Not much happening

Still “stuck” playing the same game over and over again. So, not much changing in my backlog. Well, at least i am not adding many games either. But yea, I have some puzzle games I would like to add but always think: Finish at least some of the other started games. The list has a few titles. Anyway, here the few games i managed to play:

• Ashina: The Red Witch
  

  10 hours playtime

  43 of 43 achievements

• Wizordum
  

  158 hours playtime

  42 of 42 achievements

• Fallen Aces
  

  11 hours playtime

  no achievements

Ashina: The Red Witch: Ashina was a SG win, so it got the priority it deserved. It is an adventure game playing in a spirit world. By accident you end up in the Spirit World in search for your sister, trying to get back home. Gameplay is mostly running around, talking with spirits and solving simple puzzles. You usually don’t have more than a few screes to navigate before entering the next location. The story itself is interesting but to confusing for my taste. I think you would have to play “My Big Sister” (the sequel) and “Red Bow” (the prequel) too, to get most of it. I only played “My Big Sister long ago” and only remember that the secret ending was very confusing (granted the developer admitted that at that point he didn’t think about more games in the same universe). After playing this one, it makes “slightly” more sense. If you are up for some strangeness, give the game a chance. Maybe I get my hands on some wins for “Red Bow” and the “My Big Sister” remaster(?) to finally get a better overall picture of the story.

Wizordum: I reviewed this last year February already. At that point in time, it was still Early Access. April(?) this year, we finally reached Version 1.0 and I could officially complete the game and all its achievements. The game itself is a shooter similar to the old doom games though a lot more casual. It is set in a colourful fantasy world where you have to fight the forces of evil as a wizard. Hereby, you are wielding an arsenal of different weapons: A mace, fireball shooting fire rings, a penetrating gun, a rapid-firing and freezing frost staff, a aoe fire explosion and a magic orb (grenade). Most of this can be acquired early on and then be used throughout the rest of the game. Aside from killing enemies, the main purpose of the game is score-hunting as well as intensive wall-hugging in order to find the very well hidden secrets to get …. mostly more score.
Personally, I like the game pretty much although the first episode levels are sometimes exhausting. I think Episode 2 is much better in that regard. Also, the developer is very active and in contact with his community. There is also a pretty strong map editor with several maps created, most of them during map jams from the developer. If you are looking for a good, nice Boomer Shooter, this one is recommanded. Achievements are also mostly tame. Well, okay. You need to find all secrets which means a lot of wall-hugging. And some secrets are brutally difficult to find. But there is some kick-ass guide, helping with that just saying. Also, the game has some nice references to older games.

Fallen Aces: And now to the last game today. Fallen Aces is practically in the position Wizordum was last year February. Early Access, one Episode released. While the game looks a lot like Boomer Shooter (graphically), it plays very different. You can fist fight and avoid a lot of fighting just by sneaking around. Weapons are breakable and limited with only three slots available where you have to chose what you take with you. You can grab food to heal and throw a lot of stuff which lies around. Secrets are well embedded into the game world and really hard to find (far harder than Wizordum).
The greatest strength (and also weakness) is the map design. The maps have multiple routes and ways to enter and leave buildings or to get to your target locations, some favouring combat and others sneaking around. This gives a lot of options and increases replay value. However, I am not sure if you can complete all levels completely without combat (first level works, second i dont think so). However, this also makes you wonder where to go and you have the risk of running way back just through another route. And IF you are secret hunting, you need to knock down all goons anyway. Also, three slots for weapons (with ammo taking one up potentially) is just to limited. While I found out that you can upgrade it, it is still quite stingy. Still looking forward to the coming two episodes. This is an unique blend after all.

And now back to gaming other games. Have to restart playing Persona 4. It is not difficult, just time consuming. And then afterwards, maybe finally beat Lenna’s Inception (however I will never complete it -_-). And maybe finally getting back to Resident Evil 1. Or I will just keep playing Puzzle Pirates forever and buy THPS ^^’