Games Beaten : 2011

[geozeldadude]

- wario land 3 (GBC) (1/16/11) -- thumbs up
- metroid: other M (wii) (1/27/11) -- thumbs down
- kirby: canvas curse (DS) (2/4/11) -- one thumb up
- pac-attack (GBA) (2/7/11) -- one thumb up
- excitebike (NES) (2/18/11) -- one thumb up
- the legend of zelda: phantom hourglass (DS) (2/24/11) -- one thumb up
- super mario bros. 3 (NES) (3/5/11) -- thumbs up
- soul calibur (DC) (3/19/11) -- one thumb up
- cranium kabookii (wii) (3/24/11) -- thumbs down
- mario and luigi: superstar saga (GBA) (3/30/11) -- one thumb up
- NEW donkey kong jungle beat (GCN) (4/7/11) -- thumbs down
- NEW contra (NES) (9) -- thumbs up

was i the only one who disliked donkey kong jungle beat? i found it to be incredibly repetitive and dull, even despite the novel control scheme. very disappointing overall.

replayed contra, both co-op and solo. a classic and as much fun as ever. really need to play contra 3, and the others.

[girlracer]

A.C. Brotherhood
Bulletstorm

[J T]

01/16: Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within (PC)
02/16: Sanitarium (PC)
03/15: Give Up Robot 2 (Browser)
03/22: Cardboard Box Assembler (Browser)
04/01: King's Guard (Browser)
04/02: Sarah's Run (Browser)
04/13: Peggle Nights (PC)
04/13: Terra: The Legend of the Geochine (PC)
04/16: Genji: Dawn of the Samurai (PS2)

HIDDEN GEM ALERT! Ok, yeah, this is listed in the hidden gems article on this site, but it isn't featured- it should be. I was so impressed with this game I couldn't believe I've never really heard anyone talk about it. It remains a fairly obscure title despite being one of Sony's releases. I myself had seen it on the shelf at my local used game shop for over a year, but always passed it over. I knew it had a mediocre metacritic rating. As I look over the ratings now, I see that the main complaints are 1. it's short, and 2. it's a hack n slash. It's weird though, because critics gushed over God of War a few years later, which is also a relatively short hack n' slash.

So, yes, in Genji you will be doing lots of 3D hacking and slashing swordplay, but why is that a bad thing? There's not too much new here, but the controls are great. You can slash out combos, nimbly jump, backflip, or cartwheel to dodge, block, and with good timing you can get critical hits that instantly kill your opponent by slicing them in two (those are really satisfying). It's simple, but in my opinion, simple works here. The core fighting mechanic is smooth as butter and I never really got tired of figuring out ways to maneuver around my enemies to gain good positioning, attack, roll away, and repeat. You can also change things up a bit by using your special "kamui" power where your attack changes to a timed attack challenge where you get into a showdown with your opponent and have to hit attack at the very moment he lunges at you to cut him down. Additionally, there is an alternate character named Benkei whose storyline weaves in and out with the main character (Yoshitsune) who you can also choose to play as. Benkei is much more powerful and has a longer range, but he is also slower. This provides a different type of gameplay where you have to focus on blocking and powerful counterattacks instead of agile evasion and combos.

The real standout in this game though is just how amazingly beautiful it all is. All of the costuming, architecture, and landscaping are all immensely ornate, colorful, and gorgeous to look at. It is set in Japan around the time of the Genpei War, at the beginning of the rule by samurai. You will see a lot of intricately designed samurai armoring, cherry blossoms, lush flowering forestation, and beautifully detailed Buddhist temples and shrines. The game is a visual feast that would be enjoyable to just walk your character through, even if there wasn’t any fighting. There is also a wonderful soundtrack that captures the era beautifully using classic Japanese instrumentation with taiko drumming, stringed zithers such as the koto and shamisen, and bamboo flutes. It’s very similar to the Onimusha games, but with smoother play control.

The game took me about 7 or 8 hours to get through in total. Others have complained that this is too short, but I was never once bored throughout this game, unlike many longer games that pad themselves full of fetch quests. I also have a million games in my backlog, so being able to finish one is kind of a treat.

Give it a spin.

[brunoafh]

I've always considered trying this game, but I'm a big fan of the PS2 game Yoshitsune Eiyuuden (a hidden gem also, strangely based on the same characters/events, released in the same timeframe), and this kind of seems like a lesser incarnation of the tale/general idea. Yoshitsune Eiyuuden looks more impressive gameplay wise too. It's got a lot of strategy behind it, Genji seems like a straight up hack n slash (which is fine).

Still, I may have to give Genji a try. Have you played the PS3 sequel?

[J T]

I had never heard of Yoshitsune Eiyuuden before, but I don't have a PS2 that can play Japanese games. Although games like this keep adding to my desire to get one.

Another similar game I've been meaning to pick up is Bujingai: The Forsaken City.

[brunoafh]

Damn... that looks right up my alley. Thanks for the suggestion, I think I'll have to pick that up sometime for sure.

[final fight cd]

castle of illusion - sega
disney's aladdin - sega
the lion king - sega
mickey mania: the timeless adventure of mickey mouse - sega
mickey mania: the timeless adventure of mickey mouse - sega cd
disney's the jungle book - sega
dungeon explorer - sega cd
phelios - sega
doom - 32x
kolibri - 32x
mega turrican - sega
bc racers - sega cd
bloodlines x2 - sega
3 ninjas - sega cd
die hard arcade - saturn

i always wanted this game and i finally found a very nice CIB copy in the wild today! for only 5 dollars too! the game is pretty damn short, which isn't a bad thing.

my only complaint is the constant cut scenes. each time you kill all the bad guys in a room you have to sit through a cut scene of your character walking to the next room. it really breaks up the fluidity of the game and is kind of annoying. besides that, i thought it was a fun game.

the game also contains a mini game, which can be accessed at the main menu screen. it seems VERY out of place and a totally random thing to add to the game. every 200 or so points scored in the mini game earns you an extra credit, which i guess is the purpose of it.

[MrHealthy]

Games in italics have been beaten in previous years.
Games that have an underlined x followed by a number shows the number of times I have beaten them this year. (example: x3)

• Red Dead Redemption (PS3)
  Demon's Souls (PS3)
  Dead Space: Ignition (PSN)
  Dead Space 2 (PS3)
  Costume Quest (PSN)
  Blueberry Garden (PC Download)
  Donkey Kong (NES)
  Donkey Kong 3 (NES)
  Donkey Kong Jr. (NES)
  Golf (NES)
  Mega Man 2 (NES)
  Mega Man 4 (NES)
  Kororinpa: Marble Mania (Wii)
  Mega Man 6 (NES)
  Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (PS3)
  Tomb Raider Underworld (PS3)
  The Conduit (Wii)
  New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
  Red Steel (Wii)
  Puzzle Agent (PC Download)
  Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (GCN)
  
  *New*Portal (PC Download)
  I've beaten Portal twice before, I did it again in anticipation of Portal 2 and to mop up some more achievments. I managed to get Camera Shy and Transmission recieved. I have also been doing the challenge maps to try and get those achievements. I need to gold all the time challenges and the last two step challenges to 100% this game.
  
  If you have not played portal, there is not much to say to you other then drop what you are doing right now and find a way to play it. If you have played it you will know already how great it is.
  
  *New*Hamsterball (PSN) x2
  What started life as a PC only marble madness clone is now a PSN super monkey ball type game. Its a kids game so its fairly easy to me, especially considering the game respawns you close to the place you died. Not much to say about this game as its just some good old, marble rolling, arcade fun. Played it twice to completetion for some trophies. Plan on trying to get the last few very soon.

Total: 23

Up next?
Portal 2 as soon as I get it in the mail. Im also going to play Blue Toad Murder Files: Episode 1 on PSN.

2010 Games

[J T]

I've been thinking of re-installing Portal as well. I think it's been long enough that the puzzles might feel a bit fresh again. God, that was a great game.

Portal 2 is looking pretty incredible. I don't generally buy new games, but I'm tempted with this one. I love that the Portal 2 alternate reality game/marketing scheme is implicating all of the players in the resurrection of GLaDOS.

Also, the Justine DLC for Amnesia: The Dark Descent that was added for the Portal 2 ARG is really good. It has an omnipresent cruel female villain, but it's set in the Amnesia castle.

[MrHealthy]

Unfortunately, my memory for 3d space is really good so I remembered pretty much the entire game. So the puzzles were a piece of cake (no pun intended) this time around. I ended up trying to solve them in the most ridiculous ways to freshen it up again. Though the step challenges have been quiet interesting in keeping it fresh.