#this was a meh year..... last year i discovered so many new favs and this year i.... didn't

[bipirate]

bipirate's favourite things: 2024 edition

2022 version | 2023 version

i have a spreadsheet with all the media i consume throughout the year (not just things that came out this year!) and i give them ratings. these are the highs (and some of the lows) of 2024, not in any order. bolded entries are my personal favourites!

Games

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - i only played 2.5 new games this year but i really liked echoes of wisdom. you can read lot of my thoughts here!

TV

Derry Girls - i started this ages ago but finally finished it this year. hilarious

Trigun (1998) - i had a great time with this classic anime! i went in not knowing anything about it except for the main character's name and i think that was for the best, honestly

Kingdom: Legendary War - yes this is a kpop variety show from 2021 but it was SO much fun to watch with my sister

Dungeon Meshi - like everyone else on this gay ass site, i loved this anime so much. the characters are lovable, the animation is delicious, and the lesbianism is off the charts

Arcane (season 2) - what can i say, i love arcane. i love the characters, the gorgeous animation, the lesbianism - wait i'm getting deja vu

Ranma 1/2 (2024) - the og ranma 1/2 was the first proper anime i ever watched and to this day i have a huge fondness for it. this remake was a small highlight of my week <3

Movies

All of Us Strangers - i didn't see many movies this year but i'm glad i watched this one, it was really good!

Nimona - i watched this like last week and really enjoyed it, the animation was nice and the story was simple but beautiful

Podcasts (new!)

Versus Wolves - youtubers/content creators supereyepatchwolf and woolie versus recommend each other their favourite media (or anything, really) and discuss and rank them. it's delightful

Media Club Plus - a really fun hunter x hunter podcast!!!!

Books

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (#1 of The Last Binding trilogy) - a historical fantasy with a really creative magic system, a decent romance (better than most romance books i've read recently) and a surprisingly engaging overarching plot. the main couples in books 2 and 3 didn't grab me as much, but i enjoyed the entire trilogy!

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (narrated by Andy Serkis) - i'm crediting the audiobooks here because i don't think i would have felt the same if i had just read them. andy serkis does an amazing job narrating this story

Graphic novels/manga

The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game by Carey Pietsch & The McElroys - i don't listen to any of their podcasts anymore but taz balance will forever have a place in my heart

Witch Hat Atelier by Shirahama Kamome - i keep reading new chapters so this manga stays on my list <3

Music (new!)

Stray Kids - technically i got into them at the end of last year, but i'm counting them for this year because it's truly been a blast <3

Chappell Roan - everyone and their mom loves chappell roan but that's a compliment imo

Bonus: the lowest of the low, titles that earned my ‘bad/sucked shit’ rating

Cooking Crush - watching thai BLs is like playing russian roulette. how is it that these actors can knock it out of the park in one show (not me) but give absolutely Nothing in another?

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - sorryyy i don't get why this book is so popular

[rpgchoices]

2022 WRAP UP: Games played this year - useless recs list (with small review, and in vague order of my personal enjoyment):

01. Enderal: It climbed up to become one of my favourite games ever. I played it twice in a row (still finishing the second playthrough), really enjoyed the story, fell in love with the characters and definitely cried. I am reading the novel now.

02. Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous: I love this series of games, Kingmaker is still my favourite, but I loved the story of Wrath so much more. The mystery, the paths, the customizations! The only thing I missed was romance, I still have to find a romance I like and reply is hard because of how long the game is.

03. The Forgotten City: Beautiful adventure game recommended by lairofsentinel, great (basically) detective story. Interesting characters and definitely had a lot of fun trying to find out what the hell was going on.

04. Mass Effect Andromeda: For all the bad rep this game gets, I expected worse? I actually really really enjoy it. The story was nothing too exciting, and many quests were just fetch quests, but I still liked the characters a lot. The feeling of found family? Yes please. Jaal romance? Bring it on.

05. Gamedec: Among the new games that came out in recent years, this has to be one of my favs. The overall story was quite interesting, and the investigation really makes you feel like a detective. My only criticism is that there is little to no customization as by the end of the game you end up levelling up all skills, basically. Still enjoyable and good characters too.

06. Spellforce 3: Soul Harvest: I am at the very last mission. This game is adorable, even if the rpg element is a bit linear. I think, from what I understand, the dialogue choices do not have much impact. Basically, only the romance choice change the plot. Still, the art is very beautiful, the companions lovely and they are also all voiced. The plot was nothing special tho, kinda boring, but I had fun playing minimal Age of Empire tactics alongside the fighting.

07. Hatoful Boyfriend: WHAT TO SAY - this game is a big joke - not in a bad way, just in a "oh my god what am I playing" way. I would definitely recommend it. Do not take the romances seriously, the characters are just parody of usual visual novel romances - but the murder mystery is so eery and absurd!

08. Ash of Gods: I think this game is the better version of Banner Saga. The characters feels more like characters, and the story is a bit less linear and even if sometimes confusing, still enjoyable. For personal enjoyment, I would choose this over other games most times - and I did, I played it three times in a row. I am liking some of the characters so much that I am actually thinking of writing fanfics.

09. Tower of Time: If the ending had been different, this game would be in the top 3. I really enjoyed the plot, the mystery, the way you can explore this fantastical tower - the orcs!! I loved the orcs subplot! But it all comes to a big nothing that left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. So - well, fun but disappointing.

10. Boyfriend Dungeon: HEAR ME OUT - this game is a visual novel with hack and slash fighting. The visual novel part is a bit... meh, and the plot is kind of absurd, but I enjoyed the idea of increasing your romance with character by using them to fight. In general I actually enjoyed it even if I won't ever play it again.

11. The Banner Saga: Interesting story, that gets a bit better the more you play. Some characters are pretty good - but generally they are not the main driver of this game. Still, I liked the gameplay enough that I will probably play 2nd and 3rd, even if the plot really did not leave a big impression on me... I barely remember it.

12. The Talos Principle: This game is amazing. The story is so well crafted... my problem is that I am bad at puzzles and easily frustrated. If you like puzzle games, I recommend this one because discovering the plot/lore of the world is amazing.

13. Hades: Okay, this game is great, just not for me. I am not a fan of hack and slash, and I get frustrated pretty easily, so playing the full game multiple times to reach the ending - it gets boring a bit too easily for me.

14. Black Geyser: A classic isometric rpg. I really did want to like it, but somehow... the plot is okay, but the characters are so flat. I felt no real connection to any of them, even the companions who join you end up joining you in such random ways and the ending seemed abrupt. Still if you want an isometric game to play, go for it.

15. Gods will be watching: I am still playing this one and I am eternally confused. The plot is quite interesting and the way the playthrough is incorporated is too, but it also looks quite random - as in there is no exact rule on how to pass every level, but a big level of randomization.

16. A golden wake: I love Wadjet Eye Games and A Golden Wake was one of their older ones that I wanted to play. It was a nice good combination of puzzle and characters, but I did not enjoy the setting too much. I won't probably replay it.

17. Seven: I just started it so I have no opinion yet - a part for the fact that I am somehow very bad at it!

19. Starfighter Eclipse: This is a very very short visual novel/dating sim - the plot is minimal and the romances non existent. It is basically a very short predictable event that allow you to get sex scenes in cut scenes and that is it.

Other games played from Itch.io and in random order:

Brassica: A Marry Tale: Cute AMAZING visual novel, with wlw and mlm content. Unfortunately it is unfinished... but it will be finished! I will wait for the next chapters.

One Night Stand: HORRIBLE. I HATE this game with a passion, because everything in this game seemed to led to crime (you wake up from a one night stand and can't remember anything, and the consent was so iffy, but somehow the game is supposed to be about humans connecting??)

Speed Dating for Ghosts: Beautiful small indie game about meeting different ghosts and going on "dates", mainly dealing with their deaths. I cried at least three times.

A Short Hike: Currently one of my favourite non rpg games. This game was beautiful and so calming. I loved everything about it, and cried a couple of times too. There is so much humor too. I definitely recommend it.

Overland: Fun game where you have to escape zombies. Sad that the characters are not really characters

Arcade Spirits: I am still playing this, sadly I am not big on visual novels. The characters are all interesting so I might try to finish this one.

The corner of SHAME: Games I never finished and never will (maybe).

Greedfall - this game is one of the most boring well packaged game I have ever played Hard West - I did not even... understand the plot Stardew Valley - not for me Wasteland 2 - I expected something completely different and was disappointed Fallout New Vegas - I will definitely play it because of the great recs, but I usually do not like action games of this type Danganronpa Happy Trigger Havoc - not for me

[katsvra]

yyh and inuyasha !!!

hello miss falen!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank yo u so mcuh omg such excellent taste in showss hhhh

yu yu hakusho

haven’t heard of it | absolutely never watching | might watch | currently watching | dropped | hated it | meh | a positive okay | liked it | liked it a lot! | loved it | a favorite

don’t watch period | drop if not interested within 2-3 episodes | give it a go, could be your thing | 5 star recommendation

fav characters: KURAMA!! and hiei, kuwa, yusuke, botan, koenma, keiko :o literally everyone i cant choose faves

least fav characters: toguro brothers!!! and also that one guy who kept beating up kurama after he was unable to fight >:((( and also i would include karasu because yuck but i also love his character design so :( 

fav relationship: yusuke and keiko are super cute !!!!! and i love the interactions between the main 4 so much :(( 

fav moment: too many !!!!!

when yusuke absolutey DESTROYED that asshole that kept beating up kurama, what an absolute power move. 

also !! like when yoko kurama’s “bang”? i dont know how to explain it but it like,,,, w woww love him

when kuwa was losing to that guy but he heard yukina and just immediately won the battle?? all that build up asdhjkasjkl

also all scenes where yusuke’s hair is down because Yes Please !

THAT ONE PONYTAIL KURAMA SCENE !! @ togashi why would u show us the potential of ponytail kurama and then never bring it back

that funeral scene for yusuke also Fucked Me Up 

so many so many i could continue forever and i havent even finished it yet sahlajadjlks

headcanons/theories: ???????? none 

unpopular opinion: ???????????????????? 

how’d you find it: miss falen you were live tweeting yyh and you were loving kurama so much and i got really interested because!!!! 90s anime !!!! and then i found out that kurama was a) a furry boy that was b) voiced by komaeda’s seiyuu and c) kinda looked like inuyasha when he is in yoko form and i was Sold

random thoughts: im really so glad that i started watching this and im surprised i didnt find it earlier!!!! its exactly the kind of anime i absolutely adore. i love the animation style so much,,,, like all 90s anime just looks really rounded and squish and faded if that makes any sense??? the characters are adorable and stupid but they all undergo so much growth ??? like their character change so much throughout the story???? and idk man the first ep made me cry and ive never not liked an anime that makes me cry. also im planning on watching the dub because apparently it is !!! really good!!!! so my game plan is to actually finish watching the series first and then watch the new ovas and then watch the dub so i can cry all over again good plan good plan

inuyasha

haven’t heard of it | absolutely never watching | might watch | currently watching | dropped | hated it | meh | a positive okay | liked it | liked it a lot! | loved it | a favorite

don’t watch period | drop if not interested within 2-3 episodes | give it a go, could be your thing | 5 star recommendation

fav characters: literally the entire main crew and also sesshomaru and rin and kohaku and koga

least fav characters: um i used to hate kikyo when i was a kid but like i dont anymore so i guess its just??? naraku now?? fav relationship: inuyasha & kagome !!!! literally my first ship ever, way before i even knew what that meant . they are just so dumb and cute :( fav moment: i have so many so like heres a list and also big fat spoiler warning ok 

okay so like that ep with the thunder brothers and inuyasha thought kagome and shippo were dead and passing onto the next world and totally freaked out until he realized that oops the blue glow was shippos dad all along, idk that scene was so funny to me

also fateful night in togenkyo at the end where kagome thought inuyasha died but he comes up and makes fun of them for crying like an Asshole, inuyasha ur so dumb sometimes

any scene w/ human inuyasha bc human inuyasha >> literally anything

also i rlly love the scene where inuyasha turned full demon and was like in the cocoon thing and i dont even remember what happened i just remembered loving it because i love pain

oh also scenes where inuyasha and koga keep trying to look cooler than each other to impress kagome as if they werent the biggest losers in the world, ya those scenes are great

theres like so many more please i will keep talking if yall dont stop me i love inuyasha so much

headcanons/theories: u would think that i have some but tbh nah

unpopular opinion: i actually like miroku ! like im 100% sure it has to do with the fact that ive loved his character for 10+ years and im sure i probably wouldve thought very differently of him if i had started watching recently instead

how’d you find it: ok so like when i was 6 or 7, i had this friend that would come over and watch anime with me and in the evenings, all the violent anime would air on Bionix and we thought it was so rebellious to watch Older Kid anime so we would watch it every week and one week inuyasha came on and it was the episode where he got absolutely impaled by a demon tree (which is like every other episode) and i was so scared that i cried. anyways thats my first memory of inuyasha and i havent stopped watching it since, i love that show so much my dudes

random thoughts: what can i even say? this show was my entire life. it still is my entire life!! when i first discovered it in first grade. then in third grade i developed a big fat crush on inuyasha. in sixth grade, i was teased and was so embarrassed by it that i stopped watching the anime and reading the manga. in tenth grade when i heard affections touching across time and i was hit with such a strong wave of nostalgia that i binged the entire series that month. and then when i watch the very last episode and i cried because this show that had been with me my entire life just ended and it left such a big hole in my heart. i dont always talk about it but i will never stop loving this show and its dumb characters and its ability to lift my mood no matter what, its my absolute fave.