I played Battlefield Hardline's campaign for about 30 minutes and it's not great. I was back on Wolfenstein: The New Order, blowing enemies away inside a Moon base. This has to be nearing the end, now, as it seems like I've been playing it for months, and where can it go after a Moon base?
Aside from the odd infuriating difficulty spike and a general sense that the tone of the whole thing isn't quite right, Wolf is one of the best shooters I've played in years. Very much looking forward to May's stand-alone expansion.
I realise the year is 2015. I realise the Game Boy Advance is a console that many of you may have to Google to find out what it is. Finally, I realise there's plenty of other games that I could currently be playing.
But when you're sat in your house on a Saturday night and, out of the corner of your eye, notice the classic Nintendo handheld - with NES-themed pattern etched onto the side - it's hard to resist, especially when you know that one of the best platformers ever made is currently rammed into the cartridge dock.
This is what I rediscovered this week, however. With all the steps forward we've made thanks to technology, I find it hard to come up with a game that's as fun, challenging or addictive as Super Mario Bros 3. There's been plenty of Mario titles that have been released subsequently that are as good, maybe even better, but 3's biggest strength is reminding you of an era that now feels forgotten.
With every publisher under the sun seemingly more concerned about framerates and resolution than the core gaming experience, it's a refreshing treat to play something that could, quite literally, be enjoyed by anyone. All you have to do is understand the basics. Nintendo takes care of the rest.
I'm sure if all games were actually striving for this that would be a problem in itself - diversity is always key - but I for one would certainly enjoy more developers heading down this avenue. We can but hope...
I’ve been playing a lot more Destiny this week as it’s my first time really investing in the Iron Banner. As much as it’s the same grind as in every other part of the game, having a new meta-game and reputation system to work towards means that once again it fails to become tiresome. It also helps that PvP is always fun in a Bungie shooter.
Being a level 30, I’m able to hold my own most of the time, getting overwhelmed in only a few matches, when random team-mates decide that Control is actually Team Deathmatch and they have no desire or inclination to remember their ABCs.
I’m hoping to earn enough rep and Glimmer to buy some of the weapons from Saladin, as this is a pretty good week for firearms, and I could use some higher-level weapons to take on the Raids.
You know what? Despite some saying otherwise, I actually think Hardline is at its best when it tries being Battlefield. I haven't been all that taken by Heist and Hotwire yet, and have had most of my fun capturing territory and running down tickets in Battlefield's traditional Conquest mode instead.
Trouble is, I wish Hardline had been an expansion pack for Battlefield 4. Parts of the community have been saying that for months, of course, but I genuinely miss the military vehicle-based combat and, much like BF4's Team Deathmatch, find the new infantry focus a little dull at times. There are moments when I wish I was able to roll through LA's industrial centre in a tank or had immediate access to a rocket launcher, and while Hardline can be a lot of fun, I often get the impression that some of the franchise's key elements have been stripped away just to make it feel different. A shame.
That said, while I was initially underwhelmed, I do want to stick some time into Hardline's multiplayer now that I've discovered how entertaining it can be, even if it does feel more like the stopgap we all feared it would be.
Darksiders 2: Gnashor Boss Fight Guide
. Plays November 4
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Guide: Learning To Swim Guide
How to Branch Mine in Minecraft
Resident Evil: Revelations 2