Sometimes, I play them. But most of the time, they play me [tepid laugh track]
(this is a thought dump post about my steam wishlist)
There's always at least 4 or 5 different priorities at the top of my list because I can't function unless I feel at least 75 to 80 percent regret every time I spin the idea wheel. Maybe that's normal. "Relatable", even. "So true", one might say. "Mood", a third utters. All three of them me, to myself, just now. But I am learning to not let that hold me back from adding even more to this list, the completion of which - I must assume - means I explode and die, my existence fulfilled, so I might as well pad it and delay that a little more.
But this recent train of thought that I need to shove a new experience into my brain hole probably started around Halloween, when steam informed me of Little Goody Two Shoes - a game not in a genre I usually find myself playing, but on the other hand, why the hell not. It's a choice-heavy, dramatic, and rather spooky game featuring the romance of and between cute girls that may result in tragic supernatural consequences.
I already have no reason not to give that a try (and I did play the demo!), but not only that, it's also full of several funny little minigames, and my Mario Party/Wario Ware gene activates at the sight of them.
Another one I tried recently was the demo for Rabbit & Steel, and lemme tell you, as a midcore Touhou (mainline) player and FFXIV raider, I'm positively thrilled by the idea. I'm still trying to figure out how to rope my friends into trying it out with me - not that my attempts have failed, I just do not know how to tie a knot - but even just playing it solo has been quite fun. I love the slightly random elements that make each run unique, and I have blessedly yet to be buried under millions of other indie roguelites to be sick of the idea!
The art is very cute, the mechanic designs are clearly inspired (in a good way), and it just feels great to play. Super looking forward to its release; just the demo is already something I feel like I can just pick up and play for instant seratonin.
Speaking of bunnies, though.
I am not really someone that keeps up with specific dev studios, but I do have my favorites that I remember whenever they come across my field of vision again. And though I never did properly full clear it, I have a really fond memory of Rabi-Ribi. It was a game I thoroughly enjoyed, thoroughly sucked at, and thoroughly did not really have anyone to talk to about it, so I had left it on the fondest mental shelf for unfinished games for years. It wasn't the smoothest gameplay in its genre, nor the most engaging in plot, but its boss fight design was unmatched and the game itself was just so cute all the time.
So imagine my feelings upon realizing the same devs have made what appears to be a successor, 7 years later! And it looks so slick, and more than a touch more serious, with amazing music (based on the trailer) and the same design choices I loved from the last one! And with full voice acting!! And it's coming out in just 3 days!!!
I feel safe setting my standards so high here, because more than just looking forward to a good game, I already like it for pure aesthetics, and that can keep me going long enough to make an instant purchase worth it. I trust these devs.
As a closing thought, I would be remiss not to mention I am still in the throes of thinking about Hat World: New Testament all the time, while playing it in random, dozen-hour bursts every couple weeks. Since I posted about it months ago, I've completed routes for Dora and Lavie, started on Janice, and made plans to do Natalie next and "finally" Mel.
On my NG+ run through Dora's route, I actually didn't take the fully leveled characters from my first run on Shiki, thinking the experience would be inauthentic if I could just blast through it. I had no such reservations by the time Lavie's came around - my will to withstand repetition died with Dora's final boss. But even with the overpowered carry, my clear time ended up being... well...
A-Anyway, regardless of how fast the game lets me go, it looks like I'm still staring down at least 30-40 hours of video game, not even counting what comes after, or the inevitable impulse to 100% each route individually. This does not deter me, obviously. I love JRPG grinding (genuine).
It does mean it will be another century until I can compile my complete thoughts on the full story, though. It's a blessing that the game isn't ultra-popular, or I would have already been ruined by an errant fandom wikia link while looking up the soundtrack. Each new route has surprised me in ways I wrongly thought I would have expected, and I feel like an excited child wanting to hear the rest.
Other Videoed Games
Sometimes I look over at my consoles and go, oh, right, I bought a PS5. I haven't finished FFXVI. I'm only halfway through Pikmin 4. Pokemon might be happening again pretty soon. And instead I open steam and go hey look, a game calling itself a Personality Test. Oh wow, an SMT inspired Touhou fangame. What's that? The creator of Irisu Syndrome went on to make a puzzle/shooting game? And Mystia's Izakaya came out with its 4th DLC months ago already?
My idea wheel is getting too full, but at least winter is coming up. The cold is a great excuse to stay inside, be a useless piece of shit and play all these games.