Games Of 2020

DOES IT MATTER?

There where the first Last Of Us was instant classic and gave a great storytelling, characters, world and gameplay to the gaming industry, Part 2 was perfect continuation for that.
Story took a more darker and brutal turn for Ellie's and Joel's journey after first couple of hours and it lasted to the final minutes. The pain and rage was tangible and it reached hard to the player.
I loved how the story setted up and how it progressed, right to the end. Naughty Dog showed again how to craft a great, emotional and realistic story and how to end it that it awokes every emotions what entertainment should do when it has done right.
I think it goes without saying how gorgeous this game looks like! Graphics has pushed to the limit what PS4 can just handle. The world is yet again lively, rugged and colorful.
New gameplay mechanics, gear and weapons were nicely updated and made the gameplay experience even smoother and wider than the last time. Without forgotting exploring the surroundings finding world building clues and collectibles which I just cannot pass.
New characters were interesting and colorful and their backstories as well as reasons were justly presented.
Abby became my favorite character from the game just because how well she was written and how many emotional stages you went with her throughout her journey.
The game pulled me in many times and it was hard to put down the controller every time. I'll definitely will start a New Game+ as soon as possible and enjoy the grim journey again and again and again.

Playing...

MEDIEVAL SIMULATOR

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the most realistic and accurate game I've ever played in any genre.
Warhorse studio's first game leaned heavily on real historians and details to make its story as accurate as possible, which is taking place during a war in Bohemia in 1403 and gameplay as close to realism as possible.
The main character Henry Of Skalitz is just an ordinary young man who only knows how to live like a young rebellious teenager, make chores and help his blacksmith father on the workshop, while listening his wise words about how to become an honest, wise and above all a good man in this medieval land. This all takes a drastic turn when army of Cuman mercenaries raids the mining village of Skalitz, where Henry and his family as friends are living. Escaping barely and losing almost everything and everyone he knows, Henry needs to start living by his own and learning the ways of a soldier. Learn how to using his brains or muscles or rather both to survive in this ruthless world and ultimately get his revenge. His growth from peasant to soldier throughout the game is carried out greatly and is joy to follow.
From the start the player will notice that this isn't an ordinary FP or RPG game. Gameplay feels challenging and it takes couple of hours, and deaths, to get a hang of it and in time learn the skills of swordsmanship, archery, fist-fighting, riding, reading. Yes. In 1400's was very common that children's of low ranking families couldn't read. Persuade people for your advantage and keeping your appearance, gear and weapons clean as well as sharp. Also there is familiar hunting, mixing herbs, collecting resources, searching treasures and helping people in need who you pump into your travels.
I wouldn't start browsing the whole map through at once, what I normally tend to do in open world games, but take my time in area after area where the story takes us by doing main and side quests because this game is challenging at first. You need to develop Henry's skills with time before charging in highly guarded castles and trying to pick a very hard lock with your low lockpicking skills or stealth abilities.
Talking about side quests. The effort what Warhorse has put in them, reminds me on The Witcher 3. They aren't normal, easily forgettable side quests where you need to pick some meaningless item or kills some mean neighbor who owns someone money for some NPC who's name is different but modeling same like the last dozen people which you've already seen. Side quests are interesting stories to see and usually challenging mission to accomplish. Some of them have effects later in the game and some of them launches new missions. Many times I needed to save before starting them, because many times I either stepped on a branch or someone just happened to walk by on his patrol causing the alarm and me reloading my previous save for completing the mission perfectly. Because I choose to be stealthier and wiser on my playthrough instead of merciless, short tempered killer.
Story is very interesting and it takes its time, but many times it stays hanging on the background because the world itself is so huge and full of interesting activities. Interesting people to meet and important relationships to create as connections to form so you could continue your guests more easily. Or taking a break from all the world's stressing obligations and go hunting at first very challenging bow mechanism but in the end, very addictive.
You will encounter one particular very well developed relationship between your main character and another high-ranked individual which is, on my opinion, one of the best formed relationships in gaming history.
Finally, Jan Valta's chilling and emotional score ties all of this epicness together.
Although this game is amazingly detailed and feels great, it has its flaws. Unfortunately. Loading times are frustratingly long and there are still bugs and glitches than back in its release which caused frustrations among players as well as few low scores from critics. Luckily patches have fixed majority of them so the gaming experience won't suffer almost at all.

WHEN A BOY MEETS A GIRL

HD remastering did really a justice for this game compared to PS2 graphics. Like Fumito Ueda and the whole Team Ico meanted it to be while doing this, but couldn't be able to make it look so detailed and smooth back in early 2000's hardware.
I remember checking this games case many times back in 2001 or 2002 alongside with some MGS2, when I was browsing games in our local electronic shop in my hometown. I was drawn by its cover art and unique looking gameplay, back when Japanese games weren't quite familiar to me.
You need to figure out the gameplay mechanics and puzzles all by yourself without any aids.
There are no guidelines where to go, so you need to advance with your pure gut. Although the path is pretty straight forward so it's almost impossible to drifted from it.
Game is pretty fast to play. I did it almost in 5 hours with two sittings. Story is simple, like the whole game which offers average braing puzzles, good emotional story and nice looking settings.

BROKEN GUARDIAN

Did finally finish this taking over a year break from it.
Story was heartwarming and the game was gorgeous looking piece of art, like every previous Fumito Ueda's game.
Loved the level design and architecture of the valley with giant castles and bridgest. Ueda's familiar setting for his stories and characters.
Trico was adorable looking half dog half bird creature who was dedicated guardian angel for a Boy to get him safely back home from the dangers of the valley where he got trapped in. Trico's detailed appearance was joy to watch, like the whole game which took years and years to make. Too bad they didn't put much of an effort to the awful camera and bad game mechanics, which almost ruined the whole gaming experience from me.
It was the major problem for me and apparently to everyone else who have played the game by the look of the reviews I've seen over the years.
If the character wasn't facing precisely the direction you wanted to jump, ledge to drop off or labber to climb by, he either started twitching without knowing what to do or just advances any other but the right direction. Most likely towards death.
Other frustraiting part was moving Trico. If you didn't pointed exactly the way you wanted to go, Trico just might jump or walk on the opposite direction and it might took half a minute or full to get him back to the start depending how tight the space of the area was where you were. Sooo frustraiting!
Didn't remember when was the last time I wanted to throw my controller so badly to the wall or out from a window while finishing this.

Second Playthrough
Difficulty Hard

The best looking game so far from Naughty Dog. It's amazing how detailed they managed to make this.
I've always liked how over the top the action is in this franchise and it's so entertaining as hunting treasures and solving puzzles that Tomb Raider will drop on second place.
Also the chemistry between the characters and drama is the best kind in Uncharted and The Last Of Us that you've seen in video games. Very cinematic and serious.

Played New Game +
Difficulty Hard

THROUGH RUGGED AND CRUEL AMERICAN RUINS MY ROAD WILL GOES

Started my fourth or fifth playthrough of one of my all time favorite games before the release its long time waited sequel.
Love the chemistry between Joel and Ellie and how it develop throughout the game. Ellie's will of survive and learning the ropes of post-apocalyptic world and Joel's rough personality but in the end, well meaning deeds.
And it goes without saying how powerful the story is, how gorgeous and rich the entire world looks like with its memorable passing by characters and how chilling Gustavo Santaolalla's score is.
First time I try New Game + and second time I try difficulty Hard. Game has more survival feel to it and realism how hard the difficulty is. Need to plan your every move carefully and use of craftable weapons 'cause the lack of materials when there's infected around or even more dangerous enemy, human.
Might go Survivor or Grounded difficulty level on my next playthrough.