So What Are YOU Playing?

[Maguspk]

I can get Chrono Trigger to work by just downloading the rom labeled "Chrono Trigger FIX" on emule, but unfortunately, my computer is so shitty it can't run a DS emulator at full speed without wreaking havoc on the sound quality. Fuck. I'd buy it if I weren't so pissed that Squenix is charging $40, the most expensive price possible for a DS game that doesn't include a peripheral, for a fucking port. Talk about being greedy. I've never, in my life, emulated a game that wasn't at least five years old, but I'll make an exception for this one once I get a new PC.

In other news, I'm back on the Fire Emblem wagon. Time to finally take down Hector Mode.Turns out Guy still rules, love that little man. High speed, skill, and strength, plus ridiculous critical rates? And he uses the best weapon class in the game (swords > lances > axes)? I'll take it.

Still working on Baten Kaitos and SMT: Nocturne. I'd forgotten how annoying the luck-based factor of BK can be, fuck getting the wrong hand at the wrong time when the enemy uses finishing attacks every single turn and attacks twice and you don't have any defense cards and they keep targeting the same person. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Edit: Hmm, I keep saying fuck a lot. I blame the alcohol.

Flash Cart is really worth the investment.

I downloaded the new Castlevania on the DS (Ecclesia or w/e) and I have to say it is pretty fun just not too hot for the whole glyph system, to be honest.

[Atreides]

I just finished up Infinite Undiscovery and Prince of Persia (both of which I really liked), now I'm trying to wrap things up in Eternal Sonata before quickly running through Rise of the Argonauts then really sinking a lot of time into Last Remnant.

I didn't really buy any xmas presents for anyone this holiday so I kinda went nuts buying games on sale for myself, now I have a huge backlog that's going to take me months to get through. I was getting really overwhelmed playing 10 games at once so now I've limited myself to 1 console, 1 handheld game at a time. For handhelds I'm nearly done with Brave Story but I can't force myself to finish it, I was thinking about playing FFTactics or Crisis Core but I'm not sure how well I'll do on that if I'm letting Last Remnant eat all my time.

Also, Baten Kaitos is a fantastic game, probably my favorite RPG for gamecube, I'm glad someone else likes it too ^o^

[Yuri-G]

I really should get a flash cart, especially since I'm trying to save money lately.

It's a great game, although if I could add one feature it would be the ability to shuffle the cards remaining in your deck maybe once each time you run through a deck, if only because being stuck with all defense cards on a character who isn't getting attacked or having to pass turn after turn trying to get your camera is annoying as hell. I hate the luck-based aspect of the game.

Wait, I would change one other thing: NO MORE TRAIL OF SOULS. God I hate that minigame, it is the reason I gave up on getting 100% in the Gathering. Fuck getting two pictures, the frost cap, and Secret Recipe 4 (Diminuendo too, although you can get it later unlike the others).

[Atreides]

i missed out on a LOT of cards my first playthrough, mostly the ones related to playtime and getting to places before/after a certain amount of time as well as some of the cards gained from combining other cards during combat.

I agree, not being able to shuffle sucked a lot, but I ended up having quite a few cards that could be used for attack as well as defense spread out on all 3 characters so I don't seem to remember having too much difficulty. I would really like to give the game a really thorough get-everything-playthrough like I usually do with RPGs but I really haven't had the time.

I also picked up BK Origins for like 5 bucks on sale somewhere and want to try that, although I hear it's nowhere near as good as the first.

[Yuri-G]

That's too bad about Origins, I wanted to give it a try, I'll look up some reviews and think about it. My only beef with BK as I stated earlier is the absolutely horrid voice acting, but if you turn voices off it makes an unbelievable amount of difference, at least for me.

I will say that it has one of the coolest plot twists ever, when

Spoiler: show

you find out that the main character, Kalas, was the one who had betrayed you

I mean, honestly, how many people can really say they saw that coming?

[Atreides]

Ya, the story was really excellent (and I didn't expect the plot twist) but more than anything I was surprised by the battle system, which was really engaging and interesting with a difficulty that ramps up really nicely. It gets really satisfying to chain together sequence attacks later on, using cards at the last minute to keep the chain going and get your bonuses up. Even the battle music is great, it's probably one of my top 3 favorite RPG battle music after nocturne and shadow hearts.

After playing Baten Kaitos I did have a newfound appreciation for Eternal Sonata, you can certainly see some similarities in overall design and the way they approach things stylistically. The battle music for ES is actually vaguely reminiscent of BK, I think, as well.

[Tradition]

Monster Hunter Freedom 2. Trying to, at least. My fucking PSP keeps randomly locking up when saving the game. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't.

Also Mega Man Legends. I was looking for something old to emulate.

[Yuri-G]

Ya, the story was really excellent (and I didn't expect the plot twist) but more than anything I was surprised by the battle system, which was really engaging and interesting with a difficulty that ramps up really nicely. It gets really satisfying to chain together sequence attacks later on, using cards at the last minute to keep the chain going and get your bonuses up. Even the battle music is great, it's probably one of my top 3 favorite RPG battle music after nocturne and shadow hearts.

After playing Baten Kaitos I did have a newfound appreciation for Eternal Sonata, you can certainly see some similarities in overall design and the way they approach things stylistically. The battle music for ES is actually vaguely reminiscent of BK, I think, as well.

Stop making me wish I had a 360, lol I've always wanted to try out Eternal Sonata, especially since I'm a huge Chopin fan.

[Atreides]

it's probably worth your time to get eternal sonata for ps3, given the choice. There are 2 extra characters as well as a few extra playable areas, not all that much bonus content (and the game certainly isn't any reason to buy a 360 or a ps3, it's a semi-short game and a bit too linear for an RPG) but there's enough to make it worth purchasing on ps3 if you've never played it on 360.

[Yuri-G]

I don't have a PS3 or 360 and am saving money right now, so I won't have one soon Someday though.

Right now I'm playing a ton of games since I just got my flash card for the DS, the biggest surprise so far has definitely been Super Princess Peach. It's a lot of fun, classic Nintendo platforming with tons of hidden goodies and unlockables. Extremely easy, but fun nonetheless, and for what it's worth the game has a ton of (very cutesy) style - when you use your different vibes, for example, the music changes to accompany the princess's new mood. Cute.

[Insanecyclone]

Titan Quest.

[Avé]

Finishing up forgotten GBA games. FFVI a few weeks ago, Pokemon Sapphire last week, Mega Man Zero 4 this week, Tactics Ogre soon.

[#686578]

Silhouette Mirage

[Arachna]

"Obtained" Xenogears finally and am only a few hours into the game but I can see it unfolding into an epic masterpiece.

[Yuri-G]

Oh man, enjoy it, Xenogears is my favorite game of all-time. I wish I could wipe it from my memory just so I could experience it again for the first time, it's so good.

[Raide]

Saints Row 2.

Didn't quite care for the first one, but this game is mindless fun.

[Maguspk]

Playing the MGS games for the first time, just finishied Psychomantis and had Meryl get sniped in both knees and her arm. Holy shit this game is like watching a fucking movie but damn it's good. The psychomantis fight was fucking awesome too, having to switch my controller was awesome. Man... now I see what all the fuss is about, I am already in love with the game and I'm only like halfway through.

[killerx]

Playing the MGS games for the first time, just finishied Psychomantis and had Meryl get sniped in both knees and her arm. Holy shit this game is like watching a fucking movie but damn it's good. The psychomantis fight was fucking awesome too, having to switch my controller was awesome. Man... now I see what all the fuss is about, I am already in love with the game and I'm only like halfway through.

2 and 3 are pretty good too and i still play 4 every now and then speed runs are fun too after you take ur time with it. I rember in 2 just sittin there killin people for hrs

edit:
And have fun with the card you'll see when u get there!

[Maguspk]

Oh yeah, fuck the dogs in this game. Dogs manage to do more than any terrorist has done so far, little bastards knock me over and tear me apart, lol

edit: FUCK YES, MGS YOU ARE THE BEST GAME EVER! I am at the end and all the shit that's happening is overwhelming, this game is straight awesome. Fox fighting the Metal Gear was so badass, and watching him get crushed was crazy. Man I can't wait to finish this up.

edit2: Wow, that ending was like 3 hours long, so epic. Snake is such a shofty.

edit3: after credits = HOLY FUCK. Snake was the inferior one and 3 were not aborted? There's a fucking third? Solidus Snake? This is beyond awesome. I need to play 2 and 3 like immediately now.

[Kobb]

I hope you're playing them without having had someone spoil the games for you. Finding out what happens in each game as it comes make it all the more awesome.

I never had a chance to play MGS 4 for myself, but I watched a playthrough on Youtube to get the story. Not the same as actually playing it but at least I got to see the end to the series (and it saves me $500 <.< ).