When I picked this from my romlist I didn't expect to be Literally Battleship. Dead serious, it's just the Battleship board game. But that's not a condemnation from me man - growing up in a homeschooled family with a lot of siblings, Battleship was a great timekiller. Nowadays I don't have much to get out of a package like this, but if we had this back when we were younger, it would've been our number one car trip game, period. The visual dressing is really charming, the customization features for board controls is great, and lots of neat qol stuff. I think the only thing about the battleship component of the game is the aircraft option: When turned on, both players can spawn a random 1x1 size airplane around midgame, and it COMPLETELY fucks the game into complete guesswork. But it IS technically a toggle, so for as dumb as it is, it's completely optional.

They also got a 1st person submarine battle minigame in here I guess? It sucks, I didn't bother with it for more than a minute or two.

i got so mad at this game as a little 9 year old that i bent my ds screen backwards and broke one of the hinges off almost completely. dad tried to fix it with nail glue and somehow glued the power button as well. whole ds became unusable. it's not Gardening Mama's fault but i blame her anyways and since then this game has become the bane of my existence. every now and then i go to look at my ds games and the cartridge pops up like a reoccurring nightmare. Gardening Mama will never leave me alone.

Everything I could want out of a rhythm game.

The visuals are so intense and disorientating at times. The game actively tries to get you to really get lost in the flow and the rhythm. The adlib system deserves a special shoutout for actively rewarding the player for hitting notes that do not appear visually. It's like the game is giving me points for tapping my toes.

All the music is great but the vocaloid tracks in particular are perfect for the rhythm game genre. While other games have you normally playing a single part of a larger song, like just the guitar or just the vocals. Groove Coaster pretty seamlessly transitions from vocals to instruments and makes you feel like you're playing the entire song, not just a part of it. I think it works so well because vocaloid is such an interesting crossroad between vocals and instrument.

It's just a fun fun time. I've got an arcade machine just an hour drive away and I can't wait to get my grimey little mits on one of those big groove coaster nipples.

The Evil Within 2
Developed by: Tango Gameworks
Published by: Bethesda Softworks

The Evil Within 2 is one hell of a game. It’s a game that does a great job at building an incredibly tense, and eerie atmosphere and is brutally difficult to play at times. The story kept me engaged and excited from start to finish and it was a great survival horror experience that left me feeling satisfied encounter after encounter.

In The Evil Within 2, the player controls Sebastian Castellanos who is on a mission to rescue his previously thought dead daughter from a world known as “STEM” that parallels and is best described as a “Matrix” in the universe that The Evil Within 2 takes place in.

The Evil Within 2 isn’t a game that has perfect writing. It’s on the level of a B level horror movie and exactly what you would expect. Graphically The Evil Within 2 looks great despite it being a 6 year old game at this point.

Tango Gameworks did a great job with lighting and overall level design in The Evil Within 2. Using lighting to their advantage along side environmental story telling Tango did a great job at making me feel unsettled and tense, making me wonder what I was going to encounter as I explored “Union” the location the game takes place in. “Union” is a made up town in STEM and is a post apocalyptic type of town that is abandoned. Union contains a church, diners, a movie theatre, houses and more. While not every building can be entered a good amount can be and often times the game will reward the player for exploring. By thoroughly exploring Union the player will find “weapon parts” which can be used to upgrade weapons, or keys that can be used to unlock lockers that will provide Sebastian with different types of supplies. They range from ammo, to weapon parts to a “green gel” that can be used to upgrade Sebastian. The player can also find ammo pouches for the various guns Sebastian will unlock as the story progresses. The ammo pouches increase the amount of ammo a certain gun can hold. The player will encounter a pistol, a sawed off shotgun, an assault rifle, a crossbow, and a flamethrower throughout their journey.

To circle back for a second, I previously stated that “green gel” can be used to upgrade Sebastian. Sebastian has various attributes that can be upgraded via the central hub of the game. They are his health, athleticism, recovery, and combat ability. Resources can be scarce so choosing the right attribute to invest in is absolutely critical. From weapon damage to Sebastians stealth abilities to his overall stamina, properly investing in the right upgrades will determine how hard or how easy the overall experience of the game will be for the player.

All that being said I have to talk about my experience unlocking achievements. 3 achievements bugged on me and it took me 2 additional playthroughs, a complete reinstall of the game and another playthrough to unlock them. During my first NG+ run of the game 5 achievements unlocked at various times during the playthrough that should have unlocked during my first playthrough of the game. Something is seriously wrong with this game or with how it connects to the Xbox servers. It was frustrating that a game that should normally take 3-4 playthroughs to complete took me 5+. If I didn’t enjoy The Evil Within 2 as much as I did I would have gave up on trying to get all of the achievements.

The Evil Within 2 is a game definitely worth playing if you’re a fan of the horror survival genre and have Xbox Game Pass. If you’re a completionist and play it on Xbox be prepared to encounter bugs. I’m unaware of how the Steam or Playstation versions perform. I really enjoyed my time with The Evil Within 2 and hope they make a sequel some day. I was left wanting more and I believe that Tango Gameworks left the door open to explore more of The Evil Within’s universe.

Pros:
The atmosphere
Graphics
B level horror movie plot and writing


Cons:
Achievements were BUGGED

Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review Score: 4/5

The Last of Us Part 1, developed by Naughty Dog and released in 2022, is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game that has become a classic in the gaming industry. The game tells the story of Joel and Ellie, two survivors in a world ravaged by a fungal infection that has turned most of humanity into savage, zombie-like creatures. The Last of Us offers an immersive experience that blends gripping storytelling, stunning visuals, and heart-pounding gameplay.

The game starts with a heart-wrenching prologue that sets the tone for the entire game. It's the opening scene that shows the outbreak of the infection and how it affects Joel, the main protagonist of the game. The game then jumps ahead twenty years, where Joel is now a smuggler, tasked with transporting Ellie, a teenage girl, across the country in search of a group of resistance fighters known as the Fireflies. As they travel across the country, they face various obstacles and challenges, including not just infected humans but also hostile human factions.

The game's narrative is one of its strongest points. It's a gripping story of survival, loss, and hope that pulls you in right from the beginning. The characters are well-written and complex, and their development throughout the game is exceptional. The relationship between Joel and Ellie is at the heart of the story, and the chemistry between the two is incredible. The game does an excellent job of showing how their relationship evolves from mistrust and suspicion to a deep bond of love and loyalty.

The game's graphics and sound design are equally impressive. The post-apocalyptic world is beautifully rendered, and the details in the environment add to the game's immersive experience. The sound design is excellent, and the game's soundtrack is haunting and adds to the game's emotional depth.

Gameplay in The Last of Us is a mix of stealth, action, and survival elements. The game has a crafting system that allows players to create weapons and items to aid in their survival. The game also has an excellent AI system that makes the infected enemies challenging to deal with. The gameplay is challenging but not frustrating, and players can approach situations in various ways, giving the game a high level of replayability.

Overall, The Last of Us is an exceptional game that deserves all the praise it has received. The game's narrative is one of the best in the industry, and the characters are well-developed and memorable. The game's graphics and sound design are stunning, and the gameplay is challenging and rewarding. The Last of Us is a must-play for anyone who enjoys story-driven games, and it's an experience that will stay with you long after you've finished playing.

However, it's worth noting that the game deals with mature themes and contains violent and intense scenes that may not be suitable for all players. The Last of Us is a masterpiece, but it's not a game for everyone. If you can handle the game's themes and content, though, it's a game that you should not miss.

The Last of Us Part 2 is an epic adventure game that exceeded my expectations. The graphics are breathtakingly beautiful and the gameplay is smooth and immersive. The story is an emotional rollercoaster that left me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire game.

The game mechanics are top-notch, with a wide variety of weapons and abilities to choose from. The level design is fantastic, with each area feeling unique and challenging in its own way. The game also offers a great balance of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving, making it a well-rounded experience.

The story is the real standout, however. It's a dark and emotionally charged tale of revenge that takes the player on a journey through the post-apocalyptic world of the game's setting. The characters are fleshed out and feel real, with their own motivations, flaws, and personalities. I found myself rooting for them, feeling their pain and experiencing their triumphs.

The only downside to the game is that it can be quite heavy and emotionally draining at times. It's definitely not a game for everyone, but for those who can handle the intensity, it's an unforgettable experience.

Overall, The Last of Us Part 2 is an excellent game that deserves the high praise it has received. The graphics, gameplay, and story are all top-notch, and it's a must-play for fans of the genre. I would give it 4 and a half stars out of 5.