Summer Game Challenge 2013 - Begin when ready!

[noiseredux]

1. Shining Force II (Genesis) *started playing*
2.Final Fantasy Tactics (PSP) The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC) *started playing*
3. MediEvil (PS1) *stopped playing*
4. Turrican (Genesis)
5. Duck Tales (NES)
6. Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons (PC) *started playing*
7. Eye of the Beholder (SCD)
8. The Last Blade (Arcade) *started playing*
9. Alex Kidd in Miracle World (SMS)
10. Zork (PC)

So I think this should be the last revision. I decided against FFT when I started playing LoZ:Oracle of Ages today. I know FFT is a fine game and I have desire to play it, but I've not completed a Zelda game since the early 90s and this one seems like it is up my alley after a few hours. It is also supposed to be much more manageable in length, which is also a concern given some of the other titles on my list.

As much as I love FFT, I'd say one of the Oracle games are far more manageable within a 10 game list. And they're both excellent. Really excellent. If you don't enjoy then it's official - you hate Zelda.

[dsheinem]

1. Shining Force II (Genesis) *started playing*
2.Final Fantasy Tactics (PSP) The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC) *started playing*
3. MediEvil (PS1) *stopped playing*
4. Turrican (Genesis)
5. Duck Tales (NES)
6. Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons (PC) *started playing*
7. Eye of the Beholder (SCD)
8. The Last Blade (Arcade) *started playing*
9. Alex Kidd in Miracle World (SMS)
10. Zork (PC)

So I think this should be the last revision. I decided against FFT when I started playing LoZ:Oracle of Ages today. I know FFT is a fine game and I have desire to play it, but I've not completed a Zelda game since the early 90s and this one seems like it is up my alley after a few hours. It is also supposed to be much more manageable in length, which is also a concern given some of the other titles on my list.

As much as I love FFT, I'd say one of the Oracle games are far more manageable within a 10 game list. And they're both excellent. Really excellent. If you don't enjoy then it's official - you hate Zelda.

I adore Link to the Past and Link's Awakening.

[SamuraiMegas]

Beat the first case and started the second on Phoenix Wright Trials and Tribulations!

[Jagosaurus]

Still making some decisions & changes, but so far:

1. Golden Sun Dark Dawn (DS) Completed
2. Phantasy Star IV (Genesis Collection - PS2) In Progress
3. Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PS2)
4. Killzone (PS2) In Progress
5. Clockwork Knight 2 (Saturn)
6. Panzer Dragoon (Saturn)
7. D (Saturn) Completed
8. Resident Evil Revelation (3DS)
9. ?
10. ?

[pierrot]

1. Aladdin (GEN)
2. Blaster Master (NES)
3. Panzer Dragoon (SS)
4. Dragon Quest 1 & 2 (SFC)
5. Rocket Knight Adventures (GEN)
6. Grandia (SS)
7. Resident Evil 2 (DC)
8. Dynamite Deka (SS) *Beaten
9. Phantasy Star II (MD)
10. Densetsu no Ogre Battle (SS)

Beat Dynamite Deka with eleven credits, but in my defense, I earned the credits through Deep Scan (27 of them) and half of the eleven I used were on the last two boss fights. That Wolf whatever-the-hell-his-name-is is a total bitch, so I'm counting it. After beating it, I happened to thumb through the manual, and figured out what the inputs are for handcuffing guys; plus I had no idea there was an emergency evade maneuver. Maybe some day I'll feel like beating it with the four credits the game starts one with, but probably not.

Very fun, though. After beating it, I'm fairly certain I never did beat the game in arcades. Definitely brought back some good memories, playing it with a 'new' model virtua stick; even if I nearly threw it into my TV after the last of the two walker-bots in the cyber room killed me on my first credit, as he was about to die, and while I was picking up the large life-up.

Fucking jerk--

Still not sure how I died, but frustration aside, I love the Die Hard/action movie parodies, and there's just such great humor in the game, in general. Stunning enemies by kneeing them in the crotch, then hauling off on them with a combo, is not only hilarious, but very effective. I guess it's a bit short, especially in comparison to older 2D Sega beat'em-ups, but I still really enjoyed it. Looking forward to playing more of the sequel, which seems to do everything bigger, and even more absurd.

[Jagosaurus]

6. Grandia (SS)

Read JPN? Is there a good translation guide out there?

[pierrot]

6. Grandia (SS)

Read JPN? Is there a good translation guide out there?

I read Japanese, but I think there was a thread around recently where someone was using a guide to play through the game. Might have just been the PS1 guide that he used, though. I think there was mention of him not really being able to figure out some of the side quests because of it.

[jinx]

Starting Tomorrow/Today/Monday/June 3rd 2013

1.Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (Dreamcast)
2.Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis)
3.Mother 2 (SNES) & Mother 3 (GBA)
4.Parodius Da!(Saturn/PSP)
5.Fantasy Zone (???)
6.Super Metroid (SNES)
7.Blaster Master (NES)
8.Mega Man (series)
9.Super Mario Bros. (series)
10.Monster World IV (Genesis)

Kickin' it off with Super Mario Bros. and rolling on from there.

[CFFJR]

I find Golden Axe I & II to be challenging, but thought III was ridiculously (and pleasantly) easy. Nearly every enemy, even bosses, can be taken out by approaching from a diagonal and/or jump-slashing.

I've taken multiple pathways during my playthroughs, but have no idea if I've ever seen the "true ending" - I should look into that.

See that's interesting, because I thought GA 2 was very easy. It took me two attempts to beat it, and on the first attempt I died against the final boss. GA 3 is (mostly) easy too, but the game is wonky, and that frustrated me. Also, those 4 armed minotaur bosses were bastards. The only way I was able to cheese them was in the rare situation when I could abuse Sahra's wall jump attack. I guess I had a tougher time with it in general.

That said, I still find the first game to be challenging, and I've been playing that one for years longer than the other two. Something about the last couple of levels.

Regarding the true ending, as I said, I'm fairly certain its determined by score. The bad ending is simply a black screen with text, informing you that the group needs to go back out and find the Golden Axe. In the good ending, you actually retrieve the Golden Axe, and it shows your character walking back through all of the levels with it.

In other news, I'm still plugging away at Metal Slug 2 and making progress by inches. I can now reliably reach the Final Mission (though my progress within it varies), as well as clearing Mission 1 & 2, and occasionally even 3, without losing a life. I'm getting there.

[Ack]

1. Donkey Kong Country
2. Pilotwings
3. StarFox
4. John Madden Football
5. Super Mario Bros 3 (Super Mario All-Stars)
6. NBA Jam
7. Prince of Persia
8. Sunset Riders
9. Yoshi's Island
10. Chrono Trigger

Well, moving along. After finishing Donkey Kong Country, I have gone on to Super Mario Bros 3 (on my copy of Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World) and Chrono Trigger. Both are coming along well.

In SMB3, I have access to the final world! But playing the game after DKC is difficult because the jumping feels so different. I have plenty of items but worry that I'm still going to get my butt kicked while I get used to how floaty everything feels.

In CT, I've gotten the red stone in 65,000,000 B.C. and am now heading back to repair the Masamune. Perhaps this game won't be as bad of a time sink as I thought it would be, but once I beat it we will have to see how I feel about hunting down each ending.