Gaming Resolutions for the New Year

New Year’s resolutions are traditionally related to activities that very much go against gaming as a hobby, such as getting out of your house or going to a gym which is not prefaced by the word Poké. Though it is always important to not only reflect back on our achievements but also to look beyond into the year of perfect vision with hopeful eyes. On this topic, I want to share my gaming resolutions for 2020 and perhaps you can find your own too.

The first of my resolutions is to do with my favourite game of the decade and now possibly of all time, Smash Ultimate. In a game filled with an extraordinary number of amazingly diverse and enjoyable characters (except Yoshi), I feel that I, and many others, often limit ourselves. In the interest of making our main the best out there, we ignore the true breadth the roster has to offer.  I plan to go on an adventure outside of my comfort zone, journeying forward in my Smash career with new friends like King K. Rool. This may then translate to my real life as well, feeling as confident as a monarch to try out new characters, new games or new experiences in general, I believe that all of us could benefit from more day-to-day adventurism in our lives.  

In the interest of making our main the best out there, we ignore the true breadth the roster has to offer

The next resolution on my list is one that many other gamers will recognise from their own lives. The Witcher 3 is undoubtedly a great game, I know it is. However, despite owning the game for a couple of years, even making my way through the tutorial and completing some earlier tasks, I found myself putting the game down, never to return. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the game, with no clue what I should be attempting to do first and then I simply gave up. I adored the setting and was intrigued by the setting but now The Witcher 3 haunts me from my back catalogue, mocking me for my failure. In my defence, the game is so vast that in order to truly complete it one would have to totally replace their own lives with one of a dashing superpowered warrior saving villages and slaying mythical beasts. But this mindset of, if something is impossible to complete 100%, then there is no point in even trying, is a ridiculous one. It has repeatedly deprived me of fantastic experiences as I am sure games such as The Witcher are. So, this year I hope to find the time, but more so the motivation to give The Witcher 3 another shot, and learn to enjoy experiences, even if they cannot be completed.  

I hope that beyond these very high aspirations that I have set for myself; I have portrayed more interesting or at least different messages that can be applied to our lives inside and outside of the games we play. These being a want to be more adventurous and not deprive oneself of new and exciting events, just so we can keep repeating what we already know we are good at. As well as an ability to take on seemingly daunting tasks, and even in the face of failure, be able to have enjoyed the journey, and be proud of how far you made it!

 This mindset of, if something is impossible to complete 100%, then there is no point in even trying, is a ridiculous one

Stepping back from my attempts to weave life lessons into my failure to ‘git gud’ and play The Witcher, I hope this has been a slightly less dull and dreary implementation of the ‘New Year Resolutions’ tradition. I would encourage anyone to take a step back, think of what and how they want to change themselves, in everything they do, even if it is something as routine as what game we play, or at least stop playing Olimar.