aql: Game Exploration Kit

Game Exploration Kit [RSS Feed]

These are games I've been playing lately, and what I think of them. A collection of mini-reviews and thoughts on interactive media.

Pokopia

How filthy it made me feel to adore Pokopia. Aside from the very compelling building systems and great mix between Viva Pinata, Pokémon and (actually) Animal Crossing, I found it so easy to fall into a sense of community when checking on the different regions. The game thrives when it gets to show you something new. Any new friend, any new item, any new cranny of the world makes me feel curious and excited. They also manage to strike a great balance for people who browse too much Pinterest and people who are here to goof around.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

I had a grand time in the FF7 Remake. Never have I enjoyed my time in the original after the Midgar section, so this seemed like it could be a whole lot of fun. I think this is THE remake, as it is the one that is grappling with the concept in itself, and it does so fairly well, and possibly the most competent so far.

Dragon's Dogma 2

An absolute blast. I wish I could live in this game forever. Making your stunningly beautiful character while exploring this very odd world felt like some of the most interesting gaming experiences to me.

Hotel Dusk

What a banger. It was so refreshing to see how they decided to use the funny book-mode of the DS to make those beautifully animated portraits truly shine.

Hundred Line Last Defense Academy

The fact that this game exists in this form is a miracle. It's an epos of a visual novel, and without any damn competition my game of the year.

Kunitsu-Gami

My game of the year 2024. It made me feel like coming home from school again. Perfection.

Life is Strange 2

Genuinely not as bad as people made it out to be. It made me think and wonder, which is what these games are about.

Limbus Company

I am trying to find a Gacha game that deserves to be a gacha game, and this one really struck me as something more meaningful compared to the popular ones.

Mario Kart World

This is my perfect plug-off game. It's such a blast and pure joy to cruise around the open world and not get lost in the details.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

Rune Factory is one of my most beloved franchises and having a fresh spin on the formula kept me cuffed to the controller.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

A relief of a farming sim remake!! The game is lots of fun and marries all the little systems surprisingly well.