3d ago

What are you playing this weekend? 2025-05-30

Last weekend before Switch 2 release! How many of you have pre-ordered? Hope you all get it on launch day or as soon after it as possible!

Started Chatper 9 of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition but got stuck, I was at recommended level, but you can't use Skells during the fight, and it's kinda tough one. I also went with characters with low class levels, so grinding a bit to level up.

Finished The Surge!

The game took a bit getting into, but once I did, it was a really enjoyable game. The games isn't too difficult, and while I died more than a dozen (more than a couple dozen) but they all felt my faults, like I knew what to do, just wasn't skilled enough to do that. If there was an easy mode, I would've switched to that and just finished the game, but as it is, took 3 days to finally beat it.

Started Marvel's Midnight Suns. I am only at the beginning and have done just the first mission after creating the character, so not much to say, but it feels really good for now. As a turn based tactics game, it would've been perfect on the Switch.

What about all of you? What have you been playing and/or plan to play?

33 comments

I’m looking forward to my last week with this year’s students (and then two days of classroom cleaning/board games) before picking up a Switch 2. No pre-order, just vibes as my friend and I camp out this Wednesday.
I haven’t touched chapter 12 of Xenoblade Chronicles X yet. School has been very busy, but I’m also tying up loose ends as I near the story’s end. I have been ignoring Lobster related missions since I feel like that mission is what made me quit the Wii U version.
I’ve been building up my armory in Octopath Traveler Champions of the Continent. It’s as useful as filling out your mail order catalog I. Animal Crossing, but it is still a fulfilling time waster.
I played the board game Machi Koro 2 with both of my children. It was fun. I’m trying to help the younger one focus on learning new games since we’re going to a board game convention this summer. I’ve gotta build up his stamina!
- Good luck with getting Switch 2!
  Don't know which one's are Lobster related missions since I am pretty far away, but will keep an eye for them.
  We played Dixit, our first game with 6 people, and while it does slow down the game a bit, cause half of the people were kids who kept changing their votes, it was pretty fun. It's one of those game that becomes more fun with more people.

World of tank Blitz :)
- Heh. I am not into PvP much. How is it?
  
  Pretty good if you turn on the setting to play only against players with the same controls as you, otherwise it is a bit unbalanced. It retains just enough gameplay from the PC version to be enjoyable yet a bit limited of course. Great for casual gaming until you end up looking up the tech tree 😉

I won’t be playing much of anything this weekend due to touching grass so I wish everyone a dope gaming session.
- Ooh, anything special planned?
  
  Going to the aquarium and then maybe the movies, book stores, and shopping. I tried to find some cool arcades or game stores but no dice.

Like last week, I'm playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. I don't know how far into the story I am, but...

I've been doing the shorter missions at times, like sit down for 15 minutes and do a few of those and trying to get more stuff. It's hard not to always play with Link, but I've had fun with other characters too. And if you don't level them up, then Link is overpowered in comparison. Has anyone else played the DLC? It looks cool, but I wonder if it's worth it? The gameplay is fun, but the story caught me as this is a BotW prequel. I'm thinking of going back to BotW, then I can play the enhanced version when I get a Switch 2 and notice the improvements much better, since I haven't played in so long now.
- You can pay to level up the other people. It’s a pain, but there are options if you’re only using Link.
  
  After reading this comment I went to that training place for the first time! 😅 Yeah, that makes it easier, and it's not too expensive to level them up to a decent level.
- All your talk of AoC is making me want to play it.
  Can just get Age of Imprisonment but can't justify buying it unless I finish AoC. Why are you doing this to me? 😀
  
  Hahaha, Age of Imprisonment is what got me back into this! Need to clear out that backlog before the new Switch 2 titles start coming out 😄
- I'm not a huge fan of the Warriors format, but I had a good enough time with AoC. Some of the cut scenes gave me chills. I'm a little fuzzy about the DLC. I got it, and enjoyed it (don't think I finished all of it), but I'm not sure I'd call it crucial. It's just more game. It's gone on sale a handful of times for the patient gamers out there. I'd wait until you're done with the core game before trying to decide. If you're still flowing, go for it. If you've had enough, let it be.
  Been kinda wanting to pick it back up since Age of Imprisonment was revealed.
- Oh, and I pre-ordered a Switch 2 from a big retailer, but I'm still expecting not to get it June 5 for some random reason 😅 (Nintendo, the retailer, the mail...) They can't disappoint you if you're expecting to be disappointed!
  
  Nintendo: Is that a challenge?

Started Chatper 9 of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition but got stuck, I was at recommended level, but you can’t use Skells during the fight, and it’s kinda tough one. I also went with characters with low class levels, so grinding a bit to level up.
I think that's one of the hardest boss fights in the main story. Had to burn a couple consumable items to get past it.
Playing Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land
It's a good game and I'm having a lot of fun playing it, but feels more like a new RPG series from Gust than than an Atelier game.
It lacks the relaxing, happy vibes that those games are known for, with a darker mood and heavier storyline. Alchemy is taboo, its pratictioners are shunned and hated, there's some dangerous-looking villains around, the main characters all seem to have some sad backstory.
So if you played Ryza or Sophie and want more of that wholesome feel this is probably not the game for you, but if you love the complex crafting systems from those games and want something with more meat in the story then take a look at this one.
Talking about gameplay, I have one criticism and one concern. The criticism is the battle system - at least on normal is way too easy and feels like you can beat most battles just spamming buttons. I did warm up to it as more systems were added, but most battles are so short that you don't really use them very often. Also, you level up ridiculously fast - I'm almost at Level 50 and looking at the map I'm barely a third into the game.
The concern is that this game may get really repetitive over time. Exploration has been fun, but I just finished the first main area and feel like I've seen all the game has to offer in that aspect - and there's three more big areas to explore.
On the positive side, crafting continues to be great (though I still prefer the system from the Mysterious games), there's a really neat "Base Building" system that I'm sure will have people spending dozens of hours designing their perfect home, and the mystery on the main plot has me intrigued - it has some cool "Atelier Dusk" vibes as you investigate the causes or a large-scale alchemy-related disaster that destroyed a country in the past.
- On Wii U, I NEVER used consumables. I am so much happier that I use them now. I am saving myself so many trips to the barracks to claim my insurance on Skells!
  Edit: got a few too many nows in that original post…
- I think that's one of the hardest boss fights in the main story. Had to burn a couple consumable items to get past it.
  That makes me feel better about losing the battle. Maybe I should get Elma, Lik and Hope, they make a good combo and try again.
  Atelier Yumia sounds interesting!

Attempting to wrap up Doom. I've got 3 levels left, so shouldn't be an issue. It's been a blast, so I'm a little sad to be getting so close to the end.
And then in theory, the Switch 2 arrives on release day.
- Which Doom? The original one? Or the latest one?
  Good luck for getting it on launch day!
  
  Latest, Doom: The Dark Age. It really makes me want to do a revisit of Doom 2016, but ain't nobody got time for that.
  I was trying to get Aliens: Dark Descent wrapped up before Doom released, but didn't quite make it. So that's still sitting unfinished...

Something's gotta change.
When I booted up Brothership this week, I noticed my playtime was 35 hours. So I looked back at my comment history and I started playing the game 5 months ago. I know Monster Hunter absolutely justifies slowing down everything else for two months, but this is just unacceptable. I have no less than two new games installed and ready to go on the PC side but I am not going to play them. I need to get this back under control. I've been focusing on this game and I'll probably beat it this weekend. I'm definitely in the home-stretch, but you never know what else opens up at the end of an RPG. I have the full world map visible and there are three isolated areas I can't access, so there's something the game is still hiding from me.
- Hehe, it happen sometimes.
  With the speed I am playing, I think Xenoblade Chronicles X will take me about 5-6 months too. It has been over 2 months, and I still have lots of game left, but I have about 50 hours in these 2 months.
  Good luck with finishing Brothership soon!

Only gaming I've done lately is beat the Elite 4 and Delta episode of Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. Due to being underemployed and having other recent large expenses it will probably be a while before I pick up a Switch 2 or any other game, for that matter. I only got Pokemon and Kirby from a Christmas gift card. Time to go clear out the backlog.
- Hope things start looking up for you soon.
  Perfect time to check out all the games on backlog and clear them.

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