Sometimes life is just about survival, getting through a year, and starting a new one.
Not many games stuck with Andrea Shearon in 2023, but Norco did.
You should play Norco.
You should read this piece.
All tagged Winter Spectacular 2022
Escaping Reality With Rose Tinted Glasses In Lake | Winter Spectacular 2022
Games are about escaping reality, but that usually means blasting demons in hell or travelling through Tamriel.
However, in 2022 Odhrán Johnson escaped to 1986 Americana thanks to Lake.
Review | A Closer Look At Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's Campaign | Winter Spectacular 2022
Now that the game has been out for a while and we’ve moved away from some of the hype and hyperbole, just how good is Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign?
Matthew John McCormick investigates.
Fanny Moreaux's Global Indie Game Trends of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
While the triple-A industry seems dedicated to releasing more and more huge open-world games each year, the indie scene has never been more diverse.
That being said, there are some trends in that space too. These are the ones Fanny Moreaux noticed shining through.
10 The Wildest Video Game News Stories of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
A lot of news happened in the games industry in 2022, and some of it was almost too wild to believe… and yet here we are.
Michael Beckwith has a top-ten-list-worth of wild stuff, that barely scratches the surface of this industry.
Review | Vampire Survivors: Legacy Of The Moonspell - Entranced In Chaos
Ok, so now that we have determined that even people that dislike Vampire Survivors, actually like it if they try hard enough, what else do we investigate?
Ah yes! Broc Peterson joins us to investigate the post-launch, paid DLC, and see if it can live up to the base game.
Review | Vampire Survivors - Sink It's Teeth In... Eventually
Ok listen. I don’t mean to alarm you… But I think we have found someone that doesn’t like Vampire Survivors.
How dare Jon/Jenna Simspon!? I mean— wait… What’s that?
Oh… You should read their full review…
Michael Leopold Weber, Cursed To Golf, And The Gift Of Simple Mechanics | Winter Spectacular 2022
2022 was a huge year for games and a year where the games were huge. Nestled amongst the Elden Rings and Horizon Forbidden Wests were some overlooked gems.
Cursed to Golf is one and it has given Michael Leopold Weber an appreciation for simple mechanics.
Game of The Year: Elden Ring Isn’t Quite A Masterpiece And That’s Okay | Winter Spectacular 2022
Endless words have been written about Elden Ring, and while the game might be magnificent it isn’t quite Fromsofteware’s masterpiece.
Fin Cattanach examines the best game of the year, and how it could have been better.
AI, The Point Of Art, And Going Extinct Before Dragon Age 4 Comes Out | Winter Spectacular 2022
Some might position AI as the next evolution in game development tools but the issues seem endless. From logistical to morale reasons it’s hard to know where to start.
Let’s start with Jamie Nicholas, Dragon Age, and Dr. Ian Malcolm.
Best Of 2022: Maddie's Dance Beat | Winter Spectacular 2022
2022 was the year Madeline Blondeau rediscovered her love of writing about games.
These were the games that helped rekindle that flame.
Willa Rowe's Year Of Reviews In Review | Winter Spectacular 2022
Game reviews, huh? Every year that passes we talk about them more and more.
Are they still useful? Does anyone read them? What is an 8/10?
But maybe it is time we reframe the conversation. Willa Rowe thinks so.
Switch Review | Rogue Legacy 2 - Awesome And Accessible
Ten years on from the release of the first game, Cellar Door Games has returned to explore yet another winding family tree with Rogue Legacy 2.
Can this sequel live up to familial expectations? Alex Branagan reviews.
Broc Peterson's Top 5 Games Of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
Despite countless delays for major big games, there were still plenty of amazing video games to play in 2022.
These are Broc Peterson’s favourites.
SKELETON's Video Game Horoscope For 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
Skeleton didn’t feel like writing a Game of The Year list, so instead, they are investigating what YOUR game of the year says about you.
A Draft Of Jay Castello's Games Of The Year | Winter Spectacular 2022
Can we publish this? Is this a draft?
Is this a Game of The Year list? Is this a feature contemplating our relationship with work?
Only Jay Castello knows.
Review | Wayward Strand - A Strand Short
It has been a banner year for interactive fiction in the indie game scene. Wayward Strand deftly tackles difficult subject matter but is the game that surrounds it just as good?
Tyler Denyer reviews.
Review | Lunistice - Blast From The Present
PSX throwback games are so hot right now. Lunistice hopes to recapture the magic of classic games but has A Grumpy Fox gone away and made the best Sonic game in decades?
Broc Peterson reviews.
Journalism Has A Skill Issue - Jason Coles | Winter Spectacular 2022
Every now and again discourse happens. And every now and again, despite every bone in your body knowing you should just move on you can’t.
And every now and again Jason Coles writes something for startmenu.
How Stray Can Help You Appreciate The Little Things | Winter Spectacular 2022
Stray is a game about being a little cat in a big city, and this change in perspective helped give Marie Pritchard a much-needed appreciation for the little things.