PS2 Backlog Committee

Played: Second Life

Finished: Nothing

Playing: ?

Added: Nothing

Games releasing this week
Airport X-Ray Simulator
Among Ashes
Astrometica
Besiege
Bloodshed
Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated
The Cabin Factory
Chernobylite
Completely Stretchy
Cosmic Royale
Creeper World IXE
Deathless
Doraemon Dorayaki Shop Story
Dungeons 4 - Not Another Multiverse
Era One
Faaast Penguin
Fairy Tail 2
The Finale
Galactic Civilizations IV - Megastructures
Go Home Annie
Grimguard Tactics
Heat Death: Survival Train
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Industrial Annihilation
Kletka
Lapin
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
Maki: Paw of Fury
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
MiSide
MOBA Esport Manager 24
Monument Valley III
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen
Paper Perjury
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
Skydance’s Behemoth
Snowman’s Story
The Spirit of the Samurai
Stars In the Trash
Taito Milestones 3
10 Dead Doves
Tobacco Shop Simulator
Total War: Warhammer III - Omens of Destruction
Urban Strife
Victory Heat Rally
Voin
Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sector - Astra Militarum
Wildfrost
Xuan Yuan Sword: The Gate of Firmament
Zort

Played recently: Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, Hades, Far Cry 5

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: Far Cry 5

Current backlog: 43


It's been hard getting into another game after DQ Builders 2. That one really hit the spot.

I fired up Hades and got a lot further than on my previous attempt. Unfortunately, I don't think a roguelike is going to hit right for me right now... it's the opposite of how DQB2 made me feel productive despite my lack of employment. I kept going around and around with just small progress (like new weapons unlocked). Back to the shelf for now.

I then played a few hours Ender Lilies, which was a PS+ freebie a few months ago. It's a decent 2D action RPG/Metroidvania, but it lacks some of the things that made Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown so enjoyable. I might go back to it after PoP has faded from my memory (shouldn't take too long!).

It seemed like a good idea to switch it up to something different from what I've played recently, so I bought Far Cry 5. The opening setup section grabs you pretty well, and it has that appealing Far Cry loop of "taking back the world from dirtbags bit by bit." I'm only a couple of hours in and it seems like it'll stick.

Ugh.

Games added: Nothing

Last week: Finished nothing, played Nine Sols mainly

This week: Same

Nine Sols is fantastic (minus the mercifully short forced stealth section...). The areas have a great flow to them, combat is a lot of fun (and still pretty tough even tho I have assists turned on) and it has a lot of really fun movement options to make for some interesting platforming. But on top of all of that is the beautiful graphics and fantastic story. The characters - even the villains - are extremely interesting and really well fleshed out. The world is just unique and interesting, you constantly WANT to know more. The backstory of your character is slowly being revealed and I'm fully invested at this point. Highly recommended game.

Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Dragon Quest III Remake

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 43 games

I beat the story in DQ III Remake and will now work my way through the postgame and the rest of the trophies.

I'm still really enjoying Withering Rooms. I'm 50+ hours in and into newgame+, and there has been a "The real Dark Souls starts here." moment. It seems that this is the path to the true final ending. You pick up a book (which, to be fair and thankfully, you can put down again) and become "burdened". What a name for it, lol. Things get ****much**** harder. And it has me contemplating build variations and I'm really enjoying that experimenting and tinkering with my character. Such a fun game. I will say that going down this path will certainly be very rewarding if you've got the chops to do it. And I hope to get 'er done.

I've also (over the past few years sporadically) been working on creating a custom league for Out of the Park baseball. My idea was to have one team in every state, 25 teams per league in 5-team divisions where only the division winners and a single wild-card - for the whole league - both leagues, so 12 / 50 make the post-season, 6 per league - making qualifying for the post-season genuinely meaningful, unlike most modern sports. I plan to call this the United States Baseball League (USBL for short), and probably have it begin in the 1800's, ultimately being a replacement for real baseball history in my fantasy world.

Anyway, I've had plenty of fun working out team names that are appropriate to their state heritage. I also have done a fair bit of consideration about the structure of things. Before I can begin though, I'll also have to design team logos and uniforms for all 50 squads (and maybe their minor league affiliates). So I've still got tons to do which is why it has been a sporadic affair since the sheer scope of everything impacts my drive, ha. But perhaps a bigger obstacle to my progression is the fear that once I get everything rolling, I'll never want to play ANYTHING else ever again. I get so lost in OOTP, and once I've got this fantasy world going, I'll be hopelessly hooked - I just KNOW it. Pray for me religious folk.

Every time I think I'm out...they PULL me back in!!!

And now we're at the part where I need orthopedic surgery for my knee! Score yet another malady on the board for our small but mighty crew ...

Played: Hades. I like it. A lot. It's not long and I can get through like a run or two a day. I like the drip feed of story. I love that Hades is just a petty dick for no good reason who talks a lot of smack. I have accepted that my princess is in another castle and assume at some point this will end. It's all I have played this week.

Bought: Nothing

Beat: Hades. Twice. That guy sucks in the best way.

I am going to set up a game club thread for those of us who want to participate in the tackling a series at your own pace gimmick during break the week after next. If you're interested and picked something out or you want us to help you pick, please drop by!

crimson_tide wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:23 am And now we're at the part where I need orthopedic surgery for my knee! Score yet another malady on the board for our small but mighty crew ...

It's all falling apart.

crimson_tide wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:23 am I am going to set up a game club thread for those of us who want to participate in the tackling a series at your own pace gimmick during break the week after next. If you're interested and picked something out or you want us to help you pick, please drop by!

I hope you still have my list since I don't remember which thread it's in. And I'd prefer it to be picked by you, our group or randomized - whatever you gotta do. It can be an extra Christmas present to open. Exciting!

crimson_tide wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:23 am And now we're at the part where I need orthopedic surgery for my knee! Score yet another malady on the board for our small but mighty crew ...

Dang! Hope that goes well. I'm at an age where half the people I meet have new knees. My left one hurts all the time but I'm not ready to go bionic just yet.

argyle wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 8:12 pm Every time I think I'm out...they PULL me back in!!!

Looks pretty good! So many wonderful announcements... Okami Sequel? Onimusha?? Project Century from the Yakuza team??? Mafia Old Country? Ueda's new game???!! I now have to get a PS5.

isthatallyougot wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:51 am I've also (over the past few years sporadically) been working on creating a custom league for Out of the Park baseball. My idea was to have one team in every state, 25 teams per league in 5-team divisions where only the division winners and a single wild-card - for the whole league - both leagues, so 12 / 50 make the post-season, 6 per league - making qualifying for the post-season genuinely meaningful, unlike most modern sports. I plan to call this the United States Baseball League (USBL for short), and probably have it begin in the 1800's, ultimately being a replacement for real baseball history in my fantasy world.

Anyway, I've had plenty of fun working out team names that are appropriate to their state heritage. I also have done a fair bit of consideration about the structure of things. Before I can begin though, I'll also have to design team logos and uniforms for all 50 squads (and maybe their minor league affiliates). So I've still got tons to do which is why it has been a sporadic affair since the sheer scope of everything impacts my drive, ha. But perhaps a bigger obstacle to my progression is the fear that once I get everything rolling, I'll never want to play ANYTHING else ever again. I get so lost in OOTP, and once I've got this fantasy world going, I'll be hopelessly hooked - I just KNOW it. Pray for me religious folk.

That is amazing. What a great concept. It wouldn't make sense in real-life for money reasons, but it'll be awesome to play it out virtually, I'm sure. I used to do that kind of thing (to a certain extent anyway) with the old paper and dice (or spinner) sports games, and it was a blast.

For your Maryland team, our state bird, most prominent writer and favorite murder delivery item have been used by the Orioles, Ravens and Bullets (Wizards ), and minor league hockey teams have used Chesapeake sailing vessels (Skipjacks and Clippers). Crabs are the obvious mascot choice, and as far as I know they've only been used by the MiLB team in Waldorf (Southern Maryland Blue Crabs).

I'd love to see your final team list with uniforms.

canedaddy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:50 am

isthatallyougot wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:51 am I've also (over the past few years sporadically) been working on creating a custom league for Out of the Park baseball. My idea was to have one team in every state, 25 teams per league in 5-team divisions where only the division winners and a single wild-card - for the whole league - both leagues, so 12 / 50 make the post-season, 6 per league - making qualifying for the post-season genuinely meaningful, unlike most modern sports. I plan to call this the United States Baseball League (USBL for short), and probably have it begin in the 1800's, ultimately being a replacement for real baseball history in my fantasy world.

Anyway, I've had plenty of fun working out team names that are appropriate to their state heritage. I also have done a fair bit of consideration about the structure of things. Before I can begin though, I'll also have to design team logos and uniforms for all 50 squads (and maybe their minor league affiliates). So I've still got tons to do which is why it has been a sporadic affair since the sheer scope of everything impacts my drive, ha. But perhaps a bigger obstacle to my progression is the fear that once I get everything rolling, I'll never want to play ANYTHING else ever again. I get so lost in OOTP, and once I've got this fantasy world going, I'll be hopelessly hooked - I just KNOW it. Pray for me religious folk.

That is amazing. What a great concept. It wouldn't make sense in real-life for money reasons, but it'll be awesome to play it out virtually, I'm sure. I used to do that kind of thing (to a certain extent anyway) with the old paper and dice (or spinner) sports games, and it was a blast.

For your Maryland team, our state bird, most prominent writer and favorite murder delivery item have been used by the Orioles, Ravens and Bullets (Wizards ), and minor league hockey teams have used Chesapeake sailing vessels (Skipjacks and Clippers). Crabs are the obvious mascot choice, and as far as I know they've only been used by the MiLB team in Waldorf (Southern Maryland Blue Crabs).

I'd love to see your final team list with uniforms.

Yeah, I'll update when (if, lol) things get close to being ready.

My current placeholder name for the team in Maryland is The Locomotives. Inspired by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and the fact that the Elliot City Station is the oldest active passenger railway in the US, plus it's a cool and uncommon sports moniker and can impart a sense of power and forward movement. (Not all teams are so masculine and imposing though. I want to keep variety and playfulness - kind of in the spirit of the minor leagues and their vibe, even though this will be the top tier profession league - *THE* U.S.B.L. ) I'm trying to keep the naming of teams unique as much as I can as well as referencing older or even more current history for the inspiration. So there may be some anachronisms in play within my league. But it's all fantasy and it's all MINE , so it's a real *dream* league, ha.

The games you played - are you talking about things like Strat, Avalon Hill (Statis Pro) and the like or something else? I've been recreating virtual sport since I was in elementary school too, but I'm really wanting to do a full and proper long-term league here, a league where I keep track of (and save) all history (both individual and team records). I'm expecting to kind of get truly lost in this. It reminds me of this book (if you've never read it, it's a good read):