Discussion The 2025 Game Thread: Big Stupid Games Edition

[DAPUNISHER]

Just started up Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Man I am really starting to think PC graphics peaked in visuals to performance ratio around 2015-2016. This game is gorgeous, beautiful settings, good animations and character models, beautiful effects that wouldn't be out of place today. Texture resolution is a bit lower than it could be, but otherwise this is another game that could have released in 2022 and would have fit right in.

Performance on my 6800XT is absolutely through the roof. ~200FPS @ 1440P maxed.

As far as the game itself, it looks like its going to be more of TR2013 which isn't a bad thing at all considering that game was pretty solid. Game does a good job laying down strong Indiana Jones vibes from an archeological leading into the supernatural kinda place. Still has that murder porn kinda vibe with the deaths and failed QT events and such, but there does seem to be less ludonarrative dissonance between the gameplay Lara and the cutscene Lara this time around (i.e. Lara has just murder hobo'd her way through roughly 1000 cultists in gameplay, then Lara has a moral dilemma over killing a cultist in a cutscene...).

Looks like it's going to be a good time.

This is indeed a visually impressive game for the time. The good old days of TressFX and Pure Hair, instead of doing all the things with rays. 🤣 I see they added DLSS. I am playing DX12 4K max and it gives a warning about being vram hungry. It pushes past 8GB used not allocated in some areas, then drops back under 6GB. Considering how many gamers were using 2-4-6GB cards back then, this game was intense. Runs like a dream, so extremely well optimized. I use a 120fps cap for power savings and because it is plenty of fps for this game.

Laura has matured into the Tomb Raider in this one. I hope we get dual handguns later, then it'll be spot on. I looked up the voice actress and was not disappointed; perfect Laura Croft.

Glad I waited all these years to play the trilogy so I can enjoy them in their full glory.

 

[igor_kavinski]

My best friend is a huge Lara Croft fan. He despises games. Thinks it's a waste of computing time and power. But he can't resist TR games. Maybe he likes her butt

 

[GodisanAtheist]

My best friend is a huge Lara Croft fan. He despises games. Thinks it's a waste of computing time and power. But he can't resist TR games. Maybe he likes her butt

-Everyone likes her butt. Its just a happy coincidence that the game is really good as well and doesn't dwell on it's main character's assets.

 

[quikah]

Unfortunately unless you emulate (and they fixed the bad performance) there is no way to play 2-3- or Judgement without an Xbox 360 or newer. I also disagree with the idea they are all the same. The combat in Gears 5 is radically different from OG Gears. If I never played I might wait for E-Day since it's a prequel, then Play Gears of War Ultimate.

I am hoping they announce a Gears Collection like they did with Master Chief on PC.

You can play via gamepass streaming also. Gears Collection has been rumored for a while. Hopefully they release it.

Personally, I found 5 to be very good except the ending was kind of dumb, 4 was pretty meh. Hivebusters DLC for 5 is good as well (pretty much standalone story).

Gears Tactics is decent, but completely different game type. Story is a prequel of the 4/5 storyline.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I can't do it - I'm tapping out on Noita.

I don't know what it is, but the game is addicting as hell for a few hours and then I start to lose the will to live while I'm playing. I love the concept and what the game does, it does great, but I just can't put my finger on why it loses me so fast. It's a very difficult game in the same vein as Binding of Isaac with probably the most complex spell (item) interaction of any roguelike and the deaths are usually hilarious because 99% of the time, you end up killing yourself while either testing a new wand you just found/built or getting caught in a chain of events that you started but you can't stop.

Maybe one day I'll actually finish a run, but it's not anytime soon.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Completed the Baba Yaga DLC for ROTTR.

Solid side quest, basically a challenge tomb on steroids. I'd be a little annoyed if I had paid full price for it, but as part of a complete package it's very very good.

 

[DigDog]

im pumping hours into Witchfire, which is a FPS with roguelite elements.

You got 3 maps (at the moment), each a magnitude higher in difficulty. You start the first map and as you kill, you earn XP ("witchfire") which permanently upgrades your stats. You also find other drops which eventually upgrade your weapons and spells; and your weapons & spells are either unlocked through a form of success-based delay (the more you kill, the faster it goes) or need to be found, hidden, on the map.

The game's got a MASSIVE amount of mechanics which are not explained to you, at all. Figuring them out is a major aspect of gameplay, almost to the point where it's a horror-investigative FPS. (you really, really spoil the game if you read the online guides)

Weapons, spells, abilities, stats, all are exquisitely balanced, where pretty much every build is feasible, and the FPS controls are .. well, pretty good, but not perfect.

Optimization is ass.

More than recommend this to a FPS fan, i would recommend it to anyone who has a passion for all things cthuloid. The investigative/horror aspect is far more enticing that the FPS one. Disclaimer: there is a lot of grinding involved.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Completed the Baba Yaga DLC for ROTTR.

Solid side quest, basically a challenge tomb on steroids. I'd be a little annoyed if I had paid full price for it, but as part of a complete package it's very very good.

Finished the game last night. Not going to bother with the DLC from this 20 year celebration edition I got for free. After playing 2 in a row I need to take a break. I am downloading the 3rd for when the mood hits.

They gave me Kingdom Come Deliverance for free when releasing the new one. Maybe I will give it a try.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Completed Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Fantastic game, perfect sequel to TR2013.

Toned down the violence and combat encounters a bit, upped the hunting and challenge tombs, basically the TR2013 formula perfected.

Really enjoyed the Bear and Leopard combat, almost like little mini-bosses guarding tombs and treasure.

Way fewer quick time events, and less torture porny deaths when you fail (less Laura getting graphically impaled on objects, drowning and slowly having the life go out of her eyes, etc).

Narrative did a great job being sort of India Jones (the films and general concept) adjacent: sort of semi rooted in history while also way out there in the supernatural. I actually wonder if there is any way to get Lara to kill Nazis...

I had a great time with the main story and the Baba Yaga DLC which is integrated into the main campaign. I'll give some of the other DLCs, namely Blood Ties, a shot today and move on from there to something else.

Snagged Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the last Steam sale. Feel inclined to play it sooner rather than later, but I'll give it some time otherwise if it's another refinement if the formula I can see myself getting bored....

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Snagged Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the last Steam sale.

Definitive Edition was free. But I know you are unwilling to endure an extra launcher or 2.

Feel inclined to play it sooner rather than later, but I'll give it some time otherwise if it's another refinement if the formula I can see myself getting bored....

That's where I was at by the end of the campaign, ready for a break from the gameplay loop the Tomb Raider series offers.

I am playing Gotham Knights since I never finished it. Now I am only doing stories missions as I goofed off enough already. It is a great looking game and conspicuously absent from Tim's RT testing shill-a-thon. It's a disappointment compared to the Arkham games. The combat is not nearly as fun, and the city feels almost lifeless. In fact the whole game lacks the vibrancy and style those games have. I'll probably mess around with Suicide Squad next. I already know they 💩on Batman and I'll dislike the story immensely as a consequence. Maybe the gameplay will be fun?

 

[JujuFish]

Completed Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Earlier, I confused Rise with Shadow. I have Shadow in my backlog. I really enjoyed 2013 and Rise. Still need to play Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Wrapped up Blood Ties. Pure walking sim of the Croft Manor. Good Epilogue to the main game, digging into Croft's past, her mother, her upbringing. A bit surprising as most DLCs are just main game pint sized but Blood Ties does something really different.

A nice capstone on the middle entry of the Survivor trilogy...

I think I'll pass on the remaining DLC. Looks to be a lot of combat simulators and horde/rush modes and I'm not that hard up on cheevo hunting.

Definitive Edition was free. But I know you are unwilling to endure an extra launcher or 2.

-Twas ~$2 on Steam for the Definitive Edition. Small price to pay to support my "launcher" of choice.

That's where I was at by the end of the campaign, ready for a break from the gameplay loop the Tomb Raider series offers.

-Yeah, ROTTR Is definitely a strong iteration on TR2013. Playing them back to back would feel like too much of the same. I suspect the same is true of SotTR, which is not a bad thing, I just need to give it some time.

I am playing Gotham Knights since I never finished it. Now I am only doing stories missions as I goofed off enough already. It is a great looking game and conspicuously absent from Tim's RT testing shill-a-thon. It's a disappointment compared to the Arkham games. The combat is not nearly as fun, and the city feels almost lifeless. In fact the whole game lacks the vibrancy and style those games have. I'll probably mess around with Suicide Squad next. I already know they 💩on Batman and I'll dislike the story immensely as a consequence. Maybe the gameplay will be fun?

- Pretty sure Gotham Knights is the low rent GaaS sibling of Suicide Squad. They sort of branch off from each other in terms of continuity, but both are a huge deviation from the winning Arkham formula and both suck at varying degrees of intensity.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Having a hard time settling on a game after ROTTR.

- Tried Superliminal but the game really does come off as a Portal try hard in the worst way. A bit too trippy for before bed gaming as well.

- Fired up Borderlands 2 after numerous failed starts on Borderlands OG. I'm thinking I'm going to have to run some pub games if I ever want to break into this series. Boring me to tears otherwise.

Thinking I need some more time away from games until the lure pulls me back in.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Wrapped up Blood Ties. Pure walking sim of the Croft Manor.

If you want more of the walking sim kind of relaxed enjoyment, I would recommend the Quantic Dream games: Heavy Rain (slightly NSFW. One nude shower scene and some erotic dancing), Beyond: Two Souls (very different kind of game as you control an entity and make things happen indirectly) and Detroit: Become Human. All three will tug at your heartstrings.

And oh, if you haven't played L.A. Noire, kind of the same thing but maybe even better (also NSFW in few scenes).

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Ok, fired up Halo Reach and... Damn it's a legit good FPS.

Halo 1-3 we're good, but they were carried pretty heavily by nostalgia for me.

Never played ODST, Reach, or 4.

ODST was... Ok. It was a smaller scale and different format from the mainline Spartan games and it was a good diversion, but it was obviously an overblown expansion pack for Halo 3.

Reach is, good. Like really good. Good gunplay, good narrative, good level design and progression.

Really feels like a final parting love letter to the Halo franchise from Bungie.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

That's a good description of the MCC.

I played Halo 4; it was hot garbage. Only other one I have played is Infinite campaign. A lot of fun outside of the story missions which were often the low point of the playthrough.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Gotham Knights is serious eye candy. Tim not including it in his RT review is entirely unacceptable. He included worthless titles instead.

I am unlocking more stuff and the gameplay has opened up along with it. Starting to enjoy myself...

 

[DigDog]

witchfire is positively awesome if you like FPS but find that normal solo FPS are a joke. Unfortunately, i've exhausted the early access content.
The final product may not be as awesome, but it's probably still a solid 7/10 recommendation.


Question: i'm playing a 2012 game in 2025, Max Payne 3.
Unskippable (LONG) cutscenes.
Put up with it, or uninstall?

 

[Artorias]

Ok, fired up Halo Reach and... Damn it's a legit good FPS.

Halo 1-3 we're good, but they were carried pretty heavily by nostalgia for me.

Never played ODST, Reach, or 4.

ODST was... Ok. It was a smaller scale and different format from the mainline Spartan games and it was a good diversion, but it was obviously an overblown expansion pack for Halo 3.

Reach is, good. Like really good. Good gunplay, good narrative, good level design and progression.

Really feels like a final parting love letter to the Halo franchise from Bungie.

Reach is a fantastic game. The soundtrack is amazing as usual by Martin O'Donnell and really the last exceptional Halo game.

I also enjoyed ODST quite a bit, it plays a lot different, but honestly it was nice seeing the more human side of the story. The phone recordings we're worthwhile collecting for me, its like you had two story lines going on at the same time.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Reach is a fantastic game. The soundtrack is amazing as usual by Martin O'Donnell and really the last exceptional Halo game.

I also enjoyed ODST quite a bit, it plays a lot different, but honestly it was nice seeing the more human side of the story. The phone recordings we're worthwhile collecting for me, its like you had two story lines going on at the same time.

- ODST's open world portions were sort of sleepy and had that weird jazz music going on in the background that felt wildly out of place. The actual linear missions were pretty solid though.

Reach is back to the sort of larger than life legendary story and scope, which I prefer.

 

[Racan]

I really love the world building of Halo Reach. Reach has a rugged beauty to it; it seemed believable to me as a terraformed planet.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Playing GTA 5 Enhanced. Game from 2013 on console, that was in development since the 2000s, now with ray tracing, native DLAA and FSRAA, and upscaling. This game is a masterpiece. I have not started a playthrough in years, usually drop in for a couple of hours at a point after completing the game, and go HAM. I like jumping on the train and riding around the map while I wreak havoc. The long tunnels give you some respite before going HAM again.

Forgot how cinematic the opening 15-20 minutes are. Still feels like the most lived in city of any game IMO. Dialogue still makes me laugh after all these years. It does look better than ever too.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Playing GTA 5 Enhanced. Game from 2013 on console, that was in development since the 2000s, now with ray tracing, native DLAA and FSRAA, and upscaling. This game is a masterpiece. I have not started a playthrough in years, usually drop in for a couple of hours at a point after completing the game, and go HAM. I like jumping on the train and riding around the map while I wreak havoc. The long tunnels give you some respite before going HAM again.

Forgot how cinematic the opening 15-20 minutes are. Still feels like the most lived in city of any game IMO. Dialogue still makes me laugh after all these years. It does look better than ever too.

I did not know this was a thing. I might have to fire it up after my current run in Bannerlord.

 

[DigDog]

current run in Bannerlord.

HAH

you know .. i played M&B when it was still an early beta. Early EARLY beta, the mounted lance worked differently, horses were different, equipment stats were different ..

i cannot believe that little game has become so big. You know, when Minecraft came out, it was kinda obvious that it would become a hit, but M&B .. who would have thought.

 

[igor_kavinski]

i cannot believe that little game has become so big. You know, when Minecraft came out, it was kinda obvious that it would become a hit, but M&B .. who would have thought.

You think that medieval Matt Damon movie had something to do with it?