Patient Gamers

With all secret shells, hearts containers and 0 deaths. Was a fun experience but a challenge I will not do again.

Was intending on playing links awakening again. But I happened to do so since I just got a switch lite and was trying out some games on it. Then I got sucked back in.

Such a classic game

I have finally gotten around to play my proposed challenge where magic completely replaces weapons.

Here's a breakdown of the limitations I set for this run:

• I can't use weapons or drink estus flask. I decided to ban the latter only after 2 hours of the run.
• I can't level up any stats except Attunement, Intelligence, and Faith. I can't wear items that increase my HP.
• I can't wear equipment that increases my poise.

This way I plan to beat all the bosses in the game, hopefully even in the DLC (but that one will be tough...). I also want to replicate another challenge I did years ago - to complete the catacombs using Force as my only offensive spell.

So far I've completed the easiest part of the game - the bells. I don't expect much trouble before the Great Soul hunt though.

Some thoughts on what I already experienced:
Magic is more than enough to go through the early stages of the game, I basically never had to think about my spell uses, and I tend to kill every enemy on my way. No need for Dusk's ring either, fortunately. With that said, I HATE how much soul arrows miss! It's enough for an enemy to move a little and that damn "homing" projectile flies pass them. I rely on Combustion much more than I expected to lol.

The game is quite long for how limited the gameplay is. Combat had an interesting rhythm gimmick but it should have been a 5-6 hour, tight experience, not 10-12. It really outstayed its welcome for me given that the game is just combat arenas and cutscenes.

Apart from that combat could be broken by spamming companion abilities once you unlocked them all, it didn't feel like there was any reason to use different combos than 2 or 3 that worked fine.

I end up with the feeling that the hype around the game comes mainly from the unfair closure of a studio that did something that wasn't just following trends.

People hold the game up as an example of what's wrong with the cash grabbing nature of big publishers in the industry, but I just don't think it's a good game at all.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/43848035

I think I blushed irl... Poor undead could'nt get to the end of that dialogue.

23 games + 1 DLC^[I nearly bought Blades of Time Limited edition, then I saw that I already had the base game in my library. It's one of the things that pisses me off with GOG, it won't say you own the game if you have the base/deluxe/platinum/definitive/whatever edition but are looking at a different version, and will gladly let you buy it again] for R$180 (~32 USD)

I know some of those aren't exactly bangers, or might just barely be considered good, but I ~~won't even play them all anyway^[I really need to get my shit together and start playing instead of just buying]~~ enjoy looking at subpar games from time to time

cross-posted from: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/post/133669

Years ago I've completed Dark Souls 2 using only magic (sorcery + pyromancy) - so no weapons at all. It went surprisingly smooth although I ended up not going to DLCs. > > I'm thinking on doing this for the first installment but I have some doubts: >

• First, is it even possible to beat Four Kings with spells? On my first playthrough I tried to beat them with magic and it went really poorly. I'd prefer not to repeat this experience... >
• Second, are locations like Duke's Archive and Oolacile even doable with spells? With the sheer amount of enemies with high magic resistance, they sound like hell, especially given that we don't have any magic restoration options from DS2.

I can only afford the time to play one of them, which one should I play?

Many YouTubers seem to prefer BotW. But most reviews say TotK improves nearly everything.

I prefer easier combat and less complexity. Is there one that would be more enjoyable for me?

I always loved retro-style games, long before I learned that they're considered retro. I'm not sure what makes them so fun but they completely dominate my gaming nowadays.

Naturally, I became curious about the games that had inspired my favorite titles. I tried many of them, and eventually came to a conclusion: most of the time, retro games are nothing but a historical curiosity.

Ultima 4 has fairly unique concept but falls flat with its roleplaying feeling forced, its bland gameplay and its setting with no originality whatsoever.
Compare this to Moonring. Gameplay rivals many modern roguelikes (the classic definition, so Brogue, not Isaac), great setting that sucks you in immediately, and so so many mysteries.

Ambermoon pretends to be an open world RPG but is actually a linear RPG-lite with combat feeling more like a puzzle (and a wrong solution punishes you by 15 mins of you and your opponents missing each other every turn).

That's not to say that retro games aren't important - the modern indies are standing on the shoulders of giants. Yet I can't say that retro games worth the trouble of getting into them, compared to the polished modern indie titles.

Edit: it looks like the banner is incorrect. On the front page of steam it’s the right dates and says summer, but when I click on it to see all the sales it says spring with the dates for the spring sale. It’ll probably get fixed soon.

I bought Zelda TotK right after release for Switch 1, just to be presented with a bright, blurry game with loading screens that I, personally, couldn't live with. I retired it after about an hour, uninstalled it from my console and sold the game on eBay.

Years later, the Switch 2 released and I was hyped. Bought it on release day and had the urge to give TotK another go. This was the start of something beautiful.

This game is an absolute blast. I wasn't as hooked since Elden Ring. The map design, the sheer possibilities, the love for detail, the way the game guides you in the right direction: it's absolutely fantastic.

This game is a master piece, and on the Switch 2, the game feels the way it should have felt on the day it released.

I can not recommend this enough.

So a while back, I wanted to play Conkere bad furday. After doing some math I worked out that it was cheaper to get an Xbox One and Rare Replay, than the original game.

But now that I have Conkers, and a new box. I thought to myself. Hey isn’t this backwards compatible with 360. Which it was. But this lead me to another thought. Why deal with Ubisoft BS on PCs and their Client. Where older games force you to sign in to play them. When I could just have them on one box.

Which eventually lead me to acquiring this small collection. Total price is $155.88 CAD (before tax) and I know I overpaid for some of the later games. But it’s all on one system with no Uplay BS in my face.

Ac1 - $3

AC2 - $4

ACB - $8

ACRe - $8

AC3 - $12

ACB - $7

ACRo - $15

ACU - $10 ($7 more than i think should costs)

ACS - $13

ACC - $18 (shocked with this one)

ACOr - $20 (could’ve got it for $10 but got it on impulse)

ACOd - $20

ACV - $30 (again $10 over used)

About a year ago, I heard someone mention that Outer Wilds had a VR mod. I do have a VR setup and am an experienced VR player, so I really could experience this game for the first time in VR.

Is that reasonable or should I play it the first time with flat graphics?

(Index btw)

I was wondering if 30 bucks is a fair price for this game. I know that the port is very much bare bones and that Rockstar cheaped out on it but right now the game is selling for 40% off and I was wondering if it is worth it for this price or shall I wait more for deeper discounts? Like the summer sale is coming but I doubt the game will be even cheaper then.

Feel free to recommend your favorite games!

I wish I had listened to general fan wisdom and played Super Metroid first. Having played the original Metroid, then Zero Mission, this is my third romp in the planet Zebes, and I'm finding the game extremely redundant.

The original was a little tedious, but I absolutely loved Zero Mission. I appreciated the slightly more linear gameplay. Paired with the manga, it also had a surprisingly good story that establishes Samus as a character. In context with the manga, the Wrecked Ship segment where you lose and then regain your suit is an amazing piece of gameplay-driven storytelling.

And then Metroid II was just as interesting. A completely new horror-esque locale plus a really creepy minimalist storyline that makes you really question the orders forced on you by the Galactic Federation.

So I was expecting a lot more out of Super Metroid. So far, I'd say I'm about halfway through the game. I beat Torizo, the Spore Spawn, Kraid, and the Crocomire. Aside from a really stellar cinematic opening, there hasn't been any plot to speak of, just a nonlinear dungeon to explore without a clear path. I know that in development, Super was meant to just be a 16-bit remake of the NES Metroid game, but was later retooled to be its own game, so that might be why the story feels so barebones?

Everything feels like a rehash of the original. I looked up the wiki and all (Brinstar, Norfair, Crateria, Wrecked Ship, and Tourian) but one of the levels (Maridia) are lifted from the original game, and I've heard that one new level we get is considered the worst one. It feels like a remixed new game+ rather than a full-fledged game that stands on its own, and honestly, I'm bored. It kind of reminds me of what I didn't like about Castlevania after a while, that game after game took place in the exact same mansion.

This might seem a little unfair. Super Metroid came out first, so it might be more accurate to say that Zero Mission is just an asset flip, that it's the less original game -- which is absolutely true, but I played Zero Mission first. And nonlinearity isn't a bad thing at all and it's great for this genre, but since I feel like I've done all this before, I don't feel motivated to discover all of Super's secrets. Does it get any better, or can I skip to Fusion?

TL;DR I played Zero Mission first and read its tie-in manga. Now Super Metroid feels boring because it "reuses" all but one of its areas on the planet Zebes, and it has a comparatively barebones story. Should I keep going or skip to Fusion?

I recently finished the game Tunic, which is sort of like A Link to the Past + Fez + Dark Souls... And it's amazing!

I actually owned the game soon after release but bounced off of it due to being busy with work, picked it back up the past few weeks and finally sat down and enjoyed it. Despite looking like a straightforward and cute adventure game, it gets REALLY deep the further you go in. There's so much to discover and the game gives you just enough hints on what to do and where to go.

Tunic ticks all the boxes for me. The graphics are gorgeous, the combat is fun, the world is fun to explore and rich with secrets, and progression was very satisfying.

The most unique part of the game is that you slowly find pages of an instruction manual containing maps of areas and secrets, explanation of mechanics, and guides on how to play... except it's all written in an alien language, so you have to figure out what it's telling you by paying attention to all the pictures and context clues.

Understanding the manual is a bit rough at first but lead to so many "A-ha!" moments when you try something and it actually works. It even foreshadows future bosses and things you'll encounter before they happen which is brilliant. My best advice to someone just trying the game: Pay attention to the manual, seriously!

I won't spoil any more than that, but I really wish more people talked about this game. It's not for everybody, the game is intentionally vague and needs some critical thinking if you're not following a guide, but I think it's absolutely brilliant if you're into exploration and discovery. One of the most unique games I've played in ages.

About a year ago I picked up a copy of Dirt 4 for very little money and put it on the side to play later (it appears that rally games drop in price when they no longer feature the latest cars).

One of the environments it features is Tarragona in Spain, which is where I live. Having actually started playing it I can say that the modeling and course design for my home stages is absolutely spot on - I live in a small village halfway up a small mountain which is often used for the WRC, and the stages really do feel like my daily commute.

The car handling, progression, team management stuff, etc, is good - with the variable difficulty settings it's very accessible to casuals like me :-)

At about 3/4 completion I'd give it top marks, and I'm enjoying it a lot more than the more simulation oriented rally games.

Screenshot for context