The Backlog Check-in Vol. 370: 2/1/25: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Edition

[Phaseknox]

Played: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

Finished: Nothing

Playing: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

Added: Nothing

Games releasing this week
Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Big Helmet Heroes
Blood Bar Tycoon
Brawl Stars
A Game About Digging A Hole
Genome Guardian
Hidden Pass
I See Red
Keep Driving
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Luck be a Landlord
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
Moons of Darsalon
Project Pantheon
Rift of the NecroDancer
Rogue Waters
Sugoro Quest: Dice Heroes
Sworn
Tactical Warfare
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate - Casey Jones & the Junkyard Jam
Under Defeat
Valkyrie Squad: Siege Breakers
While Waiting

[canedaddy]

I see a lot of people hyped about Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. I recall playing the first one and enjoying it ... up until I got stuck on something very annoying.


Played recently: Wolfenstein: The New Order

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: nothing

Current backlog: 45


I fired up Wolfenstein this week and was into it over the first few chapters. It plays well and has a compelling story, and there's a good amount of variety in the proceedings. But then I just found myself not really wanting to play it anymore. It might be too gloomy for my current mental state, I don't know. I could get back to it eventually, we will see.

I really don't know what would hit my mood right now. Nothing in the backlog is calling out to me. Maybe I'll fire up an old Dragon Quest for some comfort food... VIII on PS2 or IV on DS.

[argyle]

Games added: Grim Dawn Definitive Edition (xbox)

Last week: Finished nothing, played Cyberpunk, Eternal Strands, & Grim Dawn

This week: Same.

I have about 70 hours in Cyberpunk now, still enjoying it. Nothing new to add yet that I haven't already said. Eternal Strands hit Gamepass this week. I hadn't heard of it before, but it was one of those day-1 Gamepass drops. Looked interesting, so I downloaded it and gave it a spin - I really wasn't enjoying the Ninja Gaiden 2 remaster (I've never really enjoyed ANY NG) and I needed something else to play to get my daily reward points. So I started out just playing it the required 15 mins, and this went on for 3-4 days. But during that time it started to grab me, so this weekend I put some real time into it. It's an indie game, but it doesn't feel like one - it's very polished and looks great (it's not cutting-edge graphic tech, but it has a nice art style that really works for it). What it feels like is a PS2 action-adventure game with some modern features added. I guess I'd call it a combination of Kingdoms of Amalur, modern Zelda, and Shadow of the Colossus. It's a little slow to start, but once it gets going it's very addictive. Lookingn forward to putting more time into this one.

Grim Dawn is an interesting one. It was on sale last week on the Xbox store - $20 for the game & all expansions - and I hadn't heard of it before. Turns out it's anything but a new game, came out originally in 2018 I think? Maybe even earlier. It's a Diablo-like, but it's WAY better than Diablo 4. Has a cool unique hook of letting you pick a second class at level 10, so there are tons of potential combinations. I'm playing as a death knight (soldier + necro). Tam and I are playing it together and having a blast. I have no idea how this one flew under my radar for so long, but I'm glad I finally discovered it.

[isthatallyougot]

Games added: Grim Dawn Definitive Edition (xbox)

Last week: Finished nothing, played Cyberpunk, Eternal Strands, & Grim Dawn

This week: Same.

I have about 70 hours in Cyberpunk now, still enjoying it. Nothing new to add yet that I haven't already said. Eternal Strands hit Gamepass this week. I hadn't heard of it before, but it was one of those day-1 Gamepass drops. Looked interesting, so I downloaded it and gave it a spin - I really wasn't enjoying the Ninja Gaiden 2 remaster (I've never really enjoyed ANY NG) and I needed something else to play to get my daily reward points. So I started out just playing it the required 15 mins, and this went on for 3-4 days. But during that time it started to grab me, so this weekend I put some real time into it. It's an indie game, but it doesn't feel like one - it's very polished and looks great (it's not cutting-edge graphic tech, but it has a nice art style that really works for it). What it feels like is a PS2 action-adventure game with some modern features added. I guess I'd call it a combination of Kingdoms of Amalur, modern Zelda, and Shadow of the Colossus. It's a little slow to start, but once it gets going it's very addictive. Lookingn forward to putting more time into this one.

Grim Dawn is an interesting one. It was on sale last week on the Xbox store - $20 for the game & all expansions - and I hadn't heard of it before. Turns out it's anything but a new game, came out originally in 2018 I think? Maybe even earlier. It's a Diablo-like, but it's WAY better than Diablo 4. Has a cool unique hook of letting you pick a second class at level 10, so there are tons of potential combinations. I'm playing as a death knight (soldier + necro). Tam and I are playing it together and having a blast. I have no idea how this one flew under my radar for so long, but I'm glad I finally discovered it.

Yeah, Grim Dawn came out in 2016. I would have assumed you'd have already played it, given your interests. It's in my backlog, but never tried it.

Eternal Strands sounds fun. Checked it out and added to my wishlist. Thanks.

***********************

I'm still toiling away at the visual / thematic elements of my league creation in OOTP Baseball. I've finished about 15 or so of the 50 teams logos / badges and uniforms with varying degrees of work done on some others. The league is starting to have a flavor, even prior to any games having been played. Really fun to see it come to life and imagine all the stories that will develop over the years /seasons. I still haven't decided who I'm going to manage - it's a really big choice in my life. I've lived in and have ties to several states (TN, MI, OH, NC, ID, MN), but maybe I'll pick another. I just don't know. I'm thinking maybe Alaska just because I love how remote and harsh that place can be, and I love the idea of bunkering up in a cabin there and saying goodbye to the world (and hello to the bears! )

I'm also right at the end of Barkley, Shut up and Jam! I think. It's been a wild and crazy ride for sure. Fun and funny with some truly odd aspects.

[jfissel]

Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 43 games

I really don't know what would hit my mood right now. Nothing in the backlog is calling out to me. Maybe I'll fire up an old Dragon Quest for some comfort food... VIII on PS2 or IV on DS.

I need to play 8 again, missed buying the 3DS version and now it's expensive.

[crimson_tide]

Hey. I'm back because I am sick today. I slept most of the day with a stomach bug. Forgive my absence. Work, wife, kids, lifting. It's been a month friends. Been so busy I haven't even been able to play Shadow x Sonic Generations beyond 2 or 3 levels. Steam Deck has been clutch for gaming during commutes though. Glad phase is back gaming !

Played: Balatro, Ruiner, UFO 50, McPixel 3 (No.), Granblue Fantasy Relink (YES!!!!!), Vampire Survivors, Donut County, drips and drabs of others.

Beat: Donut County (the kid and I beat this one in a sitting one Saturday night, had a great time!)

Bought: AI (both of them), Alliance Alive, Balatro, Danganronpa (all), Kingdom Hearts (all), P4 Arena, Ruiner, UFO 50

Notes:

I bought some stuff with my Xmas Steam credit to get out of my comfort zone (well, aside from KH )

Balatro is fine. I don't get the overwhelming praise.

UFO 50 I actively disliked initially. I am playing them in order and honestly the early games just don't work. Attactics was ok as was...Velgris? It's a reverse Downwell do it was fine. Then I got tro game 25, Party House. I love it, simple concept but it's so engaging. Rail Chase was ok too. As the games get more complex and have less random control schemes, I am digging them more. Party House is the business though!

Relink: I love this one! It's gorgeous, easy to pick up and play and is extremely pared down to just the good stuff. The post game is really what I am looking forward to, apparently it's a light Monster Hunter clone so maybe I can get a grasp on that series. If you like action rpgs, grab it when it goes on sale, completely blew away my expectations!

[Phaseknox]

Glad phase is back gaming !

Thanks.

Relink: I love this one! It's gorgeous, easy to pick up and play and is extremely pared down to just the good stuff. The post game is really what I am looking forward to, apparently it's a light Monster Hunter clone so maybe I can get a grasp on that series. If you like action rpgs, grab it when it goes on sale, completely blew away my expectations!

I played the demo back when it came out and liked it, and I’ve been waiting to get the game when it was cheaper. The physical version is on sale for $37.99 while the digital version is on sale for $26.99, so despite wanting it physically I bought it digitally since it’s a lot cheaper and I don’t know when or if it will be that cheap physically.

[canedaddy]

Hey. I'm back because I am sick today. I slept most of the day with a stomach bug.

Sorry you're ill but good to see you anyway.

I really don't know what would hit my mood right now. Nothing in the backlog is calling out to me. Maybe I'll fire up an old Dragon Quest for some comfort food... VIII on PS2 or IV on DS.

I need to play 8 again, missed buying the 3DS version and now it's expensive.

I did the same thing. Ah well, the PS2 version still works and looks pretty good even today. Yes, I decided to play it again. It's been a long time. I recall many moons ago that I hated the art style (!) but decided to give it a shot anyway -- thanks to some of you folks back on the IGN PS2 board -- and it became one of my favorite games of all time.

It's been wild seeing how different certain things are from how I remember them. I recalled leveling up for a fight against an early boss... and I got it all wrong, apparently. Stupid old brain.

[isthatallyougot]

Glad to see you back crim. Hope you and j are feeling better.

I do have a minor bone to pick with you though. Your gamer club thing - I was counting on you to guru this deal. Nobody except cane voted (I think) and now I don't know what to do. I'm never at a loss for things to play, but I still want to participate in this. Please, oh wise one, show me the way! (one way or another) I mean, I can pick it myself of course, but I kind of like the idea of it being some sort of surprise.