Jealous! I don't know how many got access either, just that I'm not one of 'em :<
I'm trying not to ingest too much information before I dive in, but I'm glad you had a good time! I did play and enjoy the first game in early access, but even though I am stoked to play the sequel, I think I might actually wait for 1.0 with this one.
Oh, hey! Cool write-up! Congratulations on winning a grip of great games, especially a expensive one like FF7VII Rebirth (though i was not expecting that take, dang!) And bonus points for doing so whilst at work, haha!
I thoroughly dug GTA IV at the time, uncertain how I'd feel if I replayed it now. In theory I've grown increasingly less enthused about Rockstar's open worlds essentially serving as big boxes to plop down linear missions in. Obviously that is overly reductive, but ideally I'd enjoy some more dynamic systems and emergence. I mean not everything needs to be a immersive sim, butβ ...actually maybe they do in fact
Shamefully, I'm so reticent to endure classic turn-based RPG combat that I've not even played Earthbound yet, but man, I should, and I you made me want to check out Mother 3. Blessed be the fan translators!
"I guess where Iβm going with all this is that itβs the heart, not the budget, that matters when making art."
100%! Forcefully tattoo this on every CEO's forehead.
Was not expecting a Battleship Potemkin reference in a feature about the WonderSwan, but that's on me. Did expect at least one Shakespeare reference though.
Dope that you found and finished a genuine hidden ... well, if not gem, exactly, at least some sort of really cool rock. Makes me want to check it out β although I've not finished either of the OG console Klonoas, perhaps I should do that first. (having caught Klonoa the right thing to do is to call and inform any recent partners)
side note: typing out "klonoas" does not feel great. a bit too close to cloacas for comfort. ...ahem.
Ooh, this thing! Tickled you not only ended up finishing, but in fact enjoyed your time with it. I've only seen snippets of the gameβ don't think I fully appreciated exactly how off-kilter it was. Good stuff!
Wonder how this'll stack up against L.O.L and Evolva? Of course, we know they all shall eventually fall before true Darwinist darling, Billy Hatcher.
Fabulous write-up! Sounds like a joyous experience all around.
I don't have a Playdate, but I did actually briefly check out Pulp at one point, and I quite enjoy how, like a more fleshed out bitsy, it contains everything you need. I'm always enthused about tools like these but uuh I never end up making anything. Props and congrats on doing the damn thing and finishing a game!
Excellent & well-researched article! I dig these kind of deep dives. I haven't actually played Daggerfall, but I am, at least, a bit tickled by the idea of that sort of thing. A good option in games where you want to provide a weighty, grounded sort of immersion is having in-world transportation to and from specific points, like the stilt riders and boats of Morrowind. But to be honest when doing "clean-up" at the end of a game I do really appreciate instant fast travel from the map. (Let me unlock this sort of thing towards the end of the adventure, please!)
This is perhaps not the sort of answer you're looking for, but cheekily: the ultimate solution is making traversal so enjoyable you don't even consider fast travel, like in the Spidermans, Sunset Overdrive, Just Cause 3, etc.
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