What game are you wasting time on?

[Jack]

Turning the UK into a socialist police state in Democracy 3 is harder than I thought it would be, right now I got nil unemployment since pretty much everyone is employed by the state and the state owns everything but for some reason I haven't got the communist utopia achievement. To get the economy going after the corporate exodus and the massive brain drain I've been facing thanks to all the taxes I had to legalize drugs, prostitution and gambling which in turn lead to increasingly drastic measures to hamper crime. Right now I'm regularly thwarting lieberal assassination attempts against me and keep firing ministers because they don't agree with my policies, right now the global market is in recession but once it starts picking up again I will be able to further my efforts to crush the lieberal terrorists cells and organized crime. I have 92% of the population on my side and a police/intelligence force to be reckoned with what could possibly go wrong?

 

[WhiteGuts]

Your socialist police state would be a great setting for an RPG, I say.

OK, now I'm just sad. I've had "Mark of the Ninja" on my computer for a while, unplayed and untouched. Figured I'd finally give it a go.

Ran into two problems which made that impossible. The first one was the mouse being incredibly sluggish... and I'm just browsing through the menus. Clicking on a button isn't registered, clicking on one option registers the one below it, etc. Really strange.

It was the other problem that ruined it for me, though. The controls are not fully customizable. What that means, is that I cannot set up the game to my preferred keyboard+mouse setup, as some keys are simply barred from being used. It's the same thing as with Mirror's Edge and Dead Space. I've been using the same/very similar keyboard configuration for 20 years now, I'm now switching to WASD at this late a point. And when there are so many games available today that allow me to use almost any key for any purpose... coming across a game made in the past 5 years that just says "Nope, can't use that key. Nuh-uh, not that one either!" make me immediately think how sloppily the game is designed. This is inexcusable.

These two things put me off so badly that I never even actually played the game. Which is a shame, 'cause from what I've seen and heard it sounds like one of the good games to play.

Play it with a cuntroller. It was designed around it, it feels a lot more natural to play it with a cuntroller.

 

[DalekFlay]

Since there was a free weekend of Borderlands 2 on Steam, I thought I'd give it a go.

If this is what modern-day FPS games are all about, count me out.

Not defending modern FPS design at all but Borderlands is hardly an example of it. It's a first-person Diablo game made for people who obsess about loot.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Well... to be honest I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. The upside being then that I've yet to really see what modern-day FPS are all about.

The bad side being, of course, that they could be worse than Borderlands 2.

 

[DraQ]

But isn't that the idea? The game is Diablo with guns.

Diablo I rarely, if ever felt like progress bar simulator.

 

[sea]

I played through Brothers today. Powerful stuff. All I can say is, go play it.

 

[Excidium]

I played through Brothers today. Powerful stuff. All I can say is, go play it.

Is this a case of Spec Ops the Line or what? It looks p. boring from gameplay videos.

 

[Sunsetspawn]

But isn't that the idea? The game is Diablo with guns.

Diablo I rarely, if ever felt like progress bar simulator.

Well since I never played a Diablo that explains my confusion. I suppose I should've said Divinity 2 with guns, or Balder's Gate: Dark Alliance with guns, but those don't have the same ring.

 

[sea]

Is this a case of Spec Ops the Line or what? It looks p. boring from gameplay videos.

I think if you go in with the same attitude and judgement criteria as a typical videogame, you may come away disappointed. It may not resonate with you either; it's going to be a personal thing. It's not difficult or challenging but it's not intended to be, and it lasts exactly as long as it needs to and no more - the perfect length to finish in one sitting, in fact.

It's a very unique experience that could only be achieved with a gamepad, and a narrative that could only be told with its effectiveness in the context of a videogame. I know this statement sometimes gets thrown around and often is diminished by using it in "unworthy" context, but Brothers is fundamentally something you must interact with directly to understand and appreciate.

 

[Excidium]

Oh, it's that kind of game.

Which is a shame because this type of multiple character coordination puzzle style can be p. cool.

 

[Darth Roxor]

I think if you go in with the same attitude and judgement criteria as a typical videogame, you may come away disappointed. It may not resonate with you either; it's going to be a personal thing. It's not difficult or challenging but it's not intended to be, and it lasts exactly as long as it needs to and no more - the perfect length to finish in one sitting, in fact.

It's a very unique experience that could only be achieved with a gamepad, and a narrative that could only be told with its effectiveness in the context of a videogame. I know this statement sometimes gets thrown around and often is diminished by using it in "unworthy" context, but Brothers is fundamentally something you must interact with directly to understand and appreciate.

sure smells igny here

 

[sea]

Oh, it's that kind of game.

Which is a shame because this type of multiple character coordination puzzle style can be p. cool.

It is definitely mechanically interesting but the game doesn't fully explore the idea. As far as how it plays it's not some kind of masterwork. What it is is a very concise and complete experience.

Dunno what else to say. Normally I don't fall for "pretentious indie hipster bait" kind of games but this one did a number on me. I think it's "unfair" to go into the game with a cynical mindset and like many such things, but then, I did that a little in the beginning, knowing its reputation and bracing myself for it, and it wasn't any less effective.

 

[CrazyDiamond]

I'm here to say that I just wasted around 36 hours of my life to 100% Red Dead Redemption.

And it feels fucking good.

 

[Broseph]

The Codex Top 50 RPGs reminded me that I bought Gothic 1 and 2 off GOG nearly a year ago and I still haven't played them, so I started Gothic 1 today. Even though a part of me wants to say it's shit (awkward as fuck controls, clunky combat), I'm having a lot of fun. I like having to find trainers to increase your skills and attributes, having to find a cartographer to get a map of the area. Also, I ran into Mud, led him into a cave and killed him only to find he was an essential NPC, so I bunnyhopped away and he still hasn't caught up to me.

 

[skacky]

The Gothic games are a lot of fun. Harsh, but fun. The controls are kind of atrocious but you get used to them pretty quickly.

 

[Corporate_Jew_Master]

If I remember right, the beginning of Gothic 2 is brutal as all fuck.

And for God's sake, remember to specialize. Going jack of all trades will eat you up.

 

[Aeschylus]

If I remember right, the beginning of Gothic 2 is brutal as all fuck.

And for God's sake, remember to specialize. Going jack of all trades will eat you up.

It's brutal if you try to explore a lot while you're still low level and underequipped. If you stick to the city for a while you can gain a few levels and be less useless.

And a certain amount of spreading of learning points is workable. You can afford to drop a few points into dex and 1h swords as a mage to suck less towards the start. I suppose it's possible to screw yourself if you do something really stupid, like spend a ton of lp on dex as a 2h fighter or something, but for the most part as long as you pay attention to how the game works you'll be ok.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

It is entirely possible to master all fighting and most magic in Gothic 1 at least.

 

[Corporate_Jew_Master]

If I remember right, the beginning of Gothic 2 is brutal as all fuck.

And for God's sake, remember to specialize. Going jack of all trades will eat you up.

It's brutal if you try to explore a lot while you're still low level and underequipped. If you stick to the city for a while you can gain a few levels and be less useless.

And a certain amount of spreading of learning points is workable. You can afford to drop a few points into dex and 1h swords as a mage to suck less towards the start. I suppose it's possible to screw yourself if you do something really stupid, like spend a ton of lp on dex as a 2h fighter or something, but for the most part as long as you pay attention to how the game works you'll be ok.

What stuck with me by Gothic 2 was how my usual melee/caster hybrid build that I usually do in RPGs didn't work out at all. Game was very challenging that way.

Then I went pure Fire Mage build and just blazed through everything. Gothic 1 was more flexible in that regard if I remember right.

 

[Aeschylus]

Well, with NotR (which made training more expensive) the only way to do it effectively was sort of meta-gamey -- if you got to 60 dex you could use the Master Sword (which you can buy in the city, but only if you know not to talk to the merchant until you can afford it), and that made you almost as good as a character that pumped strength. It's kind of redundant towards the end where magic wipes out everything, but it's nice at the start.

 

[CyberWhale]

Finished Teslagrad and Pixeljunk Shooter. Both of them are short and simple yet satisfying 2D sidescrollers. Of a different kind, but equally charming.

From left to right.

 

[Abelian]

Currently playing MMXL, will resume CK2 afterward.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

There's a snow storm about to hit me, and I can't get home to the family. So I'm stranded at the hotel with nothing to do except play Dark Heart of Uukrul for the next 24-48 hours, with sleep in between. Poor me.

 

[Sensuki]

I enjoyed FPS, especially tactical squad based shooters such as Rainbow6 (up to and including the ravenshield games). There hasn't been a decent tactical shooter released in FOREVER until now...

Insurgency is a recently released tactical shooter. It feels fantastic, looks great, sounds awesome and plays like butter. The guns feel really crisp. if you like tactical shooters, give it a try:

Team link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/222880/

WTF is Insurgency: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMxjlHU9u38

I have also been playing some Insurgency.

Coming from a competitive ($) Call of Duty on PC background, with experience in some other tactical shooters (Older Tom Clancy games, SWAT 4, Red Orchestra 2) this feels like an attempt at mixing CoD4 style movement (or at least movespeeds) with Red Orchestra 2 style shooting.

I think the current mix is a bit jarring although you get used to it. The movespeed is pretty quick and spastic, but the lack of movement blends (such as easily move from stances, lean while moving) makes the movement feel rather shitty to something like CoD4, which had a pretty big emphasis on movement in competitive, for a CoD game.

The shooting is very similar to Red Orchestra 2 in feel, but you're using modern warfare weapons for the most part, so the elegance of RO2's rifle gameplay is lost a bit on this style and it still feels a bit spammy, being that you can die in one shot and you have people who have horrible aim but will still kill you because after missing the first 5 bullets they clip over your model and hit you once and you die. It is pretty satisfying though 1b'ing someone across the map with an AK-M or equivalent, and there are a range of semi auto rifles and a couple bolt action scopes.

I still think it feels a bit funny and personally if I cared more I'd be campaigning for some movement blending (such as being able to lean while strafing and being able to hold shift breath zoom while moving) but that's just me.

It's in the middle between a tac shooter and a more faster paced game, which is a weird combo, and I think if it was a bit more tactical / slower or a bit quicker then it would be a better game.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

I enjoyed FPS, especially tactical squad based shooters such as Rainbow6 (up to and including the ravenshield games). There hasn't been a decent tactical shooter released in FOREVER until now...

Insurgency is a recently released tactical shooter. It feels fantastic, looks great, sounds awesome and plays like butter. The guns feel really crisp. if you like tactical shooters, give it a try:

Team link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/222880/

WTF is Insurgency: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMxjlHU9u38

I have also been playing some Insurgency.

Coming from a competitive ($) Call of Duty on PC background, with experience in some other tactical shooters (Older Tom Clancy games, SWAT 4, Red Orchestra 2) this feels like an attempt at mixing CoD4 style movement (or at least movespeeds) with Red Orchestra 2 style shooting.

I think the current mix is a bit jarring although you get used to it. The movespeed is pretty quick and spastic, but the lack of movement blends (such as easily move from stances, lean while moving) makes the movement feel rather shitty to something like CoD4, which had a pretty big emphasis on movement in competitive, for a CoD game.

The shooting is very similar to Red Orchestra 2 in feel, but you're using modern warfare weapons for the most part, so the elegance of RO2's rifle gameplay is lost a bit on this style and it still feels a bit spammy, being that you can die in one shot and you have people who have horrible aim but will still kill you because after missing the first 5 bullets they clip over your model and hit you once and you die. It is pretty satisfying though 1b'ing someone across the map with an AK-M or equivalent, and there are a range of semi auto rifles and a couple bolt action scopes.

I still think it feels a bit funny and personally if I cared more I'd be campaigning for some movement blending (such as being able to lean while strafing and being able to hold shift breath zoom while moving) but that's just me.

It's in the middle between a tac shooter and a more faster paced game, which is a weird combo, and I think if it was a bit more tactical / slower or a bit quicker then it would be a better game.

Hmm, well I can disagree there. The less this is like CoD the better. It feels very much like a cross between RB6 v3 - Ravenshield and counterstrike, which is all good in my books. FPS as a genre went into the fucking toilet the moment unlocks and achievements and all that shit was introduced.