With October well under way and the dry summer months now in the rear-view mirror, the number of quality games coming out is really starting to pick up. We intend to tell you about which of them we’ve been playing in a little piece we call What We Played, which is where we catch you up on what the staff have been playing over the past week. Let’s get right to it.
Dom checked in first and started his week with Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul, and Elite: Dangerous on Xbox One. He says the former can be fun at times but the latter is “absolutely enthralling,” which he explains in his review. He’s also been playing Rock Band 4 for review, and he’s played bits of Etrian Mystery Dungeon while on the road, which he says in a good dungeon crawler. Finally, he picked up Alien: Isolation on the cheap and is getting ready to dive into that next week.
Tuffcub has still been playing Destiny, and though I think he’s still enjoying it, he did mention that it’s more complicated now than it used to be. Next he picked up the second season of The Walking Dead, and says he likes it much better than the first mostly because of the progression of Clementine’s character, but he also said it’s starting to be a bit too much of people arguing for no reason. Finally, he got his hands on Transformers: Devastation right at the end of the week, so you’ll likely be reading his thoughts on that very soon.
Dave checked in next and reported that he’s been playing Tri Force Heroes, Chibi Robo Zip Lash, and Disgaea 5. But the real story from him was his epic battle against Dom in Blood Bowl 2. Here’s how it went down:
The inaugural friendly between the Oxford Piggers – a Dwarf team managed by myself and some High Elf default team managed by Dom was a heated affair. Many elves got injured in the first half, but thanks to some strong defending, the game was tied by half time.
The second half went much the same way, Dwarves beating up Elves and stealing the ball. However a fumble by one dwarf when trying to pass the ball sent it off the pitch before the crowd flung it the other side of the pitch. A swift try later and a desperate yet fruitless fight back later and the game ended 1-0 to the High Elves. The dwarves were so disappointed, they flogged the guilty player who threw the game into the crowd, who promptly introduced his face to their boots, repeatedly.
Elsewhere, Jim has been button-mashing his way through Samurai Warriors 4-II which he still can’t get his head around. Although hyped up as a definitive version of the game, its missing features had him thinking otherwise. Next to that he’s had time for some Metal Gear Online, as well as his mandatory dose of FIFA 16 (prescribed by his house-mates, of course). To round out the week he’s also been plugging away at Mafia II with the end now in sight.
Finally we’ve got Kris and Stefan. Kris spent his week with Prison Architect, which he says “makes you ask real questions of yourself, and is complex in a very smart way.” As for Stefan, he spent his week with Destiny, and reported that it’s been a “real and time consuming struggle to beat Oryx on occasions.” He also played some of the Star Wars: Battlefront beta, which you can read all about here.
As for me, I didn’t have a lot of time again but I did manage to beat Mad Max. Ultimately I thought it was a good game but there was a lot more stuff in it than I wanted to do. Then I started playing Cities: Skylines for the first time, which seems like a fun and very competent city builder. I’ve also got the Star Wars: Battlefront beta queued up, which I’m extremely excited to play.
Now that you’ve heard from us, it’s time for you to weigh in. We imagine you’ve been playing a lot of the same games we’ve been playing, so tell us all about them, along with anything new you’ve come across. If you’ve been playing the same old thing you told us about last week, well we still want to hear about it, so don’t hesitate for a second to head to the comments and chat us up.
DividSmythe
For me one played lord of GTA as usual. I’ve also feel in love with the wonderful Ps+ game Super Meat Boy and its Banff on control system. I’ve also really enjoyed Star Wars Battlefront beta but alley from that not much else apart a little go on PES.
Eldave0
Wow. Auto-correct really gave you the middle finger there didn’t it… ;)
DividSmythe
Well and truly I was just desperate to get back to GTA. I usually proof-read. I guess it got me well and truly.
Eldave0
Picked up a copy of FarCry4 last weekend and I’ve played it a lot this week (20 hours logged so far).
I’m not a huge fan of sandbox games but this one seems to get it just right. Not overly serious/silly, encourages exploration but also points you in the right direction.
Having a lot of fun with the game overall, though I always struggle with stealth in FPS games so a few missions have been a bit frustrating.
Can actually see myself getting the Platinum for this one, which is rare for me these days :)
R1MJAW
Still doing Borderlands 2 co-op with Forrest and Pixel and Dying Light co-op with Forrest, Pixel and berzerka.
Been going round and round many times in F1 2015 getting the time trial trophies done, I think they went a bit overboard with those.
Most of my time this week has been with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, which I got the platinum for on Wednesday. I stand by my earlier statements, I think it’s actually pretty good and by no means is it extremely buggy or broken.
Started Super Meat Boy, I’m halfway through world 5. Fantastic game.
Played a little of Unmechanical, seems pretty good.
Avenger
Played the Battlefront beta for a few hours yesterday and today. It’s fun for a while, but the novelty wears quickly, and I’ve yet to see the Rebels win against the Empire at Hoth. It’ll probably be a bargain bin it for me.
Other than that, some BF4 online which is entertaining as always. GT6 has had some life injected back into it with the course creator as well.
double-o-dave
I thought the same thing with Battlefront. I’m unsure whether to buy the game or not as the novelty factor started to wear off after about an hour of playing the beta. Looks bloody great though.
wonkey-willy
very cleaver on the part of battlefront..its an average shooter but you feel drawn in by every childhood dream,blasting the shit out everyone as a stormtrooper..
peel off the skin and it just meh!
and i have yet to win a game on hoth and you never get a chance to drive the atat because once its taken it lasts the whole match grrrr
double-o-dave
Thats pretty much spot on.
I (or should I say we) actually managed to win a match as the rebels, but that is the only time I’ve witnessed it done – About 8 of us were continuously shooting the At-At towards the end for about a minute.
Eldave0
I think the reason the Rebels aren’t winning very often at the moment is because its not incredibly obvious what players should be doing.
I got into a decent lobby last night where people knew their stuff and our team won as the rebels 3 times.
Yes, ground troops shooting the AT-ATs when the shields are down is important, but the Y-wings are able to basically take them down in one hit using their tow-cables – it just takes a bit of practice.
If the Rebels can get 2+ Y-wings in the air, its basically game over for the Empire.
Personally I really like the game and am enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would.
Avenger
I was under the impression the uplinks had to be secured so that the Y-Wings could launch an attack to disable the AT-AT shielding. Once that happened, everyone from fighters to ground troops could damage the walkers for a limited period of time. I’ve not seen any tow cables involved, and I’d imagine it being pretty crazy from a Y-Wing. Snow Speeders would suit that job more. If this is wrong, then it is incredibly confusing.
hornet1990
Not very much as I’ve been away from home on a course. Only got to play the Need for Speed beta which was pretty disappointing and definitely a miss from me.
The graphics are very nice, and the FMV/gameworld transition is impressively almost seemless. But then the handling is horrible and drifting counter-intuitive (even after tuning, although tuning did improve it massively) and FMV died a death for a reason – it’s totally inflexible; especially noticeable when Spike got ribbed for being last despite the fact it was clearly me thanks to running headfirst into a concrete barrier right before the finish line. And as for the phone ringing every. single. minute… it’s way worse than GTA4 and that’s saying something!
The worst aspect though was by far the rubber-banding AI – I had one car whiz past me like a rocket, then almost instantly speed match another competitor (without breaking) just in front of me as I then drafted and breezed past both – WTH?!
So that’s two disappoint betas in a row – lets hope the Battlefront beta doesn’t go for the treble, but I’m not holding my breath…
ron_mcphatty
I’ve been playing MGSV, trophy hunting and ploughing through the side ops. I finished all the main missions last night, smashing the bits out of the Sehahalalathingpussy Extreme mission with some horrendously overpowered weapons, that was fun :)
I’ve also be playing the Battlefront beta, unlike Avenger I love it unreservedly! I hardly play online shooters and I’m crap at them anyway so the simple gameplay suits me well. It feels very old school and accessible so I’m just having fun being in Star Wars. The graphics and sound are especially impressive, I think the beta is worth downloading just so you cant stand on Hoth and watch the battle happen around you.
Pixel_nme
Well for me it’s been Borderlands 2 on Monday with Forrest an R1MJAW,some Tony Hawks 5 a very quick blast on LBP3 with Berzerka still seems a little laggy at points,Destiny with Forest and Toutski and bits and bobs of FIFA 16,a very tiny bit of Super Meat Boy and Started The Nathan Drake Collection and tonight should be Dying Light with R1M Forrest and Zerka.
double-o-dave
BF4, Driveclub (still can’t complete the challenge to get the 3rd Elite rank) and the Battlefront Beta.
I’m now deciding whether to pick up a copy of the Uncharted Collection on the way home – I know if I play it directly after playing the Battlefront Beta, the graphics aren’t going to look to impressive ;?
double-o-dave
* :/
Looks like in my previous post, I just invented a new face my accident.
Carrot381
;? Looks like you’re deep in thought whilst smoking a pipe. Bit like Satre :)
TSBonyman
The day off i set aside for playing The Witcher this week clashed with some other things i had to get done, but that’s ok as it’ll be nice and patched by the time i get back to it this weekend.
I completed The Fall, was surprised to discover that was only part one. It was a little bit short but had me scratching my head a few times and there was a cool twist at the end. Hopefully part 2 is on it’s way soon.
Picked up LBP3 in the October sale and dipped into the first few levels, delighted to see i could import all my collected items from the previous games too.
Unmechanical seems a nice laid-back puzzler, have only played a half hour yet.
I’ve reached level 20 in Super Meat Boy and i’m about to give up on it.
Broken Age is gorgeous and funny and i’ve enjoyed the hour or so i’ve played so far
i’m continuing to take advantage of the double-fame events for Driveclub, and have reached level 47 now. I really should get around to playing all the season pass stuff..
And i played the Star Wars beta last night, just the survival mission. Shooting mechanics seem pretty good, not as slick as Destiny maybe but good all the same. Environments look great but a bit bare. The survival mission isn’t something that would make me want to buy the game but i’ll give the mp a go, on the unlikely chance that that will convince me.
Carrot381
Bloodborne all week for me. I’ve found myself slowly becoming enchanted and rather addicted to it.
Managed a few more bosses and the first chalice dungeon with no big problems but the second chalice boss is driving me potty. Away from home for the weekend so my stress levels should return to normal range.
What a game though :)