Summer Games Challenge 2014

[prfsnl_gmr]

I can get about 4 rounds in, but then there's a guy with a gun which seems unfair.

I definitely remember that part!

Don't worry, however, the battle is unfair. Moreover, the fight with the assassin is the most difficult in the game. (Similar to many samurai films, it is also a meta-commentary on why the samurai - like the old west - disappeared.) The final boss is right after that, and it is a more traditional battle.

[Sload Soap]

In the tower of Darm. Lost a bit of the goodwill I had towards the game to be frank. The bat boss was really bullshitty as was the rock boss in the tower. The tower itself is ok if a touch confusing. It shouldn't have been too much to ask to have a teleport or something every 5th or 10th floor just in case I needed to back track (as I did to get the evil ring). I'm sure I'm near the end now anyway.

[dsheinem]

I can get about 4 rounds in, but then there's a guy with a gun which seems unfair.

I definitely remember that part!

Don't worry, however, the battle is unfair. Moreover, the fight with the assassin is the most difficult in the game. (Similar to many samurai films, it is also a meta-commentary on why the samurai - like the old west - disappeared.) The final boss is right after that, and it is a more traditional battle.

Is the guy with the gun the assassin? Se he's the penultimate boss?

I can't figure out

A) if I am dishonorable if I hit them wrong at any time or just for the death blow
B) if I get the screen immediately after a dishonorable round or at some "checkpoint" after a later fight. There are times I was pretty sure I was being honorable, but got the screen.

EDIT: Nevermind, somehow I beat it anyway. Not a 1cc, as I continued twice on the cheap dude with a gun (but that's it).

1. Strider (Arcade/PS2)
2. Thief Gold (PC)
3. Ys II (PC)
4. System Shock 2 (PC)
5. The Typing of the Dead (DC)
6. Marvel vs. Capcom (Arcade/PS3/DC)
7. Bushido Blade (PS1)
8. Wario Land (Virtual Boy)
9. Spyro the Dragon (PS1)
10. Eye of the Beholder (Sega CD)


Half way done. Might be time for a PC game next.

[BoneSnapDeez]

From what I can tell the inverted castle is pretty nonlinear and I'm guessing that certain bosses will be tougher if you try to fight them earlier and with lower levels.

I don't know who this Garamoth character is, guess I'll find out eventually.

You'll definitely know it if you run across him.

I took him down in about 10 seconds. The Alucard shield totally breaks the game.

Anyway, 198.5%. Alucard is level 60. HP over 1000. Think I may finish the game tonight.

In the tower of Darm. Lost a bit of the goodwill I had towards the game to be frank. The bat boss was really bullshitty as was the rock boss in the tower. The tower itself is ok if a touch confusing. It shouldn't have been too much to ask to have a teleport or something every 5th or 10th floor just in case I needed to back track (as I did to get the evil ring). I'm sure I'm near the end now anyway.

Darm Tower is the worst part of the game. The fact that it takes up about 50% of the total play time doesn't help either.

I forget what version you're playing but the bat boss and rock boss are really inconsistent depending on the port.

In the Saturn version, which I played earlier this year, the rock boss was the hardest in the game.

[laurenhiya21]

Did a few more chapters of Half-Life, and I was having a bit of trouble until I figured out that I don't need to horde my ammo.

I have no clue why I keep thinking that I need to save every little thing in pretty much any game, but it's annoying when I don't need to. Especially annoying when it came to those lightning-shooting monsters and the turrets. Those things were incredibly annoying when I was trying to only use the wimpy gun. (I didn't even know you could destroy the turrets until I accidentally used a grenade) Only thing that still is troublesome (so far anyway), are the military guys. Hate those jerks.

And I think I'll be having to use the mine carts soon... Not sure how that will go...

[BoneSnapDeez]

Alien Syndrome
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Dragon's Curse
Exile
Final Fight
Mega Man
Metroid
Ristar
Super C
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

You know, it was probably a bad idea to play three sidescrolling "maze" games in a row. I was feeling kind of burnt out by the end of this one. And I still have one left! (Dragon's Curse)

Anyway... What an awesome game. This is my first Castlevania ever so I know nothing of the overarching storyline, but I guess it involves vampires and, uh, normal humans fighting each other? I couldn't gather much from the dialogue and the bad/hilarious voice acting.

The game is beautiful. It's so refreshing to see such detailed 2D graphics from an era where most everyone was trying to make the jump to the third dimension. I wish the backgrounds were a little more varied though. I enjoyed seeing different sections of the castle (library, keep, etc) but overall everything had this dark dreary look. Though it does fit the overall theme of the game, I suppose. The music was quite pleasant throughout and I was surprised to hear an ending theme with vocals.

Symphony's basic controls are spot-on. Alucard jumps and slashes his main weapons with ease and grace, and transforming into the bat/wolf/mist was a lot of fun. Beyond the basics, I did find a couple of weird control issues however. First off, it's way too easy to accidentally fire your secondary weapon. I'm sure the up+attack control scheme works well on a PlayStation controller (where the d-pad is split into separate buttons) but on the Xbox 360 I found it far too easy to gently nudge the stick into an upwards direction while moving left or right, which would occasionally cause me to throw a special weapon when I just wanted to whip/slash. Additionally - magic is cast by inputting specific button combinations like in a fighting game. It feels completely out-of-place in a 2D platformer. Thankfully, it appears that can beat the game without casting a single spell.

The game is surprisingly easy, which I was somewhat thankful for having played Zelda II not so long ago. Most of the bosses have attack patterns that are easily learned and exploited. The weapons and armor you find 1/3rd of the way through the game are sufficient enough to carry Alucard through both castles. I never found any use for healing items, the only healing I ever did was at save points. Last but not least - the Alucard shield + shield rod combo. Holy hell does this break the game. I was able to gain about 5 levels within 5 minutes towards the end of SotN. And then I defeated Shaft and Dracula without taking a single hit.

This is one of those "addicting" games. It was hard to shut off, and it's so satisfying to see that castle map fill up little by little. "Just one more room" I'd say to myself, before playing for another two hours straight. And at about 15 hours total Symphony hits that "I got my money's worth" sweet spot without overstaying its welcome.

I think perhaps most importantly is that this game now has me itching to play another Castlevania. Perhaps I can knock out Dracula X Chronicles before the year ends.

Next Summer Challenge Game shall be Mega Man. So far, I'm terrible at it. The difference in difficulty between this game and its sequel is astronomical.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I think perhaps most importantly is that this game now has me itching to play another Castlevania. Perhaps I can knock out Dracula X Chronicles before the year ends.

I am glad you enjoyed it! As a teenager, I got a copy of that game with my PS1. I also got a copy of Final Fantasy VII, and you can probably guess which game I played first and enjoyed more. (Here's a hint...It starts with "Castlevania: Symphony of the" and ends with "Night".)

I am glad that you are looking into the other games in the series. Be warned, however, that the "metroidvania" games are radically different from the "traditional" Castlevania games. If you want something similar to the game you just completed, you should pick up one of the DS or GBA Castlevania games. If you want something like a slow-paced Ninja Gaiden (NES), you should try Castlevania: Dracula X (PSP), Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES), or Super Castlevania IV (SNES). (If you want the epitome of NES-era crypticness, try Castlevania II: Simon's Curse (NES)...)

[BoneSnapDeez]

I was just looking at the DS games on Amazon. They all seem pretty reasonably-priced. I might scoop them all up before they go out of print.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I was just looking at the DS games on Amazon. They all seem pretty reasonably-priced. I might scoop them all up before they go out of print.

They're worth it, and they were the first games I played through when I got my DS years ago. (If you are only getting one, however, get Order of Ecclesia. It is my favorite.)

[alienjesus]

From what I can tell the inverted castle is pretty nonlinear and I'm guessing that certain bosses will be tougher if you try to fight them earlier and with lower levels.

I don't know who this Garamoth character is, guess I'll find out eventually.

You'll definitely know it if you run across him.

I took him down in about 10 seconds. The Alucard shield totally breaks the game.

Anyway, 198.5%. Alucard is level 60. HP over 1000. Think I may finish the game tonight.

In the tower of Darm. Lost a bit of the goodwill I had towards the game to be frank. The bat boss was really bullshitty as was the rock boss in the tower. The tower itself is ok if a touch confusing. It shouldn't have been too much to ask to have a teleport or something every 5th or 10th floor just in case I needed to back track (as I did to get the evil ring). I'm sure I'm near the end now anyway.

Darm Tower is the worst part of the game. The fact that it takes up about 50% of the total play time doesn't help either.

I forget what version you're playing but the bat boss and rock boss are really inconsistent depending on the port.

In the Saturn version, which I played earlier this year, the rock boss was the hardest in the game.

How did you do it that fast?

Do you have all the Alucard set equipped? That seems to give some hefty stat boosts.

When I played him, I needed to hack at him for about 5 minutes before he was dead, and the lightning bolts he shot did about 80-100 damage of my 350 or so hp.