Topic: What PS4 Games Are You Currently Playing?

@Th3solution I think we have been here before, but I can highly recommend Metro Exodus. It is not a true open world, and there some linear levels too. It is probably one of the most immersive games I can recall playing.

@Th3solution I know what you mean about throwing food out, we’re terrible for that. Must waste hundreds of pounds every year.

@Th3solution
@psmr
Shocking, I hardly throw any food out, I’ve even eaten yogurts over a year out of date and they were fine and I was okay as well.

@CaptD 🤣 that was no longer yogurt mate… that was a new form of cheese!

next week im going to be quite buy playing alot of WWE 2K23 since i just bought the game off of amazon.

showcase, MyRise will keep me busy in WWE 2K23 pretty much

Over the last week, I have started Subnautica. I'd seen part of a playthrough of the game a while ago when one of my favourite YouTubers played it. It intrigued me ever since then, but the survival aspect of it all led to me putting it off for a long while. It's not a genre I usually get invested in and find obnoxious more often than not. Some time ago, I found out that the PC version of it has a co-op mod that lets you play with one or multiple friends. It's imperfect since it's still in an alpha state, but it has worked well enough so far. This particular friend is a big fan of survival fare, so I figured that if I'd have any chance of enjoying it at all, he would be the perfect person to play along with.

So far, it turns out I was right! I'm having a good time with it. We've racked up a little over a dozen hours together so far, and I've become increasingly invested in seeing the full game play out. I've found that the survival aspects are fairly limited and manageable, which has helped tremendously with being able to enjoy the discovery aspects of the game. Sure, there's your typical food and water meters as well as the resource gathering, but it's all very straight-forward. Being surrounded by fish and water has made managing those meters rather easy instead of a total nuisance, and even more so once you start expanding your base and get more options to automate it. It also helps that my friend is totally focused on the base itself while I get to add little tidbits here and there and just focus on the exploration!

I do realise that it's somewhat ironic to play this game in particular in co-op. Not only because it's totally unintended, but also that it's supposed to evoke a sense of loneliness rather than co-operative play. Does that lessen the intent of what I'm supposed to be feeling while playing it? Maybe, but if it lets me enjoy a game that I might've otherwise had a hard time playing or finishing, I figure it's worth the exchange. The aspect that lets me enjoy this game more than most survival games is how it consistently feeds the player clear goals. New waypoints to go to and explore, constant progress in terms of what I'm able to build or achieve and a little bit of a narrative to go along with it all! It strikes the perfect balance between the survivalist urges of the genre along with my need for clear communication of what a game wants from me. No endless running around a forest, chopping down trees, only to eventually maybe find something worthwhile to do. No senseless upgrades to my tools just because they're supposed to be better. Everything I do has a clear reward I can then use to find new things to do and be rewarded by. That makes it a very gratifying gameplay loop.

We'll see if it manages to hold my attention through to the end, but having a friend along is bound to make just about every game more fun. Well, maybe that's an overstatement, but true for a lot of games in the rights genres nonetheless!

Started up DOOM (2016) this week.

It's such a cool feeling when you play a series from the beginning and finally arrive to the modern entries. I think it must've been 7-8 years ago since I played through DOOM 1. Then I played DOOM 2, DOOM 64 and DOOM 3. It's really cool to finally play 2016!

So far, the game is an absolute blast. The game is heavily reminiscent of DOOM 3, which isn't that weird since it was the entry before 2016. I guess I was expecting a different experience from 3. Moreover, the visuals are stunning and the overall gameplay flow is really good. The introduction of weapon mods is such a nice addition to the gameplay flow. I mean, being able to shoot an explosive round with the shotgun by holding down L2, instead of simply zooming in with L2 like you do in other shooters, is so satisfying. Combining that with frag grenades, melee and other weapons makes for a great flow.

However, I'm a bit worried that the game will get repetitive down the line. I'm already starting to feel that in all honesty. Hopefully the upgrades you get by exploring help alleviate that feeling.

Speaking of which, you really are rewarded for exploring in this game. Increased health/armour/ammo capacity, weapon upgrades, suit upgrades, enhanced abilities (runes), it's a great progression system. Although exploration can break up the pacing a bit too much at times.

But yeah, for me it's so cool that I'm finally playing this game after all these years. I'm looking forward to keep playing it.

@LtSarge Agree with you about following a series over multiple generations. Really helps you appreciate each big leap forward, viewing it through the same (or at least a very similar) lens.

Not surprised to see you praising the flow of 2016's DOOM. That's something I see a lot of folks mention, about how smooth and organic it all feels. When I watched some gameplay footage, it felt like something I could never be able to master, looked way too fast and fluid, like I was watching some pro-gamer speedrun or something! Like you before this past week, my experience with DOOM stopped after DOOM 3 and I'd always thought that the new games would be too much of a sensory overload. Seeing you sing its praises (repetition concerns aside) makes me wonder if I should reconsider that decision.

Here's hoping you continue to enjoy, and that it doesn't get repetitive! Thanks for sharing!

@Werehog I can see what you're saying with regards to the gameplay seeming way too fast. The thing is that I like to play at my own pace. However, if you do that in 2016, you'll die very quickly. The game even tells you that you have to keep moving at all times in order to avoid enemy attacks. So throughout my playthrough, I've actually gotten used to constantly moving around while shooting, throwing grenades, switching weapons and so on. And it's been an absolute blast, I can see now why this is considered one of the best, if not the best DOOM game. Everything just comes together so well. Not to mention the satisfying exploration and progression systems.

Also, the game will feel a bit repetitive in the later half, but the upgrades you get for your weapons do make the gameplay flow more refreshing so that it doesn't get too stale towards the end. I'm actually at the last level now after 8 hours of playtime, so the game certainly doesn't overstay its welcome. Looking forward to wrapping it up this evening.

@LtSarge That's helpful, thanks! Knowing that it's designed to be played in constant motion means I'll know what I'm signing up for, should I ever pull the trigger. I'm also glad that those weapon upgrades kept things just about fresh enough, and that it doesn't look like the campaign will outstay its welcome, either!

Good luck with what I'm sure will be a memorable final boss! DOOM games always have 'em!

@Werehog @LtSarge I enjoyed Doom 2016 when I played it a few years ago. It was the very first DOOM (and still the only one) I’ve played. It’s very kinetic and the constant motion makes for a really satisfying flow state once you grow accustomed to it. Actually, the game I’m playing right now, Saros (and its predecessor Returnal), remind me of my time with DOOM, in that regard. That is, the constant need to be in motion and firing frantically during combat. Of course there’s a major difference with it being first person rather than third person viewpoint, and the level design and storytelling are obviously way different with the roguelite elements vs DOOM’s more straightforward storytelling and progression.

As for DOOM 2016 getting too repetitive, I don’t recall that happening, and I think it’s largely because the game is relatively short and doesn’t overstay its welcome. In fact, one of the reasons I never played DOOM Eternal was because I heard it was a much bigger game and I don’t know if I am up for that much FPS pandemonium.

@Tjuz I think I missed this post about your trying Subnautica. It’s definitely good one to cleanse the palate between long Baldur’s Gate sessions. I fell off Subnautica after several hours, although I got some level of enjoyment for my time. This prompted me to look back and apparently I have a 36% trophy completion, so maybe I played more of it than I realize. Ultimately I think I didn’t click with the survival gameplay for the long haul and so my interest was pulled elsewhere (my very next game I played appears to have been A Plague Tale: Innocence so that tells you where my preferences are). Here’s hoping you can push through longer than I did. 😄

@Th3solution Appreciate your added insight on DOOM there, buddy, especially considering you came to the game cold, without the context of its predecessors. I think I have seen others draw a comparison with Returnal before, and there are plenty of other games I play where fast, fluid, reactive and responsive motion is an essential component to success. Again, I think my concerns stem from my brain telling me, "This is a DOOM game, so play it like you played the others!" You absolutely need to keep moving in classic DOOM, but nowhere near the speed and accuracy I saw in gameplay clips!

Methinks I'll add it to my wishlist and try it when it's less of a risk (and by that, I mean, when it's cheap).

@Werehog Yeah, I normally go for a slower paced combat style as my preferred gameplay (RE as you’re playing now coincidentally is a good example of the contrast) and I’ve never been all that good with twitchy reflexes, which only becomes more noticeable with each passing year. I get more out of games with rpg mechanics where I can get OP and/or use a little cunning or strategy to make my way through tough encounters. And preferably the game has a heavy emphasis on story to top it off. Also, my allergy to first person viewpoint is well documented. So DOOM was definitely a departure from all the things that I typically like. Nevertheless, I think it’s good to play games that stretch our interests, and sometimes it can lead to finding a new genre interest, or at least be a gateway to doing so.

I’m not sure that DOOM 2016 served to introduce me to a new world of gaming necessarily, but it was probably partly responsible for my openness to a more fast-paced gameplay. Would I have fallen in love with Returnal, Saros (Control also comes to mind as another faster-paced, motion-heavy game I loved) if I hadn’t been primed by DOOM? I don’t know. But it certainly didn’t hurt.

There’s still some ‘faster’ games that I simply can’t keep up with and don’t have the reflexes or reaction time for. I’m sure you’ll remember my failed attempt to get into Sonic with my trial of Sonic Mania. The need for twitch reactions was the main issue why I couldn’t get along with it. Another game series that I just didn’t feel quick enough for was Wipeout. I don’t remember which entry I tried but it was so fast that I couldn’t keep up and it just wasn’t fun for me. I’ve played other racing games before and not had a problem, (being a big fan of the Gran Turismo games) but Wipeout was just too much.

Anyway, not sure where I’m going with this, but I do think that your prior exposure to the DOOM franchise would probably serve to ease you into the chaotic gameplay of 2016 without too much trouble. Despite its requirements to play it differently and in constant motion, I think it was relatively forgiving. If I made it through it must have had difficulty sliders. As I looked back on my trophies, one caveat is that the game has a boatload of post launch DLC packs (looks like there’s 5 of them) which affect the trophy completion percentage. It’s a small pet peeve of mine and I know you like your trophy list to be organized so it’s something to consider. Regardless, if my information is correct, the game is currently on a steep sale, actually. It’s $4 (a 80% discount) for the rest of the week. It goes on sale frequently though, so it’s really no rush if you’re still undecided.

@Th3solution Well, I did end up finishing Subnautica in the last week. I honestly have to agree with your experience that the survival aspect of it really falls off as it continues. I think the opening hours where everything feels new and strange are its strongest. Much like with any horror game where you ran into an enemy one too many times, the depths and the horrors within it ended up being nothing more than decoration after some time. And once you hit that point, the survival aspects with the hunger and the thirst also start getting more and more annoying. Especially when you go deeper and deeper and you have to end up stocking more and more. Or make more bases at different depths and locations, but that then in and of itself takes up quite a bit of time for minimal reward!

I would say I still enjoyed it in the end, but clocking out at about 24 hours, I do feel I had my fill. I appreciate that it actually had real goals to work towards to and a narrative to accompany it, because otherwise I would've just felt aimless like I do with many other survival games. It's the saving grace of this one together with the fact that the survival stuff wasn't too much in the forefront for most of the game. The exploration is really the game's biggest strength, but you can only have so much exploration here until it feels like you've seen it all.

If it wasn't for modding in the co-op and playing it with a friend, I don't think I would've finished it. My playthrough would've ended much like yours in that scenario! Similar tastes and all. The aspect of playing it together is what added to my enjoyment enough to see it through fully, even with warts and all where there was the occasional disagreement or random server failure. All in all, an enjoyable enough time for some nice social gaming, but unlikely to be something I'll go out and rave to people about!

@Tjuz Congrats on Subnautica, although I’m glad to see that I didn’t miss much by jumping ship early. I’ll scratch it off the list of “Games I never finished that I need to return to.”

Also, underwater games are among my least favorite. I hate underwater swim controls. The floaty and imprecise movement is not fun. I’ve not met a game yet that has swimming sections that I actually enjoy. There are some which I can tolerate and don’t make me rage, but usually I’m just trying to get the swimming part complete as fast as I can so I can get back to walking, running, driving, etc.

@Th3solution Thank you for the tip about DOOM (2016) being in the most recent sale. I'm making an effort to limit my backlog at the moment (not helped by the fact that I now wanna add every Resident Evil game ever made) but you're right, it seems to be discounted on the regular, so I'm gonna keep an eye on it for when it's a better fit. It's a warm summer, so fast-paced shooting wouldn't be my first choice!

Also appreciate the warning about its trophies, and your consideration of my OCD in that regard.

While I may not be as allergic to the first-person perspective as you are, I most certainly chime with the rest of your opening paragraph up there, and agree that advancing my DOOM experience into 2016 and beyond would be something of a "let's shake things up a bit" choice, for sure. Knowing that its gameplay has helped you enjoy other things perhaps outside of your usual comfort zone is a huge positive, and makes me less hesitant to potentially waste those precious four bucks. I'm also nodding along at your reaction to the WipEout series. I keep meaning to return to Omega Collection and give it a second shot, because the best I seemed to be able to manage in my initial approach was, "crash gently enough to ensure that I can still limp my ship across the finish line". Sonic is different. For the most part, his short-ish levels are arguably designed to be explored, memorised, and then aced on subsequent runs. That, and it's all bright, colourful, upbeat and innocent stuff, so working through that cycle isn't as harrowing as being surrounded by gory monsters and dodging a gruesome death!

I'm replaying Uncharted Collection. Finished Uncharted 2 yesterday. Will start Uncharted 3 next in a few days.

@Th3solution Hm. I have to agree that swimming controls are more often than not infuriating than anything. I do think Subnautica was not one of the worst offenders on that front, except for a few select places. The swimming felt a lot like just walking in the water really. No special animations of you swimming or weird movement speeds/gliding manoeuvres. I appreciated that! Maybe not as realistic as possible, but what about this game is? The main place I had problems was exploring wrecks, where sometimes the camera and directions would get so jumbled up that I had no clue which way I was looking anymore. That's the type of swimming controls I'm more used to, and that was headache-inducing. Luckily that only accounted for maybe 5 minutes of gameplay across the full 24 hours, so I can deal with that! Either way, yeah, I can hardly advocate for you to keep it on your list to return to. I don't think you'll get anything more out of it than you did your first go-around. On the bright side at least, any dent in the backlog (for whatever reason) is a good thing!

@Tjuz Yeah, I have to be selective on what to include in the huge backlog. Games with a lot of underwater swimming are automatically at a disadvantage for a precious spot in the rotation.