Topic: What PS5 Games Are You Currently Playing?

@Herculean This happens with me more often than I'd like to admit!

I usually watch a few vids on YouTube to see if it helps makes more sense.

I am quite enjoying Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Played another chapter last night. I do still wonder why there are fully voiced cutscenes in a main quest for a good amount of time, and then all of a sudden it switches to lip flapping text scrolling out of nowhere. It is totally jarring and makes RGG look like they ran out of time or budget, but at least the endless beat em ups have been replaced by a weird tactical battle system, so the novelty of that is making it a bit easier to digest overall, so far, gameplay wise. I don't need to comment on the charm, silliness and goodness of the actual writing, that's a given, and there's always something intriguing afoot.

I'll tag in - it's me, @Yagami Yo! Sup!? Just incase you're interested in how it's going 😛

@Ravix Sounds like it´s going well enough👌😁
How are you liking the soundtrack?

@Yagami can't say I've noticed the soundtrack yet, tbh. Although when I had headphones on maybe I do recall it being quite punchy. I'd really have to play more, as I'd only just got to Yokohama last night. But I will probably have headphones on next time I play the game and have a listen out

I did notice the exact same goofy music as Judgment being used in the text scroll cutscenes though 😅 But that only stood out as I recognised it

@Th3solution I want to play that game, but I know myself. I’ll play it for a few hours and never touch it again. But I may be tempted eventually.

@Th3solution It's a great game. In between these moments of getting better at the game, there are a million walls you might hit. Don't worry about them. Try to learn.

A few things you probably already found out:

• The cards that multiply your modifier are really strong. So I don't mean the mult cards, which are great in the first few blinds, but the multipliers with the red backgrounds.
• Most of my best runs I managed to combine a nice scoring hand with receiving bonuses from cards held in hand.
• Focus on just one or two hand types each run, so you can really level them up. A very high level high card might be better than a barely leveled royal flush.
• Specialize and take risks to achieve a maximum score. It's fine to die early, if you're going for that slim chance of a perfect card combo. Just go hard for cards that synergize for each other. Let those lead you and not your idea about the kind of build you want to make. The game is tactics only, no strategy.
• Money early on is so strong. I always take those money jokers.

Anyway, try not to be too laser focused on making progress. Try to just make great combinations of jokers and cards, have fun and progression will come sun enough. 🌞

@JohnnyShoulder Yeah. Understanding the game you're playing might be overrated. I'm fine with still not fully understanding Metal Gear Solid 2 after all these years too. 🌞

Now that I got the platinum for Silent Hill 2 Remake, I am finally devoting my time to Metaphor Refantazio. I’m not that far in the game. I do have Hulkenberg as an official party member, and just completing the side quest/dungeon for Brigette. The reward and treasure for this quest was awesome, and very meaningful. I’m looking forward to seeing how this type of quality continues.

I will say, Persona 4 Golden is my favorite (J)RPG of all time. And I’m typically a fan of time management. But I’m not sure how I feel about it in this game yet. I do appreciate there is more freedom, but I’m also just overwhelmed due to the scope of the game, and the amount of stuff available to do. I like it, but I hate feeling like I’m missing something meaningful. Nonetheless, I’m sure I’ll get accustomed to it once I get more comfortable with the overall game.

Either way, it’s a special game so far. Atlus is just top tier.

None. I'm at a complete this generation. Poor year after poor year of video game output. Everything is a remake or an iterative sequel.

I can confidently say that I'll probably buy or play no PS5 games for the rest of the year now.

@BookhouseBoy are there no universally praised games that you haven't tried from previous years, that you may have thought "this might not be for me" at the time, that you can try out now?

That can sometimes be a really good way to discover joy in gaming again, and it can get you into totally new things in and out of gaming itself. Some of my own personal favourite games have been ones I've played years after they released and they have broadened my horizons in other ways too.

@Kraven I’ve been on a card deck builder gaming kick lately (have played Inscryption and Midnight Suns within the last year also) and so it scratches a certain itch. It’s quite addictive, as rogue-likes can be, with that ‘just one more run’ feeling you get and then before you know it you’ve been playing for 4 hours. 😄

Certainly it’s worth a look if it sounds the least bit intriguing. It’s not a very expensive game. I think I bought it on sale and then with my PS Stars credit it didn’t cost me anything.

@Herculean Thanks, mate. Sage advice. Some of those tips have rang true for me so far. My best runs seem to be when I totally leveled up either Flush or Two of a Kind, since those are the easiest mid-level hands to get. Also the cash tip is so true. When I’ve gone with more powerful jokers up early on I didn’t do as well as if I spend the first few games building some cash to buy better stuff.

I think I’ve been neglecting the multipliers you’re referring to. I think just because it says X1.5 it seems low but that is multiplying the other added multipliers too, I guess.

I also didn’t realize the order of your cards and jokers makes a difference. I saw online that you want to have your multipliers at the right and your chip builders to the left, so when it’s all added it maxes your multiplier.

What I need to try is some experimental runs where I destroy cards and shrink my deck, etc. I’ve been fairly conservative so far.

Started Control, it's such a great game and I am enjoying it so much, I am just not a fan of the map

@Ravix i find that what I like and what is universally praised is massively out of sync. I'm almost baffled sometimes as to how some games are universally praised.

I've basically got a long list of games that I've played a few hours of and completely abandoned. I just see it as a huge waste of time.

@BeyondKnight A big part of the Control experience is complaining about the map online. Without that it would merely be a good game. 🌞

@BookhouseBoy "Everything is a remake or an iterative sequel."

Balatro, Animal Well, Immortality, Hi Fi Rush, Pentiment; those are just 5 games that released on PS5 and I played. None of them are iterative sequels or remakes. Then there's so many stuff I haven't played, like Crow Country or Metaphor. And the list goes on.

So many people making grand statement like that about the industry, or any industry (I read those comments in music forums too). It says probably more about yourselves than the amount of creativity in games these days. 🌞

Anyway...

I'm currently enjoying Hi Fi Rush a lot. There's something about that game. The game feels like an antidote to all the cynicism, doom and gloom out in the world. When I play it, there's a smile on my face. 🌞