Summer Games Challenge 2014

[ExedExes]

Not a Summer Challenge game per se, but I'm now playing Metroid: Zero Mission which is a retelling of the original game. Digging it a lot so far.

Here I go on my Metroid investigations again. Try to let us know how it is, I understand both games on the GBA are well regarded and both worth the high prices they go for these days. Fusion was considered the 4th Metroid game (and developed by that Super Metroid "3" team), and this is the one that's more like the first.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I like the Virtual Boy just fine and that Wario game is the tits.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

I lost my progress half way through Virtual Boy Wario Land!!! It is a fun game, however, and now that I know how to use save states on my Virtual Boy emulator, it won't happen again!

[alienjesus]

Virtual Boy Wario Land is a fairly fun game. The Wario Land series is far from being a favourite of mine though.

I got the worst ending when I played through it (there are 4), which is also the funniest, so I'm fine with that.


Anyhow, after well over 2 weeks of no progress, I got stuck into Shantae again tonight. It's been a while since I've been so conflicted on a game. I love the visuals, the music, a lot of the dungeon design, the controls and the charm of the game. Shame that so far I would rate the game as 'fairly bad'.

There are just so many minor design problems that they stack up very uncomfortably and cease being minor - this game is very flawed. Bad stage design, bad enemy design, bad difficulty curve (why the fuck are the overworld segments the hardest bits, and why are the early overworld segments the hardest ones - even after returning later in the game, it's ridiculous), obvious flaws with randomly spawning enemies, overuse of instant death spikes, power ups that hinder more than help, absdolutely chronic issues of forcing leaps of faith and blind jumps - it's exsperating because this game SHOULD be really good.

When Shantae is on form, it's an enjoyable game. It's still possible to get some fun out of it generally too. Almost everything about the game feels polished and fun, except for the one of the most crucial things - the level design.


Anyway, I'm right at the end I think, so I should get this beaten tomorrow, or Tuesday at a push. Then I'm away until the 2nd, so I guess I'm only going to manage 1 summer game beaten this month as opposed to in the last half of May. Whoops...

[laurenhiya21]

Gah the chapter I just did was the worst ;-; So long, so many military dudes, so much pain and suffering ;-; I had to rely pretty heavily on a guide for this chapter... no way I could do it by myself. At least the military is finally leaving...
And I wish I wasn't so slow at this, but it takes a while to do just a few chapters

[Sload Soap]

Gah the chapter I just did was the worst ;-; So long, so many military dudes, so much pain and suffering ;-; I had to rely pretty heavily on a guide for this chapter... no way I could do it by myself. At least the military is finally leaving...
And I wish I wasn't so slow at this, but it takes a while to do just a few chapters

I wouldn't worry about it. Half-Life is one of those games that chews you up first time through but you will breeze on subsequent plays. It might also help you to know that if you are where I think you are in the game, things get easier past that point. Keep going it's worth it.

[dsheinem]

I like the Virtual Boy just fine and that Wario game is the tits.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

I lost my progress half way through Virtual Boy Wario Land!!! It is a fun game, however, and now that I know how to use save states on my Virtual Boy emulator, it won't happen again!

I ended up only playing for a little while the other night (consuming many beers + playing Virtual Boy = bad idea). That said, I played a bit more this morning and am also about half way through and hope to finish it up today. I am quite enjoying it, but those "automatic pauses" I would have scoffed at as a kid now offer a welcome suggestion for healing my eyes

[prfsnl_gmr]

I am quite enjoying it, but those "automatic pauses" I would have scoffed at as a kid now offer a welcome suggestion for healing my eyes

Same here. When I remove my 3D glasses for a break, it takes at least a few minutes for me to readjust to normal vision.

It is a fun game, though, and I think that the Virtual Boy's 3D capabilities are utilized well here. Although it plays like a direct sequel to Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land - my least favorite game in the Wario Land series - I think it will end up being one of my favorite Wario Land games.

[dsheinem]

I am quite enjoying it, but those "automatic pauses" I would have scoffed at as a kid now offer a welcome suggestion for healing my eyes

Same here. When I remove my 3D glasses for a break, it takes at least a few minutes for me to readjust to normal vision.

It is a fun game, though, and I think that the Virtual Boy's 3D capabilities are utilized well here. Although it plays like a direct sequel to Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land - my least favorite game in the Wario Land series - I think it will end up being one of my favorite Wario Land games.

Wait, so how are you playing this? What emulator is set up to use 3D glasses? Is it still red and black?

[alienjesus]

I am quite enjoying it, but those "automatic pauses" I would have scoffed at as a kid now offer a welcome suggestion for healing my eyes

Same here. When I remove my 3D glasses for a break, it takes at least a few minutes for me to readjust to normal vision.

It is a fun game, though, and I think that the Virtual Boy's 3D capabilities are utilized well here. Although it plays like a direct sequel to Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land - my least favorite game in the Wario Land series - I think it will end up being one of my favorite Wario Land games.

Wait, so how are you playing this? What emulator is set up to use 3D glasses? Is it still red and black?

I want to say Visual Boy Advance supports VB games. The 3D mode uses red and blue glasses. I think you might be able to pick between red and black and grey and black.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Wait, so how are you playing this? What emulator is set up to use 3D glasses? Is it still red and black?

Since I don't own a Virtual Boy, I am using vbjin. The emulation is solid (as far as I can tell), and it allows you to use "red-and-blue" 3D glasses to get the 3D effect. (As a result, however, the game is more "purple-and-black" than "red-and-black".) The only downside - as I discovered - is that the emulator does not create save files. It does, however, have save states; so, I will use those to save my progress when I make another run at the game.