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The path to 100 complete games 25 weeks in

Well, it seems like ages since I updated this.

This is partly down to another round of travel to the Southern Hemipshere and partly a general lack of motivation on my part to really knuckle down to finish some games - at least 3 are 1 or 2 easy achievements from the end but need a replay and I just couldnt be bothered.

However, in amongst this (and mostly I have still be playing Forza Horizon 3 - the Blizzard Mountain expansion which I am now firmly believing to be the best racing experience even more than the full game.) SideNote: Forza 7 running at 4k realism on XboxOneX - it doesnt really matter how lovely and realistic the game is to look at - do something with the core gameplay otherwise its just going to be as drawn out and boring as the last 4 iterations

So apart from Forza Horizon 3 I have also got stuck into Wolfenstein the Old Guard -mainly because I enjoyed the New Blood so much and I'm quite enjoying this one as well.

However, in amongst all the stop starting video games I managed 4 huge personal gaming milestones as follows

1) TA Score of 300,000. Made it to 300,000K far quick than I made the previous 200 and100k milestones. Mostly I put this down to the Xboxone having a lot more 'arcade' games with 1000 GS not 200 meaning much greater TA scores for the kind of games I enjoy playing. And the 300K achievement was

2) Beat my first goal of the year - to reach 300,000K by 31st Dec 2017. I say Beat but I smashed it out of the park!
3) 10,000 Achievements won (actually now nearly 10,100). An the 10,000 achievement was

4) 700 games played (actually its now closer to 725 with this weeks indie game (3 games for the price of one pint of lager!!!!) sale.

Large pat on the back / high-five for me !!!

Still I managed to finish 3 games in this period as follows:

Bridge Constructor. Frustrating for three reasons. 1 as a puzzle and physics based game, there is no consistency in the physics (which I guess is the game engine's purpose) - but quite often the trucks would wreck the bridge, then the next drive would pass over it like it was made of concrete. Second problem is that a lot of the guides online dont work - you spend ages copying a bridge design only for the whole thing to explode as the first wheel makes contact. Finally, a minor gripe - the controls can be a little fiddly when you're trying to join bridge parts together.

Blackwood Crossing. Quite enjoyed this little tale. I'm not going to give away any spoilers or details but its regularly on sale and is well worth picking up and enjoying as a game. What I can say is it is a similar theme to Memories of Him but I think a much more immersive and far better told story.

Brothers: a tale of Two Sons. I'd already played and completed this game on the Xbox 360 when it was released but its now part of Game Pass. Now I know this game is criticised for being two short, and that controlling two characters with the two joypad sticks sometimes makes them a little cumbersome but ignore all that - Brothers is quite honestly one of the best games I've played in over 30 years of gaming and easily makes my top 10 all time (which may be a future post when i'm bored). Everyone should play it, and play the game through to the heart breaking ending, not just stopping when you get the last achievement.

And so - updating the enjoyment list

Highly Recommended:
Brothers: A tale of two sons
Firewatch
Inside
Thomas Was Alone
Assassins Creed Syndicate
Assassins Creed Syndicate Jack the Ripper DLC
ABZU
Broken Sword
Blackwood Crossing
Virginia

Mildly Diverting:
Wheels of Aurelia
i,Zombie
Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Syrup Creek
Coffin Dodgers
Bridge Constructor
Beyond Eyes
Her Majesty's Spiffing

Only if you want 1000 GS:
Doodle God
6180 the moon
Cubit
Memories of Him
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
Three Fourths Home