What Video Games Have You Been Playing VII: The Real Ending is Locked Behind a Paywall

[GoodSarmatian]

I would also be pretty uninterested in WW1 Total War.
Warhammer worked, but besides the tanks and magic and flying creaatures, combat still relies heavily on sending melee units against other melee units and trying to outflank your enemy with cavalry.
My only worry with the Three Kongdoms era is that the factions could be too similar in unit composition, but that wouldn't be any better in a WW1 scenario.

 

[cardgame]

I mean, Shogun 2 and Empire worked pretty well.

 

[Akka]

Actually, the sameness of units among all clans was one of the major criticism of Shogun TW2 (even if it's understandable and was accepted).

 

[EgonSpengler]

I couldn't bring myself to buy Total Warhammer, even though I want to see what they've done with the series. I still play Empire from time to time, but only because of the setting/period. I like that this next game is something other than Europe or pseudo-European fantasy, but I've been so badly burned by PC games the last few years I can't get excited about anything new until I see some "let's play" videos or a demo or something. I guess I'm cautiously optimistic but keeping a miser's grip on my wallet.

 

[cardgame]

Warhammer is pretty darn awesome, especially with mods.

 

[Senethro]

I couldn't bring myself to buy Total Warhammer, even though I want to see what they've done with the series. I still play Empire from time to time, but only because of the setting/period. I like that this next game is something other than Europe or pseudo-European fantasy, but I've been so badly burned by PC games the last few years I can't get excited about anything new until I see some "let's play" videos or a demo or something. I guess I'm cautiously optimistic but keeping a miser's grip on my wallet.

I've only dipped in and out the Total War series as I was often turned off by the bugginess and the predominance of the strategic map layer. I picked up TW:W at christmas with no DLC and I've been kind of impressed. Zero crashes, the armies handle very differently and the early game economy favours setting up good fights. Everyone gets a high minimum income and units are cheap to recruit, expensive to upkeep. This encourages regular combat between high hundreds of troops rather than groups of stacks dancing backwards and forwards until someone trips up and its a 12000 vs. 19000 crapshow. Every race has at least two major factions who either have different playstyles or very different diplomatic starting situations.

An SSD installation is absolutely mandatory however.

 

[Kyriakos]

While at times i do lapse to playing some computer game for a few hours (and then uninstalling it again), i can't see how you people still are so fond of games or even have the time for them. That said, i used to think i had stopped playing games also 15 years ago, and then wasted 1000 hours or something on EuIII.

 

[Akka]

Warhammer is pretty darn awesome, especially with mods.

The only faction that could rouse my interest is the Empire, and they have too much gunpowder and things for me. I skipped Warhammer entirely.
Also I dislike the whole approach to sell the game piecemeal.
And I've been badly burned by RTW2 at release. It became a pretty good game by the end, but it's not acceptable to have a paid beta for two years.

 

[Arakhor]

While at times i do lapse to playing some computer game for a few hours (and then uninstalling it again), i can't see how you people still are so fond of games or even have the time for them. That said, i used to think i had stopped playing games also 15 years ago, and then wasted 1000 hours or something on EuIII.

All on 1405 Byzantine starts?

 

[Kyriakos]

All on 1405 Byzantine starts?

That would be hyperbolic. I did play two games as England, but it was (in comparison) so ridiculously easy that i felt like sleepwalking. So both of those lasted only for 15 years, during which i would conquer all Scotland and Ireland, while in war with France for most of the time, and Scotland twice.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Not much of an exercise in strategy, but very satisfying.

 

[FriendlyFire]

While at times i do lapse to playing some computer game for a few hours (and then uninstalling it again), i can't see how you people still are so fond of games or even have the time for them. That said, i used to think i had stopped playing games also 15 years ago, and then wasted 1000 hours or something on EuIII.

Well If they can make a good Civ game again I too would play 1000 hrs
Really been an advanced wars (turn based grid war game) drought. /sigh

 

[shadowplay]

Not much of an exercise in strategy, but very satisfying.

Don't forget the prequel: Drop Drake

 

[Commodore]

I still play Empire from time to time, but only because of the setting/period.

How is Empire? It's the only Total War game I haven't played.

 

[Ajidica]

How is Empire? It's the only Total War game I haven't played.

It isn't great.
CA tried to do a lot of interesting stuff but spread themselves too thin.
Plus, the AI is rubbish and this is a time period that requires an AI to be able to handle formations. Even after multiple patches the AI will still start the "square dance of death" from time to time where you are doing enough damage to their unit they will constantly be reforming rather than conducting a bayonet charge.
That said, it is worth picking up on steam sale for cheap. When the game works, it is glorious. In one turn as the Dutch I had:
Naval battle off the Gold Coast to protect my trade convoys.
Battle in India where my VOC levies were held off an attack by sword wielding (and elephant-riding!) Marathas.
Battle in the Americas against the natives.
Full line battle with artillery and cavalry in Europe against the Austrians as I found myself dragged into a war after one of the German states had a revolution.

Unfortunately, CA seems to have an aversion to history now, and I fear I will never see a 30 Years War Total War game. Pike and shot warfare, the Three Musketeers, Polish Winged Hussars charging against disciplined Swedish arquebusiers. Possibilities are endless.


Lately I've been playing Divinity Original Sin 2 and been enjoying it quite a lot. I played it a bit when it first came out, but built my characters badly and was struggling with some balance issues. Tried it again with some better built characters and the game is a lot more enjoyable, but still has some annoying difficulty spikes and isn't always very clear where you should be going for your level or how to proceed with a quest. Minor complaints really, for a game as brilliant as it is.

 

[Synobun]

How is Empire? It's the only Total War game I haven't played.

It's my favourite of the Total War games. Playing as the Marathi is a go-to of mine when I get a Total War kick. It also runs fine on modern systems which I can't say the same for Rome or Medieval (the latter of which doesn't even launch for me).

 

[Akka]

Lately I've been playing Divinity Original Sin 2 and been enjoying it quite a lot. I played it a bit when it first came out, but built my characters badly and was struggling with some balance issues. Tried it again with some better built characters and the game is a lot more enjoyable, but still has some annoying difficulty spikes and isn't always very clear where you should be going for your level or how to proceed with a quest. Minor complaints really, for a game as brilliant as it is.

I can't repeat enough just how much anyone playing DOS2 should try the reduced number bloat mod. It massively reduces the stat inflation in the game, which means both less childish "tons of 0" numbers, less time spent browsing constantly to get on-level gear that gets obsolete 30 mn later, and allows fighting against foes with a different level without it being either impossible or faceroll.

 

[Commodore]

Broke down and bought Battlefront 2. I know, I know. Before you all burn me at the stake, please allow me a moment to explain myself.

I saw Battlefront 2 on sale for $35.99, so I decided to do some research on exactly what the game had to offer in terms of single player content. Turns out, it actually offers quite a bit beyond the abysmal story campaign. They have an arcade mode where you can set up battles against bots. Doesn't sound that great, but each map provides unique dialog that makes it feel like you are actually fighting a battle in that particular location. It's surprisingly immersive for a blatant cash grab from EA. I'm having a lot of fun with it so far, and I haven't even touched multiplayer or the campaign yet.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Broke down and bought Battlefront 2. I know, I know. Before you all burn me at the stake, please allow me a moment to explain myself. I saw Battlefront 2 on sale for $35.99,

As long as you dont spend money on DLC and microtransactions.
Looking at it should be a $30 game given the paulty content available and grind you have to play to unlock characters

 

[hobbsyoyo]

So what is the problem with PUBG? Also, why is it so popular? I know nothing about it except it's in every other video game thread in Reddit.