Making my way through Code Vein 2 and while it’s pretty enjoyable, I do have to say that it’s one of the ugliest looking games I have seen in years. The move to an open world has created a massive technical burden that the game is not prepared to handle at all. Game both runs poorly and looks bad.

Not a big fan of Highguard. I love the art style, character designs, and the movement and shooting but man, just absolutely sick of these shooters with loot rarity systems, hero abilities, battle passes, lack of game modes, etc. I’m sure this game will find some fans. I wish it had a campaign,

It’s peak I fear. The best rally game I’ve played in quite a bit. Abandons realism, exhaustive car customization, and graphical intensity in favor of simple and fun arcade goodness in the format of a lite Gran Turismo campaign. Simple, no bullshit, just a lot of maps and challenges to complete.

Frieren Volume 1: The key here is how understated this manga is. There’s no world ending stakes (yet at least), no long, earth shattering battles, and no tropey isekai bullshit. It’s just understated dialogue, small tiny conflicts, nostalgic memories, and little emotionally shattering moments. Peak.

Demon Slayer Volume 1: Went in very cynical (I tend to do that with all shonen series due to fatigue) but was pleasantly surprised that it very much is worth the hype. Each chapter moves along at a very quick clip and it executes all the intro/training bullshit with efficiency and dramatic stakes.

Big fan of the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series so it inspired me to read the first volume of Initial D. I’m mixed on it. The passion the mangaka has for cars and car culture is so obvious. Every vehicle is rendered in fine detail and the book really gets into the gritty details of drifting and racing.

Just finished Delicious in Dungeon Volume 1 on a train ride. Absolutely fantastic. Tonally very interesting (brutal and violent yet a slow burn with low stakes) and beautifully illustrated. Also the amount of casual world building Ryoko Kai engages in a single volume is nothing short of miraculous.

Further thoughts on Vanishing Point. I’m genuinely bewildered how this game (the PS1 version specifically) got mixed reviews. Like it’s genuinely amongst the top racers for this console. Mastering its tough handling model and winding maps really is insanely satisfying.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Tokyo Xtreme Racer for @pcgamer.com! Come take a look (then make sure you buy the game) :D

www.pcgamer.com/games/racing...

I think Vanishing Point for the PS1 is extremely underrated. Yes it’s flawed and the design of it can be extremely frustrating, but mastering the game’s brutal handling model is genuinely tense and satisfying. I just started playing it for the first time ever a week ago and I can’t stop playing.

Terrific.

"Mostly classic films and box sets." Bad discs were made from 2006-09 at "a manufacturing plant in PA that used subpar materials & cut corners."

Warner Bros Discovery strikes again.

I'll have to check my dvd library. So much for physical media being the solution to streaming abuses.