Category: Video Game Article

Adventures in Valheim

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on March 17, 2021

Valheim is all the rage right now and I’ve been having a fantastic time with it and our friends who are also playing. It’s the first game my boyfriend and I have found mutual interest in, in like… 5 years? (It’s tragic that we have nearly opposite tastes in games.)

In fact, I’ve never felt drawn to the survival game genre. The only one I’ve ever really enjoyed is Ark: Survival Evolved, and that’s only because I’m highly dinosaur (and dragon) motivated. Spent the whole game taming dinos and nothing else. Valheim, however. Valheim I find so enjoyable that it’s inspired me to write about games for the first time in over a year!

Posted in: early access, gamer, girlgamer, PC, pc gaming, valheim, video games

Video Game Article

Wolven Storm – Musings on Love and Feminism in Witcher 3

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on November 15, 2019October 5, 2020

Yennefer. Who is she, really? In the Witcher 3 we see her relentlessly pursuing her goals across multiple continents, taking down any obstacles in her way. Yes, she cares passionately for her love, Geralt, but he won’t distract her from her ultimate goals. Despite their closeness, she keeps extremely important secrets from the Witcher during their travels, yet he trusts her implicitly. She is strong and wise, confident and skilled, and a timeless beauty. Their romance is legendary in the Witcher universe, literally.

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, girl gamer, nerd, romance, video games, witcher, witcher 3, yennefer

Video Game Article

Sayonara Wild Hearts Analysis – Use of Tarot in Game Design and Narrative

By Angie | Backlog Crusader

Sayonara Wild Hearts incorporates all 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot in its fast paced, pop-arcade, cosmic wonderland. You can check out my full review of the game here. I cannot understate how creative and ambitious studio Simogo is to have given us such a spectacularly beautiful, mesmerizing rendition of the Fool’s Journey in video game form.

I wanted to do a deep dive into the significance of Tarot cards and their meanings are used in Sayonara Wild Hearts to add a hidden layer of depth for those in know, so that’s what you’ll find in this article! I’ll be covering the entire game from start to finish (including a short explanation of Tarot at the start) so please be sure to complete the game before reading to avoid spoilers. You can also watch a play through of the game here.

Let’s pop!

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, girl gamer, nerd, Nintendo Switch, occult, Sayonara Wild Hearts, tarot, videogames

impressions Nintendo Switch Video Game Article

My Time at Portia (Switch) Impressions – two patches post launch

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on August 15, 2019August 19, 2019

Released on April 16th, the Switch version of My Time at Portia was originally met with heavy criticism for its poorly optimized, well, everything. Compared to the PC version, there were widespread reports of texture pop-in, cut features, missing quests and items, input lag, frame rate skips and stuttering, and overall game slowdown. The game looks lovely and I wanted to try it so I was saddened to hear of these issues. After two patches have been released for the Switch port, one in May and one in June, let’s check out how things are going at Portia on the Switch.

Posted in: console, electronics, entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, my time at portia, nerd, Nintendo Switch, patch, port

Gamer Culture Video Game Article

National Pokédex Controversy – The Depth Behind Pokéfans’ Valid Outrage

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 14, 2019September 6, 2019

I have spent more time playing Pokémon games in my life than I’ve spent playing the top 5 games in my Steam library sorted by “most time played” combined. I could be considered an expert on Pokémon. I’ve played them all. I know them all. I know the community.

There has been an overwhelming amount of back and forth discourse in the Nintendo Switch gaming community lately about the removal of the National Pokédex from Pokémon Sword and Shield. Some fans support the change, but a majority of fans are vehemently against it. I want to dig a little deeper into the reasons why fans are so upset, and why expressing this outrage does not make them “entitled crybabies”.

Posted in: bringbacknationaldex, community, culture, entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, national pokedex, nerd, Nintendo Switch, pokemon

Video Game Article

Video Game Literary Classics 101 – Part Two

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 9, 2019July 17, 2019

Welcome back for Part Two of the Video Game Literary Classics Collaboration! This week we leave the bright, optimistic plains of Nippon and Hyrule of Part One behind and head into ancient kingdoms steeped in shadow and futures full of technology gone wrong. Thank you to my better half, Connor, for assisting with some of these titles that he has played and I have not. Let’s take a look at the next set of classics selected by the gaming blogger community!

Posted in: blogging, collaboration, community, dark souls, detroit become human, entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, hollow knight, nerd, nier, soma

Video Game Article

Final Fantasy X – Feels like home

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 2, 2019July 17, 2019

It’s been over fifteen years since I discovered the land of Spira as a kid. My first Sony console was the PlayStation 2, so I had never had the opportunity to play Final Fantasy titles before X. Final Fantasy X was my first experience with them. Playing FFX again feels so comfortable and nostalgic that it easily brings to mind all those late weekend nights in the dim glow of the TV next to the fireplace with my dog curled up under my chair, occasionally nudging my leg for attention. Final Fantasy X is a game that, for me, fits like a pair of gloves I thought I’d lost long ago.

Posted in: entertainment, final fantasy x, gamer, girl gamer, jrpg, music, Nintendo Switch, playstation

Video Game Article

Bloodstained first impressions! (Switch)

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 29, 2019July 17, 2019

Honestly, I was taken with Bloodstained immediately! It has a fantastic art motif, Gothic atmosphere, and fabulous music. As someone uninitiated in the Castlevania franchise, I am expecting great things based on what I’ve heard. I’m not very far yet, but I love what I see so far.

Posted in: bloodstained, castevania, entertainment, gamer, gaming, girl gamer, kickstarter, Nintendo Switch, videogames

Video Game Article

Mounts Done RIGHT – The Amazing Mount System in Guild Wars 2

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 24, 2019July 17, 2019

I have always been a huge sucker for pets and mounts in video games. If I get to own, raise, ride, or play with animals of any kind, chances are I’ll love whatever game it is. When I used to play World of Warcraft I would spend ages running old raid content for the 2% chance of rare mount loot drops. As in “Sorry I can’t go out to dinner, gotta run Icecrown Citadel on my 10th alt before weekly raid reset.” (It was a sickness, really.)

When a mount system was finally added to Guild Wars 2 last year in the Path of Fire expansion, I was ecstatic! In developer interviews on the subject, ArenaNet calls their design philosophy the “Joy of Movement”, and it is indeed an absolutely joy to collect and ride these incredibly well designed mounts. Each type of mount has a specific mechanical purpose and handles very differently, rather than being a series of model re-skins as is seen inmost MMOs. Mounts in Guild Wars 2 are essentially a case study is how to do mounts right. Giddy-up!

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gamergirl, gaming, girl gamer, guild wars 2, mmo, mmorpg, pc gaming, video games

Nintendo Switch Video Game Article

Ethics and Tragedy of Blades in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 14, 2019March 1, 2023

One of the central themes of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is whether or not Blades should be considered a race of people rather than weapons or tools, or if it is fair to treat them as weapons even if it’s their nature. Are they slaves no matter how well their Driver treats them? Just because a Blade and Driver have a good relationship, even a loving one, does that make it right to use them? On the other hand, is it acceptable to leave them dormant forever, in effect unalive?

Posted in: entertainment, gamer girl, gaming, girl gamer, Nintendo Switch, xenoblade chronicles 2