Ashtear

IGN's reviewer really didn't like it, scoring 5 out of 10. Probably an outlier, but the overall consensus does seem on the low side for a Mario game.

Also the easiest way to play the PSP version with the combat slowdown fix, which is essential.

My top four haven't changed in a while:

• Chrono Cross
• Nier Gestalt/Replicant (original version)
• Persona 5
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

I love EDM, so any game that uses it or is inspired by it holds a special place in my heart, like Streets of Rage, Rez, Dance Dance Revolution, or the Trails of Cold Steel games (especially the second one).

I love that one can still web search for that and still find the song 😂

Ya, a player has to be okay with the calendar system. I hope it feels better for players; I think at the very least it certainly feels a lot better not to have a rank up require multiple hangouts now.

Agree about the last third of the game. Kinda goes off the rails a bit.

I kinda devoured Metaphor: ReFantazio. Partly because I got sick and had nothing better to do, but I also really enjoyed the game. I love the Persona formula, and the new blending of SMT and Etrian Odyssey elements were good, too. Great experience, though I think I liked P4 and P5 a little bit more because the overall character writing/interactions was stronger (but loved, loved Gallica. my favorite character in a while). Metaphor's social link stories were strong, along with the main story. Different direction with the storytelling, for sure. I hope P-Team picks up a few of these developments--especially how much more streamlined the gameplay is with the calendar--for Persona 6.

Picked up Atelier Escha & Logy to continue my journey there, only played a little bit so far. Love the music already. I don't have any releases in the genre coming up for a bit (until Daybreak 2 next year), and I think I've played what I've wanted to among the 2024 releases. So, no real plans other than that for the month in the genre.

You're starting with the best one as far as I'm concerned!

I had to actually get my hands on it to find out what appeals. For me it was a combination of challenge, routine, and a clear sense of progression. Hunting materials for gear gave me clear milestones while I was also getting better at the combat at the same time in a more intangible way.

Monster Hunter World was the one I spent the most time in, and my favorite part was the multiplayer. Unfortunately, frustration with that is also what led me to eventually drop it. Co-op with a friend in that game was bizarrely restricted, with a really janky way of going through the story (I eventually figured out that it was just better to do the story independently). On top of that, the multiplayer had technical issues on PC at launch.

I hear that Wilds will have a similar setup for the main story co-op--outright bizarre for a AAA game releasing in freaking 2025--but here's hoping it won't have the other issues at least.

This is actually why I didn't get very far in Diabolical Box. I had a decent time with Curious Village, but I needed a little more, and it was clear the second game wasn't going to get there.

I really liked Clive Barker's Undying and replayed it a couple times. Great atmosphere, though I'm not sure how well it would hold up today. Early 3D stuff.