OT: Video Game Talk (oh, also the Week before the All-Star Break Pre-Game Talk "archive")

[Ceremony]

Tetris is the best video game ever.

 

[sethro109]

I've been playing Final Fantasy 16 for a few days now. I'm not done yet (The game is big!), But I'm really enjoying it so far. The story is great. I've seen people say it's a lot like Game of Thrones and I can definitely see that. It does a good job of making all the boss battles feel epic and big. Some do feel a little drawn out, but not to the extent where it makes you want to stop playing. I'm surprised how well they've made this installment compared to 15.

 

[sethro109]

Yeah, I just don't think Baldur's Gate 3 is a game for me.

 

[henchman21]

Not the bear I was expecting.

 

[Avs91]

Solitaire is pretty great.

Tetris is the best video game ever.

Tetris and FreeCell

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Minesweeper.

 

[henchman21]

Skifree

 

[Avs91]

Pipe Mania

 

[Snow Arc]

Masters Of Orion II

 

[UncleRisto]

3D Pinball Space Cadet

 

[TruePowerSlave]

I've been playing Final Fantasy 16 for a few days now. I'm not done yet (The game is big!), But I'm really enjoying it so far. The story is great. I've seen people say it's a lot like Game of Thrones and I can definitely see that. It does a good job of making all the boss battles feel epic and big. Some do feel a little drawn out, but not to the extent where it makes you want to stop playing. I'm surprised how well they've made this installment compared to 15.

It's a solid game. The side quests and exploration leaves a lot to be desired though, as does the exploration fps.

One more year to work out the side content would have made it into a fantastic experience.

 

[sethro109]

It's a solid game. The side quests and exploration leaves a lot to be desired though, as does the exploration fps.

One more year to work out the side content would have made it into a fantastic experience.

The side quests could definitely use some more work, but I've played enough JRPGs in my life to pretty much expect that just how they are. The FPS while out in the world hasn't really bothered me too much, but it is noticeable. It hasn't impacted battles, so I'm keen on letting it slide. However I did have to turn off my PS5's VRR. I was getting weird light flickering while talking to some NPCs that trigger some of the in game engine scenes. I'm not even sure flickering is the right word. It was like the in game torches would be cycling through their dimming effect at and exorbitant rate. Crating an almost stone light effect, but only on what the in game lights were lighting up. I poked around reddit and some other sites. I'm not the only one who experienced that oddity.

After 15 I came into this game expecting nothing. So I'm very much happy with what Square did with this installment. They've already said there would be no DLC for this game, that it's "the complete package". After all the nonsense surrounding 15's DLC I'm not shocked by that decision. Even with that statement and even though I still haven't finished the game, I wouldn't mind if they returned to this world.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I've always wanted to get into FF but never really knew where to start. I did play FFIX I think it was, the one with Vivi the black mage and found it really fun back in the day.

I really want to get Cyberpunk next, but am thinking of going back to try another FF game after. Would y'all recommend jumping to 16, or should I try something else from the library first?

 

[sethro109]

I've always wanted to get into FF but never really knew where to start. I did play FFIX I think it was, the one with Vivi the black mage and found it really fun back in the day.

I really want to get Cyberpunk next, but am thinking of going back to try another FF game after. Would y'all recommend jumping to 16, or should I try something else from the library first?

16 is unlike the other entries in the series. It almost feels like a western RPG. Most FF games are turn based, but 16's combat is more like a mix of Devil May Cry and the Witcher. Very fast and action based. They do have settings to make it easier for people who struggle with fast base combat. It's a great game and since all Final Fantasy games are their own contained stories, it would be a fine starting point.

For 2D entries it's hard not to recommend 6. For other 3D entries I would suggest 10 or 12. 12 on consoles comes with a handy speed up feature, so you don't spend so long grinding. 10 has that feature too, but only on steam version. So if you have a moderately powerful PC, I recommend it on that. 7 has a rabid fan base and is also a great start. The 7 remake changes the story a lot, so I would recommend the original and the remake. The remake is begin made into 3 games though, and only the first one has released so far.

They're all pretty fun and in my opinion, there's only two wrong answers. 13 and 15 are well made worlds, but lack in a lot of aspects. I finished 13, but I absolutely hated it. I thought it was way too linear and boring. Because of of that I never tried either of 13s sequels. So I couldn't tell you if they're good games or not.

15 is an interesting experience. It was meant to be open world and It's very slow paced if you intend to do the side quests. The side quests are scattered around an open world, a first for the series. You even get a car in the game (which you can customize and upgrade) and is pretty slow even fully upgraded. What's weird about the side quests in the game is that they're only available during the first quarter of the game. Then the story railroads you until you've finished the game and you never return to the open world. It was stuck in development hell for a long, long time and it still feels very incomplete. They also made a lot of DLC promises and couldn't even deliver on them.

11 and 14 are MMOs, so I haven't played those. I'm not a big MMO guy. I've also never play 1, 2 or 3. I do mean to one day though.

 

[MacKaRant]

I've always wanted to get into FF but never really knew where to start. I did play FFIX I think it was, the one with Vivi the black mage and found it really fun back in the day.

I really want to get Cyberpunk next, but am thinking of going back to try another FF game after. Would y'all recommend jumping to 16, or should I try something else from the library first?

I've always thought that mainline Final Fantasy games up until 13 went in cycles of three:

1. Establish
2. Experiment
3. Excel

1, 4, 7, 10 were the first on their platforms and set the tone for the two games that follow.

2, 5, 8, 11 were the most experimental in terms of mechanics.

3, 6, 9, 12 are for my money the best FF of each console generation.

6 is the pinnacle of the series for me and the pixel remaster was recently released on consoles. If you can appreciate SNES / Genesis era games, I think it's a must play.

But there's no reason you can't play FF16 now for a more modern experience, none of the games are related to each other and each exists in its own universe--only 10 and 13 had direct sequels and those are numbered 10-2 and 13-2 (and there's a 13-3 too, but the whole 13 trilogy is the nadir of the series).

I realize that I basically agree with @sethro109 about everything.

My experience with FF7 Remake was enhanced by my experience of the original 25 years ago, and I have no idea how well it stands on its own and what it would be like playing it if you're unfamiliar with the original. It does feel weird to gatekeep and assign 50-70 hours of "homework" before playing a newer game that has its own merits, especially as in my opinion PS1 games have generally aged very poorly. The cast and characters of FF7 are the most widely known of any FF game, so it feels like FF7 Remake is a decent option if you want to play just one Final Fantasy to see what it's about.

 

[henchman21]

I've always wanted to get into FF but never really knew where to start. I did play FFIX I think it was, the one with Vivi the black mage and found it really fun back in the day.

I really want to get Cyberpunk next, but am thinking of going back to try another FF game after. Would y'all recommend jumping to 16, or should I try something else from the library first?

I'm not a big FF person, but Cyberpunk is pretty great if you have a powerful enough system to overcome the technical issues. If you're a console person, just skip PS4 and XO. If you have a PC, make sure it is well above the minimum requirements. Game is (as of ~3 months ago) still a mess, but with enough power that mostly goes away.

 

[sethro109]

In September Cyberpunk is getting a major DLC. It's supposed to drastically change the base game as well. You're probably better off waiting for that.

 

[Mooserton]

Yeah, I just don't think Baldur's Gate 3 is a game for me.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I'm not a big FF person, but Cyberpunk is pretty great if you have a powerful enough system to overcome the technical issues. If you're a console person, just skip PS4 and XO. If you have a PC, make sure it is well above the minimum requirements. Game is (as of ~3 months ago) still a mess, but with enough power that mostly goes away.

AMD 3700x paired with a 2080 Super good enough?

 

[henchman21]

AMD 3700x paired with a 2080 Super good enough?

I would assume so with equivalent ram (which seems to be a big issue on the game), but I know next to zero about PC gaming.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I would assume so with equivalent ram (which seems to be a big issue on the game), but I know next to zero about PC gaming.

I'm actually upping to 32 GB Ram shortly. Currently at 16, but I'm in the process of upgrading the CPU/MOBO and will be upgrading to the newer platforms. I found a great deal on a pair of 16GB DDR5-6400 sticks of memory. And holy crap have SSD (particularly 2.5 but also M.2) have dropped significantly since the last time I was poking around on pcpartpicker. The GPU is staying the same because prices are ridiculous for what they give you on the 4XXXX series. Haven't really researched AMD GPUs but I'm thinking I can just turn down some settings. I've got a high refresh rate (144 Hz) monitor but it's only a 1080p TN. It does have G-Synch for what that's worth, although I hear that Freesynch technology has caught up now and works just as well now.

 

[S E P H]

I am playing the Harry Potter game and it is bloody fantastic. You probably won't like it if you don't care for the universe or movies, but if you do, this could be a top 10 game of all time for you lot. The combat isn't as good as FFVII: Remake, but really similar and I thought for an RPG, FFVII: Remake had the best game mechanics ever in a game. Avalanche going from "G-rated" Disney games made for 5-year-olds to making this is just mind-blowing for a game studio. Like Valeri Nichushkin level change.

 

[Ceremony]

If you're going to play FFXVI you need to play all of the others first or you won't be able to follow the story.

 

[The Moops]

AMD 3700x paired with a 2080 Super good enough?

Ha, I have the same CPU on my box, older GPU though. I really need to upgrade but I don't play games on that anymore since I got my Steam Deck

 

[Mooserton]

FFVII is the only good one. Don’t @ me weebs.