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Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle – Games of 2017
I can remember after watching the E3 presentation for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle a distinct flavor of cringe in my mouth. That image of Miyamoto and Yves, back to back with their blasters felt like a guarantee that this game was going to be pure crap, but in 2017 anything is possible. Mario +…
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Tooth and Tail – Games of 2017
The rodent revolution sure is a fascinating one. Granted I couldn’t really follow the politics, but I knew I was rooting for the good ones. I was too busy being enamored with each new ally and enemy soldier I discovered. The art direction of Tooth and Tail is as earnest as it is detailed. I…
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Resident Evil 7 – Games of 2017
I talk a big horror game, er well uh, game, but I started looking back at my regrets around Resident Evil 7 and now I wonder if I actually got scared off. That’s how good the intro was. It is unnerving and unpredictable in a way that is paralyzing when it comes to summoning the…
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Slime Rancher – Games of 2017
I always associated ranch work and farm work with, well, work. It sounded stressful and endless. It turns out its actually rewarding and freeing if adorable slimes are involved. The trick is, just don’t become emotionally attached to the slimes. Go in knowing that the slimes are going to misbehave, escape, and die, a lot.…
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SteamWorld Dig 2 – Games of 2017
The SteamWorld games have always put a big grin on my face. There’s something charming about these robots and the cohesive world they live in. Granted, I did bounce off the previous games after a couple of sessions and moved onto more exciting gaming endeavors. SteamWorld Dig 2 started out like the others and I…
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Snipperclips – Games of 2017
Snipperclips is quite possible the cutest puzzle game I have ever played. There is so much joy and fun in this game that it is impossible not to be smiling, even when you are facing a difficult puzzle. Sometimes you just decide to cut out your entire partner, but no worries, they just pop back…
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Cuphead – Games of 2017
Whew. Believe it or not I love being wrong and I had a couple of doozies this year. When I see a game as beautiful as Cuphead my second question is always, but how does it play? Cuphead just looked too damn good to be true. I was wrong, and my definition of truth has…
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Darkwood – Games of 2017
I’m not going to stop bringing it up because it stands out to me in every game that utilizes it, but I want to like every dog in every video game that has them. Horror games walk a weird line with that because some of my most horrorific video game memories are due to the…
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Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo – Games of 2017
My favorite game of all time is Galaga. While it’s not technically what we now call a bullet hell game, an argument could be made that in its later levels, it is the ur-bullet hell game, the granddaddy of every Xevious, Ikaruga, Raiden 4, and R-Type out there. Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo, in addition…
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Behold the Kickmen – Games of 2017
A sports game for people who hate sports games couldn’t have hit me at a better time. I grew up focusing 8 days of my week on sports whether I was playing or watching them. At times it leads to witnessing interesting culture clashes of sports fans and gaming fans. More recently, I’ve pulled back…