One-take-aways are my quick takeaways for the year in gaming, hence the “one-take”. 2015 was an insane year and this blog is about rapid fire reflections on certain events, news, and games. We could and should go in depth because it’s the right thing to do, but if that were to happen we would be here forever and you're already feeling trapped and claustrophobic in this blog right? I know I am.
I also got "Accelerated One-Takes": think of them as the carpool lane in this traffic jam of words, for those that would rather not read three or four sentences of reflection and just get on with the rest of your scattered internet scouring.
Be warned I’m going to forget to honor your favorite game since I can’t be everywhere and be everything, more than anything this a personal list of personal highlights and things I was personally able to experience! So…
Resident Evil Remaster
I like remasters because oftentimes they are of games I haven’t had the chance to play. Hence RESIDENT EVIL (how the guy from the title screen creepily says it*). This is technically a remaster of a remake I failed to finish the first go round on Gamecube. But it’s even prettier and even more atmospheric than I remember it and the puzzles are hard and those red zombies are awfully fast. Promise to finish this one soon! Sorry!
Accelerated One Take: Itchy Tasty!
The Order 1886
The internet seems to hate this one but there’s actually a lot to like. An interesting world, insane graphics, Nikola Tesla. I also didn’t finish this but I got pretty close and I plan to go back. There are an overabundance of QTEs sure; but the action is there and at a brisk pace, and the game’s visuals are just not fair. I await Ready At Dawn’s sequel, this was a good start to a franchise that’s sure to get better.
Accelerated One Take: Enjoy for what it is!
Suikoden I & II gets rereleased on PS3, PSVita… which I don’t have
How I love Suikoden II and wish to play it. Suikoden II is one of those games that grabbed me as a kid and completely took me away on an epic journey: you’re amassing an army, characters that feel like close friends, in the backdrop of intense political conflict with memorable villains. I almost bought a PSTV to play this thing again…. One day.
Accelerated One-Take: A personal favorite of mine, damn to think at one point Konami was sooooo good.
Bloodborne
Masterpiece. Most likely my game of the year! You go from Bram Stoker to Lovecraft in this incredible decent into madness, with a haunting and heart pumping score out of the darkest corners of my fever dream nightmares. The monster design, the creepy NPCs, the getting wrekt in pvp! Unforgettable! From Software: my boys.
Accelerated One Take: RRRREEEEEHHHHHH (monster scream*)… This is a damn curse!
Mortal Kombat X
Pretty and pretty fun. I’m not the best when it comes to fighting games but I like the idea of friends coming over and talking that trash. Game kinda came and went, though there’s still lots of kyrpt stuff for me to explore, urging me to go back. Campaign was silly but fun; scared to go back online cause everyone is probably at that 75% juggle combo level.
Accelerated One Take: Kould use more soulnados!
Ratchet and Clank Movie and Game
YES ZOMG my favorite duo is about to grace the ps4 and the movie.. hey the movie might be good too! It has Stallone! Cool!
Seriously this is one of my favorite franchises. I get warm Saturday morning vibes whenever I think of it.
Accelerated One-Take: More Ratchet and Clank is clutch, it’s what we need and I’m watching the movie no matter what the tomato-meter says.
Konami Cancels Silent Hills
Kojima and Del Toro teaming up to do anything would excite me: a game, a movie, a two disc rap album! Whatever you guys want to do I’m IN. Konami wasn’t IN however and canceled what could have been a resurgence of Silent Hill and video game horror done right. AND probably would have raked in the cash and accolades. Konami.. what the hell dude(s).
Accelerated One-Take: Mad Max moment where she kneels in the sand dramatically*
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| Konami!!!! |
Journey PS4
Another game that I missed out on; I always wanted to play and it didn’t disappoint. The music by Austin Wintory and striking vistas are something to behold. When you cross paths with another robed figure on your journey you feel companionship and endearment as you dance in the sands and share in the arduous moments ahead; you never want to leave their side. Imagine an episode of Maury where they brought out the people you’ve met and shared your journey with: it would be EMOTIONAL.. and yeah a bit bizarre but I’m goin’ in for the immediate hug.
Accelerated One-Take: It’s powerful, video game magic.
E3 TIME (E3 impressions below)
Dark Souls III Announcement Trailer
What a glorious trailer, the world has definitely gotten darker than before! The music is on point and the direction of Miyazaki is felt. I’m ready to don the knight armor and shield again, I've missed you.
Accelerated One-Take: Praise the sun!
Last Guardian Showing
Omg it’s real and it’s beautiful and I’m attached to this bird cat thing… it warms my heart like microwave. I know it’s a game they kinda dug back up again, but still it has so much promise as a beautiful journey shared between a boy and his cat bird friend.
Accelerated One-Take: They’re capturing wonder with this game.. wish my dog could play games: I think he’d dig this one.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Announcement
Honestly I want a IX remake, it’s a better game you rabid VII fanboys! But I do appreciate the visual style and impact this game has on our medium: I mean Midgar running on a PS4; thats going to be nuts. And what a great trailer, they preyed on our every expectation knowing that we try to resist the foolish act of believing. But maybe its time to start believing again. Queue “Believe” by Cher*
Accelerated One-Take: YEEEEAH YEEEEAH (beginning part of HBO’s Entourage intro)
Shenmue III Kickstarter
Never played Shenmue in my life. For months leading up to this I saw twitter post after twitter post from Shenmue supporters, drumming up hope which I felt would ultimately be in vain. A single petal gets dropped and Michael P Huber shreds some hype tears; I only wish every Shenmue fan had a camera on them: the tears of joy and elation for their dream to come true is special. I was right there with you: though I wasn't crying I swear it's just my contacts that were bothering me. Mmk!
My Shenmue moment would be a new console Tenchu game. I would weep, I want to be like that guy who stood up during the Shenmue announcement: hands over his head in beautiful mind shattering disbelief.
Accelerated One-Take: You did it fam!
These reactions are precious!
Uncharted 4 demo at E3
The first snippet was incredible: the opening close up on Nate and Sully showing off the amazing graphics and character detail, in case we forgot. Then it opens up with a vehicle chase across the city winding down multiple paths with remarkable detail: watermelons roll around, crates are smashed, someone’s hang drying laundry latches on to the getaway car, pedestrians get out of your way just in the nick of time. Then we get the extended demo: WOW. Incredible action, chaos, thrilling momentum and action spectacle: we are used to moments like this in Uncharted but the team at Naughty Dog seem to not want to leave us any breathing room in the finale. If that was only a 15 minute vertical slice, I can’t begin to imagine the things we will see in the full 8-10 hour game.
Accelerated One-Take: 2016 is stacked, but this is a safe bet for 2016’s game of the year. Calling it!
Rocket League
Behind that fun colorful Hot Wheels aesthetic is a serious game; a game as fun as it is competitive. You really get the feeling that you are a player on the team, contributing or holding back your team’s success. You whiff a save and everyone sarcastically spams the “What a Save!” preset message, then you thankfully score a goal or execute a clutch assist showing the team you aren’t complete garbage. Like any great competitive game it’s full of moments of awe and moments of heartbreak. But above all, it’s just pure fun.
Accelerated One Take: Don’t let the fact of cars flying hitting a soccer ball around scare you (in fact, it shouldn’t cause that sounds awesome); it rivals any sports game.
SO that's it for the first half of the year... more coming up!
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