It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these end-of-the-month reports. The layout is mostly the same, but there will be some additional content included in these reports.
It feels good to get back in to writing. I say this as I’ve been struggling to sit down and actually write things out. The beginning of August saw some positive changes to my life as new possibilities are open to me. I was excited to start some new things and spend more time on the things, but as always, life sometimes has different plans. Work really picked up the second half of August with getting ready for the new school year and training some of our new part-timers. My schedule was altered these last few weeks, so any habits and motivations I had before then have to be reestablished. Luckily, things should be fairly constant now, so here’s to getting back into a normal routine.
Finished Games
Hey look! I have less responsibilities now. Meaning I can actually get games done! I managed to get three games done this month! Let’s see if I can keep this streak going next month (probably not since Tales of Arise is coming out).
Astro’s Playroom
I didn’t make a big deal about it when I got it, but I was able to obtain one of those new fancy gaming devices that people have been after. In true fashion, I stumbled on what to play first, but I ended up going with Astro’s Playroom since it was preloaded on the system. For a tech demo, this has to be one of my favorites. I feel like I not only understand the hype behind the DualSense controller better, but I felt like this was a big ‘ol love letter to PlayStation’s history. It was fun to located all the easter eggs and find all the collectables since it felt like finding artifacts to put in your museum. The entire presentation and vibe just made it fun to play (so much that Kat ended up playing the majority of the game on my profile). I don’t think I will write a full Backlog Tale on this game since I basically said all I had to say right there. Definitely a better (and cheaper) tech demo demonstrating the PS5 than what Nintendo did with the Switch (would compare Xbox but they have no demos).
The World Ends With You: Final Remix
This month’s unexpected finisher was The World Ends With You: Final Remix. I just happened to start the game up on a whim one afternoon and eventually finished it a few days later. I was not prepared to get hooked on this game with its shitty controls on the Switch, but I ended up really enjoying the story in this game. Finishing the game on the Switch has compelled me to finish the original on the DS and eventually get Neo: The World Ends With You when I eventually get around to getting it. As I write this I am listening to the soundtrack on Spotify since I find it weirdly catchy. There will be a full Backlog Tale on this game coming next month.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
The other big shocker to me is that I finished Dragon Quest XI a few days ago. This is a game that I have been playing off and on since 2019. It’s not a bad game, I’m just really bad at finishing games that I’ve started. I enjoyed playing this Dragon Quest and I can see why people praise it so highly. It’s definitely pretty and has one of the best cast of characters. I just have a few nitpicks with it that places it at my #2 Dragon Quest game. To find out more of my thoughts on this game, you will have to wait until I write about it in a Backlog Tale next month.
New Additions
Demon’s Souls
This was the game I was looking forward to playing the most when I finally acquired my PS5. I had two gift cards that I had to use up before I forgot about them, and this was one of those purchases. I played the original on the PS3, but oh boy do those framerates hold it back from being fun. I managed to play up to the part where I left of in the PS3 version, so now I am back at playing the game of trail and error to figure out where I’m going. Otherwise, I am enjoying this remaster.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
You know, I’m just going to say it. Skyward Sword may be my favorite 3D Zelda title. It was the first one that I played and finished when it came out on the Wii. There is something about it that’s appealing to me where the other 3D Zelda games didn’t. I wasn’t planning on getting this anytime soon, but I had that second gift card and this was the first to catch my attention.
Samurai Warriors 5
Somehow this game escaped my radar. When I was getting the other two games, I saw an ad for it. I asked if they had a copy and they found a used copy that was cheap enough for me to buy it. So far this game is a comfort musou game that I was looking for this year. I did play Persona 5 Strikers, but that is more of a Persona game than a musou game. The only thing that throws me off in this game is the lack of a dash button since I’m used to having one. Other than that, I’m having fun playing this in burst when I just need to mow down hoards of people out of frustration.
Harvest Moon: Magical Melody
I found this in a second hand store (the same place where I seem to be finding a lot of good retro games). I have good memories of the other Harvest Moon game on the GameCube, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. I have never seen Magical Melody in the wild before, so I took this as a sign of good faith to get it. For an obscure GameCube game, I was surprise that it wasn’t expensive like other GameCube games. Nice to have this in the collection and I’m looking forward to giving this game a try.
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
I have never owned this game, and the only reason I got it was so that I could try the feature out on A Wonderful Life where you have to hook up the GBA game to the GameCube game via the link cable. Have I done it yet? No. I got too busy finishing the other games I was working on. I would say I would do it in September, but you know…Tales of Arise.
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
YES I BOUGHT A THIRD HARVEST MOON GAME! SO WHAT! COME AND SUE ME IF YOU WILL! ….I saw it when I was getting Friends of Mineral Town and bought it as well because you can never have too much Harvest Moon. Just be happy I stopped there and didn’t pick up Save the Homeland as well.
Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland
Scarlet Nexus
Fantasy Sci-fi is hard for me to get into sometimes. Scarlet Nexus has my attention solely because it was made by present/former members of the Tales of series. Picked it up on sale. I will be going into this game blind since the only thing I know about this game is anime and psychic powers.
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 1
This compilation snuck in at the last minute; arriving at my door step yesterday evening. I preordered this a ways back and wasn’t expecting it to come in time since I was getting email from NIS America that the game was going to be late due to deluxe edition items arriving late. It didn’t make my top 10 games, but I adore Phantom Brave and it might be one of my favorite strategy RPG. Soul Nomad is a great bonus since I played the game on the PS2. Sadly I had to sell my copy since the game would freeze at the start of the final boss fight. Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen again.
Currently Playing
Since I just finished playing Dragon Quest XI, I don’t have any real plans currently. I want to do the post game content in Dragon Quest XI, but I don’t want to make that the main focus of my gaming time. I am about to embark on the Shadowbringers content for Final Fantasy XIV, so I am excited for that. The word is that Shadowbringers has one of the best stories in Final Fantasy, so I’m ready to see if the hype is real. Also if it seems like I am playing a lot of Square Enix games recently, I promise that it is just a giant coincidence.
Plans for Next Month
My current playlist is sparse right now since I am waiting for the release of Tales of Arise. If there were ever times to get me to stop playing something because something new was coming out, it would have to be a new Monster Hunter, Tales of game, or a new mainline Pokémon. After playing the demo for Arise, I am interested in seeing how the full mechanics playout and to get a real handle on combat. Using R1 for your standard attack is new and weird, but pulling off combos has never been easier and more fun. I’m going to have a good time with this game and hopefully I don’t procrastinate around to get it done.
Once I get off my lazy ass to do it, I hope to debut my Collection Tales series next month. Collection Tales are post where I talk about things in my collection and stories of how I came across them and the game itself. I’ve had the first one sitting in my drafts folder since about March, so I think it’s time to finish that up and get that series started.
50/50 Challenge Update
I had a good routine going on. I was exercising daily and made sure to keep track of everything. The work schedule change however ruined my routine and the heat outside had sapped the remaining energy out of me. I have not given up yet though! There shouldn’t be any schedule changes for me for the rest of the year, so I can reestablish my habits again. Unfortunately, I feel like I undid any work I put in at the beginning and feel like I’m back at square one. I don’t have a working scale at home, so I can’t monitor where I’m at throughout the week. In the next update post, I will have an update with how many pounds I’ve lost so far.
As for games, I am in a good spot right now. I don’t count Astro’s Playroom since I finished it before I started my challenge (got to keep those technicalities in there). If I can keep going at this pace, I should be able to meet my challenge goals (if I can stop playing 60+ hour RPGs).
Challenge Statistics:
Weight loss: ???
Pounds to go: 50
Games Finished This Month: 2
Total Games Finished: 2/50
That’s all I got this month. Here’s to seeing if I can regain my lost motivation and start kicking ass in September.
DanamesX
Tales From The Backlog 