My Top Ten Games for 2019

There were a lot of good games that I played this year and many I were not able to finish before the end of this year. This was a pretty hard list to make but I think I am happy with this list.

Honorable Mentions:

Fire Emblem Three Houses: I have finished two paths of the 4 (5 when the final DLC comes out). I would probably have put this game as number one however I would like to judge the game as a whole and not just what I have completed. So this will probably be a next year thing.

Code Vein: I am not a Dark Souls player and thought I would try the series out. My first experience would be NIOH, which is really hard, but I will try to finish it. This is more an anime version and for some reason anime versions tend to make games more enjoyable. I really do like this game and it has a decent difficulty for new comers and some harder modes for veterans.

Twin Blue Moons:

This is a short, yet enjoyable Yuri/Mystery Visual Novel that I enjoyed very much. I really enjoyed the unique art style and music that fit very well with the story. While there may be some minor issues with the translation and the story can be a little confusing, this VN does provide a lot of enjoyable moments for readers. I hope to see more from the creator of this project and enjoy what they can bring to readers.

Games not on GB:

10) Fruitless Flower:

Favorite Character(s): Arisa, Flora, Auntie Yarna,

Arisa: The main protagonist of this game and the one who suffers the most. She is an orphan who is known as the leader due to her older age and ability to keep the others under control. She helps out a lot and is always caring about others. She falls in love with Flora and does everything she can to protect her new friend. She is not as educated as others, but she is smart enough to understand most issues going on and how to find loop holes.

Flora: A flower spirit that ends up falling in love with Arisa. Her origin and age are not known but she looks very young. She was suffering under an antihuman rule when she was rescued and brought to Arisa’s Orphanage. She is fearful of humans, but learns that some are trustworthy. She is not very educated and mostly goes along with whatever Arisa tells her. She does her best to support Arisa and those she finds to be good humans.

Auntie Yarna: The Director of the Orphanage that Arisa is in, and a very trustworthy human. She is the only other person that Flora trusts, next to Arisa, and she is very supportive of the two young girls. She struggled to do her best to keep the children at the orphanage happy and even used her own funds to help the orphanage. She even supports the two girls when they confess their love for each other.

Least Favorite Character(s): Ascendency Party

Ascendency Party: A totalitarian party that wants to get rid of all non-humans and make a world that only humans can live in. They originally were a low grade group that used their lies, money and influences to take over the government and throw innocent people away into internment camps. These people were ruthless and killed all opposition as well as those who did not follow orders. They are the true definition of human evil.

Favorite Moment/Local(s): Orphanage, True Ending

The early part of the game takes place in the orphanage and actually is one of the more enjoyable parts of the game. It may seem a little sad at first, but it does pick up with some happy moments. However, it ends up being the calm before the storm that completely destroys the lives of the children and the main characters.

The True Ending brings happiness to the two main characters and they finally are able to return home, get married and live a loving life together. This ending is the one most people will want after all the horrors that the characters go through in the game. It is the most pleasing result of them all.

Least Favorite Moment/Local(s): Internment Camp, Palace

I will combine both of these together since they pretty much are connected. During these moments, Arisa and Flora are treated very poorly and you see the horrors that come of internment camps and slavery. These are the worst part of the game, but they are needed to help portrait some of the issues that comes of these problems. They are really hard to play through, but if you can manage to make it through, you can be rewarded with some great moments at the end.

Favorite Couple/Could be Couple(s): Arisa x Flora

While there are other Yuri couples in the game, these two are probably the best couple. They both went through such hardship and yet still managed to make it through together. Their bond and friendship was the only things that kept them going in their most trying of times. These two are struggled more than the other couples and still came out together.

Award: Best Human Rights Story

List items

• 

  Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity

  9)

  Since I am a big Touhou fan this is actually hard to do favorites and least favorites. So I will instead do a list of most of the characters and enemies and talk a little about them.

  Remilia Scarlet: The main protagonist of this game who seems to be more for people who are not very good at these kinds of games. As a vampire she has limited access to the outside world, though she does get an item later on that allows her to go out in the day time. She has a lot more mobility, skills and spells than Sakuya and is very easy to play as a character.

  Sakuya Izayoi: The side protagonist, maybe, who is a human maid for the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She is a little harder to play as, but still has some skills and attacks that allow for skilled players who want a little bit of a challenge. She does have a very good critical hit rate that is useful later on.

  Three Magic Fairies (Luna Child, Star Sapphire, and Sunny Milk): These three are a key part of the plot. They each are using their abilities to hide the enemy base and keep the main characters busy while their boss is finishing the final touches of the plan. They are not very hard alone, but together they get to be a little bit of a challenge.

  Mokou no Fujiwara, Alice Margatroid, Wriggle Nightbug, Satori Komeiji, Utsuho Reiuzi, Snake Boss, Hisotensoku MK II, anyone I missed: These are the bosses you will encounter at the end of each area you go to. They have some unique danmaku and attacks of their own, but they really do not have much to talk about. Most are fairly easy if you know what you are doing.

  Suika Ibuki: The main antagonist of the game and the cause of the incident. She plays with the character giving out some information, that is true, but not the information that is needed. She actually is kind of enjoyable to fight in all the battles you have to deal with her.

  Patchouli Knowledge and Flander Scarlet: Probably the hardest of the bosses in the game. They both are in the post-game Labyrinth that lays under the Scarlet Devil Mansion. They tend to be annoying to deal with, but if you fight from a distance and take your time you can take them down.

  Magical Armor: Probably one of the most annoying minor enemies in the game. These enemies are walking tanks that will take a lot of damage to beat down and can also dish out the damage with their weapons. These enemies are probably my least favorite minor enemy in the game.

  Favorite Local(s): Yokai Mountain Waterfall, Magic Forest, Kappa Base

  These locations are actually really enjoyable to play around in. The waterfall being a mostly vertical section of the game, which adds dome variety to a side scrolling section or roaming area. I love forest areas in games, so it is not surprising I would not include this in my favorites. The Kappa Base is the final area of the game and adds a new age technology area to a game that mostly is nature based or less futuristic.

  Least Favorite Local(s): Scarlet Devil Mansion Labyrinth

  While there are copy and paste segments throughout the whole game, there is at least some variety in the other locations. This labyrinth is the same design, slight color differences, and changes where the traps and doors are. Not much else changes and it is also one of the hardest areas in the game.

  While there are some enjoyable moments, they are not very common and do not really last very long. This is a fairly average game, which is more enjoyable for fans of the Touhou Series.

  Award: Touhou Action Adventure Game

• 

  Double Focus: Aya to Momiji no Dangan Shuzai Kikou

  8)

  I like the Touhou Series and I really can not pick favorites in these kinds of games, but I will pick some that I enjoyed and some that I did not enjoy.

  Most Enjoyable Character(s): Aya, Momiji, Byakuren, Sakuna

  Aya and Momiji: The Main characters of the game and the main cause for the chaos. Aya is always trying to find new scoops for her newspaper and ends up causing the incident by opening a magical book. Momiji kind of just goes along with Aya and tried to keep her on ground level so that Aya does not cause too much trouble. Both of them are enjoyable and provide some enjoyable takes on the enemies they encounter when you have taken pictures of your enemies.

  Byakuren: The Monk of Myoren Shrine ends up getting sucked into the book world and is one of the bosses you encounter in the game. I never really thought of her as a physical melee type of character and always saw her as a saintly, magical character. However, she is a very strong fighter and uses her strength to aid in Ayas and Momiji’s quest once you have beaten her. Her theme song is also very well done in this game.

  Sakuna: The inchling who ends up being a boss in the Fairy Tale land. She thinks you are giants trying to destroy the little people, but after a boss labyrinth race she ends up realizing you are there to help. She uses her tiny size to squeeze through small places and gather hidden item. She helps the two main characters after you beat her and also has an enjoyable theme song.

  Least Enjoyable Character(s): Book King/Demon Reimu?, Kokoro, Seiga, Water Zone Fairies

  Book King?: This monstrosity is the final boss of the game and is not very easy. It took me many attempts to beat and many more playthroughs to eventually get comfortable beating it. It is supposed to be based on Aya’s fake story that she was writing when she was drunk.

  Kokoro: While I do not mind her as a character, her boss fight is the worst next to the final boss. I eventually figured out her pattern, but boy did I have a lot of trouble with her. Her masks represent her emotions and they each have different attack patterns. This makes for an interesting and chaotic fight.

  Seiga: I never really got into Touhou 13 and this character did not make much of an impression on me. She is a ghost who can travel through borders and uses that to her advantage in the boss fight. She was hard at first for me, but eventually I figured her out and she still did not impress me much.

  Water Zone Fairies: The worst enemies in the game. Some of them can not die and they do a lot of damage. They are supposed to represent the different horror films and tragedy plays in the past, but they do such a good job at it that this area can be a boss fight in its own right.

  Favorite Local(s): Fairy Tale Zone

  I really enjoy Fairy Tale themed locations and this one did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the different enemies like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Witches, Wolfs and other Fairy Tale creatures and people. Plus you get a candy and cake area to explore.

  Least Favorite Loca(s): Water Zone

  I actually do not mind the location itself. It is more the enemies in the location that I do not care for. The location is beautiful and has a Venice vibe to it. However, it is hard to look when you have enemies constantly trying to kill you or you end up falling into the water.

  Favorite Moment(s): Byakuren Punch, Aya’s Naming, Fairy Tale Zone

  Byakuren loses her scroll and blames the main characters for it. This is what leads to the boss fight with her. She eventually joins you when you beat her and you travel to the fairy tale zone where you meet Tewi. Turns out Tewi stole the scroll and while Byakuren says Buddha will forgive Tewi for the crime, Byakuren gut punches Tewi and KO’s her. It is a very enjoyable scene.

  Aya likes to give the locations you visit long and intricate names. However, each time Momiji steps in and brushes off the names and shortens them to easier ones. They are kind of funny to watch and eventually it gets to the point where Momiji just stops Aya from trying to name a location later in the game.

  I already mentioned I like Fairy Tale zones in games. It has a good atmosphere and the exploration is fun (with the exception of that stupid hidden room). The boss fight is not even a fight and is a more maze race that adds some enjoyable moments to the game.

  Least Favorite Moment(s): Water City Area, Final Boss

  I already mentioned why I do not like the Water City area above.

  The Final boss is not terrible when you understand the attack pattern, but boy can it be annoying. Plus if you die on the later phases of the fight, you have to restart from the beginning. This causes players to start to fail more or struggle more. Granted it helps improve your early form fights, but when you have to redo the whole battle after dying, can get pretty annoying.

  Award: Cutesy, Colorful Metroid/Castlevania Style Game

• 

  Mega Man 11

  6)

  A more anime change to the Mega Man series with some actual decent result.

  Cons:

  There are some animations that may turn some people off. I really did not see it much myself while playing, but I have heard from other and seen a few videos that the walking motion can seem a little weird. Also they removed the jumping through a boss door and they drop you when you try to go through the boss door.

  They seem to be running a bit out of ideas and weakness patterns. Eventually they will have a lot of remake boss designs and weaknesses, but they are using past Mega Man games, X games and even the Mighty Number 9 Series for boss weaknesses and ideas. The mobile weapon from MM11 and MN9 are both from construction bosses and they almost do the same thing. They even bring back my nemesis the Yellow Devil. He needs to be retired by now. Also they usually keep certain content through future games, the slide, the charge shot, which makes me wonder how this new system will be added to future games or if it will be cut out in the future.

  Pros:

  The double gear system is very cool and they actually make the game around the system instead of the system around the game. I am not very good with the system and kind of play the game without it as much as I can, however I have seen what it can do and used it in some cases myself. I do kind of want to see if they keep this system for future games or if they try other new ideas. They did a decent job with how they made this game.

  I actually really like the bosses and their levels. They make you feel like you are actually in the realm of the boss and are doing your best to get through many obsticles to fight the boss. I kind of felt bad during the fire stage since we are always told to stop forest fires, but it was still and enjoyable level (even if it is my worst enemy). They put some effort into making this game so that players could enjoy it but also have some challenge.

  Mega Man 11 is fairly good with some minor issues. I do think they are pushing it by using a lot of rework bosses and enemies, but they are trying to advance the series into a new direction. They want to keep the old fans happy while trying to get new fans. They do a decent job with a lot of their ideas and content and I hope their future projects will work out just as well.

• 

  Mega Man X Legacy Collection

  5)

  There are far too many characters in the collection for me to really go into whom I liked the most and who I disliked. I prefer Zero over X, but he is only playable in X3 and X4 and he has his own story in X4. Where as in X3 you share the story with X and Zero can not fight bosses, with one exception. I really do not like Sigma. Obviously he is the main antagonist of the series, but he has some very hard battles you have to go through, even with some of the best upgrades in the games.

  Mega Man X is the introduction to the series and they do a very good job with the game. They have some very interesting bosses and the levels are not very complex or problematic to traverse through. They did a very good job at making a good introduction to the series and it showed for future games.

  Mega Man X2 was not the successor that some people wanted in the X series, but it does have some good points. It may not have the most enjoyable music, my opinion, or the most enjoyable bosses and boss weapons, but it does give the player some challenge and some interesting stages to navigate through. I may have had some trouble with the game, but that does not mean everyone else will.

  Mega Man X3 brings back some of the great moments from the first game and adds some more challenges. They did put in quite a few harder bosses to try and tackle, but with some good strategies most players can overcome the obstacles. The final Sigma fight is a real piece of work that will probably cause players to rage quite or complain about the fairness of the battle.

  Mega Man X4 is where my childhood memories come from and brings some new ideas, as well as graphics, to the series. I really enjoyed this game as a kid and even now as an adult. Sure there are some problems with the voice acting or the cheap boss fights, but it does hold very dear to me.

  If I had to choose which games I liked the most it would have to be MMX and MMX4. I really enjoyed these two since they hold some nostalgia in my heart and they are also the entry points to their segment in the Mega Man X story. They are very enjoyable to play and provide some great bosses and boss weapons to play around with.

  However, I did not enjoy X2 as much and the final Sigma fight in X3 is just the worst ever. X2 did not have the kind of enjoyable moments that came in the first game and most of the boss weapons were kind of bland. While X3 was a fairly enjoyable game, with some difficulty issues, the worst part was having to deal with a tiny hit box on a giant enemy. Horrible memories will remain locked away forever.

  The X Challenge feature is a very well done add on to the game, but does have some issues. As I mentioned in my review, they kind of take bosses from the next collection and spoil them in the first collection. While that may not be a huge downer to some, it can be a problem for others. However, being able to fight two bosses at once and changing your strategy to accommodate the new addition is a very good idea.

  Award: Great Mega Man X Collection

• 

  VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

  4)

  Favorite Character(s): Jill, Dorothy, Alma, Jamie, Dana, Anna

  Jill: The protagonist of the game, visual novel, who serves the many clients and also has her own problems to contend with. She is a good listener and likes to help her clients out when they need someone to vent to. Yet, she also can get distracted and struggle with her own problems as she tries to work.

  Dorothy: A Lilim, humanoid robot, which is designed to look younger than her actual age. She is an energetic, happy-go lucky, character that enjoys her job as a prostitute. She really enjoys being around Jill and will help her out whenever she can.

  Alma: A close friend of Jills who has a lot of family issue. She tries not to let her family issues affect her life, but sometimes they can be far too overwhelming and she needs to stop by the bar to vent. She is a hacker with a nice body that Jill likes to comment on quite a bit.

  Jamie: A Cyborg mercenary that has a soft side. He may look like a tough guy and order some of the more manly drinks in the bar, but he also has a side to him that changes the reader’s thoughts on him. He may be a killer, however, even he has his own limits on who or what he will kill.

  Dana: The enigmatic boss of the bar and a very good friend to Jill. Jill actually has a crush on her boss, but will not admit to it. Dana has a complex and mystifying history that almost no one knows about. She likes to make her past hidden, but is a very kind and caring person. She has a love for cute things.

  Anna: A ghost that haunts Jill, or just comes around to mess with Jill. She could be related to Dorothy and has quite a bit of knowledge about some of the clients, as well as the workers of the bar. She likes to show up randomly to play around with Jill and cause trouble for her. Yet, she has a kind side to her and would probably help people out if she were still alive.

  Least Interesting Character(s): Art, Donavan, Kim

  I am just going to put all of them together. They do have some minor role in the story, but do not really show up enough to really keep the reader that interested in them. They all have some weird issues, but never really matter as much as some of the other characters in the game.

  Favorite Moment(s): Dorothy Scenes, Alma Scenes, Anna Scenes, Truth or Dare

  Each of the three character scenes is very enjoyable in my opinion. They each add some very enjoyable comedy to the drab of the bar or life. They all know how to push Jill’s buttons or even get her to smile and laugh.

  Truth or Dare: A small game played during the Mega Christmas Party. There are different kinds of things conversations or pranks that occur during this scene. You can get different resolves with each play through. It also adds some comedy to the game when you are trying to mess with some of the characters.

  Least Favorite Moment(s): Saving, Money Management

  I already wrote a review on saving and how it kind of does not help for people with short schedules. This is not a huge issue, but can be a problem if you wanted to only read for five to ten minutes before getting back to real life.

  Money Management: I have never really enjoyed games where you have to manage your money. This kind of makes it feel more like work and not fun. It does feel a bit rewarding to be able to beat these kinds of games, but also can be annoying when you are trying to advance in the story and keep failing.

  Could be Couples: Jill x Dana, Jill x Alma, Jill x Dorothy, Stella x Sei

  Stella x Sei: If they are not already a couple. They kind of say they are friends and one becomes a bodyguard for the other, but they could be a cute couple.

  Jill x Dana: This is kind of plastered all over the game. Jill’s phone has a photo of them together, she has a poster of her boss and she even gets embarrassed when her boss is around.

  Jill x Alma: While Alma clearly says she does not swing that way, these two have a very close friendship that almost could make them be a couple.

  Jill x Dorothy: Dorothy loves Jill, either acting like that or actually does. She calls Jill “Honey” and even sweet talks to Jill. Dorothy would probably not keep it a relationship since her job, but she would gladly give Jill a run.

  Award: Slice of Life Bartender Award

• 

  Touhou Luna Nights

  3)

  Favorite Character(s):

  Sakuya Izayoi, Remilia Scarlet, Kitsune, Patchouli Knowledge

  Sakuya: The main character of the game and one of my favorite Touhou Characters in the series. She may have been forced into this new realm without her abilities, but is helped on the way by our loving Kappa friend and given a chance to prove she is the better in battle.

  Remilia Scarlet: Technically the main antagonist who created the realm they are in, however, ends up losing control of the realm and gets demoted. She wanted some entertainment and forced her maid Sakuya and her ally Patchouli to join in the fun.

  Patchouli Knowldege: The creator of the realm that you play in and one of the helpers in the realm. She had some suspicions about what Remilia was trying to do so she added some new content to aid in Sakuya’s path. She may not be the most energetic of the bunch, but she can fight very well.

  Kitsune: A new beast added to the extra stage, this little mischievous creature likes to pretend to be something else and sneak attack Sakuya. They can be spotted easily if you are paying attention, but sometimes they can still sneak up and get a cheap shot in on you.

  Least Favorite Character(s):

  Wisps, Flandre Scarlet, Reimu Hakurei, Most Extra Stage enemies

  Wisps: These little buggers like to roam around, teleport when you attack and are always in your path when you try to move. They are not easy to hit and will always teleport to a safe spot when you try to attack. Annoying, but can be manipulated out of your path if need be.

  Most Extra Stage Enemies: These new additions are a lot stronger, have some annoying attacks to deal with and like to gang up on you. They work very well together and will kill you fast. They can be taken down with skills and time stop, but still are trouble in some spots.

  Flandre Scarlet: The true antagonist of the game. She was upset that her sister stole her precious gems and did not invite her to join in the game. She tries to get her revenge on Sakuya and Remilia through a hard and annoying battle, but with some practice she is actually fairly easy. She just has some annoying attack patterns.

  Reimu Hakurei: Somehow she got dragged into Remilia realm and now wants to stop Remilia from continuing with her game. She is a pain to fight and has a lot of hard patterns to learn. She goes full out and will not stop until one of you falls. She does not know the story of what is going on, but she also does not seem to care.

  Favorite Moments/Locals: Library Stage, Clock Tower Stage and Extra Stage, Boss Rush

  Library Stage: Besides the fact that I really enjoy library areas, this stage has some good enemies, music and an enjoyable boss fight. This is probably one of the better areas before the game starts gaining in difficulty.

  Tower Stage: The game really starts picking up in difficulty in this area, but it is still an enjoyable area to play through. I kind of like clock tower stages, even if I don’t like heights. The boss fight is also challenging, but also fair.

  Extra Stage: While this area is also a pain to play through, it is kind of fun seeing how all my hard work has paid off. I liked some of the new elements and kind of wished they did more with them, but what they did was still enjoyable.

  Boss Rush: After finally beating the game you can unlock Boss Rush. This is where you can try your luck against the bosses and see how well you can do against some of the harder enemies in the game. I actually got a very good time and I think I will keep playing to see if I can lower it anymore. Otherwise it is just fun to see how you can overpower your opponents.

  Least Favorite Moments/Locals: Selling of Gems, Extra Stage, Lack of variety

  Selling Gems: The game mentions that the final boss is stronger and harder if you sell gems to the shop keeper. However, there does not seem to be much of a difference in the battle no matter how many you sell or if you even choose to sell. While there is supposed to be some change in stats when you keep your gems, I do not find much happening to the stats and that I got better stats from leveling up. Maybe there is some algorithm that explains it better, but I just cant not see much results from it.

  Extra Stage: While I also enjoyed this, it was also a pain to go through. It is obviously supposed to be much harder and I am glad I did some grinding post release, but I still struggled. The final corridor was also a struggle that I had to inch my way through in order to make my way to the final boss. It was fun being able to accomplish something, but also a trouble to get through.

  Lack of Variety: The game has enemies or obstacles that it uses and then never uses again. They could have used these ideas in other ways to make the game more interesting. It is kind of sad only seeing certain ideas used a few times and then never seeing them again. It is obviously hard to keep making puzzles and keeping it fair, but they still could have used some more variety.

  Award: Best Touhou Metroid/Castlevania Fan Game

• 

  Ne no Kami: The Two Princess Knights of Kyoto

  2) Part 1 and 2

  Favorite Character(s): Len, Shino, Haku, Uzume

  Len: One of the main characters of this visual novel. She is a young high school girl who ends up getting dragged into a government secret organization that has ulterior goals to her own. She has a special ability to notice people’s essence and this ability eventually allows her to become a main member of the secret group as well as use a sacred sword. She wants to do everything she can to protect her lover and friends.

  Shino: Another main character of this visual novel who has always lived in the organization with her family. She is one of Lens friends and also gains the ability to wield a sacred sword. She is not as well accustomed to her weapon, but will do everything she can to protect her family and friends. She loves to pick on Len and has many mischievous moments.

  Uzume: Shino’s sister and the locked away goddess of the sanctuary. She does not know a lot about the outside world, and is very head of heels for Len. She will do anything for Len as long as Len will allow it. Uzume has a body of a mature woman and her family and friends will often pick on her for her voluptuous body. She was born with the power to lock away the Ayakashi, however her power can kill her if she tries to use it.

  Haku: A twin tailed Ayakashi who is not very skilled in speech, but is a very strong warrior. She is probably my favorite character in the visual novel. Her cute, immature demeanor can be fooling at first glance, but she is capable of taking down her opponents within seconds. I think the way she talks is cute and I really enjoy all the scenes with Haku in them.

  Least Favorite Character(s): Tsuchimikado, Tsuchigumo/Ruka,

  Tsuchimikado: The evil strategist who has some connection with the Ayakashi and government. He is always hiding things and will never express his true desires to others. He has a few lackeys who help him scheme from the shadows. He is the cause of all of Lens troubles and does a very good job at pretending to be a supporter.

  Tsuchigumo/Ruka: While I do not mind Ruka as a character, finding out that she was Tsuchigumo kind of made it hard for me to like her. Tsuchigumo is apparently a spider demon that was hunted down by some famous Japanese warriors in the past. It is also the name of a tribe of unwanted people that were abandoned by the Emperor when they did not concede to the Emperors will. This being is always out hunting Len and Shino and is a lot stronger than even the best sacred sword wielders. The music is usually good during the fights, but this being is very hurtful in all aspects.

  Favorite Couple(s): Len x Uzume

  These two may have differences and a lot of fights with each other, but they make for some great comedy and enjoyable sweet moments before the coming battles. Uzume is just a pure hearted maiden who will give up everything to and for Len. I am sure the adult scenes were probably enjoyable as well, however I usually just play the base game and never download the adult patches.

  Favorite Moment(s): Haku Scenes, Japanese Culture Education, Unexpected Moments

  Haku Scenes: I already mentioned that I love Haku. Her speech adds to the visual novel and makes her even more adorable. Any scene she is in just becomes a very enjoyable moment (even if it does have to deal with blood shed).

  Japanese Culture Education: I think more visual novels need to add this mechanic to their games. Sure people could look up words, events, people, ideas, but players are more than likely not going to do so. However, if you put it into your visual novel or game, then readers/players are more willing to open up the dictionary or glossary to learn about certain things. This is a good idea that needs to be implemented more.

  Unexpected Moments: To lower the chance of spoilers, I will not go into these moments, but there were a lot of times I was not expecting the story to go the way it did. The company did a good job at keeping the reader and player on edge thinking they knew what was going to happen, only for them to be wrong about it. I thought it was a good way to present the story and keep the reader interested.

  Least Favorite Moment(s): Tsuchimikado Moments

  I have already said I do not like this guy and he is pretty much the antagonist of the visual novel. He tries to act like her is helping everyone, but he is actually only going about his sinister deeds behind everyone’s back. He is always scheming about something and will stop at nothing to make sure his goal is realized.

  Award: Best Japanese Culture Epic Story

• 

  Horizon Zero Dawn

  1)

  Favorite Character(s)/Machine(s): Nil, Varga, Tallnecks, Talanah?, Vanasha?, Rost, Sonia/Varl

  Nil: An ex-criminal from the past Sun King Era that has a thirst for combat. However, unlick most hunters who are out hunting machines; Nil only has an interest in hunting Humans. You first encounter this sadist before you do your first Bandit camp and he becomes a valuable asset with future bandit camps or other missions. He is an enjoyable character, even if he is a sadist.

  Varga: A tinkerer in the DLC content that helps improve the special weapons you get. She is very cheerful and always willing to improve weapons or items. She even helps you when you try to gather the parts needed to improve the weapons you find for her. She is a very enjoyable character that helps lighten the mood of the DLC content.

  Tallnecks: The best machines in the game. While you can not take these machines down, and unless you step in their path, they are docile and will not hurt you. What makes them enjoyable is that you get to climb up them and use their radar sensors to uncover the map. These missions were some of my favorite and it always ended with you rappelling off them when done.

  Talanah?: Your Hawk that takes you in when you try to join the hunting lodge. She sees potential in you and wants your help in returning the hunting lodge to its former glory. She may have some heavy baggage that she holds onto, but with the players help you can take down one of the demon machines that has been rampaging the wilds for a long time.

  Vanasha?: A cunning woman and a shadow of tactics who asks the player to take on a secret mission to save the royal family. She has a way with words and is very informed with who to talk with and how to solve problems. She is very good at what she does and knows when to retreat if a problem becomes more than she can handle.

  Rost: Your tutor and guardian as an outcast. He was thrown out of the tribe and lived on his own until Aloy was brought time him to take care of. He is a very kind and caring father figure, but is also very strong and resourceful when he needs to be. He tries to keep Aloy out of trouble, but Aloy’s curiosity gets the better over his judgement.

  Sonia/Varl: Mother and Son of the Nora Tribe, as well as Warchief and apprentice. These two go out to take down the raiders who ambushed the Nora during the Proving and they fight for what is good for their tribe. They both are very strong and will do everything to make sure your tribe lives on, but also struggle to keep their relationship from breaking apart.

  Least Favorite Character(s)/Machine(s): Thunderjaws, Stalker, Glinthawks, Stormbirds, Frost/FireClaws, Rockbreakers, Deathbringers

  Glinthawks/Stormbirds: Flying machines that will spot you from the air, attack you from the air and often follow you for a long distance while you try to escape them. Sure there are ways to bring them down to the ground, but they are still annoying to deal with when they are shooting you with their elemental attacks.

  Frost/FireClaws: These DLC Bear creatures are walking tanks with the offensive capabilities to take you down fast. They take way too much damage (unless on story difficulty) and they will make each fight with them very problematic even with a good strategy. The only good thing is that they are not very common.

  Thunderjaws (Redmaw): These walking artillery machines will destroy you if you are not prepared. They shoot laser, disk guns, and homing shots, swing their tails and charge at you. They are a walking menace and even have the health to make player regret even starting a fight with them. At least you can dislodge some of their weapons to use against them.

  Stalkers: Who thought invisible enemies in a hunting game was a good idea. Sure you can sort of see them, and they lay mines to let players know when one is around, but they are still annoying to deal with. They do not have a lot of health, but having to take down invisible enemies in a video game is never fun.

  Rockbreakers: Let us put an underground enemy that can burrow. Oh god, this was a terrible idea. There are very few around which is good, but having to find locations they can not reach so that you can take one down from afar is not easy. They can burrow through most ground and will gladly come up from under you if you are not paying attention.

  Deathbringers: Walking tanks. A machine with quite a lot of health and almost every possible weapon you could throw onto it. They may be slow and overheat because of all their firepower, but these are not a machine you want to fight if possible. Luckily there are very few of them around to deal with.

  Favorite Moment(s): Final Mission, Frozen Wild Animal Figures, Frozen Wilds Dam Machine, Repelling/Rope Sliding, Tallnecks

  Final Mission: This is probably one of the best missions in the game. If you do all the ally missions you get quite a lot of help from friends and some of them provide you with weapons and tools that you can use to take down the onslaught of enemies that come at you. I really enjoyed the weapon you get from Petra for taking down the machines that try to break the defenses.

  Frozen Wild Missions: This DLC was actually really hard and had some miserable moments in it. However there were a few missions that I really enjoyed. You get to gather animal statues that you can trade into a Banuk researcher who is fascinated by them. When you finish the whole collection you can learn about each animal and the scene is very enjoyable to watch. There is also a mission with a Dam that you need to drain water from. You meet a hyperactive explorer named Gildun who found an item he wants and ended up flooding the dam when he tried to get the item. As you drain the water, you learn more about this explorer and see some interesting moments with his character.

  Rappelling/Rope Slide: There are locations as you explore that will have ropes or rappel spots that you can use to explore more or get down to the ground from higher locations. These moments are very enjoyable especially the longer ones. They give you a real sense of just having fun.

  Tallnecks: I already commented on these above. They are very enjoyable to play around with. I wish there were more:

  Least Favorite Moment(s): All the Machines listed in the least favorite character section, Hunting Grounds

  Machines: I listed machines above in the least favorite section. These machines are annoying to deal with and they kind of make the game not as enjoyable. Sure they add some challenge to the game, but I always tried to avoid them unless I had to fight.

  Hunting Grounds: I found out late that you could change the difficulty to make these easier, but I did all but the Frozen Wilds on my chosen difficulty (Normal). These were kind of hard and a little annoying. They do help you learn what machines are weak to and how to possibly take them down, but they were also still hard since you were being timed. I did enjoy the stealth one though, but the others kind of aggravated me a bit too much.

  Favorite Local(s): Forest Areas

  I have always enjoyed forest areas in game. This could be due to me living in one and not being much of a city person, but I do like the greenery. They did a very good job with the detail and the environment for these areas.

  Least Favorite Local(s): Desert

  I think this is due to that sudden change in difficulty and where you start to encounter the flying machines that want to hunt you down. This area was annoying to play through, but it did provide some changes to the landscape and what the players were looking at.

  Award: Best Post-Apocalyptic Open World Game