2019/6/20

Welp

2019/6/6

Always having to be the bigger person just sucks.

You give them a mile, but you can't even ask for an inch.

2019/04/20

Ugh, they're gonna get married, aren't they (Ver.2)

What did I do to deserve this

The Kindergarten Teacher

The trailer is basically the entire movie
but I'm still glad I watched it.
I think that ending is going to stay with me for a while.
It felt almost Brechtian to a degree.

Games I played in 2018 (part 2)

Professor Layton and the Last Specter

My first Layton game! Unfortunately... I found it too slow-paced :(
The story did go in an unexpected, interesting direction near the end, but overall it just wasn't a very exciting experience. Plus, the music kept putting me to sleep ;_;
I honestly don't know if I'll give any of the other Layton games a try.
(Except for the Phoenix Wright one, which I already own)

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

My favorite KH game so far! I actually really enjoyed the card battle system of the main campaign. However, I did not like the gameplay changes in Riku's campaign. Suddenly, not only can I not change the cards in my deck, but I can't even change their order?? *sigh* KH giveth, and KH taketh away.

Celeste

I'm extremely proud of myself for finishing this game. At the same time, I've never wanted to push a game developer into a pit full of spikes more. I might try to collect some more strawberries and B-sides here and there, at some point.

Kingdom Hearts 2

Did not enjoy this one. Sure, there were some system improvements over the first game, but nowhere near enough. If I have 20 potions, why can't I use 20 potions during battle? Why do I have a separate pocket from my inventory? WHY DO ENEMIES GET IN MY WAY SO MUCH?? I HAVE PLACES TO BE!!!
Also, this game was actually worse than the first one in terms of pacing. You have to visit each Disney world multiple times, which kills all sense of progression. Not to mention that infamous slow opening... the title card that says 'Kingdom Hearts 2' appeared three. hours. in. It would have been much better to put the entire opening in Re:Chain of Memories or 358/2 Days and start this game off as Sora right away.
And to top it all off, many of the boss battles were just bang-your-head-against-the-wall infuriating... I honestly wish I could quit this series, but alas, I'm too invested. DAMN YOU KH :(

Nightshade (百花百狼)

I can't believe this is the only otome game I played this entire year lol.
It was so mediocre and unoriginal that it made me grow tired of the genre in general.
The premise and characters are fine, but they don't really do anything with them.
Also, the bad guy is different for almost each route, so I ultimately didn't even know what story they wanted to tell.
And the heroine... maybe DON'T BE A NINJA IF YOU DONT' WANT TO KILL PEOPLE??
Anywayyy... maybe the right game will make me fall in love with otome games again. Here's hoping.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Somehow, this game changed me. I think it's the first time the fact that games are a conversation between a developer and a player really hit me. Oddly enough, I'd liken my experience with the game to a mix between Stardew Valley and Civilization. Like in Stardew Valley, you're free to do whatever you want, but you end up pursuing that one objective to an obsessive degree. And like in Civilization, time can fly while you're engaged in the most tedious activity. Is climbing a cliff for 30 minutes all that fun? Not really. Do I want to stop? Nope.
This game also made me really love Link as a character. I keep playing as him in other Nintendo games like Mario Kart and Smash. I just want to see him be happy and free, far away from his Hyrule hero duties T^T
Knowing that I can return anytime to this wonderful game, and have even more experiences with the DLC, is such a comforting thought. To me, this just might be the best game ever made.

Journey

It was okay, I guess? I was looking for a relaxing game to play during a migraine, but this wasn't really it. Maybe it's better if you go through it with other people, but at this point no one is online lol

Gone Home

I wanted to like this game so much. I want to support what it stands for, and I even got it for free. But I just didn't like s l o w l y going through that creepy, motion-sickness-inducing house. I actually ended up liking the story, but wish it were told a different way. And the other story bits were unnecessary and unsettling :/

Donut County

A zen game for days you're feeling particularly destructive. It could have been more satisfying, though.

Tetris Effect

The game that made me buy a PSVR. I have no regrets.
It's a beautiful game in every sense of the word, and the most ideal way to escape reality.

Beat Saber

The other game that made me buy a PSVR. Still no regrets.
It's just fun, pure and simple.
But the main campaign can be a bit frustrating.
What is the point of these max movement and min movement limitations?
Just let me swing my lightsabers like a badass!

(Retired) Divinity: Original Sin

I think I'll officially retire this game. I have low-key fun while I'm playing it, but I'm never motivated to return to it. I think the problem is that the game doesn't give me a reason to care about any of the characters. It's hard to stick with a 60+ hour game if you're not rooting for anyone, especially when the story doesn't seem to be moving at all.

(Retired?) Final Fantasy 14

I enjoyed what I played of the trial version, but haven't gone back to it in a while. 

The story is serviceable and the gameplay loop is fun, but you probably need to be part of an online group to be really pulled in.
On the other hand, I did find doing guildhests with other people quite exciting....
Maybe I'll play until my healer hits level 35, and then retire it for good.

(Bonus entry) Dungeons & Dragons

My druid, Santiana, is feared for her relentless Moonbeam and Sunbeam attacks. Let there be light! Beautiful, deadly light!

2019/3/24

Don't I deserve that...?

2019/3/18

- Overslept and didn't make it to Japanese class. It's a vicious cycle that needs working on.

+ Made good progress in Persona 3! I've now hit 25 hours, but I know I'm not even halfway to the end. I guess I'm having fun, but I wonder if I'd enjoy it more if I stopped caring about completing all the quests. Will continue to do what I can until it gets too tedious.

+ Saw Captain Marvel. Loved Captain Marvel. Still fangirling.