Messages

1

General / Re: January 2026 - Recently added to collection/recently purchased

« on: January 05, 2026, 01:33:55 pm »

And the first purchase of the year releases this week. Code Violet (PS5).

As a massive Dino Crisis fan (first two PS1 games), I'm incredibly excited for this one.

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2026!!!

« on: January 05, 2026, 12:54:47 pm »

And the first game I've completed for 2026 is TMNT IV: Turtles in Time (Arcade) from the Cowabunga Collection on PS5. Played some co-op with my son for a fun time.

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General / Re: December 2025 - Recently added to collection/recently purchased

« on: December 30, 2025, 06:04:21 pm »

Final purchase of 2025 is ARC Raiders (PS5). Bought it to co-op with a bud.

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: December 28, 2025, 07:58:34 am »

Last minute entry. Finished up Double Dragon Revive. It was... well it didn't capture the magic of the NES game but it wasn't horrible.

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2026!!!

« on: December 27, 2025, 03:56:41 pm »

Participating once again. Let's see how far I get in comparison to previous years...
2023 - 27 Completed.
2024 - 17 Completed.
2025 - 17 Completed.

Currently Playing:
1. Battlefield 6 (PS5) [Multiplayer]
2. ARC Raiders (PS5)
3. Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered (PS5)
    - Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (PS2)

Completed: 01
1. TMNT Cowabunga Collection (PS5)
   - TMNT IV Turtles in Time (Arcade)

Planning to Play:
1. Code Violet (PS5)
2. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (PS5)
3. Zelda: Skyward Sword (Switch)

6

General / Re: A Year in Review - 2025

« on: December 26, 2025, 08:55:22 am »

Favorite 2025 Release: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PS5) - The gameplay and storytelling in the title was incredibly well done. I was a bit worried with the first person perspective, but it worked out ok and being able to pick up nearly anything and bash a bad guy over the head with it was great fun.

Runner up: Battlefield 6 multiplayer first month. The first month of Battlefield 6 was really fun, but then the devs tweaked it and allowed the ridiculous slide/shooting to remain to appease the Fortnite and CoD players. I currently sit at level 90 and don't know if I'll hit 100 with how annoying the sliders have become.

Least Favorite 2025 Release: Double Dragon Revive (PS5) -- It just didn't capture the feel of old school Double Dragon.

Favorite Game Played in 2025: I played a lot of great older games this year, but I think I'm going to give it to the OG Resident Evil. It was a blast to revisit as I've generally played the 2002 Remake since it released, so going back to the OG 1996 release was fun.

Least Favorite Game Played in 2025: I'm going to give it to Tomb Raider 3 from the 1-3 Remaster (PS5). This isn't a knock on the game as I loved the PS1 original, but for some reason the remaster was way too dark to the point I couldn't see what I was doing. I couldn't even complete it.

Sleeper Hit of 2025: Double Dragon Dodgeball (PS5) - This was a preorder bonus for Double Dragon Revive (PS5) and it's far and above more fun than Revive. If you ever played the NES game Super Dodgeball, then you'll know how it plays. It's basically that with a simple reskin of Double Dragon.

Favorite Gaming Moment in 2025: I would say my favorite gaming moment was hearing Troy Baker voice Indiana Jones and hearing him do a good job at replicating Harrison Ford. I was genuinely surprised in a good way.

Proudest Collection Accomplishment of 2025: I don't have one for 2025. I probably won't have one for 2026 either.

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General / Re: Your 2025 Gaming and Collecting Goals

« on: December 26, 2025, 08:41:14 am »

I've got no plans or goals related to gaming.

I have interest in seeing what Nintendo is bringing with the Switch successor. If they have at least two games at launch that are of interest, it's affordable and there are more games in the works of interest, then I'll add a goal of getting the new system by next Christmas.

The one thing I had was the Switch 2 and that didn't happen.

1. In comparison to the OG Switch, it's not affordable. That said, with all computer components skyrocketing in price thanks to AI greed, I don't see game systems becoming cheeper...ever.

2. The only game released on it so far that I have any interest in is the new Hyrule Warriors and with Nintendo playing things so close to the chest anymore, they haven't announced any games in production that I have any interest in. That doesn't mean they aren't making something I or my kids would enjoy, they simply haven't announced anything yet.

3. The key card cartridges are a massive red flag. Nintendo is moving forward with removing ownership of physical games. What's the point in collecting them when you don't own the game in digital or physical editions? There is none and Nintendo are affectively removing themselves from consideration for future purchases in my house.

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General / Re: Gaming/Collecting Goals for 2026

« on: December 18, 2025, 10:17:02 am »

I've no goals for 2026. Modern gaming just isn't what it used to be but it does seem that this generation is finally begining to take off after years of stagnation.

I'll attempt the 52 game challenge again, but may not make it to 20.

The games I'll play, I simply hope to have fun with. That's the best goal I can come up with.

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Modern Video Games / Re: The Game Awards (TGA) 2025 predictions, hype, and general discussion thread

« on: December 11, 2025, 04:11:44 pm »

Already some leaks -- Rumors floating about that it's not just the next Tomb Raider but also a remake of either the first and/or second game. So there could be two or more Tomb Raider games announced tonight. Here's a look at her in one of them. I honestly didn't think western developers were capable of making a beautiful female characters anymore. If this holds true, then kudos to Crystal Dynamics.

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: December 08, 2025, 06:11:11 pm »

Alright... I'm calling it. Here's where I stand, not just for this year, but since I started trying to take note since 2021. Now, 2021 was probably only half of what I actually played and completed, but I was trying to remember everything at the end of the year.

2021 - 10 Completed that were noted.
2022 - Not kept track.
2023 - 27 Completed.
2024 - 17 Completed.
2025 - 16 Completed.

Clearly a downward slope over the last three years. I will also say that the last couple years have been primarily retro game collections like TMNT, Jurassic Park, Sonic and Tomb Raider. What does 2026 hold for me?

2026 Planning to Play:
1. Code Violet (PS5) - Jan release [preordered]
2. Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered (PS5)
    - Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (PS2)
3. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (PS5)
4. Zelda: Skyward Sword (Switch)
5. 007 First Light (PS5)

So far... that's it. There could be some great announcements, but for now... that's it. We'll see what happens.

11

Modern Video Games / Re: The Game Awards (TGA) 2025 predictions, hype, and general discussion thread

« on: December 08, 2025, 01:56:22 pm »

I saw that about Shenmue 4. What's weird to me is how seriously YSnet taking it. People make fake trailers constantly. Hell, Half Life 3 probably has more fake/fan made trailers at this point than all the Shenmue content on youtube combined. I almost wonder if this is just a really, really early concept trailer using lots of assets from Shenmue 3 that they didn't want released due to how crude it was. It seems like it would be easy enough to just come out and say, "yep, it's fake. Movie on with your lives now." But instead they're threatening legal action. Something is up, even if the trailer is completely fake. At least that's my opinion.

Yeah, the legal action is a bit...odd. I'd have generally expected YsNet and Suzuki in general to treat it like another fan project, which they would normally thank the creator for their enthusiasm. Some on the Dojo forums are speculating it means YsNet could have something up their sleeves pertaining to a real Shenmue 4, but time will tell.

To update my response for TGA in general, it would seem Tomb Raider is being teased... so there could very well be something shown to peak my interest. I guess I'll find out in less than a week.

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General / Re: December 2025 - Recently added to collection/recently purchased

« on: December 08, 2025, 08:36:39 am »

With Code Violet pushed to January, there's nothing for me this month, but I did pick up Zelda: Skyward Sword (Switch) with the understanding that it ditched motion controls (thank God). My son will receive it for Christmas.

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Modern Video Games / Re: The Game Awards (TGA) 2025 predictions, hype, and general discussion thread

« on: December 08, 2025, 08:34:21 am »

Sadly, the Shenmue 4 trailer is confirmed fake. YsNet has even threatened legal action against whoever did it. So... that's off the plate.

The industry is in such a state that I have no hype for gaming anymore. I've no predictions for what will be revealed as I expect with the vast majority of this generation, nothing will be of note for me.

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Modern Video Games / Re: Instinction - Spiritual Successor to Dino Crisis

« on: November 28, 2025, 06:06:28 pm »

Ok... well... I'm 95% sure that Instinction is unofficially cancelled.

Reasons:

1. No updates this year.
2. Still shows as Q4 2025 release and there's one month to go.
3. Controversies from developer Hashbane Interactive
 -- Financial mismanagement
 -- $1 million of developer funds stolen
 -- Investor fraud

Yeah... pretty sure it's dead. Luckily, there's a Dino Crisis spiritual successor that WILL release next month... Code Violet. If you're looking to scratch that itch and have a PS5, I recommend looking into it.

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General / Re: November 2025 - Recently added to collection/recently purchased

« on: November 01, 2025, 03:21:54 pm »

With Code Violet being moved to December, there's nothing for me to buy this month.

Oddly... the game I expected to buy Q4 this year was Instinction, which was said to be a Dino Crisis spiritual successor, similar to that of Code Violet. It was supposed to release in 2021 and then they had millions poured into the project which the dev then delayed to 2025. At the start of the year, Hashbane (dev) stated they would release the game in Q4 2025. There's been no updates for months. I expect the game has become vaporware.