HONESTLY

 I've been ridiculously tired since the daylight savings shift.

That being said it's felt incredibly eventful, which is why I haven't written any of this in awhile.

Ok, thoughts.

Had a screening of Night is Short, Walk on Girl. Didn't seem like people liked it if I'm being honest. This has made me want to punch the audience in the face with REDLINE. If that doesn't work out then I don't know. It'd be weird for an anime bar to not be the scene for... anime movies in general. Will always film there and am excited to film with the new camera.

Had a homie's bachelor party and that was really fun! Very excited for the goon, got to break keto for a lil, and enjoy some good cooking. We did a pedal pub. That was goofy. Actually really loved that energy. I learned about gin! I now have a profound appreciation of it and how it behaves as a mixer.

Other than that I'm running around trying to keep things organized down the pipeline. It gives me much anxiety because I just want everything organized and to fall into place. It's hard to be flexible when strict placement is what I need.

Anyway, I have to go because league game, but hopefully I can be more concrete in the next post.

Ebb and Flow

 

I find myself in very strange places mentally. I just have so much going on. I know I'm too hard on myself. It's fascinating because I just had a like... an hour long conversation about Charlie Kaufman. He was always an interesting screenwriter to me because he often is perceived as someone who projects himself upon his characters. This is, of course, both figuratively and literally. I feel so much like a Charlie Kaufman character. I finally mustered up the courage to play some league today. It was fun! But I still can't escape the brain worms. They say so much about my flaws in the game, why people wouldn't want to play with me in the bot lane. I try so much to ignore it, but it's like... some sort of identity crisis. There is a part of me that makes me feel so unbearable. I can't stand it. But then there's another side. This insane hype beast mode side that just... feels the need to pop off and hype people up constantly. It's all so very confusing. I feel like I'm in the middle of some tug o war.

Otherwise I also have anxiety about the weekend. I've had conversations with my sister that I've felt like I've had some kind of early on set dementia. I know that's not something to joke about or take lightly. I'm not. I genuinely have an anxiety that I constantly forget things or I confuse things. I originally stated that I wanted to record the podcast on Saturday. I was  then asked to double check that it was Sunday. AND I SAID YES. I SAID YES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY SAID SATURDAY. I felt so dumb about that. I became upset because I just want this to be consistent. I know I originally pitched it to the group that I do it with that it'd be flexible. But now, as time has passed. I want it to be consistent. I want it... to be of value. I really do, especially now that I feel like I don't have so much time in the day anymore. I don't know... I feel very lost.

Money still creates an anxiety, but that's only because I have some expenditures that I really care for for the next month. I'll be talking to a financial advisor on Monday. Hopefully that can put my mind at ease...

Otherwise it's time for bed. I hope we can podcast tomorrow as opposed to Sunday...

Slow

 I definitely had some minor brain worms the other day. Everything was a cluttering barrage of thoughts. My mind has been all over the place when not at work or in my dreams. Speaking of dreams I had one of THOSE dreams last night. A long form dream where I fell in love. I don't really want to talk about them. I don't like them, mostly because I wake up from them, but also because of the reality that it doesn't  provide that same feeling as a real relationship. Anything I dream about is fabricated and since I've never had a a relationship I'd consider loving I know that whatever my head has cooked up is a flight of fluffed up fancy. It's all a bummer.

I also have a little bit of anxiety with the upcoming cast. Once again, not completely ideal circumstances. I used to want to have a cast that was very flexible. We can just schedule it whenever and move it depending on life events but nowadays I find myself wanting it to be consistent, especially since I want it to be consistent for the audience and I want my time to edit correctly. I don't know, it's all new thoughts.

I also have to hunker down and blaze through I, Robot. I really want that book to be a part of the conversation, at least something I bring to it. I'm also uncertain if I like Pluto. It's a slow burn and normally I'm cool with slow burns, but there's so many characters constantly being introduced I'm unsure how to feel. I'll hopefully be able to compose better thoughts on it as I finish and get my notes compiled, but maybe my friend is right. How does this separate itself from the rest of the medium?

I'm also considering playing Modern MTG. We'll see. It's not something I can just hop into. Even though I got my first paycheck I still got a friend's bachelor party this month and then his wedding next. I gotta balance my budget better. At least for sure early on. I JUST got my job after all. I can't suddenly go ham on what I used to do.

Oh, I also had an idea for a short story. I don't think I'll write it. I don't really write stories anymore. I don't really know what I want from something like that. There's certainly a part of me that longs for it, but with everything going on and how I have to balance my time is that even a voice I listen to? No. No, I don't think so. We'll see how it goes I suppose.

Balance

 I don't know when it happened, but I've noticed that certain aspects of my social life are no more. Or rather, they're not... how do I put this? I'm just confused.

They're definitely intrusive thoughts but there's also no denying that something has changed. I've went through multiple days now over a weekend where the friends I used to talk to daily and just hear their voices just... don't. I'm so used to when I'm alone in a discord they'd just... show up. I don't know what happened.

There are friends who are now I suppose moving into that slot. I adore them, but I don't like that I'm losing the others. I don't know what happened and it's driving me insane.

Also, people wonder why I don't ask people to do things often times. It becomes like... unbearable when you ask and it's always no. Eventually I just want to stop. Even this weekend I tried again, once again no. I just don't understand.

I'm lost in this delirium and somehow the ship is balanced. Certain aspects of my life are healthier than ever. I have a clean room, I take on work full force, I'm focused on my hobbies. It's just that it's now not with people I used to do it with.

Is it the acknowledgement of a slowly decaying friendship? I'm unsure. And to those that think why can't people just be distant now? I get that, but I have a... let's call a table. I want to throw all of my affection at the people who sit at this table. I don't really care for people who sit near it or are maybe sitting at the table and just not... there?

Ugh, I'm so lost right now. I just want to play Magic, I want to play games, but now I don't know what to do. It also just makes me feel like I'm a problem. Maybe I am, I've been so frustrated the past couple of months.

I have to throw all this into other things, work, the podcast, etc. Maybe it'll fix itself or maybe I have to accept some sort of breakdown.

Trial of the Dragon

 

This post was actually supposed to be done on the 22nd but I had been running around all weekend.

My title is in reference to bearded dragons. I want one pretty bad. I often find myself in a weird situation because I want a dog but my sister is allergic to them but then I want a cat and my mom is allergic to them, on top of the fact that I watch mom's dogs occasionally too so that's just a recipe for disaster.

A bearded dragon is a great middle ground for me. For awhile I wanted a chameleon but those are reptiles that don't like to get handled. It's not that beardies like to get handled but rather I think they're indifferent to it, so it can like... vibe with me.

Anyway, enough lizard talk. I'm lucky to have Cary in my corner. We quickly got the photoshops in for the tech difficulties in the podcast. We also made a thumbnail that I really like! This season of the podcast has gotten off on the right foot despite the issues.

Speaking of issues, I'll be hoping to remedy some soon. Good news! I got my first paycheck. Bad news! It's taking 50 years to clear for some reason, so I don't actually have the money. That being said I was able to make my first major purchase. I'm a big advocate that your first paycheck should be something special. in this situation I bought a Sony A7 IV. This should hopefully remedy any camera woes as well as up our quality. I unfortunately had to get a Best Buy credit card in order to do the monthly payment option, which is fine, I'll just never touch it.

The only things that really concern me these days is the block of time now. Every job I've had since the lockdown was either work from home or hybrid. Having to go to an office 5 days out of the week has really taken getting used to. Also, this is straight up a block of time I have to dedicate to it all, fully. It's strange and now I have to be picky and choosy about what I do with my remaining time, especially since I put a hard cap on going to bed at 11 at the latest. This all isn't a bad thing, it's just a lot to get used to.

Also, I've started to lose weight again. It's steady, I'm back on keto and the pace is good. It's weird, I'm fully in this zone of like... it's just good for me. I know this, but eventually, just like last time, the compliments are gonna come like... "oh, you lost weight!" or "lookin' good dude." I always feel weird about it, because I would rather be... eating anything. But as I've learned my life isn't only mine. Yeah, that's just word jumble. I don't know. I don't really like compliments about losing weight. It's a necessity, not some goal I have. I also don't care about the physical aesthetics that come with it because it doesn't change how I would want people to view me. Regardless of what people say I do not find myself attractive and no one I've ever cared to want to find me attractive has ever found me attractive. This isn't just physical, this is also personality. This is purely health and I'm content with that, which is why it's weird. Whatever.

So what do I do with my time now? Do I still play League? Do I want to play mtg? I got back into the Arena. That's been fun. I've also been making a commander deck every day. That rules. I just haven't played commander. Which I might be fine with? I'm unsure. I love the act of building decks and I love the possibility. I have often hated how most of my commander games go though, so I nowadays contend with whether or not I actually enjoy playing it. I thought about why I dislike the politicking aspect of commander, because I think I definitely come across as a person who would enjoy that. I think I don't because it doesn't have a natural component to conceal. You have to conceal yourself. What I mean, it's not normal in a game of commander to have a "spy" or "mafia" which is intrinsically sewn into the games of deceit I do enjoy. It's just... he said she said, and I hate that, because I cannot navigate that. Otherwise I've been enjoying drafting Karlov despite how slow it is and how bad I'm doing. Card games are just fun.

I'm excited for two things: Kiss Me Deadly tomorrow (my favorite noir film) and the next podcast episode. The subject is the anime Pluto, which is literally Astro Boy. Pretty wild. Anyway, alot of thoughts, just wanted to get it out on paper. I work again tomorrow and work Saturday for the Home and Patio Show. Hopefully that's fine.

Relief

 

I don't really get wildly anxious anymore; not ever since I've been on medication. This is great! I don't have panic attacks anymore but I do still feel the anxiety. I often think to myself at specific moments "Wow, I'd be having an anxiety attack right about now!"

During the past few days I've felt that anxiety and I'm thankful that I'm on that medication. Having watched a feature film after work on Monday and watching Mildred Pierce after work on Tuesday I wondered if I'd even be able to edit the comeback episode of the podcast I host (JSB Animecast). I definitely don't regret watching The Taste of Things or Mildred Pierce (Spoiler Alert: I will NEVER regret watching Mildred Pierce) but certainly one of the egos in my head couldn't help saying "Yeah, that's really why you didn't find success in that field." 

Luckily given the state of things and the method to material I was relieved to find out I didn't have to do much. I synced audio with my faux slate (my hands), threw in some intro music, cut out the stuff where we were not doing the cast and then the footage ends (the camera only had one battery) so the rest is audio! The last bits needed really is editing the middle portion where we talk about upcoming events coming to Nakama (where we shot the podcast) and secure some sort of visual for the thumbnail as well as on screen when it's just audio (which is a majority of it).

Now I'm looking to improve where I can. I'm thinking about buying a camera with my first paycheck from the new job. I can't outright pay for it, but they do those monthly payment plans and no interest if I pay it off in 12 months. I have a lot to catch up with money wise and adding this probably isn't the wisest, but I really do want video to go along with the cast. Still, because of the past 5 months money continues to be an anxiety. I constantly just want to provide to those around me. It's even stronger nowadays because honestly without their support I don't know if I'm even here today. It means a lot.

At least I feel good about work. I'm lucky to have a very good boss. He's able to not just compliment or tell me I'm doing well but he's specific, so it doesn't feel like hot air. You know of those corporate "You're a rock star" types. He doesn't do that. It feels genuine and that's refreshing. I just hope every day that I am not annoying the person who is training me.

The last thing I do think about is how little time I have now. My body just can't go beyond 11 PM practically anymore if I want to be rested for work. Given my vast amount of interests this bums me out. I want to stream, I want to play certain games, etc. I just can't. I have to edit, if I do play a game it has to be a game that won't stress me out, I want to watch movies, I want to watch anime, the jumbled mess in my brain goes on and on.

All that said it does feel like the world is much more steady than before. It no longer feels as if I'm in some sort of spiraling delirium where I have to cling to any semblance of hope I can find. I look forward to the weekend where I get to watch Oppenheimer and show that to folks who have never seen. I cannot express how much that's one of my favorite activities. Showing my favorite pieces of media to my friends really brings me life. Oh, and I have to find time for Pluto, the anime for the next anime cast. At least those moments I'll really treasure.

Forecast and Old Wounds

 

It's been a very fascinating past two days.

I'm lucky that my anxiety about the JSB Animecast coming back was quelled but admittedly a ton that could go wrong did go wrong. It will be a shoddily put together project but I don't feel as bad about it as I think I normally would. Is it like... just a lack of caring? I'm not sure. I'm gonna put effort to put the best thing out and a lot of things are certainly out of my control. It's just a far cry of all I've ever wanted. Is it acceptance? I'm unsure. I don't know, I won't want to think about it too much.

I did love the discussion of the episode. I'm lucky to have co-hosts who are thoughtful and fun.

The rest of that day would be interesting. I drove over to Best Buy to get an SD card reader in order to read the footage. I then stopped over the nearby music store. They let you walk in and play the instruments. Of course I grabbed some sticks and mashed on the electric drums for a bit. It was relaxing. Just a basic rock beat. I walked and skimmed more instruments. What if I kept playing the sax? What if I picked up violin? Oh look! An accordion! Can you imagine me being an accordion player? That's absolutely unhinged. Man, if I had the money I would've scooped everything then and there. I often wonder about my lack of focus outside of work.

From there I moseyed to Leaderboard Arcade. There was a surprising amount of kids there for a rainy Sunday. I felt anxious about the jacket I was wearing. It has the main character from Darling and the Franxx on the back and is stanced up as if she's flipping you off. I didn't want all the kids to see it so I took off my jacket for a bit. It's not like I was cold so it was fine. I played a little of the Godzilla pinball machine. I'm not very good at pinball. I wish I was, but it was fun regardless. I proceeded to the Taiko drum set but there were kids on it. I didn't feel like waiting so I just took the car and drove to the KBBQ place that I was going to meet my friends at.

When I got there I was about 30 minutes early so I just kind of sat there in my care listening to music. Nothing too crazy. Just the sound of the rain hitting the tin of my car and Perisai Jitu by Moona Hoshinova.

Eventually it was time and I made my way inside to see Jennii and Paul. You might know Jennii, she hosts the podcast with me and Paul is her husband. We had a good time! It was the first time in a while I didn't have to do all the cooking at KBBQ, which is fine if I do, but I can also equally enjoy being catered too. Eventually the dinner would take a surprising turn. Don't worry, I wouldn't say in a bad way.

Jennii asked me about my history with an old friend. We'll call him K. K went to high school with her and she had told me he said hi once. When that happened I very clearly responded with a deflated "oh..." You see, there was a point in my life where I felt K and I were inseparable. We lived together for a lot of my time in film school. He had a creative spirit I admired and I think he enjoyed the company of someone who wasn't so jaded by the system. It was wild to recount this history. Jennii had visited the houses I lived at and I didn't even know it. The thought was kind of surreal but also kind of neat.

I explained the eventual fall out. I talked about feeling lonely during my pursuits in Atlanta. I mentioned the death knell that was a short film I wanted to make for an HBO showcase. I brought up how after graduating I worked on films for a year without pay waiting for him (which was really stupid of me). At the end of the day we were all trying to find our way. I feel stupid for have ever believing I could find success in that world. Took a lot to not just break down crying in the middle of a hot pot joint.

So I didn't, that was that. Bringing that up doesn't affect our friendship, even though Jennii still talks to K. I went over to their place after to watch music videos, a favorite pass time of mine, then went home and to bed at the normal hours for work the next day.

Work was standard. I continue to appreciate the people I work with. They're patient. They're funny. They're knowledgeable. Really lucky in that regard.

After that I ended up watching a film with my friend Brando. We watched a film called The Taste of Things. It's the French submission for best foreign film this year. It stars my favorite actress: Juliette Binoche. She rocked. The movie was cool and I've never heard a stomach growl louder. It made me contemplate the value of food and how much I love cooking for my friends. I really do hope they enjoy it. I hope it does taste good.

I'm now working on editing the podcast mentioned in the beginning. I'll go to bed at normal hours. A little bummed I haven't fit any games in. I don't know... time is tight now and staying late would be fun, but no doubt my health would take a rapid decline. I can't shake that feeling. The weird nostalgia of university. At least I had hope then. Back to work.

You Will Be Found

 Surprisingly I'm not talking about the musical Dear Evan Hansen.

I saw two found footage films today. One was a pretty safe bet. REC is one of my favorite films of all time. A horror house blast of a film clocking in at about a nice 1 hour 30. I still scream, I still get caught off guard.

The other film we slotted tonight that acted as the 2nd of a double feature was one I had never heard of. It's called Gonjiam Haunted Asylum. It's a Korean horror film that features, of all things, a bunch of STREAMERS entering a haunted asylum. I won't spoil it. It's a blast of a time and it's not just good found footage horror. It's good horror.

I'm a little anxious about running the podcast tomorrow. I worry about my spark. Honestly it feels like it doesn't exist. There's a side of Asher that is definitely steering the ship, but he feels like a one man crew. He's working over time to steer, get the mast unfurled, make sure land is ho or w/e. I will do my best and hopefully it all works out.

Otherwise the rest of today was just... sleep. Thoughts are difficult. Don't know what I'm doing outside of work. My best, I guess.

A Turn

 I find myself these days at a strange... state?

I am very happy to have my new job. I'm lucky in that regard. It's nothing like I ever thought I'd be doing even 3 weeks ago and everyone has been kind to me. But it is a huge shake up.

I know there's a lot of memes about like... fun-employed. The weird complaining of it, and the weird state of it. I know for me I was agitating and honestly I couldn't go day to day without feeling as if I made those around me miserable. But also, I got to hang out with friends. I got to play WoW and they would play with me and they would interact with me. That was a bare minimum.

Then there's streaming. Even though I had all this time to stream my viewership was at an all time low. I don't know what happened. I still did things I liked, but I cannot help but tie it to myself as a person, the agitating person I had become. Feeling unbearable as I wallowed in my state of misery.

I just don't know anymore, I  work a 8-5 and I feel even more distant. I can't play league without a lane partner, it makes me feel miserable. Streaming isn't that much of a source of joy anymore because I don't interact with others anymore; which was what I loved most about streaming. It's a barren desert now. I don't know how I feel about mtg any more because I can't help the thoughts that I run into playing that either.

A lot of things that bring me joy no longer do and in that regard I cannot help but feel as if I've distanced myself from some around me.

I'm caught in something strange, truly grateful yet a feeling of loneliness and distance. I'll figure it out I'm sure, but I cannot shake the feeling of something ending or going a way I cannot bare. 

My Favorite Games: 2023

Oh boy, 2023. This year was an exceptional year for all kinds of media and absolutely abysmal year for me personally. I have to constantly remind myself not to be a Debbie Downer here because we must focus on the positive! I haven't been able to get to every game I wanted to nor every game I think most would expect from a list like this. I never got to explore the darkness of Alan Wake II. I never got to burn in the Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. I never even got to cry in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Some indie darlings like Pizza Tower and Slay the Princess also had to fall to the way side. This just shows how damn good of a year it's been. Even missing out on all mentioned I've made a ten list of my favorite games and it's a shame I had to keep some off. So without further ado: My favorite games of 2023.

Lies of P

"People Have No Idea So Many Secrets Are Buried in Krat..."

Me liking Lies of P is something I never thought I'd do even just... 2 years ago. The Souls-like genre of game was just something that I didn't understand. I had owned quite a few over the course of my life and always quit them out of frustration. After all, games should be fun and what about the constant beat downs is fun? In a strange twist of fate my journey would be jumpstarted by another franchise: Metroid. I played Metroid: Dread during the holidays the year it came out. It was one of the most difficult game experiences of my life, but by simple virtue of "I like Metroid" I pushed through. I recall the constant failures of the final boss. Upon reflection it confounds me how I just didn't give up. Eventually I would push through, perfectly memorizing the patterns and being rewarded not just with the satisfaction of beating the game, but the feeling of overcoming a true challenge. The ability to adapt and overcome was on full display and I finally understood. I would eventually start streaming Dark Souls III and find the same joy with this new mind set. Lies of P is merely another stop on the Souls-like journey but it's amazing that another studio put out this kind of game with on par quality. The puppet string mechanic is fantastic, allowing you to choose many different armaments' to fit the playstyle of your choice. The slow unraveling of the story took me to some really neat places! In the spirit of Bloodborne it chronicles the downfall of a once thriving society. Most of all, in Souls-like tradition, it has some of my favorite boss fights of the year, specifically the Puppet King. As of writing this, Lies of P is on Xbox game pass so if Souls games are your steez this is a more than worthy stop on that journey.

Against the Storm

Brace Yourselves!

If y'all have read my past couple entries for favorite games year to year you'd know that I absolutely LOVE roguelikes. This game is a strange one to place because it had been in early access for a number of years and I had been playing it in that time. Since it's release into the early access sphere the game had already been talked about as a big game with a lot going on. It's foundation was already rock solid, so how does it improve over time? Following it through it's early access was an absolute treat. The delicate balancing, inclusion of new races, and expanded goals make this a city builder that just had me coming back again and again. It kept me on my toes constantly and I just couldn't get enough. If you want a lot of heft in your game and a nice steady progression as a city builder look no further.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Deathbound Love

Granblue Fantasy Versus was my favorite fighting game to play. So much so it even had a little slot when I did a 24 hour stream. Seeing Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising take flight after the unfortunate timing of it's predecessor is a sight to behold. Certainly some still have gripes with it (the hot topics are 66L and "neutral skip" *barf*) but it's hard to deny what they've done since the original and how they handled the betas leading up to this game. At the end of the day, as far as fighting games are concerned, people should play what they like. I love this game, it's training mode is fantastic. It has really neat beginner guides. It's has GRAN BRUISE. You can try it out for free if you're unsure. I can random every match and find fun in this game. Above all, I'd say I enjoy seeing the progress I make as a fighting game player over time. Nier needs buffs.

Venba

"I thought moving here would be a chance to start over."

Oof, what a feeling this game evokes. Everyone who is a first generation immigrant in America is likely to experience something like this and it's amazing how it puts you in the shoes of the tale it has to tell here. The game acts as a well-constructed snapshot of frustration and desperation when it comes to clinging to who you are. The moments found in this game are a vivid reflection of similar things I've experienced in my life. Just this past weekend as of this write up I've taken the time to learn a little about making sio pao. Shortly after this game's completion I called my mother and we bonded over a life that we're simply trying to do our best to handle.

Octopath Traveler II

"If you're going to pray... Pray for the ones fighting for their lives,
 not those already in the dirt."

This is a simple one. The game is just better than the first one, in every way. The first game was already pretty good. I wouldn't call it great, but it was well worth it's time. This game though, this is great. Day and night mechanics, better stories, more interesting characters, fine-tuned combat, ship sailing, everything here is just taken up a notch. Also, while I didn't start with her, the game has Ochette, and that alone warrants a play through in and of itself.

Dredge

"I am as human as you are."

If there's one thing I love it's a good mystery. Not necessarily a full on mystery story like Agatha Christie or something (although I do love those), but rather just... something to keep me going via the emotion of anticipation and uncertainty. Dredge does this on top of being a game not quite like anything I've played before. It's a fishing/salvaging simulation yet you're constantly faced with what can only be described as creeping otherworldly horror. What is happening? Why are some of the fish rotting? Why are the denizens of the nearby fishing town behaving this way? What am I doing here? The mysteries are pieced at a steady pace and evokes a classic at sea tragedy. I cannot recommend a game more for the fan of looming terror.

Dave the Diver

The gaming world is vast as the ocean.

Very seldom is the sentence "It tries so many things" used in a positive way. Allow me to introduce you to the miracle concoction that is Dave the Diver. It somehow manages to be a diving sim, farming sim, restaurant sim, card collecting sim, and adventure game with a flair for ancient Atlantean history. Somehow the game manages to have it's cake an eat it too by making each slice just the delectable necessities. Sure, it's not a full blow sim in any category, yet it manages to capture just enough to make it all worthwhile and fun. Combine that with arguably the most lovable cast in all of games this year and you have a truly wholesome and fun adventure that anyone can enjoy. Oh, also, they're doing a collaboration with the previously mentioned Dredge. Just a little cosmic horror seasoning for something already special.

Hi-Fi Rush

Hope no one noticed.

The cues taken from other games are so clean in Hi-Fi Rush that it's astonishing how much it lies in the shadow of it's own originality. This out-of-left field game and the absolute best game Bethesda put out this year (hehe) felt like the king of shadow drops. It's rhythm mechanics feel so natural in the midst of the bombastic combat. It's fascinating that a classic MP3 player is what ends up becoming the heart of our main character: Chai, because just as it beats within him this game beat with the heart of a lovely coming of age tale. Intimate reconciliations, newly developed and already established feelings, all of it is displayed among some of the characters I've come to care about the most this year and the music, oh the music! The hits just kept coming with this one! In order for a game like this to really come together the music needed to be as peak as it could be; a shot taken piercing the absolute bullseye.

Baldur's Gate 3

"Not what will happen - what will you do.
Your past is not yet lost.
Your future is not yet fixed."

This was probably obviously inevitable if you read this far along. I mean, it's Baldur's Gate 3. I admit, I struggle with what to write here only because it already feels like everything that can be said about Baldur's Gate 3 has been said. That being said, not enough credit is given to how deftly handled the legacy characters are in this game. For fans of older entries of Baldur's Gate there's some fine emotional ties. Of course, everything else is great in this game for the new generation. The best voice acted cast of characters this year along with a battle system that's time tested (I mean, it's DnD). It's also a shining example of how to do a game early access right. It's up there with Hades as the best early access games of all time.

Cocoon

It's not an end, but rather a beginning.

I was wondering if I would ride the Baldur's Gate wave all the way to the finish line as my favorite game of the year. The studio behind some of my favorite games (Limbo, Inside) had something to say about that. Cocoon a short game, I finished it in 5 hours, but it's amazing how this game made me feel over the course of such a small amount of time. Using a minimalist approach the game creates the kind of "aha!" moments that will stay with me for quite awile. Simple concepts and mechanics are pushed to the absolute limit as you peel back the veneer of this universe. I'm sure Youtube essayists will have a field day with this one.

Another year in the books. It has definitely been one of the best years in gaming. While I'm upset that I wasn't able to get to everything this year had to offer, the games I did play absolutely pushed the boundary that I love to expect year after year. Thank you for reading and Happy New Year!