Category: Opinion

Whether you’ve caught the love bug or just want to impress a new date, one thing will always keep that romantic spark alive. I’m of course talking about video games. Yes, it’s true, my girlfriend never quite tires of hearing me drone on about Xenoblade Chronicles and its turbulent journies through figuring out how the combat works. But every now and again, when I’m afraid my esoteric ramblings might be boring her, she introduces some co-op masterpiece into my life and sets us on a journey filled with laughter and joy. Of course, the co-op experience is a delicate one, one that requires a gentle touch to be pulled off effectively. So if you’re like me, and always on the hunt for fun multiplayer, this is a list for you. Here are some of the cooperative adventures that helped endear me to the genre.

1. Unravel Two

Unravel Two is, without doubt, one of the most gorgeous games I’ve ever played. I first experienced this game on PC after watching the moving trailer set to Aurora’s Queendom at E3 a few years ago. While the first game offered a short but sweet puzzle adventure with stunning visuals and moving sequences, the second game shifts its focus to a cooperative experience. I think one trap co-op games fall into often is making an experience that feels like it was built for single player, and allows for multiplayer. Unravel Two feels like its multiplayer is woven (ha) into every facet of its DNA. To the point where conversely, playing the game by oneself feels like a somewhat incomplete experience. Because of the triumphant nature of its puzzle-solving, there’s a facet of collaboration that seems to transcend even the core mechanics. Add to this that the game is visually appealing, has a very interesting setting, and pretty reasonable difficulty scaling, and you’re left with a player journey any pair would be lucky to share.

2. It Takes Two

What? The GOTY is on here? Who’d have thought? In all seriousness, the talk surrounding It Takes Two is far from mere bluster. This game offers a story centered around love, in a Pixar-esque family-focused tale featuring a couple on the brink of collapse, and a magic gyrating book who fully intends on helping them to repair their marriage. The premise is charming, but it’s the gameplay that helps this experience feel fresh. It Takes Two isn’t particularly shy in its obvious homage to classic games, but its own ability to juggle numerous play styles is what ultimately helps it feel like a truly great game. Each area has a different set of core mechanics, there are secrets abound, minigames where you can challenge one another, and a fantastic story-driven experience that, for me, harkens back to a lot of the goofy 3D action-platformers I loved as a kid.

3. Never Alone

Kind of a throwback, this one. I remember playing it when it first came out 8 years ago. Never Alone offers one of my favorite types of co-op, which is asynchronous gameplay. I love the idea that my second player and I can each bring our own dynamic set of skills to the table. It Takes Two excels at this idea, but Never Alone really introduced me to the concept in a very special way. This game features the story of Nuna and her fox companion as they travel through eight chapters of wonderfully crafted puzzle platforming. This atmospheric game world boasts beautiful historical context, culturally rich aesthetic, and suspenseful, emotional, gripping narrative. I’ll admit that presentation does a lot of the heavy lifting of this game, as it is prone to the occasional bug, but I would still say the platforming is satisfying and offers each player a different lens into the world.

4. Wario Ware – Get It Together!

I’ve always been a sucker for Wario Ware. The strange aesthetics, absurdly fast pace, and bizarre characters always helped to bring the simple microgame gauntlets to life in a special way. After years of drought, I was as surprised as the rest of you to see the series make a triumphant return on the Nintendo Switch with Wario Ware: Get It Together!. Add to this an emphasis on cooperative gameplay, and you have a recipe for grand and chaotic times. Each player in this minigame collection will pilot a tiny version of a classic Wario Ware character, each of whom interacts with the minigames in a different way. By combining talents, reflexes, and a penchant for the weird, every player will find some fun in this wacky adventure. Also the high pressure nature of the microgames is perfect for turning any romance into a war for supremacy…which is the goal, yeah?

5. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Platformers are a tough genre to nail. The best of them are few and far between because of the sheer level of polish they require to feel good. I’ve talked about my fair share of good ones on my YouTube channel, but I seldom get the opportunity to discuss the groundbreaking cooperative platformer that is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. As hard as it is to create a resonant single-player experience in the platforming genre, to create a meaningful co-op experience is even more difficult. Tropical Freeze takes an exceptionally smart approach to this, creating three “sidekick” characters that Player 2 can latch onto. Whether you’re playing as the floaty yet familiar Diddy Kong, the bouncy and resilient Cranky Kong, or Dixie (she has this cool ability while she swims I guess) each character changes the way you interact with the world. The ability to team up with DK to perform expert platforming feats allows both players to be part of the action all the way through. And the variety of one-off events and bombastic internal stories each level possesses allows for a sense of adventure nearly uncontested on this list. Banana Slamma!

6. Backseat Gaming

There’s nothing more engaging than speaking when someone around you isn’t interested in what you have to say. I’m kind of having a laugh at our mutual expense here, but in all seriousness, there’s a lot of joy to be had in watching someone else play a game you enjoy. I can’t tell you the amount of joy I’ve gotten just from reliving games like Xenoblade or Celeste through the eyes of another person. Plus you never know what you might have missed the first time around.

Adventure is the spice of life as they say! Share that spice with a romantic partner or a good friend! I hope some of these adventures bring joy to your lives. I know they have for mine. Thank you all for reading and come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

*Note – This sample was originally written as scripted content for a YouTube video. That video can be viewed here.*

Fire Emblem Three Houses was widely well received for its inventive approach to some age old mechanics within the series. Its calendar system allowed for a more controlled approach to managing your units and their progression, but more than anything, it allowed for a far more intimate story than previous games in the series. 

For me, Three Houses quickly rose to become the best game in this series, and certainly the game with the best characters. Even Lucina, who I adore for her tragic backstory and hopeful attitude, pales in comparison to some of the cast of this game, at least as far as consistent characterization and overall depth. I’ve spent the last several weeks in an internal debate on which character to cover. Dimitri is my favorite, due to his overall tragic story, and Claude is an interesting subject altogether. Even Rhea felt fun to tackle, but one name kept repeating in my head over and over. I decided to focus on a character that I generally have a much more difficult time with. 

Let’s get the spoiler warning out of the way, because this is going to be an in depth look at a character throughout the entire game, in every route. This essay will be filled to the brim with me trying to make my MFA worth something, so steel yourself for some literary jargon. 

I hate Edelgard. I think she’s hypocritical and stubborn, cruel and unwieldy, overall not a very good person. Also, I love Edelgard. She’s earnest, caring, powerful, ambitious, wise beyond her years, and an incredible advocate for equality in a structurally classist society. And if these two sentiments sound contradictory, I would say it’s a result of how masterfully executed the character actually is. But to understand why Edelgard works, we have to understand how Three Houses works, primarily in the way it tells its story.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses focuses on the perspective of its main character, Byleth, who primarily functions as a surrogate for the player. The overall tale, its characters, and its outcomes, are largely determined by Byleth’s decisions. This is positive for obvious reasons, it gives the player direct control over the events they’re going to be playing out. But from a narrative angle, because you’re involved in fundamentally formative years for the main cast, the seemingly massive changes in their personality are justified, because their experiences are going to be largely different, depending on how the player approaches the game.

Edelgard is perhaps the best example of this, because in three of the four routes you can play through, she’s going to be your enemy. But even the type of enemy she is is heavily influenced by which route you choose. Blue Lions is a story about Dimitri, sure, but it’s equally a story about Edelgard, and how her actions and their relationship created the version of Dimitri you’ll be travelling with throughout the Azure Moon chapters. Golden Deer, on the other hand, is a bit more removed from Edelgard, making her less of a direct enemy, and more of an obstacle in the way of Claude’s own ambitions. This is the difference between a character that we come to have intimate knowledge of, and a larger than life dictator who we hope to defeat. 

And then there’s Crimson Flower. Edelgard’s own route, fought from the perspective of her army, gives insight into a hidden depth of her knowledge and ambition. In order for any of this to work, the key is consistency. Edelgard has to have similar personality traits no matter which route you’re playing. Thankfully, this is yet another area where this Strategy RPG excels, but before we dive into that, let’s talk about who Edelgard is, externally and internally.

Edelgard von Hresvelg is the successor to the imperial throne of Enbarr, capital of Adrestia. The Adrestian Empire is the longest standing human society in Fodlan, with the exception of the underground secret city of Shambala. Because of this, Edelgard is raised to believe that her future, Fodlan’s history, and Fodlan’s future, are one in the same. Her delusions of grandeur aren’t something developed from her own ego, rather, her perception of herself comes from a sense of duty instilled within her from a young age. In addition to this she is ravaged by loss and despair, having lost almost all of her siblings to vile experimentation. The compounding of these truths bring about a sense of profound loneliness and yet still inspires ambition unlike most other characters in Fodlan. 

This is essential in the development of any character arc. For a character to grow and change, they have to overcome the lie that they believe. This core concept implies that the start to a characters arc has them believing something assuredly false about themselves and/or the world around them, and that their growth is centered around disproving that lie.

Edelgard is pre-packaged with quite a few. First is the lie that only she can change the world for the better. This lie is reinforced by her disdain for the church, a force within the game that makes up the vast majority of the world’s order. Of course, the realization of a character, and the conclusion of their arc, demands that the lie they believe be dismantled. Edelgard is a fascinating case, because again, only one of the four arcs have her actually reaching that state of actualization, and that’s Crimson Flower. But this particular lie is not dismantled. Edelgard still insists on being the one to change the world, and clearly believes it was a duty assigned to her at birth. So how then, does she have a complete arc without disproving her lie?

Well it’s simple. If you can’t change the truth, you simply change the lie. Edelgard has a second lie, and I believe it makes up the worst parts of her personality. It’s her belief that her plan, despite being for the betterment of all of mankind, has no room for mercy or empathy. This is a lie reinforced not by outside forces, but by her own actions. For reference, see the second battle at Gronder Field, and with it, the way Edelgard readily sacrifices characters like Bernadetta and Petra for her own gain. These aren’t just soldiers in her army, mind you. These are her friends, people she spent her time at Garreg Mach becoming increasingly close to over quite a stretch of time. When I said that I hated Edelgard earlier, this is the character that I meant. A character so vile and stubborn that in the face of people she’s victimized, her tunnel vision can only ever focus on her own ambitions. 

And yet, I love Edelgard as a character, because she’s merciful, able to cultivate the talents of those around her, and despite methods I don’t agree with, truly does seek to change the world for the better. But how can those ideas exist simultaneously? Well, that’s the easy part. Dismantle the lie.

The structure of a character arc seems to imply a linear narrative. Obviously that makes sense in the context of books and movies, as you’re typically experiencing just that. A narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end. But Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a dynamic narrative, that changes based on player decisions and actions, and as a result of this, characters have dynamic arcs. For Edelgard, it’s the difference between a flat arc and a hero’s journey. To elaborate on that further, a flat character arc is where a character remains functionally the same throughout an entire narrative. They’re seldom changed by the world, or by other characters. This would be Edelgard in the Blue Lion route. She’s unwavering in her ideals, consistently decisive and immovable throughout the entire story. As a result of this, the world is far more often changed by her. She starts the war, she corrupts Dimitri, divides the alliance, sets major actions in motion. The person that she is ultimately means more to the story than the person she could become. This also makes her a great villain, because characters like Dimitri have to undergo more traditional positive arcs in order to overcome her. 

Edelgard is a character largely informed by her relationships. Those relationships fall into two categories. Those who do things for her, Hubert, Byleth (In Crimson Flower), Ferdinand Von Aegir, her Uncle Arundel, and those who do things to her, Dimitri, Rhea, Byleth (in all other routes), and her Uncle Arundel. I hate the guy, but his presence in both categories is a big part of who Edelgard becomes. 

Arundel is the most impactful person in her life, because he sets her on the path that changes her life. First by experimenting on and subsequently killing her siblings, and then by cultivating that darkness in her heart and urging her to leverage the likes of the Death Knight and Solon in her quest for power. Edelgard’s masked alter ego, the Flame Emperor, is a product of Arundel’s actions. 

The second most impactful relationship in Edelgard’s life is the one she shares with Byleth. Of course, the depth of this relationship is down to player choice, and will ultimately determine the quality of Edelgard’s life, as well as the success of her ambitions.  

I like how heavily the people in Edelgard’s life influence her actions, because I think it serves to emphasize her naturally empathic nature. She cares for others, and is fundamentally chasing what she deems to be everyone in the world’s ideal outcome. Of course, she’s wrong in a lot of ways, but that’s in large part, the entire point. In order for her to be this antagonistic force in ¾ of the game’s story, she has to also be at least a little bit incorrect in her philosophy, or at least her execution of her belief system. 

I’ve often heard the argument made that Byleth is a character who teaches Edelgard the value of mercy. This is a direct contrast to a belief that drives her forward, that mercy has no place in her war. 

In Crimson Flower, we watch this manifest as the lie Edelgard believes. The lie is deconstructed throughout Part 2 of that timeline. For example, the battle between Edelgard and Lysithea during their last stand against Master Tactician, Claude. Or that in Crimson Flower, Edelgard actually has the opportunity to spare Claude’s life. This is the part that I find to be a bit sad.

One of the reason’s Edelgard is so insistent on bearing the burden of responsibility is because she’s rarely been shown genuine empathy or compassion from just about anyone. Even Hubert, who cares for her so deeply, is very transactional in the way he behaves with her. The others within the empire treat her with ill will, and Arundel tries to harm her on numerous occasions. 

The first time she feels at home anywhere is with her classmates and her professor, and she loses out on all of that if Byleth rejects her at the game’s midway point. Of course that would drive someone to stubborn madness. It’s not just Byleth that she wants the approval of, it’s everyone. She’d never admit it, I think Edelgard fears her own potential weakness more than most. 

The beautiful irony in Three Houses is that there are a great many characters with overlapping views and ideals, and yet, they’re so polarized in their relationships with each other because ultimately, almost all of them have an ends oriented ideology rather than a means oriented one. Rhea, Dimitri, and Edelgard are three passionate violent forces, that believe the outcomes are what matter, and that methods are inconsequential so long as the goal is met. 

In the routes within the game where these respective lords are heroes, they survive ultimately because they overcome that mentality. For Edelgard to achieve victory, she has to undergo the hero’s journey, dispelling the lie that has taken hold over her life. This singular instance of a positive arc for her is ultimately the most fleshed out version of her that we see, because the facade is broken down, both by other people in her life finally getting close to her, and by her ambition taking hold and the inspiration for her entire character being laid bare for all to see. 

This game is making some pretty explicit statements about the nature of war, and ends oriented ethics. A lot of it is to say that waving a flag for a noble cause doesn’t inherently excuse the actions said cause demands. While Three Houses is never afraid to vocalize these subjects through character dialogue around Garegg Mach, its clearest vehicle is in one of its most ambitious characters. 

So I’ll say it again, to bookend it all. I hate Edelgard, because of the pain she puts her friends through when she keeps them out. Because she turns this incredible SRPG gameplay into a painful crawl towards the execution of someone I’ve been trained to respect and admire. And I love Edelgard, because she’s the most honest and impactful antagonistic force Fire Emblem has had since the GBA. Because the depth of her character goes so much further than just “villain.” Because she, just by being who she is, elevates the rest of this story from a classic video game narrative, to a genuinely riveting war drama with a sense of dignity and character that exceeds its genre to become in my eyes, an instant classic.

Thank you all for tuning in for this character study! A new approach to video making for me, but something I definitely plan to try again. Once I finish the remaining Yakuza games, I’m gonna break down Kiryu next, because he’s a fascinating one for sure. So if you’re into this sort of thing, like the video and subscribe to make sure you’re around when I make more like it! In the meantime, check out these other recent works of mine and be sure to come back soon for more from the Game Room! 

I love Zelda. Isn’t that obvious? I mean you guys already know me to be a pretty big Nintendo fan. I didn’t grow up with the Zelda series. In fact, my first time playing one of the games from beginning to end was Ocarina of Time 3D. Since then, I’ve played Majora’s Mask, Minish Cap, Skyward Sword, Wind Waker, and yes, even the original from beginning to end. Now with Breath of the Wild being the next in line, I wanted to talk about why I love the games.

It’s mostly because of the epic narrative. Zelda lets you taste its world in such an incredible way, not even the Elder Scrolls games have captured this in the same way. I don’t think any game is a better example of this than Wind Waker. Architecture, characters, themes, they all come together in this weirdly silent story.

I’ve never experienced something quite like it. Seeing the Hylian Crest on a wall suddenly makes you question how such a place came to be. The sound of Zelda’s song rings across the series, signalling lore and story from decades past. This is a game series that really does stay true to its lore. So much so, that the horrific mess that is the timeline is arbitrary in the grand scheme of the series.

I don’t have a very popular opinion in the sense that I consider Skyward Sword to be the best in the series. This is largely due to its charming cast. I like the villains. Ghirahim is probably one of my favorites in the franchise. His mind-games and fighting style make him a very fresh face in this world of pigs and pitchforks.

I’m sort of getting off on a rant. Tomorrow we’re having the podcast, where our topic will be MULTIPLAYER GAMES! Games we play as a group, and games we think capture the essence of co-op and competition alike. You may even see a familiar face there. So come along and join us here on the GAME ROOM!!!

I’ve been a Playstation gamer all my life. I have every Playstation, 1-4, and I’ve been fine just sticking to Sony. I never had the need to get an Xbox….until now. I’m in a relationship with a Microsoft user (insert shudder here) and they have  convicted me to get an Xbox One. Sony, I swear, it’s not what it looks like.

As a Playstation gamer, there have been many thoughts going through my mind as I get used to this contraption known as the Xbox One, and I thought I would share some with you today.

So I don’t understand why they called them bumpers and triggers. I honestly still don’t know the difference. I will always know them as r1, r2 etc.

Why is the A button in the X button spot? And where is my triangle button? Why is this controller so different and bulky? I don’t think I can handle this. I will say, though, it has better battery life then the PS4 controllers… only because it uses AA batteries.

To be honest, the Xbox One is so chunky compared to the PS4. Like I had to carry that thing around in my duffle bag and I’m pretty sure I killed my back and shoulder. Thanks, Microsoft.

Also I just love all of the exclusives you have….I literally can’t stand Halo, and Quantum Break, the game that came with my Xbox, isn’t so good either. PS4 still has better exclusives right now.  

I remember people saying Xbox One had better graphics than PS4, but I literally see no difference whatsoever. Thanks, Microsoft.

I kicked off my flip flop and it accidently turned on my Xbox. The touch screen turn on is way too sensitive…..Thanks, Microsoft.

Actually, I love my Xbox One so far. It’s taking a lot to get used to, but I get to play a lot of games with my significant other and other friends that have the console. It’s really fun to have parties and just play Minecraft or Overwatch. I can’t decide with console I like better. Both have its perks. Playstation, I swear it’s not what it look like. I can love you both equally. I would say that if you’re thinking about getting an Xbox One anytime soon you should definitely wait until the slim comes out. It’s going to be cheaper, have an actual button instead of a touch sensitive button, and it’s not going to be as heavy. I mean, seriously, this thing weighs a ton.

For more on hilarious commentary and news about consoles, make sure you come back to the GAME ROOM!!!

The science of E3 announcements is one that I’ve been trying to grasp for years. What makes a good presentation for a video game company? I’d say a combination of things, but it changes regularly. For instance, some would say it’s important for a developer to announce a keynote title. Some Nintendo fans for instance, consider any E3 without Smash to be a bad E3. While others think it’s important to shed light on pre-existing titles. For instance, there was some pretty universal disdain for the lack of FFXV at Square Enix’s press conference. But this is an opinion piece. I want to talk about my five biggest E3 announcements.

5. inFAMOUS Second Soninfamous second son

I thought it was the end. I thought we’d never see another game in this series, but man I was wrong. E3 2013 was a
big one for sure. Every company had a competitive edge with some incredible and interesting announcements spanning from Smash Bros to Watch Dogs but perhaps one of the biggest announcements for me that year was inFAMOUS. As a fan of the original two, it was nice to see that this game was clearly taking a different path. From a major graphical upgrade, to what appeared to be more comfortable controls, this was absolutely going to be my reason to buy a PS4.

wii u4. Nintendo Wii U

I was ready. I knew Nintendo was planning to announce their new home console, Project Cafe. I had heard rumors of what it might be, but it was all kind of unclear still. Then, the announcement came. The name, which I didn’t love, was only a minor detail. What was truly important was the fantastic touch screen controller that would come bundled with the console. With asymmetric gameplay being the focal point of console development, I knew my inner party gamer would be satiated by this idea.

3. Final Fantasy XVffxv

I knew I wanted this game from the moment they announced it. E3 2013 was a big year. From the beautiful graphics,
gripping music, and interesting action mechanics in the trailer, I found myself being captured by a game in a series that, to be frank, had never gripped my interest in the past. This was a big deal, for sure, and would actually end up being one of the key reasons for my PS4 purchase. That’s how you do E3 announcements.

Last Of Us2. The Last Of Us
PlayStation, dominating this list. E3 2012 was a big one too, especially for Sony. This announcement changed the course of the industry in a major way. Naughty Dog, a company already known for its highly cinematic titles such as the famous Uncharted series, announced a new IP known as The Last Of Us. This game had a narrative grip over a large demographic from the time it was announced. It only turned out to meet every expectation and become one of the biggest games in PlayStation history.

1. Nintendo DSDS

This stands alone as my favorite announcement in E3 history. E3 2004, I had to have been a little kid at the time, so I didn’t see it when it first happened. Instead I came across it several years later, and while Reggie Fils-Aime’s public speaking is a high point for me, what really drove it all home was the legacy that the announcement would have. The excitement around this weird idea was everything that E3 represents. And the DS family went on to become one of the highest grossing video game consoles of all time.

There you have it. My top five E3 announcements. I hope you all enjoyed this post. It’s the first part of my “E3 Retrospective” series, which will take place over the next few days leading up to the big stream on Sunday!

Yo, we’re about to dive into some major late game conversation. So if you have yet to play all three paths of Fire Emblem Fates, including Revelations, turn back now. If you want a spoiler free review of the game’s Conquest path, head here!

To be unequivocally clear, I have been a long time fan of the Fire Emblem games dating back to my young teen years. Sacred Stones always held a special place in my heart, and I loved Fire Emblem Blazing Sword and Awakening. So any critiques I have for Fates only come from a place of love for the series. To be blunt, I loved Fire Emblem Fates, but I absolutely hated the story. Characters felt very singular in their execution. Events were often unexplained or hidden behind unnecessary pay walls. If you wanted to experience Fire Emblem Fates in its entirety, at least from a narrative perspective, you’d have to pay something close to $105. Thankfully, I got my hands on the special edition early on, so I got to experience all of Fates as intended.

Last spoiler warning. We’re getting into the nitty gritty here! Spoilers for Fates and Awakening ahead.

The cast of Fire Emblem Fates Conquest (Left) faces the cast of Birthright (Right).

The cast of Fire Emblem Fates Conquest (Left) faces the cast of Birthright (Right).

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright opens a lot of doors. It shows you a lot of possibilities, and gives you glimpses of what could have been, should you have chosen the other route. It was no doubt the most “vanilla” of the paths. It was weak willed in execution, without really allowing the same level of emotional string tugging that Awakening had.

The best thing that was done in Fire Emblem Awakening was the death of Emmeryn. Being Chrom and Lissa’s sister made it sad enough, but the level of helplessness that the situation showed was incredible. But it wasn’t abrupt. It had build up. Three chapters of a wild goose chase trying to protect Emmeryn, only to find that she was set to be executed. Then, when you confront and defeat Gangrel’s army, he does his last ditch villainous deed to try and steal the Fire Emblem from Chrom. Then there was a whole chapter dedicated to grieving Emm. She was a voice of reason for several chapters. The pacing set events in motion at the right time.

Almost every event in Fates was abrupt, without reason, and without a chance to truly process it. You meet the mother character, Mikoto, and within mere minutes of gameplay, she’s gone. We don’t get to see the Hoshido siblings grieve, and that’s probably the worst part. Nothing tells you more about a person than their grieving process. A lot goes on during the processing of grief, including, arguably the most charming trait about Fire Emblem characters, the setting of goals. Grief causes you to make plans and follow dreams. Emmeryn’s death made Chrom want to be a king. It turned vassals into soldiers. It shook the political world, and it strengthened the loyalty between Chrom and Robin.

Mikoto’s death made no impact. All it did was further instigate a war with some of the arguably most dispensable casualties in this entire series. I don’t want to continue going on for too long, so I’m going to segment this off into various parts. But this was a big complaint I had with this game.

Fire Emblem Fates is mechanically strong, but the narrative falls very short in my book. For more on Fates and other cool strategy gems, come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!