@FuriousMachine Speaking of all things Japanese and samurai-related. You say you don't like the Souls games, but we have yet to discuss perhaps the most iconic samurai game of all time. Have you played Ghost of Tsushima? afaik enemies don't respawn in that one. I plan to play the DIRECTOR'S CUT edition at some point, less keen on the upcoming Ghost of Yotei.
Edit: Also Jin Sakai's fighting style may be a spiritual successor to that of Zatoichi, according to the internet.
@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I am the proud owner of the Tsushima platinum trophy and all the DLC trophies. Fantastic game, I love it to bits and I'm massively looking forward to Yotei, which I have on pre-order I'm getting some Azumi vibes from the female protagonist and I have a weak spot for Ryuhei Kitamura's adaptation of the material (haven't read the source material, though).
The enemies do not respawn in GoT, but there are continually spawning random encounters throughout the map. They are also quite easily avoided if one just wants a break, but the game is so good at making the player feel like a badass samurai that it hardly matters. Very much my kind of game!
@FuriousMachine Congratulations on your platinum. I feel encouraged to seek out my own path through Tsushima in the next few years after my remaining Fromsoftware adventures. Hopefully you will gain a deeper appreciation of the Zatoichi movies if you do watch them, if the swordplay really is that similar.
"Even in the face of death, the samurai stands unwavering, for honour is a blade sharper than steel".
@Ravix I know, right? I'm a bit hot and cold when it comes to Miike's filmography, but I absolutely LOVE that the devs added a mode inspired by his work
@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Thank you, I'm pretty sure I will. There are several fighting styles in GoT that you switch between, depending on your opponent, but the katana is definitely front and centre for the most part Hope you'll enjoy it when you get to it!
@Th3solution How is life and gaming going, pal? I am currently rocking 209 attack power with my +3 Uchigatana in Elden Ring, prepping myself for the DLC, I have about 70 points invested in Dex, Str is at 18, and I haven't levelled anything else. Obvs the weapons such as the Uchigatana (the katanas in general) scale well with Dex, even more when you obtain a particular Whetblade and apply particular Ashes of War to the Dex-based weapons. But enough about that, you haven't even played the game yet!
I am also enjoying watching through the 7 Zatoichi movies that I have chosen to view, and reading the Vagabond manga series, another samurai thingamajig that is quite good, and still volunteering. Music-wise I feel like I can call myself a competent free jazz/free improv guitarist, and I went to see a concert by another guitarist who does the same thing recently. She was very good, and I have another jazz gig coming up (watching, not playing at) in September, that should be good too!.
So even though it's just a hobby now, I feel like I can keep my head above water, for want of a better way of putting it, in terms of being in the lower-to-middle tiers of the great free jazz/free improvisation guitarists. It's great fun!
A bit more about volunteering, everything is kept confidential so I can't really say much, other than despite the dark moments that inevitably crop up in the field of mental health, I feel it is an important and rewarding role, thay may genuinely and hopefully make a difference to some people's lives.
What are you playing right now? Anything new in your life besides that? Heard any good music or seen any good movies lately? Or are you still in an off-phase for films right now?
Best,
B$.
N.B
I have also stuck to my plan (so far) of moving on from Literature to Art and Cricket books, I am currently reading the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack (UK Publication) 2025 and have a couple of inexpensive art books on the way, looking forward to diving in!
@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Hey buddy, doing ok. I’ve had a weird few weeks and just got super-busy with life and so I’ve not turned on the PS5 for a while. Likewise for any other media consumption like movies or TV. Summer has been a whirlwind.
I’m jealous that you have the jazz guitar to enjoy and use as another outlet of your creative and recreational energies. I’m not musically inclined, as I’ve mentioned before, and am always impressed with the talent on display from those who are.
Your mental health volunteer work is another wonderful way to keep yourself grounded and I’m sure the clients are very appreciative of your efforts.
You mention the cricket and it does remind me that I am looking forward to American Football season which is starting now. The college and professional levels are both fun to watch and a nice diversion for me. Usually I get bored of it about midway through the season but for now it’s an anticipatory feeling for the great American pastime. It’s a big part of our culture and permeates all walks of life around here. Heck, the big news is the football player Kelce and Taylor Swift announcing their engagement! I couldn’t care less but it’s a big topic for both the music and predominantly female fandom as well as the dude-bros who are football fans 😅
@Th3solution Haha, would you describe yourself as a "dude-bro" then, Sol? 😂😉
Reminds me of my own insecurities when I spend too much time gaming, where the gameplay in either the whole or simply that part of the game, doesn't require too much thought, or listening to hip hop with the lyrical tropes of the genre, leaves me feeling like a bit of a "meat-head" my own word for "dude-bro" I suppose, and attempt to balance those more earthly activities with listening to free jazz or reading something that's well-written or even exploring art. It's like we were saying before about balancing the "lowbrow" cultural pursuits with the "highbrow" ones, but I suppose sometimes something can contain elements of both.
Back to gaming now, when you do have time to return to your PS5 or Movies/TV watching, will you be attempting to conclude BG3 and/or perhaps watching any particular movie or show?
Hope the American Football season is rewarding and enjoyable up to the midway point at least, and doesn't "dumb you down" too much! 😉
N.B You previously mentioned writing and public speaking being parts of your job, I see those as highbrow activities that I can commend you for, and there is an intellectual element to a lot of the games you've played, such as strategic combat or puzzle-based gameplay!
@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I will definitely be getting back to BG3. In all likelihood I will have some time to boot up the PS5 this upcoming weekend. That said, I’m probably still at least 50 hours from the end though. It’s a huge game.
No particular movie or TV plans though. Nothing is pressing me, except opening weekend for College Football. There’s a couple games that I might watch. And yeah, since I have enough ‘highbrow’ activity during the week of the mentally taxing and intellectual variety, I don’t feel too guilty when I sit down on a Saturday and watch men throw a ball and tackle each other, or if I play a video game which involves role playing as a fighting monk with companions who are wizards and druids and a girlfriend who is a barbarian demon Tiefling. 😅
I could play chess or write poetry on the weekend but it just doesn’t quite blow off steam in the same way. 😂
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@HallowMoonshadow it may seem reckless from a work perspective, but that time spent is far more valuable to you as a person, and thus will benefit you across all aspects of your life, including work, for the year! Honestly, no one wants a stressed teacher who takes no time for themselves, they want a cool teacher who plays video games and goes to Japan for 5 weeks 🙌
It is good to hear you had a great time, and, if you have any cool/nerdy/geeky travel photos, they would surely go down a treat here, if you have time to share at any point. Yes, i'm nosey as f***, sue me 😁
I was lucky to go out there over Christmas and New Year in 2005 as my dad had been working in Tokyo so we all went over for about 10 days. Mostly spent in Tokyo but with a few nights in Kyoto too. Amazing place and I loved the food (apart from the multi course very traditional meal we had one night..)
I’d love to go back and see more though. And not just because of Kiryu and the gangs adventures..
@FuriousMachine Thought I'd follow up your Kurosawa news with a samurai recommendation of my own. Have you seen this? Have you heard about this? Are you interested in playing this? 😃
"Even in the face of death, the samurai stands unwavering, for honour is a blade sharper than steel".
@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Yeah, heard of it and it has definitely been on my radar, but to be honest, there are so many games in the "hitting things with swords" genre (callback to an earlier video posted on here somewhere of a guy pointing out that pretty much every game these days involve hitting things with swords... which is perfectly fine by me ) that they all start to blur together a little bit in my mind.
This one does look very good, though, and I think it may very well be something I'd enjoy.
I understand Onimusha is a long running series, but that this one stands alone enough so that a newcomer isn't confused, is that right?
Forums
Topic: The Chit Chat Thread
Posts 9,201 to 9,220 of 9,738
Please login or sign up to reply to this topic