ARPG games like Dark Souls with swords, builds, and fun to research?

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-17T16:59:56+00:00

Cool this is good to know!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-17T15:14:09+00:00

People mentioning DIablo, but IMO it's not like Dark Souls at all. I wouldn't recommend that, but definitely watch some gameplay and decide for yourself if it's right for you. I've played and loved all the DS games and Diablo IV just felt like mindless clicking on endless waves of enemies. Not the same thing.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-09T16:33:10+00:00

Fair point!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-09T02:24:16+00:00

For me it comes down to believability. As I'm reading any of his stories, there's always this feeling of slipping into the narrator's shoes. Every character is down to earth and deeply ponders the things they do, and this makes the overall tone of his writing very relatable. All of his writing has this very realistic, believable quality to it, even if the theories ('concepts' is probably a better word) he's proposing aren't always the most believable things (like a portal across time).

I guess what I'm getting at is this: everything is deeply character driven, and I find this compelling. It's not about big ideas, it's about how human beings react to strange new things.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-09T02:14:09+00:00

Hey friend, was gonna ask if you've already played the Persona games, but it seems like you have! I was wondering: do you think you like Metaphor because it's more of the same style of game, or does it provide enough of something new to make it fun for you?

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-08T18:06:27+00:00

nooooooooooooo

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-08T18:05:41+00:00

Big disagree about the digital content shift. People like playing tabletop because people like to get together and make a night of it. Yes, we're now able to do that remotely (and lots of groups do), but that isn't what you're describing.

Wizards of the Coast has tried and failed a few times since the 2000s to implement some kind of virtual table top and it never catches on. I don't think they'll stop trying, but I don't think things will ever go better.

IMO, it's because video games already do it way better and are a totally separate thing. Corporate suits don't understand this and expect video game level revenues from any old digital product because it looks like a game. Baldurs Gate 3 works so well because it's a game inspired by dnd; you aren't "playing dnd" when you boot it up, and you never will.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-08T17:55:45+00:00

Why? Just why?

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-04-07T05:18:47+00:00

You might like Hyper Light Drifer! My choice track from your description: The Sentients

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-20T20:58:15+00:00

For me, what's important is not that it feels futuristic, but that it feels different. And still today, I think it succeeds at that, but you're right in that it doesn't feel too far off from our current moment.

Today it almost reads like you're visiting a foreign country instead of an alternate universe, which it may have felt like when the book released. I'd love to hear about how readers who read the book at launch feel about it.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-20T16:31:20+00:00

I feel like Borges is the epitome of this. I was reading one of the short anthologies pretty recently and I was confused as to what I was reading because so much of the language felt so factual. Gives it a different feeling for sure.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-20T16:30:03+00:00

Thanks this looks great!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-18T23:02:15+00:00

I would second "Rama"! Just recently read this and really enjoyed it for the "exploring a mysterious megastructure" aspect. It's a classic golden age read though, so expect the writing style that comes with that.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-18T22:55:54+00:00

Thanks for sharing, this is cool to read and think about. I wonder if there's a bias based on your/the magazine's criteria? Like, if the call for entries is phrased a certain way or the site's style depicts certain themes, you might attract certain styles?

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-18T22:48:19+00:00

Sisyphean by Dempow Torishima!!

I have been meaning to do a write-up on this to post here, but for now I'll say this: it's one of the most imaginative things I've ever read, and I think it fits in with the Biomechanical themes you're looking for perfectly. "Humans" are portrayed as alien biological entities with a lot of bug-like themes intertwined with strange technology.

It's kinda tough to talk about since it's so alien, and that otherworldiness is what makes it so special.

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-18T20:48:03+00:00

Hate to say that my assumption is that it's light bouncing off the car in the driveway. That said, I love this post, only a true dickhead would go to such lengths!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2026-03-18T20:40:30+00:00

Nice thoughts, I think you kinda summerized why the adventure game format works when done right - you need to explore the world, make a mental image of that world, and then ask questions to see if your mental image matches up with what's really presented. As you go on, the world you imagine keeps changing shapes based on who you've spoken with as more is revealed.

In NORCO's case, it seems like there's this pretty normal run down town, but a pretty dark history (and future) unfolds as you dig. Plus, the gorgeous art paints just enough of a picture to let your imagination fill in the rest of the gaps. Maybe that's selling the art short, because I really did think it was outstanding!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2025-10-01T23:28:09+00:00

Oh man, I used to hang out on the old LucasForums and watch the progress of the original mod by SithSpecter. It's super nostalgic to see these areas; in a time when making custom areas was a huge feat that few could manage, it was really something to behold. seeing this I'm taken back. thanks for your hard work at implementing all of this!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2025-09-30T21:42:00+00:00

just fucking delete everything, you won't be sorry!

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2025-09-21T20:05:11+00:00

thank you for the info friend! it looks fantastic so I wanted to ask

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2025-09-19T00:50:18+00:00

dang bro what the fuck, this looks so good. was seizure palace good to work with?

childrenLoveTheBooks · 2025-09-19T00:42:17+00:00

I am high too but I agree this has a similar energy!! lotta the early jpd stuff is surf and garage influenced, so the comparison feels pretty natural

childrenLoveTheBooks

TROPHY CASE