My name is Matthew, it’s a pleasure to be enrolled in this class, and I’m excited to meet you all! I respond to a variety of nicknames, so as long as it starts with an ‘M’ and is directed towards me, I’ll probably respond to it (although Matt or Matthew is fine if you enjoy the classics). I use (he/him) pronouns.
I can’t really claim to have a favorite game of all time since I enjoy too many, but one of my favorites that was mentioned in the videos is Spider-Man. He’s always been a character very near to my heart, and it’s truly astounding how the game mechanics capture his unique sense of kinetic freedom. Although there are plenty of elements I love including some from the story, the music, the overworld, the element of control really stands out to me. It’s the reason why I never fast travel since swinging around like Spider-Man, performing acrobatics, and feeling like the sky is mine is so exhilarating. Of course, there are many other aspects of the game I like such as the costumes balanced with their abilities and all the rush of battle (which gets especially interesting at the harder difficulties).
A recent game I enjoyed (and just recently completed) was Persona 3: Reload, a remake of the original 2006 RPG. I sank 106 hours into this game until I had completed the main objectives, and there was a lot to love. The key design interplay that captured me, however, was the dynamics between social events and dungeons. Making friends in your normal school life and growing your bonds increases your “soul energy,” in a sense, which makes you a more capable fighter in dungeons. Progressing in dungeons lets you enjoy the banter of your teammates, who you’ve bonded with, and lets you amass rewards that can then be used in the social world such as items or money. Throw in an incredibly vibrant sense of style, awesome music, slightly ramped-up pokemon mechanics, and a story surrounding existential themes, and you have a game that touched me deeply and was truly a worthwhile way to give 100 hours.
