Jan Ochoa is a Video Manufacturer at Giant Bomb Dot Com. In the year 2020 he has become a professional Bloodborne-ist, professional pretend DJ, and an expert studio packer. He has played a couple video games this year.
I keep in mind thinking that this year we ‘d do a bunch of dumb stuff in the studio and a lot more dumber things in the Giant Bomb Test Cooking Area. But then the pandemic hit and tossed all those plan the window.
It took a while to settle into the rhythm of working from house and we were entering TOUGH with the streaming. I always enjoyed doing the periodic Glance, chiming in periodically on the Bombcast, and random look on UPF, now unexpectedly I had to fill a considerable chunk of the schedule solo. I discovered a lot from streaming on my own for the website and I liked it a bunch! Maybe you should take a look at me playing through Bloodborne for the first time!
All that being said I actually take pleasure in where we’re heading with the technology we’ve executed for streams and that we can get everyone on in the exact same stream on a more constant basis.
And yo, I HAVE MADE FOUR OF THESE NOW?!
I considered doing the typical fare of having some reward video games however I think I’ll attempt and do another write-up of a few of my other preferred things from the year. However yo, High School the Musical: The Series was a GEM!
Let’s see a list of games!!
10 The Last of Us Part II
I do not need to drone on about how dreadful 2020 has actually been, however this video game put me in a horrible headspace at the time. I do not know if it was due to the fact that of the relentless assault of killing and vengeance or popular that Abby and Ellie were carrying throughout the game but young boy howdy was I seeming like all the characters might have smelled bad. I started having dreadful problems that I have not had in years because of the story material.
All that being stated, god damn does this game take you on a trip. I may not have actually liked how the video game ended up landing, and I do believe that it dragged in the last quarter, but I did enjoy the bigger story beats. There were genuine minutes of horror throughout the game and I will protect Lev with my life. This video game develops on what I believe make terrific villains, an individual that thinks totally that they are right. Abby and Ellie are diametrically opposed foes.
I didn’t like how the initial game played like however for some factor this simply struck differently. I loved the combat puzzles and the multiple options of going in stealth or going in REAL loud. It’ll probably be another couple years before we get another entry into this universe but I’m cool with waiting. Y’ all unload all that rage peacefully.
I’m still wanting that there was a contaminated shark.
9. Sludge Life
Haven’t all of us had the imagine climbing up a water tower, tagging it with our sick manage, befriending other local graffiti artists that you regard, and taking some shrooms that you discovered in a guard’s locker that make you go on a vomit inducing journey that makes you feel like you’re flying over the little contaminated flotilla you survive on? No? No one else has had that dream?
A killer soundtrack and most likely one of the weirdest games of 2020, Sludge Life is an experience I can just equate to a music manufacturer unintentionally huffing spray paint and after that throwing up out a game. It handles to ride the line in between cynically clever and unusually enthusiastic at the same time. Shoutouts to BIG MUD
8. Genshin Impact
I attempt to stay away from gambling and card games because I understand that I would get stuck in the loop of screening my luck. But through some random stroke of luck I managed to roll 3 really excellent characters in Genshin Impact with my complimentary stack of coins.
I thank the Gacha Gods and RNGsus that I got fantastic rolls because if I didn’t I absolutely would have dropped excessive money on trying to get 5 star heroes. Likewise I kind of wanted to throw some type of cash into Genshin Effect since of all the pleasure I got a lot out of it. I delighted in running my everyday routes to unlock chests and the hunt to find the little orbs to increase my endurance. Yeah, the controls for mobility didn’t constantly work fantastic but I could play this on my PC for a bit to take care of story stuff and after that seamlessly shift to my phone to run around for a bit prior to bed.
The combat also grew on me after a while. I ‘d organize up all the enemies with Jean, summon my lighting raven with Fischl, and after that smash them all with Diluc. The very best part was not needing to fret about their weapons deteriorating! To top it off, most if not all the story discussion had VO! You can’t even get that in some modern titles that you pay full cost for! Thanks Paimon
7. Fae Tactics
You know what eventually makes or breaks a methods video game? Excellent tile feel Let me slide into the spot or have an excellent heft to the cursor. In addition, I like the cause and effect of capabilities popping off after you make a move. Fae Tactics not just has the best tile feel of 2020 however likewise a great group of characters and capabilities at your disposal. You can pick off opponents from a distance with spells with the primary character and her frogbird or you could swoop in and solve in their confront with your pet dog and chicken fighter birdman. There are a bunch of systems going on in and out of battle and they’re introduced slowly enough to not feel overwhelmed.
On top of that there’s a neat story that I didn’t think would tackle familial injury and xenophobia but Fae Techniques manages to browse those waters well! As somebody who’s continuously going after the high of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Fae Techniques handles to scratch that itch.
? Terrific tiles. Perhaps that’s likewise why I entered mahjong this year, wonderful tiles.
6. One Step From Eden
I absolutely like the Mega Male Battle Network series. I invested hours on my GBA playing through MMBN3 over and over once again because I liked the combat. The last entry in the Battle Network series came out in 2006, how has Capcom not launched a collection ever since?!
I likewise could not believe that there have not been more titles to copy the design of MMBN. One Step From Eden takes the format of MMBN’s combat and puts a modern-day and active twist on it. THERE ARE NO BREAKS. The mix of spells and upgrades can get frustrating at times. When you settle into the disorderly rhythm of One Action From Eden, you can create your own kill screens. Remember the levels you weren’t supposed to be able to beat in the Battle Network video games? You can ultimately tailor your method approximately be that.
5. Fuser
2020 was a year of experimenting with hobbies without actually heading out and trying them. In between graffiti in Sludge Life, photography in Umurangi Generations, and realty management in Yakuza Like a Dragon you could get a virtual taste of what it could be like to participate in those activities.
DJing is something I have actually constantly wished to get into but I never ever had the perseverance to actually find out. I wound up buying a DJ controller since I was dead set on discovering during the quarantine. Unfortunately the controller has actually been gathering dust.
However what if I informed you that you could give the impression of a qualified DJ with Fuser? There are moments where a game or piece of software makes you stop and believe “This is magic. This shouldn’t work this well AT ALL.” Fuser in some way handles to make me seem like an accomplished and gifted DJ. There’s no way that I must have the ability to make a dope mix of Rage Against the Maker, Dolly Parton, French Montana, and Post Malone and then transition that into a buzz as hell drop that’s simply all “Call Me Maybe” but I have.
I can absolutely see this being an entrance drug for folks to dip their toes into DJing. I can say that it’s absolutely made me consider dusting off my DJ controller. If Fuser winds up having the same assistance as Rock Band and tracks keep progressively coming out, I can see myself dropping in to make an occasional mix. Also, food does not slap. Music slaps
4. Last Fantasy VII Remake
I have actually openly said on multiple occasions that I like Kingdom Hearts so, you most likely currently know that I enjoy my reasonable share of anime bullshit. I never ever played the original Final Dream 7 however I have actually definitely found out of the ups and downs that have impacted popular culture and video games because of it. I’m still able to value the remarkable job that Square Enix has finished with Final Dream 7 Remake. The amazing set of balls that they need to’ve had to go on and make this despite years of the fans clamoring for it.
The designers did an incredible task at developing new content out of the early bits of the initial. The method they managed to make characters like Wedge, Biggs, and Jesse have an impact on the gamer was terrific. I understand that we’re expected to fall quite hard for Tifa and/or Aerith, but fuck did I feel taken with Jesse.
The battle in FF7R is most likely the one of the most rewarding and coolest systems I’ve played in a while. Having the ability to fluidly switch to my colleagues and set off abilities that synergize well felt so dang excellent. Tifa’s Chi Trap Home showed to be absolutely important in every encounter. I don’t know if I can go back to waiting on Donald Duck to heal me.
3. Hades
I need to have missed an early exchange but I just recently noticed that Zagreus doesn’t wear any shoes.
I was truly bad at this video game. I could not make it past the Hydra or really far into Elysium to save my life. What made it worse was seeing individuals online publishing about their 20 th plus clear in a row. For some reason I couldn’t click with it.
Nevertheless, similar to Zagreus, I persisted upon learning about God mode. From there I began getting more attuned to the rate of fight and discovered the systems of the benefits much better. It assisted that I lastly dumped the sword and got the bow. I was lastly able to devote patricide and see my mama!
It simply feels so good once you get the hang of things and discover a weapon construct that you click with. I at first disliked the guard, but once I got the Zeus guard and combined it with Dionysus boons we were COOKING. Other than the starting sword, the range of weapons and after that the variations within those were so dang cool. Like I found a bow construct that was one-shotting everything.
I likewise need to praise Hades for having an interesting story in a roguelike. It’s not just ecological storytelling with random notes you’re discovering, it’s actual characters that are responding to how you’re playing. I didn’t expect to appreciate the relationships that I was building, however I started purposely ending runs so I could consider that sweet nectar to my good friends. Dusa for liiiiife baby.
2. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
I’ve constantly enjoyed the Yakuza games from a range. Even though I’ve dived deep into a couple titles I still felt that the barrier to entry was type of high. I seemed like I understood Kiryu and company, however I didn’t seem like I was cool with them.
That’s why Yakuza Like a Dragon seemed like the best jumping-on point. Ichiban is a silly guy that shrieks Shonen Dive– like energy. He might barrel through encounters with his fists however his heart is mostly in the ideal location. The supporting cast is likewise great and I delighted in strengthening those relationships through discussions and other activities. Discussing activities, part of the reason I was hesitant about jumping onto the Yakuza train was all of the random stuff you get lost on. I reserve a couple nights to mainline the video game in time for GOTY deliberations. I rapidly got thwarted doing whatever else there is to do in Yokohama In addition all of the sidequests and characters you ‘d fulfill were an excellent mix of strange, endearing, and insane.
The switch to turn-based combat was also a selling point for me. Personally I have actually been experiencing a great deal of pain in my wrists and hands so having the ability to consist of encounters to a couple button presses was welcome.
Yakuza Like a Dragon has so much to offer and I’m very pleased to join the gang.
2B. NieR: Automata
1. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Let’s get this out of the way now, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is the game with naked teens in mechs. Okay. We got that out of the method? Let’s carry on.
I do not think it’s hyperbole when I state that this is among the most ambitious efforts at storytelling that I’ve ever consumed. When you’re juggling thirteen various story threads that will converge with each other repeatedly over the course of A CENTURY there are a ton of opportunities to fumble the bag. What makes that job more difficult is including practically every significant sci-fi film into the video game. Pacific Rim, Back to the Future, Blade Runner, Terminator, the Matrix series, E.T., Interstellar, Evangellion, Macross, GroundHog Day, Shutter Island, War of the Worlds, and most likely more. It integrates elements of all that and throws in some outstanding anime bullshit (and I don’t suggest that reductively) and produces a fortified quilt of an experience.
As I was advancing through the game I absolutely had my favorites of the main cast. I dreaded when the video game would secure development on Natsuno and force me to play as Miura. However the writing is impeccable that I would fall for Miuras plight and after that everybody’s battle.
I even delighted in the tower defense part of the game. You can completely steam roll through it and knock the problem down, however there is a depth and intricacy there if you want it. Shoutouts to my souped up Ogata who leapt throughout the map with his demolisher blade.
I’m going to try and not ruin much because I implore you to attempt and play 13 Guards: Aegis Rim. I’m still decompressing from playing this. I can’t think that I went on a journey that went beyond area and time. A story about being able to increase above your station and modification in a meaningful way from your previous situations. Terrific seeing someone come to terms with their own sexuality and even sitting back to take pleasure in things like a nice yakisoba pan or a cold soda.
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Now that the video games are over I do want to offer an unique shoutout none other than Ben. He’s not dead and it’s not like I’m never gon na see or talk with him again, I’ll just miss him a poop ton. We’ll always have the Test Kitchen area in our hearts. Love you buddy.
