My January gaming selections were mostly ports of older games, but I am not complaining. 

RESIDENT EVIL ZERO REMAKE
Resident Evil 0 was released this month, and I opted for the PS4 digital version which was the wiser choice as the PS4 suspends the game when it goes into rest mode allowing me to pick up where I left off without having to reload or waste a save. I own the game on gamecube, and I usually prefer an organic experience with classic games, but in a horrible turn of events, my gamecube took a fall off a high shelf and exploded on impact, and I just can’t afford to buy a used one right now. Besides, Capcom is doing a great job with these REMAKES and supporting them encourages them to make more, thus we are getting RE2 REMAKE this year as well. Will RE3 or Code Veronica follow? I doubt that replaying gamecube games will help any of this. So Adios to the Gamecube!


If you haven’t played the game before or haven’t played the game in a while, this new version adds a Wesker mode, in which main character Billy is replaced by a Wesker model, but still keeps Billy audio in cutscenes. The opening train sequences is still one of my favorite set pieces in any videogame, and it just looks glorious in HD. The remaining parts of the game, the training facility, basement, etc, still feels too similar to RE1, which is still the superior game for me, but I still enjoy Zero for remixing the old formula with tag-teaming puzzles and those dreaded slug zombies. I really love the original series, so any throwback, tank controls included, is a welcoming experience.

I worked my way through the first Remake in December, then played through Directors cut (PSOne) to compare. I finished the zero campaign and need to play Wesker mode, but for the moment I’m playing through RE2 on PSN, then on to Code Veronica.

 ATELIER ESCHA & LOGY PLUS (PSVITA)

To lighten things up, I’ve also been playing through Atelier Escha & Logy Plus on PSVITA. It’s also a port of a PS3 game with added characters and events. If you’re not familiar with Atelier games, they’re JRPGs with emphasis on crafting and gathering, as well as combat.  You basically synthesize all of the items you need in the game yourself, from health items, to armor and weapons via a magic cauldron. Acquiring recipes lets you make more powerful items, but generally you are your own general store in this RPG. This game series really caught me by surprise, as it’s a very well rounded JRPG, love or hate the cutesy anime design, but I found the crafting to be quite addictive-- enough so, that I have to schedule my time playing it. Otherwise, I’d be playing for very long hours.


THIS BLOWS
I jumped on the bandwagon and gave The Witness a shot. I only completed  two areas so far and remain largely unimpressed with the game so far and I find the overall high praise of the game confusing. 

I’m also joining the ‘need to read more from book backlog’ this year, which is going quite well with help from my kindle and amazon bookstore. I prefer holding physical books when reading, but I’m getting used to downloading e-books, which I was really hesitant about in the past, but I find it practical, and affordable. Plus I don’t have a lot of shelf space to store any more books anymore.