I agree. I was a bit disappointed.

Game: Chess Titans
Level: 3
Numbers played: 35000

BioMenace, the classic from 1993 and one of my favorite childhood games, is on the GOG. Unbelievable, it's one of the best Christmas gifts that I could get from the GOG. It's probably one of the first, if not even the first 2D game, which I've completed on my own, that is without my brother's help. It was insanely hard because as usual, one couldn't save at all. Apparently the remastered version enables mid-level saving. I've already bought the game and it is on my to-play list in 2026. I need an occasional break from Sherlock Holmes anyway.

Slowly making progress in Dark Souls, I just defeated Artorias and his wolf Sif. Artorias was probably the hardest battle I ever fought while Sif barely even touched me. Now I'm trying to level grind so I can use those boss weapons in my first playthrough and I know the best place in the entire game to farm!

Lena Wolf has gone to Hogwarts!

It's a bit weird because what is a 257-year-old ex-vampire doing among all those kids? Apart from the obvious, that is? But during the Saturalia celebrations at Sheogorath's palace in New Sheoth, somebody (Sanguine again, no doubt!) pushed her into a portal, and there she flopped right into the middle of the Diagon Ally...

It's... umm... strange... It claims to be in Britain, but nobody speaks with an English accent... and not even with a proper Scottish accent, while claiming that Hogwarts is in Scotland... Lena now knows how Alice felt behind the looking glass... it's all wrong...

But at least she looks young... so nobody threw her into the dungeons yet... Oh, you want to know what House she is in? Can you guess? There is no fooling the Sorting Hat! (Hint: it'sssss green...)

And so she's making the best of it, avoiding classes as much as possible, like a model student that she is. It never hurts to pick up a few new spells, so she's getting into the swing of things, because, like it or not, she'll have to find her way home somehow...

Hogwarts Legacy! How are you liking it?

It's not bad... but a number of things are jarring. I keep seeing Fable 2 with my mind's eye and finding it better...

Well Fable2 is a classic for good reason. I myself am not really into Harry Potter, so I’ve never been interested in playing Hogwarts Legacy.

I would not have bought it myself, but it was a Christmas present, mostly because there aren't any other games out that I might have enjoyed. I did like Harry Potter novels when they came out, but hey, this was many years ago now...

The game isn't bad, really. But it is clearly geared towards the younger audience... well, you are a kid in school, after all! You are 15 years old. I do like all the puzzles in it, and combat isn't bad either. But to learn new spells you have to do assignments and attend classes... Ugh!

That’s kinda neat though! Imagine if this were an Elderscrolls thing. If you sat and listened to one of the lectures at the Arcane University and actually learned a spell or had a magicka skill go up a point just by listening. That’d be kinda cool!

That would have been a cool thing. Like when dancing for five minutes in VtM:B raises your humanity

There were even examples of this in Oblivion. For instance, if you watch the two boxers outside of the arena for a bit, your unarmed skill will go up.

Fo realsies? That actually is a thing in Oblivion?

Yes, it is. Also if you observe the Blades train or watch those guys brawl outside the F'o'c's'l'e in Anvil (or whatever that joint is called ).


Hmm... not for me, thanks...

Ah well. Different strokes and all that.

Indeed. It sounds like you might enjoy the game, though. It doesn't speak of Harry Potter at all, it is a different story set in the same universe. So if you want to feel like a 15 year old student again and go back to school, this is it!

Eeeh, for my money I'd rather conquer the universe again in Star Wars: Rebellion or go look for Eleanor in Dad Simulator 2000, otherwise known as Bioshock 2

Or finally face the Ur-Dragon in Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen... Yeah... I hear you, Brother.

Still playing Dark Souls and just finished beating Nito and the Four Kings. That just leave Minos of the Abyss, Black Dragon Kalameet and Seth the Scaleless. Actually, all I really need to do is beat Seth the Scaleless and I can go on to defeat Lord Gwen and beat Dark Souls. But for story purposes I at least need to face Minos of the Abyss to set in motion Dark Souls 2.

Welp: back in Rapture again...