Oatmiil

You aren't alone. After years of feeling isolated, I've been slowly trying to join game communities and reach out to like-minded people, but I still don't know how others do it. Nice to meet you!

I'm also a (beginner) shmup player and learning JP. Congrats on passing the N4 as well!

And you're right about time being an important factor in deciding what a masterpiece is. Let's not forget that musicians like Bach were not recognized for their genius during their time. It takes time to reflect on what was released during a given year/decade and look at what 'truly' stood out.

Unfortunately, I think this immediate, hype-driven 'tunnel vision' mindset has taken hold in all of media criticism. Both critics and (in this case) gamers are either paid, or swayed by their immediate reactions. Hot take: there shouldn't be a masterpiece every year, let alone 10 of them.

Definitely. But that's not to say I don't think new things can be good; obviously supporting artists and new ideas is good. I think my problem lies with people who play 'new' things exclusively, or actively disregard the past. I think you should strive for a balance and avoid recency bias.

Agreed! And I think this goes for other mediums too (e.g., music, films, etc). Most people don't know how much is out there, and what has been done before. Which leads me to another point: exploring the past also lends your critique a historical perspective, which many reviewers lack imo.

OK, you definitely have me interested! The fact that it has any classic-style DNA at all is really appealing, because the lack of level design is what I disliked most about SoTN/Bloodstained. It's great to hear that hard mode is so transformative too.

I might pick up the DS collection on sale soon.

Could not agree with you more.

I'm surprised by how much you liked Order of Ecclesia. Since I'm not a big fan of Symphony of the Night, I've been skeptical of the other Igarashi games, but this has me curious. I also really need to get to Alien Soldier and Wipeout 3...