I'm going to do these periodically.
Title kinda says all.
I'll have my own reply later.
Special weekly question:
What do you like most about 2023's repertoire of video games?
I recently started playing Dwarf Fortress, it's always interested me but I just got around to trying it, it's a bit of a learning curve but it's fun so far.
What video games have you played recently?
iRacing
What are you currently playing?
iRacing
And what will you play?
iRacing
What do you like most about 2023's repertoire of video games?
idk, iRacing has some pretty good new content
To be slightly less facetious, I really don't care for new TrIpLe A releases. I haven't even played Starfield or whatever came out in the past few months. The only thing I really see myself playing is Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name because that's one of my favorite series.
What I'm playing now? DCS. It's a military flight simulator that tries to simulate planes as accurately as possible, down to all the buttons in the cockpit. It's very fun to play multiplayer. Bombing the enemy team's factory with other players and having some people be the ones to destroy air defenses with air to ground missiles, and then the other people carry the bombs for the strike is a great experience. Or just being bait for enemy interceptors and then your friend comes to shoot them down while you just evade them and stay alive.
What I've beaten this year? Rain World, Fear and Hunger, Celeste, and Deltarune. Rain world is a survival platformer where you are a small animal and must survive the ecosystem. It's genuinely beautiful pixel art, because it's made by artists. However, there's some parts that can be called bad game design, because it's made by artists and not game designers.
Fear and Hunger is a rpgmaker survival horror game, that is brutally difficult. In it, you suffer in many gruesome ways. Basically every possible content warning applies to this game, so be warned. Ever wanted to play a game where any fight can permanently cripple you, like losing a leg and being forced to drag yourself everywhere? Or stepping on a rusty nail and then having to bonesaw off your infected foot because there's no medicine to stop the infection? Now you can.
Celeste is the platformer game where you are transgender and can double jump. Everyone here knows it already.
Deltarune is funny and good, with great character writing. Again, you've probably heard of it.
Oh God, Fear and Hunger seem to be right up my alley! And yes, I've already played Celeste; I remember when people were still debating whether the main character was trans or not (but really, it was a lot of people in denial). Also, I might play Deltarune but I want the story to actually be complete when I start playing it.
If you play it, remember the game is not fair by design. If you get screwed over by the literal coin flip mechanic, that's the point. Try not to rage. Also, when I say CW: Everything, I can't stress that enough.
Fear and Hunger, if it wasn't obvious I was talking about the brutal horror game vs the silly funny game
Finally playing baudur's gate, it is an epic pain in the ass to mod Linux.
Just finished Everspace 2, it was extremely good.
Normally it is, this is the first game I've had major problems with.
Replaying Pool Of Radiance and also started Baldur's Gate 1, been on a dnd kick.
also started Baldur's Gate 1, been on a dnd kick
I've been on a handful of infinity engine binges throughout the years. Great games - hope you enjoy them!
Have you finished Baldur's Gate 3 yet or are you playing Baldur's Gate 1 (and eventually Baldur's Gate 2) in anticipation of Baldur's Gate 3?
Also, I think Pool of Radiance is a Fire Emblem game? I could be wrong, I think.
My PC can't handle BG 3 sadly, and this is my first time through BG 1. Pool Of Radiance is the first in the Gold Box series of AD&D games from the 80's.
I would suggest getting a Steam Deck.
Cheaper than a "gaming PC" or "gaming laptop."
But much more powerful or just as, at the very least.
You can even get the cheapest one and get extra storage later.
A good investment rather than saving up to eventually get a new PC or gaming laptop.
Steam Deck looks cool and would probably be what I'm aiming for.
Yeah, it's at least on par with a good "gaming laptop" (which I think are honestly scams at this point).
Cheaper than a "gaming PC" or "gaming laptop."
But much more powerful or just as, at the very least.
What? No, it's really not. The Steam Deck is cool and surprisingly powerful for what it is, but it's still just a laptop with integrated graphics in an even smaller form factor. Even a low cost discrete GPU like the GTX 1650 is going to trounce it performance wise.
I think Pool of Radiance is a Fire Emblem game?
the fire emblem game is path of radiance
i switch the two around all the time too lol
my brain has been completely overtaken by Noita modding for months now, i love it so much
replayed Hades recently, I'd forgotten how hard that shit is before you have unlocks
started on Mario Wonder and kinda fell off a couple worlds in, gorgeous game but Mario gameplay just doesn't quite hold me like it used to
Oh, I've heard great things about Noita, but didn't know it really had a modding scene at all.
started on Mario Wonder and kinda fell off a couple worlds in, gorgeous game but Mario gameplay just doesn't quite hold me like it used to
Mario Wonder was kinda disappointing. They added a bunch of neat new mechanics, but didn't really design anything around them. I finished the Bowser Castle, but kinda lost interest playing the special world.
The visual design of the game is fantastic, though.
What kind of mods are you playing with? I'm curious about how much content you can add to Noita. The most I've seen is that (admittedly pretty cool) pony mod lol
oh multiple mods each of new enemies, spells, perks, items, materials & alchemy reactions, structures that appear in the world, alternate biomes, just all sorts of shit. I'm also making my own stuff
I don't use them much but there's mods as varied as little story quests, line rider-style physics driving, and fucking sand tetris
Caves of Qud. The gameplay is addicting and it has stellar world building with non-binary tinkering bears covered in quills, and an anarchist freehold city in the middle of a gigantic reef. The devs are definitely comrades. Right now I'm running a winged mutant who generates electricity and beguiles enemies into becoming followers, and most importantly uses the power of precognition to see into the future.
100% want to get into that. Heard great things. Just gonna wait till it releases out of early access next year.
I’ve been playing Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion. The update makes the core game much better IMO, and Idris Elba is cute and a good actor. That’s most of the good bits.
If you thought this was just going to make Cyberpunk into Cybercop 2077 (well, more than the base game), congratulations, you’re right. Join the
CIAFIA and fight for the NUSA (that you’re not even a citizen of, as Night City is independent)! And, of course, they fuck you over no matter what (typical of the genre).Whatever, I’ll keep playing that garbage. I’m a sucker for the setting. Neuromancer made me a simp for the genre.
There are other cyberpunk media, to be sure, but I'm guessing that you're just playing for the "aesthetics" or "atmosphere" or whatever, right?
Yeah, that’s most of it. They nailed the atmosphere, for the most part, and I’ve been trying to start a Cyberpunk Red tabletop campaign IRL so it helps me sort of digest the world building.
You're in luck because the person behund Cyberpunk and Cyberpunk Red don't even like the video game so the story content should be better.
Recently beat BG3, AC6, and Starfield. BG3 good, broad recommend. AC6 solid, recommend people pirate it and give it a shot. Starfield literal garbage, do not play under any circumstance.
A friend bullied me into playing Honkai Star Rail because it supposedly has "a good plot" in parts. So far this is a lie. Gameplay is meh and made substantially worse by gacha mechanics. Very insidious with its daily login etc. Won't let me skip dialogue after reading subtitles most of the time. Still better than Starfield.
Played a few hunts in Monster Hunter Rise, and it's still good, but I'm rusty so it's not going great (and I'm only just starting high rank
).Holocure aka VTuber Survivors is fine. A decent podcast game, which is why I'm playing it despite knowing almost nothing about VTubers (it being free doesn't hurt). I don't like having to aim, though. Hardmode stage 3 is pretty rough, feel like I need to grind out fandom ranks on someone specific to even have a chance which is pretty lame imo.
As for the question: I think this was a decently solid year. Looking at TGA nominees for GOTY I only played BG3, but it was good. A lot of remakes/sequels otherwise, still probably good, but nothing too standout.
Trust me, I don't plan to play Starfield at all, though unfortunately, I bought it before realizing that it was going to be, well, bad. Also, what is AC6 in this case? Assassin's Creed or...? Also, never heard of a "podcast game." Seems interesting, though. What VTubers should I get into?
Also, never heard of a "podcast game."
It's like a game that you play mostly for the mechanical feel (ignoring the plot or whatever) while you listen to a podcast or audiobook.
Shit, I need that in my life then. Got any other recommendations? And maybe for podcasts as well?
Podcast games are generally games that you are very good at, but also require input at only one level. That's why being very good at the game helps a game become a podcast game, you can turn off your brain to the plot or thinking parts of the game and just vibe on instincts.
So rogue like games often become podcast games for me. But only after I've mastered the loop and the plot isn't happening.
For me diablo games and it's clones. Slay the spire, enter the gungeon, monster hunter. Vampire survivor type games can be good but sometimes you get focused on completing objectives which can mean I lose focus on the podcast for the game. The second playthru of a dark souls type game are usually good podcast games too. Or anything where you're grinding for a bit to earn levels.
Vehicle sim games like MS Flight Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator often fill this niche for me. Stuff where you're not also focused on racing or combat. I also like digital adaptations of board games: Root and Wingspan are some current favorites.
And maybe for podcasts as well?
Since this is the Games comm, I'll recommend some gaming related podcasts:
Checking these three out then, but I can't promise I'll listen to all of them yet; I'm going through some other podcasts right now.
i'm back on my roguelite bullshit, so Vampire Survivors yet again and i'm now getting into Roboquest
Vampire Survivors takes a bit to get going dont get fooled by the first 20-30min. It goes places and there is a load of stuff/chars and weapons to unlock.
Replaying Pathfinder WOTR's lich path with the new alchemist archetype that specialises in undead summons, haven't actually got to the point at which the mythic path is chosen because things keep coming up that siphon my free time.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous would've been the best CRPG this year if not for Baldur's Gate 3; glad to see another fan of the Pathfinder series!
I keep wanting to do a lich playthrough, but I can't decide if I want to do a full arcane caster (for the merged spell book thing) or some kind of monk. Now this new alchemist sounds like it's put another wrinkle in my decision lol.
The merged spellbook for arcane casters is fantastic.
spoiler
My last lich playthrough was as undead bloodline sorc. There's a lich spell that raises enemies killed while under its effect, but they can't follow you into the world map.
It's really useful in the longer dungeons but was a complete mess in act 4, since every part of that except the camp and the final dungeon are one location. I was raising every large enemy I killed. After clearing out the flesh markets, I had a large enough blob that they could do all the killing for me with occasional negative energy healing from Staunton.
Power Wash Simulator. Relaxing and no-stakes game that keeps my ADHD hands busy while enabling me to pay more attention to whatever I'm watching or listening to on the side.
I'm almost at the end of Super Mario RPG remake which means I'll probably never play it again and thus continue my trend of not finishing RPGs. I think the last RPG I finished was... maybe Mass Effect 2?
been playing some coop halo with my lovely girlfriend
has been very funI'm playing Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3. I'm making good time on Elden Ring, but taking my time with Baldur's Gate 3 until I finish the former. Afterward, I'll probably go back to finish The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Otherwise, I'll play, in the future, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (by Owlcat Games) and an older game called Ib, which I heard is kinda like OMORI.
As for the special weekly question:
I think this year's video games were consistently of high quality and even the AAA games were good this time (whereas normally they're below the par of AA and Indie games, I feel).
Outer Worlds is better than most people make it out to be. It ain't New Vegas, but without the support of a giant like Bethesda, it was never going to be. The enemy and weapon design gets a little bit same-y after a while, and they return to the classic Fallout structure where every mission has a good ending and a contrarian ending. But where the game really shines is the companions, their quests, and how they interact with almost everyone. Listening to my crew get to know one another has been a real highlight.
Starfield has made me appreciate Outer Worlds so much more. Gameplay was fine, and while the politics weren't great, they were certainly good by comparison.
I started playing Outer Worlds because I don't own anything that can run Starfield. Outer Worlds has been infinitely more visually appealing than the sterile, white, John W. Campbell blandscape that is Starfield.
Even just the the advantage of hand-crafted but relatively small open world areas over endless procedural nonsense is staggering.
I also had that problem with No Man's Sky, but I also haven't checked in on that one in a while.
