After putting in 89 hours into Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - which I have very mixed feelings about, perhaps even moreso than the second game - I've decided to take a break and play some shorter games before I dive into my next big JRPG, which will be a Dragon Quest XI S replay, Triangle Strategy, Demon Gaze Extra, or...something else, haha. I really can't decide right now. I want to replay DQXI S before Treasures comes out, and the end of this year is absolutely stacked with JRPGs, so it really needs to be sometime before the end of September, because I want to play some thematically appropriate games for October, as well as replay both Bayonettas before the third game comes out. Soul Hackers 2 will be out at the end of the month, but I will probably delay that since I've not even played the first one yet. But I've had Triangle Strategy hanging over my head since it released, and Demon Gaze since January. So much to do, so little time. But right now I am completely burned out and I need to recharge a bit.
But anyways! I finished Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (loved it, the humour was so on point), Luna's Fishing Garden (also loved it, really relaxing experience), Bladed Fury yesterday (pretty mediocre tbh, lovely art style but that's about it), and Florence just this morning (not sure how I feel about this one), and now I'm playing Chicory: A Colourful Tale. It really pops on the OLED screen, although it's clearly not designed to be played with control sticks, which is a shame. But it's fun enough so far! I'm looking to unwind and recharge so I'm not after something super deep and complicated.
I'm also playing a little Subnautica on the side and I have absolutely no bloody clue what I'm doing, haha. It seems a tad slow-paced for my taste and it's bordering on the irritating: everything needs resources, and it's always the resources I can't get hold of easily. Like Silver Ore. But I'm only playing it in short bursts so it's not too bad. I've seen a lot of whining about the Switch version but honestly I haven't really had any issues with it...the pop-in is no worse than it was in Pokemon Sword and Shield. I've not had any crashes yet. Loading is only slow when it's first starting up and needs to generate the map. It's totally fine. Mhm. Probably is better on PC because of mods, but since I'm playing on Free mode - so with the story, but without the bullshit hunger mechanic that plagues games like this - it's not as bad as it could be. Plus I actually really like exploring some of these biomes! Although god I wish I had a map.
On PS5 I'm playing Stray for the Game Along right now, I've just gotten through the Sewers, which were...fucking freaky, if I'm honest. I don't think much of the story at all - seems to have been added for the sake of it really - and I've played better games, but playing as a cat is pretty novel and it doesn't control poorly or anything so I'd say it was pretty enjoyable in a "switch brain off, play game, occasionally meow at things because why not" sort of way.
I also picked up ebihime's newest visual novel, All Ashes and Illusions, which I am going through very casually whenever I have a spare minute. The soundtrack for this one is amazing. But the premise is a bit disturbing and I know this is going to be one of her VNs that I both regret and don't regret reading by the end of it. After Salome's Kiss I am fully prepared for the worst.
