Stinger Magazine: General Discussion on articles

Only two people have done the trials by themselves, huh... sounds like a challenge. I might have to look into that.

Side note: I wish co-op modes in action games would catch on... it's in the genre's DNA going back to beat 'em ups. NG3 adding multiplayer was done for disingenuous reasons but it's a good idea...

Cheers Infinity, glad you liked it!

@Khayyaam
It is quite the challenge, though it depends on how you want to do it. If you just want to get by or play it regularly without abusing the Graveyard spin. Regardless you're looking at literal hell at times.

Example: https://youtu.be/rCSWhdE7L9s

You just have to be extremely patient, not get greedy and wait for that once in an hour opening. Some trials can last up to 40-50 minutes as a result.

> co-op in action games
Really agree here. Felt it was a fantastic addition to NGS2 and NG3, as well as Bayonetta 2. DMC users have been clamoring for it for decades as well and finally got it with DMC3:Switch. As you note, it is in the genre's roots.

Great article again Roy. Your writing style is top notch. Reminds me of the actual good gaming write ups from days gone we used to get on the reg.

hedfone wrote:Great article again Roy. Your writing style is top notch. Reminds me of the actual good gaming write ups from days gone we used to get on the reg.

That really means a lot to me man, seriously. Hope I can keep that level of quality up! Thanks again :)

https://stinger-magazine.com/article/pn03-mastery-through-memorization/

Working on updating older articles since I feel I learned so much in terms of writing. First up was PN03 and next up is Vanquish.

I used to constantly do little updates, but now I'm sort of cleaning my backlog to really clear it out. So PN03 will, unless something major changes in terms of Mikami talking about it or mechanical discoveries, remain as such on the site.

I'm glad it turned out nothing like the trailer with the gun and cover shooting. Looked horribly generic.

I saw someone question why she can move much on the DMC5 board (of course). Couldn't be bothered getting into it.

https://stinger-magazine.com/article/vanquish-marriage-of-two-genres/

Updated this article. It is one of my absolute favourite games as everyone is well aware, and I felt the article was completely lacking so I did a full rewrite. Next article will finally be something new!

>One of my absolute favourite games

I thought it IS your absolute favourite game.

Debatable. It is part of my "top 3 best action games" which are ZoE2, NGII and itself. In terms of games overall it is definitely in my top 10, but that list will always be in no order haha.

You started playing ZoE2 not too long ago, correct? If so, may I ask what used to be your third best action game?

It used to be a top two haha!

Though if there were three, the third would probably be God Hand or RE4 I'd guess. What would you say is yours?

That'd be KH1FM... while KH2FM and RE4 are in my top two.

This reminds me of a topic made in the KH3 board:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/718920-kingdom-hearts-iii/77962591

Interesting topic, shame it was locked. Kind of disappointed to see that SBK didn't post his list. I'd assume it'd be MGS2 + RE4 + KH2.

Oh, there’s the article! Will check it out.

>ZoE2 in your top 3
Yes, yes, welcome to the dark side. It’s a lovely feeling to find a game that goes that high on your list.

>Phoenix Wright top 3
KH2 is so fantastic, so glad I decided to just shut up and play it last year. By far my favorite game with RPG elements. So many unique systems and setups, and epic boss fights.

>SBK top 3
Would MGS2 count? If so that changes everything for me.

I really should just play KH2 haha...

> MGS2
"Tactical espionage action". Feel that makes it alright

It’s a commitment, but KH2 is worth every moment.

>MGS2
I almost feel like I would need to make two separate lists then, one for “overall top 3” and one for “top 3 combat systems”. So maybe something like this:

Top 3 combat systems: TEW, Vanquish, ZoE2
Top 3 overall: MGS2, MGS3 , RE4
Honorable mentions: God Hand, GoW2, KH2, Shinobi, Bloodborne

It’s weird to separate the two probably, but MGS and RE4’s level design, pacing, consistent boss fights, production values, extras, etc all add up to make the games into something more. Not that anybody cares about what I have to say, I just like making lists.

I thought about this for a long time.

Top 3 combat: Chaos Legion x3
Top 3 ever: Chaos Legion x3
Honorable mentions: This was a tough one, but I just had to go with Chaos Legion.

>not that anybody cares
Birdman cares.

Royta/Raeng wrote:Interesting topic, shame it was locked. Kind of disappointed to see that SBK didn't post his list. I'd assume it'd be MGS2 + RE4 + KH2.

I think SBK isn't a fan of lists. I think I remember asking him for one, I got a reply, but not an actual list.

>his top 3

No Ninja Gaiden 2? Pretty sure it's one of his favorites.

I really need to actually shut up and play CL. Maybe after I’m done with Astral Chain.

Terrible game honestly, doesn't even have juggles. Poor DMC clone

Phoenix Wright wrote:

Royta/Raeng wrote:Interesting topic, shame it was locked. Kind of disappointed to see that SBK didn't post his list. I'd assume it'd be MGS2 + RE4 + KH2.

I think SBK isn't a fan of lists. I think I remember asking him for one, I got a reply, but not an actual list.

>his top 3

No Ninja Gaiden 2? Pretty sure it's one of his favorites.

Yeah NG2 is really one of his favourites, but I think he loves MGS and RE more. Come to think of it ZoE2 is also insanely high on his list I'd reckon. Might try to wiggle it out of him but he plays things pretty close to the chest usually. Despite talking to him for nearly 15 (!) years, I still don't know his name and he refuses to join up here as well. Which is a shame, think he'd really bring a lot to the table on this forum.

https://stinger-magazine.com/article/quick-time-events/

New article!

>Terrible game honestly, doesn't even have juggles. Poor DMC clone

HAHAHA good one Roy! *sharpens machete*

https://stinger-magazine.com/interviews/ninja-gaiden-tournament-finalist-darren-forman/

Managed to get an interview with one of the finalists of the famous Ninja Gaiden tournament in 2004. Pretty cool! Enjoy!

That's great how they called out to 'master ninja'. Also, that bit about item usage.

https://stinger-magazine.com/article/zoe2/

New article, this time on Zone of the Enders!

Really enjoyed the Freedom Unite article! I hope this can help get more people into the game and series, it's dramatically unique compared to other action games, yet still with the same fundamental philosophy at work.

Spotted a few typos, might want to do a quick pass. Nothing major though.

Good to hear!

And yeah there's always at least one typo haha. In the end Tai, me and the Editor looked at it, one always sneaks through. You can always PM me which ones you saw, none of us are native speakers so at times we cannot see the forest through the trees haha!

New article: https://stinger-magazine.com/article/devil-may-cry/

This one took around 7 months to research, structure, write, edit and god knows what else. At one point I just thought about throwing it in the trash, who knows if that might've been a better idea haha. That said, I'm happy with how it ended up and I hope some find it fun to read :)

I haven't played the series before (besides trying DMC1 and 3 for less than an hour each), but it was a very interesting read in how the series changed over the years, great article! Just a little nitpicky correction: DMC1 was released in August 2001, not March.

By your article it seems that DMC1, while still allowing for stylish play at higher skill levels, has more of an efficiency focus compared to later entries, in a way that would be more similar to Ninja Gaiden (despite being completely different games)?

DMC1 is very different yeah, with a way bigger emphasis on efficiency which is 'cool' and 'stylish'. You can do a few juggles here and there, but generally speaking you're "cool" according to that game if you absolutely decimate enemies.

As a big NG fan it sounds awesome

DMC1 and 3 are still imo fantastic, with 4 and 5 being more in the realm of 'not for me but I still respect it immensely'. Highly recommend giving them a go once in a while :)

Oh yeah I want to play them all, maybe even DmC Definitive. I want to start with 1, but it's either the buggy hd port, or on PCSX2 with input lag...

Yeah I need to replay DMC1, it seems like the type of action game I would really enjoy digging into. 4 and 5 are cool but they're not really to my tastes, at least when I played them.

https://stinger-magazine.com/article/cinematic-action-in-ryse-son-of-rome/

New short article, probably the last one of the year!

It's a good review for Ryse. I disagree with the title (the 'Cinematic action' part) chosen for it because the whole review I read with an expectation that it would expound solely on this: the less dynamic / non-dynamic sense of movement (or player involvement) it creates and its contrast to "regular action". After the jumbled use of cutscenes in Metroid Dread, these types of articles are necessary.

A fair critisism. I saw it more as a counter to "all cinematic action games are bad", which was more what I tried to convey with this piece. Since Ryse is a pretty decent action game, despite it's appeal to narrative-focused players.

Perhaps "gameplay in cinema" would be a better title?

>Perhaps "gameplay in cinema" would be a better title?
'Ryse: Son of Rome: Lots of Cinematic Action; a review'

Something like that if you're doing the article for a solo game with an accompanying overview, as that is the usual syntactic sentence structure you use for game reviews; for a consistency in indication. If you're doing it mainly for cinematics / cut minis / cutscenes / movie-esque stylings, -- camera system involvement (HUD / HUDless, pseudo-FP OTS-view for smoothing purposes of the "one-shot", etc.) -- I suggest further development and a title including part 1.