What Games Are You Playing?

09. Dead or Alive 6: Last Round (PS5)

DOA is my all-time favourite fighting game series yet I've never properly played DOA6 so this was the perfect time to jump in, with that I think I have enjoyed my time with this a lot more than others have with this release with it not improving or adding to much from the original release at this point in time.

As always the combat feels great to play which is what won me over with this series, you can feel the power of every punch and kick.

I finished the story mode which as usual with DOA6 is short and cheesy but harmless, I had a decent time with it.

I have quite enjoyed the DOA Quest mode as well, I haven't completed them all as there is a lot but I'm slowly picking at them over time, no need to burn myself out by forcing myself through them at once. The more fun part is pulling off all the missions instead of just completing the fight.

With the new cast of characters added with DOA6, they're all quite fun to play as, NiCO has some unique powers but is probably my least favourite to play, Diego was surprisingly fun as I wasn't to interested in him originally, SNK's Kula Diamond I haven't used much but she is pretty neat though I prefer playing as Mai out of the two SNK characters and Tamaki I have enjoyed a lot, becoming one of my new mains for this game, along with my DOA5 LR main, Momiji.

I also always enjoy using some of the core cast such as Kasumi, Ayane, Hayabusa and Kokoro, among others.

I look forward to future DLC characters as well as the upcoming DOA7. This version of the game definitely needs some improving but as someone who didn't delve into the original release like mentioned before, I am having a good time with this though DOA5 LR is still my preferred entry in the series.
 
Been playing Daxter, which originally came out way back when in 2006 on the PSP. Never played it as kid as never owned a PSP, and initially quit Jak & Daxter after Jak 2 angered me greatly. But now it's on the PS5 - in 4k, no less - so yyy not~

'Tis kinda neato to play now; so long removed from the 3D platforming/collectishit era. Jak infamously ditched platforming to be a GTA drive/shooting wannabe thing, with Jak 2, and Daxter is set between 1 & 2; filling in the blanks. That said, the story is threadbare to nonexistent - Dax working as a (metal head) bug exterminator, whilst forgetting to rescue Jak - but the gameplay has aged surprisingly well. Once you get the 'bug spray gun' (reminds me of Luigi's Mansion) that doubles as a flamethrower, it becomes a lotta fun as it also triples as a hover-glide tool to stay airborne. The combat is shoddy, often limited to spraying and then mashing melee, but jump-exploring is always satisfying.

Given it was made for the PSP, cutscenes and voice acting are limited. A pity, since Daxter's never-shut-up humour is mostly muted here, bar a few interactions with a sexy walking woman that gives him gun parts he flirts with. But the level design and variety is mostly excellent: an underground train station with moving trains jump on being a highlight, plus a huge construction site, and even a few vehicle stages.

My only real complaints are the music and QTE mini-games. Not having the Crash/Jak composer is a huge loss 'ere, as his tribal jungle bongo beats and more moody dystopian driving tunes defined the main series. Daxter has more a... repetitive & forgettable U/PG13 whimsical soundtrack. And as for the mini-games, they're ALL dpad/face-button ryhthm things. The mini-game dreams where Daxter cosplays as Neo from the Matrix, Indiana Jones and LotR Gandalf are... of their time but amusing. The more forced tedious hacking story stuff, less so.

Pretty good for a Jak & Daxter game not by Naughty Dog, and a nice way to end things by returning to the series' platforming roots (/Lost Frontier does not exist). It even looks quite impressive, upscaled.
 
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