Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 8-9)

Same as last week. Street Fighter 6 (Xbox Series X, PS5), AEW Fight Forever (XSX) and Final Fantasy XVI.

On PS5 i will be continuing with the excellent Final Fantasy 16, currently 51% through and the story has been brilliant so far. I will also be continuing with Trails of cold steel 2.

On switch I will be continuing with Master Detective Archives and Kirby return to dreamland.

On 3DS I will be starting Detective Pikachu which I never got round to completing originally but I want to complete it before the next game comes out.

I'm having another look at game pass GTA 5 after playing previously on PS4 a few years ago.

Forza as well, it's been my go to for as long as I've had my Xbox.

Nothing cause it's too goddamn hot

Dead Space remake and Arcade Paradise on Xbox Series X

Finaly finished Zelda TOTK this week, started planet of Lana, then probably bramble the mountain king after and amnesia the bunker or layers of fear, too many Games to play.

FF16 for me I'm 80% finished I'm hoping to get it finished up this weekend so i can get back to trying to clear some of the backlog. Downloaded Sword and Fairy on Gamepass too so I'll give that a try if there's time.

Season 1 of Diablo 4 is fast approaching, going to go back to that since I've been preoccupied playing Witcher III. But if I'm being honest, I'll probably go back to Witcher III because I just love being in that world and hearing the wind howl and fighting nekkers is just too much fun.

This weekend I'm probably gonna continue playing Diablo IV on Xbox with some Trails from Zero on the side.
Might also play more Valkyrie Elysium or Forspoken if I'm in the mood.

I'm enjoying the hell out of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. I knew I was gonna like it, but I love it. Great game.

This weekend I’m playing Final Fantasy 16 on the PS5. According to the PSN, I’m 70% through the game clocking in at 44hrs. If that’s the case, it has been some of the best forty hours I’ve experienced in this current generation.

It’s crazy how good FFXVI is, at least to me. There are obvious flaws in the game - level design, the lack of proper RPG elements, and not the greatest of side quests - but I can’t stop thinking about the game. The story is absolutely gripping, with memorable characters and excellent voice acting. And the combat is really damn fun.

Now that I’m over halfway through the game, it has opened up a lot more in terms of content, story, quests, and it truly does get better and better as you progress through the game. I really like the structure of the game. Unlike most RPGs (I’m looking at you, Xenoblade Chronicles) you are never bogged down by a list of mundane side quests and conventions. It’s nice to have only two or three side quests available after a main quest. Some of these side quests may be fetch quests, but they are meaningful with the rewards. And these rewards aren’t just items acquired - it’s the character(s) development and world building.

I’ve heard complaints that say this game is “empty”, and I don’t understand that. We are talking about a linear, narrative driven game. Not every game needs to be this massive open world that has bustling towns and cities, with NPCs that you’ll never remember, and quests that are essentially meaningless.

When I hear people say this game is empty, I am confounded because the locations you visit - and I would classify them more as “levels” - do have some sort of life to them. However, these places are simply a serviceable open playground to fight monsters, go on hunts, and get experience. It’s essentially a means to an end to reach the next story beat. And this is fine because, as I stated earlier, FFXVI is a story driven and linear game, focusing on a handful of characters in order to make it feel more of a personal journey.

Honestly, this may be my favorite FF title. It’s easily my favorite PS5 exclusive at the moment. I’m hoping I can beat the game before I head to Nashville, TN next weekend. Regardless, I’m definitely going to do a NG+ in order to get the Platinum trophy, which is something I rarely do.

I'm enjoying Aracade Paradise, think I'm nearing the end. The slow build passive story has proven to be remarkably effective on me.

Some of the games are fun in their own right, was a lot of laundry lol

I finished the Alan Wake Remastered DLC yesterday, which was not great IMHO; gameplay or story wise. I just thought it was a bit tedious and not nearly as interesting as the main game.

Late last night I started Amnesia: The Bunker but I only played until the first checkpoint. That will be my game this weekend, alongside chipping away at Bayonetta 3.

Deathloop which is amazing.. needed to give this game a secons chance and a few hours before it clicked on me. It's amazing so far.
Arcade paradise i played a it ..i liked it quite a lot and will be playing more down the line

@Kraven no-one asked for a damn review on the game but am I glad you did lol.
One of the best promotions I've seen for it.
If I wasn't such a cheapskate I'd probably buy it right away.
Btw did you comment about ffxvi on pushsquare as well? I can remember someone saying they were intending to finish it before heading to some random place in the US, if so that's great development right there lol

Same as last weekend. Diablo IV and Street Fighter VI 😎

Imperia Online (Windows Phone) - Still grinding away.

Angry Birds Rio (Windows Phone) - Still also playing in bursts.

@Cherip-the-Ripper Lol, I’ll tell you what I tell my daughter: You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Lol 😂

Really though, I wasn’t expecting to write that much, but I had a lot to say about the game. And yeah, it was me who did it over at PushSquare as well. Haha.

I will be playing arcade paradise. I was supposed to be playing Final Fantasy but I canceled my pre-order because I heard there was some "political social issue" stuff in it I refuse to be a part of.

Arcade Paradise is taking me back in a good way. It’s just fun

Picked up Atari 50th, so that's my weekend sorted

I'll be playing and trying to improve on Street Fighter this weekend - and for the rest of this year god willing.

I'm working my way through Hi Fi Rush. I usually do one stage and put it down. The stages are long and fairly intense. Loving the game and it's aesthetic.

I'm traveling today so I'll have my Switch in tow. Tonight I'm hoping to get further in Zelda: The Minish Cap.

Like many others said, my entire world is revolving around Final Fantasy 16 at the moment. But I’m also still chipping away at Breath of the Wild during late nights with my newborn son.

Other than that, the weird thing I’ve gotten into lately? Peggle 2, specifically on xcloud. I typically don’t use touch controls with cloud games on my phone but they’re pretty easy here, and P2 is a mindless little game I can pick up and drop off in minute bursts in between other tasks.

Still smashing Marvel's Midnight Suns. 40 hours in and I just completed the first act last night. I don't just like this game; I can't remember the last time I was this hooked on a game.

@KonstantTrouble with “political social issues” do you mean the game being about slavery of in universe minorities?

True Achievements have a bean dive going so lots of games

Disney Dreamlight Valley and Street Fighter 6.

@darkswabber Out of respect for this site and people that have different opinions I am not going to go into detail. But it's not that.

Mostly just Diablo 4. I was playing a whole bunch of Destiny 2 recently but when I got together with the clan I was running with to do some raids it reminded me why I’m not much into comms or parties while gaming. As soon as one of the guys started telling me I needed to change pieces of armor and such I shut the game off and uninstalled. I think I’ve finally had my fill of Destiny after 7-8 years.

Booting up Diablo 4 instantly scratched the looter itch for me. So it’ll be D4 for the foreseeable future with other single player games mixed in. I’m thinking I’ll go with Resi 4 Remake first.

Also eager for Exoprimal…Capcom has had a Midas touch lately, here’s hoping it’s going to extend to this new IP.

Well this weekend is kinda simple. On the switch side of things I’m just gonna keep going at Bayonetta Origins. Still a absolutely amazing game and again honestly kinda my Nintendo GOTY so far. I’m catching up on those Nintendo 1st Parties as I think all I got after this is the Fire Emblem Fell Xenologue, Advance Wars, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed and Tears of the Kingdom. So I’m thinking on how/when to swap over to third party catch ups as over on that front I got a whole lot like Octopath Traveler 2, Paranormasight, Trails to Azure, Atelier Ryza 3, WE ❤️ KATAMARI, Ghost Trick and soon to be Rain Code and Trails into Reverie. Honestly if anyone has any thoughts and ideas lemme know I would appreciate it. Speaking of Rain Code I wanna play it so bad but I still gotta wait until at least the 18th. Stinking customs…… Tho Amazon ain’t just screwing me on that but Reverie too that’s coming in like 4 days too. Over on the PS front it’s pretty simple not sure if I’ll play some more XVI later as I’m really enjoying it and don’t wanna just blast through it. Maybe I’ll get back into SF6 as I’m really excited for Rashid and would definitely love to earn some trophies for like World Tour mode or Battle Hub. This week I was able to buy Resident Evil Village's Winters Expansion and Lost Judgment’s The Kaito Files so I reinstalled Lost Judgment as well as RE5, 6, and 7. I’m now all set to finish up my Yakuza and Resident Evil marathons. The Resident Evil one has definitely taught me some interesting things about that series that I wanna elaborate on when I’m done with it. Over on the anime front I’m impressed at the fact I now only have two animes left to wrap up after finishing Demon Slayer last night and that is Mobile Suit Gundam Witch From Mercury and Birdie Wing. That and catching up on this new show I love now called Bungo Stray Dogs. Once I finish Witch and Birdie I’ll be able to put together my top spring list and I’m really excited to see how that comes together. As for my early Summer picks currently I’m looking at Atelier Ryza, Jujutsu Kaisen, Liar Liar and Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Season 2. Overall big excited feelings heading into less then two weeks until Pikmin 4. Have a good weekend y’all and Happy Gaming as always.

I've just finished Hogwarts Legacy and wanted to start something different so I've just fired up Need For Speed Unbound.

Some combination of these games that i have ongoing at the moment

Xbox - deathloop & railway empire 2
Ps2 - original Ratchet & Clank
Ps5 - final fantasy 7 remake
Switch - metroid dread
Pc/steam deck- assassins Creed 1

@Somebody OG Ratchet & Clank is a great game

@EvenStephen7 man's fresh out of the womb and already tackling Breath of the Wild?!?? That's crazy.
Congrats!

@Kaloudz Thank you!

@Cherip-the-Ripper Haha you know what’s especially bad? I’m so sleep-deprived I meant to say “Tears of the Kingdom,” not “Breath of the Wild.” 😂

Thank you!

Well on Friday I 100 percent amnesia rebirth

On Saturday I 100 percent mcpixel 3

And on Sunday I'm stuck between
Arcade paradise,bramble,or do I play sword and fairy:together again
I have an achievement on all 3 so that's Sunday and my week sorted,

Darn DS2. Wanted to hate it. Just can’t.

Diablo 3 and AEW on switch. Tomb Raider DE on Xbox

Decided to dive back into Hi-Fi Rush. Such a fun game and it’s time i finally get it finished.

Been all Diablo 4 all the time, only my weekly Solasta and Forza groups interrupting.

Fancied a bit of mindless hack n slash so picked up Diablo 3 on the Switch. Feels like one of those games you can choose not to take seriously and instead experiment with your build(s), dish out some carnage and have fun. Simples.

Also dipped in FF7 Remake which is my first FF game since FFVIII over 20 years ago. Really starting to get curious about JRPGs.

@Ryne-Gaia Bayonetta Origins is my straight up GOTY so far. I expected to enjoy it, because I am a nut for Bayonetta - but Origins: Cereza exceeded my expectations and then some. I honestly enjoyed it more than Bayo 3 - and I loved Bayo 3.

I am open to maybe Starfield beating Bayo Origins as my favorite game of 2023 but it a very tall order.

@gravelmonkey if you have a Switch and you have a jrpg itch that's the place really. I suggest Shin Megami Tensei V - a switch exclusive and the Xenoblade games. Top notch stuff. Better than anything currently on the xbox or playstation by far.

@Cashews I dunno after a small play session of FFXVI last night THAT might be GOTY for me. It was small but absolutely amazing. All I’m gonna say if you know and for others is they know is they did a genuinely impactful version of press f to pay respects. All I’m gonna say is: L3 + R3 Accept the Truth.