EchoCrowan
For some time, Pokemon has had an issue with post-game. They still haven't brought back the Battle Tower (damn you, Game Freak), and while they've done a lot of quality of life fixes like Hyper Training and Nature Mints, there has been a distinct lack of content.
Indigo Disk definitely helps to ease the pain. Blueberry Academy feels lively and full of interesting things to do, including the ability to catch nearly EVERY start Pokemon from previous generations, which is... a very big deal, especially for shiny hunters. Every trainer battle within the DLC is a double battle, which is the current competitive format in Pokemon, further allowing newcomers to sink their teeth into the competitive scene easier. It introduces a system to catch most legendaries as well, and more interactions with characters from the main game. There's even a GACHA MACHINE.
It's truly jam-packed with stuff to do, and while the story is a little longer than Teal Mask, and the map is a little bigger, there doesn't feel like there's a whole lot to do in the main story for it. The post-game however, feels good. Finally, there is longevity to my Pokemon game. It's made me play consistently again, something I haven't done for some time!
Add on top of that another fantastic legendary design, the Stellar tera type, the Synchro mechanic, and the resolution to a certain character's crisis that was set up in Teal Mask, and Indigo Disk is up there as maybe one of my favorite DLC for any video game, not just a Pokemon game. Honestly just a blast front to back, and it made me realize how much I like using my Switch again.
Indigo Disk definitely helps to ease the pain. Blueberry Academy feels lively and full of interesting things to do, including the ability to catch nearly EVERY start Pokemon from previous generations, which is... a very big deal, especially for shiny hunters. Every trainer battle within the DLC is a double battle, which is the current competitive format in Pokemon, further allowing newcomers to sink their teeth into the competitive scene easier. It introduces a system to catch most legendaries as well, and more interactions with characters from the main game. There's even a GACHA MACHINE.
It's truly jam-packed with stuff to do, and while the story is a little longer than Teal Mask, and the map is a little bigger, there doesn't feel like there's a whole lot to do in the main story for it. The post-game however, feels good. Finally, there is longevity to my Pokemon game. It's made me play consistently again, something I haven't done for some time!
Add on top of that another fantastic legendary design, the Stellar tera type, the Synchro mechanic, and the resolution to a certain character's crisis that was set up in Teal Mask, and Indigo Disk is up there as maybe one of my favorite DLC for any video game, not just a Pokemon game. Honestly just a blast front to back, and it made me realize how much I like using my Switch again.
2023
Easily one of my favorite visual novels I've ever played in my life. I played through it during a particularly rough patch and understanding myself and my life though the characters was... really cathartic.
The game is written impeccably. The themes are all amazing. The characters are amazing, and deeply relatable. Their struggles and their life is one I see reflected in my own, and all in all it was a very, very fun and life-changing experience.
Also, it got me into tea! I recommend a nice warm mug of chai, probably something with fruit like an apple cinnamon, with lots of sugar and some honey. Drink it while enjoying this great visual novel! Maybe something will happen... ;p
The game is written impeccably. The themes are all amazing. The characters are amazing, and deeply relatable. Their struggles and their life is one I see reflected in my own, and all in all it was a very, very fun and life-changing experience.
Also, it got me into tea! I recommend a nice warm mug of chai, probably something with fruit like an apple cinnamon, with lots of sugar and some honey. Drink it while enjoying this great visual novel! Maybe something will happen... ;p
2011
Honestly despite everything, Minecraft remains one of my favorite games of all time. The malleability of it is commendable and the amount of time I can sink into Minecraft is truly unmatched.
2017
I wanted to just write "Fortnite" but I do have to include that the game is actually, surprisingly, a lot of fun. As much as it's a meme, like... Fortnite has given me genuinely some of my favorite times I've had with friends. Nothing feels better than a Victory Royale.
2018
An introspection on anxiety, the expectations we put on ourselves, and what it means to exist in a society where you're looked down on.
Every day is our mountain. We're always climbing Mt. Celeste. And as long as we have each other, and the strength of our own love and conviction, we will always make it to the top.
Every day is our mountain. We're always climbing Mt. Celeste. And as long as we have each other, and the strength of our own love and conviction, we will always make it to the top.
2023
Palia was said to be "3D Stardew Valley" and I suppose it delivers that. In a world where there's a TON of farm games coming up every day, where "cozy games" are so popular they have their own game showcases, I feel Palia stands out among the others.
It's got fun characters to talk to, and LOVELY ways to waste your time like fishing, mining, farming, and so on. It's endlessly charming, and best of all: it's free.
It's got fun characters to talk to, and LOVELY ways to waste your time like fishing, mining, farming, and so on. It's endlessly charming, and best of all: it's free.
Bitchin' platformer with bangin' music, fun designs, and a gorgeous art style that all come together to make a really, really good game with a fun gimmick.
Also I'm a pervert so it hits literally every mark for me.
Also I'm a pervert so it hits literally every mark for me.
2023
Minecraft.
2005
This game changed my brain chemistry permanently. I love you Kingdom Hearts 2. You gave me countless friends, relationships, and memories from your release to present day. For the past almost 20 years you have been nothing but a positive in my life and you will continue to be so for another 20 more.
2020
Ultrakill fucking rules. What a cool game. The schmoovement feels GREAT, the guns feel so good, the enemies feel challenging but not overpowered. Some places took me a few tries, but I managed to get to the end of what was available at some point. Fantastic game. Movement shooters take notes.
2007
The start of what was maybe one of the best games ever created.
2011
I'm a trans woman so of course Portal 2 is one of my favorite games of all time but hear me out.
In a time period where irony was seen as the height of comedy, where everyone was poisoned by the idea of being as unserious as possible, and where the comedy of online culture had oversaturated to the point of being nauseating, the writers at Valve... understood.
They got what it meant to be sardonic. They understood wit and cheekiness and, god, mean lesbian robots. The first game was fun beyond measure, a puzzle game with some of the coolest new mechanics in a long time, and then the second game... was something TRULY special. It's like Portal 1 was a prequel, a setup, or a tech demo to what could really be done with portals.
And then Portal 2 blew it all out of the water.
Between Wheatley being not a moron to the explosive lemons to the moon dust, Portal 2 is a non-stop rollercoaster of uproariously witty and on-point writing. The gameplay remains fun and engaging throughout, and there is never a point where you're bored or tired of the dialogue, it just... it's a powerhouse. Truly and really, a fucking powerhouse.
One of the best games I've ever played.
In a time period where irony was seen as the height of comedy, where everyone was poisoned by the idea of being as unserious as possible, and where the comedy of online culture had oversaturated to the point of being nauseating, the writers at Valve... understood.
They got what it meant to be sardonic. They understood wit and cheekiness and, god, mean lesbian robots. The first game was fun beyond measure, a puzzle game with some of the coolest new mechanics in a long time, and then the second game... was something TRULY special. It's like Portal 1 was a prequel, a setup, or a tech demo to what could really be done with portals.
And then Portal 2 blew it all out of the water.
Between Wheatley being not a moron to the explosive lemons to the moon dust, Portal 2 is a non-stop rollercoaster of uproariously witty and on-point writing. The gameplay remains fun and engaging throughout, and there is never a point where you're bored or tired of the dialogue, it just... it's a powerhouse. Truly and really, a fucking powerhouse.
One of the best games I've ever played.
It's been a while since I've played it, and rating a game like this feels bizarre, but regardless I want to say that I heavily recommend it. It's... heavy, and hard to read, and deeply, deeply emotional, so it isn't for the faint of heart... but it's important, too.
Splatoon 2 is fine. It's a fun game. Running, gunning, inking, Salmon Run, it's all very fun. The main campaign for Splatoon 2 was... mediocre and short.
Octo Expansion, however, blew my brain out of the back of my skull. It is packed with absolute JAMS, it's fun, it's got an amazing sense of progression, a terrific upgrade system, amazing characters, MORE JAMS, and a truly fucking MAGNIFICENT final scene that had me crying. I didn't play until after Splat 2 had nearly shut down (in preparation for Splatoon 3) so I never got to know Marina and Pearl through their Splatfests and understand how deeply connected they were. Octo Expansion still made me sob. Fucking incredible. Play it whether you like Splatoon 2 or not. Play it after Splatoon 2 goes offline. Play it until the sun burns out. It really is that good.
Octo Expansion, however, blew my brain out of the back of my skull. It is packed with absolute JAMS, it's fun, it's got an amazing sense of progression, a terrific upgrade system, amazing characters, MORE JAMS, and a truly fucking MAGNIFICENT final scene that had me crying. I didn't play until after Splat 2 had nearly shut down (in preparation for Splatoon 3) so I never got to know Marina and Pearl through their Splatfests and understand how deeply connected they were. Octo Expansion still made me sob. Fucking incredible. Play it whether you like Splatoon 2 or not. Play it after Splatoon 2 goes offline. Play it until the sun burns out. It really is that good.
2022
Signalis is what you get when you take a transbian hopped up on fucked up poetry books and tell her to make Silent Hill.
One of the best horror games I've ever played with amazing themes of devotion and love, and how they corrupt, how hope against all hope is sometimes just a feeling. How love conquers all, except... does it?
And yet there is nothing more important than love. Nothing more important than doing anything you can for those you truly care about.
Nothing more important than keeping a promise.
One of the best horror games I've ever played with amazing themes of devotion and love, and how they corrupt, how hope against all hope is sometimes just a feeling. How love conquers all, except... does it?
And yet there is nothing more important than love. Nothing more important than doing anything you can for those you truly care about.
Nothing more important than keeping a promise.