<–The State of the Gamer: 8/22/17 The State of the Gamer: 9/5/17–>
A weekly post updated every Tuesday detailing my current gaming projects. I have quite a backlog of games to either play or watch, and I’m hoping a weekly article will assist with my progress as my other accountable posts have done with reading and writing. I have an account at Grouvee, which is a essentially Goodreads for gamers, so please feel free to friend me there!
Currently Playing: 2
Title: Final Fantasy Type-0
Series: Final Fantasy/Fabula Nova Crystallis
Genre: Action RPG – Fantasy
Developer: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 4
Release Date: October 27, 2011
Date Purchased: May 18, 2017
Date Started: June 18, 2017
Progress: Chapter 2 – Preparing for second official mission
I liberated the town of McTighe and gathered all of the citizens for the mayor’s speech. For my trouble, I received a turbo ether. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how to gather phantoma, so I quick google search was necessary. I may do the McTighe mission again just to make sure I’m collecting as much of it as I can. The coliseum still hasn’t opened, but I have faith.
Title: Final Fantasy V
Series: Final Fantasy
Genre: RPG – Fantasy
Developer: Square
Platform: PlayStation
Release Date: December 6, 1992
Date Purchased: Unknown
Date Started: June 17, 2017
Progress: Fire Ship
Okay, so not technically the Fire Ship, but rather that’s my next stop to continue the story. I need to do some GP or gil grinding (I forget what the currency is in this one) so that I can purchase all of the upgrades in Karnak. Hopefully, the monsters around the town give good gil.
Ongoing Games: 2
Title: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Series: Mario Kart
Genre: Racing/Driving
Developer: Nintendo
Platform(s): Wii U, Nintendo Switch
Release Dates: April 28, 2017 (Switch), May 29, 2014 (Wii U)
Date Purchased: August 21, 2017
Date Started: August 26 2017
Progress: Beginner
I’m not really sure how to show progress with a game like this lol, but you’ll notice I’ve added a new section “Ongoing” to show games that either don’t have a definite end (like MK8) or that have consistently added content (like FFBE below). I figure it makes more sense to separate them. Games that have a definitive end like your typical RPG, platformer, adventure game, etc. will go in the section above, and games that don’t will go here.
So, I believe there’s going to be a group karting session this Thursday around 9/10 EST, but I’m also supposed to play Monday (which is the day I’m writing this), so I’ll let you know if that happens.
It happened, and it was AWESOME. I was so close to beating my buddy, well, close as in I was in 1st place for a few minutes before he breezed right past me lol. He’s a freaking speed demon, while I’m still learning how to drift. I believe this Thursday there’s going to be another racing session with even more people. I can’t wait!
I love the game so far. It’s adorable, but I need to learn how to drift if I’m going to have any hope of beating my Metroid and Legend of Zelda loving Twitter buddy (I didn’t) whom I hope will join in with the racing festivities this Thursday as well. I’ve never actually played a game without other people online like this, and I’m looking forward to it! Even if I lose miserably (which I’m totally expecting) (I totally did!), it’ll be fun 😀 (It WAS XD)
Title: Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius
Series: Final Fantasy
Genre: RPG – Fantasy
Developer: Square Enix
Platform(s): iOS, Android
Release Date: June 29, 2016
Date Purchased: March 21, 2017
Date Started: March 27, 2017
Progress: Rank 31
I’ve been doing these interesting Vortex missions involving the bad guys of the game, the Veritas. It’s…interesting to see the other point of view, though I’m still not sure why they’re trying to shatter the crystals. There seems to be some sort of vengeance thing going on.
For story missions I believe I’m in a forest after the Dwarves Forge, and that was a tough battle. I almost didn’t win, so I suppose I should do some leveling.
Finished Watching This Week: 1
Title: Mass Effect III
Series: Mass Effect
Genre: Action RPG – Sci-Fi
Developer: BioWare
Original Platform(s): Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3
Original Release Date: March 6, 2012
Let’s Player: Olizandri
Date Started: January 23, 2017
Date Finished: July 19, 2017
Date Finished (DLC): August 27, 2017
Watching Duration: 177 days; 215 days
Progress: Complete
With the completion of the Citadel DLC, I’m officially done watching this series. I liked that last hurrah very much. For many it justified what they considered a bad ending (though I don’t agree, but then I also saw the updated one), and it was nice to see Shepherd and crew unwind for the night. Some of the conversations were hilarious, especially when Joker laughed for a good minute picturing Shepherd and EDI dancing.
This may be the longest I’ve ever taken to watch an LP, but I cherished every minute. I’ll be writing something up on the narrative in the next couple of months after I finish my reviews for SOMA and The Last of Us.
Currently Watching: 1
Title: BioShock
Series: BioShock
Genre: First Person Shooter – Sci-Fi
Developers: Irrational Games & 2K Australia
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, iOS
Original Release Date: August 21, 2007
Let’s Player: Christopher Odd
Total Number of Videos: 33
Date Started: August 28, 2017
Progress: 3%
When it showed the main character going beneath the sea in a bathysphere, I immediately thought of SOMA, but the vibe is much different SOMA has more of a post apocalyptic and serious horror motif going on with the lingering existential dread that drowns you more thoroughly than the deep sea ever could. BioShock seems to be more campy with more cartoony and less realistic voices. Don’t get me wrong, the splicers are creepy, but they’ve got nothing on the proxies. Rapture looks exactly as you’d picture a city in the 60’s would look if it were underwater, so it has more of a retro mien. I saw my first Big Daddy with its attendant Little Sister, and I’m looking forward to finding out what that’s all about.
Games Added to Backlog: 1
- Fable – I played this a long time ago, and something reminded me about it today. I think one of my blogger friends was talking about Fable 2.
Total Games in Backlog: 136
Change from Last Week: 0
Games Added to Watch List: 0
Total Games on Watch List: 35
Change from Last Week: -1
Games Purchased This Week: 0
Miscellaneous
I want to buy more Switch games. I love the versatility of the system. I’m not fond of the fact that I’m going to have to pay for the online functions in 2018, and I’m hoping it’s not too much. Neither Sony nor Microsoft makes you pay to interact with your friends (you’ll have to correct me if I’m wrong with Microsoft). They offer extras with PSN and Xbox Live respectively, but you don’t have to have either of those. I don’t think this is a good move for Nintendo, if they want to stay competitive in the online market, which is a huge chunk of it. If it’s like $20 a year and you get free downloads of games that wouldn’t be free otherwise, I could see it being lucrative, but if you’re just paying to be able to do any online activity, that would be a very unwise move.
My next Switch pick ups are going to be Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Disgaea 5, and Splatoon 2. I’ve never really played games with friends before, and I’m really liking that aspect of it. Hell, I might even start doing that on my PS3/4. I can’t believe I’m being social o.O
What are you currently playing and/or watching? Is it something new or old? Is it a first time run or a replay? What’s the genre? Would you recommend it? What’s on your radar to play next?
<–The State of the Gamer: 8/22/17 The State of the Gamer: 9/5/17–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
Pingback: The State of the Gamer: 8/22/17 | The Shameful Narcissist Speaks
I’m a year behind but I started playing Pokemon Go today. 😛
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I’m embarrassed to admit how behind I am with some things. We’re talking decades late to the party lol.
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Mario Kart 8 – master drifting as quickly as possible, get up to speed with the LOADS of shortcuts all over the place (there’s an almighty one on Cheese Land where you can be dead last with the final few corners of the race to go and still win), and master the courses… then try and overcome all the crippling bad luck you get being balanced out with the good luck. I do love this game mightily.
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I’m trying! I really need to practice…
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TRY HARDER, DAMMIT!!!!! But yeah, just keep practising. It’ll click in the end.
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Let me know if you ever want to race! I can use the practice, and I’m getting better at drifting, but I think I’m slowing myself down more than speeding up lol.
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Sure, I usually only race against arbitrary unknowns amidst the midst of time. My internet connection is a bit dodgy at the moment (excuses, excuses), but I can forward you ma ID code and we can race like it’s 1871!
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You have been added good sir! I know we’ll have to figure out our time hyjinx, but I’m sure we’ll be able to make it work! Shoot me a message on The Twit 😀
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Nintendo doesn’t seem to have fully finalised its vision for the whole Switch social experience yes, so I presume it’ll be easier to confirm times via message with future console patches. Or, you know, maybe they just don’t want us to communicate with each other.
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I’ve been thinking that same thing! There’s no way to contact anyone through the Switch itself. They need to step into the 21st Century. We’ve been here quite a while.
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They did with the Wii U, that’s the weird thing. There was the Miiverse where you could interact with everyone like mad… but that’s been obliterated for the Switch. Surely something similar is on the way.
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It’s odd that they went backwards! Well hopefully they’ll fix it before they start making us pay in 2018 hmph.
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Nintendo’s plan with the online network sounds pretty much like what PS+ and XBL are doing just in their own convoluted way. For most games with PS4/XB1 you can’t play online multiplayer unless you have PS+ or XBL, Nintendo seems to be pricing it right ($20 a year) but their online communication system (via cell phone app) is wonky at best. Anyway, we’ll see, I hope they decide that the infrastructure they’ve designed makes no sense and decide to scrap it.
Do you have any interest in Mario + Rabbids? The game looks crazy and fun.
I should probably send you my friend code at some point so I can get in on some Mario Kart at some point.
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Ah I guessed the price accurately! I think my husband was explaining the same thing. I also really wish you could message people you’re friends with. That would make collaboration a bit easier.
I was just looking at the Rabbids game. I didn’t have an interest before, but it’s something I’d check out!
Definitely send me your friend code 😀
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Yay, Bioshock! I hope you manage to finish it, I got way too creeped out quite near the end of the game and stopped playing, I need to revisit it and properly finish it one day.
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I’m watching it and so far I think I’m okay. There’s a…campiness to it so far, but I’m sure that will fade as the game goes on.
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Tip: when you buy Disgaea 5 on switch, you get all the addons. You can then unlock them on the game very early in the game. The s can make you super OP so if you like the challenge you could wait to unlock all those bonus characters and stuff.
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I swear this makes sense without the typos.
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I understood it lol!
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That dwarf forge boss was brutal! The living flame guy, right? Have fun Mario Karting Thursday night! I’ll hopefully catch you some other time 🙂
Grey Warden Ellen is still fighting the Darkspawn menace in Dragon Age Origins. I actually haven’t played much since I’ve been in that glorious “writer mode” all week 😀 I reached the semifinals in that Blogger Blitz event I was in, and I need to finish my post by Monday… I’ve been driving myself crazy with ideas, haha. I’m also up against THE Well-Red Mage so I’m freaking terrified too!!
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He was so difficult! I should’ve brought a better 6th unit.
Yeah! Let me know when you’re available. I’m free nearly every evening, but Monday, Thursday, and weekends are the best.
I LOVE when I get into writer mode! You don’t want anything to get in your way when that happens 😀
Oh good luck in the Blogger Blitz finals!
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Thank you! 😀
I’m visiting my folks for the long weekend… They have satellite internet so I didn’t even bother bringing my Switch, haha. I’ll be back Sunday night though, and I’m off Monday too, so any time then is good. Otherwise, if it’s not Tues. or Thurs. I’m home 🙂
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I’m off for the next two weeks! I’d be off Monday anyway due to Labor Day, but I’m sure we can work out a time. I played with TWRM, Mr. Panda, and Jeowulf tonight, and it was a lot of fun even though I lost ever time lol. Then my wrist started hurting grrr. I will be very annoyed if I need a wrist brace to play MK8. I mean I’m not THAT old, but I do have some arthritis D:
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Sounds like you had a blast! Enjoy your time off. Monday is Labour Day for us too (we just spell it differently thanks to our British overlords, haha) and I took a vacation day today. We’ll work something out when I get home Sunday. We can battle it out for 2nd last place 🙂
I swear, the older I get, the more I feel like Cranky Kong from Donkey Kong Country *shakes cane*
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Labor/Labour, the only difference is U :p I think the only thing I have to do tomorrow is go out to lunch for my father in law’s birthday, so I’ll definitely have time in the evening! Although I *may* need a wrist brace to play…I can’t believe I’m this decrepit D:
I’m really hoping to catch up on all the things these next two weeks, and I really want to finish my one FFVII essay for 9/7 aka Final Fantasy VII Day lol.
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We add “u” to a lot of words now that I think about it, haha. Sounds good! I hope your wrist feels better!
Happy FFVII day in advance! 😀
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I’m excited for you to pick up Breath of the Wild. One of the best open worlds I’ve ever seen in a game. I generally avoid aimlessly exploring in games, but I did a lot of it in BoTW. Also, 136 games in the backlog!? I got anxiety just reading that!
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I’m not usually an open world fan either! But I’ve heard so many good things about BOTW that I can’t resist. I was going to just watch a Let’s Play, but I actually want to experience the game for myself 🙂
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I’m glad you’re enjoying your Switch purchase! I rarely play games in a social environment anymore, but games like Rocket League, Mario Kary 8, and Overwatch are accessible enough that they’re great about giving players of any skill level those moments of greatness where you feel like you’ve actually done something rad. That… was a very long sentence.
Also, kudos for jumping into the BioShock trilogy after Mass Effect. I hold both of them in high regard and hopefully you enjoy them as much as I did — side note: when you get to BioShock 2, after finishing it, be sure to watch an LP of its Minerva’s Den DLC. I’m not 100% sure Odd played through it (though I’m *pretty* sure he did?). It’s a neat little story that was actually made by the lead guy who developed Gone Home.
As for me, I finished off both Final Fantasy XV DLC episodes (Prompto and Gladiolus) and enjoyed them. Gladio’s episode was a more aggressive change of pace, in terms of music, environments, boss fights, and combat style. I liked it a bit more than the Prompto episode, which felt more like a shooter while being more heavily focused on backstory. Either way, they were fun ways to spend an hour or two and I look forward to the final episode for Ignis in December.
I also just finished Horizon: Zero Dawn last night after buckling down on the story for two days. It was *very* good.
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MK8 is the very first game I’ve ever played with other people online lol. The last time I played with another person, they were sitting on the couch near me :p I’m much more of a solo gamer, but it didn’t feel any pressure to play; I actually wanted to. I wish my stupid wrist didn’t start hurting. Seriously? Arthritis from Mario Kart? The universe hates me.
BioShock is definitely interesting. I’m curious to find out more about the story.
I hear nothing but good things about HZD. I hope I can get to it this year.
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Pingback: The State of the Gamer: 9/5/17 | The Shameful Narcissist Speaks
Drifting is important in Mario Kart, due to the speed boost it gives, but I can’t offer many driving tips as I suck at that game haha. I have been playing the Disgaea games since the first game came out on PS2. Disgaea 5 gets a strong recommendation from me, if you enjoy strategy RPG with quirky humor.
Games I have been playing? Right now I am trying to beat Rabi Bibi – a metroidvania style game starring a bunny girl (don’t judge me.) Over the weekend I beat Last Day of June – a short game about a guy who is trying to use time travel to save his wife from a fatal car crash. Emotional stuff. You might want to add it your your Let’s Play watch list.
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I’m getting better at it, but sometimes I wind up turning the entire way around lol. I really want Disgaea 5; it’s been on my wish list since I got a Switch. I’m thinking I’ll ask for it for Christmas among other games.
No judgments! I mean technically FFXII is about a bunny woman and a captain who are both pirates. I have no judgements to give lol.
I think I’m going to try to play Last Day of June myself! Looking at its specs, I think I could handle a game like that…at least in terms of gameplay. I can tell just from the trailer that the feels will be flowing.
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