A combination of uninspired gameplay and a completely bonkers handling of its release are just two of the factors that led to MultiVersus wasting a treasure trove of IP; add a poor microtransaction structure and spotty server connectivity on top of that and you've got a recipe for disaster, and a disaster is exactly what MultiVersus was. It's a shame, too, because with better gameplay and a better handling of its great cast of characters, MultiVersus had the potential to be one of the few live service success stories, but alas, a success story it was not.

Gameplay woes and character issues aside, the team over at Naughty Dog pulled off the impossible: they not only made me not hate Abby, they made me like her so much I think she may just be the new best character in the series. Unlike Ellie, Abby actually shows growth and an ability to make her own decisions, whereas Ellie becomes a less interesting character the longer the game goes on, eventually becoming someone I almost, kind of, don't like anymore--the final confrontation is a perfect showcase of the how feelings have changed from the beginning of the playthrough to the end of it. While I still don't think Naughty Dog is the best at gameplay, they prove with The Last of Us Part II that they still know how to make one hell of a story.

Unlike some of the games I've recently played for The Last Call, Dauntless had a good run, launching in beta in May 2018 and lasting until May 2025. That's seven good years. Well, as someone who didn't regularly play it, I can't say they were good years with any kind of authority, but as someone who played it near launch and near death, it was a fine time. Ultimately, I think it never found a way to get out from under Monster Hunter's shadow, so it was only a matter of time until it died. To all the players who will miss it now that it's gone, I hope you're able to remember all the good times you had as you try a find a new game to play with your lads.