For the week of January 29 through February 4
Click here to see the games I played last week.
I’m back in North America, so it’s allowed me to return to playing more console games. Did manage to play one “new” release but the rest of the week was dedicated to games from the last few years.
January 29 – Star Ocean: The Second Story R
Star Ocean: The Second Story R was an RPG I wanted to play last year while I was trying out a slew of different games from the genre. I heard good things about this remake and playing through the game’s first 90 minutes, I can see why. I like the easy-to-grasp combat and the story’s mystery thus far has me wanting to see a bit more. If this isn’t a super-long RPG, I can see myself returning over the year to play through to completion.
January 30 – Brotato
Vampire Survivors was my favorite game of 2022. So, when I discovered that Brotato is a similar concept, I got angry at myself for not playing it sooner. I was having so much fun seeing how far I could go before dying. I haven’t reached level 20 yet, but if I play a bit more and grasp the upgrades and improved weapons, I am confident I will reach it.
Also, I played this on Xbox Series X and Mobile, but I am seriously considering also getting the Steam version to play this on my Steamdeck. I had more fun on the Series X over playing the mobile version, on the Steamdeck it would be perfect for short playthroughs.
January 31 – UnMetal
I heard about this game a few years ago from an old friend from work. He didn’t go into much detail but mentioned how this was a parody of the 80s action films and games we both remember fondly. However, when I started playing, the comedy hooked me.
This is a retro action game, similar to the original Metal Gear. However, the story is retold by the protagonist in some really interesting ways. You’ll enter a section and he’ll begin to describe, in some very odd detail, the situation he was in and how he got past it. It’s done well and it kept me wanting to see how things would unfold.
This doesn’t feel like a very long game, so I think I can finish it if I stick around.
Feb 1 – Go Mecha Ball
I was listening to a few gaming podcasts when Go Mecha Ball was mentioned so I wanted to give it a try. To be honest, I couldn’t get into it. It’s meant to be rogue-like where your character gets stronger the more you play, but the combat just wasn’t that fun and felt very limited. There is very little randomization and the weapons thus far haven’t impressed me much.
Also, I don’t feel like my character is getting stronger or better. I keep dying at the first boss character, with me not having enough health to fight it properly. I’m fine stopping now because there isn’t enough to keep me playing.
Feb 2 – League of Legends: Wild Rift
To be fair, I wasn’t entirely sure I should include this. I’ve played a few matches in League of Legends a long time ago. Originally, I thought Wild Rift was a completely different game and not a reimagining. This is a much more streamlined version, meant for quicker matches and easier cost of entry.
I’ve played a few matches and I’ve just wrapped up most of the game’s onboarding. Although I’m still not that great and there is a lot more for me to learn, I am having fun. This is an easier experience, even though I’m playing against bots. The battles are still a bit too long for my liking, averaging over 15 minutes. If I can keep matches under 20 minutes, I could see myself playing this more often and actively trying to learn how to play more of the available Champions.
This probably won’t get me to go back to regular LoL. Thankfully, as an Xbox Game Pass Subscriber, I get access to all the Champions, so there is no need to spend real money on the game. Even without the perk, it feels like they do a good job of giving you currency to unlock more Champions. There are a lot to try, so I don’t know if I’ll ever find the ones I play best with.
Feb 3 – Silent Hill: The Short Message
Outside of dabbling with the first three Silent Hill games, the franchise hasn’t caught my interest. One thing I like about the concept of their games is the “psychological horror” they try to portray. Is what’s happening real or is it all in your head? So, when Konami stealth dropped a free Silent Hill game as part of their “reboot” of the franchise, I decided to give it a go.
The Short Message is all over the place. I liked the concept and the plot kept me interested even though I could see the various “twists” coming to fruition. But the annoying parts kept me out of really feeling absorbed. The story takes place in a fictional German town, but none of the characters appear German. The actors in the FMV sequences looked Spanish or mixed-raced Japanese. It felt like the German-town angle was thrown in at the last minute to give it a bit more flair when it’s clear that wasn’t the original intention.
But, the biggest problem I had was the actual gameplay sequences where your character has to navigate through different maze-like sections. You’re seeking the exit all while trying to avoid the game’s lone enemy character. These are just not fun. They get progressively more difficult but still encompass the same mechanic, figure a way out. It’s only the very last sequence where they add something different. This time, you need to collect a series of photos to unlock the exit.
A lot of people are comparing this to the famous PT, Hideo Kojima’s playable teaser for this own Silent Hill reboot that was canceled. Having never played that, I can’t compare. If this was meant to increase the hype around the other upcoming Silent Hill games, I don’t know if it succeeded in doing so.
Feb 4- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Outside of Marvel Snap and Insominac’s first Spider-Man game, I haven’t touched too many Marvel-based video games lately. I have Marvel’s Avengers, but haven’t bothered to play it. While I played a bit of Marvel’s Midnight Suns, it was only the first hour or so. It just didn’t do enough to keep me going. Both are games I’d like to return to in the future. With The Avengers, I can consider it as part of this project.
But, when the Epic Game Store gave away Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy over the Christmas break, I wanted to finally play it. I heard good things about the story and gameplay and for this Sunday, it was my pick to play.
I understand the hype it got when it was released back in 2021. The story so far is really interesting and I’m invested in Peter Quill and the rest of the crew. Although I’m only at Chapter 3, it’s done more than enough to want me to see it through. The gameplay is incredibly easy to grasp and outside of some pesky Quick-time events (at least for me), I haven’t had much trouble progressing.
I also love how the game looks and sounds. The 80s soundtrack is incredible, featuring a slew of licensed tracks that work well and make sense for Peter. Having Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran” blasting as you attempt to fly the Milano out of an exploding space station was a lot of fun listening to.
How Long to Beat has this game taking about 17.5 hours. I was hoping for a bit of a shorter required time. I’m just worried that there is a lot of unnecessary padding. Add this to my growing list of games I’d like to continue playing.