Author: Grukk

One of my gaming goals this year was to beat all Halo games in the Master Chief Collection. I have now done so. Another goal I had was to play and beat one mainline game in all generations of Pokémon. Earlier this month I did that as well.

This resulted in six Halo games beaten in three months as well as five Pokémon games beaten in two month. Both are franchises I really enjoy. Pokémon being a huge part of my childhood, Halo being completely new for me. I would really like to see another single player focused game from Bungie since the best Halo games are made by Bungie.

Destiny 2 is a fine game, but nothing I want to experience for the story. It’s mostly just very confusing for me with it’s GUI and that takes away a lot of the experience, even though the gameplay is very refined.

So now I need a new goal.

After playing the wonderful Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, I really miss the games that really hooks me. Games like, The Witcher 3, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn and Ratchet & Clank (2016) and many more. Basically all the games I have Platinum in.

I want a short action based game that’s mechanically solid. I guess I have to keep looking.

There are so many games to play now. I want to finish Biomutant, but I can’t occupy the TV too much. So I need something to play on the PC. I’m thinking of starting Dishonored 2 again. Don’t know if I should start over or continue from where I stopped last time.

On Friday Ratchet & Clank: Rift apart is released, so I want to get that. I don’t know why, but I really enjoy playing games on release. I played Biomutant on day one, but after that I didn’t play much due to my Pokémon addiction.

I should probably stick to my old policy, no new games before I finished the last one I got. I’m running out of games I want to play on Steam though. I went through a bunch on them the last couple of years, like the first two Arkham games, the Tomb Raider reboot and The Witcher 1 and 2. I have Dishonored 2 left, as well as Torchlight 2 that I want to play co-op with friends.

I also have Halo Reach that I’m planning on beating this year to really establish this as the year of Halo and Pokémon.

I have played a lot of Pokémon recently. In total six mainline Pokémon games the last 5-6 months. This ranking won’t be super scientific, it’s just how I feel, may it be clouded by nostalgia or not. I don’t care.

8. Generation 7 – Sun/Moon

The first Pokémon generation that I played on release. Also the second new game in the series I played after I got back to the franchise in 2015.

I was looking forward to a new Pokémon adventure, but I got something else. I wanted something more conventional but it tried to be something else. I enjoyed it at the time, but after playing more games in the series I have noticed I like the regular formula more than Gen 7.

7. Generation 5 – Black/White 1 & 2

The most recent generation I’ve played. Just finished the second game minutes ago. The last games on the NDS for the series, it’s the most advanced games on that platform for sure. However, fancy technology doesn’t do anything if the story is outdrawn and rather dull. Felt more forced than other entries.

6. Generation 4 – Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

The last game before they tried to spice things up. This meaning it’s a good games, but very conventional. Something I actually enjoy when it comes to Pokémon. Not the strongest entry, but far from the worst.

5. Generation 3 – Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

The series first and only venture on the GBA for the mainline series. A logical next step from Gen 2. Grand stories isn’t my favorite when it comes to Pokémon, a smaller scope is preferred.

3. Generation 6 & 8 – X/Y & Sword/Shield

Skipping number four and having an joint third position instead. Gen 6 was my first newer Pokemon game. My reintroduction into the franchise. Gen 6 is inheriting a lot of quality of life features from Gen 5, but for me it feels like a homage to Gen 1, which was a excellent new start for me.

Gen 8 felt very linear, which it is. The region is very well executed with its British influences. They even managed to include the football craze. With the additions of the two DLCs the game was vastly improved, especially with the two open areas.

2. Generation 1 – Red/Blue/Yellow

Where everything started. A good foundation to build on. Very iconic, very nostalgic for me. A fantastic pokémon roster, memorable characters and history is made. Still a good entry, even though it’s very glitchy.

1. Generation 2 – Gold/Silver/Crystal

Where a simple formula was refined and improved on in every aspect. Two more types, which balance out the overpowered Psychic-type. 100 brand new Pokémon with personality. The introduction of baby pokemon and breeding.

My favorite thing about Gen 2 is the connection to Gen 1 with Kanto being available after the Elite Four. In my youth I managed to collect all 251 pokémon. Unfortunately, the battery in the cartridge died so I have no proof of it. Still, it’s a very important game for me and will probably always be my favorite.

Not as drastic as the title may sound. I have however beaten 14 games under 6 months, a new record for me. My previous best for a full year is 19 games. So I am set up well to beat that at least.

One of the reasons is probably because I haven’t revisited any games that I’ve played before. I’m on my way with Pokemon Black as well, so that’ll probably game 15.

Pokemon Black is a weird one. I can see why I was so confused when jumping into the Pokemon mainline games again back in 2015 with Pokemon Y (Gen 6) when I was used how Pokemon games was in Gen 2-3. A lot of the big changes were made in Black / White (Gen 5). Merging of the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart, a more cinematic emphasis, different “camera” angles during fights, stuff that has been a staple since. The mix of 3D effects on 2D sprites is something I probably an idea I have to warm up to. It’s not a favorite change so far.

I’m nearing the end in Pokémon Diamond. Almost ready to face the Elite Four. This would make it the fourth Pokémon game this year. Three mainline games and one spin-off.

I’m tempted to continue with Pokémon Black 1 after Diamond, but I have some other games coming up aswell, like Biomutant, and I should also continue Fenyx.

My goal this year is to beat the rest of the mainline Pokémon games I haven’t beaten yet and also all Halo games in the Master Chief Collection, I have Reach left.

This week has been a productive one. Me and Rasmus beat both Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST this weekend. I’m quite surprised how short both 3 and ODST are. Both Halo 1 and 2 feels much longer. Might be a difficult to compare since I played Halo 1 by myself, whereas Halo 3 and ODST was co-op. Halo 2 was a co-op playthrough, it took two session and both 3 and ODST was one four-hour session each.

I am actually still really enjoying Halo, even after 4 games played in a short time. Story and engagement-wise Halo: Combat Evolved is still my favorite so far. I still have Reach and Halo 4 left in the Master Chief Collection.

After that I only have Halo 5 left of the current Halo games. The problem is that it’s only available on Xbox One and Series consoles. I have a Xbox One S which hopefully will be used for some sweet couch co-op when the Covid-19 situation is a bit more manageable.

If we manage to beat Halo 5: Guardians before Halo Infinite is released. I’m very interested in playing it co-op on release since it will be on Steam and Game Pass.

This puts my “games beaten” total for 2021 to ten games so far, of which six are played on PC.

Today I finished Halo 2 with my good friend Rasmus. I really noticing how much I have missed playing games with others. Since I don’t enjoy competitive multiplayer games I don’t have many games to play with friends. I’m gonna try to play more with friends. It’s probably gonna be one of my personal goals of 2021. I need the social aspect and playing games together is fun.

Apparently co-op in Halo 2 has some problems. Some cutscenes crashes the session in co-op mode. So we had to start over a couple of times with some missions. So it hasn’t been the smoothest experience. It’s so much fun though, regardless of the problems.

We are most likely gonna start Halo 3 next weekend. I’m already looking forward to that!