Games Beaten 2014

[BurningDoom]

I beat Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara tonight, the Xbox Live Arcade version. Both the Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara. And no, I didn't do it on one continue.

Both are pretty short, which is to be expected from a beat-em up. But there was a lot more going on here than your average beat-em up. Light-RPG elements. Item usage. Equipment pick-ups. Magic spells (for magic-users). And even a couple special moves. And each playable character felt unique to play as with their own set of specials and different feel to their movements. Very nice looking 2D graphics, too. A lot to like here.

Highly recommended for fans of Golden Axe or Cadash.

Does this have online co-op?

I'd bet money on it. But I played it single-player, tonight. So not 100% sure.

[alienjesus]

And I'm saving Shock Troopers for Together Retro.

Saving the best 'til last!

Seriously though, Shock Troopers (and 2nd Squad) are probably my favourite Neo Geo games, narrowly beating out the Metal Slug games for top spot.

I've not played a lot of NG games though, so take that as you will

[noiseredux]

I beat Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara tonight, the Xbox Live Arcade version. Both the Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara. And no, I didn't do it on one continue.

Both are pretty short, which is to be expected from a beat-em up. But there was a lot more going on here than your average beat-em up. Light-RPG elements. Item usage. Equipment pick-ups. Magic spells (for magic-users). And even a couple special moves. And each playable character felt unique to play as with their own set of specials and different feel to their movements. Very nice looking 2D graphics, too. A lot to like here.

Highly recommended for fans of Golden Axe or Cadash.

Does this have online co-op?

yes it does, and it's on Steam, and it's on the Together Retro calendar for later this year.

[alienjesus]

I beat Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara tonight, the Xbox Live Arcade version. Both the Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara. And no, I didn't do it on one continue.

Both are pretty short, which is to be expected from a beat-em up. But there was a lot more going on here than your average beat-em up. Light-RPG elements. Item usage. Equipment pick-ups. Magic spells (for magic-users). And even a couple special moves. And each playable character felt unique to play as with their own set of specials and different feel to their movements. Very nice looking 2D graphics, too. A lot to like here.

Highly recommended for fans of Golden Axe or Cadash.

Does this have online co-op?

yes it does, and it's on Steam, and it's on the Together Retro calendar for later this year.

I picked it up on Wii U, so I hope someone else plays that version too.

[Wispmage]

Games Beaten 2014:
1. Diablo II / Lord of Destruction
2. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons *NEW*

Games Beaten 2013
1. Bioshock Infinite [PC]
2. Demon's Crest [SNES]
3. Sacred Citadel [PC]
4. Dishonored [PC]
5. Bastion [PC]
6. Torchlight 2 [PC]
7. TMNT: Turtles in Time [SNES]
8. Mark of the Ninja [PC]
9. Mega Man X [SNES]
10. Mega Man X2 [SNES]
11. Diablo [PC]

Hoping to start picking up my pace with beating games this year, so I'm glad I could play through Brothers these past few days. All in all it was a great game, one I'd recommend highly to anyone who likes a good, emotion driven story and doesn't mind adapting to a non-traditional control scheme. With the game only lasting about 3-4 hours, I was amazed at how connected I was to the characters by the time I had finished. That said, the ending was pretty powerful, and I'll admit to shedding a few tears. I also noticed something very interesting as I approached the ending of the game.

After the older brother died, I found myself still utilizing both analog sticks and triggers to accomplish tasks and solve puzzles, even though I only had to use the right set to manipulate the little Brother. I had gotten so used to the idea of controlling them both that I couldn't make the switch to controlling one, and with the events towards the very end of the game, I like to think it was as if the older Brother was still guiding the younger one.

I also started Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Final Mix not long ago, and after some initial frustrations with menu systems and combat, I finally feel like I'm getting a feel for the gameplay and the story. Looking forward to continuing with it, and hopefully completing it before my life is taken over by the new Thief game in late February.

[Flake]

I picked it up on Wii U, so I hope someone else plays that version too.

I have that version, too. I'll play with ya come TR time.

Starting 2014 off:

1/20: Injustice: Gods Among US (WiiU)

This game was a total surprise for me. I have never, EVER been able to feel comfortable in a game using the Mortal Kombat control scheme. SNK/Capcom traditions are just drilled into me. Injustice's story mode compelled me enough to get over that, though. I think this might be the first fighting game I have ever played where the story was this involved and interesting - even the predictable final match up felt truly epic when I got there. I really felt like something was at stake.

I do wish the roster balance was a little more...well, balanced. I could truly feel the power difference whenever I played as a marque character such as Batman, Green Lantern, or Superman. Whenever I used B-list characters such as my beloved Flash, Nightwing, or Harley Quinn I felt like I was making the game harder on myself for no real reason.

Biggest surprise: Aquaman being a total bad ass and Wonder Woman being entirely too awkward.

[Stark]

I also noticed something very interesting as I approached the ending of the game.

After the older brother died, I found myself still utilizing both analog sticks and triggers to accomplish tasks and solve puzzles, even though I only had to use the right set to manipulate the little Brother. I had gotten so used to the idea of controlling them both that I couldn't make the switch to controlling one, and with the events towards the very end of the game, I like to think it was as if the older Brother was still guiding the younger one.

I believe that on some of them, you have to control it like he's still there. Especially the swimming part and I think that they did that so that you felt the way you did. Very touching.

[ExedExes]

Burning Fight is a sub-mediocre Final Fight clone. The fact that people are still willing to pay $200 for the AES cart is downright baffling.

Next is Magician Lord - a side-scrolling action game and one of the defining Neo Geo titles. It's gorgeous to look at and to listen to, but on the flip-side is its infuriating difficulty. Enemies come at you in droves and your good magician walks slower than Lester the Unlikely or the lemmings in Lemmings. Plus, the fast-paced action tends to grind to a halt quickly as the game is full of dead-ends and even a Super Mario Bros. style looping castle. If these flaws had been ironed out I'd rank it up with gems like Skyblazer - regardless, it's still one of the best Neo Geo launch titles. And the Engrish text/voice acting had me cracking up.

This is actually my first time playing Metal Slug, but I have played several of the sequels so I knew exactly what to expect. Classic comedic run 'n' gun action. I continued 11 times, which I have to admit is much better than I expected to do. I figured I'd at least use up 25 credits. I think with some practice I could complete the game on 5 credits. Maybe.

Sengoku is a great beat 'em up, where you battle feudal Japanese warriors that have invaded modern times. With power-ups and transformation abilities aplenty it's quite the entertaining ride. If the game's ending cutscene is any indication, apparently player 2 is forced to play as a horrendously goofy out-of-place blond cowboy.

I thought Top Hunter would be a shmup as the instructions told me to push a certain button to "change planes." Turns out "planes" in this respect refers to perspective - Top Hunter is a platformer where you can jump back and forth between the foreground and background. It's an incredibly innovative gimmick and adds quite a bit of depth (heh) to the game.

That's about it for this SNK compilation. I screwed around with the sports games, but didn't finish any. I suck at fighting games. Last Resort is impossible. And I'm saving Shock Troopers for Together Retro.

Burning Fight is $200? Oh, AES. But still! It wouldn't be so bad if the moves the fighters had weren't so crappy. The backgrounds and graphics are nice.

Magician Lord -- worth a play for sure -- but even more for this. You persistent guy! Be dead down here!

Sengoku suffers from the same problems Burning Fight does. I do like the bosses screaming in Japanese though.

Top Hunter isn't too bad for a platformer.

And yes, Last Resort *is* impossible. I said it. You can trust me. I think that's where they got "I'm destined just to die" from for Magician Lord

[Wispmage]

I believe that on some of them, you have to control it like he's still there. Especially the swimming part and I think that they did that so that you felt the way you did. Very touching.

Yeah, I noticed that during the swimming segment, though I'd been doing it before I got there as well. Definitely an interesting and effective way to make things really resonate with the player.

[BoneSnapDeez]

And yes, Last Resort *is* impossible. I said it.

I couldn't even figure out how to play it properly. The instruction booklet isn't much help. And checkpoints mean no re-spawn credit-feeding.