I'm about 5 hours in and I don't see anything that makes a difference for when you start it to be honest. They're independent missions…so far anyway. I wouldn't worry about when to start it. It's just a new area on the map with new missions, you can still play the original games and fast travel to and from Dog Town.
Good point about it being made for $400 million, so it's meant to be as accessible as possible leading to dumdum-brain-hold-Mammy's-hand missions. They're terrified of alienating anyone which doesn't bode well for GTA6, given that supposedly is costing $2 billion to make. There will be zero risks taken in that game and they will look to railroad you into Shark Cards as soon as possible.
If there’s one thing Rockstar needs to focus on, it’s mission design. Their main mission formula has barely changed since the PS2 days. Sure, the graphics have improved and the action sometimes a bit more spectacular, but the whole ‘go to location, listen to dialogue along the way, then have extended shootout’ model was providing limited returns several console gens ago. They can mix things up and escalate the stakes for sure, but just so many cookie-cutter missions in between the good ones.
My biggest issue with rockstar missions is that on starting a mission the whole world is updated into a scripted instance. It means that everything that makes open world games so unique is just negated. So you have a bunch of linear mission that would be awful in a linear game.
And maddeningly they got this right with GTA 3. Sure there was some instancing but the world was still active and random which meant you could be inventive in how you approached missions.
Sega of America just seem more and more like absolute dickwads
It is the central tension in Rockstar games: they have the biggest, most lavish open worlds ever created, but are telling stories and designing missions that are entirely linear and ‘cinematic’ that are anything but open. A lot of open world games fall into that trap, but the Rockstar ones are the most egregious example.
There are a plethora of cool stories and things to find if you go off the main path in a typical Rockstar game - no denying that. But the often very long campaigns are glorified films - and, IMO, in that particular respect can’t hold a candle to 1) the films they’re drawing inspiration from nor 2) other action games more focused on linear, controlled experiences.
We need this but for videogames:
Namco released a new game on steam for free where you play as a Pomeranian spreading dirt in rooms. Looks like a lot of fun and has great feedback:
This is the kind of wild stuff that makes PC gaming so fun.
Even the name is great !
This is kind of amazing:
Tsungēmu would be a good rough attempt!
My first thought was Tsundoki-doki Literature Club, but I neither like that joke nor understand it. I just know that's a thing.
I completed Open Roads. Took about three hours from start to finish.
On this holy day let us all take a break from games and remember what really matters. Remember the one that died for our sins.
Amen Chu Chu.
Aaaaannnnndddd any good????
It's not a bad game, but it didn't blow me away like Road 96 and Life is Strange games.
My biggest issue was how short it was, that was the biggest surprise to me.
Thankfully it was on Game Pass so I didn't have to buy it.
Thanks man, might wait for a sale so. K was hoping it would be like road 96.
PSA - play Road 96 if you haven't yet, fantastic game.
Well, Phantom Liberty was a hell of a blast.
Definite improvement over the base game. Fast pace action, engaging plot, even the music is better.
I'd be happy if they churned out a DLC spider-man type sequel rather than wait 10 years for a full on sequel.
Bro made a custom trackball controller for FPS games using clay and 3d printing!
Short is good . Might give it a go tomorrow
Anyone else playing Rise of the Ronin? How are you finding it?
I am a bit disappointed, this game hasn't gripped me the same way Ghost Of Tsushima did. So many quests are just pure fluff. Go here and collect some berries. Take some photos. Meh. The combat is the only thing that saves it, but I'm struggling to stick with it.
The graphics are also really bugging me. It really does look very dated, like I'm playing a very early PS4 game. I don't need games to be visually stunning but this is annoying me as the story / quest structure doesn't make up for it.
I'm not sure I'll finish it.
Have it downloaded but haven't started as I picked Dragon's Dogma 2 to play instead. But from what I heard of Rise of the Ronin, a lot of reviews seem to class it as a fantastic PS3 game.
Plenty to like about the recent Team Ninja games, but I definitely wouldn’t go in expecting a Ghost Of Tsushima like AAA experience. They’re more a niche action studio making ‘AA’ titles, and honestly they’ve only recently managed to find a groove again after a lot of so-so titles post Ninja Gaiden.
Rise of the Ronin seems like they’re trying a bit to compete with bigger budget studios and open world games, which honestly makes me less interested in it. Their contemporary ballpark is b-tier Souls-likes with fun combat systems: this one sounds like that experience is diluted down by chasing other trends.
A game where you have to collect berries? I'm in!
The reviews seem fairly accurate to me based on my experience. The world just feels so sparse and bland. Hardly any NPCs walking around.
This is my first ever Team Ninja game.
The game is just full of fluff. Go here to get a camera. Go here and take some pictures.
The loot system is dumber than dumb, so much pointless crap. I pick up items that I don't even have much use for, I can light my blade on fire during a fight but doing so appears to make almost no difference to my damage. Similar with poison.
I haven't bothered with side quests, they are mundane. Same with the whole "free an area from bandits" crap. It's like they've tried to copy the absolute worst of Ubisoft.
Dave the Diver gonna be on ps plus day one this month. Absolutely wonderful news, can't wait to play it.
That's a coup for PS, wonderful title.
What's that condition called where you have important stuff to do, but buy a game for the backlog instead called ?
I've definitely got that. But only when a game is on sale/discount. 😆
The gamer's curse.
Tuesday
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