December’s Stats
aka. Another victory for the backlog
I was doing fairly good before the madness of christmas started but then I completely collapsed. I was planning to do some more gaming after Xmas but I caught the flu and I was too tired to play anything. On the plus side, I beat a few really excellent games this month, which made picking only one favorite was really hard. On the other hand, I added too many games to the backlog (and I didn’t even activate all the keys I entended to). Between some good bundles, a bit of trading and xmas gifts from friends, my backlog grew more than I managed to complete this month. Oh well. I’ll be back in a few day with a my best of 2018 post, but until then, take care. I hope you all had a good holiday season if you celebrate, and I wish you the best for 2018, both in your personnal life and in gaming. Best wishes
| Played | Finished | Completed | Backlog+ | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 12 | 4 | 26 | 388 |
ABC Challenge Progress (15/26)
Finished this month:3Most Satisfying Finish
Most Exciting Addition
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Viridi
4 hours playtime
41 of 47 achievements
-
Hand of Fate 2
5 hours playtime
11 of 50 achievements
-
True or False Universe
86 minutes playtime
110 of 110 achievements
-
Battle Chef Brigade
9 hours playtime
13 of 25 achievements
-
Pyre
15 hours playtime
34 of 51 achievements
-
Sproggiwood
20 hours playtime
14 of 19 achievements
-
The Stanley Parable
2 hours playtime
8 of 10 achievements
-
SteamWorld Dig 2
15 hours playtime
26 of 34 achievements
-
Emily is Away Too
3 hours playtime
21 of 21 achievements
-
Jotun
6 hours playtime
9 of 36 achievements
-
Hidden Folks
7 hours playtime
6 of 6 achievements
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Feel The Snow
48 minutes playtime
3 of 15 achievements
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Kona
8 hours playtime
29 of 35 achievements
-
LEGO® Jurassic World
28 hours playtime
33 of 49 achievements
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FreeCell Quest
29 hours playtime
16 of 36 achievements
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Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
3 hours playtime
1 of 19 achievements
-
Reigns: Her Majesty
2 hours playtime
0 of 13 achievements
-
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
4 hours playtime
58 of 58 achievements
True or False Universe
1 hour playtime, 110 of 110 achievements
A cute little free to play quizz game, not much to do but it was nice for an hour or so of entertainement. Oh, it's worth noting that if you're looking for letters achievements to decorate your profile, this one offers some easily unlocked for free. Plus a cute fox one at the end.
Battle Chef Brigade
9 hours playtime, 13 of 25 achievements
This game had been sitting at the top of my wishlist since it first had been announced so imagine my excitement when it was finally released last month. It's a combination of hack'n'slash (where you hunt and collect the ingredients) and match 3 (where you cook them into delicious extravagant dishes). Of course, being a fan of cooking animes, I was clearly a target for the game, but it's really fun and satisfying to play in general. I would have loved if the story mode was a bit longer, but it was still about 9-10 hours so I think it's just that I was enjoying it so much that time flied. The only sad thing is that despite the game having a daily challenge (with leaderboards), there is no direct multiplayer mode even though it would be perfect for it. Still one of my recommendation of this month.
Sproggiwood
20 hours playtime, 14 of 19 achievements
Sproggiwood is a very cute turned based roguelike that can be more complex than it first seems. I've been having a blast with it and will probably play more until I 100% it, as it runs fine on my laptop and is the perfect 10 min time killer. I promise that the fact that the game features a talking sheep has nothing to do with my enthusiasm for this game.
The Stanley Parable
2 hours playtime, 8 of 10 achievements
It was an interesting experience. I was scared to be a little disappointed after all the hype I had read about this, but I hadn't been spoiled really about it (except for the first minute of the game). The game is quite short and doesn't have that much replayability but if you have it laying around it's worth giving it a try.
Pyre
15 hours playtime, 34 of 51 achievements
Saying that I was hyped to play this game would be an understatement. It's quite different from the previous games from Supergiant Games (Bastion & Transistor) as it's a mix between "Choose your own adventure" and... a sport game of kind? I was actually surprised I liked it so much as I usually don't like sports game, but the mix worked pretty well for me. I thought that the cast was pretty endearing and I genuinely cared about what was gonna happen to most of the characters. Be aware though that there is quite a lot to read (well you could always skip it but you'd miss most of the game lore). One of the best games I've played this year, it will definitely make it to my upcoming 'Best of 2017', highly recommended.
Emily is Away Too
3 hours playtime, 21 of 21 achievements
After having played the first one I was curious about this sequel, and its appearance in a HB monthly made it quite easy for me to trade. If you haven't played the first one and don't know about the concept of the game, it's simulating a messenger software from the early 2000s where you interact with a few different characters. It was okay, a bit longer than the first one but still something you'll probably finish in one or two sittings, depending of the time you have in front of you. I still find unnecessary that the game make you fake-type each letters (ie. you type random letters and the game types the real dialogue for you), but I guess it's one of the gimmick of the game so it has to stay. If you're curious and haven't checked out the first one, it's free on steam.
Hidden Folks
7 hours playtime, 6 of 6 achievements
Hidden Folks, one of my big favorite of this year, got an update with a whole new set of levels (the Snow update) in the middle of the month. It was delightful to go back to it and it reminded me how much I loved this game (and in consequence it took a big part in the games I gifted to friends this year for xmas). This game is perfect to help me relax, and if you were ever a fan of "Where is Wally?" books you should give it a try.
I have to admit I was quite disappointed by Jotun. I really wanted to love this game, mostly because I love nordic mythology and the art is really cool, but I just really didn't get into it. I guess it was just not my type of game, because I have nothing special to blame the game for. It's basically a boss rush with a little bit of puzzle solving in between. I doubt I'll go for more achievements as they're pretty hard and I don't feel like putting that much effort in a game I'm not really into. Don't get me wrong though, the game is not bad and if you're into boss rushes you should give it a try.
SteamWorld Dig 2
15 hours playtime, 26 of 34 achievements
It's no secret I'm a big fan of the Steamworld series, even though I liked Steamworld Heist more than Steamworld Dig, I was still happy to go back for more. Basically it's more of the first one with more upgrades, a bigger map, more exploring and hidden secrets. So if you liked the first or if you think you'd like an exploring metroidvania with cute cartoony graphics, this game might be for you. It was definitely for me and I had a lot of fun from beginning to end.
I got Kona a long time ago but I had never gone around to play it even though I really wanted to. It was quite an interesting experience and was well fitting the outside weather (well, I wasn't buried in snow, but the temperatures were really low). It's part survival, part exploring, with an interesting mystery to unravel. You're playing a private detective who's been summoned by a client to a small remote village in Quebec. Things don't really go as planned but you are set to resolve the mystery at end. I liked the game overall and would recommend it if you're not repulsed by survival management and you're into mysteries.
Nothing much to say here if you've ever played a lego game, you've mostly played them all. Yet I like going back and play one from time to time, I find the collecting to 100% in those game kind of therapeuthic in a weird way. For the story mode, it follows the 3 jurassic park movies + jurassic world and as it's usual for lego games it's quite close to the movies, with added extra Lego jokes in the mix. Not my favorite of all the lego games, but still better than the last one I played (The Lego Movie Videogame). I'll have to go back to complete it as it's my tradition with those, but for now I've beaten the story mode and made good progress.
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
4 hours playtime, 58 of 58 achievements
I managed to beat a game fitting the monthly theme on the very last day of the month. It had been picked for me by uguleley in the current Challenge me, so he made the choice for me. I hadn't play this since the original when I was a kid and I had really kind memories of both this and Maniac Mansion, and this remake didn't disappoint me. It was as funny as I remembered, and had a lot of references to Star Wars I didn't remember (I'm not sure I had seen Star Wars by the time I played it, so that might be why it didn't catch my attention). Good remake of a great game, that was fun!
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The Uncertain: Episode 1 - The Last Quiet Day
0 minutes playtime
0 of 32 achievements
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Emily is Away Too
3 hours playtime
21 of 21 achievements
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Distrust
0 minutes playtime
0 of 56 achievements
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Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
0 minutes playtime
0 of 14 achievements
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INSIDE
0 minutes playtime
0 of 14 achievements
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FreeCell Quest
29 hours playtime
16 of 36 achievements
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Song of the Deep
0 minutes playtime
0 of 10 achievements
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Citizens of Earth
0 minutes playtime
0 of 50 achievements
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Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten
0 minutes playtime
0 of 30 achievements
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The Deed
0 minutes playtime
0 of 17 achievements
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The Deed: Dynasty
0 minutes playtime
0 of 53 achievements
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Fidel Dungeon Rescue
0 minutes playtime
0 of 23 achievements
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Kingdom: New Lands
0 minutes playtime
0 of 34 achievements
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Grow Up
0 minutes playtime
0 of 18 achievements
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Rise of the Tomb Raider
0 minutes playtime
0 of 143 achievements
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Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
3 hours playtime
1 of 19 achievements
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Reigns: Her Majesty
2 hours playtime
0 of 13 achievements
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Gemini Rue
0 minutes playtime
0 of 15 achievements
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Blackwell Epiphany
0 minutes playtime
0 of 18 achievements
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Planet Coaster
0 minutes playtime
0 of 32 achievements
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Firewatch
0 minutes playtime
0 of 10 achievements
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Masquerada: Songs and Shadows
0 minutes playtime
0 of 27 achievements
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Cat Quest
0 minutes playtime
0 of 12 achievements
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Chronicon
0 minutes playtime
0 of 106 achievements
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The Low Road
0 minutes playtime
0 of 21 achievements
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A Normal Lost Phone
0 minutes playtime
0 of 13 achievements
Happy new year EvilBlackSheep :)
Thank you, and to you too Lenor :)
Happy New Year Evil !
Don’t you mean ‘Best of 2017’ about Pyre ?
Thank you!
(And yes I did, it’s fixed now thanks to you ;) )
A lovely formatted post as always - the header picture is so soothing and pretty.
I’m very glad to read your reviews of both Pyre and Battle Chef Brigade! I want to play both, and now I’m more excited to play them than ever.
Thank you. It does come from Pyre, every single shot at the map view in that game is just gorgeous (to the point if I could print it in high res-high format I’d cover the wall of my living room with it).
They’re both really good, I hope you have fun when you come around to play it. BTW I saw you started playing Danganronpa 3, I haven’t looked at your screenshots to not get spoiled, but do you recommend it so far?
oh my GOD I love supergiant games. I could live and die in that artwork and listen to the soundtracks until my ears give out. Is Logan Cunningham there, voicing one of the characters or as a narrator, with his beautiful liquid golden voice?
HA those screenshots were definitely just jokes, no spoilers there.
I am very nearly at the end of the first class trial, and, I…. okay, depending on how this class trial ends up is going to influence what I say about it - either it’s an incredible tweest and roller coaster, or a kind of jerked-off bait and switch. Other than that, right now I’m enjoying it but not to the level I enjoyed Danganronpa 2. The cast is fun and likeable, which is a plus - there’s no one I fucking hate - but, on the other hand, now there’s FIVE monokumas (plus the original) and they’re… a chore to deal with? Monokuma was my least favorite part of the games (he’s not very funny) and to have that literally quadrupled is… not great.
So, it’s good, but time will tell if it can justify its existence beyond a fanfic-like ‘let’s do danganronpa again but with new characters this time.’
Rejoice, he’s actually voicing several of them :D
Oh boi, 5 monokuma? I mean i don’t dislike him but he can get a bit annoying so 5 sounds like a lot. I guess I’ll skip the buy for now (anyway it’s still crazy expensive) and wait for your final opinion. Will you do a non spoilery review when you post it? (I’m asking in advance to know if I’ll need to skip it)
Hell fuckin yes I love him
I can’t disagree with that mode of thinking. Also, I will! I try to keep my reviews non-spoilery - either I’m vague about shit or if I do talk about spoiler parts, they’ll be appropriately greyed-out. I’ll make an effort to keep it coherent even if you don’t read spoilers.
Thank you, as long as the spoilers are greyed out i’m good :)
Wow, your posts are always so … monumental! :D And pretty, and packed with all the info :D I think I have Sproggiwood still sitting in my gifts inventory from ye olden days. I find it to be cute even know, but I wonder if I ever get to beat it XD Other than that, I still need to finish Jotun & Pyre, so congrats on doing what I wasn’t able to ^^> Day of the Tentacle was one of my favourite adventure games back in the day. I think I’ve beaten it few times back then. I didn’t have even a fraction of the games I own now, so it was much easier to get around playing stuff :) Since I enjoyed it, I would want to replay the remastered version as well, but there is like bajillion on other games I want to play before that, like Battle Chef Brigade sitting in my wishlist, if I ever get my hands on it ;) SteamWorld Dig 2 is waiting too T_T
Ahah sorry they get so big, since I only post monthly then I go a bit overboard. Thanks a lot for taking time to read it.
You should give a try to sproggiwood for when you have small gaming session time available. The levels themselves are quite short (especially when you get brutally killed) so you can play as little or as long as you want in one sitting.
Pyre took a lot longer than I thought it would (I started last month I think) yet towards the ends the ‘cycles’ are shortened so it doesn’t become too boring. As for Jotun, I really had to force myself, and I don’t think i’ll ever 100% it as most cheevos are related to beating bosses without taking a hit or under a minute.
It really gave me a rush of nostalgie to play DotT, but if it hadn’t been picked for me in the challenge and wasn’t fitting the monthly theme, I would most likely have delayed playing it, for the same reasons you’re giving: so many other games waiting to be played that are more recent and you’ve never touched yet. It’s so weird to think about the time when we had like 3 or 4 games and playing them over and over.
Happy new year! Hope 2018 brings great things to you as well. :)
I’m glad you enjoyed Battle Chef Brigade! I’d been really excited for it’s release, and then found out a streamer I really enjoy voice acted in it so that was even cooler. :D Definitely one I’d love to play, it looks fantastic. Just haven’t heard too many people talking about since release.
And I completely agree with you about lego games, they’re very therapeutic. Never really thought of it before. haha
Thank you!
I don’t think the game got that much exposure but it is really great. It came out in a time period where there was a lot of great new games to pick from but I hope on the long term it gets all the attention it deserves.