Kraven

This is awesome news. I’m glad this game turned out well on Switch 2. I already have the platinum on PS5, so I doubt I’ll double dip, but for those who haven’t played it, this is a great chance to do so. It’s a superb game.

This looks absolutely sensational from top to bottom. The art style is gorgeous, the combat looks incredible, the level design seems solid, with fun but challenging platforming. I cannot wait for this. I’m very curious to see how Ragebound and this title compare to one another.

I’ve never played a Rune Factory game, but it is a series I see talked about a lot. This entry might be the jumping on point for me — it sounds great.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo would have to be my pick though it isn’t on this list in terms of reviews, but I’m glad it got mentioned. It’s such a great, challenging game that brings back that GBA nostalgia. I might have to check out Duck Detective — it sounds like an interesting, but quick game to beat in a single sitting.

This week(end) I got the platinum trophy for Doom: The Dark Ages. It’s truly an extraordinary FPS. My initial impression was lukewarm. I felt the essence of DOOM was absent, but the more I played the more I became enamored with what it was trying to do mechanically.

Once you get past its lengthy tutorial stages the game ramps up the significantly. You are provided a plethora of weapons and upgrades that all feel unique and fun to use. Meanwhile, exploration is rewarding and feels more confident than its predecessors.

Overall, The Dark Ages is probably my favorite out of the trilogy. With that said, I could go back and forth any day of the week because each game does something unique that makes it stand out in ways that suit my play-style. Either way, these are a fantastic set of games that are worth adding to your catalogue.

In the last two weeks, I have obtained the platinum for Doom and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is my personal GOTY. Both games are emotionally draining in their own way, so I needed to change up the pace.

That brings me to Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo (Nintendo Switch). This game rules. If you are a fan of top down Zelda-like with a dab of Metroidvania elements, this game is a must play.

As the title suggests, your main weapon is a yoyo. It’s such a great weapon that intertwines real life tricks such as Walk the Dog as learned abilities that really expand how you interact with exploration and combat. There are many variants, with a large amount of abilities I’ve yet to find, so I’m curious how the game evolves.

There are also upgrades, but they are handled in a way that is a challenge in and of itself. You’re essentially renting them until you can pay off the loan. While you are doing that, certain upgrades may take a life point away from you until you pay back the money whilst learning the skill. It’s a keen balance.

You can see the developers were inspired by classic Zelda games. There are numerous secrets to uncover, one of which is heart petals. Once you find enough of them, you gain an extra life. There are also main dungeons to progress through. They all have a unique locale, and are really fun and clever, making you utilize what an actual yoyo can do. The way these dungeons are set up, and how you’re able to interact with the environment via the yoyo, it’s fun manipulating how to dispatch your enemies.

Speaking of enemies, this game is genuinely challenging. It plays like your typical 2D action platformers, but in a top down view. Moreover, it’s not just the enemies you have to worry about, it’s the levels themselves. The game is constantly moving, making the environment just as much as a threat as the bad guys. I’ve died numerous times, but it always feels like my fault. Thankfully, the game is generous and saves your progress every new room you enter, which is often.

I’m about eight hours in total, and I’ve completed two main dungeons out of four (I believe), along with a ton of optional content. I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game because looking at my upgrades and abilities that I’ve yet to find, I see nothing but endless possibilities. This game is going to be special, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

@awp69 I read that interview, and it was a great read. I wonder if the staff here are going to review the game soon. I’m kind of surprised there isn’t one yet, and not even Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time. I wonder if they are too busy with the Switch 2, and getting their reviews ready for the hardware and games.

It wasn’t mentioned in the article because of dating, but Pipistrello and the Cursed YoYo released yesterday. It is absolutely fantastic, and I recommend people pick it up if they are a fan of top down Zelda games, and even Shovel Knight. It’s sublime.

I’m pretty excited about this. I picked up the collector’s edition from Amazon. And I have no doubt my daughter will love the plushie it comes with.

This weekend I can happily say I beat Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and got the platinum trophy. For me personally, this game will go down as an all-time favorite. It’s peak RPG in every facet, but does it in a condensed manner that never outstays its welcome. It also features one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a video game. I’ve had the song Visages - Aria pour un Masque de Colere on repeat for days.

I’m now on to DOOM: The Dark Ages. The gameplay is top notch, but the tone and atmosphere feel different from its predecessors. There were shades of demonic horror in the first two games, from its enemies and environments, which told a story on its own. With this entry, everything seems more cartoonish and colorful. For a game that has Dark Ages in the title, it seems too bright in its aesthetics, and strips away the darkness of the first two games — something that would be more fitting for not only a DOOM game, but for a medieval title.

With all of that said, from a combat perspective it feels great. It plays fast and kinetic, but also feels slowed down to feel properly in control. The shield is an excellent addition to a series bolstering legendary weapons, and it never gets old throwing your saw shield at enemies and carving them to pieces. All of the weapons are fun to use, each with their own unique abilities, and the plethora of upgrades available really enhance experience.

Still, though, my only complaint is changing for the positive thus far. I’m on the 9th chapter and have a 100% completion rate for each mission. The game really hits its stride with confidence on the sixth chapter, after its tutorials. And really, these games are all about gameplay, and there aren’t many franchises that do it better than id Software. I’ll be looking forward to obtaining the platinum trophy for this one.

My wife is also having some friends staying over this weekend, so I think my father-in-law and I will bust out my Blackstone grill and cook hibachi for everyone. We haven’t done that in a while and the weather should be perfect to spend outdoors enjoying good food and even better company.

It looks so good, so I hope the game plays as well as it looks. With this and Ninja Gaiden Ragebound releasing this summer, my love for 2D games are being satiated big time.

This weekend I am finally wrapping up the platinum trophy for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’ve completed every optional boss, all thirty-three levels of the Endless Tower, and all additional side content, so all I have left to do is reach level 99. I’m six levels away, so I’m just grinding.

Even now, after essentially 100%’ing the game, I’m even more enamored with it than I was originally. I’m having a total blast using pictos and creating new unique builds, and seeing how far I can push my damage output. I’ve beaten some end-game bosses with one hit, and it’s very satisfying.

This game is without a doubt my GOTY. It has been expertly paced from start to finish. The story is deep and impactful, every character is fully developed and interesting, exploration is rewarding, and it’s a masterclass in roleplaying. Typically, the longer you play a game the more you begin to see its flaws, but not here - I might just consider it the perfect JRPG.

Once I wrap that up, I’ll officially start DOOM: The Dark Ages. I’ve been attempting to go into it as blind as possible, but I’ve read a few reviews that say it plays similarly to the 2016 reboot. I hope this is true because as much as I love Eternal and its relentless nature, I liked the slower pace - well, slower for DOOM standards - and the weapons better.

I’ve been looking forward to Demonschool for a long time. Let’s hope it can lock down a confirmed release date. I feel as if it’s been delayed multiple times — not a bad thing, mind you — but I’m ready to play it because it looks incredible.

This sounds right up my alley. I’ll probably pick the game up today!

I’ve been feeling burnout with gaming over the last two weeks. I also won’t be playing much of anything this weekend — I’ll be out of town, so it might be a good refresher. And I haven’t got to play much of anything throughout the week, so progress has been minimum in the games I have been playing.

To start, I finished Act 3 in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’m officially at the end game, and now that the entire map is opened up, I’ll be doing all of the optional content before completing the game. My opinion hasn’t changed — it’s an absolute masterpiece. I would like to go for the platinum trophy, but I’m not sure yet due to the excessive amount of games I want to play that are out right now.

Secondly, I’m playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak on my Switch. I played the game originally on the PS5 at launch but put the game aside during the third chapter because I got busy with life. I figured I’d be able to complete it if I play it portably since I’ve been traveling a lot more than usual as of late. I’m currently halfway through chapter 2 and it’s just as brilliant as I remember.

Lastly, I preordered Doom: The Dark Ages. The reviews have been great, and the prior two games are some of my favorite FPS’s to date. This new entry looks absolutely wild, with an interesting departure from its predecessors. This should be a nice palate cleanser from the depressing narrative of Clair Obscur, and the meaty RPG that is the Trails series. It’s time to turn off my brain and rip and tear.

I’m not usually that guy, but I hope this gets a Switch 2 release. I don’t know why it wouldn’t, but I do think it’s a niche franchise that would sell units if that was the case. Regardless, I’ll be playing it day one — maybe on the OG Switch, or the PS5. Trails fans are eating good right now.

My primary focus this weekend will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not too long ago, I was raving about Kingdom Come Deliverance —rightfully so; 200 hours later I finally got the platinum — and said I can’t see anything topping this as my frontrunner for GOTY. Well, that sentiment has changed.

I’ve put roughly 20 hours into this game. I recently completed Act 1 and am near the tail-end of Act 2, and I am blown away. The story is heartfelt, with twists and turns that have left me in utter disbelief. And the shocking moments that do occur don’t happen for the sake of trying to pull a fast one on your emotions. No; it happens organically, with beautiful allegories behind its decisions. You don’t see this often with modern RPGs.

Many developers neglect the story for gameplay and exploration. Clair hasn’t substituted anything. Everything is purposeful. It has taken all that makes an RPG what it is — story, party members, bantering, evil villain(s), a classic leveling up system, beautiful OST, exploring a vast open world — and elevated it above all of its contemporaries in a masterclass execution.

The combat has left me just as speechless as the narrative. It keeps you engaged from start to finish, and always evolving with new mechanics. Even more impressive is how many builds you can create — quite literally at least a hundred, and they aren’t minor. Just when you think turn-based mechanics couldn’t evolve in a redefining way, here comes a studio with their first game knocking on the door saying, ”Surprise”!.

In a similar fashion as how Dark Souls paved the way for a lot of the games we see today, I truly believe Clair will be the example with turn-based RPGs moving forward. What is even more impressive is how many various builds you can create — quite literally at least 100 different variations. Speaking of DS, you can see how that historic franchise was an inspiration for this game. There are thrilling boss fights where you need to learn patterns, know when to dodge and counter, and understand weaknesses and affinities. There are even multiple phases. It’s quite astonishing how they have used the FromSoftware formula and implemented it seamlessly in a turn-based system. There is a layer of strategy to each combat encounter.

Other than lip syncing issues and invisible walls, I haven’t found a false note anywhere. I’ve been waiting for the game to plateau, but it still hasn’t come. I wish I could write a full length feature on this game because I’ve barely scratched the surface, from voice acting, the metaphors, the unique character designs, and the world building. Alas, that can’t be the case, so I’ll sum up the game like this: Clair Obscur is genre defining, and a generational game. Let’s not take it for granted.

@Thief Do you actually play every single day, or does the game do any time jumps?

@AJWolfTill I haven’t reached the persuasion missions. Do they expand on the characters? That seems interesting.

@Lizuka Yeah, I might continue with it to see if the characters get better. There are 3 characters that annoy me significantly;

1. Darumi - Her personality is exhausting. She’s like Harley Quinn, but taken to another level.

2. Gaku - He freaks out way too much, and is constantly in a state of panic that makes me personally feel overwhelmed.

3. Shouma - The self loathing pity party was funny at first, but it wears thin pretty quickly.

All other characters I can tolerate, at the very least. In fact, Eito just developed significantly and I’ve unlocked his battle transformation. I find him to be pretty cool. I also enjoy Hiruko and her storyline. It’s just getting to that point where I know the characters will develop — that’s where I’m struggling.

I’ve been playing it, but I think I’m going to put it down. I’m on day 10, and while the story is compelling, I’m already starting to feel the game becoming repetitive. I’m also not vibing with any of the characters. I’m sure they will get better as you learn more about them and build your relationship up, but after 10 hours of play I’m more irritated by them than intrigued. Maybe I just need to get past that first hurdle, but we will see.

With all of that said, if it weren’t for the characters, I’d recommend this game. It has unique mechanics, a great story, and fun turn/grid base combat. There is a lot of depth to it, and genuine strategy; you can easily get wiped out if you’re not careful. I have gotten an S Rank on every battle I’ve done, though, and I’m not sure how.

This looks great! I played it on PS5 and loved it, and recently picked up a physical edition on Switch. I’m looking forward to this - it’ll be a nice palette cleanser for Doom The Dark Ages.

This looks and sounds absolutely stunning. I can’t wait for this and let’s Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.

This weekend I’m finally playing something different than what I have for the last month and a half. That said, I’ll provide a quick update.

The First Berserker: Khazan - I’m on the final boss, Ozma. I’m taking a hiatus momentarily because I’m feeling the burn out. I only have a handful of collectibles left to find. Once I do, and defeat him, I should get the platinum!

Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition - I finally beat the base game at the 86 hour mark. All characters were level 54-55, with max affinity with them all. It was an absolute sublime experience. The ending was fantastic, and the post credits scene was mind blowing. I’m going to put the game aside for a few days before I jump in to finish the epilogue, but right now I feel satiated. Overall, this has become my favorite RPG franchise. Can we get a sequel, please?

As for what I’m playing now, my time is being consumed by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. What a debut from Sandfall Interactive. I haven’t been this enamored with a turn-based RPG in quite some time — sorry, Metaphor — and this game hits all of the correct notes.

Funnily enough, Clair is your quintessential RPG. You will find wall of your typical tropes — “chests” at the end of offbeat paths, acquiring party members, traversing a world map, having campouts in the wild, skill trees, and boss fights at the end of the dungeon; however, all of these puzzle pieces that define this genre are presented in a unique fashion, making it feel fresh. It’s hard to do that with a game — redefining a genre that other developers will take inspiration from.

You immediately get an ominous feeling as soon as the game begins. The world is vibrant, but the tone and inhabitants are somber. Life is getting shorter for its residents, and people are trying to end this cycle of death. While doing so, the world building comes into play. Philosophical questions are raised by the looming presence of death, quite literally, and how people live their lives are always in debate. Why bring children into this world when they may not live but only a few years? How can you be content seeing your fate in the distance? The game may be fantastical in set dressing, but the characters and human nature are entirely relatable. I won’t provide any story spoilers, but let’s just say it’s as depressing, yet compelling as the premise sounds.

Where the game truly shines is in its combat. This game might just feature the best turn-based combat in any (J)RPG ever made. Every party member has a unique set of skills that are very useful. Moreover, it keeps you engaged because it’s not as simple as “press x and attack” every time when discovering the enemies weakness. You’re involved the entire time because you can dodge enemy attacks, and there is even a parry mechanic that lets you counter attack if successful, similar to Sekiro. Some attacks require you to jump over an attack. Meanwhile, there are QTE’s that enhance your attacks if performed at the correct time. There is so much depth, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of it.

I can’t stop thinking about this game. It’s truly a masterclass in nearly every facet. GOTY material? Expedition: Yes.

I’m so glad this game turned out great! It comes out two days after my birthday so I will definitely be getting myself a gift.

That’s very impressive, and I’m curious to see how the game ultimately performs on S2. I doubt I’ll pick it up since I own it on PS5 and got the platinum, but it is a damn good game worth playing.

I think it depends on the game and the intent from the developer. It may be convenient to not have fall damage — and it feels super satisfying in Xenoblade Chronicles Z — but it could also break immersion. It’s a design choice, and also depends on the game. As you stated, it would be weird if Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t have fall damage. The same would be true with other games.

This weekend I’m continuing my journey in The First Berserker: Khazan. I’m on the second to last boss fight, and damn has it been rough getting to this point. There have been times where I’ve spent hours upon hours with a single boss, but it is so rewarding once you achieve victory.

Funnily enough, my wife — not a gamer whatsoever — makes fun of me (in good spirit) because every time she comes out of the office (she works from home), she always seems to appear when I die and the screen says “Khazan Has Fallen”. She has asked me numerous of times if I’ve even left that screen 😬

Meanwhile, I’m on the final chapter of Xenoblade Chronicles X. My goal is to mop up the final remaining side quests and affinity missions. I’m genuinely in love with this game, and am always continuing to be impressed by its scope and depth, particularly in exploration and combat. This entry has become tied with XC1 as my favorite in the franchise.

As for what’s next on the docket — Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is my main focus. I originally played it on Game Pass and was immediately enthralled. I decided to double dip and pick up the deluxe version on PS5. I’m hoping to get the platinum sense the Xbox version had buggy achievements. We will see if the PS5 version has the kinks all ironed out.

This sounds like an immediate GOTY contender for me. I love Blasphemous, and this seems like the perfect evolution of everything they’ve learned. I’m so glad to see Ninja Gaiden make a return with a developer who has a passion for this franchise.

This is my most anticipated game this year. I’m glad the preview is very positive. 2D Ninja Gaiden is back! I’m looking forward to buying the physical version.

I can’t wait for this! It comes out a few days before my birthday and I’ll definitely be picking it up as a gift for myself. I might even do a physical version — something I rarely do nowadays.

@Jester676 I can’t answer for the original poster, but I found the game to be boring as well. I thought the open world was empty - though I understood why for story reasons - and when you did stumble upon something, it was always a shrine. After a while, that discovery wore thin. I dislike BoTW quite a bit, but I’m glad others find it enjoyable. As for ToTK, that’s one of my all time favorite games and made exploration feel rewarding. You never knew what you were going to uncover. An in-depth cave system, underground areas, and so forth.

I agree wholeheartedly with this write-up. Monolith Soft is incredible at creating vast open worlds that beckon to be explored. Moreover, the maps they create are one giant world, with biomes and indigen lifeforms, all in a seamless transition with no loading times. You feel like you are part of their worlds. I can’t wait to see how they utilize the power of the Switch 2.

I’m honestly surprised that Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is an unwanted game by a large percentage. It’s an incredible game, and one of my all time favorites. It’s worth experiencing.

This is still one of my favorite Switch games, but I totally forgot about their DLC plans. I hope it actually comes to fruition, and sooner rather than later.

My gaming weekend is going to consist of the same games as the last several weeks: Xenoblade Chronicles X and The First Berserker. I’ve made significant progress in the latter, with only three main bosses remaining. The game is tough as nails, but fair. It’s easily the best Hardcore ARPG of the year. As for XBX, it’s really starting to impress me more and more, and becoming one of my favorites in the franchise.

Game Boy Advance takes the cake for me, but I do think the Switch 2 has a strong line-up. We also have to remember that the first year of a console is considered the window for a launch title. If you look at it from that perspective, the OG Switch and GameCube are fantastic.

I might give this a go at some point. It’s odd, I am very turned off by the graphical art style. I was back when it released and I still am now, which is peculiar because I’m generally a fan of this kind of pixel design.

I really don’t know if I like this new form of physical media. I can appreciate the innovation, but it diminishes the concept of a tangible item. With that said, I initially didn’t like the Nintendo Switch 2 cases — the concept art and logo seems too spaced out — but it’s growing on me quite a bit.

Beggars can’t be choosers, so I’ll take what I can get. That said, I would prefer a remake or an HD version. But where is Twilight Princess? Surely that has to come to the service at some point.

This weekend is all about The First Berserker: Khazan. I’m roughly 60% through the game and intend on getting the platinum trophy. Will it be possible? I’m not sure, but I believe so. My first playthrough is on normal difficulty — the highest there is — and doing a no summon run, whilst completing every side quest.

TFB plays like Sekiro and has the level design and combat of NiOH. With that said, I think this game balances all three of those comparisons and forms its own identity. It’s not reliant on its parrying similar to Sekiro, or any other gameplay element in From Software’s library. As a result, it succeeds in all of those components, it feels like it stands toe-to-toe with any game in this genre.

I absolutely love this game despite how difficult it can be at times. In fact, there have been two or three boss fights that genuinely had me questioning if I could really persevere. In some instances I was stuck on a boss fight for an entire day, tempted to change the difficulty or quitting entirely.

However, the beauty of this game is learning patterns with each attempt. Eventually, those hardest bosses can turn into a no damage encounter almost. I know these types of games — Soulslike — aren’t for everyone, and the punishment can be less fun; but if you are a fan of this genre then I encourage you to give this game a go.

Aside from that, I’m still slowly chipping away in Xenoblade Chronicles X. I’m doing an affinity mission here, a side quest there, and some story missions interspersed between them. I’ve made it to chapter six and things are heating up. I’m very excited to receive my Skell and see how much it changes the gameplay.

@Ulysses If I’m not mistaken, Nintendo said before, or maybe shortly after ToTK released, that it wouldn’t be getting an expansion. To set up expectations for something that has been stated as not happening and being disappointed that it hasn’t occurred despite knowing the answer is kind of on you.

This sounds so good. I wish we could lock in a release date.

This looks so crisp and was quite a standout in terms of power for the Switch 2. I’m not sure when I’ll pick up the new console — life, bills, and a brand new car is getting in the way — but this will be one of the first games I get, if the release date is soon, that is.

Awesome news, IMO. And the specs are insane for a Switch 2 game. I wish we could get a real firm release date, unless I missed it somewhere.

That’s wild and will be huge system seller. Congrats on Nintendo!

I own both of these games already so I won’t pick this one up. For those who haven’t played this series, I strongly recommend it — at the very least try Octopath Traveler 2. I think it’s one of the finest RPGs ever made. The first one had interesting concepts, but it was too much of a slog. Everything that was wrong in the first game was remedied and bettered upon in the sequel. It’s simply chef kiss!

It’s a 9/10 for me. As I mentioned in my post in the “What are you playing” yesterday, I think the affinity mission structure is unbalanced and misleading, and it’s even worse that you can’t do any other quest — story included — until you complete the mission. And since some of the quests take you to locations that you are clearly unprepared for despite the quest mentioning what level you’re recommended to be, it can be daunting and frustrating. It’s almost designed in a way for you to not do side quests or anything until you progress way further in the story or after you beat the game, but my OCD doesn’t operate that way.

All of that said, the game is really freaking fun, and stands toe to toe with my other favorite in the franchise, Xenoblade Chronicles 1.

This weekend I’m playing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. I’ve just reached chapter five. The gameplay, character development, and story are picking up traction. I’m looking forward to where the story is heading.

I do have a complaint. There seem to be many constraints starting affinity missions and having Heart-to-Heart moments with your party members. Sometimes, these objectives will make themselves known early; for example - one mentions, “Complete chapter 11” before starting, yet I’m only on the fifth chapter. Why even present the quest on the hub then?

An adjacent grievance to my first complaint are the missions themselves. Once you begin an affinity quest you cannot cancel it or proceed with any other quests. You are committed until the very end. This wouldn’t be of much concern except that oftentimes the quest, despite providing a recommended level to be at, will take you to locations you are clearly not meant to be at, and can perish at any second.

I know the world is designed so it feels like a living and breathing world — wildlife ranging in level are roaming around in their natural habitat, weather anomalies, and more. I can appreciate the mechanic, but it also hinders progress significantly. This could be remedied if you were able to continue doing story quests while having an active affinity quest, but you can’t.

Other than that, the game is absolutely fantastic.

I also preordered The First Berserker: Khazan, primarily due to early access, having three days off work, and wanting something to pass the time. I have been playing for the last couple of days and I’m quite impressed.

This looks beautiful. I’m really curious as to how the new ability will be implemented into the puzzles and the other Metroid trappings regarding abilities. I’m definitely buying this day one.

@YaGirlSkyByte That’s what I’m wondering too. Maybe this means that the use of a “primary console” won’t be necessary if you have, say, a base Nintendo Switch and a Switch Lite. That will be useful for sure.