We finished up Bully last night on Backlog. The time has come to select a new challenger and we have a lovely list of games that you can vote on. The theme for this series of the show is “Dartboard of DOOM,” which will require a little explanation.
See, I have a rigorous and complicated process for selecting which games wind up in each block of voting. Sometimes that fails and we’re forced to engage the emergency protocols. First, I get a dartboard. Then I put the names of the games on the dartboard. Finally, I hire an elderly sex worker to beat me until I say the names of four games on the list.
It’s complicated. Here are the games you can choose from for this thirteenth series of Backlog.
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Developed by Ubisoft
Released on May 18th, 2010
It’s been a rocky period for the Prince of Persia franchise. After what seems to have been an unsuccessful reboot of the series (much to my chagrin; I adored 2008’s Prince of Persia), Ubisoft went back to the previously abandoned plot line with The Forgotten Sands. To their credit, Ubisoft seems to have acknowledged which of their games remains most deserving of a sequel and placed this 2010 title directly following The Sands of Time in its respective chronology.
I have played every game in the Prince of Persia series, even if I rarely make the effort to finish them. With your help, perhaps I’ll knock this one off my list.
The Getaway
Developed by Team Soho
Released on January 19th, 2003
I’ve always heard great things about The Getaway and simply never took the time to find out if they were true. I’m trying to keep my expectations low, as it’s hard to know what you’re going to get into with a nearly decade-old sandbox. But who wouldn’t want to recklessly drive through the streets of London? And I dig any game that attempts greater immersion by dumping the HUD.
Provided, of course, that dropping the HUD actually works well. I know how we can find out.
Splatterhouse
Developed by BottleRocket / Namco Bandai
Released on November 23rd, 2010
The original Splatterhouse series thrilled me to no end. The bizarre and gory enemies and Rick’s monstrous beefiness is always worth a giggle, but that third game on the Sega Genesis was some seriously dark stuff. So, my interest was piqued over a reboot of the series but I sure as hell wasn’t going to buy in at launch. Now a few months later, a cheap copy has found its way into my collection. Skull cracking will happen.
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
Developed by Capcom
Released on December 21st, 2006
I think I’ve played the beginning of Lost Planet about four times in total. In fact, I don’t think I’ve played more than the first five missions of the game ever. I can’t even tell you why. I’m aware that there are some considerable flaws to the game but I’m still enchanted by the snowy landscape and the idea of keeping heat levels up. I want to play this, yet that desire never seems urgent at all. Feel free to urge me if you like.
Mystery Game
Finally, we have the Mystery Game. Don’t make the mistake of choosing this for curiosity’s sake, as people have clamored before to know what it was and groaned when they learned. The intent here is to select the Mystery Game if none of the other games appeal to you, so voting for it just because you want to know what it is is kind of a dick move.
If the Mystery Game is not chosen, it’ll roll over into the next series where it will continue to be a mystery.
There we have it. Put your vote in the comments below and tune in tonight at 8pm Pacific for a whole new series of Backlog!
Published: May 12, 2011 04:00 am