Yello's Gaming Journal
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July 20, 2025 - I'm completing my games now...?
Growing up, I used to play my childhood games to death, since I didn't have many options. But since I was a little baby boy with elementary motor skills, I did not have the patience nor finesse to do everything the game asked me to do. I'm kinda glad I didn't grow up with those impossible Xbox or PlayStation achievements because that would've been taunted me for years. I did as much as I could, but when I couldn't get past a difficult challenge, I just stopped and moved on...like a normal person.
The first game I actually completed was Super Mario 3D World in 2015, literally because of how much fun I was having. Plus the requirements to complete everything wasn't as unattainable as other games I played (Smash I'm looking at you). I'm not gonna lie and say that all of it was enjoyable. In fact, this was the first time I came to grips with hating certain levels but persevering through them anyway.
As frustrating as those moments were, I also felt a great sense of pride once I FINALLY overcame them. I didn't have the luxury of save states, so I had to learn by failing over and over. In turn, the reward of completion meant so much more because of the struggle. This was also around the same time I also completed my first National Pokédex in Pokémon X, thanks to the GTS. Instead of the adrenaline of platforming, the challenge was long-term grinding and patience.
So fast forward to nearly 10 years later, game scopes were ballooning and doing everything in a game meant 100's of hours minimum. Plus I played more social and open-ended games, such as Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and Mario Maker. Rarely did I find a game worthy to complete since 3D World.
Thanks to having my own Steam, eBay, and Nintendo accounts, I began experimenting with new genres and platforms that I never thought I'd try. GTA, Overwatch, SimCity, Final Fantasy; I found a different kind of joy dipping my hands into lots of different experiences. But since my library and scope substantially expanded, I felt the dreaded backlog creeping up.
It didn't take until literal global economic instability to reevaluate my gaming habits. I noticed that always chasing the next game only satisfied me for a short period of time, and never realized how much I accumulated until I saw that cursed Switch 2 price. Even before having enough money to buy my own games, I still had plenty of childhood games that I had yet to complete. And that felt like a disservice. So...out of guilt and a little economic necessity. I decided to finally revisit my collection and experience everything they had to offer.
As I'm writing this, I completed Super Mario Galaxy 2, multiple Pokémon living dexes, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, and Mario Wonder all within a couple years. It's a bit astonishing how much I was able to accomplish if I actually sat down and committed to any one game. The satisfaction of finally checking off that one stupid level or collectible never gets old. And by the end, I actually felt like a master of that game.
So as new games become more bloated and expensive, it feels nice experiencing EVERYTHING a game I already own has to offer. It also doesn't hurt that I'm also saving money in the process, given how broke I am hehehaha...