TheMightyEthan

Yes, much better, but it's still nothing special, just passable, but you also barely need to do it, so it's fine.

Yeah, I did miss a lock-on, but it's interesting to me you say there's more of a focus on it, since overall I barely engaged in melee combat outside of specific instances where I had to (like the melee pits, or that one boss fight). Otherwise I mostly stayed back and used my bow or other ranged weapons, even against humans.

The problem I had with Crysis 1 this time around was specifically the aiming with a controller, so I imagine that wouldn't have been an issue with a mouse (but I am a man of culture, so I will only use a controller ). I did play a little of Crisis 1 on PC when it first came out, bounced off fairly early just because it just wasn't great then either. I went back because I keep hearing people say they're good games, but I just don't see it. But I mean I wouldn't even have an opportunity to scope out the area to plan an ambush because the instant I decloaked they'd know where I was and start attacking, even if I was crouched behind a concrete barrier on a rooftop a block away.

Crysis 2 Remastered Okay, I think I'm done with Crysis. I tried this one because I heard it played better than the first, and it was true, the aiming felt fine, it was actually playable. However, the game is presented as giving you the choice as to how to approach encounters, but the enemies are so hyper aware that stealth is basically impossible. I would go invisible and sneak to somewhere where it seemed like I should be blocked from sight, decloak (because I'd be running out of energy), and instantly every enemy in the area would know exactly where I was. The combat wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either, and I didn't want to play it as a run and gun shooter, so back to Gamefly it goes. Grade: C-

CrossfireX I'd heard the multiplayer was terrible but that the campaign was alright, so I started it before HFW came out thinking I could finish it since it was only a few hours, but I didn't quite make it. After I finished HFW I thought I'd go back to it, but I just have no interest. I was mildly engaged by the plot, but having taken a break I just don't care to go back, the gameplay itself was on the bad side of passable, so that's not bringing me back. Grade: D Crysis Remastered I couldn't even finish the first level, the aiming was so terrible. Even at max sensitivity it felt like I was moving through cold molasses when I tried to turn. Literally unplayable. Grade: F

Horizon Forbidden West This game is just like the first, but better in every way, so if that appeals to you then I highly recommend it. Everything just feels more fleshed out, and more refined. The only complaint I have about it is that there's maybe a bit too much game here (took me just shy of 69 hours, nice), but everything that's there is really done well. I'm especially impressed with how they managed to avoid things feeling repetitive. Every side quest, every "errand" (as they call the mini quests that don't even get to be full side quests) feels unique. And even the main quest, which at first glance looks like it will follow the rule of three, ends up keeping it varied quite well. They never fall into a pattern, and that keeps everything feeling fresh. I can't wait for the next one. Grade: A+

Also with 3 they still quite possibly end up with an EU/NATO member on their border.

That show will always bring a smile to my face, because of the time Twitter translated the name as "Komi has Communism"

Western intelligence says that the Russians thought that everyone in Ukraine hated the government, they'd welcome the Russians with open arms, they'd take Kyiv with little resistance, and once they did the rest of the military would collapse. That's why they're so ill-equipped/supplied, they thought the war would be over by now. In that context it kind of makes sense, why risk some of your good soldiers getting killed when the crappy ones will do?

Assuming Ukraine is able to continue to hold out. There's some indication that the troops originally sent in were just poorly trained/equipped conscripts, not professional military, and that now they're mobilizing the good troops, so if that's the case then the tide may turn in Russia's favor.

As a sign of how crazy this really is, Switzerland, which has remained neutral in all conflicts for literal centuries, has joined in the sanctions. That's kind of super insane, for a country whose foreign policy has always been "Don't fuck with us and we won't fuck with you. But seriously don't fuck with us."

So, Russia invaded Ukraine. That happened. I remember when they annexed Crimea, it was so bizarre because countries don't just annex parts of other countries anymore. Seems it wasn't just a one-off.

Horizon Forbidden West Basically more of the first game, but better. I dig it.

I started exercising again in mid-January, made it almost a month before petering out!

I didn't mean to say I haven't seen criticisms of the game, because I definitely have, including all the ones mentioned above, I just meant Dan is the only person I've seen who overall didn't like it. I do believe hardcore pokefans hate it, because hardcore fans of anything always hate anytime the thing changes, but also because of that I tend to discount it in terms of it making the game "divisive", because the hardcore is such a small fraction of the overall playerbase (even in the gaming discord circles where I travel). Now I'm going to say because a few more times. Because because because.

Pokemon Legends Arceus I agree this is the best Pokemon in years. After Sword/Shield I thought I was done with Pokemon, but I really like how they changed up the formula, and it really refreshed the series. This is the main console title we've been wanting since the Gamecube, and I very much look forward to how they follow it up. That said, even the best Pokemon in years is just solid. There's not really any major criticisms I have per se, but I'm definitely not into it enough to finish out the Pokedex and fight Arceus. It was fun while it lasted, but I rolled credits and that's enough. Grade: B+ Is it? The only negative opinion I've seen is Dan's.

Yeah, they fold up for storage. I'm not sure why the tires are so fat, I'm guessing just for versatility.

I really thought they were going to set that up with

My wife and I ordered e-bikes, for riding to work and other little trips that don't really justify using the car.

I still find it fascinating how much you dislike Arceus. Again, no shade, you like what you like, there are plenty of games I don't like that are generally regarded as great, I just find it so interesting when it happens. Regarding my post (and speaking of a game I don't like that everyone else does), I definitely made the right call switching from Dying Light 2 to Mirror's Edge Catalyst, this game is so much better.

Dying Light 2 I wanted to like this game, I really did, especially after hearing everyone praise the parkour. But it just has the same problem people always accuse Sonic games of: the fun part is going fast, but the game is designed to stop you from doing that. I liked running around the city, but every single mission revolves around either fighting hordes of zombies or sneaking slowly past them. Half the skill tree is parkour, but you only use it to get between mission sites. Not to mention that you start out with basically no skills, can't even wall run or slide, you have to unlock them, and fairly far down the tree I might add. And to add insult to injury, the combat they keep making you do instead of running isn't even smooth. I had the same issue with Dying Light 1, so this isn't surprising, but it is disappointing after all the praise. I just kept thinking I'd rather be playing Mirror's Edge*, so that's what I'm going to do. Grade: D *People also level the bad combat criticism at Mirror's Edge, which is justified, but it's a much smaller part of that game than it is in Dying Light.

My wife beat it and says pretty much it was a lot of button mashing.

I wonder if it will pan out. The navy's ship-mounted railgun system was cancelled last year, after a decade in development.

lol, I don't know why, but the fact that one of the functions is called "is_on_the_floor()" cracks me up.

Yes, I had that thought so I went back and checked. And some of it was stuff that involved new characters that were just introduced in this one, or things that were literally supposed to have happened like 5 minutes earlier. *Edit - Related to this, there is a recap video that was really helpful in knowing what was going on, but it's buried in the extras menu and never tells you it exists (I discovered it when I went to watch cutscenes on Youtube to make sure my game wasn't actually glitching and leaving stuff out). It should have asked you when you started a new game if you wanted to watch the recap.