Lurker > Lightning Strikes

Shonen_Bat posted...

Barack Obama

because of the 'how would they do in a contest' topic

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Crazy that it was at the Switch reveal presentation. I believe the only game there that has yet to be released and by a very long margin. I think the last one was Travis Strikes Again which they had literally just started developing, and that came out a year and a half ago.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Not only is Samus more powerful than Sonic, but I believe she is also canonically faster than Sonic. No Im not making that up, Samus is supposed to be able to move at supersonic speeds.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Link because I dum but it is actually Samus.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

I think the encounter design in California is amazing. The option to set the chained infected loose on the bandits is great, and I loved the sheer length and scope of that last stealth/combat section, it really felt like an opportunity to use everything youve learned.

I also appreciate that they gave not one, but two obvious stopping points at the farm (when Ellie is sitting on the tractor and after Dina finds her in the barn) and went with neither. I just wonder if the story stuff after adds all that much! The message is the same and all it does is cost Ellie two fingers and her partner (and its easy to see the latter getting reconciled).

Also has anybody looked at Tommys head injury in detail because Im wondering how he survived that.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Personally, I felt it was a very good game, a clear improvement over the original, and Naughty Dogs best yet.

More than anything else, I find the structure of this games narrative fascinating. I am not sure if the structure they picked is the ideal one, however, though it does have its advantages. I can think of at least four alternate cuts that would have a very different impact. In particular Id love to see what a chronological version of this game looks like. On the one hand I felt that the current presentation introduces a bit of repetition that slows the pacing a tad. On the other hand, when you return to the Aquarium as Abby knowing what youre going to find, it makes the whole thing much more harrowing. And that perspective shift is probably the most interesting thing about the game.

The one edit that Id say would definitely improve things is putting the flashback to the dance at the start of the game (after the prologue). It was in the main trailer, and you dont really benefit from having it right near the end. And conversely that last flashback really benefited from being right at the very end, it provided a bit of relief from the unrelenting grimness of the rest.

I feel the main weakness of the game other than possibly the structural stuff is some pacing problems. Abby Day 1 has been discussed a lot as being too long, but for me where things really got slow was the last section. It felt like it either needed to be a lot longer, or a lot shorter.

The best part of this entire game is easily Abbys Day 2. The sky bridge sequence, the hotel, and the hospital basement with the rat king were all incredible, especially the last one. Also it was nice to actually accomplish your goal and not have everything go horribly wrong for once! And while I dont think the effects of the leaks on the discourse around this game (ie making it toxic) dont really need to be discussed any more, it does strike me as funny that the people slamming the game for the content in the leaks dont even know what the rat king is. Or any of the best parts of this game.

So anyway, great game, probably my game if the year so far, Part II>Left Behind>The Last of Us.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

This is the spoiler topic for people who have finished the game, not just looked at leaks with partial context.

What did you think? What were your favourite parts? Least favourite parts? What did you make of the ending?

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Also I didnt play The Last Guardian but isnt that also supposed to be in the same world too?

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Every game in the series question being a part of a series in some way is hilarious, but also says some stuff about video games...

Anyway, Lucario. The hype was real, and while he did come in second and get through to the next round, he got crushed by Altair when it was expected to be close or for Lucario to win.

Also Balthier and Kerrigan.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

The Tetris take is bizarre because not only are there many games in that series that have been in polls, there is even a Tetris 2. Its a massive series. There was even a major one last year! And one of the best received games of the year before that.

Minecraft also has multiple games though maybe you can argue that it isnt a series as they are spinoffs.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Poll options based on reviews and excluding games released out of early access and rereleases, so sorry to Dreams and Xenoblade. Kentucky Route Zero gets through on a technicality!

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

...Cyberpunk 2077.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

If Dying Light 2 actually lives up to its ambition and comes out this year, it will do much, much better at the end of the year. However those are two incredibly large ifs!

Halo Infinite was also the big surprise for me. This is supposed to be Microsofts Breath of the Wild in terms of importance and role. With that said, a lot of it is probably down to how little theyve shown.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Vincent even though its actually Zelda.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

I honestly really struggle to see how, if the leaks don't happen, people who can stomach the first game object to the second. Even the statements ND made about the game being intentionally divisive were also made about the first.

They really weren't mucking about when they called this one "Part II". It really is more of The Last of Us in many, many ways. That's not to say it's perfect, I have some thoughts about the way it is structured I will get into both in a more appropriate topic and when I have actually finished it.

Leonhart4 posted...

And yes, there are people who play it and hate it, too. They intentionally created a divisive game, after all.

Among those who have actually played it, I haven't seen any degree more hate than any other big release. Not to say that it isn't there or that there isn't criticism, but the disparity in the discourse around this game has never been more obvious. It really is complainingaboutgamesiveneverplayed.jpg given form.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Given that it just came out and definitely is not getting many respect votes it would definitely do much better, I imagine mainly at FFVIIR and P5Rs expense. This poll could have looked more like a three way race in that situation.

I have to imagine that as more people actually play it and the outrage dies down, it will do a lot better at the end of the year.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

FFVIIR looks pretty mortal here. I fully expect Animal Crossing New Horizons to be the strongest Animal Crossing game, but not a titan or anything. A well-received Cyberpunk could definitely end up as our game of the year. I have to wonder what would have happened without the TLOUP2 leaks though, because after playing it I can say with confidence that those fully controlled the reaction to that game. It definitely has a lot of audience overlap with FFVIIR so I have to wonder what this result would look like in that case.

shane15 posted...

I thought P5R was doing alright when i checked the poll. Funny that RE3 didn't make the list though.

Before the game came out, I'd agree with you, but the game is pretty widely considered a disappointment by critics and fans.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Shulk

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Finally started, loving it but already have some concerns about the structure of the story. The scenes themselves are excellent though.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Resident Evil 2 vs. Bloodborne.

Good old recency bias. Good match though.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Whoa

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

LMS is actually right, Im sorry. I do think fanservice-centric storytelling has made not what I wanted be bad writing. Not in every case, but there are some really obvious ones.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Given that there have been five Xenoblade releases in five years and the series has never been more popular, I am not too worried about that!

I have a feeling it will be XBC3 next, though a return to X would be more than welcome.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

So anybody whos been paying attention will tell you that its very bad for Trump, worse than it ever was against Hillary.

Unfortunately this brings an almost daredevil-esque how will he get out of this one??? feeling where there may be some ridiculous lucky break that helps him survive. Hopefully he doesnt pull it off.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

DanKirby posted...

"Riki can win by himself!"

Working together is our greatest strength!

Heropon also greatest strength.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

_stingers_ posted...

Like that?

"SHE'S BEHIND YOOOOOOOU!"

Pretty much. You can also fight bosses with themselves which I love.

Incidentally I think one of the things 1 actually does do better than 2 is tying the mechanics and the narrative together. 1 has probably the most harmony between the story and gameplay of any RPG I have ever played, while 2 lost that a bit, like with the way it handles boss fights you are supposed to lose or the way visions are handled between both games.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

masterplum posted...

I feel like this game tries to be twisty but I dont have enough attachment to these characters to care. Like I got to the part where

melias step mom turns out to be working with that one guy who also uses the monado right before we go to prison island

And Im like....ok?

The game just doesnt give motivation in the characters enough for me to care.

FWIW I dont think youre supposed to see that as more than just table setting.

The Mana Sword posted...

Ive played the game up through Chapter 6 twice, and then just ended up falling off it for various reasons, so I do know what Im getting into.

Fair enough! That was effectively the point I went from feeling fine about it to being unable to put it down haha

ninkendo posted...

Cooldowns in XC2 are too slow at the beginning, but then by the end it's basically an action game

that's why I'm looking forward to NG+ just to have that at the beginning.

NG+ is hilarious as they do not gate anything at all, so it leads to bizarre story/gameplay clashes.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

XC2 is good. However, the first 8 hours or so have a fair bit to answer for. Push through it, and don't worry about optional blades on your first time through, and you'll have a great time. Every single aspect of the game gets a lot better starting with Chapter 3 and then again with Chapter 5. But I'm not going to tell you those early bits aren't a little bit of a slog! It has a much lesser version of the FFXIII problem where it gates its mechanics behind too much time, though not that bad.

I think if it was paced like XC1, took out the gacha and polished a few aspects mainly in the early game, it would absolutely be up there with the first game in terms of reception!

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Game of the Decade 1 followed by 2

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

The main takeaway from this stream is that ARMS has some really good music.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Xiahou Shake posted...

I was totally on board with the split timeline theory before Hyrule Historia made it official, but to this day I still don't understand the reasoning behind the "Hero is Defeated" timeline. The child era and adult era are both accounted for in OoT's ending, and a split there makes sense. Any further splitting just feels totally arbitrary and extra - like, why not have "Link dies" timeline splits in every game at that point?

To resolve a continuity error made by Four Swords Adventures. Should have just made it the ALttP prequel they were originally going to.

Basically Ganon is dead (covered by Twilight Princess) at the start of FSA and at the end gets sealed in the sword. They should have just had him be sealed in the sacred realm, then you only need one child timeline. But they didnt want to hew too close to timeline stuff back then so they made it not a prequel anymore and here we are.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

It made sense because that was the time they actually started taking it seriously. And to be fair from Phantom Hourglass to Triforce Heroes every single entry was very clear about where it was relative to other games, and how long had passed. And then with BotW they were effectively doing a soft reboot.

Really I never understood the fuss. Every game in the series is clearly connected to another except for Oracles. If that one hadnt come out I doubt things would be so debated.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Finished it! Will probably go back for endgame quests (I just did Bana and Tyreas), but will likely go through Future Connected first. And actually play done other games too.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

I dont think they ever made an official statement other than saying that they wont say.

However, the idea of timeline convergence is both the most supported, as the game has elements from all three timelines, and the one that causes the least headaches. Effectively BotW allows people to start from there and disregard previous continuity, while keeping that lore intact and allowing for followups.

The funny thing is, Nintendo had said when the timeline was published that every new game would clearly be placed on the timeline, which was true for a while. They went back on it with BotW because they wanted people to theorise and discover stuff on their own, just like the game itself.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Chrono Trigger

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Your blade... it did not cut deep enough.

Still the best scene in the game.

So many great lines, and the new version of Tragic Decision is excellent.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Melias AI is not great so she is best as playable. When played shes a damage machine and one of the best. Riki is good as AI though, and his massive HP means it is okay for him to draw aggro.

With that said, I have been leaving Melia as AI to build affinity (or use Monado purge on some uniques) and shes totally viable with the right arts. Even if I do go no copy bolt! a lot.

Also you are past what most think is the slowest part of the game now, fair to say.

Edit: Just to clear up, I disagree that Melia should only be used to play as. Shes a reliable toppler which is good. Just be aware of the disconnect.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

The only numbered FF games to not be on Nintendo now are the two MMOs and XIII. Yes, even (a form of) XV is on there.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

The Mana Sword posted...

to me
to you
to me
to you

It still amazes me that this Nintendo-published, sprawling JRPG contains a Chuckle Brothers reference.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Fallout 3

Could be Persona 5 though. I also thought of Half-Life 2 which might have been true if if hadnt weakened a lot.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

I gotta say, I completely forgot about the fight at the end of chapter 13, but that is a really cool fight for an RPG, you don't see many like that in this kind of game. Good stuff.

Also you could probably remove most of chapter 12 and the game would still work, but having it in really improves the characters and narrative.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Looking forward to it. But I still want to finish Xenoblade DE first (that game is long) and then probably would like to play through the first with my girlfriend before this one. So, see you in a few weeks?

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

They really believed in Driveclub, huh

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Not Dave posted...

somehow i still exist and visit board 8 despite never playing an Ace Attorney game

Good news, Ace Attorney Trilogy regularly goes on sale and is on every current platform (and the 3DS). Switch, PS4, Xbox, mobile, PC. Its one of those put it on everything games. You should check it out!

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

PS3 had quite a few, Gran Turismo 6 as an exclusive, but also Resogun and LittleBigPlanet 3 were cross-gen. And baseball. You might look at that and say thats not much, but it was like half their first party output for that year. And effectively all the third party games of course.

Conversely it looks like they will fully drop the PS4 this year, going from their rhetoric.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

iiicon posted...

Kinda, yeah? FF9 on PS1, GOW2 on PS2, TLOU/GTA5 on PS3/360.

With forward compatibility (and a broken economy + pandemic), it makes more sense now than ever to push cross-gen games as long as feasibly possible.

Absolutely, though FFIX and GoW2 were after launch so in that regard there is also Dark Souls II and South Park from this gen. You are correct, there is always a market for the old stuff for a good while. I suspect that will be even more true this time like you say!

I do wonder though, Sony seem to have gone in an opposite direction this time. They are really stressing the generational shift more than ever (possibly excluding the PS3), have minimised backwards compatibility as a selling point and may entirely avoid forwards compatibility. If they stick to that and this thing is expensive, that is a bad bet.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Spirit of Justice for sure.

Edit: 6>3>1>5>4>2

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

UshiromiyaEva posted...

To be clear I'm not complaining a out the delay, the longer they push it back the better. CDPR isn't Bethesda, but there's no way this game isn't going to be swamped with bugs and patches for months after release its just that kinda game.

Putting out a huge "last gen" game right before new consoles launch is just a dumb idea to begin with, so I never believed that date in the first place.

Hasnt this always happened? GTAV came out two months before the PS4 and Xbox One, for instance. A large majority of people will not get these systems at launch so it makes sense.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Especially when there's obviously the racist stereotyping involving watermelons.

davidponte posted...

https://twitter.com/TabbyNickel/status/1273053132528869376?s=20

He has had a history of saying dumb, unfunny edgy shit. Let him enjoy a perma-ban. This doesn't fly anymore, rightfully so.

...What exactly is his defence here? "Haha joke's on you, I was always an arse?"

Good riddance imho.

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc

Man that end of Galahad Fortress cutscene sure is something. I remember why loved this narrative and these performances do much now.

Also you dont get locked out of Upper Bionis affinity do you?

---

I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh azuarc