Monthly Archives: December 2018

Game of the Year [2018]

I don’t know how 2018 managed to do it, but it simultaneously felt like the longest and shortest year of my life. It was tumultuous to say the least, but we made it through and there’s no way things could get any worse, right? But throughout it all we were graced with some pretty phenomenal games to play. Here are what I consider to be the best of the year.

#10 – House Flipper

This is a weird one to kick off the list with, but hell, I played so much of this damn game that I’d be lying if I didn’t put it somewhere on this list. I wrote about the function of games like House Flipper in my life earlier this year, and this was the one that spurred it on. Oddly enough, the reason why I enjoyed House Flipper so much was because of my ability to disengage with it and just play it in the background. Despite it being janky, and a little crashy at times, I really enjoyed the loop of restoring, decorating and selling homes.

There’s something oddly therapeutic about House Flipper and games of its ilk, and that’s mostly why it now is immortalized in my list.

#9 – God of War

So look, I really enjoyed God of War this year, but definitely not as much as a lot of people out there did. Don’t get me wrong, it was a joy to play given the rewarding combat and engaging story, but that was about it for me. I didn’t get hooked by any of the side missions or additional challenges, and I felt a little underwhelmed by some of the enemy encounters. I really got sick of fighting that ogre with the rock, over and over again. But still, God of War is a tremendous game that I enjoyed from start to finish, even if I did just power through the story to get to the very satisfying ending.

#8 – Celeste

For the first few levels of Celeste, I was pretty lukewarm on it. I didn’t hate it or anything, it was just fine. But a few levels in and Celeste started to show a little more of its hand, and hint at what the game was really about. Celeste isn’t just a game about climbing a mountain, it’s about coping and acceptance. The game, very literally, reveals that it is about the main character accepting herself for who she is and utilizing every aspect of herself to continue pushing forward.

That’s when I was on the hook and and really started to feel compelled to press on. Celeste is one of those games that’s so good that any quibbles you might have with it are overshadowed.

#7 – Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is more Hitman 2016 and there isn’t a damn thing wrong with that. I love the new Hitman games and everything they’re bringing to the table. Blending into crowds and bushes are welcome additions to the formula, but overall this is just more of a good thing. I can’t say for certain, but in terms of objectives, map design and just what options are available to you, it feels like the developers are leaning into Hitman being less of a serious game, and more of a comedy sandbox. For that, I’m eternally grateful.

#6 – The Messenger

Holy moly The Messenger caught me off guard this year. When I heard people raving and ranting about this game, I was fully expecting it to be mostly hyperbole. It looked like a pretty neat homage to Ninja Gaiden and the like, but the more I played of it, the more The Messenger made it clear that first impressions are deceiving and that there was something truly special here. The Messenger was a blast to play and honestly, it’s really well written too. There’s also a pretty insane twist in the middle of the game that fundamentally changes everything, and while the change itself isn’t groundbreaking, it was definitely surprising.

In a year of phenomenal platformers and action games, The Messenger is definitely one of the best.

#5 – Dead Cells

Speaking of killer platformer and action games, how about we talk about Dead Cells? Boy howdy is Dead Cells a good game. If there was an award for “Best Feeling Game to Play,” Dead Cells would win it. It’s one of those games that whenever things go bad for you, you’re immediate thought isn’t to blame the game, but rather yourself. Dead Cells will punish you and try to break your spirit, but will leave you feeling so accomplished when you clear a level or beat a boss. Aside from that it’s also got a real good look to it that I appreciate.

My only real gripe is that I’m not a big fan of rogue-like games, and Dead Cells is most certainly one of those. While it wasn’t ever difficult to make it through the first few stages, I did start to feel burnt out on them and just wished for some sort of level skip feature or something. Despite that though, I love the hell out of Dead Cells.

#4 – Yoku’s Island Express

I’ve had a passing interest in pinball at best throughout most of my life, so the concept of a pinball based platformer wasn’t something that I had pictured I’d enjoy as much as I did. But here we are, talking about a game that in addition to having a really unique take on the Metroidvania style of game, is also immensely charming. Within moments of booting up Yoku’s Island Express it managed to win me over.

It’s also an immensely chill game to play. There aren’t really any enemies or fail states, and there never is any real pressure put on you. But what I really appreciated was that the game is tight experience that didn’t take more than a few hours to complete. It never overstayed its welcome, and left me satisfied at the end.

#3 – Dragon Ball Fighter Z

I did not expect to enjoy a fighting game as much as I did, let alone a Dragon Ball Z themed one, but here we are. Dragon Ball Fighter Z was a constant for me throughout the year, being one of my go-to games whenever I was looking to pass some time. I think what I really appreciate is how accessible the game is, and how whether it’s through some visual cue or mechanical one, it always makes you feel as if you’re playing well. The auto combo system is generous and allows new players to feel competitive early on, while also rewarding players for learning actual combinations and moves.

Dragon Ball Fighter Z can be a little hectic though. Sometimes I’ll lose myself in the action and lose track of what’s happening or where I’ve gone, but I think that’s just me admitting that I’m getting old.

#2 – Marvel’s Spider-Man

I really loved Marvel’s Spider-Man this year. Sure it had some problems, like bad stealth sections and bland side activities, but it was still overwhelmingly fun to play. Like a lot of people out there, it was one of the only games in a while I achieved 100% completion in. Normally I don’t try to achievement hunt in games, but I was looking for any reason to play more of the game that I could find.

I fear I’ll sound like a cliche here, but it felt so damn good to swing around as Spider-Man and just make my way through the city. What helped even more was the music that would swell every time you’d pick up momentum. Even the combat, despite being repetitive, felt so good. Something about just launching dudes off buildings and watching their bodies automatically web to the nearest surface was just so satisfying.

Marvel’s Spider-Man is not a perfect game, but I had a hell of a lot of fun with playing it. Also, turning J. Jonah Jameson into an Alex Jones-esque podcast host may have been the best decision ever.

#1 – Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily my favorite game of the year. It’s also ironic that the parts I least enjoyed about it were the parts where you actually played it. It felt like the game had an identity crisis at some point, wavering between being a survival game and an action game, but ultimately being extremely mediocre at both.

But it was everything around the periphery of the core mechanics that really won me over. Aside from a very enjoyable story with some really gut-wrenching moments, the random encounters and side missions were such a pleasure to track down and complete that it was worth fumbling around with the muddy controls to get to.

It’s one of the few game worlds that I enjoy taking my time in and exploring. It’s one of the few games that I just like to boot up and waste time in. Rockstar did something more impressive than make a good game, they made a world worth visiting. A place that is so rich and diverse, that rewards me whenever I decide to spend time in it.

Red Dead Redemption II isn’t a perfect game, in fact, I’d hazard a guess that it’s actually an incredibly polarizing game. But for me, coming into Red Dead Redemption II expecting a rewarding action game isn’t going to get you very far. I found that it was better experienced as a sort of cowboy themed life simulator, where you can just experience life in old west as an incredibly deadly man who also likes to pet dogs and get into bar fights.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Gardens Between

The Garden’s Between is a short puzzle game about two children reliving their memories one last time before one of them moves away. The hook is that you control time, and not the children. You’ll solve puzzles by manipulating the flow of time in ways like changing the order in which they punch in numbers on a giant calculator, or rewinding debris that’s floating in a river to provide a bridge for both of the children who are walking at different paces.

It’s all extremely stylized and has a soothing ambient soundtrack which I was very much a fan of.

Florence

What I liked about Florence the most was how it reveled in the mundanities of daily life, in and out of a relationship. You play as Florence, a girl who is increasingly dissatisfied with her life. She meets a nice young gentlemen and eventually falls in love with him. Through this, you explore their relationship by doing things such as moving some of your stuff off of the shelves to make room for his things. It’s simple yet effective in the message it sends and how it sends it.

The story went some places, and maybe I got a little choked up, but there’s no way of knowing for sure. Regardless, Florence is a delightful little experience that you can play on your phone and finish in about 20 to 30 minutes.

Blog: I’m Into The Spiderverse – 12/26/18

Leave a reply

Hey, this is gonna be a real short one cause it’s the holidays and all, but I did want to shout out Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse real quickly because of how damn awesome it is.

From top to bottom, this Spider-Man movie is arguably one of the best ones that’s existed, paying homage to the best and weirdest parts of the character and his lineage. It’s one of the few times where fan service is done right, rewarding the hardcore Spidey fans with some real deep cuts, while still being fun for new fans as well.

The movie was visually impressive, blending various animation and art styles to represent changes in the story and the characters that were included at that moment. It was downright beautiful. And huge shout out to the soundtrack for being so good at amplifying the mood no matter what was going on. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has what we like to call, style.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for being a hilarious yet emotional film, that highlights a different incarnation of the web-head to the big screen. While Miles Morales isn’t a new character in the history of Spider-Man, he is new to a ton of people who have only seen the movies. That combined with the bevy of other Spider-folks that are involved in the film do a great job of reminding people that Spider-Man is an old character that they’ve done some weird stuff with.

Without spoiling anything, the end credits scene sets up some really exciting possibilities about what’s to come, whether it be more movies or a television series or whatever. Regardless of what they do to follow up Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I really hope they do something, because this was a phenomenal film from tip to toe, and it’d be a shame not to explore the vast possibilities that this movie’s success has unlocked.

Blog: Hey December, Can You Chill? – 12/19/18

Leave a reply

Hey, what the actual fuck is going on? December has been popping off in a way I wasn’t entirely prepared for in regards to game releases. It’s borderline irresponsible how many really good games have come out this month. See, traditionally game releases slow the hell down once Black Friday passes us by, but this year isn’t playing by the rules. Let’s go ahead and take a quick gander at some of things I’m talking about.

Just Cause 4 (12/04/18)

Just Cause 4 came out to a pretty mixed reception, but it’s still worth mentioning. What’s more interesting about this is that Just Cause 3 also pulled this stunt 3 years ago on December 1st.

Ashen (12/06/18

I wrote about Ashen and how updates about it were oddly silent. Turns out, it just wanted to surprise everyone with a surprise launch at The Game Awards this year. While I’ve been pretty excited to play it in the past, I’m finding it hard to get excited about it the more I see of it.

Katamari Damacy Reroll (12/07/18)

Katamari Damacy got a remaster this month, which while it isn’t a new game technically, it’s still a fucking awesome game that is worth playing. It’s definitely one that’s fun to zone out with.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (12/07/18

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the biggest Smash Bros. fan, but it’s still a really novel game in my eyes. There’s something wonderful about getting all of these Nintendo properties fighting each other alongside some other notable characters from across the gaming landscape. There’s something cozy about Smash, that is until you take even the slightest of peeks into the competitive scene. That place is a nightmare.

DayZ (12/13/18

This isn’t a joke. DayZ is a real game and not just the prime example of why early access is a dangerous bet. I have zero interest in playing DayZ nor have I looked up anything about it, but I’m just amazed it exists at all.

GRIS (12/13/18

GRIS does the thing that I like where it looks fucking awesome. I’m a sucker for style and GRIS is oozing with it to an unhealthy degree. While some of the footage I saw about it made the platforming seem a little stiff, I’m still more than willing to give it a shot. It’s a puzzle-platformer too, which is also kind of my jam.

Below (12/14/18

As if DayZ coming out wasn’t enough of a sign of impending apocalypse in 2019, Below actually releasing should definitely tip you off. Like, I had no idea what Below was before it released, and even now that it’s out I’m pretty unclear. I think it’s a rogue-like experience, but I can’t say for certain. I’d say I’m going to give it shot, but I genuinely don’t know if I’ll ever get around to it.

2018 has been an unruly year that just wont end. I’d say that this was it for games, but apparently stealth releases are in vogue this month and maybe tomorrow Half Life 3 will just appear on Steam. Who fucking knows anymore? Knock it off 2018, go to bed already.

Games to Keep an Eye on in 2019

Leave a reply

With 2018 on the out, it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick look at what confirmed 2019 releases I’m interested in, and think you might be as well. Most of these are games I’m genuinely looking forward to, and some are pure curiosities.

The first part of this list is going to highlight games that I am actually excited to play. I’m not saying they’ll all be winners, but these ones are things that have really captured my interest.

The Last Campfire

Announced at The Game Awards of 2018, The Last Campfire is being produced by Hello Games, the folks behind No Man’s Sky. While my feeling on their previous release is mixed at best, I am interested to see what Hello Games does with a smaller, more focused project. Considering how much I enjoy the aesthetic of No Man’s Sky, it’s no surprise that The Last Campfire has piqued my curiosity.

Control

I’m not entirely sure what Control is or what it’s going for, but it gives me this weird Psi-Ops vibe and I’m okay with that. The game certainly has a style and looks like it’s going to do some pretty abstract stuff aesthetically.

Afterparty

Maybe you remember Oxenfree, maybe you don’t, but the folks at Night School are making another intensely charming game, yet this time it has an even more unbelievable premise: You have to beat the devil in a drinking contest to come back to life. Regardless of whether you think this game would be for you, you have to admit that it has a pretty amazing premise.

Sable

I have no idea what is going on in Sable, but I know that I love everything about the way it looks already. It’s pitched as a “coming-of-age tale of discovery through exploration across a strikingly rendered open world desert.” and I think that sounds pretty exciting. Plus, just look at it.

Cloudpunk

You know what would make 2019 an infinitely better year? More cyberpunk themed games. Cloudpunk certainly nails the aesthetic, but I’m genuinely curious if it delivers on more than the cyberpunk standard tropes that talk about how evil the corporations are. Like, yeah, we know they’re evil, but tell me about your cool robot arms. Hopefully Cloudpunk delivers a fresh take on this well-worn territory.

Tunic

Every time I see Tunic, I’m reminded of just how impressive it looks. I really like the style it’s going for, but the game-play looks like it’ll hold up it’s end of the bargain. But first impressions can be deceiving. We’ll find out soon, I suppose.

My Friend Pedro

Just look at this darn game. It’s absolutely bananas and I don’t actually believe that it’s going to be anything more than a “cool moment” generator, but just look at some of the stuff you can do. I don’t think anything else has been said about the game, but I’m super interested in what’s been shown off so far.

Ooblets

Ooblets looks like the beautiful lovechild between Harvest Moon, Pokemon and Animal Crossing. It’s such a delight to look at and it just seems like it’s gonna make you feel good to play. I’m always up for a game that charms me so much that my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.

Body of Evidence

I’ll be the first to admit that Body of Evidence doesn’t necessarily look like a game that’s gonna take the world by storm, but I just really like the pitch that it puts forward. Cleaning up the evidence from a crime scene? Count me in. I already have a weird fascination with these simulation games, so this just seems like a fun spin on one of those.

Untitled Goose Game

Yeah, you know this game had to be on the list. I aspire to be a horrible goose prankster everyday of my life, and soon there’s going to be a game that allows me to do that? Yeah Untitled Goose Game, I’m picking up what you’re putting down. And I sure hope they never change the name of the game.

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is so good. It’s such a wonderful and pleasant game that I wish had a better mobile version than it got. While in my mind I’ve envisioned a fully realized version of Animal Crossing existing on my iPhone, having on the Switch is the next best thing. Here’s to hoping it lives up to expectations.

The Zone of Curiosities

Whereas everything you’ve seen up till now are games that I’m actually pretty excited for, the next few are games that I’m still not entirely sure how to feel about.

Anthem

The first game I’d like to highlight in The Zone of Curiosities is Anthem. I was not a very big fan of Destiny, and I know this is a different thing, but that’s the comparison that EA has opened themselves up to with Anthem. I would love for Anthem to be it’s own unique thing and really impress me, but I’m just so weary of multiplayer focused games these days.

Crackdown 3

I want Crackdown 3 to be good, I’m just afraid that the Crackdown formula doesn’t work in modern games anymore. Even when Crackdown came out on the Xbox 360 it felt a little archaic. I would love to see a modern take on the franchise, but somehow Crackdown 3 doesn’t seem like it’s doing much to innovate. But I guess I don’t really know anything about it.

Shenmue III

Even if you aren’t a fan of the Shenmue games, you have to be curious right? I have no real issues with the Shenmue games, but I haven’t played them in years so who knows how I’d feel today. But damn, I am so curious to see how this thing pans out.

In the Valley of Gods

I loved Firewatch and that alone is reason for me to be excited for the next game from Campo Santo, but I just feel like I know literally nothing about this game. It sure looks like it’s got the Firewatch vibe nailed down, but I want to know more.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts is one of my favorite games, and for years I’ve wanted a sequel. It’s actually happening and I’m eager to take a look at what the sequel to a game released in 2005 actually looks like. Psychonauts was a good platformer that won so many people over because of it’s charm, but I wonder if they can replicate that in a a sequel over a decade later.

Blog: For Who? – 12/12/18

Leave a reply

There’s a specific moment that I recall from my early teenage years that has lingered in the back of my mind ever since. It’s a small memory, but an unsolved one at that. Even weirder, it involves our favorite green plumber Luigi.

It was around Christmastime and like any kid, I was keeping an eye for presents. I had picked up a Playstation 2 a few years earlier and was content with getting some games for it or something in that vein. What I didn’t expect was to see my father come home from work with a copy of Luigi’s Mansion. Yeah, the Luigi’s Mansion that was exclusive for the Gamecube.

I asked him about it, and he told me to mind my own business. In retrospect I should’ve been curious as to why he’d just be brandishing it so openly, but at the time I was fairly certain I was getting a Gamecube for Christmas. I mean, the game in our house was a pretty good indicator I thought.

Apparently I was way off. Christmas came, and while I don’t remember the gifts I got, I can damn well tell you that there wasn’t a Gamecube involved. It was as if it had vanished from this plain of existence completely. My father played dumb and insisted that he never had the game, but being the rambunctious little shit I was, I found it in his closet and held it in my hands. I know it was real.

So my remaining theories are that he realized I didn’t have a Gamecube at some point and returned it, or I had a secret brother that was getting a Gamecube for Christmas. Over the years I’ve asked him occasionally about it, but he doesn’t remember this moment at all. That, or he’s still hiding the truth.

Blog: A Serious Note About the Holidays – 12/05/18

2 Replies

We’ve entered the final stretch of 2018, and while the world continues to be a nightmare-zone, the games were pretty good. I haven’t finalized the Game of the Year plans yet, but I imagine it’ll be something similar to what I did last year. But that isn’t the point of this blog. Instead, I’d like to speak a little more seriously.

The holidays are an incredibly stressful time of year for me, and I imagine it’s like that for a lot of people. You might find yourself overwhelmed or frustrated a lot in December and believe me, I get it. In my case, I hate gift giving. I’m absolutely terrible at figuring out what people want, and even worse at trying to find gifts in my price range. And that might be small potatoes compared to what other people have going on, but it still manages to stress me out.

Whatever your reasons might be, I want to just encourage people to take some time to focus on themselves. The holidays are all about selflessness and togetherness, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of your sanity and personal wellbeing.

I bring this up because I’m already feeling the weight of the holidays bearing down on me. It’s a little different this time around, but it’s still there. This is the first year since I’ve been a teenager that I haven’t had to work during the holidays. Retail kind of conditioned me to dread this time of year, and it’s hard to shake that. Even over Thanksgiving I felt this lingering pressure as if I was about to be fired for not showing up on Black Friday.

I know this might not be an issue for everyone, or maybe some of you are in situations where you can’t really afford to sit back and take a moment, but at the very least try and catch your breath. I feel like my life is moving so fast and I rarely take a moment to enjoy it. So that’s what I’m trying to do right now, and savor the moment, and relax a little bit.

I know this whole post is a little more introspective and serious than I normally shoot for with the blogs, but this feeling weighs on me every year and I felt like sharing that. It’ll be back to jokes and goofs next week, but for now I’d like to say thank you for reading, and I hope your holidays treat you and yours well.