How many games did you finish this year? (doesn't have to be an exact amount, estimate!)
As always, I write down every game I buy and complete, so I DO have an exact amount. I finished
26 games in 2022.
Favorite game/s that you played in 2022 (doesn't have to have necessarily came out this year)
I
liked a bunch of games I played, but the only game I LOVED this year was probably XC3, and to an extent, FFXIV (because I love MMO-style format in gameplay, even though I've only played half the free trial at this point.) Not sure that I'll go on to actually buy FFXIV due to the multiplayer situation, though, so...only Xenoblade Chronicles 3 can be added to my list of 'favourite' games, I think.
Least favorite or game/s that let you down that you played in 2022:
To an extent, Rune Factory 5. I LIKED it, but it wasn't lovable, because it was just a clone of RF4. It was RF4, reskinned, imo, which left it without any sense of freshness. There were no new ideas to be impressed by, imo. It's NOT the worst game I played...it wasn't a bad game. But Rune Factory has things to live up to, for me, and it didn't. It was an acceptable comeback game when all thought the series was lost, but if you played RF4, then to me, RF5 was a very stale game. It did show that they're the real devs of Rune Factory, though, and that they understand the formula completely. So I have reason to be hopeful either for RF6, or this 'sequel that is NOT Rune Factory 6'. So I'm not upset about it. It was probably inevitable that RF5 turn out this way. It was still fun, just not fresh. It was like...leftovers, I guess.
Game/s that surprised you the most:
Jenny LeClue - Detectivu. I wouldn't have bought this game, but I got it for FREE. So I played it. And I really liked it and wanted a sequel! That hardly ever happens to me. I'm just not into point-and-click adventures any more. They're what I grew up on, but they feel like a part of my past that I can no longer go back to, anymore than I can go back to playing with Barbies. (I never actually played with barbies but I need a metaphor, here!) But Jenny LeClue, an INDIE, was fully voice-acted, and voice-acted WELL, and had a really interesting story and relatively fun puzzles, even though I don't especially LIKE puzzles. I went looking up a sequel as soon as I finished the game, as it ends on a cliff-hanger (at least in my opinion.) It's being worked on; hope it happens eventually.
What consoles did you purchase in 2022 (if any)?
Umm...I think I got my Steamdeck this year. That must have been this year, right? Once you have a console for a month or two, it feels like you've always had it...even though I have hardly played on it at ALL, so far. The games I have on my wishlist are still in Early Access and many already released games are not yet supported on the Deck.
What games (if any) are you looking forward to in 2023?
Legend of Zelda:
TEARS OF THE KINGDOM! Of course! I'm hoping for more BotW, basically. I don't have any specific expectations of it other than that it have good exploration. Please have good exploration, BotW2!
I'm also looking forward to Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure, but in a much more low-key way, since I already know the story.
2023 is perhaps the year that is beginning with the fewest things to look forward to in a long time, for me. By now I'd normally have half a dozen games to be getting excited about. Devs are also being a little more careful about not announcing release dates any more, though.
Games that you wanted but weren't able to purchase?
I'm never sure I really understand this question. Games releasing in 2022 (on my console of choice) that I passed by because I wasn't certain about them, or because they released too close to other games for budget or time reasons, would be:
-Pokemon Arceus
-Kena Bridge of Spirits
-Outer Wilds
-Astroneer
-Edge of Eternity
-Digimon Survive
-Potion Permit
-Amnesia: Memories Crowd + Later
-No Man's Sky
-Nier Automata
-Persona 5 Royal
-Star Ocean 6: The Divine Force
-Harvestella
-Pokemon Violet
-Crisis Core
Games that you wanted to play (that you own or borrowed) but just weren't able to get around to playing
Xenoblade Chronicles X. I always want to be playing that game, but it's on Wii U, and I'm afraid to use my rickety old Wii U. Plus I have a liiiiitle bit of hope that XCX may be remade or remastered for the Switch successor, in which case it'd be nice to leave a replay until then for best freshness.
And I wanted to finish Egglia Rebirth, just to get it out of the way, but it wasn't interesting enough to hold my attention so I dropped it several times and didn't end up completing it this year.
Favorite gaming song/s and/or OST? :
I just don't notice game soundtracks very much. They're almost always too placid/soothing for me. The only game music I tend to like is BOSS BATTLE music. Xenoblade 3's soundtrack was probably the best of the year, though like XC2, it was duller than I prefer...XC1 and XCX have vigorous, exciting music, and XC2 had super low-key music and XC3's was a bit better, I think, but still not up to the standard of the other two, for me. Good music, just...I'm always soothed. I'm always sleepy. I need ROUSING music, and most games don't deliver that...they make with the lullabyes to tinkle away sweetly in the background. I did like boss battle music in FFXIV a fair bit, though...mostly when I got to Trials.
Which genre did you play the most of?
I played a big mix this year, more than usual. Lots of indies, too, which normally isn't a 'me' thing since I must admit I enjoy games with high production values. STILL...looks like overall, I spent the most time as I always do...playing
life-sims and
JRPGs.
Did you replay any older games this year? If so which ones?
I completely replayed Ni No Kuni II, and did some of the DLC content that i never did the first time. I also FINALLY finished Skytree Village, which I got half way through years ago. I've been tinkering with an ANB replay, too, and My Time at Portia.
Favorite characters of the year?
The XC3 cast was very likeable, though I didn't have a particular favourite among them...they were a good ensemble cast. And I do love Randy Orlando, as he is in the Crossbell games (Zero and Azure). He's nowhere near as good moved to Erebonia to the Cold Steel games, but he's pretty cool in his own environment.
I'm also super interested in my avatar character in FFXIV. In other words, I'm quite interested in the Warrior or Light. I've got theories. Sure they'll be wrong, but I don't care...they still make me want to write very loose fanfiction
That's how I know when I REALLY like a character...I start imagining other stories a character like that could be the centre of.
Favorite gaming announcements/news of the year?
Tears of the Kingdom. Though I was happy about P4G on Switch, too, and FFVIIR - Part 2, though with it saying it'll be winter 2023, it's pretty certain its release date will be in 2024.
Disappointing gaming announcements/news of the year?
Were there any special disappointments? I don't recall. Since I no longer hold out for good news from Marvelous, I think my expectations never get shaken much any more.
Anything other thoughts?
2022 may have been my dullest gaming year. But 2022 was an INSANE year for me, irl. INSANE. We had dementia, the death of my father, THREE house purchases, moving, closure and sale of the business and home that's been ours for 40 years, a new house and business being built, my body went to garbage with what appears to be permanent nerve pain, my mom went whole-hog into her/their religion and it's changing various family dynamics...it's the most unreasonable year ever. It's a wonder I played anything. I only remember any of it because I keep a list, lol, of all my purchases and completions!
I got the most games ever in 2022 I think, but it's because about a dozen of them were FREE, either via promotions or by being gifted to me. I got more games, yet probably spent less money on gaming in 2022 than most other years. It's made me think maybe I should try limiting my game budget to the cost equivalent to no more than 1 AAA game per month ($80 CAD, pre-tax.) I managed that in 2022 easily enough with almost every game I got being on good sales, plus all the free ones. But could I do it ON PURPOSE?
Personal or general gaming predictions for 2023?
I predict a quieter year than 2022, at least lol. Unless my mom is right and armageddon is really right around the corner (lol?) Well, that's on a personal level, that is...not so sure that 2023 will be all that calm for the world itself. Just let me have Tears of the Kingdom, 2023. I'm going into this year with the fewest games to look forward to, EVER. So I suspect it will be a busy announcement year...devs have been keeping their announcements close, for there to be so little already assigned to 2023's release calendar. I don't have any special predictions though. I don't think VR is going to suddenly take off or anything like that, and I don't think we'll see any new console announcements in 2023.
I've entered a new stage of life, it seems, with my family and with my health. I still play a lot and probably always will, because unless I'm just out enjoying nature, I tend to prefer existing in game and book worlds rather than the real one. But it's harder to get excited about things, now. I don't know if it's being jaded, or just being realistic via experience. I may replay more old favourites this year than buy new.
Another one is Sephiroth from FFVII - I already thought he was cool in Smash Bros, but learning more about him and his past with Cloud has me very intrigued.
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