General gaming discussion

johnny_ultimate · 08-03-2026 11:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297164#Comment_124297164

There's a popular adage that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. But that applies better to playing mediocre Ubisoft open world games than insanity.

Potential-Monke · 09-03-2026 11:38AM

Finished Minishoot Adventures yesterday. Still have some endgame content and another playthrough on Advanced to get the plat, but i thoroughly enjoyed my ~8 hours. An excellent mash of zelda-esque exploration, bullet hell (hell-ish) and metroidvania. It left me wanting more. Highly recommended.

Devs have come out and said they don't intend to make another, but hopes indie devs will use their blueprint to create more "TopHellVanias".

Retr0gamer · 09-03-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297882#Comment_124297882

Excuse me but I think you mean Guardian Legend homage!

🧐

Retr0gamer · 09-03-2026 11:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297882#Comment_124297882

Actually just discovered a really cool Guardian Legend game on steam called Astrolancer, might be interesting for you. It's doesn't look twin stick though and has that faux NES aesthetic and might be stuck on steam. Seems to be the closest to minishoot adventures so far. Minishoot adventures seem to be really highly regarded so thanks for the recommendation.

Potential-Monke · 09-03-2026 12:37PM

I'm no linguist so can't accurately describe these games. But MA exudes the love that was definitely there when it was being made. And by 2 French cousins, which is frankly amazing work by a team of 2(ish). Everything in the game works so well with each other. It's got a warm, soft feel to it. The graphics, music and smooth movement just merge into a joyful experience. My 8ish hours felt like more, in a good way. And I still want more.

Must give a few other ones a look now, including Astrolancer, but it is essentially a new genre (no one has heard of Guardian Legend!), so nothing will be quite like it i reckon.

Retr0gamer · 09-03-2026 12:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124298051#Comment_124298051

https://www.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/87.html

87 in IGNs top 100 NES games. It's pretty well known by old people like me.

Potential-Monke · 09-03-2026 02:11PM

I can barely remember 10 NES games, let alone 100! In my defence, I was 5 when it came out, so by the time I got my own i was well beyond it. And the rental place must not have had it. Then again, we had evolved to the SNES by then...

Andrew76 · 09-03-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297921#Comment_124297921

There’s generous demo on Steam for Minishoot, actually didn’t realise the game was out since 2024. I found it a bit boring tbh, not sure twin stick shooters lend themselves well to Zelda style games. Found it too slow paced and the aesthetic too mobile looking for me. Grateful for the demo though.

Retr0gamer · 09-03-2026 02:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124298264#Comment_124298264

Well I can't blame you. Because of how prolific US games journalism is you would swear we all grew up with a NES but in Europe the NES was not a popular system. It's was home computers and even the master system was more popular. It's a big enough game for people into the NES library but anyone with no interest in the library isn't really going to know it. It's very well regarded by people that do know the library.

However I would expect the gaming press to have some knowledge of the game. Even having a passing interest in NES games you'll come across it in best of lists.

SuperBowserWorld · 09-03-2026 05:44PM

NES was very expensive here. Also, PAL issues ...

In hindsight I wish I'd spent every spare piece of cash I had buying up all that stuff and leaving it sealed. 😁

Anois_ · 09-03-2026 06:42PM

That was some side mission I played in Hogwarts Legacy last night. The one where you get the shop.

During the boss battle and the game

world goes upside down

pure madness.

Potential-Monke · 09-03-2026 09:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124299025#Comment_124299025

That the Haunted Hogmeade mission? If so, hands down one of the best levels I've played in recentish memories. Was a PS Exclusive for a while too. If the second game learns anything, it should be more like that.

johnny_ultimate · 09-03-2026 09:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124297882#Comment_124297882

The only sensible next step is to jump straight into importing the PS4 port of DoDonPachi DaiOuJou. Join us.

Anois_ · 09-03-2026 09:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124299389#Comment_124299389

It was a good mission and a nice change but I wouldn't fancy playing a full game like that.

Zero-Cool · 10-03-2026 02:26PM

A toy site that tracks releases listed upcoming McFarlane toys that looks like there will be a fallout 3 remaster edition that comes with a nuca cola figure. Maybe I'm being optimistic to get me sweet points in the fantasy League.

ELITE EDITION 7IN – HELLDIVERS II – #14 SA-04 COMBAT TECHNICIAN

- ELITE EDITION 7IN – FALLOUT 3 REMASTERED – #13 T-45B NUKA COLA

- MARVEL GAMES COLLECTION 1:10TH – WOLVERINE (WOLVERINE GAME VER.)(GOLD LABEL)

Frisbee · 11-03-2026 05:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124287508#Comment_124287508

I only played it recently and agree thought it was fantastic. Finished the story and did a decent amount of the side quests and thought it was one of the better RPGs I've played in recent years.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124288148#Comment_124288148

Yeah from what I've read they've updated the map and also changed the story slightly as well.

EoinMcLovin · 12-03-2026 11:35AM

Game looks crazy

https://youtu.be/VWIw_f8e9Pg?is=tupSqHqBpTrbDLn9

Potential-Monke · 12-03-2026 11:39AM

You know the industry is bad when a trailer like that will be met with skepticism. I. Am. Excite. That trailer gives me good vibes. Please be good!!

TitianGerm · 12-03-2026 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306355#Comment_124306355

Looks to be very well optimised on PC as well.

Potential-Monke · 12-03-2026 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306379#Comment_124306379

Optimised so well that they've confirmed a GTX 1060 can run it. The benefit of an in-house engine vs UE!

Retr0gamer · 12-03-2026 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306389#Comment_124306389

Unreal engine: Nice AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D you got there. Would be a shame if we only used one of those 16 threads and tied it down by pushing all the shader caching to that one thread.

johnny_ultimate · 12-03-2026 01:03PM

No doubt Crimson Desert seems like a tech showcase (possibly the best draw distance we've seen in a game?), but the game design sounds a mix of genuinely cool and deep combat, deathly dull open world nonsense, a basically incoherent mix of styles and influences, and some truly baffling / bad decisions thrown in for good measure. The stuff around the 'memory helmet' in the SkillUp preview (around 18:20 in the video below) should never have made it anywhere near a finished game. And the puzzle / physics stuff sounds pretty awful.

I am pretty certain the game is going to be a monster hit, but currently am extremely skeptical it will be particuarly good. Happy to be proven wrong if it does turn out properly great, as it seems like there's the guts of a good game here hindered by wanting to be absolutely everything at once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23HmgyUGDik

CatInABox · 12-03-2026 01:18PM

I saw far too many minigames in that launch trailer.

recyclops · 12-03-2026 01:29PM

Looks like its going to be a jack of all trades and a master of none, it will be a hit for sure but I cant see it not getting lost in the plethora of other open world games and be forgotten about in a whiles time. Pretty much a reskinned Horizon, Hogwarts, Phoenix rising.

Not a witcher, red dead, BOTW, cyberpunk or elden ring which carved their own niche in a populated genre for story/ game play and are lauded as best in class

Potential-Monke · 12-03-2026 01:32PM

I'm gonna presume you can ignore a lot of the mini games, like you can do in most games. So long as they're not constant and forced, it can have as many as they want. I'm on a CD blackout now until I play it myself. Didn't watch the above video, just the launch trailer and that's enough to excitedly keep me going till next Thursday.

recyclops · 12-03-2026 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306608#Comment_124306608

Yeah that death by UI is shocking and his mention of the conversations and objectives does sound like they are pointless missions and not witcher 3 red baron style

Retr0gamer · 12-03-2026 01:42PM

Me thinking about those delicious counter pick points for Crimson Desert:

johnny_ultimate · 12-03-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306676#Comment_124306676

No problem whatsoever with people being excited about the game - I think plenty of people will like it! But I'm surprised anybody would rather just watch a 90 second ad of brief, disparate gameplay clips over someone sharing their experience of actually playing the game.

There are exceedingly few if any games I'd play (or buy) without at least hearing some critical or player feedback on the game. Maybe a tiny indie game, but definitely not a AAA blockbuster everybody is going to be talking about.

Retr0gamer · 12-03-2026 01:47PM

I get the feeling Crimson Desert is going to be like Mad Max, a solid 7/10 game that will really appeal to a few people. It looks way too messy with way too many ideas but I've also really enjoyed overly ambitious games in the past that don't stick the landing. The open world aspect is my videogame kryptonite so I'll be steering clear but I imagine it will amass a very passionate fan base that will tell everyone it's the best thing ever.

johnny_ultimate · 12-03-2026 01:58PM

While I'm sure it'll do plenty of business in the West, I would expect it'll be a Korean (and potentially wider East Asian) market that really drives it to 'megahit' status regardless of the final quality. There's a huge PC audience there, and a clear interest in more local productions. I'd be expecting high Steam numbers on that basis.

Not knowledgeable enough to know how Chinese audiences respond to Korean-made games though!

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