The "What should I know before I play this game for the first time?" Q&A!

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > The "What should I know before I play this game for the first time?" Q&A!

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Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Requesting Medieval 2: Total War help, because it's very intimidating for someone who's never played a Total War game before.

# ¿ May 1, 2009 19:46

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# ¿ Apr 24, 2024 10:54

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Capsaicin posted:

I just started playing Rogue Galaxy. I'm enjoying the combat, but I don't know too much about this grid type thing where you get new abilities. Is there anything I should know? I'm on the jungle planet right now, looking for oil or something.

Oh, and is there any way to tell the difference between a Mimic and a real treasure chest? I've died to four mimics now, so I'm not opening any chests anymore.

Nothing I can thing of right now in regards to the grid, but you can tell a mimic if you look closely at the lock on the chest. I think it'll be a weird spiky brown shape.

# ¿ Jun 30, 2009 16:44

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

McKracken posted:

I'm trying to play Persona 4 and I was really liking the game until I got to the first dungeon...

Can someone give me some tips because if I die after spending another 2 hours replaying the dungeon for the 3rd time I'm going to punt my PS3.

I'm attacking whatever weaknesses I can but that doesn't seem to matter. Most enemy attacks do vicious amounts of damage and despite all the leveling I'm doing it doesn't seem to have any impact on either my defense or attack power. By the 5th floor of the drat castle I'm all out of healing items, revive items and stuff that restores soul points. Some of the enemies don't appear to have a weakness.

Am I doing something wrong or is the game just that loving hard because I don't have the patience for this.

Persona 4 has a weird inverse difficulty curve, in that the early dungeons are retardedly hard and they get easier as you go because you get tougher.

That being said, you don't have to do the dungeons in one day, if you leave the dungeon you can return to the furthest floor you reached. You've got a week or more til you have to beat the dungeon boss. Go as far as you can before getting exhausted, run back to the entrance (or use a Goho-M), and come back another day to continue.

Fusing Personas is pretty helpful too. At that point you'll have Yosuke and Chie who use Wind and Ice techniques respectively, so try to fuse a Persona with Agi or Zio to cover the weaknesses. But more than that, getting a Persona with Resist Physical will be helpful for the miniboss of that dungeon. Don't be afraid to fuse Izanagi, he's not really important.

# ¿ Jul 9, 2009 01:42

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

McKracken posted:

I'm not trying to level for the sake of leveling, but it seems that despite level increases nothing really substantial happens in terms of character ability.

I'm on the last day of the rain currently, so I have no time to leave the dungeon and restock, I waited for two reasons.

A) No other RPG I have ever played in my entire history of video games, dating back to my first FF game in '90, has been anywhere near this difficult, so I expected to breeze through the first dungeon.
B) I spent the time doing social link activities because I could swear I read that was the most important thing to doing well in this game.

Also this is my first Persona game so I know next to nothing about fusing or how the Persona system really works, so I didn't go out of my way to fuse any, especially considering I only had like 3 of them before I started this dungeon. Are their stats translated into my stats? Like is the agility of the persona I have equipped my agility at the time?

It seems that only the really easy enemies have weaknesses. By the time I waste 2 or 3 turns figuring out what the weakness is I'm already near dead against some enemies, so I just resort to physical attacks, except that...physical attacks seem near pointless but I'd waste all my SP if I didn't use them.

I guess I shouldn't have left the entire dungeon for the last day. I had no idea it would be like this.

Your Persona's stats are your stats, only HP and SP are the character's own, so to speak.

And I'm sorry to say that, if you have only one day left, and you haven't been in the dungeon AT ALL before then (since getting Chie I mean), you're pretty much hosed.

EDIT: I forgot about Igor setting the clock back, since I've never had that happen to me.

# ¿ Jul 9, 2009 02:19

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Killing Vector posted:

I'd recommend just playing through at least the first three in order. I think the consensus is that R&C2 edges out as the best, though plenty prefer the third game. They're both great, really. The first one is a fine game too, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't have later series staples like upgradable weapons/health and weapon mods. Also there are things like how Clank gets upgrades partway into the first game that he keeps permanently and starts out with in the later games. That's why I'd recommend playing it first (not to mention story-wise you'll appreciate playing them in order). Also, Ratchet has a different voice actor in the first game.

Additionally, you get bonuses in 2 and 3 for having cleared or nearly-cleared save files on the memory card.

# ¿ Aug 26, 2009 00:47

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Going to dust off my copy of Grandia and I'm looking for advice, on levelling in particular. I'm pretty sure I did it wrong last time I played the game.

# ¿ Sep 8, 2009 20:35

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Sentient Toaster posted:

It's actually pretty forgiving and it'll reveal requirements for magic and skills you're close to learning anyway. IP denial through crits and other cancels is a very powerful tactic that makes level differences less of a big deal.

Remember to buy a massive stockpile of power mushrooms when they come up if you're at all interested in them. There are also enough mana eggs to make sure your endgame team has every element if you feel they need them, but take it easy on the non-permanent party members if you're not in the mood to hunt all the eggs down. Also keep weapons that can be used as items like a hail bow and the wrecking axe if you want to cut down on even more grinding.

I'm hoping I haven't completely misunderstood you.

Right... what are power mushrooms again?

Don't get me wrong I got pretty far in my last play but it was like six or more years ago. So I don't remember a huge amount of the game.

# ¿ Sep 8, 2009 20:48

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Again with Grandia, I'm just about to get on the ferry to New Parm. Is there any point soon where I should grind or whatever?

# ¿ Sep 10, 2009 00:25

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Just got Tropico, any tips?

# ¿ Oct 4, 2009 18:44

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Looking through my collection of "Games that I picked up on a whim, played a couple times and never touched again" collection, I find Boiling Point. I'm sure there's an interesting game in there somewhere. But I could use some advice on how to go about playing this game without screwing myself over or similar.

Also still in the market for Tropico tips.

# ¿ Oct 8, 2009 19:06

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Pyruvate posted:

They count as a witness if you do this instead of using a syringe.

Not if you sneak up on them without letting them see you. I think.

# ¿ Oct 15, 2009 23:00

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Lets gently caress Bro posted:

Dragon Quest 8?

You'll have to grind a couple of levels right at the start or else you'll get wiped out easily in the first dungeon.

As far as skill points, split them between the character's unique skill, one weapon, and a few in Fisticuffs (switching weapons mid-fight doesn't cost a turn, so a few Fisticuffs techs can come in handy). I'd check a guide for the numbers needed to get a new tech.

Hero's weapons are all pretty good, if I had to choose I'd pick Swords.

Yangus should specialise in Axes, because of their critical hit techs. The stealing techs for the other weapons have ridiculously low success rates.

Jessica should go either Staves or Whips. She doesn't have the strength for Knives to be effective. Staves can be used like regular items to cast attack magic, and grant increased MP and MP regeneration at later levels. No matter what you pick, put 3 points in Staves for the incredibly useful Acceleratle spell.

Angelo doesn't get as many bonuses from Staves as Jessica, he'd be better off with Bows or Swords. He gets the fewest natural skill points so give all your skill seeds to him.

Don't neglect alchemy! First thing you make once you unlock it should be the Thief's Key, which opens some locked chests. Check bookshelves and talk to NPCs for recipe hints.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

# ¿ Nov 30, 2009 23:00

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Jolo posted:

Mass Effect

A few questions:

Is there a way to change your party without returning to the Normandy and leaving?

When should I fit in the Bringing Down the Sky DLC? I've done the Dig site, and was going to go to Feros and then Noveria, but I wasn't sure when I'm good to do the Asteroid.

Will doing too many side quests make the game too easy, or too few make it too difficult?

In order:

No.

Any time. You could do it right now if you wanted.

You'll miss out on gaining XP if you don't do many sidequests, but as far as I can tell the game scales to a certain degree to your level. So you shouldn't be too bad.

# ¿ Dec 21, 2009 18:55

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

I have MGS Portable Ops on the way from Amazon. Assuming I'm fluent with MGS games (especially Snake Eater) what do I need to know about this specific game?

# ¿ Dec 28, 2009 02:10

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Blind Rasputin posted:

It would be great to get some tips on upgrading, because so far it feels like I really don't know what's important.

Focus initially on upgrading the Plasma Cutter, Rig and whatever your favourite weapon is, in about that order. Maybe Stasis too if you use it a lot. Your first node should go in an Air upgrade on the Rig to give you a bit more (ahem) breathing space, but don't take any more Air nodes thereafter, stick with Health nodes. The Plasma Cutter is arguably the best weapon in the game and, if you upgrade it, stays lethal throughout. If you plan to use the Pulse Rifle be aware that if you don't upgrade it then it becomes hopelessly outclassed in later levels.

Finally, keep one power node in your inventory at all times to open node doors, it's always worth opening them.

# ¿ Dec 30, 2009 02:12

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

PRL412 posted:

I know this was from the last page, and already has quite a bit of advice, but...

There are two general methods of playing this game and they are linked by whether or not you choose to use the D-pad. Both these methods say a lot about you:

-Using the D-pad says "I am prepared to move like an perfectly camouflaged snail and learn every last CQC move regardless of however many buttons must be held simultaneously, all while keeping pressure sensitivity in mind."
-Not using the D-pad says "gently caress the camo index, running around and throwing peoples' heads into the ground with the O button is all I need to know about CQC. Alarms can suck my M63 (and/or weapon of choice)."

For context regarding the D-pad thing: using the D-pad to sneak is completely silent, moving slowly by only slightly moving the analog stick is NOT silent. If you can't sneak up on mans, that might be why.

That said the "throwing people's heads into the ground" move is by far the best one.

I can't wait for Peace Walker, where you can use CQC to throw guards at other guards.

# ¿ Jan 9, 2010 03:33

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Blind Rasputin posted:

Is that the thing that throws you around in the tunnel near strelok's stash? Why did I have to learn that the hard way. Not to mention the most frightening loving way possible.

No, it's something worse than that. Thankfully the burer isn't in the unmodded game (might be in CoP, I dunno). The controller, which is what you're talking about, can be shot at, but it is easier to pop in and out of cover and grenade it to death.

# ¿ Jan 9, 2010 03:48

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

casual poster posted:

Anyone have any tips for Final fantasy 9? Any easy ways to get through it?

In the Ice Cavern, there's not a retardedly high encounter rate, battles are triggered when you walk through the gusts of wind.

The damage for Thievery increases with Zidane's level and the number of successful thefts. I don't remember the exact formula.

The damage for Frog Drop increases with Quina's level and the number of frogs caught. Again I don't remember the exact formula.

The damage for Freya's Dragon Crest is the number of dragons killed squared. So killing 100 dragon type enemies will raise it to 9999 damage for 8mp.

# ¿ Jan 29, 2010 21:16

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

I just got Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition but I keep getting swarmed and massacred in the second area, what am I doing wrong?

# ¿ Jan 30, 2010 16:00

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

So it's run to the house, barricade window, grab shotgun, knock down ladder, shoot guys away from other window and jump out of it, right? That or just run around the village until time runs out.

# ¿ Jan 30, 2010 20:08

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

The wiki says the best weapons are the Red9 (which I now have), Striker shotgun and semi-auto rifle. Is this true of the Wii version too? Is the TMP less poo poo in the Wii version than the PS2 version?

# ¿ Jan 31, 2010 23:15

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Xander77 posted:

Get a mod that slows down the checkpoint respawn rate. The game will be MUCH more fun.

No such thing.

# ¿ Feb 1, 2010 19:39

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Party Boat posted:

When fully upgraded the bolt action rifle does way more damage than the SAR, and takes up less space in your inventory. Its big drawback is it's slow as poo poo between shots, but you should only be using it at ultra-long range anyway. If you're a confident shot, I'd stick with the BAR.

I am most certainly not a confident shot. SAR it is.

# ¿ Feb 1, 2010 22:41

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

What page were the Way of the Samurai tips on? They're not on the wiki yet.

# ¿ Feb 4, 2010 21:32

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

I couldn't find any tips for Way of the Samurai. The copy I got from Goozex didn't come with a manual so I have no idea what I'm getting into.

# ¿ Feb 5, 2010 19:09

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

blackguy32 posted:

Any advice for Dark Cloud 2?

Go see Donny every so often to get new Scoop hints. This is important because pretty much every boss has an associated Scoop and if you don't take the photo at the time, then you miss it forever. Same goes for anything that can be photographed in the last non-bonus chapter.

If Amulet attacks seem weak it's because you charge them up by holding the button to increase their damage. I went through the whole game without realising this, thinking that the Amulets were just terrible.

Monster Transformation sucks, don't bother with it.

Don't rely too much on one character or you'll be snookered when you get to the Red/Blue sealed floors and can't change. Try and split your experience evenly between Max, Monica and the Ridepod.

Do NOT buy the voice box for the Ridepod. Just trust me on this.

# ¿ Feb 15, 2010 01:38

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

How bout Monster Rancher? (Monster Rancher 2 in the US) I haven't played it in many many years and wasn't that good at it to start with.

# ¿ Feb 27, 2010 01:27

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Xander77 posted:

Ah. Way to be subtle with your trolling.

No he's right with this one, at least for the Swamps area, where the only way to get one of the data disks for the Clear Sky mechanic is to help in one of the captures (I forget which one). If you miss your chance it's gone forever.

Other Clear Sky tips:

You can get a stash location for a pump-action shotgun (the Chaser or whatever it is) from one of the guys in the Clear Sky base. This is one of the best guns in the Swamp area for killing mutants, though the hunting shotgun with darts is better for killing bandits from range.

For fighting humans, in the Swamp I generally stick with a fully-modded MP5 until I get an AK74 or one of those M4-like things in Cordon or Garbage.

You get free Clear Sky armour if you participate in the raid on the north-eastern bandit base in the Swamps. By participate I mean kill at least one guy.

Never upgrade a shotgun with the threaded barrel - whatever accuracy boost you get is not worth losing the ability to use buckshot.

Bluetooth human being posted:

What's the deus ex restoration mod called that was actually really decent? If you didn't kill anyone your brother would reward you with a special blackjack?

That's Shifter. The blackjack in question is really really good, actually, able to KO normal human enemies with one hit to the base of the spine.

# ¿ Mar 14, 2010 15:44

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

al-azad posted:

Leaving the swamp the game becomes a lot more fun but don't leave through the southern exit because you'll end up at the military base and some jackass will rip you to shreds. It's possible to escape without getting hit but it's easier to take the northern swamp exit and avoid all the stalkers to reach the newbie camp.

I've heard that the northern-most exit only opens after you take the southern one, in which case, take it, go back again and THEN go the north way.

# ¿ Mar 14, 2010 17:03

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Anonononomous posted:

Here's a tutorial question, then, as it wasn't a very good tutorial, apparently. How do you throw bolts? I was told to do so, but didn't see a button in the menu. I also can't seem to bring up my detector outside of the CS base.

6 equips bolts, O equips the detector, though you naturally can't use it with a two-handed weapon.

# ¿ Mar 14, 2010 17:18

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

The Supreme Court posted:

Get the speed aug for your legs and upgrade it; being able to jump anywhere opens up massive options and makes the game much more fun

On that note, don't touch the Silent Running aug at all. Crouching with L4 Speed does the exact same thing.

Someone over on the Penny Arcade forums is working on a mod that among other things makes some mods like Silent Running always on and drain no energy, as in Invisible War, so that might make it more useful.

^^^^ It's after activating the signal for Paul at NSF HQ, when all the UNATCO guys turn on you. You can just leap off the roof and sprint to safety.

# ¿ Mar 15, 2010 22:46

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

If you're having trouble sneaking up on guys to CQC then it may be because you're using the analog stick to sneak. Moving the stick slightly to walk is slower but not silent. Using the D-pad to "stalk" is totally silent. It took me a couple playthroughs to realise this.

# ¿ Apr 5, 2010 16:58

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Viva Pinata? It looks pretty chill but I got it and didn't really know if I was doing it right and then I lost interest.

# ¿ Apr 5, 2010 19:52

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Imapanda posted:

Could someone answer this question? I'm considering getting Galactic Adventures, but I don't really know much about the game or whether to get it or not.

In my experience, the Galactic Adventures content is, in a word, poo poo. Don't bother with it. Spore itself is pretty fun, though most of the game by far is a simple 4X game. Most of it is fairly self-explanatory though.

# ¿ Apr 29, 2010 23:26

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Oh yeah that's another thing, raise Computers to at least Trained early on. You can do without it for a few levels as you find passwords fairly easily, but later on being able to hack is invaluable.

# ¿ May 3, 2010 17:06

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Perhaps not a "first time" question since I've had the game a while, but there isn't an all-purpose thread for this sort of thing. That said, Anno 1701. I always seem to haemorrhage gold whenever I play right up until the Merchant era. The taxes just aren't bringing in any profit. Is there a trick to this game?

# ¿ May 4, 2010 15:33

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

McKracken posted:

I'm pretty sure you can also throw rations out near hungry guards to lure them in the direction of your choice. You can collect poisonous food and leave it around and the guards will eat it (if you C4 the food shed) and then get sick.

You can also use bee hives to scare guards away. They really did expand the interactivity with the environment for the game, one of the better aspects of the gameplay.

The MGS3 Let's Play demonstrated an impressive trick, the Smoke-Book-Bees Switcheroo.

# ¿ May 8, 2010 20:19

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

Argon_Sloth posted:

Picked up the Humble Indie Game Bundle yesterday, so any hints on the following games would be appreciated. Preferably of the here's how you don't screw your self out of something awesome variety. Minimal spoilers please.

World Of Goo
Aquaria
Gish
Lugaru HD
Penumbra Overture
Samorost 2

Penumbra Overture

You are terrible at fighting, sneak by the enemies instead. That said, on normal you can kill single enemies if you get the drop on them when they're alone, and you hit them again as soon as they stand but before they escape.

Rooms with involved puzzles beyond "block this entrance" often don't have enemies in them, so don't panic too much when trying to solve something.

In the first network of tunnels, after unlocking a wooden door and being told to barricade it on the other side, turn off or throw away all the paraffin lamps in the centre of the room you enter, or you'll make things more difficult when you try to solve the next puzzle.

In regards to enemies:

Mutant dogs appear in networks of corridors and patrol a set path. Don't get into a stand-up fight with them if you don't have to.

Spiders are found in small smoothed tunnels and hatch from leathery eggs. You can kill individual spiders without too much bother but run if there's more than one.

# ¿ May 16, 2010 02:54

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

e: poo poo, wrong thread.

# ¿ May 16, 2010 21:55

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# ¿ Apr 24, 2024 10:54

Dr Snofeld: Apr 30, 2009

I just got Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (which is the Wii version) and could use some tips. I don't know what the blended drinks do, for example, other than heal you. And do you need to go exploring between missions to get good stuff?

# ¿ May 28, 2010 17:20

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > The "What should I know before I play this game for the first time?" Q&A!

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