What Sabine Is Doing: Games
Mar. 14th, 2020 05:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabinetzinSo I'm going to make a list of the various entertainment products I have enjoyed lately/am enjoying now, for anybody who's isolating or just in need of some good times. I'm breaking this out because it turned out I had more to say than I thought I did, so first, video games!
Updated 3/20
Nintendo Switch
Everything I'm listing here is available digitally, but some of them are much cheaper as cartridges, especially used. If you don't want to go out, Gamestop's shipping is really fast. My general recommendation is to check the Great Deals section of the Switch eShop regularly. It's where I find a lot of the stuff I end up really liking, because I like weird and/or funny and/or poignant indie games. If you too like weird/funny/poignant shit, the Great Deals are your friends.
Ace Attorney Trilogy
I am not going to explain to you why you should buy this. My opinions are manifest. The Switch version contains Ace Attorney, Justice For All, and Trials and Tribulations, with updated graphics and audio. Do not sleep on the current sale (ending 3/16), which is the whole thing for $14.99. It's still completely worth it at $29.99. Also, if you have a 3DS or 2DS, strong rec for Dual Destinies and conditional rec for Spirit of Justice. And if you haven't played Phoenix Wright vs. Professor Layton, DO IT. That shit is WILD.
Donut County
This is the most fun I have had playing a game in ages. It's one of those games that you have to explain with a lot of "Okay, bear with me," but okay, bear with me: you're a raccoon, and you're piloting a portable hole that can swallow up things. It has strong Katamari Damacy vibes, only it doesn't have time limits, so it's way more chill. The art is great and the story is pleasingly weird, and it's definitely appropriate for older kids, with no violence or profanity.
Shape of the World
I'm not even sure how to describe this game? It's a walking simulator where you're going through an alien landscape that you can manipulate. It's just really soothing, and it's really beautiful. Pro tip: for an extra good experience, I like to pretend I'm a wildlife photographer, utilizing the handy screenshot button to get good snaps. It's a good way to make sure I'm focused on it, which helps me relax more than just looking at it.
What Remains of Edith Finch
I mean, it's THE walking simulator. It's gorgeous, the gameplay mechanics are really interesting (the factory section, in particular, is one of the coolest mechanics I've ever seen), and the story is so sad and wistful, but somehow not really depressing? It has this odd element of hope to it that I can't quite put my finger on. Strong warning for child death. Absolutely do not play this game if child death is an issue for you.
Lumines Remastered
I have played a LOT of Lumines, y'all. It's a drop puzzler with rhythm elements and a great soundtrack. I used to play the original on PSP in grad school, and the Switch version is virtually unchanged except the addition of rumble. I personally like rumble, but I think you can turn it off. CW: The graphics are not, I think, strobe-like, but they are flashy, and the music gets intense if you are playing it well.
Circuits
This is an odd little puzzle game that I really, really enjoyed. You're presented with music and have to reproduce what you hear using snippets of audio that you drag onto a timeline. It starts easy and gets pretty complex, but if you have a good ear, it's extremely satisfying.
Aviary Attorney
I think the first case of this game is better if you've played Ace Attorney, because it plays off of your expectations from those games, but you would probably still enjoy it if you haven't. After that it veers off into its own territory, which brings up really interesting moral issues. It's branching and freeform, whereas Ace Attorney is very strictly on rails, which makes it a little nervewracking for me sometimes, but I enjoy it anyway. I am currently at the top of Act 3 of 4, and will report back.
Update: I finished Acts 3 and 4. The first playthrough I fucked up accidentally, so I actually saw ending 4-C first. Such was my guilt that I went through and played 4-B, what one would consider the good ending; 4-C isn't bad, per se, it's just the one you get through playing poorly (oops). It's actually a really interesting way for the story to go. I also played 4-A, which definitely is the bad ending, just to see all of them. All the endings feel fully realized, like they could all be how the story ended. Overall, I really enjoyed the game; it has the feeling of something that started as a joke and accidentally became serious, but what it ended up as was something really interesting and satisfying to play.
Games I like but haven't finished
Tales of Vesperia
This is a solid JRPG with really pretty graphics. It's one of those where you can play it as deeply or as shallowly as you want, and I'm enjoying the story. I just haven't finished it because I'm not great at games that last more than ten hours.
Grim Fandango Remastered
I've been wanting to play this game since it came out, which was literally in the 90's. I just need to muster more patience, because it's a LucasArts point and click adventure so it's based on moon logic and puzzles that make sense to no one. I WILL be playing it with a FAQ.
VA-11 HALL-A (on sale until 3/24!)
This game is so intriguing and different from anything I've ever played; I doubt there are many other games where the main mechanic is bartending. But I find the gameplay really satisfying; I just haven't finished it because I'm kind of hoarding it and playing it in bites.
Untitled Goose Game
I never finished this because I suck at stealth. But I love the art and the music, and the absurdity of it is delightful.
Katamari Damacy REROLL (on sale until 3/23!)
This is a port of the original Katamari Damacy, which I played a lot of in college, and seems relatively unchanged. The controls took a little getting used to, and I'm still a little twitchy so it's hard for me sometimes, but it's even weirder than I remember. That's a good thing.
Felix the Reaper
This is an odd little game; this is something that could be said of everything I play. It's the story of a reaper, someone who arranges for deaths to happen, and the central mechanic is a puzzle system where you manipulate light and shadow to move Felix and utilize items. But Felix loves to dance, so instead of just walking across the map he dances around, and you can listen to different stations on his Walkman. The story is very cute as well- he works for the Ministry of Death and took an assignment on Earth in hopes of seeing his beloved from the Ministry of Life- and I really like the art style. And man is it nice to play a game with a fat protagonist who has a fat love interest, neither of whom are made into a joke; Felix's movements were modeled after real dancers, so he's nimble and sure on his feet. I also appreciate that there are no penalties for the puzzles, just rewards if you do better, because I am not very good at it.
Games I would not recommend
The Bridge
This puzzler is gorgeous and intriguing but the Switch version appears to be glitched?? My version is, anyway. If I get it working, I'll update this.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
THIS FUCKING GAME. I was having so much fun though I abhor flying levels, then I got to the Vulture chase. Friends, I'm 34 years old and I've restarted it four times. I have no fucking clue how one could possibly be expected to beat this level. I hate flying through rings anyway, and now I'm supposed to be flying a straight line with a character that moves in a U shape? I ragequit.
Wishlist and/or things I have bought and not played yet:
Reigns, Broken Age, Octopath Traveler, Firewatch, Fractured Minds, The Gardens Between, Return of the Obra Dinn, Telltale Batman, Kentucky Route Zero, Neo Cab
Android
Monument Valley 1 & 2
These games are just lovely and the puzzling is really satisfying. It's hard at the later levels, but there are no time limits and infinite restarts.
Card Crawl
A card game dungeon crawler that's easy to learn and fun to play. There are two more, Card Thief and Miracle Merchant, which are the same essential mechanics but I haven't played yet.
Games I wouldn't recommend
The Room
I tried with this game, but it was so fuckin hard I couldn't finish the first level. If you're WAY better at puzzles than me, feel free, but it just wasn't for me.
Updated 3/20
Nintendo Switch
Everything I'm listing here is available digitally, but some of them are much cheaper as cartridges, especially used. If you don't want to go out, Gamestop's shipping is really fast. My general recommendation is to check the Great Deals section of the Switch eShop regularly. It's where I find a lot of the stuff I end up really liking, because I like weird and/or funny and/or poignant indie games. If you too like weird/funny/poignant shit, the Great Deals are your friends.
Ace Attorney Trilogy
I am not going to explain to you why you should buy this. My opinions are manifest. The Switch version contains Ace Attorney, Justice For All, and Trials and Tribulations, with updated graphics and audio. Do not sleep on the current sale (ending 3/16), which is the whole thing for $14.99. It's still completely worth it at $29.99. Also, if you have a 3DS or 2DS, strong rec for Dual Destinies and conditional rec for Spirit of Justice. And if you haven't played Phoenix Wright vs. Professor Layton, DO IT. That shit is WILD.
Donut County
This is the most fun I have had playing a game in ages. It's one of those games that you have to explain with a lot of "Okay, bear with me," but okay, bear with me: you're a raccoon, and you're piloting a portable hole that can swallow up things. It has strong Katamari Damacy vibes, only it doesn't have time limits, so it's way more chill. The art is great and the story is pleasingly weird, and it's definitely appropriate for older kids, with no violence or profanity.
Shape of the World
I'm not even sure how to describe this game? It's a walking simulator where you're going through an alien landscape that you can manipulate. It's just really soothing, and it's really beautiful. Pro tip: for an extra good experience, I like to pretend I'm a wildlife photographer, utilizing the handy screenshot button to get good snaps. It's a good way to make sure I'm focused on it, which helps me relax more than just looking at it.
What Remains of Edith Finch
I mean, it's THE walking simulator. It's gorgeous, the gameplay mechanics are really interesting (the factory section, in particular, is one of the coolest mechanics I've ever seen), and the story is so sad and wistful, but somehow not really depressing? It has this odd element of hope to it that I can't quite put my finger on. Strong warning for child death. Absolutely do not play this game if child death is an issue for you.
Lumines Remastered
I have played a LOT of Lumines, y'all. It's a drop puzzler with rhythm elements and a great soundtrack. I used to play the original on PSP in grad school, and the Switch version is virtually unchanged except the addition of rumble. I personally like rumble, but I think you can turn it off. CW: The graphics are not, I think, strobe-like, but they are flashy, and the music gets intense if you are playing it well.
Circuits
This is an odd little puzzle game that I really, really enjoyed. You're presented with music and have to reproduce what you hear using snippets of audio that you drag onto a timeline. It starts easy and gets pretty complex, but if you have a good ear, it's extremely satisfying.
Aviary Attorney
I think the first case of this game is better if you've played Ace Attorney, because it plays off of your expectations from those games, but you would probably still enjoy it if you haven't. After that it veers off into its own territory, which brings up really interesting moral issues. It's branching and freeform, whereas Ace Attorney is very strictly on rails, which makes it a little nervewracking for me sometimes, but I enjoy it anyway. I am currently at the top of Act 3 of 4, and will report back.
Update: I finished Acts 3 and 4. The first playthrough I fucked up accidentally, so I actually saw ending 4-C first. Such was my guilt that I went through and played 4-B, what one would consider the good ending; 4-C isn't bad, per se, it's just the one you get through playing poorly (oops). It's actually a really interesting way for the story to go. I also played 4-A, which definitely is the bad ending, just to see all of them. All the endings feel fully realized, like they could all be how the story ended. Overall, I really enjoyed the game; it has the feeling of something that started as a joke and accidentally became serious, but what it ended up as was something really interesting and satisfying to play.
Games I like but haven't finished
Tales of Vesperia
This is a solid JRPG with really pretty graphics. It's one of those where you can play it as deeply or as shallowly as you want, and I'm enjoying the story. I just haven't finished it because I'm not great at games that last more than ten hours.
Grim Fandango Remastered
I've been wanting to play this game since it came out, which was literally in the 90's. I just need to muster more patience, because it's a LucasArts point and click adventure so it's based on moon logic and puzzles that make sense to no one. I WILL be playing it with a FAQ.
VA-11 HALL-A (on sale until 3/24!)
This game is so intriguing and different from anything I've ever played; I doubt there are many other games where the main mechanic is bartending. But I find the gameplay really satisfying; I just haven't finished it because I'm kind of hoarding it and playing it in bites.
Untitled Goose Game
I never finished this because I suck at stealth. But I love the art and the music, and the absurdity of it is delightful.
Katamari Damacy REROLL (on sale until 3/23!)
This is a port of the original Katamari Damacy, which I played a lot of in college, and seems relatively unchanged. The controls took a little getting used to, and I'm still a little twitchy so it's hard for me sometimes, but it's even weirder than I remember. That's a good thing.
Felix the Reaper
This is an odd little game; this is something that could be said of everything I play. It's the story of a reaper, someone who arranges for deaths to happen, and the central mechanic is a puzzle system where you manipulate light and shadow to move Felix and utilize items. But Felix loves to dance, so instead of just walking across the map he dances around, and you can listen to different stations on his Walkman. The story is very cute as well- he works for the Ministry of Death and took an assignment on Earth in hopes of seeing his beloved from the Ministry of Life- and I really like the art style. And man is it nice to play a game with a fat protagonist who has a fat love interest, neither of whom are made into a joke; Felix's movements were modeled after real dancers, so he's nimble and sure on his feet. I also appreciate that there are no penalties for the puzzles, just rewards if you do better, because I am not very good at it.
Games I would not recommend
The Bridge
This puzzler is gorgeous and intriguing but the Switch version appears to be glitched?? My version is, anyway. If I get it working, I'll update this.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
THIS FUCKING GAME. I was having so much fun though I abhor flying levels, then I got to the Vulture chase. Friends, I'm 34 years old and I've restarted it four times. I have no fucking clue how one could possibly be expected to beat this level. I hate flying through rings anyway, and now I'm supposed to be flying a straight line with a character that moves in a U shape? I ragequit.
Wishlist and/or things I have bought and not played yet:
Reigns, Broken Age, Octopath Traveler, Firewatch, Fractured Minds, The Gardens Between, Return of the Obra Dinn, Telltale Batman, Kentucky Route Zero, Neo Cab
Android
Monument Valley 1 & 2
These games are just lovely and the puzzling is really satisfying. It's hard at the later levels, but there are no time limits and infinite restarts.
Card Crawl
A card game dungeon crawler that's easy to learn and fun to play. There are two more, Card Thief and Miracle Merchant, which are the same essential mechanics but I haven't played yet.
Games I wouldn't recommend
The Room
I tried with this game, but it was so fuckin hard I couldn't finish the first level. If you're WAY better at puzzles than me, feel free, but it just wasn't for me.
