The holiday season was particularly long this time around, thanks to having to spend it in boring, rural Ohio. So, like a healthy, well-adjusted person, I played video games the whole time. Here’s a rundown of what I played:
Final Fantasy XV
The big one. I never got the chance to write a full review, but my assessment remains positive.
The main characters are all great. They partake a plot filled to the brim with holes and inconsistencies as well as fun gameplay that’s missing a bit of depth. It’s getting story patches and a multiplayer expansion later on, so it’ll stay fresh for a long time, despite the campaign’s short length compared to other Final Fantasy games.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
This parkour-laden cult classic I never got to play returns to the current console generation, packing a completely pointless, new open world and some good looking new visuals.
The free running core is engaging, the plot is merely adequate, and the whole thing is best when you’re running around at the speed of normal. Ubisoft syndrome hits pretty hard here, with most of the side content being only so-so filler, with only a couple real gems hidden amidst the fluff. Sticking to the main quest and only looking back for the paradoxically enjoyable Ubisoft tower climbs is what you want to be doing.
Pokemon Sun and Moon
Pokemon continues to be Pokemon, taking a couple steps forward and a couple steps back since the 6th generation.
Crushing the game underfoot with your superior understanding powers is still as fun as ever, the new Z-Moves let you use the whole party in this game’s nuclear moves as opposed to the old Mega Evolutions’ limited selection of Pokemon.
The writing is just a bit sharper than it used to be, thanks in part to the series realizing its multi-generational appeal, and the new Pokemon are winners from a design standpoint.
Skyrim: Special Edition
It’s Skyrim. But prettier. On the new consoles. My copy came with two cases. That’s all I have to say about that.
Day of The Tentacle
A fun, short LucasArts adventure game about time travel that’s literally impossible without guides. And I think that’s supposed to be the joke. It was free on PS+, but if you want a more engrossing but equally obtuse and funny experience by the same developer, go in for Grim Fandango on PS4/Vita/PC/Phones.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Hearts 2.8 comes out soonish. The plot is nigh impenetrable for both new players and the main character himself, so it’s left again to coast on the strength of the main cast as new rules are made up, a new character gets retconned in and out over the course of one story, and sequel bait is thrown out left and right to make way for both Birth By Sleep and the ever-ephemeral Kingdom Hearts 3.
The core of Kingdom Hearts gameplay remains essentially solid, and the panel loadout system is incredibly addictive. Shame the missions the game gives you are generally uninteresting and the pace is irreconcilably slow. It’s telling that an HD movie version of this story is basically three black robed idiots eating ice cream on a tower for three hours talking about feelings they’re technically not feeling.
Logan Graham is a junior studying media arts with a focus in games and animation at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What video games are your favorite? Let him know by emailing him at lg261813@ohio.edu.
