Kraven

This weekend I’m out of town on a Christmas vacation with my wife and daughter. However, yesterday, before heading out, I finished Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The second to last word should be “fantastic” instead of “great” because that’s what it is; and is easily a GOTY contender.

Unfortunately, a couple of achievements are bugged for me, preventing me from obtaining 1000/1000 gamer-score. I have 42/45 achievements. I hope that will get patched at some point.

In the meantime, I plan on hopping back into my save of Stalker 2. I was enjoying it immensely but put it on hold for Indiana Jones. To my understanding, I made the right decision due to the latest patch it received. I wasn’t experiencing any issues prior to setting it aside, so knowing it only got better is wonderful news. GSC Game World is cooking right now and firing on all cylinders.

Oh, goodness. They won best action game, beating out some stiff competition. They also sold 10 million copies with their first ever console release (if I’m not mistaken). Moreover, they were even nominated for GOTY which is high praise alone. They have done nothing but win since its release (commercially and critically), so this is kind of sad to see. Oh, well. I loved the game and will double dip when it comes to Xbox.

This weekend I’m doing some adventuring in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I’m about to wrap up the Gizeh area and travel to parts unknown. It’s been a blast!

This looks incredible. Blasphemous is fantastic, and Ninja Gaiden is one of my all time favorite franchises. This seems like a match made in heaven.

@Toilet_Goat We are excited because we know the types of games Naughty Dog makes. They typically have well written stories, fleshed out characters, stunning visuals, and very solid gunplay (or action in general). They hardly ever disappoint so that is why we are excited — Naughty Dog delivers.

@Americansamurai1 I do. My brother and I played that game religiously as kids. It was fantastic.

I’m playing Stalker 2 and it is amazing. I restarted two times because I felt as if I wasn’t getting a good grasp on how the game should be played, and I was making poor decisions. After watching a few basic tutorials on inventory management and learning the ropes from my initial playthroughs, I feel as if I understand how the game works. It’s such an incredible experience, and one of the most immersive games I’ve ever played. I know this might sound blasphemous, but it really has scratched that Fallout RPG itch.

The open world also heavily reminds me of Red Dead Redemption 2. There is wildlife out and about (mutants in this case) and people going about their lives. You don’t always know if they are good guys or enemies. But patience is a virtue in that regard. And how you stumble upon side quests organically by exploring and finding new locations to unearth, it has that same feeling of immersion.

It’s just a damn good game.

This weekend I’m playing Space Marines 2. This game rules. It harkens back to the 360 days with the early Gears of War titles. The combat is visceral and satisfying, with unique gameplay elements sprinkled throughout its 8-hour campaign (perfect length, too) to never make it boring. And the writing, despite being campy and bombastic, is actually well written, with a cool story. The banter between your party members is also great to listen to because of the distrust between your band of brothers, but remaining composed and uncompromising in their beliefs in order to get the job done.

I will definitely do another play through of this masterpiece. Larian is absolutely killing it.

I’m stoked for this. I downloaded it on Game Pass and will be giving it a go tonight after work!

This weekend I’m playing Dragon Age: Origins for the very first time, thanks to Xbox Series X and Game Pass. Holy smokes—this game is impressive. For context, my first Dragon Age game was Inquisition, subsequently followed up ten years later with Veilguard (both games I love). I even got the platinum for Veilguard. However, now that I’m playing Origins, I can wholeheartedly understand why people consider Veilguard’s writing and characters inferior.

I got the platinum for DA:V the other day and loved my time with it. While there is some cringey dialogue, a lot of it is actually fantastic. Some is actually peak BioWare. It’s a shame this game got flack because it’s a solid game. It came out fully polished, with hardly any bugs. The combat is really fun and dynamic, and adds a lot of flexibility. The ending stretch is fantastic, with great story moments, and genuine consequences similar to Mass Effect 2’s suicide run. The companion quests are quite great and well developed over time. Side quests are good, and exploration is rewarding. There are so many positives for this game, even if people don’t like the writing or the characters. The overall package is wonderful. At its core it’s a good game. Yet STALKER 2 releases and everyone seems more forgiving of its issues (understandably so, considering the war), and I don’t get it. Oh well, I’m excited for that game as well.

At least the core game seems to be quite great. It seems bogged down by bugs and glitches, but the overall game is solid. I’m excited to give this game a try; it’s my first entry in this franchise. I have no doubt this game will eventually become a classic, once things are ironed out. I also want to support the developers because they have been through hell and back with this game due to real world conflicts, so I wish nothing but the best for them.

I haven’t checked what games are available. I just started Dragon Quest 3 Remake. Does anyone know if this is one of the games playable via cloud streaming? That would be awesome since I’ll be going out of town here soon!

This is awesome news.The Portal is one of my most used gaming devices, particularly around fall season when sports are not on television. I absolutely love it.

While none of the games on the GOTY list would be my GOTY, there are some interesting omissions. I would think Silent Hill 2 and Dragon’s Dogma 2 get nominated for the GOTY list, but at least those games are getting love elsewhere.

Alright. I’m just going to say it. I’m still playing Dragon Age: Veilguard, and I think it is one of BioWare’s best games. I’m roughly 96-hours deep, halfway through Act 2, and I’m wrapping up companion and faction quests. I’ve collected nearly every single Memento and codex entry—and I’ve read them all.

And also, for those on the fence, please don’t listen to people that say this game is “woke” or whatever kind of agenda. There is only about two minutes worth of cutscenes—out of an 70+ hour RPG—that talks about “gender”, and it’s handled well aside from a few word choices. And fun fact, these types of issues have been present in the Dragon Age universe from the very beginning. Speaking of, the lore in this game is incredible, with tons of references to Origins and its historicity to discover in texts, notes, and just the environment itself.

Moreover, once you get to Act 2, or at the very least the main story decision that has implications, the writing becomes peak BioWare—if you invest the time to seek out conversations with your party members. It’s not just dialogue options, it’s the banter between various party members and how different their personalities shine through while exploring. And the quest line for Solas and discovering his memories and discussing them with your party at the table is some of the best writing BioWare has done.

I also like the way the story is handled with your choices and consequences. Without spoiling too much, some of my story decisions have already had great repercussions—some good and bad—and have even presented themselves in side quests, in surprising ways. But I’m also weird. I don’t always need my decisions to make a long lasting impact. Sometimes, it’s simply the moment itself that I need. Those choices I feel the weight of because it makes me think, regardless as to whether or not it affects the overall narrative.

There is so much I could say about this game and why it’s brilliant. And why people should ignore the negative discourse surrounding the game, particularly with its political agendas. Just play the game if you are interested. I think I have to agree wholeheartedly with Eurogamer and WhatCulture’s review on the game. It really is special, and as advertising as it sounds, it is a return to form for BioWare.

This is a great month. There are a lot of games in different varieties, and a lot of them are well received critically. Like a Dragon and Dying Light 2 are highlights, Overcooked is a fun coop game, and other titles are pretty solid. I don’t understand the complaints (as usual), but to each their own. I’m also pretty hyped for Resistance. I’ve been hankering for those games again.

I can’t wait for this to release. I thought I was going to play it day one, but I’m still enamored with Dragon Age Veilguard. Whenever I’m done with that game, I’ll be diving into Dragon Quest. It will be the perfect Christmas time RPG.

@ThomasHL I agree; I don’t think he played the entire game. I could be wrong, and his opinions are his own. I just don’t see or hear what he is, aside from one or two lines/cutscenes.

I’m playing Dragon Age Veilguard and attempting to ignore the internet discourse for this game. I’m having an absolute blast, and will definitely be striving for the platinum. I, as a rogue Antivan Crow, made a crucial decision to betray my own city. Afterward, I met Doctor Strange—erm, I mean, Emmerich. He is a pretty cool dude. Also, this game strongly reminds me of Kingdom Of Amalur. I know it’s not a spiritual successor, but it certainly feels like it in some areas. And if you haven’t played that game, go do it ASAP.

@Blaze215 I mean, you are on a website that’s dedicated to covering PlayStation. And the Pro just released, so I’m not sure what you’re bothered by. But, if you’re bothered by all of this, you may need to reevaluate what you consider important to you.

Damn, I chose to be an Elvish rogue for the Antivan Crows and it’s been fantastic. I hope they implement a NG+ because I wouldn’t mind trying out new classes and factions to choose whilst keeping my stats. And let me just say this — I think the game is great, and the writing is much better than what a few cutscenes spread on the internet give it credit for. It’s not perfect, and it can have some Marvel-esque one-liners, but there have been some peak BioWare moments as well.

This is great news. With that said, I don’t necessarily own a PS for its exclusives, although that plays a factor. PS is just my main choice for console gaming. For me, this year has been sublime, even with the lack of first party games.

@__jamiie I think it’s a hauntingly great game, with unique gameplay mechanics that intertwine with the environment. Xbox fans have a treat in their hands today—I hope they play it and enjoy it.

@BIG3 This is the best approach. People want to make others feel bad for liking something (and it goes both ways) and will say absolutely anything because it’s the internet and they don’t face any genuine consequences. It’s best to ignore the discourse, although it’s difficult to do.

Honestly, it is times like these where I’m glad I ignore most of the discourse for a game and play it myself, and come to my own conclusions. I’m having a great time with the game, and it’s not as bad or “woke” as the internet makes it out to be. Is the writing perfect? No. But there are some great moments of dialogue, and great characters to be found. The gameplay is fantastic, with a wonderful skill tree, and plenty of abilities to customize your play style. The quests are great, and side quests are meaningful.

I’m not saying people can’t be critical. I have my faults with the game. But there is a fine line between critical and rational.

It’s a shame a lot of people can’t be understanding—it’s either “amazing” or “awful”; there is no in-between with some people. And it’s sad that gaming culture has become so toxic. Can you imagine if Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was bad? The discourse around it, the people who enjoy it, and those who are playing the game on Xbox (and Game Pass) would be ridiculed so bad. And for what? I don’t understand.

If you don’t like something, why associate yourself with it? I love sports, but I’m not a fan of baseball or soccer. You’ll never catch me reading articles about those particular sports, or make disparaging comments about certain players and teams. I just ignore it and focus on the things I enjoy instead of trying to make people feel bad for liking it. Sorry, I’m rambling, but I’m just disappointed by how negative the gaming culture has become in the past several years.

@ShogunRok This is a wonderful response, and shares the same sentiment I do.

@boogieman117 How did our eyes get so red? And what the hell is on James head.

I’ll pick this up at some point when it goes on sale, or if I’m completely bored with the games I do have in my backlog. It definitely seems unique, to say the least. GamesRadar also had an excellent review that touched on a lot of good points.

For the last week and a half I’ve been in a gaming slump and I wasn’t aware of it initially. It has been strange. Once I obtained the platinum trophy for Silent Hill 2 Remake, I subsequently dove head first into Metaphor ReFantazio. And then it hit me.

I was enjoying it, particularly its UI, combat, characters, story, setting, and political strifes. However, it wasn’t fully grasping my attention. I was feeling overwhelmed. I found this peculiar because P4G is my favorite RPG of all time, and P5R is exceptional. I’m accustomed to the calendar structure, knowing content will be missed by choosing to do one activity over another. It was bothering me immensely even though time management is a core game design.

This feeling carried over with the Archetype mechanics. I was I immensely engulfed by options and it was ruining my experience. It was difficult for me to switch up my vocation because I had certain archetypes maxed out, with great skills, but switching classes and starting from scratch felt counterintuitive because I’d have to change armor, weapons, and be underpowered. I appreciate the flexibility, but not when it’s almost essential.

My brain just couldn’t handle any of it. In fact, it’s odd because of my affection with Atlus games (not just Persona), and while I was liking the majority of aspects of the game, I just wasn’t having fun. Ultimately, I set the game aside and will come back to it another time.

I then scrolled through my cross-media bar on my PS5 and saw Kunitsi-Gami: Path of the Goddess. I’m a huge Capcom fan and love their odd side projects. The glowing reviews for this game definitely piqued my interest. I played for five hours and was enjoying it; but it wasn’t holding my attention as well.

This trend repeated itself two more times; once with Shadow of the Damned: Hella Remastered; and secondly Ys X: Nordics (my favorite RPG series). At this point, I decided to take a break from gaming altogether and decompress. Maybe the depressing nature of Silent Hill 2 Remake took more of a toll on me than anticipated.

And suddenly, something changed. Monday rolled around and the reviews for Dragon Age: The Veilguard went live. The positive reception the game has been receiving from critics (and definitely not random strangers on the internet who hadn’t played the game but want to hate on anyone who likes it; seriously, the vile things said all over YouTube channels—Eurogamer, IGN, and other mainstream outlets—is absolutely out of control and incredibly disheartening) brought back that sense of excitement for games.

I started Dragon Age: The Veilguard on release day and have put 15-hours in it. I’m having an absolute blast. I’m an Elven rogue, part of the Antivan Crows association, with a slight affection for Neve. I’m slowly swooning her, but unlike my organization I work for, I won’t be stabbing her in the back.

TL;DR - Gaming is fun again; thanks, Dragon Age.

This is great news. Not every game needs DLC or a story expansion.

November is stacked for me! I am without a doubt buying Dragon Quest 3 day one. I am also going to check out Lego Horizon. I never enjoyed the Lego games, but I’m always compelled by them. This new one looks to shake up the formula in some ways, and I’m curious to see how it unfolds. Maybe by the time these two games release, I’ll have finished Dragon Age Veilguard.

I’m glad it’s being received well, particularly on Steam. I’m roughly six hours in, having just beat the Lyrium Ghoul boss fight and think the whole experience has been amazing. The game is very well paced, the combat is crunchy and a lot more satisfying than I expected, and the story has some interesting beats. I can’t wait to play more tomorrow.

I’m 4 hours in and I’m loving the game so far. I’m really thinking about my dialogue choices, and I just love my Elven rogue character.

@Deityjester It’s almost like opinions have to be the same for everyone.

I’ll probably pick this up soon! I wish it had a separate trophy list specifically for the PS5, but neither here nor there; the campaign looks awesome.

I don’t own a VR system, but I might shell out some money if this turns out well. Metro is one of my favorite franchises, and I wouldn’t mind seeing what VR is all about.

Solid month! I own Ghostwire Tokyo but haven’t played it yet. I need to check it out sometime soon.

This will be a day one purchase for me. The Ys series is my favorite RPG franchise.

For $10.00 this is a steal. And trophies not transferring isn’t a negative to me. I’ll probably not play this because I’ve played it twice already and have the platinum, but it is a game that should not be missed if you own a PS5.

@Lup You did excellent! 😅

Yeah, some complaints are valid. Personally, I don’t mind this type of combat. And as for decisions not being carried over — it’s been a decade, so I can’t even remember my choices to begin with. From the reviews I’ve read, the choices you make in this game do have meaning and consequences to them, so it sounds like a plus to me.

@Maubari Exactly! I might go offline too. And it sucks because of the negativity around it, especially when it appears to be a pretty darn good game.

Why are people hating on this game and the reviews it is receiving? To those saying there are “shills” that got paid to give this game a positive score, why are there some reviews that are negative then? And either way, why does it matter? If the game is good then it is good, plain and simple. I hate how modern gaming culture is always so dang depressing and negative. It’s either, “This game is trash” or “Someone gave a Ubisoft game a decent score? They must be shills!”. “You like Call of Duty? Then you must have bad taste in games!”. It is always something. Why not simply read reviews from those you trust and make your opinion based on that? This game sounds right up my alley so I’ll definitely pick it up. BioWare made a good game—can’t we be happy about that?

The reviews have been very positive for this game. I personally loved Inquisition, so I’ll probably pick this one up. It should be a great time!

A couple of days ago I finished my NG+ run in Silent Hill 2 Remake and got the platinum trophy. Being as this was my first venture into this historical franchise, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I have to say - it might be one of the best survival horror games ever made, at least in my eyes. The game was sublime, top to bottom, and had excellent pacing. I think the game would have been even better without the Labyrinth dungeon, but other than that I adored the game.

I have now properly started Metaphor Refantazio. I’m not too far into the game. I recently acquired Hulkenberg as an official party member. We tackled a side quest for Brigitta, and that lead to a really great dungeon with fantastic rewards. The final boss was a difficult fight, but extremely rewarding.

I also just completed the first main dungeon—the entire prologue—and subsequent boss encounter(s). This game has really subverted my expectations in terms of how the gameplay and story intertwine. It’s the finer details in the downtime of actual combat that really make this game excellent. I’m excited to see how many more experiences like this the game can offer. According to reviews, there will be a ton of magical moments, and I’m here for it.

I had a copy of this game on the PS3 but never played it. I’ll probably pick this one up. How are the trophies and the platinum trophy?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that I try to avoid conversations around certain games and companies because of the negativity around it, whether deservedly or not. I bought this game, but haven’t played it yet. I’m waiting for a good downtime. I’m sure by then the patches will have improved the game. I’m looking forward to jumping in, perhaps around Christmas time.

I can’t wait for this one! I think Sniper Elite 5 is one of the best stealth games ever made, with some incredible level design. I know most people won’t have it on their “all-timer” list, but for me and my tastes, it’s up there. I’m excited for this new entry.

This is a real shame. I thought this was the perfect return to Prince of Persia, and is easily one of my GOTY’s. I even got the platinum trophy for it.