Whatcha Been Playing?

[Alex79]

Might make for a good C&R episode though. I almost suggested it the other day but thought it was probably a bit difficult to play without emulation. I'd definitely be interested in a remake at a bargain bin price just to see what it's like.

[Suits]

I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when I saw the box art and case for Night Trap, as bad as it was .

I've been playing Cave Story+ on the Switch but I'm stuck, proper stuck.

I'm fighting this tank thing that I just can't work out how to damage !!!

[Flabyo]

Night Trap could make for a good episode, it may not be any good but it was front and centre in one of the most important 'growing up' moments of the industry: the formation of the ESRB.

It also has an interesting history that massively predates its first public release on the Mega CD, it was made originally for a machine that never launched (which is why the footage is so 80s, it was actually filmed then, it wasn't that they were trying to make it look that way for retro cred)

[Suits]

Night Trap could make for a good episode, it may not be any good but it was front and centre in one of the most important 'growing up' moments of the industry: the formation of the ESRB.

Fantastically interesting period in gaming, the formation of the ESRB.

Norm the Gaming Historian did a rather good episode on it, well worth a watch if you ask me.

[Alex79]

Thanks Suits that was interesting, and an interesting channel to follow too. Subscribed!

[seansthomas]

I was on what I thought was the final chapter of Deus Ex Human Revolution, but of course it's the Director's Cut, and they have integrated a 4-6 hour piece of DLC into the middle of the game as an extra level, rather than accessible from a separate menu. Bit of a shock to the system. The level itself is fine, probably an excellent piece of DLC, though it does have a slight 'obstacle course' feel. Enough to make me look it up and find out it was originally DLC.

The game's pacing has been great overall, and it hasn't overstayed its welcome for a 30-hr stealth game, but I was just approaching the point where I was ready for it to end.

I remember feeling the same when I hit that point. Felt like we were gearing up the finale and then it goes all stealthy again for a bit.

[Suits]

Thanks Suits that was interesting, and an interesting channel to follow too. Subscribed!

Yeah man, Norm's done some really interesting pieces.

His Doki Doki Panic episode is another particularly interesting, well researched, episode.

He's also just brought out a season BluRay, which most YT's are doing nowadays, which sold out pretty quick, so it's good to see he's being enjoyed and supported .

[dezm0nd]

I've been playing and really enjoying The Last Guardian. It's got minor polish issues, especially with controlling the lad but overall, a quality game.

[Chopper]

Tried out a little bit of The Golf Club 2 on PS4. It seems pretty good but it has an online component (feeding all your scores, career etc back to central servers) that is really struggling at the moment. Long times spent in menus, and it kicked me out of a single player game on the last hole and took a while to reconnect. It had saved my progress at that hole though so all good, but they'd need to sort it out.

I'm in a bit of a bind now as I have four sports games on the go at once and this means I'm dipping into each of them and not giving any one the time it deserves . Not really a desirable situation.

[fieldy]

Getting close to finishing Persona 5 at the moment and it's been really fun but I just can't help feeling that my time with it has been artificially lengthened by some of the puzzles in the palaces.

That said it's one of the most unique JRPG's I've played the style of the graphics in particular sets this apart for me.

Once I'm done with that I'll try and complete Inside which I started months ago then onto Neir Automata.

[Jobobonobo]

Just started the remastered version of Grim Fandango for PS4. First time playing a adventure game like this and the world it creates is really fun and intriguing. Puzzles have been fun to figure out as well and have had a few nice 'Aha!' moments already. Can see why people dug the old Lucasarts adventure games.

[Joshihatsumitsu]

Getting close to finishing Persona 5 at the moment and it's been really fun but I just can't help feeling that my time with it has been artificially lengthened by some of the puzzles in the palaces.

That said it's one of the most unique JRPG's I've played the style of the graphics in particular sets this apart for me.

I'm at about the 88 hours mark in Persona 5, and I understand that artificially lengthened comment. That being said, it's interesting having personally gone from Persona 3 to 4 and now to 5, and see how they've made improvements to the dungeon design.

Also, if its a game I love, then that self-indulgence is a plus. I know that the game has to come to an inevitable end, but I kinda hang out in that world for as long as possible.

[Joshihatsumitsu]

A little JAMMA PCB arrived earlier in the week from China, and after a little bit of cleaning I plugged it into my cabinet and started toying around with Guardians, aka Dejin Makai II:



To kill the suspense, because this was only officially released in Japan and only in arcades, MAME will kinda be the only way to experience it. So it's an easy recommendation, because if you play it and hate it, you can just delete it.

It's a side-scrolling beat-em-up, so for those with a love for Streets of Rage, Final Fight, etc will get the most out of it. There are eight characters to select from, and there's quite a decent moveset available. Combine that with dashes and it makes for a pretty nimble game.

It may not blow anyone away, but it's a bright, colourful, weird, humorous little game, full of little details that any fan of mid-90's sprite work will appreciate.

[Whippledip]

I've been playing and really enjoying The Last Guardian. It's got minor polish issues, especially with controlling the lad but overall, a quality game.

I played through this a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The controls are generally pretty awful but when the presentation of everything else is so good I thought it was easy to overlook. The camera has issues, but I really appreciate that they let it be cinematic over functional because it created some really great on the fly cinematic moments that other games would have to really structure properly or even create a cutscene for. Same with Trico's AI, yeah it was annoying sometimes when it wouldn't go where you wanted, but just added to the overall believability as a sentient intelligent creature. The animation was also realistic enough that my dog would get very very confused while watching me play (she loves the tv) and would fret when it would cry out in pain or distress.

[KSubzero1000]

The animation was also realistic enough that my dog would get very very confused while watching me play (she loves the tv) and would fret when it would cry out in pain or distress.

Aw, really? That's adorable!

[James]

PS4 Pro Setup: The Game.

All unpacked, connected, and transferred, but I'm not picking up our new TV until Saturday. What to do? What to do?

Attempting to get the last 5 Trophies in Injustice 2 it is then!

[Whippledip]

The animation was also realistic enough that my dog would get very very confused while watching me play (she loves the tv) and would fret when it would cry out in pain or distress.

Aw, really? That's adorable!

Ha, yep. Whenever there are animals on screen she gets real interested. Playing Red Dead Redemption was a huge pain because she would always try to charge the screen and run with the horses. If I went in to the saloon or whatever and the horse would disappear off the screen she'd peek behind the tv to see where it went.

[Chopper]

I've been playing a bit of The Solus Project on PC. The earth has been destroyed by a meteor and five colony ships have been launched yada yada, and you eventually crash via escape pod on a strange planet's surface and need to get back in contact with the fleet and hopefully report on the planet's habitability. It's a bit too linear and the survival aspect can be harsh in regard to weather conditions and having to carry 4 water bottles around in a `12-slot inventory.

Spoiler: show

It's just occurred to me that I can turn the survival difficulty down; I might do that. It's not that bad, it's just a bit annoying having to take a drink every two minutes.

I'm also playing Resident Evil 4 on PS4; first RE game I've ever played and enjoying it. Well, there's a certain feeling of dread that makes me hesitate when starting it up, but it's going ok so far. Just dealt with El Gigante and am heading back towards the village with Ashley. I hope it doesn't turn too escort-mission-ey.

[dezm0nd]

I've been playing a bit of the Switch lately! Needed a change of pace after loving The Last Guardian.

Implosion

This is an action RPG but in that typical mobile phone game way. Short levels, each with a scoring system (which isn't three stars, thank christ) and loot.

Everything about it could be described as "lite", however. The combo moves are basic, the loot system is just good enough to keep you interested and the missions designated to each mission is fun. I'm enjoying it, but not in the way I expect. For a tenner, it's quite good.

GoNNER

An interesting one this. It's a roguelike platform shooter blah blah blah but it's been slowly getting its hooks into me. It's very minimal in its design and has an eerie aesthetic to go with it. I'm digging it, even if it's balls hard.

[Stanshall]

Also been playing a bit of GoNNER, it's not quite gripped me yet but I've got a big flight coming up and I've kind of put it to one side to give it a proper go then.

I also got Bulb Boy off the US eShop, cost about eight quid, actually quite interesting and atmospheric. I've not played anything quite like it on Switch so I'm happy it's found its place. Kind of a point and click game, creepy aesthetic but also a bit goofy.

Continuing the theme, I've also been getting into Cave Story, and for the first time. Very very charming game, lovely pacing and gorgeous music. Again, I'm saving it because I can feel I'll soak it up when I have a few hours to myself.

I'm still playing ARMS, too. Unfortunately, having played a load in local multiplayer last weekend, it's kind of killed my interest in Ranked online. It's just not as fun against randos over the phone lines. Party Mode is actually more my bag now, good variety, quick matches, twenty minutes and play something else. I wish I had a mate who was halfway decent at it.

But by far the biggest use of my downtime has been Forza Horizon 3. What a flipping game that is.