WHAT PLAY YOU!? Version 3.0

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, BigJag said:

Hope everyone is having a fun Christmas period.

Back when Black Wukong was released. There was another game that looked like it used the same engine. The game had a Northern European theme. Possibly Norwegian. Can anyone remember it's name?

I’m not certain, but could it be Lords of the Fallen that you’re talking about?

[BigJag]

Thanks @RedTwoster.

I think the game I was thinking of is

Although I'm not totally convinced. The trailer I remember.Showcased a game that seemed to be a reskinned Black Myth Wukong. With the main character being replaced by a broadsword carrying warrior.

[Sphinx]

I've not played it myself but I remember there was some praise of Kingdom Come: Deliverance in this thread and some people who may have been interested in giving it a go. It's the free game on Epic Stores at the mo.

[Scratch]

I’d read a few good things about Sociable Soccer, having recently been reminded how fun Sensible Soccer was via GamePass.

Sociable Soccer 25 is now out on PlayStation and Steam, but didn’t fancy the £20 asking price for what looks like quite a shallow arcade footy game.

I found Sociable Soccer 24 on CDKeys for just over a fiver so took the punt, only to realise it also included a free upgrade to 25.

https://www.cdkeys.com/sociable-soccer-24-pc-steam
 

So far, I’m absolutely loving it and it plays superbly on SteamDeck at around 8 watts so will likely benefit from higher battery life.

The aftertouch is satisfying and the simple pass-pass-pass-shoot mechanics are a far-but-welcome step away from modern football games.

For a fiver, I can highly recommend.

Edited January 4, 2025 by Scratch

[BigJag]

On 12/2/2024 at 7:25 PM, BigJag said:

They've grown! If anyone knows this shop and the Silver Arcade where it is situated. Then the link below is well worth reading.

https://www.timeextension.com/features/retail-therapy-super-game-shack-powers-up-with-level-2-arcade-coffee-shop-and-store

I wasn't aware this was happening. I only walked past the ground floor shop the other day. I didn't spot anything that suggested they were expanding. I'll be popping in tomorrow to see how cool it is.

Finally managed to visit Super Games Shack Level 2.

Very cool place. Cafe area serving very nice cakes and coffees. Various other beverages and snacks are available.

They have a very cool Dot matrix screen that's playing various Arcade attract screens. Around 10 arcade cabinets are dotted around the roomy shop area. Double Dragon and a four player Turtles Machine are part of the selection. You have to buy tokens to use in the machines. £5 for 10.

It's very well looked after and a pleasure to be in.

Well worth a visit.

[The Gaffer]

Watching this Final Fantasy VII speedrun and just can't not keep hearing the sponsor in the bottom left corner in Schiavone's voice:

[Gus Mears]

Years late, but really enjoying the Witcher 3 for the low, low price of £0 on PS Plus. It's like Assassin's Creed Valhalla but not shit. Also reading the books at the same time, which is quite an enjoyable way to immerse yourself in it.

Edited January 11, 2025 by Gus Mears

[Devon Malcolm]

I've pretty much abandoned all games for PowerWash Simulator. I never want to see a satellite dish ever again.

[Jesse]

Finished Dragon Age Veilguard last night. The combat in this is the most tedious its ever been in the series and it really put me off. Got about two thirds of the way through and decided it wasn't worth the slog to keep anyone alive so raced through to the end.

There's some character stuff in this I really liked, and I thought all the Solas/Inquisition stuff was fantastic but those gems are too far and too few to make it feel anything like worth it.

[The King Of Swing]

Really enjoyed Veilguard (took around 60 hours to complete, including most side content) but much like with Inquisition, I probably won't go back to it for a while. 

Decided to give Final Fantasy VII Remake, another playthrough. 

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, The King Of Swing said:

Decided to give Final Fantasy VII Remake, another playthrough. 

I decided to give Final Fantasy XIII another go, for my sins. I thought I might like it a bit better this time around, but I’d forgotten how much of the game consists of holding up and running forward, in a straight line, going from battle to battle. It’s almost a visual novel with combat. I don’t know how I feel about it at this stage, but it’s almost impressive how empty and lifeless they managed to make the world feel. Maybe that was their intention, I don’t know.

[The King Of Swing]

I've tried multiple times to finish FFXIII but always get bored by the time I reach the point where everyone says that it "gets good" game looks amazing on the Series X, I'll give it that much and I really like the soundtrack. 

As wacky as they are, I had much more fun playing the sequels. 

Lightning Returns in particular is absolutely bat shit insane. Convinced that SE had given up on FXIII by that point and just let the development team do whatever they wanted. 

[FLips]

I'm still struggling with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth which just seems to be all the worst bits of modern games with a Final Fantasy VII skin on it. Empty open worlds, yellow spraypaint to lead the way, hubs full of worthless side missions. I understand that the Like a Dragon games aren't for everyone, but when it comes to how they fill an open world with optional things to do it really leaves no excuses for a game this lacking.
This has 3 or 4 types of side mission in the open world and you could play the entire game without doing them at all, to the point you wonder why they bothered. It's lazy. The Moogle side missions are particularly a low point. They're a can't-lose herding game with no variation.

At times it feels like it wants to just sell you Final Fantasy VII again but spitefully had to tack a game onto it. Other times it feels like they're actually confused by their own game and have no faith in the players to connect the dots or understand the story either so over-explain everything, or put things into the game to cover their own tracks. I don't know the full story yet but to explain your path through the game, this one has hooded blokes you and other characters are following so that's why everyone just happens to be where they are.

It's strange how in the original Final Fantasy VII there was almost a sense of relief escaping from the claustrophobic Midgar into the open world, and Remake did a great job of expanding Midgar so it did feel like it was brought into the modern age perfectly. Rebirth feels like they got to the open world part and realised they couldn't be arsed to do an open world game, but also the linear parts in this part of the story are the goofy side bits from the original. Costa Del Sol for example is a nightmare in Rebirth because you're forced to play cards and collect segways before you're allowed to progress. I imagine Gold Saucer is soon too so I'm scared by how long they'll stretch that out.

 

[RedTwoster]

19 minutes ago, The King Of Swing said:

I've tried multiple times to finish FFXIII but always get bored by the time I reach the point where everyone says that it "gets good" game looks amazing on the Series X, I'll give it that much and I really like the soundtrack. 

As wacky as they are, I had much more fun playing the sequels. 

Lightning Returns in particular is absolutely bat shit insane. Convinced that SE had given up on FXIII by that point and just let the development team do whatever they wanted. 

I’ve never played the sequels, but I picked them all up for cheap on the Steam Deck. I’ve heard they’re less linear, and I’ve heard that they’re actually pretty good, so I’ll try and persist with this in order to understand what comes next.

I really want to like XIII. I revisited XII and XV and loved both, and I was hoping the same would happen here, but so far…meh.

[The King Of Swing]

2 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

I’ve never played the sequels, but I picked them all up for cheap on the Steam Deck. I’ve heard they’re less linear, and I’ve heard that they’re actually pretty good, so I’ll try and persist with this in order to understand what comes next.

I really want to like XIII. I revisited XII and XV and loved both, and I was hoping the same would happen here, but so far…meh.

If remember correctly XIII-2 basically retcons the ending of XIII, and doesn’t really need too much knowledge of the first game. Well I've never finished XIII and still really enjoyed XIII-2.

It's basically a big time travel adventure. Ending definitely split opinions though.

Lightning Returns is an even bigger departure. Can understand people absolutely hating it, especially it's main game mechanics. 

I've never managed to make it half way through FFXV. Mostly because I absolutely hate Noctis. 

Like I've said in the past though, take my gaming opinions with a pinch of salt. 

@FLips not had a chance to finish Rebirth yet (plan to start a fresh game after Remake) but I mostly really enjoyed what I played of it. Can totally understand people not enjoying it though.

Some of the side content is shit though.