#game review

There is a systemless supplement called The Metamorphica (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/115703/The-Metamorphica-Classic-Edition). It is great. I love it. Full of random tables for mutations such mental, physical, psionic, supernatural, etc. mutations as well as descriptions of them. There are sections on using mutations for different genres and there are even a collection of different mutated NPCs and monsters. 

In the Planescape 5e campaign I DM we have a character who recently got trapped in Limbo and now he has a very short temper (Behavioral Mutation) and the ability to duplicate (like Multiple Man but limited to one copy). It gives him a boost in power but it is thematic and a lot of fun. There is also risk involved. Does he sacrifice his duplicate so his party can escape, or does he save it for later and risk his party’s safety and survival.

I have an idea to run an X-Men Campaign where everyone randomly generates their Mutant using the random tables to create their characters. The idea being the Mutants in X-Men didn’t get to choose their Mutations, unless you count Mister Sinister  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, so neither will the players. I think it could be fun.

But you could use The Metamorphica to create (and even play) Post Apocalyptic Irradiated Wastelanders, Chaos Warped Demonic Abominations, Body Horror Experimentation Victims, Super Soldiers, Superheroes, Bizarre Alien Lifeforms, Formless Dream Entities, Eldritch Monstrosities, or beings trapped in Limbo.

Mutations range from Anthropomorphic Animal to Hunchback, from Double Jointed to Diabetic, from Genetic Memory to Dyslexia, from Magnetic Control to Cause Insanity, from Animated Tattoos to Cannot Cross Running Water, and so many more.

There is so much you can do with this product. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. This review is not sponsored, I did not receive money from them or anyone else to review this. I simply gotta spread the love of an awesome product. 5 out of 5 stars. 

The Metamorphica:  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/115703/The-Metamorphica-Classic-Edition

‘Quests Of Yore: Barley’s Edition’ Provides A Cute, Funny, TTRPG Experience

Game writer @laceybarbedwire looks at Quest of Yore: Barley’s Edition, a new TTRPG experience from The Op straight out of the world of Pixar’s Onward!

Adapted from Dani Kelley: Skyward Sword perks and pitfalls.

I’ve seriously been playing Zelda games ever since I picked up Twilight Princess in 2012. I’ve gone through Twilight Princess another time, Skyward Sword, Wind Waker twice, Ocarina of Time, and Link Between Worlds (I’m holding out on really playing Majora’s Mask until there’s a 3DS or Wii U release of it). The storylines and gameplay and puzzles and design are all just utterly delightful to me. In general, my favourite Zelda game is whatever one I’m currently playing. Which right now happens to be Skyward Sword. As I was wrapping up my first playthrough, I wrote about it here. But going through it a second time, I’m noticing a lot of different things that I’d like to parse out. Spoilers abound, so be aware.

The basic story.

The story begins in a town called Skyloft, which is spread across several islands in the clouds. A small settlement lives there, coexisting with large birds called Loftwings that serve as both pets and transportation between airborne islands and are the bird of choice for the knights of Skyloft. There are rumors that there’s an entire world beneath the clouds, but most people don’t believe it. Link is a student at the Knight Academy, and is best friends with his fellow student, Zelda (who happens to be the daughter of the headmaster). It’s clear that Link and Zelda are in love, though it’s never been stated. After Link wins a race that puts him at the top of his class, while he and Zelda fly out together to celebrate, a terrible storm rises from the clouds and carries Zelda below. Link learns that there is indeed a world beneath the clouds, called the surface, and that the goddess has chosen him for a special journey. As he travels throughout the various regions on the surface in search of Zelda, he encounters a demon lord called Ghirahim, who is also searching for Zelda with plans to use her spirit to awaken his evil master, whom the goddess imprisoned thousands of years ago. In due course, it is discovered that this is possible because Zelda is the goddess herself, reincarnated as a mortal. Aided by Fi (the spirit of his sword), the citizens of Skyloft, a handful of Gorons and a few dragons, Link fulfills his mission as the hero of the goddess and defeats both Ghirahim and his evil master. He and Zelda opt to remain on the surface together rather than rejoin Skyloft, and we leave them sitting happily together in the beautiful woods of Faron.

The perks: things I love about the game.

The cinematic nature of the cut scenes. Since story is one of the main things that draws me to the Zelda franchise, I’m really delighted with the quality and quantity of cut scenes in the game. So much is explained, and it’s done so well that it keeps my attention and draws me into the story even more.The graphics and art style. Honestly, there hasn’t been an art style yet for any of the Zelda games I’ve played that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed (other than the original Ocarina of Time. That shit was hard to look at it, and I seriously couldn’t get a handle on it until I picked up the 3DS version). But the attention to detail, the impressionistic feel (seriously, Faron Woods reminds me so strongly of Monet that it’s breathtaking at times), the life-likeness all around from character design to enemy design to even the inclusion of the insects and birds. It’s gorgeous, and for me, as a visual person, it’s a huge perk and makes the game so much easier to play. My only complaint, which is so minor I’m not even putting it in the pitfalls section, is that sometimes it’s difficult to tell that vines are vines. That’s only a problem I’ve run into in Lanaryu Desert, though, and my partner assures me that it’s just me.

The wealth of characters and side-quests. I feel like this is something Zelda has done well ever since Ocarina of Time, but it strikes me as particularly strong in Skyward Sword. Forming relationships with everyone on Skyloft and throughout the surface is intensely satisfying for someone who likes to talk to people and explore as much as I do. Fulfilling sidequests (when it’s optional) is equally satisfying, I find, especially the different quests I’m able to do differently on a second play-through. Link is often given a choice of action or response, and I love how this helps flesh out his character and changes the gameplay slightly in different scenarios. I also really enjoy collecting bugs and gratitude crystals, and working off my debt at the Lumpy Pumpkin after destroying his chandelier for a heart piece.

On that note, as I mentioned in my review from last year, I particularly enjoy the character development of Groose, Zelda, and Link. The journey that they all go through, together and separately, feels authentic and helps me better connect to the game and the story.

I also appreciate the role that the Gorons are given in the game. It seems consensus among Zelda fans is Gorons are typically a strong but dimwitted race, and I’m excited to see them portrayed as anthropologists and archaeologists, thirsting for knowledge and willing to share that knowledge with all they meet.

The mechanics and Motion Controls. Being able to sprint for short distances is really handy (and, of course, necessary for various sections of the game). Also being able to dash up walls to grab onto ledges and being able to dart up or down vines and ladders was awesome. I find myself trying to do those things whenever I go back to playing the Wii version of Twilight Princess. I love the indicator when throwing bombs, and especially that you can store bomb flowers in your bag. Zooming in when shooting arrows is really helpful when trying to take out enemies that are really far away. These are all little things, to be sure, but they help make the gameplay a little more seamless for me, and I’d love to see them retconned in re-released of other games.

I also like being able to recenter the control when dowsing or using items like the beetle or the whip, which I know is something that many people really despise. To me, it functions exactly like targeting, so it’s something that feels pretty natural to do (and makes it easier to play sitting in different positions, because I can just recenter the controls to work from wherever my arm naturally falls). In some ways, I really like how the motion controls make you work with the sword. Basically, I like feeling more engaged in the game by being more physically engaged with what I’m doing.

The Ancient Cistern. This is by far the best Water Temple I’ve ever played. It’s based in part on the story of The Spider’s Thread, which adds a lot of background to the temple from a philosophical and historical standpoint, and the juxtaposition of the beauty of the upper temple with the scariness of the bottom dungeon is breathtaking. (Seriously, though, the dungeon aspect puts me in mind of the Spirit Temple in Ocarina.) It’s definitely a typical water temple in mechanics, as far as having to raise and lower water levels, but it feels so fresh and innovative that I just can’t hate it. It also houses my favourite boss of the game, Koloktos.

The Timeshift Stones. While Lanaryu Desert is by far my least favourite section, I can’t help but love the ingenuity of the Timeshift Stones and how they function within the game. They make solving puzzles within the game really satisfying, and seeing areas transform instantly from the past to the present is fascinating to watch. I love seeing what’s changed and what hasn’t.

Ghirahim. By far my favourite villain ever. (Zant had so much potential. I think Ghirahim is what I wanted Zant to be.) I love his sass, his rage, his playfulness, and how terrifying he is when you first come upon him as a boss. The battles against him are frustrating but enjoyable, and the music for him is just the perfect mix of epic and terror-inducing.

The music. I’ve heard lots of people say that they find the orchestrated music to be lacking the character that the music of previous games had, but I couldn’t disagree more. I’ve always found that music is one of the strengths of every Zelda game, and this game was absolutely no different. Inspiring, haunting, epic, and evocative, it really helps me connect to the story and the gameplay. I especially like that they brought back the thing from Wind Waker, where the music reflects when you strike enemies. It’s just a little something that adds so much.

I would say that Outriders is giving me Anthem/Andromeda vibes, but at least they had functional multiplayer at launch. I was absolutely underwhelmed by the demo and now with the full game being unplayable I’ve just lost interest. The story is generic and boring, the combat is like Mass Effect on heroin, and the characters are so one dimensional you need graphing paper to show they exist.

I wanted to give it a fair chance to redeem itself since the demo is just that: a demo. But those hopes were killed when six steps into a new session I get kicked from my friend’s game not once, but four times. If this is what passes as a Square Enix game nowadays they should consider partnering with EA and Bethesda and maybe between them they can launch a quasi-functional IP.

My only relief is that I didn’t spend any actual money on the game, as they launched it on game pass… On April Fools day…

Haaaaa I get it. Funny.

———-

UPDATE

Single player is just as broken. Been kicked off the server at least once an hour and it’s officially killed my buzz.

The Best of DSiWare - Introduction

Time for some games talk!

WHO’S NOT EXCITED FOR “ARKHAM ORIGINS”? While I wait i went back to the previous games.

I decided i’ll write about Batman AA & AC in one post, because it’s basically the same game. No, but for real, the interface is almost identic as in the first part, the new things are : story, characters, gadgets and places.

I was a bit sceptical when i was told about Batman games - i’m not a fan of superheroes.

Bats casually hanging out

BUT BATMAN IS AWESOME.

It’s a mix of enjoyable story and great gameplay.

The combat don’t have to be direct. You can eliminate dozens of enemies without being detected. You’re Batman, duh! Those folks won’t even know what hit ‘em.

Batty playing with Penguin.

My favourite gadget is this line that allows you to climb between the buildings. AND THE CAPE! It’s almost like flying. Yeah, that’s my favourite thing to do in the both games, just soaring through the sky…

Playing with a Sharkie.

The one thing that i didn’t like in the first game - almost all of the boss fights were the same. The Killer Croc’s was nice, but i can’t think of any other that was sth else than just fighting a buy on steroids/tytan…

In the second i was surprised, because the final battles was quite challenging (still very similar, if you think about it a bit, but more interesting).

The most annoying fight.

LADIEEEEEES!

My favourite : Catwoman! It’s so great we cant play as her in AC.. I wouldn’t mind a game just about her (or her as a main character and Batman in some episodes, love the tension between those two).

Ivy and Harley. The second one’s voice pisses me off. I just hate high, kid’s voices.

Talia, the assasin one. Batman’s true love? Maybe, but i prefer catwoman.

That’s not a lady, but who doesn’t love Joker? That sick bastard… Sick, but brilliant. Always with a smile…

Playboy’s bunny (battsy?).

RATING : 8/10 Even if you’re not familiar with this guy, the game’s are worth a play. A great adventure.

Okk, so finally something about games.

NOTE: screenshot are not mine, all are from www.alanwake.com

The game has a great, veeery King-ish story. I’m a fan of King’s books so i really enjoyed playing Alan Wake.

Alan is a writer - he’s having a writer’s block and his girlfriend Alice takes him to a peaceful town, where he can relax nad maybe write something again. But like in every story, everything goes wrong - Alice is missing and Alan have to fight the power of darkness get his lover back.

The atmosphere is very dark and sometimes scary, you can easily loose your way in the obscure forests.

And there’s no way back - the game autosaves every time when you get to the source of light (a lantern). Once i had to replay the whole episode, because i got lost!

Yeah, i hate autosaves. I’m feeling…insecure? I’m that kind of person who quicksaves every minute. I just don’t like to spoil the immersion by doing the same thing for a second/third time.

Very important thing, while playing : Don’t always try to kill everything. Sometimes the best solution is to RUN. RUN TO THE LIGHT!

+ I really liked the whole “series-like” idea. The games consist of episodes, before each of them there’s “previously on”, after there’s “next time on…”. There are even end credits, and always a different song in the end.

Rating : 7/10.

The sequel is a longer, funnier and harder version of the first part.

And again, we play as Chell. The story takes place a long time after the first part - Aparture Sience Centre is a ruin. A core named Wheatley rescue us from a ruined chamber and becomes our companion.

I LOVED HIS VOICE. He was a moron, but a brilliant moron, i must say. :)

…and we meet our old friend. After what happened in Portal she’s not happy to see us. She put Chell again in the test chambers.

Later, things change and we mainly travel throught the ruins of the facility.

The enemy suddenly becomes a companion…

My favourite new things that help us with testing:

GELS!

The blue one - JUMPING GEL!

 MORE GEL? YES. While running on this one, we can achieve a high speed.

Whait… even MORE gel? Yes…YES. 

The white one allows us to make portals on it’s surface.

GEL FLOATING IN THE AIR? Yesss.

My new love: 

Frankenturrets!

They’re harmless - they’re like the weighed cubes with little legs and big, orange eyes. <3

And again, GLaDOs’s or Wheatley’s monologues are so funny, that sometimes you can’t stop laughing.

HAIL TO THE TURRET KING!

Some new designer suits for turrets.

Aaand my favourite part….

THE TURRET’S OPERA!<3

Rating: 1000/10.

SPAAAAAAAACEEEEEEEE!

Portals are one of my favourite games i’ve played so far. Finally, something where you have to think a little bit!

“Hello, and, again, welcome to the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center”

Our character is this young lady - Chell. She’s a test subject in Aperture Science  Enrichment Center. Our goal is to find a way out of a test chamber, using mainly the portal device.

GLaDOS, and AI computer system is our guide. Her quotes are the reason why the game’s also funny.

“The Enrichment Center is required to remind you that you will be baked, and then there will be cake.”

I’ve fallen in love with the turrets. They are deadly, they aren’t friendly, but they’re really cute - and their voices!

“Are you still there?”

And of course… the companion cube!

How can you not love it? It has pink hearts on it, and…. it will never threaten to stab you! ;)

Well, there’s not really much to say, if you don’t want to spoil anything - you have to play and see yourself, what a great game it is!

Rating: 10/10

The cake is a lie…