XCOM 2 (2016)

 A Love/Hate relationship. ****SPOILERS***

Not a fan of the Alien stuff generally nor the turn-based gameplay especially but, I was drawn to this game for a reason that I can't explain. It has such a classic looking UI and the game feels very foreign and exotic to me personally; since I'm not used to these types of games... Alright, I was trying to romance the Vipers ok!? Sadly to no avails.

"Ma'am" - Me.

This game has the most bullshit hit probabilities, I have ever seen. 

Started playing this back in 2018 but stopped when I got a game over on my first playthrough. My playtime was intermittent throughout the years. Finally winning the second time around; all thanks to my blatant and excessive save-scumming. Thinking back on it, I believe I was so moved by Ahoy's video about the old XCOM games, that I decided to return to XCOM 2 and it checks out, since his video was released in 2022 which is also the year that I returned to this game.

I got goosebumps playing the finale. I was invested in what was to come, weirdly enough.

I'll dump my screenshots, once again this post is very SPOILER heavy. Without further ado:

They make you connect with your characters, so that you get hit by their death.

Trickshot!

"Damn bro. You got the whole squad laughing"

Goosebumps territory

Trickshot 2

I know, I know. ROOKIE difficulty. I was trying to have fun, alright?

I had fun playing this. I have XCOM: Chimera Squad in my library too, so who knows, I might play it one day. Man, I'm not beating the Lamia-lover allegations ain't I?

Links:

• YouTube - RetroAhoy: X-COM

My Stepmother & Stepsisters Aren't Wicked (2020)

Ibitte konai gibo to gishi. Or My mother-in-law and sister-in-law who don't bully me. Or

My Stepmother & Stepsisters Aren't Wicked.

I'm not a Manga reader by any stretch of the word however, I did read a couple of Manga works that I thought were interesting, without finishing any of them. My main reason being that; I would read a relatively new released Manga then I would get informed of an Anime adaptation of it in the works and because I enjoy the Anime medium more than Manga, I would stop reading. It got to a point where my friends would tell me to read a certain Manga that they enjoy in hopes of me triggering an Anime adaptation for it somehow!

Anyhow, this is a delightful read. It fills me with joy and stretch my grin, it is -dare I say- peak wholesome fiction. A description I've read that best summarise this is "Reverse Cinderella" and I can't help but agree with it.

*gasp*

Hello? Cool Police!?

And now as is tradition, I leave you with some of my favorite panels. Or you could just read it. It is still releasing as of writing this and the chapters aren't long but, whatever you choose to do, remember to have fun :)

Links:

• Anilist - Ibitte Konai Gibo to Gishi