2015 — My Gaming Year In Review

Gaming was more of an obsession for me this year than ever before.

• I collected more games this year than in the previous decade (or so it seems). NOTE: I looked. Um... yeah, close to it. 30+ games were added to my library just this year. Actually, that's just based on the games I shared here on this blog. There's another batch I haven't gotten around to posting yet. Damn Steam and their sales. Grumble, grumble. That doesn't include the games hubby added to his collection, or the kids' collection.
• Hubby got my gaming PC set up last year and early this year upgraded it enough to smoothly play at least fairly recent games. 



I gave Dante angel wings...
©Capcom*

• With the help of DmCmods.com, I learned how to use Texmod to modify the skins in DmC Devil May Cry. Holy crap. Fun. I've done a bunch of character skin mods for this game and I just love that. I haven't publicly shared any yet, but one day I will. Here's an example of one of my mods. →
• I got a PlayStation 4 (gift from hubby). 
• We got to be part of the Battleborn closed technical test—cool game!—hubby on his Xbox One and me on my PS4. The point was to see how much stress the servers could take. There was a day where neither hubby nor I could log in for an hour or so. I think the servers were properly stressed. lol
• I joined GOG.com and Steam so I could add to my PC games collection. 
• I played some great games and tried out some not-so-great ones. 
• I even managed to [finally] post an actual game review on my blog. It's probably not a great review (I'm new game reviewing so I still have a lot to learn), other than it's for a game I love.  
• Thanx to my oldest brother (also a gamer), I discovered Sword Art Online. Holy freakin' crap. OMG. Wow. I normally don't like anime, but when the writing is good I don't really care about the graphics style, and this show has some really good writing behind it. I will be getting every related game available for PS4. And streaming the show is just not enough. I will be getting all the DVDs too. Again. Wow.

And now, a list. Gaming blogs are known for lists, right? 

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The Heartless Gamer Girl's
***Top 5 Games of 2015***

What kind of gaming blog would this be if I didn't share my top games of 2015? That's right. A crappy gaming blog. So here's my list of games.

These are MY top five, as in games I played this year that I liked. Release year has nothing to do with it. My all-time top games list has nothing to do with it. The opinions of other gaming sites play no part either. A few may be old favorites I replayed.

Class Zero from Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
©Square Enix*

1. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD - I don't care what anyone says. I LOVE the story in this game. I love the grittiness, the darkness, the bloodiness (okay, not really), and the sob fest that comes with it. I love the replayableness of it too. (Not a word, but it should be.) The graphics suck, but the story more than makes up for that. - rated m for mature 17+
2. Tales of Vesperia - I didn't think I'd like this 'cause of the anime style graphics, but I could overlook that. The story is great, and the gameplay is interesting. An all around engaging and fun game. The humor was unexpected and I loved it. Now I want to give all the "Tales of" games a try. - rated t for teen
3. Gears of War: Judgment - I wasn't even gonna try this game (it was a free Xbox Live Gold download), but I'm glad I did. It was funnier than I expected. I played through it more than once and then went and got the two in this series I was missing. - rated m for mature 17+
4. DmC Devil May Cry - I rediscovered this gem. Okay, I never really lost it. But I began playing with PC mods and this was the game I started with. After playing with other people's mods, I started making my own. Just textures so far, but it's a start. - rated m for mature 17+
5. Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae DEMO - Yes, I got my hands on this—when I bought FF Type-0—and immediately downloaded it. Unlike most gamers, though, I played Type-0 first. ;) However, I did get around to playing this eventually and it is good. Especially for a demo. I was already looking forward to this game. Now I can hardly wait. - no rating on the demo

The heroes of Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae DEMO
©Square Enix*

Until next time...

*Screenshots used in this post were taken by me, but the game publishers own the copyrights. Square Enix and Capcom do not endorse this gaming/fan site in any way. 

New Loot! (#20)

Here're some my latest PC scores. OK, I admit it. I got these a few weeks ago. Seriously, I may have a problem. I broke down and got an account at GOG.com and Steam. I just can't help myself when they offer me cool games for less than $5.

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***Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD***

Published by EA Games/Oddworld Inhabitants

Developed by Oddworld Inhabitants

Released 2010 

*Rated T for Teen*

This was one of those odd splurges that I can't really explain. I remember playing one of the Oddworld games on my playstation about a billion years ago, and I remember thinking it was a fun game. So this one intrigued me and it was only a couple bucks. I've only played it for a few minutes and the controls are kinda messed up, so I have some tweaking to do before I can really get into it.

When I bought this, I also grabbed The Witcher and The Witcher 2. My disc version of Witcher didn't want to work with my PC (PC's too new or something), so I just grabbed the DRM-free version from GOG for only $1.49, and since it was also on sale, I grabbed Witcher 2 while I was there (only $2.99). For spending more than $5 that day, GOG gave me System Shock 2 for free. Not sure I'll play that one, but I have it. 

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***Double Dragon Trilogy***

Published by DotEmu

Developed by DotEmu

Released 2015 (trilogy)

*Unrated*

GOG offered this for $1.49 and Double Dragon II is one of those fond childhood memories for me. Figured the price was right, though I suspect playing it again will distinctly pale in comparison to the memory.

Sorry, I don't have any images of this one yet. Once I play it, I'll get some screencaps. :) 

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***DmC Devil May Cry***
Complete Collection

Published by Capcom

Developed by Ninja Theory

Released 2013
Action, Hack n Slash

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I'm a Devil May Cry junkie. A bad one. I think I own just about everything to do with DMC now. And I mean everything. I think. I even have every episode of the short-lived* anime show. I am missing some soundtracks, come to think of it. In fact, I don't think I even want the OST for this particular DmC.

I grabbed all the DLC to go with this too. I mean, when I want a game, I want the FULL game, dammit! lol

*The life of this show might have been pre-determined, I don't know. It was only 12 episodes, though, so pretty darn short.

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***Devil May Cry 4***
Special Edition

Published by Capcom

Developed by Capcom

Released 2015
Action, Hack n Slash 

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

This edition of DMC4 was just released in mid-2015. It has five playable characters instead of the two in the standard edition that came out on Xbox 360 and PS3. The SE was released for PC, PS4 and Xbone. I have a PS4, but grabbed the PC version 'cause, why not? I ♥ my PC. I may eventually grab the PS4 version, but at this point I don't see a reason to.

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***Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening***
Special Edition

Published by Capcom

Developed by Capcom

Released 2005 (PC port 2006)
Action, Hack n Slash

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I have this in my copy of Devil May Cry HD Collection for Xbox 360, but I wanted to play with mods and whatnot, so I grabbed the PC version when Steam offered it at a discount. I installed the one mod I read was completely necessary to make this PC port enjoyable, but I've yet to try it out. There's a possibility I'll hate it. If so, I still have the Devil May Cry HD Collection for my 360, so no real loss. :) 

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***Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning***

Published by EA Games/38 Studios

Developed by Big Huge Games/38 Studios

Released 2012
Action RPG 

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I'm not entirely sure why I grabbed this from Steam other than it was on sale. Pretty pathetic, right? Don't get me wrong, I really like this game. I've beaten it on the 360, including all the DLC, so I'm not entirely sure why I wanted it for the PC too. Maybe I'll mod it. There aren't many, if any, mods for this game, at least not any i can find. It needs some. I need to learn to mod, so why not mod a game that needs a few, right? :) 

Until next time... 

New Loot! (#19)

I can't seem to stop buying games, even knowing I don't have time to play them all. There's something broken in my head...

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***Heavenly Sword***

Published by Sony Computer Entertainment

Developed by Ninja Theory

Released 2007
PlayStation Exclusive

*Rated T for Teen*

I bought a PS3 game and I don't even have a PS3. I think that might mean I have a problem. However, this is a Ninja Theory game and I LOVE them. L.O.V.E. It's an unhealthy obsession, really. Stalkerly, even. OK, maybe not that bad. Still.

Oh, and guess what else? I discovered there's a movie of this game, one that runs parallel to the game, according to the reviews I've read on Amazon. I've added it to my wishlist, of course.

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***Dante's Inferno***

Published by EA Games

Developed by Visceral Games

Released 2010

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

Um, yeah. I can't exactly remember why I got this other than it seemed to be the type of game I'd enjoy. I don't even remember exactly what it's about, other than the classic poem by Dante. You know the one. Inferno? [snort]

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***N3 Ninety Nine Nights***

Published by Microsoft Studios

Developed by Q Entertainment/Phantagram

Released 2006

Xbox Exclusive

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I have the second game, so I needed the first. Right? Am I right? Yeah, sure. Anyway, I got it. I'll play it. I enjoy the second game though it gives me fits from time to time. Crazy psycho, throw-the-controller fits. Yeah... there's  definitely something broken in my head...

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***Venetica***

Published by dtp entertainment/Atari

Developed by Deck 13 Interactive

Released 2009 

*Rated T for Teen*

Another I bought 'cause it seemed like a game I'd like. I opted for the PC version 'cause it was cheaper and I like my PC. We'll see how that goes...

Also available for PS3.

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***The Last Wish***
Introducing the Witcher

Written by Andrzej Sapkowski

Published by Orbit

Released 2008 

Not a game, but certainly related to a few. I'm not sure how much I'll actually like this book, but I figured I'd buy the first in the series and give it a shot. I have a feeling the gore might be a little more than I'm comfortable with, but who knows. Maybe the games are more graphic. LOL

Until next time... 

On the Horizon (#6)

Let's keep this short and sweet...

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***World of Final Fantasy***

Will be published by Square Enix

Being developed by Square Enix (I assume)

Tentative release date 2016 

*Rating Pending*

(will most likely be t for teen)

I don't know anything about this game. Doesn't really matter. If it says Final Fantasy, I want it. However, if it ends up being online only, I probably won't get it. That would make me sad. :'(

Until next time... 

—Game Review— Resonance of Fate

I admit, I wasn't initially interested in this game. The gun thing turned me off. Hubby didn't know that, however, so he bought it for me at the local used game store after the employee there recommended the game based on my joy of JRPGs.

...and that employee was spot on. 

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***Resonance of Fate***

Published by Sega

Developed by tri-Ace 

Released 2010

Role Playing

*Rated T for Teen*

Blood

Sexual Themes

Use of Alcohol

Violence

Mild Language

New Loot! (#18)

Another gift from hubby and a wishlist splurge too...

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***Final Fantasy Type-0 HD***
Collector's Edition

Published by Square Enix

Developed by Square Enix

Released 2015

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I told hubby I wanted this and he went over to eBay and grabbed it for me. This is a bit of a different thing from the regular FF games in that it's rated M. There's blood, and some hinky scenes where you're not entirely sure nothing bad is happening. All a bit strange for a FF game, but I'm rolling with it.

The collector's edition is pretty cool. There's an artbook, a manga comic that gives a little lead-in to the game storyline (or so I'm given to understand; I haven't read it yet), a disc of music from the game, and Ace's cards, as well as the game in a golden steelbook case (the soundtrack disc goes in this case too).

But the best part, in my opinion, is the FFXV Episode Duscae download code that came with it. When I pulled that out, I saw the expiration date (March 2016) and immediately got it downloaded. This is the playable demo that was released with FF Type-0. They called it a Day One bonus or something like that. I can't remember, but I do remember the hype surrounding it. This is a highly anticipated game. I'm looking forward to the full version, but in the meantime, I'll play the demo.

*This collector's edition is also available for Xbone. If you click the image above, it will take you to Amazon, and you'll see the little link for the Xbone edition.

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***Borderlands***
The Handsome Collection

Published by 2K Games

Developed by Gearbox Software

Released 2015 

*Rated M for Mature 17+*

I'm a bit of a Borderlands junkie. Hubby and I each have the Xbox 360 GOTY edition of Borderlands and the standard edition of Borderlands 2. Hubby has the standard edition of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, plus he bought the season pass for both games. Since I didn't have the pre-sequel, I grabbed the PS4 edition of the Handsome Collection. This also gave me all the DLC for B2, which I never had before. And yes, I'll probably grab the PC versions of all these games eventually. Like I said: JUNKIE.

Unfortunately, since I got the playstation version, hubby and I can't play together unless we play split screen, which we kinda hate. I also can't grab my game saves, so I have to play them again right from the start.

Oh, woe is me. LOL

Until next time...