Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,600
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Post by Tuffty on Oct 25, 2024 16:12:06 GMT
I like Soma's endings the way they are because even in this "happier" ending, both are different kinds of existential horror and neither are good really.
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Post by quadfather on Oct 25, 2024 16:14:08 GMT
Yeah true, all of it is completely fucked up anyway!
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Oct 26, 2024 6:58:46 GMT
And done; 19 hours 49 minutes, In Water and apparently I like the steel pipe the most, which surprised me.
Fantastic game which does justice to my memories of the original. It's perhaps slightly longer than it needs to be and there's a relentless sequence of grim levels halfway through, but overall, really excellent, I enjoyed nearly every minute of it.
I can't see myself playing it again any time soon. Maybe in a year. 8 bloody endings, though? What kind of psychopath plays through it 8 times?
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Dgzter
Junior Member
Posts: 2,145
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Post by Dgzter on Oct 26, 2024 10:26:54 GMT
Yup, finished it up this morning. Weirdly, Steam has me at 23 hours in-game, but the time clocked at the end screen was just under 18 hours. Steel Pipe and checked the Map near 900 times. Also ended up with In Water, which I was a little surprised at, given I'm aware of the triggers for the various endings from the OG and thought I was pretty much a stick on for Leave.
I'll probably wait a bit to ruminate on things, having now finished it, but the TLDR is ultimately that it's just absolutely fucking superb. A must play, in my mind. And far and away my current GOTY. Genuinely cannot believe how well Bloober Team have done with this, all things considered.
Will give it a few days then start a speed run through, with the Pyramid Head hat on, 90s filter, and the OP Chainsaw, to clean up some achievements, etc.
[PS: the teeth-gnashing criticism of the VO for Mary's Letter recital is, as always these days, OTT nonsense. Fine to prefer the OG, if you so wish, but the VO is very good across the board here, and some of the performances are really commendable. Angela in particular was superb; her story is harrowing, and the actor/VO did a wonderful job. And that latter is definitely worth stressing given that her character model has been tediously appropriated for the latest round of the anti-Woke, anti-DEI, misogynistic hate fest. Get it right up you, you insecure, small-dick Incel cunts!]
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Post by Mark1412 on Oct 26, 2024 13:05:05 GMT
I thought the voice work was brilliant. Creepy and weird.
Also, despite saying I wouldn't be playing it again any time soon, I really feel myself being dragged back. Like spicy food, can't get enough of the pain. Think I might start a second run through to see how quick I can do it knowing the way now... Presuming that chainsaw makes things a breeze?
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Post by quadfather on Oct 26, 2024 13:06:19 GMT
Meanwhile, back in woodside apartments...
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wunty
Full Member
Pastry Forward
Posts: 6,672
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Post by wunty on Oct 26, 2024 13:11:12 GMT
Yeah the voice work was superb I thought. Characters were spot on for me.
Now I have had a few days to think about it all. Yeah. Even I’m genuinely surprised at just how good it was. It’s the definitive version of my favourite ever game so… it’s an instant classic for me.
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Post by zisssou on Oct 26, 2024 19:02:07 GMT
I’ve got to the labyrinth now. At the moment my feeling is that it’s probably a bit too disturbing for me. The OG probably the scariest game I’ve played, but with the enhanced graphics.. just too much.
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Post by quadfather on Oct 27, 2024 0:51:38 GMT
I'm at rosewater park now. Have to say, the music with the fist proper cutscene with Maria is...different... I guess I'm just used to the strangled guitar, and also obsessed with the og music, but it's been superb up to now.
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Duffmangb
New Member
Locust Forever
Posts: 250
Member is Online
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Post by Duffmangb on Oct 27, 2024 1:01:02 GMT
Either my tastes have changed drastically over the last few years (I don't think it is that, as I still love horror) or maybe I'm just not in the right "mood" for this as I'm sad to say I'm finding it more frustrating than anything else, having to constantly open my map to see where I need to go or where I have been, I mentioned previously about the increased combat being a chore also. I'm far from a hater, as I love the original trilogy and most of the games that came after, which is why I'm surprised and pissed off at myself that this is not (as yet) clicked, I'm in the Blue apartments at the moment, just found the first hand for the clock. I will keep on for the time being.
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Oct 27, 2024 3:56:55 GMT
I can't see myself playing it again any time soon. Maybe in a year. 8 bloody endings, though? What kind of psychopath plays through it 8 times? So I've, er, started another playthrough. NG+ of course. /revs chainsaw |
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Post by zisssou on Oct 27, 2024 8:50:21 GMT
Yeah! What kind of psychopath plays this again?!
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Dgzter
Junior Member
Posts: 2,145
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Post by Dgzter on Oct 27, 2024 11:05:34 GMT
Yeah, also found myself already straight back in to NG+ lol Just one of those occasions where a game lingers with you after having finished it, and I quickly realized I wanted to jump back in right away, at least for a while.
I'd never really been sold on NG+ modes outside of Souls games, tbh. But it was actually Evil Within 2 that changed my mind about that. They had a few settings that, on paper, sounded totally stupid, where you obviously start again with all weapons unlocked but you can also toggle on unlimited ammo, one-hit kills by any weapon for all enemies, and god mode health etc. Those completely removed any sense of tension or threat, which you'd imagine is the exact opposite of what you want in a survival horror game. However, when I actually tried it, I found that I really enjoyed it: being able to effectively turn the environments into more of a walking sim meant that I could snoop around every inch of each section/level, just enjoy the atmosphere/world they'd built with no stress, which was really cool from both an achievement hunting and lore/RP perspective, etc.
In terms of SH2, I'm exploring the whole of eastern South Vale before heading to Woodside. The NG+ chainsaw is clearly designed to aid speed runners and provide an easy option if people just want to blast through again for any achievements they missed, or to try out the new endings they added, etc. It effectively seems to one-shot everything, even on higher difficulty levels. Think it might be fun to use for a low[er]-stress play through.
I've also turned Frame Gen on now, and crank settings to max with RT on. Performance isn't always amazing, but by god it looks superb. The new filters are cool too, though I'm sticking with the 90s one for now.
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Oct 27, 2024 12:08:07 GMT
I was kind of persuaded when I saw the NG+ endings involving hunting down various items, using them at the right place etc. I'm not sure I could be arsed to aim for the Maria or Leave endings on the other hand. And I think you are right about being leisurely - I'm not going to go for the sub-10-hour trophy but will at least try just sticking to the chainsaw to get the no ranged weapons one...and try to pick up all the docs and memories. I may or may not make it through, we'll see.
I never did do NG+ with The Evil Within 2, much as I really enjoyed the game. I'll have to give that a go at some point.
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Post by zisssou on Oct 27, 2024 16:08:13 GMT
Surprisingly I got the leave ending.
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Post by gibroon on Oct 29, 2024 12:05:22 GMT
I'm in the labyrinth now which is all kinds of hell. Starting to get a bit low on ammo as well which is not helping with my swicthyness.
Impressed with how it keeps ramping up the dread and horror of it all.
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Post by zisssou on Oct 29, 2024 12:50:17 GMT
I'm so glad I used the pipe more often than not. Because towards the end I was proper shitting myself and the weapons did come in handy.
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Post by gibroon on Oct 31, 2024 20:23:19 GMT
Finished this quite aptly on Halloween. Enjoyed my time with it but can't see myself playing it through again, although the lure of a chainsaw might pop up in the future.
Got the water ending but no clue how or why.
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askew
Full Member
Posts: 6,778
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Post by askew on Oct 31, 2024 20:30:39 GMT
They've tweaked a few things, have they not? I noticed (or maybe because I turned the 90s mode off?) James will scribble on his map when he encounters something important. Just got to the Otherside for the first time. Opened a door and spotted something squatting. Do I not like that.
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Post by Mark1412 on Nov 1, 2024 21:52:40 GMT
Finished my second run, a no-guns, chainsaw speedrun (4 hours 54 in the end but I forgot to get the second dog key annoyingly so could have been quicker). Got the Maria ending which was dark.
Definitely funny going back to all those horrendous levels with the chainsaw. That said, even with the chainsaw the prison was still creepy and bleak as fuck.
Definitely me done now. Outstanding game.
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Ulythium
Full Member
Lily-livered
Posts: 7,073
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Post by Ulythium on Nov 1, 2024 21:56:03 GMT
I give it 24 hours before Mark1412 is going, "Ah, fuck it - NG+2!"  |
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Post by Mark1412 on Nov 1, 2024 23:22:36 GMT
🤣, not this time. I've gone and bought Dragon Age as a result of playing through this again. It was during the Angela labyrinth section earlier today where I realised a saccharine, in-your-face positive, bright game actually sounded quite nice. |
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Nov 2, 2024 10:03:08 GMT
Can confirm Dragon Age is and does all those things. Varric just gave me a pep talk - you can do it, kid! - and I wept tears of gratitude.
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Dgzter
Junior Member
Posts: 2,145
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Post by Dgzter on Nov 4, 2024 12:29:10 GMT
Looks like the purpose of the Strange Photos has finally been solved:
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askew
Full Member
Posts: 6,778
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Post by askew on Nov 9, 2024 13:56:51 GMT
I'm moping about in the hospital. Ran back to the ground floor save and didn't realise how close the nurses were to me. Hopefully their state isn't saved, else I'm in for bad time when I next load the game.
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Aunty Treats
Junior Member
Delivering tasty treats to the townsfolk
Posts: 1,021
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Post by Aunty Treats on Nov 9, 2024 15:27:05 GMT
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mikeck
Junior Member
Posts: 1,917
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Post by mikeck on Nov 13, 2024 14:43:54 GMT
I have slowly managed to get to the prison now (12 hours played) and have saved at the armoury and found the first of the timed light switches. Noped out of there, not sure I can face this section at all...might be a struggle to get past this part, which would be a shame, but it is not enjoyable in the fucking slightest.
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mikeck
Junior Member
Posts: 1,917
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Post by mikeck on Nov 14, 2024 14:53:27 GMT
Put my big boy pants on and pushed through some more of the prison. I mistakenly assumed there was some kind of time sensitive task to do with the lights and it caused additional panic. I know it's only going to get more tense as I keep going, but had a mental barrier yesterday and didn't think I'd pick the game up again. Glad I did (...kinda).
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Post by Mark1412 on Nov 14, 2024 18:01:38 GMT
I thought the prison was the worst for its relentless awfulness, although it doesn't get much better for a couple of hours after...
Still think about this a lot. Reckon it'll be my game of the year.
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Post by FlexibleFeline on Nov 14, 2024 18:07:59 GMT
I agree. I found the prison damn stressful. What a game, though. Definitely a GOTY contender.
I'll likely go back to my second playthrough once I've completed the colourful candy-scented apocalypse of Veilguard. Although Stalker 2 may have something to say about that...
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