So, what are you playing?
MIT released a new game called Grayscale, focusing on the problems of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Japan is taking steps to have video games in the 2024 Olympics. And rapper 50 Cent is hype to make a third video game (after 2009's Blood on the Sand), this new one being about a military veteran that gains superpowers.
So, what are you playing?
Sean Colleli, Staff Writer, @scolleli
I'm playing through the Prince of Persia trilogy with my fiancee and I forgot just how tedious Warrior Within is. Between the bugs and the angst there's a good game and decent story there, and it makes it all worthwhile because the narrative throughline of the trilogy is just bloody brilliant. I might also play some Stardew Valley on Switch as I've been meaning to get back to that.
Dave Gamble, Staff Writer, dgamble@gamingnexus.com
On those not infrequent days when I feel like I haven't accomplished a single meaningful thing, I still turn to Just Cause 3. I had taken a break for a while after an incident involving my latent OCD and a major base that I couldn't beat because I could't find one last transformer. That went on for days—the Holy Grail was easier to find. We parted less than amicably after I gave up in abject frustration. But now? I'm over it. These days I just stop in now and then to liberate a small village or two. Somehow that helps cure a minor malaise.
I am also enjoying less violent, but every bit as combative, fights in a VR boxing game I picked up for a sawbuck on Steam. Called The Thrill of the Fight, it's another one of those VR games that lets me experience things that I never would have been able to in the real world. At least not without unpleasant side effects, anyway. Consider boxing: listen, I buy muscle shirts in the Boys 8 to 12 aisle. My Fitbit quit after suffering from deep feelings of inadequacy. Trust me, boxing is not for me. The Thrill of the Fight is the closest I have ever been, or ever will be, to getting a feel for what's going on from the POV of a boxer. It's also a pretty good cardio workout—if I don't knock the other guy out by the end of the first 3-minute round, he wins from my forfeit. Too tired to go to round two.
Eric Hauter, Staff Writer, ehauter@gamingnexus.com
I have placed all of my ongoing games on pause. I am playing nothing but Monster Hunter World this week, in anticipation of my review (which will probably be live by the time this runs). This game has amazing hooks. I haven't felt the urge to make game-related spreadsheets since the early days of World of Warcraft, but my mind is sliding in that dangerous direction.
Charles Husemann, Editor-in-Chief, @chusemann
Two of my nieces are in town, so it's going to be a lot of Minecraft and Mario Cart 8 this weekend. I am also hoping to sneak in some time with the Sea of Thieves beta, but that might have to wait until they leave Sunday afternoon.
Randy Kalista, Staff Writer, rkalista@gamingnexus.com
Never had a PS2. Never had a PS3 either. But I've got a PS4. So I'm reviewing the 2018 Shadow of the Colossus remake. Been eyeballing this game for 12, 13 years now. I'm hopeful, too, even though I found Team Ico's The Last Guardian to be equal parts fascinating and frustrating. I never bought the idea that your big cat-bird-dog thing in The Last Guardian wouldn't respond to your controller inputs because it had a passive-aggressive feline personality, or whatever. But the AI for a boy and his horse and a couple of giants is a little more straightforward.
Rob Larkin, Staff Writer, @Rob_GN
Living that bachelor life this week as the wife and young’un are away visiting in-laws. I'm staying behind to prep our big move into the new house. Which means I’ll be staying up late every night gaming and cramming a bunch of moving into the two days just before they get back.
I just started Horizon Zero Dawn last night and early returns are it’s everything I hoped for. I don’t want to spread myself too thin but that game looks to be my passion for now. My secondary will be a steady diet of Kerbal Space Program Enhanced Edition for the upcoming review. Excited about that as the original was always on my list but never made it into my rotation and I’m intrigued as to what the enhanced control scheme really entails. In the periphery will be PS VR. I’m not going to open up any real games just yet to be respectful of my time on those first two. Just tool around in demos until a few days from now when Farpoint and the Aim controller arrive by mail order. That’s when I’ll add a third full game to the plate. The delay should also help me get my VR legs if needed.
Nicholas Leon, Staff Writer, nleon@gamingnexus.com
In addition to my internship and studying for my thesis, this weekend won't allow for a ton of gaming, but I believe that I will have time for a round or two of Battlefield 1. I came back to it last weekend, and I don't think I've lost a single step. But I can't wait for the second half of the Turning Tides DLC to release, as I feel that the dividing the package in half wasn't exactly the best idea, at least for the people who bought the DLC. As it stands, the two maps we currently have provide for enough hectic battles, but more is always appreciated.
