Comments 1,705

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 650

Kraven

I beat Cronos: The New Dawn and I thought it was excellent. I took my time, too, clocking in approximately 30-hours to complete on Xbox Series X. I managed to unlock most achievements during my first run—finding all cats, comic books, and travel logs. I am now a third of the way through on my NG+ Hard mode attempt to mop up the remaining achievements for a 100% completion.

I’m now starting Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. I’ve wrapped up the prologue and decided to start as Dietrich. I’m in Part 1; chapter 4, and his story has been great.

There are two issues I have with the game. First is the character models—some of them are hideous and really oddly designed, such as Fabio’s eyes and Baozi’s smile. The second is the lip syncing with the dialogue. It doesn’t match what the characters are saying.

Aside from that, in my opinion, Fortune’s Weave is already a better game than Engage—a game that left me immensely disappointed. Fortunately, no pun intended, this new entry could be on the same level as Awakening and Three Houses.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 649

Kraven

I have completed Onimusha: Way of the Sword on Xbox Series X. I got every achievement you can get on a single run — max upgraded all equipment, abilities, found every weapon, and did every side quest. It took me approximately 35-hours.

My opinion is mixed. Maybe it’s because my play style forces me to do everything I possibly can in my first playthrough, and then do NG+ after if I’m not feeling burned out. With that said, Onimusha WotS is a perfect 12-hour game, but a bad 35-hour game. I think this game will benefit from a NG+ so you can trim the fat.

I’ll probably do a NG+ run sometime down the line. I wouldn’t mind mopping up the achievements. I’m going to set it to the side for now and since it’s getting closer to spooky season, I have finally decided to boot up Cronos The New Dawn. It’s fantastic so far.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 647

Kraven

I’m wrapping up my playthrough of Mortal Shell 2 on Xbox Series X. I’m three achievements away from 100%’ing the game, but I’ll wrap those up during a NG+ later down the road when there aren’t so many good games out. It’s been a fantastic experience, and it’s definitely worth the money.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 647

Kraven

I’m playing Mortal Shell 2 on Xbox. The first couple of hours can be absolutely brutal, especially if you go to the more difficult areas unintentionally as I did. However, once you can get past that initial hump, the game is awesome. It’s up there with Lies of P for me.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 646

Kraven

I’m pretty hooked on Final Fantasy XIV on the Switch 2 at the moment. I’m not that far, but have completed numerous side quests and dungeons. I’m currently a level 22 archer and a level 20 lancer.

I’m also slowly going through Halo Campaign Evolved on the Xbox Series X. It’s been fun so far, and a really huge nostalgia boost.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 645

Kraven

I’m finally playing games again, but still not as much as I used to. I’ve taken a massive step back because it was consuming too much of my life, free time, and mind. That said, I did buy Final Fantasy XIV for Switch 2. It’s my first MMO since RuneScape in the 90s (no joke), so I’m overwhelmed, but I like it so far. It’s even better than I can play this type of game on handheld - one of the main reasons why I purchased it to begin with.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 641

Kraven

This is three weeks now that I haven’t played a single game, and by far the longest break. I did buy Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced so I might play that, but eh. I think I’m going to go to the comic store today and find some back issues from series I’ve been missing.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 640

Kraven

I’ve still yet to play anything. This is the longest I’ve gone without playing something and I’m surprisingly not missing it. At the moment I’m deeply consumed by my hobbies of collecting comic books and writing. Maybe when Assassin’s Creed Black Flag releases I will jump back into the gaming world, but we will see.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 639

Kraven

This weekend I am not playing much. In fact, I’m getting back into my other hobbies I’ve neglected: writing and comic books, and sometimes a mixture of both together. The majority of the time my main source of entertainment is gaming, but it’s interesting how time consuming it really is. It becomes quite easy to lose hours on your day to the medium and ignore other interests.

With that said, what I have been playing periodically is Devil May Cry 5 on the Nintendo Switch 2. I would say it’s my first time, but that’s not entirely accurate. I played the game on its original release but I didn’t like it. Playing as Nero in the beginning felt clunky due to his missing arm. Because of that, I stopped within an hour and never looked back.

And then it releases on the Switch 2, and I’m a big handheld gamer — that’s how I prefer to play it if I can — so I decided to give it another shot. I’m now a few hours in, and though I still find it cumbersome, particularly with its lock-on mechanics, I have grown to enjoy it more than I remembered.

That’s about it for me. I’m not sure how long this re-establishment of old hobbies will last, but I’m immersed in it, and actually feel happy for a change.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 638

Kraven

Last Sunday I got the platinum for 007 First Light. While I [patiently] waited for The Adventures of Elliot to release, I was hankering for an RPG to play. I decided to replay The Witcher 3 for the fifth time, this instance being on Nintendo Switch 2.

I want to apologize to Elliot — you’re going to have to wait much longer to be played. I’m once again absorbed into this brutal, yet gorgeous Continent. Being able to take this adventure on the go is a godsend, and feels tailor made for that type of experience.

It’s also much better than I remembered; it ages like fine wine. There isn’t much more that can be said about this game that hasn’t been said before over the last 13 years. The writing is top notch, the characters are compelling, the main and side missions are some of the most in-depth, multilayered quests I’ve ever experienced, and exploration is consistently rewarding.

In short, this game is a bonafide masterpiece in every facet. Thirteen years later it still stands above most games today. Before Red Dead Redemption 2 and Elden Ring there was The Witcher 3. And thank God for that.

Re: Add It to the Pile: Crunchy Action RPG Crimson Moon Confirms September Release on PS5

Kraven

I mean, why isn’t October being used here? Seriously, the amount of games releasing that month is insane. Your goal is to standout in a crowded room. Whilst this game looks cool, I don’t see it overshadowing Control Resonant, or Phantom Blade Zero. I also don’t think GTA VI should factor into when you release a game unless it’s the same month/week. Half of these games could come out in October and still get recognized, especially if it’s good, because social media will help it.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 636

Kraven

I finally got 100% in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It was excellent and immersive. The Riddler and Cluemaster puzzles were a grind. I’m glad the game is over. That said, it has gotten me back into the world of comics, and now I’m reading several Batman stories.

I also finished Mina the Hollower. After some reflection, I consider it better than Shovel Knight which is no easy task. It’s easily one of the most charming Zelda-likes I’ve ever played. The amount of secrets to uncover, from hidden bosses, new locations, additional weapons, trinkets and more, each frame features something unique if you pay attention.

The comparison to Bloodborne is hard to understand. If it’s referring to difficulty, then maybe there is an argument for that. However, if we are going to compare it to a FromSoft game then I think Elden Ring is the appropriate choice. There are several subtle nods and (secrets?) moments in Mina that are reminiscent of various secrets in ER.

And now, according to the developers, many people are missing out on approximately 50% of the game. I have an item that tracks your collectibles per location, but I’m really intrigued if there is even more to unearth if you experiment.

I now have 007 First Light on the docket, but I’m not entirely in the mood to play it at the moment. In the same vein, however, I downloaded Hitman: Blood Money on the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s one of the rare games in the franchise that I haven’t played. I’m not very far, but what I’ve played has been fun, albeit archaic in its mechanics. Nonetheless, that’s sort of to be expected. And with the announcement of the original trilogy being remastered, I’m even more enthralled to be immersed in this world of Agent 47.

Re: Poll: How Would You Rate State of Play for June 2026?

Kraven

7/10 for me. I said it on another site, but as much as I love PlayStation, this showcase once again showed me why I’m losing steam on their exclusives. The third party adventures that have the same type of gameplay gets exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, Wolverine and God of War look great—I’ll be buying them, no doubt—but I feel like I’ve seen these worlds 100x over. It all feels the same.

There were a few announcements that are interesting to me, particularly ILL and Until Dawn 2, but aside from that it felt like a showcase I’ve seen numerous times already.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 635

Kraven

I finished the main campaign in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It was fantastic from start to finish. I’m now slowly grinding and chipping away at the remaining collectibles to get 100%. I play for maybe 30-minutes a day to mop them up.

But what I want to really talk about most is Mina the Hollower, my most anticipated game in the last three years. I ignored reading reviews (though I did see the scores), only watched the first reveal trailer, and went in completely blind. Boy, my expectations were met and more.

I’m a few hours in, a couple of dungeons and bosses down, and I feel as if I’m only scratching the surface as to what this game actually **is**. It’s the perfect blend of 2D Zelda titles, and Soulslike difficulty. The checkpoints can be unforgiving, and if you die you lose your “bones” unless you collect them back after your death. This may turn people away — understandably, might I add — and it caught me off guard.

If you are willing, there are a ton of modifiers to help make the game easier. Some of these options don’t feel like cheating, or making your playthrough feel less than. For example, you can turn on the ability to heal faster.

The moment to moment gameplay feels fantastic, as does the handful of weapons. I’ve tinkered around with a few and settled on the hammer, but I do enjoy the Castlevania-esque whip. The RPG-lite elements are a nice touch, too. Leveling up your weapons, gear, and other trinkets creates a layer of depth that has tons of options for unique builds.

Meanwhile, exploration is consistently rewarding. Being a mouse and using its abilities such as burrowing is such a fun element to incorporate not only in its combat, but exploration. I’ve discovered numerous of secrets so far, some of obvious, while others are challenging. Mina has that rare feat where when you uncover a secret you feel as if you’re the first person to do so.

As mentioned, I’m only a few hours in so I can’t really go in depth with an analysis of the game. With what I have experienced so far, I can say it’s shaping up to be my GOTY. Whether or not that will change the further I progress is to be determined. But right now, I can confidently say Yacht Club has burrowed it out of the park again.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 634

Kraven

I’m playing LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. I was hesitant on buying this game. My usual experience goes as follows: one half of my brain tells me to buy [these games] because it sounds fun whilst the other half says I won’t play for that long and move on to something else. Of course, I buy them and lose interest within thirty minutes.

Here I am again, being irrational with my purchase. Miraculously, my experience has been drastically different from prior experiences. I quite literally can’t stop playing. I’ve put in 15 hours already.

The first thing that stood out to me and has yet to falter is how charming the game is, not only from its game world, but the characters and their animations. I have genuinely laughed multiple times throughout my experience. It has brought out my inner kid, and makes me realize games are meant to be fun and entertaining, not always about trophies and achievements.

Gotham City itself is a story all on its own. It’s a gorgeous world to explore, and trust me, it’s massive. There are a myriad of random activities to partake in—stopping crime, of course, solving Riddler puzzles (some are actually challenging), tracking down zoo animals that have been running amok, racing trials, and a lot more.

You can also go to your Batcave at any point in time. Here you can upgrade your hideout and expand its capabilities. You’ll be able to buy nearly every iteration of the Batmobile, but also vehicles used by other characters in the bat-verse. You can upgrade your arsenal, cash in on completed challenges, open up a shop where you can buy various items for your hideout. You can also buy or unlock over 100 costumes for your character(s), paying homage to its illustrious history.

Speaking of paying its respect to its long standing history, this game is essentially a collection of the Nolan universe, and follows that trilogy. However, it takes its own liberties and remixes things to add much more fun nuances. I was initially surprised, but it’s been a welcome addition.

Of course, you can’t mention Batman without synonymously mentioning combat and detective work. I’m thrilled to report that both are a main focus, and are very fun. It’s essentially the Arkham games in a LEGO skin. The combat is free flowing and works well in each environment you’re fighting in. You will also use various tools at your disposal to unlock new areas, track down suspects, and get the advantage on your enemies. The only downside is that combat can be trivially easy. It basically becomes a button mash romp, and it can get repetitive quickly. Nonetheless, the game still manages to be fun amidst its own monotony which is a huge compliment.

Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Arkham trilogy then you should feel right at home with this entry. It is essentially a new entry in that universe, but in a LEGO skin. Yes, it’s still a “kid’s” game, but it’s much more than that. Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is not only a great Batman game, but a great game in general that should be played by a wide audience. This Batman symbol shines bright.