iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

JB @skunky.bsky.social · 20h

I feel the exact same way about the first one

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

15. Sprawl (PC). Another fun shooter! Bullet time and wall running. Most weapons are fun, and the levels are enjoyable to just jump around in. Enemy design is fun enough for the length, but I would need more variety for a longer experience. Really recommend if you want a short, frenetic experience.

Screenshot of Sprawl, man's head (weak spot) being blown off by akimbo pistols.

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

14. Stranglehold (PC). A fun arcade shooter with great ideas, but some pretty faulty execution. Having a style meter that incentivizes doing cool stuff while clearing a room of enemies will always work for me. Biggest issue being that the detection of interactables is really spotty. Really fun tho.

Screenshot of John Woo's game Stranglehold. Featuring a 3D model of Chow Yun Fat (the GOAT) shooting while doves fly in the background. Classic Woo.

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Never been a worse time to need one, my second PC for old games only has 256GB storage 🥲

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Way Of the Sword (PC) (2/2). However, I've got a few issues. The open-zone hub city is a letdown. The sidequests aren't particularly fun, but you need to do them for materials. I'm hoping for the next one, we return to a more arcade-like format, or the puzzle type design from 1. Still platted.

My steam achievements for Onimusha way of the sword. Got my second plat ever!

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13. Onimusha: Way Of the Sword (PC) (1/2). Favorite combat system I've used in a while. Parry to build blazing, deflect while blazing to build stagger, attack while blazing to get orbs for specials, specials give i-frames, dodge to build reflex for a dodge counter to interrupt. Push and pull baby!

Onimusha Way Of the Sword screenshot. Miyamoto Musashi fights the genma Byakuye during dusk.

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12. Onimusha: Blade Warriors (PS2). Finished story mode with a few characters. A curiosity, which is initially really frustrating, but then you realize "Oh, this is just Onimusha", but in 2.5D. Fun for a bit, nothing to the levels or encounter design to keep it fresh. Worth playing a little.

Samonosuke and Jubei in a blade clash in the late afternoon, sun going down over the horizon. Screenshot from Onimusha Blade Warriors on PS2

11. Digital Devil Saga 2 (PS2). This duology is maybe the best MegaTen of the era. Heady story with characters you grow to really like. Huge swing imo, as the first game is so different tone-wise. The hunt gameplay system combined with press turns is even more engaging than the first game. Huge rec.

Serph, Argilla, and Roland in their atma forms, battling human soldiers. Screenshot of PS2 game Digital Devil Saga 2 for PS2.

JB @skunky.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

And in true x-files fashion, it would be my favorite of the season

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Someone in charge is planning a fire, but really doesn't want anyone to die in it

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Insanely goated deal, please never stop posting it

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I hate him so much. Even my mom wouldn't vote for him

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I need them to rerelease the duke with slightly more solid shoulder buttons and halo effect sticks. Fucking love the controller, but the run came out before hall effects were the rage. They kinda have dookie sticks fr

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JB @skunky.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

10. Devil Summoner 2 (PS2). I love Raidou!!! This followup really expands on the first. Summoning two demons at once is a great change. Music, style, and characters are all as good or better than the first. 1920s Japan is a really cool setting, and as always I love my little demons. SMT 4evr.

Screenshot of Radiou Kuzunoha 2 on PS2. Radiou teams up with demons Tam Lin and Alraune against Jorougumo.

JB @skunky.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

9. Parasite Eve (PS1). Tons of atmosphere, great music, and a little frustrating. The combat ideas are fun, but most of them don't evolve that well over the course of the game. Luckily it doesn't overstay its welcome and become boring. Really wish it was iterated on later. Love you, Aya!

Screenshot of Parasite Eve on PS1. Aya Brea (main character) stands over a body burned to a crisp inside the dressing room of an opera house.

JB @skunky.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

16 hour drive in 2015, you know I played this shit back to back more than once

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8. Suikoden (PS1). Tight lil RPG that I'm glad I played. Characters are all fun, but mostly don't go through any development. Not much to attach to outside of visual design, but I did end up loving my lil guys that saw frequent use. Story is good enough for the runtime. Looking forward to the series

Pahn, with his fists, and sword-wielding Teo McDohl fight in a duel on an open field. PS1 screenshot

7. Vampire Crawlers. Love the concept, and mostly love the execution. There's fun strategy to playing out your hand, but selfishly, I want more! Not a ton of content at this moment, given their track record, though, I suspect we'll get more. Or maybe I just lapped it up too fast, lol.

Screenshot of Vampire Crawlers. In the Library against a pirate sub boss.

6. Pragmata. So good. A new IP with an incredible mechanic that keeps evolving as you play. Combat, exploration, and characters are all so solid. Really fun collectibles and a great challenge mode. Puzzle/shooting hybrid is so fun and I'm hoping we get more in the future!

Pragamata Diana and Hugh face off against a giant robot boss in the remnants of a recreated New York City on the moon.

5. Nioh 3. Open zone this time, but I do still prefer discreet levels. Combat changes were fun, though ninja weapons can feel like they are missing some things. Counter transformations need some work, but loved the amount of options. Fair bit easier than 2, still great fun. Platted.

Nioh 3 MC squaring off against the gun wielding Takasugi Shinsaku, my goat.

4. Nioh 2 Remastered. Biiiiitch Team Ninja are my fucking goats man. Legitimate masters of combat design and level design. First of these I've used a heavy weapon in consistently. Odachi, tonfa, fists, and splitstaff are so much fun. Would have gone in for NG+ if Nioh 3 hadn't dropped. Incroyable.

Nioh 2 MC facing down monkey demon Enki in a nighttime battle.

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3. Harvester. Finished this with the BF and a friend over a few sessions. An oddity and a time capsule. Cool to have experienced it but it ain't momma's favorite cup of tea. You were always such a kidder, Steve.

Fire Marshall Sparky in a large room, painting a male model sat upon a white sheet-covered table while talking to Steve. Reminiscent of a mcmansion.

2. Visions of Mana. Great fucking game, fuck NetEase. The developers delivered an incredibly beautiful game with really fun combat, great variety per class per character, and a story and characters better than any other Mana. This team knocked it out of the park. Love.

Battle scene from Visions of Mana. Morley, Palamena, and Careena fighting enemies in a field of tan grass and red rocky formations.

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