Summer Games Challenge 2025 - GET EQUIPPED

[pierrot]

Hey folks. Where my Code Veronica players at? I'm feeling like it's the next game I want to dive into, so I'm trying to psych myself up to hook up the PS2, locate the proper memory card, etcetera. Is anyone else feeling like they might take up CV in the near future? Give me your energies!

I'm a captive audience if you decide to start playing it, anyway. I'm curious how you end up getting on with Steve, and running around an island as Claire Redfield while being hunted by a psycho is the bee's knees (I swear--).
One little bit of advice for anyone playing Code:Veronica, to avoid one of the main pitfalls people tend to run into with the game: For the first half, I'd recommend keeping a few backup saves where possible (particularly if you're in a good position with ammo and healing items), and/or being really stingy with your best ammo. As always, the tride and true classic RE tactic of just running past enemies where possible is often a good idea, too.



So, I unintentionally lied about Ys Chronicles. I got the Japanese release working in Lutris after noticing that I had the Windows version in WINE set to Windows 10 instead of XP. I have a minor issue of videos not playing, which typically gets solved by changing to a Proton-GE version, but I recall having issues with using it through Lutris (maybe a prefix architecture mismatch; I can't remember). Also, I have to play around with the resolution settings to see if I can actually get a reasonable full-screen setting, or something closer to the Chronicles+ release at least, but just the 2x setting is fairly decent--like having a PS Vita screen rendering the game inside of my steamdeck screen.

I also did start playing the third character's story in Ys Origin, briefly. I'll probably finish that off just to get the full Origin experience, and get to Ys Chronicles after that. Should be able to blast through those pretty quickly.

[Ack]

SAINTS ROW: THE THIRD

I'm now halfway through completing the game, apparently. The counter of % done on my save file is 51%, though I've read that much of the side content doesn't actually affect that, such as buying property or stealing cars. So instead, I'm going to focus on just knocking out everything and see what I get.

I'm still in Chapter 2 of the game, doing quests for new supporting characters that unlock activities. The activities are sort of mini games that offer up money, respect, and some territorial control. Some, like Mayhem, let me destroy things; I enjoy this. Others, like Snatch, require I protect things. I detest this. In general, if I'm having to keep an AI character safe, then I'm not so into the mission type. But if you tell me to, say, throw myself into traffic, then I'm all in, baby!

For the map, I have conquered wide swathes of territory. In fact, about 75% of Steelport is now run by the Saints. I have found about half of the collectables, which the game is kind enough to inform me of total counts in each city area. I own all but one story, have all the additional properties, and there are only a couple of enemy gang spots left to destroy. I do have a lot of targets for assassination and auto theft, however, so it's time I focus more on those.

This game has been a great way to decompress, though I'll admit, it's tough to put down!

[BoneSnapDeez]

Bros..... I'm playing Alex Kidd again... I'm determined to find that tablet or whatever. Unfinished business. A vendetta. Janken pon.

[marurun]

SAINTS ROW: THE THIRD
I'm still in Chapter 2 of the game, doing quests for new supporting characters that unlock activities. The activities are sort of mini games that offer up money, respect, and some territorial control. Some, like Mayhem, let me destroy things; I enjoy this. Others, like Snatch, require I protect things. I detest this. In general, if I'm having to keep an AI character safe, then I'm not so into the mission type. But if you tell me to, say, throw myself into traffic, then I'm all in, baby!
...
This game has been a great way to decompress, though I'll admit, it's tough to put down!

I agree, that game was a fantastic way to just blow off some steam. Insurance Fraud was my favorite. I loved to see just how high I could make the $$$ go ragdolling into traffic.

Later on some of the gang encounters can start to get a little frustrating, because they start to introduce some real tank members.

Ys Origin progress: I'm nearing the top of the tower. The key to that difficult Creeper boss was remembering I had some Cleria and getting my weapon upgraded. But it's also kind of weird using Cleria for upgrades because Black Pearl and all. I know too much Ys lore... The Mantis boss that I dealt with next was also a bit of a pain, what with the annoying healing mechanic. Pretty sure I took it out after several failed attempts with only a single hit left on me.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yeah, I think the item is found in the first big castle area about half way through the game. Honestly, as a westerner it’s pretty worthless though because it’s written classically Japanese style - it’s meant to be read from top to bottom starting at the top right.

Damn you're right! Throw this into the pile of "I dunno how anyone finished this back in the day" games.

I had more fun on my second playthrough but I'm struck by how inconsistent the stage design is. You have long stages, tiny ones that just span a few screens, vehicle stages, and screen-by-screen castles. And as I recall only stage one and seventeen have vertical scrolling, though it's pretty minimal in the latter. So strange! Feels like the developers were experimenting (screwing around) quite a bit.

1. Alex Kidd in Miracle World
2. Clash at Demonhead
3. Cocoron
4. Conquest of the Crystal Palace
5. The Goonies
6. Journey to Silius
7. Little Nemo: The Dream Master
8. Rygar
9. StarTropics
10. Wrath of the Black Manta

I'm just going straight down this list in alphabetical order btw.

[pierrot]

Ys Origin progress: I'm nearing the top of the tower. The key to that difficult Creeper boss was remembering I had some Cleria and getting my weapon upgraded. But it's also kind of weird using Cleria for upgrades because Black Pearl and all. I know too much Ys lore... The Mantis boss that I dealt with next was also a bit of a pain, what with the annoying healing mechanic. Pretty sure I took it out after several failed attempts with only a single hit left on me.

Nice. It sounds like you didn't do something stupid like I did and forget to double back for a chest that just so happens to have Cleria in it before that boss.
I had some trouble with the Mantis (still being a Cleria behind the whole way to the end), but after that there was really only one boss that was any kind of struggle for me. I imagine you're probably pretty home free now.

[Ack]

SAINTS ROW: THE THIRD

There are three DLC expansions for Saints Row: The Third, and they can be done at any time. My intention is to complete them as well, so despite being at around 75% completion of the main game (which isn't wholly accurate, since many things like assassinations and challenges completed aren't included), I decided to hop into one of them: Genki Bowl VII.

Imagine a Japanese game show where you have to murder people in ridiculous ways while wearing a panda suit, driving a giant pile of yarn, or making mascot Dr. Genki happy by burning people with a car covered in flamethrowers. Yeah, that's Genki Bowl. It adds a handful of new missions as well as additional activities which are harder versions of those missions to the game. They're ridiculous, and they're a lot of fun. They also don't cause any weird tonal shift and fit right in. I had a great time knocking them out.

But now, back to the base game. I need to push more on the main plot, because I control around...95% of the city. Hell, I almost have all the upgrades at this point.

[Note]

Just a quick update on my Summer Games Challenge. I beat Phantasy Star last night! When I initially attempted the last few dungeons, I couldn't make it to Lassic. During my first attempt, I was at level 25.

After warping out back to Camineet, I decided to grind to level 30 before going back to give it another try. At the time, I didn't realize level 30 was the max in the game. My second attempt went much better, as I wasn't struggling with the amount of damage I was taking and having to use healing items or spells as frequently.

The game's amazing! The graphics look almost 16-bit and the soundtrack has some really catchy tunes. I was quite impressed with it for an 8-bit game, and can only imagine experiencing it around initial release in the late 1980s.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Unfathomably based.

Best SMS game.
Best 8-bit JRPG.

I'd actually rank it at the top of those initial four Phantasy Star games (I do like PSO better though).

[Note]

I'd like to put more time into other 8-bit RPGs and SMS games, but I could definitely see this ending up as my favorite in both categories.

In regards to the Phantasy Star series, Phantasy Star IV was my introduction to the series by renting it, so I might still have to hold that one up as my favorite in the original series. While I've got far into it, I haven't beat it. Aiming to play the others in the series as well.

PSO is great too. That's a game I need to be careful with, because once I sit down to play it, I find it difficult to tear myself away from it. Lol.

I think the next game I'm going to go for on my Summer Games Challenge list is Super Metroid.