Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th January)

Switch 2 - Mario Kart World
3DS - Replaying Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

I picked up MIO: Memories In Orbit since it has been getting great reviews. I have to say, the reviews are in the mark — this game is awesome, but hard as hell.

I find the game to be quite excellent. There is a feeling of minimalism in a gorgeous, cell-shaded world. There are some moments with the soundtrack that brings me back to how I felt playing Death Stranding 1 & 2 because of how quiet it can be. That is an odd comparison, but very fitting.

The environments are all unique, although very similar to Hollow Knight and the Ori games. While it is familiar, it provides its own spin on how to traverse the world, and the dangers it presents. Speaking of, the platforming can be demanding, but the satisfaction you obtain by completing an obstacle is so rewarding. Just be prepared for a lot of trial and error.

The sense of progression is paced very well. There is always a stream of new abilities, with a plethora of combat modifiers and enhancements that can help during tough situations. Some of the unmissable abilities do seem useless, particularly the dodge mechanic. It essentially turns you invisible for a short period of time, but since most enemies are robotic in nature, there attacks are delayed and will hit you once you finish the dodge.

There are two issues I have with the game. Save points are very sparse, and the idea of backtracking can be really frustrating. You can easily die in two hits, and you’re going to because you’ll encounter new enemies with unique skill sets that you’re unlikely to know at the start. It’s basically trial by fire. You’ll eventually unlock shortcuts and abilities - a trope with the genre - but even then it can be a hassle.

The other quibble I have, albeit minor, are the boss fights and enemies. They are challenging, but not too demanding. However, they do tend to be repetitive in their aesthetic design. The fights themselves are varied, but when they tend to look the same they all feel disjointed. There are some enemies and bosses that have a big difficult spike — I’m looking at you Atmos — and it can be irritating where they spawn.

With that said, the accessibility options are fantastic. I’ve yet to use them, but they do assimilate problems where people struggle during difficult games such as Silksong. For example, there is an assist option that allows you to regain one health node when standing still. These won’t stack, so it’s a little reprieve from automatic death. Eroded Bosses will make boss fights weaker upon each failed attempt. If you combine that with some of the combat modifiers, it will help immensely.

Overall, I find MIO: Memories In Orbit to be a standout indie for the beginning of 2026.

I’m also playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake for the Switch 2. I’ve beaten this game three times for the PS4 & PS5, but I couldn’t resist the option for portability. I have been playing the game exclusively in handheld, and the game looks and runs silky smooth, with frame rate only dipping periodically in cutscenes. It feels like a dream to have a game like this I can take on the go.

Still missing some cards and character descriptions to unlock in Have A Nice Death, and a bunch of side quests and NCPD scanner alerts in Cyberpunk 2077 before I want to complete the DLC extension and the main storyline.

That's what I am playing at the moment.

I really fell in love with CP2077, just too bad the performance is not as good as overall mentioned. It runs OK for sure, but there is imo lots of room for improvement.
However the passion that went into making this game is a love letter to videogames. Beautiful!

Happy gaming!! ✌🏻🧡🎮

I started Star Wars Outlaws on my Switch 2. 18 hours in so far and really enjoying it. Besides that not much else. I’m planning on starting Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty soon.

Animal Crossing New Horizons Switch 2 Edition
Pokémon Legends Z-A Switch 2 Edition
Balatro (PC or Switch 2)
Guild Wars: Reforged (PC)

I bought Cyberpunk 2077 when the Switch 2 launched, and after 115 hours I think I'm finally getting close to the finale the main story, so that's probably the only game I'll play.

I don't feel well on this weekend so I only played these games. 🤕
1. The Sims 4 PS4
2. Final Fantasy XIII-2 PS3

I need some rest and medicine to get better tomorrow.

Wow, did Final Fantasy XII, for the PlayStation 2 age well. It is so much fun to be in this world, because the vibes are so good. I really hope, that one day Square Enix will make games again, with such a good taste.

Happy gaming, everyone!

Making good progress on Persona 3 Reload ! I think there's only a third of the game left, I like the game structure, it feels way less repetitive than Persona 4 and 5's, the game introduce new characters whenever it feels like it, pretty cool

I did not touch Chibi Robo recently but I almost finished it too !

No new games until Mario Tennis Fever for me.

To me it's gonna be 2 quality productions:

• Final Fantasy IX (my 1 playthrough)
• Zelda BOTW (my 1 playthrough)

Probably going to make another run at the original FF7 - tried to get through it a few times now and been wanting to play through it before Remake. Might squeeze in something more actiony around it, not sure what. Yoshi's Island maybe.

Cult of the lamb DLC! Also tempted to give a try to game cube app so surely Wario World. Happy gaming everyone!

Pokemon Legends Z-A: wrapping up last main and side quests, getting last 2 pokemons (come on, rain already!) If I finish, I’ll buy the DLC.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile: at level 5-2. After finishing the story, I’ll go back for missed prisoners.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure: doing visitor’s daily quests. I have 37 permanent visitors and cabins set up for 9 more. Farming mini game for diamonds and opals.

I'm chipping away at Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, which I'm enjoying but my god is it difficult. I feel like there's a specific strategy that's tantamount for success in each mission, and if you don't hone in on that strategy from turn one then you'll be decimated.

Other than that, I started Gotham Knights a few days ago and that game is way better than everyone said it was. It's no Arkham Origins/Asylum/City/Knight, but what is? The only thing I'm not really liking is the whole gear system; it feels superfluous and obviously a remnant of the game originally being intended as a live-service. I'm enjoying the game overall though.

I am going to continue playing some Capcom Arcade Stadium (1) games. I've more or less narrowed it down to maining Ghosts 'n Goblins, Commando, Bionic Commando and Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

My goal is to obtain the rank of a 'Historian' in the CASPO class list. Right now I'm a 'Fanatic' at almost 900,000 CASPO (short for Capcom Score Points, I believe). 1,000,000 will make me a 'Generalist' and 2,000,000 a 'Historian' so there's a long way to go.

Greetings fellow video games enthusiasts. I'm hoping to start Spider-man 2, that video game with the modern day Tarzan? That looks really good. I got some vidja games (video games) for my birthday earlier this week which will go into the upper backlog. Have fun everyone.

Resisting FF7 for the mo to keep time free for DQ7.

Its wet and cold in the UK at the moment (South West) so probably a weekend inside. Really enjoying my retro bits of late like the C64 and Amiga so probably some bits on that ..... patiently waiting for the Quickshot 2 Joystick next week. The Amiga is in my top 3 of all time including the SNES and Gamecube. SW1 / SW2 very close at 4th. 😃

If I get time, a bit more of Ghost Squad and HOTD on Wii this weekend maybe.

Happy gaming people.

Edit .... im going to get the SW2 Animal Crossing update for my son today as he is really enjoying it again and it's only just over £4.

On S2 a lot of DK Bonanza at the moment. Have also started the Final Fantasy remake. Only a couple of hours in so far, but really enjoying it.

Will also continue Keeper on my Series X.

Happy gaming everyone.

Released yesterday after a successful Kickstarter campaign, I am playing Escape From Ever After. It is a brilliant Paper Mario tribute that nails the asthetic and the battling system. It is easily the best Paper Mario game since 1000 Year Door so I urge you all to give it a try if you like fun little RPGs.

Picked up Mio and started it. Really like it so far, but it is going on the backburner while I replay Final Fantasy VII. Such a brilliant game, and port.

I unearthed three GameCube games from the labyrinthine family storage: Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, and Scooby-Doo: Night of 100 Frights. I got very close to beating the third play through of ED, and was near the end of Gauntlet, but I somehow fell off them. They got stored 20+ years ago. So, I’ve m beaten them after all these years!

I even started Scooby-Doo/Frights, which is new to me. Ree-hee-hee-hee!

This week I will be mostly playing

Metroid Prime 4
Ripened Tingle’s Balloon Trip of Love
Super Mario Party Jamboree TV

Playing Pokemon platinum on my DSi XL and bashing my head across the 7th gym (ice) with my underlevelled team getting one-shotted by Froslass. Genuinely a formidable skill check.
Trying to find time to play cyberpunk too but I only play it when it’s dark outside and I can feel immersed

On Switch 2 docked I'm playing FE: Three Houses and handheld (when my partner uses the TV to play his Horizon Forbidden West) I change to FE: The Sacred Stones

@FishyS Thanks for the heads up about Hello Kitty update. You are delivering news week by week about games I’m interested in, but NL doesn’t bother.

Shadow Raikou Raid Day in Pokémon Go as hosted by moiye.

First was shiny, second was 14/15/15, and it was pretty much downhill from there (though I got a second shiny towards the end). I got 1-2 shinies on the second account too. I also received a shiny costume Ninetales in a Lucky Trade (and all the other player wanted was a shiny Shuppet).

All in all, a good day. 😊

This week I finished Oblivion Remastered on PS5 and Oxenfree on Switch. This weekend I think I'll try and start The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure as part of my attempt to make some significant progress in the series this year.

@Jhena
Only PS2 version of FF XII which still keep the Summon animation when they were being called.
The TZA version skipped that Summon animation, but the Espers are controllable.

I'm in Washington DC, so I'm playing "try not to freeze to death" this weekend, LOL.

@Anti-Matter
I did not know about this change. Thank you, for telling me. In general I would say, that I always prefer the original versions.

Mario Kart World again methinks, one day I'll get round to doing all the cups in all the ccs, only got the 50cc so far but I'm still perfectly happy just free roaming and taking in the scenery and chilling.

Also some Streets of Rage 4 I would imagine.

@Peteykins I see there's some extreme weather in the U.S. I'm in Australia where the current forecast is try not to melt.

Happy gaming.

I just finished I Am Dead. I need something more action-oriented next — maybe Tomb Raider?

I had my doctor insert my catheter after work last night so I will be able to play another 48+ hours of Vroom in the Night Sky without having to every leave my couch.

I am playing more SUPER KIRBY CLASH. It is in my top 5 Kirby games now. Only properly started it last week and done 20 hrs on it already. Love it! So fun. Very active online community to this day. You will always find someone to play with. Done nearly 300 of the 900 hero missions so far! Yes, there is a lot of content here. A stupid amount for a free game even! Have a lovely weekend all. 😁

Good evening everyone I been having a good time with my switch 2 got all gold cups on Mario kart world now on to the 150 cc it's really awesome Mario kart game thank you Nintendo 💙 been playing Luigi mansion 3 it's good not the best my first will always be the best never played part two Pokemon z-a really good love the Pokemon world such a chill game saw my favourite Pokemon Charizard 🧡🧡🧡 in my game a big smile on my face Metroid prime 4 Beyond finished the great mine that boss on normal such a pain in my? DK bozana the stupid look on my face when looks at a banana 🧡🧡🧡 cracks me up and I say out loud ohh banana 💙💙💙 everytime DK says it 😁 hitman wasn't for me took it back pre order PGA 25 golf and Mario fever tennis and next week I'm getting terminator 2d game love the run and gun games so were u are ever in the world happy gaming everyone from Sydney Australia 💙💙💙🕹️🎮🕹️🎮 long live the switch 2 welcome to the revolution 💜

It’s cold as funk outside. Hurts to go outside right now 😂. It looks like I’m not alone in indulging in some Cyberpunk 2077 this weekend. I’ve stayed feeding my Backlog like a good minion with a mix of physical and digital games from holiday sales. Currently between Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and might start up Legend Of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom or Hades 2

On a side note..I had to attend a funeral for a friend yesterday. Just a reminder that life really is short and the small stuff is not worth stressing over!

Have a nice weekend! Happy gaming

Hello fellow Nintendo Lifers!

This weekend I've got some me-time so I'll be spending that gaming, mostly. This is what I'm currently playing:

• Super Luigi Galaxy 70/120 stars
• Tears of the Kingdom 65% overall completion
• Pokémon Legends Z-A , on my way to reach Rank A
• Resident Evil 4: Chapter 5-2, Krauzer is one of my least favourite bosses, but I'll live 😜
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance: Chapter 10

Happy gaming everyone!

well I'm about to get hit by a big ice storm so I might not be playing much of anything this weekend depending on if my power holds or not.
the outer worlds
destiny 2

@Jhena
The original version of FF XII PS2 was weaker in general, from the maximum HP capacity of your Espers, your teams, the incomplete magics like missing Aerora + Earthquake spells (only the Enemies have this ability but still absent on TZA version as purchaseable magics). the Espers cannot be controlled (but can be turned off the Gambit) and some of them required specific conditions to unleash their Overdrive such as Ultima, Hashmal, Zodiark, etc.
But the good news on PS2 version was every character have exactly same Licence Board so they can learn exactly same Magics and Skills so it made between of them are less relevant since they can do same abilities, only their Espers they hold and their Mist skills made them different.

So, having both PS2 version and TZA version is like having both different version of the same games.
The TZA version have better character stats progression but the limitation from their Zodiac style Licence board limited their abilities mastery and the missing of Summon animation. Also, the way of obtaining certain skills or Magics was different on TZA version compared with original PS2 version.

I personally enjoyed FF XII because of the Zodiac style Espers (Man... I got very ugly Cucuhlainn design as Scorpio Zodiac, my Zodiac. Mateus (Pisces) and Ultima (Virgo) are the Best design in my opinion.
Zeromus (Cancer), Chaos (Taurus) also looked cool but Zalera (Gemini) looked really scary with half of his hand is an imprisoned long haired lady so they looked like two people huging each other when Zalera crossed his arm.
Cucuhlainn (Scorpio) and Shemhazai (Sagittarius) are the worst design in my opinion. Shemhazai can be have better looking as Centaur with horse legs but it looked very odd with humanoid form as front legs but the one leg of robotic horse behind her head. And she tried to give Yuna's shot gun in the air pose during her Overdrive animation.
The storyline of FF XII was dry boring as hell.
Too much political issue conversation with very Shakespeare level of English vocabulary from the elite characters, basic English vocabulary from pheasant like Vaan or Penello.
FF XII has no humour, no memorable / hilarious moments like FF X/X-2 or FF XIII.
Their voice acting like they were talking inside the box for English version.
FF XII OST was perfect, some of them I used for my storytelling to show the specific situation such as doomed (Esper Battle theme) when I did storytelling of Harvey the Woodcutter and the Goddess was angry to dishonest woodcutter.

Well, have fun with FF XII.
I have played the TZA version on Switch, long time ago I have ever played the PS2 version (but with pirated discs) and I will look for the PS2 version as well to replay the original version.

PS5 - Astro Bot, Shenmue
Switch Lite - Super Mario Bros - The Lost Levels

Managed to complete Red Dead Redemption last weekend, also completed AstroBot and Super Mario Bros during the week.....just hoovering up trophies on AstroBot now as I want to get platinum (Something I have never done with a game).

Should Complete the lost levels today and then want to start Shenmue.

Not had much time for gaming since Christmas so it’s still the same….The long dark on PS4, Animal crossing new leaf 3DS XL, pizza tower on switch lite and dragon warrior monsters on chromatic. And just to add more to the list with not much time to play I feel like having a blast on Tetris 99 and maybe Ridge racer V on the PS2.
Hope your all keeping well and enjoying whatever your playing 😆

Greetings, good people.

This weekend is extremely cold here, so instead of usual going out to ice skating, ping-pong or such, I'm staying indoors, cleaning the house and playing games. And boy, I really stretched myself thin, despite usually avoiding doing so. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers on PS5, Trails beyond the Horizon and MIO on Steam Deck, Octopath Traveler and Super Mario Galaxy on Switch. I really should commit and finish something this weekend, and it will probably be MIO, very beautiful metroidvania with emphasis on platforming, highly recommend.

That's all for now, love each other and have a great weekend.

Hogwart’s Legacy - at the rate I play and how long I have for games, I think I’ll be saying that for at least another couple of weeks. Enjoying the cosy vibes of Hogwart’s in winter, just a shame I hadn’t started a playing a bit earlier to experience that in December!