Whatcha playing G4@Syfygames?

Originally published for G4@Syfygames on 3/2/2016

There’s nothing better than kicking back and playing video games after a long day. Here at G4@Syfygames, we’re no different. From hard news, to features, to reviews, everyday we’re working hard to deliver the best gaming coverage on the Internet. We may be busy people, but we always find time for video games, be it business or pleasure. Today, we’d like to share what we’re currently playing with you. Who knows, we may be playing the same thing!

Christian Vazquez — Super Smash Bros. Wii U, Final Fantasy Theatrhythm: Curtain Call, Astebreed

I’ve been extremely busy lately, so I’ve only been able to play games in short bursts. Luckily, these three titles are perfect for that. I’ve been playing Super Smash Bros. Wii U against my roommate to sharpen my skills, especially with Corrin and Bayonetta jumping into the fray (although purple Yoshi is still my main). While I’m out handling other priorites, I’m usually playing Curtain Call when I have a few minutes to spare. It scratches that gaming itch while also providing some sweet tunes to chill to.

Lastly, Astebreed has been my go-to for late night burst sessions. It’s a phenomenal shooter that has me addicted to its scoring system and gorgeous visuals. I’ve been taking advantage of its chapter select option to quickly play a stage before I hit the hay. More importantly, playing it takes me back to the golden days of Einhänder, which is one of my favorite games of all time. Personally, I’d like to play some of the newer titles that everone has been raving about, like Far Cry Primal and Street Fighter V (when it’s actually complete), but unfortunately I don’t have the time to sit down and get lost in a game like I want to. Hopefully I’ll be able to soon!

Tony Nguyen — Fire Emblem Fates

Fire Emblem Fates has finally released, so anyone who knows me knew that I was going to be in stores as soon as it opened to get my hands on it. I purchased both versions of the game — I’m a stickler for physical copies, and the special editions have been sold out since the day it became available for preorder — but I decided to start on the more difficult Conquest version first. Since Conquest doesn’t allow players to grind, you have to go from mission-to-mission like you’re being strung along a path, which means it’s better for those who prefer to dive straight into the heart of the gameplay. I also chose to do Conquest first because the fact that Birthright allows players to grind means it’ll be a much easier — and therefore much more relaxing — adventure, which is the perfect way to unwind after being thrown into the gauntlet.

And thrown into the gauntlet I have certainly been, because Conquest is pretty difficult! Even on Normal difficulty and Casual Mode — I actually still play like I’m on Classic Mode though, so if anyone kicks the bucket, I immediately revert my save file, despite disabling permadeath — I still found myself to be overwhelmed by the challenge. One of my favorite chapters so far is Chapter 10, where you have to defend a sea port for 11 turns. You get mobbed by enemies coming from the front, but just when you think you have a solid strategy, the enemies switch things up and you can find yourself suddenly being flanked on all sides! However, as stressful as the game can be, I still want to keep playing.

Marcus Estrada — American Truck Simulator, Kindred Spirits on the Roof

I’ve been spending my time driving California’s highways in American Truck Simulator. Sure, it’s a little disappointing how darn close the game is to its predecessor, but then again, Euro Truck Simulator 2 was already a pitch-perfect simulator. Meandering through these vaguely familiar (but somewhat off) depictions of my home state has been tremendously enjoyable thus far. Here’s hoping that SCS Software will be able to actually pump out additional states at a decent rate.

Beyond that, I also just finished clicking through Kindred Spirits on the Roof. This visual novel has received a surprising amount of mainstream attention due to the fact that it is “completely uncensored.” Sure, there are some depictions of sex between the characters, but it’s completely misrepresenting the game to suggest its all about sex. In fact, probably 95% of the complete 20 hour experience is anything but sexual content, so don’t go in expecting some sort of ridiculous fanservice fest.

Jessica Famularo — Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi

Like many folks out there, I have a ton of games to play and very little time to dedicate to any of them. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it speaks to all of the great content we have access to. Luckily, the other weekend, the wind chill was at -35 degrees, making it the perfect opportunity to snuggle up with some vidyuh games. Naturally, that meant I chose to replay an older game instead of the newer titles begging for my attention. Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi is about as anime as it sounds, but in the best way possible.

Essentially, it is a 3DS visual novel/dating sim set in Kyoto during the Edo period, in which you try to win the hearts of a coterie of samurai. Things get more interesting when you throw in demons, shogun drama, and a mysterious tonic that can cure any wound, but turns the drinker into a bloodthirsty (but still rather attractive) zombie/vampire. It’s pure over-the-top, guilty pleasure indulgence. Yet, the beautiful artwork and the historic setting does a great job of setting the atmosphere, melding fact with fiction.

Matt Ferguson — Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, Far Cry Primal, Nier, The Darkness, Titanfall

I’m about as OCD as gamers come, and thus I tend to have a lot of trouble when I actually get an opportunity to sit on front of a console for multiple hours. I typically have four to five games in my “currently playing” cycle at any given time — usually an amalgamation of two newer titles, two backlogged single-player games, and one multiplayer shooter for that oh-so-necessary stress relief at the end of a hard day. Currently, my shortlist is Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, Far Cry Primal, Nier, The Darkness, and Titanfall. Say what you want about the last game, I’ll be playing Titanfall long after my Atlas is coated in rust.

Right now I can’t stop exploring Far Cry Primal, because it’s absolutely everything that I want out of a first-person action game. Gorgeous visuals, thoroughly entertaining and malleable gameplay, and the ability to tame large jungle cats. I’ve been a huge fan of the franchise since its humble beginnings, and the series has never disappointed me with how it managed to evolve consistently while maintaining its strong roots. Did I mention that you can pet the big cats? If you’ll excuse me now, I have a wild menagerie to complete.

Grant Patterson — Street Fighter V

Here’s an answer that’s bound to shock everyone: I’m playing Street Fighter V. I’m still pretty steamed over the lack of content in the overall package. I’m upset at a lot of the UI decisions, I’m perturbed over the fact that the costume colors require an absolutely insane amount of work to unlock, and a plethora of other problems and issues keep me from loving this game. My review stated as much.

However, the gameplay itself is quite possibly the undisputed, absolute best this franchise has ever seen. It’s obvious that the gameplay was meant to be a love letter to hardcore fans of the franchise, and as such, that message is being received loud and clear. Problem is, I fancy myself a man of the people, so I care quite a bit about all the missing bits we’ve come to expect as a standard. Casuals will likely avoid this game if there’s nothing like that in it, and their money spends just as well as that of the devoted. Here’s hoping they add stuff sooner rather than later, because the franchise’s future may end up depending on that, at least in some small fashion.

Kevin Tucker — Helldivers

I’ve been spending most of my free time playing Helldivers. It’s this month’s big PS4 “freebie” from PlayStation Plus, and it’s a surprisingly good game that had flown entirely under my radar. Generally speaking, I’m pretty fond of games featuring an isometric perspective — to me, they just feel kind of old-school, without actually being old — and the twin-stick shooters I’ve played recently haven’t been bad either, so picking up Helldivers was kind of a no-brainer.

With that being said, I wasn’t ready for the kind of highly-strategic co-operative gameplay that I found in the title. This game is hard, and to truly excel on the higher-level planets, all four players need to be on the same page in regard to their chosen weapons and stratagems. Looking out for one another — both in the sense of being helpful as well as not accidentally shotgunning your teammate in the back — is crucial. Yet, even when everyone is working together and doing their absolute best, the hoards of alien aggressors can still quickly become overwhelming. This isn’t just one of the better PS+ giveaways I’ve seen, it’s hands-down the most engaging twin-stick shooter I’ve ever played, and easily my favorite co-operative title on modern platforms.

Josh Barnes — Dying Light, Street Fighter V, Overfall

Lately, my gaming time has been split three ways. First and foremost, I’ve been learning the ropes with Street Fighter V. The fighting game genre isn’t one I’ve ever paid much mind to, and my only real experience with it at all before now was playing the first three Mortal Kombat titles as a kid on SNES. Despite my worries — and the lackluster amount of content — I’ve been having a tremendous amount of fun with SFV. Learning the intricacies and getting my ass whooped when I make dumb mistakes has been far more enjoyable than I could have expected.

Aside from that, I’ve returned to the excellent Dying Light, but this time with a couple of buddies. If you haven’t tried that game out in co-op yet and happen to have some ridiculous friends who’d be willing to pick it up, I definitely urge you to give that a go sometime. There’s nothing quite like picking up a propane tank and turning to your friends to ask “Who wants to have some fun?” only for one of them to swing their weapon at it, causing it start hissing, followed immediately by everyone losing their minds and sprinting off in separate directions, screaming. Finally, I’ve been messing around in Overfall, a Kickstarted rogue-like that will be entering Early Access at the beginning of March. I don’t want to say too much here, as a full write up will be available soon, but so far it’s an interesting time.

Jason Fanelli — Far Cry Primal, Fire Emblem Fates, The Walking Dead: Michonne

I’ve been knee deep in caveman carnage playing Far Cry Primal, and holy wow does that game impress me. Tightening the focus of a Far Cry game to surviving the harsh wilds of an untamed land — arguably one of the best facets of the franchise anyway — makes Primal incredibly fun. As I wrote in my review, “the only safe haven is the village I’m charged with building and growing; everything and everyone outside of that’s trying to kill me.”

When I’m not prehistoric, I’m getting medieval in Fire Emblem Fates. I grabbed the Special Edition, so every piece of both games is available on one handy cartridge, which is a wonderful thing. Admittedly, I’ve not made as much progress as I’d like — just barely getting to the mission where I choose a side — but I like the seeds that have been sown thus far. I named my hero Nakamura because I’m a wrestling geek, and I gave him an eye patch because he looks like a tough guy with it. Aside from that, it’s a solid Fire Emblem game, and I’m anxious to play more.

Finally, I dove head-first into The Walking Dead: Michonne, which I also reviewed. As a huge fan of all things Walking Dead, I was excited to get into this, holding on to the slightest bit of hope that Michonne would cross paths with someone from Telltale’s established canon and set the stage for Season Three.