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CultureKotaku Game DiaryA Bet Over Animal Crossing: New Horizons Screwed Me Out Of $30
Over the past few months, I haven’t been shy about my feelings for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I’ve called it “seriously stressful,” an “exercise in patience,” and a “shoddy Xerox of life’s daily headaches.” I’ve publicly insulted Tom Nook and Jolly Redd. I compared a recent event to socks. Well, last week Animal Crossing: New…
By Ari Notis -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryHow The Hell Did We Ever Beat The Lion King As Kids? (We Didn’t)
Having access to a lot of classic games these days means a lot of impromptu trips down memory lane. The games I loved as a kid—and the games I’d forgotten I loved as a kid—are all at my fingertips, begging to be replayed for that jolt of nostalgia-flavored serotonin to the brain. So I’ve been…
By Ash Parrish -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryForget Murder Hornets, My Animal Crossing Island Is Drowning In Self-Inflicted Flowers
All I wanted was to try growing some of the neat hybrid flowers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Little did I know that my handfuls of seeds would blossom into a garden of madness. Animal Crossing looks cute and simplistic on the surface, only to reveal more complex systems as you continue playing. The best…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryCall Of Duty: Warzone’s Rewards Screen Needs To Chill
I’m apparently earning tons of cool shit after every Call of Duty: Warzone match. However, it’s hard to appreciate any of it as an overeager barrage of bonuses and unlocks flashes across the screen after every match. I’ve been playing a lot more Warzone after only trying a match or two back when it first…
By Ethan Gach -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryThanks For The Lovely Birthday Party, Animal Crossing Friends
I’m not normally one for elaborate birthday celebrations, but the party held for me this morning by a trio of Animal Crossing: New Horizons villagers was exactly the pick-me-up I needed today. My ideal birthday is good food with family and friends and maybe a new Transformer or Lego set to fiddle with. I commemorate…
By Mike Fahey -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryFinal Fantasy VII Remake‘s Finale Was Wasted On A Newcomer Like Me
I felt guilty while watching the credits roll on Final Fantasy VII Remake early this morning. This game wasn’t meant for me, I thought. I didn’t earn this. Sure, technically I played the game for 30 hours and finally beat the final boss after a couple of frustrating attempts. That was me. But without the…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryFinal Fantasy VII Remake Made Me Climb 59 Flights Of Stairs And I Loved It
I recently arrived at Shinra headquarters in my playthrough of Final Fantasy VII Remake. After Cloud and his squad fight their way through the parking garage, they enter the spacious reception area to find the place deserted. Our heroes have two ways to reach Aerith: take the elevator or climb 59 flights of stairs. I…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryWhen Final Fantasy VII Remake Broke My Heart, Chasing A Pig Proved Strangely Therapeutic
I recently hit an emotional low point with Final Fantasy VII Remake. It was hard to watch my favorite side characters suffer and Avalanche members Tifa and Barret grapple with their culpability in Shinra’s latest attack. I even took a day off to decompress. When I returned, however, I was greeted by a ridiculous mission…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryFinal Fantasy VII Remake Gave Me A Chance To Examine My Own Anger
Although I’ve been made aware of the major story beats in Final Fantasy VII over the years through osmosis, Remake is the first time I’ve experienced them personally. I wasn’t prepared for the impact Shinra’s attack on Sector 7 would have on me as I played over the weekend, and now more than ever am…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryAerith Is My Favorite Party Member In Final Fantasy VII Remake
As a complete newcomer to the world of Final Fantasy VII, I’m meeting (and, in some cases, falling head over heels for) its cast members for the first time in the updated and reimagined Remake. I’ve grown to appreciate every character Cloud has met during his journey, but one stands head and shoulders above the…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryReno Forced Me To Use Parries In Final Fantasy VII Remake
Shocking though it may be, Final Fantasy VII wasn’t part of my childhood. As such, Remake has given me a great opportunity to learn more about this iconic roleplaying game. I’ve fallen in love with the bumbling members of Avalanche and find the overarching eco-terrorists vs. exploitative megacorp narrative compelling. And now the game is…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryI Adore Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s Dorky Eco-Terrorists
Final Fantasy VII Remake is my first time playing the game that made Final Fantasy a household name. Growing up, my house was a Nintendo house. I cut my teeth on Super Mario Bros. 3 and played through Kirby Super Star more times than I can remember. My only memory of Final Fantasy VII is…
By Ian Walker -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryVirtual Reality Is My Favorite Way To Leave The House Right Now
At this point, we’ve heard how good virtual reality can be for walking around imaginary environments and interacting with worlds up close. But what I never saw coming was how my frivolous, cool tech distraction would become my new favorite way to leave my apartment in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. As of this…
By Paul Tamayo -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryUsing GTA Online To Return To A Normal World Of Movie Theaters And Stores
With most of the United States stuck at home, I’ve relied on Grand Theft Auto Online to virtually leave my home and do things I miss, like seeing a movie. Over here in Kansas, for the last few weeks, most of us have been staying home if we can in isolation. This is the smart…
By Zack Zwiezen -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryHalf-life: Alyx Is Still Good, Even While Sitting In A Chair
Standing in VR is cool. You feel like you are really standing in a virtual world. And for small experiences and mini-games, this is fine. But for something like the new Half-Life: Alyx, standing for hours and hours, plus crouching a lot, can start to make you feel sore and tired. So I just sat…
By Zack Zwiezen
