What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

This is an automated monthly post from your friendly neighborhood DVD Talk Bot!
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December Game Releases
(courtesy of our pals at Polygon)

• Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete (Android, iOS) — Dec. 2
• Antonblast (PC, Switch) — Dec. 3
• Delta Force (PC) — Dec. 4
• Fantasian Neo Dimension (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) — Dec. 5
• Fitness Boxing 3 (Switch) — Dec. 5
• Infinity Nikki (Android, iOS, PC, PS5) — Dec. 5
• Marvel Rivals (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) — Dec. 6
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC, Xbox Series X) — Dec. 9
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) — Dec. 10
• Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) — Dec. 10
• Monument Valley 3 (Android, iOS) — Dec. 10
• Alien: Rogue Incursion (PC, PS5) — Dec. 19

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Disney Speedstorm (PC)
Disney Dreamlight Valley (PC)
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (Android)

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Disney Dreamlight Valley (focus on The Storybook Vale DLC and new Star Path coming next week)
Astro Bot
Bugsnax (finally getting around to this one)

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Not having Infinity Nikki on that list which is the only game that matters upsets me.

Recently Finished:
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch)

Currently Playing:
Life is Strange: Double Exposure (PS5)

Up Next:
Infinity Nikki (PS5)

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Starpath next week?? I love those!!

Isn't The Vale amazing? I love everything about it. I hate Eternity Isle but the vale is even better than the base game.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

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Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

I schedule these maybe a little too far in advance, and Infinity Nikki wasn’t on Polygon’s monthly schedule at the time (although it is now). I’ll update the list in a bit.

As for myself, I’m finishing up Unraveled 2 in local co-op, and after that…whew! 10 games in my backlog, more on the way, and a truckload for Christmas. I’m thinking about Stellar Blade to take advantage of my shiny new Pro and my shiny new TV.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Also coming are some floating islands and the Sally character. :up:

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Yep I thought that's all we were getting. I can't wait to banish all houses to a floating island :lol:

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...4635c46f89.jpg
First time playing this and having a blast. I like how CD seems to have taken the lessons learned from TR'13 and have crafted a more refined experience in RotTR. Combat so far is less of a chore and more something to break up long exploration segments. I love that the hidden tombs aren't super minuscule anymore. In fact, although they could be larger, they feel like actual tombs this time around, instead of the rooms of TR'13.

In fact, those Challenge Tombs are the best part. Right now I finished a lengthy action sequence, and though it was a nice change of pace from puzzles, exploration, and side quests, I was eager to get back to the Challenge Tombs. I really like how they apply all the different tricks you've learned and throw curve balls so you really have to think just how you are to progress. For all the complaints fans levy against the survivor trilogy, I can't accuse Crystal Dynamics of halfassing it. You can tell they really tried their earnest to bring classic Tomb Raider gameplay into the modern age.

Oh and do be sure to tackle that Baba Yaga DLC once it becomes available. It's a lot more involved than I thought it'd be, and all the better for it.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

I recently downloaded Shadow of the Tomb Raider, as I believe I played the first two many years ago and never continued for whatever reason. I haven't played anything in a couple months due to schedule, but I may try this or Dishonored when I have a chance.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

About 30 hours into Dragon Quest 3 remake. Not sure what I'll tackle next. Right now, I'm leaning towards Loco Motive.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

I picked up Animal Crossing Pocket Complete on a whim ($10 intro price first 2 months, goes up to regular price of $20 in February). I tried it a bit before it shut down but it didn't grab me. I put in 50 minutes already today :lol: I'm obsessed with it now. I hadn't found a mobile game after Disney Sorcerer's Arena shut down. And I never got into an Animal Crossing game on the Switch. But I love PC. So that's joining my games I'm playing. I'll put in hours a week even just playing while waiting on the kids dropoff and pickup line. The car puts them to sleep so they're not real conversationalists in the car.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Yeah I knew I wasn't going to have time for DQ3 in December so that'll be my first game I play in January most likely.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

It's super charming, as you'd expect. I really miss RPGs where the bulk of exploration and fighting are done on the world map rather than instanced dungeons. I'm having a blast with it.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Is this a franchise where you can jump into any title without doing the other ones first?

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Yes. Dragon Quest is the sister series to Final Fantasy. All have some connections like the naming of monsters, but their overall stories are all independent from each other.

Be warned. This is a remake of a NES rpg. Those were brutal with the random fights. That being said, the remake does add a bunch of modernization if you want an easier experience. Easy difficulty, map markers (the original game had none. You had to rely on talking to NPCs and remember what they said to know what to do and where to go next), etc. But don't expect a large sprawling narrative like you may be used to with modern games.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

And to clarify DQ3 is a prequel to the first 2 games in the series so that is why they remade that one first. They are remaking 1+2 next.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Yeah, true. And technically a sequel to 11.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Thanks! I've known about the series for years and I love RPGs, I'll add this one to the wishlist, seems like a good entry point.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Started up Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, we'll see if I stick with it.
Been having an itch to get back into an MMORPG, so testing out a few of those (Everquest 2 and Lord of the Rings Online) to see if they grab me.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Honestly, start with 11. Newest in the series and the "1st" overall going by its timeline. You'll be able to find it for much cheaper than the 3 remake and it offers much more to a more recent audience to the series.

I also think it's on GamePass, if that's something you still use for the Ally.

Edit: It's also worth noting that 11 is fucking amazing on its own. Top 5 RPG of the last handful of years.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Thanks!! I don't have GP but I have unused GP cards and I'm waiting until South of Midnight to release because by then I'll have 8-9 games I'll want to check out. I don't use GP to play, I use it to test-drive games. I'll add this one to the list! I'll be able to tell if I like it enough to buy.

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Call of Doodie and Alan Wake 2

Re: What are you playing? (December 2024)
 

Pikmin 1 & 2. Wanted something relatively easy and low number of hours to complete so going through the Pikmin series. Haven't played 4 yet.

Still love Pikmin 1. Such a great game and one of the best first outings for a video game series. Just perfect balance too.

Pikmin 2. Now I remember why I didn't replay Pikmin 2. I forgot how much of a drag the caves are. They're just frustrating and don't give you the freedom that makes Pikmin so much fun. I get one of the main complaints of the first one is the length but the caves just artificially increase the length of the game IMO. It can just be frustrating and drag on way too long in the caves.