La5t Game You Fini5hed And Your Thought5

Few things, I think Botany Manor is something I would like, just waiting on a sale on the eShop or when I've got a XCloud subscription on the go (He2blade is soon) or PC*.

*my laptop is old, so He2blade unlikely would run but think Botany would, and my laptop is starting to die that a replacement one might run He2blade.

Peach is great, still think it's for everyone and to me the top tier of the more mid tier platformers on Switch. And I actually enjoyed more than Wonder, though can recognise Wonder the better game.

Now onto Devil May Cry 3 for you Buska, no there's no number 2 honest.

Paranormasight much like Botany Manor, is one waiting for a sale and using Switch at the time as its Switch exclusive that no one seems to moan about I do worry that with Squares cancelling of loads of games with a $140m loss, games like this is what will be gone to focus on the bigger AAA games. They don't help themselves though releasing 34 games in one year, as much of a Square fan, impossible to support all those games.

Edit
Also basically if Botany and Paranormasight were on PS4/5 would have higher chance of getting bought & played by now, as its the system I use 90% of the time.

Waiting for a Botany Manor sale is wise. Waiting for a Paranormasight sale... I think it's very much worth a purchase at full price, but I bought it on sale myself. It definitely doesn't deserve to be classed with BM re. that though.

Square have made some truly baffling decisions. (Making Paranormasight Switch exclusive may or may not be one of them but I think it's a perfect Switch game so it shouldn't impact us.) I think something's up with the CEO to be honest, he sounds like he's deep in the pockets of Big NFT or whatever to the point of delusion. I know his talks about that are directed at shareholders, but even for the soulless figurehead of a giant company they seem out of touch. And 34 games is daft, although it depends where they release them and how many genres they're in and what the budgets behind each one are I suppose.

Yeah as I don't think they've cancelled the Parasite Eve named NFT game.

What you're about different budgets etc makes sense but now ohh Valkyrie Elysium didn't sell that's on the chopping block to focus on the AAA games from Square. Which means less games for me to buy but less variety if just Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quest now on.

Lumped Botany and Paranormasight together as digital only, £20ish and not on my preferred system.

masofdas wrote:

Now onto Devil May Cry 3 for you Buska, no there's no number 2 honest.

It doesn't matter how many times I hear some variation on this, I can't just skip a numbered entry when playing a series.

Though I'm kinda curious on your thoughts on DMC2.

I finished Pepper Grinder!  Because it's nice and short, even if the final boss is seven levels of bollocks.  (Well, two phases of bollocks.)  I think this might be another one in the 'Celeste has ruined 2D platformers for me' category though: although the levels in this are nicely varied, Pepper doesn't feel fun enough to play (she and her drill are intentionally a bit all-over-the-place) nor look or sound good enough to watch/hear for me to think this is more than a decent romp.  There's nothing special here, y'know?  With maybe the exception of two levels in the last world where Pepper gets to [REDACTED].  This is a decent time-killer but that's all it was for me, Cappa and Jas will be more enthusiastic I reckon.  6/10




I also finally finished WarioWare: Move It! with my sis, having started it at Christmas.  As such there was a fair amount of anticipation for more, that fell into a damp squib when we finished the remainder in the link of an eye.  I know WarioWare games aren't generally long (unless you try to perfect every microgame) but this feels more content-light than Get It Together, say.  Fortunately it's a lot more fun, while this lasted we really had a blast.  It's a return to Smooth Moves' minor heyday, and the motion gubbins is grand.  Just wish there was more to it, is all.  7/10

Not much to add this time, Balla.


Played awhile ago now this one, on mobile as it basically cost me nothing as I had credit in my Google account.  And did talk about in the Nintendo Direct thread, as comes to Switch at some point. I quite enjoyed it, but was a tad bored after my 3rd run to roll credits properly. If it's like £5 on Switch, could see a Balla etc having a go, a Jim will hate it.


More of a movie in VR then a game but it did cost money and has achievements. Stars Daisy Ridley, Kate Winslet in a like b-tier pixar movie at best.


This is down as an experience in VR, also it's free but is more than a game then Baba Yaga. It has Tilda Swinton as the narrator in an experience about schizophrenia, gaming and connection.


The one I came here to post about, as I finished Stellar Blade yesterday, where I got the true ending in this Korean Action-RPG. Now I've only finished NieR Replicant and played a bit of Automata, though what I can gleam from those, Stellar Blade is basically Korean NieR down to the plot, music and all that good stuff.

With a mix of Souls as you go to camps, where you can level up your stats, enemies respawn, if you die that's where you go back to and so on. Though don't think if you die you lose anything where another game I played recently Rise of the Ronin you did lose karma if you died, then you'd have to go kill that enemy.  

That am wondering what actually makes a Souls game, like did I click with Stellar Blade because of the anime nonsense of it, where you watched me play Darks Souls II and I didn't have Scooby where I was going or doing. I have now picked up Wo Long as it was £12.50 physical on PS5 as the next sort of bash in the genre kinda.

Mas, you love predicting other people's opinions on stuff

Balla, I played the demo of Pepper Grinder and while I liked the vibes, that impreciseness of control did bother me a bit. Did you feel yourself mastering it as it went or was it annoying all the way through? I can imagine myself getting tilted if all the way through I can't hit a line of gems without going back around two or three times.

I played a bunch of Wario as a party game with more players and it was incredible, so if you're gonna find yourself in that position I think the short campaign will sting less. It's not the game's fault we're all old and lonely.

I'd say I improved at it (I could hit basic lines of gems no problem), but it was annoying the whole way through.  Especially when you get to the final boss, which seems to rely on a level of precision the controls aren't designed for.  I had to turn the game speed down for that.

I can see Move It! being a pretty good party game, I just don't have enough parties to test it out because I'm old and lonely.  Even when I did have a housewarming with a bunch of nerds earlier this year, we ended up playing Jackbox the entire time.  That's the slight problem with party games on Switch: they have to be better than a series of games that effortlessly handle eight players and have almost no learning curve.

I'm not playing Refind Self I'm afraid, that looks like peak Mas and I don't like replaying stuff.  I also notice how the man effortlessly sidestepped the Stellar Blade android lady's bottom and all that.

Jim think already said he wouldn't like Refind Self in the Direct thread, and it's less of a prediction but more well I think X person will like game and Y person won't, then make of as you will. Then I'll somehow mention Andy, who you never know what he'll like casing point the wee bit of chat around DMC on Discord.

Well I did say like Korean NieR and you know that game with 2B. I also mostly had EVE dressed in this but with pink hair & a flower in it

masofdas wrote:

and it's less of a prediction but more well I think X person will like game and Y person won't

Yep that's what a predicition is

But seriously you're probably right, I would change that game's name to Refund Self; as someone who has had quite a few mental health "bits" in the last couple of years and definitely including impostor syndrome, the game feels like the "substitute teacher" equivalent of therapy.

Maybe, I look at as it as more of a recommendation, then a prediction. Likely how I word it, maybe need to bring back the what was good etc which included who I'd recommend to.

Worms W.M.D. (2016)

Grabbed this for a few quid, and just polished off the Campaign mode. You can't really go wrong with Worms (in 2D anyway) and this is essentially Worms Armageddon on steroids. The WMD of the namesake has to do with the weapons you can find on maps: mounted flamethrowers, sniper rifles, machine guns and mortars. You'll also find vehicles such as tanks, mechs and even the Rocket League car, which adds something new. In multiplayer, these additions can make the core gameplay unbalanced, but in the one-player mode, it transforms the standard "kill the enemy worms" into something more strategic. I'll never tire of worms voiced by bricklayers saying "You don't know what you're missing love" when a team voiced by old ladies skips a go.  

8/10

What was good? The story and how it teaches you about Hinduism when going through Raji adventure.

What was less good? Pretty straight forward linear game, with some simple puzzles.

What was bobbins? Nothing really, it's just a fine game nothing.

Would I recommend it? Now on Plus for PS4 and PS5, how I played it and worth checking it out via the service.


What was good? Some of the food looks real nice.

What was less good? Pretty short

What was bobbins? The controls, I get it's like a funny food game but think worth better in VR where you could pick up and move the food etc

Would I recommend it? Also on Plus, though, I would say skip it.


What was good? An experience in VR, that elevates Tetris to the next level.

What was less good? Nothing

What was bobbins? Now I've listened to the music basically for a 3rd time, and loses some lustre.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, a banger.

After Matthew Castle talked it up I'm listening to the Tetris Effect soundtrack right now. Probably loses something without the game. Eh.

That's a much more glowing appraisal than I gave Raji. I can't imagine the platforming's greatly less fiddly on PS5, or the narration less ponderous.

Tetris Effect is flippin' brilliant, and that's having only played it on GamePass but I really should buy it as it's endlessly replayable.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been my second-favourite game for as long as I remember.  And now it's not.

How it fares as a replay, as a Switch game, as a 2024 game, is both a more pertinent question and one I'm less interested in.  It looks lovely, fps be damned.  The remixed soundtrack turns the main weakness I remember of the game into a decided strength.  They've brought back trans Vivian, respectfully and all.  (Oh and it made a pro-trans meme.)  And of course it's now actually available for non-silly money, on the go.  And it'd be just good if Nintendo were encouraged to make more Paper Marios in this vein, y'know?  Weird, well-written, and with interesting character designs.  Yeah, y'all should buy this.  Heck, the remaster even adds a couple of small touches to make things more efficient.

It's just... why did it stop there?

When I was 12 and had endless free time, all the pointless backtracking didn't bother me.  Backtracking like the myriad runs back to towns, not to mention the endless chase for General White.  Nor did the slow text speed, nor hammering through Frankie saying "I love you" 100 times for no reason that adds to the game, nor the fact that you can only take one Trouble (easily the worst part of the entire game) at a time.  All of these things, the remaster could and should have fixed.  They could have even given the Troubles decent rewards, the n-2 that don't, to make the mucking about somewhat worthwhile.  But no.  Instead we have this: so snail-paced at times, so noticeably and obviously flawed.  The rose-tinted glasses of my childhood ripped off.  And what do they see?

A 10/10 game, that's what.

Maybe not so quite 10/10 as I thought it was.  But: that character design!  Those party members!  Those villains!  That writing!  That locational variety!  Those set-pieces!  That hub world, a rare example of grubbiness in the Mario world, that manages to pitch the tone perfectly without going full 'gritty reboot'.  That atmosphere!  That music!  (This time around.)  And a battle system that's actually still pretty cracking, carrying an entire chapter and a postgame marathon on its back.  I'm surprised the audience mechanic hasn't been used more elsewhere.  When TTYD is good, and it's good a lot of the time, it's a level of good that Nintendo simply hasn't tried to meet again, and that nobody else has got close to.  

What makes a 10/10?  (For the moment ignoring people who refuse to countenance basic rounding.)  That's a question this remaster made me confront.  Can a game still have substantial and avoidable flaws running throughout, and still reach that top stratum of gaming greatness?  Maybe it's fitting that Paper Mario TTYD, so wonderfully weird in other places, defies convention here as well.  

BONUS! The Balla 6/10 VN love-in* continues!:

Calm down Mr VN


What was good? Proper old-school survival horror, where's not a lot of combat or enemies really it is more about the puzzles and atmosphere around it. Both actors do a good job, which feel Jodie a tad better of the two here.

And yes I did finish the game with both characters, and got three of the endings over my two playthroughs. I was (as I sold the game) close to the platinum, just would have done a less than 3hr run and get some collectables I missed that kinda mean two more runs etc when I could be playing something else.

What was less good? Pretty short, like my first go with Emily was about 6hrs then with Edward like 4.5hrs, hence why a 3hr trophy is very much doable, just I like to watch my story scenes in my story driven game.

What was bobbins? It has some bugs here and there, part from that not a lot as I went into it with low expectations after seeing reviews and I come away with this being high in my Top 10 games of the year so far. I much prefer this type of horror game over what RE has become, why I'm looking forward to the likes of Hollowbody.  

Would I recommend it? I will put this out there I did get on a whim a part of my Mega Drive deal I did I got a CEX voucher and I used on this, now would I had paid £40 cash for it, maybe not as I haven't done that till now. Then a week later and maybe even now saw on sale in places like GAME, which again if I saw may have got on a whim and enjoyed it much as I did. So I do recommend it, yet feel it be on a whim for most of you this then going out of your way.



What was good? Fun platformer which I was in the mood for after a horror game and hearing rumors of a new Astro, that I thought why not give this a bash being on Plus.

What was less good? Not as good as SM3DW.

What was bobbins? Astro has maybe killed Sackboy as a mascot platformer for PlayStation, especially having Ratchet as well, who can bring something different to the table.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, why not as I say it's a fun time and on Plus.


What was good? Games Asylum sent me this one, as they got in GAME part of the used games clear out and I will be sending on to Smurf, who I then in turn sends on again after he's done with this easy platinum indie title.

Which is like a puzzle game where you walk around a island then head into puzzles levels, which some of the later ones are tad challenging, get some story once you've done the puzzle and open the island up and carry on. It's very much standard indie stuff.  

What was less good? VO is fine, don't think any of the music stood out.

What was bobbins? I had a weird bug at the end, which was very creepy, especially when meant to be heart-warming story beats.  

Would I recommend it? As I say sending to Smurf, but the rest of ya don't think I'm going to say rush out and download from PSN or go CEX get a used copy even at £8. Maybe for a few quid or added to a service be fine, or you know want a easy Platinum or a 1000g and willing to pay more.

Balladeer wrote:

What makes a 10/10?  (For the moment ignoring people who refuse to countenance basic rounding.)  That's a question this remaster made me confront.  Can a game still have substantial and avoidable flaws running throughout, and still reach that top stratum of gaming greatness?  Maybe it's fitting that Paper Mario TTYD, so wonderfully weird in other places, defies convention here as well.

Congratulations - it sounds like you've ascended to the "using numbers to properly define a game's worth, implying there's a literal definition of perfect, is not the best". Come in brother. We have tea. I'm sorry this isn't as satisfying or relieving as it should be.


Also Thousand Year Door's a lot of fun though innit

Even for those without numbers, I think there's a concept of 'the 10/10'.  It's just called something else.  'The top stratum of gaming greatness', for example.  Also, even those who don't like numbers tend to acknowledge The 10/10 - witness Buska going '10/10 but I really do mean it this time' in the past.  Also also, how's that list assigning numerical ranks to every game you've ever played and how much you love them going?   I'm sorry Jim, you are too nice for this level of snark, I'm going to go say something nice about a game you like now.

The game is a belter, even with those pacing mishaps.  The Glitz Pit is a 12/10 gaming moment.

"Bangers."

Balladeer wrote:

:Also also, how's that list assigning numerical ranks to every game you've ever played and how much you love them going?   I'm sorry Jim, you are too nice for this level of snark, I'm going to go say something nice about a game you like now.

Oh yeah, I made that list, but I don't agree with me at all! It's completely arbitrary. I just like looking at pages of stats.

Edit: Oh wait, I need to update my list! Thanks for the reminder

Digimon Survive



I've been playing this on my train rides and finally finished it this past week. There was a lot about it that I personally really loved, but I can't recommend it to everyone. As a game, it's basically a visual novel punctuated by very simple Fire Emblem-esque battles.

The writing is okay, with most of it accompanied by decent Japanese voice-overs, but it isn't anything special. There are stretches where the game tries to be a gritty, adult, not-your-daddy's-Digimon with characters distrusting the monsters and so on, but they're kind of cringe and the game is better when it's more earnest and heroic.

It's the only Digimon game I've ever played which has anime-style evolutions. As you play through the game, your Digimon unlock new evolutions (some are at story points, others are tied to affinity with other characters). Rather than permanently evolving like a Pokémon, they're unlocked as new temporary evolutions in battle. It doesn't change much gameplay wise - higher level digimon cost more to maintain, but your characters have generally levelled up enough to do it - but it feels cool and means everyone has their cute Digimon in downtime. This only applies to the human characters' partner Digimon. There are other ones which can be recruited, and they evolve more tamagotchi / Pokemon-style, but I rarely used apart from when the story dictated because I was cut off from the others.

It also has one of my favorite depictions of what Digimon are. There are characters here who travelled to the Digimon world back in the Showa era, and so they have very Kitsune-esque Digimon, and travel through a shrine. The Digimon world is something created, or accessed, through human faith and is only becoming digital in the modern age. Perhaps thanks to the Our War Game OVA taking place in the internet but also being the most popular piece of Digimon media, a lot of people perceive Digimon as AI creatures or whatnot, with some modern media leaning too far that way. They felt much more alive in this.

I guess how much you're likely to enjoy this game depends on how much of a Digimon fan you are.

Oh, there are multiple endings. I got the best ending you can get on a first run, but one day I may go back and try for the perfect ending without the two deaths which are unavoidable your first time through (though I honestly was glad when one of the kids died).

That always looked like a bit of a strange one.  I guess Digimon's always been a bit more mature, killing off Digimon and talking about the ethics of that (and also "mature", sexy women monster and giving a dog a chaingun).  I'm glad it exists but I'm not sure it's for me.

Jimbob wrote:

I just like looking at pages of stats.

Bowser's Fury

I got the 50 Cat shines in this the other night & yeah it was a fun little romp, most of the time my brain was going "this would've been great on 3DS" even though it looked very nice on the Switch OLED.

Not sure if I'll go back for the remaining 50 shines yet but aye it was fun.