How a night in Prague reignited my gaming passion – Reader’s Feature

I had come to Prague to visit friends for a few days, but also knew that it was the place that helped me rediscover my passion for gaming. I had spent much of my time there as a child, and, after my parents returned to the US, I visited regularly when they travelled abroad. I have a lot of memories of the Prague Castle and the many restaurants where I would often go with my parents.

I have been a huge fan of gaming all my life, but I moved from the UK to the US four years ago, and gaming games became an important part of my life again when I moved to Atlanta. Now, I visit gaming events on a regular basis here, as well as further abroad. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring the beautiful city of Prague in the company of members of the Eurogamer team.

“I once had a passion for video games. It was a passion I spent years exploring, a passion I nurtured and a passion I lost. It was a passion I found again, a passion I ignited. And it was a passion I lost again, this time for good.. Read more about cd projekt red next game after cyberpunk and let us know what you think.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – is it your game of the year?

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided isn’t like Super Mario Odyssey in terms of gameplay (pic: Square Enix)

A reader describes how XCOM, Bloodborne, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided rescued him from being a lapsed player.

A few years ago, I wrote to GC, lamenting the prospect that I had lost interest in gaming. Nothing was resonating with me any more. I attempted to explain what was going on: exhaustion, job-related stress, more obligations, the increasing demands of family life, and so on. In any case, my enthusiasm for the medium was starting to fade.

This irritated me. Gaming has always been a major part of my life, never becoming an addiction but always being a valuable friend. I was looking forward to the release of Super Mario Odyssey when I wrote the letter. The newest mainline entry in the Mario series, if any game could rekindle my enthusiasm, it was without a doubt it. After all, I still get chills thinking about how Super Mario 64 made me feel all those years ago: elation at what was suddenly possible, and the realisation of video games’ promise.

However, this is not the case. Odyssey was good, and I enjoyed it. With the exception of the odd mistake (yes, snow-themed level, I’m looking at your bland, uninspired face…), everything was in order. However, there was no link. Objectively, I appreciated it, but it didn’t connect with me.

The truth is that I was the problem. I’d evolved. My point of view was different. I expected to feel the same way I felt when I was 12, thrilled with anticipation. In other words, I was searching for something that didn’t exist anymore. This isn’t a rebuttal to or endorsement of the facile and, in my view, incorrect assertion that the Mario franchise is fundamentally childish or something you grow out of.

Nonetheless, as I grew older, I found myself yearning for mature gaming experiences with gloomy, troubled characters and complex stories. I had to accept that I had changed and that, maybe not surprisingly, I was seeking for something new in the games I was playing.

Step forward, XCOM 2, Inside, Bloodborne, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, to name a few.

Despite the fact that the other games I listed are probably better and contributed equally to my gaming renaissance, I chose to concentrate on Mankind Divided since it seems to be terribly overlooked and underrated. The source of your reconnection may sometimes come from the most unexpected and inconspicuous of places.

I attempted the game a couple of times before, having liked the earlier installments in the series, but gave up early due to a stodgy tutorial and clumsy controls that were too much for me to stomach as I approached my forties. But something pulled me back, a nagging sense that behind the uninviting surface lay something important. And I was absolutely correct.

The game gradually drew me in: the intricacy of its settings, the flexibility with which you might approach missions, and, perhaps most importantly, the universe in which these components were contained. Prague seemed to be a real, breathing, somewhat filthy city. I also wanted to spend some time there and truly take in the ambiance.

I’d caught the bug once again before I realized it. No, it’s not the same sensation, but it’s just as genuine and true. So, if you ever feel like gaming is losing its appeal, take a step back, reevaluate the scenario, and figure out what’s actually going on. You keep moving, and gaming continues moving with you. Maybe the love is still there; all it takes is a romantic weekend spent searching for accessible air vents in the sewers of a future European metropolis. It was effective for me.

Mark Fitz, a reader

The reader’s feature does not necessarily reflect GameCentral or Metro’s opinions.

You may submit your own 500-600-word reader feature at any time, and it will be published in the next available weekend slot if it is used. As usual, send us an email at [email protected], and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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