iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 1h

It's *so* good. I don't replay games often, but replaying Crypt Custodian has been my pre-bed wind-down game on my Steam Deck, and I definitely see this taking its place after that playthrough is done. It's exceptionally well made.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 1h

Finally approaching the end of Well Dweller. No spoilers but two of the mid-late game bosses are *chef's kiss* fantastic IMO. One for the mechanics and one for the story/setting implementation. Kyle Thompson cooked absurdly hard on this. It's excellent.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Mmm, that’s a good one. And similarly new to me. The closest I’ve come is hearing the word “recalcitrant” used, which I can’t remember the context offhand but coincidentally is a synonym. lol

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Perhaps my hottest metal music take will always be: I have *immense* respect for the technical mastery of Meshuggah, but I feel like actually listening to their music is somehow a bit... boring. Like Foo Fighters, they have good songs that go on way too long. Feel free to bring your tomatoes.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Adding - my no-item experience with Smash is almost exclusively with my brother. I know him and how he plays, so I can sometimes match him, even if I mostly lose. I realize that is a big part of fighting games, but applying it in real time to a stranger is a skill I never could seem to learn. 😅

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Using examples I'm relatively familiar with, even the arcade/story modes of Street Fighter and Injustice are much harder to try and break into for me than Souls/Sekiro; adding a human opponent on those mechanics is a near-impossible task. Hope that all makes sense.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Great points, thank you! I will absolutely concede a large part of my perspective/curiosity here is from struggling to get into fighting games. Hi/mid/low attacks, input combos (which were somewhat carried over into Smash and I promptly ignored 😅), etc. Plus the relatively quick attack frames. 1/2

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I think for me it may be that generally the skill floor for fighting games is much higher, where souls-likes tend to have much more choreographed tells from fights being primarily NPC-based. I think that also explains why I never even wanted to try Dark Souls PvP. People are too unpredictable. 😅

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Now that I brought up Dark Souls, I'm curious what the venn-diagram overlap of fighting game fans and souls-like fans looks like. Curious for any input. I never really got into fighting games outside of casual no-item Smash Bros. (oxymoron?) but I recognize a similar base interest and skill base.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Oh. Ohhh... So that's why I kept hearing about the swamps. 😬 I never quite hit the wall I expected from its reputation (pardon the humblebrag; probably my over-cautious playstyle paying dividends) but this is more like what I expected from Blighttown before I actually played Dark Souls.

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Reposted by Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki)

Mat Piscatella @matpiscatella.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Game Pass Ultimate costs $23 a month. Let's not say that Gears was 'free' with Game Pass, ok? Game Pass isn't free. The framing is ludicrous.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I do appreciate the span of their sound, but heavy Eidola is still best Eidola IMO. This banger has me excited for the new album next month.

youtube.com

Eidola - Damballah (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by 3DOT Recordings

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'm a huge Persona fan, but I think Metaphor may even eclipse it for me. It's incredible.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

For clarification, it was well over a year ago that I rolled credits. This game has lived rent-free in my head for a *long* time. What an excellent game…

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The last thing I need is to add another 100ish hour RPG into my rotation, but I’ve been fighting the urge to replay Metaphor: Refantazio ever since rolling credits. Finding that the soundtrack was added to Apple Music is not helping…

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mayo is basically just some garlic powder and dill away from being ranch dressing, so I can see it. (Oversimplification… but kind of not really.)

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mostly agreed. But… -I will always advocate for pineapple on pizza; paired with crispy bacon instead of ham is how it should have been from the start. Adding onions and jalapeños fully seals the deal. -I am more partial to Snickers, but I will concede Reese’s Cups as a worthy co-ruler.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This probably sounds more dismissive than I intended. I do think it has some enjoyable, well made design choices. But the brutal ways difficulty was implemented may overshadow the whole experience for some.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Oh yeah, I bet. I’m playing co-op with my wife but she has her own solo run when I’m playing something else. The only other times I remember seeing her get so heated at a game is playing Heroes of the Storm with some terrible randoms. 😂

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Sorry for sharing this turd nugget's face, but I don't get it. If I had even a hundredth of his wealth, I'd disappear and you'd never hear from me again. I cannot fathom this level of greed and desire for power to not simply piss off into relative anonymity. *sigh* At least he's out of games?

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Valheim is such an interesting mix of incredibly hardcore-difficulty choices and... well, kind of mostly just that. Having never really been into the survival crafting genre before, it has been surprisingly compelling for me. It's not without frustrations, but meeting it on its terms is satisfying.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I think we all need a Boro in our lives to remind us that it's OK to take a moment for ourselves and have some self-compassion whenever we need it. Genuinely a great and impactful character.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Holding myself accountable - I’ve tried, but I just can’t get this draft into something I like. I wanted to gush about Wanderstop and how I related to its breakdown of burnout and depression, but I don’t feel like I can do it justice. Anyway, play Wanderstop. It’s fantastic.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

9 years ago? I'd swear it was just the other day this was posted. Still perhaps the best cover on YouTube. It's so cohesive as a whole. I can't assess it purely objectively, but I like to think that it stands on its own as a piece of art.

youtube.com

The soundtrack of Ocarina of Time, but it's a prog rock concept album

YouTube video by Dr. Pez - VGM

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Respectfully, WTF? No, seriously. How are you doing this? How can you scream so fast? I'm still new to deathcore, you can't hit me with such excellence and overshadow the rest of the genre out of the gate. I'm afraid this stankface is going to become permanent. Good lord.

youtube.com

ARCHSPIRE - 'Too Fast to Die' (Full Album Stream) 2026

YouTube video by Archspiremetal

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It's so good! Definitely check out his followup too. Pardon the self-promotion, but I think these games deserve to be played.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Gorillaz is a *very* close runner up, but I'm going to call it a few months early and say that I think Loathe takes my spot for album of the year. I just can't see anything else on the release schedule approaching either of them.

youtube.com

Loathe - Entrance (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

YouTube video by SharpTone Records

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Still hearing this soundtrack in my head from morning to night. I might need professional help at this point.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

At this price, you owe it to yourself to play this game.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It's my third watch of it and I swear it gets better every time. It's so good.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I recognize all of these names, but I’ve only watched the last two. FMA: Brotherhood is one of my GOATs and I’m currently in the middle of another rewatch. I should check out those others.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I still need to get around to playing this. I think the performance issues on the OG Switch pushed me away even though I know it runs better on the Switch 2. Maybe I’ll dive in after the Ocarina of Time remake next month, assuming I’ve also finished Fortune’s Weave and Nier Automata by then.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Man, that’s a good looking bowl. I need to find somewhere near me that serves good pho, I’ve not had it in years.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I know I'm coming into this with a couple of decades of perspective, but the results of the Blur vs Oasis 90's Britpop wars are very obvious to me now. Damon Albarn is still a driving force for my music taste - see Gorillaz' "The Mountain" from a few months ago.

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Reposted by Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki)

Second Wind @secondwindgroup.com · 03/10/2026

Five years and two companies later... today we're wrapping up the first Adventure is Nigh campaign! A show that has brought everything we've built over the last 8 years together as a team and community. Join us in 40 min for the epic finale. Don't worry, there will be more Adventure is Nigh!

youtube.com

So What Had Happened Was... | Adventure Is Nigh! - The Slow Walk Home | Ep. 11

YouTube video by Second Wind

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Such iconic songs. 🤘 Funny enough, seeing Jimmy Eat World was the first time I met my now-wife in passing, even though I wouldn't really get to know her until a few years later. So that's a fun little correlation for me.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

If I didn't have such a strong nostalgic attachment to "Sticks and Stones" from New Found Glory as the first album I ever bought, "Ocean Avenue" would definitely be up there for me to represent that genre. So glad I saw the 10th anniversary tour for that album before the OG drummer left the group.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I feel like I may sound unintentionally harsh or judgmental, so apologies in advance if that's how I come across. Genuinely, good stuff here. "...Like Clockwork" over "Songs for the Deaf"? "...And Justice for All" over "Master of Puppets"? I guess you just enjoy ellipses. 😂

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Hmm, this gif honestly says a lot. I don't usually idle in games, so I'm not sure I'd have seen this otherwise.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I'm incredibly hyped for it. Replicant has its issues and was a bit of a slow burn, but was absolutely worth the 4 playthroughs it requested. Assuming it improves on that formula - which by all accounts I've heard, it has - this is going to be an all-timer. Finishing Well Dweller first, then Nier.😁

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I'm getting to it, Steam. I promise. This (unsurprisingly) has been at the top of my library recommendations pretty much since the moment I started playing Replicant. Also, major props to actually encouraging people to play games they already own and not just "buy more."

Screenshot from my Steam library showing "NieR Automata" as the game in my library that I will most likely enjoy based on what other players with similar tastes have enjoyed. This is relevant because I recently played (and adored) "NieR Replicant."

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Yeah, this has the juice. Tickles the right nostalgia receptors. ✅ References on point. ✅ Progresses in a logical way. ✅ Tons of upgrades to gradually unlock through standard play. ✅ I guess the "Unc Slop Duo" bundle with Vital Shell was too accurate. Time to accept my unc status.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I never approached anything near his level when I played, but I still have a soft spot for skilled drumming. Gaht dang.

youtube.com

Austin Archey Plays Lorna Shore's Most Extreme Drum Parts

YouTube video by Drumeo

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Reposted by Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki)

nooperpoo.bsky.social @nooperpoo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This started to get too difficult if I thought about it for too long, so I had to stick with my gut instincts before I over-thought it

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I could easily choose 100 albums for a topic like this. I had to pare it back to some weirdly arbitrary topics reflecting my taste to get through my choices.

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

No need to replicate the exact format I laid out, especially #3. I know how you feel on that topic. Unless that lets the anger flow.

static.klipy.com

Emperor Palpatine: Your Hate Has Made You Powerful

ALT: Emperor Palpatine: Your Hate Has Made You Powerful

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

1. The first album I bought myself 2. My GOAT album 3. My mom's influence 4. My dad's influence 5. Live albums can be better than studio 6. Damon Albarn > Oasis 7. Intro to metalcore 8. Intro to stupid-heavy metal 9. One of the best artists around @nooperpoo.bsky.social, your turn

my9albums.com

My 9 albums

Sticks and Stones, Give Up, The Dark Side of the Moon and 6 more. Pick yours on my9albums.

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Reposted by Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki)

AndresPlays @andresplays.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Let's do a Steam Autumn sale rec thread, shall we? Shares welcome. 1. Desktop Explorer A cursed program has affected your old uncle's PC, and it is up to you to solve outside-the-box puzzles to unravel the mystery through a classic OS interface. Some of the most eerie vibes this year.

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on Desktop Explorer on Steam

Rummage through the abandoned profiles of an old PC to unravel an inherited mystery. What secrets hide in this eerie adventure of cryptic games and outdated software? Who was using this computer? And ...

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Devin (AKA Ryuuga Hideki) @ryuugahideki.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Narrowing down my 9 albums is somehow harder than narrowing down my 9 games was. I'm going to figure this out, though.

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