Random Gaming Thoughts

[TEKTORO]

After I make spaghetti.

Random Gamin Thought
TT (True Tails) Games presents:
Spaghetti Capers:
Starring Noise, Tek & Garfield: Quest to save money for games!

[marlowe221]

I'm looking for a game...

My wife and I had a lot of fun playing Her Story together. It was a game we could think about and discuss while playing. There was no action stuff, yet it was a lot more interactive than something like a visual novel. And it was an experience that we could feel satisfied with in a single evening. So I was trying to think of other games that might sort of fit this bill. It occurred to me that the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective games probably are sort of similar - though I'm not sure how it would take to beat one. BUT having said that, neither of us are really big fans of Sherlock Holmes in general.

So can anyone think of similar games that aren't Sherlock ones?

I am very sorry that I am late to the party with this topic in particular, but I have to put my two cents in on suggestions. A lot of people are recommending L.A. Story and I would to a degree, but it is a double edged sword. If they would just remove the driving and shooting elements, the game would be 100% what you guys need, as the interrogation and investigation elements are spectacular and special.

My recommendation is this... and it is a crazy one so bear with me. URU: Ages Beyond Myst/Myst Online: URU Live. I know I know! I talk about this a lot, but I genuinely think that this is a game worth playing and you both would enjoy. The first reason why I suggest it is because it is FREE! Sure you need an internet connection and it is an online game, but can be handled entirely solo or with your wife if you both have computers (and I suggest doing it that way!) You do not need to have previous experience in the Myst games and I actually recommend playing URU FIRST, because the game has a larger focus on world-building/story versus puzzles, which are fewer and rely more on exploration and experimentation. If she has a PC, you both can explore the worlds and solve the puzzles together and having two brains is far better than one, especially when the worlds change and morph in ways that can only be seen when two people play in different parts of the worlds. If you decide to play this, let me know, because there is a tiny bit of a primer on what to do when you get started that I can help you with as one of the biggest flaws the game has is the lack of a great introduction.

If you decide to tackle the games, I suggest playing URU, Myst V, Myst, Riven in that order. You can skip the third and fourth games, as all you need to know from them are two tiny facts and they do nothing to really elevate the series.

Cronozilla has had a taste of URU and is very intrigued and he walked around with me in the game as I gave him history and backstory to the places he visited.

I second people's recommendation of To the Moon, as it is a larger story focused game and really worth experience. Grab your tissues though!

Another big one I would recommend the Gabriel Knight series, especially the second, The Beast Within. These games are great amalgamations of investigation, interrogation and puzzle solving a-la the typical point and click adventure game. What makes them better is their noir style and horror/supernatural elements. The games are excellent and why I suggest the Beast Within the most is because of the FMV elements. Sure the acting isn't the greatest, but there is a level of charm there because of it.

Another game I would recommend is Contradiction, which is for Mac and PC. It is a Murder Mystery FMV game that pleases. It is not quite at the level of Her Story, but it is cheap and utilizes the FMV sequences in great ways to again capture the nuance of a person's body language.

I am including a huge compendium of FMV games Here that you can pick through at your leisure. Some are great, some are horrible, but they give you a good sense of where FMV games have gone and where they are going and may give you some good ideas on what to play.

Again, my number 1 pick is the Myst games in the order provided. URU is free and spectacular. If you can't see why, just ask and I will show you!

Thank you for posting this. I have been curious about URU for a long time. I was a big fan of Myst and Riven in their day but haven't played any of the games after that.

[noiseredux]

Random Gamin Thought
TT (True Tails) Games presents:
Spaghetti Capers:
Starring Noise, Tek & Garfield: Quest to save money for games!

luv u, bro.

[marlowe221]

^ I couldn't get into MGS2 and I was really looking forward to it after MGS. Of course that was before I knew the story was a complete shit show. When I played MGS I just figured there was some game before it that I missed, and the atmosphere and all that was so good I didn't really care. MGS1 is probably the only reason I still dick around with the series. I am mostly enjoying The Phantom Pain but I think MGS and MGS3 are the only ones that have any semblance of a decent story.

Basically I've come to realize that in my opinion the MGS series is pretty much a collection of really cool characters trapped in mediocre video games. That's the only explanation I can come up with for why I or anyone else is still interested in them. Every game is severely lacking in certain areas, often MANY areas, yet a lot of people still go out and buy them.

I think a lot of people are just yearning for that one game in the series that will have awesome gameplay and a story that makes a lick of sense. That's why, quite honestly, I think I might like the series better without Kojima. He's a really unique developer but sometimes I think he hurts as much as he helps. I mean all I'm asking for is a story that makes logical sense and he's incapable of writing anything even close.

This.

MGS stories basically never make any sense at all. That is a big frustration for me with a lot of games - that the story is so convoluted and nonsensical that you basically can't summarize it to a person that has has never played the game. If that's the best they can do, then I would prefer to just not have a story at all.

The MGS series is not the only offender in this regard - see: almost any JRPG made after Final Fantasy VI (III). Maybe it's something cultural but it seems to me that the games with convoluted "stories" are mostly Japanese. I hate that too because I really like the gameplay of a lot of Japanese games.

Maybe those on the forum who can read Japanese or understand the culture can help me here - is it me? Or is something getting lost in the translation? Or are there elements of storytelling in Japan that are just wildly different than in the West?

[Snatch1414]

This.

MGS stories basically never make any sense at all. That is a big frustration for me with a lot of games - that the story is so convoluted and nonsensical that you basically can't summarize it to a person that has has never played the game. If that's the best they can do, then I would prefer to just not have a story at all.

The MGS series is not the only offender in this regard - see: almost any JRPG made after Final Fantasy VI (III). Maybe it's something cultural but it seems to me that the games with convoluted "stories" are mostly Japanese. I hate that too because I really like the gameplay of a lot of Japanese games.

Maybe those on the forum who can read Japanese or understand the culture can help me here - is it me? Or is something getting lost in the translation? Or are there elements of storytelling in Japan that are just wildly different than in the West?

I've heard people compare MGS to anime, which to me is just an excuse for it being ridiculous. "Oh it's those crazy Japanese you know how they are." I said once that I wish the story was tighter and more grounded because it is ripe for being a gripping military/political thriller. Someone responded saying these games aren't for me. Bullshit. I like the games, I just don't give their bad points a pass because Kojima.

There's something unique about Kojima and I hope he keeps making games, but if everyone is going to credit him for the good things then it's only fair to skewer him for the unforgivable aspects MGS always has. A friend of mine said MGS games were "an experience." I don't understand why the series is given so much leniency simply because we know the creator's name.

[noiseredux]

Final Fantasy Adventure Remake Remake coming to Android and iOS...

http://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-adventu ... 1731081396

I really wish it was coming to Windows as well. But damn. I do love this game. I'll probably have to get this.

[BoneSnapDeez]

So that's what Rise of Mana is! Hope it comes to the US on Vita, I suppose I'll import it if it doesn't.

Time for a Seiken Densetsu 3 remake!

[MrPopo]

So that's what Rise of Mana is! Hope it comes to the US on Vita, I suppose I'll import it if it doesn't.

Time for a Seiken Densetsu 3 remake!

I would have loved to have seen an SD3 port to the DS with online multiplayer.

[BoneSnapDeez]

New GameFAQs review system.....
http://www.gamefaqs.com/atari2600/58487 ... os/reviews
Hearts?!

[BoringSupreez]

New GameFAQs review system.....
http://www.gamefaqs.com/atari2600/58487 ... os/reviews
Hearts?!

Don't think I like that. I'm fine with them using that system going forward, but rolling it back on reviews that are as much as 15 years old? Boo.

It's like when Gamespot moved to their new rating system in '07, which erased all the scores for individual components of the games: graphics, sound, gameplay, etc. I have to use WayBack if I want to look at those scores.