By Scott Boyce ’22. Staff Writer
This year has been pretty sucky, let’s face it, the world has been going crazy all since the literal beginning of January. The world has mostly been stuck inside since March and we’re about to cap off the year quite soon. Only a few more months and then we’re ready for 2021.
However since we’re all still stuck inside and being cautious about our own health, what can YOU do about it? What can you do to keep yourself preoccupied during the lockdown? Well from me, to you, I have a few ideas of what I can provide in case you want to try any of these things and if you play games at all, there will be a few game recommendations as well.
If you’re planning on trying to express your own creativity, learn how to draw or even take up some semblance of creative writing. Even if your art is “garbage” or your poems and stories are “poorly written” just keep trying and learning. Even if you’re seen as bad, you can always improve and really come into your own. You just need to give it time.
Feel like you’re doing nothing but laying around and waiting for classes? Start getting up and doing some exercises or even create your own. If you ever plan on going out for a run, please make sure you wear your mask in order to avoid infection. If you enjoy playing games to pass the time; there’s a number of recommendations I can make here depending on what you’re looking for in a game. The genre’s I’m going to be looking at are platformers (like Mario), Role playing games, actions games, and fighting games.
Role playing games or RPGs as they’re called are lengthy story based games with a focus on menu based gameplay and exploring big worlds. They are long for a reason as you’re tasked with a variety of quests to complete throughout your time. These are games that are going to ask for the most of your time. At most 30 to 60 hours and at their worst 80 to 100 plus hours to do everything. The best I could say for these games is, take your time and enjoy it at your own pace.
Fighting games are games like Street Fighter, 1v1 games that are all about bettering yourself and learning. These games are rough to learn but can be games that anyone can play in due time. Difficulty is the first step to betterment and once you take the time to learn these games, there’s always more to find and learn. You’re mostly going to play these with friends or other people.
Action games are sort of like fighting games except they’re more single player. They’re deep experiences that will test you and make you a more active player. They’re about getting from point A to point B while fighting a lot of enemies and stylishly destroying them and getting up to fun and engaging boss fights that will test you on your own abilities. These games are going to rough you up but if you can push through the difficulty, you’ll find really fun and extremely replayable games. If you’re looking for a platformer, go for something like Celeste, it’s a difficult game but it has a really good story and the gameplay is really, really strong. If you stick with it, it’ll stick with you. A Hat in Time is more akin to a 3D Mario game and if you’re looking for something more charming, give it a try.
If you’re looking for something more story based, then look for these Role Playing Games (RPGs) currently and in the near future: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster (coming in 2021), Alliance Alive HD Remaster, Fire Emblem Three Houses, Nier Replicant (Coming 2021), Final Fantasy Tactics, Shin Megami Tensei IV, just to name a few games you could possibly look into. All of these games are either already on Nintendo/Playstation consoles or are coming to those consoles. Pick up one of these games when they come out and enjoy the stories they have to tell. Be forewarned that some of these RPGs are difficult so it will take some time to truly learn the games to really progress.
Now fighting games for recommendations: BlazBlue Central Fiction, Rivals of Aether, Them’s Fightin’ Herds, Under Night in-Birth Exe Latest [cl-r]. All of these are fast paced fighters with a variety of mechanics that will take you a good portion of time in order to really get everything about them down pat enough to make them usable in your hands. These games are going to be difficult but they’re all enriching experiences not only for your skill but also for yourself at higher levels of play.
Action games for recommendations: Devil May Cry 1, 3, 4, and 5, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, No Straight Roads, Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, Kiwami 2, 3, and 4. Some of these games have lengthy stories and side stuff while others are straightforward gameplay loops that are always enjoyable to play. Most of these are all on Playstation and a variety of other consoles so look into them if you’re curious.
Depending on what you’re looking for and looking to do, you can still make the time we’ve got being in our rooms and waiting for our classes or even jobs. Spend your time however you see fit but make sure that you make it worthwhile and get something out of whatever you’re looking to do. If you enjoy the recommendations; keep on with it and maybe you’ll find something you truly love.
