What [not shmup] game are you playing now?

[No_not_like_Quake]

Been playing the original Shadow Tower. After getting over the initial hurdle of clunkiness, it becomes a really good dungeon crawl. Initially, I thought gear degradation would be a pain in the ass but managing your gear just becomes second nature after a while, and the game would be too easy without that aspect. Cool bleak atmosphere too. I've heard good things about the PS2 sequel.

[wgogh]

Been playing the original Shadow Tower. After getting over the initial hurdle of clunkiness, it becomes a really good dungeon crawl. Initially, I thought gear degradation would be a pain in the ass but managing your gear just becomes second nature after a while, and the game would be too easy without that aspect. Cool bleak atmosphere too. I've heard good things about the PS2 sequel.

I liked it pretty much. Dungeon crawlers with good atmosphere is all I need. Used to play that one and others on the King's Field series. Even got the Sword of Moonlight software for trying to make my own maps.

[gameoverDude]

Ninja Ryukenden (AC): Japanese version of Ninja Gaiden/Shadow Warriors, but without the cheap 1HKOs that can happen later in the USA version. Also, the 3rd stage BGM is longer and better.

Tank Force (AC): Very good sequel to Namco's NES game Battle City.

Ninja Gaiden (Megadrive, Japan): Loosely based on Ryukenden arcade, with different levels. Being a prototype, there are a couple stages you cannot clear without using the level skip. A bug was left in where Ryu will move down and right if you push the stick straight to the right, and the roll is a bit too easy to accidentally do. Unfortunately the useful swing kick from the arcade didn't make it in. Could have been half decent if it went gold with the bug removed and some tweaking done.

[Mischief Maker]

Been loving Ys: Oath, so I picked up the whole collection on sale from GOG.

Ys 1... eh... gotta be honest I'm not feeling this whole bump combat thing.

[iconoclast]

Ys I is a bad game. Don't let it turn you away from playing Ys II. It looks the same, but everything about it is like 5x better.

I don't mind the concept of the bump combat system though. Just keep in mind that Ys II's enemy design makes better use of it.

[wgogh]

Ys I is a bad game.

Too short, maybe. But bad!? Well, I guess we can say its just different tastes and so

[Sumez]

Objectively I can see there's a lot of stuff "wrong" with Ys 1. But it's one of those games that are impossible not to love.

Also, just about every release of the game since the 1989 has been "bundled" with the second one, taped together as one long game, carrying over your stats, etc., and I feel that's the way it should always be played, rather than looking at them separately. Isn't the GOG release the Chronicles one?

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhO37PCNAu0

[Blinge]

Ys 1... eh... gotta be honest I'm not feeling this whole bump combat thing.

Ah i really liked Ys I and II, if we're talking the PC chronicles edition.
(psst choose Ys Complete portraits)

What's wrong with the bump combat?

I don't mind the concept of the bump combat system though. Just keep in mind that Ys II's enemy design makes better use of it.

Rly? Cause in normal mode on Ys 1 I had to aim my bumps, in II you just rush into everything diagonally and they can't do shit to you.
Also for whatever reason the steam releases didn't carry my stats over. Started afresh.


Trust me, I'm the BUMP MASTER

[BrianC]

Also for whatever reason the steam releases didn't carry my stats over. Started afresh.

As far as I know, only the PCE/TG-16 version lets you carry your stats over. I have the GoG version of Ys I and II Chronicles+ and you can't even have Ys II start right after Ys I.

[iconoclast]

It's been a couple years since I played it, but IIRC, every enemy in Ys I only moves in the four cardinal directions. It's like the only difference between each monster is their HP. Ys II has enemies with different movement patterns. Some sway back and forth, others come at you diagonally, etc. It's not as samey.

[Sumez]

Also Ys II introduces magic which eliminates a lot of the bumping. Most notably for boss fights.

[No_not_like_Quake]

I find the bumping combat oddly satisfying. Adol doesn't have time for that sword swinging shit.

[No_not_like_Quake]

Been playing the original Shadow Tower. After getting over the initial hurdle of clunkiness, it becomes a really good dungeon crawl. Initially, I thought gear degradation would be a pain in the ass but managing your gear just becomes second nature after a while, and the game would be too easy without that aspect. Cool bleak atmosphere too. I've heard good things about the PS2 sequel.

I liked it pretty much. Dungeon crawlers with good atmosphere is all I need. Used to play that one and others on the King's Field series. Even got the Sword of Moonlight software for trying to make my own maps.

Haven't tried any of the King's Field games yet; Shadow Tower is the only old From Soft RPG I've played so far. I'm near the end of the game and it's a bit less inspiring than earlier worlds. Seems like to this day, From's epic dark fantasy games get areas that seem rushed due to lack of funds or time.

[Sumez]

The King's Field games do nothing for me, but I love the two Shadow Tower games. There's a fan translation of Abyss, which is pretty much required to get anywhere, but it's definitely their best game of this branch before Demon's Souls.

[atheistgod1999]

I started The Elder Scrolls: Arena, but pretty quickly quit because I didn't like the controls and felt that there was too much unnecessary text. I haven't even gotten out of the prison yet; does it get better? And am I being a naive, sheltered kid by not liking the controls or amount of text?

[Volteccer_Jack]

On the one hand, yes it gets better, and yes the controls are fine. On the other hand, I don't like it or any of the other Elder Scrolls games, so I can't blame someone for quitting.

Ys I is a bad game. Don't let it turn you away from playing Ys II. It looks the same, but everything about it is like 5x better.

If anything, that's backwards. Ys II's magic system is sooooooo fucking annoying, and there's even more xp grinding. But anyway, you're mostly playing these two games for the boss fights, holy shit Dark Fact what the fuck.

[KAI]

Tenchu Fatal Shadows [PS2]. I forgot how bad this game was (played it 8 years ago). Stage design, enemy layout, boss fights, all of them are so mediocre. I just want to finish this shit and never touch it again.

[EmperorIng]

I was glad they brought back the bump carnage for Dalles and Darm, the two colossal faggots. Ys 2 almost feels like a top-down run-and-gun with all the magic fireballin' all over the place.


EDIT:

^KAI reminds me that I never finished the first Tenchu, which is a shame because the game really impressed me (wobbly graphics aside). All those different ways to complete a level, plus the music and atmosphere... great stuff. I hear that the first PS2 game, if not reaching the heights set by the first, still an excellent game. Is this true?

[Durandal]

Damnit, I'm going to replay all the Ys games on Nightmare then (except 1 and 2 because FUCK grinding)
Is there a way to get the PCE arranges to play for these games?

[Volteccer_Jack]

I don't recall the release order off the top of my head, but Wrath of Heaven was the PS2 Tenchu that I really liked.

[KAI]

I hear that the first PS2 game, if not reaching the heights set by the first, still an excellent game. Is this true?

yeah, Tenchu 3/Wrath of Heaven is still a great game (is my 2nd fav game on this franchise). The XBOX release has some new stages and mechanics, and the PSP port is based on that version (but it lacks good camera controls).

A few days ago I finished replaying the updated version of the first Tenchu (Shinobi Gaisen). I haven't played this game in almost 15 years, but I still remember all my strategies from back then. The music is damn good it keeps giving me goosebumps every time I hear it.

[Sir Ilpalazzo]

I do like Ys 1's dungeons a bit more than Ys 2's. The second game's dungeons are really convoluted and ultimately not that fun to manage. And the first game having you hit the level cap halfway through the game (just as you're entering the final dungeon lol) is a cool concept too.

The second game is definitely better overall, but man those dungeons are a drag.

[Durandal]

I do like Ys 1's dungeons a bit more than Ys 2's. The second game's dungeons are really convoluted and ultimately not that fun to manage. And the first game having you hit the level cap halfway through the game (just as you're entering the final dungeon lol) is a cool concept too.

The second game is definitely better overall, but man those dungeons are a drag.

I've never really completed Ys 2 but FUCK ALL THESE MAZES. I don't remember Ys I being this mazelike.
For god's sake, can't we have some more puzzles instead overly expansive mazes? Solomon Shrine, holy shit.
I'm pretty much winning everything in combat by running diagonally into anything, and I feel fireball magic is only useful against bosses. IMO I felt there should have been more enemies who attack on their own like those firebreathing guys, as it stands everything is too ez. Maybe that's because I'm playing it on Normal, I have no idea what it's like on Nightmare.

[Sumez]

Uhhhh huh? Ys 1 dungeons are all complete mazes. That cave level had me lost for ages first time I played the game. At least on PCE.
The ones in Ys 2 are of course mazes as well, but I think they are much better designed, with more obvious landmarks and completely unique features to every single dungeon.

[Durandal]

Uhhhh huh? Ys 1 dungeons are all complete mazes. That cave level had me lost for ages first time I played the game. At least on PCE.
The ones in Ys 2 are of course mazes as well, but I think they are much better designed, with more obvious landmarks and completely unique features to every single dungeon.

It's been a while since I played Ys 1, so I might just be misremembering things

[Blinge]

Maybe that's because I'm playing it on Normal, I have no idea what it's like on Nightmare.

Yeah diagonally lawnmowing every enemy doesn't work on Nightmare.
Nightmare was actually a fun challenge in II. The bosses are awesome!
Whereas in I it was, well, a bit of a nightmare.

Aw, I like Solomon Shrine. It's a massive maze, yes.. but it's broken down into manageable sections - Dabbie's zone, Gemma's zone etc.
The waterways were hella confusing, though.
Press whatever button puts Adol's stats on the screen aswell as the area name to see which sector you're in.
I used a dualshock 2 so pressed L1.

[Mischief Maker]

Picked up Everspace on GOG early access.

Well the most obvious thing is this game is PURDY! Mix the Unreal 4 engine with good art assets and you get something that not only looks great, it runs with buttery-smooth framerates. My last run ended with me entering a system and saying, "Weird, what's that thing? Oh cool! They're rendering a black hole using the gravitational lensing effects from interstellar. Well I better get going... um... I said get going... full afterburners... oh shit!"

Sadly the music isn't up to the standard of the visuals. Just generic vaguely poppy atmospheric sci fi tunes.

The basic flow of the game is warping into a system choked with obstacles (asteroid belt, debris field, etc) and scoop up as many upgrades and ingredients and credits as you can then warping out before massive fleets of enemy ships warp in and ruin you. The game doesn't play like a WWII Freespace or a Newtonian Independence War, but rather a 6 degrees of freedom, Descent. Release the W key and your ship stops on a dime. The other thing that caught me off-guard is your afterburners and weapons draw from the same energy supply, so when I tried dogfighting at first I kept finding myself running out of juice and being left a sitting duck. It seems the way the game is meant to be played is as a 3D cover-shooter, with you ducking behind the copious amount of space junk to recharge your guns and shields between salvos.

I gotta be honest, aside from some lame menu elements and lots of music-free patches, I'd be hard pressed to figure out that this was an early access title on my own. It runs great, most of the crafting systems are in place, I'm constantly running across new weapons, enemies, and environmental hazards. This is not at all like my previous experiences with early access. (Note that I've only been playing for a couple nights).

The biggest downside is this game goes full Rogue Legacy with the unlockable cancer, and there's no chance of them removing it given all the reviews by filthy casuals praising the unlockable cancer because it gives them a sense of "progress" between failed runs. I'd personally suggest that after the money multiplier your top priority should be upgrading your energy supply or level 2 weapons will drain you too quickly to be worth it in a fight.

Yeah, I'm really liking what I see and can't wait for the game to be done in early 2017!

[Sumez]

Not a fan of unlocking cancer, but IMO Rogue Legacy does it damn right. Love that game.

[Some-Mist]

back on the pocket card jockey train. probably my favorite game of this year slightly edging out samorost 3. who would have thought that speed solitaire and horse racing could be so much fun. I think I burned myself out in the first 3 weeks it was released, but now I'm aiming on breeding a good enough horse to nab all the trophies.

also nabbed virginia last night and I was able to play it for 5 minutes before I left for work today. bought it on PS4 since I really need more PS4 games, but I wish I bought it on PC instead since the camera is pretty sensitive on the joystick. I've read nothing to good things about the game and I'm really a sucker for anything similar to twin peaks so I'm excited to play it some more when I get home.

[kaicooper]

Virginia (PC)

Music and Atmosphere top natch BUT..
game length only 1.5 hour!!!
story is ok but gameplay is pooor
just walk..press this..drink coffe..eat this..its sooo Liner

really disappointed but i'll give it 7/10 for Music and Twin Peaks style