PixlBit

Games Beaten

-Destiny 2: Edge of Fate (PS5)

Edge of Fate was a great campaign. I like that it all takes place in a new, self-contained area but balances pulling in existing characters with introducing new ones. There are some great battles and some good puzzley bits and the story goes some cool places. I had a good time with it.

-Hollow Knight: Silksong (Switch)

Silksong had big shoes to fill but, honestly, I feel that it eclipses its predecessor. Hornet controls wonderfully and the crest and tool systems give you options to fine tune your playstyle. The challenge is high but fair and few of the bosses are truly frustrating (but a few are). My main complaint is the length. It has less bloat than Hollow Knight but is actually longer. At least the journey is an A/V treat, especially the great music. Plus Hornet is such a better character than the knight. I love that she talks to the characters you come across and has her own personality. Silksong is a great game. Just make sure you're ready.

-Cotton Reboot! (Switch)

I have never played a Cotton game before but this was a pleasant experience. It's a cute shoot-'em-up that is very player-friendly with continues and letting you start right where you died. Your hit box is not too big (and this isn't a bullet hell shooter) but it does commit the sin of making the playfield scroll other directions than left-to-right sometimes but they give you no way to turn your character or shoot behind you. I'm glad they included the X68000 original, though, as it shows you just how improved the remake is. I really like how they made the crystals important to the gameplay in the remake. It adds a lot.

Games Bought

Here we go! It's the birthday and Christmas haul! (The birthday was mine but everyone got to celebrate Christmas. Also, all these games are for the Switch unless otherwise noted.) Starting out with a bang, I received Metroid Prime 4: Beyond! I know opinions on this game are mixed but I do love this series and am really looking forward to playing it. I also got Xenoblade Chronicles 3, reminding me that I have the first two games (on Wii U and Switch) and have yet to play them...but I am happy to have this one now as well. The other game I received was Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5). I suspect this one was picked because it has been pretty cheap for awhile now but I am looking forward to playing it...right after Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon. 2026 for sure!

But I also have a gaggle of kids and they got some games too. My oldest son got Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. A few years ago we got to play MvC2 in an arcade and he has wanted a home port ever since, so he was very excited about it. My other son got Pokémon Legends: Z-A and is currently playing it as I write this. My older daughter got Hello Kitty: Island Adventure, which I pushed to get for her based on Cary's enthusiasm for the game and it has not disappointed. My daughter and wife have both been totally sucked into playing it. My younger daughter was harder to find something for and we settled on Barbie Project Friendship, mostly on the fact that it supports two players and co-op makes everything better. Well, turns out it is only two-player in the mini games and even then, we couldn't figure out how to get the second player to work, so that one was a bit of a bust.

After Christmas, one of my boys bought Cult of the Lamb: Unholy Edition on the eShop. It was on a pretty good sale and includes all the DLC. My wife bought the digital version of Just Dance 2026 for the family. It helped that there is a Bluey song in there now lol.

PS+ had extra games in December and I picked up most of them. Probably the standout is LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5). My wife has played both of the Horizon games, so maybe we will play this one together. I remember Neon White (PS5) making a big splash when it came out but I don't remember much about the game itself. The Outlast Trials (PS5) is some kind of co-op horror game. Basically I have grabbed the other Outlast games that have gone on PS+ through the years, so why not this one as well. And staying with that thought process...Killing Floor 3 (PS5). Sure, why not?

Games Being Played

-Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch)

I'm still near the beginning, literally at the first save point on the planet.

-River City Girls 2 (Switch)

My wife and were playing this but it fell by the wayside during the busy Christmas season.

-Destiny 2 (PS5)

Got a long ways to go in the Star Wars-influenced campaign.

-Picross: Lord of the Nazarick (Switch)

Been playing a lot of this one lately.

-Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (Switch)

Shooting lots of big bugs!