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It feels like MTG is trying to be the card version of Fortnite with all these crossovers. It's only a matter of time till they start having cards of a current trendy rapper/pop artist/ aka hack.

I used to big into Magic back in the days of 90s to earlier 2000s (along with a lot of other CCGs). Even though in those days being involved in that hobby meant no action from girls there was still a "coolness" to them amongst the rest of the geeks. Seeing all these crossovers over the years just makes me cringe.

I've done a bit better this week focusing more on DKC Returns HD. I have another busy weekend ahead of me so when I get some gaming time, I'll try to keep on it till it's finished. It's amazing what happens when I boot up DKC first instead of Snowrunner (Switch). I actually make progress

Hopefully I can stick to that plan so I can move onto other already purchased games just waiting to be played. Snowrunner though will always be mixed in so it may continue to be a constant derailer of plans.

@SplatRay001 Didn't they do that last time there was an article about these figures? It will definitely work to generate that extra traffic for the ads.

Putting the obvious aside the figures do look nice. I love the Metroid series but not enough for one of these.

Another one bites the dust from the that "goldrush" era where everyone and their mother was investing in gaming. Especially those that had no business doing it. The suits with money to burn chasing "the next big thing with the kids" (thanks Fortnite, lockdowns, anything battle royale, microtransactions, etc.) It's really going to be another great reset where those below the suits suffer the most.

Once again I'll try to get further into DKC Returns HD but Snowrunner (Switch) keeps getting in the way. My game time this last week was somewhat more limited again so when I did finally sit down to play, I'd boot up Snowrunner with the intention of getting to DKC right after. Never happens.

My game time this weekend is a bit limited again too but technically there will be some "Nintendo" fun. The wife and I are going to Universal Hollywood tomorrow to renew our annual passes so I'll definitely spend some time in Super Nintendo World. I'm hoping I can convince her to eat lunch at Toadstool Cafe but she isn't the biggest fan of it. We'll see but we agree on having plenty of Duff beer and that delicious Jurassic World IPA beer

This is so freaking awesome! I could easily see this being my new favorite theme. Can't wait to get it!

@sketchturner I can't answer that question because I never played Mudrunner. From what I've heard they're similar games however Snowrunner is way better by far. I only randomly picked it up last fall because for like 3 years the YouTube channel SwitchUp would always talk highly about it and how it's bizarrely addicting. Took a chance on it, didn't gel with me at first but then something clicked and I've been hooked like a fish ever since.

@msvt Has to be my favorite Monster Hunter experience. I got that game along with the New 3DS XL (it came with that awesome MH4U theme! Bring those back, Nintendo!). That game dominated my life for so long!

Whatever it ends up being, I hope in the opening cinematic Mario and Co. bash Luigi for falling for these scams and taking them all down with him. I worry that if a Nigerian prince ever targets Luigi that prince would take all the Mushroom Kingdom's coins and the deed for Peach's Castle.

@Burning_Spear I'm still on it more than I'd like to admit. Once I finished up the last base game area (Taymyr) I originally intended to stop. But the DLC maps looked so enticing so I caved and bought the Ontario, Canada DLC. Hooked me all over again.

I do on occasion though but it aside to put some focus on the backlog. Takes a lot longer than it should but I got through Epic Mickey and Neva. I'd be a lot further if not done with DKC Returns HD if it wasn't for Snowrunner. Hell I'd argue I'd be way further into the backlog.

I'm curious what you're going to do with yourself once you finally polish off Balatro. I wonder if you're going to be like Rocky in Rocky 6 and just be lost without boxing.

I didn't get as much gaming time as I'd hoped this last week. The times I did play I got wrapped up in Snowrunner (Switch). That Ontario map has so much going on it keeps hooking me for the evening!

So, with that once again I'll try extra hard to get back to focusing more on getting through DKC Returns HD. It's a really fun game and if I could just get a block of time to fucus heavily on it I'd be able to knock it out sooner. I have to go to a Super Bowl gathering at the in-laws house tomorrow so that pushes many house (and honey-do list) errands to the next day so I might not get as much extra time as I'm hoping for.

I may have to check this out (in other words add it to the backlog). I enjoyed the first remaster on Switch. It was fun and rather short. A great palate cleanser in between bigger games so if the second is a similar experience, then it could be another palate cleanser.

This has to be a joke (checks calendar to make sure it's not April) or an experiment. Was there literally nothing else that could have been used for this week? The US version by far I'm confident that even Stevie Wonder would choose the US.

I'm really hoping to get back in the rhythm of getting in more of DK Country Returns HD. I was doing good splitting time between that and Snowrunner (Switch). However, the Season 9 Ontario map has really been digging its hooks into me. There's just so much to do and strategies needed to properly get things done. Curse this game yet it's so engrossing!

@John_Deacon I 100% agree with you about DKC Tropical Freeze. I'm confident in saying that game is my favorite platformer ever. It's so challenging but done in way that makes you want to keep trying but with a lot more fun instead of frustration. The game oozes so much charm. After every level I was super excited for the next and had such a blast replaying to 100% the game (and I'm not a completionist by a long shot).

On a side note to the charm if I was forced to choose I'd say the music on the level Grassland Groove is S tier.

I'll definitely be playing DKC Returns HD. I missed this one back in the day and I'm having a blast. I'm about 3 areas deep and it keeps getting better and better. I'd be a lot further along in the game if it wasn't for...

Snowrunner (Switch). I mentioned last week that after I wrapped up Taymyr, I bit the bullet and bought the Season 9 DLC Ontario, Canada. I'm really digging the wildfire scenario, map design and overall theme. Very challenging and lots to do. I started to focus on putting out the fires jobs but then I realized it would be A LOT easier if I rebuild those water towers first (duh!). So, I'm currently figuring out my strategy of getting those up and running but there's that extra challenge of the limited resources at the warehouses. Didn't expect that to make you really use a bit more brain than just worrying about the terrain!

@SoIDecidedTo Oh do I know the feeling. As life became busier and busier I got rid of everything and just have Switch. That alone is hard enough to keep up with.

I have the physical copy of this game and hoping to get to it this year. As of now on my short list backlog list my goal is finish up DKRC HD, then most likely Ace Combat 7 next, then either Sonic x Shadow Generations or Red Dead Redemption. Also, Snowrunner in the midst of all that That's the goal but I wouldn't be surprised if all that goes out the window and something else skips the line.

@JohnnyMind I'll be looking for it in your weekly gaming lists

@antster1983 ...So you're telling me there's a chance...

C'mon Nintendo give me Super Smash TV!!! Please!!! My brothers and I put so many gaming nights to that game alone passing the controllers around!

Definitely Company of Heroes Collection comes straight to mind. It plays really well with the control setup but adding a mouse option would be chef's kiss. I love that game!

I'm definitely of the opinion that indie developers are the ones with the brass balls to try new (or new-ish things) and just make games about having fun. Like it used to be in the old days. The scene used to be about developers trying to essentially one up each other, push one another, squeeze as much as they can into a game to create the most fun experience for the player (aka the consumer!). I'm so grateful to have lived through that time period...what a time it was

@SuprMattio Thanks man! Of all games and genres that exist I'd never think that this game would be such a game I'd sink any time into. After I finished Michigan and Alaska I was supposed to be done. But then I decided to just peak around Taymyr and I was hooked all over again. During Taymyr I kept looking more and more at the Season 9 scenario and here we go again! I didn't want to cheese the game in any way so I'm only using vanilla trucks. I love how you can pretty much play the game and complete whatever however you want. There's just too much to do but once I get "in the zone" the time goes by. The music in the game really adds to the experience I often turn off any YouTube/podcasts stuff I have in the background and just get to work

@JS_Comics Great I hope you like it! Are you using a N64 controller? To me it was like night and day when I finally got the controller. I'm aware there are many that don't like it but maybe it's a generational thing. I was in 7th grade when the N64 released and whenever I use it now the muscle memory instantly returns like no time passed.

The US version by a landslide so much I'm confident even Ray Charles would've agreed back in the day.

I will give a salute to the Japan version out of respect because the local game store at the time had it for sale. My brothers and I debated really hard about buying it (it was like $150 and it came WITH a N64 controller!). We knew we'd be forever legends with the neighborhood kids if we did but we ultimately decided just to wait the six months and get the US version. We were already worshipped enough being one of the first houses on the block with a N64

I picked up my physical copy of DK Country Returns HD (along with the cute DK barrel pen holder) so I'm hoping to start digging into that. Been looking forward to it since it was announced. Back in the Wii era the girl I was with at the time loved it, but I never got around to it. Was probably neck deep into COD.

I'll still be playing Snowrunner (Switch) whenever I can. I finally wrapped up the Taymyr map and boy that one was a doozy. So much opportunity to flip so the winch was a lifesaver in many scenarios! I didn't do any of the contests this time because to me they're very "immersion breaking". There's just something about them that bugs me.

I did bite the bullet and buy the Season 9: Renew & Rebuild DLC. I really like the whole wildfire scenario. I seriously promise though I've had my eye on this particular Season 9 back when I was still completing the Alaska map. It had nothing to do with me living in Southern California and actual wildfires are causing a ruckus (I'm nowhere near it but I definitely smelled it in the beginning). It's just a coincidence!

@Jimmy_G_Buckets LOL you should get some pointers from @Burning_Spear. When it comes to Balatro that dude is literally the defining the phrase, "Just hook it to my veins!!"

@JS_Comics On the N64 you should give Winback Covert Operations a try. I missed it back in the era because I'm sure I was still all over GoldenEye. Winback is pretty good and I believe it was revolutionary at the time due to the cover system. Obviously it's got plenty of that ol' N64 era jank but I had a good time with it. Be sure though to be as generous with the "save state" feature as possible because the normal saves in the game are few and FAR between. If you die it's back to the beginning of those long levels!

Also, I recommend Blast Corps (N64). A total classic from that era. I must have rented it dozens of times but could never beat it. There's some difficulty spikes and having no quick online/You Tube search on tips I just gave up as a kid. I got a crazy feeling finally beating it over 20 years later on my Switch

@Vivianeat This. This. This. As much as I am always curious to what's going on behind the veil, I'm so satisfied with my OG Switch. Backlog for years and beyond with this thing. In fact, there's so many games I'd love to replay again because not only were they so fun, but because there's just too much to play I had to move onto the next game once I beat it. Back in the old days of youth there was something to just keep replaying games that were so fun but with the endless options now it's not as easy.

To be honest Directs give me the craziest mix of excitement and anxiety. I look forward to all the upcoming goodies but then I start stressing about fitting them into my gaming plan.

@Zuljaras Honestly about 6 months ago I was thinking about opening up an Excel spreadsheet and start keeping track. Obviously, I didn't but between you and @JohnnyMind you two have the most interesting gaming lives I've ever known. As much stuff as you keep posting you make the Nintendo Museum look like a liquor store in the ghetto. Just looking at the wide variety of items in the pictures I kept thinking either you own a video game store OR you have a very unhealthy addiction to Ebay

Speaking about @JohnnyMind, bro have you ever completed a game? I mean straight up rolled the credits never looked back? I see your list every week and wonder at the rate you post about your game activities I don't recall ever see you saying:

"Insert Whatever Game (All done! Thanks for the memories!)

I wanted to open an Excel file on you also but between you and @Zuljaras it'd be a full time job!

@Rainz Yeah that game has some serious voodoo magic about it! When I first got it my attitude was very whatever I want to try something out of my usual go to game(s). In the beginning there were many moments I was like "yeah this is alright I'll put in just a little more then move on to the next game". I completed a few more things, earned some XP/found some upgrades and again was like "yeah alright I can now traverse that nasty mud a little better I'll just go a little more and turn it off". Fast forward 200 hours later and I'm looking at trucks and big rigs while out in the real world a lot differently now...

@TYRANACLES Haha yeah that's why I said previously I like to have a good diversity of trucks. I often times have some just chilling around the maps after I finish using them for something. Comes in handy when I flip and/or get stuck. For example, on Taymyr one of the contracts has you delivering a big cargo container. In order to complete it I HAD to have a truck with the big crane ready to go because I seriously lost the big container like 3 times before I got it to the destination! It was a pain but in a strange way it was fun beating that b@stard!

@Zuljaras I seriously gotta know something because it's driving me nuts. You may have explained/answered this previously but c'mon do you work at or own an independent video game store that sells everything? Or know somebody that does and you just raid the store every week? I ask this because 52 weeks of the year you post pictures of what you're up to and it's literally a Picasso of the most obscure games and systems. Stuff from virtually EVERY generation of video game existence. All that's missing is the old Tiger electronic handhelds (or maybe you already have posted them and I missed it!). There's hardly any carryover, too. It's such a "throwing spaghetti at the wall" approach to how you play games I'm always completely dumbfounded of what I see. Especially the picture evidence! What's going on over there?

As I wait for DK Country Returns HD to release I'll keep killing the time with Snowrunner (Switch). I'm getting really close to wrapping up Taymyr map and I've never flipped so much in the game ever until this map. Michigan and Alaska had some areas you had to tread carefully but Jesus Taymyr is so topsy turvy all over the place!

I finished Neva (Switch) last weekend, too. What a game! Perfect palate cleanser and/or something in between bigger games.

This topic is way too subjective. While there's plenty of games that many will agree upon however I believe each individual has games that defined it for them. It's like when they do those "top 10 best guitar players of all time" pieces. All they do is whack the beehive.

Heck yeah I've had it pre-ordered for some time...however the Gamestop I pre-ordered it at literally just closed down with no notice two days ago. I'm curious how I'm supposed to get it? They going to call me and let me know where it's moved to? I've read some stuff online about that's usually plan. I'll have to make some calls next week to the (very) few stores that remain in my area.

I totally understand everyone's gripe about the port and price. However, for someone like me that missed it back in the day this is perfect. In that era the girl I was with at the time had it and loved it however I believe I was neck deep into the whole "Call of Duty" phase. I missed a lot of games back then due that era so it's perfect for me to get another proper shot. Especially since all I have is the Switch. I ain't hunting down a Wii or something to play it again.

@sketchturner You're not alone. I really liked Other M. It wasn't perfect by any means and had its share of flaws. I also agree that the story went a little left field at times but overall, I had a great time with the game.

I think what really stood out to me at the time was they wanted to try something different, had a vision and just straight went balls to the wall with it held nothing back. In a lot of ways that's the best way to know for sure if something works or not. I loved it but understand those that didn't. It's all good because there's plenty of games out there that the majority went ape sh#t for and I was like "meh".

I have the physical of DK Country Returns HD and I'm so ready for it! As excited as I am for Metroid Prime 4 I'd be way more ready for it if they release remastered versions of Prime 2 & 3. Or at least some sort of release on Switch. I never played those so I can't touch Prime 4 until I get through 2 & 3. C'mon, Nintendo it's money on the freaking table!

I'm hoping to wrap up Neva (Switch). I'm about halfway through and wow what a game! I loved Gris and just knew I had to give my money to the developers for their next game.

I'll also keep at Snowrunner (Switch). The Taymyr map is such a beast and really making me work for the simplest of jobs.

I'm thinking this year I'm going to break some personal rules and buy some games on my backlog and dedicate myself to playing them this year (at some point). I usually follow the "beat a game buy a game" approach to keep my sanity but the downside is I usually miss out on good deals. There's some real good discounts that are expiring tomorrow so I really should jump at them. Especially since I got a good about of eShop cash for Xmas.

@Freek Call of Juarez Gunslinger is freaking awesome! Don't sleep on that one!

@TYRANACLES Yeah, I totally hear what you're saying. Thanks for helping me realize I'm not alone about the stressed part. When I was a lot younger I didn't stress nearly as much or if at all. The more games across multiple platforms the better! Now being older (I'm 40!) and time being so limited it makes me crazy having games waiting to be played. I found it a lot better to keep it limited HOWEVER I miss out on a lot of deals. On my phone though I keep a list of games that I hope to eventually get to. The list is soooo long!

Yeah, good take a break from Snowrunner as needed. Never forget that games are supposed to be fun. Snowrunner can be a very fun game but it can also just be the biggest brutal slogfest. If you're not careful you could be putting hours into it not realizing you're not having much fun. I know for sure I'm guilty of doing that so I try to recognize when it's happening and play something else. It's still one of my most favorite and rewarding games but after 100% Michigan, Alaska and digging deep into Taymyr (I originally intended to stop after Alaska) I tell myself it's time to slow it down some and get back to the backlog more. We'll see how well I do because once I get "in the zone" with Snowrunner the time fly's by and I'm having fun. But damn I know if I just didn't get Snowrunner back in mid September I'd be so much further in the backlog by now. It's why I quit anything Monster Hunter games. That franchise dominated my game time to the point I knew it was time to step away so I can play other games (add to the fact they were changing the mechanics of that game to something I wasn't completely down with). Snowrunner may have filled that spot unintentionally.

Back on Snowrunner (Switch). I'm tackling the Taymyr map like it owes me money! I'll admit though it kick's my @ss at times but I love the challenge of delivering the cargo through the worst of terrain. I'm also in a small 'in between' time since I polished off Epic Mickey (Switch) last week. My next top priority game will be without a doubt Donkey Kong Country Returns HD when it releases next month. I have a little time till then so I'm debating about grabbing something small that I can for sure finish but we'll see.

I got a bunch of Nintendo eShop cash for Xmas so I'm torn on what to do. I really, really want to keep on the backlog and not let Snowrunner keep throwing a monkey wrench into it. However, there's so many discounts right now so I'm debating about picking up the ones I'll play "for sure" this year (at some point!). I'm just horrible about utilizing discounts properly. Just knowing I have purchased game(s) waiting to be played stresses me out, so I tend to not buy anything until that particular game is "on deck". The major downside in doing that is I miss out on the discounts and end up paying full price. I guess I technically pay money to not be stressed however I miss out on those really good discounts. I'm a mess.

@Spider-Kev Yeah. There's actual good quality versions of BTTF the Ride and T23D on YouTube. There's also good quality video of Captain EO and the original Star Tours.

I actually finished Epic Mickey (Switch) so I'm back to Snowrunner (Switch). I might pick up a short game from my backlog before Donkey Kong Country Returns HD comes out but we'll see. Snowrunner tends to just take over EVERYTHING

@Spider-Kev Now that would be interesting. Oh man I used to geek out so much at Universal whenever I did that attraction! That and the Back To the Future one. I'd go on those both repeatedly. Sucks that both are gone and what they replaced them with doesn't come close.

Snowrunner (176 hours)
Hogwarts Legacy (98 hours)
Hades (69 hours)

Snowrunner was such a out of left field winner. I put hours into more games this year due to focusing on the backlog. I thought for sure Sifu would have been in that list but once Snowrunner dropped in it was Game Over for the backlog.

35 Games with 705 hours!

The most played:

Snowrunner (176 hours)
Hogwarts Legacy (98 hours)
Hades (69 hours)

I played more games this year due to focusing more on the backlog. I thought for sure Sifu would have been up there, too. I never would have ever thought Snowrunner would be on any list for me. Took a random chance with it and it took me by surprise. Put the backlog on ice and all I played was Snowrunner.

I love this game and I need to rotate it in more often. I used to put a lot of hours into it weekly. I'll definitely be playing this event!

Well, when shopping around for any sort named person to employ, I'm sure she didn't cost much and had the time. Whether you like her or not is irrelevant since someone of a Morgan Freeman caliber cost millions and a Daisy Ridley caliber cost about a down payment on new Honda Civic and a free lunch.