Video Game Thread v. Series Xbox One X Series Switch S 5

[Stadler]

At the moment I've been replaying:

Assassin's Creed II
Metroid Prime
Dark Souls
Shenmue

And been half-assedly playing Hogwarts Legacy, at my wife's behest admittedly. Hopefully I can get through 'em all by the time Shadow of the Erdtree comes out, because everything's getting dropped for that one.

Wait, who???




Fir the record, I've played through AC II and Brotherhood in the last month or so, and am about 80% of the way through Revelations

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

At the moment I've been replaying:

Assassin's Creed II
Metroid Prime
Dark Souls
Shenmue

And been half-assedly playing Hogwarts Legacy, at my wife's behest admittedly. Hopefully I can get through 'em all by the time Shadow of the Erdtree comes out, because everything's getting dropped for that one.

Hey Gan, haven't seen you around here in a while.

Funny you mention Shenmue. I was just thinking about that the other day. It's such a strange game. There really wasn't anything like it at the time and there hasn't been anything like it since.

[ganpondorodf]

At the moment I've been replaying:

Assassin's Creed II
Metroid Prime
Dark Souls
Shenmue

And been half-assedly playing Hogwarts Legacy, at my wife's behest admittedly. Hopefully I can get through 'em all by the time Shadow of the Erdtree comes out, because everything's getting dropped for that one.

Hey Gan, haven't seen you around here in a while.

Funny you mention Shenmue. I was just thinking about that the other day. It's such a strange game. There really wasn't anything like it at the time and there hasn't been anything like it since.

Playing through Shenmue (or at least the first disc of it) is something of a Christmas tradition for me and my brothers, so the chances of me actually finishing it this time (it is March, after all!) are slim. One of my favorites though, and it is very unique. Kind of hard to explain its appeal to anyone who wasn't there at the time, it's almost Lynchian in its strange, alien charm. The Yakuza games supposedly carried the torch to a certain extent but I've never really tried any of them.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

At the moment I've been replaying:

Assassin's Creed II
Metroid Prime
Dark Souls
Shenmue

And been half-assedly playing Hogwarts Legacy, at my wife's behest admittedly. Hopefully I can get through 'em all by the time Shadow of the Erdtree comes out, because everything's getting dropped for that one.

Hey Gan, haven't seen you around here in a while.

Funny you mention Shenmue. I was just thinking about that the other day. It's such a strange game. There really wasn't anything like it at the time and there hasn't been anything like it since.

Playing through Shenmue (or at least the first disc of it) is something of a Christmas tradition for me and my brothers, so the chances of me actually finishing it this time (it is March, after all!) are slim. One of my favorites though, and it is very unique. Kind of hard to explain its appeal to anyone who wasn't there at the time, it's almost Lynchian in its strange, alien charm. The Yakuza games supposedly carried the torch to a certain extent but I've never really tried any of them.

Yeah, the Yakuza games are probably the closest comparison.......with maybe a touch of Death Stranding.

[King Postwhore]

I'm getting the Atari VCS 800 for my birthday. I can stream Ll the old system games and new ones.

[Cool Chris]

Castlevania: Dracula X
An old SNES game that is supposedly really bad, at least compared to the previous game in the series it's based on. Either way, I had a great time with this. It was tough, but doable with some practice. While the Advance Collection I played it on allows for rewinding, I refused to do and played as if I was playing on original console. Made for a better experience, IMO. Grade: B+

Metroid Prime Remastered
A remake of the classic GameCube game, this version is just as amazing as the original. Controls and visuals are updated. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't much in the way of bonuses or extras. I guess Hard Mode unlocks after you win, but I wanted to move on. Grade: A

I know I played Castlevania: Dracula X back in the SNES days but I don't remember much from it. It's downfall was that it followed the amazing Super Castlevania IV.

It's crazy to think I've played a version Metroid Prime on 3 different consoles. The remaster probably wasn't worth whatever I paid for it, as I had already played it a few times on GC and Wii, but I just couldn't resist.

[Sacul]

Still making my way through Dark Souls, very slowly but I'm getting gud.

[nobloodyname]

I'm playing Pacific Drive at the moment. It was a reluctant purchase due to the lack of a proper save function but I'm actually finding it okay. And the game itself is pretty interesting.

Last Epoch, too. But I'm finding it a bit of a struggle. More visually interesting than Diablo IV, at least, and slightly more fun to play. But nowhere near as good as the ageing Grim Dawn.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I heard the Metroid Prime Remaster was incredible. I may pivot over to that after finishing Baldur's Gate, hopefully this month. Gaming with a newborn is hard.

[OpenYourEyes311]

Castlevania: Dracula X
An old SNES game that is supposedly really bad, at least compared to the previous game in the series it's based on. Either way, I had a great time with this. It was tough, but doable with some practice. While the Advance Collection I played it on allows for rewinding, I refused to do and played as if I was playing on original console. Made for a better experience, IMO. Grade: B+

Metroid Prime Remastered
A remake of the classic GameCube game, this version is just as amazing as the original. Controls and visuals are updated. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't much in the way of bonuses or extras. I guess Hard Mode unlocks after you win, but I wanted to move on. Grade: A

I know I played Castlevania: Dracula X back in the SNES days but I don't remember much from it. It's downfall was that it followed the amazing Super Castlevania IV.

It's crazy to think I've played a version Metroid Prime on 3 different consoles. The remaster probably wasn't worth whatever I paid for it, as I had already played it a few times on GC and Wii, but I just couldn't resist.

I heard the Metroid Prime Remaster was incredible. I may pivot over to that after finishing Baldur's Gate, hopefully this month. Gaming with a newborn is hard.

I'd say the Remaster is definitely worth revisiting the game. For me, it was like seeing an old friend for the first time in years.

[ganpondorodf]

The Prime remaster slaps. Great control options too. Graphically it is exactly what you want from this sort of thing, where it looks way better but also weirdly looks like how your brain REMEMBERS it looking originally. It's a great trick if you can pull it off

[OpenYourEyes311]

The Prime remaster slaps. Great control options too. Graphically it is exactly what you want from this sort of thing, where it looks way better but also weirdly looks like how your brain REMEMBERS it looking originally. It's a great trick if you can pull it off

Yes! All of this.

[ErHaO]

The Prime remaster slaps. Great control options too. Graphically it is exactly what you want from this sort of thing, where it looks way better but also weirdly looks like how your brain REMEMBERS it looking originally. It's a great trick if you can pull it off

It is one of the rare Switch games that legitimately looks great on my 55" LG oled, both in terms of textures/animation and picture quality.

Also an amazing game for sure.

[Herrick]

I'm playing Pacific Drive at the moment. It was a reluctant purchase due to the lack of a proper save function but I'm actually finding it okay. And the game itself is pretty interesting.

The save system turned me off too but perhaps it shouldn't. I finished Persona 5 Royal and that game could go on and on and on without a fucking save point.

[nobloodyname]

I honestly haven't found the save system a problem yet and I'm not from the console generation (not saying you are!) who perhaps are more forgiving of checkpoint-type saving. You can actually get to a save point fairly easily once the initial tutorial is out of the way.

[Herrick]

I honestly haven't found the save system a problem yet and I'm not from the console generation (not saying you are!) who perhaps are more forgiving of checkpoint-type saving. You can actually get to a save point fairly easily once the initial tutorial is out of the way.

Herrick is from the console generation when there were no save points My favorite save systems are the ones where you can almost anywhere.

[nobloodyname]

Hehe! I think save anywhere functionality should be a given these days. I get artistic vision and all that but... f*ck off. Respect my goddamn time! (Please.)

[Herrick]

Hehe! I think save anywhere functionality should be a given these days. I get artistic vision and all that but... f*ck off. Respect my goddamn time! (Please.)

I just get annoyed having to replay the same shit over and over again when I die.

[nobloodyname]

Absolutely with you on that! Playing through another 15/20 minutes just to... ARGGGHHHH!

And that, right there, is why Souls-likes do my head in.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Anyone play FF7 Rebirth? From what I've read, it's amazing. Seems like people who know the original (i.e., 97% of people ) are a little more forgiving of some of the padding and mini games, whereas people who never played the original are like... Why am I playing as Cloud riding a dolphin like it's Wave Race 64?

[Herrick]

Absolutely with you on that! Playing through another 15/20 minutes just to... ARGGGHHHH!

And that, right there, is why Souls-likes do my head in.

I beat Dark Souls 1 and was like, "Herrick you are never going to buy another one of these games". Then I buy a bunch of them and never finish them 

[cramx3]

Fired up my Xbox One for the first time in at least 5 years today.  Did a bunch of updates all morning and now its doing a big update to Halo Masterchief Collection.  I'm going to try to do a co op playthrough starting with halo 1 with my gf.  I bought a HDMI capture USB card to stream it to my laptop to record.  My plan is to record our entire gameplay, with a camera on it, and chop it up to make youtube/tiktok content potentially.  My gf never played and will likely be bad so there's some good opportunity for funny clips, but also the nostalgia of the original games.  We'll see if I can actually get it all to work though 

[ganpondorodf]

Finished my Metroid Prime replay, now just to get all the others knocked off the list before June 21st... but I've also been eyeing up a Witcher 3 replay so we'll see how much self control I have 

[Stadler]

Fired up my Xbox One for the first time in at least 5 years today.  Did a bunch of updates all morning and now its doing a big update to Halo Masterchief Collection.  I'm going to try to do a co op playthrough starting with halo 1 with my gf.  I bought a HDMI capture USB card to stream it to my laptop to record.  My plan is to record our entire gameplay, with a camera on it, and chop it up to make youtube/tiktok content potentially.  My gf never played and will likely be bad so there's some good opportunity for funny clips, but also the nostalgia of the original games.  We'll see if I can actually get it all to work though 

Haha! That sounds like a lot of fun!  Let us know if you publish anything...

[TheOutlawXanadu]

After 80+ hours, Baldur's Gate 3 is finally in the books. It's such an incredible game, and the sheer number of choices and how they impact the story is almost unbelievable. Plus the combat is fun, the music is great, the characters comprise an all-time cast... If it isn't in my top three games ever, it's close.

I will say that I got a bit frustrated with the final battle. Without spoiling anything, I just feel like there are times when the game doesn't clearly communicate to you what is expected. It's always possible I miss certain things, but it can be overwhelming at times. You're right at the end of the game, it's epic, you're ready for some story payoffs, but at the same time, there's all this tactical combat happening and it keeps changing it up on you. There is A LOT of save reloading in this game, at least for average players, and it's maybe the one thing that irked me at times.

Otherwise, a beautiful masterpiece across the board.

[ReaperKK]

I just crossed 80 hours in my bg3 play through and I'm a couple missions out from the final boss. It's been one incredible journey. The game does have some faults but it's definitely top 10 of all time material (for me personally)

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i've started balatro and am already  hooked

[ganpondorodf]

Finished my Metroid Prime replay, now just to get all the others knocked off the list before June 21st... but I've also been eyeing up a Witcher 3 replay so we'll see how much self control I have 

Well I've resisted the temptation of The Witcher - but I have started something else! Return of the Obra Dinn on Switch. Closer to a newspaper puzzle than to any of the other games I'm playing at the moment. I am enjoying it a lot though, just playing it for 45 minutes or so before bed every night, gradually solving the mystery. Good for anyone who enjoys aforementioned newspaper puzzles and the like.

[Cool Chris]

I try not to say this word too often to dilute the meaning, but Return of the Obra Dinn is a masterpiece. I wish I was Leonard Shelby and could play this game over and over again.

[nobloodyname]

i've started balatro and am already  hooked

Had it for a couple of weeks and while I think it's fun, I don't think it does enough in terms of progression. I'm a little surprised by its overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam.

[Sacul]

I try not to say this word too often to dilute the meaning, but Return of the Obra Dinn is a masterpiece. I wish I was Leonard Shelby and could play this game over and over again.

Such a great game, a bit too hard for me at times, as I missed many clues along the way, but a very unique title.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i've started balatro and am already  hooked

Had it for a couple of weeks and while I think it's fun, I don't think it does enough in terms of progression. I'm a little surprised by its overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam.

i love roguelike deckbuilders and this one feels special because it's so unique. there's no concept of "block cards", there's no map you traverse, etc. totally novel take on the genre, and it's really accessible. within 30 minutes i had totally groked it and was ready for long runs

[Lonk]

I try not to say this word too often to dilute the meaning, but Return of the Obra Dinn is a masterpiece. I wish I was Leonard Shelby and could play this game over and over again.

Intriguing, I need something new to play so I might look into this. The trailer looks interesting.

[Stadler]

Playing Injustice 2 right now.   I liked not loved Injustice, and the trophy game was whack (relying heavily on online/multiplayer stuff that I'm not into and can't really spam), but this is an improvement all around.  The one drawback is I'm playing it on xBox One and the controller is a little whack so some longer combos are hard to execute, but I get around it.

The artwork and the cutscenes are world class, though. 

[nobloodyname]

i've started balatro and am already  hooked

Had it for a couple of weeks and while I think it's fun, I don't think it does enough in terms of progression. I'm a little surprised by its overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam.

i love roguelike deckbuilders and this one feels special because it's so unique. there's no concept of "block cards", there's no map you traverse, etc. totally novel take on the genre, and it's really accessible. within 30 minutes i had totally groked it and was ready for long runs

"Groked"?! Is my lack of comprehension because I'm British, because I'm old, or a combo of the two?

I like roguelike deckbuilders, too! Slay the Spire, for example, took hours of my bloody life. I dunno, Balatro feels TOO random to me on top of the my feeling of a lack of progression.