GIPWD (Games I Played While Deployed)

As I'm sure most of my loyal readers are aware, I spent the last 6.5 months on a military deployment. In general, it sucked ass. But there were a few perks that I took advantage of; most relevant to this blog is I was able to take a huge chunk out of my backlog during my downtime. I was able to roll credits on 12 games I've never played before, 2 DLC expansions, 4 replays of old favorites, and 1...MOBA *gasp!* I normally change the order I talk about the games to end on the best game of the batch, but I feel like listing them in the order I played them helps tell the story of my experience overseas, and how I used these games to help get me through. 

 

Persona 3: Reload (Xbox Series S):

This game came out before I departed, but I intentionally saved it for the deployment as I knew a lengthy and immersive Persona game would be an ideal starter during the challenging first few weeks, and I was exactly right. While very slow to start, I did appreciate the more subdued and focused story (compared to 4 and 5). The cast was, like every Persona game I've played, hit or miss. Standouts were Mitsuru, Aigis, Amada, and the GOAT Koromaru. Like 4 and 5, the dungeon crawling and combat were tolerable for my very not-turn-based-ass personality, but those aren't why I play these anyway. Overall my least favorite of the three I've played, but that's more of a testament to how much I enjoyed the other two.

My GIPL Rating: A-

 

Halo Infinite (Xbox Series S):

A weird one for me. The open world was interesting and allowed you to approach missions and side content with a little creativity, which was a nice breath of fresh air not just for the franchise, but for the genre in general. Additionally, it was one of the strongest games in the series character-wise. Chief, Esparza, and the new AI all had some genuinely touching and/or surprising moments. The story, like every 343 Halo, seems to have come completely out of left field and wasn't really a direct continuation of the plots of 4 or 5 at all. The weapons were also pretty meh, and I found myself generally sticking to the old faithfuls of BR, covenant carbines, etc. The Boss fights were mostly interesting but the final boss was terribly frustrating. Generally the kind of boss fights that just throw hordes of regular enemies at you are never enjoyable for me. Overall kind of a pedestrian entry, which has become par for 343's Halo games.

My GIPL Rating: B

 

Final Fantasy X HD Remaster (Switch):

Oh the lengths I'll go to for my good buddy, Craig. A long time ago, I expressed interest in cracking into the Final Fantasy series, and Craig enthusiastically recommended one of his all time favorite games, X. He let me borrow his Switch copy, and I told him it would probably make a great deployment project. My experience with this game started with an omen...a game over on the second fight of the game after missing a save orb to heal after the first fight. Things never got much better. I didn't particularly enjoy either the combat or the story, although both aspects of this game did have some fun moments (well, the story did anyway). My lack of enthusiasm out of the gate caused me to kind of rush through the game, ultimately resulting in me being fairly un-prepared for the final half dozen boss fights,which were an absolute struggle. I gave up on this game twice, but being so close to the end was enough to keep me going and finish. My interests in video games have narrowed as I've gotten older (or maybe as I have less access to free time), and I think this game confirms that turn-based JRPGs are not for me. I'm giving this game an extra "+" since the camera would frequently linger on Lulu's boobies, which I enjoyed.

My GIPL Rating: C+

 

Mass Effect 1 Legendary Edition (Xbox Series S):

At one point in my life I considered KOTOR my favorite video game. Why it's taken me so long to play that game's spiritual successor is anyone's guess. I greatly enjoyed the real-time combat, although on normal difficulty I found it to be strongly on the easy side. The story and characters were solid and I was thrilled that, unlike KOTOR, “good” and “evil” points weren't mutually exclusive. I was a little disappointed by the limited number of romance-able party members in this game, with only one same-sex option for my FemShep run. The weapon/armor/upgrade system was a bit clunky and I didn't even bother fine-tuning my party members' equipment which didn't hinder me in the least. Some of the side missions were a bit stale, with reused levels/assets. Driving the Mako up every mountain in the galaxy was not my favorite way to spend my time in this game. Altogether an engaging, if somewhat unrefined, experience that paved the way for even more greatness to come.

My GIPL Rating: A-

 

Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox Series S):

My intent with this game was as a bit of a palate-cleanser between the first two Mass Effect games, but I wasn't ready for how much I enjoyed this game. An improvement of a sequel that keeps (and even expands on) what works in the original while rectifying weaknesses. The overall map design took a Hub-and-Spoke design; hub worlds are more open and riddled with secrets in the traditional metroidvania sense, while the “spoke” levels are more linear and focused on traditional platforming. Exploration and movement were a joy. The combat system was much more refined, with a Hollow Knight-esque system of slotted, expandable buffs. This game had a few more traditional, combat-style bosses (think health bars), but the obnoxious chase sequences remain from the first game. The story was fine but not as profound as it thinks it is. I felt very motivated to 100% the game which most metroidvanias don't get out of me, so hopefully that speaks for itself.

My GIPL Rating: A

 

Mass Effect 2 Legendary Edition (Xbox Series S):

A nice improvement of a sequel to Mass Effect. The story expands on the major threat of the first game, but still remains focused and self-contained to this game. The story also started out with a bang and had an interesting twist to start off. Much of the tedium in both inventory management and level design were cleaned up in this game, particularly when it came to side quests. The DLC missions were great and did a great job bridging some of the gaps between the two games. Where this game really shines is the expanded cast of party members. Recruitment and loyalty missions are definitely the core of this game and were all super enjoyable. I think this causes there to be a paucity of main story missions, but that's a small nitpick, and the few main missions really pack a punch. And if you're not lucky or using a guide, you'll get a plethora of gut punches in the game's final mission. I had to replay the final mission to make sure all my beloved homies survived into the third game.

My GIPL Rating: A

 

We <3 Katamari Reroll (Switch):

Despite claiming that I was satisfied with my time with this series after playing the first remake, here I am only a few months later having played the remake of the sequel. It's essentially more of the same, with some interesting twists on the typical formula that leaned into some of the gimmicks relegated to bonus levels in the previous entry. These missions were fun for novelty's sake but some missed the mark and ventured into frustrating territory. I did, of course, still enjoy the 'main' missions where the job is to get big. The story, while fairly bare bones, was somewhat touching and stronger than the last outing, for what it's worth. A good palate-cleanser game, which was exactly what I used it for.

My GIPL Rating: A

 

Doom Eternal (PC) - REPLAY:

I originally played this game on PS4, but bought a Doom bundle including Eternal with all DLC for cheap on PC and decided to replay the main campaign to warm up before the DLC. It's risky to declare a game a 'grid game' after only one playthrough, so I was curious to see how I felt about Eternal on a second run. The conclusion? Still grid-worthy. The combat system in Doom Eternal keeps you standing on a razor's edge between life and death, with all sorts of visceral carnage punctuating the action. It's still an all time favorite.

My GIPL Rating: R&T

 

Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1 (PC):

The first part of the Doom Eternal DLC was honestly fairly disappointing. The level designs were somewhat bland, and the game essentially tried to cover this by throwing hordes of demons at you (like, way more than the base game). The 'optional encounters' were just rehashed from the main game in the form of timed secret encounters and slayer gates, but the rewards were just extra runes, and runes are probably the most thin of Doom Eternal's many upgrades. The new demons are more frustrating than fun, especially the spirit, which possesses regular demons to make them exponentially stronger. What's worse, once you've killed the vessel demon you have mere seconds to kill the incorporeal spirit with a specific mod or it will jump to a new enemy, which can be infuriating. The story was nonsensical, but given this is a Doom game I don't really mind too much. Luckily, the core Doom Eternal combat still carries this DLC, so it's still a fun experience despite the general lack of creativity and the frustrations of the new demons.

My GIPL Rating: A-

 

Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 (PC):

While the two DLC for Doom Eternal are clearly two parts of the same whole, they're different enough that they deserve to be discussed separately. The plot of part 2 is much more focused, and your goal is essentially to kill the devil. "But didn't I do that at the end of the main game?" you ask. The answer is yes. But this is a different devil. In part 2, the optional encounters were new, this time in the form of “escalation encounters.” Basically, there are two fights in one arena. You have to beat one to finish the level, but the second, optional encounter is much more difficult but nets you a cosmetic if you finish it. I enjoyed these encounters immensely, and I find a new Slayer skin to be much more motivating than the bonus runes from TAG1. There were a few more new demons in this DLC that were essentially upgrades over demons from the base game; none of them were great and they usually required a specific weapon to kill them which I found restricting. But where this DLC really distinguishes itself is in the new weapon, the Sentinel Hammer. Big AOE damage that is synergistic with the flame belch and ice bomb, respectively dropping tons of armor and health. It causes a prolonged stagger that is helpful for dealing with multiple superheavy demons that the game throws at you. Ultimately, a better difficulty balance and more interesting story, encounters, and weapons made TAG2 much better than part 1, and a fitting finale to the Doom Eternal experience.

My GIPL Rating: S

 

Mass Effect 3 Legendary Edition (Xbox Series S):

Finally, the Reaper plot takes front and center. I enjoyed the hell out of this story, despite the less-than-perfect ending. There are just so many redeeming factors in the overall plot, resolving so many huge arcs that have been following the player throughout the series. The DLC in this game was particularly remarkable; the more character-centric Citadel DLC was a delight, and kind of reminds me of the rare occasions when The X-Files has a funny episode; the contrast to the usual tone is so stark but it somehow manages to make the comedy hit that much harder. I really was compelled by so many of the characters in this series, and saying goodbye to my first time with them all (I doubt it will be the last) was genuinely emotional for me. Mechanically, I really enjoyed the way weapon mods and weight were balanced, technically making every weapon type available to every class but at the expense of power cooldown. One gripe would be the level design, which really only ever involves big open arenas that sent waves of enemies at you defend against. Despite these minor flaws, I loved this game and this series, and will forever be grateful for the beautiful universe it created where I could escape the loneliness of deployment for a few hours every day.

My GIPL Rating: A+

 

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Switch):

 

Kind of like Circle of the Moon, just a bland entry overall. Nothing particularly bad about it; I had no trouble navigating the castles (yes, there are two in this game). But the environments, weapons (or lack thereof), bosses, and plot/characters were all subpar compared to other entries in the series. Not much else to say; Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance walked so the Sorrow games could run.

My GIPL Rating: B-

 

SteamWorld Heist (Switch): - REPLAY

One of my under-the-radar 2025 releases I'm most looking forward to is SteamWorld Heist 2, and in anticipation of that game I picked up the OG on the Switch for two bucks and replayed it. The blend of turn-based strategy and shooting mechanics are a blast, and there's perfect difficulty balance and support for all sorts of play styles. It's great, and I have every confidence the sequel will be even greater.

My GIPL Rating: N for Naoto, whose hat you can wear in this game

 

SteamWorld Dig (Switch): - REPLAY

I also replayed this one, mostly as a low-concentration game while I hung out in Discord (s/o to The Boys). While it establishes an interesting gameplay loop, the overall level design gets rough in some places, leading to some frustrating moments. Unfortunately, this is one of those where the sequel is so good, it kind of invalidates the original.

My GIPL Rating: Idk man sometimes it's hard coming up with cute ratings for the replays

 

Neon White (Xbox Series S):

There are many games that I'm interested in, but not enough to spend money on. It's in this space that Xbox Game Pass really shines. The next two entries on the list are such games. Neon White is more of a platformer than a shooter, but like all good platformers, it gets by on really good level design that introduces new concepts and builds them on interesting ways. Before allowing that concept to wear out its welcome, Neon White moves on to the next idea. I will say I played this game completely offline so maybe missed out on the perfectionist speedrunning appeal ('fastest hedgehog') that really put this game on the map, but I still enjoyed it regardless and didn't have much of a desire to keep playing once I rolled credits. The story and voice acting were quite terrible, but it seemed to be intentionally like a bad anime dub? But the overall experience was good enough.

My GIPL Rating: A- 

 

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor (Xbox Series S):

There's nothing that makes me internally groan over the mediocrity of Disney-era Star Wars than the word “Inquisitor”. These villains, while ubiquitous in games, shows, and comics over the last decade, have all the raw power of an angsty teen who's mad at their parents. So I'm happy to report that, while the middling Fallen Order was riddled with them, the only Inquisitor to appear in Jedi Survivor is the end-tutorial boss who is unceremoniously dispatched and promptly forgotten. The game then moves on to a quite compelling and much-improved story about trauma bonding, complete with a well-executed twist toward the end that I enjoyed quite a bit. Likewise, the level design was much more open and inviting for Metroid-style backtracking, with loads of cosmetics and power-ups to find. The combat largely remains the same as the prior game, but is definitely balanced a bit better, and the new lightsaber stances allow for varied modification of fighting styles depending on user preference. The most important improvement, however, is the ability to choose from 9 lightsaber colors very early in the game. That's all we really want. I rarely comment this on my reviews, but it's worth noting; this game ran like dogshit on my Series S and I honestly wish I would have just forked over $50 to play this on PS5. Some quick online browsing also notes some fairly frustrating bugs in the Series X/PS5 version, which is a real shame because it bogs down an otherwise solid game. It's been a while since we've had a really solid Star Wars game, and I think this one holds its own against what I think is the gold-standard of lightsaber-weilding adventure games: Jedi Academy.

My GIPL Rating: A

 

Pokemon Unite (Switch): - REPLAY

Listen. I know I swore off MOBAs but this one is simple enough to pick up and play fairly easily with The Boys and it's a different way to interact with one of my favorite franchises. Well that was the justification, anyway. The truth is this game sucks. The menu is a laggy, convoluted mess. It takes way to long to earn in-game currency to buy new Pokemon. And most matches, the game comes down to who can defeat Zapdos/Rayquaza, making the early- and middle-game pretty low stakes and boring. We had some good times with this one, but I don't see myself going back to it again.

My GIPL Rating: T for Totally going back to it again. 

 

Slay the Princess (PC):

I've had my eye on this game for a while, but (again) have been too cheap to buy it. At one point during the later stages of the deployment, me and one of my medics were on alert and pulled an all-nighter at the shop. He then tells me he has a game he wants me to try, and boots up Slay the Princess to my delight. Over the course of the next few days I was able to roll credits, so it's the last new game to make the GIPWD cut. I found the concept to be interesting, but the game takes a pretty abstract direction in the plot that, if I'm being honest, kind of left me feeling a little lost. I was expecting something more along the lines of a Stanley Parable, where there was a clear 'correct' sequence and the fun of the game would come from finding all of the ways to deviate. However, Slay the Princess worked each decision into its convoluted storyline, ending in a finale that I didn't find satisfying. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the stellar voice acting; just two performers played dozens of characters, all of whom were believably distinct.

My GIPL Rating: C+

 

Guacamelee 2 (Switch): - REPLAY

The last week of deployment was honestly horrible. The plane that was supposed to take me home broke down, delaying my return by almost an entire week. During that week, I had already packed and checked all but my carry-on bag, and I was no longer doing my job. As you can imagine, this led to pretty severe boredom compounding an already emotionally distressing situation. All I really had was my Switch without a dock. I decided to replay Guacamelee 2. I've discussed the game itself- it maintains all of the appeal and charm of the first game, but doesn't add or upgrade much. The point is, this game was really instrumental in me keeping my sanity as I got through the last few days of the most challenging stretch of my life. The humor, the music, the visual direction, the excellent map, the addicting combat, and the precise platforming all combined into a perfect 10-hour experience to keep me distracted and in decent enough spirits until I ultimately came home. All of these games were instrumental in helping me pass the time and feel a sense of familiarity and comfort while thousands of miles away from everyone I love, and my replay of Guacamelee 2 was the epitome of this truth.

My GIPL Rating: M for Mission Complete. 

 

Again, I know this was a long one, so I'll just end with a special thanks to everyone who made the time to hang out on Discord while I was away. It was honestly incredibly helpful and I'm blessed to have such a great network of dudes. Love you all!