What you playing? - May 2022

ETRIAN ODYSSEY II

TIME PLAYED SO FAR: [18 HOURS]

PLATFORM PLAYED ON: [3DS]

My favourite game this month, is a really good dungeon exploring JRPG on the 3DS. The gimmick being that you draw maps on the touchscreen. The story feels a bit generic so far, but I'm really enjoying the map making. The battle system is also quite good, as it allows for the building of powerful combos. If you put the effort in, it feels like you're well rewarded. There's also a fun little side quest where you're running a restaurant on the side. If you've got a 3DS I really recommend playing a game in the series, as its a unique spin on a traditional genre.

THE OUTER WORLDS

TIME PLAYED SO FAR: [15 HOURS]

PLATFORM PLAYED ON: [PS4]

A really solid Science Fiction RPG. The game is from the makers of Fallout, so if you've ever wandered the wastelands before, you'll have an idea of what to expect. The first thing to do is create a character, you'll design how they look and most importantly set their stats. The fun part is seeing some of the unique ways you can solve problems based on the stats your character has. So for example if you have a lot of points put into the medical stat, you might get a unique bit of dialogue with a character that's sick. Likewise if you've got a lot of points put into your ability to lie, you might be able to give some really bad medical advice. It makes the game feel like its tailored to how you're playing. The Outer Worlds focuses on a series of small areas to explore, which has its pro's and cons. It feels a bit more focussed, but doesn't have the same sense of exploration as a Fallout game. I've finished the first area, and although I'm enjoying it, it hasn't quite hooked me yet. I think it might be because the first area's factions didn't feel that believable.

THE OUTER WILDS

TIME PLAYED SO FAR: [22 Hours]

PLATFORM PLAYED ON: [PS4]

A Space exploration game with a twist, like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day the main character finds themselves in a time loop. Every 20 minutes, the sun at the centre of the system explodes. This triggers time to roll back 20 minutes. In each of these loops, you'll go off exploring and find more information on what's going on. The planets you discover all have a unique twist, with some changing significantly depending on the amount of time left in a cycle. For example, theres one planet that is gradually filling with sand, and one that's being destroyed by meteorites. My one criticism is some of the solutions to the puzzles aren't obvious, I personally needed to use a guide for some of them. This is compounded by the structure of the game, as I found myself under pressure to solve them before time resets. If you don't solve the puzzle, you have to reach the same location again before attempting it again, which can be a bit tedious. I've almost finished The Outer Wilds, its got a great feeling of being on a camping holiday in Space, and features some really memorable places to visit..