R(ob)’s Comments (group member since Jun 21, 2021)

R(ob)’s comments from the The Video Game Forum group.

Morning all. Played more Death Stranding over the weekend. On mission 56 so slowly getting closer to the end game. I was very close to binning the game off around mission 44 as it was two missions that meant I had to travel well outside of the mountain range and back again. To collect Mama. I did try two times and both times felt like a real slog and I got into problems that made it very frustrating. So I decided to fast travel close to Mama's place - leaving all of my gear behind - and that made it more manageable. And then since the game has been more enjoyable as most missions are now in the boundary of the mountains and I'm enjoying using zip lines and catapults and not having to travel massive distances albeit the terrain is challenging. The mountain range is actually fun if you don't have to travel too far. And most recently I've had another war mission and met Heartman so it's been more interesting. I still expect it will take me another 2-3 weekends to finish the game. It's gone from a 10/10 probably down to a 6/10 and now it's back up at 8/10 on the r-score-o-meter :-).

Morning all. Back at work today after a week off. I managed to get a few afternoons in on Death Stranding. Just completed mission 44. Really not feeling the game at the moment. There was one mission fighting in WW1 trenches which was decent but the courier missions are getting more annoying. The most recent mission involved travelling a vast distance over steep and rocky terrains. Ladders, ropes etc wouldn't help much. There was one mission where I couldn't go any further in my truck - got stuck even with bunny hopping the vehicle - the terrain was really rocky, I was struggling to balance and I was under attack from human enemies. The whole experience wasn't enjoyable - I can't see the fun in struggling to balance, getting stuck on rocks, fighting off around a dozen enemy and all under a time limit and a baby crying - all at the same time. It's just not a fun game play loop. Mission after mission at the moment seems like a drag and not much fun. I will persevere but I need a break lol. And hope the game hits a different stride soon which is a bit more fun and engaging. I could do with some missions and story that hook me back in, something lacking for around the last 20 missions. And I checked the next two missions to get me to the end of the chapter - and it involves travelling a vast distance, collecting a body bag and returning to the same place. Sighs. Borderline binning the game off.

Hi all. I’m off work this week but have managed to put a few hours into Death Stranding. I’m just over half way through the campaign on delivery 37. I’ve definitely got a good feel for the game now. I’m still enjoying it and feel the pull to play more. However, the game has dropped an r-score-o-meter review point or two. It’s starting to feel a bit samey now, doing delivery after delivery with little variation. The terrain can be so f’ing annoying getting frequently stuck in very very rocky areas. Plus I’ve had very little reason to use ladders or ropes - compared to early on in the game - as I can get around mostly on foot or bike albeit with the getting stuck frustrations. I still love the world though, the chilled vibe and dark feel to everything. The story though after initially starting off really well hasn’t really progressed that much in a number of hours. I see these as the ‘could be better’ aspects of the game. There are some things I don’t like or enjoy - not bad but just not to my taste - such as having to nanny boot wear, recharging suits that lose battery quickly. The hover platform is plain annoying to load up - it could be easier or more intuitive. There have been some good missions though that stand out from the run-of-the-mill deliveries where I’m sent into run down built up areas haunted by BTs - really nerve jangling. So far I’m still enjoying it but it’s gone from a 10/10 to an 8/10 but if it picks up in the latter half it could notch up again to a 9.

Glassmoon - The Benny Hill of Plats wrote: "R(ob) wrote: "Loving it so far. I really hope it continues. Could be epic. I forgot to say the soundtrack is spot on. Kojima always nails the soundtrack. I just wish I had a music player whilst out..."

Same here mate. I'm listening to Low Roar now as I work (and post on here) and added them to my music library and playlist. Really does suit the game perfectly. Thankfully in the game the music is played at certain moments when on a delivery but I wish the music player wasn't confined to just the quarters. Listening to 'Easy Way Out' as I type !

Loving it so far. I really hope it continues. Could be epic. I forgot to say the soundtrack is spot on. Kojima always nails the soundtrack. I just wish I had a music player whilst out on a delivery rather than just in my quarters. MGS5 had a music player when out and about.

Congrats on the Plat. To me Hotwheels doesn't seem an easy one.

For me I started Death Stranding. I spent a good 8 hours on it over the weekend and I'm on mission 14. Or should I say delivery 14 lol. What do I say about this game. So far I absolutely love it. It's defo got that Kojima presentation style - the long cut-scenes, the interesting but wierd characters, the weird overall vibe, the very dark and engaging story albeit trademark confusing. And even the game play without it being MGS all feels very familiar Kojima style with the deep menus, wide selection of tools, the slightly stealthy nature of it, the mechanics etc. And I love the world. Sparse but errie and beautiful. And even the game play is better than I imagined. OK I've delivered a fair few packages walking through the landscape but I've not found it boring. And some of the missions I've encountered BTs and the human enemies. I've even got a gun and a electric bike. The BTs are really spooky too and I have been dragged away once as in across the landscape and when I was released I wasn't sure what to do - a big enemy coming for me but I walked away and escaped somehow. The game is confusing though - the menu systems and choices of tools, structures etc is a bit overwhelming but I'll get there. Only concern is, can this game play capture my interest for 70 missions lol - I checked the walkthrough. Time will tell. So far so good but after 20-30 hours I'll either still love it, need a break or I'll bin it off, as it's easily looking like a 40-50 hour game.

I was never a fan of Uncharted for story, or even the characters. And I only really liked Uncharted 2 - but that was more from game play, improvements from Uncharted 1 and the multiplayer - which was something a little different from other multiplayers at the time. U3 and U4 yea they were decent games but I couldn't tell you the stories. TLOU1-2 however I remember the stories and characters.

DeckardCain's Sandals wrote: ""Such a brave and well constructed dilemma" ......lol I'll say nothing ;)"

I can probably guess which side of the 'love/hate the story' fence you're on lol ;)

"its like somebody asks me if i want to feel something and then kicks me in the balls and says "do you feel it?""

That's exactly what happened lol. Honestly, the game definitely kicks you in the balls and then asks questions about it.

I quite liked the changes in pace. As the game play can be very intense so to just soak environments and some dialogue was needed - for me at least.

The only bit I didn't like of the game was a certain boss fight near the end that was in two parts - and I didn't like the first part at all.

Both TLOU1 and TLOU2 are both so good. TLOU2 though is the better game IMO. It's a long old game for a linear game but as it's so good it more than justifies its length. And the controls and mechanics feel better than TLOU1. And of course the environments and graphics are better. For me the only part of TLOU2 that's up for debate on being worse than TLOU1 is the story. And without intending to spoil anything - as I know the TLOU2 story divided opinion - the story in TLOU2 is brilliant. It really creates conflict in the player and actually makes you think whether certain characters are good or bad and do you forgive them or not, or at least understand their justifications and reasons. And you can drop on either side of the fence depending on how you feel about the reasons for certain actions. Such a brave and well constructed dilemma created by Naughty Dog - even if you disagree with certain aspects of the story.

Morning all. Finally completed Planet of Lana. Absolutely cracking game - same genre as Limbo, Inside - with excellent artwork, graphics, atmosphere, puzzles, music and some really errie and impressive vistas. Good little story - nothing complex but switches between happy, sad and tense moments. So good it's probably a 10/10 on the r-score-o-meter. I'm trying to fault it but can't. Maybe one or two platforming moments were a little flaky but nothing game breaking.

Next for me. Could be Death Stranding - downloaded but still unsure I even want to start it.

Not much gaming for me at the weekend. Lost my gaming mojo a bit. I did play a few hours on Planet of Lana which is still excellent but Sunday I was feeling a bit knackered so didn't fire up my consoles.

I've learned a bit more about Alan Wake 2. It appears to be quite a lengthy game, the devs say 20 hours long - probably means a little less in reality but still sounds meaty. The one thing that has put me off the game is that it sounds like they moved it to be a Resident Evil clone rather than be its own thing as a continuation of Alan Wake (which I loved). So bullet spongey enemies, much more survival horror and scarcity of ammo. For many this will be music to their ears, but for me this is why I don't play Resi games. Alan Wake 1 was not a Resident Evil clone game. So, for me, defo wait for reviews and a price drop on Alan Wake 2.

Also I checked on future releases on games pass. In September and October games pass games which launch on day one: Starfield, Forza, Lies of P and Payday 3. That's pretty impressive.

I'm interested in Starfield. The recent Xbox Showcase presented a lot more and it looked good. Seems to offer a hell of a lot more than No Man's Sky - more RPG elements, combat which looks decent, conversations, story, locations which are not procedurally generated. The only things that seem common are the procedural generation of some but not all of the planets, resource gathering and space travel and maybe combat (but combat looks a lot deeper in Starfield). There are procedurally generated worlds but there are also crafted worlds too with a hand crafted cities to carry forward a story with NPGs and dialogue. Starfield seems a lot broader and deeper than No Man's Sky.

DeckardCain's Sandals wrote: "Take that back R....calling it a walking sim is like calling Andromeda a Mass Effect.

Technically you could call it part walking sim I suppose, but you'd have to sue all other walking sims for mi..."

What about Firewatch? Did you play it and like it?

BauerRAT wrote: "DeckardCain's Sandals wrote: "Take that back R....calling it a walking sim is like calling Andromeda a Mass Effect.

Technically you could call it part walking sim I suppose, but you'd have to sue..."

That’s why I like Kojima games lol.

BauerRAT wrote: "R(ob) wrote: "BauerRAT wrote: "R(ob) wrote: "Thanks guys. I can only give it a go and see how I get on - I don't like binning games but I'm not that adverse to it really. It's a game that's always ..."

Strangely I’ve enjoyed a few walking sims in the past but they’ve only been a few hours long. 40 plus hours definitely wouldn’t have suited the walking sims I’ve played.

BauerRAT wrote: "R(ob) wrote: "Thanks guys. I can only give it a go and see how I get on - I don't like binning games but I'm not that adverse to it really. It's a game that's always intrigued me but on the face of..."

Yes delivery simulator doesn't really float my boat. Worth a go.

Thanks guys. I can only give it a go and see how I get on - I don't like binning games but I'm not that adverse to it really. It's a game that's always intrigued me but on the face of it looks a bit tedious and long - but you never know until you try.

I’m not sure what to play after Planet of Lana, seeing as it’s just a short game. Nothing really on my backlog which is AAA and new, nor anything much I’m excited to play on ps plus extra and games pass. I am wondering about giving Death Stranding a go but it really doesn’t look my thing game play wise and it’s a long campaign for a walking sim but I do like Kojima’s craziness. I loved MGS 4 and 5.

Morning all. I had a week off work last week but I did manage to complete Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. It was really good. Really good graphics. Really good combat and a good mixture of worlds and environments to explore. I'm not sure I liked the spider bot and clank puzzle missions - seemed to pull me out of the fun worlds and combat but hey at least they added some variety. I was suprised how buggy it was though - missions not progressing because I couldn't kill all enemies as they were stuck in out of reach places where I couldn't kill them, or actually inside inaccessible buildings - I could see them popping through. And enemies getting stuck on the terrain out of sight which made it difficult to find them to progress to the next part of the mission. I liked the openness of it all. An 8.5/10 on the r-score-o-meter.

Oh and I got the platinum trophy ;-). Although one trophy was a pain to get - took me 90 mins to get ten kills in a special way which was really annoying.

I've started Planet of Lana on Games Pass. Very much a Limbo/Inside game and very very good - great graphics, atmosphere, artwork and nice but relaxing puzzles. And really chilled music. Every bit as good as Limbo/Inside so far. And I love the alien invasion theme - it's really well done.