cavalcade

The annoying main character I think is one of the bravest parts of this. I think it's a similar thing to South of Midnight. The MEN OF THE INTERNET are now just about OK with female leads with normal proportions, but they're still a bit less sure when it comes to a woman who isn't one of the laaaahds, or aren't acting cute, sparkly and funny.

I think this game is pretty brave, as very few of the characters are immediately likeable. They're quite often complete dickheads. But, if you think back to how we were at that age (regardless of whether you were brought up in Boston or Bolton), then I don't think it's a million miles from the truth.

It feels well observed and written, playful when it needs to be, serious when it doesn't. The running through the fields scene I think is an all timer for video games. As well as the black and white scene when a friendship is betrayed. I think it's a hugely well trodden moment in film (the last moments before friends split up and move on to the next phase of their lives) but I don't ever think I've seen a videogame capture the moment as well as this does. Even if plenty of aspects of it aren't immediately, culturally, resonant.

Look at the comments under the IGN 10/10 review to see why we urgently need more games like this.

I grew up in West Wales where we had one carrot to feed 18 of us and it always rained.

This almost got a tear out of me last night. It's much deeper than it first appears. Masterfully done really.

Mixtape just got added to Game Pass. Everyone play Mixtape immediately.

This guy gets it.

Mixtape is amazing.

Play
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
Turns out I last picked this up about the years ago so I restarted. I'm having a very relaxed time, erm except for one conversation which turned to shocking homophobia out of nowhere. I guess that was acceptable/expected in Japan twenty years ago?

The Messenger
I play a level of this every now and then. It has a great sense of humour.

Want
Really tempted by the Playdate. It just looks different. And the games are pretty cheap so even if half of them are just gimmicks that's ok.

I love mine dearly, but I could be tempted to sell, or lend it to you if you wanted to give it a go. Not sure when I'm next near Edinburgh tho….

PC Gamepass down as well, which is good as they were pushing their luck a bit there too.