Topic: What PS4 Games Are You Currently Playing?

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy I played one of the Wonder Boy games on the Switch, and I quite liked it. But a lot of it has to with nostalgic reasons as i played the games on the Sega Master System (showing my age now lol).

@Arugula @Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy It is a follow up of sorts to Sega's Wonder Boy series, a remake of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap was released in 2017, which is the one I played on Switch. I think there was some complications with using the Wonder Boy name, so they called it Monster Boy instead.

@RogerRoger To this day I've yet to finish a Just Cause game. I really like all the dumb fun you can have but I find that repetition can set in quite quickly and I get a bit bored of the game. Which is strange considering it should be a blast to play.

@Kidfried I’m so glad I fluked a hole in one on the extreme course for the golf in YK2 as it was the only way I was ever going to get the top score.

I’m on chapter 11 and have done all side missions, completed the Majima Construction missions, got S rank in the coliseum, and done most of the Cabaret Club battles too. But there’s still so much to do... oh, and the actual story to finish too

@Kidfried The electric fence royal rumble was my go to for levelling up in the coliseum. One of the top tier battles only unlocks once you complete the Majima Construction main storyline and I read the other only unlocks when you complete all sub stories which sucks seeing as one of them is based around playing mahjong.

Nothing specific happened when reaching S rank either just so you know. But getting to higher levels gets you some extra guys for the Construction game.

My memory is pretty sketchy when it comes to the bosses of DS2 @Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy! I enjoyed the game way more then I thought I would, but some of the bosses are quite unremarkable compared to others in the series.

I'm currently playing Dead Cells. I usually go for something a bit different to what I was playing last (which was Tomb Raider) and it usually takes me a few goes on a few games to get my head in a game. DC was only the second game I played before it clicked with me. I kinda had an idea what type of game I wanted to play so that probably helped.
I actually pre-ordered it but could never get into as I was deep into another game, and my mind was not really into it. But I'm liking it so far, I've managed to pick it up again fairly quickly and get past a few levels. The combat and movement is superb, very fluid. I was feeling chuffed with myself as I had not died.... then I got squashed by a lift! 😂

@JohnnyShoulder At least there’s a trophy for that

@JohnnyShoulder I’ve got Dead Cells sitting in the backlog too. I occasionally think about trying it but then I decide to go somewhere else with my attention. It is unlike the games I usually play (that is, story driven third person action stealth games). In fact, my disdain for Metroidvania is well documented. But I hear this is very light on the Metroidvania characteristics and is an interesting mishmash of 2D Action Platforming, Roguelike, Metroidvania, and Soulslike. It intrigued me enough to pick it up on sale one day.
Is it easy to drop in and out of? Or is it the type of game with a steep learning curve and a lot of skill and complex gameplay mechanics that require unwavering dedication? If so I don’t want to try to start it until I can commit a couple weeks to it without distraction.

@Th3solution A really unhelpful answer would be that it’s somewhere between the two. It’s easy to pick up and have a run at the game but, especially early on, each run gives you a few upgrades and a bit more nous to get further than you did last time.

Once you’re at a decent level and know what you’re doing, you can get to the final boss in around 20mins.

It is quite an addictive feedback loop though trying to make that little bit further each time. The multiple routes that you unlock as you gain extra abilities only makes it even more replayable.

It is tough though and I’ve only managed one successful one but the final boss did feel as though it had been nerfed a little for the first run through.

@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy I think one of the main problems with DS2 was that the frame rate and weapon degrading was f'd up so weapons were not lasting as long as they should. That was all fixed by the time the remaster came along. Some of the bosses I found were too easy and a bit uneventful. The medusa and jabb the hut bosses stick out as being examples. Later on it does get better and the Mirror Knight is awesome. The dlc is excellent, some of the best areas in the series, with some puzzle elements thrown in. I've got the Artworks book, and it had quite a troubled background.

@Thrillho You do indeed! That did make me chuckle.
@Th3solution Further to what Thrillo said, your first few runs will probably be a bit confusing. But once you get to the merchants inbetween levels you can by upgrades which stay with you after death. This is up to you on what you buy, but they do make life a bit easier. These range from making your health potions stronger to saving an amount of coin when you die. There are quite a range of weapons and it pays to experiment with them. I made the mistake of sticking with a ranged weapon (you can have two equipped, plus two traps) which I had early on. I felt the difference immediately when I changed things up more in my next run. I got the the black bridge and fought the boss. He beat me but it did not feel unbeatable.

Had a little go on Space Hulk: Deathwing last night.

It's pretty much as expected, bit clunky, bit choppy, basic in terms of gameplay mechanics but actually rather nice looking and sounding - moody and plenty there to put a smile on a 40K fan's face.

It is, quite sadly lacking a proper photo mode, which is a massive, massive shame!

@RogerRoger Not really - there's a check-box option in the menus that just removes the majority of HUD elements (not markers for your companion Terminators or waypoints) but that's it.

@RogerRoger It is a shame. Potential for some great shots!
From what I've read over the past few months, the game is essentially abandoned now too, so any more patches are unlikely.

I started playing Concrete Genie today. I have just cleared the first area, which is more of a tutorial and setting up the game mechanics and objectives.
I certainly will be posting full impressions on the new review thread when I complete it, but I thought I’d post a couple first impressions.
I’m a little bit torn so far. In some ways the game seems phenomenal and in some ways it seems undercooked. The art and graphical design is both breathtakingly beautiful and jarringly dated appearing. The game does some innovative and technologically amazing things with painting custom murals that remain as permanent fixtures in the world which I’m sure is no small feat development wise; yet the basic character movement and simple jumping animation is almost alpha level looking in contrast. Reviews on the game ranged widely from 4-8/10 and I guess I can see why (although 4/10 looks to be ridiculously harsh from what I’m experiencing so far) But quite simply put, the game has a unique feel and great ideas and the core painting gameplay is well implemented and fun to do. I’m looking forward to continuing my playthrough.

@Kidfried Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good! Even written and video guides for the hard golf course have numerous holes where no one has a clue how to get anywhere near the hole. I still have the bingo one to go at some point..

General Kiwami thread: https://www.pushsquare.com/forums/ps4/yakuza_kiwami

@KratosMD Are you pushing for the vacant mod role?

But that’s fair enough seeing as the 3-5 remaster was announced since that thread started. Although you can never have too much Yakuza!

I've been a bit quiet on here for the last couple of weeks, but there has been some gaming going on. I finally started Shenmue II and I've finished the Hong Kong section and have just travelled to Kowloon.

Unlike the first Shenmue game, which I played to death back in the day, I've never really experienced the second instalment outside of a few brief goes. As a result, I was both nervous and excited at starting it, and it seems like both emotions were justified. It has aged badly in places, just like the first one, but if you can learn to ignore its issues (QTEs, Ryo's cumbersome movement, that massively punchable guy who you do the crate carrying with) it can be a relaxing, almost transcendent experience.

I think part of the reason it took me so long to get around to Shenmue II was because, at the back of my mind, I felt like it was all in vain, given that Ryo's story would never be continued afterwards. Now that the third game is happening (and is nearly here) I've completely immersed myself in it all. As a result, my hype levels for Shenmue III are rapidly starting to build. At this rate I'll be driving around in a forklift truck and spending all my wages on Space Harrier within a week.

@RogerRoger Yeah, you'll be fine. For me, the big thing was picking the right time to play it. It's best played when you're not in a rush, and are feeling forgiving. It can be very calming if you treat it as some sort of bizarre meditation game. The QTE's can do one though, to borrow your phrase. They were tolerable in the first game, but the sequel ups the quota significantly.

@RogerRoger Ha, yeah, it is a strange combination of soothing and infuriating. Whenever it starts to annoy me I go and play darts or buy capsule toys for half an hour.

I don't think I've ever looked forward to a game in the same way I'm looking forward to Shenmue III. I guess Sonic Mania was kind of similar. I just can't wait to get the game and lose myself in it. I was going to wait until Christmas, but I'm considering day one, if only for the inevitable hilarious bugs.

@Gremio108 I'll be with you on day 1 for Shenmue 3. It is my one and only game which I funded through Kickstarter. I've never played a Shenmue game before and I have no idea whether I'm going to like it or not!