Fishing for Metaphors

I was notified that my blog turned 6 years old a month ago. I did not realize it had been that long. Perhaps that’s why my passion for blogging seems to die down a bit like everyone else who came before and after me, but that’s not entirely the case with me. There were some drastic changes made to my personal and work life, which prevented me from blogging like I used to. My passion for writing never ceased though!

As mentioned before on this blog, I moved away from publishing weekly, but I did not mention it partially because my passion for games is winding down a bit. I wonder if it’s because of the new environment. Well, to be honest, my health hasn’t been good these past few years.  So gaming hasn’t always been enjoyable, but they do keep me sane. The most recent game I finished is Ghost of Tsushima. I enjoyed it very much. I like the subtleness of the story. There was a lot of room for imagination, learning bits and pieces about the characters. Will I write a review? No. Just take my word for it. It’s a great game! Anyway since then, I have not bought or added new games to my backlog because I find myself increasingly reluctant to play long games. There are several reasons why I do not want to add more games to my backlog: the most important one is the lack of respect for the player’s time. Side quests that have nothing to do with the story and silly repetitive missions can get quite old. I would rather tackle unpleasant errands in life than spend time completing pointless quests just to get a checkmark. Secondly, nihilistic plot. I am so tired of dark, depressing stories. That’s all I see in the news these days. There have to be some good things happening in the world, too. Thirdly, call it maturity, or just emotionally evolved, I don’t care about leaderboard and hi-scores (I’m not going to lie, it’s a nice ego boost when you are good at it). I play because I like the creativity behind the game design, and I also play to unwind (Wow, I just ryhmed!).

If you haven’t already noticed what game I am currently playing based on the featured image, I am re-playing Shenmue III on the PC. I love the Shenmue franchise. It’s one of my all-time favorite games. I have been a fan of martial arts movies/series since my earliest memory. So when there is a game about martial arts, instantly I feel connected. I play Shenmue III casually, though. The mini-games within the game are entertaining: virtual fighting, arcade games, gambling, fishing, QTEs, sparring, collecting items, and exchanging items in the pawn shop. Plus, I like the soundtrack. I feel as if I have been transported into a different country – one that I feel closely connected to, although I have never been to China. I just like learning about its literature and its intriguing culture.

Another reason why my gaming sessions have decreased is largely due to making time for books. In the last few weeks, I have finished three books. Only one book out of three, I genuinely enjoyed. With all of this being said, I do have my eyes on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and Elden Ring’s DLC as the most anticipated games to play this year. Hopefully, I don’t get too sucked into it. With my new schedule, I don’t want to dedicate a chunk of my time to gaming. I want to make sure I make time for relaxing.