Coelacanth

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I played Arcanum for the first time this year. There are a lot of cool things in it, but it really doesn’t hold up all that well.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Thanks to the design documents being leaked back in 2007 (I think) and the original designers being open to contact from some dedicated people, there are actually a couple of fan made attempts at creating what would have been Van Buren. I know of both Project Van Buren and Fallout: Yesterday.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I played the Multiverse Edition which had a bunch of patches and fixes integrated. Including HD I believe.

I think the world building is pretty good, at least parts of it. There is some disappointingly boilerplate Tolkienesque fantasy in there, but the conflict between magic and technology is well realised and interesting and feels grounded in the world. The steampunk aesthetic is cool and I like the Victorian racism angle they’re doing with half orcs and ogres. I liked the newspapers and there are some interesting quests, like the half ogre conspiracy. I thought the peace negotiation was going to end up being absolutely amazing but in the end it is just an anticlimactic stat check.

The combat is absolutely atrocious in every possible way, from balance to animations and whether you play turn based or real time doesn’t really matter, both are horrible. It’s quite possibly the worst AI I’ve ever seen and every fight is just every creature mashing into eachother until one dies. I don’t think anyone or anything has special abilities or different AI behaviour. You can’t use Mage followers because they don’t use their magic, opting instead to charge into melee with their fists or staves.

The tech skills are the most interesting and unique aspect of the game, but involves a horrendous amount of parts collecting, crafting, inventory management and over-encumberance for very little rewards.

The companions feel extremely bare bones by modern standards and it’s extremely disappointing that none of them even get ending slides. I liked Virgil but not even he got any sort of closure at the end.

The main story was okay, it had some twists and funny moments like with Nasrudin. The whole “life was a mistake” angle by the BBEG felt a little tired to me, but maybe if playing Arcanum was the first time I came across that concept it would have blown me away.

The actual writing itself is not bad in terms of the prose and dialogue etc and the game has some funny moments.

The vast freedom you get with character building is probably the best part. I like how varied you can make your characters, although I don’t know that all builds are viable. Props for following the example of Fallout 1 and 2 and including specific “dumb dialogue”, even though I didn’t go for that personally. Having to balance tech and magic with your character build is a fun concept.

Overall I understand why it has its cult following and I’m glad to have played it, but it’s hard to recommend it to people unless they have an extremely high retro game/clunk tolerance.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

That would have been quite something. I’ve seen P.T. being played and that was fucking scary.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

To be fair to Arcanum in terms of companions Baldur’s Gate 2 was really the watershed moment in terms of how companions were treated in RPGs. Arcanum released less than a year after it and so while development timelines were shorter back then I doubt they had much time to adjust and get influenced by BG2. Fallout 1&2 doesn’t have it much better in terms of fleshed out companions.

(Fallout 1/2 combat had many issues by modern standards, but it was definitely much more refined than in Arcanum).

I would definitely recommend FO 1&2 easier than Arcanum and with fewer caveats. Maybe that’s just because I think they are fundamentally better and more important games than Arcanum though and so they are more worth suffering through some jank for. They still have a fiendishly retro interface that is quite clunky and the combat is not great, especially without mods. There is some really questionable encounter design in there and they both suffer from tremendous RNG heavy potential misery and loads and loads of reloads. Not least with random encounters.

Also the first few hours of Fallout 2 are absolutely miserable. It’s still one of my favourite games of all time though.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

The whole aimed shots thing makes combat magnitudes more fun in the classic Fallouts. Maybe this is telling of when I first played the games (hint: I was a teen), but there is something about taking cheap shots at people’s groin that doesn’t get old. Becoming a Prizefighter by exclusively and indiscriminately punching your opposition in the dick is always going to be funny.

The critical hits and misses are also very entertaining, though definitely add to the notorious RNG. The animations and effects, like disintegrations and splatter, also make combat a lot more satisfying.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I will throw in another vouch for this series. It is exactly what you’re looking for. I haven’t played any of the more recent entries but I’ve heard they’ve been received very well. Total War: Rome 2 is a classic, but for something more modern I’ve heard only good things about Three Kingdoms, though I haven’t played that one personally.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Wholly agreed. In general the concept that “you can’t patent an idea” or “you can’t patent a general concept” is supposed to be at the heart of patent law. I think some of these game mechanics parents, like this and the Nemesis System, go against that too much.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

And there are those who have it even harder than YOU. Everyone’s station in life is different. They are allowed to experience that.

I’ve never understand the logic of the people who espouse that line of thinking. Is only the one single person alive who has it the literal worst out of all the billions of living human beings allowed to feel bad, and everyone else is obliged to look at them and say “well it could technically be worse so I guess I’m not allowed to feel bad”?

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Great game. Basically a linear, cinematic corridor shooter with some cool lore and some great levels. The library level was an absolute highlight.

Definitely recommend it, especially as a free game.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I played 2033 and Last Light on Ranger Hardcore and didn’t really feel the bullet sponge issue, at least in 2033 (haven’t played Exodus yet). There are some tanky enemies but I think they’re mostly meant to be avoided rather than fought.

Also I’m pretty sure on higher difficulties both you and the enemies deal more damage so while you die easier there are also fewer bullet sponges. If anything I think the bullet sponge phenomenon occurs on Easy, bizarrely enough. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Spongy isn’t related to hitboxes, just means taking many bullets to kill. I think there are only two in 2033

spoilersDemons and Librarians

and they are meant to be avoided anyway I think.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

You should still play Blue Prince. I sincerely doubt you can be spoiled enough by the demo to not make the game worthwhile. There is so much in this game to find and figure out.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu (edited 8 miesięcy temu)

Blue Prince is monopolising a majority of my mental bandwidth currently as I’m growing increasingly obsessed with it. I’ve spent about 11 hours on it so far and have taken probably a dozen pages of notes in my little notebook next the to the PC.

I think this game could go down as a modern classic, and if it sticks the landing it will likely be my GOTY. It’s cheap too, and even 10% off right now as a release week sale.

I can’t really say anything more because, much like Outer Wilds, the less you know about it going in the better. If you even remotely enjoy mysteries and puzzles do yourself a favour and go play it like… right now.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I’m loving it, but definitely also constantly second guessing whether I’m smart enough for this game haha. Especially when you come across a problem and can’t work out whether you’re supposed to wait for the clue/solution to turn up later or whether it’s something you’re supposed to be able to solve but are being too stupid to notice/connect.

How far in are you in terms of Days/time played. I’m at about 12 hours and 12 days played.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I could probably have made the antechamber last night if I had picked up a pair of dice I missed and found on the way back. But I’m kind of glad I didn’t as there is so much unexplored and unexplained still.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I presumed as much based on clues and indicators I’ve been finding.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

My final tip is to actually not see it as a roguelite. You don’t need to just have luck / better insight for a winning run, every run is a new moment to investigate new stuff and attempt new things, not to get better at doing the same stuff like other roguelikes. I hope I’ve explained this well.

Exactly this. You start out thinking “oh okay, its a roguelite and I need to get to rooom 46”. But that’s not actually the point and once you realize there is more depth to it you start seeing value in every run, even those that never get close to rank 9.

At least that’s been my experience so far, and I’ve yet to even enter the antechamber myself.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

You kind of have to just bumble around for a bit and take notes on everything and hope it starts making sense later. I’ve been playing it like “take notes and screenshots first, ask questions later”. The roguelite part and the puzzle/mystery part sort of play out in parallel.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I just got

spoilerdown to the basement

and I’m shocked at how much there is. I thought I was going to get somewhere this run.

spoilerI look like I’m stuck, I assume the gear puzzle can’t be solved first time? I can’t figure out how to move the mine cart. And maybe drain the reservoir? Is this supposed to happen? It looks like there is another entrance from the Tomb (though I’ve never even seen a tomb when drafting!). Am I on to something? Am I not supposed to be able to get further this run?

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

spoilerThe Fountain right? I assume it’s on the east side lawn, but I haven’t found any way to open a door to the outside on the east side. I’ve been through the Garage on the west side. I have found the pump room and drained as much of the reservoir as I could, but there is still a touch of water at the bottom preventing me from going down there and both tanks are full, as are all rooms. No idea how to empty the last bit. I thought it was opening the tap in the kitchen to drain the water, but that doesn’t seem to affect the water level…

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

spoilerDrained the fountain, now I need the basement key again. Still don’t know how to get the chests at the bottom of the reservoir as I don’t know how to drain the final bit. Maybe pump room needs to be next to boiler room to get the last tank in play? I’m starting to see I’m going to need to get through insane amounts of RNG to finish. I already basically concluded I probably need the boiler room adjacent to the lab to get the lever machine working.

I also am tearing my hair out about the

spoilerdrawing room safe code. The other safes had the clue in the same room but for the life of me I can’t figure out the paintings with the steps.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

As an avid fan of BG2 this does tickle my fancy.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Last time a ballooning mod team released a mod was Fallout: London and that also did alright…

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

Average Nintendo moment.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

It was all derived from the original r/TipOfMyTongue wasn’t it? There are a bunch of Tipofmy-somethings.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

God damn it I caved. This looks too interesting and is getting too good reviews.

Coelacanth, 8 miesięcy temu

I miss E3.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I believe what you’re looking for, my friend, is something called jazzcore.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Why do I suddenly get an urge to drop what I’m currently playing and jump into this? Is it actually this good? Holy hell.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Pacific Ride

My first thought as well. Going through the video I was constantly like “okay, this is the same developer right surely”… but apparently not.

Still looks pretty good.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Haven’t played much but it’s Deus Ex: Mankind Divided still. Only at the beginning so far, doing side quests and exploring Prague. Really enjoying what I’m seeing so far and already am feeling bad for how the series got cut off and cancelled.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

My gaming PC is on Win 11 because it’s recent and I’m lazy and it’s convenient. My laptop runs Win 10 so it’ll be Linux I guess. Not really looking forward to finding a distro and reinstalling and whatnot but what can you do. It’s been a good few years since I last had a Linux box so I’m pretty rusty and not up to date on the recent best distros.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I used to use UbuntuStudio back when I was playing around with music recording and production ages ago because it ran the real-time kernel which was important for JACK I think. Last time though was just Mint.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I’m probably not going to be doing much gaming on my laptop, if any. I could be persuaded to experiment if you have any other suggestions.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Wow, thank you for the extensive reply! I did used to use xfce back in the day, yes. Never had a problem with it, but those were maybe simpler times. Might look into KDE this time, why not.

I was really thinking less of the DE and more along the lines of if you had any recommendations that weren’t Ubuntu- or Debian-based, as that’s pretty much all I’ve used I think. But maybe that’s too much experimenting…

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Thanks again for the rundown! Snapshotting like that is definitely cool, I can see why you enjoy it. I’m no stranger to having to nuke the system partition and reinstalling because I broke something so snapshots definitely sound like a convenient tool. Though I might be older and lazier now and less prone to do a bunch of weird things.

I know the memes of “Arch, btw” and have always been scared of it tbh. Maybe it isn’t so bad though? I’ve also heard people praise Bazzite, but I might lot end up doing much gaming on my laptop as I said.

Is the whole thing about real-time or low-latency kernel still a thing, or is that old news? Just in case I wanted to play around with JACK again.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

You are just a font of information, thank you so much! I’m starting to feel like I have a handle on the landscape. NixOS sounds like a cool idea, though I am not a programmer so maybe it’s not for me at this current time.

I probably know what to start looking at now when the time comes to make the change, this has been a great help. Pipewire sounds great and I’ll definitely look into that, I do remember tearing my hair a bit occasionally dealing with PulseAudio back in the day 😅

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Are we certain Witcher is the larger game in which Gwent resides and not the other way around?

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Latching on to your Lovecraftian recommendations I’d like to put forth Skald: Against the Black Priory, which should presumably also run excellently on the Steam Deck. Keep an eye out for it during the sale, it’s a great tribute to retro CRPGs and has a wonderfully gloomy lovecraftian vibe.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

You’ll like it I think, I played it earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Great vibe, good story, beautiful pixel art and a great retro feel without the clunk of actual retro games 😄 Cool world building too.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Okay this is a little off script since it’s not an open world game, but if you’re only looking for satisfying movement you should take a look at Neon White. Just be warned that the writing is… on the cringier side. But that doesn’t really matter in the end.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Not really, though I can understand your point of view. I went into STALKER 2 fully aware that it wasn’t Anomaly, and I was able to enjoy it for what it is (despite needing to use console commands on three separate occasions to progress past hard-locking bugs). I finished it probably a month after release so don’t know its current state.

I was sufficiently engaged in the story and the presentation to definitely want to finish the game, and I enjoyed the new map and the blend of new and familiar locations. After spending so much time with the originals and the Anomaly map it was great to get a fix of more new content with the same vibe - some of the underground lab locations managed to hit classic STALKER vibes for me and kept me going to the end.

If I were to boot up some STALKER right now I might go for Anomaly over another run of S2 though, and that will probably continue to be the case until the DLC drops.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

Oh, you know what happened? I just realized, I hadn’t even read the introductory material and realized it was from a public survey. It’s a “first past the post” problem.

First past the post is remarkably shit isn’t it. I think your analysis is completely right.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I think FarmVille might genuinely be the “correct” answer for this question, but it was never going to win a popular vote contest like this.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I mean, it’s not like that at all though? Even setting aside the popularisation of the free-to-play model and its monetisation - which has defined mobile games (an industry dwarfing all other types of games in revenue by the way), FarmVille was the first innovator in terms of really invasive big data analysis of customer behaviour to maximise profit and retention. The way Zynga did player data analysis (back in 2009 I might add) literally set the tone for all modern internet. There are plenty of articles about the influence of FarmVille, here’s one.. There is another one here.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I’ve almost completely stopped keeping up with M:TG these days. I used to be into it but it just feels like it’s completely jumped the shark these days.

Coelacanth, 9 miesięcy temu

I enjoyed the early mythos of M:tG, but I already started losing interest when they went all Marvel with their whole Gatewatch thing.

Even though individual sets (like LOTR) have been well made and successful, the whole Universes Beyond thing just further dilutes the identity of Magic too much for me. I’m sick of endless exploitation of existing IPs from all over the entertainment business. I understand why they do it from a financial perspective, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all.

Add to that the endless garbage of Secret Lair drops like goddamn Spider-Man and SpongeBob and I think MTG just isn’t for me anymore.