Post X-mas, Pre New Year

            I figured I’d get started on my New Year’s resolution early (which is to go back to writing more). It feels good and I get to share all of those lovely, wacky experiences that I have in the wacky world of VIDEO GAMES.

            Like many people this holiday season I’ve fallen into the VR hype train. The particular games that have me flailing around my living room include I Expect You to Die, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, and, of course, Super Hot; all are on the PSVR. I Expect You to Die was my first foray into VR and effectively sold me. I played the game at a friend’s house fresh, with nobody having a lot of experience with VR. The result was hilarity. The cool thing about VR is that it has an inherent fun factor when being watched. It’s one thing watching a friend play a single player game on a controller. It’s a completely different thing watching your friend roll to the ground or prod a person nearby with the PlayStation Move ball. With I Expect You to Die, you get the potential for all these things and then some. While it’s certainly a hilarious game to watch someone attempt for the first time, I slowly began to realize that this game is a clean VR experience. I eventually realized we were past simply being silly. Games on VR can be a well thought out experience. The puzzles in I Expect You to Die aren’t just enjoyable to solve. They have a sense of style. They commit to the cartoonish antics of some sort of Spy vs. Spy comic strip. The game can go from hilarious flailing to serious conundrum solving, depending on who is playing. It was/is a fine first game for my VR experiences and only convinced me to buy a PSVR and try other games after.

            The next two games were both played on Christmas with my family and close relatives. First was Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Now, mind you, I’ve never played ANY iteration of this game. I know it’s been out awhile, but I guess I just never had any FRIENDS to play it with.

…

I’ll just tell myself that I have friends and we never got around to it.

But the game is great! A couple of people had already played it and those who hadn’t got really into it. The idea is that the person in VR is defusing a bomb only they can see. Everyone else has their tablets or phones with a manual open on how to defuse it. The people who have played the game before spear-headed the explanation to start, but slowly people became more familiar with the manual and more confident in explaining what to do. It’s a really enjoyable time with a group of people. It can also get very tense if people are really into it! It helps that the music just swells as the countdown nears its end. With that tension some quality lines from your friends often come up. Like this from my sister:

“How much time do we have left,” I ask.

“None,” said my sister.

BOOM!

Good times.

The last game I’ve played and by far the most fun is Super Hot VR. Very lite on plot, very big on action is a good way to describe it. If The Matrix and John Wick made a third Keanu Reeves, he’d be playing this game. The concept is, at its heart, a puzzle game where the objective is to take out a bunch of dudes with any grabbable object. These objects range from guns to ash trays to tea cups. The final kicker is that time only moves when you move. This gives you plenty of time to dodge

bullets, deflect, grab, or punch your way out! Even the most timid of my relatives became a death machine! It was horrifying! But very fun.

With this I’m very much looking forward to continuing my foray into VR. Hopefully games like Ancient Amuletor, Arizona Sunshine, and Star Trek: Bridge Crew keep me coming back for more.

Oh! One last thing. I will be participating in a Final Fantasy play through with other people. I’ll be playing FFIX. I will stream it, which isn’t the best because it’s a turn-based and older jrpg, but I’ll keep the recording I suppose or cut something together. Wish me luck!

My Favorite Games of 2017

            If you were to ask… well, any gamer really, how they felt about the year in gaming, it would probably be along the lines of “One of the best.” Then if you were to ask them what their favorite game was, you would be presented with a myriad of answers. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a game could be found in every month on the calendar that could be game of the year material. Sure, there would be very strong leanings. I’m sure you’d find more Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild fans than Cuphead, but the fact remains that a strong argument can be made for any of them.

           With this myriad of games, I’ve been able to fend of the worst of emotional distress this year, and boy was there a lot of it. I no longer had the drive to write or make movies or do anything creative really. I found myself constantly locking myself away due to my immense feelings of anxiety that I get just talking to close friends or even my parents on the phone. I often cancelled last minute to parties or get-togethers, being a complete flake, because I was deathly afraid of being ignored at some point during any kind of interaction. What’s crazy is that some games this year that I’ve escaped to would actually encourage me to pick myself back up! Like any good book I’ve read or any great film I’ve seen, I was compelled to move. These games have meant a lot to me and I can only hope that with this list maybe one more game will be played by someone who reads it. As silly as it sounds, maybe they too will be compelled to move and understand that even a small action for someone else can do a whole lot more than they realize, even if it’s just words of encouragement.

So without further ado here are...

MY FAVORITE, MOST IMMACULATE, PERFECT GAMES OF THE YEAR! JUST KIDDING, BUT PLAY THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE V GOOD.

(DISCLAIMER: Haven’t played Horizon Zero Dawn or Super Mario: Odyssey, but plan to)

10. Puyo Puyo Tetris

Puyo Puyo Tetris harkens back to my love of two classic games. If you don’t know what at least one of those are (very likely it’s that game, Tetris, that you know), then really I just don’t know why you’ve read up to this point. Not knowing Puyo Puyo is understandable. Any iteration of the game hasn’t been localized in the good ol’ US-of A since 2004, and even then the only reason I know the name is because of the game Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine, which was included with my copy of the Sonic Mega Collection on the Nintendo GameCube.

Really simple about this one, if you have any love for a good classic puzzler this game will scratch that nostalgia itch while also changing up any preconceptions you had of either game. Just the simple act of combining the two throws all sorts of mind bending perplexities your way, which only makes it much more satisfying when you pull of either of the trademark devastating moves: the aptly named “Tetris” or “Puyo Pop.”

While the game is an absolute blast in multiplayer with a ton of game modes, the single player is such a charmer. It’s not brilliant writing or anything, but hearing the voice actors really sell this wacky story about how the world of Puyo Puyo and Tetris collide through some kind of space-time continuum is just a treat. Combo that with truly difficult puzzles that test your knowledge of either game as well as your game-based dexterity, you have a near perfect nostalgia puzzler of a system that makes it seem quite at home… It’s just a treat to play on your couch or on the go. Thank you Nintendo Switch!

9. Doki Doki Literature Club!

My roommate would probably get mad at me for including this on my list because… confession time… I’ve never finished it. The game is unnerving. I often don’t feel like subjecting myself to some of the things that the game does. I’m sure for plenty of people it’s not bad at all, but for me personally I just can’t do it. So if that’s the case, why is it on my list?

I once actually stayed up for about an hour more than I expected just to hear my roommate talk to a friend over Discord about what makes this game so great. The friend over Discord had just finished it while my roommate had time to let that game simmer. The fact is this game is a bold exploration in what a game could be. Not only that, but the game isn’t afraid to tackle some of the harder hitting subject matters. These run the gamut, evoking thoughts that could range from one’s perception of A.I. to thoughts of emotional and physical abuse that can occur even in one’s home.

By the end of the conversion my roommate would ask “Hey dude, are we keeping you up?”

I say “Yes,” to be one of those “functioning” adult fellows and not get up late for work.

But what I really meant to say was “No. I want to learn more about this truly special game.”

8. Yakuza 0

I don’t think I’ve ever played a game funnier than Yakuza 0. Prior to playing, the only thing I knew about it was that they at one point fight zombies in another game of the series. This was because of me playing both Project X Zone 1 and 2. When my roommate bought it and we began playing I had no idea what I was getting into.

           Diary entry: Day 3 of playing Yakuza 0

            To anyone that can hear me. Send help. I need water. I have yet to stop playing the collectible Crane game or the Karaoke mini-game in Yakuza 0 for some time.

           Good GOD are the mini-games so addicting here. From the endless sea of crane game collectibles to the gut wrenching defeat of slot cars, I just can’t get enough! Just that assortment alone was enough to hook me. WHICH MAKES ME SOUND LIKE AN INSANE PERSON.

            While I’m content with just those aspects of the game, the rest of Yakuza 0 wouldn’t have it. “Nope,” said the game. “Check this out this dope Yakuza beat down of a main story!” A lot of the characters shine as icons of the criminal underworld. They’re tough. They’re mean. And man is it satisfying to show them who’s the new boss in town. This is completely juxtaposed with the super wacky side stories that are strewn throughout. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder when we had to teach a dominatrix how to have the confidence to dominate someone. It seemed like a longshot that these games would even come to America, but I’m glad that this one has. Pick it up for a good laugh or to waste your life away racing slot cars.

7. Tales of Berseria

            So Tales of Berseria is a really great entry in the series. I wasn’t crazy about the last game (Tales of Zesteria) primarily because I couldn’t get over the camera controls. It’s an even bigger problem considering I only play the Tales games multiplayer: when my sister and I aren’t working. My sister and I have enjoyed Tales games ever since that brilliant masterwork known as Tales of Symphonia. So really that’s what this game, and the series, mean to me.

The controls feel better than Zesteria, which goes a long way if you’re playing a multiplayer RPG. The main character is more of a brooding anti-hero which is a nice departure from the rest of series. The game has Magilou, who I thought was going to be annoying, but turns out to be one of the most fun and eccentric game characters of the year. And above all, I get to spend time hanging out with my sister, playing a great game. Also, just like every Tales game, religion is bad.

6. Resident Evil 7

           Oh baby what a comeback. I have yet to find anyone who actually enjoyed their time playing the previous installment: Resident Evil 6. Even playing with my funniest friends, RE6 would be a chore and a huge waste of time. Thank Yeezus Capcom decided to right this ship by taking a couple steps back… all the way to their roots.

            A couple years ago I lived with a roommate who would play Resident Evil: REmake every year. While I loved the series myself, it was a profound experience to live with a person who played it annually as if some sort of Holiday. I mean, that’s how special those games were. Resident Evil on PS1 is the exact moment that I can register where I felt fear and was actively traumatized by it. My older cousin invited me over to the other room to watch “A Cool Video Game!” The moment that would occur is the famous zombie-dog through the window sequence which left me saying “There’s no such thing as zombies” over and over again in my bed that night.

            I harken back to those games so passionately because RE7 is just such a great example of taking what made the older RE games a religious experience and adapting it into something fresh and exciting. What I’m trying to say is that it’s the contestant on Chopped that managed to transform the basket of ingredients while still keeping the integrity of the food they originally started out with.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

           What is there to be said about Breath of the Wild that hasn’t already been said? Many people consider it a masterpiece and easily one of the greatest games of all time. It even, to most, stands out in a year like this where there are MANY games that could possibly be in the top 100 of all time. It’s a master craft in open world execution. It places gamers in a unique state where they dictate their own pace and it never feels bad. A friend explained to me that one of his biggest reasons for loving this game is the ability to pick it up after being gone for a while and being completely fine as he continued to explore all the mysteries the world had to offer.

            Now, it seems rather low on the list for a game with so many accolades. While I didn’t take to it to the extent that many have, I’ve played enough and appreciate what it has done and what it will continue to do for the gaming community as far as what future game devs can take out of this. It’s a lovely anchor for a game console that continues to explore the endless sea of possibilities that can be found in the fine craft of gaming.

4. Cuphead

           One of the first games I ever beat as a child was Contra III: Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo. I was able to get through it with the help of my much older cousin. He obviously wasn’t a very good influence considering he had me, an 8 year old boy at the time, playing this run and shoot everything game. Despite that, the family-bonding stuck and the joy of actually beating a game would never leave. I would buy more iterations of Contra III in my life and play with friends who have never played it before or my sister because of those initial feelings. I’d say that’s the starting point, the seed if you will, of my still growing love for the run and gun shooter. And here I am with a true landmark of the genre: Cuphead.

To be honest, anything I could say about the game and its amazing usage of the rubber hose style animation is better covered in the wonderful video essay “The StylisticInfluences of Cuphead” by Super Eyepatch Wolf. So if you haven’t gotten enough of what people have to say about it and are looking for something really insightful on the subject, look no further. Other than that, I have a rather simple appreciation for this game. It’s nostalgic on so many levels. It’s challenging, yet rewarding. It’s a grand parade of all things horrifying yet imaginative. Cuphead is the type of game that easily gives me a sense of accomplishment and raises the bar as far as the design of what a run and gun shooter can be.

3. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

           Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is… well, it’s hard to say without giving something away. It’s the third game in a series that has drawn constant comparison to Ace Attorney as well as one of the best films of the 90’s: Battle Royale. The series is famous for its off-the-wall twists and turns as well as having something to say about the never-ending battle between hope and despair. So what can I do if I don’t want give away the juicier bits of this game while still convincing you that it’s worth playing?

            I can tell you it has a first case that is easily one of the all-time greats of the series.

            I can also tell you that this game brings into question who I am as a person. Yeah, I think that’s it. That’s the big one. Danganronpa is a mirror in which I reflect on why I played this series in the first place as well as the significance of why I play games at all. It might be shaky at times in execution, but the heart is there. If anything I’d say give the first case of the first game a try. If you like that I highly recommend seeing it through to the very end; the end of V3 that is. Its message is very special. This is especially significant if you feel that maybe 2017 was more of a year for despair. Maybe some hope is what you need? Or maybe something else entirely?

2. Persona 5

      

         To be completely honest, it is the biggest shock in the entirety of my existence that this didn’t end up being my favorite game of the year. It was certainly my most anticipated game, considering I almost flunked out of college when the 4^th one came out. It definitely lived up to and beyond the hype. It is also truly the new gold standard of the JRPG. Really, if you want to make the best JRPG out there, this is the newly established bar.

  

          With that, it has everything to be on this list regardless of whether or not it’s my number 1. The style, ever since its first reveals, are breathtaking and exhilarating. The animators have clearly done their studying in human motion as captured in the cut scenes. The gameplay is there that we love: part student romancer part dungeon crawler. It’s unique in how it captures both a steady and accommodating pace. The dungeon crawling movement and in-battle sequences capture a free flowing feeling, especially if you understand your enemy’s weaknesses. The game rewards you for being studious as far as the dungeon you’re in and the combat system. The rewards are even better if you planned your in-game schedule correctly. The HUD is so perfect I could play a game that involved just navigating the HUD.

            But then there’s the story. I’ve thought about it for a while and while I don’t love this story as much as Persona 4’s (I mean, Persona 4 features THE premiere character for exploring one’s sexuality), it’s a wonderful message. You’ll notice that with these final three games on my list I will mention hope. For a game to convey that, to give me that feeling, in the real world… it’s just important. That’s why I needed to begin this list with an explanation of some of the feelings of being low throughout the year, because a game like this, one that takes the future head on, even when it feels like a lot of things are keeping you down… we need games like that. We need art like that. The band of rebels here in Persona 5 might be needed now more than ever. So if JRPGs are in your wheelhouse, I can’t recommend it any more than any other JRPG I’ve ever played. Let the Phantom Thieves steal your heart!

1. Nier: Automata

           It’s weird to think that I’ve cried multiple times during multiple games this year. One was during the end of the aforementioned 1^st case of Danganronpa V3. Oh, but Nier: Automata takes the cake. This game absolutely obliterated me. First off, I must mention that I love the allure of Yoko Taro as a game director. He has this reputation as a rather strange person, but creates these games that showcase a full blown understanding of the human condition. Nier: Automata is the pinnacle of the games he has made thus far. Beyond that, it is a landmark game that I feel will only get better and more significant with time.

            What a smart decision to take Yoko Taro’s direction and combine it with Platinum Games’ development team. This was guaranteed to make the game incredibly clean as well as a sure fire way to realize his vision. Some games have maybe 2 or 3 stand out moments. If I were to just think off the top of my head with Nier: Automata, I would say this game has 3 times that. They all run the gamut of emotion too! These standout moments would have me laugh, gasp, or cry. And what’s amazing is that anything character-development wise is conveyed by actually playing the game. They develop in a way that makes sense, based on how their gameplay operates. An example: There’s a character in the game that’s cold and more straight-edged. She kills because it’s the job and she doesn’t bat an eye. Then you have another character whose primary skill is hacking. When he hacks a machine, he gets glimpses of their past or who they are. During the moments that you are playing as the straight-edged sword type, the hacker would openly convey his developing… emotions. Gross. But it makes sense when you control the hacker and he doesn’t have to flat out say: I’m developing emotions because I hack into things and they give me feelings. You feel that very naturally as a gamer because of his inherent mechanics.

            It’s no secret that, at this point, to fully embrace Nier: Automata, you have to play at least through endings A, B, C, D, and E. With each play through you learn something new about the characters involved in this narrative, the over arcing story, and finally, who YOU are as a person. That might sound really cheesy but I don’t care. The game has a pure intrinsic value that’s shaped by your own point of view as far as what games mean to you and how you view interacting with other people. The final, true ending (E) is one of the best endings I’ve ever seen. This is in regards to any medium: movies, books, you name it. I was floored. Please, please play this game. By the end of it, I hope you realize that often times it might feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world, but also that you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out, someone will listen. The world is big, it’s beautiful, and even though sometimes it feels empty, that’s not a burden you have to bare all by yourself. So thank you Yoko Taro and everyone who helped make this game. You’ve made something that not only reminded me of why I play games, but also something that reminds me of why I get up in the morning; adding even more clarity to the value of my own life and others.