Completing my Backlog - October 2021 - March 2022 Progress

It's been a while. I did say I would try and keep up with the backlog reports regardless of how busy things got. Next time I won't say stuff like that. Alas, I was still able to play quite a few games in the time period that's past, meaning this will likely be the biggest backlog report I've written so far... helps when it's been five months, I guess.

This one's got quite a variety of titles, ranging from obscure indies to big AAA releases, both on PC and the PS5. There's also not a single game here that I didn't enjoy, making this the most positive backlog report I've done. Yay!

Hopefully there's something here that stands out to you. If not, I hope it was at least a bit interesting. Without further ado, let's begin.

FAR: Lone Sails

How the world came to be the way it is in FAR: Lone Sails is unknown. It's quiet, almost peaceful, but also disturbingly eerie, especially in exposed places like this. The atmosphere is perfectly done.

Starting off on a high note, FAR: Lone Sails is a small, indie side-scroller taking place in an atmospheric, post-apocalyptic world comprised of murky colours, vast landscapes and scattered, dilapidated buildings.

I've seen people describe this game as a '2.5D Journey', and I can definitely see why. It carries the same emotional element delivered without the conventional means of storytelling that the former was most well-known for. As far as gameplay is concerned, however, Lone Sails takes it to the next level.

You spend most of your time piloting an advanced, uniquely handcrafted locomotive capable of traversing the inhospitable environments you travel across, while battling hostile elements both inside and outside your machine.

The game is much more challenging than it looks. You'll have to ensure you have enough fuel if you want to travel. Then there's the general maintenance: repairing damaged equipment, putting out fires, etc.

This level of challenge only attaches you to the story even further, as the vehicle you maintain starts to feel like a character of its own. You get a real sense of struggle while playing Lone Sails, but its beautiful presentation and outstanding soundtrack make for an incredible experience that I couldn't recommend enough. Read my review of it here.

Industria

Industria certainly has a fantastic foundation for its worldbuilding, and its narrative is brilliant. Right from the get-go, I was fully immersed in the game.

Industria was a game that originally wasn't on my radar, but after receiving a copy from a dev through my Steam curator, I figured I'd give it a go. It looked good, the concept was interesting, and it seemed like a fun game.

I finished it a few days later, and, although it had issues, I was pleasantly surprised. For such a small team, there's quite a lot of work that's been poured into it, and every ounce of it is clearly visible.

Yes, that's a very tall creature walking around in the distance. No, I don't know what it is, but you see it every now and then, and the game hardly highlights it. A terrifying, yet equally incredible detail.

Indeed, its visual qualities are by far the standout winners of the show. Industria takes place in the fictional city of Hakavik, a steampunk, Victorian style metropolis that's overrun with machines. It's also astonishing to look at. Exploring the ruined streets and torn-down buildings covered in various metals and components was easily my favourite part of this game.

Sadly, there are plenty of technical issues that bring the experience down. Ray-tracing is present, but causes excessive lag even on higher-end GPUs. Then there's the enemy AI, which, ironically, is very poor. There have been quite a few updates since I last played it, however, so who knows; maybe it's due for a replay? Read my review of it here.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

A twisted infection tied to a warrior spirit refusing to move on has caused a calamity in a serene, lucious village. It is up to Kena and her little companions to stop the infection spreading further, while guiding any lost spirits along the way.

A game that I had been looking forward to since its original announcement, Kena: Bridge of Spirits might actually be my game of the year for 2021. More than that, I honestly consider it to be one of my favourite games ever.

Everything about it has been made so beautifully well. An accurate comparison I can think of when describing Kena, is that it's like playing a Studio Ghibli film. The moment your character leaves the 'tutorial cave' section at the beginning is breathtaking, and that's as a result of the joyfully vibrant colour palette.

The game is filled with stunning set pieces such as this, and it's nice that the developers decided to include a photomode, allowing players to showcase the environment's vibrant beauty.

There's just so much charm to the game that I find it difficult to not get giddy when talking about it. It's a small open world that's packed with immaculate detail, combined with some really engaging combat. Then there's the Rot, these cute little creatures similar to Porgs from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and they're just adorable. You can also give them hats. I repeat: they wear hats.

If you haven't done so already, please give this game a go. It really is a hidden gem, and I struggle to fault it. Its story is heartfelt, and while it's full of charm and fun, there are some genuine emotional moments that make the experience all the more impactful.

Returnal

You play as Seline, an astro scout sent on a mission to an alien world which ultimately becomes her prison. Stuck in a timeloop, she must fight her way offworld through any means necessary. TL:DR, she has it pretty rough.

Finally, another PS5 title. Honestly, getting one PS5 game every few months as a result of their ridiculously high prices is such a fun activity. In truth, I bought Returnal on Ebay for about 40 bucks, which, after playing it, is what the game should've cost in the first place; at least in my opinion.

That being said, it ended up being one of the most intense gaming experiences I've had in a long time. My experience with rogue-likes/lites/whatever they're called has been pretty minimal overall, with Hades being the only other title I can think of. Despite that, I managed to beat the first boss, and make it all the way to the second one on my first run.

This isn't meant as a boast, because Returnal really is quite challenging, but every time I played it, the game had my undivided attention. In truth, I was able to defeat most of the bosses on my first encounter with them, as a result of being completely and utterly fixated.

I do not exaggerate whatsoever when I say that Returnal has some of the best boss fights in any game I've played. Each one brings its own unique challenges, and beating them is unbelievably satisfying.

I'm not sure what it is that caused this - the high-octane shooting and dashing, the pretty, glowing lights that enemies like to shoot everywhere, the disturbingly intriguing narrative, or just the general satisfying feeling of destroying your opponents - Returnal is basically my kind of game, and I loved it. A bit short though...

Spirit of the North

With no quest markers, your only guide is a red trail in the sky, leading to the summit of a large mountain. It's quite a trek, but it's filled with countless stunning locations. If you're a lover of Icelandic landscapes, this one's for you.

Following in the vein of games similar to the likes of Journey, Spirit of the North is a narrative adventure game taking place in Iceland, or a world that's designed based off said country. It follows a spirit fox, a magical creature capable of guiding lost souls into the spirit world.

Without a conventional story delivered through characters or narration, Spirit of the North relies on the player's interpretation; but it does give hints through the form of wall carvings, detailing a forgotten history of an ancient civilisation, whose ruins can be found scattered throughout the countryside.

The experience as a whole is a very atmospheric one. The environments are stunning to look at, each containing plenty of secrets and sights to see. Its simple yet effective gameplay loop is where I think a lot of people will split in terms of their opinions of it, but I liked it. The game puts exploration first, and as far as that goes, I was pleased.

After completing Spirit of the North, I decided to record and upload my review of it to YouTube, something that I had been considering for a while, but never actively tried. If you wish to see a more detailed analysis of the game, be sure to watch it.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Mass Effect 3

As well as being the most action-packed of the three games, Mass Effect 3 also has the most content, making it the most time consuming. That's totally why it's taken me this long to write about it. Totally...

I finally got around to finishing my Mass Effect: Legendary Edition journey, and what a ride that was. I knew Mass Effect 3 was going to be the title with the least amount of changes made to it, since the original definitely looked good for its time, but that didn't hinder the experience.

Regardless, there were some noticeable differences. Quite a few prominent bugs were fixed; much more difficult to get stuck in weird spots now. Aria no longer spins around when giving her dramatic speech; the end of a meme. Then there's the textures, which, just like the previous titles, look much better and more realistic.

A picture of me and the squad, off to save the galaxy with our newly enhanced, pristinely designed and ever so fabulous upgraded textures. Seriously, they're so good.

It may receive flak online, but Mass Effect 3 has always been a cherished game of mine; there's a reason why I classify the whole trilogy as my favourite game of all time. It manages to have the most action and tension while also allowing room for some of the best character moments in the entire series.

Sure, it may not end on a high note, and I can understand how for some, the end diminishes what came before, but for me it doesn't. Not even remotely. Mass Effect 3 is an incredible title, one that's made even better in the Legendary Edition, with all of its superb DLC bundled together. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition as a whole is a must-have.

Moons of Madness

Such a peaceful-looking settlement. It would be a shame if some horrible tentacle infestation sprouted out of nowhere and turned the place into a living hell.

Containing a rather unique concept for a game, Moons of Madness is a narrative-driven horror title taking place on Mars, that combines Lovecraftian mythos with its own sci-fi setting. It was this description that put it on my radar in the first place.

Horror games are usually a bit hit or miss for me. It's not that I don't find them scary; I just usually find them uninteresting as a gaming experience. They either trip themselves up with boring mechanics and a dull atmosphere, or rely too much on jump scares to provide a memorable journey.

If there's one thing that Moons of Madness excels at, it's tension. Even in massive, open spaces, you never really feel safe... I'm mean, sure, Mars isn't a hospitable planet anyway but you get what I mean. You're being watched bucko.

While Moons of Madness does have quite a few in-your-face, out-of-nowhere incidents, which can be hit or miss, it was able to provide a consistently tense story that did creep me out a few times. Its usage of Lovecraftian elements also works really well, and fans of that mythos should definitely check this out.

Where the game fails, however, slightly fits into one of the categories I mentioned earlier. Despite succeeding in the atmosphere, the gameplay mechanics felt half-baked. How to kill the horror experience: place an obscure puzzle that takes ages to solve. The puzzles really do mess the game up, and it's a shame. A video review for Moons of Madness is currently in the works, so stay tuned for that.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Presentation and style: two things that Guardians of the Galaxy perfectly hits on the nail. Honestly, the whole game is a clear labour of love. All of the hardwork put into it is clearly put on display, and it was a joy to experience everything the game had to offer.

This one took me by surprise. I wasn't entirely sure what to think of it after its initial announcement, and after Marvel's Avengers, I wasn't exactly hyped for it. After a few subsequent trailers, I figured I'd take the chance and buy it.

I don't regret a thing. In a period where lots of big AAA games release with dozens of bugs or technical issues, needing day-one patches, Guardians of the Galaxy released as one absurdly fantastic package.

Yes, there is a photomode, and you're going to need it because the worlds you travel too are astonishing. Likewise, the level design is really entertaining.

Everything about the game is outstanding. The story is brilliant; the characters even more so. The visuals are breathtaking, with beautifully composed environments and some incredible character models. The combat, while it does take some getting used to, is intense and works stunningly well.

It's an experience that I would say surpasses what we've seen in the films. Easy to digest, full of charm and wit, and, most importantly of all, is really fun to play. Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the best releases of 2021, and I really hope that a sequel will be greenlit. Read my review for it here.

Firewatch

A game partly about escapism, Firewatch is a breathtaking game that's just as fun to play as it is pleasing to look at. It's easy to get lost, and when that does happen, it still feels consistently refreshing.

A title that's been left untouched in my library for so many years now: Firewatch is an adventure game taking place deep in the Wyoming wilderness, on a beautiful stretch of land filled with mountains, rivers, and forests.

You play as Henry, a fire lookout who traveled to this remote part of the country to escape a rough situation back at home. Communicating via walkie talkie is Delilah, who serves as his mentor of sorts. What starts off as a normal day on the job turns into a disturbing mystery that throws the two into disarray.

Instead of giving you loads of markers and pointers telling you where to go, you're given a map and a compass, and are expected to figure it out on your own. It's not that difficult, but it's highly engaging and fulfilling.

That last part is not what makes the game so special though. In fact, unfortunately, despite being really good, it ends rather abruptly. The most memorable sequences of Firewatch from me, however, were the quiet moments in between.

The map is full of attraction. Beautiful landscapes and some excellent lighting make for a plethora of gorgeous screenshots. Combine that with the remarkably entertaining and well-voice-acted exchanges between Henry and Delilah, and you have an exceptional indie game that's worthy of all the praise it gets. Read my review of it here.

Jivana

Attractive set pieces like these are a common occurence in the world of Jivana, each filled with their own depth and intruigue. There's also lots and lots of water...

I came across Jivana while scrolling through my Discovery Queue on Steam. A small, third-person indie platformer, with an emphasis on using water to interact with the world. You play as a water priestess guiding a small group of people to a new home, desperately trying to escape a raging storm ravaging the land.

Despite only having a minimal runtime of just over half an hour, the game lasted long enough to leave a positive impression. Its main stand-out facet is its vibrant visual aesthetic. The levels are fantastic to look at, and they are just as fun to play through.

You can ride on water. I love it.

Likewise, the platforming elements have been executed really well, despite feeling mechanically clunky at times. Using water to grow vines and other plants to reach destinations is a cool feature, and provides some challenge situations.

You can download Jivana for free on Steam, and I would absolutely recommend doing so. For being created by such a small team, what's been produced here is remarkable.

Bastion

A world-shattering calamity has thrown civilisation into disarray. A small band of heroes unite in a desperate attempt to undo the damage caused by the event.

Continuing on the trend of games that have been in my library for years and have never been touched: Bastion originally released in 2011, and was made by the same team that made Hades, which served as the main reason for me wanting to play it.

Trekking through Bastion, it was really interesting to see how the company has evolved over the years. Despite being a completely different game, the similarities between this and Hades, at least as far as mechanics are concerned, are definitely noticeable.

One of my favourite aspects of Bastion is the way the levels are presented. As you move, the level pieces itself together like a jigsaw in front of you. It's unique, and it's fascinating to witness.

Needless to say, it's certainly just as action-packed. The further you progress, the more weapons and abilities you unlock, and these can range from swords and bows, to pistols and artillery launchers. Pretty wild to say the least.

The story is intriguing, even if I wasn't always completely with it - I'm not entirely sure I understood the ending, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it. Another area that's worth major praise is the soundtrack, which immediately grabs your attention. Bastion frequently goes on sale, so it's worth keeping an eye on it.

Capybara Spa

Initial bootcamp training has begun. These guys think they're tough, but they have no idea what they're about to go through. Just wait until they've tried the strawberries...

Last, but absolutely not least, is Capybara Spa, a cosy management game that involves looking after various capybaras by treating them to a spa visit. A completely normal thing to do and I am absolutely for it.

You start with a 2D stretch of land that's mostly overgrown. Roaming in this area are a bunch of wandering capybaras who are all dirty. It's your job to build spas to clean them while fulfilling their needs. They want a carrot? You grow a carrot for them. Keep them waiting for too long? ̶P̶r̶e̶p̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶e̶ They don't actually mind. There's no rush in Capybara Spa whatsoever; you go about it at your own pace.

My army is growing. So much so, that even small capybaras have signed up. I'm so proud of them...

The further you progress, the more features you unlock, such as decorations, various fruits and veg for the capybaras, or even insect servants who help you with the deliveries. All of these can be upgraded, including the spas themselves, which allow you to place baby capybaras in the spas, as well as baby ducks.

The game is full of charm. Combine that with the vibrant visuals and gentle background soundtrack, and you have an easy-to-access management simulator that anybody can enjoy.

In Conclusion

Well, that was a lot. I'll try not and leave it for too long next time. Chances are there's something I've missed here, but if I've forgotten it then it probably wasn't worth mentioning in the first place.

Next month's backlog will probably look a lot smaller in comparison. I've been pretty busy playing new releases like Horizon Forbidden West and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. Will either of them be finished before the end of next month? Probably not. We'll see though. Until next time.