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Post by Phattso on Jun 16, 2024 13:48:49 GMT
Assassin's Creed MirageProbably a 6/10, but an easy 7 for me. I'm a bit of a fan of the series as comfort gaming. I really really appreciated the shorter play time: credits rolled at 18hrs, then I played on until 25hrs or so to mop up some fun activities. The tighter world meant that I actually got to learn it a bit more, criss-crossing areas several times over the playthrough. The structure was nice, too, presented as a series of investigations this time and letting you approach each of them in whatever order you want. The assassinations that conclude each of these branches felt a lot more like Classic AC than an action adventure RPG of the previous three games which was nice. Not that it holds a candle to Hitman, but I appreciated it. Somehow, and this will confuse scholars for generation, they made the combat even shitter. I honestly didn't think it'd be possible, but they proved me wrong. All told I'm in no rush to play AC Shadows at the end of the year. Will almost certainly pick it up when it's halved in price and they've fixed the bugs. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Tuffty
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Post by Tuffty on Jun 16, 2024 18:59:54 GMT
I don't quite understand how they took away combat skills and then just...didn't add to it. Take that away and you got a very rudimentary if not, bad, version of Dark Souls combat. It's floaty, poor feedback on hits, you literally bounce off enemies that block your hits which feels bad every time. They wanted to make him feel like a glass cannon but that only works if the enemies can die quickly and it still felt like it took forever to do. It's my biggest concern with AC Shadows.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on Jun 18, 2024 8:50:44 GMT
Blasphemous (Switch)Finally completed this. Bought on release on PS4, got up to the end boss and... never finished it. I loved the game, but kept bouncing off him for some reason and gave up, annoyed, never to return. Got both games in a sale for the switch a month or so back and though I'd give the first game another go (particularly as it had some new content added). It's as great as ever. The new area is shit though, with the worst enemies in the game. That said, the boss was good fun. I did 3 of 5 of the Miriam trials and as the third took me about 2 hours, I thought I would bin the last two off. They are good fun but demand the kind of attention and perfection I don't really have time for. Anyway, left loads of other side bits sstill to do but at 18 hours, thought I'd just make a beeline for the finish to get it done. Killed the last boss third try and had fun doing so. Guess I just wasn't in the mood before. It's a great game, still, with some minor flaws holding it back. 8/10 Dreamcore (PC) - Demo on Steam I am obssessed with these liminal spaces that have been doing the rounds for a few years. Obsessed. I have multiple weird soundtracks on my bandcamp and constantly lament the lack of decent backrooms / poolrooms type shit on PS*. Saw this and bribed my son into getting it on his state of the art gaming PC and letting me have a go. There's only one level out so far but it's a thing of magnificence. It's fucking huge, sprawling and completely disorientationg, just as I wanted it to be. Weirdly through sheer luck I managed to finish it in an hour or so but I could easily have spent five times as long wandering around lost. Can't wait til the rest of the game is out.There didn't seem to be any kind of entity either, which made it even better. Just a constant sense of dread and the overwhelming fear of being completely lost and alone.
9/10
*Although a certain level in Trepang2 had me very happy...
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Post by harrypalmer on Jun 18, 2024 9:04:07 GMT
Dreamcore (PC) - Demo on Steam I am obssessed with these liminal spaces that have been doing the rounds for a few years. Obsessed. I have multiple weird soundtracks on my bandcamp and constantly lament the lack of decent backrooms / poolrooms type shit on PS*. Saw this and bribed my son into getting it on his state of the art gaming PC and letting me have a go. There's only one level out so far but it's a thing of magnificence. It's fucking huge, sprawling and completely disorientationg, just as I wanted it to be. Weirdly through sheer luck I managed to finish it in an hour or so but I could easily have spent five times as long wandering around lost. Can't wait til the rest of the game is out.There didn't seem to be any kind of entity either, which made it even better. Just a constant sense of dread and the overwhelming fear of being completely lost and alone.
9/10
*Although a certain level in Trepang2 had me very happy...
Ok, so I didn't know backrooms/poolrooms was a genre/thing and feel really stupid. Watching footage now and I need this in my life. Reminds me of PT, and a bit Doom My House. Did you give KID A MNESIA a go on PS?
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Post by Phattso on Jun 18, 2024 9:04:49 GMT
I don't quite understand how they took away combat skills and then just...didn't add to it. Take that away and you got a very rudimentary if not, bad, version of Dark Souls combat. It's floaty, poor feedback on hits, you literally bounce off enemies that block your hits which feels bad every time. They wanted to make him feel like a glass cannon but that only works if the enemies can die quickly and it still felt like it took forever to do. It's my biggest concern with AC Shadows. I think the intent was to make the tools the thing - use knives and blowdarts and traps and noisemakers and be genuinely stealthy. I reckon they thought they'd pulled a blinder: "make the combat so one-note that nobody will want to do it, and they'll engage with the stealthy assassin shit more!" and that was soooo nearly the case. If I'd discovered the vanishing powder sooner I'd probably have just used that since it was a shittonne of fun to deploy. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) I did basically stealth murder 80% of the goons in the game. But that last 20% soured the experience somewhat. Thankfully, at 20-odd hours, not for too long. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) At some points in it I was staggered that this was just going to be a DLC for Valhalla, given the scale of it, but then I remembered that the scope of the Druids and Paris expansions were pretty chunky in their own right. Quantity over quality in a lot of cases, but you can't fault Ubisoft for "value" on that front.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on Jun 18, 2024 9:15:14 GMT
Dreamcore (PC) - Demo on Steam I am obssessed with these liminal spaces that have been doing the rounds for a few years. Obsessed. I have multiple weird soundtracks on my bandcamp and constantly lament the lack of decent backrooms / poolrooms type shit on PS*. Saw this and bribed my son into getting it on his state of the art gaming PC and letting me have a go. There's only one level out so far but it's a thing of magnificence. It's fucking huge, sprawling and completely disorientationg, just as I wanted it to be. Weirdly through sheer luck I managed to finish it in an hour or so but I could easily have spent five times as long wandering around lost. Can't wait til the rest of the game is out.There didn't seem to be any kind of entity either, which made it even better. Just a constant sense of dread and the overwhelming fear of being completely lost and alone.
9/10
*Although a certain level in Trepang2 had me very happy...
Ok, so I didn't know backrooms/poolrooms was a genre/thing and feel really stupid. Watching footage now and I need this in my life. Reminds me of PT, and a bit Doom My House. Did you give KID A MNESIA a go on PS? Ha yeah, MyHouse is brilliant. Very much that kind of thing as well.
No I didn't actually, is it the same kind of vibe?
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Tuffty
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Post by Tuffty on Jun 18, 2024 9:17:17 GMT
I don't quite understand how they took away combat skills and then just...didn't add to it. Take that away and you got a very rudimentary if not, bad, version of Dark Souls combat. It's floaty, poor feedback on hits, you literally bounce off enemies that block your hits which feels bad every time. They wanted to make him feel like a glass cannon but that only works if the enemies can die quickly and it still felt like it took forever to do. It's my biggest concern with AC Shadows. I think the intent was to make the tools the thing - use knives and blowdarts and traps and noisemakers and be genuinely stealthy. I reckon they thought they'd pulled a blinder: "make the combat so one-note that nobody will want to do it, and they'll engage with the stealthy assassin shit more!" and that was soooo nearly the case. If I'd discovered the vanishing powder sooner I'd probably have just used that since it was a shittonne of fun to deploy. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) I did basically stealth murder 80% of the goons in the game. But that last 20% soured the experience somewhat. Thankfully, at 20-odd hours, not for too long. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) At some points in it I was staggered that this was just going to be a DLC for Valhalla, given the scale of it, but then I remembered that the scope of the Druids and Paris expansions were pretty chunky in their own right. Quantity over quality in a lot of cases, but you can't fault Ubisoft for "value" on that front.
True to any of the recent AC games by the time end game comes around you're more than capable of killing anything in a few hits. It's something I actually don't really care for. In Valhalla I took out multiple end game bosses in a few hits by using that ability to fire two arrows at once. Mirage didn't have enough options within combat but I found knife to the head is usually a one shot kill too. It's almost incentivising not to use melee at all if you can. I too had the most enjoyment from Mirage not even assassinating at all if I could avoid it, just slipping in and out of places undetected, sneaking into the forts to collect all the treasure and bail and Mirage does enough to support that. I'm hoping that's still the case in Shadows, but if the combat looks as clunky as it's always been, I'm picking Naoe pretty much every time given she is meant to be the stealthy character.
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Post by harrypalmer on Jun 18, 2024 9:17:27 GMT
Edit: RE Kid A
Yeah it's not quite as focused/restrained, but it definitely has that vibe. Either way its worth a go for sure.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on Jun 18, 2024 9:20:49 GMT
Nice. Set it to download for later.
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Post by Zuluhero on Jun 18, 2024 23:08:52 GMT
Far Lone Sails
Kinda overlooked this one, but a cheap eshop purchase and a holiday with just my switch and it's been amazing. Definitely up there with Limbo or Inside. Definitely has Journey vibes too!
Puzzles are interesting and maintaining your ship/car/steam train and keeping it going is fun (and sometimes stressful) moment to moment.
The art style is beautiful yet bleak and the music is memorizing and haunting.
Finished it over the course of 2 evenings, and while its not very long, I loved every second of it.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Jun 19, 2024 1:09:46 GMT
Yeah that was a lovely game. Keep meaning to play the sequel.
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Post by Bill in the rain on Jun 19, 2024 2:32:58 GMT
I have that one on PC and keep meaning to play it. And keep getting tempted to rebuy it on Switch in cheap eShop sales, even though I haven't played the version I have.
eShop is really good for cheap classic indie games, so I keep rebuying them on switch thinking they're dirt cheap and there's a higher chance I'll play them from the sofa. Then I remember that I can never get on the bloody switch because the kids are always using it!
I bought Aer last weekend (despite already having it unplayed on Steam) and Limbo (which I have at least played on Steam)!
In my defence, each of them was about the price of a bottle of cola.
Send help!
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Post by Zuluhero on Jun 19, 2024 8:17:47 GMT
Hah, it's dangerous isn't it! I shudder to think how much all these 'cheap' purchases are added up 😅
I didn't know there was a sequel, I'm definitely going to take a look at that now!
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wunty
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Post by wunty on Jun 19, 2024 8:49:19 GMT
Far Lone Sails Kinda overlooked this one, but a cheap eshop purchase and a holiday with just my switch and it's been amazing. Definitely up there with Limbo or Inside. Definitely has Journey vibes too! Puzzles are interesting and maintaining your ship/car/steam train and keeping it going is fun (and sometimes stressful) moment to moment. The art style is beautiful yet bleak and the music is memorizing and haunting. Finished it over the course of 2 evenings, and while its not very long, I loved every second of it. It's only a quid something! Bought it. You've made it sound quite cool.
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Post by Zuluhero on Jun 19, 2024 9:25:51 GMT
Exactly, it's next to nothing! Play with headphones! ☺️
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Post by dangerousdave on Jun 19, 2024 19:49:07 GMT
Yeah, I really enjoyed Far: Lonely Sails. Banged on about it a couple of times on these forums. Glad others agree!
As for what I’ve just completed…
Little Kitty, Big City (Series X)
I’ll lead with; This game wasn’t designed for somebody like me. It’s a short and simple platforming collect-a-thon that would certainly appeal to a younger gamer that happens to love cats. However, as somebody with 33 years of gaming experience under their belt, this doesn’t have much to offer. It is very charming, but it’s essentially busy work for around 3 or 4 hours. Collect this, find that, return four of these, collect 100 of that, etc…
It feels nice to control at least, although jumping can be a little finicky. I had two or 3 bugs as well. In one case I was running around the map, but roughly 8-foot in the air. That required a reload to fix. Another time the jump button simply stopped working, which required another reload. I also clipped a wall and fell underneath the map. Fortunately the auto save fixed all the above quite quickly.
Overall, it’s alright. It’s clearly made with a lot of love, but it feels like a first project for this team. I don’t know if that is the case, but the game feels like the foundation of a greater idea. It’s functional, but it’s little more than a completionist’s playground. The repetition also made me quite sleepy on occasion.
At least it doesn’t outstay its welcome.
3/5
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Post by A46Matt on Jun 20, 2024 14:53:32 GMT
Completed a few weeks ago but still thinking about it , Star Wars Jedi Survivor.
Whilst I enjoyed the prequel, this improves on the niggles from that game. The level design is excellent, the frustration of back tracking is limited now with paths leading back through previously locked areas. The combat feels great. I went with the single saber and blaster combo for the majority which was fun to play.
I really liked the story, feel it would make a decent film. Sure you can see the ‘twist’ from a mile away but it’s Star Wars after all. The relationships between Cal and the others is engaging and seeing his struggles with controlling his emotions whilst being a Star Wars staple is well done.
Not to say that there aren’t issues. The map is pretty useless and the collectibles are mostly a waste of time unless you are intent on unlocking all of the paint jobs for weapons.
Clocking in at around 26 hours it didn’t out stay its welcome. There was more there if I wanted but I didn’t feel like hunting out all of the temples and force tears.
Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and hope for a third game to wrap things up.
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Post by theguy on Jun 20, 2024 15:50:35 GMT
To counter some of the positivity, I did not like Far Lone Sails.
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Post by Zuluhero on Jun 20, 2024 15:54:09 GMT
Are you sure your not actually called Thatguy? 😅
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Post by dangerousdave on Jun 20, 2024 15:57:19 GMT
I can see why. Half of it is maintaining a steady ship, which isn’t nearly as difficult as you might initially think. Also, the puzzle elements weren’t particularly taxing. But I kinda feel that was the point. You were more drifting towards your goal in a very melancholic fashion.
It left a big impression on me and even though it ended before things started to become stale, I was a little sad that it was all over.
I really should pick up the sequel.
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Jun 20, 2024 16:03:53 GMT
Completed a few weeks ago but still thinking about it , Star Wars Jedi Survivor. Whilst I enjoyed the prequel, this improves on the niggles from that game. The level design is excellent, the frustration of back tracking is limited now with paths leading back through previously locked areas. The combat feels great. I went with the single saber and blaster combo for the majority which was fun to play. I really liked the story, feel it would make a decent film. Sure you can see the ‘twist’ from a mile away but it’s Star Wars after all. The relationships between Cal and the others is engaging and seeing his struggles with controlling his emotions whilst being a Star Wars staple is well done. Not to say that there aren’t issues. The map is pretty useless and the collectibles are mostly a waste of time unless you are intent on unlocking all of the paint jobs for weapons. Clocking in at around 26 hours it didn’t out stay its welcome. There was more there if I wanted but I didn’t feel like hunting out all of the temples and force tears. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and hope for a third game to wrap things up. I too finished this just a few days back. Like the first, it was ok. Some was great, some was a bit shit, most was in the middle. Going to wrap up a few more minor things like the last chamber etc and then call it a day. I am not getting all the fucking fish or plants, despite quite liking hearing skoova ramble on. I am also annoyed that if you carry on post-game you are stuck with dark force rage, give me my slow back you scumbag, I'm not angry.
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Post by ToomuchFluffy on Jun 21, 2024 5:44:08 GMT
I can see why. Half of it is maintaining a steady ship, which isn’t nearly as difficult as you might initially think. Also, the puzzle elements weren’t particularly taxing. But I kinda feel that was the point. You were more drifting towards your goal in a very melancholic fashion. It left a big impression on me and even though it ended before things started to become stale, I was a little sad that it was all over. I really should pick up the sequel.
It seems a little like a walking sim, but with fairly light touch gameplay-elements and physics that actually matter. It's one of the few cases where I feel the gameplay elements are not in the way. Oftentimes these kinds of games end up including combat or platforming and Trial-and-Error or at least something that is fairly taxing to engage with - and to think about -, can really be in the way of the experience.
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JonFE
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Post by JonFE on Jun 21, 2024 13:23:22 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and hope for a third game to wrap things up. To be honest, I've enjoyed this myself and often wondered if a third entry will fully explore Cal Kestis
dark side influence, ie if the player uses it more and more to visually affect Cal's personality/actions/even outcome.
I genuine think that would be interesting. Let's see if EA greenlights a third game.
/not too optimistic
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Post by dangerousdave on Jun 21, 2024 14:01:38 GMT
They’ll green light a third one, but it’ll be like every 3rd instalment of an EA game. It’ll become a cover based shooter with a greater emphasis on action and set pieces and an outdated hip hop soundtrack. Also, they’ll replace the voice actor with Mark Wahlberg because the character is gonna become more badass.
Jedi: Side Order: Get Laid or Die Tryin’
I’m really good at predicting these kinds of things.
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Tuffty
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Post by Tuffty on Jun 21, 2024 14:34:42 GMT
I felt the story in Jedi Survivor to be so inconsequential right up to the last hr or so, where they lay the hooks in for a sequel. The villain is so much less interesting than the first game too, legitimately remember Rick the Door Technician more than....Dangan? Dagen?
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JonFE
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Post by JonFE on Jun 21, 2024 14:41:11 GMT
I’m really good at predicting these kinds of things. I really hope you are not
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JonFE
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Post by JonFE on Jun 21, 2024 14:43:00 GMT
The villain is so much less interesting than the first game too, legitimately remember Rick the Door Technician more than....Dangan? Dagen? Totally agree with this, the " twist" was seen from seconds in the game...
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Duffmangb
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Post by Duffmangb on Jun 21, 2024 14:46:21 GMT
Still Wakes The Deep xbox/gp Played on perfomance mode Cheveos: 25/37 Skill: Standard
Good atmospheric horror/walking sim by The Chinese room (who specialise in these sort of game/experiences) text taken from wiki as it explains it pretty well: "The story follows an electrician who is trapped on a damaged oil drilling platform, having apparently no way to escape while being pursued by mysterious monsters under harsh weather conditions"
From me, needs to be played with headphones to get the full experience as the ambiance sounds are excellent and actually make you feel cold, wet and afraid of what might be around the next corner! The oilrig has been designed really well, that and the fact you are pretty scripted in where you need to go make what could have been a frustration in traversal is actually pretty painless.
One frustration I did have was a good amount of the qte's failed on me (and that was with changing the reaction time from 3s to 5s) when I was certain I "held left trigger or X" etc when prompted, which resulted in game over screens a few times, although to be fair, could be my old reactions! or my xbox pad needing replacing (after all the CSawing on Gears;) )
The story is fairly good, Caz is a great character and keeps you company with a running commentary of what we are doing or seeing, support cast also good. I got massive The Thing vibes, also Abyss, both fairly obvious based on the subject matter of the game but appreciated all the same.
8/10
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wunty
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Post by wunty on Jun 21, 2024 15:06:04 GMT
How long did it take you do you think?
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Jun 21, 2024 15:08:54 GMT
Duffmangb Might have to give that a go then. Although Hellblade 2 is what i have planned next, so maybe need a break before another walking sim.
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