Groups > comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action > #45980

Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024

From	candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid>
Newsgroups	comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Subject	Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024
Date	2024-06-01 19:35 +0000
Organization	the-candyden-of-code
Message-ID	<slrnv5mtss.4o67.candycanearter07@candydeb.host.invalid> (permalink)
References	<k8im5j55mupeastdmcs6tlu6gpoofok5rm@4ax.com>

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Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 17:04 this Saturday (GMT):
>
> The months are just flying by, aren't they? How's a person supposed to
> get any gaming done with the days whipping by like this? Well, I got a
> little bit of gaming done... but not as much as I'd like. How am I
> ever going to work through the backlog at this rate? 
>
> Anyway, here's what I played:
>
>
> The List You Need
> ---------------------------------------
> * Dead Space Remaster
> * American Truck Simulator - Nebraska DLC
> * Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb Raider
>
>
>
> The List You Deserve
> ---------------------------------------
>
> * Dead Space Remaster
> Mathematically, I enjoyed 58% of the "Dead Space Remaster". That's
> because I enjoyed the parts of the game that were "Dead Space" but I
> was not so sanguine about the "Remaster" aspects.
>
> Not that there's anything straight-out /terrible/ about the remaster.
> I just don't think it really adds anything necessary to the original
> game, and in some respects actually detracts from it. The best thing I
> can say about this new version is that it is easier to run on modern
> hardware; no need to fiddle with config files or compatibility
> settings. The slightly improved controls and native wide-screen
> support are nice too.
>
> But I'm less enthralled by the visual and audio updates. There was a
> certain chunkiness to the original's graphics that really enhanced the
> down-and-dirty feel of being on a gore-splattered mining spaceship.
> The new visuals are just too sharp, the lighting effects just too
> glossy to maintain that atmosphere. There are more obvious changes too
> (including an entirely new look for protagonist Isaac Clark; this
> newest iteration looks particularly gormless, as opposed to his more
> practical appearance in the original version). There are numerous
> audio tweaks too; most aren't too noteworthy, but the extra-loud
> clunking of Isaac's space-boots hitting the decks with each step was a
> constant annoyance.
>
> They were some minor gameplay tweaks too; again, very little of note
> was changed, except for the addition of some 'zero-G' acrobatics which
> had Isaac flying around the place like Iron Man. Yes, this was a
> feature added to the franchise in later games, but it feels
> particularly out of place in this first game, which was all about a
> constant claustrophobia. 
>
> The remaster is also far less subtle with its revelations about the
> nature of both the source of the monstrosities, and with the fate of
> Isaac's girlfriend. I get it; by this point, Nicole's ultimate
> disposition is probably as well-kept a secret as the Luke/Darth Vader
> relationship, but there's no sense of mystery and revelation. 
>
> Still, the core gameplay and conceits remain strong; the remaster is
> recognizably "Dead Space" and dismembering space-zombies is still as
> much fun as ever. Neither newcomers to the franchise nor old hands
> will actively dislike this version.
>
> It's just that the original remains the superior experience.
>
>
>
> * American Truck Simulator - Nebraska DLC
> So. Nebraska. A state most famous for its corn. Yeah, we're doing
> this. I did warn you all this was coming.
>
> I realized what I was getting into early in my explorations. The Truck
> Simulator games have these spots on the map called 'viewpoints' where
> you have to take a screenshot of a specific location. These are
> usually of famous - or at least notable - landmarks; the Golden Gate
> Bridge in San Francisco, or Devil's Tower in Wyoming. The first one I
> saw in Nebraska was highlighting a sport supply store sitting off a
> highway. The others I found weren't much more interesting.
>
> Yeah, it's that kind of state. The sort of place where a path that
> people used to /leave/ for better places (the Oregon Trail) is one of
> the state's premier historical attractions.
>
> I can imagine there was a sort of desperation amongst the developers
> of this expansion, trying to find something - anything! - interesting
> to showcase (I wouldn't be surprised if the residents of the state
> felt a similar anxiety). I got that impression from the fiddly roads,
> the overly detailed storefronts, the excessive detail and hidden paths
> that curved around the few geographical features worth looking at.
> There's almost nothing to see in the state, but the developers did
> everything they could to milk what few sights there were.
>
> This isn't a problem unique to Nebraska; previous map expansions
> suffered from similar limitations. But even if those other states
> weren't topographically interesting, at least they were fun to drive
> through. Not so Nebraska; its roads were too often narrow, twisty, and
> slow. The Truck Simulator games are best when you've long highways to
> drive down; when you can almost zone out and become one with the
> traffic. Nebraska demanded too much attention to the road... and
> offered too little reward for that effort. But like the old joke goes,
> while the driving is terrible, there's very little of it too. Despite
> being a fairly large state, the Nebraska expansion feels very light in
> actual content, namely: roads and destinations. I make it a point to
> traverse (or at least try to traverse) every bit of road in the game
> with each expansion, and usually it takes a week or two for me to
> complete this challenge. With "Nebraska", I finished it off in four
> days. 
>
> So, yeah. I'm not really a fan of this expansion. I can't say to skip
> it -after all, it's the American Truck Simulator, and you can't have
> America without all its states- but Nebraska isn't one I care to visit
> often. Not even to drive through. Sure it's got its corn. But it
> doesn't have much else.
>
>
>
> * Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb Raider
> I'm not sure I should even include this game on the list, I played so
> little of it. But I just couldn't make myself want to stick with the
> game very long.
>
> Not that, mechanically, it's a bad game. I mean, no, it's not really
> wowing me with its game-play, but it's competent enough. It's lack of
> an interesting storyline (or characters) didn't help either. Lara
> Croft and her constant daddy-issues are a well long since drained dry,
> but the developers keep going back to that same uninteresting subplot
> (the massive evil conspiracy that's the game's main antagonist isn't
> much better either).
>
> But, really, it was the open-world that kept me from playing. That,
> and the constant crafting. I didn't want to have to engage with any of
> that nonsense. I miss the days of solid games with well-made,
> well-paced maps. Levels with a definite start and finish, and a clear
> direction from the one to the other. Wandering around giant maps
> clearing out dozens of subquests and finding useless gimcracks placed
> there just to fill out the game don't excite me. I've better uses for
> my time. It's not fun; it's grind.
>
> So I played relatively little of the game. In terms of polish and
> mechanics, it's probably the best of the rebooted series, but that
> open world? No thank you. I've no desire to work my way through all
> that nonsense.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Well, that's my short list for my month. Did you do any better? Let's
> find out.
>
> What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024?


I've not really been playing a ton..besides a LOT of Phoenix Wright. I'm
actually up to Spirit of Justice now! (but dang the dual destinies
finale was insane)
-- 
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

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What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-01 13:04 -0400
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-06-01 10:27 -0700
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-01 14:12 -0400
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-02 19:10 +0000
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Rin Stowleigh <rstowleigh@x-nospam-x.com> - 2024-06-01 14:10 -0400
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-01 14:21 -0400
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-06-01 12:14 -0700
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-02 12:13 -0400
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> - 2024-06-03 16:41 -0700
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-07 09:24 +0100
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-07 18:35 +0000
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-08 08:37 -0400
          Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-08 14:30 +0000
            Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-06-08 09:29 -0700
              Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-08 16:50 +0000
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-08 13:53 -0400
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-08 19:35 +0000
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-06-08 20:36 -0700
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-09 16:15 +0000
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-09 07:54 -0400
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 "rms" <rsquiresMOO@MOOflashMOO.net> - 2024-06-01 12:23 -0600
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-07 09:29 +0100
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 "rms" <rsquiresMOO@MOOflashMOO.net> - 2024-06-12 20:25 -0600
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-13 13:10 -0400
          Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 <smaug@ereborbbs.duckdns.org> - 2024-06-13 18:45 +0000
            Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-14 10:52 -0400
              Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 <smaug@ereborbbs.duckdns.org> - 2024-06-14 17:36 +0000
          Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-15 08:00 +0100
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-15 07:59 +0100
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-01 19:35 +0000
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-06-02 06:56 +0000
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-06-02 06:57 +0000
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-02 07:46 -0400
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-06-02 21:53 +0000
          Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> - 2024-06-03 08:53 -0400
            Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-06-03 21:01 +0000
              Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-04 00:10 +0000
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-06-04 01:47 +0000
                Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-04 20:10 +0000
          Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Rin Stowleigh <rstowleigh@x-nospam-x.com> - 2024-06-03 19:08 -0400
            Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2024-06-04 00:10 +0000
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> - 2024-06-03 17:12 -0700
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-04 10:41 -0400
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> - 2024-06-12 14:13 +0300
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> - 2024-06-13 10:20 +0300
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> - 2024-06-04 12:15 +0300
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-04 11:00 -0400
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> - 2024-06-05 10:45 +0300
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-05 10:13 -0400
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-07 09:36 +0100
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-07 09:20 +0100
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 "rms" <rsquiresMOO@MOOflashMOO.net> - 2024-06-07 10:58 -0600
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 JAB <noway@nochance.com> - 2024-06-08 10:31 +0100
  Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 H1M3M <wipnoah@gmail.com> - 2024-06-21 15:26 +0200
    Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2024-06-21 09:46 -0400
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2024-06-21 08:03 -0700
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> - 2024-06-21 11:52 -0700
      Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 H1MEM <wipnoah@gmail.com> - 2024-06-21 22:09 +0200
        Re: What Have You Been Playing... IN MAY 2024 H1MEM <wipnoah@gmail.com> - 2024-06-21 22:15 +0200

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