Hi-Fi Rush (Xbox Series X via Game Pass)

Hi-Fi Rush came out of nowhere and really blew me away.  I'm not very good at it, but by the end I was getting into the grove (heh) and starting to pull of some sick combos.  You don't have to nail the rhtyhm aspect of it to complete the game, but it does feel much better when you do.  Charming characters, story and music make this a must play in my opinion.  Highly recommend.

As Dusk Falls (PC and Xbox Series X via Game Pass)

After completing all my camo challenges in Modern Warfare II, it was officially time to move on.  This was just touching my radar for a while and I decided to give it a go.  It's a huge change of pace from the run and gun gameplay of Call of Duty, but a welcome one.  This is essentially a choose your own adventure graphic novel.  Not usually in my wheel house, but I'd heard good things about it.  I liked it enough but had a hard time really caring for any of the characters.  I made some bad choices along the way, they felt right at the time, but I ended up letting some people die I didn't want to.  Oh well.  It was entertaining and wrapped in around 6 hours.  I don't regret "playing" it.  Recommend.

Top 10 of 2022

 Here it is.

Vampire Survivors

The internet is going crazy for this game, and while I quite enjoy it, I feel like I'm missing something.  It's too ... easy?  I did struggle with a couple spot, but the premise is "reverse bullet hell".  If you ever played R-Type or 1942, even Geometry Wars, you're constantly avoiding bullets.  This game claims you will "Be the bullet hell" ... it's neat, and I'm somewhat enthralled by it, probably because I've never played anything quite like it.  I recommend you give it a spin.  It did land on my top 10 this year so....recommend.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox Series X)

I heavily criticized Overwatch 2 for being too similar to the first game, Modern Warfare 2 is very similar to the Modern Warfare that came out in 2019, but there are a few differences that make this game worthwhile.  1.  New Maps!  Every map on release is new, the first wave of additional content is unfortunately old maps, but the new ones released has many good ones.  There only new map that is genuinely horrible is the border crossing map, but still, it's new. The rest of the package features some minor tweaks to gameplay, but you know what you're getting here and that's fine with me.  Unfortunately I haven't had my regular crew playing this game yet, but that could happen in January when things slow down a bit.  I love this game and hate it at the same time.  I have great games, I get wrecked a lot too, but I keep coming back for that fast paced frantic action.  Recommend.

Overwatch Too (Xbox Series X)

I loved the original Overwatch, so naturally, I would love Overwatch 2 right?  Unfortunately, this game is more Overwatch and little more.  You could say Call of Duty, EA Sports franchises do the same, and while I'd agree that the sports games do very little to refresh, at least a shooter like Call of Duty comes out with a new game with new maps, modes and campaign.   Overwatch 2 adds one new hero, a new map, some gameplay tweaks and little more.  This game adds a battle pass which has me missing the mystery of the loot box, I could go on but I won't bother.  If you've never played Overwatch, I absolutely recommend you try.  If you played it to death?  You won't find much new here.

Prodeus (Xbox Series X and PC via Game Pass)

I downloaded this after hearing good things about it and was initially wowed by it.  Classic FPS gameplay with modern elements. The graphics are a throwback but look really good and a soundtrack that rocks as hard as your 90's tape collection.  Unfortunately, about 2/3rds of the way through I started to feel the game was losing its appeal.  Upgrades and purchasing weapons are a grind and the enemy's become sponges.  I still saw it through, but I feel like it would have been better with a handful less levels.  Still at the end of the day I recommend, but I understand if you don't Kill 'Em All.