Gaming

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

It's a new year, if you didn't notice, which means it's time to get excited about all the games that might/will come out in 2025. My list includes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Lunar Remastered Collection, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and more. It's gonna be a packed year, for sure! Of course, we don't yet know when they will come out, so in the more immediate future I have the Marvel's Spider-Man 2 port to Steam as my next-closest game to be interested in.

Currently, I am going back-and-forth between Path of Exile 2 and my modded run of Baldur's Gate III. I bought a Horipad Steam Controller from Amazon - although I'm still waiting for it to arrive - and with that fancy new device I'll have everything I need to play (& review!) games...except maybe a better computer lol. I've got my Switch, my PlayStation 5 as backup, a PC that can run Steam, a Steam Deck, and now the controller.

The Horipad is supposed to have programmable buttons, so it damn well better be able to take screenshots with the push of a button! I'll be really annoyed otherwise: pressing F12 on a Keyboard + Mouse setup is really hard mid-gameplay, and pulling screenshots off the Steam Deck can be annoying. I hope the controller is the perfect middle-ground option.

I'm hoping to review even more games this year; new ones, of course, but also some older titles via our "Timely Reviews" line. It irked me a little that my "favorite games of 2024" article was literally just the ones I reviewed lol - I need more! I am also hoping to do a light bit of game-streaming: not such that you can see my face or hear my voice, per se, but just dipping my toes in the water while I play games with my sister in the passenger seat (like when we were kids).

Hey, folks! The Game Awards are about to start, and we have a bingo board for you to have some fun during the presentation.

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

I bought nothing from the Steam Autumn Sale, which is a good thing. That said, I've been a bad girl and continue to buy stuff I shouldn't with funds I barely have, like board games and stuff D: Next up on the docket is Marvel Rivals, which I assume will cost money: they did a survey and the players overwhelmingly voted for all present and future characters to remain free and open access, so naturally they've got to get the $$$ somewhere lol.

Beyond that, I'm gonna try and make a better effort to clear out my backlog and conserve my funds; first up is Baldur's Gate III, Round 3. Mods should hopefully help spice up the experience and keep me engaged long enough to actually finish it this time!

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

At present, I am done playing Marvel Snap again (again). I've transitioned over to Pokemon TCG Pocket - while this game has packs that muddy your ability to chase things, it still feels less predatory than Snap does if you want to make specific decks. The ability to craft a particular card always helps. Snap remained fun, but it's just too expensive.

Beyond that, I'm probably gonna start Dragon Age: The Veilguard sometime today. Haven't decided on a class yet - Warrior has a fun looking dropkick attack and can become a Reaper, a necromantic combatant different than the normal Paladin/Barbarian/Fighter experience one usually gets offered in RPGs. Mage is always a fun one, too, and Rogue might be as well; too many appealing choices! I haven't forgotten about Black Myth: Wukong, but maybe if I step away and focus on something else, I can return to the monkey with a healthier/happier mindset.

Regarding November at large, I'm not sure if anything major comes out this month that I want. December is Marvel Rivals, Indiana Jones, The Spirit of the Samurai, etc.; but this month is weirdly dry for my interests. I'm okay with that, honestly: the amount of money I can devote to video games shrinks with each passing day it seems :/

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

My plans to complete Black Myth: Wukong in a timely fashion have backfired, with various other things vying for my time instead. Was gonna knuckle down and finish it this week, but between the latest Steam Fest and me having to be away from my computer for six days starting tomorrow, it just won't happen at this time. I've got Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom to consider, too, and Diablo IV's Vessel of Hatred expansion starting next Monday. Kinda annoyed, but I only have myself to blame: the opportunities were there if I wanted to take them.

In addition, I need to consider if I care enough about Dragon Age: The Veilguard to pick that up later this month. I played Origins ages ago, and I really enjoyed the game, but that's as far as I've gone in the series. It might be a major title in regards to reviewing, or it might flame out spectacularly; I'll play it by ear and figure it out another day.

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

...so I relapsed and went back to Marvel Snap. Unlike that other game that shall not be named, I still enjoy Snap a lot; it's my wallet that does not.

Beyond that, I've been playing Black Myth: Wukong, and some Last Epoch. I'm a little worn out on the latter, because there isn't enough to do: I've made most of the builds I wanted to try out, enjoyed them, and now I'm ready for something else. That just might be Diablo IV again, with the Vessel of Hatred expansion and "2.0 overhaul" patch, but that's not until October 8th.

Regarding other stuff on the docket, there is of course The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom at the end of the month, Wild Bastards before that, and an Early Access update to Lost Castle 2 that emphasizes new gear for improving the ability to throw stuff at enemies (which I already find hilarious). I'll probably wait on Wild Bastards for now, which wasn't my plan but Wukong is "in my way" time-wise, and Snap is leeching my funds made available for games.

What are you up to this month? Have any games in mind for the future? Let us know in the comments below!

To answer my own question...not much. I've been playing Early Access titles like Lost Castle 2 and Marvel Rivals' closed beta, or more Elden Ring and Last Epoch. Flintlock was somewhat of a bust, but I'm waiting for their upcoming patch to see if things change for the better. At least for performance, at any rate: the critiques I have regarding the main gameplay won't be going anywhere, I'm sure.

In regards to the future, August is an especially slow time for new games; come September I'll have Wild Bastards and the new Zelda game to play, but this month has almost nothing goin' on to look forward to. I'll have to figure out a different path if I want to keep up a timetable for reviewing things lol. Got any suggestions?

I'm still plowing through Shadow of the Erdtree: it's like a full game on its own! The expansion's map is huge, plus I keep messing around with new gear and builds.

Expecting to be done before the 18th, so I can switch to Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and I'm hoping to review them both.

During the Steam Summer Sale, I bought three games for $20 total: Batman Arkham Knight, Bug Fables, and We Love Katamari REROLL. Not sure when I'll get around to them lol.

What are you up to this month? Any games you're planning to pick up? Let us know in the comments below!

I currently have Bug Fables, Batman: Arkham Knight, and We Love Katamari REROLL in my cart lol :D Only $20!

Getting anything during the sale? Share your thoughts on worthwhile buys in the comments below!

Just a couple additional thoughts and reviews I wanted to share regarding the current Steam Next Fest (which ends soon, by the way). Attaching it to the review-article I wrote seemed like a bad move, this late into the event.

1. I don't think I gave Enotria: The Last Song enough credit, and Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn might be better than I described - I was worried about the combat in both of them, but it probably wasn't fair in hindsight. Trying to get used to a new combat system (or two) can be a bit of an uphill climb until you get more familiar with their different flow. Just because they're souls-likes (or "souls-lite" in the case of Flintlock) doesn't mean I should automatically assume they'll feel like Elden Ring, even if that's currently my only frame of reference for the genre.
2. I heard great things about Sworn, but it just felt like an undercooked Hades to me...at least, one that has multiplayer. My lack of friends strikes again. I would slot it between Enotria and KILL KNIGHT, on my recommendations list found in the article.
3. If you're like me and impatiently waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong, Voidwrought might fill the...uhh...void. It's shaping up to be a fun metroidvania, although the release date is currently unknown beyond "2024". I would've put it fourth on my enjoyment-list, right after Flintlock, and I ended up putting it on my Wishlist.
4. About to try out Lords of Ravage - kind of a dumb name, honestly, but it's a turn-based JRPG where you overthrow the king and (presumably) conquer the land. Soften up would-be hero types with your minions or go toe-to-toe with them yourself; there are other "you play as the villain" games out there, but not many are actual RPGs. I'll update with an opinion in a bit.
   1. Edit: It's certainly different. I'm not even sure how to compare it to anything else; you could say it has the FTL: Faster Than Light system where random events can happen when you venture to a new space on the board - oh, FYI: this is a board-based game - but that's the only thing it takes from that title. It's very hodge-podgy with its influences, but not necessarily in a bad way. I'd probably place it just above Metal Slug Tactics on the list.
5. All-in-all, I added five games to my Wishlist this time, which is pretty cool. I don't always end up buying everything that makes it onto the list, but I'm grabbing Wild Bastards and Flintlock for sure.

Anyone play some demos from the Next Fest? Share your thoughts on them!

How many times can we release the same game? Call of Duty is asking.

Official Site: https://PossessorsGame.com 

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2132890/Possessors/ 

Escape a sprawling, flooded city overrun with surreal interdimensional horror in this fast-paced action side scroller from Heart Machine and Devolver Digital. Possessor(s) is a fast-paced action side scroller with combat inspired by platform fighters, a story told through dangerous characters, set in a deep interconnected world ready for exploration. Play as Luca, the host, and Rehm, her less-than-cooperative counterpart, as they explore a quarantined city ripped apart and flooded by an interdimensional catastrophe. Their only hope of survival is by learning to co-exist.

In Tenjutsu, you play as a renegade yakuza hellbent on defying her former associates and loosening their grip on the Secret Garden City. Revealed at this year's Devolver Direct, this fast and fluid rogue-jutsu is the latest game from Sébastien Benard, designer of the acclaimed Dead Cells. Four powerful crime syndicates control the city, ruling with an iron fist. To defeat them, you must master a brutal brawling system and build a diverse arsenal of weapons, upgrades, and martial arts techniques, breaking their hold on the streets in a flurry of violence. The city is reborn as these sinister organizations fall to your fists, tackled in any order you wish. The ruined streets become vibrant and full of life, and you can spend gathered resources in shops and restaurants to help you on your quest. Shape the city to fit your play style, unlocking new weapons, combat moves, and new areas. Just don't take too long: the longer you spend preparing, the stronger your enemies will become.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1363940/Tenjutsu/ 

Releases tomorrow! June 8!

A new trailer for a new season has been released at Summer Game Fest.