Playing Witcher 3 (I KNOW RIGHT?), does anybody like Ambient Occlusion? That stupid black shadow halo on everything looks awful. How is it an acceptable effect? I know it's supposed to create a more realistic lighting effect on things, but that vignetting black halo is super off-putting.
GasBandit
Staff member
I hate ambient occlusion, and bloom, and depth of field. BLECK to all of them.
I enjoyed bloom when it was used in subtle ways, but once XBox dropped and could do it, it was in everything. I remember playing Jade Empire for the first time and actually having to squint in some areas because it was so over-bloomed.
Started Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin today. There are some ... interesting choices for how things work. Like the pulley switches, or gates and doors closing again after you leave and return to an area. O game, you and I are going to take some getting used to.
The scenery is beautiful. While I have more complaints in mind, I can't tell how many stem from the game itself versus how much I'm used to Bloodborne right now, because I'm very much acclimated to Bloodborne. For a while, I forgot I could use a shield, so that's taken some getting used to. The aggression of Bloodborne will not work in this game as your attacks don't chain together the same way. It's been a lot of re-learning.
At the same time, having played From Software games a bit already, I was doing well against some large enemies and it took me until the boss of that area to realize I was in the wrong place. I imagine I would've realized it sooner if I'd been getting trounced immediately, but the experience from the other games has paid off, so I was able to get a few levels off later enemies before I corrected course and went to the Forest of Fallen Giants.
The scenery is beautiful. While I have more complaints in mind, I can't tell how many stem from the game itself versus how much I'm used to Bloodborne right now, because I'm very much acclimated to Bloodborne. For a while, I forgot I could use a shield, so that's taken some getting used to. The aggression of Bloodborne will not work in this game as your attacks don't chain together the same way. It's been a lot of re-learning.
At the same time, having played From Software games a bit already, I was doing well against some large enemies and it took me until the boss of that area to realize I was in the wrong place. I imagine I would've realized it sooner if I'd been getting trounced immediately, but the experience from the other games has paid off, so I was able to get a few levels off later enemies before I corrected course and went to the Forest of Fallen Giants.
Jane's Advanced Strike Fighter for PS3.
I moved the PS3 to the basement, where we have the huge new TV, and realized I had almost no games on it. Bought the flight combat sim for $5.00 at gamestop to give it a whirl.
I moved the PS3 to the basement, where we have the huge new TV, and realized I had almost no games on it. Bought the flight combat sim for $5.00 at gamestop to give it a whirl.
Final Fantasy IV (Remastered PSP edition)
You guys remember how pissed I was that the only version of this game on Steam is the polygonal version from the DS (or one of the Nintendo portables)? Welp, got me an emulator to play the version I wanted all along.
And it's great. The sprite textures and animation has been given a boost and I think the soundtrack was redone, as well. I'm only early into it, but I'm really digging it so far.
You guys remember how pissed I was that the only version of this game on Steam is the polygonal version from the DS (or one of the Nintendo portables)? Welp, got me an emulator to play the version I wanted all along.
And it's great. The sprite textures and animation has been given a boost and I think the soundtrack was redone, as well. I'm only early into it, but I'm really digging it so far.
The PSP version is gorgeous, and I think ends up allowing party-swapping at endgame, unlike other versions.
e: Which, if it does, get rid of Kain asap. He sucks balls.
Dark Souls 2 is starting to flow a bit more. Got the blacksmith running, bought some higher end items, took down a couple bosses. It still feels a little off compared to its predecessor, but I'll manage. It's not a bad game, just different.
Pft... shields. Who needs shields?
My character is an almost purely Dexterity build and I'm not having any issues dodging.
I'm just past the Demon of Song, but stuck in the area with the bells that aggro every goddamn thing in the area.
The most offputting thing for me going from BB back to DS was that the buttons for using items are different. WHY must you keep changing your button layout in between games, From Software?
Certain stats affect movement speed in Dark Souls, along with equipment, so I have no idea. I've been playing Bloodborne nearly every day for two months, so coming into a game where you have to stop to heal, can't side-hop for dodging, all in all a slower form of combat, is a bit jarring and has taken me some re-learning the things I used to know and do well with in Dark Souls, along with some new shit.
Oddly, the button thing should have fucked me up, but my brain ticked the healing over to square from the beginning.
I just started playing Everquest on the Ragefire server (Timelocked progression)
GasBandit
Staff member
Time to die, A_CrimsonSoul00!
I just got flashbacks.
Wife insisted on pre-ordering Splatoon, so that's that. She almost never asks for a game; I usually just buy her them and see what sticks. So, we'll see. I have a feeling there won't be a lot going on release day since Nintendo is planning numerous free updates for the first couple months. For once, I hope all the content is on-disc. My Wii U's harddrive is packed too tight as it is.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is easier than Returns, but still a pain in the ass.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is easier than Returns, but still a pain in the ass.
Snake kicks YOU for 10 damage!
Just call me Poestradamus.
GasBandit
Staff member
/shout TRAIN TO ZONE
Kinda one of the main reasons I played a necromancer.
So Evolve updated with a new arena mode. Permanent dome, 3 rounds, monster starts at level 2 and half armor. Love it. Can jump in and have a few good fights--just what I'm looking for, and then head off for more Witcher 3. Also, I'm 100% with @Frank--Witcher 3 is the best damn game I've played in a long time. I just don't get bored playing it.
Also,
Also,
Those fucking crones in that bog will give me nightmares
That whole quest chain is misery.
I'm just hoping the offline 1v1 is more fun than it sounds, because as it stands, that's the only way we're both playing at the same time.
That sounds insanely frustrating. Yeah, people can complain about extensive tutorials - and sometimes those are annoying - but then you miss out on basically vital information like that...
Now I'm remembering Strider on the NES where they don't tell you that you have to triangle-jump to get up a certain shaft in one of the levels, so you can spend all your tech points trying to Boost Jump (which actually was never needed in the game, IIRC) to no effect.
I finished all of Super Metroid without ever getting the springball, without ever even knowing I could've gotten it because of crap like this.
--Patrick
I thought the game specifically comes with a popup saying your mobility is reduced underwater, so use a crossbow--at least, I remember the game telling me that anyhow.
True, but you didn't need the springball. It's just there to make thing easier once you've proven you can bomb jump. It's like the charge, plasma, and spazer beams: a nice upgrade but not one you NEED to finish the game... I don't even think you need the Wave Beam. I don't think you need the X-Ray scope ether.
Really, you don't need half the items in Super Metroid.
Underwater combat is hard to get right. Guild Wars 2 was close, but some classes just suck butt underwater compared to others and it kind of ruins the whole deal.
See, my bad about that then, I thought it was just a how to swim popup and dismissed it.
It's awesome. I haven't played much online, though.