Summer Games Challenge 2014

[Retrogamer0001]

1. Mega Man 2 (NES) Beaten
2. The Legend of Zelda (NES)
3. Star Tropics (NES)
4. Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (NES)
5. Earthbound (SNES)
6. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)
7. Metroid: Other M (Wii)
8. Silent Hill 3 (PS3 HD Re-release)
9. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
10. Final Fantasy 9 (PS1)

Finished Mega Man 2 tonight and it was somewhat surprising how easy it was compared to the games in the X series. I found the game to be incredibly fair with its continues (especially in Wily Castle, that was a huge benefit) and the bosses to be almost pathetically easy, but the stages help make up for it. The graphics and sound are superb, though it only took me about 4 hours to complete. All in all, I had fun with it and I can see why it's considered a classic. I'm trying to decide between starting FF9 or Zelda now, though I'm leaning more toward Final Fantasy.

[Violent By Design]

I started playing Metroid Prime, I'm at the Phazon Mines.

I have some gripes with the controls, mainly having to deal with the lock-on and how it doesn't snap to enemies at the end of the view. It's mostly an issue with vertical enemies. You can't move while you're moving the visor into position to target them. It's kind of a pain in the ass. They really could have combined the pause and map buttons to start and made Z a modifier button for the D-Pad's selection of vizors and weapons, leaving the C stick open for free looking while attempting to target.

All that withstanding, the game is very good. I wish I played it when it came out.

The controls felt just as old then as it does now.

[Violent By Design]

Think I am less than an hour away from finishing The Stick of Truth, then I'll jump into my list.

Well, I guess I'll post my list. This was the year I said I'd catch up in the 7th gen, so I'm not going to go to crazy about the summer challenge. I might start early just to clear way for modern gaming later. Here is my list

1. Sin & Punishment - I wanted to play this last summer, but I took a lot of time trying to configure the n64 controls to my 360 controller since it was a rom. By the time I was done I didn't feel like playing, but now it is setup and ready for booting.

2. Metroid: Zero Missions - I've barely tasted any Metroid, and this seems like a good entry into the series. Might be the next game I play.

3. Kirby's Adventure - I thought this game was kinda cool as a kid, since then I kinda hate kirby. Figure I give this one a try.

4. Ikaruga - I believe this is on Together Retro, but I really want a game that will take me a while to get good at, and this will probably be my go to game for that. I've hardly played any shooters too, so it'll be hell of an experience. Might play Air Zonk instead though...~_~

5. Metal Gear game - Thinking either Metal Gear Solid or Twin Snakes, maybe an 8 bit one. I'd like to eventually catch up so I can play MGS4 and V.

6. Sonic game (Master System) - I've been working my way through completing all of the Sonic games, the 8 bit and handheld ones in particular. Sonic 1,2 or Chaos are on my hit list for sure.

7. Lunar: Eternal Blue - I beat the first Lunar last summer, so I'd like to complete the series. Might play Mother 3 instead for an RPG fix.

8. Contra - Never got around to finishing it last summer when I was well on my way too.

9. God of War II - Started breaking into this series, I played GoW earlier just so I could get the plot for GOW 2 and 3, the two games I'm more interested in playing.

10. Fallout - I love the mythos of this series, but I never got around to digging deep into them, always quit very early. Will make an effort to beat the original sometime.


A Link to the Past and SMB3 are two games I might boot up my save files to finish too.

Think I'm gonna organize this a bit differently, put some other games I may be interested in playing. Gonna put games I didn't finish from last years challenge on its own list, and I'll take off Together Retro stuff.

1) Sin & Punishment
2) Metroid: Zero Missions
3) Kirby's Adventure
4) A Metal Gear game
5) An 8 Bit Sonic game
6) Lunar: Eternal Blue or Mother 3
7) God of War II
Fallout



Games I need to finish that I'd like too

Super Mario Bros 3
Contra
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past



Also added Mother 3. Might do it along with Lunar, but I'll put it in the same slot for now.

[alienjesus]

I think I might just make a start on the definite 9 on my list and then decide which of those 6 I'll play dependent on time.

If I have a lot of time left, it'll be one of the the RPGs or Blaster Master, and if I don't it'll be Rayman or Sega Rally.

[Retrogamer0001]

Games I need to finish that I'd like too

Super Mario Bros 3
Contra
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

I have a few games I'd "also like to beat":

Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Final Fantasy VII (PS1)

Time permitting, of course, as my list has a few lengthy RPGs already.

[darsparx]

I would add OoT because I haven't 100%'d it yet, but i think with the games i have on mine that one wouldn't be a possibility. I'm still horrible at zelda games to the point where I have to take breaks and come back several days later and somehow I'm able to beat the part I was stuck on before...

[Retrogamer0001]

I would add OoT because I haven't 100%'d it yet, but i think with the games i have on mine that one wouldn't be a possibility. I'm still horrible at zelda games to the point where I have to take breaks and come back several days later and somehow I'm able to beat the part I was stuck on before...

That happens to me all the time - most likely because you come in fresh and not frustrated. I take frequent breaks while gaming now, while in my teenage years I could sit down for 6+ hours and grind out a lengthy RPG without feeling restless.

[Cronozilla]

The controls felt just as old then as it does now.

That's not the reason why I wish I played it then. I wish I played it then, because it was pretty good.

I likely would have been more annoyed with the controls in 2002 than I am now. Now, I've actually accepted free-aiming, to some degree, on consoles. In 2002, that was not the case.

[Sload Soap]

Finished up the saturn version of Night Into Dreams earlier. It is definitely tougher without an analogue stick.

I don't really know where to stand with Nights. It is obviously a very good game and a labor of love for Sonic Team. It has great music, a lovely aesthetic that makes the most of the saturn's richer colour palette and the feeling of freedom through flying is great. It is a wholly unique game; off the top of my head I can't think of a Nights clone. It is too experimental to have been the savior of the Saturn but it does stand alongside Panzer Dragoon and Virtua Fighter as a defining game for the console. I also would say it has aged well, though I'd point first time players in the direction of the 360/PS3/Steam port for the graphical buff.

My problem lay with the game design. On a first play it seemed to me to be time based: get the orbs, blow up the Nighmaren, get back to the start quick as you can. This was reinforced by the circular design of the levels and enemies damaging you either by slowing you down or reducing your time limit. When I realised progress in the game is in fact score based, it became a much easier task one as simple as passing over the checkpoint and doing another lap of the level. Man, did I feel like a twat. Bear in mind I've had the game for over ten years.

In fairness though it is pretty obtuse how the individual "tracks" in each level seem to have their own threshold for a high score. It's another layer of the game occluded from the player for no discernible reason. I'm against hand holding tutorials but I feel Sonic Team could have done better here. Maybe just a shiny orb or two above the checkpoint to tempt you into flying past it. It's also odd how you can rack up massive scores just hammering the shoulder buttons after passing through a special hoop.

Anyway, despite it making me feel like an idiot, I very much enjoyed the game and would recommend it to anyone, kids, adults, grandma. Nights is a wholly unique classic and the sort of thing gaming needs more of.

[darsparx]

Well finally made it to 5-4 on SMB Deluxe. I try taking my time in this game but I always seem to not time my jumps just right or just have plain bad luck. i've made it to bowser several times on this level, but I either hit the flame or jump up right as he does...