i actively hate metroidvanias and dislike half of the typical mechanics of soulslikes, and even though it belongs to genres i absolutely dislike, hollow knight still managed to win me over, which shows just how good this game is. i have to say that the art is beautiful, and the animations are even more impressive in a way that i can't quite explain. you feel the weight of each movement as you play, and the areas have solid ideas and distinct art styles, still remaining cohesive. in terms of progression, the game is still a metroidvania, so it's full of backtracking and gates, things i personally have trouble with, but i understand the appeal of exploration. still, i did get lost and unsure of what to do a few times, but the game gives you enough resources to explore however you want, which mitigates that feeling a bit. i also don't like having to walk from the bank to the boss battle every time i die, as well as the shadow mechanic, but i understand that soulslike people like this. now about the gameplay itself, if this game was a linear platformer with this progression of skills and such a smooth movement, it would probably be my favorite game. seriously, everything about this game, except for the soulsvania elements, appeals to me. the tight platforming sections are incredible, the common enemies are unique and cool to kill, and the boss fights are nearly perfect. the game does have some tricky areas and some awful boss fights (i spent about 2 hours on the second hornet battle, for fuck's sake), but nothing that prevents you from getting to the regular ending. the game's universe is rich and the story, although not very explanatory, can be understood by listening carefully to the dialogs. i'm not the kind of nerd who goes crazy over fantasy rpg worlds, but i did enjoy the narrative. speaking of which, the music plays an important role creating the mood of each area, and the sound design is quite nice to hear (the distinct echo of each area is pretty cool). in conclusion, despite belonging to genres that i hate, hollow knight is an insanely good game that managed to keep me playing until the end. in fact, it even tempted me to try the other endings, which i'll probably end up doing, since i've been told they're mainly based on boss fights and precise platforming, things i like the most about the game.

i hate boomer shooters and hardly enjoy any movement shooters, but damn. even though i grew up playing kitpvp with soup, the combat in this game managed to shock me with its speed and precision. some levels integrate platforming elements that really knocked me out; by the end of each level, it felt like being back from vietnam. some boss fights were like a dance that rewarded you for playing like a maniac, spamming parries and trying to get as close as possible to absorb the enemy's blood (being a blood-powered machine is the closest thing to bloodkink i can imagine). speaking of blood, at first i thought the visuals would just be doom cloned - progressing through hell with a dark red palette - but no. each level has a unique art style that fits the story and creates a unsettling dissonance with its enemies. as for the lore, although some parts are quite direct, the most exciting parts are hidden in the items, which tell a little bit about the history of earth and the class war between angels and demons. there are still some secrets that, even if you're like me and hate getting platinum for a game, are well worth it for how creative they are (damn, the existential dating sim is insane). to be honest i didn't like the game's music that much, but i'm grateful they didn't go for clichéd doom metal. i'm still finishing the secret levels (0-s almost gave me a heart attack), but i'm already craving more content from this game. i think i'll end up going for the perfect ranks, even though it goes against my play style. overall, i'm so grateful to have experienced such an incredible independent game.

after a while, i came back to the game, determined to complete the historic mode. at first, it felt really satisfying to be able to rely on your co-driver, to drive new tracks, and to have to handle cars from different eras in order to defeat a tough ai. eventually, though, some of the downsides of the original dirt rally became apparent. it got tiring to play the same stages over and over again, especially considering that the dlc cars and locations were not integrated into this mode. eventually, with only two classes left, i gave up trying to finish first in every one.

despite the game featuring cool mechanics and ideas, i didn't enjoy this campaign as much. plague knight's slower and more complicated movement is fun once you get the hang of it, especially with the diagonal combat. however, i feel like the levels weren't adjusted well for this mechanic since shovel knight is much faster, making some parts feel a bit off. the bosses were way too easy thanks to plague knight's ranged combat. so, despite having a unique set of relics and skills, the bosses are so easy that you can finish them without buying anything.

bomb rush cyberfunk is one of the most amazing games i played this year, combining tony hawk-style skateboarding with 3d platforming to create a smooth gameplay experience. the characters lack complex motivations (as the story is not the game's strength), but have distinct character designs that honor the culture while maintaining its stereotypes. the game uses graffiti to progress, a feature that could feel monotonous in other games, but the excellent level design makes searching for spots an appealing experience, despite the fact that you are forced to explore in order to progress. the combat is a lot clumsy, but still fun and very reminiscent of some nintendo 64 games, and even with a very clumsy combat system, the boss fights manage to be fluid and creative, exploring every possible scenery. the only flaw i could find is regarding the story, which at times gets lost, particularly in terms of the character's motives. overall, it's an incredible game that left me dying to try out the original jet set.

while katana zero may not boast the most enjoyable gameplay or the most creatively intricate plot, its brilliance lies in the impeccable presentation of both elements. every facet of the game seamlessly contributes to the narrative and backdrop, ensuring every detail serves a purpose and elevates even a straightforward story to cinematic heights. the gameplay, initially simple with minimal mechanics, evolves in both difficulty and complexity. as much as i don't agree with how great the gameplay of this game is said to be, i have to take my hat off to how well finished and without loose ends it is.

so, one day, i splurged on a g27 steering wheel, all in pursuit of living out my initial d fantasies. but then things took a wild turn, and i ended up in some serious debt just to buy a clio. this game has been a catalyst for so many incredible experiences, from gaining real-world driving skills to fulfilling my fantasies of speeding on japanese touge roads. its physics engine serves as an impeccable canvas for mods that completely change the entire experience. it stands as a true simulator in every sense, yet it never fails to deliver a thrilling and enjoyable time, thanks to the countless possibilities it offers. initially, i poured approximately 600 hours into the game after acquiring my g27 in 2019. however, circumstances forced me to put the steering wheel away when i moved out, leaving me with no room to set it up. recently, i decided to revisit the game, opting for a controller this time. while it's true that controller support in a simulator like this is almost nonexistent, the dedicated modding community and their support have made it possible to fine-tune settings and make the game feel fantastic even with a controller. i'm immensely thankful for the opportunity to rekindle my obsession for this game in a different way now.

when i first played this game back in 2016, it seemed like a concept demo for something quite specific: crashing cars. fast forward almost seven years, and it has transformed into a versatile platform for all things car-related, spanning from arcade silliness to hardcore simulations. speaking of simulations, achieving the simulation of every little part of the car with its own physics is an incredible feat; it's no wonder the game is leaning more towards sim racing. my experience with this game was somewhat limited, because achieving this level of car simulation requires relatively powerful hardware, forcing me to play almost without any ai. nonetheless, the game offered a delightful and unpretentious experience, delivering physics almost on par with assetto corsa. i definitely plan to come back and play the more complex scenarios once i upgrade my pc

i couldn't wait after playing the first one and i bought it even if it wasn't on sale. with less abstract visuals, animated cutscenes and more endings than its predecessor, milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk is just as disturbing, even though it has lost some of its charm. the game still feels indescribably familiar and every single object in the girl's room tells a fully relatable story for those who suffer from mental illness. i only did 2 of the 5 possible endings, but i aim to do the remaining ones soon. update: i usually don't talk much about soundtracks as i'm a musician myself and i can get easily overwhelmed by it, but the shoegaze influence on this one is insane.

it's been quite some time since my g27 stopped working, and i haven't had the chance to play a proper racing sim since. dirt rally offers incredibly precise controls that work well even with a regular controller. the game features an ok amount of cars, although its campaign progression is a bit odd, making you stick to the same car for too long at times. while the rally physics are fantastic, the tarmac handling on hillclimbs could be better, as it doesn't quite capture the cars' aerodynamic grip and drag accurately. despite that, it's nice to know i can still enjoy more realistic racing games even without my steering wheel. i'm planning to play it now and then until i complete all the championships. update: after playing a bit more, i realized that the six locations repeat themselves, and only new stages are introduced as you make progress. it becomes quite monotonous to come across the same environment over and over again.