Gaming Blog – Fishing for Metaphors

Selecting A New Game to Play

March 7, 2023March 6, 2023HalsdollLeave a comment

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!

Tales of Arise Review: A Pretty Mediocre Game

May 23, 2022October 19, 2022Halsdoll1 Comment

I was watching Bambi, the Disney cartoon, and I am reminded, “If you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say it at all.” But I sort of disagree with that statement. Agreeing for the sake of keeping good company is a bad thing for mental health even if your opinion goes against the consensus. After all, the game did preach to the audience that we shouldn’t be slaves to someone’s ideas (critics). I wouldn’t be creating this blog if I didn’t somehow feel like it’s the only safe place where I can voice my opinions. I do this on my own terms as a gaming enthusiast. In all of my posts, I have been very civil about my dislikes and likes. And sometimes, I do feel bad for not liking a certain aspect of a game, film, or book because I know that it’s easier to critique than to create. However, I still stand by what I believe: Tales Arise is just a pretty mediocre game.

First off, I won’t go into lengthy details and point out all the things I didn’t like about the game because anything that is considered unpleasant means work to me, and I don’t want to do that unless I get paid to critique. Instead, I will talk about the positives. Where Tales of Arise shines is its powerful political statement: It stands for friendship, warmth, love, freedom, and all the good things people seek in life. On top of that, it has an epically beautiful open world. What more can you ask for in a JRPG? Well, this is where it becomes a matter of taste and preference: If video game is art, then I didn’t feel a connection with this artwork. I prefer the works done by the folks on Tales of Xillia and Vesperia more.

While playing the game, I had to remind myself that it was the franchise’s 25th anniversary and there is something to celebrate. The entire game is just epically flashy from the dialogues, cutscenes, battles, music to the overall atmosphere. It’s undeniably a well-polished game that went as far as giving out an epic speech about liberty and freedom and challenging the very existence of one’s being in the universe. And yet underneath it all, Tale Arise is really nothing new in the JRPG department. It’s just a really pretty game to look at with polished gameplay (if button mashing is your thing, that is). But it made me wonder if it was directed by a different game director, would I have enjoyed this game more?

Would I recommend this game to those who have not played Tales games? Yes and no. No, if I were a 14-year-old girl and this was my first JRPG, I probably would not have liked it. It feels as if I was sitting in Sunday’s School class being lectured on morality, but yes, if you want to play a high quality JRPG. It’s really a pretty game and I can see the huge effort put into it. However, it’s definitely not the game for those who want to escape into solitary away from society; who are looking for some good humor to laugh at life itself; who want superb storytelling; and/or most importantly to a gaming enthusiast like myself, a fun innovative gameplay.

Since I like to leave on a positive note, one thing I like about this game is the message that you don’t have to walk alone all the time. Needing one another is not a form of weakness, it’s a form of strength. Life is so much better when we are in pairs. Don’t be the lonely villain who is full of hatred.

Hmm… What Are My Top 3 JRPG Games?

May 9, 2022September 23, 2022Halsdoll1 Comment

I am a bit late with scheduling posts. Just feeling a bit under the weather. Haven’t had much energy to write. I have been playing Tales of Arise off and on though, and I know that I am coming to an end. I have already spent 40 hours plus to know whether I like it or not and I am just unimpressed with the execution so far. I won’t deny though it has a good political statement. Unfortunately, it falls under my Pretty Face but No Character list of games. In other words, it just means that it’s all for show and not much substance. It’s kind of epically disappointing. Let the audience decide if it is an epic tale rather force-feed it to us. I don’t feel immersed in it and I am just waiting until the credits start rolling to give it a fair review. Not sure whether I will take the time to write a review for this game though. I did feel a little deceived by gaming critics for calling it a good game. The hypes always lead to disappointment. Perhaps, I am just not in the right mental state.

So to vent my disappointment with Tales of Arise, I am replacing my negative emotion with the more positive emotion I had with JRPG. So, I present you the list of my 3 top favorite JRPG games. I really had to think about this one since I enjoyed a lot of JRPGs. Unfortunately, Code Vein didn’t make it to my top 3, so if you clicked on this post because of my featured image, I apologize. In no particular order, I make my list:

Suikoden III (PS2)

2 Trinity: Souls of Zill O’LL (PS3)

3) Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean ( Gamecube)

Honorable mention: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

The trailers can’t capture the scope of these epic games. It was hard trying to find a high-quality trailer because I know some people out there care so much about graphics. Graphics are great but it doesn’t make a game. That’s how I feel about Tales of Arise. If you haven’t played any of these JRPGs, I do recommend them. These are the games that made me fall in love with the genre. Hope you enjoy the list and the game trailers. In the future, I may elaborate on the games above, but for now, making a list will suffice. Until next time, see you!

Ranting about the Demon’s Souls Remake Trailer

November 1, 2020October 26, 2022HalsdollLeave a comment

Woke up to the sound of idiots racing down the streets. Normally after a few minutes, it follows a blasting sound coming from the cop siren, but not this time. I hope no homeless person camping out on the side of the street got hit. We live in a strange time and I know I’m overdue for a post. I hope my introduction didn’t leave you perplexed. It’s kind of hard not to feel on the edge when chaos is slowly taking control of the world. But I feel like I have prepared myself for this insanity a few years ago. What better way to prepare it by sharpening your mental agility than by playing Demon’s Souls, a game praised for its difficulty, released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3? It’s good for brain exercise and will make you feel alive if you are the type who likes a fair challenge. Quite frankly, I am not too hasty about playing the remake as I’m not in the rush to purchase PS5 and it may be a year down the road that I might pick it up. But what really turns me off is how bright the game is. I originally played the game for its dark dreamy, fairytale-like atmosphere but the remake just looks too sharp and polished. There’s also too much noise coming from the character’s footsteps and his clunky armor. It’s too loud. In the original Demon’s Souls it’s quieter and more subtle and the more you die, it becomes quieter as quiet as the sound of a feather falling down. The only reason why I would only consider picking up the remake it’s because it’s one of the few co-op games that I actually enjoyed. Unless the remake has the ability to use a mic–then that will surely destroy the atmosphere. From what I remember, the game is immersive and fun. It feels as if I was transported into a different world–thanks to the soundtrack and its beautiful world creation. If I can recall, players can rate people as well on their gameplay performance. Some people are nice and will give you a good score, some are just plain assholes. Nonetheless, there aren’t many games that made me feel so attached to a world. It’s one hellish adventure, but a strange one that I can’t pinpoint. I guess that’s the power of immersion. This is one of the games I am proud to say I own the Deluxe Edition. It comes with the original soundtrack, artbook, and official guide. It’s my treasure and I am not going to sell it unless I’m desperate for money or I am on my deathbed and I need to pass it on to a passionate gamer so my soul will depart the earth peacefully without care. Okay, I am dramatic. I know. That’s how much I love the game and that’s why I am wary of the remake.

Blog Update # 2

October 25, 2020October 1, 2022Halsdoll3 Comments

Four years ago, I had a very bad headache. Four years fast forward, I still have a bad headache. It’s close to election day and the news makes my brain dizzy. I am going to take a break from blogging. I guess I am suffering from writer’s block or it’s just awfully tired. I thought I was doing well by being consistent and I had fun doing it because I have become an expert at making myself laugh. Right now, I just want to focus on Resident Evil 2 Remake, do some housecleaning, and eat properly so I don’t completely disappear from this planet. I’ll come back with an analysis of Resident Evil 2 Remake because I am enjoying it so far. Surely as I have a lot to say.

It’s so funny that a few years ago I created a blog to connect with the world and here I am still existing because I need to connect with people. Social distancing is not new to me as I have been doing this for years now. Strangely I feel less lonely even though I am isolated from the rest of the world. I just want to focus on my games and take it easy. I will still be here to read people’s posts.

See you guys when I am done with Resident Evil 2 Remake. It might not make it back on Halloween, but you can always follow me on twitter @poetryhuntress. And if you are here for the first time, hi hello, we can be blogging friends, but bye for now!

P.S.

I promise I am not ditching my readers for a game. It’s really for health reasons.

Dark Souls: Exploring Is an Achievement

July 27, 2018September 27, 2022Halsdoll3 Comments

Normally, I dislike traveling in games because it seems rather pointless, but Dark Souls knows exactly how to design stages and build the perfect momentum to control the pacing of the player. Exploration serves as a preparation for the next boss fight.

After I defeated the Gaping Dragon, I spoke to the NPC and bought a Crystal Straight Sword from him. That sword helped me clear the beginning of Blighttown until it was at the risk of breaking. In that area, I slipped and fell several times, but it wasn’t all that bad. By mistake, I fell down with the creature onto a ledge; from there I found myself a whip. Although it didn’t do much damage, so I had no choice but to use the Drake Sword and hack my way down to the bottom of that treacherous town, built on the steep cliff. Eventually, I fell into the poisonous swamp as the narrow path made it hard for me to swing and attack the Cragspiders.

I don’t have the right stats so I was easily poisoned. I clumsily rolled on the sticky swamp, hacking my sword at every one of those giant-sucking mosquitoes that spit out a bucket of blood. They come in pairs. What a pest. Somehow, I managed to roll myself in that disgusting filth and found myself some good items, but at the expense of encountering scaly snake-like big leeches. They were so gross looking. I hurriedly found an escape from those leeches by stumbling into an opening of a tree trunk, which led me to The Great Hollow, one of my favorite areas in the game because I love trees!

Have you ever been on a tall slide in a shape of an “S”? When I was a kid, I used to beg my parents to take my brothers and me to the neighborhood’s slide. It’s a lot of fun going down the slide. The Great Hollow reminded me of that slide, except you don’t slide, you drop below onto each branch, until you hit the bottom. Certain branches have shiny items that appear attainable, but at the same time out of reach. Most of the items are materials for weapon/armor upgrades. I died several times, slipping off the branches thinking that I am so close to grabbing one. When I looked at the time, I realized I was spending about an hour or two in the area, trying to collect all the items.

Apart from falling off the branch because I misplaced my foot, I also had to face the big yellowish, orange bulging-eyes basilisks. They are cute but ugly at the same time. It released black smoke which will curse you and reduce your life to half. So, you got to be careful and stay out of the smoke. Once cursed, you’d need a purging stone to normalize yourself. I don’t bother killing them with my sword. Instead, I lured them so they will stupidly jump in the air and miss the ground and fall straight to the bottom.

As soon as I made my way near the bottom of The Great Hollow, I started to get hungry for pine mushroom soup as these little cute mushroom creatures toddled their way toward me. It’s not friendly as it appeared because it attacked me. So, I sliced it up with my sword. It squealed and died. Then appeared the mama and papa (I assume because they were bigger in size). I should have known better to kill someone’s children. One punch from the giant mushroom was instant death for me because my life bar was already half empty. It’s back to the bonfire. I had to make my way down again.

The more I think about the stages in the game, I had to climb down from that awful town and into the swamp to find an oasis. Out of this area is Ash Lake, a beautiful undersea-like world. Such a beautiful calming place. Exploring is a form of achievement. You never know what is at the end of that long, disgusting path that seem to never end. You will be rewarded greatly as soon you find a breath of fresh air. Likewise, I think of life the same way. There will be times you may feel uncomfortable and feel as if there is no end to your adversity, but there is. You just have to make the effort to get there. At least, this is the experience I got from Dark Souls.

Now I don’t want to climb back to the Firelink Shrine or face Chaos Witch Quelaag. I just want to stay low underground far from human civilization with the Everlasting Dragon in Ash Lake. I have gotten so used to the solitary lifestyle of a solo traveler and I am a bit tired. For now, I’m going to curl up next to the dragon and shut my eyes because tomorrow will come another battle. Certainly, I cannot stay here for too long. Eventually, I have to report back to Quelaag as I am actually her apprentice, training to become a smoking-hot sadist. I’m just kidding!

P.S.

There will be more Dark Souls content to come as I find this game to be an enjoyable pastime and a pleasure to write for this blog.