https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews daily 0.75 2025-12-29 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/2025-game-of-the-year monthly 0.5 2025-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c1252d6c-3a60-4dd8-9207-07e35f6f5f5b/Image+12-7-25+at+2.07%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 game of the year - Coming in at number five is the hit indie debut from Sandfall Interactive: Claire Obscure Expedition 33. Initially, I had a bit of a tough relationship with this game. The shock of its first major story beat reeled me in tight. However, the light-hearted tonal shift that would follow clashed with the foundational atmosphere of the game, leading to what felt like a jarring narrative back and forth through the end of Act I. Additionally, this game's unique take on turn-based combat took a little for me to find the fun in. Nevertheless, eventually, everything clicked. The more the game's world-building began to unravel itself, the more I found myself able to connect with its heart-wrenching story. Verso, Maelle, and the rest of Claire Obscure's powerfully written cast of characters began to pique and retain my interest, and once I came to grips with the nuances of the combat system, it transformed into a fun challenge I was excited to conquer. The key reason why I've placed this game in this particular spot on my G.O.T.Y. list is because of how well it handles its big moments. Though at times their impact was lessened due to opaque dialogue, you could feel every ounce of power and creative intention baked into them, resulting in a game whose twists and turns will be remembered throughout gaming history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d3acefcf-c4a6-4d9c-9da8-54d77c535192/Image+12-7-25+at+2.10%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 game of the year - Hades II has earned the #4 spot on my G.O.T.Y. list because of how masterfully it transcends the roguelike genre. Roguelike games are often crafted to constantly remind the player of the guard rails baked into its design foundation. This isn't a bad thing, as there's tons of fun to be found in hammering out run after run until you meet your goal, even when starting from zero can result in a level of frustration unique to the experiences only this genre can create. At the core of Hades II, the experience is no different. You fight your way down through the depths of Tartarus for as far as you can go, but regardless of whether or not you succeed, you'll always start over. But in Hades II, you're never starting from zero. There will always be some sort of story beat, whether it be an interesting conversation with one of the game's incredible cast of characters, or a compelling character moment, to continuously push the momentum of the experience forward. The dialogue feels endless and lovingly hand-crafted, always leaving you on edge for what may come next. Equally as impeccable is the gameplay, which is incredibly fine-tuned and supported by what feels like an endlessly deep weapon and abilities system. Melinoë’s journey to reunite the family she never knew is a remarkable one full of powerful themes and memorable moments that I won't soon forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760557805946-UJQGS6KSRXWE6GBTHAB7/My+Hopes+and+Dreams+For.png REVIEWS - 2025 game of the year - When Kirby AirRiders was announced, I immediately decided it would very likely be my game of the year. The sequel to the niche little Kirby game I had spent decades of my life playing could do no wrong. For me, this game WAS the reason I decided to buy a Switch 2, and in fact, was the game that brought Nintendo as a whole back into my personal gaming atmosphere. City Trial is bigger, better, and cranked up to 11. AirRide is vastly improved thanks to its impressive suite of new and excellently designed courses. Top Ride, while having not piqued my interest this time around, is still a lovingly crafted experience and much improved over the original. The addition of things like online play and the My Machine marketplace rounds out the game in a way that leaves no room for doubt that I'll be playing it for many, many years to come. I said at the beginning of this segment that upon its announcement, I immediately declared that Kirby AirRiders would be my game of the year. However, there was one game that impacted me so deeply, that I couldn't help but place it one spot higher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1301911f-7488-49c6-974d-3061b0271f0b/Image+12-7-25+at+2.03%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 game of the year - MY first foray into Kingdom Come Deliverance II actually didn't go so well. In my first attempt, I tried to B-line my way through the main story without taking the time to play the game the way it was meant to be played. At the end of the Trosky saga, I decided it wasn't for me, uninstalled it, and moved on to other games. However, as the year went on, I never stopped thinking about this game. Eventually, I would find my way back to Kingdom Come Deliverance II and decided that I would meet it on its terms rather than trying to brute-force my way through the experience. By doing so, I discovered that KCD2 is more than just a video game. It's a relentlessly deep and wide-ranging experience -- one whose immersion transports the player to its world in ways many other games only attempt to do. By giving myself over to this game, I discovered what it was really like to live in Medieval Bohemia with a breathtaking level of immersion. From nights drinking in the tavern, getting thrown in the stocks, hammering away in the forge, hacking and slashing my way through bombastic sword fights, and everything in between, I felt the weight of this world more so than I have with any game I've played before it. The story of Henry's continued adventure of revenge and conquest in the wake of the Wenceslas - Sigusmmund conflict is a remarkable feat of historical adaptation brought to life by world-class character writing. The world is breathtakingly large and lovingly hand-crafted to the point where everything around the player feels just about as authentic as anything can in a video game. The adventures of Henry of Skalitz are one for the history books -- literally! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cecf5686-1d17-46bd-a4f6-55b8ecc33671/ba08d42ca97ad050e653b7eda937dca69e560a707eb03dd4.jpg REVIEWS - 2025 game of the year - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/2025-champions-of-the-backlog monthly 0.5 2025-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/580fe5f4-3602-47eb-bbc4-89632e9cc2c5/Image+12-20-25+at+12.58%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 champions of the backlog - Typically, I tend to avoid games whose core gameplay design is built on a foundation of difficulty. But sometimes a game leaves a powerful enough an impression that the walls I've built to protect my enjoyment of this medium come crumbling down. A 2024 GOTY nominee, I knew this game had something special. Hours, no, minutes into my first play session revealed why Black Myth Wukong became such a force of nature in that year's gaming landscape and beyond. Black Myth Wukong is more than just a game. It's a spectacle. A challenge whose beauty lies in your ability to conquer the seemingly impossible mountain it beckons the player to climb. It's an experience that cleverly and masterfully explores what would happen if Sun Wukong's tale had taken a drastically different path than what was portrayed in its source material, Journey to the West. Despite these qualities, I nearly gave up on it after hitting what felt like an impossible wall about halfway through, but I'm glad I gritted my teeth and pushed through it, or else I would have missed out on what went on to become my favorite gaming experiences of 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/03ff7e8e-333d-4a9e-b5cb-bed3314a155b/Image+12-20-25+at+12.55%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 champions of the backlog - Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the definition of a game in time. Picture this: It's 2020, and Covid-19 has just locked everyone in their homes for the foreseeable future. So, what better time for Nintendo to release a game designed from the ground up to transport you to an Island Paradise so that you can forget about the chaos of the outside world? Even without the pretense of the pandemic, ACNH would have sold gangbusters on the power of its storied legacy alone. Back in 2020, I played this game like it was my job. However, slice-of-life games were never really my thing, so eventually, I moved on from it. But even still, it remained a game that I constantly found myself wanting to return to; I just needed a compelling enough reason to do that. That reason came in June of 2025 when the Switch 2 thundered onto the scene. While I bought the Switch 2 for Kirby AirRiders, I decided to fill the time before that game's launch by jumping back into ANCH. In 2025, ANCH became my podcast game. My game to relax with after a long day at work. My game to dedicate a cozy Friday night in with. I found joy in completing my daily chores around the island, as well as a genuine sense of accomplishment from bringing various visions of mine like amusement parks and robust flower gardens to life. It was a game that felt easy to check in daily with, and for those reasons, ANCH has earned a place on my inaugural Champions of the Backlog list! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3d807956-9d09-4324-afc7-f953a7b4bc54/Image+12-20-25+at+12.56%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 champions of the backlog - Having not grown up in the XBOX ecosystem, Forza was always a series that was on the "other" console, therefore, I never played it -- until now! From the opening moments of the game, Forza Horizon 5 captures you with its undeniable brand of enthusiasm for the sport of racing, celebration of Mexican landscapes and culture, and blistering fast arcade racing fun. Whenever I needed a game where I could just load in and know I'm going to have a good time, this was that game. I've never been more excited for a new racing game than I am for Forza Horizon 6 in Japan! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/935f7de6-01c9-42b4-88fe-b9e0c4bf087a/Image+12-20-25+at+12.57%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 champions of the backlog - Octopath Traveler II? Surely I'm not just skipping over the first game am I? You'll just have to stick around to find out. Octopath Traveler II is on this list, particularly in this spot, because of how it deepened my love for the JRPG genre that was first cultivated in its predecessor. It has some of my all-time favorite video game soundtracks from composer Yasunori Nishiki, some of my all-time favorite video game protagonists in characters like Partitio the Merchant, and one of my all-time favorite narrative formulas -- one that was greatly refined and evolved from the first game. If Square Enix were to just keep releasing Octopath Traveler games, repeating this formula over and over again, I wouldn't complain. In fact, I would be absolutely elated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e0dc419c-d513-4c65-9b6f-3d18c63a2a9b/Image+12-20-25+at+1.00%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - 2025 champions of the backlog - This game sat in my backlog for years in large part because I was always trying to keep up with the newest releases and never had the time to jump into a game of this size, but also because I found myself intimidated by the genre. At the time, I knew nothing about JRPGs and was completely out of my element when it came to turn-based combat. The reason why Octopath Traveler sits in this spot, despite the sequel being a stronger experience in nearly every way, is that it was the game that opened the floodgates to a genre and style that I have since come to deeply love. This game's story, music, combat, and overall experience are simply magical, and when I look back at my 2025 backlog gaming journey, I'll remember it for how Octopath Traveler captivated me while opening my eyes to an exciting new type of experience. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/sword-of-the-sea-quick-review-quick-take-5 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f94a00b9-8408-4613-9323-79e301467e0e/IMG_9040.jpeg REVIEWS - sword of the sea REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/69be9b48-ccf3-4bc0-a37c-dd0f3db981b4/IMG_9046.jpeg REVIEWS - sword of the sea REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a1986e66-9a9f-48c7-8463-c232a847bb6e/IMG_9050.jpeg REVIEWS - sword of the sea REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4da27cb8-0a49-4a87-a6e2-1a70ac98a2ff/IMG_9038.jpeg REVIEWS - sword of the sea REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0e9eccf3-52b0-4a7e-8c04-c2d524f6b50a/IMG_9047.jpeg REVIEWS - sword of the sea REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/ghost-of-yotei-review-an-iterative-experience-that-i-wanted-more-from monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/35cb135d-89bf-4bd2-8fe4-e5cbb291aa61/IMG_8888.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/66e8ec5a-aedb-4e89-997e-d1d861d39733/IMG_8910.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Last, but certainly not least, are camps, a new addition to the Ghost open-world formula. Camping allows you to cook food, refill ammo, rest, and play your shamisen. However, whenever you camp, you'll be greeted by a traveler who will sit down at your fire...uninvited. Exhaust their dialogue, and they'll reveal a nearby POI for you to explore. At first, I enjoyed these little encounters, as they felt like an authentic, immersive part of the wandering experience. However, after the 10th or 11th wanderer approached my camp to let me know that a bamboo site was nearby, the encounter began to feel stale. While they approach, the game quickly cuts to Atsu contemplating grabbing her sword to defend herself. This got me thinking that perhaps an opportunity was missed with the camping mechanic. What if there were always a slim chance that the wanderer approaching your camp was actually an enemy looking to take Atsu out to collect her bounty? This would add a risk element to the experience that would make it feel more fun and more in-depth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/dd376e7e-3426-4aad-a0e3-ac9556854396/IMG_8894.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/402a2926-3af8-4912-a4c8-84337660947e/IMG_8889.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Where Tsushima failed to grab me with its story structure, it captivated me with its crunchy combat feel. Landing a perfectly placed, masterfully timed katana strike into my enemy never failed to make me feel powerful. So, I was delighted to see that experience make its way into Yotei. Overwhelming an enemy with katana strikes to break their guard, or landing a well-placed arrow shot from impressive distances, has never felt better, and I made sure to take every opportunity Yotei gave me to flex that combat feel. Yotei also introduces a roster of rotating weapons for Atsu to make use of, including a katana, dual katanas, an odachi, a yari, and more. Where Tsushima had you switch to the appropriate stance to contend with the variety of weapons wielded by your enemies, Yotei tasks the player with selecting the best weapon in real-time to gain the advantage. Is your enemy charging with kusarigamas? Pull out your yari to break their guard. Going toe to toe with a brute? Unsheathe your odachi to overcome their overwhelming size and strength. But while Yotei's system of rotating weapons provides more depth for the combat experience on paper, I didn't find it to be quite as fun in practice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6d5496d6-b8c2-47e7-8a55-d59c56031e87/IMG_8902.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Ghost of Yotei takes place in Ezo, Japan, roughly 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. This time around, you play as Atsu, a wandering ronin hellbent on avenging her family after they were tragically murdered before her eyes at the hands of a group known as the Yotei Six. After the murder, Atsu flees to southern Japan, where she survives as a mercenary soldier. 16 years later, she returns to Ezo with the strength of a seasoned fighter ready to hunt down the Yotei Six and avenge her family. The opening moments of the game play out the murder in somewhat vague detail, but with just enough shown to the player to get them onboard with Atsu's revenge plot. It's a setup that feels very familiar and takes its inspiration from experiences such as Sifu, The Last of Us, and countless other games and movies defined by their revenge plots. Though, despite the familiar tone it set for itself, I held out hope that eventually, the story would go on to break free of the well-known tropes of the genre. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3dfa32d2-912a-436f-a497-5af7114dc0a2/IMG_8904.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - What gives a Sucker Punch "Ghost" tale its distinct identity? In my opinion, it's how each game's protagonist earns their Ghost moniker. In Tsushima, the internal struggle Jin faces to contend with the Samurai code forces him to wear his Ghost title like a crown of thorns, resulting in a gripping emotional story I struggled to look away from. In Yotei, Ezo's inhabitants paint Atsu as the Ghost because of her hunt for the Yotei Six. Given that the group is disrupting peaceful life for the sake of overthrowing the shogonute, many of Ezo's inhabitants are overjoyed to welcome a "hero" willing to stand in their way. The issue with this is that taking down the Yotei Six was something Atsu was hellbent on doing anyway, and as a result, having the Ghost title attached to her name doesn't hold much personal meaning for her. Sure, there are moments throughout the game where she'll make remarks about her not seeing herself as the Ghost she's been labeled as, but none of these reflections result in an emotional arc that drives any substance for her character. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e26ef26b-a6c0-487b-bd79-30ddfcad122b/IMG_8900.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - As Atsu makes her way down her list of Yotei Six targets, she is accompanied by key side characters that aid her in various ways. At first, these side characters collide with Atsu's obsession for revenge like an immovable object colliding with an unstoppable force. As events unfold, however, these side characters begin to crack Atsu's emotional armor, showing that there is indeed something more than just rage beneath the surface. The first REAL moment of this comes by way of a touching sequence that occurs after you hunt the Kitsune. This arc sees Atsu explore the contentious relationship she has with her Shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument her mother taught her to play as a child. At the conclusion of this part of the story, Atsu composes a song made up of lyrics that help her reflect on her mother's death. The result is a display of emotions that reveal a side of Atsu we haven't seen, and one I wasn't sure the game was going to show us. It's a version of Atsu that can confront her feelings and can honor her mother's memory in a healthy way rather than be controlled by the condemnation she feels about her death. Arriving at these moments helped me gain the appreciation for Atsu's journey that I was hoping to have. But despite how well Yotei hits all the time-tested revenge plot beats, from obsession with revenge to acceptance of loss and everything in between, it still lacks the X-factor that takes it from a good, familiar-feeling story to a great tale that demands to be unforgettable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109425009-L96FWB8N9663ULW5F3S5/IMG_8903.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109433290-VQ0VE1W5ZYK2BTDVLS35/IMG_8906.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1dcf4c18-0417-4f58-8a94-8e3194ac7145/IMG_8908.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Much in the same way The Last of Us sees Ellie violently thrust onto an all-consuming path of revenge, bearing witness to the ruthless murder of her family forces Atsu to do the same. However, where both protagonists' journeys see them battle the whirlwind of feelings surrounding their respective losses, the way in which those feelings are explored feels very different. By the time Sucker Punch began to display Atsu as a character with emotional depth, I had nearly written her off as a one-note protagonist. From tiffs with low-level enemies to important conversations with major story characters, Atsu's dialogue with these figures is comprised mostly of an obsessive push for information about the Yotei Six, or about how they must pay for their crimes. As a result, many plot lines that could have been fleshed out more deeply end up taking a back seat at the expense of keeping Atsu's revenge plot front and center. For example, Saito murdering Atsu's family is low on the totem pole compared to his real goal, which is to build an army strong enough to overthrow the Shogun. It's an overarching plot that could have strengthened Yotei's world-building much in the same way the Mongol invasion did for Tsushima, but given how little attention is actually given to it, the scope of Yotei's world feels narrow and like a missed opportunity to be something far more intriguing as a result. Despite all of that, Sucker Punch DOES eventually create emotional depth for Atsu, even if it feels like they nearly took too long to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/07b19fd9-97c4-42ae-8316-a4163678578a/IMG_8911.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - The thing I loved most about Tsushima's combat was how mastering its stance system made each fight feel like a river, steadily flowing with a current of satisfying katana strikes. By comparison, Yotei's weapon rotations feel cumbersome, with each weapon swap delivering a somewhat awkward break in the flow of combat. Additionally, I felt that Atsu having a suite of weapons in her arsenal at all times weakened the significance of her katana, a sword passed down to her by her father before his life was taken by the Yotei Six. Character moments that could have been dedicated to exploring Atsu's relationship with that katana are replaced with training arcs crafted to highlight the specialties of each of Yotei's unique weapons. To be clear, I quite enjoyed these training arcs, as they're each thoughtfully and cleverly designed to immerse the player in what it means to master that specific weapon -- like how spear fishing and painting practice helped Atsu master the Yari, and so on. I suppose I would have liked to have seen more of a balance when it came to how Atsu developed her skills with her katana throughout the story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/20474fe2-0708-4aaf-80f8-9f50156d8ea1/Image+9-23-25+at+1.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6c9df62f-7d2c-4373-8e70-92b9b7e540d4/IMG_8907.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review - Supplementing Yotei's weapon rotation system are its skill trees and charms, each designed to provide Atsu with a suite of buffs to give her the edge in battle. Skill tree upgrades can be accessed by visiting altars of reflection, which are scattered throughout Ezo's countless nooks and crannies. Since I tend to favor forward combat, I spent most of my points in the katana skill tree under the melee combat path. I also made sure to unlock Onryo's Strike as soon as possible, as it gave me the ability to disarm enemies with a single strike -- perfect for my aggressive play style. Whether you're an offensive forward fighter like myself, or a more patient swordsman who prefers to levy patience for parries, the Yotei's skill trees offer a wealth of upgrades to fit your play style. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109188670-PIONG2OL2VIIXZMAPH1Q/IMG_8895.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109204424-FQ09IO8LWU5WUF78TR9V/IMG_8901.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109229633-4VHI2DDZI1VK3NLC4YMM/IMG_8897.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760109241817-NAE37MTK1SLSG7H0T1BM/IMG_8893.jpeg REVIEWS - ghost of yotei review https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/octopath-traveler-ii-review-refining-and-elevating-a-hallmark-jrpg-experience monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4b8746d5-50dd-4ab1-b9af-e2ff5f57beea/IMG_8837+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - I have a music playlist titled "The Greatest Video Game Tracks", which is a collection of my all-time favorite video game songs. On that list is a track titled Those Who Deny The Dawn, a song from Octopath Traveler II boasting an epic blend of heavy metal shredding and orchestral singing akin to what you would hear in Metaphor ReFantazio. Little did I know that "Those Who Deny The Dawn" would serve as the thematic through line tying the tales of all eight travelers together. In the first game, all eight stories stood independently of each other, and as a result, the party companionship that typically serves as the central story pillar in any JRPG was nonexistent. However, Octopath Traveler II features subtle but smart changes that go a long way to fixing this issue. From more in-depth travel banter that does a better job illustrating the relationships between travelers, to crossed paths – side quests that see the travelers paired up for short, yet intriguing adventures – there's a genuine sense of camaraderie that can be felt in a way that works for Octopath's unique formula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8389c52e-2f3e-4145-80b1-f56a047cd1e3/Image+6-29-25+at+11.08%E2%80%AFAM.jpeg REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b7d0681a-bc65-4001-80d5-49db02c6a618/IMG_8818+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - Towns and cities have also been improved, as they're each packed with more detail and personality than ever before. New Delsta was perhaps my favorite -- boasting a dichotomy of a glamorous top-side full of fancy shops and upperclass townsfolk, and an underbelly section that feels like looking into the party from the outside without being allowed in. From upscale cities to mining outposts, church towns, and everything in between, Ocotpath Traveler II's depth of location variety is absolutely stunning. Perhaps the most significant improvement comes with the newly implemented waterways that you and your party can traverse on small boats. These waterways offer the player more nooks and crannies to explore, as well as a host of new aquatic-based enemies to battle. Extending to the open world, the waterways can lead to hidden dungeons or even serve as the only pathway leading to a new area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d4c8a104-c4b3-40c9-998e-108f9a94919f/IMG_8823.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/43a359ca-6eeb-4718-909b-b69ec2a2d9d7/IMG_8820+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/17a0abb3-f56d-4e33-8fff-b53ed34f1fa8/IMG_8821.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - The most impactful addition to the combat system lies with the latent abilities – powerful moves that can be triggered once your latent power gauge has been filled. From ultra-powerful physical damage attacks like Hikari's Sougetsusen attack, to Agnea's "All together now" ability, which allows her to share her augments with the entire party at once, each latent ability is cleverly crafted and tailored to the strengths of the character that wields them, and can easily turn the tide of battle if used at the right time. For example, during the final boss battle, I frequently used Partitio's "Hoot and Holler" latent ability to fill his BP meter in one turn, allowing me to activate a fully powered-up version of "hired help" to deal massive damage to all parts of the enemy as quickly as possible. In that same battle, I would use Castti's "Every Drop Counts" latent ability to concoct life-saving potions for the party without using up resources. Octopath Traveler II is a challenging game to conquer, but with latent abilities, you can turn the tide in your favor if you take the time to approach each battle with a strategy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/065adff8-5a57-4e07-ab44-0b3ec59353ee/IMG_8817.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - In what feels like a direct response to the character disconnect staining the first game's otherwise remarkable formula, Octopath II features entire sections dedicated to bringing the entire party together. Without spoiling what happens, arriving at this part of the journey felt like Octopath II was settling into the traditional JRPG party formula, but in a way that feels cleverly tailored for this game's distinct storytelling approach. I felt chills when it happened, as seeing the party members actually talk to each other and reflect on each other's journeys felt like I was being handsomely rewarded as the player. After spending a combined 200 hours in both games, I have a deep appreciation for Acquire sticking with their unique storytelling style, while also finding creative and impactful ways to incorporate the traditional elements of the genre. Speaking of standing out, how about the stories themselves? Did any of them distinguish themselves from the rest? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ce7d821c-427d-4005-89ea-d919cc1e764f/IMG_8839+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - The moment in Partitio's story that stood out to me the most, and perhaps the defining moment of his tale, came when he fearlessly signed a contract to obtain the rights for the steam engine for the mouth-watering sum of 80 billion leaves. When presented with the required cost, Partitio doesn't flinch. He doesn't try to alter the deal. He doesn't use the opportunity to enact revenge on Mr. Roque for plunging his hometown into crippling poverty. Instead, he stands tall on his morals and takes Mr. Roque to task by agreeing to this seemingly impossible deal. Partitio doesn't worry about how he'll acquire the leaves, as he has enough trust in his masterful skills as a merchant to get it done, and that confidence jumps through the screen and right into the heart of the player. The potential of bringing the power of the steam engine to people worldwide is what captures his mind and drives his ambition, and you just can't help but root for the guy. Walking away from Octopath II, I can't help but want to emulate Partitio's fearless spirit in my own life, and that is the true mark of an effectively written character. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1759675078950-XTE9RBYZ878D2DW36EHB/IMG_8827+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1759675105372-3TDA4BPN9CQLSGTQG0U4/IMG_8833.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1759675127090-71IC6JTBSQIDJI13KDLE/IMG_8835.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8685de0b-93a6-4610-b194-ccda55de2f11/IMG_8832+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - Octopath traveler ii review - When Partitio meets the energetic scrivener during chapter two of his tale, she attempts to give him her business card so that they can keep in touch for her future headlines. Partito remarks that people back on the western continent don't have use for those; instead, they use silver as their calling card. In his ever-so-charismatic nature, Partitio then flips the scrivener a silver coin and tells her to keep it. Confused by the gesture, the scrivener responds by saying that people on the eastern continent have moved on from silver. This subtle exchange is actually rather significant, as it paints the picture of a vast, sprawling world divided not only by east and west, but by customs and traditions. Opening the game's map will further reveal a huge ocean separating the two sides of the continent, solidifying the massive scale of the game's world. What's more, is that you can actually traverse the sea using a ship docked at one of the game's three ports, providing a hands-on way to contend with Octopath II's massive scale. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/herdling-review-a-tight-and-meaningful-indie-experience monthly 0.5 2025-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/59937a10-04a5-4352-bf87-6020ebfd7e52/Herdling+9_3_2025+3_09_07+PM.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE - Other than the city area you start in and one subsequent smaller city area you find yourself in shortly after the start of the game, Herdling sees you move through various natural environments. From plains to snowcapped mountains, moving through Herdling's host of biomes feels similar to moving through the version of Hyrule that exists in Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Stampeding your herd through an open field with the wind coursing between each calicorn and the vista ahead slowly getting closer and closer invokes the same distinct feeling of zen that only BOTW can create. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ac2cbb91-8055-4169-8aca-82a4fec1cfd1/Herdling+9_3_2025+3_55_14+PM.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE - To begin your journey, your character wakes up on an old sofa tucked away in the tunnel system of what appears to be an abandoned city. Something then guides your character to an empty lot, where you happen upon a creature known as a calicorn. After you notice it struggling to remove a trash can from its head, you grab a stick to remove it, and in doing so, form a spiritual bond with the creature. From there, you tame and form bonds with a handful of other calicorns before you make your way out of the city into the wild. As you venture through the world, you'll come across even more calicorns to tame and add to your herd. Some that you come across cry out in pain for your help, while others are simply lost and are looking for guidance. When you tame them, you can name them, feed them, and even decorate them, making each calicorn more than just another animal in the group. Further along in the journey, you and your herd will face challenges that not only test your bond but also test your capacity for forgiveness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/59b096c6-d7c4-4bdc-b464-f28823fe771c/Herdling+9_3_2025+2_56_31+PM+%281%29.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE - During my time with Herdling, I came to really appreciate the thoughtful decisions that were made to convey themes of connection, protection, and forgiveness. Once I named a calicorn, I began to feel a responsibility to keep them safe, happy, and to see them through to the end of the journey. This heightens the stakes significantly when your herd is in danger, especially if and when you lose one to the dangers of the world. It isn't all about the fear of losing your herd, however, as the game balances those moments with moments of joy -- like when you find ornaments to decorate your calicorns with, or playing fetch with them around the campfire. The balance of these moments makes you appreciate your herd on a deeper level than you would have if all you were doing was traversing the land. Speaking of traversing the land, let's talk about how the gameplay feels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a52b2ce5-ef5e-4a29-b6ca-9c7fd97dd74e/Herdling+9_3_2025+2_58_06+PM+%281%29.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE - Unfortunately, Herdling is held back by shaky technical performance. Thankfully, while there are no bugs or crashes to report, sadly, the game is riddled with frame rate issues. Throughout roughly half of my playthrough, I was experiencing frame drops dipping into sub-30 FPS territory, which would end up negatively impacting what should have been the best moments of the game. For example, stampeding your herd through wide open rolling hills almost reaches a satisfying flow state akin to something like gliding through the sands of the Sword of the Sea, but is cut short when drops in the game's frame rate turn it into a choppy experience. In short, this technical issue can make it difficult to appreciate the feeling that Herdling's art style and environmental design are meant to invoke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/bd1bb9c0-81d7-43fc-b0b4-bc448c771848/M.O.B.jpg REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1759068229109-2GTEDVP5XZO3LTD2G50N/Herdling+9_4_2025+4_45_26+PM.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1759068238391-UHPREAUHUVDGI763GBIS/Herdling+9_5_2025+10_57_24+AM.png REVIEWS - HERDLING REVIEW - A TIGHT AND MEANINGFUL INDIE EXPERIENCE https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/ghost-of-tsushima-review-a-very-good-game-that-falls-victim-to-old-tropes monthly 0.5 2025-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/20474fe2-0708-4aaf-80f8-9f50156d8ea1/Image+9-23-25+at+1.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a2969698-e53b-4326-885c-4c47d17a0924/IMG_8743.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/18941043-8b32-4e5f-93c2-83a6f59b76ba/IMG_8736.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/630f981c-2d2a-46df-87c7-dd3778a36c13/IMG_8737.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - If you're a fan of PlayStation, particularly their first-party games, then you're familiar with their very particular style of combat. Whether it be from God of War, The Last of Us, or anything in between, these games all feature slow-moving combat focused on realism. Where the combat experience in these games succeeds in creating a "realistic" feel, it lacks the frenetic style of gameplay that lends itself to faster combat styles. Ghost of Tsushima's combat is somehow a brilliant combination of the two, as with each swing you take, you can feel the weight of Jin's sword crashing down on the armor of an enemy. But as you switch stances to accommodate the variety of foes attempting to overpower you, or as you quickly switch between light and heavy attacks to chain combos together, you begin to feel the combat take on a quicker, more reactive pacing. It certainly doesn't boast the blinding speeds of Sekiro's combat, but it's fast-paced nonetheless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/af0c09c7-2b4a-45bb-852a-0513520c7924/IMG_8732.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - I don't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy Ghost's story. Even though it didn't resonate with me as deeply as I had hoped, I still enjoyed its many twists and turns. What's more, it was Jin's stoic heroism that made it easy to get behind him as a character. The game's side story structure is also really enjoyable and adds a welcome layer of depth to the main plot. One tale I enjoyed in particular was the journey to acquire the heavenly strike. This story sees Jin hunt down a former combat student who stole the heavenly strike technique from his teacher so that he may use it to wreak havoc on innocent people. The tale ends with an epic cinematic showdown between you and the student, where you obtain the technique for yourself should you be victorious in the battle. The game is filled with side tales and side quests that are lovingly crafted with both the historical Japanese culture and cinematic influence. However, it didn't take long for me to become somewhat soured on these side stories -- and it wasn't because of the stories themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/59ee8699-2c71-4864-bd27-4dca86749a0a/IMG_8738.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - What's more, as you master cycling between stances and attack types all at once, combat begins to feel like a river of flowing water. Slicing through an enemy using the stone stance, and quickly switching to the wind stance to break the posture of a spear enemy just as he attempts to land a strike on you, nearly creates a flow state experience -- something uncommon in games of this ilk. However, while the stance system is something that is very much visible, the precision baked into the combat experience is something that cannot be seen; rather, it's something that is felt as you land a strike on a foe with pinpoint accuracy. Sure, the game's combat can be forgiving with hit boxes, but you can just blindly swing your sword wherever you please and hope the game will magically direct your blade to the enemy. When you approach combat with patience and make genuine attempts to be precise with each strike, the game rewards you for it, resulting in a combat experience that stands above most other games that try to emulate it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/91c5433f-a74d-4071-b7c4-d574fd4617a1/IMG_8742.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - What begins as silent assassinations that deny his opponents a warrior's death later turns into pure acts of terror, a complete about-face from his ideological foundation. Jin’s growing internal conflict with his beliefs as a Samurai is brilliantly illustrated by flashbacks that force him to reflect on the parts of his code that he has decided to turn his back on. As he continues to turn away from it, he earns the moniker of “ghost”, a killer working from the shadows, doing whatever is necessary to win. This creates a rift between him and his only remaining family, his Uncle Shimura — a conflict that would go on to supersede his struggle with the Mongols. In creating this rift, Ghost of Tsushima creates a heart-wrenching conflict between the ideologies of lawful good and anti-heroism. The result is a gripping tale that left me on the edge of my seat through all of its flowing twists and turns. However, while the game’s main story beats delivered unforgettable moments, I felt less enthusiastic about the smaller story moments in between them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6e7291b4-032c-4eb3-abe5-e10ce080e271/IMG_8734.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - The story features three main acts, each with its own major goals to achieve. To reach those goals, you play through a series of smaller missions that serve as the building blocks to the next big story beat. Unfortunately, I came away from these story missions feeling less than enthusiastic about them owing to their laborious structure. The smaller story missions typically see Jin and his allies, or sometimes just Jin himself, liberating towns occupied by Mongol forces to either free prisoners or to set up a strategic stronghold. Doing these missions over and over made the small story beats surrounding them feel repetitive and somewhat laborious to work through. The saving grace is the extremely fun combat sequences that play out in each of these moments, but from a story perspective, they always left me wanting to skip to the next major story beat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/19f3365f-7ee3-40e1-9ca3-397fdcf169cc/IMG_8741.JPG REVIEWS - Ghost of Tsushima Review - A strong Game That Falls Victim to Old Tropes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/octopath-traveler-review-the-turn-based-jrpg-that-turned-me-into-a-believer monthly 0.5 2025-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/47320922-cbc5-420d-acb4-aded07b3a202/IMG_8721.JPG REVIEWS - octopath traveler review - The Turn-Based JRPG That Turned Me Into A Believer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/60087094-09d6-4ae5-b2b1-7da3aebaa66d/IMG_8719.JPG REVIEWS - octopath traveler review - The Turn-Based JRPG That Turned Me Into A Believer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/063c66db-882e-4d69-bd5b-54707eb0f095/IMG_8723.JPG REVIEWS - octopath traveler review - The Turn-Based JRPG That Turned Me Into A Believer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8a890b8a-954d-4b9d-9218-78f913f1477c/M.O.B.G+SCORE REVIEWS - octopath traveler review - The Turn-Based JRPG That Turned Me Into A Believer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/death-stranding-2-review-more-than-just-a-sequel monthly 0.5 2025-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/53b8de72-bef3-4c7e-8309-7ebfb1650af1/IMG_8678.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - The way Kojima lines up the events of this climax feels like huge dominoes falling one after the other. Between the unimaginably epic DHV Magellen battle sequence taking place to the lead up to your final showdown with Higgs, to the moment Sam and Tomorrow share their first hug as father and daughter, the payoff just felt so worth it, and made it hard to believe there was a point in the game where I felt the story was aimless and somewhat empty. Furthermore, I had a long-standing concern that all of the complex themes and plots in this game would result in an ending that felt vague and less impactful than it could have been, but it all came together in a clear, simple, yet incredibly powerful conclusion that I'll surely never forget. It's safe to say that Kojima initially had me fooled, but by the end, he left me reeling with tears running down my face as the credits rolled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757870581780-COR0DHY7NPIGEH7AYUIV/IMG_8675.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757870628003-VGF099PFTQ1IT1RT9EDY/IMG_8665.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a2ff6a14-54eb-479d-99eb-f7befeda929b/IMG_8679.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757876195735-O4GGOT2KZT2IYH5WH40C/IMG_8661.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757876223069-95MC71SZX3ALEM5J7W4N/IMG_8660.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/9a82ce5a-8c39-43e8-b6cc-24a09155fb8f/IMG_8676.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - The core of the Death Stranding gameplay formula is back in the sequel, and honestly, I see this as a really good thing. Just as you were in the DS1, you're delivering packages on foot, via a carrier, or by using a vehicle, and most importantly, the feel of traversal is largely the same. However, just as any good sequel should, DS2, offers subtle changes and improvements to help enhance the formula, such as an easier way to access cargo compared to the first game, or a somewhat busier but ultimately more intuitive quick menu. The Tri-Cruiser and Off-Roader also make their return, now with the ability to be overcharged thanks to enhanced PCC abilities. More substantial changes like the APAS system and backpack upgrades offer ways to shake up gameplay in more than subtle ways, should you choose to interact with them. The APAS system is essentially your skill tree, boasting a series of upgrades meant to augment Sam's abilities. The backpack upgrades can also spice up gameplay, offering ways to make deliveries easier and safer via attachables you can fabricate for use. Thankfully, the game doesn't force you to interface with these upgrade systems if you don't want to, so I chose to use them occasionally rather than rely on them. Whatever you choose to do, you can get as much or as little as you want from either of these systems, and for me personally, I like that the game affords the player that choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3c1255b5-6f94-4fca-8b9a-24bdbdff3821/IMG_8656.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ab88b491-3c08-49ff-a550-82f1932fe8cd/IMG_8654.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - If there's one gameplay element of Death Stranding 2 that has seen a substantial shift in its design, it's the combat system. DS1 goes to great lengths to have you avoid combat, constantly reminding you that killing combatants can result in a voidout. However, in DS2, combat is not only encouraged, but there are entire missions where the only goal is to engage in combat. A valid argument could be made that the ideological shift regarding combat removes the novelty that distinguished DS1 from every other open-world shooter, and quite honestly, I agree. Strictly regarding combat, DS2 feels similar, if not the same, as every other third-person open-world shooter I've played. Even still, I had a great time engaging in DS2's combat system thanks to its exciting suite of weapons to make use of, and gunplay that feels tight, concise, and satisfying. New and interesting enemy types also do wonders to help spice up the combat experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8e2e5403-8091-41a4-adba-ad478ff36922/IMG_8655.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - As Sam connects the continent, APAC's true motives are revealed, which in turn uncovers that Die-Hardman had been working in secret as Charlie to help keep Drawbridge on their path. As a result, we also gain valuable insight into the relationship between Lucy, Sam’s old lover, and Neil Vana, the man she cheated on Sam with, who died in the voidout that left him as the lone survivor, which in turn, revealed Lou's shocking truth -- perhaps the largest mystery spanning both games. In the end, we learn that Fragile gave her life to protect Lou from the attack on Sam's shelter, ensuring that Lou and Sam could continue their adventures together. There's something hauntingly beautiful about the way Kojima presents Fragile's death. He doesn't just show her death to us; he leads us to believe she's been alive for the entire journey. However, in a single cutscene that shows Fragile jumping from beach to beach after her death to carve a path for Lou to safely reach Sam, we witness the fruits of her sacrifice, forcing us to harbor a deeper appreciation for her. Thanks to Fragile, we then learn that Lou is actually Tomorrow, the sacrificial BB that Lucy and Neil Vana fought to protect, and the very child Fragile made sure had a life to live beyond her pod. Learning that Tomorrow, or Louise, was BB-28 this whole time re-contextualizes her and Sam's entire relationship. From the moment they met in Death Stranding 1, they had always been together, on every step of the journey between both games. Once I learned this, I could never look at their relationship the same, and it's all thanks to the brilliant execution of the complex web that is the story of Death Stranding as a whole, not just that of the sequel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757869771718-G36GPGPRVSTA4OFIUGBM/IMG_8658.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757869788971-5EPW2RDNJ2Y4TI7WJXLQ/IMG_8672.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/fddfd826-e6f0-4a7c-8f78-43b1cf3a7dc7/IMG_8673.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Perhaps one of the most subtly impactful design choices that make this a distinctly Kojima world are the curated music tracks that swell in and out as you embark on your journey. As they did in DS1, each song in DS2 does a great job of creating an atmospheric vibe for your journey. Whether you're trudging through a snow-capped mountain with only a foot of visibility or gliding along the sands of the desert, gazing into an infinite horizon, there's always what feels like a perfectly curated track to accompany you as you go on your way. A nice upgrade to the music system in DS2 comes by way of the music player, a setting that lets you choose what song you want to hear at any given time. As you play the game, you'll find new songs along your journey for you to curate your vibes with. This is the sort of no-brainer design choice that a lot of games shy away from because they don't want to give the player too much control over the overall experience of the game, so I'm glad to see Kojima wanted to put that control in our hands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/816cfaf7-cfec-4e9b-bff4-0f2bbbc992a2/IMG_8659.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1cbbf592-e5eb-4a27-bd00-1c46e6f0bee0/IMG_8675.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757870084650-M3SBOTWH3VPED3DUFFMY/IMG_8657.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1757870132182-F0WQTB0F20T2JAL0CB6B/IMG_8668.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5ce22fbe-c2a3-48e7-ab95-0e1bc57760ed/IMG_8671.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8389c52e-2f3e-4145-80b1-f56a047cd1e3/Image+6-29-25+at+11.08%E2%80%AFAM.jpeg REVIEWS - death stranding 2 review - more than just a sequel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/wheel-world-review-a-chill-game-about-biking monthly 0.5 2025-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1756838064406-KBH6W0CZJGCS4DHXR9AT/IMG_8615.JPG REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1756838075571-GS31C24HIM17A3JPHGK0/IMG_8612.JPG REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/df5d43dc-b101-49e5-a076-c08b843c4f04/IMG_8611.JPG REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/18b4328f-367e-4248-8770-c5671412c8a0/IMG_8610.JPG REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0f445c33-dc04-41fa-8551-51e93655885d/IMG_8616.JPG REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking - Speaking of gameplay feel, one area I felt Wheel World felt short in was with its parts system. When I sampled this in the demo, I was excited about the prospect of it being some sort of bike RPG. On paper, the parts you acquire from the handful of bike shops or random drops scattered throughout the world are designed to have an impact on the feel of your bike, with four key stat categories to consider: power, aero, handling, and grip. The game is pretty generous with the amount of parts on offer, too, making it seem as if there are a wide range of bike builds you can create. However, after spending a considerable amount of time mixing and matching parts, I didn't feel that this system made a significant difference in my riding experience. Whether I prioritized parts specializing in one trait or the other, the gameplay always felt the same. When it came down to it, I felt the keys to my success lay in my abilities, rather than the parts I chose to upgrade my bike with, or a combination of the two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/abec31e1-0acb-4c8c-9892-4b213c371bc7/Image+8-21-25+at+5.33%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - wheel world review: a chill game about biking - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/donkey-kong-bananza-review-a-smashing-start-to-the-switch-2-era monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/79c0832b-2d5d-4705-9236-135ec0606904/IMG_8471+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - DONKEY KONG BANANZA REVIEW: A SMASHING START TO THE SWITCH 2 ERA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/abec31e1-0acb-4c8c-9892-4b213c371bc7/Image+8-21-25+at+5.33%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg REVIEWS - DONKEY KONG BANANZA REVIEW: A SMASHING START TO THE SWITCH 2 ERA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f08029bf-e676-43bf-a516-3e4bac8d2dfb/IMG_8577.JPG REVIEWS - DONKEY KONG BANANZA REVIEW: A SMASHING START TO THE SWITCH 2 ERA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/81ec50aa-7f1b-43e8-b6a9-61dd81a48018/IMG_8570+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - DONKEY KONG BANANZA REVIEW: A SMASHING START TO THE SWITCH 2 ERA - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/battlefield-6-open-beta-preview monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/49bb9cc9-6e8d-4030-99e6-d98ce5e7584a/IMG_8535.JPG REVIEWS - BATTLEFIELD 6 OPEN BETA PREVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1755183008050-PLHQOU3WFX6IV55FKTRS/IMG_8536.JPG REVIEWS - BATTLEFIELD 6 OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1755183011921-MPGJ6CFC5APL7LAQTYE0/IMG_8530+2.JPG REVIEWS - BATTLEFIELD 6 OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/258f88b5-d8a2-4605-bfb0-aa09ec4d0718/IMG_8531.JPG REVIEWS - BATTLEFIELD 6 OPEN BETA PREVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/15d61faa-ab72-4a34-ad5a-b660e7082417/IMG_8532+%281%29.JPG REVIEWS - BATTLEFIELD 6 OPEN BETA PREVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/death-stranding-review-a-flawed-masterpiece-that-dared-to-be-different monthly 0.5 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d8ab977a-6fb3-4217-8502-42d9bdd0d457/higgs.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - Overall, I really enjoyed the story Death Stranding was trying to tell. From Sam's one man journey to reconnect the country, to the heinous motives of the game's titular villain, Higgs, to keep it all from happening, and everyone in between, every character's unique connection to the Death Stranding results in a story packed with emotional twists and turns. Additionally, the emotional impact of the story is supported by some of the best facial capture I've ever seen. For example, when Fragile puts herself in a vulnerable state to explain her connection to Higgs, I could truly feel the weight of her pain, and was thusly just as motivated as her to take him down. Unfortunately, however impacted I was by the narrative itself, I felt the actual pacing of that narrative could have been handled better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c153fef4-637e-4e95-92bc-bcded91382ee/music.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - If you removed Death Stranding's story and kept the delivery gameplay and all of its systems, I could see this being a game I could play for hundreds of hours. I'm not trying to say that I don't enjoy the story, because I very much do, but the delivery gameplay is just that fun to me. The vast majority of my play through of this game consisted of me kicking back, turning on a podcast, grabbing some snacks, and relaxing my way through the delivery journey. In other instances, I would opt to to give my undivided attention to the journey, allowing myself to enter a flow state complimented by the repetitive sounds of Sam's foot steps, or the sound of the wind whistling by me as I slowly make my way across the landscape. Then, just as I would find myself locked into the beautiful silence of it all, a perfectly placed liscened soundtrack would softly enter the soundscape, gently altering my flow state into a deeper level of immersion. In some instances, these tracks que in during specific moments, like when you discover a breathtaking vista for the first time. Other times, they'll chime in randomly, perhaps halfway through a long journey from one distribution center to another as if to act as the wind benethe your feet to keep you going. Each track is expertly curated to create a sonic picture of the melancholic atmosphere of the world. It's in these moments, where the deep flow state meets the perfect timing of a carefully selected track does the journey being to wrap itself within your emotions, and you yourself become one with the journey. Many times I thought to myself, I could do this all day, every day, for a very long time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1cf0678b-a071-4e0e-99fa-22e396afcca6/traversing.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/568d0ce1-de0c-4d1a-9fe1-ef93676abd72/truck.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - Imagine this. You're 25 minutes into a delivery. Everything has gone smoothly. BB is happy, Sam is happy, and one of Kojima's tastefully selected soundtracks kicks in to put you in an ultra-relaxed mood. Then out of nowhere, timefall rain begins to fall, the game stops you in your tracks, and your BT sensor (a sensor that tracks the presence of Beached Things, souls that are trapped between the world of the living and the dead) begins to signal danger. As you continue to roll on, you suddenly find yourself trapped in a large puddle of black fluid with bodies covered in a tar like substance grabbing at you attempting to pull you under. If you can't escape their grasp, you're dragged 20-30 feet from all your cargo, and suddenly an enormous tar covered monster emerges and begins to chase you down. The only way to escape is by trudging out of the tar and back onto normal land, except in these sequences, Sam's movement speed is significantly slowed due to the density of the substance, increasing the anxiety of the situation. What I've described here an event that can happen at any time during any delivery. So while the journey can be a fun, meditative, and rewarding experience, the threat of a BT attack is always lingering, adding a layer of tension to every step you take towards your destination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2a815fc5-f95f-4a7f-b52c-6310701c9f48/traversing.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - So, that was the meditative side of the experience, but what about the nitty gritty of the gameplay itself? Making a delivery isn't just about getting from point A to point B, it's about managing your cargo, making sure you aren't carrying too much, making sure you have the RIGHT equipment for the journey, and more. These choices can, in most cases, be the difference between a smooth journey and one full of trial and tribulation. Successfully dapting to the varying requirements of each delivery feels immensly satisfying and quickly became a challenge I enjoyed overcoming. What's even more satisfying is figuring out ways to use the terrain to your advantage to make what would have been a difficult journey a trivial challenge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/764b6868-462e-41bb-89b8-c34ba45c340a/connection.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8a890b8a-954d-4b9d-9218-78f913f1477c/M.O.B.G+SCORE REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a2a25726-7ffe-4b8d-a752-9fbba6ad16fb/uca.jpg REVIEWS - death stranding review: a flawed masterpiece that dared to be different - The Death Stranding has left the people of America separated and hunkered down in shelters to keep safe from the numerous natural anomalies born from it. As you make your host of deliveries, most of the time, you'll only ever be greeted by a hologram of the shelter's inhabitants, but never the inhabitants themselevs in person. But there are a handful of special occasions where the inhabitants will emerge to greet you in person -- like during the Chiral Artist mission. This delivery saga sees you reconnecting two lost lovers separated by events of the Death Stranding. The impact of these two characters emerging from their shelters to embrace each other in person was deeply emotional, and made me further appreciate the value of real human connection -- something the game gives you few opportunities to experience. And that's where the connection between making deliveries and the story's theme of human connection come together. In some cases, you're delivering medical supplies to a city working desperately to keep its citizens alive. Other times, you're delivering lost valuables such as old magazines, movies, and other things that may seem trivial in the face of an apocalypse, but ultimately result in the strengthening of precious human connection. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review-a-new-all-time-favorite-has-been-crowned monthly 0.5 2025-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b92bbea0-c260-41ed-bf58-a946900d79b1/20250220162921_1.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Through Remake and half of Rebirth, Barrett is shown to be a brash and brazen character with little else underneath. We do of course see his softer side come out in the presence of Marlene, but these moments are far and few in between and never quite feel emblematic of his actual character -- until we play through the Corel arc. This saga would reveal the dark truth of Barrett's past as well as the events that would chart the path toward who he would eventually become. He expresses a level of shame and regret which I felt lead to believe he wasn't capable of feeling, and would go on to fundamentally change how I viewed him as a character. However, the most powerful and perhaps defining moment of this saga comes during its conclusion, when in the depths of Barrett's emotional despair, we see Cloud break down his impenetrable walls to extend a helping hand to Barrett. It's a powerful moment between two characters who despite being of two wildly different emotional temperaments, find common ground in their struggle to let people in by being there for each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/18b72f4a-5f6e-49ca-b4d4-3180dc9bb77e/20250219213214_1.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/aa1e1f71-9a48-4e63-857c-5e0bdf10e417/g.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Each open-zone features a central town hub, which within them hosts a staggering amount of mini-games. Its not an exaggeration to say that at least 20 percent of my 315 hour play-through was lost to mini-games. That figure may seem ridiculous, but what's REALLY ridiculous is the fact that these are even referred to as mini-games given their relentless depth of design. A prime example is Queens Blood — a fully fleshed out strategy card game boasting a seemingly endless level of challengers throughout the world, an impressive amount of card packs to purchase, and a quest chain built around it that spans the entirety of the game. Others include Fort Condor, a full-fledged RTS game that ALSO sports its own quest-chain involving Barrett transforming into a power hungry commander whose evil plans you're tasked with foiling. Earning the platinum trophy for Rebirth was the most difficult thing I've ever achieved in gaming, but conquering these mini-games as a part of that process was an absolute blast and one I won't soon forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/810b3327-904a-4231-b1e3-5f9b76165daa/20250206172430_1.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8389c52e-2f3e-4145-80b1-f56a047cd1e3/Image+6-29-25+at+11.08%E2%80%AFAM.jpeg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6919aefa-91dc-4413-9def-acd9b5ff9b34/l.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e679e617-a32c-4629-814f-263a5a4ccb26/20250207175123_1.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - In any game, it's the characters that define the journey, and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth's impressively dynamic cast of characters are the main reason why its journey is so unforgettable. Everything centers around Cloud, a cold shouldered no-nonsense ex-SOLDIER who's always on the straight and narrow. Throughout the story however, we see each of the cast of characters chip away at his seemingly impenetrable emotional shield with their own personality quirks through a wide range of deeply engaging character interactions. A few of these moments I enjoyed the most involved Yuffie, clashing her goofy, child-like energy with Cloud's ultra-serious demeanor, or watching as Tifa used her gentle yet durable resolve to help prevent Cloud from descending into madness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d507fe8b-b6fd-4cff-8046-199fa88b1c1b/20250226094257_1.jpg REVIEWS - The Six Reasons Why Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Is My New All-Time Favorite Game - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/monster-hunter-wilds-preview-open-beta-impressions monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/42a9cda4-4cab-4d6b-ad36-4ecad3330f49/3065170_301.jpg REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS PREVIEW: OPEN BETA IMPRESSIONS - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/321b9f49-f6b1-4207-ae64-4a1dce0c815c/3065170_297.jpg REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS PREVIEW: OPEN BETA IMPRESSIONS - In the second beta test, we revisit the opening section of the story revealing the big bad that we’re sent to quest after, as well as the larger overarching plot surrounding a mysterious boy somehow linked to that ancient beast. This opening section consists of a cinematic action set piece where our player character rides a seikret through the desert battling a host of sand based enemies en route to the region’s camp. This opening segment blends the intrigue of the game’s plot with a slice of the it’s heart pumping action sequences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e585c09d-85e5-4c61-af43-0dd629158434/3065170_295.jpg REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS PREVIEW: OPEN BETA IMPRESSIONS - Once we get to camp, Alma assigns us our first quest: take down an alpha Doshaguma. I approached this fight the same way I did during the first beta: by using dung pods to disperse the herd and isolate the alpha..only…I tracked the wrong Doshaguma after they dispersed. Eventually, the alpha would track me down as I was battling his companion to try and cut me down himself. Thus, an utterly chaotic 2-1 on battle ensued. “How could this be a fair fight”, I asked myself. Apparently a nearby dragon had the same thought, because moments later it would come to initiate a turf war with the duo of Doshagumas. Without any more dung pods to try and disperse the group, I had to pick a side and continue the fight – doing whatever I could to survive this insane encounter. Unexpected and chaotic encounters like these are what I’m looking forward to experiencing most in the full game. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/final-fantasy-vii-remake-review-the-definitive-experience monthly 0.5 2025-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0f1686d8-44f1-4102-b8c4-316bd49089bc/whispers+2.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - “Is it our destiny to defy destiny?” - a simple question, but one that defines the central pillars holding up this game’s narrative. In FF7 Remake, everyone has their own motivations, whether it be Shinra’s motivation to use Mako energy for their own sadistic goals, Cloud’s desire to go wherever the wind takes him as a mercenary, and everyone in between, everyone must contend with the plans that destiny has for them. To that end, destiny is anything but abstract, in fact, it is a very literal tool used to steer the actions of every character. Whispers, otherwise known as “arbiters of fate” often appear in critical story moments to either guide, or obstruct someone’s actions. As Red XIII describes it, “the whispers intervene not to defend us, but to preserve the flow of destiny”. In this regard, they are indiscriminate, constantly leaving the player wondering which direction they, and in turn fate, will take them. Watching the whispers work to preserve the flow of destiny puts the game’s events into an interesting perspective, especially in moments where we witness the cast fighting against it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e5907a4b-1df9-4aa2-991f-de6551df4f13/group+shot.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8750aaeb-05d9-4aa9-880d-76447aa3dd7f/hell+house.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/7c112edb-2100-43f4-bace-6aab1dadf1b1/honey+bee.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - The Wall Market Entertainment District Saga simultaneously represents a strength and a weakness of FF7 Remake’s story structure. In Wall Market, Aerith and Cloud work together to save Tifa from the cartoonishly love deprived Italian mob-like goon known as Don Corneo. To do so, Cloud and Aerith must fight in an underground tournament where one of the enemies is a literal house capable of fighting with magic, as well as participate in a 80s themed dance off with one of Wall Market’s famous club owners. It’s certainly a far cry from saving the world from a tyrannical electric power company, but nonetheless, this goofy, lighthearted saga represents the incredible emotional range this game has. It’s a testament to the fact that the more you allow yourself to just “go” with what this game is throwing at you, as wacky as it may be, the more you’ll enjoy the experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/34e69e20-cf2e-433f-b99f-142ffc344927/1462040_225.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Where each character’s combat styles are designed to have you meet it on its terms, the materia system does the opposite. For the uninitiated, materia is a material that provides the means to use magic. Since there are no archetypes to predetermine what kind of magic each character is predisposed to, you can assign any materia to any character. In my view, this is an approach meant to balance the entire combat system, which if utilized correctly can yield a wide swath of combat capabilities for your party. For example, since Aerith is primarily a magic caster, I’ll assign her as my healer and equip her with the elemental materia best suited for that fight. If the party is battling an enemy weak to ice, I’ll prioritize equipping her with ice materia and give any left over to other characters to multiply the damage. From there, you can decide if you want to handle the fight with a magic first or melee first approach, or, you can balance the two as you see fit. But much in the same way the game will pull the rug from under your character utilization strategy, it’ll do the same for how you strategize materia and magic use thanks to a deeply diverse enemy variety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b79df6fa-b5d5-484c-9e4a-3c8c55d0b506/Cloud+above+midgar.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6a2240ec-c8ed-49aa-a6ef-76ed05e42e51/cloud+tifa+barrett+combat.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Cloud, Aeith, Barrett and Tifa’s fighting styles couldn’t be more different, but that’s what makes the combat system so great. Their diverse range of styles gives the player tons of options for how they want to approach combat. For example, I prefer to use Cloud as my main fighter, as I gel with his close/medium range sword fighting style the most. However, if I have Tifa in my party, I’ll make use of her close range hand-to-hand combat style to follow up on Cloud’s physical attacks as a 1-2 punch to add stagger. Not a fan of close range fighting? Put Barrett on the front lines with his medium range firearm combat, or use Aerith to fight from longer distances with her spell casting abilities. I typically prefer to not use Aerith as my main combat character as I would much rather keep her at a distance for healing or magic support, but in a handful of cases, the game won’t give you that option. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0f5e7c0e-402a-4087-af0b-248005dd3652/the+ancients.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8a890b8a-954d-4b9d-9218-78f913f1477c/M.O.B.G+SCORE REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1738861710852-4590R58GH6Y6PRRQHPS1/1462040_112.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1738861714440-8GB1GRQCQAWI32AYMDOJ/seph+and+cloud.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1738861719803-WV2FR7K322Y5M0K06M5M/1462040_220.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1738861764575-YPP635Z3O7CSDUVOZNHC/embrace+your+dreams.jpg REVIEWS - Final Fantasy VII REMAKE REVIEW: THE DEFINITIVE FF7 EXPERIENCE https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/dragon-age-the-veilguard-review-a-game-i-was-dissapointed-not-to-love monthly 0.5 2025-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/bd1bb9c0-81d7-43fc-b0b4-bc448c771848/M.O.B.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4b3a67d0-ebb5-4ba4-9d40-6c48fc81bd7f/Dialogue+-+Dialogue+choices.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1a4edebd-36ba-43e4-8994-eb1e4db64d7c/Combat+-+Neve.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - When you stack your companion’s combat abilities on to your own, the experience rises to another level. At first, I was having trouble sinking my teeth into the combat system, but the “AHA” moment for me came when I finally figured out the formula for not only using my abilities in conjunction with my companion’s, but when I figured out how to time team attacks in a way that could turn the tide of battle. During an early encounter where Rook, Neve, and Harding are outnumbered by Darkspawn, I pulled up my action menu to see how I could use everyone’s abilities together. That’s when I noticed that if I combined one of Harding’s cold down abilities with Neve’s, then it would result in a “detonation”. This resulted in freezing the Darkspawn in place and hitting them with a blast that took a sizable chunk out of their health bar. Shortly after, I could hear Harding from the other side of the battlefield yelling “someone needs to follow up!”, prompting me to capitalize with my own attack which just so happened to have also just come off its cool down. It was a perfect moment of team synchronicity, and from there I realized how finely tuned the team combat system really is. However, where the moment to moment and team combat systems shine, Bioware unfortunately does little to put these systems to the test. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1f207e69-847c-4877-ad99-81418e580744/Dialogue+Group+shot.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a9da6663-b325-4301-b495-ee3917ec4acf/Dialogue+-+Rook+and+Neve.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE Where I was able to connect with Neve, Solas, and others through engaging dialogue or a thorough connection formed by a common background, I couldn’t say the same for Bellara. Bellara’s awkward, childlike nature made it difficult to take her seriously, as she would often stumble her way through conversations with responses that often felt tedious to wade through. Her character commits the cardinal sin of RPG’s by setting a bad first impression, and in doing so, pushed me to write her off very early in the game. Though my perception of her did improve throughout the game owing to some truly interesting character development, I just couldn’t seem to shake my dislike for her overly quirky personality that never seemed to fit in with the more serious tone of the story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/9d4a3adf-8387-45b8-98f0-4cd44abf12a0/Enemy+-+Gilinain.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - The events of this story are set in motion by Solas, an Elven God who at one point led a struggle against the tyranny of the other Elven Gods. By creating a barrier that separated those Gods and their raw magical power from the mortal world, Solas was victorious in his fight – but at too high a price. As a result of shutting the Elven Gods away the Elven race lost their powers and immortality, something that Solas would eventually come to regret being the catalyst for. To fix his mistakes and free himself from insurmountable guilt, he decided he would destroy the Veil so that the raw magic trapped within it could return the Elven race back to its former glory – but at a cost that would have a cataclysmic impact on the world. When Varric, Rook, Harding, and Neve’s attempt to stop Solas from completing the ritual goes sideways, two of the nine Elven Gods escape their prison and begin moving to reclaim the world for themselves using a terrible blight. Now, Rook must recruit and lead a team of warriors against seemingly impossible odds to bring down Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, the two escaped Elven Gods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0620e7f2-a17f-461e-8be4-61c8010e9d29/Tech+-+Graphics+settings.jpg REVIEWS - DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD REVIEW: A GAME I WAS DISSAPOINTED NOT TO LOVE - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/the-mylesofbacon-games-top-5-games-of-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733448462479-X4386HZ27FSYU2BNISI7/IMG_7065.jpeg REVIEWS - the mylesofbacon games top 5 games of 2024 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cc0dbb93-9e47-4a04-b06d-a28a58641292/IMG_6485.jpeg REVIEWS - the mylesofbacon games top 5 games of 2024 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ef6a0663-158f-4b6f-96c6-e4cd35f86f35/ER-ft.jpeg REVIEWS - the mylesofbacon games top 5 games of 2024 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/067b3445-b5b2-4cc4-bace-e719a443e2e1/EGS_FINALFANTASYVIIREBIRTH_SquareEnix_S1_2560x1440-e254f978084058f898118dc49728d04c.jpeg REVIEWS - the mylesofbacon games top 5 games of 2024 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1734634936015-87LD27UZ04O8H26OCYNV/IMG_7287.jpeg REVIEWS - the mylesofbacon games top 5 games of 2024 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/astrobot-review-a-spotless-platformer-and-the-new-face-of-playstation monthly 0.5 2024-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/566d7101-633c-4ca7-872d-eaebd83fa559/IMG_7290.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - The premise on which this celebration is built on surrounds a journey Astro most go on to find his lost PlayStation themed bot friends. While traveling through space aboard a PS5 mothership, Astro and company are attacked by a cartoonishly evil space alien who not only steals the CPU within the mothership, but destroys the ship itself, scattering the hundreds of bots across the universe. Each level tasks you with finding a handful of these lost bots, some of them who are normal bots, and others who are PlayStation mascots in bot form -- each sporting an abundance of cuteness and joy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4f1f90a7-b11f-4cc5-9620-97cc6997089b/IMG_7282.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - Paired with Astrobot's vibrant art style are subtle aspects of interaction that are easy to miss if you aren't paying attention. One of my favorite examples of this are how each NPC bot, whether they be a bot turtle, a bot snake, a bot car, or anything in between, all feature Astro's adorable blue eye design. Furthermore, when you run past them, jump on them, swim with them, or even hit them, they'll watch and react to your actions, each in their own unique way. I was astounded at this level of detail when I first noticed it, and it only made me further appreciate the level of thoughtfulness that went into making the player truly feel like they were a part of Astro's world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b5be531d-7763-4079-94b0-eb6450417d39/IMG_7289.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/995a27e5-6b2c-4e3f-b2df-955614651378/IMG_7284.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - However, for a small handful of exceptionally popular PlayStation mascots, entire levels themed around one of their iconic adventures will appear. These levels are packed to the brim with callbacks, Easter eggs, and homages to that particular character, offering up an exciting, fresh remix of beloved and classic experiences. For me, having experienced a handful of these levels from mascots whom I was unfamiliar with, I felt that I was being delightfully educated into their worlds in a way that stoked my curiosity into their franchises. I have to imagine that this was a big goal for Team Asobi, one that they achieved very effectively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e2bc2b9e-e843-4706-b0a0-e08f9119401f/IMG_7279.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - When PlayStation released Astro's Playroom as a free game included with the purchase of a PS5, it was clear that they did so to help show off the power and potential of the PS5 DualSense controller. So, it's no surprise that Astrobot would go on to unleash that full potential. From the moment you first load into the main menu screen, you're greeted by a joyful rumble and swoosh from the controller, emulating what it feels and sounds like to ride atop Astro's controller ship. Throughout each level, the DualSense controller continually bursts with a wide variety of sounds and haptic feedback. You can hear and feel blades of grass as Astro tip taps through them. The back triggers boast a high level of resistance, making the act of interacting with any mechanic involving a thruster feel realistic and satisfying to pull off. These creative Dualsense design implementations and many, many more play such a big role in bringing this game to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a8301118-3c14-44e4-a0c6-f63eb572a430/IMG_7287.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e82aa71e-c39c-4434-8c5e-7955f834da17/IMG_7283.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - Let me be clear though, the recurring mechanics are nothing to sneeze at. In fact, their impressive creativity is a huge part of what makes Astrobot such a novel experience. They're so good, that I don't even want to attempt to describe them in detail here, because I wouldn't want to rob you of experiencing them for the first time. However, I will say that the core reason as to why these recurring mechanics work so well aside from their endless design creativity and mechanical polish, is that each level they appear in creates a situation where the player must use that mechanic in a different way. Sure, the mechanic may be the same but from one level to the next, you're going to be tasked with new ways to use those mechanics to approach the challenges of that particular mission. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/76694c3d-1a9e-4ff5-ae78-90bc3e8dbee4/IMG_7285.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - When it comes to the music in Astrobot, Team Asobi has proven that the right music can define and enhance the character of a game. Astrobot's soundtrack is comprised of a vast, diverse swath of genres from rock and western country, to techno, and more -- each boasting a foundation of techno funkiness that perfectly matches Astrobot's charmingly mechanical characteristics. Composer Kenneth C M Young took great care to create a soundtrack that would not only be instantly recognizable to Astrobot, but one that would stick in your head even as you move on to the next game -- which could not be more true for the game's main theme "I Am Astrobot". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d848dc9c-a1b5-4a16-aa59-64d1ea5e5bb9/IMG_7288.jpeg REVIEWS - ASTROBOT REVIEW: A SPOTLESS PLATFORMER AND THE NEW FACE OF PLAYSTATION - The act of finding a lost bot is like playing hide and seek with your puppy, and your puppy jumping on you with excitement when you find them hiding under your covers. When you find a bot, you boot him into a capsule within Astro's DualSense ship for safe keeping, where the newly recovered bot jumps for joy out of excitement for being reunited with you. It's an interaction chock full of joy from head to toe and never gets old no matter how many times you do it. Uncovering the smaller selection of PlayStation themed bots serves up an extra bit of surprise, as you never know which famous icon you'll uncover. Maybe it's Crash Bandicoot, or maybe you'll find a Hell Diver hiding in a bush. You never know, and that mystery is such a big part of the fun! https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/reacting-to-the-game-awards-2024-quick-take-6 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c521f414-616b-4358-8b60-e1ca972444c0/ELDEN-RING-Nightreign-KEYART_Logo.jpeg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: Bandai Namco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2346fad4-143a-4f77-a37b-e9411c3a109f/EGS_FINALFANTASYVIIREBIRTH_SquareEnix_S1_2560x1440-e254f978084058f898118dc49728d04c.jpeg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: EpicGames.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/dfb33f19-dba8-4405-ac27-e2169442d610/Jordan_KeyArt_16x9-1.jpg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: NaughtyDog.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/9ff1c991-62fd-4eda-870e-144fb60ebef1/REMATCH-Ann_12-12-24.jpg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: Gematsu.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f1784abe-f34c-4247-aff9-762ddafa207d/amir-satvat-winning-at-the-game-awards-1.jpeg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: TheGamer.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4fe4a983-aae5-4cd8-8f3b-3de444038c24/statler-and-waldorf-announced-as-guests-for-the-game-awards.jpeg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: TheGamer.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4e321bdb-a212-4cee-aa76-ee2171a03e47/TGA-2024-Nominees-Ann_11-18-24.jpg REVIEWS - REACTING TO THE GAME AWARDS 2024 - Make it stand out Image Source: Gematsu.com https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/neva-review-beauty-within-simplicity monthly 0.5 2024-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/318036ea-601e-4915-ab7a-a250779cda5f/IMG_7179.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a68155ff-cb5a-4438-9b01-e4523f419c41/IMG_7184.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity - Much of the story focuses on the relationship between our two main heroes, and the lack of story direction regarding who or what the main antagonist is makes me wonder if there was perhaps too much focus on that relationship. I would have liked to have seen more of a balance making it clear who or what we were actually going after, which I feel would have resulted in a stronger story. However, Neva's effective method of story telling, messaging about nature preservation, and heart wrenching portrayal of Neva and Alba's loving relationship more than makes up for this pitfall -- resulting in an overall story experience that I won't soon forget, and neither will you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/50e9fd06-b61d-48dc-83bd-f459d7691531/IMG_7182.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity - I played through about half of the game in story mode just to see what impact it would have on my experience. At first, I was concerned that switching to this mode would feel like a cop out, however, this was far from the case. Rather than making the game less difficult, story mode retains the difficulty of normal mode while removing the ability to die. Don't be fooled though, because if you aren't vigilant with your combat approach, enemies can still hold you back considerably from progressing the game. So sure, you aren't dying, but you're certainly being still being challenged, and that's what kept story mode from feeling like a cop out. Also, and most importantly, I felt that story mode helped me enjoy the pacing of the story more. Unencumbered by the threat of death, I was able to pour more of my attention into moving fluidly through the campaign events, making for what I felt was a more enjoyable experience overall. Your experience may vary depending on if you prefer story, combat, or both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733874421980-JW966CVO7FHPTT7BB3NH/IMG_7180.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733874427858-6SOAK7GWIOMW0ZXBXADQ/IMG_7185.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733874433133-E7SP49522MIJEDSLJGNX/IMG_7189.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733874438056-YKRYA5MC6DPSPFZ31EOD/IMG_7186.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/fdd1a364-bf29-4fb6-9136-326215f9f145/IMG_7187.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity - As you make your way through each season, and as the gameplay mechanics iterate, the level designs evolve as well. Each increasingly abstract environment requires you to make creative use of these evolving moves, but it never felt like there was an unfair spike in difficulty with this approach. Team Nomada took great care to create a comfortably paced evolution of mechanics, changing in parallel with it's evolving level design to create a balance that feels seamless and fluid. I went through the entire game without ever feeling like I had hit a wall with a new mechanic, but at the same time, I could feel the subtle impact it was having on the experience as I made my way through it. The quality in which team Nomada have stricken this balance is masterful, and is rarely done as well in other games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1e192374-483a-485c-b7b3-358982d165aa/IMG_7188.JPG REVIEWS - Neva review: beauty within simplicity - Throughout the story, I used the callout feature to guide Neva through platforming sections, to get her attention when she get's distracted, or to find her if she's run off screen. However, by listening to the tone of Alba's voice when commanding her to call out for Neva, I was able to understand the depth of her emotions. If Neva is lost, or has become separated from Alba, you'll be able to hear the anxiety in her voice. When soothing Neva, you can hear the calmness and reassurance. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-review-call-of-duty-is-back monthly 0.5 2024-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733081998086-LV3WKJGZGBLIQ6BGW43I/IMG_7068.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733082010220-EBCGJ74ICRI7M1LLEIFU/IMG_7058.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733082054634-Z7B2729NO7BKCVCG3B11/IMG_7064.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/305403bc-9c4c-4f64-b1ae-31249af3d94f/IMG_7041.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - When it comes to battle passes, I tend to be very selective with how I choose to drop my money on them. I never felt compelled to swipe my card on Black Ops 6's battle pass, but honestly, I see that as a good thing. The upgrade path is filled with worthwhile rewards, as it should be, without feeling egregious or predatory. Black Ops 6's multiplayer rewards players generously for performing well, motivating me to work on upping my game rather than saving my money to level up. Let me be clear by saying that fundamentally, I don't take issue with buying a battle pass, especially if you're doing so to support a dev team that you love. However, it's worth noting that for those who prefer to level up through grinding, the Black Ops 6 battle pass system will reward you generously for doing so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/74c078cd-eb0c-4215-9608-b5d42960c5bf/IMG_7062.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - The magic of this diverse cast of characters shines brightest when seeing how they work together to contend with outside forces either spurring them along in their connected efforts to save the world, or trying to stop them. For example, during a late game plot twist that has a deep impact on Troy, the group tries to rally around him -- Sev in particular. Their ideals surrounding the circumstances of this plot twist differ drastically, but Sev's persistent nature and positive approach is able to keep Troy from diving into the tunnel vision that may derail them from their ultimate goal. There are many instances of this throughout the game, some of which that take place in missions, and others in the safehouse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a26faa19-2610-4a2c-993c-4f756b5f8176/IMG_7059.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - Call of Duty has always been at the forefront of visuals, and Black Ops 6 is no exception. The photorealistic visuals that grace the cutscenes will trick your brain into thinking you're watching a live action movie. This is in part to industry leading facial animations whose quality lays the foundation for unbelievable character performances, making each scene feel deeply authentic. The in-game visuals are smooth, boasting uncompromising fidelity that look great on PS5 and Xbox Series S. Through my 8 hour play-through of the campaign, I didn't experience a single visual bug, but when it comes to Call of Duty, I hardly ever expect to see any anyway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5055ac79-a3b0-47c5-b346-b28e6207904f/IMG_7050.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - The safehouse in Black Ops 6 serves as an intersection of story purpose and gameplay execution. We'll get to the gameplay part later, but first, let's talk about the important impact it has on the story. The safehouse is the meeting, planning, and living space for Troy and his team, and you'll come here after missions to regroup and plan for the next task, among other things. However, arguably the most important thing that happens at the safehouse are the conversations between characters. When speaking to a character, you'll be prompted with a number of dialogue choices, each of which provide a deep amount of exposition into the cast, explanations of current situations, and even detailed intel about the region you may be fighting in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3d69c0e9-d547-44ed-a915-369a96eafb68/IMG_7065.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d9939847-7105-4578-99c5-999aaa4ef5ee/IMG_7067.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - Few games come along that feel so good to play, that it makes it hard to return to other games -- and Black Ops 6 is one of those games. Shooting feels smooth and responsive across the board, with each weapon having it's own tactile feel to it. As a result, hitting targets feels incredibly satisfying, providing an extra bit of oomph for downing an enemy. Omni-movement, a newly added traversal feature, allows players to move in any and all directions while sprinting, diving, and sliding -- allowing for deeply flexible movement capabilities. In the heat of battle, omni-movement allows you to be nimble in your decision making, resulting in a snappy, fluid gameplay experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ee15046d-f319-459c-ab22-0d50ad4395be/IMG_7047.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - Black Ops 6’s multiplayer is where it’s remarkable gameplay really shines, and with Gunsmith, you can fine tune that gameplay to your unique preferences. By playing rounds and performing well, you can earn add-ons for your favorite weapons to improve their performance such as optics, under barrels, stocks, and more. With each individual upgrade offering a subtle improvement to your weapon, you're incentivized to perform well in matches to turn those subtle changes into big differences through deeper upgrades. While Gunsmith certainly isn't a new addition to Call of Duty, it's a welcome returning feature to a game that has all but mastered it's gameplay feel, systems, and mechanics. It's almost like Black Ops 6 is saying it realizes it's gameplay is great, someone daring them to make it even better, and Treyarch and Raven saying, "hold our beer". https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/957a10d1-ba09-492b-a68f-289125810960/IMG_7070.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - Another pleasant surprise comes with the actual gameplay function the safehouse serves. I discussed earlier that the safehouse is an important place where story exposition occurs, however, it also serves as a place to tweak your gameplay experience in subtle, but effective ways. During missions, you'll have the opportunity to find cash. Should you bring back sufficient amounts, you can unlock various upgrade hubs. These hubs provide perks that can make you more effective in battle. Sure, the idea of an FPS campaign having upgrade paths isn't novel or new, however, I think it's worth applauding the devs for going beyond just making these upgrades available in a post mission menu screen. They've created a system where throughout each mission, you're tasked with keeping the effectiveness of the safehouse in the back of your mind, as going out of your way to find extra cash in any given mission to improve your upgrade hubs, could transform your experience in the mission that follows. This level of effort, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail is one of the things that makes this overall experience feel so complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/395358d9-a0fd-4d56-8465-2949aab74638/IMG_7033.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - This time around, Zombies mode features both an online and offline component which can be played solo or with a squad. For the sake of this review, I opted to jump into offline solo mode. Once you pick who you want (or don't want) to play with, you'll be greeted with two game mode options: classic, designed for returning and experienced players, and guided, intended for new players. Offering players an option to learn the ropes without having to jump into the fire with guided mode adds a layer of approachability to the experience that is sure to attract more players than ever before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/10400911-6a13-4303-bc89-2fb41d1249ff/IMG_7063.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! - The story follows embattled ex-CIA operative Troy Marshall as he leads a group of ex- military specialists from around the world to take down the terrorist group Pantheon, whose goal is to release a biological weapon onto the world known as "The Craddle". In order to stop this event from happening, Troy has to develop a team of people capable of doing the job under his direction. First, making his return as a veteran of the Black Ops franchise is Frank Woods, previously the main supporting character appearing the majority of the Black Ops games, works behind the scenes rather than fighting on the battlefield due to injuries sustained during war. As he did in previous Black Ops games, he returns as one of your main supporting characters, using his extensive knowledge gained from his time in the field to help craft the operations aimed at bringing down Pantheon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733083037438-U66T2U6XLIEYODM15VFK/IMG_7040.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1733083053731-D0R1K59IK4A1S1HZP008/IMG_7029.JPG REVIEWS - CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 6 REVIEW: CALL OF DUTY IS BACK! https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/my-favorite-content-creators-in-gaming-quick-take-3 monthly 0.5 2024-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/55634cd7-cc90-4b63-b5e1-7a2f6d69aa07/channels4_profile.jpg REVIEWS - my favorite content creators in gaming: QUICK TAKE #3 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d5466254-5bb3-49bb-a1c1-e3090db23873/MckdWsJ9_400x400.jpg REVIEWS - my favorite content creators in gaming: QUICK TAKE #3 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cc167681-5813-49e6-a16c-0ab6283e59bf/channels4_profile+%281%29.jpg REVIEWS - my favorite content creators in gaming: QUICK TAKE #3 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/sonic-x-shadows-review-is-sonic-backand-has-shadow-arrived monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/89c99c40-3da6-4144-b8f8-2f0bbe5fa525/IMG_6928.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Between levels in Sonic Generations, you'll navigate a 2D hub world filled with rails, springs, and platforms -- a design aimed to make it fun to travel from one mission to the next. Within the hub world are a number of challenge stages, which are remixed versions of the remixed "action stages" that contain a variety of different challenges within them. These challenges range from racing to the goal against a cloned version of Sonic, to completing an abbreviated version of the main action stage with just one ring, and many more. The nice thing about challenge levels is that they offer fresh ways to experience action stages, adding to the game's overall replay-ability. However, the downside is that they're required for you to complete in order to obtain boss room keys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c22ffe65-56f8-4e94-8f4c-4ff474b056a3/IMG_6930.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a7208b64-6b76-43a0-9a71-4dcec0d47025/IMG_6922.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - While the level design soars, the boss designs and a number of character control choices fall flat. The thing I love most about Sonic games is experiencing killer boss fights with killer soundtracks. Sadly, both the 2D and 3D boss battles feature obtuse gimmicks and controls that make me want to blow by them at Super Sonic speeds rather than enjoy their moment to moment gameplay — but at least the still look pretty cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/29393e86-f3e2-426b-b59f-65c9c0de79c5/IMG_6929.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4ea67213-0eee-4cec-bc55-1ffa73e7f32b/IMG_6921.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - The basic gist of the Sonic Generations story is this: a mysterious entity places the world in a timeless, lifeless, and colorless void, prompting classic 2D and modern 3D Sonic to work together to fix what's been broken. The premise of the story technically works, as it gives reason for 2D and 3D Sonic to exist in the same timeline together, creating the set up for the unique level design structure which we’ll get to later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732155774073-6LZ0O1KHKMQZASES7Z8Z/IMG_6924.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732155781530-GR2F5QPQATPWISDXR28H/IMG_6925.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/fa069b83-d1b8-4ba1-b26b-17d90463c58d/IMG_6945.jpg REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - In contrast to his immense speed, Shadow can also perform Chaos Control, a move that stops time completely for five seconds. This is especially useful when encountering obstacles that are too fast to overcome at normal pace, or if you just want to be a badass and move through time like a shapeshifter. Shadow's base move set feels great to control, but what about the Doom abilities? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732156517948-AOPUVS2FUCJT8QW3FIFM/IMG_6941.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732156538284-HB29YPWWXFLA5BJG3XRD/IMG_6942.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732156585800-BO3FOSO5PGGGDEZ8CYO8/IMG_6937.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1732156611243-A44DFVAZVLIKLQTA4PUL/IMG_6938.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b1a072d9-1d25-4fcc-b294-186b0358f9e6/IMG_6931.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - The gist of Shadow's story in Shadow Generations is this: our embattled anti-hero is fighting an internal struggle on a few different fronts. The first is with his past. His constant suffering over the events that changed his life and his purpose keeps him emotionally tethered to the lifeless Space Colony Ark where he once lived a happy life. He watches over it constantly, guarding something that is no longer there. The second battle is with his identity, which is tied to Black Doom, an evil, other worldly entity and leader of the Black Arms Army. Like in Sonic Generations, Shadow's timeline has also been sent to an empty void of time and space, and Black Doom aims take advantage of situation by taking control of Shadow's mind and body, allowing him to become an all powerful ruler of the universe once again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/94c663ce-6bac-4a5b-8fbb-67a92b3a7c37/IMG_6932.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2145f38a-6fe7-47dc-8a31-35ffa9cb0ecd/IMG_6944.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - This was when I realized that Sonic Team were taking this opportunity to not only celebrate the past, but also look to the future by doing something they had never done before. Initially, I was put off by these 2D levels as they didn't feel like they belonged in a traditional Shadow game...but this isn't a traditional Shadow game. These 2D levels feel great to play through, as all of the design characteristics that make the 3D levels feel intuitive have been carried over to their 2D counterparts. Playing 2D versions of every 3D Shadow level I had grown up playing was a mind boggling experience, and one that I won't soon forget. Is 2D Shadow the future of the franchise? Perhaps one day, we'll look back on this unique experience as the start of something revolutionary for Shadow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/197c02a3-4da5-4abe-a469-d40ca9ca9786/IMG_6939.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Sonic Team have expanded on their semi-open hub world design from Sonic Generations with a much larger, 3D open hub world in Shadow Generations. Though it clearly takes inspiration from Sonic Generations with its purposely lifeless appearance, I can't help but feel that the open zone areas from Sonic Frontiers have also influenced this design. Like in Sonic Frontiers, the hub world in Shadow Generations is a vast space filled with what seems like haphazardly placed rails, springs, and platforms. However, the design of this layout, as haphazard as it may seem, creates a fun means to get from one action stage to the next. Part of what makes this hub world work is the fact that there is actual story exposition that happens within it, rather than it just appearing throughout the levels and their various cutscenes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1547730c-c3bf-4d11-aa78-23889dcda422/IMG_6934.JPG REVIEWS - SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS REVIEW: IS SONIC BACK…AND HAS SHADOW ARRIVED? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered-review-more-than-just-a-sequel monthly 0.5 2024-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/64936f5b-1e62-4d97-9a39-e4d2db99cb9f/IMG_6827.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/bff9c422-4bf3-4577-8553-4ea4e818f8cd/IMG_6824.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - Abby's story begins with a flashback of her spending time with her father. She's shown as compassionate and full of innocence, the complete opposite of the merciless, vengeful character traits she shows in Joel's death scene. The flashback would go on to reveal the reason as to why she would later go on to take Joel's life. She has a connection to him that was not shown in Part I, or in Part II up to that point, but this flashback demands that the player question whether or not Abby is really the enemy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8cb38bfc-ad9b-483f-a8cf-252c027b83e2/IMG_6831.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/fac12072-1d89-431f-8c9c-f54f6555ca76/IMG_6825.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL Though it happens very early in the game, this scene sets the wheels in motion for Ellie's profound character development. Much like any other child entering the early stages of adulthood, we see Ellie slowly breaking away from Joel's protective influence. However, in Joel's death scene, we see that protection violently ripped away from her, and now she must confront this change head on. Additionally, the adoptive father-daughter relationship we've grown accustomed to is replaced with the romantic relationship she has with fellow Jackson refugee, Dina. With Joel imparting his protective influence on Ellie, perhaps we would never have gotten to see Ellie truly explore the depths of her adult relationships, be it with Jesse, Dina, or even her vengeful feelings towards Abby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/7e0e2bf1-6bf2-4da0-b21b-dd3cc7d0c041/IMG_6822.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - In many games, the bad guy is just the bad guy, and that's it, and while it's common for a story to provide context behind the motives of the bad guy, most don't go as far as having you actually play as them to understand their character. In having the player actually play as Abby, the game is forcing you to not only understand her, but to confront your feelings about her in an uncomfortable way. At the beginning of Abby's play through, you'll likely beg the question, what is there to gain from playing as Joel's killer? However, Naughty Dog slowly disassembles our feelings about Abby, only to rebuild them in a way that can only be done by seeing the world directly through her eyes. Additionally, by showing us how similar she is to Ellie, we're put in a position where we go from seeing her as the enemy to feeling a deep sense of sympathy for her. The climax of the story, propped up by the immense tension that builds throughout the entire game, is made much deeper by having us play as both Abby and Ellie. Without experiencing both perspectives, the end of the game wouldn't feel nearly as emotional as it does. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5e64b0e9-ca05-44bd-8f50-a0df3147b139/IMG_6826.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - Traversal puzzles also saw a nice uplift. Gone are the shipping palettes that seemed to make their way to almost every puzzle in Part I just in time for your arrival. The problem with the shipping palettes, as I noted in my Part I review, is that their recurring involvement always made it so you knew what the answer to the puzzle was. However in Part II, there are a wide variety of puzzles that require you to use your environment in a multitude of ways. It keeps getting from one area to the next fresh, especially since these puzzles are one of the main ways that you're meant to get from point A to point B in the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2cbbe2b4-8368-480e-bdd3-cc1946314c8f/IMG_6830.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A SEQUEL - When it comes to combat, the underlying foundation is largely the same. Weapons still feel weighty and realistic. Ammo is still incredibly scarce, meaning you'll need to make every shot, preferably head shots, count if you want to survive. Many of the same weapons from Part I have returned, along with a number of new additions that help spice up combat variety. The actual combat experience however, has seen some very welcome changes, the first of which comes rather early in the game while playing as Abby prior to Joel's death. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/monster-hunter-wilds-open-beta-preview monthly 0.5 2024-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c50dde2e-7c00-483f-a4c4-f9eae60be696/IMG_6651.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1730332312439-B5ABWGGAXR8MIWL1G7B9/IMG_6654.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1730332320189-G1CPFA6BCWZCX6CN9TW6/IMG_6657.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f91c688a-d294-43f2-bceb-de4c22ad2e13/IMG_6653.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1730332384164-PKT26A2G90MAPBGZYD0P/IMG_6655.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1730332390728-3NVJ4DIHM5OT9AV9ZHWS/IMG_6652.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1730332399377-TA4IYBLVPRKKSEUD201I/IMG_6656.JPG REVIEWS - MONSTER HUNTER WILDS: OPEN BETA PREVIEW https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/the-last-of-us-part-1-remastered-review-a-lesson-in-hype-management monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a1b2b281-f601-4a43-9ff4-497c999d4f32/IMG_6547.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/12e7bcfb-fa98-42fa-a77f-9e29d7b37271/IMG_6559.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - In preparation for these fights, you'll need to aggressively scrap for ammo, as resources of every kind a scarce. I constantly found myself searching every abandoned house, structure, car, etc...for any resource I could find for fear of being unprepared for battle. In any other shooter, having ten rounds left would be cause to reload, but having ten rounds in this game will have you feeling well prepared. In addition to this, you'll need to make your shots count, as you're never exactly swimming in ammunition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1729110092301-1YC36WO34CS51MG201L1/IMG_6556.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1729110109236-1HQ9TJGROUCNGNURNCZM/IMG_6566.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1729110125523-S84E7419E6WQYFYQQWQS/IMG_6554.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/9d3baee1-15e0-4233-89a5-01e68d677b18/IMG_6550.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - The decision not to explore these questions weakens the overall story and leaves it to serve as a thin backdrop for the main plot surrounding Joel and Ellie's relationship. Perhaps it doesn't matter if Joel and Ellie themselves try to discover the origins and meaning of the sickness, but the absence of this basic information surrounding it removes a level of depth from the story that could have made it feel a lot more robust and complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/58b66827-aa3c-46e3-a0de-8fb45544dd69/IMG_6558.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - In my opinion, these puzzles are a welcome addition to an otherwise very lean gameplay experience, but I'm left struggling with their repetitiveness. Ellie can't swim, meaning whenever you come across a body of water blocking your path, you'll have to find a way to get her across. The solution always involves finding a shipping pallet for Ellie to use as a platform to cross the water with. This means every time I see a shipping pallet, I not only know that it's time for a puzzle, but I also essentially know what the answer to the puzzle is. At one point late in the game, Ellie even remarks on how often these pallets seem to be showing up. I enjoyed this funny little fourth-wall-breaking moment, but it didn't make me enjoy doing these puzzles. I don't hate them, and they aren't too difficult nor will they hinder your progress for too long; I just wish there were a larger variety of non shipping pallet related puzzles to flesh out the gameplay a little further. The saving grace of these puzzles is that they don't overstay their welcome, and they're at least propped up by a story purpose -- that being the fact that Ellie cannot swim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a826aa72-6f5d-4c18-a723-8293dcb806ab/IMG_6564.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - In The Last Of Us Part I, you play as Joel, a jaded father who, through the dire circumstances of the world, connects with Ellie, a tough but vulnerable teenager in a mission to escort her to a group called the Fireflies. What are the dire circumstances that brought them together? The human race has been brought to heel by a "sickness" that has plagued the world. The main crux of the story is seeing Joel and Ellie's relationship strengthen through their mutual goal of survival. Initially, they don't trust each other, but as you work together to journey through a harsh, crumbling world, you'll see their trust in each other grow to a point where you wouldn't have believed that they once wanted nothing to do with each other -- but we'll come back to that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5d4525a5-1722-4f9f-8fb2-a54269f0d2e7/IMG_6565.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cdd878b0-dc39-47c2-949b-d74d8855e973/IMG_6561.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/92ffce1a-cd0c-4ae4-907d-dfa11e96bdea/IMG_6560.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - One of the first moments of growth within Joel and Ellie's relationship comes when the duo comes across a group of gunmen blocking their way forward through a building compound. Up to this point, Joel, imposing his fatherly instincts, has prohibited Ellie from carrying any guns or taking part in any fighting. In trying to find a way to circumvent the group of soldiers, Ellie voices her frustration that if Joel would just give her a gun, she could help them get through. At this moment, Joel gives in and teaches Ellie how to shoot a rifle. As you engage in a firefight below, Ellie provides sniper support from a balcony above, picking off enemies as they attempt to flank Joel. After the battle is won, Ellie asks what Joel thought of the support she provided him. His response? He hands her a pistol and says "how about something a little more your size?". In this moment, we see Joel begin place trust in Ellie to have his back when they are up against the wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4bcea4ff-f96d-4fb1-8079-c00a241f4823/IMG_6545.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT - The story is filled with moments similar to this, each nudging Joel and Ellie closer together as their trust in each other grows. We see Ellie begin to look at Joel like a father figure, and Joel looks at Ellie like a daughter to protect. Throughout my playthrough, seeing these moments of growth were what I looked forward to the most. The combination of excellent writing, incredible facial animation, and remarkably crafted music culminated in deeply emotional moments to experience. These are the moments where The Last Of Us Part I is at its best, and while I still wish Naughty Dog had put more stock into the world-building elements of this game, what they did put into crafting the relationship between Joel and Ellie most certainly did pay off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1729110159213-GDDBTQ07QSM1ERLGB8BH/IMG_6546.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1729110178332-3XI49DHA6EL6S6W2C7GJ/IMG_6563.JPG REVIEWS - THE LAST OF US PART I REMASTERED REVIEW: A LESSON IN HYPE MANAGEMENT https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/the-rts-game-of-my-dreams-the-kunitsu-gami-path-of-the-goddess-review monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1728406313033-Y67AMGBSH2IFFOGR4N3I/f0a3a7e1-9ff3-46c4-9257-05506c35e061.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1728406321766-4UBIF6CQNINBLBBKKY0U/78781205-0a5c-4a92-a204-3ddf5089e8f6.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1728406205565-R2UWTGTBZ2OKUEFHZ0Y5/e649fb03-fa4b-4a7d-9cb6-742d3e8a1fd9.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1728406239123-9ZHNI4TGTMK8UNWX2UEQ/b483ff15-af0d-4c2a-82c5-8fac25bc6158.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/49aa991f-787d-4133-a36a-c353473a6fcf/95a1bdff-aa20-4e64-99ad-90ce7837766d.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - When the night arrives, and the spirit gates open to make way for the Seethe horde, the evening sky turns to black. The music turns from calm to anxiety-inducing. The unsettling blues, reds, and purples of the defilement cover the battlefield. Throughout the battle, you long to survive long enough to return to the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the daytime. It may seem like a small thing, but the yo-yo-ing between feeling safe during the day and intense anxiety during the battles at night is central to the core design of the game—and the art style plays a significant role in that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/df1b1123-51c5-4d98-a6bf-62444b4ce40e/82fc7cb5-2cf3-4bbb-ba28-77d24289c97a.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - Another aspect of Kunitsu Gami that I appreciate is how it goes to great lengths to keep you on your toes with its varied level designs. Just when you think you've gotten comfortable with how each level is laid out, the game will throw a curveball at you, making you rethink your approach entirely. One of the most creative examples of this comes in the handful of levels where you are unable to fight as Soh, relegating you to a position where all you can do is command to your troops. Typically, my strategy is to rush back to Yoshiro when she's in imminent danger to defend her rather than spending time commanding troops to go to her defense. In these levels, I wasn't able to do this, so I had to adjust my entire approach to the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3d1af6a8-4231-4d3a-bb7a-b7db1fd3b887/e3fb21de-053a-4259-81ce-6f08524d9ef4.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - In order for the day and night cycles in Kunitsu Gami to feel effective, they needed to be supported by an art style that expresses the stark difference in each—and it does just that. During the day, the colors are bright and calming, creating a feeling of safety. The music is relaxing and peaceful, almost making you forget about the impending battle coming at night. As the day rolls on, the music starts to become more intense. The calming blue sky turns to dark orange, slowly stripping away your sense of safety and calm until, finally, the night comes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/67505d36-7f9d-41af-a657-d06412ee8965/90688bd5-f366-427f-9a64-5db08335b711.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1044c9d4-ebc9-4f05-925a-46f64c4a6db5/157962bc-6cc0-478b-884d-09fd8107e375.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - When it comes to Soh's combat system, you'd be forgiven for assuming that you could get away with button mashing -- especially given everything you have to juggle in battle. However, this is not the case, as Soh's combat system is based on a button combo system. So, in addition to keeping track of and commanding your troops and defending Yoshiro, you have to consider and memorize button combos to be effective on the battlefield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5dac08c6-f8c7-40d2-9eab-760ea03a2d81/570eace2-7434-4d46-8730-edc07abec99f.png REVIEWS - The RTS GAME OF MY DREAMS - thE KUNITSU gAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS REVIEW - Enter Kunitsu Gami: Path of the Goddess, an RTS/character action adventure that lets you do just that. Rather than only being a god hand strategically leading your troops into battle, each battle's outcome depends on YOUR ability to fight just as much as your ability to command. This leads to a very intense balancing act that you have to maintain, but it also gives you the power of choice: will you turn the tide of battle with your sword, with the swords of your fighters, or both? In Kunitsu Gami, every aspect of battle is put under your control, thanks to Capcom's excellent execution of this core idea. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/blog-post-title-one-4h463 monthly 0.5 2024-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1706123860429-96D4SPBJWUWQV1DGPBG3/69634e2e-e2fc-4e65-bc1c-0ae8410d2201.jpeg REVIEWS - SOLAR ASH IS AWESOME AND it KIND OF REMINDS ME OF…..RETURNAL? QUICK TAKE #1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1706123867043-OPEYN0IAGQYUDL1LCXCC/a2ecb469-20fb-49ff-938a-70b90abaeb84.jpeg REVIEWS - SOLAR ASH IS AWESOME AND it KIND OF REMINDS ME OF…..RETURNAL? QUICK TAKE #1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f977a917-d418-427a-833e-cdd9fa44671e/03c53a49-0c35-4171-b862-f4e006d31293.jpeg REVIEWS - SOLAR ASH IS AWESOME AND it KIND OF REMINDS ME OF…..RETURNAL? QUICK TAKE #1 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/t3zyhtmooiihcnqzhttixfze6sxzsj monthly 0.5 2024-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b5cd7e8a-4c68-4004-9582-a68818669482/PHANTOM+LIBERTY+COVER+%28CDPR.COM.jpeg REVIEWS - THE MYLESOFBACON GAMES TOP 5 GAMES OF 2023 - Make it stand out IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/news/48271/update-to-pc-system-requirements https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/019f3994-a151-4314-bba7-fc586817b6e2/FF16+COVER.jpeg REVIEWS - THE MYLESOFBACON GAMES TOP 5 GAMES OF 2023 - Make it stand out IMAGE SOURCE: https://na.finalfantasyxvi.com/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b127a103-9ed8-4d0f-a43c-88146dfa2283/AC6+-+BANDIANAMCO.COM.jpeg REVIEWS - THE MYLESOFBACON GAMES TOP 5 GAMES OF 2023 - Make it stand out IMAGE SOURCE: https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/armored-core/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1b455807-2203-4991-86af-f51138d641f0/THE_FINALS_KeyArt_C_Character.jpg REVIEWS - THE MYLESOFBACON GAMES TOP 5 GAMES OF 2023 - Make it stand out IMAGE SOURCE: MEDIA KIT PROVIDED BY EMBARK STUDIOS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/775816ce-6992-460a-b852-6e013846dea9/TOTK+COVER+-+NINTENDO+.COM.jpeg REVIEWS - THE MYLESOFBACON GAMES TOP 5 GAMES OF 2023 - Make it stand out IMAGE SOURCE: https://zelda.nintendo.com/tears-of-the-kingdom/ https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/prince-of-persia-the-lost-crown-demo-preview monthly 0.5 2024-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f5c30f08-c1a5-4002-9163-1318ed1e2641/IMG_5425.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview Parrying will also build up a special attack meter, allowing you to perform “Athra Surges,” which are powerful attacks that deal massive damage to enemies. These attacks feature flashy animations with over-the-top takedowns, which do a nice job of shaking up this otherwise familiar feeling combat mechanic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/af721bfa-1d96-4271-b8b9-27b14676fcd4/IMG_5412.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview Traversal feels similar to combat in how smooth and responsive it is. You’ll spend much of your time dodging and weaving your way through all manner of deadly traps. Thankfully, you can be as nimble and agile as you need to be to traverse these areas with finesse. The game rewards you for mastering its movement system, making moving through these spaces feel exciting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1705177822123-IYVDOBEJSIAV25KIX1MA/IMG_5419.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1705177859971-EDN9VK0AVNBI6SOY6DO1/IMG_5415.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8f1daa94-1e2a-412c-baa8-610de554da97/IMG_5433.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview The demo places us on Mount Qaf alongside a few characters we will surely see more of in the full game. We experience slices of their character chemistry, just enough to entice us to want to learn more about them and their relationship with Sargon, our main character. We also learn that Prince Ghassan has been captured and that it is our duty to save him before his life is taken. Beyond this, the demo mainly focuses on showing various environments alongside combat and traversal mechanics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a9674967-bea2-433c-ab4c-2fafb030c0fc/IMG_5432.JPG REVIEWS - Prince of persia: the lost crown demo preview Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will be released on January 18th for $49.99. After having played the demo, I feel this is priced perfectly. This game, at least after first impressions, is fully aware of what it is and what it is trying to achieve. It presents as a creatively balanced reentry for the Prince of Persia series by introducing fresh innovations to the familiar feeling 2D Metroidvania-style platformer while relying mainly on a tight combat and traversal system to push the experience forward. Though the demo didn’t blow me away, I still predict that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will be our first hit of 2024. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-review monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1701888280917-REFOVTMO7NE7J4B36TGS/IMG_5134.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1701888293226-LJY5AH621WYTU4CTCTTN/IMG_5138.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1701888302291-JFJOMYJY6LPLKQ8AS8M1/IMG_5137.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/69b4ebfe-fec5-45a1-a9dd-e0106e5be9c8/IMG_5176.jpeg REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - MW3’s Zombie mode is only available in online multiplayer. There is no way to play it offline. Initially, I was skeptical of the decision to take Zombies online only, as I’m typically wary of any game mode that previously existed offline that later ended up being strictly online. However, seeing how this year’s Zombies mode is based on DMZ, it makes sense that it would be an online-only mode. But does repurposing DMZ for Zombies justify it being online only? It depends on how you feel about DMZ. One could argue that Activision could have used this opportunity to make Zombies open world to create something entirely new from the ground up. Though this argument is valid, I feel the DMZ foundation makes Zombies incredibly fun to play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/79bbdf75-e7cf-46fb-837c-2cf68a6c4c57/IMG_5115.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - If you and your team manage to survive the entire match, you’ll be given the option to fight to an exfill point to end the round. Throughout the match, you’ll pick up valuable weapons and upgrades, and if you want to continue to use them in future matches, you’ll need to successfully exfill with them. When the countdown timer hits, my heart rate begins to shoot through the roof, as the thought of missing the exfill to safety seems pretty terrifying, not to mention it’ll mean the loss of everything I’ve worked so hard to collect throughout the 30+ minute match. You can opt to skip the initial exfill if you’d prefer to keep fighting for more upgrades, but personally, I like to get out when that aether storm starts coming for me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cd983d8d-ecdf-4a8b-be67-59abedd3cec0/IMG_5072.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - It feels like Call of Duty campaigns are getting shorter every year, as it only took me around 6.5 hours to complete two playthroughs of this year’s campaign. However, the issue isn’t so much the length; instead, it was how the story didn’t resolve in any meaningful way. There was no setup for a sequel that may answer important unresolved plot lines and an ending cutscene that felt somewhat forced. Despite this, I feel the campaign was largely successful in what it set out to do: to reimagine a beloved Call of Duty story with the revival of its most memorable antagonist and most popular heroes. Though open combat missions fall a bit short of their potential of pushing the campaign forward in a positive direction, all of its other surrounding elements do just enough to make this year’s story worth experiencing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4312317b-79d2-482a-b4a6-6090546817d3/IMG_5123.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - You’ll load in with a team of three (including yourself) or by yourself if your server doesn’t match you with anyone. If you load in alone, you can go on by yourself or search for other teams to join, as there will usually be a few other teams scattered about the map. Within the first few seconds of the match, zombies will rise up from underground and attack you, as you’d expect. After a few more moments, you’ll see objective markers appear on your map. These objective markers lead you to contracts you’ll complete to gain XP and make story progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e6b88382-b130-4906-b1ec-a7a36971b502/IMG_5066.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - In the mission “Reactor,” we’re tasked with destroying three Konni helicopters that are attempting to make off with lethal gas. On one attempt, I opted for hit-and-run tactics, using an ATV to get close to the helicopters, plant c4, and quickly flee the scene as I would then detonate them from a distance. On another attempt, I opted to fight my way through the enemies guarding the objectives, placing and detonating the c4 once the area was clear. These aren’t the only ways to complete these missions though, as you’ll find many other weapon and gear upgrades as well as various tools geared towards helping you complete your objective however you see fit. If this layout sounds familiar, that’s because it is, as open combat missions use a combination of Warzone and DMZ elements from MW2 as its foundation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/63a748f4-34fc-4d00-9f1c-6adb3520c1cf/IMG_5056.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - The Modern Warfare 2 reboot continued to introduce new and compelling characters like Alejandro Vargas and Phillip Graves while reintroducing the entirety of Task Force 141 and a new version of General Shepard himself. The story was truly exciting, as we see TF141 work with the Mexican Special Forces group to bring down several different antagonists trying to wreak havoc on the world. Though MW2 featured fewer bombastic moments than its predecessor, its tighter focus on TF141 and the drama with Shepard made for an exciting story with many twists and turns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/94b3437a-db2f-4609-b24d-78328623454f/IMG_5128.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/63c6fa36-ca47-4fd9-8d1d-f0b3adeb04fb/IMG_5058.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5b646679-5d6b-47ba-9bb2-90b3f81c6a53/IMG_5081.jpg REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5a620ec3-569c-4843-b226-f4f5dea8618e/IMG_5140.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - 2019’s Modern Warfare attempted to bring the original games into the current modern age of shooters. It did so by reintroducing beloved classic characters like Captain Price and Gaz while introducing new and compelling ones like Alex Keller and Farah Karim. We also experienced a deeper, more nuanced style of storytelling that blurred the lines between those fighting the wars and the people who are impacted by them. This title struck a great balance between the big, bombastic moments we expect from Call of Duty and the slower, more tactical, and confined experiences of the Task Force 141 missions. It set the stage and created the momentum that was carried forward by the Modern Warfare 2 reboot that would follow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/bfa05a0b-cbe2-45f7-a5a2-2e1723e83286/IMG_5106.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ef76decb-d5a1-4b1e-96a5-08ced79471ac/IMG_5095.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Speaking of Shepard, his egotistic anit-hero like qualities are in full effect in MW3, complicating this otherwise straightforward good vs bad story. His ambiguous positioning is best illustrated during the “Frozen Tundra” mission, where he’s inadvertently rescued from a hostage convoy by TF141, who were tipped off about a Konni group prisoner transport. In this tense scene, Captain Price asks him, “Is there a single shit show you are not a part of?” At the end of the mission, we see TF141, along with Laswell and Farah press him for information that may lead to Makarov’s capture. Shepard is hesitant to give it, as doing so goes against serving his own self-interests. He’s a man who “needs his name on a win,” using Graves, Laswell, and even TF141 to make that happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e64a489d-f7b6-4e61-8542-e11d735a49da/IMG_5064.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Modern Warfare 3 trades the momentum created by its predecessors for a play at nostalgic storytelling by bringing back Vladimir Makarov, the main antagonist of the original MW2 and MW3 games. This story doesn’t focus on introducing new characters; instead, it creates a singular focus on the familiar villain. This hard focus on Makarov works simply because of who he is, or rather, who he was in the original story - a ruthless extremist whose cold and calculated tactics made for a genuinely compelling villain. I really enjoyed this focus on him, as it served as the vehicle that made the reboot story compelling. So, while I certainly missed the established cadence of new character introductions, the gamble to instead put all of that focus on Makarov mostly pays off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/de789b0a-f138-4611-98c9-f6bd5b08321d/IMG_5139.JPG REVIEWS - Call of duty: modern warfare 3 - review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/gunbrella monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ad789fd7-daa1-426f-89be-07544ca64620/IMG_4934.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/27168a10-63e6-4f91-8904-04a23ab8f21a/IMG_4943.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Nothing illustrates the state of the world quite like the stark difference in color between Avalon and the rest of the cities. Avalon is bright and full of life, making the outside world seem lifeless by comparison. Moving through this space feels like you’ve made it to heaven, while running from the wraiths in the underworld feels like being in hell by comparison. Rarely have I felt such an impact from the use of a color palette alone when moving between different spaces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/dfaee0bc-2f72-4303-b6ea-bc117fea4b1f/IMG_4945.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Though your own Gunbrella's history is deep, actually using it is simple and fun! Initially, you’ll start the game with only shotgun shells. As you continue through the story, you’ll gain the ability to purchase ammunition upgrades. You’ll then be able to use your Gunbrella to shoot flames, grenades, long-ranged rifle rounds, and more. These ammo options keep combat fresh but simple while giving you different ways to strategize the fight against enemies and bosses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/23a0f75a-7d65-47d3-90e5-899eead2b448/IMG_4928.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/df979436-ea9f-4feb-80a6-55c964321ac9/IMG_4935.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Right away, we’re given more questions than answers, and with that, Gunbrella draws us in with little time wasted. Of course, the big question looming over us is, who killed our wife and stole our child? But layered underneath, or perhaps purposely overshadowed, is the deeper question of who we’re supposed to be. The answer to this question doesn’t initially matter, but as we begin to peel back the layers of the story and the world we’re in, understanding who we are helps us understand everything else around us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/40a3223f-dfe4-4a0e-b9c8-2187a7537bba/IMG_4916.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cefb937d-4429-413c-a32d-9fa39e066ceb/IMG_4922.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - The Church of the Sun believes that the world's monsters exist as a punishment for the sin of man and the existence of Avalon, the idealistic paradise sucking the last of the world's resources into one place, leaving everyone in the outside world to die. These monstrosities reveal themselves during boss fights and become increasingly grotesque as the world worsens, as they are meant to represent the personification of sin itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2c302544-4670-4df5-b62e-71fe26a53b4b/IMG_4918+%281%29.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Believe it or not, the Gunbrella is good for more than just shooting; it also doubles as a traversal tool that you can glide, zipline, and dash with. Movement already feels good, but the traversal capabilities of your Gunbrella take it to another level. Add to this the ability to parry with the Gunbrella open, and you have a true jack-of-all-trades tool at your disposal. Doinksoft could have easily made each aspect of the Gunbrella into its own separate tool or weapon, but combining all of them into one is part of what makes this game and its combat-traversal system so unique and satisfying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3e0bce92-e622-46a9-81e2-ca80aa9a5748/IMG_4925.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - It’s interesting, then, how we don’t seek to answer this question. In a sense, we're a bystander to those who struggle to find the answer, an outsider looking in without the need to find the answer for ourselves. Perhaps our humanity was lost when our daughter was taken, and our wife was killed. In any case, the struggle to deal with sin is equally as present as the question of humanity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3291ce0a-ec9f-45aa-ba35-48abf75ae73f/IMG_4931.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Engaging in conversation with any character was always entertaining. Everyone from Marle, the leader of the Scrapper Gang, to the money hungry Merchant, to everyone in between brings Gunbrella to life through their extremely well-written dialogue. Even as the Parasol Gunmen were constantly reminding me that I was nothing more than a worm, I couldn’t help but feel entertained by these tense exchanges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e7f023e5-a843-4fa9-ba01-4e56f98bb800/IMG_4921.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/10b34d60-c0ea-4f45-b767-537a4c3bef09/IMG_4930.jpeg REVIEWS - Gunbrella: Review - At first, the Gunbrella seems like just a shotgun that doubles as an umbrella. (Which is pretty cool). However, as we investigate the weapon deeper, we learn that it is so much more than that in terms of combat capabilities and story purpose. The Gunbrella is not only a weapon but a status symbol held by those who are meant to “protect.” People revere this weapon and the individuals who wield it, as they are seen as high society individuals. The history of your own Gunbrella is also something that you must unravel on your journey. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/the-finals-open-beta-preview monthly 0.5 2023-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1699462173276-DCG69CWROH8WLSMLYR48/IMG_4863.jpeg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1699462193536-D06TUQBIBD1MJ52FUBTN/IMG_4820.jpeg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cc7478b3-528a-401b-a84f-5767b2be9f7e/IMG_4860.jpeg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5bcee985-9e6a-41e8-b0d8-1c5a358e59fd/THE_FINALS_Concept_001_1400x787.jpg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview - This open beta’s melee weapons featured a sword, a sledgehammer, and a riot shield, and while each of these weapons can expand your play style in numerous ways, they fall a bit short of feeling satisfying to use. Landing a hit, particularly with the sword or sledgehammer, feels floaty, somewhat lacking the feel of the physical impact they create. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c0741169-3f6e-4474-b43f-480a7bf6cd38/THE_FINALS_Landscape_02.gif REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview - However, despite how stunning Seoul and Monaco look, it felt like there wasn’t much differentiating these spaces from each other, other than one map being a series of high-rise offices and the other being a residential European neighborhood. I admit this is a nitpick, given that this was an open beta offering, but the lack of unique location elements left me wanting more. Although the night versions of each map do add some variety, they don’t quite satiate the desire for a wholly unique experience within them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/5decc29a-0ea4-4d36-995c-2fafe7003060/THE_FINALS_Wallpaper_CB_Up_We_Go_2880x1620.jpg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview Presenting tactical options are retractable bridges that can be used to cut off the advancement of an enemy team or a lift that can be used to get to higher floors of the roofs of buildings. Some levels have barricades that allow you to block off entire areas until someone comes along and deactivates them. These things make each map feel interactive, and I can’t wait to see how they evolve in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1be68561-c7c7-4028-9b42-cc87d90d30e3/THE_FINALS_Concept_006_TakeCover_2880x1620.jpg REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview - According to Digital Trends, Embark Studios say they can achieve this impressive level of in-game destruction due to it all taking place within their servers. This means that in addition to being of high quality, every player will always experience the same level of destruction. The inclusion of server-side destruction significantly adds to the overall experience of each match, and I’m incredibly excited to see it evolve in live service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1699731613833-FTA6WP40C9KMIFROD3X1/THE_FINALS_Promo_ISEULT_Candy_4.png REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1699731632426-XQH98PDGM207LPESOR0J/THE_FINALS_Promo_OSPUZE_Candy_01_1920x1080.png REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1699731642957-LDEIIHUET745FC1440V2/THE_FINALS_Promo_OSPUZE_Candiii_.png REVIEWS - The finals open beta: preview https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/blog-post-title-cyberpunk-2077-phantom-liberty-review monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698720857628-MZCSJCHRW8WUADD7DP79/IMG_4751.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698720874295-H8WEVXY56593PD7GKUTG/IMG_4748.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/dd5eaff0-1411-41f8-8246-46022986c9cf/IMG_4737.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - You’ll start by doing your standard Cyberpunk side gigs (which are truly never simple affairs) to help hands establish a presence as a fixer in the area. At one point, he trades blueprints to the Black Sapphire in exchange for you doing said side gigs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/728af2df-e210-42bd-a8bc-56904d9aa0f0/IMG_4637.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - After sneaking in through the border, we’re introduced to the underground market, which illustrates the pure density and detail that went into crafting these environments. We’re also introduced to the false sense of community perpetuated by Hansen here, as we see kids selling weapons, people in rags struggling to survive, and the remnants of a war-torn stadium, all while Hansen spouts propaganda over a loudspeaker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/987e68f7-aa73-4e0c-a13a-29b65e103c31/IMG_4705.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - As I mentioned earlier, the push-and-pull storytelling of Phantom Liberty is so good that I couldn’t make a decision for the ending until the last minute. During my first play-through, I opted to help Songbird to see if she would keep her end of the promise to help rid V of Soulkiller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0a9afe9d-13c9-475b-98c0-69a57103da84/IMG_4773.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - The rebalancing of the perk and skill trees has had a profound impact on the entire game. However, these changes are taken further in the Phantom Liberty expansion. Songbird, through her mysterious connection to the relic, gives you the ability to add and upgrade skills to the biochip. You can upgrade these skills by finding hidden Militech terminals around Dogtown that contain upgrade points. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/48f9fcee-fb0b-4f94-b0af-47f016456786/IMG_4735.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - We always hear about “corpos” holding on to all the wealth, leaving everyone else dry, but it’s always framed abstractly. In Dogtown, we can put a face and a name to the wealth disparity. This seemed like an intentional choice by CDPR to lean into what it’s like to exist in Night City. Either you’re making it or not, and there isn’t much grey area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/428ba4b4-0dd5-4ebd-84d5-91aa800c53e1/IMG_4767.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a6ae3f6c-8f5b-48eb-ba89-c67f75eeb78f/IMG_4636.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - For example, when V first meets Songbird's hologram outside the Dogtown gate, they learn that she can not only see Johnny but also interact with him. She even goes so far as to mute him so she can talk to V alone through the biochip. Since Johnny and Songbird both exist in cyberspace, perhaps Johnny could have played a more significant role in the search mission to find her. Of course, Johnny has no netrunning skills to speak of to make this happen, but it’s fun to imagine how that could have impacted the story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/2c2c2582-9f4b-4de8-ab5e-da0e4981a479/IMG_4654.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6cd6eb67-c794-48f5-8a38-ae5e117a865a/IMG_4749.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - From here, Reed helps V get the surgery to remove the biochip from their head, wiping Johnny for good. The consequence of this is that V can no longer use combat implants, meaning the merc life they once knew and loved was gone. This point is illustrated during the “A Face In The Crowd” ending, where we’re shown how V can’t defend themselves from two low-life thugs trying to rob them. Misty then helps V come to grips with being an average person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/223ccb4a-71dd-4bdc-afed-90cf4e612537/IMG_4650.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/544a05e0-4869-459e-b31b-e26c220d0a67/IMG_4681.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - During the later part of the “You know my name” mission, you’re tasked with helping Alex capture the data needed to create behavioral imprints of Aurore and Cassel, the pair of twins that Hansen plans to buy the neural matrix access codes from. This is a tense mission where you have to navigate a conversation with them in a way that keeps them engaged long enough for Alex to complete her scans but not so engaged that they become suspicious of your intentions. This part of the mission is RPG conversational decision-making at its finest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c5c99d3b-26b2-468d-95b9-b17f86ceea7c/IMG_4759.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - When I first got into a vehicle modded for car combat, I felt like I had just climbed into a tank. This is a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is that you’re made to feel powerful stepping into one of these. The smaller vehicles will have hood-mounted machine guns, but some of the bigger vehicles will include rocket launchers as secondary weapons. Engaging in combat with these vehicles feels very satisfying since you can easily mow down tons of enemies at once with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e0c5b691-47f1-43a0-b149-65203665bf97/IMG_4768.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3ea8bfdb-3ef3-43ea-99ef-4f52bc659184/IMG_4656.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - He explains that once the establishments have their hooks in you, they’ll never let you go free. Through this dialogue, Johnny essentially frames the reality of Songbird’s situation before we can even come to grips with it ourselves. I think this is a higher and more engaging level of writing than what we saw in the base game that really captures the quality of Phantom Liberty’s storytelling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b5830810-4a03-468e-8268-3a5d3f83181f/IMG_4754.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/82083e62-967e-4d1d-890c-429ec6d69fa3/IMG_4633.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - The border scene introduces us to The Barghest, Hansen’s Dogtown enforcement squad. As we watch the Barghest screen people trying to get through the border, we hear Hansen on a loudspeaker warning those trying to enter about the rules in a dictator-like fashion, showing how the ideals of one man completely control this community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698721677703-KULOZ49VD5CJAWXDS20A/IMG_4652.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698721756688-0H5HLZ98R19WNWWLH042/IMG_4698.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698721814481-N80VHCPQXF8OGKIWPDK3/IMG_4653.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1698721857079-I7CC4GGO1WAB2MXAQK3E/IMG_4669.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e4ee500c-7c60-41d5-a88a-89f9b8fb1555/IMG_4690+%281%29.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/aae3e285-124f-4416-92d4-a044d6295b92/IMG_4753+%281%29.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/029da874-a0a5-48a0-8870-4e7440a2e712/IMG_4662.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Dynamic events like the “Hansen drops,” where care packages occasionally fall from the sky out of nowhere, are a thrill to participate in. You’ll have to fight through Dogtown residents and Barghest soldiers to get to them. These fights feel like a competitive multiplayer shooter where everyone is rushing to steal the same objective. Once you make it to the drop, you’re rewarded with a hefty amount of loot if you can crack the hacking sequence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d3e86f86-e20e-4101-9c71-71bdba76d14e/IMG_4641.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d91e3259-6e48-40c8-ba9f-d9db04458314/IMG_4703.jpeg REVIEWS - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review - During the “Firestarter” mission, we put the behavioral imprint to the test by using it to infiltrate the Dogtown stadium and rescue Songbird. By impersonating Aurore and Cassel with the imprint, we’re able to fool Hansen and the Barghest with little trouble. That little trouble comes during the couch conversation as he casually brings up facts from our past. It’s a tense part of the mission where we must refer to our info card to answer questions carefully to avoid arousing his suspicion. https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Online+Multiplayer monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Live+Service monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/First+Person+Shooter monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/RPG monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Action+Adventure monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Open+World monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Gaming monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/2D+Sidescroller monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/category/Indie+Games monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/%232dplatformer monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/indiegame monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/%23doinksoft monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/%23fps monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/%23liveservice monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/reviews/tag/%23steamdeck monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides daily 0.75 2023-12-01 https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/gunbrella-baby-boss-guide monthly 0.5 2023-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4f1914a3-71b9-4fee-bde6-850077f9ec2f/IMG_4940.jpeg BACON GUIDES - Gunbrella : “Baby” boss guide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/how-to-defeat-kurt-hansen monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f6a04e26-e7a2-4fc2-b89a-cffbeebb9d38/IMG_4594+%281%29.jpeg BACON GUIDES - CYBERPUNK: How to defeat kurt hansen - After you trigger this ending, Hansen will kill Alex, and Songbird will attempt to kill you using powers from beyond the black wall but won’t quite get the job done. From here, you’ll begin pursuing her after you come to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3e856d08-8d37-4e9b-a7f2-1ca28927bf75/IMG_4611.jpeg BACON GUIDES - CYBERPUNK: How to defeat kurt hansen - While pursuing Songbird, you’ll have to fight through dozens of Barghest soldiers. After clearing the first room of enemies, up the stairs past the balcony, you’ll find a locker that has fallen to the middle of the floor. This is the same locker you deposited your gear into when you first arrived at the stadium, so you’ll want to make sure you pick your stuff back up as you’ll need it for the fights ahead. Reed will also remind you to pick up your gear, but in the heat of the pursuit, it's easy to miss his reminder from the holo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/3e5fd06b-b10b-4898-b412-1755adadedc4/IMG_4601.JPG BACON GUIDES - CYBERPUNK: How to defeat kurt hansen - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/216129e9-e0a6-4226-ae19-0836255e0961/IMG_4712+%281%29.jpeg BACON GUIDES - CYBERPUNK: How to defeat kurt hansen - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d0865481-f37f-4116-9a3a-0626c15f79ad/IMG_4606.jpeg BACON GUIDES - CYBERPUNK: How to defeat kurt hansen - After you’ve fought through all the Barghest soldiers, you’ll come to a room with a closed garage door. You’ll be prompted to approach it. When you do, a smoke grenade will be tossed at you. https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/category/Boss+Guide monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/category/Indie+Game monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/tag/indiegame monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/bacon-guides/tag/%23bossguide monthly 0.5 https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes daily 0.75 2025-12-15 https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/what-is-it-like-to-attend-the-game-awards-in-person monthly 0.5 2025-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1765836747411-B25CZF6415FNGF7R8KXF/IMG_9391+%281%29.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1765837046348-C4HC72XF1E7AZT2GGMXO/IMG_9428.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f19aa5e3-4ed8-4549-8667-5af26fb5efc8/IMG_9379.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? - I'll be forever glad that I made my dream of coming to the Game Awards come true. It wasn't easy. It took a year of logistical to make it happen, but it was all done out of a love of this medium and a desire to continue diving deeper and deeper into it. In some weird way, today's gaming landscape has us more connected than we've ever been while remaining a hobby that is largely enjoyed in isolation. LAN parties are (unfortunately) no longer the norm, and more and more people are meeting up with their squads online rather than getting together on the couch to play. Attending the Game Awards has broken down that wall for me. It served as a place to come together with fans equally as passionate as I am to celebrate one of the best art forms on the planet. From seeing advertisements for games like Arc Raiders out in the public spaces near the theatre, to watching as the world reacted to new and upcoming titles, attending the Game Awards reminded me of just how strong the gaming community is. Sure, between buying the tickets, traveling to L.A., and grabbing a hotel, it was not a cheap venture. However, if you're an enthusiast who cares about what's going on in the industry, then attending the show in person is well worth the price of admission. Go to the show. You will not regret it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/ec6501da-981d-4be0-98ca-9c033da13556/IMG_9367.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? - The Peacock Theatre opened its doors at 3:30 PT, and when my partner and I arrived just 15 minutes later, the line had already extended all the way back to Figueroa Street. For those unfamiliar with the area, that's a really long way. Looking out at the line ahead, I noticed two types of fans: those dressed in a mix of formal and semi-formal attire for the event, and those dressed in Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 cosplay. With the game's booming popularity, seeing an army of red berets certainly didn't come as a surprise. It began to make even more sense when much of the Sandfall Interactive team arrived dressed to the nines in the game's much-beloved "Baguette" outfit. It almost felt like Sandfall put out a memo to fans attending the awards to show out in their best Expedition fashion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/f4102ad1-f55f-4fdc-bd71-4f7923c941bf/IMG_9371.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? - As we shuffled into the theatre, the energy around us began to rise exponentially. Being surrounded by countless excited gaming fans alongside popular gaming YouTubers like Kit and Krysta and the GameSpot crew, I couldn't help but stop and think, 'We're actually here at the Game Awards, this is actually real". However, it was when we finally made it to our seats that the magnitude of this venture truly began to set in. Those who have watched the show on YouTube will no doubt be familiar with TGA's bombastic, Grammy-esque style of presentation, but playing witness to the size and scope of the stage design in person revealed just how big and impressive this production really is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/6ade867b-25ee-4653-b4a1-c0149d32ce44/IMG_9381.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? - Though the presentation of the awards is a notably smaller portion of this ceremony, witnessing this tradition in person turned out to be an unexpectedly powerful experience. I can recall watching as Jennifer English gave a passionate speech about strength and belonging when she accepted her award for best performance during the Golden Joysticks, and feeling moved by her words coming through the screen. However, when I experienced her give a similar acceptance speech during the Game Awards, it felt as though her words were cutting right through me. Her message reverberated through the room like thunder and captivated the hearts of everyone in the audience, especially those in the red beret army. It was something I came to appreciate more and more as the night went on, resulting in a deeper appreciation for this medium and the people who keep it turning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0666488e-2f37-4fb4-8ead-08cbeefcce51/IMG_9382.jpeg QUICK TAKES - what’s it like to attend the game awards in person? - Despite the valleys, I walked away from this year's show buzzing from its many peaks, and even more so the feeling of experiencing those peaks in person. Hearing murmurs of excitement build into thunderous cheering from people around me as a mysterious announcement would unfold into an exciting reveal felt like playing witness to a volcano erupting. I'll never forget the feeling of watching the crowd react to Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic, or seeing Resident Evil fans cheer as if they'd won the lottery during Resident Evil Requiem's Leon S. Kennedy character reveal. And that Divinity announcement trailer? Let’s just say that there was a feeling of unsteady, yet powerful excitement in the air for what we had all just witnessed. The thing is, being in the room amongst fellow gaming fans during these special moments is winning the lottery. In a world where the vast majority of our social interaction, especially in the world of gaming, takes place within the digital realm, physically being a part of this energy not only feels amazing, but is also important. https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/the-2025-mobg-game-of-the-year-nominees monthly 0.5 2025-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/dcae3eee-9927-4122-9644-4d0bec4b791b/Image+12-7-25+at+2.16%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/cecf5686-1d17-46bd-a4f6-55b8ecc33671/ba08d42ca97ad050e653b7eda937dca69e560a707eb03dd4.jpg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/d3acefcf-c4a6-4d9c-9da8-54d77c535192/Image+12-7-25+at+2.10%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8ca1d76e-a7db-48e1-82b5-b8887d723a15/Image+12-7-25+at+2.12%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/a7528074-4f1c-4edf-bbec-fb2e7ebe7f2e/Image+12-7-25+at+2.14%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1760557805946-UJQGS6KSRXWE6GBTHAB7/My+Hopes+and+Dreams+For.png QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1301911f-7488-49c6-974d-3061b0271f0b/Image+12-7-25+at+2.03%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c1252d6c-3a60-4dd8-9207-07e35f6f5f5b/Image+12-7-25+at+2.07%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/118c5a1e-5680-49bd-9dbd-93575bfe4ef4/Image+12-7-25+at+2.13%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/523a9df2-2ee2-470a-b2f6-3bdc75a535b8/Image+12-7-25+at+2.04%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - the 2025 m.o.b.g. game of the year nominees - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/ten-games-to-know-me-quick-take-8 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/982f746a-9ec3-473d-9bdc-3f48630bef65/Image+11-20-25+at+12.27%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - So far, this article has been laid out as a chronological recounting of my journey through gaming. As you can see from the prior games appearing on this list, I did not spend my early childhood playing shooters. However, that all changed when my brother returned home from a trip to GameStop with a copy of Battlefield: Bad Company. Perhaps it was the smiley face grenade pin on the game's box art that convinced my parents this was a friendlier alternative to the grittier shooters of the day, because up to that point, they were not keen on my brother and I playing violent games. I suppose that in a way, they may have been right on the mark with that line of thinking, because Bad Company's focus on telling a humorous story with a cast of characters akin to what you'd find in a sitcom certainly took the edge off of its inherent violence. Bad Company features a band of misfits who, instead of facing jail time for their crimes, are given the option of serving as grunts in the military. When a routine mission reveals an opportunity for the group to obtain obscene wealth, they break ranks to pursue it, making them an enemy of both the U.S. military and the game's antagonist army, the Legionnaire Mercenary group. The only negative in my experience with Bad Company was that it led me to believe that it was completely normal for military shooters to present as sitcoms. Not only was Bad Company my first shooter, but it also served as my first foray into online multiplayer. Featuring Battlefield's distinct brand of all-out warfare, its online multiplayer was as challenging as it was epic. I can remember using a golf cart to outrun tanks in Par for the Course, or rushing with my squad through a maze of buildings to diffuse a bomb in Gold Rush, like it was yesterday. I was never as good as I wanted to be at Battlefield: Bad Company, but when I think about the game today, I remember it for daring to be comical and light-hearted in a genre often steeped in gritty reality. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c5f106ec-a101-43b7-aac4-d28cb5b438f9/Image+11-20-25+at+12.25%E2%80%AFPM+%281%29.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - I would like to take this opportunity to thank whoever gifted me Kirby Air Ride when I was a kid. You could have gone with Madden or Mario Kart: Super Circuit, or any of the many other popular choices taking up the early 2000s gaming spotlight. But instead, you saw the game with the little pink puff ball furiously riding atop warp star on the cover and thought, "yeah, this is the one". It is not an exaggeration to say that I have been playing Kirby Air Ride for 20 years, as even when gaming took a major back seat in my life for many years, I’d still power up the old warp star from time to time. This is owed in no small part to the endless replay-ability baked into its City Trial game mode, which can best be described as a collect-a-thon mixed with one of the earliest iterations of battle-royale. There's just something so addicting about running around City Trial's multi-biome map and collecting items to turn your riding machine into an overpowered beast capable of dominating any post-match stadium event. Whether I've got 20 minutes to spare or hours upon hours to waste, Kirby Air Ride's City Trial always delivered a memorable, everlasting, top-shelf gaming experience. I'm still pinching myself that we got a sequel to this niche cult-classic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/b7c80da8-a37f-4866-bdc6-73c83ce8845c/Image+11-20-25+at+12.30%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Ask any gamer who played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 back in '09, and they'll tell you that you simply had to be there to understand how glorious the experience was. MW2 is the greatest military shooter of all time, and I will not be taking any questions. It featured a legendary hype cycle with trailer collaborations from icons like Eminem, making it the must-buy video game of the 2009 holiday season. Picking up right where MW1's story left off, MW2 dialed the heat up to 11 by bringing an invasion to America's shores. Fighting enemy forces to take back the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., or fighting to take back an occupied suburban neighborhood on the streets of Virginia, broke barriers for 13-year-old Myles, as up to that point, no other shooter I had experienced dared to bring the fight home in this way. Just as daring and even more epic was the multiplayer experience -- propped up by what I still consider to be the best feeling gunplay to date, paired with a legendary suite of maps whose quality has yet to be surpassed. I cut my teeth in Rust, learned how to check corners in Favela, and fought in countless corridor firefights in Terminal. In my opinion, there's no greater proof of MW2's legendary status in the pantheon of multiplayer shooters than Activision's efforts to recreate that magic in the 2022 reboot. Like I said, you just had to be there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/76d8a648-6bb6-447e-9735-eaf642bbc463/Image+11-20-25+at+12.25%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Let me paint the picture for you with this one. It's Christmas 2003, and my brother and I just finished unwrapping presents. We rush to the GameCube to try out the new snowboarding game Mom and Dad stuffed in our stockings while we were asleep. I remember sitting on the floor next to my brother in front of the TV, watching as he tore through the peak 1 back country for the first time. I was completely mesmerized, as few things in my life up to that point looked as cool as nailing an uber trick in SSX3 did. Ever since that Christmas, I've made it a personal tradition to revisit this game every holiday season, and in what is perhaps one of my most impressive life achievements, I can proudly say that for 22 straight years, come holiday season, I've come back again and again to carve up that beautiful mountain. A wildly successful product of EA's long-dormant BIG sports label, SSX3 boasted an undeniable style that made the player feel as cool as their rider, even if they didn't have the skill to back it up. The tricks were ridiculous, and the physics were way ahead of their time. It reminds me of a time when video games were all about the fun-factor, focusing on creating wacky, bombastic, and out-of-this-world experiences that served as a welcome departure from the real world. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to love about the modern design sensibilities of today's games, but there's something about the spirit of SSX3 and the other EA BIG sports games that feels like an irreplaceable moment in time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4a0e0227-9605-4d70-8409-68df4627c987/Image+11-20-25+at+12.33%E2%80%AFPM+%281%29.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - How did a game that I had no prior touch points for, and no history with its genre, go on to be my 2023 game of the year? The answer is simple: the game is just so cool. I actually didn't like the game at first, as its kinetic, fast-paced combat and cold, distant style of storytelling felt overly obtuse. But once its formula finally clicked with me, I went from nearly writing the game off entirely to creating spreadsheets to plan out my favorite builds in excruciating detail. The most impressive thing about AC6 is its unrivaled depth of customization. From custom decals that allow you to make your mech uniquely your own, to the nearly endless combinations of weapons you can equip, the only limits that exist in the game are the ones created by your own imagination. AC6 also features two of my favorite characters in all of video games: Rusty and Handler Walter. Rusty always felt like a big brother, swooping in during pivotal moments to fight by your side and give you the confidence boost you needed to take down imposing enemies. Patrick Seitz, who happens to be my favorite voice actor, delivers a commanding and captivating performance as Handler Walter that elevates the game to great heights. What really cemented this game as one of my all-time favorites was its thematic structure. In AC6, you play as a morally ambiguous mercenary who must decide whether to support the establishment corporations or fight with the resistance to save Rubicon. Regardless of the decisions you make, you'll be faced with consequences that force you to come to terms with your path in a deep and impactful way. Two years later, I'm still reeling from the fallout of some of my choices. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/987e2fc1-c42d-4f0e-b05f-fd664ae84317/Image+11-20-25+at+12.31%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - After taking a long break from gaming in my teens, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the one that reeled me back in. Its breathtaking open world, combined with its unique zen and solitary atmosphere, was unlike anything I had experienced before, and I've yet to experience anything like it since. For a long time, this WAS my all-time favorite game, and one that I would constantly recommend to both passionate and casual gamers alike with obsessive fervor. It boasts the open world, which to me felt like a truly limitless playground for adventuring. I can still recall the feeling of genuine wonder I felt when arriving at the vast Gerudo Desert for the first time, or the feeling of shock I would feel discovering a hidden area that I had yet to stumble across, even after 100 hours of playing. The combat was challenging yet rewarding, and featured a weapon degradation system that always kept me on my toes. Quite frankly, I could go on and on discussing the reasons why I feel that Breath of the Wild is the perfect game, but there are other games to get to! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/fb16c309-2880-43cd-9fc1-d676bde621ba/Image+11-20-25+at+12.34%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Most people wouldn't consider a game about power washing dirt to be a system seller, but for me, it almost was. When PowerWash Simulator launched in 2022 as an Xbox and PC exclusive, the PS5 was my main and only console, and for a while, I found myself tempted to buy an Xbox just so I could play this game. Eventually, though, I got my hands on it and became just as obsessed as I thought I would be. In fact, it's one of the few games I own on every system I have. PowerWash Simulator never tried to be a game about showing you what it's like to live a day in the life of a professional power washer. Instead, it's just a game about chillin’ out and cleaning some dirt. That's it. The sound of the washer mixed with the visual splendor of neatly erasing dirt from the game's variety of landscapes created a flow state experience that is a genuine struggle to break away from. One of my favorite things about this game is that it features a hilarious amount of dirt to clean. Whether it be a small car or an entire playground, these areas look like a dirt tornado ran through and dumped every ounce of its waste on them for you to clean. As imposing as some of these jobs were, the game was always a fun and relaxing experience. I love a good podcast game, and I struggle to find a better one than this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/e6cca73b-dab7-4fba-94cc-ecf999e4aad5/Image+11-20-25+at+12.35%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Before playing Octopath Traveler, the only turn-based pixel-art JRPG I had played was Sea of Stars, and while I enjoyed that game, it didn't necessarily inspire me to explore the genre further. However, by the time I rolled the final credits on the Octopath Traveler, I felt ready to become a full-on JRPG snob. Octopath Traveler features some of the best vocal performances (shoutout again to Patrick Seitz as Olberic), best art direction, best music, and best combat I've ever experienced in a video game. I'll admit, the game has its issues, such as story and dialogue structure that at times hurt the game more than they help it, but those things are easily forgiven thanks to just how remarkable the rest of the package is. It's a game that rewards you for immersing yourself in its deep, complex systems, while also remaining approachable for those new to the genre. I absolutely adore this game, and will forever scream from the rooftops about just how wonderful it is. For me, this game is the start of my JRPG journey, and I implore you to start yours here as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/4bb5aa4c-9627-4bcb-9031-a18e54460aae/Image+11-20-25+at+12.24%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Let's start from the very beginning with what is literally the earliest life memory I can recount. It's 2001, and my Grandma has just gifted my brother and I a GameCube bundled with Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Little did I know that this game featuring two beefing super-powered hedgehogs and their animal compatriots would kick off a lifelong love for the gaming medium. Sonic's infectious enthusiasm clashing with Shadow's jaded, moody persona resulted in a compelling narrative that somehow found a permanent place in my little four-year-old heart. Moments like City Escape's iconic skateboard intro, or the hair-raising moment where Sonic and Shadow go super to take down the Biolizard, became core memories that I still hold dear to this day. What’s more, Crush 40's iconic, heart-pounding soundtrack wound itself into my very DNA, with Live and Learn serving as one of my earliest musical influences. Throughout the years, I've continued to play this game on several platforms with friends spanning multiple phases of my life, which just goes to show the enduring impact it has had on me as a gamer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/c23fe33b-1308-4012-a774-2c4744fb1bce/Image+11-20-25+at+12.33%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - ten games to know me - Introducing the game that dethroned Breath of the Wild as my favorite game of all-time after a powerful six-year run: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. A few years ago, I asked a friend how one even goes about getting into a series featuring 16 main-line entries. His answer was simple: Start with FF7. Following his advice, I kicked off my first-ever Final Fantasy adventure with FF7 Remake. The game didn't blow me away, but I still enjoyed it enough to feel excited about jumping into FF7: Rebirth. What began as a somewhat cautious foray into part two of this remake trilogy turned into an obsessive 300-hour adventure that would spur me into chasing my first platinum trophy. Yes, I'll be the first to admit that Rebirth is a fairly bloated experience, but I saw that bloat as remarkable ambition. Its open-world design, despite borrowing from Ubisoft's infamous tower-based formula, was deeply engaging, wonderfully varied, and felt lovingly hand-crafted. The game's characters feature some of the most diverse, interesting, and well-written casts I've ever had the privilege of adventuring with, and it boasts the deepest, most well-thought-out combat system I've contended with. From the hours-long quest line devoted just to Queen's Blood, to the relentlessly tough battle simulator, and everything in between, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is a game that just feels endless in the best way possible. The question now is this: how can the trilogy's finale follow up on this masterpiece? https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/do-you-need-a-living-room-pc-quick-take-7 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/82de14fb-7d90-45e0-aec8-15e0e93f0cae/Image+11-13-25+at+1.41%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1763063700571-0NLKFWT9H8IAHDKRMXS5/Image+11-13-25+at+1.40%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1763063705372-B6H9DT3XO24ZOS4EJ9VI/Image+11-13-25+at+1.44%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/76508066-fa78-45b4-9c59-a9cf103141fa/Image+11-13-25+at+1.42%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/30d23a2c-0e76-400e-82f6-6b00f5c3f459/Image+11-13-25+at+1.41%E2%80%AFPM+%282%29.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/7390084e-c357-4f1e-a02c-aec9eb7c21f8/Image+11-13-25+at+1.43%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - do you need a living room pc? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/recapping-the-2nd-kirby-airriders-direct-quick-take-4 monthly 0.5 2025-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/8707b101-792d-40c6-b60b-f830625a98a1/Image+10-24-25+at+2.43%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - Also making a welcome return are all nine race courses from AirRide, fleshing out the race selection to 18! AirRide is pretty low on my list of modes to try out, but I must admit, 18 courses feels like a pretty healthy amount of options, sure to keep people playing for quite some time. As you'd expect, each of the nine returning courses has received visual uplifts to keep them on par with the game’s tracks and so that players can experience them with all the glory of modern gaming's graphical standards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/20ac99f8-9159-4281-aff6-52a2a080ec65/Image+10-24-25+at+2.33%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - The final moments of the first direct showed a mysterious rider blasting through a dark and ominous storm. The way this character was presented suggested that AirRiders may feature some sort of narrative, but what sort of story could a game like this feature? This has been a burning question in my mind -- one that has been a mere hypothetical for decades. Well, now we know the answer. Road Trip sees Kirby embark on a journey to follow his machine as it guides him towards a mysterious destination. More interestingly, the presentation showcased a bustling world filled with Riders who have formed personal connections with their machines. How this plays into the Road Trip narrative will be interesting to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/96c589b7-dc1f-434a-b827-fb1c1076e0b1/Image+10-24-25+at+2.42%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - Making a welcome return is the checklist system -- something that I never could quite complete in the original game but now seems much more doable, especially for completionists. In AirRiders, when you want to complete a checklist task, clicking the empty square will take you right to that challenge you want to complete. Gone are the days of aimlessly playing the game, hoping you'd randomly complete one of the elusive checklist requirements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/435d62a5-f1a6-41c3-8e1d-d11343753cab/Image+10-24-25+at+2.41%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - During the first direct, Sakurai mentioned that AirRiders would offer online play, but didn't go into much detail about it. Well, now we have a much better picture of what the competitive experience will look like. Interestingly enough, it appears that online play is designed to be as competitive as you want it to be. Each rider will be granted a license that they can personalize to make it uniquely their own. But the license is more than just for show, as it is also meant to display important stats relating to your skill level and positioning in the worldwide ranks based on two separate systems. The first is the class system, which is designed to place you against players of your skill level. Unrelated to class is your global win power, which is determined by the number of matches you've won. Playing AirRide as a kid, I always wished I could show off my skills to the world, and the global win power appears to be designed to allow me to do that in flashy fashion -- I can't wait! Online play is available in City Trial AirRide and Top Ride. With each of these modes containing its own ranking system, as well as its own subgame modes like City Trials' team matches, this side of the game seems to be shaping up to be truly robust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/06222b3b-dc68-4bb5-891b-ea5de9378154/Image+10-24-25+at+2.40%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - In the first direct, what Sakruai had shown off of the newly designed City Trial mode appeared to be a modest iteration of the original. Sure, Skyah is completely different than the original City Trial in regards to its design layout, but it appeared that the core gameplay loop had remained the same. While this still appears to be true, the introduction of a host of new items has taken an already chaotic mode and cranked it up to 11. With new items like multi-missile, the size-up, the mega cannon, and more, I'm starting to get the feeling that the common AirRiders City Trial experience is going to be one of unhinged chaos that only those with a tolerance for constant off-the-rails arena gameplay will be able to hold on to. As a die-hard fan, I do not doubt that I'll be commanding the train, but I wonder how the more casual fan will fare when the gates of Skyah open up to everyone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/54e3ef54-b103-406e-b79b-4f9aed761658/Image+10-24-25+at+2.54%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - Sakurai also took some time to highlight a wealth of new machines to ride, new copy abilities, and the thing I didn't know I needed until I saw it today -- the My Machine editor! That's right, in Kirby AirRiders, you can now deck your machine out with a host of wacky designs to make it uniquely yours. Interestingly enough, and perhaps unintentionally, AirRiders seems to be creating a parallel between you and the bond you'll form with your star by customizing it, and the bond that the riders share with their machines in Road Trip. I'll be interested to see if those parallels materialize in the full game, but if they don't, I'll surely still have a grand old time outfitting my Bacon-star with flashy designs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/0d72b902-4a13-4bcb-80fa-2d38219905a4/Image+10-24-25+at+2.34%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg QUICK TAKES - kirby airriders direct #2 RECAP - quick take #4 - Sakurai mentioned that he felt that he would have been forgiven if he had decided not to include Top Ride in AirRiders, yet he decided to include it anyway. Now complete with more tracks, wider course layouts, more abilities to use, and up-scaled graphics, Top Ride is back and better than ever! Sakurai explained that this time around, Top Ride is meant to mirror the feel of AirRide, while also presenting as an approachable option for those who have trouble with 3D action games. Quite honestly, Top Ride never appealed to me when I was a kid, and I'm not sure that this showing of it moved the needle for me personally, but I can't deny that this mode has been crafted with love, care, and an infectious passion that jumps right off the screen. https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/recapping-and-reacting-to-the-kirby-airriders-direct-quick-take-18 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/my-hopes-and-dreams-for-kirby-air-riders-quick-take-16 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://mylesofbacongames.com/quick-takes/my-thoughts-on-the-switch-2-reveal-quick-take-9 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1737309738078-N7PM21T772Y1J79FL3IA/Switch+2+front+facing+image.png QUICK TAKES - MY THOUGHTS ON THE SWITCH 2 REVEAL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/651b013dc78f8c769359b005/1737309800101-DRY9LJ8ZOAVWBGWDENX1/Switch+1.jpg QUICK TAKES - MY THOUGHTS ON THE SWITCH 2 REVEAL 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