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Post by ToomuchFluffy on Aug 3, 2022 17:15:49 GMT
Played the tutorial for Settlers 3, but I prefer Knights & Merchants. The military part of the latter is annoying, but outside of the grindy, repetitive campaign one can simply set the AI to Easy and just do some town managment. Basically K&M has a bit more detail and consequently better atmosphere. The townspeople and troops need to be fed and roads need to be built everywhere, which leads to a more coherent feeling town than in Settlers 3. It's always nice seeing your food production chain keeping the tavern stocked as the various people are visiting for some bread and wine and such. I wish they had focused on the survival stuff even more.
Other than that I'm not quite ready to drop Sacred 2 (ARPG, 2008). It looks nice (bright and detailed) and has good physics, but the UI elements are tiny. The items are tiny and the text is too small and the UI scaling doesn't work. Really frustrating.
It also has some of the same problems as the first game insofar as that it has a large open world, too many MMOesque quests and it all feels kind of grindy and pointless even from the get-go. Not least since it's kind of hard to appreciate any possible humour when there is too much text and it being so small that it taxes my eyes unnecessarily. So I just ignore most of the text instead. But if it's at all similar to Sacred 1 then I'm probably not missing much.
Which is a shame as there is a lot of attention to detail in some areas. As said, pyhsics, but also a day-night-cycle with weather and the constant humourous comments by the player character dependant on class. Maybe I'll try another class or other combat arts before giving up on it. Who knows.
For context: |
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Post by Chopper on Aug 3, 2022 20:01:32 GMT
That’s a pity about Sacred 2, I always meant to try it but never got round to it. There were problems of various types all along with it, I think. You didn’t try modding the UI? Folks seem to say that scaling and increasing font size are useless, but changing the font is effective… steamcommunity.com/app/225640/discussions/0/846940248581202687/ |
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Post by ToomuchFluffy on Aug 4, 2022 4:02:05 GMT
Yes, I had to look up some advise even just to get it to run properly. That seems to have become the norm for me recently. Almost irregardless of the engine used or the date when it has been released.
I have seen the advice on UI modding, but as far as I remember results vary and some people seem to get crashes from it. Just changing the font may help a little and using 1280x1024 did also make things a bit more readable, but the latter leaves me with black bars of course. Not that much of an improvement anyway.
At least as far as I'm aware there is no ready-made UI mod that is generally useable? I'm only using the Community Patch, which seems to be a necessity when it comes to performance.
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dogbot
Full Member
Posts: 8,738
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Post by dogbot on Aug 10, 2022 9:43:09 GMT
Pitchforks at the ready...
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
I wanted a bit of a change from the constant PUNCH! PUNCH! SPECIAL! that I'd been getting with Avengers so I thought I'd look for something a bit more chill and decided have a go at this because it was an August PS+ Game of the Month and everyone seems to love these games.
I gave it two hours.
It's a bit too chill. I think I pressed three buttons in that time and moved the stick a couple of times too (ok, so I exaggerate, but not much).
Watch a LOOOONG cut scene. Walk here. Talk to this person. Watch a LOOOOONG cut scene. Watch another LOOOOOONG cut scene. Talk to another person (this one, unvoiced). Have a fight (sort of). Watch some more LOOOOOONG cut scenes.
Some guy was getting his child out of a locker and I decided that I really just couldn't give a shit.
Let the mob commence.
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Post by Aunt Alison on Aug 10, 2022 9:44:35 GMT
That's going to really upset the 3 Yakuza fans
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Post by Aunt Alison on Aug 10, 2022 9:45:31 GMT
Oh wait, Ryan's been banned. 2
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dogbot
Full Member
Posts: 8,738
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Post by dogbot on Aug 10, 2022 9:51:01 GMT
I thought it was more popular than that, tbh.  |
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Post by Nanocrystal on Aug 10, 2022 10:00:59 GMT
Yakuza fan here and... fine? If you don't like long, slow-paced cutscenes you're gonna have a really bad time with these games.
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Post by rhaegyr on Aug 10, 2022 10:03:53 GMT
I really liked Yakuza 0 but couldn't get on with Like a Dragon either - it felt like it had practically double the amount of cut-scenes 0 did and they were all front-loaded.
Part of that was the combat too.
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dogbot
Full Member
Posts: 8,738
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Post by dogbot on Aug 10, 2022 10:07:26 GMT
Yakuza fan here and... fine? I wasn't really expecting pitchforks...  Yeah. Not for me. |
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dogbot
Full Member
Posts: 8,738
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Post by dogbot on Aug 10, 2022 10:08:38 GMT
I really liked Yakuza 0 but couldn't get on with Like a Dragon either - it felt like it had practically double the amount of cut-scenes 0 did and they were all front-loaded. Part of that was the combat too. Apparently, it's different to the others (I've just read)? I also have a copy of Kiwami in my library, but per nano's comment, it may well stay there now. I don't mind a cut scene or two, but that was a bit much for my taste. |
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Post by rhaegyr on Aug 10, 2022 10:49:12 GMT
I really liked Yakuza 0 but couldn't get on with Like a Dragon either - it felt like it had practically double the amount of cut-scenes 0 did and they were all front-loaded. Part of that was the combat too. Apparently, it's different to the others (I've just read)? I also have a copy of Kiwami in my library, but per nano's comment, it may well stay there now. I don't mind a cut scene or two, but that was a bit much for my taste. Yeah - Like a Dragon is quite different (not sure how much as I didn't stick with it); turn based battles, much longer length etc. It's basically a full blown turn based RPG as opposed to the other Yakuza games which are more action orientated. Give 0 a go on Gamepass if you've got it, really enjoyed that game - couldn't get on with any of the others. |
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MolarAm🔵
Full Member
Bad at games
Posts: 6,853
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Aug 10, 2022 11:19:35 GMT
I just loved that the main characters are all dropout losers in their 40s. I can't think of any JRPG that has this much representation for sad middle-aged people.
I didn't mind the combat, but yeah it got extremely grindy towards the end. Hopefully they will make improvements for the sequel.
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lukasz
New Member
Meat popsicle
Posts: 682
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Post by lukasz on Aug 10, 2022 23:29:59 GMT
Encased
I'm thinking I'm done with it.
It just does not click with me and I considered it little bit of a chore playing it. The world is partially an issue. It just does not feel right.
I got to the first main town and did bunch of side and main quests.
Maybe I should lower the difficulty and just power through the storyline.
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Post by steifybobbins on Aug 11, 2022 21:12:48 GMT
Probably not what they were going for when they made it It does mean FFXII saved them from FFXIII though. I still played 13 at a later date ha ha. I was hoping FF12 was a one off. 13 proved it wasn't although I did like the combat |
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Post by Dave_McCoy on Aug 11, 2022 22:42:41 GMT
I just loved that the main characters are all dropout losers in their 40s. I can't think of any JRPG that has this much representation for sad middle-aged people. I didn't mind the combat, but yeah it got extremely grindy towards the end. Hopefully they will make improvements for the sequel. This is the problem I have. Grind near then end. I've enjoyed it but I am at a certain boss near the end that is just ruining me and there no obvious place to grind...at least quickly. There is one place but it still seems slow going. I want to finish it but it just seems a pain to get levelled up. |
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Post by dfunked on Aug 12, 2022 8:07:42 GMT
The tower was the go-to grinding spot for me. I think I tried the end section when underleveled and got my cheeks clapped, so went back and did some more grinding.
I kind of liked the grind in fairness, so didn't mind. Can't remember which floors I went for, but I found a loop that you could do pretty quickly with the right team.
Think it helped if you eat a specific meal beforehand too (XP boost). There are probably XP+ items too but my memory is hazy!
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Post by rhaegyr on Aug 12, 2022 9:05:48 GMT
Does anyone actually like the grind in JRPGs?
I genuinely hate it and can't believe it's still a thing in some of them.
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Cosmopolitan
New Member
Font Geek is a stupid name
Posts: 236
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Post by Cosmopolitan on Aug 12, 2022 9:26:00 GMT
I thought the grind was at the core of every RPG not just the Japanese ones? I mean, how else you want to level up your character. But I'm old, so times might have changed.
OTOH I find it incredible that random battles are still a thing in some RPGs.
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lukasz
New Member
Meat popsicle
Posts: 682
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Post by lukasz on Aug 12, 2022 9:26:26 GMT
Does anyone actually like the grind in JRPGs? I genuinely hate it and can't believe it's still a thing in some of them. The presence of grind is a must. People would complain on how there is not enough game, levelling is too easy There is a reason why jrpgs have it and so do many asian mmorpgs. |
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Post by Aunt Alison on Aug 12, 2022 9:28:09 GMT
I always saw it as party bonding time
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Post by rhaegyr on Aug 12, 2022 9:34:24 GMT
I should've clarified - by grind I mean the walls you hit in a lot of JRPGs at certain points that force you to grind.
I've played JRPGs where I've done every question and every side mission but then had to grind for a few hours because I'm still not strong enough for a certain area or boss in the main questline.
I don't mind the grind for optional missions/bosses but when it halts progress it does my nut in.
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 12, 2022 9:38:55 GMT
In fairness, most RPGs today provide some way to skip or streamline their grinding. There's Exp. farms, either intentional or not, alternative ways of getting Exp, such as by exploring or completing quests, items and skills that let the party gain more Exp or let all of the party gain Exp instead of just a few members (in games like Pokémon where only your active battlers level up)... Still, I don't mind it. It's a detriment if it's required to even have a chance, but in most (good) games that is not the case, and there's still ways to make it enjoyable. If nothing else, it's kinda cathartic just to bash some random beasts with no stress |
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Post by rhaegyr on Aug 12, 2022 9:41:15 GMT
Bionis Interior is my main reference for this (from XC1).
I'd completed absolutely everything I could up until that point and not skipped a battle but I was still under-levelled and it became a pain in the arse right at the point I wanted to continue the story.
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 12, 2022 10:19:58 GMT
Bionis Interior is my main reference for this (from XC1). I'd completed absolutely everything I could up until that point and not skipped a battle but I was still under-levelled and it became a pain in the arse right at the point I wanted to continue the story. Bionis Interior is weird about this, you can have completed most everything up to that point but it does feel like the game expects you to at least take a look at everything that's changed before going into the endgame. The newly opened areas in Tephra Cave, Alcamoth and the other High Entia related areas where the refugees are, Colony 6, the postgame quests in various towns... Then if you actually complete the majority of that stuff you end up overlevelled |
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Post by deekyfun on Aug 12, 2022 10:27:39 GMT
I've never really enjoyed it when my path to process is blocked off and the answer is essentially to run in tight circles in an area, whittling down the fauna (and sometimes the flauna) until I get enough levels to break through. I don't find it happens too much though, as I guess I'm getting through enough fights on the way to keep at the tide mark.
The most egregious example I can recall was in Final Fantasy XII (which, as it happens, I'm replaying via the remastered version on Steam atm, so we'll see how I fare this time) - I distinctly remember having an issue with some Judge in an airship, and having to run around repeatedly in a couple of corridors trying to gain levels and health potions for ages before I could finally beat this one guy. I think I gave up on the game pretty soon after that.
That being said, I wouldn't necessarily be against some grinding if the devs build something interesting into the time spent having to do it. Like, it would be nice if battles triggers maybe some minor conversations between party members which were main plot adjacent, but added some character development.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Aug 12, 2022 10:29:46 GMT
Lost Odyssey was horrific for that too (not sure about Blue Dragon).
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 12, 2022 11:33:28 GMT
Lost Odyssey was horrific for that too (not sure about Blue Dragon). You can AFK it in Blue Dragon (at least for class levelling). Grab Field Barrier 3 from Barrier Magic (and optionally, Regenerate MP from Black Magic and Attract Aura from Monk), get your characters stinky to make enemies aggro on you in the field, find a place where stuff aggros on you and dies to the Field Barrier and just leave it. |
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Post by Bird Of Prey on Aug 13, 2022 11:04:21 GMT
Red Dead Redemption 2.
I waited ages for it to drop in price and for me to have a machine that could run it. Finally got it and sat down with Doritos and drinks and a clear weekend.
Two hours later I quit as I was feeling really bad motion sickness from the game. Real shame, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.
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Post by dangerousdave on Aug 13, 2022 11:16:16 GMT
Only a handful of games ever gave me motion sickness and I found just leaving them for a few weeks and coming back to them fixed that.
Saying that, I know someone who plays all PC games with the widest possible field of view ever, so everything stretches and shrinks as he spins around and that permanently gives me motion sickness. Looks like you're playing with a thick pair of glasses on that weren't prescribed to you.
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