Category Archives: Games I Have Played Recently
Games I’ve Played Recently
Alright guys, it’s time for another installment of games I’ve Played Recently. We’ve got 3 good ones to go over!
First off is Tears of the Kingdom!
You guys may remember me mentioning this in my post for my recent Pickups. Well, of course I’ve been playing it as well. I don’t play the story much because I’m more into collecting and exploring. I did complete enough story missions to get the glider as it is essential to further your exploration needs. However, I have been fascinated with the new sky and underground sections. I did cool off playing it when I decided to focus on my Gamepass games over the last month.
Up next is Disney Dreamlight Valley
This game consumes my life off and on. It’s one that my baby girl and wife love to watch me play. We’re currently in the middle of a new event with some new Pixar content. They’ve also added in a new character. It’s one of those village simulators with farming and civilian upkeep. You fish, mine, and play with some of your favorite Disney characters. It’s not a game I play every day. It’s more so a I game I get in phases with.
Now, for the game that has preoccupied my free time the most
This is a new perfect game for me. It was described to me as a Souls-like game. I don’t really play souls like so. Unfortunately, I avoided this one. It caught my eye when scrolling through Gamepass. I downloaded it and gave it a shot. Boy, did I love this game. This is a modern-day metriodvania collectathon. It is broken down into 6 planets instead of one giant level. Though you do get powers that encourage backtracking for new experiences and collectibles. The boss fights can be exhausting, but they’re far from the hardest fights I’ve had in video games. The chest system is kind of lame. It’s a similar problem that Tears of the Kingdom has. All the power ups are hidden in certain sections or through the skill trees. This means the chests are relegated to cosmetic changes such as lightsabers, costume colors, and Droid colors. Cal gets upgrades in the form of wall running, double jumps and force push and pull. This makes backtracking a fun experience. As now you want to see where all you can explore. All in all, I really enjoyed this one. I have beat it. Now it’s time to 100% it.
This post was written a few months back. For some reason I never made the closing paragraph. So I hope you guys enjoyed this one. I’ll be working on a more updated list that includes some new games like Pokémon Scarlett as well as a throwback to a PS2 Hidden Gem in Rogue Galaxy.
Thank you guys for reading! Have a great day!
Games I’ve Played Recently Part #3
Hey guys! It’s been a minute since I’ve done an update to Games I’ve Played Recently, so let’s talk about a few games I’ve played recently.
Archvale- For those of you who don’t know, I am a big achievement junkie. Archvale helped reinvigorate that. As I got all 40 achievements and claimed that juicy 1000 Gamerscore, surprisingly only the 2nd game I’ve got 1000 G for (Borderlands 1 being the first). Anyway, back to the game. This is a top down, tile based action RPG. It plays enough like Zelda that Zelda fans will feel familiar with the gameplay. There’s dungeons with epic boss fights, heart containers to find, and similar combat. However, I would call it Zelda adjacent. Much like Forager or even maybe Stardew Valley are. Progression isn’t based on finding a new item, but more so improving your Armor, your damage output and your dodging skills. So the game will feel different enough, that if you are a Zelda fan looking for something a little different, this could be what you are looking for. There’s also a badge system very akin to Paper Mario that will help each playthrough feel unique. The story wasnt much to write home about, the gameplay was solid enough. I give it an 8 out of 10. *This game is included in Gamepass as of the writing of the blog, April 2nd, 2022*
Pupperazzi- That is not a typo. This is a game where you go around a handful of stages and take pictures of dogs. It is as awesome as it sounds. You can dress the dogs up in playful outfits, play with the pups using a variety of toys, and capture the dogs in just all around wacky poses and scenarios (such as dogs riding bikes, dogs being life guards, and dogs having picnics to name a few). The game gives you plenty of missions that require you to catch a dog doing something specific (like getting a close up of Tony Bark doing his signature trick on his skateboard). This game is not polished by any means, however I truly adore this game. I’m willingly to over look the flaws because they do not ruin the game by any means. So to me, this is a hidden gem. I give it a 9.5 out of 10. Not an April Fools, I just really enjoy how chaotic the dogs are! *This game is included in Gamepass as of the writing of the blog, April 2nd, 2022*
Donut County- Donut County is another wacky, charming game. Admittedly, I have a sweet spot for games like this. The writing helps the characters be more memorable. Which is impressive considering you play a hole. This game plays very similar to Katamari. You start off as a small hole. The more you consume, the bigger you grow. The camera does a good job of highlighting your size. In the early phases of a level, the camera is zoomed in and really boxes you in. As you grow, the camera panes out. This is used twofold. Obviously, the more it swings out, the easier it is to traverse the levels. But it also makes all the larger objects have a shrinking effect, as the hole now dwarves even the biggest rocks and tallest buildings. I’m currently, fighting the final boss, but this game is very enjoyable. It will only take a few hours to beat and 100%. Good for an afternoon. *This game is included in Gamepass as of the writing of the blog, April 2nd, 2022*
So, that’s all I have prepared for today. We have a baby shower to attend, so I can’t go over everything. I’ll try to write about Halo, Madden 22, and Kirby in a future post. Anyway, thanks for reading and have a great day!
I wrote this April 2nd but due to being busy with the baby, I didn’t notice it never published.
Games I’ve Played Recently Post #1
Hey guys, it does not always come through on here but I love me some video games. Over on the Youtube channel I started a new series called Games I’ve Played Recently. It is a simple series. As you can imagine, I just talk about the games that have been keeping me busy. I also include gameplay footage or trailers or previews of each game so you guys have an idea of what the game is like. I figured I would migrate that idea over to here and maybe we can have some good discussions in the comment section.
If you want to see the video that accompanies this post, check it out here: Games I’ve Played Recently Post #1
Let’s get it started!
Shovel Knight (Wii U)
Shovel Knight was developed by Yacht Club Games. It is a 2D sidescroller reminiscent of yesteryear. The titular Shovel Knight uses his shovel to kill enemies, create pathways, and dig up secrets. There’s plenty of new items as well as ways of upgrading his armor, health, magic, and shovel. Each is mostly fair and balanced, though the later levels have numerous insta-deaths. This makes the final few stages really get the adrenaline pumping. Most of the secrets littering the stages are massive amounts of treasure used to upgrade Shovel Knight. Occasionally, you will stumble upon a music note for the local bard or the next advancing/combat item known as relics like the Propeller Dagger. I have not really played too many 2D Platformers (I can count on 1 hand how many I have enjoyed), but to me Shovel Knight was a total game changer for me.
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch)
The Paper Mario series is easily one of my favorite Nintendo franchises to date. Origami King is shaping up to be another worthwhile installment. The coloring is fantastic, the exploration is enjoyable, the dialogue is still topnotch, and the combat mostly just has to grow on you. There’s plenty of secrets in each level and tons of toads scouring the landscapes. You’ll stay busy discovering all this game has to offer.
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom (Switch)
This game has been a joy to play. SS:BFBB is an HD overhaul of the Gamecube/PS2/Xbox classic. As such, the game map is a little small, but that’s about where my complaints end. The game is pseudo open world in that, there is a linear path in mind for you to travel, but you will have the freedom to make some detours off the beaten path. There’s a multitude of shiny objects (coins), Golden Spatulas, and dirty socks to occupy your time. The graphics are so bright and pleasant while the combat and platforming get the job done in what might be the surprise hit of 2020.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
I honestly do not have enough time nor paper to explain what an absolute and complete gem the Super Mario Galaxy duo is. The worlds are masterfully crafted, the secrets are a blast to locate, the stars are so perfectly places in each level. This game is pretty darn close to gaming perfection. I have not beat it simply because I am trying to play more of new Nintendo Switch games, but this is a game I am eagerly waiting to jump back into to.
Dark Cloud 1 &2 (Playstation 2)
Dark Cloud 1 and 2 were both created by Level 5. I have to admit this is one of the most unique games in my collection. They are a mix of city building simulator with a rogue like dungeon crawling aspect mixed in. Every city in each game has been devastated by the evil genie. Your job as the main character is to conquer each dungeon and find the missing parts of town and slowly rebuild them. It is quirky, it is unique, and it is an experience to behold. If you are a fan of any of those genre, this game is a must to check out.
Resident Evil #2
Resident Evil 2 is a remastering, almost a reimagining of the classic survival horror game that shook us to our cores back on the PS1/N64. I love the Resident Evil series but I have described this game as eerie and that it feels you with dread. I love the setting of Raccoon City, the police department, and all the other locations of the franchise. I also adore all the main characters this series has had over the years including Leon and Claire here. With all that said, I can’t say this game is fun to play. I just don’t like the genre as a whole. So, I play for a solid 30 minutes to an hour and then I have had enough. I can still recognize this game as a masterpiece nonetheless.
So there you have. These, for the most part, are the games I’ve played recently. Hopefully this write up gives you an idea about the games and if you would have any interest in them. Let me know what you’ve been playing.
Da_Hubbz 