Being surprised by the game on it's release and having some nostalgia for the cartoon back in the day; I thought I'd be 'more into' the game. Despite my initial enthusiasm it just hasn't been the case. Just not a game I go back to. The grind in it seems is too real for me.
A few months ago I noticed a patch and re-tried the game. Which didn't last long. As good as the game and as faithfully as it reproduces the TMNT's arcade game. It's 'grind' of challenge perfection has me off-put as ever. Some are very doable just by playing the game. Others take a mountain of effort or luck(like taking no damage at all on a level).
As grateful as I am to see patches and appreciate the content updates/tweaks and changes bringing me back to the game; I think seeing what is listed as not done and the effort needed is the nail in the casual play coffin. Another game I don't regret getting or playing, but I think my time with it is done done.
With the summer sale on Steam now on I got a few e-mail updates saying games I'd wish-listed were now 'cheaper'. This lead to two things. Me buying some of them and removing others from the list altogether.
It's been a couple of years since I last did an overview post on what I'd been playing, what was 'done', what was being continued and what was 'removed'. I did this list in 2018, this list early in 2019 & updated again in late 2019 and this one in late 2020. The early 2021 version was in progress when the post got wiped and it's content lost. With it I lost motivation to recreate it(it was a long post). I'm hoping that I'll get around to it again.... Maybe later in the year with a massive update of 2021/22. Time will tell.
Anyhow...
Three games kicked from my wishlist.....
They are Billions is a game I've watched streamers play and one I've wanted for a while. It's not been on a 'good' sale price so I never got it. Funny(not haha funny) that now it's on a 'good' sale price I'm removing it. It's a hardcore game of wave/rush RTS survival. Maybe a bit too much so for my casual tastes. I'd only end up buying it to have and it'd not get the gamepaly it or I deserve... If you get my meanings..... The killer blow on my decision this time is that I've previously bought Diplomacy is Not an Option on sale a while ago(still not really played it yet but on my list todo). A more 'fun' experience even if it can get hard.
Synthetik 2 is from the looks of it a better game than the original. It improves on the first in many ways. Like being on multiple platforms etc. The reviews seem to say you take the new good with it's own issues. It's still an Early access game so has some leeway on it's current 'issues'. That said it's been a 'while' since I last really played the first game. The second hasn't really been on my radar, just the wish-list to keep and eye on. So seeing it now even on sale isn't conducive for me to get it from what I've seen. I'm happy with the first game. There's noting I've seen in the second that makes me want to get it over just loading up the first.
Comanche is a game I wanted to see due to my nostalgia for Comanche Gold, back in the day. The 90's had a massive overkill of sims and sim like 'gunship' games. So my nostalgia was real for Comanche. Playing it via Xbox Ultimate was good at the time if short lived. I'm not sure if some of the graphical choices were on purpose for retro nostalgia but in retrospect it took away from it being 'modern' and didn't grow on me. Also in retrospect I think it's casual arcade but simulation take was too blurred. A mix the original pulled off but I feel didn't work here with the new iteration. The game may be 'released' but it still 'feels' early access with work to be done. I'd seen it on sale on other occasions but was always hesitant; That alone should have removed it from the list.
Slipways.... A space management, game that is a slimmed down grand strategy take. So grand strategy 'lite'. It's a game I've seen streamed and liked what I saw. A pretty chill game with lots of micromanagement to get lost in.
As for Shooty Skies Overdrive.... My recent return kick to VR had me looking for something else to virtually do/shoot This game looked to be 'it', cheap(cheaper now on sale) quick fun.
Speaking of that channel, ABC Gamer has gone through a few reworked iterations over the years. It's gone more younger viewer friendly(tho not so much now but still not watchable for me) since the Nichboy days. Which is a pity. Really liked it back then(but also like his new 'show' Back Pocket)...
Then again so many channels in competition to one another that all do such similar content....
What a great game. Lots of options and playability. A game that has a serious combo system and still be a casual button masher. A game that can be taken really seriously or super casually. Play it how you want as you want. Turtles in the 90's were a phenomena for a wide range of ages in the same way as this game caters to all gamers, fans or not. This game brings back a lot of nostalgia, specifically arcade nostalgia.
I'm very much a button masher(even when I did play games like Soul Caliber and Dead or Alive); So I'm enjoying the game as a super casual. That said I'm still using all the characters to gain all the benefits and unlocks....
All that said I've not bought the game. I've been playing it across PC and Xbox (cross platform saves are a yes) via Xbox Ultimate. I do want to buy it to own and probably will on Steam so will have a fresh save issues so I'll weigh that in(as a fresh restart, but I'm not that far 'in' sooooo).
