Summer Games Challenge 2014

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yeah I'll get through it (hopefully). Made a lot of rookie mistakes early on. I'm getting better. Still can't figure out a good strategy to take down those ironknuckles though.

From what I recall there's only a few 1-ups in the game? Should I wait until the end of the game to get those or just scoop them up as they come?

[prfsnl_gmr]

Yeah I'll get through it (hopefully). Made a lot of rookie mistakes early on. I'm getting better. Still can't figure out a good strategy to take down those ironknuckles though.

PRO-TIP: TO defeat an ironknuckle in Zelda II, you should: (1) jump slighty forward, then attack; or (2) jump, then duck in mid-air, and attack. (Your sword should hit them on top of their heads.) You should be able to hit them at least 50% of the time with this strategy, and if you miss them, you will push them back far enough that they cannot counter-attack. (You will still have to look out for the blue ones, however. They are really tough, and it best to run away from them.)

From what I recall there's only a few 1-ups in the game? Should I wait until the end of the game to get those or just scoop them up as they come?

PRO-TIP: Yes.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Ah good to know. I was trying to alternate standing/ducking sword jabs to beat the ironknuckles and getting my ass handed to me.

First boss was insanely easy though.

[prfsnl_gmr]

First boss was insanely easy though.

IMO, the bosses are actually the easiest parts of that game. (They are also some of the raddest parts, too.)

Zelda II is so awesome, and I really wish Nintendo - or a dedicated fan - would make a "metroidvania"-type game using its resources.

[CFFJR]

1. Metroid Prime - GC
2. Resident Evil 2 - PS1
3. Earthbound - SNES
4. Crash Bandicoot - PS1 - Complete
5. X-men Vs. Street Fighter - Saturn
6. Wonder Boy in Monster World - Genesis
7. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - PS1
8. Wave Race 64 - N64
9. Ico - PS2
10.Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - SNES

Alright, Crash Bandicoot is down.

I'm pretty sure kid me would have had an easier time beating this than adult me. Not that it was super hard, just a feeling I have.

Anyway, I enjoyed the game. I did have a lot of frustration stemming from, I dunno, the perspective I guess. A lot of seemingly simple jumps became difficult just because I often had a tough time judging depth and distance. I also can't tell you how many times I walked right off a platform when the camera was behind Crash because said platform appeared longer to my eye than it actually was.

Despite that annoyance though, it did offer up an enjoyable and (usually) balanced platforming challenge. There were some excellent levels, and I like the simplicity of it. As I recall later games added power ups and new moves, but in the first one you can only jump and spin, and it works just fine.

So, that's #1. Just 9 more to go.

[alienjesus]

I also can't tell you how many times I walked right off a platform when the camera was behind Crash because said platform appeared longer to my eye than it actually was.

Crash Bandicoot actually allows you to jump for a second or so even after falling off a ledge, so the problem could have been way worse than it is.

Zelda II

Yeah, I mentione dit earlier too, but the 'jump and stab enemies in the head' tactics is by far the easiest way to kill enemies. Never try and fight them normally.

watching you kids play SOTN brings me back to my first summer challenge

Here was where I started my thoughts for 2-3 pages, if you care: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 70#p267870

It's interesting looking back over this with some context. I can understand not liking backtracking (although I've not really had much issue with this myself) but I was very confused that you said you kept getting a game over. This is a great game, but I've also found it to be ridiculously easy aside from one boss (well two, but the same fight) who gave me some trouble (the most recent one listed in my last post). Still beat that fight handily second time around though.

You have no idea...

Based on your experience so far, however, I think you will be quite pleasantly surprised when you realize the game's true scope.

Unfortunately I do. As is the case with so many things being a retro gamer, this has been long since spoiled for me.

This and

'Richter'

I unfortunately know about, but other than those and the odd boss later on, most of the game is new to me, which is nice.

[prfsnl_gmr]

This and

'Richter'

I unfortunately know about, but other than those and the odd boss later on, most of the game is new to me, which is nice.

Then I have no problem telling you that the inverted castle is the best part of the game. It increases the difficulty tremendously, and if I recall correctly, some of the items you pick up in the inverted castle open up new areas in the regular castle. Moreover, all of the best bosses are there:

Kid Dracula FTW!!!

[Ack]

Well, I crawled my way through the second floor of the dungeon in Eye of the Beholder. That one was way more difficult than the first, mainly due to the illusionary walls, teleporters, and various boobytraps or magical devices meant solely to confuse the hell out of the player. But the enemies weren't too bad, unless you occasionally screwed up and fell into certain subfloors. Then it could get nightmarish.

I'm still making it mostly on brute force, though I did use magic to take down a large group of zombies. Also, I'm wondering when the optimum time to eat is. My characters currently have about 3/4 of their food bars full(and resting apparently doesn't cause these to drain faster), and I've been acquiring rations to use, but is there a best time to go about eating?

Also, funny enough, the Death sublevel on level 2 had its name changed in the SNES port to the Fear sublevel. Interesting choice.

Anyway, I'll hopefully be moving through level 3 some point in the next couple of days.

[prfsnl_gmr]

1. Metroid Prime - GC

Here is a great article on Metroid Prime for those of you playing it this summer:

http://www.avclub.com/article/isolation ... e-l-204888

[isiolia]

1. Metroid Prime - GC

Here is a great article on Metroid Prime for those of you playing it this summer:

http://www.avclub.com/article/isolation ... e-l-204888

Neat. I'm playing through Prime right now too, despite not posting my list.