Bi-Weekly Roundup - Feb. 18, '24
This week, I have a theme within the roundup that I didn't expect: rediscovering lost community.
I am an advocate for non-car-based infrastructure. Beyond the obvious benefits to the environment, health, and upkeep costs, there are hidden benefits that we as a society have forgotten. When folks in your neighborhood shop at the same stores and drink from the same watering holes, you keep up with those same people better - often because you see them on your walk to the spot instead of in the isolation of your personal vehicle. You get to know these people and a community forms.
The games I played these past two weeks highlight this well, I think. Not because they are about public transit but because, in essence, they dance around the theme of community building - of things lost that we as a society are rediscovering and working to build upon.
What are you playing now? I'm excited to hear.
In this Article:
Helldivers 2
It's odd when a game like this spawns such fierce discourse. If you have been out of the loop. This game is effectively Starship Troopers the game. Because of that, people have been bringing up the old film and discussing its meaning. And while I think Starship Troopers has nuance and a deeper message, Helldivers 2 does not try to hide what it is. Incredible fun.
In this game, you play a shock trooper dropped from orbit to carry out military orders to clear out the enemy and save Earth. And while the parody is clear the actual act of playing the game is a true feast for the senses. I mean that in every way, physical and metaphysical.
The way enemies have their own character and movement deepens the immersion. The way the sun cuts through a fog-covered as it rises over the horizon while you call down air support to create visceral and beautiful scenes of violence. All those things are wrapped up in clear audio, letting you know what's happening atop a backdrop of heroic music pushing you forward to your goal.
Ringing true to the theme of community, you are fighting a galactic war to push back the enemy that everyone playing actually contributes to - every victory pushes the enemy back, and every loss is a painful failure in the eyes of Democracy.
All of this while server issues plague the game because it's suffering from success. I think it's a must-try, but it's a must-try a week or two from now when the attentive devs can clean up the mess they've got. It's pure joy to play and even more so with friends.
Hypnospace Outlaw
I'm a bit late to the game with this one in more ways than one. I think in many ways I miss what I think of the "old internet." Strange viral videos like Charlie Bit Me and the Numa Numa song, along with the doubly strange flash sites like Newgrounds - these types of things don't feel like they exist anymore, and who is to say they will again?
This is what Hypnospace Outlaw tries to pull from. It recreates the "old internet" of strange, niche 90s web forums where people make personal webpages akin to Myspace and tribute sites to a pet that may or may not still be alive.
You play as a pseudo internet cop of sorts that tries to keep the interwebs safe from bad actors as you uncover a deeper story and plot while you traverse what feels like a relic of the past. Something you may have actually experienced if you're an old enough web user.
The world that this game creates both existed and does not exist any longer and, in many ways, is a love letter to what once was and could be again if we want it enough! I loved stepping through time with this one.
Ultros
We're so lucky to have two amazing Metroidvania games released so close together. I covered the recent Prince of Persia game in my first bi-weekly. Ultros is a strong entry to the genre, continuing to push game mechanics in an interesting direction with its creative use of level design combined with storytelling.
Ultros is one of the most visually interesting games I have played in quite a while. It looks akin to what I imagine taking psychedelic drugs is like. This is doubly impressive as the clarity of what is happening on the screen is preserved exceptionally well, and the striking use of color is held on to bring forward the important game mechanics. At the same time,, more muted tones are pushed to the background, making landmarks and enemies pop while you're playing.
On the gameplay side of things - it's interesting how this team has combined storytellingThis with the layout of the world and the game mechanics. All of this combined into a strange amalgamation of puzzle, combat, and, strangely, farming.
There is a certain reverence for nature built into the story and gameplay that you start off not understanding, and as you work through the game you are pushed to undo destruction you have caused. - The game keeps you invested until the end, and while I have not completed it just yet, I am excited to return to this world to see how the ending shapes up.
Death Stranding
Death Stranding was released in 2019, so I am late to this game as well. But after watching the trailer for Death Stranding 2 that premiered recently, I knew I had to play this one.
This game has a reputation for having boring gameplay, but I find it relaxing and interesting. The goal here is to traverse the United States, rebuilding connections between cities to help everyone come back together. You do this as a pseudo mailman delivering packages and supplies to these cities, crossing rocky planes and steep mountains while managing the weight of what you are carrying and your energy levels.
What drives me forward while playing is the deeply interesting story and world built by the gaming giant Hideo Kojima. There's something eerie about knowing this game came prior to the worldwide COVID pandemic, as the themes of regaining connections in a disconnected world ring more true now than ever in a post-COVID world.
I'm not certain I can say what has not already been said about this game, but I have been enjoying my time in this world and am looking forward to seeing more of what the story brings.
Thanks so much for reading this Bi-Weekly Roundup. I hope you'll return for the next one. I plan to keep you updated on my thoughts about the games I've played and link to some incredible games as we go. Looking forward to sharing more!