NostalgiaCore

Tag: video games

  • Rating the Ps5 reveal

    Rating the Ps5 reveal

    After the initial deflating feeling of IGN’s first showing of the E3 replacement service: ‘Summer of Gaming‘, I was very apprehensive about the ‘Future of Gaming‘ event taking place the following day. Prior to these events, I had sorely missed video game conferences. Staying up extra late just to see tiny snippets of what’s to come has become a long held tradition in every household I’ve occupied.

    Whilst the Playstation event failed to sate my cravings for the absolute cringe and ridiculousness that usually accompanies these occasions, what it did deliver was an absolutely devastating crescendo of content.

    I want to take some time to spill out my initial thoughts about the full list of game announcements that have ignited my excitement for the next console generation.

    I even made a little ‘hype-o-meter‘ for each one, so look out for that.

    Little devil inside

    I’ve barely seen anything of this and it’s already my game of the year – prove me wrong. Credit: Little Devil Inside / Neostream Interactive

    This is the game I am now most excited for and I’m still not completely sure why. I don’t want to cheapen this in anyway, but, the trailer gave me major ‘Johnny English and Bough’ vibes – with the game letting you fill the shoes of the far less acknowledged ‘Bough’. Don’t judge me, this resonates with my childhood. Speaking of nostalgia, it increased its hold on me further when it paid homage to the famous ‘floppy arms scene’ from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

    The trailer displayed a charming sense of humour, utilising a classic storytelling trope of going back and forward between contrasting characters. The comedy was further enforced when several streamers, upon viewing a series of in-game shop fronts, uttered the phrase: “Hehehe… Schmeat.”

    Little Devil Inside looks to be a googly-eyed absurdity in a dark fantasy world, hunting a variety of monsters and beings in a multitude of pretty environments. I cannot make a direct comparison to any other game I’ve played, and I love that. The closest I can get is the Monster Hunter series because, well, you hunt monsters – I’m looking forward to a refreshing experience.

    The game has been in development for a little while now, being featured in Steam’s greenlight project and reaching funding goals on kickstarter. But it looks as though Sony have taken the developer under their wing and are showing real belief in an exciting indie project.

    Hype-o-meter: stylish Victorian monster hunter 10/10

    Kena: Bridge of the Spirits

    I want to live in this world. Credit: Kena Bridge of the Spirits / Ember Lab

    Kena: Bridge of the Spirits is the answer to the question: What if Studio Ghibli and Pixar collaborated to create a magical action adventure game? The westernised soot sprites had me screaming with their first appearance and I’m already willing to lay down my life to protect them. It looks absolutely stunning and I need to exist in this fantasy world.

    From what I can see of the gameplay, the combat looks solid whilst fighting against some very sinister elemental enemies. It also looks as though these brilliant balls of living fluff will be there to assist you as you turn an etheric staff into a bomb-ass bow.

    Hopefully, after what has already been an extremely sh*tty year, we’ll get to experience this escapist haven soon. I cannot wait to get lost in this beautifully imagined dreamscape.

    hype-o-meter: Spirit me away 9/10

    THe console reveal

    BT Internet router-realness. Credit: Sony

    I mean, I had to mention the Playstation reveal – surely? And what a reveal. After around 30 teasing and digitally entrancing transitions, we finally got to view the TWO iterations of the Playstation 5. If that’s not a way to literally one-up Xbox then I have no idea what is.

    Yes. It looks like a router. Yes. When scaling it up, it is absolutely gargantuan. But, look! It’s all modern and looks like an alien craft from an early 2000s science fiction movie. OK maybe that wasn’t the best comparison. Personally, I really like the armour-like panelling and wavy design. I can’t wait to shoehorn this beast very naturally into my tiny living room.

    The build up to this reveal has to be admired, with the final result getting an audible response from everyone lined up on my sofa as the PS5 emerged from the darkness. Bravo, Sony.

    hype-o-meter: it’s finally here and it’s beautiful 9/10

    Spiderman: Miles Morales

    Take me back to New York City. Credit: Spiderman Miles Morales / Insomniac

    My non-radioactive body is ready. Off the back of the success of Insomniac’s amazing first iteration, coupled with the outstanding response from Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, I have been counting down the days until I get a chance to don the black and red suit of Miles Morales. Virtually, at least – my current lockdown bod would not be too flattering in spandex.

    It’s been confirmed that this is not a DLC, nor is it a sequel to the Peter Parker fronted original. It is its own stand-alone game within the same universe – or multiverse, eh? wink wink. But no, that probably wouldn’t make sense. More importantly, we get to return to a snow covered New York city on a slated ‘Holiday 2020‘ release date. Who would’ve thought we’d be getting this so soon? There is every reason to be hyped for this game and I am the conductor of the hype train; Choo choo.

    Give me those electric spider powers.

    hype-o-meter: What’s up, Danger? 10/10

    Solar Ash

    A e s t h e t i c . Credit: Solar Ash / Heart Machine

    Yes. Yes. Everything about this. Yes. The colour palette, the aesthetic, the rollerblading, the void. FEED ME MORE. Honestly, this was a visual feast for me and I’ve missed virtual gliding ever since Jet Set Radio Future. The design of Solar Ash has ticked every box for me so far.

    • Neon lights? Check.
    • Futuristic ninja? Check.
    • Cyber high-tops? Check.
    • Capes? Transparent check.
    • Gameplay? …Well. About 10 seconds.

    There wasn’t a lot of gameplay shown, but what I saw I liked. So please allow me to overhype this for myself. This gave me so many cravings I went and purchased Heart Machine’s well-loved first title: Hyper Light Drifter. I need this – I don’t have a problem.

    I just need to wait until some point in 2021 to play it…

    Hype-o-meter: the void is whispering back 9/10

    So those are my personal most hype-worthy moments out of the Future of Gaming event. If you’ve enjoyed reading through my uneducated opinions so far then here are a couple of lines on absolutely everything else:

    deathloop

    Oh the dishonored-ness of it all – It looks like so much FUN. The grindhouse art style matched with the charismatic leads looks to be good enough. When you add in the premise of being stuck in very extreme version of groundhog day whilst fighting off rival assassins – even better. Oh, and using telekinetic powers to casually swipe limp bodies through windows looks even more satisfying than it is in Control.

    Hype-o-meter: escape. that. loop. 8/10

    Grand THeft Auto V

    Again? Really? I will say – I cannot believe that a GTA title has managed to span three different console generations. That is actually quite impressive. I’m also a little intrigued to see if there are many improvements made.

    Hype-o-meter: Aw Sh*t. here we go again. 2/10

    Gran TUrismo 7

    Every year I find it harder and harder to gain any excitement about racing games, and I actually enjoy fast vehicles. I feel like there needs to be some sort of innovation to make any of it exciting again. Also, I’m a Forza fanboy at heart.

    Hype-o-meter: *Vrrrm screeech bang* 3/10

    Ratchet & CLank: Rift apart

    Cards on the table – I have never played a Ratchet & Clank game. I know, I know – boo, hiss, traitor etc. However! This dimension jumping iteration managed to make me curious about the series for the first time ever, so, it must be doing something right.

    Hype-o-meter: portal, but without the gun 5/10

    Project Athia

    With Square Enix getting an entire new universe to play with, there is every reason to get very excited. However, there wasn’t a lot to go on in this teaser. The naturistic magic is cool, the creatures look badass (especially that angry dragon) – but I have no idea what the actual game is. It’s most likely a long way off, especially with this working title.

    Hype-o-meter: Penultimate fantasy 5/10

    Stray

    Again, I have no real idea what this game is, but you get to play as a cat wearing a backpack in a futuristic city populated by robots with CRT monitor heads. Sign me up.

    Hype-o-meter: Cat game. cat game. game played as a cat. 7/10

    Returnal

    “The Crash. The Attack. My Death.” Who would’ve thought we’d have two different games about death loops in one presentation? Not me. Returnal seems to go about it in a more serious and scary tone, as you blast your way through an alien planet whilst tackling an ever-creeping psychosis. Spookems.

    Hype-o-meter: this planet explains the repetitive star wars SEQUELS 7/10

    Sackboy: A big adventure

    I’m not sure why this reveal sent me into such a rage… It’s just repackaged Little Big Planet, right? Am I missing something? I don’t care for his smug little smile anymore. Sackboy has lived long enough for me to see him become the villain.

    Hype-o-meter: It’s little big planet four 1/10

    Goodbye volcano high

    I understand the appeal of this pastel-tinted, dino-converted high school sim, but it’s not likely a game I’ll play. Also I’m not yet entirely sure what you do in it? It’ll most likely be a beautiful and brooding narrative driven mechanic – that’s my guess. Also the foreshadowing of the meteor in the logo makes me uncomfortable.

    Hype-o-meter: Dino High 6/10

    oddworld Soulstorm

    I’m not overly fussed about another Oddworld game. Maybe it’s because the series scorned me as a child when I couldn’t figure out what to do apart from make Abe repeatedly exclaim “hello” and “follow me” before accidentally murdering the protagonist and all his friends. Maybe I’m just bitter. The music in the trailer was pretty hype though.

    HYPE-O-METER: weird creature terminator 4/10

    ghostwire tokyo

    A first-person Control-esque supernatural martial arts game set in Tokyo? Yes please. I’d like to see a bit more gameplay though, as I saw that kamehameha fireball pose a few too many times in such a short period.

    HYPE-O-METER: who you gonna call? cool masked ghost fighters 8/10

    Jett: the far shore

    I just don’t know what this is. All I could work out was a tiny craft side-scrolling above a rough sea and occasionally dipping in. This did nothing for me. Now that I’ve dissed it – wait for the 10/10 reviews to fly out as this becomes the next Journey.

    HYPE-O-METER: Nope. 0/10

    Godfall

    I was a little underwhelmed by the ‘looter-stabber‘. Everything seems to visually blur together, and not in a pleasing way. Perhaps it’s because I feel like I’ve already seen everything the game has to offer – but i’m not too thrilled. Again, the music was pretty hype.

    HYPE-O-METER: I hope the loot is worth it 4/10

    hitman 3

    It will be great, we all know it will be great. The problem is: I suck so hard at hitman games. But, I LOVE to watch let’s players either absolutely boss it or also suck ass and f*ck up in a multitude of ways. Cannot wait to repeat the cycle. 

    HYPE-O-METER: bald badass is back 7/10

    astro’s playroom

    Looks like the popular VR platformer but without the VR this time? It’s cute, but ultimately seems a little pointless. Don’t quote me on the VR-less aspect, that’s just a random guess from the way the trailer has been promoted. Instead it looks to be trying to utilise the aspects of the new Dualsense controller.

    HYPE-O-METER: another 3d platformer 2/10

    NBA2K21

    So, so, so sweaty.

    HYPE-O-METER: I don’t understand b-ball 3/10

    bugsnacks

    I err.. I don’t know what’s happening here. From the creators of Octodad – a game where your body parts become whatever you eat? and what you eat are living food creatures. OK show me more.

    HYPE-O-METER: cloudy with a chance of meatballs 7/10

    demon’s souls

    I understand this remake is big, but I have no point of reference for it having never played it. I understand the excitement, so I’m splitting it down the middle.

    HYPE-O-METER: i’m bad at these. 5/10

    Resident evil village / viiI

    An interesting twist on the horror franchise as it looks to bring in some fantasy vibes. These games terrify me, but I am nonetheless excited. Also the introduction of Chris made me chuckle.

    HYPE-O-METER: it’s a full moon. 6/10

    Pragmata

    Spacemen. Children. See-through cats. I could’ve sworn it was a Kojima title. However, the trailer left me more confused than excited.

    HYPE-O-METER: it’s on the moon? 3/10

    Horizon Forbidden West

    I’m obviously very hyped for this one. For some reason I always forget just how good Zero Dawn was, so I cannot wait to be shown just how good a AAA game can be when it launches. Also, the end scene from the trailer is giving me major Legolas Vs Oliphaunts feels.

    HYPE-O-METER: ride those robo-dinos bae-bee! 8/10

    Destruction all stars

    This just looks stupid fun. It’s giving me Sunset Overdrive x Rocket League vibes and I’m all for it. I want to be a giant toddler smashing virtual cars together.

    HYPE-O-METER: just stupid smashy fun 8/10

    If you’ve managed to make it this far – well done and thank you, that was a lot of reading. Turns out playstation revealed a lot of different games. Overall I am insanely hyped and as a community of gamers we are extremely lucky right now, there is just so much to get hyped about!

    By all means, share your thoughts with me! I always want to talk about video games and any reason to do so is massively appreciated. In the meantime, keep safe and stay tuned!

  • Games to help peacefully disconnect from reality

    Games to help peacefully disconnect from reality

    Just for a little bit, anyhow.

    Right at this moment in time I need games that calm me, as I imagine many others do too. If you’re like me and still sticking to the original UK lockdown laws in some fear-induced paranoia, or like most of the population: Returning to work and spending most of the day absorbing another form of tension and anxiety, then you will need some form of interactive entertainment that serves as a release.

    On top of this, on a personal level, I need to find as many soothing games as possible before the last of us part II inevitably pushes waves of stress through my body come June 19th.

    So here are a few games that I can recommend if you want to just unwind either on your own or with friends – hope you enjoy!

    Gris

    My word just LOOK AT IT. Credit: Gris / Nomada Studio

    Gris is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that just looks absolutely stunning. The main pull is in its flowing watercolour art design that the game cleverly uses to tell a wordless story themed around emotional heartbreak – leaving it open to interpretation in parts. The pleasing visuals are paired with sweeping musical scores that add emotion and weight as you glide through aesthetically differing worlds.

    The platforming itself is very simple, so don’t expect much in the way of a challenge. Instead Gris pushes you to explore each level as you gain different powers that are each beautifully animated, aiding your character on her journey to find her lost voice.

    The game clocks in at around just three hours of playtime, so it’s perfect for anyone that doesn’t have much time to experience a lot of what gaming has to offer at the moment. Just take that small bracket of time and bathe in the soothing scores and emotive art style of this stunner.

    Donut County

    The art style in Donut County is just so calming to absorb. Credit: Donut County / Ben Esposito

    Who would have thought that moving a hole in the ground would be so satisfying? Donut County is a very cute, charming and tongue-in-cheek game where the controllable character is a sinkhole. This is a very simplistic summarisation that does not do this title any justice, so let me try and explain what makes this game so appealing and calming.

    You learn the story of the game through a little cast of animal characters as they discuss their experiences of falling through the aforementioned holes that seem to be plagueing their tiny town. The direct-messaging duo of Mira and her troublesome raccoon companion is endearing and enjoyable to sit through between interactions. The story ends up digging a little deeper (pun DEFINITELY intended) than the initial premise would have you believe – and that’s nice to have in something that’s so relaxing.

    The game manages to make you feel rewarded as you play with the fun physics of stuffing bigger and bigger items into a floorhole™. It also manages something special in matching that euphoric, mind-cleansing feeling of when you finally clean and re-organise a room that a depressive mind has been putting off for weeks.

    This is exactly what makes the game so soothing and stress relieving. After a long day of sorting through other people’s clutter, switch on Donut County and enjoy also sorting through clutter. It’s not as insane as it sounds – please give it a go.

    No man’s sky

    One day… One day all of this precious loot will be mine. Credit: No Man’s Sky / Hello Games

    “Now, hold on, I know what you’re thinking.. wait, no – It’s GOOD NOW!” Is what I keep chanting to my friends mortal enemies as I try and convince them to play along with my epic space fantasies. 

    I restarted No Man’s Sky recently, from the beginning, on a lovely chilled Saturday morning. Before I knew it, it was midnight, my partner had gone to bed and I was sat in the dark coveting my precious starship that I had found and painstakingly repaired – it wasn’t even objectively a good starship, but it was my starship.

    In my several hours of gameplay, I had built a humble home filled with machines that I was sure I would need at some point in the future. I learned parts of a previously unknown language and tested it out on the local population, poorly. I discovered, and subsequently named, a potato-like race of creatures on an irradiated planet. I fought off space pirates circling around my ‘home’ planet before selling their remains to a nearby spacestation. But mainly… I searched around for a precious spacecraft to call my own.

    I never feel like I have to be doing something in No Mans Sky – which is a good thing when I just want to switch off and go blank. The grind is real, but the grind is good. Now that the spacefaring title has also lived up to its original 2016 promises, there are many more things to do in addition to my above adventures. It’s perfect if you have time to pour into, as you drift through the cosmos at your own discretion.

    The fact it’s finally fully multiplayer is fantastic too – my current end goal is to group together a hardy bunch of ragtag space pirates and raid unsuspecting freighters in order to fund my our very own space freighter. Interested? Please sign up here.

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons

    *Inhale* “…ahhhhhhhhhhhh” Credit: Animal Crossing: New Horizons / Nintendo

    Ah. Here it is. The game that turned the Nintendo Switch into a solid block of antimatter. Do you get it? Because antimatter is extremely rare and expensive? I had to research this. I Googled ‘rarest materials’. Fine. Here is the game that prevents you from purchasing a Switch anywhere in the UK for less than £500. Does that land better?

    This unofficial sponsor of the pandemic lockdown spread like wildfire upon release, dominating gaming news feeds worldwide – and for good reason. At a time where everyone needed an escape, Animal Crossing: New Horizons provided you with your own desert island (unless you share a console, in which case you share an island. I’m not bitter.)

    The ability to roam around your own spot of paradise and decorate everything as you see fit without a care in the world is such a welcome premise. There is no pressure on you to complete any tasks once the island is finished – even that 1,000,000 bell debt you owe to Tom Nook isn’t entirely compulsory. He doesn’t have any ability to send round the debt collectors, but instead just passive-aggressively mentions it every time you hold a conversation with the greedy land owner. Just who does he think he is? I made this island. No me? Then no K.K Slider.

    Sorry. A bit off topic there.

    I would recommend to grab this game and play it as soon as you can, but with the current console shortage – that’s looking unlikely for a while. DO NOT play the mobile version as a substitute, becuase it is pure trash. Instead, why not try the next alternative…

    Stardew valley

    It’s so soothing to look at, just look at all that… organisation. Oof. Credit: Stadew Valley / ConcernedApe

    I will admit, with regret, that I could not ‘complete’ Stardew Valley. I attempted to play it at a time in my life where I was unable to commit the attention that this masterpiece deserves. Therefore, my farm has been abandoned – left to die in the winter, with the owner too ashamed to breathe new life into the soil. Sorry Grandpa.

    On the other hand, I know several people that have poured hours upon hours into this faming sim/relationship manager. After having nothing but positive comments about the game blasted at me over the years, and with my limited experience – I am putting full faith in my friends.

    Its pixelated charm is really addictive. The steady rejuvenation of your farm is extremely rewarding and the relationships you can build with residents of pelican town are sweet and lasting. Just in writing this, I’m almost uncomfortably tempted to dust off my long-forgotten tools and have another go at a simpler, 16-bit life.

    I’m not fishing again though – Not since Animal Crossing taught me how easy it can be. Fishing in this game is a chaotic nightmare.

    journey

    Ah the lovely, lovely memories. Credit: Journey / ThatGameCompany

    We need random social interaction more than anything right now, which is why Journey is currently the perfect stress reliever.

    The wordless storytelling is spectacular as you skate through the delightful dunes of a gorgeous, sand-filled world. The game allows your mind to invent the intricacies of the narrative as you uncover mysteries of a seemingly buried civilisation, whilst you traverse the unknown vastness with a completely anonymous stranger.

    It’s strange how a series of simple prompts and audio cues makes you feel connected to a faceless person as you try to overcome obstacles together. Despite not meeting a single person on my first playthrough of the game however, it still felt special. Traversing through this journey by myself gave me a very unique experience, feeling lost and alone and seeking somewhere to belong.

    I don’t want to talk too much about it, because it’s all about the experience. If it’s not something you’ve had the honour of enjoying, now is the time to try it – especially if you’ve just had a real sh*tty day.

    That’s it for this listicle. These are just a few suggestions for a nice way to clear your head whilst everything else is in chaos at the moment, but i’d love to hear any further ideas! Can’t have enough calm, relaxing games to play.