Summer Games Challenge 2014

Post by **Sload Soap** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 1:15 am

I am way jealous of people who are playing Metroid Prime, Symphony of the Night, Shadow of the Colossus and Mario 64 for the first time. Such great games.

On topic, I've made some more progress with Otogi 2. I've looked it up and I have about 7 levels left. Since the levels themselves rarely last longer than 10 minutes I'm getting near the end. Enjoying it overall. There have been two missions that were annoying though. One was an escort mission where I could injure the escort and one was a mission that was easy but could only be beat with by a long winded method of throwing enemies into moving pillars. My main issue is that the game isn't really drawing me back in. It's a great package and everything, it just doesn't have that extra spark. Ah well.

Since I was nearing Otogi's finale I decided it was safe to start up Skies of Arcadia. Got as far as Valua before I went to bed. Vyse is such a chipper bloke, it's great. I keep thinking this would make a great Pixar movie. I know at the back of my mind there is something infuriating about the game from the last time I had a crack at it. I just can't remember what it is...

Post by **dsheinem** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 1:19 am

Sload Soap wrote: My main issue is that the game isn't really drawing me back in. It's a great package and everything, it just doesn't have that extra spark.

if only someone had warned you...

Post by **Sload Soap** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 1:30 am

What? You didn't even know what is was at first.

I'll admit I've struggled to make up ten true classics though.

When does the challenge usually end? I might add Phantasy Star IV and Castle of Illusion(SMS) to replace Viewtiful Joe and Golvellius if I have the time.

Post by **alienjesus** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:15 am

Sload Soap wrote:What? You didn't even know what is was at first.

I'll admit I've struggled to make up ten true classics though. When does the challenge usually end? I might add Phantasy Star IV and Castle of Illusion(SMS) to replace Viewtiful Joe and Golvellius if I have the time.

You definitely have time for Castle of Illusion either way, it takes like an hour or two and is easy enough to beat on yuor first play of the game.

Post by **alienjesus** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 7:36 pm

Double posting, so sue me.

Played a good chunk more MGS2 tonight. BIG spoilers ahead this time, so I'm gonna put a spoiler tag. Don't click it if you haven't played, lots of major plot events and twists contained inside.

Post by **prfsnl_gmr** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:29 pm

prfsnl_gmr wrote: Here is my list for summer 2014:

1. Dragon's Lair
2. Flashback
3. Halo 2
4. Jumping Flash! 2
5. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
6. Military Madness
7. Return Fire
8. R-Type Delta
9. Virtual Boy Wario Land
10. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

I defeated Ys III: Wanderers from Ys last night. (6 down, 4 to go!) I wrote more about Ys III in the Together RPG thread, and I started Return Fire this morning. This will be my third run at Return Fire; so, wish me luck!

Post by **Sload Soap** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:57 pm

alienjesus wrote:Double posting, so sue me.

Played a good chunk more MGS2 tonight. BIG spoilers ahead this time, so I'm gonna put a spoiler tag. Don't click it if you haven't played, lots of major plot events and twists contained inside.

Starting from just after the harrier fight, I infiltrated Shell 2 and met up with president who informed me about the patriots who control the worlds information and run America secretly. He then tried to make me shoot him, but Ocelot showed up and did it instead.

It also turns out the entire facility is a giant Metal Gear protected by other Metal Gears and to disable it I needed to get a code disc from Emma Emmerich, Otacon's sister. After killing Vamp (again) and resucing her, I escorted her through shell 2 and over the connecting oil bridge on the ocean surface whilst sniping away enemies. The Vamp showed up and stabbed her. I killed him (again again) but Emma still ended up dying anyway. Any woman in Otacon's life doesn't seem to last long.

Then me and Snake went to take down Metal Gear whilst Otacon rescued the hostages, only he betrayed me and teamed up with Olga and I ended up in a torture chamber. Raiden's backstory was revealed (he's a child soldier raised to be a killer), he split up with his girlfriend on Codec, Olga set him free and told him to meet up with Snake (really dont get why they needed to knock me out and hand me to the terrorists) and now I'm running around the facility naked holding my balls.

You'll be probably beat this on your next sitdown. Enjoy the fucking deranged finale.

I've gotten a bit further into Skies and am now remembering some things that bugged me on release:

First up, enemies with instant death moves that can wipe out your whole party. Fuck them right in the chuff.

Secondly, constant party shifting. Drachma keeps up and leaving. Make your mind up old man! Then when Fina joins she starts at level 1 so it's super easy for her to get killed and not level up. Boneheaded decision.

Thirdly, save points seem reasonably far apart with multiple boss battles in between. It's still early but each boss seems to have one stupidly overpowered move so it's a bit trying.

I just have to keep reminding myself that this game came out the same year as FFIX so I shouldn't be expecting next gen stuff. It's just that, like FFIX, the designers push you through a lot of plot with little time to rest up. It's pretty normal for the genre though I suppose.

I am enjoying the combat and gameworld though. I feel like magic is a bit redundant currently with the skills costing about the same points as "ALPHA STOOOOOOOOOOOORM!" and the like without using MP. I do love floating about in the boats though. Such an engaging world. Damn it Sega, why did you leave all these IP's behind?

Post by **alienjesus** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:25 pm

Sload Soap wrote: I am enjoying the combat and gameworld though. I feel like magic is a bit redundant currently with the skills costing about the same points as "ALPHA STOOOOOOOOOOOORM!" and the like without using MP. I do love floating about in the boats though. Such an engaging world. Damn it Sega, why did you leave all these IP's behind?

Offensive magic is useless, but it's definitely worth picking up the healing and buffing spells, they're quite useful.

I don't remember any party wide instant death spells that early in the game (the only one is a silver magic spell). Is it just a high damaging attack? If that's the case you're likely underlevelled.

I highly recommend investing in Aika's Lambda Burst special move once you can. Later in the game she can literally spam that turn one to deal with many random battles quickly.

Post by **Sload Soap** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:56 pm

Some of these bird enemies have been casting eterni before I can get a move in. It doesn't always hit but I've been wiped out by a group of enemies getting the drop on me and just spamming eterni. Level grinding doesn't help much when you get one can get one shoted by regular enemies. (Edit: just read up that delta shield will stop this nonsense).

I prefer Final Fantasy's system where death magic is either level based, a lottery, has a time limit or is extremely unlikely to hit. Being frank, I'd prefer it if jRPG's dropped death magic altogether as it's just fake difficulty.

Post by **BoneSnapDeez** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:11 pm

Skies of Arcadia kicks so much ass. Long game though. What version are you playing soapy?

Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014

Re: Summer Games Challenge 2014