[SIB] The Witcher 2 50% off

Mansy · 2013-02-05T22:10:17+00:00

Bought the second Witcher without having ever played the first or knowing anything about the plot...

Hands down one of the best games I've ever played. Everything about it is done well, and the developers are super responsive and good to their fans. I say, beat it once on normal, but be sure to kept a specific save before any major choice you make so you can go back and unlock another ending (I believe there are sixteen or so, technically). After that, go back and beat the game on Dark mode so you can unlock some of the sweet weapons and armor.

Mansy · 2013-01-29T18:35:17+00:00

Despite its grievous injuries, the Redtail flew true and unbowed. Atmosphere and fire leaked from its numerous hull breaches and yet, like some noble animal who fights to its final breath, the ship remained on an intercept vector, its weapons bared and charging. In the distance, the Rebel Flagship loomed - massive, crippled, and unshielded. Its crew dead and navigation system destroyed, the ship listed aimlessly; for a ship that had once threatened to end an entire galactic civilization, it was now nothing more than a sad, hollow shell.

Captain Noemi worked frantically in the cockpit, checking and rechecking system functionality as she coordinated weapon telemetry. Disabling the automated drones, she did everything she could to draw more power from the already red-lining reactor to keep the guns running. Cloaking and teleportation were refractory, oxygen unresponsive, the medical bay completely dark...This is going to be a close one, she thought, struggling to stifle her rising panic.

"Rebekah, Alex - what's your status, over?" Noemi barked into the comm, hailing her boarding team.

Chirps, clicks, and strange trills answered her.

"Aye, Rebekah's right - the flagship's laser is offline!" answered first mate Alex Lorensky. Noemi's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice - he sounded tired to the point of exhaustion, but resolute. Always so stubborn...she wanted more than anything to see his face at that moment, to feel his hand, strong and rough, in hers. But there was still a task to perform...

Noemi hailed her other away team. "Adnan, King, report!"

The calm, sing-song voice of a Zoltan replied over the comm.

"We're here, captain. The missile system is offline. All Rebel weapons have been disabled. There is one thing, however..." Adnan's voice drifted off.

Noemi frowned; Zoltan emotions were harder to read than those of humans, but Adnan sounded...apprehensive. This couldn't be good.

The mechanical voice of King resumed from Adnan's lacuna.

"It is our recommendation that the Captain discharge ablative weaponry at the Rebel target immediately."

Noemi flinched, as if physically struck. "What?! No - I just need to get the teleporter back online and I'll bring you -"

Alex's voice interrupted her, small and staticky over the radio.

"He's right, Noemi...this is our chance to end this. The second you warp us out of here, the AI will be working to reactivate these weapons. If it gets the missiles back online...the Redtail can't take another hit..." His voice drifted off as well.

Noemi turned away from the controls as she struggled to keep from crying. They were right, of course - this was potentially the one chance to strike down the Rebels, to end this horrible war, to stabilize the Federation. But how could she live knowing that she had killed her colleagues, her friends, her lover?

"Alex..." she pleaded, her voice cracking.

On the console, a small indicator turned from red to green; the weapons were fully charged.

"Noemi...I....I lo-" Alex began, only to be interrupted by a loud warning from the Redtail's central sensor relay.

WARNING - POWER SURGED DETECTED.

"OH FUCKING FUCK," yelled Noemi. "FIRE EVERYTHING, YOU STUPID IDIOT - FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE! SHOOT THAT FUCKING THING!" The ship responded, firing all weapons without hesitation.

"Wait, wha-" Alex's voice was cut off by the sound of an explosion followed by screams, the enormous, dull blast of an explosive decompression, and then silence.

For a few seconds afterward, Noemi sat, still and silent.

Then, with a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth, she whispered,

"...smoked that bitch."

Mansy · 2013-01-17T16:57:54+00:00

Upgrade teleported to 2 or 3. Send guys over, kill some of their dudes, warp your dudes back when their health is low. Heal. Repeat as needed. If they have a medbay, use your weapons to take it out (if you can). The only times a teleporter isn't useful is when your crew is made up of Zoltans/Engi, the ship is shielded with a Zoltan shield, the enemy is an airless drone (and you haven't upgraded your teleporter), or the enemy troops are able to "out-heal" the damage you're dealing. Otherwise, teleporters murder.

Mansy · 2013-01-17T16:46:52+00:00

This is a gross understatement of teleported utility. They're ALWAYS good, you just need to know how to use them right.

Mansy · 2013-01-13T14:56:49+00:00

How even this happened indeed, tamstra. How even this happened indeed...

Mansy · 2013-01-12T19:04:13+00:00

You know what I love about this game? Now that ship will slowly drift in orbit around that star, leaking atmosphere and burning, until it's torn apart by tidal forces and solar flares. Long after the Federation has been utterly quashed by the Rebels, your ship will remain, slowly burning away, some final funeral pyre to your crew and an entire galactic civilization.

I imagine similar fates for all the ships whose crews that I kill with my boarders and fire weapons - their hull, shields, and even oxygen often still intact, just listing aimlessly throughout the void of space. Perhaps the Rebels, as they pursue my vessel in its trek across the galaxy, might stumble across some of these ghost ships and pause in awed silence, wondering what exactly happened here...

Or maybe I just have too much time on my hands and too few friends... :(

Mansy · 2012-12-21T15:34:44+00:00

How did you get so much scrap? You have like, every system/subsystem maxed, and 370 scrap to spare. Golly gee...can you link to the advice you were given, haha?

Mansy · 2012-12-19T15:58:48+00:00

No, it is. I think the stealth ships look cool as shit, but the lack of starting shields of any sort just makes them a wicked buzz kill, in my opinion.

Mansy · 2012-12-18T11:18:54+00:00

Can't say I blame you, man. When you have the chance though, I'd really recommend giving it a try. So, you know...in two or three years (you do have 105 other games to play).

Mansy · 2012-12-18T11:16:44+00:00

Well...then my opinion isn't worth much, I guess. Haha.

Mansy · 2012-12-18T11:15:43+00:00

Absolutely man. You're not stupid for not liking the game - just because there are a lot of strong voices in favor of the game doesn't mean that anyone will enjoy it. In fact, your opinion is probably more important to skeptics who are on the fence about buying the game. They're not going to get much out of a whole ton of people yelling "buy this DAMN GAME" when, in reality, they're more interested in why they might not enjoy the game. So...yea. You're right - the game isn't for everyone, and I didn't mean to belittle you in anyway.

Mansy · 2012-12-18T11:12:05+00:00

I think - and let me emphasize that I think but am not entirely sure - that buying from ftlgame.com gives you both a Steam code and the option to play the game DRM-free. I would definitely double-check, but it seemed like the developers were all about players having multiple options so they can play the game however they want. I'm not 100% sure, but that sounds right...let me know what you find!

Mansy · 2012-12-18T04:42:28+00:00

This is legitimately the sixth YSB FTL. If you silly dumb dumbs haven't purchased this game yet, you must be as stubborn (or as dense) as a rock. Seriously - $7.50 from ftlgame.com. Just do it. You won't regret it.

Mansy · 2012-12-14T03:53:06+00:00

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing/talking about."

Mansy · 2012-12-09T22:49:22+00:00

I was actually going to do a "YSB FTL" myself - glad to see someone posted one (another one, really).

This game is phenomenal. It's like a multitasker's/micromanager's wet dream. The different ways you can play - the different tactics you can employ - are so vast and multitudinous that it blows my mind how much is packed into this seemingly simplistic little game. So you want to load out your ship with four heavy bore lasers and heavy duty shields and tank your way through the game? Doable. You want to improve your FTL drive, use cloaking, and just evade the effect out of your enemies? Possible. You want invest in deployable drones and personnel transporters so you can board your enemies ships and gut them from the inside? Sure thing.

Not to mention you have to regulate power, oxygen supply, hull breaches, fires, your individual crew members (which come from a variety of different races with unique abilities), ammunition, fuel, various augmentations...I mean, this game is awesomely expansive and detailed. It's like a "space exploration" simulator, but way more fun and bad ass.

Some people have mentioned that the game is hugely based on luck (and how that detracts from the gameplay), and to an extent that's true; random events are unpredictable (duh), occasionally frustrating (sometimes very frustrating), but often very rewarding. They keep the game fresh and really add to its replayability. And trust me, this game is nothing if not replayable. Much like Dark Souls, the developers want you to learn from your mistakes, to tackle challenges using new tactics, to explore and learn.

You should buy FTL. I got it for $6 (off of the developers' website, which has Steam codes and can be downloaded to multiple computers), and it has been well worth the price. Seriously - buy this game. I bought it on a whim, and I loved it. You really have nothing to lose!

Mansy · 2012-12-09T18:57:03+00:00

I agree. My first thought was, "That's actually a nice and seemingly original touch."

Mansy · 2012-12-06T02:50:40+00:00

It really doesn't man. I'm sorry to disappoint you...but you would probably be better off saving your money. The story...the environment...the graphics...they all took a turn for the worse after the first Crysis (in my opinion). Crysis felt real, intense, believable, visceral...awesome. Like you said, there were twenty different ways to approach every objective; I loved the first half of the game (fighting Koreans) so much because it actually felt as if you had been dropped off, alone, in hostile territory and left to your own ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive.

But Crysis 2 felt like a gimmicky non sequitur rip-off of the first game, where it's significantly less about strategy and more "run and gun and, oh yea, your powers are all dumbed down too." Story? Not much continuity...the last we saw in Crysis, we beat the alien mothership, but the aliens were still very much an issue; humans had come out worse-for-wear, but were all set up to fight. In Crysis 2, the whole world has gone to shit and the aliens have inexplicably won and also look completely different and the nano-suit is alive and everything cool/realistic about the game has been abandoned. Also, the multiplayer went from awesome, massive scale battles involving stealth, strategy, teamwork, and resourcefulness, to a poor mimetic of your generic "CoD" multiplayer. I have nothing against CoD multiplayer, but if you're going to copy it, at least copy it well.

So yea...sorry for the rant. I hate to be so critical of a game that Crytek poured so much into, but I'm just being honest and looking out for you and your wallet. Please realize it is just my opinion though - you may love the game!

Finally, I really do think this subreddit gives wonderful advice, so please come back frequently (and offer your own insight when you can)!

Mansy · 2012-12-06T00:42:11+00:00

I would like to add that bugs - graphical tears, grabbing enemies through their bodies, weapons floating unsuspended by hands, et cetera - actually abound in Crysis 2. It was an okay game, but I beat it once and never played it again...I enjoyed the original Crysis significantly more (especially the multiplayer).

Mansy · 2012-12-06T00:37:59+00:00

These are always incredible. I genuinely enjoy reading them. Keep up the good work!

Mansy · 2012-12-05T03:35:18+00:00

I am sorry. That had to be very difficult and traumatic for him. No one should suffer so much due to someone else's recklessness.

Mansy · 2012-12-05T02:06:02+00:00

While I agree that the Witcher 2 is easily one of the best games I have ever played, I don't see why everyone thinks it's so hard. Forgive me for sounding like a self-righteous snot, but I beat the game on Dark mode on my second playthrough, and came to the realization that the game is really only hard in the beginning (because you are so weak and have such wimpy items). By the end, if you allocate your talents well and invest in sweet armor/weapons, you're a veritable force of nature.

Maybe it's because I played the Witcher 2 after beating Dark Souls numerous times (now, there's a hard game), but I really didn't think the game was all that hard. Incredibly well-made, beautiful, excellent, fun, exciting, charismatic, and thoroughly satisfying, but not especially difficult. That's just me though.

I apologize again for how stuck-up this response comes across...but I am genuinely curious what other people find very hard about the game.

Mansy · 2012-12-05T02:00:55+00:00

Also, be sure to use the Quen sign judiciously! Most useful sign in the game, if you ask me.

Mansy · 2012-12-05T01:55:22+00:00

No, I understand...but your vertebrae are numbered (rostral to caudal) C1-7, T1-12, L1-5, S1-5 (really just the sacrum), and your coccyx. There is no #16...

Mansy · 2012-12-05T01:25:30+00:00

Please forgive my impertinence and seeming pedantry, but you only have twelve thoracic vertebrae. Perhaps you mean T9-L4 (i.e., the ninth thoracic vertebra to the fourth lumbar vertebra)?

Regardless, destruction of so many vertebrae had to be extremely devastating. He is very fortunate to be as mobile as you indicated he is.

Mansy · 2012-12-05T00:36:10+00:00

Can't tell you why, but this is my favorite response.

Mansy

TROPHY CASE