PigLick on 25/12/2022 at 11:30
I have played the first 2 hours or so and not really noticed much regarding the reports of bugs or the stuttering issues, but I'm gonna wait for the patch also. But first impressions are that they are leaning more into the rpg side of things than the sports, so we shall see.
Aja on 25/12/2022 at 16:37
I was getting stuff like splash animations when I'm not in water, invisible walls, when I throw a golf ball next to a tree, the tree disappears, that sort of thing. Not game breaking, but it felt pretty unpolished, like I was playing it in early access. I gave it about an hour or so and then decided I'd rather wait. Maybe I'll replay Golf Story in the meantime.
Qooper on 29/12/2022 at 17:10
Can you guys recommend me a game with good writing and world building, the kind that's subtle, imaginative, and invites your curiosity? I'm currently playing Obduction and I love that game, but I'd like to play a game that has moderate, toned down action here and there.
demagogue on 29/12/2022 at 17:31
I think as far as recent games go, Outer Wilds has to take the cake for that. That game set fire to my imagination at every turn, and the "galaxy" building, story, and integrating the gameplay into them were all fantastic. (Not Outer Worlds!, although that's another good one.)
Oh and Firewatch. It's a pure walking sim / adventure game, but the story had such a good flow and there were still interesting gameplay things for you to do. Mixed opinion about where it went (I was a fan), but I think universal acclaim about (at least the first half / most of) the ride to get there.
Sable has great worldbuilding and is definitely checks the boxes for subtle, imaginative, and inviting curiosity. It's also non-violent (mostly climbing, jumping, and logic puzzles; and you literally can't die), so that'd count as toned down action. It's minimalist, so the writing is also kind of minimal, and the animation, movement, and controls are wonky.
Maybe Control, although that's pretty action heavy, which I like.
And Red Dead Redemption 2 (too). Great world, great characters, great story! But still pretty action heavy.
Maybe Caves of Qud. Really great world. But that's as hardcore a roguelike as you'll find, so I wouldn't call it toned down, and it's ascii based.
I don't know if I can recommend Death Stranding. It checks those boxes but the story and entire presentation annoyed me so much. But the walking gameplay by itself, when the narrative just left you alone to do what you do, was all fantastic.
Qooper on 29/12/2022 at 18:12
Quote Posted by demagogue
I think as far as recent games go, Outer Wilds has to take the cake for that.
Ah, I had almost forgotten about Outer Wilds! I started playing that two years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. It's one of the best games I've ever played (there are many best games, since many can't be compared to each other). But then stress and work sort of took that game away from me. Even if I had time, I didn't have the energy. I was sad because of that, because Outer Wilds is truly an enchanting game, almost dreamlike. Can a person be so tired that he cannot be enchanted by this gem? Apparently yes :(
But thanks for reminding me of this game :) I'll have to pick it up again.
I loved that game, and in particular the way they did dialogue + how well the dialogue was written. Even though the story was simple, it was really well told. Another one that really grabbed me from this world was Soma. And also Talos Principle.
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Sable has great worldbuilding and is definitely checks the boxes for subtle, imaginative, and inviting curiosity.
Sable looks very intriguing! I think I'll have to buy it. Thanks!
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Maybe Control, although that's pretty action heavy, which I like.
I've played Control, but it feels a bit too non-subtle in ways many console games do. Its dance is well produced, but I'd like it to be a bit more natural, playful and creative. No need to control (no pun intended) the experience that much.
Having said that, I love our national treasure, Remedy, and greatly respect them. In fact a friend of mine works there, and I even showed them a scifi problem-solving game prototype I once made with Unreal Engine 4. They liked it.
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I don't know if I can recommend Death Stranding. It checks those boxes but the story and entire presentation annoyed me so much. But the walking gameplay by itself, when the narrative just left you alone to do what you do, was all fantastic.
Haven't played or looked at Death Stranding, but I'm under the impression that it too suffers from certain non-subtle symptoms many console games have. Can you describe what in particular about its presentation you didn't like?
henke on 29/12/2022 at 19:43
Quote Posted by Qooper
Haven't played or looked at Death Stranding, but I'm under the impression that it too suffers from certain non-subtle symptoms many console games have.
Qooper, I dunno if you know this or not, but every single game you mentioned in your post is a console game. It's not the 90s any more. PC and console games are the SAME GAMES.
Qooper on 29/12/2022 at 20:04
Quote Posted by henke
Qooper, I dunno if you know this or not, but every single game you mentioned in your post is a console game. It's not the 90s any more. PC and console games are the SAME GAMES.
Sure, that's not what I meant. By console game I meant a game that's designed around the constraints of a console, or designed to fit into that culture. There's a reason why 3rd person camera or cover systems are favored in games designed for the console.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by them being the same games, but if by that you mean that PC game culture has been dragged closer to console game culture, then I agree yes.
If you mean it in the technical sense, then I mostly agree, although the input systems usually require design and polish for both separately. So as long as a game's design is constrained by these considerations, and perhaps many others console games usually fall under, it will feel and play like a console game no matter the platform you're actually playing it on.
EDIT: I was a bit unclear with my reasoning. What I simply meant was that yes, all those games are console games, but not all of them suffer from the symptoms I described.
demagogue on 29/12/2022 at 20:08
Quote Posted by Qooper
Haven't played or looked at Death Stranding, but I'm under the impression that it too suffers from certain non-subtle symptoms many console games have. Can you describe what in particular about its presentation you didn't like?
Because it's completely bonkers ridiculous! Pick literally any cutscene or storytelling part of the game, and you get the idea within 20 seconds. ((
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIJvWomfkAQ) Representative cutscene.) It's the least subtle game you could think of, so I shouldn't have listed it.
But still, like I was saying, when the story leaves you alone, you're just hiking through vast stretches of rugged countryside and figuring out how to get around obstacles and dealing with the nature and the threats. That part is really nice. I like it just playing it for those parts.
Qooper on 29/12/2022 at 20:29
Quote Posted by demagogue
Because it's completely bonkers ridiculous! Pick literally any cutscene or storytelling part of the game, and you get the idea within 20 seconds. ((
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIJvWomfkAQ) Representative cutscene.) It's the least subtle game you could think of, so I shouldn't have listed it.
Yeah ok that's exactly what I thought the game would be :D Over the top writing, silly constumes, exposition that underlines the double-underlining with underlined underlining line. Not everything has to be plastic Marvel crap.
I have these prejudices against most games I have only seen the marketing material of, and I know that's not the best way to judge what's actually good, but so far my prejudices have proven 99% right.
Sulphur on 30/12/2022 at 05:39
It's not the most subtle thing ever (cyberpunk rarely is), but you might want to give Citizen Sleeper a look if you're still searching for something along the lines of what you outlined.
I'd also say Pentiment and Disco Elysium offer varying amounts of the things you mentioned, and there's great adventure games (sans action though) like Norco and Return of the Obra Dinn and Kentucky Route Zero once you're done with Obduction.
