Whatcha Been Playing?

[Tolkientaters]

I've been playing Expedition 33, a few hours past the end of act 1, and if it maintains this quality it's gonna be a absolute all timer for me.

I feel like it's hard to convey how well thought out this game is. It gets off on such a strong footing, with mechanics and narrative unlike a lot of JRPGs. There's a quick emotional prologue to get you in, and then

Spoiler: show

it wipes out most of the people you just met.

The combat is great and the fact that every character has a more interesting resource system than a MP bar makes every fight more engaging.

The souls inspired levels with save points that refill potions and allow you to upgrade a great choice. Also I like that the levels aren't just flat areas you run through, they're well designed. It keeps the blend of serious stakes and wacky elements that JRPGs are know for. I was really looking forward to this game, but it's delivering more than I ever thought it would. Also there is so much good music.

The fact

Spoiler: show

the game pulls off a FFVII style moment in act 1 really successfully and it hit
me hard.

. This is the most I've been invested in a game's narrative in years.

[Truk_Kurt]

E33 does have me intrigued as I think the story sounds really cool, however whenever I have tried turn based RPGs before I have never enjoyed the gameplay which is putting me off. Maybe I will give it a chance later in the year.

Whilst I wait for Doom The Dark Ages next month I have started playing Grindestone which is as good as everyone says, it's very addicitve and moreish, giving the 'match these colours together' genre more depth than I ever expected.

[Tolkientaters]

E33 does have me intrigued as I think the story sounds really cool, however whenever I have tried turn based RPGs before I have never enjoyed the gameplay which is putting me off. Maybe I will give it a chance later in the year.

The action elements where you have multiple ways to mitigate damage in every fight might help with that, but the character building and actual attacks are all traditional turn based affairs. I do think that the variation in every character's strats to get powerful really break up the potential monotony.

[markfm007]

I'll likely take a look at it. Probably won't play it for a while as Metaphor just refuses to end. Honestly if there's one thing that appeals to me about Expedition 33 it's that it respects your time. Feeling a bit burnt out on turn based so I might try Doom too.

[Caligulas Horse]

Hotline Miami 2 - So I've been making my way through this one a lot slower than it's predecessor. I definitely see where Alex and Kurt were coming from here! I can understand why more advanced players might enjoy the increased challenge, but the levels go on so long, and there are so many enemies on each floor, that I often reach a point where I feel worn out and ready to finish for the day, but I don't want to have to start the whole thing over again. I never felt that way in the first, since every death was only ever a second or two away from the starting point. There are also so many points where you seemingly HAVE to bait guards to avoid being shot instantly, which slows the pace down in a way I found quite grating on replays. Still had some fun with it (Richter and Beard levels were mostly great!), but I'm glad to be nearing the end and I doubt I'll ever pick it up again after.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - so glad I gave in to the hype and bought this instead of the Oblivion Remaster. I don't have much to add that hasn't been said a gazillion times over the last few days, so I'll just say that I am savouring every second of it and really don't want it to end.

[Alex79]

Hotline Miami 2 - So I've been making my way through this one a lot slower than it's predecessor. I definitely see where Alex and Kurt were coming from here! I can understand why more advanced players might enjoy the increased challenge, but the levels go on so long, and there are so many enemies on each floor, that I often reach a point where I feel worn out and ready to finish for the day, but I don't want to have to start the whole thing over again. I never felt that way in the first, since every death was only ever a second or two away from the starting point. There are also so many points where you seemingly HAVE to bait guards to avoid being shot instantly, which slows the pace down in a way I found quite grating on replays. Still had some fun with it (Richter and Beard levels were mostly great!), but I'm glad to be nearing the end and I doubt I'll ever pick it up again after.

If you've been able to make head or tail of the story, you're a better man than me

[Jobobonobo]

So I am in the weird situation of completing two games but also not really. I finally finished Chrono Cross a few days ago and Super Princess Peach yesterday. However, Cross like Trigger before it has multiple endings and a New Game plus so I think I am going to try to get as many endings before the podcast later this year so I can experience as much of this game as I can. Similar but on a far tinier scale, Super Princess Peach has a post game where new stages are available in every world and you have to re-fight bosses to unlock the next set of stages. Both of these I have been enjoying a fair old bit so I am happy not to be completely done with them.