Eternal Strands
Avowed
Citizen Sleeper
Citizen Sleeper 2
And Expedition 33. The ambition and style of this thing far outstrip its shortcomings, and once I learned to accept its level design as more about the vibe than logic things moved much more smoothly. I desperately need something less French now, though. I suspect I'll give it another run at some point, but I'm also very curious to see what Sandfall do next.
And under 100 hours, crazy concept!
Spoiler - click to showWhat ending did you choose? I chose Maelle but I've seen Verso and while both ARE great and thought provoking (the ending to Maelle's is so god damn haunting), making me think about them for a while after I finished the game, I really don't like the way the citizens of Lumiere were basically treated as collateral for the sake of a family we barely know. In my eyes, they were as real as it gets, but it felt like the game wants to tell me they're not
Spoiler - click to showWhat ending did you choose?
Spoiler - click to showI also picked Maelle, because I didn't like the idea of everyone being wiped out for the sake of Verso's issues. Though to be honest, I never really liked Verso; he was a poor substitute for Gustave and I'm not sure I managed to forgive the game for killing him off, even by the end.
Spoiler - click to showI didn't mind the Lumière stuff so much, but I never really felt like the game thought they were less real just because they were in the Canvas. It didn't seem to be saying that the gestrals or Esquie were "lesser", at least, and they're even more obviously fictional.
Spoiler - click to showI would have liked to know a little bit more about the situation between the Painters and Writers, though. I'm not normally one for excessive backstory, but it might have helped clarify some motives if the stakes were better-defined.
Spoiler - click to showIt's the way they don't even get a say in their future (other than because the duel for the future of the canvas took place in relative seclusion I guess) Even Maelle's ending feels like it was for the sake of her attachment and mental health rather than to save them all. At least we got the Lune DEATH STARE in Verso's ending…which still isn't as dripping with pure contempt as the one Verso gave Maelle in her ending somehow
Spoiler - click to showThe lore drops about the Painters and Writers were kinda wild, feels like some kind of fucked god sorceror war going on? It's practically screaming 'DLC chapter', so here's hoping… (also more Clea please)
I finished a game!
God of War Ragnarok. What an ending. What a final 3 hours, in fact. The game itself almost outstayed its welcome, not because of a lack of novelty, but because trying to sustain this level of RAGE KILL DEATH SAD EMOTIONS RAGE DEATH for 35 hours is quite the feat. But in the end, I reckon they just about pulled it off. And despite just how ridiculous the idea of Kratos 'bettering' himself is, I had a lump in my throat at the end.
Spoiler - click to showNo idea where they're going next. This seems to be the end of the Norse saga, but there was little in the way of 'putting the toys back in the pram' for the next game. Will he go back to Greece and become the beloved god that the final panel foretold? How will that work when the R3 button makes you rip dogs' heads off?