What game(s) are you playing now?

[Traveller]

Since my last post, I finished The Walking Dead: The Final Season (which I hated)

what did you hate about it? Even if it's not on par with the first 2 games, I thought it was a decent farewell to Clementine's journey.

AJ. Hate is perhaps a bit strong of a word, but was my least favorite game of the series.

[kongs_speech]

I really loved Beacon Pines. What a terrific narrative. It's cute but very dark and twisty.

[mjf314]

I finished Life is Strange.

[kongs_speech]

I finished Life is Strange.

That is my favorite game.

[mjf314]

I finished Batman: Arkham Asylum.

[kongs_speech]

For an ultra-cheap shmup by shovelware company Eastasiasoft, I had quite a lot of fun with Project Starship on Xbox One. It's not some kind of masterpiece, but I got it free with rewards and it was certainly worth that.

I enjoyed Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, but it would have been incomprehensible without a guide.

[outdoorcats]

I have dived headlong into Persona 4: Golden and have already completed the first dungeon. This is a game I tried on the PS2 (the original, not the "Golden" update) years ago and bounced off of. I remember finding it overwhelming, the lack of saving in dungeons frustrating, and after losing lots of progress multiple times I quit.

I'm not sure whether a) it's the differences between the original and "Golden" which made it more accessible, b) the fact I have played Persona 5 and am familiar with the gameplay, or c) I was just being dumb*, but completely different experience this time. Really loving it so far.

*for instance, playing now, when going through the dungeons, I realize I can use an item to leave at any time, and when going back in, I can go straight back to the last floor I was on; essentially, every time you reach a new floor, it auto-saves your progress. I have a feeling this was in fact something that existed in the original, but I wasn't aware of it, so I was getting frustrated for no reason...plus, I'm pretty sure I didn't understand how to knock enemies down and get all-out attacks (pretty much 99% of Persona combat revolves around this)...plus I kept trying to do the entire dungeon all at once and didn't understand I was supposed to do it over many days, etc.

Does Persona 5 do a better job of "tutorializing" the player? Was I just less familiar with games back then? Does "Golden" add a lot of quality-of-life features which make the game easier to play and understand? I have no idea. But I'm having fun.





I do want to play one horror game this month though. Anyone want to help me decide?

I own, but haven't (fully) played:

Alien: Isolation
Amnesia: The Dark Descent (I've played like 25% of this)
Little Nightmares
Outlast
Resident Evil 2 Remake (I've played the old PS1 game, and still find it really scary)
Resident Evil 4 (original)
SOMA
Stories Untold
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

I enjoyed Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, but it would have been incomprehensible without a guide.

I watched a video of someone playing this; it looked really funny.

[toromash]

I have dived headlong into Persona 4: Golden and have already completed the first dungeon. This is a game I tried on the PS2 (the original, not the "Golden" update) years ago and bounced off of. I remember finding it overwhelming, the lack of saving in dungeons frustrating, and after losing lots of progress multiple times I quit.

I'm not sure whether a) it's the differences between the original and "Golden" which made it more accessible, b) the fact I have played Persona 5 and am familiar with the gameplay, or c) I was just being dumb*, but completely different experience this time. Really loving it so far.

*for instance, playing now, when going through the dungeons, I realize I can use an item to leave at any time, and when going back in, I can go straight back to the last floor I was on; essentially, every time you reach a new floor, it auto-saves your progress. I have a feeling this was in fact something that existed in the original, but I wasn't aware of it, so I was getting frustrated for no reason...plus, I'm pretty sure I didn't understand how to knock enemies down and get all-out attacks (pretty much 99% of Persona combat revolves around this)...plus I kept trying to do the entire dungeon all at once and didn't understand I was supposed to do it over many days, etc.

Does Persona 5 do a better job of "tutorializing" the player? Was I just less familiar with games back then? Does "Golden" add a lot of quality-of-life features which make the game easier to play and understand? I have no idea. But I'm having fun.





I do want to play one horror game this month though. Anyone want to help me decide?

I own, but haven't (fully) played:

Alien: Isolation
Amnesia: The Dark Descent (I've played like 25% of this)
Little Nightmares
Outlast
Resident Evil 2 Remake (I've played the old PS1 game, and still find it really scary)
Resident Evil 4 (original)
SOMA
Stories Untold
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

I enjoyed Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, but it would have been incomprehensible without a guide.

I watched a video of someone playing this; it looked really funny.

Silent Hill 2

[outdoorcats]

I've already played Silent Hill 2

[mightysparks]

I’ve only played Outlast and Little Nightmares from that list, both are fun. Outlast is more jump scarey and LN is more atmospheric and creepy.

[kongs_speech]

I enjoyed Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, but it would have been incomprehensible without a guide.

I watched a video of someone playing this; it looked really funny.

Haha, it's definitely fun what a total bastard the game encourages you to be.

[outdoorcats]

I’ve only played Outlast and Little Nightmares from that list, both are fun. Outlast is more jump scarey and LN is more atmospheric and creepy.

I'll count that as half a vote for each!

[flavo5000]

I do want to play one horror game this month though. Anyone want to help me decide?

I own, but haven't (fully) played:

Alien: Isolation
Amnesia: The Dark Descent (I've played like 25% of this)
Little Nightmares
Outlast
Resident Evil 2 Remake (I've played the old PS1 game, and still find it really scary)
Resident Evil 4 (original)
SOMA
Stories Untold
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Amnesia: Dark Descent is a classic. If you've played a quarter of it then you probably already know the gameplay style.

Little Nightmares is a fun, lighter horror platform puzzler.

I agree with mighty that Outlast is solid but it is basically a jump scare factory.

I actually really liked Stories Untold. It's a nice shorter one with cool atmosphere.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is honestly a bit clunky and not very scary. Definitely the weakest in that list.

I've heard Alien: Isolation is shit-your-pants scary but also incredibly hard and I've heard very good things about SOMA but haven't played it yet. The Resident Evil games speak for themselves.

[toromash]

I've already played Silent Hill 2

Okay, then Alien Isolation. It of course depends on what type of horror game you want to play. Alien Isolation is very effective horror, but at the same time nothing special. Your greates fun will be hiding from the Xenomorth all the time. Amnesia, if you didn't like the 25%, you will not like more of it, but it's definitely the strongest in the list. SOMA is an avoid, poor man version of Amnesia (and even made by the same developer). Haven't played Outlast, but it is the same type of game as Alien Isolation, probably with more jump scares.

[outdoorcats]

I didn't stop Amenia because I didn't like it, I stopped because...well, it's not because I was too scared ...I was just too busy or something...

...


definitely not too scared

[MartinTeller]

Just about finished with Psychonauts 2.

[mjf314]

I finished Psychonauts.

[flavo5000]

I finished Steamworld Heist and Unpacking. I dug Steamworld Heist pretty well. Fun 2D turn-based strategy game. Unpacking was nice and relaxing and had a nice little emotional arc to it as well. Always interesting when a game can tell a story without any exposition.

[mjf314]

I finished the first chapter of Ori and the Blind Forest (Sunken Glades). So far it seems kind of average, so I might drop it. I think both the story and gameplay aren't as good as other metroidvania games that I've played. I also don't like the save system.

[toromash]

Noticed something weird. Has video games disappeared completely from ICM? I remember video games could be checked back in the day, but cannot find any anymore.

[kongs_speech]

Noticed something weird. Has video games disappeared completely from ICM? I remember video games could be checked back in the day, but cannot find any anymore.

They definitely should not be able to be checked. A music video is still a type of film. A TV show is still filmed media. Games are their own thing and really should not be on IMDb at all. Personally, I don't that as being up for much debate.

[toromash]

Noticed something weird. Has video games disappeared completely from ICM? I remember video games could be checked back in the day, but cannot find any anymore.

They definitely should not be able to be checked. A music video is still a type of film. A TV show is still filmed media. Games are their own thing and really should not be on IMDb at all. Personally, I don't that as being up for much debate.

I'm more curious why they are gone, not whether they should be there. They are still on IMDB, so it is a ICM issue. I'm currently playing Beyond Two Souls with Ellen Page, and it's basically a movie. The same as the Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch.

[PeacefulAnarchy]

Noticed something weird. Has video games disappeared completely from ICM? I remember video games could be checked back in the day, but cannot find any anymore.

They definitely should not be able to be checked. A music video is still a type of film. A TV show is still filmed media. Games are their own thing and really should not be on IMDb at all. Personally, I don't that as being up for much debate.

I'm more curious why they are gone, not whether they should be there. They are still on IMDB, so it is a ICM issue. I'm currently playing Beyond Two Souls with Ellen Page, and it's basically a movie. The same as the Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch.

Many years ago, before I or the other mods were brought in as mods, the decision was made that video games should not be on icm. They were blocked from being added but a) they were not all removed, only some were removed. b) they would sometimes still import somehow (I assume when importing ratings from imdb)
We'd still remove them manually when found and/or reported.

I'm not aware of any particular recent purge from IcM, though.

[mjf314]

I finished Ori and the Blind Forest. The gameplay gets better after learning more skills, but I still think the story is boring.

[outdoorcats]

OK...I've made it halfway through Amnesia: The Dark Descent! The challenging part is willing myself to pick up where I left off and keep playing the next day, rather than find some excuse to do anything but play again. It is really, really scary. I really struggle with the fear factor of games where you can't fight back and all you can do is run and hide (did Frictional Games invent this sub-genre?).

I can do this!

[flavo5000]

OK...I've made it halfway through Amnesia: The Dark Descent! The challenging part is willing myself to pick up where I left off and keep playing the next day, rather than find some excuse to do anything but play again. It is really, really scary. I really struggle with the fear factor of games where you can't fight back and all you can do is run and hide (did Frictional Games invent this sub-genre?).

I can do this!

Yea, this game gave me some serious anxiety at times, but I did finish it and was really glad I did.

[mjf314]

I started playing Beyond Good & Evil, but I'm not really enjoying it. I don't like taking the photos. I'm not sure if I'm required to take all of them, but it seems like an important part of the story, so I guess I have to take at least some of them.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder got released today, and it has pretty good reviews, so I might play it soon.

[dirty_score]

Paste's The 50 Best RPGs of All Time

[mjf314]

I finished Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

[Onderhond]

I finished Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

How was it? Heard good things about this one.

[mjf314]

I finished Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

How was it? Heard good things about this one.

It's good, but not as good as Super Mario World. SMB Wonder has a lot of variety in mechanics, from the wonder flowers and the badges. However, I think Super Mario World does most things better (level design, music, world map).

[Onderhond]

Mkay. Never liked SMW all that much, so I'll take it with a grain of salt

[mjf314]

I finished Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Similar to the first game (Ori and the Blind Forest), I liked the gameplay, but I didn't really care about the story. I'm not sure which one I like more. WotW introduces the interesting abilities earlier in the game, so I liked that. Otherwise I don't think any of WotW's new additions added much to the game. WotW has quests, but I didn't find them interesting. WotW also has bosses. The bosses are ok, but I prefer the platforming sections.

[Onderhond]

Before going into the Xenoblades 3 DLC (which is another 40h JRPG built on the same engine), I dediced to go for something lighter. Bayonetta 3 is heaps of fun. For someone who likes maximalism, that game definitely delivers.

[mightysparks]

Been playing Chants of Sennaar, a chill puzzle game where you explore, talk to characters and do puzzles to try to decipher a mystery language. It's super fun slowly putting together the meanings of things.

[outdoorcats]

I finally beat Amnesia! (it would have been cooler to beat it on or before Halloween, but life had other plans - oh well)

The trick is to let yourself die a couple times. After that, the game becomes a little less scary.

Does it have the most satisfying ending(s)? Maybe not necessarily, but beyond sheer thrills the story creates a great sense of growing, sickening horror that's essential to any Lovecraft tribute (and Amnesia really is one of the best Lovecraft tributes, and it does a solid job capturing what reading some of his scariest stories feels like).

I definitely need to play something more cheerful afterwards.

Been playing Chants of Sennaar, a chill puzzle game where you explore, talk to characters and do puzzles to try to decipher a mystery language. It's super fun slowly putting together the meanings of things.

I think I saw a trailer for this one. It seems like a cool gimmick for an indie puzzle game with a lot of potential.

[mightysparks]

Been playing Chants of Sennaar, a chill puzzle game where you explore, talk to characters and do puzzles to try to decipher a mystery language. It's super fun slowly putting together the meanings of things.

I think I saw a trailer for this one. It seems like a cool gimmick for an indie puzzle game with a lot of potential.

Played a lot yesterday (up to the 'third' level) and highly recommend it. Convinced my boyfriend to buy it too and it's cool to compare our strategies, how similar or different or wrong our interpretations are of certain glyphs.


Also I wish I could play Amnesia but I get too anxious after the first 5 minutes and have to run away from the game

[mjf314]

I finished Shovel Knight.

[Traveller]

Still playing way too much Trackmania, but that might finally change with Forza Motorsport coming out next week.

Forza Motorsport Multiplayer really is amazing - when it works. The game still needs some fixing and adjusting, but I can see myself jumping into a race every now and then for the near future. My Trackmania addiction has ebbed away for now.
I played through Venba which was meh, and Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly which was chill.
Also finished Inscryption. Heard a lot about it and went as blind as possible into it. Hard to say much about it without spoilers, but I did enjoy it immensely.
And I started Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy which I so far enjoy as well.

[Pretentious Hipster]

My ranking of the Zelda series

1. Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love
2. Link's Awakening
3. A Link to the Past
4. Tears of the Kingdom
5. Minish Cap
6. Ocarina of Time
7. Breath of the Wild
8. Majora's Mask
9. Tingle Rosey Rupeeland
10. Oracle of Ages

11. The Legend of Zelda
12. Zelda 2 Adventure of Link
13. Twilight Princess
14. Four Swords Adventures
15. BS Zelda
16. Spirit Tracks
17. Wind Waker
18. A Link Between Worlds
19. Phantom Hourglass
20. Ancient Stone Tablets
21. Hyrule Warriors
22. Oracle of Seasons
23. Skyward Sword
24. Cadence of Hyrule
25. Link's Crossbow Training
26. Twilight Princess Picross
27. Four Swords
28. Tingle's Balloon Fight
29. Zelda Wand of Gamelon
30. Zelda's Adventure
31. Age of Calamity
32. Link The Faces of Evil
33. Tri-Force Heroes