What game are you playing?

[Roguey]

Finished a replay of Earthworm Jim 2. The tube race in the first game filtered me every time without the use of an invincibility cheat, but this one's a bit more manageable (through rewind-cheating of course). The puppy love segments are absolutely infuriating though. Neat gimmicks, good animation, cool music.

[rusty_shackleford]

I played IXION for a bit, it's… ok? Got repetitive after a bit tho

[DDC]

I went batshit insane during the black friday sales and bought like 40 games between steam and key sites. No way I can play all this but here's what I've tested so far:

Stalker 2 (gamepass): seems pretty good. Popped in at 4 am to see the graphics meaning to play 20 minutes but ended up getting sucked in for 2 hours. Does not look as good as it should given that it taxes a 4090.

Aliens Dark Descent (gamepass): Had been wanting to buy this for a long time but it turned out to be DEI wokeslop. Hard to tell if the gameplay will make up for it because it starts out with over an hour of basically on-rails tutorials.

Nine Sols (gamepass): a sekiro/metroidvania mashup with massive critical acclaim. Did not impress in the half-hour I played.

Oblivion Override: absolute banger side-scrolling roguelike. Everything is on point except sometimes getting hit unfairly due to visual overload.

Contra Operation Galuga: Not as good as the last two "real" Contra games I played (Shattered Soldier, Hard Corps Uprising), but still a real contra game. Controls well, sounds good, looks like an Xbox live acade game circa 360 generation.

Ratchet and Clank: played halfway through on PS5 so I already knew it was good, but I really wanted to see it on PC and it did not disappoint. Looks absolutely phenomenal maxed out at 4K 144hz. It could pass for a pixar movie.

Wildfrost: decent deckbuilder that seemed easily breakable because you can apply relics directly to your cards. The twist is that for all runs after the first, the final boss is that completely broken team you beat the game with on your previous run, powered up even more with extra health bonuses.

The Great Rebellion: Only played a little bit but I thought it would be better. The default control mapping sucks for this kind of game with no way to remap.

Teardown: the destruction physics were initially disappointing for a low-fi voxel game. Stuff that should spectacularly collapse on itself doesn't, being held up even if there is a tiny support left on just one side. But once the real nature of the game revealed itself (it's more about planning and puzzle solving than destruction), it became a fun throwback to the PS2 generation with its associated jank.

[TKVNC]

Still on DA:O, didn't finish it during November, but I forgot how good the game is, old as it is.

[Roguey]

Finished Super R-Type. All right shoot-em-up, nice music. Not too many worthwhile SNES games in the Switch Online Library that I already hadn't played. They recently added a few more Gameboy and Genesis games to check out, then the 64 library is all I have left.

[DDC]

Finished Super R-Type. All right shoot-em-up, nice music. Not too many worthwhile SNES games in the Switch Online Library that I already hadn't played. They recently added a few more Gameboy and Genesis games to check out, then the 64 library is all I have left.

Now for the others. You've got R Rtype Delta and R Type Final which might be the best two R-type games but you'll have to play them on emulators (they still look nice in 4K). Then R Type Final 2, which has modern graphics and is on steam but isn't as good of a game. Then when you beat those you should probably play Soldner X2, the best version of which is on PS4. But you haven't really accomplished anything until you've finished every version of every single Darius game in existence so that's even more work, but I'd start with G Darius.

[Roguey]

Finished Donkey Kong Land. I liked how fast it was, practically felt like playing Sonic. Didn't care for some of the obnoxious level design in world 3, but world 4 wasn't too bad, even if it did force me to memorize flaming barrel timing. There was some amusing trolling in one of those levels too.

[DagothGeas5]

Was gifted Silent Hill 2 Remake as a joke (spoiler for the original James smothering his wife with a pillow) before I went to the hospital and so far it is not as bad as I thought it would be, though I have to treat it as a separate game to really enjoy it, with different characters (like a new Silent Hill entry, which is not difficult to do because the characters act, are characterized, and look, differently as well). I am unsure if they made this game with love or with the "Look! It's a reference! It's what you like! Yes you do!" childish treatment of players.
It has a lot of details put into it, love especially how there is a "story beneath the story" just like the original that hints at what happened.
The puzzle I found and the random locked padlock really felt like old times with the scavenger hunt and running around the place to find some random button to make it work, while tha padlock is some scattered note that is a riddle itself.
Calling it "remake", for me, implies it is there to replace the original by remaking it "better", and this game does not do that, nor can it really be thought of the same game or compare, thus far, to the original, but as a separate Silent Hill, I am liking it quite a bit.

[Xenich]

Still messing with 7 days to die, but got to thinking...

It would be interesting to mod the game in functionality.

My idea would be to change the game from a full action based to a more hybrid style, similar to Morrowind/EQ... but with some adjustments.

The game appears to have various evade animations that work quite well when you attack something (showing the miss) and based on this functionality I would imagine simple block animations could be easily implemented. which would attend to the issues @rusty_shackleford mentioned with morrowind style combat of visual hits not having damage.

With that, I would change the combat system to be controlled by statistical mechanics (which would require a revamp of the systems, but for the most part all the basics are there with attributes and skills).

The spawning system for NPCs, loot, etc... is extremely flexible and with the ease of level creation, pre-sets can be easily implemented as well (ie most fits default for implementations)

Death system already mimics EQ (ie corpse retrival), exp debt (though could be adjusted for loss I think pretty easily, though level loss "may" be tricky).

Then you have various trigger systems also already implemented so interesting encounter designs can be made.

World tile destruction could be easily contained through various means (indestructible tile types, etc...).

Some of the overhauls have done many similar things in terms of creating classes and the like, and some even added "magic" skills and animations at one point if I remember.

Because the world would need to be statically created for a lot of it, and to emulate EQ style of play, preset smaller maps (zones) would have to be connected and loaded on transition which with some adjustments to the NPCs behavior could create massive trains and the like concerning EQ, not to mention pathing behaviors is already all there).

The only issue is "boss" encounters and the like as there is a limited selection of models, though I think those could be created, adjusted, etc... to uniqueness to at least give an interesting play (ie changing the size of models to make "monsters" or various mini-races initially.

Point is, the game over all has most everything I think you would need to achieve this without too many MAJOR manipulations or asset introductions to see a prototype work of the system. If it works well and has merit, it then would then just be an issue of adding new assets for different world styles and looks as well as NPC models.


Anyway, just thinking...

[Roguey]

Finished with Donkey Kong Land 2. Like the first one, only it ramps up the difficulty quicker. There were a couple of levels near the end where you have to control animal friends that I didn't like; the game doesn't tell you that select is what you have to press to activate some of their abilities and it's somewhat awkward to deal with.

I didn't bother collecting all 47 kremcoins to unlock the true ending, no patience for that. I saw the credits, good enough.

[Xenich]

Ok, I moved on to something else... 7 Days to Die is fun, but really best played with Darkness Falls, which I am waiting for him to get up to speed with 1.1 without bugs. Also, I have to spend a lot of time modifying the XML files to move the interface around for my triple screen setup, so I will wait till I don't have to do anymore patches from DF (once I played it triple screen, I can't go back, its just feels right).

Since I was on the kick, I put ARK back on, toyed with it a bit, but it didn't pull me in, maybe some day I will get around to doing a full play through.

So... while thinking, nostalgia popped up, and I decided to install Project 1999 and proceeded to get my *** handed to me, which... I absolutely loved. So, messing with that atm. It has been long enough where I don't remember everything, so it should be interesting to explore again, I hope Monsters & Memories turns out well, I will live there if it does.

[Zothique]

Ok, I moved on to something else... 7 Days to Die is fun, but really best played with Darkness Falls, which I am waiting for him to get up to speed with 1.1 without bugs. Also, I have to spend a lot of time modifying the XML files to move the interface around for my triple screen setup, so I will wait till I don't have to do anymore patches from DF (once I played it triple screen, I can't go back, its just feels right).

Since I was on the kick, I put ARK back on, toyed with it a bit, but it didn't pull me in, maybe some day I will get around to doing a full play through.

So... while thinking, nostalgia popped up, and I decided to install Project 1999 and proceeded to get my *** handed to me, which... I absolutely loved. So, messing with that atm. It has been long enough where I don't remember everything, so it should be interesting to explore again, I hope Monsters & Memories turns out well, I will live there if it does.

Played 7d2d on SexBox but I thought it was really janky. I must have missed out on something.

[Xenich]

Ok, I moved on to something else... 7 Days to Die is fun, but really best played with Darkness Falls, which I am waiting for him to get up to speed with 1.1 without bugs. Also, I have to spend a lot of time modifying the XML files to move the interface around for my triple screen setup, so I will wait till I don't have to do anymore patches from DF (once I played it triple screen, I can't go back, its just feels right).

Since I was on the kick, I put ARK back on, toyed with it a bit, but it didn't pull me in, maybe some day I will get around to doing a full play through.

So... while thinking, nostalgia popped up, and I decided to install Project 1999 and proceeded to get my *** handed to me, which... I absolutely loved. So, messing with that atm. It has been long enough where I don't remember everything, so it should be interesting to explore again, I hope Monsters & Memories turns out well, I will live there if it does.

Played 7d2d on SexBox but I thought it was really janky. I must have missed out on something.

So you played an FPS game designed initially for PC on a Tardsol and you thought it janky?

[Zothique]

Ok, I moved on to something else... 7 Days to Die is fun, but really best played with Darkness Falls, which I am waiting for him to get up to speed with 1.1 without bugs. Also, I have to spend a lot of time modifying the XML files to move the interface around for my triple screen setup, so I will wait till I don't have to do anymore patches from DF (once I played it triple screen, I can't go back, its just feels right).

Since I was on the kick, I put ARK back on, toyed with it a bit, but it didn't pull me in, maybe some day I will get around to doing a full play through.

So... while thinking, nostalgia popped up, and I decided to install Project 1999 and proceeded to get my *** handed to me, which... I absolutely loved. So, messing with that atm. It has been long enough where I don't remember everything, so it should be interesting to explore again, I hope Monsters & Memories turns out well, I will live there if it does.

Played 7d2d on SexBox but I thought it was really janky. I must have missed out on something.

So you played an FPS game designed initially for PC on a Tardsol and you thought it janky?

Oh waow you really got me there bro! Ziiiiing!

[Xenich]

Played 7d2d on SexBox but I thought it was really janky. I must have missed out on something.

So you played an FPS game designed initially for PC on a Tardsol and you thought it janky?

Oh waow you really got me there bro! Ziiiiing!

It wasn't an "I gotcha", but what did you expect? Consoles require a very specific design for FPS type games (cover positions, iron sights, aim assist, etc...) and they don't port well if the game is designed around PC input.

So right off the bat, the game is going to have that going against it. It won't feel natural in movement, aiming, or function. The menus will feel odd and forced, and many aspects of play (building, using the inventory, etc...) will feel awkward and "janky" (much like a console port feels to a PC player.

Add in the game is action based and it is going to feel ******** using a controller.

Aside from all of that, the game is pretty good. It isn't "amazing", but it is fun and has a nice mix of survival, exploration, building, and basic RPG style development. It is 10 years old and has gone through numerous iterations in its graphics, which aren't cutting edge, but they work for the style of game it is.

Also, I tend to hate consoles and think they are a major contributor to the retardation of gaming in general (not that they are bad for what they provide, but how they became the standard for how games are developed).

[Irenaeus]

Alpha Protocol, first time since like April.

Almost finished Moscow, then only Rome and the endgame left.

[Roguey]

Finished with Donkey Kong Land 3. Unlike the previous entries, there weren't any aggravating levels this time around, though some of the backgrounds didn't translate well to the Gameboy and were difficult to parse. I once again refused to collect all the coins. Saw the credits, that's it for me.

[Tinky Winky]

Hammer and Sickle

Welp I actually decided to try this out and just finished it. Wasn't too hard with a guide and playing on the easy difficulty, though it has way too much of forced scripted combats and events for my liking. Overall I'd rank it slightly below the previous two games, still worth a try if you like silent storm, game's quite short anyway and can be beaten in 10 hours if you know what to do.
BTW, for some reason it won't install on win10 for me (the installer crashed when I tried to change the disk), so I have to play it in virtual box on winxp, worked quite well there.

[Roguey]

Finished Sonic Frontiers. The first zone was pretty fun. The second one was a bit annoying in how it increased the number of plot coupons you had to pick up in the world to proceed. The third one was awful with unintuitive, aggravating level design. The towers and fourth zone that followed were okay. I was about to ragequit again when the final boss was gated by having to collect nearly 50 more plot coupons than I already had, but I remembered the fishing minigame that lets you trade fish tokens for items so I just relaxed for a bit grinding that. I was amused by the ending's attempt at emotional manipulation.

I gave the Final Horizon alternate endgame DLC a spin, didn't like it. Set it to Easy, it was still too difficult for my liking and this was after they patched it to make it easier (they didn't go far enough). I got to the part just before the final boss where you have to beat three previous bosses in a row with only 600 rings and no way to replenish them, died on the third, had to do the whole thing over, just gave up and watched a video of the rest. Definitely would have been a waste of time trying to get through it.

[Vergil]

I went batshit insane during the black friday sales and bought like 40 games between steam and key sites. No way I can play all this but here's what I've tested so far:

**** ***** you must be paaaaaid can a ***** get some of that money?

[Zothique]

I'm playing Caves of ******. It's good and bad.

[Tinky Winky]

Finished risen 1 (again), actually get it done in 12 hours counting reloads this time. Axe is the best build by a large margin in this game since you can buy a powerful hammer as soon as chapter 2 starts, which can last until the endgame. Though the combat is admittedly quite an ***, dance move combat can never be good; Gothic 2 has a much better combat system in this regard.

[Happy Faulter]

In the mid game stages of Fallout: Nevada, a total conversion mod for Fallout 2 made by Russian fans. It's set in the Nevada/Utah area before the events of Fallout 1 so no Super Mutants nor Brotherhood of Steel. Really interesting sub-plots so far, and the gameplay seems to be even better than the base Fallout 2 since all Skills (including totally useless ones in the base game) now have a purpose.

[rusty_shackleford]

In the mid game stages of Fallout: Nevada, a total conversion mod for Fallout 2 made by Russian fans. It's set in the Nevada/Utah area before the events of Fallout 1 so no Super Mutants nor Brotherhood of Steel. Really interesting sub-plots so far, and the gameplay seems to be even better than the base Fallout 2 since all Skills (including totally useless ones in the base game) now have a purpose.

It's followed by Sonora which is also great.

[flecktarn]

Ready or Not. I like tactical shooters like this. Might go back to SWAT4 with mods after this.

[flecktarn]

In the mid game stages of Fallout: Nevada, a total conversion mod for Fallout 2 made by Russian fans. It's set in the Nevada/Utah area before the events of Fallout 1 so no Super Mutants nor Brotherhood of Steel. Really interesting sub-plots so far, and the gameplay seems to be even better than the base Fallout 2 since all Skills (including totally useless ones in the base game) now have a purpose.

Liked this quite a bit. Some jank, but in an endearing way.

[Tinky Winky]

In the mid game stages of Fallout: Nevada, a total conversion mod for Fallout 2 made by Russian fans. It's set in the Nevada/Utah area before the events of Fallout 1 so no Super Mutants nor Brotherhood of Steel. Really interesting sub-plots so far, and the gameplay seems to be even better than the base Fallout 2 since all Skills (including totally useless ones in the base game) now have a purpose.

Liked this quite a bit. Some jank, but in an endearing way.

Too much of scripted combat and adventure game pixel hunting, they did fix it in Fallout Sonora though which is far better.

[Roguey]

Finished Dawnsbury Days, a ~7 hour Pathfinder 2e OGL animu tactical RPG. Didn't care for how the characters in the story had the self-awareness of being role-playing game characters and talked often as such, though there was a funny moment where they commented on the rules changes between first and second edition. Spellcasters have been hit with the balance bat, though it worked well enough within the scope and restrictions set by this game. Overall had a decent time.

[J-12]

Superb quality mod for original Half-Life, a real hidden gem.

[Finarfin]

Superb quality mod for original Half-Life, a real hidden gem.

B-But WOKE??!!!!