#like both in combat & dialogue absolutely unparalleled

[veilblight]

i need to stop making more of these bitches 😔

[pinchraccoon]

FAITH: The Unholy Trinity Review

I played FAITH: The Unholy Trinity on stream recently, and I was very very satisfied with my experience.

Admittedly, I'm something of a wuss about horror media usually, but that didn't stop me this time. FAITH is a game in three chapters about a pastor by the name of John attempting to right previous wrongs and exorcise demons that have haunted him for a year since an incident in his first exorcism.

The very first thing that you'll notice upon booting up FAITH is the incredibly palpable style that it sticks to. In it's in-game visuals it's highly reminiscent of an Atari title, but with some modernizations to make it look Not Awful. Additionally, all dialogue has this uncanny text to speech applied to it, such that even your main character sounds horrifying, and adds to an inability to trust most things in the game. The third and final major point toward it's visual style that I feel is worth mentioning, and perhaps it's biggest claim to fame, is that of it's cutscenes. At multiple points in its run, FAITH will pull you into something of a first person point of view (although there is no hard rules saying that this has to be so) where what is being presented to you is seen in this really interesting, almost sketchy, pixel art style that clearly shows signs of being traced from real video references. The visual effect that these make is unparalleled in it's ability to unnerve, and it strikes at the uncanny valley effect that an encounter with a demon would likely bring to attention.

Provided are some notable examples of these cutscenes and their general style. These can occur at any time, and can be absolutely terrifying when the game wishes them to be.

I find that FAITH's visual elements serve to give a lot of this game's strength, and while the rest of the game is still quite good, it's apparent that the style contributes greatly to this games horror.

Regarding that, this game is fucking horrifying.

There are numerous instances in FAITH where I was legitimately in a state of terror regarding what was occuring, and the tension made by FAITH for the majority of it's run is thick enough to take a big, bloody bite out of.

Airdorf Games clearly understands the fundamental tenets of what makes good horror, and the Hitchcockian advice that has served to underpin the genre since visual horror's popularization. Everything that this game pulls in terms of scares this game absolutely earns, both because the actual imagery is somewhat scary in its presentation, as we've established in the section on it, but also in it's pacing. There are very few areas that don't have a really good scare to them, and I'm happy to report that the quality of the game, up to a certain point, remains very consistent.

Smaller things that I liked about FAITH, this game, when it does kill you, doesn't make a huge show of it, and it shows you your death screen and lets you get right back into it, which does serve to assist the combat elements present. FAITH is also quite funny sometimes! It's subject matter is inherently somewhat spooky, but it does have a goofier horror tone later on that calls back to roots of old horror schlock, as referenced in it's key art. Additionally, it contains nods to Yume Nikki, WD Gaster, and I'm Scared, and I love a game that recognizes history like that.

I only have a few complaints regarding this game. They are as follows:

Hitboxes feel janky and inconsistent, which one could argue adds to the horror, but in a boss fight you've been killed in 9 times to this point, it becomes frustrating.

Later portions of the game lose a lot of the horror, although in context they should absolutely be the part of the game that is the most horrific. This is largely due to the increased reliance on gameplay and combat in these sections as opposed to atmosphere as the game had done up to that point. It's not *bad* per se, but it's different in a way that doesn't immediately align with the clear objective of the game to that point

Occasionally the game becomes a little bit too "gamey." Which is odd to say, but there are some things that take me out of it and cut that tension that took so much to make, and when I'm cognizant that I'm playing a game and not being completely in it kinda makes me a little sad. This is a minor complaint however, as some of the puzzles are interesting and kinda fun, they even use this feeling of safeness at some points to really scare the shit out of you later on as well, so it's not all bad, just perhaps not to my taste.

Some puzzle design is needlessly obtuse, but sometimes they throw you a bone and give you means by which to bypass these (as well as boss fights) but with narrative consequences for them. I really love this idea, and this makes the game have a clear narrative arc FOR you that YOU make yourself. My run of FAITH might be completely different from your run of FAITH, and that's really cool!

I would implore you to play the game for yourself, as even if you watched my VOD of the game, you will get a completely different experience if you engage with it yourself.

Overall, I recommend that you should absolutely play FAITH: The Unholy Trinity. It's a lovely horror experience unlike much else. The best horror is Catholic, and this game is certainly a guilty pleasure.

If you'd like to watch my playthrough of the game, it's up on my YouTube, linked right below!

[lemonprick]

thoughts on raya and the last dragon

i watched the film last night and stayed up just a lil bit to type up notes so excuse any spelling. critiques not in chronological order and also i watched it without subtitles so i had to look up the names on wikipedia

holy crap i love this whip-sword it’s awesome and so beautifully done

twist would be much more powerful if raya and namaari were shown to have a stronger emotional bond despite their nations having icy relations (and not just having met for what, one day?)

kinda confused as to what the characterisation of younger raya was set up for? her enthusiasm for war is juxtaposed with her father’s peaceful beliefs and 6 years later this doesn’t get addressed as much, although one could say her going after the fang girl was the triumph of her ‘war’ side 

sisu’s design (and all the dragons really) irks me in that it’s too human- besides the pastel colours which i absolutely abhor (there’s not really any contrast, is there), the fact that they’re ancient creatures, having lived 500 years ago and are literally magic, why do they have to look like humans?? i hate it when in fantastical worldbuilding human features are given to species that absolutely do not need them

i for one am mad that the concept design which had black outlining the eyes and mouth and gold on the gill things wasn’t used, and it looked perfect for a water dragon with its very koi-like patterns

but for what it’s worth, props for steering clear of western dragon anatomy! asian dragons tend to be more snake-like rather than lizard-y and so the gratuitous shots of sisu snaking through the sky made me appreciate her design a little bit more

holy crap i love this whip-sword

the function of the gems confuses me: since sisu is shown to still have powers despite being away from the gems, why are they important except for warding off the druun? since the twist was realising the pieces had to combined and they had sought to collect the gem pieces before sisu ‘died’, what was their goal??

there’s a surprising amount of fight choreography for a disney movie, and it’s actually cool? like it’s amazing with the weapons, but when they both dropped their weapons and just went at each other with nothing but pure hand-to-hand combat I was so happy

love the parallel between the crossbow pointing at sisu and the sword triggering the crossbow 

the whip sword is awesome

lowkey thought the blue stone in the dragon pendant was gonna be the last piece of the gem that namaari didn’t even know she owned à la over the moon but was pleasantly surprised they didn’t stick with that!

the huge guy with the baby is best duo 

the hatred on raya’s face when she stormed into the palace was amazing and the fight that ensued had some really cool lighting holy-

can’t believe I'm saying this since I went in this movie unusually happy it doesn’t promise any romance, but the tension between raya and namaari and especially the fight scenes? unparalleled- take that what you will but between Raya’s sword and Namaari’s double blades, something is indeed going on

finally! a final fight where the side characters actually helped in the battle! bonus points for raya to realise what they were doing was more important and heroic than what she was at that moment

her distrust for namaari was what triggered the crossbow and her realising taking the first step to trust was the only way to lead the others to do the same...!! just wished she’d shown a bit more guilt or remorse at being partially responsible for sisu’s death 

Not me gushing over the rain running down the stone statues and gradually falling away to reveal them still being alive  because the textures

why oh why did the other dragons have to be back?? at first I thought raya’s naïveté at dragons being the only solution to peace was gonna be her lesson, that dragons don’t magically make the world better and you can’t bring peace without initiating it yourself- which kinda turned out to be true, she did save the world by initiating trust, so why are the other dragons back?? if the first magic didn’t save them, why did the second?? biggest criticism of the film so far (edit: comments have suggested raya and co. putting their trust in the dragon’s magic was what brought the dragons back, which, fair enough. but alas my desire for the dragons to remain stone still stands)

the whip sword

i pedantically have an issue with the ending boat scenes that concluded one adventure after the other- this director loves offscreen dialogue over a wide shot of the boat, which is fine BUT the dialogue always starts way too early and the volume never lowers to a suitable distance and it’s annoying me

some lines do seem to start too early, before the visuals cut to the next shot, without letting the scene breathe but maybe that’s just my lagging 

there are some places where the split screens and special effects don’t serve the scene all that well and are only there to look cool (which on its own is a good enough reason but cmon disney!) like the beginning fight where there’s a really short shot of a split screen of raya and her dad, where her dad’s screen enters when he utters one line of dialogue before sliding out of frame. a lot of times this feels too videogame-y instead of a film

overall, this is a story that could’ve been told by anyone, but ultimately in its execution this movie is undoubtedly very disney. i have this nagging feeling that if this were made by some other studio, raya’s inner conflict of saving her dad rather than saving her world would have been focused on a lot more instead of the dragon stuff

and also, the fact that saving her dad = saving the world (it practically requires the same steps: retrieve the gems, un-stone everyone) really doesn’t drive the conflict between raya’s personal goal and the ‘right’ thing to do 

to me, disney movies have a very general and surface level message that’s applicable to all ages and they package it very well in cool animation, good music and quality voice acting; it stops there at the thematic elements, however, and doesn’t go deeper than that. 

raya’s desire for vengeance is very quickly resolved upon her facing the demon-things and realising she needs to trust, thus righting her priorities cleanly and swiftly. but raya stands out from other princesses in that she believes the world is broken, having being broken herself, and no longer has hope in the world- her quest is to solely bring her dad back. 

this I feel like could have been touched on and explored in really cool ways, but it didn’t, which was what I expected anyways. disney has perfected their formula for safe, generally good movies, and doesn’t even try to dig deeper into the stories they choose to tell, which is an absolute shame because this is such a cool concept!

can’t you tell i love the whip sword

[arthurainw268]

15 Up-and-Coming Trends About Mortal Kombat X Generator

Skin Packs.

Luckily, fighting games are best appreciated versus a human challenger, and also solo play is additional if you have the ability to discover a competing partner. MKX has plenty of nice touches that cater to competitive-level players, like comprehensive frame data, the option to include diagonals in your action inputs, as well as button checks (with push-to-set controls) at the personality pick screen. But there aren't sufficient guidelines to help bridge the space between professionals as well as newcomers. The few tutorials are sporadic, with virtually absolutely no guidance on exactly how to appropriately utilize each variation; there additionally aren't any type of trials to show gamers which combos ought to be their bread-and-butter attack strings.

Mortal Kombat Vs Dc, Mk9, And Also Mkx.

Good gameplay, ruthless battling, renowned preferred personalities past as well as present. I got this game not understanding that XL is kinda the very same game however with Jason. and various other fun competitors. I will pick up from this mistake and also maintain the bargain I won't return it yet possibly a close friend or relative might like the X copy? Sorry I did not recognize I honestly assumed they were different games, like sequels.

Mortal Kombat X incorporates unparalleled, cinematic discussion with all brand-new gameplay. For the very first time, gamers can choose from several variants of each character influencing both approach and also dealing with style. For regional single-player, the game supplies Story setting, a plot-driven setting with cutscenes between battles; as well as Living Towers, a progressed kind of Mortal Kombat's Obstacle Tower where the play conditions alter. Playing online, the play modes include 1 vs. 1, King of capital, Survivor, and Examination Your Good luck.

Besides, I feel it's more important to depict a personality's motivations and individuality via gameplay than cutscenes. The settings, meanwhile, are several and differed, thinking about that ultimately Mortal Kombat X adapts definitely to the template of a 3D arcade competitor used a 2D airplane. Tower mode offers the conventional game development design, as well as provides a number of rotates on dealing with the game's cast https://mortalkmobileguide.info/ back-to-back.

After that there's the tale setting; some five-to-eight hrs worth-- relying on your capacity-- of fights amidst reams of cut-scenes. Component character-spotters' follower solution, part guided tour of different boxers' designs, the story mode is teeming with hackneyed dialogue. Thus, while it's no instance of the computer game type's narrative potential, it does a marvellous job of evoking a feeling of those ridiculous gallery cut-scenes infamously located in light weapon games. And also somehow, it's a style that suits Mortal Kombat X rather well. Its astonishingly terrible strikes and also casualties-- which somehow take care of to trump even those of its 2011 precursor, Mortal Kombat, in their imaginative gore-- could verify hard even for some developed players to stomach.

Matt Elliott of PC Player had actually blended feelings about the online gameplay and also stated that "Mortal Kombat online just isn't durable enough to continue to be affordable".

For the very first time, Mortal Kombat X provides gamers the capacity to pick from numerous variants of each character influencing both method and combating style.

Players step into an original story showcasing a few of the game's most respected characters including Scorpion as well as Sub-Zero, while introducing brand-new oppositions that represent the forces of great as well as wicked and also tie the story with each other.

Mortal Kombat X is NetherRealm Studios' following extremely prepared for installation in its fabulous, critically acclaimed fighting game franchise that drives the iconic franchise right into a brand-new generation.

Players additionally will certainly come across solid however occasional blasphemy, consisting of "f-- k.". Precisely what you would get out of a fighting game or certainly a mortal kombat game, they made enhancements on all elements of the game, produced lots of game settings, presented some brand-new characters and also took a step forward. Mortal Kombat X offers the best story setting I have actually ever before directly seen in a fighting game. Its cohesive plot and also expanded cinematics makes you feel far more like a participant in a film than a player on the couch. The combating is frantic, fluid, and also dynamic, with the marvelous goriness of the X-Ray relocations commonly transforming the trends of fight.

DLC IntrusionGoro is plainly used in game modes as an A.I. He gets on the personality choose screen, but this serves only as a tease for the costs DLC. While the last game retold the classic narrative, Mortal Kombat X offers an entirely new tale. Though the story does not really take place during a competition, it strikes all the notes MK fans can desire from an all-new arc.

Yet beyond the blood and viscera is a really well-made combating game that's accessible to laid-back players as well as simultaneously gratifying for even more specialized gamers who invest time in finding out each character's seemingly endless range of strikes. Moms and dads require to recognize that Mortal Kombat X is an amazingly terrible fighting game with a few of one of the most extreme representations of characters eliminating one another ever before seen.

Fighters can do points such as punch openings in opponents' upper bodies to disclose their spinal columns, make use of swarms of insects to consume flesh to the bone, and cut skulls in fifty percent to allow their brains ooze out. Killing enemies is up to players, however also nonlethal assaults mid-match can show visuals representations of blood as well as gore, including X-ray shots of bones being damaged and organs obtaining shredded. All the combatants plainly take pleasure in carrying out these gory assaults and executions.

Mobile Game.

Honestly, both games are great simply the XL and also X being the same yet with bonus offer fighters kinda tossed me off. Mortal Kombat X has actually changed the game with the 3 variation fighting system, you pick a character, after that among 3 variations! there are brand-new brutalities, which occur when a gamer is at low health and you do an unique relocation, as well as quitality's, which occur when a player online quits, as well as there head explodes.

[ontheoddoccasioniwritestuff]

When Words Fail (Rey x Reader)

Summary: Rey is finding it hard to tell a girl she has feelings for. But actions speak louder than words, right? All she needs is a push in the right direction. 

AN: You know the hardest part of writing lesbian fics? The fact that they both have her/she pronouns and you don’t want to refer to one as “the brunette” because the reader might be a brunette so it’s like ??? I’m probably going to do a part two of this because it’s really cute. This is a day early because it was requested by @leavelukealone2k17 who is my cousin and it's her birthday today. Happy Birthday, my love!

Masterlist

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 “Hey Jess, not much damage this time, I hope,” Y/N greeted her best friend - Jessika Pava, trusted member of Black Squadron - who was climbing out of the cockpit. The mission had been a total success, no one had died and there wasn’t another mission for a few days. Things were looking up for the Resistance.

 “Oh, nothing too serious,” Jessika joked, removing her helmet, “Just the usual damage from debris and a possible burnt out circuit board.”

 Y/N grinned, “The usual then.” She removed the panel protecting the raw parts of the engine. She was right – absolutely nothing serious. Securing her tool-belt on her waist, Y/N began her routine checks for anything else awry with the T-70 X-Wing.

 Meanwhile, Jessika went over to check with Poe. The mission had been a little rough around the edges and she wanted to check on her other best friend. He was currently talking Temmin Wexley; both men were leaning on Wexley’s own X-Wing like they were applying for the Resistance’s Next Top Model.

 Spying Jessika watching them, Poe excused himself.

 “Hey, Jess. How you doing?” He greeted with a dashing smile.

 “I’m good, my X-Wing’s less good,” Jess cut to the chase, “I need a favour. You know Y/N?”

 “Yeah, cute mechanic over there, what about her?”

 “Ok, she told me she has always wanted to learn how to fly, to be a pilot and I was thinking-”

 “You want me to teach her?”

 “No,” Jess glared at Poe for interrupting her.

 “Why don’t you teach her then?”

 “Well, I only found out a week ago. Besides,” Jessika leant closer so Poe could hear her hushed voice, “I think she would prefer a different teacher.”

 “Ok, who?”

 “A certain pilot who is new on base and is good friends with your droid?”

 “Khyas?” Poe said not catching on, “I mean he fixes Bee alright but I wouldn’t say they're friends.”

 Poe’s brain was clearly fried from the mission and his talk with Finn over comms on the way home so it took a while for him to load. Sighing, Jessika placed a hand atop his curls and rotated his head to where Rey was kneeling before BB8.

 “Ahh. In that case, I’ll pass bi later and let you know,” Poe grinned and Jessika groaned as she realised he’d sneaked another pun into his dialogue.

 “Oh, that was a bad one.”

 “I’ll see you later, Jess. Nice work today.”

 “Bi then,” Jessika emphasised, watching Poe began to walk away then a few seconds later freeze and turn back round with an expression of resignation. A mass juxtaposition to Jessika’s expression of delight.

 “Oh, you…” Words failing him, Poe turned again to get BB8 alone and clue him in his plan.

 BB8 had gone along with the plan, subtly dropping into conversation that Y/N wanted to become a pilot but had settled of the role of mechanic to work the magic of the X-Wing behind the scenes. Rey’s wistful looks now filled with hope; she strided over to Y/N who was coated in oil and patting down her grimy overalls.

 “You want to know how to fly,” Rey said bluntly. She meant it as a question but the tone in her voice made it sound more like an accusation.

 Y/N was caught out with this question, only managing to answer with an unintelligent “uh”. Rey had never spoke to her before. She was pretty intimidating and intimidatingly pretty with unparalleled hand-to-hand combat skills using the staff she was currently gripping. It was unconsciously threatening.

 “Meet me after lunch. Zachary will relieve you and I will teach you how to fly.”

 “Really?” Y/N’s face lit with a dopey smile and Rey gave a small one in return.

 “Yes. I’ll see you then.” And she strode away, tensely gripping her staff. Y/N was starstruck, gobsmacked, in awe, any synonym to describe the feeling of overwhelming shock combined with happiness. After swaying on her feet, she power-walked back to the base to go have a shower - or two judging by the smell of her overalls.

 Rey stood tapping her foot nervously as she waited by the cafeteria. BB8 had given her some advice – not very good advice. So she made sure that she was going to do the opposite of what he said. Finn had offered some piece of mind to her - specifically about hygiene - which she followed to the letter. She was showered and didn’t have the emotional crutch of her staff with her. The one piece of advice she didn't get was thinking of topics of conversation. She was going to be teaching, not talking.

 Hearing a cough, Rey ceased her tapping. Now squeaky clean in a fresh shirt and black slacks, Y/N had their hands clasped in front of them and was playing with their fingers – a nervous habit.

 “Ready?” She asked anxiously.

 “Yes,” Rey nodded before heading towards the exterior side of the base with Y/N beside her. They walked in silence, unsure of what to say to one another. As they headed outside, Y/N spied Chewbacca standing next to his ship. Rey was striding towards it and with no other destination in that direction, Y/N put two and two together.

 She gasped “We’re going in the Millennium Falcon?”

 “Yes,” Rey said as if it were obvious as she continued to keep walking towards Chewbacca. Y/N held back as he growled at Rey- she was just a tad intimidated by the Wookie. He was apparently concerned about the well-being of his ship.

 “It’s ok, Chewie. She’s not replacing you,” Rey assured with a smile, clearly unafraid of the seven foot tall shag rug with a bowcaster whilst also praying Y/N didn’t hear her. She waved said person over and said goodbye to her co-pilot.

 Out of respect for Chewbacca, Y/N gave a wave and a nod for thanks. Chewbacca growled back, ending with something that sounded like a yawn, before heading towards the base.

 “He says he trusts you,” Rey clarified as they entered.

 “Uh-huh,” Y/N tried not to gawk at the ship. It was messy with wires running below the grates and into the antique panels. Toggles and switches lined the walls with screens emitting a low blue glow. The smuggler’s ship was so much grottier up close. It was amazing.

 “Uh, won’t we attract attention with this particular ship?”

 “We aren’t going to leave Yavin 4’s atmosphere,” Rey plonked herself in the pilot’s chair, already comfortable with the environment. Y/N tentatively took a seat beside her, aware that Wookie hair in the chair would be stuck to her clothes for the rest of the day.

 “Right, how do I start?”

 Since the Resistance were having a slow time after Black Squadron’s last mission, Rey used her free time to teach Y/N how to fly the Falcon. Since she had pre-existing knowledge about how the spacecraft functioned, she was already pretty good.

 The two women had gotten more comfortable with one another, learning their quirks and methods of learning and teaching. Rey was never really one for conversation so Y/N had gone off her body language instead, which became easier to read as she became more unperturbed around her. It had taken a while; Rey seemed to constantly be in the “fight” option of her “fight or flight” mode.

 Contrary to popular belief, Rey wasn’t one for silence. She liked talking, it was just really hard to do. So many topics of conversation and yet so little and none of them ever seemed to go as planned. Still, Y/N had her at ease. Rey knew she wouldn’t judge her for being unsure with communication such as small talk.

 After some contemplation, she decided to ake it for a test flight:

 “So, why did you want to be a pilot?”

 Sending what she hoped was a reassuring smile, Y/N leant back in her chair, “I just really wanted to when I was a kid and it stuck with me.”

 “Anyone in your family a pilot?” Rey pressed, knowing Poe’s “tragic back-story” and motivation was his mother’s life as a Resistance pilot from Finn.

 “No,” Y/N said casually, “I just like the idea and the feeling. It’s nice.” Then she had an outburst of laughter.

 “What?” Rey asked with a small yet confused smile.

 ““It’s nice” makes it seem like a casual hobby, not fighting the Empire.”

 “Oh,” Rey said, internally slapping herself for sounding so uninterested. Quite the opposite; she could not be more interested in anything Y/N was saying with her sweet voice and delightful laugh.

 “The great pleasure and feeling in my right brain is more than my left brain can find the words to tell you,” Y/N quoted, “Can’t remember who said that but it was in a book I read a while ago.”

 “Uh, why didn’t you become a pilot then?”

 Y/N shrugged, a little wistful, “The Resistance needed mechanics more. I love my job, don’t get me wrong. Flying just always appealed to me.”

 Rey turned back to the controls, happy with her successful small talk. Y/N was pleased too; while she did crave more interaction, she didn’t push it. Out of the corner of her eye, she looked at Rey who had taken over control and was concentrating hard. Her face was scrunched up into a pout with effort. Her eyes were focused. A strand of hair had escaped from one of her three buns and Y/N felt the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

 Shaking the thought from her head, Y/N cursed herself for being so inappropriate. Rey was taking the time to teach her how to fly. Rey was her friend; she didn’t want that.

 The Falcon gently touched down and the platform from the undercarriage lowered for the two women to exit. Chewbacca wasn’t there this time, having grown accustomed to them going out for flying lessons.

 “You’re getting good,” Rey said slowly, choosing her words with care as they stepped down the platform. She wanted to get it right.

 “Thank you, Rey, so much,” Y/N smiled then stopped. Rey stopped with her, though she wasn’t sure why she was hanging back.

 Y/n’s fingers were twitching as she debated over what she was about to do. Then she stepped forward and hugged Rey before she could change her mind. Her skin was soft in spite of her time on Jakku and the hairs that had fallen from her buns tickled her neck, sending a shiver down her spine that she managed to suppress.

 Rey hesitantly hugged Y/N. She smelt of soap and fresh linen as opposed to the grease and fumes of her overalls. With one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist, Rey felt warm inside; she felt safe in Y/N’s arms and she didn’t want to let go. Instinctively, she pulled her tighter, burying her head into her shoulder.

 “You’re welcome,” She said softly. Rey was a multi-linguist but she couldn’t find the words to describe how she felt.

 A series of beeps and whistles emitted from their feet and suddenly, Y/N felt her knees buckle from underneath her from an electric shock. Instantly, Rey reached out and pulled her by the waist to steady her. Burning bright red with embarrassment, Y/N realised she was holding onto Rey’s hand, as if she was being dipped amidst a slow dance.

 Chirping peacefully, BB8 rolled away from the pair with an added whistle of smug achievement at Jessika and Poe who were hiding behind some crates to watch the ongoing scene. They glared snarkely at BB8 and decided to leave the two women alone. Besides, Jess would hear from Y/N and Poe would hear from Finn who would hear from Rey.

 Slowly, Y/N steadied herself and Rey dropped her hand from her waist, her cheeks dusted with pink.

 “Sorry about them,” She apologised, “BB8 is a bit of a rascal.”

 “It’s ok… You’re still holding my hand,” Y/N replied. Rey looked down to see that she was, her eyes wide with apprehension.

 “It’s nice,” Y/N said before Rey could take it away. She started to rub her thumb across Rey’s dorsal side and the ex-scavenger found herself to be smiling again.

 “Roger Sperry,” Y/N said suddenly, breaking eye contact to nod her head in understanding.

 Rey’s eyebrows furrowed adorably in bemusement, “What?”

 “The great pleasure and feeling in my right brain is more than my left brain can find the words to tell you; Roger Sperry said it,” Y/N explained, her quote fading as she turned red with embarrassment, the final words barely a whisper. How ironic that those words would come back to haunt her in the best way.

“I think I know the feeling,” said Rey, gently squeezing Y/N’s hand. A wave of calm washed over them in response and they beamed shyly at each other.

 “Me too.”

AN: I love my two bi kids Jess and Poe and their stupid bi puns. I’m not too savvy with the Star Wars canon so I made this as accurate as I could without having to sift through all the Wookiepedia pages.

[brokenbase]

Horizon: Zero Dawn - BROKEN BASE REVIEWS

That's right - we were lucky enough to score an advanced copy of Horizon: Zero Dawn from Sony! So, what did Steve think about one of the first big console exclusives of the year? Well, go ahead and watch the video! Or, if you wanted to read the review, you’re in luck - the full script is just below the cut!

Horizon: Zero Dawn, the latest game from Killzone developer Guerrilla Games, is already under a lot of pressure. Not only is it one of the first big releases of 2017, but it’s the one of the biggest guns in the PlayStation 4′s exclusive line-up for the year. A new IP, a new heroine, a new engine - even after a fantastic debut and some serious hype, Horizon: Zero Dawn still has a lot left to prove.

There’s a lot to cover when it comes to Horizon. Not only is the game massive in scope, but Guerrilla Games have pulled from a number of other gaming franchises to create one of the most eclectic sandboxes in recent memory. While there’s nothing wrong with pulling inspiration from other, successful franchises, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.

Thankfully, Horizon: Zero Dawn manages to blend its different ideas into a cohesive - and more importantly, fun - open-world action game.

Players take on the role of Aloy, a young woman surviving the harsh wild of a post-apocalyptic Earth. Giant robotic animals roam the planet, leaving humankind to fight for its very survival. As one might expect, it doesn’t take long for Aloy to get swept up in a worldwide conspiracy, forcing her to leave home in search of answers.

To put it bluntly, the first few hours of the story are rough. Aloy is enjoyable enough, but the story of an outcast trying to fit into society is downright generic. It’s far too easy to predict exactly what will happen, and it’s not nearly interesting enough to create any sort of emotional attachment.

Once the intro is out of the way, Horizon’s story does get better. The game’s world and the people in it manage to create a setting that’s both far-flung and believably grounded - given that this is a world where giant robot dinosaurs roam the wilderness, that’s saying something. It definitely helps that many of the player’s actions actually make an impact: Seeing decisions and questlines come full circle as the game progresses is a great touch, and does a lot to make Horizon’s side quests feel like more than inconsequential errands.

But it’s the story of the machines and their origins that’s the true star of the show. Horizon’s A.I.-centric plot may be a new take on an established concept, but a number of genuinely surprising twists and a distinct identity keep it from feeling stale. Sadly, the pacing is extremely lopsided: the story becomes an unrelenting deluge of information during its second half, and it can be overwhelming at times.

What’s worse is that Aloy’s personal story doesn’t hold up nearly as well. Her storyline takes a backseat for far too long, and the main villain doesn’t have enough of a presence throughout the game to feel like a real threat. By the time the credits roll, the whole revenge plot feels like more of a sidenote than anything.

As a whole, characterization is flawed: Aloy herself is enjoyable, and some of the side characters are great, but nearly everyone else is either forgettable or entirely unlikable. For whatever reason, Aloy’s closest ally is an absolute prick throughout the entire game, while the central villains are basically nonexistent. It’s completely backwards, and choices like these derail the story on more than one occasion.

Simply put, the narrative of Horizon: Zero Dawn is all over the place: some parts of the story are fantastic, while others drag the experience down. Personal tastes will be a factor in your enjoyment of the story, but once it gets going, the good usually outweighs the bad.

Anyone who’s played an open-world game from the past ten years will know exactly what to expect from Horizon: Zero Dawn. The entirety of the game’s single-player story takes place in a massive seamless map filled to the brim with NPCs, quests and hidden collectibles. Players complete story missions to advance the plot, and side quests to earn optional rewards. Scaling specific machines will reveal large portions of the map, and fast-travel points open up as players explore the world.

At first glance, it might seem like Horizon’s strict adherence to the standard open-world formula wouldn’t leave much room for new ideas...and while that’s true in some respects, it’s also selling the game short. The overall structure may be familiar, but the gameplay itself is an entirely different beast.

With a focus on stealth, ancient weaponry and RPG mechanics, one would be forgiven for assuming that playing through Horizon: Zero Dawn is a slow, methodical experience. In reality, that’s only half-true.

Players will spend the majority of their time playing Horizon doing one of two things: engaging enemy combatants head-on, or sneaking around them. Combat and movement are fast and loose while simultaneously rewarding those who play with precision. It’s possible to let off a slew of arrows quickly, but it’s far more satisfying to pick off enemies one at a time with carefully-placed shots.

Human enemies, for the most part, don’t provide much resistance. Their sheer numbers can be a threat, and more powerful variants are introduced as the game goes on, but they don’t hold a candle to the robotic enemies that players will face.

Without the ability to take out a target with a single shot, combat against the machines becomes far more tactical. Weapon choice, enemy layouts, terrain, available ammo, healing items - everything has to be taken into consideration before taking the first shot. Actual combat is a chess game of positioning, targeting weakpoints and isolating weaker enemies, and it’s a blast from beginning to end. Fights against multiple machines can be a bit too chaotic for their own good, and certain enemy types are overpowered, but these issues are minor in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, combat is more complicated than just bows and arrows. Aloy’s arsenal does a fine job of both encouraging experimentation and allowing players to find a specific style that works for them. Different ammo types and elemental status effects offer even more variety, though the upgrade system isn’t quite as successful. Purchasing or crafting better gear is definitely helpful, but grinding for the specific parts required to do so relies entirely on random chance. Get ready to hunt a lot of rabbits.

Skills points and leveling up are the final piece of the combat puzzle, and it’s exactly what you would expect. More experience means more skills, such as slowing down time while aiming or more powerful melee attacks. It’s another way that players can customize their play style, but it’s nothing new, either.

The rest of the gameplay is fun, if not entirely noteworthy. Puzzles and platforming are basically automatic, and don’t provide any real sense of challenge. Collectibles are fun to find, but the rewards for finding them aren’t anything special. Dialogue trees are an interesting addition, but there are only a few instances where Aloy’s response actually changes anything.

It’s a shame that the smaller aspects of Horizon’s gameplay aren’t as polished as the core mechanics, but it’s clear that Guerrilla Games focused on what matters. Combat feels great, and sneaking through an enemy encampment is extremely satisfying. It would have been nice if everything were as engaging as the combat, but Horizon nails its core gameplay so well that these small missteps are easy to forgive.

From the moment that players press Start, one thing is obvious: Horizon: Zero Dawn is absolutely gorgeous. Nearly everything about the game’s presentation is phenomenal, from the environments to the character models to the sound design to the insane level of detail.

Watching as Aloy or any one of the massive machines move through the environment is a sight to behold, and the sheer number of different animations is staggering. Lighting is another highlight, with the use of color and shadow standing head-and-shoulders above most other games in the industry. Horizon is a game that revels in creating atmosphere.

What pulls everything together is the game’s unparalleled sense of scale. True, there are plenty of games with massive open worlds, but few truly take advantage of their sandboxes. Horizon, on the other hand, is constantly using the scope of its world to amazing effect. It’s huge, in every sense of the word, and it’ll make your jaw drop more than once.

Granted, the presentation isn’t perfect. Facial animation is noticeably limited, and characters don’t really emote. Some of the voice work (typically whenever children are involved) also falls short, and a few minor technical issues pop up from time to time. That being said, a few infrequent hang-ups aren’t nearly enough to derail one of the best-looking games of this generation. Horizon: Zero Dawn is both an artistic and technical marvel, and proof that there’s still plenty of room to grow in the current generation of consoles.

Horizon: Zero Dawn isn’t a perfect game. The story is unfocused, the intro drags on for far too long, and the pacing is ridiculously unbalanced.

But, when you look at the bigger picture, it’s easy to see just how good Horizon really is. The game may draw its mechanics from a number of different series, but everything comes together so well that it’s hard not to be impressed. It’s also a technical marvel, with an unparalleled attention to detail and infinitely impressive scale. The game may stick to some open-world traditions a bit too strictly, but at the end of the day, Horizon is still one of the most polished games in recent memory.

If Horizon: Zero Dawn is just the first piece of Sony’s exclusive line-up in 2017, then PlayStation 4 owners have a lot to look forward to.

[kuwaiti-kid]

The 15 Best Nintendo Switch RPGs

Full of both brand-new vibrant titles and critically acclaimed classics, the Nintendo Switch has become a hot commodity among the gaming world.

The Nintendo Switch video games bring this iconic storytelling on the go.

Switch video games have as wide a range of addicting games as any home-based console. You can find everything from Animal Crossing New Horizons to the beloved creations of Square Enix.

There are so many to cover; we could spend an entire day going over all the fantastic games produced on the Nintendo Switch!

Lucky for you, we have pulled our 15 best Nintendo Switch Roleplaying games for you to try!

The 15 Best Nintendo Switch RPGs

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive, sprawling open-world RPG. It is a world full of Titans – enormous living creatures that house entire civilizations on their bodies. Along the way, you’ll meet a wide variety of characters, solve a bunch of quests, and save the world.

Created by Monolift Soft, the same creators of Breath of the Wild, there is no doubting the quality of the creation.  Ambitious, enormous, and enthralling it delivers a memorable experience.

If you are ready to play and save the world of Alrest, you must first demystify its cloudy past.

Love this title and waiting for more? The Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch in May 2020!

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Our next installment Nintendo Switch installment, hardly needs an introduction as it falls amongst one of the most classic and iconic series, Zelda. In Breath of the Wild, we return to the expansively beautiful and colorfully captivating land of Hyrule. Reprising your role as Link, you embark on another brilliant adventure.

But what elevates Breath of Wild above its open-world contemporaries is its sheer freedom. This open-world allows you to run, climb, or jump anywhere you want to go. Part of the intrigue? You must figure out how to get there.

Additionally, Breath of the Wild’s skillful combat is as approachable as it is deep, but you’ll need to study and refine it if you want to survive into later part of the game.

With its open-world design, endless mystery, and a plethora of things being dangled in front of you for you to explore, Breath of the Wild will always leave you wanting more.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive – Edition

You are the Luminary, the hunted hero who will protect the land from destruction in the latest Switch RPG from the iconic Dragon Quest series. With a shaggy group of adventurers, you’ll engage in well-balanced, turn-based battles and embark on quests across the kingdom of Erdrea.

You can even complete the new tale with new character-focused stories, and travel to past Dragon Quest worlds.

With fully voiced dialogues and rich character personalities, this Nintendo Switch RPG truly brings your imagination to life if you haven’t tried Dragon Quest before I highly suggest that you start now.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

The brilliant cover art alone makes you want to give this Switch RPG a second glance! Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the story of three separate houses, territories, and journeys.

War is coming to the continent of Fódlan. Here, the order is maintained by the Church of Seiros, which hosts the prestigious Officer’s Academy within its headquarters. You are invited to teach one of its three mighty houses. As their professor, you must lead your students in their academic lives and, in turn-based, tactical RPG battles wrought with strategic, new twists to overcome.

Which house, and which path, will you choose?

Grab yourself a copy of this Switch RPG and embark on this intriguing story!

Diablo III: Eternal Edition

You’re a surrounded world’s only defense against Heaven and Hell. Diablo III: Eternal Collection is a lovely port of a classic RPG loot-a-thon that keeps its feet firmly in the past.

The execution is excellent, but while gameplay is fantastic for some to others, it may be an acquired taste. The primary gameplay is exactly that, an abundance of loot collection while slashing hordes upon hordes of enemies. Its visuals are also clear and functional if not especially impressive, but performance is top-notch to make up for it.

 If you’re looking for epic grinding, hordes of loot, and a dark continuous storyline, this is definitely the game for you.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

There is no surprise here that we have an epic Pokémon game on the Nintendo Switch list!

 Pokémon Sword and Shield succeed in bringing some new ideas to the table. The vast expanse of land in the Galar region, known as the Wild Area, is both colorful and beautiful. The wonders of exploring the Wild Area feel like the true evolution of the series. They even expanded to having an online competition: Galar Beginnings!

On the whole, Pokémon Sword and Shield are an excellent start to the HD generation of Pokémon games. Now It’s time to begin your adventure as a Pokémon Trainer by choosing one of three new partners!

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is an excellent example of what developers should aspire to do with remastering old games; this is the best-designed and most enjoyable version of this RPG classic currently on the market, and it can all be played on the go.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age improves upon the 2006 classic FINAL FANTASY® XII, now more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The high-definition remaster introduces several modern advancements, including reconstructed battle design and a revamped job system.

The Gambit-focused combat system still proves to be one of the best we’ve seen in an RPG to date, making it dangerously easy for hours to slip by as you work on min-maxing characters to the best of their abilities.

Players, both returning and new to the game, will experience a grand adventure that spans the world of Ivalice in an entirely fresh and improved way.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age may not prove to be the most iconic Final Fantasy ever made, but it’s still a really great game in its own right.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

While Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition doesn’t make any major changes to the original game, it does combine practically every piece of exclusive content into one perfected package.

A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the Blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends traveling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all.

With the improved graphics in both cutscenes and gameplay, it is impossible to honestly recommend this JRPG classic on anything other than the Nintendo Switch. This RPG game performs exceptionally well in both the docked and the handheld modes.

If you’ve missed out on this classic, there’s never been a better way to rectify that error.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Battle Chasers; Nightwar frames a beautiful world with a surprising amount of depth. It is a modernized game version that dabbles in the old school charm of retro RPG design.

It contains an expansive overworld filled with secrets, exploration areas, and dungeons. Dungeons are filled with traps, treasure, and dangerous creatures. It contains enhanced progression through crafting, loot, and enchanting.

The traditional turn-based RPG combat system is used, showing tribute to the original classic battle system styles.

This is a methodically modernized version of the classic RPG games we have come to know and love.

Octopath Traveler

The Square Enix studio developed Octopath Traveler, and it definitely lives up to the expectation in the final product.

From its sensational art style to its impeccable mechanics, it’s the kind of RPG game that keeps an eye on the past while walking bravely into the future. This game has a brilliantly harmonious blend that walks the line between classic history and the bright future.

Octopath Traveler is an excellent game for both fans and newcomers of RPGs; it does a fantastic job of walking that diligent tight rope of accessibility and depth, satisfying both kinds with its bewildering amount of content.

Classic-inspired gameplay, an orchestrated soundtrack, and a unique approach to storytelling make this a game that you won’t want to pass up. An absolute must buy.

Child of Light: Ultimate Edition

Child of Light is a gorgeous RPG developed in the same UbiArt Framework that gifted us Rayman Origins and Legends.

Join Aurora on her journey to save her ailing father and a lost kingdom in the magical world of Lemuria. Along the way, she’ll discover that her destiny may be far greater than she dreamed.

You will battle wicked witches, sea serpents, and oddball creatures. Work together with allies to solve puzzles and mysteries while upgrading your stats, unlocking unique abilities, and using unique gems to improve your skills.

Both pleasantly delightful and carefully crafted, Child of Light: Ultimate Edition is a wonder to play anytime or anywhere.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is a critically acclaimed cross-platform masterpiece. The expansive world, endless side quests, and fully immersive experience is only improved by being available on the go via Nintendo switch.

The legendary freedom of choice and adventure of Skyrim is realized like never before. Dragons, long lost to the passages of the Elder Scrolls, have returned, and the future of Skyrim hangs in the balance. As Dragonborn, the prophesized hero born with the power of The Voice, you are the only one who can stand amongst them.

Elder Scrolls Skyrim exudes an unparalleled level of freedom and gameplay finesse. This one will keep you fully immersed both on the go and at home.

Dark Souls Remastered

Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran in stunning detail. This remastered version includes the main game plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. This marks the franchise’s debut on a Nintendo platform, and for the first time ever, can be played on-the-go with Nintendo Switch.

Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by the Curse. Explore its intricate world design, full of hidden passages, dungeons, and secrets. It is rich with possibilities having hundreds of unique weapons, armor, magic, and crafting combinations.

Dark Souls even has a multiplayer option of up to 6 people. Whether you are looking to quest alone or conquer with friends, this Nintendo Switch roleplaying game deserves a go!

The World Ends with You: Final Remix

Over ten years on from the Nintendo DS original, The World Ends With You has lost none of the fun or style that made it such a cult classic.

The chaotic battle system, catchy soundtrack, and engaging storyline all combine to make this an unforgettable RPG that hits all the right points.

We follow through Tokyo as Neko, who awoke in the middle of a busy intersection with no knowledge of how he got there. Now he and his partner must fight to survive a life-or-death game in this twisted tale.

The dark story is now brought to life on the Nintendo Switch system along with an extra chapter, exclusive two-player combat, and some killer, new remixed music.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

This charming tale has been brought to life on the switch using expertly blended standard RPG

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is an experience unlike any other on the Switch, expertly combining conventional RPG imaging with a heartwarming story, innovative art style, and an immersive soundtrack composed by some of the best in the business.

Join Oliver as he embarks on an adventure through a world inhabited by new friends and ferocious foes alike in the hopes of bringing back his mother after a tragic incident. Carry a copy of the Wizard’s Companion and accompanies by his trusty friend Drippy, he will cross a lavish fantasy world.

Whether you consider yourself an avid fan or are just looking to dip your toe into the vast sea of RPGs, you owe it to yourself to give Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch a shot.

Wrap Up

This list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of what the Nintendo Switch has to offer. There are so many different Switch RPG editions that deserve a turn!

Whether you are looking to go on an adventure as Geralt in Witcher Wild Hunt, explore the world of Stardew Valley, or just want to get ridiculous in South Park, you cannot go wrong with the Nintendo Switch.

Grab your Switch, select a game, and begin your adventure into the beautiful unknown.

Are you looking for more RPG Games? Don’t miss our Best RPG lists for the PS1 and PS2!

Where can I buy Nintendo Switch RPG Games?

Nintendo Game Store

Gamestop

Best Buy

Amazon

The post The 15 Best Nintendo Switch RPGs appeared first on Your Money Geek.

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[entergamingxp]

DualShockers’ Favorite Games of 2019 — Allisa’s Top 10

December 29, 2019 2:00 PM EST

My top 10 for 2019 include some obvious choices, such as Fire Emblem: Three Houses and the Ace Attorney trilogy, and a few surprises.

As 2019 comes to a close, DualShockers and our staff are reflecting on this year’s batch of games and what were their personal highlights within the last year. Unlike the official Game of the Year 2019 awards for DualShockers, there are little-to-no-rules on our individual Top 10 posts. For instance, any game — not just 2019 releases — can be considered.

2019 for me is a year filled with surprises. Although the majority of games on this list were ones that I expected to love, a few of these titles truly threw me for a loop with how much I enjoyed playing them. And for me, that’s the most rewarding part about gaming — finding those hidden gems that reignite your passion for your hobby while challenging your notion of what makes a good game in the first place.

So with that said, here are my top 10 games for 2019.

10. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Ace Attorney is one of my favorite franchises of all time, and this collection of the first three in the series–particularly the Switch version–is by far the best way to play it. Not to mention that so many years later the characters, writing, and gameplay still holds up incredibly well.

The writing really is the standout in this series with plenty of heartwarming and hilarious moments conveyed through near flawless story presentation and pacing. With the remastered sprite art, updated translations, and remastered music of the trilogy this already fantastic series has been elevated even more.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Ace Attorney Trilogy.

9. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

After being so badly burned on the lackluster Fire Emblem Fates, all I could hope for the next entry in the main series was something decent. Instead I got my favorite Fire Emblem game in the franchise. The characters are well-written, fleshed out, and with fully realized character arcs.

The gameplay not only polishes the classic tactical formula we all know and love, but also added in bold new mechanics such as the School system. Instead of worrying about future babies, we get by far the most class depth and customization in any FE title. It’s an absolutely solid tactical RPG that continued to blow me away until the very end.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

8. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered

Being able to play Final Fantasy VIII, my favorite entry in the franchise, on my Switch was an experience filled not only with nostalgia but with reminders as to why I loved this entry so much in the first place. Though it seriously misstepped with its romance plot (I’m in favor of removing it all together), this is a game of innovation and risk.

It discarded the hugely popular Materia system from FFVII and instead created one that emphasized on character customization without the need for strict class systems. It introduced summons that have an actual impact on both gameplay and story outside of “doing tons of damage.” And the narrative itself was incredibly subtle and thought-provoking, letting players interpret key plot points without spoonfeeding them story beats. It’s an incredible game that still holds up today, and most importantly, the updated graphics finally let Squall be the most handsome guy in the room.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Final Fantasy VIII Remastered.

7. Pokemon Sword and Shield

I love Pokemon. So, I knew that I would enjoy Sword and Shield regardless of fan controversies, especially with the quality of life changes, brand new Dynamaxing mechanic, fine-tuned battle system, a truly, uniquely designed region, the introduction of the huge Wild Area, and the best 3D graphics this series has seen to date. But what I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the characters so much. The Gym Leaders alone have so much flare and personality, but then we have Champion Leon who’s kind, human, charismatic, and extensively involved in his region.

And of course Hop, the best developed rival character in Pokemon history. His character arc is not only incredibly relatable (living under the shadow of his successful and older sibling) but the way that development is conveyed in the story and gameplay. His animations change to match Leon’s because Hop thinks imitating him is right way of things. He swaps out his first and most treasured Pokemon at one point because a crushing defeat and harsh words damaged his self esteem, and his eventual career choice in the end that’s wholly himself. Hop takes an already fun game and adds tons of heart and that’s what really cemented this game in my heart as one of my favorites of 2019.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Pokemon Sword and Shield.

6. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

My second favorite entry in the Final Fantasy mainline franchise, its inclusive was also a no brainer. I really, really love Final Fantasy XII. It has a richly detailed and extensive world that’s breathtaking to explore, the characters are interesting and well-acted, and its politically-focused plot is a welcome breath of fresh air that never fails to deliver on its intrigue.

The gameplay is also absolutely phenomenal, as it takes the character customization systems of Final Fantasy VIII and X and combines them together while polishing them to a near-perfect sheen. And most importantly, Vaan’s abs have finally been fixed. If I ever had to recommend a single title in the franchise, this one would be right up there with Tactics.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age.

5. Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire’s Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition

The Professor Layton series is one that I’ve always enjoyed because of its excellent soundtracks, fun and satisfying puzzles, the charming characters and graphics. The latest entry in the series, Mystery Journey, is no slouch, as it still manages to deliver on all these points even as it changes direction with a brand new protagonist and different style of story progression through solving cases.

It also managed to accomplish something I didn’t realize I craved: returning the Layton series back to its more focused and simpler roots of the first game, Professor Layton and the Curious Village.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire’s Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition.

4. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

I played this game last year and then replayed it again in 2019. Strange Journey was always one of my favorite entries in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise even, on the DS. It hits my love for sci-fi, so that’s an automatic point in its favor and the endlessly intriguing and dark story starring nothing but adults doing adult things just speaks to me on every level. Not to mention how refreshing it is to play a game that researches and implements its mythological inspirations with a razor sharp accuracy that’s unparalleled in JRPGs.

Redux takes this game and revamps it with some of the best quality of life updates I’ve ever seen in a remake or port. Even then, it also adds on a brand new dungeon, new characters, a new final boss, and three new endings. I can’t sing enough praises for Redux.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux.

3. Octopath Traveler

When I first tried the demo for Octopath Traveler, I knew I was onto something truly special. Not only was the turn-based gameplay fast and strategic, but the story itself has no qualms about submerging its proverbial hands in the grime and muck of its plot, without losing sight of its characters’ motivations and humanity.

Then when the full game released, I fell in love all over again. The plotlines of the eight protagonists are all so varied yet equally compelling, the graphics beyond breathtaking, the battle system even more polished and rewarding while maintaining its strategic depth, and the character customization is rich. This is easily one of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played and it absolutely had to be on my top list for 2019.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Octopath Traveler.

2. Cadence of Hyrule

Despite how awful I am at rhythm games, I find myself addicted to polishing my skills and learning the ins and outs of this game’s battle mechanics. Based off the original Crypt of the NecroDancer, Cadence is set in The Legend of Zelda‘s Hyrule as you dance your way through hordes of foes to save the land either as Link or Zelda.

The 16-bit graphics are richly detailed and colorful while the combat system, although based in rhythm game mechanics, never feels tacked on or out of place. It’s amazing how much I feel like I’m playing a traditional Zelda title.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Cadence of Hyrule.

1. VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

Imagine a world where corporations reign supreme, all human life is infected with nanomachines designed to oppress them, and the terrifying White Knights ensure that everyone obeys the laws. This sounds like the setup for an epic tale of rebellion against an oppressive capitalistic society right? But that’s not it. You play as a bartender who serves her customers whatever drinks they desire while listening to them pour their hearts out. It’s a simple premise that’s executed perfectly.

Between the graphics straight out of a PC-98 Japanese adventure visual novel, killer retro soundtrack, endlessly intriguing and raunchy dialogue, and incredibly unique gameplay centered around making good drinks, VA-11 HALL-A is a real standout title.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action.

Check out the rest of the DualShockers staff Top 10 lists and our official Game of the Year Awards:

December 23: DualShockers Game of the Year Awards 2019 December 25: Lou Contaldi, Editor-in-Chief // Logan Moore, Managing Editor December 26: Tomas Franzese, News Editor // Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor  December 27: Mike Long, Community Manager // Scott White, Staff Writer December 28: Chris Compendio, Contributor // Mario Rivera, Video Manager // Kris Cornelisse, Staff Writer December 29: Scott Meaney, Community Director // Allisa James, Senior Staff Writer // Ben Bayliss, Senior Staff Writer December 30: Cameron Hawkins, Staff Writer // David Gill, Senior Staff Writer // Portia Lightfoot, Contributor December 31: Iyane Agossah, Senior Staff Writer // Michael Ruiz, Senior Staff Writer // Rachael Fiddis, Contributor January 1: Ricky Frech, Senior Staff Writer // Tanner Pierce, Staff Writer

December 29, 2019 2:00 PM EST

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[thomasroach]

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade

The post Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade appeared first on Fextralife.

Recently we were given the opportunity to check out an updated build of Cyberpunk at E3 2019 (now with more Keanu Reeves) though we did see 2 demos last summer. The game looked better than ever, and in this article I want to tell you why Cyberpunk is the game of the decade. Sit back, jack-in and let me explain why you probably won’t see another game like this for a long time based on everything we’ve seen so far.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade

Cyberpunk 2077 gives nearly unlimited freedom in the way you handle quests and characters, which really reminds me of the Fallout games during their heyday. However, Cyberpunk 2077 takes this concept of player choice and brings it home on an unprecedented scale. It isn’t simply that you can follow a quest line, changing your mind about who to help and how to handle it (just about as many times as you could in real life). It’s also about the variety of ways you can approach each quest that will be highly determined by your character Build.

You Don’t Have to Kill

I always felt in Fallout that you could make an intellectual (or charismatic) character, that didn’t focus on violence, but that you were always at a disadvantage in doing so. This is because the game has a moderate amount of combat, and getting into a fight was simply inevitable. This created periodic hardships for this type of character Build. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Much of this issue is rectified by the gunplay of Cyberpunk, but also because of things like Hacking. Hacking allows the player to take control of enemies or objects and turn them against other enemies. This allows them a way to “fight” without being experts in combat themselves, and makes this style of play more accommodating. One particularly interesting thing to note, as well, is that it is entirely possible to beat Cyberpunk 2077 without killing a single person. Or so CD Projekt Red says anyway…

Polished to the Max

Another really amazing aspect to Cyberpunk 2077 is the amount of polish the game already has. Now this may be downgraded at release, and many people suspect that it will, but if it isn’t…forget about it. The closest thing I’ve seen to this type of polish in a game is the recent God of War or maybe Last of Us, and both of those games won Game of the Year. If CD Projekt Red can keep the level of refinement and detail they have shown in their 2 uniquely different demos then I can’t see this game getting less than a 10 from most major outlets. In fact, it’s the only game I can think of that is likely to receive a perfect score by more outlets than it isn’t. Queue Kotaku and Polygon complaints here…

The graphics of the game are excellent, and though not the best I have seen in a game, the level of detail is outstanding. Things run smoothly, characters look and feel realistic, nothing ever jumps out at you to pull you from the immersion. Take The Outer Worlds, which is probably the most similar game releasing within 6 months of Cyberpunk, and it’s a totally the opposite.

While the gameplay looks very good, the poor character animations and odd graphical design choice, leave much to be desired. This detracts heavily from that sense of immersion, and that is a game being developed by Obsidian, which has a relatively stellar track record within the gaming community. I’d wager that Cyberpunk will be 2 to 3 times better than The Outer Worlds at launch, which is staggering…

Freedom and Customization

As mentioned earlier, players will have an unparalleled amount of freedom when it comes to playing Cyberpunk 2077, and they can be the hero or villain. And that can change at the drop of a hat, as players acquire new information that may sway their decisions, or make them have a change of heart.

The main protagonist, V, is very much a neutral character by design, only doing what is necessary to survive. This allows for you to take control, and really determine if what he/she is doing is enjoyable, or loathed, and decide if you wish to change that or not. This isn’t something that is new in gaming, but is certainly a must have for any game to be considered mind blowing.

In addition, players can customize their appearance separately from their equipment, so you can look as badass as you want, without having to worry about which gear to wear. Gear works very similarly to other RPGs with slots for each type of equipment, allowing players to change gear on the fly, with many different types of weapons, but little in the way of Armor. This is one area that is still very much a mystery, as not much has been shown in this regard. However, assuming they don’t do anything too drastic, it will likely be good enough.

Keanu Fucking Reeves

Hollywood and the gaming industry have been on a collision course for some time now, but no one has managed to implement a celebrity in the manner that Cyberpunk 2077 does. Destiny featured Peter Dinklage as the Ghost that helps the Guardian, providing modestly witty dialogue, and Cyberpunk 2077 takes it to a whole new level.

Not only is Keanu Reeves the “Ghost” of Cyberpunk 2077, but you see him constantly in all his “excellence” when he speaks. While this is certainly not a “reason” to purchase the game, and I would never recommend the game simply because of this one aspect, this sort of thing creates even more hype and interest. And if I must say, it works exceptionally well within the gameplay of Cyberpunk, and doesn’t seem like a forced addition in the slightest. I honestly look forward to seeing him more in my own playthrough, while I look at pictures of him on my phone from E3.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot of hype surrounding Cyberpunk 2077, and it’s very easy to get caught up in it and overlook the game’s faults. Objective journalism is becoming a thing of the past, and when you start adding celebrities to the mix, this only becomes more true. Everyone wants to make friends with rising stars, and Keanu Reeves, and so it becomes difficult to criticize games. I have always tried to maintain some semblance of objectivity, though difficult. Witness my recent shredding of The Outer Worlds, which I’m sure didn’t win me any brownie points with Obsidian. So when I say this game may be the best in the past 10 years, it doesn’t come lightly.

Time will tell if I’m right or not, but all indications are that it will be even better than what we’ve seen, and that is something that is frankly hard to fathom. If you have not got caught up in the hype yet, or you are holding out until you see more gameplay, I fully understand. However, just let me say, you will be eventually. Fucking help us in April of next year, because it will absolute mayhem.

Stay tuned for more Cyberpunk 2077 content as we explore how a board game becomes a video game, and be sure to check out the Cyberpunk 2077 Wiki for all information that is currently known.

The post Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade appeared first on Fextralife.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade published first on https://juanaframi.tumblr.com/

[thomasroach]

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade

The post Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade appeared first on Fextralife.

Recently we were given the opportunity to check out an updated build of Cyberpunk at E3 2019 (now with more Keanu Reeves) though we did see 2 demos last summer. The game looked better than ever, and in this article I want to tell you why Cyberpunk is the game of the decade. Sit back, jack-in and let me explain why you probably won’t see another game like this for a long time based on everything we’ve seen so far.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade

Cyberpunk 2077 gives nearly unlimited freedom in the way you handle quests and characters, which really reminds me of the Fallout games during their heyday. However, Cyberpunk 2077 takes this concept of player choice and brings it home on an unprecedented scale. It isn’t simply that you can follow a quest line, changing your mind about who to help and how to handle it (just about as many times as you could in real life). It’s also about the variety of ways you can approach each quest that will be highly determined by your character Build.

You Don’t Have to Kill

I always felt in Fallout that you could make an intellectual (or charismatic) character, that didn’t focus on violence, but that you were always at a disadvantage in doing so. This is because the game has a moderate amount of combat, and getting into a fight was simply inevitable. This created periodic hardships for this type of character Build. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Much of this issue is rectified by the gunplay of Cyberpunk, but also because of things like Hacking. Hacking allows the player to take control of enemies or objects and turn them against other enemies. This allows them a way to “fight” without being experts in combat themselves, and makes this style of play more accommodating. One particularly interesting thing to note, as well, is that it is entirely possible to beat Cyberpunk 2077 without killing a single person. Or so CD Projekt Red says anyway…

Polished to the Max

Another really amazing aspect to Cyberpunk 2077 is the amount of polish the game already has. Now this may be downgraded at release, and many people suspect that it will, but if it isn’t…forget about it. The closest thing I’ve seen to this type of polish in a game is the recent God of War or maybe Last of Us, and both of those games won Game of the Year. If CD Projekt Red can keep the level of refinement and detail they have shown in their 2 uniquely different demos then I can’t see this game getting less than a 10 from most major outlets. In fact, it’s the only game I can think of that is likely to receive a perfect score by more outlets than it isn’t. Queue Kotaku and Polygon complaints here…

The graphics of the game are excellent, and though not the best I have seen in a game, the level of detail is outstanding. Things run smoothly, characters look and feel realistic, nothing ever jumps out at you to pull you from the immersion. Take The Outer Worlds, which is probably the most similar game releasing within 6 months of Cyberpunk, and it’s a totally the opposite.

While the gameplay looks very good, the poor character animations and odd graphical design choice, leave much to be desired. This detracts heavily from that sense of immersion, and that is a game being developed by Obsidian, which has a relatively stellar track record within the gaming community. I’d wager that Cyberpunk will be 2 to 3 times better than The Outer Worlds at launch, which is staggering…

Freedom and Customization

As mentioned earlier, players will have an unparalleled amount of freedom when it comes to playing Cyberpunk 2077, and they can be the hero or villain. And that can change at the drop of a hat, as players acquire new information that may sway their decisions, or make them have a change of heart.

The main protagonist, V, is very much a neutral character by design, only doing what is necessary to survive. This allows for you to take control, and really determine if what he/she is doing is enjoyable, or loathed, and decide if you wish to change that or not. This isn’t something that is new in gaming, but is certainly a must have for any game to be considered mind blowing.

In addition, players can customize their appearance separately from their equipment, so you can look as badass as you want, without having to worry about which gear to wear. Gear works very similarly to other RPGs with slots for each type of equipment, allowing players to change gear on the fly, with many different types of weapons, but little in the way of Armor. This is one area that is still very much a mystery, as not much has been shown in this regard. However, assuming they don’t do anything too drastic, it will likely be good enough.

Keanu Fucking Reeves

Hollywood and the gaming industry have been on a collision course for some time now, but no one has managed to implement a celebrity in the manner that Cyberpunk 2077 does. Destiny featured Peter Dinklage as the Ghost that helps the Guardian, providing modestly witty dialogue, and Cyberpunk 2077 takes it to a whole new level.

Not only is Keanu Reeves the “Ghost” of Cyberpunk 2077, but you see him constantly in all his “excellence” when he speaks. While this is certainly not a “reason” to purchase the game, and I would never recommend the game simply because of this one aspect, this sort of thing creates even more hype and interest. And if I must say, it works exceptionally well within the gameplay of Cyberpunk, and doesn’t seem like a forced addition in the slightest. I honestly look forward to seeing him more in my own playthrough, while I look at pictures of him on my phone from E3.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot of hype surrounding Cyberpunk 2077, and it’s very easy to get caught up in it and overlook the game’s faults. Objective journalism is becoming a thing of the past, and when you start adding celebrities to the mix, this only becomes more true. Everyone wants to make friends with rising stars, and Keanu Reeves, and so it becomes difficult to criticize games. I have always tried to maintain some semblance of objectivity, though difficult. Witness my recent shredding of The Outer Worlds, which I’m sure didn’t win me any brownie points with Obsidian. So when I say this game may be the best in the past 10 years, it doesn’t come lightly.

Time will tell if I’m right or not, but all indications are that it will be even better than what we’ve seen, and that is something that is frankly hard to fathom. If you have not got caught up in the hype yet, or you are holding out until you see more gameplay, I fully understand. However, just let me say, you will be eventually. Fucking help us in April of next year, because it will absolute mayhem.

Stay tuned for more Cyberpunk 2077 content as we explore how a board game becomes a video game, and be sure to check out the Cyberpunk 2077 Wiki for all information that is currently known.

The post Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade appeared first on Fextralife.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Game of the Decade published first on https://juanaframi.tumblr.com/