So What Are YOU Playing?

[Fereydoon]

Minus games where they're split into multiple paths, and each play through you can pick a different path. Like, say, I can't really think of one off the top of my head that does this, except for Radiata Stories, which I never finished, but at some point, I believe you get to choose to either take one side or the other, and the game just follows that story to the end. With games like these, I usually do one path, wait a while until I forget most of it, and then replay it on the other path, so that the REDUNDANT PARTS THAT YOU ALREADY DID don't feel as redundant.

I still haven't gone back and done the Non-Human path because everything up to when you decide just takes forever.

Started TLR a couple days ago, I'm enjoying it a lot, up to where we have to go to Elysion. I enjoy combat a lot for some reason, even though that Flame Idol thing was sooooo cheating. HEY LET ME NUKE EVERYONE FOR A GAJILLION.

Also been playing Mass Effect, I'm enjoying the story but the gameplay is a little dull. Really like the codex, any game with an encyclopedia of game stuff gets bonus points with me.

[Charismatic]

Maybe I'm recalling things incorrectly but I don't think Radiata up til the split was really all that many hours of play. That said, I've only ever played through once and did the non-human side. One of these days I'll go back through it for the human side... but I've already spoilered myself on it so I have far less motivation to do so than I did originally.

[Crab_Cake]

I usually don't use a guide until "Endgame", or the "Final grind". I just don't see the point in repeating the first 50 hours of a game to get to the last 30. That's a lot of time to burn on shit you've already done, and replay value in linear JRPGs isn't exactly stellar. I'd rather get it all done in one playthrough while still being able to enjoy the game.

Agreed.

Also to the above, I wouldn't really call it OCD but getting your money's worth "and" an "enjoyable" + non frustrating experience.

Replaying the same thing again isn't enjoyable to most (especially in JRPGs with lots of grinding). Games should only be replayed because they're fun not because you missed something.

Also even reading a guide or reading missables before hand won't help you in the TLR.

One of example is the six bases and recruiting the Duke of Ghor. You need to talk to him every time after you complete a base (there is no warning at all). If you get too into the game, you may forget that fact while doing the six bases (therefore you lose out on 100% which means you lose out on fighting the powered up version of the final boss + you miss out on obtaining the best ending). (Okay there is no best ending, but you still miss out on fighting the powered version of the final boss >.>)


One thing you should do for RPGs is to make a save every 2-5 hours of play (depending on what you do. If you just grind, just save after you finish grinding. If you do quests and/or progress through the storyline, best to make an extra save after 2 hours or so of questing in case you accidentally missed something).

I would have been screwed out of the Duke of Ghor but fortunately I've had extra saves handy.

But yeah TLR's missables thing was a huge negative. Must of gotten advice from the same person who thought of Zodiac Spear in FFXII >.>.

[Hitoshura]

I hate you all for reminding me that I didn't beat the other half of Radiata Stories. Great fucking game, I really wish there was some sort of follow up or sequel. Another game that does that "pick a side" storyline is The Witcher 2, but much more subtle with like.. no indication LOL.

[Charismatic]

I hate you all for reminding me that I didn't beat the other half of Radiata Stories. Great fucking game, I really wish there was some sort of follow up or sequel.

You and me both, brother. The world and characters really make you wish for a sequel... I doubt it'll ever happen though and that makes me somewhat sad.
Also, the non-human ending FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

I need a sequel to clear that shit up, but I'm pretty sure the human ending would be considered canon though (which would be sad) due to

Spoiler: show

No Ridley

[Vincento]

Fuck the human ending, I went non-human without looking back.

Almost done with Nier's platinum, just need a couple metal piercings and Subdued Bracelets. Farming hasn't been nearly as bad in this as everyone online makes it out to be. Great game, reminds me a bit of Demon's Souls.

[Rokku]

Man, Radiata Stories, had almost forgotten about that game. Fucking awesome, count me in the pile that wishes they'd make a sequel.

[Diamicles]

battlefield 3 right now. learning curve for FPS multiplayer is pretty brutal if you haven't played the genre much since HalfLife2 first came out.

[Kaisha]

Been trying to get to grips with Morrowind again. Game aged a little better that I was expecting it to visually after using FPSOptimizer to increase the draw distance to something more respectable for 1600x900 resolution (no interface scaling mods, shit gets too tiny at 1920x1080). The normal max draw distance was designed with 800x600 resolution in mind, which is understandable, but I'm not dealing with fog 15 feet in front of me when I'm playing it higher. ;/

Anyways, I never remembered myself getting my ass handed to me so easily this early in the game. The first human enemy I encounter on a metal bridge during my first quest for Caius just rapes me. I'm trying to play through this without getting into my usual Oblivion habit of "Fuck it, just run to the objective as fast as possible then gtfo", so I've been wasting time doing quests for the Fighters/Mages Guild of Balmora, which so far seem to be more favourable to lower-lvl content. Been spamming the jump key though for levelling acrobatics, old habit of mine.

Game is striking strings of nostalgia at any rate. I managed to remember where select locations were without having to resort to the map. Can't wait to visit Vivec when I get some gold ahead to get the life-saving Mark/Recall spells. I wish every single-player adventure game had an equivalent of those two.

[KuroTsuki]

So, I finally decided to buy Silent Hill 1 on PSN. It's my first time playing a Silent Hill game, but I've been interested for a long time since I'm a fan of the RE series and always heard comparisons. Anyway, I'm at the twisted/weird version of the school so far and I'm enjoying it a lot.

I heard an HD collection of 2 and 3 is out/coming out, so is it worth getting, and are the stories connected or are they separate(like Final Fantasy, I guess)? Also, are there any others worth playing?

[Gokulo]

1 and 3 are connected, 2 is separate. 2 is god-like and 3 is quite good too so I wouldn't think a second if you like 1.

[Laude]

You and me both, brother. The world and characters really make you wish for a sequel... I doubt it'll ever happen though and that makes me somewhat sad.
Also, the non-human ending FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

I need a sequel to clear that shit up, but I'm pretty sure the human ending would be considered canon though (which would be sad) due to

Spoiler: show

No Ridley

That reminds me Shadow Hearts 2 using the bad (or normal, if you prefer) ending from the first game =/ So sad. Would've been neat if you coulda loaded your game into 2 and it woulda changed if you got the good ending, but then 2 would be an entirely different game that way, haha. Oh well, one can dream.

Random Edit: Playing Arc Rise Fantasia finally, I got to the first big "plot twist"

Spoiler: show

Finding out Adele is a Diva (saw that one coming) and Alf is a Child of Eesa, then he leaves your party. GODDAMNIT ALF, now I'm forced to use someone else. I was so used to L'Arc/Ryfia/Alf, now I gotta do Niko or Cecille. Probably Cecille since she's a monk, woo.

[Dominico]

BF3 and MW3 right now. Playing BF3 solo and MW3 when friends are on. Don't know whats with all the hate towards the games, they're very different but I like playing both. For some reason I want to play through Pokemon Sapphire again. Put it in the GBA and I got a message saying the internal battery was dry and time based events would no longer happen. That doesn't really do shit does it? I don't want to start playing then see my game save vanish one day.

[Robertfb]

BF3 and MW3 right now. Playing BF3 solo and MW3 when friends are on. Don't know whats with all the hate towards the games, they're very different but I like playing both. For some reason I want to play through Pokemon Sapphire again. Put it in the GBA and I got a message saying the internal battery was dry and time based events would no longer happen. That doesn't really do shit does it? I don't want to start playing then see my game save vanish one day.

The internal battery for ruby/sapphire/(i'm assuming emerald as well) only affects the time based events of growing berry trees, it doesn't affect the save memory.

[Atreides]

So, I finally decided to buy Silent Hill 1 on PSN. It's my first time playing a Silent Hill game, but I've been interested for a long time since I'm a fan of the RE series and always heard comparisons. Anyway, I'm at the twisted/weird version of the school so far and I'm enjoying it a lot.

I heard an HD collection of 2 and 3 is out/coming out, so is it worth getting, and are the stories connected or are they separate(like Final Fantasy, I guess)? Also, are there any others worth playing?

Oh god yes, 1 is phenomenal (and has aged decently well for a PS1 game) but SH2 and 3 are really where it's at. At this point I'd just wait for the HD collection but both games are not to be missed, especially if you're a fan of the way the series handles the horror/scariness.

Unfortunately the games that followed SH3 aren't as good as the original trilogy but they're decent enough if you're looking to play something to fill the time. My favorite out of the new ones is probably Shattered Memories, although that's not a sentiment a lot of people share lol.

[KuroTsuki]

Nice. I'll definitely put a preorder down on the HD collection when I get the chance then.

Still in the school, but the game finally managed to make me jump. Lol. The part where you open the locker and nothing's inside, then you go to walk out and the dead body with a key falls out. I think the only reason it scared me is cause I was expecting some crazy monster to be around the corner, so I was on edge.

[Rokku]

Oh god yes, 1 is phenomenal (and has aged decently well for a PS1 game) but SH2 and 3 are really where it's at. At this point I'd just wait for the HD collection but both games are not to be missed, especially if you're a fan of the way the series handles the horror/scariness.

Man, I still laugh whenever I think about Silent Hill. Scared a buddy of mine so bad in the sewers that he still gets angry whenever I bring it up. I don't even remember the specifics, but it ended with him shrieking and throwing his controller across the room.. good times.

If there's an HD collection coming out, I'm totally picking it up. Great memories with those first three games.

[TacoTaru]

This is as close to a Random Question Thread as we have here, so I'll ask it. In the remake of FF1 for the PSP, do the stats on the weapons you are buying compare to the stats that you have equipped in the buy screen or is it like the original in that you need a guide to tell you what's better? I downloaded 1 on the Wii and quickly realized without all the maps, spell and equipment guides that originally came with the game, I was never going to figure out who could equip what/use what nor was I going to figure out what was better without printing out a 100page FAQ. I'm really wanting to pick the game up for PSP if that issue has been resolved.

[Yuri-G]

That reminds me Shadow Hearts 2 using the bad (or normal, if you prefer) ending from the first game =/ So sad. Would've been neat if you coulda loaded your game into 2 and it woulda changed if you got the good ending, but then 2 would be an entirely different game that way, haha. Oh well, one can dream.[/spoiler]

see this is why I liked Shadow Hearts 2... tugs at the heartstrings and doesn't go for the happy fluff! that shit makes the death of Aeris look like a happy rainbow party moment.

speaking of Aeris, I just got past the Golden Saucer in FFVII on the PSP. following a guide and doing all the random little optional things this time. my big thing this time around is to get every Enemy Skill materia filled. not really difficult; there are only two points where you can fuck it up permanently. also doing all the Fort Condor battles which have some insanely strict timing on them, i.e. there's one battle that takes place after you give the little girl CPR but before you speak to her the next morning and get Shiva... you have to run all the way to Fort Condor with only Cloud. and then after she gives you the dolphin whistle but before you actually use it there's another battle. shit is tight yo.

currently stealing a bunch of Turbo Ethers from some enemies in Mt. Corel. will be nice to spam whatever skills I want for the rest of the game and never worry about MP.

[Charismatic]

also doing all the Fort Condor battles which have some insanely strict timing on them, i.e. there's one battle that takes place after you give the little girl CPR but before you speak to her the next morning and get Shiva... you have to run all the way to Fort Condor with only Cloud. and then after she gives you the dolphin whistle but before you actually use it there's another battle. shit is tight yo.

All these years and I never knew that...