Yesterday, I posted about the games I was interested in: what I was excited about, what I was curious about, or just things that caught my eye, from the description. Of all those games (not actually that many to be honest), I’ve only played two: Atelier Lulua, and Pokemon Masters. Of course, I have played other games this year. I’ve written about some of them on this here web space, of course, but most came and went before I started at the end of July.

Before I start, I just want to say that I wish Steam kept track of the actual times played, rather than just the time played. Or rather, that they let me, the player, know that stuff. Maybe they do, but I just don’t know how to access it. Fortunately, at least the achievements have dates and times on them, which can give a good idea of when I started playing a game. GOG, on the other hand, gives a better idea of when I was actually playing any certain game. Still not perfect, but better than Steam. I’m glad I checked, because there were a couple of surprises, that I thought I had played last year, but were actually this year.

So, on to the list. First, are games I was playing before 2019 started, that I still actively played into the year. I’m not going to say too much about them, since these are all games I’ve talked about a lot, since I still play them to this day:

• Star Trek Online
• Dragalia Lost
• Princess Connect Re:Dive
• Granblue Fantasy

Now, here are the games I actually started in 2019, that didn’t come out this year. I don’t think this is in any real order, but rather in the order I remembered, or discovered looking at my history.

• Atelier Firis: I was playing Atelier Sophie at the end of the last year, and was just moving on through the trilogy. I think this is my favorite of the Mysterious saga: it actually felt like a journey, and felt like it had stakes, as opposed to Sophie’s almost aimless quest to restore Plachta and do other things I guess. And it didn’t feel like BUY THE DLC FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE like…
• Atelier Lydie and Sue: I liked this one a lot too, except for the conflict that didn’t real feel very natural, and neither did story progression. The dialog is much better than the earlier two games, though, and it was nice to bring closure to several of the saga’s earlier characters. But, again, it felt that some things were missing that should have been there in the base game, but were in the DLC; the biggest being the exclusion of a major character from your adventuring party, that definitely should have been there.
• Conan Exiles: I saw that this had a free weekend, got playing single-player (seems like a griefer’s paradise, to be honest), and loved it enough that I bought it. And played a lot. I mostly played naturally, though I got a few mods to change the crafting/base-building to something that was more balanced for a single player, rather than a whole guild working together. I did kinda cheat a bit there at the end to get the last cheevo or two (like the one that requires a titan or whatever they’re called, which would require a massive amount of grinding materials).
• Spellforce 2: Just saw this on a GOG sale, bought it cheap, and liked it enough. Don’t know if I actually beat it or not though, it got kinda repetitive there towards the end. But that sort of mix of RTS and RPG was neat, and much improved in…
• Spellforce 3: Basically more of the same, but improved in most areas. There were a few things missing in the base game that were probably DLC included in the bundle I got of the previous game, like flying units, but still pretty cool. Didn’t really like how the AI cheats on resources, even on Easy, since that made things a lot more frustrating in the RTS sections.
• Doom 3: I remember when this came out; I didn’t have a PC that could get close to handling it, though my roommate did. I watched him some, and it looked fun. Finally got around to playing it. It was indeed fun. I didn’t expect it to have as much story as it did. Was also a bit jarring to not have iron sights, or anything like that, and the simple damage models were somewhat frustrating to deal with. But still, fun.
• Baldur’s Gate: My best friend has been going ga-ga over this game for years and years, and the remake was on sale cheap, so I got it. Not a huge fan, mostly due to the combat system and pacing. I guess I’m not going to be playing AD&D anytime soon. Story wasn’t too engaging, either, so I dropped it. Didn’t even get to the titular city. After playing this game, and others like it, I don’t think cRPG’s are for me. Maybe that makes me a pleb, but I just don’t find them very fun.
• Heat Signature: This one surprised me. Great fun, at least at first. But I’m the sneaky do-everything-perfectly type, that will savescum like mad, and this doesn’t really allow that kind of gameplay (in large part because it doesn’t allow for savescum). The simpler levels are fun, but getting a ton of high-class enemies is much less so. Maybe if I git gud, and use all those fancy teleport toys and shoot out windows and such, it’d be cooler. But still a fun romp if I have a few minutes to kill.
• FFXIV: I’ve already said a lot about that.
• ESO: Ditto

So, there you have it. Not too many games. Like I said yesterday, I’m pretty picky about what I play. And as I’ve said before, I don’t think “challenge” is necessarily fun, and frustration definitely isn’t. So there are a lot of games I don’t even want to bother with. That, combined with the fact that I tend to really get into the games I actually do like, means I don’t play a lot of games.

You might have noticed that at the top I mentioned GOG and Steam. I haven’t played any console games this year, I don’t think. I have a 3DS, and Vita, and a PS2 and PS3, all charged up and ready to go…and they just sit gathering dust. What mobile games I do play, I play on my tablet. I haven’t even seen a reason to get a current-gen console, not yet. Maybe I’ll make a post about that soon, to see if this Black Friday will be the time to get one.

Kim at Later Levels asked a question a few days ago: how has 2019 been treating you, as far as (new) gaming is going? Kim said it’s been pretty disappointing, and I have to agree. I commented over there, in the heat of the comment moment, that I was only really excited beforehand about three releases this year, and I stand by that. To quote myself:

This year has been pretty disappointing indeed, for me. I think I’ve only been excited for three new games this year, and only one has panned out (so far).

-Far Cry New Dawn: I was excited for this, since I like Far Cry, and I liked 5’s story, and wanted to see the continuation. However, I really dislike Borderland’s gameplay, and New Dawn was basically that. Hard pass. Sad!

-Atelier Lulua: this one worked out. A good mix of series fanservice, while also doing its own thing, and continuing the more modern series gameplay conventions. And not too long, either.

-Atelier Ryza: this one hasn’t come out yet, but it looks good.

I looked up the list of major and minor games that did come out this year (and those still scheduled to do so), just to make sure I was actually right about that, and I was. Those three were the only ones that actually got/get me excited, that I actually look(ed) forward to.

But it got me thinking about games that I don’t necessarily look forward to in anticipation, but at least have interest in. You know, the stuff you’re not chomping at the bit to buy when they come out (at least until you hear about something you really don’t like), but stuff you’ll pay attention to the scuttlebutt about, to see if it’s something to investigate further. Now, I’m really into the genres and things that I like, and really not into the things I’m not. So if the following list seems a bit short – remember, it’s just interest – just remember that I’m pretty picky about things, and a bit cynical on top of that. Also, the list is mostly in chronological order, because I was going down the list in the link above, and writing down the ones I was thinking of.

• Ace Combat 7: I really liked the PS2 Ace Combat games, and this one was a promise to return to form, and actually being in the Ace Combat universe to boot, adding to the lore and all that. Almost an RPG (and I would say it technically is, even if it isn’t really mechanically). But then I heard it had the one thing I really, REALLY don’t like about the series: the tunnel missions. Despite my love of the games, I’ve never actually beaten any of them: either on the penultimate, or ultimate, mission, there is a portion where you have to fly your jet through a tunnel, with obstacles and sometimes enemies shooting at you. I hate it, it’s above my skill level, and most importantly, takes me out of the game, because that’s just a ridiculous concept, even in this setting. I’ll get it if it goes on serious sale (like under $20).
• Kingdom Hearts 3: I liked the two mainline ones on PS2. But I never played any of the others, and this seemed more like that OC wank than the Disney + Final Fantasy stuff I liked about the first two games. Also, I don’t have a PS4 or XBone, so there’s that.
• Imperator Rome: I like the Paradox grand strategy games. Or rather, ‘liked’. I don’t like what happened in EU or HoI (CKII still has enough of the old systems, plus enough of its own unique charm, to still be worth playing), and this goes in the same direction. I heard, from people that like these sorts of games, that this game is actually pretty bad. Sad! (Also, incredibly buggy, but I figure most of those have been taken care of by now.)
• Persona Q 2: I liked the first game, although I’ve never finished it (I think it’s still in my 3DS, actually). Between that, and the inclusion of the P5 cast, whose game I’ve never played, hasn’t exactly been pushing me super excited for it.
• Senran Kagura Burst RE:newal: I like anime girls, and the gameplay seems fun enough. However, this puts the “titty” in “titty ninja,” and I just don’t like them that big (nor kids, which is the only other option).
• Metal Wolf Chaos XD: ARE YOU A BAD ENOUGH PRESIDENT TO SAVE THE DUDE? I am getting this, but it came out just when I was starting ESO and FFXIV, and I just haven’t had time for it yet.
• Astral Chain: seems like the kind of thing I’d like, but I don’t have a Switch.
• River City Girls: I like the concept of playing as anime girl hooligans in this genre, but the more I hear about this specific outing, the less I like.
• Link’s Awakening: Not my favorite Zelda game by a long shot (heh), and I don’t have a Switch. But it is on the short-list when I do get that system.
• Code Vein: Again, I think I’d like it, but I’m not going to love it, and I’m not paying full-price for a game I won’t love.
• Tropico 6: I actually have completely forgotten this game ever came out. I think I remember hearing at the time that it wasn’t good, or at least not good enough to pay full price for. I liked Tropico 4; 5 less so.
• The Outer Worlds: I think I’ve said before that I have little faith in Obsidian these days. Also, gameplay looks bad. But we’ll see how it is when it comes out.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (PC): I really liked the first game. Hear this one isn’t as good. But actually having good controls might make up for the other shortcomings.
• Mechwarrior 5: Oh man, I really should be excited for this, but I’m not. I liked 3 way more than 4, but I’m definitely in the minority on that one. And this seems more like 4. Also, Epic Store Exclusive = NOPE. At least not until they show they can have a competent launcher and store.

As for what 2019 games I’ve actually gotten:

• Atelier Lulua: Was everything I expected it to be, and more (in a good way). Not perfect by any means (which I’ve talked about on this very blog), but it was great, to me.
• Pokemon Masters: This, on the other hand, was a serious disappointment. Not only is the gameplay not that great, but it technically needs a lot of work, as does the gacha. I was hoping for a game with cute girls, so I wouldn’t need to get Shield/Sword (which is shaping up to be a total fail in every department but that), and technically I got that, but it’s very bare-bones even in this department (they aren’t even properly voiced!).

So yah, that’s a pretty sad 2019 for me: TWO new games played this year.

Well, new to everyone. There were a few more I played this year that were new to me. Next time, I’ll talk about those (since I went though the trouble of making a list and all).