Backlog 2021

[Simply Unknown]

I got Cupid Parasite, as well as a few other games, for Christmas and I just completed the Common Route of my first playthrough today. First impressions, I'm really enjoying it! Lynette is a great main character and I feel for her on so many levels when she gets stressed out dealing with these guys. I'm also pleased with the fact that most women are sane enough not to want to date any of them because their problems are real issues! I've laughed a lot while playing and I'm glad because most otomes tend to lean towards the darker side of things so a solid comedy feels like a breath of fresh air.

As for the guys themselves...

Gill-honestly worries me a bit. I appreciate the sentiment behind wanting to care for a loved one, but the execution is just way too extreme! That being said, he does try to change a bit by the end of the common route and I can appreciate that. Probably my least favorite parasite though.

Shelby-I really like his and Lynette's dynamic. Lynette is a character that works hard and I like that Shelby honestly appreciates that and isn't afraid to tell her that. I enjoy his work ethic and the nervous look he gets when Monsiuer Esse comes up because he's seriously not fooling anyone! Definitely looking forward to his route.

Ryuki-I'm honestly charmed by him. I didn't like him that much at first because of the grading system and how he apparently can't see anyone below a certain grade as a person, but the date clarified that it wasn't hyperbole and now I just kinda want to send him to a doctor or maybe a psychiatrist. But he is caring and I love how he can come across as more mature than the other parasites at times. I'm on his route now and his sweeter side is already showing up!

Raul-I was worried because a lot of the reviews I read said they didn't like Raul that much, but I really like him in the common route. I know how it feels to want to gush about something you really enjoy and Raul being passionate is honestly pretty adorable! Unlike some of the other parasites, I never get the feeling he's being intentionally troublesome so maybe that's making me go easier on him than I should. But I'm feeling better about eventually doing his route!

Allan-Allan is...complicated. I know there are things on his route that make things different for him, but there are times I want Lynette to punch him in the groin and others I want to share a high-five with him. Like that entire argument between him and Gill, I was on Allan's side! Knowing certain spoilers makes scenes with Allan interesting because I can see alternate reasons for why he does things, so that's fun.

[Mikodesu]

If there's gonna be yearly events that take place in certain cities I'm sure they'll find a way to yeet the Traveler back every time no matter how far away they are. I've been debating on getting back into Genshin once the debacle is over and things are set in stone. Afaik, the only thing that's changed for the better is their publisher, which basically gives them some margin of protection from government meddling. There's a lot of rumors going around how Mihoyo wants to move to Singapore to get the reigns of this game fully back, but it's just rumors, that's all. I think I'll just keep my 'wait and see' approach for a little while longer, though I admit that getting back into the game after being away from it for several months now feels a mite daunting.

Good to hear that about Mihoyo's new publisher! I'd only just heard that they had one...not any of the details, for whatever reason.

As for coming back, I would say just wait and see. Maybe check out a trailer for the update and see if it looks interesting enough to be worth your time. If not, don't worry! Nothing even remotely plot crucial has happened since you dropped off, just fun little jaunts with various groups of characters. In the livestream they called this quest an 'archon quest', which made me think connecting tissue for getting to Sumeru, but... I think they called the shenanigans in uh, the Golden Apple Archipelago (iirc) the same, so. Maybe not.

--
Even when I get frustrated with a few puzzles, I'd say Talos Principle has a good difficulty curve. Not quite as good as Portal, but, it's a much bigger game, too. I unlocked what APPEARS to be the final area tonight, though I'm not even close to ready to go there, I've got about a third of the second area to go before I think I should even venture in there.

Boy I am not looking forward to January. Got talked into going to the beach tonight and (tldr) it was a horrible mistake. We're absolutely FLOODED with tourists right now - getting to a parking spot took about 5x as long as normal. I think people are just... done with COVID. Rather than not being afraid I think they just don't care anymore. People brought itty bitty babies! Like, clearly not even a year old, itty bitty. Which is just...insanity, to me.

I don't feel too bad in my case because I wear an N95 mask everywhere so I wouldn't be spreading it, but. Yeah. That's it for going out for a while. This is why we're going to get to a million daily cases in a couple weeks. Poor doctors and nurses. I can't even begin to imagine. :/

[Chrysalis-Lyn]

It's getting chilly & depressing here, so I'm turning to games for comfort. I started Death's Door. Really beautiful & intuitive. Normally I don't go for Zelda-like action puzzles, but the design + graphics are transfixing.

I don't know if this is the right board to ask, but I'm also looking for a relaxing & addictive farm/sim. Got a generous eShop giftcard that I might spend. I browsed a list of sims for Switch. I already have My Time at Portia and Slime Rancher. Right now, I'm trying to decide between three titles on Switch: Garden Paws, Grow: Song of the Evertree, and SOS: PoOT. The fact that I have held off on PoOT this long is frankly impressive, but I'm wary given the lukewarm feedback. Not sure I would enjoy it. I know Kikki & greensara have played Grow. Would either of you recommend it over the latest Story of Seasons? Any other good games that come strongly recommended?

[Kikki]

Grow was more fun than Olive Town for me, probably, as it's more unique. With Olive Town I was continually disappointed by how much it lacked compared to Trio of Towns, or even sos1 or ANB, whereas I wasn't comparing Grow with anything. (Though you COULD compare it with Yonder, but Yonder was a huge snooze-fest for me...too aimless, which isn't an issue with Grow.)

I have to start a new Backlog thread. Hrm, hrm...guess I should do that now, since it can take a day or two to get the current thread closed by a mod. Well...look for the 2022 Backlog Thread to go up today, then! (The existing one may stay live for a few days even after the new one goes up, though, since I don't have the power to shut it down myself, obviously.)

I'll post a link here once the thread goes up.

[greensara]

Grow is very addictive! It's sort of like its predecessor Yonder with its chill, non-combat vibes, but with other elements that kind of remind me of Animal Crossing or even slightly (in the management aspect) like DQB2. It doesn't have actual farming or significant relationship building like in a HM/SoS game, but it's very charming and entertaining for what it is. Personally, the short time I have had it has impressed me more than my time with PoOT, but that's my opinion. I did end up liking HM:OW better than PoOT too, but again that's me not clicking with it I guess?

I found Staxel to be a fun and addictive game as well, though technically it's more of a sandbox game that happens to have friendships and farming than the traditional farm sim. You are still stuck in first person in the Switch version, which is a bit of a learning curve at first.

[Chrysalis-Lyn]

Wow, thank you so much for the speedy feedback Kikki & greensara! I really appreciate it
Very heartening praise - I might try Grow, even though I know it has some glitches & QoL problems. I will also research Staxel more. Looking forward to the new Backlog Thread!

[Kikki]

Backlog 2022 thread.

I will now request to have this thread closed, but you can feel free to either keep using this one or move on to the 2022 one, whichever you like, until this one is shut down. The GotY 2021/your fav and least-fav games thread is coming, too! It will be up at the latest by 9AM ET on January 31. I'm waiting until then to see if Kirie may still pop in and want to do it herself