Creatures of Ava (Xbox Series) -

Best way to describe it is a budget version of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Some shared narrative themes, similar branching world structure, purging corruption as a gameplay loop, and using tamed creature abilities to progress (albeit more in puzzles than in combat). It's a collectathon by design - which normally bores me - but it's compact and moves at a brisk pace for 12-15 hours. If you've got an Xbox Game Pass (PC or console), it's a well worth a shot, and even if you don't, it's like 1/3 the price of a full game.

Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition
Was good when I played in back on the PS3.
But the Definitive version on the PS4 is way better.
The map, small by todays standards is nicely populated & looks great.
Story is good, even has a red wedding.
Side stuff is fun.
Driving takes a while to get used to. Arkham combat is good.
The DLC Zodiac Tournament is basically Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon, lots of fun.
Nightmare in North Point DLC was a bit repetitive, but fun.
Year of the Snake DLC was good.

@KnightFall500 Comfortably one of the most underrated games of all time. Apart from Arkham, i doubt there's any game that does melee combat as well as Sleeping Dogs. I'm happy to see it getting some love. Plus, nice Game of Thrones reference there

Alone in the Dark (2024) -

A playthrough with the standard ending for Emily (8ish hours), and then the standard ending plus reloading the last chapter for 2 secret endings as Carnby (7ish hours). As it's being discounted frequently now, I strongly recommend this for any survival horror fans that'll take a smart narrative, puzzles, and impressive atmosphere over some admittedly janky combat.

I enjoyed both playthroughs and how they structured the story (which is more like the original Resident Evil Chris/Jill split than the RE2 A/B scenarios). You move through much the same environments and share some puzzles, but it's your chosen character that seems to be losing their mind and travelling between warped versions of reality, while the other is investigating in the normal world and increasingly concerned for their companion. You learn more about each characters' past in their playthrough, there are different interactions with the staff, and the lengthy 4th chapter is significantly different. The post-launch addition of a new game plus mode with some new cinematics and encounters is a bonus.

Although there's probably merit to criticisms that they didn't need to spend so much on recognisable actors, they do a great job in their respective roles, with Emily sinking into despair as she delves into supressed memories and Carnby becoming increasingly manic as he attempts to make up for past mistakes. What I also enjoyed is that much like RE1, it feels like one protagonist - Carnby in this case - is designed for new players, with dialogue and detailed comments on the environment and puzzles to guide the player.

Mafia Definitive Edition (Gamepass/ROG Ally Z1E)

Short n' sweet, and likely my new favorite Mafia game (sorry, Mafia II.)

Sure, the gameplay's more simplistic than your normal 3rd-person shooter fare, but I didn't find this to be a problem, as blasting my way through each level was still loads of fun.

Looks great, and does what it does pretty darn well. A must-play for fans of classic gangster flicks.

Sea of Stars (NS) - Finished the game with the "Normal Ending"

Fantastic game with a great soundtrack, gorgeous art style and tons of charm (8/10)

Will now go for the "True Ending" quite a bit to do.

I see the DLC will be free and released next year which is a nice bonus.

Bendy and the Ink Machine & Bendy and the Dark Revival

I can see why these games have a cult following, especially with that incredible art style and Bioshock vibes (especially in the Dark Revival), but they feel kinda dated. They're fun enough but the gameplay mechanics feel derivative to the point I'd suggest getting them on sale or just play the Bioshock 1 and 2 if you've never done so.

Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut
55hours
Loved it the first time around, even more the second time.
The DLC was excellent!!
Probably one of the top 3 best looking games on the PS4!

God of War: Ragnarok - Bloated and dragged out. Terrible combat system. But still good during the story moments.

Doom Eternal
Better then the first one, still looks great as well!

Silent Hill 2 Director's Cut (PC)

Can’t believe I’ve finally finished this game so long after first starting it.

What a journey.

I was quite surprised by how unsettling and eerie the atmosphere still was.

Also, for a game where combat isn't the main focus, the combat still manages to be perfectly serviceable.

10/10 - would run away screaming from Pyramid Head again.

FAITH: The Unholy Trinity (Nintendo Switch release)

Played this at the same time as the Silent Hill 2 Remake, and it's a testament to how well good narrative pacing and a simple but satisfying gameplay can trump technology. Used a guide this time for the "true ending" and it's a really satisfying exorcism-gone-wrong horror story.

Resistance Fall of Man
Aged pretty well for a PS3 launch title.
Still an average FPS though. Shooting is spot on, & AI is good.

Resistance 2
Far better then the first one, maps, story & graphics.
Just can't carry all the guns.
& ending was bad.

Flintlock: Siege of Dawn.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (PS5)

My years-long nightmare of finishing this game has finally come to an end.

Good game, though. The first two or three hours — before it devolves into modern Resident Evil fare — are so intense and well crafted.

However, it's safe to say that after all the anxiety, chills, and palpitations those first few hours gave me, I'm never touching it again

Resistance 3
A lot better then I remember it.
Love the post apocalyptic setting in this one.
Completely forgot about the prison section.
Best weapons in the trilogy.

The Bourne Conspiracy
Never played this before, its pretty much exactly what I expected.
The actors voices & likeness are missing.
Game takes place during the first movie. Levels consist of flashbacks, offscreen moments & a few scenes from the movie.
Game looks good, but gameplay is very basic. Hand to hand combat, shooting & one driving section. Arkham combat & Splinter Cell Conviction shooting, would have made this a good game.
Very short as well.

Infamous
After replaying Second Son, I wanted to go back & replay the first 2.
Graphics are starting to show their age. But gameplay is still good, climbing & powers. Maps are okay, bit dull.
Story is not bad, forgot about the twist at the end.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

RAGE 2 (PS4 Pro)

I love and hate this game in equal measure... yet still sunk another 20 hours into the main campaign and Rise of the Ghosts expansion. Seen lots of comments once launch that it's underrated and, for a time, I'd have agreed. Playing it for the 3rd time, I'd argue its criminally misguided. It's a testament to how fun the combat is once you have all the weapons and powers that the one-more-map-marker loop is satisfying, but the campaign only sends you past two arks up to receive a dash move and shotgun (out of 6 powers and 8 weapons). Worse still, there are some great locations with unique encounters and a ton of lore, but these aren't in any way highlighted in anyway to separate them from filler trash like endless bandit camps. Oh, and there's also Mutant Bash TV that's somehow less interesting than the aguantlets in the first game and there's racing limited to one track, rather than making use of the massive map for a variety of tracks. Irritating... yet still so fun to power slam enemies into gibs.