#op your brother is hilarious /gen
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Tokyo Revengers S3EP1
aka: city wide brawling
So the OP song is the same as last season but the visuals changed? I'm not too bothered by it but I would've loved another great song. The boys already looking so good too. Very excited to see more of Smiley and Angry and hopefully I can learn their names properly now.
Aww, Emma looked so pretty in that one shot.
Oh, that one captain of Toman whom I dunno the name of.. does he switch sides? That scene of him getting up from the chair with that pissed off look on his face ain't giving me good vibes.
I'm like 95% certain that Inui eventually cooperates with us while Koko doesn't and that moment with the both of them with the former disappearing from the latter's side sorta reinforces that idea in my mind.
Oh, yup, that Toman captain (Yasuhiro. I was good and looked him up) joins Tenjiku, with Sanzu right behind him too I think. I guess I should've seen that coming, which means Toman loses its fifth division captain and vice captain.
This fight looks insane already. My boy Chifuyu putting in work, Inui looking so unbothered while kicking ass and Kakucho nailing Takemichi with a heavy hit oh my god.. and that moment of Izana running up on Mikey with crazy eyes is definitely creepy.
I try my best to avoid spoilers, honestly, but Mikey and Izana have some sorta history, don't they? like, family related or whatever. And I'm so not looking forward to what may happen with Emma, if it happens this season.
Anyways, lemme actually start this episode.. and we're starting right where we left off, thank god.
āTakemichty, your mind can't even begin to fathom me.ā Bro, my mind can't comprehend you either and I hate it. How can Kisaki just jump around to different gangs and reach an authority status so easily, like the hell is so special about you dude?
Hanma riding in on a bike sporting purple leopard patterns.. what an icon.
YO! Mochizuki! Can you not drag my precious boy like that?? And toss him through the air like a sack of potatoes?? I hope Chifuyu kicks his ass during the upcoming battle.
Tenjiku is already brawling with Toman's second division somewhere else? That's Mitsuya's division, yea? Oh dear.
Ain't no way the twins come rushing in by running over all the Tenjiku members with their bikes!! Seeing Smiley all happy like that is hilarious!
Angry doesn't play around, holy shit, his punches are deadly!
Okay okay, so Angry is Souta and Smiley is Nahoya, but if even their intros call 'em by their nicknames I just might do the same, although that'll just lead me to forget their real ones quicker.
Ah damn, so the twins had beef with Mocchi way before their Toman days huh? Alright, either one of them can get revenge on that dude. That's fine.
The twins are insane but I love them already. Well, I know they've been around since the first season, but finally seeing them more is great.
āWhat if Kisaki can also travel through time?ā I'm not completely certain about him but I do know Takemichi isn't the only one capable of doing so at least.
Oohhh Takemichi is through playing games. That's such an angry and determined face!
I know it won't ever happen, but the fact that killing Kisaki has never been brought up as a viable option to stop this chaos is incredible.
Yuuupp, I knew Mitsuya was involved in that brawl happening far away, but at least he's landing a couple nice hits on Mocchi.
Okay what the fuck Ran?? Knocking Mitsuya down with a damn cement block. What cheap stunt.
āSorry about the cheap shot.ā OH well at least he's self aware!!!
I've seen how loved the Haitani brothers are so I'm interested to find out why, though I don't think causing harm to Toman is ca contributing factor..
Mhhhmm I know nothing about Shion aside from this little scene that was teased in trailers but he's intense.. and apparently he was the ninth gen leader of Black Dragon. That's terrifying.
I got a feeling the info the twins forced outta those two Tenjiku dudes was just bait, because if Kakucho is there then that's certainly not good.
I mean, it's nice he sent the swarm of Tenjiku guys away, but I doubt Kakucho is gonna struggle fighting a 1v4 either.
āFirst Divisionās Captain means youāre the toughest of all of you, right?ā āUh, actually, thatās not really true. He fights with his kindness, not his fists.ā Glad Chifuyu said what everyone was thinking.
Crazy to think all these fights are happening everywhere between Toman and Tenjiku while Manjiro and Inaza are just chilling by the sea..
So.. they didn't already know each other? Odd. Perhaps they don't remember one another?
That punch of Takemichi's really knocked down Kakucho so hard he's having a serious flashback.. or Takemichi is anyways.
Wait a damn minute, they knew each other in second grade?? Hello???
āYou were my hero.ā Another one huh?
āBeware of a traitor.ā Well thanks to the OP I got a hunch on who two might be. Maybe.
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Moderately Rare Untamed/MDZS Fic Recs
For when you find fic from sorting by kudos, but youāve got tag fatigue and you want to read something new. Or, hey, maybe you just want some MDZS fic recs. Iām not here to judge. * means itās incomplete, for those of you that care.
Obligatory WangXian Category:
crack in the mirror by the_pretzel*: The premise of this one is that Wei Wuxian gets transported from the modern world into a mystery novel series, set in ancient China. But heās in the body of a character thatās about to get married, and then murdered by his husband. So he breaks the engagement by starting a new one with Lan Wangji and then the first chapter ends. This one is a rollercoaster. WWX soon discovers that his characterās been keeping secrets, and heās got to figure them out if he wants to get out of this alive.Ā If there was a best drama award for fics, this one would get it. Every chapter has me on the edge of my seat in a different way, as WWX gets out of one mess only to find himself in a bigger one. And that doesnāt even touch on the romance - this is one of the ones where you can just about feel all the pining LWJ is doing, even though itās WWX pov and heās oblivious to all of it. Honestly, this fic is the reason this rec list exists.
set your old heart free series by words-writ-in-starlight: Do you like crying? I like crying. Thatās why Iām recommending this series to you, so you can cry too! Iām putting this under WangXian, because itās a story about Lan Wangji and you canāt really have LWJ without the pining, but the real core of the story is the family LWJ has built in Cloud Recesses. Lan Shizui and Lan Xichen, and eventually (because this series starts just after WWX dies - what, I did say I liked crying) Wei Wuxian joins in. Thereās even a little Wen Ning! If you like having feelings and also any of the characters Iāve mentioned, like, at all, this series is worth checking out.
The Terminus of Gravity by sealdog: Every fandom needs a space opera au, and sealdog delivers. This is pretty much a strait transportation of the plot of canon to the future and also space, with a side of epistolary and Wen remnants family time, and Iāll stop there because I donāt really want to spoil it. Iām a huge sucker for melancholy and pining and also well written space operas, because even if the premise isnāt your game, it is well written, and itās worth a read.
Tales from Bunny Mountain by telarna: Lan sect turns into bunnies because of an excess of yin ener- look, we get Lan Zhan as a bunny with bonus Lan Shizui as a bunny. Do you really care why? This is another one of those fics thatās in the WangXian section because if LWJ and WWX are in a fic together, some things just come naturally, but the real draw for me is- well, Iām not going to lie, most of the draw was LWJ as a bunny, but I stayed with the fic for Jin Ling. Good Jin Ling characterization and a lovely, mischievous WWX, who also happens to be a very good uncle. And we have Lan sect as bunnies. Terrible, troublesome bunnies. 11/10, a must read.
through a window softly by impossibletruths: Okay, finally, we finish off the WangXian section with a fic that is actually about WangXian, not just featuring it prominently. through a window softly is a college au where LWJ and WWX are two different types of music major and also neighbors. WWX plays flute and LWJ plays violin and sometimes they stand outside their apartments and play together and pine for the mystery person thatās playing music with them. Look, they fall in love through playing music together, Iāve been looking for a fic like this since WWX first pulled out his flute in canon. Thereās misunderstandings and identity porn, if you need some excellent bonus reasons to click this one, and I enjoyed both of those immensely. But what I really, truly loved was WangXian and love and music, and the intersection of all three.
Nie Huaisang: gen edition. Because I have a favorite character and thatās your problem now.
Mistakes We Made by Rachel3*: Nie Huaisang travels back in time and decides to prevent his brotherās death. This is the Nie Huaisang fic for me. I love love love his characterization here. Rachel3 strikes the delicate balance between the sweet kid he once was and the mastermind he grows up to be, making him competent but not an OP genius and sympathetic but not, like, a very good person. The plot is complex and realistic, tackling the sort of complex struggles (both interpersonal and large scale) that time travel fics very rarely bother with. If you've ever been curious about NHS, if youāve ever even wanted to know him slightly better, this is the fic for you.
The Lost Cause by KouriArashi:Ā AU in which Nie Huaisang and Jin Guangyao work together to take down Jin Guangshan from the beginning. I recommended the last fic for good characterization. I canāt in good conscience say the same for this fic, but thatās kind of the point. If youāre tired of moderation and realism and just want someone to take the hammer and fix canon already, this is the story for you. Itās hilarious and cathartic, and manages to be totally lighthearted even though itās 100% about murder and manipulation.Ā
say those words (itās not forgotten) by paranoid_fridge: This is edging on too well known for this list, but hey! My recs, my rules. And this is an absolute must read for everyone ever. If you havenāt read it, you should, and if you have read it, you can probably stand to do it again. This is a story about Nie Huaisangās birthday. Itās a slice of life story, and a character study, and a little bit of a feel good hurt comfort fic, and it does all of those things magnificently. The author tags every relationship in this fic except the one braincell trio, which is a shame because it really is a NHS & WWX & JC fic, and if you werenāt craving one of those then why are you in this fandom? Why are you on my reclist?Ā
SangCheng is my OTP and that is also your problem:Ā
best behavior by inberin: I might as well take this space to recommend the whole sangcheng revenge au (dancing ashes under the sun (will cast their shadow when the winds rise) by paranoid_fridge really is the fic for it, but itās too well known to make this list). The premise is simple, Jiang Cheng lost his golden core, the Wens won, and Nie Huaisang is taking them down from the inside with JC as his right hand man. best behavior makes the list for JC and NHS trolling each other (my favorite part of any sangcheng fic), and the lovely angst of two teenagers who grew up much too fast. The writing style of this one is lovely and poetic, the imagery is on point, and the sangcheng chemistry is the best.
Of Trespassing and Table Slams by LiteralistSin: Iāve put a fluffy fic in every category so far, and itās SangChengās turn. Thereās not much plot to this one, just SangCheng trying to outmaneuver each other and NHS being a little shit, and JC getting to win for once. Oh, yeah, and NHS gets kissed on a table. Everything my SangCheng loving heart needs.
everything rynleaf has ever written:Ā Iām putting this one under sangcheng because rynleaf has three sangcheng fics, and I couldnāt pick just one. Really though, you should at least check out What Remains of Meng Yao too, if you like crying. The sangcheng fics all strike the lovely balance between sangcheng tension and trolling each other and really truly sincerely caring about each other beneath all of it. Rynleaf writes some of the sweetest Jiang Cheng you ever did see, even when youāre looking through NHSā jaded eyes. NHS is great here too, in all his secrets and his magnificent bastardry, you can just feel the smug smile heās got on in every scene.
our footsteps sing a reckless serenade by ThirtySixSaveFiles: Because I cannot believe this one has so few kudos. Seriously, itās a 46,000 word long modern with magic au where Jiang Cheng and NHS have an arranged marriage and fall in love. And thatās not even getting into the intrigue and the secrets NHS is keeping, and the murder mystery- Thereās a lot of reasons to love this fic, and you definitely want to read it and discover all of them.
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Be careful about having high expectations for Gen Lock. The series is created by Rooster Teeth Productions, who tend be to hit and miss. They created great series like Camp Camp, but they also created RWBY, which has a rep for having terrible writing in the later seasons. Characters are unlikable or Mary Sues; the plot is poorly structured and it made a lot of questionable choices. At this point, it could be either or. Only time will tell if it's the next Camp Camp or RWBY.
and
āI would be careful about having high expectations for Gen Lock if I were you. Gen Lock is created by Roaster Teeth Productions, who are also the creators of RWBY. That series went down hill after the 3rd season. Granted some of it had to do with the creator dying, but the writing dipped in quality. After watching the first and second ep, it reminds me a lot of VLD, including the humour. Reviewers said it didnāt dive into character motivation or any of the world building by the 5 ep point.ā
Hi Anon, thank you for the Asks!
Given the wording of both of these, I assume they are both from you.
Iām going to try to reign in my salt here, but you happened to hit more than a few buttons with your Ask. Gonna keep this as brief as I can to focus on the core of my answer. I promise Iām not grumpy.
The opening sentence in both of these Asks does not come across well. I can give the benefit of the doubt b/c this is the Internet, but uhā¦yeah.
RWBY continues to enjoy great popularity and comes up frequently on my dash. Iāve never seen it, itās definitely not my thing, but itās still selling to someone, and my VLD mutuals that love it are still talking it up so Iām glad that they have another show to entertain them. I see merch everywhere, itās got a Japanese dub and a manga adaptation and thatās pretty damn good for a web cartoon that came out of the U.S. Must not be that terrible as whole to merit all of that.
āMary Sueā is a phrase that means absolutely nothing because everyone overuses it to mean any number of things about competent and powerful female characters, and most of them are incredibly subjective, and rarely ever applied to male characters who meet the same kinds of subjective goal-post shifting criteria.
Perhaps gen:LOCK will simply be the āfirst gen:LOCKā and not the ānext anything.ā
I didnāt find the humor in gen:LOCK to be like VLD at all.
Reviewers can eat my asshole.
And on that note:
Not every story benefits from a deep dive, or even a superficial exploration of character motivation or world-building.
Such things are very genre and plot dependent, and the perception of such is subjective.
Some of the greatest short stories, or even long-form novels donāt even bother with much of either if they are not necessary to advance the plot. Not everything needs to be Lord of the Rings or Ulysses.
Who had better ācharacter motivationā, Frodo Baggins from the LotR trilogy or Ripely from Alien? What would ābetterā even mean for either of those genres? LotR and Alien are worlds apart, and yet, at the end of the day, the protagonists are fighting for survival against an unspeakable horror. TheĀ ājourneyā of their survival differs greatly, and those journeys are the point, the character motivations are really minimal and donāt require a lot of exploration.
Frodoās character motivation can be summed up as: āsave the fucking Shire by destroying a cursed evil ringā and a little bit of āUncle Bilbo ruined me for the simple Hobbit life with his crazy stories.ā While Ripleyās motivation is: ākill the xenomorphs before they kill me and my cat.ā Thatās it. Donāt even need in-character exposition or a flashback to describe Ripleyās. The genre hands it to you on a blood-soaked silver platter.
I donāt know what those reviewers were watching but the ācharacter motivationā of the main characters that I saw in the pilot episode alone was pretty fucking obvious: HOLD THE LINE in a dystopian world were āfreedomā hangs by a thread. They are trying to survive. Thatās all it needs to be.
I donāt care why they joined the Vanguard. I have plenty of friends and family within various armed forces and their motivations range from complex to simple, but most of them are a variation on āI want to serve my country and my people.ā Thatās it, and thatās okay.
Additionally, Julian Chaseās backstory and motivation was made clear in the first 10 minutes through the positioning of him before the wall with his dead fatherās memorial flag, and the conversation between the three most important people in his life: mother, sister, and fellow comrade-soldier/girlfriend (Miranda, great symbolism by the way in that name).
That pilot episode is Julianās āsuper hero/science fiction origin storyā. His Big Damn Hero moment is fueled by his ācharacter motivationā to protect his loved ones, and inspired by the verses from his dead hero fatherās favorite song: āLet the Good Times Roll.ā
Any hyper-critical reviewer that missed that is full of shit.
And those verses?
āYou only live once / But when youāre dead youāre gone / So let the good times rollā
That was clever and poignant foreshadowing, b/c GENRE. It also wasnāt super deepā¦and it didnāt have to be. It only needed to connect the threads of Julianās introduction, who he is, something special that he shares with his mother, father, and girlfriend, and what his role will be in the show, and the nature of his being from here on out.
At the bare minimum, someone in the writersā room is aware (even if only in passing) of the some of the most enduring questions that science-fiction (especially cyberpunk) has asked and navel-gazed over regarding the role of technology in extending human life, and what exactly defines ālifeā when one has left the meat-space. Iām not expecting gen:LOCK to be an exploration into the ethics and details of transhumanism/post-humanism/singularity philosophies and futurist dreams for humanity. It doesnāt have to be. Theyāve already touched on the concepts and anyone who loves that sort of thing will notice.
My expectations for gen:LOCK are thatāat worstāit will be as entertaining and to-the-point as the GI Joe cartoon in the 80s. I enjoyed GI Joe (pro-military propaganda aside), it was a regular thing for me to make the effort to watch. I didnāt love it like I did The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, or Robotech, or Voltron DotU, or Silverhawks, or Jem and the Holograms, but it was still fun and entertaining and it still is.
GI Joe didnāt waste time with a full exploration of Cobra Commanderās backstory or his motivations, nor did it do so with most of the Joes. The basics were all that was needed. GI Joe wasnāt about complexity and it didnāt need to be in order to tell an entertaining story while selling toys. Yes, sometimes youād get some really interesting episodes that added dimension in between the more obvious filler. Shit, it took like 50+ episodes to get to a Destro-focused episode. I certainly wasnāt watching GI Joe for character motivations and world-building. I was watching because nearly every character had an interesting design and they all did unique things, and Cobra Commander was hilarious. I watched to see what they would come up with next.
Did I really need a compelling story behind Zartan, Zandar, and Zarana? Nope. They were fun villains that gave the heroes hell and spoke with shitty Australian accents. In the 80s, the Aussie accent was all the rage for edgy characters (oh Stingrayā¦).
Do people remember anything about Scarlett other than she was the hot redhead?
I loved Scarlett, she was my She-Ra, and one of the main reasons why I watched GI Joe. But only the most hardcore GI Joe fans remember her stats and abilities. She was actually one of the most highly qualified and skilled Joes. From Scarlettās Wikipedia article:
āHer primary specialty for the team is counter intelligence. Scarlett is additionally skilled in martial arts and acrobatics. She started training at age 9 with her father and three brothers, who were all instructors, and she earned her first black belt at age 15. Scarlett also graduated summa cum laude, and passed her Bar Exams to practice law, before moving into the military. She graduated from Advanced Infantry Training and Ranger School, and received special education in Covert Ops School, Marine Sniper School, Special Air Service School, and Marine Tae Kwon Do Symposium. Although she is as adept with standard weapons as any of her comrades, her weapon of choice is the XK-1 power crossbow, which fires various bolts with specialized functions. Scarlett is also a qualified expert with the M-14, M-16, M1911A1 Auto Pistol, M79 grenade launcher, M-3A1, M-700 Remington sniper rifle, MAC-10, throwing stars, garotte and KA-BAR (Combat Knife)ā
Wow. Beautiful and striking appearance. High intelligence. Great martial prowess. Top shelf military training.What a goddamned Mary Sue.
So, if youāre still with me Anon, my point is that if gen:LOCK can be a āgood enoughā futuristic-cyberpunk-ish version of GI Joe that gives me fun and interesting-but-not-complex characters in command of infantry mechs, configurable jets, and a color coordinated team of save-the-day-big-damn-hero-style mecha who fight against a sinister force that has weaponized nanotech and colossal mechas that look like War of the Worlds meets Eldritch Horrors then Iāll be pretty fucking happy with it. The bar aināt exactly high here.
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Best Xbox Series X Holiday Gifts for Black Friday
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
With the Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft has entered the next generation of console gaming. As we said in our review, the Series X is the most powerful Microsoft console to date, with plenty of quality of life improvements that longtime Xbox fans will love. And thanks to a formidable lineup of next-gen titles as well as Xbox Game Pass and backward compatibility, there are plenty of games to play on the new console right out of the box.
If youāre wondering how to get your hands on one of these consoles as well as what accessories and games you absolutely need to get, Den of Geek has you covered. Here are the must-buy Xbox products of Holiday 2020:
Xbox Series X
$499.99
The Xbox Series X is an absolute beast of a console, targeting 4K performance at 60 fps for most new games. If you have the right TV to support it, some games will even run at 120 fps. The Series X is also 8K ready, making it a pretty future-proof console. Games also load lightning fast thanks to the internal SSD and the consoleās velocity architecture that enables exciting new features like Quick Resume, which lets you switch between games and pick up right where you left off without having to go through any load screens.
Being able to play new titles with gorgeous new visuals is a big selling point, but the Series X is also fully compatible with the entire Xbox One library (except Kinect games) as well as a good number of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games as well. Thanks to the CPU and GPU power of the Series X, those games benefit from upgraded resolution and HDR support, even if it was never programmed into the original game. Put simply, this is the ultimate Xbox experience and a must-have upgrade for any fan of Microsoftās previous consoles.
Buy Xbox Series X on Amazon.
Xbox Series S
$299.99
The Xbox Series S is the ideal next-gen gift if youāre on a budget. It can play all of the same games as the Series X, but at a slightly lower resolution of 1440p, which can be upscaled to 4K. It also lacks the disc drive of the Series X, meaning it can only play downloaded digital games and it doesnāt support 4K Blu-rays like its big brother. It can still run select games at a silky smooth 120 FPS, though. As an added bonus, itās significantly smaller than the Series X, so it fits much more easily into any entertainment center.
Buy Xbox Series S on Amazon.
Game Pass Ultimate
$14.99 for 1 month, $29.99 for 3 months, or $119.99 for 12 months
Unlike previous console generations, the Xbox Series X isnāt really launching with a big exclusive that can only be played on the shiny new console. Instead, Microsoftās killer app is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Think of it as a Netflix for video games.
With a monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscription, you get access to online multiplayer in any Xbox game, and can download and play more than 200 games from a rotating catalog. Game Pass titles range from original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One classics to day one Xbox Series X/S releases. And unlike Netflix, thereās just as much quality as quantity.
This is also the cheapest way to check out Series X/S launch titles like the excellent Gears Tactics or the hypnotic Tetris Effect Connected. Plus, you can download the impressive Series X upgrades for last-gen classics Gears 5 and Forza Horizon 4.
Best of all, Game Pass Ultimate works across your console, PC, and Android devices via cloud technology. At only $15 a month (cheaper than a Netflix subscription), this is truly the best deal in gaming.
Buy Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Amazon.
Rechargeable Controller Battery + USB-C Charging Cable
$24.99
One very fair criticism of Xbox consoles over the years has been that Microsoft absolutely refuses to put rechargeable batteries into their controllers. You can always give the gamer in your life a big box of AA batteries to keep their gamepads going, but ultimately thatās a short-term solution.
The Xbox rechargeable battery kit is an affordable alternative that allows you to charge your controller by connecting it to the Xbox Series X. The controller will even charge while youāre using it as long as itās connected to the console. With a full charge, a controller should be good to go for a solid 30 hours or so of gameplay.
Buy the Xbox Rechargeable Controller Battery Pack and USB-C Charging Cable on Amazon.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
$174.99
After years of improvements, the Xbox Wireless Controller is arguably the finest console gamepad ever made, but for the super hardcore gamer, Microsoft offers an even more premium option. While it was released last year for the Xbox One, the Elite Series 2 is fully compatible with Series X/S. Itās quite a bit pricier than a standard controller, but for the extra dough, you get adjustable tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, a wrap-around rubberized grip, and Bluetooth connectivity so you can easily use it with your PC and Android device as well. This controller does lack the share button on the new Xbox Series X controller, but overall, the Elite Series 2 is the ultimate weapon for competitive gamers.
Buy Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller on Amazon.
Razer Kaira Pro Headset
$149.99
Previous Xbox consoles have shipped with microphones, but theyāve been cheaply made and prone to breaking. You can always use the Xbox One mic to play on Series X/S if you have one lying around, but real gamers will opt for a next-gen headset for their next-gen consoles.
The wireless Razer Kaira Pro can be used for either game audio or chatting. It even boasts four different equalizer settings so you can get the perfect sound experience whether youāre listening to bullets whiz past you in a first-person shooter or the pounding bass of a rhythm game.
Buy Razer Kaira Pro Headset on Amazon.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card
$219.99
The SSD in the Xbox Series X is blindingly fast, but that speed comes at the cost of storage capacity. The Series X only has about 800 GB of available storage for games, while the Series S comes with a minuscule 364 GB. With new games like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War requiring more than 130 GB of storage, those hard drives are going to fill up fast. As of now, the only Microsoft-approved external SSD is the 1 TB storage expansion card from Seagate. Itās not the ideal solution, but the gamer in your life will thank you for not having to delete anything off their storage drive this holiday season.
Buy Seagate Storage Expansion Card on Amazon.
WD 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive
$89.00
While Xbox Series X/S games can only be played off of the internal SSD or the expansion card, they can still be stored on any external hard drive with a USB 3.0 connection when not in use. Older games from the Xbox One and previous console generations can be played directly from those hard drives as well. There are quite a few options as far as HDDs go, but the 4TB My Book from Western Digital is the perfect combination of reasonable price, high storage capacity, and reliability.Ā
Buy WD 4TB External HDD on Amazon.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
$59.99
With most Xbox Series X/S games also launching on the PlayStation 5 or PC, the timed next-gen exclusive Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the closest thing the new console has to a flagship title you can only experience on Xbox. Itās actually a really great game too, featuring an engrossing story set in the Japanese underworld, intense turn-based combat, and some hilariously offbeat humor. Only Like a Dragon will let you run a business where one of your best employees is a chicken who also works at a brothel and starts street fights with random office workers.Ā
Buy Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Amazon.
Assassinās Creed Valhalla
$59.99
For years now, the Assassinās Creed series has been pumping out absolutely massive adventure games where players can live out their historical fantasies. The first next-gen installment, Valhalla, is a fantastic exploration of Viking history and culture in the ninth century, effectively mixing some of the best combat and stealth features of prior games in the series with violent battles for control of Medieval England.
But letās be real here: the biggest selling point is the graphics. Valhallaās open-world looks absolutely stunning in full 4K on the Xbox Series X. Itās perhaps the best showcase at the moment of what the consoleās GPU can do.
Buy Assassinās Creed Valhalla on Amazon.
NBA 2K21
$69.99
Sports games are a safe gift for most gamers. There arenāt too many next-gen sports options available for the Series X/S at the moment, but of what there is, NBA 2K21 is the best choice. NBA 2K21 features an improved multiplayer mode over its last-gen brethren, and one of the most impressive graphical upgrades of any Series X/S game. Play it on a big-screen TV in 4K and youāll believe that a sweaty James Harden is in the room with you.
Buy NBA 2K21 on Amazon.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
$69.99
Call of Duty games are a reliable choice for those who enjoy multiplayer gaming. While the series has had its ups and downs, this yearās offering features a solid selection of multiplayer maps and a chaotic new 40-player mode called Fireteam. The crowd-pleasing Zombies mode also makes a return and looks better than ever on next-gen consoles. If that isnāt enough, Black Ops Cold War features one of the best Call of Duty campaigns in years, even if it doesnāt have the staying power of the multiplayer modes.
Buy Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on Amazon.
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DualShockersā Favorite Video Games of 2020 (So Far)
July 31, 2020 1:00 PM EST
Now that weāre halfway through 2020, the DualShockers staff shares the games that have been the highlights of the year so far.
As weāve already seen so far, 2020 has been a very unusual year for video games. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused numerous delays and cancelled most of the events that weād traditionally see during the year for the games industry, this year has still brought us a ton of gaming experiences worth celebrating and sharing. Given that the next-gen consoles are on the horizon later this year, the first half of 2020 has already had some generation-defining games worth playing, and we still have several months to go for 2020.
Now that the first half of the year is behind us, theĀ DualShockers staff has gathered together to share some of our favorite games of 2020 so far. While weāve already discussed a lot of the games that weāre considering for our Game of the Year awards for this year, this time around weāre focusing on each staff memberās highlights for games that have been released in the first half of 2020. From some of the most acclaimed games of the year to hidden gems that are worth a look, here are the games thatĀ DualShockersā staff have made 2020 an exciting year for video games.
Nick Blain, Video Editor
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
New Horizons was the first Animal Crossing game that Iāve committed to since the original back on the GameCube, and I adore it. It really makes no sense why I like it. The tasks are menial and thereās no central objective to accomplish. Yet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the most Iāve ever been invested in the series yet. I find myself getting lost in the charm of its harmonious world. Thereās just something about the mainline Animal Crossing gamesā design that is always so cozy. For a brief couple of hours I can forget the outside world and be lost in its brilliance. Animal Crossing makes things feel normal.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
I have a weird confession to make: while I love Final Fantasy as series, I never found Final Fantasy VII to be all that compelling. Even replaying the original before the remake came out, I found it to be a chore at some parts, so my expectations for the remake werenāt extremely high. Playing through it, I couldnāt have been more wrong. The little things that Final Fantasy VII Remake does to flesh out the characters and overall world help give so much more context to even the original Final Fantasy VII. At times, it feels like itās not only paying homage to what came before it, but also feels like an FFVII sequel unto itself. Much like the RE2 remake that came out last year, Final Fantasy VII Remake proves that a remake can be more than just a glossy new coat of paint; it can also be a re-evaluation of what came before.
The Last of Us Part II
What can I say that hasnāt already been said about this amazing game? The Last of Us Part II is just as grueling of a tale as what came before. Never has a game actually made me feel bad for fulfilling a QTE. Although, underneath that rough exterior is a beautiful inspection of love, pain, and sacrifice. At the end of The Last of Us, I felt that I had seen the end of the story and was absolutely fine with it. However, Naughty Dog proved that there was a significantly more meaningful story to delve into with Joel and Ellie. If they felt that they have more story to tell Iām here for it; but again, I donāt think that there has to be.
What I admire about Naughty Dog is that if thereās nothing left to say: thatās it. Chapter over, book closed. You can just tell the passion that was behind the team at Naughty Dog when they were developing this game. Naughty Dog is really proving that video games can be more than they set out to be initially. I canāt wait for more.
Kris Cornelisse, Staff Writer
Deep Rock Galactic
āDwarves in Space.ā Anything you can think of that would fit that phrase, Deep Rock Galactic embodies. Itās a four player co-op game where you pick a class and go on an alien mining expedition. Youāll navigate (or dig) procedurally-generated tunnels, find the resources or objectives you seek, defend yourself against angry alien bugs, and then get out. Extracting gets you a cut of the rewards, with which you can level up your classes, upgrade equipment, and customise your appearance further. Then you have a drink with your mates on the space station before doing it all again.
It might not sound like much on paper, but in practice? Deep Rock Galactic is something else. The passion and creativity of the devs is on full display, as theyāve filled the game with a ton of nuance and little details for you to find. Its graphics and sound design are well presented and stylised to suit, and the different environments are extremely well realised and fun to explore or dig through. Even with a strong core gameplay loop, thereās a decent chunk of variety in objectives. Thereās also public games and solo options for those not interested in the co-op aspect, so if any of this looks or sounds interesting to you? Check it out. You wonāt be disappointed. Rock and Stone, brothers!
DOOM Eternal
Iām rarely the sort to replay games often, mainly because I just never have the time. Imagine my surprise when I found myself replaying DOOM Eternal the day after I finished it. Any flaws in the gameās platforming or level design fades away the second that the music amps up and an intense combat scenario begins. Then there is nothing except an intricately designed dance of death, in which I am encouraged to use every tool at my disposal to rip and tear. Always pressured and always right on the verge of death and defeat, yet still always feeling powerful and with the means to turn the tide and raze hell. DOOM Eternalās combat is absolutely phenomenal, and just writing about it now makes me want to start it up yet again.
Despite the controversies surrounding Mick Gordon and Denuvo, DOOM Eternal remains a highlight for me this year. Iām even one of the people who thinks that DOOM 2016 is actually the better overall package, but the sheer intensity of the combat in Eternal is like a drug that makes it impossible to go back to its predecessor. Kar en Tuk! Until it is done!
Hades
Supergiant Games have yet to deliver a bad game; in fact, Hades puts them at four for four in making excellent games that stand tall in my personal pantheon of favourites. Itās an action/roguelike where you play as Zagreus, son of Hades, on his quest to escape the Underworld of Greek mythology. And it is awesome. The combat is fluid and has impact to it from the very start, and that only gets more intense as you gain more upgrades and unlocks. The story and characters are engaging, and the entire thing is packaged with the usual Supergiant art, music, voice and style, which is to say that it is superb.
The game is still in Early Access, but since the launch version is due out this year, Hades absolutely counts for my GOTY 2020 considerations. Even then, there was a ton of content and variety even in the first iterations, and every major patch has expanded that dramatically. So far, it leads the pack by a country mile as my favourite. Hades is the most playable, content dense game that Supergiant has ever put out. If Dead Cells is the benchmark for what roguelikes aim to be, Hades is already past that and pushing higher still. āGodlikeā is the only fitting descriptor.
Ricky Frech, Senior Staff Writer
Desperados 3
I will continue to beat the drum for what is, thus far, the best game Iāve played in 2020. Desperados 3 is a stealth-focused tactics game with sublime level design. The care developer that Mimimi Games put into crafting each level is astounding. As you lead a gruff band of Wild West mercenaries, youāll take part in some of the most memorable sequences Iāve seen in the tactics space.
Every level feels unique. This is largely done by how Mimimi mixes up your party. Your squad is made up of five diverse characters; however, you almost never get to bring them all into battle at once. Instead, each mission gives you a unique combination and forces you to constantly adapt your playstyle to your teamās abilities. Itās a beautiful design that kept a smile on my face throughout the entire campaign.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
I was very tempted to put Deadly Premonition 2 in my final slot. I love that game in spite of its many problems; however, itās a tough one to recommend for several reasons. Another game that I heavily considered for this final slot is Murder by Numbers. Itās the best Picross game since Picross 3D, but itās a niche genre that non-Picross fans are unlikely to check out.
Instead, letās talk about a game that isnāt even technically out yet. I was lucky enough to play the beta for Mediatonicās Fall Guys recently. Itās the most fun Iāve had playing a game since Gang Beasts, but takes it to a completely different level. As someone who grew up on Most Extreme Elimination and the vastly superior Japanese version of Ninja Warrior, Fall Guysā brand of wacky game show antics really speaks to me. All itās missing is Vic and Kennyās hilarious commentary.
So, make sure to join me next week when it launches as part of Augustās PS+ lineup (and also when it comes to PC). You wonāt regret it.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Even in adding combat, Ori and the Will of the Wisps controls just as tightly as the original. Just moving through a level in this game is pure bliss. There are a handful of sections I didnāt love, but for the most part, developer Moon Studios absolutely nail gameplay.
However, thatās not why it makes my shortlist. Will of the Wisps is one of the more emotional stories Iāve played through in games. There arenāt many characters Iāve cared about more than that stupid bird. And Iām petrified of birds in real-life. Getting me to consider something with feathers as a friend is a big move. Plus, the game looks absolutely gorgeous. Itās a must-play.
David Gill, Staff Writer
Ghost of Tsushima
Ever since its announcement in 2017, I was so excited to play Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punchās Sly Cooper and inFamous franchises are some of my favorite PlayStation exclusives, and I was interested to see what the developer would do next. From the moment I started rolling credits, I was so invested in Ghost of Tsushima and exploring Tsushima island even further.
One of the main things I love about this game is exploring the world and everything in it. There would be days where I didnāt do any story missions and just focused on side quests, raiding Mongol territory, and looking for collectibles. The gameās story went in directions I didnāt expect and I was always curious to see where it went. Sucker Punch also added cool mechanics such as the wind guiding you in the direction of your objective, which makes the game even more unique from others out there. You also canāt talk about the game without mentioning its gorgeous visuals that are just made for photo mode. After finishing Ghost of Tsushima, all I want to do is explore more, upgrade my skills, and get the platinum trophy. Itās up there with The Last of Us Part II as one of the best PlayStation exclusives and an amazing way to close out the current console generation.
The Last of Us Part II
With 2013ās The Last of Us being my favorite game of all time, my anticipation for The Last of Us Part II was high. I tried keeping an open mind and not letting my expectations getting the best of me. After finishing it four days after its release, The Last of Us Part II impacted me in ways I didnāt see coming.
The game took so many risks in telling its story, and I commend Naughty Dog for that. There were moments where I felt disconnected from the narrative but it ultimately succeeded in telling a story thatās multilayered and could be looked at through several different perspectives. On top of that, the gameās graphics are gorgeous, and in scope it is larger than any Naughty Dog game before. There are so many collectibles and environmental storytelling moments going on, and I couldnāt help but explore every area. Additionally, the gameās combat is better than ever and throws challenges at the player with almost every encounter. While The Last of Us Part II may not be for everyone, itās one of very few games this year that I couldnāt stop thinking about days after I finished it.
Persona 5 Royal
Over the past few years, Persona 5 has been one of the games Iāve been meaning to play. It wasnāt until Persona 5 Royal released in March where I decided to finally play it. After reaching the credits in 80 hours, Persona 5 Royal is currently my favorite game of 2020, if not one of my favorite games of all time.
From its amazing story and characters to its incredible sense of style, Persona 5 Royal has so many things going for it. On top of that, there are so many side activities to do which make time go by so quickly. The game also has its amazing Confidant system that ties together your relationships with other characters and your main characterās progression. The game also features great writing and music you canāt help but jam to at times. While Persona 5 Royalās length may turn some people off, it puts you on a journey you wonāt regret taking.
Cameron Hawkins, Staff Writer
Final Fantasy VII Remake
The original Final Fantasy VII is one of my favorite games of all time, and Final Fantasy VII Remake has been one my most anticipated titles since its announcement back in 2015. Leading up to its release, Square Enix seemed shaky to say the least when it came to the development cycle of other previous big titles like Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III,Ā with Remake showing similar signs. Thankfully though, Remake was not in the same boat.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is arguably the best JRPG of this generation, and it may be my favorite game in general this generation once the new consoles hit shelves later this year. Square Enix was able to recreate a game that is so special to so many hearts that they easily could have messed up, but they didnāt. The characters are stunning, Midgar is beautiful even during the most dreadful times, and the combat system blends the best parts of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Heartsā gameplay into one. Despite some minuscule setbacks, being able to reestablish such a beloved title that will give both new and old players different things to be compelled by is an incredible achievement that we havenāt seen in gaming before. It deserves all the praise it has been getting and more.
The Last of Us Part II
Iām not a big fan of The Last of Us. I think the original game is overrated and a lot of things that it gets praised for other games did beforehand and better, but I enjoyed my time with The Last of Us Part II. It was different and took some interesting narrative risks that worked in its favor in some areas and hurt it in others. I have issues with the level design and how Naughty Dog wanted you to explore around Seattle, but the main reason I picked up The Last of Us Part II is for the story.
This sequel feels like a worthy (and better) follow-up to its predecessor. In the original, I had issues regarding certain character choices that most of who I talk to normally donāt agree with. But in The Last of Us Part II, I felt validated that my issues were an important part of the narrative throughout. At the end of the day, I found the story to be memorable with a lot to unpack. I just wish I didnāt have so many general issues with the game at ground level, or else I would have placed it on a higher pedestal.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
I never thought I would see the day where my favorite Wii U title would get a second chance at life. Even with being a remastered port, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is currently my favorite Nintendo Switch title. For some, the direction of teenage Japanese idols may turn you off, but that is just the face of a wonderfully fun and engaging JRPG. Being originally made by Atlus for the Wii U, it doesnāt meet the standards that people know from Persona 5, but there are aspects of Tokyo Mirage Sessions that I like over Persona. The combat system is diverse and addictive at times, the puzzles can give you a real challenge, and of course it oozes that Atlus charm.
It is a beautiful homage to the Fire Emblem franchise, telling a Fire Emblem story in a completely new way while still having the Atlus vision behind it. If you love Persona, play Tokyo Mirage Sessions. If you love Fire Emblem, play Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Unless you donāt like JRPGs, you should play Tokyo Mirage Sessions.
Allisa James, Senior Staff Writer
Final Fantasy VII Remake
This game has absolutely captured me from the first moment I played it. Expanding on the entirety of the Midgar section from the original Final Fantasy VII, FFVII Remake offers a crazy deep dive that fleshes out every last component. The expansions made to the plot managed to create more intrigue and better convey the inner workings of Shinra and the various villains. In turn, the heroes have more chances to shine as they spend more time cooperating with each other while expanding their team and character dynamics. The Avalanche members Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge are fleshed out themselves and actually feel like real people, making their (most likely) tragic fates even more poignant. The setting has never felt more alive with tons of shops, NPCs constantly scurrying around and chatting about their daily lives and current events, and side quests that give the residents agency and personality. And all of this is rounded out by some stellar voice work.
This isnāt even mentioning the action/turn-based blended combat system that requires strategy to prevail (and will crush you for button spamming). The revamped combat system in FFVII Remake features tons of combo creation that relies on both an intimate knowledge of each attacksā timing and on quick reflexes to build those chains in the first place. Thereās also an incredible amount of weapon and Materia build customization options for players, depending on the roles you want each character to take on.
Persona 5 Royal
Pushing past the dense pacing before Okumuraās Palace, Royal offers everything you could ever ask for in an updated re-release. It introduced sorely needed gameplay balances, brand new mechanics that liven up and condense otherwise boring dungeon layouts, revamped boss battles, and added tons of new minigames. Thatās aside from the fact that there is a new prefecture to explore, it introduced two new characters and added more Confidants, completely overhauled a pre-existing Confidant, added brand new events, added a new school semester and an new dungeon coupled with two new endings, more voice work, and more. The sheer amount of new content in Persona 5 Royal is staggering and shows how much work Atlus put into this title to make an already amazing game even better.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Isle of Armor
The first of two DLC packs releasing this year for the brand new main entries in the Pokemon franchise, the Isle of Armor expansion features tons of new content as well. More Pokemon are introduced in the National Dex, thereās a fun introductory plot that also brings in your (self-proclaimed) rival and gym leader hopeful, a huge island filled with secrets and hidden areas to explore, item fusion, and new Gigantamax forms.
The best part ofĀ Isle of Armor is getting to train up an adorable Pokemon named Kubfu. This Pokemon will let you take part in the Towers of Two Fists challenges and completing one of them ā the Tower of Darkness or Tower of Waters ā will evolve your Kubfu into Urshifu. The Tower you choose will determine Urshifuās fighting style, with each style having its own moveset and strengths. For Pokemon fans, the first DLC expansion is guaranteed to keep you entertained for hours while making you wish for the upcoming Crown Tundra pack even more.
Mehrdad Khayyat, Staff Writer
F1 2020
Iām not a big fan of Formula 1 tournaments in the real world, as I know very little about the sportās leading teams and basic rules. But when I got the chance to play F1 2020 this year, it started to turn me into a Formula 1 professional fan. It even got to the point that I began reading about the history of the sport, dig up its current teams, and follow the live real-world races of Formula 1.
Of course, if you put a lot of time on a certain game, you would become a veteran fan of it sooner or later, but the progress that I made in F1 2020 was significant enough that all I can do is to praise its gameplay design. F1 2020 is a game that will adapt itself to the level of your driving skills without losing its highly stressful realistic experience. Itās impossible to describe all the amazing features of the game in a few paragraphs, but F1 2020 is my favorite racing title of this year, as I enjoy it more and more by winning every lap of a race over the opponent drivers. Simply, itās like my Dark Souls in the racing genre.
Minecraft Dungeons
As the one of the first branches of the Minecraft series set in a totally different genre from that of the original game, Minecraft Dungeons is a gameplay-focused entertaining experience that I would be playing for months if there were more chapters to jump in.
Despite its short campaign, Minecraft Dungeons is a highly replayable game where you are encouraged to challenge yourself more and more with higher difficulty levels and better gear for fighting enemies. Dungeons features a very simple combat design that some may find as a negative point, but if itās enjoyable enough, then why bother ourselves with more complicated stuff?
Stela
Despite being a brief gaming experience, Stela is surely the most beautiful game that Iāve played so far in 2020. The game nails perfection in art and sound design, featuring various gorgeous locations accompanied by strong and impressive song pieces that I couldnāt stop listening to even days after finishing the game.
Of course, Stela has its own downsides in the case of gameplay, but it doesnāt mean you can put it aside easily. If you ask me, Stela is a must-play title for those who are looking for a relaxing puzzle-adventure to take a break from the routine mature video game experiences, at least for a few hours.
Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor
Half-Life: Alyx Iām not a huge connoisseur of VR games; I have an Oculus Rift headset but, for the most part, I prefer keeping my gaming to traditional experiences on console and PC. That said, Half-Life: Alyx changed that for me earlier this year and, in a lot of ways, it showed what Iāve been missing out on in VR. More importantly, Alyx feels like not just a tremendous VR game, but a huge step forward for the medium as a whole and an incredible example of immersive storytelling in a VR experience.
As a long-time fan of the Half-Life series, seeing the familiar sights of City 17 once again was a thrill in and of itself. However, the experience of witnessing it all again in Half-Life: Alyx was only enhanced by playing in VR, as Combine structures loomed in the distance and Striders towered over with their shambling legs. Everything I love about the Half-Life series is distilled perfectly into Alyx and fueled by its technical innovations in VR. Though I know a lot people most likely havenāt played it due to not owning a VR headset, trust me; when you do, this is the game that is worth having it for.
The Last of Us Part II
Even well after finishing The Last of Us Part II last month, itās still a game that I havenāt been able to get out of my head after playing it. As much as I went into Part II unsure of whether Naughty Dog would be able to deliver an experience that could hold up to the original The Last of Us, by the end of Part II I had no doubt that the studio managed to pull it off and then some.
Though some might consider The Last of Us Part II the most ācontroversialā game of 2020 so far as a result of internet discourse around the gameās story and ending, to me, the gameās strengths lie in its willingness to take risks and ask questions with no easy answers. The moral complexities at the heart of Ellie and Abbyās stories in The Last of Us Part II are ones that I myself havenāt fully come to terms with yet even after finishing the game, and speak to its engrossing and unrelenting story. Though The Last of Us Part II was messaged as a game about āhate,ā by the storyās end, youāll see that it compasses much more than that, and is easily one of the most memorable (if gut-wrenching) experiences that Iāve had so far this year.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
While normally I wouldnāt usually consider a remastered version of a game on my year-end lists, I have to give a bit of the spotlight this time around to Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore. Having missed out on the game when it first released on the Wii U and in the past several years becoming infatuated with the Persona series, those two events led to the perfect confluence of finally getting to play Tokyo Mirage Sessions this year and loving it.
Taking the elements of the Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem series and mixing them together, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore by todayās standards isnāt a JRPG of the caliber of Persona 5, but is still an incredibly fun and refreshing experience in its own right. With its J-pop infused theme and music, an eclectic and memorable cast of characters, and an engaging combat system, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is an excellent way to experience an underrated JRPG, regardless of whether youāre an SMT/Fire Emblem fan or otherwise.
Logan Moore, Managing Editor
DOOM Eternal
DOOM Eternal rules. In my own estimation, Eternal is a drastic improvement in nearly every way over the original game. The combat is more visceral, the soundtrack is heavier, and traversal around each environment is more enticing. Itās not just what I believe to be the best game of the year, itās very well the best shooter released in this entire console generation. Play it.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
I did not expect to like Ori and the Will of the Wisps like I did. Blind Forest never clicked with me when I played it a few years back like it did for many others, so my expectations for Will of the Wisps were pretty reserved. The final game ended up being far more engrossing, especially from a storytelling standpoint, than I thought it would be.Will of the Wisps is likely the best Metroidvania game I have played in the past few years and is deserving of endless attention. Make sure you give it a shot if you have an Xbox or PC.
Persona 5 Royal
I never got around to playing the original Persona 5. It has basically been my white whale for years and was a game that I knew Iād love if I just fully committed to actually playing it from front to back. When I found that Persona 5 was finally set to be re-released in its new Royal iteration, I knew this had to be the point where I rectified my mistake from the first time around. Fortunately, that turned out to be the best gaming-related decision that I have made so far in 2020.
Persona 5 Royal, despite having not yet finished it, has already become one of my favorite games of all-time. In a year that has been rife with stress, anxiety, and a multitude of other hardships for me personally, Persona 5 Royal has been a consistent joy to ease into regularly at the end of some very long days. I canāt wait to (hopefully) finish it up in the next few weeks.
Laddie Simco, Associate Staff Writer
Dreams
Dreams is a tough one to put a label on. I remember when Media Molecule first announced the ambitious project, I was immediately intrigued but couldnāt fully wrap my mind around exactly what it was trying to achieve. Itās a constantly evolving set of tools that is somewhat overwhelming at first, but Media Molecule takes you by the hand and guides you through the scary stuff. If creation isnāt your thing, Dreams gives you instant access to every type of game or multimedia experience you could ever imagine created by other dreamers. You become part of the āDreamiverse,ā which is the built-in community and social network where you can meet other dreamers or check out their works. So far that includes everything from all original games to re-creations of things like the PT demo or the opening section of Metal Gear Solid. Admittedly, Iāve still not created anything Iām proud enough to publish for the Dreamiverse to see, but Iāve had tons of fun trying it out. My favorite thing is tinkering with the music tools.
Dreams includes a campaign known as āArtās Dream,ā which acts as an advanced tutorial to show what the game can do. It was created entirely within the game and using the same tools that are available to anyone with a PS4 and a copy of Dreams. Itās a bit on the short side, clocking in around two hours, but not a minute is wasted. It features a cast of likable characters and incorporates many genres including platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and even throws in a few unforgettable musical numbers for good measure. Iād love to see more of āArtās Dream,ā perhaps even a new adventure starring Frances and Foxy. If you donāt finish āArtās Dreamā with a smile on your face, you are either a monster or youāre dead inside.
Ghost of Tsushima
These three games not only represent my best of 2020 so far; in many ways they also represent the best of an era as we prepare to say goodbye to the console generation that gave birth to the PS4 and the Xbox One. While initially one of my three picks went to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ghost of Tsushima came in at the last minute and knocked it out of the list. The game is an absolute joy to play. It features stunning visuals and environments, spicy combat, and an engaging story complete with well-written characters. Itās a massive open-world game that Iām still happily exploring without feeling that fatigue I get from so many other open-world games. This has a lot to do with the side missions not feeling like they were an afterthought; some are just as enjoyable as the main missions.
Throughout the game you play as Jin, who is one of the last samurai during the first Mongol invasions of Japan. However, there are a series of side missions that feature a story arc centering around Jinās allies and friends. I found this to be a cool feature that lets you get to know the supporting characters better, and could even set up the possibility of spin-offs or sequels. Aside from being an expert with the katana, Jin is equipped with a small arsenal of other weapons and equipment that noticeably gets more deadly as you progress to the top of the skill tree. There are a few quirks with button responsiveness and erratic movement at times, but honestly, thereās so much to love about Ghost of Tsushima that after a while, you wonāt even notice.
The Last of Us Part II
Naughty Dog made a few bold choices with the direction that The Last of Us Part II took. Not everyone was happy with the outcome, but for me it not only lived up to my high expectations, it at times surpassed them. Itās brutal and violent in a way that often makes you uncomfortable, and yet, it didnāt feel gratuitous. Iām sure playing it amidst a real-life pandemic heightened my experience and made it even more poignant. While playing my emotions ran the gamut of everything Iāve ever felt. Just like in the first game, itās hard to tell who (or if anyone) is the protagonist. You can love or hate a character in this game for exactly the same reasons. I have to say, without blatant spoilers, the way that Naughty Dog dropped you in new character Abbyās playable shoes without a formal introduction was shocking and brilliant.
The gameplay of The Last of Us Part II is much improved over the first game, but it still retains many of the same core mechanics. As far as graphics go, itās Naughty Dog, so of course the game looks amazing. We are introduced to a few new variations of the infected, some improved and new weapons, and an entirely new playground which largely takes place in Seattle. The voice acting is top-notch with Ashley Johnson once again reprising the role of Ellie. The campaign is lengthy and depending upon how you play and if you are a treasure seeker, it can take up to 40 hours to complete. Despite having many āgiraffeā moments, The Last of Us Part II isnāt the āfeel-goodā game of the year. It shows us a harsh reality and some of the subjects explored are not for the squeamish, which was obviously going to divide the audience. Weeks after finishing The Last of Us Part II, it still haunts me. Despite its critics, The Last of Us Part II will be remembered as one of the greatest games ever made, and I think it deserves every bit of that praise.
Nick Tricome, Staff Writer
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Part of me is still in awe that this even exists (the part of me that watched that PS3 tech demo on loop all those years ago), and another part is trying to comprehend something I never couldāve expected upon completing the game: Final Fantasy VII is brand new again.
Letās face it: the ending of this game and the new story elements it introduced along the way are pretty divisive, and scary for some even (hell, even the characters themselves were uneasy stepping into a quite literal unknown). The development team behind this game, composed of veterans from the original and new blood that grew up playing it, knew exactly what they were making here and how important FFVII is to so many people. And itās obvious how far they went to be faithful not just to the original game, but everything about its world and characters that came after.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is only the first part of the story, but is such a grand celebration of everything the original game has become over the past 23 years. And then it sets itself up for the story to play out differently. Itās gutsy for sure, and to me, incredible. For the next part of Remakeābe it āPart 2,ā āReunion,ā or whatever Square wants to call itāI legitimately donāt know whatās going to happen, and thatās all really exciting to me.
Kingdom Hearts III: ReMIND
Kingdom Hearts III was hit or miss with fans, and the ReMIND DLC fell into pretty much the same boat. For me, they were both hits. The last third of Kingdom Hearts III is still one constant exposition dump, and ReMIND didnāt reinvent that. Instead, it just added to it with more story content, some extra, more challenging boss fights, and finally giving Kairi something to do. Combine that with the merciless boss battles, the Final Fantasy fan service that was noticeably missing from the core game, and that massive cliffhanger of a secret ending that came with the āLimit Cutā episode, and ReMIND is pretty much a small encapsulation of why I enjoy the series at the end of the day. Itās an ultimately nonsensical story thatās presented so sincerely that I canāt help but love it, with gameplay that can make me question my sanity but feel so incredibly satisfying and smooth when it all finally clicks, and has an ending teaser thatāll keep me theorizing for however long it takes to get the next game.
Plus, ReMIND reaffirms that Donald Duck is the most powerful being in existence.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered
By and large, this is more of a current-gen port than a straight up remaster (granted, that term has a pretty wide definition), but thatās perfectly fine. The Wonderful 101 was a commercial bomb when it released as a Wii U exclusive seven years ago, but it was also one of the most unique and highly creative action games Iāve ever played. So just having a modern, widely accessible version of the game, I think, is a huge win both for returning fans and players whoāve heard about it but never had the means to play it for themselves.
You donāt play as one character in The Wonderful 101, you play as an entire team of Super Sentai/Power Rangers-inspired heroes all at once, all colorful both aesthetically and in their personality. You draw basic shapes to summon weapons and fight alien invaders, being able to start out with a giant fist, then switching on the fly to a sword, a whip, or a gun to keep combos going. You play through a simple but earnestly put together story, one with plenty of wit and humor, that consistently escalates towards massive scale boss battles with some of the greatest quick-time events Iāve ever seen. However, then it will throw you into a gameplay section thatās just one big tribute to another game entirely, because why not?
The Wonderful 101: Remastered is excellent, but wonāt be everyoneās cup of tea. That said, the gameās first mission captures everything itās about, so if youāre curious but still on the fence, go check it out. It should be more than enough for you to make a decision.
Scott White, Associate Staff Writer
Dungeons & Dragons
So, the world is in a pretty crappy spot right now. I miss being able to have board game and Magic nights with my friends, but one game Iāve been able to continue to enjoy is Dungeons & Dragons. And boy-o-boy has the bug bitten me bad during this quarantine. My normal Tuesday night crew made the transition to Roll20 to continue our adventures, and this social interaction grew to become one of the highlights of my week. We still play mostly online, but weāve been able to recently play our first in-person game recently and it was a magical celebration.
I love rolling dice, I love coming up with solutions to problems, and I love when things inextricably go off the walls and things go to hell in this game. In my hunger for more dice-rolling goodness, I finally started Critical Role (started at the very beginning, āVox Machinaā episode 1, baby!), and it has only ignited an even larger desire to play. I have even started an additional bi-weekly game with another group of friends and Iām doing some Gen Con stuff too, just to try and take the roleplaying itch off.
Thank you Dungeons & Dragons for helping keep me sane during these crazy times. As sane as I can be, anyway.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Much like many people, I waited so very long for this game to finally release and the fact that it turned out so much better than we all expected was such an amazing surprise. Final Fantasy VII Remake finally nailed what Square has been attempting to create in a game since they released Advent Children, with flashy and stylish combat that retains much of the depth and strategy of a turn-based RPG. The gameplay, characters, and much of the story all snapped perfectly into place for me, and I fell in love with this world all over again. Iām hopeful that with much of the battle system figured out and a lot of the ground work now being laid, the time until the next entry of Final Fantasy VII Remake wonāt be too long. Until then, I will eagerly daydream and speculate as to what many of the endgame moments mean, and hope that they addĀ FFXIIās Gambit system into the next game.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 is one of the best RPGs of all time; fight me. I fell in love with the original release back in 2017, and while excited for Royal, I was curious how I would take to replaying such a long game again. 130 hours later, I came away loving the characters, story, and gameplay even more than I did the first time. From the gratuitous amount of style that oozes from every facet of this game, to the jazz-rock soundtrack that I never want to get out of my head, I canāt help but smile when I think about Persona 5 Royal.
Sam Woods, Staff Writer
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Speaking of a game releasing at the right time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons absolutely hit the sweet spot. Iāve been an Animal Crossing fan since the GameCube, so my excitement was palpable for the new release, but Nintendo did what Nintendo does best and knocked it out of the park, exceeding my already high expectations.
My girlfriend is far from a gamer. The extent of her gaming history is building houses inĀ The Sims and playing Wii Sports or Mario Kart 8, but as we entered lockdown in the UK earlier this year, I decided to pick her up a Switch Lite and a copy of Animal Crossing, and itās been a revelation. Since the game came out in March weāve played together almost every day, sharing design ideas, planning out our towns, trading items and just hanging out. Weāve spent hundreds of happy hours playing this game together and itās absolutely deserving of its spot in my top three games of this year so far.
The Last of Us Part II
While I managed to hold off from replaying Persona 5, I think Iām going to struggle to do the same with The Last of Us Part II. The gripping drama, fantastic world-building and interweaving story are calling me back. Itās a call that is getting harder to resist the more time that passes.
Although āthe internetā might disagree, I felt The Last of Us Part II told a fantastic story in a really engaging way. I felt a huge range of emotions at every twist and turn, and at the end of the game I was left feeling hollow. Not hollow in a negative way, but in the way when you complete an awesome TV series and wonder what life was like before it. The Last of Us Part II is nothing short of incredible, and I implore the doubters to give it a shot.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 was the first game in the Persona series that Iād checked out, and after completing it back in 2018, I was itching to play it again. During my time of hesitationĀ Persona 5 Royal was promptly announced and I decided to wait it out, and boy am I glad I did.
The original game, to me at least, is an absolute masterpiece. The music is incredible, the art direction is stunning, and its gameplay loop is so addictive. While my expectations for Persona 5 Royal were high, the first game was so good that I wasnāt expecting anything groundbreaking. I was wrong. Atlus tightened up a lot of the smaller gameplay niggles from the original game, added a pair of fascinating new characters, and incorporated the pinnacle of all Palaces. Although I clocked in at close to 120 hours, it released at a perfect time where social interaction has been forced to a minimum. Persona 5 Royal allowed me to create meaningful bonds and make up for lost time all while playing through the gameās intricate story.
Now that you know what our favorite games have been from the first half of the year, what have your favorite games of 2020 (so far) been? What titles are you looking forward to for the rest of the year? Sound off and let us know in the comments down below!
July 31, 2020 1:00 PM EST
from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/07/dualshockers-favorite-video-games-of-2020-so-far/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dualshockers-favorite-video-games-of-2020-so-far
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Bookshelf Briefs 11/15/19
Accomplishments of the Dukeās Daughter, Vol. 5 | By Reai and Suki Umemiya | Seven Seas ā We actually get a welcome reminder that Iris is a āreincarnated into an otome gameā heroine in this volume, something thatās mostly been ignored aside from her accounting skills. But when her younger brother tries to apologize to her for what happened at school, her Japanese self wants to forgive him but the āIrisā part of her just canāt. Itās well handled. Elsewhere, Iris is going around looking into Yuri and also threats to her kingdom, and itās starting to get her into trouble. Sheās also falling for Dean, despite trying to have nothing to do with romance again. We end with a cliffhanger involving excommunication! Still a lot of funāIād love to read the novels. ā Sean Gaffney
Anne Happy, Vol. 10 | By Cotoji | Yen Press ā This final volume doesnāt really āwrap upā the main plotāthere is no magical anti-bad-luck MacGuffin that can fix things. We do get a very small flashback of their teacher which shows that she had perhaps worse circumstances than the rest of them, but has learned to keep happy and carry on, so to speak. Which is the moral of the series, reallyāsmile even though life is bringing you down. Hibari is the one who needs that lesson here, as a chance at a family reunion is once again fouled up by her parentsā busy lives. That said, we do see here that luck can also be changed through determination, which is nice. And is that some slight yuri at the end? Anne Happy was never anything but fluff, but it was highly entertaining fluff. Good ending. ā Sean Gaffney
Dreaminā Sun, Vol. 10 | By Ichigo Takano | Seven Seas ā Well, I did it. I persevered to the end and finished Dreaminā Sun. To the end, I never was fully convinced by the relationship between Shimana and Taiga, and that includes the big finale here, in which the gang is able to get Taigaās dad to stop meddling in his sonās affairsāwe never really get a good explanation why Taiga has remained under his thumb for so longāand thus Taiga is able to go to college (alongside Shimana) and finally pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. They also get married and I must boggle at the detail that they do so after having only kissed once, two years ago. I donāt expect realism in shoujo romance, but I guess my credulity has its limits. I did like Zen and Saeko, though. In the end, this never came close to measuring up to orange. Oh well. ā Michelle Smith
Durarara!! re: Dollars Arc, Vol. 5 | By Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Aogiri | Yen Press ā Izaya is setting up his plots again here, when heās not fighting with his sisters, but the real villains this time around are Ruriās psycho fans, who bat Shinra bloody and also attack Anri. Fortunately, she is saved by her two best frie3nds. Unfortunately, one of them, Mikado, is revealed to now be the leader of the Blue Squares, much to Masaomiās horror. You know all this from the light novel and the animeāonce again the manga gets third place. Still, some of the fight scenes are good, and if youāre looking for a manga version of the story, this is that. Damning with faint praise. Weāre still only up to book eight or so, too. You really should try the light novels, which have now finished. ā Sean Gaffney
Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 3 | By Natsuki Takaya| Yen Press ā The first chapter of this final volume once again irritated me for burying me in next-gen cast all at once (along with Hiroās sister, who again is not a main character so gets to be seen). It gets better as it goes along, with a serious look at not letting your parentsā abuse become your own fault. Sawa, it turns out, is connected to the Sohmas in a far more serious way than she remembered, and one flashback scene verges on terrifying. (Shiki says āshe slipped on snow,ā but thatās not what we see.) Notably, the situation is not resolvedāsheās still living with her mom in the endābut then, we also learn it didnāt resolve itself for the Furuba cast eitherāRen is making Shikiās life miserable, because sheās like that. As such, this justifies this spinoffās existenceābarely. ā Sean Gaffney
Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 3 | By Natsuki Takaya | Yen Press ā In this final volume, we learn more about Sawaās psychotic mother, including that she had some involvement with the Sohma family in the past. When Sawa asks about this, with much dread, Mutsuki reveals the full story and that everyone knew who she was all along. In fact, Shiki was central to this past event and, with Ren continuing her reign of terror he felt kinship with Sawa and worried about what had become of her. The Sohmas were indeed trying to help her, but they were also trying to help Shiki, too. In the end, this did come around to being genuinely compelling and I wish there were more, because as Sawa notes, she still hasnāt made it out of her horrible situation. If only we couldāve been spared one last appearance by Takei-sensei. Sigh. ā Michelle Smith
High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World!, Vol. 5 | By Riku Misora and Kotaro Yamada | Yen Press ā The start of this book gives all the fanservice that four was missing and more, as we get naked massages before a bath. Half of this is tolerable, as Ringo tries to find it in her shy self to go on a date with Tsukasa, and we get her tragic past, which (surprise!) involves a lot of child abuse. The second half involves making more medicine since the penicillin isnāt prevalent enoughātime for sulfa drugs. Sadly, thereās an evil doctor whoās in the way, so our heroin doctor, um, lobotomizes him? And this is presented as good and/or humorous? Yeah, OK, Iām out. This was a mildly entertaining take on the isekai fantasy with an entire group of OP geniuses, but what the hell? ā Sean Gaffney
An Incurable Case of Love, Vol. 1 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media ā Several of Enjojiās manga series are now available in English, but An Incurable Case of Love is actually the first that Iāve read. Five years ago, Nanase was inspired to go into medicine after meeting an attractive and accomplished young doctor in the hopes of meeting him again. Unsurprisingly, Tendoās not quite the person she expected him to be when she finally gets the chance to work with him. In reality, her idealized prince has a harsh and exacting personality. Even though Nanaseās original motivation for becoming a nurse was perhaps less than pure, and while it may not be immediately obvious to some, she really does take both herself and her chosen profession seriously. Had it been otherwise, I donāt think I would have liked the manga, but the first volume is a largely enjoyable start to the series and Iām always glad to see more josei being translated. ā Ash Brown
JoJoās Bizarre Adventure, Part 4: Diamond Is Unbreakable, Vol. 3 | By Hirohiko Araki| Viz Media ā One of my initial exposures to Arakiās aptly named manga series JoJoās Bizarre Adventure was actually through a tangentially-related work, Rohan at the Louvre, which features the character Rohan Kishibe, a rather intense genius manga creator. Rohan made his first appearance in Diamond Is Unbreakable, so Iāve been looking forward to his introduction since I started reading the series. His debut happens towards the end of this particular volume, following several other short story arcs including one, much to my delight, that proves any manga can indeed be a food manga. This volume has a fair amount of humor to go along with its strange brand of horror and absurd action, too. As a whole, this part of the series comes across a bit more episodic and perhaps slightly more comedic than its predecessors. Iām enjoying Diamond Is Unbreakble in all of its glorious ridiculousness a great deal. ā Ash Brown
My Hero Academia SMASH!, Vol. 2 | By Hirofumi Neda| Viz Media ā I donāt think I reviewed the first volume of this gag series spinoff to the famous shonen manga, but thatās a shame, as itās really well handled. The gags are personality-based, and the series is not afraid to veer totally away from the source material when neededāhalf the sports festival is different events, and some battles that donāt lend themselves to gags are omitted. And then thereās Gran Torino, who does not live up to the adorable tsundere granddaughter teaching Izuku in his dreams. Thereās a lot of great Uraraka stuff here, for her fans, and a lot of great Yaoyorozu gags as well, though her fans may be a bit annoyed at how socially inept sheās shown to be. Basically, this is hilarious. ā Sean Gaffney
Our Wonderful Days, Vol. 1 | By Kei Hamuro | Seven Seas ā Given the cover art and the magazine that this ran in, I was expecting that Iād be reading about the lead couple on the cover. And I am, and theyāre both cuteāI like the fact that, despite having the āserious black-haired girlā personality type, Mafuyu is the only one whose grades are bad. But Iām actually more drawn to the other couple, Nana and Minori, best friends to main girl Koharu, who live in an apartment together to attend school and behave exactly like a married couple without actually being one. How yuri this will get is still unknownāso far weāre still at āI may like herāābut if you like your slice-of-life high school with a dash of sweet and cute, this will put a smile on your face. ā Sean Gaffney
Shortcake Cake, Vol. 6 | By suu Morishita | VIZ Manga ā I really loved how this volume of Shortcake Cake portrays Tenās reaction to Chiakiās surprising confession. She tries to let him down gently, and is upset about hurting her friend and conscientious about not leading him on. Itās not played for the drama of a love triangleāitās just sad. And yet, she still does like Riku very much and wants to let him know that her feelings have changed, but now the Chiaki situation has made everything more complicated. Some really cute scenes ensue, but actually most of the volume takes place in Tenās head as she worries and overthinks everything. Weāre halfway through the series at this point and, though it seems like she and Riku will officially get together in the next volume, thatās a lot of time for things to go wrong somehow. Man, I love Margaret shoujo. ā Michelle Smith
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, Vol. 2 | By Honda | Yen Press ā The second volume of Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san is much like the first, with Honda covering more aspects of the bookselling business, including the talented distribution chief with a knack for anticipating what will sell, dealing with āharmful publications,ā wholesalers who never supply as many copies as are requested, the difficulty in promoting books that are receiving high-profile adaptations (particularly when bonus items feature popular idols), and dealing with a customer who happens to be a yakuza. Itās pleasant, but I was kind of bummed to learn that after Honda published the chapter about customer service training, she got in some trouble with her bosses and now has to get their approval for everything she writes and worries about being fired. Thatās a shame. ā Michelle Smith
Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 4 | By Sorata Akiduki | Viz Media ā If I didnāt know better, Iād swear that this series was going to end with the next volume. The reason for that is a very surprise mutual confession between our two leads, something which I was not expecting to happen for at least a dozen more volumes. It is really well handled, though, and shows that these two shoujo protagonists are actually smart enough to pick up on signals. We also get some backstory for one of Zenās two guards, Mitsuhide, who is asked by Zenās older brother to watch over him and therefore must gain the trust of someone who doesnāt trust very easilyāand even when he does, he seems to be betrayed. Zen and Shirayuki are very good for each other, and Iām excited to see where this goes. ā Sean Gaffney
Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 4 | By Sorata Akiduki | VIZ Media ā This volume almost feels like a final volume, what with Zen and Shirayuki affirming their feelings for one another and their determination to stay by the otherās side, come what may. The final page seems to suggest a happy ending. Except this is volume four and there are 21 volumes so far. Maybe this was the point where the series changed magazines? In any case, itās a very nice volume, with Shirayuki showing her willingness to act in Zenās stead when his station prevents him from doing soāand giving us a glimpse of the upbringing that led to her always trying hard and being independentāas well as a revealing flashback to six years ago when Zenās friend betrayed him but he found a new person to trust in Mitsuhide. I really enjoy this series! ā Michelle Smith
The Water Dragonās Bride, Vol. 11 | By Rei Toma | Viz Media ā Thereās some gorgeous art here, which is good as it may take the mind away from the fact that this is really drawn out for a finale. The basic premiseāsend Asahi back and the water dragon diesāis obvious, despite Asahiās protests, and you get the sense that the other gods will eventually do something about it, but it does take forever to happen, with lots of longing pages with no dialogue. Also, how does Asahi return to her normal life so quickly? Still, itās a happy ending, and the last two pages of the āafterwordā 4-kon section make up for it with a hysterical deconstruction of why the Water Dragon won the romance war and Subaru did not. Despite not quite sticking the landing, this was a very good series. ā Sean Gaffney
By: Ash Brown
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