R.R. Bigman
Coolest Guy
I spoke too soon. I am enormously stumped at what to do next. Game is still really good.
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“I Just Think They're Neat.” Like What You are Playing
- Thread starter Becksworth
- Start date
Outer Wilds is so, so good.
One thing I love about it is that you spend all this time coming to know your little solar system, trying to figure out why the sun is exploding, whether the Nomai caused it, how to stop it, and ... they didn't and you can't. It's just The End, the last 22 minutes of your sun's life, with everything else soon to follow, because the universe is simply dying. You can't save any of it, and you never could, and that's not the point. You were just there to discover and to see and to know—to witness. And you can, when you figure it out (perhaps as the final end times track plays and you're kind of at a loss at what to do apart from watch the sun explode one final time, as I was), get that warp core to the Nomai vessel and jump into the Eye of the Universe and sing the next iteration of existence into possibility, and be the first, necessary observer of something new. To end a static loop and enable a renewal.
In a time when it feels like we're stuck in so many endless cycles of our own, from the climate to fascism to COVID variants and policy failures, that's a tremendously hopeful thing.
One thing I love about it is that you spend all this time coming to know your little solar system, trying to figure out why the sun is exploding, whether the Nomai caused it, how to stop it, and ... they didn't and you can't. It's just The End, the last 22 minutes of your sun's life, with everything else soon to follow, because the universe is simply dying. You can't save any of it, and you never could, and that's not the point. You were just there to discover and to see and to know—to witness. And you can, when you figure it out (perhaps as the final end times track plays and you're kind of at a loss at what to do apart from watch the sun explode one final time, as I was), get that warp core to the Nomai vessel and jump into the Eye of the Universe and sing the next iteration of existence into possibility, and be the first, necessary observer of something new. To end a static loop and enable a renewal.
In a time when it feels like we're stuck in so many endless cycles of our own, from the climate to fascism to COVID variants and policy failures, that's a tremendously hopeful thing.
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I'm getting toward the end of that, and it is also quite excellent.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Me, JBear and friends have a new Sunday night game. After the fun but somewhat awkward We Have To Go Deeper, we switched to Deep Rock Galactic, an FPS where you play space dwarves mining planets and asteroids while fighting hordes of insects. It's a great team game and if you like customizable and rich facial hair, this is for you.
"Rock and Stone!" ad nauseum!
"Rock and Stone!" ad nauseum!
Blue Reflection 2 is making me realize that I would personally really like to see fewer dating simulators and more wingman simulators. There's just something refreshing about having an established couple outside the protagonist, and still being able to do all the usual social bonding with them as a mutual friend instead of a potential love interest. Plus the only thing more rewarding than supporting a couple whom you both cherish is remorselessly teasing them.
Started up a new game of Fell Seal, as I got midway through it about a year ago, loved it but set it down, and then forgot… pretty much everything.
It’s definitely a game that understands what made FFT work and does it’s very best to recapture that magic. If there’s any complaints it’s that the games art styles really clash; it looks like the sprites, portraits and backgrounds all come from different games.
Another SRPG I’ve resumed playing after setting it down is Regalia which is also temped with a kingdom building game. And it is in fact pretty darn good at both components. Setting aside the design of one of the NPCs which is… pretty unfortunate, I’m liking it a lot.
It’s definitely a game that understands what made FFT work and does it’s very best to recapture that magic. If there’s any complaints it’s that the games art styles really clash; it looks like the sprites, portraits and backgrounds all come from different games.
Another SRPG I’ve resumed playing after setting it down is Regalia which is also temped with a kingdom building game. And it is in fact pretty darn good at both components. Setting aside the design of one of the NPCs which is… pretty unfortunate, I’m liking it a lot.
Caveat: The dark portions are a bit trying to get through, and I've had to look up solutions to some puzzles that were a touch too obscure.
jpfriction
(He, Him)
That made nostalgic to revisit the other spin off Shovel Knight Dig which I see did not come out yet so I have officially lost my damn mind.
Sprite
(He/Him/His)
If I remember right Dig was announced before Pocket Dungeon, so the confusion makes sense. Perhaps you played it in your dreams~
I don't normally go in for roguelites or deckbuilders, but I heard enough good things about Inscrpytion that I checked it out. The card game is really fun, and there's a ton of meta stuff going on so that you're always learning and seeing new interesting stuff even when you fail.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
I like deckbuilders, but avoid roguelites and -likes generally. But, considering who this game is made by, I totally want to play it.
A good thing for people like you and me is that the game gives you tools over time that make getting to the next section easier.
I wouldn't describe it as a roguelite, despite appearances, and Adrenaline is correct that the game teases out the tools you need to keep going even if you're not good at the game. (Conversely, if you're too good at the game, it will cheat to attempt to prevent you from winning too quickly!)
Inscryption is a great game that does some really clever things. Highly recommended.
Inscryption is a great game that does some really clever things. Highly recommended.
Sprite
(He/Him/His)
Oooof, that’s my kryptonite, and I’m glad you pointed it out. Hard pass. I’m glad other folks are enjoying it, though!
I don't know if this is better or worse, but the game is extremely blatant about it. This isn't rubber-banding, this is "here, have a dozen bears in your face."
And this is definitely better: you can still win after the game cheats. Hard to do unless you know it's coming, though, and the game only tries it a couple times.
And this is definitely better: you can still win after the game cheats. Hard to do unless you know it's coming, though, and the game only tries it a couple times.
Yeah, I would say that instance of the game cheating actually improves the experience.
ArugulaZ
Fearful asymmetry
That's better than Culdcept, which cheats regardless of your performance. If you're doing well, winning remains a challenge. If you're NOT doing well, all its suspiciously advantageous dice rolls will doom you. Seriously, think of the worst possible roll you could get in a turn after a couple trips around the playfield. As often as not, THAT is what you'll get in that turn. These dice are loaded, I'm complaining to the saloon owner!
FelixSH
(He/Him)
Knowing the other games from the developer, I'm pretty sure that the game has enough to offer, even if you don't like roguelites, or even the gameplay.
Give Poni Island a try, which is by the same guy, and very cheap and short. I assume that, if you enjoy that one, you will get something out of Inscryption. As mentioned, roguelites aren't my thing for multiple reasons. The only reason why I don't play Inscryption right now, despite that, is that I hsve spent too much mobey on games already, during the last few weeks.
For the record, Pony Island is not a roguelike.
Sprite
(He/Him/His)
You misunderstand. I love roguelikes. What I hate is when a game presents itself as a roguelike but then withholds things from the player because it wants to make sure they lose a few times first. I want my losses to be because I’m bad at the game, not because the game wants me to lose for narrative reasons. For me, the ideal roguelike gives me an equal chance to beat it on the first try as on the hundredth.
It sounds like this game is pretty upfront about the fact that it’s screwing with the player, and I respect that. It sounds well-made. It’s just not what I’m looking for.
FelixSH
(He/Him)
Bomb Club is a free puzzle game for the Android. In there, you have different kinds of bombs on a 2D-grid, that all have to explode in a chain reaction. You have some bombs preplaced, which can't be moved, and some to place on your own. And you have to decide which bomb to start the chain reaction from.
At first, you only have the basic bomb, whose explosion will set off every bomb that touches it directly, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. But you soon are introduced to other bombs, like one that sends a stream of flame left, right, up and down, and sets off every bomb that sits on these paths. Or a similar bomb, that will only effect the first bomb in each direction.
You also get introduced to hats, like the crown, which means, if a bomb wears it, it has to be the last to explode. Or the hard hat, which gives a bomb one-time protection of an explosion.
You nearly always have multiple levels to choose from, so if you get stuck, you can try some other puzzle. Most of them aren't very hard, too - I sometimes feel, like there are too many bombs to place yourself, which makes the puzzle very easy. But there are also two fireworks in each level. No fire work gets you a bronze medal, one firework silver and two gold. Getting gold is often quite tricky, so if you want a challenge, you can always go for that.
Aside from that, there is a goofy story about a bomb club, whose four members jus like to create different kinds of bombs - not for the destruction, just because bomb making is fun. One of them creates an evil robot, who deploys the bombs, and you have to stop it. I find the writing funny and charming, and the four members have nicely drawn personalities, and play off each other well. You get these short cutscenes, especially when a new bomb is introduced, where they talk to each other, and it's pretty amusing. Also, there is the Nitronomicon, where you find informations on all the bombs and hats you found. It's mainly informative, but every page also contains a paragraph of silly, uh, let's call it world building.
Oh, and while most of the game is just free, there are a bunch of extra levels, which you can buy. But there are a ton of levels in the main game, so you can easily ignore those.
At first, you only have the basic bomb, whose explosion will set off every bomb that touches it directly, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. But you soon are introduced to other bombs, like one that sends a stream of flame left, right, up and down, and sets off every bomb that sits on these paths. Or a similar bomb, that will only effect the first bomb in each direction.
You also get introduced to hats, like the crown, which means, if a bomb wears it, it has to be the last to explode. Or the hard hat, which gives a bomb one-time protection of an explosion.
You nearly always have multiple levels to choose from, so if you get stuck, you can try some other puzzle. Most of them aren't very hard, too - I sometimes feel, like there are too many bombs to place yourself, which makes the puzzle very easy. But there are also two fireworks in each level. No fire work gets you a bronze medal, one firework silver and two gold. Getting gold is often quite tricky, so if you want a challenge, you can always go for that.
Aside from that, there is a goofy story about a bomb club, whose four members jus like to create different kinds of bombs - not for the destruction, just because bomb making is fun. One of them creates an evil robot, who deploys the bombs, and you have to stop it. I find the writing funny and charming, and the four members have nicely drawn personalities, and play off each other well. You get these short cutscenes, especially when a new bomb is introduced, where they talk to each other, and it's pretty amusing. Also, there is the Nitronomicon, where you find informations on all the bombs and hats you found. It's mainly informative, but every page also contains a paragraph of silly, uh, let's call it world building.
Oh, and while most of the game is just free, there are a bunch of extra levels, which you can buy. But there are a ton of levels in the main game, so you can easily ignore those.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
I dunno how clear it is, this is a lot of why I ragequit the first time I played. There was just a lot of fiddly shit to do that wasn't directly in front of me and I did not realize why I kept getting wiped out and was really frustrated. I think going in blind prevented me from enjoying it.
After I'd calmed down, read a plot/gameplay synopsis and came back to it a few days later I had more of an appreciation for what they're trying to do, but ultimately I don't like the final product. I absolutely recommend finding a stream or Let's Play of it because it really is clever and neat, but if you already don't think it sounds fun to play I doubt that would change.
Also it sounds like they just added a beta for a mode that infinitely extends the first round* of the game and I'm very curious to try that out and to see if I like that better, it just depends on how they've changed things.
*calling it the first round isn't quite right, but again due to the narrative it's hard to explain without spoilers.
If someone were in the mood to watch a video Let's Play of Inscryption, the Waypoint one with Rob Zacny and Natalie Watson is wonderful (if a little thorough). Available on YouTube, but I don't want to dump it here in case anyone is avoiding spoilers.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
My spouse watched this and I saw part of it and we also recommend it!
Sprite
(He/Him/His)
Good golly I’m so glad I finally picked up Beast Breaker. What an absolutely swell game. Thanks to the folks here who vouched for it.
It’s one of those games where there’s juuust enough crunch to the mechanics that I feel engaged, but not so much that I get overwhelmed. Exactly the level of engagement I need right now.
It also does a great job of making abstract Peggle levels feel like giant, otherworldly beasts.
It’s one of those games where there’s juuust enough crunch to the mechanics that I feel engaged, but not so much that I get overwhelmed. Exactly the level of engagement I need right now.
It also does a great job of making abstract Peggle levels feel like giant, otherworldly beasts.
R.R. Bigman
Coolest Guy
I was extremely fortunate enough to get a PS5 for Christmas, alond with a copy of Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart. R & C is always good to great, but Rift is obviously a showcase for the PS5, and it’s so amazing to see a character platformer game, a near dead genre, become this lavish, technological extravaganza. I’m glad the series survived the movie.
The game looks and runs so good that it makes me sad that maybe only a dozen games or so will truly take advantage of what the PS5 can do during it’s lifespan. Third parties don’t do console exclusives like they did in the PS2 era, and even other first party Sony titles are still coming to PS4 due to PS5’s near mythical availability status.
The game looks and runs so good that it makes me sad that maybe only a dozen games or so will truly take advantage of what the PS5 can do during it’s lifespan. Third parties don’t do console exclusives like they did in the PS2 era, and even other first party Sony titles are still coming to PS4 due to PS5’s near mythical availability status.
With the combined powers of a gift card and a sale, this game is now mine as well. I'm enjoying it so far!