What are you Playing Now? Games = Life

[BruceVC]

8 minutes ago, melkathi said:

And then people wonder why nice guys feel entitled to a date for being nice guys

You make me laugh 

Its Romance in a RPG, it is limited in certain  aspects of realism. But in all RPG I have ever Romanced companions in you do need to win the trust and respect of your prospective dates 

[kanisatha]

8 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Planescape Torment, apparently you can avoid combat in it but I did use combat and its got an amazing narrative 

And their are semi-Romance arcs  but not true Romance 

Yes I've played this, and also the new Torment game from inXile which is also minimal combat that mostly can be avoided.

[BruceVC]

40 minutes ago, kanisatha said:

Yes I've played this, and also the new Torment game from inXile which is also minimal combat that mostly can be avoided.

What was Numenera  like? To be honest I prefer combat based RPG so I have been reluctant to  get this game ?

Edited September 22, 2021 by BruceVC

[ShadySands]

Nurmanurma was a good book but the combat and most of the gameplay was terribad. You'll be glad it's mostly skippable.

[LadyCrimson]

Tales of Arise:

Well, that 2nd big bad was that ramp up I was expecting. I mean, sure, if you've largely mastered the button-mashing/timing/speed/evading and visual/noise chaos of "wtf is happening?!"  and all of that I'm sure it's not the worst, so don't get me wrong here. But if you're a lazy fart like me...haha.  Huge sponges, one-shotting - typical battle of mega-attrition, consumable use (AI likes to eat all those up if you let them, btw) etc.

That said, still liking the general game. Maybe I just like collecting things/finding all the lootz.

---there are cats in the gameworld, and somewhat prominent at one point. This makes the game score in my head automatically go up by at least half a point.
---so far most the side-quests are no better than the ones in FFXV. "Kill things threatening my farm," very simple things. But at least you often get skill points or recipes or outfit recolors for doing them.
---said side quests can pop up in previous areas later, so check those maps for the icons occasionally.
---some things are poorly explained, like accessory crafting/upgrading. I had to look it up. And for some reason I didn't realize herb affects were permanent until I read it somewhere. I guess I should use those, then   >.>

Edited September 22, 2021 by LadyCrimson

[Keyrock]

I'm in the middle of a murder investigation and what am I spending my time on? Chasing down "UFOs", finding a new owner for a cat, and, most importantly, helping the Seiryo Rabbits win a dance competition. Priorities. 

RGG added a skateboard in this game that lets you get around the city much faster. I mean Yakuza games have always had fast travel via taxi but I never use that and I don't even use the sketeboard right now. Early on in RGG games I like to take my time and walk around because the cities are so well crafted. RGG are second to none in this area. Novigrad in TW3 is the best non-RGG city I can think of in terms of feeling like a real city, but Kamurocho is on another level and Ijincho is even better. The attention to detail is just insane. What really puts it over the top is the sound design, the ambient sounds. The noise of traffic, a train going by, music fading in and out as you pass by an open window, conversation just on the edge of hearing, the sizzle of a street food being cooked, I can practicaly taste the takoyaki. 

I think part of it is because Kamurocho, Sotenbori, and Ijincho are relatively small when compared to something you'd find in an Ubisoft or Rockstar game, for example. It's easier to concentrate on detail when you have a smaller area to work on. I'll take a smaller but exceptionally crafted sandbox over a larger decently crafted one, but that's just me.

Anyway, I'm off to catch a panty thief scaling a building...

[Chilloutman]

TBH i did't liked Numenera much, i think I might already shared it here but it felt like everything had to be 'weird' for sake of it being weird. Strangely I never had that feeling with Planescape while it was really weird setting - but somehow dialogs felt much more not forced or unnatural.

 

Anyway after while of not playing it I am back in Grim Dawn - have you guys ever heard of it? I can tell you many things about it!

[kanisatha]

23 hours ago, BruceVC said:

What was Numenera  like? To be honest I prefer combat based RPG so I have been reluctant to  get this game ?

I liked the game, and am hoping them will make a second one because I felt everything that was lacking in the first game was clearly due to a budget that was way too small relative to the game's vision and ambition, and also obviously then a development timeline that was also too short.

Yeah the combat sucked (TB, so that may be personal), but you could evade the combat through dialog choices in most cases (inlcuding the final endgame encounter). The gameplay was very simplistic, though it had the potential to be something good. It felt like someone took a good idea and then chopped off like 70% of it because of cost. A ton of reading, which I liked but many others did not. The parts I personally liked a lot were the story, characters, and the world. And since those things are what matter most to me, that's why I ended up okay with the game, and even regretted that it was too short.

[BruceVC]

6 minutes ago, kanisatha said:

I liked the game, and am hoping them will make a second one because I felt everything that was lacking in the first game was clearly due to a budget that was way too small relative to the game's vision and ambition, and also obviously then a development timeline that was also too short.

Yeah the combat sucked (TB, so that may be personal), but you could evade the combat through dialog choices in most cases (inlcuding the final endgame encounter). The gameplay was very simplistic, though it had the potential to be something good. It felt like someone took a good idea and then chopped off like 70% of it because of cost. A ton of reading, which I liked but many others did not. The parts I personally liked a lot were the story, characters, and the world. And since those things are what matter most to me, that's why I ended up okay with the game, and even regretted that it was too short.

Thanks, based on this feedback and others I feel I can skip this game 

[kanisatha]

3 hours ago, BruceVC said:

Thanks, based on this feedback and others I feel I can skip this game 

Maybe give it a try if you find it for a couple of bucks? It is pretty short so it won't cost you much playtime.

inXile is currently confirmed to be actively working on two AAA RPGs using the UE5 engine. One is confirmed to be a new IP steampunk game, possibly along the lines of Arcanum. About the second nothing is known. So I am hoping the second game is something using the Numenera setting, though probably not a direct sequel to T:ToN. Perhaps something along the same lines as Obsidian's Avowed: a game using the same world as T:ToN but a completely new IP with new gameplay.

[BruceVC]

6 minutes ago, kanisatha said:

Maybe give it a try if you find it for a couple of bucks? It is pretty short so it won't cost you much playtime.

inXile is currently confirmed to be actively working on two AAA RPGs using the UE5 engine. One is confirmed to be a new IP steampunk game, possibly along the lines of Arcanum. About the second nothing is known. So I am hoping the second game is something using the Numenera setting, though probably not a direct sequel to T:ToN. Perhaps something along the same lines as Obsidian's Avowed: a game using the same world as T:ToN but a completely new IP with new gameplay.

Thanks for information.  I enjoy inXile games, I had a great time with Bards Tale 4 so any new games from them will  be on my radar  

[LadyCrimson]

Tales of Arise:

---story from the start/for some long hours...predictable but serviceable as a container, but I wasn't loving the overall writing style and it wasn't making me feel anything or curious about anyone/thing, really.
---then suddenly ... wham. That took a bit of a turn. Still predictable, mind.  But some good sequences helped a lot. I'm now invested! Well, more than before anyway. And at least am now much more curious about a few things.
---some of the skits are returning to humor and amusing characterization stuff. Not a lot, still mostly repetition or lore dumping, but that also helps.
---it was nice to leave the brown and blue/white of desert/snow behind.

[Malcador]

Giving Gamedec a break before I do another playthrough, just burning through FM18 some more. Led Brno to their 5th consecutive trophy and 3rd cup, woo.  Guess will get on with tackling Caesar 4.

[melkathi]

Finished Ticket To Earth. It was fun enough as a match 3 turn based light rpg. The writing wasn't all that great though.

Started Deity Quest again. Decided to name my followers based on forum people here. Then Marelooke died pretty much right out of the tutorial and I felt bad, so started over and not naming followers based on you lot.

[Hawke64]

Tried to play Calico, which I got from a bundle on Itch. It looks like the game is supposed to be cute, but it feels a bit surreal.

Started Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. So far so good, though, the game is closer to Aragami (if it had combat) than to Dark Souls.

[LadyCrimson]

(You'll have to imagine everything overlapping each other constantly+loud sound effects, sometimes drowning each other out...)

It's on! You're mine! Out of our way!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
This ends now! Rising Phoenix!
Annialhation! Death Bolt!
Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth! Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth!
Stay away from my friends! Hold nothing back! Azure Storm!
A thrilling performance! Raging Lunar Storm!
Gemini Aqua! Flame of Fury!
Benediction Light. Shine, Radiant Light.
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Armor won't save you! Crush!
Another incantation ruined. (casting interrupted)
I'm such a failure. (KO'd/dying)
Magma Ray! ... Back into the fray. I'll bring you back from deaths abyss. (resurrection spell)
Talon Hurricane! Now I'm in the groove!
Catapult! Searing Flame! I never miss! Tempest!
Now I'm real mad! Swallow Blade! Eat this!
Regeneration! Regenerate!
I won't lose, not now, not ever. Rising Wyvern! Mirage!
I'll grind you into dust! Devastation!
Swallow Dance! I'll tear you apart!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
Behold! The Earth's Pulse! Tectonic Vision!  (special big attack)

(....I don't think I've ever played a game with so much constant audio "noise" in 90-120 second fights, it's like being in a small room full of people trying to outshout each other - wonder if I'll think other games are too darn quiet, now)

Re: the game itself, currently amusing myself with grinding for a few chr. levels and some crafting material as a break from just plowing through the linear plot.

Edited September 25, 2021 by LadyCrimson

[Malcador]

4 hours ago, LadyCrimson said:

(You'll have to imagine everything overlapping each other constantly+loud sound effects, sometimes drowning each other out...)

It's on! You're mine! Out of our way!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
This ends now! Rising Phoenix!
Annialhation! Death Bolt!
Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth! Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth!
Stay away from my friends! Hold nothing back! Azure Storm!
A thrilling performance! Raging Lunar Storm!
Gemini Aqua! Flame of Fury!
Benediction Light. Shine, Radiant Light.
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Armor won't save you! Crush!
Another incantation ruined. (casting interrupted)
I'm such a failure. (KO'd/dying)
Magma Ray! ... Back into the fray. I'll bring you back from deaths abyss. (resurrection spell)
Talon Hurricane! Now I'm in the groove!
Catapult! Searing Flame! I never miss! Tempest!
Now I'm real mad! Swallow Blade! Eat this!
Regeneration! Regenerate!
I won't lose, not now, not ever. Rising Wyvern! Mirage!
I'll grind you into dust! Devastation!
Swallow Dance! I'll tear you apart!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
Behold! The Earth's Pulse! Tectonic Vision!  (special big attack)

(....I don't think I've ever played a game with so much constant audio "noise" in 90-120 second fights, it's like being in a small room full of people trying to outshout each other - wonder if I'll think other games are too darn quiet, now)

Re: the game itself, currently amusing myself with grinding for a few chr. levels and some crafting material as a break from just plowing through the linear plot.

Sounds like some good power metal lyrics.

Edited September 26, 2021 by Malcador

[Bartimaeus]

Deltarune 2. Will I ever get tired of Toby Fox and his ridiculous Undertale shtick? Almost certainly not, because this stupid crap is great.

[Malcador]

Got BL3, tried playing it but isn't as fun without my friends.  Don't really like any of the classes that much either.

[Mamoulian War]

15 hours ago, LadyCrimson said:

(You'll have to imagine everything overlapping each other constantly+loud sound effects, sometimes drowning each other out...)

It's on! You're mine! Out of our way!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
This ends now! Rising Phoenix!
Annialhation! Death Bolt!
Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth! Stalagmite! Resonate with the Earth!
Stay away from my friends! Hold nothing back! Azure Storm!
A thrilling performance! Raging Lunar Storm!
Gemini Aqua! Flame of Fury!
Benediction Light. Shine, Radiant Light.
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Demon Fang! Double Demon Fang!
Armor won't save you! Crush!
Another incantation ruined. (casting interrupted)
I'm such a failure. (KO'd/dying)
Magma Ray! ... Back into the fray. I'll bring you back from deaths abyss. (resurrection spell)
Talon Hurricane! Now I'm in the groove!
Catapult! Searing Flame! I never miss! Tempest!
Now I'm real mad! Swallow Blade! Eat this!
Regeneration! Regenerate!
I won't lose, not now, not ever. Rising Wyvern! Mirage!
I'll grind you into dust! Devastation!
Swallow Dance! I'll tear you apart!
Elusive Deity! Rotating Piledriver!
Behold! The Earth's Pulse! Tectonic Vision!  (special big attack)

(....I don't think I've ever played a game with so much constant audio "noise" in 90-120 second fights, it's like being in a small room full of people trying to outshout each other - wonder if I'll think other games are too darn quiet, now)

Re: the game itself, currently amusing myself with grinding for a few chr. levels and some crafting material as a break from just plowing through the linear plot.

That's a trademark of all Tales of games

[LadyCrimson]

I finally realized that yeah, those artes (skills, spells) all my chrs are using level up.  There are five star rankings. To get a new star the chr. has to use the specific arte a certain number of times, ever increasing (100, 500, 1000, 2000 etc). Increases damage, occasionally unlocks a new arte or an improved version of the arte. But the AI is terrible about this, even if you uncheck most of them so it can only pick from/use a few.

Thus I spent the last two days controlling the two chrs. I like to be "leader" (I control them) trying to manually spam-fight mobs just to raise 4 or 5 each of their skills. One skill or skill combo, done over and over and over and over. Ffffffffffffffffffff....it's definitely faster than the Ai would ever do, but still takes forever, especially spells with longer delays. Plus it's boring...got a few to three stars at least.  I guess 5 star in many skills for all the characters would be an end-game grind. 

Maybe I could try using only two in the party so enemies wouldn't die as fast/you could spam more attacks each combat...

Edited September 27, 2021 by LadyCrimson

[Mamoulian War]

58 minutes ago, LadyCrimson said:

I finally realized that yeah, those artes (skills, spells) all my chrs are using level up.  There are five star rankings. To get a new star the chr. has to use the specific arte a certain number of times, ever increasing (100, 500, 1000, 2000 etc). Increases damage, occasionally unlocks a new arte or an improved version of the arte. But the AI is terrible about this, even if you uncheck most of them so it can only pick from/use a few.

Thus I spent the last two days controlling the two chrs. I like to be "leader" (I control them) trying to manually spam-fight mobs just to raise 4 or 5 each of their skills. One skill or skill combo, done over and over and over and over. Ffffffffffffffffffff....it's definitely faster than the Ai would ever do, but still takes forever, especially spells with longer delays. Plus it's boring...got a few to three stars at least.  I guess 5 star in many skills for all the characters would be an end-game grind. 

Maybe I could try using only two in the party so enemies wouldn't die as fast/you could spam more attacks each combat...

The level up of spells is again a trademark sign of Tales of games. But it is by no means needed for a first and single playthrough. This is just for completionists, who want to go after NG+ and further, and clear all of the most dangerous enemies in the game, which is usually to hard without crazy grind in the first playthrough.

[LadyCrimson]

6 hours ago, Mamoulian War said:

But it is by no means needed for a first and single playthrough.

Yeah, especially when you're just playing on "normal."    I'm not even quite half-way through the main story yet I think.

But I'm a stubborn jack--- and I am going to get all my fave artes to star-3 or 4 at least, darnit. I spent days and days and days killing that giant damage impervious mech in FFXV so I could have 6+ of the top accessory (on console no less) and this game's grind will not defeat me!    

Besides, I have the perfect spot for farming skills on mobs over and over.  (you don't get much XP btw for repeated farming, purely about lvling those artes...).   edit: on the bright side, all the things mobs drops is making me 'rich.'

Edited September 27, 2021 by LadyCrimson

[LadyCrimson]

*yawns, blinks blearily*

...two artes at 4 star, several at three star, a smattering at 2 star.
...5.5 chr. levels gained (not a lot considering the hours spent), meaning I'm a bit over-leveled for where I am, now.
...player's combat ability/understanding improved a lot from pure repetition. Still totally suck at evading, but have figured out pulling only r-trigger makes chr. spin to one side a bit to avoid, so that helped (no two-button/two hand pressing).
...upped difficulty to Moderate (there's Story, Normal, Moderate, Hard - 1 other I forget) and can now auto-combat defeat some stronger special enemies. Which is great when you want to video record stuff with the HUD disabled.
...time to progress story a little further.
...having all the party members increases their humor/personality interactions, making them all feel a bit more "there".

Yup, maybe it took a little while to seriously warm up to it, but I'm lovin' this game. Still nowhere near as much silly fun as FFXV but it still hits my obsessive-brain.

Edited September 28, 2021 by LadyCrimson

[Hurlshort]

So anyone picking up New World? I'm up for a new MMO. I hopefully will get some time tonight to check it out.