The Discerning Grog, or Just an Ornery Old Bastard?

[Boggit]

Only because I feel like I should mix it up a little. But I'm starting to not feel that way anymore.

Not being the youngest, i understand you very well. For long i had different games on my playlist...now i am limiting my games to a few i focus on at any time (less motivation to play, not enough time, too tired). Last month i played 2 games of Master of Orion II which i hadn't played for a long time and enjoyed them a lot. Now i am playing again Birth of the Federation. The motivation to play some games won't come up for a long time and suddenly you have the wish to play them...that's why i never completely dismiss a game and keep a door open.

+1 with you there! 8)

[JasonPratt]

Sorry Castlevania LoC didn't work for you, Gus.  :-\ I feel sad being one of those who sold you on it.

I'd strongly second the recommendation for The Saboteur (though I don't know about the PC version; the PS3 version wasn't buggy anyway), but my last rec didn't work out for you.  :'(

Still. Red Dead Redemption: Vulgar Drunk Irish Bomber Saves Paris And French Countryside And Hookers From Nazis Edition.

It has merits, is what I'm saying. Lots of merits.

[JasonPratt]

Behold.

Merits.

Edited to add: I should probably clarify that by "merits" I don't mean "boobs" although those were the merits the game was largely marketed on (and the reviewer follows suit, briefly). They're set dressing for one location, thrown the face of the player at the start of the game, clearly for marketing purposes, and that's it. The rest of the game is for all practical purposes Irishiana Jones: Destroy All Nazis. It references the Indy movies action so consistently there's a side mission to rescue the Holy Grail (if I recall correctly, it's been a few years since I played it). It is the best Indiana Jones Movie Ever Made Not Actually Starring An Indiana Jones Expy Or Having Anything To Do With Archaeology Except For That One Side Mission Because Duh.

[SgtRock]

Try playing a really shitty game for a while or a demo of a really shitty game and you won't be able to wait to get back to the "To Play" list. The one with the Chinese instructions could be a good start. Or any game with Unicorns-- except for Age of Wonders. Maybe spend a day talking with the good citizens of Skyrim about what is new in their worlds (Hint: Nothing-- Ever) Or try a really bad mod to one of your games. I remember one for the original Combat Mission that put dairy cows out in the fields. But no matter where moved the camera, they were always watching you. I still dream about that one at night sometimes. I couldn't wait to get me back to my old, boring version of the game.

Sorry but, there were never any cows in any of the CM games.

[Gusington]

Thanks Jason...I did enjoy Castlevania for while but the 'on-rails' feeling got annoying, and there were some points I just could not get past, which added to my frustration. Did you finish it?

[Sir Slash]

There was a mod that put black and white dairy cows in the very green fields and whichever way you moved the camera, they were always looking at the camera. It was on the old Combat Mission site that had all the graphic and sound changes like the improved weather effects and grass textures. And another weird one, 3D Faces.

[Philippe]

I remember that mod.  I downloaded it and had it installed for about thirty seconds because it didn't really work.  It was on MadMatt's CMBO site.

[JasonPratt]

Gus,

Yes, several times. I think any mission can be dialed down to easy (though I never had to) and the puzzles can be mostly or entirely skipped over (you just don't get the xp for finishing them).

Of course, if the platforming and combat methods were getting too hard in themselves, neither of that would help. But being sure to pick up all the gems and spending xp wisely and knowing which attacks to use when helps tremendously -- it's a very tactical game on a moment to moment basis, in that sense. God of Warish, of course, but to be fair GoW melds Castlevania gameplay (down to the primary whip-weapon attack) with the Prince of Persia Sands games.

I'll attach my tactical notes and where the powerups are below. Maybe they'll be helpful.


The Saboteur definitely isn't on rails, by contrast. ;) And if you've already played it, may I recommend Just Cause 2? It doesn't have all the distinct stylistic flavor notes of Captain Irishiana: The Murdering Avenger, but it has about ten times as much great sandbox 3PS gameplay -- a map 20 miles long and 20 miles wide with every imaginable climate and stuffed with content yet also with lots of quiet places to just admire the scenery (like Skyrim but much more varied and much larger).

And Yahtzee's review of The Sab for flavor, but the game is much better than his grumpy review lets on:

[Nefaro]

And if you've already played it, may I recommend Just Cause 2?

Just Cause 2 is a fun sandbox mayhem spree, conjuring up images of over-the-top 80s action movies.  I had some seriously gut-busting laughs when I played it.

They also added a multi-player element in the last few months.

[Gusington]

Thanks guys, I will look into both.

As for Castlevania, I was enjoying myself until the end of the first act when I was charged with killing a giant troll in a cemetery. I would reduce him to near-death, then stab him in the head as instructed, but he just wouldn't die. After 1000 tries I finally said 'f' it and rage quit.

Any suggestions before I get sucked back into a TW campaign?

[MetalDog]

Thanks guys, I will look into both.

As for Castlevania, I was enjoying myself until the end of the first act when I was charged with killing a giant troll in a cemetery. I would reduce him to near-death, then stab him in the head as instructed, but he just wouldn't die. After 1000 tries I finally said 'f' it and rage quit.

Any suggestions before I get sucked back into a TW campaign?

EUIV you ornery old bastard!

[Gusington]

^I was looking at your screen images and getting flashbacks to EUI.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

South Park: The Stick of Truth.

If you're a fan of the show, it's pretty fun.  They spoof Turn based JRPGs.   Make your South Park character and choose your RPG class from Fighter, Thief, Mage, or Jew.

[Gusington]

HAHA jew? Really?

[Barthheart]

South Park: The Stick of Truth.

If you're a fan of the show, it's pretty fun.  They spoof Turn based JRPGs.   Make your South Park character and choose your RPG class from Fighter, Thief, Mage, or Jew.

LOL! What is the Jew special power?