Re: Video Games
 

Currently playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It's my fith FromSoftware game, after Bloodborne, Dark Souls 1,2 and 3 and I have to say, it's the one I like least. It feels as if they were unsure where to go after the Souls Series.

They wanted to add verticality by the use of the grappling hook and give the player more freedom in his approach. The grappling hook, however can only be used at specific points and the player has no control about these points. Just Cause showed how to incorporate such a mechanic while maintaining fluency and in comparison to that, Sekiro feels dated and linear. Adding upon that, they decided to cut the different stats and replaced them with skill trees that unlock abilities. However, you can only access one of the moves you unlock with these skill trees at a given time, again limiting your approach.

But the true shame is that the game fails to play on its greatest strength - the combat system. It can incredibly fluent and satisfying to trade blows and parry at the right moment. However, the games does everything to prevent you from having fun with it. Enemy placement recalls Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin - you rarely get a chance to enjoy the combat system in a 1:1 duel, for which it was obviously designed. Instead, you often deal with a mini boss surrounded by 4-5 mobs that gank you mercilessly. It's really a shame that they decided to inflate the difficulty so artificially instead of focussing on well-balanced, challenging single encounters.
Some say it encourages the player to use the stealth mechanic which enables you to one-shot basic enemies but again, the enemy placement is suboptimal. Metal Gear Solid games show how to encourage players to use stealth through clever enemy placement and patrol routes. Sekiro, on the other hand, encourages you to strike and run away to hide for a minute. Rinse and repeat and that's it.

So, I'm rather disappointed with the game. The combat system is brilliant, the art design and the synchronisation are as well but bad design choices and overcomplicated or clunky mechanics prevent Sekiro from capitalizing on its strengths.

Re: Video Games
 

I played some independent David Lynch-inspired games:

https://welcometotwinpeaks.com/inspi...in-peaks-game/

https://welcometotwinpeaks.com/lynch...ping-software/

https://welcometotwinpeaks.com/lynch...dventure-game/

Re: Video Games
 

Just played through the first Fatal Frame for PS2. Brimming with atmosphere and featuring surprisingly fun combat. A nice little game. Oddly the difficulty spiked dramatically midway through, only to plummet for the easy finale.

Re: Video Games
 

Still waiting for John Romero's SIGIL. Keeping my expectations low... in regards to the first DOOM I've long considered Sandy Peterson's levels superior to Romero's (despite what 99% of the fanbase would have you believe), but I still like the idea of playing DOOM missions in the retro style from one of the original creators... just wish they had gotten Bobby Prince to do some more MIDI compositions rather than resorting to Buckethead, but ah well.

Re: Video Games
 

New trailer for Blasphemous
and one for an older game that got less notice (apparently later versions fixed a broken earlier version), Slain: Back From Hell

Less need to mourn the loss of Castlevania when so many come to replace it. Which is probably a better state of affairs.

Re: Video Games
 

Re: Video Games
 

I see that Siren appeared in the discussion. I'll use that as an occasion and ask you guys, how does it compare to the Silent Hill videogames story-wise? I do love a good horror game but mostly for the story and atmosphere aspect rather than intense gameplay experience.
I guess it's probably not comparable to SH 2 but maybe its worthwile nonetheless, it was made by the same people after all.

Re: Video Games
 

I didn't play much of them but they can be pretty intense. First two games are awkward and frustrating on a mechanical level. I really don't know how story orientated they are.

Re: Video Games
 

I have Battle Chasers: Nightwar ready to go. Sadly, the comic was never finished; the artwork was great, with the exception of Red Monika's "bigness", of course; it just is too over the top for me.

Re: Video Games
 

Wish I had a cooler gateway drug to my beauty ideals, but that and a few other trashy comics is the way it happened. I don't really rate Madureira anymore.

Re: Video Games
 

Going through the hot mess that is The Evil Within 1 on its Akumu difficulty as I'm determined to get the platinum. Made it to Chapter 6 of 15. One hit from anything kills you. I'm fighting the very mechanics of the game as everything is so imbalanced, janky and borderline broken. Beyond infuriating. Mastering this game is absolutely a waste of my precious time on this planet.

Can't wait to get back to it.

Re: Video Games
 

I finished Battle Chasers: Nightwar and I have to say it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. I enjoyed it a lot, considering I am not into rpgs.

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Vigil: Longest Night
Is this proof you don't need a specific franchise to keep a very specific game genre alive?

Re: Video Games
 

Recently I got into Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, a school survival mystery. It was alright. If you enjoy point-n-click, mystery VN and don't mind the cutesy anime style then at least try it. I am playing the 2nd game Danganronpa: Goodbye Despair and so far its characters are a lot better. Some of the characters' speech remind me of a certain pessimistic author...

Re: Video Games
 

I've been playing Darkwood, a survival horror game with a very fascinating aesthetic. Lots of fungus-based body horror in it, although my particular favorite visual is this guy right here, an alarmingly large and vocal snail-person-thing.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...20180224163639

Re: Video Games
 

I've been a constant follower of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Recently finished the fifth major title in the series. Now playing Mafia 2. I don't have a gaming machine or enough money to get hands on a graphics card or the most recent releases, and also not enough games, specially the underrated and underdog ones, aren't even available in my country. I played GTA 5 with minimum settings; the developers tried to make it so that it can be played on a number of machines with decent specs and without dedicated GPU.

I love American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator; relaxing games and can be played smoothly without GPU.

I've played inhumanely on my first phone Nokia C200, and after that on my first smart android device tablet; I didn't have my own computer then. My all-time favorite game will always be Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, it's a game which basically our generation grew up playing with.

I remember playing the game version of Terminator 3 on my brother's PC and first time it scared the #### out of me for some reason. Later it became one of my most played ones after Vice City.

It's obvious I'm a fan of open-world games.

I have a dual-boot machine with Windows and a Linux-based OS. On Linux, I've played SuperTuxKart, OpenArena and Red Eclipse.

I haven't played any horror survival games; I had eyes on SCP- Containment Breach, but never got to playing it.

Besides sleep, games have always been my major escape route.

If you have know titles that are free-to-play and available, please recommend!

Re: Video Games
 

Resident Evil 3 remake launched today. Not expecting it to reach the heights of Resident Evil 7 or (my favourite) the remake of the first game, but I'm sure it'll be a pleasing distraction.

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Adventures Of Lomax is such a lovely looking game, can't remember the artist but he is a cult hero of 2d graphics.

Re: Video Games
 

Aha, it was Henk Nieborg
Henk Nieborg - Pixel Artwork & Game Projects
Look at his gallery section
Lionheart Hardcore Gaming 101

Re: Video Games
 

I signed up for and installed applications from Steam, Origin, Ubisoft, Epic Games, Gog, and others, and was able to get lots of free games, including those that are offered for free for a limited time. There's no cost because games can be uninstalled but they'll remain in one's library.

Re: Video Games
 

Resident Evil 3 remake is a worrying regression for the series into action shlock after the triumphant Resident Evil 7 and sturdy Resident Evil 2 remake. Most of the locations from the original game are skipped over or missing in favour of re-using RE2make assets. Nemesis turns into a silly giant dog midway through and stops hunting you. Some fun to be had, but should've been a cheap DLC. Not worth the exorbitant price tag. Get it for cheap a few years down the line. They clearly rushed this one out with little care.

Re: Video Games
 

As I'm back on a big Lovecraft kick I picked up The Sinking City. It's made by Frogwares, creators of a pleasant -- if clunky and lacking in replay value -- series of Sherlock Holmes games I have enjoyed in the past. This plays as an open world version of their Holmes titles, complete with the mind palace and deduction system for completing mysteries. It's a pleasant combination. The problem is that Frogwares games were janky enough as adventure games with small areas to explore. As a large open world game the mechanics are even more botched, but for me the atmosphere, storytelling and detective work make it worth it.

Jim Sterling's Jimpressions are on point.

Re: Video Games
 

I finished Cuphead. My, am I in awe. The art style is beyond amazing, so much so that I am at a loss for words to describe the joy it brought me.

Re: Video Games
 

This looks really cool
Here's another cool Castlevania clone

Re: Video Games
 

This series Hylics is one of the most freshly visualized games I've ever seen.

Re: Video Games
 

This is one of the best games I have ever played. The amount of information to read on-screen is nothing short of staggering.

Re: Video Games
 

The Dark Eye (1995). One of the weirdest games I have ever played, if not the weirdest; it is inspired by some of Edgar Allan Poe's work.

Re: Video Games
 

I love the art style in Cuphead. It reminds me of Disney art pre-1940. I have a number of books from the 30s from Disney that are incredible. It is also why I enjoy a great deal of Al Columbia's art. He takes that style and darkens it. Some of his art is actually based on compositions from Disney artists.

Re: Video Games
 

It reminded me of some of Betty Boop's cartoons, among some other stuff. This one, for example.

Re: Video Games
 

Yes, indeed. I also have several Betty Boop books in my library. Love the early days of animation.

Re: Video Games
 

I've been replaying American McGee's Alice over the past few days, a game I find incredibly underrated. While the 21st century is suspiciously oversatured with 'dark and edgy' interpretations of Alice in Wonderland, I find that Alice reinterprets Carroll's world in a genuinely fascinating way, mixing the traditional Alice in Wonderland whimsical surrealism with the grungy aesthetics of Quake and Quake II. It doesn't play phenomenally, but the art direction scratches that early-aughts PC game itch, and the soundtrack is one of my all-time favorites.

Re: Video Games
 

I recommend this game. Simple and effective horror.

Re: Video Games
 

I'm a big fan of the indie game studio Amanita Design because they are one of the few developers making the very specific kind of game that I enjoy: point-and-click adventure games—because I can't deal with gameplay more complex than pointing and clicking—with a unique art style and good music.
With the latest game they're working on it looks like they're going down the creepy route, so it might be interesting if you are into creepy.

Re: Video Games
 

Happy Game looks fantastic, and much to my delight there will be a Mac version too. Added it to my Steam wish list. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Re: Video Games
 

ZOMFG!

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This looks pretty good.

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This are the video games I look forward the most to playing.

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Re: Video Games
 

To Burn in Memory (Anniversary Edition) by Orihaus

I haven't played this but it sounds interesting