I finally played this game after years of being told I should,. I see why it's called a classic. Bastion has engaging music, a beautiful art style, and a narrative delivered in a uniquely non-intrusive way. A voiced over narrator tells the story while you play and reacts to your actions. It kept me rooted in the games story and gameplay simultaneously the whole time. As a gamer that is not very driven by combat heavy gameplay, I liked that the game's base combat difficulty was accessible and forgiven. It uses relics to create a more challenging gameplay experience. They are completely player controlled and are similar to the skulls in the Halo games. It's cool to see where Supergiant Games started before Hades. Absolutely recommend checking Bastion out.

I was gifted my copy of the game for review purposes. I played it on Twitch but was not payed to do so or share my thoughts here. I had a great time playing Duck Detective! What started off as a cute mystery game turned into something much more elaborate as the story progressed. I loved the art style, the voice acting was fantastic, and though I had strong suspicions from the get go the narrative did manage to pull the rug out from under me as I played. I just wish the game was longer, or that there were more mysteries to have solved. The game felt like it could have given me more. I hope Happy Broccoli games makes a few sequels. I'd love to help Duck Detective solve a few more mysteries, with Freddy his guy in the chair maybe??

I haven't been hooked by a game the way Unpacking hooked me since Marvel's Spider-Man. I genuinely lost track of time until all of a sudden it was five hours later and I was unpacking the final level. Unpacking has one of the most interesting storytelling devices I've seen in a game. No dialogue, no written narrative other than the occasional note written in a photo album. Everything players understand about the story comes from inferring what's going on as we unpack each room. A wholesome and relaxing gaming experience I will be coming back to. I only wish I'd purchased it on Switch. Using a mouse on PC made unpacking and placing objects smoother than would be on a controller. But the vibes of Unpacking are absolutely; play it curled up on a couch with controller or cozy in bed in handheld mode. Looks like I'll be buying it twice!

A great sequel to We Were Here! The co-op puzzling was even more creative than in the first game. I played it with my best friend and for the most part we had a great time. Some unclear game mechanics in one of the last puzzles lead to some easily avoidable frustration if gameplay was clearer. If you're going to play for yourself, really pay attention to when your cursor does and doesn't expand to know what you can interact with. That's all I'll say, my brain is too fried after playing it all in one night to think of anything more. Give it a go with a plus one!

Little Nightmare is a little scary game that doesn't take long to beat but makes the most of its short time with you. I spent a few evenings after school playing this game with my partner at the time. We'd take turns being in control, trading off when someone died or it got too scary for whomever was in control. Little Nightmares doesn't try to shock or startle you like other horror games I've played and disliked. The atmosphere is creepy with grimey art design that sets a chilling tone, accompanied by music and sound effects that made the hairs on our arms stand up. I recommend playing with the lights off, and maybe on a rainy evening for full effect.

Once more, a fantastic time was had playing Halo:Reach. This play through was a co-op run with my best friend on our Twitch channel. Co-op Halo will always be my favourite Halo. I've spend so many hours split screen with my brother and friends, that it almost feels wrong to play without a buddy. The master chief collection doesn't feel the same as playing on a 360 I will be honest. Part of me misses the feeling of a controller in my hand. But mouse and keyboard are easier to control in almost al FPS games, including Reach.

As a kid I always wanted to play Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, but I never had a PS2 to play it on. Now as an adult, with my own control over what I spend my money on, I got myself a console and the game to play! Years later, it's funny to feel a nostalgia for a game that I never grew up on. But thats what I felt. The writing feels very 90's/2000's with smart ass remarks from Daxter and attitude from the Sages. The Precursor Legacy plays like many other 3D platformers of the time, but with its own individuality that today feels distinctly Naughty Dog. The controls were a bit janky at times, specifically the camera, and I wasn't always the clearest on hit boxes. But the game was fantastic and I'm glad I finally got the chance to hang with Jak and Daxter after all these years. Absolutely one of the classics and a must play.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, is a childhood favourite that I was never able to beat. Either because there wasn't enough time when I borrowed a copy from friends or because by the time I got my own copy other games stole my attention. The past two years though I've slowly been playing it, a few hours after work here, a weekend when sick there, and it feels very satisfying to watch the credits role. I've always loved Shadow Pokémon, and thought Shadow Lugia was the coolest Pokémon ever. It's a refreshing experience to play a Pokémon game with an actual narrative rather than just the tried and true "catch 'em all and defeat all the gyms". It was hilarious to me playing this game when Scarlet and Violet came out. No exaggeration; Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness runs better than the newest Pokémon games, and I've been playing the original 2005 version on my GameCube. I've yet to finish all the post game content (purrifying all the Shadow Pokémon, the Coliseum, the Battle Towers, etc.) but I did defeat the main baddies, and catch all 83 Shadow Pokémon (there's one extra in the post game to catch). If you love Pokémon but are feeling worn down by the main line games check out Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness! The soundtrack in this game slaps too! A shame the Pokémon Company has never revisited the Orre Region again, but I'm grateful to always have the chance to return in this game.

Dream Daddy is what I call a "God Tier" dating sim (full transparency I haven't played many). The characters are all well written and unique. Each Daddy has their own distinct personality and life that they live. Paired with a great soundtrack and a charming art style, I had a wonderful time finding my dream date. Mat was my dream come true when I played with friends. I'm not drawn to visual novels or dating sims very often so I haven't played this game since. But I can see myself going back to it one day soon to explore the other potential dating paths (and the Daddy's I'll meet along the way).