The General Videogame Thread

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Playing Saboteur in Wine (I got it on some GOG sale a while ago, but didn't play it until now). It's pretty good overall. Quite interesting settings (WWII Paris), and artistic expression which depicts Nazi controlled areas in black and white depressive tones, which gradually gain color when you succeed in sabotage missions.

 

[schinderhannes.999]

The first isometric party-based computer RPG set in the Pathfinder fantasy universe


Explore, Conquer, Rule!

Journey to the Stolen Lands

Welcome to the Stolen Lands, contested territory for centuries. Defend yourself against the threats of wilderness and rival kingdoms as you explore a world rich with history, magic, and conflict.

Companion Focused Story

Experience the adventure alongside living and breathing companions, each with deep stories and decisions of their own. Love them, adore them or hate them for who they are.

Character development

Customize your character and companions with a multitude of options available in Pathfinder to make the perfect party capable of overcoming insurmountable challenges.

Kingdom

Establish your kingdom in Stolen Lands, claim new territories, and build towns and cities. Be a wise ruler or a heavy-handed tyrant.


About Pathfinder

Pathfinder is one of the most popular pen-and-paper fantasy roleplaying games. It builds on more than 10 years of system development and had the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming with the goal of creating an unparalleled fantasy roleplaying experience.

Pathfinder puts you in the role of a brave adventurer fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil!

Take on the role of a canny fighter hacking through enemies with an enchanted sword, a powerful sorceress blessed with magic by the hint of demon blood in her veins, a wise cleric of gods benevolent or malign, a witty rogue ready to defuse even the deadliest of traps or any of the countless other heroes. The only limit is your imagination!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is an evolution of the 3.5 rules set of the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game, designed using the feedback of tens of thousands of gamers just like you.


Narrative design by Chris Avellone

«I’m a Paizo fan, and a Pathfinder fan. I like the setting, the art style, the adventure paths, the card game, and the iconic characters. I’ve enjoyed playing Pathfinder with my friends (we used to be part of an Ocean’s-11 style game), and I’ve enjoyed the comics, the world, and the overall setting. I’m excited by the prospect of bringing Pathfinder to the computer RPG world, and hope gamers will enjoy playing in the Pathfinder universe.»

Chris worked on most of Black Isle’s internally developed projects, including Planescape: Torment, Fallout 2, and the Icewind Dale series. He then went on to work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Neverwinter Nights 2, and Fallout: New Vegas. His more recent work includes the Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition with Beamdog Studios, System Shock 1 Reboot with Nightdive Studios, and Arkane Studios’ Prey.

Spoiler

owlcatgames.com

 

[volsung]

So THAT's what Avellone is doing now. Looks cool, if it's PC multiplatform and DRM free I will definitely play it.

I don't know much about Pathfinder but isn't it essentially 3.5E D&D? If so, what will this game contribute to the world of cRPG's? Why shouldn't we simply replay Icewind Dale 2, Neverwinter Nights 2 or, for that matter, Pillars of Eternity?

 

[lucythewolf]

have any of you played outlast 2 or unjustice 2? if so any thoughts?

 

[schinderhannes.999]

I don't know much about Pathfinder but isn't it essentially 3.5E D&D?

Me neither.
Although I have seen it referred to as '3.75E' a couple of times, for it's numerous (allegedly questionable) modifications and changes?

have any of you played outlast 2? if so any thoughts?

Save for the paragraph about Outlast II 'overly-wallowing in misogyny and violence against women' I'm pretty d'accord with the Destructoid review. Might help you decide whether it's right up your alley or not.


Currently taking quite a liking to StarCrawlers.
'Like Legend of Grimrock in space' is actually quite accurate.

 

[schinderhannes.999]

Uzbekistan bans video games over 'distorting values'

Uzbekistan has banned a long list of computer games deemed to be "distorting values" and "threatening stability".

The list includes several violent games but also global hits like Grand Theft Auto and innocuous classics like The Sims.

The ban makes it illegal to import and distribute the games across the central Asian country.

Reactions online have been swift and range from ridicule and anger to genuine support.

Why the ban?

Authorities say the games could be "used to propagate violence, pornography, threaten security and social and political stability".

There is also concern they might disturb "civil peace and inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony".

Another reason given is the potential "distribution of false information about Uzbekistan and the distortion of its historic, cultural and spiritual values."

The ban is a continuation of the government's efforts to keep young people away from influences that it deems "destructive".

Which games are on the list?

The list of 34 games ranges from ego-shooters to horror or erotic games and has been approved by a government commission.

It also includes global hits like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA), Call of Duty: Black Ops, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat and Doom.

The list even contains apparently innocuous games The Sims, a life simulation game series which is one of the best-selling video games series of all time.

Most of the games are widely popular and readily available in internet cafes across the country or as pirated Russian-language copies on DVD.

What's the online reaction?

Social media is rife with commentary about the ban. Overwhelmingly, there's been condemnation and ridicule for what many users describe as a "foolish" move.

"They want to cultivate patriotism in the youth, yet the ban will only make things worse," writes one user identified as danilakhaidarov.

Others are criticising the measure as a waste of time and effort when there are serious economic and social problems that need tackling.

But there's also support: Facebook user Azizbek Inoyatov posts that the ban is "right; we should not be filling our minds with violence."

User 'maksuda_umurzakova' comments that "it is high time! Those who do not like it can go to those countries where all this... is normal!"

bbc.com/news/world-asia-40089679

01. Postal 2
02. Phantasmagoria
03. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
04. Carmageddon
05. Mass Effect
06. Dead Space
07. Naughty Bear
08. Mafia II
09. Call of Duty: Black Ops
10. Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
11. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
12. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
13. Fallout: New Vegas
14. Dead Rising
15. Manhunt
16. Mortal Kombat X
17. Manhunt II
18. Left 4 Dead 1, 2, 3
19. Doom 3, 4
20. Hitman
21. Resident Evil 4
22. SOMA
23. Silent Hill
24. Until Dawn
25. Hatred
26. Dying Light
27. Dead by Daylight
28. Prototype
29. The Punisher
30. Bone Town
31. Lula 3D
32. 3D Sex Villa 2
33. The Sims 3, 4
34. Shadow Warrior

 

[volsung]

Many countries have banned video games in the past and continue to do so. Historically, games like Wolfenstein 3D, Mortal Kombat and others were banned in Germany, and others were changed to feature eg. green or black "blood" instead of humanlike, red blood. The cult classic 80's movie, "The Evil Dead", was only recently released in theaters in Germany, after a 36 year ban! Too bad for the people there though, it's a long list. I'm personally against most forms of prohibition.

BTW speaking of Doom 4, I just finished playing it and it was fucking amazing. I rarely enjoy FPS's so much. The other few modern shooters I have truly liked were the Metro series and the Shadow Warrior remake. Doom though, was exactly what I hoped for: buckets of blood and gore, mystic/satanic imagery, hellish landscapes. The codex got a little silly when it described the super-duper-mega advanced "AI", but overall the story was serviceable. The final boss though was way too easy. And if I wanted to be petty, I'd also say the combat music was more like a flabby and generic industrial metal that tried to be intense but failed. The images and the music felt disconnected. I kind of expected something (instrumental I suppose) like Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation or at least Gorgoroth for the long segments with the hordes of demons. But that's just me.

Looking forward to a good Shadow Warrior 2 sale now.

 

[schinderhannes.999]

Many countries have banned video games in the past and continue to do so. Historically, games like Wolfenstein 3D, Mortal Kombat and others were banned in Germany, and others were changed to feature eg. green or black "blood" instead of humanlike, red blood. The cult classic 80's movie, "The Evil Dead", was only recently released in theaters in Germany, after a 36 year ban! Too bad for the people there though, it's a long list. I'm personally against most forms of prohibition.

First time I've seen games being officially classified a 'threat to security and social/political stability' though.

BTW speaking of Doom 4, I just finished playing it and it was fucking amazing. I rarely enjoy FPS's so much. The other few modern shooters I have truly liked were the Metro series and the Shadow Warrior remake. Doom though, was exactly what I hoped for: buckets of blood and gore, mystic/satanic imagery, hellish landscapes. The codex got a little silly when it described the super-duper-mega advanced "AI", but overall the story was serviceable. The final boss though was way too easy. And if I wanted to be petty, I'd also say the combat music was more like a flabby and generic industrial metal that tried to be intense but failed. The images and the music felt disconnected. I kind of expected something (instrumental I suppose) like Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation or at least Gorgoroth for the long segments with the hordes of demons. But that's just me.

Isn't the Doom 4 score essentially just a 1:1 remix of the original Robert Prince soundtrack?
I always wondered why they didn't just license tracks off of some of the mid-late 80s death/thrash classics like 'Darkness Descends', 'Pleasure to Kill', 'The Upcoming Terror', etc. as the soundtrack for slaughtering hordes of demons and shit. Should be more than appropriate.

 

[volsung]

First time I've seen games being officially classified a 'threat to security and social/political stability' though.


Isn't the Doom 4 score essentially just a 1:1 remix of the original Robert Prince soundtrack?
I always wondered why they didn't just license tracks off of some of the mid-late 80s death/thrash classics like 'Darkness Descends', 'Pleasure to Kill', 'The Upcoming Terror', etc. as the soundtrack for slaughtering hordes of demons and shit. Should be more than appropriate.

Yeah... next thing some country will start banning or burning books (again...).

And yeah the soundtrack apparently has many parts from all Dooms, including Doom 64. I suppose composing their own music is fine but a game as gory as Doom shouldn't shy away from using truly heavy, intense music. If they wanted to go industrial, they could have borrowed some ideas from bands like Gnaw their Tongues. If they wanted to go death metal, even popular bands like early Morbid Angel or Deicide or the modern bands I mentioned would be great. And alternatively yeah, some thrash metal (especially after the haste powerup). Instead they seemed to be OK with a mediocre, flaccid sound.

How about themes for different encounters/powerups: quad damage -- death metal, berserk -- black metal, haste -- thrash/speed metal, invulnerability/invisibility -- dark ambient/industrial. In fact, why won't somebody make the extreme version of Brutal Legend already?

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Looking forward to a good Shadow Warrior 2 sale now.

I'm still waiting for the Linux version which never arrived.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Fallout New Vegas just came out on GOG. I've never played it, but given that it was made by Obsidian, I guess it should be good? What do you think about it? It works well in Wine as many report.

 

[Arvuti]

Fallout New Vegas just came out on GOG. I've never played it, but given that it was made by Obsidian, I guess it should be good? What do you think about it? It works well in Wine as many report.

Buy it right now, you won't regret it. The only bad thing it has going for it is that it uses the same engine that FO3 uses, but the story and quests make up for it.

 

[volsung]

Fallout New Vegas just came out on GOG. I've never played it, but given that it was made by Obsidian, I guess it should be good? What do you think about it? It works well in Wine as many report.

Like the person before me said, the only problem with FO:NV is the engine. Suffice to say Obsidian managed to make a great game DESPITE Bethesda's shitty tools. It has a lot of shooting, but the mechanics are solid. The RPG elements are great though, despite the limitation of only one companion at a time.

 

[schinderhannes.999]

So, so very good.

Bedlam / Bedlam 2: Absolute Bedlam must be tipping their fedoras.

 

[M4xw0lf]

Fallout New Vegas just came out on GOG. I've never played it, but given that it was made by Obsidian, I guess it should be good? What do you think about it? It works well in Wine as many report.

This game is god. No, I didn't forget an o there.

 

[EliHarel]

I finally got Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen.

Two hours in and I'm really iffy about it. The combat seems fun (I chose rogue) and I'm eager to get deeper into it, but everything else about the game is... extremely subpar from what I've grown used to. I don't mean to bash it too much, but right now I'm not really seeing anything else about it that's appealing. It's been annoying to handle the menus, setting quests, recognizing progression in them, having interesting quests, dialogues, choices, cool terrain to explore, inventory management, and more stuff that I'll just hold back on to not come off as too disgruntled. Do the other departments of the game get better, or is it just staying for the combat (and cool outfits, from what I can tell) and suffering the rest?

 

[227]

Do the other departments of the game get better, or is it just staying for the combat (and cool outfits, from what I can tell) and suffering the rest?

Little of column A, little of column B. It takes a long time to see a slight rise in quality, but playing the game is also like beating your head against a brick wall. Eventually you develop a weird kind of Stockholm syndrome with the wall and it becomes weirdly charming for reasons that don't make a whole lot of sense, hence the game having its die-hard fans.

Outside of potentially brain damage-related love goggles, however, the game is pretty universally subpar compared to most games.

 

[Glaroug.531]

staying for the combat (and cool outfits, from what I can tell) and suffering the rest?

Pretty much, haha. I just got it on its GOG release and love it. Those armor outfits are as good as Saints Row 2 used and the combat/character progression is just awesome I heard the game was similar to Monster Hunter, basically my favorite game ever, which turns out to be an accurate comparison. But outside of fighting, there is not much to do. The "Open World" genre tag on GOG is just weird, and calling it a living world in its description is silly. Anything involving that menu is absolute garbage. Even the map is hardly fit for Loredo's latrine.

The expansion area, Bitterblack, is more of a traditional dungeon crawler. Unfortunately, I am still low level so my adventure was cut short when I met a nasty cockatrice and the group was turned to stone. Fighting two chimera in an arena was awesome though. I did come across a dragon or wyrm in the main game and that ended about as well as the cockatrice.

 

[KoreHK1992]

Has anyone gotten the Rise of the Necromancer pack for Diablo III on PS4?

 

[Ihear_BlueColors]

Don't get Dead Cells. It's very ... addicting.