Post by Dr. T is an alien on May 6, 2022 9:49:55 GMT -5
Games I've beaten in the past year (in order that the completed game occurs to me):
1) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - This was a top notch game and made me consider going and picking up resell copies of the Dark Souls games. I've actually replayed it multiple times, though I'm sad that the mods you can get for the PC version of the game are not available for the PS version. I would like to play as Gal Kestis, have dismemberment available, and have more options for the lightsaber customization. Back to the game, however, it has a combat system that invites you to spend more time perfecting it (I've gotten quite good at parrying common enemies, better at it with the purge troopers, and even have some success parrying boss characters now, all while also gotten good at my evasion skills) and rewards you when you do (I had no idea that two monsters that always gave me fits, the Wyyyschokk and the lesser nydak, actually had insta-kill options if you are good at parrying their attacks until I learned to parry them).
All in all, it's a game I have replayed several times for a reason. The PS5 upgrade looks fantastic, btw, especially when you look at the textured fabrics that some characters (and your playable character) sometimes wear.
2) FF7 remake- Again, I have replayed this one a couple of times (I tend to do that on games I really like). The remake is actually better, in general, than the original. Part of that is undoubtedly due to the remake having better tech as well as more money thrown into development, but better is still better. There still is some grinding involved, which gets old. I could go on about its virtues, but I'm sure that there are people who do these types of reviews that can do it more justice. I really just enjoyed it.
3) Detroit: Become Human - This game is fantastic. There are some mechanics I might like to improve (are QTEs REALLY the only way to do certain actions?) and some people found the plot a bit preachy (personally, I loved it even if it could have been more nuanced), but this was a top notch game that encourages you to replay it many, many times to tell a different story. The first time I played my peaceful maid-bot safely escaped with her entire "family" - including the weird 'uncle" Jerry. The second time I played her as more than a little willing to kill - and had her do so several times, killing her owner, a loud android (she was trying to sneak around), and a handful of soldiers as she escapes from an android death camp with her family...but sacrificing a crazy "uncle" that you meet in the game while doing so. I could not make myself play the cop android in any way that made Clancy Brown dislike me (though that absolutely is a possible path). Playing the android leader as a violent revolutionary was not as fun to me either.
Btw, the way the game's soundtrack was composed was AMAZING. Each of the three player characters had a separate composer so their separate gameplay segments truly felt unique.
4) Beyond: Two Souls - Detroit inspired me to try some of the other Quantic Dream games (I need to get back to playing Heavy Rain at some point). This game was enjoyable enough, though I kind wish I had played it with someone else, especially after watching Let's Play videos of Bryan Dechart (Connor from Detroit) and his wife Amelia (she played the Traci's in Detroit) playing it that way as Bryan, when finally unleashed when his wife ceded control to him, played Aidan as a bit of a psychopathic ghost, which looked really, really fun. I merely played him as practical, but that was because he was a means to an end for me, not the only gameplay I would get in the game. I feel like I missed out.
Having said that, even though it also has different possible endings, this game doesn't entice me to replay it like Detroit does.
5) Valkyria Chronicles 4 - This is not the first time I beat the game, but I wanted to play some post game materials and the data did not get transferred when I upgraded to a PS5, so I had to beat the game again to access the post-game materials. I have no complaints, however, as the game remains extremely fun, though not quite as much as accessing Selvaria post-game and making her an officer on your squad, even if it makes no sense narratively. It's amusing to have her clear a minefield by simply running through it and setting them all off without eating much damage at all.
6) DQ11 (sort of) - Technically I beat the game, but the post game material is so massive that I sort of feel that it is a requisite part of the game. Still, it is really a great game and I feel it is the best of the series, which is saying something. I also find myself getting too distracted sometimes gambling or spending hours making things on my forge.
I'm sure that there were at least 1 or 2 more, but I can't think of them right now. I will leave by making a note of one game I will probably NEVER finish and that is because grinding in that game is way, way too fun. I find I get myself perpetually distracted in Disgaea between improving weapons (the mechanics for that is quite unique) and the politics of the Underworld.
1) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - This was a top notch game and made me consider going and picking up resell copies of the Dark Souls games. I've actually replayed it multiple times, though I'm sad that the mods you can get for the PC version of the game are not available for the PS version. I would like to play as Gal Kestis, have dismemberment available, and have more options for the lightsaber customization. Back to the game, however, it has a combat system that invites you to spend more time perfecting it (I've gotten quite good at parrying common enemies, better at it with the purge troopers, and even have some success parrying boss characters now, all while also gotten good at my evasion skills) and rewards you when you do (I had no idea that two monsters that always gave me fits, the Wyyyschokk and the lesser nydak, actually had insta-kill options if you are good at parrying their attacks until I learned to parry them).
All in all, it's a game I have replayed several times for a reason. The PS5 upgrade looks fantastic, btw, especially when you look at the textured fabrics that some characters (and your playable character) sometimes wear.
2) FF7 remake- Again, I have replayed this one a couple of times (I tend to do that on games I really like). The remake is actually better, in general, than the original. Part of that is undoubtedly due to the remake having better tech as well as more money thrown into development, but better is still better. There still is some grinding involved, which gets old. I could go on about its virtues, but I'm sure that there are people who do these types of reviews that can do it more justice. I really just enjoyed it.
3) Detroit: Become Human - This game is fantastic. There are some mechanics I might like to improve (are QTEs REALLY the only way to do certain actions?) and some people found the plot a bit preachy (personally, I loved it even if it could have been more nuanced), but this was a top notch game that encourages you to replay it many, many times to tell a different story. The first time I played my peaceful maid-bot safely escaped with her entire "family" - including the weird 'uncle" Jerry. The second time I played her as more than a little willing to kill - and had her do so several times, killing her owner, a loud android (she was trying to sneak around), and a handful of soldiers as she escapes from an android death camp with her family...but sacrificing a crazy "uncle" that you meet in the game while doing so. I could not make myself play the cop android in any way that made Clancy Brown dislike me (though that absolutely is a possible path). Playing the android leader as a violent revolutionary was not as fun to me either.
Btw, the way the game's soundtrack was composed was AMAZING. Each of the three player characters had a separate composer so their separate gameplay segments truly felt unique.
4) Beyond: Two Souls - Detroit inspired me to try some of the other Quantic Dream games (I need to get back to playing Heavy Rain at some point). This game was enjoyable enough, though I kind wish I had played it with someone else, especially after watching Let's Play videos of Bryan Dechart (Connor from Detroit) and his wife Amelia (she played the Traci's in Detroit) playing it that way as Bryan, when finally unleashed when his wife ceded control to him, played Aidan as a bit of a psychopathic ghost, which looked really, really fun. I merely played him as practical, but that was because he was a means to an end for me, not the only gameplay I would get in the game. I feel like I missed out.
Having said that, even though it also has different possible endings, this game doesn't entice me to replay it like Detroit does.
5) Valkyria Chronicles 4 - This is not the first time I beat the game, but I wanted to play some post game materials and the data did not get transferred when I upgraded to a PS5, so I had to beat the game again to access the post-game materials. I have no complaints, however, as the game remains extremely fun, though not quite as much as accessing Selvaria post-game and making her an officer on your squad, even if it makes no sense narratively. It's amusing to have her clear a minefield by simply running through it and setting them all off without eating much damage at all.
6) DQ11 (sort of) - Technically I beat the game, but the post game material is so massive that I sort of feel that it is a requisite part of the game. Still, it is really a great game and I feel it is the best of the series, which is saying something. I also find myself getting too distracted sometimes gambling or spending hours making things on my forge.
I'm sure that there were at least 1 or 2 more, but I can't think of them right now. I will leave by making a note of one game I will probably NEVER finish and that is because grinding in that game is way, way too fun. I find I get myself perpetually distracted in Disgaea between improving weapons (the mechanics for that is quite unique) and the politics of the Underworld.