It’s been a few months since the start of the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Battle for Azeroth and I have to say things have changed in the way I view and consume the game since the last time I wrote. Continue reading World of Warcraft – Then and Now
Tag: Gameplay
Unrewarding Experience – Things I disliked about Pillars of Eternity
Have you ever had games that you played up to a point, left behind for other titles and never really returned to? Over the past few weeks and aware that I’ve done that with several great and enjoyable games, I’ve gone back and played them to completion, or at least to a point where I can say it’s enough and don’t want to touch them ever again.
The latest of those titles I’ve cleared off my backlog is Pillars of Eternity, an RPG with clear roots in D&D but one that doesn’t directly translate the tabletop RPG systems but has its own ruleset. Continue reading Unrewarding Experience – Things I disliked about Pillars of Eternity
Let’s Play – Pilot Season!
No, there isn’t a game called Pilot Season, at least I don’t think there is. But you know how Amazon has that yearly Pilot Season, where they stream TV pilots so people pick the ones that will become full fledged series? I’ve decided to do the same thing with Let’s Plays. Continue reading Let’s Play – Pilot Season!
Glorious Genre Blend – Hollow Knight
Lately I’ve been playing a slew of games. I got a Playstation Vita on the cheap side to play Ys: Memories of Celceta and Ys Seven. I got a New Nintendo 3DS to replace my old one (it’s an American 3DS and I’m living in Europe and it has some battery issues) and I’ve started a Bravely Second playthrough. Then there’s Xenoblade Chronicles X, which I had to restart and have been playing on TheLawfulGeek Stream.
But the one game that’s gotten most of my attention in the past few days, one that I continue to play at every given chance is the most amazing blend of genres: Hollow Knight. Continue reading Glorious Genre Blend – Hollow Knight
Total Disasters – Metroid: Other M
Metroid: Other M, on the Wii is by far the worst game released in this long-running series, critically panned and an absolute failure in every sense of the word. Even I wrote a scathing review for another site once upon a time, though you can’t find it anymore.
Some of you might not have played this entry and while I usually urge people to do so with any game, I’m not cruel enough to send you to Other M. I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy, and I have some appalling stuff planned for them. It’s that bad.
So instead I’ll tell you just why it’s so bad, why it’s considered such a step down and back for the series and the worst possible sequel to both Super Metroid and the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
For this, I’ll focus on two things: Gameplay and Writing (characters, pacing and plot). Continue reading Total Disasters – Metroid: Other M
Spoiled Rotten – Elements I now want in all JRPGs!!
As you know, I’ve been playing and recording Tales of Zestiria, the latest in what is apparently a very long series, though I had never before played any of them. Another game I’m still playing and which you might know of is Xenoblade Chronicles X, of which I’ve written in the past, particularly how much I loved the world and the gameplay elements.
Now that I’m playing another major JRPG for a review in the coming days, I keep thinking back to those games and the convenient mechanics they brought into my gaming life. And while it may seem unfair, I keep waiting for those mechanics to show up in this new JRPG, and I will admit I’ll be partly disappointed if they never pop up.
You could say Xenoblade Chronicles X and Tales f Zestiria have spoiled me. But once I tell you about these features, you will probably understand why they’re so good and how game changing they are in JRPGs—not so much in western RPGs were at least one of them has been around for a while.
Continue reading Spoiled Rotten – Elements I now want in all JRPGs!!
Overwatch Community – We need to talk…
I’ve been playing Overwatch since the Beta, and the moment the game released I picked it up and haven’t put it down. I enjoy the game a lot, but the community around it is turning into any other shooter’s community: toxic. But the design and concept of Overwatch breeds a different kind of abuse, not just the usual name calling and shaming—though that is still as rampant in this game as it is in any other online multiplayer title.
So, because I like this game a lot and want things to improve, let’s have a chat. Over the past week I’ve noticed certain trends when it comes to the Overwatch community’s responses to certain subjects, particularly to any opinion that doesn’t blindly praise the game. But let’s go over the points. You can consider this an open letter to the community.
Continue reading Overwatch Community – We need to talk…
The Mechanic Perspective
While writing Annoying Game Mechanics I always wonder about the nature of gameplay, what makes a Game what it is? What must it have to be a game? As interactive media, interaction is the most important. It’s what separates the genre from the others.
Having said so, perhaps the question is meaningful interaction, as in how much you affect the game’s outcome. Is that why some people don’t see certain games as being games, or call them barely-games? Continue reading The Mechanic Perspective
A Visual Matter
As of 6am today, all of Venezuela, my country, is “celebrating” its Presidential Elections…just wanted to say that. And now for something completely different!
Games, specifically, Video Games.
Being a visual media, we have to accept that Visuals, the graphics are important, the question is, just how much? I think that like with many things, it depends on the case and the gamer. Some don’t even touch a game without a certain level of graphics, which more often than not means a certain level of detail and gloss in a photorealist visual style (define photorealism as realistic).
I think the best approach for this is to have a pro-con discussion, but since this is my blog, I’ll be arguing with myself, and no, I’m not crazy…not yet anyway. I’ll try to look at both sides of the argument and let you decide for yourself which one is stronger. Continue reading A Visual Matter