The Backlog Check-in Vol. 383: 5/3/25: Revenge of the Savage Planet Edition

[argyle]

I don't know what else is coming out this week. Games. Look 'em up. But the first Savage Planet was an overlooked gem, and this one looks like it's just upping the ante on everything that made the first one great, so I'm in. (it's also coming to Gamepass, so that's why I'll be in day-1 )

Games added: Lunar Remastered Collection, Cult of the Lamb, Star Wars Outlaws

Last week: Mainly Blue Prince, but I'm back on Rogue Legacy 2 as of last night. I did play about 3.5 hours of Outlaws. That's probably all I'm going to play.

This week: Will probably focus on RL2, we'll see what else happens

So I have been curious about Outlaws, it went on sale this weekend plus I had a bunch of Microsoft credit from doing their rewards thing. I was only out of pocket $1, so I figured why not? In hindsight, I still greatly overpaid. It's Space-sassin's Creed. There's even conveniently placed space grass for you to hide in. The open world aspect is pointless, because it's empty - the only thing to do is go to the next mission marker. The environments are all very dull as well - it looks like someone typed "Design a star wars-style XXXX" into an AI generator and took what it spat out. There's nothing interesting to see, nothing that makes once area of a place stand out from another. It's just nicely-generated noise. So yeah, if anyone wants to play a GOOD Star Wars game, play Jedi Fallen Order / Survivor. Those are excellent (and incidentally, some of the best Star Wars content period in years now).

I still haven't cracked all of Blue Prince - it's a ridiculously complex game - but I'm slowing down on playing it some. A lot of what I *think* I need to do to figure things out now require RNG to hit just right, and continuing to do run after run is just burning me out. I'll still play it some, but I'm going to slow down a lot - maybe a run a night. This is not a knock against it, I have put a LOT of time into this game, but I don't want to ruin it for myself by making it a grind at the end.

Jumped back into RL2 last night and managed to beat the boss I had been stuck at, so I'm progressing in that again. Would be nice to finish it up this week, but we'll see. I'm also really wanting to try out Cult of the Lamb. Been wanting that one for a while, but first I wanted to wait for the physical and then I just wasn't where I knew I would play it right away so it became "wait for a deal". Got it for free technically from Wal-Mart - it was $10, but they had some deals w/ their "plus week" that gave me $15 store credit.

[jfissel]

Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Octopath Traveler II

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 40 games

Played a lot more of Octopath Traveler II - up to about 46 hours played and almost done with all Chapter 2s. Need to level up some before I finish those off and work on some chapter 3s.

[isthatallyougot]

I've been out of town for the last 5+ days, and so I haven't had much of any gaming time. My mom was traveling north to see an old friend in Holland Michigan, and they asked if I would go south and meet them for the tulip festival they have every year there. So I went down and hung out with them along with my 29-year old nephew and his pregnant wife. We all had a good time looking at the crazy colors, the old windmill and watching the Dutch dancers clomp in the streets in their wooden shoes, lol. We also went to the beach, but those Tennessee softies couldn't take the chill.

Anyway, I'll get back on the horse with my 2024 gaming countdown (and OOTP baseball league preview) pretty soon. I did get to play a very small amount of OOTP, and the first regular season is nearing a close and the playoffs will start soon.

[jfissel]

Just gonna leave this right here:

[canedaddy]

That GTA 6 trailer spoke to me. Man.

I've been out of town for the last 5+ days, and so I haven't had much of any gaming time. My mom was traveling north to see an old friend in Holland Michigan, and they asked if I would go south and meet them for the tulip festival they have every year there. So I went down and hung out with them along with my 29-year old nephew and his pregnant wife. We all had a good time looking at the crazy colors, the old windmill and watching the Dutch dancers clomp in the streets in their wooden shoes, lol.

Holland Michigan takes its name seriously, eh? Tulips, wooden shoes, the whole nine. Amazing.

I still haven't cracked all of Blue Prince - it's a ridiculously complex game - but I'm slowing down on playing it some. A lot of what I *think* I need to do to figure things out now require RNG to hit just right, and continuing to do run after run is just burning me out. I'll still play it some, but I'm going to slow down a lot - maybe a run a night. This is not a knock against it, I have put a LOT of time into this game, but I don't want to ruin it for myself by making it a grind at the end.

I almost started it and then reconsidered for that reason (complexity and length to 100%, as well as the apparent need to take notes). There will be a time when that's exactly what I'll want to play, but not right after I got my new PS5.


Played recently: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Bugsnax

Finished: LADG, Bugsnax

Added to backlog: nothing

Current backlog: 42


First I wrapped up my last ride with Kazzy baby. Fun game that filled in some key story beats... and possibly got me misty-eyed at the end. Dang, why you gotta do me like that Ryu Ga Gotoku?

After that I fired up... Bugsnax, for some reason. Just got the plat (No. 17). I loved a lot of things about it. It's very creative and original with some excellent puns and humor, like a PS2 game. Nice pacing through the whole thing as you meet new characters and visit new regions. But there were some annoyances too. First, it's dumb that you have to catch the same bugsnax over and over to fulfill various quests. I also don't love how the story came together, or how they went so heavy on LGBT stuff in what looks like a children's game.

[isthatallyougot]

Just gonna leave this right here:

Looks absolutely incredible imho. Kind of funny dropping another trailer right after announcing the delay though, lol. No doubt will be worth the wait.

Holland Michigan takes its name seriously, eh? Tulips, wooden shoes, the whole nine. Amazing.

Well, it was founded by Dutch Americans, to be fair, but yeah, they get into it proper like.

[crimson_tide]

Hey. Much like Glados, I am still alive. And petty as ****!

I have again barely played anything but bought or Humble Bundle Choiced a lot. I finished up my Final Fantasy Steam Deck collection. I might make this my play through a series. I will likely jump around instead of straight through because it really doesn't matter. if not that, I JUST started Meg Man ZX collection. I might see how far I get in that. I finally want to get back to something since summer is coning and I get the smallest of reprieves.

Life is still lifing, hope all is well all and I hope to b back to somewhat regular posting by June (so I can do my 2024 GOTY finally!)