TOEM (PC) (2021)

Overview: A puzzle adventure where the player character progresses the story by solving problems using the player character's camera.

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20230417:
First session.

Camera and Gamepad Mappings at the start of the game
(more features come later)

Setup: Steam Deck.

Steam Game Time: 29 minutes

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20230422:
My first impression of the game is that it is simple and fun. The core game mechanic involves taking pictures in order to solve various problems. In a way, it's similar to a point-and-click adventure game, but instead of fulfilling quests by picking up and delivering items, the player takes a picture and delivers the photo. In my life, I've only played a handful of games with a camera system. Off the top of my head, these include Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Beyond Good and Evil, and one of the Fatal Frame games (probably Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly).

I like the feel of the game. It has a casual, lighthearted, kindhearted feel to it. Keep in mind, however, I'm saying this with a fair background in playing video games, and it might be possible that a brand new video game player would think of this game as either easy or casual.

Steam Game Time: 2.1 hours (cumulative game time) / 1.6 hours (session game time)

[20230429][20231108 Edit]

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20230502 Snapshot:
Steam Game Time: 2.6 hours (cumulative game time)
Last Played: 20230502

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20231108:
Today I managed to figure out some quests in Stanhamn that previously stumped me. This left me with just one undisovered quest in Stanhamn.

Steam Game Time: 4.1 hours (cumulative game time) / 1.5 hours (session game time)

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20231220:
Gameplay Log:
Today I'm in the next area: Logcity.
I came down to two stamps I was having trouble with: the mysterious man and a photo with 5 living objects
I did at 6.2 hours cumulative game time find the man. I had run circles around the city many times... Not sure what had made this run different for me to choose to look where he was, but good thing I did.
Soon after I also was about to snap 5 living objects, one of which was me. Not sure, I felt like I took a picture of 5 before, or maybe the other picture I took had too many objects.
Start Kiiruberg.
While looking for the Ancient Paintings I couldn't find the sixth one. After a while searching, I read that it is in the next area (Mountain Top).
Trying to finish compendium. Can't find Tato Bug and Cosmo Deer.
Start Basto.

Completed Basto stamps. Can't find some of the Basto compendium.
Managed to find Tato Bug (required finding an energy box, which I found by hearing a strange humming and then noticing there were little black dots eminating from a location)
It was the last energy box I needed to find and I was able to talk to the man in the tower. He unlocked a portal to where I was able to collect Cosmo Deer to complete the compendium for the base game
Went to Stanhamn to figure out how to unlock treasure chest. Walked around for a while. Finally I figured it out. There was this pirate asleep and it occurred to me I should honk to wake her up. She gave me the key to the chest and that was it. Completing this last quest unlocked "Complete all quests in Stanhamn" "Complete all quests in the base game" and "Equip every base game item once" (upon wearing the paper hat she gave)
At this point I have three achievements remaining: "Self portrait" "And some more" "Cool moon" and a hidden achievement.
Back to Basto. Wasn't recorded: Coco crab (investigated rustling in tree)
Figured out the "Cool moon."
I decided to look up the "Self portrait" because my attempts at it don't seem to work. Not sure what's special about these instructions I'm reading though. Ah. Specifically the character has to sit in the chair in front of the painter! This leaves the "And some more" (Basto compendium) achievement for which I still need to find "Itsy Bitsy" and "Tato King." Then I have a hidden achievement which I saw the goal via Steam Global Achievements
I look up the location for "Itsy Bitsy":

"Inside the Cave, there are Glow Worms crawling on the wall. Aim your camera to find a crack on the wall. Splash at it until an "X" is revealed [...]"
Remark: while I had noticed this crack, I would have never thought to splash it with water...

Got the "Tato King"!
Gave a small try at the hidden achievement by looking in Kiiruberg. But it was a half-assed attempt - which I'm okay with looking up the answer to save time: "In Oaklaville, when you go into the hotel, with your camera, look up at the celiing"

Steam Game Time: 12.8 hours (cumulative game time) / 8.7 hours (session game time)

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Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Cute game
+ Great soundtrack
+ Fun game mechanic
+ Casual, take a picture of anything even if it's not for the game
+ Bonus area was added which extends the game a good portion

Neutral:
~ Generally the contents of pictures are recognized by the game, but there are rare finicky exceptions

Rating: 5.2/5

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Summary:
While most of the puzzles in TOEM are straightforward, I welcomed this, and found that the game overall strikes a good distribution of difficulty. Furthermore, I found the game rather charming and worth playing for this charm, in combination with a well-executed camera mechanic.

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TOEM (PC) (2021)

Relevant Links:
TOEM (Wikipedia.org)
TOEM (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
TOEM (steamdb.info)
TOEM (Steam Store Page)

Haven Park (PC) (2021)

20230416 (Part 1):
I started playing a couple minutes yesterday night. Sometimes the game froze, but shutting it down and starting it back up seems to always be a satisfactory solution, because no progress was ever lost.

The foreshadowing was clear with the grandma, and so the ending was sad but not that sad. On that note, while it is the protagonist's grandma, the game did not do anything to create an emotional connection with her. Had the game incorporated flashbacks or tie the grandma more intimately with the progression of the story, this may have made the ending more impactful.

Overall, the game is relatively easy. However, I did get stumped trying to find the passage up the ice area which has a broken bridge. I first explored other parts of the island because I did not realize there was a hidden passage.

As an aside, I only have some optional quests and fun upgrades left in the game. I'm not sure if there are any benefits into upgrading all the shops but I imagine each settlement will essentially pay for itself. Actually, I guess I still have to find all the items in the game that need fixing.

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20230416 (Part 2):
So I completed all achievements except a hidden achievement. The last achievenent (outside the hidden achievement) was to "Light 5 firefly lanterns." I had to wait manually until night to collect the achievements. It's funny since sleeping allows one to bypass the night, but there is no way to bypass the day. As such, I burned about 10 to 15 minutes to wait for night, collected a firefly, and thankfully it was my fifth and final lantern.

For the hidden achievement, I looked it up and it was "Jump on a swing". I think it's a mildly lame achievement, and a very lame hidden achievement - especially because if anything can be ridden it should be the ferris wheel. In fact, while killing time for day to turn into night, my son wanted me to ride the ferris wheel, and so I tried. Unfortunately, there was no in-game option to so I just tried to hop onto it. One can kind of glitch into a seat but the game will force the player character out on top or other weird behavior. I found it very strange there was not an in-game feature to ride the ferris wheel.

Overall, the game was charming at times but lacked the polish that makes the game worth recommending. There are similar games I have played, e.g., Animal Crossing, which would likely be superior to this game. With thay being said, this game is short, which would be an upside for some players. The main story can theoretically be completed in about 2 hours; I completioned all the achievements in about 8.5 hours, but maybe without distractions I could have done it in 7 hours.

Steam Game Time: 8.5 hours (cumulative game time)

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Rating: 3.8/5

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20231225:
Ensuring backup of game's save files from Steam Deck to PC.

Steam Game Time: 8.5 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.0 hours (session game time)

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1549550/Haven_Park/
https://www.havenparkgame.com/

Path of Exile - Crucible

Overview: Crucible was a Path of Exile challenge league. The primary mechanic consisted of upgrading non-Unique weapons or shields by giving them their own passive trees. Further mechanics include combining Crucible Passive Trees or giving such trees to Unique items. The league started on 20230407 and ended 20230815.

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Fire Trap / Frostblink Elementalist

20230407:
My league start character was Fire Trap / Frostblink Elementalist. If I recall, I was following a build by Subtractem.

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Gameplay Log:
20230406: Prior to the league start, I practiced leveling for 1.5 hours. I made it to Prisoner's Gate in Act 1. 3/115 maps.
20230408: Made it to maps. Played 17 hours and 14 minutes; Died 9 times; Killed 33624 monsters.
20230424: Reached level 92. Played 2 days, 23 hours, and 16 minutes; Died 84 times; Killed 194882 monsters. 96/115 maps.
20230503: Reached level 94. Played 4 days, 0 hours, and 57 minutes; Died 106 times; Killed 281528 monsters. 113/115 maps; 119/132 atlas skills.
20230507: Reached level 95. Played 4 days, 20 hours and 40 minutes; Died 118 times; Killed 319672 monsters. 113/115 maps; 120/132 atlas skills.

Crucible Passive Skill Tree

20230510: Started a new character. [20260315: if I recall, Crucible Passive Trees made certain builds really strong, including bow-based builds]
20230513: Completed Acts. Played 11 hours and 54 minutes; Died 69 times; Killed 37951 monsters.
20230514: At level 89 the build is feeling good. I have a decent crafted bow with a crucible tree. I feel like I'm dealing more damage than my fire trap character, but slightly squishier. For example, I'm starting to be able to do Lethal crucible mechanic no problem and hitting four reward types with no problem. Certain essences are hard because I have to kite them, but they seem to be getting easier.
20230522: Reached level 93. Played 2 days, 19 hours, and 0 minutes; Died 137 times; Killed 267570 monsters. 114/115 maps; 122/132 atlas skills. I spent a lot of time farming essence in white tier maps. Note that 2 of the 137 deaths were after the level up.

Fully assigned Crucible Passive Skill Tree

20230524: Reached level 94. Played 3 days, 7 hours, and 28 minutes; Died 160 times; Killed 336312 monsters. 114/115 maps; 123/132 atlas skills. Running Delve with no side paths is good XP gains for me, but at times I got greedy with the side paths and died a few times setting me back.
20230526: Reached level 95. Played 3 days, 18 hours, and 2 minutes; Died 168 times; Killed 407522 monsters. 114/115 maps.
20230609: reached level 96. Played 5 days, 2 hours and 19 minutes; Died 212 times; Killed 577124 monsters. 114/115 maps; 124/132 atlas skill. The other day I was having trouble dying in tier 14-16 maps so I focused on finishing Delve and moving to white Heist for simpler XP. Today I got two free Tainted Paradise and something else for easy experience.

Lightning Arrow / Artillery Ballista Deadeye

20230610: Started a new character, leveling as Lightning Arrow and will go into Ice Shot. I think this will be easier than respec'ing back and forth between two similar characters. [20260315: fast forward to end of the league, I only got this new character into Act 4]

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