by SymphonieAs we come to the close of 2022, it is time for a little bit of reflection. At the start of the year, there is always so much hype and expectation about new gaming titles. It is very easy to start getting hyped about what 2023 holds in store. However, before looking forward, it is always worth taking a little look in the rearview mirror. Were the games as good as the developers promised they were going to be? Were you screaming at Elden Ring in frustration because the boss was so impossible to beat, or were you just screaming at the game in frustration?
We all look to reviewers to get an idea of upcoming entertainment. For films, we might have a look at the Rotten Tomatoes website and decide whether or not to see a movie based on what they recommended. Before venturing to an online casino or sports betting site, we might check out the reviews on Time2play.com. Similarly, for those who love to lose themselves in a book, Goodreads is the must-visit site to find the next great tome.
It is not very often that we take time to review the reviews, but this is what we are going to do. We published an article earlier this year with some games you thought you should know about in addition to Elden Ring. So now we are going to see what other people think now they have had a chance to play the games too. The most anticipated games we talked about on this website were Elden Ring, God of War, The Last of Us, Stray, and Overwatch 2. So let’s take a look at how these titles matched up in reality.
Elden Ring
This magnificent game was released in February, and we were raving about it in April. We are still raving about Elden Ring now. The game is available on all platforms (PC, PS5, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series). The game stood up to everything it promised to be and has been described as a masterpiece. The gameplay is utterly unique, with rich storytelling and lore that is out of this world. This is such a huge game that you might still be lost in it. While you may not have defeated all the bosses, the only frustration you will have is your own lack of skill. The game is all-encompassing. If you want to fully experience this behemoth RPG, we highly recommend checking out Jame’s extremely comprehensive Elden Ring Guide to Complete 100% of the game.
God of War Ragnarok
We had high expectations for this game which was the sequel to one of the most successful games ever released. We were expecting stunning graphics and a compelling storyline. Unfortunately, having played the game, the reviews are somewhat mixed. There is no doubt that Ragnarok is technically superior in every way, but it is less subversive. It has more varied combat and better graphics than its predecessor, but it does lack a tiny bit of the magic of the earlier game.
The Last of Us Part 1 Remaster
We were promised a total overhaul of the experience from the first time round. Naughty Dog, creators of the original series, promised updated visuals with better animations, increased accessibility choices, and improved controls. It seems to have hit the mark. Reviewers have said that it is incredibly well-written and mature. It is best experienced on the PS5. There have been reports of a few minor technical glitches, but overall the game runs incredibly smoothly.
Stray
We were promising you a totally different game experience with the title Stray. In this game, you play as a little street cat. The idea was you could explore a futuristic world inhabited by robots. Your mission was to uncover an ancient mystery—the game launched in July for PS5, PS4, and PC. We promised you an original concept and fun gameplay. Gamers and reviewers alike loved this title. The simple gameplay made it accessible to most gamers, but no one found it mundane or straightforward.
One element of the game that was particularly loved was that despite there being goals to complete, you could be like a real cat and choose to ignore them. Players enjoyed doing what cats do. These cat-like things include sleeping, scratching the couch, and knocking things over. When action is required, people feel they can move like a real cat and be stealthy and agile. What people loved most was that the gameplay relies on you channelling your inner cat to solve the puzzles and challenges. Or being really like a cat and not bothering. Fun and immersive, this game is purr-fect.
Overwatch 2
We were very excited about the release of this game, and we were not the only ones. Since its release, there have been 10,233,054 active players on its servers. In October, players were still peaking at 164,000 every hour. Need we say more? The numbers on this game speak for themselves.
A pretty good result
All in all the games turned out to be as good as promised. Also, Cyberpunk 2077 experienced a revival in 2022, thanks to many patches who finally brought the game’s stability where it needed to be. So 2022 and 2023 is definitely a good time to check out this masterpiece as well. Anyways, keep watching out and we’ll be making recommendations for your future gaming delight.
