Topic: Games you've recently beat

@colonelkilgore @jimmer-jammer

thanks both, spoilt for choice with what to play first tbh!

@Dimey what options are you mulling over?

I've not had a PS since the PS2 so there are 20 or so first party games I'm really looking forward to playing... waiting to see what gets a big discount next week! But I'll pick up God of War soon

@Dimey yeah the God of War reboot is a great place to start. Also, when considering Sony 1st Party stuff, don’t overlook stuff like Days Gone due to the critical reaction… it’s criminally underrated.

Finished Cocoon last night. Supremely playable and technically accomplished, beautiful environments and intuitive gameplay. Figuring out the next piece of the puzzle was always incredibly satisfying and the concept of worlds within worlds made for some fun and sometimes head scratching gameplay. Very happy with this one 👍

I just got the platinum trophy for Dragon Age: Veilguard (PS5) and loved all 125 hours I put into the game. I’m glad I was able to complete it tonight—it gives me enough time to focus on Stalker 2. And I’m off work tomorrow, so that makes things better.

@Bob_Salat I played Coccon in January this year, as a pallete cleanser between Soulslike titles.... and absolutely adored it.

What a terrific and unique little game, a wonderful ~10-12 hours spent. Definitely challenging also, but never frustratingly so!

Part of the reason I love TGA each year is that they highlight for me (via nominations) smaller indie gems I may have missed. IIRC - Cocoon got a few noms last year, don't think it won though.

Finished Deliver Us The Moon
I liked it. Gameplay is pretty basic but the story is good and it's just the right length for what it is.
I'll probably play the sequel too.

Finished Metaphor: ReFantazio and I can say that I have a complicated relationship with it.

The Archetype system is way more interesting than the Persona one, I love how they evolved the pre-fights strike in (basic, boring) real-time combat and the story, while nothing extraordinary, is entertaining and unfolds in interesting ways.
The structural elements of the game are way too evident and predictable and I felt like I was going through the motions in an algorithm that just filled functions with some kind of content (a new town, a new time limit, introducing a new character, do something in the morning, do something in the evening, clear a dungeon, watch an event, rinse, repeat): I had no sense of adventure (an element games like DD2 and Rebirth had in spades) and by the end of the game, no fun. I am honestly glad it's over and will not go for NG+ and platinum.
Returning to Stellar Blade to do the extremely videogamy photomode quests felt so right for my gaming self that I actually paused and thought about why that was...hence this little reflection.

Happy for whoever, and there are a few of you, enjoyed its time with game more than me! Didn't hate it but...wouldn't purchase it if I could go back in time.

@Nei This was similar to my issue with P5R. It all felt mechanical/structured after the first two in-game dungeons. It reminded me of Assassin's Creed 1 where you followed the same structure for every target.

@breakneck yes I can totally see it, Metaphor has a quicker pace and it’s more streamlined (a good thing imho) so it’s even more evident.

Finally clocked "Stellar Blade" after putting it on the back burner a few months back. Good combat system and boss mechanics (and a killer OST) but not much else, honestly - most of it has been done much better elsewhere. Really good showcase for the Pro, though.

@LN78 I think I’ve seen like two clips of actual gameplay. Even those trying to pretend it’s a GOTY contender are using photo mode jiggle mechanics instead of raw gameplay to make their point.

@nessisonett The English dub is hilariously inept so it has that going for it too, I suppose.