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PaperclipPerfector  8d ago (text post)   2200 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for June 26, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Video game thread

What are you playing this week, and what games are you looking forward to in the remainder of 2026?

I played a bit of Moomintroll - Winter's Warmth lately. It's very wholesome.

Thinking of starting a playthrough of either a solid CRPG or a first person RPG like the Gothic 1 Remake.

Edit: Wait, Gothic 1 has no first person mode. Only 3rd person camera. :o

Just started Zero Parades, the follow-up (not sequel) to Disco Elysium, after the big ZA/UM bust-up. (Turns out incredible success explodes open all the cracks).

It's a spy story set in sort of a Cold War-ish, sort of Cuba-ish, setting where the lead character is a disgraced spy brought back into the field after being dustbinned in bureaucratic retirement because of an operation gone disastrously wrong. This is the chance for a comeback, but it starts off badly. Very badly, with the contact who is supposed to fill her in on the operation taken out. She then has to discover what the assignment is, what is going on, and who (out of a selection of enemies) is gunning for her.

The lefty politics are still there, but more toned down (so far as I've played, anyway). It's not the same as Disco Elysium right now, Harry was a unique character and from the start that game brought you along for the ride (also having Kim as partner makes a huge difference, comparing Disco and this game).

It's okay so far, I'm more wandering around discovering the world than getting stuck in to the investigation. I have to say, I've just encountered Dr. Gonza and he's incredible. Best character by a mile so far, "disgraced former doctor and probable mad scientist" doesn't even begin to describe him, and he is the most Disco character here so far.

I'll probably stick with the game, at least for a bit longer anyway, but Herschel (our spy) is no Harry. It's not a bad game, it just doesn't immediately grab you like Disco did (able to kill yourself just turning off a fan and ending the game before it begins? magic!)

I'm playing Zero Parades, too, and enjoying it a lot more than Esoteric Ebb. Portofiro is a great setting.

It is a good setting. I think I'm still getting used to the mechanics (only into the second day of gameplay so far) and right now I'm more interested in my little side-quests than the mysterious assignment (due to the lack of a clock ticking down or at least no indicator yet that I better start putting the pieces together before any one of the rival forces grab my backside).

The resemblances (visually and in game mechanics) to Disco maybe harm it a little, because I keep expecting "okay, this is where A will happen?" but nope. It's not a bad game, I definitely will give it a chance, but I think a lot of people were hoping for Disco 2, the further adventures of Harry and Kim, and what is going on back in Jamrock? Me as well, I have to admit.

I think a lot of people were hoping for Disco 2

Anyone who didn't live under a rock knew a direct sequel was not possible with all the drama surrounding the ZA/UM and the original DE creators.

"Drama" is mild to put it, but in the immediate aftermath of the smash hit, this was something at least some were hoping for. Then it all blew up.

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