Monthly Game Journal #11 - November 2023

Hello, Patrons! Thank you for your continued support of my content and myself as a creator! In this edition of the Monthly Game Journal, I'd like to spend some time sharing my thoughts about games I've played during the month of November!

Mega Man Zero 3

The Mega Man Zero series has been a treat for a fan of the overarching series, at least, to me. However, I could not have anticipated just how incredible Zero 3 was going to be. Beginning with the story and atmosphere, the game wastes no time delving into power struggles between the Reploids and Mavericks -- with proceedings during and in between missions feeling tense and action-focused. It's become increasingly clear that the Zero series is determined to build on previous entries in ways very unlike other Mega Man games, and I am all for this. The gameplay has evolved further with phenomenal level design, excellent boss fights, and the addition of the Recoil rod -- an incredible tool for combat and mobility. Zero 3 is quite lengthy for a Mega Man platforming game, but it managed to justify its increased runtime with solid writing and consistently engaging levels. All-in-all, it's an incredible entry in the series, and one of my new favorite Mega Man games. I look forward to experiencing the conclusion to the Zero series with Zero 4, next.

Batman: Arkham Origins

It's been several years since I finished Batman: Arkham City, but the hiatus in playing as the caped crusader was merely a biproduct of other interests grabbing my attention, I jumped head-first into Origins with somewhat lowered expectations. I heard that Origins was solid, but nothing more than an iterative take on the gameplay and mechanics of City. While this was definitely accurate with my experience, I still enjoyed the game quite a bit. There are some refinements to specific mechanics, such as displaying takedowns as stars on the UI, but other aspects of the gameplay feel pretty underwhelming. The additions to the city environment feel clunky and the level design is hit-or-miss, yet the boss fights against the assassins were incredible. The story was honestly my favorite part- portraying a younger, less refined take on Bruce as well as the incredible relationship he has with Alfred. Even the Joker's introduction to the Arkham series was handled incredibly well and believably. Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker deserve all the credit for their performances, especially since they stood to be directly compared to Batman veterans Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. Arkham Origins is flawed, but definitely deserving of its place in the Arkham series.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

And then, we received a 2D Metroidvania prequel in the Arkham series. I played Origins Blackgate immediately after finishing the main Origins title, and my feelings are quite mixed. On one hand, the  puzzles, combat, and atmosphere of the Arkham gameplay was adapted seamlessly into the second dimension. However, combat is heavily sidelined and puzzles can be rather slow and tedious. With that said, the scanning feature is easily the most pace-breaking, lacking the flow and control of scanning in Metroid Prime, for contrast. The story offers some unique perspectives on the transition between criminals being held in Blackgate to Arkham Asylum, and I enjoyed Catwoman's presence and anti-hero nature, but the rest is just... there. With the understanding that Blackgate is a small, side game, I think it's decent. I definitely enjoyed the Metroidvania design, but the overworld is too clunky for travel to be enjoyable. If anything, Blackgate felt like a beta run for a truly great Batman Metroidvania, which I absolutely demand to have attempted again.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed my thoughts about these games. Thank you for your continued support on Patreon! See you next month!