#please look up loddlenauts

[amaiguri]

heyy, happy STS!! I'm curious to know about your recent reads - what was your favorite book/short story/screenplay/whatever that you've read this year? any that disappointed you (feel free to ignore if you don't wanna spill any tea lol)? or, if you haven't read anything, first, I see you, and second, any book you'd particularly like to get your hands on?

Mmm, the media I experience the most is anime and secondarily, video games, and since I don't speak Japanese, TECHNICALLY, I read all the subtitles 💀💀💀 So I will answer about that:

Genshin Impact continues to hold the crown of "My Favorite Franchise" at the moment. The most recent main story quest in Fontaine was a tragic mystery with genuine twists that, in contrast to the expectations of the genre, are truly heartwrenching and beautiful. I loved the way it critiqued the idea of "justice as a show" -- especially with regards to the global effects of social media. And I also loved the way every character in the recent releases are actors and liars -- that's actually kinda a huge theme I've been interested in this year. I just think Genshin is doing what it is trying to do well -- and to be clear, it's not TRYING to be the next Godfather. It requires an understanding and love of the anime art movement AND the cozy-gaming movement BUT, within that framework, I think it goes so well. But I am also very biased because I relate to the characters so closely -- which is the quickest way to get me to overlook quality. So I would say that's my favorite thing I've played this year.

Obviously, Baldur's Gate 3 is incredible. Nuff said.

Anime wise, my anime of the year is probably Oshi No Ko -- a mystery thriller about idols in Japan. While also being my favorite thing, it simultaneously was disappointing to me. It wanted to be this really dark, gritty, adult story but then it restated the main theme several times explicitly. And while this works nicely in a pure comedy (as in the writer's previous work), Oshi No Ko is not Kaguya-Sama. So, it's good but it isn't quite succeeding in being the kind of show it seems like it wants to be. But Oshi no Ko is ALSO about liars and sociopaths and I adore them all, so like... I'm having a good time, despite it not-quite being want I want. I give it a 8/10.

I also saw Made in Abyss Season 2 this year and it was amazing and horrible. I cannot recommend it to literally anyone because of the content, but I love the way it does horror themes in a not-horror aesthetic -- this makes it paletteable to me. (I don't do good with horror but I love horror aesthetics.) I give it a 9/10 so far with a BIG asterix.

I'm not really looking forward to anything right now -- except maybe Loddlenauts -- so I'm hopeful something exciting gets announced soon!

[gotylocks]

If anyone is interested, I've been taking notes on some cool smaller games that have been shown during E3 that I want to be highlighted.

Vokabulantis- Stop motion puzzle adventure

Toem- Photography

Unbeatable- Rad looking rhythm/story game

Behind the Frame- Ghibli-esque puzzle game

We Are OFK- Music based story game

Dordogne- Photography but different

The Gecko Gods- Lizard Platformer

Please Be Happy- Yuri dating sim. This is a win for Maddie and anime.

Battlecakes- Cupcake RPG

Bear & Breakfast- A bear fixing up a B&B

Unpacking- Puzzle story about unpacking a move

Teacup- I can't remember and there isn't a trailer uploaded yet so I guess remember the name? Lol

Pupperazzi- Photography with dogs

Witchery Academy- Harry Potter w/o the Transphobia

Amber Isle- Animal Crossing with Dinos holy shit

Dreamland Confectionery- Gorgeous adventure game

Shashingo- Learn Japanese with photography with Persona-ass soundtrack

Cat Cafe Manager- Exactly what it says on the tin

Kreaturekind- Turn based rpg

Loddlenaut- Cute underwater exploration and clean up game

Trek to Yomi- Crazy 2D Kurosawa lookin Samurai game

Replaced- Gorgeous pixel art Cyberpunk sidescroller. This trailer rules.

Next Space Rebels- Building rockets

Soulstice- A Souls like. Look I just think the main character looks hot don't judge me.

Tinykin- Cute Pikmin style game

Death Trash- Crazy looking game in the style of the original Fallout

Citizen Sleeper- Cyberpunk RPG

Lake- Small town mail delivery with Life is Strange Vibes

Dome King Cabbage- Visual novel that is unlike anything I've ever seen before

Harold Halibut- Stop Motion adventure

Minute of Islands- Platform adventure with great art style

Olli Olli World- Skateboarding platforming adventure game

Immortality- FMV mystery

Coromon- Cool Pokémon style game where you can customize your monsters stats.

To The Rescue- Run a Dog Rescue

Dark Deity- Fire Emblem style game

The Takedown- Mostly just the song. The song bangs.