Exhuminator wrote:I forget about La-Mulana! I played some of it when AGTP originally translated that one as well. I now own the graphically upgraded version via GOG, and I should try to beat that one. One of the XSEED translators (Tom) told me that the game is impossible to beat without a walkthrough, and it makes me really wanna try to do it outta spite.
Hey I just remembered a recent indie platformer that I did beat and truly loved! It's:
Now that was some solid stuff right there folks.
Racking my brain, I remember that all of these are supposed to be legit good:
Odallus: The Dark Call
Axiom Verge
Castle In The Darkness
Rex Rocket
Valdis Story: Abyssal City
SteamWorld Dig
Teslagrad
VVVVVV
I've played none of those to confirm for myself though.
The remake of La Mulana is MUCH more forgiving in terms of the evilness of its puzzles. If you want a really serious challenge, play the original. The rerelease makes a lot of the later game puzzles much more intuitive and forgiving on a lot of the late game puzzles. The original was so brutal because it was a harken back to old MSX action adventure games like Galius Maze and Castlevania. So much so that the first dungeon of Galius Maze is even an easter egg in original La Mulana. Word of warning about hard mode though, it's activated IN the game. If you come across a tablet in the Giant's Mausoleum (the 2nd area with the really kick-ass music) that warns you about punishment and difficulty if you read it a second time DON'T READ IT AGAIN. The game will get MUCH harder, especially the bosses. Of course, if you want the game to get harder, be my guest. I honestly didn't have that much trouble with it, and still really enjoyed the game.
Also, other than in theme, I really don't see much similarity between La Mulana and Spelunky. One being a very thoroughly thought out Metroidvania-style action adventure, and the other one being a systematically generated rouge-lite platformer.
If you want something that's like an updated Galius Maze (somewhere in between Galius Maze and La Mulana), try Hydra Castle Labyrinth. I don't know if it has an English translation yet, but you really only need a tiny PDF for translations on what the different items do. It's a huge open dungeon with 8 smaller dungeons to find within which are respectively more linear. Very fun game, and it's free online
Guacamelee is SOOOOO good. I loved the shit outta that game. I got the Wii U version on the Friends of Nintendo Humble Bundle last year, and I didn't regret it at all. It's like Metroid meets Beat 'em Up in the best way. Absolutely brilliant game.
VVVVVV is also a fantastic game. Not terribly long, but if you can get it for 5 bucks or so it's definitely of a high enough quality to be worth it. Beautiful aesthetic, very reminiscent of old computer games like Jet Set Willy with lots of wonky enemies and every screen having its own name.
Steamworld Dig is pretty good, but nothing special. If you ever played the old flash game Motherload, it's a bit like that. Just with a higher emphasis on platforming in side areas outside of the main digging pit. Also a lot less grinding for cash and worrying about running out of gas than Motherload ever had. If you have it from that Humble Bundle I'd say it's worth a shot, but wouldn't recommend it outside a sale. There's better indie platformers out there.
I identify everyone via avatar, so if you change your avatar, I genuinely might completely forget who you are. -- Me
