Just glancing at what I did play though, the biggest change from last year is that I didn't play a single game on my Switch.

More than half were on my PS5, the rest were all retro PS1/2 games, with a few PC titles and one N64 game.

Want to try and finish Expedition 33 before I write anything tho.

Also Trails through Daybreak was almost 100 hours, I can see it on my dashboard in PS5. But its not on here lol.

I count 27 games played this year, with one drop so I have no idea what the other 3 PS5/4 games it says I played were.

If they collect so much of my data let me look at it!

I noted like, midway through, Belobog that my time played seemed really high, relative to how far I was in the story. I did idle a lot more than I normally do, whenever I felt ground down by the service-y aspects, but still.

Maybe the post-story service crap really just adds up? Whatever.

Also, Trails through Daybreak 2 was almost 100 hours, which I can see on my PS5 but isn't here?

A lot of the time on HSR I suspect was me idling; I don't tend to set my games down and wander away, but once I started doing service crap that happened a lot. Kind of glad I managed to quit that tbh.

If I didn't feel the threat of getting spoiled accidentally, I'd probably be playing something older and shorter tbh.

Also worried that I might get burned out on long RPGs, since the Trails into the Horizon releases in Jan.

And I still haven't played BG3 lol.

It only happened once though, so its not like its a wide spread issue or anything.

Nothing compared to the god damn JJK fandom, who are determined to spoil the end of that fucking show through memes at every opportunity. If I hadn't kept up week to week, shit would have driven me crazy.

Its otherwise very good, so I just don't understand how something like this could have been missed across the game *set* in Liberl.

Rant over, just bugs the hell out of me.

Insanely annoying to just change that. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt, that it was a mistake. But if it was intentional, like they think they know better, its insanely annoying.

Correcting it will confuse new players in SC, and it'll still be inconsistent if they reach the Cold Steel arc.

The only thing that annoys me endlessly is with the localization. The direction is natural, but the team decided to just... change how a bunch of stuff is pronounced.

I had to go back to make sure I wasn't crazy, but they've been using an established pronunciation for Liberl for like 7 games.

For anyone else, I still think I'd recommend this version. The new engine plays great and the voice performance is wonderful addition.

Massively positive recommendation from me.

One of the best parts of this game existing is that there's now a super easy recommendation to people for where to start on the series. I still like the first game, but some people just can't do PSP games anymore. For those people, this is an easy and clear replacement without any real compromises.

53. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (PS5)🎮

If you had asked me to make a wishlist for a remake of the first Trails game, it'd basically be 1:1 what Falcom delivered.

The fact this isn't my slam dunk game of the year is a testament to how good everything else released this year has been. Loved it.

But like, I do not think this even exists on the same plane as consoles and such. Just like the steam deck. Its not going to pull PS4/PS5 numbers, just like how the Deck didn't come close to Switch 1 numbers.

And that's fine, just don't get caught up thinking this is something it won't be.

I still think it'll be a success in the same way the steam deck is. No windows means better performance given the hardware. A better pre-built experience, without the pre-built PC bullshit, and it slots in the living room. Its going to be a fine enthusiast device for a lot of people.

It's an incredible game, I played it before anything Silent Hill so it was extra fresh for me.