Summer Game Challenge 2013 - Begin when ready!

[Violent By Design]

I just started a file for the FF1 remake and I was wondering is there a "front line" in this game? I could have sworn I remember in the original I could put my Fighter in front, am I just remembering the game wrong?

I went to formation and the only thing it allowed me to do was basically decide who's avatar I roamed as.

[Ack]

Two levels left me raging hard last night.

Did it get kinky?

Emphasis on the raging, not the hard. Though I was wandering through a dungeon getting penetrated by phallic spikes and swords, if you're into that kind of thing.

[alienjesus]

1. Blaster Master - Wii VC (NES)
2. Cybernator - SNES
3. Super Aleste - SNES
4. Diddy Kong Racing - N64
5. Metroid Prime 3 - Wii
6. Loco Roco - PSP - new!
7. Final Fantasy VII - PS1
8. Metal Gear Solid - PS1
9. Tomb Raider - PS1
10. Pulseman - Wii VC (MD)
11. Bubble Bobble - SMS


No pictures this time. I couldn't be bothered digging out the camera.

Loco Roco is a fun enough game in short bursts. The gameplay is simple and charming and works well enough. The controls are simple (sometimes annoyingly so) L tilts the stage left, R tilts it right, L+R makes you jump. Later stages have some very irritating platforming using this inaccurate control scheme, but it very very rarely puts you in any danger so it's more annoying than anything. In fact, there isn;t really much that risks hurting you at all in the game, it's incredibly easy. The one or two enemies who are in the game will rarely do much damage, but the times they do its normally in annoyingly random ways that you can do nothing about. The music in the game is upbeat and fun, but sometimes a little irritating with its high voices. The aesthetic is really nice, and the primary colours and morphing soft landscapes are really pretty and charming.

The main issue with the game is that it just gets a bit boring. The levels barely change between the first and last level, the threat level never ramps up and no new mechanics are really introduced. It's just a bit samey. There are a few levels that are an enjoyable change of pace (the high speed ice levels are probably the best) but they're not that regular - maybe once or twice per each of the 5 worlds. There is lots to collect to perfect the game, with each level needing you to find 3 MuiMui buddies, 3-5 loco roco house parts and up to 20 fruit, but honestly there's very little appeal to do so. A fun game, but not a must play by any means.

That's 4/11 down for me, and 3 of them have been good but underwhelming so far. I hope some of the others surprise me more.

[pierrot]

Two levels left me raging hard last night.

Did it get kinky?

Emphasis on the raging, not the hard. Though I was wandering through a dungeon getting penetrated by phallic spikes and swords, if you're into that kind of thing.

Aaaah, yep. That's doin' it for me.


I made it to the final dungeon in Dragon Quest II, then broke down and checked a walkthrough after wandering around like an idiot wasting prayer ring heals, because it turns out I needed an item that I though I was already done with, and have to go all the way back to the lower world to get it out of storage. The end of this game is working my last nerve. Maybe I'll have the gumption to finish up tomorrow, but it's like the game is just trying to find every way possible to tell me to go screw myself, and like it.

Well I don't like it, Mr. Horii, and you can go screw yourself. It's a damn good thing I actually really like the first game, and later games in this series.

[dsheinem]

That's 4/11 down for me, and 3 of them have been good but underwhelming so far. I hope some of the others surprise me more.

For the record, at least half of those were the ones I said shouldn't count as classics, right?

[BoneSnapDeez]

Dragon Quest II is the worst of the Dragon Quest games. Hard as balls!

[alienjesus]

That's 4/11 down for me, and 3 of them have been good but underwhelming so far. I hope some of the others surprise me more.

For the record, at least half of those were the ones I said shouldn't count as classics, right?

For the record, one of those ones you said wasnt a classic was easily the best of the 4 so far.

[Ack]

That's 4/11 down for me, and 3 of them have been good but underwhelming so far. I hope some of the others surprise me more.

For the record, at least half of those were the ones I said shouldn't count as classics, right?

For the record, one of those ones you said wasnt a classic was easily the best of the 4 so far.

As long as it wasn't Diddy Kong Racing.

And Ds, I've beaten 5/10. 5/10. What have you done this summer?

[pierrot]

Dragon Quest II is the worst of the Dragon Quest games. Hard as balls!

You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. I admire the ambition of developing the first game into a grander experience, but it feels like it went awry, and was made more convoluted / unbalanced in the process.

Before starting I and II, I was really looking forward to III. I'm still hoping to enjoy that one, but I'm going to be very happy to set aside the DQ series for a while after finishing up II.

[dsheinem]

And Ds, I've beaten 5/10. 5/10. What have you done this summer?

video game related?

-Written several book chapters about games
-Interviewed several game industry heavyweights
-hosted a few podcasts
-beaten about 15 retro and contemporary games
-planned a syllabus for a games related course
-traded or purchased several score games
-attended a pinball festival
-etc. etc.

I've also finished with two of my summer challenge games and started three others (two of which are RPGs)

shall I go on?