General gaming discussion

[Ian]

Yeah I think the ending fit. It was good that they put just enough other bits and bobs and dialogue options in there to suggest there might be something else going on but the ending they had worked nicely.

I think I just thought there might be a little more of it, if that makes sense.

[Shindig]

Yeah, jumping seasons hurt the pacing a bit as well. Still, probably my favourite walk 'em up so far.

[Ian]

I've just learned that there's an option to actually get your in-game camera photos sent to you as real life photographs. The ones I took wouldn't work for that at all. There were some that were just of nice things but I mostly used them to get 'evidence' of the shady goings-on.

[Raoul Duke]

Red Dead Redemption 2, (sort of) announced: http://www.polygon.com/2016/10/17/13304030/red-dead-redemption-images-shows-seven-silhouettes :drool:

[Ian]

Original was one of those games I was absolutely loving right up until I suddenly didn't and didn't care any more. Open world Westerning, though? Hell yeah. It had bangin' weather too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:drool:

Although I'll spend 90% of my game time playing Liars Dice like the first.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Original was one of those games I was absolutely loving right up until I suddenly didn't and didn't care any more. Open world Westerning, though? Hell yeah. It had bangin' weather too.
Yeah I had the same, I know I didn't complete it but I can't remember how much of it I completed.

[Raoul Duke]

I completed it, but there was something like a three month gap in between getting near the end and completing it.

I reckon you'll play as his son in this one.

[wullie]

If it ends up being just a new-gen remaster I'll be massively pissed off, yet still buy it.

[Shindig]

Its already backwards compatible on Xbox so it won't be that,

[Disco]

Port the first one to PC you lazy twats.

[Raoul Duke]

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_lJdDWRcxBzbLSm2MDLTAuDpEoM=/1600x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7297791/actual_1476795256.jpg

Officially confirmed: http://www.polygon.com/2016/10/18/13315746/red-dead-redemption-2-is-official

Trailer out on Thursday :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/yes_napoleon_dynamite.gif

[Ian]

Adverts for trailers. :drool:

:moop:

Trying to think of what other Western games I've actually played. Think I played a demo of Desperados but given I love the Commandos series I should really have played the whole thing. Gun I remember enjoying, or at least finishing.

And of course Call of Juarez, going into gunfights with a revolver in one hand and a Bible in the other. :cool:

[Raoul Duke]

Adverts for trailers. :drool:

Adverts for trailers for games that are a year away :drool:

[Ian]

They really ought to have had a teaser for the advert. And maybe a Twitter announcement for the teaser.

Amateurs.

[Boydy]

Port the first one to PC you lazy twats.

I was looking for that today because of this news only to be disappointed. There's been a few other games I was looking for recently that either didn't have PC ports or had shitty ones compared to consoles.

I kinda want a console. :(

[Shindig]

They really ought to have had a teaser for the advert. And maybe a Twitter announcement for the teaser.

Amateurs.

Just have two trailers for the company logo like Kojima does.

[Shindig]

Guys, I'm playing Jazzpunk for the first time. I'm scared.

[Disco]

I was looking for that today because of this news only to be disappointed. There's been a few other games I was looking for recently that either didn't have PC ports or had shitty ones compared to consoles.

I kinda want a console. :(

There's no real reason to buy one, exclusives are the only vaguely justifiable one and considering the sheer volume of great games these days it's a pretty weak one.

[phonics]

Adverts for trailers. :drool:

:moop:

Trying to think of what other Western games I've actually played. Think I played a demo of Desperados but given I love the Commandos series I should really have played the whole thing. Gun I remember enjoying, or at least finishing.

And of course Call of Juarez, going into gunfights with a revolver in one hand and a Bible in the other. :cool:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/Gun_Coverart.jpg

A classic.

[elth]

There's no real reason to buy one, exclusives are the only vaguely justifiable one and considering the sheer volume of great games these days it's a pretty weak one.

Yeah, but if they're not gonna release RDR2 on PC...

[Ian]

Ugh, I think I want Civ 6.

I'm going to play some Civ 4 to try and dispel the notion. I like Civ games but I never played them enough to be worth paying full price.

[Disco]

Yeah, but if they're not gonna release RDR2 on PC...

I've ordered a PS4 in anticipation, it'll probably have finished updating by the time the game comes out.

[Disco]

Ugh, I think I want Civ 6.

I'm going to play some Civ 4 to try and dispel the notion. I like Civ games but I never played them enough to be worth paying full price.

I too have scratched a Civ itch today (although it's the slightly more elderly Civ2) and while I've somehow just-one-more-turn-ed myself to 5am there are Mongolian tanks finally rolling towards Paris. :cool:

[Spikey M]

My problem with 'Civ' is I can never be bothered to revisit a save game. As such I've only seen the arse end of Pre-Industry a couple of times. I'll probably still get it though.

[Ian]

My save yesterday went a bit wrong when the fucking Aztecs lopped off an arm of my empire having spread a bit too thing. Might go back to it again today.

[Shindig]

Just finished Machinarium. That eventually won me over despite it being a bit old school adventurey.

[Ian]

The robot band. :wub:

[Shindig]

The bit with the flypaper had me scratching me head in a, "How was I supposed to figure that out."

[ItalAussie]

Just finished Machinarium. That eventually won me over despite it being a bit old school adventurey.

I liked that about it. :D

[Shindig]

"Oh, OF COURSE THERE'S A DUST ROBOT IN THIS ROOM!"

In other news, I'm back to watching speedrun-related stuff. Including a rather fun video where a lad blows a run, gets annoyed and then starts a fight with his parents.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMjqyQRY5sU

There's another one where a guy's Earthbound run goes pear-shaped because his dog ran across his keyboard.

[phonics]

Thumper might just be in my top 5 games of all time. I hate Rhythm games but the sense of speed and intensity of almost every second of it is second to none. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like in PSVR.

Speaking of PSVR, Super Hyper Cube is fucking incredible. Every video of it will look like shit but when you're in the headset you genuinely feel like you're in some giant Tron-esque nightmare. I can imagine Thumoer is the same.

[Ian]

In other news, I'm back to watching speedrun-related stuff. Including a rather fun video where a lad blows a run, gets annoyed and then starts a fight with his parents.

Was it Randrew?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Was it Randrew?

He's such an ungrateful bastard.

Couldn't even be bothered to clean his room when his parents wanted to show prospective buyers around the house.

[Shindig]

I'm not even going to tell you what happened to Cosmo Wright.

[Ian]

Was playing Reigns on the train today. Very addictive.

[Disco]

It's not a bad game, it's not a good game....

[Ian]

It's THE-.... actually no it is quite good. Though I'm in a bit of a rut in it at the moment.

[Raoul Duke]

Skyrim out tomorrow. Looking forward to getting stuck into it.

[Shindig]

Cool. Give us an informed opinion, seeing as Bethesda's fucking over the gaming press. And their sneaky live-action ads for a 5-year old game.

[Raoul Duke]

It's been good so far. The improvements are not super noticeable straight-off, but it just all looks dandy. Just a kind of overall sheen to it, plus load times are much swifter. If you like Bethesda games then you'll like this.

I've just been running through the first lot of quests. Got myself a shiny new home to store my shit and have minced a couple of dragons. Alchemy is the way to riches, of course.

[elth]

I don't get the big deal about Bethesda treating pre-release as marketing content. They're a business, they're making the most of their business opportunities. Sure, it's anti-consumer but that's the consumer's fault for being a moron.

Hopefully people will start realising that literally any pre-release date content is tied to marketing constraints, so it isn't a genuine review, in the same way that pre-release car reviews are essentially just advertising.

Anyway, I'm addicted to Farming Simulator.

[Shindig]

If you like Bethesda games then you'll like this.

That's such a box quote. :D


Hopefully people will start realising that literally any pre-release date content is tied to marketing constraints, so it isn't a genuine review

A review is an opinion piece. What makes one genuine is whether you believe it or not.

[phonics]

Civ 6 is really good. The problem being I've won my first war and now impatiently want to get into the next one. I'm destroying people techwise (I'm about 3 turns away from having guns while they haven't even got up to swords but they have SO MANY UNITS I'm worried that I'd lose cities from behind enemy lines while I try to kill them off.

Here's my conundrum;
http://i.imgur.com/BKAWgrQ.png

I'm yellow (Egypt). Black is a well developed city state and Blue is Frances Capital. My original cities are the massive one next to France and the top right. I ran a settler over there when I realised it was the only Iron on the board and used that to take the City state on the far right and kill off Gilgamesh to take the one on the bottom.

So I could cut off those two minor cities from France and then declare peace but I'm thinking the smarter play is to go destroy Paris and leave them with two miserable <6 pop cities. Or go take the City State. Whichever way I go I feel like it's going to go terribly. I also have NO IDEA what lays beyond the map to the left of this picture. I've only discovered 2 of 10 Civs so something could go incredibly badly if I fuck this up.

[Ian]

Christ, they lied about the graphics in the pre-release material, didn't they?

[Raoul Duke]

It's another No Man's Sky!!!1!

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is free on PSPlus this month. Picked it up. Looking forward to never playing it and then deleting it when I need to install something else :thbup:

[Shindig]

I'll play it. I liked Dear Esther enough to give another "Walking Ponce." game a look.

[Ian]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/03/abandon-ship-looks-like-ftl-on-the-high-seas/

Consider my timbers shivered.

[Ian]

So I've only played a few hours of it's free weekend but I think Vermintide compares way more favourably with Left 4 Dead than I expected.

It's not often you get that sort of setting in an FPS type game, the characters seem genuinely distinct (I say this based more on observation, I stuck with the same one throughout) and while it's just aping Left 4 Dead it apes it rather well.

Also I can wield a hammer and end levels with the highest headshots stat.

[phonics]

So here's the state of play. I took Seoul because I couldn't think of any other way to get out from the situation I was in tactically. This led France to commit to Holy War against me which was useful as I hadn't used Faith at all because I've never understood the Religion system, I bought a bunch of Apostles and converted everyone's citizens and destroyed Catholicism pretty much. France gave up this war the moment I walked into their borders and one shot everybody in their way, ceding me all their money, every luxury resource they have for 30 turns and all their great works. At which point Germany thought it'd be a great idea to go to war with me and I proceeded to own them in a massive chokepoint for 5 turns before they also gave me all their money.

A better looking image than my last:
http://i.imgur.com/xWRxHzC.jpg

I'm already at Gunpowder tech (and still losing Science apparently) and I still haven't met 7 other Civs. This is an absolutely crazy game, I literally have no idea what is beyond these screenshots and a boat sailing the high seas.

[Shindig]

I've just realised The Last Guardian is out in a month's time. Pewdiepie's been playing it for a month so it's definitely done. The cunt.

[Ian]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/21/shadow-tactics-blades-of-the-shogun-demo/

I'll be giving this a bash. "Commandos but with ninjas" is the sort of unimaginative pitch I lap up.

[ItalAussie]

So here's the state of play. I took Seoul because I couldn't think of any other way to get out from the situation I was in tactically. This led France to commit to Holy War against me which was useful as I hadn't used Faith at all because I've never understood the Religion system, I bought a bunch of Apostles and converted everyone's citizens and destroyed Catholicism pretty much. France gave up this war the moment I walked into their borders and one shot everybody in their way, ceding me all their money, every luxury resource they have for 30 turns and all their great works. At which point Germany thought it'd be a great idea to go to war with me and I proceeded to own them in a massive chokepoint for 5 turns before they also gave me all their money.

A better looking image than my last:
http://i.imgur.com/xWRxHzC.jpg

I'm already at Gunpowder tech (and still losing Science apparently) and I still haven't met 7 other Civs. This is an absolutely crazy game, I literally have no idea what is beyond these screenshots and a boat sailing the high seas.

I enjoyed this. After reports of Civ are the best.

[Dark Soldier]

Been playing through Uncharted 4 after a lend from a mate. Naughty Dog have to be one of the most over-hyped studios around. They make stunning, cutting edge graphical games, then fill them with tedious, shitey gameplay. Also, the much lauded writing is dull as feck.

[Ian]

Yeah I got bored of the first one pretty quickly.

[Dark Soldier]

Been having a discussion elsewhere about them. Main problem, for me, is their desire to ape action movies. Action movies work because any contrivances to move on the plot can be forgiven in a lean, fun 90-120 minutes. When its 20 hours plus, of set pieces ramping up, believability going out of the window and constant, tedious climb after climb when the floor gives way, or the rock face crumples, it just becomes dull as a whole. Primarily because there is zero danger, zero worry. They're essentially actions sims with the odd bit of control. Linear, dull, but beautiful to look at.

Whe Nate's fallen 40+ feet, smacking his face off rocks yet comes too with a couple of scratches purely for the sake of advancing the plot, but you miss a 20 foot jump and its insta-death, it throws you out of the world.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I loved the first two but never got round to finishing the third.

You're right, they're visually stunning but there's fuck all else there.

[ItalAussie]

I do agree that action games are going out of their way to ape films. A good set piece is fantastic, but it has to feel earned

[Shindig]

Yeah. I don't mind the platforming but the shooting in Uncharted always felt like the thing you could've skimped on. That and the usual gamechanger that happens three-quarters through every game. Blue bastards.

[wullie]

Like with the Tomb Raider reboot, I'd be happy if both games were just the exploration side. I liked marvelling at the environment in Uncharted until you see a number of convenient waist-high objects a little further ahead.

[Shindig]

Limmy's streaming of Bloodborne has reached new heights.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P5YqFLjqNg

Laying down the law on chat in the last minute. Gerr'em telt, son.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got Motorsport Manager going - for those that like that sort of thing, it really is good. The race engine is brilliantly done. Doesn't have F1 licensing/whatever but in reality what that does is give them the freedom to make it a much better game.

[John]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/21/shadow-tactics-blades-of-the-shogun-demo/

I'll be giving this a bash. "Commandos but with ninjas" is the sort of unimaginative pitch I lap up.

Any time I have a go on something like that I just end up annoyed that it isn't as good as Cannon Fodder, even though it's obviously a million times better.

[Ian]

I don't believe I ever properly played Cannon Fodder. Commandos, though? Oh aye.

Commandos 2 is the fucking business. The little dog. :cool: I played Desperados as well at the time but couldn't get into it, I should probably go back to it and hope it's aged well.

[John]

I don't believe I ever properly played Cannon Fodder. Commandos, though? Oh aye.

Commandos 2 is the fucking business. The little dog. :cool: I played Desperados as well at the time but couldn't get into it, I should probably go back to it and hope it's aged well.

I think I remember Commandos. Sort of isometric faux 3D?

[Disco]

Cannon Fodder was great, I think I had the second one. I used to get slaughtered as soon as it got the alien(?) levels.

I've been watching some Jagged Alliance 2 and while that seems like a lot to learn I could go for something tile & turn based. The new Wasteland or Shadowrun look fun, as does Banner Saga.

[Ian]

I think I remember Commandos. Sort of isometric faux 3D?

That's the one. Each character had their own specialities (green beret, sniper, sapper, er, flirty spy woman.) I'd love a new entry in that series.

[ItalAussie]

Commandos was brilliant. Worth another go, I think.

[Disco]

Played the latest Broken Sword game over the weekend (it's called number 5 but I'm not sure how than be as THERE ARE NO THIRD OR FOURTH GAMES IN THIS SERIES NO MATTER WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK) and very much enjoyed it. It's a proper point and click affair like the first two, story is a bit wooly and doesn't hold up quite as well as the originals but other than it was rather good.

[Shindig]

Replaying Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin before I bother streaming it. I need to know if I've improved. 9 bosses down in ten hours. Big hurdles like the Ruin Sentinels and Pursuer cleared quickly. Last four bosses have went down at first attempt. Lost Sinner's probably next to fall. She seems to get powered up in her last quarter. Boo. I still don't like some aspects of this game. Dead Man's Wharf was a nightmare to navigate and I wound up being bogged down there. The run to Ornstein is shit entirely due to the Heide Knights.

[Dark Soldier]

Run past 'em, don't have to kill every enemy.

[Shindig]

I kinda did at that point. Needed to kill the Dragon guarding the bridge. OH SHIT!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS9V12UcTeg

Kojima's going to bankrupt Sony.

[Disco]

More incomprehensible tosh from Kojima by the looks of things, he really is just recycling essays he wrote when he was 15. Oooh a baby, edgy.

[Shindig]

Some twat on the internet reckons it's an Akira adaptation. It's not and Del Toro is doing this entirely out of spite. How many bored models will he rope into this project?

[Ian]

Kojima is a tosser, and yet he manages to make a lot of money to do it. So fair play, I guess?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QCR6nOPOLc

A few nifty ideas in there but whether it hangs together to make a good game is a different issue.

And in RPS' advent calendar they say the best city in a game this year is Mankind Divided's Prague.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/02/best-city-in-a-game-2016/

I disagree, I would say Dishonored 2's Karnaca is the best in the games I've played. The best urban bit of Mankind Divided was Golem, which isn't in Prague, I don't think? I'd pick Karnaca either way.


EDIT: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/02/wot-i-think-shadow-tactics-blades-of-the-shogun/

I want this very much.

[Disco]

He makes games that are technically very good but then insists on filling them with utter horse-wank.

[Dark Soldier]

The Last of Us 2 announced yay. I'm seemingly one of the few who straight up hated the first.

[Shindig]

Story was good, not so much the sneaking.

[Dark Soldier]

Story was bang average but judged in the world of game writing its a fecking masterpiece.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I sort of liked it but the clickers scared the living shit out of me.

I can cope with films just fine but a game sucks me in too much.

I remember playing FEAR and I was constantly in fear (lol) of actually shitting my pants.

[wullie]

I loved Last of Us. Part of me wishes they'd leave it alone or it'll get like those shows that would have been perfect with a single season, but then it did pick up when Brodie was hanged in Iran and all that.

[Shindig]

Yeah, although I feel that way with a lot of sequels. I guess calling it 'Part II' implies they had something in mind, rather than penning a sequel as soon as the sales data came in.

Meanwhile, I'm now into the back half of Dark Souls 2. I'm won over, although my Morning Star is terrible against mob bosses. I've got some massive alternatives which I have to dig out. This series really, really trains you well to get better.

[Patje]

I still need to play The Last of Us. I've got the Remastered version for the PS4. Might play it once I'm done with Mafia 3, though I'll probably start Borderlands 2 (my last game on the 360 to play) or Witcher 3.

Though I'm still mostly playing Armello and Blood Bowl: LE on the laptop.

[Dark Soldier]

Borderlands 2 is like crack to me. Think I've played through it about 12 times.

[Shindig]

Second run of Dark Souls 2 was done in 30 hours. Restarted a new character now with the intention of all bosses and DLC. Ancient Dragon is a war with my patience. Getting better at this, although I'm popping boss souls as I go to boost my build quicker. +8 Morning Star and I'm only at Ruin Sentinels after 5 hours. Only areas that peg me back a little are No Man's Wharf and Huntsman's Copse.

NG+ feels like a trollish pisstake. Red phantoms everywhere and you spawn into PAIN on a new cycle.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Can I trust The Wolf Among Us to be at least as good as The Walking Dead games?

[Disco]

It has by far the most interesting premise of any of them.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Sorted, cheers.

[P_3]

Final Fantasy is out. There is no thread. Is it that bad?

[phonics]

Not out on PC for months :(

[phonics]

I was just about to boot up Metal Gear V and realised I don't have my save anymore. I'm not sure I have the will to do the opening again.

[Disco]

I've never gotten the appeal of FF, I tried 7 because everyone raves about it and it was god awful tosh. Not helped by a total disdain for random encounters.

[phonics]

They used to look amazing. I can imagine the charm gets lost when you go back to them generations later.

[Ian]

I was just about to boot up Metal Gear V and realised I don't have my save anymore. I'm not sure I have the will to do the opening again.

Yeah, it occurred to me that when I go back to it I should restart but have the same issue. I do have my save though so I'll probably just crack on and end up fucking up loads while I relearn how to actually play it.

[phonics]

I'm so glad Konami got rid of Kojima when they did and forced the game out. There would have been 40 hours of that across the game if he had his way.

[Disco]

Starting to get to grips with Pillars of Eternity, I still have no idea how wizards work or how to tell what kind of weapons everyone should be using but I'm no longer getting completely trounced by everything. I'm not sure I quite follow what's going on (there's lots of names and places chucked at you and this being a fantasy game they're all liberally sprinkled with apostrophes as if the writers ordered too many and need to use them up somehow) but I suppose that's true of any story driven rpg.

[Dan]

I still need to play The Last of Us. I've got the Remastered version for the PS4. Might play it once I'm done with Mafia 3, though I'll probably start Borderlands 2 (my last game on the 360 to play) or Witcher 3.

Though I'm still mostly playing Armello and Blood Bowl: LE on the laptop.


Borderlands 2 is like crack to me. Think I've played through it about 12 times.

Yep, it's the only game I've ever started a second playthrough of. Still play it every now & again. Top, top game.

[phonics]

Armello is great until you realise how absolutely biased it is with a good start.

[Shindig]

Yeah, it occurred to me that when I go back to it I should restart but have the same issue. I do have my save though so I'll probably just crack on and end up fucking up loads while I relearn how to actually play it.

It's not as long as I remember but it's still a terrible intro. The grind of R&D might be worse, in the long run.

[ItalAussie]

I've never gotten the appeal of FF, I tried 7 because everyone raves about it and it was god awful tosh. Not helped by a total disdain for random encounters.

So I like VII a lot, but it has to be placed in its proper context. For a huge number of people, it was the first time they'd seen a RPG in 3D with pre-rendered FMVs. It's not that RPGs had never told a decent story before, but being exposed to it like that really made it hit home for a lot of people, and changed the way they thought about RPGs in general.

[phonics]

It's not as long as I remember but it's still a terrible intro. The grind of R&D might be worse, in the long run.

It's an hour too long.

[Shindig]

Well ... at least it's an easy S Rank. Also, if I ever beat Fume Knight's second form, I'll be amazed. As much as I like Dark Souls 2's bosses for being piss, Fume Knight's probably the best of the series. I mean, he can change his mind during combos. Fuck. And his second form is death with one false move.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Been thinking about buying a 3DS, does the old flash card thing work?

I'd love to play some NES games on the go.

[Disco]

The health / endurance system in Pillars is becoming, not annoying exactly, just a chore that doesn't seem like it should have been necessary. Having to rest to restore health and needing to have camping supplies in order to rest just means inconvenient trips back to town in the middle of a dungeon should you run out of them. Plus it means that if (like I just did) you get one of your characters stuck in a narrow corridor and battered almost to death right after resting then there's no alternative other than to rest again and essentially waste one rest. Don't even get me started on the logic of me having a 'stash' of hundreds of items of armour and weaponry but apparently it's impossible to put camping supplies in there. Silly.

Also, is Cad Nua 'that one dungeon'? Because I'm on the fourth or fifth level and it's beginning to feel that way.

[Ian]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/22/the-walking-dead-a-new-frontier-review/

John Walker fucking hates the Walking Dead.

[ItalAussie]

Playing LOOM again. The most underrated LucasArts adventure game. Also, you can knock it out in a few hours, if you have time to kill.

Has anyone played Owlboy or Hyper Light Drifter? Are they worth it?

[Shindig]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/22/the-walking-dead-a-new-frontier-review/

John Walker fucking hates the Walking Dead.

I often wonder why they give assignments to people who actively hate the series. I guess at some point the reaction to the article is worth more to them than the actual content.


The Walking Dead Season 3 A New Frontier Game By Telltale Colon

Edgar Alan Poe's most notable work.

[Ian]

In the article and comments he explains that none of their regulars liked the second season enough to play it through to completion.

While I don't feel nearly as strongly about it as he does I agree with him about pretty much all of it and having played the first two really don't have the motivation to play the third.

[ItalAussie]

Also, are any of you lot on Steam? I'm thinking of bulking out my friends list a little.

My profile name is Maximilian III. Have at it.

[Raoul Duke]

Added you, Ital.

On the subject - Steam is such a horrifically designed sack of shit, it's unreal sometimes. The colour palette they use is like it's specifically designed to be as hard-to-read as possible.

[Ian]

I've added you Ital, and once you've accepted I'll invite you to esteemed internet gaming community The Third Hard.

[ItalAussie]

I'm truly honoured.

[Ian]

So Sorcery's magic system is going to take a bit of learning. I accidentally just cast a spell of depression on a man who was then so miserable he wouldn't speak to me.

EDIT: Fuck's sake, now I've just chucked lightning at a beehive, set a tree on fire and terrified an old man who ran away.

[Disco]

You can look them up in the book before you cast them can't you? I think i ended up writing some of them down.

[Ian]

When you get the Cast a Spell option you can no longer check, I don't think. The beehive one I knew what spell I was casting, I just didn't expect it to be quite so powerful.

I've learned a few of them already.

[Dark Soldier]

Won my first The Golf Club tournament on the Euro Tour this week :drool:

http://tgctours.com/Tournament/Leaderboard/2362

Downside is its a for fun tournament as its the week off for Christmas. FML :(

[Shindig]

Whatever, man. RESULTS.

[Dark Soldier]

Trudat. I'll forever have a trophy God damn :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So Sorcery's magic system is going to take a bit of learning. I accidentally just cast a spell of depression on a man who was then so miserable he wouldn't speak to me.

EDIT: Fuck's sake, now I've just chucked lightning at a beehive, set a tree on fire and terrified an old man who ran away.
You've started better than me.

I ran into some Elvin wankers, I killed one but then got blindsided by the other and was taking back to their village where they took all my gold. I was then told to fuck off from a nearby inn, got fucked up by a pig then set the forest on fire by casting lightning on some more Elvin wankers.

I can't see it ending well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I also loaded up Papers, Please for the first time in yonks and was doing really well by getting further than I have with more money than I've ever had.

I got greedy though and took 1000 credits from EZIC and my cunt of a neighbour reported me a few days later :(

[Shindig]

Double Dragon 4 is out next month.

Frog Fractions 2 is out NOW.

[Bam]

Today I think I'm going to go balls deep into Mafia 3, anyone played it?

[Ian]

I'll be waiting until it's a pittance after the iffy reviews and Mafia 2 being disappointing.

[Patje]

Mafia 3 is NOT a Mafia game. It's a sort of GTA kind of open game. Missions are all samey, story is not there, characters are forgettable. The sneaking is predictable and the shooting is fun, though not enough to carry the game. Sounds too negative though, as I'll finish the game anyway.

I never thought Mafia 2 was a real disappointment. It was a good game and the story was good enough for me. It wasn't as strong as the first Mafia, but it was a good game.

[Ian]

Finished part 2 of Sorcery and it's really fucking good. I'm going to have to have a second run through now I know what I'm doing though, once I've finished part 4. Made a right arse of Part 2 as well. :moop:

I'm also a bit in love with inkle after this and 80 days.

[Pepe]

Might have to try Sorcery. Have no clue what it's about but what the hell.

Currently enjoying Motorsport Manager. Watching dots chase each other is entertaining somehow. Not see myself spending FM type of time in this though, it is too repetitive for that.

[Raoul Duke]

Today I think I'm going to go balls deep into Mafia 3, anyone played it?

Not played it, but most reviews make it sound like a load of ham-fisted bollocks.

[Ian]

Played The Curious Expedition for a bit between rounds of Sorcery. I'm not very good at it. I quite like it and I can see it being one I drop in and out of.

[Shindig]

Hitman might be last game I finish for the year. Into Episode 5 now and there's a perfectly good opportunity to disguise yourself as a target which the game doesn't allow you to do. Awww. Looking forward to finishing that game up and then ticking off the challenges.

[Ian]

I've also made a massive arse of Sorcery Part 3. I love that that can happen without it stopping you progressing, though. Be interesting to see how Part 4 goes, and future runs because I'll definitely be playing through it again.

[wullie]

I got Mafia 3 and I've not gone much further than the initial missions that are still giving you a control tutorial, but I liked Mafia 2 despite the flaws so I'm expecting to enjoy it. The soundtrack is one of the best on a game yet.

[phonics]

The cut scenes in Mafia are fantastic. The story is a bit pulpy but fun. The guns though :drool: Not sure there's been a set of weapons that feel so raw and powerful in years. Shot gunning mother fuckers out a window never felt so good.

Shame the games a tad dull really.

[Ian]

Sorcery all done. There are parts with a bit more repetition and retracing of steps than I'd like but it's still great stuff. Might restart right away with a new game plus.

[Yevrah]

Is The Bunker any good?

I'm guessing not.

As was noted, it's not really a game, but was surprisingly good nonetheless.

[Pleb]

Deus Ex - Mankind Divided is surprisingly addictive.

[Shindig]

Went for a Soul Level 1 run on Dark Souls then binned it off at Quelaag. It's doable with a shieldy coward build but the bosses are a marathon effort.

[Ian]

RPS' 2017 preview:
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/31/pc-games-of-2017/

Looks like RPGs are where I'll be at this year. And I hate the disappointment in these sorts of things of seeing "Star Wars" followed by "Battlefront."

Also I started Just Cause 3 yesterday. It's just so obvious that Avalanche actually want you to have fun. No drip-feed of stuff, you get a helicopter to fly about in straight away, along with getting vehicles and guns and stuff dropped to your location. No gluing yourself to waist-high cover, no staring down iron-sights playing whack-a-mole.

Wingsuit in, grapple a man to an explosive barrel, blow shit up, walk away from explosions, back in time for tea.

[Shindig]

Aye, I fancy getting Persona 3 finished before April. Meanwhile, not content with pissing off Dino Dini, Rich has moved his attentions to another developer of a football game that can't handle criticism.

https://twitter.com/ps4country

I count that as five developers he's pissed off since we started. :D

[Kikó]

Based on that one line from Ian, I bought Just Cause 3. Looking forward to some daft fun.

[Shindig]

Highlights from the 24-hour twitter rage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/kigasa/25DF87AA-A4B8-49E0-ADA9-C343358B90C6_zpsegubnqp3.png

http://www.playstationcountry.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/whatimdealingwith.png

Then there was the bit Dino called us terrible journalists. We replied we're actually gamers. He responds by saying gamers shouldn't have metacritic status. Also goes on about aggregate scores being true criticism. A NUMBER, DINO! YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ONE.

We should get him on the podcast, really.

[Ian]

Based on that one line from Ian, I bought Just Cause 3. Looking forward to some daft fun.

It's great. Tackling some of the big bases early doors can be tricky but there are ways to deal with that and it doesn't really punish you for dying anyway.

[Boydy]

Shindig, do you ever consider providing context for any of your posts?

[Shindig]

I did. Another developer couldn't handle us giving them a low score so he chimped out. And Dino Dini shown up because he also received criticism from us for his broken Kick-Off reboot.

[Raoul Duke]

My pro-tip for JC3 is to focus on AA guns early - either take them out, or even better hack them to fight for you. Choppers are a right bastard if they gang-up on you

[Ian]

That's what I've been doing. Though I got a bit smug on the last base and got donned by a fucking boat. Bastard.

[Raoul Duke]

So beta

[wullie]

Still getting slowly into Mafia 3, but it does throw some real surprises at you


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdfVl0ldHlA

[Shindig]

Dino Dini continues to argue with us. He's an unstoppable twat, I've never seen a developer get so triggered by A REVIEW FOR A GAME HE DIDN'T WORK ON.

[Shindig]

Nintendo Switch to launch at £280. The new Mario and Zeldas look good, I guess.

[John]

Dino Dini continues to argue with us. He's an unstoppable twat, I've never seen a developer get so triggered by A REVIEW FOR A GAME HE DIDN'T WORK ON.

Not a developer, but you brought the noise when I panned Pro Evo.

[Dark Soldier]

OOOHHH Nintendo!

http://cdn-uploads.gameblog.fr/images/actu/full/65236_gb_news.jpg

:happycry: :henn0rz: :facepalm: :ae:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The amount that are going to end up lost.

[Dark Soldier]

Its okay, buying a replacement will only set you back about £65. If you want an actual controller, that'll be around 50-60 quid.

[Disco]

I've not seen much about this new Nintendo thing but who can tell me what's wrong with this picture.

http://i.imgur.com/rtzYu9V.jpg

And I mean other than the fact that some of those people appear to have been using cutlery to eat pizza.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're drinking regular Coke and not Zero, the swines.

[Disco]

I don't know what Zero is so I'm just going to say you're wrong (which you are).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.coca-colaproductfacts.com/content/dam/productfacts/us/productDetails/ProductImages/CokeZero_12.png

Nectar of the Gods.

[Disco]

Your wrongness is taking us away from the point.

[leedsrevolution]

Just tell us you tease.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The table is likely made from MDF the cheap student wankers.

[Disco]

You can see the laminations on the leg you chump, it's clearly some kind of ply.

Have a clue, what do you think would be the advantage of having a whole screen each?

[John]

Playing split screen on four separate screens. That glass in the top left is a bit suspicious too. Either a terrible artifact from some inexplicable photoshop or the whole image should be based around the vessel that forces its contents to defy physics.

[Disco]

If it really works that way it might be the worst design decision since the last thing they released.

[Dark Soldier]

Out of the console game by 2020. Dead on arrival.

As much as they've given me some of my favourite gaming memories, fuck Nintendo. They still think its 1994.

[Raoul Duke]

Zelda looks great and GTA Mario looks...ok. Bit weird to see him in a "real life" setting

[leedsrevolution]

I'm really looking forward to the Switch, but it may well be their last console.

[Dark Soldier]

Am fuckin elbow deep in this on launch looks like the future


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM523jjrvf4

[Shindig]

Check their website out. http://www.playonegames.net/

Sounds like a one-man band.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cab:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3vr4El4cmI

Fucking hell.

[Ian]

Man, I wish I'd done the next story mission in Just Cause 3 sooner. Fucking jetpack wingsuit. :D

[phonics]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih323XXu_3w

Fucking hell that is good.

[Disco]

I think I'm done with Pillars, only part way through White March but not really enjoying the expansion (finished the main game without realising you couldn't keep doing quests afterwards so re-loaded to do WM).

Not sure what to play next so it's back to sullenly staring at my Steam library or browsing GOG until something presents itself.

[Shindig]

The last Nioh demo before release is out. Took me a while to figure it out but it's a decent couple of hours for anybody wanting a souls game developed by whatever's left at Team Ninja.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS0vGOCTwyg

Sign. Me. UP!

[Raoul Duke]

Just seen that Ark Survival Evolved is out on PS4 now. Gonna pick that up soon - been wanting to play it for ages.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I might have to pick that up.

Problem is that I'm pining so much for March (Fractured but Whole and Horizon) that I only find myself playing sports games.

[Dark Soldier]

Nioh will be my game of the year. Its precisely the kinda game I fall into addiction with. Haven't played any of the Beta/demos, want to go in not knowing anything.

[Shindig]

The only thing that concerns me are the hitboxes. I love the fact you can play like that, though. I played it as a Dark Souls clone. It's nice to see you have to earn the right to play it like a Ninja Gaiden.

[Weaver]

I started replaying Tomb Raider 1 via Steam last night. Flew through the first two levels (Caves, City of Vilcamba) and then spent over an hour on The Lost Valley collecting the three bloody cogs.

I briefly started Level 4, escaping the boulder that comes at Lara and then not having a clue.

I'm trying not to look on the internet and playing through it without 'cheating'. I used to have that little walkthrough manual when I played it on PS1, where there was a premium rate number for CHEATS and stuff.

[Ian]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/25/swat-4-buy-digitally-on-gog/

:drool::drool::drool:

I'm going to be all over this like a bad suit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sounds like it could be good for The Third Hard cru.

[Disco]

That reminds me, I seem to remember several people on here used to like Consolevania, well it's coming back.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/25/classic-web-series-consolevania-returning/

[Ian]

Sounds like it could be good for The Third Hard cru.

I did have a Google of the multiplayer situation. So originally it used Gamespy (:face:), and one of the GOG team said:

LAN should be fine, dedicated server should be fine, there are no official master servers anymore but some fan-made serverlists might be compatible (though unsupported).

Dunno how much of a pain in the hole any of that would be to set up/find/use.

[phonics]

I did have a Google of the multiplayer situation. So originally it used Gamespy (:face:), and one of the GOG team said:


Dunno how much of a pain in the hole any of that would be to set up/find/use.

What you could do is connect through Haiachi and then simulate a LAN that way.

[Ian]

What you could do is connect through Haiachi and then simulate a LAN that way.

Assuming you mean Hamachi (I'm not being a pedant, just checking because that's what Google brought back) that's well worth investigating.

[Shindig]

Jumped at the chance to play Pineview Drive. Then I remembered what that game actually was. I got it confused with Allison Road. Fuck sake. :moop:

On the plus side, Yakuza 0 is great. You fight a guy called Mr. Shakedown. That should've been a Banzai segment.

[Raoul Duke]

Just seen that Ark Survival Evolved is out on PS4 now. Gonna pick that up soon - been wanting to play it for ages.


I might have to pick that up.

Well, this is an unbelievably shoddy port. Firstly, the music is insanely loud. The UI is awful (so many menus and settings...I'm on a console, make shit simple) and there is massive screen tear if you look at water :cab: Actually doing stuff is a ballache as it's not optimised for controller play.

Avoid like a dog vomit sandwich

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Glad I didn't go in for it, cheers.

[Shindig]

Yeah, Pineview Drive wasn't great. Spend most of the game key hunting and then the seemingly superfluous 'health meter tied to jump scares' thing bites you in the arse on the final day. All for some FMV non-ending.

[P_3]

Fired up Zelda Ocarina of Time Masterquest. The intro is just amazing. So much nostalgia. :drool:

[Shindig]

Double Dragon IV is out. Hmmm ....

[Raoul Duke]

Looks good. I'd love to see some more of this era remade - Golden Axe, Streets Of Rage, Road Rash etc. :drool:

[Ian]

Luring idiot enemies off ledges in Golden Axe. :drool:

[Shindig]

7 missions down in Double Dragon IV. Yep, they made an arcade Double Dragon. They've hidden a stage select so at least I don't have to restart from scratch. Enemies stack up at the top of ladders for cheap hits (Like the olden days!), platforming is guff with some weird physics eating your jumps (Like the olden days!) and you've got no invincibility so groups can and do juggle you. Like the olden days. 12 missions in all, apparently. Made it to 7 on my first run.

[John]

Looks good. I'd love to see some more of this era remade - Golden Axe, Streets Of Rage, Road Rash etc. :drool:

As long as they don't try to update them too much. There was a 3D Road Rash game out years ago and it was bollocks.

That said Fighting Force was basically Streets of Rage and that was shit hot.

[phonics]

Assuming you mean Hamachi (I'm not being a pedant, just checking because that's what Google brought back) that's well worth investigating.

Yeah. It works really well.

That Road Rash update was so bad and made me think that maybe that game was rubbish all along.

P.S. Polygon missing review embargo for Nioh despite getting it a weak early because it's too hard and they can't finish it makes me want to get it.

[Ian]

Is Hamachi a pain in the hole to get set up or is it just well done all round?

[Shindig]

Double Dragon IV done. I feel like I'm in the minority for liking it, though. I know the NES games aren't a patch on the arcade versions but I had fun with this. I just don't get why people are up in arms over a game that very clearly looks and feels like, "Yep, we made a NES Double Dragon. You liked Double Dragon 2. You played those as kids. Crack on."

Can't comment on the PC version, sadly. It does have some iffy borders that lead to enemies attacking you off screen but the PS4 version runs well.

[phonics]

It looks wank. Just because you want to go for that NES feel doesn't mean you have to limit the amount of sprites, within 15 minutes you're fighting color ways of the same enemy. It doesn't mean you can't make more logical hitboxes.

If you said it was a student reskin I'd say it was good but that's about it.

[Shindig]

They've definitely acted with the kind of restraint you'd get from a company too scared to be bold with a new property. I mean, they crowdfunded River City Ransom Underground. They're short on consumer confidence so they either look to see if it's there with kickstarter or play things super safe like DD IV.

I can't blame them. You can't put a Double Dragon out now and not divide the fans.

[phonics]

Since my PC is absolutely FUCKED and refusing to play any game for longer than 45 seconds except Hyper Light Drifter, I've been playing some... Hyper Light Drifter.

I thought this game was absolutely incomprehensible wank until I realised you could go to more than one place. I'd been stuck on the 'West' section for months. Only to find out that I could have done other sections. I knocked both those out within a day or two so now I'm just looking up a FAQ on how to get through West.

It's a great game held back by it refusing to tell you anything and thinking that running against walls to find gaps is a fun game mechanic.

[phonics]

828661689629282304

:cool:

[Shindig]

Speaking of reviews, here's Polygon throwing in the towel on Nioh because they're not good at it.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3yLD_pVYAASbyP.jpg

[Disco]

Fair enough really, how much more was anyone expecting than 'It's fucking hard, fill your boots if you're that kind of a masochist'

[Shindig]

If anything, it's put some of my mind at ease. I wondered how much of Nioh there actually was. As for the difficulty, I've only got a last demo to go off which felt pretty tough until you get the loot you need to feel comfortable. A review is forthcoming from them, just not yet.

[Weaver]

I started replaying Tomb Raider 1 via Steam last night. Flew through the first two levels (Caves, City of Vilcamba) and then spent over an hour on The Lost Valley collecting the three bloody cogs.

I briefly started Level 4, escaping the boulder that comes at Lara and then not having a clue.

I'm trying not to look on the internet and playing through it without 'cheating'. I used to have that little walkthrough manual when I played it on PS1, where there was a premium rate number for CHEATS and stuff.

I completed this on Sunday, quite enjoyed playing it again.

I had bought Tomb Raider II quite a while ago, so I downloaded it last night and I'm on Level 2.

[Shindig]

Do you not find it tough to go back? I've got II on the PSOne and it feels like something I just can't grasp.

[Shindig]

Nioh is bloody ouch. I like the feeling of getting stronger loot as the level progresses but the first boss is a bit death by a thousand cuts.

[Dark Soldier]

Nioh is bloody ouch. I like the feeling of getting stronger loot as the level progresses but the first boss is a bit death by a thousand cuts.

I should be getting it next week, was a bit skint this week. Cannot fucking wait.

Aside from that, I'm absolutely hammering Borderlands 2 yet again right now. Got its hooks right in.

[Shindig]

Nioh has some unexpected comparisons to draw with Borderlands 2.

[Dark Soldier]

Nioh has some unexpected comparisons to draw with Borderlands 2.

The loot and their equivalent of Bad Ass rank, I've heard.

[Shindig]

Yup although I'm dismayed at how bad I am at the bosses. I just want to punish every chance they give me. The difficulty of the levels themselves hasn't been bad.

[Kikó]

I'm having to return my xbox as it turns itself off all the time. Useless.

[Raoul Duke]

Get a PS4 :nodd:

[TG09]

Hi all, Does anyone have the commentary files for CM03/04, i have them in Swedish I think. Be nice to see it in English.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/3803778

None near me :(

[Raoul Duke]

Isn't that game bobbins though?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Isn't that game bobbins though?

Most of the negative remarks are based on the short story (about 7 hours) and lack of replay value.

I'm alright with that for £10.

[Shindig]

Another boss down in Nioh. I still feel like the bosses are where the game's difficulty tends to lie although, if you're ranged and patient, you take them down quickly. I am aggressive. My fights are tense. I appreciate Ninja Gaiden's combat but this is a game of Team Ninja's I actually want to finish.

[TG09]

Hi all, Does anyone have the commentary files for CM03/04, i have them in Swedish I think. Be nice to see it in English.
Anyone??

[Yevrah]

What do you mean by commentary files and If you have the game why haven't you got them?

[Danny]

Anyone??

http://www.theoffsider.com/FM-CM.htm

Didnt try the link though.

[Spikey M]

Anyone??

I don't even understand the question.

[TG09]

What do you mean by commentary files and If you have the game why haven't you got them?

.
The version of the game I found had the commentary file in swedish i think it was. #

Found another version of the game and its in english, everyone stand down. Thank you.

[Patje]

I really should update my list, a lot has changed. I now have a laptop that can actually run games. So my Steam list got a little bigger.

I am, however, working on an oldie that has been on my list for a while now, Psychonauts. I'm nearly 10 hours in and I'm loving it. The game is a slow starter, but once the story sets off, it's a blast. The characters and the mental worlds are really well done, with Boyd and his Milkman Conspiracy as a highlight so far.

[Boydy]

Fucking milkmen.

[Ian]

Yeah I need to give Psychonauts another crack.

[Bernanke]

Why is there no thread about Horizon? Just look at this shit:

https://vid.me/rAGi

:drool:

[ItalAussie]

God, I love Psychonauts so much. One of my all-time top five.

Might be due a replay.

[Raoul Duke]

Why is there no thread about Horizon? Just look at this shit:

https://vid.me/rAGi

:drool:

Yeah, I'm going to be bang into this. Looks great.

Review here: https://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2017/02/horizon-zero-dawn-review/

[Shindig]

I've got too much on my plate to go for that. A blessing in disguise, that.

[phonics]

Ah Psychonauts, I never beat that stupid tightrope level.

[Boydy]

Anyone played Rogue Legacy? I bought it the other day on Steam as it's on sale for about £2. Quite enjoying it so far.

[Shindig]

Never got into it but probably should.

[Patje]

Played it a while ago. Never completed all the bosses, but the ancestors and their traits can be very fun. And confusing.

[Ian]

Same as patje, I never completed everything but I did enjoy my time with it very much.

[Shindig]

Closing in on Nioh. Tracks everything except time spent which is probably for the best. If it winds up my game of the year, I'll wonder where the other 10 months have gone, though.

[Ian]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/27/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-leak/

Yes. Oh yes.

[Dark Soldier]

Eurgh

[Raoul Duke]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/27/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-leak/

Yes. Oh yes.

:drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

My copy of Horizon Dawn has yet to be dispatched, I was looking forward to playing it all day tomorrow whilst coughing up a lung :(

[Patje]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/27/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-leak/

Yes. Oh yes.

The Nemesis system has potential, but other than that Shadow of Mordor was a very average, boring game. So more of the same, but with expanded Nemesis system doesn't quite sound like the step forward to me.

[Dark Soldier]

Anybody want The Evil Within on PS4 for free? I'm never gonna touch it again and its worth fuck all trade in.

[Bernanke]

https://gifyu.com/images/Untitled-1c9a0e.gif

This is gameplay from an open-world game. I love living in the future. :drool:

[Dark Soldier]

Yeah watched some on Twitch last night, game looks good, if as ever bloated with on screen pop ups and shite.

[Bernanke]

Yeah watched some on Twitch last night, game looks good, if as ever bloated with on screen pop ups and shite.

Hopefully there are options for turning a lot of that stuff off, a la Witcher 3?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"We're sorry, but we cannot cancel your order as it has already been processed. Please contact the seller directly to cancel this order."

Can't even cancel to pre-order a digital one so I can play from midnight.

Amazon are probably going to end up delivering in the final hour of their delivery slots tomorrow :(

[Ian]

The Nemesis system has potential, but other than that Shadow of Mordor was a very average, boring game. So more of the same, but with expanded Nemesis system doesn't quite sound like the step forward to me.

I enjoyed Batman's Creed: Mordor even aside from the Nemesis system. The combat suited me fine, the story was the sort of pointless fantasy bilge I'm happy to roll with. The one hook aside it wasn't even remotely groundbreaking but I enjoyed it. The Nemesis system wasn't just potential for me, though. It ran the game. That one orc who I just couldn't fucking finish off (eventually I managed to control him but there was a while when I was genuinely trying to finish him off and he kept escaping) did more for me than many written antagonists. Loved it. Can't wait to see what they're doing with it in this one.