OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno on Youtube!!!

This past week I've been working hard on maximizing my Youtube channel's reach potential. I've researched ways to manage tags, get attention through titles, and even do minor things like choosing the right thumbnails. While I seem to have done so according to the expertise given my channel is still not gaining the momentum I hoped it would. It's a tiny hungry fish in a see filled with fish looking for that next meal. I'll be honest in saying that my channel was initially born as a way to share my love for gaming. Simply that, and nothing more. In it's early years, near the dawn of Youtube I actually uploaded a lot of videos that captured me as I played Call of Duty on the PS3 in front of a tube-style television. Those videos got flagged though, and are forever lost. Keep in mind this was at a time when Youtube was much less gamer friendly, and where Vlogs were the site's main focus. It wasn't until my gaming blog picked up in popularity years down the road that I began to ponder ways to use my channel to further extend upon my views and critiques of the hobbies I loved. This year alone I've restructured the channel to include organized playlists, group themes, and even channel art. I've also done commentary videos on occasion among other things.

Rogue Stormers (PS4)

I am super late getting to this game, but to be fair I did get it late. Regardless of my past due review what I have to say could still hold sway with what those of you who have yet to play or purchase the game think about it. Let me elaborate ...

Black Forrest Game's latest single player, and multiplayer Metroidvania style platformer brings with it an unusual combination of gameplay elements. Along with the basics of platforming utilized within the usual 2D (3D accented) environments also comes twin-stick shooter controls that are further enhanced by the use of shoulder button, and face button functions. There's that, and the fact that this is a rogue platformer. Meaning that each level is randomly generated. Everything from the contents of the chests, to the environments themselves are randomly constructed before you actually get into the gameplay. Despite it's random nature the levels which are alphabetically assigned in the loading screen sequence, and titled therein in episodic fashion are done in "Battlegate" playthroughs as well as boss battles that ultimately lead to a final boss encounter. You will make your way through each level as one of several pre-designed, and unique characters who each have unique weapons and perks with which they can combat minions of 'Hector Von Garg' that spawn forth from strategically placed Transgoop portals. It seems old Hector is about as corrupt as our own politicians, and has overthrown with the help of his orcish goons the world in which the game's heroes, and heroines live. As a dedicated hero, or heroine it is your duty to end his reign of terror, and put a stop to his goopy ways.

Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls (PS VITA)

Idea Factory's Neptunia series has taken on a rather odd, and seemingly non-canon plot twist this time around in which IF is the protagonist, and a Segami (an amnesiac on a mission) is trying desperately to stop the post-apocalyptic end of the world which was brought on by inner conflict among the Sega Hard Girls. When the game opens up IF is shown scouring a desolate wasteland on her motorcycle in a search for an ancient library. She eventually finds said library, and in doing so meets up with a predicament tied to the disappearance of history itself. It seems the grand library is the storehouse for all historical knowledge, and is run by the series' motherly figure, Histoire. While browsing the volumes of information IF falls victim to a surprise attack, and later realizes through Histy's inquiry about her whereabouts, and the lost tomes of knowledge that there is a history thief among them. Of course during the visit, and perhaps before that Segami is found roaming aimlessly about, and insists on tagging along with IF. Together IF, Histy, and Segami work out a deal to travel back in time from era to era to figure out what exactly happened to the missing data. Histy actually turns IF's motorcycle into a time traveling vehicle, and it is with that motorcycle that IF, Segami, and the select characters she encounters travel back and forth from library to era doing their detective work as they attempt to fix the future.

Candy Connoiseur - Runts

This October I thought I'd do something special. Something that coincides with the Halloween celebration, and spirit. That thing being candy. Yes, I said candy. While we like to watch our horror movies, and dress as ghoulies and ghosties the candies we loot have always been a staple of that all encompassing Halloween experience. Throughout my childhood, and even my early twenties I partook of said candy. Probably more than I should have. I can't name offhand how many different candies I've eaten, but I will say there are some good ones to enjoy. In fact while recently out at the local gas station I picked up some candy for this very reason. It was a candy that has been around for many years, and has surprisingly been changed to a more healthy version of itself. The candy in question being "Runts". For those of you who have not had the privilege to taste these fruit shaped hard candies you are missing out. The banana, strawberry, grape, orange, and lime flavors are truly delicious. Even with the health transition towards less sugar, and non-artificial flavoring it still tastes as good as I remember ...

Zenith (PS4)

Badland Games' "Zenith" is a self-aware, and self-loathing RPG which incorporates not only older JRPG elements, but also includes comedic rip offs of said JRPG material as well as hilarious mockery of some of the 80's to early 90's greatest cult film classics. While it does bare it's own story centered around a foul mouthed mage known as Argus Windall, and his unfortunate dealings with an ancient scepter for the sake of the empire he serves under it continuously displays all sorts of cliches with tons of fourth wall breaking moments meant to stir a reaction from the gamer who is intently playing through the oddly orchestrated adventure. Nothing in the game is overly complicated, and after having played through it myself I realized the main focus was mostly about the developers' underlying message to gamers. Their personal opinion regarding the various cliches, and tropes found within most of, if not all RPGs. It's a proper adult comedy that gamers who grew up playing RPGs can appreciate, and enjoy ... to a certain point. Unfortunately the game does have it's issues, and those issues tend to break the immersion that should have been more smoothly delivered.