I couldn’t play much Sound Voltex as I didn’t have my controller with me and Demonschool, while fun, has been getting a little repetitive, so I went looking for other games.

I played 1000xRESIST during the weekend and loved it. I don’t know how to talk about it since it’s mostly story, so I’ll just say that I thought it was really well written.

Now a bit of a rant (or two): I played Ratatan and was really disappointed. I was looking forward to the game, since I fondly remember playing Patapon when I was younger, but this just isn’t good. I don’t think the roguelike/lite model fits the game (to be honest, I generally don’t like the genre and don’t understand how to have fun with it), especially how it’s implemented here: you always go through the same identical levels without any variety, fighting always the same boss at the end of each “world”. Combat against bosses is fine, but normal encounters feel entirely out of your control and just rely on stats. I know it’s an early access game, but I don’t expect these issues to be fixed, as they seem to be core to the design of the game.

Another game I played was Soulstice. This one was so average it kinda made me have a small existential crisis about how art and capitalism can’t really coexist. I heard that the story is good, although I didn’t get far enough to be able to judge it, and the core gameplay is fine but not particularly interesting, although ruined by a terrible fixed camera. I might be over thinking this, and it’s probably a bias of mine, but knowing who the developer is, I can’t help but feel like the game is more product than art. Overall the game feels soulless, it doesn’t have any original idea and what’s there is just bland. It gives me similar vibes to gacha games that uncreatively copy another game’s gameplay.

Very interested in the controller, I might get it day one.

Kind of curious about the Frame. I’m not really convinced VR is going anywhere, but a fully wireless setup that can run (and probably more often stream) PCVR games seems interesting, if it’s not ridiculously expensive like the Index. Also Valve contributing to FEX could be useful for playing games on those Android emulators like Retroid’s, AYN’s etc.

Mainly played Project Diva and a bit of Sound Voltex on keyboard while I’m waiting for my controller.

Was hoping to play Unbeatable but unfortunately it got delayed last minute. Ended up starting Harvestella.

I finished Resident Evil: Village. I was a bit skeptical at first since I don’t really care for the more action RE games from 4 onward, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Other than that, I’m playing Project Diva. I’m trying to get past 8* extremes but I’m struggling with reading, especially when chords appear.

I spent a lot of time trying to set up Sound Voltex with wine and could only get it to work in Bottles using wine-ge, as otherwise gstreamer wouldn’t load the proper codecs. I ended up getting a spare drive and installing windows on it which I’ll keep around for situations like these.

Continuing Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, but mostly playing Ender Magnolia.

I played a bit of Resonance of Fate, but after realizing how repetitive the combat is, I kinda dropped it. I’m probably a bit burnt out on JRPGs too.

I too am in the mood for horror, so I’m playing Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water

Mostly played Resonance of Fate. The story is surprisingly slice-of-lifey and the character interactions are pretty charming. The gameplay tho is a bit dull. I’m 15 hours in and more or less have been repeating the same thing for each battle, so I’m not sure how long I’m gonna play.

Also just started Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon.

Finished Xenosaga Episode I. I enjoyed it, even if the combat started to grate on me towards the end.

Started Resonance of Fate. Combat and controls are a bit confusing, but it seems interesting. Unfortunately there’s a lot of annoying visual glitches when playing on my PC.

I’ve been jumping a bit between games.

I tired playing again a bit of No Man’s Sky, because of the new update and expedition, but it didn’t keep my attention.

I mostly ended up playing Phantasy Star Online, but suddenly stopped when I noticed how repetitive it was (after around 30 hours of playtime) and started questioning the point of playing it (I wasn’t not having fun, but it did feel a bit empty), and couldn’t get back to it.

I was still looking for a similar Sci-Fi+Fantasy setting so i just started playing Xenosaga.

Finished Persona 3 Reload. Overall it’s a good remake, although it’s not necessarily better than FES.

Started Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I don’t particularly like the combat system, I think the ones in the other games were more interesting, but I’m interested in the story.

Played Slay the Princess. I liked the idea and what it was trying to do, but never really vibed with it. Without spoilers, I have some issues with how you progress the game which made me feel detached from the characters.

Playing Citizen Sleeper. Haven’t finished it yet but I’m liking the stories.

Also playing a bit of Phantasy Star Online on the Ephinea server. Playing as HUnewearl, no idea what I’m doing but it’s fun.

Finishing Persona 3 Reload. Story-wise it’s still my favourite among the (modern, at least) Persona games and I liked the new additional events. For the gameplay, I’m disappointed that it’s P5 system again and the new mechanics (theurgies) are overpowered. The game is a bit too easy, even on merciless.

Played a bit of Trails of Cold Steel III, but it feels more of the same of CS1. I’m considering dropping the series, as I can’t imagine it’s ever going back to Sky/Crossbell quality.

Still playing Persona 3 Reload.

I also played Devotion. I’m not really used to horror so I struggled a bit starting it, but the story was good.

Ok thanks. I’m on AMD so I hope it’s not a problem.

I generally hear about better performance on linux due the os being lighter, except for issues with dx12 on nvidia. Is that what you are referring to?

Thanks. I didn’t know about Bottles, that seems useful (mostly for non game software I guess).

Finished Final Fantasy XVI. I liked the story. The gameplay tho was serviceable at best and started getting really boring for the last 20 hours.

Started Persona 3 Reload. Played FES a few years ago and loved it. I like the new additions like Linked Episodes and the fully voiced Social Links. I kinda wish the combat kept the “tactics” from the PS2 games, but instead it’s just P5’s with a few things from SMTV. Also some of the cutscenes are a downgrade from the original, as I think they based them on the Portable version.

Finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and found it really disappointing.

I did like the idea of the whole story, but overall I didn’t really care about anything. The prologue and the initial parts of act 1 where really strong, but after a while it wasn’t really doing it for me. It picks back up right at the end, but the events there feel rushed, and while I do like where it goes, it didn’t really vibe with me.

The combat on the other hand is a mess. The real time defensive actions are overpowered, as they completely prevent damage, so the only meaningful stats and equipment become the ones that increase the damage you deal. Before the end of act 1, I reached the damage cap on single hits and very quickly after that I reached it on multi hit moves. The enemies also follow the nonsensical animation design of Elden Ring where they hold a pose, twitch and feint, trying to get you to react earlier, which I just don’t find fun.

Music was great tho, and I like the aesthetic even if after a while the environments got samey.

I’m occasionally playing Fantasy Life i, but mostly played Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s DLC. I think I liked it more than the original game, although it could not exist without it.

I started Claire Obscur: Expedition 33. I really like the setting, presentation and aesthetics. I’m not entirely sold on the real-time defensive mechanics in combat, I think they remove more than they add, but I do really like how each character has their own unique gimmick, which is something that’s sorely lacking in JRPGs.

Finished playing the Futures Connected extra story of Xenoblade Chronicles. It was OK as a short epilogue, but I wish the story explored more of

I’ve started the Torna DLC for Xenoblade Chronicles 2. I’m not sure sure if I wanna play it right now as it looks really bad in handheld, especially on Switch 2, where there’s both the bad resolution (I think it’s like 540p or less?) and the colors are fucked. I might wait a bit hoping a patch is released.

I’ve also started Fantasy Life i. It’s pretty fun, it kinda reminds me of FFXIV with how the job system works. I do wish there was a bit more complexity in crafting, but it’s still fun and there seems to be a lot to do.

That’s true! I hadn’t though about it, but it does feel a lot like when I tried optimising City Escape in Generations. Probably even faster paced since, you rarely need to slow down when driving.