Playing it on PS5. I waited so long to get those Xbox-exclusive DLC's like Frostcrag Spire or Deepscorn Hollow. I enjoyed the two new quests. Those were fun.

I bought the Hyrule Edition Nintendo Switch Lite. I'm still not sure about getting the Switch 2 just yet.

Just played game number 34343 of Windows Chess

I’ll be getting a Switch 2 at some point. Maybe after I get some Christmas money!



Sweet palindrome, Crowbro.

I've been juggling here and there. Every week I'll play a different game. Between Oblivion Remastered and Skyrim, and the new Bloodlines 2, and Fortnite.

How are you liking that? Care to share some impressions?

Oh, dear mother....

Well…. I was very excited for it. I don’t play as often as I imagined. And I’m certainly losing a bit of interest in it. The story is interesting as a concept, sure, but for a Bloodlines sequel? I think the first version of the game from Hardsuit Labs was more in spirit of Bloodlines, and looking at older story elements and gameplay, well, I can see why some of the harsher reviews came to place here. Bloodlines was always a story about you, the player, being a vampire fledgling climbing up in vampire society. The previous version was more of the same: you were a victim of a mass embrace that was unlawful and now you have to navigate through this dangerous dark new reality. This game you’re a nerfed elder, and it seems strange that even though there’s a story reason why the elder isn’t as powerful, it feels odd that it’s an established character in a way( although you choose their history, etc), but you’re out there doing errands like delivering packages….

Eh.

Combat can be janky, you can’t really use melee weapons or guns unless you’re using The Force to through it at enemies shoot bullets. It can get repetitive.

And the upcoming DLC makes no sense. Don’t even get me started on that.

That’s the reaction I expected!

Well, I've seen some general footage and some gameplay and I could never have guessed it was a Bloodlines sequel if I didn't already know it. It could have been just a standalone vampire game not connected to VtM:B and then I would have said nothing. But when it announces itself to be a sequel to Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, a game generally considered a masterpiece even with all its flaws, then I have something to say. Deus Ex did the same thing imho with Invisible War although perhaps not as bad.

Contrary, Bioshock 2 did everything right (again, imho). It's set in Rapture, just like the first game. You play as a Big Daddy, an iconic presence in said Rapture. It has Little Sisters and even expands by having Big Sisters. It has all the hallmarks of something you could call a proper sequel. And the story was engaging and completely made sense which gave me motivation to follow through. I go as far as to say I loved Bioshock 2 way more than Bioshock one, but I know I wouldn't be able to say the same about Bloodlines 2.


But as always; to each his own

Thank you for the info. If we take away the Bloodlines baggage, is it even an interesting vampire game?

I agree. I was a bit disappointed.

Game: Chess Titans
Level: 3
Numbers played: 35000

BioMenace, the classic from 1993 and one of my favorite childhood games, is on the GOG. Unbelievable, it's one of the best Christmas gifts that I could get from the GOG. It's probably one of the first, if not even the first 2D game, which I've completed on my own, that is without my brother's help. It was insanely hard because as usual, one couldn't save at all. Apparently the remastered version enables mid-level saving. I've already bought the game and it is on my to-play list in 2026. I need an occasional break from Sherlock Holmes anyway.

Slowly making progress in Dark Souls, I just defeated Artorias and his wolf Sif. Artorias was probably the hardest battle I ever fought while Sif barely even touched me. Now I'm trying to level grind so I can use those boss weapons in my first playthrough and I know the best place in the entire game to farm!

Lena Wolf has gone to Hogwarts!

It's a bit weird because what is a 257-year-old ex-vampire doing among all those kids? Apart from the obvious, that is? But during the Saturalia celebrations at Sheogorath's palace in New Sheoth, somebody (Sanguine again, no doubt!) pushed her into a portal, and there she flopped right into the middle of the Diagon Ally...

It's... umm... strange... It claims to be in Britain, but nobody speaks with an English accent... and not even with a proper Scottish accent, while claiming that Hogwarts is in Scotland... Lena now knows how Alice felt behind the looking glass... it's all wrong...

But at least she looks young... so nobody threw her into the dungeons yet... Oh, you want to know what House she is in? Can you guess? There is no fooling the Sorting Hat! (Hint: it'sssss green...)

And so she's making the best of it, avoiding classes as much as possible, like a model student that she is. It never hurts to pick up a few new spells, so she's getting into the swing of things, because, like it or not, she'll have to find her way home somehow...

Hogwarts Legacy! How are you liking it?

It's not bad... but a number of things are jarring. I keep seeing Fable 2 with my mind's eye and finding it better...

Well Fable2 is a classic for good reason. I myself am not really into Harry Potter, so I’ve never been interested in playing Hogwarts Legacy.

I would not have bought it myself, but it was a Christmas present, mostly because there aren't any other games out that I might have enjoyed. I did like Harry Potter novels when they came out, but hey, this was many years ago now...

The game isn't bad, really. But it is clearly geared towards the younger audience... well, you are a kid in school, after all! You are 15 years old. I do like all the puzzles in it, and combat isn't bad either. But to learn new spells you have to do assignments and attend classes... Ugh!

That’s kinda neat though! Imagine if this were an Elderscrolls thing. If you sat and listened to one of the lectures at the Arcane University and actually learned a spell or had a magicka skill go up a point just by listening. That’d be kinda cool!

That would have been a cool thing. Like when dancing for five minutes in VtM:B raises your humanity

There were even examples of this in Oblivion. For instance, if you watch the two boxers outside of the arena for a bit, your unarmed skill will go up.

Fo realsies? That actually is a thing in Oblivion?

Yes, it is. Also if you observe the Blades train or watch those guys brawl outside the F'o'c's'l'e in Anvil (or whatever that joint is called ).


Hmm... not for me, thanks...

Ah well. Different strokes and all that.

Indeed. It sounds like you might enjoy the game, though. It doesn't speak of Harry Potter at all, it is a different story set in the same universe. So if you want to feel like a 15 year old student again and go back to school, this is it!

Eeeh, for my money I'd rather conquer the universe again in Star Wars: Rebellion or go look for Eleanor in Dad Simulator 2000, otherwise known as Bioshock 2

Or finally face the Ur-Dragon in Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen... Yeah... I hear you, Brother.

Still playing Dark Souls and just finished beating Nito and the Four Kings. That just leave Minos of the Abyss, Black Dragon Kalameet and Seth the Scaleless. Actually, all I really need to do is beat Seth the Scaleless and I can go on to defeat Lord Gwen and beat Dark Souls. But for story purposes I at least need to face Minos of the Abyss to set in motion Dark Souls 2.

Welp: back in Rapture again...

I just beat Dark Souls!
Time for a victory meal !

I started playing Morrowind again!

Thought you already did


Haven't played that in ages!


Also; did Khajiit see my last post?

Think I'll download Morrowind again and play it again, I always loved the music in that game.

That music is indeed gr8

-------------------------
Bioshock 2


So I am now in Ryan's Amusements, the second area in this game, and I have just adopted my first Little Sister! I need this Little One to find ADAM so I can purchase the Incinerate! plasmid in order to melt the ice that's blocking the train from further advancement. Plus of course so I can melt some ice containing useful items scattered here and there.
The fight with the Big Daddy felt easier than last time. Partly I think because I had a flying turret to help me even if it was damaged a bit (smoke coming out of it).

Had some issues when starting up this time. When activating the elevator that triggers a cutscene, the game kept freezing, forcing me to ctrl-alt-delete my way out several times before I could continue. I think it helps if I don't move around when these triggered events happen.
At the second triggered event when going up another elevator the game didn't freeze or crash this time, although it did last time I played through this game. I didn't move around and maybe that helped.

So anyway; time to find some ADAM!

I played Bioshock 2.
It was an interesting game, if I remember I went for what I thought was the best ending with Elinore drowning Sofia and absorbing Delta's Adam and saving all the Little Sisters. To me Justice was served, Elinore will always have us with her in spirit and the Little Sisters saved to go on and live better lives.

I think you mean that Sofia Lamb drowned; the Justice ending that you got. That may be the "best" ending in a way since she was evil so she got her comeuppance, but the game's best ending is when Eleanor helps Sofia to breathe instead of letting her die.

I just love this game's asthetics; it's so beautiful with the lighting and the water effects on the helmet's glass. Can't wait to research the Drill Dash!

Fixed, I couldn't remember the evil lady's name.

Bioshock 2


I have now arrived in Pauper's Drop. Augustus Sinclair who hopped aboard the train just prior to me is still there behind a locked door.
The Little One was rescued at a vent and I have now formally fought my first Big Sister for real. The one back in the first area ( I think Atlantic Arrivals?) is actually a fake fight and you cannot kill her, nor can she kill you but instead when you are almost dead she disappears.

Anyway, Incinerate! plasmid is installed and I even had enough ADAM left to upgrade both Health and Eve reserves despite me rescuing the Little Sister instead of harvesting. Now, in Pauper's Drop there are two Sisters I have to adopt before finally get the lockdown override key from Grace so me and Sinclair can continue our journey through Rapture.