What are you currently playing?

[674100cb55a98RoSoDude]

I've been playing Metro Exodus myself. The first hour is an unbearable slog of handholdy "gameplay" and unskippable cutscenes. but once I got through that the game opened up a lot and hooked me. The two mini-open worlds I've gotten to explore so far (Volga River, Caspian Desert) have been brilliant, with solid stealth/combat mechanics and supporting systems. The Volga area had a lot of threatening mutant wildlife that made navigating the marsh very dangerous in between missions taking me from cult bases to irradiated bunkers to bandit outposts. The Caspian area is easier to get around in thanks to a van I commandeered to drive through the dunes, but in turn is frequented by raiders in a seamless mixture of scripted and emergent conflicts. On one occasion I cleared out a small encampment of traps and mutants and slept in the bed, only to wake up in the middle of the night as bandits were about to ambush me. Under the cover of darkness, I retaliated by raiding one of their bases. As I was systematically and silently eliminating their guards, a patrol of thugs drove in, noticed the guards had been taken out, and rushed in to find me as I scrambled for cover from the rear. The interiors are a mixed bag; there are some good stealth/combat complexes with multiple routes, stealth sightlines and cover as well as some great exploration dungeons with platforming, environmental hazards, and mutants abound, but then there are linear missions with a glaringly obvious stealth route replete with guards turning their back to every entrance. If this is a taste of what the previous Metro games were like, I'm glad I never bothered.

While it's no Thief or System Shock, the simulation has just enough fidelity to make for a compelling experience. The stealth mechanics are pretty standard avoid the light, throw tin can to distract guard fare but I like it as a way to avoid or start confrontation. Guards aren't magically aware of your whereabouts even after they're alerted, so it's possible to escape into the shadows and re-engage from stealth. There's a night/day cycle where the cover of darkness aids in stealth but also brings the danger of increased mutant activity. Enemy AI is a bit inconsistent, sometimes they're glued to cover but other times they flank and lay down suppressing fire effectively. There are some cool behaviors too; I crippled a grunt and he blasted me with his shotgun while laying on the ground after I thought him dead, mutants hunt in packs and fake you out. The gunplay is really visceral with simulated weapon handling, recoil, and ballistics. I'm enjoying it even more after disabling hitmarkers -- the split second after shooting where I have to guess if I actually killed the dude or not adds a lot of tension, and I pay more attention to my surroundings and buy into it more. Body armor on enemies will deflect small arms fire, so you either need to burst fire to shoot off helmets, equip a more damaging weapon, or aim at exposed areas (shooting through a helmet's eyeholes works!). The weapon attachment system is the real highlight, with every weapon accommodating different barrel, stock, magazine, sight, and gadget setups. Heavier attachments give better accuracy, recoil control, magazine size, zoom etc. but also make weapons slower to aim, reload, and swap. There's reason to travel light vs putting on your best stuff, and the effects feel very tangible in the weapon behavior. Additionally, more complex attachments (suppressors, fancy optics, extended mags, laser sights) get dirty faster leading to degraded accuracy and increased tendency to jam, so I travel with a basic loadout and gear up for assaults. There's a crafting system with only 2 resources (metal and chemical) which are reasonably scarce, avoiding unnecessary bloat and giving a bit of a survival element. Then you have micromanagement of gas mask filters, flashlight battery, and BB gun pressure which adds something to worry about when sneaking and spelunking, and makes for some emergent "oh shit" moments when a mutant shows up around the corner.

Overall highly recommended, but with a word of caution about the linear setpiece crap that brings the experience down and almost put me off getting to the good stuff.

[674100cb55cb7Kolya]

That is all true but on the less technical level: What got me in Exodus was the great (and very Russian) atmosphere, like standing at the front of the train and just watching the world roll by. Or the fact that NPCs don't look like they spent years in a Californian gym and just had some makeup artist put some stylish coal smears on their cheeks - No these guys actually live in that world, they look and talk the way. They're resigned to the world being a shit place but their humanity and camaraderie shines even brighter for that.

[674100cb5610ffox]

Or the fact that NPCs don't look like they spent years in a Californian gym and just had some makeup artist put some stylish coal smears on their cheeks - No these guys actually live in that world, they look and talk the way. They're resigned to the world being a shit place but their humanity and camaraderie shines even brighter for that.

For some reason that makes me think of "Das Boot".

[674100cb564e6icemann]

I finally "beat" Plants vs Zombies 2. It took me something like 8 years of on again, off again play, but I FINALLY did it. And what do you get for that? Surely an awesome song and dance like the first game. Right?

Wrong. You get an achievement and that's it. No ending, no credits. Zip. Whaaaa? God dammit. Still glad I managed it, as several of the worlds were hard as hell. In those 8 years I've seen the game change drastically as well. It started out very similar to the first, in that coins and diamonds were easy to get in battles, the bee in the Zen Garden (who speeds up growth time of plants) could be prodded (via clicking on it) to wake up and speed up some more, there was no ads and only a few plants that if you wanted, you had to pay for (with real cash).

Well fast forward 8 years and well. The games changed A LOT. Very microtransaction heavy, ads are now in and frequent (though at least you can watch a few daily for in-game diamonds and coins, but it's restricted to only a few per day), gone is the set stats per plant (as in PvZ 1) and in is a levelling system. Requires a large time investment but gets you incrementally better stats on those plants. FAR harder game as well, though that is in the later worlds that were added bit by bit over the years. 11 in total now. The first 9 are great, but the last 2 are an absolute slog. Either spend real cash to get more in-game currency (used for both upgrading plants and to use special ability powers during battles), or it's going to take you a LONG time (as it did me).

As a huge fan of the first game I just had to see it through. And I'm the determined sort. So it took 8 years but it's done now. I remember specifically getting a better phone just to be able to play that game. Dayam. Nowadays I just played it in Bluestacks (Android phone emulator). Still a fun game, and is one of the rare few mobile games that I got into. The other being Dungeon Keeper, which is largely hated with a passion by much of the internet, and yet as a lover of tower defence games, I just loved it for what it is rather than what it's not (a true sequel to the PC strategy games).

Ask me again in 8 years and maybe I'll have fully finished that game off as well. Though it lacks much on the singleplayer end, though there are levels. Primarily PvP more than anything.

[674100cb5678aOlfred]

This article might be of interest for you.
https://screenrant.com/plants-vs-zombies-creator-fired-ea-microtransactions/

[674100cb5687ficemann]

Ah see there ya go. Makes sense now. Thanks for the link .

[674100cb56b0bMarvin]

Chorus. Awesome space shooter with a unique momentum driven combat mechanic. It's a bit rough in some places and obviously done by a small team but a really fun romp nonetheless.

[674100cb56deevurt]

Horizon Forbidden West + expansion (PS5).
Initially i bought it for PS4, didn't really get into it, played perhaps 6h. Restarted now, years later, because i want to play the follow up.

I still have a bit of a hard time with the setting for this game, it's really ridiculous. I mean a game like SS2's is too of course, 99% games are, probably, but even within this realm i find it a little too cringy/stupid. Anyways, i do like the combat and i think the graphics are truly excellent. Having a really good time with it this time around. You can tell these guys took some inspiration from SS2 with the logs later on in the game.. and sure, there are other games with these logs, quite a few, but they felt very SS2'ish in it's writing, voice acting etc + overall what's going on with AI etc...

I also finished a game(!) this happens like once ever 10th year. Uncharted 4. It was really great, fantastic graphics too. Gotta play the DLC too later...
 

[674100cb56ee0fox]

The reason I'm not getting the first Horizon game (PC) is due to the alleged extreme data collection. They added an opt-out option for Days Gone a while after release but not for Horizon Dawn. Not sure about the second entry though.

[674100cb56fcevurt]

cant you just block the exe in the firewall though?  i do that with some stuff.

[674100cb570c2fox]

I recall reading that it's one of those games that require a permanent internet connection but either way I wouldn't want to support them with my money for that kind of intrusive behaviour.

[674100cb5729btiphares4]

World of Horror™


it's an rpg, it has horror-elements, it has survival elements & ressource management, it is even rouge-like, and it has extremely nice graphics; maybe some of you will like it:

[674100cb57472icemann]

Interesting. Looks like an early Mac game done on Hypercard.

This week been playing something out of left field. Rune Factory - A Fantasy Harvest Moon adventure. So if you know what Harvest Moon is about (building up a farm). Add in dungeons with monsters to fight, and thats pretty much the game. Great to play in bursts. Found it to be quite addictive.

[674100cb5788dsarge945]

The reason I'm not getting the first Horizon game (PC) is due to the alleged extreme data collection. They added an opt-out option for Days Gone a while after release but not for Horizon Dawn. Not sure about the second entry though.

But what if they removed it and we all bought it and got a crappy by-the-numbers cookie-cutter open world survival game without the data tracking?

I wouldn't buy it even if it wasn't egregious. No Horizon game has appealed to me since I have already played them before countless times, and better versions of them.

Anyway, I haven't been playing much recently. Mostly just been playing Path of Exile and revisiting System Shock 2 and Prey.

[674100cb57b13fox]

Weird West

Got it on sale yesterday and honestly can't say yet if the later game is actually able to live up to the promises the first couple of tutorial quests make but I'm quite delighted with the ImSim-gameplay design so far! I personally love the setting too.

It actually feels very much like an "Arkane Studios gone Devolver-Indie"-game, which isn't too surprising, given that RedWolf Studios features Raphaël Colantonio (Founder and former Creative Director at Arkane Studios) and Julien Roby (former Executive producer at Arkane Studios).

Conveniently you can currently play a sizeable chunk (about 5 hours, they say) for free and see for yourself, whether it suits your tastes or not:
https://www.indiegamebundles.com/weird-west-the-bounty-hunter-journey-free/
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1097350/view/3386166695438807232

Or just get the entire game right away, which is currently 50% off! That's what I did.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1097350/Weird_West/

---

Writing games with players in mind - Weird West x Arkane Co-Founder | Video Game Writing 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoV_HcdJ4_w

'F*** Ladders', And 19 Other Design Mantras For Arkane's Prey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iXNX-U3HqA

[674100cb57d6dXkilljoy98]

I haven't been playing anything specific, I have just been playing a bit of this and a bit of that, been awhile since I sat down and did a full playthough of anything and there are a lot of games in my backlog.

[674100cb57ef8Berathraben]

I am currently playing Ctrl, Alt, Ego, replaying Soma for probably the 4th or 5th time, and playing Sundered.

Mostly playing Ctrl, Alt, Ego though. Soma is my taking a break game, and Sundered is my backlog game.

[674100cb581bbBerathraben]

tiphares4
I have been interested in World of Horror for a while. But just waiting for it to release out of early access. I love the aesthetic of it's art style and the UI. The aesthetic reminds me a lot of My Work is Not Yet Done. Which has been in development for quite a while now.

I am still patiently waiting. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1207690/My_Work_Is_Not_Yet_Done/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmwlUFxTwc0

[674100cb58404Jules]

I've recently been replaying this visual novel (don't say anything just yet! I never liked visual novels myself but this is a really good exception) called VA-11 Hall-A. I'm genuinely surprised not to have seen more mentions of this game around here, as pretty much everything about it is classic cyberpunk themes/aesthetics with a strong anime flair. And as for the soundtrack...I know the trend of '80s-inspired music is a thing from some years ago but I still dig this genre more than many others. When it comes to this game, I'm almost tempted to say the soundtrack is better than the game itself, as good as the latter is.

Incidentally, I feel like mentioning two of the games that served as an inspiration to VA-11 Hall-A and that are just really good games in their own right. They're two games Hideo Kojima made before creating the massively successful MGS series: Snatcher and Policenauts. Both games are just classic cyberpunk, with the first one having an especially strong Blade Runner vibe to it. Think of them as adventure games with a focus on a (of course) neo-noir detective story, only without the puzzles typical of those released in the West. Definitely give them a try if you haven't yet.

[674100cb5860aJoin2]

Let's get one of these threads going. You have, or should have, old school standards so I want to see what you're up to and if you are playing anything I should check out. Let's keep each other in the loop. Games have gone to shit but there are still gems to be discovered.

Of late I have really enjoyed:

Everspace (8.5/10 indie roguelike 6dof space FPS)
Darkwood (8.5/10 indie top-down survival horror)
Immortal Redneck (7.5/10 indie roguelike FPS)
Ashes: Afterglow (9/10 Doom 2 TC FPS. note it is "episode 2" that is truly good and a full-length game while Ep 1 is like a intro and tutorial)
Xcom 2 WOTC (9/10 w/mods & Ironman mode).

Curently playing Skyrim with over 100 gameplay mods for the first time since I got it on release and gave up shortly in disgust. It's sort of almost a good game now, but it's not gonna last.

[674100cb5874fOName]

Carrion has been surprisingly addictive to me. I keep being drawn to it with straight replays and challenges, like avoiding combat, sparing unarmed humans and keeping eating to the minimum required.

Some time ago I got into playing Dishonored 2 and DOTO. The latter is rather innovative, and the former really improves on the original game in gameplay. Can't say the same about the story and themes, though.

[674100cb58970Chandlermaki]

Currently flipping between the Dead Space remake and Signalis. I also recently blasted through the Mass Effect trilogy via the Legendary Edition, which I always enjoy doing every few years.

Dead Space Remake is... basically just the original game with better visuals, some changes for the better, others not so much. Biggest issue for me is the new voice cast - the direction is completely off.

Signalis is really, really fantastic if you're into oldschool survival horror. Incredible atmosphere, art direction, music, the whole package. Some really interesting puzzles here and there too. Would absolutely recommend.

Otherwise, I play racing sims a lot. I have a G29 with the DF shifter and a basic stand, nothing fancy. Assetto Corsa is essentially my car sandbox of choice, with some Gran Turismo when I'm looking for something a bit more casual with actual progression.

[674100cb58a9bsarge945]

I just finished Metro Exodus, now playing Sam's Story DLC.

Exodus is one of the most blursed games I have ever played. Some parts of it are excellently designed, intricately carved survival experiences ala Stalker, which feels amazing to play. But then the developers shoehorn a bunch of hamfisted linear sections in, or long boring "story" cutscenes and it really brings down the gameplay.

[674100cb58e76icemann]

Let's get one of these threads going.

There already was a "what are you playing" thread sticked to the forum here. Join2 please check prior to starting a thread if one already exists.

Anyway. Currently playing:

* Lego Battles (DS) - Fun little RTS game. Pretty easy most of the time, but I love the humour and unique game setting with most of the campaigns being set in different time periods.
* Taos Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal (DS) - Very unknown sequel to the JRPG "Azure Dreams" on the Playstation. This game is a shadow of the original, with them having taken out around 80% of the unique stuff from the original (eg Town sim elements, ability to upgrade your house, dating sim elements, procedurally generated levels in the tower ditched in favour of far larger but fixed levels) and the music is just bad. Somehow the game is worse graphics wise to the original as well. If it was not for my love of the original, I'd not be sticking with it.

When I'm done with Tao's Adventure, the plan is to do 3rd playthrough of Prey (2017).