Justin isn't going to sit idly by after someone hacks into his brain. He's definitely going to fight and fail over and over again until he outlasts all of his enemies. Ruin them with attrition. That's the motto.

Previous Vaporum experience

• A screenshot and the word steampunk sold me.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• This will be a cool environment to explore.
• Wasn't sure how well it would be balanced, I've bounced off of harder dungeon crawlers before.
• It might feel generic as I wasn't aware any of the developer's previous experience/games.
• If it comes together, I might like it more than traditional fantasy settings.

What actually happened

I've been in so many dungeons over the years and first impressions are important. I was immersed in Vaporum from the first valve that I had to turn. I saw gears move and doors slowly open and I had to go deeper (or in this case of a dungeon tower, upwards). Just as I got comfortable, the enemies started showing up I was impressed with just how balanced the game felt. Exploration, survival-focused combat, and puzzle-solving around deadly traps all have to make an appearance, but can't overshadow one another. I don't know much about the team behind Vaporum, but it definitely felt like they had designed a dungeon or two before.

The last few dungeon crawlers I've played had me control and entire group of adventurers, Vaporum just has you focus on a single character in your choice of armor rig which serves as a class selection. I wasn't sure how the game would handle its equivalent of magic because melee weapons and guns do not provide enough variety, but its elemental gadgets led to some fun area of effect attacks that felt at home in the game's universe. The skill tree also more than makes up for the complexity lost by not having to manage more than one character. It's a personal preference, but there's something more engrossing about exploring a dungeon completely alone than having group members to fall back on.

I was surprised to find organic enemies alongside the more robotic enemy types. I was expecting to only have to worry about metal on metal damage, but the combination of enemy types encourages you to pay attention to what type of damage your doing as enemies will naturally have different strengths and weaknesses. This prevented me from falling back on the same tactics for every encounter and I like it when the dungeon's minions keep me on my toes.

Vaporum also has a decent story and the tower you explore feels appropriately creepy and lived-in. It's too early to tell how everything comes together, but some gnarly stuff went down and the audio and text logs do a good job of peeling away the layers of its true nature piece by piece.

Of course, what really sealed the deal for me in Vaporum's dastardly tower was the first time I fell victim to a trap I never saw coming. This is why we save often and new players need to abuse quick saves. You can always replay it again with more save restrictions, but if you're like me, you're going to make a lot of dumb mistakes until you get the hang of things. I didn't run into unfair deaths and the trickier puzzles eventually revealed equally clever but fair solutions.

Will I keep playing?

I really enjoy Vaporum and managed to fight my way through to Floor 1 by the end of my first session. There's a lot of reasons I want to come back. I expect a lot more gaming sessions with this one even if I'm not good enough to finish the entire game.

Vaporum is available now on PC.

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Justin isn't going to sit idly by after someone hacks into his brain. He's definitely going to fight and fail over and over again until he outlasts all of his enemies. Ruin them with attrition. That's the motto.

Previous Ruiner experience

• That debut trailer was awesome.
• Saw a Devolver logo and cyberpunk. Sold.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• How hard is too hard? This has multiple meanings.
• So are we talking Smash TV or are we talking Hotline Miami?
• Would there be a story?
• No idea what the mix of gameplay would be like.
• I bet the guns and the soundtrack are awesome.
• Looked kinda slow, would it be fun?

What actually happened

I love it when a game just starts without giving you time to ask questions. Ruiner never attempted to hold my hand, it just gave me a crowbar and a gun and sent me on my way. It's another game where I learned by failure and didn't recognize my education until I executed something awesome. It's brutal but rewarding when it comes together.

I can't say enough about Ruiner's style, but I also could be starved for some good cyberpunk. That's what immediately appealed to me about the game and it delivered on style, setting and story from go. I want to hang out in Ruiner's world, I want to learn about it, and I want to get answers for my character. I expected to only want to jump between action scenes, and I kind of fought the game at first. Ruiner wasn't as fast as I wanted it to be, but after I reset myself a bit I understood its desired pace a lot more. Then I began to appreciate that it allowed me to take in more of the world.

When everything clicks in Ruiner, it's a literal blast. Pulling off quick combos and dispatching thugs in explosive ways makes me feel almost as badass as that helmet my character wears. However, it's going to take a lot of practice for me to get good at Ruiner and I'm struggling to find the motivation to put in the time to make the game fun. I am still trying to decide on which control method to go with (controller or keyboard/mouse) and I couldn't help but feel I was using the wrong one. I fought the controls, I died a lot, and a few early encounters felt impossible. Worse yet, I once I conquered the impossible I didn't realize what I had done to get over the hump.

I wanted mindless arcade shooter and I got a skill-based game. I want to see if Ruiner hooks me now that I better understand its structure and desired execution. I would move on without giving it a second thought if it's world wasn't so damn cool. I think we're going to be better friends soon and I know that I really want to take down that hacker that got into my head.

Will I keep playing?

I probably shouldn't. It's going to be painful, but I also want to kill more bosses in Ruiner. I want to see more of the skill upgrades and how powerful my character gets. With a few more skills at my disposal, I may start approaching combat rooms as fast-paced action puzzles and that promise sounds damn sexy. I've got a few more attempts in me to see what Ruiner has underneath its mask.

Ruiner is available now on PC and PS4.

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Things get messy underground for Aaron and his crew in Oxygen Not Included. He would stop to catch his breath if, well, you get it.

There's this trick where someone spins plates on top of poles and keeps them upright and spinning for as long as possible. Now imagine that each plate is a quasi-autonomous space person trapped in a rock slowly running out of breathable air and there's also polluted liquid everywhere. Plus, one of these plates needs to clean the toilets. They are disgusting. That's the best way I can currently describe Oxygen Not Included, the newest survival jam from Klei Entertainment to enter Early Access.

To be honest, I've also called Oxygen a more involved version of Bethesda's surprise mobile hit Fallout Shelter. There are times when I could sit back and watch my little space minions (not the yellow ones in the movies) perform their jobs and everything comes together perfectly in our tiny space rock colony. Then a flood happens. Or half of the crew is trying not to suffocate. And suddenly there's no electricity. Then it's back to playing Space God to get their little stupid, I mean lovable, lives back on track.

While I'm trying not to get too hooked on the experience before it officially launches, it's perfectly playable in its current state and I would go so far as to recommend it based on my experience. At the very least, putting it on a games-to-watch list. If one game has ever taught me the value in regular toilet maintenance, this is it.

Justin literally hasn't cast spells like this before. This unassuming magical adventure has nothing to be ashamed of.

Previous Mages of Mystralia Experience

• Saw it shoot up the sales charts on opening weekend.
• Heard good things from friends that had played it.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• I was afraid it would be boring or completely forgettable.
• That spell casting system looked interesting.
• Would that spell casting system be too complicated?
• It sure looks pretty, so is there something broken under the hood?

What actually happened

Mages of Mystralia does an amazingly efficient job of setting up its story alongside establishing plenty of reasons for you to have empathy for your playable character. This young girl is outcast by her community for having powers she doesn't understand, and together we're going to figure out how to use these incredible powers to save the world. In short, I'm in! I was pulled into this game world immediately and I cared about what was happening. It's not that the story is all that unique, but a lot of games tend to botch the setup and never recover. Mages of Mystralia starts strong and never wavers.

This is a game that has been crafted with care and feels very comfortable in its own identity. Mages of Mystralia is definitely inspired by some of my favorite action RPGs, but it never uses that inspiration as a crutch. The fundamentals of an action RPG are all in place here. The controls feel great, the setting is interesting, and the enemies are fun to wand to death. Underneath it's familiar atmosphere, is a unique sum of clever and purposeful game design ideas.

After you are let loose a bit, it becomes obvious that the magical spells and the action and logic puzzles that come with them are going to be the stars of Mages of Mystralia. Evolving my fire spell from merely being a means to light torches into a deadly fireball, opened my eyes to the interesting and customizable spell options that are in my future.

It's not just an adventure game though. The action in Mages of Mystralia does keep you on your toes, and the boss fights are surprisingly satisfying as well. I thought I'd get a single stand out game mechanic to hook me and bring me back, but Mages of Mystralia has the total magical package going on here.

Will I keep playing?

I've been going back to Mages of Mystralia on a regular basis since I initially recorded this video. It's easy to jump and out of, and remains a pleasure to play. It all feels incredibly familiar, but I have a strong desire to see how this version plays out.

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Are mechs supposed to yell and gurgle? Either way it adds up to some satisfying robotic dismemberment for Justin and Cole.

Previous The Surge experience

• Confused as to why it was being preordered a lot.
• Saw screenshots but couldn't determine what type of game it was.
• Word of mouth from friends let me know I may like it because it was a sci-fi souls game.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• The story would be busted and it would be all about the action.
• The action would be easier than expected and the game wouldn't be fun.
• The mechs might feel really good though.
• Surely I'll play this once and be too bored to come back.

What actually happened

The Surge just feels right. Deck 13 has found their own flavor in one of gaming's hottest, growing action genres. This is the most accessible that a souls game has felt to me, and that goes a long way.

Initially, I even forgot about the souls progression formula and got lost in the action. Just beating up other exoskeletons is fun enough, but having a reason to focus on dismembering them makes it kind of addictive. That combination just enhances all of the upgrade systems at play in The Surge. The result is that I can feel a sense of progression to multiple parts of my character at once. Even while I'm focused on a particular objective, I'm contributing to upgrading other useful attributes passively.

The Surge manages to feel less obtuse than its genre cousins, but the action doesn't feel dumbed down in anyway. Each type of weapon is satisfying, and has its uses depending on the enemy you are facing. I felt like I was constantly making small strategic decisions that I could instantly see the results of in my next fight.

I still have no idea what is going on in the story, but it is accessible. For better or worse, I just don't care about it. I just want to fight and dismember until I'm strong enough to take down an even bigger machine.

Will I keep playing?

I'm still going. To this point I've gotten through the first stage after overleveling and I'm really enjoying the upgrade systems at play in The Surge. I usually hit a wall with these types of games, but The Surge remains fun and not frustrating. I want to see this one through.

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The rogue-lite dungeon is calling out to Aaron yet again, but this time he has to worry about sliding rings onto his greedy little fingers that he cannot easily take back off.

Previous Unexplored Experience

• I somehow missed this game during Early Access.
• I saw buzz articles on Rock Paper Shotgun and Waypoint praising its take on procedural dungeon generation.
• Watched a video of a streamer attempting a run.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• The dungeons would be something special each time.
• The exploration and combat could keep me interested and coming back for more.
• It would be challenging to win, but not unfair or absurdly frustrating.
• Would I be too experienced with the genre to have an interesting time?
• I was concerned at first glance that the presentation would feel beneath my expectations.

What actually happened

I died a terrible death.

Well, that's not totally surprising in Unexplored, but this last run was especially brutal in the most satisfying of ways. It didn't involve an unforeseen trap or a misstep on a rickety bridge. I had total awareness of what would end the life of the brave Rango the Third, my one-eyed ninja adventurer. That mage jerk, The White Wizard. I stood no chance.

It was over in an instant. A climax where you could blink and not quite understand what even happened, but I knew very well the elements of destruction raining down on poor Rango. Yet, it was the journey itself that deserves the attention. The weapons I found, the minor enemies slain, the books I'd read that prepared me for my future death. I can't forget dancing with rats until they were all defeated when I thought my run was surely over.

At least I got to use my shiny new grappling hook.

Will I keep playing?

This wasn't my first run and it certainly won't be my last. While Unexplored has a base adventure that is always about stepping foot into the same named dungeon to retrieve the same named artifact, no two tales feel the same outside of those constants. The floors, enemies, items and choices made craft a new narrative of emotions, failure, and, someday, success.

If only I could avoid getting a cursed helmet stuck on my head.

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Justin is here to paint the walls. Hopefully not too much of the blood will actually hurt him.

Previous Strafe Experience

• I was obsessed with the announcement trailer
• Read some brief descriptions about the gameplay prior to playing.
• Knew it was a roguelike going in.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• Would the difficulty stop me from making much progress?
• The gore was going to be really fun.
• The guns were going to be really fun.
• The music would be chunky.
• The game would be super fast.
• Wasn't sure if it would feel shallow or having surprising depth.

What actually happened

You had me at FMV intro. I wasn't looking forward to playing a tutorial for a game that I thought I had played dozens of its relatives. It's a good thing I played it because the tutorial gives Strafe much more personality than the campaign does out of the gate. I was riding that tutorial high through a handful of deaths before the game started to beat me up a bit.

I can't decide if it's a good or a bad thing yet, but initially it's really frustrating that Strafe starts relentless sending enemies at you before you round the first corner. This isn't because the enemies are hard or the weapons aren't fun, it's because most randomly generated opening areas don't give you enough space to handle that many enemies at once. It felt unbalanced rather than like a challenge I could overcome. It got things off to a weird start.

Thankfully, I really enjoyed blowing limbs and heads off of my foes. Blind firing into the hordes and barely hanging on to my life in hopes I had just enough bullets and precision to survive is what I came here for. Seeing the room drenched in blood after a battle I never thought would end is its own reward. This is when Strafe is at its best. However, I can't help but think that a little bit more thoughtful level design and a little less randomization would make the experience stick a bit more. The highs are too scattered and can be too short lived. There's something awesome here though, I just know it. Or maybe I just want to believe it.

Will I keep playing?

I'll keep checking in after various patches to see if the difficulty ramp becomes a bit more bearable. I did end up enjoying the alternative horde mode built into the game, so, again, I know there is something here that I like. I just don't know if it's enough to pull me back after the gore drips off.

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It turns out that cultists in the southwest aren't as relatable for Justin as the ones he knows from the midwest. At least this horrific game of hide and seek is in a dry heat. It's the humidity that will kill you.

Previous Outlast 2 experience

• Realized that I didn't read any impressions of the game beforehand.
• I remember seeing the announce trailer and it's general setting.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• Running through cornfields while screaming my ass off as I try to find a hiding place.
• Improved pacing and gameplay structure from the first game.
• A new favorite horror game.

What actually happened

Oh wait, we're in the desert? Guess I misinterpreted those screenshots a bit, but corn can't make a game, right? Honestly, even if it felt like Outcast 2 gets going much more quickly than the first game it ironically didn't grab me at all. I think I surprised the first enemy more than it surprised me. Of course, it didn't help that I didn't realize that it was an enemy.

Once I shook that first encounter off, I remembered what type of game I was playing. However, the setting felt too open and it remained difficult to take the threats seriously. The world wanted to make me feel claustrophic, but it felt more like I was on a ride with a singular path. Even if I was dying a lot, I didn't feel any urgency or direction to what I was supposed to do next. I was beginning to think Outlast 2 wasn't for me.

It didn't help that the story and main characters never connected with me either. I acknowledged that "that's messed up" but I didn't want to see/hear anymore. Sometimes that's a good reaction when it comes to horror, but I didn't want to see more because I was bored by it. I've seen the religious cult story done too much in other media recently, and done better. I got nothing for ya, Outlast 2.

Will I keep playing?

Ugh, this is frustrating. I've sat through horror movies and games and been in the wrong mindset where I didn't enjoy myself the first time, but the second experience was much better. I hope that's what this is. I genuinely enjoyed both Outlast and its DLC. It had some rough edges, and I assumed that Outlast 2 would address those and give me more of what I already liked. I may give it a fresh start later in the year if I'm feeling the itch around Halloween, but otherwise I may just leave it in the dirt.

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Will it feel like a remake if you never knew the original existed? Justin contemplates tracking down a Sega Master System soon after Wonder Boy's beauty beats brilliant smiles out of him.

Previous Wonder Boy Experience

• What's a Master System?
• Gosh, those screenshots sure are pretty.
• Read a few reviews. One had the words "metroidvania precursor" in it.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• The gameplay would feel clunky and dated.
• The game would look really pretty.
• The game might not animated or sound too well though.
• There's something underneath its skin that makes it remembered well, I must find it.

What actually happened

We've got a new bar for 2D platformer remakes. I read later that the developer issued a challenge for animators to get more ambitious with their games. I really did not expect the animation to be as smooth as it is. On top of that, flipping back to the original graphics worked flawlessly and somehow the updated graphics worked with decades old gameplay. I am still in awe.

I've played a few other remakes that allow you to switch back and forth between the retro graphics and the upgraded graphics, but none have the imagination of Wonder Boy. It really made me feel like a kid again. It was like I was playing what I pictured in my head when I played Atari games. Plus, being able to mix and match retro and upgraded graphics, sounds, and music really completed the package.

I'm not sure the shine ever wore off my eyes, but the game itself is also more interesting than I expected. I thought it would feel generic, but Wonder Boy is full of endearing characters and locations. I definitely get the comparisons to early metroidvania games and I actually got a big of a Simon's Quest vibe from adventure. The writing is surprisingly modern and clever. It's just a pleasure to play, plain and simple. On top of that, Wonder Girl kicks ass.

The care that went into this remake is astounding. Makes me wonder what else I missed in this series.

Will I keep playing?

I will see Wonder Boy through. It takes me to such a pleasant place while I play it that I can't help but want to go back and escape to a childhood moment I didn't know I missed.

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It's Aaron's first day at a new job. He sure is excited to don his red uniform, get to work and enjoy a piping mug of coffee. On an important day like today, nothing could go wrong on Earth or in space!

Previous Prey experience

• Played part of the first Prey on Xbox 360 at a friend's
• Had to remind myself that Prey 2 got cancelled

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• It would be more intriguing than jump scares in space.
• The idea of "playing your way" would give Prey some legs.
• At the very least, Arkane Studios would deliver a decent spooky-shooter.

What actually happened

Everyone's saying that Prey has an good intro and I'm here to attempt setting the record straight. Prey, in fact, has a great intro. What starts as a slice of above-average normalcy in a working person's life breaks down to reveal something weirder and, frankly, more sinister than the idea of shape-shifting aliens wanting to rip everyone to shreds. It's the right amount of mystery that drives me to want to whack away the alien hordes to get to the heart of the story.

While I found the controls on PS4 to be a bit rigid, it did remind me of my attempts to play the original Deus Ex. You're not the last action space hero, but you are capable of great feats with a bit of sci-fi augmentations. I didn't get to play around much with my choice to repair broken equipment, but lifting heavy objects and hacking computer consoles teased me with missed opportunities worth exploring.

Will I play the full game?

I'm rather positive about the idea of this Prey after my demo time, but I'm hesitant to commit to boarding the launch wagon. The intro is very strong and it's easy for the imagination to run wild with what I hope the game becomes after several hours. With the possibility of the full release not meeting my lofty and exciting daydreams, I'd hate to wind up trapped in space with nothing but my wrench, tears and aliens that might be chairs (but are probably coffee mugs).

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It's a party and you're all invited! Aaron might have not received an invitation by mail, but he's got front row seats to repeatedly die for!

Previous The Sexy Brutale Experience

• Skimmed over reviews from Destructoid and The Jimquistion the day before release.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• I liked the art design.
• The idea of a story-drive time puzzler intrigued me.
• Would it require perfect timing and become frustrating?
• How smug would the characters/world be, similar to Braid?

What actually happened

Much like the confused masked protagonist who awakens in the middle of a decorated room at noon on a seemingly random Saturday, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from The Sexy Brutale. A strange and oozing woman entered the room and began to explain my abilities to me. Restarting the day at noon. Listening to my surroundings. Leering through keyholes like the literal creeper that I was. That's how I was taught to watch the first victim get shot to death. Back to noon.

The second time, I had a mission. Figure out how to save the victim's life without directly and physically interfering with him or his killer, lest the masks that they were wearing magically levitate off their heads and murder me. Not waiting to try out this "mask death", I listened and peeped my way from room to room until I came upon the murder weapon. Let me just take this gun before the killer does. Seems like the right thing to do. I realize the rifle is bolted down and I've apparently been skipping arm day at the gym. The victim bites the bullet again. Back to noon.

This time, I follow the victim's routine and pocket a blank round that falls from the safe he searches. I insert the blank into the secured rifle with ease and await the attempted murder. The trigger is pulled with a piddly pop, leaving the killer confused and having to ready the real bullet. The victim chucks a candlestick from across the room, knocking the killer out cold. I may not know who the man I just saved was, but I'm feeling pretty good. I'm rewarded with a very important power, then surprise. Back to noon.

Will I keep playing?

More accurately, I've already played it again and completed the story! The Sexy Brutale is a well-crafted experience that put its hooks into me after the first stream and encouraged me to finish what I started.

While the game takes place entirely inside the confines of a mansion with attached casino, becoming increasingly familiar with the layout is necessary to solving the puzzles within it. There are some collectibles I missed and some stones left unturned, but something tells me I'll be visiting the walls of The Sexy Brutale again.

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Some space pirates just know how to have fun. Maybe it's the bounties, maybe it's just that hook. Whatever it is, Justin wants to go again.

Previous Flinthook Experience

• Saw some screenshots and identified that it was from Tribute Games.
• Read some positive first impressions about the game from PAX.

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• Worried that it would be limited in scope.
• Heard it was a roguelike, but wasn't sure how that would work with hookshot platforming.
• Figured it would be hard because of other Tribute Games.
• Excited to see the art style in action.
• Wanted to know what people saw in this game.

What actually happened

This game had me, Flinthook, line and sinker. (Come on, I haven't started off with a pun in a while. I've been pretty well behaved. Give me this one because it put me in a really good mood.) From its awesome Saturday morning cartoon intro to its well-paced tutorial, Flinthook put a smile on my face from the start. Even while I was learning the basic abilities, I was shocked at how well the game controlled. For platforming games this is essential, and Tribute nailed it.

Tutorial levels on roguelikes can be hit or miss, but Flinthook's felt really natural. Everything bridged nicely into the mission/upgrade menu and I was off and hooking in no time.

Once my first run started, I really enjoyed how snappy the action felt. Flinthook is exciting and challenging in a combination that results in fun above all else. Even the little touches like the dialog of the various shopkeepers had me chuckling. However, it's not afraid to get down to business either because once enemies start spawning in, it can get out of hand quickly. Of course, that just means Flinthook is even more satisfying when you clear the room and beat the odds to fly into the next confrontation.

Will I keep playing?

It's all I want to do. I just wanna be hookin. The daily and weekly challenges are nice to have right out of the gate. Flinthook is going to be in my gaming rotation for the forseeable future.

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Hey robot buddies, what's happening down here? Some of you are shooting at Justin and some of you aren't, but all of you make fantastic noises.

Previous The Signal from Tölva Experience

• Very little beyond the trailer
• Saw that I had played the developer's previous game

Initial Expectations, Hopes, Dreams, Fears

• I want to manipulate robots to fight against each other.
• The combat will be limited and clunky, but satisfying.
• The world will feel unique and I will want to explore.
• Will it be boring?
• Will there be enough variety to the gameplay?
• Is this run based?

What actually happened

I really appreciated just being dropped on the planet Tölva and having to get my bearings on my own. No in your face instructor or voiceover telling me what to do. However, I could go either way on the speed of how the tutorials played out. The game only introduces you to one concept at a time and I was a bit frustrated at first. As the intro played out I felt like I knew what I was doing after only an hour. That time investment will make or break some player's first impressions though.

For me, I was ready to settle in on Tölva and figure out what makes all these robots tick. The robots did not disappoint. Clunky and charming just like I wanted. Once I found some robot-bros to take out the bad-bots, I was sold.

I can't tell how much of the mystery of the planet and its signals is intentional. For example, while exploring the last ship in the video I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel anxious about being attacked or if it was just supposed to be a straightforward maze that ended up confusing me. In the end, I think I overcomplicated the game and read too much into some of its options. Once I relaxed, I realized I was having a good time on Tölva and was ready to explore even more.

Will I keep playing?

There looks to be plenty of weapons and robo-upgrades to play with to keep me interested enough to go exploring for resources. I definitely want to see more of Tölva and to see how many kinds of robots and environments are contained on the planet. It could get really interesting if there is a lot of variety. If things get repetitive though, it'll be tough to convince me to stick around. I'll try Tölva again soon and find out.

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Justin returns to the Return of Samus which was actually the beginning of his love for Metroid. How will Another Metroid 2 Remake (AM2R) color his nostalgic favorite?

Why am I playing AM2R / Metroid 2?

• I've been waiting on this remake for years, and it couldn't look better.
• I actually put off playing the virtual console version of Metroid 2 once I found out about AM2R.
• It has been too long since I last played Metroid 2.

Previous AM2R / Metroid 2 Experience

• No AM2R experience other than testing purposes to get the video recording settings set.
• Played the hell out of Metroid 2 back when it came out (1991) and haven't played it since.

Game Start

If you didn't know about the Game Boy version or that AM2R is a remake, this couldn't feel more like an authentic Nintendo product. It looks/sounds better than the GBA Metroid games and feels different (in a good way) from Super Metroid. The care put into this remake is immediately apparent even before you hit start.

On its own, Metroid 2 is the most unique Metroid adventure. Sure the setup of exploring an isolated world while hunting metroids is similar to other games in the series, but the nature of the mutating metroids makes it an entirely different kind of hunt. I love it.

The structural updates that the remake made to the game help make Metroid 2 a lot easier to play, too. I remember being attached at the hip to a strategy guide as a kid, but AM2R helps push you forward smartly while adding a few surprises that help with the overall pacing of the game.

Will I Finish?

I'm shocked at how great AM2R feels. I have to see this through because I personally have to know where this game ends up ranking in my Metroid list. Metroid 2 is my childhood favorite Metroid, but it struggles to stand next to Super Metroid and the GBA games as far as modern playability goes. AM2R may end up fixing that problem and give me the game that matches the pedestal the kid in me has always put Metroid 2 on.

• AM2R / Metroid 2 - Gamethrough Playlist with weekly episodes.

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Justin continues a bit of a Batman binge by playing through all of Episode 1 of Batman: The Telltale Series. He's after a bit of a different Batman adventure. Hopefully, Bruce Wayne can deliver.

Why am I playing Batman: TTS Episode 1

• Tales from the Borderlands reinvigorated my appreciation for Telltale games.
• Not looking for a Batman action game. It's time to go Detective Comics style.

Previous Batman: TTS Episode 1 Experience

• Have only seen the initial announcement trailer.
• Heard rumors that the game was more focused on Bruce Wayne than Batman.

Game Start

Not the opening moment I was going for, but I guess you kind of have to start with a Batman action scene. I don't really play Telltale games for the action, so I was a bit worried and didn't really enjoy the quick time events right out of the gate. However, the story stepped up quickly and I was engrossed from that moment on.

It's always fun to jump into a new Batman universe and figure out the nuances. 1) How old is Batman? 2) How new are each of the villains? 3) Which villains are going to show up? Even once you start to see familiar characters pop up, you can never take for granted that you know his/her relationship with Batman/Bruce Wayne. Long story short, this Batman universe hit all the right familiar notes but feels unique, and I love that.

I got my two major wishes though. The first off was that juggling hard decisions as Bruce Wayne was a primary focus of the dialog choices in the game. Trying to be political while not cluing people into Batman's identity will be fun. Then, after a rough start to the Batman scenes I got to do some actual detective work. Pairing clues together to figure out a crime scene was exactly what I wanted. As a bonus, they mixed up the action by letting me plan out my attack strategy and which environmental objects I wanted to throw goons into. These aren't game changing choices, but as with my favorite Telltale moments, it gives me just enough authorship for it to feel like my own authentic experience.

Episode Over

I struggled with the major decision of episode 1, and I went a bit against the grain. Usually I like to pick whatever comes natural, but in this case the natural choice looked to head down a familiar Batman story. I wanted to mix things up, but it definitely made me uncomfortable, in a good way.

There wasn't really a stand out moment in Episode 1, instead it opted to build a foundation for the rest of the series. Hopefully, Episode 2 has a nice payoff because I'm ready for something to really light the fires and get things moving. I appreciate a good build though, and I think Batman: The Telltale Series is off to a fantastic start. The potential of The Penguin has captured most of my intrigue. I'm not really buying into the story they are selling about Bruce's parents, but I think they had to create some sort of cliffhanger for Episode 2 to quickly resolve and I'm ok with that. Here's hoping that the rest of the episodes make it out this year because I'm ready to Bruce Wayne some more.

• Batman: The Telltale Series - Gamethrough Playlist - This is the full playthrough of Episode 1. We will add #2-5 as they are released.

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