141 replies to this topic

[TheKingInTheNorth]

Yeah, I thought Hogwarts Legacy was a great start to a series. Stunning visuals, and an overall fun experience, with some problems that could be fixed in a sequel.

 

I think my biggest issue was the lack of interactivity with the world. Like, I could literally destroy shit and cast Unforgivable Curses, in front of hundreds of people, and no one would react.

 

Also, while I greatly enjoyed exploring, once I had discovered pretty much everything, I found that a good deal of my interest was gone. Not to mention, a lot of the puzzles got really repetitive, and weren't challenging enough.
I don't feel like there's much replay value.

 

I do agree with you, Mara, about the MC. I often forgot she was a student, and not some sort of intrepid explorer.

 

All that aside, I did enjoy exploring while it lasted, I like how they expanded the world (you can tell these creators really love the books), I enjoyed the school stuff, and getting to know the teachers and other students, I loved building up the Room of Requirement and breeding the beasts, the combat was pretty fun, and while the story wasn't great, there were parts of it I really liked, such as learning about the Keepers' backstory (though, as you say, they should have tied it into the present better), and of course the entire storyline with Sebastian was really well done.

 

So, yeah. A great start, with some things that could be improved in their next game (hopefully there's another one).

[Mara=^.^=]

I'm replaying the original Zoo Tycoon from 2002. This game holds up incredibly well! It's so relaxing.

 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[ShadRose17]

I'm replaying the original Zoo Tycoon from 2002. This game holds up incredibly well! It's so relaxing.




~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

I love that game so, so much! It's super nostalgic! That's the exact one I play!

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Does it involve park benches, dirt paths, hot dog stands, fountains, playgrounds, and things like that?  I remember playing something like Sims back in 2001/2002, and that's all I remember from it; wish I remembered the name of the one I'd played back then...

[ShadRose17]

Does it involve park benches, dirt paths, hot dog stands, fountains, playgrounds, and things like that? I remember playing something like Sims back in 2001/2002, and that's all I remember from it; wish I remembered the name of the one I'd played back then...

Actually yeah. You're building a zoo and all those things are in it!

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

WHAAAAA?????  I've been racking my mind for SO many years trying to remember that game!  Thanks so much, Sarah!!  You're awesome!!

[Mara=^.^=]

Replaying an old TMNT game from the PS2 era. Oh, the memories...

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

 

I pirated Baldur's Gate 3 to see what all the fuss was about. It's interesting so far, but I really dislike the fact that the protagonist isn't voiced. Seeing her stand there, blank-faced, while everyone else gets dialogue, is quite off-putting.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

There isn't a voice for the protagonist? That is weird.... I get that it's probably useful for self-insert, but it sounds weird. Also, I have heard SO many people talking about this game. You'll have to tell me what your final thoughts are.

[Mara=^.^=]

There isn't a voice for the protagonist? That is weird.... I get that it's probably useful for self-insert, but it sounds weird. Also, I have heard SO many people talking about this game. You'll have to tell me what your final thoughts are.

 

There's a huge split among fans of the genre regarding voiced protagonists. Group 1 is adamant that dialogue done by an actor ruins their immersion, because they are roleplaying as the MC and that's not how they would've delivered their lines. Group 2 prefers a voiced protagonist simply because playing a person who just stands there silently is...well, creepy. I'm in Group 2, but I get where Group 1 is coming from...the polite, unassuming voiced dialogue in Hogwarts Legacy, for instance, is wildly at odds with what's happening in the plot, and it creates tonal whiplash.

The best compromise I've ever seen between these two camps is Hawke from Dragon Age II. She's voiced, but her dialogue options come in three flavors - you can choose to play her as a heroic archetype, a trickster archetype, or a scoundrel archetype, and her line delivery differs heavily depending on what you choose. She is my favorite RPG protagonist for that reason; trickster Hawke is HILARIOUS. I really wish something like that existed in BG3, because the game design is otherwise really solid.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

Yeah, I can see the disadvantages to both voiced and non-voiced protagonists.

 

It is cool that you get somewhat of a choice in Dragon Age II. That sounds fun! I've never heard of that series..((I'm not a gamer. LOL))

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I don't play very many video games, but of the ones I have played, I can't say I remember any of the protagonists being voiced if they had dialogue options. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to people lol

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I know one you've played before, Mary, is Myst, not to mention Stardew Valley... As for me, I just love Minecraft!!! Always play in Peaceful mode; I am aware that may sound kinda boring to some of you... *shrug* To each their own, I guess...

[Mara=^.^=]

I'm just getting to the end of Act 1. My verdict thus far: this game is really, really good! I love how virtually all of the quests contribute something meaningful to the story or the setting.

Here's my Tav, btw. She's a Warlock Charlatan who's really good at talking her way out of sticky situations.

 

 

[Katia11]

Ooo! I love her design!

[Mara=^.^=]

 

Playing Fallout: New Vegas (heavily modded). Everyone and their mother talks about how much better this game is than Fallout 4, but like...is it? Even with texture mods, the graphics look terrible; I'd be fine with the general ugliness if the voice acting held up better, but it does not. The game's darkly wacky sense of humor is definitely its strongest point. I'm enjoying myself, but it's nothing to write home about.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

Oh, it's always kind of a bummer when people rave about how great something is and you are sort of like "eh". 

 

I've heard people talk about this series, and I've also seen the advertisements on amazon for the show. Do you have a favorite Fallout installment? 

[Mara=^.^=]

Oh, it's always kind of a bummer when people rave about how great something is and you are sort of like "eh". 

 

I've heard people talk about this series, and I've also seen the advertisements on amazon for the show. Do you have a favorite Fallout installment? 

 

The show absolutely nails the vibe of the games. It's very good.

 

I'm not sure I have a favorite installment. The ones I've played are all equally enjoyable.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[ShadRose17]

Playing Fallout: New Vegas (heavily modded). Everyone and their mother talks about how much better this game is than Fallout 4, but like...is it? Even with texture mods, the graphics look terrible; I'd be fine with the general ugliness if the voice acting held up better, but it does not. The game's darkly wacky sense of humor is definitely its strongest point. I'm enjoying myself, but it's nothing to write home about.

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

See I agree, all my Fallout friends/my husband really prefer New Vegas, but I really, really liked 3 and am actually having a hard time getting into New Vegas enough to even give it a chance. It seems like an okay game, definitely not bad, but I'm not sure it's gonna beat 3 for me.

I've also yet to give 4 the chance it deserves just because when I tried to play it first I went from playing on Xbox with 3 to PS4 for 4 and it screwed with me. We have it on Xbox now but I sort of hyperfixate with games and the fixation just hasn't hit yet lol. To be fair it may be the same lack of fixation with New Vegas but idk.

[ShadRose17]

On an unrelated note the last series I played and finished for the first time was Bioshock and oof, what a ride that was.

First game, A+. Great story, good plot, very immersive, had me drawn in.

Bioshock 2 was the same, though the twists didn't hold a candle to 1, and I liked the first story a little better, the better graphics made up for it and put the game pretty high up for me too. (Also DLC, very good.)

Infinite was... different. It didn't feel like a Bioshock game and I never would have assumed it was if it didn't have Bioshock slapped on the title. The story was interesting but the religious imagery bothered me as a Christian, imo the narrative was heavy and unsettling. (Not so much the aspect of cults existing, like you got some of that feel in the other Bioshock games and that didn't bother me, I think it was just how heavy it was and how blasphemous it felt as a believer. The main villain made me want to just flat out punch him out.) I did enjoy a couple of the twists, general game play and the graphics were pretty nice, it was very fun to actually play. I haven't played the DLC for it because a lot of people say it breaks the stories and retcons a lot from 1, 2, and even Infinte itself.
The ending of Infinite had me fuming for several hours, because I feel like it broke a lot of it's own rules, but the after credit scene did repair it for me a little bit... I just can't stand to have everything shattered again by DLC lol.

Over all though, I love Bioshock, that is all.