The Backlog Check-in Vol. 419: 1/10/26: Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2) Edition

[jfissel]

Big Hops (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) - January 12
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (PC) - January 12
Streetdog BMX (PC) - January 14
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2) - January 15
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, PC) - January 15
Brokenlore: Unfollow (PS5, PC) - January 16


Finished: Dragon Quest II HD-2D

Now Playing: Once Upon a Katamari (trophy cleanup), PowerWash Simulator 2

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 39 games

Finally got the platinum in DQ2 - only took like 67 hours which sounds much longer than other people...but I was exploring a lot, got every chest, and defeated all enemies (came close on all items/weapons). Started PowerWash Simulator 2 finally, default controls are a little different than 1 but I've adjusted for the most part.

Just looked ahead on the game release calendar and I think I'll skip Dragon Quest VII Reimagined for now and probably get Yakuza Kiwami 3 on release (Feb 11). Then I'll have a few months before 007 First Light on May 27, if the previews still look fun.

[canedaddy]

Just looked ahead on the game release calendar and I think I'll skip Dragon Quest VII Reimagined for now and probably get Yakuza Kiwami 3 on release (Feb 11).

That makes sense. I try to put some space between both DQ games and Yakuza games, since those two series are among my favorites but they share so many elements from entry to entry.


Played recently: Astro Bot

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: nothing

Astro Bot is still a lot of fun! There are so many things to discover. Loving it.

My granddaughter is playing it too when she comes over. She needs a little help but does pretty well. My grandson tries to play too... he loves the robots but just turned 3 and has no clue how to deal with the two control sticks. He'll have the camera pointing straight down and whatnot.

[isthatallyougot]

Oh my, I just had the displeasure of meeting and interacting with Prince, um "Prince" Charmles of Argonia. I'm not sure I've ever encountered a character that I wanted to punt into the Sun as much as this dishonorable shit-weasel, lol. Granted, the way he's portrayed surely makes him memorable, if despicable. Even within combat, the way he fumbles his little knife in the intro as well as his striking for a single point of damage before fleeing the scene captures the essence of his character. And it seems he's a central figure of the forthcoming narrative, given the historical weight of his significance. I truly feel sorry for Princess Medea, King Trode and the hero! If nothing else, this encounter has really added a great deal of flavor to the proceedings, ha! I know I won't soon forget this turd.

Excellent game overall, btw, as I expected after my singular encounter with the series in XI. I'm thinking of going back to the DS entries at some point in the not too distant future hopefully.

[canedaddy]

Ha, he is the worst.

[argyle]

Games added: Nothing, afaik.

Last week: Finished Control (plat'd), played Hello Kitty, Two Point Campus, & Marvel Cosmic Invasion

This week: Same.

I wasn't going to go for the plat in Control, until I realized that the DLC trophies in the ultimate edition didn't count towards it, and I basically had all of the trophies that were needed anyway - had to go out of my way a tiny bit for one, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

Hello Kitty is still my chill game. It's crazy that I'm still unlocking major game features with as much time as I've put into it - just unlocked rain a couple days ago. Game is crazy addictive. I'm playing Two Point Campus basically just because it's there & I'm indecisive about what "big" game to dive into next. That's not to say it's a bad game, just that I played the majority of it back when it came out & I'm just replaying it now. I would be playing Museum, but Campus was on Sony's not-gamepass service so there ya go. And Marvel Cosmic Invasion is the best 2D beat-em-up I've played since that turtles game that came out 3-4 years back. No real surprise once I realized it was made by the guys who did that Scott Pilgrim beat-em-up that was so good. They understood the assignment - nice 2D sprites, all based on the comics & not the movies, a good variety of characters with cool moves - you pick 2 and can swap between them at will. And of course, online & couch co-op. Highly recommended.

I think I'm in the mood for an RPG, but I have a bit of decision paralysis. I have too many options and I know all of them are good. The main ones I'm considering are Granblue Fantasy Re:Link (I know Crim had a blast with this one, and it's been on my list since before it was released), Xenoblade Chronicles X Remastered (the mythical Switch 2 patch is never coming), and Dragon Quest XI (I've put this one off for way too long). Maybe I'll pick something this weekend.