General Games Discussion

LeVersacci wrote:I don't know why it took me this long to pick up RDR2 but hands down the best SP game i've ever played.

Witcher 3 next game to complete from my list before PS5 is out.

Play God Of War after Witcher if you have not yet. These three are the top 3 of this gen for most PS4 people I've seen.

I remember you being a Soulsborne fan. Sekiro from last year is great.

Speaking of which took a screenshot of my Rhaegar in Scholar Of The First Sin today.

replaying DS2?

he looks more like brienne imo

M99 wrote:

LeVersacci wrote:I don't know why it took me this long to pick up RDR2 but hands down the best SP game i've ever played.

Witcher 3 next game to complete from my list before PS5 is out.

Play God Of War after Witcher if you have not yet. These three are the top 3 of this gen for most PS4 people I've seen.

I remember you being a Soulsborne fan. Sekiro from last year is great.

Speaking of which took a screenshot of my Rhaegar in Scholar Of The First Sin today.

Already played GOW. I'll add that game to the list and check it out when I get there.

RealGunner wrote:replaying DS2?

he looks more like brienne imo

I never actually finished it. Had it on 360, then I moved countries, got the PS4 and Bloodborne. I never could get back into it after the faster pace of Bloodborne.

Also I really did not like it much the first time. I appreciate it now. The first parts are shit, the game keeps getting progressively better. The game really gets going when you reach Drangleic Castle. Endgame places like Dragon Aerie are gorgeous. And bosses like Vendrick and Ancient Dragon are awesome.

The early parts have uninspired environments (except for Heide Tower), makes the game difficult by just lazily multiplying enemies instead of good game design the series is known for (Belfry Gargoyles being a prime example of this but its especially prevalent in normal enemies) and poverty bosses like the Ornstein reskin.

Endgame is legit fantastic, just did the Giant memories today and that was great. Covenants are deeper, NPC quests are good though the characters I preferred in DS1 (Solaire the GOAT), and I am liking the story and lore too. Good job by the "B team"

Can't wait to play the DLC.

@LeVersacci mate if you get into and like Witcher make sure to play the DLC.

No thread on NBA2K

Seriously no one plays here on it even though so many NBA fans on GL ?

p.s. I've bought it, I like it even though I realize it's complicated

Playing through Persona 5 Royal, i remember now why this is top 3 this gen.

Ludicrously amazing game.

I’ll probably play Persona 5 Royal next. Right now, i just started on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and it at least looks and sounds amazing so far. It feels so odd to see Midgard like this.

https://imgur.com/a/Q4NRiVU

Tested almost 30 games and Infinity Engine games were the only ones that I couldn't get to scale 32:9 5120x1440.

Robespierre wrote:No thread on NBA2K

Seriously no one plays here on it even though so many NBA fans on GL ?

p.s. I've bought it, I like it even though I realize it's complicated

I am sure many used to play it but they all said it sucks

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Playing through Persona 5 Royal, i remember now why this is top 3 this gen.

Ludicrously amazing game.

Not sure if you know, but if wanna unlock the new part of the story, the Councillor confidant needs be at rank 9 by November.

Jay29 wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Playing through Persona 5 Royal, i remember now why this is top 3 this gen.

Ludicrously amazing game.

Not sure if you know, but if wanna unlock the new part of the story, the Councillor confidant needs be at rank 9 by November.

Yeah i looked up all the relevant new information about new stuff before i started.

Thanks though.

If you could NG+ with your Persona 5 save file, I'd buy it at full price.

#8

Game: Radiant Silvergun.
Year: 1998.
Genre: Shmup.
Publisher: Entertainment Software Publishing.
Developer: Treasure.



First things first, I am changing my rating system to a simpler 10 point system. Games that get above a 7 I fully recommend, and those that get below that are mostly a waste of time. That leaves the score of 7 to depend on your taste

Originally, I wasn't planning to review any import games for my Saturn Reviews series. However, the reputation of Radiant Silvergun was so glowing that I didn't realize that it never was actually released in the West. Apparently, the game was imported to a wide degree back in the day, so much that mainstream review outlets actually gate it glowing reviews.

So, in a way, I was tricked into reviewing this game by its lofty reputation, both breaking my no-import rule and my lack of proficiency with the genre. I am glad to be breaking both those rules now.

"I gave you life so you would make good progress. But you couldn't understand"

Being an imported title, I am immediately at a disadvantage to get anything from the story, which appears to be a respectable effort by Treasure. Starting with a great opening Anime sequence, the game aims to have some narrative pull, unlike some other purely Arcade Shmups (the Arcade version of this game forgoes the story).

At the beginning of each level, which for reasons I don't understand are not in a linear sequence (level 3 coming in before level 2), you can see that there is some narration to build up the story as well as dialogue between the game's characters.

From what I understood, there is a large prism monolith of some kind that is destroying Earth because of humanity's sins, which I guess based on the Anime shows of the time. As the pilot of the "Silvergun" aircraft, which is supported by a bigger aircraft piloted by a cool-looking old captain, you are tasked with stopping this prism monolith.

Again, my lack of Japanese language abilities significantly curtails my abilities to appreciate the game's story, but I am confident enough to know that it is acceptable window-dressing at most, as this is not the type of game to be driven by its narrative.

"Encountered an assailant"

No, this is the type of game to be driven purely by its action, and what sublime action it is. On the surface, this is just another vertical Shmup with all the genre's associated qualities. However, Radiant Silvergun differentiates itself with both its added complexity and its sheer competency.

Complexity in the game is in two forms:

First, there are many weapon options you have at the forefront. Immediately equipped with seven weapons, you don't worry about finding power-ups during the level. Instead, you need to learn how each weapon is best utilized, as that could be the difference between death and victory. Each weapon is useful in a certain situation and giving you access to all weapons at once allowed the developers to craft specific bosses and situations which force you to utilize different weapons, for example encouraging you to use the spread shot instead of the Vulcan or homing shots.

Second, this being a Treasure game, amazing bosses do not simply show up at the end of each level. Instead, the game is made-up 70% from bosses, as each level throws those amazing fights at you, each with their own unique twists and complexities.

As for competency, that is actually best demonstrated by the fact that this is one of the most accessible Shmups I ever played. It has a gentle difficulty curve before things quickly ramp-up in the second half, and it is built in a way that you feel every situation is escapable without the need to memorize patterns, only the skill to identify them during the fight. At least, that is what I felt before the final level, where things got chaotic, almost close to bullet hell levels of lunacy.

"Warning. No refuge"

Here is where I admit that I a not particularly good at the game. Sure, I beat it on Normal, but that was with extensive help from save-states. Wishing to get a clean and honest victory, I tried the game again at the easiest difficulty with the maximum number of stocks.

Unfortunately, I only reached half the fifth level before getting my first game over, depleting more than thirty lives in the attempt. It became obvious that I wouldn't be able to do it unless I dedicated serious practice time.

In the middle of massive fights with hundreds of bullets on screen, I was able to go into zen-like focus, evading and shooting my way out of impossible situations. Those moments showed me both that I had the ability to learn and augment the necessary skill, and that the game gave you ways out of impossible situations.

What usually turned me off the genre is still the same for Radiant Silvergun. This is not a game to be experienced or "beat". It is one to learn and to "master", always improving and gradually progressing. The game can take less than an hour to finish, yet it took me much more than that with save-state. However, I would bet that it would take weeks if not months in order to gain the necessary skills to actually finish the game with no cheats whatsoever.

"Be attitude for gain"

While Radiant Slilvergun may be regularly celebrated as one of the best Shumps on the Saturn, you know that it's not being so celebrated because of its looks.

That doesn't mean that is bad looking at all. Far from it, the juxtaposition of really well designed polygonal models into 2D backgrounds work surprisingly well, which is actually responsible for the silky smooth animation and the many incredible boss fights, many that change forms mid-battle in a variety of ways.

It is just that the 3D polygons don't look as good in comparison to the crisp sprites of the best looking Shmup games out there. However, it should be noted that the added animation possibilities of the polygons more than makeup for the relative visual downgrade.

The same can be said of the game's soundtrack, which is a solid work by the famed Hitoshi Sakimoto. The soundtrack is great at times, but many tracks bleed into each other without a lot of differences (which is especially jarring in a genre that demands repetition) and it doesn't always have the addicting energy of some other Shmup soundtracks, and here I am mainly thinking of the Thunder Force series.

In Conclusion:

Watching experts play the game on Youtube, I am astounded by the poetry in action, seeing these players consistently do things that I know can be done in the game (I managed my own share of wow moment), but doing it consistently throughout the game, playing with perfect focus.

Based on its ability to excite even a non-genre fan, Radian Silvergun is obviously a special game. It is accessible enough to pull you in, but there are such many complexities that you will need to dedicate serious time and energy to be able to conquer it.

Which, to fans of the genre, is perfectly acceptable because the game gives as much reward as you the effort you put into it, throwing more amazing boss battles at every point, true to the Treasure name.

Final: 8/10

Pros:

• Gives you all weapons from the start
  
• This is a fair but tough Shmup
  
• A million amazing bosses
  

Cons:

• I am not sure many will find it fair after the fourth level (VERY HARD)
  
• There is little variety in the music.
  

"Tips"
1- Learn the pros and cons of each weapon you have.
2- Use the sword to destroy the circular pink projectiles, this also charges up your super attack.
3- Use the super attack when you need to avoid nearly inescapable danger.
4- To upgrade a weapon, continue using it for an extended period until you see the weapon upgrade bonus.
5- Tap the spread weapon button repeatedly to create a shield in front of you.
6- Alternate tapping two weapons to fire a variety of projectiles.
7- To get the destruction bonus at the end of each boss, destroy the parts before destroying the main core.
8- The best way to evade bullets is to keep your eyes on your ship, not on the incoming bullets.

"Next Game"

So I ended up reviewing one import game for the Saturn Reviews series. Thankfully, that happened to one of the console's widely regarded "must-play" games, and I ended up liking it despite not being very good at it.

Next to be reviewed is one of the most famous Saturn games, Nights into Dream, which is at number 5 on the Retro Sanctuary list.

Stay Tuned

My days in Quarantine have been relatively been active and satisfying but do miss gaming and Dark Souls does strike a note.


Did anyone notice a noticeable difference between the original and remaster?

Going to begin 1-2 again now on PS4, of course. Then DS3 then Bloodborne, finally.

(latter two I've yet to play).

60 hours of Bannerlord behind, easily the best "game" of the last 5 years. Forget the stories and scripts, play the game.

ok zoomer

That wandering in the woods/dark? chain Q & Werewolf boss early on made me nearly quit Witcher

Went into that chain Q with no food and some dark lord 2 shotting me smh. Thank god for meditation

Also that Werewolf lmfao didn't expect a bootleg Demon Souls encounter. Had to google how to beat him

Great game. Velen > Skellige > Novigrad so far

Think that's the general consensus ^

Velen is just incredble. Never seen a game capture a war torn atmosphere as well as that. Even the monsters look starved most of the time ffs

It is yeah, it's not mine though. Much preferred later stuff from a quest, character and gameplay pov.

Also I'm Curious Versacci what Side Quests you are doing if any? I ask because unlike most games the side quests here are actually worth doing(especially ones related to main quest characters)and in some cases better than Main quests (they also connect back to the main quest)

Forgot how good modding community M&B had, in the last two weeks there's 456 mods published, compared 449 of Skyrim's. And the modding tools aren't even out yet. Warband had some amazing total conversion mods, yet developers said Bannerlord is going to be much more moddable.

This made me chuckle https://www.resetera.com/threads/sexist-realistic-talk-like-a-medieval-woman-bannerlord-mod-made-to-remove-female-empowerment-from-the-game.184254/

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Also I'm Curious Versacci what Side Quests you are doing if any? I ask because unlike most games the side quests here are actually worth doing(especially ones related to main quest characters)and in some cases better than Main quests (they also connect back to the main quest)

Only done a couple. Normally for RPG/Open world I really only do a few while finishing the main story.

RDR2 was the only one where I finished almost all the side quest since the game felt alive and the side quest were all different.

As for TW3. As long as it's the main characters i'll do some here & there but all the one from peasants/random chars will be ignored lol

Yeah i mainly mean the ones related to main characters, you're missing out on a lot if you ignore them tbh.

The game is a lot worse if you don't do them.

I've played RDR2 and Witcher 3 almost back to back and I can confirm that side quest in latter are much superior than the former.

PB announcing new game this year. Possibly ELEX 2?

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Yeah i mainly mean the ones related to main characters, you're missing out on a lot if you ignore them tbh.

The game is a lot worse if you don't do them.

Not arguing against this tbh I just cba. Will do some here & there but mainly the main story.
Haven't played any SP games the last 2 years besides GOW & Spiderman, so got a bunch of games to catch up. Will do a game maybe 2 then the 2 DLC.

Also i'm a MP guy you know that lmao. Would be playing clubs with MT & Tom now if MT wasn't ghosting us again