Games Beaten 2013

[Blu]

1. Assassin's Creed 3 (Xbox 360) - 1/6/2013
2. Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 (Gamecube) - 1/11/2013
3. Metal Gear Solid 2 (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Xbox 360) - 1/20/2013
4. Metal Gear Solid 3 (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Xbox 360) - 1/22/2013
5. Sega Bass Fishing (Xbox 360) - 1/22/2013
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing TRANSFORMED (Xbox 360)- 1/26/2013
7. Yakuza (PS2) - 2/2/2013
8. Yakuza 2 (PS2) - 2/22/2013
9. Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox) - 2/23/2013
10. Panzer Dragoon (Xbox Port) - 2/23/2013
11. 1941: Counter Attack (Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed; PSP) 3/1/2013
12. Forgotten Worlds (Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed; PSP) 3/1/2013
13. Binary Domain (Xbox 360) - 3/17/2013
14. Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast) - 3/21/2013
15. Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast) 3/21/2013
16. Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram - 3/22/2013
17. Ico (PS2) - 4/13/2013
18. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2) - 4/18/2013
19. Phantasy Star (Sega Master System) - 4/26/2013
20. Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360) - 6/2/2013
21. Journey (PS3) - 6/2/2013
22. Flow (PS3) - 6/2/2013
23. Flower (PS3) - 6/2/2013

So I wanted to give two games from my Journey Collector's Edition disc a shot--and they did not disappoint. Flow was a fairly simple premise and was entertaining for a while. I went through a few stages, and I'm not sure if I really completed the game or not, as it loops back and forth. That being said, it was fun being a dragonfly nymph/jellyfish/fish swimming around eating everything.

Flower was actually an artistic expression. I enjoyed its sound and music. It's one of those rare games that I can rope my fiancée in on. She loved floating around as a flower petal and solving some of the puzzle aspects to it. I found it to be relaxing, and a neat concept. It's fairly short, but I found beauty and enjoyment from it.

[noiseredux]

1. NHL '94 (SCD)
2. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
3. Bust-A-Move Pocket (NGPC)
4. Sonic The Hedgehog (DC)
5. Columns (DC)
6. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (DC)
7. Capcom Vs. SNK (DC)
8. ChuChu Rocket (DC)
9. Nightwarriors Darkstalkers' Revenge (Sat)
10. Half-Life (DC)
11. Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
12. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Sat)
13. Dead or Alive 5 (PS3)

I think it's clear I'm a fan of the DOA series - and I'm calling 5 my new favorite. This game, to me is everything you could want in a DOA game. Not only is the roster nice and big, but there are quite a few unlockable characters including cameos from the Virtua Fighter series. But what I loved the most was Story Mode - which is what I just completed after a week or so of playing through. The Story Mode is a full-on cinematic story rendered beautifully. Over the course of five or six hours you'll see a ridiculous story following the events of DOA4, unlock characters, costumes and stages, and even be privy to a pretty excellent tutorial via bonus objectives in each match. It's rare to get such a full featured and deep single player mode in a fighting game these days (similar to Persona 4 Arena's) and was a much-welcomed addition as it made the single player experience so far beyond just playing through arcade mode. And in fact the last chapter with 3 fights against the final boss (!!!) were actually pretty tought! The game is in the $20-range new nowadays, so I encourage folks to pick it up - on PS3 so I can do some online sparring as well.

[Gamerforlife]

1. NHL '94 (SCD)
2. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
3. Bust-A-Move Pocket (NGPC)
4. Sonic The Hedgehog (DC)
5. Columns (DC)
6. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (DC)
7. Capcom Vs. SNK (DC)
8. ChuChu Rocket (DC)
9. Nightwarriors Darkstalkers' Revenge (Sat)
10. Half-Life (DC)
11. Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
12. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Sat)
13. Dead or Alive 5 (PS3)

I think it's clear I'm a fan of the DOA series - and I'm calling 5 my new favorite. This game, to me is everything you could want in a DOA game. Not only is the roster nice and big, but there are quite a few unlockable characters including cameos from the Virtua Fighter series. But what I loved the most was Story Mode - which is what I just completed after a week or so of playing through. The Story Mode is a full-on cinematic story rendered beautifully. Over the course of five or six hours you'll see a ridiculous story following the events of DOA4, unlock characters, costumes and stages, and even be privy to a pretty excellent tutorial via bonus objectives in each match. It's rare to get such a full featured and deep single player mode in a fighting game these days (similar to Persona 4 Arena's) and was a much-welcomed addition as it made the single player experience so far beyond just playing through arcade mode. And in fact the last chapter with 3 fights against the final boss (!!!) were actually pretty tought! The game is in the $20-range new nowadays, so I encourage folks to pick it up - on PS3 so I can do some online sparring as well.

You know it's been ages since I played a fighter, but I believe there is an enhanced version of this on Vita that I might try since I'm digging my Vita right now and just looking for pretty much anything to play on it. Supposedly, they are doing yet another upgraded version for the PS3/360 called DOA 5 Ultimate. I'm sure you'll love that when it's released later this year.

[Gamerforlife]

1. Assassin's Creed 3 (Xbox 360) - 1/6/2013
2. Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 (Gamecube) - 1/11/2013
3. Metal Gear Solid 2 (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Xbox 360) - 1/20/2013
4. Metal Gear Solid 3 (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Xbox 360) - 1/22/2013
5. Sega Bass Fishing (Xbox 360) - 1/22/2013
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing TRANSFORMED (Xbox 360)- 1/26/2013
7. Yakuza (PS2) - 2/2/2013
8. Yakuza 2 (PS2) - 2/22/2013
9. Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox) - 2/23/2013
10. Panzer Dragoon (Xbox Port) - 2/23/2013
11. 1941: Counter Attack (Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed; PSP) 3/1/2013
12. Forgotten Worlds (Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed; PSP) 3/1/2013
13. Binary Domain (Xbox 360) - 3/17/2013
14. Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast) - 3/21/2013
15. Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast) 3/21/2013
16. Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram - 3/22/2013
17. Ico (PS2) - 4/13/2013
18. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2) - 4/18/2013
19. Phantasy Star (Sega Master System) - 4/26/2013
20. Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360) - 6/2/2013
21. Journey (PS3) - 6/2/2013
22. Flow (PS3) - 6/2/2013
23. Flower (PS3) - 6/2/2013

So I wanted to give two games from my Journey Collector's Edition disc a shot--and they did not disappoint. Flow was a fairly simple premise and was entertaining for a while. I went through a few stages, and I'm not sure if I really completed the game or not, as it loops back and forth. That being said, it was fun being a dragonfly nymph/jellyfish/fish swimming around eating everything.

Flower was actually an artistic expression. I enjoyed its sound and music. It's one of those rare games that I can rope my fiancée in on. She loved floating around as a flower petal and solving some of the puzzle aspects to it. I found it to be relaxing, and a neat concept. It's fairly short, but I found beauty and enjoyment from it.

Flower was amazing. The final stage is one the most memorable I've seen in a game. I'm eagerly awaiting the Vita version so I can play the game all over again.

[Michi]

I saw your name, noise, started reading and thought, "He must have finally beat Final Fant-.... Oh, I guess not."

[Blu]

Flower was amazing. The final stage is one the most memorable I've seen in a game. I'm eagerly awaiting the Vita version so I can play the game all over again.

I'm glad you thought so too! I was puzzled at first on that second to last stage, I thought I had failed it, so I started over from the beginning. I really like ThatGameCompany's games!

[noiseredux]

1. NHL '94 (SCD)
2. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
3. Bust-A-Move Pocket (NGPC)
4. Sonic The Hedgehog (DC)
5. Columns (DC)
6. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (DC)
7. Capcom Vs. SNK (DC)
8. ChuChu Rocket (DC)
9. Nightwarriors Darkstalkers' Revenge (Sat)
10. Half-Life (DC)
11. Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Sat)
12. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Sat)
13. Dead or Alive 5 (PS3)
14. Final Fantasy (PSP)

...will give my thoughts later in Summer Gaming thread.

[noiseredux]

I was more than halfway thru LC and loving it but got sidetracked. Keep meaning to finish. Maybe this week...

OK so popped in tonight. I had left off at Fulci's arcade. Amazing level. I'm now up to the part where you have to watch out for too much weight on a lift. That's tough. I assume I'm close to the end, yeah?

[Gamerforlife]

I was more than halfway thru LC and loving it but got sidetracked. Keep meaning to finish. Maybe this week...

OK so popped in tonight. I had left off at Fulci's arcade. Amazing level. I'm now up to the part where you have to watch out for too much weight on a lift. That's tough. I assume I'm close to the end, yeah?

I really hated that lift part. You can drop kick enemies off the lift if that helps. I didn't realize that the first time I played. It makes a difference. Then, when things get hairy towards the end, bust out your star power. Is it called star power? I haven't played in a while so I forget. It's the invincibility power. Be prepared for a quick time event at the end of the lift part. It's just a simple button mashing one. Wouldn't want you to have to start that part over again.

You're in the second to last level. Prepare yourself for a pretty long boss fight to match that long level.

The final level is a bit easier and shorter. You get a truly epic, awesome boss fight at the end of it. It's one of the highlights of the game for me, and I LOVE the music that plays during the battle. The final boss battle and the one with the hippie zombie are my faves

[Ack]

1. Sniper Elite V2 (PS3)(TPS)
2. Teen Agent (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
3. Alpha Protocol (PS3)(RPG)
4. Beneath A Steel Sky (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
5. Imscared - A Pixelated Nightmare (PC)(Horror)
6. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (SNES)(RPG)
7. Celestial Mechanica (PC)(Platformer)
8. Gravity Bone (PC)(First Person Adventure)
9. Secret of Mana (SNES)(RPG)
10. Lure of the Temptress (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
11. Mario's Early Years: Fun With Numbers (SNES)(Edutainment)
12. CoD of Duty (PC)(FPS)
13. The Bard's Tale (PS2)(RPG)
14. The Great Circus Mystery, Starring Mickey and Minnie (SNES)(Platformer)
15. Deus Ex (PC)(FPS)
16. The King of the Wood (PC)(FPS)
17. Shadows of the Damned (PS3)(Horror Adventure)
18. Chuck Rock (SNES)(Platformer)
19. Arcana (SNES)(RPG)
20. Jurassic Park (SNES)(Action-Adventure)
21. Brawl Brothers (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
22. Monopoly (SNES)(Boardgame)
23. Dr. Mario (SNES)(Puzzle)
24. Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday (SNES)(Platformer)
25. Breath of Fire (SNES)(RPG)
26. The Death and Return of Superman (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
27. Battle Blaze (SNES)(Fighting)
28. Todd McFarlane's Spawn: The Video Game (SNES)(Action-Adventure)
29. Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (SNES)(Edutainment)
30. Dwarfs!? (PC)(I have no idea)
31. Super Adventure Island (SNES)(Platformer)
32. Batman Returns (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
33. Pit-Fighter (SNES)(Fighting)
34. Lester the Unlikely (SNES)(Platformer)
35. Killing Floor (PC)(FPS)
36. Dungeons of Dredmor (PC)(RPG)
37. The 7th Saga (SNES)(RPG)
38. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)(Platformer)
39. Super Mario Bros. 3, via Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (SNES)(Platformer)
40. Sunset Riders (Arcade)(Run and Gun)
41. Battle Circuit (Arcade)(Beat 'Em Up)
42. Monster Maulers (Arcade)(Boss Rush Fighter)
43. Metamoqester (Arcade)(Boss Rush Fighter)
44. Ninja Baseball Batman (Arcade)(Beat 'Em Up)
45. Alien vs. Predator (Arcade)(Beat 'Em Up)
46. Sunset Riders (SNES)(Run and Gun)
47. Chrono Trigger (SNES)(RPG)

What a wonderful game. The music was spectacular, the art design excellent, and the gameplay top notch. I appreciated the cast of characters, enjoyed seeking out the secrets hidden throughout the world, and felt pride as my party became more powerful and better equipped over time.

There's not a lot I can say about Chrono Trigger that hasn't been said before. I won't declare it the best game ever made, but it is certainly amazing and very well designed. If I had to come up with a criticism, it would be that the world felt too small. Yes, I realize flipping between time periods expands on it a fair bit, but it still feels like a tiny planet, even more so than other JRPGs of the time. And the game's very easy. I didn't feel challenged until the final boss fight. And by that I mean the final form of the final boss fight. Though I believe later updates have expanded on the world, which makes this argument somewhat moot I would say.

Anyway, Chrono Trigger is an excellent title, and one I would say is worth playing. Maybe not paying the exorbitant price it usually commands, but definitely worth playing! At least it's not Earthbound...