I started and blew through Far Cry 3. Holy hell what a fun game. A slightly more linear Skyrim with guns but not quite Fallout. I finally understand that tagline.
So of course, I'm now playing through Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon and it's even better. It's pure 80s Action-SciFi homage is just perfection.
So of course, I'm now playing through Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon and it's even better. It's pure 80s Action-SciFi homage is just perfection.
Finally getting around to Arkham City and I'm loving it! I drive my husband nuts though because I get lost easily, so with the bigger location I'm all over the map. I am having a grand time though.
And I started Tomb Raider, which is..much more brutal than I thought. I'm not very far into the game yet (maybe 20 minutes), but the stuff that Lara has already gone through, like geez Crystal Dynamics, you really wanted her to suffer. I'm excited to continue it though and weirdly, what I am most interested in seeing is scenery change. Right now the game is really darkly colored, so I'm curious to see if it's that way throughout the whole game.
And I started Tomb Raider, which is..much more brutal than I thought. I'm not very far into the game yet (maybe 20 minutes), but the stuff that Lara has already gone through, like geez Crystal Dynamics, you really wanted her to suffer. I'm excited to continue it though and weirdly, what I am most interested in seeing is scenery change. Right now the game is really darkly colored, so I'm curious to see if it's that way throughout the whole game.
figmentPez
Staff member
I've been replaying Batman: Arkham Asylum, this time on hard difficulty. I got a lot better since I struggled to get through normal. I made it all the way to the Titan fight at the bottom of the elevators near the pump rooms before I had to purchase my first armor upgrade. I've still only purchased 2 of 4 and I'm up to the final series of fights with Joker.
It's kind of amazing me just how much refinement I'm missing from B:AC. I knew the obvious differences, like more quick-fire gadgets, dive-bombing when gliding, etc, but there are smaller things I didn't realize until I went back.
Spoilered for length:
I could probably go on. There's not much I felt wasn't improved in B:AC. The one thing I don't like is the knife-dodging mechanic. I never could get the handle on that, and I always struggled to figure out which direction "away" was when trying to figure out where to push the control stick.
Here's what I did:
It's kind of amazing me just how much refinement I'm missing from B:AC. I knew the obvious differences, like more quick-fire gadgets, dive-bombing when gliding, etc, but there are smaller things I didn't realize until I went back.
Spoilered for length:
- First, oh my goodness the hanging from gargoyles buttons make no damn sense in B:AA now! If you're hanging from a ledge and want to drop, you press B. If you're hanging from a gargoyle and want to drop you press A, pressing B causes you to climb back up. Using the right trigger to descend and climb in B:AC is a big improvement.
- Second, the grapnel mechanics are much improved. You can't fire your grapnel while gliding in B:AA. You also can't cancel (at least not reliably), so once you've started your ascent you're going all the way up.
- Opening grates and other button mashing events seem much less taxing. Thank god, I was really getting sick of using the Ultra-batclaw to break open weak
walls near the end.
- The flow of combat is improved. The first game actually feels out of step now. Mostly it's easier, but there are also points where it just doesn't have the same flow, or stylish flair that the sequel has.
- I don't think you can perch on railings in B:AA like you can in B:AC
- Lots of greater utility for gadgets: Line launcher can relaunch mid-air. Grapnel can now pick up riddler trophies. Cryptographic analyzer gets a nice coat of paint on the interface. Quick-fire batarang is faster.
- Lighting and color is much improved. I'd forgotten how monochrome some areas of B:AA could get. I hated that at the time, but kind of glossed over it in my memory. B:AC is better about not having areas completely wash into a single color.
- Controls for the remote-controlled batarang are vastly improved. No wonder I didn't notice this, there's never a reason to use the darn thing in B:AA.
- Second, the grapnel mechanics are much improved. You can't fire your grapnel while gliding in B:AA. You also can't cancel (at least not reliably), so once you've started your ascent you're going all the way up.
- Opening grates and other button mashing events seem much less taxing. Thank god, I was really getting sick of using the Ultra-batclaw to break open weak
walls near the end.
- The flow of combat is improved. The first game actually feels out of step now. Mostly it's easier, but there are also points where it just doesn't have the same flow, or stylish flair that the sequel has.
- I don't think you can perch on railings in B:AA like you can in B:AC
- Lots of greater utility for gadgets: Line launcher can relaunch mid-air. Grapnel can now pick up riddler trophies. Cryptographic analyzer gets a nice coat of paint on the interface. Quick-fire batarang is faster.
- Lighting and color is much improved. I'd forgotten how monochrome some areas of B:AA could get. I hated that at the time, but kind of glossed over it in my memory. B:AC is better about not having areas completely wash into a single color.
- Controls for the remote-controlled batarang are vastly improved. No wonder I didn't notice this, there's never a reason to use the darn thing in B:AA.
Speaking of this. Yeah, that's a rough fight. In my first run-through on Normal it took me a dozen tries or more. I'm honestly surprised I eventually made it through on NG+ difficulty. I think that's because combat benefits from strategy in the Arkham games. Hand eye coordination is certainly required, but having a plan can certainly make things easier.
Here's what I did:
1. Disarm / Disable is your best friend in this fight. In a lot of the other large fights I prefer multi-ground takedown, because it can weed out enemies pretty quick, but there are so many weapons and shields floating around in this fight (at least on NG+) that it really helps to get those out of the way fast. My opening move was to batarang Joker (because hitting him doesn't help build combos reliably), and then cape-stunning the first enemy to drop in to start a beatdown combo with him, then disarming one of the knife goons as soon as I could.
2. Focus on the Hammer and take him out of the fight before the Titan goon arrives. At first I was trying to clear out the little guys, but facing the Hammer and the Titan goon at once is really tough, they've both got attacks that can come in from a long distance and can't be countered, only dodged. Taking out Hammer first actually helps with objective 1, because you can build combos really quick pummeling him. Dance around a lot with A+A dodges, and once you've flipped over Hammer as he's trying to attack, then start punching. Most of the time enemies will stand back long enough for you to build up your combo, and then you can perform a disarm takedown move to get out of Hammer's range.
On NG+ there are two knives, two car doors and a stun-baton in the fight. In addition to a few boxes and other thrown objects. It shouldn't take too long to disable all these weapons so that you're not facing armed goons anymore. Once they're gone, switch over to doing multi-ground takedowns (but make sure to knock a few goons to the ground before using)
By the time the Titan shows up, hopefully you'll be down to only a couple goons left, so you can mostly focus on the big brute.
2. Focus on the Hammer and take him out of the fight before the Titan goon arrives. At first I was trying to clear out the little guys, but facing the Hammer and the Titan goon at once is really tough, they've both got attacks that can come in from a long distance and can't be countered, only dodged. Taking out Hammer first actually helps with objective 1, because you can build combos really quick pummeling him. Dance around a lot with A+A dodges, and once you've flipped over Hammer as he's trying to attack, then start punching. Most of the time enemies will stand back long enough for you to build up your combo, and then you can perform a disarm takedown move to get out of Hammer's range.
On NG+ there are two knives, two car doors and a stun-baton in the fight. In addition to a few boxes and other thrown objects. It shouldn't take too long to disable all these weapons so that you're not facing armed goons anymore. Once they're gone, switch over to doing multi-ground takedowns (but make sure to knock a few goons to the ground before using)
By the time the Titan shows up, hopefully you'll be down to only a couple goons left, so you can mostly focus on the big brute.
She's still a fundamentally better (perhaps broken) version of the Commando. Deathtrap follows you around, has various forms of attack, and can outright destroy most any challenge on it's own. Gaige herself can be stated to do huge spike damage with her opening shot (which can SLAG), make her elemental damage more impressive, make her shock damage start fires, and other great stuff.
About the only thing Axton can do better is carry more grenades and be tougher.
GasBandit
Staff member
Yeah, I've noticed that. The little woman and I are playing as Gaige and Axton respectively, and even though we're only level 8 or so (just started last night), I can already tell we're just Deathtrap's semi-useful entourage. Given her playstyle, though, I think she'll probably end up spending every last point in the BFF tree.
I just wish the character looked like the promo material, instead of the brown, drab ragamuffin she is.
Compare: promo material
With in-game
Finished Metro: Last Light. Got the bad ending.I dont care,for it was awesome.
Looks exactly like I expected.
I'm still going to get it, but I'm probably going to wait until it's $5 on Steam. That seems like a fair price.
Finally managed to get into my GFWL account, so I could get Bioshock 2 to work. Awesome game. Also, since I'm pretty much done playing MMO's, got rid of the n52 gamepad that was registering as an xbox controller when I tried to play Darksiders and played some of that last night. So far, I really like Bioshock 2, and Darksiders is just kinda... there. It's not bad, it's not mind-blowingly awesome, it's just... a game.
Have mostly been playing Gears of War 3 in Horde mode with the fiancé. She's gotten really good at aiming and has recently discovered the joy that comes from shotgunning Locust at close range, while I've realized the Boltok pistol makes me feel like a gunslinger.
We've also played some LittleBigPlanet 2 recently, but we've both been in a "chainsaws and bullets" kind of mood.
We've also played some LittleBigPlanet 2 recently, but we've both been in a "chainsaws and bullets" kind of mood.
Ugh, at the fucking protecting people parts. Forces you to go upstairs and shoot down at enemies that are rushing your useless partner in the chapel. These fucking guidos are bullet sponges. One took 4 blasts to the back, one of them I know is to the back of his head, and then I focus on another one, only to find that the first guy has gotten up and is continuing to rush and then I arbitrarily lose because I took too long or something? I can't fucking tell half of the time. I can't tell if the enemies are dead half of the time either. They flop like dead fish after taking 3 chest shots and then suddenly get back up like they're fucking terminators.
Wow, I just lost again at this part. This time the last guy was facing me, shooting at me, then it cuts to the cutscene where my fucking shitty useless partner suddenly gets shot in the face.
THIS IS FUCKING NONSENSICAL SHIT.
And this time he died despite NO ONE BEING IN VIEW OF ME.
Welcome to Max Payne being "updated" to being a modern shooter.
figmentPez
Staff member
Something just reminded me of my biggest nit-pick about the Catwoman sections of Batman: Arkham City. When she's traversing the city a little rythym bit happens as she leaps up the side of the building. When you hit the button you get graded on your timing with "too late, "too early", "good" and "perfect". But it's Catwoman, so it really should have been Purrfect.
Did anyone else feel like most of the Catwoman bits were pointless?
Anyone playing Reus?
figmentPez
Staff member
While they did feel tacked-on to me, I don't think they felt entirely pointless. If anything I think they would have fit in better with a more linear game, like Arkham Asylum. Punning aside, I didn't feel like Catwoman could move about the large city well enough, and that was her biggest drawback. When she's actually being used to ceiling-crawl and fight, she's an interesting change of pace.
I didn't see my favorite moment of Catwoman gameplay until my New Game + replay; when I made the choice to get the "bad ending" to the game.
When Catwoman has her loot from the vault, and you have to choose to stay in Arkham City to help Batman, or to leave; if you leave and completely walk out the door, you the credits start to roll and a voiceover from Oracle talks frantically about how Batman's dead, her father is dead, everyone's dead, and no one could stop Joker. Then the whole thing rewinds, and you're once again Catwoman making the option to stay or leave.
Currently: Theme Hospital and Solar 2.
Yeah, I know, I don't know *why* I'm playing either of these, either. One's a bit of a trip down memory lane, but I remember why I never finished it to begin with; the other's an exercise in pointless frustration, but with lots of little neat bits.
Yeah, I know, I don't know *why* I'm playing either of these, either. One's a bit of a trip down memory lane, but I remember why I never finished it to begin with; the other's an exercise in pointless frustration, but with lots of little neat bits.
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: I'm enjoying this a lot. Each stage has its own quirks and gimmicks, it's challenging, the bosses are a blast. It's fun in a bad way almost, because I got it Friday and I've been shooting straight through it. But ...
A mine cart world. A mine cart WORLD, as in levels of mine carts, one after another. Are they fucking insane?!
A mine cart world. A mine cart WORLD, as in levels of mine carts, one after another. Are they fucking insane?!
So, I'm playing Euro Truck Sim 2... heard from Reddit that it's addicting... didn't believe it. Downloaded and installed it. 3 hours later, I NEED TO GO TO BED. Holy shit, this is so fun.
Basically, you take on jobs to make money to buy your own truck. You drive in Europe, you try to drive very well. Driving rigs and parking them is hard.
But you get to listen to 100+ online radio stations that are live across the world... as you drive to destinations for 20+ minutes.
It's... fun.
Basically, you take on jobs to make money to buy your own truck. You drive in Europe, you try to drive very well. Driving rigs and parking them is hard.
But you get to listen to 100+ online radio stations that are live across the world... as you drive to destinations for 20+ minutes.
It's... fun.
Stayed up past midnight to beat Donkey Kong Country Returns and ate a well-earned banana.
I'm sure this will feel totally worth it when I get up for work in a few hours.
I'm sure this will feel totally worth it when I get up for work in a few hours.