Kraven

This weekend I’m playing Diablo IV (Xbox Series X). I finally beat The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom after 120+ hours, and it has gone down as my favorite game of all time. I obviously haven’t done everything in the game - but I’ll come back to it after a well deserved break.

As for Diablo IV - this is such a great game. I’m surprised by how well it functions right out of the gate. It seems quite balanced in its current state, so I’m interested in seeing how future patches and updates tinker that.

I’m really liking the darker and grittier tone of this game more than I did in Diablo 3, all the while keeping 3’s combat in this game. It’s the best of both worlds. I’m currently playing as a Rogue, and I’m pleased by how fun this class can be. It has such an insane amount of options for the build of your preference. I enjoy being able to attack from a distance, or be up close and personal. If you choose the right skill abilities from the start, you will never be at a disadvantage regardless of your play style.

Overall, I’ve been eating good the past month. Diablo IV will no doubt keep my entertained for months to come. So, bring on Hell, baby.

This weekend I’m still playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I had to take a four day hiatus since last Friday due to work and family obligations, but I was finally able to pick it back up yesterday, and I made some fun progress.

So far, I’m roughly 80hrs in. I’ve finally unlocked the entire base map and have completed all of the main dungeons/temples. I’ve gotta say - the temple in Gerudo Town was absolutely brilliant. I loved the entire quest line.

Regardless of the hours I’ve poured in, I’m still being surprised by little secrets here and there. In fact, I randomly found the auto-build feature, which in itself was a fun discovery. And with this unearthing, it brings forth two more quests that are extremely valuable to you.

Speaking of, I have fully upgraded my Purah Pad, found the last geoglyph I needed, and retrieved the Master Sword - a quest that simply gave me chills. I’ve also restored The Lost Woods and The Great Deku Tree, bested Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan, and unlocked all memories.

Now it’s time to fight Ganondorf, but before I do I’m going to spend more time in the depths and explore more mysterious things down there. I’m also planning on obtaining each domain’s prized weapon(s) by scouring for diamonds, and tackling side quests.

Overall, I’m simply blown away by how deep this game is, and how there are mysteries around every corner that continuously amaze me. Here is to another week of playing this masterpiece.

I’m still playing the fantastic The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. My affinity for this game has only increased over time — it’s a masterpiece, and will go down as one of, if not the best game of all time.

I just discovered the auto-build feature, and it has come in handy tremendously. Furthermore, the quest to obtain this ability was incredibly fun, and I happened to stumble upon it by happenstance.

Speaking of quests, the main objectives are truly a joy. I’ve been tackling them a little bit more, and reaching the Water Temple was a real blast — literally. That said, some of the initial quests with the Zora was a little confusing with not a lot of context.

Furthermore, I’m 50 hours in, and I’m still experiencing new things. Last night, I discovered a really cool shrine in a unique way. I found this sky island that had a device that you could interact with. Nearby had a shield that is literally meant for sledding. If you activate it, it creates a green orb that you can sled down and through, and it becomes a relay race of sorts. If you manage to pass through all of the circles without them disappearing it will turn into a shrine to explore.

Overall, I’m still taking my time with this game. I’m continuing making notes and reveling in all of its brilliant glory - and being blown away by the game nearly every second, and around every corner.

I do like classic dungeons, but I’m also really impressed with the modern dungeons, in particular ToTK. It feels more grand, and I like how they can be solved in numerous of ways if you set your mind to it.

With that said, I actually found a really cool shrine that has a classic dungeon feel. I don’t want to spoil how to solve it, you do can obtain a small key from a chest to unlock another area. I found it to be a cool nod to the classic dungeon design.

I’m at about the 35 hour mark and I’ve literally done nothing, yet I’ve done a lot. I know that’s essentially a catch 22, but it’s true. I’ve done two temples (or dungeons, in this case), a handful of shrines, a few side quests here and there, and collected numerous korok seeds.

Honestly, I’m just letting the game come to me, which is rare because I tend to start with a clear objective but with this game, I’m simply exploring and letting the discovery come naturally. I don’t have any quest highlighted or anything. If I just so happen to stumble upon a main quest, so be it; if I find a side quest, perfect; if I find a cave or shrine, I tackle it. I find it much more immersive that way.

As of right now, I have a ton of awesome armor that I discovered in amazing ways. This was an awesome surprise. Even more-so, considering that all of my armor I’ve discovered protects me from each kind of region (cold, hot, thunder, etc.).

I’ve also taken a TON of notes on my phone. I did this with Elden Ring. Any cool location, discovery, cave, or what have you that I’ve found, I write it down. I do this not only for reminders to go back to certain locations, but also because there are an ample amount of amazing things that happen that are really cool memories, and I like to discuss them with friends. That may sound silly, but it’s something I really enjoy.

This weekend is dedicated to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I apologize in advance if this is long and tedious.

I have spent 20hrs + in this game and I haven’t done much of anything yet (I’ve wanted to spend more time with it, but alas, I work full time and I’m married with a child) which is not a bad thing. I’ve done a handful of shrines, completed one main quest after receiving the paraglider - the one involving the Hebra Mountains. Other than that, I’ve done nothing but explore and experience the game at my own pace, in my own unique and personal expedition.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it - this might be the greatest game ever made, and that is surprising to me because I was lukewarm on BoTW. Here, the majority of elements that I wasn’t keen on in BoTW have been revamped with something I thoroughly enjoy: rewarding exploration. In the first game, exploration wasn’t exciting because all it led to was a shrine, or a treasure chest that had five arrows in it, but it took a lot of work to get it. The risk vs. reward wasn’t worth it.

In this game, exploration is so much more rewarding. You can discover caves and wells, some of which contain side quests, shrines, and extra areas to explore if you look closely for destructible walls; or just an enchanting view that creates an innate reaction to reach that location but you’ll end up getting sidetracked because there is a mystery around every corner that is provided a genuine sense of wonder. Everything seems to have depth and layers to it the more you peel away at it.

I want to bring up a slight spoiler. I was exploring a location near a sky view tower. It’s a well hidden cave. As I trekked my way down to the bottom I discovered a shrine. It was on the other side of the cave, upon a ledge you’d have to climb up to. When I jumped down to make my way forward, I got ambushed by a group of gloom hands. I panicked, of course, and used a lot of my weapons and arrows to dismantle them. I thought, “That was tough, but I pulled through, despite losing a few hearts to the gloom.” Immediately after killing them, a boss fight triggered and it was a Phantom Ganon that was in the form of the gloom.It was such a surprising moment - an Elden Ring-ish type of discovery - that blew me away.

And these types of moments keep happening. Again. And again. This game is a GOAT. The Last of Us has always been my favorite game of all time, and I never thought anything could surpass it due to how I connected to it on so many different levels - but ToTK might overtake that spot, which is wild because I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game.

This weekend I had planned on continuing my journey through the epic Star Wars Jedi Survivor but c’mon - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom overshadows any other game at the moment.

As someone who was disappointed by BoTW, everything about ToTK somehow managed to excite me. Thankfully, my initial issues with the former seems to be remedied in this sequel - and the way reviews have been indicating, it seems as if this open world is similar in nature to Elden Ring. Add proper dungeons to the mix and a supposedly emotional story, then you have me hooked.

So far, I’ve played a few hours and it’s fantastic. While it may be a little same-y in terms of the tutorial, I still consider it better than BoTW. Personally, I find it to have the best intro in a LoZ game; it was dark, mysterious, and yet charming all at once. Overall, the abilities are simply much more fun to use, and the fusion capability is ingenious.

In terms of what comics I’ve read, the list isn’t much. I finished Frank Miller’s Daredevil Born Again and found it to be exceptional. I’m now jumping into Chip Zdarsky’s run. I’m currently on the third volume and absolutely loving it.

This week I have completed Dead Island 2. As of right now, it’s in my top five for the GOTY discussion, behind Hi-Fi Rush, Octopath Traveler 2, and RE4 Remake. I really enjoyed the game from start to finish.

My only issue with the game is its lack of guidance on some side quests. Oftentimes, I was left wondering where to go to advance the plot, and it broke my immersion. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic game.

As for the weekend, I shockingly have the place to myself for two days because my wife and child will be out of town. This will be perfect to finally start Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox Series X).

I’ve also been reading more comics and graphic novels. I’m really enjoying the #1 issues of the new Dawn of DC. Most recently read was Shazam #1 which was wonderful.

Keeping it in the DC family, Peacemaker Tries Hard! #1 was brilliant and I’m looking forward to this current run, along with the upcoming Green Lantern and Titans run.

I also recently finished Kevin Smith’s Daredevil Guardian Devil and it was absolutely brilliant, and quite possibly one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. I’m now reading Frank Miller’s Daredevil Born Again, and then I’ll be moving on to Chip Zdarsky’s run into this superhero.

This weekend I’m playing Dead Island 2. The game is simply dumb fun. Sometimes, I’d rather play a solid 15-20hr linear experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously instead of an emotionally gripping narrative driven game, or a long winded RPG. I’m having a lot of fun with the game, and I find the flesh system quite grotesque and impressive all at once. I’m really looking forward to finishing this one.

I do want to play Star Wars Jedi: Survivor but with Redfall releasing soon, I don’t want to juggle too many games all at once. I’ll probably hold off until mid-summer or so. There are just too many games I’m interested in that are releasing so soon together.

As for my other hobby - I’ve read a few more graphic novels and comics. My list includes:

Batman: Hush
Watchmen
Local Man #1-3 (awesome new series!)

Green Arrow #1 (Dawn of DC) by Josh Williamson - It was very compelling for a first issue, and I’m excited to see what’s next. JW is a very good writer. Also: chainsaw arrow; that is all, folks.

All Eight Eyes #1
Worldtr33 #1
Alien #1
No/One #1

I have Frank Miller’s Daredevil: Born Again arriving in the mail soon. Once I read that I’m going to jump into Chip Dzarsky’s current run of DD. I have the first few volumes, and I’ll probably buy the rest until I’m caught up completely.

Today is my birthday, so this weekend my me and my wife are going out of town for celebration. We have all sorts of activities lined up — all thanks to her wonderful planning. It’s safe to say I won’t be playing any video games.

Shockingly, I haven’t played anything in over a week because my new hobby is keeping me occupied. That said, if I do play anything it will be Final Fantasy Pixel Remastered Collection (or, primarily FFVI) on the Nintendo Switch, or Dead Island 2 on the Series X. I’ve put two hours into the latter and it’s been fun so far.

I have also been continuing my journey of collecting and reading graphic novels and comics. So far, I have read:

Batman: Year One // The Dark Knight Returns // Batman: The Long Halloween (one of the greatest pieces of fiction I’ve ever read) // Batman: Dark Victory // TMNT: The Last Ronin

Comics I’ve read this week include:

Wasp #1 // Bloodlines Daughter of Blade #1-3 // Clear #1-2 // Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy #1 (2023) // Superman Dawn of DC #1-3 // The Seasons Have Teeth #1 // TerrorWar #1 - and the reason I have that in bold is because it’s quite possibly my new favorite comic, and I’m patiently waiting for the second issue. It features an fun and fantastic premise, and I’m intrigued to see how it turns out because I think it has the potential to be real special.

@MannequinRaces I just joined! It seems like a really cool community, and informative for a newbie like myself.

I have a feeling Vampire Survivors will be announced for the Switch. I hope so, anyway.

This weekend I’m not sure if I’ll play anything. I’ve been in a reading mood as of late. That said, I did manage to beat Signalis (Xbox Series X). It was fantastic, and one of the best survival horror games I’ve played in a long time, aside from RE4 Remake and Dead Space.

If I do play anything it will be Ryse: Son of Rome on the Xbox Series X. It’s been in my backlog for a long time, so this should tide me over until Star Wars: Jedi Survivor releases. From what I played, it’s pretty fun. I don’t expect much from it, but that’s okay for a short 6-8 hour experience.

As for what I’m reading comic(s) and graphic novel wise - TMNT: The Last Ronin has me hooked. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds, and how it fares in the AAA gaming space. I’m also going to be reading Batman: Court of Owls.

In terms of Batman stories, I have only read Frank Miller’s Batman Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. It’s an incredibly well written story, with superb artwork. I’m probably going to dive more deeply into his work, particularly with Daredevil. That said, next up on my reading list will be his take on Ronin.

I’m still a beginner, and learning the in’s and out’s of comics, runs, series, omnibus, and what-have-you; but I am learning and have finally come to a somewhat comfortable understanding of how things work in this field. I’m looking forward to when I can have good conversations about my new hobby, and possibly passion.

Holy cow - this trailer gave me chills. This is now looking like a proper sequel. May 12th can’t come soon enough.

This week(end) I finished my first playthrough of the Resident Evil 4 Remake (Xbox Series X). I may start a NG+ and unlock a few more achievements, but I doubt I’ll go for the 100% completion. That said, this will easily go down as one of my all time favorite games.

I have also started Signalis (Xbox Series X). What a gem of a game. I didn’t know if it would hold my attention considering I just beat an all time classic - but this game is punching way above its weight. I’m looking forward to diving deeper into the game.

Other than that, I might take a break from gaming this weekend and do some reading. I’ve been getting into graphic novels as of late - even if my wife thinks I’m a kid, she still supports my interests - and started with Batman Year One. So far, it’s outstanding.

I’m going to read TMNT: The Last Ronin next. I’ve heard this is an incredible story, and with the announcement of a AAA game set in this particular universe, my interest is piqued.

If anyone has any other suggestions for graphic novels to read for beginners (I’m just now starting), feel free to message me. I have Daredevil: Born Again and Infinity Gauntlet on my list to read soon, but I’m welcome to all kinds even if it isn’t superhero related.

This weekend I won’t be playing Octopath Traveler II because I finally beat the game. What an incredible game and even more fantastic experience. To me, the game belongs in the pantheon of the all-time great JRPGs. It will hands down go in my top 10 of all time in terms of RPGs.

My main game I’ll be focusing on is Resident Evil 4 Remake (Xbox Series X). I’m roughly halfway through the game and it has been wonderful so far.

What I’m impressed by the most is its level design and pacing. As a kid playing originally, these two things never interested me. Now that I’m older and can appreciate the finer things — I see how much difference the little things can make.

The level design is reminiscent of From Software’s Dark Souls series and beyond. Everything interconnects and it’s fascinating to see how it all comes together in an incredible layout, particularly with the castle. And the developers knew how to balance action and horror as you make your way through this backcountry side and ominous castle.There’s never too much of one or the other.

Overall, it’s a superb remake that I find to be essential. I’m glad the fond memories I have playing this game in the GameCube and PS2 era aren’t sullied — in fact, they are probably enhanced.

The last game I’ll be playing is Sifu (Xbox Series X). I recently watched John Wick 4, which is an amazing movie with some of the best fight scenes I’ve ever witnessed on film, so I’ve been in a brawler mood. And yes, I’ve watched The Raid 1 & 2 and The Man From Nowhere.

I played it originally on the PS5 and it quickly earned a spot in one of my favorite PlayStation games, but I never completed it due to Elden Ring releasing shortly thereafter. Now that it has come to Xbox, I decided to support developer Sloclap and purchase the game on this platform. It’s just as good as I remember, if not better.

This weekend I’m (still) playing Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). As soon as I thought I was getting fatigued after 70+ hours, I took a two day break from the game and felt recharged to tackle more stories. That statement alone has this as my current GOTY.

As of right now, I have completed two character stories and working on my third. I’m still taking my time—grinding, doing side quests, and exploring. In fact, I just discovered a few secret locations to unlock other jobs. I’m sure many people know about these already, but it was surprising to me considering I haven’t looked up any information in walkthroughs or by word of mouth. It was such a rewarding experience.

This is a game that simply keeps on giving. Hopefully, Square Enix will do the same and release the game on Xbox/Game Pass. OTII is a game that needs more attention because I truly believe it’s one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.

Aside from OPII, half of my attention will be focused on Resident Evil 4 Remake (Xbox Series X). I haven’t played this game since its original release approximately 16 or 17 years on the Nintendo GameCube and subsequently the PS2.

With it being so long since I’ve played this game, the two hours I sunk into the game last night has practically been a fresh experience for me. I’m on chapter 3 and it’s been fantastic so far. That said, I have several fond memories I will never forget, but I have forgotten when and where those moments occur, so I’m curious to see how it makes me react when I come across them again.

I’m still playing Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). With 65+ hours, I believe I’m nearing the end, I believe, having the 3rd and 4th chapters left of most characters. I did nothing but grind yesterday, so all of my characters are now level 60 or higher, so I’m going to push through the story now. The fatigue is starting to set in, however, as I want to get around playing some other games. That said, my opinion still hasn’t wavered: OP2 is one of the finest RPGs ever made.

I was going to get around to playing the plethora of games in my backlog, such as Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, Dead Space Remake, and a few others, but I saw that a new DLC campaign mission dropped for one of my favorite games, Sniper Elite 5, and I’ll be jumping back into that world. I find the game to be an utter masterpiece in stealth and level design, and the overall gameplay loop is addicting.

I also purchased Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion and Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo on the Nintendo Switch, so I’ll probably jump into that soon. All of these games mentioned should keep me plenty busy until The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Redfall releases.

I might pick up Crisis Core. That’s not a bad price at all.

This was a fantastic piece to read. Unfortunately for me, I just could not enjoy this game. I’ve made several attempts, putting in at least 5+ hours each time, and it just never hooked me. I’m glad that it has for other people. I’ll maybe try it again one day, and I’ll probably play Silksong when that comes out.

I dabbled in the Castlevania DLC for a few hours once I could pull myself away from Octopath Traveler 2, and it’s a fantastic mesh of Dead Cells rougelike gameplay and the 2D action platforming of Castlevania. It’s such a perfect pairing, and I’m surprised it took so long to consider the idea. I wonder if they will incorporate any other games into their product. I love reading the little book in the beginning that talks about Blasphemous, Hollow Knight, and all of those other games. It’s a hilarious nod.

I’m still deeply into Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). I’ve completed everyone’s second chapter, acquired all secondary jobs, purchased an expensive ship, and have beat a few “Crossed Paths” missions.

Right now, I’m very invested in Castti’s (The Apothecary) storyline. There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue around the one they call “Bonemender”. Also, I have Osvald’s (The Scholar) secondary class as a Warrior, and let me tell you—he’s OP.

Ultimately, I’m enamored with the game and yet to experience burnout, which is a testament to how brilliant I think the game is. Personally, I consider it one of the best JRPGs ever made, and I can’t pull myself away from the game even after 40+ hours. I’m looking forward to seeing where all of these character stories end up, and I have a feeling by the time it’s all said and done my playtime will be between 80-100+ hours.

The next game(s) on my list to play next are: Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, Dead Space Remake, Metroid Fusion, Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, and Resident Evil 4 Remake when it releases.

You’re doing the Skyward Sword Link dirty. That game is vastly underrated, and I find it to be one of the best Zelda games despite the repetitive nature near the end.

I’ll definitely be playing this in the immediate future. There are just too many games with too little time at the moment for me.

I can’t wait to play this … whenever I can genuinely pull myself away from Octopath Traveler 2.

It’s an easy 9/10 for me. The only thing really holding it back to becoming a 10 is the lack of information regarding completing some side quests. Some of them are quite vague. Aside from that, this game is an utter masterpiece, in my humble opinion.

Give me the puppers.

This weekend I was planning on splitting my time up between Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Octopath Traveler II but the latter is just too damn good, and I can’t pull myself away from it. This game has been consuming my thoughts even while I’m at work because I find it that good. And I know when I comment on this forum every week, I tend to write mini reviews. This week won’t be any different because I’m in awe of this game.

It has improved so much from its counterpart. For starters, all of the characters are fascinating and well realized. Their personalities really shine through minimal dialogue, and their motivations for the reason of their journey make sense.

Speaking of the core cast - I’m 20-hours in and I have acquired all characters, completed their opening chapter, and have unlocked the ability for a secondary job. And I’m not even remotely burned out, which is a feat in and of itself.

It’s unclear if these branching storylines will connect together to tell a singular cohesive story but it’s okay if they don’t because it’s the moment-to-moment gameplay along with strong character writing that has me coming back; not the overall narrative. Would it be nice if the game magically ties everything together? Yes; but it’s not something that will make me judge the game harshly unless it completely dismantles everything it has built.

One thing I love about OT2 is that it respects your time, particularly with NPC interactions. Oftentimes, you’ll find a lot of lengthy conversations that are ultimately meaningless and tiresome (I’m looking at you, Trails series). In this case, most NPCs have a single text bubble, or two at the most, all the while getting straight to the point and still managing to provide a good sense of world building. That is a testament to how brilliant the writing is in this game. The only downfall is, similarly to the first game, is that side quests are quite vague. I wish there was more direction on how to complete some of them.

Another aspect that I find fantastic is that it’s not overwhelming. All of the systems and mechanics are gradually introduced, and yet they aren’t convoluted at all. It’s one of those situations where you’ll get as much out of the game as you’re willing to put in, and if you dive deeply in you will be greatly rewarded.

Overall—though I haven’t completed the game yet, I think it’s an essential game for all JRPG fans. The combat is sublime; the soundtrack is fantastic; the characters and their personal stories are excellently written; and the game respects your time. All in all, if the game continues to impress me further down the line, I might consider this one of the best RPGs ever made.

This is great. It’s a shame this game didn’t get much coverage but it was primarily due to being overshadowed by Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West. It’s definitely a fantastic game worth playing, and I’m looking forward to trying out this new character.

This weekend I’m playing Like a Dragon: Ishin (PS5). I’ve always preferred this franchise over GTA, with Y0 being my most adored. I didn’t know what to actually expect from this latest remake/spinoff. I wasn’t entirely sold on the setting with the initial trailers and announcements leading up to its release; however, after putting in several hours already, I can say that if it keeps up this pace it’ll easily sit alongside Yakuza 0 as my favorite in this long running series.

I feel as if this franchise is one of the rare series of games that are consistently good, and can somehow intricately balance intense moments that fill you with adrenaline and heartfelt emotions, to humor and downright hilarity — and sometimes both all at once. One instance would be having a serious talk in a bathhouse, and subsequently fighting a certain individual bare naked.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the writers and sub-story designers should be creating the side content for Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation because their quirkiness and tone is essentially dad humor that molds right into Spider-Man personality and lightheartedness.

One thing I love about this franchise, and with this game particularly, is how it’s directed. There are some beautiful shots throughout the cutscenes and even in the moment-to-moment gameplay and dialogue between characters. It’s such a prominent staple in the Yakuza game, but more-so here because it makes you feel present with how it presents being a samurai in a western setting.

I also purchased Octopath Traveler 2 (Nintendo Switch). It’s rare when I buy a physical copy of a game these days — I prefer digital, but I own the first game physically and the artwork is superb. I’ve played an hour of it; I chose Hikari as my starter, and it’s great so far. I thoroughly loved the combat in the first game but found the story convoluted and overall repetitive. Hopefully, this one will remedy those two concerns, and from what I’ve read in several reviews, the characters are much better written than the previous installment.

@mnakoff That’s what I’m wondering. I’m hoping you’ll be able to unlock the character for the entirety of the DLC after finding the secret level.

This looks so freaking good. I can’t wait for my return to Dead Cells … and Castlevania.

I finally beat Metroid Prime (Remastered) for the very first time. It’s such a fantastic game. That said, I do have a love/hate relationship with one aspect of the game: Obscure artifacts. I appreciate that the game makes you utilize every single ability, weapon, and visor at your disposal, but some of the items you need to collect are vague, primarily the artifact located at Phendara’s Edge. There is no way my 12-year-old self could have beaten this game when it originally released on the Nintendo GameCube.

One thing I absolutely adore about the game, however, is the tone it sets. It really makes you feel that Samus is essentially a stranger on an alien world; and I found it really special that you’re learning about the world at the same time as your character. It made me feel like a scientist in a sense — scanning artifacts, computers, enemies, and the environment to understand what’s transpiring on this planet. It was masterfully done.

Now that I’ve completed Prime, a part of me wants to do another run in Metroid Dread, but I also want to jump back in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I put roughly sixty hours into the game when it first released, and got near the end of the game (late chapter five), but I haven’t touched the game since late September. I got real busy with life and wedding planning, so I put it aside. I’ll more than likely start a fresh playthrough.

I just found out if you pre-order (Yakuza) Like a Dragon: Ishin! you can play the game early. Considering reviews being favorable, and Yakuza 0 being one of my all time favorite games, I think this is what I’ll be delving into over the weekend. I’m only an hour into it, but so far it’s great.

Dang, this was a very early review embargo, but I’m not complaining. I’ll definitely be picking this up once it releases. I’ve been needing a good RPG since the brilliant Chained Echoes.

I’m going to have to replay this game. I got nearly to the end (mid chapter 5), but I got distracted with life things that was consuming all of my free time. I haven’t played the game since early September. I’m thinking I’m going to start completely over and go in fresh again.

10/10 for me. The atmosphere is phenomenal, and the moment or moment gameplay never gets stale.

@theModestMouse What does age have to do with anything? A good game is a good game regardless of how old it is.

Tetris is old as hell, but it’s arguably one of the greatest games of all time. It’s essentially flawless in its design.

I haven’t finished the first game — I didn’t have the patience to deal with getting lost and trying to figure my way around. There are some metroidvania’s that I can deal with while getting lost, but this one just wasn’t one of them. Maybe one day I’ll give the game another chance because it’s not bad by any means; just wasn’t for me.

This weekend I was planning on playing Hogwarts Legacy. I’ve been going through it since Monday morning and it’s been fun. It hasn’t grabbed my attention fully yet; I think it has to do with being overwhelmed on how big Hogwarts castle really is. And then the Nintendo Direct happened.

I’m now currently playing Metroid Prime Remastered. I’ve never played this beloved trilogy when it released on the GameCube and subsequently the Wii, but I do enjoy this franchise. I’ve gotta say — this game is fantastic.

Tonally, the game is superb, and the atmosphere is breathtaking. It has a genuine sci-Fi feeling. A lot of FPS’s have trouble making you feel like you’re in a different world altogether. Halo did it remarkably well, and Prime has achieved it in spades. You feel like an alien in a beautifully crafted but mysterious world itself, yet slowly empowered by collecting upgrades.

The other game I’m going to be playing is The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. This is the one LoZ game I never got to play as a kid, so I can’t have to have a fresh experience. I’ve been told it’s one of the best Zelda games overall, and that has me excited because I thoroughly enjoy the top-down view more than the 3D-model games.

I really can’t wait to see how this journey pans out for both of these games. I was needing a (new for me) Nintendo-esque pick-me-up game after being very disappointed with Fire Emblem Engage. And there is always something special about a really well crafted Nintendo game that Sony and Xbox can’t quite capture. I’ll be spending lots of time with this and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap this weekend.

I never played the original Prime Trilogy, but I understand if you worked hard on something, regardless of how big or small your contributions were, you’d like to be acknowledged and have your work represented authentically. I can’t fault the guy.

That said, I’m playing the first game now, and I’m in love with the game so far. Tonally, the game is superb. It has a genuine sci-Fi feeling. A lot of FPS’s have trouble making you feel like you’re in a different world altogether. Halo did it remarkably well; and this one has done it in spades, too.

The game also controls magnificently and looks gorgeous to boot. I’m playing strictly in handheld mode and haven’t ran into a single issue with frame rate or stuttering.

I really can’t wait to see how this journey pan out. I was needing a (new for me) Nintendo-esque pick-me-up game after being very disappointed with Fire Emblem Engage. I’ll be spending lots of time with this and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap this weekend.

I’m buying this as soon as I see it on the eShop.

I’d honestly give it a 5 or 6/10. I find it average at best. While the combat is great, everything else is not. I have not been even remotely invested in any of the characters or story. After each battle, exploring and talking to teammates doesn’t provide much growth either. It also doesn’t help that I just find the character design models and overall art style a little too cheap. The Somniel simply feels empty and tacked on. And the writing is very poor, in my opinion of course.

I really wanted to like this game, but I just couldn’t. I got to chapter 8 and I couldn’t stomach it anymore. This is a shame considering my love for Awakening and 3H. I’m glad many people are enjoying it, though!

It’s nice to see it in the number one spot. This franchise has come a long way since Awakening. That being said - I do not like Engage at all, and that’s sad to say considering I’m a big fan of the franchise. It is honestly one of the most generic games I’ve ever played, particularly from a Nintendo franchise. The characters are boring, not memorable at all, and their design is very off putting. Seriously, who made the hair and thought, “This looks amazing!”. The only thing good about this game is the combat, but even then, it can’t save the rest of the game that is lacking in all facets. Oh well.

Yeah, I’ve spent a few more hours with this game and I’m honesty regretting my purchase. I’m at chapter six and I’ve been bored to death. Outside of combat, nothing is done well. The characters are not memorable; the dialogue is cheesy; exploring around the Somniel is lifeless; and the entire game seems hollow. It’s almost as if the game was designed for small children rather than a wide age audience. I’ll stick with Awakening and Three Houses and older 3DS games.

@Expa0 I found that out on accident last night. The problem is, I sort of have OCD, and I will beat myself up if I skip over story stuff. I’ve always been that way. Haha.

I am wanting to like this game so bad, and although the combat is top tier, I cannot stand the art style and corny dialogue. Seriously, the writing is so bad. I’m trying to push through, though. I’m on chapter 4 and I’ll be giving the game a few more chapters to see if it will win me over.

This weekend I’m mainly playing NieR: Automata on the Nintendo Switch. I originally played the game on the base PS4 when it first released, and the fact I can now play this game (strictly) in handheld is a miracle. I completed it once but didn’t do any subsequent play throughs, so I’m determined to do that this time around to get the full story of what is considered a masterpiece in the medium.

I’ll also be dabbling into Fire Emblem Engage. I bought it, but I’m still relatively hesitant on it overall. The story seems to be hit or miss for some, along with the characters, but the age-old motto is present: Gameplay is king, and Engage apparently has some of the best combat, if not the best, in the entire series. That said, I hope the story will grip me. Unfortunately, the thing that really sets me off from being completely invested is the character models and presentation — it looks way too mobile-y.

I also purchased Persona 3 Portable on the Nintendo Switch. P4G is one of my favorite games of all time, and P5R is just as good - but I’ve never played P3. I was thinking about playing the game via Xbox Game Pass, but I can’t pass up the convenience and portability. I’m looking forward to getting sucked into another masterful JRPG.

I do want to start up Marvel’s Midnight Suns again. I went through the tutorial and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I found it a little too difficult when I had to rescue Blade. That’s probably my inability to really grasp the mechanics. The Deadpool DLC really has me excited to jump back into the game.

Edit: I’ve spent a couple of hours in Fire Emblem Engage so far and it’s quite excellent combat wise. It runs incredibly smooth in handheld mode as well. I’m still turned off by the character models and presentation — it really feels cheap to me. I much prefer the design from 3H and the pixel art/Nintendo 3DS games. I’m hoping that I’ll simply get used to it but it’s something I can’t shake yet. Aside from that, the game is fantastic.

@negw Like how in Eastward, that girl in chapter 2 basically fell in love with Jon the very first day and it was poorly represented? That nearly killed my motivation to continue to game — awful pacing and character development with some of them.

@Kriandis Yep! I have a feeling I’ll be calling her by that name more-so than what it actually is. Surely the developers knew people were going to think that when they created the character and her name. Lol.

My goodness, not only does this game look like it’ll be a much better sequel, but it has some of, if not the best artwork I’ve ever seen in a game before.