|
|
Post by monkman5000 on Jan 20, 2024 10:13:53 GMT
Which is the other thread?
|
|
kal
Full Member
Posts: 8,309
|
Post by kal on Jan 20, 2024 10:15:03 GMT
|
|
Frog
Full Member
Posts: 7,250
|
Post by Frog on Jan 20, 2024 10:21:28 GMT
Ok so the gameplay is clearly better than the first game, I think that's pretty much impossible to argue against. If you don't like it in the second you certainly didn't like it in the first.
The story is delivered to the same quality level across both games. You might not like the writing in the second game or the direction of the story but that doesn't make it a shit game, it just means it took a direction that you didn't like surely?
|
|
|
|
Post by mothercruncher on Jan 20, 2024 10:25:01 GMT
I think Naughty Dog are virtually peerless in terms of narrative and execution of their games but I do think the mechanics of them are outdated and need to be refreshed. They go right back to Uncharted, and feel it. And some of the moment to moment suspension of disbelief too- you’re facing imminent death from a killer mushroom dude… but just let me grab that quarter of a rag first before I deal with that.
I absolutely loved what they did with the story here though, I can’t mention the central arc around which it all pivots, but it was masterful and few developers could have pulled that off.
|
|
Frog
Full Member
Posts: 7,250
|
Post by Frog on Jan 20, 2024 10:28:07 GMT
It's definitely the best implementation of their gameplay though. I feel tightening the aiming would go a long way.
How are the haptics in this, any good?
|
|
Solid-SCB-
Full Member
Cyberpunk 2077 #1 Fan
Posts: 6,109
|
Post by Solid-SCB- on Jan 20, 2024 10:28:54 GMT
Technically it's a masterpiece and the gameplay is solid so in that sense yeah, it's absolutely a 'good' game.
But everything that's wrapped around it is entirely subjective and the pacing is extremely questionable imo. It feels like a fucking chore to play in places.
There are plenty of games that feel nice to play but the overall package means it's just no fun to do so.
|
|
Solid-SCB-
Full Member
Cyberpunk 2077 #1 Fan
Posts: 6,109
|
Post by Solid-SCB- on Jan 20, 2024 10:33:18 GMT
People are also entirely entitled to think it's the best thing ever and that's great. I just find it funny that it always seems to be the people in the defend camp that throw out the insulting language towards other people first, despite this idea that a league of Joey Bartons are out there slating the game's good name night and day. It's perfectly possible to think this game was awful without being either a bigot or mentally deficient.
|
|
Bongo Heracles
Junior Member
Technically illegal to ride on public land
Posts: 4,596
|
Post by Bongo Heracles on Jan 20, 2024 10:43:28 GMT
That’s always been my problem with not just this but films-as-games in general. One element is always getting in the way of the other and it absolutely kills the pacing.
I don’t know if it’s to get over some arbitrary ‘it has to be 30 hours’ value hump or just bad editing but I found vast swathes of TLOU2 absolutely interminable.
I do also have the world’s shortest attention span which this kind of game tests quite brutally.
|
|
Frog
Full Member
Posts: 7,250
|
Post by Frog on Jan 20, 2024 10:46:48 GMT
There was a massive anti woke backlash from people that were upset that Ellie is gay though. TV series had it too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fake_Blood on Jan 20, 2024 11:04:15 GMT
All fair points, I’ve tried playing this twice now, and both times I’ve stopped playing after about 20 hours. I’ll say this though, it’s one of the only games where I actually care about the characters, and there’s bits that stand out like that visit to the museum. And it’s not like the core gameplay is bad, but it’s all a bit intense if you play it slow and stealthy. I think I’ll give it another go, and maybe play a bit more aggressively, as I think it gives you more ammo the more you actually use it.
|
|
Solid-SCB-
Full Member
Cyberpunk 2077 #1 Fan
Posts: 6,109
|
Post by Solid-SCB- on Jan 20, 2024 11:05:47 GMT
Same as anything though isn't it? Knuckledraggers infest every facet of society with their narrow minded bullshit. It doesn't make the game automatically immune from valid criticism. It's also intelligently packaged, the gaming equivalent of Oscar Bait, and so when people question the plot (and I'd argue there's a lot in there that isn't particularly lofty or well written) you're suddenly treated as though you live downstream from the local nuclear plant.
|
|
kal
Full Member
Posts: 8,309
|
Post by kal on Jan 20, 2024 11:12:15 GMT
Even if you don’t like the content of the story, the way the story is told through the medium itself is absolutely masterful.
I don’t disagree that the game mechanics are dated although they have made it feel as fluid as possible, but that classic 3rd person clunkyness is still there. And the general explore, open everything, take everything, sneaky murderey bit, loop is repeated somewhat endlessly.
But what it does well it does exceptionally well and that quality shines through everything else.
|
|
kal
Full Member
Posts: 8,309
|
Post by kal on Jan 20, 2024 11:15:38 GMT
People are also entirely entitled to think it's the best thing ever and that's great. I just find it funny that it always seems to be the people in the defend camp that throw out the insulting language towards other people first, despite this idea that a league of Joey Bartons are out there slating the game's good name night and day. It's perfectly possible to think this game was awful without being either a bigot or mentally deficient. You’re also getting extremely defensive when nothing was said that implied you are one of those bigots. The claim was that “a lot” of the criticism came from anti-woke cunts. That’s absolutely true. But nobody suggested you were one of them. |
|
|
|
Post by harrypalmer on Jan 20, 2024 11:21:49 GMT
I’m looking forward to playing it again. I gave it 7 first time cos I was drained by the end. I think knowing the beats and pacing second time around might help appreciate it more.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2024 11:40:37 GMT
It's one of the best games I've ever played, I was so infested in it that the length didn't bother me. Absolutely loved it.
Some of the shootouts were so intense and felt like a real scramble to survive.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jambowayoh on Jan 20, 2024 11:41:57 GMT
It's one of my favourite games of last gen. It was tough in certain places but the storytelling really brought me in and how it got me initially supporting the protagonist to questioning them and over time being sickened by them was something I've rarely experienced in gaming. I understand there are legitimate criticisms but for me it never felt like it outstayed its welcome and yes it had a very clear separation of combat time and quiet walking, talking looking for resources time. However the whole package was just something else, especially on a technical level where I think this game could have easily been a current gen release, again like the original release was back in the day.
|
|
|
|
Post by zisssou on Jan 20, 2024 12:56:40 GMT
All the talk has got me going back to the first remaster, which a friend at Sony gifted me last year aww yeah. I think the appeal (other than the story) for me is the stealth mechanics. I just love stealth games.
|
|
Solid-SCB-
Full Member
Cyberpunk 2077 #1 Fan
Posts: 6,109
|
Post by Solid-SCB- on Jan 20, 2024 13:06:10 GMT
Wouldn't mind playing the PS5 version of the first one but it's held it's price pretty well up to now, and I'll be damned if I'm paying that much for a remaster of a remaster barely 10 years after the original dropped.
|
|
|
|
Post by monkman5000 on Jan 20, 2024 13:21:08 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by zisssou on Jan 20, 2024 13:25:20 GMT
Wouldn't mind playing the PS5 version of the first one but it's held it's price pretty well up to now, and I'll be damned if I'm paying that much for a remaster of a remaster barely 10 years after the original dropped. You’re not kidding. £48 in CEX? They have the second one for £38. I guess it’s the £10 upgrade. I’d say it’s a worthy upgrade for me, considering I’ve completed it on PS3/PS4.. I've never done a platinum run on it. |
|
Derblington
Junior Member
Did you know I have a girlfriend
Posts: 2,115
|
Post by Derblington on Jan 20, 2024 19:02:31 GMT
I’m a fan of both games (and all the Uncharteds, warts and all). There’s just something with narrative and character that ND do far above everyone else.
That said, the second is long. I thought it felt better the second time through, which I did a year ago (I think? Back to back with the PS5 release of Part 1).
The only thing that I think could be chopped out wholesale is the rat king fight. Otherwise it’d be a case of trimming things down, and most of that I find is the stuff like the museum visit. It has its place and purpose, it’s just very slow comparatively.
I upgraded Part 2 to the PS5 version on Friday but I likely won’t play either game again for a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by mothercruncher on Jan 20, 2024 20:06:07 GMT
I imported my save and it offered NG+, with weapons collected still present at the start and a “+” adjustment to difficulty. Nice touch. Been through twice, I figured I’d make use of the toys this time.
Only in the early bits at the moment but it’s all SO deft. The acting, the little nuances, the way you’re lead into the world and back into the story.
The cinematics I felt got too much with Uncharted in the sequels- kept having control wrested from me when I just wanted to Indiana Jones about twatting bad guys. The TLoU games I mind it much less because the story is just a much higher standard. It is an odd balance to strike- we aren’t passive observers like with films and can actively interrupt the flow and pacing in games.
|
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jan 21, 2024 20:32:38 GMT
So both the youngest and I are both playing through this (on separate accounts) as he's fairly young naturally he has no patience/perseverance so naturally he's trying to get through it like a COD which sometimes doesn't work out for him so his nibs has to do the honours, we just got past 'that scene' with Abby and Owen, luckily he did full on Doctor Who hid behind the sofa as I'd warned him he'd feel uncomfortable watching with some adult luvyduvy stuff it so gladly I'll not have to explain things. Otherwise we're both enjoying our run through, I think this might be my third or fourth but I'm really enjoying playing it like a nutcase going full on psycho, it's his first - he's on his way to the hospital .....
I suspect my services will be required again.
|
|
|
|
Post by 😎 on Jan 21, 2024 20:33:43 GMT
WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING IT ON
|
|
|
|
Post by Jambowayoh on Jan 21, 2024 20:55:44 GMT
So both the youngest and I are both playing through this (on separate accounts) as he's fairly young naturally he has no patience/perseverance so naturally he's trying to get through it like a COD which sometimes doesn't work out for him so his nibs has to do the honours, we just got past 'that scene' with Abby and Owen, luckily he did full on Doctor Who hid behind the sofa as I'd warned him he'd feel uncomfortable watching with some adult luvyduvy stuff it so gladly I'll not have to explain things. Otherwise we're both enjoying our run through, I think this might be my third or fourth but I'm really enjoying playing it like a nutcase going full on psycho, it's his first - he's on his way to the hospital ..... I suspect my services will be required again. Err, how old is your youngest? |
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jan 21, 2024 21:08:24 GMT
Probably too young but he seems pretty well rounded and I daresay I watched alsorts of inappropriate things at his age.
|
|
Frog
Full Member
Posts: 7,250
|
Post by Frog on Jan 21, 2024 21:30:19 GMT
6
|
|
|
|
Post by Whizzo on Jan 21, 2024 21:36:24 GMT
Christ some of the ways "you" can die in TLoU2 are a bit much for me and I'm in my fifties.
A terrible start playing as Dina...
|
|
mikeck
Junior Member
Posts: 1,916
|
Post by mikeck on Jan 22, 2024 0:22:51 GMT
Loving No Return mode, have had a few attempts this evening and am enjoying the random nature of it very much.
Looking forward to another play through of the main game in NG+ too.
|
|
wunty
Full Member
Pastry Forward
Posts: 6,671
|
Post by wunty on Jan 22, 2024 10:25:57 GMT
I started a second run of this a few months back and put it on hold about 9 hours in (up to the first meeting with the Seraphites) as I got distracted by other things. Bought the upgrade and, partly because I consider it a more cinematic experience similar to Alan Wake 2, I popped it on Quality mode as I don't mind the 30fps in this. It's not much of an upgrade to my shitty eyes but either way I don't care as it genuinely looks fucking jaw dropping. I always preffered this to Part 1 as I loved Seattle as a location more than the trans-american road trip of the first (I also actually prefer the story and the tone - something about this unrelenting bleakness that really appeals to me and the way they marry that up with the overgrown, flood hit and suffocating locale). Now it looks even more incredible than ever.
My one gripe is related to the haptic feedback. Or lack of. Can't seem to get it working... In the options it's "on", but the bow setting below is locked, and it tells me I need to put the above setting on, which it already is. So have no haptics. Not sure if there's something I've missed or it needs a wee patch.
No return mode seems good for passing the odd small gaming session as well.
|
|
