So back in 2015 my steady gaming pace (I had always been able to stay current with the game-du-jour) came to a screeching halt with Helldivers; quite possibly the best co-op multi-player game I've ever encountered. Just about the time my addiction with Helldivers was ending (in 2017!!!) For Honor was released... and back into the breach I went! In For Honor I discovered not only one of the best fighting systems in video gaming, but a competitive multi-player that I was really good at!
It's hard to know who is more to blame: the fools on For Honor's Reddit site that drive the community or Ubisoft itself for capitulating to their whining demands but, as of patch 1.09, I am forced to consider For Honor officially dead. As of this point the game is unrecognizable from the unique and original game that showed up in the Open Beta and sold me a 100 dollar package. Although I am sad and I miss the game terribly the ultimate failure of For Honor opens the door on my Backlog, which has grown steadily despite my obsessions. I have so many unplayed games now it almost makes me just want to sell them unopened and forget about them... but no! I must prevail. So I turn to you, GIO users: won't you help me decide where my focus should be?
So here's the deal: I will list off some of the games in my backlog and you guys vote, in the comments. Let me know which game you think I should focus on and in return I may write a few followup blogs about my progress in said games. So, without further ado and in no particular order, the candidates:
THE WITCHER 3 (and associated expansions)
Okay, to be fair I'll probably play this one off-and-on anyway. I built an entire PC gaming rig around THIS game. I went back and played through the entirety of Witcher and Assassin of Kings just to get to this... I am reading the books! Also, as this one is on my PC, there will be times when I may not be physically able to play this due to sharing this computer with others at the house. But still, if you want my focus to be here, go ahead! I'll endeavor to post followup blogs about this one. Presently I am at Kaer Morhen in the game.
Mad Max
This game was directly halted by Helldivers. It is an incredible and fun game and I really regret not finishing it. To be honest I probably would have if not for the crazy amount of sidequests which distract an old completionist like me. I'm in Pink Eye's territory here.
Shadow of Mordor (Game of the Year Edition)
I have already played and platinumed this once but I am very close to the end of my GOTY runthrough. However I never got to play the DLC during my first run. I actually have a couple of friends playing through this now so I get the chance to hunt down their nemesis (nemesi?) as well.
The Uncharted Series (1-4)
This is another replay... except for UC4. I decided to replay 1-3 with the collection just as a primer to get the most out of 4 but I haven't even started this yet. For the collection I'd probably run through on Easy just to get to 4.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate
I started this a long time ago (Thanks, Helldivers) but it has been so long now I might just restart it completely since I don't really remember what is going on. I suffered through the disjointed AssThreed and AssUnity so I feel like I ought to really get back to this one because it was actually good.
Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
I failed to finish this on the Vita and then I failed again on the PS3 but I really want to finish it. I loved what I played; hell I even have a daughter named Aveline! I don't want to let this one fade away.
Yakuza 5
I have a LONG love affair with the Yakuza games, and this one especially was grand, but Helldivers stopped me from finishing it. Now this PS3 gem sits in danger of being forgotten along with last gen's console. I can't let that happen.
Far Cry 4
I'm near the end. I just need to finish it! Like so many games nowadays there was too much side content!
Alien Isolation
Okay, this one has been hanging around the longest I think. I also have a special relationship with the Xenomorph, to the point that I've met them. That said Alien Isolation got put on the backburner long enough to get swallowed by Helldivers. Full Disclosure: I am terrified by the Xenomorph. It is the only thing that has ever caused me to wake up screaming. So I admit playing this high stress game for extended periods may be beyond my endurance... but I'll try. Blogging about it may make it a more sufferable experience.
Nioh
I LOVE this game. Absolutely love it. I also SUCK at it. I struggle with the unforgiving difficulty but I absolutely enjoy playing it. I never finished Demons Souls and I never played any of the other Dark Souls games so this one threatens to fall by the wayside as well. I can't let that happen!!
Honorable Mentions
These games I will probably play anyway, but I thought I'd mention them as well!
Yakuza 0
I am playing this one with my wife, so I can't tear off on my own, but I thought I'd mention it. We used to play Helldivers together but now, when we get a chance, we do this.
Far Cry Primal (Extreme Survivor Playthrough)
This was my Game of the Year last year and I have the platinum for it, but the ultimate way of playing this game is the Extreme Survivor Mode. I could play this every day... for HOURS. I put this in when I have particularly hard days and I just need to escape to a world where everything wants to eat me.
Voting
So there you have it! Thanks for reading all this and thank you, in advance, for your vote! I'll do my best to do my part!