[Aptorian]

I finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild a few weeks ago.

Really loved the journey but I think the ending lacks a proper feeling of completion. By the time I was ready to assault the Castle and take on Ganondorf I was pretty much a monster myself. I was armed with 50 ancient arrows and the Master Sword and basically just destroyed everything that got in my way. The last fight was relatively easy and actually felt like one of the easiest fights in the game.

I actually reloaded my last save before Ganondorf and went off to finish the Memories side-quest to get the best ending. I liked it, I think the relationship between Zelda and Link was wonderful in this game. But I still feel like that the story chunks feel distant from that actual game.

But it really is a great game. Certainly not the best game I've ever played, but a very special experience. Like a cartoon version of Skyrim.

After finishing Zelda I jumped right into Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

It was probably a bad idea to go straight from a fresh take on Open World games, to the most formulaic Ubisoft open world game yet. And yet I am absolutely consumed by Wildlands. I've done nothing but playing Wildlands for the last 2 weeks and I still can't stop. It's an incredibly simple and shallow game but I just love the presentation and the gunplay. I must have taken out hundreds of army bases and cartel hideouts by now, and yet I'm still enjoying it.

Wildlands is absolutely enourmous, it makes me wonder what kinds of games Open World games will be in the future. Because if you took that map and you for example put in Solid Snake or Crysis guy or The Hulk in there, you could have some crazy experiences.

[Mentalist]

Messing around with AoK HD some more (surprise, surprise).

Played the last Charlemagne mission again. Applied more patience this time, and managed to get a proper economy going quick enough to survive the early aggression and tech up to Imperial where I could resist AI's sporadic attacks. Then it was a matter of making a concerted push. Franks' late game army (Paladin + fully upgraded Throwing Axemen) really do shred most things, although they're expensive as fuck to get to.

Once this insane war machine, aided by Trebuchets got going, I ground down Saragosa very quickly (they actually sue for peace once you crush their castles and turn ally allowing you to trade). Then the last push against Barcelona wasn't that difficult.

So then I went back to the second scenario in the "Bari" campaign for The Forgotten expansion. And I got stuck hard.

This is kind of similar to what happened on Yodit 1- you're stuck. Being under-teched. Only this time it's castle v. Imperial, so I'm facing cavaliers, Elite Huscarls (the main enemy is Goths), heavy cav archers, as well as Monks and an assortment of siege, including trebuchets.
While I have the Byzantean castle age troops, except camels, so my only answer to the cavalry are pikemen, because the insanely expensive Cataphracts can't stack up to cavaliers or archers.

Basically, it's a constant, incredibly annoying grind, because there's one path from my base to theirs, and it's insanely narrow, making micro difficult. Enemy keeps spawning waves, and I can't get a proper foothold, because i'm trying desperately to keep the pressure up. It's become an exercise in endurance and frustration, because it's basically a meaningless tug of War, except I can't push any faster (I can't build castles, so I'm limited in my Cataphract production.) All in all, it reminds me why the campaigns in the Forgotten are considered so hit or miss- there's a lot of interesting ideas, but the execution is all over the place.

Instead of getting myself worked up over it, I did smth different, and played the Hastings Battle of the Conquerors. This was pretty by the numbers affair- build up, cleanse Normandy, then establish naval dominance, land in England, steamroll Harold the Saxon. The Viking allies (Harald Haadrade, after the failed attempts of their own, joins you) was a nice touch, but not really necessary.

Next I'll try the Manzikert Battle of the Conquerors, since that one is considered one of the best in the original games. Never actually played it before, so let's see how the Turks do against the Byzantean Empire.

[Morgoth]

I bought Stardew Valley for the girlfriend. It is really fun!

[Aptorian]

You just reminded me that I wanted to get back into Stardew Valley.

I've been in a gaming funk after finishing Zelda and Wildlands. I think Stardew Valley might be just the right low intensity podcast game for me to play right now.

[Mentalist]

Manzikert was fun: use a raiding force to take over 3 Byzantean Themes (towns/military districts) and they'll tribute you resources to face the strongest enemy.

I also finally managed to beat Bari 2. The epiphany came to me in stages- first I figured out a way to avoid the pointless scraps in a narrow mountain valley- I managed to wall the valley and then did an amphibious landing in front of the city walls and quickly established a camp there. Then it was fighting endless waves of the defenders' sorties. Finally, having exhausted all other options, I decided to counter by massing monks, the idea being, instead of trying to fight the endless stream of units, just convert them and have the enemy defenses kill them. Having done this, I was able to amass enough siege equipment to start breaking in and destroying unit production buildings, eventually stemming the tide and after extensive mopping up, achieving victory.

Meanwhile, in between bouts of frustration I also started the El Cid campaign. One mission in, and Spanish conquistadors are pretty insane unique unit that pack an incredible punch.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 06 April 2017 - 04:54 AM

[Morgoth]

Apt, on 04 April 2017 - 11:53 AM, said:

You just reminded me that I wanted to get back into Stardew Valley.

I've been in a gaming funk after finishing Zelda and Wildlands. I think Stardew Valley might be just the right low intensity podcast game for me to play right now.

I've recently started making mayonnaise, and I find myself weirdly addicted to fishing. There's something soothing about the whole thing. I've also planted a few fruit trees. Now to start thinking about expanding the main house, and maybe try to dive deeper into the mines.

[Aptorian]

I've been in a money paradox for a while now. I'm halfway into
Summer but I still can't afford to buy the chicken coop. So I can't use the mayonaise machine, even though I've built two already. I've been spending all my money on expanding my crop volume but I keep buying crops that take a long time to develop and in between I spend my surplus cash on smaller stuff like the backpack upgrade, sword upgrade, etc.

I've been focusing on the mine, because I want to get deep enough that I can get a bunch of Iron ore. I want to use the ore to create sprinklers so I don't have to spend so much time and energy watering and tending the crops. Currently I am stuck inbetween level 35 and 40. It's so dark that I can barely see and the weird mine people are so strong that it takes for ever to kill them with my iron sword.

But all that aside, this game is super relaxing. As soon as you accept that things take time but you have all the time in the world, you can just drift away in the day to day routine. Just listen to the happy music and go fishing or forage for flowers and fruit.

This post has been edited by Apt: 06 April 2017 - 01:42 PM

[Morgoth]

Apt, on 06 April 2017 - 01:36 PM, said:

I've been in a money paradox for a while now. I'm halfway into
Summer but I still can't afford to buy the chicken coop. So I can't use the mayonaise machine, even though I've built two already. I've been spending all my money on expanding my crop volume but I keep buying crops that take a long time to develop and in between I spend my surplus cash on smaller stuff like the backpack upgrade, sword upgrade, etc.

I've been focusing on the mine, because I want to get deep enough that I can get a bunch of Iron ore. I want to use the ore to create sprinklers so I don't have to spend so much time and energy watering and tending the crops. Currently I am stuck inbetween level 35 and 40. It's so dark that I can barely see and the weird mine people are so strong that it takes for ever to kill them with my iron sword.

But all that aside, this game is super relaxing. As soon as you accept that things take time but you have all the time in the world, you can just drift away in the day to day routine. Just listen to the happy music and go fishing or forage for flowers and fruit.

I've been pickling vegetables and fruits for a hefty income. When I got that system going, and a decent production of mayonnaise, I started being able to afford things. All the crab-traps helps too.

This game is incredibly soothing.

[Aptorian]

You can make crab-traps?

I just got my ass kicked on level 49 of the mine.

Lost 5 items including my sword, 1000 gold and lost 10 levels. This game can be harsh.

[Traveller]

I saw crab traps in the game trailer.

Downloaded this last night, it looks like a good after-work wind down.

[Traveller]

I need to practice the fishing... really bad at it so far. Playing on console so control might be different, it seems unexpectedly tricky though.

Nice chilled game, started in a forest location, just getting to know the locals and explore a bit while planting first crops.

[Serenity]

The last four games I've played have been two open world games (Witcher 3 and HZD) and two Naughty Dog games (Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us). So when I finished HZD I was ready for something completely different, and along comes Persona 5 and fulfills that wish completely. Fifteen hours in and I've just finished the first 'palace' and the game is opening up. There's so much to learn! So far it's the slickest, most gorgeous and most stylish JRPG I've played.

[WinterPhoenix]

Serenity, on 09 April 2017 - 10:57 AM, said:

The last four games I've played have been two open world games (Witcher 3 and HZD) and two Naughty Dog games (Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us). So when I finished HZD I was ready for something completely different, and along comes Persona 5 and fulfills that wish completely. Fifteen hours in and I've just finished the first 'palace' and the game is opening up. There's so much to learn! So far it's the slickest, most gorgeous and most stylish JRPG I've played.

Really, really considering getting Persona, considering going on a whole Japanese games binge actually because I want to get, NieR Automata, Nioh and the latest Tales game as well. Problem being the cost of all 4 is somewhat astronomical, not sure I can justify it with money issues and a decent amount of games I already own still unplayed.

I've seen alot of good things about Nioh, I've also seen criticism calling it an unashamed Dark Souls clone/rip-off, from footage and general reviews it does seem their are alot of similarities but also it's own unique sense of style. What's more, Dark Souls is incredible anyhow, I'm not sure emulating it is a bad thing. Quite a few people I've seen saying it's more difficult than Dark Souls as well, so I gotta test that at some point. I've literally only heard good things about NieR as well, so that's good, it's sounds like a mixture of the bizzare and the beautiful in a desolate sort of way from what I've read/seen. Most interested in Persona and Tales though tbh.

We'll see if/when I'm able to get any of them of course. Still powering through Andromeda right now, then I still have Scholar of the First Sin, Shadow of Mordor and Bloodborne to play despite having the first and last for absolutely ages and only playing them for a few hours each. On top of that, dlc was released for FFXV that I need to check out at some point, plus dlc/trophy hunting for Fallout 4, DA:I and The Witcher 3 - just been hankering for a Witcher playthrough in general tbh. Heck I still have to get the Sphere Grid trophies for the FFX remake at some point, that one is just so looooong and monotonous though. So as you can see if I really go through my backlog it'll be about 2020 by the time I get round to buying the above mentioned lol

[Serenity]

WinterPhoenix, on 09 April 2017 - 12:34 PM, said:

So as you can see if I really go through my backlog it'll be about 2020 by the time I get round to buying the above mentioned lol

At least they'll be cheap by then I picked up the DA:I GOTY edition for £6.99 in the PlayStation Store Easter Sale a couple of days ago. I'm not sure I even wanted it, but for £6.99 . . .

[Aptorian]

Still playing Stardew Valley. I've made it into early Fall now. I'm loving the game but the restrictions made on my options by the passage of time and my energy reserves are starting to become frustrating.

I've dropped mine exploration for the time being, since I've learned that I won't be able to do much farming during vinter. I've now bought both a chicken coop, a silo and a barn for cows. I've got a mushroom cave and I've begun clearing the grounds to make a proper orchard like area to farm various forms of syrup and sap. I've also created a sort of storage area with color coded chests in which I've seperated various items into their own groupings, like vegetables, fruits, farm products, fish, minerals and mine materials, monster stuff, etc. My inventory had become completely impossible to manage since I try to keep 5-10 pieces of each item I encounter, just in case somebody asks for something or I find a new recipe. Also, that Community center seems to want all kinds of random stuff for repairs.

I hope I eventually find some gold so I can invest in some proper sprinklers.

I've also begun playing Mirror's Edge 2. It's better than I thought it would be, considering the meh reception it got. But I'm in the early hours. Time will tell what they do with the story.

This post has been edited by Apt: 10 April 2017 - 05:41 PM

[worry]

I just finished Rain, the PS3 short story game where you're invisible except under the rain. "Game" might be too generous a term though. It's a puzzle-platformer without any puzzles. Visually it's beautiful, and there's lots of good ideas -- none of which are explored in any depth. Every "challenge" feels like a tutorial for creative puzzles that never arrive. The story is good but the writing is terrible -- "writing" meaning the actual text that appears on screen, which is D.O.A. clunky. The game would have been better with no text whatsoever. I wanted to like it, there are ideas I liked a lot, it could have been a mini-ICO, but ultimately Rain was the CliffsNotes version of itself.

[Morgoth]

Apt, on 10 April 2017 - 05:40 PM, said:

Still playing Stardew Valley. I've made it into early Fall now. I'm loving the game but the restrictions made on my options by the passage of time and my energy reserves are starting to become frustrating.

I've dropped mine exploration for the time being, since I've learned that I won't be able to do much farming during vinter. I've now bought both a chicken coop, a silo and a barn for cows. I've got a mushroom cave and I've begun clearing the grounds to make a proper orchard like area to farm various forms of syrup and sap. I've also created a sort of storage area with color coded chests in which I've seperated various items into their own groupings, like vegetables, fruits, farm products, fish, minerals and mine materials, monster stuff, etc. My inventory had become completely impossible to manage since I try to keep 5-10 pieces of each item I encounter, just in case somebody asks for something or I find a new recipe. Also, that Community center seems to want all kinds of random stuff for repairs.

I hope I eventually find some gold so I can invest in some proper sprinklers.

I've also begun playing Mirror's Edge 2. It's better than I thought it would be, considering the meh reception it got. But I'm in the early hours. Time will tell what they do with the story.

Pickling vegetables and fruit seems to be a great source of income. As are all my crab traps.

Advanced sprinklers are my dream. When I can reliably build them my farm will glow with wealth like a mythical elven kingdom

[WinterPhoenix]

Morgoth, on 11 April 2017 - 07:24 AM, said:

Apt, on 10 April 2017 - 05:40 PM, said:

Still playing Stardew Valley. I've made it into early Fall now. I'm loving the game but the restrictions made on my options by the passage of time and my energy reserves are starting to become frustrating.

I've dropped mine exploration for the time being, since I've learned that I won't be able to do much farming during vinter. I've now bought both a chicken coop, a silo and a barn for cows. I've got a mushroom cave and I've begun clearing the grounds to make a proper orchard like area to farm various forms of syrup and sap. I've also created a sort of storage area with color coded chests in which I've seperated various items into their own groupings, like vegetables, fruits, farm products, fish, minerals and mine materials, monster stuff, etc. My inventory had become completely impossible to manage since I try to keep 5-10 pieces of each item I encounter, just in case somebody asks for something or I find a new recipe. Also, that Community center seems to want all kinds of random stuff for repairs.

I hope I eventually find some gold so I can invest in some proper sprinklers.

I've also begun playing Mirror's Edge 2. It's better than I thought it would be, considering the meh reception it got. But I'm in the early hours. Time will tell what they do with the story.

Pickling vegetables and fruit seems to be a great source of income. As are all my crab traps.

Advanced sprinklers are my dream. When I can reliably build them my farm will glow with wealth like a mythical elven kingdom

Just imagining Elrond with a scythe out in the wheat fields....

[Mentalist]

Too much dumb stress right now, between work and other crap (most to do with the house-purchase).

Think I'll need a break from the cerebral AoK HD soon to play something less brain-intesive this upcoming long weekend. Thinking of something action-adventury like Odyssey to the West or Remember Me.

[Aptorian]

I can definitely recommend Enslaved. It's a fun take on the Monkey king mythos. Not sure how well it will have aged though. I remember it looking rough already on the PS3 and the companion mechanics being a bit obtuse. But it's definitely a unique game.

I couldn't get into Remember Me. I think Played up to the first big story memory thingy but the game just didn't capture my interest. I think the main issue I had with the game was the weird universe that wasn't introduced properly and a fighting system that just wasn't fun.

If you want to play a much better Don't Nod game I can recommend Life is Strange. That's a hell of a game. Might be one of the best crafted stories I've played.

Looking forward to seeing what they do with the vampire game "Vampyr".

This post has been edited by Apt: 12 April 2017 - 05:52 PM