#scrapbookgaming

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

CGWORLD vol. 325

Via

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

I love the outfit Hazel changes into in chapter 7

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

I feel like gaming has course corrected itself in the last few years. At least in games that I'm interested in. Going through old gaming magazines and 2018 and 2019, although they had some big hitters, the review sections are pretty barren with games I care about.

It's not until - for me personally - the last few years 2024, 2023, that they've started putting out stuff I really want to play, and feels closer to the 360/PS3 era, which seem to have had so much that took my fancy.

This year is full of games I'm interested in. Lost Records and Avowed came out on the same time. I've started the latter - a good time so far Then there's Atomfall set in the Lake District, there's South Of Midnight which looks completely amazing. There's an F-RPG (French JRPG) called Clair Oscur: Expedition 33 which channels PS2/PS3 era J-RPGs. Then there's Tides Of Annihilation, set in London, that looks stunning and Hell Is Us that seems super intriguing too.

It just feels like gaming has tailored itself back to my preferences again, which I like.

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

I can't believe they're still making brand new arcade cabinets in 2025.

In Buggy Empire you play as an elven character that sits on the top of a massive bee, in a very nature-based on-rails shooter.

If I've read it right, the wings on the physical bees actually flap.

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

Having the folk tale sung at you, while in a boss fight with the central character from said folktale, is so satisfying. Especially when the soundtrack is as good as it is in this game.

Spoilers: Laurent, Hazel's mother's ex lover, was essentially told by his father to repress all this pain as a kid, in the name of masculinity. When his father is "accidentally" shot by his uncle, the kid's pain is so great, it causes him to turn into a huge bird. Years and years after hiding and suffering with this secret, Hazel, who is a weaver (a witch of sorts) attempts to purge the bird from him.

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

NPC of the day: Cavern Opera Guy [Thief Gold]

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

"Why do games make you rage nowadays?"

Ages ago, me and @nixelei strolled into a random twitch stream, where a guy was playing a Soulsborne game called 'Nioh' and he kept dying. And he, just off-the-cuff, said that line that I quoted above. It's since become an in-joke, that we continue to refer to years after the fact, whenever a game gets a bit too... frustrating. I'm currently playing a game from 1999 (Thief Gold) which is supposed to be a bit of an all time classic - and it's been a good time thus far, but this level is really taking the cheesecake. Seriously. Why do games from 1999 make you rage nowadays?

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

Completely forgot about gamescom. And I do love a good showcase. Oh well, I'll just have to pick through whatever takes my fancy.