The Video Game Thread

[DemonBlood]

Been playing The Alters on Game Pass. Made by the same people who made This War of Mine and Frostpunk. Really good so far and trippy.

 

[Juggernaut]

GIVEAWAY:

 

[SlammedZero]

Snagged Ace Combat 7 (with the Top Gun expansion) on sale this weekend for $15. Even though it's an "older" title from 2019, it's still an absolute blast to play. I already played and beat it back when it came out (GameFly rental), but I’ve always had a soft spot for jet fighter games, and they have great replay value.

Ace Combat 2 was one of the first games I ever played on the original PlayStation, so AC7 really hits that nostalgic sweet spot for me. It plays much like the classics...same satisfying controls and iconic arcade-style music...but with modern visuals that bring it all to life.

 

[Juggernaut]

GIVEAWAY:

 

[darthseinfeld]

Looking like a pretty strong year for GOTY.

Surefire Nom's look like this IMO

Death Stranding 2
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Split Fiction

Most likely to join the top 5

Ghost of Yotei

Contenders for a Nom

Avowed
Indiana Jones and The Golden Circle
Monster Hunter Wilds
Hades 2
Blue Prince

Do they throw a nomination at the Oblivion Remake? They seem to nominate a remake almost every year

 

[darthseinfeld]

Never played Death Stranding, but I think with 2 out, Im going to give the 1st a shot when I got some downtime to sink into a game

 

[Kevinicus]

Been playing Sea of Stars lately. Loved the demo when I played it early last year. Kind of disappointed in the game. The story is very lackluster thus far. Doesn't seem to be a lot of depth.

I like the old school feel and look, but it needs something more.

 

[Juggernaut]

GIVEAWAY:

 

[SlammedZero]

Never played Death Stranding, but I think with 2 out, Im going to give the 1st a shot when I got some downtime to sink into a game

Death Stranding got called a “walking simulator” a lot when it first dropped. Honestly, that’s exactly how it felt to me, so I ended up giving up pretty quick. Still, got to admit, it’s a really great-looking game with a very eerie, beautiful world to explore.

That said, I’ve heard the deeper you get, the more layers and depth it reveals. So maybe I bailed way too early? Definitely let us know what you think as you go. I’m on the lookout for a new game to sink into, so maybe I should give this one another chance?

 

[Juggernaut]

GIVEAWAY:

 

[The Ominous]

Donkey Kong Bananza is such a freaking blast. Definitely have another GOTY candidate!

 

[DemonBlood]

Donkey Kong Bananza is such a freaking blast. Definitely have another GOTY candidate!

Knew it was going to be great when I seen it was being made by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. Odyssey is still probably my favorite Switch game.

​

 

[HungryLion]

Donkey Kong Bananza is such a freaking blast. Definitely have another GOTY candidate!

I’m not shocked.

That’s why sometimes I laugh when people criticize Nintendo for having consoles that are underpowered compared to Sony and Microsoft.

Nintendo is about the games and they just put out banger first party games regularly.

Innovative consoles with innovative games and game mechanics that are just a blast to play.

 

[Jammer]

I download a lot of games from PSN. If a game looks interesting I take a chance and download. Most of time the game I get isn't for me and I delete it immediately. I have found some hidden gems (to me anyways) which have made the subscription price worthwhile. The last game I finished (and still play) is Control Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate Edition includes the DLCs. I've been having a blast playing this game repeatedly.

One of the DLCs has an ending boss battle that almost broke me. I was the hardest one I've ever dealt with. I don't play Demon Souls types of games, so I don't know about those bosses. It took me so long (hours) to beat the level. I was covered in sweat and my hands were so sweety I could barely hold the controller. When the final boss died, I felt so much relief. I was using the PS5 DualSense controller mapped out for this particular game. I am 100 percent positive I would not have been able to beat the level using the stock controller. This is also the only game I Platinumed on purpose. I don't care about trophies, but this time it was different.

I found out later many people couldn't beat the level until they adjusted the settings to make your character as powerful as needed. I didn't do that because I left everything at the default setting. Truthfully, I didn't know I could do that until later. I was a bit proud of myself as a 63 year old being able to beat this particular boss when younger gamers couldn't. When I replay the game I do adjust my character to be more powerful when I get to that battle. I'm not willing to try it again. Once was enough.

Okay, back to the game...

 

[Juggernaut]

I download a lot of games from PSN. If a game looks interesting I take a chance and download. Most of time the game I get isn't for me and I delete it immediately. I have found some hidden gems (to me anyways) which have made the subscription price worthwhile. The last game I finished (and still play) is Control Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate Edition includes the DLCs. I've been having a blast playing this game repeatedly.

One of the DLCs has an ending boss battle that almost broke me. I was the hardest one I've ever dealt with. I don't play Demon Souls types of games, so I don't know about those bosses. It took me so long (hours) to beat the level. I was covered in sweat and my hands were so sweety I could barely hold the controller. When the final boss died, I felt so much relief. I was using the PS5 DualSense controller mapped out for this particular game. I am 100 percent positive I would not have been able to beat the level using the stock controller. This is also the only game I Platinumed on purpose. I don't care about trophies, but this time it was different.

I found out later many people couldn't beat the level until they adjusted the settings to make your character as powerful as needed. I didn't do that because I left everything at the default setting. Truthfully, I didn't know I could do that until later. I was a bit proud of myself as a 63 year old being able to beat this particular boss when younger gamers couldn't. When I replay the game I do adjust my character to be more powerful when I get to that battle. I'm not willing to try it again. Once was enough.

Okay, back to the game...

Control is an underrated game. Remedy Entertainment developed an interesting game and tied it to their Alan Wake universe. Luckily for us, full production of the sequel was recently announced.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I’m not shocked.

That’s why sometimes I laugh when people criticize Nintendo for having consoles that are underpowered compared to Sony and Microsoft.

Nintendo is about the games and they just put out banger first party games regularly.

Innovative consoles with innovative games and game mechanics that are just a blast to play.

Thats why they have been able to compete with and even beat Sony and Microsoft

Even the big 3rd party games they have landed like Skyrim and Witcher 3, their innovative hardware gave fans a reason to buy those games again on their console

 

[darthseinfeld]

Death Stranding got called a “walking simulator” a lot when it first dropped. Honestly, that’s exactly how it felt to me, so I ended up giving up pretty quick. Still, got to admit, it’s a really great-looking game with a very eerie, beautiful world to explore.

That said, I’ve heard the deeper you get, the more layers and depth it reveals. So maybe I bailed way too early? Definitely let us know what you think as you go. I’m on the lookout for a new game to sink into, so maybe I should give this one another chance?

Ive been playing the last few days, just couldnt get into it. Walking simulator would he how I would describe it as well. I can see the appeal, but I see it as one of those well made games thats just not for me

 

[darthseinfeld]

Knew it was going to be great when I seen it was being made by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. Odyssey is still probably my favorite Switch game.

​

I have Odyssey right there with Galaxy 1 and Mario 3, and right behind 64, as far as my favorite Mario games. Excellent company to be in

 

[SlammedZero]

Ive been playing the last few days, just couldnt get into it. Walking simulator would he how I would describe it as well. I can see the appeal, but I see it as one of those well made games thats just not for me

Yup, pretty much how I felt as well. lol

Knew it was going to be great when I seen it was being made by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. Odyssey is still probably my favorite Switch game.

​

You got me thinking on this subject (favorite Switch game) and I think mine is definitely Zelda: Link's Awakening. I love that game. Have played through it a couple of times. lol

I was so quick to pick up The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and I still haven't finished it. It's OK, just something about it didn't grab me as much as Link's Awakening. Maybe I should hop back into it one of these nights.

 

[HungryLion]

Thats why they have been able to compete with and even beat Sony and Microsoft

Even the big 3rd party games they have landed like Skyrim and Witcher 3, their innovative hardware gave fans a reason to buy those games again on their console

Exactly. It makes sense too. Nintendo has always dominated the handheld space since the original gameboy came out. It’s awesome that nowadays they combined their consoles with their handhelds.

As you said them combining their consoles with their handheld has allowed people to play major 3rd party games they love in handheld mode. Giving them reason to buy them again.

Now that the switch 2 is almost as strong as a PS4 pro. We are going to be seeing a flood of 3rd party games that are made for it over the next few years.