liqmat wrote on 2024-10-06, 21:33:

Crysis 2. Have been playing this game over multiple years. I'd play a little, get distracted and save, continue from said save six months to a year later. So probably around six to seven years now. I think I'm nearing the finish line? Anyhoo... loved the original Crysis and Warhead and I had heard the second one was just meh. TBH... I'm loving it like the first. Looks drop dead gorgeous imo even though it's pushing towards 14 years old.

Only ever played Crysis 2 once through, but I seem to remember the levels being really linear and limited compared to the first game. I wonder if it might have suffered from some consoleization when it was produced...

liqmat wrote on 2024-10-06, 21:33:

Crysis 2. Have been playing this game over multiple years. I'd play a little, get distracted and save, continue from said save six months to a year later. So probably around six to seven years now. I think I'm nearing the finish line? Anyhoo... loved the original Crysis and Warhead and I had heard the second one was just meh. TBH... I'm loving it like the first. Looks drop dead gorgeous imo even though it's pushing towards 14 years old.

The Crysis games highlight the importance writing to me. They were a must play back in the day if your system could handle them, but I have no desire to revisit them these days now that I can choose from a bunch of games with great graphics.

It's been a while since I've played any of them, but I remember losing interest in the original Crysis as I got further along the story. Still enjoyed the gameplay, but I had more fun earlier on in the game. Crysis 2 was so unremarkable for me that I can't even remember if I finished it.

I started my third attempt at Baldur's Gate 3. For the third time in a row I ended up playing basically a total asshole - it always happens, I start out trying to do a Good or at least a Neutral run but the entire cast of NPCs in the game are so fucking annoying and unlikeable I end up killing half of the companions and finding myself not even slightly bothered by merrily slaughtering the entirety of the Druid Grove, and then the Goblin hideout, and the Githyanki creche, because fuck it they are all assholes. The only person I don't kill is Mynthara because if you aren't banging Shadowheart until you get to upgrade to Mynthara in Act 2 you are playing this game wrong. At least this is how it has turned out for me, for the third time..

Ensign Nemo wrote on 2024-10-07, 06:26:

It's been a while since I've played any of them, but I remember losing interest in the original Crysis as I got further along the story. Still enjoyed the gameplay, but I had more fun earlier on in the game. Crysis 2 was so unremarkable for me that I can't even remember if I finished it.

I never got far into the first crysis, but the impression was a bit far cry with amazing visuals and interactions (at the time), i'd have a real playthrough some time but maybe shouldn't set my expectations too high

gerry wrote on 2024-10-04, 08:13:

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-10-01, 10:31:

Continuing on with Half-Life 2. I had no problems with motion sickness in this game until I got to the level with the airboat, then it hit me hard.

I found HL2 fine, and most newer games too - there are some, like some 3d jump/puzzle types where the swirling camera is too much though. From back in the day i always got a motion sick feeling from playing SiN! Still did when i tried a while back, not sure what it is about that game.

Well i was interesting in playing again and this time i see what you mean, the airboat did cause a little motion sickness feeling this time, i think because i knocked into a few things setting the camera spinning - last time i was more cautious

Also realised just how long that whole section is! I prefer the buggy section. Also, i dont really like the ravenholm level - its well done but feels like another game and little gimmicky. As i said before i'd have liked more time at the start, before being "discovered", to blend in and learn a little more about the world as it was now, interact with more NPCs and so on. I liked the early part of the escape from the city though

gerry wrote on 2024-10-07, 12:55:

Ensign Nemo wrote on 2024-10-07, 06:26:

It's been a while since I've played any of them, but I remember losing interest in the original Crysis as I got further along the story. Still enjoyed the gameplay, but I had more fun earlier on in the game. Crysis 2 was so unremarkable for me that I can't even remember if I finished it.

I never got far into the first crysis, but the impression was a bit far cry with amazing visuals and interactions (at the time), i'd have a real playthrough some time but maybe shouldn't set my expectations too high

I think it's a decent shooter. People who played it back then tend to be a bit more dismissive about it because with its system requirements you couldn't max out the graphics in full HD until the Fermi/TeraScale2 and even on those only on the high-end dual GPU models, unless 30fps was enough for you. And that's a good 3 years after the game released. Full HD 60FPS was more or less out of the question on a budget friendly card was out of the question until like the Maxwell/GCN2. That's something that can make people bitter about the game.

Ensign Nemo wrote on 2024-10-07, 06:26:

It's been a while since I've played any of them, but I remember losing interest in the original Crysis as I got further along the story. Still enjoyed the gameplay, but I had more fun earlier on in the game. Crysis 2 was so unremarkable for me that I can't even remember if I finished it.

This. Crysis and even the original Far Cry started out strong for me and towards the last 1/3 of those games it grew tiring. Warhead was good fun. I think I'm enjoying Crysis 2 so much due to the very slow burn. Breaking it up over numerous years probably did the trick. Far Cry 2 on the other hand. Oh boy... don't get me started. Looking forward to Crysis 3 eventually.

Edit: The more I think about it. Being that Far Cry came from the bones of the X-Isle tech demo, that probably is what the original Far Cry needed towards the end. A dinosaur twist.

appiah4 wrote on 2024-10-07, 11:54:

I started my third attempt at Baldur's Gate 3. For the third time in a row I ended up playing basically a total asshole - it always happens, I start out trying to do a Good or at least a Neutral run but the entire cast of NPCs in the game are so fucking annoying and unlikeable I end up killing half of the companions and finding myself not even slightly bothered by merrily slaughtering the entirety of the Druid Grove, and then the Goblin hideout, and the Githyanki creche, because fuck it they are all assholes. The only person I don't kill is Mynthara because if you aren't banging Shadowheart until you get to upgrade to Mynthara in Act 2 you are playing this game wrong. At least this is how it has turned out for me, for the third time..

I like your style!

appiah4 wrote on 2024-10-07, 11:54:

I started my third attempt at Baldur's Gate 3.

I'm kindof interested in this game because of the rave reviews, but Original Sin 2 - which also got rave reviews - I find to be an annoying grind, so I suspect I'll be wasting my money. I'll wait for a very deep sale.

Here's this game. My saves are lost again. The console turns off correctly, the battery is OK. My nephew's save has been working well for several years now, mine has been lost for the third time.

liqmat wrote on 2024-10-07, 13:47:

This. Crysis and even the original Far Cry started out strong for me and towards the last 1/3 of those games it grew tiring. Warhead was good fun. I think I'm enjoying Crysis 2 so much due to the very slow burn. Breaking it up over numerous years probably did the trick. Far Cry 2 on the other hand. Oh boy... don't get me started. Looking forward to Crysis 3 eventually.

I don't remember what the creatures were called towards the end of Far Cry, but I remember I was literally 80-90% through the game and there was this jungle section with said creatures that I just could NOT get past. After 20+ attempts, I rage quit and never loaded the game again.

Add me to the list of people initially really impressed with Crysis, but losing interest after the first 1/3 of the game.

Cheers!

Calombuti wrote on 2024-10-08, 10:10:

Here's this game. My saves are lost again. The console turns off correctly, the battery is OK. My nephew's save has been working well for several years now, mine has been lost for the third time.

I found my Zelda Gold cartridge after 30 years in my mom's attic and my save game was still on there and working. 🤣. And I wasn't interested in playing it. Sucks about your savegame. 🙁

badmojo wrote on 2024-10-07, 22:54:

appiah4 wrote on 2024-10-07, 11:54:

I started my third attempt at Baldur's Gate 3.

I'm kindof interested in this game because of the rave reviews, but Original Sin 2 - which also got rave reviews - I find to be an annoying grind, so I suspect I'll be wasting my money. I'll wait for a very deep sale.

It has some shared taste issues with Original Sin series. I also hated that, and a lot of my dislike bleeds into BG3 for similar reasons (hence why I tend to just kill everyone in this game..) but overall the game is an experience worth having. Larian have indeed gone above and beyond in taking into account an incredible amount of possibilities that may change every encounter.

King's Bounty Crossworlds. Works on Windows 2000 and with a 1600x1200 screen. Glorius.

I've been playing a lot of this game called "Necesse" over on Steam.

It's a "survival craft" exploration game in a similar vein to titles like Terraria and Minecraft, but using a top-down perspective. I really love the pixel art style of the game, as well as the games mechanics. The developer has put a lot of work into the game, and it shows. I really enjoy the way they setup "automation" in the game. You can build settlements, recruit settlers, and they can take care of most of the "tedious" things you don't have time for, like farming, cooking, animal husbandry, forestry, all to build up your supplies. They can be micro-managed or let to their own devices. They can also be outfitted with weapons and armor to help defend your settlement.

Another cool thing is you can wire up traps and other things using the games built-in logic systems. The dev has it setup like a basic circuit, using sensors, timers, logic gates, etc. You have a great deal of control over how you play the game, and I really like that.

In short, it's just a lot of fun! 😀

clueless1 wrote on 2024-10-08, 10:34:

I don't remember what the creatures were called towards the end of Far Cry, but I remember I was literally 80-90% through the ga […]
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liqmat wrote on 2024-10-07, 13:47:

This. Crysis and even the original Far Cry started out strong for me and towards the last 1/3 of those games it grew tiring. Warhead was good fun. I think I'm enjoying Crysis 2 so much due to the very slow burn. Breaking it up over numerous years probably did the trick. Far Cry 2 on the other hand. Oh boy... don't get me started. Looking forward to Crysis 3 eventually.

I don't remember what the creatures were called towards the end of Far Cry, but I remember I was literally 80-90% through the game and there was this jungle section with said creatures that I just could NOT get past. After 20+ attempts, I rage quit and never loaded the game again.

Add me to the list of people initially really impressed with Crysis, but losing interest after the first 1/3 of the game.

Cheers!

I played Far Cry about 20 years ago (time flies!) and had a similar experience. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I remember reaching a section with an insane difficulty and I eventually gave up. I think I had to cross a map populated with a bunch of mechs. I was enjoying the game until that point.

I played a little Empire Earth. There are many strategies involving optimising tech, rushing units and all that - but i just like getting the resourced going and walling my tribe in while we advance 😀

I'd like a similar game, with the same pan historical features but with even more resource variants, civilisation and tech options. Rise of Nations was pretty good. I never found any as good as these two (EE2,3 weren't), maybe you know of some? the "RTS with historic progression" genre seems a late 90' early 2000's thing, but then i dont keep up with games that much

Ensign Nemo wrote on 2024-10-08, 18:00:

I played Far Cry about 20 years ago (time flies!) and had a similar experience. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I remember reaching a section with an insane difficulty and I eventually gave up. I think I had to cross a map populated with a bunch of mechs. I was enjoying the game until that point.

I know the spot, I was stuck there for a while in my playthrough a couple of years ago. Took many attempts but got through eventually, and glad I did, as If I recall that's just before the game end.

Secret of the Silver Blades
I decided to pick this back up again after not playing it for months and was able to put a few hours into it. It's quite a disappointment compared with Pool of Radiance (or even Curse of the Azure Bonds), but thanks to the excellent Gold Box engine is okay so far.
It's sort of an attempt at a dungeon crawler in the Gold Box engine, which is an interesting concept but not handled particularly well here. The "sprawling" dungeon levels are in fact constructed from a limited set of segments due to a quirk of the engine, and there are very few unique encounters, so things get very repetitive and dull after five or six levels of this. There's also a "megadungeon" connecting all the individual areas, but it is similarly dull and repetitive.
Having said all that, it's still a decent game and I think I sort of soured myself on it by forcing myself to complete several dungeon levels in a single session. It would probably be better to space the game out a bit so that the repetition is not so noticeable. However, I do want to finish this game by the end of the year, because SotSS is widely regarded as a low point for the Gold Box series and I'm looking forward to playing either Pools of Darkness (I'll probably generate a new party for this, since my legitimately-rolled party is probably not capable of finishing that game) or starting the Krynn series.

Mechwarrior 5

A few years after wrapping up my involvement in the 4th Succession War, I got recruited to fight in the liberation of the Rasalhague Republic. It did not go well. I hung in there as best I could, but about 3 missions short of the end, my resources were tapped out. All my assault mechs were in the shop, several of my pilots had been killed, and I was stuck on a mission that was a gauntlet of mech combat. So I had to walk away from the campaign. But I kind of like how this is handled. You don't have to reload saves, or any funny business. You just choose to abandon the campaign, and back to the sandbox you go. You tried. Whatever rewards you got for as far as you got you keep.

I think the Dragon's Gambit campaign is up next, we'll see how that goes. Scanning over it, the tonnage limits for the missions seem more medium/heavy focuses as opposed to all assault all the time. But I think I'm going to focus more on the actual story campaign I'm supposed to be doing? Except I'm all the way up in Draconis space and that's way down in Marik territory, so I may hit some hot spots along the way. Bills have to be paid after all.

It has been satisfying building up my stable of mechs. I've shifted from selling everything I'm not using to pay the bills, to throwing them in cold storage just to have more spares, versatility, and scratch the collector's itch. I try to only eat what I kill, but I caved and bought several assault mechs when their salvage cost was just way higher than anything I ever had. It was the rare mission that let me even negotiate for more than 30 salvage shares, and assault mechs always seemed to be just a few more points than I ever had. So I bought an Atlas, a proper Awesome, and maybe one more though I forget. Got a pretty awesome hero variant of a Corsair as a mission reward. Hadn't fucked around much with the mech rifles in the game because of their long reload times, but woah boy. You ever want to reach out and rip a mechs arm off from across the map, that is how you do it. They aren't quite hitscan, but they feel close.