General gaming discussion

[Dark Soldier]

If you have even a half decent PC just emulate and save yourself 300 quid. BotW in ultrawide at 120fps with graphical improvements, draw distance and AA is a thing of beauty.


https://i.ibb.co/mtDgyL9/chrome-image-14-Oct-2022-10-01-31-BST.png

[Pepe]

Metroid Dread as well.

Oh yeah, that one was alright, I guess.


And Bayonetta 3's coming out.

Or so I've been hearing for the past three years. Not that I care. I played Bayonetta 2 and it just wasn't my thing.

[Ian]

I'll definitely be getting the Mario Rabbids one at some point because while Rabbids are a bit shit I've heard nothing other than that it's a good XCOM-like and frankly I can't get enough of them in my life.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, it's very good.

[Pepe]

It was a good game, but Three Houses is better, imo.

[Ian]

I have probably always dismissed Fire Emblem as JRPG weeb shit. Is it actually good?

[Ian]

It was a good game, but Three Houses is better, imo.

FYI somebody on a Discord I'm on just said they've been playing something called Triangle Strategy and liked it even better than Three Houses so may be worth you having a look at?

[Pepe]

Triangle Strategy is good, yes. Too much dialogue for my current taste, but if you are ok with that, then go for it.

Fire Emblem is definitely weeb shit, but I found the tactical aspect and the leveling/recruiting characters aspects to be very enjoyable.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Weeb shit :sick:

[Shindig]

Every time some indie stuff is cheap on Switch, I consider it but without pulling the trigger. It' a Nintendo exclusives machine to me. Maybe, maybe I bother with Monster Hunter Rise if I ever get down that hole.

[Gray Fox]

https://i.ibb.co/mtDgyL9/chrome-image-14-Oct-2022-10-01-31-BST.png

https://en.meming.world/images/en/6/67/Is_It_Possible_to_Learn_This_Power.jpg

I've a pretty good PC in non-RTX 4090 standards so I'm wondering how it would cope.

[Dark Soldier]

https://en.meming.world/images/en/6/67/Is_It_Possible_to_Learn_This_Power.jpg

I've a pretty good PC in non-RTX 4090 standards so I'm wondering how it would cope.



I'm on a 9700k and 2080ti running in 2560x1080.

Just get a recent CEMU setup guide on YouTube, and a USB Helper guide. Download em both. If you're at all savvy with PCs it's like an hour setup dependent on your download speed with USB Helper. CEMU uses Vulkan for texture compilation so it's fast as. Running it with Xbox controller, just means like 3 shrines you can't really do with motion controls, unless you have a PS controller with emulates it.

USB Helper basically connects to the Nintendo store and downloads everything for free (lol).

It's Wii U emu but runs like a fucking dream. You'll need the below for the key for USB Helper:

https://titlekeys.ovh/

Switch emu is also banging, did Metroid Dread in 4k 60fps when I was on my 4k monitor. Runs most things at 60fps improved res, Yuzu is best for that. BOTW Switch isn't up to speed yet but not needed cos of CEMU

When you've got it all set up just right click on the game in CEMU and you can change draw distance, aliasing, basically everything.

[Dark Soldier]

This was my set up running it in 4k three years back before CaeMU made loads of improvements. Near locked 60 back then. Wii U emulation really isn't taxing as its piss weak hardware to begin with. Similarly Switch.

https://youtu.be/-i94HqCM4_I

[Shindig]

I wonder if anybody bothers emulating the Mario 3D All Stars stuff for an easier way to the sharper textures?

[Dark Soldier]

I wonder if anybody bothers emulating the Mario 3D All Stars stuff for an easier way to the sharper textures?

I believe they do. I've full emulation up to the Gamecube via my Xbox Series S. It, again, is a piece of piss to set up with Retroarch. Microsoft don't even stop ya.

Just search Retroarch retail mode Series S or X on YouTube if you have one and are interested. PS2, PS1, Dreamcast, GC and all the older games as long as you supply roms.

Played through Windwaker in 1440p last month no bother.

[Gray Fox]

I'm on a 9700k and 2080ti running in 2560x1080.

I'm running an R7 5700x and a 6750xt, so 1440p is grand for me for everything. 4k is doable for todays games in the most part, so I do have a 4k60hz monitor just in case.

I'ma take a look at this when I get a minute.

[Dark Soldier]

I'm running an R7 5700x and a 6750xt, so 1440p is grand for me for everything. 4k is doable for todays games in the most part, so I do have a 4k60hz monitor just in case.

I'ma take a look at this when I get a minute.

You'll absolutely piss emu with that set-up. Will be glorious if you can do higher refresh rates. You'll be looking at 100fps+ easy at 1440 maxed settings.

[Baz]

Games on my Switch:
Yoshis Crafted World
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
FIFA 22
Diablo II: Resurrected
Disco Elysium
WWE2K Battlegronds
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain
New Super Luckys Tale
Minecraft
RetroMania Wrestling
Metroid Dread
FM22 Touch
Paw Patrol The Movie: Adventure City
Mario Party Superstars
Super Mario 3D World & Bowsers Fury
Syberia 1, 2 & 3
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
Pokémon Legends Arceus
Pokemon Shield
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1&2
Broken Sword 5
Final Fantasy VII

Games that get played:

[Manc]

I'll take it off your hands Baz.

[Shindig]

Nah, the kid will age into it.

[Baz]

I'll take it off your hands Baz.Nah, spent a small fortune getting it chipped.

It’s only cos we’ve completed Mario Kart, and there’s decent kids games on Xbox Gamepass. Shindig is right too.

[Disco]

Never get rid of old consoles, it's never worth it.

[Shindig]

Playstation Country is closing up so I can get back to my backlog. Just a deluge of codes and not enough time to do them. Really enjoyed writing for them but I'll not miss the visual novels.

[phonics]

Speaking of Swich

1582039818472947712

So I'm going to turn on my Switch for the first time in 2 years.

[Pepe]

Too easy apparently. Like every fucking Nintendo game nowadays.

[phonics]

They said that about the first one but the difficulty spike towards the end was brutal.

[Pepe]

I didn't think that the first one was easy. It was challenging enough.

[Shindig]

Ahoy's video on X-Com has got me thinking about giving Enemy Unknown another shot. I traded it back in as soon as the first terror mission went tits up. The Mario+Rabbids might be more my speed, though.

[Bam]

The new ps5 control will be priced at £200! :cab:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Looks like they've gone down the Scuf route of CUSTOMISABLE rather than more of a performance driven model like the Xbox Elite Controller which is shit.

[Lofty]

The real question is if BOTW can be emulated on steam deck to a decent standard.

[Dark Soldier]

Pretty sure it would do Switch style settings

[Shindig]

Not sure about this Silent Hill 2 trailer, lads. There's no subtlety to it. Or film grain. Silent Hill without an off-kilter atmosphere just isn't Silent Hill.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Think my best round so far is like -6 on Pro settings.

Fucking love the glof me

I think I might need to bump my difficulty up. Just went for a round of 58 for -14 in the first round of my debut PGA tournament.

Had 12 holes where I birdied or eagled (including a 2 on a par 4) in a row.

[Manc]

One to watch for The Computer.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

One to watch for The Computer.

Cancel. Hit a 78 in the next round on higher difficulty settings.

[Kikó]

1583500838445539336?t=X2KUWck5Om1ccMymS4U4HQ&s=19

Wonder if they've emulated the brass.

[Raoul Duke]

It's just around the corner.

This is the Google Street View (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Oude+Church/@52.3739458,4.8983087,3a,75y,330.59h,99.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sID4VGq-_RIMNwRnHsR31xg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s 0x0:0xc3372514b096edf!2sOranjekerk!8m2!3d52.352910 8!4d4.895008!3m4!1s0x47c609b8f3e17d2f:0x5e5932b263 45ed22!8m2!3d52.3743671!4d4.8982067)

[-james-]

Has anyone got a Steam Deck? Quite fancy getting one.

[Ian]

I don't but I've barely heard a bad word said about it.

[Baz]

Same.

I got one but sold it to CeX for silly profit without even opening it.

I'd never use it if I got one.

[Shindig]

Seems like the people that use it do so for a handheld emulation machine. Y'know, really putting the power to use.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't think I'd use it enough.

Travelling and shitting is it.

[Raoul Duke]

Has anyone got a Steam Deck? Quite fancy getting one.

I've been contemplating it. FM on it looks great

[igor_balis]

Played Disco Elysium for ten hours then got gave overed on night two cus I tried to sleep in the dumpster after I spent all my hotel money on drugs

Cool!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Would never happen to you.

[Disco]

I thought I was in the weekend thread for a second.

[Shindig]

Okay, 4K's good and everything but it's not popped as much as the jump from standard def to HD. And HDR seems to amount to, "YOU WANT YOUR BLACKS REALLY BLACK!" Probably would've hit more if I had just gotten a PS5. Years after the fact, I'm just going, "Yeah, that's a sharp looking Gran Turismo."

[SincereTheRebel]

Played the latest instalment of COD. They really shouldn't be releasing this every year. It feels like MW 2019 which is good. The last two versions were awful.

[Limoutsonik]

Played the latest instalment of COD. They really shouldn't be releasing this every year. It feels like MW 2019 which is good. The last two versions were awful.

You are in luck cause this game is gonna get a 2 year post-launch content cycle. Next COD comes out at 2024.

[Ian]

Played Disco Elysium for ten hours then got gave overed on night two cus I tried to sleep in the dumpster after I spent all my hotel money on drugs

Cool!

Pfft, I got one for looking too intently at a gear stick in Kim's car, having a mental spiral and dying of despair.

[Lofty]

Preordered Ragnarok, the review hype got me.

[Dark Soldier]

I've booked Weds and Thurs off for it next week. Loved the first.

[SincereTheRebel]

Preordered Ragnarok, the review hype got me.

I still need to play the last one. Ive got it downloaded, but haven't touched it yet.

[Shindig]

The IGN lad who name dropped every area and compared it to Godfather 2 put me right off. Liking the look of the combat, though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I still need to play the last one. Ive got it downloaded, but haven't touched it yet.
Probably my favourite ever game. Absolutely loved it.

I wanted one of the collector editions of Ragnarok that came with Mjolnir but they sold out fast and are now double the price on eBay.

[Shindig]

I beat it but I dropped the difficulty down because the combat didn't click with me. I should revisit it. I thought the story was good apart from that bit where it very much isn't.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just did about an hour on God of War Ragnarok (including cutscenes), first big fight was a bit janky as I've forgotten the combat system a bit.

[Ian]

Breath of the Wild is very moreish. There are some things about it which annoy me a little in terms of systems they've put in that don't actually make things more fun or engaging but on the whole I an very much enjoying it and the Divine Beasts in particular are a highlight so far.

Thought the weapon degradation would be annoying but it turns out the weapons aren't fun enough for it to matter anyway if you lose one, provided you've been storing up stronger ones for a tough fight when you need it.

[Pepe]

Triangle Strategy is good, yes. Too much dialogue for my current taste, but if you are ok with that, then go for it.

I've made some progress on this and I take it all back. The story is shaping up quite nicely. :drool:

I bought Tactics Ogre yesterday. Will get to it eventually.

[Shindig]

I'm very tempted to pick up Atari 50 at some point. Seems like they got a ton of interviews and archive footage for it and plenty of games.

[Lofty]

After a lot of hesitation I have pulled the trigger on a Steam Deck 64gb, was looking at the pricier models until my skinflint mate pointed out the SSD upgrade can be done manually for cheaper, and I saw some videos of the SD card 64gb actually loading faster than the 512gb SSD.

[Gray Fox]

Horizon: Forbidden West and a White or Black PS5 controller at Argos currently combine in your basket for £45.

Not a bad offer if you were about to buy one or the other.

[Shindig]

I haven't quite got on with the first one. Elden Ring made me appreciate an open world where your map is clean and uncluttered.

[Baz]

I ran 9.02 at 100m on International Track And Field on PS1 last night. :cool:

[Bam]

How the fuck did you get that time? :moop:

[Ian]

Pentiment is really good. I like that Obsidian are doing different sorts of things with each game even if they can be a little.hit and miss in execution.

[Baz]

How the fuck did you get that time? :moop:Plenty practice from fingering your missus.

[SincereTheRebel]

I ran 9.02 at 100m on International Track And Field on PS1 last night. :cool:

do we have a modern version to a game like this. Great times :hail:

[Andrew]

I ran 9.02 at 100m on International Track And Field on PS1 last night. :cool:

Still remember the day I waggled my joystick so hard on that game my tv fell off the desk and fell on the floor!!

That game got me in more of a sweat than the day I found my old man’s porn mags in the cupboard!!

[Disco]

Was jumper sprinting banned in your house or not?

[Baz]

Was jumper sprinting banned in your house or not?

I asked many times before the race started and was told anything goes so jumper rubbing was used to get 9.02 on Saturday. :dc:

[Lofty]

Got the steam deck, emulating loads of classics with ease and the steam games themselves run nicely too. Even found a workaround for Epic and GoG stuff, very pleased so far.

[Gray Fox]

The Xbox Series S has crept below £200 in most places for Black Friday.

It's a pretty good deal if you're more of a casual player and dont want the extra(and extra price) that the Series X brings.

[John Arne]

I just reinstalled Far Cry 4 and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Not sure what it was, but 5 felt like hardwork and 6 was just kinda disjointed. 4 feels like the perfect balance of grind and mission-based stuff. Great fun, even if the baddies are a little panto.

[Ian]

I liked 4, bounced right the fuck off 5. Keep toying with going back to it but... Eh...

Also 4 is the one where I jumped out of a gyrocopter I was piloting with Mahow in the passenger seat as petty revenge for whatever he'd done to me. It was fun.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think it was because the first time we played together you told me to pilot the gyro.

I failed to mention that I am shit at aviation in games (and I assume real life) and proceeded to stall the gyro by flying too high too fast which ended up killing us both.

[John Arne]

:D

[Ian]

Hm, I thought it was for something more actively murderous you'd done rather than simple incompetence but I may be wrong.

[Pepe]

I am still waiting for my revenge.

[Baz]

I don’t suppose anyone wants to sell me their old PS1 multitap and/or some PS1 or PS2 controllers? And post it.

CeX sell multitaps for £5 but cancelled my order and I can’t be arsed driving to Leigh to collect one.

[Lofty]

Steam are giving away a 512gb steam deck every minute during their game awards to users who register and watch the stream: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/thegameawardssteamdeckdrop2022

[Pepe]

Cheaper than viewbots, I guess.

I'll put it on and leave on the background.

[Ian]

Been playing the first Mario Rabbids game and it's pretty decent. Will be interested to see if it gets difficult. I breezed through the first however many missions with perfect ratings (within a turn limit and nobody going down) but last couple have been a bit trickier. Not sure if I need to git gud or if they're designed for you to come back to when you've levelled a bit and got better guns.

[phonics]

There’s a massive difficulty spike at the end but it’s pretty breezy the rest of the way.

[Shindig]

Finished Sifu on the easy difficulty. It was err … easy but I want to give normal and master a shot. It’s oddly faithful to 2D brawlers which I’m really into.

[Manc]

Has anyone played Project Zomboid?

[Disco]

A bit. I found it fun with a group (who have half an idea what they're doing) but torture on your own.

[Shindig]

Sifu deleted. :D I've got everything unlocked but repetitively going back to old levels has wore me down. I quickly fired up Absolver to see if the combat was any similar. As soon as I saw the stance bollocks, I ran a mile. And it ran like shit on a PS5. Sifu's a much simpler game to wrap my head around.

Booting weapons off people's heads is so fucking cool.

EDIT: Reinstalled. I can't stay away. Helps that I had a decent run at the club level which sets the rest of the run up. The back half of the museum is great and the fact you can use the training room to practice any enemy is a godsend.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

32 hours into God of War Ragnarok now and for the last few hours I've just been doing side quests and other little bits as I seem to be near the end of the story. I'll probably do another hour or two before finally finishing the story. I'd like to 100% but I came across a real dickhead of a mini-boss tonight that I'm not sure I can be bothered with.

I feel that there are too many puzzles (like the last game) and I hate the design of a specific type of puzzle.

Other than that I'm loving the game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Steam are giving away a 512gb steam deck every minute during their game awards to users who register and watch the stream: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/thegameawardssteamdeckdrop2022

Happening now.

[wullie]

Was getting wooed by the videos of WRC Generations but I didn't really get on with Dirt Rally much, luckily I spotted WRC 9 Deluxe version for £8.69 (https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4008-PPSA01363_00-0357122038405999) (plain version is still £49.99 for some reason) and it's a hell of a bargain. I'm rubbish still, but the game itself is great. Find myself more at ease with the snow and ice stages than the tarmac so far, I think because the former forces you to go slow which is more my natural pace for everything these days.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I like how those games strut their stuff. I hope they continue to do stuff despite losing the WRC license.

[Ian]

I've got like four games on the go at the moment.

Breath of the Wild still - I've got a bit distracted, need to get back on it. One more divine beast to go, no idea how much is left after that

Mario and Rabbids - Fun. I'm a sucker for real time tactics so no huge surprise I'm into this. Fights get a bit samey but they're not long enough to grate.

Plague Tale 2 - More of the first one. It's very pretty but I am beginning to think it might be longer than it needs to be.

Vampire Survivors - Fucking moreish, eh.

[Lofty]

Got BOTW running on my Steam Deck :drool:

[Dark Soldier]

God of War Ragnofuck: about 10 hours in and a bit bored, it's already feeling way too long. Writing is good, combat less refined and a bit of a mess and Kratos' son is an annoying cunt.

Elden Ring: Second playthrough, still the absolute GOAT game.

Callisto Protocol: Feel it was unfairly maligned just because it wasn't Dead Space. Melee combat is brutal, nicely written, and it's the second best looking game I've ever played after Cyberpunk maxed out on PC.

[Shindig]

Yeah, most of the outlets I follow seem to hate Callisto Protocol but the consensus is more 7/10. Seems like there's some depth to the systems which erm ... games writers don't seem to be finding.

[Dark Soldier]

Just gotta approach melee like a boxing bout. Dodge, dodge, smash etc. Think most are so in tune to Souls style spam roll and pussying about that they're unwilling to learn.

[Vercetti]

I've just started Elden Ring.

Well, I've done the tutorial bit, anyway. Can't progress beyond that until the bastard finishes installing.

[Baz]

Good luck.

[Ian]

The Many a True Nerd video for Callisto Protocal suggested that the jeopardy is taken out of the melee dodging system as soon as you realise that if you just start every fight (against the mooks, at least) holding a direction then you'll be absolutely fine.

My general experience is that if a game is this divisive then it's basically a 6.5/10 which one lot have decided is a manky turd and one lot have decided is an underappreciated megaclassic and must be defended to the death.

[Dark Soldier]

I've just started Elden Ring.

Well, I've done the tutorial bit, anyway. Can't progress beyond that until the bastard finishes installing.

Beautiful man right here

[Baz]

Got the steam deck, emulating loads of classics with ease and the steam games themselves run nicely too. Even found a workaround for Epic and GoG stuff, very pleased so far.

How you getting on with it now you've had it a month? I've ordered another, after selling my initial preorder to CeX for profit.

[Baz]

https://i.imgur.com/C5v5ITK.png

[Shindig]

Run to the Epic Store within the next 18 hours if you want Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics for nowt.

[Ian]

There's some other good stuff coming up too. Mutant Year Zero if you want a twist on XCOM type stuff. Prey. Control (lots of people like it a bit more than I did.)

[phonics]

I must have been offered that Prey game for free from like 5 different services and I’ll still never play it.

[Shindig]

I downloaded the 2006 Prey the other day. I'm more interested in checking that out. Now that Unreal's off store shelves, I wonder how quick those games will wind up on abandonware sites.

[Dark Soldier]

I got a 360 with the 2006 Prey and it fucking blew my mind back then. First taste of HD gaming and having had a shite PC for a few years only it looked amazing.

It was pretty good at the time though but I imagine its aged like a Chernobyl victim.

Then I got Gears of War. Holy shit that was incredible.

[phonics]

The 2006 Prey is an absolutely atrocious game.

[Ian]

You're an atrocious game.

[wullie]

Picked up Disco Elysium for cheap. It passed me by on release and know very little about it, but every mention of it is so glowing so terms agreed and contracts signed, here we go!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Punch Cuno.

[Ian]

Picked up Disco Elysium for cheap. It passed me by on release and know very little about it, but every mention of it is so glowing so terms agreed and contracts signed, here we go!

:drool:

[Pepe]

Picked up Disco Elysium for cheap. It passed me by on release and know very little about it, but every mention of it is so glowing so terms agreed and contracts signed, here we go!

:cool:

[Vercetti]

Beautiful man right here

I die a lot. Or at least, I did.

Finally fucked up the Tree Sentinel yesterday, after grinding myself to a semi-respectable level, though.

Turns out I'm a major n00b, and ran over there when I first emerged into the world, thinking I could do him over, before getting annihilated.

Good times

[Lofty]

How you getting on with it now you've had it a month? I've ordered another, after selling my initial preorder to CeX for profit.

I am loving it but I would say that it is in a bit of a niche area for general gamers. The facebook groups have been flooded with new owners who don't have an understanding of pc gaming etc. If you don't mind a little bit of tweaking here and there it is great, but some people seem to think it was just a switch pro.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Anyone here play War Thunder at all? It's free so worth a go at least.

It's one of the only non-FM games I seem to have any patience for these days. Tanks, planes and ships so plenty of variation and there are arcade/realistic/simulator modes depending on how arsed you can be.

[phonics]

I've hit mid-Diamond in SC2 which is higher than I ever got 10 years ago when I was actually trying.

[Pepe]

Is it because you got better, or because it is easier now?

[phonics]

I think I am better but mainly I think I care less so I'm able to crank out more games without raging. Also possibly a bit of a meta-shift maybe? TBH I have no idea.

[Shindig]

Could be a smaller community now as well. Still, progress is progress.

[phonics]

Could be a smaller community now as well. Still, progress is progress.

Leagues are still divided by percentage of playerbase.

[Dark Soldier]

Started Prodeus on Steam.

Glorious thing. Old school FPS, no fat, just shoot, gore, intricate levels, secrets. Love it so much.

[Ian]

I'll be giving it a go at some point. Heard the minigun is a joyous thing.

[phonics]

I got miles morales. I’d advise getting it now or waiting till the next winter sale because there’s a small joy from playing a game set at Christmas on Christmas.

[Baz]

GeForce Now is garbage.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bought Marvel's Midnight Suns today.

Haven't played much so far but it is very XCOM-ie as you'd expect but it does lean a lot heavier on the RPG aspect than XCOM.

Just did the first mission with Blade and he's my early favourite so far.

[Shindig]

Went back to Gran Turismo 7 for the first time in a while. I can't be arsed with it much beyond car collecting. I forgot how crap the roulette pulls were. I rarely got a car out of them. I was also hoping to go back to more new tracks. Just Road Atlanta is new for me.

Whilst I'm the mood for ticking boxes, Vampire Survivors is still pulling me in. I should get the DLC but I've not wrung everything out of the base content yet.

[Baz]

Had a game on PES 2013 today, Liverpool vs England. Liverpool team was shocking. Borini, Allen and Kelly all started by default.

Games fantastic though. Trying to decide whether to stick with that or PES6, now I’ve got option files working for both.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bought Marvel's Midnight Suns today.

Haven't played much so far but it is very XCOM-ie as you'd expect but it does lean a lot heavier on the RPG aspect than XCOM.

Just did the first mission with Blade and he's my early favourite so far.

Was doing a mission just now which crashed at the very end 3 times :\

Hadn't been too buggy for me up until this point. I had thought it was because I ended the mission in a funky way (created a portal then pushed the last remaining goon through the portal off the building) but when I tried a "normal" KO approach it still crashed.

[Pepe]

Finished Triangle Strategy yesterday. It was pretty good, in the end. The battles were fairly challenging, although the AI is a bit shit. Very often I felt like I won via cheesing my way through the moronic AI as opposed to coming up with some amazing tactics. I feel a bit tempted to try some of the other paths, but I most likely will never bother.

Now onto Tactics Ogre Reborn until the new Fire Emblem comes out.

[hfswjyr]

Would be keen to hear your take on Tactics Ogre Reborn. Loved the original game, but I worry it might be a bit too tedious now (I remember a lot of grinding for levels and badges).

[Baz]

Spent an ungodly amount of time updating the roster of Here Comes The Pain on PS2, with dreams of creating Kenny Omega and playing through the campaign/story/season mode, only to find out I’m absolutely dreadful at the game. :harold:

[Pepe]

Would be keen to hear your take on Tactics Ogre Reborn. Loved the original game, but I worry it might be a bit too tedious now (I remember a lot of grinding for levels and badges).

So far it has been the opposite of Triangle Strategy. The beginning of TS was too heavy on the story with few battles. TOR has so far been a bunch of random battles held together by a semblance of a story which I can't really be arsed to try to follow. More time is needed to judge it properly.

[Ian]

Midnight Suns has the exact same fiendish, time devouring loop as XCOM. But with an added RPG hub. Bastards I think given the missions I've seen so far aren't that dynamic it makes sense that they've kept them short and punchy (arf) and just like a big old scrap rather than trying to drag them out too much.

[Shindig]

I've decided now's the time to finally get Duke Nukem 3D off my list. Half-way through the second episode and the level design really feels fresh and cool. It also seems really ambitious for the time and you can see how that completely, 100% fucked the series to death.

I've also started Monster Hunter World. For real, this time. I wish I could go completely offline in that game just so I could pause. There will come a point where I completely shit the bed but the early quests are real easy going.

[Yevrah]

Is it (MHW) any good? It's tempted me for years but never enough so far.

[phonics]

It's fine for what it is. Rise is free on Gamepass a couple weeks from now.

[igor_balis]

Spent an ungodly amount of time updating the roster of Here Comes The Pain on PS2, with dreams of creating Kenny Omega and playing through the campaign/story/season mode, only to find out I’m absolutely dreadful at the game. :harold:

mate im shit at all video games except HCTP and SYM, i'm fucking sick, i'll be your personal ps2 wrestling game trainer mate

[Baz]

mate im shit at all video games except HCTP and SYM, i'm fucking sick, i'll be your personal ps2 wrestling game trainer mateGive me some basics please. Grapple system, finishers, tactics, how to pin/run/climb/get and use weapons etc.

[phonics]

Competed in my first ever SC2 tournament. Lost 1-2.

[Mike]

Set up Ryujinx, any tips on getting stuff modded up looking it’s best DS?

[Baz]

I've got WWE 2K22

[Ian]

Is that the famously disastrous one or was that 20/21?

[randomlegend]

Is it (MHW) any good? It's tempted me for years but never enough so far.

It's quality, but it's a HUGE timesink and takes a bit of getting into. Took me like 300 hours to do the main story + post story monsters (including Iceborne).

If you do buy it, there'll be armour and weapons available to you called "Defender" gear. They were made to allow people to speed through the base game to get to Iceborne when it released. They are completely overpowered in the base game and make the difficulty trivial; I would not using them or you'll start Iceborne and realise you absolutely suck.

[randomlegend]

I've decided now's the time to finally get Duke Nukem 3D off my list. Half-way through the second episode and the level design really feels fresh and cool. It also seems really ambitious for the time and you can see how that completely, 100% fucked the series to death.

I've also started Monster Hunter World. For real, this time. I wish I could go completely offline in that game just so I could pause. There will come a point where I completely shit the bed but the early quests are real easy going.

Don't use defender gear.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is that the famously disastrous one or was that 20/21?

That was 2k20, they then skipped 21 to work hard on 22.

It's a lot better but still flawed.

[Baz]

That was 2k20, they then skipped 21 to work hard on 22.

It's a lot better but still flawed.

Indeed.

I've only done one of the Showcase (Rey Mysterio vs Kane) and its really well done. Gameplay seems simple enough to keep me interested, and the amount of great downloadable AEW wrestlers is great. Not being able to use them in MyRise (career mode) is plain dumb though. Do you know if downloaded custom wrestlers ever feature in MyRise, as NPCs?

Also MyFaction (FUT for WWE) can get right in the bin. Got the season pass and most of it was packs for that. No thanks.

[Pepe]

I tried Monster Hunter and got bored quite quickly.

[Shindig]

Don't use defender gear.

Too late. I've had this game for years so it's super armour or bust.

[randomlegend]

Too late. I've had this game for years so it's super armour or bust.

Might as well not bother then.

[Shindig]

If it winds up completely piss, there's nowt to stop me making a second character and doing it legit.

[randomlegend]

True, but the entire point of the game is the difficulty of the monsters and the sense of achievement from beating them. The story is wank, so if you just speed through it with overpowered gear you are missing 90% of what makes the game enjoyable (the remaining 10% being autistic min/maxing for gimps like me).

You'll also hit a massive wall if/when you start Iceborne (when the defender gear becomes useless and you realise you never actually learned how to play).

[Dark Soldier]

Set up Ryujinx, any tips on getting stuff modded up looking it’s best DS?

Mainly just res and mods mate. Get emusak for shader caches otherwise it will stutter as it compiles. You can also download mods and save files for games via emusak.

[Yevrah]

I hate it when games give you shit as a boost at the start, so I'd never go near that stuff in Monster Hunter.

[randomlegend]

I hate it when games give you shit as a boost at the start, so I'd never go near that stuff in Monster Hunter.

It was only added when the expansion released. I think it was so that people who had already played through the base game - but didn't have their save any more - could speed through and get to the expansion content.

[Shindig]

Aye, some people hopped over to the PC version and I think they could only move one character across.

Anyway, Duke Nukem 3D is done. That holds up really well. The level design is just top tier and the Build Engine has some really nice tricks to it.

[Mike]

Mainly just res and mods mate. Get emusak for shader caches otherwise it will stutter as it compiles. You can also download mods and save files for games via emusak.

Cheers, and defo Ryujinx over Yuzu?

[Dark Soldier]

Cheers, and defo Ryujinx over Yuzu?

Ryujinx has better options, Yuzu is more stable

[Baz]

WWE2K22 is great. Actually jumped up before and shouted ‘get lost Bradshaw’ after he beat me, on fricking easy too.

Er, not before. Last night. I’ve been working hard all morning. :uhoh:

[Ian]

Does it still have that awful submission system that used to see me accidentally tapping out to restholds because I never figured out its arcane secrets?

[Yevrah]

WWE2K22 is great. Actually jumped up before and shouted ‘get lost Bradshaw’ after he beat me, on fricking easy too.

Er, not before. Last night. I’ve been working hard all morning. :uhoh:

Can you take a wrestler from scratch and career mode him to the top?

[wullie]

They added button-bashing back in as an option which was one of the best changes they made, the lockpicking mini game just to kick out of a pin was absolute shit.

[Ian]

The pin and submission stuff in the last one I played (16, maybe?) were both absolutely criminal and should never have made it past the drawing board.

[Baz]

Can you take a wrestler from scratch and career mode him to the top?Yes it's called MyRise.

Seems like your MyRise creation is LOCKED IN to that mode though, so you can't use a real wrestler, can't use a downloader wrestler, and seemingly can't have a singles match against your mate using your MyRise bloke.

My plan is to download Kenny Omega, take a photo of every page of his moveset, then follow a Youtube tutorial to make him. Then take him to the top.

Submission is button bashing but the button changes between A/B/X so you've gotta keep switching. It's good. Kicking out of pin is bashing A. I think its a good system.

Blocking/reversal is mostly hitting Y at the right time. Or matching whether they choose X/A/B in a grapple - if you guess correct, you reverse it.

I imagine playing against another person is a reversal spotfest though, but that's always been the case since the Smackdown games days.

If anyone wants the xbox deluxe version for £20 gimme a shout and I'll speak to my source.

[Mike]

Mainly just res and mods mate. Get emusak for shader caches otherwise it will stutter as it compiles. You can also download mods and save files for games via emusak.

Is Emusak still going?

[Dark Soldier]

No idea mate as not done Switch emu since Metroid Dread. It was back then!

Only emu I have right now is Cemu for Breath of the Wild

Edit: Seems the dev closed it in September

[Dark Soldier]

Is Emusak still going?

Try this if Ryujinx https://github.com/Ecks1337/RyuSAK

Seems the creator of this nicked Emusak, made it Ryujinx only then bullied the original creator out the scene lol

[Mike]

Managed to find that. Cheers :)

[Baz]

WWE2K22 is so fun.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1707525454

Redid the Elite vs Death Triangle ladder match from the other night. You may be able to tell it was my first go at ladders. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Still loving Midnight Suns but the dialogue shit in the Abbey is really starting to annoy me.

Doesn't help when you go up to a character you have to speak to and they're having a conversation to another character which you can't interrupt.

[Ian]

Yeah there are a few quality of life things like that I think they could fix but as cheesy as it is I do sort of love all that bit of it.

Where you up to? I've just finished chapter 2.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Part 2. Last story mission I did was "Skin Deep".

[Shindig]

I'm 7 hunts into my Monster Hunter World power fantasy. The fight with the Anjanath wound up tricky as I fainted once and was desperate to keep track of it between stages. By the looks of it, even with the trivial armour and weapons, I've got another 25 hours ahead of me. I consider that still a sizeable chunk of the monster hunting experience, even if it's still a whistle-stop tour. I'd rather take this than bash my head against it for the third time and drop it. I'm still crafting other armour sets and doing side stuff mainly to give me something decent for when I do decide to revisit the old quests.

So far the only thing I don't like is how it throws so many systems at you very early. And the hub's still a mess for me to navigate. Just let me hand these bounties back in from a list. Don't make me find the guy. "Are you the botanist I need to speak to? Where's the research bloke?"

[Ian]

Part 2. Last story mission I did was "Skin Deep".

Finished it. Think I was about 60 hours in total maxing out all the research and friendships and whatnot,.

Then for the final battle I used the mad array of colour-swaps for the costumes to put everybody in what I think of as their "Wrestlemania gear." All white with reds and golds. Glorious.

[Baz]

I think I might be accidentally getting way into Minecraft.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just came across my second big bug in Midnight Suns (I've had plenty of weird graphical ones but whatever), loaded into a mission to recover supply crates. You need to defeat enemies that drop keycards and then open the crates, one crate has no corresponding keycard.

[Ian]

Even on the next wave of enemies? That's what's happened with me previously but I never got one where it didn't turn up at all.

I never had any bugs I don't think. Just the performance stuff which was all resolved as soon as I had it skip the launcher.

[Shindig]

First failed quest in Monster Hunter World. Taking on the Rathalos and I just get poisoned to death. And he double-teams with an Anjanoth which means I don't have the SEVENTEEN YEARS it takes to chug an antidote.

[randomlegend]

Failing a quest with Defender gear :harold:

[phonics]

I'm at 3 star quests on Rise.

[Shindig]

Failing a quest with Defender gear :harold:

Poison chews through that shit regardless, to be fair. :D Second attempt was a breeze.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Midnight Suns done.

I'll play a bit more to complete all friendship levels and do all the legendary challenges.

[Ian]

You didn't do those first so you could have them all in their gear for the finale? Weirdo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had done a lot of them.

I think about 4 are missing full friendship level.

And I had them all in special gear throughout but in the finale mission I let them all don the TEAM uniform. I felt that they needed that sense of unity to help them get through the battle.

[Ian]

Yeah I think it forces them into that if you've unlocked it regardless. When I did them all up in the WrestleMania colour scheme some looked better in a version of their default tear but the game says "no fuck you" and changes it back anyway for some of them.

Doctor Strange looks wrong without a cloak.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah I think it forces them into that if you've unlocked it regardless. When I did them all up in the WrestleMania colour scheme some looked better in a version of their default tear but the game says "no fuck you" and changes it back anyway for some of them.

Doctor Strange looks wrong without a cloak.

Indeed he does. There was a piece of gear that I really liked on him but couldn't use as it had no cloak.

Magik and her gimpy helmets are another I can't get on with.

[Lofty]

Forspoken is wank apparently.

[phonics]

These defense missions in Monster Hunter Rise. My word, what an awful format.

[Shindig]

Is that the wave survival stuff? It sounds hell on paper.

[phonics]

It's dogshit.

[wullie]

After falling in sweet love with WRC9 I noticed they put 10 up for under a tenner also. I'm still doing the 9 career mode but had a quick blast on 10 and although the graphics seem smoother the handling itself feels incredibly twitchy, I'm ropey enough on tarmac courses as it is so I'm never far for lumping over the edge of a cliff. Snow rallies though, I'm serenely sliding into first place like it's a home from home. When WRC Generations goes on sale I'm all over it, happy latecomer to this series.

[Pepe]

Dirt Rally is the rally game to play. True Richard Burns rally successor.

[wullie]

I had the first one but I didn't get on with it for reasons I can't remember, might have just been bad timing. Loved the old Colin McRae games so it seemed a perfect fit as well

EDIT: actually still got it somewhere, will dig it back out while I'm in the rally mood

[Ian]

Mimimi, the folks behind Shadow Tactics and Desperados 3, have announced their new one:


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

Want it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ian.

First DLC is out for Midnight Suns which introduces Deadpool.

I've done the first two new story missions plus a side mission with Deadpool (who unfortunately isn't voiced by Reynolds) and he seems quite poor.

Obviously anyone I pair him with right now have upgraded great decks but his damage seems pretty crap.

[Ian]

Yeah I didn't buy the season pass because I didn't want to come back to the game in dribs and drabs. I'll buy the lot at some point in the future when all the new characters and any other DLC they might be planning is out.

[Raoul Duke]

GoldenEye is out on GamePass and Switch. I'm just about to go fuck up some shit in Facility :drool:

[Baz]

Awesome

[Ian]

Wildermyth is an impressive thing. Sort-of procedural RPG storytelling still managing to create some top stories and character moments is quite a feat, and I love the amount of strange stuff that can happen to your characters. I've got a ranger who literally can't use a bow any more because one arm got transformed into a taloned crow foot/arm claw thing and the other, in a separate side-quest, she bunged into an element forge and it gave that arm a fire enchantment which is basically a flamethrower so she's now basically a totally unique class, which holds its own without breaking the combat. A very cleverly put together game.

[Shindig]

I am now in the late-game grind for Monster Hunter World. I think I'm tapping out.

[randomlegend]

Are you not doing Iceborne? Where are you actually up to? The post-story stuff in the base game isn't necessary (or honestly particularly worth doing) before starting Iceborne.

[Shindig]

I'm up to the Pink Rathian hunt and I feel like the defender gear has outstayed its welcome. I've got the base game and have no intention to buy Iceborne.

[randomlegend]

Lol you've got fucking miles to go yet, that's about 2/3 of the way through.

Defender gear is the best gear in base game. Time to GIT GUD.

[Shindig]

Meh. Maybe I just don't care enough to plough 100 hours into this. I see the appeal but there's a couple of dumb things I get irritated by:

- Two big monsters fighting should not break off their scrap within seconds for them both to turn their attention on you. They love to do that.
- Having to clear smaller monsters during a hunt just to activate the scout flies again. Mildly irritating.

I may go back to it but I'd rather play games I genuinely like.

[randomlegend]

Yeah fair enough. I can definitely see it's not a game everyone is going to fall in love with.

I do honestly think the defender gear somewhat ruins the experience though.

[randomlegend]

- Having to clear smaller monsters during a hunt just to activate the scout flies again. Mildly irritating.


If you run far enough away they will deaggro but yes this is annoying.

[Yevrah]

I spent four/five hours playing God of War (2018) tonight. Am I the only person in the World who thinks it's a bit shit? I loved the PS2 and PS3 ones, for their exploration, combat, World and enemies, whereas this just felt like walking into one samey section after another, engaging in boring combat, against tanky or tedious as fuck adversaries, before moving onto another section to rinse and repeat.

[Baz]

I played it once, for a similar length of time, ejected the disc and sold it.

[Shindig]

I'm not that keen on the combat. It's got that Sony prestige whiff about it. Everything looks nice but the fights are all in these 'tighter than they should be' arenas and Kratos has lost some of his mobility. I whacked it on easy to just to enjoy the story.

[Baz]

So who is getting Hogwarts Legacy?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've already pre-ordered it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've started on Gotham Knights to try and sneak that in before Hogwarts.

Haven't played too much yet but it seems alright. Fast travel would be nice (it has it but it seems a little annoying to unlock from checking) and it feels a little clunky especially when moving and combat can be a little wonky at times but the story is alright so far.

It's absolutely not as good as the Arkham series (especially the first two) but I don't think it deserves the hate it's been getting.

[Baz]

The Series S/X can now emulate 360 games. :drool:

PS3 next, no doubt. What a console. :drool:

[Mike]

So who is getting Hogwarts Legacy?
It’s getting some good reviews!

https://opencritic.com/game/13898/hogwarts-legacy/reviews

[Yevrah]

Some of those look quite suspicious.


A gigantic love letter to one of the most beloved and relevant universes of youth literature, and one of the best games of the year.

Alejandro Morillas
IGN Spain



Best game of what year? We're only six weeks into this one.

[Ian]

Yeah I've not having these "stellar" reviews so far.

[Yevrah]

I just saw a few minutes of the gameranx (iirc) one. Now the game itself looks shit, but even in the video (in the first 90 seconds no less) the reviewer is telling us how if you're a hardened gamer you might find things to take issue with, but don't worry, it's an amazing game.

Aren't 'hardened gamer's' basically their entire viewer base? I'm smelling bullshit here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FoYVPMaXsBww4RR?format=jpg

I've been geeking out just exploring the castle so far, on my way to Hogsmeade now though.

[Dark Soldier]

I'm watching a streamer play it and it looks like utter piss, hut then I'm not the target audience as wizards and all that crap are generally for nonces.

[Disco]

It looks like another fairly average open world action game, because everyone was crying out for another one of those.

[Yevrah]

Talking of which (even though it isn't really open World so far) I'm persevering with God of War and it's one of the most up and down games I've ever played. It seems to veer from incredible set pieces to downright awful boss fights (like some of the worst I can recall) and they've genuinely copied and pasted the same boss about four times so far.

It's good, I think, but I genuinely don't understand how it got the praise it did and for me, it doesn't seem finished.

[Boydy]

I hated God of War. Gave it about half an hour but I couldn't get on with the combat at all. It felt shite. Probably didn't help that I came to it off the back of Middle-earth: Shadow of War which has excellent combat.

[Dark Soldier]

Fucking love God of War.

The sequel is an absolute mess though and I've given up after 10 hours.

[Yevrah]

What's wrong with it DS?

[Dark Soldier]

It's a seemingly endless loop of cutscene > a few fights down open but linear areas > retrieve new person > cutscene, rinse and repeat.

They haven't refined the combat, only chucked more stuff on. Thr AI literally tell you the answers to puzzles (not that they're difficult) within 5 seconds of discovering them, and they never shut the fuck up trying to assist you. Its full of bloat and maximising systems and add ons to armor and smug writing and please stop.

It's gorgeous to look at, it just feels like it's a regression from the quite tight first.

[phonics]

I’ve never liked god of war so not to defend itThere’s an option in the menu to stop them answering the puzzles.

[Dark Soldier]

On Ragnarok? As last time I played it there wasn't, it launched without. Caused backlash as on Horizon they had that option


Guess that patched it in as I've not touched it since before Christmas, which is some relief at least.

Edit: Can't find any news of that on Ragnarok.

www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/11/16/no-you-cant-turn-off-god-of-war-ragnaroks-annoying-puzzle-hints/amp/

[phonics]

Maybe it was a different game. My bad.

[Dark Soldier]

Ah no worries, that being implemented would make me give it another crack is all. The puzzles are the easiest shit in the world and they waffle on at ya like you're mentally stunted.

[Shindig]

Metroid Prime Remastered looks pretty good.

[Dark Soldier]

Played through it last year with mouse and keyboard on emu and it's still a banger. I'll emu this anyway. Fuck giving Nintendo money.

[Shindig]

I already have it on Gamecube. I need to get Echoes played.

[phonics]

Prime is over-rated imo but anyone that hasn't played Dread needs to get that in their life.

[Ian]

Metroid Prime is ace and this is definitely going on my wishlist.

Dread is also on there and may be bought soon with a voucher I've got.

[wullie]

I don't know if I've fallen into some ironic quicksand now but I've bought Power Wash Simulator and I'm loving every nonsense second of it.

[Gray Fox]

So, new Zelda does look very similar to BoTW. Is it an expansion or are we talking full featured game here?

[Shindig]

Full game but very much in that mould.

[Pepe]

Can't wait. :drool:

[Ian]

I went back to BOTW after about a month away from it and it didn't give me the spark of renewed enthusiasm I was hoping for.

It's a technically spectacular thing that increasingly left me quite cold. I can get to Hyrule Castle now though so I may as well try and see it through.


I don't know if I've fallen into some ironic quicksand now but I've bought Power Wash Simulator and I'm loving every nonsense second of it.

I'm scared to try it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LYLuc0a4Ws

Found a bug in Hogwarts. I'm somehow now below the map.

[Shindig]

Nah, that's just magic.

[Ian]

No no, JK reviews the save files, decided you're trans and sent you to hell.

Nae luck mate.

[Shindig]

Are you saying Hogwarts is an re-education camp? I mean, I guess all schools are.

[Dark Soldier]

Bought Harry Potter don't know why so I'm off to get a Nazi tattoo

[Mike]

We can get matching ones. My partner is playing, and was being all nice to everyone, so I said when I play I'll be a dick. The game, and all the people in it are so lovely that I haven't been able to bring myself to be a dick yet.

[Yevrah]

So gents, real talk time. Is it good?

[Dark Soldier]

I've only done an hour or so but its stunning to look at. Ended up at Slytherin cos they seem nasty

[Mike]

It's a secret souls game...