Lith's Diary (Patreon)

Dear Diary,
Last time, I said I'd probably have to stop playing FFXIV because it's too addicting. And... I'm still playing it. But! I did turn off my subscription! So in just a few short days, the game will turn off and I'll finally be able to do things like go outside, or play other video games! One of these is more likely than the other. But, but! The fact that I still enjoy the game and I know I won't be able to play much longer kinda has me playing it more than ever just to get in all I can before it's gone! I don't remember if I even played this much before I quit last time, it's been a while. I may not wait nearly as long before starting it up again this time, I just... need to find a time where I don't have tons of work I need to be doing instead. Boo.

Actually, this month has been crazy for me, game-wise. I was still really into FFXIV when two new games came out that I really enjoy, and Overwatch dropped its halloween event with two amazing new skins I really want. It's like all these game companies are just screaming at me to come play their junk instead of doing any important stuff like working, or sleeping, or eating! Well, okay, it's not that bad. But come on! Sometimes I feel like there just aren't any interesting games around, and then there are times like this when I'm contemplating crossing my eyes and playing an MMO with one paw and a 2d roguelike with the other.

Well, I should probably talk about them briefly. I can do brief, right? Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is the big sequel I've been super excited about for a long time, because I loved the original, Shadow of Mordor. I love stealth games, and this is basically an open world stealth game that actually works, and also instead of killing orcs you can slap them with your magic hand and they'll obey you instead of Sauron because you're possessed by an angry elven smith ghost. It's a whole thing. Anyway, I was worried they'd ruin the new one, and the published DID put microtransactions in it (so they tried to ruin it) but they're actually not that intrusive, and it's all stuff you can get the normal way anyway, just... you can pay to get it a little faster? And it's not like it's really a PvP game or anything, so all in all, it's not too bad on that front. Out of the ways you can implement microtransactions, I'd rate it a 2 on the Awful-o-meter. The Lameter. The EA-o-tron.

Anyway, the game is great, and they make a lot of improvements to your mobility and just little quality of life things while expanding the game as a whole to feel more epic. It's all about sneaking around brainwashing orcs, taking down (or magic slapping) their leaders, and eventually launching big sieges on their fortresses to claim them. And I think this is supposed to be canon, so surprise, before Frodo showed up, some Zombie-Ghost duo waged a big ol' war on Sauron for Mordor itself? I'm not sure if that means I'll lose in the end, or if I can get an "alternate universe" ending or something. Also? I called it magic slapping, but seriously, it's like you're groping the orcs' faces. Like, you sneak up behind this huge green dude, grab his shoulder, whip him around, and just grab him right on the face and scream at him, and he falls to his knees, shaking all over. It's, uh... it's kinda weird?

These are both games bout basically being a ridiculous badass, actually. And they're both (semi-optional) stealth games, now I think of it?? The other new game that came out was Heat Signature, and it really just hit me out of the blue. I saw it on a list of new releases on Steam, watched the trailer, and bought it on the spot. Basically? You jump in a tiny space pod that sneaks up on big space ships, docks with them, and then you storm the place shanking and shooting people, clearing rooms or sneaking past to complete the job you've taken. You're a desperate space assassin/courier/ship thief that'll take any job, no matter how insane, even if it means breaking into a ship with fifty guys with armor and personal shields on board, hacking their turrets, stealing their keycards, teleporting through walls, grabbing the target prototype tech, then chucking yourself out a dang window into space so you can remote control your pod to pick you up before you die. Honestly, the whole thing is just loaded up with absurd and awesome mechanics centered around giving you the ability to throw yourself into awful, terrible, suicidal situations, then claw your way out of them with a mix of cleverness and pure badassery. And it's a roguelike, so either you die or you retire after a while and they raise a pint and remember you fondly while the next dumb kid with a pod, a blade, and nothing to lose gets ready to go do something stupid.

So yeah, I really dig the game, and it can really put you through an emotional rollercoaster playing it. But it lets you pause and plan your moves at any time, even with some limited slow motion mechanics, so it's actually super accessible for figuring out exactly how to, say, cross an entire ship and rescue a prisoner... before the ship docks in ten seconds and you're both captured and executed. And you do unlock lots more stuff as you play through new characters and such, gradually giving you more reliable access to your favorite toys, but the best stuff is always in the random drops, so you never know if you'll end up with an overpowered trap that vents all your problems into space for you, or three different ways to just teleport past all your problems, or basically be forced to rambo your way through just because you can't resist using this absurd gun you found. I absolutely recommend it as an indie title that nailed the feeling of being a desperate renegade badass in space.

Ahhh I'm all over the place! I'm absolutely ranting about games. It's been a really fun month playing all these when I can, and I hope maybe one of them sounds good to you, or maybe you're already enjoying them. It just makes me really happy when a game turns out to be fun and well-made from start to finish, because I know they're a TON of work to make and often require the concerted efforts of lots of people, either a devoted few or even hundreds of them all trying to put in their piece and make it fit together well, to make it something that's not only pretty but satisfying. There are so many games out there that have, who knows, hundreds of thousands of man-hours put into them, but because a few people at the top make awful decisions, they end up making a game that's just... bad! People might play it, and it might even make a profit, but there are so many games that are underwhelming rehashes of the same basic idea these days, games that blend with their sequels and prequels into a mish-mash of "safe investments." I mean... I'm glad that these people can feed their families, but it just feels like such a waste of talent when I think of all the work that goes into huge games that, in the end, are weighed down by a few awful decisions. I was really worried about that with Shadow of War, both because of the microtransactions and how aggressively they were selling preorders on it, but it looks like they managed to pull through, and it's been a huge relief to me.

I guess I get really passionate about games sometimes. I just spent another journal ranting all about them, and I think I sounded like even more of a dork this time. But I mean... I guess that means I'm doing pretty good right now, you know? Sometimes I've got things weighing me down, but right now, there are a lot of amazing games out there and I've been having a blast, and I've still managed to mostly get my work done in between groping orcs and throwing myself out windows. And uh, making boots. Because FFXIV has crafting classes. Anyway, I guess all I can do is savor this while it's here and make sure I don't get too carried away. I hope you've been having an awesome October yourself, Diary. I want you to be just as happy as I've been. And if you've been having some trouble, then we'll hug it the heck out, okay?

Life is full of ups and downs, so it's important to look at it with the right mindset. When things are good, enjoy yourself, and think on how you feel right now and how you can make things like this more often. When things aren't so good, remember that they can be better, and focus on what you can do to improve the situation. It's only when you start thinking like things are always bad, when you don't let yourself see the good and the happiness in the world, that the bad things can really get to you. Don't let them. It's all up to you, Diary. It's all under your control.

Sorry if I'm getting a little, uh... lecture-y. You tend to be kinda quiet, Diary, so I worry sometimes. Anyway, I'll be here anytime you need one of those hugs. Just saying. It's the least I can do after everything you've done to help me, even if things through the Glass Door are, uh... not going smoothly at the moment. Haha, like I said... even when things are bad, you just have to remember, it'll get better. We'll find a way, together, because when one of us is worn down, we'll always have someone to lean on. So... thank you. For being there to help me back up. I hope you have, and will have, a joyful time in every day of your life.

Until next time! You know where to find me!
-Lith