Totally. I wish I had some friends to get that experience more often. Closest I've been have been online discourse when playing certain games around launch, like Blue Prince, E33 and Elden Ring.
I like Civ V personally. I like the hexagons and I like the one-unit-per-tile instead of death stacks, even though the AI isn't great at using it without community patches. I also like its visuals the most.
It also has the beloved fan mod Vox Populi, if you want to get into all that.
I've been absolutely absorbed by this game the past week, having finally pulled the trigger on it after eyeing it for a long time. It's a 2.5D light horror roguelike, but there is so much more to it than it seems at first. Whenever I think I have a handle on it it keeps throwing new cool stuff at me, and the world building and story just keeps getting more interesting the more I play. It has a very unique vibe to it and a very distinctive and unique voice and direction.
The combat is clunky and janky yes, but you do get used to it and it gets a bit better after you start unlocking more tools, spells and weapons and start being able to actually make focused builds. The build crafting and customization is fun even when the mechanics of the combat itself is a little clunky. But this isn't a game you play for the combat anyway, but for the exploration, the lore, the story and the world building. Which is also partly told through item descriptions, Dark Souls-style.
Honestly I really don't want to spoil anything as the game has some interesting surprises so if you think this is your vibe I recommend just giving it a chance. It's very cool and I can see why it's such a beloved hidden gem. I can't wait to see what else it has up its sleeve.
Oh don't worry I quit drinking like ten years ago at this point. Time flies. It looks tempting and all but I don't keep any alcohol in the house anymore so it's easy to keep away from it. Having social anxiety and disliking leaving the house probably helps, I have to actually go outside first if I would want to drink and who wants to suffer through that?
Also don't discredit yourself, you were breezing through DS3 and you beat Sekiro quickly and handily, I think you're a better gamer than you think. You're definitely a certified Souls veteran at least.
But yeah it's interesting, I find Ninja Gaiden easier for some reason, even though they may be harder in some ways. I am still only halfway through NG4 though, I got sidetracked, but I have beaten the first three and Ninja Gaiden 2 twice this past year, plus some various chapter challenges and stuff, sometimes on the harder difficulties. But maybe the fast pace proactive and stamina-less combat is easier on my ADHD brain or something, I don't know. Ninja Gaiden doesn't really have any super long and exhausting boss fights and those are the ones I struggle with most in Fromsoft games. The long 10-15+ minute fights with 3 phases where you have to maintain perfect concentration and patience for such a long time. Sister Friede and Demon Prince already pushed me to my limits in the DS3 DLC, and I think that's what's made me a little hesitant about Fromsoft games of late (and kept me from attempting Elden Ring DLC and Sekiro).
I have also always hated April Fools. It's a mean-spirited and malicious tradition that is built on shaming people for trusting others and almost always comes down to having fun at other people's expense.
At first I thought Brian Jonestown Massacre maybe, but they might not be quite punk enough 🤔
I might not listen to any true folk punk after all.
I'm glad it's getting good reviews, it looks very interesting and different. Well, the combat at least. The dialogue and the 2D6 system seems very Disco Elysium coded.
I'll have a look at that later this afternoon, that sounds super cool!
Congratulations! 🎉
I still don't think I have it in me to take on Sekiro, though maybe that's partly just head gremlins who knows. The ease with which you've beaten it does make me second guess my hesitation a bit. But maybe the difficulty doesn't need demystifying and you're just a god gamer?
Also your post-credits wine celebration looks so good it's making me falter in my dedication to give up drinking...
It's an astonishing achievement that would be hilarious if it wasn't wasting the last glimpses of Alonso's career and our last hopes of seeing his win 33.
Also of note that Hampus has made his first hire and stated elsewhere on Bluesky that he's looking to further expand the team. Positive news.
Forced 2-stop due to the mandatory 25-lap stint limit. Lusail has a long pit delta and overtaking is impossible (almost) so entertaining the 3-stop is pointless. The race will be determined by navigating the 2-stop in the best manner.
How are you finding Stranger Of Paradise? Since getting into Ninja Gaiden this past year I've come into contact with some more CAG players and some of them talked it up as having really great combat.