Carson Kelly Blogs

PlayStation’s September 2026 State of Play and State of Play Japan double feature is officially in the books, and after spending several hours watching, reacting, and talking about everything that was shown, I can safely say that I had a really good time with this one. Was everything I predicted there? Definitely not. Were there a few announcements I really wish we had gotten? Absolutely. But that’s part of the fun of these showcases. You go into them with a giant list of possibilities, hopes, and wild predictions, and then you get to see what PlayStation actually has waiting behind the curtain. And overall, I thought this was a fun show.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has officially come to an end. And wow.  What an episode. The Season 3 finale delivered some incredibly heavy moments, some very intense sequences, and the kind of ending that leaves you immediately thinking about everything that could happen when this story finally continues. After spending the past eight weeks watching, discussing, reviewing, and following this season episode by episode, it feels strange to finally say that House of the Dragon Season 3 is complete. But what a ride it has been. A Heavy and Intense Finale The biggest thing I took away from the finale was simply how intense it felt. There were moments throughout this episode where you could really feel the weight of everything that has happened over the course of the season. The war has continued to grow. Relationships have changed. Characters have been forced into increasingly difficult positions. And the consequences of everything that has happened are becoming harder and harder to esc...

After spending approximately 50 to 60 hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, I am finally ready to share my thoughts and formally conclude my coverage of the game. I have not quite reached the final credits yet, but I am deep into the closing stretch and have experienced more than enough of the adventure to form a confident opinion. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed my time with Black Flag Resynced. Returning to this pirate adventure has been an exciting and often rewarding experience, filled with exploration, action, naval battles, and plenty of memorable moments. The world gives you an enormous amount to see and do, and when everything comes together, sailing across the open sea and continuing the journey can be incredibly satisfying. However, this is also a very long and demanding game. Its enormous scale can sometimes work against it, particularly during longer sessions when the number of missions, travel, exploration, and additional activities begins to feel exhausting. This ...

“Have a safe journey, kiddo.” I have officially beaten the main campaign of CAPCOM’s new IP, PRAGMATA , after roughly 175–200+ hours , and I can honestly say this was one of the most memorable gaming journeys I’ve had in 2026. PRAGMATA is the kind of new franchise that reminds me why new IP still matters. In a year filled with major releases, sequels, remakes, and massive established names, this game stood out because it felt like CAPCOM taking a real creative swing. It had a mystery. It had heart. It had atmosphere. It had that feeling of discovering a world for the first time and slowly realizing there is so much more underneath the surface. By the time the credits started rolling, I was emotional, satisfied, and already thinking about where this story could go next. For me, PRAGMATA is easily one of my favorite games of 2026, and absolutely a serious Game of the Year contender . It is not just because of the gameplay or the presentation, but because of the journey itself. After spen...

  CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 7 — CAMPAIGN REVIEW For more than twenty years, Call of Duty has been a constant in my life. My journey began with Call of Duty 2: Big Red One , and through every sequel, spin, reinvention, and experiment, I’ve stuck around. I’ve watched the series climb to its golden eras, slip into rough patches, claw its way back, and chase new ambitions. No matter the trend or the decade, the campaigns always offered something solid to hold onto clarity, intensity, and purpose. That’s why this review is difficult to write. The campaign for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is, without exaggeration, one of the weakest entries the franchise has ever delivered. And it hurts to say that. I’ve never been the type to enjoy negativity. I respect the work that goes into making anything, especially a project on this scale. I love creativity, I admire the craft, and I know how many hands, hearts, and hours go into games like this. But Black Ops 7 ’s campaign is an uneven, disorganized ...

Introduction: A Game That Became More Than Just a Game Originally typed in March 2022 Updated in March, April, and June 2025 Written by Carson Kelly Final Version Published on June 9, 2025 Techland’s Dying Light 2 is more than just a sequel to one of the most beloved open-world zombie games; it’s a personal journey, a game that holds deep meaning for me beyond its mechanics and narrative. It’s one of my all-time favorite games and certainly one of my most-played titles of the current generation. As of writing this, I’ve clocked in nearly 1,000 hours in Dying Light 2 , completing multiple playthroughs across different characters, difficulties, and New Game Plus runs. While Dying Light 2 had a difficult development cycle with delays and setbacks, the end result is a game that, despite its imperfections, has captivated me in ways few games ever have. I understand that it may not have met everyone’s expectations, but for me, this game is something special something deeply personal. A Hi...

Review originally dated: November 20, 2020 "I'm Spider-Man." Not the other Spider-Man. Not Spider-Man's sidekick. Spider-Man. That's the journey at the heart of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales , and I absolutely loved experiencing it. Following the incredible Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 was never going to be easy, but rather than simply attempting to repeat Peter Parker's adventure on a smaller scale, Insomniac gives Miles an identity, a neighborhood, powers and relationships that make this game feel distinctly his own. The result is another fantastic Spider-Man game.

Review originally dated: November 20, 2020 Two years ago, I fell in love with Marvel’s Spider-Man . Now, with the arrival of the PlayStation 5, Peter Parker's adventure has returned with Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered . And underneath all the upgrades, this remains the same game I absolutely loved in 2018. That's ultimately the most important thing. The incredible story is still here. The characters are still here. The combat is still fantastic. Swinging through New York is still ridiculously fun. And Peter Parker's journey still hits just as hard.

Review originally dated: December 28, 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man was already one of my favorite games of 2018, so the idea of getting three additional story chapters before the year was even over sounded fantastic. Now that The Heist , Turf Wars, and Silver Lining are all available, The City That Never Sleeps feels like a strong extended epilogue to an already incredible game. It isn't another full Marvel’s Spider-Man campaign, nor does it need to be. Instead, the DLC takes characters and storylines established throughout the main game and gives them room to breathe while setting up some potentially very interesting developments for the future. And yes, it gave me another excuse to spend several hours swinging around New York. I'm certainly not complaining. The Heist Of the three chapters, The Heist immediately stood out because of Felicia Hardy. Black Cat's history with Peter gives their interactions a different energy than many relationships in the base game. She'...

Review originally dated: September 14, 2018 There are certain superhero games where, after only a few hours, you know you are playing something special. Marvel’s Spider-Man is one of those games. Insomniac Games has delivered an absolutely incredible interpretation of Spider-Man that understands not only what makes the superhero exciting, but what makes Peter Parker such an incredible character in the first place. And I absolutely love it. Rather than telling us another Spider-Man origin story, Marvel’s Spider-Man introduces us to a Peter Parker who has already been Spider-Man for years. He knows how to fight. He knows how to swing. He has encountered villains before. He has relationships, responsibilities, and history. That decision gives the entire game a confidence that I immediately fell in love with. This Is Peter Parker The greatest strength of Marvel’s Spider-Man is its story. There are massive superhero battles, incredible villains, and enormous action sequences, but Insomni...