[timestamp] is a running journal and reflection on the games I play, news I’ve read, and commentary on hot topics and conversations I have come across. These will be free to read online and printed in a limited monthly edition for $15/mo Patreon supporters!
Games played: The King is Watching (PS5), Splatoon Raiders (Switch 2)
Well, I have been a bit busy with work and life, prepping my next issue of Pixels and Polygons Quarterly, and, with this being the final issue of the year, I am also putting the 2026 ANNUAL together, which is a collection of all four issues. I launched the Kickstarter for it a couple of days ago, too. I have sprinkled in a few sessions of The King is Watching over the last few days, but nothing to put a whole journal entry in for. But today…
That sounds like I have something exciting to share next, but I don’t. Sorry. I did finish the second stage of The King is Watching, all of the difficulty tiers, and unlocked the third (and maybe final?) level. The graveyard gimmick didn’t really force me to change up my play style at all, and I haven’t started the third stage, so I am unsure if this will have a gimmick as well. I am sure it does, but I hope it isn’t anything too crazy. I have spent a lot of time just gaining the currency to unlock more advisors and skills, plugging away at some of those permanent upgrades.
I don’t have much more to really dissect here. This is just a game that speaks to me, fusing these mechanics and elements together. It’s like peanut butter and chocolate. Getting into a zen state, looking like the Beautiful Mind meme, and just getting lost for a couple of hours is my definition of a good time.
I also spent some time back with Splatoon Raiders. I felt bad just dropping it cold turkey, and I should never have left it. It’s an easy daily player, and I think that’s how I will approach it to finish it out. It is no Destiny, by any means, but it’s quick to pick up, and the levels fly by. I was listening to the most recent episode of Into the Aether, and they talked about some more endgame things, and you need to end up maxing out each of the tanks, so I focused on that today.
I managed to unlock the next level HQ upgrade, plus I got through the second big boss battle, and then did a bunch of help level to party up with strangers to blast through and grind out some rewards and make progress on those other tanks. While I prefer to have that turret, I do like some of these other gadgets, and I am looking forward to finding some other play styles with the higher-level trinkets. I am hoping there are more unique trinkets to let you mix up even the same gadgets with other play styles. We’ll see!
It’s weird to feel so busy that I just skipped almost a week of playing games. It happens from time to time, but you should always make some time for games. I am lucky to have an interest in so many genres and styles. I can play almost anything. Let’s make sure I am back here with another entry in less than five days, okay?
