Withering Rooms | PS5

Steeped in witchcraft, occult mysticism, and medieval medical malpractices of the early 19th century we find a haunting roguelike gameplay experience featuring a patient of the Mostyn House Asylum known only as Nightingale. It is this poor unfortunate soul that finds herself in a perpetual dream or nightmare, if you will. Doomed to repeat her horrific attempt at escape until she finds the key to getting out. 

This entails both combat, and a stealth approach as not everyone who resides in this place for choleric and psychiatric help are friendly. Avoiding conflict, and sometimes engaging in it while amassing the items necessary to stave off various afflictions, and death are the only way to wake up from this hellscape that was 18 years in the making.

Saviorless | PS5 Review

Very rarely do we get a game that is so epic in scale it reminds us of childhood favorite films. The kind of experience that lasts for generations as a cult classic among all who bare witness to it. I think Dear Villagers has that epic dark fantasy tale in their grasp with this latest Metroidvania, "Saviorless". 

Not unlike "The Neverending Story" we get a guided protagonist in the way of the androgynous long haired Antar. A young boy who is seeking a fabled heron as he makes his way to the Smiling Islands. A place of legend where one could become the savior. Keeping him from ever finishing his tale though are a family of three narrators who insist on having Antar repeatedly seek that which he desires. Thus controlling both Antar, and the story being told for all time. It is a metaphorical take on the dangers of free will versus guided fate as there are two other joining protagonists who break free of the narration later on in an attempt to complete their own destinies. All while Antar continues forth through gauntlets of perilous puzzle driven platforming stages as the potential savior.

The State Of Gaming Q2 2024

Gaming and drama seems to go hand in hand these days. We've got a war waging between influencers, developers, and gamers. The latest of which has been called "Gamer Gate 2". If someone isn't trying to cancel someone else over inserted ideas or the right to insert certain ideas it's not a normal day in the industry. I've thrown in my thoughts on occasion regarding this escalating conflict of interests, and have not shied away from saying what needs to be said. Calling out propaganda, and the using of fan favorite IP's as a means to push a message for what it is. As one should. 

That having been said Participating in this ongoing undoing of everything gaming can come at a cost, and I don't recommend blindly throwing opinions out on social media without knowing the risks, or knowing what you are talking about. There are some increasingly nefarious agents in the world of governmental control eyeing the current gaming battlefield, and they are keen on using it to further censor and silence dissent against their brand of politics through the gaming industry goings on. Resulting sometimes in threats of legal action, and invasive laws.

Call of Duty | Are Skins & Seasonal Updates Good Enough?

At the time of typing up this article I am waist deep in the current season's battle pass. The season was themed around "The Walking Dead", but also included guest characters from Dune as well as Warhammer 40K. The skin economy as such is one of the game's best achievements to date, especially in MWIII. The animated effects, tiers of skins, and the tracers all bring to the player a way to showcase their vested dominance/interest. That they are true supporting fans of the series willing to pay upwards of $20 a bundle to look cool in the heat of battle. Mind you I too have amassed quite the collection of skins, and could easily be considered a whale at this point. So this is not a dig at big spenders, nor is it a dig at the store offerings.