The Backlog Check-in Vol. 393: 7/12/25: Donkey Kong Bonanza Edition

[Phaseknox]

Played: Nothing

Finished: Nothing

Playing; ?

Added: Nothing

Games releasing this week
Arashi Gaiden
A-Red Walking Robot
Becoming Saint
Blacksmith: Ignite the Forge
Bridge Constructor Studio
Bustafellows Season 2
Crypt Keeper
Dawn Apart
Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate
Diluvian Winds
Donkey Kong Bonanza
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot - Daima - Adventure Through the Demon Realm Part 1
The Drifter
Drill Core
Dungeons and Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition
Dust Raiders
Edens Zero
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson
Gaucho and the Grassland
Golden Tee Arcade Classics
Gorn 2
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Kaizen: A Factory Story
The Karters 2: Turbo Charged
Lost in Prayer
MoteMancer
The Necromancer’s Tale
Neon Abyss 2
Noble Legacy
Noobs Are Coming
Phantom Squad
Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Magia Exedra
Pump It Up Rise
Ready or Not
Reclaim the Sea
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business
Rugby League 26
Saloon Simulator
Shadow Labyrinth
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Super Loco World - Cozy Train Automation
Two Point Museum: Fantasy Finds
The Wandering Village
Upin & Ipen Universe
Warspace 2
Word Play
World’s End Club

[canedaddy]

Hey Phase! Just want to say again I'm glad you're still around. Hope you are doing well. Praying for you.


Played recently: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: nothing

I'm nearing the end of Eiyuden. I've recruited 100+ people and nearly completed my castle upgrades, and the next story beat seems like it might be the last one.

Did any of you fellas play this game? If not, I can recommend it with two caveats:

1. You must have a high tolerance for anime nonsense. Every trope/idea is packed into those 100+ characters and the enemies. It's gotten to be a bit much for me.

2. Do you like minigames? I don't think there has ever been a game with more of them... and most of them are lame. Off the top of my head:

- Fishing (boring, just one button press)
- Cooking battles (okay)
- Monster breeding/racing (meh)
- Sand boat racing (awful)
- Theater production (come on)
- Trading goods (not fun)
- Card battles (passable)
- Top battles (boring)

And some of these are required to recruit people. Whew.

[jfissel]

I'm nearing the end of Eiyuden. I've recruited 100+ people and nearly completed my castle upgrades, and the next story beat seems like it might be the last one.

Did any of you fellas play this game? If not, I can recommend it with two caveats:

1. You must have a high tolerance for anime nonsense. Every trope/idea is packed into those 100+ characters and the enemies. It's gotten to be a bit much for me.

2. Do you like minigames? I don't think there has ever been a game with more of them... and most of them are lame. Off the top of my head:

- Fishing (boring, just one button press)
- Cooking battles (okay)
- Monster breeding/racing (meh)
- Sand boat racing (awful)
- Theater production (come on)
- Trading goods (not fun)
- Card battles (passable)
- Top battles (boring)

And some of these are required to recruit people. Whew.

I have not played that game, don't know much about it. But yeah, those minigames don't sound too exciting unless they are implemented well.


Finished: New Astro Bot DLC speed run levels (well, minus the last one)

Now Playing: Two Point Campus

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 39 games

I beat the first 4 new Astro Bot levels, but that last one is very long and I'm just not good enough - I think my longest run is halfway to the end.

[argyle]

Games added: The Plucky Squire

Last week: Finished nothing, played a little Fantasy Life i (but really didn't play a ton of anything)

This week: Fantasy Life

I have started pushing forward in the story in FL - I'm afraid if I don't finish it soon, this will join the too long list of games I've played a ton of this year but just didn't finish for whatever reason. It's a great game, but it's easy to get sidetracked just leveling up things.

J, Two Point Campus is great - I still want to try Museum. Love those games!

[isthatallyougot]

I haven't done any gaming. My niece just had her wedding and I've been visiting with family. I'm extending my visit because we decided to have a 75th birthday party for my mom, and that's just around the corner, so I'm just enjoying the visit. Very out of my normal routine, but nice to hang out with family for a lengthier visit.

[canedaddy]

I have not played that game, don't know much about it. But yeah, those minigames don't sound too exciting unless they are implemented well.

Apparently many of them were added as stretch goals for the Kickstarter.

The worst part is they're required for unlocking certain characters. I had to do 20 or so of the tedious top battles to get one guy and 16 cooking battles, which take a decent amount of time, to get another. Annoying.

I beat the first 4 new Astro Bot levels, but that last one is very long and I'm just not good enough - I think my longest run is halfway to the end.

That does not compute coming from you.

[crimson_tide]

At the dentist with children. Yay.

Eyudien Chronicles was in some Humble Choice bundle at some point. Bummer it's full of mini games you don't find fun old man. I will give it a go at some point but keep my expectations in check.

Played: Freedom Planet, One Piece Pirate Warriors 3, Demon Slayer CyberConnect2, UFO 50...ok, just Party House which is literally one of the greatest games ever created. I love it so very much...

Beat: the third round of Party House! I was stuck for a minute

Bought: Nothing

Freedom Planet on easy is amazing. Freedom Planet on normal is a slog and a chore. They still talk way, way too much but I will beat it this time and move on to part 2 because Sonic/Rocket Knight still including crazy ass boss battles is still a great idea. Demon Slayer CyberConnect2 is a CC2 ass CC2 anime arena fighter. It even has the same font as the Naruto Ninja Storm games which is hilarious. The interesting bit is instead of the disappearing ninja replaced with a log gimmick, they replaced that button with a move modifying button and it almost feels like an actual fighting game. You still press the one button for attack so it's still not but at least they tried.

One day I will hook up this PS5. One day. Maybe I'm August when I get back from Jamaica? I wanted to play Pirate Yakuza but now I might just wait for it to play on the PS5. We'll see I guess. I can't imagine the graphical upgrade is that significant so it might just be my PS4 send off game...

Oh and I put FF3 on hold. I haven't been on the train lately. FF pixel remaster has been some train greatness to pass the time on commute. I will probably save the rest of the games for that. I do like the basic ass job system they have in it though.