Even playing this right after Elden Ring, the demons souls remake looks and plays absolutely beautiful, feels a lot more next-gen often times. I will keep it short here as well, as there is not much left to say about the from software games for me. It’s as fun and addicting as all of the other souls games I’ve played, it won’t be my favorite location-wise and the more puzzle-like boss fights were a bit underwhelming in difficulty (seriously, the game is harder between the boss fights. Not a single one did pose a real threat, but I have like almost 150hrs of back-to-back playtime now, so I might just be good by now). But it seems like no souls game will ever disappoint me. I’m just a fan.

I’ve seen the logo of PT on the playstation store one day, as I was checking daily for new games to try out. A little check on Google didn’t really tell me anything about this game, but it had been just released that day and I thought fuck it, let’s go for it.
What happened in the next 2-3 hours was the most terrifying video game experience I ever had. I went on to show this demo to everyone I know, without telling them anything beforehand, as I wanted them to have the raw and jaw-dropping experience I had. And I played it over and over again. It’s a masterpiece in every sense of the word and spawned a multitude of indie horror games afterwards, that tried to recreate the ingenuity of it, but it was never reached imho.
I was super sad to hear the game got cancelled in the end, but in retrospective I think that only added to the legacy of it.

I can't remember a game (other than maybe the Mass Effect trilogy) that fed my inner space-nerd as masterfully, as Outer Wilds did. Whereas Mass Effect was a great story of humankind in the future, with familiar conflicts, characters and locations to explore, Outer Wilds throws all that away and gives you what space probably would feel like to us: hostile, unknown and incomprehensible. Who regularly reads recent developments in the understanding of our universe, will find many of that concepts in this game beautifully interwoven in a subtly communicated, but heavy weighing story of survival in a universe, that seemingly does not want you to survive. The game constantly wows you, with scenery and music coalescing into the best video game moments of at least the last decade.

If you asked me until now, I’d have said Citizen Sleeper was my sleeper hit this year. But Signalis just blew my mind. One of the best times I had with a game this year, which is unbelievable, since it was one hell of a year for games yet again.
I need to think about this a lot more before I can put it in proper writing, but what those two devs managed to achieve in terms of atmosphere and style is stunning. And the fact that it’s clearly being an homage to games from a time, where I was too young to play the clear inspirations, makes this all the more rewarding to play through as an adult. It’s a love letter to clunky ps1 horror survival games, it even doesn’t spare you from the more tedious and unforgiving parts of the era. But it worked for me. The limitations worked wonders, because it asked me to be more resourceful than other games. It made me plan my trips from safe house to safe house, it made me micromanage my inventory to adapt to certain trips. All of it worked so well for me, I didn’t dislike a second I spent with the game. It’s more like I embraced its flaws. And did I already say the atmosphere knocks it out of the park? It really does.

I’m kinda speechless still, because it pushed all my buttons. Holy fuck.

I'm blown away.
I wasn't expecting anything unique of Katana Zero, until I read and heard it's praise in this community. Before that I thought this is just another game with 80's noir aesthetics, just another game with an atmosphere I might like or just another game with cool fighting mechanics that would be fun for a couple of hours or maybe just another try at Hotline Miami. And Katana Zero sure excels in all of that, but ends up being so much more. I can't praise this game enough for the way it's built. The fighting feels absolutely amazing, every ability is fun and feels good. The sound design is impeccable. The music ranges from the expected cool adrenaline-pumping synthwave tracks, to the most beautiful atmospheric soundscapes I've heard in a while. And I've been praising video game soundtracks a lot lately, this is one of my favorites. Every moving part in here is stylishly crafted to a level of perfection I haven't seen in a very long time.
The way it's story is told is also mind blowing to me, because of the way they used narrative and audiovisual tricks to tell it in a non-linear fashion through unexpected twists and turns. I've never would have expected to find any of this in Katana Zero. And maybe that's why it ended up being so impactful for me, because I've never played a "2D fighting game" that had me at the edge of my seat for its entirety, because I wanted to know more about the story and the main character.
I urge you to play this game if any of the info you get on it speaks to you. Whether that may be the aesthetics or the fighting or you now knowing that It's story is great. You won't be disappointed, that's a promise.

As someone who has never set foot in the bustling streets of New York City, it might seem strange to express a desire to visit after immersing myself in the vibrant, fictionalized version of the city that Spider-Man 2 offers. Yet, it's a testament to the game's ability to capture the essence of NYC's progressive and diverse culture. Beyond the fast-paced action of a triple-A superhero title, Spider-Man 2 encapsulates the rich history and cultural tapestry of NYC. It's also the only game of this magnitude I remember, that gives characters with disabilities a meaningful place within it's story.

Spider-Man 2 isn't just another sequel; it's a remarkable evolution of the series. It stands as a culmination of the fantastic ideas and characters laid out in its predecessors, and it's the epitome of what Sony's first-party exclusives represent – a flawless blend of smooth gameplay and polish. While the core gameplay remains consistent, it's the ingenious additions that truly shine.
The introduction of web wings in Spider-Man 2 transforms traversal into an exhilarating experience. These wings allow you to glide through the city's urban canyons effortlessly, adding an incredible sense of speed and grace to your web-slinging adventures. The traversal feels so satisfying that it makes the technical marvel of fast travel feel almost unnecessary.

The combat in Spider-Man 2 maintains the high standard set by its predecessors. It's as thrilling and dynamic as ever, but after experiencing it across three entries in the series, it can start to feel somewhat repetitive. This begs the question of whether future installments can continue down this path without feeling like they've overstayed their welcome. Insomniac Games faces the challenge of keeping the franchise fresh while preserving what makes it great.

Spider-Man 2's narrative isn't just about heroic exploits; it's about the intricate relationships that define Peter and Miles lives. Amidst the breathtaking action sequences, there's a wealth of cinematic storytelling that draws players closer to its well-crafted characters. This depth allows you to connect with the game on a personal level, making it more than just a superhero romp.

While I remain a big fan of Sony's first party studio games, I think it's about time they changed things up a bit more bravely. I'm very curious where insomniac will go from here.