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Video Game Review | Seasons after Fall

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I’m not sure what to say about Seasons after Fall, mainly because it was not at all what I thought it would be… and not in a good way.

After the first hour and a half, it began to feel like I was just following the same actions over and over again. The mechanics, which at first were interesting, quickly became clunky and annoying… after seeing the seasons change the first few times it no longer evoked any kind of awe in me.

There is one part of the game that was really interesting. You’re required to solve puzzles by blowing fog away so you can access new parts of the level. But this is only utilized the once and then it’s back to the same old actions.

Lookit this cute little sleepy fox!

The most difficult trophy for me to get was also the most annoying out of all of them. The worst part of the game is that you are doing the exact same things in the exact same locations to both progress the game and to earn trophies.

“A bird” bugged me the most because it requires you to happen to stop in the right location and SIT THERE for an extended amount of time.

Doing absolutely nothing.

At no other point in the game are you asked to pause and wait for something to magically happen, so unless you’re trophy hunting you probably won’t ever get this one.

A bird
Very Rare 12.9%
In the Woods of the Ancestors, listen carefully, find the bird and keep very still.

The story was weird and disjointed, which may have been what they were going for, but it didn’t help further the plot of the game for me. Rather, it felt like here is some random dialogue and there is a cut scene and now a different character is talking to you… but none of it felt connected.

Ultimately, other than the beautiful visuals and fun soundtrack, Seasons after Fall was kind of a disappointing waste of time. Honestly, it felt like it just dragged on for too long… maybe if they’d cut the last third of the game it would have been more fun, but towards the end I wasn’t looking forward to playing.

I’m really sad about how disappointed I am with this game, but I guess you can’t expect every game to be perfect for you. Maybe I just wasn’t the audience they were looking for?

Title: Seasons after Fall
Developer: Swing Swing Submarine
Genre: Adventure
Platform: PS4
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Trophy difficulty: Monotonous

Blog | I’m a Gamer Girl (how I got started)
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Blog | I’m a Gamer Girl (how I got started)

Michelle1 Comment

I’ve enjoyed playing video games for about as long as I can remember, but I haven’t always considered myself an actual gamer.

The first console I played on was the Super NES by Nintendo that my family owned when I was little and, next to reading and being outdoors, playing Tetris or Donkey Kong was a great way to pass the time. While we were traveling, my Game Boy Pocket saw so much use that the screen came off and it eventually gave up the ghost. I lost so many hours playing Tetris Attack and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.

But it wasn’t until I was a teenager and working that I purchased a console of my own; a GameCube, which would quickly become my absolute favorite console.

I had played on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 with my brother and some friends, but they were into First Person Shooter type games and I was used mainly as bait, lol. This initial experience with these two ‘powerhouse’ consoles kept me from playing on them for years afterwards… they just weren’t fun for me.

My GameCube, on the other hand, saw me through many adventures; from Skies of Arcadia and Baten Kaitos: The Lost Ocean to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Super Monkey Ball.

Continue reading “Blog | I’m a Gamer Girl (how I got started)” →
blog

Identity Crisis Book Tag

Michelle1 Comment

Evelyn Reads shared this awesome quiz on her blog and invited anyone interested to participate. It looked like a lot of fun (and you know how I like quizzes), so I decided to try it out. 😀

Rules:

  • Take all the quizzes and record your answers.
  • No cheating, your first result is the one that counts. 😉
  • Use this post to give credit to the creator Loretta @TheLaughingListener or tag her on twitter @Laughnlistener so she can see everyone’s answers!
  • Tag some friends to spread the fun!

Quizzes & Results:

Continue reading “Identity Crisis Book Tag” →
May TBR
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May TBR

MichelleLeave a comment

Due to the Covid-19 craziness, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get my hands on these books from my usual vendors. I try to support local as much as possible, so if they can’t get the nonfiction and inspiration titles I have on my May TBR, then I’ll just have to wait. Totally not sad about that… except for how much I am.

Nonfiction:

Joy at Work by Marie Kondo & Scott Sonenshein

The workplace is a magnet for clutter and mess. Who hasn’t felt drained by wasteful meetings, disorganized papers, endless emails, and unnecessary tasks? These are the modern-day hazards of working, and they can slowly drain the joy from work, limit our chances of career progress, and undermine our well-being.

There is another way.

In Joy at Work, bestselling author and Netflix star Marie Kondo and Rice University business professor Scott Sonenshein offer stories, studies, and strategies to help you eliminate clutter and make space for work that really matters.

Using the world-renowned KonMari Method and cutting-edge research, Joy at Work will help you overcome the challenges of workplace mess and enjoy the productivity, success, and happiness that comes with a tidy desk and mind.

Goodreads | Amazon

Comic book:

Little Nightmares by John Shackleford, et. al.

A nine-year old girl named Six is kidnapped from her home and taken to work in The Maw – a surreal underwater resort that caters to the whims of the powerful elite, and where everything is built to towering and frightening proportions.

The Maw is a grim feeding trough for the swollen, corrupted souls of the world. A place where excess is encouraged and dark secrets kept far out of sight.

When an unexpected twist of fate offers her a chance at freedom, Six takes a journey through the bizarre and unpredictable world of The Maw, and catches a glimpse at the corrupt heart of modern happiness, in a thrilling new story that delightfully connects to the deranged video game.

Goodreads | Amazon

Inspiration:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the mole.

“Kind,” said the boy.

Charlie Mackesy offers inspiration and hope in uncertain times in this beautiful book based on his famous quartet of characters. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse explores their unlikely friendship and the poignant, universal lessons they learn together.

Radiant with Mackesy’s warmth and gentle wit, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse blends hand-written narrative with dozens of drawings, including some of his best-loved illustrations (including “Help,” which has been shared over one million times) and new, never-before-seen material. A modern classic in the vein of The Tao of Pooh, The Alchemist, and The Giving Tree, this charmingly designed keepsake will be treasured for generations to come.

Goodreads | Amazon

blog · challenges

Top Ten Tuesday

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Top Ten Tuesday for April 28: Books I Wish I Had Read As a Child…

I have read a handful of these titles since becoming an adult, but not all of them, and I truly wish I could have read them as a child so that I could re-experience them as an adult. But they are all amazing books in their own unique ways and I would highly suggest each and every one, if you’re looking for something to dive into. 🙂

The Little Prince by Antione de Saint-Exupery

The Thornthwaite Inheritance by Gareth P. Jones

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

blog · college life · ireland · life · study abroad · travel

Travel | Ireland: Day 6

MichelleLeave a comment

Tuesday, May 17

Honestly? I didn’t pay much attention at all to the trip from Dublin to Thurles.

My fingers itched for the comfort of knitting and feel of soft, smooth yarn. I don’t recall much of the drive beyond the murmur of students and faculty.

Once we’d settled into our rooms, people started exploring the small Thurles community. And what is the heart of the community? A library that is also a gathering place!

In Ireland, checking out yer books!

Library cards are entirely free to both residents of Ireland AND to foreigners! Identification is not required to register for an account, a thing almost unheard of in the United States.

My instructor commented… “So glad you did this!”

After I’d signed up for my account and browsed the collection, I talked with the librarian, Loraine.

She told me that they were moving to a new integrated library system that would be country-wide. We discussed electronic collections and discovered that we used the same system, OverDrive. Loraine and I continued talking and I learned an entirely surprising thing!

The Thurles Library system, in fact the entire system, does not have a Friends of the Library group. Libraries in Ireland are supported solely by the government! In the states, we have nonprofit groups that raise funds for programs, furniture, and more!

After exploring more of the city, my little group returned to the library for a music program…

The tribute to Kris Kristofferson was an absolute pleasure to take part in. Many community members were in attendance, all ages enjoying the music, often clapping (sometimes singing) along with the performers.

During the performance, I took a moment inside the library. While there I talked with a library associate who asked about Memphis, my work, and the music we could hear from the next room. I told him about youth services and the duties the job entailed… He offered me a job!

My Professor commented, “Nice!” to my job offer, lol.