Final Fantasy VII Remake | Review

I cannot say that I was excited when Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy VII Remake would deviate from the original Final Fantasy VII by dropping the Active Time Battle in favor of real-time action. I prefer my RPGs turn-based whenever possible, and while the ATB system doesn’t comfortable exist under that label, it’s still far closer than what Remake does. Nevertheless, as the PlayStation original was, along with Pokémon Red, my primary introduction to RPGs, I vowed to give Remake a chance. It deserved that opportunity to convince me.

Strife: Veteran Edition | Review

Immersive sims aren’t always easy to recognize. Some, like Deux Ex and Dishonored, are widely acknowledged as immersive sims, while others are immersive sims by association. BioShock is a common example. Lastly, we have the more contentious inclusions, typically added due to differing definitions of what exactly makes an immersive sim. Such titles are unsurprisingly debated endlessly online, although I simply call them fringe cases.

Strife is one such fringe case.

10 Favorite Games Played in 2023

My original intention was to post my Game of the Year deliberations, which I recorded beforehand, but my enthusiasm for the project deflated when runtime ballooned to three hours. I could’ve edited that down, but what a miserable time that would be. Instead, I am falling back on the only medium where I don’t feel completely awkward and unprepared: the written word.

What’cha Been Playin’? 2023 Game Completions

A goal that I made earlier this year was to complete as many games released in 2023 as I could, and I actually did a decent job, too. Octopath Traveler II was shelved for the time being as I couldn’t foresee myself playing anything else at the same time. The Xbox Series port of Baldur’s Gate 3 released late enough that I’ve barely touched it. I’m sure that a few indie games fell through the cracks, as well. I can’t keep track of every indie that releases. Hell, I can barely keep track of every big game, which is how Alan Wake 2 released without me realizing.

Anyway, here is every game that I beat in 2023. Let’s hope that 2024 is blessed with as many awesome releases.

System Shock: Enhanced Edition | Review

As I started System Shock, I thought, “Now we’re going. Those archaic Ultima Underworld games are complete. I can truly begin my Immersive Sim journey.” I watched the introduction, establishing me as an unnamed hacker caught hacking TriOptimum Corporation files. Forcibly brought aboard Citadel Station orbiting Saturn, I am “requested” to hack the on-board A.I. SHODAN, allowing the corrupt Edward Diego to skirt repercussions. Then I’m given an advanced neural interface, the price of which is a six-month coma to heal from surgery.

When I awake. . . I am met by this.

Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds | Review

I debated for too long whether to play Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds.

Final Fantasy Adventure | Review

Where the first six Final Fantasy entries are widely available on most modern hardware, including mobile phones, it’s easy to forget how absurd the series’s release history was before PlayStation, with North America only receiving half the numbered games. The second and third games would’ve arrived too late in the NES’ lifespan, while Final Fantasy V was considered “not accessible enough” for anyone but “experienced gamers” [S]. That left us with Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy IV renamed Final Fantasy II, and Final Fantasy VI renamed Final Fantasy III.

Cyberpunk 2077 (v.1.63) | Review

On November 30, 2020, the official Twitter account for Cyberpunk 2077 introduced a new gameplay trailer by proclaiming, “Get ready for the next generation of open-world adventure. . .” Yeah, not so much.