Some extra gaming days this weekend, so I played tape 2 of Lost Records. Not as good as tape 1, I thought - not as interactive - but I still enjoyed it and hope they make more.
Still on with KCD2 on Series X. It’s an immense game! I also a quick look at Blue Prince before adding it to the ever-growing backlog - seems interesting.
Whoah, they are actually promoting the console that they make? Radical thinking from the marketing department there - completely contradicting their previous strategy of ‘the odd tweet about it or nothing at all’!
Oooh, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 for me - 125 hours in and I’m not yet half way through! I really need to do some reading on that period of history, Wenceslas and Sigismund, Zizka and the Hussites.
Also a shout out for Lost Records - Bloom & Rage, which more than made up for last year’s slightly disappointing LiS game. Looking forward to Tape 2 next week and hope it does well enough that they can make this a series of games.
I thought Botany Manor was terrific. It’s sort of similar to Obra Dinn/Golden Idol - you must deduce how to grow weird rare plants from clues you find around the manor and grounds. Very engrossing and you can probably complete it in a weekend..
KCD2 on Series X. I’ve reached the Kuttenberg area now, still exploring it and picking up side quests. I tried the photo mode today and was amused to find that after taking a picture and returning to the game, Henry says things like “That’s a good one!” or “What a view that is!”
KCD2 - I had to go back to a save before the big wedding when it became very clear I wasn’t levelled enough for the ensuing sections! A bit more grinding - including actually learning how to sword fight - and I’m much better levelled and equipped to progress. I really enjoy the pace of the game.
It would have to be Baldur’s Gate 3 for me, I’ve played it through three times, 100+ hours each time, and I still find new things I’ve missed or new ways to approach situations.
I had a lot of fun and put a lot of hours into Grounded as well.
@GuyinPA75 I’ve played all of them and with the exception of LiS2, which I’ve mentioned (and which is probably the weakest of the series) I’ve never felt I was having an agenda pushed on me. If that had been the case, I’d have definitely found it off-putting.
@GuyinPA75 Not notably. LiS 2 had some fairly heavy-handed commentary on anti-Mexican prejudice. Max is gay and Alex could be so if you wanted her to be, but the LiS games aren’t like (say) Dustborn, which is heart-on-sleeve left wing.
I installed it once - there must have been a fleeting planetary alignment that caused me to think I’d be interested in baseball - but I never played it. I don’t suppose it has much traction outside the US.
I enjoyed it, but it isn’t as good as True Colors. I think it needed quite a bit more work, the male characters in particular seemed two dimensional and forgettable (I couldn't remember the name of any of them) and it didn’t achieve much of a sense of place. If you’ve liked the other LiS games I’d still recommend giving it a try, although Lost Records has the same feel and is a better game than DE.
Yeah, I reckon, I’m pretty happy with Xbox to be honest. Personally speaking, the Series X (with Game Pass) is the best console I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned most of them, starting with the Atari VCS!
More KCD2 on Series X. Got a horse now, which saves on shoe leather and also makes it easier to avoid bandits. Still relatively early in the game, doing side missions today, maybe a main quest mission tomorrow.
I wanted to like it, but I haven’t got a clue what is going on or what I’m supposed to do. I certainly haven’t felt anything like addiction, or even a desire to play it again.
On Series X I’ve started Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. It throws you in at the deep end a bit, but I’ve now got freedom of action and will be looking to make a bit of money, preferably by non-violent means, as I’m pretty poor at fighting!
I played MHWorld for a bit, but was put off by the cruelty. Okay, it’s just a game, but chasing down and killing a creature that hadn’t attacked me in the first place and was fleeing for its life just made me sad. ☹️
I’m playing Lost Records tape 1 on Series X (I bought it not realising it would be on PS+ which I also have - duh 🤦♂️) I thought I’d have a break between mega-RPGs.
It’s basically a Life is Strange game in everything but the name. I’m quite early into it - it encourages you to look at everything around and even video it, so the pace is quite slow, but I like that in this sort of game.
The story so far reminds me a bit of ‘Yellowjackets’ in that it has two timelines - middle-aged women in the near-present day and their teenage selves in 1995. So far so good, I think.
It looks interesting, so I bought and installed it (whilst sitting at my desk at work - what a world we live in now!) I’m planning to play this as a palate cleanser between BG3 and Avowed, or Kingdom Come 2, I’ll make my mind up which.
BG3 Durge run - past the point of no return for the final showdown, but it’s beer o’clock now, so I’ll save the last battle for tomorrow. Not sure what I’ll play after that - I bought Kingdom Come 2, but I’m tempted to play a palate cleanser-type game and wait for Avowed.
@Millionski I’ve played it for the last few weeks, so the version I played was after the patch they did at Christmas, but before this patch. It’s fine, not noticeably buggy at all in about 60-70 hours I’ve played. It wasn’t happy with quick resume though, so I got into the habit of saving and fully quitting the game.
NPCs are going to start looting the best gear from corpses… aw, I like waiting in cover while NPCs fight it out and then looting the bodies! It’s a good way to get guns and ammo, especially early on. But it’s obviously what they really would do in the Zone.
It looks good and apparently it is possible to do a playthrough in about 30 hours, which gives good scope for replayability, as by all accounts there’s a lot hidden in what is a quite small world.
@themightyant It does make me wonder why companies (Square Enix notably, but most recently EA) are so quick out of the blocks to declare a game’s sales a disappointment, essentially labelling them a failure, when they quite often keep selling!
@Fiendish-Beaver Not that old yet - I’m 56, but I’m the oldest of my circle of friends, hence the name! Old enough to have played Space Invaders, Galaxian, etc. in arcades back in the day, when they were new and totally thrilling…
Continuing my BG3 Durge run on Series X. Broke into the Devil’s house to nick his hammer. He wasn’t best pleased. A very tough fight ensued (although they are all pretty tough at this point) and I haven’t been able to win it yet. I’ll give it a few more tries, but I saved just before going there, so I might skip it as it’s not really necessary for the endgame - I was just interested to see it.
I have bought and downloaded it and it’s on the ‘to play’ pile. God knows why I do that when I could pick it up cheaper when I’ve finished the other games I’ve still got to play! 🤷♂️
I think there will be one more generation of consoles after this one. After that my own interest in gaming is likely to be diminished by the end of my life.
Taking a break from Stalker 2 to finish my Durge run on BG3 - I’m now in the city itself so nearing the endgame and learning just why my character has all these violent thoughts…
I am interested in Avowed, Kingdom Come and Lost Records. Quite a lot for a February! I expect a lot of them want to get their games out before GTA6 and the Switch 2 launch and dominate the conversation.
More Stalker 2. The story has taken me to the west of the map, closer to Pripyat, and safe to say the danger has ramped up. However, I am now much better equipped and armed. Still very much enjoying it - it feels like the Fallout game we clearly won’t get in this console generation.
I feel pretty well set up there for games for the next few months. Stalker 2 will likely last me until Avowed, I’ll also probably buy the new Kingdom Come game, then the three we just saw for April and May. 🙂
I’m sure DA will have a ‘long tail’ sales-wise, but a ten-year gap between releases means that a lot of people nowadays won’t even know much about the series. EA have nobody to blame but themselves for that.
He does a really good job and has some proper Indy lines to deliver. I love the bit where Voss calls him a ‘pathetic little man’ and he replies ‘Better than being a Nazi!’
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Re: Star Wars Zero Company Releases For Xbox In 2026, Gameplay Revealed
@Valhura try Gears Tactics, Metal Slug Tactics or Wargroove 2, all on game pass
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 19-20)
Some extra gaming days this weekend, so I played tape 2 of Lost Records. Not as good as tape 1, I thought - not as interactive - but I still enjoyed it and hope they make more.
Now back to KCD2.
Re: Xbox Spring Sale 2025 Now Live In Full, 1000+ Games Discounted
I picked up the first KCD game with all dlc for less than a tenner. 🙂
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 12-13)
Still on with KCD2 on Series X. It’s an immense game! I also a quick look at Blue Prince before adding it to the ever-growing backlog - seems interesting.
Re: Xbox Unveils New 'Wake Up' Trailer Starring A Human Rat
Whoah, they are actually promoting the console that they make? Radical thinking from the marketing department there - completely contradicting their previous strategy of ‘the odd tweet about it or nothing at all’!
Re: Talking Point: What's The Best Game You've Played In 2025 So Far?
Oooh, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 for me - 125 hours in and I’m not yet half way through! I really need to do some reading on that period of history, Wenceslas and Sigismund, Zizka and the Hussites.
Also a shout out for Lost Records - Bloom & Rage, which more than made up for last year’s slightly disappointing LiS game. Looking forward to Tape 2 next week and hope it does well enough that they can make this a series of games.
Re: After The Minecraft Movie's Success, What Other Xbox IP Should Get The Film Treatment?
Heh heh. Always entertaining when audiences defy critics. 😁
Re: Pick One: What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In March 2025?
I spent the entirety of March on KCD2 and will likely be the same in April, so I didn’t vote - I haven’t had the chance to play any of them yet.
Re: Seven Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Early April 2025
I thought Botany Manor was terrific. It’s sort of similar to Obra Dinn/Golden Idol - you must deduce how to grow weird rare plants from clues you find around the manor and grounds. Very engrossing and you can probably complete it in a weekend..
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 29-30)
KCD2 on Series X. I’ve reached the Kuttenberg area now, still exploring it and picking up side quests. I tried the photo mode today and was amused to find that after taking a picture and returning to the game, Henry says things like “That’s a good one!” or “What a view that is!”
Re: Poll: As Forza Horizon 5 Cruises To PS5, Are You Still Playing It On Xbox?
I played it quite a bit when it came out, but it fell off my radar a few years ago.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 22-23)
KCD2 - I had to go back to a save before the big wedding when it became very clear I wasn’t levelled enough for the ensuing sections! A bit more grinding - including actually learning how to sword fight - and I’m much better levelled and equipped to progress. I really enjoy the pace of the game.
Re: Talking Point: What's The Best Xbox Game You've Played During The Series X|S Generation?
It would have to be Baldur’s Gate 3 for me, I’ve played it through three times, 100+ hours each time, and I still find new things I’ve missed or new ways to approach situations.
I had a lot of fun and put a lot of hours into Grounded as well.
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Atomfall On Xbox Game Pass
Sounds good to me, although at the rate I’m going, I won’t have finished KCD2 until autumn.
Re: Stalker 2 Update 1.3 Brings Over 1,200 Fixes To Xbox & PC, Full Patch Notes Revealed
@oopsiezz I played it after the Christmas patch and had no issues.
Re: Square Enix Seemingly Suffered 'Large Losses' With Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
@GuyinPA75 I’ve played all of them and with the exception of LiS2, which I’ve mentioned (and which is probably the weakest of the series) I’ve never felt I was having an agenda pushed on me. If that had been the case, I’d have definitely found it off-putting.
Re: Square Enix Seemingly Suffered 'Large Losses' With Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
@GuyinPA75 Not notably. LiS 2 had some fairly heavy-handed commentary on anti-Mexican prejudice. Max is gay and Alex could be so if you wanted her to be, but the LiS games aren’t like (say) Dustborn, which is heart-on-sleeve left wing.
Re: Poll: MLB The Show 25 Isn't On Xbox Game Pass, So Will You Be Buying It?
I installed it once - there must have been a fleeting planetary alignment that caused me to think I’d be interested in baseball - but I never played it. I don’t suppose it has much traction outside the US.
Re: Square Enix Seemingly Suffered 'Large Losses' With Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
I enjoyed it, but it isn’t as good as True Colors. I think it needed quite a bit more work, the male characters in particular seemed two dimensional and forgettable (I couldn't remember the name of any of them) and it didn’t achieve much of a sense of place. If you’ve liked the other LiS games I’d still recommend giving it a try, although Lost Records has the same feel and is a better game than DE.
Re: Talking Point: If The Next-Gen Xbox Is More 'PC-Like', Will You Still Buy It?
Yeah, I reckon, I’m pretty happy with Xbox to be honest. Personally speaking, the Series X (with Game Pass) is the best console I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned most of them, starting with the Atari VCS!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 8-9)
More KCD2 on Series X. Got a horse now, which saves on shoe leather and also makes it easier to avoid bandits. Still relatively early in the game, doing side missions today, maybe a main quest mission tomorrow.
Re: Review: Split Fiction (Xbox) - An Incredible Co-Op Adventure That Blew Our Minds
It looks good, but I don’t know anyone who’d be interested in playing it and, to be honest, I’m not really interested in playing with other people.
Re: Poll: What Do You Think Of 'Balatro' On Xbox Game Pass So Far?
I wanted to like it, but I haven’t got a clue what is going on or what I’m supposed to do. I certainly haven’t felt anything like addiction, or even a desire to play it again.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 1-2)
On Series X I’ve started Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. It throws you in at the deep end a bit, but I’ve now got freedom of action and will be looking to make a bit of money, preferably by non-violent means, as I’m pretty poor at fighting!
Re: Review: Monster Hunter Wilds (Xbox) - Is It Bigger And Better Than The Rest?
I played MHWorld for a bit, but was put off by the cruelty. Okay, it’s just a game, but chasing down and killing a creature that hadn’t attacked me in the first place and was fleeing for its life just made me sad. ☹️
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 22-23)
I finished Lost Records tape 1, I thought it was terrific. Looking forward to the second episode.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 22-23)
I’m playing Lost Records tape 1 on Series X (I bought it not realising it would be on PS+ which I also have - duh 🤦♂️) I thought I’d have a break between mega-RPGs.
It’s basically a Life is Strange game in everything but the name. I’m quite early into it - it encourages you to look at everything around and even video it, so the pace is quite slow, but I like that in this sort of game.
The story so far reminds me a bit of ‘Yellowjackets’ in that it has two timelines - middle-aged women in the near-present day and their teenage selves in 1995. So far so good, I think.
Re: These Three Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (February 20-25)
Rogue Trader… crikey, I’m never going to clear the backlog!
Re: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
It looks interesting, so I bought and installed it (whilst sitting at my desk at work - what a world we live in now!) I’m planning to play this as a palate cleanser between BG3 and Avowed, or Kingdom Come 2, I’ll make my mind up which.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 15-16)
BG3 Durge run - past the point of no return for the final showdown, but it’s beer o’clock now, so I’ll save the last battle for tomorrow. Not sure what I’ll play after that - I bought Kingdom Come 2, but I’m tempted to play a palate cleanser-type game and wait for Avowed.
Re: Stalker 2 Patch 1.2 Marks First Major Update Of 2025 For Xbox Game Pass FPS
@Millionski I’ve played it for the last few weeks, so the version I played was after the patch they did at Christmas, but before this patch. It’s fine, not noticeably buggy at all in about 60-70 hours I’ve played. It wasn’t happy with quick resume though, so I got into the habit of saving and fully quitting the game.
Re: Stalker 2 Patch 1.2 Marks First Major Update Of 2025 For Xbox Game Pass FPS
NPCs are going to start looting the best gear from corpses… aw, I like waiting in cover while NPCs fight it out and then looting the bodies! It’s a good way to get guns and ammo, especially early on. But it’s obviously what they really would do in the Zone.
Re: Review: Avowed (Xbox) - Flashy Action & Excellent Exploration Make Up For A Surprisingly Breezy Narrative
It looks good and apparently it is possible to do a playthrough in about 30 hours, which gives good scope for replayability, as by all accounts there’s a lot hidden in what is a quite small world.
Re: Remedy Talks Upcoming Projects As Alan Wake 2 Finally Makes A Profit
@themightyant It does make me wonder why companies (Square Enix notably, but most recently EA) are so quick out of the blocks to declare a game’s sales a disappointment, essentially labelling them a failure, when they quite often keep selling!
Re: New Financial Report Provides Estimated Xbox Series X|S Sales Figure As Of Late 2024
@Fiendish-Beaver Not that old yet - I’m 56, but I’m the oldest of my circle of friends, hence the name! Old enough to have played Space Invaders, Galaxian, etc. in arcades back in the day, when they were new and totally thrilling…
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 8-9)
Continuing my BG3 Durge run on Series X. Broke into the Devil’s house to nick his hammer. He wasn’t best pleased. A very tough fight ensued (although they are all pretty tough at this point) and I haven’t been able to win it yet. I’ll give it a few more tries, but I saved just before going there, so I might skip it as it’s not really necessary for the endgame - I was just interested to see it.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Buying Kingdom Come Deliverance 2?
I have bought and downloaded it and it’s on the ‘to play’ pile. God knows why I do that when I could pick it up cheaper when I’ve finished the other games I’ve still got to play! 🤷♂️
Re: New Financial Report Provides Estimated Xbox Series X|S Sales Figure As Of Late 2024
I think there will be one more generation of consoles after this one. After that my own interest in gaming is likely to be diminished by the end of my life.
Re: Avowed Has A 60FPS Mode On Xbox Series X, Confirms Obsidian
I haven’t read all the comments, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone complaining that it isn’t 120fps…
Re: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Hits Massive Sales Milestone In Just 24 Hours
It’s early February and I’ve already got a 2025 game backlog! 😮
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 1-2)
Taking a break from Stalker 2 to finish my Durge run on BG3 - I’m now in the city itself so nearing the endgame and learning just why my character has all these violent thoughts…
Re: All New Xbox Games Coming Out In February 2025
I am interested in Avowed, Kingdom Come and Lost Records. Quite a lot for a February! I expect a lot of them want to get their games out before GTA6 and the Switch 2 launch and dominate the conversation.
Re: MLB The Show 25 Is Surprisingly Not Coming To Xbox Game Pass This Year
Never played it! Perhaps they could replace it with Tournament Bowls ‘25. Or a birdwatching game.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 25-26)
More Stalker 2. The story has taken me to the west of the map, closer to Pripyat, and safe to say the danger has ramped up. However, I am now much better equipped and armed. Still very much enjoying it - it feels like the Fallout game we clearly won’t get in this console generation.
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2025's Xbox Developer Direct?
I feel pretty well set up there for games for the next few months. Stalker 2 will likely last me until Avowed, I’ll also probably buy the new Kingdom Come game, then the three we just saw for April and May. 🙂
Re: EA Says Two Of Its Major AAA Titles 'Underperformed' In 2024
I’m sure DA will have a ‘long tail’ sales-wise, but a ten-year gap between releases means that a lot of people nowadays won’t even know much about the series. EA have nobody to blame but themselves for that.
Re: Xbox's Indiana Jones Voice Actor Wins 'Best Acting' Prize At New York Game Awards 2025
A tough field though - Hannah Telle and Melina Juergens were both brilliant too.
Re: Xbox's Indiana Jones Voice Actor Wins 'Best Acting' Prize At New York Game Awards 2025
He does a really good job and has some proper Indy lines to deliver. I love the bit where Voss calls him a ‘pathetic little man’ and he replies ‘Better than being a Nazi!’
Re: Seven Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (January 22)
Starbound looks interesting. And if you haven’t played Case of the Golden Idol yet, I can only re-re-re recommend it, a belter.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 18-19)
More Stalker 2 on Series X - just reached an important decision point. About 60 hours in and still really enjoying myself.