Category: Games

Hollowed Knight

By on • ( Leave a comment )

In my review of Hollow Knight for the Nintendo Switch, I said:

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the few games I have beaten multiple times on multiple platforms. Elevating a game like Hollow Knight to be its equal is a huge honor in my book. Deservedly so because the nearly 40 hours I have already put into Hollow Knight isn’t nearly enough even if I am running out of things to do. I cannot wait for more with the game’s next DLC!

Well, I waited for the release of Godhome, the final free DLC for Hollow Knight, and, to be frank, I am disappointed. Given that this is free DLC (something I very much appreciate it) and it comes after a lot of other free DLC (again, thank you so much), let me clarify a few things:

  • Godhome adds more content. I refuse to hold that against it.
  • I much prefer the days where developers gave free updates as opposed to our current climate where I sometimes feel they break things just to charge to fix it later.
  • Hollow Knight is still perfect on its own.

The problem at the heart of the Godhome DLC is this: it wasn’t what I wanted. My favorite thing without question about Hollow Knight was the exploration. From the beginning to the end of my time with it prior to Godhome, I thought it was a perfect take on the Metroidvania formula, complete with a spooky atmosphere and really outstanding animations/combat.

The entire purpose of Godhome is to add in a boss rush mode. That’s it. That’s all. There aren’t new areas to explore, new items to collect, or new abilities. It is just bosses in a rush.

I actually really loved the challenge of chasing down some of the game’s harder bosses. I also loved braving some of the game’s more advanced platforming. Hollow Knight is the kind of game that makes me forget it is hard because I keep playing, keep pushing, and keep improving.

Godhome would’ve likely done the same if I had the willpower, but I don’t. I didn’t follow this DLC too closely to avoid spoilers, so maybe my hype and interest could’ve been curbed long ago, but I wanted a new area. I want someplace new to explore and to overcome. I wanted new bosses too but done in a way that tied back into the plot and mystery of the game.

Godhome is not that and therefore I cannot objectively look at it as being either good or bad. For me, the idea was a letdown as soon as I realized what I was getting into and more so when I googled spoilers to make sure I wasn’t wrong.

For the most hardcore fans out there, Godhome may be a dream come true. For me, it is just a reminder that I would much prefer a Hollow Knight 2 with new places to explore to this. Boss rushes are great and can be fun. I wish I could get over my disappointment and just enjoy this DLC for what it is but I can’t.

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

Overcooked 2, Session 3

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Another week and another night playing Overcooked 2 with friends. I managed to make it home from Alabama just in time to unpack, order pizza, and boot up the game.

Finally, some real challenge has arrived. Worlds 4, 5, and what we’ve done thus far of 6, have really upped the difficulty. They added a cool (but frustrating) mechanic where players control moving platforms which need to be positioned over and over again in order to progress.

Similar to the last level of the first world, one of the other “boss” levels we went through had a very psychedelic part that honestly left me confused and dizzy. We managed to overcome the level with three stars in our first try, but only because it was incredibly long.

These later levels are proving that the game has a lot of staying power. Even beyond getting three stars, I could see myself going back with the same people or another group and having a similar amount of fun. With so many roles on each level, its easy to beat it without getting a chance to experience every aspect for yourself. That’s important to me.

On the positive news front, it looks like the PC version got a free quality of life patch recently. It added a New Game+ mode with unique rewards and the ability to change your chefs without backing out entirely. I am excited to see those features the Playstation 4 version we are playing. Hopefully by the time it releases, we will be ready for the fresh challenges!

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

D&D Character Idea #247: Lizardfolk Warlock

By on • ( 3 Comments )

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

Since we are still between campaigns, I am still debating the next major character to play. Most recent, I am considering a Lizardfolk Warlock with an Archfey Patron.

Here are the key roleplaying aspects of the character:

  • Hermit background, so even for Lizardfolk, he has lived a fairly isolated existence in the swamp.
  • Lizardfolk are described as seeing the things only in terms of its utility. They are fairly limited in emotional range. Art and beauty have no value to them.
  • In contrast, Archfey are demigods associated with the Feywild (or the Plane of Faerie) and are like more intense versions of faeries or similar creatures in popular myths.
  • After happening upon him, his future Archfey patron is amazed that he doesn’t know how to laugh or how to really express any kind of emotion other than hunger.
  • Without fully understanding, the Lizardfolk strikes a bargain with the Archfey that he will travel the world and learn the value of emotions and how to truly experience them.
  • The Archfey sometimes joins in on these travels, often offering unhelpful advice or intentionally leading him astray as to force him to feel the opposite emotion intended.

Obviously very rough at this time, but I am considering going pure Warlock, relying on Eldritch Blast for my damage needs, and loading up a ton of utility/face of the party spells. I like the idea of having an at-will disguise self spell, especially if it leads to a lot of bad/embarrassing attempts at pretending to be other races whose culture, dialects, and emotional vocabulary are entirely alien to me.

I am also mulling over going with Whispers of the Grave (at-will speak with the dead) or Gaze of Two Minds (a touch-based ability where I can touch a willing humanoid and experience their senses).

The first comes from an idea someone had of carrying around a collection of skulls to talk to for additional information. Lizardfolk getting Cunning Artisan which allows them to craft basic weaponry from fallen enemies. I figure pocketing a skull or two (and some snacking fingers/toes) from my enemies would be in-character and a great way to learn more about other cultures/emotions/etc.

The latter would be an easy way for me to roleplay learning about other races through their own eyes in a manner that would be less disturbing to potential good-aligned party members. I think it is less flavorful overall, but I am not looking to make an evil character or one that would be perceived as such.

All in all, it is a rough sketch of a character, but definitely one worth adding to the overall pile.

Overcooked 2: Session 2

By on • ( Leave a comment )

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

Between various wrestling matches and after everyone had eaten their portion of sous vide cheesecake (it was good), we got to played Overcooked 2 again. Here’s a reminder of the first time.

We are all still enjoying. None of the levels are on par with the end of the first world (where the level shifts dramatically Power Stone 2-style). I love the new mechanics though. We’re knee deep in the jungle and we are getting to deal with ground-based conveyor belts, wind, and tossing raw chicken across chasms.

It is awesome!

I will say that Overcooked 2 is definitely easier. I am looking forward to getting a fourth star added to chase after with the New Game+ mode they want to add in a future patch. On the levels we don’t get 2-stars, we’ve been able to go back almost immediately and get an easy 3-star. That’s a lot different from the first game where we genuinely struggled. I hope the challenge ramps up soon.

Even if it doesn’t, the game is still a ton of fun. I already know I would recommend it to anyone else and that’s still with much more to do. It is a shame our sessions are on Sundays where we all have to eventually go to bed for work the next day …

World of Warcraft: I <3 Trolls, Mon

By on • ( 3 Comments )

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

I have been waiting to meet King Rastakhan for years. My first and second characters were trolls. I often have at least one troll character that I actively play. Troll lore is the only lore I care about. TROLLLLLLLS!

wow_rasta.png

Hero Worship

I have barely played more than the opening of Battle for Azeroth and I am starting to get hyped all over again after realizing just how pivotal/important trolls are to this expansion.

No spoilers, okay?

Leave a comment if you love trolls too!

World of Warcraft: WAR Again

By on • ( 1 Comment )

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

On a previous post this month, I mentioned being unsure what to play. I decided: Warrior again!

Here’s why:

  • I attempted to level the a Priest, but when it came to the two healing specs, I hated both of them.
  • Shadow Priest was fun but not “I could main this” fun.
  • Leveling a fourth Rogue got tired quick.
  • I decided to race change my Mage to something other than an Orc after briefly flirting with all three specs and not hating them.
  • Playing the Warrior – my main in Legion – was still fun, especially when I realized I’d rather have a tank for my group spec than be a healer.
  • Eventually switching my Warrior to a Z.Troll is REALLY appealing. I have always wanted a plate mail Troll that doesn’t look terrible.

My goal now is to level the Warrior and the Mage. After that, if I have any will or game time left, we’ll see. I could possibly do a Z.Troll Shaman when the time comes but outside of the class fantasy difference, I don’t see the point in Enhancement or Elemental when I have a Warrior and a Mage proper.

I also have a Dwarf Monk that I can level if I so choose. I may do that, though I wasn’t feeling the Monk as much as I had hoped.

I am still burnt out on Rogue and Druid.

That all assumes I play in the first place! I had forgotten the expansion was out altogether. Between two interviews at work, a number of special projects, and my regular duties, I have been far too busy to care.

Maybe this weekend!

Overcooked 2: Session 1

By on • ( 1 Comment )

This post is part of a series of everyday posts for Blaugust. If you’d like to know more, click here.

Overcooked was a huge hit in our household. When we finished our first D&D campaign, it became the de facto weekend time waster for our fearsome foursome. Over the course of several sessions, we managed to get all stars possible in the game and finish off all of the trophies on Playstation 4.

Now that Overcooked 2 is out and we’ve completed our first evening of frantically bumping into one another with raw food, what is the impression thus far?

 

Overall, after going through the first two worlds, Overcooked 2 is a blast. It seems easier than the first, but it also looks like they adjusted scoring and speed so it is a faster game overall.

The story this time involves the un-bread recently risen from the dead and their impending overrun of the Onion Kingdom. It is adorable, especially with Kevin, the king’s right-hand dog.

There are some concerns though. Given the increase in speed, most every level thus far has involved multiple steps. That’s a good thing but it can be a little maddening to understand the icons at time. When every single space has an item or a fellow player keeps throwing raw ingredients on the floor, Overcooked 2 quickly dips into visual overload.

Still, we had a blast in our first evening. Overcooked 2 is more of the same but more. That’s exactly what we wanted too! I look forward to playing more and writing a full review in the future.

%d bloggers like this: