killamch89

My partner walked in right as I was repeatedly failing a simple jumping puzzle in Hollow Knight, dying to the same obstacle for the twentieth time. What made it worse was I had just finished boasting about how good I was at the game earlier that day. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for maximum humiliation.

I've kept every unique dialogue note and letter in Fallout: New Vegas across multiple playthroughs, filling entire containers with paper items that have no gameplay value after reading them once. I can't bring myself to drop these little narrative fragments even though they just add weight.

I love how pixel art forces developers to suggest rather than show, engaging my imagination to fill in the details. Modern photorealistic games spell everything out, but games like Hyper Light Drifter create this beautiful ambiguity where my mind becomes part of the storytelling process.

In open-world games, I have an uncontrollable compulsion to clear every question mark and icon from the map. Even when I know the rewards will be mediocre, there's something deeply satisfying about transforming a cluttered map into a clean, completed space. Assassin's Creed Valhalla nearly broke me with this habit.

I've been fascinated by PlayStation VR exclusive Astro Bot Rescue Mission since it released, but investing in an entire VR setup for one game doesn't make financial sense for me. The hardware barrier to entry for VR gaming remains a significant obstacle despite the medium's potential.

Superman 64 remains traumatic decades later. The endless ring flying sections through pea-soup fog, unresponsive controls, and baffling design choices make it especially painful because Superman deserved so much better. I rented it as a kid and felt personally betrayed.

The Origami Bird scene in To The Moon, where you learn the truth about River's paper rabbits and why she made them. The way the game portrays love between neurodivergent people trying to connect despite communication barriers absolutely destroyed me emotionally.

Age of Empires II remains my go-to strategy game despite being released in 1999. The Definitive Edition updates helped, but even the original captures this perfect balance of resource management, military strategy, and historical flavor that keeps me coming back decades later.

Star Citizen has to take the crown at over $500 million in development costs and still counting. I've seen individual ship packages selling for thousands of dollars.

Skyrim's perk system might seem simple compared to others, but I appreciate how it rewards you for playing the way you want. There's something deeply satisfying about naturally becoming better at sneaking because you actually sneak, rather than just allocating arbitrary points from generic XP.

Hollow Knight delivers an astonishing amount of content and quality in under 8GB. You get a massive hand-drawn world, tight controls, challenging combat, over 40 hours of gameplay, and multiple free DLC packs all in a package smaller than many games' day-one patches. It's the perfect balance of size and substance.

Well-implemented AI companions like Ellie from The Last of Us or Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite can add tremendous emotional depth to otherwise solitary experiences. When companions respond naturally to the environment, provide contextual assistance without being overpowered, and develop alongside your character, they enhance rather than detract.

r/pcgaming remains the best general PC gaming subreddit for me, striking a balance between news, discussion, and industry developments without being overly corporate or meme-focused. It's large enough to be active but not so massive that quality discussion gets buried under low-effort posts.

Team Fortress 2 was my Steam gateway drug back when it went free-to-play in 2011. I'd been a console gamer before that, but the combination of accessible gameplay, regular updates, and the hat economy pulled me into PC gaming permanently. My Steam library mushroomed exponentially from that single download.

Red Dead Redemption 2's story resonated with me like no other game. Arthur Morgan's journey from hardened outlaw to a man seeking redemption as his world and body crumble around him created this profound meditation on mortality, legacy, and change that I still think about years later.

I'm comfortable with extreme bleakness provided it serves a meaningful artistic purpose rather than just shock value. Games like SOMA or This War of Mine use their grim settings to explore complex philosophical questions about consciousness or moral compromise in ways that feel justified despite their emotional weight.

The reliability varies dramatically based on the site's business model. Outlets dependent on publisher advertising dollars and early access tend to score games higher to maintain relationships. Independent critics on YouTube or Patreon who answer only to their audiences generally provide more honest assessments, even if they're more subjectively biased.

I draw the line at AI replacing actual creators. Using AI to enhance human work through processes like automated bug detection, optimizing game balance through playtesting simulations, or creating dynamic difficulty adjustments based on player behavior all seem like positive applications that enhance rather than replace human creativity.

Probably TheRadBrad back in 2010-2011. His calm commentary style was so different from the loud, hyper-energetic personalities that would later dominate the platform. There was something genuinely relaxing about watching someone simply enjoy a game without constant gimmicks or forced reactions.

Silent Hill 2's soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka remains unmatched for me. It seamlessly blends industrial noise, melancholic piano pieces, and distorted ambience to create this profound sense of psychological unease. 'Promise (Reprise)' still gives me chills decades later.

Last Of Us had me by the throat within the first few conversations. The depth of the dialogue system, the immaculate storytelling, and the distinctive art style that perfectly complemented the game's tone - I knew immediately it would be special.

The Citadel from Mass Effect, pre-Reaper invasion of course. Living in a thriving multicultural space station with advanced technology, opportunities to interact with diverse alien species, and the chance to observe the wonders of the galaxy from a relatively safe and comfortable environment would be incredible.

Beating Malenia in Elden Ring after three straight days of attempts had me literally jumping around my living room at 2 AM. That final parry into critical hit combo when I knew I had her - I've never felt such a pure rush of accomplishment from any other entertainment medium

Phasmophobia remains my favorite Halloween multiplayer experience. Nothing compares to the tension of investigating a haunted location with friends, desperately trying to identify the ghost type while your sanity drops and equipment malfunctions. The atmosphere is perfect for Halloween nights.

Silksong has been my most anticipated game for what feels like forever now. Team Cherry created such a masterpiece with Hollow Knight that I'm willing to wait however long it takes for them to perfect the sequel. Each tiny glimpse they've shown looks incredibly promising.