Games Beaten
-Kirby Star Allies (Switch)
Star Allies is a fairly by-the-numbers Kirby game. Yeah, it has co-op but the game wants a level of cooperation that can be difficult to accomplish when playing with kids, at least if you want to do more than just beat the levels. And there is the ability to combine some powers but getting what you want is finicky. None of that sinks it. Star Allies is fine. It's another Kirby game. It's just not one that is going to stand out from the pack.
-PictoQuest: The Cursed Grids (Switch)
This game is fine. It bills itself as an RPG but that's basically just window dressing. I had to restart a puzzle or two because I ran out of health while "fighting" an enemy, but that was the extent of it. There are no stats or equipment or abilities. And that's fine. I was here to play Picross and it has that. It wasn't long or hard but that was fine. It scratched my Picross itch.
Games Bought
Hoo boy, time for the December game acquisition rush! (All the games I'm about to mention are for the Switch.) The first games I got in December were just straight purchases: AI: The Somnium Files and its sequel, AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative. These are visual novels written by the guy that did the Zero Escape games, which are some of my favorites. I found them for a good price and decided to pull the trigger.
On to the presents! My birthday and Christmas fall pretty close together and some years that turns into a decent haul of games. This year I was given Unicorn Overlord (the celebrated strategy game from early 2024), Fantasian Neo Dimension (the consolse release of the Sakaguchi-led RPG that uses physical dioramas for its backgrounds), Cat Quest III (a breezy action RPG that I will probably play co-op with one of my kids), and Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn (a remake of an NES action game that I played as a kid).
My kids also got some games: Pokémon Violet, Bluey the Video Game (which several of my kids have already powered through; it was very popular!), Princess Peach: Showtime!, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which is the one out of this bunch that I am most excited about (see below).
We have made a tradition in our family to play Mario Party together to bring in the new year and so this year we bought Super Mario Party Jamboree for the occasion. Seems pretty good!
Last of all, before the year ended I bought Picross S Namco Legendary Edition during an eShop sale. Gotta have Picross!
Games Being Played
-Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch)
Playing this with my wife. It's been a while since we have played a game like this together and I'm really enjoying it!
-Picross S Namco Legendary Edition (Switch)
I like these themed Picross games. My one real complaint with the numbered Picross S games is that the pictures you're making in the puzzles can be dreadfully mundane.
-Star Fox Guard (Wii U)
I started playing this tower defense-ish game last month and it's been pretty fun.
-Monster Hunter Rise (Switch)
We haven't played for the last two weeks because of holiday interference but the steady grind continues.
-Destiny 2 (PS5)
Knocked out some quests recently that I've had sitting around for a long time. That just leaves...*checks notes*...an overwhelming number to go!
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