Backlog Update 3

Time for another backlog update. I finished another 5 games. Actually, I even completed 7 but haven’t realized it until I started writing this post.

1. Monster Hunter Tri I completed all missions in Monster Hunter Tri and, as I wrote in my final diary entry, I consider it completed for the sake of the backlog.
2. Beyond Good and Evil Finished that blast from the past. Actually a quite important entry from the perspective of game critique. I wasn’t quite as enamored with it as many critics apparently are. But I wrote a Game Design Review about it’s very polished collectible system.
3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker It wasn’t technically on my original backlog list. And this is actually going to be a theme of this update. Nonetheless, I have been playing Peace Walker for QUITE some time. I recorded a couple of tutorial videos, I wrote about the Wi-Fi functions and some potential sexist themes. It’s a great game and I was enjoying it quite a bit. I might return to it when the HD version comes out. I’m curious if my almost maxed-out savegame will give me access to all of it’s content
4. Portal 2 Again, technically not on my original backlog list. I got it to play it with a friend (and because I was curious). I wrote this little piece. Otherwise I find it quite hard to say anything about it. It’s quite hermetic. Perhaps there is such thing as too much streamlining and polish after all.
5. Final Fantasy: Crysis Core An entry I had on my backlog for quite a while. It’s clearly a game made for fans of Final Fantasy 7, especially considering the ending. I liked FF7 so I had my fun with the game. I wrote a little about the polarized gameplay in the end game missions and the deluxe edition. I still want to write a Game Design Review about a game mechanic that gains a curious significance during the ending sequence. Stay tuned…
6. Don’t Take it Personally, Babe, It Just Ain’t Your Story again, not really on my original backlog list. But I was curious and the story drew me in. It’s an indie game anyway. I summarized my impressions in an article already. The game is fairly short and I might give it another playtrough to see a different ending. I recommend to check it out. Hey, it’s free!
7. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance And finally, a super-old entry from 3 years ago. My recent effort to finally finish it payed off. Good thing too! I started paying attention to how games like this create a seamless flow of action. Right now, I’m actually playing the successor: Aria of Sorrow. It was on the same module and it’s also on the backlog list…

So while I finished 7 games, my backlog was only reduced by 4. But I thought of introducing two new rules I have been actually practicing all this time:

1. Disregard any backlog rules it it’s a co-op game a friend wants to play with you. No reason to give up the precious social gaming for backlog vanity.
2. Disregard any backlog rules for indie games. I don’t want to miss out on important indie titles just because I have been busy playing some silly mainstream title from years ago. Indie games are often quite short so they shouldn’t be clogging my backlog anyway.

Of course, completing any game should always add to the 5 game count. I want to always reward myself for finishing games.

So I completed another batch of 5 games. In return, I will get Catherine. Technically, I could get it anyway. Apparently there are some co-op challenges in it a friend wants to play with me. But having played 7 games already I need only 3 to complete the next batch anyway. Here are some ideas.

1. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Playing it right now. I’m over 80% and doing well. Should be finished very soon.
2. Scribblenauts I seriously should pick up this game again. It was on my ‘want to finish this next’ list for quite some time now.
3. Catherine I will start playing it as soon as it arrives – obviously. Apparently it’s not that long but super-hard. :/
4. Demon’s Souls Speaking of super-hard. The servers for Demon’s Souls may be being turning off soon. There are some really interesting and innovative online functions in there I really would like to experience first-hand before it’s too late.