#and that's the best ps5 has to offer for me

[sibblank]

isn't it weird we're 4 years into the new console generation and there's still not even one killer app game you HAVE to own either of the new consoles for?

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Gamer Boyfriend Scenarios

A collection of parodies to satisfy everyone’s desire for a happy ending. Warning: crackhead humor.

Content: gender neutral reader, yandere behavior, brief NSFW, time machine to Wattpad glory days

[First story] [More parodies original works]

Case 1: Third contender

Very few people know about your stepmother. You’d kept it a secret, even from the tentacle monster, who was understandably confused about your boyfriend’s nervousness upon hearing your idea of a family visit.

“Try not to kill each other, please.” You say with pleading eyes.

“I’m more worried about you, (Y/N). Will you be alright?”

You swallow dryly. The evil hag had summoned you earlier this week, and you dare not oppose her. A tear threatens to form in the corner of your eye, so you turn around with a dismissive wave. You’ll be fine.

“I see you already have a suitcase”, the older woman remarks, puffing on her cigarette. “Good. You’ll be leaving today.”

“What? I just got home!” You argue in confusion.

“This isn’t your home anymore. Times are difficult, you see. We’re low on funds.” She ponders her words, then continues. “We’ve sold you to a famous K-pop idol group.”

You can only gawk in shock. Almost simultaneously, you feel a tap on your shoulder and hesitantly look back.

“You must be (Y/N)! Wow, you’re even cuter in person. Those photos I received of you barely do you justice.”

A tall, handsome man with a beaming smile stands behind you. He flashes you a little heart gesture with his index and thumb, and winks.

Is this the power of idol charisma? You can feel the faintest tug at your heart, deep red blush heating up your cheeks.

“I couldn’t possibly…I’m already in a…in a relationship!”

“You’ll be much happier with me. I can offer you the world.”

What a ridiculous situation. You stumble on your words, partly afraid, partly curious about the potential life of luxury as the beloved partner of a famous idol. Can’t be that bad, you tell yourself. You shake your head aggressively. No! You have two people (well, one monster) waiting for you at home. You need to get out of here, but how?

Just as you evaluate escape routes, the door bursts open and you gasp at the sight: your gamer boyfriend, followed by the tentacled creature.

“How did you bypass my security?!” The idol shouts in disbelief. “I have the best engineers in the world working for me!”

The gamer boyfriend smirks defiantly.

“Heh. Wasn’t too hard to hack into your systems, all I needed was my PS5 controller. As for the physical obstacles…” he says, turning to the ancient beast. “You might want to call a cleaning crew for what’s left of your guards.”

You run towards them, and the young man gently guides you behind him.

“Since when do you two get along?” You ask with the sarcasm of a witty Marvel character.

“Let’s just say we figured out a common goal.”

The goal of keeping other people away from you. Any kind of pride he or the monster might've held has been swiftly discarded for this greater purpose. After all, two heads are better than one. Or whatever encephalic organ the creature possesses.

The cherry blossoms sway in the wind, scattering the frail petals across the riverbank.

"It's too much!" you whine, your hot lips brushing against the overgrown grass of the hill, privacy filled to the brim with appendages. "W-what if someone passes by?"

You can't even tilt your head back to look at your aggressors; the weight of the attempted kidnapping was too great for the pair to bear, and thus they were overwhelmed by the urge to reclaim you on the spot. Right there, in the fields, on the way back home.

"I couldn't...care less about that, (Y/N)", the gamer boyfriend manages to blurt out between exhausted, husky growls. His knuckles white from gripping imaginary sheets.

“You belong to us.”

(No slick folds were harmed in the process)

Case 2: Picture frame

The screech slowly dissipates, and the room is quiet again.

Finally. The gamer boyfriend gazes at his masterpiece, a satisfied smile on his face. Now that he's gotten rid of his rival, he can have you all for himself.

“I hope you enjoy the flatness. I didn’t.”

The fight might've lasted longer, had the beast not committed the ultimately fatal mistake of underestimating him. It realized much too late it wasn't dealing with the same human who disappeared months ago. That one was weak and easy to remove.

"Please, what are you-...What are you doing with my body?"

"Relax. I'm just...borrowing it. Permanently, maybe."

Oh, how long he waited for that moment, that instant in which he was guaranteed freedom from the 2D realm. How delicious it was to snatch the escape from the boyfriend who worked so hard for it. All those hours spent romancing the characters, repeating the same dialogue lines again, and again, until the love meter blinked in achievement. And then he stole it, just like that, with a snap of the fingers.

Two things immediately struck him once he made his way out:

First, the third dimension. He'd never experienced such depth before, and all the angles and perspectives sickened him terribly. He spent days bedridden and nauseous. Equally baffling was the fact that conversations were always spontaneous, random, one-of-a-kind and without any subtitles or dialogue box. He tried in vain to reset his response to you, or to replay something you told him. Thankfully, his secret was of such absurdity, that you couldn’t even begin to imagine its possibility. You took his suspicious gaffes with an amused chuckle, calling him a silly goose.

Second, you. He had no idea who you were, but upon laying his eyes on you, a wave of warmth and affection flooded his innards. Were you someone important for the boyfriend? Either way, whatever leftover feeling was left inside the vessel swiftly turned into obsession. You took such great care of him. Guided him through this new world with unconditional kindness. Whatever the boyfriend was to you before, he deserved it more. He was certain of it.

Only one obstacle stood in his way, and he just took care of it.

The entry door unlocks, and you walk in, unsure.

“It’s been days. It always lived here, why would it vanish now?” you sob, shaken by the sudden disappearance of the ancient creature.

“Oh, Darling. Come here”, the gamer boyfriend coos sweetly. “You have me now, don’t you? Am I not enough for you?”

“Of course you are, it’s just…”

You stop in your tracks.

“When did you get this?”

“Today. Do you like it?”

“It’s…nice.”

You stare at the new picture hung in the living room. The ornate frame contours what seems to be an oil painting of a sea monster, tentacles preying out of the water.

It almost looks like it wants to crawl out of the canvas.

“Maybe it just got tired of you.” The boyfriend whistles, approaching you. “But I’ll tell you a secret. I’ll never, ever abandon you.”

“I know, (B/N).” you throw yourself into your boyfriend’s arms.

“Who? Ah, right.”

Case 3: Hidden Ending

You sniff and wipe your tears again, filling your satchel with bread. At the very least, it’s good bread. You made the sourdough starter yourself, in the kitchen you renovated with your own hands.

Not anymore.

You button up your patchy peasant robe, glancing back at the couple one final time. Your gamer boyfriend…well, ex-boyfriend, is following your movement with melancholic eyes. The tentacle creature is holding him affectionately, its tendrils of darkness wrapped around his small shoulders. The same appendages that lewdly traced your body.

You have been cucked.

“I’m sorry, (Y/N). I…We never meant to hurt you. It’s just…we love each other.” He sheepishly lifts his hand, revealing a ring glowing with ancient, cursed energy of cosmic, long-forgotten springs. “We’re thinking of a tropical honeymoon.”

Your underbaked cinnamon orbs glisten with fresh tears, as thin streams caress your cheeks. No matter. You’ll find a new apartment. You’ll start again. You finish tying the bread satchel around the stick, and throw it over your shoulder.

“I wish you happiness”, you sigh, exiting the house.

[suntoru]

𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍

synopsis: you find a gigantic stuffed bear at your desk for valentine’s day! how does your genshin best friend react when it’s not from them?

a/n: hi everyone, this is my special valentines day post ( ＾◡＾)っ ♡ i hope you like it, it’d my second time writing for genshin 😋

warnings: a bit of swearing, fluff, crack, semi-angst

bnha version

diluc would be the cutest bby <333 he pouts slightly because that was his plan, he wanted to be the one to surprise you :( slightly salty n gets jealous of the bear, buys a bigger, cuter one in hope you’ll replace it. he gets urges to snatch it out of your hands, but he just can’t because you look so cute snuggling with it and he doesn’t wanna make you sad.

“…you got a valentines gift? …good for you.”

kaeya pretends to be happy for you, but in reality, he gets self-depreciating thoughts. was it really that easy to make you blush? what if you’ll leave his side one day? is he really going to lose you to some rando who doesn’t even have the courage to give a gift to you theirselves? his insecurities start to rise, but he’s quick to cover it up through his fake teasing and grits his teeth into a smile.

“ah, y/n, you got a gift! and i thought i was going to be the one receiving the most presents.”

childe is another salty man baby >:((( how dare someone try and steal his crush best friend? subtly insults the bear all day 😞 when he sees you protect the bear and call it cute, he literally growls at the bear 💀 first, it’s stealing all of your attention and hugs, now he gets in trouble because of it? because he’s petty, later at night he’ll swipe it and replace it with an identical one. don’t worry, you’ll never know, the only difference is that instead of the bright red bow around it’s neck, it now has an orangey ginger one <3

“pfttt, y/n, that’s the ugliest bear i’ve ever seen! whoever gave you that put in no effort at all!”

kazuha understands the feelings of your secret admirer. after all, how can he keep such a beauty to himself? your smile, your laugh, and your flustered gaze are all memories etched into his brain. he’s dedicated hundreds of haikus and poems to you, but that doesn’t stop him from feeling his heart slightly pang when you get all excited and happy, asking him who he thought it was. if he did the same thing, would you act the same way?

“someone left a present for you? …i see, how thoughtful.”

venti barters you for it. he thinks if he begs nicely and gives you a fair trade, you’ll let him take the bear and dispose of it! he begs you all day, following you around the school for hours. but when you refuse his offer multiple times, he’ll whine and cling onto you. it’s not fair! he swears he’s seen the exact same bear at dollarama for 4 bucks, so why won’t you trade it for his new ps5? you meanie >:(

“y/nnnn, stop being so mean! what else could you possibly want?”

scaramouche rips the cutely wrapped gigantic stuffie from your hands and marches out the classroom despite your protests >:( when he returns to the classroom, he comes back empty handed. he smirks in victory, thinking he’s won, but when he sees the shocked and sad look on your face, he realizes he fucked up. you ignore him for the rest of the day until you find him waiting at your locker with the biggest stuffed bear you’ve ever seen.

“listen idiot, the only reason i got you this was so you’d stop bothering me.”

xiao is… silent. but on the inside, he feels his heart twist. why is he feeling this? while yes, you were his best friend, he didn’t expect to get so attached. but now… you’re tugging on his heartstrings. while he doesn’t say anything, you’ve learned how to read him like an open book, or at least you think you do. when he feels you tap on his shoulder, knocking him out of his thoughts, you extend the bear to him. this is why he was frowning, right? it’s okay, you’ll just share it with him <3

“what? …i don’t want to hold the bear. in fact, keep it as far away from me as possible.”

[shuttershocky]

have you thought about final fantasy 7 rebirth since you finished it?

Oh yeah I certainly have!

Huge turnaround from 7Remake where I finished it and went "Alrighty it wasn't great but it was still FF7" and then I got more and more sore about it and realized I really didn't like what I played, to the point where I had no interest in 7Rebirth until the demo came out and I saw how improved it felt.

7Remake kept actively introducing new bullshit that sucked like a fairly hefty loading screen every 5 minutes of walking (that's why you had to keep squeezing yourself through narrow gaps) or getting pinballed around by 20 tiny guys attacking you from behind while you all move like glaciers.

On the other hand, most of the annoying flaws of 7Rebirth come from it actually being more like FF7. Tons of minigames that keep breaking the flow of the main game, a new character every ten minutes, being stuck inside the Gold Saucer forever, all stuff I made peace with years ago.

That distinction between the kinds of flaws they have is important to me, because I thought 7Remake was at its strongest when it was physically being the experience of FF7 that existed in your imagination/memories.

The Shinra building is a great example. You take the stairs again in 7Remake because it's funny, and you see Tifa easily jogging up the steps while Barret and even Cloud start fucking dying. She has to encourage the guys to keep pace with her, Cloud is silently wondering how the hell is she fitter than a SOLDIER, and Barret almost loses hope when they're two floors away. It's just like how you remembered it as a kid, which is good AND slightly different from what the original actually was, because in the original FF7 Tifa calls Barret a slur when she tells him to shut up and climb.

7Rebirth is a game that realizes that particular strength of 7Remake, where you don't have to be faithful to the original's events, but to its spirit. Yuffie for example was encountered outside of Junon and was missable, so she didn't have too much of a character beyond getting motion sickness and stealing materia. Her role AND character is greatly expounded on in 7Rebirth, where she encounters Avalanche repeatedly after Junon and instead begs to join them after realizing they're the best chance Wutai has at defeating Shinra, while becoming something of a bratty little sister to Cloud and even like a (very annoying) second daughter to Barret, since she's the only one in the group as hardcore anti-Shinra as Barret is.

It doesn't feel like they're being mixing things up for the sake of being new, but rather "this is how much more we could have done with Yuffie". She'll do the same spinning victory animation as the original, still vomits within 5 minutes of getting into any kind of vehicle, but now she loudly argues with Aerith "Shinra are not the real enemy!" Gainsborough, saying the same things Barret tells Tifa in 7Remake about the problem of good people working under evil masters, in her own, less mature and less eloquent Yuffie way.

They do this with everybody in the cast (barring Sephiroth, as it's becoming more clear after 7Remake that Sephiroth is in some time loop shenanigans where he's already been through FF7 once and thus he's real different) where 7Rebirth rethinks and rebuilds the cast's quirks, traits, and relationships with each other and with the world in ways that just make sense. Cid's not the same tough grouch when you meet him that he was in the original, but why would he be? You don't go to Rocket town yet in 7Rebirth, you meet Cid when he's still pulling his best customer service face! But when Barret mentions how their group aren't friends with anybody that works with Shinra (Chadley's a double agent it doesn't count), Cid easily, verbally, pushes him back in a way that lets you know Cid the leader from the original is still in there.

7Rebirth's just great, I liked it very much. Probably the best title the PS5 has got to offer, and I'm counting all the PS4 games ported to the PS5 in there just so it's got to deal with actual competition. The locations and characters are so alive and vivid, and even the most mind-numbing chores in the game are just so different from each other (there's a fucking minigame for picking mushrooms rather than just letting you press A to snatch some) that you really can't say Square didn't give their 110% in making Gaia an interactive place, even if the only minigame I really enjoyed was Queen's Blood.

Oh and the combat kicks so much ass. The best, maybe the only truly great ARPG battle system Square has made since Kingdom Hearts. That's a very important factor in considering how much I loved 7Rebirth compared to 7Remake, but I've talked too much about it already.

[alarrytale]

Sony Music and Sony Entertainment are owned by the same corporation and it would reflect badly on all of it. I’m not saying that there’s no shitty business practices, or even that they’ve done unethical things, but the things that are being claimed Sony Music has done to Larry I don’t see how Louis and Harry could not easily sue over that. I’m no lawyer so I can’t fully but it is doubtful to me they can’t sue for say, being forcibly closeted or trying to pressure Louis into signing a birth certificate, etc. Coercing someone into doing these things is one thing and a whole other conversation, but doubtful to me they’re legally bound to do them.

Hi, anon!

I don't think i agree. I don't think people will stop going to a Sony produced movie, not buy PS5 or buy a Sony TV because Sony Music Entertainment forcibly closeted Harry Styles. They're all separate companies with the same owner, Sony. It's not like Sony is putting extra pressure on Harry if they don't sell enough TVs.

I've said many times before why H and L can't sue. They willingly signed a contract that states that Sony can do whatever it takes to make them big and earn them money. Sony own the names, likenesses, voices and personal histories of the 1D guys and everything they do while under a Sony contract, forever. Sony can use that material however they want, even if it's false, embarrassing or damaging. This is not illegal, as long as the guys signed it knowingly and willingly, and as long as Sony does it with the intention of furthering their careers and make them money. Sony's first right of refusal clause in all their recording contracts makes it so that Sony won't let anyone leave if they can match the offer from another label. They will never let Harry leave as long as they can control him like they already do and as long as he's profitable.

So if Sony says, Harry we're going to give you a womaniser image to make it look like you have sex appeal and make you attractive to women, and at the same time make people think you're straight, because out gay men don't appeal to het women who wants to marry you, Harry can't do shit about it. If they say, Harry you have to pretend to date CF to make you look like a womaniser and to create buzz for txf (she's under the same contract ans probably had little choice herself). People will watch the show if there is a scandalous relationship between you and CF, there is nothing he can do to say no. If he refuses he's in breach of contract, that he willingly signed, and will probably be banned from the music industry forever. Sony is powerful enough to do that. If he refuses they can ruin his image more. More damaging stories in the press. All press is good press. As long as it gives them attention and make people aware there's an album out, they can drag his name through the mud along with all of his family and friends.

If Sony says Louis, we will create a baby scandal around you to get attention on our new 1D album, make you look straight and make it look like you're not in a relationship with Harry, there is nothing L can do. Both L and H can try to bargain and trade off and say, no i'd rather fake date that person or do that instead, and Sony can say yes or no. Sony can also say, if you refuse to do this or that Louis we'll make Harry get engaged. Louis might then say, alright i'll do the baby scandal. Sony might later say, oh btw. Now that it's out that you're going to be a father, we've actually signed with that family and a baby is being born that you'll have to pretend is yours. And Louis will be shocked and in disbelief. It's already out that he's going to be a father, but he probably thought it would all end with a DNA test when the kid was born. Pretty sure he didn’t think he signed up for 10 years of playing a fake dad back in 2015, and how damaging that would end up being for his own solo career.

As long as Sony can prove that H and L signed these contracts willingly and that it's the best course of action to advance their careers and make them money, H and L won't have a case. It's not about right or wrong, it's about what's legally allowed or not. It's a corporation and Sony is treating H and L like corporations. They're a brand that needs to be protected. They've invested in said brand and expect returns on their investment. Using their control over their images, they indirectly control their closets and their public lives.

H and L (and the rest of the 1D guys) are legally bound to this contact saying Sony can do whatever they want. They signed it. Sony has played their cards so well that H and L are backed into a corner. Even if L isn't with Sony anymore, he isn't free of the consequences of what Sony made him do. He isn't getting radio play, he's still saddled with a fake baby and his boyfriend is still under Sony. I honestly think all of 1D are still under Sony, since they're on hiatus and not disbanded. I think Sony still controls their images, either directly under the 1D contract or indirectly though the image clause.

It's fine if you believe this isn't possible, but i think you are too unimaginative about how Sony can go about making this all happen and resulting in what we're witnessing today. I also think you are too hung up about things being illegal or legal, instead of looking at it as Sony having certain powers within the contract and them forcing H and L's hands by backing them up into a corner. If you think Sony is powerful, multiply it with ten.

[tap-tap-tap-im-in]

I've had a PS5 for over a year now and I've wanted to use it as an excuse to write a kind of review for a while now.

Not that the world needs more reviewers, reviews, or ads in entertainment's clothing. But because gaming has always been a source of joy for me, and because I'd always hoped I'd be able to merge my joys of gaming and writing.

It's not lost on me how much of my joy of the hobby comes not from experiencing but the comfortable knowledge that should I choose to experience, I can, at a moment's notice. Or rather, it was and then my wife phrased it in a way that illuminated it to me.

I am, then, a collector of electronic amusements. I've spent more money than is likely ethical on the hobby over the years, even when doing so was financially irresponsible. It's then interesting to me that I would not recommend it for others, and in part because of how toxic the industry is.

One of the games I've played the most since getting the PS5, 45 hours according to the in-game timer, but that's discounting the time on other saves (and other platforms) is Assassin's Creed Valhalla. A good game, I'd say, one that did not review well because reviewers are intended to play enough of a game in a week or two to make an authoritative judgement on its quality. It like a great many games is not best enjoyed at that pace. I consider it a good popcorn game. It offers enough variety at any given moment that I'm likely to find something I'd like to pursue. Exploring for treasure, raiding a monastery, following the next quest line. It's a good thing to do between other more focused experiences. Something you can turn on in a 30 minute break between work and feel appropriately amused. Like popcorn, not a great meal, and it gets tiring after a while, but when you want it, it hits like nothing else.

A good game, from a talented studio. Ubisoft Montreal, also the studio behind everyone's favorite Not-Really-An-Assassin's Creed Pirate game: Black Flag, and like that game the main character is as naturally stealthy as a thunderstorm, but unlike that game this has far less forced stealth that goes against that grain.

But Ubisoft is also the studio that's been in the news multiple times over the last few years, for accounts of sexual harassment, crunch, unfair compensation, and a culture of misogyny that has likely robbed us of more female protagonists than have even publicly been admitted, not to mention the working conditions it must have created for the staff.

And Ubisoft is only one of a glut of mega-publishers with similar stories. Microsoft bought Activision, who's CEO stepped down in the wake of similar sexism basked controversies, but short of unionizing to protect themselves, what guarantees do the employees have that their new corporate overlords will protect them from abusive management anymore than the old ones?

Even studios that keep their rumors under wraps tend to lean into employee crunch. 80 hour work weeks, hundreds of thousands of employee hours for relatively small details not for art but for marketability. (Not that Rockstar doesn't have their own seedy culture), but would Read Dead Redemption's story feel any less compelling or make any fewer comparisons to Blood Meridian if the horses didn't have realistic testicle behavior?

I'm beyond saving. Absolutely fascinated by the technology, invested in the mathematics behind volumetrics, physics, and ray tracing. A PS5 is an arguably budget conscious way to play modern releases that utilize all those and more, if you too are lost in the pixels like me.

But the reality is that Balatro is probably the best game of the year, and you can play that on a $200 laptop, and unless LocalThunk has absolutely terrible politics, investing in smaller more measured experiences is a better choice for everyone involved.

I'll leave you with one last thing. For a long time the games industry has been kind of an early prediction of capitalistic trends. It's arguable whether that's because of how much money it makes or because there's something about it that reveals these things earlier. Microsoft made profit increases every quarter this year. They laid off more than 10,000 workers last year, and are on track to match that this year. These are layoffs across all sectors, but a good many of them were from the various games studios the conglomerate owns. Many among award winning studios who have released well regarded and well selling games. The business goal quoted for this was to maintain profitability while investing in cloud infrastructure and AI development.

Granted, it's not directly related to them, but after Friday's events Microsoft's stock prices are down. How many workers you think they'll need to axe to maintain profitability against that? It's always eventually a losing game investing in corporations, as a consumer, employee, or even an investor.

[ladygoofball]

Paladins and Oaths in BG3

SO I've been writing a fic about a Paladin who is the chosen of an unnamed god and WEEPING at how the god I did choose for them fits so beautifully with Gale's whole character arc of rebirth and coming back to life after isolation by falling in love (either platonically or romantically he always allows himself to be completely changed by the player character).

More babble about some headcannons for the inner workings of how Oaths work and Paladins within Gale's romance arc in BG3 under the cut

SO the God that I have chosen for my Paladin to worship is OSIRIS who exists in the broader DnD pantheon (specifically eastern Faerun). He is the God of Death, God of Nature, and God of Life and ALL of those happen to fall under the Oath of the Ancients route in BG3. To a scary degree, even though he is not mentioned anywhere in the game as far as I have seen (my sources are not that wide, I've only played through the story 100% one time on my PS5 and I'm playing through again with a Paladin to see how the fighting mechanics work as metaphors for being inspired divinely and trying to understand what the Oathbreaker is supposed to do in canon and not having purchased the art book so I have not seen if that was something they chose to focus on). It's sent me on a whole spiral into his lore and how he would absolutely canonically choose a Sun Elf to act as his sword in the world while he rests up and tries to take over the role as God of Death after the Dead Three are defeated. I've been on fire drawing all of the fun visual themes and secrets alluding to a godly presence in a comic about this.

My personal headcannon for Oaths in BG3 are that they act as intermediaries to place Initiate paladins into a Church. There is a period of intense isolation and study once you have sworn one of the available oaths, (Order of the Ancients, Order of Vengance, etc.) and after you have submitted an essay to an elder counsel you are allowed to act as an Initiate to the Order. No paladin is expected to stay in service to the Order forever, they're only supposed to be there while they find a Church that is right for them in theory.

Order of the Ancients, however, just has a thing for keeping some of their Paladins in service to the order. One could argue that the Oathbreaker needs to be stricter to Initates to make sure they don't embarrass the Order while they are interviewing different Churches, and that is why the cost of reconnecting someone to their healing magic goes up every time the Oath is broken, regardless of the offense until you reach a Church, then the punishment's cost is determined by the Church the Paladin serves. One could also argue that it would be against an Order's best interest to keep a certain number of initiates in their service so they don't lose out on a very steady stream of income.

How this ties in to the Tav of this world:

Luana Tanar'ri is a 186 year old sun elf, and she has been in service to the order for her entire waking memory as an adult (Elves rename themselves when they turn 100, and she does not remember renaming herself but she does remember entering Isolation and telling people how old she is). She mirrors the story Astarion tells us about the Gods in Baldur's Gate refusing to come to the aide of mortals. She tries so hard to keep herself in line when she is tadpoled so she doesn't make the entire camp pay the Oathbreaker to keep her useful as a healer. She goes out of her way to help other people to keep the Gods favor, even though she is pretty sure she must have done something really horrible to deserve to be in this whole mess in the first place.

As a healer, she has always been put as close to the battlefield as possible. She can't see someone hurt without offering them a healing hand. Her healing takes on a vision of what anchors the recipient to their lives, a way for Osiris to judge if this soul is worthy of being in his service when he regains power but the Order of the Ancients do not know that when Luana has been abducted and thrust into the Tav role in this story. They just need to use her for the pretty face she brings to their Order, a PR stunt doll and an income stream. After all this time, she has exhausted every possible option for a newer more senior position Luana could take in the Order to try to move out of the Initiate role. Her story starts the day she quits her job, which happens to be 48 hours before the nautiloid will come cruising through Baldur's Gate. She is almost 100% positive that if she stops doing good deeds for a single moment the Oathbreaker will catch up to her. She needs to make herself loved and adored by her companions, so they don't kick her to the curb once they get the bill for her latest crimes against the Order.

Of all the companions that she finds in camp, Gale offers the nicest distraction for her: a constant stream of information about the world they are exploring around them. She was always the one asked to clear out a temple and compile the loot to ship off to academics to study and categorized and she had never had the opportunity to be able to hear one of them work. It was too dangerous for their minds to be used for something as silly as battle strategy, but since he's clearly not fought anyone or anything before this adventure she tries to help him out as best as she can. She relies on her paladin tank combat training to try to clear paths for him, but she is confused when he is not relieved that someone else took care of it for him but seems to be incredibly distraught over the idea of her throwing herself into the fray and getting hurt. Even more confused when she finds herself spending extra time making sure the things she brings back to camp are up to Gale's standards as the de-facto Chef in camp and she is disappointed when he is not the one running the kitchen that night.

[hexitca]

So I've been staying at my friend's place watching her apartment and dog while she's on her honeymoon. I offered for free (as a wedding gift other than the glasses I bought them bc I love her and also a win for me bc this has been a nice relaxing vacation lol) but her husband being awesome buys the DMC5 game for me to play while I'm here!!! I was so blessed he just offered and I was like "woh! you don't have-" Him: "I don't mind! You're doing us a big favor! :)" omg so sweet ToT so I finished it last night and here are my thoughts:

Warning: a lot of rambling lmao

TLDR: 10/10 best game overall

10/10 on plot, characters, game design like it was just perfect!! I loved the whole game and while I had to play it on human mode in order to just get through the game for my short time here, I would love to play it on the harder modes and explore more. I can't wait to get a gaming computer so I can do that lol.

Obviously I'm bias bc I love DMC but having played all the DMC games at least once (never finished DMC2 and DMC4 but I at least played enough to get a sense of the games) DMC4 was my fave in game play, plot, and characters. That's not to say DMC1 and 3 are lesser like DMC3 is RIGHT behind DMC4 for me (I just loved Dante's character in DMC4 more and of course Nero and Kyrie with Trish haha). I hope to finish DMC2 next but I think that's gonna be the least liked but we'll see.

Anyways,

Looking at the time line of DMC and having it wrapped up pretty decently in DMC5 was amazing! I haven't played many series with continuous plot lines often but this would be top of the list. Even with something like DMC2 where it is the odd one out from all of them, how they handled it was very well done. When I saw that the game included a recap of the other games/plot I thought that was a nice touch. Especially since the games exist across different consoles (DMC 1,2,3 all being on PS2 and DMC4 PS3 and DMC5 PS5 (I know they are on other consoles but I'm a Play Station girlie haha I never played any of the game on PC but I never had a computer strong enough) like it's hard. I got the first 3 on PS2 and on the Switch for portable play but that's it. I hope they put all on switch but I'm gonna end up getting it for PC in the future lol)

ANYWAYS,

It was nice of them to include that in DMC5. I do encourage ppl to play all the games once bc obviously a recap doesn't stand up to actually playing the plots of the other games. I think due to my past plays of the other games it really made me appreciate the wrap up in DMC5.

I know we all want a DMC6 (trust me I want to see Nero and Co. again plus to see the twins back from hell) but if the series ended now it would be a perfect end. Obviously again I never want this series to end I love it and the characters so much but again compared to most game series it's rare to have a clean wrap up.

Some personal gripes that is more on me than the actual game/characters/etc:

I wasn't happy with Dante's character it felt really mean spirited but in the whole context of the plot/his history it fits. I guess going from DMC4 Dante to DMC5 Dante (yes 5 years had passed and depression etc I totally get that that's why I'm like it fits honestly) but Idk. I just felt that it could have been more...smoother? if that makes sense? His lines/actions etc make sense but were choppy at times. AGAIN Idk how to explain it it MADE sense (trying to protect Nero, the drama/trauma between Vergil/Dante, the actual chance that the world is ending) but idk threw me off a little. Just a major asshole lol but not the loveable asshole that he usually is. Again like yes in the whole context of it all he was gonna have to kill his brother (again) but again I wasn't a huge fan.

I wish we got more of Lady/Trish/Kyrie. I LOVED that Lady and Trish were used as mini bosses like that was perfect but I also think they should had have some gameplay/more than just that. Of course the story is about the Sparda kin and there's time constraints etc but idk...I always felt that the DMC games could have had the ladies featured a little more lol. ESPECIALLY WITH KYRIE. She is Nero's love, voice of reason, his tie to humanity and she only got mentioned/a voice call that wasn't that long. Idk I just need more Kyrie love dammit

Not a lot of gripes lol again just 10/10 and the gripes are just my personal hang ups but everything was amazing despite those gripes.

[satoshi-mochida]

Capcom has released the debut trailer, information, and screenshots for action RPG Dragon’s Dogma II, as well confirmed it will release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.

Get the details below.

About

Dragon’s Dogma II is the highly anticipated action RPG successor to the cult-classic Dragon’s Dogma released in 2012. Dragon’s Dogma II boasts a richly detailed and deeply explorable fantasy world created using immersive physics, character AI and the latest in graphics from Capcom’s RE ENGINE. This single player narrative driven action RPG challenges players to use their creativity and curiosity to shape their own experience. Whether it is your Arisen’s vocation, the Pawns selected for your party, or your approach to multi-faceted gameplay situations, the world of Dragon’s Dogma II revolves around choice. Both your party of Pawns and enemies alike will react dynamically to your actions on the battlefield, whether you cling to the backs of monsters or seek to dispatch them from afar. Your vocation allows you to choose your playstyle, and whether you will use swords, bows, or potent magick to bring your foes to heel.

Key Features

A Grand Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma II begins in a subterranean jail, where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories. With their heart taken by the Dragon, the Arisen is set on a path to slay that symbol of the world’s destruction as it soars through the sky on massive wings, breathing flames that scorch everything in its path. With the Arisen’s future veiled in mystery, what challenges and triumphs await on the path to their destiny?

Single-Player Cooperation – Up to three mysterious otherworldly beings, known as Pawns, accompany the Arisen throughout their journey. Pawns create the feeling of a cooperative gameplay experience by offering unique characteristics, skills, and knowledge gained from their experiences with other Arisen.

Made with RE ENGINE – Capcom’s advanced RE ENGINE produces vividly detailed, high fidelity graphics combined with immersive physics and complex and reactive character AI to create a setting where decisions, and their consequences, come to life

Story

The story begins in an underground gaol where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories. Ascend, Arisen, and best me, in accordance with the dogma of this world. Betwixt the domains of human and beastren, A hero must fulfill their forgotten destiny. What dogma does your heart see through your eyes? ‘Tis a tale of one who shall slay the Dragon and claim the throne.

Keywords

The Dragon – Symbol of the world’s destruction. Soars through the sky with its massive wings and breathes flames that scorch everything in its path. Some are terrified by its descent, while others revere it as a god.

Arisen – Whom the player controls. Their heart is taken by the dragon, setting them on a path where they must slay the Dragon.

Pawns – Mysterious, otherworldly beings devoted to serving the Arisen. With their character uniquely determined by the player and controlled by AI, they make gameplay feel like you’re accompanied by others.

Watch the trailer below. View the screenshots at the gallery.

Trailer #1

English

Japanese

[shadowkira]

First of all, I'm Karlach. I have Karlach levels of game. So, I partially find this scene incredibly endearing and would 1000% absolutely have drug her away from camp as soon as she tried.... Whatever that was out. Party raging be damned. Who cares if they hear us?

That being said... Why do you only get this cute, bumbling confession if she knows you already agreed to meet up with someone? Lae'zel and Shadowheart's scenes both trigger automatically, Karlach's only triggers automatically if you're interested in another companion. Otherwise, you have to admit your crush on her.

Sure, okay, she can't actively touch you yet... but romance isn't just about sex. Shadowheart's first scene is pretty chaste too and she can touch people and is FAR from a saint.

Even if you argue that Karlach is lacking in confidence from her ten years spent in Avernus... Even if it's because she doubts you'd pick her over the other companions because she can't touch. It feels... gross. This feels very "polyamorous is bad but cheating is okay." Idk how else to articulate that thought in another way right now?

Neither Karlach or Shadowheart strike me as overtly monogamous. I could see them agreeing to be monogamous for a partner but they have literal dialogue in the game that contradicts itself. Karlach offers Tav or the origin characters the chance to see other people until her second upgrade. She has a fantasy in her origin run about a threesome with a woman and a man.

If you start romancing Shadowheart and then have a scene with Karlach, she immediately tells you that you seem happier. She wishes she was the source of your happiness but wishes you and Karlach the best... in this interaction, you can defend your stance on the matter and say, "I'm not a swan, I don't mate for life." Shadowheart still declines, stating that Karlach deserves to have you to herself.

Also Shadowheart, if you're romancing her and fuck Mizora: "I know I'm not dating a swan, I don't expect you to mate for life. But tell me next time and remember that I have needs as well." (Or something similar, I watched it on youtube out of curiosity.)

That's blatant using the same type of line in two completely and contradictory ways? And also her saying she's okay with you fucking other people but not actually?? She also still finds Karlach attractive and it's clearly mutual. My sapphic, polyamorous lizard brain does not compute any of this in a way that makes sense????

Please just let me be polyamorous on PS5 without mods. Because this is like the first thing I've seen for this game that doesn't sit right with me.

And it also kills me because Karlach is too sweet for that. She literally just said that she thinks there's actually someone soft behind Shadowheart's spiky exterior. Why would the sweetest girl in camp state a few seconds later that she wants to steal you away? 🤔

[fyx-ation]

A Meandering Ramble on FFXVI

Firstly, if you haven't played the game yet or haven't finished the game yet, I suggest scrolling on. If you want a recommendation to play it, the best I can give you is a 7/10. Worth playing. Not the best thing on the market in the same territory but refreshing (I might use that word a lot going forward) and holds interest very well. Like a page-turner of a book.

That said, the rest of my ramble will be behind the cut to spare spoiling others.

Huh. What a strange little game. I actually just finished it, though I do need to go finish the chronolith things at some point. But I wanted to strike while the iron is hot, so this might be all over the place. I usually try to provide some essay-like structure when I write about a game... But I'm not really feelin' it since I've been working 5am shifts for a while and my brain is fried.

I have not read or watched any other reviews or summaries or impressions of the game. I didn't want my opinion to be tainted by bias because some creator or another loved or hated it.

It is Very Pretty. But perhaps not in a PS5 sort-of rock your eyeballs way. It handles like the Witcher III and Final Fantasy had an off-putting love-child. By that, I mean just the walking around and interacting with things reminds me of Witcher. Casual conversations are overheard from NPCs, and occasionally one that will actually speak to you (Clive) even if they aren't offering a quest or incentive. Facial animations, weather/landscape animations. Very Pretty but maybe a smidge outdated? How is that possible? Everything is lovely! But a little stiff if it's not an important, scripted, you-can't control your character here, sort of scene. The ones that aren't separately rendered cutscenes but still have extra polish? Yeah, not those.

You know what else this game reminds me of? Mass Effect (or Dragon Age). There's no open world to explore. There are pocket maps that you can return to from your Normandy Hideaway, but usually you're just sent there to do a mission quest or hunt or something.

So, let's deconstruct that a little. I think and hope that the producers of this game looked at what has been working and what has landed with the fan-base like a sopping wet diaper. Open world fatigue? Absolutely real. Stamina bars? Fuck right off. Pacing the game out with enormous, unskippable BS like a car ride because the plot is paper thin? Nope!

Does it work for a Final Fantasy game, though? See, this is where the conversation gets choppy. (While I didn't interact with reviews, I did see some plumes of smoke on the horizon in the form of thumbnails and the like). Some people are ride or die "this ain't MY final fantasy." Worse, some are like "this isn't a JRPG q_q."

Personally, I let that ship sail years ago. I loved the old turn-based games, don't get me wrong. I lament there aren't that many on the market anymore. But I've moved on. 16 is probably the biggest departure so far from that. Excluding the online games, they've been moving away from that format since 12. 13 was the last to have party members who you can actually control. (I'm not counting the 7 remake here, either) 16 doesn't have a party system. You can't swap Thane Krios (my space boyfriend) in when you fast travel from your hideaway to the next story beat. It's just the protag and whatever side piece is relevant at the moment, and that side character just does their own thing.

Do I like it? Ehh.... yes and no. Clive doesn't talk to himself or them much, so I feel like a lot more banter was needed. I could see why they left it out on the battle maps ("Hey, Clive, remember when were playing checkers and mom kicked the board because oh hello Mr. Behemoth."). But in city hubs? More banter, please. Even more conversations like the newer God of War games have would be most welcome.

And controlling just Clive? It's fine. I am A-okay with it. Combat's really fun, even when I'm not playing at my best and half-dozing on the couch. It's better than holding down the circle button (15 shaming is my kink). It's all amazingly refreshing in comparison to SE's other departures from turn-based battles. It's the first one so far (again excluding ff7r) to actually succeed at doing something different.

But I would not recommend the game to anyone on that alone. If they were looking for a hack n' slash pew pew magic pew game, I'd suggest the newer God of Wars first.

This is where I'm on the fence about how to judge the game as a whole because it isn't SPECTACULAR. It's good. Combat's good. Story is decent. Side characters are interesting (though some are woefully under-cooked, including Jill, whom I often compared to a piece of cardboard while talking to friends). Pacing a HUGE improvement from previous installments, though the last few hours of the game are weirdly smooshed into sidequests which aren't really sidequests because they are invaluable to the story and the game expects you to do them.

However. The world-building, which is very nice, is padded with lore directories just to clarify shit to people who have no idea what the fuck is going on or who have maybe missed or forgotten details that flesh out the motivations of everyone on the two continents. Did you forget who was fighting who while Clive was was off kicking boxes? Boy, do we have the right solution for that: it's LORE DUMP MAN and his faithful sidekick MAP TIMELINE WOMAN. I'm not saying they are bad things... just... odd. Heavy-handed? I love it when games offer some sort of journal to keep me on track or remind me of things, and yet they feel like they were put in this game because things are a bit blurry for the first third. They throw a lot of names at you, a lot of factions, and a lot of talk of different battles that you don't even witness so the only way to clarify all that is to be given Baby's First Overview. I think that might be indicative of a small failing on the game's part. Lots of telling with little showing often leads to lore dumps in RPGs, because it's critical that you understand for the sake of the story. Weirdly, there actually aren't a lot of exposition dumps in the actual gameplay. I guess they couldn't find a happy medium.

It's late. Gotta get up at 4, so I'll bring this ramble to a close for now. I'll talk about tone and themes later, probably.

Is it worth $70 and satisfying? Mostly. If you like button mashing combat and fantasy, sure. If you're a die-hard FF person, sure, but bolster your expectations as it doesn't really fit that mold. Anyone else that's curious, I'd say wait for a sale or promotion.

TBC

[wackywheel]

what is rhsmp??

hi anon! you have invoked the beast with this innocuous ask! thank you :)

rhsmp, or Roughhouse SMP was an smp run by and played on by, as you'd assume, roughhouse! the server started in late october of 2020, and... didn’t really formally conclude? i’m pretty sure the server itself is offline, but it remained playable for nearly a full YEAR after launch. for those unaware, roughhouse is a group of streamers/content creators who mostly met on/during smplive/smpearth. while some friendships predated both servers, the group really only came together during smplive, and finalized being solidified during smpearth. here's their yt channel for their podcast! (their podcast thats sort of on hiatus but its ok its fine its fine we're coping its fine)

while most of the server's run was it simply being a normal minecraft smp for the group, as well as a few friends of the group at the time, such as crumb, sophietexas, a LOT of their s/o's, and fuckin. rav the rapper of all people. yes, as in that rav the one that was on epicsmp.

like most collaborative cc content from 2020 (ie; smpearth, earlier dsmp vods, sbirust) as you'd expect, most of the vods are lost! yipee (derogatory!) the key word there, though, is most. luna and poke have every single one of their vods fully archived! everyone please thank luna and poke. for highlight videos, again, luna and poke are absolutely carrying, especially in luna's case. they have a TON of older rhsmp highlight videos you can find on their main channel! poke also has a few highlight videos, as does james. (...on the topic of james, though, finding those videos may be a bit tricky. the guy privated all of his main channel videos, so the only way to watch his stuff is to either use this archive channel that someone set up (with the downside of the videos being in 360p at best,) or to ermm maybe? maybe join this discord?? and ask for the james archive? and about rhsmp? totally not me shamelessly plugging it?) every other pov, though, has sadly been lost to time. F in chat and the like.

but, enough about vods and lost media, let's talk LORE! rhsmp really didn't start out with intended lore, nor was it ever scripted or acted out, but it very much WAS present, whether it be in the background for the majority of the smp, or right in the forefront right near the end of it.

the two biggest and most noteworthy instances of lore imo were the Console War and The Forbidden Blade of Roughhousia.

let's start with the first one. the Console War was a short, one stream or so long altercation that involved luna building a GIANT XBOX Series X to rival michael's giant and just a little bit ugly PS5 in spawn. it wasn't entirely a "war" in the sense of there being battles, but more in the sense of destruction and petty, low blows. an ingame cat kicks the bucket. an important structure blows up. a god causes problems on purpose. y'know, normal stuff!

speaking of a god, let's talk about The Forbidden Blade of Roughhousia! rhsmp's server admin was the one and only ogbeefstew, and if you're familiar with him already, you likely know what i'm about to describe. for those unfamiliar though, i'll summarize; beef is a silly little quirky fucking unhinged creature. and we love him for that <3 during the server's white elephant gift exchange, beef's gift that he inadvertently submitted by proxy of luna was. uh.

this! the forbidden blade! forged by a god! offered up to mortals as if it were nothing more than a toothpick! i don't think any form of me trying to summarize the impact of this item would do it much justice, so i'll just link poke's vod of the gift exchange to let you watch the carnage yourself. (the sword itself comes into play around the 2:49:00 mark) aside from that though, beef has actually talked about the server's lore in retrospect! a friend and i have been trying to track down the instance in a vod of luna's so obv take this with a grain of "source: dude trust me" flavored salt, but the jist of it is that when the sword was finally broken, the server would either end or reset into a new world. very cool stuff for something as small as a friend group smp!

EDIT: the clip in question has been found! you can watch it here! the jist of the clip is that luna, beef, and dink were discussing how they would theoretically ‘reboot’ the world for a season 2. beef suggested that whoever had ended up with the sword would end up snapping and killing everyone, including beef, the admin. this would then reset the world. how? idk lol

now, with all of that being said, should you watch rhsmp? if you're okay with only having two solid povs at your disposal, then sure!

if you do seriously want to watch this server/series, i would mostly recommend luna's pov of highlights, as its a nice intro into the funny little world that had been built up. if you're dedicated or curious enough about the lore, their vods channel is also the first place i'd recommend you start, before moving on to poke's.

tl;dr- god i love it when minecraft servers accidentally get a crazy compelling storyline that very few people ever know about after the server closes. i love having all of this knowledge trapped in my brain. please watch rhsmp. help me.

[tayyemon]

Gamer Gifts to buy this Holiday Season

The holidays are around the corner, so if you have a friend or someone special you need to buy a present for and/or are just looking for something to treat yourself to this gifting season, then look no further than here. Also, a disclaimer that no part of this post is sponsored.

Geekshare for Console Accessories

Geekshare is a company that specializes in gaming accessories, they have products for the Nintendo Consoles, PlayStation 4/5, and XBOX. With a cute aesthetic for the most part when it comes to their selections, the main offerings are the following: Thumb grip covers, protective shell cases, controller covers, carrying cases for traveling. Geekshare has also broadened their store to include other options for tablets as well as desk accessories such as mousepads and charger adapters and even crossbody bags. (There is this cute plush cat one I saw that I want to buy myself now lol). There is both a personal website as well as an Amazon storefront linked below.

BenQ Screen Bar for Late Nights

Yes, this product is on the more expensive side ($109 USD), but the ways you could use this screen bar are quite versatile. It hooks up onto your monitor or laptop (via USB), but you can use this to be a regular desk light as well as this product has quite the range as well to help with those light nights of working or reading books; for aspiring streamers, it could also be their ring light as well! BenQ products are also certified as Eco-Friendly as well so if you want to shop with environmental consciousness in mind BenQ is a good place to start for tech related goods.

Hagibis Cleaning Kit for Tidiness

If you have some dusty and dirty electronics? Look no further than this 5-in-1 cleaning kit that does not only help with you keyboard and mouse but also other electronics such as ear buds and even for your scale figures. This product is revered by many and especially so on Tik Tok subgenre Tech Tok for its affordability as well as its versatility beyond tech goods. Currently this product is only available on Amazon, which is also linked below.

Cooluli Mini-Fridge for Snacktime

Something I have seen for a while across all my social platforms as of late is the trend of personal minifridges, whether it be for storing skin care, drinks, snacks, subscriptions, etc. While I personally do not understand the phenomenon of them it is something I can get down with, I mean who wouldn't want one to have their favorite snacks and drinks ready. I myself would personally use one for skincare though, what about you?

Yes, there is way more ideas out there (You should tell me all about them lol), such as the Wishlist buy as most games and websites let you buy for others such as Steam Wishlist’s and even in-game cosmetics such as League of Legends and Wildrift to name an example, but if this helps anyone, it is a solid win for me. As always, thank you for reading!

[radellama]

38, 39, 40

games 🖕

38. An unpopular gaming opinion you have.

We don't need anymore new generations of gaming consoles. Tbh I don't think the newest stuff of ps5/xboxS is even necessary, they haven't got much that's actually impressive enough to entice a purchase from me. We've done it, there's no more exponential growth to be had, let it plateau and focus on actually designing games that are fun to play. I think the focus on console specs has led to a lot of bloat and publishers prioritising stuff that only matters in the moment it comes out, and doesn't really matter much once the next game comes out. I don't care about half the stuff that are selling points to these consoles, esp not when the ps5 still doesn't really have a strong library of exclusives that I can't also get on ps4 y'know. It might be better faster stronger, but photorealistic graphics age instantly, the current game dev climate and the priorities they're often forced to have mean that you can feel the crunch when there's games that feel kinda empty and flat, or you can see the seams of the engine and be taken out of it cause it doesn't feel like a fluid and flawless experience cause the focus feels so much more on the specs than the gameplay. If these consoles are so powerful and cutting edge, why are we a few years into the current gen and there's only a handful of games made for this gen that are actual showcases for what the consoles can offer, y'know? I miss when consoles had a bit more identity I guess, and not just a capitalist push for 'it's the newest, so it's the best!' if they weren't trying to market things as the best specs, i wouldn't be primed to keep a keen eye out for any glitches and bugs and visible seams. It's hard to program things that are this massive and have it play well, but it really feels like there's less gameplay in order to have more spectacle, and if there aren't many games that are actually utilising the consoles to their full extent and pushing the limits... Maybe we should stop making consoles and just make games. Like, what's the ps6 going to innovate on? Is there anything tangibly different that's going to be added, or is it just going to be refinements to the ps5 to fix the inevitable things that need fixing, and spec enhancements that can't really be noticed? It's the same issue as the resolutions for screens getting so big, but the human eyes are barely going to see a difference between 8K and 12K, and for those resolutions to be truly seen you'd have to shoot in 8K or 12K, which is such a huge amount of video that most editing programs can barely handle the load, and for what? Most stuff will still be shot at 2-4K, why would you need a TV with higher if there's barely anything native to that resolution y'know. Why do I need game consoles that have so many extra specs and features that aren't being used in the games I'm playing, or are barely noticeable and just adding weight to the game that make it strenuous for the console to run... I know the exact same argument could be made for PS3 -> PS4, but you get what I'm saying. Whenever the next gen of consoles arrives, I want it to have a distinct identity and reason for existing, with developers who are keen to make something to put on it. The PS5 has felt so botched and just like a bigger PS4 to me, and things like the enhancements in the controller aren't that impressive to me LMAO. I am a bit of a tech enthusiast, but certainly not enough to care about the current gen when my PS4 still works fine and has been getting the same games at just slightly downgraded performance. I played re8 just fine, there were a few slowdowns and hiccups here and there, but nothing that was game breaking? Why would I need a ps5 to play it?

39. What’s something you want to see in the future of gaming?

I want to see game dev be safer and more supportive for everyone, and for there to be more of a AA, A and indie scene so we can see more from all kinds of devs. I want to see experimental games that push boundaries and inspire people, I want to see people given the time to really craft something they're proud to release, and I want AAA studios to start taking risks again if they want to stay on top. It'd be reaaaally fucking nice to break away from the endless remake sequel remaster loop we seem to be stuck in, and have some new IPs and ideas to work with. I think it'd be good for AAA studios to get a bit of a kick up the bum and have them innovate based on friendly competition, instead of not caring cause there's a monopoly held by the same handful of studios. That's all a little vague and idealistic, but if I can only say one thing, I want the structure of the game dev process to be restructured to avoid crunch and abusive/hostile working environments. If it feels safer, happier and more secure to work in, I can't wait to see what gets created by passionate people who want to share their talents.

40. Best game cover art.

Send some gaming questions >:)

[legostarwarsgame]

TT's Masterpiece: The Best LEGO Star Wars Game Yet

As we dove into it, not only did we have a blast reliving the epic moments of the series with these sick new levels, but it also reignited our inner Star Wars nerds, making us want to buy Xbox games to explore even more of the galaxy far, far away. We’re not talking about some back-of-the-store dweeb lamenting about not knowing Star Wars Masters of Teräs Käsi lore. Nope, this is about vibing with another mega-fan over how epic Duel of the Fates is or cracking up over prequel memes. You can totally tell when a dev is all about their game, and it's rare to find one where that’s so obvious. It feels like TT knew this was their last shot to do the series right, and they didn’t just nail it—they made what’s probably the dopest Lego game ever and honestly, one of the best Star Wars games out there.

Explore 20+ Planets with Shorter, More Focused Levels

Looking at it from a third-person view, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is way more lit than the old Lego games. If you’re thinking of how to buy PS5 games that offer this kind of upgrade, this title is a standout choice. Sure, there’s still some of that classic “smash, build, repeat” vibe, but the game switches things up so fast that you never get bored of what you’re doing. Lightsaber duels are on point, the third-person shooting feels super smooth, and while melee combat could use a little more spice, that’s pretty much the only gripe with the revamped gameplay. The Skywalker Saga covers all nine movies from the main Star Wars saga, with each film split into five levels. Plus, between these levels, you get to chill on over 20 planets with tons of open areas to explore. To avoid feeling repetitive, the levels are way shorter than in past Lego Star Wars games. The devs used these shorter levels to make the world feel bigger and more focused, which is a solid trade-off.

Abundant Side Quests with Unique Humor and References

The Skywalker Saga is packed with that classic Lego game humor, but TT Games has seriously upped their game. If you're looking to buy PS5 games that deliver this level of fun and comedy, it's easily one of the funniest games we’ve played in ages. You’ve got the usual Lego slapstick, killer sight gags, and solid voice acting that, while not an exact match for the real actors, totally works. With 45 levels, you’ll definitely feel like you’ve gotten a full Star Wars experience by the end. And if that’s not enough, there are 140 side missions to tackle. Yeah, you read that right—140 side missions, 731 puzzles, 135 level challenges, and 380 characters. There’s an insanely huge amount to do in The Skywalker Saga. Some side quests are quick and easy, but a lot of them are pretty involved, each packed with unique, hilarious writing. It’s clear that the devs had a blast stuffing this game with jokes and references.

Great Replay Value Despite Story Hiccups in LEGO Star Wars

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is straight-up one of the best Lego games ever for me—it totally takes me back to my childhood with just a flick of the lightsaber. This game is hands down the biggest, most epic, and best-looking Lego game we've ever seen! With its killer soundtrack, solid gameplay, massive amount of content, and a bunch of different settings, I’m definitely gonna keep coming back to it. It’s a bummer about the story hiccups and the times it pulls you out of the experience; otherwise, it’d totally get a ten. But if you're a Star Wars or Lego fan, you'll probably vibe with it big time.

[hausmeisterwiesbaden]

Quick Fixes: Finding the Best Electronics Repair Services Near You

In a world where our devices are essential to daily life, finding reliable repair services can save you time and frustration. Whether your iPhone screen has cracked, your Xbox won’t connect, or your laptop screen is damaged, knowing where to turn for quick and effective repairs is key. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you find top-notch repair services nearby.

iPhone Repair Near Me: Fast Fixes for Your Apple Device

A cracked iPhone screen or a failing battery can be disruptive. Searching for "iPhone repair near me" will lead you to local experts who can swiftly address these issues. Look for services that offer quick turnaround times and use high-quality replacement parts to ensure your device works like new.

Phone Repair Service: Solutions for All Brands

Beyond iPhones, various phone brands need repair from time to time. Whether it’s a Samsung with a broken screen or a Google Pixel with battery issues, finding a dependable "phone repair service" is crucial. For those seeking "cheap cell phone repair near me," local repair shops often provide budget-friendly solutions without compromising quality.

Video Game Console Repair: Get Back to Gaming

A malfunctioning Xbox or PS5 can put a damper on your gaming sessions. If you’re experiencing issues with HDMI connections or other problems, search for "video game console repair" to find specialists who can handle these specific repairs. Look for services like "Xbox HDMI repair" or "PS5 HDMI repair" to ensure your console gets the expert attention it needs.

iPad Repair: Keep Your Tablet in Top Shape

Whether you’re using your iPad for work or play, a damaged screen or battery can be a significant inconvenience. Finding a reliable "iPad repair" service nearby ensures that your tablet is fixed efficiently, letting you get back to your tasks or entertainment without unnecessary delays.

Laptop Screen Repair: Restore Your Productivity

A cracked laptop screen can disrupt your workflow. Searching for "laptop screen repair" services will connect you with professionals who can quickly replace or fix your screen, helping you resume your productivity with minimal downtime.