Backlog Resolution Master Post

This is a post to list links to my posts of youtube playlists for my steam backlog playthroughs that I started this year. I'll also list what the next/current game is on this post.

Previously completed: Titanfall 2 Hitman: Absolution + Sniper Challenge Shovel Knight: King of Cards Tomb Raider 1 Remastered Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Condemned: Criminal Origins Saint's Row 2 Elden Ring

Upcoming game: Pathologic 2 (delayed) Tomb Raider Unfinished Business (bonus)

(if I make a google docs spreadsheet of possible games I'll link it here)

Three options this time, because I want people to actually have a choice beyond "picking the one Laura's never played" as the default. I don't expect much of a showing from poor Save the Light when it's one of maybe a half dozen games I've ever done speedruns of in the past.

I wouldn't do a speedrun of it if it won, but I'd try to think of something novel to do instead, sort of a challenge run kinda thing. Not sure what though... maybe Crying Breakfast Friend badge/No fusions for all bosses or something.

Per Aspera Ad Astra

I finished Elden Ring, with the Age of Stars ending of course, thanks in no small part to a final bit of help from some friends. The final story bosses are a substantial step up in difficulty from the previous bosses, although the Elden Beast would probably be more reasonable if you didn't have to pay the Radagon tax every time you challenged it. For the final encounters alone I went through at least 15 Rune Arcs, and was using Starlight Shards for FP restoration just so I could have 14 healing flasks to use. Before that, most other required or significant bosses were taking at most 3 attempts (excluding the Dragonic Tree Sentinel). A big final struggle to finish the main playthrough before the upcoming DLC.

Working my way through Elden Ring, and decided to grab a screenshot from this meeting after beating Margott. Basic info: I'm going for the Ranni ending, and I've gotten almost to the spot in the Lake of Rot area where I can fight that boss, but it's way outside my level range so I'm progressing the main quest for a bit. My build is centered on using a greatsword and bow as my physical weapons, with Dragon Incantations as my main use of magic (although my sword has Beast Roar on it as well, so I'm kinda doing a roar/breath attack build).

After about 70 hours and being something like halfway through maybe, I can say that I do enjoy the game, but it is such a massive undertaking. The combat feels different from the souls games I've actually finished (Demon's Souls and Dark Souls 1 and 2), although I can see some of their influence on the overall game design. Dark Souls 2 and 3 seems to be the biggest influences of the series on Elden Ring. I love the inclusion of Spirit Ashes, as they do allow you a lot of options to tailor your combat style even if it mostly ends up amounting to either summoning a swarm to build stagger or distract enemies or summoning a tank to pull aggro so you can actually use ranged weapons and high risk high reward attacks.

Of the bosses so far, Rennala and Radhann have been my favorites, with Rennala just being a fun mix of puzzle and battle encounter, and Radhann having the worst start of any boss while you summon your army, but the most satisfying experience with the option of horseback combat. My least favorite boss so far has been Crucible Knight. I don't know why, but I just can't get my mind and hands to work properly with his attacks. I've only managed to kill one of them so far, and it was the non-boss one in the Capital that respawns and has a nearby elevator you can cheese him with. I still haven't beaten the one in the starting area.

In any case, I'm excited to get back to the game, but I am sure that I'll be happy to have a bit of time to take a break before the DLC because it can be exhausting to play through.