Kotaku Game Diary Archives - Page 22 of 31

Feedback Makes Me A Better Gamer–When You’re Not An Asshole

I’ve begun to think of my weekly, local Super Smash Bros. tournament as a sort of doctor’s appointment for my ego. Regulars tell me that it’s normal to just win one or two games at these things, yet selection bias mandates that the people who attend a lot tend to be confident that they’re really,…

By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published May 29, 2019

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Dungeon Crawlers Make Me Question What I’m Doing With My Life

I’ve been staring at my 3DS a lot lately. It sits on a shelf in front of my TV, not because I use it often but because I might pick it up again sometime. I do the same thing with books, leaving them out in sight so I remember to maybe try and read them.…

By Joshua Rivera Published May 28, 2019

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I Both Love And Feel Embarrassed About All The Video Game Music On My Phone

An eight-hour road trip I recently took with a friend quickly turned into a musical deep dive. As we flew through conversations about bachata, gospel, R&B, soul, house, and more, my friend mentioned that ’90s music made up a significant portion of his palate. “You know, there’s a lot of anime and video game music…

By Natalie Degraffinried Published May 24, 2019

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Warframe’s Gas City Is Now Stalked By A Giant Robotic Bird

The Ropalolyst stalks the Corpus Gas City on Jupiter occasionally feasting on the metropolis’ machinery as if the place were made of worms. Part of Warframe’s latest update, the Jovian Concord, the gigantic bird comes from an ancient race of AI terraformers called the Sentient. It’s also one of the game’s best new boss fights.…

By Ethan Gach Published May 23, 2019

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Stop Quitting Magic: Arena Games Before I Can Beat You Properly

Magic: The Gathering is a game about slowly (or quickly) squeezing the life out of your opponent until they’re demoralized, defeated, and feeling the weight of their many, many mistakes. That’s why I am unhappy with the lot of you serial conceders depriving me of that. I’m not a great player of Magic Arena, the…

By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published May 21, 2019

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I’m A Little Tired Of This One Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Bow

There may have been a time, a week or two ago, when I was excited to score my first Precursor Reflex Bow in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Thirty-seven Precursor Reflex Bows later? Not so much. While playing Odyssey’s Fate of Atlantis expansion, which takes the ancient Greek setting of this action-role-playing-game into an otherworldly realm crafted…

By Stephen Totilo Published May 20, 2019

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Crackdown 3‘s Multiplayer Is Already A Ghost Town

Every video game with an online component has a hidden expiration date. No one really knows when it’ll hit. Maybe a game will be popular and have a long, storied life, full of memories and patch updates and people who write forum posts about the Good Old Days. Maybe it’ll be underappreciated, but still supported,…

By Joshua Rivera Published May 17, 2019

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Killing Rage 2‘s Enemies Is As Satisfying As Popping Pimples

I know something about you that you probably won’t even admit to yourself, a fundamental human truth as undeniable as breathing: You like popping pimples. Slowly applying pressure until those tiny face volcanoes erupt into a gooey spew is one of life’s small pleasures. It is gross, yes, but so are a great many enjoyable…

By Nathan Grayson Published May 16, 2019

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Games Are Better When You Come To Them Late

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney first came out in 2005. I’m finally playing it in 2019, courtesy of the recent Nintendo Switch port. I’ve never played a Phoenix Wright game before, even though I love mysteries and my friends spent the past decade or so telling me to play one. You know what? I’m glad I…

By Maddy Myers Published May 15, 2019

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Somehow, I Can’t Get Hooked On Anime Gambling Games

You know gacha games, right? Those free-to-play anime games with built-in slot machines you can play to collect new characters? They’re everywhere. Smartphone app stores are absolutely lousy with them because you can get them all for free, and people love things that are free, even if they ultimately end up being not free. As…

By Joshua Rivera Published May 14, 2019

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I Can’t Go Through This Again, Final Fantasy VII

One of the most heartbreaking moments in gaming history has a new voice and a new face, thanks to last week’s Final Fantasy VII remake trailer. I have no idea how long it’s going to take for this game to arrive, but I’m already lamenting what’s to come. Aeris is going to die all over…

By Mike Fahey Published May 13, 2019

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Dota 2‘s New Battle Pass Has Some Unwelcome Changes

I’m playing Dota 2 again following the release of the game’s 2019 battle pass. There are new treasures to collect. Big tournaments are just around the corner. And I’ve spent another $10 on that battle pass. I can’t tell if this game is actually exciting again or if I just feel compelled to play because…

By Ethan Gach Published May 10, 2019

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The Sims Changed How I Think About Moving Apartments

My brain is so poisoned by video games, that while I was recently moving my furniture into my new apartment all I could think about was The Sims My move, from one New York City apartment to another, was expensive and complicated ordeal. I’m so, so close to finally being finished with it. I’ve got…

By Gita Jackson Published May 9, 2019

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I Got Caught In A Silent Pokémon Go Battle With A Stranger A Few Feet Away

Like many people, I played Pokémon Go for a few months when it first came out in 2016, then I abandoned it for three years. Since I work from home and the game’s leveling mechanics revolve around a pedometer, I could never seem to level up my Pokémon fast enough. For the past six months,…

By Maddy Myers Published May 8, 2019

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I’m Finally Playing A MOBA

When you care for someone, I think one of the most important things you can do is move out of your comfort zone and participate in their hobbies and interests. My girlfriend is an avid Heroes of the Storm player, often squirreling away time with friends to play matches and participate in aod-hoc tournaments. I…

By Heather Alexandra Published May 7, 2019

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My Seven-Year-Old Son Is Going To Be A Sonic Mania Speedrunner Someday

My seven-year-old son Archer loves to play Sonic Mania on our PlayStation 4, but only in Time Attack mode. Watching him work his way through Green Hill Zone Act 2 for the umpteenth time in a row, I ask, “Are you going to be a speedrunner?” Archer, eyes locked on the television screen, replies “Yes.”…

By Mike Fahey Published May 6, 2019

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I Forgot What It Was Like To Game Without Internet

I just moved to a new apartment, and we don’t have internet yet. Sure, I could read or explore the neighborhood, but sometimes I just want to sit down with a good video game and turn off my brain. Unfortunately, as I ran head-first into the reality of gaming without internet, I quickly realized that…

By Gita Jackson Published May 3, 2019

CultureKotaku Game Diary

I’m Addicted To The First Three Stages Of Galaga

Stage one: Get one ship captured, then rescue it to double firepower. Stage two: Take advantage of doubled weaponry to wipe out aliens before they can even enter formation. Challenging stage: Kill 40 aliens for 10,000 points. Bonus stage: Feel deep satisfaction because nailing the first three stages in Galaga is one of the best…

By Mike Fahey Published May 2, 2019

CultureKotaku Game Diary

I’m Playing Six JRPGs At Once And You Can’t Stop Me

There are about four or five things I tell my friends that make them look at me like I’m deranged, and one of them is how I’m fond of playing the few hours of a Japanese role-playing game and moving on to another. (“It’s kind of like edging,” I say, “but with video games,” as…

By Joshua Rivera Published May 1, 2019

CultureKotaku Game Diary

Fallout 76’s New Camera Quest Helped Me Fall In Love With The Game’s Broken Beauty

Fallout 76’s world is lonely. Despite being a multiplayer game, it hosts just a couple dozen people around a sprawling map in any session you play. Other Fallout games might have a lot of computer-controlled civilians to chat with. Not this one. All of the non-player characters died long ago, or mutated beyond recognition. This…

By Ethan Gach Published April 30, 2019