ZephyrusRaine

Progress Report #11 -201819| 28/01/2019 (Click here to skip to the next post )

Special Edition - New Year's Resolution

3%
3%
5%
78%
11%

Preface:

Happy belated new year all! 2018 has been a wild ride for me. I built my first gaming PC in the beginning of the year, letting me play higher-end titles that I previously couldn't hope to touch with my old laptop.

A new year wouldn't be complete without a new resolution. But before that let's take a look back to what my backlog assassination progress is in 2018. ...What was that? I'm 28 days late to the party? La la la I can't hear you la la la. (Yeah NieR: Automata and Dragon Quest XI held me captive for the past month lol)

With that said, how was your backlog assassination last year? Did you meet your expectations last year? I would definitely love to hear about the resolutions you made for this year too.


2018 Stats

Month Played Beaten Completed Abandoned
June 94 +22 42 +13 38 +12 138 +4
July 90 -4 63 +21 63 +25 251 +113
October 126 +36 64 +1 72 +9 263 +12
November 131 +5 68 +4 83 +9 265 +12
December 136 +5 71+3 84 +1 268 +3
Total 136 71 84 268
Changes 64 40 58 144

2017 Stats

Month Played Beaten Completed Abandoned
Total Unrecorded 9 7 Unrecorded

Needless to say I've made a much more significant dent to my backlog when compared to 2017. A majority of games I finished in 2018 were played in the second half of the year though. Most of those were lengthy games too. Moving onward spacing out each of those would be crucial in avoiding burnout.

While I didn't record the exact amount, I failed in my attempt to reduce the amount of games purchased. :p You win, backlog.

Results


Mild Success

1

Success

4

Failure

1




I actually wasn't expecting to be able to clear most of my resolutions last year. So being able to realize two thirds of those is a pleasant surprise to me.

Breakdown


Play some VNs

I did play some Visual Novels this year, but none of those were among the series I wanted to play the most: Steins;Gate, Danganronpa and Zero Escape. I had previously planned to use the 2-in-1 laptop I bought last year. But it ended up being a slow crawler to the point where I had to wait for it to get all processes up and running first before I can even boot Steam up, which takes like 15 mins I think lol. Thankfully the new Steam Link Android app is easy to use and I might end up using it more for VNs (and JRPGs) in the future. Unfortunately the app is a battery drainer and makes my phone heat easily, so we'll see how it goes.

Write more progress reports (and play more games)

While I didn't exactly make a regular progress report last year, but I wrote posts more regularly than in 2017. I have finally settled on a set report format. I guess it does help a lot in speeding up the writing process.

I do think my formatting is somewhat unnecessarily complicated though. But hey, I got to learn Bootstrap in the process!

Finishing some RPGs

I cleared many RPGs varying from action RPG to traditional turn-based JRPGs. I cleared the former more than the latter though. On top of my head I can think of MHW, Souls series, SAO Fatal Bullet and Ys I+II. While I can only think of Costume Quest and Trails in the Sky for the more turn-based variety.

Beating some longer games

There's probably about 15 games I played for more than 30 hours here. Big win for my backlog assassination progress.

Getting better at Tekken

I was going to say I failed this one. And that's not surprising considering I had only played the game intensively in two periods: back when the game first launch in 2017 and early January 2018. Both only last for about a month, which isn't nearly enough to properly learn a fighting game.

Back then I lost so many matches and couldn't even enter the proper beginner ranks. Don't know if it was only me, but opponents here in Australia were quite decent even in the lower ranks. I stopped playing for almost a year and had only picked it up again last month. It was then something clicked within me. I learned how to read my opponents, started utilizing movement and my rank rose quickly. All this happens in a span of two weeks. I guess it's true when they say you have to lose a lot to improve in a fighting game. I've also started recording my matches which helped me a lot in making me aware of my bad habits.

I'm not very good at fighting games in general, so being able to play Tekken somewhat decently was very satisfying to say the least.

Reducing game purchases in general (not including bundles)

A big fat no from me lmao. Compared to 2017, I made marginally less amount of game purchases in total but it's still nothing to laugh at.

This year I'm going to decrease my number of resolutions made. In exchange, I'll increase the scope of each one. Most of these have been on my bucket list for quite a while so I figure this year to be a good time to tackle those.

1

Clear seven turn-based JRPGs

I haven't looked at turn-based JRPGs for years. You see, back when I was younger I played multiple titles at once. I cycled between each one according to my mood. Not surprisingly, I never actually finished most of those that I played. First world problems amirite. I burned out from the genre and didn't play any notable titles for years. But finally my mood for them is back. While I'm still on the groove, I intend to clear at least 7 titles this year.

2

Finish my collection of the Trails series

I've been hearing nothing but praise for the Trails series among those who enjoy the genre. There are two metaseries within Trails that are interconnected: Sky and and the Cold Steel series. The latter is particularly loved, and I'm curious to see why. But apparently you have to play from the release order to truly appreciate the characters. So I finished the first entry in the Sky series just at the tail end of 2018. I enjoyed the combat. The story was a slow burner, but apart from the big twist at the end I'm not totally hooked with the story- not yet, at least. I plan to play each entry in the Trails series, spaced out between two months or so.

3

Clear specific VN titles

With the help of Steam Link app, I plan to clear three visual novel series: Steins;Gate, Zero Escape, and Danganronpa.

4

Clear at least two WRPGs

I consider myself an OCD in regards to game completion. I tend to go for all possible side quests I encounter. That is why Western RPGs tend to overwhelm me. I plan to follow the general advice of taking only interesting quests and see how it goes.

5

Reduce game purchases in general

Ah, what year is complete without this kind of entry? This year will finally be the year! ...Hopefully.

Most Fun Had

Hidden Gems

about 5 years ago* 4 comments
rafaelgomesxyz

I did alright last year: https://www.backlog-assassins.net/posts/wbwq96b

The only resolution I have so far is to complete 5 games each month in 2019.

about 5 years ago
ZephyrusRaine

Glad to see you could minimize your backlog additions. And I hope you the best of luck for your plan. When I played only lengthy games, I only end up with 2 or 3 game completions on that month. So I would definitely suggest spacing them out as it would be essential for meeting the criteria.

That reminds me I have to play Outlast and Transistor sometime, especially the latter as I enjoyed Bastion.

about 5 years ago
tsupertsundere

I spotted Yakuza 0 on your ‘most fun had’ section and went a little apeshit. Hell yeah!

I really liked reading your resolution breakdown list, especially your breakthrough with Tekken. It’s amazing when shit just makes sense all of the sudden, huh?

I’m looking forward to seeing what turn-based JRPGs you really enjoy, because I enjoy them more than the active time battle variety - I just like having time to think. I really do love the Trails in the Sky games, and you’ve got a lot more shit that’s coming!

You’re going to have SO MUCH FUN w/ Dangan Ronpa and the Zero Escape games (the… the first two, anyway). I haven’t played more than a quarter of Steins;gate myself, but I’m eager to pick it up again. Chaos;child just dropped on steam and I THINK they’re… connected somehow maybe?

I don’t really do resolutions beyond having fun, making friends, and 100% clearing as many games as I can stand… so just more of the same!

about 5 years ago
ZephyrusRaine

I spotted Yakuza 0 on your ‘most fun had’ section and went a little apeshit. Hell yeah!

That reminds me Kiwami is coming next month. And I haven’t even finished Yakuza 0 after I said I would give an update on it. Forgive me, senpai for not fulfilling my promise

I really liked reading your resolution breakdown list, especially your breakthrough with Tekken. It’s amazing when shit just makes sense all of the sudden, huh?

Glad to hear you liked the section. It’s very satisfying how every little loss can make or break a breakthrough on a fighting game. No other genre has a feeling like it in my opinion.

I’m looking forward to seeing what turn-based JRPGs you really enjoy, because I enjoy them more than the active time battle variety - I just like having time to think.

I actually like both types of games. I used to enjoy the active variety more than its counterpart though. But as the Souls games pampered me with their nice weighty combat, I’m starting to enjoy this type even less nowadays. Many action RPGs feel too floaty to me, if that makes sense. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m back on a turn-based JRPG groove. At the very least I would be playing SC and 3rd this year as I had previously bought them last sale. So that’s two down the list.

The one I’m currently playing is Dragon Quest XI. Been a long time since I last played any DQ games, but I’ve always been a huge fan of the franchise (DQ > FF fyte me boi). This entry is one of the most polished JRPG title in my opinion. I’m in the post-game right now, but honestly I wouldn’t consider it to be your usual post-game section. There is an actual story, and I love it. That’s also part of the reason why the game is ridiculously massive just like those PS1 RPGs with multiple discs. I’m very glad they still keep the tradition of pumping an overwhelming amount of meaningful content in a Dragon Quest game; overwhelming in a good way of course.

I definitely won’t be playing another turn-based one after this considering I’ve played nothing but DQXI this month. Maybe it’s time for Yakuza 0? *wink, wink*

You’re going to have SO MUCH FUN w/ Dangan Ronpa and the Zero Escape games. Chaos;child just dropped on steam and I THINK they’re… connected somehow maybe?

I know I will! I’ve played 999 back when it first came out in the DS. Been a while so I think I would also be replaying that first before moving to the others. I previously watched Steins;Gate, but haven’t played much of the VN. I’m really interested to find out what happens in 0 but I didn’t want to watch the anime version to spoil myself just like I did with Danganronpa 1 and Steins;Gate. All the Science Adventure VNs take place in the same universe apparently. Don’t know much apart from it. And Child is apparently the sequel to Chaos;Heads.

I don’t really do resolutions beyond having fun, making friends, and 100% clearing as many games as I can stand… so just more of the same!

Nice, plain and simple is the way to go eh?

about 5 years ago*