For almost a week, I stayed cooped up at home and played as much of Kingdom Hearts 3 as I could. The hype was real and I was simply excited to have the game in my hands. Of course, being employed full-time meant that I had to use some of my precious annual leave. To be fair though, I had plenty of it since I hardly used it and my manager actually does not want to see me go and relax because apparently I’m quite necessary to the general business side of things. But because of my obligations, there are times when it can be difficult to keep on top of the latest and greatest titles. Particularly because I do not work as a game journalist or have a dedicated YouTube or Twitch channel with plenty of ad revenue to fund a starving artist. 

And let’s be honest: even if I grabbed a decent streaming or recording device on the cheap, the market has since been so saturated, it’ll be hard to make much of a dent. A singular person can only go so far and editing is no simple task.

But back to the series that sparked my endless joy in video games in general!

The game starts off from the ending of Dream Drop Distance. Sora has lost many of his accumulated abilities and powers after nearly falling becoming a vessel for Xehanort. To find a means of regaining his strength, Sora and his companions: Donald and Goofy head towards Olympus where Hercules suffered his own performance issues in the second numbered installment of the franchise to see if the hero might be able provide any answers. This is jokingly referred to as Kingdom Hearts 2.9 and serves as a rudimentary tutorial to the controls. 

Within the two to three hours of gameplay, players are re-introduced to a more basic flowmotion, shotlocks and attractions. Gone are the reaction commands and drive forms of yesteryear. Instead, Sora is able to tap into keyblade transformations and joint attacks with his companions.

Once the story for the world ends, Sora is no closer to reclaiming the Power of Waking but he has hope for what the future might bring and heads back to Master Yen Sid to report back in. There, he is met by Riku and Mickey who had travelled to the Realm of Darkness to rescue Aqua – only for her to be missing and their own keyblades damaged when they encountered a Demon Tower. 

Plot points are exchanged and Sora is charged with heading to various Disney worlds so that he can find some way to unlock the power slumbering within him. The excuse felt flimsy but I hardly cared – eager as I was to delve into Arendelle, the Toy Box and various others worlds.

Each of the Disney worlds have their own story with only fleeting exchanges with Organization XIII members that provide some more insight into the overall plot. While several followed the plot beats from their respective films, the Pixar worlds as well as San Fransokyo contained their own individuals stories separate from the films. And for a good twenty to thirty hours, I enjoyed interacting with the likes of Woody and Buzz to Hiro to Captain Jack Sparrow.

Then there were the cutscenes with a focus on many of the other characters. Brief snippets of Kairi and Lea as they trained. Riku and Mickey as they gathered more information about the Organization’s plans and uncovered information that the players may have already been familiar with if they played the entries that were scattered on numerous platforms (but which were all collated in the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 collections).

By the end of the all the Disney worlds, however, Sora was no closer to regaining the lost Power of Waking. Plot being plot, though, he was soon diving head-first into danger in order to save Riku and the King when they failed to respond in their second attempt to rescue Aqua. From there, the plot quickens and before long, Aqua is saved and Ventus is woken from his decade long slumber. With the final battle at hand, the Seven Guardians of Light have a day of rest though it is clear that many are eager to save their friends that were still lost: Roxas, Terra and Namine.

As one, they travel to the Keyblade Graveyard only to be met by countless Heartless as the Organization unleashes their plan. And for one brief moment, the Guardians of Light fall. Sora is sent to the Final World and experiences a brief Harry Potter moment. After retrieving his missing pieces, he returns and like the film Groundhog Day, he relives the disaster that befell them until he rescues the hearts of his friends from a Heartless known as the Lich before the power of Light pulls its own Deus Ex Machina by summoning both the Lingering Will to combat Terra-Xehanort and all the players of Union X to defeat the Demon Horde of Heartless.

With these obstacles out of the way, the Guardians race to Master Xehanort. Aided as well by Master Yen Sid, they enter a labyrinth and clash with the Seekers that Xehanort brought to his side: Dark Riku (when he was possessed by Ansem and using a replica), Xigbar, Saix, Luxord, Larxene, Marluxia, Xion, Vanitas, Terra-Xehanort, Young Xehanort, Ansem and Xemnas.

After each is struck down, many reveal their hidden motivations for joining with Master Xehanort. While I found myself sympathetic to quite a few, I could not shake the feeling that some of them were contrived explanations for the villains to exist.

But though it seemed as if victory was close at hand, Master Xehanort reveals Kairi being held hostage. In order to spawn the X-blade, he strikes down the defenseless girl. Enraged, Sora rushes to attack only to be knocked aside. Seeing his plan come to fruition, Master Xehanort summons Kingdom Hearts as the culmination of his plans.

With the aid of his friends, Sora uses a beam of light to trap Master Xehanort and is taken to Scala ad Caelum. For someone who has dabbled with Union X, there were shades of Daybreak Town found within.

Eager to finish, though, I pushed on through and managed to defeat Master Xehanort at last. A slew of cutscenes soon followed but no Kairi was to be found. And as the ending played and many of the other characters managed to gain a happy ending, Sora was still desperate to find his dear friend and set out on a solitary journey. Whether or not he found her – as well as the price he paid was left ambiguous by game’s end. And for someone who has sacrificed so much, it did feel unsatisfying that Sora could not achieve the happily ever after that I so craved.

Even Kairi’s character and service to the plot seemed less than inspired. I could not shake the feeling that she was treated merely as a means to support Sora’s grand story arc. The fact that she was so easily kidnapped by Xemnas and then summarily executed felt like lazy storytelling.

Even Master Xehanort’s reveal that he was only seeking Kingdom Hearts so that he could reset the world felt like a cheap excuse to bring the Dark Seeker saga to a resolution. In fact, Kingdom Hearts 3 also dropped many additional plot points that only added to the mystery. The epilogue revealed that Xigbar was actually Luxu, one of the six apprentices of the Master of Masters. Additionally, Demyx, Luxord, Larxene and Marluxia were all hinted to have ties to the guilds of the Foretellers and the Dandelions, but none of these were properly explored.

Worse was the fact that Isa and Lea had only joined Ansem the Wise in order to help a girl that had become their friend. Who she was remained a mystery though there was a possibility her heart was encountered in the Final World. Even Maleficent and Pete made several cameos only to leave their story dropped half-way through the game.

Kingdom Hearts 3 is not a perfect game by all means. The narrative was one of the weakest out of all the other games in the Dark Seeker Saga. But the combat and the joy that it brought with its focus on Disney worlds was still enough to bring a smile to my face.

As someone who wants to uncover all the secrets to the franchise, this blogger, at least, will be looking forward to the next saga. Whether or not Sora will be the main protagonist is up in the air but I would also be excited to see someone else take the reins. Kingdom Hearts 3 feels like the end of a legacy and while the door to the last seventeen years comes to a close, another one is open.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t take as long for all these remaining mysteries to be answered.

On a side note, the loss of Leonard Nimoy was clearly felt in this entry. The new voice actor brings his own flair to the character but Spock will be missed.

When I played the original Life is Strange, Chloe Price was not someone I bonded all that strongly with despite the history she shared with protagonist Max Caulfield. Often, I would find myself annoyed at her devil-may-care antics and irreverent attitude. She simply did not care enough about anyone else’s troubles but her own. Throughout the game, she was a person that constantly demanded attention, needing Max to look after he especially when she had done something so stupid as shoot a car, only to have the bullet ricochet and nearly die. In fact, I felt much more sympathetic to the plight of Kate Marsh than I did Chloe Elizabeth Price.

So, when I booted up Before the Storm, I wasn’t quite sure what would be waiting for me. Yet the more I played, the more I began to see the similarities that we both shared. Perhaps one of the reasons I could not so easily warm up to Chloe like so many others was because she was a mirror – a reflection of the person I might have been when my own father passed away when I was twelve. The anger and grief that I saw in her were all things I experienced in the first few months and years after his death. Even now, it still hurts to think what might have been if he had lived. Just like Chloe, I felt closest with my dad. We would often play out make believe adventures and he always treated much more favourable than my mother.

Still, our circumstances were also quite different. Rather than having my best friend moving away shortly afterwards, I had a much more diverse support network in our friendly neighbours. While I was also just transitioning to high school, my mother helped plan a trip to Disneyland. It helped brought us closer. Although, one incident that I remember quite clearly was when she had drunk a little bit too much at a restaurant in Hawaii. Staggering back to our hotel, she collapsed in bed and wouldn’t move. I was terrified at the implications, having so recently lost my father.

But perhaps the reason why I never quite followed in Chloe’s footsteps of rebelling against authority and losing much interest in life was that my father’s passing was not so sudden an event. my father had cancer. And for almost an entire year, we would visit him in hospital. Though a part of me hoped that he would recover, I also knew that at some point, tragedy would strike (and perhaps there’s a little too much Max Caulfield in me). 

It’s hard to open yourself up when someone so close is taken away by fate. But Chloe was also struck another devastating blow when she also lost her best friend to the city of Seattle. When I played through the bonus episode, tears began to well up when Choe hit play to Max’s last message after the funeral. It was painful and earnest and all I wanted was to be there for her. Tell her, perhaps, that she was not alone. 

In short, playing through Before the Storm helped provide perspective and context for many aspects of her personality that had initially rubbed me the wrong way.

Oh, and David Madsen proved simply maddening in the first two chapters. First of all, don’t mansplain what a spark plug is after someone has confirmed that they know what it is. Two, don’t try to tell a mother how she ought to be disciplining her daughter when said daughter is within earshot. It’s terrible. Also Joyce, if you decide to have someone move in with you, please actually have a conversation with your daughter before letting your boyfriend spring it on said daughter. Communication is what leads to healthy relationships and an avenue of trust. 

When my mother found someone else, I was initially very resistant to the idea. To me, it was as if she was replacing everything that I held dear. My stepfather, however, was able to find a way to connect with me and though he also has many faults, I suppose I’ve accepted him in some ways if not in others. For one, I’ll never call him ‘father’ and should someone mistake the relationship between us, I will always correct them.

Before the Storm also helped flesh out the relationship Chloe had with Rachel Amber. And while there were some points Eliot made in the third chapter that made quite a bit of sense, I can also understand why Chloe would remain faithful to the friendship and whatever else that was blossoming between the two (despite the fact that they had only met a couple days ago). There is something special about being needed. And even if Eliot had been right and Rachel was manipulating Chloe, it was still Chloe’s choice to remain with the District Attorney’s daughter.

The longer I ponder this, though, and the more I frequent Reddit, the more it appears that the opening act of the Tempest was actually a metaphor of Rachel’s hold over Chloe. As well as the fact that Rachel would never let Chloe go. But because Chloe is so desperate to have someone in her life that appreciates and cherishes her (as Max is unresponsive and her mother is moving on with David), she falls right into the trap just waiting for her.

By the way, after watching You on Netflix, it’s terrifying to see someone believe that they are entitled to someone else’s affections. Obsession is not love. And such toxic relationships should not be endorsed. 

But whereas Chloe pain comes from loss, Rachel’s demons stem from the web of lies that have cocooned her ever since she was young. There’s a deep well of anger within the straight-A student that was also remarkably familiar. After studying the human condition for most of her life, Rachel knows that there is something not quite right with the perfect life she has lived. 

And as the two bond over the length of the game, I could see why Chloe was adamant about finding out what happened to the person that had lifted her from her pit of despair. The two served as complements, each one filling the empty spaces that the other had. 

Despite knowing that even this would end in disaster, I could not help but root for the two of them to be together. Every choice to become closer meant that I would only be adding to Chloe’s misery, but it was also heart-warming to see Chloe enjoy herself despite the darkness that continued to hover around her. 

While reviewing the stats regarding the choices many made, I was pleased to see that I was one of quite a few that learned the story behind Rachel’s bracelet and it’s importance. It helped solidify the bond they shared and I thought it much more effective than a kiss, which an overwhelming number of other players chose.

Though I did not expect it, Before the Storm was an excellent glimpse into a character that I sacrificed for the greater good of Arcadia Bay. It also allowed me to see everything that she struggled with and the pain she hid behind a prickly exterior.

Set just before the turn of the twentieth century, Red Dead Redemption II is the story of the Van der Linde gang and the string of disasters that led to it being disbanded. Spread over six chapters and two epilogue chapters, I often saw it as an extensive character study of the colourful personalities that we were first introduced to eight years ago. This was particularly evident in the first few chapters when I met the cast and slowly came to appreciate each of their strengths as well as their faults. In fact, I often found myself gravitating towards the dapper dresser Javier (despite the events that transpire in the original game), the enigmatic Charles, young Lenny and the ferocious Sadie.

Playing as Arthur Morgan, Dutch’s right hand, players navigate a vibrant world filled with eccentric individuals and deadly animals. In the first couple of hours after leaving the snowy mountains, I would often find myself roving across the majestic plains and hills as I helped strangers, looked for dinosaur bones and murdering the local wildlife. Until, I was, of course, mauled to death by a legendary bear. And though I heard many were somewhat put off by the graphic display that involved with skinning animals, it barely affected me. More than likely, it’s due to the simple fact that I’ve become desensitised to digital violence. Killing Bambi (as per Girlfriend Reviews on YouTube) is hardly worth taking a long introspection when it means I can craft the best satchel in the game.

Control-wise, Red Dead Redemption II follows a fairly conventional scheme. The shooting mechanics were serviceable and dead eye was often used to great effect when in a pinch. It did, however, take a while to adjust to riding around on a horse but after several hours, pressing R1 became more natural as a means of slowing down. Speaking of horses, while Rockstar touted that their technology was sophisticated enough that the testicles of your stallions would visibly shrink, I never truly noticed when I bothered to head up into the icy cold. Believe you me, I rode Mordred (yes, after naming my mounts after powerful women – both real and fictional – I delved deep into the Arthurian myths) through the snowy mountainside numerous times as an experiment.

In terms of story, Red Dead Redemption II takes a while to build up steam. For those not used to long hours spent on plot setup, it can be understandable why many players might have been frustrated. As a longtime purveyor of Japanese role-playing games, this barely bothered bothered me. For years, I’ve endured hours upon hours of needless tutorials and backstory before delving into the real meat of the game.

What did stand out in the story of Arthur Morgan, was that it did not follow the traditional hero’s path. And Arthur is the first to admit that he is not a good man. Instead of triumphs, the gang floundered to achieve their goals. Hounded by Pinkerton agents, each ‘big break’ ended in disaster and I was sad to see many of my favourites fall as the game progressed. In many ways, it was a reflection  of the Van der Linde gang’s futile struggle with change. No matter how they clung to the old ways of the west, they could not stop the inexorable march of civilisation and progress. 

This is further exemplified when, after returning from an ill-advised trip to Guarma, Arthur is diagnosed with tuberculosis. Knowing that his time is short, he begins to break away from the rigid views that Dutch holds. And as his father figure becomes more desperate, Arthur is able to see the folly that comes with blindly following another. For the first time, he sees Dutch as he truly is.

With death looming over the horizon, Arthur also uses the opportunity to become the man he wants to be: whether that is a good man helping those in need and seeking his redemption by saving John Marston and his family, or by adopting a much more misanthropic and antagonistic view of the world by leaning towards the criminal.

As a white hat, I played a much more sympathetic Arthur – one that was willing to put the well-being of others before more materialistic wants and needs.Of course, should I ever have the inclination (and the time) I might try another playthrough to see what happens when playing with almost no honour.

There was much to love in Red Dead Redemption II, from the fully realised gang members to the eclectic individuals Arthur stumbled upon in the wilderness as well as major towns. Distracts were plentiful and I often found myself hunting and fishing through my lengthy time with the game. It was clear from the very start that the team at Rockstar poured a lot of effort into the world they created, building upon the original setting and story that many first fell in love with in 2010. Some might see that as a negative but for this blogger, it only served to cement my enjoyment of the old Wild West.  

Without badminton as a means to curb my mounting frustration and apathy, I was forced into a road trip out of an obligation to do the right thing for my family. Although I might have enjoyed it had we all shared the same car, any reprieve I felt was cut short by the lack of trains heading down from the Central Coast. The fact that there was track work meant that I would have to make the arduous journey on the replacement buses or be willing to personally put my hands on the reins. A third option did loom – the act of declining ‘family time’ but I would also be saddled with the knowledge that my grandmother would have to make her own way home. And that was something I simply could not allow, even if I knew that a day of unhappiness would be my only reward.

Soured already by the fact that I had endured another minimal night of sleep and dreading the lecture that was sure to come: ‘if you’ve decided to go out with us, you should at least be happy,’ I hopped into my car and started the engine. What I had not anticipated by searching up a car park for ease of reference, was that I would be directed to a suburb several kilometres away without a means to head back on track. The frequent calls we received from my mother to know where exactly to turn did not help matters and we were hopelessly lost.

Though I knew it was wrong, I vented my frustrations at my grandmother when we finally pulled up at a Coles so that I could reset the GPS unit. Perhaps I should not have uttered the words that subsequently spilled into a toxic verbal fight. Nevertheless, the words were said.

And as we set out again, there was no idle chatter or humming. An angry silence had descended over us, courtesy of my inability to leash my temper, until we reached The Entrance.

Throughout the vexing half hour it took for us to finally head back on track, my mother continued to call us with directions before she finally sent us GPS coordinates to a local car park. Due to her lack of technical knowledge, my grandmother was at a loss of what to do. Several times she tried to grab my attention from the road. And each time, I reprimanded her like any law-abiding and dutiful driver would have. 

Perhaps if I was less frustrated, I would not have snapped so aggressively at her. I might have been more rational in my arguments. But as my patience was only hanging by a thread, each attempt only served to aggravate me further.

When we finally arrived and I could see the pelicans in the distance, I quickly exited the car – needing to put some distance between me and my grandmother so that I could cool my head. It was only after several minutes of peaceful contemplation, did I seek out the rest of my family, spotting them easily as they studied the notice board.

I watched as my mother peeled away from the others and I stalked her through the busy Saturday markets. After a trip to the public toilets, our family was reunited again. Our time together, however, was short. The pelican feeding was at 3.30pm and we had yet to reach our true destination that had sparked this whole adventure: Caves Beach.

From a personal perspective, I’ve never much liked beaches. For one, there’s sand. It’s coarse, rough and it gets everywhere. Then there’s the multitude of other humans you need to share it with. But worst of all is the sun. Yes, that evil yellow orb that hovers in the sky – providing us with blessed light and Vitamin D.

By then though, my anger had long since dissipated. I was out in the fresh air. It might not have been the company I wanted to keep but it would do. Of course, that did not mean I was not yearning for the peaceful solitude that came from being at home.

With the ceasefire in effect, lunch was also quite a pleasant distraction from the chaotic morning that saw me grumbling ‘bah humbug’ at every opportunity. And while I promised myself that the trip would not have been worth writing about, it is also important to remind myself that I ought to be better. Not everyone is perfect and though I do try to curate the content on my blog, not every aspect of my personality is favourable. This is one such case. One of these days I will be the a person and daughter that is worthy of the friends I have and the people who have come to love me.

That, or perhaps, I should not allow myself to be so easily guilt-tripped into (or feel obligated) participating in family events that I would prefer to sit out. 

In the world of Dungeons and Dragons, a bard might be able to sing a little ditty or tell a ribald joke to empower their allies. A player could also impress the dungeon master with their ingenuity and thus receive a token of appreciation in the form of ‘inspiration.’ For any down-on-their-luck writer, trapped in the real world, however, inspiration is a rare currency that cannot be stockpiled. Often, I’d find myself reaching for the nearest scrap of paper or pulling out my phone to put down my ideas so that they are not lost to the land of forgotten thoughts. As a blogger that is always striving to find a topic to write about, though, ‘inspiration’ can come from even the most mundane of objects. 

From my own personal experience, I’ve managed to write posts about conversations that I’ve overheard, the games that I’ve played as well as about the adventures I’ve enjoyed both abroad and at home. There’s always something that kicks off a spark in my mind and has my fingers itching to type it all out.

One of the things that drove me to type about inspiration was the fact that despite everything that’s happened with Tumblr, I’ve managed to accrue more followers. It’s a strange experience and definitely strokes the ego. Just a tad, mind you!

But there’s also the pressure to continue this trend of being the role model. Of giving others the courage to start their own personal blogs and write about their own struggles and triumphs. Truth be told, I’ve often found that my anecdotes on life aren’t as intriguing as those found in published works of celebrities but perhaps someone out there in the vastness of the world does actually appreciate the effort I’ve put in.

As someone that is constantly writing, though, I’ve often found that the secret to finding inspiration in my personal works is to continue thinking of the wondrous possibilities just at your fingertips. And with each passing day, add a little more to the overall world. Though Divided We Fall is done and dusted, I do, sometimes think about the characters that I created in the form of Kiralt, Lathin, Elisander and Feryden. It was not easy coming up with their backstories. But the more thought I put into it, the more real they became.

The same is happening with my new fantasy work-in-progress. Lacet and Idana have very distinct voices in my head. And when I find myself needing a break, or in the shower, I sometimes try to feel them out by having a nice jovial conversation.

Emotion has also been a strong starting point when it comes to the art of writing. Even now there’s a short story trying to force its way through. The act of putting it down is cathartic. Without any other avenues (as I refuse to pursue them), it’s a great way to explore where I’m at in my head space and to give off a little steam before everything all boils over.

In any case, I’d like to thank the new followers that have decided that they like the look of The Writing Corner and for giving me a little extra boost. It’s been quite a few years and I’ve been at this personal blogging for a while now. With Tumblr still existing, I’ll keep on pushing out as much new content as possible. There’s still Red Dead Redemption 2 and of course, Kingdom Hearts 3. 

Happy reading and keep living life to the fullest!

As each year ends and another begins, the city that I call home often endures scorching temperatures that usually has many residents tossing and turning for want of sleep. In fact, as 2018 drew to a close, I found myself on the brink of tears as I tackled my own special blend of insomnia. I’m not entirely sure what sparked it – perhaps it was my own ennui to the whole affair of working, eating and sleeping or the ever hovering uncertainty of the future. Whatever the cause might be, I was only managing, on average, five to six hours a night.

Still, at the very least I was managing a couple of hours. And while I was not entirely refreshed for the next day, I was certainly functional enough for the dull day ahead.

Whenever someone asks me what my favourite season is, there’s hardly a moment’s hesitation before I answer. Some might prefer summer with it’s days in the sun and its collective feeling of camaraderie, but I’ll take winter every single time (I’m looking at you Olaf!).

The word summer is often associated with beaches and tans and heading out for picnics. For this little introverted blogger with a distinct lack of Vitamin D, however, it also comes with muggy nights, annoying mosquitoes and rampant flies. There’s not much to like in summer – except for the fact that since I’m down in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s a nice lead-up to it with a whole host of games (with Kingdom Hearts 3 right around the corner). 

Whereas in winter, you can simply crack up the heater and pile on more clothes, at a certain point, you simply cannot strip off your skin. Living with my family, you’re continuously aware of the electricity that’s being wasted. And the money. For years we never had an air conditioner – instead finding solace with desk fans and the like. Even now, we rarely turn the numerous air conditioners on unless we are all but melting.

If there was a possibility of living inside a refrigerator, I’d take it.

Still, I suppose it could all be much worse. Even as I sit here, sweating up a storm as I write this very post up. It won’t be long until it’s autumn. And with it, it’ll bring cooler climes and an end to my hay fever. 

In 2019, I do ever so hope that I’ll be able to break through whatever is holding me back and keeping me awake at night. Though I’m nearing my third decade, it still feels as I’ve only just stepped out of the very insular institutions of secondary or tertiary education. Here’s to finding a stable job that keeps me well-fed and also helps support my hobbies until the day that I’m discovered for my writing prowess (or I scrounge up the courage to actively look for a publisher interested in the stories that are in my head)!

I want to thank all my readers for staying with me and to the new ones I’ve accrued by writing whatever nonsense that comes to mind.

The Darksiders series has always flown under the radar for most mainstream gamers. In fact, it was not until Darksiders II that many took notice. Perhaps it was seen as more accessible with its focus on an open-world or maybe players were intrigued by the premise of playing as Death. Whatever the case may be, the Darksiders series managed to catch my eye and I was eager to see how Gunfire Games would continue the series with the only female Horseman: Fury.

The story is simple enough. Using the plot from the previous games as a foundation for Fury’s own journey: after War has been accused of instigating the Apocalypse, the Seven Deadly Sins have escaped their prison. With Death missing, Scorn sent out on a different mission and War addressing his crimes, the Charred Council charges Fury with the quest to slay all the Deadly Sins and restore balance.

This concept of finding equilibrium is threaded throughout the story. As Fury takes down each of the Seven Deadly Sins – from Wrath to Gluttony to Greed to Pride – she is confronted by her own vices and prejudices. By game’s end, her swagger and conceit for the human race has been replaced with begrudging respect and compassion. While she continues to be snide, particularly after her battle with the real Envy, there is also a sense that she has evolved over the course of the dozen or so hours of play. For this blogger, it was fascinating to watch that just as Fury brought balance to the world, she also found it within herself to change and temper the anger that fuelled much of her earlier interactions.What was most impressive by the time the credits rolled was Fury’s desire to be a protector for the remnants of humankind despite her earlier misgivings. Hairless simians indeed.

Much of this growth, however, would not have been possible without her interactions with the Lord of Hollows and the secrets she uncovers. Throughout Darksiders 3, there are many allusions to a greater conspiracy behind the war between the forces of Heaven and Hell. Though it’s not explicitly stated, I walked away with the knowledge that someone much more sinister was pulling the strings. Even the escape of the Seven Deadly Sins was merely a stepping stone for a much more insidious plot. 

What the corruption of the Charred Council and the revelations shared between Lucifer and Lilith might mean, however, remains murky – leaving behind tantalising story threads for the next game.

Coming just out of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the combat system for Darksiders 3 took some time to adjust to. Particularly because the attack and dodge buttons were the exact opposite. In the early hours, I’d often find myself flailing at the enemy when in actuality I wanted to sidestep the massively telegraphed blow that would knock Fury’s health bar by a third. Other times I would be cartwheeling away when in actuality I was hoping to wear down my opponent. I mean seriously, who maps R1 as dodge (although, to be fair, Red Dead Redemption 2 has placed R1 as stop/slow down and I’ve shot past many a target or endlessly circled a spot with Agrippina before realising that I needed to press R1)?!

Beyond the initial confusion, though, most of the combat was quite fluid. Several battles were quite gimmicky but once I understand what I was required to do, it was quite easy to fall into a rhythm and unleash much more powerful moves.

Another disappointing feature of the game was that though it did not require a loading screen between areas, I often encountered slowdowns and stutters. Textures would also pop through during a cutscene, which could be a little disconcerting. While this issue has plagued even big budget games, considering the size of the environments, I was hoping for something a little more polished.

Darksiders 3 was a fun diversion that gave me a little something different beyond all the lengthy role-playing games that took up most of my time in 2018. It also served as a nice buffer between Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2. Of the time of writing, I’m still in the second chapter, killing most animals that cross my path in search of the perfect pelt instead of continuing with the story. 

Of course, I’m also exceedingly excited for the release of Kingdom Hearts 3 and am looking forward to sink my teeth into the myriad of Disney Worlds that will be at my disposal once more.

With the release of Origins, the Assassin’s Creed series moved away from the tried and true formula that was synonymous with the title. Odyssey continues to buck the trend of telling a linear story with the main objective of assassinating renowned historical figures by giving player’s choice and having their decisions reverberate later on. In this iteration, Ubisoft has delved deeper into the role-playing genre, providing players with branching endings and even allowing them to choose the main protagonist.

In my playthrough, I selected Kassandra. The canon choice. And also because after Avaline, Evie and Shao Jun (from Assassin’s Creed Chronicles China), this was a rare opportunity to play a female lead. 

Just like Origins before it, Odyssey gives players a massive open world to explore. This is not just a single city. Oh no. But an experience built upon traversing the entirety of the Greek Islands as you set out on finding your family and dealing with pesky cultists along the way. Cast as a misthios, it is also infinitely easier to be pulled into the affairs of hard-on-their-luck civilians. Especially with the promise of drachmae. I spent countless hours helping out the people of Greece, proving myself a greedy war profiteer with no thought on who was to the win (though it was Sparta that was ultimately victorious – following on from actual history with regards to the Peloponnesian War).

The game, just like the last one, starts in the middle of battle. And when using Ancient Greece as a setting, there can only be one true starting point even if the actual game is st several years afterwards. As the screen fades in, you take control of King Leonidas during his final stand at the Battle of Thermopylae. 

Through this iconic moment of history, players are able to become accustomed to combat and taste the power that will come after twenty or thirty hours of play time. Unfortunately, there were no great proclamations such as ‘This is Sparta!’

Alas.

Once the battle draws to a close and the great king is slain, the game opens with Kassandra preparing for the day ahead on the island of Kephallonia. From there, it’s a hop, skip and jump into the main story that was both a personal journey of heading home and the distractions that befell our chosen hero. Like the great Odysseus, Kassandra’s quest to reunite her family is not as simple as it may first appear. The presence of the Cult of Kosmos and the hint of a greater destiny involving Those that Came Before provides a steady drip feed for lore enthusiasts.

What surprised me, during the ending, was the revelation that the Cult of Kosmos was actually a force of chaos. Though many reviews drew parallels that the cult were proto-templars before the events of Origins, in actual fact, Kassandra (or Alexios) are actually trying to bring peace and stability to a world that has been fractured by infighting. As players soon learn, chaos and order are two parts of the same coin. A balance needs to be achieved. And with it, a new hero needs to arise to set things right.

The world of Ancient Greece is rich in things to do. But it is also steeped in myths and legends. The tales of Perseus, Theseus and Herakles are considered great feats that are considered fact instead of fiction. One of the main missions that players are presented with is sealing off the city of Atlantis. In order to do so, several artefacts need to be collected from monstrous creatures. Each one is a challenge for the unwary – from the Minotaur to a Gorgon to a Cyclops and a Sphinx.

In the vibrant world that Odyssey builds, the Gods themselves are also a part of life. What amused me greatly was the fact that the Cult named your long-lost sibling Deimos (one of the twin sons of Ares) and the player character names their horse Phobos (the second twin). There was lot of inter-connectivity within the game that warmed the cockles of my myth-loving heart.

That is not to say that actual historical characters were absent. In her long journey, Kassandra encounters a colourful cast from sophists such as Sokrates to eager politicians in the making: Alkibiades. As players are able to choose who they wish to romance, I made my disinterest quite clear. 

All in all, I enjoyed my hundred plus hours with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Ancient Greece was a delightful sandbox to dive into with many things to uncover – especially historical locations. To sweeten the deal, the game is gorgeous. While I did experience the occasional stutter, these were mere surface blemishes considering the behemoth-like size of my experience.

Though it will not be gracing our consoles next year, this blogger will still be eagerly looking forward to where the franchise takes us next.