[Maark Abbott]

Silencer, on 30 January 2018 - 12:40 PM, said:

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

It's actually pretty important and managing your team is a big aspect. Here's a video:

https://twitter.com/...630040228941824


So for that combo to work (and it does quite nicely) you need the assist from A16 to launch the opponent and continue with your jump string into seal grab. It's meaty.

[acesn8s]

Morgoth, on 30 January 2018 - 05:37 PM, said:

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.

Thank you for this! At least I know why I'm fighting now.

I think I'm going to restart the game, it should only set me back about 30 minutes.

I can't get past the Bonfire with 4 or 5 town folk. I have the feeling I'm suppose to draw some away I just haven't figured out how the designers want me to do it.

I'm not sure if I was wise in my character creation and initial weapon choices either.

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 30 January 2018 - 07:28 PM, said:

I can't get past the Bonfire with 4 or 5 town folk. I have the feeling I'm suppose to draw some away I just haven't figured out how the designers want me to do it.

Use the stairs that surround that area to your advantage. Go down one set, take out some of them (they will come towards you), back up and walk along till you hit more stairs and back down to take out a few more. I think you have to do this about 3 times at different stairwells to finish it.

And I agree with getting the weapon that was mentioned upthread. The Kirkhammer. WELL worth it.

And Morgoth is right, the dodge function is your friend.

[Morgoth]

I've put more hours into Bloodborne than I care to admit. The speed and pure viciousness of Bloodborne's combat makes it so much fun. The amount of blood dregs I gathered for the vileblood queen . And I loved the lore, and the story of the game. Not to mention the atmosphere and design. Or how the game changes as you dwell deeper into the horrors of Byrgenwerth.

It's well worth sticking to!

[Traveller]

I'll just add, that if you've been working your way along, killing everything as you go until you get to a certain point,try the running approach. You can run, dodge and escape past those guys at the bonfire, and get to the area beyond without killing anyone, and maybe only taking an arrow or two. As far as I remember they don't follow you past a certain point, allowing you to heal and then progress.

[Mentalist]

Oh wow, Mankind Divided has some narrative branching? Did not expect that.

I think at this point I've broken into every apartment in Prague that's worth mentioning. Remote hacking to open awnings and extra ladders is wonderful. Currently back in the South district to pursue a bunch of side missions.

Steam has me @ 37 hours- though to be fair I spent almost an hour yesterday being lost in the sewers, b\c I couldn't remember how to get back to a location- which was frustrating, because that was the very first place I stumbled on when I started exploring Prague! (Hint: always look up)

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 31 January 2018 - 02:50 PM

[Mentalist]

Okay, so I finished the story in Mankind Divided. Took me 49 hours total on "Give Me Deus Ex" because Act 3 Prague is tedious, and there was lots of reloads.

Last mission spoilers

Spoiler

I went after Marchenko first, but somehow it turned out I still had enough time to save Brown. So now I'm wondering if the "choice" b/w Allison and the Bank in Act 3 was also a "non-choice" and I just screwed up by going after Allison first.

Anyway, the ending felt kinda anti-climactic. And then the "surprise sequel hook" was just... yeah, I dunno.

The 2 DLC stories are prequel-ish, so I'll check 'em out next.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 04 February 2018 - 06:04 PM

[Aptorian]

Mankind Divided definitely leaves you feeling like you only just begun.

[Mentalist]

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2018 - 06:06 PM, said:

Mankind Divided definitely leaves you feeling like you only just begun.

From a technical/level design perspective, it was a lot of fun. But I almost feel this is one of those cases where they needed to market this as "part 1 of X", story-wise. And then just make a few more standalone games, each one with a Prague-side hub and a few "side-trips".

[Aptorian]

The rumors coming out around the launch of Mankind Divided was that the studio had built or at least were working on a larger/longer deus ex game, but Square-Enix made them carve it up into smaller chunks. Meaning Mankind Divided was meant to be first of maybe 3 games.

But then Mankind Divided didn't sell well and the Marvel Avengers project fell into SE's lap, they sold IO and made Eidos focus on the new potentially lucrative Disney deal.

[Mentalist]

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2018 - 08:06 PM, said:

The rumors coming out around the launch of Mankind Divided was that the studio had built or at least were working on a larger/longer deus ex game, but Square-Enix made them carve it up into smaller chunks. Meaning Mankind Divided was meant to be first of maybe 3 games.

But then Mankind Divided didn't sell well and the Marvel Avengers project fell into SE's lap, they sold IO and made Eidos focus on the new potentially lucrative Disney deal.

Well, the whole "sell DLC that's a 1-time bonus equipment for only one playthrough" was a dumb as a post idea, but I strongly doubt that was EM's suggestion.

anyway, it's a good game, but the story's anemic. I think i'll actually write a Steam review for it eventually.

[Serenity]

I've been completely immersed in the story mode of GTA V for the past few days. I played it for a bit when it first came out on PS3 but didn't really get far, then bought it on PC and did the same. Decided to try it again now as I've upgraded my graphics card and I'm hooked this time. There's nothing in it that I'm not finding fun at the moment.

[Malankazooie]

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

I've been completely immersed in the story mode of GTA V for the past few days. I played it for a bit when it first came out on PS3 but didn't really get far, then bought it on PC and did the same. Decided to try it again now as I've upgraded my graphics card and I'm hooked this time. There's nothing in it that I'm not finding fun at the moment.

GTA V's legend will reverberate for years to come. Both for the single player campaign and GTA Online. But more so for GTA Online. Rockstar shifted the paradigm with GTA Online. Others are trying to catch up to what they did with that. Almost five years after it's release, the game still has a vibrant population who will forever be fans of the franchise.

Now, since you are playing the story, you gotta stick with it. When you get to Trevor, it gets so good. Trevor is probably the most memorable character in all of the GTA titles.

Damn, I wish I could experience playing it for the first time. Lucky!

[Serenity]

Malankazooie, on 06 February 2018 - 10:56 AM, said:

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

I've been completely immersed in the story mode of GTA V for the past few days. I played it for a bit when it first came out on PS3 but didn't really get far, then bought it on PC and did the same. Decided to try it again now as I've upgraded my graphics card and I'm hooked this time. There's nothing in it that I'm not finding fun at the moment.

GTA V's legend will reverberate for years to come. Both for the single player campaign and GTA Online. But more so for GTA Online. Rockstar shifted the paradigm with GTA Online. Others are trying to catch up to what they did with that. Almost five years after it's release, the game still has a vibrant population who will forever be fans of the franchise.

Now, since you are playing the story, you gotta stick with it. When you get to Trevor, it gets so good. Trevor is probably the most memorable character in all of the GTA titles.

Damn, I wish I could experience playing it for the first time. Lucky!

Oh yeah, totally agree about Trevor. I'm about 50% of the way through it (according to the save file) so he appeared quite a while ago now. It does make me laugh when you switch to him and he's in the middle of doing something unpleasant (like the one particular bit where he was having a dump behind a, erm, dumpster ). The torture scene achieved its goal in making me feel very uncomfortable. Loving the heists I've done so far.

Me and a friend were talking about trying out GTA Online at some point. What's the microtransaction situation like with it?

[Tiste Simeon]

Utterly loving AC: Origins. Such a rich, luscious landscape and setting. Great combat and weapons, interesting and carried side missions and good skill tree that actually seems to help your character unlike some I've played...

[Malankazooie]

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 11:39 AM, said:

Malankazooie, on 06 February 2018 - 10:56 AM, said:

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

I've been completely immersed in the story mode of GTA V for the past few days. I played it for a bit when it first came out on PS3 but didn't really get far, then bought it on PC and did the same. Decided to try it again now as I've upgraded my graphics card and I'm hooked this time. There's nothing in it that I'm not finding fun at the moment.

GTA V's legend will reverberate for years to come. Both for the single player campaign and GTA Online. But more so for GTA Online. Rockstar shifted the paradigm with GTA Online. Others are trying to catch up to what they did with that. Almost five years after it's release, the game still has a vibrant population who will forever be fans of the franchise.

Now, since you are playing the story, you gotta stick with it. When you get to Trevor, it gets so good. Trevor is probably the most memorable character in all of the GTA titles.

Damn, I wish I could experience playing it for the first time. Lucky!

Oh yeah, totally agree about Trevor. I'm about 50% of the way through it (according to the save file) so he appeared quite a while ago now. It does make me laugh when you switch to him and he's in the middle of doing something unpleasant (like the one particular bit where he was having a dump behind a, erm, dumpster ). The torture scene achieved its goal in making me feel very uncomfortable. Loving the heists I've done so far.

Me and a friend were talking about trying out GTA Online at some point. What's the microtransaction situation like with it?

You can buy Shark cards (of differing amounts) IRL that give you in game money to buy whatever you want. You still have to be at the appropriate level to buy the items you want but, yeah, say you want to buy the most expensive exotic sports car but don't have the in game money, you can purchase the Shark card with the appropriate amount that will place money in your in-game bank.

I've never bought a Shark card myself, I would just rather grind and earn the money the way the game is designed. When they released the heists DLC, it made acquiring large amounts of funds easier anyway. But yeah, if you are one of those guys that has to have the most expensive collections of everything, then yeah, the Shark cards can get you there.

Hopefully Red Dead Redemption 2 will hold to this simple model. I'm okay with suckers spending real world money to buy aesthetic/cosmetic in game items. It's when you can get an advantage in competitive modes or PvE cooperative events is where I take issue with allowing someone to "buy" their victories.

[Serenity]

Malankazooie, on 06 February 2018 - 06:02 PM, said:

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 11:39 AM, said:

Malankazooie, on 06 February 2018 - 10:56 AM, said:

Serenity, on 06 February 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

I've been completely immersed in the story mode of GTA V for the past few days. I played it for a bit when it first came out on PS3 but didn't really get far, then bought it on PC and did the same. Decided to try it again now as I've upgraded my graphics card and I'm hooked this time. There's nothing in it that I'm not finding fun at the moment.

GTA V's legend will reverberate for years to come. Both for the single player campaign and GTA Online. But more so for GTA Online. Rockstar shifted the paradigm with GTA Online. Others are trying to catch up to what they did with that. Almost five years after it's release, the game still has a vibrant population who will forever be fans of the franchise.

Now, since you are playing the story, you gotta stick with it. When you get to Trevor, it gets so good. Trevor is probably the most memorable character in all of the GTA titles.

Damn, I wish I could experience playing it for the first time. Lucky!

Oh yeah, totally agree about Trevor. I'm about 50% of the way through it (according to the save file) so he appeared quite a while ago now. It does make me laugh when you switch to him and he's in the middle of doing something unpleasant (like the one particular bit where he was having a dump behind a, erm, dumpster ). The torture scene achieved its goal in making me feel very uncomfortable. Loving the heists I've done so far.

Me and a friend were talking about trying out GTA Online at some point. What's the microtransaction situation like with it?

You can buy Shark cards (of differing amounts) IRL that give you in game money to buy whatever you want. You still have to be at the appropriate level to buy the items you want but, yeah, say you want to buy the most expensive exotic sports car but don't have the in game money, you can purchase the Shark card with the appropriate amount that will place money in your in-game bank.

I've never bought a Shark card myself, I would just rather grind and earn the money the way the game is designed. When they released the heists DLC, it made acquiring large amounts of funds easier anyway. But yeah, if you are one of those guys that has to have the most expensive collections of everything, then yeah, the Shark cards can get you there.

Hopefully Red Dead Redemption 2 will hold to this simple model. I'm okay with suckers spending real world money to buy aesthetic/cosmetic in game items. It's when you can get an advantage in competitive modes or PvE cooperative events is where I take issue with allowing someone to "buy" their victories.

That's good to know, thanks. I'm not interested in the expensive items (as far as I know, anyway!) just want to have fun with the game. Only had an hour on it last night, which I spent flying a helicopter around the mountains and trying (badly) to do the stunt flights. Then took a jet ski up the coast, landed on a beach, walked up towards a building and realised too late it was a military base. Suddenly had helicopters and speedboats after me. Franklin didn't last long

[Mentalist]

Still making my way through the standalone "Jensen's stories" for Mankind Divided.

"Desperate Measures" (aka, "the pre-order bonus mission" ) was very easy- basically a few storeys' worth of offices with security in them. Sneaking in and out took probably just under an hour. It really sucks that it's been cut from the main game, there's literally no point to do that, they should've kept it as an optional mission in-game.

"System Rift" is more expansive, featuring a small neighborhood around one of the Palisade Bank's "Blades"--the super-secure corporate data storage facilities. There's a few blocks of buildings, an apartment complex (with only one accessible apartment-the story-mandated one), and then the Blade facility itself. It's not huge , but there's a few sub-plots tossed in along with the principal data-raid story, and the Tarvos security does a better job than they do in their own offices.

Both levels are primarily designed for stealth, and (so far) the stealth design is intelligent: I have not yet hit a moment where I need the cloak aug; even the "see through walls" which only lasts a short time and so is (in essence) the replacement for missing lean keys, is not strictly necessary. The people @ EM get that Jensen's best and most necssary tools are those that allow him alternatives- hacking (both regular and the new Remote Hacking aug, which I LOVE), wallpunch/heavy lift, as well as the "jump really high" aug. Rebuilding my Adam to once again focus on these, allows me to mostly dance circles around any guards without resorting to guns or arm-blades.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 14 February 2018 - 08:55 PM

[Maark Abbott]

Been working out some further combo routes for Android 21 on Dragon Ball FighterZ. Seems that if you use 2m as a combo tool up close you can chain into 5m as a launcher without using your super dash. Which means you can then jump cancel into j5lml2hh for a higher launcher, more damage and meter, and still chain it into the Android 16 assist general launcher for two seals. It also works anywhere on the screen so a solid b&b combo overall.

[Mentalist]

Finished the last DLC for Mankind Divided, "A Criminal Past" . That prison was MASSIVE, and it's all one level- I'm kinda impressed by the power of their engine.

With about 68 hours played, I think I'm done with Mankind divided for now. I'll probably try to do a proper ghost run at some later point.

Edit to add more thoughts:
-you start the level totally depowered. There are several opportunities to regain the use of basic augmentation (like hacking) early on, which I didn't take until the point somewhere halfway through the story when things got super-violent, super-fast. Playing depowered and still somehow sneaking where I'm not supposed to was exciting
-I'm also wondering if that would've still happened if I didn't do one of the things that I did. I suspect it must've, but I'd have had a harder time due to alienating a potential ally.
-I want to mention again how HUGE and seamless the entire prison map seemed. I'm pretty sure that with the ILS I could've jumped from top of the tower with its AA batteries all the way down to the yard and the game would've allowed it.
-also, the second basketball achievement in MD. Whenever I see a basketball in a DX game, everything is put on hold until that ball goes in the hoop. Surely I'm not the only one?
-also, I was wiki-ing some stuff about System Rift, and it sounds like I missed a crapton of stuff outside the bank.

/Edit

I think I'll try "Of Orcs and Men" next

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 14 February 2018 - 08:53 PM