Hawke64

Hardland. An open-world action-adventure. Seems nice so far. The combat is simple, AI is weird, the depth of field effect is strong. Somehow reminds of Dark Souls and Gothic. I've reached Snow Peak and met Queen Ingrid. Still not enough Great Hearts to gain access to the Root Hall (in the previous "area"). I guess, I shouldn't have eaten them (eating hearts allows to level up).

Completed Haven. It is an action-adventure game, yet it is tagged as an RPG*. The main characters are predetermined, from the build (all stats, abilities and equipment are the same for both characters; progression is tied to the main story) to appearance to names. Dialogue options are similar and lead to the same outcomes, though some of them increase a hidden parameter called "Confidence". Exploration is bound to the main story. In other words, it is not an RPG in any shape or form. The story follows two people who fled from an oppressive regime to be together as they explore their new home and repair their ship. The combat is partially real-time and partially turn-based. It is impossible to choose targets or formation in combat or to flee after initiating an encounter. If one character is knocked out, the other can revive them. If both characters are KO'ed, the party returns to the base to heal (except for 1 instance where the last save is reloaded). There are 2 types of attacks (+block and finisher) and 4 types of consumables. The NPC opponents are reasonably diverse and require specific approaches. There are several optional mini-bosses. 2D animated art looks good and detailed. 3D models are adequate, but either increasing the number of polygons per model or cell-shading would make it a lot better. All lines are voiced and the OST fits the game. The controls are only partially rebindable at the time of writing - most actions (from combat to cooking) require to hold 2 keys at the same time and the ones on the right are impossible to change. 5-button mice are not supported. Difficulty options are listed under the "Accessibility" tab in the menu, with separate sliders for enemy speed and damage and attacks of the main characters. The game uses auto-saves upon changing location. There are no sex scenes, no swearing and no corpses of humans or animals and the game is very vegan-friendly. *Incorrect advertisement bothers me. The devs could claim Haven to be a third-person shooter, because there is 1 (auto-targeting) ranged attack. So, I am puzzled why they did it? Action-adventures are popular enough.

Replayed Dead Space. It works well on Win10, it is atmospheric, and it has a (relatively) unique combat mechanic. Though, the horror part started only by Chapter 11 (story-wise). Almost all necromorphs dropped ammo for my equipped weapons, there were plenty of healing supplies (Normal difficulty), the map was very helpful and reliable. Completed Soma. I guess, it was not a bad game, just not as good as The Talos Principle as a puzzle or Dead Space as a horror. Edit. The thing with JRPGs for me is the lack of role-play, which is supposed to be present in a role-playing game (I mean, it's in the name). They are like adventure games with partially-turn-based combat, (usually) grind and as much choice in the terms of story as first-person shooters. So, I might like a JRPG, if the combat is engaging enough and purely RTwP or TB (but not mixed) and the story and its presentation are decent. The worst JPRG in my experience was Final Fantasy XIII (the series seemed popular and I was curious). Fortunately, the cut-scenes were skippable and I was fighting a giant flying sword at the end (not sure, if it is a spoiler). Ironically, FFXIII-3 was actually a decent adventure game, I could customize the MC's equipment and build, resolve quests in different order, and fail the main quest (which I didn't, because it was rather easy, but I could).

The Pathless. Completed the game. Mechanically, it is an open-world action-adventure with very light puzzle-platforming elements and boss battles. Thematically, it is two not-quite-reasonable people shouting at each other and talking to/shooting at magical animals (also the MC was climbing towers and collecting glowing emblems). The graphics and sound were stylish and fitting. The controls, while not customizable, were reasonably comfortable. In other words, the game is pretty and easy in terms of narrative and gameplay, but not anyhow ground-breaking.

I wouldn't complain, if the checks were static, instead of chance-based, so I would be able to pass them from the start or level up and return or unable completely. As it was, most checks were possible to pass with enough persistence. Building the PC in a specific manner with some certainty that the build is viable is RPG (also, roleplay); RNG is not (unless it's combat and DE did not have a combat system).

Disco Elysium. Completed the game (caught the killer, kept the job). Really nice adventure game. Really not nice RNG. While failed skill checks were well-written, they still were failures, and reloading because of RNG was not exactly fun. I can't really call it an RPG, despite it being advertised as one. I guess, the main theme is that you can get up no matter how hard the world tries to bring you down? Or that there are giant stick insects?

I've played it. While it was technically possible to murder everything (I haven't tried), combat was not necessary to progress*. The game was really similar to Dishonored. *

My only complaints would be the dialogue wheel and the voiced PC (the intonation icons were somehow useful). Also, if I'm not mistaken, it is the only game that allows to see a city changing through several years. And there was something oddly satisfying in slaughtering bigots without forming alliances in order to do so; just you, your party and a pile of corpses-to-become. PoEII and Tyranny allowed it (to reach the ending with you party only, that is), but they did not include attempting to destroy a large organization built on institutionalized discrimination (PoE1 did have Thaos, though). In retrospective, DA probably had too much mandatory combat, I suppose. I think, ME3 added the option to shoot the glowing hologram in the face in one of last patches. It led to a pretty grim ending, but it was possible, nonetheless. --- To stay on topic, Haven, "from the creators of Furi. An adventure about love and freedom". Available on Steam and GOG. I've tried the demo, it was nice, but nothing like Furi.

Well, that's too.

I suppose, there are relevant to me video game-related news here, mostly about independent cRPGs, and generally decent discussions. If I'm not mistaken, I registered after backing PoEII, which became one of my favourite RPGs.

Nioh. The PC helmet. The spirit-cat being cat. Somehow I was much less annoyed with Assassin's Creed portrayal of historical figures, most of them being killable might have contributed to it. In the context, "peace" seemed to mean "war" without any self-awareness. The best trainer for swordsmen. I defeated him with 52 HP left. One of the largest bosses. The second-to-final boss, Yamata-no-Orochi. Killing Kelley. The final boss of the main game. Also the battle when I discovered that I can power up my Living Weapon with soul stones. The first DLC boss. Without the phoenix guardian spirit the battle would be much more unpleasant.

Nioh. Completed the main game, 1 Twilight mission, 1 DLC mission, several side quests. The game offered a decent variety of skills and weapons, but the story was completely linear and unengaging, just as the structure of main missions, while side quests provided different types of objectives and victory conditions. The KB&M controls were customizable and generally comfortable, but there were no on-screen prompts for keyboards. The graphics and art style were detailed and consistent, FPS drops were relatively rare. The bosses were numerous and quite diverse, though most would kill the PC in 2 hits. Same for the majority of normal enemies. Loot was randomized and color-coded, like in Diablo, so it seemed very un-Souls-like and made acquiring new armor and weapons pretty dull.

Nioh. It seems to be an action game with light RPG elements. The controls are rebindable and quite comfortable, though, on-screen prompts refer to controller buttons. The graphics and sound (OST, VA) are good, but most lines that are supposed to be in Japanese are a bit too authentic (the VA is in Japanese with English subtitles, which I rarely read during gameplay, because everything kills me in 2 hits). The story starts with the protagonist who is a privateer in the 16th century England. He is locked in the Tower of London and his bird-fish-spirit friend comes to rescue. She (they?) shows the PC a way out, but then the spirit gets kidnapped by a bald guy in dark robe and with glowing tattoos, who initiates the second phase of the first boss battle shortly before that. Then the PC (in a full set of heavy armor) falls from the wall into the river and escapes successfully (by swimming, of course). Then the PC is shown pursuing (?) the bald guy by ship. As I understand, they all travel to Japan to mine some mystical mineral, called "Amrita". The PC disembarks in a random village and goes forth to slay demons and find his spirit friend. So he ventures to a random ship, finds a bigger demon there, slays it (took around 6 attempts) and sets the ship on fire (not sure if it was intentional). I suppose, the story is not the main selling point, but this was somehow too random. The PC version also includes a helmet with a valve for better immersion. The combat and level design are quite decent, but each level is disconnected from others, i.e. there is no interconnectivity between locations.

Trials of Mana. I've completed the demo. It was 2-hour-long and included prologues for the playable characters and the 1st chapter. The controls were rebindable and comfortable and it was possible to use mouse for camera movement. Graphically, the game was fine - animations were a bit stiff, most side characters looked exactly the same, but the cartoon-like style fit the narrative and was easy to read. The story, while generic, at least manages to explain why any of the PC would bother with the main quest at all. I chose Hawkeye, the thief, whose goal was to remove a curse from his friend and save his people. To do so, he needed the Sword of Mana, which was a part of the main story. It seemed that the story was pretty linear - no dialogue choices, only non-interactive cut-scenes. The combat was rather simple and easy, but it might be because of the characters having too low levels. There was some variety in terms of stats and abilities, but equipment progression seemed linear - one weapon and armor type per character. OST and VA were adequate - I did not turn them off, but was not listening much either. --- Resolutiion is an action/Metroidvania. The controls are rebindable and the combat is satisfying. The visual design (pixel art) is consistent, the soundtrack is good, though none of the tracks has lyrics. The dystopian cyberpunk/post-apocalyptic setting is interesting to explore. The bosses, while few, are diverse and reasonably challenging, though some of them may be too easy, depending on the acquired upgrades, which are found through out the world.

Considering that I don't know what exactly you are looking for in games, here are 2 lists. For RPGs and action-RPGs: For action and adventure: ---- Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. Successfully claimed Gravehal Keep (Dead Kel DLC).

Haven't noticed any FPS drops there. There were only 1 graphical bug (shadow effects on characters in one of the dungeons) and 1 side-quest-related bug (the NPC became impossible to interact with).

That's disappointing, to put it mildly. Why a piece of hardware would need a social network account in order to function, I cannot understand (I really don't like the possible answer). ---- Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. I've completed the Teeth of Naros DLC (the final boss even managed to kill me once when I tried to tank all his attacks to see if I could) and hit the level cap, 40. I had hoped to get all abilities from 2 trees, but it is not going to happen, it seems. One DLC left to play, then I may replay the main story only on Hard with a pure Might build, it should prevent me from grossly overlevelling everything.

The locations are large and the main storyline is fairly generic ("Get an army, stop the BBEG"), but characters and side quests provide context and complexity to it. ---- Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. Completed the game. I remember the final boss being tougher in the original game, but I also could have been underleveled in that playthrough. In general, there is too much "content" and it would have been more enjoyable, if I skipped most of it. Started the first DLC, "Teeth of Naros".

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. I reached Alabastra, the last large area of the main game. It looks nice (aurora borealis and walls of ice), the pacing is good and for some reason (a skill or an item or a Twist of Fate I did not notice) coins drop when hit opponents. So far so good.

Repurchased The Outer Worlds on GOG, the 50% discount seemed reasonable enough, though I strongly dislike the concept of Season Passes in general (which I did not purchase, because it was not discounted). I was going to replay TOW either way and it seem to be a good reason to do so.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. Became a Truesworn (completed the Warsworn quest line), reached Rathir (the largest city in the game, spent there 2-3 days), defeated Balor, the Niskaru Lord (why the game uses "Niskaru" for "a demon" and "Alfar" for "an elf" I don't understand, the definitions seem to match 1:1, though the Alfar have beards and elves usually don't). I guess, doing a completionist PT was not the best idea, this way the pacing of the main quest line is very uneven (obvious, but still unpleasant). But it has picked up speed, as I have reached the second-to-last area, the swamps of Klurikon.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. I defeated Templar Octienne and got out of the desert. Most of the local quests are resolved and dungeons cleared, though I think all rats will drop "Raw Meat" until the end of the game, as one of the side quests requires it and does not have an ending condition (e.g. "Collect 100 pieces of raw rat meat"). While the plains are technically similar (I guess, all areas are), the region looks more welcoming.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. I am still at the desert and it feels duller after the arena. I go into a dungeon, murder everything, go out, repeat. I am also pretty sure that 2 of them were story-related and meant to be visited later (there were locked doors, which I could not open). Though, the side quests are reasonably interesting. Like provoking a war between two local tribes, then finishing off the victor (there was no choice but to accept or to decline the quest). ---- Has anyone here played the Sword Art Online series? Does any of the games feature actual roleplay (i.e. I, the player, make story-related choices, instead of skipping non-interactive cut-scenes)? I've been watching SAO Abridged and it is truly amazing, so I am curious about the source material.

Sword Art Online Abridged. It is one of the best anime (animes?) I've ever watched.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. I became the champion of the House of Valor (arena). The funny thing is that the only battle I haven't completed yet is against 25 sprites. They pretty easily stun-lock me to death with homing projectiles. Also the party for the quest line was quite enjoyable to work with - capable and adequate.