Surprised to see we didn't have this thread yet. So here it is. What games are you playing right now? What do you like/dislike about them?
I recently picked up Pikmin 4. The last one came out my first year of college, 10 years ago, so it's been a hot minute. But 4 reminded me of why I fell in love with the series with Pikmin 2. Graphics are great, colors pop, the worlds are beautiful, and it's just a good time. First Switch game I've picked up in a long time.
Besides that, I've finally started dabbling in the Hitman series with the 2016 reboot. Like it a lot so far, though the loading times, specifically between saving/loading (which you do a lot if you play like me where you test strategies out and if they don't work, you reload a save). Really makes me wish there was a way to play the old Splinter Cell games on PS5 (that is the series that got me into stealth-action games). Oh well, guess I'll have to wait for the Splinter Cell remake. If you have a PS5, then I'd recommend you pick up MGSV if you're looking for great stealth-action. Mechanically, it's probably the greatest stealth-action game ever made (even though MGS2 will always be my favorite).
In a surprising turn of events, I actually played a video game recently! We both wanted to play the latest Pokemon game, Scarlet/Violet, and for once I was on the sticks for the whole playthrough. The mister likes Pokémon aesthetically, but he doesn't really get super deep into the mainline games like I do.
We played under the self-imposed Nuzlocke rule set, which means to play through the game while only being allowed to catch a limited number of Pokémon and every time one of those Pokémon faints, it is considered dead and cannot be used anymore. It's intended to make the game more challenging, but it also led to us getting attached to our Pokémon and not wanting to let the little guys die. In the end we won the challenge, with 12 total deaths. Their sacrifices shall not be forgotten.
Also the game has this doggo in it. His name is Greavard and I love him so much.
(https://i.ibb.co/rbMHnDH/0971-Greavard.png)
I don't think Ive played a Pokemon since Gen 4 or 5. It just got too samey for me. Still impressed how popular it remains though.
Quote from: SGR on Aug 06, 2023, 11:35 PMI don't think Ive played a Pokemon since Gen 4 or 5. It just got too samey for me. Still impressed how popular it remains though.
I skipped generations 5 and 6, played 7 for just a bit, and then got way heavily back into it for gen 8, which was my lockdown entertainment of choice, haha.
Mostly I just like the Pokémon themselves, and I like the mechanics of the mainline games more than Pokémon Go, which was Mr. Waffles's big obsession during the early days of our relationship. So because of that and both being card carrying 90s kids, we are definitely a bit of a Pokémon household.
I've been playing Loop Hero for a while, but recently stopped as I'm stuck on the last boss and what I need to do is basically grind a lot.
But I've unlocked everything and have seen all the gameplay the game has to offer AFAIK. Am I supposed to have to just repeat / grind the same sort of levels over and over again? I've become too jaded, I think.
I should find something else to justify my gamepass subscription.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 06, 2023, 11:57 PMI skipped generations 5 and 6, played 7 for just a bit, and then got way heavily back into it for gen 8, which was my lockdown entertainment of choice, haha.
Mostly I just like the Pokémon themselves, and I like the mechanics of the mainline games more than Pokémon Go, which was Mr. Waffles's big obsession during the early days of our relationship. So because of that and both being card carrying 90s kids, we are definitely a bit of a Pokémon household.
I skipped over Generation 3 and 4 but played every single one after except the most recent one. Which is 10 I believe now?
I like both Pokeman mainline games and Pokemon Go. I still play actively to do this. I'm even going to Pokemon Go Fest in NYC in like two weeks.
I'm currently playing Mario and Rabbids Spark of Hope which I think is the sequel to the first game. A Mario style xcom game.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 10, 2023, 06:03 PMI skipped over Generation 3 and 4 but played every single one after except the most recent one. Which is 10 I believe now?
I like both Pokeman mainline games and Pokemon Go. I still play actively to do this. I'm even going to Pokemon Go Fest in NYC in like two weeks.
I'm currently playing Mario and Rabbids Spark of Hope which I think is the sequel to the first game. A Mario style xcom game.
Ah nice! Yeah I take breaks from Pokemon for a while but I always come back at some point. I played Go during that summer of 2016 but I stopped after that. I remember I went to a music festival that summer and
everyone was playing it.
The mister still played up until Covid hit, I always used to accompany him to local raid battles and have fond memories of driving past the local poke spots. I remember I had to sometimes remind him of type matchups, as he doesn't always keep all that information straight in his head. He stopped playing the main games after gen 1 or 2.
But it's funny because when we decided to start the new game, I asked him if he knew what a Nuzlocke was, and he didn't, and I explained it and he was immediately sold on the death thing, haha. The man tends to pendulum from being a wholesome teddy bear to wanting to watch the world burn.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 10, 2023, 06:17 PMAh nice! Yeah I take breaks from Pokemon for a while but I always come back at some point. I played Go during that summer of 2016 but I stopped after that. I remember I went to a music festival that summer and everyone was playing it.
The mister still played up until Covid hit, I always used to accompany him to local raid battles and have fond memories of driving past the local poke spots. I remember I had to sometimes remind him of type matchups, as he doesn't always keep all that information straight in his head. He stopped playing the main games after gen 1 or 2.
But it's funny because when we decided to start the new game, I asked him if he knew what a Nuzlocke was, and he didn't, and I explained it and he was immediately sold on the death thing, haha. The man tends to pendulum from being a wholesome teddy bear to wanting to watch the world burn.
I don't think I could ever play Nuzlocke mode. The way that I always play is the first 5 pokemon I catch plus my starter is my crew for the whole game regardless of their types. So I usually end up with a team full of normals lol but I make them work and they become my dream team to finish up the game.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Aug 11, 2023, 01:11 AMI don't think I could ever play Nuzlocke mode. The way that I always play is the first 5 pokemon I catch plus my starter is my crew for the whole game regardless of their types. So I usually end up with a team full of normals lol but I make them work and they become my dream team to finish up the game.
Ah I like that idea, kind of makes it its own challenge since the early game pokemon tend to have lower stats and, yeah less type diversity.
I've done a couple Nuzlockes in the past and honestly I've never lost one under the standard rules. The real challenge is when you start stacking more rules, like no items, level cap of the next gym leader's highest level, etc. Those can get absolutely brutal, haha.
Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 11, 2023, 01:56 AMAh I like that idea, kind of makes it its own challenge since the early game pokemon tend to have lower stats and, yeah less type diversity.
I've done a couple Nuzlockes in the past and honestly I've never lost one under the standard rules. The real challenge is when you start stacking more rules, like no items, level cap of the next gym leader's highest level, etc. Those can get absolutely brutal, haha.
The thing with normal types is that they are usually versatile with learning moves. So if I need a specific type for a gym I just TM it in. When I get to a fighting gym it is usually rough though. I tend to grind and over level fighting gyms so I stand a chance.
I recently bought an old Game Cube and I'm playing Animal crossing and Super Monkey Ball. I'm not all that much on playing console games, but I decided I hate using Wiimotes, so I wanted a regular controller for a change. Much better. I have been playing The Sims on computer since it first came out though. I've wasted a lot of my life on it.
Quote from: MonaSomona on Aug 29, 2023, 11:45 AMI recently bought an old Game Cube and I'm playing Animal crossing and Super Monkey Ball. I'm not all that much on playing console games, but I decided I hate using Wiimotes, so I wanted a regular controller for a change. Much better. I have been playing The Sims on computer since it first came out though. I've wasted a lot of my life on it.
Monkey Ball is awesome. Monkey Ball 2 is even better.
I haven't played either of those.
I'm playing a 2019 remake / reskin of A Bard's Tale, that old RPG from the 80s. It's grindy, repetitive, but also kinda fun.
I'm playing Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. I guess it's a sequel to the first game. Idk I didn't play the first one either. I'm enjoying this so far though.
Quote from: SGR on Aug 29, 2023, 05:15 PMMonkey Ball is awesome. Monkey Ball 2 is even better.
More Monkey.
More ball.
Quote from: MonaSomona on Aug 30, 2023, 12:43 PMMore Monkey.
More ball.
They recently released a sort of remake/remaster of the stages (and minigames) from the first two games in blisteringly beautiful high definition. I very much enjoyed it - and then remembered how friggin hard the games can get haha.
Stay away from Super Monkey Ball Adventure though - even as a kid, I was glad that I only rented it.
Quote from: SGR on Aug 30, 2023, 02:23 PMThey recently released a sort of remake/remaster of the stages (and minigames) from the first two games in blisteringly beautiful high definition. I very much enjoyed it - and then remembered how friggin hard the games can get haha.
Stay away from Super Monkey Ball Adventure though - even as a kid, I was glad that I only rented it.
I bought Monkey Ball Step'n Roll (I think it's called) for the Wii. You use the balance board from Wii Fit and you are the monkey, but man... it was terrible. I couldn't get my center of balance set right and I had to lean too far forward for any of it to be fun or comfortable.
The concept was great, the execution not so much.
Quote from: MonaSomona on Aug 30, 2023, 02:31 PMI bought Monkey Ball Step'n Roll (I think it's called) for the Wii. You use the balance board from Wii Fit and you are the monkey, but man... it was terrible. I couldn't get my center of balance set right and I had to lean too far forward for any of it to be fun or comfortable.
The concept was great, the execution not so much.
I vaguely remember that game - never played it. But I did play Banana Blitz, where you'd have to control it through the Wii remote's motion controls - and even that was excruciatingly frustrating, much less trying to control it with the friggin Wii Fit balanace board.
Monkeys, balls and bananas. These games are probably great, but my god do they sound thematically boring.
Where are the extraplanar Lovecraft monsters?
Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 31, 2023, 11:48 AMMonkeys, balls and bananas. These games are probably great, but my god do they sound thematically boring.
Where are the extraplanar Lovecraft monsters?
I don't know how keyed into modern gaming you are, but believe me, there's beauty in simplicity these days where half the games feel compelled to adopt an open world format, with repetitive tasks, practically endless dialogue and cutscenes, and endless MacGuffins you need to collect. I just want gameplay. As an adult, my attention span isn't what it used to be for games when I was a kid, so I basically never pick up JRPGs any more. Something like Monkey Ball, which is purely a test of your reflexes, timing, and mastery of the controls is refreshing - with a premise so simple that anyone could understand and pick up and play - you're a monkey in a ball, get the monkey to the goal without falling. Sometimes though, it becomes a lot harder than it sounds.
If you want Lovecraftian monsters, Bloodborne might be up your alley.
I probably complete one, two or three AAA games a year, so Elden Ring was something I did this year. I might play the remake of Dead Space too and possibly Jedi Survivor. Most likely, if I get them, it'll be after I pick those up during a Christmas sale. I'm patient, very selective and a little frugal 😄
My favorite games are typically smaller indie titles of which there's a fair bunch of on my gamepass subscription. I still haven't finished loop Hero, but maybe I will soon.
Still playing Tears of the Kingdom, I already beat it but there's still SO MUCH left to do, exploring the depths, caves, wells, searching for hidden shrines and treasure, I gotta have all those armor sets and there's still plenty to find.
I've also been playing a lot of retro games on my Twitch stream, especially NES games which I play every Wednesday and it's been a lot of fun even though I'm terrible at NES games, like, all of them. Punch Out!! is one I keep revisiting, it's so fun and every time I revisit it I get a little better at it, will I ever beat it? Maybe. Tune into my stream to find out. ;) (https://www.twitch.tv/drrobuttnik)
Quote from: Queen Boo on Sep 03, 2023, 10:26 AMStill playing Tears of the Kingdom, I already beat it but there's still SO MUCH left to do, exploring the depths, caves, wells, searching for hidden shrines and treasure, I gotta have all those armor sets and there's still plenty to find.
I've also been playing a lot of retro games on my Twitch stream, especially NES games which I play every Wednesday and it's been a lot of fun even though I'm terrible at NES games, like, all of them. Punch Out!! is one I keep revisiting, it's so fun and every time I revisit it I get a little better at it, will I ever beat it? Maybe. Tune into my stream to find out. ;) (https://www.twitch.tv/drrobuttnik)
You ever played the sequel, Super Punch Out on the SNES? I grew up with the game, probably started playing it age 4 or 5. I didn't end up actually finishing the damn thing until I was in high school. Great game though!
Quote from: SGR on Sep 05, 2023, 04:17 PMYou ever played the sequel, Super Punch Out on the SNES? I grew up with the game, probably started playing it age 4 or 5. I didn't end up actually finishing the damn thing until I was in high school. Great game though!
I played Super Punch Out way more than the NES original. Even though I played both.
Same thing goes for Zelda. I hated the two Zelda games on NES but on SNES, I played A Link to the Past over and over again.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Sep 05, 2023, 07:49 PMI played Super Punch Out way more than the NES original. Even though I played both.
Same thing goes for Zelda. I hated the two Zelda games on NES but on SNES, I played A Link to the Past over and over again.
Yes, I've not finished either of the first two Zelda games for the NES.. But A Link to the Past, I finished over and over again. It's my favorite SNES game of all time ❤️
Quote from: Guybrush on Sep 05, 2023, 09:01 PMYes, I've not finished either of the first two Zelda games for the NES.. But A Link to the Past, I finished over and over again. It's my favorite SNES game of all time ❤️
Those first two Zelda games on NES are madness. I might look to see if anyone has gameplay on Youtube of the ending. I have never gotten far in either of those games.
Hot take but Breath of the Wild is massively overrated and represents more things I don't want in a Zelda game than things that I do. Part of my disdain for open world games is well represented by BotW. Nothing against those that do enjoy it though, more power to ya
I've started playing Starfield and it's fun enough that I'm starting to get hooked.
It's an RPG by Bethesda that feels like a mixture of various things. It's a bit of Fallout, a bit of Skyrim and a bit of No Man's Sky all put together.
The things that are a bit like No Man's Sky is the various planets, systems and exploring them. No Man's Sky does this way better. If that's why you wanna play Starfield, just play NMS instead. It's got more to do in terms of exploration and the worlds in NMS seem more vibrant and alive too. NMS also has seamless gameplay from flying around in space to flying down to the surface of planets to docking on space stations or huge ships, etc. Starfield doesn't - which feels like a step back - instead replacing these transitions with loading screens. On the other hand, getting around in Starfield is very quick due to its emphasis on fast travel. However, you do lose some of that sense that this is a seamless world as it's clearly not. The illusion is further shattered by weird things like how zones are connected. Like someplace seems far away if you travel by A, but very close to if you travel by B. How can a zone be both close to and far away? Sloppy.
BUT raiding abandoned industrial facilities on far-off worlds and killing all the space pirates that hang out there is fun. There's a lot of stuff to loot, as is usual in these Bethesda games. It's got some of those familiar gameplay tropes that many of us have become fond of over the years.
It's far from the classic that Skyrim was and not quite as engaging as Fallout 3 or 4, but I'm still having fun.
Quote from: SGR on Sep 05, 2023, 04:17 PMYou ever played the sequel, Super Punch Out on the SNES? I grew up with the game, probably started playing it age 4 or 5. I didn't end up actually finishing the damn thing until I was in high school. Great game though!
I played this on my Twitch stream last night, it's a lot of fun.
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1924162881
Ive been playing Rainbow Islands a bit recently having discovered the retrogames.cc site. Also getting back into chess.
I'm in the middle of four games.
Spiderman 2
Pokemon Violet
God of War Ragnorak
Jedi Survivor
I'm on chapter 7 of the Dead Space remake and having a blast 🙂
I'm also not done with Starfield, but honestly got a little bored with it.
The last few days, I've been playing Minecraft more with my daughter which, honestly, is still a lot of fun. I've been playing it on and off since one of the early versions when they'd just gotten multiplayer and it was a buggy mess. It's been a little while now, though, so there's quite a bit of new things to do.
I've also been playing a bit of Rider's Republic. I loved the SSX games, especially the third, and of course also the early Tony Hawks and the Skate series. I saw Rider's Republic had gotten a skate add-on, so that game pretty much scratches all those itches now. Only sad thing is it didn't take me long to play through the skate career.
I also bought the BMX addon, but it seems way less fun than skating. I just started that, though, so maybe it'll improve.
Quote from: DJChameleon on Nov 25, 2023, 11:50 AMI'm in the middle of four games.
Spiderman 2
Pokemon Violet
God of War Ragnorak
Jedi Survivor
Lemme know your thoughts when you have enough time with them!
@Key I forget, are you a Sonic fan?
Recently, I downloaded Sonic Adventure 2 on PS3, since I've been craving it lately (I grew up with it on Gamecube) - and I'm finally commiting to get every emblem/A-rank in the game. So far so good - but it's going to get more difficult (I'm starting with the easier stages lol).
Quote from: SGR on Jan 03, 2024, 03:08 AM@Key I forget, are you a Sonic fan?
No, this is a Sonic fan.
https://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/sonic-52-inch-ceiling-fan?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cse-nc&utm_campaign=gdf&partner=bing&CATARGETID=120035490000057372&CADEVICE=c&msclkid=17f54c7e214c122ca9f329e8f10799ca
Quote from: SGR on Jan 03, 2024, 03:08 AM@Key I forget, are you a Sonic fan?
Recently, I downloaded Sonic Adventure 2 on PS3, since I've been craving it lately (I grew up with it on Gamecube) - and I'm finally commiting to get every emblem/A-rank in the game. So far so good - but it's going to get more difficult (I'm starting with the easier stages lol).
Oh man, I attempted that back in the day. Even when my gaming skills were less dulled it was beyond my ability. Those secret costumes were so cool, they knew how to make a tantalizing reward.
Quote from: SGR on Jan 03, 2024, 03:08 AM@Key I forget, are you a Sonic fan?
Recently, I downloaded Sonic Adventure 2 on PS3, since I've been craving it lately (I grew up with it on Gamecube) - and I'm finally commiting to get every emblem/A-rank in the game. So far so good - but it's going to get more difficult (I'm starting with the easier stages lol).
I bought that new Sonic game but only played a few stages. I love that they made it four person co-op.
What I'm playing right now is "The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy". And The Last of Us.