What Video Games Are You Playing Right Now?

[Fred the Barber]

I picked up Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus yesterday evening. The gameplay is quite a bit different from the only other title I've played in the series, the earlier Senran Kagura Burst. I'm having some difficulty adjusting, especially around fussing with the camera and moving around to find enemies. One dimension is inverted vs. what my brain wants it to be on the camera motion, and I didn't notice a setting for that, though admittedly I didn't go hunting for it, so that isn't helping. In general, it's a bit difficult to know where all your opponents are since there's so much fast moving around the screen, so I spend a lot of time fussing with the camera trying to find them. Lastly, each girl plays pretty differently, so since I'm still in the early game, I'm forced to switch around a lot, and I haven't really gotten good with any of the characters, just getting competent with general skills.

That said, the game is a blast; the 3D-ification of it has done a lot to make the gameplay deeper and more interesting, and they've clearly invested in gameplay improvements in other areas as well, notably to CPU-controlled Senran AI. I felt that the previous game was generally a little too easy - it feels like, in this iteration, you genuinely have to get pretty good and think a little bit, once the difficulty starts to ramp up. I've been playing more of the character arcs than the real school story arc, and the difficulty ramps up pretty high by the end of that - the opponent Senran will really kick your ass, in about the last two levels of the character arc (and there are only like 5 levels for each character arc), if you don't at least get a little bit good.

I'm playing with the new school's characters first; they're distinct, funny, and cute, of course. Typical excellent par for the course work by this game. The overall plot looks kind of thin, also par for the course, but the story is mostly a vehicle for the characters and the beat-em-up gameplay, and it's good enough to manage that at least.

And, of course, there's the fanservice, which is even harder-hitting and bouncier than the last game. What can I say? I don't hate it.

On that note, since it's now something I notice whether I want to or not, I can't help mentioning the translation. It is phenomenal. They did a fantastic job of converting various distinct Japanese speech patterns into various distinct English speech patterns, all of which are natural. The narration isn't quite as good as the dialogue, but I only say that because the dialogue (whether voiced or unvoiced) just blows me away with nearly every line. Anybody with an open mind who thinks they prefer "literal" translations, I'd really encourage you to play this game and see if it doesn't change your mind.

[Jade]

Been playing Romance of The Three Kingdom these past few days.

I freaking hate coalition just so everybody know

[Rilarion]

Started playing Riders of Icarus 3 days ago. A great game. Still in open beta but great. Flying on a dragon and killing things is priceless. It's similar to pokemon in a way, you capture animals to use them. The only difference is you mainly ride them instead of telling them to beat each other to death. If anyone plays it at EU give me a PM

[Fred the Barber]

I started playing Pokemon Go this morning. I'm surprised I haven't seen any noise about it here, because it's pretty fun. It definitely makes it more entertaining to go grocery shopping and whatnot.

[kyrt]

I've been playing Overwatch and Tales of Zestiria. Both of which are time consuming games. 

[Darklord Rooke]

On 7/10/2016 at 8:43 PM, Jade said:

Been playing Romance of The Three Kingdom these past few days.

I freaking hate coalition just so everybody know

Is it worth getting? I'm undecided whether it's worth it (haven't played any ROTK games.)

[Jade]

2 hours ago, Rooke said:

Is it worth getting? I'm undecided whether it's worth it (haven't played any ROTK games.)

Eehhhh kinda hard to say really, if you like a strategy game then ROTK 13 is a nice pick. It does get repetitive once you finished it with once or twice but the different scenario does spice thing up a bit 

Prepare to lose a lot cause you don't know what the hell is going on though, there are tutorial but there are still some thing that isn't explained and you have to figure it out yourself.

Like for example, how the hell you make heir anyway? I still don't know

EDIT: Oh yeah, the Roleplay value ( aka Creating an Original Officer and playing as him/her to participate in 3 kingdom wars ) is pretty bad in this series. If you looking for those might wanna play ROTK 10 instead

 

[Darklord Rooke]

Thanks for the info :3 I guess I'll give it a pass. 

[Decay]

ROTK 10 is a pretty fascinating take on strategy. It's like a Japanese developed Crusader Kings set in China. If that sounds appealing to you, check it out some time. Too bad the PC version was never translated, but it emulates decently on PCSX2.

It's definitely a game that's kinda there more for the feel and experience than as an actual compelling strategy game. The battle system is an easily exploitable joke and the historical simulation breaks down pretty often. Apparently both of these things were resolved in the PC version. RIP us english speaking weirdos, I guess. Still, I played the hell out of that game. I found it oddly fun to raise my character through the ranks, fulfill the orders my liege gave me and eventually make enough of a name for myself to gain higher positions until I could make my own bid for power, it's that kind of game. Just expect a lot of tedium to go along with it.

[Arcadeotic]

Finished Playdead Entertaiment's Inside

It was quite a ride and basically Limbo 2.0 and the story is the 'interpret and theorize it yourself' kind of stories

The lighting is gorgeous, it has an unique artstyle and achieves what it aims to be, an obscure story and the second coming of Limbo

[Jade]

47 minutes ago, Decay said:

ROTK 10 is a pretty fascinating take on strategy. It's like a Japanese developed Crusader Kings set in China. If that sounds appealing to you, check it out some time. Too bad the PC version was never translated, but it emulates decently on PCSX2.

It's definitely a game that's kinda there more for the feel and experience than as an actual compelling strategy game. The battle system is an easily exploitable joke and the historical simulation breaks down pretty often. Apparently both of these things were resolved in the PC version. RIP us english speaking weirdos, I guess. Still, I played the hell out of that game. I found it oddly fun to raise my character through the ranks, fulfill the orders my liege gave me and eventually make enough of a name for myself to gain higher positions until I could make my own bid for power, it's that kind of game. Just expect a lot of tedium to go along with it.

PC version have an English patch. Though it only cover the interface and not the story/dialogue i think

[Darklord Rooke]

Thanks, Decay. Hmmm, I might have to hunt down ROTK X :3

[Nekolover]

I am playing now Disgaea 5. 

[Arcadeotic]

That aside, I'm playing Enter the Gungeon for a few weeks by now.

It has it all to be a twin-stick shooter roguelike with an emphasis in the action rather than to say, the RNG like in Binding of Isaac.

This game is literal crack; I can't stop playing it.

It has crisp controls, fluid animation, nice difficulty curve, and simple yet elaborate controls and mechanics.

As a roguelike-buff, I love it to bits. The variation of enemies and items/weapons to make each run interesting, but it not dependance on RNG makes it slightly repetitive, and as such decreases its replay-value.

It's still great, despite its downfalls.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Arcadeotic

[Nosebleed]

Merging these two threads.

[abrazilrep]

RE6, Minecraft, The Sims 4.

[TheFantasm]

Anyone pick up Monster Hunter Generations? And if so, how is it? Thinking about picking it up next week 

[Kairix360]

I am currently playing more Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise. I haven't played it in a long time, so going back to it has been nice. There are so many adorable piñata creatures! 

[Kurisu-Chan]

I just finished Wasteland 2...the ending wasn't amazing, it was a really good adventure. 

[Kenshin_sama]

Found a nice Undertale fan game. Red is such a qt!

http://taxiderby.tumblr.com/post/135354499621/undertale-red

There are spoilers in this, so I wouldn't advise playing it until you've completed the main game.

[Suzu Fanatic]

Playing Dangaronpa for the first time. Mostly like it.

(spoilers)

 

Really finding Makoto to be an idiot though, often I'm realizing things and solving the connections long before he does - It frustrates me and makes me wish I had more control over the game. A good example, is the gender surprise for that one character - I had deduced it from the evidence, yet the game forces Kyoko to reveal it, as if it was beyond comprehension~

If the character I controlled had a clean slate with no personalty/dialogue, I think there would be a lot less cognitive dissonance (though it would obviously take away from the overall story)

Also, I might just not be in the mood for VN-style mechanics, but I find the constant morning meetings etc annoying, getting in the way of me exploring and being in control. I realize it's what propels the story forward, but there's something stifling about the method of it all.

 

Great music though

[Eclipsed]

4 hours ago, Suzu Fanatic said:

Playing Dangaronpa for the first time. Mostly like it.

(spoilers)

  Hide contents

Really finding Makoto to be an idiot though, often I'm realizing things and solving the connections long before he does - It frustrates me and makes me wish I had more control over the game. A good example, is the gender surprise for that one character - I had deduced it from the evidence, yet the game forces Kyoko to reveal it, as if it was beyond comprehension~

If the character I controlled had a clean slate with no personalty/dialogue, I think there would be a lot less cognitive dissonance (though it would obviously take away from the overall story)

Also, I might just not be in the mood for VN-style mechanics, but I find the constant morning meetings etc annoying, getting in the way of me exploring and being in control. I realize it's what propels the story forward, but there's something stifling about the method of it all.

 

Great music though

Did you go into Danganronpa thinking it was more of a game than a VN? (Obviously, since you posted this in Gaming Talk ). I never found the "VN-style mechanics" to hinder my enjoyment, cuz I came into it thinking it was a VN 

Ye, the twist for the Second Trial was definitely obvious long before the actual reveal. RIP for the vic, tho ;-; it was a really, really stupid 'motive'

[Suzu Fanatic]

1 hour ago, Eclipsed said:

Did you go into Danganronpa thinking it was more of a game than a VN? (Obviously, since you posted this in Gaming Talk ). I never found the "VN-style mechanics" to hinder my enjoyment, cuz I came into it thinking it was a VN 

Ye, the twist for the Second Trial was definitely obvious long before the actual reveal. RIP for the vic, tho ;-; it was a really, really stupid 'motive'

Yeah, I haven't really been feeling up to a full-on VN - but I've gotten invested enough I'll stick with it.

Was a pretty bs motive, esp. when I think about the brave step forward the vic took~

 

3rd trial was laughably easy to figure out even while it was playing out - kinda disappointing, really. Still a interesting game, but hardly a headscratcher...

[Eclipsed]

18 minutes ago, Suzu Fanatic said:

Yeah, I haven't really been feeling up to a full-on VN - but I've gotten invested enough I'll stick with it.

3rd trial was laughably easy to figure out even while it was playing out - kinda disappointing, really. Still a interesting game, but hardly a headscratcher...

Since you're invested, you should also play Danganronpa 2 after you finish, then start watching the now-airing Danganronpa 3 anime with me  

[zWZcEbNq]

I've recently gotten into Warthunder, but more importantly than that, i'm finally getting Fallout 4!! but well, for now my days are filled with nothing but vn's (mostly at night or the afternoon) and then just the rest of the day is me playing Warthunder (as a pilot of course), oh, and i've also recently gotten back into skyrim modding (Well, Oblivion modding too, but i kind of broke the game... and the mod manager along with it).