You’d think that now that 2014 is over with, we could focus on the year ahead.  Except no.  Because January.  That’s all the explanation you really need, but I’ll expand upon it anyway.

January is a time when nothing happens.  People get excited about it being a new year.  They make and break resolutions.  Here in Scotland, we recite poetry that few people can understand and eat bits of sheep that aren’t typically eaten.  In the world of gaming, however, people tend to just breathe a sigh of relief.  The Christmas rush is done with and we can all get a bargain on last year’s hits in the January sales, but nothing really happens.

This year is even worse, because we don’t have freshly launched consoles to get hyped about.  For a good portion of last year, we were all looking ahead to 2015 anyway, since that was when the vast majority of the most anticipated games would be arriving.  In effect, we are in no better shape than we were last year.  It feels like nothing has changed and that’s because it hasn’t.

With each article I write, it becomes more and more challenging to think of something worthwhile to say.  This is difficult enough when there is a glut of gaming news and releases, but January can just bugger off.  I choose to completely ignore 2015 until something actually happens.  This decision, combined with my ever-increasing backlog, has prompted me to think of what this article will actually be about.  That’s right – until a few words ago, I was just typing whatever came to mind, but now I have an idea!  I’m going to run with it.

Behold, good readers, my list of games that I didn’t play in 2014 which I hope to play in 2015!  Or MLOFTIDPITFWIHTPITF.  That’s pronounced muh-loft-ih-di-pit-fih-wit-pit-if.  To be clear, this doesn’t have to be a game that was released in 2014.  Oh no.  This is any game that I should have played last year but didn’t because seriously I have so many games oh god how will I ever play them all.

So without further ado, here is a list of games with accompanying paragraphs to pad out the length of this article!

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 / 2.5 ReMIX

It was only while watching Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix being speed run during Awesome Games Done Quick last week that I remembered just how bloody awesome these games were.  Specifically the second one, which I had all-but-erased from my memory, aside from vague recollections of it being fantastic and singing along in Atlantica.  But I had somehow completely forgotten the combat system.  Dashing around like a demon possessed, dual-wielding keyblades.  Then it occurred to me that I had only played a fraction of the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise.

Yes, despite being such an ardent fan, I’ve only played the two numbered entries on the PS2 and Chain of Memories on the GBA.  Don’t get me wrong, I own all of the rest.  They’re just yet to be played, despite the “newest” (Dream Drop Distance) coming out not in 2014, not in 2013, but in 2012.  This should give you an idea of just how far back my backlog goes.  The combat looking awesome might have been the trigger, but it’s the story and the setting that really draws me in.  I’m a sucker for Disney stuff at heart and the same goes for just about everything Square-Enix pops out.  So right at the top of the list is the Kingdom Hearts series.  As much of it as possible.

Final Fantasy XIII / XIII-2 / Lightning Returns

I’m getting there, I really am.  I’ve got a save file in XIII that is finally in Gran Pulse, with all of the open-worldness that entails.  Eventually, I will load it up and rely entirely on the plot summaries and their intricate detail to remember what the hell has transpired up until that point, then do my best to continue through a series that many promise gets so much better if I could just persist.

This list is going to be full of situations just like this.  Games, usually JRPGs, usually part of a series, that I need to tackle.  Huge games that I will no doubt love, but can never seem to find the time to play.  I’ve already spent far too much time talking about the Final Fantasy series, so I’m going to cut this one short and move on.

Demon’s Souls / Dark Souls

Yes, I own the original title that few people may have heard of.  It came out on the PS3 and I wanted it from the very moment it was released.  I played it for a bit and then stopped.  Then I bought the sequel and it’s still sealed, waiting.  Watching.  When the remastered edition of Dark Souls II comes out for the PS4, I’m going to buy it.  Just you watch me.  Will I have played any of either of these titles by that time?  I’m going to hedge my bets here and say “maybe”.

Demon’s Souls is something I really want to play through.  It appeals to me in its no-holds-barred approach to making you play a game really well or have your character die trying.  Clearly, it appealed to a great many other people in the form of Dark Souls.  I’ve been missing out on this for quite some time and so the Souls series gets pride of place on this list, too.

Time to get serious, because we’re running out of space here.  Enough expository banter!  Now we list like men!  And ladies!  And ladies who dress like men!  For Chris, it is condensing time!

Tales of Graces F / Tales of Xillia / Tales of Xillia 2

Yep.  Juuuust sitting there.

Assassins’ Creed III / IV

I hear the boats are good in the latter.

Xenoblade Chronicles / The Last Story

Can someone get me Dr. Emmet Brown on the phone?  I have all the banana peels and half-empty cans of juice he could ask for.  Just need to borrow his car for a little while.

Bravely Default

Surely there must be an end in sight?

Radiant Historia

Nope, apparently not.

The World Ends With You

Oh come on, this one was released YEARS ago!

Chrono Trigger

Now you are just taking the piss.

Final Fantasy III

I already said I’ve mentioned Final Fantasy too mu- WHY AM I ARGUING WITH MYSELF?

Silliness aside, I am quite glad that the present and immediate future of 2015 remain pleasantly blank in terms of releases.  It’ll make writing articles harder, but it might give me a chance to sit down and play a few things.  Though given the amount of times I’ve said just that, I have to wonder if these are ever going to get played.

And with that, I’m off to play some more FFXIV before bed.  I can’t be helped.

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