gehenna: I finished it. I'm wrecked.

How many hours did it take you?

I am enjoying it, but finding combat a bit tricky. I have a love-hate relationship with stealth in games. In some genres like say sandboxes, where you need to take down bases, taking out people from a distance, is fun. In this game, the margins for detection seem very low. Sometimes it's easier to just go in guns blazing almost.

32 hours

I  am pretty deep into TLOU2 now, not sure exactly how far through I am. 

I am really enjoying the game, it so far feels like it could be one of the greats, however, I am still finding the combat (somewhat) annoying. I am not sure quite what my issue is with it, perhaps slightly contrived might describe it? Creeping around in the dark, the fact that there are times where your "hearing" doesn't reveal enemies. I know why they have done it that way, but I don't personally enjoy that type of jump out of your skin type combat experience....

What they have achieved from a story telling perspective is pretty special, though one MAJOR issue for me is that it's often hard to hear the characters talking. I have a very good sound system, and often I am struggling to hear what people say, also the interaction bubble sometimes goes away and you end up missing key parts to a story or what not. I get they are trying to simulate real life where if you walk away or don't face someone, their voice is less clear, but for a game which is as much about it's story as anything else, sometimes it's nearly impossible to be near enough people to hear.

@networkn Does it have switchable subtitles?

eracode:

 

@networkn Does it have switchable subtitles?

 

Probably, never occurred to me to use them LOL :)

I may enable them.

Absolutely loving Assassin’s Creed Origins - everything about it. Perhaps not a truly AAA game but extremely well done in pretty much every respect - right up my alley. I’m wringing everything I can out of it - side-quests, collectibles etc. Probably about halfway through and already eyeing-up the two DLCs.

eracode:

 

Absolutely loving Assassin’s Creed Origins - everything about it. Perhaps not a truly AAA game but extremely well done in pretty much every respect - right up my alley. I’m wringing everything I can out of it - side-quests, collectibles etc. Probably about halfway through and already eyeing-up the two DLCs.

 

Odessey is even better in my opinion. I'd skip the DLC and move to that :)

How's everyone feeling about Cyberpunk 2077? I was pretty excited initially, but I am now starting to wonder if it's a smidge too ambitious, or it will end up being like RDR2, and a bit of a grind fest.

Sometimes, in my opinion, these games can end up lacking .... engagement? It's a little like eating at Pasture restaurant, yes, technically it's probably innovative and original and bleeding edge, but it's not "nice" food. I go to a restaurant to eat food that tastes good, great if the service is good, great if the ambience is present, great if it's comfortable, but mostly, I want good food. Some games feel like they aren't "fun". I am concerned there may be an element of that in it.

Have you checked your audio settings?  It's a highly configurable game.  I had mine set to stereo via my soundbar and it sounds fine.  Only one scene in particular near the end where someone went outside and I didn't hear them fully, but that was by design I believe.  

I wouldn't beat yourself up about the combat.  It's a forgiving game depending on your play style.  I personally am not great at stealth so I get to clear about half of the enemies in an area and then I get caught and the rest of the encounter is manic.  Which I think could be quite realistic really.  

It's an impactful story, I'm still consistently thinking about it nearly a week later.  

re: Cyberpunk - with the pedigree of The Witcher behind them, and having been worked on for 8+ years, I am confident the game will be fully immersive and well thought out.  

The Witcher probably isn't the best example to use in my mind, because I've tried 4 times to play it and keep getting "bored" and then having to come back to it. I do think it's a good game, but halfway through I had really more or less lost the story completely. I almost never use oils or any of that stuff, it's rare it's truly ever needed and just feels like a way to fill more of the game in.

I am not a fan of games with too many moving parts these days. I used to like Civ, but recently you have to keep track of so many different things, it feels like a chore. I guess as a casual gamer as opposed to prior to kids, I just want something I can sit down and have fun with right away.

I'll be buying it, no doubt, I just hope it's good fun.

Just Cause 4 had a hella impressive physics engine, you could be VERY inventive on how you killed people and achieved game goals, but after 2 hours of playing with it, I was done with that part of it and just played it the same way I did with JC3.

YMMV...

Your point was lack of engagement.  My example is widely regarded as one of the most engaging games ever made, and based on that pedigree I suspect Cyberpunk will be the same, but your level of engagement is directly dependent on your willingness to engage.  The options are there, it's up to the player to do something with them.  Whether you do or don't is rarely a shortcoming of the game itself.  

Two games I had held of on are on sale on steam at the moment so I bought them both over the weekend.

Borderlands 3 & Doom Eternal.

Haven't started Doom yet but I know I'll like it.

Borderlands 3 feels like the pre sequel never existed and I've racked up 9 hours already. Loving it so far. I do feel like the graphic style limits it a bit so that the latest installment just feels like it's the same graphically as all the rest, but that doesn't stop me enjoying it.

Right now I think I have to go back and do all the side quests I mostly ignored because it's getting hard and all the weapons I'm picking up are 2-3 levels too high for me to equip. The perils of rushing through in one long session I think.

Finished TLOU2 over the weekend. First game in a long time I have devoured from start to finish and have found myself thinking about whilst at work,

Thought it was great - story maybe not quite as impactful as the original, but worked very well in delivering what I think it set out to do and as far as the mechanics and AI behaviour were concerned, it was a huge improvement.

Technically it is a masterpiece IMO - a fitting swan song for the PS4 and looks/sounds incredible in 4k (1440p really?) and HDR. The world building deserves special mention too - all the little details; the rubbish, the graffiti, the shops, the evidence everywhere of a civilisation collapsed. *chefs kiss*

eracode:

 

Absolutely loving Assassin’s Creed Origins - everything about it. Perhaps not a truly AAA game but extremely well done in pretty much every respect - right up my alley. I’m wringing everything I can out of it - side-quests, collectibles etc. Probably about halfway through and already eyeing-up the two DLCs.

 

I've been replaying all the AC games of late whilst waiting for the next thing (no idea what that will be...). I'm on my 3rd go now with Origins and it confirmed it's my least favourite in the series. This is on the back of Kotaku recently ranking all the AC games and placing Origins at #1. I just don't get it. The combat isn't nearly as engaging, the character never gets much depth and the side missions do nothing to help develop it either. It just feels very disjointed. 

Conversely, Odyssey rocketed straight to #2 on my all time gaming list behind the Mass Effect trilogy. I believe that game works best when you play as Kassandra. Her voice acting and facial expressions are incredible, the best avatar I've had the pleasure to control in a game. I sunk 150 hours into Kassandra on my first play through and all the DLC's, then went through the main story again as Alexios and it was a completely different experience. He comes across more of a classic boof-head the way his voice is pitched and delivered. Kassandra really captures that feeling of an underdog who rises to true Demigod status. Love that game. 

Incidentally, Odyssey came in at #3 on the Kotaku list, Black Flag was #2.