My Threads(8)
See AllDo You Think Indie Studios Benefit From Being Purchased by Triple-A Publishers? Or Is It Better That They Stay Independent?
I always look at Supergiant Games as the argument for staying indie and still being successful, but it definitely limits the scope of their projects.
What's A Video Game Series With Too Many Entries?
I feel bad for anyone trying to jump into the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series today. Even though both Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon are good entry points, for anyone who wants to play the whole series, they've got a lot of work ahead of them.
What is Your Most Consistent Gaming Tradition or Habit?
I always grab my cat before I sit down for a few hours of gaming. She loves watching me play from her favorite pillow.
Have You Ever Designed a Custom Controller? What Design Did You Make For It?
I went through a handful of custom PS4 controllers in the mid-2010s. The site I was ordering from was using cheap paint and the older PS4 controllers that had the "disintegrating thumbstick" problem, and I kept having issues where either the paint would wear off on my hands, or the thumbstick would fall apart within a week. I tried to explain to the company that there was a new generation of PS4 controllers that didn't have this issue, but they didn't believe me and instead told me I was "gaming too hard." Needless to say, I haven't gone for a custom controller since.
Do You Think the Shift in Time Period and Protagonist for Ghost of Yotei Was a Good Decision?
Personally, I feel like Jin's story was wrapped up pretty nicely by the end of the Iki Island DLC. I'm sure there will be hints and nods to Jin's activities since the end of Ghost of Tsushima, but I think making a clean break from the first game and simply alluding to it in the sequel is one of the most interesting and daring decisions Sucker Punch could have made with their sequel.
Where Does Your Favorite Video Game Console Live? Do You Keep Any Video Game Consoles or Accessories in Unusual Places?
My PS5 lives up in my office plugged into my PC monitor, but my PS Portal sits in its stand on the bedside table in case I wake up in the night and need it.
My Reviews(7)
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Laika: Aged Through Blood
Laika is a really special game. It tells an impressively deep story for its cartoony graphics and anthropomorphic animal characters, but where it really shines is in its gameplay. Laika is like a mix between the Trials series, Hotline Miami, Dark Souls, and Metroid. It's gloriously violent, deeply challenging, incredibly satisfying, and it all fits together so smoothly that it's a wonder more games in this style don't exist.
Citizen Sleeper
Very few games can elicit a strong emotional reaction from me. Even fewer can do it with every ending to their story. For Citizen Sleeper, that adds up to six separate times it made me cry. Every single ending the game offers is incredibly moving, offering deep meditations on life, friendship, relationships, and the little furry friends that make our lives special.
Outer Wilds
Not everyone will jive with this game, but I think that makes it even more special. Outer Wilds appeals to the innate curiosity of its players. It encourages them to ask questions about its world, and then to go out and find the answers. There's a tiny bit of guidance, but the journey is largely dictated by the person with the controller. And what a journey it is.
Rocket League
Lots of video games try to emulate sports, but very few manage to actually capture what makes playing sports so fun; especially team sports. Rocket League's focus on physics-based gameplay means that the only way anyone can improve is through playing better. There are no "stronger" cars to unlock, no power-ups that give an advantage. Becoming a better player is the only way to improve, just like a real sport.
BioShock Infinite
This may not be the best BioShock game overall, but the storytelling—particularly the relationship that develops between Booker and Elizabeth, makes it stand head and shoulders above the rest of the series. It also has a twist for the ages, one that easily rivals the first game's.
NieR: Automata
A fascinating and unexpected genre blend of seven or eight different kinds of video game. There are few predictable moments throughout the game, and the ending—the true ending—is an all-timer.
Dark Souls
To me, Dark Souls is a life-changing game. It's not just exceptional in its environmental and combat design, it's not just subversive in its storytelling; this is a game that taught me how to live a better life. Very, very few games can achieve something like that.
My Posts(21)
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