iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 4h

Road 96 is a narrative-driven roguelite. How does that work? Every run is divided into story segments encountered in a random order! Thus, as you play through and either lose or win runs, you see the world and its characters develop towards the conclusion... however dark it may get.

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Road 96

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Finished adding images on my Friday review. Time to start a new game! I do enjoy this system I've made up. It allows me to play lots of my games through the year, it's near. I can feel the backlog getting smaller... Not fast enough, but still! Steps are taken!

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The game I'll be covering this Friday is Road 96. It is currently on sale at 75% discount on Steam! The offer ends right on October 1st, the day before I publish. Therefore, if you're interested, here's the link, and you can check it out in advance, maybe even buy it if you are interested!

store.steampowered.com

Save 75% on Road 96 🛣️ on Steam

Hitchhike your way to freedom in this crazy procedurally generated road trip. No one's road is the same!

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Four ways I would personally improve Balatro: -Reduce card modifier (eternal, perishable, rental) chance for any Joker from 30% to 25%. -Make it so no Jokers in the first shop are Rental. These fucking suck. -Crimson Heart can't debuff the same Joker twice (unless it's debuffed every other joker 1X)

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Laura Shigihara's Rakuen, is an emotional journey. A boy in a hospital meets the other patients on his floor. Then, he and his mother discover doors to a fantasy world where people of the hospital have equivalents - and through those, we learn everyone's greater stories. Yes, tears will be shed.

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Rakuen

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

AnimaloftheElements @sariahoward.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

@Cozycononline.com Commission done for @Hamelnico.bsky.social! She's such a cute birdie! #myart #anotelart

An anthro crow woman holds up two hands cheerfully, with her left holding a wrench. Her hair is black and short with blue streaks in a gothic style, her eyes are bright orange. She wears a yellow tank top with a red pentagram in the center

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Tonight, I finished the game I'll be talking about next Friday! It's Rakuen. The RPG Maker game. If I tell you how it's left me, it will be saying too much. Too early, anyway; gotta leave some stuff for the article.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

As others have pointed out, this all boils down to a core tenet that is often forgotten about the character. "If you cannot picture your Batman comforting a crying child, you haven't written Batman." Not my words (I likely paraphrased), and I forget who first said it, but it is entirely accurate.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Is Hellblade a puzzle-based walking sim? An action game? A horror game? Well, it's got all three. All with an excellent story about a young woman with a traumatic past and her own mental struggles, facing deities of Norse mythology on a possibly futile quest. It's dark, yet beautiful. And excellent.

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Ambivalent. Would certainly like to know I've travelled much more, held jobs long-term, made more friends, and he'd probably like to see that my blog is doing well. Most of the stuff he wouldn't like I would easily explain by all the bullshit that's exterior to me that happened these past 14 years.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Tomorrow's article is ready for publication! Well, has been since last night, anyway. I started playing the next game yesterday, and... oh boy, it already got tears out of me, and I'm not even halfway through. That one's gonna be an emotional journey.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Oh boy, I can't wait for the new season of Quebec's version of The Masked Singer to begin! *The very first clue video uses gen-AI* ....God damn it!

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

Allan Lorde @allanlorde.com · 13/09/2026

100%. For those unfamiliar, Van Halen had a line in their rider that essentially said “no brown M&Ms.” It was a way to see if the promoter had actually read the contract. They had a shitload of gear to tour with, so if they’re skipping one thing, it’s guaranteed they’re skipping something essential.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Today's game is Guacamelee! A metroidvania with loads of homages to other games and pop culture, set in Mexican mythology. And all the special moves are given a wrestling/luchador theming, too! And it all works incredibly well!

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Guacamelee! Gold Edition

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Tomorrow! Already the fifth Quick Review of the year! Oh, and I've been making steady progress into the sixth game as well! Hopefully that one is finished in time for Friday next week as well!

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Games on Steam I have in two copies: Guacamelee! (1X Gold Edition, 1X Super Turbo Championship Edition) Super Lucky's Tale (1X original, 1X New version) And earlier this year I had the new version of classic FFVII (I will play the original) and the Spacer's Choice for The Outer Worlds.

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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

This is shameful discriminatory and misogynistic reporting. People aren’t choosing disability to be “cool”. Young women don’t have to “prove” to you that they’re sick. Disability rates are skyrocketing because we’ve left a disabling virus rip through the population for over 6 years.

Photo from the telegraph. Red background with a roll of wheelchair stickers on white paper. Text reads “how having a disability became cool”

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Back home from seeing Coyote vs ACME again (but this time my father came along). I learned about these last few months we have to transfer our 3DS-era Pokémon to Bank and then to Home, so I'm doing that now. I have X, Sun and Ultra Sun Pokémon to move around. It's gonna be a lot.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Never thought a game would be made where the entire point would be to kill millions of rapidly-multiplying bunnies. And yet, I tolerate that more than some of the other jokes in this game!

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Fluffy Horde

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

That thread was such a delight to read, I must've gone back to it three times in two days. The movie will still be in theaters in my area tomorrow, I already went last Saturday, and I am planning to go again tomorrow with my father, a huge fan of the Looney Tunes. I know he'll love it.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Maybe it's the exhaustion from my busy yesterday but I so feel like doing nothing tonight... My review for tomorrow is ready and I should start playing the next game, but it's like interest (or will) isn't quite there. On the plus side, I'm already down to just 11 Quick Review games to test!

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

who @who128.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I love that Coyote has great taste in music.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

At the entracte and I have tinnitus. They are friggin' amazing though.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

At the Bell Center tonight to attend a Rush concert! As a fan of Dream Theater since 2013, I knew I wasn't gonna pass up a chance to see one of their biggest inspirations! Rush are legendary after all.

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Tuta @tuta.com · 31/08/2026

If you have a Gmail account, you need to read this. Google's AI now scans your emails and attachments, bank statements, tax files, medical letters, all of it. It turned on by default, and there's a class-action lawsuit over how. Here are 5 moves to shut it off, the switch is hidden in two places:

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

Quest 64 Official @quest64official.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This is what my nightmares are like after I take too much cough syrup

A bunch of YouTubers doing the o face for GTA6

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I went to see Coyote vs. ACME on Saturday night. It's excellent, I loved it. Go see it, as soon as possible. And I do mean it; as it might not stay in theaters for very long...

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Movie Review: Coyote vs. ACME

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Unfortunately I don't have 10. Have this list of 7 though! Dream Theater Weird Al Yankovic QW4RTZ Lisa LeBlanc Les Trois Accords Grand Corps Malade I've Made Too Much Pasta And in less than a week, I'll be seeing Rush, so... make that a potential 8. Wow, my music interests reach wide 'n weird.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Probably the toughest part of writing lately has been trying to remember very specific words and failing to recall them. Weird how often TVTropes has helped me with that, too; the latest one I was racking my brain trying to remember was "Rube Goldberg device".

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

David Avallone @davallone.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

“Consumerism as activism” can be a questionable tactic… but it’s worth noting: if you all see COYOTE VS ACME this weekend and make it a giant hit… you will specifically humiliate David Zaslov and make him miserable… while also seeing an entertaining and heartfelt movie. The definition of win/win.

static.klipy.com

Wile E. Coyote Bored

Alt: Wile E. Coyote files his fingernails.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

At the theater for Coyote vs ACME!

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

Juliet E McKenna @julietemckenna.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Journalists need to stop describing these incidents in terms implying software has agency and intent. It does not. The people who created a faulty and dangerous product are the ones responsible for whatever happens, and must be held to account, with punitive financial penalties for damage done.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I don't remember the exact formulation but I remember something along this line being used on streaming or on TV to keep the secret about the film's real plot: "An Asian laundromat owner is struggling to pay her taxes."

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In Distrust, you play a rescue team stranded on the Arctic base they were coming to help. Something happened here. Throughout the adventure, you'll be battling hypothermia, hunger, exhaustion, illnesses, and monsters that appear when a character is asleep. No, I didn't stutter. Good luck surviving!

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Distrust

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

....How did I go up nearly two million views on the blog this year alone???

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I'm gonna publish another Quick Review tomorrow, and then I'll wait for next Friday before publishing the next. This coming week is going to be extremely busy for me, and I don't think I'll be able to keep up the two-reviews-a-week speed for that one.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Somebody's been commenting on my Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon articles with comments about keeping up with the news. Okay. Their latest comment has a link to a website that goes by Hero Luigi and highliting the name "Steve Bannon". ...Lemme guess, that's a roundabout way to be about Luigi Mangione?

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

My review is genuine; would be a great game if the game wasn't trying to pick your pocket every chance it gets. But also, for the first time in forever, I cannot spend on fun stuff, so this game's naked (and incessant) attempts at making me reach for the wallet induce annoyance bording on anger.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Pretty sure I'm usually a 3 at best.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

There's no shortage of freemium games out there. Disney Speedstorm offers competitive multiplayer, fun remixes of famous songs, 130+ racers across many properties... It's a fun concept. One which will eventually goad you into pulling out the credit card if you want to make any progress fast.

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Disney Speedstorm

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Little respite from yesterday's rough patch, today I found two shinies while playing PL:A. Zubat and Geodude. Gonna evolve those, I guess.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I'll explain the vaguepost even though no one asked. Today alone: -I learned that a close friend's mother had passed away; -One of our two chickens was mortally wounded, and we learned a neighborhood dog did it. Second time it happens in one week. -*points to trade deals tab and the Trump bullshit*

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Music: Angine de Poitrine, Rush, Harmonium, Mes Aïeux (of course I'm gonna recommend mostly French Canadian stuff!) Movies: You ought to watch all of the pre-Hollywood Denis Villeneuve films. Hell, the same goes for every one of our directors that's made the leap. Phenomenal artistry.

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Beginning the year's set of Quick Reviews with Cat Quest, an adorable action RPG! Brace yourself, though; if you hate puns, the sheer volume of cat puns in this one will make you fur-ious!

plannedallalong.blogspot.com

Quick Review: Cat Quest

Planned All Along is a video game review blog that puts emphasis on the story aspect of games. With occasional comedy. New reviews on Fridays.

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Reposted by Nicolas Hamel

Cay @caymanwent.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Repost to make it die faster

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Nicolas Hamel @hamelnico.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Maybe it's because I'm coming out of a month that literally cost me thousands of dollars in total, but I feel like I have no patience for anything that gets pushed in your face and that you have to pay for. Totally not related to a freemium game that I'll be covering during Quick Reviews, noooo...

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