AhmadSumadi

I haven’t played many games that released this year, but I have played a few that I really liked. I loved Echoes of the End and Arc Raiders. But my favorite game I played this year is Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Released in 2024.

Off topic here. But is anyone else not seeing the comments section on the “What are you playing this weekend” thread?

@Number09 is there a new Division game? Please tell me there is!

**walks in to read and post***

**reads preceding comments***

**walks out in ‘murican!***

Give me part 3, please! I adore this series!

I’m not even sure what “Indy” is. But when I look at E33, I know what “Indy” isn’t. And it isn’t E33. At this point I just chalk it up to a lesser known studio that hasn’t previously released a game that’s divided the gaming community.

I was majorly upset thinking I’d have to get an Xbox just to play this single game. Then Xbox folded like a good tent (because they’re supposed to fold) and all was well in the world.

Also, absolutely NO AI art will be accepted!!!

I’m a huge Star Wars fan. But also a huge gamer. I know what’s coming out before then: The Witcher 4, Intergalactic, Crimson Desert, etc. So yeah, drop it in 2030 so I have time to play all that’s already on the table. I can wait.

Eternal Strands. Fun game. Feels old school in its presentation. Boss fights are epic and strategic.

@LifeGirl the only way people won’t buy PS6 when it releases is if we’re in another COVID-19 scenario.

I’ve played video games probably all but 10 days this year. And oddly enough, I’ve not played a single one of the games on this list.

Edit: I stand corrected. Missed ARC Raiders on the list. Since it’s the only one I’ve played, and it’s great, it gets my vote.

I started playing Lords of the Fallen and couldn’t get into it. Suffers from the same muddled storytelling that Souls games suffer from. Just feels directionless. Add that to the maddening difficulty and there’s absolutely no appeal.

lol I love the parity of the first 2 comments. Just proves that no game is ever universally accepted.

Damn, Clair cleared it out! No Yōtei prize? Maybe I’ll skip it… 🤔

I’ve not looked at mine yet. But I’m sure Elder Scrolls Online will be all over it. Sadly, this will be the final year it shows up in my list. It’s been a good 9-year run.

Looks interesting. However, I thought the same about Returnal and I didn’t like that one.

@Dan12836666 I used to think the whole “backlog” thing is ridiculous. Now, I find myself playing older games I’ve not played and waiting for price drops on newer games (Yōtei in particular). The last 2 games I’ve played are both over a year and a half old.

@Marquez yes. And it’s right in your face so you can’t miss it.

My piece of advice is for one particular haunting case; Saints and Sinners. If you Blame the human, you can miss the Book Wo trophy that requires you to collect 15 Bibles for him.

My advice is to do this case very last if you’re going to banish or ascend the ghost. This way, when you collect the quest to find the 5 Bibles, you’ll likely have all the travel points unlocked so you can get to the Bibles quickly. Many of them are right next to the campfires.

Also, don’t turn in the 5 Bibles when you get the 5 for the quest. This’ll end the quest and make the trophy missable. Just collect all 15 and have them in your inventory. You don’t even have to turn them in to him.

This quest is one of the most annoying in the game because you have to go all over the map for it. If you’ve already traveled the map, it makes it much easier to jump from place to place.

I learned this the hard way and this trophy too me hours to complete because I tried to do it before I had every travel point unlocked.

There aren’t enough games to play. And that’s because there are too many games to play so I don’t know which one to play.

@DarianStarfrog for sure! Such a (not so) hidden gem. I’m hoping for a sequel but I don’t think it fared too well financially.

@Marquez very much my thoughts. Voice work is some of the best I’ve heard in gaming, like, ever. The combat is pretty basic but not game-breaking. The “fast” travel became bothersome in the end when I was going for platinum but an overall great experience. Lemme know if you’re going for platinum and I’ll give you a vital hint that no one seems to have dropped on the Interwebs.

@nomither6 it’s because Nintendo always with novelty when they release a new console. By the time the 2nd of said console rolls around, the novelty has worn off. Not to mention, kids nowadays are perfectly fine playing games in front of a TV. I’m sure Switch 2 will do great. But it won’t come anywhere close to the original.

Too bad it’s losing Japan. Th most important place on the planet for game consoles.

Sorry. I’m trolling. Phat shout to PS5. The 2nd best PS console ever!

@Marquez are you new to Banishers? Just wanna hear your take on it. I’ve honestly not interacted with any other gamers who’ve played it.

Eternal Strands for me. Got the platinum for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden last week. Great game. I’ve been coming across these really good/great lesser known titles lately. Shame that so many good games go unplayed.

I hope Netflix doesn’t “Netflixify” these IPs. My fear was that Skydance would’ve gone in the opposite direction I expect Netflix to go. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

Went from a no play to a must play for me with this change. Especially since I really have nothing going on gaming-wise at the moment.

So, you mean to tell me he simply can’t just… PLAY THE GAME before the filming starts? Is that no possible?

@Porco mostly untrue. Not to mention, the circle jerk that the gaming world continues to put forth regarding this. We just had an article asking if there’s a “sequel problem”. Now we have gamers made at new IPs.

As someone said before, there’s a plethora of first AAA party games this gen. Mostly from proven studios. Unfortunately, at this point I think gamers have more fun complaining about games than actual playing them.

Because I am interested in this game, I refuse to watch the video lol. I know this seems counterintuitive, but I like to go into games and films knowing as little as possible beforehand.

The EU market has propped up the PS5 to be equal or just below Switch 2 sales. Japan is lost to Nintendo. I don’t think there’s any way to get it back, or even compete, with a dedicated home console.

The Witcher 3 and Spider-Man 2 still on the list?! 🫶

@sanderson72 disappointed you too, huh? I see it sitting there, but have no desire to play it. Sucks because I was looking forward to it for quite some time. Even spent my final PlayStation Stars cash on it.

I’ve only played 2 games this year that released this year; ARC Raiders and Echoes of the End. That being said, ARC Raiders as GOTY, and Ryn from Echoes of the End as best new character 🤷🏾‍♂️

Gamers get mad at Naughty Dog for taking many years between their high quality games. Then chastise CDPR by saying they’ll not be able to make quality games if they release them too closely to each other. Bruh?!

@UnlimitedSevens YES! The capture the flag trophy was the worst! ✌🏾

If you have time to stare at a background billboard in Fortnite then I think AI deserves to take your job lol. Seriously, if they use AI for this then more power to’em. Let AI do the background crap and keep real artists working on the big stuff.

@Dodoo I choose to only own 1 console. Otherwise I’d play too many games. So, I picked the one that suits me best. Nintendo used to be my thing, the I realized I really only love Zelda games from them. All my other favorites are Sony vehicles.

I like it! GG Stephen!

My first platinum? Midnight Clud: Los Angeles! Fell in love with the series with that game. And then they never gave me another one!

Most recent platinum: Echoes of the End

Currently working on Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

My favorite platinum is The Witcher 3. So much so that I’ve platinum’d (Yes. It’s a verb!) 5 times. Thinking of going for #6.

✌🏾

I love all things Horizon. But hate all things Lego (The games though. I love actual Legos). I’m up in the air on this one.

And now it’s time for an Ahmad anecdote:

I remember when I was such a Nintendo fanboy. So much so that it angered me when everyone was hyping their PS2 and not that excited for GameCube. I intended to get a GameCube but wanted a Dreamcast to hold me over until it’s released. Then my big bro surprised me with a PS2 for Christmas. I’ve never looked back!

I never got the Dreamcast nor the GameCube. Been a PS gamer ever since.

On topic: I knew Switch 2 wouldn’t be as huge as Switch 1. There’s a certain novelty to the thing and it’s not exactly “new” anymore. Not saying Switch 2 won’t do great. I’m sure it will. But it’ll suffer from sequel fatigue like every other Nintendo console.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. This is one game that’s lost points the more I’ve played it. Started as an 8.5/10 for. It’s now a 7/10.

The game itself remains great. But the level design is horrid! It enacts similar “fast travel” to The Witcher 3, wherein you have to get to a point where you can travel from. However, The Witcher 3 has so many signposts that you don’t really feel the pinch.

This is where Banishers fails spectacularly! The campfires are few and far between and makes for the most monotonous experience!

Imagine seeing a treasure, running to what is a 5-minute traipse across the map, while encountering enemies. The enemy encounters make up for the long journey because at least that breaks you from the trek.

Now, imagine that when you get to your destination, you have to run 5 minutes back to the fast travel point, but you’ve already killed the enemies, so it’s just a 5 minute run with nothing but footsteps to keep you engaged.

Anyway, this is one game I really like but would never play again!

@FantasyExplor3r88 2018 was amazing. Ragnarok built on that amazement and delivered a better, more emotional story with great new characters. Both games are arguably 10/10.

@wildcat_kickz Witcher III is my all time favorite video game. That being said, it’s no 10/10.

I’ve only played one of these lol. But I’ve been enjoying the hell out of some 7/10ers thought b

5/15 lol.

I’m just here to play games. The business side of it I couldn’t care less about.

@RoomWithaMoose I get that. But we don’t need it to be that only people who are from a certain culture can create things based on that culture. As long as it’s not created to offend, I think we all should be able to do things like this.

But, I do understand if Japanese people don’t particularly agree with my take. After all, my opinion is just my opinion. It’s not “true”. 😊

I mean, I understand not liking a game. But don’t claim your opinion is “true”. That’s not how opinions work. Anyway, not a big seller in Japan. But it’s doing good elsewhere. Sometimes that’s just how it goes.

Japanese sure love Nintendo. Even a game that’s very much Japanese can fail there if it’s not on a Nintendo console.