Lok's 2025 Backlog Bash Extravaganza !!

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Poll of the Day » Lok's 2025 Backlog Bash Extravaganza !!
Lokarin
01/01/2025
09:08 AM
#1
It's time to burn through all those Halloween and Winter sale games again!

I'm going to tackle my backlog in 3 phases

-----

Phase 1: Any game I have installed already. This should be the easiest since if it's already installed then I'm good to go.

Phase 2: Any game I don't currently have installed that I also haven't played yet. This is the bulk of the backlog, and I look forward to FF7 when it can be downloaded

Phase 3: Games from the trash bin that need further attention (IE: Mostly freemium games or games that failed to complete in a previous backlog bash)

.

Furthermore, I'll give each game a Backlog rating. It's not a rating of the game quality, just a rating of how backlogiful the game is.

S Rank: 100%'d the game, wowzers!
A Rank: Beat the game
B Rank: I couldn't beat the game and it would take significant effort to finish (such as MMOs with a core plot), but I WILL return someday
C Rank: I couldn't beat the game and the game is just kinda... ehhhh
D Rank: Coke Zero
F Rank: I turned the game on, barfed, did a 360 and walked away.

....

You can join in too!

I'll be doing these in alphabetical order by phase as according to my Steam Library.

Game 1: Among Us - A Rank

Wow, that took only like a few minutes!

Game 2: Balatro - A Rank

Wow, I already had it done!

Game 3: Blasphemous 2 DLC ONLY. This game was previously S rank and has been reduced to A rank due to the DLC... as such, this is the first game I will be actuall playing for this topic

"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Revelation34
01/01/2025
09:10 AM
#2
I'll finally have time to game next week. Might as well try to finish Berseria before Graces comes out.
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokarin
01/01/2025
09:37 AM
#3
oopsie, looks like Blasphemous 2 was previously only B rank - I must have got it mixed up. Still, new DLC
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/01/2025
03:08 PM
#4
Oopsie, looks like I messed up my own rating system... Blasphemous 2 WAS A rank afterall, but I still need the DLC clear

I can't remember where to go, I have double jump and my next goal is somewhere in the upper right.... I don't have the ability to go through blue chains or gold platforms yet.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/01/2025
08:56 PM
#5
Progress is being made

Enjoy the best song from Blasphemous 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDoLQQ4uP4
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/02/2025
08:15 PM
#6
Ok, Blasphemous 2 is done to a high A rank - I could S rank it now, the only achievements missing are an optional choice in the DLC which is about 1/3 through the game, and the 'get to the emery boss in 30 minutes'... but that's a scope for another day.

Next game!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1082710/Bug_Fables_The_Everlasting_Sapling/

Let's a go!
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/03/2025
01:01 PM
#7
holy crap is it cold today~! I'm going back to bed

If I had Steam Deck I could play, but meh
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
ConfusedTorchic
01/03/2025
03:29 PM
#8
phase 1 should just be look at everything

and then phase 2 is just play something you've played 43 times already instead
see my gundams here
https://imgur.com/a/F7xKM5r updated 12/10/24; mg age 2 normal
Lokarin
01/03/2025
10:45 PM
#9
Lokarin posted...
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1082710/Bug_Fables_The_Everlasting_Sapling/

It's Paper Mario, with bugs!

Rather cute, I'm mid chapter 2 right now
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Revelation34
01/03/2025
10:55 PM
#10
Lokarin posted...


It's Paper Mario, with bugs!

Rather cute, I'm mid chapter 2 right now


Yeah I was tempted to get it but I'll get it during another sale.
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokarin
01/04/2025
07:29 PM
#11
The chapter 3 dungeon is fantastic
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/05/2025
07:48 PM
#12
Starting chapter 5

game is rather charming and Vi is so cute. lots of content, too.

Game is funny in how it unlocks most abilities for you, though. Some you'll unlock as the plot suggests, which is totally fair; but others you'll just be walking down a road and Kabbu will be like "oh, I can run btw - double tap B" :V
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/06/2025
09:52 PM
#13
Beat it, Bug Fables upgraded to A Rank.

It's really good. Highly recommend if you just want a Paper Mario style RPG

Will play it a bit more cuz there's bonus content before moving on
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/08/2025
01:06 AM
#14
Bug Fables, gunna take a break - not going to get this to S Rank (platinum/etc), as the final achievement is a grind heavy one and I don't wanna burnout, plus the game is only like 300 megs so it's not wasting any drive space.

Next Game on the List:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/612390/Dandara_Trials_of_Fear_Edition/

Currently D Rank (Coke Zero - IE - I never even played it yet)
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/08/2025
01:34 AM
#15
dang, the movement in this game is super slick
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/08/2025
05:41 AM
#16
I'm lost - it's a metroidvania with a map, good scene direction and top tier set design; but I still don't know where to go cuz the 3 new powerups I got just aren't clicking in my head... and I'm thinking a lot of powerups might be optional, as well.

I might have to tackle 2 games at the same time now, since I'm getting ... ehhhh, not 'wrist' pain, but forearm pain very near the wrist when I use my gamepad (due to overplaying Bug Fables) so I need to split this into 1 gamepad game and 1 KBM game.

Of course, that KBM game could just be Balatro :3

I think the next KBM game in my Phase 1 backlog is The Last Federation, way down in L while I'm still up in D.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/09/2025
01:31 AM
#17
I managed to find 3 MORE powerups, (one of them being a simple warp to campsite item) and I STILL have no idea where to go!

This time not because lost, but because I stare at the map and can't see places I haven't been
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/09/2025
04:21 AM
#18
Beat it with the special ending (cuz via exploration I found almost everything EXCEPT the final boss)... so Dandara is up to A Rank

Pretty good game, do recommend if you like metroidvanias... and the speedrun is insano.

The game is also worth more than 20k point on Exophase so I'll probably S Rank/Platinum it later on.

NEXT GAME

Dead Cells.... mmm, already A Rank, but I have like 3 unplayed DLCs for it so I should give it a few rounds

Death Road to Canada, A Rank, but achievements didn't exist way back when I put most my time in.

Deep Rock Galactic... unknown rank since I don't know if there's a concrete ending, but I did do lots so I'll pass this down to Phase 3

Demon's Tilt .... .... unknown rank, it IS an arcade pinball game so it's unlikely to have an ending, but it also has bosses so there might be some ultimate jackpot. So like Dead Cells I'll play this a few times here.

Doom 1 and 2

...

Ok, I'll play this. Ya, I've played all the Doom... but I haven't finished SIGIL, which is a really cool campaign. But this game is already S Rank

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

........

Yay, New Game Time (D Rank). That will be the next game on this list. I love Dragon Quest Monsters and I wish the devs would put in the time to make it as competitive as Pokemon. They tried it with Joker 2 (and presumably 3), but it didn't really work because: A) The rankings had hidden mechanics that only Japanese players knew and B) It's on the DS and doesn't exist any more

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2175540/DRAGON_QUEST_MONSTERS_The_Dark_Prince/
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/11/2025
01:21 AM
#19
Up to E rank tournaments in Dark Prince. Game is pretty ok

Some sucky stuff - whatever they're using for a lighting shader is completely broken; it's almost like there's just a second character model of 'well lit' mode that is super-imposed over your current model, cuz it really does look weird.

One GUI sin the game makes is that in text menus the highlighted and non-highlighted options are both neutral colours, so you can easily mistake highlighted for not-highlighted and vice versa.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/13/2025
05:18 AM
#20
This game kinda mid so far

The game is a demi-prequel to Dragon Quest 4 where you play as younger Psaro... but, like, SO FAR (only at the beginning) they're kinda like not really committing to any given plot, yet, so IDK

But...

Best thing EVER!!

https://dragon-quest.org/wiki/Goonache_goodie

OMG!!!
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/13/2025
02:44 PM
#21
awww, that's cute

Your test experiment of the Secret of Evolution is turning Healie human; I love demi-prequels
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/14/2025
03:52 AM
#22
Healie is an absolute Shotacon

https://imgur.com/sX4oipM

"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/15/2025
11:50 PM
#23
Game is taking a long time; I'm at the final boss (main game, although the post game is very minimal) and I know I 'could' do it if I just try or, like, use items or something... but meh, AUTO-BATTLE ONLY

Plus I've been padding the Monsterpedia: As a plus the Reverse Search option is amazing for crafting things you don't have yet as well as their materials.

The DOWNSIDE is that this doesn't include Grandparent/4-Monster Synthesis entries, which I have no idea how you are ever supposed to figure out. Monsters like Balhib, Buntzenburner, Estark and Zoma for example.

Also, there's a paradox when it comes to team building - because the number of quality options is limited and the few top level skills have a lot of overlap between them (often only 1 or 2 skills different), it's awkwardly hard to make the right choice between competing sets. For example; Do you pick Wrecker or Uberkill - both are very similar. Same goes with Supreme Healer or Cleric - one has Kazing, the other has Oomph; both excellent skills depending on the situation.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/16/2025
12:00 AM
#24
Nokturnus is the worse for this

His recipe is Lord of Dragovians, Mortamor, Almighty and Ramia - this is a 4-Monster Synth (hidden)

Lord of Dragovians is fair, you can get it with hard work and the search option

Mortamor is a 4-synth itself, Almighty needs Orgodemir which is also a 4-synth, and Ramia is also a 4-synth; but Ramia needs a Fluffy needs Prism Peacock which is a 4-synth.

EDIT: Estark is almost as bad; while it also needs a 4-synth to make and requires Manslayer and Nimzo (4-synths), each of his 4 synths require a hidden egg exclusive monster (2 hyperanemons, a Robbin' 'ood, and Marquis de Leon)
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/16/2025
11:53 AM
#25
Beat it!

Dragon Quest Monsters Dark Prince now Tier A. Will play a smidge longer cuz it's fun, but... next game

Fear and Hunger 2!
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/16/2025
04:58 PM
#26
Upgraded Dark Prince to Tier S - guess there's nothing left but to start Fear and Hunger 2
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/16/2025
08:34 PM
#27
Fear and Hunger 2 is a hard start due to the long startup... I tried 3 of the characters so far; one died in a toilet, one got crucified and survived only to be vomited on by a headless dog and the other got choked so hard the game crashed and told me to hit F5 to restart.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/17/2025
05:41 PM
#28
I rage quit (F5) cuz I fell off the church rafters 6 times
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/17/2025
08:32 PM
#29
Termina is fantastic, it's basically Majora's Mask the Death Game; you literally have 3 days to survive or kill; subdivided into 9 times (morning/afternoon/night x3) where each of the 14 characters has their own events and interactions.

...

But, I'm lost as all hell. I peeked at a world map to see what's up and apparently I've been everywhere except a forest in the SW and the Prevail tower itself... but I have no idea WHAT I'm supposed to do.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
ParanoidObsessive
01/17/2025
09:53 PM
#30
Lokarin posted...
Healie is an absolute Shotacon

...pretty sure you're using that term wrong there.
"Wall of Text'D!" --- oldskoolplayr76
"POwned again." --- blight family
Lokarin
01/17/2025
09:54 PM
#31
ParanoidObsessive posted...
...pretty sure you're using that term wrong there.

I didn't want to say twink; just an adorable little duder
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/19/2025
05:11 AM
#32
Fear and Hunger 2 complete; I can't give it an S Rank cuz it has no achievements, but I got endings A and B; So I guess I'll give it an unofficial A+ Rank.

No idea how to get ending C since there's no opportunity to kill August that I can find, but oh wells.

next game on list? mmmm....

Final Fantasy V technically, but I've beaten that many a time

Freedom Planet

Ok, this is a game I ATTEMPTED many times but never get anywhere... the game just doesn't jive with me for some reason, so it's currently C Rank. I'll hit it up tomorrow tho, I'm tired
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/20/2025
10:18 PM
#33
Freedom Planet down, Tier A.

I didn't like it; but it could be just that I don't like Lilac's gameplay loop.

Next game on the list is The Last Federation; A game by Arcen (which I rather like their stuff) and it's currently C Tier, but I can see me giving up with this in Tier B since these games sometimes take hundreds of hours to conclude.
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/21/2025
06:50 PM
#34
Oh hey, Blasphemous board game

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/lms/blasphemous-the-boardgame
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/21/2025
08:30 PM
#35
Last Federation crashed :/

According to my achievement list I have beaten it before, so it's technically A Rank... but I really don't remember it at all so I'll give it a few more attempts before moving on.

...

Also, I keep going back to Fear and Hunger 2 Termina... I know I pow'd through it to clear it from the backlog, but the atmosphere and number of options keeps me coming back.

Next game on the list:

All the LOGistICAL Games?

I like these games, but you never 'beat' them... so they are all currently B Rank with a few of them at S Rank. I'll get some progress in a few of them before moving on.

Long Live the Queen

I really like this game, but I haven't played it since the patch so I 'll give it another go - but it's also already A Rank

MegaMan Collection

Technically A Rank cuz I did it on console, but I loves the megan maens so I'll hit this one up, too;

...

Monster Sanctuary

Also A Rank, but it didn't have hard mode or the post game at the time, I beat it way way way back soon after launch. So this one will get some look overs

Moonlight

Is good, A Rank, again there's more content now so I need to glance over it

Nation Red

A Rank, it's an endless arcade type game so only a few modes are beatable... but ya.

...

So, after all that what's the next MAIN game? It's a good one

NOITA!!!!

Yes, I have not played Noita more than a few moments, so it's currently at C Rank. Gunna crank this one
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/22/2025
11:37 PM
#36
Immunity to fire is not immunity to lava :<

"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/24/2025
03:32 AM
#37
In the far East I found a giant diamond... I used a black hole to climb inside; There was a perk which made me explode into little light bolts, which was cool but did do slight (1~2) damage to me if I was standing on a surface.

On my way back I re-encounter a strange blue orb called an essence eater - I jumped into it so as the light bolts destroyed it... which removed my light bolts and gave me a strange orb that turns manufactured material into soil

so odd... and mysterious
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokarin
01/25/2025
06:28 AM
#38
Found a wand that had Fireball Thrower auto on it; Normally this spell only has 16 casts but when it's an auto it doesn't run out.

It's other spells were rather fast and long duration so I had basically an explosion WMD... .... ... while I had explosion immunity~! So I started blastin'!

I was killed cuz all the explosions I couldn't see anything
"Salt cures Everything!"
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nirakolov/videos
Lokchan
02/07/2025
01:59 AM
#39
Safety bump cuz still suspended
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Revelation34
02/08/2025
10:57 PM
#40
Lokarin posted...
Termina is fantastic, it's basically Majora's Mask the Death Game; you literally have 3 days to survive or kill; subdivided into 9 times (morning/afternoon/night x3) where each of the 14 characters has their own events and interactions.

...

But, I'm lost as all hell. I peeked at a world map to see what's up and apparently I've been everywhere except a forest in the SW and the Prevail tower itself... but I have no idea WHAT I'm supposed to do.


Isn't that just Danganronpa?
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokchan
02/14/2025
11:24 PM
#41
Dang purg lasts a long time
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Lokchan
02/18/2025
08:40 PM
#42
I'll do a more detailed breakdown when I resurrect, but I'm now on Sega classics which will take some time
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Revelation34
02/19/2025
11:55 AM
#43
Lokchan posted...
I'll do a more detailed breakdown when I resurrect, but I'm now on Sega classics which will take some time


Do you own the entire collection?
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokchan
02/19/2025
11:14 PM
#44
Revelation34 posted...
Do you own the entire collection?

All except mean bean machine iirc. I know a single game is absent from the collection.

Currently on decap attack, so yes I powered through beyond oasis
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Revelation34
02/21/2025
10:48 PM
#45
Lokchan posted...


All except mean bean machine iirc. I know a single game is absent from the collection.

Currently on decap attack, so yes I powered through beyond oasis


I want it all. It's going to take you forever if you also play the RPGs.
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokchan
02/22/2025
04:23 AM
#46
I'm on Landstalker... man the control is bad

And i have vitriolic things to say about kid chameleon
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Lokchan
02/23/2025
10:07 PM
#47
Just finished phantasy star 3 in one session. Got ti skip 2 due to having done it before....

I have complaints and just need to wait....
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Revelation34
02/23/2025
11:05 PM
#48
I did not know Sega removed the majority of the games from the collection. I would have bought it had I known before they removed them.
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Lokchan
02/25/2025
07:25 PM
#49
Shining in the darkness time
Salty girl looking for cutie to crush the muffin.
Revelation34
02/27/2025
11:06 AM
#50
Lokchan posted...
Shining in the darkness time


I remember playing that a long time ago. I don't think I played much.
Gamertag: Kegfarms, BF code: 2033480226, Treasure Cruise code 318,374,355, Steam: Kegfarms, Switch: SW-1900-5502-7912
Poll of the Day » Lok's 2025 Backlog Bash Extravaganza !!
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