Happy August, everyone! It’s been a while since I did a backlog entry, but I wanted to finally get back on it. With that being said, what have you been playing lately?
As with past entries, I’ll be covering my own backlog. Along with Nintendo Switch and PS4 titles, I’ll cover titles from other consoles, handhelds, and even PCs. Expect to see a favorite or two on the list!
Famicom Detective Club
I can’t stress how cool it is that Nintendo released this for the Switch. Originally released in the late 80s, Famicom Detective Club debuted on the Nintendo Famicom, the Japanese NES. It received a remake on the Super Famicom (Japanese SNES) in the late 90s before finally coming to the Switch in 2021.
I’ve played a small handful of visual novel titles. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney was my entryway into the genre before playing Zero Escape, Hotel Dusk, and Ghost Trick. While it’s not a puzzle game by any means, you will plug in correct responses in order to advance the story. The writing keeps the suspense on while you get attached to the characters.
I seriously enjoy the music and artwork too. While I’m not a huge fan of the trial-and-error play of The Missing Heir, the sequel streamlines the process a bit with the Think command. Honestly, I hope we get a new title in this series one day.
NieR Replicant
It’s hard to believe how well NieR Replicant holds my attention. Maybe I’m a sucker for the hack-and-slash gameplay. Or maybe it’s the gripping writing and haunting soundtrack that keeps me attached to the game. As a huge NieR:Automata fan, I can’t get enough of it.
At the same time, NieR Replicant does get a bit repetitive at times with its travel. Without quick travel points, you’ll spend too much time running back and forth in the field. While this does get old, thankfully it’s the only real part of the game that bugs me. Well, that and the repetitive side-quests that have you doing the same thing over and over. I can now see where Final Fantasy XV took that cue from.
I love the enemy designs, music, and the new chapters to the story such as Louise that weren’t in the original. I didn’t even play the original and was surprised to see just how much the developers added to this version of NieR. I’m hoping not just for more NieR games in the future but maybe remasters of the Drakengard series down the road.
Fire Emblem Fates
I can’t believe I dug up a game I beat back in 2016 for the first time in half a decade. Fire Emblem Fates brought me back because, not terribly long ago, I finally cleared most of the DLC maps, Paralogues, and Xenologues in Fire Emblem: Awakening. Minus Apotheosis, I’ve cleared about everything I wanted to and finished the DLC for Echoes and Three Houses as well. Even though I beat the main story in all three routes, Fates is the only title that alludes me.
Wanting to get to know the children units that I never got in any of my past Fates playthroughs, I booted up Revelation so I could finally get them. I want to embrace the Paralogue chapters and DLC maps I never cleared back then. I love Fates so much that I had no problem getting right back into it. I always felt Fates got too much undeserved hate.
WarioWare Gold
With WarioWare: Get it Together on the way for Switch, it brought me back to wanting to play WarioWare Gold on my 3DS again. Looking at my challenges, I realize that I’ve taken the game for granted entirely. All I did was cleared the story and called it a day. I didn’t play any of the extra game content and it made me feel ashamed.
Honestly, trying to score 60 on the various game modes is tougher than it sounds! It’s a great deal of repetition and eventually learning how each game plays so you don’t mess up. But it’s so fun that it’s hard to really put down.
Aside from Smooth Moves, I daresay WarioWare Gold is the best entry in the series right now. It combines the playstyles of nearly every WarioWare title and adds some new minigames to the mix as well. I look forward to the multiplayer content in Get it Together as well!
Ys: Oath in Felghana
I’ve been on a huge Ys kick as of late. Make no mistake, I agree with others who believe this is the most criminally underrated JRPG series in existence. A hack-and-slash action RPG, Ys offers some of the best music you will ever hear in any game ever.
I’m surprised at how good the writing, voice acting, and dialogue are too. XSeed did a phenomenal job localizing these games. Coming off of Ys Origin a year ago, I’m surprised it took me this long to get to Oath in Felghana. But this game’s gameplay keeps you hooked and the dungeon designs become quite challenging over time.
I was thinking of playing in numbered order as Oath is a remake of Ys III. However, I’ve decided I might change it up a little. I plan to play through Ark of Napishtim, Ys Seven, and then Memories of Celceta before I finally play Ys IX. I also want to get into Trails in the Sky and start that series as well. I’ve heard many good things about it!
Final Thoughts
I’ve been playing more than this to include finally booting up Final Fantasy VII Remake, Metal Gear Rising, and Resident Evil Village for the first time in months. I even booted up Okami HD on my PS3 and started my first playthrough in over 15 years. Not to mention I fully plan to get The Great Ace Attorney on Switch shortly after I beat Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind.
I got my work cut out for me all while I practice for upcoming Smash tournaments. I’m staying busy but I want to keep getting through my library. In due time, I’m sure. In the meantime, stay tuned for my blog and catch the next entry!
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