It's been a really long time since I've done one of these. Like over a year. My reason? There have been so many great games that I've been playing lately that I've been spending most of my time playing them instead of writing about them. In fact, 2025 might be the best year in video games I can remember. I'm not usually one to play games on release, but there have been a stupid amount of highly-anticipated games this year that I simply couldn't resist playing many of them ASAP. I'm going to do a separate post (after I finish a certain Metroid game) where I count down my favorite games I've played that released year. Today's post will involve games I played in between the new releases, and even some I played in late 2024. One final note: I'm not going to do a full paragraph or cheeky rating on replays anymore, but I'll make small comments or changes in opinion where applicable.
Inside (Xbox Series S)
This was my Halloween 2024 game. It's
been on my radar for years, and I really enjoyed Limbo (which I
played all the way back in 2015!), so I had high hopes going into
Inside. The game was a master class in
storytelling using images, framing,
and clever context clues. It did a great job of setting a creepy
mood, slowly building tension, and keeping the momentum driving
forward. Unfortunately, I found the ending to be very obtuse and IMO it didn't really stick the landing, which is a bummer considering how
strongly Limbo ended. Glad I finally tried it but it's not a hard
recommend. My
GIPL Rating: C+
Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
My
GIPL Rating: A-
Metroid Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance) - Replay
No significant opinion change
Stellar Blade (PS5)
I'm
going to be honest, I had been following this game for years back
when it was still named Project Eve, pitched as an anime Bayonetta.
The game dropped while I was deployed, so I had to wait til I came home to finally pick it up. The experience was a weird mixed bag. I'd
categorize it more of an action RPG than a true DMC/Bayonetta
clone. Think closer to something like Jedi Survivor, but without the
good story and world design from that game. Combat was fine; just not
particularly deep and didn't really encourage mixing it up. I don't
mind admitting that I found the character design and outfits to be a
lot of fun and worthy rewards for quests and exploration. The story
was mostly nonsensical and the characters were flat. The game wasn't
bad by any stretch, just fell a little short of the lofty
expectations I had for it.
My
GIPL Rating: A-
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy (Xbox Series S)
A
YouTuber I really enjoy made a great video on the importance
of casual games, and the Spyro trilogy encapsulates his points
perfectly. An easy but still engaging series of games that I could
play to actually de-stress, and I coincidentally played it at a great
time in my life where I wasn't in the mood to do anything more
mentally taxing. The exploration-based platforming is timeless, and
the visuals are vibrant and fun. If by some chance you've never
played these, I highly recommend you do if you want to shut your
brain off and collect gems.
My
GIPL Rating: A
Doom 2 (Nintendo Switch) - Replay
No significant opinion change
Until Dawn (PS4)
This
one was enjoyed in a group setting with Craig and Mickey
during a By's Weekend. It was corny and hokey like a classic slasher
film, but its best moments came in the first half. All but 2 of the
characters were completely unlikable, and while the game really tries
to convince you that every decision mattered, the only consequences
of anyone living and dying were a few extra lines of dialogue during
the credits. A fun game to play with friends, but I doubt I'll ever
play it again, or watch the movie.
My
GIPL Rating: C+
Mullet Madjack (Xbox Series S)
A
perfect Game Pass game, Mullet Madjack is a fast-paced FPS
where your life only lasts 10 seconds. Taking damage decreases the
timer; conversely, killing enemies increases the timer. A variety of
upgrades and weapons keep things interesting, and environmental kills
or “item kills” evocative of Doom Glory Kills help you rack up
additional time and add some variety to the run-and-gun action. The
90s vibe was fun, as was the cheesy story. A good one to play on Game
Pass or if you can find it for a discount.
My
GIPL Rating: A-
Doom 2016 (PC) - Replay
I think going back to this one, the
sheer spectacle of the combat system doesn't wow like it did the
first time. Without that wow factor, the combat that feels somewhat
basic (compared to its sequel and prequel), it's easier to notice
that the environments are somewhat bland and samey, and the
exploration can be frustrating without the ability to fast travel
(Eternal) or see marked Points of No Return (Dark Ages). It's still
great, don't get me wrong. But I think it's clearly the weakest of
the three newer Doom games.
Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)
I
really enjoyed the vibes of Ghost of Tsushima. The environments were beautiful, the music
was perfect, and the ability to play in a fully Japanese-voiced mode
was a nice touch. Likewise, I enjoyed the core story and characters.
The gameplay and challenges got a bit repetitive toward the
end, and I found myself completely bypassing side-quest and events
toward the second half of the game. Also, small details like not
being able to skip pre-duel cutscenes or animations of Jin getting in
and out of a hot spring caused this game to grate a bit. Overall was
a fun, if not particularly remarkable, open world project.
My
GIPL Rating: B+
Omori (Switch)
After being pestered to play Omori for
years, I finally made it happen after Craig generously purchased the
game for me. Omori featured outstanding storytelling,
and the last 2 hours of the game were
an unforgettable experience that will stick with me in a similar way
that Earthbound, Nier, and DDLC have stuck with me. The headspace
area, where the meat of the gameplay took place, was fun if
unremarkable, and felt disconnected from the main thrust of the game.
I'm sure this was an intentional, artistic choice, but I still didn't
love that aspect. Overall, it earns its place alongside the other great
narrative games.
My GIPL Rating: A-
Bayonetta 3 (Switch 2) - Replay
Enjoyed the improved performance on
Switch 2. Otherwise no significant change in opinion. This game
really is a fun ride (despite not reaching the mechanical finesse of
the first two entries) that just comes crashing down during the last
few chapters.
Ghostrunner (PS5)
This
one had a steep learning curve, but once you get the few basic
mechanics down, it's one of the tightest platformers I've played this
side of Super Meat Boy. Felt awesome to improve your skill, which
really was apparent as I went back and played the early levels that gave
me so much trouble the first time around. Interesting boss fights and
a decent story (not to mention a bitchin' soundtrack) made this one a
surprise hit, especially considering that I only bought it because it was
cheap and had cool-looking box art. Maybe the purest ninja game ever.
My
GIPL Rating: A-
Quake
Remastered (Xbox Series S)
The
other classic Id Boomer Shooter that I experienced for the first
time. The core shooting and level design were excellent. The
art style, while a little drab, was clearly intentional, and all of
the asthetics were cohesive. Impossible not to compare to Doom. Doom
is more upbeat, vibrant, and a power trip. Quake was oppressive,
dark, and desperate. I don't think Quake is an objectively inferior
experience, but Doom will always overshadow it in my book, and
probably most other people's too based on the modern treatment of the
two franchises. I do think it's important to note that this game's biggest contribution to the medium was likely it's multiplayer, which I have no interest in trying.
My
GIPL Rating: B
Shinobi
III: Return of the Ninja Master (Nintendo Switch Online)
One
of my classic, random Sega games I owned way back in my
nascent video game journey. With the new game coming out, I was
nostalgic to try this one again, and I ended up finishing the whole
game for the first time ever. It kind of reminds me of a ninja-themed
classic Castlevania with slow and deliberate pacing, and I
would never have the patience to beat it without save states/rewind
features. It has aged...pretty well, but not as well as the best
games from the era. The graphics and music were great, and the
special levels on horseback or on a surfboard were fun. I like it
better than the old Ninja Gaiden games, that's for sure.
My
GIPL Rating: B
Ninja
Gaiden Black (Xbox)
I
couldn't help jumping right into this game after playing NG4 (for more on that one, hang on for another month or so).
With the skills I had developed in the more modern context of 4, I
found this playthrough to be much more manageable than the first time
I tried Sigma. However, I fail to see how this game is the
masterpiece it is made out to be. The core combat and most boss
fights are superb, and the level design with some non-linear
exploration was welcome to this Metroid fan. But there were a few
frustrating moments, such as boss fights/fights that require clunky
use of projectiles and too much clumsy platforming, that ultimately
weigh this game down. I hold it in almost the exact same esteem as
DMC 1: an excellent foundation that went on to do better
things in the modern era.
MY
GIPL Rating: B
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for my upcoming countdown of my top games of 2025, it's gonna be a good one!
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