December 2020 Recap

On 01/02/2021 at 01:13 PM by daftman

Games Beaten

-Blaster Master Zero (Switch)

Blaster Master Zero looks and sounds like how we remember NES games being. The areas to explore are large without being too big and the action is satisfying and fair. It's a good length for this type of game. The one bit of excessive backtracking is guided, taking the frustration of not knowing what to do out of it. The various weapons feel largely superfluous, though they are very handy if you think to use them. The traversal upgrades give a great feeling of progression. Good game.

Games Bought

After several months of hardly acquiring any games at all (not a bad thing!), December opened the flood gates! First of all, my physical copies of Blaster Master Zero and Blaster Master Zero 2 for the Switch came in the mail from Limited Run Games. Then we had Christmas and my kids got several Switch games: Kirby Star Allies, LEGO Worlds, Just Dance 2021, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Between my birthday and Christmas I got several myself: The Wonderful 101: Remastered, Shantae and the Seven Sirens, and Namco Museum Arcade Pac. Then I used a gift card to get Sakura Wars (PS4) because I love me a good very Japanese kind of game lol. This is the one set in a steam-powered alternate 1940s Japan where you're the captain of a girls group that uses giant mechs to fight off demons...and they're also a fully-functioning theatre troupe Anyway, I also grabbed the PS+ game Just Cause 4 (PS4). We also ordered a few games post-Christmas that haven't come yet. Those'll count for January.

Games Being Played

-Octopath Traveler (Switch)

Working on Olberic's chapter 2. I've got one more character after that and I'll be on to the chapter 3s. I'm already, like, 40 hours in! It was the perfect game for me in December though. I could easily play for five minutes or an hour. So far I haven't burnt out on it yet.

-Sakura Wars (PS4)

Just started this last night. Done little more than met the characters thus far.

-Dragon's Crown Pro (PS4)

Working on collecting the talismans with the dwarf.

-Destiny 2 (PS4)

Working on the quests on Europa.

And that's December! Hopefully in the next couple of days I can get my yearly recap blog put together. Be sure to check back!

Cary Woodham

01/02/2021 at 02:59 PM

I'm curious about the Blaster Master Zero games, as they were made by Inti Creates. But I didn't like the original Blaster Master on NES as much as everyone else did, so it's not a big priority for me.

daftman

01/03/2021 at 12:26 PM

It's good! I'd say just stick it in your wish list and wait for a sale. You should try it. I didn't have any major complaints.

SanAndreas

01/03/2021 at 06:21 PM

I have Sakura Wars on PS4, and I actually just started Octopath Traveler. I'm working through Prim's story.

01/04/2021 at 05:06 PM

I've been waiting and waiting for secondary jobs to open up in Octopath and just discovered today that it isn't based on your level. There are shrines hidden out in the world that unlock the jobs once you find them. So make sure to explore those more open areas between towns!

KnightDriver

01/03/2021 at 09:23 PM

I'm curious about Sakura Wars after researching the franchise a few months ago.

01/04/2021 at 05:07 PM

I had wanted to get that one for the PS2/Wii back in the day but never got around to it. Glad to be giving the series a go now.

01/06/2021 at 06:47 PM

I have a copy of that and it's now sitting on my countertop ready to be played.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

01/05/2021 at 10:37 AM

I'm going to play those Blaster Master games some day, I swear!

I really want to play Octopath, but I think instead I'm going to buy the new Bravely Default when it comes out in February. Got to try the demo first though.

01/06/2021 at 05:51 AM

I'm sure the new Bravely Default will be quite good, though I won't be getting it right away. Gotta spread out these huge RPGs! I do love the art for Octopath so much more though.

PixlBit