Every Game I Played In 2020 (part 1)

2020 very early on turned out to be a year where staying inside was needed, social norms no longer mattered, and so many of us expected to get through a great deal of their back catalogues for many hobbies. When it comes to movies and even some TV, you can see my adventures through my Letterboxd page. When it comes to reading, there’s my reading challenge from my Goodreads page. And so, that leaves video games as the odd man out for what hobby I had an outlet to catalogue. When this year started, I did serious consideration into restarting online content, and with video game year lists being popular, I actually started an Excel doc that marked down every game I played, separated by finished and 100%’d. I’m not in a location or position for those video prospects, but thankfully I can instead use every single game on that list by talking about them here. It’s a fairly long list, so we’ll be segmenting into 3 parts. I’ll say if it’s a game I’d never played, a game I replayed, a game I got 100% or not, and I’ll give them an out of ten rating.

2020 is dead and over, so let’s see if there really where any positive memories in terms of my media. Or, if there’s some memories that may pale in comparison to the rest of that year but were something nasty none the less.

I have no outside sponsor for this post, so any purchases of my book The Romance Novel (pennamed under Erika Ramson) are greatly appreciated and help me continue posting!

D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die

https://store.steampowered.com/app/358090/D4_Dark_Dreams_Dont_Die_Season_One/

For those who don’t remember, seeing how it feels a hundred years ago, but near the end of 2019 Microsoft held a special offer where you could try out Xbox Games Pass for three whole months for the price of only a dollar. So the first few games on this list ended up being Game Pass games, which remains one of the best deals in gaming specially since now the $70 price tag we never should have welcomed is finally here. Some of those games were played in December, but I started the transition into 2020 with D4.

And wow, this is a complete trip of a good game. I’m the type that did like Deadly Premonition, for the first 2/3 it’s so-bad-it’s-good and likely purposefully so, then in that last third it becomes this shockingly great game that puts everything on it’s side. Twist after twist that feel right and earned, better gameplay and pacing, it’s end is somewhat masterpiece, you just have to survive the crap. Since some hated the crap, it’s sad they will never see the beauty but I absolutely can’t blame them.

So enter D4, which just cuts right to the charming delights that Deadly Premonition took way too long to get too. The unique gameplay leads to some great moments, and you can finish the mystery of the game without having to find every single clue, different paths opening up and the like. These characters are also ridiculously charming and endearing, making the dinner scenes this time around more spectacular and worth seeing than last time.

It makes it all the more a shame I’ll never bother with Deadly Premonition 2, since supposedly that game had story ties to the sadly unfinished story here. But, I’ve seen enough of the game to know it’s cynical existence. I’m not holding my breathe for an unswelled ego after that, still, my review for this game is only based on this game. So:

Rating: 8/10

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons

So imagine for just a second the idea of physical game discs being printed under labels instead of only through the game publishers. In that world, Brothers would be picked up by Criterion.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons is one of really only a few examples of an art game. Art is a genre with film, and for as jealous as video games are of film, art isn’t a genre they go for often and usually when they do it’s just not something they can do since that pesky gameplay can be a determent. However, Brothers knew how to have unique gameplay that added to the experience and that even helped heighten the story in certain scenes.

There’s a made-up language you can eventually start to understand, there’s a world that progressively gets both more interesting and more terrifying as it goes along, the story is strong while still being easy to digest for the format of gaming, and one of the most interesting things is how it handles achievements/trophies. There are no story achievements, each one is based on a separate action you can do, each one having it’s own moment in time you don’t have to do to finish the game. If you don’t care about achievements, you can beat the game and literally skip every single one. If you do care about achievements, each one will feel like an accomplishment since you do have to actively do something. I’d played this before on PlayStation 3 and earned every trophy, and thanks to Game Pass I did the exact same on the Xbox One version.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons is, well, a masterpiece. Something A bit harder to call with how many elements games have to juggle, but boy, Brothers certainly did it.

Rating - 10/10

The Old Tree

https://store.steampowered.com/app/346250/The_Old_Tree/

Well, here’s why it was important to write down every game. In fact, I think this might have been the point where I made sure to do so since games like this can be forgotten even when they shouldn’t.

The Old Tree is a very straight forward puzzle game that is free on Steam, and that only took me 13 minutes to beat. I’m not the biggest fan of puzzle games since sometimes they try way too hard to be difficult, but Old Tree was simple enough while still rewarding. However, I can’t say I remember those puzzles, only that I had a good time playing it. For that, I’m already out of things to say, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s not worth playing.

Rating - 6.5/10

Saints Row: Gat Out Of Hell

https://store.steampowered.com/app/301910/Saints_Row_Gat_out_of_Hell/

I only started Saints Row on the third installment, but I was hooked ever since. I love the angle of a goofier and more fun focused open world crime drama style of game, and 4 jumping even further into it with super powers and alien overlords worked quite well even, if I do still have that softer spot for The Third. So, did going to the depths of Hell bring something to the table?

Mostly yes but still also no. Gat and Kinzie are fun to control, and there are some improvements over the also fun gameplay mechanics of 4, such as being able to fly instead of only glide. The change of setting is also nice after two games set in the same city. Still, there is a variety in 4 that Gat Out Of Hell did not match let alone beat, also 4 had additional locations in certain missions and the Christmas DLC while here you only have fiery pits and hints of suburban buildings, which can feel samey.

Satan also didn’t stay with me as an endearing antagonist, and only his daughter became interesting out of the side characters Kinzie and Gat befriend. Boring, no, but nothing to shoot any of them up into my favorite characters from the series. As for weapons, the couch with a minigun was fantastic, to the point I used it the rest of the game and barely anything else.

Gat is, good. Overshadowed by it’s far superior main games. Hardcore fans already played this, and people who become hardcore fans will play this, so while it’ll be worth the players time I can’t find a group to recommend it to.

Rating - 7/10

Speedrunning Uncharted 1 and 3

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA02320_00-UNCHARTEDTRILOGY

So, what to say about Uncharted other than, I’m part of the slightly growing number of people who aren’t all that impressed by the series. For their time, I can see it, but I don’t find the story or characters truly engaging and I find the gameplay to lack in all the places it really needs to shine. I much prefer the Tomb Raider reboot which took many cues from this series but stuck the landing a lot harder.

And yet, when it comes to Uncharted 3 I have tried very hard to like it. I saw much more improvements to my issues than in 1 and 2, and a lot of the “wow lookit those set pieces” moments work much better such as the car chase near the end. As such, I do have the Platinum trophy in both 3 and 1, and I thought to myself that if I was going to play more games than usual, might as well do the surprisingly easy feat of speedrunning two games I’m not that big a fan of. With Doughnut Drake enabled of course.

Uncharted 1 is still the clunky and goofy time it always was for me, with some charm in that straightforward goofiness I wish the series hadn’t pretentiously erased in the sequel, and again 3 did the best at bringing the cheese back while still being better written and with mechanics I could enjoy more times than the last two games.

Ultimately though, they were two games I beat in one sitting each while listening to podcasts and music. I may not be a fan after all, but there’s bits I think still work and if a non-fan can easily get the speedunning trophy, there’s something to say positively about how the game works mechanically. Just, you know, don’t think too hard about how I haven’t said these positives about 2….

Rating - 5.5/10 (rating is for Nathan Drake Collection by the by)

Halo 5: Guardians

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/halo-5-guardians/brrc2bp0g9p0?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

Well, back to Game Pass with what was supposed to be a big game for the Xbox One, Halo 5: Guardians. Opinions seems pretty concise on this entry in the franchise; The story is the weakest it’s ever been but the gameplay is fresh and fun. Both are truth and it’s kind of strange just how understated those truths ended up being.

The return of Cortana and the newest characterizations and actions of Master Chief basically seem to undo the very well-written takes we saw in Halo 4. So many things that worked for the story in 4 are just brushed away without a thought here. In many ways, it’s insulting to the fans and especially to the characters. I kept hoping something interesting would happen with them, but it was below generic every step of their side of the story.

Then there’s the B-Team as it were, who while not free of stereotypes did at least have a much stronger dynamic together and their overall story of tackling the Covenant civil war did a decent job of digging into one of the only weak story parts of 4, finally making it believable. They are also were the new combat and abilities are best utilized. I honestly wish this was their game, no Master Chief at all. It worked for Reach, and this would have felt to many like a more fun but less strong Reach, which is much better than what 5 turned out to be.

I did have fun, and that’s important. Still, I see a game that did not meet the potential it showed.

Rating - 6.5/10

Song of The Deep

https://store.steampowered.com/app/460700/Song_of_the_Deep/

Insomniac Games are an old favorite developer of mine. The original Spyro and Ratchet & Clank games are classics, thoroughly engaging in both character and gameplay. As such, I was very looking forward to finally playing their attempt at a more indie-style game.

I ended up hating every second of it.

Full of utterly generic characters and a cliched and tired story, Song of the Deep also suffers from very floaty controls that while do make sense for it’s underwater setting, do not work for it’s exploration platformer gameplay stylings. The art style did not win me over at any point of the game, seeing it in motion it’s stale and uninspired now matter how the promotional footage originally made me feel. Combat and difficulty felt forced to extend the handful of hours instead of simply embracing a shorter play time. It’s been a good while since I enjoyed not a single aspect of a video game.

Sometimes I get all the achievements or trophies because I really enjoy the game, sometimes it’s because they are just easy enough for me to bother. Other times, I do it to tell myself I never have even the slightest excuse to play it again. That happened here, I have every single one of the handful of trophies on PSN, and they were only worth doing so I never ever need to play this game again. If I hadn’t, well, I still never would have.

Rating - 1/10

Monsters Inc. Scream Team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters,_Inc._Scream_Team

With all of the recent generation games on here, it’s probably not hard to guess you weren’t expecting a PlayStation 1 movie tie-in game on my list. Well truth be told, movie tie-ins are my favorite retro games and I will unironically go to bat for them quite a lot.

Monsters, Inc. Scream Team seems to be somewhat getting traction as of late online, with people other than just me replaying it and seeing how it holds up. For my money, it does, but I suppose bear in mind other people seem less positive. Especially for the PS2 version weirdly enough. You’d think that’d be the better version, but I think the lower polygon count seems to please more people for these character designs.

The controls are weird here, they are certainly not the tightest but I didn’t have much of a problem platforming my way around the worlds. You can slide off of some surfaces and jumps can be too long a distance, both with Sulley and with Mike. Speaking of, Mike’s ground pound allows him to continuously bounce while still counting as an attack, while Sulley can only body slam once. Mike has an advantage here, and there is nothing else like that for Sulley. Mike is the better character and I do wish Sulley had been given his own advantage, even if I would have stayed playing as Mike more often anyway, the lack of advantages is way too noticeable.

I like how the collectathon elements work. Once you get every bronze medal, you unlock an ability that is needed for the silver medals. Once you get every silver medal, you unlock an ability which will help you get to the locations needed for the gold medals. I got 100% completion in an afternoon, just like I did countless times as a kid.

I’m not saying go out and buy this long out-of-print retro game, and sadly the recent shutdown of PlayStation 3’s online functions means you can’t even get the digital version I think they used to have up on the store front. Still, for fans of the PS1, I think this is a very fun movie tie-in game and I had a blast reliving my childhood experiences with it.

Rating - 8/10

Far Cry 4

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/far-cry-4/c0kj40t9qd86?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

It’s really not a stretch to say Far Cry has become basically a controversial franchise directly after 3. 3 was met with universal acclaim and might still be one of the most popular Ubisoft titles from the 360 and PS3 generation of games. Blood Dragon started division by either being very fun, or pretty fun but too short, there’s a similar division with Primal. 5 is in my personal opinion a disappointing game and straight-up bad, but going back in time to play 4, 4 I found things to like.

It’s been a very long time since I played 3, but that game stuck with me enough that I remember what playing it was like. The criticism that 4 played too much like 3 is one I mostly agree with, I didn’t find the few newer mechanics to add anything to the formula, but I wasn’t bored by the game either since while it’s not as strong as I remember 3 being it is still more fun than 5 ended up being. For as much as Ubisoft wants to backtrack their era of control towers, I’m sorry but the control towers weren’t actually the problem. You can climb a tower to reveal the area and have it be one of the best parts of the game, it all depends on how you vary the towers and how important you make them to the games. Here in Far Cry 4 I found them decent enough until the very very end, but by then I was so far into the game I could easily get a flying vehicle and plant myself at the top without much of a problem.

Collectables are simple but rewarding. Burning propaganda posters is cathartic; Pagan Min is charming but unhinged enough that fighting to overturn him is rewarding without him being an empty character, a problem I find happens in Far Cry since sometimes only one villain is interesting, and thankfully this time it’s the final one instead of a main lackey. Back on the collectables track, I found nothing too irritating unlike the race tracks in 5, and I was able to get 100% completion and while I didn’t get every achievement, I did get all of the ones involving the Yeti DLC. Said DLC was alright, not fascinating but didn’t take too long.

Speaking of length, there’s a lot to do here and it’s a bit overwhelming. Ubisoft and Rockstar like to put tons of content to justify their open worlds, and while Rockstar likes taking specific locations to place collectibles or just have hidden characters and situations, Ubisoft tries to place five or six things in every pixel of the map. While I can feel you can run out of things to do in Rockstar games unless you go for 100% and beyond, Ubisoft’s approach leads to monotony and repetition. I wasn’t as stressed as Red Dead Redemption 2, but I wasn’t as overloaded as, again, Far Cry 5.

I liked the characters and story more than in Far Cry 3, but this wasn’t without it’s problems in those departments. Ubisoft had more than started on their “but both sides can be bad” narrative and that’s never been as compelling as they think. Being critical and introspective on life can be intriguing, but not with the level of writing Ubisoft goes for. Making Far Cry more black and white morality wise would make a far better entry, or if they have to do a both sides narrative, hire more writers and treat them much better so they are happy and capable enough to write that narrative for the game. Still, to be fair, yes I liked this game and had an above decent amount of fun. Play 3 instead of 4, but play 4 instead of 5.

Rating - 7/10

Destroy All Humans! 2

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4389-CUSA05233_00-SLUS214390000001

So honest question here, but do you remember or were you even aware that for only about 2 years or so, Sony took old PS2 games and ported them onto the PS4? The original developers were called, the games were upscaled to HD, and they added trophy support. It was a great way to get new value out of older titles and help introduce them to newcomers.

There were just under 50 of them. Rockstar’s back catalogue were in, the Jak and Daxter games were in, but everything else was a complete scatter. Even official Sony properties didn’t have much luck, as none of insomniacs games came over, and even though movie tie-in The Warriors was approved, licensed games didn’t gain any other representative such as one of the many Disney, Dreamworks, Marvel, or DC games which have a notable fanbase.

However, both of the first Destroy All Humans! games were given the treatment, and from what I understand the sales from those were what convinced the studio to make the remake that surfaced last year, which I bought but have yet to play. But I did play the original a few years back through PS2 on PS4, and last year I purchased the sequel.

Said original is a darkly witty comedy, it’s story a big homage to the alien abduction and invasion B-movies except from the point-of-view of the evil aliens. Cryptosporidium is a hysterical Jack Nicholson soundalike alien who may be here to help save his species, but is still more than down for extra needless carnage against the human race. For all the murder and destruction you are causing, there’s an almost whimsical nature with it’s oddball humor coming through, and the human cast has notable villains far nastier and selfish than Crypto to keep you still feeling like you have something you are fighting for, not all that bad while still very much bad.

But notice, I didn’t mention the gameplay. The serviceable, yet sometimes completely broken gameplay. Destroy All Humans! 2 fixes that problem. Crypto has a much more mobile jetpack, the gunplay feels more unique and powerful, the mental powers are even more fun, and the spaceship sections are finally fun. In addition to adding so many new ways to destroy, the game also tries upping the comedy from the original. As such, it isn’t as witty as the original and some punchlines feel not nearly as earned. A great joke is a laugh festival, but there’s enough weak jokes and just far too silly character moments to believe.

But stale is not what I’d call the game. It’s a less funny game, despite having more jokes, but it’s the game that’s more fun to play with more fun bits to experience. There’s less ways to fail a side quest by accident, there’s more variety in side quests, and the story still has elements that match the original’s at the very least. Tracking down an original copy is all fine if you have a PS2 or original Xbox, but I’d say this uprezzed version is a great game too. Bear in mind not only did this sequel and the first get the PS2 on PS4 treatment, but the original Destroy is also backwards compatible on Xbox One, which means it’s also playable on the Series S and X, be it a disc or a download you can now do. I think the two are equal in my eyes, and I hope to check the remake of the first off my backlog sooner than later. As for the prettier version of Destroy All Humans! 2, it was a platinum trophy where I never had a low spot in anything I had to do.

Rating - 9/10

It's 2020 And Skyrim's Still Rough (Bad Language Warning!!)

So I rather tragically had to stay away from my new home city when COVID first hit. Just out in the middle of the sticks while mailing money for a place I can’t even look at. At the positive end of this, I got to play on my beloved PlayStation 3 that I left at my parent’s house. Not only that, but my nephew recently abandoned his PS3 game collection at the same location and told me I could play whatever I wanted because he didn’t really care. In that bag was classics like Mortal Kombat 9, Heavy Rain, even a couple of the sports game with numbers on the cover. But, of course, I found the bad mama herself.

The Eldest of Scrolls; Skyrim Edition Part 5.

Now I don’t think I have to tell you what the fuck a Skyrim is, but I suppose I should tell you I’ve shared my thoughts on the game in the past already. What’s different here thought is that while it’s still my thoughts, that was TECHNICALLY a different version of the game. The Xbox One version is “Special Edition”, while the PS3 one, well I think it was “Game of the Year” edition and it had the red PlayStation Hits case, did not even have the DLC but don’t worry I shilled out for it despite the price never going down. Hooray for me?

Due to sheer boredom, and needing something to be annoyed at besides deadly viruses and not going to work anymore, I plugged in the disc and decided to once again save those ungrateful bastards from Alduin the World Eater. Except for the ones that died. Mostly not even from Alduin. Sometimes from me, but mostly just not from Alduin.

In my older post I went through every single guild and their quests, bitched about some of my immersion problems, and concluded the game was far more “popcorn fluff” than “masterclass masterpiece”, a feeling more and more people tend to have these days. So, what exactly is there to mention today? I went for the Platinum trophy and the DLC trophies, and earned them, meaning my overall experience and intended playstyles are at the end of the day not too different from each other no matter how I did try to do it differently. There’s only a few things notably different, starting with, well. Remember I said this was the PS3 version? The version that was glitched from the depths of Hell itself.

I couldn’t believe it, but I finally got some of those infamous glitches everyone talks about but I never seemed to get. I got the flying mammoths! They were magical and truly immersion-killing! I also got this glitch where a dragon and a giant spawned at the exact same location, which caused the giant to ride the dragon for a grand total of maybe two seconds, then slipped off the dragon and fell about four feet, which the game decided was enough fall damage to kill him. The best part was this all happened while I was trying to get all of the werewolf skills, and that I ended up dying, reloading, and the exact same thing happened again! There I was, walking through the streets of Skyrim in the rain, looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook’s to get a big dish of beef chow mein, and I see a giant fall off a dragon and die like a loser twice in his video game lifetime. Never even dropped the Chinese menu from my hand.

Aside from the the glitches, the biggest difference I made was in two specific quest lines, I decided to try seeing how the other half lived. What do I mean? I mean:

I sided with the vampires, and the Stormcloaks.

Last time on Skyrim, my orc character was an Imperial soldier and a member of the Dawnguard. Now, in both cases, I ended up having some opinions that really kind of didn’t keep me swayed on the groups or even in the game itself, however, there were a few things here and there. Now that I’ve played on the opposite teams, especially since it was much longer ago the last time I did, I am now more positive towards my previous character’s alliances.

I need to say it first, but despite how cool the vampire powers are, the vampire questline genuinely doesn’t play out in a feasibly logical fashion even if you are playing ruthlessly evil (a flaw some of the other questlines have as well like the Mage’s College only happening because everyone is clearly unbelievably stupid). From past experience, I know that if you choose Dawnguard, Serana still develops a bond with you and seeks you out to talk with you. I know that sentence sounds like out-of-place video game writing, but honestly, I think that set-up is better than being a vampire lord and that the writers do give the Dawnguard members enough personality to work with to make this plot point still work out, only possibly faulting should you latter become a vampire lord anyway but even then you are given options on how you wish to proceed and that’s more than the vampire side has to offer. Plus, when it comes to choosing vampire, you still get side-swiped into going down the route of killing Serana’s evil king vampire father anyway and I just did not find him to be the kind of character they hoped I would find him.

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Harkon

Harkon is described as a complete monster type, planning on betraying you from the start and having no loyalties, and when he’s an “in-the-shadows” villain that fits him fine. But, when you have full conversations with him and see him act reasonably and calmly, all I could do was feel like I was smelling bullshit when the game told me he was pure evil and untrustworthy. I agree with the fanbase that Serana is the best companion and one of the few truly great characters in this game, but when it comes to being fully developed for the rest of the camps? The Dawnguard is more realized since they are solid good guys with some gray streaks, while the vampires feel like pretty generic baddies whom are really better off as baddies you fight against and are far less interesting on your side. Some of them are closer to complete monster status than Harkon for me, not because they outshine the evil of their master, but because their personalities are so barren and bland that I can’t describe them as anything other than “evil vampire”.

And then, we have the Stormcloaks.

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Stormcloak_Soldier

Good hearty boys who feel the need to defend their land from the man, or psycho fascists? Believe it or not, after spending time fighting with them, they kind of aren’t either. Some do fit one of the molds but as a whole, the Stormcloaks are, something I’ll get to, but let’s discuss the big two first.

First; the second-in-command Galmar Stone-Fist. He’s gruff and talks like a war-man in his first lines. However, if you recruit as a non-Nord, he openly tells you he has no problems with that and warns you that some of the others probably will. He treats you better than Ulfric at each outing, fights directly for the cause, and considers each Stormcloak to be his brother or sister worth dying for. Galmar is the only one who, is just a good man a little too concerned about the failings of his home and was convinced he had to change it himself. Galmar, for as tough and rugged as he is, is a character I ultimately feel sympathy for. His ideals are genuine to the fault he can be too easily convinced.

And who is conning him? That’s easy:

https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Ulfric_Stormcloak_(Skyrim)

Ulfric. Stormcloak.

I want to start this section with the first question I had starting down this path for the first time in a very long time. “Why would you trust a guy who has to name his army after himself?” Ulfric is a divisive character among the fanbase, he’s been compared to real-life dictators and also to real-life leaders who were far more altruistic. After seeing his real influence up close, I noticed the words he says do not always matching up to what he himself will actually do: promising a fair fight for the crown only to murder his opponent instantly and run away like a coward, sending his soldiers to die while claiming he’s just too important to lose and also that he’s always behind them anyway, his snobbish attitude towards non-Nord minorities and to Nords who do not agree with these principals.

Ulfric Stormcloak is a conman, and I do think this was the intended reaction for players who decided to look into him more. While not as well-written as Dutch Van Der Linde, they fit the same role. Selfish conmen and cult leaders who lead their followers into bloodshed for their own benefit while proclaiming greater idealism. Yes, I’m aware in-game texts refer to Ulfric having been tortured by the Thalmor, but that’s not a reason to go bloodthirsty against everyone allied with them, especially not the Empire who are openly disappointed in what the White-Gold Concordat really did. He’s right to be disappointed, but when you sit and think about it, he’s a king trying for a bigger crown with the reason being he thinks he’s entitled to it. To make a prediction; I think in the next game there will be books that mention how Skyrim fared years or centuries later. And considering how newer Bethesda titled Fallout 4 handled canon, expect those books to mention High King Ulfric, and for them to refer to Ulfric as a genocidal madman, maybe even allusions that he killed the Dragonborn. So yes, Galmar fits the mold of “good man who’s misguided”, while Ulfric perfect fits the “genuine fascist” mold people also attribute to his side of Skyrim’s civil war.

So, how about the Stormcloak soldiers since I said they don’t perfect fit into either? I decided to listen to the townsfolk who survived the battles (so yes don’t forget, Ulfric also claims to loves the citizens of Skyrim but then sends in his soldiers to kill civilians who get in the way without a hint of remorse. This is not an exaggeration since the extra deaths are always confirmed to happen yet Ulfric never mentions them.), and the reaction from the vast majority is how much worse off they are now that the Stormcloaks are doing whatever they want. There is dialogue when Imperials take over too, and since they do things like install criminal overlord Maven Black-Brair as jarl, they are not the squeaky-clean option. But, the things Stormcloaks are started to do heavily beats out what Imperials do. Stormcloaks soldiers get accusations of starting bar fights just because they rule the town now, bully random townsfolk, take whatever they want from businesses and some female characters mention activity that is legally definable as sexual harassment. I said they aren’t good guys at heart and not full fascists either; they are too nasty to be the former and too ill-prepared to be the latter. While they could become the latter should Ulfric gain more political power, the impression I gain is that while having the Dragonborn fight his victories for him means he can start doing so, either the Dragonborn helping the Empire or the Dragonborn choosing to help neither will lead to his already failing rebellion to die out in front of him. He is stated to be losing the war in the opening, and according to people more dedicated than me, NPCs turn out to be more negative towards the rebellion. even ones whom aren’t in complete favor with the Empire. Apparently it’s mostly to do with the behaviors from the soldiers which I mentioned noticing too above.

Stormcloak soldiers are nothing more than arrogant bullies who saw a chance to get away with whatever they wanted, and happily took it. I’m sure as a counterpoint you count mention Ralof, who does seem to be convinced the Stormcloaks are a necessary force to fix his broken land. But, he also treats Ulfric like a second-coming. It’s not hard to assume he’s just another civilian conned into joining a cult under false pretenses he may never be able to see through. Ralof and Galmar maybe be pawns, but that doesn’t erase the crimes of the group, which considering public opinion being either adoration without question, or multiple questions, I again think Bethesda did this on purpose which would make Ulfric honestly one of the better written characters of the game. After all, I’m willing to dissect him, and I can’t remotely bother to do that for most anyone else.

And, yeah. Unbelievably, I grew a lot more respect for the Skyrim Civil War side quests as I now feel I really understand how the plot really unfolds there. As for the rest of the game,

I’ll be real. I think I liked the rest of the game less than last time.

Skyrim is old. Skyrim is buggy, weak, stale. There is fun to be had and the repetition can lead to a good gameplay loop. I was able to get every trophy available on the PS3 version, the buggiest and messiest version, so something should be said that I could be convinced to do that. But, that something may just be that, I only did that so I can tell myself I’ve truly done everything and done it in a way that cannot be compared against it. I, think I’m done.

Look. I love Fallout 3 and 4. I am genuinely curious about the older Elder Scrolls games. I can still picture a future were somehow I play this again simply because it’s already become a part of my life. But. At the end of the day. It’s 2020, and Skyrim has shown it’s age so much that, it’s aged worse than games far older than it and has diminished it’s value to even me, someone who never put it on that high a pedestal but would say a few things in it’s defense. I don’t feel like defending it anymore, I don’t blame anyone that still loves it, but I don’t think I have to energy to try and like it anymore. Bad game? I’ll say, no but with a question mark at the end.

Ya’ll Like Numbers So Here’s A Number:

Skyrim Game of the Year Edition plus all of the DLC Packs:

5/10

Hasbro Family Game Night 3 Review - Third Time's Quite Charming?

A type of video game I am surprisingly fond of are the licensed board and trivia games. From the TV show games like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, to the traditional Monopoly games every system gets such as Monopoly Streets or Monopoly For Nintendo Switch.

As such, a curiosity piece for me has been the Hasbro Family Game Night series, something I had skipped over by accident or on some occasions because I never found a copy in stores. Now that the SARS-COVID-19 virus prevents going out, I decided to see if I could get lucky enough to order a used copy from Bullmoose Music, a local business that had the decency of morality and business sense to lock up from the start while keeping online orders to stay afloat. I’ve been playing this game for a while now and feel it’s a game worthy of a review even today:

Game Played On: PlayStation 3

Also Available on: Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

The game plays as an amusement park hub world where the player(s) pick which of the five Hasbro games to play a video game variation of. To be fair to this process, I will examine each game and the hub world itself. While the full game will still have an aggregate score, each represented board and card game will have one individually.

The Hub World:

The amusement park starts out with each of the games represented by an attraction, plus a little bathroom that once clicked on allows the player to choose a costume for Mr. Potato Head. Head is not just a wandering mascot in the park but is also the de facto host. The costumes he wears in those games can be unlocked once the game is played five times, as well as two other costumes that unlocked when all games are played at least once and then played at least six times. These costumes often look a bit wonky, and it should be noted you also earn that costume for Mrs. Potato Head, whom the player can choose instead as the wandering mascot and whom sometimes appears for the remix versions as host. The bathroom changes from boy to pink depending on which Potato Head is picked.

Costumes are not the only unlocks, the park also earns building pieces, gold statues, and finally confetti/ticker tape once a set number is played. There are PlayStation trophies and Xbox Achievements related to all of these items as well, unlocked when the player collects a full set.

I love these collectibles as they really do look impressive once you have them all. There is a sense of accomplishment like any good collectible does, and the player really feels like they are adding to this world despite how simple it all is. Scary costumes aside, I find this a great hub world that makes me miss the compilation style for these licensed Hasbro video games, even if I do like the single releases they do now.

- Hub World Rating: 8/10 -

Clue:

In Clue you roll the dice with the analog stick or the prompted button, for manual or automatic respectively. The player moves into the guest rooms with an NPC to gain part of a clue or steps on a question mark tile to earn “clue points”, and once six are collected (you earn 1-3, sometimes straight up and sometimes from a mini-game) you can make a suggestion to learn about what may or may not be the answer. Other players are told to look away when this happens. You can check your clue sheet at any time (also tells others to look away) and quick games preemptively cross of half the possible outcomes from the start.

In remix, you get event dice which do little but hinder the game for yourself or others. In both original and remix, the game can meander and drag, more so than the actual board game due to the changes to suit the video game version. This game is still good, but even in quick mode the length drags the experience down.

- Clue Rating: 6/10 -

Mouse Trap

In Mouse Trap the player moves to the end of the board while building the titular trap, and the last player left alive via not being trapped is the winner. The original version drags due to only one minigame to build the trap, limiting the fun factor and adding to time even in quick mode. However, the frantic rush at the very end to stay alive is noticeably still there and adds excitement.

Remix mode is the most changed from original for all the remixs, and the game makers were clearly proud of it if the trophy/achievement list was anything to go by. In remix you go around a circulating board where you build between 5 types of traps. Traps no longer kills a player, they only steal cheese, and the first player to 8 cheese is the winner. When you move past a trap you are given a button prompt to try and escape, but landing directly on a trap guarantees it unless a player has the wrench (they call it a spanner, which is not the only UK mannerism that is kept for the American version, they only managed to change Cluedo to Clue but left everything else in).

A fun remix really saves this game but the boring repetitive nature of the original is still a huge set back.

- Mouse Trap Rating: 6.5/10 -

Yahtzee Hands Down:

Earlier I said I do like the newer Ubisoft approach to Hasbro games of single small releases, but do miss this hub world approach too. One thing that is a massive problem with the old approach though, is a truly bad portion that feels not playtested.

Yahtzee Hands Down is broken and cheaply designed, hard for all the wrong reasons and restrictive for petty and possibly unfinished reasons.

Remix mode is the ONLY choice if you play with more than one player unless it is a team of four with four separate controllers. Any other way forces you into remix. Remix itself is too fast paced to be fun and instead stressful and confusing, irritating and with the possibility of forgetting to even tell you the controls like it did the first time I played it.

Original can be played in single player with one controller, but you must play with three bots who are designed to be so much better than you that I am not the only person online who believes they are literally cheating. They are fast and always have a better combo, I do not feel there is another reason, they are computers designed to be better than you even unfairly, and it is always unfairly.

Play by yourself with four controllers if you can, or with four friends maybe, but it will still be an unpleasant experience.

- Yahtzee Hands Down Rating: 2/10 -

The Game of Life:

Shockingly, a long and boring game in real life is the best made and most fun game in this collection. The length is not a problem in quick game and the game switches from “play to retirement” to “each player has five turns and only five turns”. This adds no stress from the faster pace and instead gives a quieter but still important feeling. A full game is still Life, but with the game controlling the tokens and the debts still makes the game more fun than the alternative by quite a bit.

Remix mode is interesting, nothing great like Mouse Trap but nothing tedious like Clue. Instead of retiring with the most money, players just have a race to the end of the board, with money being replaced with extra moves forward or backward. A quick game is still five turns and instead is just to see who gets further.

Some of the mini-games are recycles, you get a job by gabbing green envelops and avoiding red ones which is also done with files in Clue. You also play a dancing mini-game when you get married which is completely recycled from the last game so I will get to that in a minute. The others are original in those terms, a card flipping to match game to get your first and second houses, a wheel spin for spin-it-to-win-it, and waggling the stick when you are in a lawsuit.

I prefer this to the real Game of Life, and would have felt justified in buying Game Night 3 just for this version. Thankfully the longest and most involved game in the collection is also the best made and most fun one.

- The Game Of Life Rating: 8/10 -

Twister:

Twister is a button press rhythm game. At the bottom of the screen you see the combo, and when the dots then come back blanked out in red and at the top of the screen, you press what that combo was. Getting it right gets you points, and you earn more points for perfect in-sync rhythm.

Remix is very much the same but different version of the beats and longer combos. There are three music styles and at least two choices of beat for each style.

Twister is simple harmless fun but it’s also technically more fun to play by yourself. I found it better to just see if I could get perfect than to directly compete with someone else for my time. Also, as stated above, the marriage mini-game is recycled from this. Only one song, no perfects as it’s just counting each correct button, and the prompts are all on the top of the screen instead of the bottom and then the top. So yes it’s much easier but I don’t think either version is better than the other really. Both are valid and don’t feel crammed in which is nice but strangely also disappointing that one is not superior.

However, it’s still the second best game in the collection and that is something notable after the other scores I’ve handed out.

- Twister Rating: 7/10 -

Hasbro Family Game Night 3 is a Hasbro game they don’t do anymore ever since Ubisoft was given the license. I love what Ubisoft did with Trivial Pursuit and Boggle, but I also think this version of The Game of Life stands out even among those Hasbro video games. At the end of the day, having an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or Nintendo Wii with some friends open-minded enough to play board game licensed video games means this would be quite a few fun nights as long as Yahtzee isn’t played, except of course to fill the park with goodies.

- Hasbro Family Game Night 3 Rating: 7.5/10 -

E3 2019 Predictions Before The Shows!

I don’t typically do this, but with the Microsoft presentation being mere hours away, sure! Let’s allow me to ramble on what I’d like to see and what I’m expecting!

Microsoft - It’s all but confirmed we’re seeing the next Xbox today, and I’m slightly excited. I’m almost ready for the future were we stick with the same console with updates, like PC, but for now I’m looking forward to the Scarlet. Slightly a pipe dream on this one, but I’m remembering that old rumor that Microsoft will eventually dump their subscription fee for Gold, and I do think that it could be possible if Game Pass is doing what they were hoping. I can’t predict what the new studio acquisitions have been working on, but we’ll see something, and I think they’ll be more news about what they’ve been secretly working on with Nintendo.

Bethesda - Are they tone deaf enough to showcase Fallout 76 or Elder Scrolls Blades? Maybe, and probably. I have a good feeling about remasters for Fallout 3 and New Vegas as well since those rumors have been around for a while, and that’s an easy way to get fans back. So easy in fact, that I’ll eat them right up myself! Would prefer more of a remake style, say with Fallout 4’s graphically style and combat, it would be since to have a Fallout 3 with grenades that aren’t useless, but it’s probably a simple remaster if it’s happening. Other than that, more on Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield, which i have no really comments on myself.

Devolver Digital - They count and I live for the joke that I’m in on! Maybe some Metal Wolf Chaos or My Friend Pedro, but I’m just looking forward to the show!

Ubisoft - Okay sorry but let me just do what I do every year and say what I know won’t happen but always secretly hope for: Tonic Trouble Remastered! Literally have nothing else to say other than looking forward to their show, it’s always fun.

Square Enix: Final Fantasy 7 remake, Kingdom Hearts DLC, things we’ll have seen at Microsoft’s conference first. Sorry Square but you always leave a lot to be deserved, which means I’d love to be proven wrong but I’m expecting that I won’t.

Nintendo Direct - Just read a leak today that the Treehouse is 40 minutes long. That’s pretty great, I’ve fallen hard for the Treehouses over the years and they help make E3. We’ll definitely see more for Mario Maker 2, the next Smash fighter, and I think a few things we’ve not talked about yet.

We’ll see how all of these stack up by Tuesday!

Discussing the Second Sony State of Play

So on this very blog I discussed the original Sony State of Play and how it was overall disappointingly boring. Almost two months later we have the sequel, and this was a marked improvement with still some flaws that should be discussed.

First of all, I want to give praise to the announcer for this time around; her voice was soothing and confident, conveying emotion with her words without overdoing anything. A very good performance that needs to be remembered for all future presentations. Nintendo likes being cheeky, and that is there thing. Being more straight-faced yet friendly looked very well for Sony here, and I think that similarity yet contrast is the best way to play off of what we already know works for video announcements as well as being your own different thing.

Now onto the games themselves, all six of them:

More content for Monster Hunter: World is appreciated, even though the game was not something I could easily grasp I could feel the quality and love behind it. It’s a well-crafted game that deserves it’s praise and more content for it is a smart move. Sadly, being the first reveal also brought out two major problems. 1) This game isn’t exclusive to the PlayStation and it’s doubtful this content pack will be either. The word exclusive was not used, and Sony makes sure to use it. Considering I’ve debated buying a PC copy of the game for a while to try my best at it again, this content pack may sell me a second time, but it wasn’t on PlayStation the first time for me and it won’t be the second time either. 2) The video took too long. This was a roughly ten minute presentation altogether and Monster Hunter: World saw the lion’s share. Considering it isn’t an exclusive game, the decision is baffling and I found myself bored due to seeing how relatively little time was going to be left over. Great game, not a bad portion by itself, but needed to be handled differently for this video conference.

Riverbond was the first new announcement, and it looks fine for what it is. A crossover for indie game characters in pixel style, and it’s a dungeon crawler. For some people, it’s all their favorite genres rolled up into one. For me, it’s an easy pass. This actually means I have no real criticism for this section, it came and went because it showed all it needed to. I don’t know if it was needed, but it stayed it’s welcome so I guess I’m glad it did.

We’re getting a live service game based on the Predator franchise. It was described in a way that reminded me of Evolve, Dead By Daylight, or the Friday the 13th game. Sorry but hard pass, and this one I think should have been cut. I had to re-watch the video to remember it existed, and i cannot imagine this being something people would be clamoring over when there are other games to choose from, and only one of them is highly regarded. Maybe it’ll blow us all away, but I’d rather just watch the first film again. This isn’t my genre, and I think the people who do like this genre already have Dead by Daylight and are happy with that.

We finally saw more of MediEVIL Remastered. It looks gorgeous, it looks like it will have similar gameplay to the original. I might buy this game when the price goes down, because if it’s sixty or forty dollars I feel it needs the sequel remastered as well. I’m afraid that Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro: Reignited Trilogy may have opened the doors in one unexpected way; selling so well that Sony will try shoving that price tag on future remastered that don’t have the sequels. Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled noticeably is forty dollars despite only being one remaster, and I’m expecting that to be the price for MediEVIL Remastered. I’m assuming, because they’ve didn’t say, nor did they give a month, just claiming it’ll be out in the fall. I can’t in good faith give them praise for this announcement. In all, we didn’t actually learn anything. We knew the game was coming, we knew what the original was and that this was a remaster. This video said those exact same things but added in the word “fall”. Honestly disappointed in how little it meant bringing that game’s existence back up was.

Away, a game with an interesting concept with very ugly graphics. Maybe it was just me, but something looked off while watching the footage. Not in an uncanny “it looks so real!” way that I think the developers wanted. The main character, a small carnivorous mammal that could glide, looked very low-poly. I am not a graphics snob, when I call something ugly, it’s usually the design and not the pixel count. I’d rather check out Deadly Creatures, but for a new IP with a concept not done too often, I’m okay with it’s appearance even if I was turned off.

So let’s be real, this was almost basically a reminder of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The game looks beautiful, I was far more invested this time then when I last saw it all those years ago, I was one of many to assume it had been cancelled and this proved me wrong. Still, like with MediEVIL, we did not get a release date. This time, not even a vague notion like “fall”. While this game gets a bit more of a pass since there was skepticism it was canned, I won’t be upset that it was showcased, but I do still think it needed a release date after all this time if they felt the need to end a video conference with it. They could have just put screenshots on their Twitter and told us they were still working on it. This comes across as cynical hype machine work, and I left feeling, not much different. I should probably just finally play the original if it’s that good.

All in all, a more mixed bag than the previous attempt, but they showed us the groundwork. I said I believe in second chances but not thirds, and this was a second chance that proved something. It proved they listened, proved they will do a better job communicating with us when it’s a smaller scale announcement, proved they will showcase new IP, games, and use the platform to clear up information that we have been waiting for.

However, they also proved some of the more cynical marketing tactics will be in place. I’m not surprised, or even disappointed, but it means that while I’m okay with State of Play, I now also know that it may not always be a thing I’m excited for. I still prefer E3, and I still prefer Nintendo Treehouse, but I’m open-minded that this is the right path for Sony.

I'm Trying to Remember Something Scary

You’ll have to pardon me for a second or so. I know it’s not the kindest of politest thing to bug total strangers over something they may not even be able to help you win. Let alone something that scared the living shit out of you, a lot of people get a little jumpy at the thought of remembering what scares them even slightly. You have a high fear tolerance and that makes people even less likely to help you. I can usually remember quite vividly what scared me, I can describe it to my friends so well that, well, they end up refusing to look it up themselves as all I need to end that sentence with. Saying anything else and you’ll all just think I’m bragging. Of course, I am, but if I keep doing so you’re not going to help me, and where’s the fun in that?

So I believe this was an internet hoax, or, knowing these things it could have been from some Japanese or Korean movie I’ve never heard of. Maybe even some low-budget flick that manages to have one good special effect, Couldn’t have been with a computer, nah, this is the kind of thing you know what actually there. Not behind you, not just next to you hiding in the bushes. The kind of, creature, that just bothers to stare you down right in front of you. Not gonna kill you, maybe not, it’s got a lot of other things it would like to do to you, and it wants you to figure that out first.

So the creeature looked like, ….. Shit, the creature had no brain. No, no why would I know it didn’t have a brain? Oh, hang on, the creature had the top half of it’s skull, head, ripped up. A sinew connecting what was left of the top, and all of the wet contents visible. It had, no, not it didn’t' have a, God what was it? Was the brain pulsing and bleeding profusely, or did it not have one? An empty void of red and black, staring into an abysmal void with no light or reflection. Hollow but dripping, no sound to be heard and yet you could hear something.

No, no if I can’t remember it that can’t be the thing I’m fogretting. I think it was this abomination that was the body of a serpent and the, body?, of a spider. Yeah, yeah, it had a head like a cobra and the mouth like a spider. The weird stubs that held large pearly white fangs, human like hairs forming some kind of, stubble?, that only really works on an ape. It had the tail and the twisting length of a large snake, and anaconda or a boa constrictor, something from the amazon but, crap I think it was bigger. Not building size, no, that would have been to laughable. Something, large than a crocadile, something that made me think it wasn’t a Photoshop, just an abomination or science or nature. The legs, right, spider legs, all nine or eight or ‘em, each one slowly pushing the entire body at a time, and I think it also rushed the screen, a light reaction, I mean, a lightning reaction. Arg, no, if I can’t remember the speed it can’t be the creature.

The creature it

Soprry, I just, I think I had a nose bleed. It’s all over my fu-, aug, ouch FU-! WHy are my palms red?

Sorry, I just, I think I had a nose bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sorry, I think had a nose bleed. So this creature, the thing was. Oh COME ON! What the hell was it? A brain a spider a snake a corpse a carpet a knife a barbaque a crocodile a

Sorry, I’m trying to remember something scary. I’ve been having a little trouble remembering something scary.

My head itches.

Sorry, I think I had a no

Let's Guess Some Off The Wall Smash Characters!

I’m loving Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. What I’m loving even more is the fact that the upcoming DLC characters are going to be complete surprises that really could be anyone from anything. Let’s just go straight up and state some characters I myself would like to see, no matter how crazy, because nothing is too unlikely anymore.

I used to not truly do this, because I recognized the limitations in licenses so I would just wait and see. Now that the first DLC character is from a PlayStation exclusive, revealed in a year where Sony has played ball with Nintendo far less than Microsoft, anyone really is possible!

And first, some characters I won’t put on my list but will talk about briefly:

Minecraft Steve, because he’s not only over-discussed, but far too likely for me to have anything to say.

Banjo-Kazooie, I don’t care either way but I do think when Microsoft plays ball they’ll give a character with a bigger impact on their platform for further promotion.

Goku and Shrek, because I actually do think they should get in for the sheer unique gimmick and the pleasure of the fans, so I have nothing else to add for myself.

Master Chief, because he IS the character I think Microsoft will pick.

Sans, because it’s Undertale and I still haven’t even played or watched a full playthrough of the game, so I can’t defend the reasoning with any knowledgeable argument.

Now, here are my personal picks that I think would truly shake up the formula.

Monokuma (Danganronpa)

Image from the danganronpa fandom wiki, and is assumed to be official artwork: https://danganronpa.fandom.com/wiki/Monokuma

For those who have never heard of the Danganronpa franchise, it’s incredibly hard to explain. It’s part visual novel, part murder mystery, part courtroom drama. Monokuma happens to be the mascot for the series, and it’s overarching villain. A sneaky, devilish, perverted teddy bear/robot who’ll stop at nothing to rid the entire world of the sheer concept of hope. What could have been a flat character is instead a fan favorite, and even with the series’s cast of colorful and lively character, Monokuma is the one they would all prefer to play as.

Although personally I’d be okay with Makoto from the first game or fat Byakuya from the second!

Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Image is a purchasable work of fanart, from the following store site: https://www.forfansbyfans.com/ddlc-fan-forge-community-designs.html Directly purchasable from: https://www.forfansbyfans.com/playing-the-game-20260.html

I reviewed DDLC on this very blog when it was barely a few months old, calling it one of my favorite games. Feel free to read my opinions to get a full sense of why I love this character! I’ll keep the spoilers to that review instead of over here, but just know that Monika is that one that stole player’s hearts. I can’t say too much, but I have a funny feeling Monika is the kind of character who could figure out just show to work with the mechanics of a different game as well as she does in her own.

Also, fun fact! The developer of the game, Dan Salvato, originally started out as a developer for Smash Brothers fan games. There’s even a reference in his game. I think it’s overly appropriate.

As would be a Switch port. I’m willing to buy a cartridge. Not joking.

Dovahkiin (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

This Funkopop figure is apparently coming out later this year in Europe, no clue if it’s coming here but I found it on Bethesda’s store page here: https://eumerch.bethesda.net/us/collectibles/figures/524-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-figure-dovahkiin-pop-vinyl

Before Bethesda became an Internet joke for releasing a buggy mess of a game, Bethesda was a beloved company for releasing several critically acclaimed buggy messes! I’d say that’s just me having a little fun, as I adore Fallout, but well, just go ahead and see what my pottymouth thinks about Skyrim.

So yeah, I don’t like Skyrim despite the hundreds of hours my broke college years spent playing it. I do recognize that despite not really having an official name, despite not having an official personality, Dovahkiin is one of the most iconic characters in modern video games. That helmet and armor combination did a lot to sell the look of this game to thousands of people, even those who never played an Elder Scrolls game. Trust me I was one of them! Bethesda likes playing ball with Nintendo, I really see this as possible. They don’t have too many other iconic character on the same level as Dovahkiin.

I mean, maybe Vault Boy, but that’s a character who’d work better as an assist character. Also, all of the multiple races in Skyrim just means they’ve got the character skin work cut out for them. “I’ll play Lizard Dovahkiin, you can play Cat Dovahkkin, and you can be Girl Dovahkiin!”

LEGO Batman (LEGO)

Image pulled from Xbox store page: https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-us/Product/LEGO-Batman-2/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80257520817#

Believe it or not, Batman in LEGO form is basically a video game character in his own right. No, I don’t mean the one from the movies, I mean the ones from the 360 and onward video games. He’s been in his own main series and LEGO Dimensions, I think he’d be a good showcase for allowing a licensed video game character show their stuff.

Yeah that’s all I’ve got, it’s Batman why would I need to explain it further?

Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)

Image from IGN’s official walkthrough: https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption-2/Arthur_Morgan

Rockstar Games’s newest masterpiece. …. Even if it’s story is far better than it’s gameplay but that’s not important right now!

Arthur Morgan has immediately jumped into the hearts of millions of gamers. The character people originally expected to not relate to as much as John Marston, is now the character we love even more than John Marston!

This game is so new, what can I say that isn’t a spoiler? Arthur is cruel, kind, heartless, compassionate, he’s things that should make him a hypocrite but instead make him well-rounded and three-dimensional.

I don’t care that Smash Brothers Ultimate has a cuter and friendly artstyle. I don’t care that he’d clash against even characters like Bayonetta. I sincerely think Arthur is the best character to add to the game, the biggest character we should hope for. Part of me expects a Rockstar character either in this season pass or after that. Nintendo would likely be down, and Take 2 would love the money.

If not Arthur, than maybe John or hell even Micah or Dutch. But really, those are just character I’d only be fine with. Arthur is the character I want more than anyone else.

But Dutch could be a great assist trophy. You summon him, and then he just coldly walks away without helping you in the slightest.

Oh, and Arthur’s Final Smash could be your horse walking at a slow pace and tripping on a small rock, sending Arthur fifty feet away!

Sony's State of Play Should Have Been Better

Normally I’m not able to discuss my feelings on video game conferences until at least a day or so after everything is said and done. That is not necessary in this case.

Sony’s State of Play is an attempt to capitalize on the success of Nintendo’s Nintendo Direct (that’s a mouthful of a sentence), and it genuinely lacks every aspect that makes a Nintendo Direct worth tuning in for. A Nintendo Direct does feature game titles, both never shown before and updates on older announcements, and that was practically the only similarity.

(Days) Gone is the feeling of comradery with our host/speaker, (Days) Gone is the dad jokes that surprise you at the fact you laugh at them, (Days) Gone is the general tempo of knowing which games need a lead up and which ones need little-to-no introduction.

I remember several years ago, I almost want to say as far back as seven or more, when Sony was known as the montage king. They would start an E3 conference with the best montage, and would end with one just as fitting. Sony is skipping E3 this year, and apparently, they’re also skipping out on their montage game. State of Play opened with an Iron Man VR game, and ended with Mortal Kombat 11. VR is divisive, so opening with a VR game is not entirely wise, let alone having around 85% of games featured being VR games (I’m including one game that had a VR mode announced along with it’s own announcement, Concrete Genie, a game I almost just forgot the name of as it did not hold my interest). A montage would have been far more appropriate to build the hype, and I have vague memories of maybe one that lasted a couple of seconds just after Iron Man VR, before they moved on to Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled, admittedly a game many are excited for, but one we have known about for months and a remake of a game that has been available for decades at that.

As for everything else, the experience felt more like a waste of time. Those who are interested in VR may still have not fully enjoyed what they saw, there was not enough time given for some of the games to flesh out what made their experience stand out. The few that did, admittedly looked fine, not too different from the better-looking VR games but nothing to convince those who weren’t already convinced. It was interesting to see that they are trying something new with the 5 Nights At Freddies franchise. As someone who never played them as the idea of a horror game that only relied on jump scares never interested me, there was some small sense of this game using genuine dread and uncanny movement instead of just jump scares. Yes, it made the jump scares look incredibly forced, but that doesn’t mean they won’t work, variety is still the spice of life and I appreciate the attempt.

So it’s clear I had a bit of fun with the title for Days Gone for some wordplay earlier, but to be frank that’s the most interesting thing that happened with this new trailer. For the longest time (remember this game was announced not long into the PlayStation 4’s life, it’s been a long time for this game to still not be out yet, even if it is just next month) Days Gone did literally nothing that held my interest. A few weeks ago, it was featured on Show of the Weekend on the channel Outside Xtra, and the first interesting bits I’d ever seen for the game suddenly appeared to me. For once, I was excited for Days Gone. This new trailer just made me even less excited than I was all those years ago…….

I”m sure Sony wants to do more of these, and perhaps the biggest misstep was really nothing more than them having nothing to show. It’s what some people have speculated is the real reason they are ducking out of E3 this year, and this almost feels like concrete (genie) proof. Still, there were some other problems, and those problems seemed eerily similar to their E3 performance last year, sans a stupid tent. If this is the direction game announcements are going, I hope for a time I am excited about this, instead of dreading it. Nintendo Direct’s do have their duds, but they are mostly spectacular in their own special way. Sony needs to find theirs, and it wasn’t what we saw today. They say you only make one first impression, but, I find in some cases you can and maybe even should allow a second chance. I’m willing to give that to State of Play, but this is not a free pass, I am not as patient as I may have made that sound. I’m not big on third chances.

Mortal Kombat 11 looks great though! Cant’ wait to play it on the Switch! CHECK YO’ SELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YO’ SELF!

Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu Is Pure Fun and Everything I Just Realized I Wanted

Despite being called Opinion Pieces, I will sometimes post reviews for various media on this blog. I’m only stating this at the beginning today so I can state that this is not the case for Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu. I’m only six or seven hours into the game, on my way to the fourth badge, nowhere near enough for a full review but plenty enough time and effort for impressions.

I love this game, short and simple. That should have been slightly obvious by not only the title, but the fact I said I’m seven hours in and do not have the fourth gym badge yet. Pokemon games tend to be a bit easy to get to the early gyms, in my experience, five or even four hours can be long enough to make it that far. I’m spending several hours of my playtime just catching Pokemon, which is something I have never done or said before in my entire life. Pokemon reached it’s original heights when I was young, grade-school age, so just like everyone else I ended up with a Gameboy Color and a copy of Pokemon, in my case I started with Pokemon Gold. Many people talk about how their first Pokemon game was the most unique experience to them, but honestly, I’m in the minority here, because while I do fondly remember playing both Gold and Silver for countless hours, it mostly stuck with me as a fun game instead of a memorable experience. The third generation, specifically Ruby and later Emerald, was what got me hooked in with a complete sensation.

I enjoy a lot of other Pokemon games, and there are some I do not enjoy but still believe to be good games. I’ve only ever disliked one entry enough to believe it was genuinely a bad game. I’ve only ever loved a small few entries: The aforementioned Ruby and Emerald, but I also adored Black for it’s surprisingly compelling story-telling, and I’m fond of my copy of SoulSilver because I used it to keep my old Pokemon so I could sell the games I didn’t like all that much. I have several boxes filled from multiple playthroughs, even one whole shiny!

On this very blog you’ll find a review for Pokemon Moon, which got a 9 out of 10 and was claimed to now be my second favorite entry in the series. Well, that’s kind of not true anymore. Not too long after I cooled down from the game, it did start to fade from memory. I still really like what they did mechanically, I still think the story rivals that of Black, but it’s staying power meant nothing to me in the grand scheme of things.

But Let’s Go? Wow, this one I’m going to think fondly of.

The main concept of Pokemon, even as a child, shockingly never actually appealed to me. You see, I liked the designs of the creatures, the idea of catching them and fighting with them, I watched the show and loved it (these days I find it pretty darn okay), I collected the cards (but never played the game, I really hate card games), but I never once wanted to “catch ‘em all!”. Yeah, the slogan, the main point, I always turned away from that. I just caught what I wanted to use, and nothing else. I have done entire playthroughs of Pokemon games where my amount was just barely into the double digits, and it was only because I caught Pokemon that evolved.

But, in Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu, catching every single Pokemon I see is practically all I’m doing! Heck, I finally care about stats and IVs! I have friends who talk about that kind of thing, and I always just shrugged my shoulders because I didn’t care. Suddenly, I care! I’m going to catch a Pinsir once I’m on the right route later, and it’s not just going to be one, I’m going to keep catching them until I get one with great stats! I never do this, I just catch it and walk away. I’ve gone into the Safari Zone for one Pokemon and ended the trip after I got it. I am not normally persuaded into catching everything, and yet, here I am. I had a catch-chain of Rattata a couple hours ago that almost got to 30, and I loved every second of it.

I’m also never mad while playing this game. I’m not great at games until I really figure things out, so I curse and grunt and all the typical things (besides breaking controllers, I have no clue how people are able to do that, the only controllers I’ve ever broken did not involve being mad but that’s a whole other story), and that isn’t happening this time. I’m mildly saying “shoot!” when I miss a throw or a Pokemon breaks out, but nothing feels worth getting angry at and I’m so happy that’s the case. I don’t feel like it wasted my time, or that I’ll have to do a lot of things all over again, or that it wasn’t worth it. It’s rewarding and it’s fun, and that is all I need to enjoy this game.

I feel, in all honesty, this is the prime example of the idea of a Pokemon game. Pokemon games have always been their own little beasts, and you can tackle them (hehe) almost anyway you see fit due to how well balanced and crafted they are. However, like I said before, the concept always came across as “Gotta catch ‘em all!”, and this is the first game that truly captures (hehe again) the spirit and execution of that concept. This is the prime example Pokemon game, this is Pokemon square-root, and it’s going to be the one I suggest to people who don’t know much about Pokemon and want to try it out. It’s almost perfect as a jumping off point and especially great for little kids who just want to catch the cute critters.

I called Pokemon Moon my second favorite installment, but I guess I was lying, because it’s totally Pokemon Let’s Go PIkachu, Pokemon Emerald is my favorite game so consider that statement was incredibly high praise. And this time I doubt I’ll be taking it back shortly after saying it, unless somehow Sword or Shield really impress me, but I optimistically doubt it.

Also Pokeball Plus is basically a real life Pokeball and that’s something I never thought would ever happen and I remember thinking that as a kid and being disappointed so technology is great and it was fifty dollars well spent. Also thank God the games are in HD and don’t have framerate issues now holy crud I really hated that about the last few I’m so happy this game is gorgeous and runs smoothly the whole time.

On Being Sorry, Regrets

So.

I’m an imperfect person, and the correct way to phrase that sentence is: I’m a person. This isn’t a new concept, which is honestly why we still need to talk about it. It becomes easier the more we talk about it, or it at least feels that way.

These days, I like who I am. I’m braver than I thought I was, I’m growing on aspects I assumed I’d never have. In many ways, I’m everything the past me was jealous of. In other ways, I”m everything the past me would have hated, and I’m completely happy disappointing him.

Because past me could be a sad sack of shit. Past me would let things just happen to him, past me didn’t have a backbone, past me was a push-over, past me was angry. Past me was not a terrible person, past me was just, at times, a jerk. Simply because he was too meek to want to grow.

It’s taken me a long time to realize that I was not a terrible person, just a guy who let bad luck rule him and wasn’t ready to do what really mattered, wasn’t ready to grow from experiences. So, yes, of course I did things I am well and truly sorry for. While terrible wasn’t the right work, annoying sure was. Evasive, cowardly, foolish, loud. There are plenty of reasons I understand people who used to know me drifted away from me, and while I’ve learned from those mistakes, I don’t blame any of them. Most people stayed okay with me, but I don’t doubt anyone who was fed up with me.

Animator Ralph Bakshi had a saying about apologies. It’s a great quote, it’s in his book, that like a dumbass I left at my parent’s house so, I can’t direct quote I’m just going to try and remember it.

“You don’t say you’re sorry because you hurt someone’s feelings, you say your sorry because you made a mistake.”

I used to hate that quote, I didn’t understand it. Now, after years of growth, I understand it. It may be wrong to hurt someone’s feelings, but a simply sorry fixes nothing and helps no one. When you’re ready to apologize, it’s because you’re ready to promise you’ve learned from the experience.

So, simply put. To everyone back in my younger days. I am sorry I was a dick. I mean it. I’m sorry I was loud, I’m sorry I was annoying, I’m sorry I tried too hard and in the wrong way. I’m sorry for every single occasion I let my own sadness and emptiness and anger override simple decision making. I am not that person anymore. I never will be again. I am sorry, I swear it on every fiber of my being. And I’m okay if you couldn’t care less, if you couldn’t give a shit that I’m different. If you don’t care, I won’t either, I’m not going to fix something I can’t, I’m just going to do smart and let everyone stay happy.

Everything I regret, I used to let it eat up inside me. I let it stand as an example of what I was, that I was never truly any better than a previous action I was ashamed of. Grand or simple.

I was once told by my high school drama teacher that you should not regret. These days, I half agree. You do regret, you regret when you remember it, but you never let it rule you. You never let it mean you are still that person.

Some regrets are simple. There’s a Red Robin near my area, I discovered it my last year of school and forgot to go. I regretted not being able to check it out. Earlier this month, I found my way there. Dumb, simply regrets are things you undo. I can’t regret not doing what I have now finally done.

The regrets you can’t undo, the regrets that actually matter, you learn from them. You show yourself you’ll never do it again, the lesson you shouldn’t have learned was learned. You’re only as terrible as the next guy.

I may be sorry, I may be regretful, one thing I’m not is shallow. I know I’m better than my past, and I planned on proving it every day of my life since then. There’s a lot to be proud about, there’s just also a lot to look back on with no fondness, and I think it’s better that way.

You can either wallow in what you think you are, or go to your grave proving you’re better than that.

The Times I Read a Sequel Without Knowing It!

I have no idea if this is something that only really happens to me, but for whatever reason I have purchased or borrowed many books that I later found out were sequels to another book. Sometimes I find out I was midway through a series by complete accident! Normally lists on the internet have a number attached, but I'm just going to list all of the examples I can remember, and I don't know the number just yet myself! All pictures will be pulled from the website Goodreads, which is fitting as Goodreads is the site that helped me discover the sequel-status of several of these books. Be prepared for me to state several times that some of these books still felt self-contained, and I will be praising the authors when that happens.

Okay, onto the list!

Boyd Morrison's The Vault

I picked up The Vault at a local library's book sale. Being a local library, all books were a dollar, so I picked it up with some others, but I felt I had to read through this one first. After some research I discovered Morrison worked at NASA and was a Jeopardy! champion, both of which are proudly mentioned on the inside book sleeve. The book very much reads like, well, something written by a Jeopardy! champion. There are countless historical facts, geography facts, science facts, and it manages to stay interesting the entire time.

The characters are not flat, but they have more backstory than personality, which works for the author's style. Boyd Morrison is clearly a fact man, and plays to his strengths. The pacing is also fast, I was breezing a hundred pages or so every time I picked it up, and it did not manage to lose steam, which are essential for a thriller that is more action based. Versus say a thriller that is more mystery or horror based.

I often get curious what reviews will say about a book I've never heard of, but I save them for after I read it myself. Once I did, I saw in parenthesis "(Tyler Locke, #2)". Discovering male lead Tyler Locke is in fact the main character of about four books, and I just started on the second. I'm a little curious to see how the ending of this book and it's consequences carry into the next one, but for now, I know I was satisfied by this historical-thriller. I also looked up Morrison himself and he gives solid advice for upstarts like he was once, so I have to give him credit for caring. Not everyone knows who to say it, no matter how much they may want to.

Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who Saw Red

You may be asking yourself why this book counts when the cover clearly tells you it is within a series. It's the fourth entry too, for those interested. Well, the truth is, I sort of walked into a Goodwill store buzzed off a pineapple juice and rum, and some other drink I can't remember. I bought this, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Cocaine Blues (which has it's own funny story behind the time I finally read it) and the PC game Tuneland, altogether for about three dollars. I was too buzzed to read anything but the title, and I figured I may as well buy two more mystery books as I'd already decided on Dragon Tattoo.

A few years later I actually bothered to read the book, and I know this series is pretty well beloved, but I barely remember it. I think this was one of those times were I jumped ahead too far and really needed to read past installments to understand everything. Which explains why this one openly states being a sequel on the cover while a lot of the others on this list don't feel the need. I don't remember any of the characters, except for a vague recollection of the main character (Qwilleran) and the eponymous cat. The cat is not the detective, which admittedly disappointed me. That's not a joke. I also remember how the protagonist approached the villain in the end when he figured it all out, it was exactly like how it happens on Murder, She Wrote, except that the villain actually decided to attack the protagonist after he was done explaining.

This was an old lady book. Like, the kind of book you see old ladies read in waiting rooms. That's not to say it's bad, I've enjoyed old lady books before. This one left no impression on me, but again, you can chalk that up to reading book 4 first instead of knowing anything ahead of time. I do remember the author not characterizing the protagonist or the cat that much, but doing so with the other characters, so it was clearly expecting that I knew them before going in. And I didn't.

Clive Gospel's The Scarlet Barkers

Once upon a time there were 9 Hellraiser films and I watched all of them in the span of a week. I liked 4 of them. The best were easily the first two, which both had the most involvement from writer, director, and author of the original book Clive Barker.

Yes, you heard me right, Hellraiser is based on a book. A damn great book too, named The Hellbound Heart. I put it and the first movie on the same pedestal, as so much of them are still the same and yet the differences in both are just as good.

So, if I read the first book, why does this count?

Well for one, this isn't actually a sequel to Hellbound Heart, if anything this book feels more like a spiritual successor to what was attempted in Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, where Pinhead lost all of his humane traits and became as evil as say Freddy Kreuger or Charles "Chucky" Lee Ray (A NIghtmare on Elm Street and Child's Play, respectively). It's funny how I don't like Hellraiser III but I did like how this book took that concept, even from the first few pages.

After those pages, I was introduced to Harry D'Amour, and I had no idea he was another one of Clive's preexisting characters. The book is a spiritual successor, but it's of two properties. And I had no idea until something was nagging the back of my head after having D'Amour after so many chapters.

I'm actually surprised this book exists, I thought Clive sold the Hellraiser license. He did, if I'm not mistaken, but I apparently am mistaken on my assumption that he couldn't do anything with the material. Apparently he's also worked on some of the comics (which I've been meaning to read), and Pinhead is still called Pinhead in this book as an insult, mimicking Barker's feelings on the name. I kind of agree it's a silly name, but it caught on better than Lead Cenobite, or the new name, Hell Priest.

Many reviews are claiming this is not as good as expected, as it was Barker's return to the horror genre after decades. Even still, those reviews are mostly positive, and while I had some problems there were bits I loved and I quite like the book as a whole. I just had to take a minute to say this:

If this is Clive Barker at his worst, he is still miles better than many other best-selling authors at their best. Obviously this is only my opinion, but it feels right to say. Also, yes I know there's a tenth movie now, I haven't gotten around to seeing it yet. I don't have Netflix right now so maybe I'll Redbox it or something.

Kerrelyn Spark's All I Want For Vampire Is A Christmas

For all of the flak they undeseredly (and sometimes very deservedly) get, I love me some cheesy romantic novels. I even partnered up with Erika Ramson to do artwork for her indie book The Romance Novel, which you can buy here if you'd like to support us both.

Being involved in the project made me want to do some research, so for a while in 2017 I was reading several romance novels back-to-back, one of which was All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire. Which I read in June, the official month of Christmas.

I liked the characters, the romantic subtext between Ian and and Toni seemed natural and something to root for. The villain was a complete monster without being too flat, something that shockingly pops up often in romance novels. I'm not joking, I could do another list like this one on the depths of evil for romance villains. Harlequin alone could easily have their own complete monster section on TVTropes.

There were other characters, and some of them did not get as much character development as others. I didn't notice that too much, until I went on Goodreads and saw "(Love at Stake #5)". Book 5 into a series I'd never heard of, and I just leaped right in.

Unlike with The Cat Who Saw Red, this wasn't a problem. This book works as a stand-alone. It probably would have been better if I had a bit more history with the series, and maybe in the future I will. My business partner Erika Ramson also enjoyed this book, even getting the chance to tell Kerrelyn Sparks on Twitter. The romance genre doesn't get enough credit, the authors who pop up can be incredibly talented.

Donna Andrew's Murder With Puffins

If you look closely at the cover, you'll notice the words "A Meg Langslow Mystery" and "Author of the Award-winning Murder With Peacocks". Unlike with The Cat Who Saw Red, I did actually see this ahead of time, because I wasn't almost drunk that time. I found this in Sherman's Book Store, a chain of bookstores only found in Maine. Maine is a little too proud of itself (but name a state that isn't), and this book takes place in Maine, so they had this book but not the first. I tried looking for it, and came up with nothing. I figured since I already had this one in my hand, I would just buy it. So yeah, cheating on this one a little, but hey, the last book doesn't count at all either but we'll get to that when we get to that.

So this book reads pretty quick, isn't too long, and is not meant for you to think too hard about the mystery. Apparently these are called "cozies", which is a pretty prefect name. On the one hand, I want to say it was just okay, but the truth is that I also read the whole book in one sitting, so there must be something about it. I actually missed an event I wanted to go to because I was so busy reading this I forgot the time, thankfully the friend hosting said event wasn't too concerned and I think it was taped anyway.

This is only the second Meg Langslow book, and I think there's well over ten of them now. The book spoils the culprit of the first book if I remember correctly, so know that going in. All-in-all, yeah, sometimes it's good to lay back and read a whole book, and this one did it just fine without having to read the first one.

Okay, so like I said, this last one is different:

Barry Lyga's Blood Of My Blood

At that same Sherman's book store, I found this staring me down. Blood Of My Blood. There was something about the repetitive title that at first make me giggle, and then quite quickly unironically love. The book proudly calls itself the end of a trilogy, lets me know the stakes from the past two books are put to the final test, and that answers would be given.

When I found this book, I had already read some of the books in my list. Reading sequels with no knowledge of the previous installments was nothing new to me. I also often say that a sign of a good sequel is not having to know the one that came before it, that it should stand up on it's own two feet as well.

So I bought it fully well knowing this was the climactic conclusion to a story I knew nothing about. At the time, I thought it would be funny. Also, the book sounded like my jam anyway.

I was very much right, this is a great book. Jasper Dent is well-written, as are his friends and the villains the story revolves around. Straight-up evil is encountered, no punches pulled by some of these monsters, and the book is all the better for it.

Also, Lyga is great at giving exposition. It reads naturally, so people who jumped in late can get the details they need, and people who read the earlier installments can get a quick reminder in case they need it that doesn't overstay it's welcome in case they don't need. This one is my favorite from the list, and that's why it needed to be on it. I don't know if I would have read it if reading later installments first hadn't been such a common occurrence to me.

I enjoyed this book so much, I have every intention of reading the other two. And I am going to go in complete reverse order. 3, 2, then 1. Oh there's also some digital-only spin-off books and I plan on reading those too.

And that's that. 4 books I later found out were sequels, 1 book I couldn't find the first installment of, and 1 book that I knew would be the end but still worked as my beginning into the series. Thank you for reading, and don't forget to support any of the authors mentioned by finding these books for yourself, whether through money or going to a library. That counts for the one I was directly involved with too. :)

E3 Presses Conferences 2018 - My Final Thoughts and Opinions

(Apologies for the lameness of the title)

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has been called the gaming Super Bowl by both fans and professional journalists. I try my personal best to watch every conference live, and when I miss out on one, I do go back and watch it once I have the time to. We had eight conferences this year (not counting the PC gaming conference, which I do not watch), and while I will keep my thoughts mostly on the showmanship, I will now share my final opinions on the conferences as a whole.

EA

https://www.ea.com/games/sea-of-solitude

EA unfortunately manages to usually be the least interesting out of all the conferences, and this year was not only no exception, but they seemed to drag themselves down more than usual. EA presents their conference the same way that you may present a slideshow in a business meeting. This may be pleasing to the suits and the stockholders, but to the average joe, it's particularly boring. A few things stood out to me personally, and the most important one being just how surprisingly well EA has been treating their indie devs. EA is notorious, but I will give them major props for supporting indie devs as well as they seem too. The only games that left a positive impact on me from the conference were Unravel 2 and Sea of Solitude, which seem like the kind of "art game" that not only would I manage to enjoy, but would only exist thanks to EA and their budget.

HOWEVER, they lose a lot for the false apology about moving forward. I assume the backlash will last a while, as it deserves to. When you mess up, you don't apologize because some people wren't happy, you apologize because you plan to learn from you mistake, and that is not what that was in the slightest.

Microsoft

https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2018/06/10/microsoft-reveals-halo-infinite-trailer-at-its-xbox-event-will-be-a-new-halo-experience/#63cd33b39ef5

Of the "big three", Microsoft has been in dead last this console generation. True, I can't help but believe they must have sold better than the WiiU, but with the Switch now in existence, that point is completely minute. As a fan of underdogs, and a believer in the spirit of competition, I've been hoping for Microsoft to have better E3 conferences for years now. They have been getting better, and this one was their best.

I cannot say it was E3 perfection, but having watched this one last, they certainly beat their competition this year by far. They had the least amount of slow spots, kept the talking briefer than they ever do, and avoided a lot of the faux pas the company often does on stage. No more car on stage for Forza, no more pointless video telling us Minecraft stills exists.

There was a bigger emphasis on exclusivity this year. Admittedly, I long for the day Microsoft stops overusing the word just because they want too more than need to. Also admittedly, many of the exclusives are games that are on both Xbox and Windows 10 devices, and some simply get on Xbox first. I'm fine with using the word for the former, and it's still a platform exclusivity, but the term needs to stop for the latter. Sony doesn't do it, and it is annoying.

Still; Battletoads, Gears 5, Halo Infinite, all great ways to remind gamer to care about the Xbox One and it's future. Plus, they dared to mention the next console, and that takes something to admit to. Great show.

Bethesda

https://nerdist.com/fallout-76-online-survival-rpg-bethesda-e3-2018-trailer/

Bethesda has only been holding conferences since 2015, where they nailed it on their first try. The following years failed to measure up, with the 2017 conference being confusing and fairly boring. This year, a more traditional show with the Bethesda quirks was back in full force. Self-deprecation, potshots, cuss words, and a line-up of games that ranged from interesting to uninteresting. The ending teasers for the newest Elder Scrolls and the new IP Starfield were a nice touch, even if we truthfully saw nothing aside from a panning shot.

I appreciate Todd Howard's honest feeling approach to the new direction presented in Fallout 76. He did a fantastic job in explaining how this game would be different, but still fully a Fallout experience. Howard also said he understands the hesitation and nervousness from the fanbase in this new direction, even admitting to the internal division that was hinted at from a press leak. I am willing to play it, but I do also admit I have some lower expectations for the first year or so, based on what I heard from Elder Scrolls Online. 

Still, a lovely little conference, with noticeably some downhill moments to be completely fair.

Devolver Digital

Pulled from Devolver Digital's Twitter.

While not as mind-blowingly fresh and new as last year, Devolver presented a perfect satire of the corporate business world and the fact the whole conference really is just a commercial we go ga-ga over. Now with an overarching arc (which I wouldn't be surprised if they ignore next year because that would also be funny), I am excited for the future endeavors and the harsh humor to follow. A short and loving sweet conference that even if it's a joke, deserves a high spot on the list. Also, the games are still real, so you can still be excited about the games. Sometimes you actually have to do the thing you're satirizing to do it just right. And honestly, they were really good looking games.

Also, special mention to Tiny Build, who also tried doing something like Devolver this year. A much shorter joke video, and it wasn't as funny, but a nice attempt nonetheless and hopefully this is how indies do it from now on. I can't praise their one game as much though, wasn't my kind of game nor did it look like it would leave too much of an impression through a trailer. Maybe the full game will be amazing, willing to believe that without a doubt.

Square Enix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZhh-fZFX-Q

I'm a little torn. This was like a Nintendo Direct, but from Square. I do not miss their live conferences, as they were typically very weird and disjointed on accident. On the other hand, they showed too little. The new Tomb Raider looks great, but I have forgotten the new IP already despite thinking it looked good at first. I'd look it up, but I'm afraid this helps my point too well by not remembering it. The rest was footage we'd already seen. I was excepting this to be the Kingdom Hearts conference, but that honor went to both Microsoft and Sony.

Ubisoft

https://store.ubi.com/us/game/?dwvar_5b0586e3ca1a64ed97625eaf_Platform=switch&pid=5b0586e3ca1a64ed97625eaf&edition=Starter%20Edition&source=detail

Ubisoft make fun conferences. always starting with Just Dance really sets a great mood, and I was happy to see them embrace it so well. I was glad to see more of Starlink: Battle for Atlas, a game I was excited for and now fully remember the name of. I'm not a Star Fox fan, but seeing the crossover for the Switch version makes me appreciate the close relationship Nintendo and Ubisoft are now showing. That may be the version I have to pick up.

Sadly, there's not much else to say for excitement. I did enjoy the Beyond Good and Evil 2 footage, but with it came the notice that the audio on the mics was messed up this year. They were not aware they were still on. Hearing "We killed it! I think we killed it!" may have been cute, but as someone who has editing audio before, it's a headscratcher. Same with the Donkey Kong live orchestra. Hearing Grant Kirikhope talk with everyone beforehand about how they changed his blocking is not information I should have heard, but sadly, I did. Still, good orchestra, it's a shame I mostly remember the discussion instead.

A middling performance, especially after being the favorite of many last year, but they did far from the worst.....

Sony

https://www.suckerpunch.com/category/games/ghost-of-tsushima/

Sony used to be the king of E3 conferences. This year, they changed up the format, which they have every right to experiment. Not all experiments are good.

They started in an actual tent for the first trailer, and had Shawn Layden seemingly stall for time while trying his best to be entertaining. I give the man props for trying, it was clearly awkward and not thought-out well enough, and yet he still tried his best. The audio was also abysmal in the tent. Layden was not only hard to hear, but so was the footage for The Last of Us: Part II. I seriously could not hear some of the character dialogue while watching, and in a story-heavy game, we as an audience lose important details when that happens.

During the venue switch, we waited seventeen minutes, and were shown two commercials. Not trailers, commercials.

Thankfully, when it picked up, it picked up. The gameplay trailers were all interesting, however, almost nothing was new save for the announcement of a new VR game from Justin Roiland, and a trailer that like with the Square Enix conference, I have forgotten the complete existance of. Some of the gameplay went on too long for my interest, and we noticeably lacked release dates. These were anticipated games, and we still don't know when a good number of them come out. Still, these trailers did get my interest, including in games I did not have much hope for or interest in. I am completely sold on Tsushima by this point, and last time I saw it, it was just a picture.

I hope this is an experience Sony learns from, as I know they can do better.

Nintendo

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-12-metroids-ridley-is-getting-the-amiibo-treatment-for-super-smash-bros-ultimate

Once again a Direct instead of a conference. But, unlike in some years, Nintendo kept me interested and were fast with announcements while still having the breathing room I believe E3 really needs in their showcases.

It's also interesting how both Ubisoft and Sony made me lose interest by taking too long with gameplay, Nintendo showed almost half an hour of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and still managed to keep me interested the whole time. By changing up the pace after segments, having us watch segments instead of just one mission I would have rather played than watched, and showcasing how much they are trying to make this the best Smash experience, I found myself entertained throughout.

I understand people who will not give Nintendo highs marks due to lacking a real conference, but now that we have imitators, it's clear Nintendo now fully knows how to use their own format. It's a shame their other announcements during the expo will not be tied to this showcase, but, I still think it was one of their better ones.

Final Ranking

1. Microsoft

2. Bethesda

3. Devolver Digital

4. Nintendo

5. Ubisoft

6. Sony

7. Square Enix

8. EA

What Has Me Been Doing?

Well, I warned ya'll that I'd be slowing down when bigger projects come along. I'm dedicated to my craft, and that means big stuff does push smaller stuff away. I'm not paid for this blog, henceforth it's not as important as stuff I plan on getting paid for. Sorry friends, I was hiatusing without having the nerve to say I was hiatusing.

So, what have I been doing? I've been writing on a big ol' project I can't say anything about yet. Sorry for secrecy, but this how media work typically goes. The higher-ups tell you you can't say anything, then tell you you can say you've been working on something, then it gets shared. When you work for yourself, and want even more secrecy, dat is how dat goes.

So for stuff in my personal life, I have a job now. Retail work, but I mentioned that back in an October post.

I've been playing some video games. Haven't completed any, only beaten or simply played. I'll be talking about some on here, and am planning a YouTube video on one: Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom. The other games I've been playing are Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory, Alekhine's Gun, and Kirby: Star Allies. I plan on reviewing the two newer ones, and maybe having something funny to say about Alekhine as it really reminds me of Naughty Bear.

I've been reading as well. Pokemon Adventures, the Ruby and Sapphire arc stuff specifically. Gen 3 is still my favorite Gen so I thought I'd finally see how good the manga adaptation was. Quite like it so far. I also recently finished The Scarlet Gospels, which I have very interesting things to say about. It's Clive Barker's return to horror, and a new installment in the Hellraiser "canon", which I have to say with quotation marks because real canon is basically thrown out by now with this franchise. I've bought a copy or both Dracula and Frankenstein, so maybe I'll do a classic literature review for the both of them.

Haven't watched much TV, aside from getting back into Dragon Ball. Great stuff, just as good as I remember, which surprises me. Things don't always hold up as well as Dragon Ball. My web content viewing is going down, and that's all I feel about saying about that.

I saw a play! Coraline the Musical. Didn't even know it existed, and it was a youth performance, as I found out after arriving. Didn't know what to expect, but the play is good and the actors were very good, whoever coached them did a great job. Maybe they'll grow up to be something big, who knows?

And, I guess I'll start this blog up again next month or so. Right? Hopefully I'm right.

What the HELL happened to shovelware?

When I set up this blog one mere year ago, I remember telling myself that I wanted to discuss my loving relationship with the atrocious game genre (or medium, I'm not sure how to classify it truthfully) called shovelware. Shovelware, as the name implies, was video game software that was shoveled out for a quick buck. There were different categories of shovelware; the movie-licensed games made to convince parents and grandparents to buy for their kids/grand kids, the games that straight-up copied whatever trend was popular at the time, and just the bizarre and weird stuff that defied all logic and tried to hit you in the face so hard that you got curious. All three of these types, and any I may have forgotten about, had their high ups and the low downs. For every surprisingly good CSI game we got, there was someone out there who tried the same format with NCIS and created an unplayable nightmare.

My first console was a PlayStation one, and the first games I remember playing (aside from the demo disc) were Looney Tunes Racing, and Flintstones Bowling. The former was a Mario Kart clone that actually realized what was fun about Mario Kart, and the latter was, something. I remember playing the game, I remember liking it just fine, but I can't tell you any which way if it was a good game. Critics liked the first, and not the second, my point being that even early on I played both good and bad shovelware, and both suited me fine.

I played a lot of PC games, whatever was affordable to my parents. I got the great edutainment games, the bad edutainment games, Tonic Trouble (not a shovelware game, just a game I love bringing up in conversation because it needs more love), games that didn't even play properly, so on, and I have complaints on none of those games. I could beat most of them within a day, and they were exactly what I needed.

Come the PlayStation 2, you better believe I loved the crap out of Shrek Super Slam. You better believe I replayed Madagascar the video game like nobody's business.

Sure, I had great games for all of those listed machines. The aforementioned Tonic Trouble, the Humongous Entertainment games, Cluefinders, Spyro the Dragon, Kingdom Hearts, but all of those games have stuck with me as much as the shovelware games. I have a blast playing crap as much as I had a blast playing great games, and I don't regret any of it. And it's not a kid thing, you sit me in front of a fun or crappy shovelware game, and I'll look for the bits that are fun. I know this, because I was doing this up until a few years ago.

Everything changed a few years ago for shovelware. It, vanished, as far as I'm concerned.

Back in the day, any movie-licensed game was shovelware by default. This was unfair for some, like Shrek Super Slam, but fair for Madagascar the video game. By making sure they tied in with the movie, they had to release the game as soon as they could.

Anyone remember the Brother Bear game? A short platformer and adventure game with kind of lazy graphics and animations, but solid enough voice-acting. I learned the entire map of the game and all it's levels, and all of the collectible locations, because I just replayed it over and over again, beating it in one session several times. The game was broken enough that I learned how to quickly defeat the only boss in all of his encounters. I just knocked him back with the roar when he was close enough to the cliff side. Yeah, just murdered him every time. Then he'd come back in a few levels, and I'd do it again. In final boss mode, it just knocked off a health bar, so I had to do it about three times. Wasn't even a hard boss, I just never felt like fighting him the right way because it took a lot longer. That's one of the beauties of shovelware, they are a lot easier to break in all the fun ways.

But for licensed games now, you rarely ever see it. They actually take their time now. Telltale makes licensed games for franchises that do not have upcoming movies, so they spend an actually development cycle. While their format is getting tired to some, they are still not considered bad, just repetitive, and that's only a criticism you can have if you've played a lot of their games, as fair as the criticism is. I was a fan of Telltale back before The Walking Dead games, so personally I'm just waiting for a return to their formula. I don't need another Sam & Max, just another clever point-and-click along the same lines as Sam & Max. I could use another Poker Night game though, speaking for myself.

Then you have something like the Goosebumps game. I bought it expecting it to be a crappy tie-in shovelware game that only people like me would enjoy. Turns out, it's a clever throw-back to LucasArt and Sierra games, with solid writing and an incredible art style. I'm not the only one who really liked this game, as the obvious effort shows. Aside from the recent Power Rangers game, lately that's all I've heard from movie tie-in game that aren't apps, that they are actually good games in their own right. I'd try the Power Rangers one, because that sounds like shovelware, but unfortunately I really hate Power Rangers as a franchise so I'm too put off.

The Goosebumps game was originally the reason I was going to do an article like this. It was going to be a call for some crappy shovelware while acknowledging the medium going forward was heading in a good direction. Good games for everyone, with artistic effort and clear love.

And then, Steam Direct.

Steam Direct, the absolute puddle of disgusting throw-away bit graphics and mechanics. The shallow muck of fragile pride and arrogance. I can't even be polite about it; f*ck. Steam. Direct.

A few years ago, Valve relieved a seemingly solid idea to help out indie devs: Steam Greenlight. Games would be voted on by the community based solely on the screenshots and video clips. While this did cause joke votes to be taken too seriously, it still lead to plenty of great games nobody would have heard of.

But, that was only at first.

The drivel started to out way the great, good, and enjoyable by bucketloads, then truckload, then country-mile loads. For every Huniepop, there were EIGHT HUNDRED OR SO unplayable and broken games. It was not that uncommon for a game to turn out to be nothing but a zip-file with NOTHING in it. No save data, no game data, not a single thing.

Steam Greenlight did nothing but show what happens when the lazy and untalented are allowed to rip people off, and the worst part was that Valve continued to act like there was no fault on their part. Thousands of uncreative and atrocious video games, if you could even call them that, within the span of a year, or even just a single month. The creators of these games would also often have public hissy fits and tantrums, just over simple and true reviews of their game.

Valve would say nothing, unless you really, really, really, REALLY, crossed the line.

Promote homophobia and neo-Nazism in your game and social media? Nothing.

Attack real and honest reviewers, professional and common-man? Nothing.

Send death threats? Nothing.

Steal assets, release a blank file the customer charged money for? Nothing.

SUE A REVIEWER? Nothing.

SUE THOUSANDS OF REVIEWERS? Okay, sh*t, we have to actually do something I guess. Ban them, say little to nothing about it unless grilled.

And that's where Steam Direct came in. The idea was, get rid of the voting, and only put in games where the developer pays a fee upfront. Many people were hoping for something good, I personally never expected anything remotely good to come out of it. Greenlight did not show me that letting anyone vote causes bad games and evil developers. Evil developers did not show me what happens when they make game. Greenlight showed me what happens when you let algorithms do your whole business and you twiddle your thumbs like it's nobodies fault while the evil developers so on a greed-induced rampage. Hell, I even realized right away how they claimed they'd actually play the games and test them first this time, and I saw that as the bullsh*t that it was before ANOTHER BLANK FILE was recently purchased by many. Said game later got it's files uploaded, and it is somehow considered the worst thing to ever grace the platform. It I was still capable of being surprised, I think that one might have done it.

They even said "Fake games", clearly mimicking (not mocking, mimicking, as if they saw good business dealings and competence from this guy, which says a lot) the individual who says that about the news when they criticism him so he looks better. It doesn't work for him, I didn't let it work for Valve either.

And this is the future of shovelware, as brief as it will prove to be. I'm a realist, not an optimist or a cynic. I do not believe this is forever, nor do I believe it will stop because of the goodness of people's hearts. This is all a get-rich-quick scheme led by incompetence and laziness, and when it boils over it will be swift and painful for everyone involved. And I feel comfortable saying this, because games media and consumers stopped giving respect ages ago to these practices. Learning their lesson will see them defeated forever, by trying a new scheme or by having their customers wizened up enough that they demand real quality up front. Of course I hope for the latter, we're just going to have to see.

Oh, also, why is PlayStation and Switch slightly getting on board with this? Mostly PlayStation, with Life of Black Tiger, the Solbrain game I talked about on here and did a whole video series on my personal YouTube channel, two more games from the same single developer as Solbrain Knight of Darkness, Vaccine, all those trophy-spam games which admittedly I'm harsher on than most other apparently (I used to be a completionist and I really don't understand it), and a good handful more of games I never thought I see on a console.

It's less surprising for the Switch, as shovelware always finds it's way onto handhelds, almost as much as PC. Also because Switch somehow has LESS shovelware than PS4, and I wish I knew why. Really would have expected more shovelware on a tablet than a console, even if the Switch is technically also a console. I know the PS4 is more popular which means shovelware is more likely, such as the PlayStation 2 or the heyday of the Xbox 360, but I'm sure you see my point in discussing popular tablet versus popular console.

I can't let Steam Direct go on any accord though. It still trounces the PS4 and Switch combined for terrible shovelware, it has killed what shovelware has always meant to me, and it has given rise to too many bad people.

I could upload a picture of my foot, draw googly eyes on it with Microsoft Paint, upload the jpg to Steam Direct, pay the fee, admit that's all the thing is, charge 2 dollars for it, and there'd be no questions.

Notice how I wouldn't charge much and also admit to what i was doing. This is something the f*ckw*ds can't do, and I just morally can't understand why. I am not a braggart, but that very foot of mine has more artistic talent and integrity than hundreds of those so-called game developers combined.

When it collapses, I ain't feeling sorry. And it's not worth saying "I told you so" either.

I actually miss the Brother Bear game after seeing the kind of horror show shovelware is now. And that game spoiled the end of the movie for me months before I even finally saw it.

Doki Doki Literature Club Review: Doki Doki My Heart

This article is not intended for children

2017 saw the release of many a fanstastic game. Super Mario Odyssey, LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2, Cuphead, so many that a quick glance at any game journalist or YouTuber's list of "Game of the Year" titles could easily convince you to put all of those games on your backlog if you missed them.

My game of the year is a different choice than many, even if it is gaining in popularity, having been downloaded over a million times already. My game of the year is Doki Doki Literature Club, a free visual novel dating sim. My new favorite game within it's genre.

From left to right: Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, Monika

You play as a high school boy whom you name whatever you like (I named mine Turd), the next door neighbor of Sayori, the vice president of the Literature Club. Sayori worries that the main character may have no social skills after graduation, so she convinces him to join the club.

This is where the game play comes in. Those of you who have played visual novels before may be worried about playing this one when it comes to game play. Many an infamous visual novel completely lacks game play; the point is supposed to be that the player can choose an outcome, similar to a choose-your-own-adventure story, but there are some that simply lack the choice at all, save for many one button to click at only the very end of the two-to-three hour "game". Do not worry, I assure you there is nothing about the game play of Doki Doki Literature Club to make it infamous, you have my word.

There is real game play, you choose specific words to write a poem. Depending on the words you choose, you will write a poem that pleases one of the girls. Well, one of three, for some reason you cannot write a poem that specifically pleases Monika.

Whichever girl you pick, she starts to open up to you. You learn her backstory, watch her grow through character development. You'll get a different scenario with them based on which day it is, so if you mix-and-match, there is still merit, don't worry so much about only appeasing one of the girls the entire game if you don't feel like it. It's more dynamic in how it plays out than others in it's medium, the game does remember if you suddenly changed your mind, instead of acting like you only treated one girl kindly, the latter of which I've seen happen before, it breaks the immersion by a lot and sometimes means you end the game without any closure. 

It's the sort of thing I have wanted many visual novels to have, but so many didn't. Massive kudos to the developer for creating completely fleshed out characters for this game, I wish that was not something so rare in visual novels, but for my money, it can be. I believe the creator has similar feelings on the subject.

The girl I chose was Sayori. I was spoiled for a massive section of the game, and I just felt right finding out the most I could about her before future replays.

Monika sometimes interrupts you just when you're making headway with the girl you chose to spend alone time with. The little devil.

There is so much more I'd like to talk about the game, but sadly, there are spoilers to follow. If you have not played this game, and would rather play it without any forewarning or spoilers, please log off of this blog post and go to the game's website here:

https://ddlc.moe

...........

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do do do do de de dee de de..............

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And now this is the part where I tell you this is actually a psychological horror game.

NOTE: The foreshadowing is heavy and obvious. Which is good, subtle foreshadowing can feel like a waste of time. Obvious foreshadowing can make you feel like an idiot and in the BEST way. Hell, I did it here, the game needs it and loves it.

This game, man. This game.

Holy crap.

So like I said above, I found out ahead of time that Sayori commits suicide and the game suddenly bugs out. She's erased from the games files, you can go into the files for yourself and see her character file is completely gone. The games bugs get SO much worse, so much that the suicide becomes one of the tamest things the game has to offer for you.

AND, they depend on the choices you make in the next poems you make. AND, there are some out-of-knowhere scares that are triggered RANDOMLY. You can play through the whole game and not get them. There's no way to activate those scares, one way or the other. Nothing you can do to get them on purpose, nothing you can do to avoid getting them. You are at the mercy of what the game just feels like setting off.

In my playthrough, Natsuki's eyes turned black, blood flowed through her sockets, a wide slasher-style smile suddenly appeared across her face, her neck cracked completely to the side, and she just rushed as me leaving this scream that somehow seemed quiet and directly next to my ear. This was ONE scare, all of it together. 

I am not the kind of person who loses sleep over something scary. This game caused me to lose sleep. Yuri's blood-soaked eye, the glitchy faces, the rapid reveal of the characters broken home lives and minds capes, the game straight-up tricking me by no longer obeying the rules of it's game play at any moment. This was the first time I did not trust a video game. The game told me it's mechanics, and let me get used to them so much, that once they stopped working I didn't know what to believe anymore. One time, it forced my cursor so I could only hit one of the three buttons, but I thought to myself "what if I hit up on the arrow keys, and then enter?". Even though you don't select in the game using those buttons, and it actually worked! But, then the game quickly replaced those three options with a long list of the same choice it wanted me to choose, so many the screen couldn't show them all.

I sorry I don't have any more screenshots for you, I was so fascinated and terrified that I simply stopped taking them. The game had my complete interest, and my fear on the end of a string. This is, and this is only on a personal level of course, the scariest thing I've ever experienced in all forms of media.

I have a high fear tolerance, so I do heavily enjoy when something really scares me. Mostly, what scares me is surreal horror. Hellraiser, Escape from Tomorrow, I don't have too many examples that terrified me, and this game is now on the top of the list. I have to play it again soon!

Also, just so you get a real taste of this game's horror, I found out about a scare I either didn't get, or that I didn't notice. During one of the poem sections, Yuri's face can be replaced with a horrific nightmarish face instead. Briefly, brief enough to convince you she didn't. This face:

Some of you may not find this so scary, but here's the thing. You now know this face is possible, you'll go look for it. Because it's so sudden, will you actually see it? Will you convince yourself you saw it? Plus, yeah it is rather creepy and a FAR cry from the usual sprite. Simple changes to what he know can truly mess with us, the uncanny valley affect. Elongated arms and legs, alien-looking eyes on a human-looking head, horror is often the unknown, but also the unknown mixed with the easily known.

Although to be fair this Yuri face is far more terrifying

I didn't get this one either, but I knew about it when doing research for the blog post. It's super rare, BUT, the Game Grumps were unfortunate enough for it to happen. I beat the game before they got to the scary stuff, and I was handling their play through well enough, but when this popped on my TV (was using Xbox One app) I straight-up had to sit down and pause the video to calm my nerves. NEW UPDATE: Of all scares this is one of the ones I got when I played Plus!!!

So yeah, go play this game. Like I said, it's free from the game's website via Itch.io. It's also available for free on Steam, if you feel like using that. You can donate money to them, and if it's ten or more dollars, you get a soundtrack and an art book. You can also just buy the fan pack directly through the store they link on the site.

By the time you read this, I will have donated thirty-five dollars. I believe the game deserves nothing less from me, and I may even give more later. There are posters and key chains of the characters you can buy as well from the site's store page, and I'm not a key chain or even a poster guy, but I saw an amazing Monika poster that I have to buy (there's also a real chance I'll be getting the others posters too because I went back to look at them all and I ended up liking them all more the second time). Speaking of, hey Dan Salvato, if you end up reading my dorky blog post about your game, I would pay good money for plushies of all of these characters. Even if they're like 45 bucks a pop. Even Yuri, and Yuri was personally my least favorite even before she scared the shit out of me. HELL, even the nameless main character, and I don't know what he even looks like.

The title says review, so here's my review score:

10/10

Game of the year.

My favorite horror game.

One of my favorite games in general.

And tune in soon. I forgot to talk too much about Monika, and honestly, she deserves her own post. I have that much to say. They all deserve a post, now that I think of it.

auagkadsmcdkalg/jrigurahsfklfjfutyas;okjd OPEN YOUR THIRD EYE

Blank, Angry Eyes

So recently I've finally gotten a job. It's a job at a certain well-known global chain store, and even though I like this job quite a bit, it's probably best in professional terms to not name the location.

Especially since this isn't even my complaining about anything, or chatting about my fellow employees and what it's like working with them. This is all about this one customer I had, and how in hindsight he scared the complete s**t out of me.

I was on the floor stocking some merchandise, chips I believe. This man comes over to me, mid-thirties at the youngest, a scraggly beard, a confederate flag hat on his head, basically telling the world what he thought of certain people even if he didn't think so. He came up to me, and of all things, asked this:

"Have any of you turned in a wicker folder?"

I'd never heard of what he was talking about, so I kindly asked him to repeat.

"A wicker folder." He said, much slower so I could hear it.

I also got a good look at his eyes when he repeated it. Gray, an eye-color I didn't know actually does exist outside of fiction. And somehow, burning.

I told him I hadn't heard anything about one, and so he walked off back to his wife and child. It was only about five minutes later I saw them have a verbal fight.

To a lot of people, the hat and the absolute quickness of his fighting with his wife would be immediate put-offs.

And then their was his eyes.

I've heard gray eyes can sometimes look a little off. I've also heard eyes are the window to your soul.

For gray eyes, they were incredibly expressive, and I guess his soul only had one expression. This man hated talking to me. Not because I was an employee who didn't understand his question. Not because he was having a hard time finding what he was looking for.

This man hated the fact there were other people, that he had to talk with another human being. I know it sounds silly, but if you saw them, yeah, they would burn into you and you would have had to wonder just what the guy's problem had to be.

And no, this isn't a made-up story. This all happened. Maybe I'm wrong about what this guy is really like, but God, I've never been so creeped out by what a pair of eyes conveyed to me.

That Time The Local News Taught Me About Transgender People

When I was a very small child, back in the the country side of Maine, where the ideas of equality had not fully begun to exist just yet, I watched a local news report that has been burned into the back of my brain ever since I first saw it. I do not remember the names of the people interviewed, and honestly, I would not share those names anyway as I'd rather both the family and the reporters to be allowed to go through their lives. Even safe from people who think they'd be helping them out, as even still there are too many people who are egotistical and self-serving in wanting to help and only make things worse. Aside from the people who do actively hope the make things worse do to being born with the decision that everyone else should suffer just so they can pretend it makes them better than the entire planet.

The report was about a little girl. As the local anchors informed me, it was very uncommon for young child to go through the sex change operation. So uncommon that it warranted a report. If I remember correctly, she was also something of a first. Maybe not the first in America, but either the first in Maine or the first in her county. As her surgery counted as a scientific breakthrough, or at the very least paving the way for the future of transgender operations, the anchors discussed exactly how the operation came about. The girl was interviewed as to her reasons for identifying as a girl instead of her original biological sex, her parents were interviewed on their personal thoughts and how they dealt with the surgery, and a few people from her school as well.

When it came to the science aspects, they talked about how transgender operations (called sex-change operations back then) were becoming more advanced and even commonplace as time was moving forward. When it came to the little girl herself, she was treated like a little girl involved in a local news story.

They knew she was a person, and their only response was to treat her like a person.

Think about that for a minute or so, and then think about how 2017 mainstream media treats racism and sexism. The first day, you get the condemnations, the slightly scathing words that suspiciously sound lacking, like they could back-peddle the second they want. And then the next day, they are more than happy to invite the same white supremacists or "alleged" sex offenders onto their show, and give them the same fake-ass smile they'd give if they were interviewing a famous author or an astronaut. Pretending to be unbiased by letting the scum of the Earth have the attention they wanted in the first place and see a spike in ratings because that was all they really cared about.

Back in the effing nineties, I got a respectful report from a local news station about a young transgirl, and you know what, because of the times I bet she faced at the very least a little bullying and mockery, but the news refused to admit that could be the case, they skipped over any sort of notion in favor of respecting her as an individual. But modern, mainstream, media? Attack and love both sides separately and see if that is what fixes the ratings from the last time they did that. The idea you can't polish a turd loses it's meaning when you hope that turd brings in hate-watchers, even if it hasn't before or isn't anymore since everyone has standards, which I honestly think tends to be the case based on how anytime I'm unfortunate enough to catch a glimpse of mainstream news, the energy levels are noticeably lower.

Now, on a more positive tangent, the question is: how did this interview immediately effect me?

The title of this post is how that interview "taught" me, not informed me. I was aware transpeople existed before the story, however, I only knew them as a sitcom joke from shows such as Becker (which I still think is a funny show but probably not the typical thing a young kid should be watching, it takes cynicism and blunt reality to darker levels than some kids might be ready for, even though apparently I was).

The nineties were an incredibly mean time to the LGBTQ community, mostly because of how much it very much pretended to be friendly towards the community. Try watching a nineties show that claimed to be pro-gay, and you will cry over how much it overuses stereotypes because it refuses to think gay people can actually be three-dimensional. The trans community was hit hard as well, only treated as a joke and nothing more. And the same joke too, an ugly guy claiming to be a woman with a rough voice. That was it. If you're familiar with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, imagine if people thought her completely botched operation was what actually typically happens, even though that play's biggest drama AND punchline is that it's a horribly botched sex change.

Before the interview, I was childish enough to not get the "joke" and just laughed at it anyway. After the interview, that horribly joke became strangely enough ironically funny. Every time I saw it, my reaction was to laugh by saying "That's not how sex change operations work!". Instead of thinking the joke was funny, I was openly laughed at how stupid the idea of the joke was. Again, I was a little kid. This one local news story opened my eyes and my heart, and I can't thank them enough for it. I'll admit, I grew up in an area where not everyone originally was pro-progress. Many kids I grew up with, and even I fell for some of the trappings, were not always open-minded until the state itself started growing up just as much as we were. Yet, even before I was fully open-minded, I respected the trans community.

I've been working on making myself more level-headed these past few years, and I think it's been working. Here's the thing, you can be level-headed and still pissed off.

I'm pissed off at how much a barely sentient grease stain with tiny ass hands can have the power to step all over trans people like he just did. I was not silent before, and I will continue to never be silent.

Resist.

Resign.

Impeach.

Thank God for Mueller.

And I am so sorry the world is still allowed to treat transgender people the way it is. This was never right and it never will be. Congratulations America, you've only now learned the lessons you should have learned decades ago. You've only now learned that other people's live do in fact matter, even when they don't look like you. We will heal, and these monsters will regret every action they've ever made, regardless if it was out of hate or greed.

Franchises I Would Like to See in Lego Dimensions

I've mentioned before that I am a fan of the toys-to-life genre. While my favorite of the bunch, Disney Infinity, has been cancelled, and fans are still waiting for the future plans on the Skylanders franchise, we do currently know that LEGO Dimensions has a 4-year plan. New toys and updates for 4 years, and after that, they will decide on either a sequel, or even more toys and updates.

For those not familiar, LEGO Dimensions is more or less the biggest crossover game to ever exist. LEGO versions of several franchises; old, new, popular, and semi-popular; coming together to play together. This is a game where Finn and Jake can chat it up with Voldemort and Scooby-doo, riding around in Kitt and a winged monkey. And those are only some of the characters I've personally bought. Some franchises make me plan on buying the character the moment they are out in stores, and some get put on the back of my mind for a later. Admittedly, some I also plan on not buying, but that's the risk with these games, not everyone will buy every toy.

I'm going to make a list of franchises, and I haven't decided how many franchises just yet, that I think would transfer to this LEGO toys-to-life game perfectly. One caveat, I will not be doing Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars characters. Not only am I more than happy with the Infinity Figures I already have, as I still play Disney Infinity regardless of the cancellation, but to be frank, I don't think LEGO is going to try and get any of them. The cancellation came over a year ago, and LEGO is still franchising both Star Wars and Marvel as full games, with LEGO The Force Awakens and LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2. I think they are either under contract to do it that way, or would prefer. Besides, they may have already planned out ever LEGO figure already, and they would have had to do that when Disney wouldn't have signed off on them being in another toys-to-life game.

Granted, I do have one exception, but I have a good reason for that. Now, without further ado, here is what I think LEGO Dimensions should consider:

1. Rush Hour

https://www.amazon.com/Rush-Hour-Trilogy-BD-Blu-ray/dp/B01LW929BG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1499216243&sr=8-6&keywords=Rush+Hour

With Goonies, Beetlejuice, and Knight Rider, there is a clear stance that 80's franchises can be applied to the game, even if they appeal more to adults than to children. I say, why not try a still popular 90's franchise?

Rush Hour may not have much power today, but neither does Knight Rider, and Kitt is one of my favorite vehicles to use now. Plus, there were not only three movies, but a short-lived and very recent TV show, and talks of a four movie to come eventually. I think there is enough staying power to be considered, maybe not as a level-pack, but I can easily imagine a team pack with Lee and Carter. I think a lot of people would buy that in a heartbeat.

2. LEGO Island

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehO18o01H0

Before LEGO adapted franchises into video games, they tried their hand at creating their own IP. A beloved series from this era was LEGO Island, and I think LEGO Dimensions is the perfect place to try and revive the series. While I would love a chance to play as the evil Brickster, I think a level pack would be a great way to reintroduce Pepper and the island itself into the modern day, for old fans and their kids. Out of all my choices, this may be the least likely, but I would love to see it happen. LEGO games are very well-liked now, and incredibly polished, a level pack may even be considered the best sequel this franchise ever got.

Plus, we need more LEGO franchises in general for this game. Year 2 only received one, and that was due to LEGO City Undercover gaining a re-release. Lots of players want more LEGO originals, I say this is the place to start. Brutalmoose can tell you more above, he covered the whole series in fact.

3. Looney Tunes

Real talk, I'm expecting this one next year. Why? Is it because I know Warner Bros. owns Bugs and the others and will easily see the appeal? Actually, no. It's because LEGO Dimensions loves capitializing on current big-name products, especially reboots and sequels. What could possibly be out next year that would convince me? The sequel to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Space-Jam-Michael-Jordan/dp/B004GJYROG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1499217044&sr=8-4&keywords=SPace+Jam

If I remember correctly, Space Jam 2 releases next year. This does mean I'm expecting LEGO versions of the Looney Tunes to arrive, solely to tie-in with the movie. This would also mean their co-star, this time I believe Shaquelle O'Neil, to be LEGO-ized as well. Personally, I love the idea of LEGO Shaq, so bring it on LEGO Dimensions. If I'm wrong on who the star of the movie is, well, hopefully I'm not wrong about my general prediction. I seems like a fantastic idea.

4. The Greatest American Hero

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081871/

A personal one just for me. I love The Greatest American Hero, and in it's hayday, this was a popular show. It still has many fans to this day, and in all seriousness, I would not be the least bit surprised if this got in.

F&$*(ng Knight Rider got in. How could this not have a chance?

5. The Freemaker Adventures

https://www.amazon.com/Lego-Star-Wars-Freemaker-Adventures/dp/B01KUGYP22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499217540&sr=8-1&keywords=Freemaker

If you're not familair with this Disney XD series; it's a cute, funny, intelligent, and action-packed show focused around the Freemaker siblings. It captures so much of the humor of LEGO games, and the kind of TV cartoon action we haven't had in a while. A second season airs this summer, and what better advertising than LEGO Dimensions? Even if Infinity had never been cancelled, I'd still think LEGO Dimensions was the right place for these characters, seeing as they are made from LEGO. With the cancellation, I can only imagine a few phonecalls could make this possible, and I would love to see it. It would also quench the appetites of all the players who want Star Wars, and not trample over the already hurt feelings for Infinity players who think it would be too soon.

That's my list, all we need to do now is wait and see if any of them come true. Still banking on Looney Tunes, but out of all of them, I really want LEGO Island. Only time will tell. We'll see by the end of this year.

A Heads-Up, Oh and Follow My Instagram!

I keep getting busy with more important and less important projects than this blog, hence why I'm writing this quick post on a Thursday night when I usually do the editing and posting on Wednesday mornings/afternoons.

Truth is I'm probably moving my blog days to Thursday anyway. For one, I'm on Instagram now, so check that out: https://www.instagram.com/wooblewyattwhatever/

It will be full of great stuff, so check it out when you can. I'll be posting on it every week. Mondays seem like a good day, but hey, I can also post pictures just for the sake of it, so there's that. And it counts as work because it's social media!

One day you'll see grand stuff on this blog again, but for now, yeah, other stuff is more important. Also, no blogging next week, I'm preoccupied.

That's it.

The Passing of Adam West and Appreciating Someone Too Late

Yesterday, June 10th 2017, I learned of the passing of Adam West. The original TV's Batman. For many, this man was their childhood, the caped crusader they watched every day growing.

There are also many like me, who also had West as part of their childhood, but for something both exactly the same and opposite reasons. Throughout my childhood, and even up until the man's death, West became one of the few celebrities whose career revolved around lovingly poking fun of himself.

Be it Johnny Bravo or Fairly OddParents, I remembered the name Adam West as a man who was playing a parody of himself. Silly, kind, caring, off-the-top, and even playing the same character he played on TV all those decades ago. It is funny to think how that never got old. Family Guy even reused this joke as well, and for all the flack I've seen Family Guy get, this never seemed to bother anyone. No matter how many times, or who did it, this was still Adam West and it still worked.

I was also familiar with the original show, and I have to admit an old arrogance you have heard before. I originally did not like the show, because I did not realize it was supposed to be a comedy. Batman as a brand, as far as I had known, was always supposed to be the brooding anti-hero, the near psychopath who fights psychopaths.

It was foolish of me, but I will get to that in a moment.

A bit of personal story time. Last year, my father suffered a seizure. He survived, but medical bills are terrible. $1000 dollars for an ambulance ride. (Although if you ask actual pond-scum-come-alive Paul Ryan those fees are too low. Coming from an already rich man who probably scours the couch every week for loose change just to have it). This did not set as back as far as it could of, but it meant the extra one-day-long vacation we had hoped for would need to be cancelled both due to funds as well as time to rest up. I decided we could just stay home, grab fried chicken and pizza, and watch a movie. We all wanted to watch something funny.

We picked Batman: The Movie.

I don't think I've ever been so surprised by a funny movie. More moved by a romantic scene in a comedy. More involved by a performance in what I figured was a silly comedy movie.

Even when I was young and foolish enough to dislike the original series, I always knew I liked West. I more than respected his attitude towards himself and his clear love of what he was doing.

Yet I'm realizing too late how wonderful he truly was.

It is a disservice to not go back and watch the works of West's career. I find it horribly ironic that at this point in time, DC is hoping to revamp their characters in dark and gritty stories that are real and intense, ala The Dark Knight, and it had to happen the same time as the passing of the man famous for the silly version of one of their most beloved characters. There may be a time and place for dark and serious, but more and more, we need superheroes who are paragons. Who are just plain fun and entertaining.

With the death of celebrities, I tended to have any of the following for responses:

1) I would not know them well enough, but would of course be saddened by the lose of life. Especially one whom many people looked up to.

2) I would be devastated.

or 3) They would have just been old enough that I would have felt less sad at their passing, and more happy that they had such a legacy to leave behind.

Mr. West was 88, which I am telling myself is just young enough that I was he still had a few years left. In complete truth, I've never felt this exact way before, where I am mostly disappointed in myself.

"This man was a hero and an icon and you didn't appreciate him enough" Has been going through my head since yesterday. I suppose the more complicated truth is that I am heavily grieving and don't completely understand why.

All I can say is, rest in peace Adam West. Millions loved, adored, and looked up to you. And I owe it to you and myself to make sure I do as well.

By the way, one last personal story. My local news sometimes has movie reviews, and when The LEGO Batman Movie came out, he said he liked every Batman movie, only to backtrack after showing certain ones. An overused joke in the first place. One of the ones he showed clips from was Batman: The Movie, and even at that exact moment I felt myself legitimately mad at such a bad attempt at an overused joke at the expense of what was a silly movie on purpose anyway. He gave that movie a B. I liked it quite a bit, but I'd have to give it a C.

Because C is for Catwoman.