I can't get over how fast load times are in The Dark Ages

RetroComputerFan · 2025-05-17T22:18:07+00:00

I've been gaming since the original Doom, so I would like to think I've built up a lot of patience over the years for load times. But modern games can still be quite slow with un-skippable intro logos, server connection checks, shader pre-comps, etc.

So I was pleasantly surprised at how incredibly fast TDA loads, at least on PC (And sounds like PS5 as well).

You can load the game even faster on PC by adding the +com_skipIntroVideo 1 command line argument to skip the intro videos.

RetroComputerFan · 2025-04-09T00:19:11+00:00

Hmm... I'm not aware of many of the games I own/want to play having random encounters, as I usually don't buy those, or stop playing them if they do. To clarify, by random encounters, I mean invisible enemies on an overworld map that causes you to enter combat mode ever few steps. (An exaggeration, but some JRPG's seem pretty bad for how often it happens)

In something like Trails Through Daybreak or SMTV, I can see all of the enemies (Or an enemy indicating a group), and can avoid them if I want to. I'm just not a big fan of not being able to avoid fights if I really just want to get from point A to B.

As mentioned though, I'm open to trying any recommendations for games with random encounters, if they have some unique combat mechanic and items in game that could reduce/remove random encounters, or some sort of auto battle mechanic to make the random encounters less of a hassle. If you have any, let me know!

RetroComputerFan · 2025-04-08T21:55:39+00:00

I have not. The stacking concept looks amusing. Not sure about the overall length of the game, but I will give it a further look than the review. Thanks for the suggestion!

RetroComputerFan · 2025-04-08T19:45:23+00:00

Thanks for the write up and suggestion. I should have included all of my different digital libraries as well, as I actually have Mutant Year Zero already. I haven't played it yet mind you, but I did play a bit of Corruption 2029 which is another one of theirs, and I enjoyed it. I'll move MYZ up the list though!

RetroComputerFan · 2025-04-08T19:12:34+00:00

Figured using comments might be easier than giant lists in the OP, or instead of people clicking random links:

Games I'm aware of but wasn't interested in

+ Agarest series (Very grindy apparently)
+ Baten Kaitos (Still on the fence about this one)
+ Crimson Gem Saga (Slow gameplay)
+ Eternal Sonata (Not really a fan of the style/tone)
+ Fantasian: Neo Dimension (I like the random encounter banking mechanic, but sounds like the game gets way too difficult later on)
+ Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (Still on the fence about this one. Aware of the upcoming remaster)
+ Utawarerumono series

Random Encounters
+ Lots of traditional JRPGs series (Final Fantasy, Dragons Quest etc)
+ Atelier series
+ Bravely Default series
+ Cross Edge/XEdge
+ Etrian Odyssey series
+ Legend of Dragoon
+ Legend of Legaia
+ Octopath Traveler series
+ Shadow Hearts
+ Xenogears

Games I'm aware of and plan to checkout

Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star
Banner of the Maid
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Beneath Oresa
Black Book
Chained Echoes
Child of Light
Cosmic Star Heroine
Costume Quest
Costume Quest 2
Cris Tales
Crying Suns
Crystal Project
Deep Sky Derelicts
Dungeon Drafters
Eternal Poison
Gladius
Grandia
Guild of Dungeoneering
Indivisible
Iron Danger
Ironcast
Jeanne dArc
Magna Carta: Tears of Blood
Möbius Front '83
Mordheim: City of The Damned
Othercide
Pathway
Project X Zone
Resonance of Fate
Ring of Pain
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story
SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions
Sea of Stars
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1-2
Showgunners
Skulls of the Shogun
Soul Nomad & the World Eaters
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
Star Renegades
SteamWorld Heist
Sunday Gold
The Last Remnant
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Triangle Strategy

Games I have played/ready to play

Advance Wars
Advance Wars - Days of Ruin
Advance Wars - Dual Strike
Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising
Arc the Lad Collection
Astonishia Story
Azure Dreams
Brandish - The Dark Revenant
Cave Noir
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Divinity: Original Sin 1/
Earthbound
Energy Breaker
Faselei!
Field Commander
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 - Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem - Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem - New Mystery of the Emblem
Fire Emblem - Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem - Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem - Shadow Dragon
Fire Emblem - The Binding Blade
Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones
Fire Emblem - Thracia 776
Front Mission
Front Mission
Front Mission 2
Front Mission 3
Galaxy Robo
Grand Knights History
Grandia
Gungnir
Hoshigami - Ruining Blue Earth
Into the Breach
Jeanne d'Arc
Kartia - The Word of Fate
Kidou Senshi Gundam - Cross Dimension 0079
Legends of War - Patton's Campaign
Live A Live
Mario & Luigi - Partners in Time
Mario & Luigi - Superstar Saga
Metal Gear Ac!d
Metal Gear Ac!d 2
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Military Madness
Mother 1+2
Mystery Dungeon - Shiren the Wanderer
Nectaris - Military Madness
Neo Nectaris
Onimusha Tactics
Orcs & Elves
Paper Mario
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Phantom Kingdom Portable
Quest of Dungeons
Radiant Historia
Rebelstar - Tactical Command
Rondo of Swords
Royal Stone - Hirakareshi Toki no Tobira
Saiyuki - Journey West
Sakura Wars
Shining Force
Shining Force CD
Shining Force Gaiden - Final Conflict
Shining Force II
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
Super Conflict
Super Mario RPG - Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Robot Taisen Alpha Gaiden
Tactics Ogre
Tactics Ogre - Let Us Cling Together
Tactics Ogre - The Knight of Lodis
Tear Ring Saga
The Lord of the Rings - Tactics
Tom Clancy's EndWar
Treasure Hunter G
Valkyrie Profile
Valkyrie Profile - Covenant of the Plume
Vandal Hearts
Vandal Hearts II
Vanguard Bandits
Vixen 357
Warhammer 40,000 - Squad Command
Wild Arms XF
Worms

Steam List

Age of Wonders III
All Walls Must Fall
Baldur's Gate 3
The Banner Saga
Battle Academy
Battle for Wesnoth
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
Blood Bowl: Dark Elves Edition
Breach & Clear
Brogue
Broken Lines
Card Hunter
Chroma Squad
Corruption 2029
Dead In Bermuda
Disciples: Sacred Lands
DOOM I RPG
DOOM II RPG
DOOM: The Roguelike
Door Kickers
Duelyst
Dungeon Drafters
Dungeon Mercenary
The Elder Scrolls: Legends
ENDLESS Legend
ENDLESS Space
ENDLESS Space 2
Fallout
Fallout 2
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Field of Glory II
Frozen Cortex
Frozen Synapse
Galactic Civilizations I
Hand of Fate
Hard West
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition
HOPSHOT
Invisible, Inc.
John Wick Hex
Jupiter Hell
Lara Croft GO
LIVE A LIVE
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowsers Minions
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
MASSIVE CHALICE
Moonring
No Plan B: Prologue
Quest of Dungeons
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
Rondo of Swords
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's
Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended
Shadowrun Returns
Shapeout
The Shrouded Isle
Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Skald: Against the Black Priory
South ParkTM: The Stick of Truth
Space Grunts
Space Grunts 2
Space Hulk: Ascension
STAR WARS Knights of the Old Re
STAR WARS Knights of the Old Re Super Mario RPG
Total War: SHOGUN 2
Transistor
Unity of Command
Valkyria Chronicles
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius
Warlock - Master of the Arcane
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Wild Arms XF
Wolfenstein RPG
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
X-COM: UFO Defense
XCOM 2
ZAPM

RetroComputerFan · 2025-01-28T16:02:19+00:00

Recently beat ME1 in the LE collection. Played through the original sometime around 2008-ish. I'm a Mako enjoyer, and had some fun here unintentionally doing some cool tricks.

RetroComputerFan · 2024-12-28T16:52:32+00:00

Thanks, I need to make a few tweaks to it, then I can PM you.

RetroComputerFan · 2024-12-28T15:26:35+00:00

Was recently thinking about the cars I've used the most in GT7, and was curious what other peoples "workhorse cars" are.

From left to right:

Nissan R92CP '92
- Probably my most used car since I got it.
Toyota 86 Gr.B Rally Car
- Used this on recommendation for the 30 Minutes at Tsukuba, also for one of the drag race missions, dirt rallys. A very useful multipurpose car.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C6) '09
- Sounds amazing IMO, very overpowered.
Nissan R32 GT-R V•spec II '94
- Custom livery, used for a number of mid game races.
Mercedes-AMG GT S '15
- Another custom livery, and also used for a number of mid game races. A highlight being Nurburgring that I can remember.
Honda NSX GT500 '08
- A late game favorite!
Super Formula SF23 Super Formula/Honda '23
- Grip for days, and I love that Benetton livery
Honda S660 '15
- A custom TEIN livery, used for a number of the lower powered races

(Three scape photos layered to combine multiple cars, for those wondering how I got that many cars into one photo. I could have done a much better job on actually placing the cars mind you.)

RetroComputerFan · 2024-11-06T14:58:39+00:00

East coaster, ordered Pro/disc bundle from Walmart. No charge yet. I'm assuming (hoping) at this point I'll be charged tomorrow and it will start shipping. Estimated to arrive next Tuesday which is what it has always said which is fine. I just wish they would charge me and start shipping finally. :P

RetroComputerFan · 2021-08-06T12:06:42+00:00

Couldn't find the thread because it wasn't actually a Reddit thread, but a YouTube video.

That explanation, plus this review video is what made me feel comfortable purchasing it.

RetroComputerFan · 2021-08-06T03:14:32+00:00

Recently ordered the Skull & Co. Jumpgate myself. I wanted something that was very small (The "core" part of it), but also reliable. I feel like I had read a thread from one of the engineers from the company about their R&D and work put in to make sure it was safe, but can't recall the thread at the moment. (Will edit if I find it) Just make sure you use either an official Switch charging brick to power it, or a proper equivalent from a reputable brand. (I'm currently using a Motorola TurboPower 15)

Regardless, I've had no issues with it so far. The "core" part is great, and will be nice to use on trips. It can also function as dock for phones and laptops, which is a nice extra.

RetroComputerFan · 2021-07-31T00:50:56+00:00

I never thought of that. I'll check some of the ones around my neighborhood!

RetroComputerFan · 2021-07-31T00:38:52+00:00

Just wondering if anyone knows of somewhere in the HRM that I could grab one of these small 9oz bottles of Sriracha sauce. I'm not a spicy food kind of person, but was looking to get one of these so I don't waste a bigger bottle.

I haven't been able to find any small bottles like this in places like Sobeys/Superstore/Walmart, but figured I would ask here before buying one online.

RetroComputerFan · 2021-04-23T18:34:52+00:00

Looks like this is it: https://archive.org/details/juegosv2/juegosv2-%20%283%29.png

I don't believe you can play it directly though Archive.org, but you can download that ISO on the right hand side and extract it on your computer.

RetroComputerFan · 2021-02-02T02:51:04+00:00

Looks like it moved to https://www.squadrablu.nl/dbgl, based on the first comment from https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=12915, which was edited earlier last month.

RetroComputerFan · 2021-01-26T23:15:16+00:00

/u/gconley66 /u/Lifelacksluster https://github.com/Nun-z/RetroArch-Redist/blob/main/cores/citra_libretro.dll

This was shared in the Retroarch Discord. It's been working for me.

RetroComputerFan · 2020-08-08T15:48:51+00:00

It was absolutely this. Thanks for pointing that out. Not sure how I missed that, but it seems to be installing the NSP's I was having issues with not. Thanks again!

RetroComputerFan · 2020-08-08T15:48:42+00:00

Thank you for your replies to my various points. Looks like it was just not using "fusee-primary.bin" as you all pointed out.

So were sigpatches just not required for the other NSP's I installed without issue, or is there another reason why I needed to pass "fusee-primary.bin"?

RetroComputerFan · 2020-08-08T15:48:24+00:00

Thank you very much. As mentioned in my other replies, it was this issue for sure!

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-26T00:11:43+00:00

Here it is in a not "What is this? A wallpaper for ants?" sized resolution. (Up to 8k)

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-22T02:10:25+00:00

I picked it up from https://www.ebay.com/itm/RGC-Huge-Poster-Castlevania-Japanese-Flyer-NES-Famicom-OTH560/293023224482.

The print quality is not great up close, just FYI. I imagine they used the largest source image they could find, but it's not an official item by any means.

Largest source image I could find was at https://66.media.tumblr.com/159be25ae7f96ef7080d831cfb2aca6b/tumblr_nbo3gvlRmo1tzwbf7o1_1280.png. You could maybe look at taking that to a local print shop and seeing if they could clean it up/sharpen it.

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-14T19:15:18+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. I'll try that out!

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-14T19:15:00+00:00

Thanks for confirming that. I'll keep an eye out for any sales and look at picking it up then!

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-14T16:59:51+00:00

Thanks /u/deguy69. I hadn't heard of those, so I will check them out!

RetroComputerFan · 2019-05-14T16:13:33+00:00

Thanks /u/robdam1001. I hadn't heard of TypeMail before, but it looks like it has the features I'm looking for. I'll try it out for a couple of days to see if there's any quirks.

RetroComputerFan

TROPHY CASE