Summer Games Challenge 2015

[Xeogred]

Intestinal Distress gave me nightmares as a kid, so freaking nasty! And I grew up mostly playing the SNES version, so when I got to that level in the Genesis release it blew me away for all the wrong scary reasons haha.

Nowadays I definitely think the Genesis version is superior. Better colors, aspect ratio, more music (some levels have recycled music from previous levels in the SNES one), and yeah more levels.

[Key-Glyph]

Just beat Earthworm Jim!

Congrats! Which difficulty did you play on, by the way?

I'm kind of amazed at how different our strengths are with this game. I find Intestinal Distress fairly easy, but I keep running into two problems with Buttville:

1. There's a one-hit kill that I keep forgetting to avoid (the third pincer insect on a third small slippery platform). I'm not entirely clear on how one does avoid it, though. It's timed to attack precisely when I'll land. I guess I'll just have to delay by a second. Ugh, so stressful.

2. There's a ledge before that area, after a slow climb of hooks, that Jim kept glitching on during my last attempt. He'd grab the ledge, but then while going through his hauling-up animation he'd fall down to the spikes below -- and those spikes take out a ridiculous amount of health. I don't know why this was happening. It was kind of maddening, because my Genesis callouses aren't what they used to be, and my left thumb is practically dead by that point in the game. I didn't recover well.

I also suck at fighting Psy-Crow. I've gotten good enough at the asteroids levels that I generally only square off with him once, but damn, he kicks my ass when I do.

I'm definitely loving it, but I am too tired and slightly too fussy to think about making another attempt from the beginning tonight. I'm definitely thinking I'll get it finished tomorrow.

[MrPopo]

I keep running into two problems with Buttville:

I just felt the need to quote this for posterity.

[CFFJR]

Damn dude are you a platforming god?

Well I don't know about...Yes.

Yes I am.

*ahem*

Intestinal Distress gave me nightmares as a kid, so freaking nasty! And I grew up mostly playing the SNES version, so when I got to that level in the Genesis release it blew me away for all the wrong scary reasons haha.

Nowadays I definitely think the Genesis version is superior. Better colors, aspect ratio, more music (some levels have recycled music from previous levels in the SNES one), and yeah more levels.

The music certainly doesn't help with that! Awesome, but delightfully freaky.

Glad to hear you came around on the Genesis version.

Just beat Earthworm Jim!

Congrats! Which difficulty did you play on, by the way?

I'm kind of amazed at how different our strengths are with this game. I find Intestinal Distress fairly easy, but I keep running into two problems with Buttville:

1. There's a one-hit kill that I keep forgetting to avoid (the third pincer insect on a third small slippery platform). I'm not entirely clear on how one does avoid it, though. It's timed to attack precisely when I'll land. I guess I'll just have to delay by a second. Ugh, so stressful.

2. There's a ledge before that area, after a slow climb of hooks, that Jim kept glitching on during my last attempt. He'd grab the ledge, but then while going through his hauling-up animation he'd fall down to the spikes below -- and those spikes take out a ridiculous amount of health. I don't know why this was happening. It was kind of maddening, because my Genesis callouses aren't what they used to be, and my left thumb is practically dead by that point in the game. I didn't recover well.

I also suck at fighting Psy-Crow. I've gotten good enough at the asteroids levels that I generally only square off with him once, but damn, he kicks my ass when I do.

I'm definitely loving it, but I am too tired and slightly too fussy to think about making another attempt from the beginning tonight. I'm definitely thinking I'll get it finished tomorrow.

Thanks! I played on Normal. I'm planning to take a crack at Difficult though. You?

I don't know what it is about Intestinal Distress. Its the only level I never got good at, I just survived it. Something about it just ruins my day. Actually, not "something", its the balls of crap. The balls of crap ruin my day. And Doc Duodenum is a prick. So glad for the plasmas and 1up.

Regarding that insect, wait him out. Keep hopping on that ball platform before his so you don't slip off, and he'll pop out eventually. When he goes back in, you have time to jump by.

As for that glitching ledge, that seriously sucks. It never happened to me, so I don't know what the deal is. I hope it won't happen next time you get there.

But yeah, I think you're gonna beat it next time. Looking forward to news of your victory.

[Ack]

Sorry for this, Loom fans.

===========================================

It is the First Age of Darkness. Brave heroes, master wizards, and whole kingdoms have been laid to waste by the evil Mondain, second son of Wolfgang, High King of Akalabeth. Mondain, the magic-banned. Mondain, the psychopath, who in a fit of rage slew his own father and stole his precious stone to create the Gem of Immortality and enslave all of Sosaria. From his fortress on the impenetrable island of Terfin, he has now ruled for a thousand years over hideous monsters and mutations that he himself devised and unleashed. The countryside is awash with his legions, they swarm and choke the oceans, and dark and vile beasts stalk the dark dungeons and caverns that litter the shattered wastelands.

Into this barren landscape rode a stranger from another world to answer the call for aid of Lord Cantabrigian British, High King of Castle Britannia. Unfortunately for all involved, the stranger was a swarthy dwarf by the name of Ack.

Yup, I'm playing Ultima, and so far I'm getting a big kick out of it. I spent the early part of the game grinding for cash and a couple of levels until I could buy an aircar, and now I am cruising around the world getting stat upgrades and repeatedly doing Lord British's quest to the Grave of the Lost Soul because it is giving me a strength upgrade. I am now level 5, and of my main six stats, Agility, Stamina, Intelligence, and Wisdom are now all 99, Strength is 90(it grinds up slower than the others), and Charisma is 11. That's right, my character is an intellectual Adonis and a completely unlikable asshole. As I believe Charisma is only necessary for selling items...I'm thinking I'm gonna stay this way.

I know that eventually I should become a Space Ace, and that I should eventually go out and collect gems from kings for doing quests and try to rescue a princess or three, but...meh, maxing myself out comes first. I want to walk into the confrontation with Mondain and show him why Lord British called for Ack, High Conductor of the Pain Train, AKA He-Who-Has-No-Social-Graces-Whatsoever. I'm doing the time, Mondain, and I'ma make you mine. You will know why they call me the Menace of Montor, the Bastard of Britain, the Boot of Castle Britannia, and the Butt of Lord British...cause I'm gonna dump on you. Hard.

[MrPopo]

Hah, so you've already figured out the secret to success in Ultima. You should be able to knock it out in another couple hours.

[Ack]

So long as I can find time, yeah, I expect this probably won't take too much longer. I just gotta figure out how to do some of this stuff...

[Key-Glyph]

Finished EWJ this morning! Thoughts to follow in a bit.

I keep running into two problems with Buttville:

I just felt the need to quote this for posterity.

Or perhaps... posteriority.


Every sentence about Buttville is funny.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I've been pretty unfocused this year. Been bouncing around between five different games. I think the "issue" is that I chose some really challenging titles this time around, and I tend to get discouraged easily which causes me to then play something else instead. Last year I mostly picked games I knew I could roll through.

Anyway, sunk some time into Castlevania last night. It's okay. Great atmosphere but it's really stiff and requires lotsa memorization and methodical play. Maybe I'll get through it. Glad the GBA port has a save feature.

[MrPopo]

Something that I found was helpful for Castlevania was watching speed runs, especially well narrated ones (any of the AGDQ/SGDQ Castlevania runs are good). You learn more about the mechanics that way, even if you don't employ some of the harder tricks. For the most part the speed tricks in Castlevania are damage boosts and efficient boss killing; there's not much in the way of glitch exploitation.