The Backlog Check-in Vol. 281: 5/20/23: The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Edition

[Phaseknox]

Played: Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories

Finished: Nothing

Playing: Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories

Added: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

I’m still playing Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories, and it’s been wacky and zany even by Japanese game standards. It started to get a little crazier on day 3, but it has totally gone off the rails on day 4.

Despite the serious theme of the game, it’s pretty much a dark comedy with absurd stuff constantly happening. While there’s not a lot of actual gameplay beyond traversing environments and interacting with NPCs, the cool scripted earthquake effects and crazy things that happen make it entertaining to play.

My biggest issue with it which has been an issue with all of the games in the series is the framerate. It drops significantly at times to where it’s choppy and stuttering. This just makes it feel even more like a PS2/PS3 generation game.

I would recommend that everyone here play it for its sheer goofiness, but I know that a lot of its issues would be a turnoff to some of you. However, I think that crim and izzy might get a real kick out of it.

Games releasing this week
Above Snakes
Aeterna Noctis: Pit of the Damned
After Us
The Baby in Yellow
Bat Boy
Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted
Blooming Business: Casino
The Case of the Golden Idol
Cassette Beasts
Chronicles of 2 Heroes: Amaterasu’s Wrath
Cities: Skylines - Hotels & Retreats
Convergence: A League of Legends Story
Cruise Ship Manager
Death From Above
Dice Legacy
Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099
Evil Wizard
Fitness Circuit
Forspoken - In Tanta We Trust
Ghostpia
Glitch Busters!: Stuck on You
Guardians of Gaia
Hello Goodboy
Hello Neighbor: Search & Rescue
Home Sweet Home
Inkbound
Kingdom Rush Origins
Kizuna AI: Touch the Beat
Landlord’s Super
Last Labyrinth
Liberte
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Marlon’s Mystery: The Darkside of Crime
Miasma Chronicles
Minigame Madness
Miracle Snack Shop
Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook
Nock
One Piece Odyssey - Reunion of Memories
Paranormal Hunter
Pirates Pinball
Planet of Lana
Protodroid Delta
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
Railway Empire 2
Shinobi non Grata
Skye Tales
Sleepy: A Short Adventure
Soul Delivery
Star Trek: Resurgence
Sunshine Shuffle
Super Mario Advance
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Super Night Riders
Tennis Manager 2023
Torinto
Victoria 3: Voice of the People
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Wobbledogs
Woodland Hike
Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3

[argyle]

Games added: Nothing

Last week: Finished nothing, played Tears of the Kingdom

This week: Tears of the Kingdom

I can just go ahead & copy/paste this update for the next few weeks. Zelda is amazing, and absolutely massive - not in a huge empty world w/ nothing to do just to be big kind of way, but it is absolutely packed with things to discover & do. It's exceeding my expectations, and that's saying a lot.

[Phaseknox]

I can just go ahead & copy/paste this update for the next few weeks. Zelda is amazing, and absolutely massive - not in a huge empty world w/ nothing to do just to be big kind of way, but it is absolutely packed with things to discover & do.

My brother is loving it too, but that’s not surprising considering that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is his favorite game. What I played of Breath of the Wild I liked, but didn’t love. Big directionless open world games light on story and characters just aren’t really my thing which is why I don’t expect to really like Elden Ring either. Also, I don’t think that playing it on the small Switch Lite screen is doing it any favors either, because it’s the type of game that I like to play on a big screen. And of course I prefer playing as female characters in games.

[jfissel]

Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, ??

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 43 games

Finally back into Layton, lol. Hoping I can beat that one and then move on to some other 3DS games in my backlog. Not sure what I'll play on PS4/5 as my next game. Will look into Disaster Report series.

[Phaseknox]

Not sure what I'll play on PS4/5 as my next game. Will look into Disaster Report series.

I know that you like quirky Japanese games, so you should like the Disaster Report games. The first two are on PS2, do you still play PS2? The third is on PSP, but only came out in Japan. The fourth is of course on PS4. You don’t need to play the previous games in the series to play 4, they’re all separate stories with different characters.

[crimson_tide]

Played: SC6 Libra of Souls (my character Malika grew on me), Cosmic Star Heroine (last chance, game...)...oh snap, I think that was it (not a good gaming week)

Bought: Phantom Breaker Omnia, Fight'n Rege, DMC Definitive Edition, Marvel Midnight Suns whatever the overpriced edition with all the characters is even though I bought it because Storm since she's just awesome. That edition.

This week: Marvel Midnight Suns

Cosmic Star Heroine only got a reprieve because I turned off the run for a minute and made it out of the place where I was stuck. It continues to be basic but it's better than being just on the train. I think my Vita is just going to be a Vanillaware machine after this though. I am hankering for all 3 of their Vita games at the moment.

SC6 is just...man that game is fun. The story mode is just lame as hell but I really enjoy the fighting and being able to switch to the different weapons and character customization. I'm weird but I'm digging it. Still want SF6 but might wait for the first sale since SC6 is working for me right now.

It's that time of year where grading, planning, lesson and report writing is winding down, this should be my last really busy week. So my summer is shaping up. I have 3 big boys all set up and ready to go. Ishin I want to have a good solid few weeks with few distractions so that will likely be August. I am starting with Midnight Suns this week because I keep wanting something turn based and Trails ain't hitting yet (it's so slow...). Valhalla I can go in and out of as I am in the mood. I want to make some good headway in these games by the end of summer and hopefully beat at least one. I had mostly good summer last year stupid ass Lost Judgement notwithstanding (**** the ******* **** out of that ******* game) mostly because I went in with a plan. Hopefully it works out the similar this year! Just without the Lost Judgement disappointment .

[jfissel]

Not sure what I'll play on PS4/5 as my next game. Will look into Disaster Report series.

I know that you like quirky Japanese games, so you should like the Disaster Report games. The first two are on PS2, do you still play PS2? The third is on PSP, but only came out in Japan. The fourth is of course on PS4. You don’t need to play the previous games in the series to play 4, they’re all separate stories with different characters.

The PS2 is put away and I don't have any reason to get it out, so maybe just #4 it is.

[canedaddy]

I know that you like quirky Japanese games, so you should like the Disaster Report games. The first two are on PS2, do you still play PS2? The third is on PSP, but only came out in Japan. The fourth is of course on PS4. You don’t need to play the previous games in the series to play 4, they’re all separate stories with different characters.

I played the first one on PS2 and it was pretty fun, as I recall.

The developers also made Steambot Chronicles, one of my favorite hidden gems on PS2. R.I.P IREM

It's that time of year where grading, planning, lesson and report writing is winding down, this should be my last really busy week.

Congrats! Another notch in the belt.



Played recently: Octopath Traveler II

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: nothing

Current backlog: 30


Another week where I didn't get to play Octopath as much as I would have liked. I believe I unlocked two more characters and did their first chapters... two to go.

[isthatallyougot]

I would recommend that everyone here play it for its sheer goofiness, but I know that a lot of its issues would be a turnoff to some of you. However, I think that crim and izzy might get a real kick out of it.

I played some of the original, and while I enjoyed the premise, I had a hard time getting into things due to the really clunky nature of the execution. I'd still go back to it or play other entries potentially because, as said, I did enjoy the idea. Maybe it just didn't take the first time around.

I can just go ahead & copy/paste this update for the next few weeks. Zelda is amazing, and absolutely massive - not in a huge empty world w/ nothing to do just to be big kind of way, but it is absolutely packed with things to discover & do. It's exceeding my expectations, and that's saying a lot.

Despite some problems I had with BOTW, I really loved that one. I'm sure I'll also enjoy this if I ever get to it.

****************************

I've been playing...*nothing*, lol. So I've had nothing to contribute. But I still think of you guys. One day I'll play a game again...hopefully. (I've bought some games, but I just haven't been in "gaming mode" for whatever reason(s).)

[canedaddy]

I've been playing...*nothing*, lol. So I've had nothing to contribute. But I still think of you guys. One day I'll play a game again...hopefully. (I've bought some games, but I just haven't been in "gaming mode" for whatever reason(s).)

Hey, it happens! Hope you are enjoying whatever else is occupying your time.