What [not shmup] game are you playing now?

[Ruldra]

Almost there. Lost the fight, but used another credit and 2cc'd the game. Looks like Geese only appears if you beat Mr. Big on a single credit.

[broken harbour]

I'm still enjoying Fable Anniversary. 20 hours in now...

Combat is clunky as hell, and it's easy to exploit some of the dumber AI by casting teleport spells to appear behind the enemy, so now most encounters become 'approach enemy, block, counterattack, teleport, attack x2, block, repeat.' Some of the cheaper encounters involve unblockable attacks by powerful boss type enemies that are almost unavoidable, which is annoying but because the game allows you to collect unlimited resurrection phials it doesn't matter, so you die 3 times.... no consequences really.

Despite this, it's still enjoyable, there's a great sense of humor in the game that I enjoy very much. I just wish the hero actually spoke some dialogue... ah well, for a 10 year old game it holds up better than I expected.

[Ed Oscuro]

Fable Anniversary screenshot. Slightly wonky combat aside, there's little point taking potshots at Fable because of how it plays.

-VIDEOGAMER DOT COM

You know, I'd expect that the only reason to remake Fable would be to expand the open world feeling and to improve the combat, since the original is a highly linear brawler (especially in its first half, roughly speaking - going from the expanded PC version, The Lost Chapters, which I kind of stopped playing altogether after reaching the bonus areas). It already looked amazing at points - I liked the main road into that forest a lot. The prison is definitely pretty memorable - it just barely manages to stay on the safe side of being totally brutal and disgusting, with the tension peaking (before some much-needed comic relief) at the "what goes on in there is too cruel to mention" line. So yeah, it does have its redeeming features.

If it is a person's first foray into Fable, sure, it's probably a polished enough experience to play now (I ran into an infamous bug at the snowy docks area, with the forcefield, because I'm good at that kind of thing). But it doesn't sound like it's any less mediocre as a game than before.

[broken harbour]

But it doesn't sound like it's any less mediocre as a game than before.

Agreed, it's mediocre, but enjoyable in spite of itself, if that makes any sense...

I bought it mainly because I own the sequels but never played them (Bought a game lot off a guy and they were included) and I wanted to play the original game first, in HD, with a wireless controller.....

[Ed Oscuro]

Nah, I'm with you - I realize I come off like a party pooper as usual. Fable is definitely worth checking out; it might not be Citizen Kane, but in some ways it is. Lots of visibility and a few very good qualities mean that the person who hasn't played it arguably isn't conversant in the recent history of video games. It's also interesting for its various systems and attempts to kickstart the relevance of social cues in gaming (in a manner similar to The Sims, though less successful).

[Ruldra]

Mr. Big defeated, got the 1cc, but Geese didn't show up. Googled a bit and found out you need to win every match without losing a single round to face him. Fuck me.

[trap15]

The TLB

[Mortificator]

I really like Art of Fighting 2 as a single-player challenge, but the TLB condition's total BS, so I just use the MAME cheat to activate the fight with Geese.

[iconoclast]

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Been playing this over the last couple of weeks. I just reached the 7-star quests in Tanzia, so I finally have access to the monsters I need for my next set of upgrades. I'm starting to get a little bored of the game, though. The lure of new gear helps, but in the end I'm still fighting the same damage-sponge monsters over and over (some of which are really boring to fight). Maybe I just need to try some new weapons and start playing online to break up the monotony.

I don't mean to complain too much though, it's still a great game that has kept me hooked for well over 100 hours.

[null1024]

Gravity Rush [Vita].

Just beat the game, I think. Was that it [is episode 21 really the end of the game]?
None of the story advanced ever, it felt like the game was getting ready to ramp up and then the final boss happened [kind of easy, it pretty much came down to "never use anything but your neutral triangle special when it reloads, try to whack the thing a bit until then"].

If they make it a bit better [eg, less "gravity kick is the only attack worth anything, make dodge on a button because swiping is awful for it, why am I getting warped away when trying to fly over there where there are clearly things"], I'll be hype for the sequel.

[SuperGrafx]

I saw that the new THIEF game is out at Target (comes in a bonus Steelbook case).

Anyone tried the Xbox 360 version of this?
How is it in regards to load times?

[lilmanjs]

Civ: Revolution. Free for gold on xbl and I'm enjoying it. Fun game and makes me realize that not owning a civ game before was a mistake. Though getting a free wall for one of my towns was fun.

[Zaarock]

Earth Defense Force 2025 [360]

Been putting a bit too much time into this for the last two weeks lol. Excellent game though. I've mostly been playing online co-op which I think works very well due to difficulty scaling. Finished my Inferno(highest difficulty) playthrough with the Fencer class yesterday, going to go through the 2nd mission pack next and start getting weapons for Wing Diver.

Co-op on inferno has been very fun once you really get your teamwork down. Air raider can do some ridiculous things though and there's a few co-op weapons that are very good against heavy targets. I'll probably play classes other than fencer for single player playthroughs, the class really shines in multiplayer as a tank/melee and mobile decoy type.

Looking forward to the third mission pack which is apparently very difficult. The harder version of the final boss certainly seems interesting.

Surprised there aren't a lot more people from here playing this

[spadgy]

Cube + Star (Steam). Roll a cube about on a vast monochrome sphere painting it different colours without much to do, and no explicit goals. I'm not sure what I'm enjoying about it, but it's lots of fun.

[Ruldra]

It's ON, boy!



I'm not using savestates or MAME cheats by the way, I'm doing this legit. I don't care how long it takes, this fucker is going down.

[Mortificator]

King's Field: The Ancient City. HowLongToBeat.com clocked it at 30 hours, which was right on the mark. Pretty long for this type of game.

Some of the sub-systems are misguided: leveling-up weapons and magic through repeated use, the Earth Folk blacksmith who needs real time to work on your gear. Exploration's the core, though, and it stays engaging. I'm not sure there's much opportunity for sequence-breaking, but most times you have a few avenues open to you (do I feel like checking-out the Treasury or the Mansion of Howling Winds next?) Combat isn't top-shelf, yet it isn't as mindlessly circle strafe-y as I expected. Get complacent with the Widda and they'll mess you up!

If you only ever play one King's Field game, play this one.

[Ed Oscuro]

Mansion of Howling Winds

Huh, nice.

Spent some time with MGS Peace Walker recently. It's the only MGS I've personally spent any appreciable amount of time with past the original, despite being exposed to many of them (and I still have my sealed MGS3 somewhere...too bad it's not the online version).

Nice stuff but aiming with the face buttons is a chore. Too many problems just getting lined up with people, although shocking enemies through a wall is nice. But some things don't make sense to me yet - I need to figure out "stickups" and also multi-use of the recovery device (which is a really cool idea and very satisfying to use, of course). At first I had worries about the small map size but on playing it more it seems about right; you can M22 tranq snipe somebody in the head when their head is about one pixel tall with relative ease (even using the lousy face buttons-to-aim layout). Way too many cutscenes though.

[Hagane]

Almost got the 1CC in Metal Slug X. I definitely agree that these games have a bit of a difficulty balance issue: at least for X, the game is quite easy till stage 6, then it gets sort of challenging, and the final boss is nuts. In my last attempt I got to it in one life and lost all of them against the bullshit black UFOs. They avoid you based on your inputs and take lots of damage, so you can get overwhelmed very fast. Then you get the Metal Slug and they are a piece of cake. The problem is lasting long enough for the MS to appear... if RNG screws you and the UFOs don't drop weapons you are fucked.

I managed to beat it on savestate practice a few times, but it ll came down to getting lucky with the drops.

[null1024]

today, I got yet another PSP after returning my previous one which gave trouble after less than a week

Gods Eater Burst [PSP].
Just started. It's okay so far. Run around, hack up and shoot some beasts, that sort of thing.
the camera and I wish I was playing this on the Vita [can't you map d-pad to the right stick? that'd be super-useful right now]

Also, I really wish I could remap the face buttons. I keep pressing square to dodge out of habit from playing Ys 7. Siiiigh.

Project Diva Extend [PSP].
it's so nice to be able to play this again -- I like Diva f, but Extend has a better tracklist and no star notes.

Megpoid the Music# [PSP].
Playing this is odd. I keep trying to use the d-pad for face notes and press both the d-pad and face buttons when arrows appear.
this is completely wrong, of course

It's a more traditional rhythm game than Project Diva, more ordinary screen layout [press button when symbol moves to the circle, DDR style] has the player changing buttons more frequently, short songs, etc.

Super Hang-On [3DS].
I think this is the only game I've bothered playing on my 3DS in forever.

Guilty Gear XX AC+R [360].
Playing with some friends. I'm considering whether to pick up May or not. I play Millia and occasionally Ky, but May seems fun.
one of my friends is rather good at Sol and I hate him for it, I haven't won a single round today against his Sol

[beatsgo]

Puzzle Bobble 4 (ARC)
One thing that surprises me is how difficult the game's puzzle mode gotten compared to the older predecessors. Can't get the grasp of the pulley system as I keep failing to beat the last stage of Area A, not funny at all. But the combo system is proving to be an interesting mechanic once my intenational stacking gets better.

Puzzle and Dragons
Obtained HERA!, and other descended dragons. Good for me

[EmperorIng]

It's ON, boy!



I'm not using savestates or MAME cheats by the way, I'm doing this legit. I don't care how long it takes, this fucker is going down.

Kick his ass!

[lilmanjs]

L.A. Noire. Beat the game, not happy with the ending though. Still one of the best games I've played.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Playing Civilization Revolution. Just finished a quick match. Pretty simple. Hopefully the single player mode has a little more going on. Still, very fun. I'll definitely be spending some more time with this one.

[evil_ash_xero]

GunLord, Umihara Kawase PSX, and Bomberman '94.

Will be sinking my teeth into Dark Souls II around Friday.

[captain ahar]

bought lots i'm barely playing:

Super House of Dead Ninjas - addictive as f**k
diablo 3 (ps3) - can't put it down it is driving me crazy, a character in each class, 3 hell, 1 nightmare, 1 normal
-------if it is an ARPG and at least basically functional, i'm hopeless to resist
Xenoblade Chronicles - haven't played nearly as much as i feel i should
so many others, can't think

[Ruldra]

There you go guys, Art of Fighting 2 completely demolished:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzyj98mChk

I don't really have a strategy to take down King, and my strategy to beat Yuri is very unreliable, but for everyone else it's smooth sailing. Things almost got out of hand in the Geese fight (one wrong move and half my lifebar was gone) but managed to pull it off without losing a round to him.

[BIL]

Nice, will watch now. I love AOF2's whole aesthetic, the enormous sprites and lavish backgrounds just scream of the early/mid 90s when the Neo was still the overgod industrial strength 2D crunching machine.

[soprano1]

There you go guys, Art of Fighting 2 completely demolished:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzyj98mChk

I don't really have a strategy to take down King, and my strategy to beat Yuri is very unreliable, but for everyone else it's smooth sailing. Things almost got out of hand in the Geese fight (one wrong move and half my lifebar was gone) but managed to pull it off without losing a round to him.

Just finished watching. Dat final Venom Strike, barely avoiding Geese's Reppuuken...
Watching the video also made me remember SNK's amazing Engrish("I am woman! Hear me moan!").

[Mortificator]

Nice work! There's also a short story about Art of Fighting 2's final boss fight in Maximum Impact 2.

[Sir Ilpalazzo]

Very nice play, Ruldra. That final blow on Geese was pretty awesome.