This week we attempt to scratch the mountain that is the GameCritics.com backlog by getting to some of those titles that we've always wanted to play, but never made the time for. Now, we have made the time, at least for three of the games. The crew dishes on I Am Alive, Sleeping Dogs, and Heavenly Sword, and more, plus a What We've Been Playing roundtable. Featuring Sinan Kubba, Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, and Richard Naik.
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Latest posts by Sinan Kubba (see all)
- GameCritics.com Podcast Episode 128: Chocobos covered in Bloodborne - April 21, 2015
- GameCritics.com Podcast Episode 126: Chi’s Big Bag of Amiibos - March 24, 2015
- GameCritics.com Podcast Episode 124: Review Scores and The Hook - January 30, 2015
Can I suggest a new segment?
Its called the “where the hell is Mike Bracken?” segment.
Still, great podcast guys.
[quote=sleeve]Not really. It was no worse than any other JRPG boss. I’m playing a very magic-heavy character. I think the Minotaur is weak to Ice, IIRC. The key to those early bosses is abusing the Press Turn system and buffing yourself with Raku/Tarukaja. If you stay buffed and hit him with Ice spells, he’s not that bad. By contrast, if you try to hit him with just physical attacks, you’ll be in for a world of pain on any difficulty.[/quote] Even after grinding out several levels and focusing on demons with more ice attacks, the Minotaur was one-hit KOing my… Read more »
[quote=sleeve]Nope. I’m playing on standard difficulty.[/quote] What happened to you when you hit the Minotaur boss? Was that a huge grind wall for you?
[quote=sleeve]There’s your problem right there. If you’re not changing out demons frequently, you’re playing the game wrong. SMTIV, like other MegaTen games, is all about exploiting weaknesses. It doesn’t really benefit to focus on having a balanced team at all times, because one level away you might run into a completely different series of enemies. In the long run it benefits you to keep fusing and negotiating, because you’ll have a wider range of skills to choose from. Leveling up individual demons doesn’t really help. Better to just line up 3 guys with Bufu/Bufula and hammer him.[/quote] That’s not true.… Read more »
[quote=Chi Kong Lui][That’s not true. As I said on the show, this wasn’t my first go around with demon fusion mechanics and I was fully aware of the need to constantly fuse new demons and I did switch up my team with ice-based attacks when I faced Minotaur. But you get to a certain point where you have to grind/level up your own character to gain access to more powerful demons like Jack Frost.[/quote] How is that different from any other SMT game? Or MegaTen generally? The side quests also help quite a bit. Especially the delivery quests that you… Read more »
[quote=Chi Kong Lui][quote=sleeve]Not really. It was no worse than any other JRPG boss. I’m playing a very magic-heavy character. I think the Minotaur is weak to Ice, IIRC. The key to those early bosses is abusing the Press Turn system and buffing yourself with Raku/Tarukaja. If you stay buffed and hit him with Ice spells, he’s not that bad. By contrast, if you try to hit him with just physical attacks, you’ll be in for a world of pain on any difficulty.[/quote] Even after grinding out several levels and focusing on demons with more ice attacks, the Minotaur was one-hit… Read more »
[quote=Chi Kong Lui][quote=sleeve]Nope. I’m playing on standard difficulty.[/quote] What happened to you when you hit the Minotaur boss? Was that a huge grind wall for you? [/quote] Not really. It was no worse than any other JRPG boss. I’m playing a very magic-heavy character. I think the Minotaur is weak to Ice, IIRC. The key to those early bosses is abusing the Press Turn system and buffing yourself with Raku/Tarukaja. If you stay buffed and hit him with Ice spells, he’s not that bad. By contrast, if you try to hit him with just physical attacks, you’ll be in for… Read more »
I had no intention of buying Dragon’s Crown as, like Brad, i think Muramasa is bland crap. But because of all of this moral-crusading about tits and hips and burly chests and who knows what-else, i bought it just to piss these pricks off and leverage against this moral panic, which has been going on for years now. Richard, you argued that free speech is a two way street, and while i certainly agree with that, I get very skeptical about drivers of the other lane throwing caltrops on mine. Especially more-so when critics like Sinan ask if there would… Read more »
Cybrmynd: We actually have had a Breaking Bad show in the works for a while now-stay tuned for it as the season gets closer to the end.
[quote=Chi Kong Lui][quote=sleeve]To be sure, the game is tough. Very tough, like all SMT games. But there’s an option to reduce the difficulty level that pops up once you die twice. And you can save anywhere, which is a huge change from previous SMT and Persona games.[/quote] So are you playing the game on “easy?” [/quote] Nope. I’m playing on standard difficulty. The demon fusion program really is amazing in SMTIV. It truly is a work of art. Anyone who has played a SMT, really gotten into the meat of one of these games (including Persona), has probably spent time… Read more »
[quote=sleeve]To be sure, the game is tough. Very tough, like all SMT games. But there’s an option to reduce the difficulty level that pops up once you die twice. And you can save anywhere, which is a huge change from previous SMT and Persona games.[/quote] So are you playing the game on “easy?”
Great discussions as always. I’m really digging the brawler aspect of Sleeping Dogs, the fighting seems more realistic and stylish to me than say, Batman Arkham Asylum. I really want to catch up on a lot of these games, especially the ones you guys recommend.
By the way, after tonight’s BB episode, you guys should seriously consider doing a BB after-dark podcast. I’d love you guys for ever if you did. Also, Mike HAS to be there for that podcast.
Let me clear something up regarding the “DLC” in SMTIV I’m about 45 hours into the game. DLC is absolutely, positively not necessary to progress in the game. Never once have I felt compelled to purchase DLC. The game never compels you to purchase DLC. It simply has not happened. Brad, the reason why you haven’t heard anyone talk about “freemium” content or compelled DLC purchases is because they do not exist in SMTIV. To be sure, the game is tough. Very tough, like all SMT games. But there’s an option to reduce the difficulty level that pops up once… Read more »
[quote=sleeve]How is that different from any other SMT game? Or MegaTen generally? The side quests also help quite a bit. Especially the delivery quests that you can do multiple times (This actually seems rather Monster Hunter-inspired).[/quote] I’ve played hundreds of hours on 2 Devil Survivor games and never encountered any major grind walls. Those side quests you speak of did not help. Once you complete it the first time, the experience point yields were much lower. Had I focused more on ice-based attacks, would I have been able to beat that boss more easily? Perhaps, but its not something I… Read more »