Ooyah

@SuperCharlie78
Nice one! That was a great combination of Jokers. Did you carry on your run after that?

@BodkinDQ

1 - Give baby bag of chocolate.
2 - Stick baby in front of TV.
3 - Play.
4 - (Give more chocolate as required).

I've never babysat before, but that seems to be a sound plan. 🤭

@SuperCharlie78
Hey there! Let's see... the ordering of the Jokers is vital. They fire from left to right (unless they're the type that triggers when a playing card is actually played). As such, if you have any Jokers which multiply the multiplier (instead of just adding to it), always have them on the right, so that other bonuses are applied first. Also... the Standard and Arcane booster packs are worth going for if you can, as they have some special cards sometimes. Steel cards are quite powerful, and having other bonus cards in your deck can help a lot. Planet cards are good if you have a favourite hand type. But, really... look for Jokers which synergise well (like the ones which work with face cards, and the one which treats every card as a face card, for example). Oh, one last thing... there are some amazing Jokers which multiply the multiplier and gain value upon certain actions (such as every time a Planet card is used, or every time a booster pack is skipped). The Jokers which gain power over time can be incredible. I once had a joker which gave x6 to mult using one of those. And I had Blueprint to the left of it!

I am not sure how helpful that is! Sorry. Maybe just unlocking more Jokers is the real key.

EDIT... one thing I neglected to use when playing at first... always check the tag for skipping a blind. They can be quite good sometimes. And I think that I won my early runs with the Yellow deck... the extra money helps at the start.

Well, I still can't put down Balatro! 50 hours now. Have completed 18 runs, and have unlocked a fair bit.

Here is my record so far, for anyone interested. I'm struggling to see how it is possible to get much further, though. Am using a spoiler tag, just in case!

Am currently trying to unlock all of the decks... two left. Some of them are really fun!

I was also tempted into taking a chance on The Power Of 10, but have only played for around an hour, due to the above! 🤭

Have a great weekend, guys, and take great care of yourselves out there.

Maybe it's just the mood I'm in today, but I'd rather have a Demolition Simulator. Although we do have Blast Corps now. I also yearn for the sheer joy of destroying the entire level in those Earth Defense Force games. Although, of course, in order to smash the heck out of something, it needs to be constructed first. Hmmmm. Heaven knows what I'm getting at. I should probably go back to bed. 😆

@JimNorman "Can we fix it?" Construction isn't fixing, Jim! The fixing begins the day after the construction is "complete"! 😉

The blurring on the NA / Euro cover makes my eyes feel funny, for some reason. I love the sketchy asthetic on the Japan cover... but, most of all, I love the Game Boy Color logo! Glorious.

I bet that Alex wishes he could stay there with Doshin. 😆 He sure does seem to like Doshin... as do I! I would love to see another Doshin game, or a remake.

So, last week, I was wondering if the lack of a story and over-arching structure would stop me returning to Balatro after completing my first run. The answer is no. Very no. 😆 I played a few more runs after that, and something just clicked... have been hopelessly addicted ever since. I want to see more of the Jokers, and want to see how far endless mode goes. This could be me for a while. Am delaying Unicorn Overlord due to this game and Pocket Card Jockey! Have a great weekend, guys, and take great care of yourselves out there.

@PessitheMystic You sure do have a way with words, but I must admit that several giggles escaped from me. 🤭

They can fly now? Heaven help us! 😆

Also, Rare should make a crossover game with Viva Pinata and My Little Pony. That would be confusing. 🪅🎉

@JohnnyMind
Same here! I actually have it in my backlog, as I picked it up immediately after playing the demo... am just waiting for the right time to start it. It's great to see so many additions being made to it.

@kfflscnt That sounds unspeakably cute. Were they still holding their logs? They don't move much, do they? I really want to see this episode! 😆

@robokku Great review, and I think you're spot on with your "terminal outsider" remark. Snufkin seems to love spending time with the Moomins, and values friendship greatly... but he always leaves to go wandering. Maybe he just values his freedom that much, but it always feels as if he wants to be a part of the community, but denies himself the opportunity. I was always fascinated by the character, and I always wished that he would stay. Maybe it's just sad to think of him being alone. There's something more that I want to say, but can't quite put my finger on it. An intriguing figure.

@JohnnyMind
Well, I guess that I would be classed as middle aged, and I would like to play with them too! 😆 I'm not sure if my wife would be very impressed, though... she was somewhat bemused when my Snorlax Squishmallow arrived in the post! 🤭

@JohnnyMind
Yeah, they really are covering a lot of bases, you're right. I am also glad about this. There's even a Lego Wiggler (which is cute beyond my comprehension)! 😆

@nhSnork
But what is next with this viewpoint? Maybe you also think that clubs are weapons of war? Personally, I think that diamonds mean money for this art. But, is that the shape of your heart?

@epicgamner
18+? Must be a recreation of the Peach shower scene in TTYD, right? 😆

But does the Chain Chomp make the barking sound from Super Mario 64? Will buy 20 of them if so, and set them all off at once! 😆

@gabrigoes
Yeah... maybe if it had an additional structure around it like Slay The Spire, Puzzle Quest, or Inscryption. Some kind of driver because, at the moment, the rounds themselves kind of exist in a void, if you get what I mean. It feels like the skeleton of a bigger game. Don't get me wrong, though... it is great for what it is, and you're spot on in describing it as "eerie". I also understand that there is a lot to be unlocked (more jokers and decks, for example) but, personally, I maybe need a bit more to keep me engaged with it.

I downloaded Balatro last night. Played it for around five hours, and "completed" it for the first time. Am not feeling very motivated to return to it, although maybe I just had outrageous luck. I really feel that the game needs some kind of a story, to provide an extra reason for multiple playthroughs. Otherwise, I will carry on with Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition, and Pocket Card Jockey (which I never have any luck in! 😆). Have a great weekend, guys, and take great care of yourselves out there.

Have filled my 512... may go for the 1TB Sandisk. Feels a bit too early to go for a 1.5TB just yet! I didn't even know they existed. I always get nervous buying new tech "too soon". Maybe I am acting irrationally, though.

Ooh, I like the look of this! Watching the video instantly took me back to playing similar games on the Amiga. Looks like it's going to be quite hard, though... there seemed to be a lot of accidentally colliding with things! A demo would be great.

Library Of Ruina has me intrigued, for sure. It looks like one of those games I may just go for, regardless of reviews. There is something mysterious about it.

This is absolutely adorable. It looks perfect, and I have always loved how his little feet stick out at the back! Kirby is just a goldmine of cuteness... it's funny how they packed a pink blob so full of personality.

I loved these on the Vita. Bright and breezy (mostly), and I found them to be strangely compelling and addictive at the time. Finding chips which enable you to "break" the game is fun, and it's one of those games where the damage numbers go sky high in the end. Also, the real time dungeon mini games are lovely, where you send a party out, and then come back later on to see how they did. It appears that time has not been kind in relation to how these games are perceived now, but I for one will look forward to revisiting them.

@neufel
Only five bags of popcorn? There are six episodes, so you'll need at least six. And they are an hour long, so... better make it twelve. Twenty, to be on the safe side! 😆

@HeadPirate
But, from the statement, it sounds like they did seek a rating.

"We are especially disappointed in the actions of the ratings board as we specifically addressed this topic with them in October, and were given a 3+ rating after it had initially been rated 18+"

So this makes it sound like PEGI changed their minds afterwards, thus causing Playstack to lose quite a bit of money, potentially. That can't be right, or fair. It was reviewed, appealed, and passed, as it reads.

PEGI should be held to account, here. They need to justify this. Who knows how much money Playstack are losing right now? The game is getting rave reviews right now, it's a critical time for Playstack, and PEGI can just say "Delist it" with no warning at all? Didn't they have the chance to object before? This just seems wrong.

@Bratwurst35
You know... back in the 80's... the future was so bright... we had to wear shades.

And shoulder pads! 😆

@OctolingKing13
I heard that they're actually going to roll all of them together, to make "Pokemon Life Coach: Pikachu Gonna Sort Your Life RIGHT out!"

I was quite disappointed with Trinity Trigger, and this has the same director on board, but I will try to stay open minded, as this does sound kind of promising. I do like a good action RPG, so fingers crossed for this one. Sounds like it could launch around the same time as Ys X, though, which will be a priority for me.

@dartmonkey
To be honest, Gavin, I was hoping that you would review this, so that the game would receive the 12/10 which it deserves! 😆

I am glad to see the writing get a mention here... the story and characters are incredibly charming. The main character is delightfully oblivious and upbeat, and the other characters are great too.

In relation to the technical hiccups, for anyone worried... there is a slight hitch when dealing the cards sometimes, and maybe a slight delay when horses are being shunted, but these are cutscenes... no impact upon gameplay from what I have seen.

This game is a real gem. Ridiculously addictive.

Pocket Card Jockey belongs on this list, surely. I also found Mr Sun's Hat Box to be utterly compulsive. I would probably add The Binding Of Isaac too, seeing as I have over a thousand hours on it. 🤭 I definitely agree with Dead Cells... I couldn't put that one down for a while.

Well, I was really enjoying Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition... but now it's going to be all Pocket Card Jockey for the forseeable! It's still as ferociously addictive as it ever was, and it's a very long game if one wishes to complete it 100%. Probably my very favourite game on the 3DS, so it is wonderful to finally have it on the Switch. Am already suspecting this will be my GOTY. Have a great weekend, guys, and take great care of yourselves out there.

Almost had a Mario top three there! Wow. There's no stopping him.

If this new version of Pocket Card Jockey is as good as the original, that is probably my GOTY for 2024 decided early.

So happy this is here!!! Played this to death on the 3DS... truly one of the very best games on the system. I hope that the story and dialogues are the same as in the original, as the story is incredibly sweet, and the game has one of my favourite protagonists ever... he's such a lovely character.

@RupeeClock
A... RupeeClock? 😆

Makes me realise, though... I don't think I have ever ignored anybody. Not on purpose, anyway! Will have to check.

EDIT: Nope... nobody on my ignore list. The plot thickens! 😆

@RupeeClock
Nice try, but... DEFINITELY ALCHEMY! 😆

The comments count on this article is 2, but only 1 is showing. Has Alchemy been used in order to fuse them together? Is something sinister afoot at NL? Will Ollie become a golden golem? Is Alex Homunculus? Stay tuned!

Get it right, @JimNorman! This weekend sees the latest installment of the Super Bowel. There's a whole movement behind it.

@120frames-please
Sorry mate, I have no idea! 😆 I don't tend to notice such things, unless it's super bad. It doesn't feel super smooth, though. I will probably have a better idea when I play more of it. I'm not that far in. Sorry!

Am still waiting on a much needed patch for Hammerwatch 2, so have dived into Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition. It's really good! Like a more extensive Gauntlet. May also continue with Legend Of Grimrock. Also some Rainbow Islands! I played the heck out of it on the C64, and could get the true ending without losing a life. I'm not quite there now! 😆 Have a great weekend, guys, and take care out there!

@Goat_FromBOTW
This is a lovely post. Am wishing you luck in your future endeavours. Protect your ideals and beliefs, they can slip away so easily in this world! I work in a place where people have roles, and serve a function. The actual "people" element is lost, and it is very cold. I hope you achieve your dream.

So many layoffs. So much is being lost. People, livelihoods, history, and the future as well. So many proud and historic teams are being laid to waste. I hope this all stops soon. Something is going very wrong.

Now this sounds really interesting. I wonder if they can deliver on that plot, or if it will just devolve into the usual monster slaying heroics? But I have a good feeling about this. This could be fascinating. For some reason, it's reminiscent of the glorious El Shaddai for me. Will be watching this one!

I guess they went with Mortal Kombat 1 because they felt that they couldn't continue with Mortal Kombat 11, but still wanted some MK in there? Either that or publisher pressure to feature the latest game. Still feels a bit odd, though!

Killer7 for me. Would love to see the remaster on Switch, but I also think that a sequel could work, in the hands of the original creators. The lore and story are very deep, and the ending of the first game can be interpreted in many different ways.

Am very happy to see Rainbow Islands there! Has sure been a long time coming. Funny that a little song caused such a headache! Am now very much looking forward to the release of Parasol Stars. It can't quite match Bubble Bobble or Rainbow Islands, but it is still fantastic.