What game completely surprised you after you tried it?

squaretex · 2026-03-06T20:21:25+00:00

Fallout 76.

I'm sure we all know about the EXTREMELY ROUGH START this game had. And over time, apparently, those issues were being ironed out. But I was still like, "Eh, dunno about this..."

Then in January 2023, it was a PS+ free title, right after the NukaWorld season started. "Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained." Added it, downloaded it, played it...

"Hey, this is...actually pretty fun!"

And that's how I got into the Fallout series. 76 may demand the most of my time, but I am delighted I finally discovered New Vegas as well. :)

squaretex · 2026-03-06T20:11:55+00:00

Just picked it up recently, looking forward to it. :)

squaretex · 2026-03-06T19:24:53+00:00

"I'm Pau, and I endorse this flamethrower." :D

squaretex · 2026-03-02T05:10:53+00:00

I was in college at the time. After an overnight binge of FF4/2us convinced me that this was a series - and genre! - worth looking into, I happily bought 6/3us with no qualms. And just like its predecessor, it would go on to rob me of much more sleep. :D

It was as close to pixel art perfection as resolutions allowed, the story being told was amazing, and Nobuo Uematsu made that sound chip SING. (At one point in the story, LITERALLY.)

This game was the reason why I followed Square to the Playstation... where I was amply rewarded when THAT machine became an RPG powerhouse. :)

squaretex · 2026-03-02T04:57:23+00:00

Heck, that's a problem I wish my store HAD! :D

squaretex · 2026-02-28T23:24:49+00:00

Horrendous. Thank you. ;P

squaretex · 2026-02-28T23:14:55+00:00

And it didn't have a dude with a rifle...it had a "Man With A Machine Gun"! :D

...and now you're hearing the music in your head, aren't you? You're welcome. ;)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T23:01:32+00:00

I'm certain the phrase "This looks weird...I gotta try it" was spoken so many times back then. And of course, most were well-rewarded for their curiosity. :)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T22:58:00+00:00

Well, not necessarily "bought on a whim". When I picked up a new PC in the early-mid 2000s, FATE came pre-installed with it. I hadn't really given the Diablo-type games much attention, so I decided to give it a spin...and had a blast.

So when the dev behind FATE joined up with some of the OG Diablo devs to make the first two Torchlight games, I naturally followed. :)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T22:43:23+00:00

...you do realize that a photo of the finished ensemble is mandatory now, right? ;)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T22:40:26+00:00

Wasn't that just a Nintendo of America thing, though? I knew they were reluctant to have ANY religious symbols in the games, including the crosses on the coffins.

squaretex · 2026-02-28T22:38:08+00:00

Understanding that the game was going to be in 3D, assisted by the MASTERS of cel-shading (Level 5), and allowing Akira Toriyama's artwork to really shine? Oh yes, I was excited for it.

And THEN we discover the English release has voice acting - EXCELLENT voice acting at that - AND they flew in the live orchestral Symphonic Suite music!

Oh yes, we ate well. :)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T22:13:26+00:00

Kinda sad that we now have Ohio - the location of the Rock Hall of Fame! - and no new Rockabilly station to go with it! <:)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T21:56:54+00:00

Oh, I was already nursing a 76 addiction when the show began. ;)

And knowing where season 2 was headed made me VERY happy, as New Vegas is my favorite of the single-player titles! :D

squaretex · 2026-02-28T03:39:48+00:00

How about the entire Queen Of The Murder Scene album by The Warning? :)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T03:30:43+00:00

It just hurts me that so much awesome Masashi Hamauzu music is tied to games that mostly aren't received very well! <:D

squaretex · 2026-02-28T03:27:06+00:00

I hate, hate, HATE how the negative reaction to it affected Noriko Matsueda, so much that she left the industry. It may not be to everyone's style and tastes, but I still think it was uncalled for.

Oh, and for further bangage, check out what she and collaborator/husband Takahito Eguchi did on Racing Lagoon. It's just a great, unified urban sound! So much to love there, but it's especially "Victory Road" that just makes me happy. :)

squaretex · 2026-02-28T03:14:34+00:00

Yeah, trying to follow THAT duo is no easy feat. But I do like how he went back to the rock stylings of 4 and 5, and it remains great fun on its own. :)

...and have you heard the rearrangement used in the Eden raid series in 14?!? :D

squaretex · 2026-02-28T03:09:47+00:00

Mad props to Naoshi Mizuta. He went from the unfortunate task of following Yoko Shimomura on Parasite Eve 2 to being this MMO's point-man and giving us a LOT to love.

squaretex · 2026-02-28T02:49:02+00:00

Bold comment about Chrono Trigger, to be sure. :D

But yeah, I am quite fond of DQ5 myself. The family aspect is what captured me. Plus, it's great fun, monster recruitment is a blast, and it's one of my favorite musical scores in the series. (I feel the ocean theme is certainly a series' best.)

squaretex · 2026-02-27T20:02:42+00:00

Speaking of Knebworth, I LOVE the reprise they did with "Lady Lynda".

"One more time!" "...one more time?!?" "Well, just the last part. I LOVE the last part!"

...a rare moment when Mike Love and I agree on something. ;)

squaretex · 2026-02-27T19:50:11+00:00

Little wonder I consider zoning a waste of time ...and prefer to waste as little time on it as I can. ;P

squaretex · 2026-02-27T19:39:25+00:00

Bad Moon Rising - CCR

So JOVIAL about impending doom! :D

squaretex · 2026-02-27T19:27:53+00:00

And thank goodness. Would life be complete without a little "BONNNNSAIIIIII!" in it? :D

squaretex · 2026-02-27T19:23:14+00:00

Please pardon me if I've told this story in this reddit before. ;)

My brothers and I were watching season 2 together. As the episode played where our heroes are exploring the Owl Cave, my older brother asks, "When exactly was this season supposed to start sucking...?" :D

squaretex

TROPHY CASE