JohnnyBGamer

Trusting God: Finding Strength in Adversity

I am in one of the hardest seasons of life I have ever experienced right now. Never have I been so powerless to stop what is unfolding. The causality rate is high. At times it feels like my heart is breaking over and over.

I tell myself that things will get better.

I pray for change or removal from the situation.

What do we do in the face of such adversity?

I had a conversation the other day where I was reminded that God is in control. That God orchestrates everything, good and bad, for my ultimate good. If that means that He is instituting a roadblock in order to get me to course correct, then He will do so. God is good. God is righteous. God is holy. I know that I need to cling to Him in order to get to the other side of this. But knowing and doing are two different things.

I know that I need to:

Trust in the Lord (I’m trying).
Delight in the Lord.
Commit my path and this situation to the Lord (which I have).
And then ultimately, rest in Him.

Knowing that I do not need to fight unless told to do so. God is in control of my circumstances. He wants what is best for me even if I cannot see that yet. My flesh screams that I need to fight, need to do something, anything. God calls me to rest in Him.

Photo by Cole Farlow on Unsplash

What I am playing: TUNIC

I have been a little all over the gaming map since I completed Hogwarts Legacy last month. I went on to beat Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart. That is two games that I started last year that I’ve completed this year. Not bad. 2024 is all about finishing games, I guess.

Unless you can’t decide on what game to play next. The adult gamer’s dilemma. I could play anything, buy any game, but what is the next game that is going to hook me? Turns out that game is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by Isometricorp Games called TUNIC.

TUNIC is a game about fox on an adventure filled with exploration, ancient foes, and a kingdom seemingly lost to time. The game has the polish of an Apple Arcade game mixed with Zelda/Metroid and a little bit of Dark Souls. I’m in love.

What games are you playing?

Skull and Bones – Battleship Sunk

After playing the Skull and Bones beta, I can tell you that I’ve played a better game in 2013. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag allowed you to:

Jump off your ship anytime you wanted.
Swim/explore underwater realms.
Ram your ship into whichever island of your choosing and adventure.

I was expecting an experience that went beyond Black Flag. Alas, that is not what Skull and Bones offers. Skull and Bones offers more of an arcade version of Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. To be unfair, it acts like live-service game with constant load screens. But don’t take my word for it, download the 8 hour demo and see for yourself. You’ll see that:

Want to get off and explore? – Load screen.
Want to talk to someone? – Load screen.
Every choice seems like it equals a load screen.

Don’t get me started on your player character either. Gone is the fluidity of stealth and parkour of Black Flag and in its place, a tank-like character. Yuck.

For a game that took a decade to grace us with its presence, Skull and Bones should sailed off into the oceanic either.

Bottom Line: When the Skull and Bones beta is bad and lacks substance, the $70 release game will be no better. Which is a shame.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1

Poppy Playtime is a horror/puzzle game where you are in an abandon toy factory.

I beat it in 20 minutes (you could definitely beat it faster).

I looked up a walkthrough for all the puzzles because it is just easier.

There’s only one chase scene/ horror-thingy, where your being chased by a monster named Huggy (see picture above). He looks so cool and is kind of scary as he is chasing you in a vent. One wrong move and you die.

Poppy Playtime is a decent game. It’s $5, so give it a try.

Title: Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1
Developer: Mob Entertainment
Publisher: Mob Entertainment
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android
Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
MSRP: $4.99

Review by Wyatt Hall

Saying Goodbye

I am the worst at saying goodbye.

During the 3 months that I worked at Disney, I remember going on a blind date.

After I got crushed at air hockey and destroyed playing miniature golf, we came to the part of our “date” where we had to say goodbye. Awkwardly, not knowing what to do, I stuck out my hand and said, “handshake”.

We never went on another date again.

I was backing out of the driveway today, my wife having just gave me a book to take back to the library.

Answering her phone in one hand and giving me the book in the other hand, she said, “thank you”.

And I said, “thank you” back.

Thank you?

I could have said, “I love you”.

Or even a simple, “goodbye”.

Instead the moment took me back to the time I said “handshake”.

Saying goodbye is awkward.