What [not shmup] game are you playing now?

[mesh control]

That's what I thought. It crashes every few minutes with the lowest graphic settings. It usually stutter for 3 frames, freezes, fan winds up, and then the screen goes black.

[dannnnn]

Finished Mass Effect 2 yesterday, didn't click with me at all. Dull is the word that summed it up for me. It just seemed like a mediocre TPS with a ton of boring dialogue in between. They put a lot of effort into making sure there's information about everything, everywhere, but none of it is interesting. I dunno, KotoR was one of my favourite games when I played it a few years ago, either my tastes have changed since then or it's just a better game. A bit of both I think. Anyway, a lot of people like it and recommend it, but it just didn't do it for me, felt like a chore to play through.

Also 1CCd The Super Shinobi on XBLA. Good game and a cool sense of nostalgia there from when I was about 8. The soundtrack is amazing, definitely the best thing about it, gives the game a great atmosphere. I like the graphics too and everything has a 'meatyness' to it - helped by the sound effects - like how enemies explode from a single shuriken lol. It's not all good though, it's got its fair share of cheap design and WTF moments, like how long it takes to beat the ridiculously easy third boss if you're not powered up. I didn't count but it must be in the range of 3-5 minutes (unless I'm doing something very wrong). The final stage is also a pain in the neck, I had to make sure I entered the boss powered up and with a spare ninpo (the shield is what I used) just to stand a chance. This effectively meant I had to do it first try since restarting on the boss with no power up got me killed everytime. I haven't checked any vids or anything though, so I may be missing a trick here. Anyway, fun game, worth playing for the music alone.

[BIL]

Anyways, how do you get to take enemies hostage like that? I can't figure that one out.

Technically, you're supposed to hit a mortally-wounded humanoid enemy in the chest with a Berserk Pack punch. It seems a tad inconsistent though - I don't bother with it. The poor chump can't even be called a hostage, his compatriots will let rip like he's so much meat body armor.

You can also use the Berserk Fist's alt fire (the strong right hook) to pick up barrels, too - this works 100% of the time, luckily. Press regular fire (left jab) to chuck 'em for one hell of a bang, or alt fire again to put them down wherever you're standing. Just be careful while running around with one, as if you pick up a new weapon or ammo for an empty one, the barrel will take your face off.

[null1024]

Virtual On [Saturn]. Took a break from using Viper, but effing hell, I can't seem to use anyone else well.
Crazy Taxi [DC]. After holding a Saturn pad in my hand for so long, the DC D-Pad feels godawful. Like, horrible. And I got a B-rank, I'm getting a bit rusty. Trying to work my way back up to S.
Daytona USA CCE [Saturn]. I suck at this game. Gaaaaaaaaaah.

also, jeez, I should get into BDOOM

[ryu]

After holding a Saturn pad in my hand for so long, the DC D-Pad feels godawful.

that is because it is awful.

[null1024]

After holding a Saturn pad in my hand for so long, the DC D-Pad feels godawful.

that is because it is awful.

Yes, I know it is awful, but I only now noticed just how bad it is. After playing on one of the best pads ever [and some will disagree, because I am using a Model 1 Saturn pad, but I love that concave pad so much], I then proceed to use what is considered one of the worst pads around. First time I really, truly, completely felt the sheer difference in quality.

[CMoon]

The DC controller is a great example of a company having a great idea, then feeling they had to make change for changes sake. The DC controller may not be the worst out there, but it is a piece of junk compared to the dual shock, and I know all you guys love the dual shock.

Speaking of games: On to the post game in Dragon's Dogma and just started monkeying around with Disgaea on the DS. Damn, I may still end up getting a Dsi XL just to play this game, chess, Radiant Historia and go back and fuck around with all the Etrian Odyssey games. Ultimately, I still love the goddamn DS.

[gabe]

I like the Dreamcast pad... Especially for games that were actually designed with the DC controller in mind (ex: Jet Set Radio). In these cases, it feels very natural. I think the pad gets a bad rap for two reasons:

1. Folks often mistake familiarity for superiority.
2. Many of the great Dreamcast games were arcade ports, and their playability with the DC pad was a tacked-on after thought.

To bring this all back on topic, I'm currently playing the SHIT out of Daytona USA 2001. The game plays miserably with the DC control pad, but this is not the pad's fault. Perhaps Sega should have spent more time refining the controls for the home audience, but even that wouldn't change the fact that the game's roots are in the arcade, where it was designed to be controlled with a steering wheel and pedals.

[louisg]

Daytooooooona!

Hmm DC pad vs. Dual Shock. They're both, IMO, very flawed pads. My take on it is that the DC pad is good for racing games (triggers with large throw plus a decent analog stick), OK for most arcade-style games (the D-pad is goofy but it's a cross pad), not very good for FPS games, and not very good for quarter-circle-style fighting games. The dual shock has the advantage of being compact and having twin sticks for FPS games, but the lack of good gas/brake style triggers makes racing games feel odd, and it's no better at fighting games. I also wish it had more resistance and more of a surface that my thumb would fit into. In addition, in the Dual Shock 2, the d-pad buttons don't seem raised enough, making diagonal movement tricky to consistently achieve. I don't remember having this issue nearly as much on the PS1 controller. I don't know if it perhaps varies by batch.

Going back to Daytona, I think the pad controls in that are unusually twitchy, and that's more of a software issue than anything. If you knock the sensitivity down a couple notches, it's OK but still twitchy. When it comes to racing games, though, I found even F355 to be very playable with the pad, due in large part to the range of motion of the triggers.

All that said, the XBox 360 pad is surprisingly good. That and the GameCube controller are, IMO, the two better modern pads on average.

[null1024]

Daytooooooona!

Hmm DC pad vs. Dual Shock. They're both, IMO, very flawed pads. My take on it is that the DC pad is good for racing games (triggers with large throw plus a decent analog stick), OK for most arcade-style games (the D-pad is goofy but it's a cross pad), not very good for FPS games, and not very good for quarter-circle-style fighting games. The dual shock has the advantage of being compact and having twin sticks for FPS games, but the lack of good gas/brake style triggers makes racing games feel odd, and it's no better at fighting games. I also wish it had more resistance and more of a surface that my thumb would fit into. In addition, in the Dual Shock 2, the d-pad buttons don't seem raised enough, making diagonal movement tricky to consistently achieve. I don't remember having this issue nearly as much on the PS1 controller. I don't know if it perhaps varies by batch.

Going back to Daytona, I think the pad controls in that are unusually twitchy, and that's more of a software issue than anything. If you knock the sensitivity down a couple notches, it's OK but still twitchy. When it comes to racing games, though, I found even F355 to be very playable with the pad, due in large part to the range of motion of the triggers.

All that said, the XBox 360 pad is surprisingly good. That and the GameCube controller are, IMO, the two better modern pads on average.

The DC pad feels fine at times [it feels great in Crazy Taxi, much better than using the stick], but it is still mushy and hurts my finger.
And either way, regarding it's design [@CMoon], it is literally a Saturn 3D pad, sans 2 buttons, and having a not-so-nice stick/dpad.

The PS1 DualShock's D-Pad [and hell, the original digital controller] is definitely better than the PS2's. It responds better.

I love the GameCube controller because it just slots right into my hands. Extremely comfortable. The D-Pad is a bit crap, but that's because of it's tiny size [and not many games really use it anyway]. The 360 controller feels pretty nice in your hand, but the D-Pad is the worst. Worst.

I want to say something about Daytona's controls, but I suck at it so much that I can't really say anything.

[Moniker]

Halfway through 2nd playthrough of Nier. This game just may have restored my faith in JRPGs. Been flipping b/w normal and hard depending on mood. Normal lands just slightly in the direction of too easy. Hard definitely adds too much HP to enemies in the first playthrough. Not so bad in the 2nd. Love the bosses in this game, and its uncanny ability to completely switch genres while still using the same fundamental combat system.

[Ghegs]

Steam had the new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit on sale for $5/€5 so I had to pick it up for that price. And you know, it's actually pretty fun. I wasn't that impressed by the demo I played on 360 way back when but somehow this feels quite nice. I just don't have any friends to do the Autolog -thing with, so feel free to add me for that and multiplayer fun times. I am, unsurprisingly, known as Ghegs over there as well.

[powersoul]

Halo: Reach. Damn Bungie had to change the challenge when I paused for lunch, came back to find L.D. Exodus challenge gone ._.

[Aguraki]

DayZ.
best 12€ I spent for a very long time.
game is full of bug and incredibly brut but what a run guys!
Im really new to it and just found 1st gun and a rifle last session but the atmosphear of this game is simply amazing.
there is nothing to do except trying to last longer,full survival game.
roguelike fans should appreciate.
completely unforgiving game where your worst ennemy is other players.
hope I can team up with someone soon cause solo players dont have a long life expectancy in this game.
highly recommend it before it get destroyed by his popularity.

Steam had the new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit on sale for $5/€5 so I had to pick it up for that price. And you know, it's actually pretty fun. I wasn't that impressed by the demo I played on 360 way back when but somehow this feels quite nice. I just don't have any friends to do the Autolog -thing with, so feel free to add me for that and multiplayer fun times. I am, unsurprisingly, known as Ghegs over there as well.

hey I just bought it too.
didnt have a racing game and it looks pretty arcade´ish,downloading now.
I suck at racing game but maybe we´ll play together.

[trap15]

J.J. Squawkers! Great run'n'gun by Athena.

[Ghegs]

didnt have a racing game and it looks pretty arcade´ish,downloading now.
I suck at racing game but maybe we´ll play together.

I think we already did and you won by a hair! I rammed straight into a truck coming out of a shortcut, that cost me the race. A rematch is needed.

[Illyrian]

I also think DayZ looks awesome, gonna have to give it a go this weekend.

[Aguraki]

didnt have a racing game and it looks pretty arcade´ish,downloading now.
I suck at racing game but maybe we´ll play together.

I think we already did and you won by a hair! I rammed straight into a truck coming out of a shortcut, that cost me the race. A rematch is needed.

umpossible!
havent played it yet it was late went to bed after dl

[Ghegs]

didnt have a racing game and it looks pretty arcade´ish,downloading now.
I suck at racing game but maybe we´ll play together.

I think we already did and you won by a hair! I rammed straight into a truck coming out of a shortcut, that cost me the race. A rematch is needed.

umpossible!
havent played it yet it was late went to bed after dl

Ah, my recollection fails me then. I played some multiplayer races last night and I thought that was your username I saw, but maybe it was just a similar one.

[Aguraki]

sent a friend request im weeez over there I dont know if it worked.
Im terribad but not many players online so any friend is good I guess

[Aguraki]

so I just tried to be close to ur time ghegs on the unlimited drinving pleasure track and Im like 8sec behind on only 2min20 run after like 10 runs lol.
I think Im a bad driver
tbf Im not used to driving games I would be a danger if I had a car.
did you run the track just once?

[null1024]

Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram [DC], getting better, but I still suck.
Crazy Taxi [DC], woo, S rank on the normal course on Arcade rules. Now I just need to try and get to the top of the default scoreboard, my score got me 19th place... -_-

[Moniker]

Just finished up Nier. Pretty awesome. Played through Ending B, then decided to youtube C & D since I was kind of burned out.

Now on to the backlog! Starting with Far Cry 2 & Valkyria Chronicles 2.

[Ghegs]

so I just tried to be close to ur time ghegs on the unlimited drinving pleasure track and Im like 8sec behind on only 2min20 run after like 10 runs lol.
I think Im a bad driver
tbf Im not used to driving games I would be a danger if I had a car.
did you run the track just once?

I'm not exactly sure what track that was, but I think I ran it a few times. Don't you have a faster time than me on that touge-like track, where you're forced to use the McLaren F1? "The Ultimate Road Car" or something like that. I love that track but apparently I suck at it, need to attack it more when I get back to my gaming PC on Sunday.

I do play quite a bit of arcade racing games. No real car, though.

[Aguraki]

ah nah im definitely behind in every race so far.
closest one I am is the supercar race but Im pretty sure that one you mustn´t have ran it twice cause it was a pretty boring one.
I just flatout sucks at racing games lol.
pretty happy with this game so far as I just play it casually in between work and DayZ.
I have no idea what other racing games are around but for the price it is perfect for me.

changing back topic to DayZ I don´t think I ever got that stressed in a game than some runs I did with it.
I´m playing on my own and it´s even tougher because other players often run in gangs,and needless to say pretty well armed ones.
Last session I went into one of the biggest town to look around and find some loot and I spent a ton of time making sure I was safe.
I played at night time as Ive been pretty lucky with finding night vision googles.
most epic moment,I was on the last floor of a big building eating every can of food I could find and it took me quite a while to loot the entire building and eating stuffs.
so I headed to the roof to look around if everything was allright and my vision got really blurred with the nvgs so I took em off.
o surprise the whole street in front of the building was filled by smoke and red flares and gunshots soonly followed.
I jumped on the floor and crawled to the edge of the rough then I pussied up and hide myself in the dark.

difficult to translate the stress of the situation by text but it was incredible,especially since other players in big cities are mostly crazy maniacs that hunt everything that moves.
it´s so funny just to wander around cause there is always the menace of something very bad is going to happen to you and if you die you restart from scratch.

wall of text and clearly recommending this game (then Ill be less alone )

[Obiwanshinobi]

Viewtiful Joe after a long break (having finished BoF: Dragon Quarter, getting busy to another Capcom game seemed like the right thing to do with my PS2).
Excite Truck (for my money it's the Wii's Super Monkey Ball - something everybody and their dog should experience). Funnily enough, for whatever reason I can't get the hang of air spinning, but it matters not, oddly as it sounds. I didn't even change the music to my tunes of choice.

[null1024]

Sonic 3D Blast [Genesis].

More specifically, a ROM hack that disables the Flickies [and IIRC adds Super Sonic if you get all the Emeralds]. It's amazing how much better that makes this game. It's still not great, but it is far more enjoyable.
The original Flicky was fun because it was fast and the areas were small. Sonic 3D Blast punishes you for going fast, and the areas are much bigger, making you look for Flickies effing everywhere.

Of course, some of the levels end up being piss-easy because looking for the Flickies was the main challenge.

The biggest problem is that when you lose rings, they disappear entirely at random. Half your rings will disappear on their first bounce.
It does make bosses a bit more challenging though, since when you have one ring, it could disappear before you have any hope of getting it back.

[BIL]

Besides intermittent blasts of BDOOM, Alisia Dragoon. This often gets mentioned by way of explanation about Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru (Saturn)... it'd be interesting to know just how influenced Taroumaru was by it beyond a homing attack, if even that (the resemblance there is hardly close). The penchant for hovering nuisance enemies that release targeted suicide bullets sticks out to me.

Unfortunately this game doesn't share Taroumaru's agile player character, so no dodging and weaving while charging up that lethal strike here. Can't run, can't slide/airdash, can't block/repel, can't hover. Can't target specific enemies / boss parts either, but that's a moot point with the much simpler action, which is fun in itself. Also has an annoying immobilising lag when turning, which takes working around. The controls are far from clumsy, just a bit inadequate-feeling given how quick and relentless enemies/projectiles are.

Taroumaru is one of my favourite sidescrollers ever, though, so it's not that I dislike this at all. Solid, fast-paced game with a cool weapon and some great settings. Cleared normal with an "Ogre Shaman" rating over the weekend. I wonder how shot down rate is calculated exactly? Hard seems like a potential trial with the abundant incoming attacks actually doing significant damage to Alisia & co. I might pick this up if the far nastier damage scale spices things up enough.

[null1024]

The Mis-adventures of Flink [Sega CD]. Very pretty looking, and is quite good.
Virtual On [Saturn], I now suck less with Temjin, now that I've realized that the sword as a projectile is almost completely useless. Attacking by using the forward-dash rifle and using bombs as cover works wonders.

[BIL]

Are there any Alisia Dragoon experts reading this thread? I could swear the game randomly decides whether Alisia will crouch upon landing from a jump while she's firing, which is important since she can't move when that happens and bullets/enemies are everywhere on Hard. Stupid (unless I'm missing something - then I'm the stupid one, LOLOL)... random character physics in action sidescrollers are about as welcome as random gonorrhea in packets of Skittles. I think it only affects a max height jump, so maybe that's a workaround.

Still, crackin' game in spite of the somewhat non-airtight controls. Getting really stuck into Hard, what a difference having to avoid damage makes! Being required to manage the familiars' health and power levels as well as Alisia's is a great concept, and the simple "always at back" controls actually work pretty well at keeping them out of harm's way (or cockslapping them right into an enemy's face, in the little flamey thing's case).