Athrun Talan (He/Him)
@athruntalan.bsky.social
Geeky Cornish introvert. My most recent medical records list me as 'Grossly Unremarkable'.
I love gaming (most genres and most consoles except sports games), and cooking, reading, walking, anime, music and TV/Films.
I love gaming (most genres and most consoles except sports games), and cooking, reading, walking, anime, music and TV/Films.
Mrs Talan and I are flying out to Canada in a few days for our birthdays. To save space and weight I'm dusting off my modded 3DS.
I haven't played Chrono Trigger since 2009. With this being it's 30th anniversary, it's the perfect time to revist it. I've already got the soundtrack stuck in my head!
I haven't played Chrono Trigger since 2009. With this being it's 30th anniversary, it's the perfect time to revist it. I've already got the soundtrack stuck in my head!
June 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Mrs Talan and I are flying out to Canada in a few days for our birthdays. To save space and weight I'm dusting off my modded 3DS.
I haven't played Chrono Trigger since 2009. With this being it's 30th anniversary, it's the perfect time to revist it. I've already got the soundtrack stuck in my head!
I haven't played Chrono Trigger since 2009. With this being it's 30th anniversary, it's the perfect time to revist it. I've already got the soundtrack stuck in my head!
Some examples:
I've never beaten Sonic 2 with all emeralds without save states, can you believe that?
I never finished Batman Returns as a kid, always failing at the same boss.
I'd love to do a Dark Aeons run of Final Fantasy X.
Rayman Legends, I just want to replay. I love that game.
I've never beaten Sonic 2 with all emeralds without save states, can you believe that?
I never finished Batman Returns as a kid, always failing at the same boss.
I'd love to do a Dark Aeons run of Final Fantasy X.
Rayman Legends, I just want to replay. I love that game.
June 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Some examples:
I've never beaten Sonic 2 with all emeralds without save states, can you believe that?
I never finished Batman Returns as a kid, always failing at the same boss.
I'd love to do a Dark Aeons run of Final Fantasy X.
Rayman Legends, I just want to replay. I love that game.
I've never beaten Sonic 2 with all emeralds without save states, can you believe that?
I never finished Batman Returns as a kid, always failing at the same boss.
I'd love to do a Dark Aeons run of Final Fantasy X.
Rayman Legends, I just want to replay. I love that game.
Removed from backlog - 2.
Spelunky and Balatro. Both are great fun and I'll chip away at them, but I'm not sure I'll go all in on seeing the endings for them.
Spelunky and Balatro. Both are great fun and I'll chip away at them, but I'm not sure I'll go all in on seeing the endings for them.
June 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Removed from backlog - 2.
Spelunky and Balatro. Both are great fun and I'll chip away at them, but I'm not sure I'll go all in on seeing the endings for them.
Spelunky and Balatro. Both are great fun and I'll chip away at them, but I'm not sure I'll go all in on seeing the endings for them.
Retired - 1
I was looking forward to trying Curse of the Sea Rats as I was one of the backers, but after a couple of hours I decided to shelf it. I really wasn't feeling the movement and combat, and sadly couldn't see myself pushing through the rest of the game.
I was looking forward to trying Curse of the Sea Rats as I was one of the backers, but after a couple of hours I decided to shelf it. I really wasn't feeling the movement and combat, and sadly couldn't see myself pushing through the rest of the game.
June 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Retired - 1
I was looking forward to trying Curse of the Sea Rats as I was one of the backers, but after a couple of hours I decided to shelf it. I really wasn't feeling the movement and combat, and sadly couldn't see myself pushing through the rest of the game.
I was looking forward to trying Curse of the Sea Rats as I was one of the backers, but after a couple of hours I decided to shelf it. I really wasn't feeling the movement and combat, and sadly couldn't see myself pushing through the rest of the game.
May's Summary - Games completed - 8.
Busy month - Pyre, Final Fantasy X-2, Coromon, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2, Pikmin and Road 96.
I had fun with most of them. Road 96 was a bit janky, but still interesting.
Still not sure if I'm a KH fan though 😅
Busy month - Pyre, Final Fantasy X-2, Coromon, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2, Pikmin and Road 96.
I had fun with most of them. Road 96 was a bit janky, but still interesting.
Still not sure if I'm a KH fan though 😅
June 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
May's Summary - Games completed - 8.
Busy month - Pyre, Final Fantasy X-2, Coromon, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2, Pikmin and Road 96.
I had fun with most of them. Road 96 was a bit janky, but still interesting.
Still not sure if I'm a KH fan though 😅
Busy month - Pyre, Final Fantasy X-2, Coromon, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2, Pikmin and Road 96.
I had fun with most of them. Road 96 was a bit janky, but still interesting.
Still not sure if I'm a KH fan though 😅
Final round is a public Chilli. This was stout cooked with black lime, served with a cooling yoghurt and Tajin flatbread shards. Very spicy!
May 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Final round is a public Chilli. This was stout cooked with black lime, served with a cooling yoghurt and Tajin flatbread shards. Very spicy!
Round 4! Smoked mackerel tacos with ember smoked beetroot salsa and feta, with a cold smoked jalapeno hot sauce.
May 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Round 4! Smoked mackerel tacos with ember smoked beetroot salsa and feta, with a cold smoked jalapeno hot sauce.
Round 3! Smashed burgers with steam melted emmental cheese, cold smoked BBQ sauce and beer onions.
May 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Round 3! Smashed burgers with steam melted emmental cheese, cold smoked BBQ sauce and beer onions.
Round 2! Sumac roasted chicken with ember roasted mashed Sweet Potato and Asian Slaw.
May 31, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Round 2! Sumac roasted chicken with ember roasted mashed Sweet Potato and Asian Slaw.
Round 1! He served a North African spiced Carnita on a Moroccan Flatbread with preserved lemon and lime pickle. Tastes amazing and got some great feedback from the judges.
May 31, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Round 1! He served a North African spiced Carnita on a Moroccan Flatbread with preserved lemon and lime pickle. Tastes amazing and got some great feedback from the judges.
Some of these team names are brilliant.
May 31, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Some of these team names are brilliant.
I'm helping a friend of mine compete in his first BBQ competition today. It's a bit grey at the moment, but it's due to brighten up. I'll try and post some foodie pics later in the day.
The team next to us appears to have brought a steam engine and not a BBQ though 😅
The team next to us appears to have brought a steam engine and not a BBQ though 😅
May 31, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I'm helping a friend of mine compete in his first BBQ competition today. It's a bit grey at the moment, but it's due to brighten up. I'll try and post some foodie pics later in the day.
The team next to us appears to have brought a steam engine and not a BBQ though 😅
The team next to us appears to have brought a steam engine and not a BBQ though 😅
BRB, going to my happy place. Where's yours?
May 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
BRB, going to my happy place. Where's yours?
Mrs Talan and I have been focusing more on getting our garden done this year, if only to make it a bit more presentable. We've got some big plans, but started small.
The first set of beds are done, and starting to look really good ☺️
The first set of beds are done, and starting to look really good ☺️
May 21, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Mrs Talan and I have been focusing more on getting our garden done this year, if only to make it a bit more presentable. We've got some big plans, but started small.
The first set of beds are done, and starting to look really good ☺️
The first set of beds are done, and starting to look really good ☺️
Our cat didn't come home last night. This is a first for her - she often stays out late, but never all night.
Turns out she'd found a neighbour's greenhouse to sleep in, one of those automatic ones that automatically closes up when it gets cold. Guess what happened.
Glad she's home safe 😅
Turns out she'd found a neighbour's greenhouse to sleep in, one of those automatic ones that automatically closes up when it gets cold. Guess what happened.
Glad she's home safe 😅
May 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Our cat didn't come home last night. This is a first for her - she often stays out late, but never all night.
Turns out she'd found a neighbour's greenhouse to sleep in, one of those automatic ones that automatically closes up when it gets cold. Guess what happened.
Glad she's home safe 😅
Turns out she'd found a neighbour's greenhouse to sleep in, one of those automatic ones that automatically closes up when it gets cold. Guess what happened.
Glad she's home safe 😅
Pyre complete (mostly)!
This one's complicated. I love almost everything about this game - the characters are varied, the world and plot is interesting, the visuals are gorgeous (seriously, look at it), and the soundtrack might be my favourite Darren Korb OST.
That said...
This one's complicated. I love almost everything about this game - the characters are varied, the world and plot is interesting, the visuals are gorgeous (seriously, look at it), and the soundtrack might be my favourite Darren Korb OST.
That said...
May 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Pyre complete (mostly)!
This one's complicated. I love almost everything about this game - the characters are varied, the world and plot is interesting, the visuals are gorgeous (seriously, look at it), and the soundtrack might be my favourite Darren Korb OST.
That said...
This one's complicated. I love almost everything about this game - the characters are varied, the world and plot is interesting, the visuals are gorgeous (seriously, look at it), and the soundtrack might be my favourite Darren Korb OST.
That said...
Coromon complete! It's a Pokémon clone, and was generally a lot of fun to play (barring some tough bosses and a couple of annoying puzzles).
Game Freak could learn a lot from this game, not least of which a whole raft of QoL improvements. If you're a Pokémon fan, give this a go!
Game Freak could learn a lot from this game, not least of which a whole raft of QoL improvements. If you're a Pokémon fan, give this a go!
May 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Coromon complete! It's a Pokémon clone, and was generally a lot of fun to play (barring some tough bosses and a couple of annoying puzzles).
Game Freak could learn a lot from this game, not least of which a whole raft of QoL improvements. If you're a Pokémon fan, give this a go!
Game Freak could learn a lot from this game, not least of which a whole raft of QoL improvements. If you're a Pokémon fan, give this a go!
Quina really grew on me, and had some amazing words of wisdom through the game. Steiner really comes around by the mid to late game, you're absolutely right.
Vivi has a special place in my heart, so much so Mrs Talan bought me this wallet 😁
Vivi has a special place in my heart, so much so Mrs Talan bought me this wallet 😁
May 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Quina really grew on me, and had some amazing words of wisdom through the game. Steiner really comes around by the mid to late game, you're absolutely right.
Vivi has a special place in my heart, so much so Mrs Talan bought me this wallet 😁
Vivi has a special place in my heart, so much so Mrs Talan bought me this wallet 😁
Mrs Talan and I have just finished up FFX-2.
There were elements - the combat and class system, mostly - that we really enjoyed, but a lot of it was a bit step down from X. The music is bad, the game feels disjointed and it doesn't really hook you.
Sadly, I don't think we'll end up revisiting it.
There were elements - the combat and class system, mostly - that we really enjoyed, but a lot of it was a bit step down from X. The music is bad, the game feels disjointed and it doesn't really hook you.
Sadly, I don't think we'll end up revisiting it.
May 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Mrs Talan and I have just finished up FFX-2.
There were elements - the combat and class system, mostly - that we really enjoyed, but a lot of it was a bit step down from X. The music is bad, the game feels disjointed and it doesn't really hook you.
Sadly, I don't think we'll end up revisiting it.
There were elements - the combat and class system, mostly - that we really enjoyed, but a lot of it was a bit step down from X. The music is bad, the game feels disjointed and it doesn't really hook you.
Sadly, I don't think we'll end up revisiting it.
Go follow War and Peas, you'll regularly get comics like this delivered to your inbox 😂
May 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Go follow War and Peas, you'll regularly get comics like this delivered to your inbox 😂
Some peak FPS games!
Unreal in particular is a cherished memory, unlike anything I'd ever played before. Half Life was incredible, and pushed the bounds of storytelling in an FPS.
I've lost count of the coop playthroughs of Borderlands 2 over the years. And Duke Nukem, well, it's just fun.
Unreal in particular is a cherished memory, unlike anything I'd ever played before. Half Life was incredible, and pushed the bounds of storytelling in an FPS.
I've lost count of the coop playthroughs of Borderlands 2 over the years. And Duke Nukem, well, it's just fun.
May 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Some peak FPS games!
Unreal in particular is a cherished memory, unlike anything I'd ever played before. Half Life was incredible, and pushed the bounds of storytelling in an FPS.
I've lost count of the coop playthroughs of Borderlands 2 over the years. And Duke Nukem, well, it's just fun.
Unreal in particular is a cherished memory, unlike anything I'd ever played before. Half Life was incredible, and pushed the bounds of storytelling in an FPS.
I've lost count of the coop playthroughs of Borderlands 2 over the years. And Duke Nukem, well, it's just fun.
Games 'removed' from Backlog - 3
New category. These are the games that don't have an endgame, or ones I've played a lot of and will chip away at, but am unlikely to ever actually 'finish'. There'll probably be some roguelikes here.
Worms is a great multiplayer game, but the campaign really drags.
New category. These are the games that don't have an endgame, or ones I've played a lot of and will chip away at, but am unlikely to ever actually 'finish'. There'll probably be some roguelikes here.
Worms is a great multiplayer game, but the campaign really drags.
April 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Games 'removed' from Backlog - 3
New category. These are the games that don't have an endgame, or ones I've played a lot of and will chip away at, but am unlikely to ever actually 'finish'. There'll probably be some roguelikes here.
Worms is a great multiplayer game, but the campaign really drags.
New category. These are the games that don't have an endgame, or ones I've played a lot of and will chip away at, but am unlikely to ever actually 'finish'. There'll probably be some roguelikes here.
Worms is a great multiplayer game, but the campaign really drags.
Games Retired - 2
I *really* wanted to like both of these. I loved Rogue Legacy, but due to loading times and style of 2 I just wasn't enjoying it.
Re:Chain of Memories has a really cool idea for a battle system, but in practice it's not fun to deal with. I gave up at the end of the first floor.
I *really* wanted to like both of these. I loved Rogue Legacy, but due to loading times and style of 2 I just wasn't enjoying it.
Re:Chain of Memories has a really cool idea for a battle system, but in practice it's not fun to deal with. I gave up at the end of the first floor.
April 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Games Retired - 2
I *really* wanted to like both of these. I loved Rogue Legacy, but due to loading times and style of 2 I just wasn't enjoying it.
Re:Chain of Memories has a really cool idea for a battle system, but in practice it's not fun to deal with. I gave up at the end of the first floor.
I *really* wanted to like both of these. I loved Rogue Legacy, but due to loading times and style of 2 I just wasn't enjoying it.
Re:Chain of Memories has a really cool idea for a battle system, but in practice it's not fun to deal with. I gave up at the end of the first floor.
April's Summary!
Games Completed - 4
EDF6 has been our coop game since last year, it's been good to finally get it finished.
Trails in the Sky has easily been my favourite this month, I can't wait to play the rest of the series.
Sonic 3D in 2D is a great fangame and I'll be playing it again.
Games Completed - 4
EDF6 has been our coop game since last year, it's been good to finally get it finished.
Trails in the Sky has easily been my favourite this month, I can't wait to play the rest of the series.
Sonic 3D in 2D is a great fangame and I'll be playing it again.
April 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
April's Summary!
Games Completed - 4
EDF6 has been our coop game since last year, it's been good to finally get it finished.
Trails in the Sky has easily been my favourite this month, I can't wait to play the rest of the series.
Sonic 3D in 2D is a great fangame and I'll be playing it again.
Games Completed - 4
EDF6 has been our coop game since last year, it's been good to finally get it finished.
Trails in the Sky has easily been my favourite this month, I can't wait to play the rest of the series.
Sonic 3D in 2D is a great fangame and I'll be playing it again.
Just finished Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, the first in the LoH series and my first introduction to the series as a whole. I've spent most of the month playing this and found it amazing, so much so that 50 hours snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. /1
April 24, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Just finished Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, the first in the LoH series and my first introduction to the series as a whole. I've spent most of the month playing this and found it amazing, so much so that 50 hours snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. /1