Summer is practically over now and, gratefully the cold season is coming in. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind summer as I can go out and swim (when I want) and we do tend to do quite a few things, especially since our daughter has the energy of a Duracell bunny.
With the cold season coming in, however, it will most likely mean more play time on either the PC or Playstation, so I want to see these numbers increase. I've still managed to at least complete one title this month and I have tried to get started on another title, but I have been struggling to commit to them.
Well, at least for now it's going to have to be the PS5/3 as luck would have it, after finishing Frigato: Shadows of the Caribbean my graphics card crapped out. Is it related? Suspiciously timed I would say. Joking aside though, it was unfortunate and I am getting it investigated, but I am uncertain how long it would take. I do hope I get my PC back before the end of October.
In the meantime, on the PS, I have started Watch Dogs 2 but I'm not enjoying it as much as the first one. I also began Rayman Legends and that one I am enjoying it.... however, my daughter wanted to try the game out also, so she started a new game which effectively erased my progress.
Name: Detroit: Become Human
Date Completed: 05/09/2024
This was the first game I truly committed to in its style. I had started briefly Indigo Prophecy and (even shorter) Heavy Rain but I didn't really commit to them. However, I tried to play this one without looking at any guides and letting my actions flow. There were several times I thought I made a poor choice when in fact I hadn't. Surprisingly I made it to the best ending.
The story was pretty much straightforward without any really big twists. There was one, which in hindsight, I really should have seen, but the rest of the story had kept my attention distracted.
One thing that stood out for me was, funny enough, the main menu. The Chloe AI, who stood patiently waiting in the main menu, was observing your progress in the game, and her behavior gradually changed at certain story checkpoints. It wasn't noticeable at first, because it might be a slight change in expression but then she starts talking about how she feels, to the point she even asks you to make a decision or two. It was a nice touch, which I had not expected (not often you find a game with a main menu that is secretly observing your progress).
Some March Completions:
Name: Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered
Date Completed: 09/03/2024
I had heard a lot of good things about this game and wanted to experience it. I was lucky that my brother had a copy of it, which he loaned me (along with Marvel's Spider-Man 2).
At times, when it comes to open-world games I am still wary that I will get overwhelmed or bored with the openness and the collectibles/side tasks. However, I was delightfully pleased with this one.
At no point did the game feel bloated. Side tasks were opened up gradually, so I could clear out sections with ease. Because of this, I would then resume the story quickly but at the same time that little bit more powered up. And web-swinging was an absolute gem! Sure there was the option to fast travel, but I really enjoyed the swinging. Traveling from one point of the map to the other felt incredibly fast. I think I only really started using the fast travel system towards the end of the game, after I collected everything, to get to the story missions quicker. Even the rogue gallery was interesting. There were quite a few classic villains which I was happy to see. Sure some may argue that, excluding Mr. Negative, the Sinister Six story trope is done and dusted, but I do believe that they did it well in this game. It was a blend of the familiar with their own touch.
Name: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Date Completed: 18/03/2024
Now normally I don't play another open-world game straight after I completed one. I had done it before in the past and it gave me burnout.
But, I made an exception with this title. The first reason was that it was relatively short compared to the first game - like an extended DLC. The second reason, I really enjoyed the first game, and I wanted to continue the story. I had completed all the DLCs of the first game, so I was riding on a high with it.
I was curious to see what the game would bring differently to the mix. There were obviously some similarities, which made it easier to go in swinging (get it?) but I appreciated the different abilities that Miles Morales brought to the table. They at least made it necessary for me to switch up my tactics compared to the first game.
I wasn't as familiar with the rogue gallery of this game. Not including the ones that get mentioned from the first game, I only really recognized the Prowler and Rhino.
One section which really stood out for me in the game, was when you play as Hailey Cooper. It's a short section and it's not really the gameplay itself that stood out. What did, was how they portrayed her deafness. After playing as a character who has a normal sense of hearing for so long, you switch to her and every sound is muted to a barely audible level. Even when she encountered people talking, she didn't know what they were saying, but she would represent what she saw by having a speech bubble with an emoticon above the characters. I found myself engaging with this section a lot more, simply because I was curious by this representation.
Name: Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India
Date Completed: 23/03/2024
Because I had enjoyed Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China more than I expected I would, I was really looking forward to playing this title. Considering that it is a relatively short game, I felt it was fitting to have it as a palate cleanser before my next open-world title.
As soon as the first level loaded up, I was impressed by the colours. I mean, the style of the first game was good, but this one was on another level.
But unfortunately, it did not take long for me to find an issue with the game. Most of the levels were timed rushes, where you either had to escape or get to a spot before the time runs out. Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China only had two of those instances. I kept pushing forward with the game, hoping that the previous timed level would be the last, but before I knew it, I then concluded the game.
I felt like most of the game was lost behind these timed levels/sections. I know there were normal, platforming stealth-based levels, but none really stick out in my memory, because the others simply dwarfed them.
Name: Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Date Completed: 28/03/2024
This game was a last-minute decision to play. I originally played it back on the PS3 and I absolutely loved it.
So why did I return to it? I discovered both it and the sequel were on sale, and I really wanted to play the sequel. I figured that, while I knew the story of the first game, it would be nice to replay the game and warm me up for the second.
The game itself is not all that hard, but in all fairness, that is not the reason you play this one. The story was what captivated me. It was simple but impactful. even though this was my second playthrough and I knew what was coming at the end, it still was a gut punch.
And, as a person who loves history and factoids, I absolutely loved the bits of information related to WW1 in the form of trivia cards and even collectibles. It really emphasised how this was a brutal war.
Name: Valiant Hearts: Coming Home
Date Completed: 29/03/2024
I was now ready to play the sequel. Part of me really hoped it was going to be as good as the first. But, as with most sequels, I was wary. Sometimes, they don't always hit the same mark.
And sadly, this was the same.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed playing the game. I also enjoyed seeing some recurring characters from the first game. The game also managed to hit me with another gut punch. But, it still fell a little short for me.
The first reason I would say is because the game was incredibly short. I was glad I played the first game before it because I would have completed Coming Home in just a few hours. It felt like the game was more like an additional couple of chapters to the first game rather than its own title.
Because of its short span, I didn't get to know or appreciate the new characters. The recurring ones on the other hand, you continued to see them grow and you follow their development with interest. There was one character however that was indirectly referenced in the first game, so at least did have a basis of a foundation, but even still, considering how much went into the characters in the first game, it was a little disappointing.
And that's all for my September (and March) catch up.
I definitely had more time on my hands at the start of the year compared to now, but I still enjoy finding some time to play. Truthfully, I have been focusing on titles that tend to take a bit longer to complete, and there have been a couple where I try to commit to but, unless I am drawn in by the first thirty minutes, I find it hard to continue playing. It starts feeling like a chore.
I'm definitely feeling that now with Watch Dogs 2 so I've spent more time on Rayman Legends. I'm looking forward to completing the latter. Not sure if I will on the former.
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