the "Currently Playing" thread.

[chikorita157]

Since I was out in New York City for two days and didn't have internet, I got farther in Atelier Totori Plus with some more vigorous on the fly translating (which is why my playtime is pretty high). Somehow, I manage to earn the extension a year early before the adventurer's license renewal requirement. Now I have to finish some endings so at least I get a normal ending instead of getting stuck with a bad one after Year 5. Once I beat the game, possibly it will unlock more DLC goodies included in the game... I already have the ability to have Cordelia and Iksel join the team already, but not Cecilia yet.

Aside from that, I preordered Tales of Hearts R for the Vita since the yen depreciated, thus made the game a bit more affordable although it still costs a bundle compared to American releases. Still debating on whether or not to order the Vita version of Atelier Meruru. Probably will since I will have frequent shopping points I have to use and downloading the DLC for the American version will probably cost a good amount of money. Besides, I use my portables more than my regular consoles these days. Also, there is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity I want to play too... so yeah, March is a busy month probably.

[Dextro]

I completely forgot that I still have Tales of Vesperia sitting on my 360 hard drive to finish so I've been doing that this weekend. The game has a lot of charm and I'm starting to get used to the english dub (which is actually quite decent) but I just can't seem to get into the combat system. I'm more of a turn-based fan than real time. The only "real-time" jRPG combat system I've enjoyed so far was Eternal Sonata but Vesperia isn't particularly helping the case. Maybe Tales of Graces F (which is sitting on my todo pile) will be the one.

Speaking of Eternal Sonata: oh how I enjoyed that one. I even bought it for both 360 and PS3 and sort-of completed both versions. I'm stuck at the "final" boss on the PS3 version currently because I'm under-levelled. I can deal with mobs more than good enough because skill helps quite a bit in that game but the end boss is a different story all together. I would even go as far as saying that the additions made to the PS3 version and the slight levelling tweaks to accompany them made the game just a tiny bit harder to play. I went from overpowered to underpowered in an instant due to one of the added dungeons.

[Soverence]

I have been playing Bayonetta pretty much none stop for the past two days, made me realize how much I have missed the hack and slash style games. They give a real challenge well still being passable once you get the hang of it. It is a shame that the whole genre has pretty much been at a stand still recently except for a few devoted franchises. Might go and get the Devil My Cry Collection or Ninja Gaiden 2 (since 3 doesn't exist )

Before Bayonetta though, I just finished Mass Effect 3 and all of its glory. Honestly, I don't see what the big deal about the ending was, I thought the ending of the series was fine. I will admit, before I downloaded the Director's Cut the ending felt somewhat short and broken but it was still pretty satisfying.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Soverence

Before Bayonetta though, I just finished Mass Effect 3 and all of its glory. Honestly, I don't see what the big deal about the ending was, I thought the ending of the series was fine. I will admit, before I downloaded the Director's Cut the ending felt somewhat short and broken but it was still pretty satisfying.

Spoiler for Mass Effect 3 ending:

Aside from the incredibly lazy way they tackled multiple endings (with the same scenes simple being recoloured) I thought the ending was fine. I'll even go as far as saying that they went too far with the extended cut and added way too much fluff that only kills the mood. Some stuff like the grieving scene on the Normandy and the new bad end were well done but that montage showing what happens next was overall pretty darned bad.

On the other hand I enjoyed quite a bit the space station mission that ties into one of the first two novels. Pretty neat usage of cross-media there.

[shinku no kage]

Finally...finished...Catherine. (well atleast my first playthrough) It's been a while since I was actually "challenged" by a game. I couldn't get past day 6 so I had to swallow my pride and switch the difficulty to "Easy"...and I still had a fairly hard time.

Got the Normal ending for Katherine, not planning to start a new playthrough anytime soon but when I do then it shouldn't be too bad. Though I doubt I'll ever get the Platinum trophy for this game.

But all the work was totally worth it because of Wakamoto Norio's acting. The VA cast including him is just awesome, it was the reason I picked up the game in the first place.

Also finishing up FFIX. At the final dungeon, I might go back to fight Ozma. Gave up on ever getting the Excalibur II.

Also went back to playing Fate/EXTRA...mainly to go over the story again for the upcoming release of CCC...which has been pushed back another month into March. orz. Though I guess it's not a Type-Moon game until the release date gets pushed back right? LOL. Though I'm assuming that the delay this time is probably because of the figma figure for the limited edition.

Got no plans of new games until March and April. Kami-sama to Unmei Kakumei no Paradox coming out later this month is a MAYBE on my list.

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Dextro

Spoiler for Mass Effect 3 ending:

Aside from the incredibly lazy way they tackled multiple endings (with the same scenes simple being recoloured) I thought the ending was fine. I'll even go as far as saying that they went too far with the extended cut and added way too much fluff that only kills the mood. Some stuff like the grieving scene on the Normandy and the new bad end were well done but that montage showing what happens next was overall pretty darned bad.

On the other hand I enjoyed quite a bit the space station mission that ties into one of the first two novels. Pretty neat usage of cross-media there.

Spoiler for ME3:

Because deus ex machina is incredibly lazy writing. I agree that the Extended Cut actually made Blue God Kid even worse, because he becomes the Exposition Fairy while also being a LITERAL Deus Ex Machina...

What I liked about the EC ending was it didn't completely wreck the setting. Also, you can BECOME A MECHA-CTHULU GOD. I mean c'mon, what's not to love about that?

[Last Sinner]

Originally Posted by shinku no kage

I've been stuck on Day 6 of Catherine...orz

Don't worry, my major stumbling block on Catherine was that part aka The Clock Tower. Once I somehow fluked getting through that, every other level was a breeze. Even the final encounter was easy for me in comparison to the freaking Clock Tower...or the Quadrangle...my first playthrough got me Katherine True. People always seem surprised when I tell them that though. I didn't think getting a True ending was that hard.

I played Spec Ops: The Line on Sunday and finished it in one night. But I still feel shell-shocked and unable to do much after it...this is the emotional, moral punch that has been missing from gaming and media in general for me.

A couple of weeks ago I picked up Bastion. Best indie game I've ever come across. Rucks (aka voiced by Logan Cunningham) is the epitome of narration for me.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Spoiler for ME3:

Because deus ex machina is incredibly lazy writing. I agree that the Extended Cut actually made Blue God Kid even worse, because he becomes the Exposition Fairy while also being a LITERAL Deus Ex Machina...

What I liked about the EC ending was it didn't completely wreck the setting. Also, you can BECOME A MECHA-CTHULU GOD. I mean c'mon, what's not to love about that?

I can't really defend the game ending. They really went lazy and rushed the story to get the game out as soon as the EA overlords wanted and the end result clearly suffers for that. In the end it's still a great game (and above that a great game series) but misses masterpiece levels by just a notch. A shame.

Originally Posted by Last Sinner

I played Spec Ops: The Line on Sunday and finished it in one night. But I still feel shell-shocked and unable to do much after it...this is the emotional, moral punch that has been missing from gaming and media in general for me.

That game is pretty darned good. Don't get me wrong, it's not a great game, what it is is a very important game for the medium. It can really get a person shaking at times and not using cheap shots like random enemies showing up from doors and alike. What was your most memorable scene?

Spoiler for Spec Ops:

For me it was that point at the mall when you have to flank the enemy and end up facing an heavily armored foe on a room where the lights keep flickering in and out. In the end it was actually just a bunch of store mannequins which means that the main character is loosing his grip in reality. That scene left me so shaken that I just had to stop playing at the next available moment and go out for some air.

[Celestia Ludenberg]

Sonic 3&Knuckles.

[chikorita157]

Finished the first playthrough of Atelier Meruru and managed to get about 101000 population and Rank VIII. Not too shabby, although I missed alot since I did a good amount of inefficient things... However, I managed to see Keina's, Mimi's and Rorona's ending event scenes and got trophy's for them. Oh well, second try will be better... and I will most likely get the port since they are adding even more content to it.

[Celestia Ludenberg]

Devil May Cry (2001)

[SidVicious]

Just started playing Corpse Party: Book of Shadows for the PSP.

[Last Sinner]

Originally Posted by Dextro

That game is pretty darned good. Don't get me wrong, it's not a great game, what it is is a very important game for the medium. It can really get a person shaking at times and not using cheap shots like random enemies showing up from doors and alike. What was your most memorable scene?

Spoiler for Spec Ops:

For me it was that point at the mall when you have to flank the enemy and end up facing an heavily armored foe on a room where the lights keep flickering in and out. In the end it was actually just a bunch of store mannequins which means that the main character is loosing his grip in reality. That scene left me so shaken that I just had to stop playing at the next available moment and go out for some air.

Spoiler for answers:

1. The ending...the ultimate slap in the face and crowning of an anti-hero. You're not Walker, but the fact you had to play this through as him and do what he did really leaves one feeling guilty...he always had the option to stop...but he never knew when to quit...makes you wonder how many people in real life have done what he has done...
2. White Phosphorus. Chilling....
3. Walker and Adams in the final battles. Kind of the lowest point of humanity there.
4. Radioman in person and the leadup with that Motown song. What a warped sense of humour....
5. Riggs' betrayal. What a bastard...

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Last Sinner

Spoiler for answers:

1. The ending...the ultimate slap in the face and crowning of an anti-hero. You're not Walker, but the fact you had to play this through as him and do what he did really leaves one feeling guilty...he always had the option to stop...but he never knew when to quit...makes you wonder how many people in real life have done what he has done...
2. White Phosphorus. Chilling....
3. Walker and Adams in the final battles. Kind of the lowest point of humanity there.
4. Radioman in person and the leadup with that Motown song. What a warped sense of humour....
5. Riggs' betrayal. What a bastard...

Spoiler for Spec Ops:

I actually didn't find the ending to be that big of a slap in the face. Intellectually I get what you're saying and can relate but emotionally I didn't feel it. Maybe because I had already been spoiled on the purpose of the game as a deconstruction of the medium and was waiting for it.

The white phosphorus scene though didn't really register with me. I think the scene is a bit too similar to a scene in the Mass Effect series and that desensitised me to it.

I can agree on the others though. Making me shoot that mini-gun on the tower was just the icing on the cake.

[DuoRanger]

space marine but unfortunatelly the multiplayer is preety dead

[Yahiro]

- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
- Skyrim (never stopped really)
- Guild Wars 2
- World of Warcraft
- Assassins Creed II (Replay)

Edit: Tekken 6

[Ryonea]

Mostly still Tekken TAG Tournament 2 [PS3] for learning more characters and finding more combo setups. Currently having fun with Jinpachi

And thanks to new contents, I also back to play Gran Turismo 5 [PS3] for the new and free DLC of 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Final Prototype. The second one is Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) [PC] for the ultimate speed pack DLC. Too bad I only like 2 of the new cars. The new events are nice, though.

[Celestia Ludenberg]

Jet Set Radio.

[GoddyofAus]

I just finished a session of Spec Ops: The Line.

Spoiler:

For others who have played it, I just finished the White Phosphrous section. Wow. I am speechless. That was worse then No Russian from Modern Warfare 2. What an amazing game.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by GoddyofAus

I just finished a session of Spec Ops: The Line.

Spoiler:

For others who have played it, I just finished the White Phosphrous section. Wow. I am speechless. That was worse then No Russian from Modern Warfare 2. What an amazing game.

Whatever you do make sure to avoid any spoilers about the game. It's a great game but even I, a person who doesn't usually mind spoilers, think that it's a story whose impact is intimately connected to how little you know of it.