The Backlog Check-in Vol. 335: 6/1/24: Destiny 2: The Final Shape/The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road Edition

[Phaseknox]

Played: Nothing

Finished: Nothing

Playing: ?

Added: Nothing

Games releasing this week
The Ancients
Arhaekon
Autopsy Simulator
Blockbuster Inc.
Call of Myth
Chornobyl Liquidators
Construction Simulator - Stadium Expansion
Democracy 4
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Detective - Minerva Case
Downward Enhanced
Dragon is Dead
The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road
Empires of the Undergrowth
Fading Afternoon
Field of Glory: Kingdoms
Fireside
Garage: Bad Dream Adventure
Ghost Teen Escape from Limbo
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game
Kristala
Pinball M - Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball
Pro Cycling Manager 2024
Rider’s Spirits
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
Sisters: Last Day of Summer
Star Stuff
The Smurfs: Village Party
Star Wars: Hunters
Tour de France 2024
A Twisted Path to Renown

[canedaddy]

Sorry you're still in a funk, Phase.



Played recently: Marvel's Spider-Man, Biomutant, Ys Origin, Monster Hunter: World

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: Ys Origin, Monster Hunter: World

Current backlog: 37


I've been in a mini funk myself when it comes to gaming. I went through my entire backlog the other day trying to see if anything was calling my name.

I thought I would be in the mood for a nice open-world romp, but nothing clicked.

I tried Spidey for the second time and was again turned off by both the controls (the web swinging stuff might be too complex for my old gorilla brain) and the fact that it's a Marvel game... not much mysterious or exciting about going into that world at this point.

Then I saw Biomutant and thought, hey, maybe that will do the trick. Nope. Got bored with it maybe a half-hour into the game.

Finally, I bought Monster Hunter: World in the hopes that I could sink my teeth into a sort-of open-world RPG with crazy loot and epic monsters. It's... OK. It has those two things, but the combat is still lame after all these years, and it's still set up like an MMO, where you launch into missions from a job board. I had to figure out how to turn off the online crap. So I don't know how long I'll stick with it.

[isthatallyougot]

I'm still chopping wood in Morrowind @ about 75 hours in. Still not feeling like I've made much of a dent, lol. Such a dense game. It's one of those games that I become more invested in the more I play rather than the reverse that can often happen, even with some really good games. I just get more and more integrated into the experience via lore, questing, character growth and exploration. I just made my way all the way up to the isolated island of Solstheim, a large isolated and wintry island northwest of Vvardenfell and northeast from Skryim. It's a nice variation of biome and I always love such cold and wintry locales. I've still yet to uncover masses of the overall game map and I'm trying to knock out some quests as my journal has become ridiculously large. I've been moving up the ranks of the Mage's guild and the Imperial Cult, the latter just happening by consequence of random engagement, the former being a focus of mine. My alchemy skill is stupid great with either master or grand-master equipment for every form of manipulation, and when I find myself in a tough spot that I'd rather not contend with, I just chug one of my *many* potions - in this case of levitation - as I literally rise above the fracas, leaving the confused foes mouth-agape at my mastery of the esoteric while my renown in this world moves in corresponding fashion. Yeah, I'm having a very good time.

Cane, I have several Monster Hunter games in my backlog, including World on Steam. It's a series that I always thought I'd love, but for whatever reason have never sat down and tried. One day.

Edit: Good to see crim and (once again) argyle join me as PC boys from Steam pop-ups. Crim - create your danged profile. You're just a ghost of a character. Hope you're enjoying SMT3.

[jfissel]

Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Windbound, Stellar Blade

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 44 games

Caught all fish in Stellar Blade and have been going back to mop up all collectibles in previous areas - almost done with that and then it'll be time to continue the story.

[argyle]

Games added: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Definitive Edition, and a "sidesplorer" Humble Bundle that contained Cookie Cutter, Axiom Verge 1&2, Ghost Song, Death's Gambit, The Knight Witch, and 9 Years of Shadows - all for $14

Last week: Finished nothing, played Slay the Spire, some cleanup on Little Kitty, Big City, some M&M Clash of Heroes, and dabbled with a few others

This week: Slay the Spire and Cookie Cutter mainly, looking for something to sink my teeth into

Clash of Heroes was a blast from the past - I want to say I originally played it years ago on the DS. It's a puzzle RPG. Simplistic on the story side of things, but much more tactical and "RPG-ish" than something like Puzzle Quest. It starts off a ton of fun, but after playing through the elves they threw me to the humans, back at lvl 1, but with the difficulty still elevated. It became kinda frustrating. I'll give it another try or two, but not gonna beat my head against it.

Cookie Cutter is a very visually impressive sidesplorer that's scratching that itch for me right now. I was getting a little frustrated last night because I kept running into dead ends & the enemies were damage sponges that hit really hard. Turns out, when they say in the beginning that you can take either the path to the left or the right, what they MEAN is "take the path to the left". Poor design choice there, but once I went left everything balanced out (for the most part) difficulty-wise and I started making progress again.

[canedaddy]

I looked through my backlog and found Mafia: Definitive Edition... from PS+, most likely. I fired it up and it is just what the doctor ordered. Prohibition Era Mafiosos doing their thing.

Clash of Heroes was a blast from the past - I want to say I originally played it years ago on the DS. It's a puzzle RPG. Simplistic on the story side of things, but much more tactical and "RPG-ish" than something like Puzzle Quest. It starts off a ton of fun, but after playing through the elves they threw me to the humans, back at lvl 1, but with the difficulty still elevated. It became kinda frustrating. I'll give it another try or two, but not gonna beat my head against it.

I loved that game on DS. So good. I don't recall that difficulty spike, but my brain is mush so who knows.

[Phaseknox]

I started playing Life is Strange: True Colors, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m a big fan of the first game and the prequel Before the Storm, and I’ve been enjoying this one just as much. The story and characters are really good, and the game is kind of like a modern point-and-click adventure. It’s definitely what I’m in the mood for right now.

[argyle]

Figured out why my Steam profile wasn't updating in Exophase.

Also, I'm digging Cookie Cutter so far. It's a hyper-violent beat-em-up/sidesplorer with VERY vibrant, colorful hand-drawn graphics.

[isthatallyougot]

I started playing Life is Strange: True Colors, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m a big fan of the first game and the prequel Before the Storm, and I’ve been enjoying this one just as much. The story and characters are really good, and the game is kind of like a modern point-and-click adventure. It’s definitely what I’m in the mood for right now.

Happy you found something that clicks. You're *much* better (virtual) company when you focus on the positive. (We all have a right to express what we're feeling and often may have good reason to want to wallow in the mire, but we do ourselves (or others) no favors by dwelling on the negative. Looking for pity is no way to live my brother - *no matter* the hand you have been dealt.)

Also, I'm digging Cookie Cutter so far. It's a hyper-violent beat-em-up/sidesplorer with VERY vibrant, colorful hand-drawn graphics.

It's in my backlog, and I've thought it looks pretty interesting. Hope it continues to be good.