LongHairStu

No magic radar hearing in The Last of Us. Of course, you could argue that's how it should be anyway, and it's a fairly obvious thing to do. Currently playing Bloodborne again, and realised I wasn't buying any weapons, only using the starting weapon and any found in the process of playing, so I may well stick to that.

I was just thinking of changing tack and rerouting into Old Yharnam - to open the door that would let me get Ludwig's Holy Blade, but I guess that's not really in the spirit of the run... - so rifle spear could well be on my shopping list, with others for further down the line. Hunter pistol has had a few shards... Think I read something about the gun you find in Cainhurst (Evelyn, is it?) being worse up to +5 but then being better...? Could be an option.

Alleged Bloodtinge run... First area exhausted save for bosses, I took Sweet Daddy G into the Cleric Beast fight with me, just for shits and giggles. That went well. Then I went to take on Gazza himself, all on my lonesome*. Pleasingly, I took him down first time and fairly cleanly - never any real panics. In fact, I seem to have got worse since then, as even the ogres are giving me trouble now, never mind the giants! About to unlock the gate to the plaza - that's always felt the proper way to me, and I don't feel inclined to change now. If anyone (Qaz, I'd guess...) knows, what's the first weapon I'll come across that Bloodtinge will have a marked effect on? Otherwise it's just going to feel like a pretty normal run till then... *Can't get online at the moment, so no videos either.

Fair point, I guess, but you still need to go to the face buttons, particularly for dodging. Starting to build in confidence again after last night's session with my supposed Bloodtinge build. I say supposed, as I still haven't levelled up yet, though Bloodtinge is my highest starting stat. After several frustrating attempts, I got very handy at taking the bonfire crew out. Couple of goes each to best the ogre, the bridge werewolf crew, and to retrieve the first armour. There I left it, looking out at Yharnam with a sense of hope and purpose...

To be honest though, I don't think every game would suit the same attack configuration. Even Bloodborne isn't as fast as Zelda, never mind Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. Those games need the snappier approach of the face buttons, but attacking with the shoulder buttons here seems more measured, almost as if it promotes the patience required. I wonder if so much thought went into it...

I don't know if I'll play with that amount of focus or craft, but I'll tell you this much for nought, Bloodtinge or no - man, am I rusty! Back to those panicky feelings of playing for the first time, the nervousness where once was confidence and even bravado. I'm not sure the Threaded Cane was my best choice either, but it seemed to backup the Bloodtinge suggestion by being skill based. And in the name of proactive interference, what in the hell game have I been playing that has attack on square or equivalent?! It's that Zelda, isn't it? Honestly, why can't there just be a standard... Grumble, grumble...

Well, I said I'd run with it... Can't guarantee how well or how long it will go on...

I fancy another run at this - despite having many other games to play... - any ideas or suggestions as to play style, weapon choice, route through the game, etc? Can't think of anything major that I've missed in previous runs, just thought it would be interesting to take a collaborative approach and run with any ideas from such...

I'd just added this to my list (so obviously I'll definitely watch it...) but hadn't realised where it was from - will be straight into the language options too, thanks for the heads up.

I recently moved to a village called Outlane, so it amused me to fire this up on the Bone, and I'm hooked. Just defeated the third boss - the thread's criticisms seem valid, but it was frustrating more than difficult - which I think is further than I ever got on my 360.

KOTOR is a winner, for sure. And while I always preferred the PS2 version of Prince of Persia - felt carved from stone, not built from polygons - this probably just became the most convenient way to play it, so I may well double dip...

I don't like the idea of Luke going dark, but it does seem to me to be the best (ie. least shit) reason behind his exile. If he's already tasted the darkness, between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, that is...

Interesting. I'm all for more Thor, but what about that claim from Waititi? Was he just kidding around? Has Marvel denied him final cut? I hope nothing problematic occurred in the background...

The Rey/Ren switch is surely too obvious. What I'm getting from the new trailer - other than the obvious potential for misdirection - is the suggestion that Rey and Ren reach an accord, reconcile their respective calls to the dark and the light, and make a new way forward together. Luke started down this path - he was greyer in the original films than the old jedi were seen to be in the prequels, or even than Yoda's ideas suggested - but was still bound by old ideas. Ren and Rey can break free of all such ties, be as children escaping the shadows of their parents. This would work thematically to open up the Star Wars universe after this trilogy is done, and also as representing the Disney era as opposed to the Lucas. I'm sure there are holes aplenty in this idea, including where Snoke fits into it all, where he came from, and so on...

Thanks for that, good insight. I thought I'd heard good things about it, but your comments will save me from tracking it down and having to dig the DS out from whatever box it's lurking in!

I suppose such loathing is fair, but - as the article opens with, and notwithstanding the 10 year old conversation further up the thread - its fairly well ingrained in the vernacular now, and does a pretty good job of creating the right sort of expectations. How do you feel about portmanteaus generally?

NECROBUMP!!! Google Now, or whatever it's called these days, has apparently spotted that I have a bit of a penchant for Metroidvanias, and yesterday it brought me this article... https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/9/25/16353996/mummy-demastered-wayforward-universal-monsters (The in-game footage looks better than the artwork above...) Couldn't find a Mummy Demastered thread, and didn't really think it was worth one - the appeal is more about its Metroidvania nature than the licence. While I do feel I'm behind on my Metroidvania consumption, and on gaming generally, this looks rather nice. From the team behind Alien Infestation on the DS - did anyone here enjoy that? Also, figured we might as well bring general Metroidvania chat back to life in here?

You'll like this then... http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a830674/josh-brolin-goonies-birthday-party/

Well, that's the wind out of the sails of my Star Wars enthusiasm. I don't particularly mind if it's a reboot, a rehash, if it rhymes, or if it's poetry. I'd just like it to have a coherent narrative that actually has some logical progress to it, rather than events developing as if at the whim of a director who seems merely to make films that can be turned into good trailers. This is as much a missed opportunity as George not turning the prequels over to Spielberg or suchlike. Trevorrow seemed a bit of a nothing director, but I imagine he could have turned in a solid version of a script that wouldn't have had JJ's paws on it.

"A *really* long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."

If you fancy going 3D and sticking with vampires, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is very much a Metroidvania.

Guacamelee!

I'd go with... Shadow Complex Outland Axiom Verge Erm... I'll come back to you (possibly).

I reckon Tyrion holding Casterley Rock will inflame Cersei a teensy smidge, drawing out her Mad Queen vibe, forcing her into tactical mistakes, and adding to her unpopularity. Pretty shrewd move all round, I'd say.

Filmed before a live studio audience, surely? That seems reasonable to applaud.