Well its time for the regular year end post! in which I always go over whatever
games I had played during the year with a short write up.
I probably won't be able to finish any other games this year anyway!
Blue Reflection tie/second light.😑
but I didn't really like it that much either, I didn't mind the yuri shipping but this game
tried to hard to turn the protagonist into a harem mc even tho some of the other characters
already had a potential partner. Yea I actually shipped Hiori/Ruka from the anime
and Hinako/Yuri from the first game so seeing Hiori and Ao hold hands was like eh
don't get me started on two other characters who actually confessed to each other.
Didn't like the combat that much either... due to having to watch the turns bar like a hawk!
don't get me started on the stealth missions. Overall it might be a nice game if you like
magical girls while learning more about them and the wtf is even going on.
This doesn't really get my recommendation unless you don't have much else to do
but just want something with chill vibes cuz if anything it was good at that.
~
Hamefura ~Haran o Yobu Kaizoku~.😄
you really want to romance the love interests in this series. It also has a nice self-contained
little plot which basically puts this game into its own bubble of the hamefura universe
so if you're up for a hamefura adventure then maybe? I will say that its recommended to atleast
watch season 1 of the anime since this game does very little to introduce its cast and such.
~
Buddy Mission Bond.😂
it gets kind of obvious this game was aimed at those who like otome and/or BL but it didn't
really focus on those things and more on the mystery. As for BL just undertones or a few jokes
it really doesn't go further except for comedy so even if you don't like BL it could still be okay
as this game doesn't really focus on romance. I do like how you could unlock optional
side stories that give different PoV on things, sadly its not that difficult and most people
will probably do it with ease. There's definitely an audience for this and ruby party knew this
but overall it was a pretty fun visual novel with lots of funny moments too.
~
Birushana Senki ~Ichijuu no Kaze~.😊
but the afters were still pretty good, it wasn't longer than needed and honestly I like that!
there's not much else to say about it either, Birushana fans will like it i'm sure!
Unfortunately if you don't really like those side chara's who got routes
or don't want to do them then this game can feel a bit on the short side.
I still ended up liking some of them but yea if there is anything I wish
that there was maybe a bit more content with the guys we all know and love.
It doesn't even need to be a lot.. but its clear they focused more on
the other guys than the main love interests.
~
Gensou Manege.😊
its not that popular but it has a decent enough plot in a nice fantasy setting
without having to worry too much of bad ends as well. The tone of the endings was also
different so for one you could end up with something sweet and the other a bit bitter.
It was a nice game, not much more is needed to be said!
~
Radiant Tale.😌
for the most part was pretty relaxing, it felt longer so you might need more attention span.
It doesn't have any bad endings so if you just want something nice with a good enough
plot to figure out then much like Gensou it gets my recommendation.
I said that if this was the last otome game I ever played then it was a good one
and even now I won't go back on that word! its also by the WoF team and you
can definitely tell it was by them since it did remind me of WoF's fantasy-like setting.
~
Final Roadtrip Fantasy XV.😅
mostly due to the roadtrip vibes and doing many a quest/hunt
even making me almost forget we had to go somewhere right what was it... lestallum?
The story while, it could have been better I think its fault lies with the execution
but i'll look back on it as a fun adventure that... could have been a little better.
~
Trials of Mana.😖
and terrible AI for your team mates who you literally have to babysit but still it was pretty nice?
Maybe i'll go and do the other routes one day too... it can be a nice game
if you let it, I just don't have much to say of it.
~
Xenoblade 3.😌
sadly I didn't like the ending that much and thought that most bosses where too spongy!
though if you did every side quest ever then that shouldn't be much of an issue as then
they become rather trivial... so me thinks the games balance is kinda off and there's only like
two ways to play meaning one of the ways will make it too easy and the other... a slog.
Still not a bad game if you like exploring and taking your time to do everything it has to offer
but I tend to quickly feel overwhelmed with these games and the ending being the way it is
didn't really make me excited to go back and do things even if there were extra additions to the roster.
Perhaps I am really overwhelmed by just how much there is to do in these games that
I ultimately just went exit-stage at the earliest convinience which is after the credits.
The ending sequence did not entice me to dwell in the world of XB3 much longer
but it was still a nice journey nonetheless.
~
Kuro no Kiseki 2.😥
up on kuro 1 and finishing the collecting the genesis saga, it ended up being more of an addon
than a full sequel. Story has its ups and downs, the downside being mostly chapter 3
and it ends on a good enough note! but still i'm not sure why this game was a thing cuz most of
the story felt dragged out and they put most of the main cast's development in connect events much
like in older days, still not much since they already had most of their development in kuro1.
Was definitely nice to play as Rion and Celis and Nadia and Swin were cute as always...
I didn't spend much time in marchen garten cuz i'm not a gacha fan but still
this game has some nice optional content, if you can be bothered to do it.
Basically this game is everything Kuro 1 isn't... and doesn't do more than needed!
its basically an add-on/fandisc in the middle of an arc. I get why this game turned out
the way it did, Falcom probably wanted to get some things like collecting the genesis
to be over with but at the same time it didn't end up feeling like a true sequel but instead half of it
since they probably couldn't really do much else with it than turn it into a character game.
If there ever is a kuro 3 i'd be more than willing to see how Van's tale ends... or what's up next
but at the same time I am also okay to bid the series adieu for a while so there's a possibility
that unless some of my fav chara's return next game I could be less interested in it.
~
Star Ocean 6😃
managed to be a pretty good sci-fi fantasy adventure!
Every character also has a unique moveset which could make things fun
whether you want to make bimbo spells stronger with Albaird or have array
of spells with Midas... you could also just Kirito your way through with Laeticia.
Most of my complaints are that Private Actions while plenty are hard to find
and should be better marked on the maps. Same with following subquests
its easy to find them but that's where the guidance stops which in todays age is a little eh.
By the point of the final dungeon they were actually dragging it out slightly
so I was glad that it ended when it did cuz they had no more budget/time for unique bosses.
This game also has more replay value than other games I recently played
due to each side having splits/difference of POV and unique endings with Ray or Letty.
All in all, it was good but could be better due to lacking some obvious QoL features.
All in all, it was a nice sci-fi adventure that needed a bit more polish...
~
Cupid Parasite.😄
the common route but atleast their personal route convinced me! that was surprisingly well-rounded.
Good art and very good BGM as well... its also in english and despite it having issues at launch
those were all fixed, so it definitely gets my recommendation if you want a rom-com
with a pro-active protagonist since all in all it was a good time.
~
Monochrome Mobius Rights and Wrongs Forgotten.😣
before the second game and has Oshtor as the protagonist. Instead of being a VN it is
a full 3d RPG but still you could tell they couldn't let go of the VN roots cuz sometimes
scenes could be quite lengthy. For an RPG it also felt fairly old school. This ultimately
could alienate some utaware fans since I thought the VN was quite casual
but monochrome mobius is like hold my beer! even on normal mode.
The graphics aren't anything to write home about but it is decent at best, the worst
really is the lowpoly townfolk and the best? a 3d open world
surrounding the capital of yamato to Izumo and a bit beyond there.
I'm not a graphics whore or anything but I do think they tried really hard, there are even some
costumes that are used at select times.(Sadly we can't change into them manually.)
The story is gucchi and provides some nice backstory for certain characters
but unfortunately it gets cut short... for a reason I do not get other than they may
already have a sequel planned? Still if you're in the mood for an old school rpg
and are not bothered by graphics then it this game still gets my recommendation!
OH apparently they patched the lowpoly npc's and actually gave them faces... as well
as allowing you to save anywhere, welp that is sure helpful in some of the longer dungeons!
Sadly this does mean it is not as unforgiving but I guess mp management is still a thing...
~
Secret of Mana.😫
things to open to interpretation it just felt kind of flat to the point I prefer trials of mana!
Secret's only saving grace for me being the skits you can see at the inn
these actually sparked some life into the characters.
I felt like such a masochist for sitting throug this but for 18$ it can be a nice game
if you want to take your mind away from other things, perhaps? and are tired of games
where the cutscenes never seem to end cuz this Mana games are very straight to the point
and I'm just glad it wasn't any longer than needed or overstayed its welcome.
I finished it within 12-13 hours while the average was like 22-30, whoops did I accidentally
do a speed run? well I did use a guide to get past the fact that at times they don't tell you were to go
so I didn't waste time figuring it out nor did I waste time lvling up spells I didn't use!
I'm sure the guide maker was happy knowing that someone in 2022 was using their 2000s era guide.
I do recommend lvling Popoi's magic since that will make the game a lot easier, the
evasion rate is pretty high so most of your attacks will miss anyway and there
are very few bosses that are immune to melee. Due to the fact my tastes in story telling
has standards, this game didn't do much for me but to people new to rpgs it may be nice.
I guess I can see why it can be great if its someones first ever RPG but idk I prefer it
when the story/characters have a little more meat to it.
~
Genshin Impact.
Yes... I have tried it and it can be pretty fun, its even to the point I do not care
if I can never have some of the awesome character cuz the ones that do join
are more than enough to adventure with. I did notice fairly early on that the game
does not actually have that much story and being ongoing plus also a gacha I can see why.
Many times the story is gated behind an adventure rank, the worst was when you are like A10?
and you have to get to A18? suffice it to say it took me a few days due to not playing that much.
Basically its the games way of saying don't rush and actually go out into the wilds & explore or do a sub quest. Sadly I severly limit my play time of this game each day and due there being
daillies to get gems to roll the awesome characters and loot to upgrade them
its for the better to not get to invested and for now i'm just slowly going through it
and enjoying the world/story and its characters. Honestly for being a free game it is pretty good
in short bursts! glad I gave it a try and can recommend it to anyone who likes RPG's.
~
This year had a few duds or games I was disappointed with but then again
in regards to Kuro 2 I think its for the better the game turned out the way it did
and the next game can actually make some steps forward again but maybe that is me being hopeful.
Kiseki/trails is a weird series and at times much like an MMO it may seem like a life commitment
and it being a video game i'm just going to say games should be a hobby not a job!
so if you're no longer having fun its okay to take a break from a specific game or leave it behind.
I also rarely watch anime anymore because everything is gated behind a paywall and I don't
want to watch it on some shady site, so unless its on netflix or I manage to get
the homevideo release then I probably won't be watching anime at all these days.
I do enjoy Kdrama's and to some extend Jdrama's lately so there's that and
that i've been reading more manga/lightnovels instead of anime. Times change huh?
As for new otome games, I'm currently playing Majestic☆Majolical as it seems
like a classic otome adventure and reminds me a bit of wand of fortune...
None of otomate's upcoming releases interest me yet... so its better than nothing.
I did never pick up atelier sophie 2 but I'm more than willing to pick up Ryza 3 though!
perhaps due to attachment to the cast and there actually being hints/teases of them all
meeting up again back in the second game. There's also Harvestella and Bustafellows so
I won't be bored waiting for the next FFXIV patch...
