algroth

I've always known it as a derogatory term when used in a derogatory fashion, and it is recognized as such by all dictionaries I'm looking at. There's no evidence that this is a new use for the term or else, but if you want to go ahead and blame the 'pretentious hipsters' for it, suit yourself. Wormerine was clearly using it in this fashion, which therefore means it is a negative trait, and it is also valid since even if the use of the term is new, it is still widely understood as such and its use is correct as per this 'new' meaning. Language evolves, you just have to go with it.

adjective adjective: generic 2. derogatory lacking imagination or individuality; predictable and unoriginal. "generic dance-floor fillers" (Source: https://www.google.com.ar/search?q=generic+definition&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=EmxSWv6jL6P28AfU5LOYDw ; https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/generic ) When you run across an item that can be turned into just about any other item you have on you, it removes the feeling of pleasure, surprise or worth you can get out of finding something nifty and unique. Obviously experiences will vary, but personally I can think of few things more satsifying in my gaming experience than when I ran across the likes of Carsomyr, the Ring of Gaxx, or completed the Crom Faeyr in Baldur's Gate II, for example. When the loot seems samey and uninteresting, it makes for the reward of completing a dungeon and exploring it to its fullest a little less satisfying in turn.

I will agree on the Ice Temple, that's stopped a few playthroughs for me. And whilst I don't quite mind Kresselack I do agree that the amount of backtracking present in the game can be annoying. Not least is that quest later on in the game where you have to bring three items to the gardener atop the Severed Hand, which while optional can also get pretty grating - and there is that one small dungeon between the Vale of Shadows and Dragon's Eye which is wholly unmemorable - but overall they are small bumps for me which don't really tarnish the game all that much in the long run. I did become a bit conditioned to despise Dragon's Eye because I remember there was a time in which Yxunomei would disappear if she ever left your sight during your battle with her, thus screwing up the playthrough for good. When I initially started the game it happened to me twice or thrice, and so I've always been a tad anxious whenever I go through that portion of the game. That is my "Ice Temple" for the first game, but again, not too bad either - and in all frankness it's a pretty decent dungeon too.

yeah, the degree of niceness of the French can... vary. But it is Europe’s most beautiful city I'd put a few above it. Prague, Vienna and Rome, for example. It's the only one with the reputation and lore that it has. Reputation? Sure. Lore? Arguable. Not dissing on Paris though because it *is* a beautiful city and worth visiting. I just also think there are others that, in my opinion at least, are just as worthy of a visit and more evocative.

yeah, the degree of niceness of the French can... vary. But it is Europe’s most beautiful city I'd put a few above it. Prague, Vienna and Rome, for example.

In my experience Parisians can be rather ****ty, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it's a must for visiting at some point - beautiful city with lots to do. Beach-wise I would suggest looking into the Mediterranean, I guess. A place I've always wanted to go to was Rhodes for example, and surely that can be mixed with plenty other interesting coastal cities and locations with plenty of history to go along with the beaches.

Everyone has their preferences. I for one really like them. They were unique, momarable, had their own story and flavour. Possibly the new weapon system will be so good, those won't be needed, but for PoE they were a welcome addition to add something interesting to very dull regular equipment. My thoughts exactly.

Yup, that is also valid. I offered the other option for those of us who specifically loved an expansion over the original game or any other content parented to it. But you could also vote for the main game along with all expansions as one single vote if you wanted.

Yeah, I wasn't sure of the wisdom of separating expansions and base games, and I was pretty sure MotB was going to suffer for it, and it did. Standalone expansions I could understand, but an add-on to the base game seems like it should count as part of the base game. Here's my thoughts on it, but... As far as I'm concerned, NWN 2 is not much to call home about, yet Mask of the Betrayer's campaign makes for one of the finest games I've ever played. Were I to count both as one, I would probably have never voted for it, least of all if my vote were to include Storm of Zehir too, which is, opposite to Mask, one of the very *worst* instead. I added this option into the poll because I felt that it made sense to be able to consider and expansion with a standalone campaign to be its own game with its own story and arc, that from a narrative standpoint if well not a technical/mechanical one can largely exist independently from its core game, and I think Mask does as much. Thus, when I voted for it I did so because in all frankness I *do* think it is only this release here that is worthy of making my list. And I would have really not wanted to leave it out either, because to me it's really that good.

That was Icewind Dale 2, which I liked better than the first one. Which was, back then, a relatively uncommon position. It still is, I guess. I've always fluctuated between both with regards to which might be better than the other. As a matter of fact both made my top 25 in the end, though clearly one gained more traction with the rest of the folks here than the other. I do think that there's a few things to criticize Icewind Dale II about nowadays - I think padding is an issue, and I'm not entirely convinced that making the whole last half of the game a retread of the original's helped much in the way of keeping the story and setting fresh. But I do feel that the story itself was quite compelling, I liked the tinge of moral greyness to it which I found at the time to be a rather refreshing touch in a videogame (of course this aspect has slowly lost its appeal by becoming commonplace, but still, I recognize my initial reaction to it and value it for the same as well) - which has also made me sadder about being unable to play as an ally of the Chimera either, though in hindsight it is understandable given the time constraints and so on. Likewise, as with Icewind Dale I feel the keys to its success are the excellent and diverse dungeon design as well as the sheer atmosphere to it all - I find these two games as immersive overall as either Planescape: Torment or Baldur's Gate II, but in neither of these games to I get that feeling of a primal yearning for *being* in there myself. There is something rather indescribable about what the setting and experience evokes in me, it all makes for something rather beautiful to play through and that is why I wouldn't want to miss them in a list like this. My two thoughts about it, anyhow. Having said this, Indira mentioned they were playing through Heart of Winter right now... I can certainly understand being non-plussed about that campaign, since it is really nothing to write home about: it's an interesting premise and there's a few nice locations here and there, but the story is ultimately very barebones and the game quickly descends into a series of loosely-connected, uninspired and sameish dungeons by its second half. I can agree to it not being any good, but I don't think it speaks at all of the quality of the original campaign.

I would love to see some characters in Deadfire based on the Selk'nam. Their ritual attire is so weird and unsettling, I love it.

New update is up! Featuring three more from everyone's favorite developers, BioWare.

Just finished with my stream of Planescape: Torment, and shall be 'reviewing' it live in a couple of hours if anyone's interested in listening/watching/discussing. Next up will be Torment: Tides of Numenera. Edit: Doing it tomorrow after all.

Yeah, as someone who rarely cared for the dungeon editor or fan content and who only really played through its campaign, I do have to say that it does nothing for me - but I can get that to those who did use the tools and invest time in creating or playing custom campaigns, it is probably a much more worthwhile game for it. And whilst I feel similarly about Neverwinter Nights 2, I do also have to give it more props because I did find the original campaign a lot of fun all the same, cliché and silly as it may be. I think that campaign actually speaks to the power of familiarity, and knowing how to execute the classic beats just right. I don't find it brilliant by any extent of the word (I reserve that for Mask of the Betrayer), but the end result is quite enjoyable in spite of any criticisms I may have for the specifics.

I wasn't a fan myself. There's something about the "indie game teenage protagonist" that really rubs me the wrong way. I recall a number of complaints back when Juno came out about the way the character spoke, as if it were a senior comittee's idea of how teenagers were instead; and yet it feels all too often like it's this very film that acts as a blueprint for so many of these characters. I mentioned Oxenfree before, that's another game that recently struck me the same way (alongside other obvious Chloe parallels), as well as Night in the Woods for example. I also felt the story was a little trite and the consequence of choice rather poorly handled. My personal experience with it, however.

With this update, we get our first appearance by Black Isle, our second appearance by Obsidian, and also our first appearance by everyone's favorite devs, BioWare. Also I do realize the cover for Heroes of Might and Magic III is for the HD edition, but, er, can you blame me?

Don't give up just yet. And by I that I do mean, 'look at the new update'.

It could well be that I've missed on the multiplayer, since I think I only ever played the single-player campaign. Isn't the multiplayer just that, but co-op, however?

Echoing melkathi earlier, I do have to admit that I'm at a bit of a loss about why Diablo II has the reputation it has. Granted, I haven't played it in 15 years at least, but it's one of my go-to examples of combat taken to the extremes of repetitive, grindy tedium. That game was practically a Sisyphean task for me, with little to nothing in the way of story or themes or atmosphere or payoff to any of my efforts - in time it's sort of embodied in my mind many attitudes towards game design that I loathe and stand against. Not that I have anything against those that voted for it, but I'm curious to hear their side about it.

He changed the term "tranny", which is a pejorative term for the trans community.

I would have made it so, probably, but luckily there were more than enough votes to cover the list's intended breadth.

Yeah, it's a port I think. But I liked the cover better than the others I've seen for that game, so I went with it.

*inserts random W40k heresy picture* Hey, I call things as I see 'em. A spade a spade, and Temple of Doom a mediocre film. You’re not man of taste, sir! I *am* a man of taste, and that is why I don't like Temple of Doom! What's next, are we gonna defend Ghostbusters 2 as well?

New update is up! I'll comment a little more on it later on.