MischiefMaker

Not much for me, more board games than video games I think (loving Spirit Island multiplayer and solo). On Switch I may get stuck back into final fantasy x after not playing for a couple of weeks. Also started This War of Mine, albeit on iPad.

Exactly zero. My gaming time is limited to a few hours a week and I’ve mostly played older games - final fantasy x, Skyrim, Mario 3D Allstars, Into the Breach, Dead Cells, Civilization 6 and others.

Looking forward to trying some of these in 2023!

Oh, and my son got more Mario Lego (Bowser airship) and absolutely loves it. He’s 14 and plays way more video games than Lego but it’s probably his favourite present.

Happy Xmas! Not sure I’ll spend much time gaming but if I do I’ll probs continue with FFX and maybe a bit of Hotshot Racing, Enter the Gungeon, Into the Breach or some other pick up and play type game. I’ll probably check out the sales at some point too, although trying not to buy too many games I won’t have time to play.

Final fantasy x still. Some of the dialogue scenes seem to go on forever but I am still enjoying the story and characters and, crucially, the battles.

@Teksetter Ha! Thanks, it was as stress free as I could expect I suppose, kids almost killed each other arguing about decorating it but that’s par for the course! Hope yours went well!

Great purchases by the way - I have sunk so many hours into slay the spire and into the breach over the last couple of years, and will definitely go back to them both again.

Continuing FFX. Got stuck in a grindy bit yesterday and started getting bored, but other than that I’ve been enjoying it. Also playing the Apple Arcade Layton game on my iPad which I kind of like but seems a bit slow paced for my liking. And putting up and decorating a Xmas tree!

Continuing with Final Fantasy X. So tempted to pick up some sale deals too but trying to be good! Want to clear my backlog a bit first. But then Doom 64 for 2 quid and Quake for less than a fiver just seem too good…

@Mattock1987 I have read that once you get past that first game, if you put the time in it can be quite addictive. I’m just not sure I can be bothered to put the time in! Especially not with my backlog…

Final fantasy x for me. I can see why people don’t like the blitz ball bits, just got past the very long tutorial and obligatory game. Luckily a quick google reveals playing any more of it is optional. Otherwise I’m enjoying it. Might also try out Dicey Dungeons as I picked it up in the sale.

@AmplifyMJ I got lucky a few weeks ago on the Argos website. Ended up driving a while to pick one up from an Argos miles away, and I suspect it was a return (but in perfect condition). So may be worth keeping an eye on their website, with a wide radius for collection.

@dugan Yeah I just found it too unforgiving. But I don’t regret buying it (think I got it in a sale) as it was quite a unique experience while it lasted.

3rd attempt (in about 3 years) on Thumper and I’m conceding that, while I really like the game, it’s just too difficult for my levels of patience.

So on to Final Fantasy X. FFVI is one of all time favourite games, and I loved VII and IX so maybe I should have played more FF games before now. Anyway, enjoying it so far, and should probably see me through for a good few weeks.

Finished Mario Galaxy with 120 stars yesterday, really enjoyed it. Gone back to Thumper as I only ever made it to level 5. Will see if I get any further this time! Quite an intense experience with the OLED and headphones. Also working my way through DK2 on SNES switch, and might play a bit of Pinball FX, Fast RMX or some other pick up and play type game.

I played this early on and agree that, much as I like the HP stories and world, it isn’t a good fit for this type of game. Definitely felt like a good bit of shoe-horning going on. And I doubt that it has much to do with JKR’s public views either. While I don’t agree with what she is saying (from the little I’ve heard) I think plenty of people will either not be aware or will just separate the creator from the art. Not everyone of course.

@JustMonika Now I have it I can’t let it go! I was lucky to get it - had to drive about 45 mins for it and I think it was a return as there was no sticker seal on the box, but it’s in perfect condition. I’m in the UK but guessing you’re in the US and have similar stock shortages. Good luck getting one, I’m sure you will soon.

Mario Galaxy. I was bemoaning my lack of Switch time this time last week due to my son’s Pokémon obsession, and then I went a bought myself an OLED. Oops! Kind of regretted it immediately but now I’ve got it I’m very happy with it. Sure I can justify the unnecessary cost somehow

Well my son is trying to complete his Pokédex on Pokémon home, apparently meaning he has to spend lots of time in Pokémon Sword and Let’s Go Pikachu. So for me that means minimal Switch time as we only have 1. But when I can I’m playing Mario Galaxy and DK2. And might try Prison Architect while it’s free with the online thing.

For most ‘big’ games my default preference is docked with surround sound and using pro controller. In reality I don’t get exclusive use of the tv so much at the moment so I often end up handheld, often with headphones. Hopefully that balance will shift back more towards docked in future! Although to me, despite some people arguing otherwise, that is the main reason I play mostly on the switch even though my son owns an Xbox: I don’t have to not play a game just because I can’t use the Tv.

There are also some games I prefer to play handheld such as Tetris 99.

Halfway through Limbo in my pledge to clear my backlog of small games before I start something bigger. Nice and atmospheric and some clever puzzles but glad it’s not too long. Started Horace before that but bailed on it as I wasn’t really enjoying it enough.

But anyway spent more time this weekend solo board gaming, getting my arse handed to me by Robinson Crusoe, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

Trying to clear a backlog of small games - just finished Pan Pan which was nice although I did resort to online help a couple of times. Next up… maybe Limbo? Or Wulverblade? Also a bit of Tetris 99 and Dead Cells, neither of which I’m great at but enjoy in small bursts.

I just beat bowser on Mario Galaxy but only got half the stars so will continue with that. However first I may play one of my smaller backlog games - maybe Limbo or Wulverblade. Or something on the SNES app which I’ve largely ignored for a good while. Thinking I should clear some of my small game backlog before starting on ffx or octopath traveller (I like a good story driven RPG in the winter) - that way I won’t feel guilty about hitting the inevitable e shop sales around Xmas!

Well obviously yes please.

Actually despite my name I never completed The game on N64 as it came at a point when I was finishing uni and barely playing video games (think I picked it up second hand for cheap) but what I did play of it clearly left an impression! “Shake shake!”

Now I know the answer will be “…err you what?” BUT did anyone else think the announcer sounded like Mr Belding (think that was his name - the principal) from Saved By The Bell?

Loved this game. This and Mario Kart were the reasons I always had to take my N64 round to my PS/SNES/Megadrive owning mates’ houses (even though wave race wasn’t actually multiplayer as far as I recall)

Decided to rest Skyrim for a bit and play Mario Galaxy on 3D all stars. I never got round to playing it first time, really enjoying it!

Yes Alex, but how do you feel about the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre?

What about Stephen Fry and Fairport Convention?

Back in the mid 90s teenage me stumbled across fan-remade MIDI tracks of games on good old dial up internet which I lapped up. Mainly square soft games. I actually listened regularly to tracks then from games that I didn’t play until years later. And since the sound of the instruments depended entirely on your pc sound card it seemed strange to finally hear the ‘proper’ versions. I even made a couple myself of midis of the final fantasy legend games and uploaded them.

Nowadays I buy digital downloads on Bandcamp, or Amazon if I can’t find it there. Or if it’s just not available then a naughty download…

I love composing video game style music (yes I’m pretending that is a category) but I don’t have much in the way of keyboard skills so only ever really mess around until I find something that sounds good and then try and work something around that. So it’s great to hear that as a legitimate approach by a pro

A little bit of Into the Breach which I’ve enjoyed revisiting. Also got a free trial of Apple Arcade so a bit of iPad touchscreen gaming - Alto’s Odessey and some island town builder game whose name I forget. Oh and some Slay the Spire which I am still hopelessly addicted to.

Not much video game time for me this weekend. Played a bit of Doom 2 just now, and picked up Limbo in the sale so might give that a spin. Other than that, trying to fight my Slay the Spire addiction on ipad.

Civ 6. I tend to play a game once every few months, absolutely love it and get hopelessly addicted, then by the time the game is over I'm ready to put it down for a while (especially as there is quite a bit of waiting between turns as it nears the end). Going for a culture victory this time. One day I'll get the expansion but for now I feel like there is enough complexity and stuff I still don't fully understand that the base game is more than enough.

Other than that, some Slay the Spire (on ipad) and Aeon's End (rl card game in solo mode). And sunshine, bike ride with the kids, diy.

Taking a few weeks off Skyrim. Started Wulverblade - can't say I'm au fait with the genre and not sure I'll be able to complete it on normal but it's fun and really well themed. Also started doom 2 for the nostalgic feels. Reminds me of being late for school (well, 6th form) cos I was busy playing doom 2 on pc.

Skyrim. My interest waxes and wains but I'm definitely enjoying it at the moment. Don't know if I'll ever complete it or not but if I stopped now I'll have had my money's worth of entertainment so that's cool.

Skyrim. At the rate I'm playing video games this will take me another year, but I might finish the current quest line I'm doing and then put it aside for a few weeks and play something else from my backlog just for a bit of variety. I am enjoying Skyrim but do sometimes wish some of the dungeons etc were just a bit shorter.

Also been playing Gwent the Witcher card game on ipad a bit.

Had a bit of an unintentional hiatus from video games over the last few weeks as work has been busy, lots of diy stuff plus I've filled my free time with solo board and card games. But this morning I picked up the switch again and fired up Skyrim. I enjoy exploring the game and it's lore but I do get a bit overwhelmed with the sheer amount of quests, items, spells etc and it can get a bit tedious managing it all. Still, I think I'll persist and try amd devote a bit more time to it.

Well the good thing about Nintendo is that they're not afraid to try stuff like this. If an idea doesnt take off but then they go and try and something else wacky anyway then great. That's how innovation works - if you only try stuff you know will work then nothing ever moves forwards.

There's no point saying that they should never have done this unless you're happy that we never have things like Splatoon, Ring Fit, Wii Sports, Tetris 99... Hell even rumble control, analog sticks, a hybrid console... Sure you might not like all of these but if you like any of them then you have to accept the try and fail mentality.

I thought Labo was ingenious but I agree it's not something that many people would spend hours and hours on.

Same as every weekend at the moment. Exploring Skyrim on switch and the odd run in Dead Cells. Also been playing Slay the Spire again lately, albeit on my ipad. Still can't get close to beating the proper boss.

Also still obsessed with actual physical card game Aeon's End playing solo, just ordered one of the many expansions. Recommended for anyone that likes Deckbuilders. So much variety in the game.

Late to the party I know. The first game mortality thing that really hit me was final fantasy 6 (or 3 as I knew it then). The whole Celes/Cid thing was just an emotional bomb for teenage me. That game in general was a landmark of how a videogame could be more than just gameplay - the music, artwork, story and character development just blew me away. And to think that I only got the game by accident - I had asked my dad to get FFL3 for the gameboy on a work trip to the states and he misunderstood and came back with a second hand copy of FF3 for the snes. I had to track down a converter to play it on my uk snes but man was it ever worth it.

Same as the last few weekends and probably the next twenty... Skyrim and Dead Cells. And decorating, which is not a game. Will try and make some time for another solo game of Aeons End (real physical deckbuilder) as it's a lot of fun.

Yet to play Hades so I doubt I'll get this over that. Having said that, I can't imagine that the game actually takes a lot of inspiration from Hades does it? Given how long games take to make and how long Hades has actually been out. Perhaps more that both games take similar inspirations?

Well Skyrim and Dead Cells still, but I got a great deckbuilder (real, not video game) called Aeon's End for my birthday which plays well solo, so probably that more than the Switch.

@aznable. Good choices! I hadn't even heard the extended tracks before so checking that out now. My favourite is Epiphany Fields. Gives me goosebumps every time.

@aznable @Teksetter I was thinking Oxenfree too. I love the way you can just play the game through once and get plenty out of it, and it isn't a timeloop. But then play through it again and it takes on this whole other angle. I also got the soundrack on BandCamp and so I relive the game through headphones frequently while working. Some great tunes in there.

Skyrim. The fact I can't climb mountains feels restrictive after botw but I'm enjoying it.

And some dead cells. I can tell I'll probably never beat it but I'm enjoying playing it. A bit like Enter the Gungeon - don't think i ever got past the 3rd level but I've definitely had my money's worth.

Skyrim. I can see that I'll be playing this for months. My quest log is filling up, and I'm starting to get a handle on bits of the lore and get immersed in the world.

Also tried Dead Cells on the free trial. I'm not hugely into action platforming but it's very addictive. Tempted to bite at 50% off even if my backlog is shaking its head at me.

Skyrim. Owned the cart for a couple of years but never played, so I've made a start. Enjoying it so far. I get the feeling that the 3 or 4 hours a week I'll probably get to play it won't really be enough given how deep it's supposed to be, but let's see.

Also played a bit of 'SpaceChem' while home schooling in the week, an old pc game i had from a humble bundle a few years back. Addictive coding style puzzle game.

Splatfest! I go through the same emotions every time I play splatoon 2. "This game is awesome, why don't I play it any more?" "Forgot how terrible I am".

Was playing Lumo but had 1 too many frustrating sections so I've abandoned it. Enjoyed it mostly though.

Super star for me but it was a tough choice.

Lumo, which is super cheap in the sale and been on my list for ages. Couple of frustrating bits but enjoyable overall and I appreciate the 80s references.