User:Freeman1378

Personal Information.
I am a 22 years old university student who lives in Edmonton, Canada.

Favourite Movies
- Raiders Of The Lost Ark

- The Prestige

- Mad Max: Fury Road

- The Dark Knight

- Saving Private Ryan

- Goodfellas

- Taxi Driver

- Alien/Aliens

- The Thing

- Brokeback Mountain

- Toy Story Trilogy

- Up

- Casino Royale

- The Social Network

- Unforgiven

- The Shawshank Redemption

Favourite TV Shows
- Breaking Bad: A brilliant show from top to the bottom with outstanding writing, characters, and directing making this the one to beat in the medium of TV. An easy 10/10.

- Game Of Thrones (S1-S4): While the final seasons represented a disappointing collapse in quality for this series, GOT in its prime was a absolute titan of a series with a pitch perfect mixture of spectacle, stakes, depth, and incredible dialogue making this a must watch cultural phenomenon.

- Rick And Morty: A wonderful Sci-fi comedy that combines feels, laughs, sharp satire, and inventive premises to become a infinitely rewatchable and quotable blast of a animated show.

- Futurama: In a way this is Rick and Morty's spiritual predecessor and excels in many of the same areas but trumps it in two key areas, the cast and emotion as the crew of the Planet Express is just so damn lovable and the emotional moments always land from The Late Phillip J. Fry to Jurassic Bark.

- Bojack Horseman: A more depressing and somber show compared to other animated shows on this list but this one never fails to make me laugh or cry due to writing that is sensitive and creative in equal measures.

- Attack On Titan: The show that I can't stop discussing on Fandom or looking forward to week after week due to its inventive world, excellent action, stellar voice acting, and of course beautiful animation. Definitely my recommendation for any one interested in starting to watch anime as this property is bereft of the worst elements of the medium like fanservice but brings the best elements of this medium to the front such as a incredibly unique world and action set pieces that are unlike anything in Western media.

- Fate/Zero: This is my favourite anime as it has everything I want from the medium with great action (Kirei vs Kerry, Lancer vs Saber, and Rider using his NP for the first time are all incredible), engaging world building, industry best animation, and a shockingly tight script that handles a large cast of characters incredibly well while developing an engaging plot around them. The second season especially is one of my all time favourite seasons of TV with all the aforementioned positives turned up to 11 and incredible payoffs to everything that was set up in S1.

- Barry: A show that I initially watched as a appetizer to Westworld S2 but eventually came to be the main course to both Westworld and GOT S8. This show is beautifully acted and written with an incredibly flawed but engaging character at its core. It is also one of the only shows that routinely surprises and shakes me to my core as a result of the perfect fusion of acting and writing. Good luck Mr. Hader on repeating at this years emmy awards as you seriously deserve it.

- Black Mirror: A show that is definitely starting to lose its edge but has enough instant classic episodes to make this an easy recommendation. Whether its a absolute sucker punch like White Christmas or a shockingly beautiful romance story like San Junipero this show at its best is an example of the heights that good Science Fiction can reach and hopefully next season is a return to those heights.

- Fargo: A fantastic anthology series that perfectly captures the style of the Coen Brothers and is simply spectacular in every way a TV show can be from the acting, writing, direction, and thematic cohesion. This is definitely one of the greats and everyone should check it out.

- Death Note: A nostalgic choice as this was the first adult TV show I watched after primarily sticking to TMNT, Ben 10, and Naruto when I was younger but I still love the characters and how the show is an absolutely addicting twist on the classic Sherlock/Moriarty rivalry.

- American Crime Story: Two absolutely fantastic stories that take two distinct approaches to telling two different stories. OJ is a absolute powerhouse with a great ensemble cast that manages to provide a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of one of the most infamous moments in American history. From Race to Gender to the media circus no one is spared in OJ. Versace is a surprisingly complex portrayal of a infamous serial killer told in reverse order that succeeds not just because of its unique narrative structure but because of Darren Criss's masterful performance as Andrew and how its writing analyzes how societal and personal problems caused one man to break.

- Chernobyl: A recent watch but an absolutely powerful one that like Breaking Bad for long form drama is the new mini series to beat as a result of like OJ being an impressively comprehensive breakdown of a infamous disaster that not only faithfully reenacts the disaster but adds meaningful subtext to it. Add in a powerhouse performance from Jared Harris and outstanding direction that captures the horror of Chernobyl and you have a masterpiece.

Better Call Saul: Probably the greatest spinoff ever as like the series it spawned from Saul is a masterclass in writing (characters, pacing, and dialogue are all handled flawlessly) backed up by an outstanding ensemble cast. Where it differentiates itself from BB is in its smaller scale and slower pace as this is a show more defined by subtle character moments than grand set pieces but it works incredibly well for Saul successfully painting a portrait of someone who is equal parts lovable and vile and how they came to be that way.

Favourite Games
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: This is my favourite game of the current generation with fantastic gameplay, writing, and open world design all making this an exemplar video game. I just love soaking in the world of this game and listening to gorgeous music (Fields Of Skellige is a all time great track) as I wander and as a result I find this to be one of the most relaxing gaming experiences one can have. The fact that there is some cool dungeon to explore or a brilliant side quest (from the hilarious to the tragic and the grim this game has it all) also shows other developers (Cough Ubisoft Cough) how open worlds should be designed as the content should be naturally rewarding rather than done out of OCD. The main quest is also fantastic with a lovable ensemble of characters and epic sense of scale that isn't replicated in many games. Finally the expansions of this game are excellent with the haunting Hearts Of Stone having an excellent story anchored by a great villain while Blood & Wine is higher quality than most modern games providing a entirely new open world in the form of the wonderful Toussaint a area that feels incredibly unique from the other areas and also comes with 20 hours of new content which is ridiculous for its price. Seriously I paid 75 bucks for this game overall (50 for the base on a prerelease deal and 25 for the expansions) and it still feels like too little for my most played game on PS4 (500 Hours total across 5 playthroughs).

- Bloodborne: A beautiful nightmare would be the best way to describe this game with its oppressively dark atmosphere and crushingly difficult gameplay (Defiled chalice dungeon is probably the hardest thing I've ever done for a trophy) making this feel unbeatable at times (I first played this game in 2016 and Father Gascoigne beat my ass so bad I left it alone for 3 years) but the experience is also completely intoxicating. This game is a stone cold masterpiece as a result of having possibly the greatest third person combat system I've ever played, amazing boss fights (the mechanics and designs of these are A+), and level design that can match the best of Zelda and Metroid. Bring it on Old Hunters DLC!

- Persona 3 + 5 (Haven't played 4 yet): I played these two back to back and feel that they are easily some of the greatest JRPGs ever as a result of combining compelling character writing, social elements, and RPG systems to create something that is wholly unique in the sphere of gaming. Persona 3 and 5 are also great stories with 5 being one of the most uplifting games I've ever played while 3 is a dark somber experience that had me crying by the end. The music also deserves special mention with both tracks being fantastic and some of my personal favourites. Finally the gameplay in these games is just really fun and addicting as a result of the dungeon exploring, combat, and social activities all being perfectly in sync with each other to push a solid JRPG into the stratosphere.

- Fallout: New Vegas: A flawed masterpiece is the best way to describe this game as it is still a buggy mess that suffers from a year long development cycle but the world, characters, and role playing are some of the greatest ever as result of Avellone & crews sharp writing and understanding of what makes a role playing game great which is the ability to be whoever you want to be. The DLC is also exceptional for this game containing stand out characters like Ulysses and Joshua Graham as well as radically different approaches that highlight different elements of the Fallout experience (Ex. Survival, dark humour, and choice) and reinforce why they are great.

- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: A non-stop thrill ride that perfectly replicates the Indiana Jones experience with fun characters and thrilling action sequences making this one of the better Triple A action games of its generation.

- The Legend Of Zelda (Ocarina, Windwaker, and Majora's Mask): It was hard to pick one game from this franchise so I picked a couple of personal favourites from the excellent pile. I love this franchise and these games are what got me into gaming as a whole with Windwaker being the first game I ever completed and I just adore everything about them from the music, exploration, and boss fights. I also love that these games never fail to innovate while keeping their identity intact as most franchises struggle with evolution but Zelda never does from Ocarina's masterful jump to 3D to Majora's strange tone and unique mechanics to Windwaker's beautiful art style and nautical bent. Still waiting to get a Switch and play Breath Of The Wild but I'm super excited.

- Super Mario Galaxy 2: Probably my favourite platformer ever as this game has airtight controls, wonderful music, and creative mechanics that never fail to surprise. Definitely would recommend all Mario titles but this is the one that for whatever reason I just love the most and that is impressive considering the consistency of this franchise.

- Metroid Prime: A great franchise that like Zelda made a successful leap to 3D. I think Prime is on the same level as Super Metroid but I separated the two because they are a part of the same franchise but also fundamentally different games with Prime being the slower paced and more deliberate game. This is ultimately this games strength though as the world and mechanics are brilliantly designed to reinforce patterns in the player and this ultimately makes the exploration even sweeter than Super as when I noticed details like water bouncing off thin air it made me want to come back and explore once I got the appropriate item making the overall experience even sweeter. The rewards for exploration are also exceptional with different attacks and immediate gameplay benefits making backtracking always worth it. The boss fights are better than Super with the last two (Meta Ridley and Metroid Prime) being shining examples of what boss fights should do, test the player on their skill and knowledge. The fact that the exploration makes these boss fights more manageable (Prime can take out whole energy tanks in one hit) is also incredibly satisfying rewarding the player for going for 100%. Finally this games atmosphere and details are absolutely revolutionary setting the bar for how to make a world feel immersive and alive. Probably my favourite game of the 6th generation.

- Super Metroid: The freeform nature of this game is pretty flawless capturing a true sense of exploration that other games fail at. Add in precise controls and lovely sprite visuals that still hold up today and you have a wonderful game. The infinite replayability of this game is also great with speed running being a legitimately fun way to play this game as I felt like I was getting better with each playthrough and knocking hours off my runtime is a blast. This game is pretty close to perfection and I think it earns its reputation even with a weak ending fight against MB.

- The Last Of Us: A game that I think i've grown to like more over the years because of its engaging characters and thoughtful ending making this more than just another post apocalyptic product. The gameplay is also surprisingly thoughtful nailing the feeling of being a survivor that has to use their entire kit to survive. The game also provides plenty of opportunities for stealth rather than always being forced combat scenarios but even when that happens the game is still very fun due to its tactical nature. Not really sure if this game needs a sequel because of that ending but I'm still hyped to see where it goes.

- Batman: Arkham (Asylum + City): These two games absolutely nail the character and world of Batman as the result of the combat, voice acting, and incredible moments (Scarecrow's fakeout, Mr. Freeze's Boss Fight etc) that appear in these two games. These games are pretty close to each other in terms of quality but they both have their own unique flaws and positives. Asylum is the tightest Arkham game with very little filler but also has a weaker combat system (multi counters are non existent, no gadget implementation) and some super meh boss fights (Joker and Bane are head scratchers that don't feel very true to either character). City on the other hand is grander in scale but comes with more filler (there is one too many Riddler trophies) but also has near perfect combat and superior boss fights (Freeze is a all time great and Clayface is great as well) to Asylum.

- Red Dead Redemption: A game that nails the aesthetic of a western and marries it to a open world that is full of things to do. However this games greatest achievement is its exceptional story which is just about perfect in my eyes with a great lead in John, detestable villains (Ross is one of the only characters in media I truly despise), and a tragic ending I'll never forget. RDR 2 is also fantastic narratively but this game has less cluster and feels purer and as I result I pick RDR 1 for my Rockstar title.

- Final Fantasy (6 + 9)

- Chrono Trigger

- Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (1 + 2)

- Mass Effect 2: On the surface this game appears to be a dumbed down 3rd person shooter but the writing and excellent roleplaying elements of this game really lift it up making your interactions truly matter. It all comes to a head in its spectacular climax were your relationships with the characters are pushed to the max and every choice has a consequence (Ex. getting your favourite character killed) making this a finale that nails the feeling of starring in an incredible movie climax.

- Planescape Torment: This game is on here not because its a particularly excellent game with its dated combat systems but because its an incredible narrative experience that uses the medium of RPGs to talk about concepts like identity and choice in a way that is remarkably complex and leaves lots of room for discussion. It also doesn't hurt that the games dialogue, characters, and VA work is fantastic really bringing this story and world to life.

Recently Watched
- Attack On Titan S3 Part 2: This is probably one of the most faithful adaptations I've ever seen and as a result narratively it has the same pros and cons with the spectacular moments still being spectacular (Ex. Monkey Sushi, CHARGE!, and a Colossal Fall) while the flimsier moments are still meh (Armin's big moment was completely defused by reading the manga). On the other side the animation of this arc is all over the place with the Beast Titan material being spectacular (nearly on par with Ufotable's work on Fate especially Monkey Sushi like my lord that was incredible) while the Colossal Titan looked absolutely awful compared to Isayama's crisp drawing with ugly cgi really dragging these sections down. When these sections are so vital to the story the animation needs to be top notch and unfortunately the quality wasn't there. Some of the Armoured Titan material also had some very shoddy animation with that fight in episode 2 clearly having its budget slashed. Unfortunately these two parts of the story were lesser than there manga counterparts as a result of the aforementioned animation issues and it did rip me out of the show and was not up to par with the high level this show had previously operated on. Overall this is in many ways Attack On Titan at its sensationalist best (big fight scenes, tactics, revelations, and emotions) and I can see why the anime community is going apeshit for it but as a manga reader it didn't exactly blow me away as i've known the highs and lows of this arc for a while and the adaptation wasn't the most amazing thing i've ever seen copying the same narrative but not really improving on it in any vital way + the animation losing out to the manga's drawing for once where Isayama to be honest absolutely rocked this arc with far more consistent drawing compared to the extremes of the animation shown here (70% Great, 10% Ufotable level, 20% not good at all). I would give this a 8/10 so far and it really hinges on The Attack Titan to move it to a 9 as That Day was solidly adapted but felt like it was missing something vital like most of this adaptation.

- Chernobyl: See Fav TV shows for breakdown.

- Barry S2: A season 2 that was somehow even better than S1 with intense acting, stellar writing, and great direction taking this series to the next level. Easy 10/10 as I couldn't have loved this any more than I did and I am hyped as hell for S3.

- Game Of Thrones S8: A complete disaster of a script undermined the hard effort that went into the production and acting of this show reducing a once proud series into a poorly made blockbuster where logic and good character development go to die. I hated the character writing of this season from how they gained brain damage (Dany kinda forgot about the iron fleet. Like what?!), regression (everything to do with Jamie was bizarre), or unearned development (Dany) to suit the plot even if it didn't make any sense. The finale was a unsatisfying disaster with flat lifeless direction, non sensical pacing, and painfully on the nose metaphors that showed how far the show has fallen. Honestly my expectations were low after the braindead Beyond The Wall but this was even worse than I could of have possibly imagined. I seriously hope D&D get shut out of the emmys as they don't deserve any nods or wins for this season. I would score this a 4/10 as it was just so dreadfully mediocre at its best (fanservice and dull dialogue gross) but at its worst it was a viable candidate for the razzies of TV showing that without a good script a tv show is dead on arrival.

- Black Mirror S5: This was definitely Black Mirror's worst season yet. First up is Striking Vipers a well acted but ultimately poor man's Brokeback Mountain where emotion is replaced with nothing but lust and a mediocre ending. Smithereens is also solidly acted but has a message that feels far too simplistic for Black Mirror. The Miley Cyrus one is kinda half assed and I feel like it didn't do justice to the concept of abusing dead celebrities (Ex. that hideous Tarkin from Rogue One) as the lack of focus in the plot ultimately ruined the episode (Miley should have been the sole focus and the other girls shouldn't have even have existed). This season would be a 6/10 as it was well acted and nicely shot but was remarkably uninspired for a show that usually produces at least two must watches per season and I hope the scripts are tighter next season as this was the universal problem that plagued all 3 episodes.

- Mission Impossible Fallout: I loved this movie and would definitely say its the best Mission Impossible yet. This is a pure action movie that is completely thrilling from start to finish as a result of Christopher McQuarrie's stellar direction and tight scripting that gives the characters just enough personality while focusing on spy movie goodness. The movie is also brilliantly shot with all the action being clean and easy to see rather than a bunch of shaky cam shots and the editing is some of the best this side of Fury Road. Definitely a 9/10 as it doesn't quite reach masterpiece level (Ex. the bad guy does occasionally act petty and dumb) but it is so damn entertaining and well made that it couldn't be anything less than a 9 and a series best with a definite recommend.

- Avengers Endgame: Surprisingly enough I actually really liked this movie despite being indifferent towards Infinity War. The big difference here was that this movie takes enough time to slow down and focus on the characters. I really enjoyed the character work in this movie as nearly every character had a great arc or a good moment from Iron Man to the surprise MVP Nebula and it made the movie a joy to watch. The action was also used more sparingly but it made the epic action moments land better (especially the climax) as a result of not overloading it like Infinity War where a big CGI battle happened every 15 minutes or so. Finally the surprises in the movie were a pleasant treat as while I did correctly guess many elements there was still a enough surprises to keep it unpredictable enough. Overall this is superhero spectacle done right and I can't wait to see how Marvel plans for the future, 9/10.

- Code Geass R1 + R2: I went into this one with high hopes but walked out thinking it was just ok rather than the absolute masterpiece it was hyped up to be. The most positive element of this series was the main character Lelouch who absolutely steals the show due to his incredible intellect and interesting backstory + motives. The show is also nicely animated with consistent production values and solid action choreography making the action scenes pop. The war games of this show can be pretty fun especially in R1 as everything has a nice tactical edge to it but this does subside once the main characters develop mechs that are little too powerful but at its best it still reminded me of stuff like AOT, Fate/Zero, and prime GOT which is always good. This shows core problem is its lacklustre ensemble which past Lelouch and C.C. falls off a cliff with many characters feeling like filler (Rivall? and Millie), clones of each other (There was two separate glasses guys that I didn't even realize were separate characters until they died in the same episode because their personalities were so bland), or interchangeable with Euphemia and Shirley being prime examples (blandly nice love interests who exist only for thir male counterparts character development). The fanservice is also a crippling issue with this series as this show deals with heavy themes and shows things like genocide but the camera won't stop shoving itself up Kallen's ass or doing creepy pan shots over C.C. body while serious material is playing and it really takes a toll as time goes on by making it hard to take the show seriously. Sexuality isn't bad but shows shouldn't do it in such a crass and childish fashion as this series clearly had little to say or do with the concept outside of it being shoved into R1 to appear mature (HBO syndrome: we have tits because we make shows for adults) and R2 to appeal to a stereotypical anime audience (Sexy waifus = good merch sales) as it clearly shifted to prime time TV. This show also takes one too many plot shortcuts and it really undercuts the shows attempts at intelligence with one example being when characters are in a impossible situation in S1 and then randomly teleport with barely any mention of how or why. Another egregious example of this is a moment in S1 that should be tragic but is rendered mediocre because a character conveniently loses control of their power rather than actually making a tough choice. These kind of moments litter this series and ultimately keep it from approaching greatness as better shows like Breaking Bad know everything should come from the characters rather than the writer forcing something to happen. Finally the ending is acclaimed for this show but I found it to be a mixed bag. As a emotional climax its solid and wraps up Lelouch's character fairly well but intellectually this plan for peace would ultimately fail in 10 years or less as properties like Fallout deftly point out the problems with thinking that killing the bad dudes results in world peace is that tyrants are like weeds they'll always pop back up and this ending is just a tad too optimistic for its good as a result of this even more so because the tyrant is fake. Ultimately I think I would have enjoyed this more if the hype wasn't so overblown to make this appear like a unrivalled masterpiece rather than a entertaining alternative to Death Note as much like Light it is fun to watch Lelouch come up with some batshit crazy plan to win a fight but there isn't really anything else other than that with the show feeling like a self serious mix of generic anime tropes (evil empire, boring metaphysical end all suffering plot, random high school setting, mechs) that rarely rises above those tropes as a result of being average technically (Animation is good but some of the editing and direction are straight up bad) and middling narratively. I would give this show a 7/10 as I think it is a perfect representation of a average well made anime.

- Neon Genesis Evangelion and End Of Evangelion: I have wanted to watch these shows for a very long time because of their equally iconic/controversial nature and went in with a open mind thinking if it was bad at least I scratched something off my watchlist and if I liked it then I would be glad that it is worth the wait. Ultimately i came out of this franchise with a very positive opinion as even though it was incredibly strange and indescribable at times like a bad acid trip I couldn't help but really enjoy the overall experience because of its artistic merit and how incredibly unique it is in the landscape of animation even after 24 years. The first thing I really enjoyed about this anime was the action which is beautifully animated and rarely feels repetitive due to the unique Angels and varying situations keeping things fresh (Ex. The strategic sniping against the octahedron thing vs the sheer brutality of End Of Evangelion's big fight). Secondly this show is a straight up visual masterpiece with excellent shot composition and animation making every visual instantly memorable and striking (even when the budget was running out this series still had impressive stills). Thirdly I found the characters refreshingly realistic for a anime as they are dominated by negative qualities rather than being utter masterminds or peerless warriors who have indomitable spirits (not that this bad: See Gurren Lagann) and by focusing on those negative emotions it created an incredibly humane and empathetic portrayal of these characters in a way that very few shows have done for me. Finally I really liked how this show felt like it was deeply personal to its creator in a way that even many of my favourite shows and games never have as it makes all the emotions and dialogue on display even more touching because they feel real (Shinji's crushing loneliness, characters failing to connect with each other, wanting to be loved by others etc.) and as a result this was a anime that even with so many fantastical and mind bending elements always felt like it was grounded in truth and reality which was its greatest strength (kinda like Pixar's Inside Out). Overall I loved this show and while I don't think everybody's going to love it it is undeniably a fascinating show that at least deserves a watch as it is the progenitor of the modern anime landscape (Attack On Titan, Fate, Code Geass etc are all inspired by this to some degree) and is remarkably engaging as a singular work, 9/10.

The Umbrella Academy: I don't really have much to say about this show as I found it remarkably competent from top to bottom (direction, acting, editing etc.) but very uninspired at the same time with the show feeling like an off brand version of the X-Men and their iconic storylines (especially Days Of Future Past & Dark Phoenix). Overall like Code Geass this a good benchmark show for what I could consider an average show (AKA 7/10) but I'm not as harsh with my criticism here as Umbrella aims very low and accomplished its goal of being a mildly enjoyable knockoff of the X-Men. I'll probably binge S2 when it comes out as S1 was a ok way to spend a day.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Urobutcher did it again as this deconstruction of the magical girl genre is nothing short of outstanding. I would consider this to be a landmark of the animation medium with stuff like Eva and Samurai Jack as the animation and art are nothing short of absolutely breathtaking. The direction is also excellent in this series with varied shot composition and a excellent handling of pacing, action, and dialogue making this one of the tightest shows I've seen in recent memory with close to no filler. The Japanese sub is also some of the best voice acting I've seen in anime with the actors handling tonal and personality shifts perfectly and flawlessly capturing their characters + their journeys (Side note: I knew Chiwa Saito and Aoi Yuki were fantastic because of their work in Fate but damn they were nothing short of incredible here). Finally Urobouchi further proved himself a master of anime writing with a script that was engaging from start to finish with a great plot, characters that were 3D and well developed, a couple of well executed twists (one in particular was a perfectly savage heel turn on par with GOT and Black Mirror's most infamous twists), well written dialogue that was never dull, and a ending that was legitimately satisfying and true to the story being told. Overall I would give this a 10/10 as this show was pretty close to flawless and couldn't have been executed any better.

Gurren Lagann: This was just really damn well made and entertaining from top to bottom showing the highs that a more traditional anime can achieve. The technical side of this show was top notch with excellent use of colour and great shot composition + the animation being excellent and remarkably consistent. The cast of this show was solid from top to bottom with enough varied traits to make them stand out from each other, being remarkably likeable (From Simon to Yoko to Leeron to Kittan and of course Kamina they are all enjoyable), and most receiving solid amounts of development. This shows greatest element however was how uplifting it is to watch with characters doing the impossible (the final fight is nothing short of epic) and showing how anyone can be a hero as long as they believe in themselves and others making this show incredibly appealing even to someone who's world views lean towards pragmatism. Finally the action is just ridiculously fun to watch with varied situations and mecha keeping things fresh, the unexpectedly cool moments (Ex. the one fight where team Dai-Gurren's mecha fortress kicked a airship was wonderfully bizarre), and how the Gurren Lagann's power levels got increasingly ridiculous upping the stakes even further. Overall this was the most purely entertaining anime I've seen in recent memory and it definitely lived up to the hype, 9/10 with a definite recommend.

Recently Played
- Bloodborne: See Fav Game List

- Nier: Automata: One of my favourite games from 2017 and one that held up well on a recent replay. The combat is really fun in this game being a really solid hack & slash that never sags as a result of having tons of memorable boss fights, combat scenarios, perspective switches, and new abilities keeping things fresh over 30 hours of playtime. The story is this games bread & butter though with a incredibly inventive story that at first seems like a bog standard anime (sexy anime robots fight evil robots) but eventually reveals itself to be an extremely engaging and intelligent narrative about existentialism. Using multiple playthroughs to tell this story is also very creative as it efficiently builds the characters and their relationships before tearing it all down to question those same relationships and in some cases expose the truth behind them making subsuquent replays hit harder. The true ending is also incredibly powerful and 100% worth getting as there is nothing quite like it. My only issue with this game is that the side quests are a little basic but their writing is usually enough to cover this flaw. Overall this is an incredibly unique game and I'm glad to hear that's become a cult hit and if you haven't played it check it out, 9/10.

- God Of War (PS4): I know this is going to be a controversial one but I borderline hate this game with a recently wrapped up second playthrough somehow making me hate it even more than the first time. The two positives this game has going for it is that Atreus is a stellar AI companion who's legitimately helpful and the game is graphically flawless with close to no bugs. The combat is a poor version of Bloodborne with the camera shoved too close to Kratos creating unnecessary obstruction and their solution to not seeing all enemies as a result of this is visual clutter in the form of ugly arrows. The RPG elements of this game suck with boring loot that barely feels different from each other and a unnecessary level element where enemies two levels above the player can kill Kratos in a hit which is ridiculous. This element feels like it was tossed in for no real reason other than popular games do it and it does a disservice to the game where levels and gear should be non existent and encounters should be skill based like Bloodborne a game with far better RPG elements than this one. The open world is also terrible feeling just as bad as the worst Ubisoft games where the side quests are boringly written fetch quests and everything is done just cause rather than being actually fun. The story is also by and large a failure as a result of being a never ending fetch quest (our McGuffin is in another castle!) that grossly overestimated how much I actually liked the story which even at its best was merely middling and this game just refused to end lingering for at least 9 hours too long. The failure to explore Kratos as a character was also immensely disappointing with the game barely exploring the fact that Kratos is a profoundly shitty person and even trying to justify his awfulness with crap like they deserved it (yea tell that to those random Greek civilians!) which undermines the games attempts at telling a self reflective tale and overall this felt like Logan or The Last Of Us if they were trash. The enemy variety in this game is absolutely awful with the same enemies recycled to the breaking point and rarely requiring new tactics to beat them with the pinnacle of their creativity being a reused concept from Metroid Prime a near 20 year old game. The boss fights are also a disappointing mixed bag with two great ones (Baldur V1 and Magni/Modi) and a whole slew of bad ones with many variants of troll with different fart cloud and secret bosses that are all reskins of each other and frankly boring to fight compared to something like Bloodborne or Chrono Trigger where the secret bosses are awesome treats. I have never seen a more passionately soulless game than this one and I'm incredibly disappointed that this game sold its identity for a bland triple A one. Overall I would give this a 5 as this game is the pinnacle of gaming mediocrity for me.

- Spider-Man: This was my game of the year for 2018 as it kinda got lost in the shuffle between GOW and RDR 2 for many people but I found the gameplay way more fun than the other two and the story was pretty solid as well (definitely not as good as RDR 2 but easily smashed GOW). The gameplay absolutely nails the feeling of being Spider-Man with the web swinging being pitch perfect as I can literally do everything Tobey did in Spider-Man 2 and its all seamless and easy to pull off. The combat is also great borrowing from the excellent Arkham games while having a distinctly Spidey feeling with the combat being more agile and creative but it works incredibly well. Yuri Lowenthal is also great as Peter Parker really elevating the story with some of his best work to date. The story has some stumbles (sidelining Negative after two acts) but the characters are immensely enjoyable and many elements of the story are nicely developed and foreshadowed making the story better on replay surprisingly enough. Definitely a highlight in this golden age of Spider-Man, 9/10.

- Red Dead Redemption 2: A narrative masterpiece with characters, themes, and dialogue that is all top notch. Arthur Morgan is somehow an even better character than John Marston and I found his journey incredibly moving and beautifully acted by Roger Clark. The game on the other hand is a extremely mixed bag with tons of extraneous features that add basically nothing, main missions that are never ending shooting galleries, bizarre physics, and omnipotent cops lent over from Minority Report's Precog division all being massive negatives but there is also many positives like the world being truly gorgeous, full of fun side activities, and the reactive world when it works is truly mind bending. Don't go into this game expecting a masterpiece like the critics said or a trash game like the most overwhelmingly negative user reviews and I think you'll find a game that is just really good. Definitely a game that isn't for everyone but I still liked it nonetheless despite its flaws, 7/10.

- Nioh 2 Alpha: Not really my kinda game as the combat was slower than Bloodborne and the stamina management wasn't for me but I assume people who like Nioh 1 will like this. I was glad to get the invite though and hope I gave good feedback to the devs.

My favourite pages

 * https://attackontitan.wikia.com/wiki/Marley
 * https://attackontitan.wikia.com/wiki/Eldia
 * https://attackontitan.wikia.com/wiki/Nine_Titans
 * https://attackontitan.wikia.com/wiki/Reiner_Braun
 * https://attackontitan.wikia.com/wiki/Great_Titan_War