Souls-likes

[Taiso]

jro, if Nio 3 isn't doing it for you, I'd suggest putting it down and trying something that has a SL feel but gives you some of the themes and vibes in a new package.

If you haven't played Infernax or Unworthy yet, they're both great retro side scrollers with that dark fantasy essence and just enough of that SL atmosphere to make you feel like you're playing something adjacent to an experience you're looking for without being so familiar that you find yourself frustrated with the game not meeting your expectations.

Just some unsolicited advice for the soul from one SL bro to another.

 

[jro]

Yeah I know. Code Vein 2 is just awful and there's no getting around that.

N3 has very good gameplay and idiotic level design. Think I'm out on the genre until From makes something new.

 

[jro]

I know nothing about this genre and never have.

 

[jro]

Okay @Taiso you're right as usual stop haunting my dreams.

 

[jro]

N3 is okay. It's a time waster this time. The gameplay is really good, but now you're forced to use two defined builds. No magic. Bad story. Boring bosses. Hideous level design.

It's completely low effort to play but massively irritating to actually get anywhere. I'll probably finish it eventually but I also got the Legion Go fired up today and will be trying out both of your recommendations.

I appreciate it, thank you.

 

[jro]

Okay got both on Switch 2. Do not start a cult unless you consult me first.

 

[jro]

I tried. I did. Nioh 3 has the worst level design of any mainstream game in the genre. Not going to waste any more time on this shit.

Don't worry terry I'm not changing my mind.

 

[Taiso]

Unworthy has a weird glitch that they've never fixed where you can't use a pro controller with it. You have to use the joycons, which is annoying but I eventually adjusted to it.

Also remember that this is NOT Castlevania. Combat is still methodical and precise. Don't get got by the side scrolling vibe and hope for quick kills. Take your time with it. Enjoy it. And there IS a fast travel option eventually but you have to find and kill the right boss. Use all the backtracking as an opportunity to get good at the combat and learn the map layout. It's a lot but I found it very rewarding. And there are multiple options and NO NG+. Fair warning that some of the game's quality of life functions are archaic but it's still pretty fucking dope IMO.

 

[Taiso]

Also:

@jro have you ever stopped to consider that your frustration with non From Software SL games is more because of their difficulty than their design theory?

This is not a troll. I am not taking a jab here.

Sometimes, I get frustrated with SL games until I reach that moment of epiphany and understand how it plays. Then the gameplay loop becomes infinitely more rewarding and I end up thinking 'okay, now that I am locked in on this, I'm having some fun here.'

I usually hate having to learn every new SL game's particular demands but once I have a style down that allows me to progress, I find myself lost in the exploration in most games.

Just my .02.

 

[jro]

Also:

@jro have you ever stopped to consider that your frustration with non From Software SL games is more because of their difficulty than their design theory?

This is not a troll. I am not taking a jab here.

Sometimes, I get frustrated with SL games until I reach that moment of epiphany and understand how it plays. Then the gameplay loop becomes infinitely more rewarding and I end up thinking 'okay, now that I am locked in on this, I'm having some fun here.'

I usually hate having to learn every new SL game's particular demands but once I have a style down that allows me to progress, I find myself lost in the exploration in most games.

Just my .02.

Yes, that's probably entirely likely. Get too used to one thing, then a lot more into Team Ninja, and my flexibility decreases. I have a bunch of the random indies on my PS5 and I think I'm going to give those a shot.

I did manage to finish Nioh 3. It's still not a good game but the co op really covers up a lot of the issues. Gonna play the dlc but I'm not interested in ng+ like in the first two.

Edit so yeah, apparently exactly that now that I have read it over again lol. I still mostly enjoy the genre but not like before. Maybe those indies will get me back on board.

Also, re: N3, if you're playing it, do the Blacksmith/Katana quest before you do the last two. Makes the end boss bearable instead of insane.

 

[Taiso]

Good man.

RE the indie 'soulslikes': I consider them like those mini versions of chocolate bars. Sometimes I don't need an entire Snicker's. Sometimes, I just need a little bit of something that reminds me of the things I like about it and I'm satisfied.

 

[jro]

The Ninja Gaiden dlc is bad. Jesus Christ what a mess.

Code Vein 2 has a bizarrely deep set of systems that mostly work when you get into them, but like yeah, Code Vein?

Why the hell not I suppose.

This genre is not what it was.

 

[Taiso]

I have yet to try the NG4 dlc. That's how little of an impression the game made on me. And this is ME we're talking about, the man that has scientifically proven that Ryu Hayabusa is the best ninja in the history of anything and vastly superior to that fagget Joe Musashi that only cum guzzling queens like more.

That should tell you something right there. Me, the guy that forgave Ninja Gaiden 3 vanilla (pre Razor's Edge) simply because at least Ryu Hayabusa was still a badass that killed mofos like they was dropping spoons all over creation.

NG4 had absolutely no soul. Very disappointed in both Platinum Games and Team Ninja for producing such an underwhelming follow up after so long. The franchise deserved way better than what we got.

 

[SML]

Ryu Hayabusa was still a badass that killed mofos like they was dropping spoons all over creation.

And that's what I call REAL Ultimate Power!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Taiso]

And that's what I call REAL Ultimate Power!!!!!!!!!!!!

SML remembers.

 

[Taiso]

Went back to Dark Souls Remastered. Had an itch that needed scratching.

I forgot how frustrating the death runs are in this game. They aren't difficult, they're just time consuming.

I'm currently on NG+ whatever (I don't even know) because that's where I left off the last time I played. I didn't even know what I was up to and had to spend hours getting my bearings. Logging in at Tomb of the Giants and not remembering how to get to Gravelord Nito was fun...

Bonk build w/Lightning Zweihander +5 and Eagle Crest Shield +10, Havel's armor w/Havel's Ring (equipment load) and Wolf Ring (poise). I also have some Miracles equipped (Heal, lightning, Replenish and Homeward) and just hit trade most enemies.

I'd already defeated Four Kings and got the rest of the lord souls (Nito, Bed of Chaos and Seath). Currently working my way through the Artorias of the Abyss expansion because I didn't save Sif the last time around. Tried to fight Kalameet, who I never faced before, and even got Gough to take him down with his great bow, which I'd also never done before. Yeah, Kalameet is gonna take some work.

I love the primitive simplicity of that first game. Still like 3 more, though.

 

[Lagduf]

For me the first is still the best. I just prefer the level design. DS3 is too linear for my tastes. That said, the improvements in gameplay in DS3 and later Elden Ring vastly superior to the first.

I could parry just about every enemy in the first but I couldn't parry shit in DS2 and gave up in DS3 and ER.

Parrying Gwyn is dope.

PS: Fuck Tomb of the Giants. I hate that shit more than blight town.

 

[Gaston]

Hoping that they'll announce Cerulean Onslaught or whatever they end up calling it soon because I am seriously craving another classic FromSoft game. I recently replayed the latest Armored Core game out of boredom but then I realised I 100% it so deleted it after 5 minutes. Finished all the souls and soulslike games but I never have the heart to go back and find stuff or areas that I might have missed. It's just too time consuming and frustrating if you need to get back into the game and figure out what you're supposed to do after years of not playing them. Ow and fuck Sekiro, deleted it immediately after I beat Isshin the eternal asshole.

 

[Taiso]

Sekiro is my favorite From Software game but it's highly doubtful I'll ever play it again.

 

[Taiso]

This came up in my YT feed. Pretty neat.

 

[Gaston]

This came up in my YT feed. Pretty neat.

Watched it, great video! What a professional bunch of highly talented people. Their work is severely underestimated even though their work has contributed greatly to From's success in the west imo.

 

[roker]

Parrying Gwyn is dope.

I had no idea how easy Gwyn was and the first time I ever beat him was by dodging his attacks! I did cheat a bit and get the Dark Wood Grain Ring to make my dodge animations faster (and cooler looking!), but basically beat him nearly no armor with a big ass sword and lucky dodging.

 

[Lagduf]

First time I beat him i used a great shield.

Until i got good

 

[SNKNostalgia]

Sweaty ass games are fun... not always!

 

[Lagduf]

Sweaty ass games are fun... not always!

Take your meds.