[Morgoth]

Yeah, self destruct is supposed to be a strategy I never went for it though, so I can't say exactly how that would work.

[Serenity]

Nier Automata's reduced to £34.99 on the PS Store at the moment. Hmm. I really want it, but I have three games on the go already. I should play the games I have and, by the time I've finished those, it'll be even cheaper. Yes, that's what I should do.

[/Common Sense]

[Traveller]

There's got to be one game you can delete?

Nier is damn fun.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 10 May 2017 - 06:53 PM

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Briar King, on 10 May 2017 - 06:38 PM, said:

Serenity, on 10 May 2017 - 01:01 PM, said:

Nier Automata's reduced to £34.99 on the PS Store at the moment. Hmm. I really want it, but I have three games on the go already. I should play the games I have and, by the time I've finished those, it'll be even cheaper. Yes, that's what I should do.

[/Common Sense]

Sounds like a plan. I doubt I ll even finish HZD any longer.. I can't play it for more 7-8 minutes then I get bored and turn off. I need to get an external quick

Me too! I don't know why I can't get I to that fame more than I am.

[WinterPhoenix]

Its really funny about HZD, BK, it was your zealous enthusiasm that convinced me to get the game to begin with, and damn am I still happy I did, one of the top gaming experiences of the last few years for me, absolutely loved it - and I still can't believe how close it runs The Witcher 3 on that front tbh. I was ready to dismiss it before I ever played it, but you (and a few friends as well tbh) raved about it and now you are struggling to get back into it. Maybe it doesn't hold up well to an interrupted gaming experience (by which I mean days or weeks without playing) who knows *shrugs* It's odd though.

As for whether or not you can get an external in a shop like Wal-Mart, I couldn't say for sure. Over here in England I know I could get one in any decent dedicated electronics shop for sure, except Amazon is likely to be cheaper. As for a big chain supermarket, one of the giant Tesco's would be the best analogy for the US Wal-Mart, and I think that I could maybe get an external harddrive in a sufficiently sized one, but I wouldn't be sure, and Amazon is likely to ave a better choice, if not cheaper even still. Of course I can't be sure how any of this would hold up over in the states. As for my external, unfortunately looks like it's going to have to wait for the end of the month, both my brother's 18th (and thus a trip up to Midlands where they live) and my girlfriend's birthday are within a few days of each other next week. Gifts plus getting my brother royally pissed (lol) plus travel there and back will hit me, possibly not hard enough to matter, but I'd just like to see what I have when it's all done before I settle on the harddrive. Like I said though, if you haven't bought one yourself by the time, BK, I'll let you know how it all works

EDIT: Woo, half a thousand posts P

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 11 May 2017 - 05:01 PM

[Aptorian]

Quote

EDIT: Woo, half a thousand posts P

You're adorable

[WinterPhoenix]

Seduce Goose, on 11 May 2017 - 05:54 PM, said:

Quote

EDIT: Woo, half a thousand posts P

You're adorable

Haha yeah, I doubt I'll be catching you up anytime this side of the 21st century lol

[WinterPhoenix]

The Human AI is cringy as all hell, yeah. I mean how that slipped through when the game is so polished in other areas is beyond me, creating a fully open-world playground of stunning environments with zero load times but not being able to make it so the bandits don't run around me in circles never hitting me once is just weird tbh.

[Serenity]

WinterPhoenix, on 11 May 2017 - 04:59 PM, said:

Its really funny about HZD, BK, it was your zealous enthusiasm that convinced me to get the game to begin with, and damn am I still happy I did, one of the top gaming experiences of the last few years for me, absolutely loved it - and I still can't believe how close it runs The Witcher 3 on that front tbh. I was ready to dismiss it before I ever played it, but you (and a few friends as well tbh) raved about it and now you are struggling to get back into it. Maybe it doesn't hold up well to an interrupted gaming experience (by which I mean days or weeks without playing) who knows *shrugs* It's odd though.

That last point is particularly interesting. I loved the game when I was playing it - thought it was awesome - but since finishing it I've had no desire to go back to it whatsoever. That might be down to lack of New Game +, I suppose, or just that there are so many other great games that I want to play. But it's odd. I don't miss it at all.

[Traveller]

It may be because it has a strong story. A game that relies on the mechanics of gameplay to keep you playing (like a newgame+, new stuff to earn on further playthroughs etc) is more playable long term than one that has a specific cast of characters and a good narrative.

A game like Horizon, to me, was like a good book - played through fairly intensely until done, and the story concluded. I don't feel the need for a reread just yet, although I may pick it up again to finish up challenges and bits I may have missed.

But maybe because the story is the incentive to progress, a break from it kills the momentum. The games strong points for me were the main character, the story and the beauty of it all, which made for an amazing and memorable game experience, but not one that is immediately pulling me back for more.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 12 May 2017 - 09:14 AM

[WinterPhoenix]

Yeah I will say that having done pretty much everything in one playthrough, with the absence of a New Game + function - and even with it, I'm not certain how much it'd add to be fair - I haven't really felt any urge to go back to it. Now when I finished the game I did feel well, almost emotional really, like I had finished it and I would never be able to enjoy that story for the first time again and that was kinda sad. Similarly I am well up for anything that follows, whether that be dlc or out and out sequels, I feel I will genuinely folow Aloy's story wheerever it leads now, so long as the follow ups are not complete disappointments of course.

I do think it lacks somewhat in replayability though, compared to your Dark Souls or The Witcher etc, that factor is lacking. I would be interested to know how many people finished it and then picked it up again straight away, as the wonder of the story is by it's very nature completely defused by prior knowledge, the mystery is so central to the plot and progression that knowing beforehand is actually detrimental, spoilers would have been disastrous for HZD I think. Which isn't to say that it lacks in other areas, personally I think it's only really major issue is the awful Human AI; the machines are brilliant, the design is fantastic and the stunning open-world is gorgeous. At it's heart though, the game is a mystery, it's really putting the player in Aloy's shoes, when you know what's coming already it's harder to really lose yourself in it as is intended.

EDIT: Just saw your comment Trav, couldn't agree more, basically everything above is just what you said with my classic long-winded rambling

The re-read comment especially is very true. I firmly believe I will go back to it at some point, but I feel no inclination to do so just yet. I am far more interested in where the story is heading, and whether they can keep up the quality or it was just a flash in the pan.

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 12 May 2017 - 09:01 AM

[WinterPhoenix]

Traveller, on 12 May 2017 - 08:55 AM, said:

But maybe because the story is the incentive to progress, a break from it kills the momentum. The games strong points for me were the main character, the story and the beauty of it all, which made for an amazing and memorable game experience, but not one that is immediately pulling me back for more.

Yeah actually that makes alot of sense, again in the same vein as a good book there's no guarantee that a long break wouldn't simply kill the momentum and perhaps any interest as well. For me as well because I did literally everything - apart from a few world datapoints that are exceedingly well hidden - in my first playthrough, there's little to really pull me back in as the story is really the major focus along with Aloy and her ties to said story. The stunning beauty of the game is brilliant, but it's not something I will go back for simply in and of itself.

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 12 May 2017 - 09:35 AM

[Traveller]

The most obvious comparison to me is DS - the mechanics are the hook, the story almost non-existent unless you look for it.
And it's extremely replayable. Which is what the creator intended - Miyazaki wanted games where the goal/end wasn't the reason to play, but the gameplay itself.

After playing NieR, I've looked up some interviews with the creative team. Their attitude is the same, and it really shows. NieR is the sort of game I was expecting to see as the new development from the souls team - new story and scenario but built on souls mechanics. But they've gone a step further, they wanted a game where you have great gaming moments, but not just as obvious end of stage moments, but all through the game. NieR is open world, but every now and then a big event will happen that can change the direction of the story in any direction, keeping it fresh.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 12 May 2017 - 09:42 AM

[WinterPhoenix]

Yeah the Souls comparison is a good one, I've played through DS3 twice in one day before, the gameplay is the hook, it's pretty much the whole point to playing. And the story and lore of the world is really secondary, it's there for those who want to look and take time, and it has it's own interest to suck you further in, but it's almost unnecessary.

You recommend NieR then? I've wanted to get it for awhile now, put it off because of money and games I already have anyhow. But I'm still deciding between NieR and Perona 5 for what I'll get next I think, whenever I've finally sorted my external harddrive out that is.

[Traveller]

I'd recommend NieR to someone who loves the Souls series, yes. To anyone else I'd be more cautious.

I think you'd like it, because where I am at the moment, I'm only just discovering the vast array of weapons, pods and chip combos, and starting to pay attention to the stats on the right side of the screen; stuff I know that I'll be much better at on a second playthrough.

It's a game that really tries to be different, and so far it's succeeding. You could probably YouTube the intro boss fight to get an idea without spoiling too much.
I think you'd like it though.

[Morgoth]

Traveller, on 12 May 2017 - 11:10 AM, said:

I'd recommend NieR to someone who loves the Souls series, yes. To anyone else I'd be more cautious.

I think you'd like it, because where I am at the moment, I'm only just discovering the vast array of weapons, pods and chip combos, and starting to pay attention to the stats on the right side of the screen; stuff I know that I'll be much better at on a second playthrough.

It's a game that really tries to be different, and so far it's succeeding. You could probably YouTube the intro boss fight to get an idea without spoiling too much.
I think you'd like it though.

And there are some amazing moments of story telling. Nier is a great example of story that could only be told effectively in a game.

Like in ending d, or e? I can't remember

massive spoiler!

Spoiler

When you realise that 2B is actually 2E, and that she's murdered 9S tens, if not hundreds of times

[Traveller]

Not looking!

So far I really liked that moment where

Spoiler

the machines were all chanting 'this cannot continue' over and over until it turned into the music for the initial encounter with Adam. Also the opera singer fight.

I got a new pod with a different gun, and finished a couple more sidequests. Need to upgrade more before I take on Adam/Eve, I think they'll kick me otherwise.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 12 May 2017 - 01:15 PM

[Serenity]

Traveller, on 12 May 2017 - 08:55 AM, said:

A game like Horizon, to me, was like a good book - played through fairly intensely until done, and the story concluded. I don't feel the need for a reread just yet, although I may pick it up again to finish up challenges and bits I may have missed.

But maybe because the story is the incentive to progress, a break from it kills the momentum. The games strong points for me were the main character, the story and the beauty of it all, which made for an amazing and memorable game experience, but not one that is immediately pulling me back for more.

I think that's all true. Or maybe it's more like an action film that you watch and enjoy and might rewatch at a later date. I only say that because I think HZD is more akin to a game like the recent Tomb Raiders than something like Witcher 3. Witcher 3 to me was more like a great book. It was the stories and characters that kept me so hooked on that game. Plus the choices you make have impact, which doesn't apply to HZD. When I eventually play B&W (probably after I finish with Dragon Age: Inquisition) I can see myself going back and starting on New Game + straight away, and changing a lot of the choices I made, or even playing all three Witcher games again. That's a commitment I'd be more willing to make than playing HZD again, I think, purely because it can play out a bit differently.

FWIW, a friend of mine is now on his fourth playthrough of HZD. Since he first finished it he's bought Nier Automata, Mass Effect Andromeda and Batman Arkham Knight, but he's still playing HZD. So it obviously works for him!

[Morgoth]

As Apt wrote in the other thread, Prey is really good. I mean really really good. It's some sort of meld of Systemshock, Bioshock and Dishonored, taking place in an art deco corporate office in space. And the first 10 minutes makes it very clear that you cannot trust anything. I have gotten pretty far (I think) and I still don't fully know what is going on, though I sure have found a lot of hints that it's not anything like what I'm being told.

Combat is probably the weakest part, but I don't mind. It's competent enough. I also stumbled into a massive enemy and fled in a state of genuine panic. The music in this game is amazing.

[Aptorian]

>I also stumbled into a massive enemy and fled in a state of genuine panic.

Was that in the Neuromod division? I walked in there looking for some kind of DRM license for the fabricator and nearly shat myself.

The enemies have definitely begun to grow in size and terror. Some of them are just straight unsettling, like the mind control thing. Worst is when you're doing an exterior space walk and there's no sound. Best zero g exploration since Dead Space.