by XvGojira » Sun Jan 12, 2020 6:21 pm
I'm loving/hating Bloodstained. There's some minor things that bother me. Like how whip weapons apparently only hit at the front and back of the animation, so if an enemy is between you and where the whip ends, it doesn't get hurt. Also the Switch version, especially in handheld mode, takes it sweet sweet time loading between rooms and areas and if you don't keep the jump button pressed (and some time tilted left or right as well) you'll just fall back down and have to load again just to jump back up to another black loading screen. The crafting and shard system is rather intricate and calls for lots of farming/grinding (although some later gear helps) to make all the meals (each time you eat a new meal you get a permanent stat increase) or new weapons/shards or improved shards. So there are elements that are a tad more grindy/time consuming than I'd like at the moment. A few years ago, I might not have cared but I'd rather be making some semblance of progress in the game than just mob farming for item drops, especially with the dreadful load screens. It also feels a lot more difficult than the last few Castlevania games I've played (DS era) which is more of me issue than something I'd really knock the game for. But it's also scratching that Castlevania itch that hasn't been scratched in a long time. I don't know how well the game is selling, but I'm hopping it's doing great. I'd love a sequel.
But I've also be drawn into Monster Hunter World Iceborn. Because of the massive update, all the mods I've been using are currently dead but a few might not need to be resurrected, like having PS4 controller buttons instead of the default Xbox buttons. They also now put little shines above items that the monsters drop. Although they're white and the new area is mostly snow so it kind of self defeating there, so I might still keep the mod that the little colorful light spires. Anyway the new expansion, what little I've played of it, is great. Sure it's just more MH with some slight improvements and equipment with better stats (my HR gear is maxing out at 70+ defense but the Master Rank gear is starting at 115+). But that just means the monsters hit harder. The Viper Tobi-Kadachi is brutal. Rarely stood still long enough to use the clutch claw to wound him/soften him up to increase damage. He can paralyze you if he bit you and shoots poison quills from his tail, so you could watch your character helplessly flop on the ground paralyzed while you die of poisoning. I can't wait for a day off to kill a few more of them and make a suit of him, the "OH GODZILLA! WHAT TERRIBLE LANGUAGE!". I also just got a hat that is literally just a macaque sitting behind my head. I love this game.
Animal Crossing... I've avoided that time sink of a series since after the DS, but this new one might just get me.