So, what're you playing?

[AcidCat]

Still cannot decide about whether to get Bayonetta and Darksiders.

I recently picked up Darksiders and am finding it really satisfying. It's like an old school dungeon hack&slash seasoned with some puzzle solving and light platforming.

Folks seem to love Bayonetta but I played the demo and it is far too frantic and fruity for my tastes.

[stray]

Not fruity ^_^ I've never seen a video game chick with a bigger set of balls

[Tannhauser]

STO the last few days but I have IL-2 Sturmovik patiently waiting at the taxiway and I need to decide if I'm going to cancel WoW and/or LOTRO to make room for STO.

Probably WoW.  My urge to run old instances has been satisfied.  For now.

[Engels]

I've been mostly playing IL-2 again. I found this site here: http://www.mission4today.com with a bunch of free missions to download, done by fans. Some nice 'historical' missions. One I liked is based on the Australian engagement in Damascus as part of the Allied push. You only get to fly a Tigershark, which as cool as it looks, is a very hairy plane to maneuver. Two remakes of the Battle of Britain, from either side. Quite challenging to go up against the BF-109s in a Hurricane, which despite its great armament, had very poor power by contrast. One of the campaigns tries to accurately reflect some battles by number of planes launched, object at ports and even train traffic.  Bit tough on the vid card, despite the game being 9 years old.

I also am enjoying brief sorties into Birds of Prey, which is best described as the prettier but more superficial younger cousin of IL-2.

[Yegolev]

Borderlands again, PC.  Not enough brainpower for anything more involved.

Well... actually started on the recent Lego Indiana Jones game.  It is an actual improvement, both visually and gameplaywise.  I don't regret buying it, rather I regret buying the previous one.  Also, I don't understand what the fuck is going on in the Crystal Skull part of the game.  I imagine that Indiana Jones teams up with Teen Wolf to fight Soviets over the thing in the trunk from Repo Man.

[Tarami]

I just finished Stalker: Clear Sky. It went significantly downhill the last 30% of the game, from a pretty nice open world shooter to a completely linear railfest. If they'll just fix that and add a couple of new features, Stalker: Pripyat will be awesome.

[Ard]

Also, annoying_stereotypes++.

Despite that, and the large laundry list of things never to do in a jrpg, and the incredibly bad voice acting, I actually beat Infinite Undiscovery.  It won points with me for being relatively short, and actually having half decent pacing once you got past the first few hours.  Would not really recommend though.  Check-minus for effort  since the underlying gameplay wasn't bad, once they actually let you do it.

Back to working on the Witcher now.  Chapter 2 was hideously long, but I finally finished it.  I'm actually hoping the remaining ones aren't nearly as long as that one, otherwise I might lose interest.

[rattran]

... Indiana Jones teams up with Teen Wolf to fight Soviets over the thing in the trunk from Repo Man.

That sounds like the best game ever.

[Ingmar]

preordering that

[Yegolev]

... Indiana Jones teams up with Teen Wolf to fight Soviets over the thing in the trunk from Repo Man.

That sounds like the best game ever.

I suppose I should write a letter to Traveler's Tales about this.

[Azazel]

Borderlands again, PC.  Not enough brainpower for anything more involved.

Well... actually started on the recent Lego Indiana Jones game.  It is an actual improvement, both visually and gameplaywise.  I don't regret buying it, rather I regret buying the previous one.  Also, I don't understand what the fuck is going on in the Crystal Skull part of the game.  I imagine that Indiana Jones teams up with Teen Wolf to fight Soviets over the thing in the trunk from Repo Man.

I 100%ed the Complete Star Wars Lego game. One of only 2 games I've done that with. The (first) Indy game didn't have the same zing. Possibly because the Star Wars movies have a huge ensemble of characters, while the Indy movies have Indy, James Bond and Gimili (plus Short Round and a rotating set of useless/helpless token girlies, if you're into that sort of thing).

Does the second one simply have better puzzles? I've read that it doesn't compile the original game into itself like Lego SW Complete did, but has levels based on scenes from the previous films, but different scenes. Or something like that.

[Rasix]

Back to finish up Valk Chronicles.  Gorgeous game. 

[Yegolev]

Does the second one simply have better puzzles? I've read that it doesn't compile the original game into itself like Lego SW Complete did, but has levels based on scenes from the previous films, but different scenes. Or something like that.

I have only just "finished" the Crystal Skull part so I still don't know what the other levels look like.

The improvements are specifically in the gameplay, although I am now getting a tad annoyed at some of the hub areas.  On the one hand, the hub area for a section is in fact interesting now and there are multiple ones.  Think about the Batcave in Lego Batman being replaced with a larger version with a different entrance to each story level instead of just hopping in a different vehicle.  Or, if you have only played Star Wars, putting the level entrances in a map of Mos Eisley instead of the cantina.  Like if LegoTown was enlarged and turned into the hub.  Also add in hidden entrances to bonus levels which you generally need some specific person unlocked to gain entrance to.  Overall I think it is an improvement.

The Free Play mode is basically replaced with a replay mode where you are in the same level but it is nighttime.  You can only take in the two people you entered with, which requires some thought before you bother to go in, in that some require females (high jump) or spears or explosives, etc.  That part could be more streamlined, as could be the fact that you have to chase down the guy you want to be.

You'll still have that problem where all of the characters are Indy, one of his girlfriends, a sidekick, and interchangeable white and brown villains.  Vehicles still control like shit, however now you can put them into reverse, which is a big help in some cases.

It might just be me, but quite a few of the puzzles require a moment of thought, and I consider this an improvement.

[Minvaren]

Am playing WoW, but am burning out.  Want to hit 250 achievements (at 238) before I do so.

(side note : SSD + WoW = Dalaran in 8-10 seconds on first start)

Trying to get into Mass Effect - it almost feels too intellectual for me to pick up casually, like asking someone to play Civ4 for 20 minutes at a time.  I have always been hit-or-miss with Bioware.  Witcher was a very pleasant surprise, but the writing was done by an entirely different team, so that makes sense.

Pondering getting out the USB wheel for NFS: Prostreet.  We'll see where that one goes.

...Or I could just reload KotoR2 for the 87 millionth time and try what was released of TSLRP.  "Power doesn't corrupt - it attracts the corruptible."  

[Rasix]

Trying to get into Mass Effect - it almost feels too intellectual for me to pick up casually, like asking someone to play Civ4 for 20 minutes at a time.  I have always been hit-or-miss with Bioware.  Witcher was a very pleasant surprise, but the writing was done by an entirely different team, so that makes sense.

 

[Tebonas]

Witcher was made by an European developer. They just licenced the Aurora Engine from Bioware. That is, as far as I know, the only connection.

[HaemishM]

Trying to get into Mass Effect - it almost feels too intellectual for me to pick up casually, like asking someone to play Civ4 for 20 minutes at a time.  I have always been hit-or-miss with Bioware.  Witcher was a very pleasant surprise, but the writing was done by an entirely different team, so that makes sense.

 

Yeah, double the  Once you get past a lot of the initial info dump cinematics, it's very easy to get into for half-an-hour then get out. It's hard to STOP playing after that half-hour, but for me, I've been playing it in between 45 minute to 90 minute chunks of time. I'm still enjoying the hell out of it.

[Minvaren]

Once you get past a lot of the initial info dump cinematics...

Ah, I seem to have found my problem.  I just finished talking to the council for the first time.   

[Fabricated]

Picked up Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 finally.

Assassin's Creed 2 improves a lot of stuff from the first one but fuck whoever thought it was a good idea to add health potions and blacksmiths to the game. Yeah, I sure enjoy having to find a doctor every single time I miss a jump. Also feels a lot more linear despite the cities being more varied and populated. I was also apparently the only person who didn't get annoyed by the death soliloquies of everyone I killed. Now I have to fuck off and read minibooks and look through notes and try to find glyphs on shit to pick up the plot.

[MisterNoisy]

Saboteur (again!), now that I'm done with Assassin's Creed 2.  Way more polished than the studio (Pandemic) would lead you to believe, and blowing up sniper towers never ceases to be fun.  The voice acting is still pretty terrible, but the actual gameplay is still a riot (sometimes literally).  Mostly, I'm killing time until Mass Effect 2.

[Samwise]

I finished Brutal Legend a second time, and it was much better than the first time.  Doing all the side quests is key.  Also, playing on easy so the annoying combat doesn't take as long.

[Azazel]

I have only just "finished" the Crystal Skull part so I still don't know what the other levels look like.

The improvements are specifically in the gameplay, although I am now getting a tad annoyed at some of the hub areas.  On the one hand, the hub area for a section is in fact interesting now and there are multiple ones.  Think about the Batcave in Lego Batman being replaced with a larger version with a different entrance to each story level instead of just hopping in a different vehicle.  Or, if you have only played Star Wars, putting the level entrances in a map of Mos Eisley instead of the cantina.  Like if LegoTown was enlarged and turned into the hub.  Also add in hidden entrances to bonus levels which you generally need some specific person unlocked to gain entrance to.  Overall I think it is an improvement.

The Free Play mode is basically replaced with a replay mode where you are in the same level but it is nighttime.  You can only take in the two people you entered with, which requires some thought before you bother to go in, in that some require females (high jump) or spears or explosives, etc.  That part could be more streamlined, as could be the fact that you have to chase down the guy you want to be.

You'll still have that problem where all of the characters are Indy, one of his girlfriends, a sidekick, and interchangeable white and brown villains.  Vehicles still control like shit, however now you can put them into reverse, which is a big help in some cases.

It might just be me, but quite a few of the puzzles require a moment of thought, and I consider this an improvement.

hm... I'm not sure of those sound like improvements to me. I really liked the "take a team" aspect of LSW, and I have onl;y played about 10 mins of L Bat Man. I was also happy enough with the smaller hub size in SW, and less so with the expanded hub in L Indy 1. I mean, it sounds like they're getting away from it just being a hub. Dunno, I'll doubtlessly pick it up when it's super cheap, and then take a year to play it. The first Indy didn't have the charm of SW though.

[jakonovski]

I finished Batman:AA last night. What a great game, I even did all the Riddler stuff because it was so brilliantly executed. Usually I ignore all collectibles. Now I have to get back to my Mass Effect PC playthrough, Ebil Shepard has to save the galaxy by Thursday!

[Yegolev]

I have only just "finished" the Crystal Skull part so I still don't know what the other levels look like.

The improvements are specifically in the gameplay, although I am now getting a tad annoyed at some of the hub areas.  On the one hand, the hub area for a section is in fact interesting now and there are multiple ones.  Think about the Batcave in Lego Batman being replaced with a larger version with a different entrance to each story level instead of just hopping in a different vehicle.  Or, if you have only played Star Wars, putting the level entrances in a map of Mos Eisley instead of the cantina.  Like if LegoTown was enlarged and turned into the hub.  Also add in hidden entrances to bonus levels which you generally need some specific person unlocked to gain entrance to.  Overall I think it is an improvement.

The Free Play mode is basically replaced with a replay mode where you are in the same level but it is nighttime.  You can only take in the two people you entered with, which requires some thought before you bother to go in, in that some require females (high jump) or spears or explosives, etc.  That part could be more streamlined, as could be the fact that you have to chase down the guy you want to be.

You'll still have that problem where all of the characters are Indy, one of his girlfriends, a sidekick, and interchangeable white and brown villains.  Vehicles still control like shit, however now you can put them into reverse, which is a big help in some cases.

It might just be me, but quite a few of the puzzles require a moment of thought, and I consider this an improvement.

hm... I'm not sure of those sound like improvements to me. I really liked the "take a team" aspect of LSW, and I have onl;y played about 10 mins of L Bat Man. I was also happy enough with the smaller hub size in SW, and less so with the expanded hub in L Indy 1. I mean, it sounds like they're getting away from it just being a hub. Dunno, I'll doubtlessly pick it up when it's super cheap, and then take a year to play it. The first Indy didn't have the charm of SW though.

I am not sure they are improvements, either.   We have developed the habit of ducking into a bonus/treasure mode level to see what it needs from us, then run out to find a pair of people.  Many times it is someone that requires unlocking in some manner.  This could be a story-mode unlock or a secret-in-the-hub unlock.  Hub unlocks involve things like vehicle races and various oddities.  I can see where they are trying to go, but unfortunately they are not there yet.  I could go on but my short advice for people who are not Lego game nutjobs is to wait for the next one.  My wife and I are having fun with co-op, though.

[Yegolev]

Borderlands, PC, no mods.
Lego Indiana Jones 2, PS3.

Klaus Schulze, Bayreuth Return.

[Sky]

I've been hitting up my free month of ChampO. I like the game, the mechanics are a bit odd and I'm still mystified about picking my character focus, but it's a fun beat-em-up with very cool characters. I even teamed up a few times!

Most people, given a flexible and awesome character creation tool, will make something with a horrific color scheme, hoods, spikes and skulls. I mostly created my favorite CoX guys to start. Cosmic Anomaly, energy blaster turned force powers guy; Moleculator rad/rad defender turned power armor; Cpt Croaker, mercs mastermind turned guns powerset. Croaker took the acrobat travel power, that's a heck of a lot of fun. Oh, and Default: he's just the default male they give you when you get into character creation.

[Trippy]

I finished Brutal Legend a second time, and it was much better than the first time.  Doing all the side quests is key.  Also, playing on easy so the annoying combat doesn't take as long.

Why did you play it again, though?

[BitWarrior]

Finishing off Bioshock (very LTTP), just got Assassins Creed II in the mail, looking forward to getting to that!

[Vision]

Woohooo just got The Boss emblem in MGS4. Total time was 3hr and 32 min. Cept now that I have all the sweet guns and what not, I have no desire to use any of them because I am so burnt out on the game.

[rattran]

For no reason I can discern, I played through HL2 over the last couple days. Bits of fun, lots of annoying. I remembered how annoying the (long, LONG) airboat and buggy sections were, but forgot how much other stuff also sucked. Jumping puzzles, and the strider/gunship bits.

Some fun, but lots of very long feeling parts. Also playing on hard doesn't work when the NPC you're accompanying can get 1 shot at range, and runs ahead.

[Malakili]

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta.  Enjoying it a lot, posted at length in the thread for that game if you want more info.

[caladein]

Trying to muster the will to play Global Agenda's pre-launch (or Prototype and NBA2K10 that I have in from GameFly) instead of Mass Effect 2.  It's not going well.

[Yegolev]

Torchlight

[Margalis]

I kinda ran out of steam on Bayonetta, I think the motorcycle and missle shooting bits did me in. They would have been cute at two minutes long, but they were both way overlong and the joke wore thin. Pretty close to the end so I'll try to slog through it, then onto Klonoa remake.

[Venkman]

ME2. And then back to DA:O. And then eventually Red Faction. Hopefully before BF: BC2.