What game are you playing?

[Mikero]

Yeah I wouldn't bother with abusing something like duping unless I didn't like the game and just wanted to get through it quickly.

Starfield came free with my new GPU so I've been able to play it since the 1st. I was pretty hyped for the game even before upgrading the PC. Haven't played a lot yet to know what I think. I'm enjoying what I've played sp far but was hoping Bethesda would be doing something a little more different from their usual formula.

Edit: @John it's actually a 10700F and not a K, which is slightly annoying 'cause that was put in during the emergency repair I mentioned and I didn't get asked what CPU I wanted or what I actually do with my PC. I guess the store assumed an F was fine because I had my own GPU but I actually have a use for a K to decrease render times in things like Adobe. But otherwise it's perfectly fine. Basically running everything on Ultra, even games that gave me problems on Low/Medium haha

[Johncarllos]

Edit: @John it's actually a 10700F and not a K, which is slightly annoying 'cause that was put in during the emergency repair I mentioned and I didn't get asked what CPU I wanted or what I actually do with my PC. I guess the store assumed an F was fine because I had my own GPU but I actually have a use for a K to decrease render times in things like Adobe. But otherwise it's perfectly fine. Basically running everything on Ultra, even games that gave me problems on Low/Medium haha

Oh yeah, quite a difference. K is good if you have the cooling, but thankfully most new processors self-overclock depending on their available cooling and voltage headroom.

I would only pick an F-SKU if I had to though, as having integrated graphics is a godsend for troubleshooting.

Still, 10700 gonna be solid for another few years for games, as long as you're not chasing 150+ framerates. Most games are gonna be limited by GPU.

[Majikn]

Super Mario Wonder is wonderful.

I WON'T spoil anything at all, as the surprises in this game are best experienced directly, and that includes skipping all of the trailers and gameplay footage, ESPECIALLY if you're going to play it anyway.

But I'll say this: Some added features really take it to a new level for me and adds a layer of challenge and replayability in a way that I really appreciate and doesn't feel shallow, as someone who has basically played through every single main Mario entry except Sunshine and tend to breeze through almost anything that isn't in the special world. And don't worry; that's not me saying it's super difficult or anything. It feels like lately every time I notice the Mario series is stuck on handling something a particular way, they come out and handle that thing differently, and it always just works.

This game also surprises me in ways that New Super Mario Bros generally didn't after the first one on the DS, even though I did enjoy those games.

[TheRedPriest]

I never liked the feel of NSMB, it just had a bland, generic 3D look to it.  But Wonder is visually AMAZING.  I think it's right up there with 3 and World, the only thing that hasn't grabbed me is the music, unfortunately.  I don't dislike it but I've yet to really hear anything that has caught me yet.  World is still the champ on that one.

[Majikn]

I can totally understand having that reaction to NSMB. I guess for me at the time it felt like that's just what 3D Mario would look like and I never questioned that. Yet having seen and played Super Mario Wonder, it blows my mind that it ever looked any different. The last few times Nintendo has tried stylistic art style choices for their platformers it was mostly just turning things into these artsy-looking animate craft projects which I never hated but was I'm not specifically a fan of either. I'm not even bothered deciphering how Wonder's art style was conceptualized and rendered because at the end of it all it just looks excellent.

I suspect Wonder's music partly never grabbed me because I was never stuck on any particular level that long as compared to games I played when I was 5 or 6. With the exception of the snow theme which is odd because I always hate the snow themes, typically because of the excessive reliance on sleigh bells or tambourine or whatever it is. I tend to dislike the sand/beach themes for a similar reason; it feels like they keep relying on the same instruments to convey the setting and it's gotten extremely old. The snow theme isn't even that much different this time around but it did somehow feel different and it was one of the themes that made me just sit there listening to it, genuinely happy.

[Mikero]

This is good to hear, I was pretty worried it would be like NSMB which to me isn't just bland (though it is incredibly bland) it is actively a net negative for anyone over 6 years old since it spews power ups at you so hard I can't really find any kind of satisfaction in the gameplay. I'll have to pick it up.

[Xero]

Super Mario Wonder feels alot like Super Mario World and that's Wonderful (Pardon the pun)  Bubble Power up is really fun to use.

[Majikn]

I'll pardon your pun Xero. I did the exact same thing and I don't apologize.

Mike... I mean, I can't say Wonder was difficult. I completed it faster than I've completed the other NSMB games and that's partly because I enjoyed it way more so I was motivated to keep playing. But I like the various options you have for challenging yourself in a more intrinsic than extrinsic sort of way.

[SB]

The new Robocop is pretty amazing for a budget title for anyone that really likes the franchise. Peter Cullen is onboard to reprise his role as Murphy and it nails a lot of the atmosphere from the first two films. It keeps going on sale for around $23 on Steam through various other seller sites as of late, so feel free to save some money and have some light Deus Ex fun. I think I'll look into Final Fantasy XVI as my next major game to tackle as it's been sitting on my shelf for a bit now, though I might be interested in Baldur's Gate 3 instead for my RPG fix due to hearing nothing but praise about it.

[TheRedPriest]

Robocop looks stunning all things considered, and unlike a lot of licensed properties and AAA titles you can tell it's a passion project by people who care.

[Xero]

Going back to Gravity Circuit with the new boss rush update.  Fun stuff. 

[Majikn]

I'm surprised I didn't already mention Tunic here.

That game is a must have. If you like Hyper Light Drifter or A Link to the Past. I'm always extremely interested in games of that sort, but at the same time I'm very cautious of them because they tend to be shallow or not be that good. I'd say it's definitely not the case with Tunic.

This one struck me as a shallow Zelda clone at first, and there is a degree of inspiration there, but there's definitely nothing out there that's quite like Tunic, and its existence and its success makes me very happy. So if you don't already know about it then consider yourself apprised.

[TheRedPriest]

Just finished Death Mark 2.  Fantastic game.  They toned down the horror aspect a bit, but it's still a horror game through and through.  Now I can get back to Another Code: Recollection, which I paused to start Death Mark 2.

[Snare]

Balatro.

I see cards in my minds eye, I see cards in my sleep

[Johncarllos]

Balatro.

I see cards in my minds eye, I see cards in my sleep

I put some time in on the demo. Haven't had time for the full release but next time I'm on the road and need something my laptop can play? I'm all about it.

Still working through Baldurs gate 3 when I can, and messing with The Finals besides. Fun ftp shooter. Very clean, great environmental destruction, and the maps change constantly, with multiple variants of each. Simple class assignment (small/medium/large characters) makes it a great game to just drop in and frig around in. Also completely objective teeam based with 3-4 teams of 3 competing.

[Johncarllos]

MOSTLY though, I've been playing disc golf. The local course has stadium lights over the short 9 hole course on weeknights and I've been competing at a semi-professional level. With the shoulder injuries I've had, I've had to learn to play ambidextrously and last night I got my first left handed ace (hole in one).

When I say local course, it's 5 minutes away, and is the only course with lights in the state, and has 3 of the top 100 18 hole courses in the USA on it's premises. Arguably the fanciest disc golf place in the state. Pretty friggin cool to be local to, and had no impact on where we bought our house. *cough*

[TheRedPriest]

You know full well this is VIDEO games, not your "real life" outdoor stuff.  I'm going to have to give you a very stern verbal warning.

[Snare]

I agree with Rez. Shame on you.

[Johncarllos]

See attached.

[TheRedPriest]

VIDEO games, son.  Video.

[Xero]

But the thread doesn't specify VIDEO GAMES So technically it's *gets eviscerated by Nibbles*

[Snare]

Video is always implied to preceed every instance of the word game unless specified by a lesser qualifier such as "board".

[TheRedPriest]

This "board" is about video games.  Specifically, Mega Man games.  Whose arms are definitely blue.