Topic: Non-2025 Game of the Year

@Werehog Yeah, I understand the repulsion to watching just anyone play a game. I did grow up more in the age of YouTube, so I'm more used to the ''let's play'' culture by default, but I've become a lot more picky over time with who I actually want to watch. I'll pop on some funny multiplayer commentary while eating like yourself, but when it comes to actual playthroughs I want someone who is not obnoxiously loud or uncreative in their commentary. I don't know if you know a YouTuber called Many a True Nerd, but he's become my go-to for actual playthroughs of games and is the one that got me interested in the Resident Evil franchise to begin with. With what I know about you, I think you might really enjoy his commentary as well. Give him a shot if ever you see him playing something you're intrigued by!

I was scared I would feel bored or unimpressed by the game because I had largely seen everything before, yeah. I think it speaks a lot to the quality of the product that I was able to hugely enjoy it myself even knowing some of the twists, turns or scenarios. It is why I ended up saving that as well as Village for last, because those were the ones I'd watched him play in full. I still enjoyed my time with them more than 3 Remake or 7 in the end, so I think it didn't affect my enjoyment negatively at all! Solution-wise, it had been long enough that I didn't remember any detailed ways to get through certain areas, so it didn't really help me on that front. The one time where having a rather bad memory comes into good use!

Well, if it's only 2% that's affected due to the vitriol, I'd still say that's a rather objective opinion ultimately! Only logical it would affect your opinion in some small ways, but luckily only in a positive sense here. I'm definitely more inclined to believe you or the podcasts I trust on the quality of the game than any random strangers ascribing their own weird affiliations to it. Glad you were at least able to avoid all that negativity at the time and only had the find out about it more so afterwards. I'll definitely let you know if and when I get to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown! Who knows? Maybe you'd have had a hit on your hands either way you went.

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@Th3solution Glad to hear that you enjoyed the RE4 Remake just as much! I didn't know about your opinions on the original and I haven't played it myself, so the fact that they were able to convert you with the remake is truly impressive. Would you say it was really just the gameplay of the original that let it down for you, or are there more changes made here also narratively or such that elevated it for you?

Happy to hear your friend convinced you to play It Takes Two as well! It really is incredibly entertaining. The whole elephant moment is still one of the best gaming moments of all-time, I'd say. I was laughing like a total maniac at that whole surreal bit, which maybe reflects poorly on me when possibly the intent was more to terrify the player. I just love a good bit of dark comedy, and that hit the spot! I'm honestly so confused by all the different spin-off Final Fantasy 7 titles. I really want to get into that entry's remakes myself sooner rather than later with Remake and Rebirth, but I have no clue what ''Crisis Core'' in particular adds to the lore or if it's in any way a recommended play in-between like you seem to have done. It seems like you don't regret it at least with what you said as well as having it in your top of the year! Would you recommend others to follow your path in playing this between the remakes, or is it something that you couldn't really recommend as a must?