[Traveller]

Serenity, on 01 August 2018 - 08:02 PM, said:

To be fair, I've only played for about three hours but the constant pressure to mine resources just to carry out the simplest of tasks is already exasperating. Ooh, look, here's the resource I need! Great! What do you mean the multi-tool has run out of fuel? So now I need to find carbon? Great. I'll be back in ten minutes.

At the moment it's got me running around a planet trying to find buried technology, but there was none in the area where I first landed, so I decided to fly around and try other areas, which resulted me running out of both the take-off fuel and the regular fuel (whatever they're both called), so I spent more time running around shooting at rocks and plants just to be able to take off again. Grrr.

Naturally, when I actually found some buried technology, I didn't have the resource I needed to actually activate it, so off I had to go, mining again.

I guess, when it comes down to it, I knew what I was getting into. I can't imagine the multiplayer is going to change my opinion but we'll see.

Thing is, once you have enough slots in your ship, you can fly around picking up the exosuit upgrades. Then you have your base, cargo storage, and ground vehicles to stuff things in, like all the basic fuel requirements. The suit hazard upgrades, and the mining tool upgrades use less fuel amd work at a higher % the more you upgrade, so the grinding aspect isn't so much of a problem after you get through the initial stages.

I like the balance - I harvest my farmed materials, manufacture the expensive components, and while they regrow I head out and sell them, check my fleet missions, see what new ships are about (as you never know when an exotic or S-class will appear) then head down to neighbouring planet to explore. Either on foot or in ship.
Sure, I'm collecting all the way, but there are so many weapon/ship/tool/base upgrades to get, depending on what you're doing, that there's always something to be busy with. Remodelling freighter interior.
Building massive new base. It reminds me of Minecraft in the way I'm losing time playing. And, also like Minecraft, I'm spending time when I'm not playing planning what to do next.
If there's one thing I'm not, it's bored. Depends on what you're after I suppose.

* I'll also add, once you jump a system or two from the start, you get to intervene in a battle. The commander of the freighter you save gives it to you for free. Once you have a freighter, you can start buying frigates. The different ships collect stuff for you - if you land on your trade ship, you get chromatic metal. If you own a support ship, it gives you condensed carbon (free fuel forever).
The missions you send them on also net you materials and units - while you're off exploring, building or whatever.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 08 August 2018 - 03:53 PM

[Serenity]

I played it a bit more over the weekend - up to about six hours in total - but it just isn't doing anything for me, plus there are other games calling to (well, yelling at) me that I'd rather spend time on. I've got absorbed in Star Traders: Frontiers now, and we decided on Monster Hunter World for our multiplayer instead, plus I've got Prey and Dishonored DLCs to finish. I may return to NMS later but it just hasn't grabbed me the way I thought it would.

[Mentalist]

I hit a gaming slump. I think it being a scorchingly glorious summer is a big factor, but also SC2 burnout after a binge (again). I'm stuck on trying to beat "Media Blitz" quickly on Hard for the last achievement in the Rebellion scens, and it's been sapping my excitement somewhat, cuz it's a tough puzzle, and I don't currently feel like focusing too much on it.

Same with Alpha Protocol- I've got 2 Operation finales lined up in a row, but I can't muster the attention span to actually get to them.

[Malankazooie]

I played through the South Park: The Fractured But Whole DLC called "From Dusk to Casa Bonita". Yep, it's more of the same, so if this title didn't really do all that for you then I suggest to wait until this DLC is cheap or free (or bundled in a GoY edition). With that said, I had great fun playing it, as I have fond memories of going to the real Casa Bonita as a kid (cousin's bday party). All the things I remembered as a kid was well represented or joked on. The sopapillas, the large open area of the restaurant, the cliff divers, the alcove I recall (Black Bart's Cave) ha!.

Oh and the jokes and topics they throw at you. Boy, did they get it topical with the Kevin Spacey jokes . Oh and the

Spoiler

Lost Boys part and Corey Haim as Michael Jackson was just too much funny for my side. It split in two with laughter.

[Serenity]

I'm alternating between Star Traders: Frontiers and Monster Hunter: World at the moment. Only game titles that use colons work for me, it seems

The Trese Brothers have just released the roadmap for the future of ST:F and it all looks great:

Spoiler

That said, it does bother me a bit that games never seem to be 'finished' when they're released these days, so the 20-odd hours I've spent on it so far haven't been the complete experience. It's still brilliant, though, and they're a two-man team so it's understandable. Plus more than one playthrough was always going to be a necessity, given the various character classes.

Monster Hunter: World, on the other hand, does feel more like a complete game. It's my first MH game and I'm enjoying it so much more than I thought I would, to the point where I'm walking away at the end of a session already thinking about what I'm going to do next time I fire it up - I'm finding it that addictive. Admittedly I'm still at Low Rank, though. The toughest battle so far has been the Anjanath, which was obviously designed to be that way. Failed the first three times I went at it but finally got it on the fourth. The creature design is wonderful (Tobi Kadachi being my favourite so far) and the combat is brilliant - more complex and more fun, dare I say, than the Soulsborne games. Even after 20 hours I'm still learning my weapon of choice (the Charge Blade). Also, the multiplayer is fantastic (on PS4 at least - I hear the recently released pc version is a mess).

[Mentalist]

I cheated and looked up how to beat Media Blitz under 20 min on YouTube. At least now I can leave that alone and my completionist OCD is pacified.

Got a bit of momentum back: finished the pre-Char scens and grinded out the Tosh achievements on "Breakout" . Pre-Char all I'm missing now are 3 each from the alternative Tosh and Hanson missions and also the very last Zeratul achievement of "kill 2 and a quarter k Zerg before dying"

On Char I managed to collect all the reinforcement pods this time, so I'm back to having to take out Kerrigan's air support, and then I'll be back to where I was a month ago, but hopefully better equipped this time.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 23 August 2018 - 01:50 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

Still debating HZD vs Shadow of War for my next game. Likely to be my last game for a while as I won't have much time for gaming once the baby comes in December.

[Morgoth]

HZD has an amazing story. Shadow of War might as well have no story at all.

[Tiste Simeon]

I think I'm more about which one could I finish quicker more than anything else. Shadow of Mordor didn't have a plot either (well, it did but it was not exactly integral to anything) but it was a flipping sweet game nonetheless.

[worry]

I'm playing through the Dead Space games. DS1 -- tight, it feels like I'm living through Aliens. I wonder what the backstory is.


DS2 -- sucks that they gave the protag that goofy dialogue, but what are you gonna do? Still a very fun game, and the culty stuff is really great and creepy. Cool new necromorphs too. Even the DLC had a nice tense story.


DS3 -- oh lord they've added a crafting element. Blast this piece of garbage into the sun. Why would they do this?? What kind of monster is in charge here??

[Mentalist]

Luv2B_Sassy, on 23 August 2018 - 10:34 PM, said:

DS3 -- oh lord they've added a crafting element. Blast this piece of garbage into the sun. Why would they do this?? What kind of monster is in charge here??

EA.

The game was also re-designed with co-op and microtransactions in mind. And then the franchise got axed for "not meeting sales expectations". Textbook example of corporate meddling.

[worry]

Yup, I should have put 2 and 2 together there.

[Serenity]

We've been playing Monster Hunter: World and Warframe the last few nights. Both fantastic co-op experiences.

[Aptorian]

Yeah, it's a really solid shooter that makes you feel like a God.

It's one of few multiplayer shooters I can play and constantly be at the top of the scoreboard.

[Aptorian]

Sure you downloaded the multiplayer part? What are you playing on? Might need X-box gold or what ever to play online

[Mentalist]

Grinded out all the remaining Wings of Liberty achievements (except the 2 alt missions) last night.

Only the last mission left now. I am gonna try to beat that tonight, finally.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 27 August 2018 - 01:21 AM

[Mentalist]

Finished WoL! Still took a bunch of reloads, and I dialed the game speed down, but in the end, I was able to defend pretty comfortably. Stacking Psi Disrupters to slow down all approaching enemies was key. Kerrigan was still tough to take down and she tended to tear holes in my defences, but I was capable of pluggin holes and rebuilding, while my Banshee armada destroyed enemy Nydus worms.

About a third into Heart of the Swarm, and it's kinda meh so far. Having to pick a set of missions to complete is less interesting than picking and choosing.
I'm avoiding Char for now, finished the Kaldir missions and currently on Zerus. I'm playing on Hard, but I'll probably replay on Normal later, since all HoS mission achievements are capped on Normal.

[Maark Abbott]

Completed Fairy Fencer F ADF on the Goddess route. Very satisfying ending and surprisingly well written. Now to NG+ for the Vile God route.

Had a brief dabble in Omega Quintet, seems interesting, will go back to it later.

[Mentalist]

Yesterday I caught myself thinking I really can't be bothered to slug out a 25 min defending mission in Heart of the Swarm. I just don't care enough about Kerrigan's tragic descent into madness vengeance

I think I'll try to go back to Alpha Protocol and take on the mansion of thugs and the knife-wielding coke fiend.

If that does not strike my fancy, it might be time for something totally new.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Goddamn octopath is Good!