Monday, 8 May 2023

Gaming in games.....


Greetings and salutations reader, new or returning! I've no idea why I started like that but I had to start somewhere without thinking too hard about it(that didn't last long). As always with longer posts I've dithered; Keeping on changing/adding/editing in a perpetual non-publishing way. This is gonna be a loooooong one. Returning to blog is both a thing I feel I need to do again and one tinged with feelings of not properly breaking the habit/cycle(of blogging); A return to what was with no real lesson learnt. Maybe there was never one to learn. See what I mean about overthinking.... 


I'm a bit all over the place with considering it all(no surprise there either I guess, just realizations), I'm as conflicted as ever. A return to habit at this stage may not be a bad thing. I've blogged for so long and a break was nice but I've realized in that break that I do need some sort of a blogging outlet.... Shouting to the void... Heard or not. Habit or not. 

It wasn't all my dithering; I'd have posted this over a month ago but I ended up unexpectedly in hospital for three weeks.... Which kind of distracted me and stymied the 'ol gameplay never mind anything else. 

Time flies.


Self imposed habit or not I've enjoyed not blogging. Not feeling like I needed to constantly post something about what gaming I've been doing. Probably more so to do with the process of gathering screenshots/capture moments etc. Again a self imposed thing. I do do a lot of gaming.... So maybe there is some streamlined options for that process to learn. 



It's nice to game 'just to do it for me' with no other thinking involved even if it's media curation and notes about sharing. Yet it's that sharing that's been missing. A certain form of validation via it..... Of a kind. If I was off the mark I'm sure someone would have said something! The internet is quiet on commending but loud on criticizing. 
Motivations and complications. Blogging; A simple and complex thing. Overthinking doesn't help, never-mind blogging the overthinking....

It may be more simple, this return to blogging.... For the sake of it can be ok if I both enjoy and have value in it.


In returning to blogging all the old shulda woulda coulda's have come back up. Am I really going to blog (near)daily...? Maybe a slow retrospective as I re-release the old backlog? 

I was too hasty in it's removal. Blogger ui in it's current 'newer' iteration makes it a pain to go through older posts.....
This will also mean a glut of emails to anyone who has that setup as I repost/sort older blog posts; So apologies in advance.

The more things change the more they stay the same.



So what have I been doing:



A Plague Tale Requiem....

In liking the first game, the second game was one I intended to fully get into.... I'd been playing it free via Xbox Ultimate for PC. Yet in playing the starting acts it's mechanics had lost anything special for me. As developed and enhanced as the story and characters have become; It's more of the same. Yes, it's enhanced and better. Yet, it's lost the motivation for me to play and stick with it. 

Everything about the game is better.... Combat as harsh as it was, is more complex and better for it; But it's a game that's not bringing me back.  I wanted to push on and 'force' myself to like/enjoy it but I just stopped playing and never went back..... Maybe the late game becomes better but if I have to force hours of gameplay to get to it, I'm ok with missing it.





Battlefield 1....

The more things change the more they really do stay the same for sure.... BF1 on PC still has matches that range from good to bad and the ugly(cheaters).  

Still an enjoyable multi-player PvP shooter on PC and Xbox. That said I've not had as much interest to play long matches one after another. That it's a PvP game with no problem getting players says a lot. An active 2016 multiplayer today proves it's got longevity not to mention gameplay mechanics. On both PC and Xbox! I'm glad of that. I even have nostalgia for it(PC here and Xbox here and here).




Euro Truck Sim 2....

Another game I enjoy in 'just' it's doing. Events have come and gone, rewards claimed and patches patched. Spending time in it while listening to podcasts/longer youtube vids on the side is also good. 


New and updated content is always appreciated(especially when free); Their ongoing work is great for a gamer that's into it. 



With the Steam winter sale I did buy American Truck Sim. 




American Truck Simulator....


With the longterm idea in my head of getting ATS, the Winter Steam sale with -70% off was too good to pass up. Not that it's never on sale but with the time of the year and Steam credit to spend, it made sense to buy. Plus I still get to redeem all those gifts from previous years of events from ETS 2. A nice bonus.


Maybe it's years of ETS 2, but starting fresh in ATS 'felt' easier to 'do' than I recalled ETS 2 being.





From what I've driven so far it's a smoother driving experience. In a way ATS 'feels' less Sim than ETS 2; That's not say that ATS is ETS 2 easy mode or 'lite'.... It's definitely a simulation. Just a little bit different feel to it all. Which I shouldn't be surprised by. Then again I've not delved into many of the ATS trucks, so I've a limited take. Doing driver only jobs that come with a non owned truck and trailer does give some idea at least.





Still a bit strange to be restricted in buying options, a real return to the newbie experience.... Fresh start is right. But it's enjoyable. All part of the fun of the game(building up resources). ATS will never be as played as ETS 2 for me. Still worth it for a change to experience the differences. 
With bank loans for a new truck and garage and both the winter and valentines events it was easier to build up a starter company. Good timing on my part, or just luck, it's worked out for the repayments.




Near the end of that sale and to help with the in game profit making potentials as well as gameplay enjoyment; I opted to take the sale price on the Special and Heavy cargo DLC's. Never say never on ever getting more, plenty free as well so it's not a bare bones experience as basic as it was.






Death Stranding Directors Cut....

Yea I bought the Directors Cut edition(Steam sales have a lot to answer for) and did a full playthrough redoing all I'd done previously in the standard version(Xbox Ultimate for PC). Which is worth it in my opinion, the new content is small but impactful for the storytelling. I've fully enjoyed the game a second time around. Granted I'm fully biased towards the game, I like it that much. I may never do a third but I got as much from the second time round as the first. I was able to be more streamline in my game actions with foreknowledge but it all worked out really well for me. Luck or randomness does play a part no matter how much a player may know about what 'should' happen. I'm a gamer who enjoys the processes of the game, it's organisation, micromanagement and building. Add in the story, the world in general and player interaction traces; It just does a lot for me and my gamepaly needs.














Planet Crafter....

Lots more been going on. Terraforming on my main save is blasting ahead. Butterflies lead onto fish as well as the 1st anniversary and it's special bunker. Really interesting. Again a game that's best enjoyed in it's doing rather than any reached 'end'. A bit like playing Subnautica. Another game that I find fun to 'just' potter about it, organize and reorganize stuff etc. 











Some updated changes to terrain disrupted my structures near the waterfalls, not the worst thing in the world. I've seen screenshots of other players and they are 'disrupted'. I've since moved that little outpost from where it was.



The anniversary was a worth while distraction. I think it opens a door to other less permanent structures and events. The anniversary bunker was a surprise with it's new seeds/recopies(cookie, croissant and cake) and cooking station. The cake was not a lie! I never got to do more than loot the buinker on a second save before the anniversary ended and the bunker removed. How immersion breaking that type of event is for some players will depend on the player. At least for me it's a good way for the game to celebrate it's anniversary, I'm ok with it. 






My main save is flush with all that could be needed, pouncing on each new bit of content asap; I'm looking forward to the next content drop.



Yes, Your Grace....

Yes, Your Grace is a game I picked up a while ago. March 2020! Those years flew! In that time I've pottered about with it in a very, very, non-serious casual manner. More off than on. A game I've not had time to really put in 'seriously'.

The game over time has soured for me so no wonder I've not done much with it. Ultimatly it's not just time that's the problem. I can't do or get what I want done the way I want within it. A game I've tried to get into. A game that ticks a lot of gameplay boxes for me and what I consider my gameplay styles.... I've had to drop it. Banging my head on a (castle) wall can only be fun so many times. Maybe I'm unlucky with RNG or my own bad takes on in game choices are screwing my attempts up.... 

When I got the game originally I was a lot more upbeat about its gamplay.  It can be played casually but it's not a casual game. It's a game that needs to be played in long sessions where failure teaches from run to run. What may seem like a small choice could make a huge difference weeks(turns) later; Which makes the bigger decisions seem more weighty. Yet easier to choose in the moment when you know what leads to what. It can be quiet the juxtaposition at times. Good ending, bad ending or choices that all lead to 'meh'. Sure you can make decisions walk away and then come back a week later but you'll always be second guessing what you had chosen in conversations previously(often mixing up different runs). That's the rub for me, I can't just hop into it and then leave it for a 'while'.


Overall the game is supposed to be 5-ish to 10-ish hours long. However the choices needed and the referencing back to decisions made, makes the game one to replay a lot to get the results a player could need for specific ending combinations. I'm repeating myself, I know, much like the gameplay. It lacks fun that way for me. Watching Youtubers is entertaining with a game like this but once your in the thick of it yourself, the decisions and attempts pile up.

https://howlongtobeat.com/game?id=71500

How much fun a player gets out of that is a players choice. Taking all decisions into consideration, knowing the paths and planning on what is needed to get 'a specific ending' via play-through repetition just all ended up not being fun for me. I've yet to find a decent decision flow-chart of the in game choices/paths that work for me in a near perfectionist planning(kind of way). Anyway it ticked a lot of boxes and a lot of them got unticked, so now it's uninstalled.



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge....

A less played game but when I did, I did in a big way. A game that's easy to get into and fun to play. The game has now been 'more or less' completed for me. I'm not into it's grind or harder to get achievements (like not taking any damage on a level). I've had fun and gotten what I can and needed from it. Taking my time, gaining as much from one full run. To push for more would drain the fun out of playing the game.





I've not seen all the story endings in game myself but again pushing for the sake of it would be so much less fun than being actively interested. My character favorites to play have been mainly Leonardo with a side of April.


Maybe I'll get back into it every now and again but I've a feeling that will sound like work... Having to get characters leveled.... Having to see alternative endings.... Having to.... etc etc.



Cities Skylines....

Another game to potter about with every now and again. A game that's getting a sequel. My only hope for the new version is that it isn't as Sim 4'ish with the amount of DLC's 'it will get'. I can hope. Great to get that kind of DLC release schedule(even now) if your a one game kind of gamer but I've far more than one. The sequel has a lot to live up to across the board no matter the type of player. 


I was a bit put off by the PC version not getting the same treatment as the Console remaster version. They had a lame excuse that PC players can play with mods that do the same things as the remaster; Not all PC players play it with mods!

I've not played the game much since the console remaster announcement. The last few times were on a fresh save of my favorite map, Shady Strands(what can I say I'm OG nostalgic;); And enjoy the radio stations. 




World of Warcraft....

Again.....
Again.....(Again)

Where do I start. As good as the expansion is I'm still not into the games latest expansion, not fully. Definitely not for it's professions; Given they are supposed to be a massive selling point. Never mind the broader overall reputations/standings. I just can't get into so many aspects(pun?). I've never been a questing player but I have to admit questing in Dragonflight is 'better' than previously, or so it seemed. 

All that said I've leveled up 4 characters to 70. Gaining them gear to be able to do normal dungeons at 70 to then get gear to enter heroics, to then get gear to enter raids(LFR's). That's about the only 'grind' I've tolerated(just about). No guild interest for normal raids is a bit of a downer; But to be honest that's no a bad thing given how 'meh' I'm about it all. I've no real interest for such serious progression and what drama it can bring. At least that's what I'm telling myself. If the guild were into it enthusiasm would be higher. Happy to get gear/sets from LFR and potter along etc. My wife is still so much more into the expansion and it's intricacies, my interests are well catered for as is.


My 70's include my old mains a Lock and Hunter. My 3rd 70 a Druid(Boomkin) has proven to be a nostalgic blast from the past. It was really nice to play that class again.


My Shamen(elemental) is the 4th 70 but with much less gear and time spent; But still an enjoyable blast to play.


Next on the level up hit list is a Prot Pally and then the new class of Drak but I'm in no rush with either.

Overall WoW is WoW. There's been good, bad and a bunch in between. LFR randomness can be entertaining. Tanks that are clueless, Elitist DPS and all the rest. 99% of which is fun to watch as well as eye rolling/frustration. Ironies abound in abundance.


The Trading post has been as with all WoW releases/patches, a bit of a Shítshow. The second month wasn't much better than the first. On day 1 of month 2 all previous months purchases/rewards and paused items were all removed.... And 'fixed' back later. The overall 2nd month activity prize was a cat mount, gold in day and silver moon coloured at night; A great mount. The following months Jester outfit was 'interesting' in good ways. With the only other item gotten by my wife, the treasure chest packpack(typical Goblin). Looks good on my Shamen tho.


Going back to the first month I bought the flaming flail and my wife got a cloak combo. I did end up getting the pirate hat as well....


The other months since for the trading post have been 'ok'. Problems persist in random ways. 

April's trading post has broken me instead; If not for the trading post screwing up my battle net account with my wifes tendees(I got none at all) I'd be still playing the game. But no rewards for paying really got to me. So I unsubbed (it had a week to auto renew anyway) and I haven't been back to the game again. Only so many f up's can be tolerated but when I pay for something and don't get that recognized by the new in game system.... Yea it gets to me like some other things(Shhhhh don't mention CCP and Eve Online's mystery code thing... Shhhhhhh). 




Star Trek Online....


Another MMO with so much done/played, where do I start with this. 

The good is that there have been lots of free giveaways/events (even if I missed the last ship on Xbox due to my hospital stay, more on that version below). Lots of events and content galore to enjoy and take in. 

The bad side is 'some' of the MMO players are interacting in ways that are not interactive. So grouping with such players can be as frustrating as ever. Players in online group content who don't play.  Grinds my gears.... It's a type of interaction that makes me irrationally peeved. 

Even on the simple stuff.... Talk about lowest common denominator(sunk through the floor).


I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it; STO may have a cash shop but it's not pay to win. 
The amount of players who spend cash and then do content in their new shiny ship only to repeatidly crash and burn. I feel embarrassed for them. More money than sense.

Every player can be better by just reading this: https://www.stobetter.com/new-f2p

In the recent anniversary a T5 ship token was given away. With it I purchased the Excelsior rertofit. Even as a Tier 5 ship I was really happy with it. A ship that surprised me... And a ship that in an event TFO out performed T6 bought and paid for ships/players. Players do tend to boggle my mind, especially when they keep exploding in expensive ships. I am by definition a casual player. Yet even I have a streak of leetism. Not in ways that are bad or interactive with players but in this blog with my venting. 

To be clear I'm not ragging on levelling charecters in levelling ships. More the 'high' end players that should and could do more to both interact and make a TFO complete faster. Never mind know what an old TFO's tactics are. 


STO as a game gives away great freebies. It's event ships are all things to all players but as the saying goes..... "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but often times better than a master of one". Event ships really are that, they do an awful lot of things well enough. In the right hands really well. 
Every player can be better by just reading this: https://www.stobetter.com/new-f2p!!!!!
It's so easy to play without spending a cent on it. Yet here are players who paid that still can't win. It's painful to watch.... Vent over...... 

There are lots of good players. The silent majority as ever.

The only easy mode auto win ship in game (imho) is the event ship Cnidarian Defender. A ship I initially disliked but have grown to really appreciate(mainly doing endevours/patrols). A ship in group content in the right hands(bubble placement) that can be so much fun to watch clear content; especially when there's more than one.


With the anniversary and it's motion picture leanings I created a new character based on that reward ship and the movie theme. I had tried to make it a 'funny' jokey character....


But I'm glad I went 'serious', going all in on the Motion Picture theme.




Likewise serious for the latest KDF recruitment, a joke character was a no go even when I tried.






Fun as it may look it just didn't feel right so I went with a Discovery Klingon disguised as a normal Klingon that won't get any TLC.... I'm purely in it for the Endevour boost from him. I recently slapped the Torchbearer suit look on him.... 'Meh'. It's the boob shins and toe tassel things that are weird. The boot daggers are good but they are not that good.




As for the rest of the time, that has been spent on the usual multiple characters; Redoing the new content to gain the extra newer weapons/gear etc. The Movie character I created is piloting a glorious mashup of a fitted event ship. So another bespoke themed alt and ship due to an event(shocker). Works for me so no harm. A ship that's a hard one to master as it's console/ability needs situational circumstance to work best. A ship I'm glad to have seen on him but not one I'll fit and use on other characters.


All in all it's in doing events, endevours and any content that entertains me that takes my time. Can't complain about that. Enjoying the game for what it is.





The start of last month saw some connection issues for most players. Oddly enough I was fine until the fix patches started to come out and then I was having the connection issues. But a final fix was fast enough and as compensation some freebies were given away for all players. Always appreciated.


Back to my new (more disposable) KDF recruit's sole reason for existence. To take advantage of the free endevour points that he'll get; I've been also using him with the current event(first contact and red alert). It was good to be doing the First Contact day event again. It's one I like.




On a side note, the recent Phoenix Prize Pack Event added upgrade tokens a plenty for my account stash. I spent half my free Zen to buy Dil and then the tokens....

There are lots of stylish/ good cosplay characters out there.....







If it wasn't for the Torchbearers shin guards and toe tassels.... I'd probably have stuck with it... But again something I just can't take seriously.... So a reversion for that KDF recruit to more merc looking attire.


The next new expansion to the stories in game are due on the 9th of May. Oddly I'm getting what I want. More story with Kuumaarke. Less war and more exploration maybe? Also of interest is the new patrol hard mode (should prove interesting) and the next event with it's Tholian space set reward.






Total War ROME REMASTERED....

I've been enjoying it on and off. I've crowed about the game and my fawning for it does not stop. The remaster is the pinnacle of how a remaster should be. No wonder I've been pottering away every now and again with it. The ability to use old saves from previous versions of the game is a massive plus. 






Eve Online....

Eve Online, there in my mind, sometimes a splinter re CCP and sometimes as a need to play a game to manage spaceships. My enjoyment of Eve was always towards a strong PvE bias. The asset management, character management, industry, marketing and mining a means to that end. Call me obsessive compulsive. Eve, you take it with the dangers involved. Eve is Eve. Just as CCP is CCP. In a lot of ways CCP can be more dangerous than any PvP gank for my 'way of life'.

Pottering in Eve has been mainly done via Alpha alts. Old mains in cold storage.

The last few(or more than a few) years has seen my Eve Online game interaction on any level reach lower than 'meh' levels. 

As much time as I have for gaming; Eve Online activities seem to take too long to get into meaningfully. I just don't have the patience to try and 'interact' with players for group content. Time and MMO complications multiply on that front. Effort vs reward is very subjective. For me even trying to get a friend or two together is a co-ordination pain these days. Mainly because they are in the same 'meh'.


That said for the organised fleets which I've been in in the past, their leadership was second to none for management and learning. Worth it at the time. So I guess I've been lucky on some fronts(It's a pity old Provi block no longer exists). 

I'm an old dog and I don't have the patience. So I go about doing the same as I always have, ignore the newer players for the most part and most new content and sail along in my own way pleasing myself; Still wanting to do more but happy enough as is. Ship spinning is a thing after all.

Time will tell what the new patch/systems for group content will bring on the more doable front.... I do have a fear it's a system that's not going to be what players expect. CCP thinking is always that way. Time will tell.

https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/celebrate-eves-20th-anniversary
https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/celebrate-eves-20th-anniversary

Without going into too much detail (I could go on and on); Both of my 'main' Alpha pilots are still in game. One a mini clone of my SP main character; And is in a large PvE newbie friendly corp. To be in contact with whats new with newbies in this day and age. See whats being taught and explained. 
The other is an alt hopping Alpha going from one corp to another. Usually on the smaller corp size. Most of those corps are very active and 'into' Eve enthusiastically. At leat at the start, in their first few months of formation. Usually give it 4 months and players and interest trails off.... Or players take it more seriously and move on to 'bigger' things. The more things change the more they stay the same. 
In the last year or so that alpha has had some organised interactions. Usually PvE group content of 4-ish players. Usually in BC's doing level 3's to help grind standings to get to level 4's. These are fun enough, PvE npc combat, talk of ships and fits. Weapon preferences etc....  No pressures or expectations with like minds.
 

The new undocking/docking popup/splash is just annoying to me. There for the sake of something to show rather than as a useful 'mechanic'; like getting the game to load faster, or protect you as you dock. Nothing says CCP like a feature form a slow loading game that is then used as an option to gank players. But I get why it's there and why CCP thinks it should be there even if they and the player have different reasons for it(Player 'oh good it's loading me into station'; CCP oh crap how to we hide this long delay in loading after 19 and a half years of programming a game'). 
Stick a ui element on it.... Please(insert eyeroll here)! Too harsh?


Beside my mission running bread and butter I do enjoy abyssal deadspace content. Not on any major level but it's fun enough to pop into.



The 20th anniversary has seen me resub both my main accounts. The login rewards for the event and an interest in the game again in general has me 'wanting' to be back. Besides both of those main characters are still the ones with most SP on the accounts so will get the 'special' mark on the revamped Eve monument. A thing that still matters to me, despite the second decade mystery code. #stillbitter
With talk about the anniversary last month(or more) I took a look at the monuments website. This was before the plans for it were announced. I was surprised the site was 'down'... The message on it was less than kind. CCP wording can be odd at most times. I can get it if they didn't want to pre-announce or hint at the changes due but its a bit harsh to see the site message.... They'll "get around to it". At least the new announcement was a reason behind it. I presume.


Now that the 20'th birthday is just over the mosaic is live....


Another CCP shocker(but not really), I was surprised to read that Eve Anywhere is closing down(they kept that quiet). 

CCP is to projects what Google is. There should be a CCP graveyard like googles(gcemetery.co). I miss Dust 514 to this day(to Battlefield 1's benefit). The fact they can't recreate it is telling on a lot of fronts(on their 4th or 5th retry now?). The next future failure seem so have been discussed with the CSM. Page 15 redacted.





Starship Troopers Terran Command.....

Another game I've had my eye on for some time; Gotten on Steam sale(surprise surprise). In getting to play it, it's a much better game than I expected. While I've never read the book, I do like the film(I know that's controversial). The game takes the film cannon(pun?) forward.


It really owns the theme of the film(2, 3 and 4 don't count do they? There was a 5th movie?!??) and the game mechanics of how it works is spot on for that theme. Life is cheap.


You may have a limited number of units per map but your unlimited in how you replace/replenish them.
Obviously the more experience a unit gets the better they are; But those are the exception and not the rule. A game in a lot of ways that reminded me of the game Praetorians mechanics(only you get no upkeep or replacement units). 


This isn't a game to try and keep units alive. MI does the dying after all.  All but the most powerful unique units are worthy of a players efforts for longevity. That or they are a mission objective. That's not to say you can't keep units going but it takes management and there are a lot of bugs. A lot of bugs.


The further in the campaign you go the more overwhelming the bugs can be. Humans may have numbers but the bugs know the real way to wave assault in bulk. I often found myself reverting to a choke point method of defense to maintain the statues quo; Then go on the offence. Pushing that offence to the next choke point. It's a game all about attrition. It's a slog and a grind but in the good ways for such a game. The underground sections are a bit more interesting. Reinforcements are limited and replenishment's gone. A game really worth more than it's been talked about.



Darkest Dungeon....

Having done completionist runs of the hardest and 'normal' difficulties in the game, the 'easy' mode is another save that now has my attention. It's nice to be back to the game more recently in such a mode as it's 'casual' and as much as I've enjoyed the hardships in the past casual is good for fun. Maybe I'm too used to the game. Anyway I'm having fun with it.



If I do take another serious run it'll be a more vanilla take, no DLC(except the musketeer, she's still vanilla) on 'normal', Stygian difficulty. I don't consider myself a completionist but some games are that good and I'm so into them I 'just do it'. 



PowerWash Simulator....

The winter Steam sale and the need to own the game made buying it another easy choice. Needless to say I still have a thing for owning my games. Besides the amount of content(including the recent 1.2 Muchingham files) it's received free is a crowd pleaser; And I'm one of them.




That said I've not gotten back into the main campaign as last months patch has broken some achievements. They no longer trigger. On checking out why one wasn't working for me I read the forums and decided to stop the campaign just in case I can't redo and re-reclaim achi's down the line.

I'm trying to not think about going back to the Xbox Ultimate version to complete the newer content on that platform....











Played to a lesser extent:






Tetris Connect....

Playing to play for the fun of it every now and again. Fun is fun.





Kingdoms and Castles....

I've not been back to the game much at all, mainly to see new patch content(sam'ol same'ol). Of which the new VR mode took my interest. It's different to see the VR perspective in game for sure; But to play it like that is not possible for me. Maybe I'm too traditional in planning/interacting with such a game being top down. Rotational overview etc. VR in K&C's is just a novelty for me. Worth seeing but not to stay with.




Minecraft....

While I've not kept up with the latest patches and changes(not in detail) I've still pottered about, just in my own way in my old world. The older the world(on PC) means the more I'd have to travel to generate and see the newer content. Still a world I can't let go of; I've had it since the game was early and 'new'.




Planet of Lana(Demo)....

In doing this post I noticed the games demo, so I installed and played it. Another game that's been on the wish-list as it's taken my interest the last while. Before hand I'd thought the game was very like Planet Alpha; In playing the demo it is very very much like it. It's a good thing! The additions over that game all enhance the platforming gameplay.








Fall Guys....

A game that was fun for a while, playing it with my wife. Bot of us are out of it just as quick we got into it. Both of use have since uninstalled it. Fun was had but not a long-term game for us.







Beyond Blue....

Given it was free on the Epic store I decided to take a look. While I've only sunk(pun) the massive time of 30 minutes into the game I've seen all I need from it to know I'm not going to be back to it. Had the game been the only sea/diving adventure/exploration game I'd played in recent(ish) years it would mean more to me but as is it's not got a hook(pun?) to reel(pun?) me in. Yea I'll stop with the puns. 

It's a good looking game. Voice acted well. Good animations and in game handling/physics. The story is 'nice' but not one to make me want more. Each to their own. Abzu had a risk of danger and an ongoing push to see/explore. Subnautica is legendary in that regard. Both had other worldly wonder. Beyond Blue has a story with a lot of tagging/collecting for the sake of it and it feels to me to be filler. Which can be good in it's own right but for me in this game, right now, it's not worth it to me. Maybe I'd be more into it if I'd never seen a nature show/documentary; But I'm kind of into those shows. Besides I live on an island off the Atlantic, sea life isn't unusual, even for the more rare....... So in playing the game it feelt a little mundane.





I can see for sure how the game was inspired by Blue Planet II. It's a good take, done well. But the games characters are no David Attenborough or BBC presentation. Maybe my bar and expectation for the game were too high. Maybe I'm just not getting the main character bonding with her sister, speech choices or not; Never mind the other cast of characters or main characters story. I've only scratched the surface granted but it is what it is, it's not hiding anything.



The submarine 'base' for these dive adventures is good. Music selections, background story/characterization and character interactions via 'comms'. It's a good 'base'. All a player could ask for between dives including some suit colour customization.



Never say never, I've claimed it so maybe in the future I could get back to it.... 








What I've an eye on(the Steam wishlist)....














The Great War: Western Front(might wait for sale...)



Radio Commander: Pacific Campaign (if it's 'good', it's on a bumpy road atm)

Plan B: Terraform - Latest addition and 'of interest' rather than a 'need to buy.

Massive Galaxy (delayed but no real news... for 2 years)

Looking for a deep, deep (massively deeeeeeeeeeeep sale)....
Elden Ring (a deep sale could happen!!!)
Hitman 3(World of whatever it is now.... sale with all DLC... I'll wait till something freezes over)
Company of Heroes 3(if it gets fixed, becomes more 'playable' maybe)

Hope springs eternal? Maybe?
Before the ongoing unpleasantness I was looking forward to the next DLC for ETS 2(all DLC is of quality and looked forward to); Which was at the time Heart of Russia; Given it was like 90% done in development. I'm sure that work is being fed into alternative projects/updates. Updates/patches released do show a lot of active update work which is really nice to see. Like the current 'next' DLC(Western Balkans). However HoR DLC is still a thing and it's still listed so it's still on the wish-list..... For now.

The Last Night... Which I think has been replaced by the game REPLACED. It seems to be all the same things.... That's a whole other comparison thing. But at this stage I'll take the game that comes out first, first... The Last Night may be the better game but if it's nowhere near released..... And Replaced is.... I'll take the gameplay I can get. 








The other side of the gaming coin.... Xbox:





My time on Xbox has still seen some time put in overall. Some minor/casual time on Tetris(shared PC save data); An attempted mission or two in Bomber Crew. As well as some good progress on Darkest Dungeon.... In a very casual normal run.....


As well as Minecraft.







With a whole lot more time on the next two:



Star Trek Online....

Like the PC version but it's just a few weeks behind in content. Due to my hospitalization I was unable to do the Refractions (motion picture) event for the Tier 6 Compiler Science Dreadnought reward. I'd like to have claimed it but it's not an essential get(not for me on any platform). It's a ship that needs a lot of effort to get the most out of; Or at least more effort than would suit my playstyle. There are other ships/rewards that are easier(and more fun imho) to use. Even at that I've claimed free T6 ships that I've barely used never mind try to configure! My Xbox play is 100% free to play(no lifetime sub purchazse); From it I've so much I don't know what to do with. A bit of effort to claim rewards... I can't complain about that.


There had also been anniversary gifts which on Xbox were a little glitchy but still claimable, I dont' mind that.



And of course the more recent Motion Picture uniform. Not that I've done as I did on PC and made a new themed character. 


My Xbox gameplay is a more barebones take from my perspective. PC is primary. Still the more you do on STO the more you gain and before you know it the options can be a lot, even without paying a cent. Did I mention that! Again the game may have a reputation as a cash shop "pay to win'.... It's not! Think I may have said that befoe. 

Players still need to know what to do.... By playing the game..... Again... A lot of them don't and if those players pay then it's on them.... Yea I'll shush.....

Just gonna leave this here, it's a great resource and kudos to those involved...... https://www.stobetter.com/new-f2p

The only recruit charecter I'd like to recreate is the KDF due to the endevours via transponder bonus. Another in game thing I missed by my absence. Still it's good to have cleared it on at least one KDF recruit(on my third recruit on PC!)


As per usual events are the main activity. At the very least a draw to do content and gain by doing so with a bit of fun mixed in.


By chance I noticed that there were three freebies on the Trek page of the Microsoft store last month. Always good to get freebies even if I don't intent to have any use for the weapons, extra tokens is very nice.




The changes/updates to remote play(and Xbox App) have lead to a lot (in my view) of lag. It's not optimized. My previous experiences were a lot smoother. Even in house/lan 'remote' play is unplayable; So changes have not been to my liking. These things happen. Advancement and all. No wonder playing remotely (even from a hospital) was an unplayable/disconnection pain(it did work from further away in a better manner previously.... Just saying). Hence no event progress for me; Bad timing all round. 



Mass Effect Andromeda....

Yea there's a name! After the hype for it's release and then the reality that it failed did not meet standards on a number of key gaming aspects (generating the like of the 'my face is tired' memes etc); The game's release was rough.

As rough as it still can be I got to play it this last week or so for no other reason than it was free...... Curiosity got the better of me. I had to check it out and see for myself especially given the disc was now in my hands. An actual disc.....


2017 saw the game come out to promptly crash and burn receive critical review, the bad outweighed the good. A 4th game no matter what was always going to have a hard time to live up to expectations.

There were balanced reviews:

Post the 3rd games ending 'issue' another game in the franchise seemed iffy..... When it did hit in the form of Andromeda it killed anything else Mass Effect franchise related. So no wonder there's been nothing else since(only slight talk of Mass Effect 4 this year).


Bioware did some patching work to adjust some of the issues being complained about. Even at that it was more sticking plasters than any real major surgeries. Still there were a lot of improvements. Faces on humans were fixed(mostly) and they added a skip button for the spaceship location travel. But in the end there was more changed to do with multiplayer than the campaign. The game was then dropped, cutting all ties/development. Left as was with no further patched out redemption (unlike say the likes of No Mans Sky). I've seen some videos where players have 'corrected' the game with 50+ mods on PC....

So seeing it now years later..... I was initially surprised(in a good way). Mainly by the combat mechanics, it's got good combat even if it's feeling simplified to the other games. More like a standard FPS. I really liked the jet-pack boost mechanic more than I expected due to it's intuitiveness. Between the jetpack/biotic jump and the scanner there's a good puzzle solving platforming element to the game. It's just let down by other elements(by a lot).


 
For me the lack of fall damage is a massive take away from the accomplishment/danger feel. Taking no fall damage is a massive get out of jail blanket to cover the game design. It may encourage the majority of players to go hopping and searching but for me it's a kludge to a problem that shouldn't have been there in the first place ... game design with testing. 

The game is a juxtaposition on so many fronts. No fall damage but get a console puzzle wrong and your swarmed by enemies for pressing one wrong button...


Speaking of wrong buttons, ground vehicles use B to exit them but that's at odds with the usual universal open/close/interacting button Y...... In vehicle mode press Y and it exits you from the entire planet.... So you have to re-land, call down the vehicle, get back in and then re-drive off to where you were. Worse for me as I admit that's happened twice in a row....


Also non-intuitive are the games character systems and user interface in general. It's not a streamlined experience. Nor informative in many aspects. Good if you get used to it but it's not helping you go that far(at least not for me).


Overall the game is a mashup of what came before with some better generalized ideas. Granted not all well implemented. 




The game overall has surprised me in person, it's not as bad as I thought, but it has a LOT of buts. It's still a lesser sire of greater fore-bearers. Wonky as it can be it does have it's good looking moments; but it's far from ideal. 

I've only scratch it's surface but putting in 'work' to play isn't fun when it really feels like effort. And there is effort to be put in. For the good I can see there's also stuff I don't want or wish for. Busy work for the sake of busy work. Thankfully there's a lot that can be ignored.


It's a game that's inconsistent in so many ways. Looks. Story. Character conversations and choices. The writing/story isn't on par with it's predecessors(so far for me). That's not to say it's not good but it's not exactly original either. Even some smaller one liners like a character who came with your new ship.... Who apologizes for crashing in on your new ship and crew.....  Like you were there first, got the ship, then that character gatecrashed... Which is all inconsistent as she already knows the crew.... Their needs etc etc... As she did come with the ship! 


It's even more annoying to have a scene and story play out but then get a conversation with 2 choices that seem to have nothing to do with whats just happened. Never mind when the choices just make little to no sense regardless of what you pick! 


The environments can be so pretty with grand awe inspiring backgrounds and vistas; But the walking animations can be so wonky. That's not to say there are't pop in graphics or non appearing graphics or other strangeness..... The balance is in the eye of the beholder but there's so much to take a player out of the game it's not funny. Inconsistent may be too kind. Yea this game has issues.


The melding of previous Mass Effect classes into an overall new single 'can do all' does work but to me feels like too much choice that then lessens the experience. It gives a feeling of missing out rather than a driver to redo and trying something new. At least for me. That's a very perspective thing. 

I'm waffling and conflicted about this game.... Good, bad and ugly.... It's all there.

Your characters background is somewhat confusing when compared to other races and their choices for their pathfinder teams. Being best of the best.... As it is for the most of the humans... Till the end of the start of the game but maybe that's the point of the story. Not to be spoilery but the player character seems to have only got the job because their dad was team leader..... Plus they seem fairly ill suited to any pathfinder team job....... All I know is that I had ability and confidence as Shepard in the previous games... In this one I doubt the character and I'm playing them! 
Maybe I really need to reach late game and more story will provide perspective on the characters their stories etc... There are pointers to that so maybe the game story is genius.

This game even at it's best moments hasn't pushed out or broadened the franchise even in a new galaxy(not yet). I expected more and for more to be different in better ways. In that regard I find myself wanting to go back to the old games rather than push on in his one. 



Even if there are interesting overall ideas. There are better ways to rehash what was already done in the other games(imo). 


New elements are not necessarily worth it in the way they are implemented. But they are what they are.




At least for now my curiosity is stronger than anything else. I want to see some more of the combat options(biotics/ gear upgrades). I'd rather chop and change on the go than replay it again(when it's done it's done for me).

I've always heard that the further a player gets into the game the more it grows on a gamer due to it actually having an ending worth the wait. That's not ideal story telling when a game has issues aplenty. I'm tempted to watch a good play-though instead; But there is something about the game now I've started, that I need to do more. Or to understand it more. I'll need to play to see if it really clicks with me..... See how or if it can be forgiven.



Give it a chance via curiosity. Time will tell.


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