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.

[Xero]

I am now playing Pizza Tower on the switch.  Really fun game. 

[TheRedPriest]

I'm hoping it gets a physical release.

[Mikero]

Speaking of physical releases good job touching grass John. Don't let Rez bully you, they put him in covid lockdown back in 1920.



Dodgeball is what I'm playing. Also looking to learn to play ambidextrously.

[TheRedPriest]

That's back when lockdowns used actual locks and chains.

[Johncarllos]

Speaking of physical releases good job touching grass John. Don't let Rez bully you, they put him in covid lockdown back in 1920.



Dodgeball is what I'm playing. Also looking to learn to play ambidextrously.

I love dodgeball, and kickball. Was in a kickball league for a summer about 10 years ago.

Throwing lefty is so dang hard. I can disc golf lefty (mostly) but throwing a ball smoothly is TOUGH. Every time I feel super rigid and even if I get distance/power it is all arm snap, not form.

[Mikero]

Yea I'm ambidextrous so in baseball and hockey I have no issue switching really, I can write and draw with both hands (though one is still slower/worse because I don't practice both), but it's hard enough getting a proper (one that won't injure me) throwing motion with the hand that feels natural let alone the other for dodgeball so far.

[Xero]

I P-Ranked everything there was in Pizza Tower on both Peppino & The Noise campaigns.  What a #####ing rush.  One my top indie games next to Gravity Circuit, Shovel Knight, and Celeste.

Now I'm giving Antonblast a go.  Liking it so far.

[SB]

Xero mentioned this gem before and it's now free for the time being on Steam since it just had a sequel announced. Very Megaman inspired.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/858710/Gravity_Circuit/

Also, I've been playing Mina The Hollower and it kind of sucks for the wrong reasons. I thought it was going to be Zelda mixed with Castlevania, but it's a Souls-like game with GBC limitations and it's kind of meh early on due to the difficulty as a result.

[Xero]

Oh ##### yes!  Gravity Circuit 2 was just announced!  LFG! 

[Snare]

im happy when xero is happy

[Xero]

2027 can't come soon enough.  Between that and Dual Override.  Anyways.  Now I'm playing Mouse P.I. 

[Majikn]

Xero mentioned this gem before and it's now free for the time being on Steam since it just had a sequel announced. Very Megaman inspired.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/858710/Gravity_Circuit/

Also, I've been playing Mina The Hollower and it kind of sucks for the wrong reasons. I thought it was going to be Zelda mixed with Castlevania, but it's a Souls-like game with GBC limitations and it's kind of meh early on due to the difficulty as a result.

Gravity Circuit always seemed like an awesome game that I never played. This is great news.

And I always kind of felt a Souls-yness to Shovel Knight. I chalk that up to you having to get your money back when you die and just the fact that it's difficult and tightly designed. But you could also say that of MegaMan.

Guess I need to get off my ass and then get right back on my ass in front of that game with a controller and see for myself.

[Winged Warrior]

I played that pragmata game that Cacpom released.  It was whatever. 
I honestly felt like, after playing all those megamans in my youth, that I knew where the company was going with their story. Sure there was a lot of "dad time" with the little robot girl in blue, but SURELY that had to be a translation error; something lost in the process of translating a game developed in japan (citation needed) to an English audience nestled in the bosom of the fascistic imperial core... But alas the engineer dude bro fell for personification of a naive and underdeveloped AI program piloting a bipedal body built to resemble a seven year old girl and capable of some pretty heavy EMP like pulses.  Scary stuff to think it could be out there, right now.

I've also been playing the SciADV games.  Played through all of Stiens;Gate out of order, but I can do nothing less than blame the anime and my own obstinance for falling in love with the degenerates of the Future Gadget Laboratory and knowing nothing of NOAH II before it.  This said, I also Just finished route 1 of Chaos;head and uh........
Well I've never needed to read a book over again so hard in my life.  I'm afraid I might get a little burnt out on it though.  The protagonist maybe reminds me just a little too much of that Winged Warrior guy that used to be on here? Abrasive self important and cowardly incel acting freaks aside, Chaos;Head a fascinating story of perspective, delusion, paranoia, and conspiracy explored through several unreliable narrators.  Complete with anime pervert dolls and tortured children.  It's a huge recommend for anyone who likes science fiction and existential horror.

[Majikn]

Two major bosses in to Mina the Hollower and... I'll admit to being slightly disappointed at first that the secondary item is more in the style of castlevania where you don't actually keep it, but swap it out, but I decided to lean in to that and just see where it goes. I also knew I was going to have trouble with the whip so I chose the dual swords.

I am having a blast with this game. It's almost reductive to compare it to almost anything because not only am I seeing things I've never seen done before, there are so many connections I am seeing to other games and I don't even want to list them to spoil any of it. The most glaring inspiration seen here is obviously the Game Boy Color Zelda games and I am not disappointed by that comparison; I am constantly going past areas where I'm like "How the **** do I get over there?" which fits perfectly in the visual language of Link's Awakening and the Oracle games, and I am accessing those areas as I progress. All of these things are similar to the Souls games, sure, but the biggest gift to gaming that Souls did was bring back an era of intricate level design and gameplay that you can't just thoughtlessly breeze through. The biggest compliment that I can pay to the Souls series is that it's Zelda for adults. So... I dunno. I can see why someone would get a Souls vibe from something that is trying to be a retro-styled Zelda for people who grew up with a Game Boy in their hands, who are now adults. But there's no stamina meter, and that is likely a good thing this time around.

[TheRedPriest]

I just finished Infernax, Path of Mystery: A Brush with Death, and Death Match Love Comedy.  The former a Simon's Quest inspired Metroidvana and the former two visual novels.  I quite enjoyed all 3.  Path of Mystery is getting a sequel in September and Death Match Love Comedy is a sequel of sorts to another excellent visual novel, Raging Loop (which I also highly recommend).

[Xero]

Gravity Circuit 2 can't come soon enough.  Already we're getting bangers from Dominic Ninmark.

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

As for what I've been playing, I 100% Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and now playing Star Fox 64 HD Remix Remastered Hyper Edition

[Xero]

There is a demo out now for Gravity Circuit 2 if you have Steam.  Also Nimmark put out a few extra bangers.

Also good to see the other circuits are alive and well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLj0YElbVpw

[SB]

I've been playing a lot of Warframe as I'm close to getting a physical trophy for hitting a high rank in the game, and I've been dabbling with Star Citizen on the side as they just announced the single player Squadron 42 is coming to Steam in about 6-8 months during Q2 2027. It seems alright so far, but Windows 11 is a huge RAM hog and sometimes I have to close just about everything on my system to run Star Citizen with 32 GB of RAM just to hit the minimum 16 GB of freed space.

I've also been going old school SB on a kickstarter MMO I spent about a grand on, since I'm getting my value out of it one way or another. It's pretty much a given by this point that it's just an old dev slapping his legacy on a cash grab and he's gonna rug pull at any time since he said they're running out of funding several months ago and had to fire a chunk of the team in an attempt to get it over the finish line. It sucks, as I was interested in what he was selling, but dude is far more interested in hitting metrics and into his data than actually putting out fun and engaging gameplay loops and it's really showing he was just an idea guy that hasn't been in the industry at large since 2002.