syl’s statuslog

I've decided to take an extended break from my main blog here, but I'll still be posting week notes over at

Apparently you can now ride horses in Palia??! I think it's time to get back into the game.

I've got a cup of coffee and am about to dig into The Sunday Long Read this evening.

I went back and added some songs to my Crucial Tracks profile! Been listening to a lot of Hemlocke Springs lately.

I've been dealing with iron deficiency anemia and haven't felt 100% myself lately, so I might be slow to update for a bit. I'm hoping to get back to regular blogging soon!

Working on volume 3 of my indie game recs zine and hoping to have it posted tomorrow!

I'm going to a used book sale at one of my city's libraries tomorrow! I'm excited to see what I can find in the stacks.

I got a couple of lovely comments recently on a fanfic I wrote, and it's making me miss writing fiction, whether fanfic or original. I might try doing some flash fiction this week as an exercise to see if I can get back to it.

I got the 8BitDo Pro 3 controller and have been using it for the past couple of days to play Dark Souls Remastered on my PC. I'm loving it so far! It feels great. The joysticks in particular are so much nicer than I'm used to. I haven't had any connectivity issues at all. I also personally really like the charging dock. I like having a home for my controller because otherwise I will just set it down wherever.

I've been sick with the flu, so I wasn't able to get out and protest, but solidarity with all those who were out in the streets protesting around the country and the world yesterday! #NoKings

My latest review for Adventure Game Hotspot is up! I had an amazing time playing Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken.

This session from Novelists on Audiotree is so good! They're quickly becoming one of my favorite bands.

I jumped back into playing The Good Life again. I don't know what it is about that game that keeps me coming back, but I love it. It's like a janky old PS2 game that had great ideas but didn't know how to implement them. Are there any games you love or keep going back to even though they're objectively not great?

Enjoying the remastered Poker Night at the Inventory! I can tell they improved the game's poker logic. It's definitely more challenging.

I spend almost every day, all day, with Ranni. I couldn't imagine my life without her, and I'm not sure how I existed before she came into my life. Today we went to the dog park and then visited my parents for dinner. I stopped and got her a (safe and digestible) bone on the way home. Now she's cuddled up next to me on the bed. She's my little buddy and I love her so much. 🥹

I'm thinking about watercolor projects I'd like to do. My sister's birthday is coming up, so I'd like to make an Animal Crossing themed card for her, and I'd also like to paint a hobbit house.

The Adventure Game Hotshot Awards for 2025 are up! I wrote the bit for Kathy Rain 2, which won Best Mystery and was my personal game of the year!

Yesterday was my birthday. My husband happened to have the day off work, so I took off too and we had a great time. Went to the park with Ranni, had lunch and cake with his family, did some birthday shopping, and got boba tea. I'm feeling happy and grateful!

No spoilers here, but Resident Evil Requiem was amazing. It has my whole heart. RE2 Remake remains my series favorite, but I really think Requiem is a close second.

Currently obsessed with Katie Gavin's NPR Tiny Desk concert

I swear, I think about McSorley's Old Ale House in NYC at least once a week. I want to go back there someday. I miss NYC in general.

Just got back from having breakfast at a restaurant with my parents. When we went to pay, we were told that an unknown kind stranger bought our meal for us! Whoever you are, thank you! It means more than you know.

I think I want 2026 to be the year I finally watch Twin Peaks season 3 all the way through.

Started working on a fansite/shrine for my favorite game of all time, Koudelka!

I've been playing so much interactive fiction lately that I finally decided to create an IFDB account. I also wrote my first review there! You can find my profile here:

I installed the downpour app and am working on my first ever game, based on some songs I love.

I've been revisiting the album Hotel Paper by Michelle Branch, which was one of my favorites as a teenager, and it's just as good as I remembered.

Our 9-month-old dog, Ranni, is super athletic and has tons of energy. I want to get her into agility training soon. I think she'd be great at it!

I haven't updated in a while. We got a new puppy! Her name is Ranni (after the Elden Ring character) and she's the cutest.

Halloween decorations are up, I'm burning a ginger latte candle, drinking coffee out of a spooky mug, and watching a horror game playthrough on youtube. The 'ber months are officially here!

Saw Beetlejuice Beetlejuice last night and loved it. It's absurd in the best way, just like the original. Catherine O'Hara was the standout for me. She's just incredible all the time.

New obsession

Watching The Big Game on Tour, and I keep thinking two things: Arden Cho is adorable, and I want to play Poker Night at the Inventory.

Fontaines D.C. out here making a perfect trip-hop album in 2024, bless them.

Making good progress on Koudelka on Retro Achievements. You can view my profile here

Signed up for Retro Achievements. I'm going to try for 100% on Koudelka to begin with!

Very busy these days with wedding reception planning, trip planning, getting ready for a move, work, and trying to fit some writing and gaming (and writing about gaming) in between all of that.

Loving Koudelka so far. I had a hard time putting it down last night. The environments and enemy designs are immaculate, and the characters are great.

Getting ready to play Koudelka for the first time via an emulator. It's a horror RPG that I've always been fascinated with but have never actually played. Finally getting around to it!

Watched the Rocky marathon on AMC yesterday. The first Rocky film is still one of my all-time favorites. It's a love story masquerading as a sports film that manages to be one of the best of both.

I've been really into the articles and essays at Flaming Hydra lately. It's a bunch of journalists writing about whatever they want with no oversight, and it's great stuff.

So tired after a long workday and a swim. Trying to decide if I want a nap or a coffee.

Just got back from a swim! It's the best exercise I've ever done. No pressure on my joints at all, which is great for my osteoarthritis, but it's still a substantial workout and oddly relaxing at the same time. It's hard to stop myself and get out of the water.

Finished playing my first Nancy Drew game: Curse of Blackmoor Manor! The puzzles were more challenging than I expected. It's always nice to have to bring out the pen and paper. I also appreciated the Halloween vibes. Great game, and I'm looking forward to playing more in the series!

Had a great time fighting Mohg in Elden Ring with my husband last night. Took us a few tries, but we finally got him!

I joined a book club and I'm really looking forward to getting started with it. Hopefully it will encourage me to read more.

Spent the week dog-sitting in the mountains and dealt with a bout of stomach flu. It's been an interesting week for sure. The dogs are precious, but I'm ready to get home!

As usual, the three-day weekend has gone by too quickly. I'm not ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Backpack Battles is so addictive!

Changed my blog theme to reflect my favorite season and holiday: autumn and Halloween! I know it's not even summer yet, but we're halfway to the best time of the year and I celebrate it year-round, so I wanted to revel in it on my own web space. I'll probably keep this theme up for at least the rest of the year.

Leggings and oversized t-shirts are my favorite things right now. I'm living in them.

It's lovely to see the 2NE1 reunion for Rolling Stone Korea. 15 years of being a blackjack! I'll always love their music, and seeing them together and happy is always such a treat.

I'm trying to use my Instagram again. Feel free to add me:

Thinking about making a Palia shrine.

I've been itching to write some fiction lately. I still have a fanfic I need to finish, but I'd love to write some original flash fiction or a short story taking place in the Appalachians and revolving around cryptids.

Back at it again with Elden Ring, trying to de-rust before the DLC. Currently playing a NG+ character going dex/arcane and wielding Eleonora's Poleblade and the Horn Bow.

We're going downtown for some Scottish food and drinks after work today. It's been a rough start to the week, so I'm very much looking forward to relaxing with some good food.

Brain is extra spicy today. I need a nap.

I played Crow Country last night and absolutely loved it. It's such a good throwback to the PS1 era that it feels genuine, but it also allows for you to adjust to your own playstyle. I'm planning on playing it again to collect all the secrets and try for a higher score.

I finished The Anchoress! It was, in many ways, a difficult read. Too slow in some parts and very dark in others. It gave me chills in the end, though, and I'm glad I read it. Beautiful prose with a glimpse into a niche of medieval history that's rarely explored in such detail.

Breakfast for me is usually a pastry, oatmeal, or yogurt and granola with milk to drink and a coffee. It's my favorite meal of the day and I can't go without it.

Listening to calming music to help with the bad weather. We're having thunderstorms with a chance of tornadoes, and it's keeping my anxiety on edge.

I played Indika in one sitting yesterday. It kept me captivated. Truly unlike anything I've played before, I wouldn't even know where to begin with comparisons. It's dark, often humorous, as weird as they come, and ultimately gutting. I enjoyed every second of it.

I have a Curius now! Looking forward to adding more to it.

I have a strange urge to jump back into The Good Life. I kinda miss it in all its janky-ness.

I've been so tired this week and I don't know why. I've been getting naps in. It might be my anemia acting up again.

Finished a review for Adventure Gamers! It's up on the site now. I'm looking forward to my next assignment!

Slightly addicted to Palia. I've got my house looking the way I want it to, and I've almost maxed out my friendship with my girl Tish!

Honestly, my biggest want right now is a big book of crossword puzzles.

Enjoying the new Lacuna Coil single, "In the Mean Time," and looking forward to the new Ad Infinitum single, "Outer Space," tomorrow!

Going to try to do some writing tonight. I have two fanfic ideas and a review for Adventure Gamers to work on!

I have so many games on my backlog, but I can't stop playing Palia

Saw the Spy x Family movie at the theater today. It was super cute! The Forger family never fails to make me laugh.

Picked up a lovely edition of Apocalyptica's "Worlds Collide" and T.Rex's "Zinc Alloy," featuring a picture disc of Marc Bolan, for Record Store Day. Be sure to support your local music stores if you can!

Weekend plans: going to a medieval market and checking out Record Store Day. I'll probably try to get a long walk in and do some baking as well.

I've been playing quite a lot of Palia lately, trying to level up my skills and redecorate my house. I'm disheartened by the recent news of layoffs and the way it's performing on Steam. It does need work in some respects, but I love the community, and it's engaging enough to keep me coming back.

Finished Paradise Marsh! Charming little game that kept me exploring until I found everything I could. It was surprisingly emotional in the end. I can't really talk about it without spoiling the experience, so please check it out if you can! It's a beautiful indie game with plenty to love.

Got a few new games that I'm looking forward to trying out this week, including Buckshot Roulette, Umurangi Generation, Darkwood, and Paradise Marsh

Eyeing the Graveyard Goods Silent Hill merch release and thinking about adding one of their shirts to my collection

Weekend plans: going for a long walk, getting some reading in, and playing The Thaumaturge

Watched the first two episodes of the Fallout TV series with the hubs last night and really enjoyed it! It does a great job of capturing the games' style, includes a lot of easter eggs without feeling forced, and the performances from the three main cast members are fantastic. Looking forward to watching more!

Enjoying my day off by watching a Palia stream, drinking an iced mocha, and blogging!

I have the day off work tomorrow and I very much need it!

Finished playing The Cat Lady and absolutely adored it. It's very dark and certainly not for everyone, but it made me Feel Things. I loved the friendship that developed between Susan and Mitzi. Interesting puzzles and a fantastic atmosphere. Just all-around great!

Played Here to Slay by Unstable Games with the family and enjoyed it immensely. Hearing "I'm gonna use Bun Bun's power" and snickering and then being absolutely annihilated basically sums up the entire game.

Looking forward to tomorrow. We're having a family board game night!

Finished Clock Tower 3! It'll go down as one of the most fun games I've ever played. Trying to decide what to play next. I think I'm in the mood for a good point & click adventure.

Started playing Clock Tower 3 and really enjoying it. It's silly, spooky fun.

Finding it very hard to give up coffee atm

Started watching Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur with the husband. Loving everything about it, especially the animation style, the music, and Lunella and Casey's friendship. And Devil is adorable!

Played soccer with the niece and nephew yesterday and accidentally ran into a tree branch. It got me in the side of the nose. Ouch!

Looking forward to this weekend. Happy Easter/Bunny Day to anyone who celebrates! I'll be having dinner with my family and watching the kids hunt for Easter eggs.

Husband's left arm is in a sling this week. He has an appointment for Wednesday to see what's wrong, but I feel so bad for him. Hoping it's not anything major! Fingers crossed.

It's been a long week so far. I need some comfort TV. Maybe The IT Crowd?

It's a rainy day and all I want to do is take a nap, but I'm workin'

Worked overtime today, but got a huge chunk of our backlog completed. I'm ready for bed.

I got married!!

Installing Dragon's Dogma 2!

Busy busy busy day at work

Enjoying the new Stardew Valley update

Going to a tea tasting today!

Missing the warmer weather. It's cold today!