Kraven

BG3 is one of the greatest games ever made. Up until now, nobody had a clue that AI was used in some of their work. So, the question is, why is it a big deal all of a sudden? Does it somehow make the game lesser than? No. The same goes with Clair Obscur. I’m not saying I am for AI — I am definitely not — but I’m wise enough to know that it will make some lives easier regarding game development, and if the recent articles leaking out about BG3 and Clair Obscur were never brought to the light then everyone would still be praising the games, none the wiser. TL;DR - get over it.

This weekend I am playing Divinity Original Sin 2 for the first time. I’m unsure why it took me so long to sample it considering BG3 is one of my all time favorite games. My assumption was that Baldur’s Gate 3 was a culmination of the Divinity franchise, so am I really missing anything? The answer is a resounding yes.

I had the day off work Tuesday and zero obligations for the day, so I decided why not. What I thought would be an hour of time wasted before returning back to Night City turned out to be eight hours—my wife’s entire work shift—and I’ve just now left Fort Joy.

I’m already attached to the party members I have. Their questlines have started off significantly strong, and with the brief quests I’ve tackled in the first area, I can see how my decisions will more than likely have long-lasting implications.

What I find impressive is how rich and alive the world feels. There is an abundant amount of options to approach each quest. This level of player freedom provides an immense level of independence that results in reactionary results from NPCs and the game world. The world is your oyster, and it’s up to you on how it turns out.

With that said, I hope there is an option to respec your character. More often than not I struggle in RPGs with making particular builds—whether that’s from equipment, what stats and attributes to give each character, and party composition. I could remedy this by watching YouTube tutorials but it dampens my experience with discovering things myself.

My only complaints are the mission structure, but that’s becoming easier to navigate and understand; and the controls. It’s a bit archaic in terms of managing party members and equipment - it is clearly meant for PC (I’m playing on the Nintendo Switch 2) so I can’t fault it entirely. Nonetheless, those grievances are minuscule compared to the overall product.

I don’t understand how Larian does it, but they are masters of their craft. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them, but I can presume it will turn out incredible.

@AndyKazama It probably will since Ball x Pitt has more content planned for next year. If not, you are right: they should.

BG3 is one of my favorite games of all time, so I can only imagine how good (potentially) their next project will be. I have never played Divinity - Original Sin 2 and others - but I did purchase it yesterday once it got a Switch 2 upgrade. I’ll be trying it out sometime this evening.

The more I see of this game the more I’m excited. At first I was skeptical, and the gameplay didn’t seem to be up my alley. Now, however, I’m completely sold on the game. I’m very much looking forward to this one; and hopefully it’s another Capcom hit.

This is good news for me; I really enjoyed Dead Island 2.

This is awesome news. Silksong is arguably my GoTY, and I personally believe it’s one of the greatest Metroidvania’s of all time. I’ll be here for this DLC/expansion immediately.

So, December 31st, 2029?

I’m killing thugs and stopping conspiracies in Phantom Liberty, and Hasta La Vista’ing my way through Terminator 2D: No Fate.

Clair Obscur, Silksong, KCD2, Absolum, and Oblivion Remastered for me. It’s been a sensational year for gaming.

Immediate purchase for me - it looks incredible.

Mirage is a nice pull. I’ve almost bought that game numerous times but never did. I’m happy to see that my patience has paid off.

@Enuo I think it’s because we already know what the game essentially is. That’s not a bad thing, mind you; but it really is Returnal 2.0.

@Frmknst Serious problems? How so?

It’s been quite the month, from my car wreck, to my mother in law passing, and this week(end) I’m in Tennessee and Georgia for a wedding. It was a 13 hour journey, but it’s been fun so far.

Meanwhile, I have my Switch 2 with me and I’m playing Cyberpunk 2077. I played it on the PS5 and got the platinum for it. Even still, I can’t believe how damn good this game is on the Switch 2. It’s hands down one of the most immersive experiences I’ve had. It’s gorgeous, and plays smooth as hell. Additionally, I’ve realized I hadn’t actually played the Phantom Liberty DLC, so it feels like a fresh playthrough.

In addition, I’m playing Metroid Prime 4. I’m only a few hours in, and whilst it is quite linear at the moment, I find it to be wonderful. Personally, it invokes the same feelings I had when I first played Halo: Combat Evolved. I know there are issues—empty desert, chatty NPCs, and linear dungeons—but these things haven’t swayed my opinion negatively.

MP4 may not innovate the genre forward or have any revolutionary mechanics, but I don’t need it to. All I wanted was more Prime Metroid, and that is what I have gotten. The game still has the feeling of isolation, and very atmospheric locales. This is all bolstered by excellent sound design and a superb soundtrack.

It may not be worth the 18-year wait, but I’ll always take more Metroid over no Metroid.

@Reeneman How is it a scam? They didn’t say they had an update planned for the anniversary. Fans randomly assumed that was going to happen, with no factual evidence to suggest it.

Once again, people are disappointed by making wild assumptions and expectations in their own head.

I got the platinum already for PS5, but I just bought it for the Switch 2 and have been playing it all weekend. It’s seriously an incredible port, and an exceptional game to boot. I’ll take all the updates the game gives me.

Hello, Night City!

That’s right, chooms, I’m back in the city. My name is V, and I’m a katana wielding, net-running street-kid specialist, and brain-dancing my way to solving issues my way.

Seriously, though, Cyberpunk 2077 is peak gaming. I spent over 100 hours in the PS5 version, and got the platinum. I don’t know what compelled me to return to this world, but I’ve heard nothing but positives about the Nintendo Switch 2 version so I decided to buy it and see for myself.

This isn’t hyperbole—it’s an absolute jaw dropping experience. I’ve been playing exclusively on handheld and feel more immersed than previously before. I’m truly blown away by how well it runs, the graphics, and silky smooth gameplay. From here on out this should be the gold standard for future ports to this system, and it’s a testament to how good the S2 can be if given proper treatment.

It’s insane how much of a turnaround this game received, and rightfully so. CP2077 is one of the best open world RPGs ever made, with an incredible DLC that really hammers home the entire package.

I can’t wait! Lies of P is one of my all time favorite games—it surprised me immensely. I have no doubt they will make an even better sequel, because that ending for the first game is chef’s kiss.

Neon White is one of the best games I’ve played in the last few years. I highly encourage everyone to check it out.

It looks very similar in the art department to Nobody Save the World. I might pick this up down the line on a sale.

This past month has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions. I mentioned several weeks ago I totaled my car and broke my back. I’m slowly recovering, but yesterday my mother-in-law passed away. As me and my wife’s pastor said, we are going through a season.

In terms of what I’ve been playing, I’m still captivated by Hades 2. So far, I’ve completed approximately 75 nights — or runs, rather — and have defeated the “final boss” a handful of times. I use quotations because there is a ton of game here that I don’t want to spoil the surprise(s) in the culmination of events.

In addition, one of my most anticipated games of the last few years finally released: Demonschool. Unfortunately, I’m massively disappointed with my experience. I didn’t have unrealistic expectations, or presumed it would be on par with Persona, albeit pixelated, but the writing is astonishingly bland and generic. And the characters are one dimensional, with the life-sim aspects spent between characters never really evolving into something worth caring for.

On another note, Tomb Raider Definitive Edition shadow dropped for the Switch and I immediately picked it up. There is something whimsical about playing a sprawling adventure exploring a mysterious island, uncovering lost tombs, discovering diaries and treasures, while in portable mode. And honestly, as much as I thoroughly enjoyed it back in 2014, it’s even better than I remember.

Lastly, Stalker 2, one of my favorite games of last year released on the PS5 a couple of days ago. I figured since I’m mentally in a state of depression why not go full throttle and immerse myself into a post apocalyptic Chernobyl exclusion zone where it’s a struggle to survive.

Happy soon to be Thanksgiving, everybody!

This looked awesome, and a nice spin on the genre. I’m definitely going to keep my eyes on this project.

@RoomWithaMoose It was just an observation, that is all. Do I expect the kinks to be ironed out? Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t point out issues even though I said I think the game looked “insanely good” and that I’m looking forward to it.

This looked insanely good, albeit the framerate seemed choppy. Either way, I’m looking forward to this one—it seems like a real standout for the genre.

This weekend my time is spent obsessing on Hades 2. I played this quite a bit when it released on the Switch, but I got burned out during the 20-hour mark and took a lengthy break. I’m now 50+ hours deep and won’t be pausing any time soon.

It may sound embarrassing, but I have yet to complete a single run, but I’m okay with that due to its rich story strong narrative and characters. It’s truly astonishing that this game can have so much content. I’ve yet to encounter a single repeated line of dialogue between character interactions, and each person is fully developed, with excellent voice acting to provide an extra layer of immersion.

To simply put, Hades 2 is easily going into my pantheon of exceptional games, possibly in the top five. I’m not sure how Supergiant exceeded expectations, but they are a master of their craft. Every game they make is top tier, and better than the last. I can’t wait to see their next project. Until then, welcome to the GoTY discussion my indie darling.

And I’m now patiently waiting for one of my most anticipated games in years: Demonschool. Only a few more days to go.

Uh oh, we better watch out on Twitter; people will be saying how this game was a major flop due to its sales numbers 🙄

On a serious note, this game is phenomenal. I got the platinum trophy for it, and it would be my GoTY if not for Clair Obscur and Silksong.

I like this list of games! I’m definitely going to try out Pacific Drive.

I’ll definitely pick this up once it releases. It was one of the few standouts in the State of Play.

I have no expectations going in. I’d be content if Phantom Blade Zero got a release date. Other than that, I’m fine with whatever they decide to present—I have too many games to play as it is.

@Don_Quixote227 I would definitely recommend Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. It’s a very good game, and pays homage to the NES era of NG games. It’s definitely up there with the best action platformers this year.

@Titntin Thanks! I’m wearing a back brace and trying to be as physically active as I typically am. I should be good in due time, though!

Last week I talked about totaling my car. Since then I hadn’t missed a day of work despite being in pain. I finally went to the doctor yesterday because of the persistent headaches and back issues. It turns out that I have two compression fractures on my vertebrae, so that’s why my mobility has been difficult. Now onto the games!

I beat Dragon Quest 1 from the remake double package. It was excellent, albeit too long. That may sound peculiar considering the game can be beaten in approximately ten to twelve hours, but it drags on extensively near the end.

As of right now I’m starting to prefer games that don’t require a lot of brainpower. To be specific, rouge-likes such as Ball x Pitt, Absolum, and Hades 2. I don’t have the mental fortitude to play The Outer Worlds 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Silent Hill F, and more in my ever growing backlog.

Along with my mindless rogue-likes, I earnestly started Shinobi: Art of Vengeance on my Switch 2. Holy moly; this is everything I’ve wanted in my 2D action platformers. Here I thought Ninja Gaiden Ragebound — a game I got the platinum for — was top tier, and whilst it is great, Joe Musashi blows it out of the water.

For starters, it’s arguably the most gorgeous 2D side scroller I’ve ever played. The artwork is stunning in every facet with no weak detail at all, whether that’s the backdrops, character animations, cutscene transitions with dialogue boxes, and enemy designs. It all blends together to create an aesthetically pleasing experience.

Furthermore, it is a contained package that has all the goods: secret areas, combat challenges, collectibles, upgrades, and replayability. What impresses me the most is that it’s not a mere left-to-right platformer. There are several nonlinear locations littered throughout each map and you can choose which stages to tackle first. In addition, the levels themselves aren’t short. There is a Metroidvania element as you obtain new abilities that allow you to replay maps with different routes.

The game really shines in its action. There are many ways to approach combat, with a wide arsenal of abilities to expand how you tackle enemies. Combat has a real weight to it as well—you can feel every hit on the baddies. But the game isn’t easy and can pose a real challenge if you aren’t careful as you’ll face numerous enemies at once with their own unique move-sets.

When you get into a rhythm, however, it feels like you’re dancing in a ballet. Mix that in with tight platforming, fun levels with various means of traversal, a bolstering soundtrack that keeps you engaged from the start, and you have a recipe of pure adrenaline fueled bliss. Shinobi is back, and better than ever.

I really enjoyed this game, and got the platinum too. Its linearity was a breathe of fresh air.

I’m assuming the game will be released in 2027. My assumption would be late spring or early fall. I’m curious to see how the release schedule of AAA games shifts due to this announcement.

I chose Ball x Pit. I played Ghost of Yotei and got the platinum for it. The game was top notch; however, Ball x Pit just had me thinking about it when I wasn’t playing. When a game can do that it is something special.

This weekend I will not be attending a wedding—thankfully, I might add. However, I had an unfortunate accident two nights ago. I totaled my car by hitting a deer on my way home from work, so that is coming with its own set of stressors and awful back pain. With that said, this thread is about games that are being played, and thus I shall begin;

First and foremost, I’m playing Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake (say that five times fast). Prior to its release I was thinking to myself, ”this HD-2D aesthetic is beginning to lose its charm”, and then lo and behold, this game releases and it’s visually breathtaking. It’s also been a huge pleasure to be in this world once again.

Dragon Quest has always been the ultimate comfort JRPG. Each time I defeat an enemy, or level up, and even save my progress, the jingle that plays always gives me a burst of dopamine. I’m not being factious - it warms my heart in an unexplainable way. And considering my circumstances, it’s needed.

In addition to DQ, no, not Dairy Queen, although that sounds delightful, I’m playing Absolum. Wow; what an incredible surprise. I typically enjoy rougelike(s), but they only hold my attention for few hours until I find a more structured narrative experience.

As much as I thoroughly enjoy my time with the likes of Hades 1 & 2, my issue stems with how the story is presented. The writing and characters are unbelievably well realized and developed, but the story unfolds by dying. While that may be the core essence of the genre, it becomes repetitive despite how good the gameplay is. Once the feeling of excitement for how new things seem, you eventually reach a point where you understand what you’ll stumble upon in the next room. Simply put, it loses its magic, at least for me.

With Absolum, while it features your common attributes in every rougelike, it plays more to its desired roots — a proper beat-‘em-up — but with a side scrolling adventure that feels like a condensed open world. There are secret paths to uncover, hidden chests, varying routes that can lead to intriguing side quests, and several characters to unlock. Dying may be part of its design, but runs last longer, giving me the sense of real progression.

All of this should be no surprise considering the studio that developed this game also made Streets of Rage 4, but this feels like a culmination of everything that Guard Crush Games is masterful at and dialed up to a 1000+ combo hit. What a year for the French; baiser du chef!.

I’m playing it and it’s been a blast so far. I’m on the first planet and have spent 12 hours so far just side questing. I think I’m about to wrap up the entirety of the missions before heading on to the main narrative.

I didn’t even know episode 1 and 2 were out. I remember seeing this at the Game Awards (I think?) and thought it looked awesome.

I’ve been playing the game for several days now on my base PS5 and it runs great. I haven’t had any frame rate or performance issues. I’ve yet to come across any bugs, unless they are crabbles, and nothing halting my progress. Right out of the gate I feel like this has been a very polished experience. I’m having an absolute blast with the game.

I haven’t played it yet, but I’m curious to see other people’s opinions. I have a feeling I’ll enjoy it quite a bit — it’s one of my favorite franchises.

This looks freaking awesome. It definitely reminds me of the first God of War game in 2005. I can’t wait to see more—hopefully, it has more than gameplay going for it.

I’m glad to see it will be improved. This used to be the bane of me and my best friend’s existence when playing co-op on Legendary. I’m really curious to see how this re-remake implements three new pre-levels and restructuring other levels.

I’ll be buying it 100%. Good or bad, which I don’t see it being bad, just to have this game on PlayStation alone is wild.

There is no need to cut any content; just keep it structured. I can’t wait for part 3.

This weekend I’ll be attending a wedding several hours away from where I live. I won’t be gaming much. However, an update from last week: I finally wrapped up the platinum trophy for Ghost of Yotei. It was an excellent experience. With the little sliver of time I do have, Ball x Pitt will be taking up my time. It’s the perfect travel companion, and I was not expecting it to be as addicting as it is.

I’ll be buying and playing each and every Halo that releases on PS5. It is one of my all time favorite franchises, and I’ve arguably spent more time in that world than any other game I’ve ever played (multiplayer). Aside from Halo 5, I’ve loved all of the campaigns. I genuinely cannot wait to have this mind-bending novelty on a PS console.

This is an instant day one purchase. It looks incredible. My young teenage years were spent with the Halo franchise. I fondly remember going to LAN parties, watching MLG tournaments and even participating in them, and just spending my summer vacation with my best friend playing the co-op campaign religiously. This is truly a historical moment for gaming.