Fable
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Platforms: PC, Xbox, and Playstation
Developer: 2K Boston
Publisher: 2K
Genre: First Person Shooter
Prep: Stil can be played easily there is also a remasted version released in 2016 available in most modern stores and consoles.
Pre-Game: by Filbert
When I think about BioShock I think about the Xbox 360 and 7th generation of console generation. This was really the last major milestone in console jumps. The jump from 7th to 8th felt more like a hop and the jump from 8th to 9th was more like a step. I recall the release of the 360 thinking how great games looked at launch and larger they felt in scope.
Though I couldn’t help but think about launch titles from PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox games. Comparing a launch game to one released later in the console's life you saw vast improvements.Being a launch or early title wasn’t inherently a bad thing but as a kid I still remember when renting games. If I was comparing two or more I would often do a quick check of the copyright on the back of a box and if one was a launch year and the other wasn’t I generally went with the game released later in the consoles life.
Generally games released a year or more into the lifetime of the console simply meant the developers were better with the tools to create games on consoles. BioShock along with Elder Scrolls Oblivion were the first games to feel truly next gen. I still remember all the hype and talk about BioShock and how all future shooters would be compared to BioShock.
I remember being in a local game store talking to the owner about BioShock and how he said it was already his game of the year. He doubted anything would top it but one thing he said suck to me at that age. He mentioned it took him about 8 or 10 hours to beat and how he felt that was a perfect amount of time.
Now, at the time I didn’t have a 360 and wouldn't have a gaming computer capable of playing it for another year. Though BioShock constantly got praise I kept passing on picking it up. When I was a teen and into my college year still one of the primary things I looked in for a game was replay ability and game length. I wanted games I could easily sink 50 or 100 hours into.
The funny thing is in my older age. I often grumble and complain about narrative games being longer than 10-15 hours. A tight 8 hour shooter is a major selling point to me now.
I have never played BioShock, never watched anyone play it, and have never been spoiled on it. I know just the basics. There is some weird little girl and robot called Big Daddy? Heck I am not even sure if it is a single Big Daddy or if there are multiple. I know you’re in some underwater city that holds some guy in high regard. I also have heard it is a bit of a spiritual successor to the System Shock games but I am not sure how true that is. That’s all I really know though.
This has been a game on my backlog for basically 2 decades now. I am excited to play it and see what this game has to offer.
Links and Tools
To The Moon
Release Date: Nov 1, 2011
Platforms: PC, Xbox, PSN, Switch, iOS, Android
Developer: Freebird Games
Publisher: Freebird Games
Genre: Adventure / Narrative Driven
Prep: N/A
Pre-Game: by Filbert
I have always believed the less you know about a great narrative the better. I half jokingly but half seriously say there should be a law that movie trailers can’t show footage past the first 15 minutes. Being on that journey of discovery through a great narrative is satisfying, and nearly always enhanced when you don't have any breadcrumbs to follow. That said, this is the Pre-Game and I have to talk about the game. Though I am going to do my best to make sure if this game is a first time experience you just know the setup.
To the Moon is considered an adventure game and was made within RPG Maker XP. Though I do always tell people it is much more of an experience and narrative than a game. There isn’t any battle system or inventory management. The only gameplay mechanics come in exploration and puzzle solving. What carries this game and experience in the narrative.
Which in my humble opinion might be one of, if not the strongest narrative I came across in a video game.
The setup of the game is you are playing as two scientists who work for a company that offers an end of life service. People who hire this service can have a wish fulfilled prior to their death. When that individual is on their deathbed in a comatose state, they will be hooked up to a machine. Which carries out their wish by creating artificial memories. The last thing the patient does before they die is live out what they requested.
For this to happen though the scientist need to meet the patient prior to their death to learn about them and their past. They are able to do so by journeying through the memories of the individual. This must be done so their final wish can be fulfilled. They are not able to just forcibly implement a wish, it must fit into the individual's personality, experiences, and history.
Now, we start off the story of this game. You arrive at your latest client's house. An old man who only has a couple days left. His final wish is to go to the moon. Though he doesn’t even know why, only that he wants to. The scientist this seems strange. Most wishes someone asks for they clearly know why they want to experience it. A huge football fan might want to win the Superbowl, or someone into aviation might want to become a fighter pilot. That is all I will say for the plot. I hope you will enjoy the story as much as I did. It is a fairly short experience, a game that can be completed in 3 or 4 hours.
When it comes to playing the game it balances between the themes of romanticism and realism in the literary scene. I do think it is helpful to keep these both in mind as you play the game. As well for the discussion at the end of the month.
Conclusion
If it isn’t clear by now I think To the Moon is a masterfully told story. I honestly find it less of a game and more of an experience. I do think you being a player does add a certain amount of agency you can never get with a book, movie, or show. Though it is a narrative I think would be a fantastic adaptation into a movie or mini series.
If you have heard me talk about games enough. I have almost certainly asked “Have you played To the Moon?” which more often than not the response is “No what game is that”, and I follow up with “Go play it!”.
A big reason why I want to participate in EXP Monthly is to shed light on games or experiences like this. Now, hop into your death bed, get tucked in, and strap in for a journey to the moon.
Links and Tools
Pumpkin Jack
Release Date: Oct 23, 2020
Platforms: PC, Xbox, PSN, Switch
Developer: Nicolas Meyssonnier
Publisher: Headup Games
Genre: Action-Adventure
Prep: None
Pre-Game: by Shadown815x
On October 23rd, 2020, Pumpkin Jack released on PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Pumpkin Jack took Nicolas Meyssonnier 4 years to make. He did so mostly alone. He got help from Adrien Lucas with porting the game to consoles. Then we have who composed the music. Pumpkin Jack is a Halloween themed 3D platformer with hack and slash and action/adventure elements. This game is somewhat considered a hidden gem. This was also a very requested game to get a physical copy.
First Encounter
I first saw this game at AGDQ 2022 (Awesome Games Done Quick), a speedrun marathon for charity where the runner, Jaxler, ran the game. What got my attention right away was the art direction and the vibrant colors. The gameplay also looked very fun. It was hard to look away from the run. So when Limited Run announced a physical, I was very pleased.
Conclusion
I have yet to play this game, so this will be my first playthrough. But I'm a big fan of 3D platformers, so I'm excited about giving this a go.
Links and Tools
Links to Purchase
GOG
Steam
I highly recommend installing Shogo Fix mod. It does a few important things it adds widescreen and higher res and fixes POV. Also if you constantly have you mouse flicker someone made a DLL fix for that on git hub. Download this file dxwrapper.zip it is from this git hub link. You simply extract the 4 files in that download to the Shogo root folder.
If you need further help getting the game to run or have questions reach out on the discord.
Chrono Trigger
Release Date: 03/11/1995 Japan, 08/22/1995 North America
Platforms: SNES, Playstation 1, Android, Apple Store (IOS), Nintendo DS, Steam,
Developer: Squaresoft
Publisher: Squaresoft
Genre: JRPG
Prep: There are few ways to purchase it. I found a helpful website that compares the different versions for the pros and cons.
Pre-Game: by MsMoon
Frequently hailed as one of the best JRPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger was brought to life through a unique, collaborative effort by a group of developers known as the “Dream Team.” Some of the most notable names in the genre at that time included Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of FF), Yuji Horii (creator of Dragon Quest) and Akira Toriyama (creator of the Dragon Ball series). Others involved were Yoshinori Kitase as one of the Directors, Yasunori Mitusda as first-time composer along with FF series composer Nobuo Uematsu who contributed 10 tracks. Even Tetsuya Nomura assisted with Field Graphics.
First Encounter
I discovered Chrono Trigger on one fateful day at my local rental store in 1995. The cool logo design along with Akira’s signature art style depicting a battle scene on the box art, it immediately jumped out to me and my older brother. From then on this, along with FFVI, became some of my earliest experiences with JRPGs and with it, compelling storytelling in games. The music, characters, and world building started a lifelong love affair with this genre that has influenced tremendously.
Story
It’s a simple premise; a demonstration of a teleporter at a local fair goes wrong, causing Crono, Lucca, and Marle to discover the ability to time travel. Along the way, they learn about a global catastrophe hundreds of years into the future that will end their world as they know it unless they can change history. This and Chrono Cross, have to be some of my favorite storylines about the concept of time travel. It has often had me thinking about the bittersweet nature of time on a few occasions in my life and how much about and around you could change just by making a different choice, even down to the smallest ones if you had the ability to do it. What’s so awesome about Chrono Trigger is that you feel the weight of a lot those outcomes. Stories like these can get lost in their own writing with difficulties keeping various plot points consistent and with threads that don’t ultimately tie together in the end but Chrono Trigger for me is one of the exceptions. It felt like it had purpose and payoff. There’s a lot more I want to mention but you know…spoilers haha
The one cool thing I will mention is that there are 13 unique endings. They can be achieved by defeating the final boss at different points in the game or with different conditions during the final battle. They’re accessible in New Game+ after the first playthrough. I recommend looking up those endings on Youtube if you want to check them out!
Battle System
The battle system is your classic turn-based where you control three characters at a time. One of the fun aspects is the dual/triple tech attacks you can do with your party in different combinations. It’s a nice initiative to experiment and use different party combinations. Another notable feature is that enemy encounters are openly visible on field maps or lie in wait to ambush the party. Contact with enemies on a field map initiates a battle that occurs directly on the map rather than on a separate battle screen.
Conclusion
I haven’t played Chrono Trigger in a number of years so I’m very excited for this month’s EXP Monthly to revisit it with others and get their perspectives. Is it still the JRPG classic I consider it to be down to this day or an aged, nostalgic relic of the past? Only time will tell... -MsMoon
F.E.A.R. - August 2025
Release Date: Oct 18, 2005
Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, PS3
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Genre: First Person Shooter
Prep: Can be purchased on GoG or Steam, still runs on modern systems. There is a fan made patch F.E.A.R. Echo Patch which improves the experience.
Pre-Game: by Filbert
We start the second EXP Monthly with F.E.A.R. Following up with Shogo a Monolith Productions game with another Monolith game. F.E.A.R. is a first person shooter but with two notable gameplay mechanics. The first is melee combat is a viable method to do damage in this game. From hitting with the butt of weapons to jumping kicks. The other prominent mechanic is reflex time, a type of bullet time. You can react at normal speeds still firing and melee enemies. F.E.A.R. was another game I did play around its release.
It’s a game I recall fondly because one of my older brothers had purchased a gaming PC. It was our first computer with a dedicated graphics card. Granted we had this PC for at least a year or two now but it was still a new and cool experience to play at the time high end games on max or nearly max settings. F.E.A.R. and the first Far Cry are two games which always come to mind. Gone were the days of playing the newest game on the family computer getting 20 FPS.
Now, it has been nearly 20 years since I last played the single player of F.E.A.R. I don’t remember much when it comes to the story other than it dealt with the paranormal and a few enemies. I assume I would have beat the game but can’t specifically recall. Much like Shogo this game will feel nearly like the first time playing through, though with Shogo I did recall a few major story beats. When it comes to F.E.A.R. I only remember there was a little girl. I also want to say early in a mission all your team dies and bleeds out of their helmets? Who knows if that recollection is accurate lol.
I do know I never would of played the two expansions for the game. When I was in college me and a group of friends were playing LAN nights often. At the time a free version of F.E.A.R. released which was only multiplayer. Me and a few friends including Blue had many nights playing 2v2s, 4v4s or FFA matches in the dorm room. Though the single player narrative didn’t quite stick with me, those LAN parties that F.E.A.R. was a staple will always be cherished memories.
Links and Tools
Shogo Mobile Armor Division
Release Date: Oct 1998
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, and Amiga
Developer: Monolith Productions / Hyperion Entertainment (For Amiga)
Publisher: Monolith Productions (NA) / Microids (EU) / Titan Computers (Ports)
Genre: First Person Shooter
Prep: Can be purchased on GoG or Steam, still runs on modern systems. There are two easy to setup Mods you might want to download linked at the bottom. I highly recommend doing so.
Pre-Game: by Filbert
Shogo was a late 90s first person shooter. One of the earlier games put out by Monolith who is also known for F.E.A.R. Alien Versus Predator 2, Middle-Earth Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. Until in 2025 unfortunately being shut down by their parent company Warner Bros. Games.
The game is a mix of first person shooting action. Some levels are on foot while others take place in Mechs. The game is fully voice acted and also has two possible endings. It also does it’s test to include some immersive story telling much like Half-Life did which release a month after. In some areas, typically the on foot out of mech you can walk around and trigger interactions from NPCs. Some story elements are optional by interacting with objects like computers in the game. You even do things like selecting your mech by walking in an hanger and triggering mechs to be deployed then must walk into them.
I (Filbert) first played the game back in the early 2000s probably around 2002-2003. It was one of the games I have no clue how I ended up with. Simply I just had the CD and key for the game, and still do. I would of first played it on my Windows 98 computer which was the family computer until the family computer was upgraded to a Dell XP Machine in 2001.
By the time when I finally played it. I could tell the graphics were dated but still looked great. Since I would have been comparing to games like Metal Gear Solid 2. Though I knew for a late 90s game it was a great looking game. I was also impressed that it was fully voiced acted. I would of also played Half-Life around this time, not sure which I played first. Much like Half Life in Shogo I quickly became immersed in the world. That fact you could go rogue and just attack anyone which would soft lock the mission and send guards to keep killings you. Game the impression so much was in your control.
At the time I thought maybe you could just go rogue and fight everyone and continue. I haven’t played the game since the mid 2000s other that booting it up and making the way through the first couple levels. I don’t recall the specifics about the story besides there are two warring sides and you get to make a choice on which side to go with at the end.
I’m personally excited to jump back into this game and discuss with others as I progress through it and hear everyone's thoughts.
Links and Tools
Links to Purchase
GOG
Steam
I highly recommend installing Shogo Fix mod. It does a few important things it adds widescreen and higher res and fixes POV. Also if you constantly have you mouse flicker someone made a DLL fix for that on git hub. Download this file dxwrapper.zip it is from this git hub link. You simply extract the 4 files in that download to the Shogo root folder.
If you need further help getting the game to run or have questions reach out on the discord.