Kraven

This weekend I’m back to the Sniper Elite 5 (Xbox Series X) grind. I played the game when it first released last year and loved it, but eventually moved on to other games. Now that I’m back, I’m tackling the DLC and collectibles I missed prior. I adore this game from top to bottom. I’ve seen some people finish the game in 8-10 hours and that blows my mind. I spend about two hours plus in one map alone, taking my time and exploring, methodically planning my kills, hiding all bodies without being seen, etc.

The level design is also superb, and each map is a huge sandbox that lets you approach how you tackle objectives. As you explore the map — if that’s how you decide to play — you’ll uncover a plethora of stuff: New starting locations, collectibles, intel that will lead to other objectives, great sniping locations, and more.

The DLC maps are just as fun and well thought out. I can see Rebellion took a page from the recent Hitman games and added more way to kill your target(s), and Hitler. You can use poison, dropping chandeliers, etc.; SE5 may not have the same depth as those games, but I think it most certainly plays better mechanically.

People can scoff at this if they want - I think this game is absolutely essential. To me, I find it to be one of the very best stealth games ever made.

I’m also playing the first great game of 2023: Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider (Nintendo Switch). Games like this are why I bought a Switch to begin with. The 16-bit pixel art is sublime, and really nails down the retro games from a time past. With that said - some of the controls do feel a little unresponsive at times, but maybe it’s because I don’t have a firm grasp on the combat and traversal mechanics just yet. But the upgrades are fantastic, and really remind me of the gem of a game: Cyber Shadow.

Nonetheless, I’m having a fantastic time with the game. I was a big fan of Blazing Chrome, and I’m glad to see this game delivered and then some. I’ll be playing this title for a while due to the replayability with acquiring all collectibles and ending the level with a good ranking score.

I finally beat Chained Echoes (Xbox Series X), and I consider the game to be an absolute masterpiece. It’s one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in a very long time. I have a feeling this will be a game I play annually, probably around the Christmas time.

What I find so fascinating about the game is how there are many characters in the game and many join your party; however, they all have fleshed out backstories and motivations. Hell, even a particular merchant that is an NPC - if you talk to him every new place you visit, you’ll discover his history. Furthermore, their storylines get concluded as well. The fact that one individual made this game blows my mind. I can see why it took seven years to develop. The creator, Matthias Linda, really took his time with the writing and it shows in spades. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

I’m not sure what I want to start next. I have a plethora of games to choose from: Prodeus, Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion (say that five times fast), Signalis, and Marvel Midnight Suns. The latter is tempting and calling my name, but we will see. I don’t want to start a super lengthy game because I want my focus to be on the Dead Space remake when it releases.

I won’t be playing much because I’ll be out of town with my wife for the holidays, but with the little time I do get I’ll be continuing my journey through Chained Echoes (Xbox Series X). I think it’s official for me - this is my GOTY. It continues to get better and better, and it’s a wonderful blend of Chrono Trigger, FFVI, and the Dragon Quest games. To me, it’s one of the best JRPG’s in the last five years or more.

Other than that, I am dabbling in Midnight Fight Express (Xbox Series X). I wanted something to play that was primarily gameplay oriented and this game has not disappointed in that regard. It’s a mix between Sifu and Hotline Miami, with combat similar to the Batman Arkham games.

There’s a lot of replayability, with tons of challenges to complete, skills to unlock, and various outfits to procure. My only complaint is the amount of dialogue — not voice acted, by the way — that you have to continue to skip manually, and it is constantly interrupting your fighting throughout the level. If it wasn’t for that, I would absolutely love this game even more. With that said, it’s definitely worth a play if you enjoy isometric beat-‘em-ups.

This weekend I’m playing Chained Echoes on my Xbox Series X via Game Pass. I’m nearing the end of Act 1, and I have got to say - this game is phenomenal and deserves more attention. It’s essentially a love letter to throwback SNES JRPGs. It’s best compared to Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI in that regard.

The combat is fantastic and is always evolving in unique ways as the game progresses. There is also an overdrive meter that (admittedly some people aren’t a fan of, but I am) creates a nice strategic balance in combat. It’s one of those mechanics that really keeps each combat encounter engaging rather than spamming the same action prompt. When it comes to combat, you acquire SP points after the battle and those can be used to upgrade your skills since traditional leveling up via experience points isn’t a component in this game.

As you roam the world, you’ll collect items and come across battles that will reward you - kill this amount of enemies; receive this prize, and this will give you material to craft different gems to put into your weapon and armor to make you stronger. Everything has a propose.

Furthermore, the game offers an incredible amount of lore. The first few hours of the game creates a sense of scope, and builds on its world and characters. And, as many typical JRPG tropes do, there’s a variety of characters that have intertwined stories and they all eventually connect and create a party. However, it’s their back stories and motivations that really create more than a one note character. With that said, I wish there was more emphasis on character expressions and reactions when something occurs.

Other than that quibble, there is not much that is wrong with this game, including the great soundtrack - a must have staple in any classic JRPG. I hope more people play this game and review it. Those who have critiqued the game have praised it tremendously. It’s definitely a diamond in the ruff and a true hidden gem.

I just got back from my honeymoon in Cancun Friday evening, so I’m mainly recouping. If I do find the energy, it’ll be spent unpacking and cleaning up the house after all the wedding charades and decorations.

That said, I am playing Chained Echos on Xbox Game Pass. This is quite the fantastic JRPG that is highly reminiscent of classic games from the SNES era. The world and story building are wonderfully done, and the combat is also spectacular. And it’s not a great JRPG without a killer soundtrack, and this game does not disappoint. I’m really looking forward to spending more time in this well-crafted world.

Aside from that, I’ll still be doing my normal runs here and there in Vampire Survivors. And, the fact that the game is now on mobile, my addiction is only going to be further amplified.

Speaking of rouge-likes, with the announcement of Hades II, I decided to go back to an old save file of the first game and complete some more escapes. What a masterpiece of a game this is - from the well written characters, impeccable voice acting, and the sheer fun factor - I can’t wait to see what the sequel holds.

This weekend I’m playing God of War Ragnarok (PS5). I’m roughly twenty hours in, and the game continues to get better and better. There have been several genuinely surprising story turns, and I can’t wait to see how this particular story ends. And knowing that I’m only 25-30% through the game and there is so much more to the game that I’ve yet to uncover has me very excited. I haven’t been this gripped to a game in a very long time.

Another game I’ll be playing if I can pull myself away from GoWR is Halo Infinite via cooperative on legendary difficulty with my best friend. We grew up playing every single Halo together, and we typically play through the first three games together once a year.

I have to say, Infinite has amazing cooperative play. I know the splitscreen debacle was a mess. It’s a shame it’s not actually a feature and that it took way too long to add cooperative play online - something that should be a basic feature - but it’s amazing now that it’s here. With the open world structure, you can approach missions in a variety of ways that make it a total blast to play. As of right now, Infinite is my favorite Xbox Series X game.

I’m hoping I can platinum God of War Ragnarok, beat Halo Infinite cooperatively on Legendary, buy Evil West for the Series X when it releases in a couple of days, and complete that game before I get married on December 3rd, and go on my week long honeymoon.

This weekend I have the house to myself while my fiancé is out of town. I officially finished my first playthrough of A Plague Tale: Requiem on Xbox Series X. So far, it’s my game of the year. We will see how that stands once God of War Ragnarok releases.

The story is amazing, and all of the emotional beats have hit me significantly. This is even more poignant by the incredible performance from Charlotte McBurney. Speaking of emotional - holy hell, Chapter 12 was absolutely gut wrenching, terrifying, and downright shocking. I won’t give away any spoilers, but it is an experience that video games rarely ever tread.

With that said, the game isn’t without its faults. For me, I found the stealth mechanics rather poorly optimized. This was made all the more irritating due to outdated level design and invisible walls. Moreover, a lack of resources would sometimes prevent me from exploring more of the open areas thoroughly due to an abundance of enemies. Regardless of those complaints, I find this game to be utterly essential.

Other than that, I’ll probably be playing RE: Village’s Shadow of Rose DLC. I’m hearing it’s a rather short experience which will be perfect for the weekend.

I’m also going to start up Signalis via Xbox Game Pass. This game looks to be right up my alley, and all of the rave reviews has me even more excited. These handful of games should keep me busy for the spooky season this weekend.

@TMNHertl I’m not here to change your mind. I’m glad you had an amazing experience playing the game. I wouldn’t take that away from anyone, similarly to how I find The Last of Us the greatest game ever made. Hopefully, with Tears of the Kingdom, I can find the sense of love and joy for that game the way many people like yourself did with BoTW.

@Serpenterror I’m glad it’s coming to more consoles - the game is really fantastic and deserves to be played by many.

This is a nice surprise, but the game looked to be running very poorly on the Switch (in the direct). The frame rate looked abysmal and I’m typically not one to complain about that sort of thing. I already played and beat the game on Xbox Game Pass, so I’ll wait until reviews before I decide to double dip.

I love the title of this new Zelda. The very little gameplay we were shown was also neat. Hopefully, we will get proper dungeons in this one.

@MS7000 I’m with you 100%. In fact, I think BoTW is the most overrated game this generation, and maybe all time. That’s not to say I didn’t like it, because I did, but it’s not the greatest thing ever created game wise in my opinion.

The game looks stunning! It seems to have a lot of good things going for it - but the combat, what was barely shown, doesn’t look all that great. Hopefully, more videos will release soon that provides a more in-depth look at its combat.

I just had surgery on Thursday and will be recovering for two weeks, so most of my gaming time will be spent with my Nintendo Switch. Right now, I’m playing (and the list is long):

Shovel Knight Treasure Trove. I remember buying this game day one when it originally released back in 2014 on the PS4, and loving it so much I got the platinum trophy for it. Since then, I haven’t touched it at all, including its subsequent DLC expansions - but I did buy it for the Switch and have been replaying it. My goodness - it’s such a masterpiece in all facets of its genre.

Continuing with my retro kick - I finished Super Castlevania 4 for the SNES. It was a tough game, but fun as hell. I thought the environments were really interesting, and the room spinning in circles was such a cool moment. Onward to Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (or a replay of CoTM - one of my favorites from the entire franchise).

I also completed two modern retro throwback games: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 1 and 2. Those games are short, sweet, and a total blast to play. There is a ton replayability with character swapping and branching paths. Moreover, Zangetsu’s character is really interesting and I love how in the sequel you can acquire an ability to provide a moveset up to three attacks with his Soul Eraser and then ultimately the Zanmatou. Also, Dominique is cool - and I just have an affinity for spears in a video game.

Another game on my list is I’ll be ANNO: Mutationem. The cyberpunk aesthetic will always garner my attention. So far, the pixel art and combat looks gorgeous and is fun to play. I almost bought this game for the PS5 when it released months ago but held off on the hope it would come to the Switch. The performance is great, too. The only major downside is the long load times, but that’s minimal compared to the complete package on offer. I can’t wait to see where the ride takes me.

Lastly, I’m going to be playing The Last of Us Part 1. The original from 2013 is my all time favorite game. It had a profound effect on me and changed me as a man, father, and simply impacted my life in ways I never even considered. I was initially skeptical about buying the remake - not because I don’t expect it to be phenomenal - but because I was worried whether or not it would have the same impact as it had before, or if its appeal would run dry for me. It’s safe to say I had nothing to worry about. I know for most people the $70.00 price tag might be too much for a remake, but I personally don’t see it that way. I can spend $25.00 for a two hour movie experience, and if it was good then I won’t have any complaints. So, spending seventy dollars on a product that I’ll always have and will spend a significant amount of time on is not a bad deal in my opinion.

@valcoholic Neir doesn’t release until October, and this article is specifically for September.

This is a great month for me. ANNO: Mutationem, Haiku the Robot, The DioField Chronicle (will wait for reviews on this one), Shovel Knight Dig, and Trails From Zero are all games I’ll more than likely purchase.

The long load times are a bummer, but that doesn’t deter me from what otherwise seems like an excellent game. I almost purchased this for the PS5 months back, but had hoped it would release on Switch. I’m definitely buying this tomorrow.

I finally played and beat The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This game is a masterclass in game design, and so inventive for its time. I might be late to the party, but this will easily go down as one of my favorite games of all time. There were only two instances where I had to look at a guide for help - but none of them were regarding collectible items; I found those all organically. It’s insane to think about how amazing this game was for its time. It transcended gaming, and became incredibly influential.

Now that I’ve beaten ALtoTP, I’m going to start Super Castlevania IV (Nintendo Switch, Castlevania Anniversary Collection). This game doesn’t get talked about enough, but it should because it’s fantastic. It’s such an atmospheric game with an incredible soundtrack that sets the tone immediately. Moreover, it doesn’t overstay its welcome; it can be completed in a couple of hours. It’s a shame I wasn’t old enough to play this game when it was distributed to the public because, if I recall correctly, it was released the day of Halloween in 1991 - a perfect game to play during that celebration.

Aside from that, I’m playing a modern retro classic - Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon. It’s such an incredible game, and harkens back to the best years of Castlevania (for good reason, obviously). I’m considering buying the LRG version of CoTM2 because it’s gorgeous and I want to add it to my collection.

I’ll be out of town all weekend for a wedding so I won’t get to play much; however, when I do get a chance I’ll be sinking time into:

Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I’m 55 hours into the game and just reached chapter 5. The game is phenomenal on every level. And Eunie is my main gal - and her as Ashera’s defender role is quite fun to play. That said, I need a break from the game because all of my (limited) free time is being spent on the game and I don’t want to lose the desire to finish it due to burnout.

As a palate cleanser, I’m playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo Switch Online). Admittedly, I had this game on the SNES as a kid but never really put effort in playing it because my time was spent with neighborhood friends playing Super Mario World (one of my all time favorite games) and Donkey Kong Country 2.

Now that I’m finally playing it - what is there to say about this game that hasn’t been said before? The game is a masterpiece in every facet. The atmosphere is incredibly immersive with distinctive art direction (I’m a sucker for 16-BIT) for each location you traverse. The pacing is also fantastic, and it feels like you never lose steam in your progression. One thing that blows my mind is the level design. Though I’ve never played this game before, I have played A Link Between Worlds (3DS) and Cadence of Hyrule (Switch) and I immediately feel at home in this world. The sheer fact that it holds up three decades later is a testament to its brilliance.

I’m reading a lot of good things about Cursed to Golf - I’ll probably pick that up sometime this weekend.

This is awesome news! I almost bought this game on the PS5 a couple of months ago but decided against it. Now, however, I’ll definitely pick it up. I need something to keep me engaged after my surgery in a couple of weeks.

I have a hernia and I’m unable to lift ten pounds as I await surgery, so this weekend I’ll be keeping busy playing:

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - At first, I was liking the game but wasn’t really feeling it (pun intended). It wasn’t until midway through chapter 3, when side (Hero) quests started popping up and my tune changed immediately. Those quests are multi faceted, and have some of the best story beats in the game (and they are optional!). I’m now partially through chapter 4 and this has easily become one of my top games of the year, and without a doubt my favorite JRPG so far. I can attest with the review here at Nintendolife and Eurogamer - this game is a JRPG masterpiece.

I’m also playing Cult of the Lamb. I’m maybe two hours in total, but it’s really fun so far. It blends several rogue-likes together such as Hades, Slay the Spire, Hollow Knight (in voice acting from characters), and the Binding of Isaac, all the while providing charming life simulation mechanics similar to Animal Crossing. Unfortunately, the performance isn’t the greatest, but it does run at a consistent 30 frames per second. Hopefully, some patches in the future can remedy that.

@JeanPaul Yes! In my opinion, it’s better than TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, and I love that game.

I’m not gonna lie, I think they all look great! I wouldn’t have a problem with any of them winning - but ultimately I’m choosing Japan.

For me, it’s all about Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I’m midway through chapter 3 and I’m having a blast. There are a ton of QoL improvements compared to the first two games in the series, and the combat is the best that it’s ever been as well. Admittedly, I didn’t know until last night that you could switch characters during combat - that has also helped my enjoyment. With all that said, I can’t wait to see where the story goes because I’m quite invested in all of the characters.

@bimmy-lee Amen! It’s silly to me hearing people complain about an update saying they prefer SoR4 over this. It’s like, okay, go play that game then. Who cares about what’s better? Both games are fun and completely different tonally and aesthetically. They might both be beat-‘em-ups, but they are so different from one another in almost every aspect. Don’t get me wrong, I love SoR4, but this game is awesome as well.

I can’t wait! I’m not even midway through Sunbreak (XC3 took over most of my gaming time) but there is so much content between the base and and the expansion, and I love just chipping away at it slowly. I’m particularly excited for Lucent Nargacuga - that video clip seemed epic.

This one is kinda tough because I like them both, but ultimately I have to go with NA. I prefer the simplicity of it. That said, can we all agree that the Konami logo is hideous?

My main course this weekend is Xenoblade Chronicles 3. This franchise might be my favorite as far as JRPGs go. These games know how to balance quirky anime tropes and heartfelt moments in ways most games are unable to. I’m currently two hours in and I’ve already gotten misty eyed. The characters so far are relatable; and there is a certain scene early on that really resonates with me. The combat arts and talents is very much improved, and the animations are really cool. I already know there will be twists and turns and I’m excited to discover them.

I’ll also be progressing more in Monster Hunter Rise / Sunbreak. I’m currently 80 hours in, just reached HR40, about to hunt one of the Elder Lords in Sunbreak, and the game continues to surprise me, particularly with new monsters. The gameplay loop is so addicting, and respects your time because you get as much out of it as you put in.

I was thinking about it yesterday - MH: Rise might be the first game in probably a decade (maybe longer) that I’ve played repeatedly for the sheer fun of it. Typically, I play games for the story. If there are side quests I do my best to complete all of them before I beat the game; however, once I see the credits roll I have no desire to go back and play more. This is the main reason why I haven’t got the Platinum trophy for Spider-Man Miles Morales - I can’t stomach going through the game on NG+ despite having every single trophy aside from that. And yet, MH has done the unthinkable and is constantly rewarding me with new things that actually compel me to continue playing. For me, this is a game that I consider “essential,” and it may go down as one of my favorite games of all time solely for that reason.

@Lolcat Dang - that’s a bummer, but I guess it makes sense and will also speed up combat.

I do have one question, and it might sound silly - When you are free roaming the map to your next objective, is your weapon visible on your back? I’ve seen multiple videos and screenshots that don’t display it, and that’s one thing I really loved in prior games. Or perhaps there is a toggle switch for it? Any answer or insight would be much appreciated!

I more than likely won’t say this again in a long time, but thank god I work 10 hours today to help feel like time is speeding up - I need this game, like yesterday. My anticipation is through the roof.

@solarwolf07 From everything I have read, you don’t need to play the other entries to understand this game; it’s a standalone title. There might be references to previous games, but it’s not significant for what’s happening in the story.

I cannot wait for this game! I already have it preordered and installed. This franchise is one of my favorite of all time. I was a bit concerned with the random announcement of the game along with the subsequent close release date, but I’m glad those feelings can be put to rest. Furthermore, I have a three day weekend this week and it’s going to be focused on this game. Let’s go, people!

I don’t know how a company that is so creative with their games and consoles can be so far behind in what is considered commonplace today for other companies. Friend codes and scanning QR codes is ridiculous, and their online multiplayer function - and voice chat - isn’t the best. They want to be so different from Xbox and PlayStation, so much so that they are willing to be behind the curve with their online functionality simply because they didn’t think of it first (that’s how it comes across, anyway).

Neon White changed my perspective on playing FPS’s on the Switch - of which I play primarily in handheld and undocked - so if the controls are as smooth as that game I’ll be buying it on Switch.

I also may be the only person who doesn’t like gyro aiming, so that’s actually a pro rather than a con for me. I’ll have to wait for a sale since my backlog is already huge as it is.

That entire fight was gorgeous, and the animations for Nargacuga was insane. The way he disappears like a cloud of mist and then you see his eyes - just wow. This should be a very fun hunt.

NA for me. The box art isn’t overwhelming in design and color, and it says what it needs to.

I started with the Samurai in the Twilight of Edo Japan era first because I tend to resonate with it more than the rest. It’s pretty cool so far; but the map and exploration isn’t quite the greatest. Regardless, I’m hooked so far. I just got my butt kicked by the (secret boss) Bloodthirsty Samurai when attempting to take the Muramasa blade.

I feel like nobody is even playing Sunbreak anymore; what gives?

I’m still playing Monster Hunter Rise / Sunbreak. Since I accidentally deleted my original save, I had to start Rise all over. Initially, it was a chore due to all the tutorials but I buckled down and got through it - and became addicted once more. I didn’t want to cheat myself and use the Defender gear sets just to rush through the game; because I needed to reacquaint myself with the mechanics and intricacies of the game, particularly the weapon and talismans crafting (which I’m still struggling to understand even after 40hrs in the game).

I did finally defeat the Thunder Serpent Narwa (my first time fighting this creature since I stopped playing after defeating Magnamalo). The fight was rather easy, but it was thrilling spectacle that was quite impressive.

So, I’m now officially into Sunbreak and it’s an absolute blast. I’ve only done a few hunts, but there is obvious QoL improvements that make the game more enjoyable. Furthermore, the new locations and monsters are a joy to learn and explore; there’s deeper layers to them compared to previous levels. I fought the Blood Orange Bishaten last night and that was a very fun romp.

I’m also playing Kirby and the Forgotten Lands with my 7-year-old daughter. We are having a ton of fun with this game; in fact, I’m surprised by how much I am loving it. Last night we beat the first area and Gorimondo, and we are now at the beach. It’s incredibly creative, and that is what Nintendo does best. Y’know when you play first party Nintendo games there will be some intriguing new features that will simply put a smile on your face, and at the end of the day, that’s what video games are about.

If I get the time (I work for the next seven days straight, and my fiancé has her friends over at the house for the weekend) I will start up Live A Live. I’ve been itching for an old school RPG, and I absolutely adore the 2.5 HD art style, so this game looks like a melding of everything I’m craving right now.

It’s well deserved. I finally managed to beat Rise and start Sunbreak yesterday morning and it’s fantastic so far. There’s a ton of QoL improvements and it’s not overwhelming in its systems and mechanics. I really can’t wait to dive more deeply into this expansion.

I can’t wait for this - the game is getting incredible reviews from many outlets, so I’ll be picking it up first thing tomorrow morning. I don’t know when I’ll find the time to play it considering I’m deep into Sunbreak, and XC3 releases next week. Regardless, we Nintendo fans are being spoiled lately.

For me, I’m playing Monster Hunter Rise / Sunbreak. I remember playing it last year and loving it, but I stopped after defeating Magnamalo, and subsequently deleted my save accidentally. What a mistake I made. I’m back at the game, taking my time with it because there’s no rush to get into Sunbreak, and enjoying every minute. I was unaware that the game doesn’t actually begin until after beating Magnamalo.

I’m still kind of confused on the weapon and amulet crafting systems. It’s overwhelming; and I’m not sure if you can upgrade your amulets, or if you have to continually craft more once you obtain better monster parts, and whether or not certain monster parts are better to use than others.

Regardless, I’m slowly figuring things out and I think that’s the beauty of a game like this. Once it clicks, man - there is no other game like it on the market. I’ve never been one of those people who can put hundreds of hours into a game, single player or multiplayer, but now I can see how it’s possible with Monster Hunter and I think I’m ready.

Edit: I did not realize that you are able to unlock Sunbreak via Gathering Hub quests. I’ve been doing nothing but Village quests, so this may take longer than expected. I’m hoping multiplayer isn’t a requirement considering I primarily play solo.

I’m also playing Bayonetta on the Switch in handheld mode. It’s my first time with the series, and it has always intrigued me since its original release but I never played it because I was busy with life. So far, it’s really great. Platinum Games know how to make games with incredible combat. Also, the story and characters are absolutely bonkers. I’m excited to play more to get myself ready for Bayonetta 3.

Monster Hunter Rise/Sunbreak (Nintendo Switch) - I played the base game for about 60 hours when it originally released, but haven’t touched it in a year or more since. Unfortunately, I forgot that I deleted my entire progress from Rise so I have to start completely from scratch. This isn’t that much of an issue, but the endless amount of tutorials and dialogue in the beginning hours almost put me off from even playing the game again. Sometimes less is more. Other than the initial cumbersome hours, the game is still a blast to play. Hopefully, I can get to Sunbreak soon.

Diablo III (Nintendo Switch) - I’m halfway through Act II in the campaign and still loving every second of it. I’m hoping to get to Act III by the end of the weekend. This game is special, and I can’t believe how well it’s optimized for the Switch. I have only had one issue and that is the sound of NPC’s randomly gets very quiet sometimes and I can’t hear a single word they say. Aside from that, it runs flawlessly.

I’ve tried this game out several times, and while I can appreciate why it’s such a beloved game, it just wasn’t for me. I would constantly get lost, and I know that’s simply part of the Metroidvania genre, but it was too much for me since I have limited time to game.

That said, not all Metroidvania’s turn me away. In fact, Blasphemous might be my favorite of them all. I think that game is really special, as well as Bloodstained: RoTN. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

This weekend I’ll be playing two games. First up:

Neon White (Nintendo Switch) - This is one of the best games I’ve ever played. It may very well exceed Elden Ring for my GOTY.

I decided to buy this game on a whim because I wanted to try something different from what I usually play. In about an hour I could tell this game was special. The entire game has a unique color to it, and the characters you meet along the way are just as colorful. Each person has their own personality (there’s a cat named Mikey who loves mob related movies and television!). As you play the game you can find gifts that you are able to bring back to the hub world and give to characters. By doing so, you’ll unlock new dialogue options, memories, and side quests that will flesh out their backstory. Some people might consider the people and dialogue cringe, but I think it hits all the right notes due to its exceptional voice acting, humor, self awareness, and references to pop culture.

All of this would be meaningless if the game wasn’t fun to play; thankfully, it’s an absolute blast. The controls are tight and responsive, which is the most important thing considering the game is essentially a speed-runner’s dream. There are about 90 levels to traverse through and each one is different and incredibly well designed. You’ll never encounter the same level twice. The more you progress the more challenging it becomes, but your skills are advancing as well, so each level can still be completed in less than a minute. As a result, there is a perfect balance between the two that motivates you to replay prior levels to get a better score than your original run.

Overall, I think this game is a masterpiece. I understand no game is “perfect”, but Neon White is perfect for me. One main reason is because I don’t get to play games as much as I used to due to adulthood and raising a family, and when I do get to play I get burnt out if I play any longer than ten hours. However, I find it impossible for me to lose steam with this game because of how rapid levels can be completed. It almost feels like a whole new game each time. I really hope more people will play this gem because it deserves recognition.

Lastly, I’ll be playing Diablo III (Nintendo Switch). I originally started the game on my Xbox Series X and made it to Act III, but then I noticed it was on sale for the Switch and instantly jumped on it because of the portability. Thankfully, the game runs smoothly and I’ve had no issues at all. I’m currently halfway through Act I and am enjoying every minute of it. I can’t wait to see what Blizzard does with Diablo IV.

Right now, it’s Neon White without question. The game is superb in every single facet. Elden Ring is next, along with TMNT Shredder’s Revenge.

Honorable mentions: Horizon Forbidden West, Infernax, Sniper Elite 5, and Tunic.

This one looked interesting. It grew on me the more I watched because I was immediately turned off by the art style. It does look fun, though. I’ll wait until I read some reviews before picking it up.

I cannot wait for this game! It provided such a powerful experience and fun experience.