Stately Scrying: What we’re playing this weekend

After missing out on Stately Scrying last week, I learned that I actually missed seeing what my comrades were going to be digging into when Stately Play went to sleep for the weekend. I vowed to never again miss another Scrying post, well, at least until the next time I can’t write one. I’m nothing if not dedicated.

This is probably a good time to tell you that the next time I can’t write will be next week. My kids have off school for spring break, so we’re driving the family truckster down to Florida on Monday morning. Thus, I know I’ll be away from my keyboard on Monday and Tuesday, but I plan on being back at the keys by Tuesday night. Plans often change, however, especially when there are kids and a wife in vacation-mode present. Thus, I make no promises. Who cares about next week, however, when we have this weekend to talk about.

Burnout Paradise

The release of the Burnout Paradise remaster has sent me down an arcade racing rabbit hole. Recent purchases include both Burnout PSP games (which I had to download to my PS3 and then transfer to my Vita, thanks to some classic Sony Digital Bullshit), Ridge Racer Type 4 (I am still so in love with this game’s style), and a copy of WipEout XL that looks like it’s been sand blasted. Hopefully I can find a way to get that one working this weekend.

Paradise has aged surprisingly well for a game that just turned ten(!), but I think that’s mostly because I can count on one hand the games that have even tried to follow up on Paradise’s promise in the intervening years. (The Forza Horizon series and Criterion’s own Need for Speed: Most Wanted came closest, but were ultimately hamstrung by the need to appease the owners of the licensed cars they feature.) With any luck, the success of this release will send the message that people are hungry for more arcade racing carnage… But I also don’t trust the current incarnation of EA to not screw it up. So, for the time being, I’ll keep my 360 plugged in for my beloved Burnout 3, and Burnout Paradise installed on my PS4 hard drive.

Also on the agenda for the weekend: I’ve finally begun Yakuza 0 in earnest, and Sea of Thieves might happen if I can round up a crew. And Into the Breach, still. That game is something else.

-Tanner Hendrickson

• Burnout Paradise Remastered for PS4, $40
• Burnout Legends for PSP, $10
• Burnout Dominator for PSP, $10
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 for PSP/Vita/PS3, $6
• WipEout XL for PS1, $10 (used)
• Burnout 3: Takedown for 360, $10
• Yakuza 0 for PS4, $60
• Sea of Thieves for Xbox One/PC, $60
• Into the Breach for PC via Steam, $15

Starbound

I’ll be playing my current PC game-of-choice, the fantastic Minecraft-like Starbound. I seem to be collecting these craft, survive and attempt to thrive games and this one is certainly a winner. There’s planets to explore, monsters to fight, resources to seek out, lots of cool stuff to craft, and an interesting overarching storyline. It’s a deep game with a lot to do and at 20 or so hours I’ve barely scratched the surface. It’s also the type of game where you really can pick how you want to play. You can build powerful mechs and other technological marvels and explore the universe, build a farm and go for a more relaxing life, or something between. I highly recommend it for the sim/builder fans out there.

-Nick Vigdahl

• Starbound for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $15

Prismata

When writing as I do for SP, therein grows a feeling of sitting slightly beyond the periphery of the tablet and the tabletop. Akin to soda-bulbing in the driveway, while the cognac and cardboard contingent tsk-tsk at the manor house window. This week is NOT THAT WEEK.

The digital CCG genre has its titans, but none have hooked me since SolForge. Reminiscing with a friend on the defunct Decipher CCG Wars — their rejig of the Star Wars game once the license ran out — and how it was thematically everything I wanted from a science-fiction card affair, this fine fellow recommended the Kickstarted and recently Early Accessed Prismata. Took a punt, and here we are.

Really digging it. Prismata names a slew of influences, but I’m just happy it’s not a deck-builder. Just keep serving this combative blend of defense lines, ‘factories’, cannibalising units for one reason or another, and that easy-to-play-hard-to-master ruleset. Runs on the smell of an oily rag and is very touchscreen friendly for those rocking the appropriate hybrid PC hardware. Prismata might not have the incredible card art of Wars, but the game isn’t fantasy, so we’re ahead.

That, and the roguebot shooter SYNTHETIK are the weekend’s entertainment.

-Alex Connolly

• Prismata for PC/Mac via Steam Early Access, $25
• SYNTHETIK for PC via Steam, $15

Buying a Table Saw

I’ve no plans to play anything new this weekend, and I’m perfectly happy with that. Cinco Paus continues to fill odd moments with joy (and call for larger blocks of time to be divided into odd moments), Hob’s still pretty nice, but I’ve mostly been on a cleaning, organization, and minor home improvement kick since I learned I’ll be hosting the in-laws for Easter weekend. I think my wife may have inadvertently given me the excuse I need to finally buy a table saw.

-Kelsey Rinella

• DEWALT DWE7491RS 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw with 32-1/2-Inch Rip Capacity and Rolling Stand via Amazon, $579.00
• Cinco Paus for iOS Universal, $5
• Hob for PC via Steam, $20

Civilization VI Rise & Fall

To be honest, I don’t expect to play many games over the weekend. My eldest has a volleyball tournament all day Saturday and Sunday and my middle son has his school musical this weekend, meaning that I’ll be splitting time between the two with my wife. On top of that, we’ll be packing for a spring break trip which we’ll be leaving for on Monday. That said, the Rise and Fall expansion for Civilization VI just arrived on Mac and I assume that I’ll be attempting to run that through its paces over the next few weeks. Yes, my life is incredibly dull.

That said, I really want to try some of the games mentioned this week, especially Starbound and Prismata. Perhaps I’ll figure out a way to get those downloaded as well.

I will be taking some tabletop games along, as the friends we’re staying with have kids who are game-friendly. I’ve been playing a long-distance D&D campaign with them via Roll20, so we’ll play some D&D 5th Edition face-to-face when we’re down there. I’m also taking along Darkest Night with the hopes of not only playing it, but getting more gameplay videos out the door.

-Dave Neumann

• Civilization VI for iPad (no Rise and Fall yet), free (with $60 unlock of full game)
• Civilization VI for PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, $60
• D&D Beyond for iOS Universal, free (all D&D books available via IAP)
• Darkest Night 2nd Edition via Amazon, $140 (we get some $ if you buy via Amazon)
• Darkest Night 2nd Edition via Victory Point Games, $135

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