Year Plans 2023: What I've Missed

I felt like closing the year with this. All the way back in my Retrospective for 2022, I set up this new concept of the Year Plans, in which I picked a number of games from my collection that I hoped to play through and review on the blog during the following 12 months. Part of the idea was that, since I have such a large backlog, I would focus on a few titles on top of the yearly Quick Reviews.

I even thought of adding a new main page to the blog to keep track of the ones I had selected for this year.

I did go through all the titles selected for the Quick Reviews, because I like the concept and it’s an easy way to knock a couple out through a few months. The longer titles, that’s a different story; I didn't get to cover as many as I would've liked. So, instead of giving them a full playthrough and article, I figured I would either discuss what my plans were/might be for each title, or give a quick “First Impressions” after playing each one for about an hour, depending on the case.

Today, it’s a relaxed article. Nothing too complex, just me chatting about games I know and trying out a few I haven’t played yet.

Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation

Yet another game that’s unavailable for purchase on the Steam Store (since May 2022), I’ve had this one sitting in my library since 2021. A purchase on Humble Bundle four years prior included four DLC packs for the game... but not the game itself. It’s been odd every time I reviewed on here a game that could no longer been purchased, but I feel it’s important and interesting to do so, like keeping track of what's been lost. This entry by BKOM studios, whose headquarters are in Quebec City, is meant to be a virtual version of an existing board game, Tomb of Annihilation. It does have that tabletop feel, and the association with Dungeons & Dragons (a license expiration may be the reason why the game got delisted) is clear as day... I say that as if I have ever played that game...

On the other hand, the codes for the DLCs still worked, so... I have that to look forward to when I'll dig deeper into this one. This was a fun hour!

Train Valley

An interesting puzzle and management game about creating railroad networks from the early beginnings of trains all the way to the modern age, from Europe to Asia passing by America and Russia. You not only need to create paths that lead from and to every factory that opens, but you must also direct the trains that transit between them, even as new factories appear on the map. You must choose carefully when to send a train on its way and redirect the arrows on the railroads to get it to the correct destination. This is the sort of puzzle game with a simple concept but a lot of depth, especially once environmental hazards, and factors such as longer trains, are added to the mix. A single hour of playtime did give me a good idea of what to expect.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Just an hour and five stars into that game and I was reminded of the whimsy of the Mario universe. I reviewed the first Galaxy game a long time ago (in an April Fools article, no less!). Ever since I bought the sequel, I never found the time to try it. Damn, I’m missing out! That one hour has left me wanting more! Though it did take me a while to get reused to Mario’s Galaxy-era controls. He feels slow, heavy even. Adding Yoshi was a great idea, and our buddy is super-useful. I’m a tad disappointed that we explore the galaxy in a more classic bird’s eye view of the levels and maps, in comparison to the rooms of the observatory in the first... but hey, that’s minor. It’s a bit early to write a review only five stars in though, isn’t it?

Assassin’s Creed III

Another big title on Ubisoft Connect that I didn’t get around to playing. In fact, the hour I spent in it for this article only got me through the tutorials! Cool, cinematic tutorials, sure, but tutorials still. I’m glad I played two Prince of Persia games this year, though – I could tell from the very first minutes playing ACIII just how much the latter franchise was inspired by the parkour-based gameplay of the former. I’m looking forward to trying it out some more and checking out the open world aspect, since that’s been missing to my early experience. Still too early to say whether ACIII is a good introduction to the larger franchise (I also have AC: Unity waiting in my backlog), but so far, the tone’s been set.

Swords & Crossbones: An Epic Pirate Story

A combo of management + real-time strategy + RPG in which we play a sailor who, after a streak of bad luck involving pirates, must become a pirate herself, assemble a crew, and create a community to find all the ships that wronged her and rescue the princess she was supposed to be escorting across the sea. We unlock new characters to join the RTS party, open more land by completing quests, and in turn discover how to sail the sea to pursue this quest onto other islands, the whole delivered in a very simple 16bit pixel art that foregoes impressive animations for simplicity. Can’t say it hooks me as much as other games I tried the first time for this very article, but I’m happy I tried it out, and by my own rule of writing about every game I play, I will eventually have to dig deeper into it.

Wildlife Park 3

I’m not quite as sure about this one, but I’ll give it a fair shake nonetheless when it’s time. This is a classic type of Tycoon title, in this case one in which you manage a wildlife park – somewhere between a zoo and a nature preserve. Wider enclosures, greater focus on caring for the animals, with a smaller (but existing) focus on getting visitors to see them. Hiring keepers, gardeners, vets and other employees as needed, adding new enclosures, new animals, and making sure all of their needs are tended to. The hour I spent playing the first two tutorial stages gave me a decent idea of what to expect. Its main weakness so far is how slow and clunky it is to move (especially turning the camera, which takes for-e-ver) and it’s also very easy to overlook details unless you dutifully check everything in the park. Can’t say I’m too warm to it yet, nothing I hope a few extra hours of gameplay can’t solve.

Pokémon Sun/Pokémon UltraSun

I was hoping to cover these two Pokémon games, possibly together, at some point. There’s a lot to be said about them and I think I can offer good commentary on what they do well and what they don’t. That said, it would be a huge undertaking. I’m always of the opinion that these reviews of Pokémon games fit better within an event month, since there’s so much to the franchise – so if these games land in 2024’s Year Plans, I might dedicate a full month to reviews of Pokémon stuff.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate

A roguelike with slight RPG and RTS elements, this game was originally released on the Nintendo DS but was remastered for Windows. In it, we follow Shiren, a wanderer accompanied by a talking ferret named Koppa. Their travels take them to the Tower of Fortune where Reeva, the God of Destiny, can change one’s fate, if said one can gather the three magic dice representing the past, present and future respectively, all hidden at the end of challenges set within the tower. This is a turn-based title, every step and action is a turn, you collect items, level up, and go through the dungeons. This one does feel distinct from (admittedly the small number of) other roguelikes I’ve played. I didn’t see much of it; I feel I’d prefer the fast-paced, action-oriented format of other entries in the roguelike genre, but I guess it depends on whether the Real Time Strategy-like mechanics appeal more to you.

Monster Hunter Tri

Screeenshot from a playthrough by
SDShepard, link here.

Monster Hunter is a franchise I’ve been very slowly getting into. It feels intimidating since appears so big, so complex at a quick glance. I purchased this game for the Wii, I believe... either last year or two years ago and it’s been sleeping on my shelf. I did try it for a few hours shortly after purchase, not enough for a definitive opinion (HowLongToBeat estimates the length of this game's main story at 61 and a half hours), but it did give me a desire for more. That may be why I also bought Monster Hunter Generations for the Nintendo 3DS this year at a convention. The extra hour I played recently reminded me of those previous sessions. I need to do more.

Temtem

I’m a fan of ‘Mon games, a genre all about battling and collecting a lot of different creatures. Temtem had been on my radar for a while, back when it was in Early Access and even after its official release in 2022. After an hour, I must admit I’m kinda torn. On one hand, I was expecting something like Pokémon... but maybe not something THAT similar! Which isn’t to say it’s a 1-to-1, though, with the stamina and overexertion mechanics, the altered types and matchups, and the focus on 2-vs-2 in combat. The first Route, if I can call it that, was long enough that getting the first Temtem, going through the tutorials, and reaching the second town took me just over the hour. It looks promising! I do hope it’s got plenty more surprises around the corner. A few more curveballs for those who think it still feels too much like Pokémon might be nice.

No Man’s Sky

In 2023, I found myself growing an affinity for survival games. It takes an interesting idea that’s well beyond just “survive” and I’m sold. I spent a long time this year playing Valheim, and I would keep on doing so were it not for a graphics card issue I currently have – so while I gather the money for the potentially pricy repairs, I focus my efforts on this one. No Man’s Sky was the title that attracted me the most in the list of Year Plans I hadn’t touched yet, so I started playing... and kept playing... and at time of publishing, I’m 25+ hours in and exploring my fourth solar system. There will be a lot to say about this specific title’s catastrophic beginnings and the much better state it’s in right now, but that’s a discussion to be had in due time.

Bloons TD 6

I originally wanted to cover this Bloons game this year, but I also had Bloons TD 5 and felt it made more sense to start with its predecessor, for which I had accumulated a lot of hours of game time. After my review of TD 5, I started playing 6, but I’m still nowhere near the point where I consider having seen enough to properly report on it. I’m only 5 hours in, and according to HowLongToBeat, this game’s main story requires over 33 hours to beat. I’ve got a ways to go. Now, will I have to do that in 2024? Maybe not. Either way, I’ve at least seen some of it, and I’m eager to check it out more.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links

The Yu-Gi-Oh! nerd that I am feared seeing this title in the Year Plans, because... well... at time of writing, I’m 574 hours in. Don’t believe me? Here.

I tend to amass an unhealthy number of hours into the Yu-Gi-Oh! games I have, because I like the card game so much (though I began feeling my interest peter out a tad this year, mainly on the side of collecting the physical cards, which... I also have way too many of. I got 3,000 to sell, anybody wants them?). Duel Links in particular, with its many mobile game trappings, tends to hook me for several months at a time. Then I let go of it for a few months... then return... then let go again... Yeah. Seeing as we’ve also had Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel for two years, and Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is waiting in my collection, I wonder whether I should also dedicate a full themed month to the franchise like I did back in October 2018. There would be a lot to say about Duel Links, in part with the addition of the Rush Duels, an entirely new way to play that I’m not used to yet. In short: There WILL be a lot to cover, once I get around to it.

Other games I’ve spent some time playing through the year: Valheim, Gemcraft: Frostborn Wrath, every game I bought for my Switch (with special mention to Pokémon Legends Arceus, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time).

I wish you all a happy 2024. See you in January with the usual Retrospective article next Friday.