VIRTUAL BASTION

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #97

Up this week: Pikmin (GameCube, 2001) – the first game in this now-classic strategy/puzzle/crowd-control series Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (GameCube, 2003) – the third game of the funky and fun platforming series, Rayman Not Zangief (PlayStation 3, various) – fighting game fun, all the while NOT playing as Zangief Connect: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ wegameunited@gmail.com…

Mario Memories

This past Sunday was Mario Day, a faux but fun holiday created by Nintendo a few years ago to celebrate all things Mario. With all the Mario-themed output across the Internet on Mar. 10 (which kind of looks like “Mario,” right?), I couldn’t help but get a little swept up in all the silliness. Because…

Haven’t Heard of ‘Seven’ Before, But Am Glad the Enhanced Version is Coming

Isometric exploration games have always been a rare breed. They never play quite like anything else out there, and usually it takes a a certain kind of gamer to appreciate them due to the unusual gameplay mechanics they tend to employ. Those that do it well can definitely find great success within that niche; one…

Challenge Mode: Getting Excellent in KH3’s Bistro

In our Challenge Mode posts, we like to discuss a really difficult moment in gaming and how we overcame them. Today’s newest entry is going to be for the recently released Kingdom Hearts 3, in which I recently got Platinum. It was a particularly easy game in which to do so, but that didn’t mean…

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #96

Knowing When to Start Over

(This post is a continuation of the thought processes that evolved out of Knowing When to Move On.) So you and your game have been on a break. You spent some time away, exploring other worlds, completing other tasks, getting to know other individuals. You had a good time in these new spaces, but now…

Are You Ready for Devil May Cry 5?!

There’s something about games like Devil May Cry,, Persona 5 and DOOM that just plain makes them exciting, even if they still aren’t necessarily appealing. This has always been true, but I think the state of modern gaming makes it even more acute. There are so many joyless, dull-as-dishwater-looking games coming out these days that…

Offering Some Solutions to KH3’s Messy Story (Spoilers)

Yes, I’m still fussing over Kingdom Hearts 3. Though I did enjoy the game to some extent, enough to keep playing until I got Platinum, I wanted to discuss a little something regarding the plot that I thought was rather baffling. And I’d really like to know if I’m the only person bothered by this…

I Hate Cash Shops

I’ve tried tolerating them. I’ve tried rationalizing them, and I’ve tried to ignore them. You know what though? I just plain hate cash shops in full-priced video games. I hate the effect the presence of those shops tend to have on the games that employ them, and I hate the lie that supposedly justifies their…

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #95

Up this week: Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (GameCube, 2003) – the third game of the funky and fun platforming series, Rayman Kingdom Hearts III (PlayStation 4, 2019) – the twelfth game Square Enix’s massive mashup of Disney and Final Fantasy SCP: Containment Breach (PC, 2012) – free and open source, this survival horror game is…

Knowing When to Move On

Several years ago, when this site was under a different name, I offered a post about that moment when you and a game click. I looked at the subject from two different angles: “love at first play” and building a relationship with a game over time. In either scenario, an assumption remains that said game…

Nier: Automata – Game of the YoRHa Is Here

It’s been about two years since Nier: Automata originally released, and PlayStation 4 owners are finally getting the all-in-one version. There wasn’t any real need to wait for this version since there’s only one piece of DLC, but better late than never, eh?

Kingdom Hearts 3: A Critical Review (No Spoilers)

The Kingdom Hearts series is very near and dear to my, well, heart, as it is with countless other people across the Internet. To say that I have fallen in love with it and its characters would be an understatement. Perhaps this sounds contradictory, but I am of the belief that if you really love…

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #94

Up this week: Deltarune (PC, 2018) – the first chapter of this spin-off to the popular RPG by Toby Fox, Undertale Not Zangief (PlayStation 3, various) – fighting game fun, all the while NOT playing as Zangief Connect: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ wegameunited@gmail.com Watch: YouTube ~ Video Bastion Shop: Spreadshirt

This is a game that never ends…and that’s okay

Fellow blogger simpleek recently posted an interesting and insightful article concerning “infinite” versus finite games. Or, to put it another way, games driven by play, like Fortnight, that don’t have true endings, versus games driven by stories, like Dragon Age, that have definite endings, sequels notwithstanding. As someone who’s recently taken a liking to an…

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Looks Great (Despite the School Setting)

Fire Emblem has seen something of a rebirth over the past several years thanks to the Awakening and Fates games. It’s not quite the hardcore strategy game it once was; perma-death is optional instead of mandatory, players cannot play themselves into a no-win situation, and more emphasis has been put on the characters and their…

Feeling Cautiously Optimistic for The Division 2

When I bought the original Tom Clancy’s The Division at launch back in 2016, I thought I was going to get something to fill the Destiny-shaped hole in my gamer’s heart. I got that, but only for a couple of hours. It really didn’t take long to discover that The Division was a very hollow…

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #93

Up this week: Deltarune (PC, 2018) – the first chapter of this spin-off to the popular RPG by Toby Fox, Undertale Vexx (GameCube, 2003) – a little-known fantasy 3D platformer Not Zangief (PlayStation 3, various) – fighting game fun, all the while NOT playing as Zangief Connect: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ wegameunited@gmail.com Watch: YouTube ~…

Just because I won’t be playing these games on Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t

Today is Valentine’s Day. No matter if it’s much-loved or much-maligned in your book, it remains somewhat inescapable, at least as far as the general public is concerned. While some readers might have plans with their significant others that involve, you know, going outside, I’m willing to bet that a handful of couples have co-cop…

Resonance: Galeem

I know I’ve been talking a heck of a lot about Super Smash Bros Ultimate lately, but darn it, it’s a great game! I’ve already written posts about the characters, unforgettable moments in World of Light, and I’ve reviewed Ultimate as well as I possibly could, considering it’s such a massive game. But one thing…

Kingdom Hearts’ Story is a Mess, and That’s Just Fine

Kingdom Hearts 3 is finally here and I absolutely cannot wait to play it. I was a bit hesitant to jump back into the series after years of side-stories and spin-offs turned the plot into an intimidating monstrosity, but I’ve been thinking about it and I’m actually okay with not knowing exactly what’s going on….

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #92

Up this week: Deltarune (PC, 2018) – the first chapter of this spin-off to the popular RPG by Toby Fox, Undertale Vexx (GameCube, 2003) – a little-known fantasy 3D platformer Midway Arcade Treasures (GameCube, 2003) – various retro games for our “Nostalgic Notions” series Connect: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ wegameunited@gmail.com Watch: YouTube ~ Video Bastion…

A Tribute to a Tribute – Mortal Kombat: The Album

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of one of my favorite game-inspired soundtracks – Mortal Kombat: The Album. This techno romp through the mid-90s world of this now-classic fighting game isn’t for everyone, but it’s lovingly feisty and novel enough for me. My tribute to it here first appeared on Geek Force…

Crackdown 3 Is Out Later This Month…Wow.

Crackdown 3 is out later this month, and…it’s kind of weird saying that. Games suddenly emerging from the bowels of development purgatory are nothing new, but after so many delays and so deadlines broken, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought the game would eventually wind up being vaporware. Obviously, I was wrong.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Review

Now that I’ve worked my way through the majority of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, the biggest game of its franchise to date, I thought it was time to write a little review. Since this game is so big, it would be difficult to discuss everything thoroughly without creating a very long post indeed, so I’m…

Hollow Knight is the Metroid Sequel I Never Knew I wanted

I know I’m a little late to the party here. I mean, Hollow Knight spent almost the last two years getting all manner of praise heaped upon it. If you’re interested in platformers at all, you’ve probably already heard how good the game is, and you don’t need me to convince you. All that said…

YouTube Highlights, Weekly Edition #91

Up this week: Vexx (GameCube, 2003) – a little-known fantasy 3D platformer Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U, 2014) – completed! This week featuring a “Best Of” video. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 2010) – makes a brief return with a “Best Of” video! Midway Arcade Treasures (GameCube, 2003) – various retro games for…

Patience is a Virtue…Maybe

This week, Kingdom Hearts fans who have been waiting thirteen years for an actual sequel to Kingdom Hearts II, have had their dreams realized in the form, finally, of Kingdom Hearts III. Last year, Persona fans got their hands on the series latest installment, the much-heralded Persona 5 after just a ten-year wait. Dipping into…

Resident Evil 2 (Remake) is Already Getting a Free Update

Resident Evil 2 (Remake) is already off to great start filled with both critical and commercial success. Horror fans are thoroughly enjoying the game, and its about to get even better. Capcom announced Monday that Resident Evil 2 will be getting a free update on February 15, one that will add three additional stories exploring…

Top 5 Sub-Worlds in Ultimate’s World of Light

Having completed Super Smash Bros Ultimate’s World of Light, I have to say I had mixed feelings about the whole experience, but that’s a subject for another post. The biggest highlight for me were the game’s sub-worlds (the locations reached via portals), which managed to break up the tedium of battles with some puzzles, quizzes,…

On Machinima Closing Their Channel

Last week it was discovered that Machinima, the once-massive and massively despised YouTube multi-channel network, had set everything on their channel to private. EVERYTHING. Every video they’d published over the past 19 years, gone just like that. As hated as the network is, it normally wouldn’t be a big deal. However, many a classic video…

In Case You Missed it, There’s a Power Rangers Fighting Game in the Works!

So…there’s a new Power Rangers game in the works, and this time it’s a 2D fighter instead of a beat ’em up! Based on the trailer, it looks like we’ll not only get to fight villains in this one, but also finally settle which ranger is objectively the best!

Unforgettable: Master Hand and the World of Light

In case you’re wondering about the vague title, I didn’t want to spoil something major for Ultimate’s World of Light, so… Ahem, though World of Light was not nearly as cinematic as Brawl’s Subspace Emissary, what few moments it did have were epic indeed. But what I think surprised me the most was not any…

On Bungie’s Departure From Activision

Early last week, Bungie and Activision shocked the gaming world by announcing the Bungie’s departure from the publisher, and their retention of the Destiny IP. It was no secret that relations between the two businesses were tense since before the launch of the original Destiny, but they had an agreement; a contract that was supposed…

Rocket League Has Crossplay on PS4 Now

After an excessively long period of insisting that it couldn’t be done, Sony has finally opened up their previously walled garden to crossplay with the other riff-raff out there. Given how adamant Sony was in their stance, I was certain the day would never come, but here we are. It’s 2019 and we can finally…

Who is Your Smash Bros Main?

Now that Super Smash Bros Ultimate has been out for a little over a month, I thought it would be fun to pose a little question to all of my fellow Smash Bros fans out there. Who is your main and why? If you want, I can go first….

Super Mario Party Finally Gets It Right!

I’ve been a fan of the Mario Party series since the very first one back on the the Nintendo 64. I’ve played countless hours across Mario Party 1, 2 and 3, and moderately enjoyed the first couple of entries on the GameCube. Ever since then though, I’ve been waiting for an entry in the series…

Resident Evil 2 Demo Available, Has a Catch

Resident Evil 2 is only about a couple of weeks away now, but avid fans can get some early hands-on time right now. If you have an Xbox One or PlayStation 4, all you have to do is download the recently released Resident Evil 2 “One-Shot” Demo. It’ll put you in the shoes of Raccoon…

Kindgom Hearts is Almost Here, The End is Finally in Sight

When I saw the E3 trailer for Kingdom Hearts III, I was honestly not all that excited about it. I used to be a massive Kingdom Hearts fan back when it was still relatively new. I knew Sora’s story backwards and forwards; I mastered the combat; I completed both Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 multiple…

Independent Developers Are Amazing

As a gamer, I’ve spent the lions share of my game time over the years with the big-budget “AAA” games that both dominate the market and the conversations surrounding it. I enjoy these games (mostly), but have found myself finding fewer and fewer titles that actually get me excited. They’re still there, but are growing…