Welcome to the last weekly thread of 2024! We are going to skip the next weekend as some of you (including me) might be on holidays. So, Happy Holidays!

Still Playing Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout as my primary game. I am getting near the end, but I have been ignoring alchemy for a little while, so may have to spend few hours catching up. Should be able to finish it next week though.

Just got Vampire Survivors from Epic store for free, so have been playing that for last 30 mins or so. I liked the trial on Switch, but didn’t get it there cause I when I am on Switch I would rather play other games, on PC though, I can play it sometimes when I don’t have access to consoles. Not sure how long or regularly play it, but enjoying it for now.

And since this might be a long weekly thread, what are you planning to play over the holidays?

I am thinking about starting Yakuza 6 on PS. I was planning to replay the first 5, but going to skip them now and go straight to the next one.

On Switch, will continue Donkey Kong Country 2 after Atelier Ryza. Not sure if I’ll have enough to finish that too or not.

What about all of you? What have you been playing?

  • @slimerancherOPMEnglish
    2•2 months ago

    Yeah, I am becoming a fan of Atelier games too, its only my first one though, so would need to play and like a couple more games before I can call myself fan of the series.

    I like schmups, but not bullet hells, unfortunately they both go side by side. Would love a schmup, that isn’t a bullet hell.

    • @PhelpssanEnglish
      3•2 months ago

      Would love a schmup, that isn’t a bullet hell.

      Have you tried Drainus? Really good Gradius-like shmup from Team Ladybug which also made two of my favorite metroidvanias in recent times (“Touhou Luna Nights” and “Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth”).

      • @MisterDeutschEnglish
        3•2 months ago

        I am so happy to have read this comment. Drainus looks like a perfect return to my college days playing Gradius.

        • @PhelpssanEnglish
          2•2 months ago

          Haven’t played it yet, but also heard good things about Super Hydorah which is another Gradius-inspired shmup on the Switch.

      • @slimerancherOPMEnglish
        2•2 months ago

        I remember you mentioning it, I think I added it to my wishlist too. Haven’t played it yet though.

        • @PhelpssanEnglish
          2•2 months ago

          I’ve asked around for more “non-bullet hell” shmup recommendations and heard good things about Super Hydorah.

          Also got a few comments to take check the Darius series. The CS Core version of Dariusburst which people say is the most complete one is on sale, and there’s also G-Darius and two different collections of older games (one for Arcades, one for Consoles).

          If you don’t mind older games you can get 19xx on the Capcom Arcade for $2. Input lag on that collection is slightly high for my tastes (I play a lof of Gigawing there), but it’s still playable, and it doesn’t get much cheapter than that.

          • @slimerancherOPMEnglish
            1•2 months ago

            Thanks for the recommendations, will check them out!

            • Matija Šuklje
              3•2 months ago

              @slimerancher @Phelpssan, a few more non-danmaku STGs that I’d suggest:

              vert (T = tate support):
              • Anger Force (T)
              • Astebreed
              • SophStar (T)
              • Dragon Blaze (T)
              • Gunbird 2 (T)
              • Sisters Royale (T)
              • Moon Dancer (T)
              • Missile Dancer (T)
              • Dimension Drive – weird
              • Shoot1Up – weird

              hori:
              • Sine Mora
              • Blazing Star
              • Black Bird – weird
              • Rigid Force Redux
              • R-Type Dimensions
              • ProtoCorgi – weird
              • Aqua Kitty UDX
              • Andro Dunos 2
              • Thunder Force IV

              • @slimerancherOPMEnglish
                2•2 months ago

                Thanks for all the recommendations, will check them out.

                • Matija Šuklje
                  2•2 months ago

                  @slimerancher, oh, and if you would like to learn bullet hells better and don’t mind some slightly disturbing imagery, Angel at Dusk is a great and accessible game. It has an outstanding tutorial to interactively teach you not just the mechanics, but also how exactly to pull off the required (sub)genre moves.

                  • @slimerancherOPMEnglish
                    1•2 months ago

                    Well, I’ll have to see how disturbing it is, will take a look! Even if I don’t get better it sounds like something worth trying.