Completing my Backlog | July Progress

Another month, another report. Granted, it's a rather short one this time. The first half of the month was halted by a real stinker of a game that you'll have a read through in just a moment. It took a while for the productive juices to start flowing, but I got there, and I'm currently still going strong.

I only have four titles to go through this month, with the majority being small indie games. That being said, the descriptions of each should be a bit more expansive than the last report, so overall, it balances out, (totally). Hope you enjoy.

Infra

This here's your trusty camera that runs out of charge after about five minutes of usage. Convenient little bugger.

Starting the list off on a less positive note, the first game I ticked off my backlog this month was Infra, a first-person, puzzle, adventure game that sees you playing as Mark, a structural analyst sent on a routine assignment to a specific region, to make note of any faults or weaknesses in the area that need repair.

All you have is a camera and a torch, the former used to document structural issues and the latter being for navigating darker areas. Reading this concept alone should determine whether or not Infra is meant for you. It's a walking simulator that intends to vary things up through its puzzles.

This is the last picture I took during my time on Infra. It has an almost threatening aura about it. Probably because the puzzle sucked so much...

However, it was thanks to those challenges that I gave up on it. There is virtually no guidance anywhere, save for a few notes that might provide clues. If you get lost, you're lost. You won't be helped. This is made further difficult by the labyrinthian design of the maps. They look gorgeous, but they are a pain to navigate, and when you're already confused by a puzzle, finding your way through can become headache-inducing.

It got to a point where I was relying on a guide to help me progress. I didn't want to play a game through a manual, so I stopped playing. It wasn't for me. However, if you're up for the challenge, then who knows, you might like it.

Downward

Scary rock thing gonna mess you up. Ooga Booga. Don't mind the two orbiting planets in the background, it's completely normal.

Reviewed earlier in the month, Downward is a first-person, sci-fi, parkour game that has you explore a fractured and surreal version of our planet. Set in the future, the arrival and orbit of the three planets has messed up the Earth big time, causing Humanity to disappear from existence.

As far as the narrative goes, that's about as clear as it gets. After that it becomes all sorts of confusing. Half of the time I wasn't entirely sure what impact I was having. Instead it felt like I was ticking off a chore list. It doesn't help that the game starts off with you waking up to a voice, with no explanation of who you are and why you are there.

When a talking turtle makes more sense than the actual story of the game, you know you've done something wrong.

That being said, the parkour mechanics are absolutely fantastic, potentially some of the best I have ever seen in a game. The system is intuitive and runs incredibly smoothly. The faster you traverse, the more intense it becomes, and even despite the speed, the whole thing keeps itself together.

The rest of the gameplay is good fun as well, for the most part. The maps are interesting to explore, and the side missions give the player extra activities to take part in after completing the story. As a whole, Downward is a well-made experience, it's just let down by a poorly explained narrative. Read my review here.

The First Tree

Everything the light touches, is my kingdom.... Wait, wrong thing.

Another game that I recently reviewed, a few days ago in fact, The First Tree is a third-person adventure game where you play as a fox in search of her missing cubs. Narrating the journey are a human couple, one of which is reciting memories of his father and the relationship these two had together.

It's a sad tale that's hard to talk about without giving too much away. There is no doubt in my mind that it is best to approach the game blindly, as I did. What I can say, is that it's hard-hitting, well-paced and beautifully written. Add the wonderful soundtrack to go along with it and you have a brilliant story that'll stick with you.

You'll be experiencing all kinds of emotions with this one, and the presentation during some of the significant scenes in the game is spectacular.

Unfortunately, The First Tree is let down by lacklustre gameplay mechanics, as well as some issues with its level design. It may be a good , but it is very simplistic, and those looking for more than just a good narrative will likely be disappointed. As for the maps, wonky terrain appearance and poor render distance can put a significant hamper on your immersion.

That being said, I still recommend the game. It isn't too expensive, and despite its issues, it's still a well-made product that's worth more attention. Plus, it made me cry a little bit, and games rarely do that for me. So fair play devs. Read my review here.

Ratchet & Clank (PS4)

Ratchet & Clank has quite the cast of characters, but none of them beat the two main stars of the show.

Yeah, I know, I'm a bit late to the party for this one, but better late than never, right? The question that I'm currently pondering is how much do I have to explain about Ratchet & Clank? It's a pretty noteworthy and well-beloved franchise that's been around for quite some time now.

That being said, the 2016 re-imagining of the original game, now released on the PS4 was actually my first time ever playing a Ratchet & Clank title. Hold off on the pitchforks though, let me explain. I've always been an avid PC player, and my only access to a PS2 was through my sister who was quite a fan of the console, and I never bothered with a PS3.

Despite Rift Apart releasing not too long ago, this game still holds up remarkably well. All of the levels are unique and impressive in their own way.

So when I eventually got a PS4, and claimed my copy of this, at the time, latest installment to the series through PS+, I just had to give it a go. It didn't take me long to understand what all the fuss was about, those five-six hours spent were an intense, explosive joy-ride, accompanied with an amusing narrative and some gorgeous levels.

I managed to finish it just in time for my birthday, which I then subsequently received the newest entry to the series, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. I haven't yet finished it, but I am having a blast with that one as well. You'll very likely see my boasting of it in next month's backlog progress review. Until then, I have a few dimensions to mess up.

In Conclusion

Was this a progressive month for clearing my ever-growing list of games to whizz through? Not really, I guess Infra fried the productive area of my brain for a while, and then my birthday happened, and that was pretty busy stuff.

On a serious note though, At the time of writing this, I am currently working on a review for Enslaved: A Humankind Odyssey, that'll be done sometime soon, so you'll see that in next month's review, and I have quite a few other titles in mind that might make it too. With that in mind, I'm hoping August will be a lot better.

If not, oh well, it's not that important. I'm not going to rush through games for the sake of ticking off a checklist. That's not how they are supposed to be experienced. Nevertheless, I expect to have more to show here next month, so stay tuned!