Another week another thread!
What have you all been playing this week? Anything you’re particularly looking forward to in the short term?
Still playing Final Fantasy XVI. The story and characters are fantastic. Now that I’ve put some time into it, the combat feels pretty great. Excited to see where it goes. I feel like I’m still in the first quarter of the game.
This is also what I’m playing. I’m just over halfway and I am still enjoying it, but feeling a bit let down overall. I got sucked into the hype, for once, so that’s my fault. I wasn’t prepared for the game to be so linear.
3 of the last 4 mainline single player Final Fantasy games have been extremely linear, including XV (once the plot actually starts it just railroads you to the end). So I didn’t really have expectations otherwise.
I think it’s been paced pretty well so far, and the areas dont feel like literal corridors. Basically it feels lived-in. There are also enough interactions and occasional backtracking to keep me happy.
But my favorite game of the franchise is X, which just has you following a path for most of it with some towns to break it up.
This sums up my feelings as well. Enjoying it but let down from expectations set by the demo.
I started Hades recently and have been enjoying it a lot. I’m debating if I should pick up Sonic Frontiers, it’s been forever since I played a Sonic game.
Sonice frontiers is fantastic! Took me back to the good ole days of playing on a Sega Genesis and Dreamcast. Also a great opportunity to catchup on Sonic lore. Heres a good summary of the, though it does go over Sonic Frontiers, so beware spoilers!
I would really enjoy the nostalgia trip like that. Genesis is where I started with Sonic and became a Sega fan from then on too. Thank you so much for the link, going to check it out.
Lots of overtime sapping my will and time to play games.
Theatrhythm got me out of my funk. It’s a fun little rhythm game that you can play for 15 minutes at a time. Now I’m playing Final Fantasy XVI.
I think I’m about 2/3 of the way through Disco Elysium.
Loved Disco Elysium. My buddy couldn’t get into it. I was surprised… and bummed. I thought it was so damn… literary. Just fantastic.
Yeah. Some said it’s the best book they’ve ever played or the best game they’ve ever read. To be honest the beginning was a bit slow, but has really kicked in and the world they have crafted is very unique.
Elden Ring. Always Elden Ring. It’s massive. Don’t know when I’ll finish everything I want to.
Almost 400 hours in it according to Steam and I’m still feeling the call, thinking of new builds or things I want to try.
I’m only about 160h in, but I’m not sure I can bring myself to do another playthrough. I still have Sekiro to do. I’ve barely started that. Will probably call it a day for ER once I’ve slain Melina.
Sekiro is so much fun. Be prepared for a much different combat system, though. However, I did actually prefer it to mainline souls after it clicked for me
More Final Fantasy 14. I’ve started the Heavensward post-game content (I guess you can call it that?).
I’m done with all the optional dungeons and raids you unlock after the base story, and now I’m continuing with the story quests that were added in later patches. There’s just so much time-wasting, back and forth bullshit, that it’s just a chore, though. Start quest in town A, go to town B for a short cutscene, go to town C for another short cutscene, go back to town A for yet another cutscene. Since you can teleport everywhere by this point, it doesn’t take long, but is just so boring. That’s why I’m constantly queuing for random dungeons and hang out in the Gold Saucer, basically avoiding the story.
As for classes, I’ve mainly played Reaper, which is fun, and today started trying out Dancer, and had a good time as well.
Post-patch content in A Realm Reborn and Heavensward are both pretty rough. Post-patch content gets a bit better later on. Look up the alliance raid series’ and the raids and do those as well to break up the monotony.
I have done the Alexander and Sky Pirates raids already, but I don’t know if there’s anything else I can unlock later.
Alexander was kind of a chore, because the first 8 sections or so, were all just one or two terrible fights each, then back to a cutscene that almost takes longer than the fights. It did pick up in the final sections though, along with the story, so at least it ended on a high note.
The Sky Pirate stuff was decent, although I couldn’t stand the story bits. At least here each raid longer, with multiple, real boss fights.
Finally getting around to playing the halo infinite campaign. Fingers crossed it’s okay for an old geezer who’s been playing since the original Xbox release.
Dave the Diver. It’s a great blend of Subnautica, Recettear, and absurdity.
Can’t wait for this on console - it looks like it would fit so well on the Switch
I finally got around to playing the Portal series. I played 2 first (it was a free Games with Gold pick) and thought it was great, so about 20 or so puzzles through the first Portal now. I’m kind of surprised the series ended with one sequel.
There would probably be 4 sequels by now if it was by any other company but Valve. Sadly, their priority has been Steam for too many years now. Their game development side goes at a glacial pace and all the developers that originally made their critically acclaimed games have left or are leaving.
I think they are doing well. Quit while it’s good.
Deep Rock Galactic - I should have probably picked it up earlier. It’s such a wonderful co-op game with so many memorable, epic moments happening.
Very charming atmosphere, too.Been playing through Borderlands 3. I always loved the pretense and style of the older ones, but the shooting just never felt good enough moment to moment to stick it out. This one’s finally got it and I’ve been enjoying my time, even though the characters and dialogue are funny at rare times, and mostly pretty terrible.
Horizon Forbidden West - don’t like it as much as the first but I’m determined to finish it before moving on to something else
I’ve been seeing a lot of good stuff about Baldur’s Gate 3, but for a variety of reasons a bunch of other CRPGs I’ve played haven’t clicked with me. So, since I owned Divinity: Original Sin 2, I decided to pull that back out and focus on it for a bit to see if it got my attention this time. The very early start up trying to break out of the fort is a bit rough, but once you get past that it gets compelling fast. The tactics play out really enjoyably, and I really find it enjoyable to take bigger encounters, if I get stomped, and figure out the optimal positioning I can set myself up in to beat the odds on the next try. After a good few too many hours I’m finally off the first island and it’s starting to open up for real.
This might have convinced me to the BG3 first and save Starfield for a while, even though that and FF16 both look damn good too.
I’m super looking forward to Pikmin 4 coming at the end of this week 🙏. Been waiting a long time and everything I’ve seen looks great so far
Primarily playing Guild Wars 2 and getting prepared for the new expansion around the end of August! I’m also super stoked for Baldurs Gate 3 and going to jump in with some friends!
