So yet another year has flown by and it’s time to look back and reminisce about all the fab things that has been. Focusing your thoughts can be hard enough without Beasty boys blasting at full volume behind you so let’s get into it!

The Dtoid Community

Who knew that so many interesting and nice people could gather at one place in a realm where being a grand asshole is just an impulse away? No doubt the biggest reason why I keep coming back here to share my thoughts and get your opinion is because of all of you wonderful people here. And hopefully you guys acknowledge this, I know I do, every morning begins with reading the ambitious recaps and checking all the blogs I can manage before I absolutely have to run off to school. Stay classy Dtoiders!



Giving things a second chance / looking at things from a different perspective

What’s better than expecting something atrocious and be given the absolute opposite, seriously? This year for me was a struggle well worth it because I managed to turn that frown upside down on many titles that I had unfairly labeled as “not for me”. Effectively turning this whole year into a pleasant surprise. Spelunky was way to unfair for me , now instead of going into it with the speed-run mindset I approach it with a way more laid-back attitude where I take my time and really plan my moves, and now it’s one of the games that I would have loved to make, and will probably never disappear from my desktop.

Fallout 3 was a game for smart people and yet now a couple of months after I finished it I still reminisce about how many beautiful moments I experienced as I the sun rose and set over the oppressive Wasteland. Even in the latter parts of the game I would find myself marveling over the fact that I was watching the monuments of a once great nation now turned into a mere shadow. I also love Fallout 3 for reminding me that beauty is indeed a relative thing because in something as haunting and depressing as the corridors of a former factory even the sight of faint sun rays desperately trying to squeeze trough the muddy windows can be breathtaking.

Even a daunting thing like really long loading screens for no apparent reason can be acceptable as long as you skip all of the dialogue in the game because it’s nothing fascinating anyway. Hours have been spent matching soldiers of 3 to make attack formations to beat the opposition sitting next to me, and many long nights have been turned into fascinating mindgames between two friends. To topple the last guy in an epic tag team match of two brains will always be remembered and treasured, Clash of Heroes on PSN will always be accepted as a wonderful pastime between friends. And to think that I couldn’t stand those loading times at first, imagine if I had not pushed trough? How much joy would have been lost?



Coming fresh from the Fallout universe I was initially disappointed with Skyrim, the character personalization was dumbed down to two choices, do you want to have a mustache/wig or do you want to look like something that the 3D art intern barely managed to put together? Wasn't this supposed to be a immerse RPG? It’s inhabitant's mostly consisted of neurotic maniacs constantly repeating things like “ You should go to Mr.X’s Store” which would be find if I wasn’t in fact standing inside of it. Others would tell me their inmost secrets to me just by the sight of me and it all just felt very unnatural. But instead of complaining about it I embraced it and laughed at it, and instead of dwelling on these to me shortcomings instead I was enthralled by the beautiful environments and the open ended combat system. Because who can feel nothing but bad-ass when you’ve exploited the shoddy AI by shooting them from a super long distance then taking down their leader with fireballs and a zombie saber-cat?

Other noteworthy happenings this year include:

Giving Cave story + ‘s Hard mode a whirl and making it to weapon X, seriously , people have made it to the sanctum with 3 lives and no rockets , I couldn’t have more respect for these people. Also it makes you appreciate and analyse the game way more when you just can’t run trough it with without much challenge like I can on normal difficulty. Give it a try if you’re brave!

Making it further in Amnesia, a game that I appreciate almost too much, because it almost does it job too well and after two equally scary half game runs thanks to a not working Steam save sync, I have my eyes set on making my way to the finish this year. And not only that , I have a pretty rad blog I’ve been working on about it for when I do manage to finish it.

Watching my brother playing Killer 7 and trying to make sense of it!

So that’s some of the past years hilights , hopefully you found them as fun to read as I did writing them. And who knows maybe it inspired you to give a second chance to a game you’ve rejected? Only to find out that it was really good. That would be amazing, here’s for another great year!