Backlog Conquering - Outland - Part 1 - The First 45 Minutes

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is the first video with a new PS3 game. for the video i played through the first 45 minutes, or so, of Outland. It's a game from Ubisoft and Housemarque. 

I've had this game for a long time. i speculated early in the video that i probably got it as a PlayStation Plus game. i didn't really think about it until i used it in my PS3 XMB Game Preview Series, https://youtu.be/WIh3ZkDSCLY. Going in, i didn't really know anything about it other than it's a Housemarque game.

This was an interesting first 45 minutes. the first thing i noticed was how gorgeous it looked. My capture device said it was 720p, but it looked so crisp, vibrant, and detailed that it could easily have been 1080p. technologically speaking, it's also run really smooth and i haven't noticed any issues with it, unlike Papo & Yo which i just finished as that game had all sorts of issues like screen tearing and framerate dips.

But it's story hasn't grabbed me. so much else of this game has, but the story we've had so far is very brief. there's not really been a great answer to "Why?" and the world we're playing in sure looks great, but again there's no reason why it looks the way it does. there'll be a part two and i look forward to seeing where it goes.

Backlog Conquering - Papo & Yo - Part 5 - The Final Part

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 5, and the final part, of playing Papo & Yo on PlayStation 3.

in part 4, https://youtu.be/2AmtDoudYak, i got stuck on a puzzle and said i would look up the answer. turns out i was doing it right but i was having terrible luck. so the video starts with me continuing with that puzzle. the only thing i did differently was where i put the frogs and starting with the house closest to where i had to go, then doing the middle one, and skipping the third one by walking across a wall.

From then on, i didn't have any issues completing the remaining puzzles and the game itself. the game had some technical issues in places with screen tearing, stuttering, and what felt like the frame rate decreasing.

But overall, i enjoyed my time playing the game. it's not the best, nor is it the most technically proficient, but it does something very important. it doesn't let difficulty get in the way. all but one of the puzzles were easy to solve and all but that same one came with a very useful help "box". if the monster got you, it never killed you. and if you fell, it wasn't to your death. the game would  very quickly restart you close to where you fell. the game's goal was never difficulty, the puzzles were never meant to stump you, you weren't punished by death. the goal was simply telling the story. and that it did very well. 

in the video, i gave the game a 7.5 assuming that a 5 would be average. i'd recommend giving this a go if you have it.

Cloud Monday - Zack Zero - Over an Hour of Gameplay!

Today's Cloud Monday is part 1 of playing the PS3 game Zack Zero on the PlayStation Plus Streaming Service.

This wasn't the game i had planned to play. i had planned to play LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean. it was a game i couldn't get to work when the service was PlayStation Now. but this video, https://youtu.be/2jHnCIfBhDw, shows that i couldn't get it to work. Zack Zero was chosen because it was a game i could quickly get to to test to see if it worked or not.

And it did work! and i played it for over an hour, too! it was totally unexpected so i really went in knowing nothing about the game or what it was. a lot of the game pleasantly surprised me. it was a little rough in places and somewhat repetitive with, annoyingly, respawning enemies. but i kept on playing as i was, for the most part, enjoying playing it. 

Whilst the game had it's own issues, streaming it was mostly fine. i would guess that there was maybe a 5 minute window where there were some streaming issues. they were noticeable, but they never got in the way of playing the game itself. there were some stream tearing and some macro blocking, but i'd argue that the game's own issues were far more of a distraction than the comparatively brief period of streaming issues.

Backlog Conquering - Papo & Yo - Part 4 - Getting Stuck on a Puzzle

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 4 of playing Papo & Yo on PlayStation 3.

Part 3 was a long video where i managed to complete puzzle after puzzle. i had a good time doing so and it felt great to work out some of the more tricky ones. But today, i couldn't complete this puzzle.

This video is nearly 40 minutes of me trying to complete a single puzzle. i feel like i had the right idea, but i couldn't get it to work. please offer some tips in the comments. i'll check out a guide or two before Part 5.

Backlog Conquering - Papo & Yo - Part 3 - An Hour of Puzzle Solving Gameplay

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 3 of playing Papo & Yo on PlayStation 3.

Part 3 turned out to be much longer than expected. This game doesn't have many breaks as it mostly flows from puzzle to puzzle, story to story. the previous two parts ended after the game switched to a real world event. but i didn't get to the next one in this video.

i found this part to be a little more difficult than the other two videos. i needed more time to solve the puzzles, especially the house stacking puzzle. But i was pleased how i solved the soccer pitch puzzle. this game handles puzzles really well, everything is there.

Backlog Conquering - Papo & Yo - Part 2 - The Next 45 Minutes

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 2 of playing Papo & Yo on PlayStation 3.

It was much of the same in this video. this one again features many simple little puzzles and like the first part, https://youtu.be/lHHf-56b7Xs, there was one puzzle that caused me more trouble than the others.

This is also the first time we get to interact with the monster. with it being a monster, i didn't think that should get close to it. But it was the thing to do. for most of the video, we're able to have some basic interactions with it. but near the end it's mood changes drastically and we're given a simple puzzle on how to deal with it.

There will be a part 3 to this. so far the game is effectively telling a story and i'm interested to see how it does tell it. i would say the game is easy. Not too easy as some puzzles require a little thinking, but for the most part the games difficulty doesn't get in the way of it trying to tell a story.

Backlog Conquering - Papo & Yo - Part 1 - The First 45 Minutes

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 1 of playing Papo & Yo on PlayStation 3.

It's time to start a new game and this time i've chosen a game i knew a little about. when QTE Gamers focused solely on news, i had reported on this game. i knew going in that it was from a small team and that it told a personal story, a story of how the monster was their father.

But i didn't know how they would go about telling this story. so far, it's been interesting how similar it feels to Rain, a game i played earlier in this series at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyEBkNKW1vypLU9YXtiL19MfwB3TR-Or-, but because of the setting and music and characters it's also quite different.

It's a little rough in places but i wouldn't say it was ever too distracting. the game uses the environment to help guide you. it's clear that the goal from this game wasn't to let you work it out for yourself, it's designed to gently guide you through the story being told. the puzzles are mostly obvious and even when i got stuck common sense sorted it out. the game isn't designed to let you explore a wide area, the playing spaces are fairly small with some element of hight and platforming about them. there are some nooks and crannies you can explore, but there doesn't seem to be anything to find. again, the goal is to guide you rather than you making your own way. 

i wouldn't say this means the game holds your hand all the way, but it does signpost things very well as many of the "puzzle" elements are highlighted. if you do get stuck, the game has a cool box mechanic. sprinkled around each area are boxes that you can put over your head. they offer hints, tips, and guides. so if you do want some more handholding, it's your choice. i've mostly been checking them out because i find it cool how you can look in and see drawings and then put it over your head and see it clearer. the pictures are fun, too.

I'm enjoying myself so far, it's been a pleasant experience and i'm still interested in seeing where it goes. so there will be a part 2.

Cloud Monday - Split/Second - Using My Old Save And Playing For The First Time In Over A Decade!

Today's Cloud Monday is a little different. for today's video i wanted to try something i hadn't yet done. I've used the service to play games i hadn't played before, so i've never tried to use an old game save file. I saw Split/Second on the store and really wanted to play it again. i also knew i had a save file in the cloud. So today's video starts with me showing how to take a cloud save file and use it with the PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming Service.

Once i got the save file copied over to the cloud and the game restarted, i was genuinely surprised that i had completed all the races. i hadn't won them all, but they were all finished. as i had shown it was working, i decided to have some fun and play it.

I never expected to win or to better any result i already had. it had been over a decade since i last played this game, but i instinctively knew how most the of the controls work and even the game mechanics.  a couple of the levels felt familiar. i tried out each of the game modes and near the end decided to try some levels that i hadn't got the win.

In one of those levels, i actually got the win! i hadn't practiced before today, it really had been over a decade since i last played. and yet, i got a win. i was so happy with myself. the final thing i tried out was the online multiplayer. there wasn't anyone online, but it looked like online races could possibly happen, it's possible that instead of the game connecting to a server my console becomes the thing that other players would connect to. But i don't know for sure, but if you do see or know of online games let us know in the comments.

Cloud Monday - Dark Void - A Fun Few Chapters With Some Streaming Issues

In today's Cloud Monday, I'm playing the PS3 version of Dark Void. it's a game i've played before on Xbox 360, so it was a nice nostalgic return to the game.

As for the streaming experience, i felt that controlling the game was fine. i didn't notice any input lag. but i do recommend changing the analogue stick sensitivity in the menu. once i did, i found that moving the camera became much more pleasant.

The video being streamed tho had some occasional issues. the game itself has it's own issues, so screen tearing, pop-in, and weird shadows/lighting isn't what i'm talking about, but something you will see. the biggest issue with the video being streamed to my PS4 was macroblocking. this is where colors and shapes get blocky. this only got in the way of gameplay once, but a few occasions it was plenty noticeable but i could play with it happening.

Because of this, i'll try playing the game another day at a different time to see if we get a better streaming experience or if it's a regular thing. 

Backlog Conquering - Eat Them! - The Fourth And Final Part

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 4, of playing Eat Them! on PS3.

With part 3, https://youtu.be/2OtBPMfJk1c, ending on a low with me being stuck on a level and not making any progress, i was concerned that this video would be me still stuck on it. And for a little bit, i was still stuck. but i slowly started to make progress and eventually i succeeded.

It wasn't a big win, but it was enough to progress the story. the rest of the levels weren't too bad and before long i was on the final stage. the game throws all the enemies at you and i was stuck for a little bit. but i had a great idea, to try and avoid being hit by ... well ... everything, i would try to go behind buildings. it worked! they shielded me just enough to finish the final level and the game.

So this is the final video. i'm not worried about getting the PS3 trophies or the gold medals. i've done enough. ultimately, it was a fine videogame. it had a few difficulty spikes and it didn't always control great. but as it was a shorter video game, i felt like whilst they do exist they never really got too in the way. it's a great looking game and the story is easy to follow. i'm glad i played it.

Backlog Conquering - Eat Them! - Part 3 - An Easier Time

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 3, of playing Eat Them! on PS3.

Today's video went smoother than part 2, https://youtu.be/naNvLj4k9dQ, mostly because i died less. Tho, that isn't true for the whole video.

What was also surprising was that it wasn't until this video that i fully understood how the level system worked. Sure, i could visually see that there were comics. but what i had failed to grasp was that one comic would act as the story and the following comic acted as the playable stages. when i started today's video, i was somewhat confused as i was doing a comic ahead of where i remembered i was. It wasn't until i double checked that i realized how the comic books and stages system fully worked.

I finished two comic books, a comic with story and the following comic with stages, and went on to try the next story comic. But i couldn't do it. i tried a few times and even made a new character. but i found it really difficult. the video was going really smoothly until i hit this stumbling block and honestly, i'm not too sure if i'll be able to do it in a part 4.

There will be a part 4, but if i'm unable to get past this story segment, it may also be my last. if you've got this far, feel free to give me some tips on how to complete this stage.

Backlog Conquering - Eat Them! - Part 2 - A More Difficult 45 Minutes

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 2, the second 45 minutes, of playing Eat Them! on PS3.

Yesterday's video, https://youtu.be/yFzk0i8jj1Y, was a fairly simple one where the game was only difficult when i made mistakes. Today's video starts off with me failing to complete a level.

As mentioned yesterday, the game is split into comic books and today's video saw me trying to complete the 3rd comic book. but it's first level was more difficult than i expected. and it wasn't a major problem, i'd just keep missing a policeman and it would stop the convicts from escaping. after a few attempts i learned i had to be more attentive. i couldn't just go and clear a path, i had to manage said path whilst also trying not to be killed.

But that wouldn't be the only stage where i failed. the other failures were much tighter so whilst it was a little annoying to fail, it wasn't a huge issue. but i'm a little concerned going forward by the apparent jump up in difficulty. Let me know in the comments how much harder it's going to get.

Backlog Conquering - Eat Them! - The First Part

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 1, the first 45 minutes, of playing Eat Them! on PS3.

This is one of those games that i've seen on my XMB for many years, i even remember watching the little video that plays when it's highlighted. But i've never played it as there's always been something else i've wanted to play more. Well not today. 

It makes a good first impression. it's quick to load and has a whole lot of style. back when this game came out in 2010, it was a somewhat more familiar style of cell shading. but it's not as common today. the lines are thick and black and really work with the art style. it's surprisingly clear what everything is, from the big buildings right down to the characters running away or attacking you.

The tutorial is a bit too brisk. there's a lot happening on screen during it. i would've liked a bit more of a step by step approach, as seen in the game's monster creating area. but the game is mostly simple enough that you can work it out as you play through the opening areas.

You do need to pay attention as to what you're being tasked to do. a couple of times i wasn't paying attention. in this video i play through the tutorial and first "comic." Each map is split into comics, and each comic is broken up into different stages. for the first comic/area, there were 7 stages and i play through each. i also try out the monster creator, too.

Backlog Conquering - The Legend of Kay: Anniversary - Part 4 - The Part That Broke Me

This is the fourth and quite possibly the final part of me playing The Legend of Kay: Anniversary. Yesterday's part 3 was difficult and frustrating and whilst there were some better moments today, the video ends with me having to battle with the camera in a platforming section that seems to have no save point anywhere. 

The game does have some good points, but not nearly enough of them for me to continue to struggle with poor camera controls, poor fighting mechanics, and a story that really isn't doing it for me. If i had this on PC, it's possible some of these issues might've been cleared up. the same with playing it on newer consoles. but as it is, i think i'm done with it. This makes it the first game in the series which i don't finish. But, i have started it and that in itself is a positive step to making progress through my backlog.

Backlog Conquering - The Legend of Kay: Anniversary - Part 3 - A Frustrating Hour!

This third hour of gameplay turned out to be the most frustrating so far. More than once i got stuck in a situation where the game's controls or mechanics were not working as i had been taught. This really hampered progress which meant in this video I only found the other two dragon statues and rebuilt the bridge.

If this continues, this maybe the first game in this series that i don't finish. I'm fine with some jank, i know it's an older game with older mechanics. But if it's just going to be "unfair", i'll find a game that doesn't waste my time. There will be a part 4 tomorrow, but we'll see how it goes.

Cloud Monday - Brave: The Video Game - A Solid Game with a Solid Streaming Experience

In today's Cloud Monday, I'm playing Brave: The Videogame. It might be the first Disney movie tie-in videogame i've played since The Lion King and Aladdin on the Mega Drive. I have seen the movie and i do enjoy it, more so than Cars and Toy Story. But i knew nothing of the game before starting it.

I played through the tutorial and first "Level" of the game which was a little under an hour. I must admit i was surprised. it looks very much like a PS3 game when you start, and i admit it was what i expected from a game tie-in. But by the end, i was really enjoying myself and got far more immersed into the game than i expected. It's not the best game ever, but a solid 7 or 8 for sure and well worth trying out on via PlayStation Plus. Don't let the tie-in fool you either, it does well to tell it's story without needing the player to have seen/know the story of the movie.

But that's just from the first hour, or so, of the game so i really can't say if it holds true throughout. As for streaming, i found no issues playing this game via the PlayStation Plus Premium service. i found the controls responsive and the video quality stable and good. the only thing worth mentioning is that during the story cutscenes, which are uniquely made for this game and not pieces from the movie, there were many moments where macro blocking was evident. The problem is, without a disc copy of the game to compare with, i can't say for sure if it's due to streaming the game or rather due to video compression used for the game itself. If i were to guess, i'd say that it was already a part of the game, more so when there was no evidence of it happening during game play. One fine thing, the game does autosave which means we are somewhat at the mercy of it if we get the dreaded countdown to the stream being cut.

Backlog Conquering - The Legend of Kay: Anniversary - The Second Hour

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

Today's video is part 2 of playing The Legend of Kay: Anniversary on PS3.

In yesterday's video, we played through the first hour which was mostly just the game introducing the backstory and tutorial area. In today's video we continue on from where we left off yesterday. Not too much extra story stuff is revealed in this time, but we do get more action scenes and a little more tutorial.

It was a bit rough in places. a combination of my old PS3 controller suffering from stick drift and the fact that this was a PS2 game made a few moments more stressful than i'd like. there were also some unclear moments in the gameplay. But i'm still interested so there will be a part 3 next week.

Backlog Conquering - The Legend of Kay: Anniversary - The First Hour

Welcome to Backlog Conquering.

We have a new game in the Backlog Conquering Series. I have started The Legend of Kay: Anniversary on PS3. this is the first video, and it shows the first hour of the game.

Going in, i knew little to noting about the game. i'm sure i only have it via a PlayStation Plus get many years ago. but it's always been a game i was curious about and this series is the perfect chance for me to give it a go. 

My thoughts of it being a PS2 game were right, and some gameplay mechanics feel a little dated by modern standards. but for the most part, the first hour was good and i'm looking forward to at least another part. It's too early to say whether i'll play it through to it's end, but i don't regret giving it a go.

Cloud Monday - Lost Planet - Part 2 - An Improved Streaming Experience

In today's Cloud Monday, I'm back playing the PS3 version of Lost Planet. In last week's video, we saw how the gaming experience was affected by poor internet. So the reason for giving the game a part 2 was to see if it really was poor internet or was it just how the game streamed.

As for the streaming experience, well the title says it all. it was a night and day difference between part 1 and part 2. i recommend you watch part 1 to see how rough it got in places. But for today, it was very playable. the only issues were with the game itself, rather than anything caused by streaming it. 

So, after trying it, i'd recommend this game for people with good solid internet. if your internet is a little rough, then the low definition of the game and long periods of white and particle effects can make it a bit of a mess. if your fine, it's a fun game. i've played 2 hours of it and it felt nostalgic to go back after all these years. I'd really like Capcom to go back and remaster it, bringing in more modern ideas from Titanfall, Monster Hunter, and Killzone.

Backlog Conquering - Rain - The Fourth and Final Part

I Accidently used my laptop's mic to record this video, so it sounds different to any of my recent videos.

This is the fourth and final video in my playthrough of Rain on PS3. In this video i play through the final couple of chapters of the game. i don't go on to play through the memory collecting mode.

The game continues to play well. the main issue with controls is my own controller which is suffering with stick drift. The graphics continue to impress. there were moments which had an almost cinematic feel to them. the contrast of the city in the previous video compared to this was stark and it looked great when it came back.

This will be the final video in this series. If i plan on getting extra trophies, there is no platinum, i won't be recording it.