General gaming discussion

FitBoyAwesome · 11-02-2023 10:56am

That's great to hear that you're enjoying FF12 now! It's always good to give a second chance to a game that you didn't enjoy initially, and it's great that the Zodiac Age release has helped you to appreciate the game more.

The Zodiac Age release did introduce some great improvements, such as the job system, which you mentioned, and it's great that it has made the game more enjoyable for you. I also heard that the improved graphics and sound have made a big difference in the overall experience.

As for the story, it's true that it can be a bit hit-and-miss in FF12. Some players love the complex political intrigue, while others find it hard to follow. However, I do agree with you that the story does lose momentum after a certain point, but I also believe that it still has its moments and can be enjoyable in its own right..

McFly85 · 11-02-2023 1:16pm

Couple of hours into Metroid Prime, it’s really fantastic. I’ve never played a 3d Metroid but they adapted the format extremely well. Also really like the different scanner mechanics and some of the little details(the reflection from your visor using a missile!)

It gets bonus points for being the only game that my cat has chosen to sit beside my while playing on the big screen.

Retr0gamer · 11-02-2023 1:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120228154#Comment_120228154

It's such a good game. The wait between the US and PAL release was excruciating on GameCube and when it finally arrived it was one of the few games I had high expectations for but managed to blow them away.

SuperBowserWorld · 11-02-2023 1:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120228154#Comment_120228154

Our cat loved 2D Mario. He'd look on the ground when Mario fell off the screen. They obviously appreciate good video games.

johnny_ultimate · 11-02-2023 2:03pm

I played a good chunk of Metroid Prime when I got a lend of it a year or two after it was released - don’t think I ever completed it, but certainly played a lot of it. But there’s something about revisiting it this time where it feels kind of revelatory. Maybe I was just too young first time to really get the things it was doing around level design, atmosphere and environment, but it’s been proving thrilling this time around. Yes it’s had a visual makeover and modernised controls (although back in the mid 2000s we were much more used to games having quirky control schemes) but it’s still a remarkably fresh and forward-thinking game in ways I think only a select few more recent games have really managed to capture or build upon.

FitBoyAwesome · 12-02-2023 7:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120228361#Comment_120228361

The game is considered by many to be a classic and a hallmark of the first-person shooter genre, and it's not hard to see why. The level design, atmosphere, and environment are indeed top-notch and set the standard for games that followed. The game's focus on exploration and discovery, as well as its tight controls and immersive world, make it a thrilling and memorable experience.

It's interesting to note that despite its age, the game still holds up well today, which is a testament to its timeless design. It's also worth mentioning that the series has a dedicated following and continues to inspire games like (medieval 2 total war) and developers, so it's great that you're experiencing the game for the first time (or again) and getting to see why it's such an important part of gaming history..

SuperBowserWorld · 12-02-2023 2:13pm

Damn. Every hexagon reminds me of Metroid now..

Retr0gamer · 12-02-2023 3:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231029#Comment_120231029

It holds up I think because nobody ever really tried to emulate it. There's nothing else like it besides the sequels and while they were great they never captured the magic of that first game.

12-02-2023 7:17pm

I'm really enjoying Prey on Series X with FPS boost and Auto HDR. I had to abandon it first time around as well as Dishonoured 2. Arkane really do the jankiest 30fps. FPS boost is one of the greatest features ever on a console, such a shame its been canned.

wotzgoingon · 13-02-2023 12:17am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120232983#Comment_120232983

Two great games and more so Prey is the one I would love to go back to as my first time playing as it was such a great game. I loved using the gun the shoot's out a solid liquid that you can attach to walls to climb up to areas that you think you cannot reach but after exploring there was actually a door to bring you there.

DarC_Kn1ght · 13-02-2023 7:09pm

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6z7DIYJZm_k&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pRcDgETO11E&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

Wasn't sure about this but it looks very good.

Zero-Cool · 14-02-2023 3:13pm

Ha, Dunkey is looking for a game to stream that won't get him cancelled. This is funny AND clever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OV4VaNW4FU

martyos121 · 14-02-2023 6:31pm

The Chris Benoit music was absolutely flawless comedic timing. 😂

Andrew76 · 14-02-2023 9:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239857#Comment_120239857

Never heard of him but that was funny. 😁

quokula · 15-02-2023 1:22pm

I have a friend who's really vocal about his boycotting of HL and encouraging others to do so, who is now really excited about Atomic Hearts. A far greater share of that game's profits will help fund the Russian war machine than any tiny percentage JK Rowling will have got from the Harry Potter game. But yea, twitter pile-ons I guess.

johnny_ultimate · 15-02-2023 2:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120243529#Comment_120243529

I think some of Mundfish's public comments have been sketchy and vague (especially their extremely wishy-washy statement about the invasion), but I'm not sure I've seen anything that suggests anywhere close to the game is funding the Russian war machine? I know there was a bit of controversy over a website privacy policy (since changed), and some vague and I think unverified suggestions around past Russian investor/state investment in the studio. But even with that it's a big jump to actively supporting a war effort, and I definitely am not a fan of dismissing all Russian creative output and art based on the deplorable actions of the government.

If there's something I'm missing fair enough, and honestly I think the game sounds like a bit of a janky mess :P

Also: kudos to Mick Gordon for his approach:

https://twitter.com/Mick_Gordon/status/1625495826247319556?s=20

Retr0gamer · 15-02-2023 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120243730#Comment_120243730

Mundfish, from what I've bee reading, are partially funded by groups that are run by ex-Gazprom leaders who've got connections to the Russian government.

I mean if you started making a game back then in Russia that's the only place you are going to get funding from. It's a similar situation to Return to Castle Terfenstein, part of what you pay for the game is going to go back to fund some of the orchestraters of this war. Again, you just have to ask yourself if you can live with or care or are there enough games out there already that you can buy and play instead. I'm interested in checking out the soundtrack of this one though.

It's hard to know if the developers support what russia is doing, coming out against it is pretty much a death sentence. Also they wouldn't have much control over the funding unlike Warner Bros who could not give a hoot about ethics as long as profits are involved.

The Raging Bile Duct · 15-02-2023 2:32pm

Return to Castle Terfenstein... Jesus, my eyes rolled back so far, my eyes did a complete 360.

johnny_ultimate · 15-02-2023 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120243796#Comment_120243796

I know there were plenty of people online demanding they make an anti-invasion statement. Honestly, I think that was an impossible ask - that's the kind of thing that ends with people having 'mysterious' falls from balconies in Russia. Now, there's an argument that their word fart of a statement was worse than saying nothing at all, but - regardless of the political beliefs of individual developers or managers - I'm not sure what else could have been expected from a studio about to release a commercial video game.

pixelburp · 15-02-2023 3:23pm

Whatever about Rowling's beliefs ... is the game actually any good? I don't want to play it mind you, but it's funny how many of the Think Pieces are in such a hurry to debate the morality of putting money in Rowling's bank account, nobody's telling me if the game itself is up to snuff. It might sell like hot cakes regardless but if the game is total shíte the debate becomes a bit more redundant.

i don't think there's a Silver Bullet that answers the age old question of separating the author's opinions from their work: maybe now that pop culture has been industrialised and commodified it's more of a potent question demanding an answer; don't wanna buy those landfill Funko Pops if AuthorX is a big racist. Certainly back in the day I read Ender's Game fully aware Orson Scott Card was a horrible homophobe, and I couldn't give you a coherent reason why it didn't bother me. Maybe not-being-gay made it easier to dismiss - though I did somewhat chuckle at how there was a legitmate gay subtext within the book, making Card's beliefs ... interesting as a result.

Penn · 15-02-2023 3:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120244125#Comment_120244125

Most people seem to be enjoying it. There have been claims that reviews are being skewed by WB mostly only sending the game out to reviewers who would be more positive on the game, but it's hard to know if there's much truth in that given the polarity of the game in the social context. But then some reviews like IGN spent most of the review talking about the games faults, and then gave it a 9 basically just because it's Harry Potter and you can do Harry Potter stuff in Harry Potter's school.

The game generally seems to have been fairly well received though.

johnny_ultimate · 15-02-2023 3:47pm

There undoubtedly was some 'selective' choosing of who received the game in advance - even Digital Foundry noted that they didn't receive a code until launch day. I know some outlets chose not to cover it, but others I think just weren't arsed when they weren't given an advance copy - that was the reason cited by SkillUp, who said he just didn't have the time to cover it post-launch given all the other games releasing soon.

TBH, while I've no doubt there are plenty of people who will thoroughly enjoy the game (see the dedicated thread), above all else the prospect of yet another AAA open-world game with 'RPG lite' elements is what really turns me off the game, novel setting aside.

Retr0gamer · 15-02-2023 4:13pm

Digital Foundry were given the excuse that the game was getting a day one patch and WB didn't want them to release a video not factoring in the patch, which is fair enough.

CatInABox · 15-02-2023 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120244389#Comment_120244389

But they don't release videos when they're told that there's a day one patch? You'll often see they talk about how they're not releasing their video yet until they can look at the patch.

johnny_ultimate · 15-02-2023 4:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120244389#Comment_120244389

It'd be a more valid excuse if WB weren't more than happy to give the game to influencers/streamers, and indeed publicly release the game several days early for people who ponied up a bit of extra cash. And as @CatInABox says, DF is more than capable of taking day-one patches into account as part of the review process. There's no question that a lot of prominent outlets just didn't get the game in advance, whereas a lot of other publications - including the no-name blogs that often show up with the highest score on Metacritic - did. That's not to say the game is bad, of course, but it was clearly a 'managed' rollout.

Retr0gamer · 15-02-2023 4:40pm

Yep I take your points. I definitely think WB sent out copies to influencers way in advance as they are more likely to give positive feedback (and they probably cherrypicked influencers that they knew would be very positive). I saw a stream of the game on tik tok about a month before release.

Cordell · 15-02-2023 4:41pm

Reviews are great and the game is selling (#4 on Steam's most played games) so it's either people don't know/care about the controversy, or the other, darker, alternative.

15-02-2023 6:03pm

The amount of times I've typed up a comment on the JK Rowling controversy and ended up just deleting it before posting. This is my first ever comment on any media! Happy to contribute to the debate 😄

wotzgoingon · 15-02-2023 6:11pm

I bought a new GPU and got 33% off PC game pass code if anybody want's it. So that's three months for €19.99 instead of €29.99

I have no use for it since I already have it on Xbox.

I just said I'd put this here so someone can see it.

15-02-2023 6:31pm

What gpu did you get? I'm looking into a new build, as I always do from time to time but never pull the trigger.

wotzgoingon · 15-02-2023 6:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120244967#Comment_120244967

Red Devil 7900 XTX. I did have a reference 6900 XT but I sold it a month or so ago. I probably shouldn't have bought it as I'm currently looking to find a new place to rent but sure you only live once.

15-02-2023 7:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120245084#Comment_120245084

Well it doubles up as a blow heater so will probably save you a few bob on energy bills.

wotzgoingon · 16-02-2023 1:00am

Currently playing Rayman Origins. I have actually started it a long time ago and played a level here and there but still managed to make it roughly half way through. I wasn't really feeling it so as I said I played a level or two every day but I am really starting to enjoy it now and played for about two hours this evening.

Zero-Cool · 16-02-2023 1:01am

Found another incredible playthrough of Outer Wilds. I think this is the only game where I've been so invested watching a playthrough of something I already played and get to experience one of gamings greatest endings through a new set of eyes.

https://youtu.be/sCWGXgBcDtA

recyclops · 16-02-2023 12:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120244125#Comment_120244125

I had a load of MS points built up so picked it up free, tbh I was suprised at how well its been playing, puzzles are fun, combat so far has been good with a few little niggles on my side ( too many spells and space is limited).

I do tend to get tired and overwhelmed with copy and paste open worlds ( assassin creed oddyssey) but I think the wizarding world has enough little fun bits to keep me tipping over, will be interesting to see how it fars when I get to the 25+ hour mark.

Broom Travel actually makes it alot more fun similar to how web slinging in spiderman was alot more fun than horseback

Retr0gamer · 16-02-2023 12:50pm

Started up Deus Ex invisible war. Was a bit of an ordeal to get running and I'm only out of the tutorial level but I can really see already how so many PC gamers were so frustrated by it. It's so obviously dumbed down for console and the devs were obnoxious in saying it wasn't.

pixelburp · 16-02-2023 1:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120248038#Comment_120248038

IIRC it was also dumbed down to the point there was one ammo type too, right? Haven't played it since it was released many moons ago. Definitely a deeply inferior experience - though perhaps minus the Deus Ex moniker it might have had more favourable response? God looking at the cover and even that was so horrible, so generic.

Came out around the same time as Thief: Deadly Shadows - another game whose reputation was that of something dumbed-down - though arguably not to the sake extent (with some still iconic levels like Shalebridge Cradle)

Retr0gamer · 16-02-2023 2:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120248232#Comment_120248232

I get the feeling I'm going to enjoy it, it's just not going to match Deus Ex. But then again we have had so many immersive sims and nothing has come close to that game. The universal ammo is baffling as well. It actually reviewed really well but there was a lot of fan backlash.

Funnily enough it was a toss up between this and Thief 3 for what to play next. I'll hopefully get around Thief 3 later in the year.

SuperBowserWorld · 16-02-2023 4:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120246834#Comment_120246834

Don't forget Rayman Legends. One of my favourite games. Tried Origins but jumped off to something else. Must go back to it.

Jordan 199 · 16-02-2023 5:22pm

Has anyone here played the Hotline Miami games and are they worth playing?

wotzgoingon · 16-02-2023 5:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120249139#Comment_120249139

I have Legends ready to go. But tbh I think I will wait a while as there are a tonne of levels in Origins and I'm a bit worn out. The way I was playing it is probably the best way a level or two a day. Legends is probably the same though with a tonne of levels.

Retr0gamer · 16-02-2023 5:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120249317#Comment_120249317

Yep, loved the first game.

Second game seemed fun but was more of the same but tougher so never managed to beat it.

SuperBowserWorld · 16-02-2023 5:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120249342#Comment_120249342

Legends is full hd, incredible sound track, some amazing music based levels, and I think, some origins levels remastered ... so it's best to go from origins to legends I think and not the other way.

wotzgoingon · 16-02-2023 5:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120249448#Comment_120249448

I'm playing on my series X and do not find the graphics bad in Origins. I also have Rayman 3 HD but it is an Xbox 360 arcade game so 200 gamerscore points for playing the whole game which is a let down but that's how they done it back then. And the achievements are hard to get too. It's not a great game either even though they say HD in the title the graphics are sh*t. I started it years ago and got a decent way in and just stopped playing it.

pixelburp · 16-02-2023 6:41pm

Movie coming on Apple TV in March about the invention of Tetris and how it came to be on the Gameboy.

The trailer looks like they might be playing fast and loose with reality, but am intrigued all the same.

https://youtu.be/-BLM1naCfME

Mr Crispy · 16-02-2023 8:27pm

Roger Allam is unrecognisable as Maxwell there, who people forget played a huge role in the early years of the video game industry. Looking forward to this!

CatInABox · 16-02-2023 9:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120249684#Comment_120249684

Looks good actually.

As Mark Twain once said, "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story", so I don't really care about the accuracy.

Grumpypants · 16-02-2023 9:46pm

The rights issues that game had are pretty bonkers. There does seem to be some artistic licence for dramatic effect alright. But it's a great story all the same.

Retr0gamer · 16-02-2023 11:13pm

The BBC has a really good documentary about it which is well worth looking up. Far less car chases though.

Mal-Adjusted · 17-02-2023 1:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120248361#Comment_120248361

Treat it as a game in it's own right and try not to compare it to the first (a tough order, i know). a lot of consessions were made to squeeze it onto the original xbox, so the levels are much smaller with more loading screens, universal ammo and such. i think another reason was to get the graphics and really good light dynamics into the game. The themes that made Deus Ex are all still present, individualism vs the collective, overreach of government and big business, the illuminati pulling the strings. Give it a chance and you'll see that it's still very much Deus Ex.

It was an absoloute nightmare to get running on anything back in 2003/04, even now it still kills itself between levels and you have to hope it reloads.

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