If I may, here are 3 questions.

#1. Your feelings on comma splices in games and do they also drive you mad?

#2. Is there a game that "got away" for 8-4? Something you wanted to localize/been a part of in terms of bringing it to the west?

#3. Your top 3 games for 2025 (don't think too hard!).

Game #53 of 2025: Lumines Arise; an audio/visual tour de therapy. I completed the Journey mode on Normal difficulty (while only managing C Ranks because I still don't fully understand how to play the game). I would take a new Enhance game every year, please. The OST is pure catharsis.

Game #52 of 2025: Pokémon Legends: Arceus; the first Pokémon game I've beaten since Red/Blue/Yellow on the original Game Boy. Although it's considered a spinoff, the changes made here felt rather refreshing. I rolled the initial credits, but will likely not "catch 'em all" by the end of the year.

Game #51 of 2025: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond; the highly anticipated sequel from Retro Studios. Echoing the sentiment that it's a game of high, highs and low, lows. It ultimately felt like a really compromised experience. I completed the game on Normal difficulty with 100% Scans/Items. Disappointed.

I'm wondering if it's the scale of the game or how far the camera is pushed back that might be causing this. I'm having trouble trying to put words to this, too.

I'm nearing the end of my first playthrough and there's something off about the game-feel in general for me. Combat is good, tho.

Please do haha! It's a topic I've been wanting to write about for years.

I tried my best to take pics/note of every instance I've encountered this year, but it won't be as comprehensive as I'd like it to be.

I'm really trying to nail down consistent categories each year for my write-ups.

When you beat a boss in SM, the eyes in the golden boss statue go dim and turn grey. So, this category is for any fixed element in the game to change/update visually based on actions made within the game.

The Kei Truck and town from Promise Mascot Agency is likely to take the win this year haha

I've been trying to get through this game since launch. I make a little progress here and there and then drop it haha I feel like I've been in this metallic dimension zone for HOURS. It never ends lol 😭

Losing my mind.

youtu.be/80XAJKqRU9k?...

Still one of the best.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfAO...

Give me all of the super emotional ending vocal themes this year that feel like they're from the early-to-mid 2000s lol

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yis...

Game #50 of 2025: Hypogea; an atmospheric 3D platformer that feels evocative of the Wii era — a game that could have sat alongside the likes of Mushroom Men, Deadly Creatures and The Kore Gang. It's got a nice pogo/vaulting mechanic, too. I completed the game with all of the Artifacts collected.

Game #49 of 2025: Gears of War: Reloaded; the second re-release of the iconic Xbox 360, 3rd-person cover-shooter. Some aspects haven't aged well, but it still feels so good to play — simpler times. I played through the entire game with a friend on Insane difficulty and collected all of the COG Tags.

Yeah, I think I even preferred the N64 game at the time of its release. I particularly didn't find the individual chapter stories to be very interesting or compelling in retrospect.

Probably a hot take, but even with all of its issues, I think Origami King is my new favorite entry.