Happy New Year everyone!
I spent the day playing with my nephews and nieces in my backyard, and even my 2-year old niece ran circles around me, so my resolution for 2020 is to spend more time exercising and less time sitting around gaming or tinkering around with my smartphone.
What little gaming I will do will mainly be done on my PSP, DS, 3DS and PS2. As I mentioned last week, I’m trying to polish off the last few games on each one so I can hand them down to the next generation and declutter my life. So this resolution list will cover the few things I have left to play before I move on from those old consoles.
PSX (It still works, but a bit picky on what it will read. I’ll just emulate these games or play ports)
Princess Maker 3
Breath of Fire 4
Dokidoki Poyacchao (the game Shining Hearts was supposedly modeled after. I’m curious)
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (umm, maybe. I don’t have good memories of Innocent Sin)
Parasite Eve (heard so much about it but never tried it)
Tokimeki Memorial 2
PS2
Radiata Stories
Angelique Trois
Dark Cloud 2 (started long ago, must finish this time)
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (the games in the series I haven’t played yet)
Suikoden IV and V (not really enthusiastic but I might play them)
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (same as above)
Rogue Galaxy (same as above)
Other games on my PS2 backlog list
Assorted otome games because the PS2 has like 2 million of them.
PSP
Elminage Original
Ore no Shikabane wo Koete Yuke (replay)
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (the games I haven’t played yet)
Ys series (if I can’t bring myself to play them this year, then it’s not meant to be)
Tons of otome games I’d been wanting to try.
DS (I’ve tried everything I want to on the DS, but there are a few thinsg I want to try again and one or two I want to replay)
The World Ends with You (second chance)
Destiny Links (second chance)
Rune Factory 2 (never finished)
Ace Attorney 1, 2 and 3 (replay)
Ouendan 1, 2, Elite Beat Agents (replay)
Picross and Color Cross (replay)
3DS (meh.)
The Alliance Alive
Come to think of it, I’ve played pretty much everything I wanted to on the 3DS. I should play Alliance Alive quickly so I can give it away while it’s still in good-ish condition.
PSVITA (no plans to give it up soon, but I might as well list some games)
Atelier Firis
Atelier Lydie & Suelle
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters (I’m curious)
Sword Art Online series (I like colorful games so it would be nice if I could get into this series)
And this list is just for starters. If I remember anything I’d been meaning to try, onto the list it goes. I also need to scour past comments for suggestions people have made that I’ve forgotten about.
As for more recent games and consoles, nothing has really caught my eye lately. The Switch needs at last one more year to gather games like Rune Factory 5 that I might be interested in. PS4/5, nah, nothing going. Not to mention there are a lot of PC ports these days so consoles are like so retro… y’know?
TL;DR, 2020 is the time to say goodbye to all those retro consoles and catch the wave of the future~! Or something like that. Actually I’m so lazy I prefer lying in bed to sitting up when I game, so as long as handhelds are a thing I’ll probably always own at least one. But that’s something to worry about once I’ve disposed of this current batch of systems. Aight, see you guys later!
Oh, there’s no “games that didn’t work out” edition this year, btw. I hardly played anything anyway…
Update: I remembered a few things I dropped early, so there’s a 2019 edition after all.
Happy New Year!
Glad to hear you started out good and reading about the resolutions was also very entertaining.
One little thing, I would like to ask though:
What are your plans with Granblue Fantasy in 2020? Do you plan on continuing or leave it slowly but surely?
Myself, I played the game up until lvl. 125 and then quit, because I felt that the game took up too much of my time. Especially because I’m currently doing my master’s degree in university. Besides other activities, it just felt that I lost my time to the game.
Now this all wouldn’t be a problem given my shown, defensive position towards the game, but there’s one problem:
I really love the old school 2D turn-based RPGs. Especially final fantasy. And that’s why GBF always comes back to my mind in frequent waves. I catch myself reading about it from time to time and I experience myself watching videos about it.
The fact the game is so well designed, makes it even harder.
So what I’m looking for is some sort of advice. An written down experience from someone that took the game and tried to play it normally, not trying to be competitive. Someone like you.
What did the game give you in the end? Joy? And if so, was it worth the time investment?
I am going to be honest. I’m scared. Scared that the time invested is taken away from other hobbies, like socializing, sports, reading. I’m scared that it will conflict with my studies.
On the other hand, I would love to have a 2D turn-based RPG that I could enjoy regularly and in which I’ll progress. Doesnt have to be fast, but shouldn’t be frustrating if deciding to go with my own pace. (Will I be able to clear content if I decide to fight with outdated grids that I farmed at my pace f.ex.)
The decision, I will take myself. But in order to do that, I would love to get some in-sight.
I read your articles describing your journey all the way to lvl. 175 in GBF. Now I’m interested in the thoughts, the feeling that came with it. The perspective that emerged from that experience.
Any help or answer to this would be very much appreciated :).
I hope you go strong in life during 2020 and crush your resolutions that you shared here with us.
Only the best wishes,
Lowen
Many happy returns of the day!
I’m still playing Granblue Fantasy almost every day, especially when we have giveaway events like the glorious New Year’s Roulette we just experienced. While my pace of grinding slowed down long ago, I have no plans (or ability) to quit any time soon.
The reason I don’t post about it often is because I don’t progress very quickly. It’s been 3 months since I wrote about my rise to level 175, and I only recently reached 177.
As for what the game gave me in the end… well, if you want to be realistic about it, nothing tangible. Except a good time and a pleasant but momentary distraction from the cares of life.
My super objective point of view is that 99% of all gaming is about that sense of fun and distraction, and if you’re looking to get anything more out of it than that, you will be disappointed. It is a waste of time. If you have something better to do with your time, do it.
Especially if it’s a job or some kind of practical skill. When (not if) Cygames eventually takes Granblue Fantasy down, or I get bored and quit, everything I will have earned within it will be gone. If we assume I’ve spent 1000 hours on it so far, I’ll have nothing except good memories left.
Now imagine I had spent that time on a part-time job, or learning a new language, or an instrument instead. That money or those skills would be with me for a much longer period of time. It feels great to have a shiny weapon grid and to auto bosses you couldn’t beat in GBF, but I imagine it would feel just as good to converse fluently in another language or play Chopin like a pro. So why don’t I aim for those? Well I do, actually, but I also play Granblue Fantasy because it’s fun. I like to think there’s room for a little (a little!) mindless entertainment in a healthy life.
So the TL;DR is, GBF is not a good way to spend time, but it’s fun enough for me to not focus on “getting” anything out of it. Only you can decide whether the same applies for you, After all, even if you only spend an hour a week on it, that’s still an hour you’re never getting back.
As far as playing casually like I do, again, only you can tell whether that fits your personality or not. The little advice I can give is this:
– Prioritise your studies. Seriously. Games come and go, but that MA/MSc will be on your CV for life.
– You can totally clear content with older grids. I barely have any M2 weapons in my grids and I’m fine. Once you have your base grids, set your own goals and work slowly towards those; don’t chase what others chase.
– Some content will be beyond you, but it’s totally okay to ignore content that’s too difficult. For example I don’t bother tackling a lot of Proud/Proud+ content because it’s hard. I’m cool with not doing them, but if you’re the competitive type, that won’t work.
– Thus, you can experiment with logging in briefly when the mood strikes you and see how that goes. It’s possible that you’re setting Granblue Fantasy up as a forbidden fruit – “I want to, but I mustn’t! But I want to, but I…” – so setting yourself free to play it may take away some of the allure. Try it for a month or two and then evaluate whether you feel it’s beneficial or not.
Whatever you decide, enjoy the rest of 2020!
Happy New Year, dear Kina! May it be full of lovely and unforgivable moments. ^^
2019 was a terribly shitty year for me, both in gaming and in other matters; but fortunately, 2020 is shaping up to be much better! I already regained some gaming mojo and time to unleash it, so this year is starting most auspiciously.
Stay healthy, game well and take care! ^^
Happy New Year, Isleif! Welcome back to the land of gaming! That’s a gorgeous Switch Lite you’ve got there. In gaming and in life, it’s good to pace yourself, not force yourself, so keep taking it easy. I wish you lots of luck and happiness this 2020!
Happy (late) new year, Kina!
For your PSVITA… mmmm I don’t recommend Atelier Firis since its frame goes nuts. Better playing in the PS4 totally.
Many happy returns! Re: Firis, I believe you, but I can’t buy a PS4 just for one game. There’s a Steam port, so if the VITA version is really unplayable then I will get that instead.