Comments 1,244

Re: Soapbox: How Yakuza Proves Bigger Open Worlds Aren't Always Better

clvr

Absolutely agree!
I haven't played any Yakuza (yet) but I do love smaller, tightly constructed and more interactive spaces, like in Deus Ex, Dishonored or Hitman, for example.

I've grown increasingly lukewarm towards open world games because, other than the usual checklist-ness that leaves little to discover for yourself, they usually have boring traversal despite the huge size, and thus resort to fast travel as a crutch.

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev no, unfortunately I've never heard of MDK!
As I told you I was raised on Nintendo consoles and never branched out until I got a PS3, PS4 and later a PC, so I missed out on a lot of games pf the older eras.
Oh and I'm a 90's kid so I was definitely too young for Hexen etc, but I gotta say one of the best things about 2020 is that I became enamoured with so-called "boomer shooters"!
During the year I played all of the DOOM games (aside from 2016, the only one I'd played before) and also downloaded Shadow Warrior Classic, Duke Nukem 20th Anniversary, and I've kept a close eye on all the new ones coming out.
For now I've tried Project Warlock (very good), Post Void (insane), and Wrack (mediocre), but then there's Ion Fury, Prodeus, Ultrakill, Amid Evil and so many more I've yet to try out!

The culmination though was finally getting DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition for only 40€ this December (I'm not one for day one purchases except very rare exceptions, I usually play games years after release when they're cheap), and boy is that game on another level of awesome.
Basically it's FPS perfected and redefined; it's like id peeked into a parallel dimension where all those stupid, useless mechanics like aiming down the iron sight, reloading, taking cover and regenerating health were never invented, and that basically makes it the second coming of DOOM and of the FPS in general.

I didn't like violent games when I was younger, but if FPS games played more like this and less like COD it sure would've been easier getting them!

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev yeeeeeaaaahhhc those were the times!!!
I recall those times so fondly now, being a kid and scouring through the booklet and cover on my way back home, or even at home before actually playing the thing! It was a ritual, I would do that religiously for every game and it was such an important part of the experience I still have the habit of checking all the settings before actually starting the game lol

I play some mindless blockbuster from time to time, but as I told you I like analyzing stuff so bad I do it all the time without even noticing it, and that has severely hampered my ability to stomach mediocre, bloated games like Ubisoft's, for example 😅

Regarding moody vs colorful, I was born and raised on Nintendo consoles so I've always leaned towards the latter, but my love for SMT can attest that I like both.
What I don't like is games like COD and almost every other "mature" game nowadays, which take themselves so seriously while being targeted at 12 years old. Those are incredibly cringeworthy, the literal embodiment of what a 12 years old thinks being adult means.

As I said I have a knack for taking things artistically and abstract thinking, so I tend to prefer less grounded stuff and more conceptual stuff.
I'm basically rambling at this point 😂 I don't even know what I wanted to convey here, I'm such a motor mouth (or fingers, or whatever) lol

Btw games have shown amply that they can do just as much as any other medium, if not even more!
With time I'm sure everyone will come to accept that and not just see them as "silly bang bang boom boom" for kids, and academies and such will teach at the same capacity that they do now for music, cinema, etc..
I know that for now, if someone still thinks that games are not art, I'll simply tell them to play Nier: Automata and then get back to me 😉

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev that's very good to know, I'll make sure to hit you up with more recommendations in the future as I'm a lifelong niche dweller as well 😄 it's always cool finding likeminded people!

Btw I absolutely agree with your take!
I for one really like putting in the "work" in my hobbies and experience them as a form of artistic expression, trying to analyze the ins and outs in order to understand both the thing at hand (be it game, song, movie, book, whatever) and myself a little better.
That's one of the big reasons I stick to my niches and rarely play big, mindless tentpole releases.

So many big games nowadays go all-in on the spectacle and power fantasy, and conversely show an ineptitude in the gameplay department that leaves me stunned every time.
But yeah, games are still in their infancy and I fear it won't be until a few decades in the future that people will start treating them like movies and paintings, and having academic debates on them.

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@NEStalgia @LordSteev yeah, you're both right about the name!
I'm so used to mentioning anime and games witht heir Japanes titles but yeah, that's not something a lot of people are used to!
If they had changed it with III, it probably could've garnered more attention from more "casual" fans.
But yeah, the series is incredibly niche in every aspect by design, so it's hard to imagine it going big anytime soon.
Doesn't matter though, as long as they keep making them and the quality stays high! There really isn't anything like SMT 😃

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev yeah it's a bummer, I know.

I think the biggest hurdle that's keeping SMT from exploding like P5 did is its erratic release history.
As @NEStalgia rightly pointed out, it's a major headache to keep track of all the mainline games scattered around different generations and hardware manufacturers, and if you add all the spin-off series it's a complete mess lol

I hope having III and V on popular consoles makes SMT more widely known, I'd love it to be Persona big although I don't think it'll ever get that big.

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev that's a tricky question, as there isn't much SMT on PS4 😅
I haven't played Nocturne yet as I got into the series with IV, but @TheFrenchiestFry and @Ralizah, who are both way more knowledgeable than me regarding the series, say that it's absolutely worth it and I'll probably get it day one 😄

Unfortunately IV and Apocalypse are stuck on 3DS at the moment, and V is gonna be Switch-exclusive.
If you happen to find a cheap 3DS somewhere, though, I cannot recommend playing IV as blind as possible enough!

@Ralizah I absolutely agree, I hope they bring back Apocalypse's additions like spell type affinity and "stacking" identical spells for bonus damage, those for example made it that much deeper than IV and I absolutely agree that Apocalypse is better gameplay wise.
I sure hope they do exactly that in V and marry the best of those two games. Also, if they remastered IV with Apocalypse's additions patched in, it would be a basically perfect game!

@TheFrenchiestFry ah I thought I read somewhere that it came from a novel, thanks for the confirmation!

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev you're welcome, I love selling people on stuff I like ahahahahah
If it sounds appealing, by all means get it as it's a really unique series with very nunaced and mature storytelling and themes (apart from IV Apocalypse, it's good gameplay wise but it's anime boy shenanigans can burn in hell lol).

Btw from what I gather Shin Megami Tensei means True/New Reincarnation of the Goddess, or something along those lines (I can't speak Japanese, I've just seen it translated on the internet).
Originally the series was Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei on Famicom (IIRC), and after DDS:MTII they made SMT on Super Famicom and kept the new moniker.

Re: Microsoft's Bethesda Bid One Step Closer to Completion as European Union Approves Acquisition

clvr

@Playstation this has got to be one of the most honest and intelligent comments I've seen here in a while.
Congrats on your intellectual honesty mate, even just calling yourself a fanboy shows a great deal of perspective on your part!

Btw I absolutely agree.
I never bought an XBox in my life but this gen I'm kinda tempted, even though I already have a PC so I certainly don't need one for at least a few years.
I think I'll buy a PS5 later down the line when more are available and more games are out, so that I can also play some PS4 games I've missed.

Re: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Rated in US, Western Release Date Could Be Incoming

clvr

@LordSteev I can reply to that and yes, SMT games are turn-based.
I haven't played Nocturne yet (will rectify when this comes out), but IV is one of my favorite games ever, and features the best turn-based combat I've ever tried.
I don't know if this remaster will retroactively introduce the features IV and IV Apocalypse added, but I sure hope so cause that battle system is just fire.
Oh and these games are tough as nails, be prepared to be wiped out whenever by lowly grunts lol
Boy do I love this series, can't wait for V 😍

Re: Poll: Have You Played Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and What Review Score Would You Give It?

clvr

Haven't bought it yet since I have 0 but I've yet to play it!
I don't think I have enough time to play the whole Kiryu saga but I wanna try put the older style before jumping into 7.
Yakuza always intrigued me, but now that it's turn-based it's a must play for me.

I'll admit though that 7 is one of my most anticipated games to play, way more than the original 6 cause I love a good turn based combat system and this one sounds awesome, just like the job system!
So yeah, I'm exactly the kind of weirdo who'll get into the series precisely thanks to the new combat system lol

Re: Why GTA 5 on PS5 Will Be More Than Just a 'Simple Port'

clvr

@NEStalgia yeah this game was already old and behind the curve when it came out, let alone 8 years later.
I really wonder if people never played a game with good controls, cause I sure can't get back to GTAV after playing other games that controls, y'know, as they should.

Re: Looks Like Indie Hit Katana ZERO Will Launch on PS4

clvr

This game is awesome, if you have a passing interest by all means get it!
It's short, that's true, but it's very replayable and everything about it is super polished.
If you like Hotline Miami, you're probably gonna like this as well.

I even forgot there's DLC coming out theoretically, let's hope to hear something about it when this version drops!

Re: So, Square Enix Is Making Another Final Fantasy VII Remake Called Ever Crisis... On Mobile

clvr

Why does every Final Fantasy project have to be so convoluted, pretentious and inscrutable?
And then people ask me why I never got into it lol
I'm just glad Dragon Quest never fell into those bad habits FF and KH do to be honest 😅

But seriously, the communication with all of these projects is absolutely terrible all the time, which is a shame cause the games are usually good (I mean I don't play them but people like them, so I guess they are good).

Regarding this weird thing, I know it's controversial to want mobile games on consoles, but if (big if) really is a FFVII compilation of sorts with souped up graphics, well, I'd be all over it, having never played the original.

Re: Poll: How Do You Feel About PS4 Exclusives Being Ported to PC?

clvr

On topic: if any of you thinks that a couple of game on PC means the end of Playstation, well, I don't know what to tell you.

People in the real world buy Playstation consoles because of the brand and they buy it for FIFA and COD.
99% of people isn't even aware that this is a thing, let alone not buy a PS5 because Horizon is on PC.

Re: The Latest NieR Replicant Trailer Comes Packed with Gameplay

clvr

@kyleforrester87 ah ok, I get your point better now 👍🏻
It just seemed an unfair comparison in the other comment, but now I get what you mean.

Also note that I'm not a FF fan by any means, I've barely played the first 5 hours of X on my mate's PS2 4/5 years ago and got bored fast, so I'm neither in favor of tradition nor pushing for innovation, I'm just a curious bystander who likes to keep up with the news 😄

I haven't played 7R but I'd like to one day, as you said the combat looks super intriguing; I haven't played 15 either, but I agree that the combat sounds embarrassing by all accounts of everyone I've heard describe it.
As you said, let's hope they take cues from Platinum and Capcom, who are masters at that.

Re: The Latest NieR Replicant Trailer Comes Packed with Gameplay

clvr

@kyleforrester87 maybe it was meant as a joke and I'm dumb for not getting it, but certainly you get the difference between the 16th mainline game in a storied turn-based franchise, and the second one in a niche spin-off series that was always action focused?

On topic:
Well, if you ask me Automata is the GOAT, as it pulls off so many things other games never even thought of, so I'm super pumped at the idea of getting to know the series better.

Re: Soapbox: There's a Nintendo Direct Today, But I Wish We Had a State of Play to Look Forward To

clvr

Oof that was disappointing!

NMH3 having a date is very, very good, the rest is whack.
Octopath "sequel" hyped me but is a TRPG instead, Skyward Sword is the worst 3D Zelda, Pyra in Smash after 3 years doesn't make sense.
No Bayo, no Zelda, no Metroid: it's ok, they're probably far away from now; but no SMT V?! That alone would've made the 50 minutes worth it, and in theory should be out soonish.
That really disappointed me to no end.

TL;DR: Be careful what you wish for Sammy 😂

Edit: I forgot Splatoon 3.
That has me super hyped, but it's coming next year.
What's the point of stockpiling announcement after announcements for games that are nowhere to be seen?
I mean we have Bayonetta 3, BOTW 2, Metroid Prime 4, SMT V and Splatoon 3 now who knows how far off.
At least NMH3 has a date now, but that and the others were announced between 2017 and 2019, for Pete's sake.

Re: Unsurprisingly, Gamers Want to Know if PC Sensation Valheim Is Coming to PS5

clvr

@ShogunRok what does that even mean?
I mean, that's the same thing on PS, Switch and XBox as well, and always has been: there's always a game that's trendy at the moment, like Hitman 3 last week, Ghost Of Tsushima last summer and TLOU2 before that.
Big game comes out, everyone talks about it.

On topic, I've never heard of this game, I'll look up a trailer or two!

Re: Lady Dimitrescu Designer Shocked by Social Media's Thirst for Resident Evil Village Villain

clvr

@Ralizah exactly, I'm certainly not going to shame anyone!
Incidentally I was reading the article about Gal Gun's "safety goggles" ad when I got your notification, and boy do people feel strongly about that kind of game, and on both sides of the fence lol
I for one find absolutely no appeal in a game like that, but the ad was brilliant! All in all, if someone enjoys those games it's not like they're taking away anything from anyone, so I really don't get all the prudeness and holier-than-thou thinking 🤷🏼‍♂️

Re: Lady Dimitrescu Designer Shocked by Social Media's Thirst for Resident Evil Village Villain

clvr

@Ralizah me neither, I really don't find her attractive at all 😅
Interestingly designed? Absolutely, I find her very well designed, but not attractive at all personally, and I'm surprised at the amount of thirsty comments I've seen 😅
Well, to each their own 😄

Edit: and just to reiterate how good Capcom's marketing machine is at the moment, I'm not a RE or horror fan, but I'm super interested in this game!
They're really firing on all cylinders!

Re: Derren Brown Talks Little Nightmares II Ahead of Next Week's Launch

clvr

@R1spam definitely the second one.
People are too quick to think of foul play when something is unclear, but there's almost always an explanation that we couldn't consider beforehand cause we didn't have the information needed.
That's why a trick is so lame when you know how it works.

The human psyche is incredibly fascinating for how complex it is, and how easily it messes with itself in order not to give away its unconscious processes to its conscious side.
This is why people come up with the most absurd explanations for things they don't understand.

Re: Japanese Media Giant Kadokawa Corporation Forms Alliance with Sony

clvr

It's always fascinating to see people dunk on MS when they buy a company and go "lol MS has no games so they buy whatever they can", but then wish Sony bought everything under the sun.
Is that not blind fanboyism?

I for one am more invested in Nintendo than Sony or MS, but that doesn't mean I want them to buy everything.
To be honest, that's the last thing I want, since we already live in a world that tends towards more and more concentration of resources in fewer and fewer hands.
That's why IO making their expenses back in a single week of Hitman 3 being out is the best news I could hear this month, because they're independent and don't skimp on quality, and still managed to make their money back and gamers happy without any scummy tactic usually attributed to mega-corporations.

Re: Hands On: Balan Wonderworld Is an Unusual PS5, PS4 Platformer That Doesn't Style It Out

clvr

@Turbodream "The concept on paper shouldn't work well but it can."

Exactly! That's exactly the feeling I got when trying a handful of Sonic games (I tried the first 2 and Sonic Rush at least, and Adventures 1 or 2 when I was a kid IIRC).
It's a game that is meant to be incredibly fast but then you find water sections and slow moving platforms and have to halt all momentum and do those, why?
Also I personally find the super fast style to be too fast for its own good, meaning that it plays itself half the time and is too fast to anticipate obstacles the other half.

I've heard that Mania is considered the first great Sonic game in forever, and I thought of trying it out, but Sonic just isn't for me.
Oh and the fact that it wasn't made by Sega is absolutely hilarious.

Re: Hands On: Balan Wonderworld Is an Unusual PS5, PS4 Platformer That Doesn't Style It Out

clvr

@Turbodream unpopular opinion: he wasn't that great in the first place lol

Yeah I know it's a hot take and the vast majority of people disagree with me, but to me personally Sonic games never really worked that well.
Long story very short, I feel like the franchise started as a sort of tech demo for fast, fluid graphics without an actual vision as a game, which then led to so many failed attempts at 3D cause even they didn't know how to use the character properly.

But hey, I get why people like Sonic and I'm certainly not here to deter anyone from enjoying Naka's games nor disrespect him, as he's obviously done a lot for the industry😃

Re: Hands On: Balan Wonderworld Is an Unusual PS5, PS4 Platformer That Doesn't Style It Out

clvr

@Turbodream yeah I was visibly in utter disbelief while playing the game cause I never thought I'd play such a bad game made by such a big company and directed by a storied veteran.
I haven't played Mighty N.9 but not even that dumpster fire seems to come close to this absolute pile of garbage.

It's really abysmal in any way it could be. I played like 20 minutes and was constantly in awe at how they managed to fudge up even the most basic of concepts.
I still can't believe how bad it is, it's unreal.

Re: It Finally Happened: BioMutant Just Got a PS4 Release Date

clvr

@Shepherd_Tallon hey, I really appreciate your dedication 😃
I'm a very curious person and I do that all the time with the most disparate stuff, so I appreciate you researching something you don't even care about 😃

And yes, Blue Swan Records was founded by Will Swan, the lead guitarist in DGD, who more or less invented that style and then went on to sign a lot of smaller bands with a similar style under his label.
So you could say it's swan as in Will Swan or as in Blue Swan, and both would be correct 😄

If you're wondering what it sounds like, it's more or less post-hardcore mixed with math rock, funk and a whole lot of other weird stuff lol

It was nice talking to you, have a good one too mate!

Re: It Finally Happened: BioMutant Just Got a PS4 Release Date

clvr

@Shepherd_Tallon ahahahahahah thanks for your reply!
I'm only asking you because, as a foreigner, sometimes I hear some expressions and don't understand if they're widely used or if they're some kind of in-joke in that particular context.
For example, if you google Jesus H. Macy, basically the only results are related to the DGD song (one of my least favorite, to be honest lol), so I thought it was an invention of theirs, but evidently they took it from somewhere else.

By the way don't worry if you've never heard of them, they're probably the biggest swancore band but it's a very niche subgenre so there's that 😄
Thanks for your reply, have a good one! 😃

Re: IO Interactive Recoups Hitman 3 Development Costs in Under a Week

clvr

@themightyant definitely second that! Immersive sims are just so special, it's a shame nobody makes them anymore.
Though with ever-ballooning development costs, and the vast majority of people basically buying the same 3 copy/pasted franchises over and over, I'm sure they're not the most profitable genre you could make, seeing how much care it requires 😕

Re: IO Interactive Recoups Hitman 3 Development Costs in Under a Week

clvr

I'm very very glad for them! I only played 1 for now but I loved it and certainly plan to get the other 2 as well.
This is such good news in this era of mergers and acquisitions, as it shows that a lot of dedication and good management can go a long way.
I definitely prefer to support them, rather than a mega corporation.

@Grimwood geez is there one game you like? One? 😂