Topic: What PS5 Games Are You Currently Playing?

@Tjuz oh, and you mentioned the co-op. How easy in reality is it to run a co-op game like that? My experience of online gaming has mostly been, at one time doing Battlefield/cod as a 2 person sniper team (fun but that was the younger gamer version of me and those type of games were so toxic outside of that) and sports games in a team, mostly football and mostly concerned with scoring sexy team goals and messing about. But never an RPG. I can't imagine it being easy to work out. I mean, I tend to leave turn based games 'paused/open while afk for long stints which wouldnt be fun for others for a start 😂 but I always think there would be lots of fun to be had in the moments where all players are actually active.

Do you ever plan stuff or would you surprise the other player with your actions and kind of improvise?

@Tjuz Sorry for the late reply, been a hellish couple of days at work…I actually felt the exact same way after that first foray with the gravity boots! It’s worth mentioning that I never had that level of disorientation with any of those sections again, and I thought they were actually used to great effect in a later boss encounter. Not sure if the sections were just better designed or what. Hopefully it works that way for you as well.

The game gives answers but just not necessarily definitive ones. For instance, you’ll find everyone seems to have their own idea of what exactly initiated The Change. At the end, I didn’t find answers frustratingly lacking but there are definitely aspects left open to interpretation. If you’re not into that you may be left somewhat unsatisfied. I don’t want to spoil anything but there is a sort of meta thing that’s cool with NG+. It’s worth exploring if you happen to fall in love with the game. Also, I’ll gladly swap theories around when you’re done 😄

Sometimes, if it’s possible, it’s totally valid to just leave enemies in the dust. I think I know the section you’re talking about and I did the same thing. Greedy hands 😬

@Ravix Psychopathic tendencies? Who, me? (Don't cross me like Pandirna did.) 😉

I didn't know that ''Torturer'' perk existed at all! Maybe that would've saved me the first time around, but alas... too late for that now, haha. I'm glad you're enjoying the game for now at least. It's gonna take you a while to get through if you do end up committing to the bit. Good luck with that and keep us updated on your progress if so!

As for the co-op, I think it's fairly painless as an experience as long as you have someone with you who is equally patient and interested in the role-playing of it all. It's definitely not the type of game where you just find someone online to play with quickly. It needs to have some structure, and more importantly, two people whose schedules fall in line! I think they're incredibly fun to experience together. Not much different from what I imagine having a weekly D&D session might be like with a group, just with more limitation on your narratives.

I found the way the first game handled choices in a group setting to be quite fun. Essentially, you both got to vote for whatever choice/dialogue option to choose. If you both agreed, perfect! It's gonna play out with that option. If you disagreed however, it would roll a dice to decide whose decision was chosen. It still is better to find someone who you will largely agree with of course, as to not get frustrated with the game constantly continuing with options you didn't want to choose. For the few times where you might totally disagree however, that was a fun way to handle the multiplayer experience that made sure you couldn't really get mad at each other for whatever was chosen. The game decided in the end and took all responsibility from the two of us! As I said though, it didn't happen often, and I'm sure it would be a lot less fun if you were not as like-minded. The second game instead just made it so that whoever initiated the conversation with their character got to decide and the other person practically just watched as it unfolded. Nothing necessarily wrong with that since it results in largely the same experience except for the times you might disagree, but I did like the first game's approach more where it felt like you were both actively involved in the conversation.

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@Metonymy No worries! Hope everything's slowly but surely returning back to normal at work. I'm glad to hear that that experience with the gravity boots doesn't repeat. Not sure who decided to design the first ever exposure to that mechanic in that way, but they need to reflect on their life choices. I'm excited to see what boss encounter making good use of it!

I suppose I'm fine with receiving some answers, even if it's still left up to interpretation. As long as I have something to grasp onto narratively! I'll be happy to theorise about whatever is left up in the air once I get to it. I don't think I'll go for whatever (presumably) extra ending comes with NG+, but I'll definitely look it up once I roll credits. It would be fun if NG+ would be a new protagonist, where your first playthrough is now a Predecessor. I doubt it's that though, since that seems like a lot of overhauling for a new playthrough.

@Tjuz interesting. I would have thought first come first serve was more fun than the one you actually prefer, as it means you get to kind of mess with the co-op partner a little bit. Like flip the script and improvise, make independent decisions like an independent person may well do. Obviously it would require some communication of, 'no, you can talk to this one, I trust you' etc. But being free to make individual mistakes and get through it together seems more realistic a way to do it from my outsider perspective 😄

I'm still so tempted to try and organise an all bard party coop on BG3, but the logistics of it would be a nightmare. Especially having zero D&D experience in a real setting and my afk and slow play style would be a nightmare for others. And the temptation to temporarily break role and just try to see what happens if I do something stupid knowing in single player I could just save and go back. If that was the agreed parameters it could work, if all 4 were purposely trying to push things to amuse the others. And bards do kind of suit that one-upsmanship dynamic 👀

Oh, you will be glad to know I also found a new face to worship in DoS2!

So big, so face!

@Th3solution you'll like this one. So I was playing a bit of DoS2 after l8stening to a bit of Sword of Destiny. And I talked to this NPC and I was like... wait a minute... that's... Peter Kenny 😂 my mind is now blown. Apparently (google rabbit hole) he voices... a LOT... of the DoS2 NPC's. But this one was exactly the same voice from the audiobook I just had on and I was double taking thinking I was imaging it. Games are badly credited online, but you can tell it's him.

Were you a divinity player of old? I can't remember now? It's kind of freaky when you stop one and go directly into the other. I cannot escape and he will become my internal monologue at this rate! 😅

@Voltan How is Skate Story? I saw a review on The Guardian randomly and saw some videos and I've got it wish listed now.

@Thrillho I like it a lot. Can't say I'm a skating expert but as a skating sim (which is only part of what it is) it somehow feels way more real than the Tony Hawk series (which is fine, those are arcade games first), the setting is very cool and music is excellent.
F*** that guy Coney though.

@Tjuz Thanks! Mostly weather related (google 100 car pileup and you’ll get an idea of what it’s been like in my neck of the woods) which is kind of all consuming as a tanker truck driver by day.

If you’re leaving the Steelworks then I think you’ll be getting to where the game really settles into itself. The next two sections were my personal favourites. Hope they are enjoyable for you and good luck!

@Ravix It’s no surprise the many-voiced Mr. Kenny is in video games as well. I have probably played games with him. It’s especially good to see that he’s in a hardcore rpg like DOS2. Too bad he’s not used in The Witcher 3. I love his ‘Dan Dillion’ (😜) voice interpretation. I feel like I’m going to be disappointed when I get to the video game version of Geralt’s bard buddy.

I’ve had similar mind-boggling double-take when hearing gaming VA voices in animated TV and movies where a lot of them also work, but I hadn’t considered them narrating audiobooks too.

As far as the Divinity games, no I’ve not yet played either of them. I bought DOS2 on disc several years ago when I found it on the cheap, and it’s been sitting in my backlog ever since. With a free PS5 upgrade, I really want to give it a try. Seems to have that Larian magic, so I figure I’ll like it. Coming off of BG3 though I won’t be playing it for a while.

@Th3solution yeah, I wouldn't recommend playing DoS2 right after BG3 unless you are just so in love with it you want even more of the same and a new start. But honestly, it is one of those games where, if you are up for it, it will grab you. And that is exactly the type of game I need at the moment. It is so similar, but still different enough that you have to learn everything from scratch relating to builds and skills/spells etc. It is so similar though in it's gameplau loop that it is easy to just fall into the cycle of exploring, questing and experimenting to see what you can make the game do. It is comfort food crpg gaming.

Speaking of VA's and surprise the last one before the iconic Peter Kenny to get me was when Gale of BG3 fame popped up in a cafe scene in Good Omens 😁

ah, yes! PK would have actually been a good cast for Dan Dee Lion in the game, as he really finds his flow by Sword of Destiny and it is one of his best characters to voice. The last story I listened to was 'A little sacrifice' and it is one of those where the final moments make you really engage more with the characters, and the performance and writing work so well for that one. Apart from the 'melodic voices' of certain random side characters, they are slightly awkward... you'll find out eventually 😁 good to see you are still invested in it, and it is seeping into your brain, too 😛 I will look forward to your next update on both The Witcher and Baldur's Gate. Do you imagine you will be done by new years?

Some general DoS2 updates for those interested or nosey... all I will say about my most recent escapades are... Kniles, you utter expletive. R.I.F.P that was a very long and arduous fight. Granted, I was stubbornly trying to fight with Ifan in the team, who is a very basic ranger that I haven't put any thought into, and a much better built Sebille was chilling at her spawn point, but still a very hard fight. I managed to kill a few including Kniles after a good few attempts, then I fled, leaving Fane dead(er) on the floor, before returning to finally finish off the rest of them. It was worth it though, now I'm level 5 and feel like there isn't a huge amount to do in the actual first part of the fort now.

Before that I met a corpse eater. Let Sebille meet Stingtail. Smashed a soul jar. Won a tourney. Met another sad doggy who misses her friend (I hope they reunite). Freed another conflicted doggo who is hopefully now happy and not biting sourcerers arms off. And yeah, met Kniles for a long, long encounter.

Perhaps one of the best uses for the rogue early is to pick pocket spell books and then have the characters learn them before they accuse you of theft because then they find no evidence 🙌 this was a nice cheap way to add some spells and skills into my builds.

I feel like I have about 12 escape routes, and i'm thinking that maybe this prison isn't exactly high security.

No idea whether I can just escape multiple times by going back to escape again just for the sake of questing 😅 the quest log itself is a mess, a bit more cluttered than Baldur's Gate 3, and that's saying something 😁

I guess I will reset and see what it feels right to do next. But there is definitely a way out behind the fight I just had so maybe I will just scarper 🤷‍♂️

I defeated Starscourge Radahn after several attempts. Now I can gain access to the Mimic Tear Spirit Summon, after completing a few mandatory steps, in order to make my build even more appropriately op for the bosses of the DLC.

@Ravix I’m not sure when I’ll finish BG3, but New Years would be a good target. I probably won’t quite get there though because the holiday season is throwing a lot of wrenches in the schedule. The gaming time I’d planned on has been evaporating. I still have Raphael and Gortash to deal with; need to nab the hammer and free Orpheus, and then confront the Elder Brain so quite a lot of content remains, and yet I think all of those could be dealt with in a few marathon sittings. I have New Year Eve and New Years Day off. We’ll see. I’m such a slow gamer I wouldn’t be surprised if I can’t get through it until Q2 2026.

The Last Wish is likely to be finished within the week, and I’ll jump straight over to SoD. There’s a decent chance I can finish that before year’s end.

@Voltan Cool, it might have to be one I pick up sooner rather than later then. And then figure out what the last bit of your post means!

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN That was a pretty unique boss in the game from what I remember but not an easy one! The game gets a hell of a lot easier once you have the mimic tear though.

@Thrillho I loved his comically-sized horse! Anyway, yes, he was much harder to take down than the previous two bosses. But, yeah, I agree with you, although, I am still a bit wary about the difficulty spike when it comes to the DLC, but hopefully beefing the Mimic Tear to +7 and then beefing up it's and my character's HP further with the Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes should be enough to mitigate the challenge! Plus, by then I should have a +24 weapon to wield.

Edit: I've also decided to get Endurance up to 30 next to make the build even more 'op' .

Edit II: Actually, upon reflection, I feel that 20 will be sufficient for a thoroughly 'op' build. I don't want to farm "forever", as it were.....

Playing Alan Wake 2, and loving it at the moment. It is definitely one of the spookiest games I've played in a while. It is a slow burn which I'm ok with, and it is so very atmospheric in places. I thought the build up to the first boss was superb. And it's so (new) weird! I watched a recap from Sam Lake, and forgot how bat**** crazy the whole thing is.

The combat can feel a bit clunky at first, but I think I've gotten used to it now. And I've not noticed any technical issues so far, and that is using both performance and quality modes.

So, I’ve finally gotten round to trying out Clair Obscur, and…..it’s good, but not as good as you’d think if you just went by all the hype and awards it’s been getting. Funnily enough, it reminds me an awful lot of FFXIII, from things it undoubtedly shares (like how encounters work) to things that probably aren’t that similar in practice, but which remind me of how those games felt (the stylish presentation, the characters, the enemy design, the linearity). Obviously there’s a fair amount of difference as well, but it’s interesting that they feel as similar as they do, considering the contrast in reception.
As for the game on it’s own, some things of note:

• Movement animations for the player characters is a bit low-budget, but that’s to be expected.
• Parrying is a great feature and probably my favourite part of the game atm, especially paired with the counter mechanic; makes regular battles a lot less tedious, and allowing some more flexibility in terms of how encounters go.
• I appreciate an effort to make use of the turn-based nature of the gameplay to making a lot of abilities require using turns to set-up in order to make full use of them. Goes a way to justifying making it turn-based.
• Characters have been decent so far, though I’ve only just picked up my third member, so I don’t have too much to comment on atm.
• Pleasantly surprised to see the camp mechanic from Dragon Age: Origins make a comeback here (yes, I know it’s not exclusively a camp, but the way it worked here reminded me of DA:O’s specifically ). As mentioned before though, I don’t have too many party members atm, so I haven’t been able to make much use of it yet.
• Can’t say I’m too impressed with the art style and visuals. Beyond FFXIII specifically, the game looks very much like something from the PS3/360 days, and not necessarily in a good way. .
  Overall, so far I’d say it’s a bit better than the generic, 7/10 game I thought it’d be. Instead, it seems more like a solid, enjoyable 8/10 action RPG, that does enough to make it stand out somewhat, but, as mentioned earlier, doesn’t quite reach the 10/10 generational masterpiece I’ve been led to believe it is.

@FullMetalWesker It’s good to see some grounded impressions of the game. I’ve yet to play it, despite buying it at launch. I had a feeling it was going to be something special and the pre-order discount was an added incentive so I took a chance on it and was pleased to see a deluge of superlatives gushing over it. However, it’s reached a point now that I don’t think the game could possibly live up to the hype now. Record setting GOTY awards, just the whole buzz has me fairly worried I’ll be slightly disappointed. So it’s nice to see some impressions that might help bring my expectations back down to earth and allow me to enjoy it a bit better for what it actually is. I don’t think it will be my next game, so there’s a chance it may be several months before it’s on deck, so realistically I’ll probably get to it around springtime or even summer. Putting a little more distance from 2025 when I play it may also help me to enjoy it after the hoopla has settled down.

All that said, keep us updated of how it goes. Apparently it really hits another gear as you get further in, story-wise. It seems like it’s a game that starts strong but actually escalates and gets better over its playtime. So I’ll be interested to hear how you find the latter content.

Just finished my first Trails game with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, it was an amazing game and loved every bit of it. I am looking forward to 2nd chapter next year and will be getting it Day 1. Now I will be playing Mafia: The Old Country

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Just a few hours into it and it’s quite good. What has struck me the most early on is the excellent level design. I’m really excited to press on!

@JohnnyShoulder really looking forward to playing this... I loved the first AW game, and as a big Twin Peaks fan, the vibes are just spot on. I want to play through control first, as some of the dlc links to AW I think...