iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

There is MAD Breakdown (2004) DNA in Ace Combat 8. I refuse to believe that there isn't a connection between Coster and Derrick, the main character from Breakdown lol The first-person cutscenes, highly detailed cheeseburgers, pressing "X" to shake hands constantly, and the physicality of it all 🤯

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is just too powerful.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It was so much fun to catch-up! And thank you to your level 100+ character for getting us through 70 some floors of that dungeon haha

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I really like this. The arpeggiation is on point!

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ace Combat 8 gave me two full body chills and I'm only 3 missions in. It's perfect.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Game #38 of 2026: Marvel's Wolverine - I've never been a big comic book guy, but I've been a fan of Insomniac since their Spyro days. The game is "fine", but it's probably the weakest modern Insomniac game to date. I completed the game on The Best There Is difficulty with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Game #37 of 2026: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales - Team Asano's & Claytechwork's latest HD-2D action-RPG. The game has its problems, but I sort came around to it by the end. I'm simply drawn to Zelda-likes. I completed the game on Very Hard difficulty with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm around 70% through Marvel's (Insomniac's) Wolverine and I've been thinking a lot about MK: Shaolin Monks and how wild it is that NetherRealm Studios hasn't made a sequel or new game in that vein since. Wolverine's tructure and flow would suit it perfectly. Someone get on that shit!

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

When you're playing a Trails game and the story progresses just a tiny bit so now every NPC has new flavor dialogue that you can't NOT read. I must make all the dialogue bubbles above each person's head turn gray, even though I'll immediately forget what each NPC said the second I'm done reading 🫠

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The "Chance Encounters" felt like not-as-good sub stories from a Yakuza game. I thought the Mysteries of Kyoto were mostly good, though. I do generally agree that because the combat is so good, it's just an excuse to engage with it more. But the game definitely could have done without them.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I'm so behind on writing about games for my blog this year. I've had 2-3 posts in-progress for nearly half the year and I just can't find the words for certain games I've played/finished. I'm still hoping I find time to write and share some thoughts, but it's been an off year for me.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

So far, I think The Blood of Dawnwalker is doing what Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden did for me, but in a much more fulfilling way. I liked a lot of things about Banishers but it's a rough game with a lot of issues. That's not to say Dawnwalker is perfect or anything, but it's pretty damn good.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Game #36 of 2026: Onimusha: Way of the Sword - Capcom's latest reboot of the legendary Onimusha franchise. The game flow/structure isn't great at times, but the combat, animations and bosses are exceptional. I love Musashi and the cast is amazing. I completed the game at 100% on Action difficulty.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I finished it yesterday and I can't look at another Byakue or Dohatsu-ten for a minute lol

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I like Splatoon Raiders, but the music is definitely odd. At times, the ambient level tracks sound so dissonant and strange, like something you'd hear in Earthbound. When you engage with enemies, the music changes dynamically and sounds like wet farts though lol youtu.be/yT8v8iBXCvw?...

youtu.be

Ice Island (Ambient) - Splatoon Raiders [OST]

YouTube video by RezyMania

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Yeah, I'm with ya haha I do think the mysteries quests are neat. I like how they're centered around myths/legends etc and the artwork/lore entry pages are awesome. Definitely a mixed bag in some respect but I do really love the game. The combat, animations and bosses are just 🤌

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The "Close Encounters" are really bad. They're wannabe side stories from a Yakuza game but far worse. There are aspects of the town structure I sort of like (there's a bit of the old survival horror DNA in there with the lock and key progression, etc) but yeah, the pacing overall isn't great.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Eternal Anima being a Basiscape/Sakimoto joint has me all 👀

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ah, right. I think that was a Mega64 joke post or something lol I didn't pay much attention to it.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I don't think there was one. They had a State of Play presentation a week or two ago, if that's what you're thinking of?

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Hoping I wake up to the reveal of Sin & Punishment 3 and Wario World 2 developed by a newly revived Treasure. Also, the Nintendo Direct ends with a Wave Race remake with a story mode and cutscenes akin to what Velan Studios did with Star Fox. That's all I got 😴

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

If there's one thing I don't like about this Switch 2 era of Zelda, however, it's the creation/inclusion of "Zelda Notes". I understand they want people to incorporate their apps while playing (or not playing) games, but I don't like how all these features/trackers aren't simply an in-game menu.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I think the thing that excites me most about the OOT remake is the change to how jumps work. I was a bit disappointed to see that it was going to be a mostly faithful/1:1 reimagining, but freely jumping opens up a lot of possibilities for changes to the dungeon/area layouts, etc.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I'm not sure where I'll land with the Kyoto town hub structure and overall game flow in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, but god damn does it have the best sword action combat I've ever experienced. The amount of unique animations, etc. It's easily my new favorite parry game haha

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Yeah, it just might not be for me, but it has the bones of something I should like. I'm also not the biggest fan of HD-2D, but I know I'm in the minority there. I've always been torn on sprites set against HD 3D environments. It's particularly the clash against the HD HUD elements that look bad.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I know this game has its roots in the mobile titles but I was expecting a bit more effort here haha

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I tried that FF Resonance demo... The UI feels mobile adjacent and just looks ugly (why do the command descriptions cover other commands in the list!?) Rain is also the most stock-ass MC I've seen in a minute and the dialogue reads like an RPG Maker FF tribute game. I don't know man.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Absolutely howling, as they say, at the capitalization of the word "Beds" in Angeline Era 😂 But yes, I agree, a "Bed" is a very important person, place or thing.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

God of War Sons of Sparta was another from this year. That game drives me nuts for a variety of reasons... ...but the missing colon (or the decision not to include one for whatever stylistic reason or lack there of) doesn't do it any favors (humorously speaking, of course) lol

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

If The Blood of Dawnwalker is as close as we're going to get to a modern-day Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen, I might find it difficult to resist its fangs (pun intended).

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Game #35 of 2026: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy - Asobo Studio's prequel story to the PT games, sans the rats. I'll have more to say about it down the road. I completed the game on Nightmare difficulty with the Platinum trophy earned. It's easily one of my favorite games of the year.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I completed those DK challenges a few weeks ago but I hope Nintendo doesn't do this again going forward, not without making changes first. I never would have thought Nintendo would approach "Achievements" with this degree of FOMO. The boss rush and final rehearsal with no skills was brutal btw!

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I was hoping the new Onimusha had a CGI intro by Robot but I'm guessing that's very unlikely. Those PS2 era intros were legendary, almost key features, I'd argue. I'm looking forward to Way of the Sword but an incredible CGI opening (even though the in-game graphics are fine) would have been 🤌

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Game #34 of 2026: Crisol: Theater of Idols - a first-person survival horror game clearly influenced by the classics that came before it, including the post-RE7 titles. I completed the game on Martyr difficulty but did not get the trophy for it because the game is buggy and the dev has shut down.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Asobo Studio at it again with their impeccable art direction and impressive visuals. The Plague Tale games are so damn good and Resonance has not disappointed so far.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Game #33 of 2026: Duskfade - a 3D action-platformer that clearly wears its love for PS2 era platformers (and Kingdom Hearts) on its sleeve. The story/characters didn't do much for me, but I liked the game. I completed Duskfade on Master Clockmaker difficulty at 100% with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Game #32 of 2026: Ascent DX - a short and sweet 2D Metroid-like that was originally a PICO-8 game. It's got nice pixel art, decent chiptunes and solid level design. I played through the game 3 times so I could get a no deaths (resurrections) run and I completed it at 100% with the best ending.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I circled back to GoW Sons of Sparta recently and finished it out of morbid curiosity... woof! What a mess. I can't believe the entire game was framed around a search for a kid. The boss battles were atrocious and one of the in-game Feats is bugged for me. I truly don't understand why this was made.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Game #31 of 2026: Big Walk - House House's "walker-talker" that's best (and only possible) with others. I played through the game with two of my oldest online gaming friends and it was one of the best multiplayer experiences I've ever had. We completed the game with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Game #30 of 2026: PRAGMATA - Capcom's SCI-FI TPS with an emphasis on hacking. I'll have more to say about it down the road, but I loved nearly everything about it. The true final boss on Lunatic difficulty was pretty challenging, too. I completed the game twice and unlocked the Platinum trophy.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Try 9 years ago! I bought XC2 at launch and I'm still somewhere over 100 hours in the second to last chapter. I just can't get myself to finish it lol

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Game #29 of 2026: Aphelion - Don't Nod's latest narrative-driven, SCI-FI adventure game of sorts in collaboration with the ESA. It's got stealth segments, Uncharted cliff climbing and a bit of that Jusant rope dangling. I enjoyed my time with it! I completed the game with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Game #28 of 2026: Bubsy 4D - Fabraz's latest 3D platformer starring Bubsy and friends. I said this before, but the game felt more like a Demon Turf/Tides mod and lacks its own identity. "Curiosity killed the cat" one may say, but I completed the game at 100% with the Platinum trophy earned.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Crisol is one of my favorite games of the year, even with all of its rough edges, it was a love letter to old-school Resident Evil games (and RE4). It was cheap at launch and the devs were clearly punching above their weight. So depressing. This industry continues to feel beyond repair.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I love Xeno games and Xenosaga dearly. MOMO is cool and all that jazz but they seriously didn't fix the field skill nonsense in the definitive edition of XC2? 😩

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Made the connection that these underground ruins in Splatoon Raiders are more or less the caves from Pikmin 2 and I don't know how to feel about that lol

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Game #27 of 2026: Little Nightmares III + The Backstage DLC - Supermassive Games' take on the LN franchise. I replayed the main game and got the Platinum trophy this time around. I also finished The Backstage DLC, which was a great addition. I like the game more now, but it's still no REANIMAL.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Game #26 of 2026: HOA - a 2D puzzle-platformer with nice visuals and a lovely soundtrack. Unfortunately, I don't have much to say about the game itself. The puzzling and platforming just isn't very interesting. It's also incredibly short. I completed the game with the Platinum trophy earned, though.

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Matty 🐻 🏳️‍🌈 @unexpectedenemy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I'll have a proper write-up about the game for my blog down the road but I really enjoyed it! I hope you all get the opportunity to make a sequel or something else entirely new. I'll be there!

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