I'm nearing the end of Tales of Berseria, meaning I am lost in spoiler country, although I am thoroughly unconvinced of Innominat's goodness given the literary history of beasts with many mouths devouring all so I can't see how it doesn't get worse before it gets better.
This has also been somewhat derailed by pulling Breath of the Wild over with the S2 upgrade, and while Nintendo worked some wizardry to fit the game, it's just such a joy to play even more than it was. It's also way easier to catch lizards.
Also, Neva because it's one of the most stunning games I've ever played and I want to interact with something beautiful when the sun is out the charring everything in direct light. Our cactus got overexposed to sun, and that's not insignificant.
Obviously Rhea was right to keep every manner of technology out of Fòdlan's possession, give these people a telescope and they'll give you a nun with a gun
I'm sure it will be enjoyable (but likely not good). There is no way they'll replace Raoul Julia's swan song for his performance in a Street Fighter movie. There is nothing like a great actor who is very acutely aware of what kind of movie they're in.
I'm currently deep into Tales of Berseria, as I am tinkering with combo sequences and equipment loadouts and having a great time coming up with ways to melt down the health bars of local enemy hordes. I would probably enjoy a hypothetical RPG called Menu Quest, in which I tweak variables endlessly to make numbers go up. I don't know how I got this way.
Also, the oddball character exchanges' running jokes on scientific discourse on bugs and archeology and such are the funniest I've read in a Tales game, or maybe any game. These are always a high point in the series, but I'm definitely a target audience for this writing.
This is also a good reference point for me in S2 performance, since it's not native and had some snags even if it tried its best with the original hardware. I remember the days of serious performance drops from three enemies on screens (and learning to use those slowdowns to better time tricky jumps), so I don't need 60+ fps to enjoy myself, but that bump from the S2 has been very nice.
Facing another week of temperatures around 40°C, and as much as i enjoy prospective game time, I'm going to have to move north within a decade if these trends keep up. It is getting tiresome only getting out for maybe an hour of daylight in the morning.
@Lizuka those are things that can't be stressed enough. I loved my entirely-too-many-hours with this game and Torna, but you need a manual to understand a lot of really important battle mechanics that you'll have almost zero chance to understand otherwise.
@clianvXAi I think it's more the case that Nintendo generally favors continuity in its dev teams. You don't need a full strength team for the entire lifecycle as games spin up or wind down, and having "side work" allows you to keep everyone on payroll instead of laying them off as games release. Most healthy industries work this way, so it's always baffling to me when a major supported studio does this like their publishers don't have other AAA games slated and a bunch of jobs posted. It screams of terrible management.
It's also a really good way to keep from losing folks who are good at what they do. Development tends to take much longer when continually rotating in new employees.
Likely a very quiet weekend of Tales of Berseria with our favorite crew of demon pirates on an unthwartable quest for vengeance. Also planning on some Mario Kart World with the kids. I might meander through a bit of Battle Chef Brigade, which is charming, although I'm not sure if the combat quite holds up as I'd like the concept to.
I'm also planning on churning through some grown up responsibilities, but that's really only to justify the things I'd rather be doing 😁
I think in the grander context, almost everything in AAA gaming is worse than it was 10-15, and AA endured deep cuts to feed that beast. It's frustrating that so many great games are coming out, even selling well, and the people who make them are summarily cast aside. As far as being able to hold on to the games we bought, we're being told we're going to pay more and will have them only as long as their very finite license agreements promise. I'm not sure what to do about that, since it's in line with almost everything else about life right now.
I finally put the post-game of Unicorn Overlord in the books. It is a tinkerer's dream game, but I have to say even I was overwhelmed by the number of units and classes. I had about 6 optimal units and 2 more situational groups which let me steamroll the last stages, but I'd say I reliably used maybe 2/3 of them.
I'll be alternating between Transistor, and the Tales of Berseria Remastered, because I'm really feeling an RPG with last-decade edgy characters and an absurd plot. I've actually been really looking forward to it, but I also wanted to wait until it hit a sale 😅.
Past that, house work, research, and maybe a new Evil Dead movie with my lovely wife.
This weekend, I will be avoiding the heat at all costs, as I hope y'all are able to as well.
Still having a great time with Unicorn Overlord, which I keep forgetting kind of has a story but is just not terribly of concern because the battles are just such a joy. Not that 13 Sentinels had awful gameplay, but it's almost like it's a different developer if the art style wasn't almost identical.
Also starting Steamworld Build, yet another roll of the dice on an eShop sale that I hope can fill that city builder hole in my soul since the glory days of the SimCity franchise.
I am slowly expanding across the Continent in Unicorn Overlord, spreading my comically simplistic message of forgiveness to the chagrin of my traveling companions. I'm sure someone is going to cross the line that keeps their heads on, but for now I'm gonna recruit the world!
Also playing Transistor finally, but going is slow. While I get that the sword talks is a major point (and isn't terribly different from the fantastic narration of Bastion), I hear people talk all day and play single player games with Japanese VO in my own time for that reason.
I'm playing Trails Through Daybreak II and got to Act III with no comment because that part would reduce this post to a spoiler block. A whole lot of deep cuts coming back on this one. But I am also very concerned about the cats of Edith because they seem to be telegraphic some things.
But little else because I'm shipping the kids to my parents and my wife and I are tying up loose ends because WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN!!!. I'm so beyond excited, may or may not see Nintendo related stuff as an ulterior motive for going to Kyoto partway in 😁
Diving into a weekend of yard work and Trails Through Daybreak II, and very much overjoyed that Shizuna has returned as a permanent member and is no less an agent of chaos this time around.
I got one of my daughters Guardians of Azuma, which appears to be one of those perfect niche games for her in line with Harvestella. I rather like the art style too compared to other Rune Factory games that didn't really do much for either of us. I think it's the eastern aesthetic that seems a little more lively.
Finally, will be getting in a little Slime Rancher in with my youngest as she laughs merrily. It's probably the first FPS(ish) game that's taken hold in the house since the more recent Doom revival, which was still almost a decade ago.
DQ doesn't need to be Game of Thrones, so I'm okay with them abandoning the rumored "dark" entry if it just wasn't working out. I would imagine they finally hit the point where they looked at it and said "This isn't a Dragon Quest game anymore," whatever that means to the team now. I've played "less good" DQ games, but they all have a spot in my heart, so I'll trust the judgment there.
I was hoping for VIII remaster or X offline rather than spinoff, but actual footage showing progress on XII isn't a loss.
After potentially breaking free of the Trails series for perhaps a week, I am immediately back into Trails Through Daybreak II, and refusing to regret it. Except that there is now the Märchen Garten, exploiting my single greatest weakness: loot.
But I am still thoroughly enjoying it.
Some interspersed rounds of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge with the girls to break it up. After having maved its good everyone gets to settle for a bit.
I'm glad they took the feedback to heart. I'll overlook Team Asano's terrible titles as I've mostly enjoyed their games (not your arc Tressa), but the first demo played slow as heck. If it has smooth gameplay I am once again on board.
I started playing Crosscode and it seems fun, but I may not be able to continue due to some chronic hand issues. I did not realize how hard twin stick controls would be for me, and unless the pro controller is easier on the joints, I may have to abandon it.
I have plenty to back up, so I may fall back into Fate/Samurai Remnant or Tales of Graces f for my ARPG mood. Life is still pretty hectic so I may not make it far either way.
I think if you're on a Nintendo site you're probably a bit biased, but I couldn't agree more. I think SNES era games "feel" a lot less janky than those from the PS2, especially when you consider how controls work to navigate within them. I'd rather devs have the time to get good with how that feedback feels than polish graphics. I'm not watching a movie, I'm a participant.
I think one of the best examples are the Hollow Knight games, which are beautiful, not at all realistic, but the controls are so tight you feel the game in real time. Of course, performance matters there, but not necessarily at 120 fps. But I'm old and don't experience time that fast anymore 😅
I was briefly optimistic because there was some brightness to the style that would give a fresher experience tha knockoff Tatooine. The fact that the gameplay is fair to middlin' and the performance is awful makes this a disappointment. Sometimes you'll have that.
@urfaverenegade that ending is a pretty loaded topic. You spend the entire game dealing with a pretty villainous villain in Kuja and then you've got this avatar of nihilism sweep in because... we all just happened to show up there?. I'm all for ridiculous plot twists, like when in FFIV we just accept that there's gonna be an evil moon wizard behind my brother(!) the archfiend pulling the strings the whole time? Let's do this. I felt either something got really lost in localization or there was some sloppy storytelling in an otherwise stellar game. It still remains my favorite of the PS1 era.
After moving to our home, getting flu, planned a trip to Japan, addressed a million other life complications, I'm finally getting around to reconfiguring the TV the previous homeowner left behind so I can hook up the Switch. It is a much better display but it's cabling is run thru the wall and doesn't include an HDMI cable 😅
So hopefully finally finishing Trails Through Daybreak and a few runs of 30XX and Dorfromantik! It's funny how little it takes to get knocked off your routine with a system than can be played in handheld mode.
I can't fully explain why, but if this game delivers, this might finally be the title to get me to pull the trigger on S2 (unless they shadow drop a new Xenoblade). My backlog and life generally made it take a back seat but man I'm a sucker for Star Fox, even a remake.
@MyUsernameWasTaken these are fair points, but they have to balance the fact that the "hyper enthusiast" groups tend to massively outspend other segments (there was a study showing this ~5% in the US, although I would expect most western markets would be similar). I'm not saying you should build your entire model around comments sections - that would be mad. But if that crowd is really clamoring for something that isn't directly opposed to other segments, it does not seem wise to dismiss that group.
That said, I've been hoping for a bit more from the S2 by now, but I definitely wouldn't call it cooked at this point. Both things can be true 🙂
@MyUsernameWasTaken I agree... the arc is fantastic but there is no practical reason to get a Switch 2 version if you already have the S1 games.
BUT for those who don't have them or are starting Trails with the Sky remakes, I heartily encourage picking these up! Accessibility is never a bad thing.
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.
Comments 405
Re: Video: Final Fantasy Resonance New Trailer Showcases Warrior Of Light
@mlt it'd have to be Basch von Rosenberg of Dalmasca.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (8th August)
I'm nearing the end of Tales of Berseria, meaning I am lost in spoiler country, although I am thoroughly unconvinced of Innominat's goodness given the literary history of beasts with many mouths devouring all so I can't see how it doesn't get worse before it gets better.
This has also been somewhat derailed by pulling Breath of the Wild over with the S2 upgrade, and while Nintendo worked some wizardry to fit the game, it's just such a joy to play even more than it was. It's also way easier to catch lizards.
Also, Neva because it's one of the most stunning games I've ever played and I want to interact with something beautiful when the sun is out the charring everything in direct light. Our cactus got overexposed to sun, and that's not insignificant.
Happy gaming everyone! And remember to hydrate!
Re: Random: Fire Emblem's New Game Adds Some Serious Firepower
Obviously Rhea was right to keep every manner of technology out of Fòdlan's possession, give these people a telescope and they'll give you a nun with a gun
Re: Video: Street Fighter Live-Action Movie 'Blanka Vs. Ryu' Special Look Released
I'm sure it will be enjoyable (but likely not good). There is no way they'll replace Raoul Julia's swan song for his performance in a Street Fighter movie. There is nothing like a great actor who is very acutely aware of what kind of movie they're in.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th July)
I'm currently deep into Tales of Berseria, as I am tinkering with combo sequences and equipment loadouts and having a great time coming up with ways to melt down the health bars of local enemy hordes. I would probably enjoy a hypothetical RPG called Menu Quest, in which I tweak variables endlessly to make numbers go up. I don't know how I got this way.
Also, the oddball character exchanges' running jokes on scientific discourse on bugs and archeology and such are the funniest I've read in a Tales game, or maybe any game. These are always a high point in the series, but I'm definitely a target audience for this writing.
This is also a good reference point for me in S2 performance, since it's not native and had some snags even if it tried its best with the original hardware. I remember the days of serious performance drops from three enemies on screens (and learning to use those slowdowns to better time tricky jumps), so I don't need 60+ fps to enjoy myself, but that bump from the S2 has been very nice.
Facing another week of temperatures around 40°C, and as much as i enjoy prospective game time, I'm going to have to move north within a decade if these trends keep up. It is getting tiresome only getting out for maybe an hour of daylight in the morning.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Switch 2 Edition Overview Reveals New Pyra & Mythra Outfits, Merc Assault And Momo
@Lizuka those are things that can't be stressed enough. I loved my entirely-too-many-hours with this game and Torna, but you need a manual to understand a lot of really important battle mechanics that you'll have almost zero chance to understand otherwise.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles Studio Monolith Soft Helped Out With Splatoon Raiders
@clianvXAi I think it's more the case that Nintendo generally favors continuity in its dev teams. You don't need a full strength team for the entire lifecycle as games spin up or wind down, and having "side work" allows you to keep everyone on payroll instead of laying them off as games release. Most healthy industries work this way, so it's always baffling to me when a major supported studio does this like their publishers don't have other AAA games slated and a bunch of jobs posted. It screams of terrible management.
It's also a really good way to keep from losing folks who are good at what they do. Development tends to take much longer when continually rotating in new employees.
Re: Here's How Final Fantasy X On Switch 2 Compares To Switch 1
And yet we can't get Stranger of Paradise?
BOO THIS PUBLISHER
Re: Bandai Namco Reveals Changes & Improvements In Tales of Eternia Remastered
@Daniel36 gives you that real 80s anime dub esthetic 😁
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th July)
Likely a very quiet weekend of Tales of Berseria with our favorite crew of demon pirates on an unthwartable quest for vengeance. Also planning on some Mario Kart World with the kids. I might meander through a bit of Battle Chef Brigade, which is charming, although I'm not sure if the combat quite holds up as I'd like the concept to.
I'm also planning on churning through some grown up responsibilities, but that's really only to justify the things I'd rather be doing 😁
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Opinion: Nintendo Gains A Rep Boost As Sony & Microsoft Lay Waste To The Industry
I think in the grander context, almost everything in AAA gaming is worse than it was 10-15, and AA endured deep cuts to feed that beast. It's frustrating that so many great games are coming out, even selling well, and the people who make them are summarily cast aside. As far as being able to hold on to the games we bought, we're being told we're going to pay more and will have them only as long as their very finite license agreements promise. I'm not sure what to do about that, since it's in line with almost everything else about life right now.
We were promised hoverboards.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th July)
I finally put the post-game of Unicorn Overlord in the books. It is a tinkerer's dream game, but I have to say even I was overwhelmed by the number of units and classes. I had about 6 optimal units and 2 more situational groups which let me steamroll the last stages, but I'd say I reliably used maybe 2/3 of them.
I'll be alternating between Transistor, and the Tales of Berseria Remastered, because I'm really feeling an RPG with last-decade edgy characters and an absurd plot. I've actually been really looking forward to it, but I also wanted to wait until it hit a sale 😅.
Past that, house work, research, and maybe a new Evil Dead movie with my lovely wife.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th July)
This weekend, I will be avoiding the heat at all costs, as I hope y'all are able to as well.
Still having a great time with Unicorn Overlord, which I keep forgetting kind of has a story but is just not terribly of concern because the battles are just such a joy. Not that 13 Sentinels had awful gameplay, but it's almost like it's a different developer if the art style wasn't almost identical.
Also starting Steamworld Build, yet another roll of the dice on an eShop sale that I hope can fill that city builder hole in my soul since the glory days of the SimCity franchise.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Persona Is Reportedly Getting A "Live-Action" Netflix Adaptation
To stay true to the games, you'll have to subscribe to a second streaming service and rewatch all the episodes again to see the last season.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th June)
I am slowly expanding across the Continent in Unicorn Overlord, spreading my comically simplistic message of forgiveness to the chagrin of my traveling companions. I'm sure someone is going to cross the line that keeps their heads on, but for now I'm gonna recruit the world!
Also playing Transistor finally, but going is slow. While I get that the sword talks is a major point (and isn't terribly different from the fantastic narration of Bastion), I hear people talk all day and play single player games with Japanese VO in my own time for that reason.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Final Fantasy Resonance Returns To Turn-Based Battles With HD-2D Visuals
I'm really stoked on the initial scroll of titles, but the old person who thinks FF6 was just 10 years ago is beyond thrilled (and its not a remake)!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th June)
I'm playing Trails Through Daybreak II and got to Act III with no comment because that part would reduce this post to a spoiler block. A whole lot of deep cuts coming back on this one. But I am also very concerned about the cats of Edith because they seem to be telegraphic some things.
But little else because I'm shipping the kids to my parents and my wife and I are tying up loose ends because WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN!!!. I'm so beyond excited, may or may not see Nintendo related stuff as an ulterior motive for going to Kyoto partway in 😁
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th May)
Diving into a weekend of yard work and Trails Through Daybreak II, and very much overjoyed that Shizuna has returned as a permanent member and is no less an agent of chaos this time around.
I got one of my daughters Guardians of Azuma, which appears to be one of those perfect niche games for her in line with Harvestella. I rather like the art style too compared to other Rune Factory games that didn't really do much for either of us. I think it's the eastern aesthetic that seems a little more lively.
Finally, will be getting in a little Slime Rancher in with my youngest as she laughs merrily. It's probably the first FPS(ish) game that's taken hold in the house since the more recent Doom revival, which was still almost a decade ago.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Dragon Quest XII Gets A New Title Following Complete Development Reset
DQ doesn't need to be Game of Thrones, so I'm okay with them abandoning the rumored "dark" entry if it just wasn't working out. I would imagine they finally hit the point where they looked at it and said "This isn't a Dragon Quest game anymore," whatever that means to the team now. I've played "less good" DQ games, but they all have a spot in my heart, so I'll trust the judgment there.
I was hoping for VIII remaster or X offline rather than spinoff, but actual footage showing progress on XII isn't a loss.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd May)
After potentially breaking free of the Trails series for perhaps a week, I am immediately back into Trails Through Daybreak II, and refusing to regret it. Except that there is now the Märchen Garten, exploiting my single greatest weakness: loot.
But I am still thoroughly enjoying it.
Some interspersed rounds of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge with the girls to break it up. After having maved its good everyone gets to settle for a bit.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Hands On: The Classic Zelda Formula Is In Safe Hands With 'The Adventures Of Elliot'
I'm glad they took the feedback to heart. I'll overlook Team Asano's terrible titles as I've mostly enjoyed their games (not your arc Tressa), but the first demo played slow as heck. If it has smooth gameplay I am once again on board.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th May)
I started playing Crosscode and it seems fun, but I may not be able to continue due to some chronic hand issues. I did not realize how hard twin stick controls would be for me, and unless the pro controller is easier on the joints, I may have to abandon it.
I have plenty to back up, so I may fall back into Fate/Samurai Remnant or Tales of Graces f for my ARPG mood. Life is still pretty hectic so I may not make it far either way.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: BioShock Creator: Switch 2 Proves Graphics Have Reached "Diminishing Returns"
I think if you're on a Nintendo site you're probably a bit biased, but I couldn't agree more. I think SNES era games "feel" a lot less janky than those from the PS2, especially when you consider how controls work to navigate within them. I'd rather devs have the time to get good with how that feedback feels than polish graphics. I'm not watching a movie, I'm a participant.
I think one of the best examples are the Hollow Knight games, which are beautiful, not at all realistic, but the controls are so tight you feel the game in real time. Of course, performance matters there, but not necessarily at 120 fps. But I'm old and don't experience time that fast anymore 😅
Re: Review: STARBITES (Switch) - A Basic, Technically Deficient Mech RPG
I was briefly optimistic because there was some brightness to the style that would give a fresher experience tha knockoff Tatooine. The fact that the gameplay is fair to middlin' and the performance is awful makes this a disappointment. Sometimes you'll have that.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th May)
@urfaverenegade that ending is a pretty loaded topic. You spend the entire game dealing with a pretty villainous villain in Kuja and then you've got this avatar of nihilism sweep in because... we all just happened to show up there?. I'm all for ridiculous plot twists, like when in FFIV we just accept that there's gonna be an evil moon wizard behind my brother(!) the archfiend pulling the strings the whole time? Let's do this. I felt either something got really lost in localization or there was some sloppy storytelling in an otherwise stellar game. It still remains my favorite of the PS1 era.
Re: Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Horii Teases Announcement For "Next Game"
I'll settle for a straight remaster of VIII, but something fancier (X offline or XII even!) would be a pleasant surprise.
XI was a nearly perfect experience, I don't mind a bit more delay to get it right.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th May)
After moving to our home, getting flu, planned a trip to Japan, addressed a million other life complications, I'm finally getting around to reconfiguring the TV the previous homeowner left behind so I can hook up the Switch. It is a much better display but it's cabling is run thru the wall and doesn't include an HDMI cable 😅
So hopefully finally finishing Trails Through Daybreak and a few runs of 30XX and Dorfromantik! It's funny how little it takes to get knocked off your routine with a system than can be played in handheld mode.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Steins;Gate Is Getting Another Remake On Switch 1 & 2 This August
I am not sure I can deal with Mayuri dying. . Again. And again.
Re: So, Will You Be Getting Star Fox For Switch 2?
I can't fully explain why, but if this game delivers, this might finally be the title to get me to pull the trigger on S2 (unless they shadow drop a new Xenoblade). My backlog and life generally made it take a back seat but man I'm a sucker for Star Fox, even a remake.
Re: Video: Nintendo Showcases Its Biggest Switch 2 Games In New Ad
@MyUsernameWasTaken these are fair points, but they have to balance the fact that the "hyper enthusiast" groups tend to massively outspend other segments (there was a study showing this ~5% in the US, although I would expect most western markets would be similar). I'm not saying you should build your entire model around comments sections - that would be mad. But if that crowd is really clamoring for something that isn't directly opposed to other segments, it does not seem wise to dismiss that group.
That said, I've been hoping for a bit more from the S2 by now, but I definitely wouldn't call it cooked at this point. Both things can be true 🙂
Re: Two 'Trails' Games Are Getting Switch 2 Releases This Fall
@MyUsernameWasTaken I agree... the arc is fantastic but there is no practical reason to get a Switch 2 version if you already have the S1 games.
BUT for those who don't have them or are starting Trails with the Sky remakes, I heartily encourage picking these up! Accessibility is never a bad thing.
Re: New Strategy RPG 'Brigandine: Abyss' Is Coming To Switch 2 This August
I for one see through Gilbert Stein's flimsy ruse and will not fall victim to his amateurish comic relief scheming.
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.