Gaming Log

Currently playing (a lot because I have a short attention span these days):

- Disco Elysium:
For whatever the reason I start experiencing "game fatigue" an hour into this but I'm still interested in continuing. I just need to take breaks in between sessions I guess.

I think I'm used to games where you (eventually) are able to do almost everything and playing through a game that actively limits your options over time (due to specializing in specific playstyles/character development) is contrary to what I want out of a game I guess. Not to say that this is bad; it's meant to encourage replays, like say consider how different it would be to experience the story as a stupid character rather than a smart one. (Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines lets you play as an insane character which upped the ante a bit.)

Also some of the dialogue options make me wonder if I'm supposed to be playing as an insane character to begin with. I think I'm not used to having such wacky conversation options and it's great-- although I'm mostly playing the safer options for now. I tend to prefer being straightforward the first time through and then pushing the limits later, although sometimes I feel like I should try to go off even if it means antagonizing the person I'm talking to right now.

- Pokemon Sword:
I bought this used (couldn't justify new lol) mainly because I was just in a Pokemon mood again finally. I have a long list of complaints of course, but just trying to collect whatever Pokemon is available (like all of the G-Max forms which I just did in like 2 days) isn't that bad of an experience in itself. I'm tentatively looking forward to the DLC but also waiting on reviews first.

It's just disappointing thinking of what this could've been and what we got instead. The Wild Area is a nice concept but the execution feels... lacking (especially playing online).

- Dragon Quest III / VIII:
To be honest, I can't really decide if I want to play through these one at a time or just try to play both + XI simultaneously because I don't have the patience to wait to play games anymore lol.
I feel prone to getting lost easily in 3 so I end up resorting to a guide sometimes just to figure out where I'm going. The old-school-ness is nice but also making me want to just play 11 now and get the modern-day treatment of things already.

- Persona 3 FES:
I want to finally finish this after more than a decade but it's sooo hard to go back from the glamour /quality of life changes from 5. I would say they should remake this again (properly with P3P's female route integrated) but then again I don't want to replay through the first half year of this game again.

- The Witcher 3:
I only have a few hours left in this apparently but I need to motivate myself to reconnect my PS4 controller to my PC first lol.

- FF7 Remake:
The gameplay is fun but I'm put off by the extra story padding. Sephiroth has no business showing up as early as he does in this and it makes the story feel inconsistently paced / I daresay incoherent (the original was pretty straightforward in comparison).

- Night in the Woods:
I had to take a break because the first hour was starting to make me feel depressed. Mae's disconnect with her hometown after recent life changes was bringing back too many memories. But I do want to get back to this.

- Crusader Kings 2:
...let me spend a few hours trying to figure out the UI for this game first.

Sequel backlog:
- Suikoden 2
- Grandia 2
- Digital Devil Saga 2 (last time I played this was literally when I started my first job)
- Broken Sword 2 / 5
- Mass Effect 2 / 3 (...maybe)

Regular backlog:
- Celeste (might be a while as I'm still traumatized by that Hollow Knight endgame)
- Kentucky Route Zero
- What Remains of Edith Finch
- Thimbleweed Park (I feel like I should revisit some of the Lucasarts games I missed though)
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon -> Mystery of the Emblem (because why not go backwards)
- Baldur's Gate 1-2 (in anticipation of 3)
- Arcanum (if I can remember what I was doing, I think I might've hacked the game at one point lol)

Coming soon backlog:
- The Outer Wilds (Steam release)
- FF XIV (I might actually try this out once the patch that streamlines more of the early quests comes out)
- FF Crystal Chronicles Remastered (finally!!)
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Twin Mirror