OT: Video Games/Computers/Gadgets/Gizmos

[jschligs]

Won't be buying NCAA26 until it's heavily discounted. I still play 25 from time to time out of boredom, but boy Dynasty was a let down. Don't trust EA at all to assume this year will be any better for the most part.

Anyways, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has vaulted into my GotY and it's not even close. I'm 7 or so hours in, 2 main bosses down, and absolutely loving it. Squeezing in 30 minutes or more whenever I can. Staying up way past my bed time. The mechanics they have are so fun, pictos, moves, dodge, all of it. I typically am not a grinder in games, I just get bored, but I find myself grinding on random battles just to level up and get stronger. If I don't beat a boss in the first 3-4 tries I figure out the combos and go level up till I'm comfortable. Just an unreal game and it's amazing because it's basically free with Game Pass. For those who don't like TBS, give this a go anyways and you'll be blown away. I don't see what games in 2025 will come close to it at this point.

[ReasonablySober]

Watch on YouTube

[mattg]

Finally started Clair Obscur (thank you Gamepass) and so far so good. Not huge on turn based but I like the mechanics and boy this game is beautiful.

Easily my favorite game since Elden Ring. It's gonna win a million awards. Incredible story, perfect cast, soundtrack that's maybe the best ever, and combat that's probably going to influence turn based games going forward. The only quibble is that it's probably too easy to break the game. You can make it artificially harder on yourself by not using certain equipment or skills, but if you're the kind of player who wants to find everything, you're gonna end up with abilities that will let you one shot every single enemy, including bosses. The balance is all-time busted in this one.

But I'm very, very excited for the future of this studio. They hint a backstory/war in Clair Obscur that makes me think it could be a franchise.

I gotta push back on this a bit. It's a very good game, and incredible for a smaller studio and I'm all for developers not wanting to sell games for $80-$100 like is likely about to happen going forward.

But I keep seeing this idea that Clair Obscur is a game that has some next level innovative combat that revolutionizes JRPGs going forward. The dodge/parry system is just like a defensive version of the Legend of Dragoon addition system from 26 years ago mixed with other JRPG genre standards regarding optimal ordering of commands/attacks and timing button presses (hell, Super Mario RPG has this as does 20+ year old Final Fantasy). It IS engaging and fun combat, but not remotely revolutionary. It is benefiting from RPGs as a whole being literal DOGCRAP for the last decade. Every big "RPG" sans Baldurs Gate is just another Dark Souls type clone (which isn't even really the same genre of game). Which is great for some people, but also just a totally different gaming experience.

Big studios just have gone away from turn based RPGs and so none have come out that have had awesome graphics til Clair Obscur. Big studios have just wanted to put out action RPGs for more casual gamers to button mash and hack and slash. Basically once Square Enix turned Final Fantasy into action RPG everyone else followed suit (and no surprise FF games have been crap/mediocre at best since then basically). Hopefully Clair Obscur convinces more studios to develop modern turn based games with top tier graphics, because honestly that's what has held JRPGs back in the last 15 years, is crappy graphics in that genre relative to the rest of the gaming world.

[Ron Swanson]

I played about 7-8 hours of NCAA 25 and haven't gone back. Was fun for a brief while playing with actual college teams and running a classic read-option offense, but Dynasty mode **** sucked, and it's like they still haven't fixed the AI issues from a decade ago (offense is still way too easy and defense is impossible on harder difficulties). Problem is EA puts so much effort into the presentation (which is admittedly great), yet so little effort into everything else. Expecting 26 to be another soulless cash grab so I probably won't be buying unless it's heavily discounted in 6-months.

[machu46]

I'm at about 400 hours on NCAA 25 and still playing it once or twice a week so I will probably be picking it up again next year. I do think there's a ton they could do to improve Dynasty Mode (and Road to Glory or whatever it's called but I barely touched that this year).

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[ReasonablySober]

I'd been putting it off but I finally tried Nightreign tonight. First tried it solo and didn't find it fun at all. Then I tried playing with randos and maybe I was just lucky but despite not having any communication we all played well together. Teammates were great, I felt useful. I added them after the run and it sounds like we were an anomaly and I'm gonna have more brutal teammates than not.

[Licensed to Il]

I played about 7-8 hours of NCAA 25 and haven't gone back. Was fun for a brief while playing with actual college teams and running a classic read-option offense, but Dynasty mode **** sucked, and it's like they still haven't fixed the AI issues from a decade ago (offense is still way too easy and defense is impossible on harder difficulties). Problem is EA puts so much effort into the presentation (which is admittedly great), yet so little effort into everything else. Expecting 26 to be another soulless cash grab so I probably won't be buying unless it's heavily discounted in 6-months.

I think you nailed it. Presentation is dazzling. Gameplay is confounding (unless you resort to 15 yard drop backs and bombing the one overpowered route that always works). I don’t know why they don’t make more realistic offensive gameplay.

[ReasonablySober]

Oh man, there's some signs that FF Tactics will be announced at the State of Play this afternoon.

[MikeIsGood]

Oh man, there's some signs that FF Tactics will be announced at the State of Play this afternoon.

Congrats!

[tydett]

September 30, happy for you RS.

[ReasonablySober]

I hate to say it but my initial reaction was really? That's it? I guess I'll have to wait and see what the enhancements are but I'm incredibly let down.

[ReasonablySober]

NIOH 3 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[tydett]

RS positively eating with this State of Play

[ReasonablySober]

RS positively eating with this State of Play

Dude and a BLOODSTAINED sequel?!

I'm so mad that I already boxed up and moved the PS5 to storage. I want to play that Nioh 3 demo so goddamned bad.

[ReasonablySober]

The gist of Arc Systems new Marvel tag fighting game

[Matches Malone]

Read on Twitter

[ReasonablySober]

I guess I've come around a little on FFT. Finally arriving on Steam is the big news. The modding community with that game is legendary and it'll be nice to see it streamlined.

[MikeIsGood]

I guess I've come around a little on FFT. Finally arriving on Steam is the big news. The modding community with that game is legendary and it'll be nice to see it streamlined.

Halle-frickin-lujia. I cannot believe it's been off of PC for SO. LONG. I'm glad it's getting a remaster and not just a pixelated port like most older FFs they do.

[ReasonablySober]

Box art is extremely good ****.

[WRau1]

https://gaming.lenovo.com/the-ascent