Board 8 > October Game of the Month Club ft. Splatoon 3, Hellblade, Cthulhu, and Xenoblade

(+) Yeah! (+)

Octobers Games:
Splatoon 3 (Switch)
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (PC/XB1/PS4/Switch)
Cthulhu Saves the World (PC/360/iOS/Android)
Xenoblade Chronicles (Switch/3DS/Wii) (eligible from October through December)

What is Game of the Month Club?
Game of the Month is a community project open to all B8ers where users share, discover, play and/or discuss a select few games every month. The games featured each month are chosen by YOU the users (and Lady Luck)

The Basics
- Each month will usually feature three games that were chosen via a random drawing from a pool of games that users nominated
- For each game you beat, you get a cool point on our just-for-fun standings as well as a nomination for next month's randomized drawing
- In order to receive the point and nomination, you must beat said game within the calendar month
- If you beat one of the current month's games in the previous month, you can apply for a "recently beaten waiver," but you will only receive a point and no nomination should you do so
- Drawing for next month's games is usually on the 25th
- If you periodically keep us posted on your progress and/or talk about different aspects of the games, then everyone will think you are super awesome!

Nomination Rules
- You get one nomination automatically each month
- You receive additional nominations each month for every featured game that you beat
- Each game you nominate has to be unique from all other nominations and cannot include a game that has already been selected for GotM
- Each game must be a standalone game that can be acquired and played on its own (aka cannot be DLC/expansion that requires the base game)
- Nominations only carry over if you beat a featured game after the drawing for next month's games but before the end of the month
- You have 9 supports you can use throughout the year. Your only limitations are that you can't support your own nomination, and you can only use one support per game per month

Just-for-Fun Top 20 Standings
KCF - 153
gameking - 116
ArkOfTurus - 94
Mr Crispy - 88
Lolo Guru - 70
Cody - 54
KnightOfNee - 35
MegamanX - 28
Wickle - 25
Arti - 23
scarletspeed - 23
ViolentAbacus - 22
FakeAccount - 20
darkx - 18
Fenny - 16
GreatPaul - 16
MZero - 16
Seanchan - 14
Suprak the Stud - 14
tazzyboy - 14

Spreadsheet with history
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X8E8oqzES42W4S82j7WTfNnzNa8c3uXdSE1rnqYG7WM/edit?usp=sharing

Additional noms this month
Abacus: 1
Cody: 1

Hellblade is on Game Pass for PC, console, and mobile via cloud gaming

I tried both Hellblade and Cthulhu in the past but didn't stick with them, but I downloaded them again in case I want to give them another whirl. I'm obviously not going to rush through Xenoblade, but I should start it this month after I finish Paper Mario: The Origami King.

I'm going to be excited to play Cthuhlu as soon as I finish that cute kitty game Stray.

In for Splatoon, and following other people playing Xenoblade for the next few months.

KCF0107 posted...

I tried both Hellblade and Cthulhu in the past but didn't stick with them, but I downloaded them again in case I want to give them another whirl. I'm obviously not going to rush through Xenoblade, but I should start it this month after I finish Paper Mario: The Origami King.

Origami King isnt great Also I remember it feeling interminably long.

I have greatly enjoyed every Paper Mario game, and this is no different. I'm close to finishing the third chapter/releasing the yellow streamer

KCF0107 posted...

I have greatly enjoyed every Paper Mario game, and this is no different. I'm close to finishing the third chapter/releasing the yellow streamer

Its a better game than Color Splash (the Wii U one) but that doesnt mean much. That was one of the few Nintendo games I gave up on. I just really hated the battles.

Origami Kings battle system was neat at first but didnt have much long term interest outside of the boss battles.

Give me the M&L games any day.

I started Splatoon 3 yesterday, and got pretty far. In Area 5 right now.

Abacus has beaten Splatoon 3. Didn't have a ton going on over this weekend, so I played entirely too much of Splatoon 3 yesterday and today. Finished all of the main levels, and just have one secret level left.

Started Cthuhlu saves the world, got to the first town and visited good old Miskatonic U lel. Just started a sidequest dungeon, calling it for the night.

I'm on call this weekend and can't really go out and about, so going to try to get Hellblade in.

In Area 2 for Splatoon 3. Will make more progress next week.

Nominate Sonic Frontiers

Great_Paul posted...

In Area 2 for Splatoon 3. Will make more progress next week.

What're your thoughts so far?

Its pretty cool so far. I like the overworld exploration and the level varieties are fun.

I'm going to try to finish both Hellblade and Cthulhu this month.

Hellblade is just so bad, though. Terrible combat and terrible puzzles.

Yeah, I agree that the puzzles aren't well-designed and probably should have completely revamped or been done away with, but combat is pretty basic and hardly terrible.

I started it today and those Letter/shape matchup puzzles have been extremely irritating So yeah, I concur

I haven't played Hellblade for several days now. I got to the trial where it is a horror section at the end where I have to avoid an entity on fire while navigating a maze. I have yet to avoid it.

I tried Cthulhu again, played it until I got to a town, looked up how far I was into the game, and then I uninstalled it.

I'm just going to nominate Game Pass games this month, beginning with Road 96

KCF0107 posted...

I tried Cthulhu again, played it until I got to a town, looked up how far I was into the game, and then I uninstalled it.

Not a fan, huh?

In Hellblade I have one last trial to do to get the sword Think I should have it finished tonight or Sunday night.

Splatoon 3 beated

That campaign was much better than Splatoon 2.

Should be starting Hellblade soon. Had to finish Sable before it left Game Pass

Also bought Xenoblade so Im pot committed now!

Started on Xenoblade...

Holy shit SYSTEMS! Right out of the box and this game has NO CHILL. It's just dumping tutorials and pop ups and all sorts of crap on you. And then you get to District 9 (or where ever) and everyone's got a quest and a trade option and affinity and, fuck me this is all a bit overwhelming.

At least you don't have to run back to the quest giver when you finish their conditions?

Drawing in a week

I haven't really felt like playing Cthulhu at all. I still might, but I'm not confident that that's happening this month.

Nominate Frog Detective

Which one?

Seanchan posted...

At least you don't have to run back to the quest giver when you finish their conditions?

Bad news. You do unless they're a generic npc. And you have to figure out where and when they appear from the affinity chart and then track them down.

I think I may skip a lot of sidequesting, it took me about a half hour to find the watch quest lady.

FakeAccount3000 posted...

Bad news. You do unless they're a generic npc. And you have to figure out where and when they appear from the affinity chart and then track them down.

I think I may skip a lot of sidequesting, it took me about a half hour to find the watch quest lady.

Ah damn I did notice one quest that I could only find the person at a certain time of day, so I was a little miffed about that.

I will try to limit the side quests too, I think, if only to try and maximize my chance of finishing by the end of the year.

Started Hellblade.

Its been interesting but Im not sure that Id call it good. Combat is fine. The puzzles are sometimes annoying.

I was surprised by the complete lack of tutorial prompts. Like, they don't even teach you how to swing the sword! I stumbled into the Focus slowdown mode by accident. Or maybe the voices going focus finally sunk in

The game also wasnt kidding about the benefits of using headphones. Ive got a decent 7.1 system but the very directional audio was driving me a little crazy. I switched to headphones and it was a lot more enjoyableor at least as enjoyable as the constant stream of voices can be.

I'll probably finish up Cthulhu this weekend. Probably not much further if I don't do the optional content.

blargh that fallen angel boss was a pita since it healed every other turn, and the amount it heals goes up dramatically the longer the fight goes on. though, it's an optional fight.

My dang PC broke and a friend ofkne is fixing it so I started playing Xenoblade. Heading towards the second main city now. That was a hell of a thing that happened in the first one. Cripes.

TheArkOfTurus posted...

Nominate Frog Detective

KCF0107 posted...

Which one?

If it's Frog Detective 1, I'll suport frog detective because looking it up it looks fun

Monthly Progress
Splatoon - Abacus, Paul
Hellblade -
Cthulhu -
Xenoblade -

Nominations
Abacus - Sonic Frontiers
Ark - one of three Frog Detective games
Cody - Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts: MoM
KCF - Road 96

Supports
Fake - maybe Frog Detective depending on above

Drawing Tuesday

Can I get an extension on Cthulhu since my PC broke?

That has never been a feature of this project, and I have no desire to open up that can of worms.

Oh, yeah, first Frog Detective.

Damn,,lame time for my PC to break.

Hellblade beated!

It's a solid game. Some annoying parts, some fun parts. Certainly some interesting mechanics and vibes that make it worth at least trying out if you've got Game Pass. I think I liked the Norse mythology stuff better in God of War (this game did come out first though).

I never really gelled with the combat. It was passable at best but there's some late game battles that go on too long, as yet another wave of enemies warps in. And that's excluding the final, final battle where you're supposed to lose. The fight against Fenrir was a huge pain in the ass, though I recognize that it's supposed to be that way with the lack of light and all that.

The rune matching puzzles aren't great but they at least managed to feel a little less obtuse in the late game. Or maybe I just did a better job of falling into their rhythm. The non-rune puzzles and set pieces were more fun for me. That sequence where the dog is chasing you and you've got to stay in the light was some straight up horror shit.

Loved the audio in the game. As I said earlier, headphones are the way to go, as it just gives a much more immersive atmosphere of really putting you inside Senua's head. The voices giving you hints ("focus FOCUS") but also narrating at the same time ("she has no idea where she's going...") really gets you into the character. I loved the moments when Senua would face the camera and start talking to you/herself.

Ninja Theory have always done a great job of performance capture and this game is no exception. Senua feels fully fleshed out, whether it's reading her facial expressions or just empathizing with the awfulness of her upbringing and the futility/tragedy of her quest.

I want to Swap my Nomination from Sonic Frontiers to Bayonetta 3

I don't want to nominate 2 new games, and Bayonetta comes out sooner.

ok time for the last dungeon in Cthulhu.

I suppose I should nominate some games! I'm just gonna go back to my standbys:

The Pathless
Monument Valley 2

Gonna lose playing time to the holiday next month so I need those short games! Plus it's give me more time for Xenoblade. Also, I could be on the hook for another game in the replay club...

Guess I'll Nominate Infliction: Extended Cut

Finished Cthulhu Saves the World.

Nominate Hylics and OFF