Games Beaten 2023

Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:42 am

First 40:

41 Rain World
This harsh world demands a methodical approach. Its esoteric nature is both its greatest strength and greatest weakness.
8/10

42 Golden Axe Warrior
It's Zelda 1, but more linear and the combat is a bit more annoying.
5/10

43 Devil May Cry 5
Lots of combat options enveloped in a silly yet rock'n'roll world. Does the genre right, but that also means neutered exploration and fights becoming puzzles.
7/10

44 C Ya Laterrrr
Personal story about a friend dying. The choices enhance the empathy, even though they don't make much of an impact.
6/10

45 Super Mario Galaxy 2
Like Mario World, a hodgepodge of platforming ideas and the occasional divergence. How I miss the forward dive and Cappy shenanigans.
7/10

46 Mr. Platformer
Terry Cavanagh does it again, albeit the ending perhaps being somewhat disappointing. Still, something to experience! A platformer that plays with expectations.
7/10

47
Bloody Hell
Top down shooter souls-like, it works exactly like it should. Understands it doesn't have to be any longer for a full experience.
7/10

48 Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System)
Lots of cheap deaths and no sense of speed. This is a third rate platformer, not even as good as Super Mario Bros. 1.
4/10

49 Neon White
A puzzle platformer that plays so smoothly you can't help but aim for faster times. Dialogue isn't really that bad, but shallow enough to follow at fast forward speed.
8/10

50 Untitled Goose Game
Slightly marred by funky controls, it's still one of the best power fantasies ever in a game. And you get to wear a ribbon!
7/10

Post by **Note** » Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:09 pm

1. Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
2. River City Girls (Switch)
3. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
4. The Simpsons (Arcade)
5. Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Switch)
7. Shining Force III [Scenario 1] (SAT)
8. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES)
9. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS1)
10. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)
11. X-Men Legends (PS2)
12. Snatcher (SCD)
13. Smash Remix (N64)
14. Golden Axe III (GEN)
15. Iridion II (GBA)
16. Fatal Fury Special (SNES)
17. Harmful Park (PS1)
18. Gunbird (SAT)
19. DoDonPachi (SAT)
20. Gley Lancer (GEN)
21. Streets of Rage 4 (Switch)*

22. Water Margin: A Tale of Clouds and Wind (GEN)

As a fan of the Genesis, I've been wanting to check out more indie, homebrew, and unlicensed games. This game was originally titled Shui Hu Feng Yun Zhuan and was an unlicensed release in 1996 from Taiwan. The English name of the game, the setting, and main characters all derive from an ancient Chinese novel, which I believe is the same novel that Suikoden was based on.

Water Margin is a side-scrolling beat 'em up with two-player co-op, which is always appreciated in this genre. The game's setting is in feudal China and there are three selectable characters that fit the usual types, one well rounded character, a speedier character, and another slower but stronger character. Each also has a weapon and access to magic abilities, somewhat similar to Golden Axe, except the magic system functions quite different here. For this playthrough, I chose the well rounded character, but for my next run, I'd like to try the speedier character, as it looks like her sword might have some more range.

The different types of magic can be found and picked up throughout the levels, and when the player wants to use them they have to scroll through the various magic spells on-hand and select the one they want to use. This presents an issue, because with the amount of enemies coming your way, I usually just used whatever magic was the first available in the inventory. It would've been nice if you could could scroll through the various spells on hand while the game was paused, similar to the Shinobi games.

It's rumored that Water Margin uses some visual and audio assets from other titles. One definitive example I can point to is the "go" sound when it's time to move over to the next section, which seems like it was ripped from Golden Axe. Overall though, I found the visuals to be impressive, especially for an unlicensed release. The backgrounds don't have much animation or parallax scrolling, but what is here is pretty colorful for a Genesis title. Gameplay wise, I didn't notice any instances of major slow down and the controls are quite responsive. My only criticism is with the magic system, which I think could have used a tweak.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Water Margin. I actually think this game is just as good or better than some of the beat 'em ups officially released on the Genesis. If you're into this style of game, check it out!

Post by **Note** » Tue Oct 17, 2023 10:17 pm

Raging Justice wrote:Did the game feel any different? I remember people criticized various aspects of the game when it came out, so they eventually released an update with a number of balance changes. Ironically, they made the last stage HARDER, even though most of the other changes made the game a bit easier. With the DLCs I can only imagine there were even further balance changes

Incidentally, I used to enjoy playing as Floyd. Odd, given that I don't usually play games as slow characters. He was very effective though.

Now that you mention it, the game did feel a bit easier overall. Even the last level seemed easier to me. I thought maybe it was because we had played through the game a few times already, but it's been a while since we played it, so it's probably because the difficulty was lowered a bit.

I'm sure my partner has downloaded some of the updates, but to clarify, we don't have the Mr. X Nightmare DLC that includes Estel Aguirre, Shiva, and Max Thunder and some other extras. Not sure if this DLC contains any other balance changes as well?

Post by **MrPopo** » Wed Oct 18, 2023 12:55 am

Previous Years: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

First 50:

51. This Way Madness Lies - PC
52. Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries: The Dragon's Gambit - PC
53. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - PC
54. Sprawl - PC
55. Zortch - PC
56. Ion Fury: Aftershock - PC

Aftershock is an expansion pack for Ion Fury. It consists of 13 new levels (the base game has 28), a handful of new enemies, and a new weapon. The basic setup is that the final boss of the base game, whom you captured, gets off on a technicality or something. Shelly is drinking her sorrows away, an enemy bike flies by and spills her drink, and she decides to go on a rampage to take down the final boss again. The police chief fires her, and this apparently sets up her being a mercenary in the game she originally appeared in that no one remembers.

The game continues to push the Build engine to the limit. The levels are large, with lots of passages opening up previous areas as you traverse. At times it can actually be confusing where to go next; this usually is due to not seeing some sort of switch or activatable generator. Honestly, at times the levels can be a bit too large. The other thing is the difficulty curve is pretty weird. The first stage is by far the hardest, as you have very little resources and run into some end game enemies. Once you get past that you have more of an arsenal, while on the enemy side there isn't much to ramp up on. There is one really nasty new enemy, but he only shows up in the last couple levels. You remember the chaingunner from Doom II? It's that, but with a lot more health and even faster damage. Bring high damage weapons.

One feature that was pulled off surprisingly well is a vehicle section. A portion of the game has you on some kind of hoverbike with a sweet homing rocket launcher. When you first get it you do a racing level, where you just go fast, maneuver, and kill dudes. After that is a segment of levels where you pop on and off the bike. There are multiple spots where something blocks the bike's progress, so you get off, move the obstacle, then get back on. It all handles quite well, feeling like something that isn't just the character, but still having responsiveness. Given FPS vehicles tend to be shit, the fact they pulled off something so good on the Build engine is nothing short of a miracle.

Overall it's a great piece of content for a great base game. The levels do feel a bit disjointed in terms of theme, and the connections between them feel a lot more arbitrary. But the action is still good and it really shows what a determined user of the Build engine can do.

Post by **Markies** » Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:09 pm

Markies' Games Beat List Of 2023!
***Denotes Replay For Completion***

***1. Dragon Valor (PS1)***
2. Breath Of Fire (GBA)
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (NS)
4. World Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse And Donald Duck (GEN)
5. XIII (GCN)
6. NES Remix Pack (WiiU)
7. Dr. Mario (GBC)
***8. Bully (PS2)***
9. Dragon's Crown (PS3)
10. Bangai-O (SDC)
11. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
12. Destruction Derby (PS1)
13. X-Men Legends II: Rise Of Apocalypse (XBOX)
14. Vice: Project Doom (NES)
***15. Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2)***
16. Terranigma (SNES)
***17. Super Street Fighter II (GEN)***
18. Guitar Hero II (PS2)
19. Kirby's Dream Land (GBC)
***20. Gunbird 2 (SDC)***
***21. Stella Deus: The Gate Of Eternity (PS2)***
22. I Am Setsuna (NS)
23. DuckTales: Remastered (WiiU)
***24. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)***
***25. Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers 2 (NES)***
26. Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (GBA)
27. Prince Of Persia: The Two Thrones (XBOX)
28. Baten Kaitos Origins (GCN)
29. Virtua Racing (GEN)
**30. Breath Of Fire III (PS1)***
31. Metroid II: Return Of Samus (GBC)
***32. Chameleon Twist (N64)***
33. Resident Evil 4 (Wii)

I beat Resident Evil 4 on the Nintendo Wii this afternoon!

I tried a few times to get into the first three Resident Evil games and I just couldn't. I didn't like the tank controls and I was never the biggest fan when it came to Horror games. But, when Resident Evil 4 came out and the game was based more on the action part instead of the Survival part, I was interested enough to try it. I loved the GameCube version and it made me to play more of the series. Well, I had a cousin who played through the Wii Version and he loved it as well. Since it had been so long and I loved the GameCube version so much, I decided to pick up the Wii version and I thought it would be perfect to play for October.

It took me a little bit to get used to the Motion Controls, but once I did, the game was an absolute blast. The precision you get with the Wii Mote is absolutely unparalleled and made the game so much easier to play. In fact, there were times that I didn't need my Sniper Rifle because my Handgun was good enough with the Wii Mote. You can shoot people in the head, in the knee or anywhere else with such ease. Besides the precision, the game added a few Motion bits to some of the cutscenes. For example, you move the Wii Mote to turn a crank or waggle it to avoid an attack. I don't think this added much to the game, but I know it didn't take anything away. It was an added plus that made me realize I was playing on the Wii. Besides those changes, the game is relatively the same. It was still a blast to play and could still be frustrating in parts. However, each time I died, I felt like I was getting further, so I always felt like I was making progress. Much like the GameCube version, it is easy to get overwhelmed or unsure of what to do, but once you gain control and are able to breathe, you should be fine.

Overall, Resident Evil 4 was an absolute blast to play on the Nintendo Wii. I don't think I will be selling my GameCube version because I feel there is enough differences in having them both. Sometimes, its fun to play through with a Controller while other times, you want to use the Wii Mote. I would say either version is worth having, but you would need to be a diehard to own both. As somebody that doesn't like Survival Horror or Scary Games, Resident Evil 4 breaks all of the stereotypes and is just one of the best Action games ever released. I am highly interested in the modern games in the series and I want to play more of them!

Post by **Raging Justice** » Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:11 pm

I'm kind of a purist. I don't like the motion controls on the Wii because I feel like the game wasn't designed for them. They essentially make the game easier than it was intended to be. It's like playing through the whole game with a cheat activated, a feeling that you're only supposed to have on a new game plus with an overpowered weapon that you've earned. I loved the PS 2 version. I think the graphics were slightly worse than the Gamecube version (since it's a port), but it gave us the awesome new Ada campaign. If I'm not mistaken, I think it added an awesome new attract mode video as well that wasn't in the Gamecube version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NicctwYtzGQ

Post by **Raging Justice** » Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:15 pm

RE 4 is STILL the best RE game to me and I mean the original, NOT the remake.

When it comes to old school, classic style RE games, I aways preferred Dino Crisis to them

Post by **Note** » Mon Oct 23, 2023 3:37 pm

1. Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
2. River City Girls (Switch)
3. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
4. The Simpsons (Arcade)
5. Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Switch)
7. Shining Force III [Scenario 1] (SAT)
8. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES)
9. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS1)
10. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)
11. X-Men Legends (PS2)
12. Snatcher (SCD)
13. Smash Remix (N64)
14. Golden Axe III (GEN)
15. Iridion II (GBA)
16. Fatal Fury Special (SNES)
17. Harmful Park (PS1)
18. Gunbird (SAT)
19. DoDonPachi (SAT)
20. Gley Lancer (GEN)
21. Streets of Rage 4 (Switch)*
22. Water Margin: A Tale of Clouds and Wind (GEN)

23. Demons of Asteborg (GEN)

I originally played a demo of Demons of Asteborg by Neofid Studios in December 2020 and was really impressed by the first level shown off. However, I'm still not comfortable pre-ordering games from independent companies, due to all the horror stories with release issues that have happened over the years. I patiently waited for the game to be readily available, finally ordered and received the game in November 2022, and started playing through it in the spring of 2023. Due to some issues in our apartment building here, I had to pack away all my stuff, and couldn't continue on to finish Asteborg. Well, about two weeks ago, I finally unpacked my consoles and finished it! To clarify, I played through it on the cartridge released for Genesis hardware.

Demons of Asteborg is an action platformer, where you control Gareth, a swordsman who is out to stop the threat of various monsters and figure out his own mysterious and complicated past. The gimmick in Demons of Asteborg is that in each level you gain a new spell or ability about halfway through the level, and you will need to use this ability move forward in the level and defeat the boss as well. Some of the abilities you gain are: hurling fireballs, being able to walk on air, a propulsion blast, and the ability to make time stop. However, you do not get to keep these magical abilities for the whole game, only the level that you're currently in, so Demons of Asteborg is a bit limited in that regard. But, I think each ability and the levels designed around them keep the game fresh and gives the title a nice amount of variety.

The game consists of a total of nine levels, and a bonus stage that is a take on the gameplay of Space Harrier or Panorama Cotton. Demons of Asteborg also includes a shop area, which will automatically pop-up when you finish a level. Here you can purchase a few upgrades such as more lives, a larger life bar, or new moves with the coins you collect throughout the game. This is very useful earlier on while you are getting through the first few levels. Demons of Asteborg also includes four save slots on the cartridge and an automatic save feature, which is great for this style of game, and something I wish more action platformers from the 16-bit generation included. The levels also have checkpoints, so that if you happen to perish, you don't start all the way back from the beginning of the stage.

The graphics here are also quite impressive, with fun and well animated character designs, colorful and varied levels that make good use of parallax scrolling, and detailed bosses and enemies with huge sprites. In regards to sound, the sound effects are hefty here, and don't come off as weak or not fitting well. Also, there are some pretty impressive background tunes that add to the atmosphere of the game, with my favorite song appearing in the first level.

One of my only criticisms of the game is that a few of the bosses earlier on are damage sponges and take quite a while to kill, while later in the game, the boss fights seemed much easier. Because of this, the difficulty curve seems a bit skewed, but if you can handle defeating these enemies early on, you should be good to go. The last boss battle was quite challenging though, as it consists of a few different patterns that took some time for me to get down.

Overall, I think Demons of Asteborg is one of the best indie games released on the Genesis up until this point, and even holds its own against some of the best games on the system. Other than the cartridge release, it's available as a ROM, on Steam, and modern consoles, so if that's more your thing, check it out whichever way you can! Neofid Studios has also recently released a follow up game called Astebros on the Genesis, which is a roguelite with two player co-op, which I'm looking forward to checking out. If you're a fan of the Genesis or action platformers, give Demons of Asteborg a go!

Post by **REPO Man** » Mon Oct 23, 2023 4:01 pm

I backed it and its follow-up Astebros on Kickstarter. Ironically I ended up buying the first game again on Switch, though Astebros came with the Steam and (in my case) tge Switch ports along with the Genesis ROM. Also if you have an Evercade they're making a cartridge with both.

Post by **MrPopo** » Wed Oct 25, 2023 10:55 pm

Previous Years: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

First 50:

51. This Way Madness Lies - PC
52. Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries: The Dragon's Gambit - PC
53. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - PC
54. Sprawl - PC
55. Zortch - PC
56. Ion Fury: Aftershock - PC
57. Spider-Man 2 - PS5

Spider-Man 2 is the next iteration on Insomniac's Spider-Man formula. Previously seen in Spider-Man and Miles Morales, you once again have an open world game with an Arkham-inspired combat system and lots of combat quips. It explores more of the rogues gallery and provides some interesting twists on stories you already know already from previous iterations in the comics and movies. And, most importantly, you can unlock the Spider-Man Noir suit from Spider-Verse (but unfortunately, no Nic Cage voiceover to go with it).

At the start of the game there are two Spider-Men helping to keep the town safe. But this causes tension for their civilian lives; Peter can't keep down a job, and Miles keeps punting on his college entrance essays. But the standard bad guy fighting gets kicked up a notch when a new group comes into town. Kraven the Hunter and his minions are hunting the deadliest prey of all: man (with super powers). And at the same time, Harry Osborne reenters their lives, apparently cured of his deadly illness through mysterious means.

Gameplay-wise, this is very much a minor iteration. You swing through the city, fight bad guys, and do small side quests. Sometimes you can try to take out hordes of enemies stealthily, but if that fails you can always just start punching bitches in the face. There is a new traversal method; the web wings. This allows you to glide on air currents to get across areas that aren't super conducive to web slinging, like, say, open bodies of water. It generally doesn't feel as good as the webslinging, and a few times you need to use it in either the main story or the open world activities, but not enough to get you angry that they aren't just letting you use the webslinging. Combat remains unchanged from Miles Morales.

The various main and side quests will require you to use a particular Spider-Man (for obvious narrative reasons), and some of the open world activities will require it as well. Sometimes it makes sense, while other times it feels arbitrary. Other open world activities can use either spider, but it generally doesn't make a big difference because they only differ in their special abilities that are on cooldowns. And those all take the form of "do big damage in an area" anyway. The game also generates random crimes for you to engage with, if you want. Unlike previous games, these do not count for open world progress and are entirely there to give you something to do if you're interested in beating up some dudes. And sometimes when you do them the other Spider-Man shows up to help, and you can beat up dudes together.

Because the game is so iterative it was obviously going to be just as good as the previous ones on a general gameplay level. On a story level I very much enjoyed things; there's a mix of playing to expectations, subverting expectations, and throwing in references (including stuff that might pay off in a future game). If you enjoyed the previous ones this one is a no brainer.

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