Just finished Endling: Extinction is Forever (2022). Fun survival game with stylish visuals. The simplified gameplay meant that more mental space could be devoted to the changing environment. A suitably sad tale told without a word, and an appropriately ambiguous ending. The cubs were very cute.
Just finished Little Nightmares II (2021). Awful controls let the whole game down. The atmosphere was cool and there were a couple spooky parts, but they can't make up for just how difficult lining up a jump is or how often you get caught up on the cluttered environment. The combat was abysmal.
Just finished Mass Effect 3 (2012). A somewhat rushed conclusion to a hugely ambitious trilogy that almost nails it. Despite a sometimes rocky story (generally with the ending) the gameplay is deeply enjoyable and a highlight. The legendary edition including all the expansions improves the original.
Just finished Doom 3: VR Edition (2021). The first time I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game. Flat cutscenes and platforming aside, this feels like the way the game was designed to be played. The small but detailed environments and right angle layouts made it shine in ways that flat cannot.
Just finished The Forgotten City (2021). Very fun mystery game. Makes good use out of its looping mechanic, and I enjoyed the way conversations were useful for progression. Playing as a debate nerd getting over involved in people's affairs never got old. Just enough endings to make replays worth it.
Just finished Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011). Fun "what if" game that replaces the street brawling with zombie shooting. The plot is flatter than the prior entries, but the humor and character moments are as strong as ever. This was the first time I felt compelled to engage with the weapon crafting.
Just finished Yakuza 4 (2010). Fun game, the main plot had a lighter tone than the previous entry. The multiple protagonists meant that leveling up was significantly faster than before, which helped in getting to the fun, complicated parts of combat faster. Another solid improvement to the series.
Just finished Humanity (2023). One of my new favorites. Puzzles were the perfect blend of difficult and satisfying to solve. New mechanics were introduced frequently enough to stay fresh but were never overwhelming. The visuals were easily readable and overwhelmingly gorgeous. A modern masterpiece.
Just finished Crysis (2007). The Nanosuit can be tricky to learn, but has a high skill ceiling for maximal effectiveness. The rhythm for when to switch modes becomes serving nature. Attacking soldiers like the Predator with hit and run tactics merger gets old. Shame about the game's second half.
