[blog] BoiGh0sT's Backlog Battle and Gaming Journey

OCTOBER 2024

The most solid month and probably my favorite in terms of completions. Starting with Final Fantasy XVI, I really enjoyed the story and gameplay. I spent around 100 hours getting everything in the game, and I definitely had fun. This month, I also finished Armored Core VI, and I am so glad I did since I started it back in 2021, and it was long overdue. I also played Apollo Justice, which introduced new characters to the Ace Attorney series. It was good but not as good as the third game in the series. I also played some games from Supermassive, like The Casting of Frank Stone, which was utterly broken in many parts, and the story wasn't that good. But the Until Dawn remake, on the other hand, was phenomenal, and I am glad to have relived the game again. I also played an FMV romance game this month, Love is All Around, which is very well written, and I completed the DLC as well. It is much like a visual novel with many endings to unlock. I also played Silent Hill 2 (2024), which is probably my favorite horror game of the year. I ended the month with Black Ops 6, which has a great campaign and an overall good experience in both multiplayer and zombies.

NOVEMBER 2024

A pretty good month as well since I completed Metaphor: ReFantazio, which is my selected game of the year. I really liked it in terms of new JRPG mechanics, which combine action and turn-based gameplay. The characters were well-written, especially the villain of the game. I really enjoyed the plot twists, and I think dungeon exploration was great as well. I completed Shadows of the Damned Hella Remastered, which is a decent port of the PS3 game, and I had a lot of fun with it, especially with Suda51's humor in his games. I also finally completed Re:Chain of Memories this month, which is not my favorite Kingdom Hearts game due to the fact that I really dislike the card system.

DECEMBER 2024

The final month! What a fantastic way to end the year with all these completions. I finally got to play Bloodborne and finished it in its entirety. It is definitely the best Miyazaki game for me in terms of aesthetic and gameplay (I really like the gun parry system). I also got to experience Baldur's Gate 3 and spent roughly 200 hours on it with multiple playthroughs, trying to reach different endings. While I still haven't submitted my playthrough of the game, I am currently on my third playthrough, aiming for 100% achievements. I really love the game, even though I’m not a fan of CRPGs. I also completed Yakuza 5 this month, which is the most complex game in the series in terms of plot, gameplay, and locations. I really enjoyed Haruka's and Akiyama's segments. Shinada was also fun, though I suck at baseball. The finale was a bit anticlimactic given everything that happens throughout the story.

I’m also playing through (and almost finishing) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is definitely one of the top releases this year. The story, acting, and gameplay are all fantastic in this new Indiana Jones title. In addition to those games, I also played a lot of older games and indie horror titles.

Well, that's that! What a wonderful year it's been for my gaming journey, and I’m hoping 2025 will be even better. Thanks for reading this far, and enjoy gaming as always. Happy New Year's Eve! 🎆

First post of 2025, starting with a review of this game (Yeah, I'm changing the format of my blog, I might just post random reviews of games I played from now on):

The Last Of Us Part II Remastered

Platform: PC (Using RTX 4070 Ti SUPER)
Hours Played: ~50 hours (100% trophies / achievements)
Rating: 9/10 for the gameplay; around 7.5/10 for the story
TL;DR: A visually stunning, emotionally heavy, and mechanically tight experience that’s marred only by its divisive story choices and uneven performance without Frame Generation.🫤

Story

Let me get this out of the way by saying that the narrative in The Last of Us Part II is undeniably bold, emotionally gripping, and masterfully paced. Naughty Dog took a huge risk pushing the story in such a different direction, and for the most part, it works. The character development, the moral ambiguity, the gray lines between revenge and redemption, it was all top-notch.

But not gonna lie, I hated how Joel was handled. His death felt cheap and out-of-character for someone so cautious. And while I appreciate the themes of vengeance and empathy, the ending left a bad taste in my mouth. The closure I wanted just wasn’t there. I respect the vision, but emotionally, it didn’t sit right. Still, I kept playing because the rest of the story was that compelling. I think Abby’s arc is quite strong, despite hating her right until near the end (also minus that weirdly placed Abby sex scene lmao). The pacing was also pretty solid, and it all weaves into something that sticks with you long after the credits roll, whether you loved it or not.

Gameplay

Now here’s where Part II truly shines, the gameplay is phenomenal. Combat is visceral and satisfying, with slick animations that make every melee hit feel personal. Stealth is incredibly tense, with AI that flanks, communicates, and reacts intelligently (Yeah, I hate those dogs). It makes every encounter unpredictable and pulse-pounding.

The dynamic prone mechanics of the game feels good. Especially when I hide under vehicles, tall grasses, and stuff like that while trying to get past enemies. There is also an incredible fluidity between action and stealth which also makes exploration feel seamless. Also, more weapons to use which is nice, as well as the good old crafting system for quick decisions in the heat of battle. Only a few games in this genre manage to feel this responsive and grounded.

Atmosphere & Graphics

Visually, this game is absolutely stunning. Environments are richly detailed, character models are near photo-realistic, and lighting creates a cinematic feel that rarely lets up.

But if you're on PC, be warned. Without Frame Generation, the game can become a stuttery mess, even on high-end hardware. It’s playable, sure, but not smooth. Frame Gen (thanks, DLSS 3) really saves the experience. With it, the game runs like butter. Without it, it’s like driving a Ferrari with flat tires. (Although, I'm not sure how it runs on the 50 series cards or AMD GPUs)

Performance aside, the atmosphere is unmatched. Seattle’s rain-soaked streets, the haunting ruins of civilization, the ambient nature reclaiming cities, it all paints a post-apocalyptic world that’s eerily beautiful.

Audio & Accessibility

The audio design in Part II is just chef’s kiss. From the creaks of abandoned buildings to the hushed breaths of enemies trying to find you; yes, the soundscape is immersive as hell. The soundtrack? Emotional and haunting in all the right places.

What also deserves a huge shoutout is the accessibility options. Naughty Dog set a gold standard here, offering option such as full text-to-speech and voice-over navigation, visual and auditory cues for gameplay mechanics, colorblind modes, high contrast, and combat simplification options. It's amazing to see a game this intense be so approachable for different players.

Difficulty, Collectibles & Other Stuff

The game has lots of difficulty options, tons of collectibles which give lore and upgrades (I had fun searching for them, but when I missed one, I was kind of pissed). Grounded mode is insane, it offers ultra-realistic survival, minimal HUD, and one-hit deaths. There is also a Permadeath mode which was not a fun mode to play especially as I was trying to earn all trophies. There are also other stuff like alternative skins for ellie & abby, as well as their weapons, model viewer, & other miscellaneous stuff.

DLC? - No Return Mode

This is the new roguelike survival mode added to the Remastered version and it’s a blast. You pick a character (each with unique traits), choose your loadout path, and progress through randomized encounters. It's all about surviving as long as you can with limited resources and growing tension. There are boss fights, modifiers, and high replayability.

What I love about No Return is how it distills the game’s best mechanics which includes stealth, scavenging, and high-stakes combat into a bite-sized challenge loop. It’s the most fun you can have in the game without being emotionally devastated. Although I personally don't like the daily run grounded mode achievement due to RNG, but I did manage to complete it.

TL;DR

If you can stomach a painful story arc, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an unforgettable experience. The visuals are breathtaking, the gameplay is masterfully crafted, and the world is immersive in every sense. Whether you're here for the narrative or just want to get lost in post-apocalyptic survival action, there's something here for you. Just brace yourself for the story, and maybe some stuttering until they provide more patches to improve the game's performance.

Would I recommend it? Yes (It's just $50)

July 2025

We’re Back!

Hey everyone, I’m back with my blog after a long hiatus. Hopefully, this time I can continue updating regularly to keep track of my completions, backlog progress, and overall experiences.

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Days Gone - July 13th
Completion Status: Main + Side
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- My boy Deacon St. John is the GOAT of the post-apocalyptic world. The pacing of the story was a little slow, and the game has way too many fetch quests to progress in the narrative, like getting to camps, clearing enemies, killing bounties, etc. However, the main story moments, like fighting a horde or traversing tunnels and caves, were some of the best parts of the game. Riding out in the open world on the bike felt amazing, especially since I was using a DualSense, which made the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers feel great. The gunplay and survivability mechanics were also solid, and I enjoyed finding resources to craft medicine and weapons. Seeing a horde at night was genuinely frightening. The characters were fantastic as well, with Boozer being a great sidekick. However, the story near the end felt anticlimactic—it was rushed and repetitive. Still, I enjoyed the game overall.

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude - July 1st
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- This is probably the raunchiest Leisure Suit Larry game I’ve played (is "raunchiest" the right word?). Last month, I started a marathon to complete all the Leisure Suit Larry games, and this one took me by surprise. I thought all the games were point-and-click, but this one was different. It’s definitely the most NSFW entry in the series, but the humor is still there. I’m at a loss for words about the game—it involved a lot of collecting items to complete the storylines for each girl, and the mini-games were pretty bad. There was noticeable latency, and running the game on PC led to some crashes and a poor experience. It was a quirky game for its time, but now it’s a bit of a mess.

Other completions:
I’ve been playing a lot of strategy games lately, even though they’re not really my thing. You might wonder why—well, I’m trying to find the appeal of these games, and since a lot of them went free recently, I decided to give them a try and complete them.

Field of Glory II: Medieval and Fantasy General II were the games I spent a lot of hours on, but I didn’t really enjoy them. Some moments felt tedious, and there were times when I got completely lost. I think I need to find a Baldur's Gate 3 type of strategy game to truly get into the genre.

I also completed Caribbean Crashers, a free giveaway game that plays like Angry Birds. It was decent and short.

Continuing with my free giveaway games, I completed Next Jump: Shmup Tactics and Space Pilgrim: Episode Two - Epsilon Indi. Both were very indie in terms of quality, and I wouldn’t really recommend them. I only played them for completion’s sake and to see what they had to offer.

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

Mecha Break - July 5th
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- The game is actually pretty good and very addictive for a mech game, but it can get boring after a few matches. There are only three modes: a 6v6, a 3v3, and an extraction mode similar to DMZ from MWII. This game is also not very free-to-play friendly because almost everything is locked behind microtransactions, even just the color of the suits or your character's hair (which you rarely see since you're in a mech, smh). The gameplay itself is solid, but the progression system is pretty greedy.

Genshin Impact

- I recently pulled the new character Skirk, who is Childe’s master or something (I don’t follow the lore that closely). She’s a solid Cryo DPS, but I don’t have her best-in-slot support, Escoffier, since I got another Diluc instead :(
- Watching the teaser for 6.0 Nod Krai got me excited for the upcoming characters, like Klee’s mom Alice, Columbina, Varka, and the mysterious guy with Gojo’s VA. Please, save my wallet.
- Version 5.8 will be releasing tomorrow, and I can’t wait to get the new skins for Yelan and Bennett. Plus, with a new map, there’ll be more Primogems to grind for.

Honkai: Star Rail

- Oh boy, all my 200 pulls went to Phainon instead of Saber. The Fate Collab event was a bit underwhelming, but I appreciate the free Archer they gave out.
- I spent so many pulls trying to get Phainon and his Lightcone, but it was worth it—he’s pretty strong and looks like Sephiroth in his god form.
- The Amphoreus story arc is definitely better than the previous worlds, and I’m more invested in the plot now.

💡Retired or Dropped Games 💡

Madoka Magica Magia Exedra
Rating: 6/10
- I like the turn-based genre of this game, but it doesn't really capture the experience of watching the anime. The storytelling falls short, and the focus is mainly on the gacha aspect. The drop rates are also bad. It had a lot of potential, but I fear this game won’t last long.

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 8
- Current Backlog: 959 (+35 Replays)

- Games in Progress: 3
> Stellar Blade [NG+ 80% Done]
> Wuchang: Fallen Feathers [40% Done]
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy [60% Done ~ 60/100 endings]

- Up Next: 5
> Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
> The First Berserker: Khazan

Quick Update:
So, my PC had an issue—it kind of broke. I was getting shocked whenever I touched my old PC case, and I think the PSU was the problem. Because of that, I had to take a break from gaming for 2–3 days. I ended up buying a new case and a new PSU.

Here's my new PC build, and I’m really happy with all the hard work I put into it (I spent around 5 hours building it). Here’s to more gaming updates in the near future! I’ll probably update my blog again by the end of the week.

2025
(Week of July 29th - August 8th)

Another update incoming!
This week has been a blast, and I have a lot to share about my gaming journey. I won't promise weekly updates for this blog, but I might post more often if I have enough free time. I'm also thinking about joining the Game Challenge 2025, but I'm still unsure.

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Aug 7th
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- I have a lot of Soulslikes in my backlog, and I’m thinking of taking a break from the genre (I think I’ve already played 3–4 this year). Wuchang is another Soulslike set in China, just like the other games I’ve played — Wo Long and Wukong (why do they all start with “W”?).

This game focuses on using weapon skills to your advantage when fighting bosses. It has the usual status ailments and weapon types, along with flask upgrades. What really stood out to me was the environment design, especially in the later areas, and the boss designs, which were quite creative.

I didn’t follow the story much, but I enjoyed the NPC questlines, which reminded me of other FromSoft titles. Speaking of FromSoft, the level design here feels similar to the first Dark Souls game, particularly with how far apart the shrines are. I didn’t have too much trouble with the bosses, but I definitely had some PTSD flashbacks from Blighttown and the Bed of Chaos. Still, I managed to beat the game and get all the endings by reloading my save.

Some of the new mechanics I really liked — and wish Miyazaki would implement — include weapon mastery being tied to the skill tree instead of individual weapons. I also enjoyed the madness mechanic, where having higher madness makes you stronger but also increases the damage you take.

The outfits are amazing, ranging from full dynasty-style armor to elegant dresses. I really liked this game, but, unfortunately, UE5 performance issues are hard to escape. A lot of gamers bombarded the reviews with negatives because of that. However, I believe a performance patch has already been released, so hopefully the reviews improve.

It’s also pretty short for a Soulslike, but that’s fine considering it wasn’t a full $70 release. Overall, it was a great experience, and once again, indie titles delivered.

--

Barro GT - July 29th
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 3/10
- What even is this game? Probably the worst racing game I’ve ever played. I think it was given away for free on Steam last week, so I decided to give it a shot. Big mistake.

It’s straight-up shovelware, with repetitive race tracks and dumb AI bots. To make things worse, my controller didn’t work with it, so I had to play using the keyboard.

The only saving grace? You can unlock all the achievements through the launcher itself. Good thing I found that out, because there’s no way I was going to complete every track manually (I had already finished about half before discovering that feature).

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

PEAK - Aug 5th
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- This game is PEAK! My friend and I went in blind, and it was a mix of excitement, joy, suffering, and relief. We managed to beat the game on our third attempt.

It’s basically a co-op mountain climbing game. You have various tools to use, and you need to manage both your stamina and hunger. The environments change as you ascend — from snowy peaks to rainstorms, and even a volcano.

What really makes this game amazing is the proximity chat. Hearing my friend’s voice echo as he fell into the abyss had me laughing so hard. I'm definitely planning to play it again with more people to see how chaotic and fun it can get.


Genshin Impact
- As I continue my summer event exploration, I got a new character — Ineffa, a robot maid from Nod Krai (the next region)! I was also a bit heartbroken by Bennett's backstory in the event... but at least I got his new outfit. I can’t wait for version 6.0, so I’m already saving my primogems for the upcoming characters.

Honkai: Star Rail
- Nothing interesting going on right now. I think the next update drops next week?

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 3
- Current Backlog: 954 (+35 Replays)

- Games in Progress: 3
> Stellar Blade [NG+ 80% Done]
> Furi [10% Done]
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy [60% Done ~ 60/100 endings]

- Up Next: 5
> Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
> The First Berserker: Khazan

2025
(Week of August 9th - August 19th)

Update time!
It’s been a fun week in terms of completions! I’ve been quite busy, but also a bit lost when it comes to deciding what games to tackle next. If you have any suggestions, feel free to take a look at my backlog. Also, Gamescom ONL is just a few hours away, and I can’t wait to see more gameplay for Resident Evil: Requiem. Of course, I’m also hoping to see Hollow Knight: Silksong make an appearance.

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Stellar Blade - Aug 9th
Completion Status: 100% | Platinum
Platform: PC
Rating: 10/10
- Honestly, Stellar Blade is straight-up one of my favorite games this year, no contest. The combat is so fluid and satisfying—it’s like you’re in the middle of a dance fight, and every move just feels perfect. The world design is equally impressive; I found myself just getting lost in the environments because they’re so beautifully crafted. And the outfits? Don’t get me started. They’re not just cool to look at, but you can actually mod them, and that’s where NexusMods really shines.

If you’re into tweaking your games, NexusMods has a solid collection of mods that add more variety to the outfits and gameplay. It’s kind of like giving the game a second life. Some mods even allow you to change the look of certain characters or enhance the combat with new visual effects, which makes everything feel fresh—even if you've already platinumed it like I did (and I totally did). Honestly, the modding community around Stellar Blade just adds another layer of depth that makes the game even more fun to dive into.

The DLCs—featuring characters from Nikke and NieR—were a nice touch and definitely keep the hype going. And the OST? It’s on repeat in my playlist. I really can’t recommend this game enough. If you like action games with style, heart, and some serious replay value, you’re going to love it.

Furi - Aug 13th
Completion Status: Main + Extras
Platform: Steam Deck
Rating: 8/10
- Shoutout to @Fire_Fox on this forum for suggesting Furi, because wow, what a hidden gem! This is one of those games that totally caught me off guard in the best way possible. It's a boss rush game that mixes bullet hell with some pretty tight combat mechanics. You’ve got your dodging, parrying, and slashing your way through insane battles, and it’s just so addictive. Each boss fight feels like a mini puzzle of its own, and the difficulty ramps up in such a satisfying way. It’s a bit short, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you want—a focused, intense experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Definitely check this one out if you like tough but rewarding action games.


The Callisto Protocol - Aug 14th
Completion Status: Main + Extras
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- The Callisto Protocol had so much potential, but it ultimately felt a bit too short. The graphics are absolutely stunning, and I can see why the devs are calling this a “AAAA” game—it’s definitely one of the best-looking titles out there. However, the combat started to feel repetitive toward the end, and there weren’t many enemy variations. It ends on a cliffhanger, but with the feedback the game’s received, I doubt we'll get a sequel anytime soon.

Other Completions
Ampersat: I managed to 100% this game. It wasn’t necessarily amazing, but it wasn’t bad either. It was decent and I had a bit of fun with it.

Escape from the Room of the Serving Doll - Another H game, but this one is a short escape room with multiple endings. It was pretty easy for me as I’ve played a lot of Zero Escape in the past. The H scenes were decent, though nothing special.

No Mercy: With all the controversy surrounding this one, I decided to give it a try using a copy from a friend. The incest aspect wasn’t too bad, since it’s just a stepmom situation (common in many other genres). The more controversial elements, like the domination and non-consensual stuff, are what seem to draw the most attention. The game involves blackmailing, but depending on your choices, you can still play the “good guy.” There are some absurd moments, like a scene where you sleep with your friend's mom, and he joins in (LMAO). Overall, the game has pretty basic animations and a straightforward storyline (you catch your stepmom cheating and blackmail her). Did I enjoy it? Not really, it’s not my type of game. As for the controversy, it’s just fiction—playing this doesn’t make anyone a misogynist. It's okay if people like it, and it's okay if they don’t. It's a personal choice.

Shovelware and the Bad Ones
I completed around 10-11 hentai games in a single day (for achievement purposes... yes, really). They were all pretty bad in terms of artwork and gameplay. Most of them were just tile-matching puzzles that you could easily autocomplete. However, one of them had a Zuma-like gameplay mechanic, which brought back some nostalgic feelings. I’ll give props to that one, as it created a legitimate gameplay loop rather than just being a quick cash grab.

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

Kitchen Wars - Aug 13th
Platform: PC
Rating: 4/10
- A chaotic Overcooked rip-off with PvP. The controls are clunky, and after a few matches, I decided to delete the game—it was that bad. But, hey, it was free, so I guess that’s something.

Genshin Impact
- Same old farming every day. I’ve been focusing on 100%-ing my maps before Nod Krai, and I still have more regions to explore. I also worked on the Duelist achievements, which involve defeating the Natlan local legends. They're tough, but I managed to complete the first one of the series, with two more to go. I might also pull for Chasca/Mualani’s weapon, but I’m saving up for the Nod Krai characters.

Honkai: Star Rail
- Still haven’t gotten Saber after almost 100 pulls. The new update just dropped, and I had a blast completing the new event, which is kind of like a kitchen management game. My plans for this game are to pull for Saber and then save up for upcoming characters to help make my Phainon stronger.

💡Retired or Dropped Games 💡

Tribe Nine
Rating: 6/10
- This game has a lot of potential for a gacha game, but sadly it is ending its services soon.

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 18
- Current Backlog: 961 (+35 Replays)
[Added / Purchased the ff:]
> Lost Soul Aside
> Granblue Fantasy: Relink
> SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
> Moonscars
> Bubsy Two-Fur
> Hazy Mind
> Black Souls

- Games in Progress: 4
> Subverse [80% Done]
> Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+ [75% Done | ~80 songs to go]
> The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered [50% Done | Completed Side storylines]
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy [60% Done ~ 60/100 endings]

- Up Next: 3
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The First Berserker: Khazan

Thanks for validating my opinion on one of my favorite games (:
Special mention to the OST for hitting just as hard as the rest of Furi.

Thanks for validating my opinion on one of my favorite games (:
Special mention to the OST for hitting just as hard as the rest of Furi.

The OST is really good too, now that you mention it. Thanks for suggesting this hidden gem!

2025
(Week of August 20th - August 31st)

Time for another update!
A lot has happened since my previous post—and guess what? Silksong is finally dropping in just a few days! I have a good feeling about September. Between the new releases and my ever-growing backlog, I think it’s going to be a great month for gaming.
Can’t believe we’re already approaching the end of 2025. Time flies!

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Aug 28th
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- I finally finished Oblivion Remastered, and while it’s great to revisit such a classic, the experience was a bit of a mixed bag. They kept many of the original bugs—some are still hilarious and nostalgic, but others are just annoying and feel like they should’ve been fixed in a remaster. One thing that really bothered me was the huge file size. It’s absurdly large for what the game offers, and I honestly don’t understand why it needed to be that big. Visually, it does look good with improved textures and lighting, but in doing so, I feel like it lost part of the essence that made the original special. I actually prefer the old graphics, as they had a certain charm and atmosphere that the remaster doesn’t quite capture. Despite these issues, it's still a solid remaster and worth playing—especially for longtime fans of the series.


Subverse - Aug 22nd
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- Subverse really surprised me with how big and ambitious it is. I went in not expecting much, but the amount of content, the quality of the writing, and even the polish in some areas really caught me off guard. The humor actually works most of the time—it’s genuinely funny rather than just trying too hard. The story is surprisingly amazing, and it even reminded me of Mass Effect in the way it blends sci-fi, crew interactions, and space missions. Gameplay-wise, it’s a fun mix of tactical combat and space shooting, though it does start to get repetitive and a little boring toward the end. And of course, the scenes are of high quality :). It’s definitely one of the more polished and entertaining games of its kind, even if it drags a bit by the finale.

Other Completions
The Hunter: Call of the Wild - A solid hunting simulator. It’s a chill experience, though it can get a bit boring solo. The DLC content is locked behind paywalls, which feels greedy. Still, the base game holds up decently.

Supernormal - A short horror game with a twist ending. Not particularly scary—some moments were even unintentionally funny—but it was decent for what it was.

Bendy: Lone Wolf - Essentially a remaster of Boris and the Dark Survival. Still fun, but I didn’t notice many changes from the original.

Ground Control II: Operation Exodus - Not really my genre, and I preferred the first game. The sequel didn’t quite click with me.

Shovelware and the Bad Ones
I ended up playing quite a few bad games again.
Walking Survival – A Vampire Survivors clone with terrible mechanics. Free, but not worth the time.

Poostall Royale – A joke game (literally April Fools), but not even entertaining in a “so bad it’s good” way.

AtmaSphere – A ball-rolling platformer. Decent concept, but plagued with bugs and frustrating controls.

I might take a break from intentionally bad games for a while...

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

Superliminal - Aug 25th
Platform: PC
Rating: 6/10
- Played this with a friend, and it was a fun co-op experience despite being buggy. The perspective-based puzzles were incredibly unique, though objects sometimes bugged out and flew off the map, forcing us to restart levels. Annoying, but still worth it.

We Were Here - Aug 26th
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- A short but very enjoyable escape room-style game. Played with a friend, and the teamwork-based puzzles were great. The ending was unexpectedly emotional.


Genshin Impact
- With Nod Krai coming soon, I’ve been grinding artifacts and updating my builds in preparation. I pulled Chasca’s weapon because I really enjoyed her playstyle and wanted to make her stronger. Also, I'm planning to pull for Lauma and Flins once 6.0 drops.


Honkai: Star Rail
- I finally got Saber after around 120 pulls. My luck was awful this time. Now saving for Cerydra, who releases tomorrow. I plan to use her as support for my Phainon team. Fingers crossed I get her quickly—I don’t have many pulls left.

💡Retired or Dropped Games 💡

The Elder Scrolls: Arena
Rating: 6/10
- I’m sure this was groundbreaking when it launched, but I just couldn’t get into it. The mechanics felt too dated, and I wasn’t having much fun—so I dropped it.

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 11
- Current Backlog: 959 (+36 Replays)
[Added / Purchased the ff:]
> Coromon
> Phogs!
> Terminator: Resistance
> Remnant: From the Ashes
> Zombie Army 4: Dead War
> LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

- Games in Progress: 4
> The Last of Us Part I [Replay] [70% Done]
> Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+ [75% Done | ~80 songs to go]
> Lost Soul Aside [25% Done]
> Yakuza 6: The Song of Life [10% Done]

- Up Next: 4
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The First Berserker: Khazan
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

2025
(Week of September 1st - 17th)

It’s been a while! Life’s been busy again, and I haven’t had time to update my blog weekly, but I managed to get something out today. To my surprise, my blog visits have doubled over the past few weeks, even though I barely updated it. I can't believe it's already the middle of September, and it feels like 2025 is almost over. I'm really excited for the new Silent Hill coming out at the end of the month, and after that, I’m planning to hold off on buying games for a while (for real this time… hopefully).

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Lost Soul Aside - Sept 10th
Completion Status: 100%
Platform: PC
Rating: 7/10
- I have mixed feelings about this one. The combat is decent, but the voice acting, pacing of the story, and characters were underwhelming. I did enjoy the boss fights at first, but they got repetitive. The weapon customization is a nice touch, and the skills you can use in battle are fun. The game’s early parts remind me of Final Fantasy VII, and the main character looks like a Chinese version of Noctis. However, there were issues with the cutscenes and the running animation, which often looked like it was stuttering. I also had multiple crashes. For the price, it doesn't feel worth it—if it had been priced around $49 like Clair Obscur, it would’ve been a much better deal. I actually regret picking this up over MGS Delta (which launched the same day). A 7/10 feels generous given that I did enjoy some parts of it.

Other Completions
Ancient Enemy - I didn’t really like this one. I’m not a fan of deck-building RPGs, but I can appreciate that it has an interesting concept. It just wasn’t for me, though I did finish it.

Dead in Bermuda - I got this one for free, and I enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s a survival management game, and while the cast is decent, the gameplay gets repetitive after a few runs.

Lego Bricktales - This was fun at first, but the controls were frustrating. I didn’t have much fun after finishing the second level. It wasn’t the best choice to play on my Steam Deck, either, but I managed to finish it.

Puzzle Chambers - This was a free giveaway recently. It’s a decent, short puzzle game that I enjoyed, but there’s nothing particularly special about it.

Shovelware and the Bad Ones
Landlady Seduction Simulator - This is another terrible adult VN. It's short, though. The premise is that a guy rents an apartment and both he and the landlady have been victims of cheating. They end up hooking up. I don't even remember buying this game... why do I have this?

Japan Trip - One of the worst adult VNs I’ve ever played. The guy goes to Japan and hooks up with every girl he meets. The writing is hilariously bad, but the scenes themselves aren’t awful.

The Daily Life of Serving Doll - The first game in this series was great—it was an escape room game. This one, however, is just a trivia game with math problems. It wasn’t enjoyable, and the scenes felt recycled from the first game.

Broilers - This technically should be in the multiplayer section, but it’s awful. It’s like a bad version of chess, except it’s not. Just pure shovelware.

Legend of Mysteria, Secret of Magia & Destiny Warriors - This RPG Maker bundle was okay, but nothing surprising. I do miss the top-down RPG era, though. Some of the RPG mechanics in these games are broken, like enemies having way too much HP.

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

Degrees of Separation - Sept 1st
Platform: PC
Rating: 6/10
- Frustration overload. My friend and I spent hours collecting everything, only to be rewarded with a mediocre ending. I hate this game, despite it having some cool concepts. I’m done with puzzle platformers after this.


Genshin Impact
- Where do I even begin? Genshin 6.0, or should I say Luna I, has dropped, and it’s amazing. Tons of QoL changes, a new region, and a story I actually enjoyed. Let’s talk about the new region first. I really like the aesthetic of Nasha Town—it gives me Fallout vibes. The new characters in the overworld also make the game feel much more immersive. As for the story, it’s absolute cinema. I’ve never been this invested in Genshin lore until now. The pacing of the story and the characters you meet really feel like a work of art. Act II of the quest had me on the edge of my seat, especially after seeing some incredible cutscenes. Now, I’m just waiting for the next update.

Regarding the characters: I pulled Lauma by accident, and her Lunar Bloom mechanic is incredibly strong, which means I can finally make full use of my Nilou team. She talks a bit slowly—maybe it’s because she’s the priestess or just part of her personality. I also met Aino, who’s this adorable whiz kid who builds robots and snacks all the time (which Ineffa limits her from doing). Their dynamic is fantastic. Nefer reminds me of Yelan, but green, with a smug look on her face. I’m definitely pulling for her since I could use more Dendro DPS on my team. Jahoda, her employee, is a fun character—kind of like a nod to Bennett, but a bit different. It’s rare to see such personality from a 4-star, so I’m pulling for her too.

Finally, we have Flins, the aura farming master. His design looks great, especially with his blue lamp. I’m definitely pulling for him and his weapon. A few Harbingers also made an appearance, like Columbina and Sandrone. The banter between Columbina and Sandrone had me cracking up—definitely some rage baiting going on there. Varka didn’t show up, though, but I’m hoping we’ll see him soon.

Rerir, the new villain of this region, looks awesome. It feels like Genshin finally has a real villain to look forward to.

I’ll be exploring the new region, collecting everything, and focusing on building my Lauma and Aino before Flins arrives. This update really reignited my passion for the game.

Honkai: Star Rail
- I give up... I'm at 77 pity and Cerydra is still not showing up. Either I skip her and get Evernight instead or I go broke. I still have a couple of days left so who knows.

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 13
- Current Backlog: 959 (+36 Replays) [Nothing changed since I bought games again...]

- Games in Progress: 6
> The Last of Us Part I [Replay] [70% Done]
> Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+ [85% Done | ~40 songs to go]
> Hollowknight: Silksong [~40% Done]
> Yakuza 6: The Song of Life [10% Done]
> Arcade Paradise [20% Done]
- Resident Evil: Survival Unit [Just playing for fun | not counted as backlog]

- Up Next: 4
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The First Berserker: Khazan
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

2025
(Week of September 18th - 29th)

I'm back with another update!
September has been a blast, even though it's not quite over yet. I feel like this might be my most completions in a single month. Life has kept me busy, and I've also been spending some time with Silent Hill f (which I’ll talk about in this blog, even though I haven’t finished it yet). The Steam Autumn Sale is fast approaching, but this time I’m not buying anything, for real. Also, I seriously need to start clearing my backlog... but no rush, as long as I’m still enjoying the hobby.

In other news related to this site, I just noticed I somehow got a custom badge called "Builder." Hmm... not sure how I got it, but that’s pretty cool! I’ve been on this site for 5 years now, time really flies.

Special Progress Update

Silent Hill f
Platform: PC
- I'm not done with the game yet, but I’ve completed my first playthrough, which ended with the "Ending 1" (The default). I really love the atmosphere, especially the rural Japanese setting. The enemy designs are creepy and grotesque, which is exactly the vibe I’ve been looking for since The Evil Within. The combat, though, is where the game stumbles. It's very melee-focused, which a lot of players seem to dislike, and I can see why. Personally, I’ve been playing a lot of Soulslikes / Action RPGs lately, so I managed to adapt, but the parry timing can be frustrating, especially on higher difficulties. Weapon durability adds tension, but also adds to the frustration at times.

The inventory management is fine, though I found myself backtracking a lot early on due to limited space. The story is intriguing, as it doesn’t just dump all the details at once, you have to pay attention to journals and the symbolism in the environment. The puzzles are great too; I especially enjoyed the scarecrow maze. And of course, the OST is amazing, thanks to Akira Yamaoka. I’ll update more once I finish the other endings, and I’m planning to 100% the game.

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix+ - Sep 29th
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- A very challenging rhythm game, especially since I’m not great with a controller. I remember breezing through f2nd on the PS Vita, but this one felt much harder. The extreme mode has triple and even quadruple button presses that feel impossible to react to on a first try. Still, I managed to finish all ~200 songs and earned every achievement, took me almost 3 years!

Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Edition - Sep 21st
Platform: PC
Rating: 8/10
- This was a replay, but with the enhanced visuals. It looks great, though still a bit buggy. GTA V remains a timeless classic, and lately, I’ve been hooked on GTA Online again, like grinding cash and causing chaos with friends has taken over my free time.

Other Completions:
Away - A short game, more like a tech demo. Nothing interesting.
Ultimate Zombie Defense - Fun top-down shooter, pretty short though.
Train Simulator Classic - Too many DLCs, but it's decent if you just want to chill with trains.
UNLOVED - A fast-paced co-op horror FPS that reminded me of old-school DOOM mods. It's great!
Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition - Still holds up as a great ARPG, though it can feel grindy at times. I only completed the base game.
The Deed - A short murder mystery game, I guess it's pretty fine.

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

skate. - Sep 24th
Platform: PC
Rating: 5/10
- This one just isn’t clicking with me. I loved the older Skate games, but this free-to-play version feels… off. The microtransactions for cosmetics are everywhere, and the lighting in the game is just weird—too bright and kind of goofy overall. I’m not sure what engine they’re using, but it doesn’t feel right. Still, I had a few laughs with a friend in the open-world sandbox. Some of the character creations (or abominations?) were hilarious. Unfortunately, the grind for currency and cosmetics is just tedious.

Resident Evil: Survival Unit - Sep 25th
Platform: Mobile
Rating: 6/10
- This was pretty fun at first. I’ve been playing it for about a month, but it eventually started to feel like a daily chore. I decided to drop it. I really enjoyed the intro and some segments that play like classic Resident Evil, but beyond that, it turns into another auto-combat/base-upgrade type of game.


Genshin Impact
- Flins' banner drops tomorrow! I’ll probably update this blog again once I find out if I got him or not. For now, I’ve already 100%'d Nod Krai and I’m just keeping up with dailies and pre-farming for Flins. Fingers crossed I win the 50/50.

Edit: LETS GO!!!! I did won at exactly 75 pity! I still have pulls left to get his weapon.


Honkai: Star Rail
- I got Evernight! She made my Castorice team way stronger than before. I also really like the new event with the dromas, it’s super cute. As for the story... honestly, I’ve stopped following it. It just fries my brain. Also, the new endgame mode? Yeah, not a fan. It’s awful.

Goddess of Victory: NIKKE
- Resident Evil collab just started and I managed to get Ada Wong in 10 pulls!. I don't play this game regularly anymore, but I do get hyped for the collaborations they do.

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 10
- Current Backlog: 962 (+36 Replays) 💀

- Games in Progress: 5
> Silent Hill f [NG+ 1/5 endings]
> The Last of Us Part I [Replay] [70% Done]
> Cronos: The New Dawn [~30% Done]
> Hollowknight: Silksong [~40% Done]
> Arcade Paradise [20% Done]

- Up Next: 5
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The First Berserker: Khazan
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
> Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Congratz on your Flins (I hope you'll get his weapon, too! It looks so good on him) and Evernight pulls! I refuse to get any characters for Castorice xD. I don't care how good she is. I hate how good she is. I'll forever regret getting her instead of just investing in my Mydei directly T.T why did I go down the double dps route? That's truly my only pull regret during Amphoreus. I still like Castorice as a character. I just don't like her gameplay.

Congratz on your Flins (I hope you'll get his weapon, too! It looks so good on him) and Evernight pulls! I refuse to get any characters for Castorice xD. I don't care how good she is. I hate how good she is. I'll forever regret getting her instead of just investing in my Mydei directly T.T why did I go down the double dps route? That's truly my only pull regret during Amphoreus. I still like Castorice as a character. I just don't like her gameplay.

I actually did! And I just noticed how tall he is. He might be the tallest male character yet! Sadly, no more pulls left for now :( But fingers crossed for the next one!

2025
(Week of September 30th - October 6th)

I'm officially retiring my Maelle profile photo, as much as I liked her smile, I’ve started to find it a bit creepy. For now, sad Sackboy will be keeping me company. It is October, after all, a fitting time for slightly spooky vibes (or sad... idk).

On the life side of things, I'm actually feeling pretty balanced between gaming and everything else. 2025 really hit hard with a flood of game releases, though I partly blame my friends, since they keep gifting me more games! Now I’m staring at a mountain of backlog that seriously needs clearing. One step at a time...

DEMO COMPLETIONS

A brand new section for now, since I’ve been diving into a bunch of demos lately. Most of them are horror-themed (it is October, after all), and I’ve really been in the mood for creepy, atmospheric experiences.

Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Goal Demo
This game offers an interesting take, being a first-person puzzle horror title. The enemies, however, aren't particularly scary, as they’re just headless mannequins. The gameplay involves hiding from monsters or setting bear traps to kill them. While I enjoy the ambiance of the mansion, nothing stands out as exceptional so far. Unfortunately, Junji Ito's signature art style isn’t fully represented in this game. The creatures, while possibly inspired by his designs, feel kind of bland, and Tomie looks especially odd. Hopefully, certain aspects of the game will be improved in the future.


The Parasites Demo
- This game has a cool concept, blending elements of The Forest, some Tomb Raider, and Tarkov due to its difficulty. It’s also impressive that it’s made by a solo developer. The learning curve is steep, and there are still quite a few bugs, but I enjoyed the experience of exploring and getting the hang of the mechanics. The game has an adult rating, with your character’s shirt able to be destroyed and nudity included. With more refinement in mechanics, bug fixes, and improvements to the map layout, this could become a great game.


We Harvest Shadows Demo
This is my first time playing a farm-sim horror game, and I really like the concept. The gameplay of doing daily tasks is cozy and satisfying, but then you have to watch out for terrifying monstrosities at night. The game has a lot of potential, and I’ve been having fun so far. I was also surprised to find that there’s a story involved, and I can’t wait for the full release to see how it unfolds.

🎮 COMPLETIONS 🎮

Silent Hill f - Oct 4th
Platform: PC
Rating: 9/10
- I was ready to give this one a perfect 10/10 until I nearly rage-quit during the hardest difficulty and final boss fight, it’s like Elden Ring, but worse. The story is subtle yet impactful, and it really sticks with you. However, it’s quite short compared to my time with the Silent Hill 2 remake. Also, the FOV needs some serious tweaking, especially in the house areas, I kept getting cornered because I couldn't see where I was going.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe - Oct 2nd
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Rating: 7/10
- I’m not usually a fan of Kirby games, but I ended up enjoying this one, especially since I played it with a friend. There are tons of power-ups, and I appreciated how almost every level has a boss, which sets it apart from Mario games. That said, I still prefer Mario overall, but Kirby brings its own unique charm.

Other Completions:
Snake Eyes Dungeon - A short but solid rogue-lite dungeon crawler. The dice-based combat system adds an interesting twist, though the randomness can sometimes feel a bit punishing.

Alchemist's Castle - A fun little Metroidvania with some classic platforming mechanics. The progression feels satisfying, though the lack of polish in some areas holds it back slightly.

Miko in Maguma - A cute and challenging action-platformer with some great retro vibes. The pixel art and tight controls make it a nice pick for fans of classic side-scrollers.

Dracomaton - A unique mech-based shooter with an old-school arcade feel. It has a cool concept but could use more polish in its gameplay and level design.

Colt Canyon - A gritty and fast-paced pixel-art roguelike shooter. The permadeath mechanics and procedurally generated levels keep things intense and replayable.

Zomborg - A rough-around-the-edges top-down shooter with zombies and cybernetic themes. It's fun in short bursts, but the gameplay loop gets repetitive quickly.

GuraQuest - A quirky fan-made game with charming references and simple mechanics. It's short and sweet, more of a novelty than a deep experience, but enjoyable nonetheless.

🔥 Multiplayer & Gacha Updates 🔥

Genshin Impact
- I managed to fully build Flins in just about a week after his release, all thanks to farming Lauma artifacts so much that I ended up with some accidental god-rolls perfect for him. He’s now stronger than my Varesa, which I didn’t expect! I’ll probably start saving now… or maybe keep pulling for Aino constellations. I’ve only gotten her twice so far, while Sucrose showed up 12 times, seriously, SMH.

Honkai: Star Rail
- Just grinding through more event content. I don’t know why they decided to bring back that Seal event, I really didn’t like it the first time around. On the bright side, I’ve been trying to get Evernight’s Light Cone. I think I’ve already done around 50 pulls, so fingers crossed!

Backlog Progress Summary
- Games Completed: 9
- Current Backlog: 965 (+36 Replays)

- Games in Progress: 5
> Dying Light: The Beast
> The Last of Us Part I [Replay] [DLC left]
> Cronos: The New Dawn [~30% Done]
> Hollowknight: Silksong [~40% Done]
> Arcade Paradise [20% Done]

- Up Next: 5
> Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
> Murder by Numbers
> The First Berserker: Khazan
> The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
> Yakuza 6: The Song of Life