Kraven

The game is absolutely outstanding so far. I’m four chapters in and have been blown away the entire time. I was skeptical on this remake, but I’m glad my worries went out the window reap quickly.

This weekend I’m (still) playing Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). As soon as I thought I was getting fatigued after 70+ hours, I took a two day break from the game and felt recharged to tackle more stories. That statement alone has this as my current GOTY.

As of right now, I have completed two character stories and working on my third. I’m still taking my time—grinding, doing side quests, and exploring. In fact, I just discovered a few secret locations to unlock other jobs. I’m sure many people know about these already, but it was surprising to me considering I haven’t looked up any information in walkthroughs or by word of mouth. It was such a rewarding experience.

This is a game that simply keeps on giving. Hopefully, Square Enix will do the same and release the game on Xbox/Game Pass. OTII is a game that needs more attention because I truly believe it’s one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.

Aside from OPII, half of my attention will be focused on Resident Evil 4 Remake (Xbox Series X). I haven’t played this game since its original release approximately 16 or 17 years on the Nintendo GameCube and subsequently the PS2.

With it being so long since I’ve played this game, the two hours I sunk into the game last night has practically been a fresh experience for me. I’m on chapter 3 and it’s been fantastic so far. That said, I have several fond memories I will never forget, but I have forgotten when and where those moments occur, so I’m curious to see how it makes me react when I come across them again.

I know for a lot of people 2022 wasn’t a good year for Xbox; however, for me, it was stellar. We might not of had any powerhouse first party games, but most of my gaming time was spent with Xbox due to a handful of games such as: Sniper Elite 5, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, Persona 5 Royal, A Plague Tale Requiem, Pentiment, Vampire Survivors, Chained Echoes, High on Life, Midnight Fight Express, Tunic and a lot more. And these were games that were solely on Game Pass day one. Personally, I considered it one of Xbox’s best years.

@Sebatrox You should check out Steelrising. It’s a great game despite some jank, and it’s on Xbox.

I’ve said it many times: I will always trust Arkane. None of their games have disappointed me in the slightest. Their ability to create memorable worlds and characters, along with their fantastic writing and superb level design, had always left me excited for this game. Thankfully, Redfall seems to be shaping up nicely.

Sadly, I couldn’t get into the second game. I felt like it lost all of what made the first game so special. It felt as if the game had no soul. I also didn’t like the inventory management. You were picking up so many items and you couldn’t even realize it because the text on screen was so little and quickly disappeared. Maybe I’ll give the game another attempt since I haven’t played it since launch.

@Krzzystuff Unfortunately, D4 isn’t coming to Game Pass. However, if Microsoft does acquire Activision/Blizzard then it just might. If that deal does go through, which it looks like it could be mid-summer or later, then I fully expect D4 to be on the service in a short timeframe afterward.

If true, this is awesome news. SMTV is incredible and I spent a good 70+ hours with it. I think Game Pass would create a new audience for the game, especially for those who just got introduced to the Persona series for the first time via GP.

@Legend_Au I really loved Gears 5, and although they stumbled a bit with its open world, you could see the potential with it. My only issue with the game is collectibles. They never seemed to count right, and it was difficult to tell which chapter each collectible belonged to because of how its open world separated itself in chapters.

On a side note, the DLC for Gears 5, “Hivebusters” is amazing. It’s a shame that doesn’t get talked about more.

@Romans12 You don’t have to be playing Xbox games to comment on this forum. And who is to say this person wasn’t playing an Xbox game last week or so? It’s just a community to share what everyone is playing, regardless of the console. It’s to create discussion and possibly get someone interested in a new game or something of the sort.

I’m still playing Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). With 65+ hours, I believe I’m nearing the end, I believe, having the 3rd and 4th chapters left of most characters. I did nothing but grind yesterday, so all of my characters are now level 60 or higher, so I’m going to push through the story now. The fatigue is starting to set in, however, as I want to get around playing some other games. That said, my opinion still hasn’t wavered: OP2 is one of the finest RPGs ever made.

I was going to get around to playing the plethora of games in my backlog, such as Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, Dead Space Remake, and a few others, but I saw that a new DLC campaign mission dropped for one of my favorite games, Sniper Elite 5, and I’ll be jumping back into that world. I find the game to be an utter masterpiece in stealth and level design, and the overall gameplay loop is addicting.

I also purchased Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion and Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo on the Nintendo Switch, so I’ll probably jump into that soon. All of these games mentioned should keep me plenty busy until The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Redfall releases.

@GeeEssEff I hope it’s different than Minecraft. That is a game I could never get into. I’m hoping it’s more of an MMO with NPC quests.

This game seems pretty cool. I have it installed and ready to go. I’m curious to see what all the hype is about. It’s a shame there aren’t any achievements out for it at the moment.

I’m still deeply into Octopath Traveler II (Nintendo Switch). I’ve completed everyone’s second chapter, acquired all secondary jobs, purchased an expensive ship, and have beat a few “Crossed Paths” missions.

Right now, I’m very invested in Castti’s (The Apothecary) storyline. There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue around the one they call “Bonemender”. Also, I have Osvald’s (The Scholar) secondary class as a Warrior, and let me tell you—he’s OP.

Ultimately, I’m enamored with the game and yet to experience burnout, which is a testament to how brilliant I think the game is. Personally, I consider it one of the best JRPGs ever made, and I can’t pull myself away from the game even after 40+ hours. I’m looking forward to seeing where all of these character stories end up, and I have a feeling by the time it’s all said and done my playtime will be between 80-100+ hours.

The next game(s) on my list to play next are: Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, Dead Space Remake, Metroid Fusion, Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, and Resident Evil 4 Remake when it releases.

This sounds good to me. Even though it’s Bethesda and their games will sell, releasing it early Summer would be tough. You have Legend of Zelda: ToTK and Redfall — two games that will probably garnish a lot of attention, or, at least the former will. Let those two games breathe and release during the slower months leading up to the big fall releases from Sony and hopefully Microsoft.

This weekend I was planning on splitting my time up between Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Octopath Traveler II but the latter is just too damn good, and I can’t pull myself away from it. This game has been consuming my thoughts even while I’m at work because I find it that good. And I know when I comment on this forum every week, I tend to write mini reviews. This week won’t be any different because I’m in awe of this game.

It has improved so much from its counterpart. For starters, all of the characters are fascinating and well realized. Their personalities really shine through minimal dialogue, and their motivations for the reason of their journey make sense.

Speaking of the core cast - I’m 20-hours in and I have acquired all characters, completed their opening chapter, and have unlocked the ability for a secondary job. And I’m not even remotely burned out, which is a feat in and of itself.

It’s unclear if these branching storylines will connect together to tell a singular cohesive story but it’s okay if they don’t because it’s the moment-to-moment gameplay along with strong character writing that has me coming back; not the overall narrative. Would it be nice if the game magically ties everything together? Yes; but it’s not something that will make me judge the game harshly unless it completely dismantles everything it has built.

One thing I love about OT2 is that it respects your time, particularly with NPC interactions. Oftentimes, you’ll find a lot of lengthy conversations that are ultimately meaningless and tiresome (I’m looking at you, Trails series). In this case, most NPCs have a single text bubble, or two at the most, all the while getting straight to the point and still managing to provide a good sense of world building. That is a testament to how brilliant the writing is in this game. The only downfall is, similarly to the first game, is that side quests are quite vague. I wish there was more direction on how to complete some of them.

Another aspect that I find fantastic is that it’s not overwhelming. All of the systems and mechanics are gradually introduced, and yet they aren’t convoluted at all. It’s one of those situations where you’ll get as much out of the game as you’re willing to put in, and if you dive deeply in you will be greatly rewarded.

Overall—though I haven’t completed the game yet, I think it’s an essential game for all JRPG fans. The combat is sublime; the soundtrack is fantastic; the characters and their personal stories are excellently written; and the game respects your time. All in all, if the game continues to impress me further down the line, I might consider this one of the best RPGs ever made.

This weekend I’m playing Like a Dragon: Ishin (PS5). I’ve always preferred this franchise over GTA, with Y0 being my most adored. I didn’t know what to actually expect from this latest remake/spinoff. I wasn’t entirely sold on the setting with the initial trailers and announcements leading up to its release; however, after putting in several hours already, I can say that if it keeps up this pace it’ll easily sit alongside Yakuza 0 as my favorite in this long running series.

I feel as if this franchise is one of the rare series of games that are consistently good, and can somehow intricately balance intense moments that fill you with adrenaline and heartfelt emotions, to humor and downright hilarity — and sometimes both all at once. One instance would be having a serious talk in a bathhouse, and subsequently fighting a certain individual bare naked.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the writers and sub-story designers should be creating the side content for Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation because their quirkiness and tone is essentially dad humor that molds right into Spider-Man personality and lightheartedness.

One thing I love about this franchise, and with this game particularly, is how it’s directed. There are some beautiful shots throughout the cutscenes and even in the moment-to-moment gameplay and dialogue between characters. It’s such a prominent staple in the Yakuza game, but more-so here because it makes you feel present with how it presents being a samurai in a western setting.

I also purchased Octopath Traveler 2 (Nintendo Switch). It’s rare when I buy a physical copy of a game these days — I prefer digital, but I own the first game physically and the artwork is superb. I’ve played an hour of it; I chose Hikari as my starter, and it’s great so far. I thoroughly loved the combat in the first game but found the story convoluted and overall repetitive. Hopefully, this one will remedy those two concerns, and from what I’ve read in several reviews, the characters are much better written than the previous installment.

I cannot wait for this. It looks absolutely fantastic.

This is one of the better beat-‘em-ups of the last few years. I’m looking forward to playing it again on the Series X.

It’s awesome to see Soul Hackers 2! I’ve had my eye on the game for a while but there were too many games in my backlog that I wanted to focus on first, and not actually spend $60.00 on the game. This will be the perfect incentive for me now.

Also, I’m pretty damn excited for Wo Long. Team Ninja hardly does wrong in my eyes. I highly doubt I’ll be able to finish Like a Dragon: Ishin! before it releases. I’m only on chapter 3. It’s one hell of a game, though.

@trev666 The game is on PlayStation as well. I wouldn’t say people, or reviewers, are hating this game because it’s on GP. It seems that the game is “good” at best, and not much more. Sometimes games are great; sometimes they aren’t. And, there are numerous GP games over the last five months that are received quite highly, so your comment doesn’t make much sense to me.

I finally beat Metroid Prime (Remastered) for the very first time. It’s such a fantastic game. That said, I do have a love/hate relationship with one aspect of the game: Obscure artifacts. I appreciate that the game makes you utilize every single ability, weapon, and visor at your disposal, but some of the items you need to collect are vague, primarily the artifact located at Phendara’s Edge. There is no way my 12-year-old self could have beaten this game when it originally released on the Nintendo GameCube.

One thing I absolutely adore about the game, however, is the tone it sets. It really makes you feel that Samus is essentially a stranger on an alien world; and I found it really special that you’re learning about the world at the same time as your character. It made me feel like a scientist in a sense — scanning artifacts, computers, enemies, and the environment to understand what’s transpiring on this planet. It was masterfully done.

Now that I’ve completed Prime, a part of me wants to do another run in Metroid Dread, but I also want to jump back in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I put roughly sixty hours into the game when it first released, and got near the end of the game (late chapter five), but I haven’t touched the game since late September. I got real busy with life and wedding planning, so I put it aside. I’ll more than likely start a fresh playthrough.

I just found out if you pre-order (Yakuza) Like a Dragon: Ishin! you can play the game early. Considering reviews being favorable, and Yakuza 0 being one of my all time favorite games, I think this is what I’ll be delving into over the weekend. I’m only an hour into it, but so far it’s great.

Awesome review! I can’t wait to play this. The Yakuza franchise is one of my favorites, with Yakuza 0 being one of my favorite games of all time. I still need to get around to playing 6 at some point. I’ve always said that the creators for the side quests in Yakuza should have written and designed the side quests for PlayStation’s Spider-Man because it would blend so well with their sense of humor.

This weekend I was planning on playing Hogwarts Legacy. I’ve been going through it since Monday morning and it’s been fun. It hasn’t grabbed my attention fully yet; I think it has to do with being overwhelmed on how big Hogwarts castle really is. And then the Nintendo Direct happened.

I’m now currently playing Metroid Prime Remastered. I’ve never played this beloved trilogy when it released on the GameCube and subsequently the Wii, but I do enjoy this franchise. I’ve gotta say — this game is fantastic.

Tonally, the game is superb, and the atmosphere is breathtaking. It has a genuine sci-Fi feeling. A lot of FPS’s have trouble making you feel like you’re in a different world altogether. Halo did it remarkably well, and Prime has achieved it in spades. You feel like an alien in a beautifully crafted but mysterious world itself, yet slowly empowered by collecting upgrades.

The other game I’m going to be playing is The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. This is the one LoZ game I never got to play as a kid, so I can’t have to have a fresh experience. I’ve been told it’s one of the best Zelda games overall, and that has me excited because I thoroughly enjoy the top-down view more than the 3D-model games.

I really can’t wait to see how this journey pans out for both of these games. I was needing a (new for me) Nintendo-esque pick-me-up game after being very disappointed with Fire Emblem Engage. And there is always something special about a really well crafted Nintendo game that Sony and Xbox can’t quite capture. I’ll be spending lots of time with this and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap this weekend.

I’ve played an hour of the game so far and it’s wonderful. It really does feel magical, and I can’t wait to see how this journey plays out.

This is a fantastic review! I have the game pre ordered, pre installed, and ready to go! I can’t wait.

I’m not playing much this weekend due to work and doing things around the house. However, I did manage to beat a couple of games this week.

First up is Hi-Fi Rush. This is a phenomenal game and it never lost its luster throughout its 10-hour campaign. This is easily the best Xbox exclusive in years, and a fantastic way to start 2023.

Lastly, I completed Goldeneye 007 on the hardest difficulty: 00 Agent. I won’t lie, there are a few missions that made me rage, but I nonetheless prevailed.

I initially didn’t want to play this game because I didn’t want to taint the fond memories I had as a young kid playing this game. With Mario Kart 64 and Super Mario World, those three games are the epitome of my childhood.

Nevertheless, I decided to boot it up and once I started I couldn’t stop. It holds up remarkably well (thank you, emulated version with modern controls). The overall game design is masterclass in my opinion, from the soundtrack, weapons, varied levels, and memorable characters (I’m looking at you, Boris). I’m glad my good memories remain positive after all of this time.

My next game that I’ll be playing and beating (before Hogwarts Legacy) will be Dead Space Remake (Xbox Series X). I started it when the game released last Friday, but I set it aside due to Hi-Fi Rush consuming my thoughts. What I did play simply reminded me how great of a survival horror game this is. I’m looking forward to experiencing this terrifying journey again.

This is easily their best game. The Evil Within 2 is good, though. In fact, I’m up for a replay soon. I really enjoyed their semi open world, and there were a lot of moments that was cool and totally optional if you just explored.

I don’t want to jump the gun because it’s a new game, but I do believe it’s a 10/10. In fact, I think it’s easily Xbox best exclusive in years. Moreover, I think it’s their most important exclusive as well. Now, I don’t want to compare the game to Elden Ring because that game is on another level, but in terms of audience, I see everyone talking about this game, even non-gamers. That’s what I love a lot about this so far.

First and foremost I need to give a special shout-out to the surprise Game Pass drop from Wednesday’s Xbox Direct: Hi-Fi Rush. This game is spectacular, along with its soundtrack. It has that PS2/GameCube era feel with modern controls. I’ve put in six hours into it and have defeated the third boss as of writing this, and I am craving to put more time into it once I get home from work.

There is a wonderful blend of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Jet Set Radio, and Sunset Overdrive, due to its linearity, characters, world design, collectibles, music, art style, and how it feels to play the game. Speaking of art, the animation is amazing; I could easily spend an entire day watching an anime if this was a television show.

I’ve been surprised as to how well paced it is. Acquiring new skills is spread out just far enough for the game not to get stale. If you sprinkle in a few basic abilities with the limited exploration, you are rewarded with benefits that are always useful. Thankfully, you’ll want to spend time exploring because of how gorgeous the game world is.

One of the best things about this game is that you don’t actually have to keep a rhythm to make progress—it’s only an added benefit. I think the developers knew that going into it, and I’m glad they created a well crafted game that is easily accessible.

In modern gaming with open world bloat, live service, early access and constant patches, Hi-Fi Rush is what I call old school fun. It’s absolutely essential and one of Xbox’s best exclusives in years. Possible GOTY? It’s early on, but I believe it will be. This game seems to have the same energy Elden Ring did when it released (maybe not as widespread, but people are talking about this game everywhere, and for good reason).

Secondly, I’m playing Dead Space Remake. It’s only fitting to play it on an Xbox console considering that’s where I played the original. So far, I’m very impressed. It’s been years since I’ve played the game so nearly everything feels new again.

The atmosphere and overall tone is masterclass. It truly makes you feel claustrophobic and confined, but not completely vulnerable. I love the variety of weapons at your disposal and how you can use the environment to destroy enemies. This remake only solidifies what has already been known: Dead Space is one of the best, if not the best survival horror game ever made.

That’s pretty cool, and I’ll be downloading now. Thanks for the heads up!

I’m already playing Hi-Fi Rush, so my next pick is Redfall. I love Arkane, and the worlds and characters they create are memorable and leave a lasting impression. I also think their writing is very good. This is why I’m excited about the game, and why I think it’ll be elevated over Far Cry, Left 4 Dead, and other games that it’s being compared to. Those publishers aren’t as talented as Arkane, and that is why I haven’t been worried in the slightest about Redfall.

Starfield is a game I’m interested in, but I’m not as hyped for it as other people are. As of right now, it only looks okay to me. I’m going to have to see more of the gunplay and overall RPG mechanics to get a better grasp on what this game is wanting to be.

I know it’s only January, but this is easily the first true GOTY contender. Honestly, it’s that good, and it’s an exclusive (yes, it is also on PC, but I’m speaking strictly between Nintendo and PlayStation). It really is a special game, particularly because it’s new, fresh, and relatively original.

I’ll definitely buy the deluxe edition for only $9.00. This is not only because I’m a sucker for cosmetics and such, but I want to support the developer. It’s mind blowing to me they went from The Evil Within (I still want a third game), to Ghostwire Tokyo (I can’t wait to play it soon), and then to this which is drastically different. They are a talented team and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

@The_Pixel_King I agree wholeheartedly. I also think you could throw Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater in the mix too, purely for the soundtrack, collectibles, and overall style and presentation of the game.

I beat the second boss this morning before work and I can’t stop thinking about the game. It really is fantastic and is an early contender for GOTY (for me, anyway). What a surprise gem of a game.

I can’t wait! I have it pre-installed and ready to go, and I’m off work tomorrow, so even better!

I beat the first boss and I’ve gotta say, this game is absolutely incredible. The art style, gameplay, humor, and just atmosphere and tone — it’s brilliant. Unfortunately I have to go to bed because I gotta be up early for work, but I’ll be playing nonstop this weekend on my days off.

@Kaloudz I love your excitement, so feel free to keep it up. The game does look fantastic, and I’m glad this showcase has seemingly changed the opinions of many!

This is easily my most anticipated game of the year. My goodness, it looks absolutely incredible. I love Arkane.

This looks absolutely fantastic! It reminds me of Sunset Overdrive.

I highly doubt I’ll play this, but I have fond memories playing this game with my brother and neighborhood friends every single day. I can still remember all the secret walls you can go through in the multiplayer map “Complex”. I used to throw proximity mines all over them 😅

I also remember the story mission “Faculty” and if you go to one of the restrooms, jump on the toilet and spin around several times, you’ll teleport into the ceiling and unlock paintball mode.

I would like to keep those memories in a good light because I know if I replay the game with modern controls and whatnot, I will be disappointed.

I’m so stoked for this. SE5 has become one of my all time favorite games, and I believe it’s one of the finest stealth games ever made. I just finished the DLC campaign missions a week or two ago and have been itching for more. Bring it on.

I’ll keep this game on my radar since I do love the Ninja Gaiden games — the ones from the NES era and the “modern” trilogy. Ironically enough, I decided to start up a play through of the Ninja Gaiden collection via Xbox Game Pass this morning before any of this news, and the first game still holds up remarkably well. It’s one of my all time favorite games.

It’s a shame they don’t make video games like this anymore. I have fond memories playing this and the first God of War game. There is something very pleasant about a linear action game with collectibles. Bring back some of the linear format, please. I don’t need an open world with every new game I play. Give me a solid 8-10hr experience any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

@Widey85 I can say it, and I did. Game Pass is Microsoft’s most important service. Sure, the lack of announcements are odd, but they will more than likely be presented soon.

This is the problem with many gamers today—they are constantly wanting more. I’m not saying this relates to you; I’m talking just in general. We just received Persona 3/4 and Monster Hunter Rise. These three games are massive and a huge win for the service. Unfortunately, the attention span of some gamers is very little. For YEARS, people have clamoring for the Persona games, and now that we have them people are still saying, “It’s not enough; I need more.” It’s ridiculous.

I’ve put in 100+ hours with the Switch version, and I’m looking forward to checking out the game on the Series X. I booted the game up this morning before I left for work, and I forgot how monotonous the opening hours are. I literally just kept skipping all the dialogue from the tutorial(s). I’m ready to get to the meaty parts of the game. It really is a fantastic title—easily a 9/10 from me.

@BBB So, you’re now expecting no release dates because someone said keep your expectations in check? They are referring to more games being announced rather than the four specific games mentioned being at the show from the very beginning. Furthermore, in the original articles releasing information about this upcoming direct, there are several sentences that say “details about these games that are releasing in the next few months.” We will more than likely get dates for these games.

@Solidchief I’ve always said this: Some people aren’t happy unless they are complaining about something.

@Solidchief Exactly. I don’t understand some people’s line of thinking. It also doesn’t help that some websites will ask the audience what they hope to see at the show; they already know what’s going to be there. It’s poor journalism.

It’s been known the entire time that four games were going to be shown in more depth, and that’s it. For those complaining about that and expecting more, it’s their own fault. Unfortunately, websites need to get traffic, so they will post articles and take polls asking the audience what they would like to be shown, and it turns into an unrealistic hype fest.

This upcoming Xbox-style direct specifically mentioned discussing games that are releasing in the next few months. Moreover, Starfield will be getting its own show.” People need to stop being so dramatic; we are going to get our Game Pass announcements and so forth as we always do; it just won’t be at this “direct” more than likely.

@Chaudy The Legend if TianDing is fantastic. I hope you have a good time with it!