I wanted to replay this game before the dlc dropped but also I wanted to try and experience the game that everyone else seemed to enjoy WAY more than I did the first time round. I've replayed every Souls game multiple times even the ones I don't really like. I've seen the end credits roll on Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2 multiple times and tried my hardest to get the most out of those games that I struggled to connect with. (This actually made me really love Dark Souls 2 despite its flaws and it's probably my favorite Dark Souls title)

All that to say is that when I did beat Elden Eing for the first time back in 2022 I didn't get it.

It was certainly a great game and one that I appreciated much more than I personally enjoyed.

Returning to this title has opened my eyes a little. I still don't love it as much as everyone else. Something just hasn't fully connected but I enjoyed myself WAY MORE this go around.

It might be the contrarian in me but I had to learn to play this game my way. It's probably why instead of some Katana or Greatsword build I chose the weapon class with the least amount of weapons in it. I used a duelwield Nightrider flail set. One I made scale with Dex and the other I made inflict frost buildup. I've never seen anyone else use Flails in this game and I figured I'd try them out. Definitely combines my love of dex builds with this game's stance mechanic that had me downing bosses in 3 jumping attacks. This build is only possible if you have a friend drop you the second Night rider flail or if you're in NG+. I wanted to have fun so I just had my boy give it to me in exchange for something he wanted to try.

While not extremely overpowered the build made my playstyle very fun. I hate using shields since Bloodborne and Sekiro are my two favorite Souls titles. I also refrained from using summons this go around because if Kai Cenat can do it than so can I.

In this new run I found myself not bound by expectation or build. I did what I wanted and played with the only rule being no summons. This playthrough really tested my skills as a souls player and in that reignited the challenge of the souls games I've not felt since first beating Dark Souls 2 for the first time. Beating that game was such a rewarding feeling. It felt like I overcame so much and earned the right to see those endcredits. I had the same feeling after beating Sekiro and Bloodborne for the first times.

I've searched for this feeling ever since and only Lies of P got close to giving it to me with the Nameless Puppet boss at the end.

This feeling was achieved in this playthrough

Just my tarnished, a few incantations, and two fails

We overcame the Lands Between

Now truth be told I haven't actually seen the credits yet. I stopped right after Godfrey. I haven't fought the Elden Beast yet because I want to know if the DLC will add a new ending. So I'm right at the end but am refraining until Shadow of the Erdtree.

But needless to say I now see what people see when they think about Elden Ring

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - The Power of Names

This is a weird one to talk about. Firstly, this is not like the first game. It is more of an action-adventure with scenes of spectacle than a personal journey like Senua's Sacrifice was.

I think judging the game in front of me is hard

I can't use the same scale I would on other games.

Simply put, this game is probably not worth $50 to most people. It might not even be worth the $10 on gamepass like I spent.

But is that fair. In ~7 hours I played through the most incredible looking game of my lifetime. I played through sequences that had the cinematography nerd in me FREAK OUT! I have this bodily response to seeing one take cameras where I literally laugh and smile at the pure spectacle of it all and despite this being a video game multiple action sequences felt like I was in control of an incredible one-take action scene. The entire time I played this I wished my dad was watching just to show him how insane this game looked. Looks aren't everything in a story but damn did this feel like I was playing a Roger Deakins/Greg Frazier picture.

The bad is quite apparent. The narrative isn't as poignant as the original's. Senua is isn't the main narrative point anymore and it rehashes some of the ideas present in the first game to much less effect. There are 3 other main-side characters that are just there to give Senua people to talk to it seems. I REALLY liked Thorgestr, was mild on Fargrimr and didn't like Astridr. The game doesn't let you sit with any of these characters long enough to grow to care and the reason I liked Thorgestr so much is how the narrative reflects Senua's father to his father. The ending seemed to really bring out the point that "They are not their fathers' " and I found it really poignant but then the game ends doing one of Senua's internal monologues with visuals showing her inner turmoil and we don't get to see any of the immediate aftermath to the situation we just played.

It really left me on a sour note. Because truthfully, I don't want another Hellblade game. I think milking Senua would be pointless. I'm glad the sequel showed how overcoming trauma is not just a one and done sequence. Even if you can overcome your demons once they can resurface and that's a very realistic and important idea to convey. Senua is a very troubled and fallible hero and I REALLY like that. The way this game ends leaves room for a sequel that we do not need to see. Senua has a choice to make at the end and we do not see it. We see her grapple with each decision and see the black and the white take shape before the credits roll.

I hate to make this comparison but it really feels like I was playing an arthouse movie. If not arthouse then a pretentious A24 movie with a purposefully ambiguous ending. The one's that filmbros talk about to no end. I hate that comparison because this game does have value. It just takes the right audience or person to see that value.

If you value an interesting narrative with thrilling and horrifying sequences and beautiful visuals then I think this game might be that arthouse A24/Neon picture you've always dreamed of playing

If you want an escalation of the themes present in Senua's Sacrifice with a similar narrative and amped up gameplay you will be disappointed.

If you expected a full-length game with skill trees and upgrades then this is not the game for you

If you want interesting puzzles and gameplay with fun and interesting combat then this is not the game for you.

That is the name of the game with this one I'm afraid
The power of that name is up to you

Names give meaning but what that name (category) means to you is deeply personal and of one's own taste. I can only say that I did enjoy this game. While I did not have fun, I had a genuinely good experience and appreciated Ninja Theory's hard work.

The only undeniable thing about this game is that it is certainly the most realistic looking game ever made. That fight with Thorgestr at the beginning of the game literally looked like live action choreography.

I also have one more thing to say but it didn't really fit into my larger point so I'm putting it here. Game length. A lot of people have a problem with this game's length and I think that is the most subjective gripe to have about a game. Because 1.) this game has a complete beginning, middle, and end that ends with the completion of the main objective that the game sets out at the very beginning and 2.) If anything this game might be a little too long. It meanders in its puzzle sections and the second giant section. When you reach the underground section the game just repeats the same puzzles over and over again and throws waves of enemies at you periodically so the player doesn't get bored but you can practically see the code on that part. Judging a game on its length is really weird because I can see the argument that you spent $50 bucks and want a decent amount of time but the work done by Ninja Theory to make this game look and sound this great is, in my mind, worth that price tag. Hard work is expensive and this experience is not cheap. Personally if this game, which is oppressive and stressful and not very fun, were any longer I'd have hated it.