A Sisyphean Task? Wit’s profile
New to BLAEO and getting organized for a year of backlog attacking.
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Ratings: Image by starline on Freepik
Backlog Progress #1 - January 2023
Hello hello! This will be my first progress report for BLAEO. I’m hoping this website and community will help keep me motivated where I have failed previously to really tackle this pile.
Based on my backlog, I have a tentative monthly goal for the games I want to play. My current goal is a minimum of 10 games per month completed, from the following categories:
- Steamgifts win(s) - At least one if applicable
- AAA Title - 1
- Game of my choice - 2
- Previously Unfinished - 1
- Hidden Object - 2
- Negative reviews (below 70%) - 1
- Pile of Cheevos (Zup style games) - 1 to 2 until I run out
- Low Interest game - 1
January Goal: 20/10; all categories met
Reviews under the bars
.projekt
6.1 hours, 6 of 6 achievements
A good minimal puzzle game that is easy to 100%. I enjoyed the min block challenges and "picross" modes more than the max block challenges. I spent the extra time to solve all puzzles even though it wasn't needed to earn all achievements.
Short, pretty, occasionally finnicky physics. Some puzzles are not intuitive, but it wasn't difficult to 100%.
Apothecarium: The Renaissance of Evil - Premium Edition
3.4 hours, no achievements
Just a terrible example of a HOG. Was able to 100%, but the story and progression are painful. Also, many shifting objects in the HO scenes.
Not the best iteration in the franchise, but definitely a good one. BL2 is still the peak, in my opinion. Of the DLC: Guns, Love, and Tentacles and Bounty of Blood are strong entries and worth playing. The rest is missable.
It's an Artifex Mundi Hog, which means it's got a better baseline for quality. Requires two playthroughs to 100% or it might be rated higher.
Dreamscapes: The Sandman - Premium Edition
2.7 hours, no achievements
A HOG without the HO scenes, it is nevertheless satisfying and of good quality, if a little dated.
Dreamscapes: Nightmare's Heir - Premium Edition
3.9 hours, no achievements
A HOG without the HO scenes. Not as good as the first installment, but still solid.
A pleasing little hidden cat game that can get a smidge tedious due to the lack of map variety. I hope you like winter.
I played this for Pile of Shame. Pros: It's Short. Cons: Everything else. I feel unclean.
Luxor Amun Rising HD
7.5 hours, no achievements
I found this to be a uninspiring example of a Luxor game. I would rate it higher were it not for a late game level that just felt unfair, which is probably why it took me this long to actually beat this SG win.
Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch
0.0 hours, no achievements
Completely unplayable. No viable solutions, and believe me I tried for about 2 hours to get it to function.
Samantha Swift and the Hidden Roses of Athena
2.2 hours, no achievements
It's a Sudoku game they thought they could make better with the addition of multiplayer. Spoiler: Not a great idea. You can solve puzzles with different emblems and numerals in other languages, which is neat but most of the pictographic emblems are too cluttered. Very few of the color themes are easy on the eyes.
I genuinely wish this game were longer. It is a great example of alternative storytelling through objects and it can be very relaxing. Certain items are hard to identify and some placements can be arbitrary.
One note, and that note is boring.
Second verse, same as the first.
Zombie Solitaire
4.9 hours, no achievements
I had to alter Compatibility settings to get this game to run. Basic and unimpressive.
It's Zup.
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Overall Progress:
| 1097 | games |
| 73% | never played |
| 8% | unfinished |
| 5% | beaten |
| 12% | completed |
| 3% | won't play |