Now Playing at SUPERJUMP: Issue 8

We're back with another issue of Now Playing at SUPERJUMP! We've asked our global team of writers and editors to chime in with what they're currently playing, obsessing over, thinking about, and looking forward to in the coming weeks. Click each author's name to see their entire portfolio, and the links in the text will let you find out even more about them. So enjoy, and we'll see you back here each week for more recommendations and odes to the games our team loves!

Robbert Boeijink

I got hooked on Arcade Archives DONKEY KONG. It all started with the best video game documentary I've seen: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Strangely enough, I've never seriously tried to unite Jumpman and Pauline. Now, I’m obsessed (maybe I knew this would happen…), analyzing world record videos and trying to figure out the secrets to ramp up my high score. Meanwhile, I realized Australian YouTuber/journalist Karl Jobst is still reporting on Billy Mitchell, the antagonist in King of Kong. It feels good to enjoy such an old game knowing it's still relevant.

Andrew Johnston

In a moment of nostalgia, I picked up a cheap copy of Arcanum. It is an excellent game - one that I honestly prefer over the original Fallout games - but playing it again revealed many design oversights and engine limitations in PC games of that era. It also made me flash back to the old days, trying to run games like this on unsuitable hardware, getting a nice and chuggy performance, and still playing for hours because I was used to it by then.

C.S. Voll

I started to play The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Despite being a fan of the franchise, this is the first time I laid my hands on this particular entry. Starting a playthrough feels like coming home. The witty dialogue, the compelling cases, and the eccentric characters pull one right into the world. All of it reminded me why I liked the Ace Attorney games in the first place. This reintroduction is just in time too, because the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy remake will burst onto the scene in early 2024.

Jared McCarty

I'm still chugging along with the Metal Gear Solid Collection, and I'm still finding new ways to fall in love with Kojima's lunacy. On top of this, my partner and I are finishing up with Alan Wake II, and I'm infatuated with the story and seeing where it goes. Remedy knows how to make something simultaneously graspable and yet extremely esoteric, and I can't recommend that game more. Last but not least, I've been playing through the Half-Life series again, and even 20 years later those games still stand as titans of excellent game design. The world-building, the cinematic nature of the cutscenes, and the fantastic designs are still something to truly behold.

Maris Crane

I started playing Cyberpunk 2077, and to be honest, I went in with low expectations, and assumed I’d refund it within an hour, but ended up falling in love with it almost immediately! I love Night City, and any time spent there is a delight. I’ve also played through the first main story mission and the plot is pretty compelling too.

Jahanzeb Khan

I've been playing Super Mario RPG. It's refreshing to play such a simple and imaginative RPG in an age where you need a minimum of 100 hours to dedicate to most newer RPGs. Mario RPG is worth it just to meet Mallow. It's got one of the most imaginative and memorable casts in any Mario game and RPGs in general.

Paul Barnes

I have been playing (and beating) Assassin's Creed Liberation this week. I got it in a pack that came with Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered, and while it was originally a PS Vita game this version is a remaster as well. I enjoyed how the protagonist was a woman and thought her accent and that of those around her enhanced the immersion of the locations. While the missions were fairly simple and short, I was still invested in the story. The mechanics were a bit wonky at times too but again, nothing that stopped my enjoyment. Unfortunately, I cannot replay missions/sections of the game so I can only get one of the two endings.

Kristina M.H.

I finally finished FFVII Remake, a long delay after picking it up on Day One. As much as I enjoyed this beautiful new glimpse into Midgar, the music, and (most of) the story, I do not love this game. I really slogged through the combat and found myself getting annoyed with button-mashing and waiting for the ATB gauge to fill, I found that summons and limit breaks rarely happen (and reset), and the constant switching between characters to avoid agro was nauseating. The story elements with Timekeepers were not interesting or intriguing in the slightest. The barrage of boss fights towards the end of the game did not feel impactful since there was no spacing. I know that FFVII Remake received high praise, but it fell short for me.

That's a wrap for this week's Now Playing at SUPERJUMP!
Thank you for checking out the veritable treasure trove of games our team is playing right now, and be sure to check back next week when we're back with more.

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