Year of the Backlog

I loaded up the science machine (patent pending) with the game punchcards, and pulled the enormous, gold plated lever. It churned for a while, dark gears turning, before hundreds of sheets of accordion paper came out of its gaping maw. Across 30 separate sheets, the words "LEGEND OF GRIMROCK" were written. So cool. Another RPG. Yaaaay. Hopefully I can knock this thing out in < 20 hours like the last one. I'm hoping that the emphasis on, uh, graphics might make it a bit more interesting as a watchalong experience. I'll be continuing to stream live on  Twitch , though I plan on putting archived gameplay on the YearOfTheBacklog Youtube account, with links to come as that gets actually done.

Game Time: ~12 Hours Thoughts West of Loathing is surprisingly deep for such a basic, colorless game. I constantly found interactions that would impact other areas of the game depending on what I had done previously. Like, for example, learning a skill called "percussive maintenance" that allowed me to bypass entire challenges, or being able to trade an item I didn't sell from the very beginning of the game that allowed me to skip the final boss encounter altogether. There are many things throughout that seem like they very well could be different based on which ally, or "pardner", I selected at the start. As well as what class I selected or even the way I decided to level up my character. It also seemed very likely that this is an RPG that could be won entirely as a pacifist, which I am super into. My only complaint, as a player, is that there are some reaaal rough puzzles and text chunks to read. If you aren't on board to sit with a pad of pap...

The first game that I will be attempting to beat, using nothing but my wits, and my moxie, is West of Loathing. I seem to recall people really liking that cowboy game. Lemme look at the Steam description for this one real quick. Tags RPG Comedy Adventure Western Funny Oh boy! I can't wait to root and toot and... Roll dice? I think that is what the RPG bit is. I will end up updating this post with where the streams will be, but for now, this first one, catch it over at  https://www.twitch.tv/the_joystick_hero

Before I start this project,  I should probably lay out the things that I am actually trying to beat, so that people can be all "oh my god joystick, I can't believe you never beat [INSERT FAV GAME HERE]". So, I am trying to push things down the page enough so they are "after the break". Just gotta waste a few more words. Couple more. Cool, okay. Written legibly: Grow Home The Metronomicon A Story About My Uncle Abzu Alpha Protocol Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs And yet it moves Battletech Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians Beholder Besiege Burnout Paradise Chroma Squad Cogs Corporate Lifestyle Simulator Crayon Physics Deluxe Cultist Simulator Darkest Dungeon Divinity Original Sin (Enhanced Edition) Don't Starve Dungeons of Dredmor Dust an Elysian Tale Eldritch FEZ Final Fantasy 9 Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams Half Minute Hero Half-Life 2: Lost Coast Hammerfight Insanely T...