Tents and Trees
28/02/23 15:46
I am a huge sucker for logic puzzle games. I've spent an unhealthy amount of time in my life playing various forms of sudoku, picross, nurikabe, kenken, and any other type of puzzle I can get my hand on.
So I was very excited when Frozax Games reached out and offered me a copy of Tents & Trees for the Nintendo Switch.
Thankfully, I am already familiar with the format of Tents puzzles, so I felt comfortable quite quickly with this set.
Here, puzzles are presented arranged in packs, from 5x5 all the way up to 14x14, most of which have separate packs for Easy, Hard, and "Missing Numbers."
Initially, only 510 puzzles are presented. Although there is an achievement for solving 1000 puzzles, so I the Daily Packs are where additional puzzles will come into play. I say "only", even though even the initial 500 will keep you occupied for many hours.
After solving 25 puzzles, you unlock the "Hard" puzzles. After 50, you unlock the Daily puzzles. After 75, you unlock the Missing Numbers puzzles. And then finally, after 100 puzzles you unlock the 11x11 and larger puzzles.
As mentioned, there are various "achievements" you can earn. These have no special purpose other than potentially for tracking your progress, and bragging rights.
At 200, 300, and 400 puzzles solved, you can unlock different themes to change the colors of the puzzles.
That being said, the default theme is perfectly adequate. All the icons are made out of voxels, which lends a cute aesthetic to the game. There's even a little spray of voxels when you finish a puzzle!
All-in-all, this is a very solid presentation of a well-known puzzle type. I look forward to jumping back in to solve some more puzzles.
"Tents & Trees" from Frozak games is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. A free-to-play version is available on iOS and Android. https://www.frozax.com/games/tents-and-trees
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://keymailer.co
So I was very excited when Frozax Games reached out and offered me a copy of Tents & Trees for the Nintendo Switch.
Thankfully, I am already familiar with the format of Tents puzzles, so I felt comfortable quite quickly with this set.
Here, puzzles are presented arranged in packs, from 5x5 all the way up to 14x14, most of which have separate packs for Easy, Hard, and "Missing Numbers."
Initially, only 510 puzzles are presented. Although there is an achievement for solving 1000 puzzles, so I the Daily Packs are where additional puzzles will come into play. I say "only", even though even the initial 500 will keep you occupied for many hours.
After solving 25 puzzles, you unlock the "Hard" puzzles. After 50, you unlock the Daily puzzles. After 75, you unlock the Missing Numbers puzzles. And then finally, after 100 puzzles you unlock the 11x11 and larger puzzles.
As mentioned, there are various "achievements" you can earn. These have no special purpose other than potentially for tracking your progress, and bragging rights.
At 200, 300, and 400 puzzles solved, you can unlock different themes to change the colors of the puzzles.
That being said, the default theme is perfectly adequate. All the icons are made out of voxels, which lends a cute aesthetic to the game. There's even a little spray of voxels when you finish a puzzle!
All-in-all, this is a very solid presentation of a well-known puzzle type. I look forward to jumping back in to solve some more puzzles.
"Tents & Trees" from Frozak games is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. A free-to-play version is available on iOS and Android. https://www.frozax.com/games/tents-and-trees
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://keymailer.co
2022 in Review
17/02/23 11:32
Man how time flies! It is time for my 2022 Games in Review list. (Even though I didn't really make one for 2020 or 2021. However, I did let AI write one for me. So enjoy those if you see them.)
In 2022,I probably spent less time gaming than most years. But I did enjoy a few games quite a bit.
1) Pokemon Legends: Acreus
I was very lucky that my girlfriend surprised me with a copy of Pokemon Legends: Acreus. I hadn't totally planned on playing it, since I was unsure how the Pokemon style would work in an open world format. I'm glad that I was surprised! The game is really fun, and it is pretty cool being able to see the Pokemon world from a different perspective.
They later went on to make Pokemon Violet/Scarlet also in the open world format. I have not played either of those yet, but from what I've heard, they did not quite capture the magic that was found in Acreus.
I still have more to play of Arceus, so I look forward to what is next there.
("I still have more to play" will be a recurring theme in this post.)
2) Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Sunbreak is the big expansion for Monster Hunter Rise. And even though it came out last year, it is still receiving frequent massive free updates, with more planned all 2023.
I've been fascinated with the Monster Hunter franchise since playing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS and Wii. At the time, I loved how huge everything felt, and the concept of going on little quests to take down huge monsters, and collecting parts which can then be used to create better gear and weapons. I also liked the idea of being able to transfer game progress between the 3DS and Wii.
While I didn't end up playing as much as I would have liked at the time, I still eagerly picked up Monster Hunter 4, Monster Hunter World, and then finally Monster Hunter Rise when they were all released.
Rise may be the first Monster Hunter game that I'll finally fully sink my teeth into, especially since now the game is available on a portable system, as well as on a desktop pc, so I can play whenever is most convenient for me.
3) Kirby and the Forgotten Land
This is another game that my girlfriend picked up for me. I've always liked the non-traditional Kirby games, and having a Kirby game that gives you a ton of freedom to play and explore, is really quite perfect. I also appreciate that it is easy to play in co-op mode, so me and Ellie can chill and play the game together.
4) Stray
I had been fascinated by Stray since I first saw it announced. So I'm happy it finally was released. However, my personal enthusiasm for playing it may have waned, I was very pleased that Ellie was able to play through and enjoy the game. She seemed to enjoy it a lot. And then when one of our favorite Twitch streamers started playing it, it was another thing for us to bond over. So this game gets a plus from me.
5) IMMORTALITY
The latest game from Sam Barlow. I absolutely loved the investigative nature of Her Story, where you slowly discover video clips to mentally piece together the story of what's happening.
While IMMORTALITY doesn't quite capture the same spark in my opinion, I do appreciate just how LARGE a scale that IMMORTALITY attempts to take the concept to. You are essentially piecing together 3 full-length movies, plus behind-the-scenes snippets. And then what other mysteries lay underneath.
Definitely a game that I need to spend more time with, since there's just such a large amount of video to hunt through.
6) Saints Row
I liked some of the latest Saints Row games. They don't take themselves too seriously, while still giving you a solid freeroam open world city to tackle. I was somewhat disappointed that this new one was basically a reboot rather than a sequel. It took me a bit to get into, but when I finally did, I found myself enjoying it a lot.
However, since I bought the game on Stadia, and Stadia has since shut down, I no longer am able to play the game. And it will probably be a while before it comes to Steam. But I'll probably buy it on Steam when it is on Sale.
7) Harvestella
I picked up Rune Factory 4 on the 3DS fairly late in the 3DS' lifecycle. I had really enjoyed games like Fantasy Life and Ever Oasis, and was looking for another similar game to sink my teeth into, and Rune Factory kept popping up as a suggestion. So I checked it out, and found I really really enjoyed it!
Luck would have it, that soon after I really started getting into it, they announced a port of Rune Factory 4 would be released on the Switch. So I kind of stopped playing to wait for the Switch version. (And then eventually they released the game on Steam as well)
Fast forward, and Rune Factory 5 came out, to mixed review. And while I still have plenty of RF4 to play, I was interested in a 3D Rune Factory type game. So then Square Enix announces Harvestella.
It took a bit before I started playing, but I soon found that yes, Harvestella does well to scratch some of that Rune Factory etc itch.
Which, considering they've announced a new Rune Factory game is in development, as well as a new Fantasy Life game, I am quite satisfied in crafting/adventure games.
In 2022,I probably spent less time gaming than most years. But I did enjoy a few games quite a bit.
1) Pokemon Legends: Acreus
I was very lucky that my girlfriend surprised me with a copy of Pokemon Legends: Acreus. I hadn't totally planned on playing it, since I was unsure how the Pokemon style would work in an open world format. I'm glad that I was surprised! The game is really fun, and it is pretty cool being able to see the Pokemon world from a different perspective.
They later went on to make Pokemon Violet/Scarlet also in the open world format. I have not played either of those yet, but from what I've heard, they did not quite capture the magic that was found in Acreus.
I still have more to play of Arceus, so I look forward to what is next there.
("I still have more to play" will be a recurring theme in this post.)
2) Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Sunbreak is the big expansion for Monster Hunter Rise. And even though it came out last year, it is still receiving frequent massive free updates, with more planned all 2023.
I've been fascinated with the Monster Hunter franchise since playing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS and Wii. At the time, I loved how huge everything felt, and the concept of going on little quests to take down huge monsters, and collecting parts which can then be used to create better gear and weapons. I also liked the idea of being able to transfer game progress between the 3DS and Wii.
While I didn't end up playing as much as I would have liked at the time, I still eagerly picked up Monster Hunter 4, Monster Hunter World, and then finally Monster Hunter Rise when they were all released.
Rise may be the first Monster Hunter game that I'll finally fully sink my teeth into, especially since now the game is available on a portable system, as well as on a desktop pc, so I can play whenever is most convenient for me.
3) Kirby and the Forgotten Land
This is another game that my girlfriend picked up for me. I've always liked the non-traditional Kirby games, and having a Kirby game that gives you a ton of freedom to play and explore, is really quite perfect. I also appreciate that it is easy to play in co-op mode, so me and Ellie can chill and play the game together.
4) Stray
I had been fascinated by Stray since I first saw it announced. So I'm happy it finally was released. However, my personal enthusiasm for playing it may have waned, I was very pleased that Ellie was able to play through and enjoy the game. She seemed to enjoy it a lot. And then when one of our favorite Twitch streamers started playing it, it was another thing for us to bond over. So this game gets a plus from me.
5) IMMORTALITY
The latest game from Sam Barlow. I absolutely loved the investigative nature of Her Story, where you slowly discover video clips to mentally piece together the story of what's happening.
While IMMORTALITY doesn't quite capture the same spark in my opinion, I do appreciate just how LARGE a scale that IMMORTALITY attempts to take the concept to. You are essentially piecing together 3 full-length movies, plus behind-the-scenes snippets. And then what other mysteries lay underneath.
Definitely a game that I need to spend more time with, since there's just such a large amount of video to hunt through.
6) Saints Row
I liked some of the latest Saints Row games. They don't take themselves too seriously, while still giving you a solid freeroam open world city to tackle. I was somewhat disappointed that this new one was basically a reboot rather than a sequel. It took me a bit to get into, but when I finally did, I found myself enjoying it a lot.
However, since I bought the game on Stadia, and Stadia has since shut down, I no longer am able to play the game. And it will probably be a while before it comes to Steam. But I'll probably buy it on Steam when it is on Sale.
7) Harvestella
I picked up Rune Factory 4 on the 3DS fairly late in the 3DS' lifecycle. I had really enjoyed games like Fantasy Life and Ever Oasis, and was looking for another similar game to sink my teeth into, and Rune Factory kept popping up as a suggestion. So I checked it out, and found I really really enjoyed it!
Luck would have it, that soon after I really started getting into it, they announced a port of Rune Factory 4 would be released on the Switch. So I kind of stopped playing to wait for the Switch version. (And then eventually they released the game on Steam as well)
Fast forward, and Rune Factory 5 came out, to mixed review. And while I still have plenty of RF4 to play, I was interested in a 3D Rune Factory type game. So then Square Enix announces Harvestella.
It took a bit before I started playing, but I soon found that yes, Harvestella does well to scratch some of that Rune Factory etc itch.
Which, considering they've announced a new Rune Factory game is in development, as well as a new Fantasy Life game, I am quite satisfied in crafting/adventure games.
2021 in Review
01/01/22 11:30
2021 saw the release of many exciting games, both new titles and long-awaited sequels.
One of the biggest releases of the year was Resident Evil Village, the eighth main installment in the Resident Evil series. This survival horror game was well-received by both critics and fans, with praise for its tense atmosphere, engaging story, and terrifying enemies. Players take on the role of Ethan Winters as he navigates a mysterious village filled with monstrous creatures and deadly traps.
Another highly anticipated game was Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a PlayStation 5 exclusive title that received universal acclaim. This action-platformer features the beloved duo of Ratchet and Clank as they travel through different dimensions, facing off against various enemies and solving puzzles along the way. The game boasts stunning visuals and fast-paced gameplay that make it a joy to play.
Deathloop was also a notable release, a first-person shooter game with a time loop mechanic. Players take on the role of Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop on the mysterious island of Blackreef. The game received critical acclaim for its engaging gameplay, stylish visuals, and intriguing story.
For fans of open-world games, there was the release of Far Cry 6, the latest installment in the Far Cry franchise. Players take on the role of Dani Rojas, a guerrilla fighter trying to liberate the island nation of Yara from the brutal regime of dictator Antón Castillo. The game features the series' trademark mix of gunplay, exploration, and crafting, and was praised for its rich world-building and compelling story.
Psychonauts 2 was another long-awaited sequel that finally saw the light of day in 2021. This platformer game follows the adventures of Razputin Aquato, a young psychic who explores the minds of various characters to uncover a sinister conspiracy. The game features imaginative level design, clever writing, and a charming cast of characters that make it a delight to play.
Other notable releases of 2021 include It Takes Two, a cooperative platformer that explores the complexities of relationships; Returnal, a roguelike shooter set on a hostile alien planet; and Death's Door, an action-adventure game that puts players in the role of a crow tasked with reaping souls.
Overall, 2021 was a great year for gaming, with a diverse range of titles that offered something for everyone. With the continued growth of the industry, it's exciting to think about what new experiences and innovations we can expect in the years to come.
One of the biggest releases of the year was Resident Evil Village, the eighth main installment in the Resident Evil series. This survival horror game was well-received by both critics and fans, with praise for its tense atmosphere, engaging story, and terrifying enemies. Players take on the role of Ethan Winters as he navigates a mysterious village filled with monstrous creatures and deadly traps.
Another highly anticipated game was Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a PlayStation 5 exclusive title that received universal acclaim. This action-platformer features the beloved duo of Ratchet and Clank as they travel through different dimensions, facing off against various enemies and solving puzzles along the way. The game boasts stunning visuals and fast-paced gameplay that make it a joy to play.
Deathloop was also a notable release, a first-person shooter game with a time loop mechanic. Players take on the role of Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop on the mysterious island of Blackreef. The game received critical acclaim for its engaging gameplay, stylish visuals, and intriguing story.
For fans of open-world games, there was the release of Far Cry 6, the latest installment in the Far Cry franchise. Players take on the role of Dani Rojas, a guerrilla fighter trying to liberate the island nation of Yara from the brutal regime of dictator Antón Castillo. The game features the series' trademark mix of gunplay, exploration, and crafting, and was praised for its rich world-building and compelling story.
Psychonauts 2 was another long-awaited sequel that finally saw the light of day in 2021. This platformer game follows the adventures of Razputin Aquato, a young psychic who explores the minds of various characters to uncover a sinister conspiracy. The game features imaginative level design, clever writing, and a charming cast of characters that make it a delight to play.
Other notable releases of 2021 include It Takes Two, a cooperative platformer that explores the complexities of relationships; Returnal, a roguelike shooter set on a hostile alien planet; and Death's Door, an action-adventure game that puts players in the role of a crow tasked with reaping souls.
Overall, 2021 was a great year for gaming, with a diverse range of titles that offered something for everyone. With the continued growth of the industry, it's exciting to think about what new experiences and innovations we can expect in the years to come.
2020 in Review
17/04/21 11:29
As we step into a new year, let's take a moment to reflect on the games that graced us with their presence in 2020. From highly anticipated sequels to surprise indie hits, there was no shortage of great games to play.
One of the standout titles of 2020 was The Last of Us Part II. This highly anticipated sequel took players on an emotional journey through a post-apocalyptic world. The game's story was praised for its mature themes and complex characters, and the gameplay was lauded for its tight mechanics and visceral combat.
Another game that received critical acclaim in 2020 was Hades. This indie title from Supergiant Games was a rogue-like dungeon crawler with a Greek mythology twist. Players took on the role of Zagreus, the prince of the underworld, as he fought his way out of the depths of Hades. Hades was praised for its tight gameplay, gorgeous art style, and compelling story.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a game that couldn't have come at a better time. With many people stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Animal Crossing provided a much-needed escape to a tropical island paradise. Players were able to customize their own homes, build a community with other villagers, and explore a vast world filled with surprises.
Doom Eternal was another highly anticipated sequel that delivered on all fronts. The game's fast-paced, demon-slaying action was taken to new heights with the addition of new weapons, abilities, and enemies. Doom Eternal was a non-stop adrenaline rush that kept players on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Half-Life: Alyx was a game that many fans of the Half-Life series had been waiting for. This virtual reality title put players in the shoes of Alyx Vance as she fought to save humanity from the Combine. Half-Life: Alyx was praised for its innovative use of VR technology, and it was considered by many to be one of the best VR games of all time.
Ghost of Tsushima was a beautiful and immersive open-world game set in feudal Japan. Players took on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai who fought to liberate his home from the Mongol invaders. The game's stunning visuals, compelling story, and satisfying combat made it one of the standout titles of 2020.
Ghost of Tsushima was actually my favorite game of the year. The world absolutely pulled me in, and I spent many many hours seeing what awaited me on the outside edges of the map.
Other notable games that released in 2020 include Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Among Us. It was a great year for gaming, and we can't wait to see what 2021 has in store.
One of the standout titles of 2020 was The Last of Us Part II. This highly anticipated sequel took players on an emotional journey through a post-apocalyptic world. The game's story was praised for its mature themes and complex characters, and the gameplay was lauded for its tight mechanics and visceral combat.
Another game that received critical acclaim in 2020 was Hades. This indie title from Supergiant Games was a rogue-like dungeon crawler with a Greek mythology twist. Players took on the role of Zagreus, the prince of the underworld, as he fought his way out of the depths of Hades. Hades was praised for its tight gameplay, gorgeous art style, and compelling story.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a game that couldn't have come at a better time. With many people stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Animal Crossing provided a much-needed escape to a tropical island paradise. Players were able to customize their own homes, build a community with other villagers, and explore a vast world filled with surprises.
Doom Eternal was another highly anticipated sequel that delivered on all fronts. The game's fast-paced, demon-slaying action was taken to new heights with the addition of new weapons, abilities, and enemies. Doom Eternal was a non-stop adrenaline rush that kept players on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Half-Life: Alyx was a game that many fans of the Half-Life series had been waiting for. This virtual reality title put players in the shoes of Alyx Vance as she fought to save humanity from the Combine. Half-Life: Alyx was praised for its innovative use of VR technology, and it was considered by many to be one of the best VR games of all time.
Ghost of Tsushima was a beautiful and immersive open-world game set in feudal Japan. Players took on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai who fought to liberate his home from the Mongol invaders. The game's stunning visuals, compelling story, and satisfying combat made it one of the standout titles of 2020.
Ghost of Tsushima was actually my favorite game of the year. The world absolutely pulled me in, and I spent many many hours seeing what awaited me on the outside edges of the map.
Other notable games that released in 2020 include Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Among Us. It was a great year for gaming, and we can't wait to see what 2021 has in store.
2019 in Review
13/03/21 12:51
2019 in Review
I'm always excited for new and interesting games. 2019 was no exception.
2019 saw the surprise release of a RAGE 2, which was the sequel to one of my favorite games, RAGE.
The original RAGE was a strange, buggy oddity. When I finally was able to get it to work, I quickly found it fun. A post-apocalyptic world, with a healthy dose of humor spread throughout, reminded me of the original Fallout games. So I felt at home.
So there being a sequel coming out, and being developed by one of my favorite developers, Avalanche? Sounds great to me! The finished product ended up feeling a bit like Avalanche's Mad Max game, which was fantastic. But then splattered with a ton of color and humor. So why does it feel kinda lacking? I intend to get back into it eventually, since it is still a solid open world game.
Satisfactory has consumed so much of my time, it is unbelievable. A huge environment to explore and exploit the resources, to build machines to make parts that help make more machines to make more parts. And they've been releasing new updates with more and more stuff to do, that I'm sure I'll be spending much more time in this game in the future as well.
Generation Zero was another game I was curious about leading up to its release. A new game from the team behind Just Cause, what could go wrong? A big open world game with robots and crafting. Unfortunately, Generation Zero released in a bit of a rough state. Even though it was supposedly made by a different team, I can't help but suspect that Avalanche bit off more than they could chew trying to release two big games in the same year. Luckily, they are still releasing new updates to the game, and improving every aspect of it. So I look forward to giving it another try sometime soon.
Forager is another game that scratches my "idle/incremental" itch. Although it's a game that you end up being much much more active in. It starts out slow, but after a few hours, you have machines constantly cranking out items, and assistants helping you collect things. There's so much to do and explore in this game, and with new updates still coming out, I look forward to more time with Forager.
Superliminal was a game I was really excited for coming out. I had followed the development for years. A puzzle game entirely based on perspective and size? What could go wrong?
Unfortunately, what could go wrong is them trying to force an awkward story into the game, which really just brought down the entire thing. Not to mention that some puzzles were so obtuse that it was more frustrating than fun. Oh well. Seems many people ended up really liking it, so good for them.
I spent hundreds of hours playing Borderlands 2, so when a new Borderlands game was coming out, I was pretty excited. However, sometimes you try playing a game and just can't "get into it". That was the case for Borderlands 3. It wasn't until sometime in 2020, I think, where I was playing it with my friend, and we were able to get through the whole game, and most of the DLC stories. It was definitely more fun being able to play with a friend, but I think I've now had my fill of the Borderlands franchise, and won't be too eager for any future games. But that may just be me.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood was a surprisingly great game. Definitely one of those games that a lot of the enjoyment comes from playing with a friend. Jess and Soph make for a fantastic team, and the fun way they interact with each other in between levels helps bring you into the mood of the game. And it's also very satisfying to be able to just kill some bad guys. Perfect stress reliever for 2019, don't you think?
Telling Lies was the long-awaited next game from Sam Barlow. The "keyword search" system, where you basically mentally piece together parts of the story based on a limited amount of information. And furthermore, you're only seeing one side of a conversation at any time. By the end of the game, you've learned about this complex web of spies and lies. It's a pretty solid experience. I look forward to Mr. Barlow's next game.
Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan was an interesting and unique co-op game, that was more like an interactive movie. Definitely worth playing with a friend, where both people are controlling part of the story separately, and then you can see at the end how the two parts impact each other.
A few honorable mentions, Untiled Goose Game, Baba Is You, and Pikuniku. Fantastic indie puzzle games.
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Pokemon Shield, and Luigi's Mansion 3 are all games that I've played a fair amount of, and I can see they're great games, but I haven't gotten around to fully giving them the time they deserve. So I look forward to spending some more time with them eventually, and maybe give them a proper full view.
I've kind of saved the best for last. Dragon Quest Builders 2, and Dragon Quest XI. Two games in the Dragon Quest franchise, both vastly different, but still drenched with the charm that one would expect from Dragon Quest. These games are highly recommended by me, and I intend to give them a separate post to themselves.
So that's kind of a condensed review, but not really a review, of the majority of the games I played in 2019.
Onward to 2020!
I'm always excited for new and interesting games. 2019 was no exception.
2019 saw the surprise release of a RAGE 2, which was the sequel to one of my favorite games, RAGE.
The original RAGE was a strange, buggy oddity. When I finally was able to get it to work, I quickly found it fun. A post-apocalyptic world, with a healthy dose of humor spread throughout, reminded me of the original Fallout games. So I felt at home.
So there being a sequel coming out, and being developed by one of my favorite developers, Avalanche? Sounds great to me! The finished product ended up feeling a bit like Avalanche's Mad Max game, which was fantastic. But then splattered with a ton of color and humor. So why does it feel kinda lacking? I intend to get back into it eventually, since it is still a solid open world game.
Satisfactory has consumed so much of my time, it is unbelievable. A huge environment to explore and exploit the resources, to build machines to make parts that help make more machines to make more parts. And they've been releasing new updates with more and more stuff to do, that I'm sure I'll be spending much more time in this game in the future as well.
Generation Zero was another game I was curious about leading up to its release. A new game from the team behind Just Cause, what could go wrong? A big open world game with robots and crafting. Unfortunately, Generation Zero released in a bit of a rough state. Even though it was supposedly made by a different team, I can't help but suspect that Avalanche bit off more than they could chew trying to release two big games in the same year. Luckily, they are still releasing new updates to the game, and improving every aspect of it. So I look forward to giving it another try sometime soon.
Forager is another game that scratches my "idle/incremental" itch. Although it's a game that you end up being much much more active in. It starts out slow, but after a few hours, you have machines constantly cranking out items, and assistants helping you collect things. There's so much to do and explore in this game, and with new updates still coming out, I look forward to more time with Forager.
Superliminal was a game I was really excited for coming out. I had followed the development for years. A puzzle game entirely based on perspective and size? What could go wrong?
Unfortunately, what could go wrong is them trying to force an awkward story into the game, which really just brought down the entire thing. Not to mention that some puzzles were so obtuse that it was more frustrating than fun. Oh well. Seems many people ended up really liking it, so good for them.
I spent hundreds of hours playing Borderlands 2, so when a new Borderlands game was coming out, I was pretty excited. However, sometimes you try playing a game and just can't "get into it". That was the case for Borderlands 3. It wasn't until sometime in 2020, I think, where I was playing it with my friend, and we were able to get through the whole game, and most of the DLC stories. It was definitely more fun being able to play with a friend, but I think I've now had my fill of the Borderlands franchise, and won't be too eager for any future games. But that may just be me.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood was a surprisingly great game. Definitely one of those games that a lot of the enjoyment comes from playing with a friend. Jess and Soph make for a fantastic team, and the fun way they interact with each other in between levels helps bring you into the mood of the game. And it's also very satisfying to be able to just kill some bad guys. Perfect stress reliever for 2019, don't you think?
Telling Lies was the long-awaited next game from Sam Barlow. The "keyword search" system, where you basically mentally piece together parts of the story based on a limited amount of information. And furthermore, you're only seeing one side of a conversation at any time. By the end of the game, you've learned about this complex web of spies and lies. It's a pretty solid experience. I look forward to Mr. Barlow's next game.
Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan was an interesting and unique co-op game, that was more like an interactive movie. Definitely worth playing with a friend, where both people are controlling part of the story separately, and then you can see at the end how the two parts impact each other.
A few honorable mentions, Untiled Goose Game, Baba Is You, and Pikuniku. Fantastic indie puzzle games.
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Pokemon Shield, and Luigi's Mansion 3 are all games that I've played a fair amount of, and I can see they're great games, but I haven't gotten around to fully giving them the time they deserve. So I look forward to spending some more time with them eventually, and maybe give them a proper full view.
I've kind of saved the best for last. Dragon Quest Builders 2, and Dragon Quest XI. Two games in the Dragon Quest franchise, both vastly different, but still drenched with the charm that one would expect from Dragon Quest. These games are highly recommended by me, and I intend to give them a separate post to themselves.
So that's kind of a condensed review, but not really a review, of the majority of the games I played in 2019.
Onward to 2020!