Beacon Pines (@BeaconPines)
Developed by: Hiding Spot (@hidingspotgames)
Published by: Hiding Spot, Fellow Traveller (@FellowTravellr)

Beacon Pines is awesome! Beacon Pines is a point and click adventure game with fantastic voice acting, a great soundtrack and unbelievable art. While Beacon Pines on first glance might appear to be a “childish” or “PG” game, it’s definitely much more than that. Beacon Pines tackles some heavy topics and is much darker than it seems.

The premise of Beacon Pines is that the player controls Luka, a teenager who lives in Beacon Pines with his grandmother, after his fathers death and mom’s disappearance. Luka has a best friend named Rolo that he likes to go on adventures with and when they’re not out adventuring spend time together in a treehouse in the woods reading comic books and planning more adventures.

The gameplay in Beacon Pines isn’t complex. The player controlling Luka travels throughout Beacon Pines interacting with objects, and other people living in the town and the narrative unfolds. While doing this the player will pick up “charms” which are key words that will allow them to replay certain scenarios of the story and go down a different path. The different story paths are unique enough that they are worth experiencing, and will help the player piece together the bigger over arching narrative of the game.

Beacon Pines is worth experiencing, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass.

Pros:
The art style
The narrative
The voice acting

Cons:
If you're not a fan of point and click adventure games this isn't a game for you.

Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 5/5

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, released in 2020, is a fantastic addition to the Spider-Man franchise, offering players a fresh take on the beloved character. The game boasts impressive graphics, engaging gameplay, and a compelling story, all while maintaining technical stability.

The graphics in Miles Morales are stunning, showcasing the power of the PlayStation 5 console. The lighting and textures are top-notch, making the city of New York feel alive and vibrant. The character models are incredibly detailed, with each outfit and piece of equipment having its own unique look. Overall, the graphics in Miles Morales are some of the best on the market.

The gameplay in Miles Morales is just as impressive as its graphics. The game puts players in the shoes of Miles Morales, a young superhero with unique powers, such as invisibility and electric attacks. The game's combat system is intuitive and satisfying, with a mix of melee and ranged attacks, as well as environmental takedowns. The game also features a variety of side missions and collectibles, giving players plenty of content to sink their teeth into.

The story of Miles Morales is one of the game's biggest strengths, taking place in the aftermath of the events of the first game. The game explores Miles' struggles with being a new superhero, dealing with family and friend relationships, and fighting a powerful villain who threatens the city. The story is well-paced, with plenty of emotional moments and surprises along the way. The game's voice acting is also excellent, with each character bringing their unique personality and charm to the game.

Finally, the technical performance of Miles Morales is impressive, especially considering the game's scale and scope. The game runs smoothly, with no major glitches or bugs to speak of. The load times are incredibly fast, thanks to the power of the PlayStation 5's SSD, and the game's frame rate is consistent throughout.

In conclusion, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a must-play for fans of the Spider-Man franchise and anyone looking for a great superhero game. The game's stunning graphics, engaging gameplay, and compelling story make it a standout title on the PlayStation 5. With its technical stability and attention to detail, it's clear that the developers put a lot of love and care into this game, and it shows in every aspect.

Resident Evil 7 was a refreshing change for the series, moving away from the action-heavy gameplay of recent titles and returning to its survival horror roots. The updated version, released in 2018, brought with it a few new features and improvements that make it even more enjoyable.

The story of Resident Evil 7 revolves around Ethan Winters, who receives a message from his wife Mia, who had been missing for three years. Ethan goes to investigate and finds himself trapped in an abandoned plantation in Louisiana, where he must fight for his survival against the Baker family, who have been infected by a deadly virus.

The game's story is engaging and keeps you on edge throughout. The Baker family is a formidable enemy, and the game does a great job of creating a sense of tension and dread. The atmosphere is suitably creepy, with the plantation providing a suitably spooky backdrop for the action.

The gameplay in Resident Evil 7 is a significant departure from recent titles in the series. The game is played from a first-person perspective, which puts you right in the middle of the action. Combat is challenging, with resources limited, forcing you to think carefully about when to engage in combat and when to run. The game also features puzzles, which add a nice change of pace from the more action-oriented sections.

One of the new features added in the updated version of Resident Evil 7 is the ability to play the entire game in virtual reality. This is an exciting addition that really immerses you in the game world. The VR mode is well-executed, and while it does require some additional hardware, it's definitely worth trying if you have the means.

In terms of technical performance, Resident Evil 7 is excellent. The game runs smoothly on most modern hardware, and the graphics are top-notch. The sound design is also outstanding, with the game's audio contributing significantly to the overall sense of tension and unease.

In conclusion, the updated version of Resident Evil 7 is an excellent addition to the series. The game's story is engaging, the gameplay is challenging and varied, and the technical performance is outstanding. Whether you're a fan of the series or just enjoy survival horror games, Resident Evil 7 is definitely worth checking out.

Hey everyone here is my review for Armored Core 6. It's my YouTube script so bare with me.

If you'd rather watch the video click this link > https://youtu.be/Y_59Y4NEzUA

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon Spoiler Review | Unveiling the Mech Warfare Saga!

"Hey, mech enthusiasts! I'm Andrew, your host, and today, we're delving into the action-packed world of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Whether you're a seasoned pilot or just strapping into the cockpit for the first time, I'm thrilled to have you with us. To kick things off, we'll start by summarizing the story so far, giving you a glimpse into the narrative landscape.

After that, we'll throttle into a detailed review, breaking down the game's highs and lows. If you're steering clear of spoilers, no worries—just skip ahead to chapter 2. So, let's power up those mechs and get ready for an adventure in the Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon!

In 2023, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment brought us Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, a thrilling mecha-based vehicular combat game. This installment marks a reboot for the franchise, breaking the silence since the release of Armored Core: Verdict Day in 2013.

Available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, the game has received widespread acclaim for its revitalization of the series.

Armored Core VI has not only garnered favorable reviews but has also achieved remarkable commercial success, with 1.3 million copies sold on the Windows platform alone. In September of 2016, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware, hinted at the early stages of development for a new installment in the Armored Core series. Fast forward to January 2022, and the development of a potential new Armored Core series entry came to light, thanks to details leaked during a focus test.

The official announcement of the game took center stage at The Game Awards 2022 in December, revealing Armored Core VI to the eager gaming community.

Heading the project as director for his debut in this role was Masaru Yamamura, previously a lead game designer on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Yamamura assumed the directorial mantle from Miyazaki, who initially spearheaded the development. The role of the game's producer fell to Yasunori Ogura, overseeing the intricate details of bringing Armored Core VI to life. Despite the collective eagerness of many FromSoftware staff members to embark on a new Armored Core venture, resource allocation considerations prompted a delay in the project's initiation. Finally, in 2018, the game transitioned into the prototyping phase, with Yamamura stepping into the directorial position once the gameplay foundations were firmly established.

Taking charge of the game's auditory landscape was Kota Hoshino, serving as the lead composer. Throughout the development process, Yamamura provided Hoshino with keywords to shape the game's atmosphere, aiming to evoke a distinct "sense of loneliness and nostalgia." Hoshino enjoyed creative freedom in composing tracks, adapting them to align seamlessly with the game's evolving narrative flow. Complementing Hoshino's contributions, additional music for Armored Core VI was crafted by Takashi Onodera and Shoi Miyazawa.

Armored Core VI unfolds in a distant future where humanity has expanded its reach into the cosmos. The stage is set on the frontier planet of Rubicon 3, where the remarkable substance known as Coral has been unearthed. This versatile material serves dual purposes, acting both as a potent energy source and a conduit for data transmission. Initially celebrated as the catalyst for technological progress, Coral takes an unforeseen turn, triggering the catastrophic Fires of Ibis. This calamity engulfs Rubicon 3 and its neighboring star system in relentless flames, leaving behind a perilous contaminant.

In the aftermath, Coral, presumed to be entirely consumed by the disaster, reemerges on Rubicon 3 half a century later. The renewed presence of Coral sparks a frenzied rush among corporations eager to exploit its potential, regardless of the consequences for the planet and its inhabitants. Mercenaries, drawn by the promise of lucrative opportunities in the ensuing conflict, descend upon Rubicon 3. At the center of this tumultuous narrative is the player, an augmented human bearing the designation "C4-621." Bound in servitude to the enigmatic handler Walter, the player operates as an Armored Core pilot, undertaking mercenary assignments with the hope of securing a new life.

The journey kicks off with C4-621's illicit landing on Rubicon 3, a bold move that sets the stage for the character's identity shift. In a daring act, C4-621 appropriates the license of a deceased mercenary, adopting the call sign "Raven." This pivotal decision thrusts the player into a complex web of corporate greed, conflict, and personal evolution against the backdrop of a planet scarred by the devastating legacy of Coral.

The core focus of gameplay in Armored Core VI centers around immersive mecha-based vehicular combat. Players step into the shoes of skilled pilots, commanding formidable mechs known as Armored Cores. The game's standout feature lies in the extensive customization options, allowing players to fine-tune and augment their mechs using a diverse array of parts, thereby refining their capabilities.

A notable element of the game is the freedom granted to players in arming their mechs. With slots available on each arm and two on the mech's back, players can equip a variety of weaponry, offering strategic flexibility during combat engagements. The vast arsenal at players' disposal adds depth to the gameplay experience.

Continuing the tradition of its predecessors, Armored Core VI retains the arena concept through a "combat aptitude evaluation program." This mode enables players to showcase their skills, competing against others and earning "OS Tuning" chips, unlocking specific abilities and upgrades.

The in-game currency, credits, is a reward for successful mission completion. The amount earned is influenced by achieving mission objectives, with potential deductions for unmet goals.

A departure from earlier games in the series, Armored Core VI discards the debt system. Unlike its predecessors, where failed tasks resulted in monetary losses, players now have the freedom to attempt missions repeatedly without the fear of losing currency. This change adds a refreshing layer of flexibility to the overall gaming experience.

In Armored Core 6, The augmented mercenary, known by the callsign C4-621, infiltrates the war-torn landscape of Rubicon with the guidance of Handler Walter, a broker, assuming the identity of the deceased mercenary "Raven." Amidst the conflict involving megacorporations Balam Industries and Arquebus Corp, the anti-corporation Rubicon Liberation Front (RLF), and the Planetary Closure Administration (PCA), all vying for control of the mysterious Coral, Raven befriends elite AC pilot V.IV Rusty and RaD leader "Cinder" Carla. During battles, Raven makes contact with an entity named Ayre, establishing a direct mental link.

Following a Coral surge detected by Walter, Raven investigates the Central Ice Field, drawing Balam and Arquebus into the fray. The PCA, alarmed by the convergence of Coral, deploys military forces and superweapons to suppress the corporations. In response to the PCA threat, Balam and Arquebus form an alliance, tasking Raven with weakening the PCA. After dismantling the PCA's Ice Worm, Ayre reveals the sentience of Coral, divulging her own identity as a Coral-based entity.

As the PCA withdraws, the alliance between Balam and Arquebus shatters, reigniting the three-way war. Walter directs Raven to explore Institute City, unearthing the Coral deposit and the Vascular Plant designed to extract and send Coral into space. Captured by Arquebus forces, Raven escapes with Carla's help, discovering their shared affiliation with Overseer, a group determined to eradicate Coral. Carla plans to use the Xylem, a colony ship, to destroy the Vascular Plant, while Ayre opposes the destruction.

If Raven sides with Carla, Ayre severs ties, and a series of confrontations ensue. Raven battles Rusty, confronts Ayre, and ultimately faces the apocalyptic outcome of the Fires of Raven. In the aftermath, Rubicon is left barren, and Raven's fate is uncertain.

Choosing to side with Ayre, Raven eliminates Carla, triggers the failsafe on the Xylem, and collaborates with the RLF to overthrow Arquebus. A confrontation with Walter ensues, leading to Raven's escape and the prevention of a catastrophic collision. Ayre expresses gratitude for protecting Coral and Rubicon, envisioning a coexistent future for Coral and humanity.

In a New Game Plus, Raven embarks on RLF missions and battles AI-controlled ACs. In a subsequent New Game Plus campaign, Ayre discovers classified data while ALLMIND recruits Raven into the Coral Release Project. Assignments from ALLMIND progress the Release Project, culminating in a mission aboard the Xylem to seize control. Raven and Ayre thwart ALLMIND, initiating the Coral Release, spreading Coral across the universe, and ushering in a new era.

Transitioning from the intricate plot of Armored Core 6 to the realm of gameplay evaluation, the game's narrative complexity intertwines with its interactive facets. As Raven embarks on New Game Plus scenarios, the gameplay evolves, presenting fresh challenges and opportunities for exploration. Now, let's shift gears from the engrossing storyline to dissecting the gameplay intricacies of Armored Core 6, exploring how its narrative choices impact the player's experience in this high-stakes world of mechanized warfare.

In the wake of FromSoftware's illustrious journey from Souls to Sekiro and Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 marks a triumphant resurgence, proving that the decade-long hiatus was indeed well worth the wait. This latest installment is a "we're back on our bullshit" slam dunk, showcasing a bold departure from the expansive open worlds dominating the gaming landscape in 2023.

Amidst the sea of sprawling 100-hour RPGs and the unprecedented success of Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 stands as a stark contrast. Eschewing the vast, open environments, the game beckons players to select missions from a menu, delivering concise briefings before deploying their mechs into intense, fast-paced battles. Whether hurling players into frenzied encounters or punctuating larger environments with snack-sized combat encounters, each mission culminates in thrilling 1v1 showdowns against other ACs or colossal bosses. The post-mission return to the menu, allowing for mech tinkering and part acquisition, provides a well-deserved moment of respite.

The simplicity in construction and the sheer thrill in action evoke childhood fantasies of orchestrating epic clashes with favorite action figures. Armored Core 6 transforms these dreams into reality, enabling players to assemble their ultimate mechs and materialize vibrant, neon-hued death machines that rain lasers and hellfire, capturing the essence of pure coolness.

In a nod to anime enthusiasts raised on Mobile Suit Gundam, Armored Core 6 is likened to Top Gun: Maverick, with meticulous attention to detail in mech articulation. The subtle thruster movements, the play of flames turning to steam, and the vibrant bloom of a plasma blade slicing through mechs or battleships contribute to the game's joyous experience.
The emphasis on sound effects, such as the impactful DUN-DUN of the Songbirds shoulder-mounted cannon, becomes a pivotal element, delivering explosive impact and staggering opponents.

Noteworthy is Armored Core 6's distinction as FromSoftware's first PC game supporting frame rates over 60 fps. While lacking some modern PC gaming features, the game performs splendidly, even on the Steam Deck with lowered settings, maintaining playability while sacrificing some image quality.

A standout design choice is the deliberate accentuation of the killing blow in every mission with a slow-motion explosion, stretching that instant into 10 seconds of glory. This decision plays a crucial role in the overall game design, underlining the meticulous craftsmanship that defines Armored Core 6.

Narratively, the game offers more explicit storytelling than FromSoftware's RPGs, exploring a corporate dystopia with leaders of Rubicon's mercenary squads providing voice messages after each sortie. The branching narrative, influenced by mission choices and character eliminations, adds depth and encourages replayability, revealing new narrative paths with each playthrough.

While praising the game's ruthlessly maintained tone and the absence of lives outside mechs, the review acknowledges minor disappointments. The environments, though stunning snapshots of a crumbling techno dystopia, lack interactivity beyond hidden chests and lore-laden wrecked mechs. Despite this, AC6's lean and focused nature is celebrated as a strength, providing an immersive experience.

In summary, Armored Core 6 emerges as a rare gem in 2023, embracing its identity with audacity and delivering an action-packed experience that captivates players with its fast-paced missions, empowering arsenal, and nostalgic mech fantasies. After a decade-long hiatus, FromSoftware's return to the world of mechs showcases a triumphant resurgence in their distinctive style, reaffirming the timeless appeal of Armored Core.

Thank you for joining me for this in-depth review of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content. Stay tuned for more reviews and discussions on your favorite games, tv shows and movies. Until next time, I’m Andrew, signing off. Catch you in the next one!

Kentucky Route Zero is a point and click adventure
game about a secret highway running through the
caves beneath Kentucky and the mysterious people
who travel it. The player controls Conway, a delivery
man tasked with making an important delivery for
an antique shop, alongside their dog. The player will
encounter a wide variety of interesting characters
that are unique, quirky and play off Conway and
each other incredibly well. Kentuckv Route Zero is a
game that doesn't stick to the typical tropes of
point and click adventure games. The visual style,
art design and thought provoking nature of the
writing kept me thoroughly engaged. While the story
was weird, and sometimes confusing I was
completely engaged and often times was left
questioning what I was witnessing on my screen. I
thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Kentucky Route
Zero.

Pros:
The atmosphere and art design
The narrative
The characters, dialogue
The soundtrack

Cons:
Pace of the narrative
Open world map and traveling
Played on: Xbox Series X via GamePass

Tunic is an action adventure game where the player
controls a tiny fox in a big open world. The world is
filled with various types of enemies to beat, bosses
to over come, and items to collect in a variety of
different "biomes." The "cartoonish" nature of the
game may make a person think that Tunic is
"simple" or that it isn't challenging and that's the
furthest thing from the truth. Tunic is challenging!
Between solving puzzles and various different boss
fights Tunic pushed me to my limits at times. While I
tried to figure out how to overcome a boss, solve a
puzzle, or reach an area that seemed unreachable
to obtain a collectible, Tunic always felt rewarding
and fulfilling and fun to play. It never lost its "fun
factor." Players have the option via the accessibility
settings to turn on "No Fail" mode if the challenge
of overcoming a boss loses its appeal. If you're a
player that enjoys exploring worlds and solving
puzzles but doesn't enjoy combat in video games
then "No Fail" mode is something I would highly
recommend that you turn on. Tunic is a game that is
definitely worth playing! I was skeptical of Tunic at
first but when I saw it on Gamepass I knew I had to
give it a shot and I'm glad that I did. Please check
out Tunic!

Lake is a chill, beautiful narrative adventure game. I really enjoyed the art style, and the music. The game isn't full of twists or mysteries or complex gameplay. You play the role of Meredith Weiss. A woman who takes a break from her career in the big city and delivers mail for two weeks in her hometown. The gameplay loop consists of the player driving around delivering mail, interacting with the various people in the town that she either lost touch with when she left or moved there after she had left. The dialogue isn't complex and the voice acting isn't earth shattering but it's good enough to draw you in and make you relate and connect to the various types of relationships that the game presents to you. The controls were a bit janky but being able to fast travel definitely made them more tolerable. If you don't have a problem with "walking simulator" types of games and enjoy pleasant, chill, adventure games l'd definitely recommend this game to you. If you have Xbox Gamepass, it's definitely worth checking out if you love chill atmospheric games.

I played Lake on Series X via Xbox GamePass.

Telling Lies is a "detective game at heart." Telling Lies is a game where the story isn't told in a linear fashion. The story is told via the player watching pre recorded video clips of conversations between various characters. The player has to uncover the video clips by typing keywords into a search engine on a simulated computer. It's up to the player to piece the story together and the game definitely doesn't hold the players hand in that process.

Personally I felt like the game was carried by the casts strong acting performances. The acting wasn't over the top, and I was captivated by the mystery of uncovering exactly what happened to each character and their ultimate fate.

I played Telling Lies via Xbox Gamepass on my Series X and I think my only gripe with the game was that l probably would have enjoyed it more if I used a keyboard instead of my controller to type in the keywords I was searching. If you enjoy games that require you to think and put your detective skills to use this is probably a game I would recommend to you. It's on Gamepass so you really don't have anything to lose. I enjoyed my time with it. If you're familiar with the game "Her Story" this game is its successor.

What an enjoyable game! The Gunk starts off with the player's character "Ran" landing on a planet that appears to be a wasteland. The backstory of your character is quickly explained. You, the player Rani, and her partner are scavengers who travel from one planet to another searching for resources to harvest and sell.

Early on in the game the player will come across "The Gunk." A parasitic creature that destroys life wherever it goes. The player as Rani has the ability to absorb "The Gunk" via a power glove. Early on the player will discover that once "The Gunk" is destroyed wildlife immediately returns to the area it was inhabiting. The Gunk IS the reason the planet appears to be a wasteland.

The core of the game is the player embarking on a journey to uncover what happened to the planet and its inhabitants by clearing the planet of "The Gunk" and discovering its origins. The gameplay isn't complex. The player has the ability to scan their immediate environment and unlock entries in their encyclopedia or local wildlife, minerals and more which will allow them to upgrade their character.

The game is an 3rd person action adventure game with a focus on puzzle solving and platforming. The game shines in the art design. The game is beautiful. I was consistently blown away by the game and the detail in each environment. It was a relaxing experience and exactly what I expected the game to be.

I played the game on Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass. If you're a fan of chill games and found what I wrote above interesting I'd definitely check the game out. It's worth a look!

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a "western style" role playing game. An enjoyable game. In Dragon Age: Inquisition you lead a term of characters into battles against various enemies. Dragons, humans, demons, and more. It's a game filled with meaningful content and a game that truly shines in its character development via character interactions and dialogue.

This game does a great job immersing you in the world. The story had me engaged from start to finish but the collectible were a bit much and some of the side quests were a bit dull. I'm fascinated to see how Bioware continues the Dragon Age franchise after this game.

I played Dragon Age: Inquisition via Xbox Gamepass on my Xbox Series X.

Man, my thoughts when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077 are all over the place. First off, what is Cyberpunk 2077? Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role playing game that takes place in a fictional city American city known as "Night City."

The game is open world and set in the Cyberpunk universe. The player controls a customizable character known as V and is played in the first person perspective. The player can choose to play this game in numerous ways. They can play up close and personal using melee combat or fight from a distance using various ranged weapons, or the player can choose to use various hacking skills and machinery to their advantage to avoid direct combat.

The main story of Cyberpunk 2077 felt short to me, but personally I found it really engaging. The side quests and the open world design is where the game suffered for me. While some of the side quests were incredible or disturbing (Joshua!) a lot of them were very basic in nature. Go to a location, kill or save someone, rinse and repeat. I enjoyed exploring Night City. I hardly used a vehicle to get around because I enjoyed travelling through different districts finding shards, or listening in on conversations NPCs were having. As a completionist the data term achievement and finding all of the NCPD Scanner hustles towards the end felt incredibly tedious and frustrating.

From a performance and graphics perspective the game was... just okay. I wasn't blown away by the graphics. I played Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X. I encountered numerous bugs and glitches throughout my playthrough. Textures in the world would simply vanish, enemies would appear clipped through environments, the frame rate or game would stutter and more. Shutting the game down completely and restarting it would fix the bugs. Reloading my save or exiting to main menu wasn't enough. The main story kept me engaged enough to push through the bugs but towards the end they were definitely frustrating, and I started experiencing bugs more frequently after the 1.52 patch was released.

In summary:
While Cyberpunk 2077 was a buggy experience for me and while the main story felt short, I enjoyed my time exploring Night City. I found all of the story endings to be great in their own ways. I'm wonder which one would be canon if they made another Cyberpunk game in the future. If I could talk to CPR directly I would tell them simply quality over quantity when it comes to the side quests and collectibles going forward and to work on the performance of the game. I'm definitely interested in the expansion and will play it as soon as possible. I WANT MORE Cyberpunk 2077. As long as the performance isn't a mess.

Final Fantasy 7 is probably the best RPG ever made. If it's not the best it's definitely in the top 3. It's the pinnacle of story telling. From the incredible soundtrack to the battle system the care and love that went into creating Final Fantasy 7 is apparent.

Originally released on the Playstation 1 in 1997 and re-released remastered a few years back Final Fantasy 7 was a joy to play. The additions of "speed boost" and "no encounters" features made normally tedious aspects of playing an RPGs like Final Fantasy feel FUN.

Final Fantasy 7 is a game that everyone should experience at least once and I regret not replaying this classic sooner!

Pros:
The story telling and soundtrack
The dungeon design and enemy variety
3x speed boost
The battle system and materia

Cons:
The controls during mini games
Chocobo breeding (I'll leave it at that.)

Played on: Xbox Series X

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is the sequel to the beloved Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. While Trigger Happy Havoc takes place in Hope Peak's academy, a government sanctioned co-ed private high school, Goodbye Despair is set on a mysterious tropical island.

If you're unaware of what Danganronpa is, it's a visual novel style game about high school students who are locked in a location together and told they must kill one another. If one student kills another one and gets away with it, he or she "graduates" and is allowed to leave, and all of the other students are killed. If the other students can gather enough evidence and correctly identify the murderer, the murderer is executed and the other students live to see another day.

In between the various murders that occur the player is able to interact with his classmates and form bonds and learn more about their past and their dreams for the future.

Monokuma is back in Goodbye Despair, setting the rules for the killing game while also overseeing the class trials once again. Monokuma is hilarious. Without Monokuma Danganronpa doesn't work. Talking about Goodbye Despair in depth would be a disservice to new players of the series. It's best to go in as blind as possible. If you've played Trigger Happy Havoc then you already know what you're getting into.

Goodbye Despair is a game that everyone should experience as blind as possible if they aren't weary or turned off by anime tropes and camp. While I enjoyed my time with Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair I came away from it appreciating and liking Trigger Happy Havoc more.

Pros:
The narrative
Soundtrack
Cast of characters

Cons:
Mini games during the class trials
Localization. There were typos in text multiple times
throughout the game.

Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass

Far Cry 3 was my introduction to the Far Cry franchise and I fell in love with it. In Far Cry 3 the player controls Jason Brody, a man stranded on a mysterious tropical island with his friends, desperate to survive and escape. Far Cry 3 is carried by its villain Vaas portrayed by the great Michael Mando. For its time Far Cry 3 was revolutionary. It was THE standard for the open world action adventure genre. With deep character customization and a massive map to explore Far Cry 3 excels in player immersion and encourages the player to take their time and explore. A game I feel is definitely worth playing at least once. I'm not sure how well this game will appeal to gamers in 2022 but it's one my favourite games of all time.