Shevanel's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on Ultima Online retrospective | The last hurrah in ~games
Shevanel (edited )LinkFor anyone even marginally curious about the King’s Field series, Majuular also has several retrospective videos about those titles (and associated games like Shadow Tower). They’re excellent! I...For anyone even marginally curious about the King’s Field series, Majuular also has several retrospective videos about those titles (and associated games like Shadow Tower). They’re excellent! I never got into any Ultima games but I ought to check these videos out as well.
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Comment on Steam recently made a fundamental change to indie game discoverability in ~games
Shevanel LinkThis is cool. I hadn’t noticed the discounts / events being more geared towards my interests; I’ll have to keep an eye out. What I did notice is the new “release calendar” being almost exclusively...This is cool. I hadn’t noticed the discounts / events being more geared towards my interests; I’ll have to keep an eye out. What I did notice is the new “release calendar” being almost exclusively games I’d be interested in. My wishlist has grown so much more quickly since they added that feature..! Very clever move on their part indeed.
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Comment on Nintendo - Customer appreciation sale in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentEchoing what others said, but I’ll add that it is quite short. Worth it IMO but it’s a relatively quick game. How Long To Beat has it at 7 hours to finish, ~20 hours to do absolutely everything it...Echoing what others said, but I’ll add that it is quite short. Worth it IMO but it’s a relatively quick game. How Long To Beat has it at 7 hours to finish, ~20 hours to do absolutely everything it has to offer. I recall it being closer to 7-10 though I certainly didn’t do everything.
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Comment on A very American invention, pushed to an extreme in ~food
Shevanel (edited )LinkMy wife and I left Iowa before settling and starting our family but we have lots of friends and family still in the state. The effects that mass ag and the toxins generated have on the state...A large CAFO in your backyard is akin to living next to a power plant or waste treatment facility […] In North Carolina and Iowa, […] excess manure, when applied to fields, poisons drinking water.
My wife and I left Iowa before settling and starting our family but we have lots of friends and family still in the state. The effects that mass ag and the toxins generated have on the state cannot be overstated - Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the country.
I feel fortunate in that I only lived in the state for ~15 years, much of it on the Mississippi River and decently far removed from the super highly-concentrated agriculture of the rest of the state, but I fear for my wife who was born and raised in the dead center of the state for 30 years. Stories like this make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s like watching a state-sized car crash in slow motion.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentMore light spoilers :) It’s a greatsword that scales best with dex (and slightly with strength). It also has the moveset from Lucatiel’s sword in DS2, which, my heart… Feels like a great weapon to...More light spoilers :)
It’s a greatsword that scales best with dex (and slightly with strength). It also has the moveset from Lucatiel’s sword in DS2, which, my heart…
Feels like a great weapon to build towards with the Idus Knight and the light greatsword as a complement!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentJust picked ER back up to try out the new DLC gear as well. I’ll keep it vague here (light spoiler for gear name below), but it’s worth buying for a single new weapon. Very light (non story...Just picked ER back up to try out the new DLC gear as well. I’ll keep it vague here (light spoiler for gear name below), but it’s worth buying for a single new weapon.
Very light (non story related) spoiler for DLC content
Leontiel’s Greatsword is so much fun to use. Highly recommend folks give it a shot.
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Comment on Build your own video game listicle in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentI mean hey, somebody always comes in last place in the Olympics, but they’re still an Olympian. (I feel similarly in that DS2 is peak vibes out of the original trilogy and no one will ever...And Dark Souls 2 might be the "worst" game of the series,
I mean hey, somebody always comes in last place in the Olympics, but they’re still an Olympian.
(I feel similarly in that DS2 is peak vibes out of the original trilogy and no one will ever convince me otherwise)
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Comment on Between the Buried and Me - The Proverbial Bellow (2018) in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentTo add to OP’s response, they actually released an album entirely of covers ~20 years ago (link goes to Spotify) that’s a sort of deconstruction of a lot of the band’s influences, including...To add to OP’s response, they actually released an album entirely of covers ~20 years ago (link goes to Spotify) that’s a sort of deconstruction of a lot of the band’s influences, including Counting Crows. That’s one of the best parts of their sound IMO - it’s clear how much they listen across genres and really wear some of their influences on their sleeves.
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Comment on Between the Buried and Me - The Proverbial Bellow (2018) in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentHonestly, I need to revisit them too. I’ve given them all a few listens and really appreciate them for what they are, but post-Automata especially I have listened to them far less. To your point,...Honestly, I need to revisit them too. I’ve given them all a few listens and really appreciate them for what they are, but post-Automata especially I have listened to them far less. To your point, I do think they sound more prog and less (death) metal with every release, not a bad thing but also not what I enjoy about them the most. I can appreciate that they’re unafraid to try new things, at least. If anything, I’m glad their core sound remains the same after 27(!!!) years of releases.
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Comment on Between the Buried and Me - The Proverbial Bellow (2018) in ~music
Shevanel (edited )Link ParentIn a vacuum, I’d say Parallax II. It’s always been such an excellent example of their interconnected approach to composition while sounding like a blend of their newer sound with plenty of their...In a vacuum, I’d say Parallax II. It’s always been such an excellent example of their interconnected approach to composition while sounding like a blend of their newer sound with plenty of their good ol’ heaviness to back it up.
But when I filter things through the nostalgia lens, I’d have to go with Colors. A buddy and I drove down to Nashville for the show where they recorded Colors Live so that one is always going to be extra-special for me.
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Comment on Between the Buried and Me - The Proverbial Bellow (2018) in ~music
Shevanel LinkI don’t really have a favorite band, but if I had to pick one, it’d be BTBAM. Discovered them shortly after Alaska’s release. I’m happy that they continue to evolve and am excited to see where...I don’t really have a favorite band, but if I had to pick one, it’d be BTBAM. Discovered them shortly after Alaska’s release. I’m happy that they continue to evolve and am excited to see where they go next! @DFGdanger is Automata your favorite release of theirs?
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Comment on What is the oldest file you still have? in ~tech
Shevanel LinkGreat timing - I just discovered an old microSD card of mine taped to the side of an old external hard drive that I had in storage. The card was originally installed in my Motorola Razr from...Great timing - I just discovered an old microSD card of mine taped to the side of an old external hard drive that I had in storage. The card was originally installed in my Motorola Razr from ~2006. I think the oldest picture that survived on there from several cleanups and phone swaps is from 2008. Tons of pictures from my junior and senior year of high school, so now I’m just figuring out a more permanent storage solution in my tiny home lab.
Ninja edit to be a buzzkill: my birth certificate ;)
Super fun question!
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Comment on Worm - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) (2026) in ~music
Shevanel Link ParentNoted, thanks! I can appreciate a band’s sound evolving over time so I’m looking forward to seeing the before and after. I usually don’t lean doom/sludge unless we get into the super heavy and...Noted, thanks! I can appreciate a band’s sound evolving over time so I’m looking forward to seeing the before and after. I usually don’t lean doom/sludge unless we get into the super heavy and slow, like more funeral doom adjacent. My black metal preference is all over the place. It usually suffices to say that I err more towards atmoblack or blackgaze but there are standouts in every subgenre so I’ll definitely be checking up on all the names you mentioned. I appreciate your comments in this space; I always feel like I walk away with a new page in my back catalogue :)
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Comment on Worm - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) (2026) in ~music
Shevanel LinkThe first time I watched this video, I thought my video was just really slow to buffer. Then I realized they purposefully uploaded it looking compressed to hell and had a good laugh. I wasn’t...The first time I watched this video, I thought my video was just really slow to buffer. Then I realized they purposefully uploaded it looking compressed to hell and had a good laugh.
I wasn’t familiar with Worm before their KEXP appearance but I enjoyed the first track (and then promptly got distracted). I’ll have to hop back into this recording soon, they sounded great live!
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Comment on What is your Mandela effect moment? in ~movies
Shevanel Link ParentI wonder if this might have been because of the really popular ad campaign they had with the cows holding crudely painted sandwich boards that said “EAT MOR CHIKIN” ?I wonder if this might have been because of the really popular ad campaign they had with the cows holding crudely painted sandwich boards that said “EAT MOR CHIKIN” ?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Shevanel (edited )LinkI just realized that the developer of 20 Small Mazes, FLEB, released a second game at some point last year called Strange Jigsaws. Blew through it quick over the last couple of days. Both of these...I just realized that the developer of 20 Small Mazes, FLEB, released a second game at some point last year called Strange Jigsaws. Blew through it quick over the last couple of days. Both of these games are great and I highly recommend them. Bite-sized puzzles that don’t really ever stray into moon logic. I had several laugh out loud moments due to clever solves and cute design choices. 20 Small Mazes is free, and as of the posting of this comment, Strange Jigsaws is 50% off on Steam for a grand total of $2.50 USD. It takes about twice as long as 20 Small Mazes does (at least for me, I’m not great at puzzles) and is totally worth the price of admission!
I also just 100%ed Pepper Grinder a couple days ago, which is absolutely not like me for an arcadey platformer. That one sunk its claws into me DEEP; great combination of addicting, fast-paced gameplay with a time-trial mode that, all things considered, was pretty forgiving. The drill movement was fun and new mechanics were introduced throughout which made it easy to want to keep playing, and nothing overstayed its welcome. Soundtrack was also great; strong Celeste vibes throughout.
100%ing the game more or less comes down to collecting all of the hidden coins and getting gold medals on all of the levels. The hidden coins feel very New Super Mario Bros. - they are indeed hidden, but not so drastically that you'll be wasting hours of your life finding them. And the time trial golds are basically all achievable by going through the levels as intended without making any huge errors - they're pretty forgiving. Each level is ~1-2 minutes in length, with some standouts in either direction.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentSULFUR is great; enjoyed the demo and I plan on giving it a go as soon as it leaves early access! Glad to know it’s an enjoyable game all the way through.SULFUR is great; enjoyed the demo and I plan on giving it a go as soon as it leaves early access! Glad to know it’s an enjoyable game all the way through.
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Comment on What game are you terrible at? in ~games
Shevanel Link ParentIt’s been a while since I’ve played, but if I recall correctly, virtually everything that doesn’t make a red warning symbol pop-up on the screen (with an accompanying orchestral string hit) can be...not everything can be blocked and it's not always clear what can be and what can't and what needs a special counter
It’s been a while since I’ve played, but if I recall correctly, virtually everything that doesn’t make a red warning symbol pop-up on the screen (with an accompanying orchestral string hit) can be deflected (parried). The timing might suck or feel super unintuitive, but it should hold true for most anything. That’s not to say that there won’t be status buildups like poison, fire, etc but those are relatively rare.
I was only half joking in my other comment about it being a rhythm game. I actually hard-disagree on the stance of “mashing” the deflect button. You should never be mashing anything. Your deflects should be precise inputs in time with whatever the enemies’ swings are. Mashing will get you punished because the reset between mashes leaves you vulnerable. If you’re unsure on the timing of an enemy attack, better to try to time the deflect, but then keep the block button held in case you blocked early. Then once you figure out their timing, switch to single quick taps.
Your stamina also resets faster when you’re blocking, which is another unintuitive non-soulslike approach. The game wants you to block until an attack is about to hit, then let up and tap again to deflect. It feels super weird to get used to, but it feels so good once you get into the rhythm.
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Comment on What game are you terrible at? in ~games
Shevanel (edited )Link ParentI mean, it makes sense. You’re good at action RPGs, why would that translate to a rhythm game? ;) You’re not asking for advice, but for whatever it’s worth, Hirata is considered a mid/late-game...I mean, it makes sense. You’re good at action RPGs, why would that translate to a rhythm game? ;)
You’re not asking for advice, but for whatever it’s worth, Hirata is considered a mid/late-game location even though you can access it early. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you explore it right when you first find it.
My perpetually-lagging gaming habits finally brought me to The Case of the Golden Idol this week. I completed the main game in two sittings over the weekend and completed one of the two DLC entries today.
What a great experience. I’m not huge on puzzle games but it had me feeling like a bonafide detective. I appreciated that the gameplay loop was not at all interested in forcing the player to clue-hunt. Everything is highlighted so you can focus on deduction. I also appreciated that there were several optional challenges which almost always served to help the player deduce what happened in a given scenario.
I felt like, across hundreds of puzzles and questions to be deduced, I only really had to “guess” at a blank a single time, and I’m sure that was a shortcoming of my own, not the game’s. The internal logic is that tight - really no moon logic to be found.
I’m excited to pick up the second DLC and buy the sequel sooner than later!