October Gaming - Be Very Afraid

[VictorViper]

Board game Vic is still on his board game kick, but I'm still participating in my analogue way. My copy of Vast: The Mysterious Manor with Haunted Hallways showed up on Friday and I've been playing it to death in preparation for what will be a nightmare of a teach (so doubly thematic!).

This is high concept stuff: there are 7 roles to choose from including the Haunted Hallways content, and all play drastically different than the next:

The Paladin: Plays like a standard RPG character, wants to get in, get fat with loot and XP, and kill The Spider.

The Skeletons: Plays a bit like a tactical skirmish as 5 (out of 9) endlessly respawning and comically fragile skeletons, who need to kill The Paladin, need to manage marching orders and surround the Paladin to hope to wound him.

The Giant Spider/Spiderlings/Sorcerer: A shape shifting demon that needs to raise its terror level by drawing and feeding on blood, littering the manor with webs, and trying to hatch eggs. Once the terror level reaches 12, she must escape The Manor.

The Manor: You play as the haunted house itself, manipulating the (modular) board and spawning poltergeists, altering the game state in the process. Your ultimate goal is to have your wraith (pawn) draw clear paths (rituals) of varying shapes to complete seals, and at 14, the rest of the players have been trapped inside forever.

The Warlock: Is an odd one, as he needs to dominate 5 pieces (chests or poltergeists) to win, and does so by creating networks of curses. When players eliminate curse markers he grows stronger and gains access to lots of spells. If his curses are left to fester, he can eventually dominate the pieces getting closer to victory. He can spawn poltergeists and cursed chests and is basically a pure harassment role.

This is as nuts as it probably sounds and it's already a game of the year for me.

[Kong Wen]

11-14 October - I had a couple good chunks of time to play this despite the holiday. Wow this game is bigger than I thought, even with people telling me it was big. I'm glad I'm playing it right after Bloodstained, because, as good as that game was, it's allowing Hollow Knight to reveal its brilliance in high contrast. I beat Soul Master, Dung Defender, the Mantis Lords (easily the best part of the game), Flukemarm, and some ghostly warriors. I also acquired several more maps, and now have 20/40 charms.

I've been trying to clear as much of an area as I can (beating a boss, getting a map, etc.) before moving on, but after the Greenpath, this game really wants you to juggle several open areas at a time. That feeling of leaving things undone all over the map is part of what contributes to its feeling of scope. It's also very patient with revealing the world's central lore. The early game sets a certain pace, so you think you're progressing along quite nicely through a snappy Metcastlevania, and then you get to the City of Tears and realize that you've just passed the tutorial.

It lets you prod at the world where you like, instead of just telling you where to go (or even not-so-subtly guiding you through use of one obvious roadblock that can be solved with one obvious new power).

The Mantis Lords are fucking great.

[Sharecrow]

Okay things are looking up a bit in Evil Within 2. I killed this flamethrower boss in chapter 11 after quite a few tries and it literally took every last bullet I had. I arrogantly went through a one way door thinking I’d surely find ammo or resources to make ammo on the other side. There was almost nothing. I conservatively and sneakily played through chapters 12 and most of 13 and now have a decent albeit modest ammo stash. Am at another one way point. Probably the start of chapter 14 or else a boss to end chapter 13.

[The Shoemaker]

I've done no spooky gaming so far, despite wanting to start bloodstained or RE4. I'm in the middle of Dragon Quest XI, and I really don't like the idea of dropping this massive game to start another game. Plus I am trying to beat it in time for Luigi's Mansion on the 31st, so I will get some spooky time in!

[Kong Wen]

I've done no spooky gaming so far, despite wanting to start bloodstained or RE4. I'm in the middle of Dragon Quest XI, and I really don't like the idea of dropping this massive game to start another game. Plus I am trying to beat it in time for Luigi's Mansion on the 31st, so I will get some spooky time in!

If you don't think this is some spooky shit, I don't know what to tell you.

[Sharecrow]

There’s a Halloween sale on PS for those who are interested.

[Kong Wen]

11-14 October - I had a couple good chunks of time to play this despite the holiday. Wow this game is bigger than I thought, even with people telling me it was big. I'm glad I'm playing it right after Bloodstained, because, as good as that game was, it's allowing Hollow Knight to reveal its brilliance in high contrast. I beat Soul Master, Dung Defender, the Mantis Lords (easily the best part of the game), Flukemarm, and some ghostly warriors. I also acquired several more maps, and now have 20/40 charms.

I've been trying to clear as much of an area as I can (beating a boss, getting a map, etc.) before moving on, but after the Greenpath, this game really wants you to juggle several open areas at a time. That feeling of leaving things undone all over the map is part of what contributes to its feeling of scope. It's also very patient with revealing the world's central lore. The early game sets a certain pace, so you think you're progressing along quite nicely through a snappy Metcastlevania, and then you get to the City of Tears and realize that you've just passed the tutorial.

It lets you prod at the world where you like, instead of just telling you where to go (or even not-so-subtly guiding you through use of one obvious roadblock that can be solved with one obvious new power).

The Mantis Lords are fucking great.

OK, whew...

15-20 October - I'm now up to around 28-30/40 charms, I have a map of every area, I have the shadow versions of all my abilities including dash, I have three nail techniques, I've unlocked all the Stagways, and I beat a couple more bosses and a couple more difficult platforming sections. I'm really not sure how much is left in terms of the main story, but I'm guessing at least 4 bosses. I need to get at least 4 more mask shards (maybe 8) and 1 more vessel shard (maybe 4) and the rest of the charms. If I really want the Platinum, I also have to go to work on the pantheon/boss rushes, which will be... quite challenging. Coming along, though! I'm really glad I dedicated my October to this gem!

[Sharecrow]

I think I’m at the last or penultimate boss in Evil Within 2. Pretty good game so far. I’m low on health items but have a ton of ammo. This will take some practice

[Kong Wen]

11-14 October - I had a couple good chunks of time to play this despite the holiday. Wow this game is bigger than I thought, even with people telling me it was big. I'm glad I'm playing it right after Bloodstained, because, as good as that game was, it's allowing Hollow Knight to reveal its brilliance in high contrast. I beat Soul Master, Dung Defender, the Mantis Lords (easily the best part of the game), Flukemarm, and some ghostly warriors. I also acquired several more maps, and now have 20/40 charms.

I've been trying to clear as much of an area as I can (beating a boss, getting a map, etc.) before moving on, but after the Greenpath, this game really wants you to juggle several open areas at a time. That feeling of leaving things undone all over the map is part of what contributes to its feeling of scope. It's also very patient with revealing the world's central lore. The early game sets a certain pace, so you think you're progressing along quite nicely through a snappy Metcastlevania, and then you get to the City of Tears and realize that you've just passed the tutorial.

It lets you prod at the world where you like, instead of just telling you where to go (or even not-so-subtly guiding you through use of one obvious roadblock that can be solved with one obvious new power).

The Mantis Lords are fucking great.

OK, whew...

15-20 October - I'm now up to around 28-30/40 charms, I have a map of every area, I have the shadow versions of all my abilities including dash, I have three nail techniques, I've unlocked all the Stagways, and I beat a couple more bosses and a couple more difficult platforming sections. I'm really not sure how much is left in terms of the main story, but I'm guessing at least 4 bosses. I need to get at least 4 more mask shards (maybe 8) and 1 more vessel shard (maybe 4) and the rest of the charms. If I really want the Platinum, I also have to go to work on the pantheon/boss rushes, which will be... quite challenging. Coming along, though! I'm really glad I dedicated my October to this gem!

22 October - I beat two more bosses, completed my second soul vessel, rescued something like 9 more grubs, and I think I've unlocked the final boss (or the fake final boss before the real one, because that seems like something this game would do). Before I tackle that, I'm going to keep scouring the map for little things I may have missed. My file is at around 40 hours now.

[Sharecrow]

I beat Evil Within 2! Took about 20 hours. Great game. I’d give it an 8.32 out of 9.77. Too tough to platinum though but that’s fine. I’ll either start Soma or Layers of Fear 2 tonight depending on my mood.