Would recommend also checking out Sino Centre in Mong Kok. It has almost everything ranging from video games to manga to CDs, figures and more. Pretty crowded though (but Mong Kok itself is already crowded).
I guess I should use my Switch 2 for something
Still, have to circle back to the story. Crazy development, many parties are going to be in play, and a crazy ending that circles back to the first Daybreak entry. It's all just a big ploy for this.
Now the only thing is waiting for the next one to come out. Unlikely that it'll be this year, tho.
Okay. This is one crazy finale.
I can't wait for the next game which is unlikely to come out this year.
Story aside, this is a solid Trails game. I love the gameplay even more than the last one. Don't like the music as much, though.
I'd like more of this, please
I know Mewgenics is something that's potentially in my wheelhouse, but I'm not that big of a fan of the style of Edward McMillen's games, it feels kinda gross visually (poop, gore etc).
The price is attractive though, I guess I'll eventually get it when it goes on a bigger sale.
Well, I'll miss the guy.
It's time to finally catch up!
I played the demo and cleared the prologue. Now it's really time to see if it's as great as others say about this one.
Well I beat story mode and I'm definitely way too old to figure out how to play high speed Puyo Puyo or Tetris. Good there's a skip button during story mode.
Those weird extra modes outside of swap battles weren't really that fun.
Story is kind of a wash too. Not as fun as the first one, at least.
I have no idea when I bought this game but I started playing it at the start of the week and man I still don't fully get Puyo Puyo
I feel like there's enough gameplay by itself for the trailer.
Hopefully this is just the only thing they use to appeal to shareholders that they used AI, but regardless it's pretty jarring.
Nice that we got in-game vids, but I'd really rather they just show more of the gameplay highlights instead of what seems to be AI generated caricatures of their DLC characters.
I know there's a leak of season 2 already, but I think fans would be excited enough just to see those gameplay splices.
There's also Into the Breach from Subset Games, which I had slightly dabbled in, but dropped eventually. I should play that too sometime.
Still rather amazed that this indie studio just decided to make 2 all-timer rougelikes with free expansions, and then pretty much went silent after.
Well, had to drop it to easy (which still isn't that easy) but finally got a win after such a long time.
FTL is still one of the best rougelikes out there. I'll come back to this. Eventually.
Hoping that me and everyone I know and love will have a not-shit 2026. The bar is low, but here's to hoping!
More games to look forward in 2026:
- Trails Beyond the Horizon
- Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter
- A Ys game or two?
- Either Farthest Frontier/Of Life and Land/Against the Storm
- Hades II
- Mario Kart World?
- Some games in my Steam or Switch library
- Balatro gold stake (it's always Balatro)
Honorable mentions:
- Metal Slug Tactics
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Two SNK games (well, technically 1), but to be honest CotW didn't vibe with me that well unlike KOF XV. I liked MST for its different take of turn-based strategy game, where you have to be more aggressive.
9. Is This Seat Taken? - A fun little puzzle game that also shows you how nitpicky everyone is when you try to make everyone happy.
10. Trails through Daybreak II - The story's presented in a messy way, especially certain chapters. I like the combat, but everything else is a slight dropoff.
7. Keep Driving - I like the road trip vibe. Also how you deal with obstacles on road is an interesting mechanic. Hitchhikers add a cool twist too.
8. Control - The best game that makes me really uncomfortable to play at times. Not a horror game but it has those vibes for me. Cool superpowers!
5. Persona 4 Golden - Even though the MC is basically mute, the camaraderie of the party is great. Don't like the dungeons that much, and feels a bit dated now, but still a fun romp.
6. Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - Great pacing, nice homage to earlier games. Messy battles though.
3. Subway Builder - My dream game concept is finally a reality except it's like on Google Maps. Excited for what's to come. Gonna do another city soon-ish.
4. Ys Origin - Only technically completed 1/3rd of the game, but combat is snappy and is decently difficult. Crazy good music, thanks Falcom!
My 2025 GOTYIPTY (Game of the Year I've Played This Year):
1. A Short Hike - Love this game to bits. Good for 1-2 hours, touching ending, easy to play.
2. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter - It's a remake done so well that I feel it's the measuring stick for any future remakes I'll play (my 2025 GOTY)
And it has no holepunch camera. And it's my Balatro machine. I like the camera that just doesn't try to add contrast to everything. I just hope Sony would keep updating the phone.
Enough of my ramblings. I just hope 2026 is not going to be shit. Which is unlikely, but one can hope.
Game list time:
The Switch 2 was half impulse-half panic buy. I don't need it, really, though my Switch going kaput with an orange screen of death one day did push me towards that direction.
Maybe a new mobile phone? But my Sony Xperia 1 V is good enough for my needs. It has a freaking 3.5mm headphone jack.
An OLED would be nice but word clarity and screen burn-in are issues that I'm concerned with.
PC parts are too expensive these days, especially RAM obviously. I did consider getting an AMD 9070 XT but then when I think about it, what really graphically intensive games do I need it for? Very few.
...and more of a "where should I go today" maybe when I'm in Tokyo. It should be pretty refreshing for a change.
But outside of that, I don't have many plans myself on what exactly to do next year except to get my health in order.
I did want to get something new for my computer, a monitor maybe.
So Macau in a not-so-cold month, say February or March over 2 or 3 days.
Then maybe another Japan trip. I haven't been to Tokyo for years, and I want to check out Kanazawa, and hop on the Sunrise Izumo overnight train. The train tickets are hard to get, though.
But less of a checklist to do...
And also get me some good sleep too - on workdays I sometimes stay up till past 1am and get up at 7, so 6 or maybe less hours total a day. So in short, get my health and daily cycle in order as well.
A trip overseas would be nice as well. I did ask my mom to go to Macau and somehow she relented.
And I feel it's causing me all sorts of floaty feelings that's sorta like vertigo but not really. I might have to see a doctor about it soon but really, one thing I should fix is my posture and my neck.
I also feel it might've contributed a little to my brain fogginess at times.
Well now I'm just a tired guy trying to get his work-life balance in order and survive. And hopefully go back to some degree of normalcy soon.
In next year it's more of getting healthier, and also working on my posture. I crane my neck forward a little too much since years ago.
