MischiefMaker

An old school square Enix classic for me! By which I mean Seiken Densetsu 2 from the Collection of Mana. I remembering starting to play this on an emulator probably 25 years ago but not getting too far. Quite liking it so far but doesn’t have the same nostalgia connection for me as the first 2 games so will see how it goes,

Playing some smaller backlog games. Just finished Gris which I loved for a small one time ‘experience’ (and will probably get the soundtrack on Bandcamp).

Now I’ve started What Remains of Edith Finch. A very intriguing game, enjoying the mystery of it.

Not sure if I’ll finish that this weekend. Not decided what to play after it yet.

I have yet to restart my NSO subscription but probably will (waiting to see any Black Friday deal) - this music service isn’t enough in its own to warrant the sub but certainly sweetens the deal and I’m looking forward to trying it.

I agree that Nintendo aren’t going to dump it all at once. Given that the NSO subscription is going to continue with the next console and perhaps forevermore, Nintendo are going to want to keep releasing music here on a semi-regular basis for years to come to keep people coming back to it and keep it fresh and relevant. Hopefully weekly rather than the stuttering schedule of the games.

Would be nice if they could also do some deals for music from other games on their systems that aren’t published by Nintendo but I guess that won’t happen for money and brand reasons.

Well I’ve just finished Tears of the Kingdom after 175 hours spread over about a year. I was ready to finish, but what a game! What? No, I’m not crying - you're crying.

Think i might play Edith Finch next and some more Celeste, not sure really. My NSO subscription lapsed but I’m tempted to get it again and play some retro games as well as get the music player. Might wait and see if there’s any Black Friday sale at the the end of the month first though.

Tears of the Kingdom. Just mopping a few last quests before I head towards what I assume is the end. There’s plenty more I could do but after about a year of playing on and off and about 170 hours in total I’m ready to move on. After all I still have some big games in the Switch backlog and with the next console somewhere on the horizon I need to get a wriggle on!

Tears of the Kingdom - think I’ve done all the main quests before the last bit now but doing some of the other smaller quests before I push on as I probably won’t come back to it after I beat it. No idea if I’ll carry on exploring and questing for a few more days or a few more weeks.

Away for a short break with the family for a few days so may play something else while we’re away. Maybe Oxenfree 2 on iPad? I think it’s available on Netflix and probably can play fine with touchscreen.

Finally completed Pikmin 4! The last section was a bit of a slog but I have loved this game. Very rare for me to 100% anything nowadays but it really charmed me. 48 hours over about 10 weeks.

So I’m picking up Tears Of The Kingdom again. Hoping to beat it by Xmas - have done probably 75% of what I want to do in the game previously.

Also Balatro on iPad. It’s very addictive but I don’t find it quite as engaging after a while, not sure how to describe it. But will definitely continue to do runs

Still playing Pikmin 4 despite thinking I was almost done weeks ago.

But the thing that’s taking over my life is Balatro, now it’s available on iOS. I had 2 free months of Apple Arcade so I activated that so I can play it in my phone and iPad. It’s so horrendously addictive, I have to forceably stop myself from playing. Yet to beat a run but have been close.

@SuperRetroArt I mean, no-ones looking over my shoulder when I’m playing doom and thinking ‘what a dude’, so no it doesn’t bother me playing Nintendo games as an adult. Having said that I wouldn’t have wanted to play xenoblade chronicles 2 in public, that would have been embarrassing with some of the scenes in that!

Pikmin 4. Thought I’d be done by now but loads to do in this game. What an absolute treat it’s been! A bit of Slay the Spire too.

I will play the new Zelda game one day I’m sure. My son will probs end up getting it for Xmas (as he did Pikmin 4 IIRC).

Edit also played a bit of Goroga on my iPad. Had it for ages and started it once but didn’t get too far. Lovely little game if a little obtuse at times.

Pikmin 4 - thought I was almost at the end but apparently not! Love this game but I am about ready to be done with it now.

Also slay the spire, just fully addicted again

Splatoon 3! Not played for probably close to a year but thought I should get involved for the last splatfest. The whole festival thing is really cool, glad I didn’t miss it, even if I am still generally the worst player on any team.

Also played a tiny bit of Celeste while I waited for the splatoon download, some Pikmin 4 (think I’m near the end but not entirely sure).

And some Slay The Spire on iPad - keep coming back to this every few months. Up to level A11 on the 3 main characters (not going for the heart, only did that on the lowest levels). It’s just so good!

Pikmin 4. Towards the end I think.

Also been playing slay the spire again and done ascension level 9 with the 3 main characters (I gave up with the Watcher character after about level 6 - really liked playing her at first but struggled as the game got harder).

Pikmin 4 still, getting towards the end but I may go for 100% which I never do (not enough time, too many games and it always feels like diminishing returns). But I’m just loving this game. I played the original on GameCube but never completed it and never played any of the sequels so this has been a lovely surprise.

Away camping without the Switch so just a bit of Slay the Spire on iPad. But also played a bit of Tetris Effect demo on switch before I came which.was trippy although didn’t seem to let me play handheld with joycins connected for some reason

Nearing the end of a 2 week holiday in Spain, been playing Pikmin 4 when I have chance. A great holiday game, perfect for short bursts or longer sessions. Normally prefer to play games like this on tv but works great handheld and looks gorgeous on the oled.

Still Celeste. Just played for the last hour and my hands are aching. Might break it up by start something else off the backlog that’s less intense. Maybe What Remains of Edith Finch.

Also kind of tempted to fire up Darkest Dungeon on my iPad after reading the review of the second game. But I did get a bit fed up of it first time round, despite enjoying the ambience of the game. We’ll see.

Edit - fired up Darkest Dungeon but didn’t get past the title screen, just couldn’t be bothered. So I had a run of Slay the Spire (almost beat level 9 with the Silent) and then started Metroid Zero Mission on switch online. Loving it!

Just Celeste. I’m enjoying it although it is hard. I highly doubt I’ll collect all of the strawberries but I hope to at least make it to the end as get as many of them as I can. Some screens I’ve probably died 100 times or more already…

Other than that, solo Spirit Island board game which I love and highly recommend to anyone who likes a good strategic puzzle, great solo and co-op.

Oh and looking forward to some familiar crushing disappointment tomorrow evening as Spain remind England that we’re really not that consistently great…

I’ve finished up the final regional phenomenon in tears of the Kingdom so resting the game for a couple of months before I return to Hyrule to finish it off.

So I’ve picked up Celeste which got in a sale not long ago. My thumbs hurt already, but liking it so far.

Tears of the Kingdom. Finally made it to the temple in the desert after much sidetrack-ness (I had gathered enough orb thingys for 5 extra hearts since I set off to upgrade my armour!)

Tears of the Kingdom still. Spent a couple of hours exploring a bunch of sky islands and making my way back to the desert to continue to the story, but might get sidetracked by another big side quest…

More tears of the Kingdom, found all the ice keese wings I needed for my desert armour and a bunch of shrines and quests along the way, so heading back down south to the desert, via a bunch more shrines and quests no doubt.

Once I’ve done the desert phenomenon I think I’ll rest the game for a while and play something else, although I doubt I’ll get there this weekend.

Tears of the Kingdom. Partway through the gerudo region phenomenon but decided I want to upgrade my desert armour… so I need to upgrade my cold armour a bit first so I can explore the hebra region to get the ingredients I need.

So really just lost of exploring and I’ll probably come back to the gerudo storyline some time later!

Also picked up Celeste in the sale but I think it will sit on the backlog for a little while

Tears of the kingdom, heading into Gerudo canyon for sun and fun.

TOTK. Played quite a bit, all around the main forest and now heading towards the desert. Been very much enjoying it.

Tears of the Kingdom. I decided a while back that I would play this game in sections (with other games in between) to avoid burnout. I’m in my 4th of these ‘sections’ which I expect will culminate in me doing my 4th temple, but for now I’m exploring some more, doing some side quests etc.

I do find the depths a bit samey so I doubt I’ll see more than about half the map down there but that’s ok. In general I’m not pressuring myself to do everything in the game, but I’m also not rushing to see the end. It’s still a great game!

After finishing Steamworld Dig 2 in the week, the 3DS xl has retired to its drawer again. Well, hopefully more of a sabattical as I still have games to play on it.

So it’s back to where I left off in Tears of the Kingdom. Lots of adventuring around before I eventually head off towards my 4th temple.

Also a bit Slay the Spire on the iPad

Not much gaming this weekend for me. Maybe some steamworld dig 2 which I’m playing on 3DS. I was playing Golden Sun on Switch GBA service but took a break about a third of the way in (I guess) a couple of weeks ago and now not sure if I can be bothered to pick it up again or head back into TOTK after I finish steamworld dig 2.

Really interesting interview. I’ve not read any books about video games (although I recently enjoyed the novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow which was covered on this site) but this sounds like one I’d enjoy when it eventually surfaced.

On a short holiday in Copenhagen in Denmark so left the Switch at home and brought along my 3DS. Unfortunately I forgot the charging cable so a couple of hours or so of Steamworld Dig 2 is it for me. That’s ok though, loads to see here anyway, lovely city.

About halfway (I think) through Golden Sun GBA on Switch. Just finished a slog of a dungeon and starting to get a bit bored but will try and push on since it’s so highly rated.

Also the odd Grand Prix in Hotshot Racing. Finally got gold in a cup in Hard mode - seems to leave very little room for error, but it’s lots of fun.

Struggling to understand why the comments about technical limitations are controversial. Saying that a design choice was born of technical limitations is not the same as saying that it’s a compromised decision, or that it’s no longer a relevant approach. Lots of art is born of limitations, sometimes self imposed by the creator. The fact that these are pixel remasters shows that plenty of people value the pixel aesthetic that was clearly born initially from hardware limitations.

After finishing Bioshock 2 in the week (will return to the Minerva’s Den dlc some other time), I’m taking a short break from ‘big’ games and playing Golden Sun on gba switch online. I had this on cart and played on my og DS but for some reason didn’t get far at all and I don’t remember why. It has been quite a slow start but I’m enjoying it now, a few hours in.

Also playing Hotshot Racing for some 90s arcade style fun. Racing games never hold my attention for long but when they’re good I do return them every now and then. Maybe I’ll also give Fast RMX another spin too. It was the first Switch game I owned at launch but I definitely could do more in it than I have.

@Qwiff Awesome, thanks. Will deffo give Bioshock 2 dlc a go then.

@Qwiff Not right now as I hadn’t even looked at the additional content, so thanks for the heads-up. Is it a short campaign or as long as the main game (in which case I might leave a gap before I tackle it)? Actually I never checked out the dlc for the first Bioshock either, even though it’s included, so I maybe I should check that too at some point.

Getting towards the end (I think) of Bioshock 2. It’s been enjoyable but I’m about ready to move on. Looking forward to seeing the conclusion of the plot, although it’s hard for a sequel… try and mirror the great twists and turns of the original and come across as derivative, or go for a more straight forward approach and be compared as lesser? I shall see how it pans out!

Possibly a bit more Terra Nil if time, and also enjoying Under Falling Skies solo board game (sort of counts, right? It’s literally What I Am Playing).

“Adam, daddy!” Still playing Bioshock 2 and having fun. Seems very ‘spiky’ though - I can spend ages wandering around rapture with hardly any enemies, finding ammo, health, dollars etc that I can’t pick up as my inventory is full, then I’ll reach a bit where I use it all up on a ton of tough enemies and I’m low on everything. But I do like the setting and the creepy atmosphere.

Bioshock 2. Taking my time to explore and drink in the unique atmosphere of Rapture and enjoying it.

Also a bit of Terra nil. Maybe some board games too.

@bobby_steurer I’ll be totally honest, I haven’t played Mischief Makers since the N64 days either! I just thought it was a cool name 😁. Really hoping it comes to the n64 Switch online so I can experience it again. Shake shake!

Might start Bioshock 2 as I’m taking a break from Tears of the Kingdom. I am tempted to start a game of Civ 6 but there’s other stuff I want to do this weekend and that game is just too addictive! And I really should try and get the backlog down. Would dearly love to clear at least most of it before the next console comes along, and there’s plenty to clear!

Tears of the kingdom again. I’m in the run up to my 3rd sage temple thing. Also playing Viking game on iPad (free with Netflix). It’s one of those clash of the clans type affairs so probably give it up soon

Tears of the Kingdom and Terra Nil still. My brother and his family are visiting so might try and get in a board game or two as well. In fact, might see if I can convince my family to go to the brilliant local board game cafe (‘Treehouse’) tomorrow as it’s my birthday. Or alternatively play more Zelda 😁

Tears of the Kingdom. Doing a bit more exploring then plan to do my 3rd sage temple (probably not this weekend) before I put it down again for a while to play something smaller.

Also playing Terra Nil on my iPad a little bit, nice and relaxing.

I did also play solo Mansions of Madness board game yesterday which took up a whole afternoon before my investigators succumbed to the terrors.

More tears of the Kingdom for me and that’s all this weekend, not counting a few board games.

Back on Zelda TOTK again. Think I might try and focus more on the main quests and spend a bit less time on exploring as I probably don’t want to spend a couple of hundred hours like I did with BOTW. I keep flip-flopping between getting bored of all the ‘stuff’ and wanting to just see the story, and then getting sucked into the exploration again and FOMO when I see some strange sight off in the distance.

Obviously Mischief Makers. Despite what you might think based on my name and image I don’t think I actually beat this back in the day and I sold it years ago, so would love the chance to put that right.

I would say Perfect Dark too, but after trying Goldeneye the other day with my new n64 controller I’m not sure I could handle it. How on earth did I ever successfully navigate that back in the day???

Snowboard kids gets my other vote.

@Olrun Cool, thanks for the advice on Enter The Gungeon. I’ve unlocked quite a bit but loads more to go, and I’ve been doing it fairly randomly so I’ll try and be a bit more focused. I definitely have improved - I can get the Master Round on level 1 bosses maybe 40 to 50% of the time and occasionally on level 2 bosses. I’d also say it make it to level 3 over 50% of the time now which is a big improvement to earlier.

Enter the Gungeon, which I’ve had for years but tend to play in bursts. It’s fair to say I’m terrible - over 200 runs and I’ve only made it to level 4 once. But I’m having fun. I’ll probably put it down again soon though and return to TOTK.

Also got a new iPad so playing Terra Nil again (free with Netflix). It used to crash constantly on my old iPad and I couldn’t get very far, so hoping a newer model will mean it works now.

Been away for a few days to Hastings in the South of England… for some reason I always end up playing Enter The Gungeon when I take my switch on holiday. I’m still nowhere near beating it, but am getting better.

Also trying out my Switch N64 controller with some 1080 Snowboarding which has been fun. And I relived my childhood by playing Megaman 3 (albeit on NSO Megadrive/Genesis rather than NES). I made much use of the save states and cheesed my way through but don’t feel any guilt!

Finally got my son to try Hades which he has poured hours into over the last week or so and is truly addicted. He’s about to beat REDACTED for the 10th time and will no doubt complete the rest of the story before I do.

I played this on iPad with Netflix subscription but for some reason the game crashes so I didn’t get too far. No idea why, others don’t seem to have the issue. But what I played, I liked.