ErrantRob

Solid 8 from me here. I love the world and characters so far. As a DC fan I knew I would and I set my expectations to not compare it to Arkham at all.

And overall, I think the whole gear system complaint is overblown. I've not put much thought into it, but anything I craft seems to be powerful enough to dispose of enemies without issue. In fact, I feel more like a Bat family character prepping to take on threats of my enemies. It's that fun concept of I escalate, they escalate, and so I do what I can to prepare to take down gangs who don't want me to stop them.

Also, some of those suits. Makes me long for more suits in the Arkham games.

Embrace the digital future baby!

Oh well, this has been and continues to not surprise me, especially with how many patches games receive post launch. I haven't bought a physical game for Playstation in years, unless it wasn't sold digitally (old PS3 games) and I am completely content with a digital collection. Shame for physical collectors though as the death of physical is less than a decade away. No one buys music or movies anymore, and games are next.

After all, Cryin' Jim Ryan said it best, why would anyone play this?

@DETfaninATL I agree. I've been tracking the subreddit and it went from excitement, to hate over the 30FPS issue, back to pure joy and excitement. It's a joy to play for me and I like the idea of building my Red Hood into a brawling, pistol whipping madman who can use his upgraded bullets to set enemies ablaze. Feels oddly appropriate based on his character lol. Plus, some of the suits for each character are just the chef's kiss, and makes me wish we actually got more options for the Arkham series than we did.

As for this video, it's definitely the funniest thing I've seen this week, and I would love to see what a modded Gotham Knights produces.

One of my most anticipated for 2023. I love this style of setting. Bloodborne, Steelrising, Thymesia, etc. Looking forward to it.

This is my first NHL since 2014, and even after nearly ten years off I echo every aspect. There’s some pretty stuff occurring but the gameplay feels for better and worse the same as it did 8-9 years ago. I don’t know that they’ll ever find a way to improve the issues that have plagued it for years.

Happy to see so many playing Gotham Knights. I’ll be doing the same as well as…..

Playing some closed tests for two games I’ve been NDA’d on as well. However, been enjoying the one a lot and excited to dive into the other this weekend.

Lastly Triangle Strategy on Switch and Valkyrie Elysium when I’m not in Gotham.

@WallyWest ditto. Haters gonna hate hahaha. I’m loving it so far. It’s not Arkham and doesn’t want ti be.

This might be one of my favorite racers of the last few years if it stays this promising.

There’s a lot of poking fun at Konami, but they’ve been pretty steadily releasing collections and pushing their way back into the gamin space. Whether or not they picked the right teams to make these games at least they contracted out studios to revive the IP.

@Marquez finished Toem this week. It was so relaxing cute and checklist oriented I loved it.

@LordFlamingo from what I’ve heard it gets easier after the first boss, but I, too, was struggling to gel with it.

Valkyrie Elysium all weekend for me. I was working toward the platinum in Steelrising but ran out of steam.

I may also continue on in Toem when I want to relax, take photos, and explore the towns.

Lastly, some love for my Switch with Tria gel Strategy, and Series S with Weird West or Moonscars

@ChromaticDracula I'm with you. DS was one of my favorite games in 2019, and recently I toyed with revisiting the Director's Cut as well. It was refreshing to experience something different and why people are so sour on him is beyond me. As my Art History professor always said, "if you don't like that art you see, go make it yourself."

@Elodin I’m intrigued by Pathfinder but also intimidated by the whole CRPG genre. I love the idea but fear I’d make a build that would only ruin my experience.

Between getting the heat repaired so the little ones don’t freeze I’ll be trying to finish up Steelrising. It’s more and more one of my favorite games this year. Despite meddling reviews I’m excited to go into Valkyrie Elysium. The combat is just too good.

My stinky switch will get some Triangle Strategy love

GamePass has about six games I need to dive into to see what they’re all about so I’ll be doing that as well.

I really want to love this as even multiple playthroughs sounds awesome. Yet I can’t shake the feeling this will be the first Batman game to disappoint me (Origins was still a very good game). Also, I can’t stomach 4 thirty hour playthroughs so let’s hope for a shorter campaign.

@CJD87 I love Steelrising. It is admittedly on the easy side for a “souls like” but I found that the weapons are very unique in design, encounters are fun and fair, and I like the setting. Story takes a bit to ramp up and isn’t incredible by any means, but it’s made up for by the overall experience. The two hour trial on Premium makes it worth testing out.

I’ve slowly gotten better at the rhythm for WoLong. I think if it weren’t for the tigers I’d have it down by now.

@CJD87 Thymesia was a nice indie to chew on. I’m in the same boat with Wo Long. I am not enjoying it but everyone says if I get the mechanics down it’s incredible. So I’m trying to push through.

The goal is to get close to finishing Steelrising. Probably my second favorite game after Elden Ring this year.

Then I’ll finish up the WoLong demo, tackle Triangle Strategy some more, and I’ve been itching to go back to Night City like so many others this week.

@dschons same. It’s easily up there with ER for my GOTY. I love the setting and weapons above all else.

I know a lot of people say the demo is dead, and that demos should not be put out if it exposes the quality of the game. However, SQE is killing it with these demos, and have convinced me on more than on occasion to buy a game I would have otherwise dodged thinking it wasn't for me. And while I won't be buying this one (I say that now) I will be downloading this to try it out, and maybe it will become a sale purchase if it convinces me.

The Wo Long demo for me. Maybe some Steelrising and then of course back to Yakuza LAD. Otherwise on Switch I want to do more Triangle Strategy.

Series S might see some backlogged GP games played this weekend. Wild West being one

This is quite the surprise. I'll have to put some stuff on hold to enjoy this then. September has been busier than I expected with Steelrising, Valkyrie E. demo, and now this. Looking forward to seeing what Team Ninja has done with this one!

I'll be there day one for this one no matter what. I liked enough of what I saw from trailers, the art style appeals to me personally, and I could use a little bit of the zaniness this seems to provide. I want to see SE continue to push out these smaller games so I'll be voting with my wallet.

One of my most anticipated games for the last few years. Cannot wait. I liked the original title though more.

I don’t get why people still see minor games as a problem. I play 15-20 minor games a year. I play way less AAA games a year so State of Play tonight will be perfect with smaller Japanese games.

@HallowMoonshadow the first week of teaching is exhausting in a way that’s hard to describe to those outside the profession. We’ve been back here in the States for a month and I still feel it.

@dschons agreed. It’s one of the rare games beside Elden Ring and Triangle Strategy that when I’m not playing it this year I am still thinking about it.

Steelrising for me. I can’t get over the setting and robotic enemies. It’s an AA game but I love Spiders take on settings so I’ll be obsessed with it all weekend.

I’ll take a break for more Triangle Strategy on Switch and maybe some GamePass games I’d like to progress through before they’re gone.

Too much to play and too little time. Curse you Adulting!

@Agramonte Definitely check it out. They don't strip away difficulty, but they do a nice job of letting you mess with Stamina regen, how much damage you receive, and a few other odds and ends that let you handle the challenge in a more forgiving way.

As @liamcroft noted though, challenge here is a bit different than souls games. I found the beta a bit easy once I got the rifle, which would then freeze enemies in place so I could wail away on them. Reduced even the bosses in the beta to trivial fodder for my onslaught of light and heavy attacks.

I wish the review had mentioned the assist mode for the difficulty. I think that's a selling point in accessibility for those who hate the souls genre or the style of combat, fail, and learn. @liamcroft did you tinker with this at all?

@playstation1995 Steelers indeed! Let’s see a solid season and get another ring!

@nomither6 I think the sales of Multiversus show you’re in the minority there. It’s F2P and it still topped the sales charts last month. Has a large player base because it’s the best Smash alternative out there.

@Dezzy70 I respect that and have to say I feel the same. I’ve got too little time and too much modern to play to go back. I went for Ape Escape when it all launched and after I was done I realized it was fine. My nostalgia is good enough for me to remember without needing to experience it again.

Steelrising beta for me until the game releases. Also wrapped up Thymesia and almost done with Rollerdrome so I’ll kill time in Yakuza LAD and maybe Triangle Strategy.

Several GamePass games also caught my eye this week so I may dip into some of those.

Perhaps as part of the rumoured 2022 September Sony showcase? I'd be happy to hear something there.

@NeThZOR Nioh 2 improved on Nioh in many ways. I struggled to finish Nioh (even though I loved it, I got burnt out) but I played through Nioh 2 to completion, then replayed missions in the PS5 version, and have plans to go back to the DLC. I'd recommend at least checking it out

@dschons Agreed. Depending on where you purchased it (Amazon for example) you should be entitled to a beta code. I really value their choice of a rare if not unique setting for a game, combined with the aesthetics and the attempt at Souls style combat as well. The more we can get unique games the more I’ll support it over tired iterations of franchises.

@JVCIOM70 also has been my experience, however that’s most Yakuza games. At some point there are extended “dungeon” sections where you’re encountering battle after battle leading up to a boss, but you’ll have to get through that pattern to get there. I’m about 8-10 hours in if that helps.

@dschons I will say I caved and purchased it for the beta, but I had intended regardless of reviews. I put 40 hours into Greedfall and that was original Dragon Age janky but charming. So far Steelrising feels like an evolution for Spiders. After an hour with it I’m happy I purchased it ( I also had set my expectations). Yes, some jank is there, but it’s pretty competent. Don’t go in expecting From Software. That’s like expecting Multiversus to be Smash or any shooter to be Doom or Destiny. If you enjoy Soulsborne games ( hate that term) you’ll enjoy it. Thymesia is the same. I live Bloodborne and Sekiro and went in knowing 7 people made it and was pleasantly surprised. Hope that helps even though I’m no Liam for sure.

Steelrising beta for me. I can tell it’s going to review around a 6/7 but I’m loving it. If you played Greedfall you know what to expect and that will be what sets the bar.

Otherwise more Thymesia and Rollerdrome

If time Triangle Strategy on switch

Also really enjoying Weird West and Midnight Fight Express on my Series S.

@Axelay71 I take it you probably don’t play Fortnite. Everything is aesthetic there without cost to gameplay so you never pay for the advantage. If this were the same would that change your mind? Actually, is there a F2P you know that isn’t just aesthetics? And does paying for skins bother you that much?

Rollerdrome and Thyemsia for me. I’ll dip back into Yakuza LAD and Weird West after I’ve given those both a spin. Also, I hate myself but I want to continue my second run of Elden Ring with a new character.

On my Switch I’ll be mucking about with Triangle Strategy still.

@RaZieLDaNtE agreed. No one loved FF7 in 1997 because it was turn based. They loved it because of the adventure, the story, and the characters. I didn’t care what the systems were then and I don’t care now. Yakuza series is fantastic in both iterations, Triangle Strategy is great because of characters. Gameplay is king, but it doesn’t have to be one or the other if you have a fantastic story to go with it all.

Phooey. Well I can wait but they’ll have to now too as I’ll be knee deep in Norse God stomping with Kratos.

Slowly burning my way through RE2 Remake while thoroughly enjoying Yakuza:LaD on PS5. If time some Multiversus matches and most likely a bit more Takes of Arise

Switch is still all about Triangle Strategy. I’d really like to try the Diofield demo at one point too.

I find it weird that people are barking about paying $40 for all the characters to unlock but are content to spend $60 on Smash. I guess the F2P stigma makes it seem worse. I’ve unlocked three characters with coins playing a bit each day so if I drop $40 I’ll have three tokens left to spend for future characters.

I downloaded this for Switch. Triangle Strategy sold me with that demo and I think that is what will make or break this one for me.

This may be the reason I get back into GG. She looks like my type of character. Although I said that about Jackie-O is clearly higher up in the mastery department.

@GuttyYZ that’s incredible. Biome 3 was the walk for me. Once I busted through that after 38 deaths I cleaned four five and six in just a few runs. Fantastic game.