Spring 2023 Backlog Challenge

[MidnightDragon]

Time for another update

 

Arcade Game Series: Galaga-100%  April 9

Dragon Age II-41=>51%

The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion-100%  April 16

Wonder Boy Collection-100%  March 18

 

Swaps used-3/4

 

I started act 3 in Dragon Age II. The shit is about to hit the fan. Earned several trophies, including Mage Hunter and Arcane Defender. I just need to do a quest to finish the Exiled Prince DLC, then need to get Legacy and Mark of the Assassin done. There isn't nearly as much to do in act 3 as the first two, likely because everything's going to hell fast. Still, I have enjoyed the game for the most part.

Edited May 14, 2023 by MidnightDragon

[beerwego]

Well not long left and Legends mode in Ghost of Tsushima has killed my chances of finishing up I think. Still enjoying it so it's fair enough.

More progress in Stray with just the speed run and clean up required.

Good luck with the last couple of weeks

 

Stray PS5 ......41%........>55%

 

Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut PS5........Plat+86%........Plat +88%

 

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter PS4.........100%

 

Lego DC Super Villains PS4 ........100%

 

The Quarry PS5.. ......10%

[StilRh]

Hey loves

My mood and motivation are still pretty rubbish so aside from work and family stuff I've not been up to much. That said, after many cups of tea I've found a little bit more energy over the weekend and played a lot of Chained Echos. I completed the main game (accidentally went to the final boss, I expected a little more end-game stuff) and so now on the mop-up. I like that there seems to be a bit of variety but it's still a huge laundry list of stuff to kill or collect. Next week I'll try and finish Chained Echos or bounce back to either Nobody Saves the World or Shantae: Half Genie Hero.

Ideally I'd like to platinum the three of them before the challenge ends (which is super realistic depending on my mood and shoulder issues) what would be the cherry on top is getting a forth platinum after that - may even be a speedily read Stiens;gate Elite (not that I would text skip this, I've platinumed the original and watched the anime 3 times. I love the story and wouldn't miss another chance to experience it just for a platinum trophy), we shall see.

Have a lovely week all

 

Catan 100%

Chained Echos 16% > 50%

Crosscode 12%

Dredge 100%

Elden Ring 11%

Hogwarts Legacy 100%

Kaiju Wars 26% 

Meet Your Maker 100%

Monster Sanctuary 16%

Nobody Saves the World 64% 

Resident Evil 4 (remake) 47%

Shantae: Half-genie Hero 63%

Sniper Elite 4 29%

Star ocean divine force 20%

Steins;gate elite 0%

The Forest 100%

The Last Spell 29%

The Pedestrian 100%

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus 27%

Wild Hearts 29%

 

Swaps 0/4

Platinum/100% 6/20

Edited May 15, 2023 by StilRh

[Vulpine9Tails]

39 minutes ago, StilRh said:

(which is super realistic depending on my mood and shoulder issues) 

 

Hey are you me? I got the same thing going on lol. Makes gaming some nights not that much fun. My dr just cannot figure out what is wrong with my shoulder even after multiple tests.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Vulpine9Tails

[MidnightDragon]

Mini update time again!

 

Arcade Game Series: Galaga-100%  April 9

Dragon Age II-51=>57%

The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion-100%  April 16

Wonder Boy Collection-100%  March 18

 

Swaps used-3/4

 

I successfully completed The Exiled Prince and got a collectible trophy. Now have 2/3 of the trophies. I started Legacy, but the beginning took longer than I expected. I did make a small amount of progress, though. I plan on doing the DLC tomorrow, then continue working on act 3. So that should be fun.  

[YaManSmevz]

2 hours ago, Vulpine9Tails said:

 

Hey are you me? I got the same thing going on lol. Makes gaming some nights not that much fun. My dr just cannot figure out what is wrong with my shoulder even after multiple tests.

 

Yooooo not to interrupt but I got the same exact situation with my elbow. Joints can be real jerks!

[Taruta13]

Well, not to add to the pot of "shoulder issues", but sometimes my arms and right side of my body ache in the morning, though I accept that it's probably because of the position I sleep(I put one arm over my head to hold a pillow on my head. Yeah, I have been sleeping with a pillow on my head since I was a kid, I am careful not to suffocate myself ).

[Heather342]

Shoulder problems you say? I spent the last 2 years with horrendous bursitis in my shoulder (first covid vaccine was administered incorrectly into my joint instead of the muscle ?), but thankfully now it's almost fully healed just took ages to get there

[StilRh]

11 hours ago, Vulpine9Tails said:

 

Hey are you me? I got the same thing going on lol. Makes gaming some nights not that much fun. My dr just cannot figure out what is wrong with my shoulder even after multiple tests.

 

9 hours ago, YaManSmevz said:

 

Yooooo not to interrupt but I got the same exact situation with my elbow. Joints can be real jerks!

 

3 hours ago, Heather342 said:

Shoulder problems you say? I spent the last 2 years with horrendous bursitis in my shoulder (first covid vaccine was administered incorrectly into my joint instead of the muscle ), but thankfully now it's almost fully healed just took ages to get there

 

Hey bad joint friends! Hope your pain lessens, it's the worst isn't it. @Heather342 that sounds bloody awful! I give injections to the deltoid (upper arm) on a regular basis and I'm struggling to understand how they could have hit that part of your shoulder. Are you going to get compensation?

I'm a mental health nurse. The years of caring for others have not been kind and my knees, wrists and neck creak like an old door. I partially dislocated my shoulder in December after a lady I was escorting back to the safety of the ward dropped herself to the floor whilst I was holding her (to prevent her from hurting others or escaping the hospital where she may hurt herself). The joint was not in the best shape as some months before I had to (trigger warning - self harm!) tear a ligature off a patient because the knife we'd normally use was too blunt to cut through it - it was one of those rip-a-phone-book-in-half 'hysterical' strength moments. My physio says I've got a SLAP lesion tear which I think means the cartilidge around my shoulder has worn down and so there is instability in the joint. A tiny bit of weakness and a lot of pain but I've got most of my mobility.

The injury has forced me to switch gears a bit but it's been positive in a way. I've slowed down to the point I'm only doing the work of 2 people rather than 3

[gruffiiti]

Hi everyone.

 

Another month has gone by and I've been slacking at doing any sort of update. Since last update I had been feeling a little burnt out with games and it shows as it has been a slow month for me. I have been busy with shuttling kids to and from various sporting events (and the many other activities they have going on now as they get older) and Play-Off Hockey on TV has grabbed a bunch of my time as well so I guess it was a good time to take a small break. The spring season has been in full bloom for a bit now though so getting outside to touch grass and get some sun has been good to recharge the batteries.

 

 

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

I think I am on Chapter 12 and will get back to finish this one in the next week or two. So far the game has been great it just happened to be the game I was playing when the latest gaming burnout took hold so it has sat untouched for a few weeks. So far I have been impressed with the writing as the banter between the crew is at times hilarious.

 

Roki  *NEW GAME (SWAP)

Roki was a great little point and click adventure game that reminded me very much of some of the classics I grew up on. It was well optimized for console and most of the puzzles were not too difficult to figure out without a guide. I'm also a sucker for a point and click game with beautiful art-style graphics and a great soundtrack. These did not disappoint and really made the game a joy to play.

 

Children of Silentown  *NEW GAME (SWAP)

This was another point and click adventure I played this month. I was initially attracted to it by the fantastic Tim Burton inspired art-style but it also came with an excellent soundtrack and compelling character development to make for a good time. It is for the most part a traditional point and click game but has some puzzles and musical elements added, which I thought worked out rather well overall.

 

 

1. South Park: The Fractured But Whole - 35%  -->  Children of Silentown - 0% --> 100%  
2. Assassin's Creed Origins - 22%  -->  Roki - 0% --> 100%  
3. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - 15% --> 54%
4. Dysmantle - 0% --> 100% 
5. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham - 3% --> 100% 

 

Swaps 4/4

[Heather342]

55 minutes ago, StilRh said:

 

Hey bad joint friends! Hope your pain lessens, it's the worst isn't it. @Heather342 that sounds bloody awful! I give injections to the deltoid (upper arm) on a regular basis and I'm struggling to understand how they could have hit that part of your shoulder. Are you going to get compensation?

 

The first jab I had was given really high up in my arm, and at the time it was administered the nurse said it went in really easy and she seemed quite surprised. I thought nothing of it at the time, but was still having pain in my arm when I went for my second jab 2 months later. Second one was given lower in the arm, but my shoulder deteriorated so much and I could barely lift my arm by 4-5 months post vac. I've had loads of physio and massage therapy since but only this year have I seen any real improvement in my mobility. I think it's too late now to make any sort of compensation claim, and I'm on the mend. Plus with the current state of the NHS, I don't really want to sue them ?

[rjkclarke]

Update #5

 

1. Observation (PS4) 0% > 100%
2. Type:Rider (PS4) 0% > 100% 
3. Ape Academy 2 (PS4) 0%
4. Yooka-Laylee (PS4) 0% >100%
5. Firewatch (PS4) 0%
6. Silence (PS4) 0%> 100%
7. Kona (PS4) 0% > 100%

Games Completed 5/7

 

Swaps Used 4/4

 

So I thought about it..... and I thought, why not use my last two swaps..... There's no way I'm finishing Greedfall and Dreamfall Chapters this month, I mean I could feasibly, if the arsehole part of my brain took over, and I thought, "Hey, let's spend all of my free time playing video games" Instead of you know, spending some quality time with an incredibly special person instead..... You all know who, we talk about each other loads, so I'll spare the name dropping this one time.... so none of you have to reach for your sick bags ?

 

I want to play those games for sure - but I want to play them at my own pace where I don't feel like I have to rush to get them done, but I guess I might throw in the odd cheeky update about them in the Summer challenge maybe.

 

So I've swapped in Firewatch, which I've always wanted to play but just never got around to, because I know it's pretty short and relaxing.... and I subbed in Ape Academy 2, because until a month ago I didn't even know the game existed, so now I'm quite interested to actually see what it's like.... A Mario Party-esque spin on Ape Escape, with some card games thrown in? Sign me up.... and erm, I'll pray I haven't made a big mistake and slipped on the proverbial banana skin one of those pesky helmet monkeys left behind

 

I did also manage to finish Yooka-Laylee, and it's going to be a weird one to end up writing a full blown review about, because whilst I enjoyed it a lot, it definitely leaves you wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way.

 

I'll paste down some of my thoughts on it from a status update in case anyone ants to read it, it's got a Doctor Who gif in it too, because.....

 

 

Why not....

 

Yooka-Laylee (PS4)

 

Oh boy..... Where to start with this one..... 

 

So Yooka-Laylee has plenty of charm, that's a given, but can it sustain itself on a diet of just nostalgia and charm alone? From my perspective, not entirely.

 

I think I'd better at least say off the bat (pun intended )  that I had quite a good time with this game - and yes I do like it, a lot - and I very much enjoyed it for what it is.... and that was a lot of uses of the word and, rendering it forever pointless  .....but anyway, back to the game...... what it is, is also part of where it falls down a little bit.

 

In essence Yooka-Laylee is an N64 game.on a PS4.... but it didn't need to be....

 

If I was Yooka-Laylee and I was sentient..... yes stay with me for a moment here.... I think this would be my reaction 

 

 

Did I want an excuse to insert a Doctor Who gif somewhere? Yes, do I mind?.... Absolutely not.... Petulant David Tennant berating a lovely old man who only wanted to help, completely out of context aside, this really is true of Yooka-Laylee, it could do so much more....

 

You can see it littered throughout the game the blatant potential there to go beyond just a hefty dose of nostalgia. The characters are charming, the locations are pretty and incredibly varied, the art style is vibrant, vivid and colourful, but in the end, I often just found myself thinking to myself "This doesn't feel like a game from the 2010's" and I feel like it probably should have done... A game can be both an homage to something, and also innovate, and I really wish it had of done.

 

That being said, and mad waffle aside, I liked it enough that I want to play Impossible Lair at some point in the future, so there's that I suppose

 

 

Catch you all in the next one awesome people!!

Edited May 15, 2023 by rjkclarke

[gruffiiti]

32 minutes ago, rjkclarke said:

So Yooka-Laylee has plenty of charm..  *snip*

 

I've thought about giving this one another shot as I played part way through it on my old profile. I never did finish it but remember going into it hoping for that nostalgic N64 game feel with a bit of a modernizing spin to it. Ended up getting only the nostalgic N64 game feel complete with really wonky camera angles and all that didn't age overly well. 

[rjkclarke]

12 minutes ago, gruffiiti said:

 

I've thought about giving this one another shot as I played part way through it on my old profile. I never did finish it but remember going into it hoping for that nostalgic N64 game feel with a bit of a modernizing spin to it. Ended up getting only the nostalgic N64 game feel complete with really wonky camera angles and all that didn't age overly well. 

 

Yep..... That was a big part of why I struggled with it in places, you only really get the feeling it's an N64 game, complete with atrocious camera that gets you killed more than your own incompetence.... and when I'm the one in control.... Sometimes that's a real feat ?

 

I had a good enough time with it I think. but I think that was more just helped by the fact I had a real hankering for a collectathon and I'd played quite a lot of the really good ones already ?

[Vanqishd]

I haven't really played PS5 much since I last posted due to holidays and life, so here's my not-looking-so-good update:

1. Sifu (PS5) - 0% > 7%
2. Horizon Forbidden West (PS5) - 0% > 16%
3. Outriders (PS4) - 5%
4. Hogwarts Legacy (PS5) - 10%
5. The Last of Us Part II (PS4) - 11%
6. Anthem (PS4) - 40%

I'll get on Outriders & Anthem first to try to get these out of the way and then see how the rest are looking. I might try some swaps now that Sackboy was given with PS+ and I've got that pending. We will see how it goes, but I expect to be at least able to finish 2 games out of the list ?

 

Starting my Spring 2023 Backlog Challenge Speedrun Any% here.

[be_minor]

Updating my list with a few swaps, so I can actually complete it within the time frame this season. I usually avoid swapping, but I spent the last two weeks working on a game outside my list (HFW DLC). I’ve also become a bit disillusioned by trophy hunting recently, so I’d like to work on some games I’m excited about playing (even if for the umpteenth time [TLoU]). 

 

1. Ape Escape  
2. Biomutant  
3. Child of Light ➡️ Deliver Us The Moon 
4. Gravity Rush Remastered - 4% ➡️ The Last of Us Part I - 1% 
5. Hogwarts Legacy 
6. Omno  
7. Spiritfarer ➡️ Life Is Strange: True Colors 
8. The Artful Escape  

Swaps (3/4)

[reaperveteran86]

Update 11:

- Accel World vs. Sword Art Online: Millenium Twilight 100%

- Asterigos: Curse of the Stars (EU) 4% -> Sea of Solitude (EU) 0%

- Baldur`s Gate: Dark Alliance 100%

- DmC: Devil May Cry (PS4) 100%

- Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star 14% -> Afterimage (PS4) 4%

- Gungrave G.O.R.E. 100%

- Onechanbara Z2: Chaos (EU) 7% -> Miss Kobayashi`s Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath 34%

- Robotics;Notes Elite 17%

- Samurai Maiden (PS4, EU) 57% -> 68%

- Tokyo Xanadu eX+ 11% -> Blackwind (PS4, EU) 17%

-Wild Arms 2 100%

- Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner MARS 9%

Swaps used: 4 out of 4

I only played Samurai Maiden from my list last week, but I`m close to finishing it and hope to get the platinum this week (only a few levels on the highest difficulty with s rank and collectibles and I`m done).

I also use my last 2 swaps to switch Fate and Tokyo Xanadu with Afterimage and Blackwind, as I don`t see me completing the two until the end of may due to their length.

5 hours ago, rjkclarke said:

That being said, and mad waffle aside, I liked it enough that I want to play Impossible Lair at some point in the future, so there's that I suppose

Impossible Lair is much better as the first one in my opinion, but it plays more like Donkey Kong Country and less like  Banjo or Mario 64.And it doesn`t has the casino level, which only makes it better.

Edited May 15, 2023 by reaperveteran86

[Vulpine9Tails]

Yeah I have no idea what's wrong with my shoulder. I managed to retire from my hockey career injury free, and the only strenuous thing I did before the pain started was barely help paint my bedroom. This was back in October and I've had terrible pain since, though it seems it's getting a teeny bit better finally. 

 

On topic, I have an update:

 

22. The Witcher 3 - 82% -> 100% ☑️

 

Thanks to Optinoob's fantastic guide I have finally completed this game. I am so excited. This was a game where I thought starting it was a mistake and that it would be too much for me to do, but with a guide I was able to make relatively quick work of it, aside from the few breaks between video guide uploads. It was a very fun experience and I'm thrilled to have this platinum. 

[grumpaluffagus_1]

Update 4

1. The Witcher 3 (12%)
2. Stray (100%)
3. Spyro the Dragon (100%)
4. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (0-->15%)
5. Mass Effect (14-->100%)
6. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (40-->100%)

Well with about two weeks left, I am down to two games.

I finished up Mass Effect back in April (I forgot to post thanks to Warframe releasing a surprisingly good update). It was a good game in spite of the incredibly outdated combat system, I would love for there to be a remake in the works. At times the need to fixate on the combat related trophies did take away from the experience and using the abilities felt especially clunky. However, the story was pretty great and left me with an overwhelming desire to punch Udina in the face.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was finished this last weekend, and my gosh were there a lot of collectibles. All of the puzzles and side quests were fun without being tedious, with the exception of a few bugs that Reddit helped explain. It was just a relaxing grind that reminded me why I love the Star Wars movies, especially the ones that I grew up with. The Lego humor even made some the more infuriating creative decisions from the more recent installments tolerable.

I am currently working on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, the story is great and the combat is . . . interesting. It reminds me a bit of the most recent Marvel Ultimate Alliance. My current plan is to finish this ASAP and then work on the Witcher 3 again. I have a few days off coming up and am hoping to make serious progress then, if not it will be moved onto the summer challenge.

[MidnightDragon]

Another update!

 

Arcade Game Series: Galaga-100%  April 9

Dragon Age II-57=>69%

The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion-100%  April 16

Wonder Boy Collection-100%  March 18

 

Swaps used-3/4

 

The Legacy DLC is done. It was an interesting little side trip. I also killed a motherfucking dragon!  

[Taruta13]

20 hours ago, Heather342 said:

I spent the last 2 years with horrendous bursitis in my shoulder (first covid vaccine was administered incorrectly into my joint instead of the muscle )

Ugh, that sucks. But it could be worse. My sister(who is a nurse so she should know better) got hit with COVID-19 when she went to Las Vegas and attended a grunge metal concert. I mean, she got to do something she loved, but at what price? The entire family is up in arms about it.

14 hours ago, rjkclarke said:

I want to play those games for sure - but I want to play them at my own pace where I don't feel like I have to rush to get them done

I get your feeling, man... that's why I decided to move Hogwarts Legacy to the Summer Backlog, because I wasn't feeling the urge to get the story done. I was too busy trying to get collectibles and then I felt under-motivated to do even that.

14 hours ago, rjkclarke said:

Yooka-Laylee (PS4)

 

Oh boy..... Where to start with this one..... 

Hey yeah, just started this title for my Kill Your Completion event list and I sort of agree with you on the lack of content, since it was supposed to be a spiritual successor for Banjo-Tooie, but meh. I really do like the art style and music as it does sound like something out of the Banjo series. But I really didn't like the Rextro games and doing a Kartos level was a bit frustrating, but then again that's my own fault for not getting gud.

[freddie1989]

1 hour ago, Taruta13 said:

Ugh, that sucks. But it could be worse. My sister(who is a nurse so she should know better) got hit with COVID-19 when she went to Las Vegas and attended a grunge metal concert. I mean, she got to do something she loved, but at what price? The entire family is up in arms about it.

 

Are they still banging on about covid in the States? We must be chilled in the UK, we forgot about that nonsense a long time ago. Concerts are a monthly thing if I can find decent ones HAHA

[Jelly Soup]

1 hour ago, freddie1989 said:

 

Are they still banging on about covid in the States? We must be chilled in the UK, we forgot about that nonsense a long time ago. Concerts are a monthly thing if I can find decent ones HAHA

 

Most I see is pressing people who haven't gotten the vax or booster to get their vax or booster and then urging people to watch for certain symptoms if they get sick. Which is good advice, I finally came down with covid this last December. I'd never been that sick before.

[Heather342]

Update #9

 

Just a quick update from me this week, as I've not really played much in the way of my challenge games. I've done most of the grind for SMT 3 on those last few misc trophies, I got the magatama skills all learned, maxed out a demon's stats and got 100 gifts from demons. Just need to get the compendium completed before finishing up the final 2 ending trophies. I also need to finish the game on hard mode, but you can switch the difficulty at any time so I'll do this before one of my final ending playthroughs. I will eventually finish up Horizon Call of the Mountain ?. The eye strain issues are putting me off slightly, and I'm not that fussed on faffing about with contact lenses just to play. Work has also been super busy recently so I'm pretty tired at the end of the day. We have another bank holiday weekend coming up soon, so I'll make an effort to wrap this one up before the end of the month.

 

My non-challenge gaming has been solely focused on Persona 4 Arena. This game is so hard for me, but I'm determined to finish it. Combo wise I'm up to 274/390 complete, and score attack wise I'm defeating Yosuke more frequently, but I still can't get past Naoto. She's so good at zoning me with her gunfire that I can't get close for a hit ?. I hope soon I can make more progress here.

 

That's all from me. Keep smashing those backlogs challenge friends ?

 

Trophy progress:

- SMT 3 Nocturne - 64 -> 77%

 

Pending games:

- Horizon Call of the Mountain - 9%

 

Completed games:

- Spiderman Remastered

- Legend of Dragoon

- Shadow of the Colossus

 

Swaps used (1/4)

- Red Dead Redemption 2 -> Shadow of the Colossus 

[freddie1989]

49 minutes ago, Jelly Soup said:

 

Most I see is pressing people who haven't gotten the vax or booster to get their vax or booster and then urging people to watch for certain symptoms if they get sick. Which is good advice, I finally came down with covid this last December. I'd never been that sick before.

 

I had the 2 initial ones, realised they weren't making a difference so disregarded their thoughts on boosters. I had it the one time, felt a bit meh for a couple of days and then got on with it. Worst part was the lack of taste for me as even peanut butter wasn't good anymore HAHA