AJ Comley

“Fairy King, attend and mark…”

The Longing

With the biting cold of winter upon us and darkness falling early each day, I find myself drawn towards games that reflect this period of quiet, restfulness, and restoration. The Longing, with its slow pace and emphasis on patience and exploration, is the perfect choice for such a season.

2020’s The Longing is the ideal recommendation for anyone looking for something slow and different with a touch of winter’s ancient magic upon it. This brooding point-and-click side-scroller puts you in control of a Shade, a small, gnome-like creature who finds itself ushered into existence by an ancient king. The king charges you with a straightforward task – awaken them from a magic sleep after 400 days so they can use their restored power to revitalise the underground kingdom you inhabit.

That’s it. Or so it seems.

You might be forgiven for thinking that – like most established gaming rules would tell you – the 400 days will pass faster than in reality. But not so. You have to actually wait for 400 days. In real time. So you could conceivably turn off the game, return over a year later, and see the ending.

But that would be boring, as there is so much to see and do in the fairy-like underground mountain realm the Shade inhabits.

The Longing’s primary theme is ennui, boredom, and a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction. Faced with such a long wait, our poor shade must find ways to occupy its time in the King’s lonely, empty tunnels. This can be as simple as exploring and picking up items to stow away in the Shade’s cosy home. Or risk attracting the King’s ire when he awakes, by breaking into the treasure chamber or cutting glowing crystals from the walls for decoration.

And I have perhaps not been entirely truthful – time can speed up if you find ways to keep our main character busy…

Faced with such a long wait, our heroic shade has several options. One, to be a good servant, dutifully waiting for the King to awaken. Second, to take action to pursue their own freedom, and perhaps even seek a way to break free from the spiralling realm.

To see every inch of the underground realm and find every secret takes TIME. Time is the fundamental resource in the game. Do you want to travel from your cave to the other side of the map? Be prepared to wait while the Shade slowly plods along at the speed of a snail. Do you want to reach the other side of a cavern? You might have to return to the game in a month when a stalactite has deigned to drop from the ceiling to provide a bridge. Opening a door? That could take a few hours.

For many, this sounds like gaming hell. But for those who possess patience, The Longing presents a unique experience that will stay with you long after your journey is completed. And there are some genuinely stunning pre-rendered backgrounds and plenty of unexpected moments to encounter straight from the deepest folklore.

“They had heard tell and sing of dragon-hoards before, but the splendour, the lust, the glory of such treasure had never yet come home…”

The Longing is one of the most atmospheric and unique games I have ever played, with dramatic musical cues and a stunning visual style. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a break from fast-paced action games. The game’s visuals and music are truly captivating, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a moody winter gaming experience.

8.7/10

Final Score

In Conversation With… Surrey Writes

I was very honoured to be invited to join Chiara Fumanti recently on her new podcast “Surrey Writes”, created as part of the Surrey New Writers Festival.

In the show, we discussed our writing processes, careers, and our time at the University of Surrey. Enjoy!

Four More Games to Play If You Can’t Get Enough of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

For anyone interested in LEGO and collectables, I currently work at iDisplayit to promote their display cases. The below blog may be of interest for anyone interested in Star Wars games!

Happy Star Wars Jedi: Survivor release day!

If you’re like us, you’ll be completing this hotly anticipated new Star Wars game faster than a Y-Wing bombing raid on an Imperial base. As discussed in our Jedi Survivor preview blog, the hit EA series ticks all the boxes for what fans want in a 3^rd person Star Wars action game, with lightsabers, force powers, exploration, formidable enemies, and an engaging story in abundance.

If you can’t get enough of this brilliantly realised Star Wars game, then do not fear (that leads to the dark side). There are plenty of classic Star Wars games from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away that you can revisit for a similar action-orientated space opera experience. There are also a few more-recent games worth checking out.

Join us as we count down our list of the best similar games to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor…

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

2002 | Windows/Mac/PlayStation/Switch/Xbox/GameCube

This is the first game we remember playing that truly refined the experience of being a Jedi Knight. There were actually two equally renowned games before this one (Dark Forces I and Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight) though neither included lightsaber combat or force powers until 1998’s Mysteries of the Sith expansion.

If we’re honest, you can get away with skipping the earlier games, both of which have graphics and game mechanics that feel dated at this point (though they are fun to watch on a YouTube playthrough). It’s also worth mentioning that (unlike its predecessors) Jedi Outcast is readily available on most online digital platforms, such as Steam and the PlayStation store, with full compatibility for modern systems.

After doing some short background reading on the now-expanded-universe character Kyle Katarn and his role in the previous games, you’ll be ready to embark on one of the most exciting linear Star Wars adventures ever. Jedi Outcast holds up exceptionally well against modern games, with a timeless battle system, fun force attacks to unlock, and moody mission environments all accurately modelled on Star Wars planets and locations. It feels very similar to the Star Wars Jedi series, and we’d be amazed if the 2002 classic did not strongly influence the EA development team when they created the current games.

You’ll also meet some familiar faces along the way, such as Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and Mon Mothma. The game’s story takes place after Return of the Jedi, though it is no longer considered canon in the new Disney era. Despite this, it’s fun to see the direction of the saga before the sequel trilogy came along. Many fans also still hope to see Kyle Katarn introduced into the new canon at some point.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

2003 | Windows/Mac/PlayStation/Switch/Xbox

The follow-up to Jedi Knight took everything that made the first game great and expanded it, using the same engine. Fun new features included the ability to customise the playable character’s race and gender and choose between a single, dual or double-bladed lightsaber combat style.

This game is even easier to pick up for series newcomers as it concerns a fresh protagonist and does not require much knowledge of previous instalments. Assuming the role of Jaden, players head to Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy to study the ways of the force. It is not long before the hero is thrown into dangerous missions all over the galaxy, culminating in a truly epic fight against a legion of lightsaber-wielding Sith cultists.

Star Wars Battlefront II

2017 | PlayStation/Windows/Xbox One

The original Battlefront II was a stone-cold classic, but we’re discussing the next-gen remake in this case.

Most people buy a Star Wars Battlefront game to spend hours fighting random battles against nerds worldwide. But the 2017 sequel also includes a solid, story-driven single-player campaign. For most of the missions, players assume the role of a gun-wielding imperial who also gets to pilot a range of starfighters, though, on occasion, they also play as classic characters such as Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Kylo Ren.

The short portions of the game with Luke are worth the admission on their own, rivalling anything in the Star Wars Jedi games.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

2008 | Nintendo DS/PlayStation/Wii/Xbox 360/Windows/Switch

If you don’t mind wielding your laser sword for the Dark Side, this is the game you’ve been looking for. Until next-gen titles such as Star Wars Battlefront came along, this remained the peak of lightsaber combat gaming for some time.

In this fan-favourite, players assume the role of Starkiller, a powerful force user trained in secret by Darth Vader to rival the Emperor. Your mission is to hunt down survivors of the Order 66 Jedi purge while remaining hidden from Palpatine. Throughout Starkiller’s journey, players will unlock devastating force powers and learn to create powerful lightsaber combo attacks while exploring a multitude of stunning worlds from the Star Wars galaxy.

WHAT OTHER STAR WARS GAMES ARE COMING OUT THIS YEAR?

Fans of retro Star Wars games will be excited for the Knights of the Old Republic remake scheduled for release on PC and PS5. The MMO from the same series is still a work in progress, but the story-focused approach of KOTOR should provide a treat.

We’re also excited to see that developer Quantic Dream (responsible for titles such as Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human) is also producing Star Wars Eclipse. Assuming they stick to their usual narrative gameplay approach, this should provide a unique gaming experience which stands out from other Star Wars titles.

Which Star Wars games are you looking forward to this year? And do you have any other suggestions from the vault that we missed? Let us know in the comments.

Rivendell LEGO Set Revealed

For anyone interested in LEGO and collectables, I currently work at iDisplayit to promote their display cases. The below blog may interest anyone looking at the new Lord of the Rings set!

In January’s Lord of the Rings Brickheadz blog, we discussed the rumours circulating that LEGO were working on a 6,000-strong LEGO brick set of Rivendell, the ancient hidden valley and last homely house west of the sea established by Elrond half-elven in the Second Age.

Now the rumours have been proven true, following a fun teaser post and subsequent official announcement.

Make no mistake – this is massive news for LOTR LEGO collectors. One does not simply see a new Lord of the Rings release and remain calm… not only is this the first new release for the theme (excluding the recent BrickHeadz) since 2014, but it is also the biggest Lord of the Rings LEGO set ever conceived. Praise the Valar!

As a location, Rivendell deserves nothing less than a large-scale LEGO imagining. Elrond’s seat of power was one of the most important elvish refuges against Sauron during the War of the Ring, housing countless artefacts, including the shards of Narsil (the sword that cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger at the Battle of the Last Alliance).

It was also the location of the Council of Elrond, where the quest to destroy the Ruling Ring was conceived, and the Fellowship of the Ring was founded. Bilbo and his band of thirteen dwarves also passed through the mystical location on the quest to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug during the events of The Hobbit. Unknown to them until later, Gandalf also met with the White Council there to lay plans to besiege the stronghold of the Necromancer to the south of Mirkwood.

This mighty set will be priced at £429.99 and will be available from 8^th March 2023.

In the meantime, with plenty of images provided on the LEGO website, we asked our resident Tolkienite to cast an eagle eye over the new set to see what hidden details they could spot…

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this excited about a LEGO release! The front view of this set is stunning, perfectly capturing the vivid autumnal colours of Rivendell’s buildings and surrounding features. Special mention goes to the choice of bricks on the roof and the tree foliage. To the right, we can see the domed pergola where Arwen appeared to Aragorn in a dream in the film adaptation of The Two Towers, right next to the bridge where she gifted him the Evenstar pendant. We can also see one of the many elvish lanterns Tolkien describes, hanging over the elven forge where the shards of Narsil were reformed into Anduril, Flame of the West.”

“I’m really impressed with how LEGO have laid this Middle Earth set out to include so many sections of what is, in reality, a large location, with spread out areas. Inside the building, we see the iconic foyer where the shards of Narsil are guarded over by the enigmatic elvish statue. I’m pleased to see the portrait of Sauron included on the wall, along with several tapestries, appearing to reference the journey across the sea to Valinor and the high city of Gondolin. The building also hides the study where Bilbo gifted Frodo the mithril vest and the bedroom where the young hobbit awoke after foiling the Nazgul at the Fords of Bruinen.”

“Elrond’s house leads onto the circular platform where the fabled council took place, complete with the central plinth on which rests The One Ring. The general detail here is astounding, especially the relief sculptures cast into the tower beside them.

The set includes not only the entire fellowship but also additional elves, including Lord Elrond. The other two remain unnamed, though there is a chance they could be Elladan, Elrohir, or perhaps Glorfindel. The inclusion of an elderly Bilbo Baggins and Gloin, Gimli’s father, also makes this set one for minifigure collectors to covet.”

Taking A Look at the LEGO Motorised Lighthouse

For anyone interested in LEGO and collectables, I recently started working at iDisplayit to promote their display cases. The below blog may interest anyone looking at the new LEGO Motorised Lighthouse set!

Here at iDisplayit, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the new LEGO Motorised Lighthouse (21335) after seeing the model develop from an IDEAS entry from LEGO enthusiast ‘Roses Must Build’ into a fully approved LEGO set for production in June 2021.

The new creative model stands tall at just over 22 inches, an ideal height for such a visually dramatic building. From the moment our new set arrived, it was easy to imagine the lighthouse forming part of a larger LEGO modular city diorama or coastal scene. We will certainly be keeping an eye on how collectors display this set, so do let us know in the comments if you spot any epic displays!

In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at this striking new LEGO brick collectable…

LEGO Motorised Lighthouse – Externals

There’s no denying the picturesque appeal of the new model, especially important to collectors intending to showcase the new set as an art piece. The Aurora Point lighthouse is housed on a jagged rocky outcrop, intelligently formed from dark grey LEGO bricks to avoid being too linear. The accompanying cottage fits in place with plenty of room to arrange the lighthouse keeper, seagull, cat, and other paraphernalia in many ways. The old anchor covered in seaweed makes a nice addition, along with the rowing boat, which only adds to the delightful scene.

LEGO have excelled themselves in the colour scheme of the buildings, the combination of shining white, red rooftop and tan bricks forming a visually aesthetic design. The lighthouse itself also works well paired with a black gallery and cupola surrounding the authentically styled lantern pane.

It is worth mentioning that the light source also rotates using a Fresnel lens element in the style of an actual lighthouse – an authentic touch for lighthouse aficionados. Some would argue that the light could be brighter and less noisy when operating, though this is not a deal-breaker.

Our favourite part of the whole set has to be the hidden pirate’s cave below the rocky outcrop at sea level. Here, collectors can spot a secret pirate chest guarded by a sleeping bat. The cove also features another hidden surprise: the switch to turn the motorised light element on or off, disguised as part of the cave wall. We really like how LEGO managed to hide this lever within the terrain, although we must confess it took our friends a while to find it after showing them the newly built set!

LEGO Motorised Lighthouse – Interiors

Inside the cottage, the keeper’s quarters consist of a bed, along with essential items such as a broom, clock, pan and fork, a shelf with cheese and a bottle, a stove, a map, and a chest of drawers. Our biggest complaint with this part of the set is that the front door swings inward, making it hard to close without removing the roof. It would have made more sense to have the door open outwards.

There are plenty of fun curiosities inside the lighthouse cylinder, including a portrait and a ladder to reach the upper stories. Some LEGO sets can appear plain and unadorned when viewed from behind, but in this case, the set can be displayed with the rear sections of the lighthouse removed to showcase the interior rooms, offering a perfect 360-degree spectacle. The battery compartment is also neatly hidden by a removable rock section.

Is The LEGO Motorised Lighthouse Worth Buying?

The LEGO Motorised Lighthouse (21335) is a beacon of brick-built style, with a classy design and stunning visual features. However, the price does leave much to be desired at £259.99, making this one of the most expensive sets from the IDEAS range.

That said, you are unlikely to see a better lighthouse model in brick form released anytime soon – and the set is undeniably pleasing on the eye. Lighthouse lovers will find plenty to approve of in this new LEGO release.

Bespoke Display Case for LEGO Lighthouse

How To Display Your LEGO Motorised Lighthouse

Plenty of thought went into constructing our premium custom presentation display case for the LEGO Motorised Lighthouse. We have given LEGO fans two options: a plain transparent case with the option of a black or white base or an exclusive version with a printed background and a water splash effect on the front panel.

Both options include a disguised side flap, which can be used to easily access the hidden switch to turn the light effect on or off. The case is delivered worldwide, with a flat-packed design for easy assembly using 14 of our unique clear screw fittings. The top is secured by lifting the clear surround over the model and slotting in place on the base.

More Music to Write By

A continuation of my previous blog for the Surrey New Writers Festival…

Surrey New Writers Festival

For my last blog I highlighted (for many of us) the importance of background music when writing or undertaking creative pursuits. And not just any kind of music – Music To Write By.

For me, this always means the same thing: classical scores, soft piano music and film soundtracks. Essentially, anything without vocals which creates atmosphere and unlocks the imagination.

But there is another form of this music which must not be overlooked – game soundtracks. Games have changed and evolved a staggering amount considering the industry is still, to a certain extent, in its infancy. Home consoles and gaming PCs truly took off in the 1990s, which is still just over 30 years ago. It is a small dip in human history – but during that time we have seen games evolve from low-res graphics and bleeps, to mega-budget titles complete with symphonic soundtracks and complex soundscapes.

As a…

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Music to Write by

My latest blog for the team at Surrey New Writers Festival on the importance of background music while writing.

Surrey New Writers Festival

Each writer-in-the-making has their own method to spark creativity or break through procrastination, lack of motivation and writer’s block. Several bloggers from the Surrey New Writers Festival team have already written some great advice on this subject, so I thought I would explore my own take on this — the importance of background music.

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”
Elton John

I have finally found time to write. I have cleaned my desk, turned off my phone, put aside distractions, filled my water bottle. There are no more excuses. So, before I put pen to paper – or more accurately, keystroke to screen – there is only one thing left to do. This is to select the music that will inspire my words for the next few hours.

Some writers cannot work to background noise. But for…

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New Year, Past Inspirations

My latest blog post for the team at Surrey New Writers Festival – with the January blues upon us, I could not resist an excuse to escape into the grand, epic world of Tolstoy’s Russia…

Surrey New Writers Festival

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“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
– Leo Tolstoy.

January is a curious month. December – perennially busy with the festive hype and excitement of Christmas – has faded away, leaving many with a mixture of feelings. There are those who revel in the fresh start, the first to embrace New Year’s resolutions and an energetic start to the year, while many feel a sense of anti-climax and uncertainty about the months ahead.

One constant, for me, is that January tends to be a quiet month. The year often takes time to click into gear, be it a slow start at work, or enjoying time off before the next term at school or university. It is a month of quiet, cold, grey days, filled with thought and reflection, before Spring, the season of rebirth and renewal, finally arrives. Most of my friends can…

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A Slight Re-write…

Hi all, just a quick update to let you know about a few changes to the blog.

Originally, this was set up as Prog.Gaming, exploring my favorite subgenre in the gaming world. However, as many of you know, I also hold ambitions of becoming a published (or self-published) author one day and that my first installment in a fantasy series is nearing completion.

I have therefore decided to re-vamp the site into http://www.AJComley.co.uk – with a focus on having an official website that covers all my writing pursuits. Take a look and see what you think! As you can see, the Prog.Gaming section remains unchanged on its own page , however the blog section itself will now encompass a wide range of topics, from literature, to music, to my own thoughts and excerpts.

Thank you for remaining subscribed to the blog and I hope you will continue to support me in the years ahead as I attempt to forge a career in one of the most challenging arenas known to humankind…

‘Tis The Season to Be Haunted

You may have noticed that things have been rather quiet over here at Prog.Gaming. That is because I recently started a one year MA in Creative Writing at the University of Surrey.

It has been a very intense term which has sadly left less time for writing blogs. I have, however, started working with the Surrey New Writers Festival, leading up to their festival in May.

You can see my first blog published with them below: an exploration of haunting tales for Christmas. See you in the new year!

Surrey New Writers Festival

A person sitting on a couch next to a christmas tree

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There is something inherently Christmassy about settling down to enjoy a good ghost story at this time of year.

On the surface, this may seem strange when you consider that so much of the Christmas spirit is based around happiness, joy, colour, energy, and childish wonder. Nevertheless, the season can be exhausting for these very reasons, and it often feels cathartic to find a quiet moment to finally sit back on the sofa and lose one’s self in a haunting tale.

Picture the scene as you turn off the overhead lights and let the warm glow of the Christmas tree illuminate the room. The fireplace crackles away as you read, warming your soul as you pour yourself a glass of port and fetch a mince pie. Or if, like most of us, you do not have a real fire, the Netflix fireplace video will do.

The most well-known Christmas ghost…

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