Zachary Reid
@dalkaen.bsky.social
Starting over on a new social media platform? In these 30s?
#49: Super Robot Wars Y: Although I had some gripes with this game, I thought it was pretty great overall. It's the first SRW since OGMD that actually has some teeth on its hardest difficulty. It also has decent diversity of objectives and strategies and a solid roster. I may check out DLC later!
December 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
#49: Super Robot Wars Y: Although I had some gripes with this game, I thought it was pretty great overall. It's the first SRW since OGMD that actually has some teeth on its hardest difficulty. It also has decent diversity of objectives and strategies and a solid roster. I may check out DLC later!
#48: Luminous Arc: This is a very short and reasonably cute strategy RPG. In a genre where most of these games take 50+ hours, this one was done in less than 30. The mechanics are are essentially FFT but pared down and streamlined. The resolution of the DS does it no favors in terms of readability.
November 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
#48: Luminous Arc: This is a very short and reasonably cute strategy RPG. In a genre where most of these games take 50+ hours, this one was done in less than 30. The mechanics are are essentially FFT but pared down and streamlined. The resolution of the DS does it no favors in terms of readability.
#47: Absolum: I love the emphasis this roguelike beat 'em up puts on juggling and combos. The actual moment-to-moment gameplay is way more engaging than any other beat 'em up I've played, but the build diversity doesn't always wow me. Even so, it's enough fun that it doesn't matter that much.
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 AM
#47: Absolum: I love the emphasis this roguelike beat 'em up puts on juggling and combos. The actual moment-to-moment gameplay is way more engaging than any other beat 'em up I've played, but the build diversity doesn't always wow me. Even so, it's enough fun that it doesn't matter that much.
I DID NOT NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE anyway here's a screenshot I took of this game 11 years ago. That game is certainly something.
November 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I DID NOT NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE anyway here's a screenshot I took of this game 11 years ago. That game is certainly something.
#46: Blue Prince: I admire this game more than I actually enjoy it. The idea of crafting a manor in specific layouts to progress a broader meta-narrative is really cool, but the RNG element means you're often relying on luck to have a chance to advance. Over many runs, it starts to wear thin.
November 9, 2025 at 6:48 AM
#46: Blue Prince: I admire this game more than I actually enjoy it. The idea of crafting a manor in specific layouts to progress a broader meta-narrative is really cool, but the RNG element means you're often relying on luck to have a chance to advance. Over many runs, it starts to wear thin.
#45: Disco Elysium: It's really not often that I play a new game that I could potentially consider one of my favorite games of all time. Disco Elysium could certainly be on that list and it's crazy that I waited this long to play it. Dense, literary narrative. Immaculate role-playing and dialogue.
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 AM
#45: Disco Elysium: It's really not often that I play a new game that I could potentially consider one of my favorite games of all time. Disco Elysium could certainly be on that list and it's crazy that I waited this long to play it. Dense, literary narrative. Immaculate role-playing and dialogue.
#44: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles: It's always lovely to replay one of my favorite games of all time, but this may also be the definitive localization. I have mixed feelings about how Tactician difficulty was implemented, but it was nice to have a little extra challenge. [10/25/25]
October 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM
#44: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles: It's always lovely to replay one of my favorite games of all time, but this may also be the definitive localization. I have mixed feelings about how Tactician difficulty was implemented, but it was nice to have a little extra challenge. [10/25/25]
#43: Ball X Pit: It's a game that's kind of like Breakout, but also kind of like Vampire Survivors, but also maybe it reminds me of Loop Hero and straight up pinball. There are so many disparate gameplay elements here that work shockingly well together. Very fun and dangerously addictive.
October 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
#43: Ball X Pit: It's a game that's kind of like Breakout, but also kind of like Vampire Survivors, but also maybe it reminds me of Loop Hero and straight up pinball. There are so many disparate gameplay elements here that work shockingly well together. Very fun and dangerously addictive.
#42: Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns: This one really surprised me. The first game was a pretty barebones (but charming) traditional roguelike, but this one adds a tag mechanic, tons of new weapon types, like 10 playable characters, more levels, and jut about everything you'd want in a sequel.
October 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
#42: Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns: This one really surprised me. The first game was a pretty barebones (but charming) traditional roguelike, but this one adds a tag mechanic, tons of new weapon types, like 10 playable characters, more levels, and jut about everything you'd want in a sequel.
#41: The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II: After Reverie and Daybreak, I was thinking that maybe this series is pretty alright as a junk food JRPG experience, but despite still having enjoyable combat, this particular entry is mostly just complete filler nonsense. Maybe next time.
October 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
#41: The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II: After Reverie and Daybreak, I was thinking that maybe this series is pretty alright as a junk food JRPG experience, but despite still having enjoyable combat, this particular entry is mostly just complete filler nonsense. Maybe next time.
#40: Hades II: It will surprise no one that this game is quite good. It's More Hades, but this time with more variety in options across the board. The gameplay mechanics are a tad more complex, but the excellent dialogue and characterization are really what distinguish these games from the rest.
October 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
#40: Hades II: It will surprise no one that this game is quite good. It's More Hades, but this time with more variety in options across the board. The gameplay mechanics are a tad more complex, but the excellent dialogue and characterization are really what distinguish these games from the rest.
#39: The Rise of the Golden Idol: Golden Idol Investigations: I wrapped up the four DLCs for this game over the past two weeks now that they're all out. Overall, I'd say they're very good! One of the particulars of DLC 2 really tripped me up, but I enjoyed how these DLCs fleshed out the world.
October 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
#39: The Rise of the Golden Idol: Golden Idol Investigations: I wrapped up the four DLCs for this game over the past two weeks now that they're all out. Overall, I'd say they're very good! One of the particulars of DLC 2 really tripped me up, but I enjoyed how these DLCs fleshed out the world.
#38: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth: I last played this game in 2011 and apparently loved it. In 2025, I didn't much care for it. The localization is really flat and the plot is mostly bland. After not adoring Great Ace Attorney, I wonder if this series has lost its appeal for me.
October 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
#38: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth: I last played this game in 2011 and apparently loved it. In 2025, I didn't much care for it. The localization is really flat and the plot is mostly bland. After not adoring Great Ace Attorney, I wonder if this series has lost its appeal for me.
#37: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap: I've been along for the ride with this series since the beginning in 2011. The series has ebbed and flowed in terms of quality, but there's a lot to enjoy here, even if I miss the variety from Unchained. I enjoy the roguelite multi-player spin on the classic formula.
September 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
#37: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap: I've been along for the ride with this series since the beginning in 2011. The series has ebbed and flowed in terms of quality, but there's a lot to enjoy here, even if I miss the variety from Unchained. I enjoy the roguelite multi-player spin on the classic formula.
It can truly be difficult to understand why the thing is the way it is
September 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
It can truly be difficult to understand why the thing is the way it is
#36: Silent Hill 2: A friend suggested we play this during our semi-regular retro game sessions so we traded off finishing it in two long sessions. It's an interesting game and I'm glad I played it just to see the influence it exerted on other media, but the experience itself wasn't especially fun.
September 21, 2025 at 6:24 PM
#36: Silent Hill 2: A friend suggested we play this during our semi-regular retro game sessions so we traded off finishing it in two long sessions. It's an interesting game and I'm glad I played it just to see the influence it exerted on other media, but the experience itself wasn't especially fun.
#35: Hollow Knight: Silksong: Genuinely an incredible game with extraordinarily satisfying movement, platforming, and combat. The tedious runbacks on failed boss attempts irritated me initially, but it gave me plenty of time to practice my movement. Rolled credits, but I have plenty more to do.
September 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
#35: Hollow Knight: Silksong: Genuinely an incredible game with extraordinarily satisfying movement, platforming, and combat. The tedious runbacks on failed boss attempts irritated me initially, but it gave me plenty of time to practice my movement. Rolled credits, but I have plenty more to do.
#34: Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja: Next up in my list of old DS games from my 2011 wishlist is a fairly traditional roguelike about a kunoichi. Some of the humor is a tad dated but the gameplay is rock solid. The talisman system in particular is interesting! It ends quite anticlimactically.
September 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
#34: Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja: Next up in my list of old DS games from my 2011 wishlist is a fairly traditional roguelike about a kunoichi. Some of the humor is a tad dated but the gameplay is rock solid. The talisman system in particular is interesting! It ends quite anticlimactically.
#33: Pokémon Infinite Fusion: Genuinely a testament to how infinitely engaging and remixable the mechanics of Pokémon are. Coming up with interesting fusions is always a blast, especially in a Soul Link like we were doing.
August 31, 2025 at 6:45 AM
#33: Pokémon Infinite Fusion: Genuinely a testament to how infinitely engaging and remixable the mechanics of Pokémon are. Coming up with interesting fusions is always a blast, especially in a Soul Link like we were doing.
#32: Glory of Heracles: I'm stubbornly committed to completing the wishlist of DS games I made in 2011. My opinion of this one really fluctuated as I played it, but it's a turn-based RPG with a an interesting touch-screen-augmented combat system and mostly ignorable everything else.
August 19, 2025 at 4:27 AM
#32: Glory of Heracles: I'm stubbornly committed to completing the wishlist of DS games I made in 2011. My opinion of this one really fluctuated as I played it, but it's a turn-based RPG with a an interesting touch-screen-augmented combat system and mostly ignorable everything else.
#31: SaGa Emerald Beyond: Both this and Scarlet Grace have great combat systems and are full of that addictive SaGa weirdness. However, the minimalistic presentation and bizarre storylines never did a lot for me once the novelty wore off. I would have enjoyed it more had I spent less time on it.
August 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
#31: SaGa Emerald Beyond: Both this and Scarlet Grace have great combat systems and are full of that addictive SaGa weirdness. However, the minimalistic presentation and bizarre storylines never did a lot for me once the novelty wore off. I would have enjoyed it more had I spent less time on it.
#30: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: This is essentially just a perfect 2D action platformer. I like Blasphemous a lot, but these devs really knocked it out of the park here by making a tight, focused, challenging game that never feels unfair and never lets up on the momentum. I really liked it!
August 5, 2025 at 3:31 AM
#30: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: This is essentially just a perfect 2D action platformer. I like Blasphemous a lot, but these devs really knocked it out of the park here by making a tight, focused, challenging game that never feels unfair and never lets up on the momentum. I really liked it!
#29: Nioh 2: I last played this game on PS4 a few years ago, but decided to revisit it for co-op on PC. It was a nice reminder of just how good the game's combat is and the co-op was surprisingly frictionless for the most part. This was also my first chance to try the DLC, which was a nice bonus.
August 2, 2025 at 6:53 AM
#29: Nioh 2: I last played this game on PS4 a few years ago, but decided to revisit it for co-op on PC. It was a nice reminder of just how good the game's combat is and the co-op was surprisingly frictionless for the most part. This was also my first chance to try the DLC, which was a nice bonus.
#28: Nine Sols: Wow, I'm shocked at just how excellent this game was. It's a hybrid of Hollow Knight, Sekiro, and Katana Zero and features some of the most difficult and satisfying combat I have ever experienced. On top of that, it has a genuinely engrossing and moving plot. Incredible game.
July 18, 2025 at 8:16 AM
#28: Nine Sols: Wow, I'm shocked at just how excellent this game was. It's a hybrid of Hollow Knight, Sekiro, and Katana Zero and features some of the most difficult and satisfying combat I have ever experienced. On top of that, it has a genuinely engrossing and moving plot. Incredible game.