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GodisanAtheist

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2006
7,000
7,420
136
Still playing Witcher 3 (and I suppose I will be for a good long while).

30 Hours in and I think I'm starting to wrap up the level appropriate stuff in Novigrad with all signs pointing to Skellige being my next destination.
 
Reactions: Stg-Flame

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,540
2,752
136
I've been playing God of War (2018) and having a great time. Overall the game is so much better than something like Elden Ring, which I put over 100 hours into but never finished because the last boss essentially invalidated my build. Controls and combat are so much better in God of War. Looking forward to New Game+... and then I got to Sigrun.

Only 1 trophy away from Platinum and this fight is terrible. I'm level 8, my runics are maxed out, gear is maxed out except for the upgrades I get from this fight, and I do essentially no damage. And she has twice the health of other ones of her kind. It turns the fight into a 10 minute slog where you have to be perfect because missing one block or dodge means she chains her attacks and essentially one shots you. It's worse than the "don't take any damage" trials in Muspelheim.

And now I've started having control issues! Sometimes when I use my heavy runic (L1+R2) the game stutters between block (L1) and heavy attack (R2). Never happened before Sigrun and didn't happen after I left to grind some more mist echoes and flame crests. But when I returned it started again.

And sometimes she's 'immune' to attacks (not the wing shield she does) but she doesn't get effected by attacks and just moves into her next sequence while I'm locked into an animation and I take the full damage and she takes none.

Was looking forward to New Game+ but now I think I'll get the Platinum (eventually) and walk away. Shame that devs do this to otherwise great games.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,540
2,752
136
All it took was me complaining about Sigrun to finally beat her. Of course, it took a few tries tonight. I had her down to a sliver of her last health bar when a mispressed button cost me the fight. My wife had just walked in and asked if she was my cooler because every time she was there I lost. I told her yes, because every time she comes in she walks in front of me and disrupts my view. And the dog comes in and is a distraction.

Dang spouses not understanding the important things in life like Platinum trophies.
 
Reactions: igor_kavinski

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126
Nope, that would be way too helpful. You can place custom markers on the map that shine neatly like far off beacons in the game world to follow or keep track of locations, but no notations.

Seriously, I've started doing the "Alt+Tab" and check out bookmarked places like HERE and HERE when I started second guessing myself or something seems off or I'm bumping up against too many brick walls. I love the game, but I simply don't think I'll have the time to replay the game multiple times to see a bunch of stuff I missed that I could have gotten the first go around. I can easily see myself putting in 100-150 hours this play through alone. Just not enough hours in the day to risk missing some good stuff.
Yea. No notes, but you can do differently pictured markers. I think that's more than enough for this kind of game.

* I put Skull marker to denote hard bosses / field enemies I'll come back to and crush. And I did just that few levels later for most.
* Diamond marker for possible loot I must come back to / something secret going on.
* Something else for an area that's unfinished.

The map actually has pretty restrictive pathing and provides enough guidance just by the way the roads lead + site of grace pointer + dialogues.

Just play. You'll do fine.
 
Reactions: Stg-Flame

EXCellR8

Diamond Member
Sep 1, 2010
3,982
839
136
Trying to get into Returnal for PC, but I'm not the biggest fan of rougelikes. Something about the repetition and "playing until it's just too hard to continue" always bothered me.
 

Sam25

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2008
1,717
28
91
Been playing a lot of Assassin's Creed Origins. This is a return to the AC franchise after a long time for me. Hadn't played anything after completing AC II years ago.

Exploring and traveling through Egypt in the game has been fun! Graphics are really nice but the more time you spend the more you realize that the problem with this game is the repetitive nature of the side quests... mostly just scouting an area with Senu (the Eagle), tagging & eliminating enemies and then rescuing some NPC or looting some random item.

Main quests are good though so have been at it.
 
Feb 4, 2009
34,648
15,846
136
Goofing around with Kenshi, I purchased it years ago and it was very unexplained and confusing plus occasional bugs/freezing. Tried it again a while ago had some fun but got distracted by life. Forgot why I stopped.
Started new and it’s the type of game I like, strange world, unforgiving, brutal and slow.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126
Still playing Elden Ring.. jesus how long is this game.

I suddenly find myself at level 65. The game is a breeze now with 1-3 shotting most enemies with Meteor spell. I throw in my melee fight here and there just to keep my skills sharp and show them what's up.

Looking back, the hardest time I had was Stormveil castle and Margit way way back. Even Godrick was much easier than Margit.

I destroyed Rennala and now finishign up Caelid.

After about 100 hours (initial failed attempt and just painfully learning at start), now I'm finally feeling somewhat bit bored. Don't spoil it but I feel like I've probably completed a good third.

Can't wait to play more.
 
Reactions: Zenoth

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,196
196
106
Still playing Elden Ring.. jesus how long is this game.

I suddenly find myself at level 65. The game is a breeze now with 1-3 shotting most enemies with Meteor spell. I throw in my melee fight here and there just to keep my skills sharp and show them what's up.

Looking back, the hardest time I had was Stormveil castle and Margit way way back. Even Godrick was much easier than Margit.

I destroyed Rennala and now finishign up Caelid.

After about 100 hours (initial failed attempt and just painfully learning at start), now I'm finally feeling somewhat bit bored. Don't spoil it but I feel like I've probably completed a good third.

Can't wait to play more.

I know where you're coming from to have this perception (of the 'lack' of difficulty). You happen to be playing the "easiest" way to play the game, it's how I played it too on my first [full] playthrough, namely: Long Range (Magic / Casting).

Without knowing anything about the game I actually finished Limgrave, only to then move directly to Caelid, and mostly finished that zone before finally going to the Stormveil Castle. So I first fought Godrick at around Level 60'ish and yes, I was way overpowered at that point (but it's part of the game, you're free, you can do anything). The real challenges I had even as a Magic-based character was indeed going to Caelid without really knowing that I shouldn't have "been there yet". But I was there, and pushed on. But I pushed on thinking that it was the 'natural' difficulty progression of the game and that each next areas would be worse.

Of course I did find out, however, that after Stormveil Castle was finished and I had beaten Godrick, it took until 2 more zones to follow before finally meeting my match in the form of new enemy types (or enemies I had encountered before but they were different, tougher variations in later zones).

The main point here is: The difficulty of Elden Ring when playing mostly Long Range / Magic / Casting (albeit I don't really know if using Bows and Crossbows also apply but I assume it does) is a bit all over the place. But I did find Limgrave, some parts of Caelid (depending on enemy types) and the majority of Liurnia to be a relative 'breeze' (relative of course, there were some tough moments here and there, but nothing too aggravating as most Souls-like games have the reputation to be).

I did find the challenge was gradually 'catching up' to me, however, after Liurnia. I won't spoil anything other than to say that you are at an advantage as a Caster type character for most of the first half of the game. But the 2nd half of the game offers better challenge. Considering you're Level 65 or so, and considering the 'usual' Level at which people finish the game in their first playthrough, you have quite a lot to do still. You'll see what I mean as you keep playing (not just in terms of more challenging Bosses, but 'regular' mobs as well in later locations).

Now, with all this said; I started my 2nd playthrough. I'm using a Randomizer, but I want to bring a point: Playing Melee this time around and, I must say, Elden Ring is A LOT tougher when playing that way. I know, it might sound obvious but... to me, I wasn't sure. I'm not familiar with this type of game yet. My only experience prior to Elden Ring was Dark Souls 3 (which I only played for maybe 10 hours total, probably less; before I gave up... it never 'grabbed' me; but Elden Ring did).

If - after your current first playthrough - you think that Elden Ring (in general) was relatively easy (or was 'easier' than expected) then do try to re-play it as a Melee character. It's very fun, but very challenging by comparison to playing long range. Especially if you use a Randomizer. Imagine something like a Black Blade Kindred boss patroling right outside next to the Church of Elleh in Limgrave at Level 8 to 10. That's the kind of new experience a Randomizer offers (heck, even for long range characters). Especially if you replace the regular wild life to actual enemies... even Limgrave can look like Caelid on steroids. It's amazing.

Anyway, have fun with your first playthrough. If you feel a bit of boredom kicking in then don't worry; I felt the same for a time. I thought the game was "done" in terms of difficulty progression but it does catch up on you. It's just that you're playing the 'safest' way right now and most enemy types aren't equipped properly to deal Vs caster characters, for now.
 
Reactions: Zeze

Artorias

Platinum Member
Feb 8, 2014
2,125
1,400
136
I've had to take several breaks with Elden Ring, it's just too long or big, and this is coming from someone who has completed all FROM software games 100%.

I still havnt reached the main capital area yet, and I hear there is a whole other section beyond that.
 

sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,540
2,752
136
Wrapped up my God of War (2018) platinum and moved on to Final Fantasy 15. Not sure how long I'm going to last with this one. I'm only a few hours in so I get that the story hasn't developed but even still it's very bland.

The combat so far does not seem fun. It very much reminds me of 10-2 with the whole "you dont ever need to use the sphere grid, just hold attack" aspect. The extras (photos, cooking, fishing) don't seem compelling at all.

The regionalization is pretty cringe; Cindy is just, ugh, horrible. The character modeling and styling just seems piecemeal as well. Noctis's face and hair and his friends' hair and styles are the "Japanese but Westernized" I would expect but everyone else is just straight 'American.' Like, there's no way that Noctis is the actual biological son of the King based on their appearance.

I've played and finished the non-MMO entries except for 2, 3, 5 and 12 (so 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-2, and 13) and this is shaping up to be my least favorite.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126

Oh yea, I'm very much aware and intentionally went spellcaster route in order to bypass the incredible frustration and not miss out on this game at first.

But like I said, with about 100+ hours in being a hybrid caster, I'm no stranger to melee (another 40 hrs on lvl 25 vagabond). I enjoy confusing the hell out of a big dragon by abusing his slow rotation under the belly while I slice and dice. Or swiftly dispatching a mini-boss with perfect parries + crit. Or how about a nice efficient poise break with a jump and heavy R2s then stab their eyeballs?

I'm very much aware of poise / stance-breaking / flinching against heavy shields / managing stamina / dodging / run-stab first-hit / or just quick step rotate to stab their kidneys from the back. I play competitive games like OW2, I appreciate Elden Ring's all the nuanced combat with a microsecond frame differences / animation speed / hit box reach / range.

After I'm done with my spell blade, I can't wait to start a new game with a Wretch class so I feel like a true 'come-from-nothing-find-scraps" hero in Lands Between.

- I can't wait to go full melee again going full heavy armor and do a colossal weapon build. Try all the awesome boss drop weapons.
- Also try incantations. Str+fai build (paladin style).
- Buckler parry / bleed / double bleed build

Tis a good game. I said I was getting bored, because the game finally felt like an open-world chore with too many to explore. The combat itself is plenty of fun. It's also a blast currently playing a fantasy 'demigod' role where I'm melting and blasting idiots with magic then also two-hand my weapons to teach these monsters I'll f- them up melee too, lol.

Don't worry. It looks like I'll spend unhealthy amount of time on this game. <3
 
Last edited:

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,081
662
126
Trying to play Wo-Long. Holy s** the first boss... From what I read this is the hardest boss until almost the end of the game. Guess this is normal for Team Ninja, they force you to master the systems on the first boss.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,563
2,148
126
i have Elden Ring, have not played it yet. Because i dont own a controller.

I have watched quite a few youtube videos about ER and, pretty much everyone uses the same phrase, "the developers made it so that if you want to cheese the game with OP magic, you can".
Frankly, i find this to be bad game design. Just incompetence in balancing the gameplay, i can understand if you made 1 type of gameplay ever so slightly better, but not to the point where it nullifies the most prominent feature of the gameplay, which is timing dodges.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,184
626
126
Trying to play Wo-Long. Holy s** the first boss... From what I read this is the hardest boss until almost the end of the game. Guess this is normal for Team Ninja, they force you to master the systems on the first boss.
You don't need to beat him after his second phase. You will get a prompt to use your divine spirit function.

But yes, every boss and combat maneuver in Wo Long requires you learn the deflect and timing is the important part.

I'm on the second mission already and this game is easier than Nioh 1 and 2 (never finished either) and I also think it's much easier than Sekiro..until you get to a certain boss.
 

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,081
662
126
You don't need to beat him after his second phase. You will get a prompt to use your divine spirit function.

But yes, every boss and combat maneuver in Wo Long requires you learn the deflect and timing is the important part.

I'm on the second mission already and this game is easier than Nioh 1 and 2 (never finished either) and I also think it's much easier than Sekiro..until you get to a certain boss.

Finally beat it last night. Haven't gotten very far into the second area.

The only real complaint I have is the boss moveset in phase 2 is so different, so I needed some time to practice it. Was kind of annoying having to get through phase 1 so I could figure out phase 2.

Overall it is pretty good game so far, the gearing is kind of funky with all the odd bonuses they throw at you. I still haven't figured out the spells, most seem too slow to use mid fight.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,184
626
126
Finally beat it last night. Haven't gotten very far into the second area.

The only real complaint I have is the boss moveset in phase 2 is so different, so I needed some time to practice it. Was kind of annoying having to get through phase 1 so I could figure out phase 2.

Overall it is pretty good game so far, the gearing is kind of funky with all the odd bonuses they throw at you. I still haven't figured out the spells, most seem too slow to use mid fight.
I'm starting as an earth build and will move over to wood/water at some point later in the game.

I currently use the fire burst and the imposing slab from earth. Another good one that you can use is the vitality spell from wood virtue. Basically let's you get health while attacking for a certain period of time.

I usually use it before I get a critical on an enemy that way with the critical you get more health out of it.

The game needs some QOL updates like stat comparison and auto replenish from storehouse or inventory. With gear you pick up there is so many different sets of armor and weapons. Hopefully they will add those in later.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126
i have Elden Ring, have not played it yet. Because i dont own a controller.

I have watched quite a few youtube videos about ER and, pretty much everyone uses the same phrase, "the developers made it so that if you want to cheese the game with OP magic, you can".
Frankly, i find this to be bad game design. Just incompetence in balancing the gameplay, i can understand if you made 1 type of gameplay ever so slightly better, but not to the point where it nullifies the most prominent feature of the gameplay, which is timing dodges.
Please never play ER without a console controller. It'll ruin the game. Thank you.

And magic isn't bad at all in my opinion since I find myself forced to dodge and learn their patterns and slice em up too.
 

Stg-Flame

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2007
3,535
491
126
Having a really rough time trying to get through Cyberpunk as it's starting to feel a lot like Skyrim to me. The game looks good and the soundtrack/VA is outstanding, but everything else is just ok. I feel like they blew 90% of their budget on voice acting, sound effects, and graphics, then just tossed the remaining 10% to whoever would take it and left it at that. The dialogue is pretty lengthy and sometimes to the point where I honestly don't care what they are talking about because I just want to go to the next part. Maybe it's because I've almost hit the level cap and I'm still pretty early in the story, but all the encounters are simple and I haven't found any better weapons in the last 15 hours as I'm using all Iconic gear.

Thinking about finally starting up Iron Harvest to break the monotony as I've been sinking back into replaying old games again which feels like a slap in the face considering I have the computer I have.
 

GodisanAtheist

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2006
7,000
7,420
136
Bouncing between Witcher 3 and Hogwarts Legacy. Funny juxtaposition because both games use very similar systems, and Witcher 3 is brutal and grimdark and HWL is brutal but whimsical.

5th year at Hogwarts is racking up a body count that is putting Geralt to shame.

Edit: And by body count I mean trail of dead not romantic encounters, Geralt definitely has the leg up there...
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126
Still playing Elden Ring....

I paused my level 95 moonveil hybrid caster to start a brand new melee with everything I learned so far (140 hrs in). Remember I still haven't beaten the game yet lol, I'm stopped at Atlus Plateau.

So I started a brand new Wretched character. This is the hero you start with no clothes and just a club. Man I'm having a blast. It's great to scrounge up what weapons and armor you could find. It's a stark contrast to when I first started this game. My naked hero is running around back-stab clubbing their heads and dancing around enemies I couldn't deal with before even fully armored.

My Wretched hero is already level 30 under 8 hours which is hilariously faster vs my first attempt. The Stormveil castle felt impossible before, now I'm running around whistling while underleveled.

Like I said, I'm going full melee with a preferences towards heaviest armors and weapons. I'm having a blast with powerstancing two great-swords or 1-handing a colossal weapon. Hearing everyone's block and stance being broken is so satisfying. So is eating enemies attacks without breaking my poise (thanks to full armor) then literally send them flying with a colossal charged attack is just perfect.

Although melting everyone's face off with a Comet is awesome too.

This game is well made.
 

EXCellR8

Diamond Member
Sep 1, 2010
3,982
839
136
I think whatever ER character I had been running got roadblocked at Castle Sol. I seemed mostly fine up until that point but idk the build is like super vulnerable to that boss and I couldn't progress. Was just a basic bleed build since I actually am not that great at the game; was actually surprised I made it as far as I did haha.

just realized i hadn't ever finished doom eternal... might try and expedite that this week
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,146
1,054
126
It sounds like you've been busy with your gaming lately! It's great to see that you've been trying out a mix of different genres and styles. Here are some thoughts on the games you've mentioned:
Halo Infinite: It's good to hear that the combat and gunplay in Halo Infinite are satisfying, even if the environment can be repetitive. It's definitely a game that's built around its combat, so if that aspect is working well for you, that's a good sign. That being said, it's understandable that the repetition can make the game feel tedious at times. Hopefully, the second half of the game will mix things up a bit more for you.
Tiny Tina's Wonderland: It's too bad that this game didn't live up to your expectations, especially since you're a fan of the Borderlands series. It sounds like the game fell into some of the same traps as other looter-shooter RPGs, such as repetitive enemy encounters and grindy leveling mechanics. Hopefully, the next Borderlands game will be able to capture that magic that made Borderlands 2 so great.
Overwatch: It's great to hear that you're still enjoying Overwatch so much! It's definitely a well-polished game with a unique and engaging art style. The 6v6 multiplayer matches are also a lot of fun, especially when you have a good team to play with. It's always nice to have a go-to game that you can keep coming back to.
Uhh is this written by chapgpt?

@Perknose

-Very low post count
-bot-like typing
-quoting a very old post
 
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