The Backlog Check-in Vol. 237: 7/16/22: Stray Edition
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2022 1:54 pm
Played: Ashen, Black Book, Crysis Remastered, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, Ender of Fire, Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story
Finished: Nothing
Playing: Ashen
Added: Nothing
I quit playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising despite putting 10 hours into it and somewhat enjoying it, because I reached a point where grinding was pretty much necessary to proceed and I had enough of going to the same few locations countless times already that I didn’t want to any more in order to grind.
I played some Ashen, Black Book, Crysis Remastered, Ender of Fire and Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story. Ashen is the one that clicked with me the most, so it’s what I’m continuing to play.
Black Book is a pretty good point-and-click adventure game with an interesting story, an appealing art style and a turn-based battle system. But it’s kind of slow paced as point-and-click adventure games tend to be, and I was in the mood for something a little more action-y.
I decided to play Crysis Remastered since Crysis is a game that I’ve always wanted to play, and it’s been a while since I played an FPS. I can tell why it was popular back in 2007 when it originally came out, but now in 2022 it seems a little generic for the genre since other similar FPSs like Far Cry have been doing what it does better over the years. I was liking it enough to possibly want to play through it when I’m really in the mood for an FPS, but that’s not now.
I played a little Ender of Fire, and it seemed like an ok 3D side scrolling arcade style hack ‘n slash game similar to Golden Axe. But it was pretty low budget and one-note failing to really keep me wanting to play for too long. However, it’s something that I plan on playing again when I’m more in the mood for a game like it.
I played some Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story, and I was enjoying it at first since it’s a classic style third person survival horror game with slight exploration, and key item puzzles. However, I soon discovered that it’s a hide and sneak only stealth game when it comes to dealing with enemies. It desperately needed combat of some kind, because strictly avoiding enemies without being detected in a game like this is boring.
Ashen is the game that finally clicked with me, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s similar to Dark Souls in a lot of ways, but more reasonable in terms of challenge. It’s challenging without being frustrating. It has a lighter tone to it with cartoonish stylized graphics, and wooden figurine looking characters without faces. I find the art style appealing, and it takes place in a small open world that also has dungeons. The story is kind of weird and there’s not much characterization since you play as a generic silent avatar, but the NPCs talk. As with other Soulslike games it’s the world and gameplay that are the focus here, and they’re both good.
Games releasing this week
Aery: Vikings
As Dusk Falls
Bail or Jail
Banish
Book of Yog Idle RPG
Bright Memory: Infinite
Bunny Must Die: Chelsea and the 7 Devils
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium
Century: Age of Ashes
Chaos Galaxy 2
Chameleon: DYH
Coromon
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp
DeadOut 2
Deer Journey
Endling: Extinction is Forever
Ex-Zodiac
Fallen Angel
Gloom and Doom
Hazel Sky
Hell Pie
Justice.exe
Live a Live
Mari and Bayu: The Road Home
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse Remastered
Pixel.Loot.Princess.Again x2
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms
Severed Steel
Stray
The Sunny Life
Post Void
TombStar
Finished: Nothing
Playing: Ashen
Added: Nothing
I quit playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising despite putting 10 hours into it and somewhat enjoying it, because I reached a point where grinding was pretty much necessary to proceed and I had enough of going to the same few locations countless times already that I didn’t want to any more in order to grind.
I played some Ashen, Black Book, Crysis Remastered, Ender of Fire and Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story. Ashen is the one that clicked with me the most, so it’s what I’m continuing to play.
Black Book is a pretty good point-and-click adventure game with an interesting story, an appealing art style and a turn-based battle system. But it’s kind of slow paced as point-and-click adventure games tend to be, and I was in the mood for something a little more action-y.
I decided to play Crysis Remastered since Crysis is a game that I’ve always wanted to play, and it’s been a while since I played an FPS. I can tell why it was popular back in 2007 when it originally came out, but now in 2022 it seems a little generic for the genre since other similar FPSs like Far Cry have been doing what it does better over the years. I was liking it enough to possibly want to play through it when I’m really in the mood for an FPS, but that’s not now.
I played a little Ender of Fire, and it seemed like an ok 3D side scrolling arcade style hack ‘n slash game similar to Golden Axe. But it was pretty low budget and one-note failing to really keep me wanting to play for too long. However, it’s something that I plan on playing again when I’m more in the mood for a game like it.
I played some Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story, and I was enjoying it at first since it’s a classic style third person survival horror game with slight exploration, and key item puzzles. However, I soon discovered that it’s a hide and sneak only stealth game when it comes to dealing with enemies. It desperately needed combat of some kind, because strictly avoiding enemies without being detected in a game like this is boring.
Ashen is the game that finally clicked with me, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s similar to Dark Souls in a lot of ways, but more reasonable in terms of challenge. It’s challenging without being frustrating. It has a lighter tone to it with cartoonish stylized graphics, and wooden figurine looking characters without faces. I find the art style appealing, and it takes place in a small open world that also has dungeons. The story is kind of weird and there’s not much characterization since you play as a generic silent avatar, but the NPCs talk. As with other Soulslike games it’s the world and gameplay that are the focus here, and they’re both good.
Games releasing this week
Aery: Vikings
As Dusk Falls
Bail or Jail
Banish
Book of Yog Idle RPG
Bright Memory: Infinite
Bunny Must Die: Chelsea and the 7 Devils
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium
Century: Age of Ashes
Chaos Galaxy 2
Chameleon: DYH
Coromon
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp
DeadOut 2
Deer Journey
Endling: Extinction is Forever
Ex-Zodiac
Fallen Angel
Gloom and Doom
Hazel Sky
Hell Pie
Justice.exe
Live a Live
Mari and Bayu: The Road Home
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse Remastered
Pixel.Loot.Princess.Again x2
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms
Severed Steel
Stray
The Sunny Life
Post Void
TombStar