Ganner

I plan on keeping the tunnel vision on Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). According to the save file it says I'm on 'Disc 3' so at least I'm making more progress than I thought. Still not completely jiving with the junction system but I'm working with it.

Not much time for games this weekend. Just got checked into Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for the Blackhawks vs Knights game and all day Beach pool action tomorrow with the wife! I'm already downing beers from my beer bag to prepare for the Fortress tonight!

I took a extra day off of work so when I get back on Tuesday I'll continue with Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2).

@Rainz I've been saying all season the Knights are only where they're at due to luck. You're absolutely right the goaltending has been so unreliable among other things. I mean c'mon they have 14(!) OT losses this season. They depend on pulling rabbits out their asses too much and luck keeps being generous. I see them being ousted in Round 1 if they don't crash & burn before it starts.

As for your Flames, the wife and I attended the Ducks game last Sunday (3/1) and watched them have a great start in the game to only allow the Ducks to come back and win in a shootout. That must have been tough for you to watch. The Ducks just got fire under their asses and played strong till the end.

Next Saturday (3/14) the wife and I will be in Vegas to watch the Blackhawks vs Knights. She's all Anaheim & Chicago sports teams (her family is from Chicago) so we try to get out there to see the Ducks/Blackhawks when the play the Knights. It's a blast!

My gaming time this weekend will be chopped up some. If I do get time I plan on keeping the tunnel vision with Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). Surprisingly I've been able to get some time with it throughout the week and actually making some progress. I'm finally understanding more of the confusing 'junction system' too. On a hope and a prayer, I'd like to get this one knocked out within the next few weeks because I have so much on the backlog I want to get to. We'll see.

I hope to keep chopping away at Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). I think I'm finally starting to better understand the whole 'junction' system. Especially remembering to swap out setups when characters change due to whatever's happening in the story. Not sure I dig this system but I give kudos for them trying something different than what FF7 did. Games like this are totally not by bag by a long shot but I'm trying to stay committed to going "off the rails" with my current backlog choice game. I can't deny though I am having some fun so I'm not torturing myself for the hell of it. It's crazy though that I originally hacked at this game 27 years ago when I was in high school only to give it another go now. Ageing sucks!

@Yalloo ... and attending the Alter Bridge concert this Sunday...

That's awesome and the new album was great from start to finish! (I got a signed CD copy!) If you remember back in December, I told you I was debating about going to see a Myles Kennedy solo show. I did end up going and he was so good! The best part was during the song "Behind the Veil", freaking Slash came out and did an almost 10-minute guitar solo and finished out the song with the band! The place went bonkers. You can see it from various angles on YouTube if you look it up. It's from the Dec 7th show at the House of Blues Anaheim. Have fun at the show! (I hope they play "Poison in Your Veins" and "The Uninvited").

For the next backlog game, I decided to really pull something way out of left field. After 27 years I'm going to give Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2) another go. Back in the 90's, I fully admit I was one of those Final Fantasy 7 tourist/bandwagon players. I tried FF8 when it came out and quickly realized that genre is not for me. Since the remastered release it's always nagged just a little in the back of my mind. Let's see if I can see it all the way through this time.

After wrapping up Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) last week, I decided to move on the backlog with Quake II 64 via the Quake II Remastered (Switch 2). For whatever reason I wasn't fully jiving with the PC Quake II. I was about to throw in the towel but decided to give the included Quake II 64 version a try and...I'm down with it! I understand it's a unique version specifically made for the N64 at the time but I'm having a great time with it. Should have it done this weekend.

I should also be able to wrap up the last part in documentary in Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). It was done so good!

My original plan was to just roll the credits in Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) and move on in the backlog. I rolled the credits, but I have to admit the game sunk its claws into me and now I've been focusing on prankster comets and Special World. I really want to move on but I'm having unexpected fun getting those remaining stars. I 100% Galaxy 1 but that was done during covid lockdowns and had endless time to do it. Oh well.

I'm at the last part in the documentary in Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). I've been digging it so much! It makes it much more engrossing because I actually lived through that era. That documentary has been so spot on.

That name does not roll off the tongue.

I'm going all in for the NA version. I have to admit I'm being very biased here because it was 1 of the 3 games I had when I got my Virtual Boy! It was this, Mario Tennis, and Wario Land. I could only get so far in Red Alarm but man did I put so many hours into it! Blew my mind at the time.

My gaming time is going to be a bit limited this weekend. I was able to get a lot further into Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) during the week so I plan on sticking to that.

Lastly, maybe a few post-game runs in Hades 2 (Switch 2).

Still continuing on my slow playthrough of Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Hoping to wrap that up within the next 2 weeks.

I'll also throw in a run or two of post game Hades 2 (Switch 2). So much more to do than the first game. Will definitely take my time with it.

I'm only a few tasks away from finishing Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC. I might just focus on that to wrap that up so I can stop being addicted to it at random times and eat up my limited game time.

This is awesome! Like many have said this makes me hopeful for more surprise updates to their games. I'm really hoping Astral Chain gets a Switch 2 upgrade for not only performance, but extra modes. It needs an endless, a horde mode and/or something like the tower mode from Devel May Cry 3. Olive's Cases come close but just don't provide the same experience I'd prefer.

@BrokenCiv That's so cool! I have mad respect for musicians. That's why I'm so into rock and metal. I developed an even bigger respect for horn/orchestra players after getting into The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Not only are the albums so much fun, but the live shows (seen them many times) are such a blast, and all the players can be more entertaining than many of my favorite guitarists or drummers.

I'll continue on the backlog quest game Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Besides some wonky control issues at times the game is really good. I should be a lot further along by now, but my limited gaming time keeps being an issue. As usual.

I also randomly picked up on sale Quake 2 Remastered (Switch 2). Back in my day you were either an Unreal/Unreal Tournament player or Quake. I was Unreal so I never gave this one a shot. I tried the first Quake last year and it just didn't gel with me (I also kept getting dizzy). The little I've played of this one seems like a better fit for me so we'll see if I stick to it. So far it's pretty good!

Glad to hear it and very well deserved. This game was on my 'for sure do list this year' on my Switch backlog for last year. Got it on sale and once it "clicked" for me, I couldn't stop playing it! It was one of those games where I felt some melancholy as I got to the end. It was such a fun ride I didn't want it to end. I will admit though I had to Google the story because I was having a real hard time figuring out what was actually going on and what was a stake. Even after reading extensive backstory and plotlines for the game I was still confused at times.

I believe there's some mistaken information here. There was a Yoshi meet and greet at the Universal Hollywood at last year's Fanfest events. Also, as someone already mentioned there's a Donkey Kong meet and greet at the DKC expansion at Florida's Epic Universe. Of course, when I was there last year the team members told me he was "on vacation" so I couldn't meet him.

Top 3:

Snowrunner (173 hours)
Hades 2 (88 hours)
Red Dead Redemption (62 hours)

Played 35 games with a total of 589 hours. For the most part I'm pretty satisfied with 2025 by burning through more of the backlog than I originally thought I would be able to do. I'm really hoping I can keep it up this year. I probably could do more if I could drop Snowrunner cold turkey but man that game keeps hooking me during "main" games, in between games, etc.

I'm moving slow at it but I hope to dive deeper into Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Also, I really want to continue all the documentary stuff with Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). What I find so fascinating about is I actually lived through that era. When that first Mortal Kombat cabinet arrived at our local pizza joint, I was in that crowd of kids with our jaws on the floor at what we were seeing. At the time, the future was now!

@Burning_Spear You're far from alone on this, brother. I've noticed it's happened to me more and more as I age (turning 42 this year ). My theory on this matter is it's possibly about committing the headspace. What I mean is as we get older our "anything goes" headspace gets less and less with due to real life. With that knowing we're about to break ground into something new (even if it's supposed to be fun) can weirdly feel intimidating some. So, when we get into that state, we naturally just want to chill out the easiest and comforting way possible. I have a short list of games when this happens like Everspace, Sifu, Company of Heroes Collection, etc. LOL it's probably why I keep going back to Snowrunner. I easily lose myself to that game spending hours delivering one damn load of whatever. I find it crazy when this happens because as you know I b!tch on here so much about lacking gaming time and at times when I actually do get lengthy time, I end up just playing one of my comfort games I mentioned.

You think I'm making any sense here or near the mark? It could just be a me thing and I'm just nuts.

I plan on really focusing on Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) so I can finish it before the movie comes out. Like I said last week in theory I should have more than enough time but with limited gaming time it takes me a lot longer than usual to finish games.

I'm also down to the final missions in Season 1 DLC for Snowrunner (Switch 2). I saved the medium and especially long log hauls for last and man I can already tell these are going to be a REAL PAIN. But I'm up for the challenge of course! If time permits maybe I'll give it go.

@Mehmori I 100% agree with your take as it was pretty much my take when I played it back in the Wii era. For whatever reason it's so hard to have a legit conversation with anyone (especially online) about that game. You're either on the "it should die of gonorrhea & rot in hell" side or "blind Nintendo fan boy" side. Hardly anything in between for peaceful critical conversation.

Well, I was able to get some good gaming time in last weekend and finished Luigi's Mansion (NSO). Great game and crazy to have finally beat it 25 years later (I got it at launch back in the gap but never beat it).

The wife got me the Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection Deluxe Edition (Switch 2) for Christmas so I shall be diving into that when I can.

I also got a bunch of eShop money so I'll be using that to pick up Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) so I can get that one done before the movie releases. In theory I have plenty of time but given how long it takes me to beat anything nowadays I should get on it asap. I loved the first game so really looking forward to this one.

In theory I should have more gaming opportunities this time around. All week I've taken a break from digging too deep into Hades 2 (Switch 2) postgame and been focusing on Luigi's Mansion (NSO). If I do get the time, I'll probably bounce between those two games (if luck is on my side maybe finish Mansion or at least pretty close to it).

@MischiefMaker I'm such a bigger fan of Hogwarts Legacy than the actual core films (never read the books). I'm fortunate I live in SoCal, so my wife and I have passes to Universal Hollywood and visit it often. Since playing through Legacy, I get more nerdy about being in that land. In October we visited Universal Epic Universe, and I was geeking out in the Harry Potter area all because of the game. I'm 41 years old so playing it on the Switch 1 was all good regardless that it was considered the inferior version. I had a blast. I'm from the days when as long as the game was fun, any jank wasn't 'world ending'. It's a freaking disposable video game entertainment for crying out loud

@Umbrius I wrapped up Neva last week, and it’s a game I’ll be carrying with me for a long time...

Bro (or sister or anything in between), I meant to reply to you about Neva when you mentioned it last week. I loved that game. It was by far the perfect 'palate cleanser' for me this time last year. I was in between big games in my backlog, and I gave this one a go after finishing a bigger backlog game. It was the perfect game that was easy to get lost in BUT not require too much investment. It's so underrated. It's games like this that can break my heart knowing they will not get the mass appeal it deserves.

@eldersnake ... I think I'm in the minority of players that's having a real blast with the game, I don't want it to end yet ;_;

I don't think you are. From what I see on here and in my personal life from people that have/are actually playing the game have stated the game is a really good game. Not perfect (no game is, as much as I LOVED Metroid Dread there was some things that I really didn't like) but still is great addition to the Prime series. The way the online/streamer/doom & gloom, etc. YouTube culture runs today can spin narratives to whatever the money-making algorithm requires. Not saying there isn't times when it's legit to roll with a narrative, but it's blood in the water regardless.

I haven't played MP4 yet, but it's going to be a Xmas gift from the mother-in-law, and I'll get to it at some point to form my own opinion which I'm really looking forward to. To be honest I REALLY want to play MP 2 & 3 first since I skipped those back in the gap.

Time again this weekend is compromised however I was able to finally roll the credits in Hades 2 (Switch 2) during the week. I'll definitely play the postgame story but hopefully in smaller doses. Will be hard with how addicting that game is. So if time permits I'll be hacking at that.

I'll also put more time into my playthrough of Luigi's Mansion (NSO). Digging into this wasn't a part of any gaming plan (especially with the backlog I have) but the old school fun it provides feels like something I really need right now.

They say hindsight is always 20-20 (but looking back, it's still a bit fuzzy LOL had to throw that in).

As many have said it all worked out in the end. You can just never properly predict what would work and what would be a total disaster. You can say that for almost all forms of successful entertainment. Someone made risky calls that paid off. On the flip side someone made risky calls that tanked the entire project.

Like every previous week my off day gaming time has been so chopped up it will be the same these days off. I'll squeeze in more Hades 2 (Switch 2) and Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC when I can. I have been making good progress with Hades 2 throughout the week.

I did decide to start a playthrough of Luigi's Mansion on the NSO GameCube app. Finally actually use my Switch 2 GameCube controller. I originally had this game on launch day back in 2001. I remember getting all the way to the end boss but never beating it. I do remember loving it though and really enjoyed 1 and especially 3. I plan on hacking at this game if I don't feel like playing the other 2. We'll see.

@Lizuka Yeah, I beat that one after I played through the main game. It's really fun and surprisingly immersing with its story.

Oh did I love playing this game's Switch 1 release. This game was one of those "the one(s) that got away" from back in the gap. I'm one of those guys that LOVES re-releases of any kind on the Switch (now Switch 2) era. Because of the Switch (now will be Switch 2) I've been able to enjoy so many games that I missed out on. Keep them coming!

As much as I'd like to redownload this game with the S2 update my saved file is at the point I can only play as...you know...not who's on the cover of the game. Apparently, there's no way to go back and I don't feel like starting a new game with such the backlog I have now.

@Yalloo Big fan of Alter Bridge! I have a pre ordered signed physical copy of their new album. Looking forward to it! Also, a big fan of Myles Kennedy (have all his solo records) and Mark Tremonti (have all his solo records with one of them signed). Also snagged a copy of his book "A Dying Machine" and it was actually pretty good.

Also love Myles Kennedy in Slash's band. He has so much range and seen him in Slash's band (Slash ft. MKC) multiple times. Myles is opening for Wolfgang Van Halen's band Mammoth so I'm heavily debating going to just see Myles' set next Sunday.

Just going to keep copying & pasting due to the never ending hit or miss allotted gaming time. If I can, more Hades 2 (Switch 2) and Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC. This weekend is looking more promising for gaming time BUT there's plenty of opportunity for any of the 'old people' to call and zap all that gaming time away. We'll see.

On a side note, the wife and I are going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra tonight to kick off the Christmas season in style. Being in huge fan of rock & metal this show is just so freaking bad@ss. Strongly recommend if the chance ever comes your way. This is my 3rd time seeing them and they never disappoint.

@iLikeUrAttitude It's not always about the size it's how it's used...

Still keeping the tunnel vision on Hades 2 (Switch 2) and Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC on the side if there's time. My days off keep getting interrupted with extra errands which really throw that monkey wrench in gaming time. On a plus side I've slowly been able to chip at Hades 2 during the week and making better than expected progress. I'm hoping I get opportunities for long form playing sessions so I can get back on the backlog that keeps expanding...

@Umbrius I just wanted to tell you that I've really enjoyed all your talk about your playthrough of Hogwarts Legacy. It was pretty much on par with my own playthrough. The game really hooked me in and as I was approaching the end I found myself bumming out because I just didn't want it to stop. I'm not a hardcore Harry Potter fan. Enjoyed the movies, never read the books, and living in SoCal I visit Universal Hollywood often. Just got back from Epic Universe and really enjoyed the Harry Potter area & attraction(s). It's safe to say I'm a bigger fan of Hogwarts Legacy than the main material.

I already went through this game a few games back in the backlog quest. Really, really enjoyed it from start to finish. This was another one of those games I just couldn't get around to back in the gap.

With this update I would go back and just mess around with bounties, exploring, etc. but it looks like there's no way for me to go back to playing as you know who. I have no interest playing as...well you know. It just doesn't feel the same.

@Rainz @Burning_Spear Thanks for the support and understanding, guys. Yeah, doing anything for either her parents or my mom is such a time killer. It can be a bigger annoyance when it's an unplanned errand. Meaning either you get the call the night before a day off or on the day off right when I'm about to finally sit down and fire up the Switch 2. The phone rings with the classic opening line, "So tomorrow are you busy? I have an appointment or need this or that...". Buzzkill! The mother in-law is the worst LOL. When you go over there she adds errands. She'll be like, "We also need a Stater Bros. run and/or need stuff in the garage moved around, etc." I just see the clock ticking away for the day. My theory is she does that on purpose cause once you're there you're trapped! Luckily, my wife and I didn't move too far away.

And yeah, when you have game(s) that have their claws in you it pushes back potential completion time frames way back. That's why I have to keep that tunnel vision because if I pay too much attention to new/upcoming releases I want to play or even just the current backlog I get very stressed out.

I'm a broken record as of late. My gaming time has been way less lately than I'd like. Damn personal life. In-laws are in the stage where they need more and more help with errands like grocery shopping, doctor appointments and whatever odds & ends throughout the week (and especially any days off). Taking up more and more of the wife and mine's time.

Anyways, back on topic when I can game I'll just keep the tunnel vision on Hades 2 (Switch 2) and Snowrunner (Switch 2). Between those two I have no time to squeeze anything else in at the moment.

Any of you out there having issues with this Yoshi need to recognize the big W we got. Given modern day entertainment casting, he wasn't gender and/or race swapped

Like some have said I remember the name of the game and the box art but never played it back in the gap. I'd give it go if there was a re-release of it in some form. I have the feeling I'd have a blast with it like I did with the Switch re-release of Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. I loved that game!!

There's just too many games to play with not enough time. To keep me from going mad I've been in tunnel vision mode for Hades 2 (Switch 2) & Snowrunner Season 1 DLC (Switch 2). Those 2 games take up so much of limited available gaming time if I try to squeeze anything else in I just stress out.

I only beat Chronos twice but to mix it up I've started focusing on the surface route. Oh wow does that one get nuts. Love the game but there's just so much to it. Snowrunner is the perfect game to take a break from all the fast action of Hades 2. I've made so much progress in Season 1 but I have some major log hauling jobs coming up that I can see taking weeks to do with my gaming schedule.

We're running out of things for Street Fighter to collab with. I seriously wonder if the sales/marketing department at Capcom just say "Yes!" to anyone who knocks on the door.

Oh man. The girl I was with in my 20's (when this game came out) and I played the hell out of this game together. It was definitely one of our main DS games we played along with Tetris DS and MK7.

NA version by a long shot. Not even a race.

Almost forgot about this topic. Ever since I got back from Orlando a couple of days ago I'm still off time wise.

I plan on continuing in Hades 2 (Switch 2). On the plane ride home I was able to beat Chronos for the first time. As excited as I was I know that's just the tip of the iceberg for that game. I've also made big progress in Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC. The jobs/tasks in that map can REALLY be a pain in the @ss. However, per usual it's so satisfying when you finally figure it out...even if it takes hours of 1-2 steps forward with 1-2 steps back...

On a side note Epic Universe was dope. I was able to ride the Donkey Kong attraction "Minecart Madness" twice (once the Park opens fully it stays anywhere between 120 - 180 wait time so having early entry really pays off). Not the craziest ride ever but very fun and cute. Even my wife loved it. I unfortunately didn't get to have a meet & greet with Donkey Kong He never came out in the 3 days I was there. Team members said he was "on vacation" (I'm assuming his costume was busted or whatever).

Well, my wife and I flew into Orlando last Thursday to do the Disney World thing followed by the Universal Epic Universe thing. So with that gaming will be put to the side some. However, I did game the whole 4.5 hour plane ride with my Switch 2.

It freaking took almost the whole flight to complete one helluva job in Snowrunner Season 1 DLC. I had to take 3 trips to transport plane wreckage from across the whole damn map going through nasty terrain. That was after taking forever to get a proper crane truck AND fuel trailer to the job site. What a game...

The last 45 minutes of the flight I played some Hades 2. I really need to keep at that game but once I load up Snowrunner I just get zoned in on doing jobs.

@Truegamer79 You pretty much word for word described my experience from that era

@N00BiSH @ElRoberico ...MAYBE they'll drop a compilation like they did with Pikmin 1+2. Maybe.

That's what I'm hoping for. I'd call it something fancy like "Metroid Prime: Echoes of Corruption" and even throw in like a small new mission to bridge the storylines to Prime 4. That would literally be the definition of a money tree. Hey, a man could dream.