The "What Are You Playing Today" Thread

[Anastasia]

Final Fantasy 4 PSP

I'm replaying this, just got Child Rydia. It's Final Fantasy 4 so I don't have much to say. The only real thing of note is that I forgot now pretty the game looks on the PSP. Say what I will about FF4 rehash number...5? 7? Whatever, but at least they spent some time with the art assets.

[Grahf]

I wish they'd do that kind of remake for VI. Oh well.

I've been playing a lot of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The story is about what you'd expect for a Metal Gear game, although they only really start getting preachy about stuff near the end of the line.

The gameplay itself is quite good, Platinum has a fine track record when it comes to these kinds of things, and they don't disappoint in this case, at least I don't think so. That's not to say it's without problems of course, the main one being the camera, god the camera. Worst enemy in the game, the only one you can't beat. The VR missions are also the usual, which means they were designed for completists and/or masochists.

Overall though, a very enjoyable and replayable game, which I suppose was the point.

[Anastasia]

Ditto. It doesn't seem like it's that big an effort versus the likely payout.

[Rezantis]

I've been playing three things lately.

Assassin's Creed 3, which is basically the same as the last few Assassin's Creed games except the protagonist is some beardless putz.  Also he wears blue.  Ish.  Stuff.  I have enjoyed the Assassin's Creed series, but this is weaker than both Brotherhood and Revelations.  I'm not sure why I think that though.

But either way, if you got bored with those there's no point playing this.

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I've also been playing Half-Minute Hero, which is an amusing gag game and has given me more than enough amusement to justify the $3.50 I paid for it.

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Third is . . . Deadlight, a post-apocalyptic zombie platformer.  I think I'm about halfway through, maybe a bit more. 

The good:  It's not a bad platformer; platform games aren't usually my cup of tea but this is fairly smooth and the controls are responsive and intuitive.

The bad: I haven't finished the game, but the hints are all over the damn place.  For the love of $#@%, can we stop doing these apocalypse games with the hamfisted 'twist' that the main character has mental problems of some kind and their reality is skewed.  Seriously.

[Jason_Miao]

The bad: I haven't finished the game, but the hints are all over the damn place.  For the love of $#@%, can we stop doing these apocalypse games with the hamfisted 'twist' that the main character has mental problems of some kind and their reality is skewed.  Seriously.

Hmm...has anyone ever tried the reverse?  The backstory could be that you're a mental patient who continually experiences shifts in reality, and you *know* that people are out to get you.  Partway through the game, it's revealed that you're actually shifting through quantum realities, and there is a inter-reality organization that really is out to get you.  Of course, since you're considered a mental patient in most realities, it's a bit hard to get actual assistance...

[Brian]

I forget the name of it, but there was a point-and-click adventure game based on something like that.

What I'd like to see is a game with a surrealist/nonsensical/"It's all a metaphor for X" type story where they mock the growing and irritating trend by having the reveal be that you're a relatively normal guy who got captured by some dudes who are trying to brainwash/program you, and then has an ending that's not subjective and ambiguous as hell, requiring a legion of redditors and people who don't actually understand quantum physics to try and explain why it's 'good'.

....

Also, I finished Bioshock: Infinite.  Really liked the gameplay and the setting.

Ken Levine should be given a copy of the ending circled in red pen with the note, "See me after class."

[Sierra]

If that didn't happen after the first two games, he's not going to learn now.

[Brian]

Actually, the first two games had decent endings, if you got the good/best ones.  In any case, they weren't ambiguous and impossible-to-understand-without-the-hive-mind.

And ... Levine wasn't involved with Bioshock 2.  Which I only found out recently.

[Sierra]

That explains a great deal about Bioshock 2.

I found Bioshock 1's megahappy/superevil ending dichotomy strident and jarring, and both of them weirdly truncated, but I guess the game's worthwhile plot basically ended after you killed Quark with a golf club anyway. (I guess I should note that I love Bioshock 1 anyway just for the logs and the voiceacting and the art deco.)

[Brian]

I never got any of the bad endings.  Something about one's 'eat little girls for power' mechanic didn't appeal to me.

[Sierra]

Yeah, ditto. That was Youtubed.

[Anastasia]

FF4PSP: Not much progress as I've been busy. Cleared the waterway and got Edward. I'm losing stream and I think I'll switch to a Star Ocean 2 PSP replay instead. That appeals a lot more.

[Rezantis]

Okay, I'm going to update my comments on Deadlight: AVOID.

I haven't seen a plotline so pants on head retarded since Fahrenheit / Indigo Prophecy.

[Dracos]

More Reckoning.  Finally in the last region.

I've had fun and overall have positive thoughts on it, but it's hard to recommend for completion rather than for appreciation of the attempt of entering the huge RPG market.

Cuz it is huge.  Skyrim huge.

[Rezantis]

Age of Wushu.

What an incomprehensible game.  I'm not sure if it's deliberately incomprehensible or not.