The "What are you playing?" topic.

[caravel]

On the PC I'm debating between Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil or Icewind Dale.

I picked up the Doom3: RoE expansion for £2 last week, I've been playing that the last few evenings. It's "Doom" what more can I say? If you like Doom3, you'll like it, if not then I suppose you won't. For me the main attraction is that I can run it (and Quake4) under Linux flawlessly.

Do you mean the original Icewind Dale? I still have that one myself.

[Gregoshi]

Caravel, I played Doom 3 and liked it - scared the wits out of me a few times. I got Resurrection of Evil two Xmas' ago but never loaded it. Regarding Icewind Dale, it is the Ultimate Collection version with Icewind Dale, Heart of Winter and Icewind Dale 2. I picked it up real cheap 3-4 years ago. I played it briefly but was having trouble getting used to the interface, so I put it down. I think I'll go to RoE for a change of pace.

[CountArach]

EUII: IN with Magna Mundi Platinum. I'm just not sure who to play as... probably either one of the Austrian Duchies, one of the Italian minors or England.

[TevashSzat]

I've played Doom 3 a while back and while it is pretty scarry at first especially when the monsters or whatever pop up behind you the first few times, it gets really repetetive. Everything is really predictable. I remember one time when I just finished a tough area and found a bunch of health/ammo and stuff like that and I thought once I pick everything up, something is going to jump up behind me and yep...thats exactly what happened

[caravel]

Caravel, I played Doom 3 and liked it - scared the wits out of me a few times. I got Resurrection of Evil two Xmas' ago but never loaded it.

I'm finding RoE ok so far. It's not a game I'd rush out and pay full price for on it's release date, but it passes the time. The "artifact" (RoE's version of the "Soul Cube") is quite interesting because it slows down time and allows you to take on some of the faster enemies with more ease. Also it is needed for passing through some of the traps in the excavation site.

Regarding Icewind Dale, it is the Ultimate Collection version with Icewind Dale, Heart of Winter and Icewind Dale 2. I picked it up real cheap 3-4 years ago. I played it briefly but was having trouble getting used to the interface, so I put it down. I think I'll go to RoE for a change of pace.

I've never played IWD2, only IWD and HoW. I used to love those but I haven't played it now in over 4 years. It's a great game but you need to play it turn based style. If you don't set it up to pause on various events you will lose every time.

I've played Doom 3 a while back and while it is pretty scarry at first especially when the monsters or whatever pop up behind you the first few times, it gets really repetetive. Everything is really predictable. I remember one time when I just finished a tough area and found a bunch of health/ammo and stuff like that and I thought once I pick everything up, something is going to jump up behind me and yep...thats exactly what happened

Well like any other game it's predictable and formulaic. Any FPS game is like this. Personally I find it slightly more challenging than some other FPS due to the physics model and sheer aggression of the enemy. In most FPS games you can outflank and surprise the enemy in Doom3 the enemy still seem to surprise me. I was so caught out earlier when cover from a ventilation duct jumped off the wall. I thought "typical jumpy tricks". Then the enemy came from the opposite direction a few seconds later. The game design is good, graphics are superb but what Doom3 lacks is re-playability, because once you've been to area A and zombie B has jumped out from behind instrument panel C then next time you know what to expect. Some better MP support with bots and more configuration options would have been better and extended this game's life.

[Husar]

Titan Quest: Immortal Throne

That game has so much content in a way.

[Kekvit Irae]

Titan Quest: Immortal Throne

That game has so much content in a way.

[Fragony]

I've played Doom 3 a while back and while it is pretty scarry at first especially when the monsters or whatever pop up behind you the first few times, it gets really repetetive. Everything is really predictable. I remember one time when I just finished a tough area and found a bunch of health/ammo and stuff like that and I thought once I pick everything up, something is going to jump up behind me and yep...thats exactly what happened

Try Quake4, is what Doom3 should have been. Quake 4 is is really an exceptional 'pure' shooter with plenty of scares.

[Kekvit Irae]

After playing through Titan Quest over and over again with my Templar, I finally managed to drag myself away and try out Civilization IV: Colonization. God, what a mistake. The game sucks harder than someone trying to eat a thick milkshake through a straw. I would rather play the original Sid Meier's Colonization than this crap. Uninstalled, shelved, and forgotten about already.

[naut]

Caravel, I played Doom 3 and liked it - scared the wits out of me a few times. I got Resurrection of Evil two Xmas' ago but never loaded it. Regarding Icewind Dale, it is the Ultimate Collection version with Icewind Dale, Heart of Winter and Icewind Dale 2. I picked it up real cheap 3-4 years ago. I played it briefly but was having trouble getting used to the interface, so I put it down. I think I'll go to RoE for a change of pace.

Icewind Dale is short, but sweet. I enjoyed it immensely. Not as much as I enjoyed Baldur's Gate, but nonetheless very fun game, with a nice plot and gameplay.

[CountArach]

EUIII: IN with Magna Mundi Platinum.

I started as Styria (Austria Minor) and decided to try to unite the Austrian lands. Unfortunately Milan inheritted my throne and as such I stopped being Emperor - I also lost the ability to delare war. So after about 12 years of Italian rule a monarch died and I was free again. I have since united more lands and in the last couple of years of playing (mid 1480s) I have become Emperor again. Things are looking up

Of course the Reformation is about to begin...

[Husar]

After playing through Titan Quest over and over again with my Templar, I finally managed to drag myself away and try out Civilization IV: Colonization. God, what a mistake. The game sucks harder than someone trying to eat a thick milkshake through a straw. I would rather play the original Sid Meier's Colonization than this crap. Uninstalled, shelved, and forgotten about already.

I tried the demo of that on the PS3 and it did indeed seem pretty bad for such a game.
And yesterday I beat Typhon for the first time with my hoplite character in TQIT, that was pretty awesome because my other pet-hoarding char had absolutely no chance against Typhon but my "hoplite"(hunting/defense) is pretty good with a bow as well and that helped a whole lot.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I've been playing a World War II first person shooter called "Red Orchestra" that is among the most accurate game I've ever seen. With called in artillery strikes, manned tanks (multiple panzermen), etc. it's a great game, but I've taken it to a new level. I am an infantry commander in a realism unit and having 1-life matches are tactical and most exciting! Sounds like a sale pitch, but it's true. Anyone else play Red Orchestra?

[Kekvit Irae]

I tried the demo of that on the PS3 and it did indeed seem pretty bad for such a game.
And yesterday I beat Typhon for the first time with my hoplite character in TQIT, that was pretty awesome because my other pet-hoarding char had absolutely no chance against Typhon but my "hoplite"(hunting/defense) is pretty good with a bow as well and that helped a whole lot.

Pet characters have a much easier time in Epic and Legendary than they do in Normal mode. The reason for this is because monsters (including pets) get 4x health in Epic and 10x health in Legendary.
But just because you beat Typhon doesn't mean you're going to breeze through Act 4. You will die. A lot. Especially if you have very little Vitality resistance.

[Husar]

Pet characters have a much easier time in Epic and Legendary than they do in Normal mode. The reason for this is because monsters (including pets) get 4x health in Epic and 10x health in Legendary.
But just because you beat Typhon doesn't mean you're going to breeze through Act 4. You will die. A lot. Especially if you have very little Vitality resistance.

I noticed the latter, my problem with pets is beating Typhon, my character just seems stuck at that point, the little health I can detract he will literally suck out of me again, maybe my other char can find some good items to boost the pet attacks or something else that might be of help there.
But yes, the guy who beat Typhon is dying a whole lot in Rhodes now.

[Kekvit Irae]

Even if you have two +petdamage rings, a +petdamage amulet, and a +petdamage staff, your minions are going to get creamed by bosses. Oddly enough, when I played a Summoner (Earth+Nature), I had no problems with bosses. This was mainly because I had a nearly-maxed Core Dweller (tanks for the win!) and Heart of Oak. I started with Earth, gained my Core Dweller, and completely ignored Nature until I nearly maxed him out. Once I got two or so points into each of his synergies (completely ignore Wildfire, it sucks), I pump points into Nature and Heart of Oak. Metamorphosis and Heart of Oak gives +%health to your Core Dweller (HoO also gives YOU the health boost too), making your Core Dweller an unstoppable force. Completely ignore your wolves until Epic, when they can finally be useful.

Here's another tip for Nature vs bosses: Plague. Lots and lots of Plague. If you are playing a Soothsayer (Spirit+Nature), you will also want Deathchill Aura. These two combined will completely destroy the health of bosses, but are usually not as good on normal creatures. Avoid Ravages of Time unless you have the fanpatch; it's broken and does not work.

[frogbeastegg]

I've completed most of Lego Batman on my own; there's not been an evening where my boyfriend and I felt like playing it. All I have left to do is the secret hunting which makes up the various components of 100%, and the hero bonus mission. Truthfully, I've had enough. I'm not doing any more on my own; I don't find the game to be all that much fun. The Lego formula is worn out and in need of some work. Issues which were slightly irritating in the original lego Star Wars are maddening here - this is the fifth game in the series. The moronic partner AI, slippery platforming and frequently bothersome camera angles should have been addressed long ago.

I have been playing a lot of Civ4: beyond the sword. The game has changed a considerable amount since the last time I did much with it. It's been 2 years, 2 expansions and many patches, so that's hardly surprising.

This evening I started a game which has proven to live up to its gentle hype. A game I was dubious about getting. A game which has sat on my shelf since last March. A game which I picked up for the princely sum of £9.99 brand new solely on the basis of that reputation, and more than half doubted I would ever play. This game had medicore reviews. You won't see it being discussed very often. When you do, you'll see people saying it's one of the most enjoyable games of its type on the 360. It's a game from a genre which, with the exception of a few titles, I don't usually like.

I'm playing ... Conan. The God of War clone, not the MMORG.

Lopping heads off and watching them bounce about the screen is engaging enough that I don't quite find time to cringe at Conan's "I'm a male wish fulfillment fantasy from decades ago" world. The combat is highly enjoyable; lots of moves split across general moves, single sword, duel wield, and two-handed. Each move will be mastered when you have dispatched enough enemies with it, and that gives some small bonuses to you. The more you kill the more moves you can buy. Given that this is a 6-8 hour game I doubt there will be enough red runes to purchase every single skill on all of the trees, or enough enemies to master them on, so choosing a fighting style which fits you is important.

[Paradox]

Saints Row 2, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

I'll be getting Fable 2 and Warriors Orochi 2 next week.

[Xiahou]

I've been playing 'World of Goo', an awesome little game with tons of character. The puzzles are fun, but it's the presentation that really makes the game so much fun. Great music, and great artwork.

After some debate, I went with the PC version instead of the Wiiware version. The PC version costs $5 more, but its also DRM free, whereas the Wiiware version is obviously tied to whatever Wii it's downloaded on. Also, I thought Id probably have an easier time with the mouse than the Wiimote, although I hear from the reviews that both work quite well. The PC version doesn't offer co-op play like the Wii version does, but I probably won't be playing it with anyone regardless- so I thought I'd appreciate the ability to play it on any PC more.

Here's a demo for those interested.

[TevashSzat]

I've recently dug up my old version of KOTOR again and am playing through as a Light Scoundrel/Consular again

[Kekvit Irae]

After spending 30 minutes in Victoria: Empire Under The Sun, I have concluded that those 30 minutes were the worst I have ever spent on a game. As convoluted as it was, at least Hearts of Iron II had a tutorial.
Uninstalled, deleted, shelved.

Now working on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl.

[seireikhaan]

Europa Universalis III: In Nomine

Currently playing out the Ming. Colonized most of S/E Asia and pacifica, annexed Manchuria, Oirat Horde, Tibet, Mongols, most of Indonesia and Malaysia, Swahili-land and vassalized most all of East Asia, sans Japan, by 1680. On the domestic front, I've just managed to totally westernize(got some incredibly lucky stabilizing events during the process that netted me +3 stability in all just by themselves), and I'm currently ranked numero 2.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[naut]

After spending 30 minutes in Victoria: Empire Under The Sun, I have concluded that those 30 minutes were the worst I have ever spent on a game. As convoluted as it was, at least Hearts of Iron II had a tutorial.
Uninstalled, deleted, shelved.

The learning curve in that game is ridiculously steep. I enjoy it though, but only in small doses.

[seireikhaan]

I thoroughly enjoy Victoria. Took awhile to get it down, but once I did, I found the whole thing quite enjoyable. Not quite like playing Mount and Blade where I could just keep going forever and ever, but it can occupy plenty of my time.

But yes, the curve is quite steep. I don't think 30 minutes is nearly enough to get a good feel for the game.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

The key to Victoria is to start slowly and not take on too many challenges. If you have to, cheat in your first few games as you learn to balance things, and gradually break the habit once you master things.

[frogbeastegg]

This weekend was going to be my Fable II and Dead Space weekend. I had gotten all cautiously excited, and the prospect served as the light at the end of the tunnel throughout a hellish week at work. The Royal Mail have managed to my copy of Fable II. It should have arrived yesterday and didn't. Today I got a card pushed through my door; they tried to deliver and got no answer. Now I have to wait until Monday before it can be collected. Yay. Better yet, it's a standard DVD case, and they've pushed scores of those through my letterbox without problems over the years.

So it's Dead Space. Which I'm sure will be fine and good. :sigh: Not the same though. I've still got Conan to finish; that will serve as my flavour break from deep space killer mutant freak things.

[TevashSzat]

This weekend was going to be my Fable II and Dead Space weekend. I had gotten all cautiously excited, and the prospect served as the light at the end of the tunnel throughout a hellish week at work. The Royal Mail have managed to my copy of Fable II. It should have arrived yesterday and didn't. Today I got a card pushed through my door; they tried to deliver and got no answer. Now I have to wait until Monday before it can be collected. Yay. Better yet, it's a standard DVD case, and they've pushed scores of those through my letterbox without problems over the years.

So it's Dead Space. Which I'm sure will be fine and good. :sigh: Not the same though. I've still got Conan to finish; that will serve as my flavour break from deep space killer mutant freak things.

At least you can play those games...

My computer has now deteriorated to the point that it can't either play any new games or can only do so with everything turned down and it is still pretty bad.....So, I'm stuck replaying all of my old games until I buy my new laptop. I've already got a long long list of games that I'll want to play already and are out, but I can't....

[frogbeastegg]

They're all on my Xbox 360. Not that they would trouble my PC; there's a reason I dubbed it 'froggy's beast' back when I built it. What causes me difficulty is time; it's rather irksome to think that the better I do at my job the less time I have to enjoy myself. 3 years ago I was on a quarter of the money I'm on now, and had a couple more days off each week.

I doubt I'll be able to do anything much with Fable II until next weekend now, and that's assuming I don't end up playing Fallout 3 instead. In which case it will be waiting for weeks. Or months. You don't want to see my to-play pile. It's scary.

[TevashSzat]

I doubt I'll be able to do anything much with Fable II until next weekend now, and that's assuming I don't end up playing Fallout 3 instead. In which case it will be waiting for weeks. Or months. You don't want to see my to-play pile. It's scary.

Mine is getting pretty scary already too....Off the top of my head...

Bioshock
Mass Effect
Crysis
Far Cry 2
Fallout 3 (when it comes out)
X3 Terran Conflict
Dead Space (when it comes out)
NFS: Underground (when it comes out)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky

Easily 400 hours of game play at least there, even if I don't replay any games, which would be doubtful

Thats it....I'm locking myself in my house for a week once I finally get my laptop.....

[Husar]

FIFA 09 and more Titan Quest.

Titan Quest is a real timewaster, I've been dying through Hades on normal for many hours now, should be close to the end but the difficulty ranges from "ah, let him hack until he dies of old age" to "wham! dead...", with a few passages where either applies for a longer time.
But in one way or another the game keeps throwing new content at you, with the annoying exception that I found the babylonian (torso) armour three times now but didn't get any of the other parts...