u/Baldurian_Rhapsody

Hi there! I know that "Mass Effect" is likely the most prevalent answer, and to be sure I ADORE that series. I also will play The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and Exodus.

That being said, I would love to get more suggestions. They can be story-based (my personal preference, as I am now playing "The Captain") or an imsim-like such as "Alien: Isolation" or even classics like KOTOR and TIE Fighter.

Space, though, has to be a setting. It doesn't have to be the exclusive setting, but it's part of the game somehow.

Thank you so much! Truly appreciate it.

I finished The Drifter and reconnected with my love for this genre.

What I love about point-and-clicks is that they put writing, music, and gorgeous pixel-art graphics first. They don't require twitch skills, just concentration and patience.

I'd love to really dive deep into this genre. Any era, from Zak McCraken to recent Wadjet Eye and indie offerings, are welcome. Any subgenre is welcome also!

Hey there! I would love to get your takes on CRPGs that provide some real humor. I love the sense of adventure and the abundant loot and lore in CRPGs, and a sense of comedy at times would be most welcome.

Think of HK-47 in KOTOR, or the banter between Morrigan and Alistair in DAO. And the CRPGs you recommend don't have to just have funny characters. They can have funny scenarios.

I'd welcome other game suggestions. Shakespeare wrote that "brevity is the soul of wit," so I definitely don't want or expect laugh-out-loud comedy throughout a CRPG. That would be tonally incorrect. Rather, I'm seeking some funny scenarios here and there, a funny character or two, and a nice little quip.

Lastly, if you could ideally keep it high-level, as I probably haven't played the games you're suggesting, that would be grand.

Thanks for your ideas!

Hi there! I love TV from all eras, and a favorite subgenre is hilarious, quippy shows within ostensibly serious genres, like detective or cop shows, or space sci-fi.

Firefly was funny, and The Orville is, too - and they're both in science-fiction, well-known for serious films like 2001. And Police Squad! is an all-time classic within the serious cop genre.

You could even call True Detective and The Sopranos comedies too!

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

I love the movie Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. It had real heart and personality.

For me, it's representative of a niche of adventure movies that straddle adventure and laughs. That's very hard to do! Indiana Jones, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Other Guys, The Nice Guys all come to mind.

I guess I'm going for Uncharted but in movie form, but not the Uncharted movie we got.

Thanks for any other suggestions!

Hi there! I'd love to play more adventure games, but so many are so bereft of any sort of humour. They're downright po-faced.

What the original Indiana Jones movies did very well is couple treacherous situations, exotic locales and quips: "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go!"

I'm asking for adventure in the very broadest sense - so Uncharted 4, Disco Elysium, classics like Grim Fandango and Monkey Island, and even Hitman: World of Assassination (which is fiendishly clever) all apply. They serve up their adventure with a smirk. In short, any era, adventure in the most broad sense, and a quip and a smile to boot. It would be interesting to get your thoughts!

Howdy! I'm getting into Westerns after a long stretch playing post-apocalyptic games.

I'd love to see if there are Westerns that feature some great ghost towns, or a sense of isolation (blizzards! mountains!) or just gorgeous scenes of nature.

Many happy trails, and thanks.

This could be as broad as Tamriel or as specific as the Port of Lost Heaven in "Mafia."

For me, personally, I adore Dunwall from Dishonored and, of course, Baldur's Gate.

What are your favorite places in gaming - and why?

Hi there! I'm interested in shorter games that are very compelling in story and plot.

A Plague Tale series is a perfect example, with compelling characters and storyline. SOMA, Titanfall 2, and Inside are other examples.

I realized that I just want a refresher to excellent albeit endless games like The Elder Scrolls and the Assassins Creed series: wide-open worlds that offer unlimited opportunity for emergent gameplay at the expense of story and focus.

Thanks!

Star Trek’s original vision of the future was unique because of its optimism. All sorts of social ills had been overcome and a united federation took to the stars.

I love good dystopian and apocalyptic fiction, but it’s almost ubiquitous. Even recent iterations of Trek have played into a “doom and gloom” mentality in some respects - or, at least, they are more cynical and foul-mouthed.

I’d love to get your suggestions for optimistic science fiction featuring a “great big beautiful tomorrow” - not without conflict, but generally bright. Any medium, from novels to films to games, is welcome.

Thank you!

At what point does a pureplay stealth game become an immersive sim?

Thief is a masterclass stealth game, but it's also an immersive sim. I'm trying to figure out where one genre ends and another begins.

Dishonored is another example, for sure. Is it both genres at once? Is stealth just part of the toolkit, or the genre?

Thanks for helping me parse it out!

I’d love to get a list of movies featuring - at least indirectly - the ocean. From The Old Man and the Sea to The Abyss to Sphere to Thunderball (really!) the ocean is a prominent part of some of my favorites.

Bonus points for classic movies, Atlantis or lost continent features, or aliens!

Thank you!

With a new Bond game coming out, the first new media in a while, I’m excited to read what you appreciate most about 007.

I’m also curious about which prior media provides the best examples of that “Bondishness.”

Thanks for sharing!

Hi there! We have all heard about "Hush" and "Year One." There are some incredible comics that are immediate recommendations to comic fans.

But what about the most underrated or overlooked comic stories? With decades of history, I am convinced that there are comic runs that deserve more recognition and appreciation.

Thanks very much for your kind suggestions!

Hi there! The Elder Scrolls games fascinate me for the longevity and comprehensive lore.

But that's really the tip of the iceberg. The series has been so innovative and nostalgic - at the same time - that I wanted to open up a discussion about what makes the series special.

I'd especially be interested in learning which particular game, given your own rubric for specialness, demonstrates that specialness most of all.

Cheers and many thanks.

Hello there! I have always been a casual fan of James Bond, but the First Light announcement (and fantastic song by Lana Del Rey) has me quite hyped!

I started "Biking with Bond," meaning I'll simply watch each film while I work out on a stationary bike. It's been wonderful, and a great way to catch up.

Just wondering what else you would suggest I consume before the release of the game. Perhaps a book or documentary? A game? Thanks for your ideas in this final stretch!

Hi there! Forgive a naive question, but is Nordic Souls PBR just the original list with shaders?

I'm trying to decide which list to go with, and it looks like I can handle either. Is the performance hit worth it?

Thanks for your candid thoughts.

Well met! I am a huge fan of all of the Baldur's Gate games, and my main is a studious, Candlekeep mage. An Elminster in training, if you will.

Aside from the first Baldur's Gate game, which starts you off right in Candlekeep, what are the best CRPGs to play this role?

I want to stress that the primary facet of this role is being a learned mage. A massive, gorgeous library full of spell tomes in the vein of the College of Winterhold is not necessary at all, though it would be a significant plus.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I discovered Thief rather recently. I am staggered by the game (and its sequel).

It staggers me that the arguable blueprint for the stealth genre might well still be its apex.

Do you agree? If so, which games do you think have come closest to Thief?

Thanks so much!