That's an amazing level of dedication, G/B.

Kingdom Hearts 3 - I finished the main campaign, so now I'm just working through all the side content. During my last session I focused on all the cooking mini-games, which ended up being an ordeal. Not only do you have to complete 10 or so mini-games to collect all the ingredients, the cooking mini-games are very finicky. The egg mini-game in particular is causing everybody some trouble, largely because there's an art to it. The game tells the player to push the joy sticks in opposite directions, what it really wants you to do is go in a NW and NE direction on each joy-stick. It took me at least a dozen goes to get it right and even when I got the hang of it, the timing to get an excellent rating was inconsistent. To make matters worse, some of the dishes require rare ingredients, so if you muck up, you've got to go back and complete mini-games where you'll be rewarded at most three of any one item. Essentially it meant any failure meant you had to quit the mini-game, sit through a 20 second loading screen, go to a save point, go back to the title screen, load onto an older save file, sit through another 20 second loading screen and try again. By the dozen or so attempt, I was fried.

My next challenge will be the Game & Watch style mini-games. I'm not sure if it unlocks anything, but it's required for trophy purposes. I have to track a few of the games down and then try and top score. Some are quite easy as you can just complete a level, quit and it will record a high score. Others require you to get a game over which can be painfully slow. Then I still have synthesis, more mini-games, gummi missions etc. to finish up.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 - I played through an old save in the days leading up to the game. There were so many KH related streams, it was impossible not to get into the spirit, so I loaded up my save which was right after Hollow Bastion. I haven't touched any of the side stuff since my initial playthrough, normally I just make a beeline through the main mission, so it was refreshing to see just how much content was on offer. After playing through Nioh I have a real itch for farming loot, so I focused primarily on the synthesis stuff which took longer than the actual main game. For the most part it was pretty straight forward, I just had to grind certain enemy types more which was simple enough, but there were 8 or so breeds that were a real pain. Most of them were exclusive heartless they added to this version who had really bizarre win conditions. Ordinarily you just mash x to kill them, but there were a few where you'd have to play a mini-game of sorts to beat it. The worst was in the jungle, where you'd have to cast stop on three white mushrooms to spawn a giant version. You cast stop on it and then have to get in as many hits as possible to get into drop material. For every 10 hits after 40, you had a 10% chance of it dropping this material. Also, if your partners attack it, a hit is deducted from the tally. This was painful because it basically meant I had to do other side-quests to raise my magic, learn new spells and hope for the best. It was painful, but I appreciated the content. The game came out 17 years ago, and there were mechanics I wasn't even aware of.

I played through the last boss, and RagnarokMike wasn't exaggerating. It has a ridiculous amount of phases and it makes you fight all of them while you're hovering in the air, making hit detection really awkward. If my characters weren't Level 100 with all the best gear, it would have been the most annoying fight of all-time.

Beat Kingdom Hearts 2, much better than the first, can't think of anything that just felt entirely shoddy like some of the stuff in the first, the bosses were still insanely cheap and often unbalanced, but didn't feel this side of broken the likes Ursula in the first. Though holy fuck, some of those optional bosses, the chamber of Remembrance wasn't fucking around when he said they were harder, even the bosses I breezed through before leveling to 99 (which I needed for Sephiroth and Murlaxia) were fucking insane, kind of just go into an endless string of attacks that once one hits you, you're stuck in it until your entire lifebar is gone. I'm not 100% the game, so I'm not worrying about it this time, but hats off to those who do that bullshit.

So at what point should I stop playing Destiny? Or do they design it to keep you playing forever? If the latter, what's a reasonable stop point anyway? I feel like I should play some other games, but unlocking little shit here and there is addictive and hard to step away from.

Feb 6, 2019 13:32:35 GMT Big Pete said:

That's an amazing level of dedication, G/B.

Kingdom Hearts 3 - I finished the main campaign, so now I'm just working through all the side content. During my last session I focused on all the cooking mini-games, which ended up being an ordeal. Not only do you have to complete 10 or so mini-games to collect all the ingredients, the cooking mini-games are very finicky. The egg mini-game in particular is causing everybody some trouble, largely because there's an art to it. The game tells the player to push the joy sticks in opposite directions, what it really wants you to do is go in a NW and NE direction on each joy-stick. It took me at least a dozen goes to get it right and even when I got the hang of it, the timing to get an excellent rating was inconsistent. To make matters worse, some of the dishes require rare ingredients, so if you muck up, you've got to go back and complete mini-games where you'll be rewarded at most three of any one item. Essentially it meant any failure meant you had to quit the mini-game, sit through a 20 second loading screen, go to a save point, go back to the title screen, load onto an older save file, sit through another 20 second loading screen and try again. By the dozen or so attempt, I was fried.

My next challenge will be the Game & Watch style mini-games. I'm not sure if it unlocks anything, but it's required for trophy purposes. I have to track a few of the games down and then try and top score. Some are quite easy as you can just complete a level, quit and it will record a high score. Others require you to get a game over which can be painfully slow. Then I still have synthesis, more mini-games, gummi missions etc. to finish up.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 - I played through an old save in the days leading up to the game. There were so many KH related streams, it was impossible not to get into the spirit, so I loaded up my save which was right after Hollow Bastion. I haven't touched any of the side stuff since my initial playthrough, normally I just make a beeline through the main mission, so it was refreshing to see just how much content was on offer. After playing through Nioh I have a real itch for farming loot, so I focused primarily on the synthesis stuff which took longer than the actual main game. For the most part it was pretty straight forward, I just had to grind certain enemy types more which was simple enough, but there were 8 or so breeds that were a real pain. Most of them were exclusive heartless they added to this version who had really bizarre win conditions. Ordinarily you just mash x to kill them, but there were a few where you'd have to play a mini-game of sorts to beat it. The worst was in the jungle, where you'd have to cast stop on three white mushrooms to spawn a giant version. You cast stop on it and then have to get in as many hits as possible to get into drop material. For every 10 hits after 40, you had a 10% chance of it dropping this material. Also, if your partners attack it, a hit is deducted from the tally. This was painful because it basically meant I had to do other side-quests to raise my magic, learn new spells and hope for the best. It was painful, but I appreciated the content. The game came out 17 years ago, and there were mechanics I wasn't even aware of.

I played through the last boss, and RagnarokMike wasn't exaggerating. It has a ridiculous amount of phases and it makes you fight all of them while you're hovering in the air, making hit detection really awkward. If my characters weren't Level 100 with all the best gear, it would have been the most annoying fight of all-time.

Yeah, leveling could certainly have helped, I was only high 50's to low 60's, and it was tedious as fuck. The only saving grace was there was a checkpoint between phases, so dying on one didn't send you back to the start.

So I've been playing Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap, which seems to be a remake of Wonder Boy III from our pal's at Sega. Cool feature is you can hit a button and it reverts back to the retro look. I do it occasionally just to see how enemies look. But man, it's hard to look at compared to the shiny stuff.

Whatchu' know bout this series shinobimusashi?

You really did play the fuck out of Fallout 4, I've always got something next to play, so I really finish and move on (though many games I try to finish entirely), Fallout Shelter being a continuous game that just gets played in quick bursts.


Either way, started in on Far Cry: New Dawn, if you know Far Cry, you know what you're getting aside from a few of the new progression set ups, so, as a fan, I'm enjoying it so far. Not really all that far into it, spent most of the day clearing whatever challenges are able to be completed early on (I tend to grind out as much as possible before hitting the story). Interesting setting, some of the animals are a real bitch though.

Wow. That's 2+ months you were gaming this year. Seems like a lot, but if you factor how much we're glued to our phones in a given day nobody can say shit really.

Feb 24, 2019 8:13:19 GMT RagnarokMike said:

How do I do this? Link?

I bought Black Ops 4 for PS4 and I feel shame, is there a support group?

Feb 24, 2019 13:43:06 GMT System said:

Feb 24, 2019 8:13:19 GMT RagnarokMike said:

How do I do this? Link?

www.playstation.com/en-us/campaigns/2018/wrap-up/

Feb 23, 2019 21:49:00 GMT @ness said:

So I've been playing Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap, which seems to be a remake of Wonder Boy III from our pal's at Sega. Cool feature is you can hit a button and it reverts back to the retro look. I do it occasionally just to see how enemies look. But man, it's hard to look at compared to the shiny stuff.

Whatchu' know bout this series shinobimusashi?

It's been a while since I've played any of the Wonder Boy series. Dragon's Trap is widely regarded as one of if not THE best game for the Sega Master System(Sega's 8 bit answer to the NES). I have the original game complete in the box but it's been ages since I dug out my Power Based Converter(adapter that plugs into the model 1 Genesis) to play any Master System games.

I thought Dragon's Trap was pretty cool but could never get into any of the Wonder Boy games on Genesis/Mega Drive except for Monster World IV(which I ranked #51 in my top 100 Genesis games countdown I ran on PW a few years back). The Genesis version is only in Japanese but they released an English translation a few years back for Playstation network. It's a very impressive game for the Genesis, SNES-like graphics with nice blend of action platformer with heavy RPG elements to it.

They released a new Monster Boy series towards the end of last year which was said to be one of the best games of 2018. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom has all the features you've come to expect from the series, but with modern design philosophies that makes the game more in-depth. It's one of those games I've been waiting to go on sale, so I can jump in blind.

Feb 24, 2019 21:25:29 GMT RagnarokMike said:

Feb 24, 2019 13:43:06 GMT System said:

How do I do this? Link?

www.playstation.com/en-us/campaigns/2018/wrap-up/

US/CA only 😪

Street Fighter V and Street Fighter IV are my most played games overall though. Not sure about 2018

iNCY Why? Best COD in years IMO.

Well according to that, I've put in over 500 hours between WWE 2k18, and 2K19... clearly I need a life.

NHL 16, being my next post played game at 104 hours. I swear, I use my PS4 more for Netflix these days, than actual gaming.

Feb 24, 2019 8:17:40 GMT RagnarokMike said:

You really did play the fuck out of Fallout 4, I've always got something next to play, so I really finish and move on (though many games I try to finish entirely), Fallout Shelter being a continuous game that just gets played in quick bursts.


Either way, started in on Far Cry: New Dawn, if you know Far Cry, you know what you're getting aside from a few of the new progression set ups, so, as a fan, I'm enjoying it so far. Not really all that far into it, spent most of the day clearing whatever challenges are able to be completed early on (I tend to grind out as much as possible before hitting the story). Interesting setting, some of the animals are a real bitch though.

I'm way into settlement building.  You can literally kill 3 hours on just 1 settlement if you feel creative enough.  Add to the fact I also equipt my settlers with Armor and Guns, which takes additional time.  Also recently I really got into the modding scene.  Installed a mod that actually leveled up the Minutemen as you level up.  So now unlike the vanilla as version where they are just wearing shit armor and shit laser guns when you're well over 100, now at level 50, you can see some in power armor.  Big ups.

Yeah, I'm not much into the building thing (probably why I can't get into Terrarria or the Sim games either), I basically do the bare minimum to be functional, and that's it. Fallout Shelter is about the extent I'm capable in standing building games, grinding things out for an easy layout.

Feb 24, 2019 21:15:06 GMT iNCY said:

I bought Black Ops 4 for PS4 and I feel shame, is there a support group?

I just dabbled in Black Ops tonight for the first time.

I think I've come to the conclusion that these new age, newfangled video games overwhelm me. And my appetite for video game violence just isn't what it used to be either. But now I'm stuck with all these violence-based video games I binge purchased last Black Friday. Bah!

I think the most fun I've had so far is playing Unravel 2 with Wife, but she can't/won't play it anymore because manipulating the controller aggregates an old wrist/thumb injury of hers. Bah!

Bah, bah, bah!

Started in on Devil May Cry 3 on my, chronological, run up to DMCV (useless fact, V will be the only game to take place chronologically with its number, with the others being: 3, 1, 4, and then 2). Action is as great as I remember, but the dodge mechanic really aged poorly, and is causing most of my frustration. Only left and right does a dodge roll, forward and backward does a high flip in the respective direction. But the directions are all relative to Dante, not the screen, so while flipping every which way hacking people to bits, you have about a half-second to figure if up/down, or left/right is your dodge roll, and the flip jump often leaves you exposed. Other than that, great, frenetic action.

Man, Anthem is bricking some consoles. Not sure there has been such a rough start for any game. I mean I hear Fallout 76 was shite, but it wasn't actually killing your console.

Mar 1, 2019 6:18:41 GMT RagnarokMike said:

Started in on Devil May Cry 3 on my, chronological, run up to DMCV (useless fact, V will be the only game to take place chronologically with its number, with the others being: 3, 1, 4, and then 2). Action is as great as I remember, but the dodge mechanic really aged poorly, and is causing most of my frustration. Only left and right does a dodge roll, forward and backward does a high flip in the respective direction. But the directions are all relative to Dante, not the screen, so while flipping every which way hacking people to bits, you have about a half-second to figure if up/down, or left/right is your dodge roll, and the flip jump often leaves you exposed. Other than that, great, frenetic action.

This is why I played Trickster for DMC3 for a majority of the playthrough, the circle dodge is so damn important and later on with leveled up styles it is so useful. I will take the easier dodge over better guns or swords anyday of the week. 

Played and just finished all four DMC games. I am ready for Friday. Lone thing I didn't do was play Vergil or Lady/Trish stories of DMCIV but that's alright.

I did end up using a Trickster quite a bit, but I really found a couple of the Sword Master techniques useful. The way I combated the terrible standard dodge, was both Rebellion and Agni & Rudra had "Air Hike," which gets you well out of the way of most attacks (along with the both of those being my favorite weapons), so that really helped. Only a couple CQC fights had to switch to the more close range Trickster dodge.

Just finishing up the chronological runthrough now, and I prefer the games exactly in that order: 3, 1, 4, 2. I hadn't played DMC2 since literally the week it released on PS2, but I see all my opinions held up. It was just not a good game, you only get one combo, way too repetitive, none of the fun from the rest of the games (including a worse Dante than the reboot), and it's piss easy. I only died once the entire time with Lucia (still gotta finish up Dante), and that was because the final boss had a really cheap move that can drain a fuck ton of life. Unlike the other 3, no challenge to be found.

DMC chronological order is also best to worse and hardest to easiest. Hopefully 5 breaks the pattern.

I've only just started in on DMCV...but HOLY CRAP it's amazing. Unless it drops the ball as the game goes on, it should easily dethrone DMC3 gameplay wise (though it'll be harder to top the Dante/Virgil story from that). Just so god damn crisp and frenetic. Can't wait to dig in further.

I’ve been playing Apex Legends lately, trying to get better. Despite not being good, it’s still fun. Probably my favorite out of these battle royale games, though I did like the BLOPS attempt .

When not playing that I’ve been playing Mario Odyssey and Super Smash bros Ultimate on the Switch, and still trying to finish RDR2 and also playing Crackdown 3.

Welp...I'd say DMCV outdid DMC3 in every way except for difficulty and the build of Virgil encounters. V, the third character, does take some getting used to, and is never quite as good as the other two (though does start to jibe once you unlock a few of his moves); but fun enough, never the less. But Dante and Nero...woooboy are the fucking blast. Especially by the end when you have all of Dante's weapons, you can start doing insane combos. Nero comes with a compliment of Devil Breakers, which are robo-arms with various effects, and some of them are pretty great, I was partial to Tomboy, which basically puts you in permanent turbo mode (like when you rev up the Red Queen). My main complaint comes down to the fact that whatever arm you're on, you stay on until you break it, you can't stack 'em up and switch strategically per encounter. There is no shortage of devil breakers, so breaking them isn't a big deal, but some are better than others, and when you pick up a new one it equips, so if you're on one you like, you either have to forego the pickup and risk being without one, or just ride it out. Either way, minor quibble, absolutely stellar game though. Story could go either way, but I still give 5 the edge all around for the pinnacle of combat, as well as better bosses all around. So 5>3>1>4>2.

I actually like playing with V except it's pretty much button mashing for the most part with(On ps4) Square for the Bird, Triangle for the panther, X if needed to jump out of the way and when ready, L1 for Nightmare. I liked his segments, shame he didn't get too many. If you were at all struggling to land SS and SSS to get the trophies, V is here to save the day because it is EASY to get those in bunches. My hands would often hurt after playing with a V segment so it was good in hindsight he wasn't the primary focus Still liked his playthrough. 

Nero's playstyle just doesn't do much for me because he doesn't have too much ability to dodge outside of 1 button or if you have 1 arm in particular that allows aerial dodging. Sometimes Nero's best evasion is going on the offensive. The swinging mechanic like it was in DMC4 is pretty bad, only this time you have to shoot the little hanging platforms and wait for the right moment to time it except the camera is rotating in a way where despite locking onto the thing, it doesn't allow your grappling arm to get to the objective. I agree that being stuck with an arm kinda stinks though the game is generous with customize points and picking up arms so you aren't totally jipped when blowing up an arm.

I am a pro trickster guy, especially in DMC3 so having Dante being able to dodge was great. Swordmaster is broken as shit in DMC5 though, so many of Dante's weapons get so good with mashing circle like the Cavalere Bike Weapon where you have so many frames of invulnerability when riding the bike into enemies or swinging it in the air. That bike is RIDICULOUSLY good, when acquiring that I barely went back at all unless it was against quick enemies like Chapter 18's twist.

I agree with your ranking completely btw of DMC games. This was an excellent game, only DMC3 comes close to it.

DMC V
DMC III


DMC I

DMC IV
DMC II


Some of the music from DMCV btw is fantastic. The standout tracks besides Devil Trigger would be




One of the blemishes with DMC V is how the girls besides Nico were such jobbers in this game. Lady who had much shine in DMCIII including a boss fight was such an after thought in this game, she basically had her C. Ann Cannon taken twice by Dante with Nico giving it up without hesistation. Trish a prominent figure in DMC I and III is an after thought in the game too and is gone for half the game. And Kyrie(KIR-REE-A not Kyrie like Kyrie Irving, that always bothers me :lol:) isn't even shown at all in the game. I think Lady and Trish will get DLC supposedly for themselves. Nico is great as comic relief, that accent is obnoxious and takes time to get used to but her heart is in the right place. 

Another sleepless night led me to doing a big chunk of Sekiro. If you're not easily broken, it's a hell of a game, I still think Nioh has the much better combat/weapon/gear system, but Sekiro has that FromSoftware world and design that Nioh was missing. Though this go round, aside from bosses, you do see way more of the same enemies than the Souls game, which tended to change it up pretty regularly (at least Demons' Souls and Bloodborne, the only two I've played all the way through).

The combat system does take some getting used to, sort of a paper/rock/sciccors set up, with an added need for timing. Do the right move for a counter to deplete a large chunk of their stamina bar, deplete it all the way for the kill (except some bigger enemies, which take multiple bars).

Bosses can be as infuriating as ever, some for challenge, some for cheapness (like being pulled into damage animations despite said move missing entirely), but not really as hard as the Souldborne typical bosses (a few aside). Really just a matter of getting their timing and patterns to properly parry and deplete their stamina.

World traversal is fairly intuitive, though the grappling hook has the too often tendency to fuck off when you need it, as you can only grapple designated points, and some times even the slightest angle makes it forget what it's supposed to be doing.

Looking good so far.

I picked up Yoshi's Crafted World, yesterday after work so I've been playing that. I haven't gotten that far into the game yet, only getting the first (of five) gems, but I'm digging the game so far. My favorite stage at this point in the game is either Go-Go Yoshi (where you are playing as a giant Yoshi), or Whistlestop Rails (you're basically riding atop of a train).