Games Beaten 2014

[Michi]

Yeah I'd consider it beaten for sure.

To use an example from my own gaming history I have played through Muramasa several times, but only Momohime's story. The credits roll when you finish her story and I consider the game finished. You can play through the game with another character as well, but from what I understand it's nearly identical - just some plot elements and cutscenes are changed. I guess if you finish the stories of both you unlock some "post-game" content and whatnot, but it's all far too redundant for my tastes.

As others have already said there are some overlapping elements, but the stories are different. A quote from my very colorful guide, "Their stories are entwined so eventually you'll play as both. It doesn't matter which you choose first. Both characters' adventures begin on opposite ends of the map, and work in opposite directions across the map. They explore the same towns but access different sections within each to reach their unique boss battles."

By forging the blades you can break the barriers and explore the other sections and fight the other characters unique bosses. Though, if it were me and I felt like playing the game several times I would have switched characters at least once

[BoneSnapDeez]

Why didn't you play with a different character the next time you played it if you played through it several times?

Because I love Momohime. She's so adorable.

Moving on...

1. Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
2. Caveman Ninja (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
3. Crude Buster (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
4. Heavy Barrel (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
5. Secret Agent (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
6. Wizard Fire (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
7. Super Mario Land (Game Boy)
8. Burning Fight (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
9. Magician Lord (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
10. Metal Slug (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
11. Sengoku (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
12. Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
13. Metal Slug 4 (PlayStation 2 - Metal Slug 4 & 5)
14. Metal Slug 5 (PlayStation 2 - Metal Slug 4 & 5)
15. Metal Slug XX (PSP)
16. Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast)

I started this on January 1st, got burned out, took a break, played 15 other games, and then came back to it. Little did I know that I took a break with only about an hour and a half left in the game!

I had been meaning to play this one for some time. I had quite a few misconceptions about it.

I thought it was a MMORPG. It's not. It's essentially an RPG that gives you an option to play online with a small group of people. In that respect I'd say it's more like Diablo II than World of Warcraft. I played offline.

I thought the game would be 15-20 hours (maybe this is how long it takes people who play with their buds?). It took me just over 40 hours to complete.

And I thought it would be relatively easy. It isn't. Learning the intricacies of the combat system took some time and I had my ass handed to me on more than one occasion.

For those who are curious, here's a brief synopsis of the single-player experience:
The game begins with character creation - I chose to play as the most vanilla dude possible. A HUmar: human hunter.

The entirety of the game takes place in five areas: a spaceship - which is like a town or "hub" complete with shops, a hunter's guild, hospital, bank, and plenty of NPCs - and four dungeons. Each dungeon contains a boss at the end with the fourth boss being the final enemy of the game (Phantasy Star games are known for having very few bosses).

And this brings us to the most defining aspect of the game: grinding. Without some serious power-leveling the dungeons themselves are difficult to complete and the bosses are nigh impossible. Thankfully, grinding in PSO doesn't require one to simply roam the dungeons repeatedly while slaying monsters. The hunter's guild offers up a number of quests and completion of these will net not only experience from monsters vanquished, but also a sizable cash reward. Many of these quests are quite fun, especially those that add some amusing story elements. Others are frustrating, however. Particularly awful are the escort missions.

I found that by completing all the quests associated with a given dungeon I was leveled high enough and equipped sufficiently enough to take on the dungeon boss (well, the exception is level 2 - that boss is a jackass). And these bosses do not disappoint (except for boss 2, who is an asshole). They're screen-filling monstrosities who don't go down easily. And all require some serious strategizing, as simple hacking and slashing falls quite short.

PSO is a joy to play. Once you figure out how to string combos (tip: do not mash buttons) clearing dungeons and grabbing loot becomes quite addictive. Each time I played I found myself finishing a quest, saying to myself "okay... just another half hour", and then dumping 2-3 more hours into the game. What is unfortunately missing from this title is the ambiance, moods, character development, and yes, "nostalgia" that defines the 8 and 16-bit classic Phantasy Star titles. Most characters in PSO, including the one you play as, are dull blank slates. And I struggle to recall any of the soundtrack. That said, I ultimately found the game compelling enough to make me want to try some other titles in the (sub-)series such as Episode III and Phantasy Star Zero.

[dsheinem]

Games Beaten 2014
Primal Rage - 32X
Golden Axe - Genesis
To the Moon: Holiday Special - PC
Need for Speed: Rivals - PS4 *new*
Halo: Spartan Assault - Xbox One *new*

Total: 5

Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

Need for Speed: Rivals is probably my favorite NFS game, if only because I really like the Mission/Chapter based approach to exploring the open world (well, that and Criterion's involvement). The cars are excellent from the start, and the challenge is scalable throughout.

It is strange that the first game I beat on the Xbox One is a port of a mobile game, but it has a "just one more level" addiction to it so that I basically played it straight through with one brief break in between.

[noiseredux]

And I struggle to recall any of the soundtrack.

I agree w/ everything else you said. But OMG I love the music.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Listening to it on YouTube now.... I dig a couple of tracks like the Pioneer 2 theme and Forest music, but nothing else really jumps out on me.

[isiolia]

1.) Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
2.) Remember Me (PC)
3.) Mirror's Edge (PC)
4.) Jumping Flash! (PS1)
5.) Run Saber (SNES)
6.) Heavenly Sword (PS3)
7.) X-Blades (360)
8.) Blades of Time (360)
9.) Trapt (PS2)
10.) Hunted: The Demon's Forge (360)
11.) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)

Thoughts:

With Lightning Returns coming out soon, I wanted to get this game finished.
Like XIII, it’s a bit overwrought. The story starts out with a solid premise, but is nonsensical by the end. Characters are still mostly one-note sources of melodrama. The item shop, some pan-dimensional cosplay dare, is a more dynamic character than the leads. While there is a good amount of optional/post-game content allowing one to find different endings for particular time zones, this was a game begging for multiple actual endings that it couldn’t be allowed to have because it’s “To Be Continued”.

Still, it does do a lot to fix the complaints against XIII’s lack of freedom. A fair bit seems kind of tacked on, since it’s easily ignored, at least with regard to the main story arc. However, it’s there for those who want it.

Combat mechanics again seemed inconsistent to me. The Paradigm system works well enough in practice – I mean, it’s highly streamlined squad mechanics. So on the one hand that’s fairly basic – and doubly so due to hardly anything in the main story needing anything besides pure aggression. On the other, the actual level up process takes a strategy guide to plan ahead on, and the pet system is needlessly convoluted. Also, random battles were annoying – not that you could really avoid a lot in XIII either, but as a general trend, fewer, more interesting battles would be better. If the point is to give areas to explore, let that be more meaningful, rather than popping mobs in every 10-20 seconds.

I still enjoyed it fairly well, as the production values are extremely high, and it had the good sense not to drag any particular area out needlessly. Being able to save anywhere, jump back to the timeline easily, and so on, were welcome, even if the terrible load times weren’t.

[Hazerd]

1. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction - PS3
2. Metro: Last Light - Steam

So sad to see Metro: LL end, put 16 hours into it and was a great adventure, a game where i truly didnt want to see the end.

The graphics are unforgettable, the atmosphere the games gives off, has you looking over your shoulder now and then especially if you have surround sound.

I just love Post-Apocalyptic games, unfortunately i havent played Fallout 3 or New Vegas, but i do plan on playing the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series now, which is developed by the same people who developed the Metro games.

I recommend this game if you like Fallout, or Survival Horror. Not much more to say

[wclem]

Not keeping a tally but I beat another game tonight. Uncharted the first of the three PS3 games. Gonna Play these in order, I think LOL

Really not what I thought it was going to be. Way more shooting than anything else. Extremely linear, with little in the way of roaming or scavenging. Basically a third person shooter with minor puzzle and platforming elements. Also, even on normal the enemies took way too many rounds to finish.

This game needs something to make the player better, a minor leveling system or something to give you a reason to do more than just power through. I hope the next two get better and not just the same.

I would have been less disappointed if I had known going in that this was gonna be mostly run and shoot, duck, cover and shoot some more. Sorry, but this rates about a 6 out of 10 for me. Glad I didnt get burned for it when it was new.

edit: just noticed I have been on here for 5+ years now!!

[dsheinem]

Not keeping a tally

Why not? May as well! It's only January, anyway.

[wclem]

Not keeping a tally

Why not? May as well! It's only January, anyway.

Ok, then I am on 2, sad as it is LOL. Even worse is that I had to force my way through the end of both of them. I need to mix in some Mario goodness to even out my soul.