EsteeBestee's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentI can’t be any help here, I got it on PS5 and while it isn’t the prettiest game, I haven’t had performance issues.I can’t be any help here, I got it on PS5 and while it isn’t the prettiest game, I haven’t had performance issues.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
EsteeBestee LinkShitty cars, lmao. So I’ve always been interested in cars and motorsports and stuff, but I didn’t start working on my own cars until about 10 years ago. It started with oil changes, spark plugs,...Shitty cars, lmao. So I’ve always been interested in cars and motorsports and stuff, but I didn’t start working on my own cars until about 10 years ago. It started with oil changes, spark plugs, and brakes, but now, tearing down an engine or swapping a transmission doesn’t phase me. While it’s nice to be able to do all this work myself and save a ton of money, the “in too deep” part is that I give myself any excuse possible to buy new tools and the way I value cars is utterly broken. I cringe at spending more than like $4k on a car, so my life is filled with turds that deserve to be pooped in, but I decide to fix them and like them instead.
For real, it’s a fun hobby and I do love cars, but I sometimes think it would be way easier if I were a normie and would be okay buying a 5 year old Honda civic as my only car, driving it for 10 years, repeat.
Since I started working on cars 10 years ago, I’ve owned 10 cars and had a handful more in my driveway at points (borrowing/swapping with my car friends). I’ll be buying another one or two this year as well…
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
EsteeBestee Link ParentOkay, so I curate movies, music, and TV for myself and it can be a ton of work when I’m not FREAKING RECREATING THE 90’S - 00’S CABLE EXPERIENCE. I read your write up and that sounds like a ton of...Okay, so I curate movies, music, and TV for myself and it can be a ton of work when I’m not FREAKING RECREATING THE 90’S - 00’S CABLE EXPERIENCE. I read your write up and that sounds like a ton of work, but it’s probably incredibly satisfying to be able to live through that nostalgia knowing that you yourself built it. I was actually just wondering the other day if there are people out there preserving that experience and not just the shows themselves.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
EsteeBestee Link ParentI finally have a house and my own damn garage, so I can finally have a project car, myself. The Tercel wagon sounds sick! I’m loosely thinking about a Z31 Nissan 300ZX, a 3rd gen Camaro, or a 4th...I finally have a house and my own damn garage, so I can finally have a project car, myself. The Tercel wagon sounds sick!
I’m loosely thinking about a Z31 Nissan 300ZX, a 3rd gen Camaro, or a 4th gen Mustang. I need something with some power.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentThank you for the recommendations! Funnily enough, Final Fantasy X was on AGDQ today and I might enjoy that one! I’ve heard good things about persona and I may give one a try at some point. Super...Thank you for the recommendations! Funnily enough, Final Fantasy X was on AGDQ today and I might enjoy that one!
I’ve heard good things about persona and I may give one a try at some point.
Super Mario RPG is one I never would have thought of, but I did like the active combat aspect of E33.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentThank you for the advice and the good luck wishes!Thank you for the advice and the good luck wishes!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentThat does look neat, thank you for the recommendation!That does look neat, thank you for the recommendation!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee Link ParentI did actually unlock that skill at the end of my play session last night, but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for all the advice!I did actually unlock that skill at the end of my play session last night, but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for all the advice!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkOh, as an aside, does anybody have turn based RPG suggestions? After playing Expedition 33, I want more. Besides that, I’ve really only played Pokémon games in terms of other turn based games (and...Oh, as an aside, does anybody have turn based RPG suggestions? After playing Expedition 33, I want more. Besides that, I’ve really only played Pokémon games in terms of other turn based games (and CRPGs, but I’m looking for something less like that and more like E33). I know many of them probably aren’t as “active” combat as E33 (with the parry and dodge mechanics), but I want to try some other good ones!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI’m most of the way through Control and I like it! There are some moments of frustration around the gameplay, but the setting and story are pretty great. TLDR I think the gunplay is pretty average...I’m most of the way through Control and I like it! There are some moments of frustration around the gameplay, but the setting and story are pretty great. TLDR I think the gunplay is pretty average and the movement feels like it could have a bit more of the special sauce. Levitating is fun, but it’s just kind of clunky, but being able to chuck any object at enemies makes up for it. The setting and story have sucked me in, though, I love all the lore bits.
I’m most of the way through the main story, I think, and inadvertently did the Alan Wake DLC, which was fun. I’ll probably beat it this week. I do like some of the side quests, though I don’t think I’ll go back and do absolutely everything. This is getting me excited to play the Alan Wake games, too.
I also started Sekiro. It’s taken me a long time to get to this one, especially since Dark Souls and Elden Ring are some of my favorite games. I’ll be honest… I kind of hate it. I’m going to try to get a bit further into the game before putting it down, especially since I’ve heard the beginning of this game is brutally hard, but yeah, it feels unfairly difficult so far. I’m not a fan of how you start with almost no healing and only have enough health to take 1 or 2 hits, and your attacks don’t do shit to health bars so you have to perfectly parry bosses with no mistakes for minutes straight just to beat them. I’m just not vibing with it. The timing windows are incredibly tight and the game just feels unfair and overly demanding. Like I said, I’m going to try to get past the first few bosses to see if the game lightens up a bit once I get more health and attack power and some upgrades, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I don’t finish this one.
I know I have it in me to beat it, I’ve beaten all other FromSoftware games I’ve played. I play dark souls every year and I beat pre-nerf Consort Radahn in Shadow of the Erdtree, so I kind of feel bad that mini bosses and the first main boss are making me rage quit when I never get mad at games otherwise.
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
EsteeBestee Link ParentI once saw an IBM model M at goodwill for $12, but I was povert at the time and literally didn’t have the money. When I went back a couple days later when I got my paycheck, it was unsurprisingly...I once saw an IBM model M at goodwill for $12, but I was povert at the time and literally didn’t have the money. When I went back a couple days later when I got my paycheck, it was unsurprisingly gone :(
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Comment on Awesome Games Done Quick 2026, a week-long charity fundraiser featuring speedruns, is live (runs January 4 - January 10) in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkLet’s goooooo! I unfortunately don’t have the spare cash to donate much this time, but I’m looking forward to a week of breaking games! As always, I have a type and am mostly looking forward to...Let’s goooooo! I unfortunately don’t have the spare cash to donate much this time, but I’m looking forward to a week of breaking games! As always, I have a type and am mostly looking forward to any FPS games (especially Halo), soulslikes, and precision platformers, but I’m sure that like always, I’ll see a dozen games that I’ve never heard of and will need to pick up after the event.
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Comment on Movies: Your personal year in review for 2025 in ~movies
EsteeBestee LinkI think I only watched a dozen or two dozen new to me movies in 2025. That's pretty low for me, but I was watching a ton of television and youtube. I only just started using letterboxd this year,...I think I only watched a dozen or two dozen new to me movies in 2025. That's pretty low for me, but I was watching a ton of television and youtube. I only just started using letterboxd this year, so it's hard for me to tell how many I truly watched in 2025, as I spent a ton of time going and marking anything I watched in the past as watched (so my 2025 has hundreds of movies in my watched list).
I don't think this is a complete list, but here's a list of all of the movies I remember watching in 2025, in no particular order.
Citizen Kane, F1, Ballerina, Aliens, Alien Romulus, Predator 2, Drive, Rocky, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Sonic the Hedgehog, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fast Five, You Only Live Twice, Imitation Game, and Arrival.
I feel like I'm missing a few, but I think I also watched some movies I've seen before (like my yearly LotR watches, of course) and I watched a ton of TV this year, so I'm maybe just thinking I watched more movies than I did. I also only went to the theater three times this year and that was for the Revenge of the Sith special event, F1, and Ballerina. I intend to go to the theater more this year now that I'm getting back into movies a bit again!
I don't often rate movies as I usually find some enjoyment in most things I watch, but I at least have some musings about some of the movies I watched.
Citizen Kane: Surprisingly watchable, modern feeling, and well paced for having watched it in 2025. It kept my attention the entire time and I kind of want to watch it again now.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?: I regrettably didn't enjoy this much. The jokes didn't land for me. I thought it was just okay. It's weird, because this should be a movie that I love, but I just didn't.
Imitation Game: dud of the year, for me. There was so much hype around this movie when it came out, but it just fell flat for me. There were a couple of great scenes, but I mostly didn't like this one.
Rocky: surprise of the year for me. I'm not sure if it was my favorite or best movie I watched this year, but it was nothing like I expected and the pacing was so wildly different from what I usually watch that it was an utterly unique experience for it to almost just be a slice of life movie.
Arrival: this was probably my movie of the year. It was just so utterly unique and provocative. Denis does it again. I was so emotionally invested in this one as the movie does a fantastic job of framing the story from Louise's point of view and having many of the story beats hit you just as hard as they hit her.
So I watched some bangers in 2025 and some great dumb action movies, too. I've finally been feeling more up to watching movies lately, instead of just TV and youtube, so hopefully I'll have a good list to watch going into 2026!
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
EsteeBestee (edited )LinkI watched two incredible movies this week, Citizen Kane and Total Recall (1990). Citizen Kane This movie has been on my watch list for a while and it was nothing like I expected, but I loved it. I...I watched two incredible movies this week, Citizen Kane and Total Recall (1990).
Citizen Kane
This movie has been on my watch list for a while and it was nothing like I expected, but I loved it. I could definitely see how it had such an influence on the movie industry and why it's often regarded as one of the best and most important movies ever made.
Orson Welles acted and directed his fucking ass off. While there were a few weak performances in there, most of the main characters were incredibly believable and emotional. I especially loved the breakfast scene, Kane's fight with Gettys, and the scenes at Xanadu near the end. Not only was the acting phenomenal, but the direction was just incredible. Some of the shots used are sticking with me a couple of weeks later. There was just so much emotion conveyed all over while using (to our modern eyes) relatively simple techniques.
I enjoyed how detailed and well framed most of the sets were. There was a pretty careful use of angles to sometimes make Kane appear larger than life or to make certain spaces feel massive and empty while others felt small and cluttered. It's something I probably wouldn't have noticed without specifically thinking about it, but it adds a lot to how the characters are framed throughout.
I very much enjoyed this one and I'm glad I watched it.
Total Recall
Firstly, I love Schwarzenegger. He's one of my favorite actors and 80's/90's action movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. I've somehow just never watched this one before. This was also not anything like I was expecting, I managed to go in blind despite this movie being 35 years old. I had absolutely no clue that it would be a mind bender. To me, it was the perfect blend of stupid action shit, a drip feed of a sci-fi setting that wants you to learn more, and a mind bender of a main plot, given you never really know if the movie is real or a rekall memory.
My one complaint would be that I think it moves too fast the entire time and never really gives you a break. I thought it might at the end when Quaid was about to activate the reactor, but then it went into the set piece of Cohaagen appearing and trying to stop Quaid. I thought this was just completely unnecessary and the movie would have benefitted from Quaid and Melina having a quiet moment after the ridiculous fight they just had, but alas. It's a very small mark on an otherwise amazing movie.
What I adored was the world building, the setting, and the story. There was very little exposition on how the world actually works in this setting and I liked that they let you just figure it out and it left me wanting more. You barely get anything on how technology works in this setting, what space travel is like, etc., but you don't need it to enjoy the movie and they leave you with just enough to figure things out.
The story, while basic on the surface, was complex enough where I've been rolling over it all weekend trying to figure out if I think the movie is all real, if it's a rekall memory after Quaid goes to the rekall center, or if the entire movie from the first second is a rekall memory. I was reading what sentiment was and what Verhoeven has said and I'm glad that it's entirely ambiguous and that it's just as correct to have one theory over another. I really can't decide what I think is true. I am closer to thinking that the entire movie was real, but there's just enough there for me to be doubtful.
For example, even though I think it was real, how does that explain the rekall techs essentially describing the plot of the movie, down to the reactor + "blue skies on mars"? Why was Melina literally on the monitor when they asked Quaid what his ideal woman is? That could be explained by him being delirious at that point and it's just from his point of view, rekall could have been pulling images from his mind since he was already dreaming about her, or apparently the novel has a line where Melina mentions she previously modeled for rekall. Then there are other things, like how can Quaid realistically muster the strength to break out of the rekall chair near the end? You'd think that's obviously part of the secret agent package, but then you realize this is an 80's/90's action flick and Schwarzenegger does something like that in every movie he's in.
On the other end, I can very much see how someone would think everything from the rekall chair after is just an implanted memory. At the start of the movie, Quaid's dreams of Melina + Lori trying to turn his attention away from the news, convince him against rekall, etc. are usually theories supporting the theory the movie is real, but at the same time, Quaid could just have been dreaming up some random ass girl on mars because dreams are just weird, and Lori could just have been seeing her husband is stressed and troubled and that's why she turns off the news (not because she's an agent). Perhaps Quaid saw advertisements of rekall's Mars adventure before, where Melina could be present in the ads, and that's why he's dreaming about her.
There are hundreds of tiny details that can lead you to think one way or another, but it seems pretty well balanced and I'm genuinely second guessing myself as I type this up. I think this was about as perfect as it can get for an action movie and this might now be one of my favorite movies.
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Comment on What video games would you say have the best stories? Feel free to suggest more than one. in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkHorizon: Zero Dawn has my absolute favorite story in gaming and, if you haven’t had it spoiled for you yet, I promise you won’t see the reveals coming. It was a truly unique story that blew me...Horizon: Zero Dawn has my absolute favorite story in gaming and, if you haven’t had it spoiled for you yet, I promise you won’t see the reveals coming. It was a truly unique story that blew me away. It’s a fantastic game!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI’ve finally been able to go a month now without being sick (2 months of anxiety caused sickness + covid right after, ugh) and I’m finally over my depressive slump, so I’ve been playing games a...I’ve finally been able to go a month now without being sick (2 months of anxiety caused sickness + covid right after, ugh) and I’m finally over my depressive slump, so I’ve been playing games a lot more!
In addition to beating Expedition 33, which I mentioned in the last thread, I also beat Jusant this weekend. It’s been in my library for a bit and I wanted something short and easy after E33. It took me just around 3-4 hours to beat, but it was a satisfying and cute game! I do recommend this for a nice palate cleanser!
I also started playing Control. This has been on my list for years and I always knew I would love it, I just never had the spark to start it. With how insane the trailer looked for the next game, I knew I had to start this. I’m only about 3 hours in, but I love the vibe so far. The gun play is just okay so far, but being able to telekinetically hurl objects more than makes up for it and it sort of reminds me of an older game called Second Sight. I’m loving it and I know it isn’t the longest game, so I’ll probably beat it this week at some point.
Next up after that will be Black Mesa. I also want someone to be proud of me, I finally uninstalled Destiny 2. I have gigabit internet so it’s not like I couldn’t just download it again in 20 minutes, but it feels like a step. Tbh I don’t have an addiction to it or anything, I just keep going back every few weeks even though I haven’t really found the game fun in over a year now. I did enjoy the new dungeon with friends, but most of my friends have stopped playing and the game isn’t really introducing amazing new content like with prior expansions. The days of getting expansions like Witch Queen and Final Shape are over and it’s just time for me to move on.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkFirstly, I've been playing Nubby's Number Factory. For $2.49, it's a perfect "number go up" roguelike. It's odd and absurd and has a wonderful y2k internet vibe and I'm here for it. This is a...Firstly, I've been playing Nubby's Number Factory. For $2.49, it's a perfect "number go up" roguelike. It's odd and absurd and has a wonderful y2k internet vibe and I'm here for it. This is a heavy recommend to any roguelike or peggle fans.
The other game I played I'm going to have to write a novel about, and that's because I finally rolled credits on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Holy moly, a game has not captured me this thoroughly since Baldur's Gate 3. The game world is just so unique and original and the story just hit all the right emotional beats for me. The gameplay was also incredibly engaging. I'm not a turned based RPG enjoyer, but the dodge and parry mechanics in this game made for an excellent combat experience. I did really enjoy the almost soulslike feeling to being on defense in combat, while getting to take my time to plan my offense on my turns. This is a 10/10 and easily my game of the year. The second half of the game was just completely bonkers and I loved it.
Now to gush about the story, do not read these spoilers if you ever plan on playing the game, it's best for you to go in 100% blind.
Expedition 33 full story spoilers
So, when playing through the game, I did connect some dots. I did figure out that Renoir and Aline were essentially gods of the world. I did also think that Maelle = Alicia, though through some time travel means or something. I was also somewhat skeptical of myself because this game didn't have the highest budget, so part of me thought they were just re-using the same body and they weren't actually the same character in any way.
Well... I was right in my theories, but completely 1000000% wrong in everything else. In no damn way would I have ever expected that this world was just within a canvas of a larger world. Renoir and Aline (and Alicia) are gods, but not to themselves. To themselves, they're just painters, this is just a canvas, and the people within aren't people, they're subjects. The themes the game explored after this reveal were intense and uncomfortable, but I very much enjoyed that. It got me thinking a lot about our own world and what I would feel like if I found out there is a god, but they just view everyone as less than ants and I can't really do anything to stop them if they decide to just erase our canvas.
Ultimately, I did choose Maelle's ending, but I watched both. I appreciate that this game didn't cave and give a happy ending. Both endings are depressing, but in a good way. No character was completely right or wrong in their approach to the situation. Renoir was right that the canvas was destroying his family and that Alicia would lose herself in it, but he failed to see that he was committing genocide on real, actual people. He also failed to recognize that even if he erased this canvas, that Alicia's quality of life is so poor, that she would likely just lose herself in another canvas later on.
Maelle was right to defend those within the canvas, as they are living beings with independent thought and existences, but she also failed to see the larger picture on how much she was hurting her family, though partly, her family is really shitty, themselves. I don't blame her for wanting an escape, especially since her family blames her for Verso's death, but she definitely needs to live in the canvas in moderation, if anything.
Verso was right to seek an end to his existence and he was right that neither Maelle nor Renoir have the right to control destiny for those within the canvas, but he was selfish in seeking an end to his existence, since his method would erase everyone's existence.
Just... holy cow, the characters' choices and motivations were such a complex, tangled web, and it did really feel like there wasn't a great way to resolve the situation for everyone involved, which I loved, even though it made me feel sad, but I love when a piece of media is able to make me feel negative emotions just as much as positive ones.
I could just gush and gush and gush about the story, but I have to cut myself off here. If you're a fan of RPGs or story rich games, even if you aren't into turn based RPGs specifically, give this game a shot. It surprised me with how much it hooked me. The gameplay and story were not something I thought I'd initially be into and I decided to give the game a try on a whim and I'm very glad that I did.
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Winter Sale is live (runs Dec 18 - Jan 5) in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkA friend bought Nubby's Number Factory for me and I'm excited to try that out! I also convinced myself that Half Life 3 is totally coming out this year, so I bought Black Mesa for myself. I've...A friend bought Nubby's Number Factory for me and I'm excited to try that out!
I also convinced myself that Half Life 3 is totally coming out this year, so I bought Black Mesa for myself. I've played most of HL1 but never beat it. HL2 and the episodes are some of my favorite games, so I'm looking to play through the series again this year before HL3 totally releases.
I have enough of a backlog where I really don't need any additional games, but I've had my eye on Space Marine 2 for a while and that's down to $24...
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
EsteeBestee LinkI booted up Destiny 2: Renegades late last week. I honestly didn’t plan on playing it at all, but two of my friends needed a third for the dungeon, so I decided to login and level up…. And I had a...I booted up Destiny 2: Renegades late last week. I honestly didn’t plan on playing it at all, but two of my friends needed a third for the dungeon, so I decided to login and level up…. And I had a good time. Despite all of the issues with the game in the last year, Destiny is still Destiny and it feels utterly unique.
The campaign was very underwhelming, but the seasonal activity, dungeon, and the new weapons are all 10/10 absolutely fantastic. I was disappointed when renegades was first announced, because even though I’m a massive Star Wars fan, doing a Star Wars inspired expansion seemed like a lazy cash grab, but it was honestly executed about as well as you could expect. Things do still feel distinctly Destiny while clearly being Star Wars inspired, they actually struck a great balance.
Ultimately, there’s absolutely no way I go back to playing this game daily or even weekly like I used to, but the game is still fun once in a while and I’ll probably come back for a couple of weeks each season or expansion.
Congrats, now you can wait 20 years for the next book like the rest of us!