Whoever came up with the Baby deserves a raise and also needs their head examined.

Definitely doesn’t make the most of the series’ stalker mechanics though, and the villains being memorable as characters does a lot to make up for them being overly straightforward as bosses.

Oops.

Just confirmed that this is, in fact, what has happened.

Not entirely unconvinced that the Red Death didn’t die ages ago and I’m not just burning through the weaker variants that start to spawn as backup after the 30 minute mark.

That fucking dancing spider is a definite highlight from the new roster. What a great concept.

The story’s overbearing and a bit rubbish, the roster of monsters feels too small, most of the maps feel weirdly confusing to navigate and the true final boss being a rematch is disappointing. Combat feels great and what monsters we got are, for the most part, supremely cool.

Daydreaming about a Nightreign crossover, honestly. Adel or Caligo are almost too much like your average Monster Hunter target; feels like Tricephalos, Augur or the Sentient Pest combo would all be more mechanically unusual and interesting.

Hope we get a few more big crossovers like this, especially if they add new monsters.

Am I still posting about this? A 3rd attempt win against Everdark Augur means yes. My 2 failed runs were probably the most I’ve felt frustrated by a FromSoft boss in years; it felt much more manageable as a 2-player run rather than a full 3-player one. A weird fight.

Thinking on it, the final dungeon in Scarlet/Violet is probably the closest modern Pokémon has come to really nailing it. Kinda wish the rest of that game was on that wavelength.

Really might be time for me to pick up a PS5.

They aren’t perfect games, but I still wish the Pokémon devs would take some cues from them when it comes to modernising that series. The focus on open-zone world design and a stronger (but not overbearing) narrative focus would suit Pokémon so well - the first Legends game also proved that.

In many ways I am the most basic manga fan on the planet. The bit where the hero’s nearly beat so all his mates show up to save his ass? That’s a chef’s kiss every time.

Just pulled off another supremely strong carry on my first ever Sovereign form Sentient Pest fight too. Feeling slightly smug, ngl.