjoy this one.

If I think of any more I'll add them.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on October 14, 2022, 02:16:02 pm
World of Goo is a bit old, but pleasantly quirky and challenging, sure it's on most platforms.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on October 14, 2022, 02:38:30 pm
World of Goo is a bit old, but pleasantly quirky and challenging, sure it's on most platforms.

This is really good fun, and probably available for very little money, but quite a few of the puzzles require you to be quick and accurate with the mouse.

If you have a Switch then the new Monkey Island game is fun. I'm not sure how much of the pleasure I got from it was a nostalgia hit from playing (more like "attempting to play") The Secret of Monkey Island with my brother on the family Atari in the '90s.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 14, 2022, 03:02:40 pm
Two more excellent games that don't require fast reflexes (I think).

Inside - atmospheric story/puzzle game. Some sections may require a little bit of faster reflexes but I don't remember it being at all twitchy really.

Gone Home - Excellent story game, about a girl returning home (hence the title). Again the less I say the better, but this is an ace game and definitely doesn't require any twitchy controls. Highly recommend.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: yetix on October 14, 2022, 03:12:06 pm
Must say I've recently enjoyed:
Horizon Zero Dawn
The Witcher 3
Star Wars KOTOR 1 (and 2, but didn't enjoy the 2nd on the switch as its hella buggy) brought back some decent nostalgia from playing it many years ago

I've recently started playing Mass Effect Andromena, but I'm not sure how I feel about it right now...

Planning to get Horizon 2 and Elden Ring once I'm finished with Mass Effect
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on October 14, 2022, 06:00:50 pm
Not sure on the Mac aspect but some of my faves:

- Cities Skylines (the modern day good version of Sim City)
- Stellaris (ridiculousyl epic space '4x' strategy game, with near infinite roleplay/replayability options)
- Hearts of Iron IV (Grand strategy. Similar to Stellaris but WW2 with either 'roughly follow historical events play through' OR 'batshit crazy re-write history' version)
- Terraria, '2D Minecraft' possibly the best value game of all time. RPG where you'll spend as much time building a cool base / home as you will going off into the world to kill monsters.

Both Stellaris and Hearts of Iron IV do take a few hours to pick up and have some quite deep/complicated/advanced game play mechanics.

Cities Skylines is much more user friendly and is my go to relax, chill out and build a nice city game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 14, 2022, 08:50:45 pm
Now I seem to be doing this gaming thing -- anyone got recs for games that are available on macOS and don't require reflexes?

The very limited amount of motor co-ordination my brain is capable of is all reserved for climbing.
Any turn-based strategy games don't require reflexes and can be great fun. XCom Enemy Unknown / Enemy Within are semi-recent classics, I also really rated Mutant Year Zero which is a bit smaller scale and has an endearing amount of character and atmosphere, and of course Battletech which does everything it promises for addictive mech-based combat.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on October 15, 2022, 08:48:55 pm
What kind of games do you think you'd like? There are a lot of games that don't require reflexes but are very different from each other.

Some games I've enjoyed recently that might fit:

Baba is You - puzzle game about changing the rules by moving words. Weird and tricky but very cool.
Creaks - really cool art style with nice puzzles, really enjoyed this one.
Roki - kind of a little bit puzzley but nothing that taxing. Just a nice story set in Scandinavian folklore.
Slay the Spire - Excellent card building roguelite. Once you get a good run going it feels awesome. Got a bit addicted to this one.
Her Story - this was amazing! You are searching through an old database of police video clips of interviews with a woman about a missing man, trying to work out what happened. I don't want to say anymore since anything extra is potentially a spoiler. But I thought it was great. I think the guy who made it has now made a couple more similar games in the same vein if you enjoy this one.

If I think of any more I'll add them.

Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure, and have been having fun revisiting my teenage AD&D years by playing Planescape: Torment.

So: I'm into narrative and interesting characters, have no objections to walls of text, like mysteries to uncover, have a very high tolerance for weird artsy-ness, and want to feel like my choices make a difference.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 15, 2022, 09:27:48 pm
What kind of games do you think you'd like? There are a lot of games that don't require reflexes but are very different from each other.

Some games I've enjoyed recently that might fit:

Baba is You - puzzle game about changing the rules by moving words. Weird and tricky but very cool.
Creaks - really cool art style with nice puzzles, really enjoyed this one.
Roki - kind of a little bit puzzley but nothing that taxing. Just a nice story set in Scandinavian folklore.
Slay the Spire - Excellent card building roguelite. Once you get a good run going it feels awesome. Got a bit addicted to this one.
Her Story - this was amazing! You are searching through an old database of police video clips of interviews with a woman about a missing man, trying to work out what happened. I don't want to say anymore since anything extra is potentially a spoiler. But I thought it was great. I think the guy who made it has now made a couple more similar games in the same vein if you enjoy this one.

If I think of any more I'll add them.

Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure, and have been having fun revisiting my teenage AD&D years by playing Planescape: Torment.

So: I'm into narrative and interesting characters, have no objections to walls of text, like mysteries to uncover, have a very high tolerance for weird artsy-ness, and want to feel like my choices make a difference.

In that case I really recommend her story. It’s a great mystery you uncover and the way you find it is unique to the order you search for clips.

I can’t believe I forgot these but both Papers Please and Obra Dinn are amazing. Made by the same one man developer. Cool simple art styles hides their depth. On the surface puzzle games but really much more about the narrative/themes/choices you are discovering/making.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on October 31, 2022, 05:12:19 pm
Surprisingly, my reflexes turn out to be up to coping with Death Trash on its easiest combat difficulty setting. Mostly. Just about. I die a lot.

https://craftinglegends.itch.io/deathtrash

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/death-trash-early-access-review

Still Early Access, but I've managed to rack up 17 hours of playing time and not explored the full game yet.

Grungy pixelated meatpunk fun. Tackles important existential questions like "Can you solve this problem by sneaking up on it and then hitting it with a gigantic spiked hammer?"
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 01, 2022, 06:32:12 pm
Tackles important existential questions like "Can you solve this problem by sneaking up on it and then hitting it with a gigantic spiked hammer?"
Generally my conclusion to many philosophical (and climbing ethics) debates.

I have just finished Ghostwire Tokyo (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1475810/Ghostwire_Tokyo/) which I did find rather fun and characterful after being initially a bit unimpressed. It's a fairly typical Ubi-franchise-style map-full-of-icons side-quest-munching semi-open-world FPS - not that inspiring in theory - but set in a paranormal-disaster-deserted rain-swept Tokyo full of souls in limbo and spooky Visitors from elsewhere. Along with an mildly entertaining dual-protagonist and plenty of Japanese ghost mythology, the distinctive setting gives it plenty of character than transcends the game structure. Quite pricey on Steam at the moment but I'd recommend it if you like the sound of it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EDplmRKPLk
(Disclaimer: the cool big shadow figures barely feature at all, alas. The rest is pretty accurate)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 07, 2022, 02:56:50 pm
I didn't really do any climbing training last week but I did complete Trial of the Sword in Breath of the Wild on Master Mode. Felt about F7c+. It was arduous and stressful but very satisfying. I haven't found anything in gaming as difficult as that in a long time/ever. I don't think we have any Zelda players here?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: yetix on November 07, 2022, 03:10:38 pm
I find it more like 9D! Great game
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: shark on November 07, 2022, 06:36:40 pm
Never visited this thread before but thought this podcast on the psychology and philosophy of games was fascinating.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/best-of-a-life-changing-philosophy-of-games/id1548604447

Warning: includes climbing content too!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 07, 2022, 10:49:54 pm
Breath of the wild was amazing. Never did play any of the expansions though. Looking forward to the next one coming out. Next year I think.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 08, 2022, 05:47:30 pm
May 2023 currently. I'm psyched, but apprehensive. BotW is a huge act to follow. From the trailers it looks like it isn't a completely new world but a modified version of the BotW map with some floating islands. I wonder whether that will be as satisfying. There's a lot to love in BotW but the most captivating thing for me was the exploration.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 09, 2022, 09:03:35 am
Son and I have been been split between laughing and swearing at You Suck at Parking. Very basic but very tricky. I like it because it's one of the few games I am better than him at (that and Sonic All Stars Racing).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 09, 2022, 10:17:30 am
You suck at parking looks really good fun. Reminds me of some of the older arcading racing games I used to play with my brother. Micro Machines being one in particular.

Do you and your son play any co-op games?

Both Overcooked and Octodad are great fun and will have you laughing/shouting at each other in no time. Getting up the escalator in Octodad almost caused my wife and I to get divorced.  ;D
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 09, 2022, 11:34:05 am
Micromachines on the PS was our standard come home from the pub and wait for curry to be delivered when i was sharing a house. Shame it's not on XBOX, i think Hot Wheels is the closest version.

Not tried any co-ops, apart from FIFA and Star Wars Battlefront, which I am terrible at.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 17, 2022, 06:25:35 pm
Loads of stuff on sale on the Nintendo Estore till 30th Nov. 55% off Disco Elysium. Mario and other things reduced to £33.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: dunnyg on November 17, 2022, 11:00:08 pm
For steam people, stellaris was up for about 8 quid and is like space civ on steroids. Would recommend
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on November 17, 2022, 11:11:15 pm
For steam people, stellaris was up for about 8 quid and is like space civ on steroids. Would recommend

Stellaris is immense! Be warned the publisher really embraces the DLC sale model. You don't need any of them to have a lot of fun, definitely don't need them all, but a couple really do add a lot of flavour and different playstyles etc.

So, if you do pick up the base game and have fun and want to keep playing... Look out for some of the best DLC when they are also on sale - tends to happen regularly enough either on Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle or similar.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on November 19, 2022, 08:31:57 am
Played through "A Dark Room" on my phone and it's compelling and very addictive.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Aussiegav on November 19, 2022, 10:56:02 pm
Anyone on here play World of Tanks modern armour? Just started playing about 2 weeks ago.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on November 20, 2022, 06:27:59 pm
Anyone on here play World of Tanks modern armour? Just started playing about 2 weeks ago.

I played it quite a while ago, maybe even when it was 'open beta' and in patches in its first year or so of release. Is a fun game but seemed to get increasingly 'pay to win' with the ammo and a few other upgrade mechanics I can't remember. Am sure you can still get a heck of a lot of casual fun out of it absolutely free though!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 28, 2022, 04:55:02 pm
I finished a game called Eastward last night. If you can get it on sale and you like the handheld Zelda games then it's worth a bash.

The gameplay is solid. You control a pair of protagonists in a Studio Ghibli-inspired environment. John can wield his trusty frying pan and a few other weapons to beat up monsters; Sam, a young girl he adopts after finding her in mysterious circumstances, can shoot pulses of energy to stun baddies and can unlock a few other psychic abilities. The tag team combat style works really well and there's plenty of puzzles involving splitting the pair up.

Considering that it was made by a team of some 20 people it's quite remarkable.

There are some shortcomings. For this type of game the story is really important (IMO). Eastward has a great story in there somewhere but it's confused, to the point where at the end I just accepted that it didn't actually make any sense at all. That's a shame, because it could have made sense if they didn't try and cram so much lore into it. Sometimes the plot is bent and broken to facilitate a gameplay device. For instance in the final city you get stuck in a Groundhog Day time loop and have to do a different thing in each loop to break the cycle. It works well for gameplay but, fucking hell, it makes no sense! And let's not even talk about what happens to the frying pan in the final boss fight.

It's quite linear; you always know where you're going and what you're doing. There's very little risk of leaving an important stone unturned. So if you're used to Zelda handheld games where you have the option to roam around doing side quests then put that expectation aside.

None of the puzzles are very difficult.

6.5 out of 10. It could be a solid 7 or even 8 if I wasn't so irked by the storyline.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 28, 2022, 07:51:36 pm
Shit, actually, if you like this type of game then play Death's Door before Eastward. Now THAT is a great game.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 29, 2022, 08:03:12 pm
One for the experts.

Looking to get a console for my 12 year old son for Christmas. Veering towards Xbox either Series S or X. I'm aware of the physical differences between the two and the lower price of the S is an obvious draw (i.e. the cost of physical games vs subscription to the Pass options plus the initial saving).

Will we be left wanting if we go down the digital download route though (we don't need a drive for DVD etc)?

Thanks, Stuart.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on November 29, 2022, 09:18:16 pm
I pretty much exclusively download games now. That does mean you have to use the official digital store but usually they’re pretty good with regular sales. The only thing I can see being annoying is you can’t just swap games with friends.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 29, 2022, 10:26:04 pm
I pretty much exclusively download games now. That does mean you have to use the official digital store but usually they’re pretty good with regular sales. The only thing I can see being annoying is you can’t just swap games with friends.

I'd not thought of that. Possibly not a problem but I need to think of eventualities and future proofing (as much as you can with tech.) before I put myself in a cul-de-sac. Cheers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Catcheemonkey on November 30, 2022, 07:05:45 am
For a (pre) teen, definitely get one with a disk drive: his friends will be able to bring their games over and he’ll have access to pre-owned games on eBay etc that will be much cheaper than even discounted versions on the official e-store.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on November 30, 2022, 07:22:10 am
Hi Stuart, I'm a long time lurker on here but never post. However, I thought I'd chip in my tuppence worth as I've recently thought about exactly this issue for my kids (7 and 10)!

For the money, I think the Xbox S is hard to beat - okay, it's not as powerful as the Xbox X, but in all practical senses it allows access to next-gen games for a fraction of the cost (£190 v. £450 - it's a huge saving). Load times are really quick, it handles graphics on next gen games just fine and I've not noticed any issues in terms of frame rate etc. Great console imo.

The downsides of the S are:
1. the lack of disk drive, but honestly, I've barely noticed: if you get Gamepass for £7 a month you have access to a huge digital library of games that you can download and the unless you have a big library of old 360 or xbox one games on disk that your kid is keen to play then I can't see it being an issue. Depending on the games they like they'll either be free to download (e.g. fortnite), on Gamepass (e.g Minecraft) or available on digital store anyway (e.g. CoD)/ Gamepass ultimate @ £11 a month gives you access to EA games and stuff on your PC (e.g. Fifa, Battlefield etc.)

2. the storage capacity - it's about 400gb of usable space, as opposed to double that on an x. Again, depending on game type this could be a problem (e.g. MS Flight Sim = 190GB!) but most are far smaller than this (indie games - sub 10GB, most bigger games around 30-40GB). If you delete them to clear disk space all your saves etc. are stored on the cloud so you can download later no problem.

Sorry for the ramble, but in conclusion - the S is a great console for most requirements and at a cheap price for what it is. I'd probably look at the Gamepass library and check with your son if there's stuff on there he wants to play. The X obviously has better specs and I thought about investing in it,but decided the huge price increase wasn't worth it for my kids' requirements.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 30, 2022, 07:23:43 am
For a (pre) teen, definitely get one with a disk drive: his friends will be able to bring their games over and he’ll have access to pre-owned games on eBay etc that will be much cheaper than even discounted versions on the official e-store.

I'd not considered second hand games  as part of this conundrum. Cheers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 30, 2022, 07:29:35 am
Hi Stuart, I'm a long time lurker on here but never post. However, I thought I'd chip in my tuppence worth as I've recently thought about exactly this issue for my kids (7 and 10)!

For the money, I think the Xbox S is hard to beat - okay, it's not as powerful as the Xbox X, but in all practical senses it allows access to next-gen games for a fraction of the cost (£190 v. £450 - it's a huge saving). Load times are really quick, it handles graphics on next gen games just fine and I've not noticed any issues in terms of frame rate etc. Great console imo.

The downsides of the S are:
1. the lack of disk drive, but honestly, I've barely noticed: if you get Gamepass for £7 a month you have access to a huge digital library of games that you can download and the unless you have a big library of old 360 or xbox one games on disk that your kid is keen to play then I can't see it being an issue. Depending on the games they like they'll either be free to download (e.g. fortnite), on Gamepass (e.g Minecraft) or available on digital store anyway (e.g. CoD)/ Gamepass ultimate @ £11 a month gives you access to EA games and stuff on your PC (e.g. Fifa, Battlefield etc.)

2. the storage capacity - it's about 400gb of usable space, as opposed to double that on an x. Again, depending on game type this could be a problem (e.g. MS Flight Sim = 190GB!) but most are far smaller than this (indie games - sub 10GB, most bigger games around 30-40GB). If you delete them to clear disk space all your saves etc. are stored on the cloud so you can download later no problem.

Sorry for the ramble, but in conclusion - the S is a great console for most requirements and at a cheap price for what it is. I'd probably look at the Gamepass library and check with your son if there's stuff on there he wants to play. The X obviously has better specs and I thought about investing in it,but decided the huge price increase wasn't worth it for my kids' requirements.

Thanks T.

I think having a chat with him might be the way to go. In my mind I was thinking: kid = Xmas = surprise, but he's 12 and definitely not wowwed by the tinsle and bright lights anymore. Getting it right is probably a bigger priority.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 30, 2022, 08:54:14 am
For a (pre) teen, definitely get one with a disk drive: his friends will be able to bring their games over and he’ll have access to pre-owned games on eBay etc that will be much cheaper than even discounted versions on the official e-store.

I'd not considered second hand games  as part of this conundrum. Cheers.

My son is of the same age, and loves being able to go into Game or dodgy C-EX shop with pocket money and buy a physical disc from the second hand shelf (I think FIFA 18 was 20p!) and to be be able to put it in and play it without waiting for long downloads etc. We have a Gamepass too (present from gamer uncle) but he only dips in occasionally and apart from Forza, Halo and a few exceptions, a lot of the games on it are pretty old, but still worth it if you grab one of the deals that come up.   
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 30, 2022, 09:07:53 am
For a (pre) teen, definitely get one with a disk drive: his friends will be able to bring their games over and he’ll have access to pre-owned games on eBay etc that will be much cheaper than even discounted versions on the official e-store.

I'd not considered second hand games  as part of this conundrum. Cheers.

My son is of the same age, and loves being able to go into Game or dodgy C-EX shop with pocket money and buy a physical disc from the second hand shelf (I think FIFA 18 was 20p!) and to be be able to put it in and play it without waiting for long downloads etc. We have a Gamepass too (present from gamer uncle) but he only dips in occasionally and apart from Forza, Halo and a few exceptions, a lot of the games on it are pretty old, but still worth it if you grab one of the deals that come up.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on November 30, 2022, 09:12:47 am
It's definitely hard to find the balance between ruining the surprise and getting it right! I ended up just having a big chat with my son about what he wanted the device for in the end but I appreciate this isn't for everyone - he likes the anticipation more than the surprise.

Re: the second hand market, I used to be well into going into cex and getting second hand games, but as the number of physical disks sold has decreased and the gamepass has strengthened its library I'd say (for me) the balance has definitely swung away from physical copies now. Here's the gamepass library: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-game-pass/games - it's huge, and not all old games at all. As MS hoover up developers they're increasingly released on gamepass at the same time as the retail market. It also means you can try out games you wouldn't normally play and then either love them and play them through or get rid. I think it's remarkable value, but I have kept my old Xbox one for playing 360 games on disk I still love (Knights of the Old Republic I and II, Jade Empire and the 500+ hours on Oblivion = irreplaceable).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on November 30, 2022, 09:21:01 am
We've still hung on to our 360 with Kinect as my daughter and her mates still play Kinect Adventures, Just Dance and Dance Central. She's never been bothered with controller type games and while it's not perfect, I think it's a great interface and a shame it never really took off.

Plus I can still beat her at Dance Central, whereas my son beats me at most games (although i can still hold my own with Sonic All Star Racing).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on November 30, 2022, 09:22:11 am
While I'm here I might as well shout out to the OP on the games that I'm playing at the moment. All gamepass - wouldn't have played these otherwise probably.

Citizen Sleeper - this totally sucked me in with the outstanding narrative, the sci fi setting and the table top card playing/ timer design. The aesthetics and soundtrack are spot on. Although on a second playthrough I found that there's less choice than it initially appears I don't think this detracts from the game, just make sure to enjoy the first playthrough as I think it's about getting emotionally involved.

Pentiment - another narrative style game, this time an early 1500s Holy Roman Empire murder mystery. Art direction and characterisation are excellent, very funny dialogue options and there is more replayability with this one I reckon. Get ready to read a lot mind! Never thought I'd care so much about the interpersonal politics of a monastery during the Reformation...

Death Loop - I really rate Dishonored and Dishonored 2 (despite the annoying spelling) as sort-of successor to Thief. Death Loop is by the same developer, but I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. Only a few hours in and I like the Clockwork Orange style 60s dystopia vibe and can see where they're going with the loop game design, but the AI are weak/ stupid and the whole vibe of the game feels off: is it a tightly designed shooter (like Half Life), stealth, or open world game? It seems to want to do all three but ends up being very average, with little structure to the fight settings, but also little actual choice in approach and a wonky stealth mechanic. Shoot at people, hide round a corner and wait for them to walk to you and blow them away one by one. Rinse and repeat. Average at best so far.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on November 30, 2022, 09:24:34 am
We've still hung on to our 360 with Kinect as my daughter and her mates still play Kinect Adventures, Just Dance and Dance Central. She's never been bothered with controller type games and while it's not perfect, I think it's a great interface and a shame it never really took off.

Plus I can still beat her at Dance Central, whereas my son beats me at most games (although i can still hold my own with Sonic All Star Racing).

Xbox 360 = very underrated console, the Kinect system was a hoot. The only downside was it sounding like a 747 taking off once it got hot! Totally agree that they could have pushed the tech further, I also feel the same about MS effectively closing down VR as an avenue for their consoles.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 30, 2022, 11:12:28 am
Interesting range of views which are all valid and interestingly the sorts of things I've had rolling around my head when trawling through the options.

What's really annoying (the cynic trigger in me is ramped up to full on this issue) is that MS/Xbox make it difficult for a punter like me to know which of the subscriptions are actually needed! He plays Minecraft and Fortnite on Switch and, if I've interpreted it correctly, these don't require the Live/multiplayer subs to access playing online with the Xbox with his mates (whereas something like FIFA does - happy to be corrected).

Take away for me is that the digital downloaders aren't shouting out that it's a dog and to be avoided at all cost; though the aspect of a physical disk isn't without its value too.

Cheers all.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: deacon on November 30, 2022, 12:45:35 pm
I've had the X since release day and although it takes discs I've never bought one. Basically if you buy games as soon as they come out you can save a tenner by buying a physical copy from a supermarket. If you're prepared to wait for the digital edition to have a  sale on the Microsoft store it'll be cheaper there.
Also the gamepass is absolutely brilliant. Tonnes and tonnes of great quality games all included.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Stuart Anderson on November 30, 2022, 12:51:27 pm
Thanks deacon.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: ducko on December 08, 2022, 06:06:09 pm
Plague tale requiem. Over and out.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 10, 2022, 10:26:41 am
What kind of games do you think you'd like? There are a lot of games that don't require reflexes but are very different from each other.

Some games I've enjoyed recently that might fit:

Baba is You - puzzle game about changing the rules by moving words. Weird and tricky but very cool.
Creaks - really cool art style with nice puzzles, really enjoyed this one.
Roki - kind of a little bit puzzley but nothing that taxing. Just a nice story set in Scandinavian folklore.
Slay the Spire - Excellent card building roguelite. Once you get a good run going it feels awesome. Got a bit addicted to this one.
Her Story - this was amazing! You are searching through an old database of police video clips of interviews with a woman about a missing man, trying to work out what happened. I don't want to say anymore since anything extra is potentially a spoiler. But I thought it was great. I think the guy who made it has now made a couple more similar games in the same vein if you enjoy this one.

If I think of any more I'll add them.

Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure, and have been having fun revisiting my teenage AD&D years by playing Planescape: Torment.

So: I'm into narrative and interesting characters, have no objections to walls of text, like mysteries to uncover, have a very high tolerance for weird artsy-ness, and want to feel like my choices make a difference.

In that case I really recommend her story. It’s a great mystery you uncover and the way you find it is unique to the order you search for clips.

I can’t believe I forgot these but both Papers Please and Obra Dinn are amazing. Made by the same one man developer. Cool simple art styles hides their depth. On the surface puzzle games but really much more about the narrative/themes/choices you are discovering/making.

I have Obra Dinned! Got all fates correct in the end without resorting to spoilers, so very smug (though it did take me 20 hours).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 10, 2022, 10:28:18 am
Plague tale requiem. Over and out.
Good call. The first one was nice and really atmospheric.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 10, 2022, 01:30:09 pm
On the other end of the "3rd person game" spectrum, here's one for the geeks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMUnVSgpN9I
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 10, 2022, 03:08:51 pm
I have Obra Dinned! Got all fates correct in the end without resorting to spoilers, so very smug (though it did take me 20 hours).

Fantastic. Hope you enjoyed it.

I got totally addicted to dorfromantik recently. Weird name (German I think) but very cool puzzle type game. All about placing hexagonal tiles to build a countryside scene matching biomes on each tile to adjacent tiles for high scores. Very simple idea and billed as a relaxing game but becomes weirdly engrossing and actually stressful trying to beat your high score.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PpbaVJEKBr8
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 10, 2022, 03:55:23 pm
Well, I spent the first five hours or so wanting to chew off a limb in aggravation at the game doing hideously unfair things like showing me a person in a drawing and then expecting me to be able to refind that person in the same drawing 30 seconds later, which is hostile to me personally.

Also my ongoing video game issue with walking through doors. Visualize the smoke trail looping its way off to a corpse somewhere else and vanishing while I'm still wedged behind a balustrade ...

(N.B. To be clear, these are issues with my brain rather than the game.)

I stuck with it mostly out of stubbornness, but then I got into the groove and ended up having a great time and feeling very pleased with myself.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 10, 2022, 05:03:35 pm
Yeah I can understand it is a little obtuse at first. But I really liked the underlying mystery too. Gets pretty weird.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 10, 2022, 06:15:16 pm
And the initial frustration ended up feeling like part of the experience; I felt like I'd properly achieved something when I beat it!

Though I think I got an extreme version of the frustration because my brain's "interesting" qualities do make recognizing and remembering faces and names particularly challenging for me.

But I really liked the underlying mystery too. Gets pretty weird.

Yup, I was surprised by the number of tentacles involved!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 10, 2022, 06:29:11 pm
Ah yeah if you struggle with recognising faces that would make it extra challenging. Good effort finishing it.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on December 10, 2022, 07:04:52 pm
Have heard good reviews of 'Project Zomboid' its a zombie survival/RPG/sandbox game. Up to 4 players can co-op online.

I haven't picked it up yet but probably will when I've got more time. A friend is really enjoying it and can imagine with a couple of friends it'll be a lot of fun :)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on December 18, 2022, 10:28:24 am
Finished Disco Elysium last night. Absolutely amazing. So much depth, laugh-out-loud funny, can't wait to play again as a different archetype.

NSFW  spoilers:
I played a psyche archetype sober superstar communist (though I missed the meeting in the apartments as I confronted Ruby that day which triggered the tribunal).
Highlights included the roundhouse kick to Measurehead's face, building a temple to anodic dance music, the conversation with the phasmid, the autopsy, the tribunal etc etc etc
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 18, 2022, 09:38:09 pm
God, it's so good! Enjoy your next playthrough -- it's fascinating how much your experience of the game changes depending on your build.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 09, 2023, 08:23:35 pm
Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure

I have to agree with this. I loved Disco Elysium, but I just recently had to give up on Kentucky Route Zero. Just too pretentious for it's own good. I realised I only liked the art and occasional musical interludes. I had no idea what was going on, what the stakes were, why I was supposed to care about these characters. It has no sense of humour. Everything was so po-faced. Decisions didn't seem to have any influence on the story. There isn't really any gameplay to speak of. There were good moments and vignettes but overall not worth it. Played three acts and the intermission bits. No more!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 09, 2023, 09:13:37 pm
I've just started playing Dark Souls 2. I'm cross and grumpy already.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on January 10, 2023, 09:08:02 am
I gather that this is the correct and normal Soulsborne experience, so -- enjoy!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on January 10, 2023, 09:23:34 am

Well, every fucking time I think "now I've played X hundred of hours of soulslikes over multiple games so surely this time i'll feel comfortable and at peace with it". And then....NO. Just no. I won't. It's still grim.

I think I might just be in a gaming-for-fun mood  :ninja:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on January 10, 2023, 12:29:29 pm
I think I might just be in a gaming-for-fun mood  :ninja:

Shocking! In that case, I wish you good luck in finding something fun and relaxing!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on January 10, 2023, 12:46:37 pm
Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure

I have to agree with this. I loved Disco Elysium, but I just recently had to give up on Kentucky Route Zero. Just too pretentious for it's own good. I realised I only liked the art and occasional musical interludes. I had no idea what was going on, what the stakes were, why I was supposed to care about these characters. It has no sense of humour. Everything was so po-faced. Decisions didn't seem to have any influence on the story. There isn't really any gameplay to speak of. There were good moments and vignettes but overall not worth it. Played three acts and the intermission bits. No more!

Yeah, I liked the art and atmosphere and many of the story elements, but the whole thing played like that section which is set in an art exhibition: you walk into a scene, wander round it, look at the things, get required to pick lots of options which don't alter anything in any discernible way, and eventually you find the exit from that section and move on to the next one.

And it ALL plays like that. It never felt like making different choices would make the experience of the game different in any way.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 10, 2023, 01:14:02 pm
Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure

I have to agree with this. I loved Disco Elysium, but I just recently had to give up on Kentucky Route Zero. Just too pretentious for it's own good. I realised I only liked the art and occasional musical interludes. I had no idea what was going on, what the stakes were, why I was supposed to care about these characters. It has no sense of humour. Everything was so po-faced. Decisions didn't seem to have any influence on the story. There isn't really any gameplay to speak of. There were good moments and vignettes but overall not worth it. Played three acts and the intermission bits. No more!

Yeah, I liked the art and atmosphere and many of the story elements, but the whole thing played like that section which is set in an art exhibition: you walk into a scene, wander round it, look at the things, get required to pick lots of options which don't alter anything in any discernible way, and eventually you find the exit from that section and move on to the next one.

And it ALL plays like that. It never felt like making different choices would make the experience of the game different in any way.

Definitely. You are very much just an observer in the world. I have no issue with this per se and do joy a walking simulator from time to time (I enjoyed Firewatch and What Remains of Edith Finch) but Kentucky Route Zero was either too clever for it's own good or it was all lost on a philistine like me. :-) Shame I really wanted to enjoy it, because I like the setting, music, art etc.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on January 10, 2023, 06:43:42 pm
Talking of walking simulators -- guessing you've already played The Stanley Parable?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 10, 2023, 07:56:51 pm
Talking of walking simulators -- guessing you've already played The Stanley Parable?

I haven't actually. Although I've heard it is very good. Have you played it? And did you enjoy it?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on January 11, 2023, 08:49:58 am
Played it multiple times (though I'm fairly sure I've not found all the possible endings yet), cackled like a loon, had all sorts of fun thoughts about railroading in games and player choice. It takes the impulse to try to break the game, and makes the game out of that. Lots of fun.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on January 11, 2023, 09:13:48 am
Played it multiple times (though I'm fairly sure I've not found all the possible endings yet), cackled like a loon, had all sorts of fun thoughts about railroading in games and player choice. It takes the impulse to try to break the game, and makes the game out of that. Lots of fun.

Sounds good. I've added it my wishlist for the switch. Now to wait for a sale. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 15, 2023, 04:24:49 pm
Currently digging into Atom RPG. I am now addicted to mystery drugs and digging through village garbage heaps in the dark because the withdrawal is preventing me from sleeping. Also I am incompetent and broke a fork while failing to make a shiv.

It's all about the escapism.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on March 15, 2023, 04:37:56 pm
Sounds good. I've added it my wishlist for the switch. Now to wait for a sale. :-)

I don't have anything to play on the Switch at the moment as I stubbornly refuse to buy anything on my wishlist before it's on sale. It's going to be a long wait till May...

I would love to play Metroid Dread but £50 for a 2D game seems very steep. Similarly I reckon it's been long enough since I played Prime that I could really enjoy the remaster, but am I going to pay £35 to play a 20-year old game that I've played multiple times before...?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 15, 2023, 05:39:14 pm
Will have you played Hollow Knight? Generally regarded as one of the best Metroid style games for many years and an absolute steal for just over a £10. One of the best games I've played on switch although it is very tricky at points!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on March 15, 2023, 06:27:49 pm
Will have you played Hollow Knight? Generally regarded as one of the best Metroid style games for many years and an absolute steal for just over a £10. One of the best games I've played on switch although it is very tricky at points!

Ok you've swayed me. A friend recommended this and I was waiting for a sale on principle, but I think a tenner is permissible for an impulse buy.

By the way, if you like that, have you played Death's Door? Brilliant!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 15, 2023, 06:34:33 pm
Agreed, Death's Door is very good too.

Hope you enjoy Hollow Knight. Most people seem to really enjoy it, but like any game it doesn't seem to work for some. :shrug: I loved not just the gameplay but the art, music, atmosphere etc too.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 15, 2023, 07:15:22 pm
Currently digging into Atom RPG. I am now addicted to mystery drugs and digging through village garbage heaps in the dark because the withdrawal is preventing me from sleeping. Also I am incompetent and broke a fork while failing to make a shiv.

It's all about the escapism.
Are you surely that's actually escapism??  :-\

I have been playing the 3 Dark Souls 2 DLCs, two of which are as great as any large maps in the series. I have now got to the point where there are 6 possible paths forward, all of which are straight into soddingly brutal boss combats.

Therefore I have downloaded the Wo Long Fallen Dynasty demo, and bought A Plague Tale 2 Requiem at a decent sale price...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 15, 2023, 09:19:55 pm
Are you surely that's actually escapism??  :-\

Well, it's at least a different brand of shit from the stuff I'm dealing with the rest of the time.

In real life, after all, I am dependent on prescribed drugs and listening to podcasts in the dark because the current tedious medical problems are keeping me from sleeping. Also I am incompetent and broke a mug while failing to put boxes on a shelf.

... wait, I may not have thought this through fully.

At least in Atom I finally managed to make the damn shiv, though. Also I stabbed a giant mutant insect and that was cool.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 15, 2023, 10:05:04 pm
... wait, I may not have thought this through fully.
:lol: well played.

Good luck fending off giant mutant insects with a broken mug :smirk:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on March 15, 2023, 11:10:39 pm
Anyone else in the Diablo 4 pre-order gang? The closed beta is this weekend, am sure it'll be a cluster fuck but you get a cute wolf pet if you get to lvl 20 in the beta which should be very easy.

A long time ago I all but promised I'd never pre-order another game - due to developers rushing out buggy, unfinished lumps of turd masquerading as a finished product.

However, for the £30-40 I spent on Diablo 3... which has had zero DLC but years and years of replayability value. Paying £60 for the basic (not so many bonus cosmetics but nothing else changes at all) version seems like a no-brainer. Also, it being a Blizzard game released on Battle Net launcher, there wont be any discounts or sales availbale for a long time.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 18, 2023, 10:53:21 am
Just saw that Atom's 40% off on Steam until the 23rd, which brings it down to £6.59, in case anyone would like to join me in the sordid turn-based CRPG action:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/552620/ATOM_RPG_Postapocalyptic_indie_game/
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: warmonke on March 18, 2023, 11:11:23 am
Agreed, Death's Door is very good too.

Hope you enjoy Hollow Knight. Most people seem to really enjoy it, but like any game it doesn't seem to work for some. :shrug: I loved not just the gameplay but the art, music, atmosphere etc too.
Also loved Hollow Knight, looking forward to the new one coming out! Has anyone played Rain World? Similar exploration-based indie game with cool world-building and art style, can be pretty unforgiving but would definitely recommend for any masochistic gamers out there
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 18, 2023, 11:23:11 am
Anyone else in the Diablo 4 pre-order gang?
Nope, not even for a cute wolf pet! Would rather wait for the final. I did enjoy D3 tho. But these days I never pre-order and never buy on release (ahem unless it's a Fromsoft game ahem). Even if a Blizzard sale is a long time coming I can wait for it. I would probably get D4 at some point.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jono.r23 on March 18, 2023, 11:53:21 am
Currently playing the pc version of Returnal. A hard game due to the rogue-style & starting afresh when dead..but an amazing intense experience especially due to the implementation of spatial audio..use headphones..incredible. (I’m studying a masters degree in game audio so am very much about the sound!)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 18, 2023, 02:04:00 pm
Just saw that Atom's 40% off on Steam until the 23rd, which brings it down to £6.59, in case anyone would like to join me in the sordid turn-based CRPG action:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/552620/ATOM_RPG_Postapocalyptic_indie_game/

Advisory, though: you have to spec for combat, even on Easy mode, or you will just end up in a situation where almost any fight will kill you.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 19, 2023, 08:57:49 am
Just saw that Atom's 40% off on Steam until the 23rd, which brings it down to £6.59, in case anyone would like to join me in the sordid turn-based CRPG action:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/552620/ATOM_RPG_Postapocalyptic_indie_game/

Advisory, though: you have to spec for combat, even on Easy mode, or you will just end up in a situation where almost any fight will kill you.

Though there is an in-game way to respec, which I've just taken advantage of, but it's (in game) costly. Starting with very high Dex would have made life much easier.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on March 20, 2023, 03:22:20 pm
Also Disco Elysium is at 75% off until the 23rd, making it £8.74:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/

Seriously, everyone should play this game. It's hilarious and bleak and existential, post-Soviet noir meets New Weird.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on April 02, 2023, 05:43:57 pm
Just saw that Atom's 40% off on Steam until the 23rd, which brings it down to £6.59, in case anyone would like to join me in the sordid turn-based CRPG action:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/552620/ATOM_RPG_Postapocalyptic_indie_game/

Advisory, though: you have to spec for combat, even on Easy mode, or you will just end up in a situation where almost any fight will kill you.

Though there is an in-game way to respec, which I've just taken advantage of, but it's (in game) costly. Starting with very high Dex would have made life much easier.

Also, I suspect with hindsight that the game may be easier if you don't accidentally skip the tutorial (me, watching YouTube videos while near the end of the game: "There was a tutorial???").

But flinging myself in at the deep end, flailing incompetently, and randomly clicking buttons to see what they do may be my natural play style anyway.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 09, 2023, 09:40:49 pm
Finished inscryption last night. Thought it was absolutely brilliant. If you like card/deck-building type games, rouge style gameplay and a LOT of weirdness, I can’t recommend it enough.

Presentation/art is really fantastic. It’s very creative, creepy and weird. Mechanics are really good fun with lots of nice twists.

Only minor letdown is a slight lull in the middle but otherwise it’s excellent. Don’t want to say too much and spoil anything. Best to go in as blind as possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3NTzzw-2o


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on April 17, 2023, 11:16:25 pm
Will have you played Hollow Knight? Generally regarded as one of the best Metroid style games for many years and an absolute steal for just over a £10. One of the best games I've played on switch although it is very tricky at points!

Ok you've swayed me. A friend recommended this and I was waiting for a sale on principle, but I think a tenner is permissible for an impulse buy.

By the way, if you like that, have you played Death's Door? Brilliant!

Oh - my - fucking - God. Hollow Knight is one of the very best games I have ever played. Incredible.
The visuals, the sounds, the gameplay, the story. Everything just works so well. I loved the trepidation and tension of going into a new area, getting lost looking for the mapmaker, no benches anywhere, having to learn a new set of enemies and how to deal with them with health and soul ebbing away. Going into Deepnest quite early on was an eye-opener. I thought I didn't like rogue-like games with defined save points but it turns out I do!

It became apparent quite early on that it wasn't afraid to be difficult and I know a couple of people who gave up on it. One lurker of this very forum ragequit in the Soul Sanctum and deleted their save file to end their torture. The amazing thing is is how well the designers balance the game's difficulty. In the mid-late game I found the difficulty tailing off (apart from certain bosses - The Watcher Knights in particular caused some despair) but this wasn't just because I was getting more health and soul containers and a stronger nail, moreso it's because I was getting better and better. The genius of having certain unavoidable difficult sections, either platforming or combat, is that it forces you to get good, but in manageable chunks and always with a good reward at the end. The game is training you up to be good enough to beat it, you just have to enjoy the process. Nothing that's mandatory to progress the story is truly excruciating and there is always a good payoff that makes persistence worthwhile and draws you deeper in.

I am impressed/disgusted by how much content they put in for absolute psychopaths who want to flagellate themselves on the altar of difficulty. There are some bits of the game that are not mandatory and have no significant reward. I dipped my toe into this and the Trial of the Fool took me something like 4 evenings of effort to complete - harder than BOTW's Trial of the Sword on Master Mode IMO. This is the tip of the iceberg. I don't think I will be attempting the Path of Pain or the harder Pantheons. That said, they do make completing the story in some way reasonably accessible. There are about 5 alternative endings, the first of which is very steady but a bit unsatisfactory. The ending I went for for took more effort, but ripping off the Radiance's face and pummelling it into the Void was so worth it.

10/10. Sensational.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52824929217_9e52b80a73_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 17, 2023, 11:24:57 pm
Great post Will. I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I can see you are still in the thrall of the post Hollow Knight high. No game will feel quite right for a while after this. It really does nail (no pun intended) everything it is going for. I suggest changing genre entirely. Perhaps a little solitaire. :-)

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on April 18, 2023, 09:44:37 am
I believe this may be relevant to the interests of some folks here:

https://www.bonfireside.chat/

A whole podcast series dedicated to the Souls games and soulslikes like Hollow Knight.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on April 20, 2023, 04:08:00 pm
Hollow Knight available for a fiver on the Nintendo eshop at the moment.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on April 20, 2023, 04:38:50 pm
Wonder if I can pry the Switch from my daughter's fingers.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on April 29, 2023, 01:18:37 pm
Well, so far I've fucking loved Disco Elysium, enjoyed and been annoyed by Kentucky Route Zero in equal measure

I have to agree with this. I loved Disco Elysium, but I just recently had to give up on Kentucky Route Zero. Just too pretentious for it's own good. I realised I only liked the art and occasional musical interludes. I had no idea what was going on, what the stakes were, why I was supposed to care about these characters. It has no sense of humour. Everything was so po-faced. Decisions didn't seem to have any influence on the story. There isn't really any gameplay to speak of. There were good moments and vignettes but overall not worth it. Played three acts and the intermission bits. No more!

Yeah, I liked the art and atmosphere and many of the story elements, but the whole thing played like that section which is set in an art exhibition: you walk into a scene, wander round it, look at the things, get required to pick lots of options which don't alter anything in any discernible way, and eventually you find the exit from that section and move on to the next one.

And it ALL plays like that. It never felt like making different choices would make the experience of the game different in any way.

Definitely. You are very much just an observer in the world. I have no issue with this per se and do joy a walking simulator from time to time (I enjoyed Firewatch and What Remains of Edith Finch) but Kentucky Route Zero was either too clever for it's own good or it was all lost on a philistine like me. :-) Shame I really wanted to enjoy it, because I like the setting, music, art etc.

Returning to this issue -- I had a lovely time with Dear Esther, where it's very clear from the first few minutes that all you can do is wander around in its world, occasionally encountering fragments of past story: you can't affect the world in any way. But I think I liked it because it is so clear about what it is (and within those limits, you're free to walk into the sea, throw yourself off cliffs, which do all have effects, etc., and its environment is incredibly detailed and atmospheric).

It doesn't offer you choices which then turn out to be meaningless, and which feel to me like busywork.

So instead I got excited about wading through an underground stream and finding out there was actually a current which would drag me along if I let it, or walking along a narrow ledge next to a sheer drop (having previously established I could fall off things).
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on April 29, 2023, 03:34:07 pm
I haven’t played Dear Esther but did play the developers next game Everyone’s gone to the Rapture which I really enjoyed. Definitely more of an interactive story than game but still fun.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on April 30, 2023, 09:40:17 pm
Whoa, Roadwarden is a brutal little number, and not afraid to let you run into dead ends and fail hard:

https://www.eurogamer.net/roadwarden-review-one-of-the-finest-historical-fantasies-youll-play
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/roadwarden-is-more-witcher-than-the-witcher/

It's "what if we took all the stupid level 1 fetch quests and put them in a world where everyone has their own motives and most of them are out to screw you and there are no right answers you can pick".
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on April 30, 2023, 10:42:58 pm
Wonder if I can pry the Switch from my daughter's fingers.

No need, spotted on son's Gamepass!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 02, 2023, 07:30:28 pm
I found this fascinating, as someone who's very much a newbie gamer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax7f3JZJHSw
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 02, 2023, 10:31:53 pm
I found this fascinating, as someone who's very much a newbie gamer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax7f3JZJHSw

I quite like his videos. I think he has a whole series of them.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 07, 2023, 08:25:24 am
Finished inscryption last night. Thought it was absolutely brilliant. If you like card/deck-building type games, rouge style gameplay and a LOT of weirdness, I can’t recommend it enough.

Presentation/art is really fantastic. It’s very creative, creepy and weird. Mechanics are really good fun with lots of nice twists.

Only minor letdown is a slight lull in the middle but otherwise it’s excellent. Don’t want to say too much and spoil anything. Best to go in as blind as possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3NTzzw-2o

I followed your rec and went in blind -- I've only played for a couple of hours, but am having a lovely time so far.

I've never played a deck-building game before and have no clue what I'm doing, but that's pretty much my normal state with new games anyway.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 07, 2023, 09:17:42 am
Finished inscryption last night. Thought it was absolutely brilliant. If you like card/deck-building type games, rouge style gameplay and a LOT of weirdness, I can’t recommend it enough.

Presentation/art is really fantastic. It’s very creative, creepy and weird. Mechanics are really good fun with lots of nice twists.

Only minor letdown is a slight lull in the middle but otherwise it’s excellent. Don’t want to say too much and spoil anything. Best to go in as blind as possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3NTzzw-2o

I followed your rec and went in blind -- I've only played for a couple of hours, but am having a lovely time so far.

I've never played a deck-building game before and have no clue what I'm doing, but that's pretty much my normal state with new games anyway.

Excellent. I hope you enjoy it. It gets weird. I like a good deck building game. Slay the spire is also fantastic.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 11, 2023, 09:14:25 am
Made it to the third boss for the first time, and even into the second phase of that fight! And took much longer to die than I expected!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 11, 2023, 09:44:49 am
https://store.steampowered.com/app/760060/Mutant_Year_Zero_Road_to_Eden/ #justsayin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzQ6-FFCGaM

Genuinely good TBS game. More streamlined than XCom, and plenty of character.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 11, 2023, 09:59:54 am
Alas, doesn't look like it's available for Mac.

As I said, my computer is very much not a gaming computer, so I'm a bit limited unless/until I crack and get something that is.

But please keep the recs coming, everyone! I'm interested in anything that doesn't require me to have reflexes, co-ordination or respond in real-time.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on May 11, 2023, 10:19:42 am
Alas, doesn't look like it's available for Mac.
:'(

Crack and join #pcmasterrace !
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on May 11, 2023, 10:35:46 am
I presume you've played XCOM, Slab?
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 11, 2023, 10:42:21 am
I presume you've played XCOM, Slab?

No -- I only discovered gaming last year, so it's pretty much all new to me. But Fiend's mentioned XCOM to me.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on May 11, 2023, 10:54:19 am
Depending on what machine you have you might struggle to run XCOM2. I had to play it with massive loading times and jerky framerate when I first played it on a Mac. Later I played it on Switch and it was fine.

But, XCOM2 adds some layers of complexity to XCOM which might mean that it's all a bit much for a new player to take in. If you're new to the franchise then XCOM (with the DLCs) might be a good place to start, and it'll run on your Mac. Extremely good turn-based strategy where you aren't going to be rushed to make a decision (which is fortunate as making a bad decision can send your campaign into an unending doom spiral - "That's XCOM, baby", as the fans say.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 11, 2023, 10:57:48 am
I am no stranger to unending doom spirals in gaming! My first Roadwarden run was a slow bleed-out; it was great.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 11, 2023, 11:29:21 am
Made it to the third boss for the first time, and even into the second phase of that fight! And took much longer to die than I expected!

Good work. I guess that is the thing with these card battlers. Sometimes you randomly hit a really good combo of cards and just breeze through bosses and other times it is a slog. Keeping going. And hope you are enjoying it. :-)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 11, 2023, 11:59:13 am
But please keep the recs coming, everyone! I'm interested in anything that doesn't require me to have reflexes, co-ordination or respond in real-time.

Right on cue: - https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/may/10/pushing-buttons-how-to-build-gaming-pc

In particular see the question block at the bottom with some recommended games. Of those I have only played Into the Breach which I thought was cool but didn't totally click for me.

And am currently playing Immortality which is really good. On that note - I can't recommend enough Sam Barlow's other game Her Story. Basically you are going through a database of police interview clips trying to solve a mystery. You use keywords to find new clips. It sounds a bit lame but it is really really good! The less you know going in probably the better.

Also, if you like story games and the walking simulator style, I think you would really like Gone Home too. (this is also based on other comments you have made in other threads on here . . . . ) :-) Again the less you know going in, the better.

(I hope I am right about the above recommendations, always hard to know what someone else will like, but give them a bash).  :2thumbsup:

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: SA Chris on May 11, 2023, 12:54:42 pm
My Son and I have been working through www.farchangingtides.com/ over a few months. It's pretty chilled out, with not a lot going on for some of the time, but some great puzzles / challenges to solve. Apparently it's a sequel, never played the first, don't know if it's better or worse.

It a bit linear and 2D but that suits us, especially me, I am crap with too many controls.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 11, 2023, 02:01:57 pm
My Son and I have been working through www.farchangingtides.com/ over a few months. It's pretty chilled out, with not a lot going on for some of the time, but some great puzzles / challenges to solve. Apparently it's a sequel, never played the first, don't know if it's better or worse.

It a bit linear and 2D but that suits us, especially me, I am crap with too many controls.

I've played both and really enjoyed them. Personally I thought the first was a much stronger game all round, but perhaps only because I played it first and the sequel was treading much of the same ground. Nevertheless a good recommendation.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on May 12, 2023, 10:07:30 am
I've just remembered. They've remastered Advance Wars 1 and 2 for Switch and released that recently. I played these on my GBA as a kid and they're brilliant turn-based strat. £50 seems steep to me for something that I played to death 20 years ago but if you haven't played then they would probably be a good buy, especially if you're limited to games where coordination and speed aren't needed.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 13, 2023, 04:44:59 pm
Made it to the third boss for the first time, and even into the second phase of that fight! And took much longer to die than I expected!

Good work. I guess that is the thing with these card battlers. Sometimes you randomly hit a really good combo of cards and just breeze through bosses and other times it is a slog. Keeping going. And hope you are enjoying it. :-)

Randomness aside, there's also the huge factors of me getting a grip on how the game works, and developing occasional glimmers of tactics.

Anyway, I just STARTED A NEW GAME!

(I figure I can say this without fear of spoiling anyone else as the significance will be lost on anyone who hasn't played.)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 13, 2023, 08:14:14 pm

Anyway, I just STARTED A NEW GAME!


Oh, excellent. Good work getting there. How you finding the story?

The mechanics do take some getting used to, especially if you haven’t played this style of game before.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 13, 2023, 09:35:36 pm
I feel like I still don't know what the story proper is yet -- I've just excavated one layer, if that makes sense.

The mechanics do take some getting used to, especially if you haven’t played this style of game before.

Yeah, but on the other hand I've been finding out that I do enjoy some crunchy mechanics. Takes me a long time to wrap my brain around them, I get frustrated and have to be patient with myself (especially when it's a whole new genre, and at the moment almost all the genres are new to me), but I enjoy the process.

Also, if you like story games and the walking simulator style, I think you would really like Gone Home too. (this is also based on other comments you have made in other threads on here . . . . ) :-) Again the less you know going in, the better.

Quite a few people have recced that to me, so yeah, it's on the list!

Oh, in the "walking round a house finding things" genre, have I mentioned Anatomy by Kitty Horrorshow? Not on Steam but it is on Itch, I think. Extraordinary little art-horror game. Genuinely creepy.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 13, 2023, 11:18:02 pm
I feel like I still don't know what the story proper is yet -- I've just excavated one layer, if that makes sense.

The mechanics do take some getting used to, especially if you haven’t played this style of game before.

Yeah, but on the other hand I've been finding out that I do enjoy some crunchy mechanics. Takes me a long time to wrap my brain around them, I get frustrated and have to be patient with myself (especially when it's a whole new genre, and at the moment almost all the genres are new to me), but I enjoy the process.

Also, if you like story games and the walking simulator style, I think you would really like Gone Home too. (this is also based on other comments you have made in other threads on here . . . . ) :-) Again the less you know going in, the better.

Quite a few people have recced that to me, so yeah, it's on the list!

Oh, in the "walking round a house finding things" genre, have I mentioned Anatomy by Kitty Horrorshow? Not on Steam but it is on Itch, I think. Extraordinary little art-horror game. Genuinely creepy.

Yeah maybe ‘story’ is the wrong word. Experience?

I’ll check out Anatomy by Kitty Horrorshow. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 14, 2023, 07:04:04 am
Important note: it's very short but you have to play it multiple times. It ... changes.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 14, 2023, 07:50:41 am
https://kittyhorrorshow.itch.io/anatomy
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 16, 2023, 06:54:56 am
So, I'm in Act 3 of Inscryption, going "Okay, so there are 'waypoints' where your items recharge, and when you're killed you're dropped back at the last waypoint you reached and the enemies respawn -- you can't fool me, I've heard about this stuff, these are bonfires, aren't they?"

Given my lack of reflexes, this may be as close to a soulslike as I ever get.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 16, 2023, 10:22:52 am
Haha. Yeah I guess that section is a little souls like. You’re cruising through it now!  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 17, 2023, 10:24:55 am
We do NSFW to hide spoilers, right?

Just nerding out about mechanics a bit, but for anyone else reading, I second JamieG's advice that it's really worth going into Inscryption knowing as little as possible.

NSFW  :
I'm fascinated by the shift in progress mechanics between the three acts and how it affects the experience so far.

So in Act I, you have the rogue-lite thing of being knocked all the way back to the very start every time you die, albeit getting to keep some things you've acquired or changed.

Then in Act II, you have the more conventional experience -- I don't know if there's a technical term for it -- where you don't lose progress when you lose a fight, but you have to keep trying it (or go off elsewhere and do other things to increase your power before trying it again) until you get through.

Then Act III is the quasi-soulslike where you lose all the progress you made since the last waypoint.

It feels like the interplay of tension/anxiety/achievement/frustration is really different in each act because of that, even with the card game mechanics staying fairly similar.


Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 17, 2023, 11:25:14 am
No real spoilers in what I've said below, but it really is best to go in as blind as possible.

NSFW  :
The designer of the game Daniel Mullins seems to be really interested in deconstructing the mechanics of various games and exploring them. What works, what doesn't, how it changes the experience etc. He has made a couple other games which I haven't played but I believe are equally odd. Often not what they first appear to be. He also adds tons of secrets, hidden mechanics, ARGs into his games. Worth reading and watching some videos once you are done to see all the extra stuff in the game.

I personally enjoyed the mechanics of ACT1 the most, with ACT2 being a little bit of a slog and ACT3 being better again and probably the trickiest (but perhaps I just built a poor deck). I also got slightly stuck in ACT3 and had to look up a puzzle solution if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 17, 2023, 02:55:13 pm
Annnnnnnd FINISHED!!!  :bounce: Although I can see a lot of time in Kaycee's Mod in my future ...

Damn, what a good game!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on May 17, 2023, 02:59:54 pm
I'm waiting for the Tears of the Kingdom chat to start.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 17, 2023, 03:14:49 pm
Annnnnnnd FINISHED!!!  :bounce: Although I can see a lot of time in Kaycee's Mod in my future ...

Damn, what a good game!

Good work. It’s quite a rollercoaster at the end.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 17, 2023, 03:16:35 pm
I'm waiting for the Tears of the Kingdom chat to start.

I’ve got the game but had to send my controllers off to get fixed. Nightmare.  :'(
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 17, 2023, 03:52:03 pm
No real spoilers in what I've said below, but it really is best to go in as blind as possible.

NSFW  :
The designer of the game Daniel Mullins seems to be really interested in deconstructing the mechanics of various games and exploring them. What works, what doesn't, how it changes the experience etc. He has made a couple other games which I haven't played but I believe are equally odd. Often not what they first appear to be. He also adds tons of secrets, hidden mechanics, ARGs into his games. Worth reading and watching some videos once you are done to see all the extra stuff in the game.

I personally enjoyed the mechanics of ACT1 the most, with ACT2 being a little bit of a slog and ACT3 being better again and probably the trickiest (but perhaps I just built a poor deck). I also got slightly stuck in ACT3 and had to look up a puzzle solution if I remember correctly.

NSFW  :
I've found that in this and other games, I struggle really badly with puzzles in a way I find actively stressful and un-enjoyable (as distinct from the many things I struggle badly with but enjoy).

Which I wouldn't necessarily have expected, since I enjoy things like crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.

I think part of it may be that I have trouble interpreting the cues and making any guesses about what it is I'm supposed to be trying to do or where to start looking for answers; possibly with more gaming experience I'd be better at reading that.

But at any rate, I often hit a blank wall where I have no clue what to do and no means of making forwards progress in the game except repeatedly looking at the puzzle, trying things randomly, and hoping that at some point inspiration strikes.

So I've given myself permission to look up puzzle solutions when I've truly drawn a blank and am having no fun, and feel no shame about that.

But more puzzle-heavy games are not going to be for me, I think.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 17, 2023, 03:56:04 pm
Annnnnnnd FINISHED!!!  :bounce: Although I can see a lot of time in Kaycee's Mod in my future ...

Damn, what a good game!

Good work. It’s quite a rollercoaster at the end.

Spoilers:
NSFW  :
Yes, I found it surprisingly emotional at the end, playing final matches with the characters as the game deleted itself around us, and shaking their hands. The moment that really got to me was when the scales disappeared and Leshy and I kept on playing anyway, for as long as we could.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on May 17, 2023, 05:09:11 pm
I'm waiting for the Tears of the Kingdom chat to start.
I’ve got the game but had to send my controllers off to get fixed. Nightmare.  :'(

 :'(

It's good. I'm really enjoying it so far. I won't spoil anything.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 17, 2023, 07:09:52 pm
I'm waiting for the Tears of the Kingdom chat to start.
I’ve got the game but had to send my controllers off to get fixed. Nightmare.  :'(

 :'(

It's good. I'm really enjoying it so far. I won't spoil anything.

Yeah the reviews look really good. To be fair if it’s like breath of the wild it would be tricky to actually fully spoil since much of the joy of that game was just exploring. Rather than specific story moments or puzzle solutions. It just felt great be in that world and interact with it. Glad you’re having fun. Hopefully I’ll get my controllers back soon and get cracking.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 17, 2023, 07:11:22 pm
Annnnnnnd FINISHED!!!  :bounce: Although I can see a lot of time in Kaycee's Mod in my future ...

Damn, what a good game!

Good work. It’s quite a rollercoaster at the end.

Spoilers:
NSFW  :
Yes, I found it surprisingly emotional at the end, playing final matches with the characters as the game deleted itself around us, and shaking their hands. The moment that really got to me was when the scales disappeared and Leshy and I kept on playing anyway, for as long as we could.

100% Definitely got me in the ‘feels’ more than I anticipated. 😅
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 20, 2023, 06:04:52 pm
I have unlocked the achievement "Rookie Mistake: make 10 misplays in a single Kaycee's Mod run."
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 20, 2023, 06:52:25 pm
I have unlocked the achievement "Rookie Mistake: make 10 misplays in a single Kaycee's Mod run."

Haha. I didn’t play any of the Kaycee’s Mod. But I’d definitely be tempted back again in the future.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 21, 2023, 07:09:59 pm
If you enjoyed the Act I gameplay the most, the "mod" seems to be very elegantly rebalanced to make it much harder to break the game in the way the base game enables you to:

https://inscryption.fandom.com/wiki/Kaycee%27s_Mod
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 22, 2023, 07:42:43 am
I have unlocked the achievement "Rookie Mistake: make 10 misplays in a single Kaycee's Mod run."

P.S. https://www.reddit.com/r/inscryption/comments/rhla7e/does_the_misplay_stat_represent_the_amount_of/

That's evil, I'm impressed.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 22, 2023, 11:26:20 am
Yeah, I think there is loads of stuff like that in Daniel Mullins' games. In-jokes, hidden references, piss-taking, just straight trolling, weird game-breaking mechanics, etc. It definitely made inscryption much more interesting to play and read about afterwards. Maybe I'll have to fire up Kaycee's mod tonight. You are tempting me back into it. Or check out one of his other games.

Although I am deep in the weeds with Immortality at the moment. I'm enjoying it, but not sure I would outright recommend it. But you can play it for free if you have Netflix and a capable smart phone. Overall I think Sam Barlow's earlier game Her Story is probably better. And feels more like a game too, rather than a weird interactive movie.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 22, 2023, 04:17:22 pm
Maybe I'll have to fire up Kaycee's mod tonight. You are tempting me back into it.

I can report that because a lot of the escape room stuff's been removed and you're already familiar with the mechanics, runs can be fast. You're dead or victorious (but most likely dead, at least in my case) very quickly.

So I can see myself interspersing Kaycee's runs combined with something more narrative-heavy or exploratory. Just a little crunchy palate-cleanser.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 27, 2023, 09:10:34 am
Update: killing the moon has not yet stopped being satisfying.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on May 27, 2023, 03:15:32 pm
Update: killing the moon has not yet stopped being satisfying.

Unfortunately first time I faced it I had an insta kill card. I presume that’s harder to achieve in the mod. Also unfortunately I’m still waiting to get my controllers back from Nintendo. So still no Zelda or kaycee’s mod or anything. I’m having to watch telly and read stuff like a muppet. 😅
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on May 27, 2023, 03:54:16 pm
Update: killing the moon has not yet stopped being satisfying.

Unfortunately first time I faced it I had an insta kill card. I presume that’s harder to achieve in the mod. Also unfortunately I’m still waiting to get my controllers back from Nintendo. So still no Zelda or kaycee’s mod or anything. I’m having to watch telly and read stuff like a muppet. 😅

Yeah, in the mod the moon can no longer be affected by Touch Of Death or Stinky (which was what got me through first time in the base game).

I'm really enjoying it; it feels like when I originally played the game, I floundered my way through and eventually only escaped Act I courtesy of dumb luck and a LOT of death cards. And it still felt like a struggle and was immensely satisfying.

And now I understand how to play the game a lot better, and the mod is making me having to struggle and work for everything again, at escalating levels.

(Plus  you can unlock new starter decks! Weird new cards! Horrible new challenge levels!)

I hope your controllers are returned to you soon, and that you've got good telly and books in the meantime!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dingdong on June 05, 2023, 07:38:38 pm
Surprised to not see it on here but has anyone picked up the new Diablo? Just started it this evening and it’s been good fun, takes me back to booting up the second one and LANing with mates
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: yetix on June 05, 2023, 08:01:06 pm
Looking forward to getting it once I'm done with doom eternal (late to the part I know!)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: crzylgs on June 05, 2023, 10:12:54 pm
I am 100% on the Diablo IV HYPE train... Only reason I didn't allow myself to be ripped off and pay £20 to play it 4 days early is because I knew I was working all weekend. However, from tomorrow I'll be sinking a fair few hours into it to catch up with my mates who paid for the early start  :punk:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on July 12, 2023, 08:17:29 am
It's not available for Mac so I can't play it (and also it sounds like it requires reflexes and timing and other things I lack), but I've heard raves about:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/989790/The_Vale_Shadow_of_the_Crown/

And it's a fascinating concept -- a graphics-less game with a blind protagonist, which apparently manages to make combat work in an audio-only system.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on July 12, 2023, 10:02:51 am
Started on A Plague Tale 2, as before it looks great and the atmosphere is good. The gameplay is boiled bollox and more frustrating than the previous one, so far the stealth sections have been counterintuitive RNG-based death traps that mostly warrant rebinding a button to "Restart Checkpoint".
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: warmonke on July 12, 2023, 10:34:14 am
Has anyone been playing Dave the Diver? Seen a lot of hype around it and looks like it could be fun
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on July 12, 2023, 03:40:07 pm
Dave the Diver does look good, but I haven't played it yet. My controllers came back fixed and I am currently on a massive Zelda deep dive. Excellent as expected. Basically more breath of the wild with a new set of skills and even more to explore. At times overwhelming, but just a fantastic experience overall. The building mechanic in particular is funny. Nothing like spending ten minutes building some ridiculous rocket powered hover board to get across to another sky island for it all to go hilariously wrong and blast you off into the opposite direction! The story is typically naff but I don't really pay it any attention, since moment to moment gameplay is where the magic lies.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on July 21, 2023, 08:36:41 am
Just had an excellent time with my first run through Transistor (an earlier work from Supergiant, the lot who made Hades), and will be diving back in on the New Game Plus mode a.s.a.p., as I think I've only scratched the surface of the combat system.

It's real-time mixed with a "turn" mode you can go into to plan and queue up actions (followed by trying frantically not to die during the "turn" mode's cooldown period), which means that despite my lack of reflexes it's possible for me to just be very bad at it, rather than physically unable to play it.

And I'm in love with the functions system, where any function you acquire can be plugged into your loadout as an active function, OR used to upgrade and alter the effects of another active function, OR plugged into a "passive" slot to get an ongoing buff/defense of some kind, with the result that you have an absurd number of potential combos, and the chance to rebuild your loadout completely every time you hit a save point.

This review describes it as "Transistor's wonderful laboratory of violence": https://www.eurogamer.net/transistor-review

Also, enjoying the Art Noveau/cyberpunk visuals.

The game's pretty short (apparently 6-10 hours for most people, nearly 12 for me -- like I said, very bad at it).

But the New Game Plus mode and a bunch of optional limiters (make things harder for yourself in return for bonus XP) and different challenges means there's way more scope to explore. It feels like I've just got started.

I especially like the Backdoor space full of literal sandpits to test and experiment with options.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on September 06, 2023, 12:32:29 pm
Hades

The premise is simple and sounds repetitive and boring. Choose one of 6 weapons and fight your way out of the Greek underworld through a semi-random series of rooms. After clearing a room you will be offered a choice of paths to take, each with a different reward which will help you progress. The underworld is split into 4 biomes, with exit from each guarded by a boss. When you inevitably die (because There Is No Escape) it's back to the House of Hades to speak to the residents of the House, progress the story, and then try again.

However, there is a stupid amount of content and variation built in that makes this game compelling and addictive. Each of the 6 weapons has 4 aspects which significantly change its use. During an escape you can be offered up to two Daedelus Hammers which will significantly change (for the better but in different ways) how the weapon operates. Olympic Gods will show up at regular intervals to offer assistance in the form of upgrades (Boons) which will apply during that attempt. So you might go into a run with a rough plan of how to play, but you will need to adapt to what hammers and Gods are offered to you. Excellent optional difficulty scaling is on offer, meaning that although it's got similar scope to Hollow Knight for gittin' guud, it's never going to make you beat your head against the wall to progress the story and enjoy the game.

Learning what boons combine well and how to stack the bonuses to result in game-breaking levels of damage output is incredibly satisfying. The art is great, the music is great, the voice acting is very well done, the Greek mythology theme is cool, there's plenty of humour.

So, like Hollow Knight, it's another 10/10 game. Though for comparison, after 70 hours I'd taken HK as far as I was prepared to, having completed just about all of the main content apart from Path of Pain and Pantheons. I'm up to 75 hours on Hades and I've still got plenty of story stuff to do, stuff to unlock, harder difficulties to try, and I'm still really really enjoying it (I bought Inscryption and Pikmin but have no desire to play them yet). It is phenomenal value.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dingdong on September 06, 2023, 12:39:41 pm
Hades

The premise is simple and sounds repetitive and boring. Choose one of 6 weapons and fight your way out of the Greek underworld through a semi-random series of rooms. After clearing a room you will be offered a choice of paths to take, each with a different reward which will help you progress. The underworld is split into 4 biomes, with exit from each guarded by a boss. When you inevitably die (because There Is No Escape) it's back to the House of Hades to speak to the residents of the House, progress the story, and then try again.

However, there is a stupid amount of content and variation built in that makes this game compelling and addictive. Each of the 6 weapons has 4 aspects which significantly change its use. During an escape you can be offered up to two Daedelus Hammers which will significantly change (for the better but in different ways) how the weapon operates. Olympic Gods will show up at regular intervals to offer assistance in the form of upgrades (Boons) which will apply during that attempt. So you might go into a run with a rough plan of how to play, but you will need to adapt to what hammers and Gods are offered to you. Excellent optional difficulty scaling is on offer, meaning that although it's got similar scope to Hollow Knight for gittin' guud, it's never going to make you beat your head against the wall to progress the story and enjoy the game.

Learning what boons combine well and how to stack the bonuses to result in game-breaking levels of damage output is incredibly satisfying. The art is great, the music is great, the voice acting is very well done, the Greek mythology theme is cool, there's plenty of humour.

So, like Hollow Knight, it's another 10/10 game. Though for comparison, after 70 hours I'd taken HK as far as I was prepared to, having completed just about all of the main content apart from Path of Pain and Pantheons. I'm up to 75 hours on Hades and I've still got plenty of story stuff to do, stuff to unlock, harder difficulties to try, and I'm still really really enjoying it (I bought Inscryption and Pikmin but have no desire to play them yet). It is phenomenal value.

Hades is real good fun. I’m always a sucker for repetitive dungeon crawlers like that and binding of isaac etc
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Jono.r23 on September 06, 2023, 08:31:09 pm
Hey folks. If you’re Sheffield based & into games i’m looking for participants for a study into player experience for my MSc final project  :smartass: . It involves playing a short 3D ‘open-world’ game & completing a questionnaire. This would likely take about 10 minutes of your time!

If that sounds like fun and you could spare the time i’d love to hear from you! Dm me or email: jonathanrichards79 (at) gmail.com

Many thanks  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on October 03, 2023, 06:27:09 pm
In keeping with the changing season and the recent weather, I've been skipping merrily through this soothing little jaunt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTDJNZ9cK1w

For some reason I skipped this originally, but played 2 and 3, enjoying the iconic style and atmosphere despite the gamefeel being as smooth and direct as trying to drive a car, blindfold, in reverse, using a buttplug connected to the steering wheel via therabands. I had the urge to try the remake and as promised it delivers on all fronts including aforementioned slick, crisp godawful clunkfest of the controls. So yes it does exactly what it says on the tin, it looks great even at low-medium settings, the quality of life improvements and tweaks all seem good (from a review that highlighted the changes), the gameplay seems reasonably balanced, and the savepoint system is quite generous (I remember it being gruelling in 2 for some reason, although maybe that reason was I hadn't been anally toughened by Soulslikes' punishment yet). Anyway highly recommended at 10 hours in.

Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on October 13, 2023, 11:37:46 am
Also, if you like story games and the walking simulator style, I think you would really like Gone Home too. (this is also based on other comments you have made in other threads on here . . . . ) :-) Again the less you know going in, the better.

I was a bit spoiled going in but still enjoyed it, thank you! Though there were aspects that frustrated me, like the door you can unlock without a key but only from the other side -- the mechanisms to force you to uncover the story in a particular sequence were a bit too visible at times. Now I'm having thinky thoughts about linear storytelling and how space gets used in games like this.

this is also based on other comments you have made in other threads on here . . . . .

Okay, now I'm curious about whether what you inferred from my comments was "LGBTQ-friendly" or "was young in the '90s", or both!  ;D

(Both would be accurate, obviously.)
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on October 13, 2023, 01:01:00 pm
Good stuff slab_happy. Glad you enjoyed it. It is a touch ‘gamey’ at certain points but I think overall it worked well.

I thought you’d maybe enjoy it because of its sensitive (at least I thought so) exploration of LGBTQ themes and challenges. But as a fellow child of the nineties I can see why that appealed too.

 ;D

Unfortunately my gaming is currently at 0%. Work, kids, occasional climbing are consuming all my time.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on November 20, 2023, 07:36:00 pm
Carmen Maria Machado's essay on her history as a gamer:

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/nov/19/carmen-maria-machado-critical-hits-writer-gaming-alternate-worlds-in-the-dream-house

For anyone who doesn't know her work: Her Body and Other Parties is a very strong short story collection (leaning towards horror), and In The Dream House is an extraordinary, experimental memoir about an abusive relationship.

So the anthology she co-edited (Critical Hits: Writers on Gaming and the Alternate Worlds We Inhabit) sounds very promising.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Banana finger on November 21, 2023, 10:32:03 am
For all the 'Souls' fans out there, I've just started the new "Lords of the Fallen". Its great.
All the reviewers cry about it ripping off Darksouls...But i see no issue with this  :shrug:
Basically pretend its Darksouls 4 and you're away. Its got all the mystery, beauty and grind you'd expect.
Fair enough, slightly easier, but you can't just blindly smash through it....If Magic wood did darksouls...
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2023, 05:38:58 pm
For all the 'Souls' fans out there, who want something gentler and cuter (one for Will then??) than Lords Of The Fallen (I played the possibly unrelated original), I've been enjoying Asterigos. It's mostly great.
Many reviewers cry about the lack of map, limited fast travel, and endless superfluous lore. I definitely agree with these issues, but they don't detract too much from a neat cartoony style, decent theme, smooth controls and fun pacey combat with various style options and skill controls (useful because the bosses are IMBA AF as usual)  :shrug:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1731070/Asterigos_Curse_of_the_Stars/
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on November 28, 2023, 09:49:23 am
Documentary by Valve on the making of the original Half Life. Interesting to see how the process that's so chaotic and decentralised comes together to make such a polished and coherent thing.

https://youtu.be/TbZ3HzvFEto?si=V6Cnt3jkr2Tc1_Lf
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 25, 2023, 07:57:23 am
"Slay The Princess" is a very good, weird, darkly funny time. Think absurdist horror metaphysical visual novel.  I rec being as unspoiled as possible going in:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989270/Slay_the_Princess/

Definitely has some Stanley Parable vibes, for anyone who's played that, and made me grin throughout in the same way.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: slab_happy on December 25, 2023, 08:56:00 am
Also Disco Elysium is 75% off on Steam and everyone should play it:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 25, 2023, 11:20:11 am
Santa brought me the new Mario game! I feel like I’m 7 again!  :bounce:
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on December 30, 2023, 11:32:48 am
In keeping with the changing season and the recent weather, I've been skipping merrily through this soothing little jaunt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTDJNZ9cK1w

For some reason I skipped this originally, but played 2 and 3, enjoying the iconic style and atmosphere despite the gamefeel being as smooth and direct as trying to drive a car, blindfold, in reverse, using a buttplug connected to the steering wheel via therabands. I had the urge to try the remake and as promised it delivers on all fronts including aforementioned slick, crisp godawful clunkfest of the controls. So yes it does exactly what it says on the tin, it looks great even at low-medium settings, the quality of life improvements and tweaks all seem good (from a review that highlighted the changes), the gameplay seems reasonably balanced, and the savepoint system is quite generous (I remember it being gruelling in 2 for some reason, although maybe that reason was I hadn't been anally toughened by Soulslikes' punishment yet). Anyway highly recommended at 10 hours in.

Can confirm this is GOTY by some way. Take a completely iconic game, make it even better without spoiling anything that made it a classic, win.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on December 30, 2023, 05:19:12 pm
Not played many games at all recently. Job/kids/climbing etc all taking precedent. But I have had time to squeeze a couple things in on the switch.

Played Tears of the Kingdom in the summer which was obviously excellent. More Breath of the Wild style goodness with some incredible building and physics mechanics.

Strange Horticulture is a really lovely short puzzle style game set in the Lake District, were you are identifying plants to help people with various ailments/problem. In the meantime there is a weird Cthulhu-ish story unravelling through conversations with the people that visit your shop. Kind of a 'cosy' game I guess.

Currently playing Tunic, which awesome and hard. Old school zelda style game with no hand holding, obtuse story and (a little too) hard bosses. Really beautiful visuals too and a cool 'game manual' mechanic. Recommend!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Will Hunt on February 22, 2024, 01:01:44 pm
Dusk! 90s graphics shooter inspired by Doom, Quake, Half Life et al. Cheap to buy. Fast-paced with a good metal soundtrack. No reloading, all blasting. Fiend would love this game but he's got his head too far up his own arse to play it. If he does play it he'll come up with some pathetic whine about how it isn't a true reflection of the spirit of the 90s horror shooter.

Metroid Dread. Environments are a bit samey; music completely forgettable. By the mid-late game you are waaaaay too strong, to the point where non-boss combat is effectively removed and some of the abilities you've gained render certain puzzles and platforming challenges redundant. The melee counter ability is fun but makes most combat completely trivial. Minor spoiler: the final E.M.M.I. (the near-unkillable robots that pursue you through certain areas, giving the game a great mix of blasting and stealth) delivers the game's biggest anticlimax by just dying in a cutscene without a single button press. Normally you have to evade them through their labyrinthine area to find a weapon that can kill them, then stand rooted to the spot shooting them as they advance towards you: brilliantly tense. The biggest complaint I have is that on my first playthrough I got to 100% completion after <15 hours. For a game that costs £50 that is outrageous. Compare against Hollow Knight which gobbled up 70 hours, had an incredible soundtrack and hugely varied artwork, and there was still more play I could have eked out of it AND it was made by a team of three people!
However, and it is a big however, the gameplay is amazing. Samus is fast, the movement is slick, the game moves on at pace. The boss battles are fantastic; evading and eventually killing the E.M.M.Is is brilliant. I loved every minute of it that I played. Sooooo, if it's on sale or you can get a physical copy second hand then buy it; don't pay full price.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Dingdong on February 22, 2024, 02:02:09 pm
Fossilfuel 2 - Dinosaur puzzle shooter ffo: Dino crisis, turok, resident evil, silent hill
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 20, 2024, 05:57:59 pm
Played a couple more things recently.

Cult of the lamb - Was quite good. Rogue-like combined with farm style management. All wrapped up in a funny cute Cthulhu-ish art style and aesthetic. Didn't finish, but just because I'm busy more than anything bad about the game.

Untitled goose game - Nice art style, funny, causing chaos as goose is cathartic. But it its a one-trick pony that I tired of super quickly. And what's left is not that good a puzzle game. Good for a couple hours distraction but not much more.

Balatro - Really addictive and fun deck builder style game based around poker. For fans of things like Slay the Spire or Inscryption I recommend this. No story at all, but really good game play! Highly recommend. I'm still addicted!
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on March 20, 2024, 09:51:03 pm
Agree about untitled goose game. Good for a laugh for a couple of hours but that’s it. For a similar one time vibe have you played ‘frog detective’?

Meanwhile I got sucked into Slay the Spire over the last half term. Never heard of it before but it’s such a sublimely designed game. 170 hours later and I’ve decided it’s basically digital crack,
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 21, 2024, 07:37:57 am
I haven’t played frog detective. I’ll look it up.

If you love Slay the Spire (which I also got totally addicted to), I’d definitely check out both Inscryption and Balatro.

Inscryption is really good and gets weird. The less you know the better. I’ve recommended it on here before and I think a couple other UKBers have played and enjoyed it. More ‘story’ than the others.

Balatro is much more of a pure card game. Still really good. Maybe not quite Slay the Spire level but few games are.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: T Loughlin on March 21, 2024, 07:20:36 pm
Nice one, thank you for the tips I will check them out after I’ve finally defeated the heart with the hermit from the downfall mod. I’m not even sure I really like the character but I’m committed now. Slay the spire is just such a finely poised game, it’s a masterpiece of design. The only tabletop style game I’ve played before was citizen sleeper and I enjoyed that more for the story, as the gameplay mechanic gets less involving as time progresses.Would highly recommend though for the art style, narrative and soundtrack. I also played Prey and Mooncrash over Christmas and they are amazing immersive sim games from Arkane, really recommend.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 21, 2024, 07:24:51 pm
Nice. I’ve got citizen sleeper on my list. I enjoyed the designer’s previous game. Think it was called something like unknown waters. All about exploring an exoplanet filled with weird alien life. You play a scientist exploring the planet. But it’s all quite abstract.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: JamieG on March 21, 2024, 07:30:00 pm
‘In other waters’ was the game. Good story if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: Games, games, games
Post by: Fiend on March 21, 2024, 07:51:23 pm
Graven at the mo, HTH.
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