Vinny is a total lunatic at these games. But goddamn, when the chips are down, like they were on that train, he knows how to get methodical. And kudos to Brad for the amazing comeback in the winery level.
Alex accidentally wandering into the Synthesis ending is peak mass Alex. Truly, the only way it could've ended. Really enjoyed going on this journey with Alex and Vinny.
I almost feel bad for just saying I want another Thousand Year Door. The combat, at least as presented in the quick look, stressed me out and I wasn't even playing. TTYD clearly isn't the game the devs want to make, and that's fine, I suppose. But goddamn I really want that.
I'm not sure they remember the end of Horizon as well as they think. That first game isn't self-contained at all. It clearly sets up a larger story arc going forward, even before the post-credits sequence. Aloy beats the immediate threat of Hades, but they tell you straight up that the global ecosystem is going to keep spinning apart unless you reconstruct your AI mom, Gaia. Otherwise nature will just keep getting incrementally more disordered and hostile until it all collapses. The big threat is, essentially, the entropic decay of an untended system.
The merits of the sequel are unknown--uncovering the past was the driving force of the last game, so yeah, they'll have to find a new one this time--but I strongly object to the notion that Horizon is a perfect self-contained gem under threat of can't-leave-well-enough-alone corporate greed.
Alex accidentally wandering into romantic situations then narrowly escaping is the best. Mass Effect is so horny, and assumes the player is too, under all circumstances.
Re: the book that @ybbaaabby hated. I'm still trying to figure out if she's talking about (1) The Gone World by Thomas Sweterlitsch, or (2) The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway.
It totally fits that Rorie recc'ed #1 to Vinny, but based on context clues, Abby may be talking about #2. It is weird enough to cause a strong reaction, and also the kind of book a friend might mistakenly recommend to Abby, given her comedy background. I just can't imagine The Gone World working someone up into a fury, but I may be wrong.
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