What are you playing?

[LoathedVermin72]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

[Monkey_Driven]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

[LoathedVermin72]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

Not even close!

[tragabigzanda]

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
2. Mario Kart (Wii)
3. Half-Life 2 (PC)
4. Twisted Metal 2 (PS1)
5. NHL 95 (Sega Genesis)
6. The Oregon Trail (graphical version, 1985, Apple II)
7. Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
8. Missile Command (Arcade)
9. Rocket League (PS4)
10. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father (PC)

[Monkey_Driven]

Does anyone else play the Hitman games? There's a unique part of every map that I love...

Not sure how the game used to be, I gather the 2016 release was something of a re-boot. But there are numerous ways to tackle a map, and the objectives within those maps. The online portion of the game constantly updates you with new goals and challenges so that the maps provide very deep replayability...

My first attempt at a map is always to get the "stealth assassin" award, which means you're not seen; you wipe or trash any surveillance footage that may have picked you up; you kill your target and gather whatever intel you're supposed to pick up; and you escape without a trace. I find it's the best way to learn the basic layout of a map, the behavior of the NPCs, etc.

The game has a core feature wherein every time you have completed your objectives and are told to make your escape, music starts playing. It builds in volume and intensity until crescendoing just as you make your escape.

Anyway, last night I infiltrated a vacant beach house, scored some intel, and then began to panic the primary target returned home with a ton of guards (side note: it's an interesting twist on the formula to have everyone arrive once you're in the middle of the map). The goal then became to assassinate the objective.

I followed her movements, noted some other opportunities I'd have to kill her via different methods in future play-throughs, then had a minuscule window of about 20 seconds in which she was alone on her balcony. I was disguised as one of her interior perimeter guards, walked right by her, and pushed her off the balcony. The guards below found her almost immediately and began their search of the premises, just a the music starts fading in.

I made a quick escape of the house, but there was a horde of guards scattered between the beach house and the zodiac I'd use to make my escape. So I created a diversion by blowing up a vehicle parked in the dunes. All the while, the music is building in intensity as the guards' dialogue let me know they were about to hone in on me.

The way the music climaxes just as I entered the zodiac was perfect.

I doubt anyone has read this far. Maybe MD has. But I'm just so pleased with this series for offering such a unique gaming experience. It's so different from any other stealth game out there, the NPCs have an abnormally high level of intelligence, and more than anything, the vibe of the series is just so...cool. I feel like a badass whenever I make that escape.

It occurs to me now that maybe I wrote about this before, when I was playing the 2016 version? Oh well. I hope someone checks out Hitman 2.

I played the 2016 game for a few levels but got sidetracked. Enjoyed what I played.

[Monkey_Driven]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

Not even close!

I beat the main story last night at Level 41 and about 38 hours of gameplay. I'm not really interested in doing much naval combat, but I'm going to check out all the side stuff related to Greek mythology now. And I want to explore Atlantis, so I'll do that first. There are so many options!

[mf]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

Not even close!

I beat the main story last night at Level 41 and about 38 hours of gameplay. I'm not really interested in doing much naval combat, but I'm going to check out all the side stuff related to Greek mythology now. And I want to explore Atlantis, so I'll do that first. There are so many options!

yeah i found the naval combat system to be lacking this time around too.

[LoathedVermin72]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

Not even close!

I beat the main story last night at Level 41 and about 38 hours of gameplay. I'm not really interested in doing much naval combat, but I'm going to check out all the side stuff related to Greek mythology now. And I want to explore Atlantis, so I'll do that first. There are so many options!

I’m afraid to go back and try the two boss battles that made me quit last time (Minotaur and the protagonist’s sister). Maybe I’ll watch some YouTube tutorials or something before attempting again.

[Monkey_Driven]

I can't quit Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Up to Level 36.

I jumped back in a little bit lately, trying to get back into the groove. Currently at level 47.

Damn, you were pretty far in the game when you stopped playing. Did you complete the main story?

Not even close!

I beat the main story last night at Level 41 and about 38 hours of gameplay. I'm not really interested in doing much naval combat, but I'm going to check out all the side stuff related to Greek mythology now. And I want to explore Atlantis, so I'll do that first. There are so many options!

yeah i found the naval combat system to be lacking this time around too.

I don't dislike it as a one-off encounter. It just becomes incredibly repetitive if you're grinding to get better upgrades.

[i got bugs]

Was digging ori and the blind forest until I hit this tree stage.. this new maneuver controls piss poor.. combine that with its difficulty its ridiculous

I actually think it screws you over worse than hotline miami

[Monkey_Driven]

Was digging ori and the blind forest until I hit this tree stage.. this new maneuver controls piss poor.. combine that with its difficulty its ridiculous

I actually think it screws you over worse than hotline miami

I didn't find Ori to be that difficult, but those types of games are in my wheelhouse (Hollow Knight, Guacamelee, etc.). What maneuver is frustrating you?

[i got bugs]

Was digging ori and the blind forest until I hit this tree stage.. this new maneuver controls piss poor.. combine that with its difficulty its ridiculous

I actually think it screws you over worse than hotline miami

I didn't find Ori to be that difficult, but those types of games are in my wheelhouse (Hollow Knight, Guacamelee, etc.). What maneuver is frustrating you?

The tree flood??

That stupid x dash works when it feels like it.. I get to the very end each time n something screws me over

[Clark Griswold]

finally getting around to Mad Max after it sitting in my PS+ library for ages. Dear lord is this a ton of fun, especially ripping around the wasteland in your car blowing shit up and playing demolition durby with the NPCs.

[tragabigzanda]

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
2. Mario Kart (Wii)
3. Half-Life 2 (PC)
4. Twisted Metal 2 (PS1)
5. NHL 95 (Sega Genesis)
6. The Oregon Trail (graphical version, 1985, Apple II)
7. Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
8. Missile Command (Arcade)
9. Rocket League (PS4)
10. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father (PC)

[scrub12]

Mad Max is a good game but it gets repetitive real fast.

[bada]

I've almost bought Mad Max every few months since it came out.

[i got bugs]

Finally finished hotline miami 1

[i got bugs]

Should probably have been named ori and the spiked forest because you can't travel .0008 seconds without encountering a section completely covered in spikes

[CopperTom]

Yeah, X-Com 2 didn't drive me to "rage quit," per se... But it's pretty painful to put a ton of time into building a character up, only to see them unceremoniously slaughtered with the first couple minutes of a particularly difficult mission.

Truly an amazing game, the mechanics and concept are just fascinating, even if they have been aped by other devs in the years since. But way too much of a deep dive for the amount of time I have available.

Has anyone played any of the XCom smells-alikes, that are maybe simpler and easier to dive into for 45 mins at a time?

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.

is that really the same style of gameplay?

I've never played X-Com 2, but I've seen the two games compared on numerous sites/videos.

It's far simpler and did not adequately scratch the xcom itch for me.

Edit - I didn't see that that is exactly what you're looking for

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is an excellent game. I give it my highest recommendation. What about the new Fire Emblem. I own Xcom and Rabbids, but haven't played them yet.

https://www.gamesradar.com/games-like-xcom/

[Anders]

FIFA 20