#i wonder if i could use the demo to peak at all 8 backgrounds

[eldritchlittleblackdragon]

I got impatient so I downloaded the Octopath Traveler II demo to tide myself over until the full game comes out. I'm really impressed that they just straight up let you play three hours of the actual game, you can choose any of the playable characters you want, AND you can use your save data from the demo to continue where you left off when the full game comes out.

I decided to start as Castti because she looks like she has a story that I'll really like. In the first Octopath, I played the Cleric (Ophilia) because I figured if I was going to have a character locked into my party for a while, it might as well be a healer since I'd probably want to have one in my party at all times anyway.

I was less concerned with maining a healer this time around and more with picking a character who looked like they be fun to play story wise. It just happened to work out the character in question was a healer again. (Albeit an apothecary instead of a cleric, which is fine by me since I found Alfyn from the first game to be a lot of fun to have in my party. And I have a bit of a bias towards making apothecary OCs and self-inserts too so there's that.)

Anyway, I'm about fifteen minutes in and having a good time so far.

[soft-likethesunslove-blog]

The Several Top rated Things in Slovakia

Every snowflake contains half a dozen elements of crystals; each one signifies a secret, even though the 7th top secret may be the snowflake themselves.

spiš castle

The amount 7 can be a mark of good lot of money. It might remind folks from the several wonders on the planet. Slovakia, a tourism nation, possesses its own 8 strategies. During the entire total 12 months, she shows her great elegance to people from all over the world: prolonged record, normal virgin lands, comfortable trip center, ample social and fun resources and the key key - hospitable indigenous individuals.

(1) Bratislava

Buildings here offers people a straightforward and unadorned feeling within the initially vision. However, if you trip round the whole area, you will certainly be impressed by the ways packed with households with classical design and style. People simple and easy undecorated squares possess a proven and beautiful style. This city is actually a lovely spot. The society listed here traces returning to the traditional time. 2000 years back, there existed primitive residential areas constructed by Celts. Then Romans built their armed service camps in this article, whilst Slaves begun to resolve in the half a dozen century Advertising. In 1291 Advertisement, the metropolis was viewed as a freedom area, the most significant celebration took place in this article. Afterwards, the centre of this location dished up since the coronation spot for sovereigns of Empire of Hungary. More than 300 hinders of properties on this page witnessed many traditional situations. Together there was 11 Kings and 8 Queens crowned on this page. Close to the sq . in metropolis middle, you will discover a coronation streets which captured the beauty on this town. It is actually paved with 178 crown-decorated copper dishes on the floor.

(2) St. Martin's Cathedral

Saint. Martin's Cathedral was crowned being a holy church in 1452 Advertising. The greatest part of its chancel is as high as 18.5 m. The time tower is 85 m substantial. The amazing factor is the fact there is a golden-plated kitchen table of two rectangular m for the time clock tower. About this table, there is a gilt replicated of the crown of Hungary Emperor, which weighs about 300 kilometers. In the very first Society Warfare, the five bells have been dissolved to construct cannons. The only survived bell weighs 2 all kinds. Within a expression, you will find plenty of awesome stuff on this page.

Bratislava Castle is really a also ponder while in individuals intervals. In the past, it was a somewhat tiny castle belonging to a Slav duke. The idea became a administrative place of the capital in the empire lastly was a household from the imperial minister. Till 1811, there happened a catastrophic fire which created Bratislava fortress turn into a pile of remains.

Reconstruction and decoration are produced 150 many years following that failure. The current fortress contains the party hallway of Councils of Slovak Republic. The fortress is seen as 4 tower halls. This structural type goes back towards the period of time amongst 1635 and 1649. The castle holds 85 yards more than Danube Stream. It is possible to guide the full metropolis from each observatory.

The Palacio Arzobispal is actually a jewel amongst all those classical architectures in Bratislava. Right after the war of Slavkov, France which has been under the reign of Napoleon sighed Pressburg Peace Treaty with Austria during the Looking glass hall of Palacio Arzobispal. Now, there exists a wedding reception hallway of Bratislava mayor, for which you could see six items of 17th century tapestry. Around the doorway, there exists a cardinal head wear which is 1.8 m in diameter, but weighs about 150 kilos.

(3) Entire world National Traditions

Slovakia operates several societal heritage which will probably make other Central European countries admire. This advantages of the intense man civilization listed here. I would want to expose Maria Theresa who is an excellent lady considered to be mum of Austria. She was crowned in the St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava. In the a long time between 1563 to 1830, there have been a complete of 11 Hungarian kings and 9 Princess crowned in Saint. Martin's Cathedral and Franciscan chapels which includes Maria Theresa. Today, it is a historic web site which draws numerous tourists.

Banska Stiavnica

Independent of the specialised sources of exploration, Stiavnica manages copious drinking water assets and other solutions. It has been known as "silver city" because there had been several metallic mines. You can certainly learn that this city is very rich when you notice these 215 countrywide ancient cites. In this article there are 2 delayed Gothic cathedrals every 500 meters. It had become the 3 rd greatest town of the Empire of Hungary in 18th century. An original standard water technique was built from sixteenth century to 18th century. This method includes 60 person-produced water physiques which make the side to side drainpipes and drinking water stations turn into a reliability. Beneath the terrain in this area there are lots of degrees of standard water routes with all the deepest area as profound as 900 meters. There are several types of architectures and locations of hobbies on the floor exactly where travellers is capable of doing mining on their own.

(4) Caverns

Caves in Slovakia are exceptional on earth because there are couple of places across the world will surely have a great number of Karst caves, which bring in just about 650,000 vacationers each and every year from around the globe. Around many many years, a multitude of caverns have already been inscribed around the Community Traditions Collection by UNESCO, between which you will find a complicated Slovenia cave built by greater than 400 caverns. Furthermore, there exists the world maximum crystalline rock resolved close to vitamin spring season. It really is as much as 32.6 meters and possesses been placed in the Guinness Publication of World Data.

Domica cave, which situates close to Ple ivec - a little city of Slovakia, is among the greatest discovered caves in Slovakia. It wind 5 kilometers beneath the soil and expands in to the border of Hungary, being an important part of Hungary Aggtelek Federal Park. 35000 in the past, there was individuals resided in Domica cave. It was exposed towards the public since 1932. It had taken form because of the erosion of the below ground rive and Domicky. When water within the undercover river is rich enough, it is possible to obtain a fishing boat to take pleasure from the beautiful surroundings of the caves.

(5) Castles

As reported of all time, there are about 300 castles in Slovakia, however you will find only 168 castles left behind right here, among which 109 castles are members of cultural web-sites within the safety the us government. These castles are not just witnesses of your lengthy background, as well as used for a lot of valuable societal activities, including ethnic event, rivalry, martial arts demo, fairs, musical shows and romantic weddings.

Trencin Fortress

Trencin fortress is amongst the greatest fortress groups in Slovakia and is particularly situated in the top host to Trencin city along with the complete Vah Stream center. It is actually constructed according to the primitive castle of Wonderful Moravia. The outside model of Trencin fortress originates from the neighborhood nobility in 13th century. In 1790 Advertisement, Trencin area experienced a large fireplace which propagate for the entire fortress and wrecked the castle. Even though bottom floor was remodeled, the reconstruction of the whole castle got not commenced up until the fifties of last century.

Green Stone Castle

Red-colored Rock castle is the most correctly-protected fortress architecture of Renaissance fashion in Slovakia. Its massive cellar and the design type are exclusive within the entire The european union. This castle is the most often-been to fortress in Slovakia. Additionally it is acknowledged as one of the most incredible castles in Slovakia.

(6) Spring

Slovakia used to be popular because of its vitamin normal water and very hot planting season. Every year, increasingly more overseas vacationers arrived at Slovakia for health spa assistance with regard to health and beauty.

Essentially The Most Old Spring season Kurhaus

One of the most historic early spring Kurhaus of Slovakia is located in Bardejov. The safeguarded published records show that early on in of 1217, folks Bardejov used early spring to carry out therapy.

The Favourite Slovakia Early spring Area

Piestany, a day spa holiday resort positioned across the bank of Vah Stream, is among the most well known springtime location in Slovakia. It is actually a location engrossed in large trees and shrubs, little back gardens, direct and broad soft sandy highway, and organized lovely architectures. The temperatures of your planting season here is involving 67 qualifications and 69 diplomas. There are about 1500 milligrams of nutrient material, that contain excellent medical consequences.

Tatra Hills National Playground

Despite the fact that Tatra mountain peak is simply not distinguished across the world, it is actually a distinctive scenery in European countries as it includes a great deal natural charm in a reasonably little region. Tatra Mountain range Federal Recreation area is jointly built by Slovakia and Poland. Most portion of the car park is throughout the boundary of Slovakia, whilst the other element is inside of Poland. Enclosed by lots of trees, people wonderful ponds are the best places for fans to visit swim in the tranquil nights. The surroundings down the lakes simply cannot be referred to as to get peerless, but are liked by these vacationers who truly appreciate organic surroundings.

(7) Wood made Properties

As with any the nations in The european union, travelers could see several church buildings in Slovakia. As the most northern region of the Roman Empire plus the main section of Hungary for centuries, those old castles in Slovakia show unexplainable testimonies. Individuals social relics which endure in the attack of Napoleon pushes are really incredible. But the most impressive issues listed below are wood made church buildings and timber villages. The wooden small town can be found in Cicmany, where by most of the residences are made of forest. Around the surfaces of these residences, there decorated whitened pictures which appear like primitive totems. These architectures are a type of special grow which expand coming from the below ground and live harmoniously using the mother nature.

In comparison with neighbors like Hungary, Poland and Czech who wish to recover previous times beauty, Slovakia presents me an impression of your spot without divine pressure. He is carefree and enchanting almost like a typical men and women without the need of strength. But he nonetheless qualified prospects a contented lifestyle. This sort of much less outstanding life is adored by all those committed men and women. He is sort of a charmingly naive mole that is frequently bullied by other creatures. But he never ever seems anxious. He or she is simply to solve these complications by his knowledge and sales opportunities a happy life with his own shovel.

[njawaidofficial]

Tim Goodman: 'Twin Peaks,' 22-Episode Seasons, Nielsen and More Reader Questions Answered

http://styleveryday.com/2017/07/10/tim-goodman-twin-peaks-22-episode-seasons-nielsen-and-more-reader-questions-answered/

Tim Goodman: 'Twin Peaks,' 22-Episode Seasons, Nielsen and More Reader Questions Answered

Lots of people apologize before asking me questions about television shows, which I would be able to understand better if I were, say, a pediatrician. It’s television. I’m a television critic. We’re at a party or some other gathering and you want to talk TV, I’m good with it.

Of course, I already do this a lot on a podcast, on Twitter and – here’s a diminished means of communication – over email, but not as often as I used to in an actual column here at THR. So maybe I’ll do this more often given that I’ve significantly cut back on my Twitter time, lots of people don’t listen to podcasts at all and apparently nobody uses email anymore. Here’s a collection of reader questions I pulled from some of those outlets, plus a few that pop up all the time that don’t need to be traced back to one individual and a few from people in the industry who proffered up some intriguing ones, though I will keep their identities hidden so that I don’t accidentally get them in trouble with some fiery rant that will later look like me taking up a torch they lit (when, for the most part, they hadn’t).

OK, here goes:

Q: From Ryan Acheson via Twitter (and trust me, there were similar emails on this topic): “Looks like you underestimated David Lynch’s ability to be creative and frighteningly weird. Gotta light?”

A: Ah, yes, a reference to Ep. 8 of Twin Peaks and, more directly to this critic’s notebook I wrote about how FX’s Legion could have stolen the thunder of Twin Peaks because lots of shows learned how to be weird in the 26-year absence of Twin Peaks, and Legion, of all shows, was particularly deft at it. But yes, Ryan, I did underestimate Lynch’s ability to bring the weirdness – by an order of magnitude. That said, not all of what Lynch is putting on the screen is creepy and creative at the same time. Sometimes it’s just, well, weirdness as affectation. Or eye-rolling (the use of a little person with what appears to be an awl, going on a murderous rampage), etc. I’m finding Lynch’s many indulgences trying at this point but will keep watching to the end even though it has rather aggressively been a show I find a chore to watch.

Q: From @MyVogonPoetry via Twitter:  “What is on your ‘I want to watch but can’t right now’ list?”

A: Well, for starters, read this critic’s notebook I wrote on that very thing. The short answer is “pretty much everything.” But the medium, semi-thoughtful answer that includes “I started but haven’t finished” series is this list: The Handmaid’s Tale, GLOW, Preacher, Halt and Catch Fire, The Crown, Casual, Orphan Black, Orange Is the New Black, I’m Dying Up Here, American Gods and, uh, should I go on?

Q: From someone inside the industry: “13 million over-49’s stream now. How many in 10 years?”

A: All of them? OK, fine, not everybody catches up with technology even if you give them 15 years or so, but I would venture that, instead of measured in millions, more than 50 percent. It should be second nature by then. Affording cable will be an issue. But I’m a believer in elder tech adoption.

Q: From @Lynn_in_Atlanta via Twitter: “Do you think the 22-episode network procedural is on its way out? Also do you think cable/streaming will play with that genre, e.g. The Night Of?”

A: For the first one, no, because network television is slow to change and when a series works, particularly a procedural, the more episodes you make the more money you make. But episode orders are slowly decreasing. I hardly watch any network dramas willingly anymore and for those that I do watch I absolutely never watch all 22 episodes. A series has to be pretty great to keep me coming back for more than the manageable model of 13. Because – choices. As for the second part, yes, I think people who stream most of their series tend to have at least a partial inclination to binge, and few people want to binge 22 episodes of anything. It’s a terrible model that taxes writing staffs and cuts into creativity.

Q: From @Ossie_Awesome via Twitter: “Will you ever attempt to rank TV shows again?”

A: I see what you’ve done there, Ossie. Or at least I think I have. This appears to be yet another mocking reference to the fact that I stopped doing “The Power Rankings” some time ago. I started “The Power Rankings” in September of 2009 at The San Francisco Chronicle (and if any critic was doing it before then I haven’t seen it), which became a very fun weekly exercise that got very popular and then, rather quickly, became a more difficult chore. Finally, somewhere in the shadows of the looming Peak TV movement, it became crippling, so I stopped. Now that it’s impossible to watch every top-tier scripted series – much less every episode every week – it can’t be resuscitated in its original form. However, I’ve been kicking around some ideas on how to bring back variations on the original, prompted as ever by podcasting mate Jason Snell, who created the HTML for the rankings in under 30 minutes all those years ago.

Q: From Felice Gollotti via email: “I’ve always wondered — when the last episode of one season ends and first episode of next season begins in the same time frame — does the filming continue? Or is the scene reconstructed months later when new season shoots?”

A: If it’s a cliffhanger-type situation, especially outdoors where getting the right season or background exactly right is necessary, they probably shot extra footage. But mostly the time frame can be restarted later when the new season picks up again.

Q: From Mauricio Mota via email: “Peak TV but Death Valley metrics: Why can’t we have an updated way of measuring success in TV?”

A: That’s been the plea of pretty much every network or cable channel that uses ratings. They all wanted Nielsen to do better. They all believed the system was outdated. But it was a little bit of the devil you know for a while. In Nielsen’s defense, they did get better. And rival companies haven’t inspired much trust in the industry. That said, I wonder if it really matters that much anymore in the way that there was an urgency over numbers in the past. Yes, those who use ratings want all the demo numbers and the total viewers, but overnight ratings are a thing of the past and even live+3 and live+7 ratings don’t tell the whole story (or even a large part of it). Time-shifting and too much choice pretty much devalued ratings in the old-school sense of them. Advanced metrics are here, and they help networks, channels and advertisers set prices, but the story they ultimately tell is that viewing patterns are forever changed.

Q: From @Dean_Min_Travel via Twitter: “Over the next five years, will more people get into, or out of, scripted series production?”

A: Is this a trick question, Dean? Well, I will say that I’m sticking with my claim that the Peak TV bubble is leaking air. But my qualifier, which I wrote about here when Apple recently jumped into the content game, is that it’s mostly going to leak from the bottom. More channels will probably either cut down or get out. But their departure will be more than covered by the bigger platforms, particularly if Apple ramps up as expected and seriously changes the industry.

Q: From @LisaMBeudry via Twitter: “What’s it like for creators to work in such a saturated market? How do they try to make their show stand out in that ocean?”

A: This is one of my favorite topics, Lisa, because it’s one of the most pressing issues in the industry right now. The feedback I’m getting from series creators is that there’s no better time to be making television – and no more challenging time. The money is great, the opportunities are plentiful and there are more outlets interested in artistic vision over big-tent ratings. Plus a vibrant creative environment benefits everyone – it makes quality rise. At the same time, it’s painfully hard to get noticed. And for a lot of creators, the complaint isn’t just lack of advertising promotion – it’s how hard it is to get found on the site of the streaming service that just paid you all that money and let you make something special. To them it doesn’t make sense (to me, either), and it’s frustrating. I’m wondering if the end result of this will be some creators wanting a more intimate, curated existence (like the kind FX touts), or if that kind of thinking will ultimately just be adorable once Apple opens its vaults. In either case, I’m curious enough to keep following this little side effect of the content explosion.

Source

#22Episode #Answered #Goodman #Nielsen #Peaks #Questions #Reader #Seasons #Tim #Twin

[yeahbrothergaming-blog]

OOPS It's Almost February but Here's My GOTY Lists!

Game of the Year: 10. Forza Horizon 3 I typically don't play racing games any more. For me, the genre peaked at Burnout 3: Takedown, and unless we are talking about Mario Kart 64, most racing games don't occupy a big piece of my gaming heart. Then, E3 2015 happened, and I was immediately mesmerized by Forza Horizon 3. I had only played Forza Motorsport 6, and neither of the other Horizon games, but the presentation given for FH3 immediately jumped out at me. I was intrigued by the diverse racing areas in Australia, and then I was hooked when I saw the race against the helicopter. What I saw was some of the insanity I loved about Burnout 3, along with the graphical prowess of more modern racers. Thankfully, FH3 is everything I loved about its E3 presentation: incredible graphics and the diverse landscape of Australian beaches, cities, jungles, and desert lands, driving that is the perfect balance of arcadey-fun and sim-realism, a great sense of speed, and an attitude that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is the first racing game in a long time that I would say is one of my favorite games of the year, and I also believe it is one of the ten best games of the year. Also -- the soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks in any game in a long time, which was another fun surprise about this wonderful game. 9. Doom The original Doom was the first video game I have any memory of in my life. I was hanging out with my dad at the local college activities center, and I remember catching someone play it on a demo-computer that was set up in one of the breezeway areas in the building. I was not yet at the age where I could play video games, but the memory of watching this dude with crazy guns kill crazy monsters has stuck with me. Through the years since, I have kept up with Doom as a series, even though Doom 3 is the only Doom game I have put any significant time into before Doom 2016. From what I can understand, Doom 2016 recaptures the feeling of playing OG Doom back in the day -- over-the-top insane action at a pace that never lets up from the get-go. From the very first seconds of Doom 2016, you are charged with killing everything that gets in your way, often as fast as you can. This is clearly not a new gaming concept, but D16 makes it as much fun as it can be. There are a lot of great shooters out this year, but (of those I played), none come close to matching the intensity and balls-to-the-wall feel of D16. This is your favorite shooter's favorite shooter, and is some of the best Video Game™ fun to be had in 2016 and beyond. 8. Inside Inside is quite a thing. The follow up to Playdead's Limbo (2010), it takes a lot of what made Limbo unique and fun and improves on it. Mechanically, Inside takes the time-tested gameplay of Running To The Right and makes it dangerous and exciting in a way few games do well. You are not quite sure what you are running to (or from?) for most of the game, but the world-building - usually in the background - keeps you interested from start to finish. The puzzles are mostly challenging, but I never got stuck, which helped the game keep a steady momentum throughout. It is a very dark game, both graphically and in subject matter, but Inside uses color in bursts to help punctuate certain moments. I am not super sure what really "happened" in Inside, but the story is ambiguous enough to allow for multiple interpretations, which I like, as well as a hidden ending if you are into that kind of thing. The last section of the game is not one I want to spoil, but is without quarter one of the most insane sections of a game I played all year, and is one of the best watercooler gaming moments in 2016. 7. Overcooked Overcooked is a game I watched a lot of in 2016, and then finally got my hands on in the waning days of the year. I've never had so much fun messing up in a game maybe ever as I do in Overcooked, but I feel equally as satisfied when everything goes off without a hitch. The basic premise of Overcooked is hilarious: the apocalypse happens, and The Beast arrives to destroy everything. The only way to stop the apocalypse from happening is to cook well enough to appease The Beast. Naturally, you fail, and you are sent back in time to work on your skills of "cooking and co-operation" in order to be better when The Beast comes back. The premise alone is worthy of any top-10 list, but the gameplay cements it. There are always two to three too many jobs per player - you'll need to grab ingredients, chop ingredients, use a fryer, cook in a pot or an oven, clean dirty dishes, place clean plates, and turn in completed orders in time, all while avoiding obstacles, moving portions of stages, certain death by lava, or by setting the arena on fire due to literal over-cooking. I say "arena" instead of kitchen, because even though you start in kitchens, the stages progress to pirate ships, moving vehicles, icy platforms, haunted houses, and space stations. You rarely do the same thing twice in Overcooked, and the stages are short enough that each play session is guaranteed to be varied, fast, and furious. The only downside I found is that it does not have online play -- Overcooked is the kind of game where it is certainly best with local play, but I wish I still had the option. That being said, Overcooked is a riot, and some of the best multiplayer of the year. 6. Batman: The Telltale Series Batman: The Animated Series is the first superhero-related property I remember in my life. I would watch this show every day, and I have memories of this classic cartoon before I have memories of most other things in my life. I've been a Batman fan ever since - so any new Batman game is going to certainly have my attention. Telltale's interpretations on The Walking Dead and Fables (via The Wolf Among Us) were interesting and compelling enough that I found myself eagerly awaiting each chapter, and Telltale's Batman is no exception. Traditional elements of the Batman narrative are flipped on their head, making this version of Batman a unique and risky vision of the Batman universe. Character origins are modified, and some characters end up being completely different from other, more standard portrayals, but Telltale pulls off each of these tweaks in a way that I found satisfying. I do wish that Telltale would revamp their engine, as I experienced some pretty wonky graphical glitches, and the frame rate never seems to be too interested in staying smooth, but this was a fun ride through a bold new telling of the Batman story - one that I will be excited to continue in future installments. 5. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a game that came out of nowhere earlier this year. Developed by one person, it took the PC gamingsphere by storm. Since I don't play on PC, I had to wait until December to finally play it on PS4 - and I'm glad I did. The game is a farming and relationship sim, mixed with light dungeon crawling and resource gathering. At the start of the game, your character receives a letter from your grandfather with the deed to the family farm. After toiling away at a boring desk job at a big corporation, the character decides to finally move into the family farm and start a new life. The game is split into days, months, and seasons, with a myriad of gameplay options each day. Some days you might spend clearing space in your farm, others you might spend tending to your crops, and others you might spend in the local town, getting to know each townperson. The relationship-development in the game is fairly shallow, but each character has a distinct personality, and it is fun getting to know them. You can go fishing, learn recipes for cooking, or try to reach a new level in the mine. The only combat options in the game are within the mine, but it is never super challenging. This is part of the appeal of Stardew Valley for me -- it is never traditionally "challenging," and is instead quite laid back. I didn't know I needed a game that is built for the player to take it at their own pace. I found myself continually drawn to play through "just one more day," while also feeling super relaxed. Aesthetically, Stardew Valley evokes old 16-bit era games, but with the best lighting I've ever seen in a 2D game. Stardew Valley is the positive game I needed in 2016, and I can't wait to continue my new life as a farmer-fisher-Casanova-dungeon master in the days to come. 4. Dark Souls III Back in 2009, I picked up a little game called Demon's Souls, and it changed my gaming life. I had never been challenged in an action-RPG in quite that fashion, and it had some of the best combat I had ever played in any game. Two Dark Souls games (and a Bloodborne) later, Dark Souls III finally dropped, and it is the Souls game of my dreams. The basic idea of the game is the same - traverse through an extremely dangerous world battling the toughest enemies and the meanest bosses, all the while upgrading your gear and skills to become the strongest warrior in the world. Bloodborne (the Lovecraftian cousin of the Souls series) sped up the game in a major way, and DS3 has injected a bit of that speed into its traditionally slower-paced combat. The co-op mechanic has also simplified from previous games (another lift from Bloodborne), and is how I experienced most of the game. Some of the most satisfying moments in gaming this year for me were battling bosses alongside my friend and having some serious skin-of-our-teeth victories. I am not as on top of the Souls lore as I would like to be, but I did recognize a lot of neat throwbacks to previous games in the series. According to Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Dark Souls & DS3, this will be the last game in the series. If this is indeed true, then the series has gone out on a high note with one of the best action-RPGs ever made. 3. Uncharted 4 Some of my favorite movies growing up were the Indiana Jones movies. I always wanted a good video game version of those movies (emphasis on good), and the Uncharted series has been that for me for the last few years. I loved the first Uncharted, and then was blown away by Uncharted 2. Uncharted 3 was still awesome, but it didn't quite live up to the charms of UC2. While I thought the end of 3 was certainly good, I didn't feel like it was as conclusive of an ending as it could have been. I was not surprised when they announced 4, as I felt like they left a little bit of room for more after 3. After announcing that this would indeed be the final Uncharted game, I didn't know how to feel - while there have been hundreds of action-adventure games, this series in particular really hit the beats that the Indiana Jones movies gave me, and I am sad that this series is going away. I'm sure that Naughty Dog felt the pressure to deliver a game worthy of being the final in this spectacular series, and they absolutely nailed it. The Uncharted series has always been on the bleeding edge of graphics technology and art direction, and UC4 is the crown jewel. This is undoubtedly the best looking video game I've ever played, and it's not really all that close. Sprawling island vistas, colorful and crowded towns, and incredibly realistic animations (even for this series) left me consistently in awe of what I was seeing. How good this game looks even this early in the console cycle adds to the impressive visual fidelity, and it deserves any and all awards for graphics this year. Beyond the graphics, the gunplay is the most finely tuned in the series, and the set pieces are the biggest and boldest since Uncharted 2's train sequence. There is a particular sequence involving a jeep, a grappling hook (another mechanic added to this game to great effect), and a motorcycle chase that is equal parts classic Uncharted and modern excellence in game design. The story does a great job of validating the existence of another Uncharted game, as well as including nods to older games in neat ways. The epilogue in particular will stay with me for some time as a long-time fan of the franchise. Nate, Sully, and Elena are all back, and it remains fun to see them in action (or not, as represented by a chapter early in the game). The inclusion of Sam as Nate's brother is something I was initially concerned about, wondering how the game would make me care about a brand new character this late in the overall story, but they did a great job of making him another worthy character in a series filled with fun characters. There is not much I can say negatively about this game -- any other year, UC4 is a shoe-in for my number 1 game of the year. Sitting at number 3 on this list does not mean that this game isn't good - it is truly great, especially for those who have kept up with the series so far. 2. Hitman When I was a kid, my usual answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up" was always "James Bond." As I've grown older I have come to appreciate more and more that I am not James Bond, but I still love it when movies or games make me feel like a super cool secret agent. This year's installment in the Hitman franchise is exactly that - the world's best secret agent simulator! Well...maybe not exactly that but I've not had more fun playing a stealth-action game in years than I have with Hitman. The episodic nature of this game's release meant that each level required some serious heft, and IO Interactive pulled through in a major way in each of the game's sprawling levels. Whether you are in a mansion in Paris during a fashion show, walking around a gorgeous Mediterranean coastal town that hides a cavernous science lab, or a volatile marketplace in Marrakesh, each level is alive with detail, and expertly designed for creative solutions for each mission. Depending on how you want to play, the game can show you exactly where and how to perform some of the sillier ways to accomplish your mission, or you can go through blind, figuring out exactly how you would want to successfully find and take out the targets. Part of the success of Hitman 2016 is that it doesn't take itself too seriously - the AI is good enough to make things difficult if you are sloppy, but not hawkish enough to avoid being exploited. NPC dialogue can be funny as well, and while you certainly can play the game straight and use traditional weapons to carry out the hits, the game offers so many different bonkers ways to take out your targets, it's hard not to play through each mission without cracking a smile at least once. Hitman is also gorgeous - the Sapienza map in particular is stunning, but each map has a distinct aesthetic, each with superb lighting and colors to suit the setting. The music also takes cues from spy movies, giving the situation a curious vibe as you are sneaking around, and escalating if needed to go along with the action on the screen. I wish the load times were faster (playing on an Xbox One), and there are occasional janky glitches (like throwing a battle axe at a target through a wall), but neither of those take away from the immense amount of fun to be had in the gameplay (also, one could argue throwing a battle axe through a wall is actually hilarious and awesome). Where some stealth-action games take themselves too seriously and become save-scumming nightmares, Hitman hits the spot, nailing a goofy sense of fun to a well-worn concept. Bonus points - this game is also so entertaining to watch - I was sold on this game by watching Giant Bomb's video coverage of the game through the year. 1. Overwatch This list was pretty difficult to make this year, and ordering was even more difficult. That being said - there was always a clear number one, and that game is Overwatch. I have joked that this might be my Game of the Every Year, and depending on when you ask me, I may not actually be joking. I was beyond skeptical of this game when it was coming out - I had fallen away from the competitive multiplayer shooter scene somewhere around Halo 3 and Modern Warfare 2. I scoffed at the game not even trying to offer anything for single-player players like me. I knew that I enjoyed the objective-based gameplay of Team Fortress 2 back in the day, but it was never the type of game I was especially drawn towards. But, every game podcast I listened to, every review I read, and just about everyone in games journalism I follow on Twitter could not stop talking about how much fun this game was. So, on a whim, I got the game at GameStop, thinking that I could just trade it in if I didn't like it. I texted one of my friends to let him know I got it, and it turns out he also got it. We played for a couple of hours that first night and right then I knew - I had stumbled backwards into something special. I immediately fell in love with the bright, positive aesthetic, the heroic-sounding music in the main menu, and the enticing possibilities of how different the game could feel depending on which character you use. I was hooked by the pace of each match - not too short and not too long, leaving you perfectly ready for "just one more match." Each character feels great, and I found out quickly that the game was balanced extraordinarily well already out of the gate. That first session lead into more the next day, and the next day, and every day for a week, two weeks, a month...and so on. What started as just my one friend and I playing turned into a steady group of six or seven of us ready to play most days of the week! Part of this is due to the evangelism of my friend and I, bugging our friends to buy the game at an almost daily pace, but an even bigger reason is that Overwatch is accessible while remaining a deep gameplay experience. Multiple characters are perfect for just starting in, whether you have played other multiplayer-FPS games, or whether you are still figuring out how to move with the left stick and turn the camera with the right - there is a character for everybody. The diversity of the cast of characters is also a highlight, as many different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and personalities are not something that is typical for video games. Overwatch also does a great job at making the player feel positive reinforcement - there is no K/D list constantly in the face of the player, and post-match screens are always a celebration of what players did well in a match rather than highlighting who did the best and who did the worst. As Blizzard is known to do with their other games, they showed that they are fully capable of supporting Overwatch via regular content updates and gameplay balance patches, which paves the way for the game to continue to be great in the years to come. The promise of free DLC forever is another great way they are sticking it to their competitors, and continued proof that Blizzard cares about the people who play their games. Sure - do I wish that duplicate items in loot boxes gave out more in-game currency? Of course - but that is also literally the only negative thing I can think of to say about this game. I have logged in more hours into this game than any other game I've ever played (except for maybe Mario Kart 64, which I started playing almost twenty years ago), and I continue to add hours every week. This game has made me new friends, and kept me close with old friends, and has been a valuable portion of my week nearly every week since its release. There was never any other option for my number one game of the year this year, and it deserves any and all praise and awards possible from now until the end of time. PS - please please please get on the point. Thanks! Barely Missed the List: -Firewatch - this is a gorgeous game with an understated, sad, and ultimately genuine and human narrative that hooked me from beginning to end. I'm not sure I'll ever revisit it, but it was a compelling look into the consequences of failing to communicate effectively, as well as speaking to how we tend to go to great lengths to avoid tough situations at times. -Gears of War 4 - This is a solid re-entry into the Gears universe, one which I was a huge fan of in Gears 1-3. Gears 4 is definitely more Gears, although it didn't quite have the same magic for me as the first 3. That being said, I'll be ready for Gears 5 - and this one would have made the list in a lot of other years that weren't as jam packed as this year. -Final Fantasy XV - This was tough to omit from the list. I was really enjoying my time with this game until they announced that they were going to add in story scenes to the game at some unspecified time down the road. As someone who wants to experience a game the best way possible the first time through, I have yet to continue the game since they made this announcement. Despite all of that, I'm thrilled that Final Fantasy is back, and I think that the overall presentation and battle system make for a fun game to play. I'll be excited to get back into this game...once they finish it. Haven't Played but Wish I Had: -Hyperlight Drifter -The Last Guardian -Superhot Games I Want to Play More: -Darkest Dungeon - I love the aesthetic of this game, and I can always fall deep into a good rogue-like -FFXV - reasons above -The Witness - this game makes me feel so smart, but can also be so frustrating. -SFV/Guilty Gear - I want to be better at fighting games, and I love how both of these games look. SFV definitely has more players, but GG feels like the better game. Most Disappointing Game -Tom Clancy's The Division - I wanted to love this game. I was so ready for it after the initial E3 presentation. The promise of another game like Destiny where I could group up with friends, take down enemies, and find better loot is something that I can always get behind. But then, I played The Division. The empty open world was boring, the netcode was a struggle, and the constant cheaters in the Dark Zone bounced me off of this game in a way I wasn't ready for. The loot and customization failed to impress me, and the bullet spongy enemies got old real fast. I haven't felt this disappointed in a game in a long time. Runners Up: -Rez: Infinite - this is not a bad game, and I enjoyed my time with it in VR, but based off of what I heard about this game, it should have brought me closer to God. Needless to say I don't believe it was as transcendent as the conversation around the game would lead me to believe, and that's the only reason it is on the Disappointing Games list for me this year. -No Man's Sky - Or, Game that Makes Me Sad of 2016. The promise of this game based off of the (potentially maliciously) misleading marketing of this game is such a huge disservice to what this game actually is. Thankfully, I did hear enough impressions from some who played it at preview events so that I realized a little more that NMS would be closer to a survival game than the end-all-be-all Sci-Fi epic that was advertised, but even that couldn't help me from eventually falling off of this game. I still really love the aesthetic of the game, and it has some great music. The addition of the Foundation update gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, NMS will one day resemble its initial, ambitious vision, but until that day comes, NMS will ultimately remain disappointing. VR Lineup: VR is finally here! So far I have only experienced VR through the PSVR, and I feel hopeful for the potential VR can bring to gaming. Here are my top 5 PSVR experiences of the year: Job Simulator Batman: Arkham VR Here They Lie RIGS Until Dawn: Rush of Blood Best Game for On The Go: Batman: The Telltale Series (iPad) World of Final Fantasy (Vita) Super Mario Run (iPhone) Game of the (Not This) Year -The Witcher 3 - I've continued to progress forward in The Witcher 3, and I still haven't beaten the main game or touched either DLC pack. This game is so full of great content, it is almost overwhelming. Every time I play TW3, I am more and more convinced that this is one of the best games of the generation, and absolutely one of the best open-world games of all time. Runners Up: -Persona 4: Dancing All Night - I haven't been this into a rhythm game since Rock Band 3! It has been fun coming back to the Persona 4 universe, and jamming along to some of the best video game music in years. This is also a great way to continue the excitement for Persona 5, coming out later this year. -Life is Strange - This is a charming adventure game that I picked up on sale for $5, and I haven't regretted the decision. I haven't yet beaten the story, but I appreciate the indie-movie nature of the game's story, cinematography, and music. The time-rewinding mechanic has been used in many other different games, but the usage of this mechanic in Life is Strange takes pressure off of making decisions, allowing me to see more of the story as I go along. Best Looking Game Uncharted 4 Overwatch Ratchet and Clank Best Music Overwatch (shoutout to Numbani theme!) Uncharted 4 Stardew Valley Overcooked Hitman Best Story Batman: The Telltale Series Uncharted 4 Firewatch