General Videogame Thread

[SebastianBlue]

Is anybody else here looking forward to Starfield? If it lives up to its hype, it may well be the only game I’ll be playing for the rest of my life!

Hype and Bethesda though. I'll be giving it a week or 2 after release to see what people are saying.

I'm really hoping it lives up to the hype Bethesda's last few offerings have been poor in comparison to Skyrim, Oblivion, Fallout 3/NV

Absolutely Diablo 4 has been such a let down, kids go back to school and Starfiled is released perfect week, think I’ll be on it a while.

Gutted this won't be on ps5, think Skyrim is my fav game of all time and hope this lives up to it.

Starfield essentially has to be good now otherwise Bethesda is likely fucked given the disasterous Fallout 76 foray, controversial Microsoft acquisition (which lead Starfield to being a Xbox/PC exclusive, significantly limiting their player base), they’re involvement in the truly woeful Redfall release, and the recent revelation that Elder Scrolls 6 is years away despite being announced five years ago.

I have been a massive Fallout and ES fan since the early days, playing every title and subsequent DLC except Fallout 76, as they now have even me skeptical of their ability to produce good games. Even their claims about how they have “rebuilt the creation engine”—which began to show its age with Fallout 4, before fully demonstrating it needed a triple bypass and a hip replacement with F76—seem highly dubious, especially based on the admission that the game is locked at 30 FPS on Xbox X (meaning even ‘next gen’ console hardware will struggle with it). Recommended specs for PC 4k are very hefty, as well, so even my RTX 3050 Ti and i5-12500H will struggle to consistently hit 60 FPS, especially as I run on an ultra widescreen 21:9 at 2560x1080.

It’s also on GamePass on release day, which itself is highly suspect, given that’s usually been a Microsoft move when they believe unit sales are going to drop off a cliff after initial release.

Still, as an old school Bethesda RPG fan, I am hoping that all of the trepidation is for not, and Starfield is truly “Skyrim in Space”, not only in style but in quality and substance.

Let’s hope we all don’t take an arrow to the knee.

 

[SebastianBlue]

I'm really hoping it lives up to the hype Bethesda's last few offerings have been poor in comparison to Skyrim, Oblivion, Fallout 3/NV

New Vegas was made by Obsidian, which is funny enough why it is considering by many to be the best game in the Fallout series.

If you haven’t played it already, I highly recommend their newest original IP ‘The Outer Worlds’, which is—ironically—often referred to as ‘New Vegas in Space’. It also has several decent DLC, so it is an extended play and well worth the investment, especially as it is on GamePass now.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Starfield essentially has to be good now otherwise Bethesda is likely fucked given the disasterous Fallout 76 foray, controversial Microsoft acquisition (which lead Starfield to being a Xbox/PC exclusive, significantly limiting their player base), they’re involvement in the truly woeful Redfall release, and the recent revelation that Elder Scrolls 6 is years away despite being announced five years ago.

I have been a massive Fallout and ES fan since the early days, playing every title and subsequent DLC except Fallout 76, as they now have even me skeptical of their ability to produce good games. Even their claims about how they have “rebuilt the creation engine”—which began to show its age with Fallout 4, before fully demonstrating it needed a triple bypass and a hip replacement with F76—seem highly dubious, especially based on the admission that the game is locked at 30 FPS on Xbox X (meaning even ‘next gen’ console hardware will struggle with it). Recommended specs for PC 4k are very hefty, as well, so even my RTX 3050 Ti and i5-12500H will struggle to consistently hit 60 FPS, especially as I run on an ultra widescreen 21:9 at 2560x1080.

It’s also on GamePass, which itself is highly suspect, given that’s usually been a Microsoft move when they believe unit sales are going to drop off a cliff after initial release.

Still, as a old school Bethesda RPG fan, I am hoping thought all of the trepidation is for not, and Starfield is truly “Skyrim in Space”, not only in style but in quality and substance.

Actually been on Gamepass I suspect they will get a flurry of subscriptions which would outway normal sales, it’s part of the reason they bought them, expect similar things with Activision titles, no doubt Diablo 4 would’ve been on Gamepass had they got the deal through before it was released.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Actually been on Gamepass I suspect they will get a flurry of subscriptions which would outway normal sales, it’s part of the reason they bought them, expect similar things with Activision titles, no doubt Diablo 4 would’ve been on Gamepass had they got the deal through before it was released.

That’s not really happened with past GamePass day one titles (famously so in the industry, and now admitted by Microsoft in their FTC filings and monopoly case documents for their Activision acquisition). And with the Redfall day one release on GamePass (along with a few other poor titles), it has been marked as a sign the game may not be good enough to carry itself without the subscription base, meaning it is not going to lead to a lot of new users.

Now, perhaps Bethesda and Microsoft are confident Starfield will buck that trend—we’ll soon find out (if they don’t delay release again, that is).

I think we’ll actually know before release based on whether review code is made available in advance and if they embargo reviews until zero hour.

Bethesda really can’t afford to do another Fallout 76 (or, to reference another major player, a Cyberpunk 2077).

And given the recent backlash against the changes Blizzard have made to Diablo 4 since release, I imagine it’ll end up on GamePass before too long, as well.

Studios acquired by Microsoft are having a lot of trouble not shooting themselves in the foot at every available opportunity these days.

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

Baldurs Gate 3 later.....

In my youth I would probably sink hundreds of hours into this but don't really have the time anymore. My Steam library is full of games I haven't even downloaded yet.

Will probably still get BG3 since I loved the first two so much, and I'm such a Forgotten Realms nerd.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

In my youth I would probably sink hundreds of hours into this but don't really have the time anymore. My Steam library is full of games I haven't even downloaded yet.

Will probably still get BG3 since I loved the first two so much, and I'm such a Forgotten Realms nerd.

122GB download. The game is supposed to be absolutely massive. Average playthough is around 100 hours

Over 170 hours of fully voice cutsences and there are around 17,000 different possible endings

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

122GB download. The game is supposed to be absolutely massive. Average playthough is around 100 hours

Over 170 hours of fully voice cutsences and there are around 17,000 different possible endings

And no pre-download either. Might have to upgrade from my 56k modem......

 

[Double R]

Is anybody else here looking forward to Starfield? If it lives up to its hype, it may well be the only game I’ll be playing for the rest of my life!

Not one bit. Skyrim is my favourite game ever and still royaly pissed off Bethesda sold out to Microsoft, depryving Playstation owners of any future Elder Scrolls, Fallouts or Starfield.

 

[zebbemacahan]

Not one bit. Skyrim is my favourite game ever and still royaly pissed off Bethesda sold out to Microsoft, depryving Playstation owners of any future Elder Scrolls, Fallouts or Starfield.

Yeah, I can agree on that console exclusives suck. Every game should be avaliable everywhere. Can’t understand why not, it should ensure that more copies of a game gets sold.
Would have loved God of War and Spider-Man on my Xbox…

 

[SebastianBlue]

Baldurs Gate 3 later.....

Definitely giving strong Divinity: Original Sin II vibes, unsurprisingly.

 

[Double R]

Yeah, I can agree on that console exclusives suck. Every game should be avaliable everywhere. Can’t understand why not, it should ensure that more copies of a game gets sold.
Would have loved God of War and Spider-Man on my Xbox…

I dont mind console exclusives per se, Its when a franchise builds up a loyal fanbase and those fans help build their brand and product up, only for them to sell out and leave more than half of us high and dry that sucks.

 

[Kompany Car]

”Another settlement needs your help. I’ll mark it on your map.”

So many settlements I helped in Fallout 4 after being chased down by Preston, so much time that never comes back…

The art was to do the Nuka World DLC and piss him off by creating settlements for Raider gangs.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Definitely giving strong Divinity: Original Sin II vibes, unsurprisingly.

Has anyone started it yet?

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Has anyone started it yet?

Played about 4 hours so far. Its good, really fucking good. If you've played the Divinity series its pretty much the same but with the D&D 5th edition ruleset. So many choices its unbelievable. You can fight,snake or talk your way out of any situation depending on your stats. The voice acting it superb and the world itself is fantastic and its just great to wander around as your always finding someone and it feels natural.

My only grip is that there's a lot of trail and error as one mistake can completely wipe your party so save scumming is a must really but its fun trying different things for the same situation.

Its also a very tough game with lots of party and inventory management and loads of stats to look at and try and get your head round.

If you've never played D&D before I would definitely recommend watching a few beginners guides on youtube before you start to get the basics as the game really does throw to in.

Overall highy highy recommended

 

[SebastianBlue]

Played about 4 hours so far. Its good, really fucking good. If you've played the Divinity series its pretty much the same but with the D&D 5th edition ruleset. So many choices its unbelievable. You can fight,snake or talk your way out of any situation depending on your stats. The voice acting it superb and the world itself is fantastic and its just great to wander around as your always finding someone and it feels natural.

My only grip is that there's a lot of trail and error as one mistake can completely wipe your party so save scumming is a must really but its fun trying different things for the same situation.

Its also a very tough game with lots of party and inventory management and loads of stats to look at and try and get your head round.

If you've never played D&D before I would definitely recommend watching a few beginners guides on youtube before you start to get the basics as the game really does throw to in.

Overall highy highy recommended

Thanks. Yeah, I have played (and finished) both Divinity I and II (the second fairly recently), and have some experience with D&D, but I am not sure I want to dive in right before Starfield is meant to be released… but I may just do it anyway. ;-)

 

[bluetonium]

Just been put on to a hilarious point and click game, The Procession to Cavalry. Highly recommend to any Monty Python fans out there.

Thinking of starting sniper elite 5 as it's on ps plus. Would be all over Baldur's Gate 3 but not paying £50 for any game!

 

[Blue Maverick]

Just been put on to a hilarious point and click game, The Procession to Cavalry. Highly recommend to any Monty Python fans out there.

Thinking of starting sniper elite 5 as it's on ps plus. Would be all over Baldur's Gate 3 but not paying £50 for any game!

Sniper elite 5 is ok did it last year on Gamepass whilst laid up with my back.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Baldurs Gate 3 is just magnificent. 20 hours in and I've just scratched the surface with it. Everything from the story,combat, dialogue is just brilliant.

Takes a bit to get used to the mechanics if you've never played D&D but once you get past that its absolutely brilliant

Not only is it the best game Ive played this year but its the best game I've played in the last 5 years. Its that good

 

[crooky]

Baldurs Gate 3 is just magnificent. 20 hours in and I've just scratched the surface with it. Everything from the story,combat, dialogue is just brilliant.

Takes a bit to get used to the mechanics if you've never played D&D but once you get past that its absolutely brilliant

Not only is it the best game Ive played this year but its the best game I've played in the last 5 years. Its that good

As good as PES 4?

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

Played about 4 hours so far. Its good, really fucking good. If you've played the Divinity series its pretty much the same but with the D&D 5th edition ruleset. So many choices its unbelievable. You can fight,snake or talk your way out of any situation depending on your stats. The voice acting it superb and the world itself is fantastic and its just great to wander around as your always finding someone and it feels natural.

My only grip is that there's a lot of trail and error as one mistake can completely wipe your party so save scumming is a must really but its fun trying different things for the same situation.

Its also a very tough game with lots of party and inventory management and loads of stats to look at and try and get your head round.

If you've never played D&D before I would definitely recommend watching a few beginners guides on youtube before you start to get the basics as the game really does throw to in.

Overall highy highy recommended

I've only just played a couple of hours. As a BG1 and BG2 veteran I feel sure I will love it. I don't love the camera setup though. I've only played a little of Divinity though so people who are used to that won't really bother so much with the camera.
I feel like the game is teasing me about looking up but won't let you do it. I daresay I'll get used to it.