My favorite PS5 game right now is Ratchet and Clank, which is just more Ratchet but I love that series so it's good enough for me! Deathloop and Astro-Bot were pretty good too. This year I'm sure I'll pick up Horizon (though I refuse to spend more than $60 on it) and MLB The Show. I couldn't resist when I saw Ohtani's steel book cover
My GOTY is right now a tie between Halo Infinite and Metroid Dread. After that, Ratchet and Clank, Psychonauts 2, and Deathloop. Was a pretty good year for games with me too. Felt the indie scene could have been better though, some good games but nothing on par with Hades, Celeste or Dead Cells.
I still haven't played a Ys game. I hear they're good and look neat just looks like one giant rabbit hole to delve into and I barely have enough time for the games I'm playing.
Metroid Dread is my GOTY though Halo Infinite could pass it by the end of the year. Between the open world campaign and how much the MP is bringing back the glory days with my buddies I'm very happy with it. Honorable mentions would be Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, Psychonauts 2, Deathloop, and yes, New Pokémon Snap.
I really need to get back to Ace Attorney.
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3. Illium (Mass Effect)- I choose this one because it's the only planet that doesnt get completely screwed over in Mass Effect 3. Sure, corporate corruption is out of control but I do a good job of keeping my head low. I'm willing to accept that risk if it means I can live in that universe.
2. Pokémon- This universe has a lot of horrifying implications, from criminal organizations only stopped by a random twelve year old to a random animal draining my soul. But I've had a dog before. He was a little shit even though I loved him. So that I could capture a dog, he would immediately obey all my commands, AND can shoot fire, electricity, etc at my enemies makes me instantly want to live in this universe.
1. Persona 5- Look, we're all aware of the problems of our reality. NOTHING in all of fiction is more liberating than the idea that I can force all the people screwing over the universe to see the horrible things they're doing for what they are and understand the weight and guilt associated with them.
Cage Match
Veronica would just slap the entire FFXV party until they did everything she says. DQXI wins.
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3. Darth Sion (Kotor 2): It was one thing when I saw a shirtless Sith lord who looks he's made of charcoal hunting me down as I watch recordings of him stalking the crew of a Republic warship, murder them one by one. It was another when I discovered he can't die unless he chooses to. But the second I heard Sion speak solidified him as one of the freakiest villains ever.
2. The Joker (Batman Arkham Knight): The Joker is usually a scary villain when you think of the implications but Arkham Knight took him to the next level. He filled the entire game with dread, knowing that soon his blood will allow him to take control of Batman. Knowing that you'll be worse than dead, a prisoner in your own mind to the most dangerous person imaginable with all those tools and gadgets Batman knows for is as scary a thing I can imagine.
1. Mimikyu (Pokémon Sun/Moon): The hardest part of this list was putting entries besides Ghost type Pokémon. Between candles that light their flame by sucking souls out of people so slowly they don't even notice to a sarcophagus that grabs people, eats them and turns their remains into mummies. The one that freaks me out the most is Mimikyu, a ghost that wears a Pikachu costume because it wants to be loved like Pikachu. So much that no one has seen what it actually looks like and lived. I don't know if it's because it attacks them or what it looks like horrifies them. All I know is it has a super powerful attack called Let's Snuggle Forever where it grows super big, traps the other Pokémon under its costume, does a lot of damage and freaks me the fuck out.
Cage Match
As much as I love Resident Evil 4, Dead Space 2 wins this one. Leon Kennedy can go down from something as simple as an old villager shaking him. Isaac Clark only does when things literally tear off his limbs and head or blow him up into a million pieces. It's just not a fair fight.
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3. Crash Bandicoot- As we all know I love this character and would love to see him get into Looney Toons esque shenanigans each week. He's got enough friends and villains that a few seasons bare minimum can work with some fun slapstick.
2. Sly Cooper- My pick for a more serialized show, Sly 2-4 had a formula that would translate well where Sly and his gang would complete a series a missions before setting up a heist to rob a villain. I think doing each heist in 3-4 episode arcs would make for a really fun show.
1. Mass Effect- First off, I know this is M rated but an R rating never stopped Robocop and The Toxic Avenger from getting Saturday morning cartoons. Second, Mass Effect 2 has a pitch for a kids show/cartoon in the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC. The Shadow Broker has dossiers on all of your party members and Mordin's reveals that in addition to his STG work, he's the Salarian equivalent of Bill Nye with his own show where he teaches science to children. I would watch the hell out of The Very Model of a Scientist Salarian conduct crazy experiments and sing Gilbert and Sullivan to teach science.
Cage Match
Primal Rage comes out sweating, barely able to breathe with a giant beer belly. The crowd is immediately disappointed and worried for how it will fair against anyone, even Bloody Roar. But everyone is left waiting until reminded that Bloody Roar is owned by Konami who won't let it out to play. Primal Rage wins
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1. If you were a Mass Effect alien race, which one do you think you'd fit into the best and worst?
2. If you were to make a Muppet version of an R rated movie which would it be and which human actors would stay?
3. What is your beer of choice?
Cage Match:
Tetris blocks start pouring down on Skyrim. It takes a very long time for them to do damage because of the enorm size of the region but towns and villages eventually start getting hit. Then the blocks stop and people look up in the sky and see that they're trapped by the glitches. The player then starts a new game and uninstalls the Tetris mod. Skyrim wins.
Another good podcast. The DS is my favorite handhel, felt unlike the Wii it was full of games that took advantage of its gimmicks rather than the touch screen feeling tacked on. Meteos, Elite Beat Agents, World Ends With You in addition to traditional games like Castlevania and Pokémon. After that my order would probably be
2. GBA
3. Switch
4. 3DS
5. PSP
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3.Burt Reynolds (Saints Row the Third)- Even the zombie, who doesn't say anything else, says "BURT FUCKING REYNOLDS!?" when meeting him
2. Sovereign (Mass Effect)- The second he spoke to me all I could think was "Holy shit I'm fucked." Sovereign was too good of an introduction, Mass Effect 3 had to scramble a convenient super weapon plot together because of it. Or Mass Effect 2 could have let Shepard and Cerberus do SOMETHING to prepare against the Reapers. But I digress.
1. Godot (Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney 3)- A strangely masked man stands across from you. A jazzy tune plays. The judge asks him to remove his mask but drops it after he replies "All men wear masks. Whether over our face or over our hearts." A cup of coffee slides into his hands followed with "Darker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than the depths of hell. That is coffee." And all I can think is "DAMN this guy is smooth!"
Cage Match
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a game that loosely continues Assassin's Creed 3's story. I prefer games not continuing Assassin's Creed 3's story in any way, shape or form. Mario Odyssey wins.
