WHAT PLAY YOU!? Version 3.0

[The King Of Swing]

My Switch has basically been gathering dust since Shin Megami Tensei V was ported to PS5.

I am looking forward to Xenoblade Chronicles X, though. That'll get me back on it. 

As for the Switch 2, obviously depends on what games are announced. I'm not really into Mario, Zelda, etc. But a new Xenoblade or SMT game would definitely get me interested. 

Edited January 16, 2025 by The King Of Swing

[RedTwoster]

12 hours ago, The King Of Swing said:

As for the Switch 2, obviously depends on what games are announced. I'm not really into Mario, Zelda, etc. But a new Xenoblade or SMT game would definitely get me interested. 

The Xenoblade story felt very finished to me after the most recent game, so I’m really curious as to what Monolith might do next. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them do something new, but retain the ‘Xeno’ name as they did from Gears, to Saga to Blade. 

As far as the Switch 2 goes, I unashamedly love all things Nintendo, so I’ll definitely be looking to pick it up at launch. Mario Kart probably isn’t the game I’d be buying the system for, though I assume it’s a launch title. I hope the console also releases with a significant first party single player experience, much as the Switch did with Breath of the Wild. Pokémon Legends ZA would be enough to keep me happy.

[The King Of Swing]

Finished Final Fantasy VII Remake, again. 

Some of the shine has definitely worn off. Still a really good game for the most part, but I can't deny that it becomes a bit of a slog during the final few chapters.

Also some materia only seems to be in the game for the sake of it. A few I either barely used or didn't use at all. 

Maybe they come in handy in hard mode or for specific builds. 

Anyway onto Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. I'm definitely going to finish it this time..... 

Edited January 21, 2025 by The King Of Swing

[Dr. Alan Grant]

Before I get started on Yakuza Kiwami (thanks for the recommendations), I’ve been playing Skyward Sword on Switch and the Resident Evil 2 remake. Each one has some of my most hated game features in them. That of inventory management and stamina gauges. I hate having to pick and choose which items I should carry. I’m a hoarder. I want to carry everything I’ve ever found and keep it forever. If I’m playing an Elder Scrolls, I want to carry every weapon, potion, book, crafting item and wooden plate I pick up. Sure, the wooden plate is only worth one coin and has no discernible purpose. But who’s to say there isn’t a vital quest later on where I need that plate to give to a helpful Khajit.

I want to have every gun I’ve collected in RE2 on my person at all times as well as all the key items. Stop making me go back to a chest to pick something up. I played the original to death on PS1, so it’s nice to see they’ve changed some things up to make it less predictable. I don’t even remember Mr. X being in the game before, so his constant presence is fun and terrifying. The original Licker encounter isn’t where I was expecting it to be so I’m on my toes constantly, waiting for one to jump out at me. Once I’ve done the Leon playthrough, I might jump onto Claire (steady now). 

Stamina gauges though. Stop it. I’ve had enough. I want to sprint for as long I’d like. I want to spam heavy attacks. I don’t want to be over-encumbered. Let me run and hoard, dammit.

[RedTwoster]

@Dr. Alan Grant - yes to all of that. I get that it’s survival horror, but I found myself surviving perfectly well and ditching things just became annoying busy-work. 

The limited inventory in the Paper Mario TTYD remake led to me not even finishing the game. I got to the final run of bosses, didn’t have enough in the way of healing items, and couldn’t be arsed trekking back to get more and I just watched the ending online. I’d completed the GameCube version, so maybe I’m just worse at gaming now.

And stamina gauges are really annoying, especially in games with no or limited fast-travel, meaning your ability to sprint from a to b is limited.

Edited January 21, 2025 by RedTwoster

[Dr. Alan Grant]

It would seem Resident Evil 2 has been removed from PS Plus today. I was close to the end too. Fuck sake. 

[Dr. Alan Grant]

Double post ahoy.

I’ve found a cheap disc copy of Resident Evil 2 remake for the PS4 online. If I bought that and then got the free PS5 upgrade, would my save file that I was using on PS Plus transfer over? I don’t fancy starting the game from scratch.

[The King Of Swing]

Finally got the hang of Queen's Blood in FFVII Rebirth. Never thought I'd say this but I'm having a blast. 

[DavidB6937]

3 hours ago, Dr. Alan Grant said:

Double post ahoy.

I’ve found a cheap disc copy of Resident Evil 2 remake for the PS4 online. If I bought that and then got the free PS5 upgrade, would my save file that I was using on PS Plus transfer over? I don’t fancy starting the game from scratch.

Haven't done it myself but just did a quick search and sounds like it's probably possible. There's a few videos around.

[Jazzy G]

I'll probably end up with a Switch 2 in time. Still plenty of life in the old one yet. 

I've been cracking through Coffee Talk in between games of Tetris. It's nice and chilled. I've got the sequel ready to go as well. 

[Abe_Knuckleball_Schwartz]

I’m not too bothered about the Switch2 right now and I have said I will not buy until it has been out for around 2years…. But I just know as soon as the new Mario game drops, I’ll be buying it 

[RedTwoster]

On 1/23/2025 at 12:50 PM, Dr. Alan Grant said:

Double post ahoy.

I’ve found a cheap disc copy of Resident Evil 2 remake for the PS4 online. If I bought that and then got the free PS5 upgrade, would my save file that I was using on PS Plus transfer over? I don’t fancy starting the game from scratch.

I can’t speak for the upgrade, but I’ve carried over a save from a former PS Plus game into a ‘full’ version of it before; albeit a digital one, although the fact it wasn’t physical surely shouldn’t matter.

[TildeGuy~!]

I got the Platinum on Like A Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name yesterday(it’s free on PS Plus extra right now)  missed playing as Kiryu for nearly a year after Infinite Wealth and it really hit home that this will probably be the last time he’s involved in the series, wasn’t gonna pick up Pirate Yakuza but now I need my fix immediately and who can’t not pick up a Majima game.

[BigJag]

Morning. I know there's a few members here that have worked in the video games industry. I'd like some advice please. My niece turns 17 in a few days and is planning on a career in video game design. What would be a useful book or affordable gift for someone on that path? I'm not buying her a a gaming PC or anything like that. Although a contribution towards one would probably be helpful.

Edited January 27, 2025 by BigJag

[Jesse]

2 hours ago, BigJag said:

Morning. I know there's a few members here that have worked in the video games industry. I'd like some advice please. My niece turns 17 in a few days and is planning on a career in video game design. What would be a useful book or affordable gift for someone on that path? I'm not buying her a a gaming PC or anything like that. Although a contribution towards one would probably be helpful.

The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell is one that tends to come up a lot. I'm very opinionated about design in my own little corner of the world, and I have a lot of time for Advanced Game Design: A Systems Approach by Michael Sellers which I think gives a really strong framework for thinking about design, and for explaining your approach to non-designers (useful for interviewing, or handling stakeholders in your workplace) and The Pyramid of Game Design by Nicholas Lovell which is a great primer on how to think about designing for live service games, a huge part of the industry right now.