PixlBit

Yeah, apparently that was in February of 2015. I for some reason had it in my mind I bought my PS4 in 2014, which would have been cool matching those 4s up, but oh well. 

What DID happen is I had a much better year in 2014 where I got to got to L.A. for a class and meet Insomiac Games PR folks working on Sunset Overdrive at the time, as well as Warner Bros., Angels Stadium, L.A. Magazine and a few other folks. Took in some comedy clubs and some food as well, and a couple students and our department chair even visited the Scientology center up the street from our AirBnB.

I was also getting much more used to grad school work and confidently started in on my thesis, which would be due in May 2015 ... we'll get to that year, which is probably where I actually played a lot of these games that saw release in 2014. I'm going to list those I played after this year in italics, the ones I played in 2014 in bold and we'll go from there:

Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (PS4) was just the Steam game I already had with an updated Lara model (I think  I prefer the Steam version's face) and other neat trinkets as well as online multiplayer I could actually run. I've already said my peace about this game, but if you missed my last blog: I really like it. 

Rayman Legends (PS4) is praiseworthy for its sheer amount of content and levels, but I especially like the ryhtm-action stages and have always wanted something like a Mega Man game to be just like that, where you complete all your platforming action to the beat. 

Strider (PS4) looked great for a side-scrolling 3D hack-and-slash and was an addictive arcadey game I beat pretty quickly. I thoguht the world of that game was really cool and the upgrades were well-designed. 

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (PS4/PS+) is a demo, so I'm glad it was free. Fight me. 

inFamous Second Son (PS4/PS+) was one I played more recently from PS+ but got stuck fighting atop the space needle. I could never seem to recharge quickly enough. 

Octodad: Deadliest Catch (PS4/kiosk) was the big indie game all the YouTubers seemed to be playing that year and, honestly ... seeing that game next to Forza running on an XBOX ONE was making me lean toward an XBOX ONE. I know people were praising PS4 for its indie support, but I buy new consoles so I can play new AAA games. Also, the XBONE's controller still feels amazing to me. 

I wound up getting a PS4 because I figured it'd have more exclusives relevant to me though, and I did not end up being wrong.

Wolfenstein: The New Order (PS4) was the first FPS I'd played in a long time at that point and I beat it! On very easy, because normal became a pain in my ass about midway through. 

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U/friend's console) was really quite stunning to look at, honestly, but I was miffed the Battle mode was such garbage. Still had fun playing it with coworkers. 

I also liked the "mad Luigi" meme set to "Ridin' Dirty" by Chamillionaire

Shovel Knight (Steam) was pretty much my favorite game from that year. Basically all the nostalgia of NES games without the frustration, at least for me. It had pretty much the best elements from Castlevania (magic items), Mega Man (8 distinct bosses), Mario 3 (world map), and DuckTales (pogo jump) combined into one satisfying package. 

Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4/PS+) was a freebie on PS4 later. I've talked about my Steam copy in the previous blog. 

Oddworld: New and Tasty (PS4/PS+) was a PS4 freebie I just couldn't get into. Not for me. Could never tell why I was getting caught in this stealthy 2D side-scroller and got stuck at one point. 

Mickey Mouse games I played on SNES that were re-released, apparently which I have forgotten to mention in previous blogs. I distinctly remember the one on SNES where you ran toward the screen away from logs and actually started with a Steamboat Willie stage. 

The Last of Us Remastered (came packaged free with my PS4 ... which I bought in 2015) and I enjoyed the story, characters, and visuals quite a bit while mostly being ok with the crafting items/stealth gameplay. I don't really like zombie stories, so it'll never be as close to my heart as others, but it was a great game nonetheless and I'm excited for the sequel, which seems to focus more on the humans.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (PS4) was one I almost picked up with a PS4 because it was included in some sales bundles. I ... actually don't like the Nemesis system. I kinda prefer to have a do-over when I mess up in games, so I wasn't a huge fan of the villains levelling up each time I accudentally ran into them unprepared. Also, stealth sections seemed to need to be completed in very specific ways or you'd easily get caught. But I own it, so there's that. 

Super Smash Bros. (3DS/kiosk) was one hell of a value proposition for 3DS ... but I still don't own one. 

Driveclub (PS4/PS+) was a racing sim ... I only like arcade racers. 

Styx: Master of Shadows (PS4/PS+) was a stealth-based PS+ freebie I got stuck in and wasn't interested enough to continue. You play as a troll. 

Just Dance 2015 (co-workers'/friends' consoles) was one used to embarrass me, basically. I always think I'm doing what's on screen but really my limbs are just kinda flailing about.

The Legend of Korra (Steam/PS4 later) was a budget title from Platinum games that was heavily criticized for being empty and short, but for my money the combat is still solid, so I liked it enough I bought it two places. I was also really into Avatar at the time, so that was a factor.

Sunset Overdrive (friend's XBOX ONE) was another game I almost bought an XBOX ONE for, along with Killer Instinct, because I'd met the team behind it and it looked fun as hell. My friend Robbie and I created a transvestite lumberjack character and started running through the game. I only played it once but I'm glad I got to. Insomniac said the reason they went XBOX exclusive was because Sony wouldn't allow them to keep their IP for it. I ended up buying Ratchet and Clank for PS4 later ... they were working on the movie and game for that release as well when we visited. 

Rocksmith 2014 (PS4) is one I should really play more, since it's the one video game I own that actually teaches you a real life skill. I already know how to play guitar and I really wish they'd have somewhere to look at the tabs without having to get the timing right so I can practice the notes before actually playing the song, but it's a good way to keep me honest as far as my guitar knowledge. 

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (PS4) is a LEGO game, featuring Batman and the Justice League in space. This one was kind of a let down after LEGO Marvel Superheroes, which I thought was a lot more funny and allowed you to explore more freely. 

Grand Theft Auto V (PS4) is still an amazing technical feat (I love how close it looks to my memory of the real L.A.) and still has an online fanbase to this day. Can't really add much here. I also thought ths story was well-told and pretty funny and maintain that it is a satire, whether you think what it has to say is clever or not. 

Little Big Planet 3 (PS4/PS+) is a PS+ freebie I downloaded cause my brother wanted to play it. We got stuck in an MGS-themed level. I remember the older games from people playing them in dorms. Good times. 

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (friends' Wii U consoles) was another Smash Bros. game. This time, on the Wii U. Really don't have much to add except I played it a bunch at an ugly sweater Christmas party some coworkers threw. 

The Crew (PS4/demo) is an arcadey car game with an open world that got middling reviews, but I thought it was fun while I demo'd it. It didn't look that great, but the gameplay is what counts. 

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- (PS4) is the Guilty Gear game I own on PS4. I have beaten it on the hardest difficulty setting with nearly every character and understand a lot about matchups and special moves. 

I still cannot perform some of the practice combos to save my life and will pretty much get my ass handed to me online. But I love the frantic, visually dense nature of every match anyway, along with the butt rock music and anime characters/story and aesthetic.