Discussion What are you currently playing? (Week 3 of 2023)

[Cacher]

New week, new thread! What are you playing?

Continuing Tales of Phantasia. Around 15 hours in. Pacing is a bit all over the place, and there's more backtracking then I like. Encounter design is also pretty weird because there are so many fly enemies in one dungeon yet the protagonist is a swordsman with only one or two artes that can deal with them efficiently, so combat are getting annoying and tiresome during the last two hours. Couldn't say that I enjoyed my time during that segment but I am going to stick with the game.

 

[Lashley]

FFXIV and Marvel SNAP

That's it

I need help

 

[Panda Pedinte]

I want to listen to some podcasts during the week so I'll play a bit of Forza Horizon 4

FFXIV and Marvel SNAP

That's it

I need help

 

[fantomena]

Still Stardew Valley, Slay the Spire, Tetris Effect and Pathfinder.

 

[curi0usBystander]

Still playing Fates (Birthright), got past the midpoint. The maps (with one exception) so far continue to being the same, here rout the enemy. Also more reinforcements.

 

[toxicitizen]

I've been playing Midnight Suns for the last week and enjoying it a lot. Had to turn off ray-tracing, though. It was causing really weird graphical bugs and after some experimentation I realized that I literally could not see the difference between on or off. I'm honestly not sure it's even working properly (I may not have been looking at the right things, though...) So yeah, I'll take that FPS boost instead.

 

[kafiend]

Far Cry 3, Minecraft (TNP 6 modpack) , Jewel Match Solitaire, and some Vampire Survivors type games.
I've been obsessed with solitaire type card games for weeks.

 

[C-Dub]

Having an absolute blast with Signalis. I’m about 5-6 hours in and it’s already an instant classic for me.

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Having an absolute blast with Signalis. I’m about 5-6 hours in and it’s already an instant classic for me.

They nailed the survival horror feeling of the PSX era.

 

[C-Dub]

Except for the fact that it's not that scary, sure.

But I don't mind that in all honesty. The quality of the worldbuilding and writing more than makes up for the lack of schlocky scares.

 

[Durante]

I've been playing FF7R. The battle system is holding up a lot better even in the late(r) game than I expected it to.

One thing I find interesting about it is that you are basically playing a group of eco-terrorists -- the actual "let's blow shit up" kind -- who are fighting a megacorporation. And the game doesnt really have much of a problem with pretty decisively painting them as the good guys. It's not that I disagree, but I wonder if we'd get a story like that in an AAAA production today if it wasn't a remake of something written in the 90s.

 

[Lashley]

FF7Remake is a great game, it's just a shame Square makes us wait so much later on PC for FF games

 

[Kvik]

I finished Yakuza 4 on Saturday. Story-wise it's definitely held my interest much better when compared with Yakuza 3, however the Finale devolved into something rather silly. After a strong first half, they certainly stuffed up the landing on this one. It's all good for a laugh. I installed Yakuza 5 and its mods, but it's going to be awhile until I start it proper.

This week, I'm continuing my replay of P3FES and resuming The Great Ace Attorney. I really like the animations in TGAA. The cases are OK so far, I suppose. Nothing jumps at me yet like they did in the first 3 cases of Ace Attorney, but I like how they shake things up with Summary Examinations and stuff.

 

[Parsnip]

Mainly continuing Darksid3rs. Also occasionally Dreamland Solitaire.

 

[hersheyfan]

Finishing up Kimetsu No Yaiba on Xbox. Pretty damn entertaining for a licensed game, definitely not something to buy full price but is great fun for fans of the show.

On Steam: I'm playing Iwaihime (a horror VN) and Underdog Detective (a Chinese FMV game, subtitled) on Steam Deck. Good, laid-back vibes!

Also, Microsoft Solitaire Collection on iOS. Jesus Christ, Freecell... on my phone... with dailies, and Xbox achievements I'm only finding out this existed now, I'm doomed

 

[Parsnip]

Also, Microsoft Solitaire Collection on iOS. Jesus Christ, Freecell... on my phone... with dailies, and Xbox achievements I'm only finding out this existed now, I'm doomed

I was playing this for a while on Android, but the ads really soured me on it. If they offered a one time purchase so I could just own it and get rid of the ads, I would have probably taken it.
But it's all subscription stuff and that's just didn't sit right with me.

 

[hersheyfan]

I was playing this for a while on Android, but the ads really soured me on it. If they offered a one time purchase so I could just own it and get rid of the ads, I would have probably taken it.
But it's all subscription stuff and that's just didn't sit right with me.

Awwww.

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully its not too bad for me, portable Freecell with achievements was like one of my most wanted things ever. I guess I'll find out for myself lol.

Parsnip after first finding out about MS Solitaire on mobile:

Parsnip after realizing it was packed with ads:

 

[Avern]

I started EarthBound (emulated on Deck for maximum comfort), and I'm hooked. It's charming as heck.

I've also spent time with Triangle Strategy, but it's proving difficult to get into. While the combat seems great, holy heck does that game have a sloooow start.

 

[Arc]

After playing Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous for 12 hours:

I grew up on JRPGs so CRPGs may as well be like learning a new language. I'm still in Kenabres and trying to complete the first act. I can say I am (very slowly) grasping the mechanics and turn based mode is a godsend since it helps me contextualize that combat is simply a bunch of dice rolls; something I could never grasp when I stumbled through the Baldur's Gate games a decade ago. I'll probably drop this as soon as I get my hands on Fire Emblem: Engage, but I might actually return to it at some point. Camellia best girl

 

[Panda Pedinte]

After playing Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous for 12 hours:

I grew up on JRPGs so CRPGs may as well be like learning a new language. I'm still in Kenabres and trying to complete the first act. I can say I am (very slowly) grasping the mechanics and turn based mode is a godsend since it helps me contextualize that combat is simply a bunch of dice rolls; something I could never grasp when I stumbled through the Baldur's Gate games a decade ago. I'll probably drop this as soon as I get my hands on Fire Emblem: Engage, but I might actually return to it at some point. Camellia best girl

Camellia is

 

[Anteater]

I've been playing Little Noah, the game is a roguelite, a sidescroller that lets you go through dungeons with randomize Lilliputs power ups which are summons that you map to your button press/combo, each usually has its distinct attack (some are similar), like it could be a forward slash, a launcher, a projectile, simple things you expect from action games, it's pretty "basic" at its core but it's also surprisingly fun because you get to mix and match these attacks, you can just have 4 forward slashes, or you could have a launcher type move that keeps you in the air to avoid attacks and shoot projectiles at the end, things like that. Part of why I'm so keen with that build your combo system is that it kiiiinda reminds me of God Hand even though just very slightly.

I've only reached like the third area and bosses are a bit basic so I can't say if there's more depth to it than meets the eye but I'm having a good time.