jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by imbusydoctorwho » Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:18 pm

Spider-Man
Okay it's incredibly recent but it's a true joy to play, from combat, traversal to things to do, it's just so much darn fun. Yes there's an argument to say it's all been done before in other open world games, but darn searching for backpacks as Spidey really never gets old or feels like a chore.

Yoku's Island Express
Apart from mistaking it as Yoshi's Island Express, Yoku's strange Metroidvania style game with pinball mechanics sound like a bizarre concept that hooked me in thanks to the free demo. Once getting the full game I was treated to a very clever and rather challenging puzzle platformer that really tests you accuracy and timing, all wrapped up in a beautiful a colourful world.

Sushi Striker
Another game that sounded daft of paper and works incredibly well in motion, a match three action puzzle based all around sushi sounds daft and it is, but addicting game play, splendid presentation and a lengthy story all kept me coming back to for plenty of extra helpings.

Steam World Dig 2
Played the original on PS Plus and wasn't that keen, but gave this Switch sequel a go cause it was on offer and what a found was a wonder and quirky game with a fantastic metroidvania like progression. Digging deeper and deeper into various caves trying to find loads of new treasure and collectables is a blast and addictive, the story may be short but trying to get 100% will take you a long while.

Dead Cells
Another recent game and one I found out due to the IGN plagiarism case. I'm not a big fan of randomly generated levels full stop, found it lazy in No Mans Sky and it kinda put me off any games that used it. And Dead Cells has won me over as it's a harsh but brilliant game, trying to master the many different levels and trying to get that perfect run will take hours of deaths and cells to finally overcome that obstacles need to complete the game. It's a perfect one more go sort of game, that is honestly one my favs of the year.

God of War
A fantastic change for the series, take the action heavy DMC style gameplay and turns it into a slower more thoughtful game. Kratos isn't a jerk anymore, the story is interesting and is obviously building up to something way bigger. The Gameplay feels much like the recent Tomb Raider games in terms of the metroidvania like element of revisiting old areas with new equipment for collectables. And the combat feels more challenging thanks to it's slower pace, a brilliant reinvention for a series that needed it.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by OrangeRKN » Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:23 pm

I have a fair list of games worth mentioning here, so I'll revisit this post to add in more reasoning!

Celeste (Switch)

My current GOTY for 2018, and I doubt that's changing. Celeste is one of the best games I've ever played. It's a 2D "twitch" platformer, categorised by high difficulty and a reliance on a speedy muscle-memory training gameplay loop, and it absolutely perfects the genre. It controls perfectly (even if I was playing with the Switch's analogue stick in preference to the terrible non d-pad), but beyond nailing the basic controls it actually hides some deep nuance to the mechanics, the most advanced of which are available from the start and yet aren't even revealed to the player until right at the end of the game, or even past it. Coupled with superb level design the game would already be fantastic, but it's all tied together with a plot that thematically matches the gameplay in a way very few video games have ever managed. In fact the only other example I can think of that does it so well is Papers, Please, and yet I would struggle to call that a "fun" game despite its achievements. Celeste is frighteningly fun. It's a game about overcoming personal adversity, both thematically and in gameplay, and that perfect marriage is the rarest thing. It kept me playing way beyond the closing credits and I can't recommend it enough.

Hollow Knight (Switch)

Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania I've ever played, but to pigeonhole it into that genre would be to ignore its clear influences from elsewhere. The Dark Souls comparison is tired but apt, and in Hollow Knight the world building resonated with me in a way that the Souls games never manged but clearly did with so many others. The game is hard but always fair, but most of all it really respects the player and the player's agency. There are moments it strays a little too far, either in essentially needing a wiki or borrowing too heavily from the aforementioned twitch platformer genre, but they are minor complaints with an otherwise flawless game.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (Switch)

It might be newly out, but I've played enough already (and plenty of the 3DS forebearer) to know it's quality through-and-through. Monster Hunter is a series close to my heart and Generations Ultimate is the ultimate celebration of it. World might have brought several true innovations to the game and opened it up to a fully mainstream audience, but this is where my true love still lies.

Go Vacation (Switch)

It would be easy to dismiss Go Vacation as a cheap mini-game collection attempting to emulate the success of Wii Sports, but play the game and you'll find an open world of free-form exploration more akin to Lego Island. The animal photography channels some of what made Pokemon Snap so unique and memorable, while snowboarding down a mountain is as relaxing an experience as it is in SSX 3 or Steep, if somewhat more childlike. The amount of content on offer goes far beyond just those two examples however, and is enough for me to have put in around 30 hours to the game. Go Vacation just has a certain something, one of those rare experiences in the modern internet age where you feel like you're truly discovering the game's secrets for yourself.

Fairune Collection (Switch)

For those unaware (which I imagine is most), Fairune Collection is a re-release of the Japanese indie games Fairune (iOS/Android/3DS/Vita) and Fairune 2 (3DS), plus the never before released Fairune Origin and Fairune Blast. Described as somewhere around puzzle action adventure RPGs, it'd be closer I think to call them adventure puzzle games, although the gameplay is quite unique. If anyone has played the recent Minit, that comes close. People may be more familiar with Kamiko on Switch which is also by Skipmore, and that shares a lot of visual design despite being a straight action game. Anyway, I played the original on Vita, and then the sequel on 3DS, and I fell in love with them. The switch re-release came late enough for me to have forgotten enough for another playthrough of both, and the bonus content was very welcome too. Most people probably aren't going to find much to them, but for me I adore both the art and the gameplay.

Monster Hunter World (PS4)

World does so much for the Monster Hunter series. It's a genuine revolution, a complete overhaul of long established mechanics and gameplay, and it does so wonderfully. I put 60+ hours into World and I enjoyed them all. Unfortunately the overhaul is also the game's weakness, as it comes at the expense of variety and content. By those measures Generations Ultimate has it hands down beat. The real reason I didn't put more time into it however is more personal - it's not a handheld game. To me, Monster Hunter has always been a handheld series, ever since I had Freedom on the PSP. I couldn't get into Tri because it was on the Wii, and I struggled to stay motivated in World because it was on PS4. It plays great, but I want my hunting action to be portable!

Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition (Switch)

This is the third time I've bought Hyrule Warriors, and it has just got better with every release. For Zelda and Musou fans it's an absolute must, and the content is absolutely staggering. I will never, ever complete this game, which is a good thing because it means I'll always have it to play!

A Way Out (PS4)

A Way Out is video gaming distilled, and a co-op experience like no other. It starts off slow, but once you're out the prison it's a non-stop tour ride of varying gameplay styles. It's never boring, often funny and always just the right amount of janky. And yet the ending was a genuine emotional hit like no other, all because the game is by necessity a two player experience. Mileage may vary, but I think everyone should grab a good friend and marathon the lot!

Yoku's Island Express (Switch)

A pinball metroidvania game is an inspired idea, and Yoku's Island Express really delivers. The game is brimming with charm, clocks in at just the right length (my Switch tells me 5+ hours), and marries the pinball mechanics to metroidvania exploration perfectly. I had a ton of fun with this and saw it through to 100% completion.

Owlboy (Switch)

The gameplay never captured me, just remaining acceptable throughout, but the pixel art in Owlboy is just sublime. I challenge you to find better looking pixel art and animation. If you're into that kind of thing like I am, then Owlboy is worth playing for the visuals alone!

Gang Beasts (PS4)

Pretty much one of the best multiplayer games ever made, Gang Beasts is as fun as it is funny. The mechanics are surprisingly deep and it makes for good brawling, and even losing is great fun when you inevitably die in a humorous fashion. I crave playing it more.

Human: Fall Flat (Switch)

It was my love of Gang Beasts that led to me picking up Human: Fall Flat, and while initially the camera control confused me I am very glad I did. It's Gang Beasts as a puzzle physics platformer, and it actively encourages you to solve the levels in whatever way you can think up. I only wish there were more levels, especially of the more sandbox variety, because there is so much replayability in just messing about and trying to abuse your way through!

Streets of Red (Switch)

I'm not the biggest beat em up fan, but I do enjoy them in co-op, and Streets of Red makes for a fun hour with friends. It's packed full of pop culture film and videogame references, and surprisingly nails most of them rather than feeling pandering or devolving into meme humour. The game structure requires repeated playthroughs to see all the content and that, coupled with six characters in total, adds a lot to the replayability.

Howling at the Moon (GRcade)

Karl's latest mafia completely absorbed my free (and otherwise) time during its week long runtime, so it's a worthy addition to this list ;)

Steam World Heist (Switch)

I do enjoy a good turn based strategy game, and Steam World Heist is a great one. The randomised levels would perhaps be better fully designed, but they are uniquely constrained enough for every level to practically feel that way anyway. The game offers plenty of scope for assembling a team that plays to your own style and strengths and the core gameplay that feels like 2D X-COM with ricochets works perfectly. Add to that the great writing and it's a modern classic.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Ironhide » Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:44 pm

I haven't really played anything released in 2018 other than the brilliant Into the Breach

My most played game this year is Persona 3 Portable (2009). Other than that I've just been dipping in and out of my Steam library/backlog

The remainder of the year could be quite different however as I have just got an Xbox Adaptive Controller which should enable me to play a wider range of games.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Balladeer » Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:48 pm

OrangeRKN wrote:Celeste (Switch)

My current GOTY for 2018, and I doubt that's changing.

yessssssssssss

Jenuall wrote:...and really struggling to find the love for Celeste (I know there are a few big fans on the forum, so sorry about that!)

noooooooooooo

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Jenuall » Tue Sep 11, 2018 2:55 pm

Balladeer wrote:
OrangeRKN wrote:Celeste (Switch)

My current GOTY for 2018, and I doubt that's changing.

yessssssssssss

Jenuall wrote:...and really struggling to find the love for Celeste (I know there are a few big fans on the forum, so sorry about that!)

noooooooooooo


I have only given it a couple of quick goes as I've been busy with Hollow Knight mostly, but whilst I love the aesthetic it hasn't grabbed me mechanically yet - the controls seems unwieldy at the moment.

I'm going to give it more time as it clearly deserves it, but I'm not holding my breath for a turnaround yet!

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Balladeer » Tue Sep 11, 2018 3:16 pm

I maybe see where you’re coming from Jen: the not-D Pad is horrible, and the analogue stick doesn’t always point the way you want to dash. That said, usually you’re back in the action so quickly that it doesn’t matter much. And the dash is one of the best-feeling manoeuvres in platforming. Puts the Shade Cloak to shame.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by OrangeRKN » Tue Sep 11, 2018 3:19 pm

For a man with so many wrong opinions (TM), Balla is spot on :P

I would suggest using the stick over the d-pad if you're using joycons. It's still not ideal but I found it better. Definitely give it some more time!

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Jenuall » Tue Sep 11, 2018 3:52 pm

I can't remember if I was using the stick or d-pad when I tried it last but I shall favour the stick going forward and see if that helps.

I think more than anything my problem thus far was that I was not necessarily prepared for the kind of game it was, I hadn't done much research and for whatever reason I was thinking more along the Mario/Sonic lines of a platformer where this seems more like a Super Meat Boy type scenario. That's not necessarily a bad thing I think it's just taking me a while to re-wire my expectations!

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Poser » Tue Sep 11, 2018 3:57 pm

It's been year of the Switch for me.

Breath of the Wild has been stunning. I'm so far from completion but often find myself thinking about it. Love every aspect of it.

Over the past two weeks, there has been a revelation in our household as my wife has started playing games with me, after several years of me trying to get her involved. She is absolutely mad for Overcooked. This makes me very happy.

Away from the Switch, I finally finished Uncharted 4, and enjoyed a brief fling with Sniper Elite 3 while I was off work in my pants for a week.

I want to get back into Pro Evo online (I have decent broadband now so lag should be reduced) and will be looking at getting 2019 in a sale at some point.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Sandy » Tue Sep 11, 2018 4:47 pm

OrangeRKN wrote:I have a fair list of games worth mentioning here, so I'll revisit this post to add in more reasoning!

Celeste (Switch)

My current GOTY for 2018, and I doubt that's changing. Celeste is one of the best games I've ever played. It's a 2D "twitch" platformer, categorised by high difficulty and a reliance on a speedy muscle-memory training gameplay loop, and it absolutely perfects the genre. It controls perfectly (even if I was playing with the Switch's analogue stick in preference to the terrible non d-pad), but beyond nailing the basic controls it actually hides some deep nuance to the mechanics, the most advanced of which are available from the start and yet aren't even revealed to the player until right at the end of the game, or even past it. Coupled with superb level design the game would already be fantastic, but it's all tied together with a plot that thematically matches the gameplay in a way very few video games have ever managed. In fact the only other example I can think of that does it so well is Papers, Please, and yet I would struggle to call that a "fun" game despite its achievements. Celeste is frighteningly fun. It's a game about overcoming personal adversity, both thematically and in gameplay, and that perfect marriage is the rarest thing. It kept me playing way beyond the closing credits and I can't recommend it enough.


I was expecting to absolutely love this and unfortunately I just couldn't get into it.

By the games you've written down as well it looks like we have pretty similar taste but for some reason Celeste just didn't seem to be for me. Maybe it gets better and I didn't give it enough of a chance.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by HaruKazuhira » Tue Sep 11, 2018 4:53 pm

Xenoblade Chronicles 2, MH World, God of War and Ni No Kuni II.

2018 has been the year I have played the least amount of games which is unfortunate. Lots of real life stuff getting in the way. But the little time I do have to play has been spent on these gems. I'm still going through Ni No Kuni II and it's been such a delight.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by OrangeRKN » Tue Sep 11, 2018 5:16 pm

Sandy wrote:By the games you've written down as well it looks like we have pretty similar taste but for some reason Celeste just didn't seem to be for me. Maybe it gets better and I didn't give it enough of a chance.


How far in did you get? It takes until after the first level at least to really get going.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Sandy » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:41 pm

OrangeRKN wrote:How far in did you get? It takes until after the first level at least to really get going.


There's a high chance I didn't get much or any further than that. I'll give it another go.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Squinty » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:42 pm

I have not played much from this year.

Guacamelee 2 was pretty good. The only other 2018 releases I've played are remasters of older games, namely Okami HD and Ass Creed Rogue.

Really enjoyed Prey from last year. Got around to it at the start of the year, and polished off another playthrough since then. Cracking game.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Yubel » Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:24 pm

I'm enjoying what I'm playing right now more than anything in the past 8 months and that game is Just Cause 3. That's not to say nothing else has been thoroughly engrossing to me (Battlefront II is a blast, Splatoon 2 incited a competitive streak in me, Fortnite has it's moments) but Just Cause feels like a true release. It manages to cast my mind back to the previous game and serves many a reminder of why I became so fond that experience.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by 7256930752 » Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:12 pm

OrangeRKN wrote: b]Hollow Knight[/b] (Switch)

Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania I've ever played, but to pigeonhole it into that genre would be to ignore its clear influences from elsewhere. The Dark Souls comparison is tired but apt, and in Hollow Knight the world building resonated with me in a way that the Souls games never manged but clearly did with so many others. The game is hard but always fair, but most of all it really respects the player and the player's agency. There are moments it strays a little too far, either in essentially needing a wiki or borrowing too heavily from the aforementioned twitch platformer genre, but they are minor complaints with an otherwise flawless game.

I couldn't disagree more with this. I really do like Hollow Knight but it is very much not always fair and it's hard to think of a game that is more disrespectful of the players time. The finding the map guy is nothing but busy work to pad out the game and the complete lack of sign posting almost makes it hard to call a Metroidvania as every game I can think of in the genre has a clear main line of progression. This game expects you to try every obvious uncleared location on the map over and over again without any way of knowing if you have the correct ability. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'll post my list in the morning.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by OrangeRKN » Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:17 pm

Hime wrote:I couldn't disagree more with this. I really do like Hollow Knight but it is very much not always fair and it's hard to think of a game that is more disrespectful of the players time. The finding the map guy is nothing but busy work to pad out the game and the complete lack of sign posting almost makes it hard to call a Metroidvania as every game I can think of in the genre has a clear main line of progression. This game expects you to try every obvious uncleared location on the map over and over again without any way of knowing if you have the correct ability. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed it.


The lack of railroading, hand-holding or heavy handed signposting is exactly what I mean when I say the game really respects the player. It trusts the player to be capable of exploring and finding their own way rather than just telling them what to do, and in a genre purportedly about exploration that is exactly as it should be. If you have to repeatedly return to areas over and over because you forgot what was there, or can't recall what places require what ability, that's not the game's fault for not reminding you - that's your fault for not remembering. Pay attention, take note of the areas you can't yet reach, and then make the connection once you find your next ability. That's a lot more satisfying and rewarding to me than if the game essentially took me down the correct path.

The lack of a map for each area takes that further - it forces you to actually pay attention to your surroundings, remember the route you have taken and build your own mental map of the area. When you then acquire the map that's a useful reward and helps you to find anything you might otherwise have missed, but by then you should have already learnt not to rely on the map for navigation. This isn't a play-by-radar game about chasing waypoints, and it's all the better for it.

I don't expect everyone is going to enjoy this approach, but for me it epitomises the whole appeal of Metroidvanias.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by EnragedYogi » Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:13 am

Strange brigade

When I saw it I thought of Exhumed on the PS1, so day 1 for me. Having a great time on it, sort of an Uncharted/tomb raider mash up and good fun. Drop in Co op and lots of puzzles, so explaining to the random guy that's in your game that you saw the solution, so don't shoot it and shut down the puzzle is tough. But this would be fun with a few people, lots of alternative routes etc. and the sarcastic "Dr Livingstone" voice over is a nice touch.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by Tafdolphin » Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:23 am

Poser wrote:Over the past two weeks, there has been a revelation in our household as my wife has started playing games with me, after several years of me trying to get her involved. She is absolutely mad for Overcooked. This makes me very happy.


strawberry floating well jel. I've been trying to get my wife into playing with me (wahey!) for ages and I thought the Switch's local co-op might finally push her over the edge. We even spent NYE 2017/18 stuck in my room playing 2p Mario Kart as she recovered from an illness!

But no. She's tried them all; Mario Kart, Overcooked, TowerFall... she's not interested. What annoys me is that she won't even try any more. If I even ask her to consider playing something she'll immediately say no without any consideration.

OH WELL

She strawberry floating loves watching me play Stardew though.

EDIT:

OrangeRKN wrote:
Hime wrote:I couldn't disagree more with this...


The lack of railroading, hand-holding or heavy handed signposting is exactly what I mean when I say the game really respects the player....


Such a divisive game! I'm more towards Hime's way of thinking in that I'm all for a game respecting the initiative of the player, but as soon as it wilfully becomes obstructive that's just bad design. As I mentioned in the thread, my map is full of potential exits, all of which are either optional mega-platforming bits or paths that require skills the game hasn't given me yet. I googled where I had to go, and it told me I had to buy a key to slot into an otherwise innocuous doodad whose description didn't even mention it was a keyhole. That's not respect, that's misdirection and disdain.

It probably doesn't help that this is one of my first Metroidvanias. But either way, it's completely put me off the genre.

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PostRe: jawa asks... what games have you most enjoyed in 2018 (so far)?
by OrangeRKN » Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:45 am

Tafdolphin wrote:I googled where I had to go, and it told me I had to buy a key to slot into an otherwise innocuous doodad whose description didn't even mention it was a keyhole. That's not respect, that's misdirection and disdain.


The description is literally "A mechanism with a simple key hole"

It's also in a really obvious location along the ground level of the City of Tears (I don't actually think you can avoid seeing it) and the mechanism is next to a very clearly sealed off entrance in the floor (light is glowing out of it).

You still then need to get a simple key, but there are multiple keys in the game, one of which can be found on the way into the City of Tears and one for sale in Dirtmouth that is very hard to miss unless you never go to the shop.


So basically I disagree completely :P

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