The Video Game Thread: What are you Playing?

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I've been playing Divinity 2 lately. Terrific beautiful game, but there's something holding it back from true greatness. It feels a little overly curated. I don't know, I can't put my finger on it. But it's still excellent stuff.
 
After burning out a little bit on Overwatch, I recently discovered that the late, great City of Heroes/Villains is back up and running! So I'm still getting my supers-game fix, but at a more stately pace. It's amazing how the old girl ( CoH launched 2004, iirc) still holds up and looks great. Best MMO ever and the most fun to run around in teams with.
 
I never finished Mass Effect, by the time I got to it I was burned out on open world rpgs, should give it another shot.
I wouldn't call the ME series open world, at least not in the same what that the Elder Scrolls games are. The main quest is pretty linear; there's just a number of optional side-quests, and some of the main quest can be completed in various orders.
 
I just finished Assassin's Creed. Die, Assassins' Creed! Die, Assassin's Creed! :argh:
...
I hate, especially, the fact that it's so inexplicably popular that I've spent the last ten years having to hear about it all the freaking time.

I'm indifferent to most Assassin's Creed games, but Assassin's Creed: Unity is one of my favorite videogames of the the past decade.

Lots of Batman freedom in a very detailed replica of revolutionary France with an excellent French language option? Sign me up. Still slowly working my way through all the sidequests and I never tire of the landscape. The gameplay is a significant improvement over the earlier installments too. Sure, it had a notoriously buggy launch, but after all the patching it runs fine now.
 
However, CDPR is the company that came out with a letter that read like they were proud of being able to handle their crunch and while those panby namby Western hires just weren't Polish enough to handle it. Several gaming sites have covered that bit.

I dunno, man. CDPR seems to get a lot of love by fans. I can understand why, I mean they do a lot of good things that are Pro-Customer, especially in an era where gaming companies are desperate to gouge their audience for more money. But personally, they're just another company, to me...

To be honest, I've found the fandom of CDPR a bit off-putting. Yes, they did a few very good games, but they tend to push their edgy nature in their marketing, and I find the fans can be over-zealous and rude. When they say things like "I bought five copies JUST to thank CDPR". Really? Really? How many people re-buy video games and get multiple copies. I also saw the fans treat the original author of the books poorly--how dare the guy ask for a contract negotiation because he didn't realize how big the game would be--they were also mad because he felt the games weren't really canonical.

The thing is, CDPR only has one hit series, The Witcher, and it's licensed. The other game coming out is Cyberpunk and that is also licensed. I'll be a bit more impressed if they can create an original property or properties like other studios did. I think they are a little too dependent on the licenses and need to branch out a bit.
 
Assassin's Creed is still one of my favorite game series, even with it's flaws. I think the biggest issue is that there was a decent narrative in the first set of games, but over time they kept extending it a bit beyond it's scope. I really enjoy the concept of the accessing ancestral memories, it worked really well--but after AC3 they really didn't know what to do with it. They pushed it aside a little too much--I think the issue for me is that with the "soft reboot" that hit with Origins, they sort of scapped most of the old subplots like Juno to the transmedia stuff like the comics. That angers me--deal with key plot points in the series itself, please.

The new set of AC is pretty successful, Ubisoft has really made a good proto-action RPG out of the series, and the Discovery Tours are impressive--but plot-wise it's becoming harder and harder to both match the story and tone of its series. With Odyssey, you actually fight mythic creatures--there's a tie-in to the ancients and it hinted at being holograms.

What I think Ubisoft needs to do is this--they have this great Anvil Engine. Let's go all the way and produce an RPG that can match the best of the more modern Bioware (Dragon Age, Mass Effect) and CDPR (The Witcher). If they can make a branching plot with details, add companions, and other factors RPGers expect, I can see them taking over the RPG space that has been lacking. The only thing I see holding them back is creating a new IP, which is probably why they are using AC. But hey, I think people are hungry for a new player in the RPG space. Give us a full fantasy setting with the Anvil Engine, give us magic and monsters. Give us branching plot lines and add more features to handle RPG style situations. If they could do this, and release a new game as quickly as they do AC games--I think a lot of folks would be pleased.
 
To be honest, I've found the fandom of CDPR a bit off-putting. Yes, they did a few very good games, but they tend to push their edgy nature in their marketing, and I find the fans can be over-zealous and rude. When they say things like "I bought five copies JUST to thank CDPR". Really? Really? How many people re-buy video games and get multiple copies. I also saw the fans treat the original author of the books poorly--how dare the guy ask for a contract negotiation because he didn't realize how big the game would be--they were also mad because he felt the games weren't really canonical.

The thing is, CDPR only has one hit series, The Witcher, and it's licensed. The other game coming out is Cyberpunk and that is also licensed. I'll be a bit more impressed if they can create an original property or properties like other studios did. I think they are a little too dependent on the licenses and need to branch out a bit.
CDPR also has a history of excessive crunch time which other companies get lambasted for, but they're given a pass on. They're like pre-Half-Life 3 Valve, or pre-Fallout 76 Bethesda at the moment.

To me, they're just another company. They want my money, which I'm totally fine with, but they have to EARN it, like everyone else. And luckily for them, between their admittedly good customer facing practices and decent (if buggy at first games) they have. But in no way does that give them a pass to any criticism.
 
I've been playing Shogun 2 Total War the past couple of weeks. In the Sengoku Campaign I led the Ikko Ikki to victory and conquered all of northern Japan before becoming Shogun. How a peasant revolt led by a bunch of radical Buddhist monks could become Shogun I don't know as they seemed to be a bit anti-establishment. Then I started up the Boshin War campaign and had some fun for a little bit. I started as a clan loyal to the Shogunate, then when the time came to declare all out war against the Imperial forces I said screw it and founded an independent republic. I conquered every island except Kyushu before getting bored with the repetitive siege battles and the dumb AI. You'd figure an army that is 50%artillery would be able to take a small castle but nope!
Now I've jumped back into HOI4, I'm the Soviet Union, but instead of starting Stalin's Great Purge I sat around doing other stuff until Trotsky murdered Stalin with an Ice Pick and took over. I promptly fought a small civil war with the remaining stalinists before invading and puppeting Turkey and Romania to beable to get the Black Seas fleet out of the Black Sea. The winter war also didn't go in Finland's favor this time around and now they are my little puppet. 1940 roles around and the Hungarians really wanted Transylvania so they decided to attack my Romanian puppet and drag the entire Axis in with them, Hungary's about to fall to the Glorious workers revolution and my invasion of Nazi occupied Poland is going well.
Meanwhile in East Asia, Communist China executed Chiang Kai-Shek which led to a Nationalist China under Wang Jingwei; who promptly restarted the civil war which led to Mao joining up with Japan. Japan easily conquered the Nationalist controlled areas of China and Mao broke his alliance with Japan and joined me, dragging me and Sinkiang into a war in china in 1940. The invasion of Manchuria goes slowly.
 
I like the idea of a period video game but the sf frame and assasin play doesn't grab me.
I got the recent game (during a sale) and really enjoyed just walking around Ancient Greece for a few hours in the historical commentary mode, but I also can't tolerate that silly SciFi framing stuff about genetic memories and global conspiracies.
 
I got the recent game (during a sale) and really enjoyed just walking around Ancient Greece for a few hours in the historical commentary mode...

The mode is really cool as it's not really meta-commentary but a true teaching tour--they've actually got the tour mode as a reduced price system that they can give to schools.

It also emphasizes something that folks forget about these games. There's a LOT of detail and care put into these games. A lot of jaded gamers miss this aspect when they talk about "repetitive gameplay" and "this engine is crap" (because it doesn't have the latest bells and whistles), but to actually pay attention to the historical details, to have all these "extra" characters walking around and doing things in a loop, and the care to build all these buildings and aspect...

I'm amazed at how far we've come. When people get burned out by gaming, the best advice to give them is to "take a break for a few years". It's hard to see the incremental changes that happen over time if you're constantly playing, but if you disconnect for a few years, it will likely awe you more. Compare these latest AC games to AC2/Brotherhood, where there's more obvious repetition in the city buildings--and the original AC was considered a stunning engine compared to what was out there at the time.
 
It also emphasizes something that folks forget about these games. There's a LOT of detail and care put into these games. A lot of jaded gamers miss this aspect when they talk about "repetitive gameplay" and "this engine is crap" (because it doesn't have the latest bells and whistles), but to actually pay attention to the historical details, to have all these "extra" characters walking around and doing things in a loop, and the care to build all these buildings and aspect...
I think the historical simulation aspects of the world are really cool. Greece is very well realised and you can really learn plenty from that mode. I really enjoyed it. However "as a game" the main mode does have bad gameplay I think.
 
The mode is really cool as it's not really meta-commentary but a true teaching tour--they've actually got the tour mode as a reduced price system that they can give to schools.

It also emphasizes something that folks forget about these games. There's a LOT of detail and care put into these games. A lot of jaded gamers miss this aspect when they talk about "repetitive gameplay" and "this engine is crap" (because it doesn't have the latest bells and whistles), but to actually pay attention to the historical details, to have all these "extra" characters walking around and doing things in a loop, and the care to build all these buildings and aspect...

I'm amazed at how far we've come. When people get burned out by gaming, the best advice to give them is to "take a break for a few years". It's hard to see the incremental changes that happen over time if you're constantly playing, but if you disconnect for a few years, it will likely awe you more. Compare these latest AC games to AC2/Brotherhood, where there's more obvious repetition in the city buildings--and the original AC was considered a stunning engine compared to what was out there at the time.

And the moment they stop drooling over slabs of rock and put any of that love and care into the actual human beings that are supposed to inhabit them, then I will be impressed. :tongue:

That's really what's rubbing me raw with AC - the sheer infuriating, unjustified pretentiousness of it. I have no problem with games that make a complete mockery of history because it makes for a more exciting rock'em-sock'em fight between good and evil. I very much enjoyed Ryse Son of Rome, and that game danced a merry jig on the grave of historical accuracy! But I have a massive problem with games that pretend to be really deep when there are Saturday morning cartoons that have more nuance and characterisation in them. This is not history! This is not realism! This is a self-righteous juvenile power fantasy about how cool it would be if you lived in historical times and also you were a super-duper-unstoppable badass and could stab all the people you've read about that you've decided you hated, and make friends with all the people you've read about that you've decided you liked!

I mean, just to take an obvious example: in what world do you write a story about Real Genuine Realistically Depicted History (TM) and make everyone who matters an atheist?! Not just atheist, either, but the most obnoxious sort of snot-nosed nihilist. Yeah, let's look at all of history through the lens of "anyone who believes in anything is a blithering idiot." That's bound to give you a fair and accurate idea of why historical event went down the way they did. Feh.
 
I've never gotten the sense that Ubisoft considered this series anything more than escapist entertainment, just that they are trying to model the historic period more than some other games do, even if it's only superficial. Perhaps you are thinking of maybe a few earlier marketing efforts at the beginning, but that's changed a lot over time.

(The recent discovery tours are part of the soft reboot and more or less isolated from the games).
 
I afraid that I don't like video games anymore ... They're all so damn LONG. How does anyone ever finish these things?! And then all the super frustrating bits that I have to force myself to play through in order to get to the good stuff. Plus more and more seem like they're built for online multiplayer gaming, which I have zero interest in. I can't remember the last time I finished a new (to me) game, and I find myself more likely to replay an old game I like, or just not play at all, and read RPGs instead ... :sad:

I don’t really care how long it takes to finish a game; many I have never even finished, some I have finished once, and a rare few make me log hundreds of play hours just because they’re so much fun (I might have 500+ hours on Borderlands 2 alone).

I am if anything a dash melancholy that I’ll never really see all certain games have to offer (hello, Skyrim) but what’s anyone with a job and a family and multiple interests to do?

EDIT: what I meant is, don’t deprive yourself of a good game only because it’s big. Take your time and enjoy the ride.

After burning out a little bit on Overwatch, I recently discovered that the late, great City of Heroes/Villains is back up and running! So I'm still getting my supers-game fix, but at a more stately pace. It's amazing how the old girl ( CoH launched 2004, iirc) still holds up and looks great. Best MMO ever and the most fun to run around in teams with.

Funnily enough, because of the above, I recently persuaded myself to give MMOs another try, specifically Elder Scrolls Online; I played the beta years ago and never did pick it up, but took the opportunity of a recent Steam sale to finally try it, and possibly immerse myself in an Elder Scrolls game that I can play with my wife (which nowadays is my chief concern when getting into a video game).

Giving CoH/V another spin is very tempting...
 
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I am taking a little break from Remnants to dick around with Urtuk: the Desolation. It's a turn based tactical game that's pretty much fight fight fight and nothing else but it's been holding my interest for the time being. I also downloaded Dark Souls 3 again but I just don't have the motivation to git gud.
 
I am now playing Dante's Inferno, because I needed something to help me relax my brain and chop things to pieces. I can report that the game delivers wonderfully on that score. :shade:

I am stuck on Lucifer's second form, though. He's unpredictable and hits like a truck, and he loves cheaty spam attacks that stunlock me and drain half my health. Damn him! Damn him to hell! :tongue:

ETA: Beat him in the end. Take THAT, you smug git! :tongue: I have to admit that the way they characterise him, both through the cutscenes and through his fighting style, is pretty true to the source material. No suave and dignified Lord of the Fallen, this one, he's just a big, dumb brute with a massive unjustified ego.
 
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Having finished DI, I have moved on to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. It's roughly the same, except instead of a hideous undead crusader with a flag stitched to my chest I'm a long-haired heartthrob in a very snazzy outfit. This is very much an improvement in my book. Hey, I like to feel pretty when I'm kicking ass, what of it? :shade:
 
I suck at puzzles so I got stuck on one in Fallen Order but I got my wife to help figure it out and now I'm on to the Wookie planet. This is one pretty game.
I keep hearing that. I'll have to look into picking this up on a sale (Just cuz I can't afford a full priced game.)
 
I'm currently playing a MMA game at Kongregate:smile:. It's made by a Bulgarian roleplayer who sent me the link, knowing the topic might be of some interest to me.
He wasn't wrong:wink:.
I'm still trying to find how to gain money outside of fighting, though...this game really rewards you for buying supplements:grin:!
 
A little late to the party, Cultist Simulator was 70% off on iOS and it always struck me as a great fit for iPad gaming. I’ve managed to make it through the early-game into the mid-game and pretty much understand how the mechanisms work. But, like mentioned up-thread, it is quite hard work to keep all the different plates spinning.

I haven’t managed to cast any spells yet, so I really want to crack that nut and by then I may have gotten my £5 worth...
 
I have started playing the singleplayer campaign of Destiny 2. Only played the tutorial and the first couple of missions, but like it well enough so far.

I have had the game ever since I got it for free on Blizzards Battlenet. Transferred it over to my Steam Account.
But I read elsewhere that Bungie in September will remove the singleplayer campaigns, so I thought now would be the time.
 
I finally got Borderlands 3. I didn't realize how much I missed ClapTrap.


I like the characters, but the main story itself was underwhelming for me. But some of the DLC, like Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot and Bounty Of Blood (The only two I have) are pretty awesome. And the gun play, so TIGHT!
 
The employable.:tongue: Most people don't because we're all cheap. :tongue: :hehe:
Hey man I hope your financial situation turns around soon. I won't judge anyone for being thrifty. :money: I rarely buy video games at full retail. I can wait for a sale.

I finally got Borderlands 3. I didn't realize how much I missed ClapTrap.
ClapTrap was my favorite character
 
I finally got Borderlands 3. I didn't realize how much I missed ClapTrap.



Easily my favorite videogame franchise.
I like the characters, but the main story itself was underwhelming for me. But some of the DLC, like Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot and Bounty Of Blood (The only two I have) are pretty awesome. And the gun play, so TIGHT!

Pretty good run-down. The villains are criminally underdeveloped and underused. And I was hoping to see Athena and Janey again. The plot has some frankly weird choices. But I loved the new Vault Hunters, the planet-hopping, the NPC cast (Rhys! Maya! Wainwright! Typhon!) and the sweet, sweet gunplay.
 
In other news, I have been a bit underwhelmed by Elder Scrolls Online. Granted, I haven’t gotten very far (one character at level 9) but I expected multiplayer Skyrim and I’m getting some hackneyed MMO-isms in one hand that don’t mesh particularly well with the Elder Scrolls-isms e.g. the super complex crafting system vs. the limited banking space for non-premium subscribers.

But what really pissed me off was the inability to group level. Quests are instantiated for each party member! Which means each of us have to do the same quest on our own, even though we’re in a party.

And the whole point of me getting this game was so I could play an Elder Scrolls game with Mrs. The Butcher. Really peeved.

Ah well. Vermintide 2 is still here for us (and continues to surprise me by having an unusually chill community).

Wonder if Chaosbane is any good? Reviews seem to suggest it’s pretty lackluster.
 
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