Games Beaten 2014

[Jmustang1968]

Actually, there have been several good Middle Earth games. The PS2 movie based action games are quite fun, and some of the PC strategy games are good as well. I havent played the MMO, but it has a fan base and I hear it is a solid game.

[dsheinem]

Actually, there have been several good Middle Earth games. The PS2 movie based action games are quite fun, and some of the PC strategy games are good as well. I havent played the MMO, but it has a fan base and I hear it is a solid game.

I have tooled around with all the PS2 movie games and didn't think any of them were any good. I do recall that War in the North is supposed to be pretty good, so I need to give it a shot. Are there others you think are worth playing? Have you played the PSP game?

[MrPopo]

I finally got around to beating C&C Red Alert. I've had that game for 15 years now and never finished both campaigns. I finished the Soviet campaign a year or two ago and I always preferred the Soviet army in the game; the furthest I got in high school was the second to last mission on the Soviet campaign and mission 10 of 14 of the Allied. I was always stuck on the Soviet mission because I'd trigger the "screw you player, I'll destroy the objective" thing the computer will do if you don't just level everything. I think I only tried Allied mission 10 once before I lost the save file. But everything felt much easier now that I understand RTS mechanics much better than I once did. It's also crazy apparent how unbalanced the factions are.

The Allies are based around a ton of niche units, with the idea being to make up for their overall weak units (minus the navy). But the problem is that the various single player missions are set up to defeat all the niche stuff. You can't really do much with spies because there are strategic dogs in all the places you'd want to use them (not to mention spies in this game are mostly terrible against the computer). You don't get thieves until the final mission and since they're basically like engineers you have to spend nearly as much money as you gain to make them successful, so it's not worth the effort. The combo of minigunner + rocket + medic would be more potent if Soviet infantry didn't have a ton of grenades and flame which does tons of AOE damage that ruins the ability of the medic to be relevant. The jeep is not helpful when your light tank moves fast enough to crush and the APC doesn't have much purpose when it takes 3-4 engineers to capture one building. The artillery moves and turns too slow to be useful at anything but minor base defense against infantry, so all you're left with is grabbing a bunch of light or medium tanks and rolling out. Even the longbow isn't as good as the orca from C&C since it doesn't move as fast, so it takes too long to get into position and doesn't work very well on moving targets. It's still good for pulling teeth of an enemy base, just too slow to be a primary killer.

As I mentioned, the Allied navy is the one place they really shine. The gunboat is terrible, but the destroyer is a fantastic all-around vehicle. You do need to form a pack of them to take care of subs but the missiles are great all-around weapons. And then the cruisers are just devastating. You don't even get them til the last mission and there aren't any good bodies of water. But just building a selection in the small lake by your base and Chronoshifting one into the other couple of lakes every so often is enough to destroy the ancillary Soviet base and confine the rest of their forces in the main base.

The Soviets, by comparison, are a much more focused force. Their infantry is designed to destroy enemy infantry, but you can just toss down some flame towers for that. It says something that the only thing you get with just a war factory is the heavy tank, as that's all you need. The V2 can be useful for attacking bases since it has enough range to do things like fire over terrain barriers easily and it has a good turn rate and damage. I don't use them a lot but they have a use. And then you get the mammoth if you're drowning in resources. The navy is terrible and comes down to "do I need to get across the water/do I need to kill a cruiser" or not. And on the second one you're better off with MiGs/Hinds. And speaking of the air force, it's fantastic. The MiG gets in and out fast and reloads fast, so you're tossing a ton of ordinance very quickly. The Yak isn't worthwhile, but that's ok. Another nice thing is you get the spy plane which will reveal the important things on the map much faster than the eventual GPS from the Allies (just need an airfield, not a tech center + wait time). And the Hind is much better than you'd think, since it uses the chain gun from the pillboxes which can do decent damage against vehicles, especially the weaker Allied vehicles. And since it's hitscan you don't have the accuracy problem the Longbow has.

Still, a fun game and the cutscenes are good. Everything is played straight and makes for enjoyable mission briefings that fit the tone of the gameplay. RA2 starts to get silly but the units get silly at the same time and the art style is more rounded, so it fits.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Actually, there have been several good Middle Earth games. The PS2 movie based action games are quite fun, and some of the PC strategy games are good as well. I havent played the MMO, but it has a fan base and I hear it is a solid game.

I have tooled around with all the PS2 movie games and didn't think any of them were any good. I do recall that War in the North is supposed to be pretty good, so I need to give it a shot. Are there others you think are worth playing? Have you played the PSP game?

The Third Age had a ton of work put into it and it was the first RPG I really remember liking as a kid. It plays as a cinematic, western looking jRPG. I have no idea if it would hold up today.

Battle For Middle Earth II is an extremely fun RTS and is commonly seen as something of a hidden gem. Prices for the game are still usually north of $30 even.

I didn't really enjoy the others I tried but I had a few friends that swore by The Two Towers game.

[Jmustang1968]

Yeah I liked both movie action games, and they were generally well received. Battle for Middle Earth games are good as well. Third Age is solid but not great. Never played PSP game.

[Sload Soap]

Snip

Used to play so much Red Alert and Retaliation on the PS1. Fantastic games. Nearly always played as the Soviets for skirmishes though. Aside from the things you mention, the Allies have weaker base defenses as well as a bunch of redundant units like the mine layer. They were definitely upgraded in Red Alert 2.

[Xeogred]

Beat a lot during my hiatus. Finally put my PC to use.

1. Dead Space 3* + Awakened (PS3)
2. Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD (WiiU)
3. Super Metroid* (WiiU)
4. Binary Domain (PS3)
5. New Super Mario Bros U (WiiU)
6. Silent Hill 4 The Room (PS2)
7. Deus Ex: HR* Director's Cut (WiiU)
8. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
9. Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze (WiiU)
10. Resident Evil 6 (PS3)
11. Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past (WiiU)
12. Dark Souls 2 (PS3)
13. Dark Souls (PS3)
14. Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut (PS3)
15. Killzone 3 (PS3)
16. Zone of the Enders 2 HD (PS3)
17. Metroid Fusion* (WiiU)
18. Final Fantasy X HD (PS3)
19. Shovel Knight (WiiU)
20. Mario Kart 8 (WiiU)
21. New Super Luigi U (WiiU)
22. Doom II Master Levels (PS3)
23. Doom II No Rest for the Living (PS3)
24. Final Doom: Plutonia (PS3)
25. Final Doom: TNT Evilution (PS3)
26. Super Mario World* (WiiU)
27. Super Mario Bros 3* (WiiU)
28. Super Mario Bros* (WiiU)
29. Doom II* (PS3)
30. Metroid* (WiiU)
31. Ultimate Doom* | Doom Classic Complete (PS3)
32. Zelda II: Adventure of Link (WiiU)
33. Kirby's Adventure* (WiiU)
34. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island* (WiiU)
35. Super Mario Bros 2* (WiiU)
36. Fatal Frame* (PS2)
37. Kirby Superstar* (WiiU)
38. Silent Hill Shattered Memories (YT)
39. Fatal Frame 2 (PS2)
40. Silent Hill Origins (PS2)
41. Ratchet & Clank: Future Tools of Destruction (PS3)
42. Silent Hill Homecoming (PS3)
43. Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty (PS3)
44. Silent Hill Downpour (360)
45. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
46. Tatsunoko vs Capcom (Wii)
47. Resident Evil Zero (Wii)
48. Resident Evil* (Wii)
49. Resident Evil 2* (PSX)
50. Ratchet & Clank: Future Crack in Time (PS3)
51. Resident Evil 3* (PSX)
52. Bioshock* (PC)
53. Bioshock 2* + Minerva's Den (PC)
54. Bioshock Infinite* + Burial at Sea 1-2 (PC)
55. Wolfenstein The New Order (PC)
56. Half Life 2* (PC)
57. Half Life 2 Episode One* (PC)
58. Alien Isolation (PC)
59. Half Life 2 Episode Two* (PC)

* = replay

Not much to say other than I got in a big FPS kick again. The Bioshock's hold up well and the DLC's melted my brain, Wolftenstein was utterly badass and a nice surprise with gunplay that feels as awesome as FEAR and such, Half-Life 2 still holds up oh so well it's disturbing (and Episode Two's ending is even worse than I remembered!), and Alien Isolation is probably top 3 on my Best Of list for this year. That one blew me away and was a huge surprise. Probably the longest game out of this bunch and... I wanted it to be longer, it was so good and pretty much the best Alien related experience since the original movie itself.

[Exhuminator]

The Third Age had a ton of work put into it and it was the first RPG I really remember liking as a kid. It plays as a cinematic, western looking jRPG. I have no idea if it would hold up today.

I played it to completion two years ago co-op with my fiance. We both enjoyed it quite a bit. The production still looks good, and getting to play as the bad guys once in a while was a lot of fun. And who can forget that Balrog battle? It was definitely fun for a good 30 hours.

[dsheinem]

Games Beaten 2014

January-June
Spider - iOS
Metal Torrent - NDS
Injustice: Gods Among Us - PC
Thief Gold - PC
Shovel Knight - 3DS
Wolfenstein: The New Order - PC
Spoiler Alert - PC
Battle Arena Toshinden - Game Boy
Dungeons and Dragons - Shadow of Mystara - PC
Diablo III - PC
Dungeons and Dragons - Tower of Doom - PC
Expendabros - PC
Doom III: The Lost Mission - PC
Borderlands 2: Headhunter 1: T.K. Baha's Bloody Harvest - PC
Kangaroo - Atari 2600
Escape Goat - PC *new*
Borderlands 2: Headhunter 2: The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler - PC *new*
Borderlands 2: Headhunter 3: How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day - PC *new*
Ninja Spirit - PCE
Borderlands 2: Headhunter 4: Wedding Day Massacre - PC
Proteus - Vita
Destiny - PS4
Karnov - NES
Bug Princess - iOS
Contra: Hard Corps - Genesis
Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge - PS3
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel - PC
Vib-Ribbon - PS1
Deathsmiles (360 Mode) - 360
Vampire Savior (Darkstalkers 3) - PS3
Forza Horizon 2 - - Xbox One
Shadow of Mordor - PS4
The Novelist - PC *new*
Luftrausers - Vita *new*

Total: 84

Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

The Novelist is an interesting game that does a nice job of presenting some more complex and different relationships than you typically see in games - the subject matter was a nice change of pace. Though the game doesn't present a lot of difficulty, it still keeps you pushing along at a good clip to see what unfolds.

Luftrausers, on the other hand, gets a bit tough leading up to what I assume is the ending of the game (level cap, final challenges in normal mode beat, SMFT mode unlocked, etc.). It oozes style and charm, though, and is a welcome addition to the increasingly impressive stable of games made by the Vlambeer folks.

[alienjesus]

First 50:

1. Kirby's Epic Yarn Wii
2. To The Moon Christmas Special PC
3. Super Mario 3D World Wii U
4. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Wii U
5. Chiki Chiki Boys Mega Drive
6. World of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Mega Drive
7. Metal Gear PSVita
8. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake PSVita
9. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy 3DS
10. Akai Katana 360
11. Metal Gear Solid GBC
12. Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland PSN
13. Tearaway PSN
14. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA ƒ PSN
15. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA 2nd PSP
16. Final Fantasy VII PS1
17. Dead or Alive 5 Plus PSVita
18. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS
19. NES Remix 2 Wii U eShop
20. Starfox Assault GC
21. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 3DS
22. Cybernator SNES
23. Gravity Rush PSVita
24. Perfect Dark N64
25. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood PSP
26. Wave Race 64 N64
27. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Extend PSP
28. Mischief Makers N64
29. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night PSP
30. Snowboard Kids N64
31. Mario Kart 8 Wii U
32. Double Dragon NES
33. Shantae 3DS VC
34. Maestro: Jump in Music DS
35. Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure DS
36. Bangai-O DC
37. Ristar Wii VC
38. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty PSVita
39. Muramasa Rebirth PSN
40. Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom Wii U eShop
41. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara Wii U eShop
42. Mega Man Wii U VC
43. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together PSP
44. Mega Man 3 Wii U VC
45. Mega Man 4 Wii U VC
46. Scooby Doo: Classic Creep Capers GBC
47. Kirby's Dream Land 2 3DS VC
48. Mega Man 5 Wii U VC
49. Mega Man 6 Wii U VC
50. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Wii U

51. Sayonara Umihara Kawase 3DS eShop
52. Konami Krazy Racers GBA
53. Final Fantasy X HD Remaster PSVita
54. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS 3DS eShop
55. Kirby: Triple Deluxe 3DS eShop
56. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call 3DS
57. Hyrule Warriors Wii U
58. Final Fantasy PSP
59. The Mysterious Murasame Castle 3DS VC *NEW*
60. Last Window: The Secret of Cape West DS *NEW*

2 more on the list, and they were both pretty solid.

The Mysterious Murasame Castle

The Mysterious Murasame Castle is also known as Nazo no Murasamejou, and this name might be more familiar to some (it's used as the track name for a song from this game in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for example). It was an early release for the Famicom Disk System in Japan, and until recently it has never had a western release. Thankfully, the game is now easily available on the 3DS Virtual Console (not the Wii U VC though, annoyingly) and it's an interesting game worth a look.

The game stars a samurai named Takamaru who must save the land from the demon lord Murasame. To do so he must journey to 5 castles and kill the lords inside. Each world in the game consists of 2 parts - in the first you must journey through the countryside slaughtering ninjas and demons the whole way to find your way to the castle. These levels can be a little maze like sometimes and feature more obstacle variety, but are overall easier than the second stage type.

The second part of each world consists of exploring the castle of the lord. You can find princesses who grant you extra lives (sometimes they're pesky demons in disguise though) and it's necessary, as these castle tend to be full of some incredibly frustrating enemy types.

You get power ups to help you. Takamaru can attack by throwing knives or by swinging his sword at close range (which deflects enemy shurikens, but not fireballs). He can upgrade his knives to a long range windmill blade or a short but pwoerful fireball, but these are limited by your magic meter. You can also use scrolls to cast spells - the basic spell turns you invisible (and invincible) for a few seconds, whilst the lightning spell clears the screen you're on of enemies.

You need all the help you can get, because this game is HARD. Not since the likes of Ninja Gaiden and Ecco the Dolphin has a game been as frustrating. Later levels require almost perfect performance, and it'll take a lot of attempts to beat them. Fortunately, there are infinite continues and you carry on from the stage you were on.

It was interesting seeing where Takamaru came from as he's cropped up quite a few times lately (he had a track in Smash Bros. Brawl, he's an assist trophy in Smash Bros 3DS, he has a stage based on his game in Nintendo Land and he eve appeared in a Samurai Warriors game before Link had a pop at it. The game was fun, but definitely shows its age, like a lot of the early NES games do. Recommended if you have the perseverance!

Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

Last Window is a graphic novel adventure game by Cing (who also created the Another Code/Trace Memory series) and is a direct sequel to Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Just like Another Code R, it was never released in the US for some reason, but it did come out in Europe.

Last Window directly follows the events of Hotel Dusk, and takes place around a year later. It follows Kyle Hyde again, this time snooping around his own apartment complex searching for a missing diamond. The game plays almost identically to it's predecessor, with lots of talking to people, and a very linear progression - there's no room to do things out of order here. Puzzles break up the dialogue, but they're actual pretty sparse, and often a bit easy. Like Another Code and Hotel Dusk, the game likes to use puzzles that could only be done on the DS hardware, and make use of things like sleep mode, the touch screen, the shoulder buttons and the likes. These puzzles are fairly clever, but unfortunately, more than a few of them were done in previous games, so if you've played those they're a bit too easy now.

Despite the linearity and reused puzzle elements, the game is still very compelling thanks to it's plot and it's characters. Whilst the story isn't overly complex it still provides lots of twists and turns and by the end you unravel a pretty long interweaving history of events leading up to the games intro. The characters are a highlight, and the art style used to present them is still beautiful - rotoscoped actors drawn in a sketchy style look wonderful, and the painted images used at some parts of the game are also lovely. It's a shame the 3D enviornments were such an afterthought, but it's no big deal, as you won't spend as much time looking at them.

One other issue with the game though, is the resolution. You can unlock a secret ending which covers what happened to a few of the games characters afterwards, but without wanting to spoil anything, more than a few of the more compelling ones aren't covered. It also doesn't quite resolve everything in the series - we never find out what happened to Bradley, who was quite integral to Kyle's motives in the first game. I hope one day we'll see another Kyle Hyde game that wraps things up (and another Another Code game too, another one that wasn't quite smoothly wrapped up) but with the closure of Cing, my hopes aren't high.

Last Window is still a fantastic yarn, and if you can put up with the fact there's more reading than puzzle solving, it's worth picking up (and importing too, if you're in the US).