PS2 Backlog Committee

Games added: Dead Island 2, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition (I think I got this week before last, but I forgot to mention it)

Last week: Finished nothing, played Dead Island 2

This week: Same

I wasn't expecting much at all from DI2, but I've been very pleasantly surprised. It's a very fun action game that knows what it is. Also, the damage system they have for the zombies is extremely well done. Very gory, but fun-gory. I'm pretty sure this is one that Phase talked up when it came out - wherever you are, man, thanks for another recommend.


Games releasing this week:

Mr. Sleepy Man — PC
Ex Voto — PS5, PC
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
GreedFall: The Dying World — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rhell: Warped Worlds & Troubled Times — PC
Solasta II (Early Access) — PC
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
WWE 2K26 — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC

argyle wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:33 pmI'm pretty sure this is one that Phase talked up when it came out - wherever you are, man, thanks for another recommend.

Yeah, where is he?


Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 38 games

Beat Dark Ties, currently working on the last trophy which is beating a dungeon crawler type side game.

jfissel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:28 pm Yeah, where is he?

I hope he's all right. I fear he sleeps with the fishes and Luca Brasi. Phase, if you're out there, give us a heads up and howdy-do!


Played recently: Horizon: Forbidden West

Finished: nothing

Added to backlog: nothing

I've played a decent amount of Forbidden West. There's nothing wrong with it really - it's a beautiful world with an interesting story and fun gameplay - but this is the first time I've gotten the feeling that I might need a break from the Sony third-person action formula, where the same kinds of cutscenes set you up for the same kinds of missions. I typically love that, but here it's become formulaic and kind of off-putting. Or maybe it's my age, who knows. I'm going to stick with it, just not thrilled to talk to another random person with a made-up name who tells me the bad guys are causing problems in such-and-such place.

canedaddy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:30 am

jfissel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:28 pm Yeah, where is he?

I hope he's all right. I fear he sleeps with the fishes and Luca Brasi. Phase, if you're out there, give us a heads up and howdy-do!

I've been kinda putting off looking this up...

Last active: Sat Nov 22, 2025 10:36 am

Anyone know his real name from when we did that Secret Santa years ago?

jfissel wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 4:07 pm Anyone know his real name from when we did that Secret Santa years ago?

I'm pretty sure he didn't participate because he didn't want to give out his info. The only person that I think might know his real name is nuckles, if anyone still has contact with him. At one point Phase was dropping some hints about some games he worked on back in the day, and from that I believe nuckles messaged him a guess at his real name & Phase said he had it. If memory serves, at least.

argyle wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 4:40 pm

jfissel wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 4:07 pm Anyone know his real name from when we did that Secret Santa years ago?

I'm pretty sure he didn't participate because he didn't want to give out his info. The only person that I think might know his real name is nuckles, if anyone still has contact with him. At one point Phase was dropping some hints about some games he worked on back in the day, and from that I believe nuckles messaged him a guess at his real name & Phase said he had it. If memory serves, at least.

Oh, I don't remember either part of that.


More pleasant news - Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties has been platinum'd!

jfissel wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 6:26 pm Oh, I don't remember either part of that.

Me either.

The last I recall of Phase, he was in a very dark place because his physical and mental issues had made it so he couldn't even play games. Not good.

jfissel wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 6:26 pm More pleasant news - Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties has been platinum'd!

Congrats! How does the remake compare to the OG, which I LOVED?

canedaddy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2026 1:24 pm

jfissel wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 6:26 pm More pleasant news - Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties has been platinum'd!

Congrats! How does the remake compare to the OG, which I LOVED?

I found it pretty good overall. They did simplify some things, removed other things, but then also brought parts of the game up to modern day standards. Probably depends what you loved about the original game...because I don't think you're gonna like the retcon at the very end. Dark Ties was also fun to play though I did less of the side stuff there because I had already completed it once in K3 (such as the gambling hall).

jfissel wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2026 5:22 pm I found it pretty good overall. They did simplify some things, removed other things, but then also brought parts of the game up to modern day standards. Probably depends what you loved about the original game...because I don't think you're gonna like the retcon at the very end. Dark Ties was also fun to play though I did less of the side stuff there because I had already completed it once in K3 (such as the gambling hall).

Thanks for the word. I'm not likely to get to it anytime soon. Several entries before I go backward, and they're always making more.