#like kratos is trying but he's not successful (so far)

[northern-passage]

do you rec god of war (from what you've played)? i've been looking for new rpgs to play but i feel like im 50/50 on this game

so for ragnarok, i haven't really played too much yet to have a real opinion, i've literally only played about 2 hours, and a lot of it has been cutscenes setting up the narrative (like a lot of cutscenes. i was surprised but i'm into it because i like my games with a juicy story. i have seen others complain about this though but i'm withholding judgement since i know i'm still early on and the game is clearly easing me into the story, and i haven't even gotten into the "open world" part yet) BUT that said i have enjoyed what i've played so far.

as for god of war, the first one from 2018, i haven't played it in a few years but i would still 100% recommend! i have some criticisms of that game but nothing major, just that i felt like the characterization of atreus was inconsistent and some aspects of his character arc felt shoehorned in (i can't really say specifics without spoilers)... however i can still excuse it as him just being a kid, and overall the game is really fun and i do still like the story and relationship between kratos and atreus, and all of that outweighs the mild criticism. the combat with the leviathan axe is literally my all-time favorite combat in any game, i love it so much. they did a really good job making both the axe and kratos himself feel very heavy and powerful.

also the character designs are really good. i've been losing my mind over thor in ragnarok so far, and i really like freya (who is in both games) and all of the valkyries. the regions you get to explore are fun, the "fish out of water" greek god dealing with norse gods is interesting, and i like that the core of the narrative in the first game is very mundane, despite everything else that happens. and with the sequel, it feels organic, like the 2018 game clearly set up ragnarok with the way it ended so i do feel confident in ragnarok even though i haven't played much.

i've never played any of the previous god of war games so i can't say anything about those, i went into the 2018 one pretty much blind and only knowing that kratos was the god of war, though i did eventually skim some wiki pages but even then i still have minimal knowledge of kratos' history. which honestly kind of adds to it, for me personally, at least. we know he's done terrible things, we get glimpses of it through kratos' memories, but it's in the past and now he's trying to be better.

so if any of that sounds interesting, you should check it out :-)

[peiskos-and-apricity]

Fated to Fall ~ Sindri x Reader [Pt 8]

Tw: Cannon Typical Violence | Somewhat Graphic Mention of Gore

A/n: yet another not fully edited chapter. It's been so long now since I've updated this and it is mostly because I hate editing and it takes forever. So anyway, there might be some grammar mistakes. Please overlook these and enjoy! (Also I changed the cover art. I think I like the pixel art version better)

|Chapter Selection|

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-

Blood and viscera spilled in every direction as you continued forward, trying to find your way to where the others had run off. You were successful in fighting off the hoards of Einherjar with only minor injuries, but as you tried to run further towards the sounds of familiar voices in the distance, they only seemed to draw farther and farther away; Up until you couldn't hear anyone but yourself and the Einherjar that surrounded you. 

It was then you knew that you were in far more trouble than either of them were. Separated and lost, surrounded on all ends by endless hoards of enemies. So you soon abandoned the goal of finding them as you instead searched for any way out of this horrid place. For a while that too seems like an impossible task that stretched further and further from your reach. Then finally, just when you think you might not ever find a way out of the endless maze, you spot sunlight.

The way up isn't clear, frankly it seems it isn't a way one is supposed to get out of as much as it is a way to fall in. But at this point, covered in blood and bifrost, you're desperate to get out of this cesspit of Odin's army. And so you begin to scale the wooden and dirt walls. It is harder than you would have liked, and you nearly fall a couple of times when Einherjar notice where you've gone and begin to throw things at you. But be it by luck or pure endurance you somehow manage to pull yourself out of this hole in the ground. Scathed, tired and somehow still not regretting your decision to tag along on this trip.

Your relief was incredibly short lived, however, when the creatures of Svartalfheim come to get their piece of you. At this point your skin is near searing from both the heat of this wet, humid, dreadful place and the irritation that threatened to turn to bright golden anger. A metallic taste begins to take over your tongue as your vision mixes into a yellow color, a sure sign that your cloak was working even after all these years.

When you beat the beasts away and finally manage to find a moment of calm in the violence, you make an attempt to calm the fire that had grown under your skin and near begged to be set free. You were almost dizzy with adrenaline by then, making the task more than difficult. All the same you found a way to silence the flame, even if only temporarily, leaving it as only a low simmer under your skin.

It's then you find the energy to stand, where upon you finally feel the many injuries that litter your being. You let out a huffed sigh, the soreness of your body quite the inconvenience. You can already hear Kratos' scolding, already beginning to see how he might plan to trap you back with the dwarves the next time he planned to leave. The thought alone ruins the peace you had tried to bring yourself, the golden flecks snatched by the shadowed insides of your cloak the moment they appeared.

It was best you didn't think of this right now. You had other problems to deal with, mainly the fact that you had no idea where the others were and no way of getting back on your own. So you push the pain to the back of your mind, reminding yourself that you'd deal with it on your own later, before beginning to search the small island for the others.

You do this for quite a while, turning down many different corners and walkways, trying to find any sign of life that wasn't immediately hostile towards you. Eventually you hear arrows flying and creatures gargling their last breaths. You wander that direction, trying to stay out of view just in case it was more Einherjar.

"What if they're still in there? What if they can't get out!" you hear Atreus' voice first, another of his arrows loosening into the neck of one those disgusting creatures, unaware that one is coming up right behind him. Kratos' back is turned, Tyr is no where to be seen.

"I'm sure they've made it out somehow lad, we just have to- behind you!" Just as the creature goes to attack him you throw your ax at full force, the blade spinning before lodging directing in the side of the creatures head, it's body falling limp as Atreus pushes the falling body away from him. You watch as each of their heads snap back into your direction. For a moment they both reach for their weapons, though its only a moment later that they realize it's only you.

"Y/n!" Atreus calls to you excitedly and you somehow find the energy to wave in acknowledgment of his words. His look falls quickly when he notices the sheer amount of blood that covers you.

"Oh...looks like you had a rough time in there" he states the obvious. You catch up to them and try to avoid Kratos' stare.

"What gave it away?" Despite how much you try to hide it there is still a sharpness to your tone.

"Maybe try not to run off like that in the future" you politely suggest before giving him a light bump on the shoulder. He looks immediately guilty.

"Is the coast clear? Are they gone?" A frightened voice you hardly recognize calls from a set of bushes nearby. You are more than a little surprised to see the tall, goldened eyed old god pull himself to his feet and peak through shaking hands. Atreus must have seen the look on your face with strained smile he tried to comfort you with.

"Yeah, we should be good" Atreus answers him. With tentative footsteps this contradiction of a god steps forward, eyes catching yours as you desperately try to hide the utter confusion on your face.

"Ah, you must be the one we were looking for. Y/n is it?" He asks, the worry slowing leaving his posture.

"Yes. And you...are no longer running?" you announce your observation as a question, one that seems to make him a little nervous again.

"I was...unwell. my mind- it isn't what it used to be" he reasons and you can't help but feel a little bad for him. 

"We all lose ourselves sometimes. In all honesty I'm surprised to see you as well as you are, considering you've been thought dead for so long" you try to give him leeway, a hint of breathing room so that he might grow a little more comfortable.

"I appreciate the kindness" he returns your courtesy. It is then that Kratos makes his way over, pushing past Tyr without hardly any care and standing much closer to you than you would have prefered. His eyes glance over your entire being before staring straight into your eyes. Silence is all there is for a moment as your pull enough of your strength together to stand tall and proud in front of him, trying your best to hide away the soreness that covered every inch of your being. Eventually, thank Ymir, he speaks.

"You are well?" He asks, voice rough and perhaps a little agitated. You answer with a nod, still not backing down from him in the slightest. He stares for just a second longer before giving a firm nod, a slight grumble and turning right back around. You let out a quiet sigh of relief before the five of you move along, following Kratos' silent lead.

-

"The hel you doin?" Broks voice makes the gold plated dwarf jump out of his focused state for just long enough to wave a hand and grumble at him.

"Busy" he manages a word, his hands moving quickly over a page, trying to keep his work consistent. Brok tsks at this.

"Oh. So when you're busy with somethin'-"

"Sh!" Sindri suddenly shushed him, his head popping up as he folds his work and pauses to listen.

"Oh yer really asking for-"

"Sh! Shut up!" Sindri yells, hands held up to silence him, an action that baffles Brok into actually listening for a moment. It's long enough for Sindri to hear voices.

"They're back!" He announces as he makes haste to the front door, Brok lingering behind at the workbench. When Sindri opens the doors he's met with a sight he truly hadn't believed was possible.

"Lord Tyr? You're really alive!" Sindri manages to speak past his astonishment.

"Am I, I wonder?" He answers and that certainly throws Sindri off quite a bit.

"Okay?" The word slips past his lips, his sudden hesitance not at all hidden.

"He's just tired," Atreus tries to assure him.

"I promised him some food and a room to rest in" the boys promise was expected, though Sindri couldn't help the small voice of annoyance that bit at him anyway. His home was becoming quite crowded and crowded meant more messes, which meant more cleaning, which meant more encounters with whatever viscera they brought in. He could imagine it already.

"Ah, of course you did" he tried his best to not let his annoyance show too much. He was, after all, in the presence of two Gods of war. Best not to go stepping on any toes.

"Well, let's see what we can do. Please, come inside" he invites them all in despite the itch of disgust that comes with the dirt and grime that follows.

"Uh, we'll be right in!" Atreus waves him off before shutting the door behind Tyr. He sees the giant of a god turn over his shoulder for just a moment to glance at the shut door.

"Well I'll be!" Brok, hands on his hips and the widest grin on his face, speaks up.

"Hello" Tyr speaks to him, but it is an extra moment before the god actually turns to face Brok at all.

"Well get your ass on over here! I'll get those cuffs off ya" his brother beckons him and Tyr goes without any complaint. To Sindri's horror, Brok stands on the workbench.

"Brok!" He yells, the blue dwarf barely turning to meet his eyes before focusing back on Tyr.

"Get these off'n no time. You just gotta stay put" his brother completely ignores him and Sindri sends him daggers before he swallows his disdain and simply adds it to the list of chores he's racking up. His arms cross as he holds himself back from boiling over, his eyes instead turning to the front door as he waited.

A moment later Kratos and Atreus enter, though he notices that you don't. He goes to questions where you might be but he catches a glimpse of you just as the door shuts. His mind floods with questions, most of them curious as to what the three of you talked about and why exactly you decided you didn't want to come inside. It was getting late after all and he was sure you must be tired by now, or at the very least wanting to rest. Especially after that little escapade.

All of the questions are thrown out the window, however, when he catches a far too familiar look in Atreus' eyes.

"See? Sleep tight Tyr. I'm gonna turn in. Big day tomorrow" Atreus avoids turning to anyone in particular as he makes haste to his room. Sindri knows right then that he's up to no good.

-

You sit in the quiet of the outside as the others turn in for the night. Your body is worn and tired but you knew even now that sleep would not come easy. You didn't want to bother with trying, as you weren't particularly in the mood to toss and turn in silence. You decided it best to just start with the carving Sindri had wanted, hoping to distract yourself with the small thing. You had thought, perhaps foolishly, that you would find peace here. The others would sleep and you would be allowed to let your conscious waiver into pure focus. Just you, the swiping of your small blade and the slight chewing in the distance.

You really should have known the boy wouldn't stay put.

"Let's just go talk to the snake first and then-"

"Sh!" Voices, just a few feet away. Some horrible attempt at whispering, you think. You continue with your carving, hoping to figure out just what they thought they were doing.

"Oh...Oh well, looks like we can't go. Why don't we just turn around and-"

"Hold on. It's just Y/n" to their credit they did grow quieter. But still, not exactly the most discrete.

"I think I have an idea. Just play along," you simply can't wait to see what he's going to come up with this time. Somehow he still manages to surprise you, though, when he oh so confidently stands from behind the gate.

"Hey, Y/n!" He calls over to you, trying to get your attention, though he kept his voice just quiet enough to not be heard inside. You allow a second before you turn to him.

His smile is lopsided: deceptive. A look you've grown to recognize quickly, considering how many times you've had to dig him out of the trouble he's made when that look crosses his face. He waves you over and you can only sigh before sliding the tools in your hands back into your bag and going to find out what he was going to get himself into now.

"Not tired?" You ask him. He laughs in a way too nervous for you not to miss.

"I was...going to ask you that" his smile isn't hiding anything well. You give a glance at Sindri who almost immediately avoids your eyes before turning back to Atreus.

"A little, if you must know. I can imagine you feel the same" you watch the boy grow a little more confident at your answer. He hadn't caught that you were just playing along yet.

"Yeah. I just wanted to check on you before going to bed. You need sleep too, y'know" you would have felt quite touched if he wasn't lying straight to your face.

"Oh? And what about you Sindri?" You ask, turning to the dwarf

"Just coming to check in on me?" Your eyes are fixated on him as he just absolutely fumbles on his words. A mixture of half sounds and stray noises that might be considered sentences in the loosest term. Finally it seems he manages something coherent.

"I was just making sure he wasn't getting himself into trouble!" He blurts out. You almost feel bad with how nervous your stare had made him, so you turn back to Atreus.

"And I'm assuming you want me to head inside then?" You ask and he immediately lights up. He thinks he's gotten somewhere. He thinks you don't know him by now.

"I think it would probably be for the best. We've all got a big day tomorrow!" You watch him become even slightly convincing at the last possible moment. You smile as you cross your arms. You had to admit, it was a cute attempt.

"Was that your plan?" He's hit with confusion.

"What do you mean?" He shifts where he stands.

"You were going to try and send me to bed before sneaking off" you watch as he crumbles, utterly lost at what to say for a moment before he lets out a huff.

"No!" he retorts and he gets a raise of an eyebrow from you.

"Would you like to try something else, then?" you see him freeze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He can't find his words and it seems Sindri couldn't take it any longer.

"We are going to find Jörmungandr!" he finally admits, Atreus turning to him as if he had betrayed him.

"That's all?" You ask, eyes turning between the both of them. Atreus seems defeated, his head hung low and his shoulders with it. He manages a mumbled response.

"And Freya" at that you are truly shocked.

"You...want to find Freya? The woman that has been trying to kill us for all of Fimbulwinter?" You are beyond baffled. What possible reason would he have to seek her out? In what way could that ever go well in his head?

"That's what I was trying to tell him!" Sindri pipes in again and the boys face scrunches. His eyes meet yours with a sharp look only hindered slightly with the puppy eyes he so readily used against everyone.

"We need allies! And we used to be friends! I don't think she's beyond reasoning, she's just-..." the boy tries to defend himself and it isn't convincing in the slightest. You sigh, knowing that this couldn't possibly go well.

"You aren't going to let this go, are you?" Your answer is his continued stare at you, eyes fully ready to do what he must to get what he wants. If you had to describe this stubborn boy in one word it would be bull-headed. It seemed there were no amount of no's that could stop him. A glance down at Sindri shows he's just as worried as you are.

"I want you to know that this is reckless. And foolish. And downright stupid" your words have a bite to them that has Atreus looking away, avoiding looking at you all together. You take a deep breath before you continue.

"But if you must then I know you will. So I will do the bare minimum of at least accompanying you" they both seemed relieved at your words. You imagine for completely different reasons.

"And you're not going to tell father?" He asks, finally stepping out from the other side of the gate.

"Do you really think this is the first time I've caught you sneaking out?" his eyes turn as wide as a full moon.

"...well until you said that; kinda, yeah" You snicker at his reaction and begin walking to the gateway with them not too far behind. The boy falls into silence for a moment before he turns up, a question written in his eyes.

"How many times did you-?"

"More times than I cared to count" you speak over your shoulder as you wave the two along. You try to ignore the dull wounds that still haven't fully healed themselves.

-

You had to admit, despite the odd Draugr and getting covered in Jörmungandr's disgusting slobber, this little outing was proving to be rather fun. You stayed quiet, for the most part, but enjoyed the babbling of the two as they went along with this little adventure of theirs. It was quite sweet, the relationship they had built. If you were being honest it was nice to see Atreus a little less tense, given how rigid he always was around his father. However, by the time the three of you were heading towards where Freya was last seen, you couldn't help but regret having let him get this far.

“All I'm saying, Atreus, is that she clearly isn't stable. You don't know what she might do. Just because she liked you before doesn't mean-”

“Look, I get the concern but you gotta trust me. She might be Hel bent on killing father, but she hasn't really tried to kill me yet. She's-…She just needs to understand we were trying to help her. And that the bigger threat is Odin” He must truly believe he's untouchable.

“In her mind she has every reason to kill you. To do the same to Kratos as he has done to her. Do you not worry at all that she would take every opportunity imaginable? She believes she has nothing to lose” you try once again to waiver him from this reckless goal. 

“She wouldn't. She's better than that” By all living gods was he stubborn. You hardly remembered a time he'd ever wavered from his convictions. A double-sided blade, that trait is. You hoped today wouldn't be the day he killed himself with it.

“You are impossible” you speak with a defeated sigh. Slowly the three of you walk to a sudden edge, a steep drop below. You have no problems bracing it, hardly even thinking about it. Turning back, however, you see the two of them hesitate. It's then you realize the jump might be a little steep for the dwarf.

“Perhaps this is a sign” he mutters, his eyes cautious as he stares into the opening. 

“Don't be a baby, I'll catch you! Promise not to drop you this time” Atreus’ words catch your attention as he falls to your side, an almost amused look creeps on your face.

“You've dropped him?” You ask and the boy hardly hides his guilt with a nervous laugh.

“It was one time!” he tries to defend himself. A glance up shows just how embarrassed Sindri is by this.

“It was the only time!” You fight back a short laugh, only allowing a small smile to take form as you stare up at the dwarf.

“If it makes you feel any better, I'll also be here to catch you this time” you tried to instill even a slight bit of confidence in him, though he still seemed deeply uneasy.

“I…” his voice wavers, still incredibly unsure about all of this. You almost immediately catch the boy about to be a smartass and quickly knock the sentence from him with a light hit on the back of his head.

"Hey-!" He turns to glare at you but your stare seems to disintegrate any resistance. Once you're sure he's going to keep his mouth shut you turn back up to Sindri.

“Worst thing that could happen is we both fall down” you try to reassure him.

“And I break my skull open!” He retorts. You huff a little.

“Look, I know Atreus’ promises mean very little-”

“Wha- That's not true!” The boy speaks up and you fail to fight a grin when he shoves you slightly, but you continue all the same, even if a chuckle is heard through your words.

“But my promises are as solid as steel, and I promise that it will be fine” your eyes lock on his and even through you jest you know he sees that you're serious. So, with a deep breath and tense posture, he finally agrees.

“Fine” he speaks through gritted teeth and both you and Atreus hold your arms out. It's only a few moments later he jumps. With little effort the two of you catch him. 

“See? Was that so bad?” Atreus speaks to him and you send a smile as you help him back to his feet. It's clear though that he is still very unhappy with the situation.

“I sincerely hope I never have to do it again, if that's what you're asking”

-

Tag list

@emmbny

[teecupangel]

God of War and Assassin's Creed crossover? Where Evior or the Brotherhood come across Kratos and Atreus and basically they form a strong bond where they all come together to fight in the end. Or even Desmond dropping into Kratos' life and they form some kind of brotherly bond. Hell even Kassandra meeting younger Kratos in Sparta?

This reminded me of this idea

The idea is Desmond gets transported into GOW with a deaged Eivor who doesn’t have all her memories, only that her name is Eivor and this man who found her would be able to ‘help’ her. So they start looking around this strange forest (strange in the sense that Desmond can feel something in it but he can’t understand what it is) and that’s how they meet up with Kratos and Atreus who are just getting ready on their journey.

Whether their journey is the plot of GOW or GOWR is up to you but GOW would give Desmond and Kratos more chance to bond since they’re now both single parents. Not to mention, Eivor likes to kick Atreus even though she can’t understand why. Whenever Desmond asks why she likes to kick him (who just goes “knock it off!” but doesn’t try to hurt her), Eivor just gets this little frown on her face before she says, “I don’t know. I just… want to…”

Desmond, being raised in an isolated cult, thinks this is that thing called ‘pulling the pigtails of one’s crush’ that he had seen in media before and Kratos just agrees to it because Desmond said it with such confidence and it wasn’t like he had any other reason he could think of to why Eivor liked to kick Atreus.

In this idea, Eivor’s inclusion would make her the ‘anomaly’ that Odin wants to kill because she is Odin but not Odin at the same time.

Also, Eivor and Atreus’ relationship would provide an additional plot point of how they don’t have to be as they have been prophesized to be.

.

.

Now, if you want Desmond to meet up Kratos while he’s in Greece, things would be much more complicated. While Desmond would have no qualms with Kratos raging on the gods, he would definitely not approve of Kratos’ destructive methods, especially when his beef with the gods ends with the suffering and death of innocent people.

In this scenario, Desmond would appear out of nowhere and has no idea why he’s there. Maybe even assume that he had been transported after saving the world. He joins with Kratos because, if anyone knows why he’s there, it would be the gods. Although, in this scenario, he just wants to talk to one of the gods but the gods want him dead as well so, okay then, enemy of the enemy is a temporary ally.

He tries to pull Kratos’ destruction a bit, with varying success.

In the end, once Kratos gets his ‘happy ending’, Desmond finally learned why he had been summoned.

Athena had summoned him to kill Kratos and take his place as god.

This entire time, Athena had been planning for Kratos to attain godhood and Desmond’s status as anomaly gives him the ‘power’ to kill Kratos and take his godhood because, as far as the world they are in is concerned, the Isu genes in his body had been transformed to those of gods, meaning Desmond was a demigod in this world.

But the real question is…

Will Desmond kill Kratos, the man who had destroyed the Greek pantheon, leaving mountains and mountains of corpses on his wake?

[neechees]

I know she's not much of a character beyond "sweet beloved dead wife," but what is your take on Lysandra, the Spartan wife of Kratos? It came to me because I had this idea that Lysandra, as a good Spartan woman, would probably not get along with Faye at any level

That's an interesting thought! I firstly like to imagine she would like Faye just because 1. I need to see Kratos catch a goddamn break & be happy with his wives & kids!! Omg. & 2. I think she's a little unconventional as far as Spartans go, and 3. For her characterization & interactions in game, it kinda depends on how we navigate cultural, historical, & mythological accuracy in terms of correlation with the game series' canon, which takes a LOT of artistic license for all. If we're being strictly historically accurate & assume Lysandra is a good Spartan woman, I think you'd be right!

But with Lysandra herself, I say she's "unconventional" as a Spartan just because of some of her actions & the way she is in the games: when Calliope is seen to be sick when she's born, Lysandra reacts by refusing the throw Calliope off Mount Taygetos & instead demands she be given a chance to live so Kratos find a cure for her, but a more "proper" Spartan wife & mother might've reacted by letting Calliope die. Additionally, Lysandra also is the one to tell Kratos to his face that he was being too crazed & violent when he was serving under Ares, despite being a very successful Spartan General & doing it under the command of a literal war God. So in the very least, this lets us know that Lysandra is more than willing to go against Spartan custom, especially regarding her family. To me, in addition to being a kind person & loving & devoted wife/mother, she's a very independent & outspoken person who doesn't care much about what people think of her & doesn't have a problem with telling people what she thinks of THEM. Lysandra is a tough lady, maybe a little intimidating. She's the cookie monster pjs girl in high school. I imagine she's also very sexually liberated as well, & I headcanon that she met Kratos when they were younger & convinced their parents (usually who set up arranged marriages, which was the norm) to let them marry.

& as her possible feelings towards Faye & their resulting family dynamic, I think it could even depend on the time period for Lysandra and Faye? Like, afterlife wise, I don't imagine they'd have anything to beef over (assuming they're in a happy afterlife & have reconciled with the events in their lives, which seems to be canon), they're already dead & have lived their lives, & both loved Kratos, so I imagine they'd at least both appreciate that about each other. Like, "well, I loved my husband, he loved me, and he must've loved you for a very good reason, so I'll try to get along with you." As for their kids, I actually think they'd LOVE each others' kids as well in any scenario, & they'd probably be a big reason why they'd try to get along.

I've also thought about this with Kratos & Faye, because I actually thought they were going to meet (or there was going to be a reference to her) in the Egyptian era comic, & that was when Kratos was still a VERY different person vs the Norse era. There was a lot of time between gow3-4 for him to improve as a person (which I think he did a lot on his own, I don't think Faye singlehandedly "fixed" him, but she definitely helped) and ruminate on his actions. Like if gow3 Kratos met a younger Faye, I don't think they'd initially like each other at ALL. He'd obviously be attracted to her, but I imagine he'd still be in his Spartan mindset that Northern peoples are "barbarian" or generally not as good as Spartans & probably see her kindness as naïvete, she'd think he was a mean asshole all around & would probably hate being around him & would never in the world imagine marrying him ("you are the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry" Elizabeth Bennet chewing out Mr Darcy type shit). But I could still imagine them getting together, it would just have to be WAY later & either the slowest burn in the universe or separating & then meeting each other again in the Norse era & THEN falling in love lol

So in terms of Lysandra, depending on the setting & situation, it could be the same deal as above? If Lysandra was somehow alive & met Faye pre-Norse gow4 era, it might be the same as above with gow3 Kratos. However, I could also see Lysandra in the very least being impressed with Faye's abilities and combat skills & going "okay I see why he likes you" sort of way, probably also feel a lot of sympathy for her since Atreus was sick all the time, & think Faye was a good mother. If in some kind of setting where Lysandra would be alive & Kratos married Faye as well (or even just slept with her), best case scenario, if we assume Lysandra keeps that very Spartan mindset, then I imagine it would be something like an extremely awkward relationship similar to the Triss/Yennefer/Geralt (complete with the Raven haired lady vs redhead aspect) love triangle from the Witcher, but tolerating each other for their kids & Kratos. I like to think she'd eventually like Faye at least to some degree (they do seem to have some stuff in common), but it'd be weird & tense, maybe some jealousy there. Worst case scenario we'd probably end up with a Ragnar/Lagertha/Aslaug from Vikings dynamic LOL.

But the Norse & gow4/5 era setting changes EVERYTHING. if Lysandra was alive during gow4/5 & changed in a similar way Kratos did (becoming more open minded & not xenophobic) or if we assume that Lysandra is not a conventional Spartan (which gives her possible reactions to Faye more leeway, dead or alive), then I think her relationship with Faye would be a LOT better. Lysandra loves Kratos & wanted him to make better choices & forgive himself, so once/if she realizes that's precisely what Faye helped him to do & made him happy, I think she'd appreciate that about her. Not only that, but the game devs have said that Kratos's ashes are FADING, possibly because of the gesture of Faye getting Kratos to come to terms with her death by asking him to spread HER ashes & going on the adventure. That, I think, would absolutely cement Lysandra's respect for Faye, in addition to admiring her combat ability & her care for Atreus. & from there we could get the Fayetosandra polycule development lol. (& in an afterlife setting, this is what I think she thinks of her)

So yeah, I guess it really depends!! But that's just my thought on her. There's really no way of knowing how she'd react to Faye for sure since she died before they could ever meet, so any setting you put them in would have to be an AU, & there's a lot of factors for that depending on what kind. And unfortunately, we don't have a lot to go off of for Lysandra in the first place (which sucks). Great question!!

[otherworldlygate]

The other day I was going to post something here about my eleventy billion fics that are in progress, but I got lost in my rambling and posted instead about how much I love outlining.

Feel free to read that as a precursor to this post, if you want, but it's not necessary. I just find the path my writing has taken to be...interesting. After my success in finishing two 'fics in 2023 (both hovering around the 100k mark), I find it absolutely insane that all of my earlier attempts at outlining over the years fell flat on their metaphorical faces but out of absolutely nowhere in 2023 I pulled two of them out of thin air and not only finished the outlines, but finished the stories, too.

Anyway, this post is actually about all of the stories I’ve been toying with over the last year+ because I really don’t have anyone else to discuss them with and sometimes talking about things helps me sort them in my head.

I’ll start with the stories that are either shorter, or aren’t developed enough to talk about at length, but which I still feel deserve some kind of nod because they’ve taken up space in my mind and, uh, in most cases, discord channels.

Princess? Fantasy? Period Drama? AU: Colette is a noblewoman/princess from a poor family who has to marry someone from a much larger/richer family/situation so that her family can retain its title, and her family finds her a suitable match far, far away from where she grew up. Escorting her on this journey to this far-away alliance are the usual cast members, starting (of course) with her childhood best friend Lloyd, her governess Miss Sage, and Miss Sage’s younger brother (and Colette’s other close friend), Genis. Very camp humor/romance.

Virginia and/or Kloitz going through the Otherworldly Gate with Raine and Genis. I’m sure this has been done before, but I wonder how this would have gone.

I have several modern day AU concepts floating around, but one I rejected from ColloydWeek2023 because the concepts I had for it are honestly just…the canon events in a more modern setting, complete with all of the horrible tragedies…and all I could think about was how there was no point in putting the characters through the same wringer they’ve already been through; they’re wrung out!! Hell, some of the modern tragedies are even worse than what the canon gives us. In the canon Alicia’s death was at least more or less to save her; sure, Regal killed her…but nothing that happened to her was in any way his fault. However, in this modern story, the closest I could get to the guilt he suffers in the canon ended up being that they were driving somewhere in inclement weather and got into a terrible accident that took Alicia’s life (while he survived). This gives him such terrible ptsd/anxiety about driving that he can’t get behind the wheel anymore without having a panic attack. I did the same thing for Anna, too, though Kratos and Anna were hit by a drunk driver, instead. I do think it’s a great parallel to match the canon tone mostly, but when it was every single character done in this way, it was honestly just…way too much.

There floats in my veins a story where Regal’s parents are alive, though never the same story at the same time. I like the idea that his mother isn’t dead (she just divorced his father) and Regal could connect with her in the post-game (if he’s not too ashamed of himself to try). As far as his father goes, his dad was such a scumbag that I genuinely wonder how different the canon events would have been with him alive. For example, I doubt Regal would have been in a position to notice Alicia if he wasn’t bearing the weight of so much responsibility, but even if he did start to get friendly with her, his father + George would have put a swift stop to it. I don’t know, things I like to think about.

One World AU: vision of Aselia where Mithos died instead of Martel, or where Martel did die but of something more natural (illness, for example). This is a completely open concept idea and I’m sure it’s been done, but with no baseline or structure for the world (other than being at constant war or something), I’m sort of at a loss where to begin with this. If Martel had a long life, it'd be cool to imagine her being like...a revered figure still--like a Saint.

Had this deeply amusing concept for a story that takes place 5-10 years into the post-game where, during the reconstruction efforts in Palmacosta, Regal ends up helping and then adopting a group of siblings (ages 3 to 13) who were left homeless with the death of their parents in/after the destruction of the city. Despite his good intentions he gets in over his head a little bit with this and recruits Raine to help him hire a tutor for the kids since he trusts her opinion. Yeah, I have a thing about adoption don’t @ me.

Werewolf AU: This is sitting hard on the back burner, not due to lack of ideas, but uh…due to too many ideas. Yep. First of all, the concept of Alicia having been turned…and then Regal has to fight her off (and kill her) only to get bitten in the process himself? Top shelf material. But then again, the concept of this being a secret Raine and Genis are hiding? Also…pretty top tier. (As is the image of her as a giant white wolf trying to protect a smaller Wolfie Genis.) So then I was like?? Both? Both is good? And thought it’d be kind of funny if Genis and Raine were just born this way and Regal was turned, and what those differences might mean. And hey, if Raine and Genis are half-elves, does elven blood affect the transformation in some way? Does it help a person keep their sanity? And after allll that I still didn’t have, you know, a story. So.

You might be thinking, that’s a lot of random ideas…and you’d be right. It is. But I have more. Because I always have more.

So now we’ve reached the part of this post where I talk about the stories I’ve actually started to plan out in detail. And fortunately for all of us (all -3 people still reading, anyway) these works in progress have names.

-

Swallow the Ground: this is the sequel to Break Open the Sky. An “informant” comes forward to Zelos and Count Alaric in Meltokio with historical records from Sybak’s Imperial Research Academy that have them seeking out Regal’s assistance to see the whole place shut down. However, a job like that requires a certain…delicate patience, lest the wrong people get wind of their intentions and either destroy the evidence before it can be used as proof, or lash out with malicious intent. While this is going on, Raine and Regal’s slow romance continues. Raine struggles with her asexuality, fearing it will ruin her relationship with Regal the way it ruined her only previous relationship. This story gets a few shades darker than BOtS and features a larger cast with multiple points of view. I have this one almost entirely outlined.

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Weal and Woe: this is the Declining!Tethe’alla fic, and my biggest issue with this one is, once again, so many ideas that it becomes difficult to settle on just one. I can’t even decide on a style to write the story in! On one hand, a multi-PoV novel would be so deeply fun, but it would also be incredibly limiting in terms of the stories being told and what order they have to be told in. On the other hand, a series (like Sapphose did) could be a lot more freeing. Or maybe some combination of the two of them would be the ideal middle ground: where there exists one main story and then…side stories. Anyway, I have a lot of feelings about this sort of story. Rather, I have opinions about how to go about planning and writing something like this. I personally feel that, if I’m going to spend time writing some kind of “what-if” story, especially if I’m going to invest hundreds of hours of my time into it, it better offer me (and my readers!) something the canon doesn’t. I don’t want to see the exact same plotline from the game rehashed in reverse. That’s boring and uninspired.

Even if the plot of the story is largely “the same as in canon but in reverse” or even “similar to canon but in reverse” I don’t mind too much…because the nature of the split worlds kind of lends itself to the same resolution no matter what (reuniting the worlds). But if that’s the case, it means the character arcs need to be different to give me the separation and new experience I’m looking for.

To that end, Seles is the current Chosen in this story. Zelos is the former Chosen; the title was transferred to his sister shortly after her birth and while he has mixed feelings about this and is not particularly close to his sister, he joins her on her journey…fully aware of what will happen to her. Their mothers are both alive.

Sheena is considered a hero of Mizuho due to her having formed a pact to save her village from famine; her presence is requested on this journey due to her summoning skill and her familiarity with one of the temples.

Thanks to some Renegade Interference in Sylvarant, Colette—and soon after, Lloyd—learn about the existence of Tethe’alla and the state of the worlds, and decide to offer their assistance to the cause, heading to Tethe’alla to try to meet up with their Chosen to get their cooperation.

Genis has spent his entire remembered life in Sybak, and believes Raine is his mother—a lie Raine told to keep them from being separated when they arrived. As they grew older, separation came for them anyway. Genis was heralded a prodigy mage while Raine was locked away and labeled dangerous.

With massive debt on his shoulders, Count Bryant takes his own life the day before his son, Regal, is set to return home from his final year of schooling. Regal inherits both the substantial family debt and the sunk Lezareno Company. A few days later that debt is collected—and the Desians take Regal and the Lezareno employees prisoner.

Presea’s story stays much the same, but due to Tethe'alla's crumbling economy, Alicia never leaves Ozette and has to watch her older sister stop aging.

-

In Shapes That Renew: this story is loosely based on an RP I did with a friend back in 2011. Regal pays Raine a visit in Asgard where she is doing research on the Balacruf Dynasty. After a couple of days of catching up and listening to Raine’s endless theories about the Mausoleum’s role in society at that time, he agrees to accompany her there to see if any of her theories can be proved. But while they’re poking around in the mausoleum, the building collapses in on them—and traps them inside with no real hope of rescue. I’ve gotten the outline of this one very far, but the real struggle here is figuring out where this story could end while still being a satisfying read.

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Love Is the Crooked Thing: Regal confesses to Raine immediately after the events of the game, and she turns him down. They agree not to let this ruin their friendship and, over the next years, write to one as a way to maintain their friendship. Ten years post-game, Regal invites Raine to meet up with him in Meltokio since he’ll be in town for a few weeks for a seasonal event, and it’s been years since he saw her in person last. She agrees, and they catch up a bit, only for her to realize he’s struggling—not under the pressure of his job or charity work, but under the expectation society is placing on him to marry. It’s gotten steadily worse over the last few years with every conversation turning toward so-and-so’s Very Accomplished Daughter, and having just turned 44, he’s dreading all of the parties and events he’s socially obligated to attend. After a little back-and-forth, Raine agrees to attend with him to give him some peace of mind…and thus, a fake-dating scheme is adopted. I have this outlined and the first chapter written.

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Waiting for the Roses to Bloom. Raine very suddenly appears in Altamira with one goal in mind: studying Regal Bryant—or, more accurately, his ability to heal—like a bug. Regal assumes there is more to her sudden appearance on his island than what she is admitting to, but doesn’t push the matter—instead offering her rooms in his family home where she can work. They grow closer as they try to make sense of how his ability to heal works, spending time in the gardens and walking along the beach while they talk, but just when they get close to a breakthrough…Raine’s health starts to fail. I have this largely outlined, including a general idea of how it will end.

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Keeping the Stars Apart (duology of two stories, one called “Whatever a Moon Has Always Meant” and the other titled, “Whatever a Sun Will Always Sing”). This is a modern (ish?) AU where Raine is a romance author who writes under a pseudonym. When the story starts, she is on her way to a large conference/convention event in Altamira to speak about workplace safety and worker rights. It’s a 12-hour flight and she’s managed with some satisfaction to get the window seat…only to find at boarding that the middle seat belongs to an absolute giant of a man whose name, she finds out a little while later, is Regal.

He pulls out a book to read and quietly keeps to himself to her relief. Partway through the flight, he finishes his current book, and swaps it out with another one—which Raine recognizes instantly as being her most recently published book. They get to talking a little bit about what they’re both reading and by the time she has to ask to be let by to use the bathroom, she’s not dreading it so much. And by the time the plane lands and they go their separate ways, they’re on terms Raine would consider friendly.

In Altamira, she’s just checking in at the hotel when she runs into Regal again, and stops to talk to him while she waits for the crowd to thin out so that she can take the elevator without wanting to die. As it turns out, there was a mistake with his room and it ended up being double-booked—and the other party was already settled in. Or at least, that’s what the hotel is claiming. After a little more discussion about the conference they’re both in town to attend, and the fact that every hotel and motel and rented room in the city has been booked months in advance, meaning he’s unlikely to find anything suitable, Raine takes a leap of faith and offers to share her room—having no idea he’s the son of the Lezareno Company president. Lots of fun in this one where she tries to sneakily get his opinions on her latest novel only for him to actively criticize it (but she finds herself kind of fascinated with his takes, since they’re well thought out). And other things. Just a fun story. I have the first “book” outlined.

-

So now if you’re like, “That was a lot of stuff, Manna,” the answer is: yes, it absolutely is a lot of stuff. My brain is so active and so busy and so ANNOYING with the amount of things it wants me to think about and consider all the time that I can’t actually figure out what I want to write next.

Anyway, feel free to comment or send me asks about any of these stories if you’re intrigued or want more information or whatever. Maybe it’ll spark something in my brain that will make me finish my (mostly completed) outlines and then start writing.

I do fully realize that maybe 1.5 people care about what I may or may not write for our beloved but very small fandom, but eh, I'll talk about it here anyway.

Fortunately for all of you it's late here, so you're spared...for now. But not forever.

[henpendrips]

Top Ten #2 - God of War II (PS2)

Ok, at this point I must be pulling your leg, right? And yes, I am... in the most visceral and unecessarily brutal way possible.

Ahh, God of War 2. The miracle game that served as the perfect send-off to the PS2 era, as it took all the vacuous words that would be used to describe a big, innovative AAA game (then and now), and actually live up to it. Yes, it is epic, grandiose, daring. But above all else, it's a fucking fantastic hack-n-slash/spectacle fighter, and unquestionably my favorite entry in one of my favorite game franchises.

Straight off the success of its predecessor (and before all the comics, books, and lovely prequels sans Ascension), back we are at the helm with Kratos, as he goes from god to empty-stomached mortal in a single tutorial level. An astounding tutorial level, mind you, as we slice and dice the forces on the Island of Rhodes, pursued by a sentient Colossus, only to have the spiffy, uber-powerful Blade of Olympus dangled in our faces, and snatched away at the last second... along with Kratos' innards. But I suppose a paper cut like that is reason enough to get a guy who's been double-crossed by several Olympians to go on a quest to the ends of the Earth, and find a way to change his fate. And also murder gods.

Say it with me: GoW2 is the right kind of sequel, taking what worked in the original, building it up, and filling the game with more AND better content. Not only are the stakes raised, the world expanded, the environments more varied, but every aspect of gameplay is improved upon. Enemy types are far more distinct, so tactics and approach more frequently alter compared to GoW1, from killing riders and taking control of cyclops, to deflecting projectiles, magic, and even melee strikes using the Golden Fleece. Key items such as the Amulet of the Fates and Icarus' Wings, improved exploration and puzzles thanks to their mechanics. The new magic abilities have a more distinct flair and usage than those attained in GoW1, from Typhon's Bane going from simple magic arrows to creating giang tornados, Cronos' Rage generating chain-lightning that would tag and damage every monster that came near, to the brutal Atlas Quake cataclysming everything around you. Oh, and Euryale, Medusa's fat sister, also loses her head in this adventure.

But the weapons, oh-ho-ho BOY! You liked the Blade of Artemis, how it provided a bit of different melee combat compared to the Blades of Chaos? Well in GoW2, you get THREE completely distinct weapons to brutalize these poor creatures of myth alongside the newly minted (in blood) Blades of Athena. Barbarian Hammer for heavy impact, pushback, and the ability to summon some soulsy minions (in the same vein as Army of Hades); Spear of Destiny, with greater range and piercing ability, faster but more focused strikes, and generating crystal bombs; and as your reward for clearing the game, the Blade of Olympus, which... is just great, and I'm glad that it isn't given to you until the final boss fight against Zeus, because from first gutting to last, the antecipation, the little taste you get during the tutorial, and the narrative reasons why you're trying to get it back, makes it all worthwhile to use it in New Game +. Alongside a wider range of costumes, all with different abilities and effects, to spice up your experience and replays.

I would say that God of War 2 wins out among all God of War games, not because the other entries in the series that I've played (so no God of War 4 yet) are bad, but because there's never really the same indulgence as there is in GoW2. Numbuh 3 is far more generic in terms of level design and environments, but it might've won out thanks to its pay-offs, if it hadn't been for what felt like a more limited and less varied arsenal, with magic assigned directly to its four melee weapons, three of which seemed redundant and could have had more done to make their usage more distinct. And while it is one of my personal 10/10 games, the ending of GoW2 really is the worst part of it, as even when it originally came out, having a blatant "To be continued" AFTER you establish a huge climax didn't really go down well with me, in spite of everything leading up to it being balls-to-the-walls mind-blowing.

I don't think I can ever do God of War 2 justice, as to why it is I consider it so enjoyable, why I have so much fun when I play it, and why I became so invested in this series after two games in. But despite it all, while the struggle was real, there can be only one #1, and rightfully, only one game could have possibly have me asking Kratos, the one-man liquifying machine, to come down a step.

[kraptos]

2, 10, 14, and 17 for Atreus of Sparta and Kratos :D

this one got long, i’m so sorry adfhaskfs

gonna put it under a read more....... :’)

2. Their emotional/moral weak spots

Kratos: not sure how much of a headcanon this is, but imo kratos’s biggest weak spot is his kid! he'd give up anything and everything to ensure his safety and well being, even if it was detrimental to himself. while we're on the topic, he's also a big softie and if little atreus wants something, he Will get it… (andvari!) sad, but i like to think it’s because he knows he hasn’t been the best parent and is trying to compensate :( 

Atreus of Sparta: i think the atreus of sparta’s largest weak spot would probably be kratos! i headcanon their relationship as being fairly parental in nature as he’s someone kratos admires greatly and is basically his role model. so i think this would still stand true even if i WASN’T shipping them (ahaha..). atreus cherishes their relationship and would do all in his power to ensure kratos’s happiness & health ;u;

10. Fears/phobias

Kratos: again, not really a headcanon, but losing his family, for obvious reasons. i know we see plenty of examples of this between him and his son throughout the game, but i think this fear outweighs just about anything else (falling short of seeing little atreus’s behavior reflecting his own, which is another headcanon of mine). anyway, getting back to kratos’s crippling fear of losing his loved ones, i like to narrow it down to losing them in a way that would specifically be his fault and even more specifically by his own hand (i do love the idea of kratos being incredibly distrustful of himself in this regard). so with that in mind i like to think a lot of the fear that came with losing faye was not so much how he lost her (since i guess she died from illness? which is completely beyond his control), but more so the notion of raising a child he has rather successfully ignored for the past decade (due to yet another fear-- failing completely as a father by raising a son to be just like him).

Atreus of Sparta: being alone! i picture atreus as a total extrovert, and thanks to spartan society he doesn’t know how not to belong to a collective unit and exist on his own as just atreus and not atreus of sparta. in Agapē he’s rejected a lot of the fundamentals of spartan culture, yet still takes pride in being spartan. his past is absolutely not as traumatic as kratos’s, but thanks to his moral compass, he has every reason to reject the fact he was born and raised a spartan. the reason he doesn’t is, i think, because he’s afraid of what it would mean to belong nowhere.

14. Ingrained habits/forces of habit

Kratos: putting the blame on outside forces and not himself. i know in 4 we see him at a point where he’s grown past this and now fully accepts the blame for things that are his fault, but it's fun to think about him occasionally falling prey to his old mindsets out of habit. and, even better is if it scares him when he catches himself doing it. 

Atreus of Sparta: biggest thing that sticks out to me is religion. sorry ALL of these AoS headcanons are from my fic but it’s hard to imagine him in any other setting OTL,, anyway, i think this plays into his biggest fear--  religion is one of the last things left from his culture that he feels is moral enough to practice, and if he lets go of it, he lets go of who he is and where he finds his sense of belonging. sure doesnt hurt anything (except kratos’s feelings) to say a prayer every now and again. and though he’s pretty sure the gods dont care what happens to him anymore because he’s a traitor, it doesnt really stop him, its habit and therefore its familiar and a comfort.

17. Regrets

Kratos: EVERYTHING. just kidding. ahaha… or am i? i like to think the root of kratos’s regret is asking for ares to spare him in the first place (vs when he killed callipoe & lysandra). he’d been happy and successful and if he had died, it would have been with honor and as an esteemed member of spartan society. and while we’re in this vein, it sure is fun to think about kratos considering himself a coward for not accepting fate when it was his time, esp fueled by his self-hatred at knowing it would have eventually spared his family their lives in exchange for his own. hindsight sure is 20/20, isnt it, bud

Atreus of Sparta: i like to headcanon atreus as being the opposite to kratos in this regard. he’s incredibly religious and believes the gods/fate have orchestrated/predetermined his life and future, as well as that for those around him. because of his beliefs, he doesn’t really harbor regrets for his actions, since he views the outcomes as being outside of his control. (BUT i will say as far as agapē goes, he sure as heck regretted leaving sparta for a hot second, though he doesn’t anymore)

[ty-talks-comics]

Best of Marvel: Week of January 29th, 2020

Best of this Week: Conan the Barbarian #12 - Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Matthew Wilson and Travis Lanham

“He will tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet.” - The Nemedian Chronicles.

It’s been quite some time since we’ve done a Conan review and this one took a long time to come out, but it was well worth the wait. After eleven absolutely fantastic issues of sword and sorcery, blood and sex, monsters and men, we’ve reached the end of the “Death of Conan” arc and BOY was it satisfying. Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Matthew Wilson and Travis Lanham absolutely pay off this amazing story, wrap it up in a nice neat bow for the next creative team and even prepare for the next great story.

Razza and Zazella, the children of the Crimson Witch, have been following Conan since the day he killed their mother, waiting for the perfect time to kill him to resurrect their God, Razazel. Throughout his many years of adventuring, Conan has killed and slaughtered and escaped death more times than any man in the history of the Hyborian Age could ever claim and this has strengthened the potency of his blood for his sacrifice. The tenth issue saw the kids bring Conan back to the Temple of Razazel after near fatal injuries and offering his blood to the Old God.

This issue begins with a short flashback to Conan actually saving the twins years before they meet again. Shortly before bandits try to press gang them onto a ship, Conan swoops in and makes short work of the brigands, gaining the ire of Razza in the process. The Kids are “grateful” for his intervention before walking away, but this is a grave insult to them considering their hatred towards the Cimmerian and the fact that he murdered their mother. This is made even worse by the fact that the kids made a vow to not gloat or talk at the altar when they kill him, but they do just that without confirming his death later on.

When we finally get into the swing of things Asrar, Wilson and Lanham spare no expense when giving readers the action they’ve been waiting for. Asrar shows Conan’s speed and strength as he uses a small boulder to knock Zazella’s sharp, jagged teeth out of her mouth with the rock blurring as he swings it down and Razza looks on in shock. Wilson gives the background and Razazel’s blood roots life through vibrant reds, almost as if to make the reader feel them pumping with evil. Lanham sells Conan’s yell of anger as he strikes with a hearty “RRRRGGH!” word bubble and emphasizing Zazella’s words of fear and disbelief.

After that amazing splash page, Conan rips the daggers out of his chest and faces off against the now monstrous children and the mostly revived Razazel. The fight is dynamic with Conan doing his best to avoid the many mouthed horror that is Razazel. The otherworldly demon could be absolutely horrifying for those with trypophobia as his many mouths look like a cluster of holes, but Wilson gives him a deadlier, darker red to make him amongst the background. Conan, as always, isn’t afraid of the monster and gives him hell throughout the fight.

Conan isn’t just a man, he is an extraordinary man. As stated in a previous review, Conan has fought lesser demons from the depths of hell, beasts of all kinds and monsters that dwarfed him by GREAT margins. He has slain them all and even spat in the face of his own God, Crom at the precipice of death. So Razazel is just another walk in the park for the King of Aquilonia. He thinks nothing of slicing at the fingers of the Old God and even when he’s grabbed and the many mouths are biting and gnawing at him, he just slices at the veins on the walls.

Of course, even Conan still falls prey to the numbers game and with grievous injuries, the Twins begin to overpower him after a good fight. Asrar frames their fight with a fleeting sense of hope as the shot pulls away with each successive panel and more blood is ripped from Conan. Wilson emphasizes this with the backgrounds seemingly getting more red as Conan’s death nears and Lanham excellently places Aaron’s narration of the importance of Conan’s blood out of the way of the action, but still easily readable as you navigate the panels.

And the importance of Conan’s blood cannot be understated as it plays a vital role in the outcome of this battle. One of the better aspects of Aaron’s run thus far is that it has built on Robert E. Howard’s mythos of the character and his amazing feats, but he’s also added something more unexpected in the form of...a legacy, a son: Conn or Conan II. In one splash page, Aaron and Asrar turn the tables as we’re greeted with this child/teenager that’s the spitting image of his father, sword in hand and highlighted amongst his flanking soldiers as they all stare down the monstrous children and their King wounded on the ground.

Now, of course there may be some complaints that Conan having a child ruins his nomadic and loner image, but I argue that this adds a new depth to the character. We’ve seen how fatherhood adds a new layer in characters like Superman and Kratos, improving their stories for the better, so I’m fully on board with it. We’ve already had hundreds of stories of Conan being alone with his throne so exploring a newfound relationship with his boy, teaching him how to be a strong Cimmerian, is something that I didn’t know I wanted until I’d gotten a taste.

Asrar and Wilson continue to sell the horror of things as Conan’s Black Dragon Knights take the fight to the Twins and Razazel. Razza and Zazella make pretty short work of a few of them; Ripping them apart, crushing their heads and even tossing one of them into one of the mouths of Razazel’s forearm in a gruesome display. As they viciously kill and maim Conan’s men, Razza takes pride in his sister and their “soon to come” victory until Conan brutally decapitates him in the middle of his speech. Much like their mother, he survives this and hilarious asks Zazella to throw his head at Conan.

The great Warrior King wastes no time and dispatches Zazella as well, tossing them both into the hole. Conn instructs the soldiers to cut the veins, but Razazel is still hanging on. So Conan does what he does best and leaps into danger. Asrar makes him look like a madman with anger in his eyes, two gaping chest wounds where the kids stabbed him, and his sword in hand about to cut the vein that Razazel is hanging from. Victory is finally at hand when we see Razza, Zazella and Razazel falling into the abyss, defeated by the blood of Conan.

I have to say that there was not a single bad issue in this entire run and this one itself as beyond spectacular. One of the main things that I love about Conan is the simplicity of the character and how anyone can write him, but it takes a REALLY GOOD writer to make you care about him. Throughout the entirety of this series, Jason Aaron held the swinging axe over Conan’s head, dangling it closer and closer with each subsequent issue and victory. At points, I actually thought Aaron might actually do it and end the life of Conan, but deep down we all knew that Conan would emerge victorious.

Mahmud Asrar and Matthew Wilson worked amazingly together on the many issues that they had, capturing the feel of the Hyborian Age with intensity in fights, strong colors and solid inks throughout. I thought Marvel would tone down the violence of the character, but their art and the other artists throughout this book never shied away from the sheer brutality that Conan was capable of. They made sure that this felt like a genuine Conan experience like Dark Horse did during their tenure with the character and much like Marvel did in the 80s. Conan never looked weak and even in defeat he was still a terrifyingly powerful sight to behold.

All in all, I’m excited for more Conan stuff after this. Jim Zub and Roge Antonio take ver the main Conan series after this issue and both of them are very good with writing and art, but Aaron is continuing his story with a King Conan book later this year. Not only that, we’ve got Battle for the Serpent Crown to look forward to, more Savage Avengers and a Dark Agnes miniseries on the way… 2020 is looking like a good year for Conan.

[laughaholic-me]

If Kratos were human

We all know the Greek Gods are known for fits of jealousy, rage, murder, unfair punishments, infidelity, and much more. What if they were punished? Born again into unknown bodies, stripped of their heritage, and had to walk the world alone? They still have their memories and knowledge, but weak mortals with no power can’t accomplish great deeds, right?

Kratos> Malin

Kratos- God of strength and power

Malin- English name meaning “strong, little warrior”

He was once a symbol of power. He and his siblings were chosen by Zeus himself to be his warriors. Now, Kratos, no, Malin looks into the mirror only to be disappointed by the scrawny body. He was bullied when he was younger because of his awkwardly skinny limbs, and his mentality formed him into a timid, useless coward. Malin soon found that it was easy to forget himself. Simple, actually. Humans are one of the most adaptable creatures, and he understood that he was no different from them anymore.

As Malin finished his essay on Shakespeare’s King Lear, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when he died. He thought of it a lot, maybe too much. Would he just be reborn again? Would he go back to his normal being?

Malin sighs and sends his final draft to his Literature professor. He logs out of the cafe’s computer and finishes his coffee. The workers are starting to clean up, so he decides to take his leave.

He misses his siblings. His fierce sisters, and energetic brother. He’s an only child now. Adopted after nurses found a baby in the NICU, with no parents to claim. His parents were nice. They gave up trying for a baby after years of no success, and he felt strange whenever they’d call him their “little warrior”, their little Malin. They smiled when he’d respond like an adult, and used words they don’t remember ever teaching him. His father gave him bone-crushing hugs when his report cards came in the mail. His mother cried when he’d come home from school bruised. They weren’t violent people. They taught him to be a lover instead of a fighter, and he found himself listening.

Malin knew he was lucky with earthling parents. Could’ve been far worse. They let him try out for soccer and encouraged him to join Library Practice after they found out he suffered from asthma. Turns out, the difficult language of the 18th and 19th century was right down his alley. It wasn’t a surprise that he’d be accepted into the top schools, and he found himself wanting to stay in his hometown. With his parents. They accepted his faults and weaknesses. Something he never knew as a god.

Attached to mortals...how puny.

It’s almost 11 now, and Malin is only halfway home, but as he passes through a dangerous neighborhood, he feels the now familiar fear ball up in his stomach. There’s an odd chill in the air considering the season, and he pulls up his hood to stop the wind from numbing his ears.

He slows when he hears a scream. Muffled shouts and scrambling follows. Once Malin realizes it’s happening in the alleyway he has yet to pass, the fear coils and expands.

He pulls his hood tighter further and shoves his hands in his pocket.

There is nothing he can do.

When he reaches the alleyway, he slows down and leans his head ever so slightly to observe the scene. There are three men, who cornered a girl. One is rifling through her purse, while the other two push her around violently.

Malin clenches his teeth and freezes when the dim light shows the tear-stained cheeks of the girl. She’s small and frail looking. Obviously terrified if she’s not even screaming anymore.

“Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” The one holding the purse steps towards him. They are all suddenly closer. Malin looks down and sees that he had started to walk down the alley.

“Uh.” Malin takes a step back. “I...um-”

Malin is grabbed and pushed against the nearby wall. “You gonna play hero? You think you can beat us, motherfucker?”

No. He can’t. Malin’s eyes widen, “Just take what you want and leave her alone.”

Suddenly, Malin is thrown to the ground and his hood falls off as the assailant grabs him again. “She’s only got five bucks on her. You wanna entertain us?” He sneered.

Malin slams into the ground again and it takes him a moment to feel the pain from the punch. He hears the girl being shoved to the ground and the other men make their way to Malin. It’s a blur of fists and feet, aiming at any part they can reach.

If only…

He used to be feared. He was a force to be reckoned with. But that’s all past-tense now. Kratos has closed his eyes and turned his back. He is a new person and has long accepted this new lifestyle, new body, and new struggles.

Soon, the men get bored and give him a few final kicks before spitting at him and walking away. Malin rolls over and tries to push himself up. He groans and looks down to see a trail of bloody drool strung down from his lip. He can feel his nose dripping blood too. He looks up and notices that he can only see out of one eye; the other one is probably swollen shut.

He takes slow, deep breaths, and lamely shuffles around on the ground like a worm. He just needs to get up. That’s all. Just get up.

Malin hears the girl whimper and stumbles to him. He feels her hands grip his shoulders and help him sit up. He’s now kneeling, slouched over, but at least he’s somewhat upright. He grabs her arms to steady himself. Malin looks up at this blubbering girl. Her cheek is red and already bruising, probably when she was first being mugged.

He flinches when her hands cup his head, and she lightly touches his forehead, right above his eyebrow. When her hand pulls back, he sees that it has some blood on it. They're both breathing hard, trying to subdue the pain.

“I’m sorry. I just...I wanted to…” Malin felt the cuts and scrapes on his cheeks burn from his tears that were finally falling.

He watched as the girl in front of him let out a breathy laugh, which almost could be mistaken for a sob. “Why are you apologizing?” Her eyes shone. “You’re so strong.”

Malin gulped and looked at this girl. He wanted to remember her tear-streaked face, disheveled hair, bright eyes, and the small smile. This girl, who’s caramel hair was being whipped in the wind, her dark eyes made her look even more precious and gentle. This girl, who watched him get beat to a pulp, who watched him not even attempt to fight back, called him strong.

He gripped her even harder, but she didn’t pull away. He leaned into her and rested his head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, and for the first time, he felt it. Strength. Malin was exhausted and sore, but being able to get through the beating, even without fighting physically, he fought for the girl. He protected her. Bravery was pulsing through him, and he hadn’t felt that intoxicating rush in so long.

Malin let go of her and put his hands on the cold ground. With a heave, he pushed himself up. The girl quickly stood up with him and put one of his arms around her shoulders.

“Okay. Good.” She praised. Malin had half the mind to feel like a child, but he just accepted her presence.

They looked at each other, and Malin could just see it in her. She saw this scrawny young man and made him her hero. And he’d be that. If only one believed in him, that’s fine.

[ms-unorthodox-galaxy]

Secret World of the Gods | Ichor of Hera | Chapter 1

"Oh this dress is beautiful Lys!" Elenyi gasped stepping off the stool and twirling in the navy blue and black floor length gown. "I swear you should stop working in the clinic and live here and be my handmaiden full time."

I rolled my eyes and laughed, turning to my basket to put away the sowing needles and thread and gathering up the extra fabric. "Oh yes my Grandmother would love that, a noble lady becoming a handmaiden. Once you're done twirling, let me help out of your dress the Giving Banquet isn't for another day and I don't want you tearing that dress again."

"Oh yeah.....," she stepped back up onto the stool turned so her back was facing me so I could undo the ties in the back. "become my lady in waiting then. You could live here with me in the manor and it will be like having a sleepover every night. Or better yet I could put in a good word for you and get you a position as Queen Hera's lady in waiting!" I sighed undoing the last tie then began to help her out of her dress. "Queen Hera has been a hermit in her palace for the past year, she's not going to let some new person she doesn't know be a lady in waiting." I held Elenyi's hand to steady her as she stepped out of her dress. "And what's with the sudden interest in me being a lady in waiting you're being more pushy than usual."

  She brought her hand up to mouth and starting to chew on her thumbnail subconsciously something she always did when she was thinking or nervous. "Well it's just this clinic you're working at is already underground and kind of illegal, but with the new King being announced at the end of the Giving Banquet who knows what will happen. You could end up going to jail. And I'm sure that you're grandmother wouldn't like that." She jumped off her stool tripping slightly on her slip and walked over to her closet to find a new dress to put on. Turning back to my basket I closed it. Then picked up the stool putting it back under the window. I stopped looking out the window to the beautiful blue water of the ocean the waves crashing calmly onto the beach, tall ships could be seen out in the distance. To the left I could see the busy city watching people walk about rushing to get to their destination. This is one of the reasons I loved coming here the manor had the best view of the Sunken City. I turned away from the window just as Elenyi came out with a deep red sleeveless dress. She undid the ties on the back that had been done loosely so it could be hung up, she then stepped into it and turned around so I could do the ties. "Speaking of the clinic I heard that a half human turned up from the human world, that he traveled through one of the portals. Did you tend to him?" Elenyi asked excitedly trying to turn around put I pushed her lightly so she would stand with her back facing me so I could could undo a tangle in one of the ties.

"No I didn't tend to him Lucy did, and before you ask he's half human, half old blood. He came through one of the portals that appears sporadically on the border to the North. He showed up badly wounded too."

"Half old blood, as in the elves of old?" Elenyi gasped the last half of what I said not seeming to register in her head. I was used to this Elenyi had always been childish for her age and a bit airheaded, she kind of reminded me of Luna Lovegood in that book series I had read while visiting Lucy at her home in the human realm. "Oh I've always wanted to meet an elf of old. I've only read stories about them in the library. You must take me to meet him." she turned around again causing me to stumble slightly as I had been fully invested in untangling the stubborn knot in her ties.

"Elenyi turn around so I can get this," I grumbled pushing her back around "and second, the whole point of an underground clinic is for it to stay secret, how secret do you think it would stay if the Marchioness of the Sunken City were to just stroll up in there?"

"Not very secret." she mumbled.

"Exactly." I finally managed to undo the damn knot and started tying up her dress. She lifted up her purple hair so I could do the last tie at the top, I patted her back once I was done and she let the loose curls fall to her waist then turned around to look at me her light grey eyes full of curiosity and joy a combination I had yet to see in anyone else's.

"I'm assuming you're going back to the clinic now?"

"You assume correctly." I half laughed.

"But I assume you will be back tomorrow to help me get ready and to attend the Giving Banquet with me?"

"Correct again." I walked over to her bed where I had placed the basket.

"And you aren't going to where those pants and that shirt, I mean you could but I'm pretty sure your grandmother would faint at the sight." an amused tone in her voice.

"I don't know I was thinking of starting a new trend. What do you think?" I asked as I mimicked her twirl that she had done earlier. I was met by the sound of her giggles and I stopped giving her a smile before walking to the door basket in hand.

"Enjoy your freedom Lys." she said as I walked out the door.

"See you tomorrow Elenyi." I walked down the corridor turning and walking down the staircase the guards opening the doors for me.

"Good evening gentlemen."

"Good evening Lady Lys." they said in unison. I walked down the gravel path to my 1957 chevy bel air convertible. Throwing the basket in the back seat I got in and started the engine. Well tried to start the engine, the car made noise but didn't start. I sighed leaning back in my seat. The last time the god realm really interacted on a global level was from 1945-1969 during that time cars made their way into the god realm. But I so wished they had interacted at a later date as there was no car past 1969 here in the god realm, which was a pity as cars had advanced so much since then.

"Come on Daisy wake up and stop messing around or I'll trade you in for a horse drawn carriage." Trying the ignition again Daisy roared to life. I smiled patted the dashboard. "Good girl." then drove off.

****

"Where the hell have you been?!" Lucy yelled as I pulled into my spot behind the department store building.

"You know I had to help out Elenyi with her dress." I pulled the key out of the ignition and got out of the car.

"And that took 6 hours?!"

"Yes I basically had to resew the entire dress, the seams were coming undone. Plus I also helped out with some other things as well."

"Oh so you're a handmaiden now? I could've sworn you were a nurse."

I rolled my eyes walking past her to the door but she quickly caught up.

"We're understaffed Lys we needed your help hours ago."

"Then you should've called, you have Elenyi's number."

"Oh yeah sure, I'll call the Marchioness of the Sunken City. 'Um hello can you please tell Lady Lys that we need her urgently at our illegal underground clinic' " She said in a high pitched voice using her hand as a phone and holding it up to her ear.

"Okay shut up." I shoved her playfully and despite being stressed she managed a small smile. I opened the door walking through into the supply room almost all of the shelves were picked clean. "Jeez."

"Yeah, people are starting to get restless out there, with the new King being announced tomorrow."

"Yeah I forgot there's never been a new King of the Gods."

"There wasn't supposed to ever be a new King of the Gods but you know Kratos, the King's most trusted guard just had to kill him. I still believe that Hera had him killed." Lucy shook her head.

"I mean I don't really blame her, Zeus just stood aside and let the succession war happen he didn't offer any guards to help and let Hera's children be killed." I grabbed stuff that had been knocked on the floor and putting it back on the shelf.

"Guys!" a shaken Alex breathed rushing over to us from the main area. "We need help, we've got a demigod that's badly wounded I don't have that much training." I quickly grabbed gauze and a pair of gloves and raced into the main area, Alex rushed ahead of me and headed over to a curtain in the corner pulling it back it revealed a heavily tattooed man maybe only a year older than me. Gashes bleeding heavily all over his chest. Quickly putting on my gloves I ripped open the gauze pack and applied pressure to the biggest gash. "Alex get an IV bag and run a line, and get me a suture kit." I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye and run off.

The man who had had his eyes shut in pain opened them his eyes flickering between blue and bright green. Judging from the tattoos and the eyes he was a Fay not a demigod. I had only seen one other before when my Dad had taken me to the Woodlands of Lavinia, fairies never ventured far from there. The man opened and closed his mouth struggling to talk.

"Shh don't talk, don't talk, you're safe you're in an underground clinic. If you're running you won't be found here."

He shook his head. I grabbed another gauze pack ripping it open with my teeth and placing a fresh pack over the blood soaked one.

"C'mon Alex hurry up!!!" I yelled.

The man grabbed my arm pulling me down I almost fell onto him but I managed to place my free hand on the hospital bed to steady myself.

"I -see Queen Hera.... need to see-" he quickly let go of me when Alex returned.

"Are you okay did he hurt you?"

"No just give me suture kit and start the line." I grabbed the kit from his outstretched hand and opened it. After examining the wounds and seeing that he didn't seem to have any punctured organs I began stitching wounds close.

The man flinched and let out pained groans. "Do we have any morphine or poppy pods left?" I looked at Alex who finished hanging the IV bag.

"I'll check." he ran off again and the man opened his eyes which were now neon green and just stared at me as if studying me watching as I stitched up his wounds.

"If you're wondering if I'm going to tell anyone what you said I'm not. You're going to have to be here overnight if not for a couple of days, your wounds were deep but didn't puncture any organs." Despite being in pain he seemed to sigh in relief. "You want to try and tell me what did this to you?" He looked away from me and I nodded tying off the last stitch.

"Well, If you're looking for Queen Hera she lives in her palace on the border of the Sunken City and the Land of Royals which is 110 miles from here and at least a 2 hour drive. So I wouldn't try walking. But she's in town for the Giving Banquet and announcement of the new King to be crowned but I bet you already knew that." I could've sworn he almost smiled and let a small smile of my own appear. Alex reappeared with a needle full of morphine. I took it and injected it into the IV.

"Dress his wound and keep a close eye on him in case he has a reaction to the morphine. I've got other patients to tend to."

A/N: Thank you for reading! I appreciate feedback and would love if you would leave a comment and let me know what you think. You can also access this story on 

Quotev: https://www.quotev.com/story/13238745/Secret-World-of-the-Gods-Ichor-of-Hera

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/980005944-secret-world-of-the-gods-ichor-of-hera-chapter-one

Thank you!

[yahooben]

The 20 most anticipated games of 2018

‘Spider-Man’ is one of the biggest releases hitting consoles this year.

How do you possibly top a video game year as flat-out awesome as 2017? You probably don’t — the past year was an all-timer, right up there with 2007 and 1998.

But no one loves a challenge like a game maker, and the men and women who toil to build amazing gaming experiences have their eyes set on 2018. While we’re sure to get countless surprises between now and next December, the year to come is already shaping up to be another one for the record books. A new “Red Dead,” the return of Kratos, another “Last of Us,” that crazy looking “Far Cry” — a ton of heavy-hitters are slated for release in 2018. Here are 20 worth watching (and playing, eventually).

Note: Only games with currently confirmed 2018 release dates are included. All release dates subject to change/delay.

“Red Dead Redemption 2” (Spring 2018 | PS4, Xbox One)

‘Red Dead Redemption II’ is easily the most hotly anticipated game of 2018.

Few companies can raise their stock price 6% simply by tweeting little more than their logo against a red background. But Rockstar Games, which is owned by Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), isn’t just any company. Best known as the mad geniuses behind “Grand Theft Auto,” Rockstar also happened to make the best Old West video game of all time in 2010’s legendary “Red Dead Redemption.” First hinted at by a simple tweet back in October of 2016, the prequel follows nefarious new protagonist Arthur Morgan and his gang of outlaws as they rob, cheat and steal their way across the American Frontier.

“The Last of Us: Part II” (TBD 2018 | PS4)

‘The Last of Us II’ has a lot to live up to, but there’s high hopes for Naughty Dog.

Emotions ran high in the post-apocalyptic hellscape of the PS3 giant, “The Last Us.” So did the game’s score, coming in at a staggering 95 on Metacritic. The sequel, naturally, has a lot to live up to, but with ace developer Naughty Dog on the job, we’re expecting another masterpiece. Taking place a few years after the original, it lets players guide a 19-year-old Ellie through a world somehow more violent and dangerous than before. We simply can’t wait.

“Anthem” (Q4 2018 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

We’re not entirely sure what to expect from ‘Anthem’ yet, but based on developer Bioware’s pedigree, we’ve got high hopes.

Look out, “Destiny” – EA (EA)and Bioware are prepping an online shooter of their own. We think. It’s actually hard to say for sure at this point. Outside of an outstanding trailer shown at EA’s pre-E3 press conference in June, precious little is known about Bioware’s take on online multiplayer action. Players don customizable exosuits to fly, shoot, and chat through gorgeous sci-fi worlds. So yeah, sounds like “Destiny.”

“God of War” (Q1 2018 | PS4)

God of War transports Kratos from ancient Greece to the frozen wastes of Norse mythology.

Deity-defying madman Kratos returns to action in 2018, but he’s changed quite a bit over the years. Now a dad, the god killer is tasked with teaching his son how to survive a harsh new land while keeping his epic anger in check. With a new camera, deeper RPG elements, and a brand-new signature weapon (goodbye chains, hello axe), “God of War” will offer a fresh perspective on an old anti-hero.

“Far Cry 5” (March 27 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

‘Far Cry 5’ looks to reinvent the franchise, forcing you to confront religious zealots on U.S. soil.

Ubisoft (UBI.PA) takes its chaotic open-world shooter to a fictional town in Montana run by a brutal doomsday cult. Your job? What else — unite the town’s residents, deal with the crazy cult leaders, and try not to get eaten by a bear. Touching on hot-button ideological issues like religious fanaticism and domestic terrorism, it’s a controversial move that should help “Far Cry 5” inject new life into the popular series.

“Kingdom Hearts III” (TBD 2018 | PS4, Xbox One)

After years of anticipation ‘Kingdom Hearts III’ will land on consoles in 2018. As long as it’s not delayed … again.

Fans have been wishing upon this particular star for roughly a decade now, but they’ll finally get their heart’s desire in 2018. This long-awaited RPG returns players to the bizarre, mashed-up universe of Square and Disney, dropping them into the boots of series star Sora as he attempts to stop a second Keyblade War. With appearances by countless Disney (DIS) characters and a new “Attraction Flow” move that lets players summon attacks based on Disney rides, it’s sure to thrill die-hards. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get delayed again.

“Monster Hunter World” (January 26 | PS4, Xbox One)

‘Monster Hunter World’ is the most ambitious entry in the series yet.

Capcom’s hugely popular beast-tracking action game embraces the open-world craze, and the result is shaping up to be one of the biggest early releases of 2018. You’ll still spend hours chasing down massive creatures, but with no load screens to break up the fun. It’s also fully online and boasts far and away the most impressive “Monster Hunter” graphics yet. If you’ve never given it a chance, this might be the time to start.

“Sea of Thieves” (March 20 | Xbox One, PC)

‘Sea of Thieves’ drew plenty of attention when it debuted at E3 2017. We’ll find out if it’s worth the hype in 2018.

If you wish every day was Talk like a Pirate Day, batten down the hatches and sweep up the poop deck: Microsoft’s (MSFT) got some sweet, sweet booty headed your way. This swashbuckling co-op game lets you and a few friends plunder, pillage, and probably sink your way across a huge open world. Early looks have been positive — getting three people to properly hoist sails and steer a frigate is riotous fun — but we won’t know if we’re looking at treasure or fool’s gold until “Sea of Thieves” docks this March.

“Psychonauts 2” (TBD 2018 | Xbox One, PS4, PC, Mac)

After 13 years ‘Psychonauts” is back. And we’ll find out if it was worth the wait in 2018.

It’s been 13 years since gamers spent an extremely weird season at the Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, where making friendship bracelets took a backseat to exploring the brains of fellow campers. The sequel sees Raz and friends back at it, using their Psi Powers to save the Psychonauts from being undermined by a nefarious villain. If that means another platform level even half as cool as the legendary Milkman Conspiracy, it can’t get here soon enough.

“Detroit: Become Human” (Q2 2018 | PS4)

‘Detroit: Become Human’ will explore what it means to be alive in a game where your decisions drive the story.

Man meets machine in this neo-noir adventure from the mind of game visionary David Cage. Playing as a trio of androids, gamers grapple with artificial consciousness in a futuristic Detroit. With a branching story shaped by player choice and remarkable graphics, this cinematic thriller is one of Sony’s (SNE) biggest PS4 bets in 2018.

“Shenmue III” (Q3/Q4 2018 | PS4, PC)

It’s taken quite some time, 17 years to be exact, but Shenmue III is finally coming in 2018. We hope.

Ryo Hazuki’s tale of revenge began, amazingly enough, on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999. Thanks to a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, it will finally continue in 2018. With series creator Yu Suzuki at the helm, the third “Shenmue” picks up where 2001’s “Shenmue II” left off. That will likely mean tons of plot, a helping of kung-fu, and maybe, just maybe, a forklift.

“Mega Man 11” (Q4 2018 | PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

The Blue Bomber is trading in his pixels for some lines and slick moves in ‘Mega Man 11.’

We don’t know much at all about the Blue Bomber’s eleventh game. According to its internet-breaking announcement trailer, it’s coming out in 2018 (at the moment), it stars our favorite weapon-gathering robot boy, and it trades old-school pixels for fresher polygonal graphics. It also looks super hard, which sounds about right. It’s Mega Man!

“Metro Exodus” (Q4 2018 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

‘Metro Exodus’ returns to Russia’s post-apocalyptic wastes in 2018.

The third game in the tragically underappreciated “Metro” series takes gamers back to the frigid post-apocalyptic Russian wastelands, where they’ll scavenge gear, shoot mutated beasts, and try their damnedest to survive. Based on the other two “Metro” games, that’ll be plenty scary – and hopefully, plenty fun, too.

“Days Gone” (TBD 2018 | PS4)

‘Days Gone’ will have you fleeing seemingly endless hordes of zombies.

Another year, another batch of post-apocalyptic zombie games. When it comes to sheer undead numbers, however, “Days Gone” might take the rotting cake. Waves of walking corpses descend upon our hero in this impressive-looking open-world game, which looks like a creepy blend of World War Z and Sony’s own “The Last of Us.” Here’s hoping the final game is closer in quality to the latter.

“Dragon Ball FighterZ” (January 26 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

‘Dragon Ball FighterZ’ looks so good, it’s as if you’re actually playing the long-running anime series about people yelling for 20 minutes.

Goku and his spiky-haired pals are back, and unsurprisingly, they look pretty amazing in this new fighting game based on the long-running anime franchise. Featuring a large cast of Dragon Ball characters and a slick, team-based fighting system, it will surely make the fighting game community go super Saiyan when it arrives early in the year.

“Soulcalibur VI” (TBD 2018 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

‘Soulcalibur Vi’ is bringing the series’ weapons-based combat back for another round in 2018.

The legend will never die, after all. Released back in 2012, the last version of this weapons-based fighting game didn’t exactly set the world on fire. But the franchise’s roots run deep – Dreamcast fans still swear by the first “Soulcalibur” – and with “Tekken 7” producer Motohiro Okubo in charge, there’s reason to believe the sixth installment will recapture some of the series’ glory.

Spider-Man (Q2 2018 | PS4)

‘Spider-Man’ is swinging onto the PS4 in 2018.

Having enjoyed a spectacular big screen rebirth, the webslinger swings over to the PS4 in 2018. Developed by Insomniac, the new Spider-Man sees Peter Parker scurry around Manhattan saving citizens from the likes of the Kingpin and Mr. Negative. Its acrobatic combat and open-world exploration helped it win countless Best of Show awards at E3 2017, and with loads of smart, authentic fan touches (playable MJ! Miles Morales!), it’s shaping up to be the coolest Spidey game since 2004’s seminal Spider-Man 2.

“Crackdown 3” (Spring 2018 | Xbox One, PC)

‘Crackdown 3’ will let you destroy everything you can see, which is absolutely worth it.

Initially planned for 2016, this open-world action romp has run into a few speed bumps on its way to your Xbox One. But when you’re building a game in which every single thing can be destroyed, bumps are bound to happen. Expect ridiculous super powers, intense action, and more busted up buildings than a Transformers movie.

“The Last Night” (TBD 2018 | Xbox One, PC, Mac)

‘The Last Night’ is a stylish platformer that we’re hoping will have equally stunning gameplay.

Of all the indie games shown during Microsoft’s E3 2017 press conference, this is the one that had people talking. Blending a 16-bit visual aesthetic with contemporary animation techniques, this cyberpunk side-scrolling game is a stunner. We’re still not entirely sure how it plays – its developers call it a “cinematic platformer” – but we’re anxious to find out.

“Darksiders 3” (TBD 2018 | PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Want to fight the Seven Deadly Sins while cracking a sweet whip? ‘Darksiders 3’ should be game.

The fate of the third “Darksiders” game was up in the air for a few years there, but now it’s actually happening. That’s a good thing indeed. The first two “Darksiders” were critical hits, big, bold action adventure games each starring one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This time out, we’ll play as Fury, a whip-wielding mage out to destroy the Seven Deadly Sins.

More games news:

The best video games of 2017

‘Resident Evil Revelations Collection’ review: Fear the past

Microsoft Xbox One X review: A beast of a console at a steep price

‘Wolfenstein II’ review: Great fun if you’re into punching Nazis

‘Super Mario Odyssey’ review: Nintendo tips its cap to the past

[originskey]

gleamknight​:

Ah, so that was what Yuan was up to back on Aselia.  It seemed like Kratos would just be able to refute any of his arguments he threw at him.  He just couldn’t help but be hung up on the small details.

Zelos was never one to see the whole picture.

Until…It was laid out clear as day.  He was doing his part, in a fucked up roundabout way, sure.  But, he was protecting his son.

“So you’re saying my little outburst was pointless and stupid.  Right.”  He exhaled and took a step back, folding in on himself.  “…Regardless.”

“You’re not going to get in touch with Derris-Kharlan here.  Can’t say I’ve heard any success stories of anyone getting in contact with their worlds from the city.  So just.  Be there for Lloyd.”

…

“Don’t think for a minute I’m going to apologize.  I’ll never apologize for the things I truly believe in.”

“...I didn’t think it was pointless. You were trying to protect the person you love from harm.”

Now that Zelos seemed to understand, he chose to look at the ground instead, taking note of how many pieces the communicator was in.

“As I said, I wasn’t optimistic it would work. But if being around all of you had taught me anything, it was that I had to try. I don’t...”

Want to leave. In one way or another, I’m always losing my son. There’s only so much my own heart can take of it all, now that it found a reason to keep beating again. To say goodbye to Yuan again, to never see Martel and Mithos live a normal life...

“...It’s nothing. What I can say with confidence is that I have a new role to play in this city, and I don’t intend on faltering it.”

A sigh as his hand went into the pile of parts on the table, fishing around for something inside.

“At the very least, I should thank you for going as far as you did for Lloyd.”

Suppose this makes us even for me threatening to kill you, doesn’t it.

[goron-king-darunia]

DotNW Remake/Remaster DLC - Marta: Wish of the Age/A New Journey and Richter: Never Ending Thought/Start of Tragedy (work in progress names)

Annon-Guy: Let’s go over some things about the Marta and Richter DLC ideas;

Marta 1: If there’s a stealth section, than Marta’s core headache would be put aside or won’t be immediate. Also, if Marta gets spotted, I think she would immediately run away and wait in a hidden checkpoint spot, allowing you to try again. It would not be fun if you get automatic game overs for being seen (and it would be too sad). (There would also be skits depending how many times you’re spotted. 0 is best and would impress Tenabrae, 1 is tolerable, 5 would be bad and 10+ would leave Marta disappointed and releaved she just got through that mess).

Richter 1: Would Aster and Aqua be playable during the DLC? Does Aster carry a stun gun? Also, I don’t think it would be an automatic fail with the zombies if Aster has HP to spare and Aqua’s helping you. If Aster’s KO’d than it would be a fail, but I think they would just fall back instead of it being a game over.

Marta 2: I think as soon as Marta gets on the boat, she would hide while Tenabrae tries to get it to work (say they have to take because there are Vangaurd soilders leading people out and Marta would get caught if she follows the survivors). Hawk, Alice and Richter would meet up and talk about what’s happening (let’s say Richter and Hawk are being kept in the dark by Alice). After they finish, Richter would suspect they’re on the boat (even before Tenabrae accidently activates the engine because it would probally be a Tethe'alla Noble’s boat). Marta would try to talk to tell about the canon and as soon as it starts, Marta throws one of Decus’ collonge bottles stunning them before Alice and Richter jump on. After Tenabrae gets hurt, Marta would use the palm strike sending the two into the water before passing out. The rest after Marta wakes up would be Marta and Tenabrae’s first month of the Journey proper. The final boss of the DLC should be Alice.

Richter 2: I think the final boss of the DLC would be Ratatosk in his original form. It would be slightly hard sense you won’t have Aster and Aqua helping you in this fight.

Marta 3: Should Tenabrae be playable in the DLC so Marta won’t be alone in the fights?

Richter 3: Should the story end as soon as you beat Ratatosk or as soon as you return to Sybak or Palmacosta?

Marta 4: Should she recap this story to Emil and the Regeneration Crew? (after Lloyd joins)

Richter 4: Should his story happen while he’s rembering how it all happened? If so, should it be after the Temple of Ice or after Alice saves him from Lloyd at Altimira?

Both 1: What sort of places would they go to and how many places? Would they be places from the main game or new unseen places? I think their stories would only be 1 or 2 chapters long.

Both 2: Should they be pre-order bonus’ or should Bandai Namco wait for a week or month to release them (to give players time to play and beat the main story). Although, there will be a warning bite if players try to go into the DLC before playing or beating the main story.

Both 3: Might be random but funny, but say if you get a game over and choose to continue, The Regeneration Crew and Aqua would give Marta and Richter a funny look about Marta and Richter biting it if they’re still alive telling them the story/still alive remembering it. If you choose not to continue, nothing happens.

Both 4: Would the DLC be free or cost $5?

Both 5: Marta and Richter would be locked between levels 5 - 10 in the DLC Stories. *~*~*~*  GKD here, adding my response to the bottom because I have more to say than will fit in the tags. I like the idea of checkpoints as opposed to restarting the entire area because that’s always frustrating. However, depending on how far apart the checkpoints are, it may be impractical to have her physically run back. Waiting for a game over screen to pass can be frustrating, but so can waiting for your character to run back 3 sections because you messed up one button input or moved too far to the left or right. Warping back to checkpoints might be better with the implication that she’s running back. For example, have her begin a running animation and have the camera rapidly move back to the checkpoint to find Marta already there, catching her breath in a dark corner as guards walk past. Number of times spotted would also be a great mechanic because it trains you for the Temple of Lightning where the number of times you get struck by lightning has an impact on whether you get the normal or good ending. Especially if the number of times you’re spotted only impacts the cutscene/skit you get and not which ending you get, serving as a bit of a tutorial on “your actions even during gameplay have consequences, not just when we give you scripted choices.” I would LOVE if Aster and Aqua could be playable, but Aqua would probably function only as a party leader token and not as an actual combatant since Tenebrae himself says Centurions do not fight but have monsters fight for them. Aster should absolutely have a stun gun since he has one in Onshuu no Richter. All his artes are gag attacks. Party popper/ exploding beaker of mysterious science liquid for a fire attack. Smoke bombs for a darkness based attack that add a confusion debuff to enemies. Some other gross science slime that has a water element and a poison debuff. Throw stale donuts for a ranged attack. Trusty stun gun for electric element attacks at range. And his regular melee? Really wimpy slap that you can combo into a sequence of: weak slap, shove opponent, stomp opponent, then kick opponent and after the kick, he hops away clutching his foot because he is not adept at fighting and hurt his poor toes by kicking at the opponent wrong and jamming his toes. XD When not playing as Richter, he will, like Kratos, cast first aid on Aster any time he’s below 75% heath and will prioritize him over healing, say, the monsters, even if the monsters are below 50% health. Pontus and Enki from Onshuu no Richter would be constant battle companions since Aqua doesn’t routinely pact with monsters and she had both when Aster was still alive. Nice little Easter egg for fans if they’re named Pontus and Enki in the party roster. Aster getting KO’ed would probably be an auto fail, yeah. My issue with the second Marta scenario is... where would Marta get Decus’s cologne from? I agree with most of the rest though. A one-on-one fight with Alice would be fun. Richter 2 is a big fat yes. Good excuse for us to see Ratatosk’s Original form and another one on one duel. Marta 3: In the same way Aqua should be playable via monsters, Tenebrae should also be playable via monsters. Richter 3: The more Richter content the better, in my book. It would be interesting and heartbreaking to fight with a debuff all the way back to Sybak to show Richter is depressed. I love when game mechanics reflect the mental state of the characters.  Marta 4: She could recap it, but I think it’s more interesting to have us play her scenarios as they occur at the beginning as a sort of Tutorial for the game. Richter’s could be played as a recap as he remembers it happening but Martas feel like they should be played in the moment. If Marta did explain to Emil and the others, it should be done as a fade-to-black scene rather than have her tediously explain everything. 

Richter 4: Richter’s happening chronologically spoils a lot about the game, so I think playing Richter’s quest as late as possible would be best, definitely during a moment of reflection. 

Both 1: Agreed that 1-2 chapters is best. They’d just be bonuses and not the main content, after all. I think some new locations would be fun, but I think there were a few more unvisited places in DotNW that could be added in. So maybe a combo of both new places and old places that the original didn’t let us revisit.

Both 2: I personally hate preorder bonuses. It rewards rich people for spending frivolously. I’d rather have it as a DLC released after the fact or come bundled with the game (with the game marked up, obviously, since we’re paying for bonus content.) Like how the Game of the Year Edition of The Elder Scrolls Oblivion came with all the expansions? Yeah. I’d like it to do something like that. If it comes bundled with the game, perhaps it’s unlockable as New Game + material and only accessible once you’ve beaten the game before.  

Both 3: While I think that success is basically guaranteed since we know Marta and Richter have to make it out alive and I doubt neither of them would be retelling it and having your gameplay represent the story they’re telling, that is a funny idea. Richter just “Yeah, Remember when Ratatosk sliced me in the back and I died instantly?” and Aqua just “But... you’re alive right now.” and Richter just shrugs “It’s a figure of speech.” I imagine Marta’s playable scenario happening chronologically rather than told after the fact. Perhaps Richter’s scenario could be a nightmare? I doubt he’d tell anyone about that trauma, and retelling it to Aqua is pointless since she was there. Marta’s failures are construed as setbacks since she’ll never actually get captured no matter how many times you fail. Richter’s failures are construed as nightmares doing what nightmares do: being dramatic and not being reflective of real events.  Both 4: If they’re reselling the whole game, I think the regular pricetag would be more than enough to cover the extra labor put into the game. That being said, I’d happily pay $5 for it if it was released as extra content and not packaged with the game. Both 5: While generally I hate level-locking, since these are one-off scenarios, I think that’d be fine to lock their levels low.

[totallyweepingtheorist]

Dad of War - The Difference Between Toxic and Non-Toxic Masculinity

Hey all, so the first review is up as I spend my week off work completing my first game of the year God of war. In a hope of establishing a format I am going to address 5 areas in turn, Context, Story and Character, Gameplay, Other factors and Verdict.

Starting with context, I have basic knowledge of the series with zero play time of the previous games. I love both last of us style action games and character action/high intensity systems (Fighting game player/highest difficulty of revengence player). As a result my view point on the combat while informative, needs to be taken knowing I am relatively skilled at these things, as the combat in God of War is quite challenging. I would recommend those new to games or just not interested in dieing a lot to overcome the challenge choose the lowest difficulty for this game, there is no shame in it.

The setup for this game is minimal, the game revolves around a farther’s journey to carry his wifes ashes to a mountain to be spread at her request, travelling with his child (boy!). This is complicated somewhat by our protagonist Kratos being a god from the Greek pantheon now in the lands of the Norse gods having killed the shit out of his own. I wont spoil anything about the story and instead want to talk about something I find interesting and that’s the presentation of Kratos as a man and a farther. In previous games, Kratos was the meaning of toxically macho with degrading of women, crazy violence and no emotions within a mile of him. I love crazy anime fights as much as the next person, I love every single platinum game but I had no interest in the previous games. Impact is lost when the character is as 2D as is possible. This representation is not something I like and overall drove me away from the franchise, and here that has all changed. Kratos is unbelievably manly and macho in this game, that has not changed, he is huge, speaks in the deepest of voices and says very little. However something has fundamentally changed, in this game he is a farther, and while he speaks very little he shows compassion and care for his child. There are points where the child reacts to the strength he shows which like birds for scale adds to the impact. There is even a scene which I won’t spoil where Kratos admits to feeling something other than anger. He apologizes to his child for not showing it enough but says he will not change it is simply how he shows these emotions. Kratos while being macho to a crazy degree, also shows emotions, and an understanding that others exist and while he will hurt them he acknowledges it is a hard thing to do. This is fundamentally the difference between toxic and non-toxic behaviour. He has gone from a toxic figure to an embodiment of the perfect personification of macho intent, but without being unbelievable as a real person. And of course because it’s the internet I have to state this. It is not bad that he is this, but his old representation was toxic and so inherently problematic. However this version is simply one type of male, and lets be honest for Kratos nothing else would make sense. The way they explore the relationship between Kratos, his son and his sons developing attitudes is fantastic and a joy to watch. The story is gripping, the characters loveable if a little 2 dimensional in places and overall it’s a success. I will not be mentioning the end but needless to say it is spectacular, heart-warming and sad.

When we move to the game play things only get better from here, the game play is stellar. The controls are tight, the systems well implemented and the combat is a joy to play. The only issue I have with this is the large swoths of other stuff. The collectables are plentiful and exploration feels quite dull and I found myself stopping looking for them after a while. It feels like something added to extend the game play time, where it would be a tighter experience if the story was more in line with last of us, where exploration was for supplies you deathly need. At one point Atreus literally says we could do that or we could explore! To which my response is, gods are trying to fucking kill us, we are trying to put your mother to rest and you want to dick about punching chests?! What’s wrong with you child! However despite this the game is a joy to play with sections between combat filled with dialogue that you actually do want to listen to. The combat itself has depth and some difficult manoeuvres however it does suffer from encounter design. These fights can feel unfair in some cases, but as a god being hunted it probably shouldn’t be in your favour at all times and might be intentional. In each case when I died to these unfair fights I hit retry so fast because I was determined to kick the shit out of the challenge, it was never a rage quit situation.

This covers most of what makes this game great, the sound track while not bad is not all that distinctive. The voice acting is solid throughout though mirmir is by far the stand out, and a joy to have along for the ride. The graphics are spectacular as you would expect for a current gen game, however as will become clear in these reviews I appreciate an art style much more than realism in games. I do not believe realism is better than a solid interesting art style that makes a game distinctive ala Limbo. My verdict is that this game is a joy to play, with a solid story and great mechanics but please do not try and complete 100%, you will be burnt out well before you finish. This game is a must play for those interested in farther son dynamics, mythology and engaging combat systems. I don’t like number scored but I am going to try and institute one here, I give this game a 4/5, not a perfect game but it is a worth checking out for anyone interested in the genre.

Cheers, See you all next time

[jamesgeiiger]

Post Arcade’s top 10 games of 2018

Quick warning to those in search of a little confirmation bias: Some of the year’s most popular plays — including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnite, and FIFA 19 — just aren’t my bag. Power to anyone who enjoys these games, but I’m more interested in single-player games focused on storytelling. It’s just how I’m built.

With that in mind, 2018 was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There was a handful of truly standout games that satisfied my personal proclivities, but the overall depth of offering felt a little shallow. A sign, I suspect, of current gaming trends and appetites.

He said, she said: Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aimé on Labo's educational potential

Red Dead Redemption 2 review: An immersive and sympathetic tale of American outlaw life

And so my top 10 games of 2018 isn’t in fact a top 10 list at all, but rather a top five list, with an additional five titles I enjoyed added as honourable mentions in no particular order simply because I feel an illogical need to adhere to the tradition of a list comprised of 10 items.

Red Dead Redemption 2.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One, PS3, PC)

Rockstar’s simulation of the Old West (or a couple thousand miles east of the Old West, if we’re being geographically technical about it) gives players a deeply authentic taste of what outlaw life was like a little over a hundred years ago. More than that, it delivers a profoundly tragic tale about a man who knows right from wrong and too often chooses the latter. Laugh all you like at the admittedly riotous horse fail videos that have been popping up on YouTube since its release; the moving story at the heart of this classic oater is going to be studied and dissected by critics and game design students for years to come.

God of War.

2. God of War (PS4)

Mockingly referred to as “Dad of War” prior to release due to its focus on the relationship between series protagonist Kratos and his son, this renewal of one of Sony’s most beloved franchises is daring, beautiful, and emotionally poignant. It picks up with everyone’s favourite musclebound demigod trying to create a new life in a land far away from the chaos he authored in Greece, only to come face to face with a fresh pantheon of angry deities. The real emphasis, though, is on Kratos’s interactions with his son, a constant companion for whom he feels an almost paranoid responsibility after the death of his mother. This more insular narrative tack results in the franchise’s best storytelling, by an Olympic mile.

Detroit: Become Human.

3. Detroit Become Human (PS4)

An absolutely enthralling depiction of a world in which believably humanoid androids exist and are at the cusp of joining us on equal terms as sentient intelligences — assuming they can mount a successful revolution. Its narrative is spread across a cast of multiple protagonists, each of whom can die permanently based on the player’s irrevocable decisions. Like most works from designer David Cage, its status as game is debatable. It’s not about winning or mastering play mechanics so much as it is about making decisions based on your sense of mortality and morality. Add in some of the year’s best production values and a sci-fi subject that has always fascinated me, and this one was bound to be one of my favourites.

Below.

4. Below (Xbox One, Windows PC)

The latest from Toronto-based indie darling Capybera Games, Below is a deliciously mysterious little role-playing game set on an island in the middle of the ocean. Travelers come, one by one, to discover the secrets lying at the atoll’s core. Nothing is explained; you’ll need to riddle out the purpose of everything you find. And when you die, you die forever. You’ll begin again as a new adventurer on the beach, all of your gear lost, forced to retrace the path of the previous hero. But not to worry; the cave dungeons are different for each traveler, and if you’ve done a thorough job of exploring you’ll have found shortcuts that will quickly lead you back to where the last hero perished. It’s atmospheric, splendidly scored, deeply challenging, and full of discovery.

5. Tetris Effect (PS4)

It seems odd that a Tetris game released in 2018 would compete for a spot on a list of the year’s best, but Tetris Effect is that game. Chalk it up to Zen. Tetris Effect is the most chill game I’ve played in years, with absolutely mesmerizing visual effects and a terrific soundtrack. It knowingly borrows from another great puzzler called Lumines by mixing a variety of block themes and aural soundscapes into its classic puzzle play, but it kicks it up a notch by adding virtual reality to the experience. Play with a PSVR headset and headphones on and you’ll be transported to another world, utterly immersed in orgasmic block-stacking pleasure. Well, perhaps that’s a tiny overstatement, but I doubt you’ll find a more pleasing puzzle game released in 2018.

And now the runners up…

Octopath Traveler.

Octopath Traveler (Switch)

This Japanese role-playing game from the folks behind the Bravely Default series has a terrific aesthetic that combines old-school graphics with modern filtering for a delicious diorama-like visual effect. It also tells a set of surprisingly grown-up fantasy tales centred on a group of memorable heroes, each of whom has unique talents and abilities that help them not only in the game’s tough turn-based battles, but also in bypassing more creative narrative obstacles while exploring.

Forza Horizon 4.

Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox One)

This open world racer is stuffed with enough activities to keep players busy for an hour or more every night for months on end. You’ll race on road and off, collect hundreds of real rides, take on rivals, shoot professional looking photos, go in search of well-hidden collectibles, and earn an almost endless procession of little rewards that will keep luring you into just one more race well into the wee hours. That it might also be the prettiest car game around at the moment is just gravy.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (PS4, Xbox One, Windows PC)

Huge and beautiful, this ambitious adventure set in Ancient Greece combines satisfying exploration of land and sea, delivers an impressive roster of historical locations and characters, and serves up some surprisingly challenging action. The sense of discovery is terrific, especially when exploring ruins that were considered old even in the time of Socrates. It eventually begins to grow a bit repetitive — you can only invade and conquer so many fortresses before it starts to feel more task than treat — but the elements focusing on characters and plot never grow old.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS4, Xbox One, Windows PC)

The third chapter in Square Enix’s Lara Croft reboot doesn’t reinvent the wheel — we still spend our time hunting, crafting, exploring tombs and solving puzzles — but it does refine it. Using Lara’s bow, for example, now feels so intuitive and empowering that it makes other weapons feel passé by comparison. The real star, though, continues to be our heroine. Thoughtful, sympathetic, and compelling, she’s one of the most well rounded and fully developed protagonists appearing in games today, female or male. At this point seeing her in a new game almost feels like going to visit a very good friend.

Ashen.

Ashen (Xbox One, Windows PC)

This one’s like a Dark Souls game with, for lack of a better term, a soul. And a surprisingly gentle one at that. It’s got the core ingredients of one of From Software’s punishing role-playing games — including challenging block, dodge, and strike combat; severe consequences for dying; and a cleverly designed open world that rewards careful exploration — but it replaces darkness with light, and a sense of negativity with cautious optimism. You’ll be challenged throughout and recompensed for your determination and grit, but more than that you’ll feel as though you’re working toward a better world. It’s not what you’d expect from this sort of game, but it is oddly pleasing.

Post Arcade’s top 10 games of 2018 published first on https://worldwideinvestforum.tumblr.com/

[mikemortgage]

Post Arcade’s top 10 games of 2018

Quick warning to those in search of a little confirmation bias: Some of the year’s most popular plays — including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnite, and FIFA 19 — just aren’t my bag. Power to anyone who enjoys these games, but I’m more interested in single-player games focused on storytelling. It’s just how I’m built.

With that in mind, 2018 was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There was a handful of truly standout games that satisfied my personal proclivities, but the overall depth of offering felt a little shallow. A sign, I suspect, of current gaming trends and appetites.

He said, she said: Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aimé on Labo's educational potential

Red Dead Redemption 2 review: An immersive and sympathetic tale of American outlaw life

And so my top 10 games of 2018 isn’t in fact a top 10 list at all, but rather a top five list, with an additional five titles I enjoyed added as honourable mentions in no particular order simply because I feel an illogical need to adhere to the tradition of a list comprised of 10 items.

Red Dead Redemption 2.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One, PS3, PC)

Rockstar’s simulation of the Old West (or a couple thousand miles east of the Old West, if we’re being geographically technical about it) gives players a deeply authentic taste of what outlaw life was like a little over a hundred years ago. More than that, it delivers a profoundly tragic tale about a man who knows right from wrong and too often chooses the latter. Laugh all you like at the admittedly riotous horse fail videos that have been popping up on YouTube since its release; the moving story at the heart of this classic oater is going to be studied and dissected by critics and game design students for years to come.

God of War.

2. God of War (PS4)

Mockingly referred to as “Dad of War” prior to release due to its focus on the relationship between series protagonist Kratos and his son, this renewal of one of Sony’s most beloved franchises is daring, beautiful, and emotionally poignant. It picks up with everyone’s favourite musclebound demigod trying to create a new life in a land far away from the chaos he authored in Greece, only to come face to face with a fresh pantheon of angry deities. The real emphasis, though, is on Kratos’s interactions with his son, a constant companion for whom he feels an almost paranoid responsibility after the death of his mother. This more insular narrative tack results in the franchise’s best storytelling, by an Olympic mile.

Detroit: Become Human.

3. Detroit Become Human (PS4)

An absolutely enthralling depiction of a world in which believably humanoid androids exist and are at the cusp of joining us on equal terms as sentient intelligences — assuming they can mount a successful revolution. Its narrative is spread across a cast of multiple protagonists, each of whom can die permanently based on the player’s irrevocable decisions. Like most works from designer David Cage, its status as game is debatable. It’s not about winning or mastering play mechanics so much as it is about making decisions based on your sense of mortality and morality. Add in some of the year’s best production values and a sci-fi subject that has always fascinated me, and this one was bound to be one of my favourites.

Below.

4. Below (Xbox One, Windows PC)

The latest from Toronto-based indie darling Capybera Games, Below is a deliciously mysterious little role-playing game set on an island in the middle of the ocean. Travelers come, one by one, to discover the secrets lying at the atoll’s core. Nothing is explained; you’ll need to riddle out the purpose of everything you find. And when you die, you die forever. You’ll begin again as a new adventurer on the beach, all of your gear lost, forced to retrace the path of the previous hero. But not to worry; the cave dungeons are different for each traveler, and if you’ve done a thorough job of exploring you’ll have found shortcuts that will quickly lead you back to where the last hero perished. It’s atmospheric, splendidly scored, deeply challenging, and full of discovery.

5. Tetris Effect (PS4)

It seems odd that a Tetris game released in 2018 would compete for a spot on a list of the year’s best, but Tetris Effect is that game. Chalk it up to Zen. Tetris Effect is the most chill game I’ve played in years, with absolutely mesmerizing visual effects and a terrific soundtrack. It knowingly borrows from another great puzzler called Lumines by mixing a variety of block themes and aural soundscapes into its classic puzzle play, but it kicks it up a notch by adding virtual reality to the experience. Play with a PSVR headset and headphones on and you’ll be transported to another world, utterly immersed in orgasmic block-stacking pleasure. Well, perhaps that’s a tiny overstatement, but I doubt you’ll find a more pleasing puzzle game released in 2018.

And now the runners up…

Octopath Traveler.

Octopath Traveler (Switch)

This Japanese role-playing game from the folks behind the Bravely Default series has a terrific aesthetic that combines old-school graphics with modern filtering for a delicious diorama-like visual effect. It also tells a set of surprisingly grown-up fantasy tales centred on a group of memorable heroes, each of whom has unique talents and abilities that help them not only in the game’s tough turn-based battles, but also in bypassing more creative narrative obstacles while exploring.

Forza Horizon 4.

Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox One)

This open world racer is stuffed with enough activities to keep players busy for an hour or more every night for months on end. You’ll race on road and off, collect hundreds of real rides, take on rivals, shoot professional looking photos, go in search of well-hidden collectibles, and earn an almost endless procession of little rewards that will keep luring you into just one more race well into the wee hours. That it might also be the prettiest car game around at the moment is just gravy.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (PS4, Xbox One, Windows PC)

Huge and beautiful, this ambitious adventure set in Ancient Greece combines satisfying exploration of land and sea, delivers an impressive roster of historical locations and characters, and serves up some surprisingly challenging action. The sense of discovery is terrific, especially when exploring ruins that were considered old even in the time of Socrates. It eventually begins to grow a bit repetitive — you can only invade and conquer so many fortresses before it starts to feel more task than treat — but the elements focusing on characters and plot never grow old.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS4, Xbox One, Windows PC)

The third chapter in Square Enix’s Lara Croft reboot doesn’t reinvent the wheel — we still spend our time hunting, crafting, exploring tombs and solving puzzles — but it does refine it. Using Lara’s bow, for example, now feels so intuitive and empowering that it makes other weapons feel passé by comparison. The real star, though, continues to be our heroine. Thoughtful, sympathetic, and compelling, she’s one of the most well rounded and fully developed protagonists appearing in games today, female or male. At this point seeing her in a new game almost feels like going to visit a very good friend.

Ashen.

Ashen (Xbox One, Windows PC)

This one’s like a Dark Souls game with, for lack of a better term, a soul. And a surprisingly gentle one at that. It’s got the core ingredients of one of From Software’s punishing role-playing games — including challenging block, dodge, and strike combat; severe consequences for dying; and a cleverly designed open world that rewards careful exploration — but it replaces darkness with light, and a sense of negativity with cautious optimism. You’ll be challenged throughout and recompensed for your determination and grit, but more than that you’ll feel as though you’re working toward a better world. It’s not what you’d expect from this sort of game, but it is oddly pleasing.

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