The "What are you playing now?" Thread

[Jack Brickman]

I understand the perspective, but I'm not yet sure about how I feel about nameless cop guy that doesn't talk (Hey, they call him "rook" repeatedly!). Don't think it was lazy... just an artistic choice for immersion. Again, jury still out on how immersed I'll feel.

Witcher 3 is so untouchable that it's hard to even compare anything to it... not even fair. Is there another Witcher in the works btw?

Well, my argument is that making your character a nameless person who doesn't talk at all basically never immerses you more in a game than playing as an actual character. I really don't even think it makes sense in a game like Far Cry 5 set in essentially the real world where your character should be an actual person. I can at least suspend disbelief in a game like Elder Scrolls where your character basically does come out of nowhere every game to become the Chosen One (TM) or some shit.

It just really annoys me that no one ever comments in these games about how the characters don't talk. Like, isn't that fucking weird?

And as I've said before, Half-Life and Portal are really the only two series to effectively pull off the silent protagonist in a narrative game to the point where you barely even notice that your character doesn't talk, but that's because the other characters are so well-realized. Chell doesn't need to talk in Portal, because GLaDOS is an absolutely amazing character, and in the sequel, Wheatley and Cave Johnson (played incredibly by Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons, respectively) are equally hilarious characters. And at least Portal 2 actually makes fun of the fact that Chell never speaks (the tutorial prompts you to "say apple" but your only option is to jump, at which point Wheatley speculates you might have a minor case of serious brain damage).

 

[Chris]

The villains are usually interesting, but that can only keep you going for so long. The problem is that the main characters are either just entirely nonexistent (like in FC5 and, if I recall correctly, FC2), or they're just utterly boring and barely there (FC3 and FC4). To be fair, this is a problem that hinders the industry as a whole, as very few developers seem to be able to effectively develop compelling main characters in their games. There seems to be far too much of a sense that the player needs to develop their own character, and I think that's largely a mistake, especially in non-RPGs where character customization is limited and/or largely pointless.

Witcher 3 is a perfect example of how you craft a game with an actual protagonist that is a fully developed character, but still allow the player to develop the character over the course of the game as well. Geralt is Geralt, but exactly how Geralt acts in any given situation is up to you, the player. You can choose to be an asshole or you can choose to be a good guy, or you can fall somewhere in between, and the decisions you make throughout add up to determine what ending you get. Now, do I expect every game to be that deep with its main character? No, of course not. But I think more games need main characters like Geralt who are actually interesting and compelling rather than silent protagonists who, by and large, add nothing to games.

This idea that we need a silent protagonist as our character in games so we can become said character is incredibly misguided, and I think it often comes down more to developer laziness than any actual purpose. It can make sense in an RPG where you build your character from the ground up and spend the entire game deciding what kind of character he/she will be, but it makes much less sense in a narrative, mostly linear game. And even in RPGs, I'd like to think the Mass Effect trilogy showed us all that, even in a game where you create your own character, it adds to a game significantly when your character actually gets compelling dialogue and good voice acting. Why does Far Cry 5 need a silent protagonist? It makes no sense. Your character is a cop. Why not make him or her an actual, developed character rather than a silent nobody? I doubt it would make the game anything other than better.

Hell, your FC5 character doesn't even have a fucking name, which is insanely lazy.

Lazy isn't really the right word. It implies that they thought it was too much work to add a name to their character, which is silly.

Personally, I enjoy how I can customize my character in FC5, but I do agree that the silent protagonist is the one thing I REALLY hate about it. And other games like Half Life that have a silent protagonist.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Lazy isn't really the right word. It implies that they thought it was too much work to add a name to their character, which is silly.

Personally, I enjoy how I can customize my character in FC5, but I do agree that the silent protagonist is the one thing I REALLY hate about it. And other games like Half Life that have a silent protagonist.

Yeah, I typically hate it as well. Half-Life 2 and Portal 2 are two of the only games that I think have really pulled it off very effectively, but those games were also carried by dynamic sidekick characters like Alex in HL2 and the aforementioned Wheatley in Portal 2.

As for the character customization in Far Cry 5, isn't it mostly pointless since you never actually see your character unless you play in co-op?

I also think they should have just given the character a gender neutral name (like, say, Alex) rather than just calling him/her "rook," which seems very stupid when repeated over and over like it was in the game's intro when you go with the Marshall to arrest Seed.

 

[Chris]

Yeah, I typically hate it as well. Half-Life 2 and Portal 2 are two of the only games that I think have really pulled it off very effectively, but those games were also carried by dynamic sidekick characters like Alex in HL2 and the aforementioned Wheatley in Portal 2.

As for the character customization in Far Cry 5, isn't it mostly pointless since you never actually see your character unless you play in co-op?

I also think they should have just given the character a gender neutral name (like, say, Alex) rather than just calling him/her "rook," which seems very stupid when repeated over and over like it was in the game's intro when you go with the Marshall to arrest Seed.

Of course it's pointless, just like it's pointless in most RPGs and games in general where you customize your character. People still like doing it for whatever reason myself included.

 

[theSTEREO.]

For esports and 2K fans, the NBA is holding its NBA 2KLeague draft right now. It's on NBATV and Twitch.

I don't know much about high ranked 2K players, but the Cavs have already drafted their first two picks.

View: https://twitter.com/CavsLegionGC/status/981597897925058562

View: https://twitter.com/CavsLegionGC/status/981603836480704512

 

[Jack Brickman]

By the way, for those who follow the Humble Monthly Bundle, this month so far is looking pretty good, with Mankind Divided, Mafia 3, and some game called God Eater 2 that I've never heard of. The rest of the games unlock in two days, but if you have interest in any of the three listed for twelve bucks, now's the time to sign up.

https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=JaN0CC

 

[RuanuLaw]

OMG, THIS!!!'

This makes Fortnite so unplayable for me.

 

[MD13]

Well, my argument is that making your character a nameless person who doesn't talk at all basically never immerses you more in a game than playing as an actual character. I really don't even think it makes sense in a game like Far Cry 5 set in essentially the real world where your character should be an actual person. I can at least suspend disbelief in a game like Elder Scrolls where your character basically does come out of nowhere every game to become the Chosen One (TM) or some shit.

It just really annoys me that no one ever comments in these games about how the characters don't talk. Like, isn't that fucking weird?

And as I've said before, Half-Life and Portal are really the only two series to effectively pull off the silent protagonist in a narrative game to the point where you barely even notice that your character doesn't talk, but that's because the other characters are so well-realized. Chell doesn't need to talk in Portal, because GLaDOS is an absolutely amazing character, and in the sequel, Wheatley and Cave Johnson (played incredibly by Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons, respectively) are equally hilarious characters. And at least Portal 2 actually makes fun of the fact that Chell never speaks (the tutorial prompts you to "say apple" but your only option is to jump, at which point Wheatley speculates you might have a minor case of serious brain damage).

I've often felt that nothing makes me lose immersion faster than everyone talking right at you while you never reply. A character with a voice and dialogue is incredibly immersive to me, and failing that then even just selecting a text response is better than just standing there like an idiot and never saying anything.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Another fun Sea of Thieves moment...

I got on earlier and was waiting on two of my buddies to finish the game they were in. They were attacking a skull fort, so I knew I had at least 20-30 minutes to kill. I loaded a solo sloop game and did a couple of merchant missions.

Once I was done with the second one, I noticed a galleon in the distance. With nothing to lose and a bit of time to kill, I decided to attack it. I missed my first opportunity. I saw them parked in the interior of a large island called Thieve's Haven. It's basically a giant stone arch with three entrances and you can park a galleon inside. I got there right as they were leaving, hoping to sneak an explosive barrel onto their ship.

That wasn't mean to be, so I diverted course and decided to meet them on the other side of the island. I rounded the island right as they did, so I just decided "fuck it" and veered straight toward them. I ran up my bowsprit and jumped onto their ship as I rammed them. At the same time, I saw two of them try to jump onto my ship. That only left two of them on their ship with me. I killed the first, then baited the second one into the hold and killed him as well.

I ran back onto the deck and killed their third guy as he climbed back onto the ship. Their ship was moving slowly, so I guess he swam back when he saw there was no one on my ship and nothing of value. Knowing their first two guys would be respawning soon, I decided to hide, but first I wanted to set their ship up to sink. I dropped their sails and got on the steering wheel, turning the ship toward some nearby rocks. Then I climbed up the crow's nest.

I intended to hide there, but there was a barrel of gunpowder there, so I just said to hell with it. I grabbed that, slid back down to the deck, ran below to the bottom floor, and dropped the barrel. I was trying to distance myself from it when I found another of their guys (probably respawned) behind me. I shot him once, strafed behind cover to dodge his return, and then walked out and shot him again to finish him off. Then I blew up the barrel and put a ton of holes in their ship. I ran into one more guy on my way up to the deck and fed him my shotgun.

Then I jumped off their ship, swam a small distance away, and watched as their ship sunk.

Killing a four man galleon as a solo sloop is just a very gratifying experience. They must have felt like the hand of god came down on them.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I was given a steam gift card as usual, and all I usually do is just wait for some game to come on sale and see if it looks interesting. Never pay full price!

So with that being said, anyone tried This War of Mine or The Long Dark? I bought the latter at 75% off, but haven't played it yet. This War of Mine gets great reviews on Steam, and is also 75% off. Haven't pulled the trigger yet though.

Any suggestions?

@TyGuy

 

[TyGuy]

I was given a steam gift card as usual, and all I usually do is just wait for some game to come on sale and see if it looks interesting. Never pay full price!

So with that being said, anyone tried This War of Mine or The Long Dark? I bought the latter at 75% off, but haven't played it yet. This War of Mine gets great reviews on Steam, and is also 75% off. Haven't pulled the trigger yet though.

Any suggestions?

@TyGuy

I haven’t played any of those games. Far Cry 5 is on my wishlist, so I will be getting that hopefully during steams summer sale.

You may just want to hold onto it until then or pop those games on your wish list. Steam will notify you when they go on sale.

I’m still playing dying light which has been a blast.


Edit: Just noticed those games are on sale after re reading. I’m exhausted after riding a bicycle all over Amsterdam.

I’ve heard good things about this war of mine.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I haven’t played any of those games. Far Cry 5 is on my wishlist, so I will be getting that hopefully during steams summer sale.

You may just want to hold onto it until then or pop those games on your wish list. Steam will notify you when they go on sale.

I’m still playing dying light which has been a blast.


Edit: Just noticed those games are on sale after re reading. I’m exhausted after riding a bicycle all over Amsterdam.

I’ve heard good things about this war of mine.

Well, I got both of them.

My Steam summer sale game is (hopefully) going to be Total War: Warhammer. I absolutely love the Total War series (well, at least some of them....) and Warhammer is supposed to be very good. But again...I refuse to pay full price!

Dying Light is really good. The story is kind of "meh", but the voice acting by the main character is very good, and the mechanics are awesome. Being on top of a tower that is swaying in the wind when you're contemplating a jump...damn that gets the heartrate going.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I own This War of Mine but haven't played it yet. My buddy told me it was fantastic, though.

I got The Long Dark from a recent Humble Monthly, but also have yet to load it up. I think it's still early access, isn't it?

Q-Tip, if you haven't already, you should check out Valiant Hearts given your love of history. Not only is it one of the best narrative games I've ever played, but it looks great and it's fun. It really hits you in the feels, too.

 

[Chris]

Well, I got both of them.

My Steam summer sale game is (hopefully) going to be Total War: Warhammer. I absolutely love the Total War series (well, at least some of them....) and Warhammer is supposed to be very good. But again...I refuse to pay full price!

Dying Light is really good. The story is kind of "meh", but the voice acting by the main character is very good, and the mechanics are awesome. Being on top of a tower that is swaying in the wind when you're contemplating a jump...damn that gets the heartrate going.

I own both Warhammer I and Warhammer II. Fantastic games, even if you don't know anything about the Warhammer universe the amount of extra flavor this series gains from a fantasy setting is astounding. Not sure I'll touch another historical TW again.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Q-Tip, another game you'd probably really like is Shadow Tactics. Game was so much fun, and I love the Japanese Edo period setting. Some fun characters too, even if the accents are all over the place. Been ages since the PC has seen a truly great tactical stealth game like Commandos and Desperado.