Games We've Recently Played (And Wot We Fink)

[Quetzalcoatl]

I wanted to play some some other kinds of games aside from my usual grid of mostly strategy and a dash of FPS, so I a while ago purchased Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition from Steam. It has got very good reviews both on Steam and elsewhere, and it is reportedly similar to Dungeon Siege, which I recall liking in my younger days. In addition, I like the mythological setting, it makes for a nice change from the usual Tolkien-esque fantasy setting of many RPGs.

I am disappointed in this game.

The game is incredibly repetitive. Click, click, click. Fight, pick up gold and healing potions, see if any of those you killed left better weapons and armor, if so pick it, buy better stuff on occasion. I am currently at a stage where there is a major boss that I have not managed to defeat, so I replay old paths in order to get more experience so that I will defeat him. It is incredibly repetitive. Every time I do it, I think that there are so many more fun things I could be doing with my time.

I guess this genre is just not for me, apart from Dungeon Siege.

[smellincoffee]

I've been in LTR relationship with a few different games: Red Dead Redemption 2, The Sims 4, and American Truck Simulator. The last two are good for listening to podcasts with, the first is what I use to unwind. Nothing like a drink + fishing, hunting, and getting in bar fights.

[Rai]

I have picked up Pentiment, and it is so far fantastic.

It's a mostly dialogue-based adventure RPG set in 16th century Bavaria, where you play as an apprentice illuminator temporarily working at an abbey who ends up drawn into a murder investigation.

The art style is gorgeous, based on a number of medieval styles and there are very heavy choice and consequence mechanics at play. It is also probably the best representation of the Middle Ages I have ever seen in a video game. Mind you, it is very slow, extremely dense with lore (history, theology, art history, etc) and very heavily text-based, so it is not for everyone, especially in 2023, but it is really worth having a look.

[arthwollipot]

Stray.

Premise: you're a cat.

Specifically, you're a cat that's suddenly dumped into a post-apocalyptic underground city inhabited solely by robots. Early in the game (no spoilers) you acquire a drone buddy and he helps you in your quest to escape the city.

It's good. It's short - I finished it in two days (not 100%) - but it's good. It runs from "aawww look at the kitty meowing and curling up at peoples' feet" to "aaargh nighmare fuel the walls have literal eyes and they can see me!" in the space of a couple of hours. It's an interesting, though straightforward, story and the gameplay mechanic is fantastic.

I got it discounted on the PS Store. I recommend you do to, especially if you're a cat person.

[random poet]

Stray.

Premise: you're a cat.

Specifically, you're a cat that's suddenly dumped into a post-apocalyptic underground city inhabited solely by robots. Early in the game (no spoilers) you acquire a drone buddy and he helps you in your quest to escape the city.

It's good. It's short - I finished it in two days (not 100%) - but it's good. It runs from "aawww look at the kitty meowing and curling up at peoples' feet" to "aaargh nighmare fuel the walls have literal eyes and they can see me!" in the space of a couple of hours. It's an interesting, though straightforward, story and the gameplay mechanic is fantastic.

I got it discounted on the PS Store. I recommend you do to, especially if you're a cat person.

I have been looking at this one for a while. The cat animations in that game look incredibly well done.

[arthwollipot]

I have been looking at this one for a while. The cat animations in that game look incredibly well done.

They are quite good, yes. It's hard to explain, but the gameplay kind of feels like your avatar has the capability that a cat should have. You can jump and balance like a cat should jump and balance.

Like I said, the only downside of this game in my opinion is that it is short.

[Tassie Dave]

I started playing Stray yesterday. It looks ok and fun from my short play of it.

I've put it aside for the moment while I play "The Last of us" (Remastered) which I've never played. Ahead of the start of the TV show version next week. I've just reached the part of the game where Joel and Ellie first meet (For some reason, based on short clips I've seen, I had assumed they were father and daughter, and not strangers thrown together and having to survive)

I bought a second hand PS4 a few months ago to play the Unchartered series. A game that never came to Xbox. Now I'm going to play a few of the PS4 exclusives that I missed out on.

[stretcher]

I've been stuck into GTA Online. They made changes so that one may plan within their own private session that only crew members or platform friends may join. This is great, because prior the game was virtually unplayable due to all of the griefing, not to mention the vile racist toxicity of the public session banter.

[Harry Black]

I started playing Stray yesterday. It looks ok and fun from my short play of it.

I've put it aside for the moment while I play "The Last of us" (Remastered) which I've never played. Ahead of the start of the TV show version next week. I've just reached the part of the game where Joel and Ellie first meet (For some reason, based on short clips I've seen, I had assumed they were father and daughter, and not strangers thrown together and having to survive)

I bought a second hand PS4 a few months ago to play the Unchartered series. A game that never came to Xbox. Now I'm going to play a few of the PS4 exclusives that I missed out on.

Its been over 10 years since I played The Last of Us so I picked it up again after the show started.

Theres something wonderful about seeing the game version of events after the show and seeing some scenes redone word for word with different (and also amazing) actors.

Looking forward to finishing this and starting Disco Elysium.

[stretcher]

I am playing Octopath Traveler 2 on the PlayStation 5. After a great start it's starting to slow down and require some grinding. I'm usually OK with that, being a long time veteran of JRPG's, but it feels very sudden here.

Still a great game. They improved the visuals, particularly the lighting, from the first. It has a very unique and soothing look.

[Rai]

Looking forward to finishing this and starting Disco Elysium.

You are in for a treat with that one!

[stretcher]

I gave the Dead Space remake on PC a whirl. It's far superior to the original (no surprise), fixing essentially every little nuisance or dubious design decision while improving the visuals and gameplay a massive amount.

[random poet]

I am back on the Destiny 2 wagon. Damn this game is good.

Otherwise, trying to get through Tunic. It is a perfect rendering of how awesome the first few Zelda games were. Exploring, learning how the world works, dying 50000000 times...