{"id":1677,"date":"2014-09-16T10:17:33","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T17:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1677"},"modified":"2014-09-16T10:17:33","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T17:17:33","slug":"backlog-blitz-the-games-of-august-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1677","title":{"rendered":"Backlog Blitz: The Games of August 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"20140916_ghg_backlog_aug_14\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Where does the time go? I can’t believe it’s already mid-September! It was a pretty even month, even though I did buy more than I finished. However, a couple of the games I finished rank as some of my favorites of the year so far, so I’m OK with that.<\/p>\n

All in all, I finished -2 for the month, but I’m still +6 for the year. Anyway, the format,\u00a0as with previous updates<\/a>, is\u00a0Game\u00a0Title<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(Platform, Purchase Price, Play Time).<\/p>\n

Games purchased (-5, $56.50 spent):<\/h1>\n
    \n
  1. \"20140916_ghg_ff10\"<\/a>Final Fantasy X\/X-2 Remaster<\/i><\/b> (Vita, $20.00)
    \nI was pretty torn on this purchase because I do<\/em> like Final Fantasy X<\/em> — it was the last game in the series I ever finished — but I really don’t care for its sequel,\u00a0X-2<\/em>. There’s a part of me that wants to go back and play earlier entries in the series, though, and since I only finished this game once on the PlayStation 2, I figured playing it again in portable form on the Vita would be a good way to experience it again. My guess is most of it will feel new since it’s been over ten years.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  2. Chrono Cross<\/i><\/b> (Vita, $5.00)
    \nSince this game was part of August’s sale on PSN, I added it to the library. While I like Chrono Trigger<\/em>\u00a0on the Super Nintendo more, there’s a lot to like in its follow-up, especially the music, which is just sublime. I remember not liking the more serious tone and slower pace of the game itself, which is common to many PlayStation 1-era RPGs, but like Final Fantasy X<\/em>, I think playing it on the Vita will be fun.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  3. The Humble Mobile Bundle 6<\/i><\/b> (Android, $4.50)
    \nAnother month, another quality bundle for Android users. This bundle includes\u00a0Carmageddon, Combo Crew Special Edition, Duet Premium, Eliss Infinity, Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf: Full Game, Llamas with Hats: Cruise Catastrophe, Mines of Mars, Threes!<\/em>, and Time Surfer<\/em>. Worth the price of admission for Threes!<\/em> alone. What a great game.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  4. The Humble Sega Mobile Bundle<\/i><\/b> (Android, $4.00)
    \nAlthough I’m not a fan of playing games that aren’t specifically designed for touchscreens, this Sega bundle had quite the solid offering. When are they going to make a proper Out Run<\/em> game for mobile? Seems like the perfect platform, don’t you think? Anyway, this bundle includes the following: ChuChu Rocket!, Crazy Taxi, Happy Sonic! Live Wallpaper, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II, Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition<\/em>, and Virtua Tennis Challenge<\/em>.<\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  5. Kero Blaster<\/i><\/b> (PC, $8.00)
    \nFrom Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya — the creator of Cave Story —\u00a0<\/em>for only $8 on     Playism<\/a>, this one was a must-buy. Their website is a no-frills affair, so I didn’t feel all that confident making my purchase. I got my game, though, and started playing it shortly thereafter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Games finished (+3, $26.00 value):<\/h1>\n
      \n
    1. \"20140811_1001_spikes_review_4\"<\/a>Aban Hawkins & the 1001 Spikes<\/strong><\/em> (Wii U, $15.00, 20 hrs.)
      \nThis was a very fun game, with surprisingly good presentation, multiple endings, and lots of different modes to play. Although some of it feels half-baked on the Wii U with no off-screen play and tons of audio glitches, it is still a robust game at its core that delivers a ton of bang for the buck, and is one of the most challenging titles I\u2019ve played in 2014 so far. Recommended! Overall: A-<\/strong>
      \n      REVIEW LINK
      \n<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    2. Threes<\/strong><\/em><\/strong> (Android, $1.00, 10 hrs.)
      \n<\/strong><\/a> Much better than the very similar game Eights<\/em>, this one has great personality, intuitive controls, and that “just one more try” addictive quality that makes it a great play anywhere, anytime game for your phone. Overall:\u00a0B+<\/strong><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    3. Volgarr the Viking<\/strong><\/em> (PC, $10.00, 40 hrs.)
      \nIn my written and video review, I summed this game up by saying that it’s my favorite of 2014 that wasn\u2019t released in 2014. It\u2019s a game that truly respects the player\u2019s patience, understanding, and perseverance, and it comes with my highest recommendation. And now I shall pray to the Allfather Odin that Crazy Viking Studios will produce a sequel. The world existing with only one Volgarr<\/em> game would be criminal. Overall: A+<\/strong>
      \n      REVIEW LINK
      \n<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Only three and a half months left in 2014! I’m bracing myself for the holiday sales, but I feeling (cautiously) optimistic that I can stay above zero before 2015 kicks off.<\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"linkedin\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Where does the time go? I can’t believe it’s already mid-September! It was a pretty even month, even though I did buy more than I finished. However, a couple of the games I finished rank as some of my favorites of the year so far, so I’m OK with that. All in all, I finished […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[428,374,427,375,116,9,109,16,74],"class_list":["post-1677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-backlog-blitz","tag-android","tag-august-2014","tag-backlog-blitz","tag-google","tag-nintendo","tag-pc","tag-sony","tag-vita","tag-wii-u"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4yrob-r3","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=24","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":0},"title":"The Backlog Blitz","author":"Mike","date":"April 15, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A few years ago, I realized that I was buying way too many games. Actually, this has been true for at least the past two decades, and well, I've known it all along. I mean, it's very easy to amass a large collection of games than you have yet to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"+12 for the year so far","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20140414blitz.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20140414blitz.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20140414blitz.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20140414blitz.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1494,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1494","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":1},"title":"Backlog Blitz: The Games of July 2014","author":"Mike","date":"August 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"After a huge drop in June, I nearly got myself back to May levels in July. I only bought one game, thanks to lackluster or nonexistent sales and a dry month at retail. I finished seven games, netting me a +6 total for last month. Anyway, the format,\u00a0as with previous\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"20140801_ghg_bb_july","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/20140801_ghg_bb_july-300x218.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1030,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1030","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":2},"title":"Backlog Blitz: The games of April 2014","author":"Mike","date":"June 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I slipped in April. What can I say, there were some good sales! April was also the month I created GHG, so that ate significantly into my game playing time. I would make up for it in May, but June's not looking great so far. Anyway, the format, like previous\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"20140619_backlog_blitz_april_2014","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/20140619_backlog_blitz_april_2014-300x218.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1712,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1712","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":3},"title":"Backlog Blitz: The Games of September 2014","author":"Mike","date":"October 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Hmm, going from a peak of +14 back in March to a +2 in September is not a good omen. After a good recovery in July and August, I've once again slipped into near-negative territory. As you'll see, several nice bundles are to blame, but I did finish a couple\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"20141006_backlog","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/20141006_backlog-300x218.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1819,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1819","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":4},"title":"Backlog Blitz: The Games of October 2014","author":"Mike","date":"November 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Oh, the holiday season. It's that time of year when companies do everything they can to get their big releases out in time for Black Friday. It's also when outlets like Steam, Humble, GOG.com, and Bundle Stars bring out the big guns, unveiling deals that for even the most resistant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"20141117_ghg_backlog_oct","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/20141117_ghg_backlog_oct-300x218.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1210,"url":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?p=1210","url_meta":{"origin":1677,"position":5},"title":"Backlog Blitz: The games of June 2014","author":"Mike","date":"July 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"June hurt. A lot. Although I didn't spend a lot of money ($63.75), I only finished 2 games worth $20.00. With the year already halfway over, heading into July with only a +2 advantage isn't the most positive of omens. Let's hope the rest of the year turns things around!\u00a0Anyway,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backlog Blitz"","block_context":{"text":"Backlog Blitz","link":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"20140701_backlog_june","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/20140701_backlog_june-300x218.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1682,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions\/1682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.grayhairedgamer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}