Pearl Abyss has revealed new content coming to Black Desert Online in the near future. Black Desert is a revolutionary MMORPG that delivers intense fast-paced combat, deep and interesting life skills all rolled into an expansive open world setting. They matter to Shepard, and they matter to you.11. Through loyalty missions that dig deep into these characters' pasts to dialogue options that shape how these characters see the player within this world, every action feels meaningful and impactful, which is a large part of why Mass Effect is so incredibly immersive. That same transformative relationship building is very much evident in the Mass Effect trilogy and something that can be felt on a universal scale no matter each player's IRL journies. Those situations we endured together, though? That forged a bond that transcended previous perceptions. As someone who was on active duty, there were real-life situations I went through with people that couldn't stand me and vice versa. That sort of shared experience creates bonds in any situation, and that connection is conveyed expertly with the narrative structure and the in-game mechanics. There are squabbles, there is the process of having to win someone over, and these characters go to hell and back with each other. They are special in a way that, even as a writer, I'm not sure I could convey properly. That being said, there is something about the progression of getting to know Mass Effect NPCs that feels organic, real, and not unlike how we build friendships and romantic relationships in real life. Throughout 30 years of gaming, I've become so attached to thousands of characters, all with something special to add to any gaming adventure. To me, what makes the Mass Effect trilogy story so special is the characters themselves. If you played it once and didn't enjoy it, I urge you to try so again, this time with the comfort of portability at your disposal. I believe that the game does not truly begin until Skyhold has been claimed and that the joy of this Thedasian adventure lies within exploring the limitless open world. Many people, when they tell me they didn't enjoy Inquisition, have mentioned that they never made it past the Hinterlands or never made it out of Haven and onto Skyhold. There is a lot to love about Inquisition, but it definitely suffers from pacing issues. It also offers some of my personal favorite characters in gaming history, including the one and only Dorian Pavus. Inquisition tied up loose ends of the first two games, including what happens after Anders' rebellion, learning more about the name behind Varric's crossbow, and seeing little Connor all grown-up once more after his harrowing experience in Redcliff. It's the longest of the BioWare games, with a total completion sometimes clocking in at over 200 hours. Pinky swear! I say Dragon Age Inquisition because this seems to be a divisive entry out of the three games despite winning numerous awards. I see it now-last game type like this, promise. Still, can you imagine playing this on the go? Exciting! Death Stranding will be something I plan on diving deeply into once more to give it one more shot! And if the Steam Deck's freedom isn't enough to make it to the final stretch? That's OK too! I won't like every game, just like you won't, and that's alright. I think for a game like this, in terms of my own personal enjoyment, playing outside of the box may be that secret little puzzle piece that unlocks the bigger picture. Then it came out on PC, and I decided to try again. But I just couldn't feel that connection, though I enjoyed the overarching experience. Because of that, this was a title I very much wanted to love and vested far more time into it than I'd like to admit. My first degree is actually in philosophy - you can hear responsible adults laughing at me in the background if you listen closely - so Kojima's creative way of seeing the world has always appealed to my analytical mind. When I first tried Death Stranding out on PlayStation, it was a game I wanted to like very much.