Messages

31

General / Re: December 2022 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased New

« on: December 29, 2022, 05:24:11 am »

Mostly Christmas/BirthdayGifts This month

PS5:
Beyond A Steel Sky
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Reunion
Foreclosed
Sonic Frontiers
Star Ocean: The Divine Force

PS4:
NieR Replicant
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster (Pre-Order)

Xbox One:
Octopath Traveller (Digital)

PC:
Matrix Online

32

General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2023!!!

« on: December 26, 2022, 04:16:05 am »

Reserved - Did really well last year, mostly as I got a 3 month Game Pass trial but I'll see how it goes this year!

Completed:
01. Sonic Frontiers (PS5) - 09/01/2023
02. Sherlock Holmes: Chapater One (PS5) - 26/01/2023
03. Resident Evil Revelations HD (PS4 on PS5) - 10/02/2023
04. Star Ocean: The Divine Force (PS5) - 20/02/2023
05. Dante's Inferno (Xbox 360 on Xbox One X) - 27/02/2023
06. Evil Dead The Game (PS5) - 09/03/2023
07. Tell Me Why (Xbox One X) - 17/03/2023
08. The Gardens Between (PS5) - 18/03/2023
09. Journey To A Savage Planet (PS4 on PS5) - 26/03/2023
10. Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4 on PS5) - 07/04/2023
11. HiFi Rush (Xbox Series X) - 08/04/2023
12. Power Wash Simulator - Final Fantasy VII DLC (Xbox Series X) - 09/04/2023
13. Atomic Heart (Xbox Series X) - 12/04/2023
14. Spider-Man + DLC (PS4 on PS5) - 05/05/2023
15. Kona (PS5) - 12/05/2023
16. Last Day of June (PS4 on PS5) - 13/05/2023
17. NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (Xbox One X) - 18/05/2023
18. Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5) - 20/05/2023

Currently Playing:
Hogwart's Legacy
Nier Automata: GotY Edition
Resident Evil 6 HD
The Legend of Dragoon
Coffee Talk
Final Fantasy X HD

Backlog:
Watch Dogs 2
Lost Judgment
Chrono Cross
Grandia
Galerians
Remothered 1
Remothered 2
Time Hollow
Catherine: Full Body

33

General / Re: A Year in Review - 2022

« on: December 12, 2022, 03:11:01 am »

Favorite 2022 Release: A Plagues Tale: Reqiuem - I haven't beat this yet but I really am enjoying it! What I love is that it isn't just an open world adventure but a game with structure and benefits with perfect pacing. The bleak narrative and character struggles are genuinely compelling and I'm very invested in the journey. With a generation of games with padding and lacking of interesting scenario writting I'm thrilled to see a game which has so much to offer in it's core experience.

Least Favorite 2022 Release: SIFU - Sure there are worse games but this was the biggest let down for me, and it all comes down to the difficulty. The game  takes on the Dark Souls difficulty mentality to the poitn where it just isn't approachable, especially on the bosses which use projectiles. There is an Easy mode, but that mode is a joke and as demanding as watching a Let's Play. Also, I didn't like the way the game offers branches of the story ONLY once yuo have beaten the game, I would have liked these options to be available within the initial playthrough.
 
Favorite Game Played in 2022: Yakuza: Like A Dragon - I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this title going turn based but I loved it! It's niot without it's flaws I didn't like the job system but the narrative cuts DEEP and I love Ichiban as a main character. There was a lot of room for error within this game but it really does succeed far beyond I expected.

Least Favorite Game Played in 2022: SIFU - Once again, its not 'The Bouncer' I was hoping for.

Sleeper Hit of 2022: Road 96 - An interesting adventure game where you play as teenagers travelling to cross the American border. The main characters are silent but the journeys and characters you meet and how they all interconnect is very compelling.

Favorite Gaming Moment in 2022: Yakuza: Like A Dragon - The narrative regarding the Locker, I don't wantto go into too much detail for who haven't experienced it but it was very emotional.

Favorite Game Revisited in 2022: Resident Evil Code Veronica HD - I've been playing the entire RE series with a firend this year and didn't hold Code Veronica with much regard before. But replaying it I really began to appreciate it. There are still problems like how it begins Weskers overpowered abilities & Steve... But the game is very solid and we had a lot of fun playing it.

Proudest Collection Accomplishment of 2022: Final Fantasy VIII Bandai Figures - I don't normally get figures but I couldn't pass on seeing the 2x Bandai set of figures for Final Fantasy VIII. I also found the 2 missing characters (Irvine & Selphie) for cheap on eBay too. I would like to eventually collect all the ArtFX range but they ain't cheap!

Also shout out to the Xbox Series S - It will be an experimental device for modding but if I can finally play my 200+ PS2 Games in HD It will be a great investment!

34

General / Re: November 2022 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased New

« on: November 30, 2022, 12:27:12 pm »

Quite a lot for me this Month - Fell into the BF frenzy!

PS5
The Chant
Klonoa 1 & 2 Remake/Remaster
The Medium
A Plagues Tale Innocence
The Quarry
Tormented Souls

PS4
Blair Witch

Xbox Series S - Console

Xbox 360
Gray Matter
Sherlock Holmes vs Jack The Ripper
The Testment of Sherlock Holmes

PS1
Final Fantasy VIII (Platinum)

PC
Final Fantasy VII (Eidos - No Big Box)
Final Fantasy VII (EA Classic)
Shadow of Memories

Soundtracks
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Original Soundtrack
Final Fantasy VIII - Digi-Cube Original Print of the Soundtrack

35

Classic Video Games / Re: It's the Wii U, underrated? - Wii U turns 10 years old.

« on: November 20, 2022, 03:31:00 pm »

The one feature I regret this system didn't have was a way to upscale original Wii games - It can play them but still in 480p quality... That alone would have made his console very valuable but sadly as it offered no enhancements to play the previous gen and has now had most of its big titlse put forward to the Switch it does come across as very redundant to me.

I bought one when Windwaker HD came out but much like my experience with the Switch I just never played it - But then I have always had a very distant relation with Nintendo, most of their big IPs never appeal to me for one reason or another.

Xenoblade Chronicles X was what could have won me over but they took all the charm and zapped it right out of the experience, as much as i loved the 1st game I haven't touch the series since - Well a brief encounter with XC2 but once again I couldn't get into it on Switch and sold the console soon after.

36

General / Re: Is "hype" for games dying off along side of physical media?

« on: November 16, 2022, 11:48:21 am »

There are a few factors for the hype of modern gmaing beingon a decline:

Games not being complete on release date - I often find these days you hear about so many releases offering a real inferior experience at launch. It seems it is often best to wait 3-6 motnsh now for the games to be patched. I'm not just talking about bugs either, often games have gotten subtantial upgrades to the performance like 4k or 60fps options!

Games released incomplete due to incoming DLC - Another reason I am fed up with the industry is that most games seem to have Season Passes. Now as soon as I hear of a Season Pass offered within a game I wait. I hope there will be a Complete Edition released in time but even if that does happen half of them are jsut the base game on disc with a code (Super pissed at Capcom for doing that to RE Village Gold recently!)

The cost! - Sadly much liek everythign these days games have gone up in price, especially the big Sony exclusives which want £70 for a Standard Edition... My usual price for a brand new game is £40. So there is certainly a disconnect. It would have to be a very big release in order for me to put up with it like the next Final Fantasy - provided it doesn't have a Season Pass either...

37

Video Game Database Discussion / Re: Duplicate List 2022

« on: November 14, 2022, 06:56:16 am »

Burnout 2: Point of Impact - Didn't show up on search when I first looked for it! My bad!
https://vgcollect.com/item/230848

38

General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2022

« on: November 08, 2022, 01:03:35 pm »

I did it!

52. Blair Witch (PS4 on PS5) 07/11/2022
I was curious to play this after the news of Bloober Team workign on the Silent Hill 2 Remake. The games setting is very well realised, the texture detail of the woodlands is very rich. The game itself was ok, I liked the PTSD themes with Ellis but I found the last act overstayed its welcome and the Bad Ending is pretty much default - To get the Good Ending you really have to go out of your way and not kill anything. The mechanics with the Dog worked really well apart from one section in the fog where he was fixated on an enemy and I needed him to search the areas to progress but overall a decent experience.

39

General / Re: October 2022 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased New

« on: October 27, 2022, 02:03:06 am »

A few things this month!:

PS4:
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment
Sherlock Holmes: the Devils Daughter
Sinper Elite 4 Seaon Pass (Digital)
Dragon Ball Z Fighterz (Digital)

Xbox One:
Grand teft Auto V
Mafia III
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (Digital)
Voodoo Vince Remastered (Digital)

Xbox 360:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Far Cry 2
Lego Batman 1
Lego Batman 2
Resonance of Fate

Switch:
Triangle Strategy

40

General / Re: What is your favorite menu theme?

« on: October 25, 2022, 07:56:01 am »

Instant one that comes to mind is Xenoblade Chronicles - What also helps is that wonderful imagery of the Monado Blade within the field and how the sky transitions from day to night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcFjKosAl2s

41

General / Re: Soooo...what the hell happened to the Resident Evil franchise?!

« on: October 19, 2022, 09:33:57 am »

I actually think RE as a franchise is stronger than it's ever been! This is on big part to the dedication Capcom have put to re-releasing most of the games on modern consoles. Just having the series accessible has allowed me to really embrace the series more - Sure, the original versions of RE2/3 aren't available (yet) But I'm very content with the Remakes... (Well not RE3R but i can play RE3 on my PS Classic...)

Regarding content, I felt RE fell of the rails at RE4 - I respect what it did technically but I found a lot of the enviornments really goofy - Like the Castle area or even an Eygyptian theme cavern... I played through it this month with a friend as we're replaying the series and still feel RE4 is amongst the weakest of the series. It has good moments but it really is a mixed bag for me.

RE5 - I Love as an action Co-Op game, from this perspective it is among the best in the industry! But, as a RE game... once again the tone is just very ill-fitted to the franchise.

RE 6 - I... Like this game. Really do! I think Chris' Campaign is actually decent even storywise. But once again I view this in the same way as 5, fantastic Co-Op action experience - Especially the mercs mode!

RE 7 - This, this is where Resident Evil is re-born! Easily within my top-3 of the series! Fantastic Setting and compelling throughout! I also appreciate Ethan as a minimalistic character, he's enough of a character to at least re-act to what is happening but never too intrustive for the 1st- person set-up of the game.

RE 8 - ... Hmmm, once again I feel this leasn towards the RE4 side of things - Having too much varied content to where it loses it's Identity, I enjoyedt the early portions of the game adn the Castle within this game actually worked better this time but I found a lot of the other sections of the game over the top and really different to what I expect from the series. The game is okay, but no way near as atompsheric as RE7.


Truth be told the only game I really can't stand is RE Zero, the gimmick for controlling two character throughout the game is beyond tedious! As is the lack of an Item Box, so inventory management is just frustrating. I actually prefer to the the story through the Umbrella Chronicles shooty game instead - Which was a lot more repsectful to the stories than I would have expected from a Light-Gun game.

Despite not enjoying RE8 as much, I am still very optimistic to where the serise is going next, there is a lot of mystery to explore and having a wealth of well established characters I'm curious to see what happens in an RE9.

42

Video Game Database Discussion / Re: Duplicate List 2022

« on: October 09, 2022, 03:35:43 am »

Steel Rising or Steelrising? (PS5)
https://vgcollect.com/item/220898
https://vgcollect.com/item/228304

43

Classic Video Games / Re: How Many Of You Forum Attenders and Viewers Still Play Retro Video Games

« on: October 02, 2022, 03:32:46 am »

I do struggle when it comes to playing classic games. I think it is mostly due to so many new releases coming out that keep me busy enough to dip back into classic games I haven't played yet - I mean I already have a PS5 backlog

Another part of it is accessibility. I still don't have a decent method to play PS2 titles on a HD set up, so sadly a lot of games form that era are left behind - Which is very annoying as there are so many I have yet played! Also, even when it comes to playing games on a PS3, the machine is so slow and clunky. I've tried rebuying official controllers and got some trashy immitation, so I'm not encouraged to play that much either - to the point where if a 360 version of the game is backwards compatible i'll rebuy that.

Companies need to do a better job with backwards compatibility. The PS+ Premium line up is a joke so far, your better of with just the Extra tier. But even with that there are so many gamse that miss out on BC or getting a Remaster that unless they just let you put the disc in and play via Emulation there isnt a decent way to play.The only reason I still play PS1 games from time to time is because I modded my PS Classic - I mean I own 100+ PS1 games so it's more for convience and better upscale abilities more than anything.

But I do find it hard to go back and replay games as of late due to having so many newer game on the backlog to experience.

44

Modern Video Games / Re: Nintendo Direct 9.13.22 thoughts?

« on: September 13, 2022, 01:50:25 pm »

As someone who isn't an Nintendo fan I was quite happy with what was shown!

Delighted to see Fatal Frame IV finally escaping the Wii! Hope the Physical Edition gets a proper distributor this time...

Also, nice to see Octopath Traveller II is appearing on PlayStation this time! Weird though, as the 1st game is on Xbox but not this one...

Happy with the Crisis Core Remaster - Although the trailer was spoilerific! Still not won over by the voice overs this time...

Interested in the Tales game, I do have the PS3 Remaster to play....

Overall decent show!

45

General / Re: September 2022 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased New

« on: September 13, 2022, 05:01:11 am »

I don't often get Digital Stuffs but there were a few good items for dirt Cheap this Month

PS4
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Dead By Daylight: Silent Hill & Resident Evil DLC
- Max The Curse Of Brotherhood
- Memoranda
- Metal Gear Solid V: Defintive Edition
- Scarlet Nexus Season Pass
- State of Mind