Playing other games

[secondchildren]

No need, Gog has given to me both the soundtrack and the artbook (available for a few days). Gog's cool

Anyway, I've found that deather and I'm going forward very fast. It's very funny and cute, and artistically innovative
As for Machinarium, thanks for telling me, I'm eager to play it now. Thanks gods Monday is right behind the corner wheee!

 

[volsung]

My wife and I just "finished" Botanicula yesterday. Played for quite a few hours straight, very addictive

It's such an unconventional game, that I would consider it more of an experience than mere entertainment. It goes into trippy territory by the end Cool thing is it is highly replayable, because it doesn't rely on solving puzzles but rather on experiencing, and these things don't really get old.

Very good artistic job by Amanita Design. Recommended!

 

[daddy300]

Im downloading WarInc

Got friend playing it. its free to play FPS.
http://www.thewarinc.com/

 

[seekerpat]

Replaying Max Payne 1&2 in preparation for #3. I heard Max is older, fatter and has less hair in this new version...sounds like his life has paralleled my own :'(

But at least I can relate more to the character than I did 10 years ago

 

[secondchildren]

Just finished Botanicula: so cute but so short

Anyway, it's just great that it has been made by only 4 people. I bow at Amanita Design

Regarding the originality of its style: I love it, altho I'm not much for that kind of abstract, minimalistic art. Plus I have an atavic fear for everything related to the circus, puppets and so on, and in some part the game reminds me the so much. I could barely pass the circus level in Sanitarium and hated it LOL

I'm gonna try Machinarium very soon. I think I've just become a fan of Amanita group

For those who haven't played it: GO PLAY IT NOW!
I mean, the price is really really worthy, it's just nothing but fresh air if you're looking for something original. Not for the wide audience maybe, it's true..... but certainly worthy for most geeky elitists among us

 

[phamvan94]

Waiting for Risen 2 to get cheap as of now. Still playing Blacklight Retribution because Super Monday Night Combat has a godawful matchmaking system and Tribes Ascend STILL does not work.

Also tried a bit of Hard Reset, but I don't really like it so I will probably return it.

 

[volsung]

Replaying Max Payne 1&2 in preparation for #3. I heard Max is older, fatter and has less hair in this new version...sounds like his life has paralleled my own :'(

But at least I can relate more to the character than I did 10 years ago

It was quite a shock when I saw the first Max Payne 3 trailer a while ago. Yes, he is fat, older and seemingly bald (he actually shaved his head ).

I don't think I'll play it. It doesn't have the dark, cold noire atmosphere, or the graphic-novel "cutscenes" of the first two games. It seems like a total transformation of both character and setting.

Just finished Botanicula: so cute but so short

(...)

I mean, the price is really really worthy, it's just nothing but fresh air if you're looking for something original. Not for the wide audience maybe, it's true..... but certainly worthy for most geeky elitists among us

Glad you liked it!

I had a great time playing it with my wife, who isn't that much into computer games to begin with. She loved it however. We agreed that you don't play a game like this for the challenge, but for the experience. I loved how visual and musical it is. As you said, it's not a game many people might actually like.. especially if all they play is Call of Duty

 

[green_abobo]

heck no im not.

 

[phamvan94]

Playing Risen 2 at the moment and its bad.

The controls are clunky as hell. Combat is broken and enemies are cheap. They attack much faster than you, their attacks deal more damage and they interrupt every-single-one of your actions, be it attack, jump, run or whatever. You have no way of locking to an enemy and about 30% of the time, instead of shooting the enemy, the character turns around and shoots the air behind him. Seriously WHAT THE FUCK.

Its not even difficult, But your attacks do pitiful damage and if even 2 or 3 enemies attack you, you get instantly stunlocked. And you have no way of getting out since you can't roll and jumping gets interrupted instantly by 5 simultaneous attacks. Its just cheap and broken. Seriously considering getting an infinite health trainer until it gets better. You can't even 1v1 a crab or a ghoul.

If the combat does not get better in the next few days, I am returning the game.

 

[chlong7]

Playing Risen 2 at the moment and its bad...

You played Risen, right? How do the controls compare? You said Risen 2's were clunky, but you describe it in terms that remind me of how I felt playing Risen until I finally got the hang of it. I'm not saying that you're having my problems; I'm just trying to get a better sense of what to expect since I'm planning to give Risen 2 a try soon.

 

[phamvan94]

You played Risen, right? How do the controls compare? You said Risen 2's were clunky, but you describe it in terms that remind me of how I felt playing Risen until I finally got the hang of it. I'm not saying that you're having my problems; I'm just trying to get a better sense of what to expect since I'm planning to give Risen 2 a try soon.

The first Risen was much better in terms of controls. The combat there was difficult, but fair. You could interrupt enemies, but in Risen 2 they are uninterruptible (at least seems so) while even a small hit puts you into hitstun.

The thing I hate most is that Risen 2 has no block. You can parry, but that only works for human enemies with swords. You cannot block animals or undead, while you could in Risen 1. Seriously, if you would not have a companion in the beginning, it would be nigh unplayable. And I switched difficulty to easy!

And no, I don't suck. My first playthrough of the original Risen had no such problems. After 30 minutes of adjusting and getting used to, I could 1v1 humans without getting hit. In Risen 2, the best I did was getting someone to half and that was using the pistol.

To be honest, most of my issues could be ironed out by future patches. At least I hope. But the state that I play it in is absolutely horrible.

 

[chlong7]

And no, I don't suck...

No worries. I never thought that. Sorry it's not much fun for you right now, though. That sucks.

I think I'll still take a crack at it, but it sounds like waiting a bit is not a bad idea. Can you do manual combos with multiple parries or strike/kicks? How is it otherwise? (I can't help it. I really want to meet this gnome companion character after I spent all of Risen committing genocide against his people...as well as all other major fauna of the island.)

 

[phamvan94]

No worries. I never thought that. Sorry it's not much fun for you right now, though. That sucks.

I think I'll still take a crack at it, but it sounds like waiting a bit is not a bad idea. Can you do manual combos with multiple parries or strike/kicks? How is it otherwise? (I can't help it. I really want to meet this gnome companion character after I spent all of Risen committing genocide against his people...as well as all other major fauna of the island.)

Left click is basic attack. So far I only have a basic 3 hit combo and a strong attack that is launched by holding LMB. RMB is the pistol or whatever you have equipped like sand for blinding or coconuts for stuns (its called "dirty tricks"). Pistols naturally have ammunition.

There is the option of kicking, but you have to learn it first and I don't have the money right now so can't comment on advanced combat yet. Parry you also have to learn. I also saw Riposte available at the trainer and some other pretty interesting skills but you need to level your "Blade" skill and get a lot of money for that.

I will share some thoughts on the other aspects as well:

Story is pretty decent. I don't like how it stated, since it more or less completely ignores the story of the first Risen.

Graphics are hit or miss. Some stuff looks beautiful while some other areas look very "meh". Animations are a joke, especially during conversations. Also I don't like how the day is very bright, but the night is almost pitch black. Sand is almost blinding too.

Audio is fine. Effects are nice, voice acting is decent and the music is quite good.

Menus are pretty consolized, and break the immersion IMO because it opens a separate menu screen if you open a chest, instead of a small window like in Risen. They work fine though.

Leveling is quite well done. You earn experience called Glory and spend it (you lose it) by buying levels for basic skills like Cunning, Blade, Firearms etc. Then you go to a trainer and pay him to teach you a skill like Pickpocketing, Riposte etc.

Overall, its a mediocre game with a broken combat system so far. I much prefer the original Risen but I will try to play it a bit more before I form a lasting opinion.

 

[username_2093396]

I got Risen 2 as well. I had a scare trying to start it because it instantly crashed to the desktop instead of starting the game. This is the first game I've gotten in the last ten years which actually meant it when it said to make sure my drivers were up to date It turns out that I had a slightly older version of PhysX so I had to update my graphics driver and then the game started fine.

I haven't actually started playing it yet though (I ran around for a few minutes to see how it runs on my PC but I intend to finish TW2 EE first before I start Risen 2 in earnest). I'm a little worried about what I'm reading here about the combat.

If I'm willing to play slowly, be careful, and die a bit is the combat bearable? I liked the combat in Risen 1 so I was expecting more of the same. I'm baffled why there's no dodge button in Risen 2

 

[Aver]

Risen 2 feels like low-budget game, but it's kinda enjoyable. I kinda regret paying full price for it.

 

[lycos]

Risen 2 feels like low-budget game, but it's kinda enjoyable. I kinda regret paying full price for it.

So it is worth waiting for it to drop into the bargain bin, or a complete waste?

How does it compare to Risen? Esp since they appear to have ignored the first game and gone "Yaaa, Pirates!" from watching trailers/comments.

 

[Aver]

So it is worth waiting for it to drop into the bargain bin, or a complete waste?

How does it compare to Risen? Esp since they appear to have ignored the first game and gone "Yaaa, Pirates!" from watching trailers/comments.

I think buying it on 30%-50% sale would be a fair deal. I liked Risen 1 better, but I'm not that big fan of pirates. Game mechanics are hard to compare because there are too many bugs right now in Risen 2

 

[Silverio13]

I am replaying TW2 EE, replaying Metro 2033 and still playing Botanicula. Beautiful art in these games!

 

[phamvan94]

The first Risen is much much better. I would say paying 20-30 bucks for Risen 2 would be acceptable.

I play slow and careful and still die. And I'm on easy. The companion at the start helps a ton. You can defeat most enemies if you are really careful and kite a lot, but once you find groups, one misstep means stunlock and death.

Its playable and enjoyable, but its the combat is pretty awful IMO. Everything else is fine.

 

[username_2093396]

The first Risen is much much better. I would say paying 20-30 bucks for Risen 2 would be acceptable.

I play slow and careful and still die. And I'm on easy. The companion at the start helps a ton. You can defeat most enemies if you are really careful and kite a lot, but once you find groups, one misstep means stunlock and death.

Its playable and enjoyable, but its the combat is pretty awful IMO. Everything else is fine.

I see. I guess I'll start over on easy, keep my companion with me at all times and kite a lot then I'm not above exploiting cheap tactics at the beginning of the game. I do hope that the combat becomes better once you unlock more abilities though.