Winnipeg Fats

I plan to start this game tonight now that I've beaten DS2. I need to get into this game because I am deeply tempted to open a spoiler tag but I know I should not do that.

I beat the game last night. SL 15 SM~2.5M. Trying to decide between going back for the RRA and the big dragon (both of which I passed on), going NG+, or just rerolling and starting anew. Or like, playing one of the many games I've been neglecting the last 2 months.

I almost finished super meat boy after quitting over and over because I would hang myself up on getting A+ on every stage, dark and light and never got past world 2. I finally let that go and I'm on the last world now. Might take another stab at it on the 3+ hour drive home today.

That run from Iron Keep to Smelter was where I realized (finally) that DS2 didn't have to feel so finite with its souls and items. That was a major turning point for me; realizing that the co-op stuff was a really fun and integral part of the game. Once I feel really familiar with the layout of the game I will try and run in that early covenant that makes everything harder and lonely, but I've got crazy with the white soapstone in the meantime, and it's make the game a lot more fun. I fear that I've overlevelled now though as a result. I'm done drangleic castle. And headed... wherever is next, but I've hit SL150 now, and not finding most of the standard enemies take more than 2-3 R1 hits to dispatch. NG+ will likely remedy that.

I may Ascetic to get a second spotted whip then. Where does the Old whip come from? Dual whips also looks BAD ASS, so there's that...

I'm not in front of the computer, but posting here because we live in the future. Are whips dex-based?

I think, and this is just off the cuff without putting real thought into it, that the charm of FC2 comes from life in the world of FC2, and less from the usual gameplay loop of find and complete objective that many games with the same packaging go for. Rather than jetting from objective to objective the fun from that game comes from meandering around the island until the next bonkers thing happens in front of you and drags you into it. At least that addresses the issues with pacing you've mentioned like driving and diamond caches. The combat I understand as well. It's a visually confusing game at times. I got a better perspective on FC2 after playing Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, and approached combat encounters more intentionally, trying to find and kill guys one at a time rather than engaging in a firefight with all of them at once. I don't know a better way to describe that, and I'm sure someone who is less tired than I am right now can phrase that up a little nicer. Finally, Malaria gets to be hilarious in Far Cry 2, so let's not take that away from Malaria. Always such bad timing on Malaria. In summary I would say that you're not doing anything wrong if FC2 doesn't grab you, because it didn't grab a lot of people. If you really want to engage with it, I would maybe say don't think of your objective as your actual objective. Your objective is to experience the island. Kind of like how in Skyrim you never really get to just go the place you want to go, you have to engage in a million little distractions and some madness on the way, and the game is more about spending time in a living space.

Dadtendo and the name Dadtendo are both complete winners in my book.

I started out hoarding materials, too. After a while I just said 'fuck it' and decided that I am using this weapon, it's doing well for me, and I know how it works so I'll see it through. If I find another weapon that scales similarly but starts with greater damage and I like the way it moves then I'll invest in it, but for now I want to maximize my chances for success in the immediate, not worry about finding titanite chunks later.

I'm pretty sure after I finish DS2 I'm going to roll right back in to either Dark Souls or Demon's Souls. I have a Souls problem. Are we the gaming undead? Requiring more souls to maintain our sanity?

Risk of Rain is one of my favourite games of the last few years for sure, maybe on the all time list. Even now, with almost everything I find reasonable unlocked, I still enjoy getting a couple people together and playing a round. If I get some of my vet teammates together we'll go for a double or even triple clear.

It's funny, I found the opposite regarding Ornstein and Smough. I have an infinitely easier time as melee taking out second-phase Smough. Lightning Ornstein always eats my lunch.

Man I really wanted to love Monaco. I just didn't find (in the beginning at least) that it was forcing my team to work as a team. Anyone seemed totally capable of just running the map alone.

I've started dropping one of my white soapstone marks at the start of any really difficult area and spending my first 2-3 runs through the area as a ghost to get a lay of the land. I think I beat the Smelter Demon three times as a ghost before taking him on myself, and by then I was able to dance around him solo and beat him without much trouble. It helps that co-op runs are the only way to truly tap into limitless souls. That's been my favourite change that I've noticed from Dark Souls to DS2 is the multiplayer is just way more fun and accessible now. At least I find that to be the case. It's possible I just wasn't engaging with it enough before. Like rolling in a team of three when the world leader gets invaded is a LOT of fun. I also selfishly enjoy being in the rat king covenant and ruining someone's day as they try to get through either of the areas that I've taken on as my own. For my part I am a pure Dex build, around SL120 now. I'm at work so I'm running from memory but I know that Vit and End are at 20, ADP is at 23 and Attunement is at 13 (2 slots for a couple pyros) Strength is at 20 and Dex is at 50. My Agility is at 101 or 102 now. Oh and the one that lets you carry more... Vitality? That's at 24 or so. I'm wearing the full gear for the so I'm at about 55% weight. Using a +10 falchion as a main with a +7 Broadsword as a backup weapon. I also am using a lot of arrows, since archery has become a damaging enterprise for me now. I do miss being able to pull an arrow back and let my endurance recharge before I shoot. That's a bit weird and new. So far I haven't needed to bolster my melee with magic, but I've only beaten the in Drangleic castle so far.

yessss...I was waiting for this joke.

Oh god new page: The same thing happens to me re: NG+ runs. I just play a new class. I'm wondering if maybe the respec stuff in DS2 will let me have my cake and eat it too.

Definitely true. The only games that get me early for zeitgeist are the souls games. I hate being left behind on that stuff... of course I am playing DS2 on the PC so there goes that sentiment out the window... Luckily for me I found League of Legends a while ago, and while I've probably dumped a hundred bucks or more into it, that's been over two years, and it holds my attention enough that I feel okay waiting for the newest AAA game to go on sale before I get it.

I was a 360 guy last generation first and foremost. The online (at launch) was infinitely better, the controller was better, the price was lower, XBLA was interesting and developed into something really cool... it just hit all my buttons (mind the pun). It just feels like every thing that MS changed from the 360 to the ONE has diminished those qualities relative to their competitors. At this point I have to stick with my PC for gaming. Project Beast is the only thing I've seen so far that's really looked like it could be a compelling argument for a new console.

God every time I decide to pick my clubs up again I add a year to my mortgage and lose a year from my life. I say that now, but the sun is starting to shine during the day and it's almost t-shirt weather out there and I know I'll be on the course this year.

high five for projector bros. Yeah I don't have a room for a kinect either. This is welcome news. MS needs to find a better way to differentiate itself. Being a cable box that watches you back was never going to be it in a gaming market.

Just quickly want to say that this is a funny conversation to have in the thread about finding cheap games. Also you're not supposed to talk about the gaming empire baron gang.

Video games have definitely been a cheaper hobby than continuing down the path that 40k and games like it would have.

It's like anything, right? Do it well and it's a good idea, do it shitty and it's a dumb one. I haven't seen much on the WiiU, but what I have seen hasn't made a great case yet for a second screen. I find looking away from the main screen either breaks my immersion or my concentration, and the info on the second screen seems like it would be a simple enough thing to put in a HUD or behind a menu, since I'm not looking at the main screen anymore, anyways. Is the barrier perhaps that most games aren't developed to REQUIRE that second screen, making the design require that screen be superfluous? That said, there may very well be compelling evidence that a second screen can indeed enhance the experience. I'd love to hear about it, if there is.

I hit post and went directly to humble and bought KR0. Good impulse control, Fats.

Beard growing? I am extremely tempted by KR0.