Fallout 2 is basically a mediocre main story existing as an excuse for you to wander the desert and stumble onto all the phenomenal side quests. The murder investigation for the Wright crime family might be my favourite, but all the intrigue in New Reno is so good. And that’s not even getting into the crazy Scientologists and their space ship, a shotgun wedding, uncovering the origins of Jet, becoming a pornstar…
It’s so curious, I swear I heard “boomer shooter” used to refer to another type of FPS… But then again I guess the definition has changed. What term do people use nowadays for slow FPSes that are more tactical, rather than twitch-reflex reliant, like ARMA?
I stopped playing FFXIV because I didn’t like the direction CBU3 was taking it in, and because of that I was also unexcited for FFXVI last year. From reading about it (both in this thread and over that past 6 months) it sounds like it was a correct skip, for me at least.
I had some really good times in FFXIV and have fond memories, and it still is a good product for what it is. But hearing FFXVI having simplistic combat, shallow RPG-mechanics and a slow story full of filler quests that ruin the pacing does not surprise me at all.
I got predictably burned out on RDR2 after trying to complete a bunch of challenges before proceeding (I wanted to look cool in all the cutscenes!), so that is on the back burner for now. I also had some personal events that made me less able to focus on story games. Or maybe less in the mood. Take your pick.
Found a good deal on F1 Manager 2023 instead, and that has been a perfect distraction. Not least since I’m not really getting my F1 fix from watching the races so far, this year.
I didn’t play the predecessor so I don’t know how much it improves year-on-year, but I’d say it’s solid if you are an F1 fan. The presentation is awesome, especially thanks to the official licensing, with stuff like radio clips of the actual drivers and engineers adding a lot of immersion during races.
As a management game it seems fine. As someone who’s put a lot of hours into Football Manager, this isn’t on that level in terms of depth. But it seems perfectly adequate. I’m having fun juggling the budget and striking a balance between long term investments and short term development. There are a lot of little considerations to fiddle with. The setup-sliders minigame is fun.
I’m playing as Aston Martin on Hard Race AI/Hard Development AI and it hasn’t felt too easy (yet). Red Bull is leading and I’m not catching them, Ferrari is thereabouts and I’m just behind, with Alonso usually beating Ferrari (but not always), and I even managed to sneak a win when Verstappen crashed out in Baku.
If you’re an F1 fan and can find it on sale I think you’ll enjoy it.
I’ve typed up so many comments about FFXV over the years, so I guess it at least didn’t end up being forgettable. I’ve been looking for the right wording , I think. It’s the worst game I ever loved? It has no right being as enjoyable as it is considering its issues? Something like that. It has so many problems, but there is also something there underneath it all. If only they didn’t spread it out so thin.
I hope you have the Royal Edition, the DLCs really do flesh out the story a lot. They should honestly just have been integrated into the main game. I recommend pausing the main story to play Episode Gladios and Episode Prompto whenever the respective characters briefly leave the party (you’ll know when). I’d play episode Ignis after chapter 10, but be aware that it contains a possible alternative (non-canon) ending depending on your choices.
Oh also there’s chocobos so it’s not all bad.
It also has one of the best fishing minigames out of any game out there, really! It has its moments.
I loved my first few hours in it. By the end, I had to force myself to finish it.
The game is gorgeous (and was super well optimised, ran like a dream on my first-gen fat old PS4), and the combat is mechanically satisfying. But those pluses are just not enough to carry it through its (way too long) runtime.
The story is only okay. But it suffers from a consistently dour and overly serious tone, with almost no variation. You get some crumbs of comic relief with Kenji, and that’s it. The rest is stone-face almost monotonously serious.
The mission design is also mostly awful. You have a couple of signpost missions (like the Legendary Tales I think they were called?) that are cool, and the bossfights are fun of course. But the rest is almost all talk, move to area, kill some dudes, return. The main story missions are also filled with endless walk-and-talk (or ride-horse-and-talk).
Add to that the extremely repetitive open world UbiSoft style collect-a-thon, and the game just wore my enthusiasm down over time.
I would also wait for a sale, unless you desperately love the setting. And even then, maybe wait and see how Rise of the Ronin pans out.
The Unfinished Swan is such a hidden gem, honestly. I never hear anyone talk about it. Very unique style and mechanics and an endearing story. Some beautiful environments too. And pretty short, so not a big commitment.
I think VII being the first 3D FF also was a big reason for being so suited to remake. VI still looks awesome today, it’s peak pixel art era and a lot of the sprites are really beautiful. Original VII looks like pure ass. Nothing has aged worse graphically than old, first generation 3D games.
I’m with you completely though, VI is my favorite and a modernized version would be a sight to see. I wonder what they’d do with the opera scene.
Yeah, the combat has some depth to it but it’s never really explained nor needed. I guess the only truly useful one is the melee button pommel smash after a parry which stuns the enemy for like 15 seconds, very useful against the horde fights. I liked playing around with it and the animations and combos are satisfying, but that’s about it.
They had enough of a foundation there though that I’m hopeful for the sequel.
Did you end up playing around anything further with the combat and the combos? I ended up really enjoying fighting in the game, I just wish the bosses were a little more refined maybe. The feeling of being in sync with the voices and dodging instinctively when they yell a warning is really cool, and unlike any other game I’ve played.
The ending didn’t click for me immediately either, but I ended up replaying it and giving it some more thought and I think I get what they’re going for. Really looking forward to the sequel.
And sorry again that I spoiled that trial! I hope you enjoyed it anyway, it’s still my favourite part I think.
Probably Civilization V (with the difficulty set below maximum so you’re not too restricted and don’t have to play so sweaty). I like just seeing whatever the Planet Simulator map spits out, putz around with half my brain turned off, trying out niche civs and basically just playing it like solitaire.
I don’t play it even every week anymore, but when I need some distraction and relaxation that’s a comfort game go-to.
Haven’t watched the video but wasn’t Throne of Bhaal originally intended to be BG3 and was later downscaled to an expansion because of reduced time and resources?
Sounds like what I’ve been doing, too. Finally found a badger yesterday for the satchel but still on the hunt for some other assorted animals. Sadly I think I’m locked out of some stuff because I killed the legendary bear as part of the story quest so the pelt despawned before I unlocked the trapper. Currently trying to plow through some gambler challenges for the gear, it might actually kill my enthusiasm though. And I’d like to combine them with some Bandit pieces but I’ve been hesitant because I am playing high honor.
The White Arabian seems great, im personally going back and forth between the Warped Brindle Arabian and the Tigerstriped Bay Mustang (was hell to acquire) for horses.
I loved my playthrough of Elden Ring - and I’m happy I got to play it at launch and participate in the zeitgeist and discovery of it at the point where the wikis weren’t even populated etc - but I’m not super keen to play the DLC. Finishing the game was definitely a little more of a relief that it was over than I would have hoped to feel. It didn’t help that the last boss is terrible, so the game kind of ends on a sour note.
Also, FromSoft DLCs are always much harder than the base game. I already didn’t enjoy what they did with Malenia, if they try to top her in the DLC I honestly just can’t see myself having any fun.