jbu3
2021
2017
2022
2021
What a stellar JRPG. A vocaloid and her handlers have stuffed a bunch of the population into The Matrix, and everyone's a high school student now, regardless of who they were in real life. You run around, meeting folks more nuanced than anything you'd see in a Persona game, and do whatever you can to break this false reality and send everyone home. It's a phenomenal adventure from top to bottom, and it even has a trans character that isn't treated like shit! I loved this one to pieces.
2022
2022
An incredible sim racer that got me tinkering with my virtual car's stats, height and power differential, for the first time in my life. "Exhilarating" would be putting it mildly.
It's a shame that the always-online requirement and the steep credit requirement for higher-end cars takes some joy out of the experience! This is a $70 game that very much wants you to spend even more on attaining classic cars, and that sucks.
It's a shame that the always-online requirement and the steep credit requirement for higher-end cars takes some joy out of the experience! This is a $70 game that very much wants you to spend even more on attaining classic cars, and that sucks.
2022
This was my first proper strategy RPG, and it was a blast! Each battle felt like an interesting puzzle to solve, and the maps/scenarios were unique enough that I was pushed to try plenty of mechanics that I otherwise would've ignored.
That said, the story leaves a lot to be desired. The factions break down to Monarchy, Free-Market Capitalism, and Racist Religious Sect, and while there are some fantastic characters on each side, I was so detached from the conflict at large that it weighed the whole thing down. Bummer.
That said, the story leaves a lot to be desired. The factions break down to Monarchy, Free-Market Capitalism, and Racist Religious Sect, and while there are some fantastic characters on each side, I was so detached from the conflict at large that it weighed the whole thing down. Bummer.
2022
Polish developer makes what they claim is an "authentic," samurai film-inspired game, and aside from how silly that claim is, goddamn is it ever dull. The combat is simplistic, to the point where you can practically mash your way through, and the platforming sucks. Your time is better spent elsewhere.
2021
2022
This is a striking first-person shooter that has you both banishing and interacting with a number of supernatural beings, and K.K.'s a fun partner! It just overstays its welcome a little: one of those games that didn't need to be an open-world shooter. There's only so many gates you can cleanse before you start to feel fatigued.
I'm near the end, so I might return to it before the end of the year? But there's so many other interesting things to play that it isn't a priority.
I'm near the end, so I might return to it before the end of the year? But there's so many other interesting things to play that it isn't a priority.
This is a 15-20 hour, side-scrolling ARPG that gets off to a slow start, but the cast is charming enough that it isn't too big of a deal. I did end up wishing there was more to the town-building (you complete side quests, which often result in new items being sold or new buildings entirely), but as a game built to introduce folks to the setting, it did the job well, and I'm eager to check out the "real" Eiyuden Chronicle game next year.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is the rare FMV game that impresses, eschewing camp for an interesting story spanning a century in Japan. It's a love letter to mystery novels, and even if the central question doesn't engage you, the individual stories in each chapter are strong enough to stand on their own. I had a fantastic time with this game, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone who has a love for whodunits.
2019