Video Games Threads
Get into the discussion with Game Rant¡¯s video game threads.
How Many Game Awards is FF7 Rebirth Winning?
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth?is up for a staggering seven nominations at the 2024 Game Awards, matching only Astro Bot in number of awards categories it is being nominated for. Of the categories, I think it has a high chance to take the Best RPG award, Best Score and Music, and Best Narrative, but I don't think it's going to win Audio Design, Performance, Game Direction, or GOTY. I am biased toward?Balatro?winning GOTY, as I love that game in a way that's hard to explain briefly, but I think?Metaphor: ReFantazio?or?Black Myth: Wukong?are going to take that top prize. And though I'm not familiar with all other contenders in other categories, I don't think its audio design, performances, or overall game design were?particularly?great compared to the games I do know.
Fortnite Battle Stars Were a More Exciting Way to Unlock the Battle Pass and Should Come Back
Fortnite?removed the Battle Stars Level Up system from?Fortnite. Now, leveling up means players get to unlock a Battle Pass reward. Even though it simplifies how the Battle Pass works, it's not as fun. Before, each type of reward would be worth a certain number of Battle Stars and it felt fair to only spend 2 Battle Stars to get an emoticon but 8 Battle Stars to unlock a skin. Since you have to level up a full account level to unlock a reward each time, it doesn't feel worth the cost when you spend it on smaller rewards, such as sprays and emoticons.
The Water Temple Puzzle In Ocarina of Time Was Frustratingly Hard. Are There Any Others Worse Than That?
The Water Temple from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?stumped me for days the first time I played it all the way back in middle school. It's like a labyrinth that you will all but assuredly get lost in if you aren't following a guide or have a map of the dungeon open, every room looks the same, and the water mechanic and Iron Boots just add more to think about when traversing this veritable maze. It's hard to think of any game puzzle that stumped me harder than figuring out the way through the Water Temple ¨C perhaps as I've grown up I've just gotten better at solving puzzles in games.
As Excited As I Am For Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, Doesn¡¯t 4 Hours of Cutscenes Seem Excessive?
Game director Axel Torvenius stated that?Indiana Jones and the Great Circle?will have almost four hours of cutscenes, described by some as being about the length of two?Indiana Jones?movies. If we consider that the game is purported to be around 12 to 25 hours long, that's anywhere from 1/3 to 1/6 of the entire game. I appreciate cutscenes in games, especially when they look as good as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's cutscenes, and I don't even mind when cutscenes are the primary way that a game drives its narrative. I just really hope the story is as good as a classic?Indiana Jones?movie so it's worth sitting through ¨C I like Troy Baker's performance as Indy, I just worry that the game will lean too heavily on cutscenes that stop the action and cut into players' time engaging with the world.?
Enter Our Entropy Survivors Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of bullet hell roguelike Entropy Survivors, Game Rant is giving away five Entropy Survivors game codes, redeemable on Steam, to five winning participants in our giveaway draw. To?enter the draw for your chance to win, simply leave a comment below letting us know in 10 words or more: what is your favorite roguelike game and why? Entries close December 11, 2024, at 11:59pm ET Giveaway Rules: No purchase required to enter. Contest begins on December 4, 2024, at 5:00pm ET and ends on December 11, 2024, at 11:59pm ET. There are a total of five (5) prizes available to be won as follows: five (5) game codes redeemable on Steam to download the game Entropy Survivors, each prize having an approximate retail value of $11.69 CAD ($8.31 USD). Winning contestants are randomly selected from valid entries, and a skill-testing question is required to be successfully completed prior to being awarded a prize. Contest open to legal residents of Canada (excluding Qu¨¦bec) and the
Lord of the Rings: Return Of The King Is The Best Movie-Based Game I've Played. What's Your Pick?
I have so many good memories playing?The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King?on my PlayStation 2, especially the opening level that took place in the Helm's Deep fight at the end of The Two Towers. It's a real anomaly because the best licensed games tend to be not directly tied to a film's plot, like the many?Star Wars?spin-off games (Jedi Survivor, Outlaws,?etc) or The Simpsons: Hit and Run. But it's hard to think of other games directly based on movies that are actually worth playing.
What Feature Are You Most Excited About In Path of Exile 2?
I'm really excited to try?Path of Exile 2?co-op, as it will have both online and local co-op for all platforms on launch ¨C including PC, which rarely gets local co-op functionality in ported games. My wife has never tried?PoE, but I think she will be more inclined to give it a go if we both get to play together on the same screen, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like playing PoE 2?with someone sitting on the couch (or in a desk chair) next to me.
What's Your Favorite FPS In 2024?
I had a ton of fun playing Delta Force during its closed tests and demo, and I'm very excited to hop back into it once it enters open beta. The gunplay is punchy and satisfying, the pacing is just right, and while I'm still bothered by the whole specialist clone wars thing, it ultimately doesn't detract anything from the overall fun factor.
Girls' Frontline 2 Is Good, But It Can't Hold A Candle To XCOM
Girls' Frontline 2 takes a lot of queues from the XCOM series, but there are so many twists in the formula that it really does feel like its own game, which is a good thing. The cover system works differently, each character has unique skills, and overall, the game is just easier (in the beginning, at least). Don't expect a hardcore tactical experience from GFL2, but don't dismiss it as just another XCOM clone either.?
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How Are You Liking Sunday So Far In Honkai: Star Rail?
Sunday is easily a top-tier Support character. He's three Harmony units in one (Sparkle, Bronya, and Tingyun), and while he has the unique ability to move summoned units up the turn order along with their masters, Sunday remains a strong pick even in traditional DPS comps.
Troy Baker Does Indiana Jones Justice ¨C Would You Agree?
I have yet to play the game and am waiting for release alongside everyone else, but from what I've seen in trailers and pre-release footage of?Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I think Troy Baker has done a fantastic job voicing Indiana Jones and bringing life to this iconic character. Baker does an amazing impression of Harrison Ford at the time the game takes place, and it's only rarely that his voice acting doesn't sound quite right. I was initially worried about the voice not matching Ford's face and model, but honestly I'm very impressed and it makes me more excited to play this.
What Are Your Thoughts On Marvel Rivals' Hero Designs?
I'm not a fan of the comically bulky look that characters like Captain America, Wolverine, and the Punisher have, but I'm absolutely in love with the rest. Moon Knight, Iron Fist, Hawkeye, and Star-Lord are probably my four favorite heroes in Marvel Rivals in terms of looks alone.
If You Can Accept That It¡¯s Early Access, Path of Exile 2¡¯s Supporter Packs Are Good Value
I think, up to a certain point, there's no reason for?Path of Exile?fans not to try out the Early Access for?PoE 2?with an Early Access Supporter Pack. For $30 you essentially get the entire game, as Grinding Gear Games has already added the first three acts and the endgame to the EA, and only plans to add the last three Acts that bridge Act 3 to the endgame in the next few months. The higher-tier Early Access packs come with some nice goodies (and even real-life rewards), but for the remarkably high price points, I don't think they're worth it. But hey, if you have the disposable income and are a big enough?Path of Exile?fan, go nuts!
Path of Exile 2¡¯s Mercenary Class Looks Great - Which One Will You Start With?
I'm really excited to try the Mercenary, as it looks like it will be completely new and its ammo/gun-like Crossbow is going to make for some really neat gameplay. I'm also curious about the Witch, as I like summoner builds in ARPGs but have a hard time warming up to the way some of them are implemented/how they feel to play.
How Many Game Awards is Shadow of the Erdtree Winning?
Despite being a DLC,?Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?is up for a number of awards at The Game Awards 2024, including Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best RPG, and of course Game Of The Year. I don't think it should win GOTY, though it absolutely deserves to be up there. I think it could easily win Best Game Direction and Best RPG, but I think it's going to lose Best Art Direction to?Black Myth: Wukong.
How Many Game Awards is Astro Bot Winning?
I think?Astro Bot?is going to win the Best Family Game and Best Action/Adventure game, but I don't think it's going to take Game Of The Year or the other categories it's up in (Score, Audio Design, Art Direction, Game Direction). The GOTY contenders are just too unique and aren't platform-restricted, and I think it will have a tough time against contenders in other categories.?
Who Would You Like To See Collaborate With Monopoly GO?
After the epic Marvel collab, I'd love to see Monopoly GO partner up with Pokemon. Imagine collecting your favorite Pokemon as tokens and trading stickers themed around different Pokemon regions. Plus, a crossover with Super Mario would be pretty cool too. You could collect Mario, Luigi, and Peach tokens, or maybe even race around the board in Mario Kart. Either way, it would be a dream come true for fans!
What's The Most Hectic Roguelike You've Played?
It's got to be Risk of Rain 2 for me. Every game starts off relatively chill, with barely any enemies spawning even on the hardest difficulty. Thirty minutes later, you're either constantly screaming or cackling maniacally as your screen is filled with bullets, missiles, lightning bolts, monsters, and damage numbers.
What's Your Favorite Chapter 6 Landing Location So Far?
I like landing at Nightshift Forest. I usually try to find a Sprite on the outskirts of the POI and then bring it to Bushranger so they can give me the Vault Key. It's an easy way to guarantee high-rarity loot within the first couple of minutes of the game.
What Are Your Initial Thoughts on Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1?
Even though I didn't like the Battle Pass as much as I thought I would, the new gameplay mechanics sure make up for it. This season is super fun, and I love the addition of the Oni Masks and Sprites in particular.
Monday Matchup - Nathan Drake vs Indiana Jones
In this week's GR Monday Matchup, two of the most famous treasure hunters in pop culture history beat each other to a pulp in the battle of the everyman explorers: it's Nathan Drake vs Indiana Jones! Nathan Drake?and?Indiana Jones?are very similar. They're mostly-normal men without superpowers who explore the far-off and often forgotten reaches of the world as treasure hunters. But despite the supernatural and reality-defying events that happen in both the?Uncharted?and?Indiana Jones?series, both of these characters are pretty grounded.? The key difference between these two adventure pulp magazine-inspired explorers is their body count, and their willingness to get into fights. Across the?Uncharted?series, Nathan Drake kills a lot more people than Indiana Jones does throughout the?Indiana Jones?movies, and he's arguably a much better shot because of it.? We'll see how it feels to play as Indiana Jones in?Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but until then I would give this fight to N
What's Your Go-To Monopoly Go Token?
I've been rocking a yellow-orange octopus from an event a while ago. I would've absolutely loved to get my hands on Deadpool for the Marvel event, but it is looking less and less likely! What's your favorite token and/or which one are you currently using?
What Other DLC Deserved A GOTY Nomination?
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom LIberty is the first DLC that comes to mind. It's not as big or expansive as Shadow of the Erdtree, but it has all the qualities of an absolute banger. The main story feels like playing through a well-written spy film, and the overworld gameplay, from general Dogtown exploration to the air drop raids and side quests, is an amazing addition to the overall Cyberpunk experience.?
What December Game Are You Looking Forward To The Most?
The game I'm looking forward to the most in December is?Path of Exile 2. Though it's only going to be an Early Access version of the game (which is set to launch later next year), the original?Path of Exile?is one of the best ARPGs ever made, and it's going to be a lot of fun going back to PoE-style gameplay after playing a lot of Diablo 4?this year. And from what we know will be available in the Early Access version of?Path of Exile 2, it's not exactly going to be an empty game until the full launch, as there's still three Acts and the foundations of an endgame to explore. Aside from that, I'm really looking forward to?Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I'm a big fan of most of MachineGames' catalogue, and from everything we've seen of the game so far it looks like a fun, classic Indy adventure that would slot right in with the original?Indiana Jones?trilogy.? What game are you looking forward to most in December? Share your thoughts below! ?
What's the Best Level 100 Skin in Fortnite?
The Level 100 skin that I like the most is Eternal Knight. However, I didn't enjoy Chapter 2 much and skipped that Battle Pass so unfortunately, I do not own it.
Monopoly Go Gold Stickers Should Always Be Tradeable
I think they should let us trade gold stickers whenever we want instead of the blitz only order. Sometimes it's impossible to complete an album because of that rule. Anyone else agree?
What Game Disappointed You Most This Year?
I've played a few of the games a lot of the gaming community considered to be unsuccessful, but I think?Funko Fusion?was the biggest let down for me. I love the?LEGO?games, so my expectations coming into?Funko Fusion?were that this would be their version of that kind of experience. I feel like the basic premise was there, but it just felt lacking in so many areas, finding the secret characters was far too tedious, and the overall story was hard to connect to. I really wanted to enjoy the game, but it gave me a lot of reasons not to.
Share Your Most Fun Skyrim Build
I once exploited a bug that let me equip five Amulets of Talos, which basically gave me 100% Shout cooldown reduction. From then on, combat boiled down to me using Unrelenting Force to throw people off cliffs or ragdoll them to the floor, giving me free rein to whack their faces with melee weapons. Flying through Skyrim with Whirlwind Sprint was pretty fun too.
What's Your Review of STALKER 2?
Overall, I'd give it a solid 8.5/10. The world is immersive, the gunplay is great (on mouse and keyboard), and while the story isn't super interesting, it's intriguing enough to keep me playing. It did take a few steps back compared to some of the earlier games ¡ª the lack of faction wars and Stalker Leaderboard is disappointing, and I often find myself wishing that the developers had done a bit more to innovate on the STALKER formula, because STALKER 2 plays almost exactly like the earlier games, for better and worse.
