Kraven

@Kidfunkadelic83 What boss did you get stuck on?

This weekend I am finally wrapping up the platinum trophy for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’ve completed every optional boss, all thirty-three levels of the Endless Tower, and all additional side content, so all I have left to do is reach level 99. I’m six levels away, so I’m just grinding.

Even now, after essentially 100%’ing the game, I’m even more enamored with it than I was originally. I’m having a total blast using pictos and creating new unique builds, and seeing how far I can push my damage output. I’ve beaten some end-game bosses with one hit, and it’s very satisfying.

This game is without a doubt my GOTY. It has been expertly paced from start to finish. The story is deep and impactful, every character is fully developed and interesting, exploration is rewarding, and it’s a masterclass in roleplaying. Typically, the longer you play a game the more you begin to see its flaws, but not here - I might just consider it the perfect JRPG.

Once I wrap that up, I’ll officially start DOOM: The Dark Ages. I’ve been attempting to go into it as blind as possible, but I’ve read a few reviews that say it plays similarly to the 2016 reboot. I hope this is true because as much as I love Eternal and its relentless nature, I liked the slower pace - well, slower for DOOM standards - and the weapons better.

I don’t like the character movement, but everything else speaks to me. Depending on reviews, I’ll probably pick this up. It should be a good palate cleanser from DOOM, and should last me until Death Stranding 2 releases.

It’s going to come, the question is when. I’m very much looking forward to it. By all the reviews I’ve read, it seems like a solid Obsidian RPG, but the companions are quite disappointing. This is a shame, but it is what it is. Everything else seems great. I would have played it on Game Pass, but I had a backlog to work through so I don’t mind waiting for a lull in gaming, of which doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon.

@DonJorginho That’s awesome, man! Really great story and so cool for the developers to do that!

I’ll definitely be picking one up for my daughter! She will absolutely love it, and I can tell her about it as one of my favorite RPGs.

I’ll pick this up down the road. Right now, there are too many games out. I also feel satiated with KCD2, spending approximately 200 hours with the game, and got the platinum trophy.

That’s pretty cool. I do agree, it is GOTY right now. I’m attempting to go for the platinum trophy as well. I’m at the end, and can fully explore the entire map. I’m trying to wrap up all side content before beating the game, but I’m actually struggling with the end-game content. I may save it for a NG+ down the line, but if I do, I’m going to max out all relationships first, find all the lost gestrals, and do their beach activities. I’ll save the combat oriented trophies for a second playthrough.

PS: Stellar Blade is phenomenal, and I got the platinum for that game.

I was disappointed by this episode. It was good, but there were too many moments where the writing fell apart by contrivances. The main area was when Ellie got to the hospital, crawled away from the dog into the hiding hole, and then magically appeared behind Nora in the room. Really? She managed to slip by everyone patrolling and knew exactly what room Nora would be in? It felt so forced and didn’t make any sense, and lost the emotional impact because, in the game you’re sneaking and fighting your way inside, and find Nora by logical reasoning, albeit video gamey. I don’t know - as much as I like the show and can separate it from the game, it really isn’t reaching any of the high points that the game did. At all.

I’ve been feeling burnout with gaming over the last two weeks. I also won’t be playing much of anything this weekend — I’ll be out of town, so it might be a good refresher. And I haven’t got to play much of anything throughout the week, so progress has been minimum in the games I have been playing.

To start, I finished Act 3 in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’m officially at the end game, and now that the entire map is opened up, I’ll be doing all of the optional content before completing the game. My opinion hasn’t changed — it’s an absolute masterpiece. I would like to go for the platinum trophy, but I’m not sure yet due to the excessive amount of games I want to play that are out right now.

Secondly, I’m playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak on my Switch. I played the game originally on the PS5 at launch but put the game aside during the third chapter because I got busy with life. I figured I’d be able to complete it if I play it portably since I’ve been traveling a lot more than usual as of late. I’m currently halfway through chapter 2 and it’s just as brilliant as I remember.

Lastly, I preordered Doom: The Dark Ages. The reviews have been great, and the prior two games are some of my favorite FPS’s to date. This new entry looks absolutely wild, with an interesting departure from its predecessors. This should be a nice palate cleanser from the depressing narrative of Clair Obscur, and the meaty RPG that is the Trails series. It’s time to turn off my brain and rip and tear.

I’d happily take an HD 2D remake, but if they do that, I would hope they port the original to consoles just in case it doesn’t meet expectations.

Awesome review! It’s a shame some of the sections don’t work out very well with the dragons and mechs, but that’s okay. I also don’t need a story with this game. Everything else sounds sublime, and I’ve preordered the game and I’m ready to go!

The gameplay looks like it’s trying to be Uncharted, and I’m okay with that. I really hope the gunplay feels fun to play, and the driving mechanics aren’t too frustrating. As much as I liked Mafia 1, the wasn’t enjoyable to play through. Nonetheless, the game looks gorgeous. I’m looking forward to its release.

This is a pleasant surprise, and I’m happier for it. I’m ready to see a full gameplay trailer.

I can’t wait — the first game took me by surprise. I’m glad to hear combat has been improved, particularly with how it feels to play. I think from this point onward, I’ll be going on a media blackout for this game until it releases.

I gave it a 10. I do agree with others - I wish the game had a mini map. However, I can’t fault the game for not having it because it was a creative decision that ultimately doesn’t affect what makes the game so special. Its easily one of the best games I have ever played.

Man, we are getting an overload of Trails games. I can’t complain — and in fact, I’m playing through Daybreak right now since I never finished it from last year — but with a new entry releasing soon, and a remake of the first, it’s definitely overwhelming in a good way.

I’d love to see a better stealth implementation. However, I’d really like to see weapon diversity, which I believe we are getting.

@OldGamer999 I see your point, but also, this is Rockstar. They have the money, resources, and time to make something fantastic. And there really shouldn’t be any doubt about it. Every GTA has been incredible, regardless if you’re a fan of the setting and characters. The same goes for Red Dead Redemption 2. It should be safe to say that due to their history, and the love and care they put into their franchises, at the very least this game will be great. I honestly don’t think it’s possible to be bad or mediocre whatsoever with the money they are spending. Just thought I’d throw out a different perspective — but I do understand your sentiment.

The production value is absolutely insane, and it looks stunning. Rockstar is next level, and I’d reckon they probably spent close to a billion on this game.

Amazing news! I’m surprised they aren’t releasing the entire trilogy all at once, but I’ll take what I can get. This is going to be an awesome summer.

Dang, that’s a bummer. I was semi looking forward to this, but it sounds like an easy pass. Plus, there are too many good games out right now.

It was a great episode, with brilliant acting all across the board. There were a few pacing issues in my mind, but it didn’t detract much from the overall experience. I agree with others, though - the game is much better, but that’s only because of how interactive the game can be that the show doesn’t portray. There are subtle nuances and environmental stories that are simply absent in the show, probably due do time constraints.

Well deserved! I’m dreading the DLC because I know I’ll lose at least 50 hours of my life to the game. I spent 200+ on the base game and got the platinum. Really, I’m not yanking your pizzle.

@AltimusPrime Congrats on the kiddo! Classic RPGs are the way to go in a time like this — it’s the perfect comfort food!

My primary focus this weekend will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not too long ago, I was raving about Kingdom Come Deliverance —rightfully so; 200 hours later I finally got the platinum — and said I can’t see anything topping this as my frontrunner for GOTY. Well, that sentiment has changed.

I’ve put roughly 20 hours into this game. I recently completed Act 1 and am near the tail-end of Act 2, and I am blown away. The story is heartfelt, with twists and turns that have left me in utter disbelief. And the shocking moments that do occur don’t happen for the sake of trying to pull a fast one on your emotions. No; it happens organically, with beautiful allegories behind its decisions. You don’t see this often with modern RPGs.

Many developers neglect the story for gameplay and exploration. Clair hasn’t substituted anything. Everything is purposeful. It has taken all that makes an RPG what it is — story, party members, bantering, evil villain(s), a classic leveling up system, beautiful OST, exploring a vast open world — and elevated it above all of its contemporaries in a masterclass execution.

The combat has left me just as speechless as the narrative. It keeps you engaged from start to finish, and always evolving with new mechanics. Even more impressive is how many builds you can create — quite literally at least a hundred, and they aren’t minor. Just when you think turn-based mechanics couldn’t evolve in a redefining way, here comes a studio with their first game knocking on the door saying, ”Surprise”!.

In a similar fashion as how Dark Souls paved the way for a lot of the games we see today, I truly believe Clair will be the example with turn-based RPGs moving forward. What is even more impressive is how many various builds you can create — quite literally at least 100 different variations. Speaking of DS, you can see how that historic franchise was an inspiration for this game. There are thrilling boss fights where you need to learn patterns, know when to dodge and counter, and understand weaknesses and affinities. There are even multiple phases. It’s quite astonishing how they have used the FromSoftware formula and implemented it seamlessly in a turn-based system. There is a layer of strategy to each combat encounter.

Other than lip syncing issues and invisible walls, I haven’t found a false note anywhere. I’ve been waiting for the game to plateau, but it still hasn’t come. I wish I could write a full length feature on this game because I’ve barely scratched the surface, from voice acting, the metaphors, the unique character designs, and the world building. Alas, that can’t be the case, so I’ll sum up the game like this: Clair Obscur is genre defining, and a generational game. Let’s not take it for granted.

I mean, cmon, the obvious and correct answer is Clair Obscur. It’s a masterpiece.

Good for him! PlatinumGames has been going down hill lately, and especially if they continue down the online route. It’s a shame because they have made some incredible titles — Bayonetta, NieR, Astral Chain, and most recently worked on Ninja Gaiden 4 — but they have lost their identity I think. This move will be a good opportunity to bring back the heart of what that studio does best.

I posted this on Nintendolife’s feature, but I’ll post it here as well. I’ve been playing it for roughly 10 hours. I’m on day 14, and though I find the story compelling, I’m already feeling the burnout. I know more activities are going to open up, but not much to really expand on the gameplay, at least from what I’ve read.

I’m also not a fan of 75% of the characters. In the same vein as Persona - I know they will get better with time the more you learn about their past, unlock their true potential, but it’s a struggle to get to that point. In most Persona games, I typically feel a connection with its characters before backstories are revealed. It’s different with The Hundred Line.

Three characters that I am immediately annoyed by are:

Darumi - Her personality is exhausting. She’s like Harley Quinn, but taken to another level.

Gaku - He freaks out way too much, and is constantly in a state of panic that makes me personally feel overwhelmed.

3. Shouma - The self loathing pity party was funny at first, but it wears thin pretty quickly.

All other characters I can tolerate to a certain degree. In fact, Eito just developed significantly and I’ve unlocked his battle transformation. He seems be pretty cool. I also enjoy Hiruko and her storyline. It’s just getting to that point where I know the characters will develop — that’s where I’m struggling.

With all of that said, if it weren’t for the characters, I’d recommend this game. It has unique mechanics, a great story, and fun turn/grid base combat. There is a lot of depth to it, and genuine strategy; you can easily get wiped out if you’re not careful. I have gotten an S Rank on every battle I’ve done, though, and I’m not sure how. Unfortunately, it’s not consistently grabbing my attention so I think I’m going to put it to the side for now.

Awesome month for me personally! Balatro and Boltgun have been on my list to play for a while now!

It looks pretty neat — I might check it out. I’m playing a similar game now on the Switch called “The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy” and it’s pretty good.

It was a great episode. Honestly, I’m really starting to believe in Bella being Ellie. There are some great acting moments, and I love the shot of her in the bedroom with her and the guns. The clothes she was wearing, her hairstyle, the arm tattoo — it was a “this is Ellie” moment. And now the show is about to really begin. You can argue it was the second episode, but this is the moment, leaving Jackson, where things are going to be ramped up. I’m excited.

@Lup I dislike the fact there isn’t a mini/map as well. With that said, I’ve learned how to traverse the world and find all the collectibles even with no map. Essentially, if I’m exploring and find a flag to save my game, I go in the opposite direction because the flag is leading you to the next story beat.

This weekend I’m finally playing something different than what I have for the last month and a half. That said, I’ll provide a quick update.

The First Berserker: Khazan - I’m on the final boss, Ozma. I’m taking a hiatus momentarily because I’m feeling the burn out. I only have a handful of collectibles left to find. Once I do, and defeat him, I should get the platinum!

Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition - I finally beat the base game at the 86 hour mark. All characters were level 54-55, with max affinity with them all. It was an absolute sublime experience. The ending was fantastic, and the post credits scene was mind blowing. I’m going to put the game aside for a few days before I jump in to finish the epilogue, but right now I feel satiated. Overall, this has become my favorite RPG franchise. Can we get a sequel, please?

As for what I’m playing now, my time is being consumed by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. What a debut from Sandfall Interactive. I haven’t been this enamored with a turn-based RPG in quite some time — sorry, Metaphor — and this game hits all of the correct notes.

Funnily enough, Clair is your quintessential RPG. You will find wall of your typical tropes — “chests” at the end of offbeat paths, acquiring party members, traversing a world map, having campouts in the wild, skill trees, and boss fights at the end of the dungeon; however, all of these puzzle pieces that define this genre are presented in a unique fashion, making it feel fresh. It’s hard to do that with a game — redefining a genre that other developers will take inspiration from.

You immediately get an ominous feeling as soon as the game begins. The world is vibrant, but the tone and inhabitants are somber. Life is getting shorter for its residents, and people are trying to end this cycle of death. While doing so, the world building comes into play. Philosophical questions are raised by the looming presence of death, quite literally, and how people live their lives are always in debate. Why bring children into this world when they may not live but only a few years? How can you be content seeing your fate in the distance? The game may be fantastical in set dressing, but the characters and human nature are entirely relatable. I won’t provide any story spoilers, but let’s just say it’s as depressing, yet compelling as the premise sounds.

Where the game truly shines is in its combat. This game might just feature the best turn-based combat in any (J)RPG ever made. Every party member has a unique set of skills that are very useful. Moreover, it keeps you engaged because it’s not as simple as “press x and attack” every time when discovering the enemies weakness. You’re involved the entire time because you can dodge enemy attacks, and there is even a parry mechanic that lets you counter attack if successful, similar to Sekiro. Some attacks require you to jump over an attack. Meanwhile, there are QTE’s that enhance your attacks if performed at the correct time. There is so much depth, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of it.

I can’t stop thinking about this game. It’s truly a masterclass in nearly every facet. GOTY material? Expedition: Yes.

Yeah, I’m playing it. I completed the prologue and have a second party member now. I’m already gripped by its narrative, and it’s not afraid to make bold decisions. The combat is also, in my opinion, the greatest turn based combat I’ve ever played in a video game. It truly is something special and unique.

Glad to hear there aren’t any missables. I’m definitely going to try for the platinum. I’m going in blind my first run, and collect everything I missed with a guide afterwards.

@UltimateOtaku91 I bought the same two games in the past two days, haha! I will be buying this one too, but my wallet is hurting. I’ll be fine, though, lol.

What the hell is happening lately? Random news after random news, and it’s actually good? Let’s go!

@jdv95 Yeah, all expansions/DLC are included!

@StandardMario Thank you, friend!

@MasterChiefWiggum Thank you! And happy early birthday to you!

Okay, this looks incredible. What a complete overhaul. And it’s my birthday today, so I’m going to treat myself! And not a bad price, either.

I thought this was one of the best hours of television I’ve seen, and that’s including Breaking Bad’s “Ozymandias”, “The Battle of the *****” from Game of Thrones, “A Most Powerful Adversary” and “International Assassin” from The Leftovers. There were some drastic deviations from the game, but I still knew what was transpiring and I felt the tension the entire time. The acting was excellent, and I think Kaitlyn Denver proved she could play Abby without being bulky or muscular. You should feel her presence, and I believed every word she was saying. She genuinely felt intimidating despite her short stature.

Tomorrow is my birthday and this is a great surprise gift! Let’s hope for a shadow drop.

I’ve never been a fan of Star Wars, but I think this looks cool. I’ll definitely keep my eyes on this one.

This weekend I’m continuing my journey in The First Berserker: Khazan. I’m on the second to last boss fight, and damn has it been rough getting to this point. There have been times where I’ve spent hours upon hours with a single boss, but it is so rewarding once you achieve victory.

Funnily enough, my wife — not a gamer whatsoever — makes fun of me (in good spirit) because every time she comes out of the office (she works from home), she always seems to appear when I die and the screen says “Khazan Has Fallen”. She has asked me numerous of times if I’ve even left that screen 😬

Meanwhile, I’m on the final chapter of Xenoblade Chronicles X. My goal is to mop up the final remaining side quests and affinity missions. I’m genuinely in love with this game, and am always continuing to be impressed by its scope and depth, particularly in exploration and combat. This entry has become tied with XC1 as my favorite in the franchise.

As for what’s next on the docket — Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is my main focus. I originally played it on Game Pass and was immediately enthralled. I decided to double dip and pick up the deluxe version on PS5. I’m hoping to get the platinum sense the Xbox version had buggy achievements. We will see if the PS5 version has the kinks all ironed out.

I’m all for this approach. I liked the smaller planets that were explorable in the first game. It felt big, yet not overwhelming at the same time. Give me that plus environmental and interstitial stories in-between the main narrative and I’ll be sold.

This is my most anticipated game this year. I’m glad the preview from Nintendo Life is very positive. 2D Ninja Gaiden is back! I’m looking forward to buying the physical version on Switch, but I’ll probably double dip on the PS5 for the trophies.

I’m definitely getting this, just in time for my birthday next Tuesday. I think I’ll pick it up on the Switch though.

I’m definitely going to double dip on this. I played the game on Xbox/Game Pass and loved it. I was disappointed, however, because my achievements were bugged. Hopefully those kinks are ironed out in the PS5 version and I can get the platinum for it. It’s such a great game.