Spanish game Blasphemous and the 30-hour JRPG wall

The 30-hour wall and the Spanish hit that breaks through

The conversation starts with an imminent announcement: a new console presentation and, above all, the promise of a powerful launch title. From there, the topic shifts to what everyone is currently playing. What emerges is a fairly accurate portrait of the adult Spanish gamer: long games abandoned halfway through, old titles recovered for four euros, and a growing suspicion that everything feels too similar to what has already been played.

The first block focuses on the newly released Dynasty Warriors, which testers rank as the best since the third installment. In parallel, an Atlus JRPG becomes the perfect example of this fatigue: after 30 hours, players either lower the difficulty to minimum or quit entirely. The comparison with the same studio's Persona saga does not fare well.

The open world uninstalled after 20 hours

The most common case involves a best-selling open-world game with good atmosphere: it gets uninstalled at the 20-hour mark. The diagnosis is harsh and consistent across points: all settlements are copy-paste, side quests repeat the same structure, and players realize the trap before the tenth hour. The recommendation is to go straight to the main story and leave side quests for those who haven't seen the seams yet.

The underlying feeling is uncomfortable: every game seems like the same game. Some attribute this, without dramatizing, simply to age.

Blasphemous, the Spanish studio, and the repeated recommendation

Amidst this hangover appears a specific recommendation: Blasphemous discounted by 90%. The studio is Spanish, the lore has local touches, and the combat works. Comparisons with Castlevania and MercurySteam's work arise, concluding that the map isn't as labyrinthine as a Metroid and that the overall package is very good. For those who can't stand 2D metroidvanias, the warning is clear: this isn't your genre.

The thread also leaves a catalog of cheap recoveries: Resident Evil 3 Remake for 4 euros, with the feeling that Capcom had its funding cut mid-project. Just Cause 2 for 3 euros and the surprise of not discovering it sooner.

Shooters, stealth, and F.E.A.R. nostalgia

The search for a shooter to unwind occupies much of the conversation. The diagnosis: there was a time when it seemed nothing else was being made, and now there is an orphanhood. Specific requests are made: no futuristic settings, with stealth options, Far Cry style. The most repeated answer is Ghost Recon: Wildlands, with a large map, four-player co-op, and a mission consisting of hunting the Predator.

Nostalgia brings the F.E.A.R. trilogy to the table: bullet time, brutal action, enemy AI that remains challenging, and pavor sections. Additionally, the duration is ideal: you finish it before it bores you. And the memory of the girl who appeared suddenly remains etched in the minds of those who played it.

The open world problem and video game sarracena

There is a recurring point that goes beyond the catalog: games give you options but penalize you if you don't use them as they want. Dishonored, Metal Gear, A Plague Tale 2, or Metro Exodus are examples. The conclusion is blunt: if you give me the option to kill an enemy, I rarely leave them alive. Save the sarracena for the real world.

The thread closes right there, on the contradiction between a huge catalog and the feeling that almost nothing deserves the hours it demands. With the wishlist open and doubt about whether the next announcement will change anything.

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Scattered data left by the conversation: the new Dynasty Warriors ranks as the best since the third; the Atlus JRPG lasts 30 hours before difficulty is lowered; the open world is uninstalled at 20; Blasphemous is at 90% off on GOG; Resident Evil 3 Remake was bought for 4 euros; Just Cause 2 for 3 euros; Ghost Recon Wildlands supports up to four players; original F.E.A.R. still has challenging AI.