The Game Club II: Back in the Habit [Castlemania: Lords of Shadow, Symphony of the Night, etc.] - The Bear and Badger

JonB

As before, we all try to play the same game at the same time and discuss it as we go, with some sort of end date target for finishing it.

If all else fails, I'll be playing on my own and at least some of you can discuss it with me as I go. If it works, then someone else can do the next suggestion. Should be stuff that's not too massive and easy to pick up cheap for those who don't have it.

To begin with I'll give each game a month until we switch. But if that proves too long we can always reconsider.

Current game: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow [PS3/360/PC]
I've finished this before but always intended to go back and explore more. Not sure if I'll start again or carry on from my old save - we'll see how it goes for now.

Or try any other Castlevanias, like Symphony of the Night, for instance.

Previous games:
Vanquish [360/PS3]

Overall challenge: Complete the game. Ends 07/09/2014
My score:
390580 (Normal)

Week 3 challenge: Do Challenge 1 as fast as possible. Ends 05/09/2014

Week 2 challenge: Set a score on Act 2.1 or Act 3.2 on Normal. Ends 29/08/2014
Scores:
2.1:
Billy_Hologram 14000
JonB 12900
3.2:
JonB 13000

Week 1 challenge: Set a high score on Act 1.3 [Giant]. On Normal difficulty. Ends at 10.00 pm Friday 22nd August.
Some scores:
Bollockoff        24000
Billy_Hologram 22000
JonB              21700
IanHamlett    17000

fullspectrum

I'm up for that.

JonB

Have you done it before?

Just wondering what might be a good target for the first week?

fullspectrum

yeah I've done it on Normal and I've even beaten 5 of the challenges, number 4 nearly killed me, and 6 can only be completed by Japanese people and Dubs.

Paul the sparky

The 360 version is £4.50 on eBay. I'll probably never play it but at least I'm trying.

TheDJR

I'm in.

Moot_Geeza

I did it on normal. I knew I was missing out on something at the time, same thing with Bayonetta. Still enjoyed both, especially the latter, they're definitely enoyable as play to the credits games too.

Curtis

Beat the Campaign on Hard and rank 10th in the World, and you're officially better than me.

TheDJR

I completed it on Normal too, was gonna do a no death run but never got round to it.

Curtis

A no death run is cheatable and therefore pretty pointless because you can die/pause/reload checkpoint and the game doesn't recognise your death.

TheDJR

I never looked into it but remember there being an achievement.

Billy

Got 17th (then knocked down to 22nd) in the world on Challenge 1.

I'm up for it

JonB

Well, I'll be aiming to complete it on Normal, and will set targets accordingly. I'll probably start tomorrow and see what's a realistic target for the first week for those who don't have a lot of time.

If anyone wants to set more advanced targets (Harder difficulty, challenges) for others to follow, then go ahead.

Curtis

Just play through it and see how you get on, score-wise. I can't remember all the parameters, but like most Platinum games, speed and efficiency play a huge factor.

Maybe complete it on Normal so you're accustomed to it, then choose a stage/sub-stage and we'll all submit our best scores for that section?

RedDave2

Funny, just bought this off psn. Played before and i really feel its a great shooter (maybe my fav of this gen) hampered by some terrible characters long winded cut scenes. But once the action kicks in, none of this matters. I'll play along as best i can.

mrsmr2

I'm in. Give me motivation to finish it.

stormyskiesahead

I'm in as well, only ever played the demo but got the disc ready to go. Was sorry to see this thread sink.

acemuzzy

I've tried this twice and didn't like it either time. Not sure I can face a third effort. But liked the other game suggestions...

hylian_elf

I got to some flying geezer boss that I beat. Think he was the first boss. Took me ages to get to him. Mainly cos I wasn't feeling the game, wasn't able to meter manage very well, which is probably key to the game? Look forward to cracking on.

Bollockoff

It's not a difficult game even on hard (apart from the last boss). God Hard is a joke difficulty.

RedDave2

For anyone starting this, get used to using the slowdown as much as possible but in small bursts. It allows you to pretty much take out large groups of enemies with ease. Whenever you slide or flip (x), hold aim (L1) and you go into it. You also go into it automatically if you take too much damage.

Also, I found it not to treat it like gears and stay in cover - use short bursts of the slowdown as slide through large pockets of enemies seemed more effective. Unless you have a sniper rifle which is lethal in this game for taking out lower level enemies easily.

Bollockoff

What Dave said. There's a way to play it to get maximum enjoyment and that's to treat it like a DMC action game rather than a popup cover shooter. Which is why that mong Jim Sterling gave it a 6/10.

You can activate the slow-mo during nearly every kind of animation. A great tip to shoot enemies behind cover is to use a melee punch (it doesn't drain your energy if you don't hit anything) then on the huge upward flip, enter slowmo to blow the shit out of them from above.

hylian_elf

Yeah, I'm doing all of that. Just not managed to get my flow like in Bayonetta. Need to play more.

RedDave2

Bollockoff wrote:

You can activate the slow-mo during nearly every kind of animation. A great tip to shoot enemies behind cover is to use a melee punch (it doesn't drain your energy if you don't hit anything) then on the huge upward flip, enter slowmo to blow the shit out of them from above.

Oh cool, I did not know that.

Billy

Would be happy with a stage or section of the game on normal or hard and we all submit our scores, the demo section was good for this. If you played it like gears you scored low, if you played it like a nutter you scored high.

TheDJR

I like that idea too.

RedDave2

Thats act 2 or 3 right? You come out of the tunnel into the open space, there's two drop ships followed by a spider / robot thing? Thats a great level with a few different whys to do it and if I remember right you can take the spider down really quickly if you know what you are doing.

RedDave2

sorry, just checked - act 1, mission 3 - Giant.

[Deleted User]

Godammit! When I moved I gave my 360 to a mate of mine, including Vanquish. A week or so earlier and i would have been able to join in. ah well, such is life.

If anyone is interested in a run on Alpha Protocol, or Aquaria, or, i dunno, something PC-y or Vita-ish at some point, I'll join.

As it is, have fun with Vanquish guys, that game is a good'un - just remember to play fast - the game is at its best when you fight breathless, yo'.

Curtis

There's your goal for a Normal campaign run:

Bollockoff

IT'S ORN

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