It not being an open world game is an interesting take that I hadn’t heard before. I do find a lot of open world games just didn’t need to be, even some of my favorites (Witcher 3 is in my top 5 games of all time, but replaying it again, it could’ve used at least a tighter world.)

Oh damn, I didn’t even realize that. I don’t even know who the last person to get cancelled was, then. Outside of people who actually went to jail or have charges against them. Closest was maybe Louis CK? I mean, he’s still got fans and does stand-up, sure, but he’s not releasing a special per year, and all his movies…

I’d like to offer Mad Max here - which I’ve seen on multiple occasions people (myself included) refer to as the greatest 7/10 game you’ll ever play.

This illustrates the odd thing to me in the conversation about “cancel culture” (a term that doesn’t sit right with me, but it’s the one we got right now).

What killed Odyssey for me was the mercenary system. You either had to deviate from what you were doing to go kill the person who put the bounty on you or pay it off; the latter option seemed best because I was constantly getting bounties just by playing the game and didn’t want to keep deviating or stopping to fight…

Even though I just bought RE2, Far Cry: New Dawn, and Remnant: From the Ashes on the PS4 Black Friday sale, and have dipped my toe in each of them, I’m somehow playing Bloodborne again (that is, continuing my NG++ playthrough - it’s starting to get hard again, though, so I may be going through the Chalice Dungeons for…

Shenmue was the game that made me a “gamer”. I’d played video games my entire life, but when it came out I was in middle school and saw for the first time what games could be. It was the first game to really get its claws into me and matter to me on a personal level. I was really, really hoping Shenmue 3 would wrap up…

My thoughts exactly (and much more concisely put than in my essay of a comment). I’d also say a 7/10 is appropriate.

Weird thing is, I get excited about cosmetics, even though they aren’t that great. Like, I really enjoy customizing the light saber, even though I never really see it up close. I enjoy getting ponchos, even though it’s more or less the same thing in a different pattern (and the ones I’ve gotten so far haven’t been…

I do think it’s a little overrated but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a “mess”. I’ve had a good time overall, but the execution is across-the-board inconsistent. When the game clicks, it feels wonderful to play, but when it stumbles, it damn near face-plants. 

Yeah I thought about taking a break from Death Stranding and dipping my toe in Fallen Order, but then I was like...but do I really want to not play Death Stranding? So I booted it up and as soon as I started trekking, I knew I made the right choice.

I will also be rock climbing and going for a long run...

Oh god, you’re right. I always thought of it as a Switch game, I think because I forgot that the Wii U was a thing.

Something like Splatoon isn’t surprising - there’s only been 2 games over the past four years and, while fun, they were also pretty one-note. But I’m definitely surprised by the top 4 on that list.

Yeah as much as I want to play this, I think I’m gonna be stuck on Death Stranding for a little while. On one hand, I want to proceed with the story. On the other hand, I cannot stop building stuff. I’m 45 hours in and I know the ending is in sight (I’ve completed 80% of the missions). But then I see that next strip…

Omg, pickled fetus.

Oof, that’s a bold move. At lest in my state (Maryland), you should only refuse if you think you’re going to blow over .15. It’s an automatic license suspension, but better than the alternative.

I know that in a lot of states, first-time offenses for drinking and driving get probation before judgment almost as a default, even if you’re pretty high above the limit. Not sure what it’s like in Florida though (I assume it was in Florida?).

Love, love, love Shenmue, but Shenmue 2 was ugh. Story is great, but if there’s anymore of these book-balancing mini games I can’t deal with it.

Yeah. It really is so much more than just delivering, even if delivering is the only literal mission type you have. It’s got a little action with the MULEs, a little stealth with the BTs, puzzle aspects, crafting/building/resource management. And yes, a walking simulator aspect of it (very much so in the first 8…