Shadow Tower Abyss
So this is the final game I'm dedicating to the SGC'16. Shadow Tower Abyss is something I've been very interested in playing since the English translation released years back. But I kept putting it off due to wanting to finish all the other first person FromSoftware dungeon crawlers prior to it. I got those done, so here we are.
I put two hours into STA last night, and I had quite an experience. The game starts off with your character (a young man) being led to a cavern entrance in a deep dark forest. Legends speak of a spear hidden within that grants mighty power to its wielder. As you step into the cavern, the Old Man traps you inside. Suddenly your torch goes out, and you're surrounded in darkness. Gradually your eyes get used to the dark, and the world starts to come into focus again. You are alone in an unknown subterranean world, with nothing but a pistol in your inventory. No one is here to tell you where to go. No one is here to help you survive. You are lost in the dreadful deep. Now be self sufficient and survive. Learn or die. No one cares about you down here. You are on your own.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
A lot happened in those two hours. I'm not Ack, so I'm not gonna give a ten paragraph play by play, sorry. But I looted corpses for meager gear. I fought vicious monsters in frantic bloodthirsty combat. I made a lot of progress, fell into a trap, got killed, lost thirty minutes of progress. I started over, made it further this time. Talked a dire boat creature into giving me a ride down an underground river. Accessed a new area. Was able to save. Made a lot of progress, went too far into a lair of ferocious fire and ice beasts, all my weapons broke, I became overwhelmed, I died. I lost another thirty minutes of progress. I started over from the save. Went a different way. Survived exploring a creepy insect hoard area, found another save. Saved. Called it quits for a night. Was blown away by the awesomeness.
The thing that really stands out for me with Abyss versus the original Shadow Tower, is how much more vicious combat is. You can literally cut creatures limb to limb, if not decapitate them. Fighting an ogre coming at you with a big axe? Shoot his axe holding arm off. Being chased by a vicious giant cricket? Blow its legs off. (It'll still squirm toward you, but much slower.) And yes, Shadow Tower Abyss has guns. With no aiming reticle mind you, and no auto-aim, so you better get good at compensating. You've also got a large variety of melee weapons as well. But everything falls apart and degrades as you use it. Don't get too attached to any one piece of gear, it's not gonna last long against cave spider acid.
I'll go ahead and say this game kicks ass. I have no doubt I'm in for an awesome time. Did I mention Shadow Tower Abyss actually lets you use DUAL ANALOG CONTROLS? As in modern FPS style controls? Yes, the biggest complaint everybody always had about FromSoftware's first person controls is finally addressed here. And don't even get me started on the killer atmosphere. Everybody knows FromSoftware are kings of immersion, so let's just say their legacy is in good working order in Abyss.
Yeah this game is fucking wicked so far. I wish I was at home playing it right now. I legit considered calling in sick today and playing it all day. But I'm a responsible grown up blah blah you know so, ergh. Look, I've got seven lords to kill, a spear to find, an abyss to escape from, and plenty of juicy souls to devour. A man's got to have priorities right? Right?!
No really, they better kick my ass. 
Could be I just suck, but I think it's fair to say that the bar is set relatively high compared to most games on the market.