Ever since Tomb Raider came out (in the late '90s) I’d typically play a TR game around December (or in the winter). Not every year, but that’s something I can definitely say I’ve done a lot. The TR reboot game that came out for PS3. I’ve played that and haven’t really played it or any other TR after.
Except for that Dagger of Xian / TR2 remake.
Off the top of my head, I tend to get an urge to replay Mafia II (specifically the 40s section) whenever winter/Christmas comes around.
Okay, got 2 questions about games I may or may not enjoy, need your input:
I see Assassin’s Creed Origins is on sale for 12$. Not in a rush to buy it, probably won’t right now, but if it’s hit this price it’ll go back down to it again. The only other AC game I’ve played is Black Flag, but I didn’t finish it (recently tried to get back into it, nope)
Will I enjoy this game if I didn’t like Black Flag? Because…
Thoughts? I’ve looked up some stuff and it seems the combat is more involved, there’s less emphasis on naval combat, no tailing missions. The environments might get bland though and the grinding might be bad?
There’s also a game I’m eyeing – Cyberpunk2077. 10$ physical copy for PS4, but I’d buy it only to leave it on a shelf until I get a PS5 one mythical day, since I’ve heard last-gen is still poor and they’re cutting off support, but the free upgrade would be nice.
EDIT: Hmm, okay, I’ve done a bit more research on my own and I’m still torn on AC Origins. It does still seem like traditional AC, with issues with an over-abundant map, frustrating leveling system, stuff that’ll still turn me off from it.
Cyberpunk is still rough on old-gen consoles so I definitely won’t check it out there. Maybe, in the next few days I’ll decide if I want to pick up that physical copy for cheap, if it’s still available. Against AC, I know less of what I’m walking into here, which might be good.
edit2: seems the Cyberpunk sale is available to stores not even near me. false alarm y’all
I would recommend AC Origins. It’s the best in the series since Black Flag. They took a lot of the things that worked with Witcher 3 and applied it to the AC franchise.
It’s hard to say if you will enjoy it compared to Black Flag. They are both very different experiences. It’s closer to Witcher 3, then other AC games. Origins might be a origin story, yet it’s still a continuation of a franchise that have existed since 2007. Especially the present day story is tied to the games that came before.
I just finished Cyperpunk it was alright. It had it’s moments. But I’m not in a hurry to replay it. That said I’m sure that it’s more enjoyable on a second play through. Where you are more familiar with the complex system that is the backbone of the gameplay.
It gets tedious in Origins too because of enemy level scale. There are certain high rank NPCs in camps (and some unique ones that roam the map) that are so spongey that you’ll have to resort to cheesing the AI. Backstabs with the hidden blade are also useless on these kind of NPCs, needing a dozen or so of sneak attacks to take 'em out.
Another issue with the combat is that blocking is borderline useless, good luck activating a special effect from the shield you’re using, 9/10 time you will fail to block. Dodging is far more effective.
Grinding is an issue if you don’t do side-missions so if you don’t like to do those, you’ll be in a world of pain in the later main missions and many of the side activities found in the world.
I didn’t experience these problems. It might have to do with me doing the majority of content the game offered. Even if you don’t I believe you can turn on one hit kill with stealth kills.
Same here, doing every side-mission / activity that I uncover and the game might still have a general of sorts in a fort that has so much HP that will put all the phylakes to shame. And he could be only 3-5 levels higher than my Bayek.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure you can do that in the game options. Wonder if it was there since launch or if was added later after all the complaints.
Honestly if you like Assassins Creed and you have 12 quid to spare do yourself a favor and go buy it. Everyone will say that the grinding is unreal for level scaling but honesty i got it back in 2021 and i on and offed the game from time to time (about once or twice a week) and i leveled up quite fast just do some side quests and get quite good at stealth and it will go good for you OR if you want a real challenge put it on Nightmare difficulty when you finished the story. Side note: there is new game plus so after the first play through you can keep those levels and avoid kinda grinding. 
Does anyone here own a steam deck? If so, can you play Codename 47, Silent Assassin and Contracts on it? 
No videos on C47 and Contracts but since H2SA is playable, I can imagine Contracts working as well 
Also the Steam page for C47 says that it’s Playable 
Maybe I’ll purchase one a bit later that year 
Has anyone ever used one of those online stores that will turn your photo into an oil pairing or a watercolour?
I want to get my wife a Christmas gift of our doggie who passed a few months ago. I just 1) don’t want to be disappointed with the art and 2) would prefer not to use a company that has an art slave colony in China or wherever with artists furiously painting away for 16 RMB an hour.
Yes and it wasn’t worth it. They intend that you send in a perfect portrait photo that is just the right size. If that isn’t the case, your picture will look weird. Not bad, necessarily, but weird. It might look like the face is at a difference aspect ratio or a different resolution than the rest of the painting.
You will also end up with something that (unless you want to pay for it) is fairly small so it’s not as impressive as it could be. I think they probably can be quite good, but that depends a lot on what you spend and how good the original photo you give them is.
I did some early price checking with the first 3 that popped up online without checking their reputations. The prices are what I expected for the size I wanted (20x24”), but I didn’t even consider that unless I have a super high res photo they will be “stretching” it just like a computer would have to do. I’ll have to do more homework both on them and my source photos.
I wonder if it might just be smarter to walk over to Columbia College and recruit an art major to do it?
Thanks for hints! I appreciate it.
Don’t you hate it when you hear a song (Song A) that reminds you of another song (Song B)? So you go to look for Song A and can’t find ANYTHING?!
For the record, Song B is ‘Splish Splash’ by Boddy Darin.
Song A would be from a rock group from (I think) the late 70’s, early to mid 80’s. It’s the tune during one of the verses… not the whole song. Been wracking my brain for the past 3 or 4 hours looking at so many 80’s rock playlists on YouTube.
I was thinking it was from either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. Either that’s completely wrong or I just never found the right song. 
Er, well… obviously.
Sure, happens to me every time Queen’s Under Pressure starts playing and I think at first it’s Ice Ice Baby, or Super Freak by Rick James (Bitch!), and I think it’s U Can’t Touch This.
Does anybody know what is going on with the Forum App by any chance? The Icon seemingly keeps getting smaller everyday and now it completely disappeared.
Mine looks fine like this as usual. My Sony device’s OS is Android 9 though, I guess the issue might happen and depend on which system you have. Perhaps you may try reinstalling the app?
