So I've been playing this recently...

[pinetree]

Yeah I just don't see it.

I don't get the problem with a game built on repetition adding new things gradually so that it stays fresh throughout dozens of runs.

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And maybe you're using hyperbole to get your point across and it just went over my head, but even if the first run win is not possible for most of the playerbase, you definitely don't need as many as you're implying.

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I personally cleared it for the first time on my 34th but I'm terrible at video games.

[Ideofago]

Skill issue.

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Losing is a skill. If you don't have it, you won't be good at roguelikes. It's how the game works.

[Deathhappens]

Yeah, I don't think I'm getting my point across. Difficulty is not the issue here. Imagine if Dark Souls locked the ability to improve your weapons behind dying an arbitrary number of times (as opposed to actually rewarding you for achieving something, like getting to the Blacksmith and farming the requisite Titanite Chunks). And it's not a 'roguelike' thing either; while not my favorite, I used to play the "original" rogue-like (or at least, the one everyone remembers as opposed to the actual namesake of the genre, Rogue), NetHack, quite a bit back in the day. I'm familiar with how roguelikes are supposed to work; this is a Hades problem, not a genre problem.

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For the record, I checked and I'm up to escape attempt 17 now. I've beaten Tartarus a bunch of times and Asphodel three or four times, but I haven't gotten past the Minotaur boss yet.

[Ideofago]

Well, that's just unlock systems, yet another gameplay mechanic. But this time, instead of making macguffins or collecting a key item, you just have to die enough times. And the game knows you will. But none of the domain is truly locked, you can reach hades from the get-go. It's just that it's made to be so fucking hard you need the unlocks. Plus, the plot is written around this type of unlocking as well, there are a bunch of teases and whatnot against Zagreus because of the way he uses and gains his powers.

[Five_X]

Elysian Fields are definitely the difficulty spike that keeps you stuck for a while, I remember banging my head there for way too long but once I was past it the rest of the run is a lot easier I feel. It's a very resource-oriented roguelite, so it works well to play specific runs just to farm resources to unlock stuff; if you do that then the early game goes by much more smoothly imo.

[LegalLoliLover]

I just got out of playing Shin Megami Tensei V on normal, and it turns out that it's Venus Blood Hypno/Hollow that has forced me to switch to the easy mode of a game. I haven't done such a switch in years.

[ResidentSeagull]

As I've been interested in the franchise for a little while now, I bought the Halo collection on my PC and have just finished Halo 1.

Overall I enjoyed it. I now get why people considered this game the shit back in 2001, but it nevertheless shows its age in a few places. The overall combat feels interesting, what with no gun recoil and having constant movement speed. Very different from most shooters I've played. The open maps were fun and the weapons are all interesting, unique and useful in certain situations. The end of the game after the Flood get introduced does drag a bit, and some encounters are bullshit (although I did play on Heroic/Hard, so that might have something to do with it). What surprised me is how barebones the story in this first entry is is, mostly because I kept hearing how lore rich Halo is over the years, but here it's mostly 'go here, do that' with no real character development or worldbuilding. Like shit, I get that Master Chief was supposed to be the silent, self-insert protagonitst, but he barely speaks 10 lines here! I was, however, shocked by how much of a banger the combat music is.

Kind of jank but still charming beginning. Onwards to Halo 2.

[LegalLoliLover]

I like how Venus Blood gives 3 types of angels. 天使 the standard winged humanoids. Fallen angels 堕天使 which are the same as regular angels, but black clothes or edgier armor, black wings, and the occasional "marking" (for example, fallen cupids have their eyes sewn up). And also 狂天使 officially localized as damned souls but more accurately translated as mad (crazy) angels, which are the Biblically accurate abominations.

[Laserman]

I got Metroid Dread for Christmas and I'm stuck at the second boss right now.

[Mattias]

I got Metroid Dread for Christmas and I'm stuck at the second boss right now.

Kraid? What phase is giving you problems?

[ItsaRandomUsername]

Nearly done with my virginal mostly-blind Sekiro run, in a form of Elden Ring pre-game. 70+ hours and counting, mostly of it me trying to be thorough and less getting gud against bosses, but the latter's certainly a factor regardless.

Knowing where everything is, and lacking a desire to engage in every combat encounter unless necessary, will certainly cut down on the playtime in future NG+ runs.

[Sesto]

Beat Jedi Fallen Order. Overall a pretty meh game, it's like they decided they wanted to make a soulsborne esque game without understanding why the combat and exploration even feels good in those games. However, the Nightsister was cute.

My main take from it was that I really want a actual modern day Star Wars RPG. Please just give me another KOTOR.

[Mattias]

Well there's the Kotor Remake/Remaster/Rewhatever coming soon-ish.

[Laserman]

Kraid? What phase is giving you problems?

I managed to beat him, it was the claws and bone spikes that were giving me trouble.

[Deathhappens]

Nearly done with my virginal mostly-blind Sekiro run, in a form of Elden Ring pre-game. 70+ hours and counting, mostly of it me trying to be thorough and less getting gud against bosses, but the latter's certainly a factor regardless.

Knowing where everything is, and lacking a desire to engage in every combat encounter unless necessary, will certainly cut down on the playtime in future NG+ runs.

It doesn't look like Elden Ring shares much, if anything, of Sekiro's DNA, but it's certainly a worthy endeavor all on its own. Sekiro' parry game is so good it ruined all other games that use the same system for me.

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Well there's the Kotor Remake/Remaster/Rewhatever coming soon-ish.

It's dubbed as a remaster, but it has a lead writer heading its team. We'll see where it goes...

[ItsaRandomUsername]

Nearly done with my virginal mostly-blind Sekiro run, in a form of Elden Ring pre-game. 70+ hours and counting, mostly of it me trying to be thorough and less getting gud against bosses, but the latter's certainly a factor regardless.

Knowing where everything is, and lacking a desire to engage in every combat encounter unless necessary, will certainly cut down on the playtime in future NG+ runs.

Finished the virgin run, BTW.

Good game/10. I'll certainly do the other endings.

It doesn't look like Elden Ring shares much, if anything, of Sekiro's DNA, but it's certainly a worthy endeavor all on its own. Sekiro' parry game is so good it ruined all other games that use the same system for me.

Jumping, I guess.

Also, this was less about maybe grinding in some fundies that'd help out in Elden Ring as much as it was meant to cap off my modern FromSoft Souls/"Souls" marathon I wanted to do in prep for ER's release. I've done them all now, sans Demon's, because my PC both cannot emulate the OG, nor do I have the vintage magical Sony box (PS3) or the new and elusive magical Sony box (PS5). Even if I did have PS5, I'd still wanna experience the original before I touched the remake.

[LegalLoliLover]

Playing Venus Blood Hollow, and I generally find Venus Blood to be everything that I wanted Disgaea to be. In other words, Disgaea's pretty shallow in its demon theme. While several endings in Disgaea "punish" you for being evil (I mean, WTF is this?

Flonne's fine. Stop being so fucking dramatic, Prince), Venus Blood's bad ends generally come from being indecisive. Sticking to your path, no matter how much society would call it "evil", will always net you something decent. 一不做二不休

[falseCeilings]

Hades is quite fun. Had one of those early runs where things go almost too smoothly - almost cleared the Elysian Fields when I've barely made it to Asphodel before - and I wished I had died earlier to get more gradual dialogue back home! Fortunately, overreaching doesn't spoil the experience in this game.

The whole premise on the game and the relationships Zagreus has with various characters are really well done. Chatting with daddy after you die yet again is always fun.

Also, the 'attacks heal but 60% max HP' upgrade is OP af.

[Ideofago]

Really? I never picked it. Didn't trust my skill enough.

[falseCeilings]

Worked really well for me (the lucky run I mentioned previously, and the best run I had where I got to Hades and died instantly). With the proper boons it can make very reckless play viable.