Winding down the final hours of Trails Through Daybreak, and finally getting a bit of acknowledgement of something that bothered me from the Cold Steel arc, being that members of the "77 devils" of Gahenna are pouring into the world and no one really feels the need to comment on this?
It seems like that would come up more if they're named.
Beyond that, trading runs of 30XX and Pizza Possum with the kids while I'm finishing up what is hopefully our last move for a very long time. We've got a new home!
I am utterly fascinated this concept, and I have never latched on to deck builders or dungeon crawlers (at least since Arcana way back when), but I would have said the same about rogue lites until Vampire Survivors and Hades.
In the thick of Trails Through Daybreak having picked the Ikaruga route in Oraciòn, although I tend to favor the gray alignment, so things are really heating up there. Gotta say, it's delivering so far, and I was not expecting a return of the D • G Cult. Exciting times!
Also starting 30XX for lighter far for the part of me that misses Mega Man (especially the X subseries) but is wary of Capcom after trying to skirt union protections for AI. That doesn't bode well for the future games, but it's not like they're doing anything with the IP anyway.
O yes, and we got a house! It's been a long road and a lot of stress, but we close Tuesday! ... now we just have the matter of moving 😅
I am beyond excited... this looks like the beautiful over-the-top Castlevania I've been waiting for made by a team with obvious love for the franchise. I can't wait to see more.
Once again playing Trails Through Daybreak, in chapter 4 and getting all kinds of spoiler things and doing my best to follow what is going on. Also, Walter the Direwolf looks like Layne Staley and I'm going to binge some Alice in Chains grinding through my actual work.
Also planning some serious hard-core simulation adventure in Microsoft Excel in which my wife and I continue working on getting to our new (forever?) home that we wandered into on a lark last weekend. I still don't understand what the S-Crow is but if understand JRPGs there will be a big reveal of the SSS-Crow down the road in a battle I'm supposed to lose.
Also going to play some TMNT: Shredder's Revenge with the kids as they are motivated.
Moving thru October in Trails Through Daybreak and having a heck of a time figuring out how to fully break it just yet. I've got some good row-based skills, which make for a fun puzzle shuffling quarts around to get strong reactive extra attacks. Evasion tanks seem less useful so I'm all in on offense now.
It'll be a busy weekend other than that, but hopefully I'll work in something else. Ideally I'll try Against the Storm or fall back on Dorfromantik.
Is this the DQX equivalent of the Draconian Quest option "Townsfolk Talk Tripe?"
Until proven otherwise, AI is only deployed at scale for (hopeful) cost savings to the company at what is hoped to be an "acceptable" degradation of quality. It rarely succeeds at either. I see the extent to which AI is used as a measure of a company's contempt for its customers.
I have been off to a hot start in Trails Through Daybreak because it's been terribly quiet this week at home. And also hot! It hit 98°F (36.7° C) and I've been herding cats back inside on a really strange week. Pausing Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door with my girls out of town on spring break.
I'm also sporadically going to be playing Deadly Premonition: Origins to try out the Citizen Kane of B-video games. I have to say, going in knowing up front it's not conventionally good is really helping shape the (very silly) experience. I say why have a top if you're not going to go over it?
@Dark-Luigi I've got hope too. I think there needs to be more room for the AA games to try some newer things at scale. The studio took some good lessons making OTII and keeping brisk sales helps that keep going.
I am a couple hours removed from finishing Dragon Quest III-HD, which delivered on everything asked of it. I enjoyed it immensely but realized how much we put up with in olden times because I lasted all of two battles before turning the speed to ultra-fast. Highly recommend anyone younger wanting to know what these games felt like filtered with nostalgia glasses.
I also started Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door that picked up for MAR10 day, which is already getting envious looks from the girls. Slow rolling it so we ened up playing it together. Maybe even starting Danganronpa that dipped under $2 for the US eShop and finally hit the "why not?" cost point.
I'm also trying to talk my wife into letting me jailbreak the washing machine to run Doom on it. Really I just want to replace the 33 second Samsung finish song that can't be deactivated at all.
Idk, if the only alternative to slop in the eShop is to bottleneck real games, I don't think this is a responsible strategy, as developers will just release for platforms that don't make them jump through hoops. But it's not the only alternative, as they could actually check into the game before releasing and just fast track publishers that are established I'd even include Kemco and the like, as generic they certainly are, but they are a still on record as turning out real (if mediocre) games.
My main game will be Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake, with some time with my girls playing TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. I have to say, I remember being pretty floored at the time about how big DQ was (this was the NES days), and while they did add some stuff, it still feels ambitious.
I know these days expansive games sometimes feel more like "content" than fun, so I have to wonder how collecting crystals/stones/in-universe MacGuffins could not wear out it's welcome the way a 100 hour slog does now. I think that was really the proto-episodic plot feed that started it all, so maybe that's part of how the open world kind of loses that thread. Obviously part of this is that fun hadn't really been invented yet, as you kids may know from hearing us cranky old timers talk.
I am unreasonably excited about this. Slightly earlier than the Turtles to get in on the action back when this game would have killed it in the arcades. Given the recent spate of fantastic couch coop beat 'em ups (including the wonderful Absolum) this is going to do with my girls who now have a penchant for punch in their games.
For those nostalgic or curious... maybe dont go back to watch the old Masters of the Universe. Let your rose tinted nostalgia remain intact 😅
My brother had that shiny gold cartridge and I was determined to make it work. I got better items, and even most of the levels! Out of order of course. It wasn't apparent what I should be doing at any given time and it got me to just start doing things. This and Metroid taught me to just try stuff, because I had nothing but time, and the game definitely wasn't going to tell me what i needed to be doing. Shoot blocks. Set every tree on Hyrule on fire. Maybe it'll work!
I got tired of grinding out to end game monsters in Final Fantasy X HD and took it to its conclusion, rolling over the main story bosses with little resistance. I like extras, but I felt like it was really starting to disrespect my time with the minigames...
I moved on to Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake for a bit of that comfort food type experience. It's been a stressful month and going back to simpler times (with QoL to smooth over the irritating bits we forgot). It's nice so far, bot heavens to Murgatroyd that text font is tiny.
Also some Dorfromantik for a calmer time as needed.
Currently working endgame of Final Fantasy X HD, and it never really clicked how short and sweet the main story actually was. I do like working the sphere grid and taking down superbosses, so I think I may try to knock down Nemesis and the Dark Aeons but value my sanity too much to dodge lightning.
Also playing Ys VIII: Lacrymosa of Dana with my daughter and cackling over surprise dinosaur attacks, which really shouldn't be a surprise at this point. It doesn't take a lot to win me over.
@Dang_69 Stranger of Paradise might be the one game other than Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave that would pull the trigger on the Switch 2 😅. I'm not here for Citizen Kane.
I've got a soft spot for Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it helped through a rocky time in my life. Not because it was high art mind you, but it was 150+ hours I could dump into an after school special with some surprisingly complex morality of all four factions. After that, Fire Emblem: Engage was series of AI-quality interludes between some decent gameplay bits. So I'm excited about the possibility of the new entry.
Other than that, it seems like it's been a much more "niche" slate since the release titles (as their first party titles can be), such that I have to think they've got something else up their sleeves.
I appreciate the streamlining, especially reading the developer reviews and the process of cutting out certain parts that everyone either vaguely recalls or only remembers being that part that drags the experience so you dont care to play the game ever again.
I still think the art style is not for me (which is fine) but I do love the DQ angle of being the one part of the world you grew up in that is not interested in changing beyond tinkering at the edges.
Having finally pulled the trigger on the nigh perpetual sale, I am now replaying Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remastered after more than 20 years. I always sneered at it a bit despite being a diehard FF fan through XII, and a few hours in, it accursed to me that I barely remember a thing from my original playthrough. It's been an interesting realization about my state of mind back then, and aside from the fact that it controls like a PS2 game still and the fixed camera, it's wholly different this time around.
I am looking at Fantasian Neo Dimension on deep discount but I can't tell if it looks charmingly janky or just a cobbled together frustratingly almost good SaGa like experience.
Also got research, chores, and some Absolum with the girls. Or maybe less, my youngest is having a sleepover and gen alpha get togethers are really bizarre. Especially when they're naturally predisposed to act like children from a horror movie.
I think in most cases the answer is "my first FF that I played when I was able to understand it", or within a couple years of it at least. Some entries are better than others, but it's really about the first story that really captured you, which speaks to the mainline series' power.
Kidding, the correct answer is FFIII with the Woolsey translation.
In this snow-bound weekend in the states, im fortunate to have power and heat, so it will be a quiet weekend in. My girls got us all back in on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons train with the 3.0 update, so while I've got some work at home to do, there is still some merriment.
I am focusing on Tokyo Xanadu eX+, which is think is hitting just about the right runtime if I'm in the final chapter. Getting those load outs tweaked for the final runs, but it's a good lighthearted cataclysm story caused by your best friend who turned out to be the big bad but its not the cat you found in Chapter 1 at least . I'm kind of interested what the announced sequel looks like with their new engine and more polish, as even in 2015 it seems like they hit a lot of the technical mechanics aspects right for an ARPG. I do hope the platforming is less clunky, but they did do a lot well back then.
I am mostly leaning into Tokyo Xanadu eX+, which is a fun diversion for the January grind when everything fun seems so far away. I'm actually really impressed that every playable character is actually useful, and it's rare to see that kind of balance with unique abilities. I caught wind of a sequel and hopefully they are able to strike that well, because the good gameplay incentivizes you to be thorough and varied without forcing you to grind.
I rolled credits on Tales of Xillia enjoying it well enough that I might come back for the Milla route sometime. I immediately jumped into Tokyo Xanadu eX+ and am quite amused by little Falcom things popping up here and there in an otherwise completely normal, accurate alternate version of Tokyo. It's already proven itself silly, cheesy, with some mid-2010s Falcom jank that I'm very excited for what it brings on a more casual level.
Started playing more couch co op Absolum with my daughters, who I really think were born for a different era of gaming. It's fun to drop in on my profile with them completely baffled why random enemies from everywhere to include mini bosses are liberally dropping in during any given stage (which I don't spoil for them). And I'm still discovering new fun builds like the fact that Cider's triple air dash also inherits tidal waves midair, which can include burn with tidal waves, an echo effect, plus some interesting multiplier stacks. It's easily the most fun I've had with a beat 'em up since Final Fight in the 90s.
@mackers84 with the Sky trilogy coming (and the remake is fantastic) I think youre in good shape being switch only. It'll leave Cold Steel 1&2, which truth be told aren't terribly essential since you'll get to know the cast plenty in the next three games anyway.
The Crossbell dualogy is fine to start if you want to tackle those instead
I'm having a grand time wedging in the last bit of almost childish gameplay I have downtime for before the year starts. My main two are Tales of Xillia, in which my extreme suspicion of Muzét has been very throughly validated, and Absolum, which became the unexpected new family game in the household. My kids made me proud when they thought up their first gamebreaking build: rose daggers on finisher + Galadra's multi-hit finisher + stacked throw damage buffs. Once they get time magic they're in for a treat. It's always great when they realize for all the button mashing skill they may not have, games are just numbers and if you can be strategize for absurd numbers you can mercilessly mow everything down.
They say play in children helps develop important life skills, and I tend to agree 😁
Also have some Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line planned, if we can ever stop punching trolls and werewolves long enough to get to it.
I mean I guess, but I already have P4G and I'm souring on Atlus's buy-it-again model, which is more irritating than day one DLC. It seems like we're going back to the well too much when it seems like they can still make good new games like Metaphor.
The only SMT-like game that really needs a second chance is Tokyo Mirage Sessions and I will die on that hill.
Somehow playing multiple games released this year (sorta)! Absolum has its claws in me hard. I've been pressing incrementally deeper into the world, slowly filling out my map. I also got one of my daughters hooked after seeing the kinetic joy of beating on trolls with Cider.
I also started Tales of Xilia, which somehow got its hooks into me from an early point. I'm a sucker for a skill tree, especially when it's a web. I'm hoping the pacing stays brisk (which has been the biggest mark against Tales games I've played so far).
Finishing up with a few rounds of Theatrythm: Final Bar Line and Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix with my youngest, who has turned into a fanatic for rhythm games and vocaloids. It has been pretty lively in the living room of late.
I am normally irritated when I'm asked for surveys about a two dozen times through the day, but I've got very big feelings about this. I will be heard.
...and this is a fantastic illustration of the voluntary response bias.
I see Nintendo making very cautious nudges rather than following the rest of the industry all the way to the bottom immediately. I think they have made some missteps (it looks like theyre hedging on key cards with smaler carts), but in practice I don't think their AAA games having AAA prices really fell thru on them.
Not that I've paid full price on most of the games thanks to some smart shopping, but I don't think I've felt shortchanged by any first party game I've purchased. There's some goodwill built there by making sure games come out when they're ready. I'm not going to Stan for a corporation but they're among the least upsetting parts of the game industry right now.
Great article. I remember unwinding every last combo I could with my young mind. And frame drops are part of life, you can't predict how fast it comes at you.
I never really had a tradition until my mother dug up a secondhand copy of Earthbound because they never really showed up on shelves where I lived. The battle system is clunky, it is grindy and tedious, the graphics weren't even great for its day, and I loved it so much. I was so happy it showed up on the SNES Classic and have adult money and a fortunate break on career interests.
The great thing is roping your kids into it as they side eye you for this artwork of the ancestors, and then see them start to get into it.
@Adamn I'm taking that approach. Undertale was a unique experience, especially back when it came out and I hear fairly consistent praise of Deltarune. I am just not a huge fan of cliffhangers and would rather play it as a complete piece.
I'm coming to the end of Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter and it's been absolutely wonderful. The rejoining of all the party members is great to finally splurge on all the loadouts for everyone. While the later games are easy to make a blisteringly overpowered party to just annihilate everything in your path, I really did like the mixed elements to get spells approach of the earlier games and the tradeoffs you make for your casters.
It's hard to believe that I'm at less than 60 hours and at the end of a Trails game. I'm really looking forward to the SC remake this fall.
Other than that, just some much needed rest at the end of the year, and I wish to the same for all lucky enough to have it.
I am gleefully continuing Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter and being excited every time I recognize a character, knowing full well that theres more to what's to come from them than is being let on. I have a general understanding of what ultimately happens from the Crossbell games, but I'm still suspecting every minor character of future treachery, a must for any Trails game.
Most would be disappointed by a cold snap on the weekends, but it is a good time to rest for me. Maybe a little light research for prelims upcoming, but I am here to accomplish nothing and happier for it.
I read this as "we're using the words so investors shut up about it," which is about as reassuring as you'll get these days. Replace AI with NFTs and this is 2023 again.
I was intrigued when I saw the initial premise for "Conquerors of the Continent" until it turned out to be a mobile gacha game. Most stories are as good as their antagonist, and let's be honest with ourselves the mainline Octopath routes had fairly one-note protagonists and the quality of the arc had some inconsistency because of this (looking at you Tressa).
I'm having a tough time determining whether that's worth sinking 100+ hours into 😅
I finished Star Ocean: The Second Story R and immediately picked up The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on a deep holiday sale, and its turning out even more delightful than expected. It took surprisingly little to get used to indirect combat, as the more recent games in the series disabused me of the notion that i can just run in and mow everything down with my trusted Master Sword [of Might].
And then...
I broke down and got Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter. I said no more Trails game this year. But it's here and it brings out Estelle's cheery brand of ultraviolence better than I anticipated and now I'm just in. There are worse ways to spend a cold long weekend at home.
This weekend I'll be playing Star Ocean: The Second Story R, which captures that delightful 90s JRPG feeling on a blustery fall day I remember from way back. It shows its age in places still, but I really can't recommend it enough.
Otherwise some recovery from a mild illness and finishing my final homework assignment ever(!).
I just rolled through the Olympian family reunion after over a hundred runs with Hades. My max heat level was 11 with the blade, although I think I'm fine giving it a bit of a rest for now. Hades II being released was the swift kick to the rear I needed to finally go tackle that.
Still very early in Star Ocean: Second Story R,, which looks a lot nice in motion that it does in stills. I've also got some Cities: Skylines planned out. Lots of school this weekend. And I may yet sleep!
Continuing my run-a-day routine with Hades, slowly building up heat levels and picked a fight with Charon. I really can't overstate how good of a mechanic Dark Thirst is, because it just incentivizes playstyles that you wouldn't otherwise adopt as you go.
I would like to start a new RPG for the cooler weather but I'm waffling on which one. I was looking at Star Ocean: Second Story R or Suikoden II. I don't know that a longer game works for the eamount of work I've got built up.
And my daughter is starting Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, so she's about to get in for a wild ride.
Still working out the side stories in Hades, which has proven to be very helpful when exceedingly pressed for time. Beyond that, I might go back into Silksong when in the mood to die more than a game specifically designed around dying repeatedly.
Also, working out final Halloween plans, and the spirit is upon us. We're just having to negotiate expected heavy winds (as it seems we do every year leading up to it).
I'm excited to get the chance to play thia but something is striking me as... off... with the art style. Admittedly I've never been a huge fan of Toriyama even if he did work some absolutely fantastic games. But doesn't it seem like the full 3D style came out strange? Maybe it's the limited clips.
I came in to be contrary with Metroid at 50, but with this and Castlevania II, you can really see how a mega genre started out with some... limitations while they were figuring out what home video games were.
I got myself stuck in the die -> run back-> fleeting moment of hope -> die cycle in Silksong. Things are going swimmingly there.
Fortunately, Hades has been working out much better as I've completed five runs and am fully in the meat of the game now in which it is not clear who is actually the real antagonist(s) because the major players excel at lies by omission and there is so much that everyone is able to hold back. And none of this is important because I simply must get Achilles back to Patrocles
Still getting my rear handed to me in Silksong, I'm doing reasonably well but for whatever reason struggling in Hunter's March. I'm playing adeptly until about two thirds through and just blank on stuff I've already learned.
I'm also still enjoying Hades all the more and finally got to Hades in two different runs with very different builds before finding out that jerk has multiple health bars. Spoiler locked because I want others to have the same feeling of defeat when it happens to them.
Also looking at getting a "quiet time" JRPG going from the backlog. I might go ahead and knock out Suikoden II since that is probably a quicker one.
I overprepared for the final final boss of Trails into Reverie and completely rolled it with the power of friendship and an avalanche of S-crafts. It was a great ride but it's good to wrap up Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs, having just revealed all that [erratically waving hand at spoilers within spoilers].
I also finally had the moment in Silksong in which I really went in deep, after my first battle with Lace. I knew Hornet was more agile, but that was the first time the game really forced me to play fast, and then I truly appreciated what Team Cherry has been polishing. Kind of like Hornet herself in the previous game, the skill checks are there to teach you something, not just to bludgeon you, and I really love when good game design naturally walks you into that.
The customization is a blast, although a word of caution for those playing Trials - you'll have a hell of a challenge with the post game if you make Angela an AoE caster. I really did like feeling like it was a big transformation and not just fiddling with stats and loadouts.
I have exactly one thing to finish in the post-game in Trails into Reverie, which I've been retooling party loadout for a three team event, but I haven't come back.
For it is now Silksong that has its hooks in me, and I am still working on not being terrible. I'm also restarting Hades which I forgot the majority of prior to coming back and figure with the second one coming out and proving thoroughly fantastic, chipping away at this and finally experiencing that fully seeming like like a good idea. I got derailed by a life event and just abandoned it, so I am excited to give it another go and finally take it to that handsome jerk Theseus and his friend, neither of whom I'm too bullish on 😉.
Makes sense. I'm not big on roguelikes/lites in general, but I can guarantee that if it did pique my interest at all, I would never have really picked up on it because Hades II is sucking the oxygen out of the room, and by the time the dust settles the world moved on and never noticed your game.
It makes as much sense as dropping a Metroidvania the same day Silksong came out.
Comments 373
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th April)
Winding down the final hours of Trails Through Daybreak, and finally getting a bit of acknowledgement of something that bothered me from the Cold Steel arc, being that members of the "77 devils" of Gahenna are pouring into the world and no one really feels the need to comment on this?
It seems like that would come up more if they're named.
Beyond that, trading runs of 30XX and Pizza Possum with the kids while I'm finishing up what is hopefully our last move for a very long time. We've got a new home!
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Review: Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard From Vampire Survivors (Switch) - An Expert Adaptation Of Excess
I am utterly fascinated this concept, and I have never latched on to deck builders or dungeon crawlers (at least since Arcana way back when), but I would have said the same about rogue lites until Vampire Survivors and Hades.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th April)
In the thick of Trails Through Daybreak having picked the Ikaruga route in Oraciòn, although I tend to favor the gray alignment, so things are really heating up there. Gotta say, it's delivering so far, and I was not expecting a return of the D • G Cult. Exciting times!
Also starting 30XX for lighter far for the part of me that misses Mega Man (especially the X subseries) but is wary of Capcom after trying to skirt union protections for AI. That doesn't bode well for the future games, but it's not like they're doing anything with the IP anyway.
O yes, and we got a house! It's been a long road and a lot of stress, but we close Tuesday! ... now we just have the matter of moving 😅
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Let's You Fight Joan Of Arc And Explore Notre Dame In New Trailer
I am beyond excited... this looks like the beautiful over-the-top Castlevania I've been waiting for made by a team with obvious love for the franchise. I can't wait to see more.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th April)
Once again playing Trails Through Daybreak, in chapter 4 and getting all kinds of spoiler things and doing my best to follow what is going on. Also, Walter the Direwolf looks like Layne Staley and I'm going to binge some Alice in Chains grinding through my actual work.
Also planning some serious hard-core simulation adventure in Microsoft Excel in which my wife and I continue working on getting to our new (forever?) home that we wandered into on a lark last weekend. I still don't understand what the S-Crow is but if understand JRPGs there will be a big reveal of the SSS-Crow down the road in a battle I'm supposed to lose.
Also going to play some TMNT: Shredder's Revenge with the kids as they are motivated.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Nintendo Really Wants You To Press Switch 2's GameChat Button
...but I already talk to people all day for a living. That's why I'm playing single player games at night. Usually with any VA in Japanese.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (28th March)
Moving thru October in Trails Through Daybreak and having a heck of a time figuring out how to fully break it just yet. I've got some good row-based skills, which make for a fun puzzle shuffling quarts around to get strong reactive extra attacks. Evasion tanks seem less useful so I'm all in on offense now.
It'll be a busy weekend other than that, but hopefully I'll work in something else. Ideally I'll try Against the Storm or fall back on Dorfromantik.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: "New Players Won't Feel Alone" - Square Enix Partners With Google For AI-Powered Dragon Quest Companion
Is this the DQX equivalent of the Draconian Quest option "Townsfolk Talk Tripe?"
Until proven otherwise, AI is only deployed at scale for (hopeful) cost savings to the company at what is hoped to be an "acceptable" degradation of quality. It rarely succeeds at either. I see the extent to which AI is used as a measure of a company's contempt for its customers.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (21st March)
I have been off to a hot start in Trails Through Daybreak because it's been terribly quiet this week at home. And also hot! It hit 98°F (36.7° C) and I've been herding cats back inside on a really strange week. Pausing Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door with my girls out of town on spring break.
I'm also sporadically going to be playing Deadly Premonition: Origins to try out the Citizen Kane of B-video games. I have to say, going in knowing up front it's not conventionally good is really helping shape the (very silly) experience. I say why have a top if you're not going to go over it?
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: HD-2D Series Octopath Traveler Hits Another Major Sales Milestone
@Dark-Luigi I've got hope too. I think there needs to be more room for the AA games to try some newer things at scale. The studio took some good lessons making OTII and keeping brisk sales helps that keep going.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th March)
I am a couple hours removed from finishing Dragon Quest III-HD, which delivered on everything asked of it. I enjoyed it immensely but realized how much we put up with in olden times because I lasted all of two battles before turning the speed to ultra-fast. Highly recommend anyone younger wanting to know what these games felt like filtered with nostalgia glasses.
I also started Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door that picked up for MAR10 day, which is already getting envious looks from the girls. Slow rolling it so we ened up playing it together. Maybe even starting Danganronpa that dipped under $2 for the US eShop and finally hit the "why not?" cost point.
I'm also trying to talk my wife into letting me jailbreak the washing machine to run Doom on it. Really I just want to replace the 33 second Samsung finish song that can't be deactivated at all.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Nintendo "Cagey" About Letting Games On Switch 2, Wants To Avoid "Slop Fest"
Idk, if the only alternative to slop in the eShop is to bottleneck real games, I don't think this is a responsible strategy, as developers will just release for platforms that don't make them jump through hoops. But it's not the only alternative, as they could actually check into the game before releasing and just fast track publishers that are established I'd even include Kemco and the like, as generic they certainly are, but they are a still on record as turning out real (if mediocre) games.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (28th February)
My main game will be Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake, with some time with my girls playing TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. I have to say, I remember being pretty floored at the time about how big DQ was (this was the NES days), and while they did add some stuff, it still feels ambitious.
I know these days expansive games sometimes feel more like "content" than fun, so I have to wonder how collecting crystals/stones/in-universe MacGuffins could not wear out it's welcome the way a 100 hour slog does now. I think that was really the proto-episodic plot feed that started it all, so maybe that's part of how the open world kind of loses that thread. Obviously part of this is that fun hadn't really been invented yet, as you kids may know from hearing us cranky old timers talk.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: He-Man's Arcade-Style Retro Brawler Locks In A Release Date For Switch
I am unreasonably excited about this. Slightly earlier than the Turtles to get in on the action back when this game would have killed it in the arcades. Given the recent spate of fantastic couch coop beat 'em ups (including the wonderful Absolum) this is going to do with my girls who now have a penchant for punch in their games.
For those nostalgic or curious... maybe dont go back to watch the old Masters of the Universe. Let your rose tinted nostalgia remain intact 😅
Re: Anniversary: The Legend Of Zelda Turns 40 Today - How Did You First Play It?
My brother had that shiny gold cartridge and I was determined to make it work. I got better items, and even most of the levels! Out of order of course. It wasn't apparent what I should be doing at any given time and it got me to just start doing things. This and Metroid taught me to just try stuff, because I had nothing but time, and the game definitely wasn't going to tell me what i needed to be doing. Shoot blocks. Set every tree on Hyrule on fire. Maybe it'll work!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (21st February)
I got tired of grinding out to end game monsters in Final Fantasy X HD and took it to its conclusion, rolling over the main story bosses with little resistance. I like extras, but I felt like it was really starting to disrespect my time with the minigames...
I moved on to Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake for a bit of that comfort food type experience. It's been a stressful month and going back to simpler times (with QoL to smooth over the irritating bits we forgot). It's nice so far, bot heavens to Murgatroyd that text font is tiny.
Also some Dorfromantik for a calmer time as needed.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th February)
Currently working endgame of Final Fantasy X HD, and it never really clicked how short and sweet the main story actually was. I do like working the sphere grid and taking down superbosses, so I think I may try to knock down Nemesis and the Dark Aeons but value my sanity too much to dodge lightning.
Also playing Ys VIII: Lacrymosa of Dana with my daughter and cackling over surprise dinosaur attacks, which really shouldn't be a surprise at this point. It doesn't take a lot to win me over.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games
@Dang_69 Stranger of Paradise might be the one game other than Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave that would pull the trigger on the Switch 2 😅. I'm not here for Citizen Kane.
I've got a soft spot for Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it helped through a rocky time in my life. Not because it was high art mind you, but it was 150+ hours I could dump into an after school special with some surprisingly complex morality of all four factions. After that, Fire Emblem: Engage was series of AI-quality interludes between some decent gameplay bits. So I'm excited about the possibility of the new entry.
Other than that, it seems like it's been a much more "niche" slate since the release titles (as their first party titles can be), such that I have to think they've got something else up their sleeves.
Re: Review: Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined (Switch 2) - A Fantastic Makeover & The Best-Looking DQ Ever
I appreciate the streamlining, especially reading the developer reviews and the process of cutting out certain parts that everyone either vaguely recalls or only remembers being that part that drags the experience so you dont care to play the game ever again.
I still think the art style is not for me (which is fine) but I do love the DQ angle of being the one part of the world you grew up in that is not interested in changing beyond tinkering at the edges.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (31st January)
Having finally pulled the trigger on the nigh perpetual sale, I am now replaying Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remastered after more than 20 years. I always sneered at it a bit despite being a diehard FF fan through XII, and a few hours in, it accursed to me that I barely remember a thing from my original playthrough. It's been an interesting realization about my state of mind back then, and aside from the fact that it controls like a PS2 game still and the fixed camera, it's wholly different this time around.
I am looking at Fantasian Neo Dimension on deep discount but I can't tell if it looks charmingly janky or just a cobbled together frustratingly almost good SaGa like experience.
Also got research, chores, and some Absolum with the girls. Or maybe less, my youngest is having a sleepover and gen alpha get togethers are really bizarre. Especially when they're naturally predisposed to act like children from a horror movie.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Best Final Fantasy Games, Ranked - Switch 2 And Nintendo Systems
I think in most cases the answer is "my first FF that I played when I was able to understand it", or within a couple years of it at least. Some entries are better than others, but it's really about the first story that really captured you, which speaks to the mainline series' power.
Kidding, the correct answer is FFIII with the Woolsey translation.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th January)
In this snow-bound weekend in the states, im fortunate to have power and heat, so it will be a quiet weekend in. My girls got us all back in on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons train with the 3.0 update, so while I've got some work at home to do, there is still some merriment.
I am focusing on Tokyo Xanadu eX+, which is think is hitting just about the right runtime if I'm in the final chapter. Getting those load outs tweaked for the final runs, but it's a good lighthearted cataclysm story caused by your best friend who turned out to be the big bad but its not the cat you found in Chapter 1 at least . I'm kind of interested what the announced sequel looks like with their new engine and more polish, as even in 2015 it seems like they hit a lot of the technical mechanics aspects right for an ARPG. I do hope the platforming is less clunky, but they did do a lot well back then.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th January)
I am mostly leaning into Tokyo Xanadu eX+, which is a fun diversion for the January grind when everything fun seems so far away. I'm actually really impressed that every playable character is actually useful, and it's rare to see that kind of balance with unique abilities. I caught wind of a sequel and hopefully they are able to strike that well, because the good gameplay incentivizes you to be thorough and varied without forcing you to grind.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th January)
I rolled credits on Tales of Xillia enjoying it well enough that I might come back for the Milla route sometime. I immediately jumped into Tokyo Xanadu eX+ and am quite amused by little Falcom things popping up here and there in an otherwise completely normal, accurate alternate version of Tokyo. It's already proven itself silly, cheesy, with some mid-2010s Falcom jank that I'm very excited for what it brings on a more casual level.
Started playing more couch co op Absolum with my daughters, who I really think were born for a different era of gaming. It's fun to drop in on my profile with them completely baffled why random enemies from everywhere to include mini bosses are liberally dropping in during any given stage (which I don't spoil for them). And I'm still discovering new fun builds like the fact that Cider's triple air dash also inherits tidal waves midair, which can include burn with tidal waves, an echo effect, plus some interesting multiplier stacks. It's easily the most fun I've had with a beat 'em up since Final Fight in the 90s.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Review: The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon (Switch 2) - A Step Up From Daybreak II
@mackers84 with the Sky trilogy coming (and the remake is fantastic) I think youre in good shape being switch only. It'll leave Cold Steel 1&2, which truth be told aren't terribly essential since you'll get to know the cast plenty in the next three games anyway.
The Crossbell dualogy is fine to start if you want to tackle those instead
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd January)
I'm having a grand time wedging in the last bit of almost childish gameplay I have downtime for before the year starts. My main two are Tales of Xillia, in which my extreme suspicion of Muzét has been very throughly validated, and Absolum, which became the unexpected new family game in the household. My kids made me proud when they thought up their first gamebreaking build: rose daggers on finisher + Galadra's multi-hit finisher + stacked throw damage buffs. Once they get time magic they're in for a treat. It's always great when they realize for all the button mashing skill they may not have, games are just numbers and if you can be strategize for absurd numbers you can mercilessly mow everything down.
They say play in children helps develop important life skills, and I tend to agree 😁
Also have some Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line planned, if we can ever stop punching trolls and werewolves long enough to get to it.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Atlus Looks Forward To Persona's 30th Anniversary In 2026, Acknowledges Support For Persona 4 Revival
I mean I guess, but I already have P4G and I'm souring on Atlus's buy-it-again model, which is more irritating than day one DLC. It seems like we're going back to the well too much when it seems like they can still make good new games like Metaphor.
The only SMT-like game that really needs a second chance is Tokyo Mirage Sessions and I will die on that hill.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th December)
Somehow playing multiple games released this year (sorta)! Absolum has its claws in me hard. I've been pressing incrementally deeper into the world, slowly filling out my map. I also got one of my daughters hooked after seeing the kinetic joy of beating on trolls with Cider.
I also started Tales of Xilia, which somehow got its hooks into me from an early point. I'm a sucker for a skill tree, especially when it's a web. I'm hoping the pacing stays brisk (which has been the biggest mark against Tales games I've played so far).
Finishing up with a few rounds of Theatrythm: Final Bar Line and Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix with my youngest, who has turned into a fanatic for rhythm games and vocaloids. It has been pretty lively in the living room of late.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Square Enix Wants Feedback About The Final Fantasy Series In Its New Survey
I am normally irritated when I'm asked for surveys about a two dozen times through the day, but I've got very big feelings about this. I will be heard.
...and this is a fantastic illustration of the voluntary response bias.
Re: Mailbox: 'Greedy' Nintendo, New Horizons Vs. New Leaf, Boney M. - Nintendo Life Letters (Holiday Edition)
I see Nintendo making very cautious nudges rather than following the rest of the industry all the way to the bottom immediately. I think they have made some missteps (it looks like theyre hedging on key cards with smaler carts), but in practice I don't think their AAA games having AAA prices really fell thru on them.
Not that I've paid full price on most of the games thanks to some smart shopping, but I don't think I've felt shortchanged by any first party game I've purchased. There's some goodwill built there by making sure games come out when they're ready. I'm not going to Stan for a corporation but they're among the least upsetting parts of the game industry right now.
Re: Feature: I Play This One Particular SNES Game Every Xmas As A Personal Tradition
Great article. I remember unwinding every last combo I could with my young mind. And frame drops are part of life, you can't predict how fast it comes at you.
I never really had a tradition until my mother dug up a secondhand copy of Earthbound because they never really showed up on shelves where I lived. The battle system is clunky, it is grindy and tedious, the graphics weren't even great for its day, and I loved it so much. I was so happy it showed up on the SNES Classic and have adult money and a fortunate break on career interests.
The great thing is roping your kids into it as they side eye you for this artwork of the ancestors, and then see them start to get into it.
Re: Toby Fox Shares Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 5
@Adamn I'm taking that approach. Undertale was a unique experience, especially back when it came out and I hear fairly consistent praise of Deltarune. I am just not a huge fan of cliffhangers and would rather play it as a complete piece.
...said the Trails fan.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th December)
I'm coming to the end of Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter and it's been absolutely wonderful. The rejoining of all the party members is great to finally splurge on all the loadouts for everyone. While the later games are easy to make a blisteringly overpowered party to just annihilate everything in your path, I really did like the mixed elements to get spells approach of the earlier games and the tradeoffs you make for your casters.
It's hard to believe that I'm at less than 60 hours and at the end of a Trails game. I'm really looking forward to the SC remake this fall.
Other than that, just some much needed rest at the end of the year, and I wish to the same for all lucky enough to have it.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th December)
I am gleefully continuing Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter and being excited every time I recognize a character, knowing full well that theres more to what's to come from them than is being let on. I have a general understanding of what ultimately happens from the Crossbell games, but I'm still suspecting every minor character of future treachery, a must for any Trails game.
Most would be disappointed by a cold snap on the weekends, but it is a good time to rest for me. Maybe a little light research for prelims upcoming, but I am here to accomplish nothing and happier for it.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Video: Here's Your First Look At The Street Fighter Live-Action Movie, Due Out 2026
I'm hoping it is delightfully dumb, but no one will ever capture the magic of Raoul Julia's most over-the-top possible read of M. Bison.
Re: Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"
I read this as "we're using the words so investors shut up about it," which is about as reassuring as you'll get these days. Replace AI with NFTs and this is 2023 again.
Re: Review: Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch 2) - A Bit Of A Retread, But Unmissable (And Enormous)
I was intrigued when I saw the initial premise for "Conquerors of the Continent" until it turned out to be a mobile gacha game. Most stories are as good as their antagonist, and let's be honest with ourselves the mainline Octopath routes had fairly one-note protagonists and the quality of the arc had some inconsistency because of this (looking at you Tressa).
I'm having a tough time determining whether that's worth sinking 100+ hours into 😅
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (29th November)
I finished Star Ocean: The Second Story R and immediately picked up The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on a deep holiday sale, and its turning out even more delightful than expected. It took surprisingly little to get used to indirect combat, as the more recent games in the series disabused me of the notion that i can just run in and mow everything down with my trusted Master Sword [of Might].
And then...
I broke down and got Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter. I said no more Trails game this year. But it's here and it brings out Estelle's cheery brand of ultraviolence better than I anticipated and now I'm just in. There are worse ways to spend a cold long weekend at home.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd November)
This weekend I'll be playing Star Ocean: The Second Story R, which captures that delightful 90s JRPG feeling on a blustery fall day I remember from way back. It shows its age in places still, but I really can't recommend it enough.
Otherwise some recovery from a mild illness and finishing my final homework assignment ever(!).
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th November)
I just rolled through the Olympian family reunion after over a hundred runs with Hades. My max heat level was 11 with the blade, although I think I'm fine giving it a bit of a rest for now. Hades II being released was the swift kick to the rear I needed to finally go tackle that.
Still very early in Star Ocean: Second Story R,, which looks a lot nice in motion that it does in stills. I've also got some Cities: Skylines planned out. Lots of school this weekend. And I may yet sleep!
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th November)
Continuing my run-a-day routine with Hades, slowly building up heat levels and picked a fight with Charon. I really can't overstate how good of a mechanic Dark Thirst is, because it just incentivizes playstyles that you wouldn't otherwise adopt as you go.
I would like to start a new RPG for the cooler weather but I'm waffling on which one. I was looking at Star Ocean: Second Story R or Suikoden II. I don't know that a longer game works for the eamount of work I've got built up.
And my daughter is starting Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, so she's about to get in for a wild ride.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th October)
Still working out the side stories in Hades, which has proven to be very helpful when exceedingly pressed for time. Beyond that, I might go back into Silksong when in the mood to die more than a game specifically designed around dying repeatedly.
Also, working out final Halloween plans, and the spirit is upon us. We're just having to negotiate expected heavy winds (as it seems we do every year leading up to it).
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined Producer Reckons We're Ready For Its Dark, Sorrowful Story
I'm excited to get the chance to play thia but something is striking me as... off... with the art style. Admittedly I've never been a huge fan of Toriyama even if he did work some absolutely fantastic games. But doesn't it seem like the full 3D style came out strange? Maybe it's the limited clips.
Re: 50 Best NES Games Of All Time
I came in to be contrary with Metroid at 50, but with this and Castlevania II, you can really see how a mega genre started out with some... limitations while they were figuring out what home video games were.
Killer set of titles on this list tho.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th October)
I got myself stuck in the die -> run back-> fleeting moment of hope -> die cycle in Silksong. Things are going swimmingly there.
Fortunately, Hades has been working out much better as I've completed five runs and am fully in the meat of the game now in which it is not clear who is actually the real antagonist(s) because the major players excel at lies by omission and there is so much that everyone is able to hold back. And none of this is important because I simply must get Achilles back to Patrocles
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th October)
Still getting my rear handed to me in Silksong, I'm doing reasonably well but for whatever reason struggling in Hunter's March. I'm playing adeptly until about two thirds through and just blank on stuff I've already learned.
I'm also still enjoying Hades all the more and finally got to Hades in two different runs with very different builds before finding out that jerk has multiple health bars. Spoiler locked because I want others to have the same feeling of defeat when it happens to them.
Also looking at getting a "quiet time" JRPG going from the backlog. I might go ahead and knock out Suikoden II since that is probably a quicker one.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th October)
I overprepared for the final final boss of Trails into Reverie and completely rolled it with the power of friendship and an avalanche of S-crafts. It was a great ride but it's good to wrap up Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs, having just revealed all that [erratically waving hand at spoilers within spoilers].
I also finally had the moment in Silksong in which I really went in deep, after my first battle with Lace. I knew Hornet was more agile, but that was the first time the game really forced me to play fast, and then I truly appreciated what Team Cherry has been polishing. Kind of like Hornet herself in the previous game, the skill checks are there to teach you something, not just to bludgeon you, and I really love when good game design naturally walks you into that.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Feature: Get A Job - 30 Years On, Seiken Densetsu 3's Class System Is Still One Of The Best
The customization is a blast, although a word of caution for those playing Trials - you'll have a hell of a challenge with the post game if you make Angela an AoE caster. I really did like feeling like it was a big transformation and not just fiddling with stats and loadouts.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th September)
I have exactly one thing to finish in the post-game in Trails into Reverie, which I've been retooling party loadout for a three team event, but I haven't come back.
For it is now Silksong that has its hooks in me, and I am still working on not being terrible. I'm also restarting Hades which I forgot the majority of prior to coming back and figure with the second one coming out and proving thoroughly fantastic, chipping away at this and finally experiencing that fully seeming like like a good idea. I got derailed by a life event and just abandoned it, so I am excited to give it another go and finally take it to that handsome jerk Theseus and his friend, neither of whom I'm too bullish on 😉.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Mike Mignola-Inspired Co-Op Roguelike 'Sworn' Dodges Hades 2, Switch Version Coming "At A Later Date"
Makes sense. I'm not big on roguelikes/lites in general, but I can guarantee that if it did pique my interest at all, I would never have really picked up on it because Hades II is sucking the oxygen out of the room, and by the time the dust settles the world moved on and never noticed your game.
It makes as much sense as dropping a Metroidvania the same day Silksong came out.