[Mentalist]

So, my first time around Prague (completing 6 side missions and doing a bunch of exploring, but not systematically following every nook and cranny) took me to the 21 hour mark, according to Steam. At that point I flew off to the next "actual" mission

Some really great moments in random exploring. Yesterday I was contemplating breaking into a bank to dig up some dirt on Picus from the office of the bank's CEO for a local anarchist newspaper.

So I'm scoping out the bank, looking for any backdoors/vents/etc. I round the corner, and I notice a climbable wall. Naturally, I start jumping up.

I end up in an apartment overlooking the bank. In said apartment, on the coffee table I find... what are supposed to look like the schematics of the bank, as well as pictures of the CEO and CFO skewered with kitchen knives. Hacking the resident's computer and reading his email I discover that this was a disgruntled ex-employee who was not happy about being fired and decided to rob the bank as payback (after getting an email from his lawyer that his claim for wrongful dismissal was likely to result in a costly counter-suit that could very easily ruin him)

Oh, the irony.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 29 May 2018 - 05:41 PM

[Serenity]

47% through Red Dead Redemption, apparently. Spent yesterday evening listening to the footie on 5 Live whilst playing poker in Chuperosa

[Malankazooie]

Serenity, on 23 January 2018 - 04:27 PM, said:

47% through Red Dead Redemption, apparently. Spent yesterday evening listening to the footie on 5 Live whilst playing poker in Chuperosa

Have you got on "Free Range"? And if so, is there anyone playing?

Man I have so many great memories playing free range. Booking around on my zebra or bull. There were so many fun, impromptu fights that would break out. I remember me and like four other online players holding El Presidio against other players. A person on each cannon and picking them off as they tried to ride in on us.

The online community for RDR was pretty damn cool at that time. Strangers would join up with you and help you out. And I always returned the favor.

Another great memory is loading up the carriage and cruising around the map with the driver, the passenger next to him, and four more in the carriage shooting at anyone who tried to test us.

[Serenity]

Malankazooie, on 23 January 2018 - 04:50 PM, said:

Serenity, on 23 January 2018 - 04:27 PM, said:

47% through Red Dead Redemption, apparently. Spent yesterday evening listening to the footie on 5 Live whilst playing poker in Chuperosa

Have you got on "Free Range"? And if so, is there anyone playing?

Man I have so many great memories playing free range. Booking around on my zebra or bull. There were so many fun, impromptu fights that would break out. I remember me and like four other online players holding El Presidio against other players. A person on each cannon and picking them off as they tried to ride in on us.

The online community for RDR was pretty damn cool at that time. Strangers would join up with you and help you out. And I always returned the favor.

Another great memory is loading up the carriage and cruising around the map with the driver, the passenger next to him, and four more in the carriage shooting at anyone who tried to test us.

No, I cancelled my Xbox Live subscription years ago - I just unearthed my 360 to do the single player story. At the moment I seem to be drawn to games from the last gen that I didn't complete first time around. So there's this, and I recently did the first three Uncharteds. After this I'm probably going to do Arkham City.

[Mentalist]

Golem City was messed up. I managed to stealth most of it in first-person w/o buying the cloak aug, but I think I encountered a positive bug that killed the laser trip-wires at some point, b/c I definitely scoured half the map looking for a terminal to kill the lasers, and then eventually when I din't find it and came back to where I started, they disappeared. go figure.

While never quite ghosting it, I was totally able to get through w/o any alarms and w/o knocking anyone out. On my next playthrough, of course i'll have to knock everyone out to get their stories.

Now I'm back on the streets of Prague with the Red Light District open for business. I raided the Palisade bank and stole a ton of money and a bunch of Praxis from their vaults.

I also have 2 cards for the corporate vaults (TYM and Tarvos), but I can't access those. Must be cuz it's night time.

30 hours in, and the main story is still just kind of "there". I'm much more interested in how many places in the Red Light District have backdoor vent access.

[Maark Abbott]

Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ. Whilst it handles like most any ArcSys fighter (i.e. FAST AS FUCK) it's also streamlined / dumbed down from their flagship franchises (which one you pick will depend on your POV).

Mechanically, it's relatively basic. Movement options are anime standards, you can use 1 bar of meter to teleport behind your opponent for a reversal / combo tool, you can also bring in characters to assist which functions as either a mixup or a combo extender (i.e. Android 16's assist functions as a launcher if the opponent is already airborne).

I'm maining Android 21. She's a lot of fun - big, unga normal with a lot of range, command grabs and high damage potential. It helps that she plays like characters from other franchises that I already know. Day one I already have a combo from roundstart that gives me two seals.

[Aptorian]

Maark Abbott, on 29 January 2018 - 08:45 AM, said:

Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ. Whilst it handles like most any ArcSys fighter (i.e. FAST AS FUCK) it's also streamlined / dumbed down from their flagship franchises (which one you pick will depend on your POV).

Mechanically, it's relatively basic. Movement options are anime standards, you can use 1 bar of meter to teleport behind your opponent for a reversal / combo tool, you can also bring in characters to assist which functions as either a mixup or a combo extender (i.e. Android 16's assist functions as a launcher if the opponent is already airborne).

I'm maining Android 21. She's a lot of fun - big, unga normal with a lot of range, command grabs and high damage potential. It helps that she plays like characters from other franchises that I already know. Day one I already have a combo from roundstart that gives me two seals.

I've been watching Giant Bomb playing Dragonball Fighter Z. That game looks amazing. The fights look like an explosion of color, both literally and figuratively. I love how the characters just rush around the screen shooting and punching like mad.

The game has also received surprisingly great reviews. Seems like the slew of great Japanese releases continues this year with DBZ and Monster Hunter: World.

This post has been edited by Alternative Goose: 29 January 2018 - 10:03 AM

[Serenity]

Finished the Mexico section of Red Dead Redemption and now up in the north. I'm kind of burning out on it now, so will probably just do the missions to complete the story and stop doing all the peripheral stuff.

[Aptorian]

Have you played through it before?

In case you haven't... the game "ends" at one point. You should keep playing after that because that is where the real payoff is. The ending of Red Dead Redemption is probably the best ending of a game I have ever played through.

[Serenity]

Yeah, I played it when it first came out.

[Malankazooie]

I agree with Apt. You have to see this thing through till the end. It's so worth it.

Also, did you ever play the Red Dead Nightmare DLC/Expansion? Oh, it's only probably the best DLC ever released for a game, ever.

[Serenity]

Oh I'll keep going till the end. IIRC, I've only got four or five missions left to do, and then the last bit as Jack. What I meant is that I'm not going to do any more of the mini games like poker, horse breaking, and the strangers' missions etc etc. I didn't finish all the side stuff first time around, either, and I was thinking of doing that this time, but I'm getting eager to move on to something else. I don't have Undead Nightmare and don't really fancy it, tbh - I'm so bored with zombies!

Of course I went and made the mistake of loading up GTAV on my pc last night. No idea why. I played it a bit when I bought it but never got anywhere near finishing it, and it's the first time I've tried it since I upgraded my graphics card. Bloody hell, it looks fantastic. So I'll probably jump into that after RDR. I was planning on playing Arkham City and Arkham Knight next but they may have to wait.

This post has been edited by Serenity: 30 January 2018 - 08:12 AM

[Maark Abbott]

Alternative Goose, on 29 January 2018 - 09:42 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 29 January 2018 - 08:45 AM, said:

Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ. Whilst it handles like most any ArcSys fighter (i.e. FAST AS FUCK) it's also streamlined / dumbed down from their flagship franchises (which one you pick will depend on your POV).

Mechanically, it's relatively basic. Movement options are anime standards, you can use 1 bar of meter to teleport behind your opponent for a reversal / combo tool, you can also bring in characters to assist which functions as either a mixup or a combo extender (i.e. Android 16's assist functions as a launcher if the opponent is already airborne).

I'm maining Android 21. She's a lot of fun - big, unga normal with a lot of range, command grabs and high damage potential. It helps that she plays like characters from other franchises that I already know. Day one I already have a combo from roundstart that gives me two seals.

I've been watching Giant Bomb playing Dragonball Fighter Z. That game looks amazing. The fights look like an explosion of color, both literally and figuratively. I love how the characters just rush around the screen shooting and punching like mad.

The game has also received surprisingly great reviews. Seems like the slew of great Japanese releases continues this year with DBZ and Monster Hunter: World.

It's essentially an easier to play ArcSys fighter which accommodates mashing. Android 21 is a fairly technical character which is fine for me as I'm used to BlazBlue controls and she plays like a bastard hybrid of Nine and Susano'o - she has a limited pool of special moves (a fireball, a divekick and a set of command grabs) but as you use said grabs you gain seals, which unlock new specials based on who you grabbed. I've picked up Tien as my third character. He has a mechanic where his supers will cause self-damage but the tradeoff is that he's fast and has high average damage off of his normals. And of course Android 16 because in most games I'm a grappler player.

Gonna continue to lab through the week and then maybe go online with other players for some games at the weekend.

[Silencer]

Maark Abbott, on 30 January 2018 - 08:36 AM, said:

Alternative Goose, on 29 January 2018 - 09:42 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 29 January 2018 - 08:45 AM, said:

Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ. Whilst it handles like most any ArcSys fighter (i.e. FAST AS FUCK) it's also streamlined / dumbed down from their flagship franchises (which one you pick will depend on your POV).

Mechanically, it's relatively basic. Movement options are anime standards, you can use 1 bar of meter to teleport behind your opponent for a reversal / combo tool, you can also bring in characters to assist which functions as either a mixup or a combo extender (i.e. Android 16's assist functions as a launcher if the opponent is already airborne).

I'm maining Android 21. She's a lot of fun - big, unga normal with a lot of range, command grabs and high damage potential. It helps that she plays like characters from other franchises that I already know. Day one I already have a combo from roundstart that gives me two seals.

I've been watching Giant Bomb playing Dragonball Fighter Z. That game looks amazing. The fights look like an explosion of color, both literally and figuratively. I love how the characters just rush around the screen shooting and punching like mad.

The game has also received surprisingly great reviews. Seems like the slew of great Japanese releases continues this year with DBZ and Monster Hunter: World.

It's essentially an easier to play ArcSys fighter which accommodates mashing. Android 21 is a fairly technical character which is fine for me as I'm used to BlazBlue controls and she plays like a bastard hybrid of Nine and Susano'o - she has a limited pool of special moves (a fireball, a divekick and a set of command grabs) but as you use said grabs you gain seals, which unlock new specials based on who you grabbed. I've picked up Tien as my third character. He has a mechanic where his supers will cause self-damage but the tradeoff is that he's fast and has high average damage off of his normals. And of course Android 16 because in most games I'm a grappler player.

Gonna continue to lab through the week and then maybe go online with other players for some games at the weekend.

About the only reason I'm not picking up DB FighterZ is that, aside from being a filthy casual at fighting games, the old tag-team mechanic is a bridge too far. I generally like to play the same character and having a roster of three to manage each game is just a bit too convoluted for me.

Gotta say I'm oddly hyped for Soul Caliber VI this year though, god knows why, I know I'll be terrible at it. XD

[acesn8s]

I finished playing Arkham Knight, except for the Riddler puzzles. Too much Batmobile for my liking, but still a lot of fun. I picked up Bloodbourne on sale for $15 after hearing how good it was.




WTF! I am so lost. Dying a lot is annoying, but not knowing what is going on is seriously messing with my enjoyment of the game. Like, who am I? What is going on? It feel like I'm in a gothic/horror version of Gymkata, except I a sucky supporting character who dies all the time.

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 30 January 2018 - 03:46 PM, said:

I finished playing Arkham Knight, except for the Riddler puzzles. Too much Batmobile for my liking, but still a lot of fun.

Too much batmobile would be my only complaint too.

acesn8s, on 30 January 2018 - 03:46 PM, said:

I picked up Bloodbourne on sale for $15 after hearing how good it was.

WTF! I am so lost. Dying a lot is annoying, but not knowing what is going on is seriously messing with my enjoyment of the game. Like, who am I? What is going on? It feel like I'm in a gothic/horror version of Gymkata, except I a sucky supporting character who dies all the time.

Yeah, this game was HORRIBLE when I started it....dying over and over and over...turns out that it's a muscle memory and regular memory game. Like knowing "this guy is there and he jumps out at me, then there are two more down there, and a third hiding behind that post" and taking them out in order after having died to them repeatedly to learn the pattern. But once you settle into it, it's VERY rewarding BECAUSE you can die so easily in it.

I haven't the foggiest clue what the story is. LOL

[Mentalist]

Thirding the bat-tank griping.

I DID actually do all the riddles (I do them in every Arkham game, b/c I enjoy seeing Bats punch Nigma in the face), but the "drive bat tank upside down on a half-pipe" challenges were annoying as fuck on M+KB

[Aptorian]

First time I played Arkham Knight was with a friend. We'd play once or twice a week for months. We had a terrible time with the batmobile controls.

Then a year later I bought the game for myself. When I sat to play the game then, I had no problem at all with the car/tank controls. I think once you get the vehicles behavior inprinted it becomes much easier to control.

[QuickTidal]

Mentalist, on 30 January 2018 - 04:44 PM, said:

Thirding the bat-tank griping.

I DID actually do all the riddles (I do them in every Arkham game, b/c I enjoy seeing Bats punch Nigma in the face), but the "drive bat tank upside down on a half-pipe" challenges were annoying as fuck on M+KB

The one I had major issues with was one where you had to drive, jump, catch it on a swinging cable, to the wall, and drive up and around and back to another cable and onto the finish. I wanted to throw the controller through the TV. It took me DAYS to fucking master it.

[Morgoth]

QuickTidal, on 30 January 2018 - 04:28 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 30 January 2018 - 03:46 PM, said:

I finished playing Arkham Knight, except for the Riddler puzzles. Too much Batmobile for my liking, but still a lot of fun.

Too much batmobile would be my only complaint too.

acesn8s, on 30 January 2018 - 03:46 PM, said:

I picked up Bloodbourne on sale for $15 after hearing how good it was.

WTF! I am so lost. Dying a lot is annoying, but not knowing what is going on is seriously messing with my enjoyment of the game. Like, who am I? What is going on? It feel like I'm in a gothic/horror version of Gymkata, except I a sucky supporting character who dies all the time.

Yeah, this game was HORRIBLE when I started it....dying over and over and over...turns out that it's a muscle memory and regular memory game. Like knowing "this guy is there and he jumps out at me, then there are two more down there, and a third hiding behind that post" and taking them out in order after having died to them repeatedly to learn the pattern. But once you settle into it, it's VERY rewarding BECAUSE you can die so easily in it.

I haven't the foggiest clue what the story is. LOL

You are someone whom travelled to Yarnham (probably a lot of misspellings here.. ) to be cured by the priests of the Healing Church. It's never explained what it is you suffered from, an ailment of some kind presumably, but the Healing Church made their riches, and their power, through the healing properties of the Old Blood - the source of which was discovered in the ancient catacombs beneath the city by the scholars of Byrgenwerth. And so you travelled to Yarnham, but as luck would have it you arrive on the night of the blood moon, when the beastly curse runs rampant through the population of the city. In ancient days it was the task of the Hunters to seek out and slay the beasts, but that responsibility has long since been usurped by the Church. Only Gerhman still remains, the first and last hunter, hidden - or imprisoned - within the Hunters Dream.

Alas, this night of the hunt is unlike any other. The beastly curse infects even those safely sealed within their homes. Indeed, even members of the clergy succumb. Many fear that this night may never end.

The city needs a hunter and you are all the hope that is left, recently infused with the Old Blood as you are, and being an outsider, so far untouched by the Beastly Curse. Thus you are brought to the Hunter's Dream and given the blessing, or rather the curse, of the ancient Hunters. For you this is now a night that will never end. Unless the curse is broken.

I can probably continue on for quite a while, but I would hate to spoil anything.

As for the dying part. Bloodborne is a game of carefully measured agression. Being defensive will get you killed. It's all about getting close and personal. To never give your enemies rest and to drink deeply of the Blood.

Early on, if you're struggling, I'd suggest you acquire the Kirkhammer. It can be purchased in the Hunter's Dream after you've disposed of the Cleric Beast. It's both a light sword and an absurdly heavy hammer, and it's combination of speedy cuts and staggering swings makes much of the early combat almost trivial. You also need to learn how to parry with the pistol. Big enemies are slow, and it takes little time to learn when you should plant a shot and go in for the visceral kill.

Remember that during your dodging animation you are invunerable.

This post has been edited by Morgoth: 30 January 2018 - 05:44 PM