For the 1.5 other peeps playing or interested, just beat Returnal's 3rd biome, got hit with a sequence that made me think I was done, annnnnnd there is still meat on this bone after 25 hours played so far.

The original was good. I'll give this one a whirl sometime week.

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<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lX6CoWxwt5k" title="6 Minutes of Crime Boss: Rockay City Official Gameplay" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Looks like a better version of Payday with a 90's theme, launches on March 28th on Epic game store only. Preorder is 31.99, regular price is 39.99.

Why does that dude on the left look like Tom Brady?

LOL which one? Has a lot of big older stars in it but I didn't see Tom Brady.

I just finished 'The Evil Within 2'.

Wow, that was a good game with a storyline better than 98% of the movies that have been coming out in the last couple years. Great FPS action to boot.

It's on sale for $8 (80% off) on Stream right now.

Anyone play the closed beta for Diablo 4?

I downloaded the exoprimal open beta but haven't been motivated to even try it yet lol

I know what the game will be like, just waiting for the full release. I don't really care for open/closed beta gameplay and restarting etc.

Just purchased The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2 for PS4. Excited to play these games! Thank you for the recommend! :thumb:

I just finished my 2nd play thru of EW.....I've played both......I think you'll really enjoy them.

Outside of RE, it's my favorite horror games. Would love to see a 3rd version with improved graphics of the PS5.

What’s the verdict on Fallout 4 years later? It’s $9.99 on PSN right now and I’m nostalgic for a Fallout 3/New Vegas experience.

Not as good as 3/NV. I still had a good time playing, but once I was done, that was pretty much it. I didn't do multiple playthroughs like 3.

level 25 sorc and had a blast

im at level 14 on barb and its much slower and less fun~

I've never played the original (yet) but EW2 quickly became my favorite horror game of all time. As mentioned the story line is better than most movies and gameplay is fantastic.

You will not regret.

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if you have ps+ it's free under classics or something. I never played it though.

Returnal Review

https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.c...g?t=1676476643

Play video games long enough, and you'll come across that rare title that does something groundbreaking, something that makes you say "this is the game I would make". Maybe this was you in 2013 after the credits rolled on the PS3's masterpiece "The Last of U", which weaved narrative brilliance with engaging stealth mechanics.

FTL: Faster than Light
https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/a-deca...817cc6645c.png

As for me, FTL: Faster than Light was my first introduction into Roguelike's (or Lite). I was hooked on the idea that each run was different thanks to procedural generation. Though I continually got wrecked on easy mode, something told me to press on until I overcame the game's system of roadblocks, and what I found at the end was nirvana only felt by what I can describe as "accomplishment". It's that feeling you get when you build or make something you worked many hours on. Maybe it's completing your kid's treehouse, or perhaps you finally lost those 20 lbs. That's what beating a difficult roguelike feels like.

Staples of this genre include permadeath, tough as nails gameplay that forces you to improve to progress, and just a dash of gameplay mechanics magic that pulls you in for "just one more run". Most of these games also are low budget indie affairs that are constrained to look like a mid-90's playstation titles. We've already had timeless classics like FTL, Hades, Spelunky, and Enter the Gungeon. None of these featured graphics card melting visuals, pulse pounding sound design, or the kind of voice acting and direction that feels ripped from a summer blockbuster. Until Returnal that is.

AAA roguelikes are a unicorn. They haven't existed. Sure, some point to Deathloop, but that's just a horse with funnel on its head. No studio with deep pockets and publisher backing has taken a chance on designing a game where failure is part of its DNA, because most players want a power fatantsy in their video game, not an exercise in futility.

Selene Die On.

https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.c...g?t=1676476643

In Returnal, you assume the role of Selene, a United States Astronaut who crashlands on the mysterious planet of Atropos (also the name of the goddess of fate and destiny). Players are quickly introduced to the game's basic mechanics, and then they are quickly introduced to death. Only the upper crust of gaming pros are going to pick this game up, and start progressing right away. You'll be given an initial encounter that loudly yells "you aren't ready for this"!

Returnal at it's core a 3rd person action game. It isn't the plodding pace of titles such as Elden Ring or Resident Evil 4. This is a fast twitch affair with constant movement, well timed dashing, and white-knuckle reflexes. Those who bemoaned the incorporation of squeezing a left trigger to focus aim are going to love the shooting mechanics here. While that is still a feature, it's more than likely to get you killed. This game is about moving, avoiding, and laying down as many rounds as humanely possible (there is no ammo)!

I Love Lobber

https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets...jpg?1627686568

When did games stop being creative with their weaponry? Who can forget firing up Unreal Tournamet, and getting eviscerated by a flak cannon? Returnal sets its sights on engaging weapons, each viable to complete a run. You won't find an online consensus on which gets the job done, because they are all interesting and useful in different situations.

Each run starts with the SD-M8, your trusty and reliable sidearm. Small clip, but respectable damage and fast reloading. Unless you are willing to squeeze the trigger for semi-fire, you'll want to replace it quickly. I didn't mention this, but the game features an engaging reload mechanic similar to Gears of War (after a chamber is empty, simply pull the trigger again when a meter lines up in the sweet spot for an instant reload, miss and you got a jam).

Besides a basic pistol, you'll find weird hybrid weapons that function like an assault rifle, a shotgun, and even Rocket launcher that homes in. Then it gets stranger, like a gun firing caustic stomach acid, and a weapon that creates an ad hoc electric fence. The weapons are weird and varied, but satisfying to use, especially when paired an upgrade (or mutatator if you speak roguelike) that makes each unique weapon even more wacky and powerful.

It's Beautifully Dangerous

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploa...e-returnal.jpg

Atropos is a hauntingly beautiful locale. For those with a PS5 or powerful PC graphics card, you are in for a popcorn-munching particle effect palooza. The environments are filled with brooding ancient architecture not foreign to the Alien movie franchise. Same goes for the creatures that inhabit those environments. You'll fight 10-story tentacled monstrosities, sentient killer machines, and even corrupted versions of your past self. Livening these bleak landscapes will be all manner of colorful projectiles that, while distractingly luminous, must be avoided.

Returnal makes great use of 3d sound and music. The somber background melodies mix well with the thumping and visceral machinery of your weaponry. Half the reason it is so satisfying to unload a clip into a lumbering beast is because you can feel the thump-thump-thump of your high caliber tachyomatic carbine tearing the flesh from the monstrosities. I don't own a PS5 dual-sense controller, but word on the street is Returnal is one of the system-standard bearers for integrating its features.

If You Are Hearing This, You're Stuck Here Too

Is Returnal a perfect game? No, it has flaws. Those of us in the roguelike business know there are two versions of Roguelike fans: pre-Hades and post-Hades. What Hades did very well, is introduce a system of permanence with its between runs system of interaction in the underworld. Even if you weren't improving as well as you should along the difficulty curve, the fact that you could permanently upgrade and become stronger gave all players a fighting chance.

Returnal has very little in this regard. There are some permanent upgrades, but they are more tools that allow players to access the previously inaccessible. Your health isn't going to permanently increase between runs, your weapon damage will stay the same, and you'll always start with the pistol. It's a truly "git gud" flavor of experience.

So why proselytize about this game? Because I'm tired of watching gamers box themselves in with reheated leftovers of Assasins's Creed 12 and Call of Duty 20. We are what we consume, and it's rare for gaming companies to take a chance on a new IP, especially with the $$$'s involved. Returnal is certainly not for everyone, and the $60 price tag is steep. But most players should comfortably get 25+ hours of content wringed from it, which also includes coop and an endless tower mode. "Break the cycle" gamers, and try something new, so we can get new.

9.5/10

Hmm, thank you. At least it's only $10. Even if I hate it, I'm OK with it at that price.

They've got all kinds of new PS+ memberships now. I've only got the basic one that gets you 2 free games each month. Is that the one?

Looks amazing.

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I'm all in for this. Too many games on my list to play:

This
Dying Light 2
RE4 remake
Dead Space remake
Diablo 4
Returnal
Etc etc

ya that is the one. I think that free classics thing is going away in a month or two though but you can add them to your library and keep them as long as you have the ps+ subscription.

I'm with you on RE4, Dead Space, and Diablo IV. But I can tell you that Dying Light 2 was kinda disappointing.

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I really hope this is great, Prey is one of my all time favorite games.

I haven't turned on my PS5 in a month. There's just nothing out there I want to play right now.

You've outgrown gaming :)

You can place your PS5 in my home.

I think that might be the case. I just can't get excited to game anymore. I used to wake up every day wanting to play and I just don't know. The extent of my gaming recently has been playing casual games with my wife on Xbox.

It's good to take a break every now and then. When you are younger, you try out more games and have more free time. As you get older, you start curating more to find which genre(s) really excite you, but it also spaces out the time between releases you really enjoy. I can promise you'll likely get to play titles you enjoy in the future.

My list of types of games throughout my life has certainly narrowed, then again a couple new genres did popup but I've been through droughts for sure. This year is not one of those times. So many great games in my wheelhouse coming out then there are faves I can jump back into but get bored with because they lack new content.

Back in the day I used to love the rich RPG stuff now the stories are just too meh and I need the quickfix Roguelike or ARPG looter with satisfying visuals to really push me.

Also in the past I loved RTS games but there just aren't many in that genre, it's kind of dying. I would love for EA to redo Lord of the Rings Battle for Middle Earth but I doubt that ever happens.

Indie titles make it easy to find something to play, they've really changed the landscape of gaming.

Yeah dude, if no one listens to my recommendations, they should definitely listen to yours. You have nigh impeccable gaming tastes, and I don't throw that around often.

Haha thanks man, I think I just evolved as gaming has and it has certainly changed over the years. I know many don't like the genre but Looter Shooters are super fun and can be satisfying if you're into doing builds. Since I played games such as Diablo and other ARPG's doing builds in games like Division and such can be satisfying and can also be played solo or in friend only groups.

I'm doing Last Epoch right now and I haven't had this much fun certainly since Torchlight 2 and possibly even Diablo 2. Making satisfying builds that can clear close to if not the hardest content can be an extreme amount of fun and requires a lot of hunting.

You also have roguelikes such as Returnal or some card based battlers like Vault of the Void or Monster train that you can always hop into for more of the quickfix stuff. Libraries evolve so it seems I always have something to play or go back to. ;)

The only "shooter" I play is Far Cry.

I'm mostly into RPG's/action RPG's. I've never gotten into playing shooters, especially not online.

So yeah, gaming may have just passed me by.

Htismaqe doesn't know the joy of playing some chicken police.

Since I've never heard of "chicken police" you are indeed correct. :D

If I thought the new PGA golf game was gonna be as fun as the old Tiger Woods games used to be, I'd be all in for that. But I really can't wait for RE4. And Silent Hill 2 whenever the hell that comes out.

New PGA game runs at 30 fps which is just ass in this day and age.

I can Solo almost anything in Division and the gameplay loop in the open world is extremely satisfying. Then again I fell in love with Mass Effects cover shooter system so Division was the natural progression of that. It has some great min maxing and build diversity as well which is pretty much what I chase wandering around the HUGE open world. Never seen an open world game done nearly as well as Division.

Division 1 also had Survival which to this day is probably my favorite roguelike done right, I mean Prey Mooncrash is up there as well.

Sounds like I'm going to have to check out Division.

I'll stick to Hot Shots golf.........more fun.

I know most think it's just a military shooter, that is not the case. It IS online only but you don't need to group up for anything even legendary difficulty can be solo'd albeit with only the best builds and patience. The atmosphere in Division 1 is unrivaled, the gameplay mechanics in Division 2 are amazing as well. Like I said no one even really does the cover shooter stuff anymore and it's a shame.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVBK7BQVVZQ" title="The Division Survival - Full Run Solo PvE - Apr. 15, 2022 - No Commentary" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I miss me some Hot Shots, I still play it occasionally on the underrated PSP and Vita.

Your guilty pleasure video game title, i'll start:

Jurassic World Evolution.

Leisure Suit Larry

Ultimate Chicken Horse.

Lately I've been playing a lot of Peggle 2 with my wife. I'm a sucker for physics-based puzzle games.

Here is the open world on Division 2, so much fun to hop into time and time again.

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Lol WTF i googled that shit.

LMAO

LOL...some solid shit man!

So when you talk about "cover" are you talking about a slower-paced game with more emphasis on positioning and strategy than on mashing the jump button as fast as you can?

The whole series was pretty good and revolutionary for its time.

A couple of new ones recently came out, they aren't to bad.

Looks fun, but that is some serious bullet sponge battle mechanics. The enemy leader at the 12m mark took like 50+ headshots to kill, LOL.

Definitely strategy, but it depends on your build this chick mainly uses in your face rambo gear but you can play a cover skill build and do just as good. I like the slower paced stuff with more tactics. The baddies will flank you and use pretty good tactics as well. This isn't a mashup game it requires skill even to shoot straight, but your build definitely makes a difference. Also you gain SHD levels which give you additional crits/armor/skill haste and dmg etc.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7_3AteZqA0" title="SLAUGHTER LEGENDARY WITH THIS SKILL BUILD • THE DIVISION 2 • NINJA BIKE EXOTIC • CAPACITOR AR" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I like sniper games. I like Far Cry because I can take cover and snipe headshots. I just prefer tactics over reflexes/skill, especially at my age.

I absolutely suck at headshots but this game has you covered if you can snipe. The current season focuses on sniper builds and new sniper gear.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/feL4bcsWS8w" title="WHAT DOES THE BEST BUILD IN THE DIVISION 2 LOOK LIKE? RAW SOLO PVE GAMEPLAY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgnYXk1YfOk" title="The Division 2 | *BEST SOLO PVE BUILD* | GOD MODE, HOTSHOT | HIGH DMG, LEGENDARY DPS SNIPER BUILD" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Alright, I'm in. Maybe it can be my new time waster. If it's as easy to jump in and out as you say, I won't have to wait until I have a 3-hour block to get meaningful play time.

You will have to start at level 1 and play through the story but it's fun. The missions are amazing at least the first 10 or so playthroughs lolz. The missions on story difficulty are pretty easy as is most of the level 1 to 30 experience. You should be able to get the game and DLC for less than 10 bucks these days. I know Div 2 on Steam was like 8 bucks for quite a while. Enjoy it's a unique experience and one of my all time favorites. Might I also suggest Prey and the Mooncrash DLC, kind of a blend of Bioshock mixed with say Halflife 2.

Just a warning it does have Diablo style loot and can take a while to grind the best gear, it is after all an Action RPG pretty much.

Same here. I've got it and just waiting for some time.

And I'm loving Sons of the Forest. Great so far and addicting multiplayer.

It's an RPG and requires a lot of min/maxing at the endgame. You could technically just put it on normal or hard and wade through stuff but the item rolls would be less than 50% on everything. Heroic you get around 75% rolls on items and Legendary you can get around 100% but it's RNG of course. :D

Should be fun when Massive(Division Devs) release their new Star Wars game.

That was only Heroic, this is Legendary bullet sponges lolz

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4vsmlYXZ330" title="The Division 2 Legendary Skill Build w/ Tidal Basin Legendary COMPLETED - The Division 2 Skill Build" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I feel like that was a game I should have played but now it's probably too late. Usually if I don't start playing a multiplayer/pvp game on the day it starts, I'll never play it.

But wasn't there supposed to be a new division mmo or something like that? I definitely was interested but haven't heard anything in a while about it.

It's not too late lots of people started playing recently, seems like it's more popular now than it was the first 3 years of it's release. Division Heartland it's more of a shooter game and less to do with gear and rolls and such but it's not out yet. It's main focus will be pvp but it will have 2 pve modes as well. Division 2 still has new stuff every season and they're adding a new game mode in a couple months that will be a total roguelike.

This is the Raid stuff if you're into that kind of thing....

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWeDfcSzpkY" title="The Division 2: FULL IRON HORSE RAID WITH ALL BACKPACK TROPHIES &amp; RAID KEYS!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

looks pretty cool, but I'll probably pass. I know I'm just going to play D4 in a few months anyways. I'll give heartland a try when it comes out though.

This might be my favorite year for gaming if we get all that we're supposed to.

RedFall comes out May 1st or 2nd, then Diablo 4 a month later and these are also due out this year..

The First Descendant, Arc Raiders, Nightingale, Quantum Knights, Stormgate, Synced, Lightyear Frontier, Crime Boss: Rockay City, System Shock remake, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Stalker 2, Starfield, Ark II, Assassins Creed: Mirage, Hades 2, Payday 3, Remnant 2, Division Heartland, Avatar : Frontiers of Pandora, Jedi Survivor and I know I'm missing a few I can't think of off the top of my head :D

I used to play division 2. I sucked at it though. I never learned how to get awesome weapons though. I suppose you have to craft weapons.

Nah I just hunt for them, you can do targetted loot in either Countdown or Summit and get what you need. They(Most likely) won't be perfect but you can reroll one stat depending on the best rolls in your library. The rest you have to push up slowly by throwing lots of mats at it. Then the SHD Watch you get at the end of the DLC allows you to add damage, skill dmg, haste, etc on top of it. They also added an endgame grind to donate items to push either gun dmg on guns or armor on armor up 1% at a time by donating crap you decide not to keep.

Anyone can join countdown, you don't even have to be good it's an 8 player very easy type raid you just blow through and collect tons of loot. You can target gearsets or brand sets or specific types of weapons or armor.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uDFqy1nyE2o" title="*THIS WAS EPIC* We completed a full HEROIC COUNTDOWN run! - The Division 2 Heroic Countdown Gameplay" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i have no idea what any of that means. I assume people learn the layout from other games.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/deQRa2LQO58" title="The Division 2 - An In-Depth Look at What The Summit Is" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRgE-GELstY" title="The Division 2 &quot;HOW TO USE THE OPTIMIZATION STATION&quot; MAX ALL ATTRIBUTES...!!!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Summit you can choose what type of loot you want to farm(Same for Countdown) and the Recal station is where you optimize your gear. You can Recalibrate One part of your item and then only that can be changed, the rest you have to use the optimization station which is very costly on mats.

I will give it ago thank you

RE4 Remake weekend ah shit!

I'm ****in ready!

I played the first 4 missions of Division 2. this is the best over shoulder shooter Ive played since OG RDR

Yep, I'm downloading it over the weekend and digging in.

Ya the first time you run through the missions are amazing, they're pretty well done and engrossing. If you guys get a chance pickup Division 1 as well the atmosphere is second to none. The menus are a bit clunky compared to 2 but it's a great game in it's own right but the open world isn't nearly as fun. That being said Survival is so great I go back and do a run on that from time to time and the missions are probably better than Division 2's even.

RE4 so far so good! Bringing back memories, but with much improved graphics and controls.

Anyone on Xbox live want to play something super mega baseball 3 or div 2

Is Steam really trying to resell Dead Space remake for $60?

Gotta be kidding me.

well this is going to be free on the day it comes out for playstation +

I'm gonna give it a try, looks interesting. Made by the people behind dead by daylight, which I never played but it seems pretty popular. It's definitely unique, have no idea if I'll like it or not but why not since I can play it free

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It's EA so ya of course, like they have any shame.