Schedule & Updates

July 2024

The place to read up on all the stuff I plan on writing this month and what I´m cooking up for the near future in general. As always, the schedule I talk about here is subject. Stuff might take longer or things may happen in the gaming space that might take priority. 

This month´s update is going to be a little bit different. I usually talk about readership followed by my plans for the month and a little beyond. This time I want to switch things up. 

I'm not going to talk about the numbers. A year ago, the readership was really good. This year, it has really dropped. I stopped looking at the numbers as a result which was a bit of a blessing in disguise. It made me realize that while I'm sad this little writing space of mine isn't taking off, I'm having just as much fun writing regardless. And that's how I want to keep it for now. Just keep having fun with the writing and be happy when posts hit the double digits in their 1st week. 

Secondly, I want to use this space to give my thoughts on all the gaming news of the month. We've had Summer Game Fest, A PlayStation State of Play and a Nintendo Direct that had some fun stuff. I used to rush myself to make an entire post about that stuff in the past but those never seemed to 'hit'. I never felt the effort I put into them paid off. 

Instead, I'll put them here. A way to still get them out without having to write an entire post about them. Less work, same point. So, let's get that started!

Sony only had two games I liked. Astro Bot and Lego Horizon Adventures. Both titles were rumoured so they weren't all that surprising to see but that doesn't take away that they're interesting titles. They're something other than the realistically looking, emotional single-player narrative titles that have defined PlayStation ever since the PS4.

The big 'one more thing' of Sony's own presentation, Astro Bot is a colourful platformer building on the groundwork laid by the excellent Astro's Playroom that evokes that Nintendo feel. I needed a PlayStation game to look forward to, not back, and this has provided me with just that. 

Revealed at Summer Games Fest, Lego Horizon Adventures is not what I expected as the next Horizon game but it looks genuinely fun. A way to expand the series' audience and a chance for me to play a Lego game again with an IP I really like since the DS. 

Nintendo had a lot more goodies for me in their Direct. A proper presentation that was! It had so many surprises and new games that you'd almost forget the Switch's successor is coming up soon. 

To start: that Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake looks even better all these years later. Doing something a bit different with the visual style and a perfect opportunity to get into the series. Plus: the surprise of the entire trilogy getting remade into this style. Looking forward to it!

To no greater surprise than my own, the new Mario Party Jamboree piqued my interest. 5 new boards that all look fun with their own unique mechanics? 2 returning boards? Interesting-looking mini-games? So many playable characters? This might be MY Switch Mario Party!

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond gets a more lukewarm reception from me. It looks GOOD, but I didn't see anything that felt it was evolving the formula I experienced with Metroid Prime: Remasterd. I didn't get the references either (haven't played 2, 3 or Hunters).

Before ending with my favourite game from the Direct: is MIO: Memories in Orbit a 2D Metroidvania? I'm in the market for a good Metroidvania and it certainly looks gorgeous with that sketchy art style and that lonely robot atmosphere! The Indie highlight for me.

Last but not least that favourite: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. The Zelda game is not only the 1st original, not a spin-off, top-down game in over a decade but the 1st to have Zelda herself as our heroine. The echo mechanic seems like a very fun puzzle mechanic but I do hope there is a basic & quick combat swipe for convenience.

For the schedule: my review of Ghost of Tsushima's Iki Island expansion is already locked and loaded. The other game review of the month, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, I think will be out on time as well. I'm not, strictly speaking, done with it but I'm 7 badges in and it's a game that I played a lot when I was still a teenager. I've got plenty of stuff that I can put on paper before the credits roll. 

My 'article' of the month is becoming a bit tricky. I want to talk about my own thoughts and experiences with gaming subscription services while mixing in some other opinions with a dash of the history of subscription services in gaming. A tall order for a post I've yet to start writing... Have no fear though! I'll put my best foot forward and with a little luck the writing itself will go as smooth as butter. 

So yeah, that's about it. I hope there's something here that interests you and be sure to keep checking back for any potential changes. And next month's schedule and updates of course, when the new month is close to rolling around. 

As always, thank you for your continued support. I hope you'll enjoy what's coming up and by all means, let me know what you think in the comment section. 

Your Writer,

F.T. Wolf

Schedule

Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island - Review 
July 6

Game Subscriptions and why they're not for me
July 20

Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Review
July 27