I'm not one for "New Year's resolutions", but I am one for overly ambitious projects.
For 2023, Project365 is "One New Game Per Day".
Given that I have 634 unplayed games in my Steam account and {mumble} unredeemed bundle Steam keys, there's a reason my unplayed collection is tagged "Pile of Shame".
I'll pin this to my profile, and give a brief summary here each day (or x, if I miss x days due to work or stuff).
I'll play 15-30 minutes of (at least) one new game I've never played before (or played less than 15 minutes of). I'll give every game at least 15 minutes, even if I hate every minute of it.
I'm also open to suggestions; if you reply to this thread with a game, I'll schedule it, or tell you what I thought of it.
One of the things that's come up is that I have a bunch of games that I've played once, and not touched again.
Apr 20, 2023 - Day 110 - NewPlay Review
Total NewPlays: 119
Game: Sundered Eldritch Edition
Platform: Steam PC
Release Date: Jul 8, 2017
Library Date: Jan 7, 2019
Unplayed: 1564d (4y3m13d)
Playtime: 45m
Today I found myself faced with a "pure" Metroidvania. I even Googled it to make sure I understood the term.
So, some of the games I've been referring to as "platformers" may actually be better defined as Metroidvanias, and that is to say, I don't like them.
I find them frustrating, and I lack the hand-eye coordination to pull of the moves at the right time, and somehow this morning, none of that mattered.
I thought I'd knock out the game this morning in a quick 15 minute play session, and write up a review, and that would get me focused and into work time.
Some time later, I quit out to find I'd been playing for 45 minutes. Somehow, I managed to pull all the pieces together and find a rhythm, and what a marvellous rhythm it is.
It's an incredibly atmospheric game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Part old-world horror, part technology, dropping through floors, and wall-jumping, killing everything in sight.
While (as usual) I was playing in "easy" mode, it wasn't easy for me, but not so challenging I wanted to punt the controller out the window.
Apr 24, 2023 - Day 114 - NewPlay Review
Total NewPlays: 127
Game: Anna's Quest
Platform: Steam PC
Release Date: Jul 3, 2015
Library Date: May 14, 2019
Unplayed: 1441d (3y11m10d)
Playtime: 78m
I opened Anna's Quest to find that it was yet another point-and-click adventure. 78 minutes later I closed it, somewhat confused at how I'd lost 78 minutes on a point-and-click adventure.
You play as the titular Anna. Living deep in the forest with your grandfather, one day he becomes deeply ill, yet still expressly forbids you to enter the forest.
Upon leaving, you're kidnapped by a wicked witch, and imprisoned in a tower, and that's when things get weird.
It turns out that Anna is unaware that she's telekinetic, but the witch somehow knew, and wants her telekinetic gift.
The humour in the game is quirky, and seems almost childlike, the puzzles indicate that this is not a game targeted at kids. They are your usual "use X with Y" puzzle, but I'm not sure kids are going to think "If you cut that rubber ball in half, it will make a perfect insulator for that electric buzzing thing"
The game has my interest piqued, and I look forward to seeing exactly why and how Anna ended up with telekinesis.