Speculation: And yet again...the Off-Topic Thread

[Bench]

For you gamers on here, what are some older PC games (pre 2020) that you think are solid to fall back on? What are some games that you enjoy replaying or recommend checking out?

Witcher 3. Red Dead Redemption 2.

If you want to go further back. Bioshock and the sequels. Dark Souls. RPGs like Dragon Age or Mass Effect.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

RTSes. Command and conquer and red alert hd remaster is quality. So is Diablo 2 resurrected.

If you want an action RPG, Ys Oath in Felghana is fun and pretty simple.

 

[MabusIncarnate]

It's definitely aged, but Lionhead (people who made Fable) made a weird game called Black & White, and it's a society building God sim, you are the hand of God, you can do good or evil, raise an animal minion to do your bidding. You can shower your people with food and gifts, or rain fireballs down when they anger you. It's a wild concept that's still pretty unique.

Command and Conquer and basically anything Bench suggested i've played and loved. Dark Souls is about the most challenging series out there, so avoid if you don't want to die 500 times lol. They are amazing games if you can trudge through. The Bioshock trilogy might be my favorite series ever. Mass Effect is brilliant also, although Andromeda, the final unrelated entry can probably be skipped.

Red Dead Redemption is a great rec, they had a DLC called Undead Nightmare and it turned the world into zombies and it's fantastic.

FPS, maybe check out Far Cry 3, The Master Chief Collection, or the Portal games. I like the rogue-lite ones like Immortal Redneck and Ziggarut, they are indies and cheap.

XCOM is cool, so is Wasteland for more of a turn based RPG game. South Park Stick of Truth was surprisingly excellent also.

Just because I love the genre, Binding of Issac, Enter the Gungeon, Dead Cells, Hades are all good time burners.

 

[RabidBadger]

Prey, the new Predator movie, is on Hulu and it's awesome. Probably my favorite one since the original Predator, they did a damn good job with it, real suspenseful and gory.

Just watched it based on your recommendation. I second the notion this is the second best in the Predator series (see what I did there?)

Question: is the flintlock pistol featured in this movie the same one that was handed to Danny Glover at the end of Predator 2? Like Terminator, I'm pretty familiar with Predator but haven't seen every iteration of it.

 

[Bench]

Question: is the flintlock pistol featured in this movie the same one that was handed to Danny Glover at the end of Predator 2? Like Terminator, I'm pretty familiar with Predator but haven't seen every iteration of it.

I believe it is... Which... Almost makes no sense because then it means they went back and got it again? I dunno.

 

[RabidBadger]

So for anyone curious, all those shows get my unconditional recommendation.

Midnight Mass is an original story and "limited series" similar in vibe to a Stephen King story. Except better. In almost every way.

I did like Midnight Mass a good bit. ***spoiler alert*** One of the hooks was waiting for Beverly to bite it.

As far as story comparisons, are we talking Stephen King books or his stories adapted to film? In terms of cinematic prowess, I'd say Midnight Mass is superior to most King adaptations. It seems his less paranormal stories like Shawshank/Green Mile/Stand By Me (The Body) have been the best ones. Brian de Palma did a great job with Carrie, though.

In terms of pure engagement; I got through Midnight Mass in due time as opposed to fervently ripping through the 500+ pages of Salem's Lot, It, The Stand within a few days. BUT! I felt Midnight Mass was better on screen than any of those.

 

[RabidBadger]

I believe it is... Which... Almost makes no sense because then it means they went back and got it again? I dunno.

It seems we have ourselves a setup for the sequel to Prey to complete the story arc. I am so down with that!

What are all you nerds doing on the off topic thread on a Friday night?

 

[jkutswings]

For you gamers on here, what are some older PC games (pre 2020) that you think are solid to fall back on? What are some games that you enjoy replaying or recommend checking out?

For anybody with Amazon Prime, StarCraft Remastered is free this month, which includes both the original campaign and the Brood War expansion.

I'm currently (re-re)playing through Sniper Elite 4 for the achievements, but I've been tinkering with Diablo Immortal as well.

 

[jaster]

I believe it is... Which... Almost makes no sense because then it means they went back and got it again? I dunno.

It seems we have ourselves a setup for the sequel to Prey to complete the story arc. I am so down with that!

It's kind of a weird easter egg. The comics in the 90s gave it all a backstory, which is not necessarily canon, though the filmmakers could draw from it. A Spanish pirate by the name of Raphael Adolini (the name inscribed on the pistol) gifted it to a Predator in 1718 (presumably Greyback, the Predator who gave it to Danny Glover in P2). Interestingly, Prey takes place in 1719. They have an opportunity to make a prequel and a sequel to this, in terms of that pistol that was being carried by a French soldier in Prey.

The name makes it more interesting too. Raphael is a common name in many countries, including Spain, France, and Italy, though that exact spelling is most likely French. And Adolini is very much an Italian surname, kinda odd that the comics made the character Spanish. Probably doesn't mean anything in terms of Predator lore, but it stuck out to me.

 

[Bench]

Probably doesn't mean anything in terms of Predator lore, but it stuck out to me.

I mean, it's Predator lore. So yeah it means absolutely nothing.

Next we'll dive into the rich lore of Gremlins or Short Circuit.

 

[jkutswings]

Next we'll dive into the rich lore of Gremlins or Short Circuit.

Wouldn't you like to be a pepper too?

 

[Bench]

Wouldn't you like to be a pepper too?

Now that's a deep cut.

 

[Winger98]

I did like Midnight Mass a good bit. ***spoiler alert*** One of the hooks was waiting for Beverly to bite it.

As far as story comparisons, are we talking Stephen King books or his stories adapted to film? In terms of cinematic prowess, I'd say Midnight Mass is superior to most King adaptations. It seems his less paranormal stories like Shawshank/Green Mile/Stand By Me (The Body) have been the best ones. Brian de Palma did a great job with Carrie, though.

In terms of pure engagement; I got through Midnight Mass in due time as opposed to fervently ripping through the 500+ pages of Salem's Lot, It, The Stand within a few days. BUT! I felt Midnight Mass was better on screen than any of those.

Short stories are insanely better than his novels. Not sure Green Mile fits that argument, though. It was released in small increments but it was still meant to be an actual book. His bigger books are kind of like runner highs, though. Not sure they're always that great but if you just sit down and plough through it at some point it leaves you hysterical. Contrast that with someone like Pynchon or, hell, the other American who wrote long ass novels and killed himself awhile back...Sorry, been drinking. Long as hell but not really ever going to leave you high and euphoric, just with the uglier remnants of a hangover.

Wallace. David Foster Wallace. Good move about him starring Jason Sudekis. Or at least an entertaining movie. And this isn't to say either isn't enjoyable, just different. The way they wield language.

The director Mike Flanagan has adapted several Stephen King works to film (Gerald's Game, Doctor Sleep), so it's no coincidence. But I think he takes the best parts, highlights them, and improves on everything else not so great in a typical King story. I have a love/hate with King. Midnight Mass feels like if I were drafting up the perfect King story without any of the issues he usually presents.

Kubrick has it beat by a good forty years. And King hated it. Which makes me question King's opinion of movies in general.

Midnight Mass just didn't hit with me. The characters didn't pull me in and the resemblance to Salem's Lot made it too easy to see what was coming. I was also pretty disappointed that it was just a vampire movie. Really enjoyed House on Haunted Hill and Haunting of Bly Manor, though. Oculus was good. No interest in the King movies.

I grew up really enjoying King books, but his writing shifted after he was hit by that van. Maybe it was just my own interests shifting, but shortly after that I just quit reading him.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is a pretty damn good read.

Man she had a lot of shitty people in her life.

 

[Ricelund]

Is PS5 worth buying? I just got off a waitlist on Amazon and can buy one at retail if I want. I already have a pretty good PC. Any must-play PS5 exclusives? I feel like I just want it for NHL 23 at this point...

 

[MabusIncarnate]

Is PS5 worth buying? I just got off a waitlist on Amazon and can buy one at retail if I want. I already have a pretty good PC. Any must-play PS5 exclusives? I feel like I just want it for NHL 23 at this point...

Spider-man games are good, there's a new God of War also. I'll be honest, played NHL 22 on Series X on the new engine and whatnot, it's a step down and is still so very similar, i'm not sure if i'm gonna buy 23 unless they make some big leaps or bring back GM Connected. It will probably be the first NHL game i'm gonna pass on in many years.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Man, I’ve seen some pretty absurd work before but I don’t think anything can prepare you for how far off the rails the Rehearsal gets. Fielder on an HBO budget is reality-distorting.

 

[Bench]

Man, I’ve seen some pretty absurd work before but I don’t think anything can prepare you for how far off the rails the Rehearsal gets. Fielder on an HBO budget is reality-distorting.

It's genuinely unlike anything else I've seen. And the lines between Nathan the performer and Nathan the person have always been blurred a bit but this is another level. There are scenes I'm convinced he's not acting at all, especially in the recent episode where he's working through his Jewish roots. He seems to be processing a meaningful experience and what he wants with his life.

 

[Bench]

Is PS5 worth buying? I just got off a waitlist on Amazon and can buy one at retail if I want. I already have a pretty good PC. Any must-play PS5 exclusives? I feel like I just want it for NHL 23 at this point...

I had the same situation awhile back. Had the opportunity to get one and passed because I'd be buying into an entire ecosystem and accessories for like 2 games.

And I barely finish the games I already own lately.

Maybe if they release Bloodborne 2 as an exclusive, then my hand would be forced.

 

[MabusIncarnate]

This is now the 3rd rec this week for The Rehearsal, I may give it a chance. I don't think the humor is gonna be for me but i'll try it when i'm off.

Harley Quinn is ridiculous but great, if anyone likes the more adult humor stuff like South Park. They push the limit with an animated show like The Boys does for the comic universe.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

This is now the 3rd rec this week for The Rehearsal, I may give it a chance. I don't think the humor is gonna be for me but i'll try it when i'm off.

Harley Quinn is ridiculous but great, if anyone likes the more adult humor stuff like South Park. They push the limit with an animated show like The Boys does for the comic universe.

I have a smoothie for Bang!

 

[RayMoonDoh]

It's genuinely unlike anything else I've seen. And the lines between Nathan the performer and Nathan the person have always been blurred a bit but this is another level. There are scenes I'm convinced he's not acting at all, especially in the recent episode where he's working through his Jewish roots. He seems to be processing a meaningful experience and what he wants with his life.

A modern day Kaufman

 

[Hammettf2b]

Dodge is discontinuing the V8 Charger/Challenger for I assume something like this...



Debating on trading in my '18 for a newer one .

Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is a pretty damn good read.

Man she had a lot of shitty people in her life.

I bought the audio book. Haven't started yet. Just waiting to finish up the current book that im on. Sounds like a hell of a story

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Dodge is discontinuing the V8 Charger/Challenger for I assume something like this...



Debating on trading in my '18 for a newer one .


I bought the audio book. Haven't started yet. Just waiting to finish up the current book that im on. Sounds like a hell of a story

Electric car with artificial exhaust noise. Ugh.

 

[Hammettf2b]

Electric car with artificial exhaust noise. Ugh.

Technically the noise is real from a real exhaust. its just amplifying the electric motor sounds. Regardless, still sounds awful lmao