What Games ya Playin' 2012 - Suplex a Train Edition

[Shale]

D3: My HC Monk died in Act 4 normal. Forgot about the hordes of shadow monsters that hit you at the opening of the act, and that they can actually do decent damage (unlike all the other shadow monsters in the entirety of normal), and thus failed to bring Mantra of Healing or the AoE Blind move to give myself a get-out-of-mobs-free card. Oh well. Still way more fun than playing Normal on softcare again.

My barb is in Act 2 NM, about to start the Zultan Kulle nonsense.

[Luther Lansfeld]

FE12 - Got the bad ending due to collective failure. Pretty fun game, clearly the worst FE I've played but not awful. (Never played SD.) Palla was MVP.

SMB3 - Finally beat the fucking last minifortress in World 7 as well as the rest of the world. I like to randomly shriek while playing the game, usually after seeing giant cannons or fireballs spitting little white monster things. Since it's a game I didn't play as a child I don't remember it very well despite having played it once.

M&L3 - Between being able to go from inside Bowser and out and in again via pipes, the ability to make Bowser grow into GIGA BOWSER, and the ridiculous stunt attacks, this game is certainly the silliest RPG I've played in a long time. Its gameplay is fine, just feels like a series of minigames for the most part. Not sure how I feel about the game as an RPG, since everything fun about its gameplay is basically unrelated to the base combat. Good stuff though.

[Bobbin Cranbud]

I found Bastion's gameplay excellent on the Xbox, with a gamepad, for what it's worth. Very crunchy with a machete and a shotgun.

I've gotten... more used to it, but I'll probably see about hooking up a PS3 controller; the last time I tried that it was a pain in the ass, hopefully it's become easier since. At the end of the day, I just really hate keyboard and mouse for anything action-oriented other than an FPS.

Dragon's Dogma: Started. I'm liking this a lot. I expected a huge world similar to Fallout/Oblivion, but it's more of a smaller Zelda/Nier like world. I approve, this means that the game has level design! Unlike a lot of similar games, Dragon's Dogma is not really reaching for verisimilitude, it's trying to be a videogame first and foremost. There are secret places filled with treasure chests everywhere. I approve.

The world is quite a bit bigger than any of the Zeldas (except Wind Waker I guess, but "lots of empty water" isn't really the same thing). Still, I know what you mean. It's particularly noticeable when you start delving the actual dungeons. Instead of short, samey linear crawls with all of three backdrops (hello, Skyrim), each one shows some actual uniqueness and design. None of them are really standout, but they're solidly designed.

I decided to go with only my main pawn and not use any other. Games always get too messy and boring when there are too many AI controlled allies running around. (and the scripted beginning of the game makes me believe this one isn't any different)

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised. The partner AI in this game is the best I've seen - damning with faint praise, yes, but it really is worth a try. The opening is not a fair measure of how good it is in the maingame, because you have no control over what pawns you're running with or how they synergize.

The pawn trading metagame is also great fun if you have others to discuss the results with. It's the most (online) "multiplayer" interaction I've been sucked into in about a decade. Are you on 360 or PS3?

[Fenrir]

The world is quite a bit bigger than any of the Zeldas (except Wind Waker I guess, but "lots of empty water" isn't really the same thing). Still, I know what you mean. It's particularly noticeable when you start delving the actual dungeons. Instead of short, samey linear crawls with all of three backdrops (hello, Skyrim), each one shows some actual uniqueness and design. None of them are really standout, but they're solidly designed.

Yes. I guess a large part of the game's budget went into the world design.
I really like the English coast setting. There's a lot of verticality, with well hidden secrets and cliffs you can use to instant kill enemies. (The best way to kill anyone in videogame) And it can get really grandiose!

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised. The partner AI in this game is the best I've seen - damning with faint praise, yes, but it really is worth a try. The opening is not a fair measure of how good it is in the maingame, because you have no control over what pawns you're running with or how they synergize.

The pawn trading metagame is also great fun if you have others to discuss the results with. It's the most (online) "multiplayer" interaction I've been sucked into in about a decade. Are you on 360 or PS3?

I've been pretty impressed by the pawn system, especially the way they can learn new things by being used by someone else. My pawn was decent enough as a fighter as long as I was here to support him, for all that he was pretty terrible as a mage/healer.

Still, as I was playing yesterday I kept thinking how much more fun I'd find the game alone. So I restarted and promptly threw Rook and my main pawn off cliffs. I know I'm missing a big part of the game, but honestly, I have no regrets.

- AI always makes me play worse. I had to try countless times to beat the lizardmen under the well the first time, around level 13. This time, I beat them all on the first try at level 8 with very few healing items.
- The mage class is still perfectly playable solo.
- I prefer to discover and learn things by myself instead of having my AI pawn say them to me. The first time my pawn said "What an incredible view", I was impressed by the game. But then I thought about it some more and realized this was more terrible than anything.
- Coming from Dark Souls/Demon's Souls/Risen, this isn't too hard.

Anyway, I made it back to where I was before. I've also found the overpowered grimoire from one quest, forged a copy, finished the sidequest by giving the fake book, and kept the grimoire for myself. Muhuhahahah.

[superaielman]

Liking cliffs/pits to kill enemies? Please say you have played Orcs must die, Fenrir.

[Fenrir]

Nope.
Ok... I'll play it right after Front Mission 5? >_>

I've fonder memories of Double Dragon 2 than Super Mario Bros, because you could go out of your way to throw the first boss from the top of the building. Also, all these guys falling from the helicopter. Yessss.

[hinode]

SRWZ2-2: Finally got off my lazy ass and downloaded a working ISO of this, only to find that my heart's set on playing FE over SRW, now that I've spent a few weeks reading up on FE13 info (which sounds way more interesting than FE11 or 12 on paper). Still plugging away slowly at this, up to Chapter 5 right now. Not much to say yet, except that most PCs joining with enough PP to buy SP Regen right off the bat due to Z2-1 carryover is pretty awesome - especially for early joiners like Duo and Quatre whom I won't be using permanently.

FE8: Figured I'd shake off the rust with the super easymode FE. Just for giggles, I'm running NM with just Ephraim and Seth right now, which might well be EASIER than a conventional team outside of the desert map and the Demon King. Eventually I plan on an Eirika HM run (which I've never done before) with a more normal-sized team.

[Dark Holy Elf]

FE8: Figured I'd shake off the rust with the super easymode FE.

Hey, hey! FE8 is certainly not the hardest game in the series or anywhere close, but "super easymode" may be going overboard, especially considering FE9's smaller-

Just for giggles, I'm running NM with just Ephraim and Seth right now

Oh. Never mind. <.<

[Captain K.]

Lollipop Chainsaw:  I can't decide if this game is empowering to women or setting back the women's movement thirty years.  I'll let mc decide that.  All I know is that it is a blast to play.  Still in the high school level, haven't had much time to play yet.

[Anthony Edward Stark]

It's Suda51. You not being sure of that is the entire point.

[Nitori]

Catherine: Ice block me harder bro

[Clear Tranquil]

Radiant Historia- Aht/Stocke pseudo soloish. Defeated the Mana Defenders and Alistel soldiers w/th Aht at L11. Only took 33 First Aids, 2 Poison Wings, 2 Sleep Wings and 6 Might Herbs >_> Aht was tinked for MDEF/HP/SPD. Once the soldiers were dealt with it was a game of Might Herb/Heal + Heal/Attack then once the Might Herbs ran out it was Heal/Chip. Fight was easier once one Mana Defender was gone as well.

Road blocked at Bodyguard but after much resetting and thinky think about in ways in which to approach the fight and finally some retrying with the set up which eventually won me the fight I finally won it w/th L12 Aht tinked for ATK/LCK (Red Dagger + Fang Charm + Rose Ring + Rabbit Foot) + support from Poison/Curse/Paralysis Wing/Power Down/Might Herbs. This was an all or nothing approach but it was quite epic when it finally paid off. Basically I was able to Change abuse to set up Aht for ten turns in a row and use Might Herb + nine turns of Attack, then amazingly Bodyguard was either unable to act because of paralysis on his turn or wasted other turns on his single hit attack, didn't abuse his triple attack or get the chance to use Offensive Shift at all until Aht had Changed abused herself to nine turns, then I used Turn Break for ten and did another Might Herbs + nine Attacks combo. Turns out Bodyguard was finished before those nine Attacks were up anyway but I'm not complaining =) Aht levels up to L13 and learns Greater Heal~

Poison/stall/turtle/heal alone wasn't enough for Bodyguard because it was outpaced by his speed/regen combo. I'm not quite sure what Curse does again either but I figured I might as well throw it into the fight as well.

As for Stocke L14/15 for another Rosch and Gladiator, L16 for Garland Had a few resets figuring out how to deal w/th Steel Lance and Warrior Spirit but didn't take too long/have any real issue with these fights on the whole. Again Poison Wings are bbfs~

[Niji]

Back to yer roots.

Playing my annual run of FF6. Breaking it in style. Picture courtesy of Elephantgun's LP.

wait is this actually posible in game? if it is FF6 would official sit at the top of my favorite RPG list then... :O

[Niji]

Diablo III: I got compromised so kinda weary to start up playing again, would love to play with someone else though, lvl like 20 monk in act 2.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT: LOL nawh i don't play this anymore but will once mists/patch drops.

Tera Online: Thinking about trying out the demo...but eh.

THE REAL MEAT

Pokemon White: On hold since i left my DS with someone by accident! (and there for the 9 other DS games  i was playing D:)

League of Legends: Fun game in my spare time away from actual rpgs, i play with others a lot so good way to keep in touch with em. Nijipotamus and True Final Boss on there(main/smurf)

Valkyrie Profile: REPLAY AT LAST, playing an undub on the psp....i must say the improvement to the script is awesome, and now that i am...actually smart enough to play this game it is at thousand times more fun than when i was a kid! SO DEPRESSING THOUGH

Breath of Fire III (psp remake): Just starting up.

Final Fantasy Tactics (psp remake): Just starting up.

Alice: The Madness Returns: Zomg can't wait to start it but i need a solid 4 hour block to start playing it hahah.

Kirby Return to Dreamland (Hard Mode): Need to start up hard mode...but kinda waiting for someone else to play with!

That is it for now, i figure that plate is big enough, i was already playing some 9 odd games on my DS anyway.

[Meeplelard]

Asura's Wrath: Just beat the first thing that would qualify as a boss, I guess?  Hard to say in this game since its basically a huge Shonen Anime Mini-Series with Gameplay breaks...

...no, really, that's what it is.  It sounds like an exaggeration until you get 2 random stills from scenes you just saw saying "Asura's Wrath" which basically are saying "If this was an actual Anime, there would be commercials here."  Why do they have these?  Probably to break up the movies if you want to watch the scenes separated or something.

Beyond that, game is interesting enough, trying to actually make a Cinematic Experience that can still be qualified as a game.  I will say that so far, for a protagonist whose entire character is basically "I AM ANGRY AND WANT REVENGE!" ...Asura is far more sympathetic than Kratos.  Granted, not being a murderous sociopath does wonders for that <_<

[Anthony Edward Stark]

wait is this actually posible in game? if it is FF6 would official sit at the top of my favorite RPG list then... :O

It has to do with not meeting certain characters.  The Moogles that team up with Locke occupy the character slots later held by Celes, Sabin, Cyan and such.

[url]http://lparchive.org/Breaking-Final-Fantasy-VI/[url]  has that and some more stuff.

[SnowFire]

Medieval Fashion Dollhouse 3 -

So, SnowFire's male Wizard may have a bit of a crush.  Sure, she's a little intimidating being higher level and all, but it's pretty clear that beneath her icy facade and hate-powered arrows, SnowFire's female Demon Hunter has a heart of gold ready to be melted.  And unlike, say, Glen Veil's shameless hussy who wears Vanishing Dye on her clothes in a desperate cry for help, SF's demon hunter clearly has a keen sense of style.  Her uncovered (Vanishing Dye'd) raven colored hair contrasts starkly with the white Winter Dye'd outfit, much as the demon hunter's dual nature features the classic clash between Hatred and Discipline.  He's been working up his courage to approach her with some topical conversation that might lead to something more - you know, "hey, I hear you fight demon lords, I've done some of that as well, want to have coffee?"  But there seems to be a problem.  They're both on the same account.  SF's Wizard can see her across the room at the Auction House, and briefly on the Switch Hero screen...  but never seems able to join the same game as her!  Are they cursed to remain apart forever, catching but glimpses in passing, like the movie LadyHawke which had that super-80s soundtrack?!?

Also, I have finally acquired a cache of the rarest dye for sale in game, Lovely Dye.  I think only a merchant who normally spawns in Caldeum sells it, and it's normally a pain to enter Caldeum...  but...  when running Hell-Belial with NotMiki and Scar last night, the merchants all evacuated to the Hidden Camp, where the extremely pricy Lovely Dye was indeed for sale.  Now, nothing can stop me from slaughtering the Lords of Hell dressed in a manly all Pink costume and getting an achivement, the true measure of a man's worth. (Belial himself was pretty badass yet fair as usual.  We wiped 3 times to Form 3, then wiped to Form 2, then killed him.  I could just, just barely take a hit from his Form 3 claw at full health.)

[Glen Veil]

Hey now, I totally got an armor upgrade that looked decent enough that I didn't vanishing dye it! :-(.

D3) beat inferno Act 1 a few days ago and tried act 2 for a little bit, decided it would be best to stay and farm act 1/play other characters more. dh has 30k health, ~250 give or take in each resist, 48% reduction in armor, mobs hit me for 53k if i screw up on a vault or something in Act 2, yeaaaaah.

Currently playing on my monk because I noticed it's possible to get something like 60% free dodge from skills alone or something and mantra of evasion has a rune that deals damage every time you dodge, this sounds cool and amusing to me.

[DjinnAndTonic]

Gungnir

Despite everything on my plate at the moment, I took a few hours to actually pop this in my PSP on release day.

It is the new Dept Heaven game (chapter IX compared to Yggdra Union's II and Knights in the Nightmare's IV) and it is weird as Dept Heaven games tend to be. But to a notably less extreme extent. While I love both YU and KitN for going all-out and creating some of the most non-traditional RPGs in the genre, Gungnir stands out as using a lot more of the regular conventions of the SRPG genre.

I think this is actually to its benefit. While I may miss the batshit insane mechanics from other Dept Heaven games, I'm very pleased with how accessible Gungnir is right from the start. It's kind of the reason that I feel these conventions came to exist in the first place - they are intuitive. And Gungnir brings just enough convention-defying weirdness from YU and KitN to really help it stand out in important ways (especially compared to Sting's OTHER 'standard' SRPG, Hexyz Force).

The mechanic that instantly catches my attention is its use of "Party Turns". While speed is handled in the excellent CTB style, and enemies get turns in the same manner as say FFX characters, the player gets turns interspersed throughout the enemy's where ANY SINGLE PC CAN USE THE TURN. Not a large twist, but a significant one. Depending on which PC you use to take the turn and what action they perform entirely decides how soon your next turn will come, so the game rewards conservation of actions pretty heavily, which makes for an interesting dynamic.

The game also has, for lack of a more succinct explanation, a built-in Heart Cannon mechanic (a la Dis4) with it's Beat system. The game is balanced for you to passively combo-attack the everliving daylights out of everything with 2-3 PCs and this makes positioning even -more- important. Pretty fun when conservation of movement/actions is already such a big deal.

There are a few other mechanics that are fairly standard for the genre that are well-used including skill-learning through weapon-type use, a limit-break-esque summoning mechanic for only the main character, and base-capturing as a resource. But for the most part, the game is a uniquely Dept Heaven look at "Here's an SRPG, change one or two fundamentals and see what happens!" that really works for me. More Riviera and less Yggdra Union.

The plot and characters are pretty bog-standard, but it's got a decent translation by Atlus USA at least. Art is fantastic and overly stylized. Will probably continue to play this one despite having like 6 other games I need to finish (one of which is a Nippon-Ichi title, so you know Djinn likes it!).

[Niu]

Marietta is not pleased that she gets kicked out of this game due to the total plot rewrite.

Status is AWSOME in Gungir, keep that in mind. Burn and Poison are like.... the best thing ever. Especially Burn, you can acquire this rod that inflicts burn in large AOE accurately, and just watch how fast the status drains enemy HP. It is always a good idea to have two mages in the team just to spam status.

Also, use FAQ to farm chests. The chests are random, and the chests with ultimate equips are even MORE random.

The game has three endings, you might want to keep the requirements in mind:

A' - Agree with Alessa with most of your choices and deploy her in ever battle that she is deploy-able.
A - Agree with Alessa but does not deploy her evyertime she is available.
B - Disagree with Alessa with most of your choices.

Finally, can someone stab Robertus in the face? PLEASE?

[Yoshiken]

Limbo - Blitzed this from start to finish. Beautiful game, and so glad the Humble Bundle included the OST... because I am never playing it ever again. Holy fuck, this game infuriated me. As amazing as it was, there were some moments that were just so mind-numbingly irritating that it's made me never want to play it again. It was totally worth playing through it, but.. yeah, only the once.

[Talaysen]

Also, use FAQ to farm chests. The chests are random, and the chests with ultimate equips are even MORE random.

There are no FAQs on GFAQs so kind of hard.

[Niji]

Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger(or Unholsing Rager as my dyslexia(etc) sees his name).

OH MY what a game, I am laughing pretty hard while playing it and finding the battle system very interesting. VERY Nippon Ichi to me....but also slightly annoying(things cost WAY to much money for how difficult money is to obtain), and forgetting to save is the end, when you lose all your best items on the god damn tutorial map cause you accidentally skipped what on earth you were supposed to do. My Other gripe, and its just a personal pet peeve. The 3+ min cutscenes between each dungeon/during each dungeon -_- no offense NIS but I kinda want the play this game, I don't have time to sit though such constant long cutscenes no matter how AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT AND ENTERTAINING they are.

Battle System: Engaging Action
Music: Super Nostalgic and very Sentai Hero
Comedy(story): SHOCKINGLY Good, very moving and motivating. The Main Character is just totally awesome, and kinda like me, I need to be more like him though! Laughing Quite a bit too. VERY OBVIOUS she is the bizzaro earth Super Baby or something. Also Super Baby = best character so far, so cute and adorable while she defends like a boss vs Darkdeath Evilman.
Misc. The names are awessomeeeeeee.

Enjoying it so much so far i've put the other games on hold, but don't have to much patience.

[Grefter]

Mass Effect - Played through doing no side stuff, didn't recruit Garrus.  Virmire was funny when Wrex didn't die and I wtfed hard.  Then found out it was probably because it would have meant I would not have 2 companions later, so lol charismatic achievement get for not having any friends. 10/10 would do again.  Final level was 36 and play time of 8 hours 20 mins.

[Anthony Edward Stark]

didn't recruit Garrus. 

/dramatically drags record to a stop