|
Post by Ex on Dec 9, 2019 12:06:10 GMT -5
Chainsaw BilqisThe art in Scarlet Grace - Ambitions is above average. I'll be picking up the PC version for now, PS4 maybe later. I'm glad that SQEX is still producing this legacy series.
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Dec 15, 2019 22:17:01 GMT -5
Finally grabbed the Halo Master Chief Collection on Steam that released a week or two ago. For a mere $40, this nets you:
Halo: Reach Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Halo 2: Anniversary (originally Xbox One exclusive, I'm pretty sure this one is more of a full blown remake than a remaster?)
Halo 3 Halo 3: ODST
Halo 4
Multiplayer: Each game released into The Master Chief Collection brings its own multiplayer maps, modes and game types. When finished, the collection will have the most diverse and expansive Halo multiplayer experience to date, with more than 120 multiplayer maps.
That's a bit insane and a justified price for me to double dip on this collection in one sweep. So far only Reach has launched and I'm not sure what the release schedule is going to be, but hopefully not too far apart with the others. I haven't tried out multiplayer yet but I'll dip into that a bit when I wrap up the campaign, which holds up really well. I was super rusty but by the end of the first level, popping off headshots on Jackels and Grunts everywhere hehe. I'll be solo'ing everything on Heroic. I beat a few of the campaigns solo on Legendary back in the day. The control scheme is pretty crazy and dated in ways for sure, but you get used to it. There's a few bells and whistles with the PC release, bumped up graphics, framerate, better draw distance, etc. I would have rather played the series in release date order again but oh well. Chronologically, Reach is first and has one of the best depictions of the Covenant. The Elites were super threatening and awesome in this one. Bungie really went out on a bang here.
In a few weeks, in 2020... I can talk about Halo Reach in the retro forum. There were strange emotions when I realized this. To me, Halo Reach still feels like both the later but newer Halo game I still liked a lot. But it's freaking 10 years old now. I guess it really was an entire generation ago, when Bungie were all Halo and not Destiny... I guess since I skipped the Xbox One this gen and don't use my 360 much, time feels a little different for how I view the Halo series. I think of high school a lot for sure, while Reach was years after I graduated yet the old gang were still gaming online together a lot for it. That might be why Reach feels like an anomaly of sorts in my mind. This probably makes no sense, but maybe other people have very specific things that feel a bit weird when you realize they're a decade old.
The Xbox was the first system I bought with my own saved up cash, solely for Halo. I'd like to care about Halo again, but the 343 games ain't it chief. I'll always have fond memories of the classics though.
I have now quickly revived from the gaming rut I was in for a week or so.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 17, 2019 13:18:42 GMT -5
Well I don't know what to play next. Trying to decide if I want to jump back into New Vegas and finish it up (still feel burnt out on it though). Or pick back up my play of Valkyria Chronicles 3 (fun stuff, but not fresh). Or maybe even finish my go of Final Fantasy X (ergh). Honestly right now, I've been having a hankering to finally play Rogue Galaxy. I bought that game back in 2007, and it's been sitting on my PS2 shelf ever since. 13 years of just sitting there feeling abandoned and unwanted. Doesn't look too long to finish, between 30-60 hours depending on what all one does.
I think I might just pop it in the ol' PS2 tonight.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Dec 17, 2019 16:57:50 GMT -5
If you're experiencing burnout, maybe you should play Burnout. I prefer the third game, myself. I know the feeling, though. Especially for longer games like that, you're just ready for them to finish up. I still don't know how folks that play Destiny 2 and similar games manage to log thousands of hours without going stark raving mad. Rogue Galaxy is cool. I will advise that there's a lot of optional stuff you can technically dive into, but if you get tired of it, you should be able to make a push for the end. Sometimes I forget about it amongst all the other PS2 RPGs, but it's definitely one of the better ones on the system.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 18, 2019 2:14:43 GMT -5
Rogue Galaxy is cool. Sometimes I forget about it amongst all the other PS2 RPGs Yes for as high profile as it was, I certainly don't see it mentioned often - well at all really - on retro gaming forums. Seems completely forgotten about. I wonder if that's because it's a sci-fi JRPG, or if there's something bad about it. In my experience most people do not seem to gravitate to sci-fi JRPGs very much though.
Well I'll mention I put an hour into Rogue Galaxy tonight. I liked what I played of it so far. Though with a game as long as this one, that first hour is hardly indicative of an informed opinion. I'll continue playing it, but since Rogue Galaxy is very much retro-gaming, I'll discuss it on the other side of the board from here on out.
|
|
|
Post by Chainsaw Bilqis on Dec 18, 2019 4:05:11 GMT -5
I have been trying to play more games on PC. I ended up purchasing quite a few on Gog and Steam over the past few months.
Tonight I have started Elminage Gothic. I know it is actually a PSP, 3DS game but this is the only way to play it in English as far as I know. Next time I will pick an actual PC original game haha.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 18, 2019 9:00:35 GMT -5
Tonight I have started Elminage Gothic. A very admirable choice. For the Gothic version, I believe you are correct. Though Elminage Original is available in English for PSP. It received a physical release in Europe: It is on PSN for PSP/Vita in the USA: store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2035-NPUH10128_00-0000111122223339Really cool series though, I'd be interested in your thoughts as you make your way through. Between this and the Unlimited Saga stuff, you seem to gravitate towards more hardcore material. You may very well be a prime candidate for the King's Field series.
|
|
|
Post by Chainsaw Bilqis on Dec 19, 2019 14:23:58 GMT -5
I think I am nearing the end of Koudelka (I just need to play it more often) and I will try King's Field next for my retro title (I want to do one retro and one modern game at a time). But I am not confident in my real time reaction abilities. Turn based stuff I have plenty of time to prepare and think. I have a feeling a lot of my characters are going to die of old age in Gothic already haha, but I think I have the patience for this.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Dec 19, 2019 14:52:28 GMT -5
King's Field has very slow combat, so I don't think it's going to be a problem for you. I'd consider starting with Ancient City, personally, but I know Ex will vouch for all of 'em.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 19, 2019 20:07:43 GMT -5
I am not confident in my real time reaction abilities.
That's okay, these KF games aren't like FromSoftware's Souls series. You don't need killer reflexes and unwavering concentration to handle King's Field battles.
As Sarge said, despite using real-time action, King's Field plays slowly. You move slowly, the enemies move slowly, the game world moves slowly as you explore. I'm of the mind this was all intentional, and not due to hardware limitations either. I think it was done that way to provide the player the best of both worlds with RPG combat. See, because the movement speed is slow, you have time to tactically react (like combo spell and melee attacks) and aim easily enough. And yet the speed is fast enough that you still have to mechanically engage to dodge attacks, thus keeping the player's reflexes tuned in. For me it's a perfect balance between cerebral and reactive combat. I maintain that King's Field: The Ancient City (KF4) is the best entry for newcomers. But starting with the earlier entries like KF1 or KF2, that's gonna be a rough ride in comparison. However, after you play through KF4, and learn to love the game's base design, it's a lot easier to go back to KF1-3. You won't mind their primitive graphics so much then, because the core KF gameplay you fell in love with in KF4, is still alive and well in those earlier entries. The Shadow Tower games on PS1 and PS2 are best saved for last though. They are super great as well, but are clearly meant for diehard KF fans ready for the next evolution.
|
|