turbografx16'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 What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentI've thought about buying this one since it released, but it just screams "eventual PS+ freebie", so I feel like it'll drop soon after I've paid for it. Been burned by that a couple times; I...I've thought about buying this one since it released, but it just screams "eventual PS+ freebie", so I feel like it'll drop soon after I've paid for it. Been burned by that a couple times; I wonder what sort of difference this sort of mentality makes for AA titles.
My impression of the game is that it's great if you just want to play around with a bunch of cool weapons in a game where it feels good to hit stuff. Does that line up with your experience?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 LinkI spent the weekend with my sister playing Ocarina of Time, as it was a huge game for us when we were kids it felt right to experience it together. Reminisced about old memories, made new ones,...I spent the weekend with my sister playing Ocarina of Time, as it was a huge game for us when we were kids it felt right to experience it together. Reminisced about old memories, made new ones, and overall it was the best weekend for me in a long time.
There's been a lot of talk over whether its lofty reputation is deserved or not, but I think playing this remake paints a pretty clear picture: this is a special game, and it always will be. A great game is more than the sum of its parts, which is certainly true of the original, but if those familiar parts are suddenly overflowing with detail and care it's hard not to be regularly awestruck.
There was a moment, atop Death Mountain at nightfall, where the sight and sound of Biggoron hammering away in his forge stopped us in our tracks, and we just stood there until the sun came up. The way each strike lit up the side of the mountain, the thunderous yet distant sound in the calm of night, and his slow movements bore a sense of gentleness that captivated and relaxed us. This kind of thing is all over the place in the remake, and to see these areas so vividly imagined is an absolute gift. For any gripes I have with it, if it can create a moment like this, it was all worth it.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
turbografx16 LinkI'm listening to a lot of Amorphis and Paradise Lost lately. Both of these bands have extensive, quality discographies so it's easy to find a variety of good stuff. I've just checked out the...I'm listening to a lot of Amorphis and Paradise Lost lately. Both of these bands have extensive, quality discographies so it's easy to find a variety of good stuff.
I've just checked out the Amorphis live album, Forging the Land of Thousand Lakes, and I can highly recommend both it and the accompanying DVD (you can find it on Youtube), I think it does a good job at showcasing what makes the band special.
As for Paradise Lost, they've had so many different sounds over their career, but I've been really feeling One Second as well as Symbol of Life lately. If you like gothic rock/metal they are totally a band worth exploring: I'd recommend One Second to fans of Depeche Mode or Sisters of Mercy, and Symbol of Life if you want some of that early 2000s edge, sorta gives me Rammstein vibes at times.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
turbografx16 Link ParentI don't suppose you'd be willing to share your recipe? A good dry rub is a thing of beauty.I don't suppose you'd be willing to share your recipe? A good dry rub is a thing of beauty.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
turbografx16 LinkAnyone here into hot sauce making? I've picked it up recently, just did my second sauce yesterday: roasted jalapeño! Really thrilled with how it turned out, and I love having enough to gift to...Anyone here into hot sauce making? I've picked it up recently, just did my second sauce yesterday: roasted jalapeño! Really thrilled with how it turned out, and I love having enough to gift to friends too. It can be a bit hard to find specific peppers around here, but I'd love some recommendations or suggestions.
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Comment on Opeth - The Grand Conjuration (2005) in ~music
turbografx16 LinkFantastic song from a fantastic album. Still maybe their best work, it's just so well rounded. Fun fact: Opeth did a lot of concept albums, and Ghost Reveries was intially intended to be one as...Fantastic song from a fantastic album. Still maybe their best work, it's just so well rounded.
Fun fact: Opeth did a lot of concept albums, and Ghost Reveries was intially intended to be one as well, but the idea was dropped even though a bunch of songs were written using the concept. So it's sort of half a concept album. For a lot of bands, I think that could detract from the cohesion of the final product, but this record is so good it doesn't even matter.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentBloodlines is one of the only classic games I havent finished, just because of its baffling continue system. Every other classic series game has unlimited continues, so I have no idea why they...Bloodlines is one of the only classic games I havent finished, just because of its baffling continue system. Every other classic series game has unlimited continues, so I have no idea why they ditched it for that one. It just makes it harder to appreciate, and more likely that folks will use save states these days rather than giving it a fair go (which I couldn't really blame anyone for). I'll probably see it through at some point, because otherwise it's a really great game, but it's just a shame.
The later entries are interesting to return to, since there's so many games using the blueprint of Symphony of the Night that have the benefit of decades of iteration. Obviously newer games have to do a lot more to stand out than when the formula was new and novel, so maybe some of those older ones don't hold up as well depending on your exposure. I still like most of them, but there's arguments to be made for either side; like you said, the taste component can be significant.
I do think that these games generally hold up best on their original platforms/contexts. A game like Dawn of Sorrow may not wow you if you're playing it on the Advance Collection on your TV, but it's a great game to have on a tiny system like the DS, where you can pull it out for a few minutes pretty much anywhere.
I really like hearing someone else's experience with games I love, especially when they're so different from mine, so it's been great to get your perspective on this. Curious to hear what some of the 2D platformers are that you mentioned still returning to.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentThe PSP one is Dracula X Chronicles, yeah. Between the Death fight and the boss rush in (I think) the next stage, the ending really ramps up in difficulty. I also tapped out around that point the...The PSP one is Dracula X Chronicles, yeah. Between the Death fight and the boss rush in (I think) the next stage, the ending really ramps up in difficulty. I also tapped out around that point the first time I played it.
Maybe that's part of why I like it. It doesn't treat finishing the game as an inevitability, it's something you gotta work for. It's pretty short all things considered, but it's almost like you've got to clear a performance bar to beat it. Games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls have a bunch of tools you can use to give yourself an edge if you experiment enough, but Castlevania essentially demands you just nail your movement, timing, and spatial awareness in a way I found extremely engaging.
Memorisation is an interesting point, because it does play a part, but I don't think it's the end game. I think you're supposed to familiarize yourself with what enemies or bosses are capable of, and then use that information to plan a safe or effective route on the fly. If you know how to deal with specific enemies in isolation, you'll have to figure out how to deal with them in different combinations at a moment's notice. There's a chance it still won't be your thing, but it might click if you reframe it: I see the stages like a puzzle, and the enemies and hazards are pieces to put into place, for example.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentI like the Igavania games as well, absolutely, but it seems a shame that that's ALL the series has to be, you know? The classic games have their own style that appeals to different players, and...I like the Igavania games as well, absolutely, but it seems a shame that that's ALL the series has to be, you know? The classic games have their own style that appeals to different players, and there aren't a lot of games made like them anymore. There's room for both, is all I mean by that.
By the way, if there's any classic style game you should try, it's Super Castlevania IV for SNES. Responsive controls, great music and visuals, branching paths, and a difficulty that feels just right. I don't know if you meant you've tried Dracula X for SNES, but I wouldn't recommend it; it's a pretty compromised port of Rondo of Blood, basically a different (vastly inferior) game.
For the DS games, I'm partial to Portrait of Ruin. If you need your DS fix, give that one a go maybe!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 LinkMy Castlevania kick has not stopped, and I'm currently playing a few different ones. Dracula X Chronicles is a remake of Rondo of Blood for the PSP, I'm playing it on my Vita. It makes me wish...My Castlevania kick has not stopped, and I'm currently playing a few different ones.
Dracula X Chronicles is a remake of Rondo of Blood for the PSP, I'm playing it on my Vita. It makes me wish there were more games in the classic Castlevania style, since the original game is arguably the peak of that style, and the remake proves that it can still hold its own as a contemporary title. Multiple characters, tons of secrets, and a level of difficulty that demands focused attention give it a lot of replay value, even more so since it comes with both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night as unlockables. A no-brainer for any handheld enjoyer, and a breath of fresh air after so many years of games like Symphony of the Night.
I finished Curse of Darkness and, after mildly enjoying the initial playthrough, decided to play it again as Trevor Belmont, who you unlock upon beating the main game. Biiiig mistake lol. It's maybe the most barebones secondary character I've ever seen: the game's RPG mechanics, monster familiar raising system, weapon crafting system, equipment system, and even the inventory in general are completely excised, and it turns the game into a series of mostly empty hallways and rooms and little else. Combat can still be enjoyable, but the lack of overall difficulty and only being able to use one weapon means it gets old very quickly. You don't even unlock anything for completing the game in this mode, so it was actually just a huge waste of time and made me dislike the game far more than I would have otherwise. If you ever play this game, try this mode for a few minutes and then drop it forever, you're missing nothing at all.
Stay tuned for my thoughts on Lords of Shadow 2, nearing the end of that (I think).
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentDonkey Kong '94 is one of the best Game Boy games to me! Bite sized challenges (that can actually be pretty difficult to optimize) along with an awesome soundtrack and some of the best visuals on...Donkey Kong '94 is one of the best Game Boy games to me! Bite sized challenges (that can actually be pretty difficult to optimize) along with an awesome soundtrack and some of the best visuals on the platform. Super fun to pop in whenever, I'd recommend the Super Game Boy version as well for its excellent colours and borders.
Also I admit that I've never tried the STALKER games proper, but this anecdote makes them sound like my kind of thing. Might have to give it a go.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentI also played Banjo on Rare Replay and didn't get it at all. I recently played it on original hardware and a CRT, and I thought it was brilliant. I think this is a real issue with game...I also played Banjo on Rare Replay and didn't get it at all. I recently played it on original hardware and a CRT, and I thought it was brilliant.
I think this is a real issue with game preservation: ports, remasters, and the like often don't accurately reflect the original game in a variety of ways, and this leads to a divergence in the perception of the game. Maybe it doesn't hold up as well as you remember, or maybe the currently accessible versions make it seem worse than it actually is. Newer players without access to original hardware will form their perceptions based on whatever is available on modern platforms, and may never know otherwise.
The N64 is a good example, because its controller has an analog stick that feels completely different from modern sticks. It's much more responsive and comfortable when making small adjustments or only partially tilting it, which makes 3D platformers like Banjo really fun when you're using your whole range of motion. We're so used to maxing out the stick in whatever direction all the time these days, but that's not what the game was designed for, so it won't play well like that, but no one tells you this and modern ports may not take it into account.
Sorry to go off a bit, but I just find it such a shame when people bounce off great games because of things that aren't even the game's fault. I wish there were a better way of experiencing older games the way they work best, but I guess that's why game preservation needs to be taken seriously and explored from different angles.
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Comment on Electronic Arts to cut 400 jobs, shut down BioWare in ~games
turbografx16 LinkRegardless of EA's part in the studio's downfall, I think the writing was on the wall for BioWare long ago, and it was probably misguided to believe they were going to put out another great game....Regardless of EA's part in the studio's downfall, I think the writing was on the wall for BioWare long ago, and it was probably misguided to believe they were going to put out another great game.
Even just looking at the roller coaster of quality that is the Dragon Age series, it's clear that they haven't been playing to their strengths for a long time, the priority has been anywhere else. If they'd been able to work on some smaller-scale projects as a way to test new ideas, maybe each release wouldn't have felt so scattershot and unfocused, but at the budgets they were working with this was never going to end well.
It's a shame, because they have put out some excellent games that changed the direction of the industry multiple times. If they weren't capable of doing that again, they could have excelled in specific niches as a way to stay afloat rather than chasing mass appeal. When you shoot for the stars, you don't always realize how massive space is until you're already there.
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Comment on The strange resurrection of Lonesome Dove in ~books
turbografx16 LinkI discovered Lonesome Dove a couple years back, and haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about it since. The article is paywalled, so I'm not sure what the author is getting at, but it's...I discovered Lonesome Dove a couple years back, and haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about it since. The article is paywalled, so I'm not sure what the author is getting at, but it's a fantastic book that deserves to be read and discussed. Few other books I've read capture the physicality of their settings as effectively, and I can't think of many other characters that feel as alive and real as the entire roster in Lonesome Dove.
The book also doesn't shy away from the messier aspects of the time period without feeling like it's condoning or romanticizing them; if anything, it demystifies a time and place that had grown into the subject of fantasy. There are strong themes of the changing times, how some of us adapt and others are stuck in the old ways, and how we can hold onto hope for the future despite what surrounds us that I feel are deeply relevant to a lot of people right now. Sometimes a good book is just a good book, and it finds its audience no matter how much time has passed.
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Comment on Xbox making a big push into film and TV with XP in ~movies
turbografx16 LinkIf this is really a big part of their strategy going forward, I hope this is an opportunity for some creative filmmakers to tell original, interesting stories without having to worry about how to...If this is really a big part of their strategy going forward, I hope this is an opportunity for some creative filmmakers to tell original, interesting stories without having to worry about how to get people interested. The cynic in me says to expect little more than low-effort pandering to existing fanbases, but there's a real chance for some cool movies to be made that might not have otherwise.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentThe original Gothic starts out pretty open-ended with the different factions and such, but it gets more and more linear as it goes along. The dev team had way more ambition than they could...The original Gothic starts out pretty open-ended with the different factions and such, but it gets more and more linear as it goes along. The dev team had way more ambition than they could realize, and a lot of stuff had to get cut or stripped back so it could actually release. The feeling of being on the back foot starts to turn around as you get more powerful, which is really satisfying at first, but combat becomes a bit mindless as it goes on. I still love the whole game, but it definitely is at its best in the first chapter when everything still kicks your ass. Still worth a play, even if just to appreciate the returning characters and continuity in the second game I think!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 LinkI just finished Gothic II, a game I've been meaning to finish for years now. Did a fresh playthrough and it had me under its spell pretty quickly. I think it's excellent; it's a real success in...I just finished Gothic II, a game I've been meaning to finish for years now. Did a fresh playthrough and it had me under its spell pretty quickly. I think it's excellent; it's a real success in terms of immersion and a genuine feeling of growing stronger, only made possible by its unrelenting difficulty. The original game has been stuck in my head ever since I first played it years ago, and I think the sequel improves in almost every measurable way. It still enchanted me all these years later, so I'd really recommend it if it interests you. Just know to expect a slow start. A real slow start.
I also finished Castlevania: Curse of Darkness with the first character, going to dive in with the unlockable character(s) next. This one is a hack-and-slash with creature raising elements and very dramatic cutscenes. Mostly entertaining, but enemy variety and encounter design in general are still lacking unfortunately. Best to play in short sessions so the repetitive level design doesn't get too grating, but when it works it's quite fun, and I could see it being a great game to have on a handheld. There's a number of different weapon types, simple combos that get you thinking strategically, a rudimentary crafting system, plus the ability to raise creatures based on the weapons you're using. It won't hold a candle to other notable PS2 action games, but there is enough here that I could see this being a lesser childhood favorite of mine if I had it at the time.
Next up is Gothic 3, and I'm also thinking of checking out the Witcher 3 remaster. Lot of threes I guess.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentFFVII Remake is an interesting one for me, because I think a second playthrough both strengthened my opinion of the gameplay itself, while laying bare all of its issues at the same time. I'd...FFVII Remake is an interesting one for me, because I think a second playthrough both strengthened my opinion of the gameplay itself, while laying bare all of its issues at the same time.
I'd recommend trying out hard mode: items are disabled, so there's much more strategy with materia/party makeup, and it really encourages experimentation with elemental weaknesses as well as characters you might not usually use much. It almost felt like a normal mode playthrough was just the tutorial, and hard mode is the real game. Seriously so much fun when you start to really get the hang of it.
That being said, the constant slow walking sections and other unskippable sequences kind of put me at odds with the game. I want to enjoy the combat itself, but it's constantly being interrupted. When the gameplay is more focused than ever, it draws attention to the lack of focus in other aspects of the game unfortunately.
Side note: I also experienced difficulty spikes at some bosses in my first playthrough, subsequent runs trying different things showed me I was just approaching it wrong or didn't understand the fight. They're not always self-explanatory, so you do kind of have to try things and hope you brought the right materia. Part of me wishes it was a bit less opaque, but also such a major release not being afraid to let players figure things out is refreshing.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turbografx16 Link ParentPaper Mario is a favorite of mine. One of the things I love about it is that it's really well paced as long as you don't avoid battles, and never requires grinding to get past a certain part. I'm...Paper Mario is a favorite of mine. One of the things I love about it is that it's really well paced as long as you don't avoid battles, and never requires grinding to get past a certain part. I'm interested in other RPGs like this, it makes the game feel more tightly designed and well crafted to me, which counts for a lot when the difficulty ramps up for example.
If you haven't switched to the Japanese VO already, it's not too late! I don't know if I've just become more sensitive to it or if this game's English VO is particularly rough, but it just makes me cringe every time. So many characters sound fitting and great in Japanese, though, shout outs to the Deku Tree Sprout and the Twinrova sisters. Still would prefer it without voices, but oh well.