Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 561

At least now I know what day it is

I will be starting either Sonic X Shadow or Indika, not sure which yet along with some HD2 and more Christmas cheer!!

Happy festive gaming folks!

I'm still on Cyberpunk. Otherwise I'm playing a little Powerslave and a little Slipstream. Hope everyone has a great weekend, if you get one.

Project Zero II

This weekend I'm playing DQ11 on the Switch and Indiana Jones on Series X. I've put STALKER 2 on hold for now. Its a great game but its really testing my patience at times and I'm not really in the mood for that. On PS5 I'm currently not playing anything but I am considering Rebirth, Infinite Wealth or Silent Hill 2. I might pick up one of them before the sale ends.

As for next year, there's currently 31 games I'm looking forward too. If 1/3 of them actually releases I'll be more than happy with 2025.

Dragon Quest III: Having played XI earlier this year I instantly fell in love with the series. It's old school JRPG done right, and III thus far is certainly no exception. True, it's somewhat more difficult but this is mitigated if you do a bit of grinding (which I typically do anyway) and the HD-2D visuals, while initially not my cup of tea, have grown on me and are quite stellar. It's a great entry in what is, by all accounts, a legendary series.

On PS5 i will be continuing with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D, it's been great so far but boy it's an hard game, that easy mode is starting to look enticing 😅. I will also be playing some more Marvel Rivals and HellDivers 2.

On Switch I'm hoping to complete Mario and Luigi Brothership this weekend and then move onto either Bravely Default 2 or Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, although I'm leaning towards the former.

On Meta Quest I've just started Moss and thoroughly enjoying it so far, such a charming and intriguing game.

Finally on my Portal I will be playing some more Monster Hunter Rise, just started the Sunbreak DLC with the misses and quite underwhelmed so far as it's just the same monsters from the base game. I will also be playing some more Sackboys Big Adventure but I've hit a snag as I'm on a level that uses motion controls and it's quite impossible to do on the portal.

Hope everyone is having a good Christmas. As usual I was spoiled for Christmas receiving PSN vouchers and Lego Horizon, silent hill 2 and the quiet place game. And my son got sonic x shadow so got a big selection of games for next few months

Started on Lego Horizon. I'm really liking it.

Silent hill 2 is the main course to play when kid's are in bed and back in school etc.

Lego Horizon is perfect for the mo as it's not going to upset kids seeing a weird nurse monster getting clubbed to death 🤣

I’ve become obsessed with Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. 20 hours in, 41.7% done and no cheating. I’ve not made some many notes on a game since the 80’s. Even emailed images and edited them in MS Paint. If you like puzzlers (finding objects, decoding things), this is definitely worth a look.

Have a great weekend Folks!

Been playing Indiana Jones on XBX which the wife bought me and it's an absolute gem of a game ! A bit slower paced than I thought but a joy to play
Done 4 missions on Helldivers 2 and trying to get to grips with it but loving it so far. I just worry I'm so late to the party with it all but it looks like there's lots of other new Xmas noobs like me lol.
On New Years Day me and the daughter will start Astrobot together and we're both excited!
Have a great weekend guys and gals ❤️

@BIG3 I'm loving STALKER 2 as well but yeah I agree, it can be frustrating as hell. It's too realistic sometimes- damn those Bloodsuckers and poltergeist....i spend most of the game time just running away !

Guys, I'm going in... as I've got a bit more free time than usual over the festive period, I've taken the unusual step (for me) of playing two games at once, and have finally decided to start Trails in the Sky first chapter. I know the remake is coming out next year, but I really wanted to experience the original. I've long been in love with the Ys series and have been meaning for ages to get around to Falcom's other flagship RPG series. And so far it's exactly what I was expecting - a charming, lovingly crafted game with great music and engaging characters. It's really hitting the spot, and I'm looking forward to diving more into the lore of the world as I continue. It's probably going to take me about 15 years to get up to date with the various Trails games, but bring it on! 😅

I'm also continuing my playthrough of Metroid Prime 2 on Wii. Finally got past an absolute bugger of a morph ball boss (spider guardian), though I had to resort to help from YouTube to do it, grr. At least the comments on there assured me that I wasn't the only one grinding their teeth in frustration at it. Once I realised that you could flick the Wiimote to do a morph ball jump (I feel I was denied critical, need-to-know, information!), I beat it without too much trouble. It must have been an absolute nightmare on Gamecube though...

I'm also considering downloading Neva and giving that a go, as I believe it's pretty short and sounds like a great game to play at this time of year.

Have a great weekend fellow gamers.

I was playing Death Stranding, but I made the mistake of buying Balatro. I can’t stop playing that now! I’ll have to force myself to go back to Death Stranding so I don’t forget what’s going on…

Astro bot! Aside from that, I got sucked into Balatro last weekend and now I can't seem to stop...

@KyushuTrail

It's good to know that I have a partner in this madness!

I'm currently playing Lost Judgement, Nine Sols & Hades on PS5 & on Switch Ori & the blind forest & Golf Story.

I picked up a few games in the sales. Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect Legendary edition, Imp of The Sun on PS5 & Katana Zero & Pepper Grinder on Switch. Not back to work until the 3rd, so hopefully get some quality gaming & reading time as well as a cinema trip to see Nosferatu!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Finally got GoW Ragnarok, simply one of the best games ever made! They added one thing I felt ridiculously missing from the 1st one - people. And it's looking like the world's bigger, fack yeah! I tried the DiabloIV trial, looks like a great game ruined by the servers determining performance, my character is moonwalking all over the place, unplayable. I won't bother buying. Plus nearing the end of Metaphor Refantazio. Want to keep building bonds with followers, don't wanna rush it.

This weekend I’m combating the Swamps and Bloodsuckers in Stalker 2.

As one of the few people who never bothered with GTA V thought I'd make the effort to play through that now it's available again on PS+ So I'll be doing that.
Have a good weekend people (it is the weekend apparently)

ZZZ and Metaphor

Greetings fellow gaming enthusiasts. My betwixtmas gaming roster includes Mario & Luigi Brothership, Metaphor Refantazio, and Pokémon TCG Pocket. Happy new year, fellow gaming enthusiasts.

@DrVenture69 Somehow missed the review for this game, but reading your comment, it's definitely on my radar now! It sounds right up my street. Love a good puzzler, and having to take notes is a big plus as far as I'm concerned...

I’m getting to the end of rise of the ronin, once that’s done I’m going to play disaster report 3. Also axion verge on the Vita.

I’ve accidentally slipped and fell into purchasing Sly Cooper 2 so I’ll be playing that for a few hours. I’ve also bought murder on the orient express for some light euro jank that I love.

I impulse bought Star Wars Outlaws, so playing that. Enjoying it so far.

@TimeDelayedGamer i thought id give it a shot and im so glad i did! It really rewards you if you just let it sink in and think about. Loving it!

I will be playing one of the best horror video games ever made in the incredible the evil within 2. Sebastian castlellanos is one of the best protagonist ever.the graphics is incredible.the story.the soundtract.the boss fights.the gameplay is all incredible.and i will also play one of the best video games ever made in the amazing dishonored 2.im playing as corvo otano first. One of the best protagonist ever.the graphics.the gameplay.the story.the soundtrack.the boss fights is amazing.i will finish watching Netflix movie carry on.awsome movie.my Pittsburgh Steelers 💛🖤 is off this weekend.i will be watching my boston Celtics 💚🖤 play.and i will be watching legendary sitcoms tv 📺 comedy.in family matters.good times.sanford and son.different strokes.the Jeffersons.and saved by the bell.word up son

Killing Americans in Arma Reforger.

Have a good weekend!

Bought Astro Bot for my kids for Xmas, and absolutely, definitely, not for myself. We've been having a great time, I'm already over fifty percent done.

Also a bit of It Takes Two with the wife. We're planning to get the Plat together, which will be her first.

Space marine 2 mainly. I just watched the superman documentary about Christopher reeve and I've got to admit it choked me right up and it certainly made me realise just how insignificant things can be compared to what he had to endure and how he went about it. Awesome documentary.

Oh have a good weekend too everybody 👍

Cyberpunk 2077

Currently helping Kerry Eurodyne find his inner rebel before I head off into Dogtown.

Not much for me. My brother is going to study for a year and I'm moving into his place to take care of his cat. So mostly packing. I did complete the medical level in System Shock. It is fine so far. Boring but anytime SHODAN shows up it becomes a GOAT. She truly is an incredibly voiced and scary villain.

I'm finally getting around to Vampire Survivors. Just a great little dirt cheap game. I bought all the DLC just to support it.

Just started Cyberpunk on Boxing Day and been playing It Takes Two with the missus

Playing Borderlands 3 with some chums. FFXI is still free to play for a while longer so I'll be on there doing Stuff.

I'll also be starting on the Christmas Pile of Newness! Decided to organise them in order of worst reviewed to best so the order is

• Rise of The Ronin
• Stellar Blade
• Silent Hill 2
• Dragon's Dogma 2
• Spider-man 2
• Metaphor - Refantazio

Gonna be busy for a while!

Will be mostly playing Final Fantasy 8 on Switch. God I love this game so much, the junction system is just so addicting. I finished disc 1 and will be starting up disc 2 soon!

On the side, I'll be playing some superhero games, which are Injustice: Gods Among Us and LEGO Marvel's Avengers. Really need these shorter titles after having finished Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, which took me over 100 hours.

@KingPev Haha. Glad Im not the only one. Every gaming session feels like cardio.

Hope you all are enjoying the holidays! Finished some games, tried some games and started a game Ive been looking forward to 🙂

Indy - finished it earlier in the week and loved it! It had a good story and fun gameplay (stealth being a bit of a weak point imo) and exploration and most importantly it felt like a great adventure! I can see myself double dip for this game and get it on the ps5 when on a sale 🙂

Behemoth PSVR2 - also finished, and platinumed, which meant playing it twice. Ive enjoyed the game a lot, I like the setting and the fighting and the boss fights are pretty cool. The game could use more polish though, some minor bugs squashed and improvement to controls would be welcome. My own review score? A weak 4 out of 5, but of you are unsure of you like this kind of game wait for a sale or a demo/trial 🙂

​Forspoken - Been giving it a couple of hours, but decided to drop it. Its not a bad game, but its not a good one either and I didnt feel like it was worth my time, at least not right now.

​Sonic frontiers - Didnt click for me, again not a bad game just not for me.

Zelda - echoes of wisdom - Its really a special feeling to play a new Zelda game 🙂 Currently on a family vacation and I basically just started playing but I feel like I will enjoy it 🙂

After having completed the excellent Lies of P I started the first Hellblade. The first impressions are very good. Game Pass suddenly started clicking for me the last couple of months.

In between I’m laying some puzzles on my PS VR2.

GT7, because they slipped a 60mins race into the weekly races, and I want my Christmas credits 🙂

I’m going to give BG3 a go in the trial, and if I like it I’ll likely buy it. If. It I’ll carry on with forspoken.

On Sunday I’ll be doing the new years clean, because i am married and neither of us want to do it on New Year’s Eve. But mainly because I’m married.

Alice: Madness Returns

Second weekend playing Alice and I'm still loving the game. It's actually been fun going back to the PS3 for a while, playing some games I missed like this one.

Going to be getting some reorganising and tidying done for my bedroom and what not, possibly build some more of Lego set of Bumblebee.
As for gaming wise:
I got Silent Hill 2 and Fantasian for Christmas so I think I shall be starting those two this weekend.
ESO for the New Life Festival Event daily quests.
Play a bit of Tomb Raider, Spyro, Cult of the Lamb and Tunic.
Probably play some Diablo Immortal as well.

A weekend of co-op hijinks - Pizza Possum, Moving Out 2 and Overcooked festive DLC!

Still on Metaphor. While I really enjoy it I also can’t help but realize that Atlus games are too long for me. I never finished Persona 4 or 5 and I’m trying to finish Metaphor but golly it really does go on forever.

Beyond that I’m enjoying Infinity Nikki way more than I thought, still working on Nine Sols and Slitterhead and I’d really like to play something new.

So I may start Mouthwashing on PC or find something like System Shock to play for the first time.

I’m in kinda of a gaming I want to play but nothing is sticking out slump.

Edit. Forgot POE2 is also brilliant at the moment.

@ErrantRob My big issue with a lot of Sega's games now is they're 100 hours or so long. It is way too much of a commitment. It also means I'm burned out by hour 60.

Trover Saves the Universe

I never really got into Rick and Morty, and this game pretty much requires you to like that sort of humor. I just don't think its all that funny, to be honest. So what's left then is a pretty standard hack-and-slash platformer with some light puzzles.

HYLICS 2

Now this is more my jam. This is one of the weirdest RPGs out there, with a style that somewhat resembles those awkward looking animations on websites in the 90s. Lovely stuff.

Due to the death of my partner I've been completely out of gaming for nearly a couple of months ago. I did manage to finish Stellar Blade, and make it part of the way through New Game+ though. Probably my game of the year.

I really want to get back into normal things now though, so over the next few days with the Dragon Quest 3 remake, which I should be able to finish before Trails Through Daybreak 2 comes out in February.

I'm currently playing....

Switch - Detective Pikachu Returns and Bulletstorm.

PS5 - Mafia Definitive Edition and Transformers Beyond Reality on Psvr2.

Someone got me a Vault-Tec mug for Christmas. As a result I've downloaded Fallout 4 for a new playthrough. Because apparently that's all it takes. Dark Souls II rumbles on in the background.

@mcdreamer My condolences, all the best

Indiana Jones and the Plunger of Doom

@breakneck same. About 45 hours in I lose my tolerance for them. I’ll never understand it either because so can spend 130 in Elden Ring and 80 in FF7 Rebirth among others. I think it’s just the overwhelming amount of dialogue. If I wanted to read a book I’d be happy to go do so like I often do, but I need a game that doesn’t force me to be “social” with comrades for 85 of its 100 hours.

Continue Lies of P. I'm playing the game like Sekiro and parrying every attack from my enemy. It's really fun.

Ps5: I bought Hogwarts legacy on sale and I’m really enjoying it more than I thought. Also playing Resident Evil 4 remake and I want to replay Astrobot

@mcdreamer My condolences

I finished Indy and the Great Circle heading into the weekend. If you are a fan of the franchise, it is great. I kind of agree with our friends at Pure Xbox-the gameplay is actually kind of clunky. If you are not a fan, I think there are better adventure/puzzle games out there.

But if you spent your childhood wearing out your VHS (!!) tapes of Raiders and Last Crusade like I did, you are in for a treat this Spring. The atmosphere is SO good, it really is like being in an Indy movie. The vibes and atmosphere are off the charts. It is the best story in the franchise this century, and I had a blast in spite of some mediocre game mechanics.

I just started Dragon Age Veilguard on PS5;-it is early, but I really like it so far. I already enjoy the characters and combat more than Inquisition, which I disliked (an opinion which I think is held by few others!). So I am eager to see where it goes.

I hope everyone had a great holiday, with lots of games under the tree!

@Shepherd_Tallon I'm looking to get back into Helldivers. Are you playing with friends or random people? Because I played it for around 10 hours when it first came out with a group of friends who fell off the game really quickly. Since then I haven't touched it. Do you think it's still fun with randoms without talking to them? Because that's just not really my thing.

Witcher 3 PS5. Clearing up the dlc trophies.
Plus GT7, I was also taken back by the hour weekly challenge then shocked again by how little the race winnings were.
Watching Death on the Nile and tempted to reinstall AC Origins.

@mcdreamer My condolences, sorry for your loss.

@Mintie What a pile to look forward to. Goddamn.

I’m about 1/3 through Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl and really like it, despite the jank, bulletsponge enemies etc. A bit of WRC24/Grid Legends on the side for good measure.

@Mintie ..a great time of gaming ahead ! My tip :- play Spiderman 2 first 😉

Just discovered Nier Automata on the PS sale and it's amazing. Also, playing my first JPRG (in 45 years of gaming never played one!) Metaphor Refantazio and it's amazing so far. Been trying stuff outside my gaming comfort zone and really enjoying it.

I got Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar for Xmas both look stunning on the Pro now.

Yakuza zero, veilguard, and kingdom come deliverance.

I'm off to Thailand on new years eve and have been saving echoes of wisdom for the flight. Can't wait to get stuck into that.

I'm playing ~

• Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, at episode 4 Turnabout Succession.
  I enjoyed this game and the new protag Apollo. But i feel the story pace is a bit too slow / kinda dragging.
• Okami HD
  I'm very early in the game but man the artstyle still looks beautiful.
• SteamWorld Dig
  I already got drill, teleport, and dynamite so yeah more digging and exploring caves 😁
• Sniper Elite V2
  Bought a pretty cheap secondhand copy of this game because my younger brother loves everything about snipers. Turns out, the game is pretty fun despite the control feels kinda janky.

Finished

• Ikaruga
  I've beaten all boss but i failed to get grade A. This game is seriously kicking my ass.

Have a good weekend everyone 🍻

Actually getting back into * Unicorn Overlord* now about 77hrs in and the game just introduced like 6 new classes! Still hoping to start HZD Remastered before year's end.

Happy gaming everyone!

Borderlands 2 (Vita) - Picked this up again after a long time of being away from it. It's at least playable at least...(Even if this is the worst way to play this game ).

Microsoft Wordament (Android) - Adventure mode and Dailies as usual.

iStunt 2 (Windows Phone) - Almost halfway through the game again getting all stars.

I'll continue playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. If I finish it either today or tomorrow, I'll start The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Still working my way through Black Myth: WUKONG and Black Ops 6 when I need a break from Wukong.

As I got astrobot for Christmas it's gonna be that.

Lollipop Chainsaw, and I might start up Sonic and Shadow Generation game.

I am playing through the Uncharted series on PS3 and PS4. Still puzzels me, how Uncharted 1got to 88 on metacritic, goes to show what most critics are worth when it comes to rating systems.
It is fun to revisit the games tho.

I finished Silent Hill 2 remake just 2 days ago, but not sure what to play next yet...definitely something from my huge backlog.

Today my sons started Astrobot I bought them for xmas, they´re very happy with it. Of course, I´ll be helping them out whenever needed because they´re still young and not so skilled yet, but yeah it´s great to see how they´re enjoying the game. no surprise at all as they love Astro´s playroom.

Have a nice weekend and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

I found Darktide too hard and too long. So many 29 minute missions failed at the last minute and lost all progress. Needs shorter missions.

Just away with the fam so playing Marvel Snap on the phone before going home to the PS5. Trying to hit Infinite for the first time.

I'm still playing NBA 2K24 and also lots of Final Fantasy!! I'm also playing lots of WWF PSone games!

A bit of Astro Bot with the kids. Silent Hill 2 and Yakuza 5 for my story driven games. I’m also playing the MW3 and BO6 campaigns currently for when I need a lazy game.

I always fall back on Snowrunner when I'm at a bit of a loss. It's like something akin to a child's safety blanket for me.

Outside of that, I'd like to make a bit of headway in Metaphor Refantazio. I'm liking it so far, I'm surprised at how similar it is to the Persona games with it's systems, no complaints mind you.

Some CoD, too, for some mind-numbing bang-bang. I really enjoyed the Modern Warfare games, this one not quite as much.

The Mass Effect trilogy is my comfort food. I'm working through ME2 at the moment and enjoying it as much as I ever have. I keep thinking I'll mix it up with a JRPG in my backlog (Soul Hackers 2, SMT V, Trails into Reverie, DQXI, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Star Ocean 4, Tokyo Xanadu, Tales of Arise, Xenogears, Breath of Fire IV, or maybe finish the demo for Fantasian....?) but I can't decide. So... I'm just sticking with the ME trilogy for now.

I've been steadily working my way through hitman world of assassination so I'll be continuing with that. I've also just picked up a copy of pacific drive, so I'm looking forward to starting that up as well.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Astro Bot, FC25, and CFB 25 for me.