What game are you wasting time on?

[mediocrepoet]

Played a bit of Age of Empires 2. Quickly reminded why I don't often play RTS games, with my APM of 6 on a good day.

 

[Morgoth]

I used to be obsessed with RTS games, but simply lost all interest in them. Like, completely.

 

[Naraya]

Guild Wars. I bought 3rd account, I'm levelling a fresh character and I'm having an absolute blast and great time. This game man, this game.

Also Majesty Gold, with mods.

 

[mediocrepoet]

I used to be obsessed with RTS games, but simply lost all interest in them. Like, completely.

I always like the idea of them, but I also tend to think that in single player, they'd be objectively improved with pause or slow down mechanics so you don't have to act like a caffeinated squirrel and can do things like read wtf something does when units are more involved than RPS and attack move.

The fact is, I find even that and keeping a basic economy going to be relatively challenging in real time.

 

[NecroLord]

Just finished Thief: Gold.
Then started Thief 2: The Metal Age.
Thief 2 starts off pretty strong, a lot of good missions. Focus is less on the supernatural, but more on doing thieving activities, framing a high ranking officer of the City Watch, navigating the streets of the City safely after the Watch has an order to kill you on sight "Ambush!".
Personally, I always liked Thief: TDP more. That supernatural element has grown on me.

What great games...

Morrowind also goes pretty smoothly, a few crashes here and there (it wouldn't be a Bethesda game without 'em, right??), my character is now pretty much a nigh unkillable monstrosity. Dagoth Ur, you in trouble nigga.

 

[laclongquan]

After Koudelka, I'm playing another horror-themed RPG for the PSX, Parasite Eve.

Ah.. the PSX era, a time when you could have two very good horror RPGs side by side.

It's not as expertly written as Koudelka, but it makes up with a very cool setting. A very somber setting actually, where you have a Manhattan devastated by a rapidly mutating organism/being (with big boobs - these were the times I tell ya!)

Nice gun porn-crafting, great locations, challenging combat (if you don't grind like crazy -you shouldn't). Some of the mechanics are obtuse at first, but it's nothing major. Walking, moving through screens, UI... all of this could be faster/snappier, but again it's not that bad.

Anyway, a nice experience. Linear and not that long, but it seems that it has a NG+, with more challenge and new stuff that lead you to the "true ending". So, it seems it still has a lot of meat.

Too bad it has very little VO, a game like this could benefit from some good VO.

Combat is phase-based with real-time movement in order to better position yourself. Works well, when you get the hang of it.

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

Eh. 2 was chasing Resident Evil bucks. It was alright, but the first game was a classic imo.

At least you didn't include Third Birthday.

 

[ghostdog]

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

Eh. 2 was chasing Resident Evil bucks. It was alright, but the first game was a classic imo.

At least you didn't include Third Birthday.

And graphics-wise they are just fine imo, no need for a remaster. With a good emulator like duckstation you can get them to look p. Good on modern hardware.

 

[gabel]

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

Eh. 2 was chasing Resident Evil bucks. It was alright, but the first game was a classic imo.

At least you didn't include Third Birthday.

And graphics-wise they are just fine imo, no need forna remaster. With a good emulator like duckstation you can get them to look p. Good on modern hardware.

Not to mention that current year remasters would butcher the games.

 

[laclongquan]

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

Eh. 2 was chasing Resident Evil bucks. It was alright, but the first game was a classic imo.

At least you didn't include Third Birthday.

Both PE 1 and 2 need remaster. I played them on PSX emulator and the damn things are blocky pixelated thing. They are PS1 level of graphic, FFS.

The question is whether the existing assets are enough to support the demand of a remaster~

 

[mediocrepoet]

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

Eh. 2 was chasing Resident Evil bucks. It was alright, but the first game was a classic imo.

At least you didn't include Third Birthday.

Both PE 1 and 2 need remaster. I played them on PSX emulator and the damn things are blocky pixelated thing. They are PS1 level of graphic, FFS.

The question is whether the existing assets are enough to support the demand of a remaster~

Oh... you just want them to update the shower scene.

 

[samuraigaiden]

Games need to stop evolving. It's only getting worse.

 

[Raghar]

Played a bit of Age of Empires 2. Quickly reminded why I don't often play RTS games, with my APM of 6 on a good day.

C'mon I played Supreme Commander MP with 24 APM. Dawn of War is MUCH worse for playing without pause.

 

[Great Deceiver]

After Koudelka, I'm playing another horror-themed RPG for the PSX, Parasite Eve.

Ah.. the PSX era, a time when you could have two very good horror RPGs side by side.

It's not as expertly written as Koudelka, but it makes up with a very cool setting. A very somber setting actually, where you have a Manhattan devastated by a rapidly mutating organism/being (with big boobs - these were the times I tell ya!)

Nice gun porn-crafting, great locations, challenging combat (if you don't grind like crazy -you shouldn't). Some of the mechanics are obtuse at first, but it's nothing major. Walking, moving through screens, UI... all of this could be faster/snappier, but again it's not that bad.

Anyway, a nice experience. Linear and not that long, but it seems that it has a NG+, with more challenge and new stuff that lead you to the "true ending". So, it seems it still has a lot of meat.

Too bad it has very little VO, a game like this could benefit from some good VO.

Combat is phase-based with real-time movement in order to better position yourself. Works well, when you get the hang of it.

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

No, they absolutely don't need a 'remaster'. They still look great if you can get them running on period-accurate hardware (i.e. CRT) or a decent approximation (emulation with good shaders).

 

[Morgoth]

I used to be obsessed with RTS games, but simply lost all interest in them. Like, completely.

I always like the idea of them, but I also tend to think that in single player, they'd be objectively improved with pause or slow down mechanics so you don't have to act like a caffeinated squirrel and can do things like read wtf something does when units are more involved than RPS and attack move.

The fact is, I find even that and keeping a basic economy going to be relatively challenging in real time.

Ballsy admission. But yes, that's my same feelings.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Played a bit of Age of Empires 2. Quickly reminded why I don't often play RTS games, with my APM of 6 on a good day.

C'mon I played Supreme Commander MP with 24 APM. Dawn of War is MUCH worse for playing without pause.

Could be, I might just be extremely rusty since I've beaten a variety of RTS campaigns, including DOW and DOW2.

I'm basically the RTS equivalent of those old person two finger typers.

 

[Ezekiel]

Tried Streets of Rage 4 with my Mega Drive-style controller, using the "legacy mode" where buttons are pressed simultaneously for star move, back attack and throw item. I had to look up the Streets of Rage 2 controls to remember where the buttons are supposed to be mapped. Like the feel of it. Tempted to play through it again.

 

[laclongquan]

After Koudelka, I'm playing another horror-themed RPG for the PSX, Parasite Eve.

Ah.. the PSX era, a time when you could have two very good horror RPGs side by side.

It's not as expertly written as Koudelka, but it makes up with a very cool setting. A very somber setting actually, where you have a Manhattan devastated by a rapidly mutating organism/being (with big boobs - these were the times I tell ya!)

Nice gun porn-crafting, great locations, challenging combat (if you don't grind like crazy -you shouldn't). Some of the mechanics are obtuse at first, but it's nothing major. Walking, moving through screens, UI... all of this could be faster/snappier, but again it's not that bad.

Anyway, a nice experience. Linear and not that long, but it seems that it has a NG+, with more challenge and new stuff that lead you to the "true ending". So, it seems it still has a lot of meat.

Too bad it has very little VO, a game like this could benefit from some good VO.

Combat is phase-based with real-time movement in order to better position yourself. Works well, when you get the hang of it.

Parasite Eve kicks ass, they should rerelease it. I'd say reboot, but every follow up sucked balls, so I'd take a straight rerelease or remaster on modern hardware.

Then again, I wonder if I'd like it as much these days. Part of what blew me away at the time was the novelty of it.

Parasite Eve 1 and 2 kick ass and need a remaster. They are games of PS1 era, so you know what their level of graphic quality is.

No, they absolutely don't need a 'remaster'. They still look great if you can get them running on period-accurate hardware (i.e. CRT) or a decent approximation (emulation with good shaders).

That's all your preference~ I dont like emulating that CRT or approximation.

This ultra HD simulation of PE2 and it look blocky as fuck. Playable, of course, but blocky.

 

[e-mailio estevez]

Tried Streets of Rage 4 with my Mega Drive-style controller, using the "legacy mode" where buttons are pressed simultaneously for star move, back attack and throw item. I had to look up the Streets of Rage 2 controls to remember where the buttons are supposed to be mapped. Like the feel of it. Tempted to play through it again.

SOR2 is a great game. So is 4.

I really didn't think I liked beat 'em ups, they all felt repetitive and I'd always burn out on them after Stage 2 of any beat 'em up. SOR2 is a different story entirely. I'm glad I gave it a chance.

I beat it this last year, proudly, then I tried another playthrough on hard and have repeatedly gotten my ass kicked. I'll go without dying until the baseball field where the two fat boys will waddle and flamebreath me out of nearly all of my lives.

 

[Catacombs]

Buckshot Roulette

 

[Perkel]

me in picture. Happy times in dump searching for treasure with shovel. Oh shit ! plastic galon bottle !

Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead. Currently my #1 the most complex game i have ever tried that i like.

 

[Ezekiel]

Tried Streets of Rage 4 with my Mega Drive-style controller, using the "legacy mode" where buttons are pressed simultaneously for star move, back attack and throw item. I had to look up the Streets of Rage 2 controls to remember where the buttons are supposed to be mapped. Like the feel of it. Tempted to play through it again.

SOR2 is a great game. So is 4.

I really didn't think I liked beat 'em ups, they all felt repetitive and I'd always burn out on them after Stage 2 of any beat 'em up. SOR2 is a different story entirely. I'm glad I gave it a chance.

I beat it this last year, proudly, then I tried another playthrough on hard and have repeatedly gotten my ass kicked. I'll go without dying until the baseball field where the two fat boys will waddle and flamebreath me out of nearly all of my lives.

I have over 110 hours in Streets 4, finished all difficulties except Mania+, but only made it to the last boss in Streets 2 after several attempts. Really respect the game, though. Other beat 'em ups never grabbed me the same way as these two.

 

[Shuruga]

I got Star Wars: Squadrons a few months ago on a 95% sale. I knew it was supposed to be quite short and not very good but I had a taste for a space fighter game and I do enjoy the Star Wars setting, so indulged in a bit of an impulse buy. I beat it in a few days and it just occurred to me to note my thoughts here for anyone else who has it on their radar.

Short version: the game play is OK for what it is and the story is pretty terrible. I probably should have jus reinstalled Free Space 2 or splurged on something like EverSpace.

Rant about the game's story for anyone curious

It is set shortly after Episode 6 and switches your perspective between a squadron of New Republic fighters and a squadron of TIE pilots. There are some interesting ideas, like showing how the Empire was fracturing into turf wars between different admirals after the Emperor died. The leaders of the opposing battlegroups have a history; the Republic commander used to be the Imperial commander's CO before defecting a few years before the main events of the game. Fine so far: in principle this is a reasonable way to set up some dramatic tension and tell a story with a smaller focus than galaxy-wide conflict.

The idea of playing both sides of a conflict was a reasonable idea, too. You play a few missions that result in, say, damaging a Republic cruiser, then your perspective switches over to the Republic fighters reeling from the damage and figuring out their next move.

But the execution was just terrible. The story was conveyed through these ridiculous dialogues with your squad mates on your ship between battles where you and your character have no role to play at all; you just listen to monologues that come across really poorly without even a pretense of your character engaging in the conversation. They're all some variant of "Man, that battle was tough, I'm glad you're here. Did I ever tell you about the time that I was almost shot down? Boy that was crazy. <Goes on like this for a solid minute> Anyway, we should go see what the next mission briefing is." The characters are all one-note caricatures, too, including a force-sensitive pilot on the Republic side, a vaguely Darth Vader-esque figure on the Empire side (his pilot helmet never comes off because of all the surgeries he's had to have from being shot down and he speaks through a ventilator), etc.

The real kicker for me was the total copout of the ending. Since you're literally playing both sides of the conflict, there is some tension about which side will end up on top. A better game would let you choose which side to play as during the final conflict, then let you shoot down your character from the opposite side along with their wingmate NPCs. Even choosing one side to be the winner would have been better than what they actually did, which is to make both sides the winner with a laugh-out-loud awful narrative decision:

In the last mission from the Empire's side, you engage in a dogfight with the main Republic commander, who got into an X-wing to draw attention away from a damaged cruiser. You shoot him down and he crashes into the side of a ship. You're given a final cutscene debrief at the end of that mission, lauding how badass your squad is and sending you off on a high note. (OK -- if the game stopped there.) Then, perspective switches back to the Republic side and you play in the same battlefield, evidently right after the Imperial squad left, and your commander is OK. Like, his ship had been shot down and slammed at full speed into a cruiser. And he just flies back out. Your wingmate NPCs express some level of surprise and the commander is just like "You didn't really think I'd be dead, did you?" And I'm sitting at my computer thinking to myself, "Call me crazy, but yeah, yeah I did." So then you finish the mission and get a similar send off for the Republic side.

TLDR: they tried to make it so both sides were the ultimate winners by having a major NPC die, then nonsensically bringing him back to life immediately after.

Thank you for attending my TED talk about why this game's story is terrible.

 

[revani]

me in picture. Happy times in dump searching for treasure with shovel. Oh shit ! plastic galon bottle !

Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead. Currently my #1 the most complex game i have ever tried that i like.

For a game this comprehensive and detailed, it's incredible how easy it is to navigate through seemingly complicated interface once you spend an hour or two playing. So many quality of life stuff AAA devs should take note of. Keyboard is a good invention. CDDA is a proof that games should be made by people, for people.

 

[Catacombs]

Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead. Currently my #1 the most complex game i have ever tried that i like.

What tileset?