The Next Super Smash Bros. Fighter Should Be?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Tonight, Thursday December 10, even with the global pandemic, Geoff Keighley will still hold the annual Game Awards. And it should be a very fun stream to watch for the competition between some console generation-defining games and the awards they will snag. But of course, more important is the news, trailers and reveals. And it is officially confirmed that the next character for “Super Smash bros. Ultimate” is getting revealed tonight. As a fan of the game’s dedication to letting us fight as a huge array of characters across game franchises and even consoles, I have faith and excitement for the next reveal. Following Steve from “Minecraft,” the suggestion of an Xbox character is certainly more and more likely. And I have to wonder what PlayStation may want in too. Regardless of any failures to predict who is next for “Super Smash Bros.” in the past, here are some more characters I want.

My Thoughts on This Month’s FREE Games

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Every month, gamers across all platforms are treated to “free games” with subscriptions. And over the last several years, as a result, my PSN library has gotten substantially bigger than it would have been if everything was directly out of my pocket. PlayStation Plus and Games With Gold aren’t the only means of getting free games. I save everything to my libraries on Twitch Prime and Epic Games and occasionally check out NES and SNES games with Nintendo Switch Online. But I feel that the PS4 and Xbox One games are the ones most covered. So, let me hop on the bandwagon. But you already know of the news., I’m not your news guy. So here is a reaction instead. A reaction to October 2020’s PS Plus and Xbox Games with Gold free games.

Sony Should Acquire These Studios for PS5

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Earlier this month, Microsoft made a massive move in studio acquisitions, bigger than any they had done prior. Now that the likes of id Software, Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks are under the Xbox brand moving forward, Xbox Series X’s exclusives may just tackle that of PlayStation’s head on. So what’s next for Sony Interactive Entertainment and its studio acquisitions? The publisher, known for triple A exclusives that set the world on fire like “The Last of Us,” “God of War” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” are certainly not struggling in this department. Nevertheless, with Microsoft seemingly hunting for studios left and right, even going as far as acquiring ZeniMax Media for over $7 billion, it’s hard not to imagine PlayStation wants the same. So here are a few studios from a wide array of genres and locations that I think Sony should look to get their hands on moving forward with the PlayStation 5, especially before Microsoft pulls out another billion or so to snag them first.

The Medium Has Me Compelled

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

In today’s Xbox Games Showcase, we were treated to a handful of relatively exciting games. I don’t have a personal connection to series like “Halo” and “Fable” and admittedly was a lot more excited after the PS4 event recently. Nevertheless, I am, at the very least, very interested in a few of the showcased titles. “The Medium,” a new psychological horror game, is the one shown I have the most interest in. It is doping the genre differently and in a very intriguing manner. As a result, “The Medium:” is surprisingly high on my radar this fall. 

Games I am Excited to Play This Summer

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

It’s hard to believe that it’s already June and our idea of summer, for many, is far different from what we’re used to. Regardless of the events going in in the hard news, us gamers have plenty of video games to play this summer, whether we’re avoiding confrontation, the sun or just want to do what we love. Truth be told, at the time of writing, there aren’t a ton of games on my radar as the fall likely will have but I still see a handful that I want to play badly. So, join me as I discuss my most anticipated game releases of summer 2020.

In Defense of “RAGE 2” a Year Later

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

In the lead up to iD and Avalanche’s collaboration in the fork of “Rage 2,” I was very excited for this post-apocalyptic game. I knew 2019 was quickly getting overwhelmed by open world post-apocalyptic shooters but “Rage 2” kept my attention. I was looking forward to the action-packed driving like “Mad Max '' used and the fast, brutal gunplay like that of “Doom.” and once the final product released exactly a year ago today, it was certainly a little divisive. Willingly addressing its flaws, I’d like to, in honor of the one-year anniversary of the game, talk about why I did love “Rage 2” and think it deserved or deserves more attention.

Xbox Series X Event: Ranking my Excitement

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Today, May 7, 2020, Microsoft held, okay they didn’t hold any conference obviously due to the world's circumstances. Instead, Microsoft put together a series of trailers for upcoming games for their hotly anticipated next generation hardware. This video promised gameplay as the title stated, but sadly, there wasn’t a whole lot of that. Instead, the games revealed or shown for Xbox Series X consisted largely of cinematics. Nevertheless, I am very excited for a great deal of these titles and more for the next generation of consoles, hoping I’ll be able to dish out the money to afford this presumably expensive beast of hardware.

I’ve decided to look at all of the games covered in this video and count them down in a ranking from the one I am least interested in to the game I am genuinely hyped to dive into ASAP. So here it is. And be sure to comment below which of the Series X reveals had you the most excited for next gen.

What is There to Play This May?

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2020 has been one hell of a year so far, hasn't it? Fortunately for the gamers of the world, Nintendo has blessed us with the delight that is “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” Of course, across other platforms, the likes of “Ori and the Will of the Wisps,” “Doom: Eternal,” “Resident Evil 3” and “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” have likely kept most of us from being the slightest bit bored during these times. But what is on the horizon? Hopefully, a safe and healthy environment to go out and enjoy life in. However, quarantine or not, these are the games that caught my attention for the month of May. Let’s see what is coming to a console near you next month.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is Great… Except for These Things

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Nintendo took the world by storm for the last month with “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” And I’m no exception, having punched in dozens of hours into progressing my island without a tiny bit of signing off on the horizon. However, like all great things in life, this game is not perfect. For every addictive hustle of flipping fruit and turnips or creative endeavors in my up and coming mansion, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” leave me frustrated by simple decisions made or lack thereof. These are those annoyances that Nintendo should have done differently in the latest “Animal Crossing.”

Top 20 Games of the Decade (Part 2: 10-1)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

The 2010's were an impressive 10 years, seeing tens of hundreds of games released worth checking out.

My personal gaming taste differs from yours, that I am sure of, so be aware that this list is very subjective. I am not ranking the best games of the decade, just my favorites. So please be sure to be respectful with that in mind.

I invite you to go check out the first part of the list, where I have 20 through 11, ass this is my top 20 games of the 2010's. That would be a good read prior to this list!

With all that out of the way, let's take a deep dive into the 10 defining games of my last decade, with a few more honorable mentions to boot.

Enjoy!

Top Games Nintendo Should Bring to the Switch

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Happy birthday Nintendo Switch! The home console-handheld hybrid turns three today and with that, I knew I needed to talk about the Switch in some capacity.

Originally, a list of my favorite Switch titles was on my mind, but then I quickly realized how mine wouldn’t be very special compared to all of the other lists. I too love my Super Mario Odyssey and Super Smash Bros Ultimate as much as the next guy.

Then I realized I have been meaning to write something about Nintendo ports I want. Sure, plenty of third party games could make up their own list, and perhaps I will do that soon. This list however will strictly stick to games from Nintendo platforms.

In honor of the third birthday of the Nintendo Switch, a console that gets games on a daily basis from all consoles across all years, I am going to shame it for not having these awesome games.

Just kidding of course; I adore the Switch and greatly respect Nintendo’s efforts over the last few years. This is just a fun dream list of a few Nintendo games or games from their consoles that I would absolutely love to revisit on my Switch in the coming years.

Top 20 Games of the Decade (Part 1: 20-11)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Seeing as it took until the end of February to post this list, it is safe to say narrowing down my favorite game of the 2010's was no easy task. There were just so many games I played but even harder after deciding on 20 was placing them properly. Giving numbers to these games on this ranking was difficult but I managed to narrow them down and I feel confident to share this with you all.
Be aware that this list is obviously very subjective so I probably won't include many of your favorites since they didn't resonate with me or perhaps I just didn't give them enough time.
Of course, this is only the first part of the list. That means another 10 games, plus some more honorable mentions are coming soon, so stay tuned.
Here is part 1 of my top 20 games of the decade of the 2010's. Enjoy!

Top 5 games of 2019 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2019 may have ended a few weeks ago but I am still trying to compile what is a definitive list of favorite games for the year. It was a year that I got caught up with a lot of things and oddly enough beat little to no titles at all. I did however have some great fun with a few of 2019’s games; therefore, it is a little late but still; exciting to talk about so here are my personal picks for 2019.

Top 5 Games of 2018 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2018 is hands-down my favorite year of the decade in gaming, even topping 2013 which was full of personal favorites in gaming. 2018 was full of titles that really stuck with me. Some of the games released that year are instant contenders across the board for game of the decade, a few even making it onto lists covering the best of all time. So it was difficult to include just five games here, given the fact that I made a top 10 list of 2018 games at the end of the respective year on YouTube. Even harder was ranking the five here.

Top 5 Games of 2017 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

2017 was one of the finest years of this past decade for many games released, including the launch of the Nintendo Switch. That year has a few most notable titles that stand out above all for some but mine may differ a little. So let’s take a look back at 2017.