u/Patriots9210

Happy Halloween it’s easily my favorite time of the year, spooky movies , games and cookies if your wife is a baker like mine is lol.

I’m currently going through and researching Castlevania games as I liked the anime and love anything Vampire related and I was looking in feedback on which Castlevania games to start playing.

I have dabbled in Metroidvania games and 2D action side scroller games with games like Grime 2, The Last faith , 9 Sols and Shinobi which came out last year.

I am mostly interested in the Castlevania games that are more combat based and those that don’t have grueling or super difficult platforming. For example Grime 2 I barely finished because of how difficult platforming was for me in that one. I enjoy mostly lore, atmosphere , music but don’t want only platforming in the game if possible.

What games would you recommend to play first that you have enjoyed in the series. Based on more of a combat based Castlevania or maybe the ones where platforming isn’t cruel.

Thanks guys for your suggestions and hopefully you guys are playing something awesome right now.

Happy Halloween everyone this is easily my favorite month of the year as someone who loves Halloween , horror movies and games and Halloween Oreos lol.

What is everyone currently playing or looking forward to the rest of this month.

I just finished wrapping up Control Resonant which I enjoyed A lot! Great soundtrack also.

I am mostly looking forward to Phantom Blade 0 as my most anticipated game this month, with valor Mortis being a maybe depending on reviews and maybe Castlevania but I never finished grime 2 so that will depend on how difficult the platforming is lol.

I’m probably going to work on beating Silent Hill 2 Remake as that’s been on my baklog for a while waiting for other releases.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first saw the gameplay for Onimusha way of the sword but the game play for bosses deff caught my interest.

My biggest question is the main antagonist that we fight sasaki ganryu is he in the other games? Should I be reading up on lore before the game?

Also how narrative is the game should I expect? Sasaki was very interesting and seemed like there would be a solid story plus gameplay?

Thanks guys !

I think I have beaten all the must play souls likes let me know if you guys think I’m missing any that you would highly recommend!

I have beaten all fromsoft games and all Nioh games and if you count these black myth wukong, stellar blade and rise of ronin

Wuchang
Lies of p
Khazan
Mortal shell 2
Lords fallen 2023
Wo long
Code vein 1
The last faith
Remnant 2
Ai limit

Thanks guys!

A lot of people will most likely will be finishing Mortal Shell 2 this weekend and I am interested to see others opinions on the game and where you would rank the game in your opinion compared to other Non Fromsoft Soulslikes. As well as I think there’s a strong possibility of a DLC simply
because of the empty Coffins in the hub area indicating maybe 3 additional Shells could be added or were scratched?

For me I would have my list looking like this:

1. Lies of P easily the best high marks in every category while not really having any major flaws minus exploration not being top tier

2. Nioh 3 this was my first Nioh game and haven’t gotten to the DLC yet but I will say I enjoyed Nioh 3 more then Nioh 2 mainly because I liked the bosses a little more. This could change with the DLC

3. Nioh 2 easily the hardest game iv played to date it took me forever to get past the first area but once I did it was a lot smoother, with the only boss that really I struggled with being Ren of course.

4. Mortal Shell 2. Currently I have Mortal Shell 2 here and that is really being carried by the fact that while it has flaws like progression, bugs and balancing the atmosphere, creativity and genuine fun of the game really carry it for me.

5. Khazan easily some of my favorite bosses and a story while simple does a great job of creating a world and its characters.

6. Wuchang amazing exploration honestly and some really great scenery. I still remember the older guy in white boss fight, sadly the last area and ending didn’t do a great job for me.

There are other souls likes that are quite good including Remnant 2 and Ai Limit but there in the second category and just not quite as good as these. Where do you have Mortal Shell 2 ranked?

Tell me what you think about what I have played this year and what I have left on my baklog.

This year I have beaten these games there not in any order:

Nioh 3
Khazan
Remnant 2
Code vein
Nioh 2
Nioh 1
Wo long
Ninja Gaiden 4
Diablo 4 second expansion
Last faith
Saros
Dark souls 2
Rise of the ronin
Control
Final fantasy rebirth
Doom dark ages plus dlc
Lords of the fallen 2023
Demon souls remake
Beast of reincarnation

My current baklog

Cronos the new dawn (currently playing)
Silent hill 2 remake
Like a dragon infinite wealth
Grime 2
Nine sols
Crimson desert
The alters
Octopath traveler 2
Nier automata
Hades 2
Absolum
Disco Elysium

Feel free to share your guys own lists!

I don’t normally like stealth games personally , but how are the original first two plague tale games?

Iv heard the stories are amazing , if so that might help carry the first two for me, any insight you guys would have would be awesome.

From what it looks like the third one that comes out this month isn’t as heavily stealth mechanically, and I was looking to see if the other two are worth getting on bundle for 27 on PlayStation store.

Thanks guys

Leading up to this month and next month I wanted to knock out some games off my baklog and I finished Nioh 1. I wanted to share some fresh thoughts as this is probably 5 minutes later.

All kidding aside that game felt like a toxic college relationship at times lol. Some really fun and tough combat all the way to some terrible design choices and horrible balancing.

I do think Nioh 2 and easily Nioh 3 are better games and it’s interesting to see how they learned from each iteration of the game. Nioh 2 probably strikes the balancing difficulty and fun aspect the best , while Nioh 3 leans heavily more into being fun but a lot less difficult.

Nioh 1 kinda lands in that zone where the difficulty isn’t really even fun or rewarding at times. I’m looking at you dragon boss on the roof you suck.

Also like why on the queens eye mission at the end do you prevent the player from leveling up , changing gear or really anything at the shrine, I guess in the sense of the story I can understand but let’s be honest nobody plays these games for story , it’s just a jarring decision to be like hey you know what would be cool let’s take away the ability to level up and use the shrine won’t that be awesome.

And then let’s throw 2 demons and 3 mutants in a room that will be the chefs kiss to end our game before an easy boss lol.

I’m rambling I know but I enjoyed the game even though it’s a step down from the other two on my opinion minus the toad boss being one of my favorite bosses Iv fought he’s dope.

Iv basically played all the modern team ninja games this year so my current ranking of them goes like this for soulslikes at least.

Nioh 2
Nioh 3
Wo Long
Nioh 1

I didn’t count rise of the ronin as it’s very much not a soulslike in my opinion.

In case anyone was thinking of picking it up, fighting cowboy gave his first impressions.

Hopefully the team sees the feedback and addresses it but as we all feared this needs more time to cook and should not be purchased in its current state.

I am looking to change careers as my current sales job has plummeted and am looking for information on a suggest path for someone that wants to get into insurance sales. I would prefer a salary with bonus or commission structure and would love feedback on how everyone else got started or things you guys wish you knew earlier.

Background:

Bachelors in organizational management

Current position 8 years in sales for after market vehicle accessories: ( lift kits , wheels tire packages)

Yearly revenue pre private equity group purchasing company 2-2.5 million

Yearly revenue 1.3 million

I’m based in the US Florida/Georgia area.

I am mostly looking at least hit 65k a year and while I understand the basics of insurance I am unsure on what path to take. My current role has became less of a sales roll and more of a tech/service/sales hybrid role.

I don’t have experience in insurance sales at all but it’s an industry that I’m interested in.

My biggest concern is I don’t want to start in a call center insurance sales roll as that’s what my current job has became essentially.

Please feel free to ask questions as I’m willing to answer and am looking for a suggested path.

Thanks guys all feedback is welcome and appreciated

Next month is slowly approaching and am curious to see which game everyone will be getting next month. I think everyone will be purchasing mortal shell 2 myself included but I am curious if people be prioritizing Beast of reincarnation or The relic first guardian.

Beast of reincarnation looks to be a day one buy but the relic looks to be a deep sale purchase, especially considering it was said to be a soulslike but it’s really not.

While both games are pretty clearly not soulslikes still interested to see other people’s thoughts.

I’m finishing Nioh 1 in the meantime as it’s a super slow period right now.

I have essentially played all of the major soulslikes and am looking to see people’s thoughts on what I should play next.

For the most part I don’t enjoy metroidvania hard platforming games, I liked grime 2 combat but hated how difficult the platforming was. Some of these are 2d so Id much rather not play a hard platforming game.

1. salt and sanctuary iv heard this is 2d souls, how are the bosses and how confusing is it to navigate with no map since its 2d?

2. The surge 2 I don’t know much about the series other than you target enemies body parts. Is exploration builds and bosses worth my time?

3. Deaths gambit afterlife is this one leaning more soulslike or metroidvania?

4. The Jedi games Iv heard there more so platforming games?

Feel free to drop other soulslikes that are good that aren’t super popular.

Iv played all the big souls like games and original souls games, I don’t want to list them all but includes Khazan lies of p team ninja games Wuchang black myth stellar blade ect.

Thanks guys!

I recently had a discussion with my brother on gaming and our preferences on a few topics, I am curious to see what the majority of gamers my age think and how they approach games.

1. How often do you replay a game when you beat it?

For myself I mostly play a game once and very rarely do a second run unless it’s a major expansion, dlc or i genuinely loved the game. Examples would be cyberpunk 2077, and recently Nioh 3.

2. How often do you YouTube gaming videos?

My brother seems to be more casual but I lean towards podcasts and enjoy creators like fighting cowboy and skill up for example.

3. Do you currently have a baklog that you intend to go back to or do you drop games if you don’t vibe with them?

For myself my baklog isn’t massive it’s mostly games on my handheld and two popular horror games on my console. I sadly really only have one game that I may just not go back to and that’s crimson desert.

4. How often do you game personally and what are your other hobbies?

Gaming is probably my biggest hobby since I’m mostly busy with kids travel sports and traveling a lot and the gym.

5. How often do you buy video games? Do you pay full price or do you wait?

I will pay full price depending on what it is, last two years my full price games include expedition 33, kcd2 and Nioh 3 which I think that’s easily 300 hours of entertainment.

Thanks guys just a fun discussion lol

I have beaten quite a few soulslikes this year and am looking forward to a few upcoming ones.

Not in any order but this year I have completed:

Demon souls remake 7/10
Dark souls 2 6/10
Khazan 8/10
Code vein 5/10
Remnant 2 8/10
Nioh 2 10/10
Nioh 3 10/10
Wo long 7.5/10
The last faith 6.5/10
Lords of the fallen 2023 7.5/10

Out of all of these I really enjoyed lords 2023, Nioh 2 , Nioh 3 and Khazan the most.

I am really looking forward to mortal shell 2 and maybe Crimson moon though I am not sure on this one as not a lot has been shared. Next year I’m expecting big things from the other souls likes that are dropping.

I also can’t wait to play beast of reincarnation I think this one while probably not a true soulslike is going to suprise a lot of people while the last relic really looks to need a lot of work honestly.

What games have you guys played this year or are you stoked for next month? Feel free to share non souls likes and your ratings or opinions.

Signed a dad stuck in line at a theme park

What are your 3 favorite games you have played this year? And what do you think your 3 favorite games this year will be by the end of the year.

I am also only including games that came out this year but feel free to include other games that you have just gotten around to playing.

My current top 3 games:

Nioh 3
Saros
Doom dark ages dlc

End of the year

Nioh 3
Control resonant
Phantom blade 0

Honorable mention to blood of dawnwalker.

I will be wrapping up Lords of the fallen 2023 this week and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would after dropping it last year, following that I am sorta looking for my next game to play.

How is code vein 2? I am not expecting it to be as good as the other top games like Khazan and lies of p Wuchang and Nioh of course.

I mostly am curious if the combat and bosses are at least fun or interesting? I have heard the open world sucks so I can sorta focus the main part of the game. Also is there anything as annoying as the maze in code vein 1?

Side note not a souls like but armored core 6 is on sale if you suggest that one instead?

Thanks guys

With so many games coming out the next few months I thought it would be cool to see what everyone is looking forward to playing.

I do want to say these can include non souls likes or even souls lites or really whatever game you’re stoked for.

July-August For me il basically be playing the Relic first guardian, I am pretty hopeful this and the beast of reincarnation will both be good and hold me over till September. I’m optimistic on both and will be checking out the doom the dark ages dlc as well before things really get busy.

September there’s honestly so much coming out but I’m really probably going to be leaning pretty hard into Onimusha and control resonant. These are really day one games for me. Only thing that might change is maybe we get Mortal Shell 2 released during this time? But that’s honestly probably going to be October or November I would bet. And of course the dlc for Nioh 3 has me very excited.

October is going to be all about phantom blade 0 for me and maybe Valor Mortis but I didn’t love the demo to much so that may be a wait and see. Another game that’s dropping this month is the No rest for the wicked which sorta got lost in the shuffle but looks interesting. If nothing else Wolverine and Blood of Dawn walker are also on my radar.

Unless something else drops that’s surprising these are what I’m lost looking forward to.

Feel free to share any soulslikes or games in general that you’re excited for as maybe there’s a game some of us haven’t heard of or didn’t know about.

Iv sorta been in a gaming funk and looking for something that either has really fun game play or a story that is captivating.

I included a list of games that I have beaten this year and a few that didn’t hold my interest. I mostly play on ps5 also.

Nioh 3
Khazan
Code vein
Remnant 2
Nioh 2
Wo Long
Ninja Gaiden 4
Diablo 4 expansion
The last faith
Saros
Dark souls 2
Rise of ronin
Control
Final fantasy rebirth
Doom the dark ages

I’m pretty much game for any suggestion, probably no soulslikes as I have beaten all of them and I mostly didn’t vibe with crimson desert.

Anyone have a favorite JRPG that they would recommend that is slightly modern?

So far I have played Rebirth, Remake, FF16, Octo 2 and have like a dragon on my hand held but am looking for one for a new game for my console.

I am mostly looking for a game with really good music, a good story and decent combat.

I will just say I probably won’t play Persona as the high school setting isn’t my thing and it’s honestly too big for me. Iv thought about metaphor but wasn’t sure if the discrimination topics in the game are to on the nose or pandering, please let me know if I’m wrong though this was just from the demo.

Please feel free to drop any any other recs for JRPGs