[quote]Cool OSTs[/quote] The Outlast series is... a strange one for me. While I usually reserve terms like "masterpiece" and "incredible" for games I would rate 9 or 10 out of 10, I always find myself speaking just as passionately about Outlast and Outlast 2, which are, from any objective standpoint, 7/10 games. Good, no doubt, but very flawed. Despite that, I always find myself remembering my experiences with the two games. I found both of them terrifying, and hostile, but fascinating all the same. And that was, in large part, due to Samuel Laflamme's work on the games' soundtrack. I generally prefer that horror experiences use music in a subtle way, but something about Outlast's intense strings blew my mind. And the music, combined with the sound effects, really added to my respect of the series. Whistleblower was still terrible though. Anyway, here are my favourites: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VXJbz6rNWn8 Outlast - Someone Playing Piano http://youtube.com/watch?v=jPE73zebjY8 Outlast - End Credits http://youtube.com/watch?v=8B9JAkZlYfw Outlast 2 - Menu Theme

I'm actually pretty excited for Team Sonic Racing, even though I generally don't like cart racers. Probably just because the soundtrack... Jun Senoue and Tee Lopes are working together, and Crush 40 is back! It's just too perfect.

Talking about [i]Mario Kart[/i] and [i]Team Sonic Racing[/i] makes me miss [i]ModNation Racers[/i]

[quote]Cool OSTs?[/quote] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9O2Rjn1azc "We All Became" from the Transistor OST. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ5Es-0E6H4& "End of the Road" from Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden [quote]What’re ya excited for?[/quote] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVXvoCzo690 [b]Observation.[/b] A new game "launching" this month by Devolver Digital (which basically secures it being a good game). Observation is a psychological thriller in which you play as a space-station, instead of a character manning it. The game is said to have a heavy focus on a sense of dread. The game begins as you - the disembodied AI - reboot from some kind of event as the alarms are sounding, the lights strobe, and there is only one crew member you're able to contact - Emma. Emma will navigate the space-station uncovering for herself the mystery of what recently happened. Your job is to operate as the AI you are. Opening doors, checking memory functions, informing Emma which parts of the station are and aren't functioning, and using the various cameras on the interior and exterior of the spaceship to look for damage, and clues as to the whereabouts of the rest of the crew. Your system occasionally glitches, your sound occasionally cuts, and your cameras occasionally distort. What really sold me was that on one occasion during this distortion, something demands that you "BRING HER". You know, as well that the - frankly - fascinating and innovative gameplay and storytelling. [quote]Got any game recommendations?[/quote] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x393waFKDw [b]VA-11 Hall-A.[/b] "Valhalla" is a cyberpunk themed bartending simulator. The game has been out a while, but I think it recently got a Switch release. Set in a futuristic city, this 10-15 hour game has you playing as a bartender interacting with people from all over, in an oddly thought-provoking adventure. The branching narrative focuses on the fascinating characters you meet. Getting to know their tastes, their stories, what they're doing to survive, and how intertwined they are with the city and it's other residents. On top of that, the retro-inspired visuals and absolutely killer soundtrack make it a real treat to play. I feel like this game can be a hard sell, so let me hit you with a few scores/comments. [quote]"Although there aren't dialogue options, VA-11 HALL-A creates a storytelling experience that's grippingly personal. If, like many game theorists argue, story should always act as a supporter to mechanics, then VA-11 HALL-A is the exception that makes the rule." - Kill Screen[/quote] [quote]“VA-11 Hall-A is a funny, thought-provoking, and sometimes tragic work of art, with truly original gameplay and a beautiful aesthetic unlike anything else on the market.” 10/10 – CG Magazine[/quote] [quote]“VA-11 Hall-A is a stunning adventure that manages to deliver one of gaming's greatest stories.” 9.5/10 – TechRaptor[/quote] And I'm also going to throw in that [b]97% of the revies for this game on Steam are positive.[/b] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH8bmTKIkag [b]Graveyard Keeper[/b] "Build and manage a medieval graveyard while facing ethical dilemmas and making questionable decisions. Welcome to Graveyard Keeper, the most inaccurate medieval cemetery sim of the year." Need I say more, really? Graveyard Keeper has you focusing mainly on the upkeep of your graveyard and the needs of the townsfolk as opposed to dungeon delving adventure. My only real gripe with it was that it far to tedious and laborious to have to mine and farm and bla bla bla - considerably moreso than the likes of Stardew Valley. With that said, a recent update has made some QoL fixes as well as adding some free DLC which involves hiring zombies.

Games have decreased in quality in the triple AAA industry. Most games these days don't impress me

I will say, as much as I've never really liked Sonic games, Team Racing looks interesting. I'm also interested in Crash Team Racing. Not sure either game is going to top Mario Kart 8 Deluxe though... However, there are a number of upcoming releases on Switch that have me excited. Luigi's Mansion 3 is the most significant at the moment. The first two are great but flawed. Three could be the modern Metroid 3 - first two were flawed, but look how entry three turned out. Then there's Link's Awakening. I haven't played many LoZ games, but I will be playing this one because, for some reason, I think it looks like a great game. And there's also Mario Maker 2, and Dragon Quest Builders 2. Honestly, there are so many games I'm looking forward to this year... my backlog of games I need to play is going to explode.

I'm looking forward to Borderlands 3 and CodeVein if it's good enough. Oh, yeah I forgot about Jedi: Fallen Order, that looks like it could be good, but waiting for reviews since you know...EA. If anyone has a PC/Mac and want a solid Star Wars game, you NEED to try out Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy. Jedi Outcast is also on the OG Xbox and GameCube if you have either of those consoles instead. Jedi Academy is backwards compatible on Xbox One I think. However, I still recommend you get them on PC or Mac because mods. Who doesn't want to be General Grievous fighting Ganondorf at Helms Deep with Pirates of the Caribbean music playing?

We seem to be in a bit of a drought for decent game releases at the moment. Rage 2 is the only big release for a while (that I’m aware of). But that game doesn’t really appeal to me. I’m replaying Diablo 3 at the moment.

Well then. That's uh, a strange thing to put for that last section.

I know you already play it, but Sea of Thieves is great with the new Tall Tales and all the stuff you can get from it.