The PS2 Backlog Committee Game Club Presents: Let's Tackle A Series*!!!

[crimson_tide]

All the way back in August I suggested this but let's ty to do this in the new year! The goal is simple: pick a series (or post a list you would like for us to vote on for you) that you would like to play through and go for it. I think to make this manageable, picking chunks from a series or a publisher with a distinct style could work. Examples:

Chunks of a series: Final Fantasy would be a fool's errand. However, maybe pick 1-6 or 7-9 or X/X2/12. Get the idea? Something manageable.

Publisher/Developer throughline: All of Yakuza/Like a Dragon is...a lot. So maybe your niche would be Studio RGG spinoffs: Dead Souls. FNTS: Lost Paradise, Judgement, Lost Judgement. Get it? Maybe not a series proper but something with a unifying theme.

I will also posit if you want to do a replay of something, that could be game too! You can post your progress here but just to keep it a little more manageable and so no one's thought gets lost in the shuffle, you can start your own thread once you have your series chosen.

But these are all details! I am going to post the list for argyle and izzy since they already made them way back in August. Of course feel free to add or change as you gents see fit. Here we go all!

[crimson_tide]

Crim...If you are still planning on doing this thing, I've taken a fair bit of time to consider game series I'd play for this thing. I'll post it here since you haven't made a dedicated thread, and you can move my info over there if you decide to do it. Anyway, here's what I came up with. I considered many more series, but I'll just hold it to these choices I suppose. And to be clear I'm COMPLETELY OPEN to playing any of the ones I've listed, so whoever / however you decide to get votes or tabulate things, let it be known that I'm completely unbiased towards any of those series I've listed. I'll let you work the magic / crunch the numbers however you do that thing you do to figure out what I'll be playing.

Here it is:

I wanted to keep my choices to series where I had never played an entry (except for one exception I'll note).

* Even if there are other fringe / side or even main entries than what I've listed, the titles I note under the main series name are the ones I'll commit to playing...over time.

So, in no order of preference:


* Baldur's Gate

Games I'd be playing:

1) Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition (includes Tales of the Sword Coast)
2) Baldur's Gate II : Enhanced Edition (includes Throne of Bhaal)
3) Baldur's Gate : Dark Alliance
4) Baldur's Gate : Dark Alliance II
5) Dungeons & Dragons : Dark Alliance
6) Baldur's Gate III

* Skautfold

This is the exception I mentioned. I have played the first game "Shrouded in Sanity", but this is a unique series where every entry is a different genre, so I feel like I'd still be experiencing a "fresh" series for the most part.

Games I'd be playing:

1) Skautfold : Usurper
2) Skautfold : Into the Fray
3) Skautfold : Moonless Knight
4) Skautfold : Knight's End


* Risen

The only Piranha Bytes game I've ever played was Elex and I really enjoyed it, so I thought it might be interesting to see another series from them. (I considered putting Gothic here, but I've just spent so much time in Morrowind, which has more similarities than Risen.)

Games I'd be playing:

1) Risen
2) Risen 2 : Dark Waters
3) Risen 3 : Titan Lords


* Black Mirror

I've got this entire series already in my Steam library. It's an older Point & click adventure series with what seems to be an interesting atmosphere and positive reviews.

Games I'd be playing:

1) Black Mirror
2) Black Mirror II
3) Black Mirror III
4) Black Mirror (2017) - a re-imagining of the series

* DOOM

Believe it or not I've never played a Doom game, well at least not to completion. I dabbled in the original on PS1, I think it was, but I only played it briefly. So the series would be essentially completely new for me.

Games I'd be playing:

1) DOOM
2) DOOM II : Hell on Earth
3) Master Levels for Doom II
4) Ultimate Doom
5) Final Doom
6) Doom 64
7) Doom 3
8) Doom 3 Resurrection of Evil
9) Doom 3 BFG Edition
10) Doom (2016)
11) Doom Eternal

* Penumbra

The only Frictional game I've ever played is SOMA, and I really enjoyed that one. I considered putting the Amnesia series here, but I figured I'd go back earlier in their catalog.

Games I'd be playing:

1) Penumbra Overture
2) Penumbra : Black Plague (including Penumbra Requiem)

* Shenmue

Games I'd be playing:

1) Shenmue I
2) Shenmue II
3) Shenmue III

* Thief

1) Thief : The Dark Project
2) Thief 2 : The Metal Age
3) Thief : Deadly Shadows
4) Thief (2014)

* Lands of Lore

1) LoL : The Throne of Chaos
2) LoL : Guardians of Destiny
3) LoL 3

* Ecco The Dolphin

1) Ecco the Dolphin
2) Ecco The Tides of Time
3) Ecco Jr.
4) Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

* Xenosaga

1) Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
2) Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
3) Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

[crimson_tide]

I definitely want to participate in the clear a series from my backlog challenge, but since this is a much larger undertaking than just a single game I'm not willing to leave my decision up to a vote. I will, however, post the series I'm considering and I will take anyone's suggestions into consideration.

Xenoblade 2, 3, & X - This is probably the one I'm most leaning towards, even tho it will also be the longest undertaking. I have played about half of 2 a few years back, so I'd obviously have to start over because I remember nothing. And I've played about a quarter of 3 a couple years back, but again, I'd have to start over. Barely touched X (and the hope would be that it would get a port before I get to it, because I'd rather not have to dig out the Wii U).

Bayonetta 1,2, & 3 - I played about half of the first one of these WAY back on I think the PS3, and I've never touched the other 2. I've been meaning to play through them for a while now.

No More Heroes 1, 2, Travis Strikes Again, & 3 - I've played *maybe* half-way through the first game, waaaay back on the Wii I believe. To the best of my knowledge, I've never played any of the others.

finish Unicorn Overlord, play GrimGrimoire OnceMore, Dragon's Crown Pro, 13 Sentinels, and maybe Odin Sphere Leifthrasir - Does this count? I don't care! These are the VanillaWare games I haven't played yet but would really like to. I finished the original Odin Sphere on the PS2, so that's why I say "maybe" to its remake (but I have really been wanting to play through it, so most likely would include it too). This is also a strong contender for me, both because I have really been wanting to get to these games and because it would give me more variety than the other options.

[crimson_tide]

I have to think about yours izzy.

argyle. Friend. Comrade. Bruh. The Vanillaware games are some of my hands down favorite games, period. I would LOVE for you to play through them. Just thinking about your reactions top 13 Sentinels...literally everything is enough but the others are exceptional action rpgs. You would be in for a treat! Also, Dragon's Crown...don't play it around the wife. My wife is a little judgy every time I play it .

[canedaddy]

I'm down for this after I beat Far Cry 5. I'll think about what my options are...

For argyle, I will second the Vanillaware vote. Dragon's Crown and Odin Sphere are awesome.

For izzy, I cast my ballot for Xenosaga. I don't know much about it, but my recollection is it's heavy on philosophy of the kind you might find interesting.

[isthatallyougot]

I have to think about yours izzy.

Moods, how they can change. (my own) I'm happy to play any of the series I listed, for sure, but there are a couple that I'm not feeling at the moment. Also, I didn't think about the limited number of votes given the size of our forum and how easy it would be for there to be a 1-1-1-1-1 whatever tie. Maybe I picked too many options.

argyle. Friend. Comrade. Bruh. The Vanillaware games are some of my hands down favorite games, period. I would LOVE for you to play through them. Just thinking about your reactions top 13 Sentinels...literally everything is enough but the others are exceptional action rpgs. You would be in for a treat! Also, Dragon's Crown...don't play it around the wife. My wife is a little judgy every time I play it .

I thought argyle said he was already going to do Bayonetta. He was like, "Screw you guys. Imma do whatta wunt!"

For what it's worth, I would have (voted), and will vote for Bayonetta anyway. I adore the original. Still have to play the rest though.

For izzy, I cast my ballot for Xenosaga. I don't know much about it, but my recollection is it's heavy on philosophy of the kind you might find interesting.

Yeah, that vibe does sound appealing. Part of the reason I put it on my list. If it ends up getting selected, I'll have to try and avoid beginning some of those hour long cutscenes if I don't have the time freed up when they start, lol.

[canedaddy]

I have decided on my series to tackle! It is...

THESE GUYS!



Specifically, I will be catching up by playing Up Your Arsenal and Deadlocked.

I just hooked up the ol' PS3 and bought the R&C collection and Deadlocked. Cannot wait to roll out again with these lovable buddies.

[isthatallyougot]

I have decided on my series to tackle! It is...

THESE GUYS!



Specifically, I will be catching up by playing Up Your Arsenal and Deadlocked.

I just hooked up the ol' PS3 and bought the R&C collection and Deadlocked. Cannot wait to roll out again with these lovable buddies.

So FUN!!!

Are we deciding on our own now? Or is crim leading us to our promised land?

Edit: Deadlocked is really good in co-op imho. Played with my kid *ages* ago. They grow up and then they mostly forget you. (I can't complain, I generally did the same once those strings were cut. My bloodline DOES the independence thing a little too well, ha.)

[canedaddy]

Are we deciding on our own now? Or is crim leading us to our promised land?

Well I only had one that really appealed to me so I decided to roll with it. If I put it to a vote, you dudes might have had me playing the SaGa series or something.

Played with my kid *ages* ago. They grow up and then they mostly forget you. (I can't complain, I generally did the same once those strings were cut. My bloodline DOES the independence thing a little too well, ha.)

How old is he now? Many people are drawn back after forgetting their parents in their teens and 20s. (It me! )

[isthatallyougot]

Played with my kid *ages* ago. They grow up and then they mostly forget you. (I can't complain, I generally did the same once those strings were cut. My bloodline DOES the independence thing a little too well, ha.)

How old is he now? Many people are drawn back after forgetting their parents in their teens and 20s. (It me! )

Almost 22. Yeah, I know how young adults can be. My parents utterly vanished from my awareness from probably age 18 through my early 30's maybe - only a slight exaggeration. It's hard for kids to really know how much their parents (hopefully) love and miss them, even when you do everything you can to express and show it. At the same time, I COMPLETELY understand the need for independence and autonomy, the need to unfurl those wings and fly free - something that can feel impinged upon simply by virtue of any sort of significant (or minor, lol) parental presence within a young person's life.