Games Beaten 2014

[dsheinem]

Spider's a pretty great iOS title. Thanks for suggesting it Stark.

How would it be on iPad? I don't have a phone.

It'd be fine, I think. The finger "flicks" might be longer but the visuals should translate well.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Metal Torrent is maybe the only shmup I can beat without losing a life, let alone losing a credit.

Sounds like you need to play Monkey King. Then you'll have two on the list.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Metal Torrent is maybe the only shmup I can beat without losing a life, let alone losing a credit.

Sounds like you need to play Monkey King. Then you'll have two on the list.

I agree. I got through that shmup - without dying - the first time I played it. It is just so ridiculously easy.

[Sload Soap]

Civilization V: Brave New World (PC)

As BMF said, it is hard to define what is "beat" when playing Civilization. I count it as I won and got a pretty good score of 2250 which makes me Abraham Lincoln apparently.

This particular play through was my first with the Brave New World update and I played as Greece and tried to do a cultural/science victory and avoid conflict. The new additions to the way you can create great works of art and then move them to other cities is a nice feature. It basically let me overload Athens with great art and it's individual culture dwarfed most other civilizations never mind cities.

It's also nice how Firaxis have taken some of the social policies and made them into Ideologies, which means that choosing commerce and freedom aren't mutually exclusive goals anymore. They have also taken some of the world wonders and made them ideology specific so you can no longer be a communist and build the statue of liberty, which makes sense. The other major update is to commerce as you can now have proper trade routes over land and sea.

I probably could have trundled along focusing on culture but got angsty and destroyed brought freedom to the Assyrian's. And then Indonesia as well as Siam. And most of Poland. Whoops. Having said that, it's not as bad as my last save where I managed to wipe out the entire Mongolian civ with just two Giant Death Robots. This was a generally a peaceful game with my nearest rival (Shoshone) being amicable to me for the majority.

My only major peeve with what has been added is that it's now very easy to turn a previously friendly Civ completely against you and it's not always clear why. I was besties with Brazil for 5,000 years but one day they rang me up to tell me that they hated me and I should watch my back. No idea why. Well I have some idea, but still...twats.

That and I need to learn to destroy cities and replace them with my own during war because everyone of my short wars ended with massive inner uprisings.They are a huge pain in the arse as the rebels burn improvements and usually spawn right next to your capital (as in, precisely not where your army is) . It's doubly annoying because it isn't very realistic when you think it through.

The only other annoyance is that since you no longer stack units, you basically have to micromanage any large engagements which can become wearying. Not that I'd want a return to old Civ combat mind.

Civilization is just fucking fantastic whatever version you play and this is the definitive version of it's fifth installment. Get it installed.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (360)

I didn't have much interest in this game until Errant Signal gave it a warm write up recently. Rather fortuitously it was also in sale last week so I snapped it up and have to say I really liked it.

The main hook is that as you play your character, an elderly old west gunslinger name of Silas Greaves, is narrating the in game action to a bunch of people round a poker table. Silas tells some very tall tales indeed featuring many of the Old West's most famous heroes and villains. Appropriately the game design is very arcadey with bonus scores for chaining kills and headshots. You also get a meter that when filled will allow you to enter bullet time and increase the chance of headshots and combos. It's robust and a lot of fun.

The developer also has a lot of fun with the hook of the game. One level is a bank heist that you play from three separate perspectives. Another has you attacking Apache's one second before the narrator remembers it was cowboys attacking Apache STYLE. It's cool and while it remains light hearted, the writers do sneak in a bit of pathos later on to elevate it a bit. It's not Dear Ester or anything but it is a good yarn, well told.

It clocks in at just under four hours, which is fine by me. There's a new game+ mode, an arcade mode and a shoot out mode. The shoot outs are usually placed at the end of a chapter in the story mode in place of traditional boss battles. You have to use the analogue sticks to simultaneously keep one hand over your gun and one locked on to your target. It sounds trickier than it is and it a great system, especially the final shoot out against two opponents.

COJ: Gunslinger is testament to letting a developer just cut loose and make something they obviously want to make. I know Techland generally don't make the best games, but there is a lot of affection here both for the old west and arcadey FPS mechanics. Definitely worth a shot.

Metro: Last Light (360)

I played Metro 2033 earlier on in the year and very much enjoyed it. It was one of those titles that comes out of leftfield with a relatively unknown developer and does something fresh.

Last Light is more of the same really, but with better graphics and shooting mechanics. Strangely though by tightening up certain aspects of the game 4A have created a sequel that is technically superior but never really better than Metro 2033. At least not until nearly half way through at least.

For starters Last Light is much more linear than 2033 and 2033 wasn't Metroid Prime to begin with. Earlier on there is a lot of emphasis on Call of Duty like set pieces and it can feel like you are on rails (some pun intended) being pushed from one set piece to another.

They are the bad sort of set pieces as well: many of them are there to knock you unconscious and shift you to the next level. In this way things seem a little bit disconnected. Metro 2033 really felt like a journey through this dangerous landscape. Last Light is more a sight seeing tour.

Last Light also loses a bit of the ruggedness 2033 had. Yes, the shooting wasn't brilliant in 2033 but in its own way added to the tension and made the player think carefully about their approach. In that respect Last Light is inferior in its superiority losing some of what attracted me to the series to begin with.

That is at least until about half way through when you are sent above the surface and into a truly terrifying swamp full of powerful and sneaky mutants. This section and those the follow are what Metro is all about: panic, confusion and tension. The panic comes from the mutants ability to deflect bullets. The confusion comes from not knowing what it safe to stand on and what will send you head first into the swamp. And the tension comes from searching in vain to find a oilcan to power a makeshift boat and get the hell out of there. And it is great. It's not survival horror, it's more just plain survival and it's fantastic. You'll sigh with relief when you go back to fighting Nazi's and Communists.

From then on Last Light turns into frankly one of the best and most interesting FPS games I've played all generation. This is when the improvements show through as you can now pull off shots that would have been tricky in 2033 in environments that dazzle with lighting and particle effects. I've heard this game looks unreal on a high-end PC. It looks pretty great as it is. It builds up a head of steam towards its climax and really starts to challenge.

Despite some early misgivings I've come away from Last Light happy. I don't like it as much as 2033 (it's a kind of Morrowind/Skyrim situation for me) but it is still an excellent game with one of the most intriguing and best fleshed out gameworlds available.

[Jmustang1968]

1. Ogre Battle - PS1
2. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - PC
3. The Banner Saga - PC
4. Papers, Please - PC
5. Tactics Ogre LUCT - PSP (on Vita)
6. The Walking Dead Season 1 & 400 Days (PC)

I really enjoyed the first season of the The Walking Dead game. Its critical praises are well deserved. I really felt like I was in my own adventure straight from the comic. Even though some choices really do affect the story, I know most of it is really just an illusion of choice. They do that illusion well however, and I always stuck with my decisions. Doing otherwise would probably ruin the immersion. The story is intriguing and kept me wanting more.

[Stark]

1. Ogre Battle - PS1
2. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - PC
3. The Banner Saga - PC
4. Papers, Please - PC
5. Tactics Ogre LUCT - PSP (on Vita)
6. The Walking Dead Season 1 & 400 Days (PC)

I really enjoyed the first season of the The Walking Dead game. Its critical praises are well deserved. I really felt like I was in my own adventure straight from the comic. Even though some choices really do affect the story, I know most of it is really just an illusion of choice. They do that illusion well however, and I always stuck with my decisions. Doing otherwise would probably ruin the immersion. The story is intriguing and kept me wanting more.

I don't look at it as false choices, rather I see it as altering the subtext and reasoning behind decisions and really fleshing out these characters and making them have their own identity and motivations that you helped shape. Love those games.

[laurenhiya21]

1/6: Dear Esther (Steam)
1/11: Hydrophobia: Prophecy (Steam)
1/14: Spirit Camera: Cursed Memoir (3DS)
1/26: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS)
2/1: 1,000,000 (Steam)
3/14: Thomas Was Alone (Steam)
3/15: Fairy Bloom Freesia (Steam)
3/22: Suikoden (PS1)
3/25: Wizorb (Steam)
3/28: Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (Steam)
3/29: Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
3/30: Chibi-Robo! (GC)
3/31: Luigi's Mansion (GC)
4/13: Deponia (GOG)
4/13: Shatter (Steam)
4/14: Rusty's Real Deal Baseball: Cage Match (3DS)
4/19: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
4/23: Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia (PS2)
4/25: Freddi Fish 3: Case of the Stolen Conch Shell (PC)
4/26: Frogatto & Friends (Desura)
5/6: Persona 4 (PS2)
5/9: The Last Us (PS3)
5/24: Atelier Ayesha: Alchemist of Dusk (PS3)
5/28: Tobe's Vertical Adventure (Steam)
6/2: Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians (Steam)
6/11: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GC)
6/23: Half-Life (Steam)
6/30: Analogue: A Hate Story (Steam)
7/1: Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior (Steam)
7/7: LoZ: Oracle of Ages (3DS VC)
7/7: Trauma Center: Second Opinion (Wii)

(keep on forgetting to post derp... I'll keep the thoughts short)

Analogue: A Hate Story

Not really sure what to say on this... It's kind of neat though. I like visual novels, and this one is pretty different from the usual kind. Really depressing though

Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior

It's pretty glitchy and definitely not for everyone... but to me it's pretty relaxing. Even if cleaning up body parts and blood doesn't really sound relaxing... I like cleaning I guess? The character you play as also says some funny things sometimes.

LoZ: Oracle of Ages

I played this for the Retro Summer Game Challenge I had trouble with the combat (and those stupid required mini-games ), but I liked most of the puzzles and the music. It certainly isn't my favourite Zelda (actually it's probably on the bottom of my short list ha) but I'm still glad I played it.

Trauma Center: Second Opinion

I realllly like the Trauma Center/Team games, which is odd because this game is haaaard (I generally don't like difficult games). I probably like it because it's pretty simple to play, fair, and it has visual novel elements. It does tend to hurt my wrists after a particularly brutal mission though... Thankfully is isn't as hard as New Blood, or else I think my wrists would break ;-;

[BoneSnapDeez]

First 50:

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)
17. Smash TV (PlayStation 2 - Midway Arcade Treasures)
18. Total Carnage (Xbox - Midway Arcade Treasures 2)
19. Skyblazer (SNES)
20. Mega Man II (Game Boy)
21. The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (Wii)
22. Ys (Saturn - Falcom Classics)
23. Super Mario Bros. (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
24. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
25. Super Mario Bros. 2 (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
26. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
27. Super Mario World (SNES)
28. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
29. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy)
30. 魔法騎士レイアース (Super Famicom)
31. Magic Knight Rayearth (Saturn)
32. Disney's Aladdin (SNES)
33. Kirby's Dream Land (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
34. Kirby's Adventure (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
35. Kirby's Dream Land 2 (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
36. Kirby Super Star (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
37. Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
38. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (Wii - Kirby's Dream Collection)
39. Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)
40. New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U - New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U)
41. New Super Luigi U (Wii U - New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U)
42. Shock Troopers (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
43. Shadow Blasters (Genesis)
44. Final Fantasy (Game Boy Advance - Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls)
45. Super Mario Advance (Game Boy Advance)
46. Sonic CD (PC)
47. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
48. Battle Arena Toshinden (Game Boy)
49. Crusader of Centy (Genesis)
50. Joe & Mac (SNES)

51. Ys: The Vanished Omens (Sega Master System)
52. Code of Princess (3DS)
53. Ys (PSP - Ys I & II Chronicles)
54. Ys II (PSP - Ys I & II Chronicles)
55. Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (PSP - Sega Genesis Collection)
56. Gradius (PSP - Gradius Collection)
57. Shinobi (Xbox 360 - Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection)
58. Otomedius Excellent (Xbox 360)
59. Deathsmiles (Xbox 360)
60. Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox 360 - Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection)
61. The Lost Vikings (SNES)
62. The Lost Vikings (Genesis)
63. Final Fantasy II (Game Boy Advance - Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls)
64. Final Fight (PSP - Capcom Classics Collection Remixed)
65. Alien Syndrome (PlayStation 2 - Sega Classics Collection)
66. Exile (Genesis)
67. Ristar (Xbox 360 - Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection)
68. Final Fight (Xbox 360 - Capcom Digital Collection)
69. Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Game Boy Advance)
70. Classic NES Series: Metroid (Game Boy Advance)
71. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Xbox 360 - Konami Classics Vol. 1)
72. Ys (DS - Legacy of Ys: Books I & II)
73. Ys II (DS - Legacy of Ys: Books I & II)
74. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
75. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (PSP - Sega Genesis Collection)
76. Golden Axe III (PSP - Sega Genesis Collection)
77. Muramasa Rebirth (Vita)
78. Magic Sword (PSP - Capcom Classics Collection Remixed)
79. Mega Twins (PSP - Capcom Classics Collection Remixed)
80. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
81. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color)

I need to update this thread more often. I'm in no mood to write up my detailed thoughts about eight games. Let me just say that...

Old Sega games rule.
Old Capcom games rule.
Muramasa has the second-best story of any game I've played this year (after Exile).
My Mario obsession is almost as bad as my Ys obsession.

[AggroSky]

Good lord.. these lists are insane.... Mine is pathetic lol

Whip Rush (Sega Genesis)
Thunder Force 3 (Sega Genesis)
BioShock Infinite
......

Wow.. that's horrible.... lol

[ExedExes]

1. Metal Gear - NES (February 27)
2. Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault - PC (March 4)
3. Thunderbirds - NES (March 9)
4. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 - Gamecube (March 22)
5. Army Men: Sarge's War -Gamecube (March 22)
6. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas - PC (April 5)
7. Army Men Advance - GBA (April 16)
8. Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death - PC (April 27)
9. Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX - GBA (May 17)
10. Symphony - PC (May 24)
11. Serious Sam: The First Encounter - PC (May 30)
12. The Lost Vikings - GBA (May 31)
13. Star Wars Rebel Squadron II: Rogue Leader - Gamecube (June 21)
14. Sonic CD - Android/Mobile (June 24)
15. Psychonauts - PC (June 30)
16. *NEW* Kabuki Quantum Fighter - NES (July 8 )

I wanted to play something new on the NES, a side scroller, so I saw a video of this pop up on my YouTube subscription page, and finished this in about an hour. The main feature of this game was the ability to trade life for weapon energy (and vice versa) in boss battles, and in some cases, it was better to do that to get more weapon energy for the more powerful weapons you get near the end of the game. In addition to the interesting characters and stories, there was a ton of precision jumping. Not bad for a fast, good time.