I hate dropping games, and most importantly failing to keep my word. I am just not as addicted to Scarlet Nexus. According to Howlongtobeat.com, the game takes about 25 hours to complete the main story. I have already clocked in 21 hours and I am still not done with Kasane’s story. There are just way too many talking and character-bonding episodes. It’s not bad for those who enjoy anime and story-driven games. But it just feels so staged and generic. I started this game up a few times. Last year, I tried and I tried again this year. It’s just not for me.
The gameplay is flashy and pretty. It makes you feel good when you defeat an enemy, but at the same time, it feels like button mashing. On top of that, the color red is too intense for me, although I did find some areas pretty to look at:
I am going to drop this game. I want something more mellow and relaxing. Yes, I failed but at least I could say, I tried.
I wanted to write about the story in Fatal Frame Mask of the Lunar Eclipse but I sort of got burnt out; on top of the fact, I am ill as we speak. It hinders my ability to write, but I’m slowly getting better. If only I schedule in advance like most bloggers, this wouldn’t be a problem. Oh, my stubbornness. I just like to do things naturally without a set schedule. You can’t force creativity. It comes to you or it just doesn’t.
I give myself a cookie for attemptingto keep this blog updated weekly
Anyway, I finished my third playthrough with a 62% completion. Took a break from the game and now I am playing it for the 4th time! Collecting all the Wraiths is the hardest part since it happens on random occurrences. However, I am not too concerned about beating the game on Nightmare Mode. I just have to be mindful of using health items and stronger type films since you can no longer purchase them in the Save Menu. Luckily, my weapons (Camera Obscura and the Spirit Stone Flashlight) are maxed out. It’s going to be tough because items in the game are pretty scarce. So that means…I can’t let ghosts touch me! As I mentioned before, the wisest decision is to play the game on Easy Mode so that you can get the feel of the game. All items will be carried to the next playthrough. So I recommend stocking on items while you can. But if you are in just for the story, then Easy Mode is the way to go because the story alone is pretty good. I still have not grasped the thought process behind the reasoning of each character but I feel that Detective Choshiro Kirishima is the hero of the day.
Resting time is up.
He is investigating the Moonlight Syndrome that turns people on Rogestu Island into lunatics. Okay…I am just joking that is not the story of the game. Stay tuned while I’ll try to piece the story together on the 4th playthrough in Halsdoll’s style. Hopefully, I will try to get it in before Mother’s Day. I could play more feminine games like this.
I watched an interesting video on the development of The Last Guardian where the creator, Fumito Ueda states that video games allow people to feel empathy. The video clip made me think about his statement regarding empathy which I rarely feel because most video games are designed for boys. Even though I share some similar traits such as finding satisfaction in conquering and defeating my enemies, I have always felt a disconnection between the playable male character and myself. For instance, while I empathize with the character Yorda from ICO and want to escort her to a safe place, I never found the urgency to protect her. Well, that’s because I never saw gender as an indication of fragileness.
Feeling trapped and small is one thing but being trapped is another thing. We all need a helping hand from time to time.
This got me thinking about why I enjoyed the Last Guardian more than Ico. It was a video game analysis of the Last Guardian by Game Overture that points out that the player was playing a supporting role which made a lot of sense since it’s Trico and not the boy that takes the spotlight in the game. As time goes on, we see the mystical, frightening but child-like creature becoming stronger and stronger whereas we see the boy becoming weaker and weaker as he takes on the subservient role.
Here is your food…”.Say ahh.”
Yes, the green goo is Trico’s poo!
As I mentioned in my non-spoiler review, I love this game and feel more deeply connected to it than Ico and Shadow of Colossus. I wonder why. Then I realized it has to do with my personality. While I’m quite capable of making quick decisions, I rather reserve my energy in the background problem-solving than take the spotlight in the frontline. Thus, playing as the “defenseless boy” in this game produces a familiar experience. If the theory about playing as a supporting character is correct, then the game is not about making the player feel like he or she is the Chosen One. There is nothing unique and special about the boy. He and the other Chosen Ones happen to be the unfortunate ones who are captured for human sacrifice. Well, depending on your worldview, I suppose it’s an honor. Dig a little bit deeper, this game is an allegory of the business side of game development exploiting children to keep a business running. How did I come to this conclusion? It is not until toward the end of this innocent, dream-like journey of great teamwork that comes to a dark twisted turn. It made me wonder why was I protecting the predator in the first place. The boy could have left the poor creature alone shackled up in a cave. Yet he decided to save him anyway. Was he trying to be a hero? No, he simply just has a good heart like most children. He didn’t even know that he is a sacrifice until later on.
He’s a good kid. That is why I find it so shocking when players complained about playing as the awkward boy. He moves funny. He waits on Trico to save him several times. As a result, it’s frustrating and the gameplay makes the player feels small; therefore, the game is not as impressive as its predecessors. The boy is not badass enough. He doesn’t take on giant colossus. Instead, he babysits a giant baby! Okay not quite (I’m assuming Trico is a kid because of his child-like behavior). But let’s get this straight, according to the creator’s interview, he was purposely designed to be independent, which makes sense to me. The story wouldn’t be as effective if it revolves around the defenseless boy (who I can’t recall even has a name which I can only speculate it was a modest decision on the creator’s part).In this game, players don’t get to be the hero of the day. Instead, he or she gets to witness a hero in action. I find the concept to be quite ingenious and refreshingly humbling.
What’s so bad about playing as a gate opener? It’s so gentlemen-like.
So, I wonder what sort of person doesn’t like this game. Would it have made a difference if they were to play an all-powerful man-eating-fearing beast? Surely, the boy is braver than Trico on many occasions. Ironically, it’s his naiveness that makes him naturally more confident about finding his way home than Trico who seems lost inside his own home, which reminds me of a giant cage. Trico may be strong but he also needs guidance, which is why he is controlled by signals and waves from within the valley in the first place. Yet, he and his kind are not to be mistaken as dispensable slaves because the creatures do seem to be revered and respected as important residents of the valley based on the buildings’s architecture.
If you look closely, the entire place is designed around griffin-like creatures.Look at the size of the door.
This made me ponder who are the real captives in the game. Is it Trico and his kind or the boy along with the other chosen ones? Some people say it’s the boy and some say it’s Trico. There is no clear answer because the creator wants the player to decide for themselves. As for me, the logical answer is both of them. They are the last guardians who put the sadistic cycle of the god-like entity Master of the Valley to an end, which the more I think about it–might not even be all that evil because we don’t know its full story. For all we know, it’s trying to maintain order and balance despite sacrificing children in the process.
The world does feel like a dog-eat-dog type of place when you have to compete for resources.
Despite its grim plot, I find this game emotionally comforting. It’s a story about growth, loyalty, friendship, and ultimately what it means to be a leader. It’s all the little spices that make life worth fighting for. It’s nice to know that in this dog-eating world, there is compassion. A good friend will always try to catch you if you fall because life, as we know it, can be quite rough.
So far, I’m proud to say I start the year by completing games consistently and they were games I find enjoyable too! By now, like most folks, I know what sort of games I like and what I don’t. For instance, I have never liked FPS and nothing about it appeals to me. It looks boring just shooting people for the sake of shooting. However, I do enjoy third-person shooting games, particularly survival horror games. It’s fun to shoot zombies. Maybe it’s time to switch it up. As I am typing this post, I already finished my 2nd playthrough of the Last Guardian and wonder if I should platinum it. I also wonder whether I should dive into the game a bit deeper. I’ve seen a couple of great analyses and I am beginning to formulate my theory about the game. Then I look at my Wishlist and decided maybe I should just move on. I have seen a few horror titles on my Wishlist going on sale and I am still debating whether I should purchase them.
For those who are new to my blog, my backlog is pretty small because I tend to play everything I purchased. My backlog used to be about 12 now it grew to about 20 titles that I have not played. Oddly, I can hear some people laughing because some people have over 100 titles they haven’t even touched! To me, 20 unbeaten games is a lot since I am the type who likes to play games multiple times. Thanks to the very long games! It doesn’t help that I am a completionist either! I suppose I should not feel guilty about my small list. Many people have a lot of unbeaten games and the list just keeps growing over time. Hopefully we are all accepting adults and can appreciate our differences.
This made me realize how appreciative I am of the Wishlist on Steam, it helps me stay focused and keep track of potential games I eventually want to play. So far, I completed half of the games I purchased on Steam. I thought I would play Dark Souls 1 and 2 again but I have already played enough of it on console! So I guess that doesn’t count as my unbeaten games. Ikaruga is probably the oldest game I have on Steam that I have not beaten. I can see myself spending hours on this game. Arcade games tend to be very unforgiving. There’s no save point. So, you just have to get good at it until you see the credit rolls. Maybe one day I will focus on that game. For now, I just want to focus my energy on story driven, atmospheric games. They tend to be the most relaxing. There’s something about good art that captivate the soul.
Between the horror games I mentioned above, I think I am going to check out PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. Why? Because I’m up for a good supernatural, mystery game. Well that’s what I’m hoping. It will be released on Mar 8th. Right now, it’s currently 20 % off until March 23rd–and maybe if I like it enough I will do a review or if I don’t like it, I probably will drop it but I highly doubt that because I like the art style. Plus a story about ordinary people being thrown into extraordinary events is always a great selling point for me!
And yet I want to revisit Darkengard (PS2) and. Drakengard 3 (PS3). These games I started but did not finish thoroughly because I’m interested in its story more than the gameplay which is monotonously boring. Perhaps, if they’ve been siting on my backlog for awhile, maybe it’s just time to move on. I am not as dedicated as I used to be with completing games unless I really like the game! At the same time, my time is just as valuable or even more so than a game. Time is something I cannot gain back so I have to be selective with games.
So, what game have I decided to play? I suppose you are just going to have to check back at a later time. Don’t we all like some mystery? I know I do!
You know it does kind of suck being born around Christmas, especially if you are a kid. My birthday gift was often lumped with Christmas presents. In my household, every Christmas, everyone got a barbie doll, including my brothers. Talk about gender equality! Let’s just say… my mom was practical and quite fair. One time, we got a PlayStation instead of barbies so everyone just play games on PlayStation and that is how I became a “gamer”. No it happened before that. Actually, I fell in love with a dolphin simulator game I played at the elementary school’s library. But looking back, I have always enjoyed spending hours solving puzzles or playing computer games and that habit has not died. Now, as a childless full-grown adult (and yes I emphasize childless to explain why I have so much free time for gaming), it doesn’t bother me that my birthday is close to Christmas because there’s nothing I really want. The perfect birthday is peace and quiet and a good game. In fact, I already have a decent amount of games to go through!
So what is my New Year Resolution for a happier and better me? Stop stressing about trying to reduce my gaming backlog. Play what I can without turning it into a chore. So here is my list on top of my head:
Eyuiden Rising (PC)
Hollow Knight (PS4)
Tales of Vesperia (PS4)
Tales of Zestiria (Ps4)
AI: Sominum Files (PC)
Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (PC)
Whisper of Machines (PC)
Silver Case (PC)
Silver Case II (PS4)
Soma (PC)
Elden Ring (Ps5)
Resident Evil 7 (Ps4)
Ace Attorney (Ps4)
Sakura Wars (Ps4)
Dragon Age Origins (Ps3)
Mass Effects (ps3)
Peace Walker (ps3)
I rarely make a list of games I want to complete for the year. Who am I to kid? I never stick to a schedule, but I am trying. Games in bold are games that I am currently playing. Games I crossed out means I have a hard time getting into. Maybe I will play it when I am in the right mood. It did take me about seven years to finally play Tales of Xillia. I remember there were several occasions I tried to play. If you force yourself to play games it will become work and that is one big reason why I do not stream. Plus, I find that writing my thoughts out is more meditative. In the end, I like to talk about the games and not much about me. I think readers who have been following me know by now why I stick to blogging. But if you are new to my blog, you can check out my reasons here.
There are a ton of other games I want to add to my list. Some new and some old. Yep, it seems like my backlog is not going anywhere and I gave up on trying to reduce it.
I have been charmed by Hollow Knight. This game is brutally charming (no pun intended). There are charms to be collected throughout the game to help ease the player’s experience and exploration. For someone like me who thrives on challenges and exploration, I instantly got addicted to the game fast. The stage designs are well designed and sometimes a bit too rough. If you don’t have a lot of patience, you might end up breaking the screen. As for me, I am just quite persistent when there is a challenge because it feels soooooo good when you overcome it! The game has awaken my enthusiasm for games. I ended up adding a bunch of games to WishList on Steam, thinking the next game I am going to play will be just as good. One in particular I am anticipating to play is Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. The other games I wanted to purchase were Strange Horticulture and Remothered: Broken Porcelain. But I decided to hold off. I want to enjoy games without feeling pressured to beat it and move on to the next. I promise myself once I beat a game, then I can buy another game. On top of Hollow Knight, I am finally getting around to Tales of Vesperia. I got my gaming plans all sorted out, haha.
So yeah, Hollow Knight is going to take me awhile, but I probably won’t do a review for it. Way back then, when the game was released, there were already enough positive reviews written by passionate gamers. It’s that fun. As you can see in the boss fight below (the 2nd part of the boss fight), I didn’t think I was going to beat it, but the more I play, the better I get. I feel quite satisfied with my progress so far.
Barely did it, but oh boy it felt good defeating it!
On top of the boss fight, I just love exploring the areas. I have more areas to uncover, more abilities to unlock. Overall, more charms to collect. How can something be so charming but be so brutal??? I lost count how many times I died trying to get to hard to reach items. The game sure keeps my my distracted from going crazy. I suppose that is a good thing. Anyway, I hope my readers have a nice holiday with a lot of Christmas cheers.
P.S.
I am not quite sure where this blog is heading in the future. My life has always been a transit, moving from places to places. Maybe one day I can finally find a place I can call home. For now, I will just enjoy the adventure.
These past few days, I am finishing up WKC II (White Knight Chronicles II) for the second time. I have been enjoying the game a lot. According to Wiki, the first installment was released in 2008, and the second one in 2011 for North America. White Knight Chronicles II has two games in one, and I remember spending less time on it than the first installment. The online part of the game was highly addictive–rare drops and grinding for ranks pushed some gamers to the limits. Around the same time, Demon’s Souls, released in 2009, was also another interesting online game for the Playstation3. It received more praise than White Knight Chronicles by word of mouth. I wonder why? Who the heck wants to play as the pious guy? In the entertainment world, being edgy and flawed is more appealing than being a goody-two-shoes. So I rarely hear anyone boast about White Knight Chronicles platinum for obvious reasons. Honestly, I am prouder of the platinum for White Knight Chronicles than Demon’s Souls because it took a lot of determination and patience. The game can become repetitive and unrewarding unlike Demon’s Souls where players get more gratification out of beating bosses. It’s a different type of determination. Expect to grind for several hours until you receive a rare item drop. When you do receive the drop, you get these incredible feelings as if you just hit the jackpot. I suppose with WKC, it can feel like you are gambling. However, the only thing you are losing is time. It can’t possibly be that bad if you are enjoying it?
If you think about it. Only 1.6 percent out of 81,592 players got a platinum achievement whereas Demon’s Souls has 10.13% out of 209,499 players. If I can recall both of these games are Playstation3 exclusive. Both have high learning curves. I remember I felt overwhelmed with the tutorial and the different classes, but once you master the game, you just learn to appreciate it more. From a broad perspective, I wonder were they trying to turn casual console gamers into PC gamers? These two games sort of feel like miniature multiplayer games (I will do a proper game analysis of Demon’s Souls at a later time).
I also want to make a point that both games have a knight in front of their cover. If you dig deeper into the White Knight Chronicles story, it’s the same concept as Demon’s Souls. A broken knight, an evil knight is a dangerous knight. Blah Blah Blah about complex human nature. It’s how the story is executed which distinguishes it. If you want to appeal to the mass, you got to find a way to tell a good story. Playing a corruptible person is more relatable than playing a saint saving a princess. Also, I want to stress that what these two games have in common is the level of details in the game design. They are both highly addictive and fun. It still blows my mind for someone as thorough as me who originally played for story. So yes, story is as important as gameplay if you want to grab a wider audience, or else you would only be pleasing an exclusive group of people. Of course, I am stating the obvious. If money wasn’t the lord of this earthly realm, it might not be such a bad idea to cater toward a smaller group of appreciative gamers. I can only imagine how tiresome it can get creating the same content over and over simply because there’s a market for it. Anyway, I can explain in further detail why these games are similar but excellent in their way. For now I concluded that Demons’ Souls is more popular than WKC because gamers are more responsive to games with darker than lighter themes.
I have been feeling nostalgic about the Playstation3, the console that started to show a decline in good games and started to behave like a social platform (PC). Whatever little hope I have left, I did try to scout out those hidden gems. Today, I would like to share three fashionable JRPG video games that I enjoyed on the PS3 and I just realized that I platinum all 3 of them!
Not only do these games are fun to play but they are fashionably cool to look at. I like to dress up my characters quite often which is why I enjoyed Code Vein (2019) a lot for being a Dark Souls (2011) knockoff. They took all the good things and sort of made them into their own, and oddly, it’s not as generic as you might think to take ideas from a great game. Great things inspired after all. As the saying goes, “imitation is a form of compliment.” Style does matter if you want to attract the ladies.
Resonance of Fate(also known as End of Eternity in Japan), NA released date 2010
Why did I pick Resonance of Fate? Well because I like guns and clothes. Okay, that didn’t sound right. I only like guns in video games. This game did make me grind for clothes. The Boutique serves no additional incentive. It’s all just aesthetic, which is perfectly fine by me. The world is much prettier when everyone dresses nicely. I enjoyed shopping for Leanne the most since there are a few nice wardrobes you can dress her in. However, there was one skirt that shows her underwear when she does her flip in the air during battle. Go figure. Nice shot for the male gaze. Despite that, I still thought it was a neat idea. If I am going to grind in a game, I am going to want to look at something pretty. I suppose that was the logic of the game design. Trust me, this game can get repetitive at a certain point. Battle-system wise is not bad. Just time-consuming, but hey I can brag to other gamers that I (a girl) 100%the games, and I deserve a cookie. I did bake myself a batch of cookies. The only person I impressed was me.
White Knight Chronicle’s International Ed, NA release date (2010)
Like many people, I find wide-eye cartoons very cute and attractive. The characters and monsters in this game are nothing but cute. Players are prompted to create an avatar which you could use to play online (Geonet) to complete quests and farm materials. Unfortunately, the server is down. And yet, here in 2022, I still find it an enjoyable game. Combine cuteness with fun gameplay you get an addiction. I spent so many hours on this game grinding for better equipment that I didn’t realize how great the gameplay and stage design are. Sometimes we enjoy things without knowing why; just think of a puppet who is unaware that he or she is being manipulated by its master. Great game design is seamless. I would say this game has a high learning curve that would look pretty impressive on your work resume. For your money’s worth (I spent about 1000 hours), it’s a high-quality game that teaches you to learn a gaming system, which shows off your mental agility and willingness to learn. It offers fun adventure, attractive cutscenes, and addictive gameplay which it’s no mere hack and slash. Quite frankly, I sort of like turned-based games that reward players on their skills in memorizing monsters’ weaknesses and strengths. Some people have argued that the playstyle is a bit too slow. I suppose it’s a matter of preference, but I like to think and strategize my kills and not pray on luck. Isn’t that the point of a game? You can play as LS (Long Sword), SW (Short Sword), Mage (support or offense), Bow, Spear, and Axe. It is so fun to try different classes. You can check out the trailer for the combat system: For a trophy hunter, this game is super addicting and fun.
Dragon’s Dogma, released date 2012 and Dragon’s Dogma Arisen, released date 2013
If you are wondering what’s the difference between the two, well the second one to the right (Dragon’s Dogma Arisen) has additional content. That means more monsters and more dungeons. I platinum the first one which wasn’t so difficult. Just annoying that I traveled so long in the game to reach from point A to point B. I don’t recall that there’s a teleport ability. On the positive side, gameplay-wise, it respects the player’s time. In this game, you create a pawn (avatar) and your pawn can be used by other players as well. I thought it was an interesting game design. If you don’t have a group of gaming buddies to play with like me, it’s hard to find a decent person to play with online. Dragon’s Dogma solves that problem. I could enjoy that multi-player experience at any time of the day–without having to wait on the real-time player to help me complete a quest. On top of that, what I enjoyed about the game is the classes and their customization (skill sets or skill branches). The character’s appearance customization was also attractive. It makes the whole gaming experience personal and well worth the money. Glad this game is finally getting recognition in the gaming community as a hidden gem.
So, what did these games have in common and what did I learn about myself? If the game is visually attractive with addictive gameplay, I would spend hours playing. Don’t underestimate style and aesthetics in games! You have to give credit to those who design these games (Level-5, Sega, Capcom). You can tell there is a lot of thought and craft put into the making of these games, which make them masterpieces to me, and for that, they are my treasures that deserve more recognition.
I have been going through my video games backlog. I finally beat Nova-111, developed and published by Funktronic Labs. It was a fun addictive little sci-fi puzzle game. I still have yet to collect all the scientists! The game was originally released in 2015 and I bought it a few years ago. I played it on Steam which it’s currently on sale for $2.49 until July 7, 2022! Woah what a deal. For that price, it’s better than going to the theme park, and/or it is a good substitution for anti-depressant pills. It’s a feel-good game that gives you that lighthearted solitary escape. Then again, this game appeals to me because I’m an introvert who doesn’t do well in crowds, and no, that doesn’t mean I suffer from social anxiety. It is also available on Switch, PS4, and Xbox One (I just read this paragraph again and laughed. I wish I was advertising but I am not. I can only sell what I genuinely like).
I thought I would do a little review for it, but I didn’t have much to say about it other than it’s great if you are looking for a turn-based game that progressively gets harder. The end boss took me about an hour before I finally learned the moves and strategy. I became so good at it that when I played the stage again, it only took me 5 minutes or so to beat. It just shows that practice makes perfect. No one is born good. Anyone can get better if they keep practicing. I am only saying this because I realized that as a kid, I used to be very harsh on myself. Everything had to be perfect. Isn’t it a silly mindset? If you always feel inadequate, you will never find happiness or contentment. This realization makes me a lot happier.
I still feel that I could go back and replay the game, but I decided to move on because I don’t really care about improving my scores/grades and getting all the trophies like I used to. Actually, I don’t care about ranking up on the leaderboard. I am just glad that I am reducing the size of my gaming backlog, but more importantly, playing games thoroughly until I am satisfied.
Noval-111. I appreciate it when devs say thank you to the player; after all, there is a human behind the screen
The sad truth is that when you become an adult it means your life priority changes. The little things I used to take for granted– my parent’s cooking. I have not come across a restaurant that serves pine mushroom soup. Let alone, my mom’s recipes. I am missing it a lot. I do struggle to find a good meal I noticed my attention lately has been leaning toward researching recipes and prepping meals rather than researching how to defeat a difficult boss. I learn tons and feel accomplished when I do find a decent meal, but so far none hit the spot like my parents’ food. I don’t know why, but eating well has been my top concern. There’s something about fruits and vegetables and lean meat that I gravitate towards (I am not a vegan or vegetarian as some people might mistake. I do enjoy seafood), I learned that the Western diet, particularly American is not the healthiest (my body can only take so much dairy products). So, my attention these days has been focused on food and not games-which means I don’t have much to write about. Unless you want to read up on my cooking progress? I am definitely no expert when it comes to cooking/baking, but at least I am trying.
Attempted baking in 2018. . Even though the cookies weren’t pretty, it was still good with a glass of milk.🥛 I still have yet to find a good cookie recipe that won’t clog my arteries.
Speaking of games, I went back to playing Dark Souls DLC and Drakengard 3 and plan to focus on my unbeaten games for Playstation3. Finally, I might be able to write something about Yoko Taro games in greater detail. They are thought-provoking and weird. You can find my notes here. However, a part of me feels like I have outgrown all that “deep thinking” stuff. Not to say, I have the answers to life’s mystery (woah such a bold statement. I feel like I know nothing at all), but the older I get, the more pragmatic I become and I am okay with that. It keeps me curious. It keeps me entertained because I get bored easily. Did I just contradict myself? I am only human. Why do we have to be so complex?
That is it for this week’s rant. Thanks for listening to my shenanigans. It’s not much. Normally I post on Monday, but it really depends on my mood now. Until next time, see ya!
If you click on this post thinking it’s about Dark Souls II because of the featured image, I apologize. I couldn’t find a good featured image for today’s little rant.
A long time ago, my brother and I were playing Xenosaga for the Ps2. I remember I would watch him play. It’s a cinematic JRPG with long cutscenes and I liked the story a lot! But when it was my turn to play the game for myself, I skipped all the cutscenes. He gave me a nasty stare and said, “Oh, you are one of those people.” I shot back at him and said, “Why to go through all the cutscenes again when I have already watched you play?” Then he responded, “You have to pay attention to the story to know why you are fighting. It’s part of the game.” With respect, he has a valid point. Having a story can make a game interesting. In fact, some people only play for the story. I don’t think less of those who enjoy video games for the story because my brother is one of those folks who are good at games but mainly play for the story.
However, these past few years, dipping my feet into the indie game world. I noticed a lot of story-driven games that don’t emphasize gameplay, and there is a group of folks who defend such games. I am not all that bothered by it, however, it feels like a slap in the face when someone I come across on WordPress, calls folks like me unsophisticated muscle-heads who think with their fist because we don’t stress about the story.
I suppose story driven games help people think and make them more socially aware, more socially sophisticated, and civilized as it opens up a dialogue among people. I am not entirely against it. Humanity has come a long way from a monkey brain through years of exchanging ideas, although I don’t think having a monkey brain is such an insult because there are some people out there who are so rational that they start to remind me of a machine (PC) with arms and legs. And if you ask me, I don’t know if they are any better than monkeys because if they are so smart, why are they trying to outsmart each other through debate to the point they destroy the planet altogether with their sophisticated killing toys? I digress.
Anyway, my point being is,video game can be a great place where you don’t have to think and at the same time, think. It’s such a paradox but that’s why I love the medium. Solving problems and strategizing are considered thinking. The point I am trying to make is that gameplay is just as important as the story. For me, it’s a stress reliever. Take gameplay out of the equation, you get nothing more than just an interactive story with some pretty visuals. I have no qualms about it, but just don’t go around hating those who do want a little challenge, a little strategy, a little conquest. Gaming requires a lot of patience. Trials and errors my friend, that’s how we get better.
For the record, this post is not directed toward anyone in particular. It’s just the information I have gathered over the years observing vocal gamers through the WordPress community attacking things I like. I often ask myself many times as well, why I love horror and challenging games. I don’t know, but it sure doesn’t make me a monster.
Picture Credits: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the first Sin; Nier Automata; and AI_TheSomniumFiles.
Fishing for Metaphors 