WHAT PLAY YOU!? Version 3.0

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, Shirtie said:

It's finally happened and I no longer have fun in COD games... 

I've been watching a few videos of Kingdom Come 2 and being a massive fan of Fallout games is this something I would enjoy ? Seems a fairly deep RPG. 

It’s hard to say, it’s definitely not for everyone, and liking Bethesda open world games won’t mean you’ll like this one way or the other. I’d definitely watch a few reviews - but the most accurate barometer here would be trying the original game. It’s available for very little these days, and it will give you a good idea as to what to expect in the second game.

KCD2 is definitely better and evolves many of the ideas in the first game. But both games - to borrow a phrase from a review I read - grind you into dust. Not like Elden Ring - but in the sense that it’s a miserable world and everything is out to kill you. Don’t wash yourself? People think you’re a smelly bastard and stay away from you. Wait too long to eat any food you have? You’re getting food poisoning. Try to fight someone before you’re properly trained? You’re dead, fast. 

The game sometimes forces you to do things you don’t want to do in order to survive. There’s one quest in game 2 involving a dog in which you don’t have to kill it - but throughout the course of what happens, you may find you have no choice. Not because you’ve made a choice, but because you have no choice. It’s about survival. 

I know I’ve been a little obtuse here, but I don’t want to spoil the game. My suggestion would be to play game one, and if you like it, you’ll love the sequel. If you don’t, you’re unlikely to enjoy what comes next.

EDIT: I realise this reads like I don’t recommend the game - I really like it. But it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s one you need to persist with very early on, while you get to grips with the rules of the world. 

Edited February 16, 2025 by RedTwoster

[Dr. Alan Grant]

4 hours ago, Shirtie said:

It's finally happened and I no longer have fun in COD games... 

I’m in a similar boat. I’ve completely given up on multiplayer with this latest Black Ops instalment as I find the omni-movement to be an annoying gimmick and seeing people flying around in all directions looks utterly ridiculous. Warzone is all I play now, but since that also has the same movement the fun is gone. Add into that the lack of map variation (Area 99 is the pits), cheaters, silly operator skins, everyone using the same two guns and frequently not being able to parachute in without being obliterated, and it all makes for a terrible time. People expecting the return of Verdansk to improve matters are probably going to be disappointed. 

Anyway, the group I play with have all pretty much had enough and are looking for something else. Doesn’t need to be a battle royale game, just a 4 player co-op/multiplayer game for PS5. If anyone knows of anything that fits the bill, fire away. 

[RedTwoster]

Like many of you, I’ve decided to make this the year where I finally tackle my gaming backlog, and as a result I’ve experienced and revisited some interesting games so far, including…

Emio, the smiling man (Switch)

Probably the most un-Nintendo game Nintendo has ever made, with themes of child murder, suicide, self-harm and mental illness. It’s quite something, and I’m still astounded that they made this game. It’s also an odd one in that the epilogue - hidden after the end credits - enhances the overall plot quite significantly and elevates the whole story. If you enjoyed Omori, you’ll at least enjoy the plot here; but the game is basically a visual novel, with your actions serving only to trigger the next sequence of events; the actual ‘game’ portion of this is very minimal. But I really enjoyed the story, and if you like this sort of game or are curious about it, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Final Fantasy XIII

I’m a big fan of the Final Fantasy series, but this game had never previously gelled with me. I gave it a go, struggled to understand what the hell was going on, and gave up quickly. This time round, I persisted and, eventually, I kind of liked it. It’s very slow - opening up sections of the battle system tens of hours into the game - and the characters are almost all unlikeable (including a teenage boy whose sub-plot essentially revolves around him wanting to commit murder) - but in the end, it won me over. I wouldn’t rush to recommend it; but it’s not a bad game - it’s just a lot more linear than what you might expect from the series.

Like a Dragon

I picked this up for a few quid on sale, and what a bargain it ended up being. Given that it’s a game about Yakuza, surprisingly little crime goes on (as far as the main character is concerned, at least) - and there’s so much enjoyable side content, including a mini-game where you run a business which I ploughed countless hours into. The story is pretty out-there, but you care about the characters and just accept the insanity of it all. If you like JRPGs - and quirky ones in particular - you should definitely give this a chance. It’s so long that you could feasibly lose several months to it though, so keep that in mind - this is a game I started in October and didn’t wrap up until the turn of the year. 

[FLips]

Glad you enjoyed Like a Dragon. Absolutely adored that game and the Yakuza series as a whole. Similarly put an embarrassing amount of hours into my confectionary business empire.

[TildeGuy~!]

3 hours ago, RedTwoster said:

Like a Dragon

I picked this up for a few quid on sale, and what a bargain it ended up being. Given that it’s a game about Yakuza, surprisingly little crime goes on (as far as the main character is concerned, at least) - and there’s so much enjoyable side content, including a mini-game where you run a business which I ploughed countless hours into. The story is pretty out-there, but you care about the characters and just accept the insanity of it all. If you like JRPGs - and quirky ones in particular - you should definitely give this a chance. It’s so long that you could feasibly lose several months to it though, so keep that in mind - this is a game I started in October and didn’t wrap up until the turn of the year. 

You need to play Infinite Wealth next, amazing follow up.

[RedTwoster]

52 minutes ago, TildeGuy~! said:

You need to play Infinite Wealth next, amazing follow up.

Funnily enough, I started playing it, and about 10-hours in I ended up having to take a break. It’s good, but playing it directly after its predecessor was a mistake on my part. I’ll definitely revisit it soon, though. Sicko Snap is a great little side game, I’m not sure about Suijamon yet; but that seems like something I’d also enjoy. 

[Cousin Jim Bob]

@RedTwoster have you played the Yakuza games ? 

Maybe jumping into them to get to know the likes of Kiryu and Majima would be a better follow up to LAD before finishing up Infinite Wealth. 

 

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, Cousin Jim Bob said:

@RedTwoster have you played the Yakuza games ? 

Maybe jumping into them to get to know the likes of Kiryu and Majima would be a better follow up to LAD before finishing up Infinite Wealth. 

 

I played a bit of the first game, but I didn’t finish it. Are they all 50+ hours in length?

[Cousin Jim Bob]

57 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

I played a bit of the first game, but I didn’t finish it. Are they all 50+ hours in length?

They are lengthy yeah but not as much as the LAD games. I would recommend giving Yakuza 0 a try to see if you like it. It introduces both Kiryu and Majima and is the prequel to Yakuza K1. It basically uses a more modern engine and is most peoples gateway into the series. 

0 is on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. I think the whole series are on both now .

Kiryu is one of my favourite video game characters of all time and what he is dealing with in Infinite Wealth becomes more much more effective after playing a few Yakuza games. The Japanese voice actor who plays him is astounding. 

Edited February 17, 2025 by Cousin Jim Bob

[The King Of Swing]

Infinite Wealth is good but I was pretty disappointed in the story, especially the final stretch.

Still not sure how I feel about the upcoming Pirate Majima game.

[TildeGuy~!]

14 minutes ago, The King Of Swing said:

Infinite Wealth is good but I was pretty disappointed in the story, especially the final stretch.

Still not sure how I feel about the upcoming Pirate Majima game.

I was looking forward to it but then I played the demo that came out on Thursday, I think I’ll give it a miss until it’s either really cheap or on PS Plus.

 

[RedTwoster]

54 minutes ago, The King Of Swing said:

Infinite Wealth is good but I was pretty disappointed in the story, especially the final stretch.

Still not sure how I feel about the upcoming Pirate Majima game.

I kind of like when the game leans into the ridiculousness of it all, so I’m looking forward to it, but…

39 minutes ago, TildeGuy~! said:

I was looking forward to it but then I played the demo that came out on Thursday, I think I’ll give it a miss until it’s either really cheap or on PS Plus.

 

…this leaves me a bit concerned! I’ll definitely try the demo (didn’t even know there was one, so thanks, Tilde!) but what didn’t you like about it?

[TildeGuy~!]

13 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

…this leaves me a bit concerned! I’ll definitely try the demo (didn’t even know there was one, so thanks, Tilde!) but what didn’t you like about it?

The combat feels good but I just feel like I have I have no interest in the story whatsoever.

Its a big reason for my love for the series overall, Majima’s great but the whole I got Amnesia and I’m gonna be a pirate in Hawaii now doesn’t interest me.

[RedTwoster]

6 minutes ago, TildeGuy~! said:

The combat feels good but I just feel like I have I have no interest in the story whatsoever.

Its a big reason for my love for the series overall, Majima’s great but the whole I got Amnesia and I’m gonna be a pirate in Hawaii now doesn’t interest me.

I’m not a fan of amnesia storylines; but I’m hoping it simply leans into how daft the whole scenario is and it works as a whole. I’ll give the demo a go though. I was unlikely to pick it up immediately anyway, as I continue to chip through my enormous backlog. Although…I’m probably going to give Avowed a go.

[Dr. Alan Grant]

I’ve given up on my playthrough of Resi 5. The controls are horrible, everything is beige and it’s so far removed from the survival horror beginnings. Skipping straight to Biohazard instead. Was the 5th instalment well received when it released?

I’ve been playing High On Life too, as it’s free. I can stomach Rick & Morty humour for a little bit, so I’ll likely finish it. I did spend far too long watching a Denise Richards/Paul Walker film called Tammy And The T-Rex on a tv in game.

I think I’m just killing time, game-wise, until Monster Hunter Wilds and the next Assassin’s Creed comes out.