Tomo
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Posts: 3,255
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Post by Tomo on Jul 11, 2024 22:54:09 GMT
Stray is a great game. If you like cats, sci-if and the idea of a light on puzzling adventure action game do it! All of this applies to me, but I found Stray really dull after an hour or two. Utterly charming, but as shallow as a bowl of milk.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Jul 12, 2024 3:50:59 GMT
Sable (PS5)
This was a free PS Plus game from a while ago that I've just gotten around to trying. It's a meditative, combat-free game that mainly involves exploration but also some light platforming. The art style is quite lovely, all cel-shaded pastels and desert landscapes. The story has you setting out on a kind of coming-of-age quest that seems to be about finding your preferred occupation in the world. The vibes are kinda like Shadow of the Colossus without the colossi, you wander around a massive and mostly empty world, occasionally stumbling across old ruins to explore. There are a few NPCs to meet along the way who can point you in certain directions, and you have a hover bike to upgrade and customise. It's very chilled and a nice change of pace coming off Elden Ring, and the atmosphere is right up my alley.
Unfortunately, technically on PS5 this is the absolute worst performing game I've ever played, knocking Subnautica off that pedestal and by a long way. Despite the very simplistic cel-shaded graphics, the frame rate is unbearable, regularly dropping into single figures even while riding the bike across barren, almost empty desert terrain. Apparently the game was developed for Xbox and the devs didn't have the resources to optimise it for PS5. Seems like the kind of thing Sony should have stepped in and helped with. If I'd have paid money for the game I'd be quite irate given the state it's in, with no further work or patch likely. Cyberpunk was delisted from the PS store for less.
In addition to the atrocious frame rate there is regular stuttering and heaps of pop-in. The camera is bad too, the game is in third person but the camera often spazzes out, refusing to rotate with your character's movement or zooming in and going into a first person mode whenever you get too close to a wall or bit of scenery. The character also has trouble climbing up onto ledges, getting stuck and falling back down or doing the climb up animation twice. And climbing onto ledges is something you do a lot, so this leaves the game feeling very unpolished. I've also had a quest that required me to collect some beetles and when I got to their nest they didn't spawn in, leaving me baffled and having to look up online what had gone wrong. Oh, and also, the music is dreadful though this may just be my personal taste.
All of the above issues brought me very close to abandoning the game. The only thing that has saved it was a fix for the framerate that has actually worked very well - dropping the PS5 resolution down to 720p has pretty much fixed that issue and I'm now getting around 30fps+. Fortunately the simplistic art style means this lower resolution is hardly noticeable and the game still looks very nice. So, I'm putting up with the other issues and am now having a decent time with it. Much like Subnautica, it's a really good game that deserves more work to fix its problems.
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Vortex
Full Member
Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
is apparently a mangina.
Posts: 5,244
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Post by Vortex on Jul 12, 2024 7:58:27 GMT
Stray is a great game. If you like cats, sci-if and the idea of a light on puzzling adventure action game do it! I found Stray really dull after an hour or two. Utterly charming, but as shallow as a bowl of milk. Expressing my inner cat, i lapped that shit up like i was George Galloway. Apologies for any mental image trauma. 🤣
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JonFE
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Uncomfortably numb...
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Post by JonFE on Jul 12, 2024 12:48:02 GMT
PS Plus perhaps? Either that or I was just a fool that missed it. It was on PS Plus at launch IIRC.
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askew
Full Member
Posts: 6,599
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Post by askew on Jul 12, 2024 12:53:47 GMT
Sable (PS5)Unfortunately, technically on PS5 this is the absolute worst performing game I've ever played, knocking Subnautica off that pedestal and by a long way. Despite the very simplistic cel-shaded graphics, the frame rate is unbearable, regularly dropping into single figures even while riding the bike across barren, almost empty desert terrain. Apparently the game was developed for Xbox and the devs didn't have the resources to optimise it for PS5. Seems like the kind of thing Sony should have stepped in and helped with. If I'd have paid money for the game I'd be quite irate given the state it's in, with no further work or patch likely. Cyberpunk was delisted from the PS store for less.
Heh, it's pretty bad on Xbox too.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Jul 13, 2024 0:55:39 GMT
Have now abandoned it, sadly. Later areas dropped to single digit frame rates again even at 720p and I just can't, it's giving me a headache. What a shame as it seems like there's a really great game there.
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Post by dfunked on Jul 13, 2024 14:13:10 GMT
Thought I'd give The First Descendant a go as I'm in the mood for this kind of thing, but at the same time can't be arsed going back to Destiny or starting something as overwhelming as Warframe. The trailer with M83 made me laugh too. It's like I've timewarped back a decade or so.
I have a feeling I probably won't make it through to the end credits... It's a bit poo!
Also playing the excavation of Hob's Barrow. Pretty decent so far with a fast rising sense of uneasiness (which isn't something you expect from a point and click game)
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Tomo
Junior Member
Posts: 3,255
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Post by Tomo on Jul 13, 2024 17:25:19 GMT
I've somewhat gotten back into PUBG recently after 3 or so years away. So much horrendous monetisation in it now, but it's easy to get past that and the underlying game hasn't been fucked with too much, which is great because there is still nothing like it. The single most tense FPS out there. Still nerve shredding when you get to the final two in a tiny circle.
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zephro
Junior Member
Posts: 2,856
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Post by zephro on Jul 13, 2024 18:37:12 GMT
I don't think I ever did better than last 5 playing PUBG (and only then the once).
Right now I'm giving Dyson Sphere Program a go... it's so far just more Factorio but somehow with a worse tutorial and making the information you need less accessible. Probably takes a bit of time though.
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Post by crashV👀d👀 on Jul 13, 2024 19:57:53 GMT
I don't think I ever did better than last 5 playing PUBG (and only then the once). Right now I'm giving Dyson Sphere Program a go... it's so far just more Factorio but somehow with a worse tutorial and making the information you need less accessible. Probably takes a bit of time though. 500+ hours here and I can say that the tutorial was very barebones with wonky translation but it is far from just another factorio clone. There is a thread for it in PC so head in there for some hints and if you have any questions, fire away. . Once you have the hang of it, the scope and scale explodes fontgeek.io/thread/458/dyson-sphere-program
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zephro
Junior Member
Posts: 2,856
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Post by zephro on Jul 13, 2024 21:01:06 GMT
I don't think I ever did better than last 5 playing PUBG (and only then the once). Right now I'm giving Dyson Sphere Program a go... it's so far just more Factorio but somehow with a worse tutorial and making the information you need less accessible. Probably takes a bit of time though. 500+ hours here and I can say that the tutorial was very barebones with wonky translation but it is far from just another factorio clone. There is a thread for it in PC so head in there for some hints and if you have any questions, fire away. . Once you have the hang of it, the scope and scale explodes fontgeek.io/thread/458/dyson-sphere-programGood to know ta. My favoured form of this crack is Satisfactory usually, as the extra fun of making the factory aesthetically beautiful and crawling around inside it adds something. But yeah the lack of an in-built calculator and the tutorial being kinda shit means I keep alt-tabbing out to look stuff up. Then get distracted reading the forum. The heat generator stations are the most annoying so far. Like it unlocks so I go over to some coal, I've now worked out that it's 30per minute per mining node and belts are 360 per minute (the game switching between per minute and per second is infuriating but they all do this a bit). But the dyson-sphere-program.fandom.com/wiki/Thermal_Power_Plant You need to take the efficiency of 80% and compare the MW output with the MJ input and work out the rate yourself with a calculator... and then if you're me immediately forget it. Then the reddit explaining it is all full of "git gud" wankers. JUST PUT A FUCKING TOOL TIP YOU ABSOLUTE GURNING PRICKS. Anyway I will keep at it and hopefully it unfolds some more. But that kind of irritating UX design just infuriates me these days.
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Post by crashV👀d👀 on Jul 14, 2024 7:42:48 GMT
Yeah the MW/MJ thing was a bit of an annoyance.
Don't spend too long burning coal as (iirc) in efficient. Process the coal into .. graphite?!? as the energy output is greater.
It's also a really good source of fuel for your bot until you can move onto fuel rods as a source.
You could even spray the outout with something and it'll boost it further in someway. I'll let you discover that though ;-)
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hicksy
Junior Member
I'm good for some but I'm not for everyone
Posts: 1,549
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Post by hicksy on Jul 14, 2024 19:58:11 GMT
Stellar Blade.
I’m a hypocrite. Sci-Fi Boobs & Bums. Oh and button mashing slashing badass.
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lukasz
New Member
Meat popsicle
Posts: 640
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Post by lukasz on Jul 14, 2024 23:39:53 GMT
Those little things in games, make things so fun...
Fallout tactics
I got a ghoul as part of my 6 person team. He is radioactive slowly poisoning my team if he is near them.
So cant put him in the same car as others team as when I did half were irradiated.
But I got a buggy in a mission.
So now my team of murderers travel through wasteland with 5 guys in hummer and radioactive ghoul in a buggy.
Just needs a guy with flaming guitar!
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Wizzard_Ook
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Post by Wizzard_Ook on Jul 15, 2024 6:40:32 GMT
Assassins Creed Mirage.
Enjoying it a lot. Nothing much new but the Assassin Creed games are just pure escapism for me, never seen to really tire of them.
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Post by richyroo on Jul 15, 2024 9:25:14 GMT
So I think I am slightly addicted to Dragon’s Dogma 2. I seemed to of clocked up about 55 hours in a very short time. Really loving the game. I’m currently levelling up my 3rd vocation. Started with Fighter which I really enjoyed. Then moved to Mystic Spearhand which was alright, but not as good. Now currently playing Magic Archer which took some time to get going and getting used to, but now I absolutely love it. It does seem very over-powered though compared to the other two, but maybe its because I am now a higher level. The fact it can easily aim at the weak points just makes it a wrecking machine, and its Maister skill is so overpowered to the point of being broken. Found the Sphinx last night and started on the riddles. I must of spent about 2 hours trying to find the place I found my 1st seeker token, ended up using an interactive map and marking off locations I had checked. A bit of a ball ache that one but I was please I finally managed it. No spoilers here, but to any new players, REMEMBER where you found your 1st seeker token and mark it on the map. You will thank me later. I actually found it quite creepy when I submitted my answers to the Sphinx . The way it turns its head and comes in close when its delivering its verdict is quite un-nerving. The game really doesn’t hand hold you. There are some mechanics which I have only just got my head around AFTER watching some guides on youtube. Things such as NPC and Pawn affinity, also the Dragonsplague. Would have been useful if the game explained these mechanics better. Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t really do much more than the 1st game did. It has some odd design choices which may frustrate the player. It also has the same limited enemy variety and the gameplay is mostly unchanged. However, it refines the experience and has a much larger map which is more rewarding to explore. Personally I am loving the journey. I love the pawn system and its great that Capcom injected a bit more personality in to them along with the affinity mechanic. I’m about 2/3 of the way through the main story I think and it’s my game of the year (so far). Playing on Series X, 120hz VRR tv and performance has been mostly good with some drops in built up cities.
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Post by rhaegyr on Jul 15, 2024 9:37:01 GMT
Return of the Obra Dinn
Finally got round to playing this - it's bloody good eh?
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Aunty Treats
New Member
Delivering tasty treats to the townsfolk
Posts: 735
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Post by Aunty Treats on Jul 15, 2024 9:55:25 GMT
So I think I am slightly addicted to Dragon’s Dogma 2. I seemed to of clocked up about 55 hours in a very short time. Really loving the game. I’m currently levelling up my 3rd vocation. Started with Fighter which I really enjoyed. Then moved to Mystic Spearhand which was alright, but not as good. Now currently playing Magic Archer which took some time to get going and getting used to, but now I absolutely love it. It does seem very over-powered though compared to the other two, but maybe its because I am now a higher level. The fact it can easily aim at the weak points just makes it a wrecking machine, and its Maister skill is so overpowered to the point of being broken. Found the Sphinx last night and started on the riddles. I must of spent about 2 hours trying to find the place I found my 1st seeker token, ended up using an interactive map and marking off locations I had checked. A bit of a ball ache that one but I was please I finally managed it. No spoilers here, but to any new players, REMEMBER where you found your 1st seeker token and mark it on the map. You will thank me later. I actually found it quite creepy when I submitted my answers to the Sphinx . The way it turns its head and comes in close when its delivering its verdict is quite un-nerving. The game really doesn’t hand hold you. There are some mechanics which I have only just got my head around AFTER watching some guides on youtube. Things such as NPC and Pawn affinity, also the Dragonsplague. Would have been useful if the game explained these mechanics better. Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t really do much more than the 1st game did. It has some odd design choices which may frustrate the player. It also has the same limited enemy variety and the gameplay is mostly unchanged. However, it refines the experience and has a much larger map which is more rewarding to explore. Personally I am loving the journey. I love the pawn system and its great that Capcom injected a bit more personality in to them along with the affinity mechanic. I’m about 2/3 of the way through the main story I think and it’s my game of the year (so far). Playing on Series X, 120hz VRR tv and performance has been mostly good with some drops in built up cities. Was having a look at this and the mention of no markers for objectives and timed quests has put me right off. Can you take quests again or are they just gone if you fail to complete them in time?
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Post by richyroo on Jul 15, 2024 10:05:58 GMT
Was having a look at this and the mention of no markers for objectives and timed quests has put me right off. Can you take quests again or are they just gone if you fail to complete them in time?
I assume the quests are gone forever if you don't do them in time. I can only speak from experience, but in about 60 hours I have only come across 1 or 2 times quests. The quest in the mission log has a timer icon next to it so you know to prioritise that one. I never felt rushed though when I was doing it, so don't let this put you off the game.
You DO mostly get markers for objectives. There have been a handful of times though when you don't and you have to figure it out. This is where the pawn mechanic comes in handy, you can just rent a pawn which has specific quest knowledge and they will guide you to your destination which is cool. Only a couple of times I have had to refer to a guide because it wasn't really clear. But again, I would say don't let this put you off as it is very infrequent.
The biggest thing which usually puts people off is the limited fast travel. You will spend a LOT of time re-tracing your steps back and forth. You do get limited use of Ferry Crystals which can help you teleport but they are in limited supply, you also get carts you can hop onto to help you about the map somewhat. I personally love the fact you can't instantly fast travel everywhere, it makes the game distinct from others and makes you explore the map.
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Aunty Treats
New Member
Delivering tasty treats to the townsfolk
Posts: 735
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Post by Aunty Treats on Jul 15, 2024 10:13:41 GMT
I usually don't use fast travel systems in games - never used it in RDR2 or Cyberpunk - but it probably depends on the game. Those are probably relatively small for open worlds. Can't imagine not using it in Elden Ring
Might keep an eye on it for a sale (think there's a Capcom sale on Xbox at the moment actually)
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zagibu
Junior Member
Posts: 1,852
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Post by zagibu on Jul 15, 2024 10:14:13 GMT
Return of the Obra DinnFinally got round to playing this - it's bloody good eh? I also got this on my shortlist. Almost installed it a couple times, maybe it's time.
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Post by rhaegyr on Jul 15, 2024 10:15:59 GMT
Return of the Obra DinnFinally got round to playing this - it's bloody good eh? I also got this on my shortlist. Almost installed it a couple times, maybe it's time. I bounced off it a year ago after putting in around half an hour and not really understanding the 'flow' of the game. Persevered with it this time around and I'm very glad I did - it's fascinating.
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Post by dfunked on Jul 15, 2024 10:26:26 GMT
Yeah, there are only a couple of timed side quests in DD2 and they don't impact the overall story/endings so I wouldn't let it put you off. The spoilered one is probably the biggest pain in the arse, but again doesn't stop you from getting that quest's reward if you fail to find the token like I did.
I absolutely loved having a totally clean map for a change from the usual icon bloat. Definitely won't be for everybody though as it really doesn't hold your hand, and I had to resort to Google for some of the more obtuse quests.
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Aunty Treats
New Member
Delivering tasty treats to the townsfolk
Posts: 735
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Post by Aunty Treats on Jul 15, 2024 10:45:21 GMT
Do you get the pawns from other players? How reliant is it on online stuff?
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Post by richyroo on Jul 15, 2024 12:57:35 GMT
Yeah you touch a riftstone which are scattered all over the map and enter the rift. From there you can recruit 2 pawns of your choosing and liking. You get to choose and search if you want Mages, Archers, Fighters etc. So you have a party of 4 in total which includes you, main pawn, and 2 recruited pawns. People can also recruit your main pawn. Every now and then when you rest at an inn, your pawn will notify you how they got on with other players and that player may send you a gift. Other players pawns can also help you in quests. If they have quest knowledge they will tell you and you can instruct them to lead on. They will then lead you right where you need to go. They will also lead you to treasures if they have found them in other peoples games. Its quite a good mechanic overall. Your main pawn can also learn things when they are recruited in other peoples games.
Its important to know that you never lose access to your pawn even if they are recruited, you can still be using them when someone else also is, you just won't know about it until they return them.
You can go offline and recruit official Capcom pawns only, but then you don't get the whole benefit of the system which is quite unique in its-self.
That's about where the online features end.
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Post by docrob on Jul 15, 2024 19:10:46 GMT
I also got this on my shortlist. Almost installed it a couple times, maybe it's time. I bounced off it a year ago after putting in around half an hour and not really understanding the 'flow' of the game. Persevered with it this time around and I'm very glad I did - it's fascinating. It’s absolutely superb. One of my favourite games of the last few years, if not THE favourite. I wish I could wipe it from my memory and play through it again, but that’s the only problem - it really only works once. I hope they use the same formula again though!
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Post by dfunked on Jul 15, 2024 19:44:47 GMT
Callisto Protocol (SX/GP)
It's not actually all that bad. I'm not quite at wunty levels of adoration, but I'm having a decent time so far. It's perfect GP fodder really. I've only been playing it a couple of days and I've nearly finished it if the chapter list is anything to go by.
Lovely gwaffix and some excellent sound design make up for the fairly lacking combat.
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zagibu
Junior Member
Posts: 1,852
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Post by zagibu on Jul 15, 2024 19:56:37 GMT
It’s absolutely superb. One of my favourite games of the last few years, if not THE favourite. I wish I could wipe it from my memory and play through it again, but that’s the only problem - it really only works once. I hope they use the same formula again though! Have you played Roadwarden as well, and if so, what did you think of it?
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Post by zisssou on Jul 16, 2024 7:51:39 GMT
I'm revisiting The Last Guardian. I think the days of holding out for a 60fps patch are gone.. might as well enjoy it all again.
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robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,405
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Post by robthehermit on Jul 16, 2024 8:42:35 GMT
Following a particularly geeky reference from Mrs Hermit regarding beard growth, I had the urge to fire up Red Dead 2 for the first time in 5 years. I remember it looking good, but fuck me, it is still absolutely stunning.
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