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.
I'll be finishing up Trails into Reverie this weekend, inundated by characters and quartz builds. Its probably the only thing keeping me from hopping straight into Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter immediately to get going on the Liberl arc with a bunch of other folks here. If its your first entry, its going to be a wild ride that's worth your time!
Other than that, I've been making a deliberately slow entry into Silksong to learn the mechanics and not much else, because I remember it being hard to go all in on Hollow Knight before I got the hang of it, because I was dying all the time. It makes it way easier to stick with, especially if they upped the challenge level.
I wonder if it's all engagement bait at this point.
I know it's the way things are these days that products are given to us to sell and there is more time spent on convincing us that this product no one asked for is actually desirable rather than making something that was wanted.
And to echo, the prevailing sentiment is that a corporation is only acting ethically if it maximizes shareholder return (and the economist won a nobel!), so... yeah. Maybe things work differently in Japan.
My condolences to Gavin for falling into Deepnest. It changes you.
I appear to be late in my playthrough of Trails into Reverie, and of course the series that has its hooks into me introduced my greatest weakness: loot runs. I've seen other procedurally generated dungeons and mostly despised them, but they rarely provide consistent quality loot seen in the Reverie Corridor. Objectively, it's one of the weaker stories, but I'm having fun nonetheless.
I was ordered to rest a bit this weekend, so I'll definitely be getting some time in on that.
I'd be lying if I said all this Silksong talk hasn't inspired me to make another run thru Hollow Knight. My main occupation will be a continuation of Trails into Reverie, a shameless bit of pandering to the folks who just needed one more trip to Crossbell, which describes me accurately. Also a continued mild inching into Cities: Skylines
Other than that, I'll probably be busy doing schoolwork or helping kids with theirs. I'm taking my last required class for credit! Like ever! So that may have to dominate my attention, but that's fine if i can close that out without too much stress.
I'm all for some market competition, but I'd be curious what they would say to win over someone who owned a S1/S2 or Steam Deck. We're getting past the days of platform exclusives,so this would be a pretty big cost investment to make without something that it clearly does better.
They are one of the few studios able to dictate what their terms are, and that was that they had to be happy with the game and it doesn't see the light of day till then. I'm happy they got the opportunity to do so absent the pressure of people who don't even like video games.
Hollow Knight was nearly flawless as it was. Hornet promises some new mechanics from what we already know of her, so I very much agree this was all the news we needed.
I'm finishing up on Suikoden I which has been a great handheld play. I had other life things going on when it originally came out, but I can really feel the continuation from the "Golden Age" titles just prior. I still think there are too many characters wedged in for the number of focus actually given to them, but it does feel so ambitious for the day (like playing Legends of Mana in the context).
With Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter on the horizon, I couldn't help myself with Trails into Reverie going at a 50% discount, for which I'm going to shamelessly disregard my backlog. I was thrilled to get a new crack at the Liberl arc as a prequel, because even if I know the broad outcomes, the real draw for Trails is that peripheral plot bubbling up with all the "small world" goings on.
At least this is the plan until the heat breaks. Summer is the new winter.
I'd been rolling my eyes at the internet for the past year about getting so worked up, but after seeing this and reading a few brief gameplay reviews, I am so stoked that they were working to nail that hyperkinetic feel that had weight. And as Hornet???!
It's been a busy week as a prelude to busier weeks - which makes it a good thing I'm going a bit lighter in time investment after finishing the fantastic Xenoblade Chronicles X. Right now I'm playing Suikoden I, a curious gap in my "best of" JRPGs experience. I'm also getting a bit of time in on Cities: Skylines in, although I'm really just learning the systems right now.
Also beginning the more serious work for Halloween decorations. I had enough motion sensors to protect the Mona Lisa arrive and we're getting our more advanced applications tested 😁
I have some great memories of Life Force from way back when. I can roll it out to my kids but I think they'll just give me the same look as with Mega Man, which is marginally more fun than a hoop with a stick in their eyes.
Staying up late drinking Mountain Dew and blasting Iron Maiden probably is core to the experience. I know they're still receptive to that, so it's something 🙂
Comments 361
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.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th September)
I'll be finishing up Trails into Reverie this weekend, inundated by characters and quartz builds. Its probably the only thing keeping me from hopping straight into Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter immediately to get going on the Liberl arc with a bunch of other folks here. If its your first entry, its going to be a wild ride that's worth your time!
Other than that, I've been making a deliberately slow entry into Silksong to learn the mechanics and not much else, because I remember it being hard to go all in on Hollow Knight before I got the hang of it, because I was dying all the time. It makes it way easier to stick with, especially if they upped the challenge level.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Nintendo Is "Acting To Protect The Industry" With Switch 2 Game Key Cards, Says Ex-Capcom Composer
I wonder if it's all engagement bait at this point.
I know it's the way things are these days that products are given to us to sell and there is more time spent on convincing us that this product no one asked for is actually desirable rather than making something that was wanted.
And to echo, the prevailing sentiment is that a corporation is only acting ethically if it maximizes shareholder return (and the economist won a nobel!), so... yeah. Maybe things work differently in Japan.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th September)
My condolences to Gavin for falling into Deepnest. It changes you.
I appear to be late in my playthrough of Trails into Reverie, and of course the series that has its hooks into me introduced my greatest weakness: loot runs. I've seen other procedurally generated dungeons and mostly despised them, but they rarely provide consistent quality loot seen in the Reverie Corridor. Objectively, it's one of the weaker stories, but I'm having fun nonetheless.
I was ordered to rest a bit this weekend, so I'll definitely be getting some time in on that.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th August)
I'd be lying if I said all this Silksong talk hasn't inspired me to make another run thru Hollow Knight. My main occupation will be a continuation of Trails into Reverie, a shameless bit of pandering to the folks who just needed one more trip to Crossbell, which describes me accurately. Also a continued mild inching into Cities: Skylines
Other than that, I'll probably be busy doing schoolwork or helping kids with theirs. I'm taking my last required class for credit! Like ever! So that may have to dominate my attention, but that's fine if i can close that out without too much stress.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Rumour: Sony Is Gunning For The Switch 2 With A Handheld, Dockable PS6
I'm all for some market competition, but I'd be curious what they would say to win over someone who owned a S1/S2 or Steam Deck. We're getting past the days of platform exclusives,so this would be a pretty big cost investment to make without something that it clearly does better.
Re: Poll: Ahead Of Silksong's Release, Are You 'Finally' Playing Hollow Knight?
I loved it, but I've just got too much going on to sharpen up. And I can't fall back into Deepnest again. I can't.
Re: Opinion: Silksong's Big 'Anticlimactic' Premiere Was Absolutely Perfect
They are one of the few studios able to dictate what their terms are, and that was that they had to be happy with the game and it doesn't see the light of day till then. I'm happy they got the opportunity to do so absent the pressure of people who don't even like video games.
Hollow Knight was nearly flawless as it was. Hornet promises some new mechanics from what we already know of her, so I very much agree this was all the news we needed.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd August)
I'm finishing up on Suikoden I which has been a great handheld play. I had other life things going on when it originally came out, but I can really feel the continuation from the "Golden Age" titles just prior. I still think there are too many characters wedged in for the number of focus actually given to them, but it does feel so ambitious for the day (like playing Legends of Mana in the context).
With Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter on the horizon, I couldn't help myself with Trails into Reverie going at a 50% discount, for which I'm going to shamelessly disregard my backlog. I was thrilled to get a new crack at the Liberl arc as a prequel, because even if I know the broad outcomes, the real draw for Trails is that peripheral plot bubbling up with all the "small world" goings on.
At least this is the plan until the heat breaks. Summer is the new winter.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Hollow Knight: Silksong Offers Buttery Smooth Performance On Switch 2
I'd been rolling my eyes at the internet for the past year about getting so worked up, but after seeing this and reading a few brief gameplay reviews, I am so stoked that they were working to nail that hyperkinetic feel that had weight. And as Hornet???!
...okay, now I'm excited too.
Re: Hollow Knight: Silksong "Special Announcement" Is Coming This Thursday
Please, no sudden movements. If we startle the Silksong and it retreats, that's six more weeks of partner directs like the last one.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th August)
It's been a busy week as a prelude to busier weeks - which makes it a good thing I'm going a bit lighter in time investment after finishing the fantastic Xenoblade Chronicles X. Right now I'm playing Suikoden I, a curious gap in my "best of" JRPGs experience. I'm also getting a bit of time in on Cities: Skylines in, although I'm really just learning the systems right now.
Also beginning the more serious work for Halloween decorations. I had enough motion sensors to protect the Mona Lisa arrive and we're getting our more advanced applications tested 😁
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Review: Gradius Origins (Switch) - An Almost-Perfect Package For Shoot 'Em Up Fans
I have some great memories of Life Force from way back when. I can roll it out to my kids but I think they'll just give me the same look as with Mega Man, which is marginally more fun than a hoop with a stick in their eyes.
Staying up late drinking Mountain Dew and blasting Iron Maiden probably is core to the experience. I know they're still receptive to that, so it's something 🙂