It's that time of year apparently. We've been playing so many games that have been coming out at such a rate lately it's nigh impossible to keep track of everything. Anyway here's the list.
*deep inhale*
Okay.....so this generation of Pokemon even more than previous generations feels like the "sports game on a new console that's stripped of features in order to re-add them again" of Pokemon games. The Pokedex cut was a bold move and I both applaud and abhor GameFreak for doing so. Now, I get what you're thinking, "there's too many Pokemon you idiot!" and you're right. Prior to Sword and Shield there were already 809 Pokemon but the interesting thing about the 800+ Pokemon is every single Pokemon is SOMEONE's favorite Pokemon. Anyway with the expected Dex rant out of the way let's get into the real trenches. A litany of attacks have been removed (for better or worse). The removal of Mega Evolution in terms of the handful of Pokemon that did genuinely benefit from it is confusing. I don't mind removing Z-Moves since those were peak Pokemon gimmick......before Dynamax that is. Dynamax somehow manages to combine Mega Evo and Z-Move yet somehow be worse than both.
Now for the positives:
The new player on-boarding is the BEST it has ever been. Competitive play training is simpler and smoother than it's ever been. Max Raid Battles can be tedious but they are more often fun than not. Some of the new characters like Marley and the cast of Gym Leaders are some really nice additions. The new Galarian Formes, like the Alolan Formes, do help breath fresh life into some Pokemon and the overall idea really helps make these regions seem vast and varying. Finally seeing a "true" Pokemon game on home console is something we've always wanted. For better or worse, Sword and Shield seems to satisfy that feeling. The Wild Area is a wonderful edition that gives you a small taste of what an open world Pokemon game could be if ever on the agenda.
For every 1000 complaints someone like me might write up about these games, there's even more reasons to say why new and old fans of the series should pick this one up. Plus since everyone and their grandma has a Switch, chances are you're already exploring the Galar Region.
Also, Sobble Squad 4 lyfe.
Well they made a fourth Borderlands, but wait here me out.
We live in a video game landscape that's beginning to be riddled with the next shlooter always trying to be the new hot loot game and it is simultaneously refreshing, reassuring, and even frightening that a FOURTH Borderlands somehow manages to still be at least more fun than said loot shooters.
Now the Destinys and Divisions of the world have been adding on to the loot grind in terms of player interactions and live service updates with Destiny 2 specifically being the best in terms of pure gameplay.
Every single loot game completely relies on its playerbase being willing to do the same content and gameplay loops over and over, but in terms of our favorite grindfest timesinks, Borderlands 3 manages to have the sense of charm and satisfaction that seems to be missing from -insert live service loot shooter here-.
The Outer Worlds does a good job of recapturing the "magic" of the type of rpg it's trying to be and ultimately ends up being. It's a wonderful reminder of "hey, remember this, this is still good!". But with all my time with this game, I can't help but feel it's still missing something.
It might be that the ideas within this game are bigger than the scope of the actual game itself. Now granted budgets and time probably only allow a certain spectrum of things depending on the situation, but when you play The Outer Worlds you know the ideas within this game can be further expanded on in let's say a sequel that may or may not be pushed forward by a specific pillar of the gaming industry. The character builds combined with the interactions and relationship building between your allies and enemies really makes this 10-30 hour story worth at least one playthrough. Yeah, there's not too much to say because this game might be the most honest game I've played this year. It told you what it is and you got exactly that. Also Parvati is the best new character of 2019.
Speaking of honest video games. This remake/remaster of Link's Awakening is exactly that. It's a perfectly adorable reimagining of the original Link's Awakening that is either loved or hated depending on who you ask. After the vast transition that was Breath of the Wild, it was actually pretty nice going back to the traditional Zelda formula. This is a charming and perfect length experience for someone wanting to replay it through a new look or for newcomers all around. The dungeon maker thing is not that great and is totally inconsequential to the overall experience, but it's nice to see them at least experimenting with things. Performance can get a bit questionable in spots but for me it was never game breaking. I did the thing with the instruments and balladed the wind fish it was a good time.
Well you heard me just say questionable performance. The shaky performance of this game is the sole reason it's not higher up on my list. Even on the One X and PC this game can chug and chug and chug. It's a shame too because the combat is really fun and engaging and the story really kept pulling me in more and more. I really wish this game got the extra time it so obviously needed but the team has been vigilant with updates and patches so eventually this game can hopefully be the awesome lightsaber driven action game they envisioned. It isn't doing anything groundbreaking and it can be more Souls than Star Wars, but for what it is it's a perfectly serviceable and enjoyable Star Wars action game.
Yeah that's right I'm one of the insane people that really enjoys this game.
Death Stranding does something that is very uncommon in video games. Death Stranding asks you to gratify other players instead of yourself. The world building in this game is a seemingly continual community endeavor of facing hardship and harsh travels just so other players after you don't have to endure the same fate. Finding my way up some ridiculous mountain or past some tedious terrain and placing structures that makes the same journeys easier and faster for the next person never stopped being satisfying. Working together with complete strangers to build roadways and zip-line circuits or entrusting your vehicles and deliveries to said strangers and then seeing it all work out rewards you as a person with feelings of accomplishment that no amount of in game reward could fulfill. The "like" aspect of this game is the perfect way to always remind you that yes, that rope was important, that ladder was a good call, XxPorter_Boy88xX really appreciated that Timefall Shelter.
Sure at face value it is extremely easy to criticize every single aspect of this game. The combat isn't great and the game would be better off not having it at all. The controls can get wonky. The story can completely go all over the goddamn place. But no matter how you feel or how the game makes you feel, one thing this game does is push you forward. It pushes you forward throughout the various maps. It pushes you forward whether by foot or vehicle. It even pushes you past the confusing and extremely layered story and looking back at everything, it was a really special and fulfilling experience that I can't recommend to anyone else because it was MY experience.
This game fucking rules. Like good lord I never stopped having fun playing this. This is an easier experience overall in terms of the usual PlatinumGames endeavor, but it never stops being fun. The shared combat gameplay between you and your Legion can feel clunky and even unnecessary at first, but as time goes on and you upgrade and unlock the entire arsenal of Legions it starts to click and it really fucking clicks. Hotswapping between Sword and Beast, and maybe laying in the Axe or the Arrow all the while having an Arm Legion to lend a hand makes for some ridiculously over the top gameplay.
This game is a tad longer than its predecessors and tends to be more story based than expected. I finished this in about 26 hours compared to the 8-10 hours of Bayonetta 1 and 2 for example. Even the random miscellaneous things like cleaning up litter or delivering ice cream cones were off the cuff just enough to keep me giggling.
The investigation moments of this game can be tedious at times but they always at least lead you to something worth the effort. Being a wacky future supercop in control of an army of robot partners does not pull any punches on letting you know what it is. There is even a story cutscene in this game that for 5 minutes turns into some insane Akira Toriyama meets Hideo Kojima nonsense and then somehow manages to bring itself back to level ground.
This game is a good time and if you have a Switch you should really check it out.
Putting Mario Maker on a Nintendo console people actually own is a fantastic idea. Sure, there's nothing about this sequel that is truly new and refreshing, but making Mario is still pretty good especially now that you can take it wherever you want. (No that 3DS monstrosity doesn't count). Building normal Mario levels or over the top Ryckert asshole levels are both rewarding in their own ways. Even if you don't like creating levels other people do so you have a pretty much infinite pool of levels to play in varying Mario gameplay styles. It's a shame this game doesn't come with a stylus but those are easy to get if you don't already have one. Personally I use the pro controller because after a few hours playing that way, I eventually decided to never use the touch screen at all. I'd like to think I'm faster with the controller than the touch screen by now but that's just me. Not much else to say here, like The Outer Worlds this game is completely honest about what it is.
Other than Elder Scrolls Online, this game might be my most played game this year. I've enjoyed every minute of helping my students become the best versions of themselves that they can be. Whether that be combat training, over dinner or tea, or even daring them to follow me into the life and death of war itself, I've enjoyed all of it. I should preface that most of this is going to be from the perspective of leading the Black Eagles as they obviously ended up being my favorite house. Some might even dare say Black Eagles are the ONLY house. Helping Bernadetta come out of her shell proved to be one of the most lengthy and rewarding arcs in the game. Letting Petra know that her language studies and mannerisms have been improving over time or joining Edelgard and Ferdinand over dinner were some random and lovely experiences. Helping Hubert become an all powerful magic wielder and showing Caspar the true might of a warrior were some of my favorite combat moments. Seeing the students' progress firsthand and knowing you played a massive part in their growth is heartwarming.
Probably my favorite experience was helping Edelgard learn to ride a wyvern and become the ultimate house leader. Then came the time where I had to decide if I was with her or against her. I played both sides and enjoyed both versions of the story equally. I'm currently working on the Blue Lions and maybe I'll give the Golden Deer the light of day. But I'll never forget my days teaching the Black Eagles.
OH IT'S BACK LEON, IT'S BACK!
Man the RE engine has allowed for some fantastic releases and this one in particular is my favorite. I'm already impatiently waiting for Resident Evil 3make as I type this. This game somehow captured everything we loved from the original but added some new and fresh on top of it. Pretty boy rookie cop Leon and I had some bloody journeys throughout the police station. Spunky and fearless Claire and I helped little Sherry find her way. The visuals of this game can be fantastic to outright stunning. The facial animations can get weird sometimes but it actually lends to the overall camp that is Resident Evil. The puzzles are great, the combat is tense, and Mr. X is never afraid to let you know he's never far behind. This release had the perfect balance of edge of your seat tension, engaging storylines, and violent yet campy zombie action. Resident Evil is back, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon.
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