Spec Ops: The Line

Introduction: I remember hearing once that "war is hell," but in hell, only the guilty reside. In war, innocent, guilty --- they're all the same: targets, both intentional and unintentional, but less than a handful of videogames have really captured that essence, and Spec Ops: The Line hit like an unseen IED. Inspired by the unflinching and controversial Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Spec Ops: The Line delivers something that was desperately needed in a genre that has decided that war has definitive lines and we can choose which side we're on. There's always a choice, and not everything is about heroes and villains.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

Introduction: It is the 21st century, and a new MechWarrior game has finally arrived... Whenever I talk to my friends about my love for the MechWarrior franchise as well as the greater Battletech universe, my phone tends to auto-correct it to MehWarrior. This would often give me a chuckle here and there, but now that I've finally gotten my hands on MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (no, I was not going to nab it from the Epic Games Store), I'm starting to think my phone was foretelling something, possibly even warning me of things to come, and what has become of this beloved series from my childhood.

The Witcher 3 – Wild Hunt

Introduction: After the sudden, abrupt, and surprisingly short Witcher 2, I wasn't sure what I was going to expect from this third installment. It did take me some time to complete the main story, but let me be clear here and now: it's not because it was boring or I lost interest, quite the opposite, there's so much to do. I actually searched out the side-quests and little markers that, in a way, force me to explore the world around me...and what a world it is. Ever since I first played World of Warcraft back in the day, I have dreamed of an open-world game on that scale without any multiplayer or online components. Now that technology has reached a certain state, has that dream of mine come to fruition with this third installment?

Bastion

Introduction: Supergiant Games appear to have a theme, with games like Hades and Transistor under their belt, it's no surprise that Bastion would come with the same amount of charm and care that its predecessors and offspring would bring. File this game under the "I didn't know I had it but probably came from a Humble Bundle and I'm glad I'm still on lockdown so that I can work through my back catalog and find pleasant surprises like this one" games folder. Taking place in a broken world that tries to rebuild itself one piece at a time, the Kid, along with a few folks he meets on his journey, seek out to reclaim what was once their homes.

Dark Souls III

Introduction: So here we are, the end of a journey that can't quite be summed up. Mixed emotions and perspectives, I feel as though I had gone on a journey as well through these broken lands of a world I hope never exists. So where do things stand in Dark Souls III? Well, I'll say this upfront: it's the weakest of the Dark Souls games, but that being said, Dark Souls III is still leagues above and beyond most other games in the genre, so any criticism I have for this third installment (and I do have quite a list), it still ranks as one of the best Action RPGs I have ever played. Shall we dive into the embers, Ashen One?

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings – Enhanced Edition

Introduction: Years ago, I had attempted to play The Witcher and got several hours in before the odd controls finally broke me down. After that, I hadn't really touched a Witcher game since, even though I have them on both GoG and Steam...until recently. A few months back, before Cyberpunk 2o77's disastrous launch, I had decided to continue my tradition of playing previous games by the company up until the release of a highly anticipated title. And so I booted up The Witcher 2 (and then promptly stopped once Cyberpunk launched, but that's another story) and proceeded to absorb as much as I could of the world, with its myriad of characters and locations.

Metro 2o33: Redux

Introduction: "The year is 2033. The world has been reduced to rubble. Humanity is nearly extinct. A few thousand live on, not knowing if they are the only survivors on the planet. They live in the Moscow Metro - the biggest air-raid shelter ever built. It is humanity's last refuge." And so the setting for the post-apocalypse in Moscow is set. You are Artyom, a young man who lives in VDNKh, one of many metro stations that have been converted into settlements of refugees, survivalists, bandits, Reds, and even Nazis, all striving for one thing: living, but not all have the same views on how to achieve such a future. It is here that we find ourselves, given a warning and a task by an enigmatic character named Hunter. The future of the metro, and possibly the remnants of humanity, rely on us and us alone, yet no task would be worthy of its importance if there weren't any obstacles. Come, let us dive into the metro.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

Introduction: From my understanding, Dark Souls II was not as well-received as the first when it first came out, and I have to admit, some of that emotion slithered into my perspective when I first booted it up. O - how stupid hindsight makes me feel. If you think Dark Souls II changed too much from the first, wait until part III, but I digress. Yes, it is a massive step away from its predecessor, but is that step in the right direction or the wrong one? Let's just say I died a lot...again.

Axiom Verge

Introduction: The Metroidvania genre could be seen as the first of the "Souls-like" copy and paste routines in gaming. Where many get the mechanics down, a majority seem to miss the core of what makes Metroid and Castlevania special. Much like with Dark Souls, its clones see what's on the surface and emulate it, giving their own twists, but totally miss the point of what makes Dark Souls great. But out of all the bloated clones and rushed releases, there are times when something gets made and entirely recaptures the magic of the progenitors of the genre.

American Truck Simulator

Introduction: The World of Trucks series, as it has come to be known now, is a strange anomaly within gaming. Up there with Microsoft's Flight Simulator and Maxis' Sims series and spinoffs, many questions whether real-world simulation games can be or should be considered games. Much like Tell-Tale's brand of interactive films filled with QuickTime events, such things ride a thin line of interactivity and entertainment. So in a way, a product's success does not always validate its existence or identity. So what does the Euro Truck Simulator spinoff have to say for itself?