RWC Tutor Ulysses Ochoa compiled a list of a few video games to play to celebrate game & puzzle week.
The 20th to the 26th of November is Game and Puzzle Week 2023! This week can be a great reason to gather with friends and play games. Or you could take time and discover a new hobby for yourself. Here are some fun examples of how to celebrate the week!
King of Fighters ‘98-
The King of Fighters ‘98 is available on several platforms, though I will recommend the Final Edition on Steam and PlayStation. It is a three versus three-fighting game with 49 characters to choose from, though unlike other team-based fighting games, you cannot switch between characters while playing, so the order you select them matters. There are several cool characters to pick from, such as the jazz-loving demon-blooded rocker Iori Yagami or the stylish kickboxing bartender King. Like every good fighting game, you can either mash buttons or learn the mechanics in depth to have fun. Not to mention the iconic soundtrack with classic tunes like Stormy Saxophone and Seoul Town. The Final Edition has great net code, so you can play against friends close to home or worldwide. You can pick up the game for around 15, making it an excellent choice for those gaming on a budget.
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a single player action game based on an anime from the nineties, though you don’t need to have seen the show to enjoy the experience. You play as the titular Deedlit, an elf who wakes up in an unfamiliar world and must navigate forests, lava pits, and manors filled with D&D like creatures to regain her memories. When you first start most of the map is inaccessible, but as you progress you gain skills to proceed and the story. What makes the game so engaging and addicting is the gameplay. The mechanics of fighting and using magic are simple yet challenging to master, and as you get further into the game, you feel your proficiency in your skill grow. Another big selling point is the excellent music, such as the song Contrattacco-Emotional Overload, and gorgeous pixel art. It is available on all major platforms for 25$ and will sometimes be on sale for around 15-20$.
Bandai-
If you want to get into something to stimulate the kinesthetic part of your brain but aren’t into traditional puzzles, model kits could be the way to go. Specifically, entry-grade model kits are made by the company Bandai since you don’t have to invest in model kit nippers or deal with many stickers to build them. Bandai has entry-grade kits based on various anime, video games, and their most popular license, Mobile Suit Gundam. If you want something simple to snap together in roughly five minutes, the game and anime entry kits are for you, as they consist of huge pieces with little to no articulated parts. If you want kits with more going on, the entry Gundam kits would be up your alley due to having more intricate engineering and being fully poseable. Both retail at around $10-$15, making them an affordable way to see if the hobby is right for you.