1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny
1 Yr✓#
It's passed almost a week! What've I done in this time? What've I been playing?
In normal life, nothing in particular; in my videogame journey I'm playing basically Loop Hero, Expeditions and with my girlfriend we're continuing Lego City Undercover.
The Four Quarter's roguelike it's a really big surprise for me. I don't remember either when I took it freely from EGS, but I just want to give it a try and now I'm completely absorbed. I love the structure and the possibility you have to build your map so you can choose what type of enemies or buildings to put. You can experiment with everything and if the journey turns bad, you can always run away with all the resources when you reach the campfire. And when you have gained experience and you reach to defeat the first boss, the game gives the player more items, more resources and more depth in the gameplay.
But this is basically the description of every roguelike, and in fact it's a genre I really like (I have countless hours on TBOI and I bought twice FTL just to play it on the iPad).
Expeditions on the other hand, is a really chill yet challenging game. I like it because it reminds me of Death Stranding (planning the journey and dealing with rough terrain) without the grinding part of SnowRunner. I'm not playing so much because it's a young game and I want to wait for more patch that will add several bugfix or QoLs.
Last but not least: City Undercover. We really love LEGO games (and sets), and I always want to play this game that is a funny GTA-like. Unfortunately this game really came with the one-player-only gameplay concept structure from the Wii U exclusive, because the post-coop added with the release on the other platform didn't work so well like the other LEGO games (like the absence of the dinamic camera above all).
And that's all for this week on this endless journey!
In normal life, nothing in particular; in my videogame journey I'm playing basically Loop Hero, Expeditions and with my girlfriend we're continuing Lego City Undercover.
The Four Quarter's roguelike it's a really big surprise for me. I don't remember either when I took it freely from EGS, but I just want to give it a try and now I'm completely absorbed. I love the structure and the possibility you have to build your map so you can choose what type of enemies or buildings to put. You can experiment with everything and if the journey turns bad, you can always run away with all the resources when you reach the campfire. And when you have gained experience and you reach to defeat the first boss, the game gives the player more items, more resources and more depth in the gameplay.
But this is basically the description of every roguelike, and in fact it's a genre I really like (I have countless hours on TBOI and I bought twice FTL just to play it on the iPad).
Expeditions on the other hand, is a really chill yet challenging game. I like it because it reminds me of Death Stranding (planning the journey and dealing with rough terrain) without the grinding part of SnowRunner. I'm not playing so much because it's a young game and I want to wait for more patch that will add several bugfix or QoLs.
Last but not least: City Undercover. We really love LEGO games (and sets), and I always want to play this game that is a funny GTA-like. Unfortunately this game really came with the one-player-only gameplay concept structure from the Wii U exclusive, because the post-coop added with the release on the other platform didn't work so well like the other LEGO games (like the absence of the dinamic camera above all).
And that's all for this week on this endless journey!
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Why did no one ever warn me that Hogwarts Legacy was this good? I borrowed this game for PlayStation 5 from my girlfriend (or rather, I stole it from her library since we live together), and it was a title I had always put off because, even though it’s the best video game dedicated to the Wizarding World, the fact that it was a rather typical open-world game held me back. What a mistake!
I’ll start by saying that the open-world genre offers very few titles that have any real originality or a genuine reason to be open-world, so this shouldn’t be seen as a major downside for the experience.
As soon as I started playing, I was immediately amazed by the incredible care the developers (a team that had only made low-impact titles until then) put into creating each environment. The Hogwarts castle is beautiful in every room, but I was truly blown away once I reached Hogsmeade. Every shop is crafted with unique detail, even though they’re mostly static and not very interactive, but who cares!
I’m really curious to explore every nook and cranny of the game map (which seems quite extensive) and to discover the quality of the main story, about which I know absolutely nothing (except that the game is set in the 19th century, well before the events of the Harry Potter saga).
Obviously, it’s a title that offers little to a player who isn’t a fan of the series, but that’s clearly not my case!
I know I have several games in progress, but fortunately, they’re all different from each other, played at different times, or with varying levels of intensity, so I just need to balance all these experiences.
Now Playing: Hogwarts Legacy - PlayStation 5
I’ll start by saying that the open-world genre offers very few titles that have any real originality or a genuine reason to be open-world, so this shouldn’t be seen as a major downside for the experience.
As soon as I started playing, I was immediately amazed by the incredible care the developers (a team that had only made low-impact titles until then) put into creating each environment. The Hogwarts castle is beautiful in every room, but I was truly blown away once I reached Hogsmeade. Every shop is crafted with unique detail, even though they’re mostly static and not very interactive, but who cares!
I’m really curious to explore every nook and cranny of the game map (which seems quite extensive) and to discover the quality of the main story, about which I know absolutely nothing (except that the game is set in the 19th century, well before the events of the Harry Potter saga).
Obviously, it’s a title that offers little to a player who isn’t a fan of the series, but that’s clearly not my case!
I know I have several games in progress, but fortunately, they’re all different from each other, played at different times, or with varying levels of intensity, so I just need to balance all these experiences.
Now Playing: Hogwarts Legacy - PlayStation 5
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Here we are with another week!
This time I've got not much news for my journey, just some updates from the games I'm playing.
Loop Hero: I'm still playing it, especially when I'm watching some live on Twitch or when I have little time (30/45 minutes) and I want to play something. I'd like to have this title on handheld, the experience would benefit so much for me.
Expeditions: Season 1 is out! I didn't even know I had purchased it, and I was surprised when I found out I could play the new map! I'm also playing this game little by little, again due to the fact that several QoLs are continuing to come out, so I'm not in a hurry to pursue the various quests.
Hogwarts Legacy: I am reaching the limit between being captured by the target universe, and the fact that the game has a very bland structure. I think I will reduce the frequency with which I am continuing it so that I don't get tired and find myself abandoning it.
And now the big news for this week: Astro Bot! I couldn't wait to get this game later on; it’s one of those video games that deserve a day-one purchase. Having played the first few levels, I couldn't be happier. I already loved Playroom (and even got the platinum trophy), so I had very high expectations. I'm really glad it's receiving unanimous positive feedback. I hope it sends a clear message to the gaming world about what gamers truly want.
It's everything for this week, see ya!
Now Playing: Astro Bot - PlayStation 5
This time I've got not much news for my journey, just some updates from the games I'm playing.
Loop Hero: I'm still playing it, especially when I'm watching some live on Twitch or when I have little time (30/45 minutes) and I want to play something. I'd like to have this title on handheld, the experience would benefit so much for me.
Expeditions: Season 1 is out! I didn't even know I had purchased it, and I was surprised when I found out I could play the new map! I'm also playing this game little by little, again due to the fact that several QoLs are continuing to come out, so I'm not in a hurry to pursue the various quests.
Hogwarts Legacy: I am reaching the limit between being captured by the target universe, and the fact that the game has a very bland structure. I think I will reduce the frequency with which I am continuing it so that I don't get tired and find myself abandoning it.
And now the big news for this week: Astro Bot! I couldn't wait to get this game later on; it’s one of those video games that deserve a day-one purchase. Having played the first few levels, I couldn't be happier. I already loved Playroom (and even got the platinum trophy), so I had very high expectations. I'm really glad it's receiving unanimous positive feedback. I hope it sends a clear message to the gaming world about what gamers truly want.
It's everything for this week, see ya!
Now Playing: Astro Bot - PlayStation 5
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Good morning and happy Monday!
This update is a bit late, but I’ve been quite busy and really caught up with Astro Bot: after about two weeks, I’ve almost completed it 100% (I’m just missing a few items for the bots from the slot machine), but I’ve got the platinum trophy!
This title from Team Asobi was truly magnificent, I enjoyed it from the first to the last minute and I can’t wait for updates that will bring new levels. I really appreciated the game in its entirety: the solid and polished graphics, the many references to various IPs that have appeared on PlayStation, the simple but effective gameplay (with lots of mechanics inspired by different Super Mario games, Sunshine being a primary example), and the difficulty that offered a straightforward adventure on one hand, but a good and stimulating challenge if you aim to complete 100%.
Following that adventure, I’ve now started The Plucky Squire, an adventure developed by All Possible Futures that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately for its unique style that sees us jumping in and out of a book. Personally, I really like stories that break the fourth wall (even though this is not exactly the case here).
The last bit of news is that I’ve decided to revive my YouTube channel where I occasionally try out some experiments.
For now, my idea is simply to upload gameplay without commentary (except in rare cases), just to keep track of my gaming sessions, kind of like this blog! In the end, there’s no real need for voiceovers (especially since I don’t have the right equipment, so the result isn’t great), so I’m sticking to letting the gameplay speak for itself. I’m slowly uploading all of Astro Bot, and soon I’ll be adding The Plucky Squire too.
I think the next titles I’ll be playing will be Pools, Caravan SandWitch, and Factorio.
At the moment, I’ve put Hogwarts Legacy on hold for a bit.
I’m still playing Loop Hero, having reached the fourth chapter of the adventure. This one is really giving me a hard time, but I always make sure to play at least one round a day!
Now Playing: The Plucky Squire - PC
This update is a bit late, but I’ve been quite busy and really caught up with Astro Bot: after about two weeks, I’ve almost completed it 100% (I’m just missing a few items for the bots from the slot machine), but I’ve got the platinum trophy!
This title from Team Asobi was truly magnificent, I enjoyed it from the first to the last minute and I can’t wait for updates that will bring new levels. I really appreciated the game in its entirety: the solid and polished graphics, the many references to various IPs that have appeared on PlayStation, the simple but effective gameplay (with lots of mechanics inspired by different Super Mario games, Sunshine being a primary example), and the difficulty that offered a straightforward adventure on one hand, but a good and stimulating challenge if you aim to complete 100%.
Following that adventure, I’ve now started The Plucky Squire, an adventure developed by All Possible Futures that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately for its unique style that sees us jumping in and out of a book. Personally, I really like stories that break the fourth wall (even though this is not exactly the case here).
The last bit of news is that I’ve decided to revive my YouTube channel where I occasionally try out some experiments.
For now, my idea is simply to upload gameplay without commentary (except in rare cases), just to keep track of my gaming sessions, kind of like this blog! In the end, there’s no real need for voiceovers (especially since I don’t have the right equipment, so the result isn’t great), so I’m sticking to letting the gameplay speak for itself. I’m slowly uploading all of Astro Bot, and soon I’ll be adding The Plucky Squire too.
I think the next titles I’ll be playing will be Pools, Caravan SandWitch, and Factorio.
At the moment, I’ve put Hogwarts Legacy on hold for a bit.
I’m still playing Loop Hero, having reached the fourth chapter of the adventure. This one is really giving me a hard time, but I always make sure to play at least one round a day!
Now Playing: The Plucky Squire - PC
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
You thought you had gotten rid of me! But here I am, still around!
I missed a week of updates, but I had a few things going on (starting a new job and then getting the flu just a few days later).
My gaming journey continues, though with a bit less time, since, like any normal person, I have to spend eight hours a day doing something that helps me pay the bills and support my hobbies.
Since my last post, I’ve finished The Plucky Squire (here's the full series playlist on my channel, without commentary).
This little indie gem was a lot of fun, but it’s undeniable that it could have offered infinitely more! There were so many ideas that were introduced but never explored further or in depth, which could have added more layers to the experience, potentially making it an instant masterpiece.
I believe they could have pushed the physics more (featured in just one puzzle based on domino effect), and they missed an opportunity to expand the concept of jumping in and out of books: imagine exploring different book and text! I found the mechanic of "leave the book, find the object on the desk, then go back" a bit repetitive, but overall, the experience was very positive.
After finishing The Plucky Squire, I finally got to try a game I’d been meaning to play for a long time: Pools.
It’s a horror experience based on liminal spaces, one you can literally finish in an evening (playtime ranges from an hour and a half to two hours). As the game description mentions, there are no enemies to run from or fight; everything hinges on the oppressive and unsettling atmosphere of these spaces, which feel both familiar yet disturbingly off to our minds. I highly recommend using headphones to fully appreciate the excellent audio design (especially the sound of your footsteps and the water splashes), and the lucky few can even enjoy it in VR! I’ll start uploading this one to my channel from October 11th, split up into six videos: one for each level of the experience.
Today, however, is a special day: the release of the Silent Hill 2 remake! What better way to celebrate than by starting a new series with the Enhanced Edition? The project has just recently reached its final completion, making it the best way to experience the original masterpiece! (You don't need a powerful PC, the game is abandonware, easily downloadable from the web, and the mod is available for free and easy to install without having to mess with various configuration files.)
Now Playing: Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition - PC
I missed a week of updates, but I had a few things going on (starting a new job and then getting the flu just a few days later).
My gaming journey continues, though with a bit less time, since, like any normal person, I have to spend eight hours a day doing something that helps me pay the bills and support my hobbies.
Since my last post, I’ve finished The Plucky Squire (here's the full series playlist on my channel, without commentary).
This little indie gem was a lot of fun, but it’s undeniable that it could have offered infinitely more! There were so many ideas that were introduced but never explored further or in depth, which could have added more layers to the experience, potentially making it an instant masterpiece.
I believe they could have pushed the physics more (featured in just one puzzle based on domino effect), and they missed an opportunity to expand the concept of jumping in and out of books: imagine exploring different book and text! I found the mechanic of "leave the book, find the object on the desk, then go back" a bit repetitive, but overall, the experience was very positive.
After finishing The Plucky Squire, I finally got to try a game I’d been meaning to play for a long time: Pools.
It’s a horror experience based on liminal spaces, one you can literally finish in an evening (playtime ranges from an hour and a half to two hours). As the game description mentions, there are no enemies to run from or fight; everything hinges on the oppressive and unsettling atmosphere of these spaces, which feel both familiar yet disturbingly off to our minds. I highly recommend using headphones to fully appreciate the excellent audio design (especially the sound of your footsteps and the water splashes), and the lucky few can even enjoy it in VR! I’ll start uploading this one to my channel from October 11th, split up into six videos: one for each level of the experience.
Today, however, is a special day: the release of the Silent Hill 2 remake! What better way to celebrate than by starting a new series with the Enhanced Edition? The project has just recently reached its final completion, making it the best way to experience the original masterpiece! (You don't need a powerful PC, the game is abandonware, easily downloadable from the web, and the mod is available for free and easy to install without having to mess with various configuration files.)
Now Playing: Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition - PC
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
It's been almost a month I'm not writing on this blog, and I'm sorry for that. I wanted to be more regular on the update, but the time's always slipping away from my hands, and in everyday life it's difficult to find the right time to dedicate to this.
But here I am, and October has passed away. What a month!
I just left you with the first episode of Silent Hill 2 (the gorgeous Enhanced Edition), and I completed the game and its bonus episode a couple weeks ago. It was funny and nostalgic to replay a game that took years for me to reach the ending because of the tremendous fear it gave me, and feel again its dark, dense and ethereal atmosphere.
It was funny also to compare an over-20-year-old videogame to the modern standard and realize that everything has changed since the 2000s: the game has a lot of dead time (exploring the city streets), and its length is very short! You can beat the game in 4 or 5 hours if you know what you have to do and where to go, maybe less, and push the player to replay the game for different endings, the secrets, or the bonus items the game gave.
In parallel with SH2 there were Pools, that I've talked about in the previous post. And also for this game I've made a full playthrough in my channel.
Then what? October means horror time! So I continued this wave with Signalis and Crow Country.
I'm still with the first one, but I just finished yesterday the second!
The two brothers-indie-game (who also made Snipperclips for the Switch!) it's a true gem, really. If you like the good old survival horror experience you cannot pass over this game. The developers didn't want to reinvent anything, but everything is done in a really good way, and it seems really coming from the ps1 era: especially the graphic that reminds me a lot of the Bullfrog's style. The plot is simple but engaging, and the gameplay is "old enough" but not so wood-like: when you point your weapon you cannot move, but can aim wherever you want, with some game design solutions that give advance from this mechanic.
And cherry on top, when you reach the end, you cannot miss the valuation of the run, the bonus items, and a new mode to replay the game!
And for Signalis? It's similar but also very different from Crow Country.
It's always an old-style survival horror game, but with some critical difference in the general experience.
The graphic is very anime-like (the game is described in "dark anime" style) and a lot of the cutscene reminds me of Evangelion (that I love). The gameplay descends from the original Resident Evil, which means little inventory, boxes, and a LOT of stressful backtracking. In fact, the most famous mod for this game is the one who removes the six-limit items in the inventory to give more space, which helps a lot in the general experience. But I want to play it in the original way: so here I am running back and forth to give space to the inventory so I can take an object or a precious ammo box.
The plot is way more cryptic and psychological, but I really want to know how it will end.
Now talking of my youtube channel!
I'm trying to be very regular on the video, and I'm releasing every day a new episode from what I'm playing, but I've got to continue to control and correct everything. I decided to put a comment in Crow Country, but only in the sixth video did I understand that I was not controlling properly the audio levels: the game audio was too loud, and in OBS I was regulating the wrong parameter, which gave no effect to the recorded video :')
But it's everything a try-and-error experience, and I'm doing everything all by myself, so it's not a big issue in the end.
I'm also using Canva and GIMP to create (or it's better to say: "trying to create") better thumbnails for the video and I'm saving the recorded for using them to create some shorts or highlights in the future, but it's always a matter of time and like I said at the beginning: it's not easy to have the right amount of time to do everything, especially if you want to do it in a good way.
I'm also stopping to play and release two games in parallel, concentrating to play one game at time, that is more focusing to me.
Soooooooo... I think it's everything, more or less!
More will come, and I promise I will try to update more regularly: for you if you enjoy my journey, but especially for myself.
And after this horror month? I think it will be the time to play Caravan SandWitch, which is an indie game that gives me really good vibes, and I want to explore its travel mechanics and adventure, but you will see it after the ending of Signalis.
I'm also waiting to the end of releasing the speed-run levels in Astro Bot, so I can play them and record all at once!
Hugs and good vibes for everyone!
But here I am, and October has passed away. What a month!
I just left you with the first episode of Silent Hill 2 (the gorgeous Enhanced Edition), and I completed the game and its bonus episode a couple weeks ago. It was funny and nostalgic to replay a game that took years for me to reach the ending because of the tremendous fear it gave me, and feel again its dark, dense and ethereal atmosphere.
It was funny also to compare an over-20-year-old videogame to the modern standard and realize that everything has changed since the 2000s: the game has a lot of dead time (exploring the city streets), and its length is very short! You can beat the game in 4 or 5 hours if you know what you have to do and where to go, maybe less, and push the player to replay the game for different endings, the secrets, or the bonus items the game gave.
In parallel with SH2 there were Pools, that I've talked about in the previous post. And also for this game I've made a full playthrough in my channel.
Then what? October means horror time! So I continued this wave with Signalis and Crow Country.
I'm still with the first one, but I just finished yesterday the second!
The two brothers-indie-game (who also made Snipperclips for the Switch!) it's a true gem, really. If you like the good old survival horror experience you cannot pass over this game. The developers didn't want to reinvent anything, but everything is done in a really good way, and it seems really coming from the ps1 era: especially the graphic that reminds me a lot of the Bullfrog's style. The plot is simple but engaging, and the gameplay is "old enough" but not so wood-like: when you point your weapon you cannot move, but can aim wherever you want, with some game design solutions that give advance from this mechanic.
And cherry on top, when you reach the end, you cannot miss the valuation of the run, the bonus items, and a new mode to replay the game!
And for Signalis? It's similar but also very different from Crow Country.
It's always an old-style survival horror game, but with some critical difference in the general experience.
The graphic is very anime-like (the game is described in "dark anime" style) and a lot of the cutscene reminds me of Evangelion (that I love). The gameplay descends from the original Resident Evil, which means little inventory, boxes, and a LOT of stressful backtracking. In fact, the most famous mod for this game is the one who removes the six-limit items in the inventory to give more space, which helps a lot in the general experience. But I want to play it in the original way: so here I am running back and forth to give space to the inventory so I can take an object or a precious ammo box.
The plot is way more cryptic and psychological, but I really want to know how it will end.
Now talking of my youtube channel!
I'm trying to be very regular on the video, and I'm releasing every day a new episode from what I'm playing, but I've got to continue to control and correct everything. I decided to put a comment in Crow Country, but only in the sixth video did I understand that I was not controlling properly the audio levels: the game audio was too loud, and in OBS I was regulating the wrong parameter, which gave no effect to the recorded video :')
But it's everything a try-and-error experience, and I'm doing everything all by myself, so it's not a big issue in the end.
I'm also using Canva and GIMP to create (or it's better to say: "trying to create") better thumbnails for the video and I'm saving the recorded for using them to create some shorts or highlights in the future, but it's always a matter of time and like I said at the beginning: it's not easy to have the right amount of time to do everything, especially if you want to do it in a good way.
I'm also stopping to play and release two games in parallel, concentrating to play one game at time, that is more focusing to me.
Soooooooo... I think it's everything, more or less!
More will come, and I promise I will try to update more regularly: for you if you enjoy my journey, but especially for myself.
And after this horror month? I think it will be the time to play Caravan SandWitch, which is an indie game that gives me really good vibes, and I want to explore its travel mechanics and adventure, but you will see it after the ending of Signalis.
I'm also waiting to the end of releasing the speed-run levels in Astro Bot, so I can play them and record all at once!
Hugs and good vibes for everyone!
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Once again I ended up skipping a week! I’ve gotten too used to the relaxed pace I had in life until recently, and now it feels like time is slipping through my fingers, and I can’t even find a moment to write a post like this!
After finishing the ongoing series on my channel I took a break from starting new titles. I wanted to try Metal Slug Tactics, but I’ve read several comments saying it needs some corrective patches due to various bugs. Even this time I’ve come to the conclusion that playing a game on D1 is more of a mistake than a privilege (and it’s been nearly a decade that I’ve reached this conclusion for almost every title I’m interested in).
I also decided to take a break from the channel because I was publishing a video every day, and it started to feel a bit too overwhelming. It’s good to be consistent, but maintaining such a high frequency was quickly risking burnout, especially with the limited time I have lately. This small project is primarily supposed to be fun, and if it starts to have the opposite effect, it’s better to hit the brakes early to manage it properly.
To relax in the evenings I decided to continue playing Hogwarts Legacy with a switched-off brain to finish it without leaving it halfway. In the end, it still shows some interesting ideas, but its flatness in many aspects makes it a title that appeals mainly to those with very little gaming experience, whereas more seasoned players can’t help but notice every limitation in its structure.
At the end of October, the "new" Pokémon card game was also released, a lighter and more accessible reinterpretation of the classic card game more focused on collecting than the battles themselves. I admit I’m enjoying it quite a bit: many of my friends and my girlfriend are playing it regularly. and we’re having fun with the cards we pull. Some of the art is really impressive! As long as it remains a free-to-play without spending a single cent, there’s no big issue.
For now I think that’s everything! Keep playing and have fun!
Now Playing: Hogwarts Legacy - PlayStation 5 | Pokémon TCG Poket - iPhone/iPad
After finishing the ongoing series on my channel I took a break from starting new titles. I wanted to try Metal Slug Tactics, but I’ve read several comments saying it needs some corrective patches due to various bugs. Even this time I’ve come to the conclusion that playing a game on D1 is more of a mistake than a privilege (and it’s been nearly a decade that I’ve reached this conclusion for almost every title I’m interested in).
I also decided to take a break from the channel because I was publishing a video every day, and it started to feel a bit too overwhelming. It’s good to be consistent, but maintaining such a high frequency was quickly risking burnout, especially with the limited time I have lately. This small project is primarily supposed to be fun, and if it starts to have the opposite effect, it’s better to hit the brakes early to manage it properly.
To relax in the evenings I decided to continue playing Hogwarts Legacy with a switched-off brain to finish it without leaving it halfway. In the end, it still shows some interesting ideas, but its flatness in many aspects makes it a title that appeals mainly to those with very little gaming experience, whereas more seasoned players can’t help but notice every limitation in its structure.
At the end of October, the "new" Pokémon card game was also released, a lighter and more accessible reinterpretation of the classic card game more focused on collecting than the battles themselves. I admit I’m enjoying it quite a bit: many of my friends and my girlfriend are playing it regularly. and we’re having fun with the cards we pull. Some of the art is really impressive! As long as it remains a free-to-play without spending a single cent, there’s no big issue.
For now I think that’s everything! Keep playing and have fun!
Now Playing: Hogwarts Legacy - PlayStation 5 | Pokémon TCG Poket - iPhone/iPad
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Happy Monday!
November is almost over, and I’ve finally completed Hogwarts Legacy. After about 40 hours, I found myself aligning with the more subdued opinions of those who experienced a drop in enthusiasm after the initial few hours. It’s a shame because the game showcased great potential in certain aspects, and the overall framework has a lot going for it (even as a classic open world action RPG). However, it’s a title best appreciated by casual gamers, while more seasoned players can’t help but notice the game’s limitations and lack of depth throughout.
That said, it was important to see it through to the end so I could move on to other games. In fact, I’ve been itching to finally start Cyberpunk 2077 (on PS5, as my poor old desktop desperately needs a significant upgrade) or God of War Ragnarok.
Speaking of PS5, my girlfriend and I recently started our Fattoria Culo ("Ass Farm") in Stardew Valley. We wanted something chill to play together after Lego City Undercover, and all I can say is that we ended up playing for almost four hours straight without even realizing it! There’s no need to sing the praises of this 2016 gem, especially now that it has received a substantial content update on consoles, adding even more to its already expansive offerings.
Over the weekend, I recorded Alba - A Wildlife Adventure for my poor neglected YouTube channel, and it turned out to be a short but incredibly sweet experience! I loved the concept of playing as a young girl spending a week of her summer vacation with her grandparents on a Mediterranean island (the Spanish influence is clear, but it also bears a strong resemblance to small Italian seaside towns). The game’s environmental theme of restoring the nature reserve and cataloging the local wildlife was incredibly relaxing (and now I feel like playing Pokémon Snap!). Next, if time allows, I’ll review the audio in the videos so I can upload them.
I’m still slowly making my way through Loop Hero (the fourth and final chapter is proving quite challenging), Expeditions (while I wait for patches to improve the game’s quality of life), and Pokémon TGC Pocket. Meanwhile, I’m torn about what to install on my PC. I’m considering playing the remake of Mafia (redeemed for free), but I’m also in the mood for a management sim. Who knows!
That’s all for this week, I think. See you next time, and have fun!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
November is almost over, and I’ve finally completed Hogwarts Legacy. After about 40 hours, I found myself aligning with the more subdued opinions of those who experienced a drop in enthusiasm after the initial few hours. It’s a shame because the game showcased great potential in certain aspects, and the overall framework has a lot going for it (even as a classic open world action RPG). However, it’s a title best appreciated by casual gamers, while more seasoned players can’t help but notice the game’s limitations and lack of depth throughout.
That said, it was important to see it through to the end so I could move on to other games. In fact, I’ve been itching to finally start Cyberpunk 2077 (on PS5, as my poor old desktop desperately needs a significant upgrade) or God of War Ragnarok.
Speaking of PS5, my girlfriend and I recently started our Fattoria Culo ("Ass Farm") in Stardew Valley. We wanted something chill to play together after Lego City Undercover, and all I can say is that we ended up playing for almost four hours straight without even realizing it! There’s no need to sing the praises of this 2016 gem, especially now that it has received a substantial content update on consoles, adding even more to its already expansive offerings.
Over the weekend, I recorded Alba - A Wildlife Adventure for my poor neglected YouTube channel, and it turned out to be a short but incredibly sweet experience! I loved the concept of playing as a young girl spending a week of her summer vacation with her grandparents on a Mediterranean island (the Spanish influence is clear, but it also bears a strong resemblance to small Italian seaside towns). The game’s environmental theme of restoring the nature reserve and cataloging the local wildlife was incredibly relaxing (and now I feel like playing Pokémon Snap!). Next, if time allows, I’ll review the audio in the videos so I can upload them.
I’m still slowly making my way through Loop Hero (the fourth and final chapter is proving quite challenging), Expeditions (while I wait for patches to improve the game’s quality of life), and Pokémon TGC Pocket. Meanwhile, I’m torn about what to install on my PC. I’m considering playing the remake of Mafia (redeemed for free), but I’m also in the mood for a management sim. Who knows!
That’s all for this week, I think. See you next time, and have fun!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Finally, we’ve reached the last month of the year! The biggest news this week is that I’ve finally decided (after much doubt and deliberation) to upgrade my PC! I made this decision to gradually move away from the console world (since exclusives are becoming increasingly rare) and rely on the “PC + Nintendo” combo as my main setup. I prefer the versatility of a computer, especially since I don’t have to worry about backward compatibility: if I want to play something from any generation, I just select the game and install it without needing to dig out a console and hook it up to the TV.
I’m now waiting for the new parts to arrive, keeping myself busy with descents in Lonely Mountains: Downhill and finally starting Cyberpunk 2077 (with Phantom Liberty) a game I’ve owned since its launch (literally four years ago).
The first game, the indie gem from Megagon Industries, I had already tried back in the day through Game Pass, but I recently picked it up for just a few euros along with its DLC. I absolutely love its serene and natural atmosphere: the game has no music, so you’re accompanied only by ambient sounds as you race downhill through various mountains (and the countless crashes into rocks and trees suffered by the poor cyclist). Plus, it’s the perfect time to play it, with Snow Rider coming soon: a game that’s essentially the same but ski-themed (which I adore).
-
-
-
-
As for Cyberpunk, I don’t think there’s much to add: now that its support has concluded, I decided to dive in and immerse myself in its world, which I absolutely love. So far, I’m just at the beginning of the story, but it’s the kind of game I’d happily play for 3/4 hour sessions because it’s so captivating. That said, I did encounter a bug that made me reload a save because the character and their interaction broke (the woman in the bathtub during the second mission). I also can’t wait to see the graphical leap with the incoming 4070 Super and to enable Path Tracing!
-
-
-
-
Aside from that, I’m continuing with other games on PC and maintaining the “Ass Farm” with my girlfriend. Stardew Valley is so relaxing, despite having tons of things to do! Who knows, maybe we’ll feel like fully exploring it with two opposite runs, but who knows how much time that will take!
On another note, I was thinking that with the new GPU, I could try creating content for my YouTube channel, maybe even using a webcam to put myself on screen. Thanks to nvidia’s AI that removes backgrounds without a green screen, it could be pretty easy. I could also test some audio improvements! And speaking of that, I still need to finish editing the Alba videos so I can upload them!
There’s always so much to do and absolutely so little time to do it all!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
I’m now waiting for the new parts to arrive, keeping myself busy with descents in Lonely Mountains: Downhill and finally starting Cyberpunk 2077 (with Phantom Liberty) a game I’ve owned since its launch (literally four years ago).
The first game, the indie gem from Megagon Industries, I had already tried back in the day through Game Pass, but I recently picked it up for just a few euros along with its DLC. I absolutely love its serene and natural atmosphere: the game has no music, so you’re accompanied only by ambient sounds as you race downhill through various mountains (and the countless crashes into rocks and trees suffered by the poor cyclist). Plus, it’s the perfect time to play it, with Snow Rider coming soon: a game that’s essentially the same but ski-themed (which I adore).
-
-
-
-
As for Cyberpunk, I don’t think there’s much to add: now that its support has concluded, I decided to dive in and immerse myself in its world, which I absolutely love. So far, I’m just at the beginning of the story, but it’s the kind of game I’d happily play for 3/4 hour sessions because it’s so captivating. That said, I did encounter a bug that made me reload a save because the character and their interaction broke (the woman in the bathtub during the second mission). I also can’t wait to see the graphical leap with the incoming 4070 Super and to enable Path Tracing!
-
-
-
-
Aside from that, I’m continuing with other games on PC and maintaining the “Ass Farm” with my girlfriend. Stardew Valley is so relaxing, despite having tons of things to do! Who knows, maybe we’ll feel like fully exploring it with two opposite runs, but who knows how much time that will take!
On another note, I was thinking that with the new GPU, I could try creating content for my YouTube channel, maybe even using a webcam to put myself on screen. Thanks to nvidia’s AI that removes backgrounds without a green screen, it could be pretty easy. I could also test some audio improvements! And speaking of that, I still need to finish editing the Alba videos so I can upload them!
There’s always so much to do and absolutely so little time to do it all!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
I didn’t expect Cyberpunk to be this captivating. In just under 10 hours I’ve only managed to complete the first act, and now the entire city it’s at my fingertips. It has so many postcard-worthy views, and I can’t stop myself from taking screenshots every few minutes because the city, its districts, and its vistas are truly breathtaking.
-
-
Lonely Mountains is also giving me both lots of enjoyable moments and quite a few headaches. At first I thought the difficulty level was pretty low, but then I reached the challenges where you need to achieve fast times AND a limited number of crashes (sometimes while using a specific bike), and let’s just say it takes me quite a few attempts to complete them. And to think I’m still only on the first two mountains!
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-
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-
-
The Ass Farm in Stardew Valley is slowly thriving: I finally reached level 40 of the mine (where you can find iron!), and we managed to save enough money for a coop (though we’re still missing two pieces of clay to build the silo to store food, meaning we have to buy it daily to keep our two chickens from starving - purchased with the last of our crop earnings). Luckily, we realized that fishing and collecting shells and coral can bring in a bit of extra money, which definitely helps us make it to the next day.
I’m also still opening packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket, between various events and new cards. My current goal is to complete the Pokédex of the original 151 to unlock the Mew card!
Meanwhile, Alan Wake 2 has also arrived, but I want to hold off on starting it for now because I’ll have way too much on my plate and I’m already struggling a bit to keep up with everything!
Last but not least! The walkthrough series for Alba - A Wildlife Adventure is now live on my channel! The first episode came out yesterday, and there will be five more released every other day! Once I have my new PC, I think I’ll be able to get back to recording more regularly!
I can’t wait for the holiday break to spend cozy days at home!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
-
-
Lonely Mountains is also giving me both lots of enjoyable moments and quite a few headaches. At first I thought the difficulty level was pretty low, but then I reached the challenges where you need to achieve fast times AND a limited number of crashes (sometimes while using a specific bike), and let’s just say it takes me quite a few attempts to complete them. And to think I’m still only on the first two mountains!
-
-
-
-
-
The Ass Farm in Stardew Valley is slowly thriving: I finally reached level 40 of the mine (where you can find iron!), and we managed to save enough money for a coop (though we’re still missing two pieces of clay to build the silo to store food, meaning we have to buy it daily to keep our two chickens from starving - purchased with the last of our crop earnings). Luckily, we realized that fishing and collecting shells and coral can bring in a bit of extra money, which definitely helps us make it to the next day.
I’m also still opening packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket, between various events and new cards. My current goal is to complete the Pokédex of the original 151 to unlock the Mew card!
Meanwhile, Alan Wake 2 has also arrived, but I want to hold off on starting it for now because I’ll have way too much on my plate and I’m already struggling a bit to keep up with everything!
Last but not least! The walkthrough series for Alba - A Wildlife Adventure is now live on my channel! The first episode came out yesterday, and there will be five more released every other day! Once I have my new PC, I think I’ll be able to get back to recording more regularly!
I can’t wait for the holiday break to spend cozy days at home!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PlayStation 5
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 5
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
4 Yrs♥$✓#
churros
4 Yrs♥$✓#
I'm sorry to hear that you are having some headaches with Lonely Mountains, but maybe just keep trying without... well... caring too much.
I struggled a bit when I started and eventually, when I stopped overthinking, it just clicked. "I became one of the bike" haha. One of my favorites games of all time, I literally bought a (cheap) bike in real life after playing the game for so long.
I'm so happy they are making this now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2545360/Lonely_Mountains_Snow_Riders/
I struggled a bit when I started and eventually, when I stopped overthinking, it just clicked. "I became one of the bike" haha. One of my favorites games of all time, I literally bought a (cheap) bike in real life after playing the game for so long.
I'm so happy they are making this now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2545360/Lonely_Mountains_Snow_Riders/
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Maybe I used the term "headaches" incorrectly! What I meant to say is that the game does have challenging moments where focus and knowledge of the track and its shortcuts are required. I really enjoy that because it activates my competitive spirit, and I often find myself spending half an hour or even an hour attempting to complete certain challenges!
I’m also really excited about their upcoming title. I tried the demo and instantly fell in love with it (especially because skiing is a discipline I adore). I found the gameplay slightly more inspired, and I can’t wait for its release, I'll probably grab it on day one.
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
A warm hello to everyone for this new update on my gaming journey!
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: after four years, I decided to upgrade almost my entire PC! I treated myself to this birthday and christmas gift after a lot of reflection and thought, and here I am! From the old setup I kept only the motherboard and RAM. The CPU is "only" a 5700 3DX, as I didn’t switch to the more recent generations, but I’d say it’s more than enough to pair with the 4070 Super!
I’ll slowly upgrade the monitor too, aiming for a jump to higher resolutions than the FHD I’m currently using. Although I’m still considering moving the PC into the living room (to connect it to the 4K HDR TV) and using it exclusively as a gaming machine, so I can physically detach myself from the desk even on those days when I’m working from home (like today).
Thanks to cross-save, I immediately continued my adventure in Cyberpunk 2077 on PC (I’ve had the GOG version for 4 years, which was given as compensation for the disastrous day-one launch since back then I even bought the One X edition dedicated to the game). The graphics immediately received a significant boost, especially in the lighting, which leaves me breathless when gazing at the neon landscapes of Night City. I also really appreciate that the DualSense controller is fully supported on the PC version of the game, including the adaptive triggers!
-
-
-
-
-
-
Another goal on my list now is to try the PC version of Bloodborne and see if I can play it in a better way than on console (since it’s one of those games I’d love to play at 60fps, even though it’s not typically something I pay much attention to).
For the rest, I’m still hurtling down the mountains in Lonely Mountains: Downhill, where I’ve finally started tackling the paths of the third, dusty mountain, with its cacti, rocks, and canyons that make it much easier to crash compared to the first two.
-
-
-
We’re also continuing our adventure in Stardew Valley, where we’ve reached the fall season with new crops to plant and a steadily growing income. This has allowed us to start building the first structures for the farm (we now have four chickens that let us produce plenty of mayonnaise to sell easily), while the barn to house larger animals is also under construction.
-
(I know I’ve only taken screenshots while fishing, but there’s so much to do (and you have to keep an eye on the time) that I forget to take more!)
In the meantime, I’ve decided that the next title to feature on my channel will be Alan Wake 2, which I’ll start on PC. I’ll probably also use the webcam, thanks to NVIDIA Broadcast, which allows me to remove the background without needing a green screen.
And today, the new mini-expansion of cards for Pokémon TCG Pocket has been released! I already have around forty new cards available, and they have some very interesting effects that will significantly change the decks in various matches, enabling a new balance in battles (which was definitely needed).
I think that’s all for now after this massive wall of text!
Cheers!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: after four years, I decided to upgrade almost my entire PC! I treated myself to this birthday and christmas gift after a lot of reflection and thought, and here I am! From the old setup I kept only the motherboard and RAM. The CPU is "only" a 5700 3DX, as I didn’t switch to the more recent generations, but I’d say it’s more than enough to pair with the 4070 Super!
I’ll slowly upgrade the monitor too, aiming for a jump to higher resolutions than the FHD I’m currently using. Although I’m still considering moving the PC into the living room (to connect it to the 4K HDR TV) and using it exclusively as a gaming machine, so I can physically detach myself from the desk even on those days when I’m working from home (like today).
Thanks to cross-save, I immediately continued my adventure in Cyberpunk 2077 on PC (I’ve had the GOG version for 4 years, which was given as compensation for the disastrous day-one launch since back then I even bought the One X edition dedicated to the game). The graphics immediately received a significant boost, especially in the lighting, which leaves me breathless when gazing at the neon landscapes of Night City. I also really appreciate that the DualSense controller is fully supported on the PC version of the game, including the adaptive triggers!
-
-
-
-
-
-
Another goal on my list now is to try the PC version of Bloodborne and see if I can play it in a better way than on console (since it’s one of those games I’d love to play at 60fps, even though it’s not typically something I pay much attention to).
For the rest, I’m still hurtling down the mountains in Lonely Mountains: Downhill, where I’ve finally started tackling the paths of the third, dusty mountain, with its cacti, rocks, and canyons that make it much easier to crash compared to the first two.
-
-
-
We’re also continuing our adventure in Stardew Valley, where we’ve reached the fall season with new crops to plant and a steadily growing income. This has allowed us to start building the first structures for the farm (we now have four chickens that let us produce plenty of mayonnaise to sell easily), while the barn to house larger animals is also under construction.
-
(I know I’ve only taken screenshots while fishing, but there’s so much to do (and you have to keep an eye on the time) that I forget to take more!)
In the meantime, I’ve decided that the next title to feature on my channel will be Alan Wake 2, which I’ll start on PC. I’ll probably also use the webcam, thanks to NVIDIA Broadcast, which allows me to remove the background without needing a green screen.
And today, the new mini-expansion of cards for Pokémon TCG Pocket has been released! I already have around forty new cards available, and they have some very interesting effects that will significantly change the decks in various matches, enabling a new balance in battles (which was definitely needed).
I think that’s all for now after this massive wall of text!
Cheers!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
5 Yrs✓#
GCTuba
5 Yrs✓#
Man, I can't imagine playing six games at once. Congrats on the PC upgrade!
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
I understand what you mean, but it’s not like I play all of them every single day! Stardew Valley is something we play mostly on weekends, Lonely Mountains and Loop Hero are my go-to games when I’m working from home because they’re perfect for short sessions, and Cyberpunk is what I usually play in the evening if I don’t have plans with my girlfriend.
Pokémon, being a mobile game, is something I play in my spare moments, but since I’m more into the collecting aspect, I don’t spend time grinding matches against other players.
Among the active games, Expeditions is the one I play the least, but that’s mainly because I’m waiting for the release of patches that improve various QoL aspects!
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
And here we are with what I believe will be the last update of the year! (During this final week of the year I might be busy and not have much time to keep things going).
Let’s start with the adventure in Night City: I’m absolutely, absolutely blown away. These posts are flooded with screenshots because visually it’s a masterpiece, and I’m loving every inch of the city, which is impeccably designed. The lighting, whether natural or neon, leaves me speechless, and I find myself spending minutes just staring at the views. The more I progress the less I use vehicles (unless absolutely necessary) so I can appreciate every corner of the city.
I’m also really enjoying the story, as well as the side missions, the various characters we interact with, and the overall lore that defines the Cyberpunk universe.
I find it incredibly hard to pull myself away from playing for hours on end.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lonely Mountains: Downhill? I’m continuing on the third mountain and have unlocked the fifth bike (out of six). I have a couple of challenges left that are a bit tricky, and the nighttime tracks on this mountain are particularly challenging unless you’ve memorized the routes (it’s so easy to take a wrong turn and repeatedly crash into a rock, a cactus, or fall into a canyon).
-
-
-
As for Fattoria Culo on Stardew Valley, we’re taking a brief pause for practical reasons (my girlfriend has gone back to her place during this holiday break, and I’ll join her tomorrow to celebrate Christmas), so we’ll pick that back up in the new year.
Briefly, I’m also continuing with Loop Hero and Expeditions, which don’t require too much attention and making them perfect to play while listening to something in the background between missions. In Saber’s title I’ve started doing a bit more since the second season with a winter theme is coming in February, and it reminds me a lot of the SnowRunner map (thankfully without the hassle of hauling trailers back and forth).
-
On my YouTube channel I’ve been focused on recording the complete adventure of Monument Valley 3, the only mobile series that has ever truly captivated me over the years (but I also adore Escher’s works, which heavily inspire this game, so I was hooked on its aesthetic from the very first installment). I’m really curious to see how they’ll continue the story since this two-hour adventure is just the beginning! (I had no idea it was going to be a title that would receive updates over time).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Still on the subject of my channel, I think I’ll wrap up the year with a single episode dedicated to Mouthwashing, which everyone seems to be talking about lately. The enthusiastic reviews and comparisons to Evangelion are enough to pique my interest and dedicate some time to it.
Last but not least, I almost forgot about another “game” I’ve been playing recently: Ring Fit Adventure! I bought it back in 2020 during the lockdown, and I’ve dusted it off about a month ago to get some exercise without the hassle (or cost) of going to the gym. It definitely has its benefits, and I’m really happy about it.
And that should be it for this time! There might be one last post to summarize this year’s gaming journey with all the titles I’ve completed over the past 12 months (I’ve been tracking this for a few years now).
Cheers, and happy holidays to everyone!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
Let’s start with the adventure in Night City: I’m absolutely, absolutely blown away. These posts are flooded with screenshots because visually it’s a masterpiece, and I’m loving every inch of the city, which is impeccably designed. The lighting, whether natural or neon, leaves me speechless, and I find myself spending minutes just staring at the views. The more I progress the less I use vehicles (unless absolutely necessary) so I can appreciate every corner of the city.
I’m also really enjoying the story, as well as the side missions, the various characters we interact with, and the overall lore that defines the Cyberpunk universe.
I find it incredibly hard to pull myself away from playing for hours on end.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lonely Mountains: Downhill? I’m continuing on the third mountain and have unlocked the fifth bike (out of six). I have a couple of challenges left that are a bit tricky, and the nighttime tracks on this mountain are particularly challenging unless you’ve memorized the routes (it’s so easy to take a wrong turn and repeatedly crash into a rock, a cactus, or fall into a canyon).
-
-
-
As for Fattoria Culo on Stardew Valley, we’re taking a brief pause for practical reasons (my girlfriend has gone back to her place during this holiday break, and I’ll join her tomorrow to celebrate Christmas), so we’ll pick that back up in the new year.
Briefly, I’m also continuing with Loop Hero and Expeditions, which don’t require too much attention and making them perfect to play while listening to something in the background between missions. In Saber’s title I’ve started doing a bit more since the second season with a winter theme is coming in February, and it reminds me a lot of the SnowRunner map (thankfully without the hassle of hauling trailers back and forth).
-
On my YouTube channel I’ve been focused on recording the complete adventure of Monument Valley 3, the only mobile series that has ever truly captivated me over the years (but I also adore Escher’s works, which heavily inspire this game, so I was hooked on its aesthetic from the very first installment). I’m really curious to see how they’ll continue the story since this two-hour adventure is just the beginning! (I had no idea it was going to be a title that would receive updates over time).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Still on the subject of my channel, I think I’ll wrap up the year with a single episode dedicated to Mouthwashing, which everyone seems to be talking about lately. The enthusiastic reviews and comparisons to Evangelion are enough to pique my interest and dedicate some time to it.
Last but not least, I almost forgot about another “game” I’ve been playing recently: Ring Fit Adventure! I bought it back in 2020 during the lockdown, and I’ve dusted it off about a month ago to get some exercise without the hassle (or cost) of going to the gym. It definitely has its benefits, and I’m really happy about it.
And that should be it for this time! There might be one last post to summarize this year’s gaming journey with all the titles I’ve completed over the past 12 months (I’ve been tracking this for a few years now).
Cheers, and happy holidays to everyone!
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Lonely Mountains: Downhill - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
Interested in:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Mafia: Definitive Edition - PC
> State of Decay 2 - PC (also for my channel)
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
2025 is here! What better way to kick it off than by doing a recap of what I played over the course of the past year? This is just a summary post before resuming my weekly updates, where I track my gaming journey, the milestones it reaches, and how it evolves over time.
The data here on HLTB isn't fully complete, as I’ve been tracking my gaming activities for much longer (first on a Google sheet, now on Notion). This is a breakdown of the titles I’ve played, organized by platform.
PC:
- Vampire Survivor – Paused
- Subnautica – Abandoned
- OlliOlli World Rad Edition – Paused
- If on a Winter’s Night, Four Travelers – Completed
- Blasphemous – Completed
- Ghostwire: Tokyo – Completed
- Palworld – Tried
- Elden Ring – Completed
- Inscryption – Abandoned
- Vampyr – Abandoned
- The Invincible – Completed
- Expeditions: a Mudrunner game – Ongoing
- Arcade Paradise – Completed
- Fallout – Abandoned
- Indika – Completed
- Animal Well – Paused
- XDefiant – Tried
- Industria – Completed
- Laika: Aged Through Blood – Completed
- Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree (DLC) – Completed
- Cat Quest – Completed
- Zenless Zone Zero – Tried
- Shadow Complex – Completed
- No Man's Sky – Paused
- Ghostrunner – Completed
- Still Wakes the Deep – Completed
- Amnesia: Rebirth – Completed
- Loop Hero – Ongoing
- Slay the Princess – Completed
- Factorio – Tried
- The Plucky Squire – Completed
- Pools – Completed
- Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition – Completed
- Signalis – Completed
- Crow Country – Completed
- Alba: A Wildlife Adventure – Completed
- Lonely Mountains: Downhill – Ongoing
- Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) – Ongoing
- Mouthwashing – Completed
- Lego Builder’s Journey – Completed
PlayStation 4 - PlayStation 5:
- Nier Replicant – Completed
- Yakuza 3 Remastered – Completed
- Silent Hill: The Short Message – Completed
- Lego City Undercover – Completed
- Yakuza 4 Remastered – Completed
- Yakuza 5 Remastered – Abandoned
- Hogwarts Legacy – Completed
- Astro Bot – Completed
- Stardew Valley – Ongoing
Nintendo Switch:
- Balatro – Ongoing
- Nintendo Switch Sports – Ongoing
- Ring Fit Adventure – Ongoing
iPhone - iPad:
- FTL - Faster Than Light – Tried
- Pokémon TCG Pocket – Ongoing
- Monument Valley III – Completed
When all is said and done, 2024 brought a total of 55 titles played, most of which, as you'd expect, were on PC. This will likely remain the case in the future, as I’ve decided to keep PC as my primary platform due to its many advantages, like the practically infinite backward compatibility, the ability to use it for other applications outside of gaming, and more. My only hope is that the economic landscape doesn’t worsen even further, especially considering how the current GPU market has absolutely insane prices. And judging by the leaks regarding the 5000 series, it doesn’t look like things will improve anytime soon. But, as long as there’s almost no competition for NVIDIA, it’s “normal” for the market to go in this direction.
___________________________________
Out of these 55 titles, 5 were abandoned for a variety of reasons:
- Subnautica: A bug prevented the main storyline from progressing.
- Inscryption: Boredom.
- Vampyr: Boredom (a shame, as I really enjoy Dontnod’s titles and want to try Banisher).
- Fallout: After repairing the water chip, I just didn’t feel like continuing.
- Yakuza 5 Remastered: I burned out after starting it right after finishing the fourth game.
5 were tried:
- FTL - Faster Than Light: I enjoyed it so much that I decided to purchase it for iPad (since I had redeemed it for free on PC), but I only played a couple of matches because progression isn’t synced between platforms.
- Palworld: Tried it at launch via Game Pass out of curiosity. Maybe I’ll buy it one day if it becomes deeper in terms of content and mechanics.
- XDefiant: Yet another “free-to-play CoD killer,” and we’ve seen where that’s heading.
- Zenless Zone Zero: The aesthetics and action gameplay intrigued me, but the FOMO inherent to the genre felt overwhelming, so I only played a few hours before dropping it. A shame, really, as I enjoyed the game, its story, and characters a lot.
- Factorio: A brilliant but monumental title. It requires a tremendous amount of time to truly grasp and create something functional. Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of time, and while I was enjoying it, I didn’t even finish the final tutorial mission.
4 were put on hold - these are games I haven’t abandoned entirely and might return to when I feel like it:
- Vampire Survivor: After countless hours and nearly completing all the base game content with its patches, I decided to take a break. I’d love to get all its DLCs and dedicate dozens more hours to it.
- OlliOlli World Rad Edition: I love skateboarding, and this game’s adorable aesthetic (100% inspired by Adventure Time) is fantastic. I haven’t finished the single-player campaign yet and would like to complete it.
- Animal Well: A magnificent Metroidvania. It was an incredible experience, and seeing the Reddit community uncover secret after secret was an integral part of the fun. I reached the first ending and just need to push further to continue delving deeper myself.
- No Man's Sky: I always have the same issue with Hello Games’ title: I try it, have a blast, but then abandon it, thinking, “Once they finish adding content, I’ll dive in fully without worrying about changes mid-playthrough.”
9 are ongoing, games I’m actively playing with varying frequency - these are the ones I’ve been discussing in my posts:
- Pokémon TCG Pocket: I’m having a blast, especially since I can collect thousands of cards without spending a dime. That’s the main reason I never got into collectible card games before.
- Balatro: The surprise hit of 2024. Incredibly addictive, and playing it on Switch with touch controls makes it perfect for quick sessions, even before bed. I haven’t bought it on iPad for fear of becoming even more addicted.
- Nintendo Switch Sport: Bought on sale this summer, my girlfriend and I occasionally enjoy competing, especially in volleyball or sword fighting. The first time we played, we had a multi-hour session and woke up the next day with completely sore arms!
- Ring Fit Adventure: As I mentioned in a previous post, I use it on work-from-home days to counterbalance a somewhat sedentary lifestyle while waiting for better weather to get back to running.
- Expeditions: a Mudrunner game: After spending hundreds of hours on SnowRunner, I’m enjoying Expeditions even more because of its exclusive focus on exploration rather than the constant grind of hauling materials from point A to point B. I’m playing it leisurely, waiting for the second season patch that will add a winter-themed map!
- Loop Hero: One day, I’ll finish the final act. I still need to unlock all the village tiles to maximize my character’s potential and finally reach the end!
- Lonely Mountains: Downhill: I’m now on the fourth (and final) mountain before tackling the last paid DLC!
- Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty): The “surprise” of the year. After waiting four years (still stings to think about the money spent on the gorgeous One X dedicated to the game), I can now fully appreciate the stability and quality of this title, and I’m loving it. It’s tough not to cancel evening plans with my girlfriend to spend hours in Night City taking screenshots of everything I see.
- Stardew Valley: After returning from winter holidays, we picked it back up—and wow, we had a four-hour non-stop session without even realizing it! We absolutely love everything about it, and as always, who knows how much more there is to discover and how deep its mechanics go!
_____________________________________
I think I’ll stop here with the list of games, skipping a detailed breakdown of the completed titles; otherwise, this post would never end! (and kudos to those who made it this far!) There are still tons of games I want to play and try, and the backlog just keeps growing (especially on PC with all the free titles from Epic Games and Amazon Games—it’s so easy to snag titles from my wishlist; Dredge and Ghostrunner 2 are just two examples of games offered this holiday season).
Happy 2025 (both in gaming and beyond) to all of you!
The data here on HLTB isn't fully complete, as I’ve been tracking my gaming activities for much longer (first on a Google sheet, now on Notion). This is a breakdown of the titles I’ve played, organized by platform.
PC:
- Vampire Survivor – Paused
- Subnautica – Abandoned
- OlliOlli World Rad Edition – Paused
- If on a Winter’s Night, Four Travelers – Completed
- Blasphemous – Completed
- Ghostwire: Tokyo – Completed
- Palworld – Tried
- Elden Ring – Completed
- Inscryption – Abandoned
- Vampyr – Abandoned
- The Invincible – Completed
- Expeditions: a Mudrunner game – Ongoing
- Arcade Paradise – Completed
- Fallout – Abandoned
- Indika – Completed
- Animal Well – Paused
- XDefiant – Tried
- Industria – Completed
- Laika: Aged Through Blood – Completed
- Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree (DLC) – Completed
- Cat Quest – Completed
- Zenless Zone Zero – Tried
- Shadow Complex – Completed
- No Man's Sky – Paused
- Ghostrunner – Completed
- Still Wakes the Deep – Completed
- Amnesia: Rebirth – Completed
- Loop Hero – Ongoing
- Slay the Princess – Completed
- Factorio – Tried
- The Plucky Squire – Completed
- Pools – Completed
- Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition – Completed
- Signalis – Completed
- Crow Country – Completed
- Alba: A Wildlife Adventure – Completed
- Lonely Mountains: Downhill – Ongoing
- Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) – Ongoing
- Mouthwashing – Completed
- Lego Builder’s Journey – Completed
PlayStation 4 - PlayStation 5:
- Nier Replicant – Completed
- Yakuza 3 Remastered – Completed
- Silent Hill: The Short Message – Completed
- Lego City Undercover – Completed
- Yakuza 4 Remastered – Completed
- Yakuza 5 Remastered – Abandoned
- Hogwarts Legacy – Completed
- Astro Bot – Completed
- Stardew Valley – Ongoing
Nintendo Switch:
- Balatro – Ongoing
- Nintendo Switch Sports – Ongoing
- Ring Fit Adventure – Ongoing
iPhone - iPad:
- FTL - Faster Than Light – Tried
- Pokémon TCG Pocket – Ongoing
- Monument Valley III – Completed
When all is said and done, 2024 brought a total of 55 titles played, most of which, as you'd expect, were on PC. This will likely remain the case in the future, as I’ve decided to keep PC as my primary platform due to its many advantages, like the practically infinite backward compatibility, the ability to use it for other applications outside of gaming, and more. My only hope is that the economic landscape doesn’t worsen even further, especially considering how the current GPU market has absolutely insane prices. And judging by the leaks regarding the 5000 series, it doesn’t look like things will improve anytime soon. But, as long as there’s almost no competition for NVIDIA, it’s “normal” for the market to go in this direction.
___________________________________
Out of these 55 titles, 5 were abandoned for a variety of reasons:
- Subnautica: A bug prevented the main storyline from progressing.
- Inscryption: Boredom.
- Vampyr: Boredom (a shame, as I really enjoy Dontnod’s titles and want to try Banisher).
- Fallout: After repairing the water chip, I just didn’t feel like continuing.
- Yakuza 5 Remastered: I burned out after starting it right after finishing the fourth game.
5 were tried:
- FTL - Faster Than Light: I enjoyed it so much that I decided to purchase it for iPad (since I had redeemed it for free on PC), but I only played a couple of matches because progression isn’t synced between platforms.
- Palworld: Tried it at launch via Game Pass out of curiosity. Maybe I’ll buy it one day if it becomes deeper in terms of content and mechanics.
- XDefiant: Yet another “free-to-play CoD killer,” and we’ve seen where that’s heading.
- Zenless Zone Zero: The aesthetics and action gameplay intrigued me, but the FOMO inherent to the genre felt overwhelming, so I only played a few hours before dropping it. A shame, really, as I enjoyed the game, its story, and characters a lot.
- Factorio: A brilliant but monumental title. It requires a tremendous amount of time to truly grasp and create something functional. Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of time, and while I was enjoying it, I didn’t even finish the final tutorial mission.
4 were put on hold - these are games I haven’t abandoned entirely and might return to when I feel like it:
- Vampire Survivor: After countless hours and nearly completing all the base game content with its patches, I decided to take a break. I’d love to get all its DLCs and dedicate dozens more hours to it.
- OlliOlli World Rad Edition: I love skateboarding, and this game’s adorable aesthetic (100% inspired by Adventure Time) is fantastic. I haven’t finished the single-player campaign yet and would like to complete it.
- Animal Well: A magnificent Metroidvania. It was an incredible experience, and seeing the Reddit community uncover secret after secret was an integral part of the fun. I reached the first ending and just need to push further to continue delving deeper myself.
- No Man's Sky: I always have the same issue with Hello Games’ title: I try it, have a blast, but then abandon it, thinking, “Once they finish adding content, I’ll dive in fully without worrying about changes mid-playthrough.”
9 are ongoing, games I’m actively playing with varying frequency - these are the ones I’ve been discussing in my posts:
- Pokémon TCG Pocket: I’m having a blast, especially since I can collect thousands of cards without spending a dime. That’s the main reason I never got into collectible card games before.
- Balatro: The surprise hit of 2024. Incredibly addictive, and playing it on Switch with touch controls makes it perfect for quick sessions, even before bed. I haven’t bought it on iPad for fear of becoming even more addicted.
- Nintendo Switch Sport: Bought on sale this summer, my girlfriend and I occasionally enjoy competing, especially in volleyball or sword fighting. The first time we played, we had a multi-hour session and woke up the next day with completely sore arms!
- Ring Fit Adventure: As I mentioned in a previous post, I use it on work-from-home days to counterbalance a somewhat sedentary lifestyle while waiting for better weather to get back to running.
- Expeditions: a Mudrunner game: After spending hundreds of hours on SnowRunner, I’m enjoying Expeditions even more because of its exclusive focus on exploration rather than the constant grind of hauling materials from point A to point B. I’m playing it leisurely, waiting for the second season patch that will add a winter-themed map!
- Loop Hero: One day, I’ll finish the final act. I still need to unlock all the village tiles to maximize my character’s potential and finally reach the end!
- Lonely Mountains: Downhill: I’m now on the fourth (and final) mountain before tackling the last paid DLC!
- Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty): The “surprise” of the year. After waiting four years (still stings to think about the money spent on the gorgeous One X dedicated to the game), I can now fully appreciate the stability and quality of this title, and I’m loving it. It’s tough not to cancel evening plans with my girlfriend to spend hours in Night City taking screenshots of everything I see.
- Stardew Valley: After returning from winter holidays, we picked it back up—and wow, we had a four-hour non-stop session without even realizing it! We absolutely love everything about it, and as always, who knows how much more there is to discover and how deep its mechanics go!
_____________________________________
I think I’ll stop here with the list of games, skipping a detailed breakdown of the completed titles; otherwise, this post would never end! (and kudos to those who made it this far!) There are still tons of games I want to play and try, and the backlog just keeps growing (especially on PC with all the free titles from Epic Games and Amazon Games—it’s so easy to snag titles from my wishlist; Dredge and Ghostrunner 2 are just two examples of games offered this holiday season).
Happy 2025 (both in gaming and beyond) to all of you!
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
This year I think I’ll change my approach to this gaming journey: I spent most of 2024 unemployed, which gave me the opportunity to play, try, and complete a huge number of video games. However, this period couldn’t last forever, and my daily life has drastically changed compared to a few months ago, with a routine now back to the classic pace of an adult life with a full-time job.
Needless to say, the time I can dedicate to this passion needs to be reconsidered, and I have to make the most of the time available, especially given my other interests, both personal and shared with my girlfriend.
All this to say that once I finish Cyberpunk 2077, I think I’ll take a long break from extremely lengthy titles to focus on shorter experiences, around 20-30 hours at most. Wandering around Night City leaves me absolutely amazed, but I’m well aware that if I continue like this, I’ll need to add at least another 100 hours to the 40+ I’ve already spent roaming the city streets, exploring as much as possible and checking out every point of interest. At the same time, I have no intention of rushing the game just to see the credits roll.
-
-
-
-
-
I’ve also taken a break from Lonely Mountains: Downhill because its highly try-and-error structure was quickly wearing me down. At first, I found it fun and relaxing, but as the missions got harder, I started feeling the frustration: the player essentially has to repeat the mountain over and over until they memorize it, pressing the “restart” button dozens and dozens (and eventually hundreds) of times. What frustrated me most was crashing occasionally not because of the track’s difficulty but because of the camera. It often doesn’t allow you to see the path until the very last second, and sometimes it’s unclear where the cyclist is precisely heading. This forces you to restart from the checkpoint or the beginning due to poor visibility and limited room for maneuvering.
On the other hand, I’ve been playing Expeditions more because, in contrast, it doesn’t have any try-and-error mechanics. Even the most challenging missions can be tackled calmly with a well-equipped vehicle. This means that even the wildest and most remote explorations, missions, or vehicle upgrades are achievable with good planning and patience to take your time.
-
-
Meanwhile, our farm in Stardew Valley is about to celebrate its first year, as we’re halfway through the winter month. I’ve reached the bottom of the mine (while my girlfriend has become a fishing expert), and completing some sections of the Community Center has unlocked new parts of the map. This has only added more to discover and do! It feels endless, and the cold Sundays we spend at home playing fly by as we celebrate earning more and more each day. If only real life were that simple!
-
I don’t have much to say about Pokémon TCG Pocket, but only because I’m missing a single card to complete the new expansion, and it just doesn’t want to show up (not even in the mystery draws!). The luck I had last month seems to have completely disappeared, and now starting the game to open a couple of packs has become a simple routine action without much excitement. Still, it’s just a mobile game to fill in dead or less engaging moments.
I’m trying to stay as consistent as possible with Ring Fit Adventure: I can feel and notice that it’s at least somewhat effective, so I want to stick to three sessions a week with enough regularity to make it a natural routine in my weekly schedule. I’ve never been a gym fanatic, but I’ve always wanted to take care of my body, even for purely health-related reasons. Plus, it helps reduce stress, which is undoubtedly the most important aspect not to underestimate.
So, this is a bit of a recap of this first (or second) week of 2025, along with some thoughts on how things will go in the future. This will affect the types of games I’ll focus on moving forward, whether among the ones I already own or those I’ve been somewhat interested in.
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
In queue:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Citizen Sleeper - PC
> Ghostrunner II - PC
Needless to say, the time I can dedicate to this passion needs to be reconsidered, and I have to make the most of the time available, especially given my other interests, both personal and shared with my girlfriend.
All this to say that once I finish Cyberpunk 2077, I think I’ll take a long break from extremely lengthy titles to focus on shorter experiences, around 20-30 hours at most. Wandering around Night City leaves me absolutely amazed, but I’m well aware that if I continue like this, I’ll need to add at least another 100 hours to the 40+ I’ve already spent roaming the city streets, exploring as much as possible and checking out every point of interest. At the same time, I have no intention of rushing the game just to see the credits roll.
-
-
-
-
-
I’ve also taken a break from Lonely Mountains: Downhill because its highly try-and-error structure was quickly wearing me down. At first, I found it fun and relaxing, but as the missions got harder, I started feeling the frustration: the player essentially has to repeat the mountain over and over until they memorize it, pressing the “restart” button dozens and dozens (and eventually hundreds) of times. What frustrated me most was crashing occasionally not because of the track’s difficulty but because of the camera. It often doesn’t allow you to see the path until the very last second, and sometimes it’s unclear where the cyclist is precisely heading. This forces you to restart from the checkpoint or the beginning due to poor visibility and limited room for maneuvering.
On the other hand, I’ve been playing Expeditions more because, in contrast, it doesn’t have any try-and-error mechanics. Even the most challenging missions can be tackled calmly with a well-equipped vehicle. This means that even the wildest and most remote explorations, missions, or vehicle upgrades are achievable with good planning and patience to take your time.
-
-
Meanwhile, our farm in Stardew Valley is about to celebrate its first year, as we’re halfway through the winter month. I’ve reached the bottom of the mine (while my girlfriend has become a fishing expert), and completing some sections of the Community Center has unlocked new parts of the map. This has only added more to discover and do! It feels endless, and the cold Sundays we spend at home playing fly by as we celebrate earning more and more each day. If only real life were that simple!
-
I don’t have much to say about Pokémon TCG Pocket, but only because I’m missing a single card to complete the new expansion, and it just doesn’t want to show up (not even in the mystery draws!). The luck I had last month seems to have completely disappeared, and now starting the game to open a couple of packs has become a simple routine action without much excitement. Still, it’s just a mobile game to fill in dead or less engaging moments.
I’m trying to stay as consistent as possible with Ring Fit Adventure: I can feel and notice that it’s at least somewhat effective, so I want to stick to three sessions a week with enough regularity to make it a natural routine in my weekly schedule. I’ve never been a gym fanatic, but I’ve always wanted to take care of my body, even for purely health-related reasons. Plus, it helps reduce stress, which is undoubtedly the most important aspect not to underestimate.
So, this is a bit of a recap of this first (or second) week of 2025, along with some thoughts on how things will go in the future. This will affect the types of games I’ll focus on moving forward, whether among the ones I already own or those I’ve been somewhat interested in.
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
In queue:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Citizen Sleeper - PC
> Ghostrunner II - PC
1 Yr✓#
TacoJohnny1 Yr✓#
Did I disappear? Not at all! I haven’t posted anything recently simply because there weren’t any major updates, so I didn’t want to make a post just to say that I was still doing the same things… not that it’s too different now, but there have been some updates, so let’s get into it!
Cyberpunk 2077
Reaching Act 3, I followed the advice everyone gives: stop and start Phantom Liberty. If I was already blown away by the artistic quality of Night City, once I arrived in Dogtown, I found myself stopping for minutes just to take in the scenery, starting with the path through the underground parking lot, and even more so when the area opens up to reveal first the market and then the shantytown made of unfinished buildings and stacked-up containers.
The story is also more direct and linear, keeping me completely hooked to the screen.
Moreover, the new patch that adds a new graphics mode has significantly improved image quality and clarity, greatly reducing (or completely eliminating) some ghosting effects, which were mainly present in holograms and scrolling text.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
Still on pause.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
I’m still playing it at a relaxed pace, mainly because once you get high-level upgrades (and the Tatra, the only heavy vehicle in the game), the difficulty curve flattens out. At that point, the challenge is more about route planning and fuel management. A new patch just dropped, adding more QoL improvements, like the ability to open the map while using the drone, a feature I had been hoping to see! And at the end of February, a new season is coming! (Though I still need to finish the base game maps before I can start Season 1.)
Ring Fit Adventure
Still playing consistently, and I’ve now reached the max training level. My character is at level 56, and I’m in World 8!
Pokémon TCG Pocket
I’ve started to drop it. I’ve completely stopped doing battles since I lost interest, and even the collecting aspect is getting a bit dull. The new expansion has finally arrived, adding some very interesting (and obviously rare) cards, but I’m not sure if that will be enough to keep me engaged. They also added card trading, but the community is really upset because the feature requires a lot of resources just to make a single trade, making it impractical unless you’re looking for one or two specific cards.
Stardew Valley
We made it through our first year!
------
NEW STUFF!
Citizen Sleeper
I grabbed it on Steam for €1 in December and started playing a few days ago. It’s amazing! The atmosphere is super engaging, and the characters’ stories keep making me want to learn more. I also love its mechanics, which feel a lot like a board game, with dice management for actions that progress different quests.
I’ve read about the game’s structural limitations (especially compared to a masterpiece like Disco Elysium), but that’s not a big deal: I’m just treating it as a narrative adventure without expecting major consequences. I’m also very interested in the second game coming out these days, and I’m already considering getting the artbook, since I absolutely love the game’s art style.
A big plus is its very static gameplay, which allows me to switch tabs and look up words I don’t know, so I don’t miss any part of the story.
No Man’s Sky
Yesterday, the second part of the World Update dropped! Every major update keeps pushing the game’s quality even higher. I only played for about an hour just to check it out and test it on my new setup. Seeing it run at 144 FPS on max settings is definitely a sight to behold.
I really wish I had the time to play it properly, but I keep putting it off… and it’s already been 9 years!
I haven’t taken many screenshots, so I’m just sharing the ones from Cyberpunk. (It would be nice if the forum had better image gallery support, so posts wouldn’t end up a mile long!)
-
-
-
-
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Citizen Sleeper - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
In queue:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Ghostrunner II - PC
Cyberpunk 2077
Reaching Act 3, I followed the advice everyone gives: stop and start Phantom Liberty. If I was already blown away by the artistic quality of Night City, once I arrived in Dogtown, I found myself stopping for minutes just to take in the scenery, starting with the path through the underground parking lot, and even more so when the area opens up to reveal first the market and then the shantytown made of unfinished buildings and stacked-up containers.
The story is also more direct and linear, keeping me completely hooked to the screen.
Moreover, the new patch that adds a new graphics mode has significantly improved image quality and clarity, greatly reducing (or completely eliminating) some ghosting effects, which were mainly present in holograms and scrolling text.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
Still on pause.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
I’m still playing it at a relaxed pace, mainly because once you get high-level upgrades (and the Tatra, the only heavy vehicle in the game), the difficulty curve flattens out. At that point, the challenge is more about route planning and fuel management. A new patch just dropped, adding more QoL improvements, like the ability to open the map while using the drone, a feature I had been hoping to see! And at the end of February, a new season is coming! (Though I still need to finish the base game maps before I can start Season 1.)
Ring Fit Adventure
Still playing consistently, and I’ve now reached the max training level. My character is at level 56, and I’m in World 8!
Pokémon TCG Pocket
I’ve started to drop it. I’ve completely stopped doing battles since I lost interest, and even the collecting aspect is getting a bit dull. The new expansion has finally arrived, adding some very interesting (and obviously rare) cards, but I’m not sure if that will be enough to keep me engaged. They also added card trading, but the community is really upset because the feature requires a lot of resources just to make a single trade, making it impractical unless you’re looking for one or two specific cards.
Stardew Valley
We made it through our first year!
------
NEW STUFF!
Citizen Sleeper
I grabbed it on Steam for €1 in December and started playing a few days ago. It’s amazing! The atmosphere is super engaging, and the characters’ stories keep making me want to learn more. I also love its mechanics, which feel a lot like a board game, with dice management for actions that progress different quests.
I’ve read about the game’s structural limitations (especially compared to a masterpiece like Disco Elysium), but that’s not a big deal: I’m just treating it as a narrative adventure without expecting major consequences. I’m also very interested in the second game coming out these days, and I’m already considering getting the artbook, since I absolutely love the game’s art style.
A big plus is its very static gameplay, which allows me to switch tabs and look up words I don’t know, so I don’t miss any part of the story.
No Man’s Sky
Yesterday, the second part of the World Update dropped! Every major update keeps pushing the game’s quality even higher. I only played for about an hour just to check it out and test it on my new setup. Seeing it run at 144 FPS on max settings is definitely a sight to behold.
I really wish I had the time to play it properly, but I keep putting it off… and it’s already been 9 years!
I haven’t taken many screenshots, so I’m just sharing the ones from Cyberpunk. (It would be nice if the forum had better image gallery support, so posts wouldn’t end up a mile long!)
-
-
-
-
Now Playing:
> Loop Hero - PC
> Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game - PC
> Cyberpunk 2077 (+ Phantom Liberty) - PC
> Citizen Sleeper - PC
> Stardew Valley (local co-op) - PlayStation 5
> Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo Switch
> Pokémon TCG Pocket - iPhone/iPad
In queue:
> God of War Ragnarok - PlayStation 5 (or PC)
> Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - PC (also for my channel)
> Ghostrunner II - PC