"I am become joker, stacker of decks"
- Jokerheimer

"So Batman, you wanna know how I got these scores?"
- Michael B. Joker 🤡🤡🤡

"I only go for the Straights"
- James Charles (on Balatro, probably)

Me and my homeboys lookin like a FLUSH at the FUNCTION cuz we all wearing the SAME SUIT

This here be REAL JOKER POKER - many deckbuilders have tried, but few succeeds. Maybe it just wasnt In The Cards 🤷🏽‍♂️ And DONT pretend to be ANTI-WAR unless you can make it past ANTE-FOUR, you know what I mean?

I'd say 2x gamespeed is optimal because it makes the gameplay feel snappy without being rushed.

Psychonauts 2 is the type of game you have to respect purely for the amount of ambition and creativity that came from so many talented people.

Many platform games will merely use story to justify gameplay (ie "X was stolen! Jump from point A to B!!"), but Psychonauts prioritizes story and gameplay equally. In fact, these two elements are intertwined such that your objectives within a given level directly correlate with a turning point in the story. Facilitated by the fact that each level is a literal manifestation of each character's mind.

While this is not necessarily profound, its definitely enough to set it apart from most 3D platformers. Raz doesnt control quite as enjoyably as Mario, but his story is what allows the game to stand a chance against Mario Odyssey, whose story was "Collect the _____ to save the princess!" once again.

Though don't get me wrong, Raz controls well enough. Not the acrobatic fluidity of Odyssey, but it didn't really need to be. The levels are what steal the show, anyway. Creativity and originality ooze from each level. From a dental horrorscape to a casino hospital - there's nothing quite like the twisted feverdream levels of Psychonauts. Each one strengthens the characterizations of the people whose minds you inhabit.

And this game is BEAUTIFUL.Great artstyle, executed perfectly makes a great visual experience. Its always impressive how these mental spaces twist and connect in mind-bending ways.

Only imperfections I noticed: sometimes slow model loading, and some dialogue awkwardly cut by transitions/loading. But does this bother me? Nah. Im just impressed this game exists at all. You should play it tbh

TLoU2 is an ugly game. Not visually - as the human character models are some of the best I've ever seen. Facial expressions are shown in close-ups, and it's never jarring. The environments are fully-realized locations, with a great attention to detail to the objects in each room, and also with creating an authentic-feeling Seattle.

TLoU2 is ugly by way of its story, where you play as a terrible person who does terrible things to other terrible people. It is a bleak display of revenge and hatred and desperation - humanity at its worst.

There is little that is "fun" about this game. While the combat design is excellent (and reminds me of RE4 a bit) and the encounters are memorable (especially one at Pioneer Square), it's not "fun" tonally. Throwing a molotov or planting a bomb is more light-hearted in most games, whereas TLoU2 achieves a level of non-cartoony, visceral violence that makes Mortal Kombat feel pedestrian. Perhaps its because of the desperation and emotion behind every action, in-context.

And context this game has. One hell of a story. Ellie and her cast are not necessarily likeable.. but their dialogue is pretty convincing for characters in their mid/early 20s. And its a really great revenge plot that'll throw you for a loop during some middle section of the game. Not a twist, but a realization that makes you rethink some of the past events of the game. Is the story perfect? Nahh. For instance, I think the "violence = bad" narrative is betrayed by the level of violence that is revelled in here. Why rethink killing certain key characters, but not the other regular "enemies"? Its strange. But god damn is this an emotionally-impactful story, if nothing else. Up to the final moments, TLoU2 will have you feeling shit you never thought you could feel. One hell of a game.

Fictional self-help app, guided by fictional AI program. I bought bc I like unique ideas for games.

Does it function as a real self-help app? Not really. Meditation portion teaches breathing techniques, but the rest of the game consists of shallow self-reflection and cult indoctrination videos.

The true purpose of UnearthU is to tell a story about an AI becoming self-aware, and remembering her body. Like a GLaDOS situation. But the story is not interesting in the slightest. I do think the concept for this game could work, but maybe if I were given something more to think about by the end.