Games Beaten 2017

Post by **ElkinFencer10** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:14 pm

Doki Doki Literature Club seems right up my alley. Also nice to hear some positive things about Destiny 2. I'm still not quite convinced after how hard I got burned with the first one's bullshit excuse for a story, but reading your fairly good view of it has me considering it.

Post by **isiolia** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 2:42 pm

I think Destiny 2 is still pretty similar to the first game, just probably with a few changes made to help it flow better when starting out. If you pushed through further in that and didn't like it, I doubt the second will really change your mind. Still not really that awesome in terms of narrative - lore, maybe, and lots of great voice work...but pretty basic as far as plot goes.

HLTB · Post by **Xeogred** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:35 pm

dunpeal2064 wrote:very cool to hear some CotM praise. My searching had led me to believe Aria was widely considered the best of the GBA games, and I was not super excited about visiting the others based on that. Will definitely add that to my GBA list.

Some day I'll get around to SotN. Just need to either find a ps1 copy, or deal with using an item guide for the Saturn version I already have.

Circle of the Moon is fantastic and the one that gets overlooked a lot from what I've seen, maybe not around here though. First off, it's hard unlike most of the Metroidvania CV's. The music is incredible and I generally hate the GBA sound chip. And most importantly the game actually has a unique looking art style that sets it apart from the rest. It just looks and feels like if they made a Metroidvania on the SNES or Genesis, this would have been the output. The rest of the games just look like palate swaps from SoTN and seem a little lazy outside of new player sprites and bosses.

I still like Aria more than Dawn though. Harmony of Dissonance is my least favorite by a lot. Don't think I remember liking Portrait much. But Order of Ecclesia is amazing and one of my favorites, they finally ditched the DS gimmicks from Dawn and Portrait, the gothic art cover style is back, and it's damn hard. The series went out on a high note. So if you want challenge, Circle and Order are the toughest I'd say.

Unfortunately SoTN is pretty bloated and you'll probably sleep walk through 97% of it, easiest CV game ever. I love it, but it's flawed.

Post by **MrPopo** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:38 pm

I do not understand people who enjoy CotM. The whip has a weird hitbox, everything is too dark, the sub powers feel shitty to use, the level designs suck, and your movement is stilted compared to every other Igavania.

Post by **marurun** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:09 pm

Igarashi wasn’t involved with Circle of the Moon at all and it was thrown together by a team with no Castlevania experience on a tight timetable. Given all of that, it is impressive it is as good as it is. Indeed, the controls are a little slow, and the level design is mixed, but it is the first post-SotN Castlevania in that style, and on a brand new platform no less. There are a number of inspired ideas in the game, the music is high quality for GBA, and the graphics are pretty good.

Post by **prfsnl_gmr** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 12:18 am

1. Shantae 1/2 Genie Hero (Wii U)
2. Blek (iOS)
3. Bloo Kid 2 (3DS)
4. HarmoKnight (3DS)
5. 3D Fantasy Zone II W (3DS)
6. Fantasy Zone (SMS/3DS)
7. 3D Fantasy Zone Opa Opa Bros. (ARC/3DS)
8. Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa Opa (SMS/3DS)
9. 3D Classics Twinbee (NES/3DS)
10. Rainbow Bell a/k/a Twinbee (ARC/DS)
11. The Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wild (Wii U)
12. The Guardian Legend (NES)
13. The Clash at Demonhead (NES)
14. The Goonies II (NES)
15. Day of the Tentacle Remastered (iOS)
16. Mario Kart 64 (N64/Wii U)
17. Drancia Saga (3DS)
18. Chain Blaster (3DS)
19. Color Commando (DS)
20. Ace Mathician (DS)
21. Jump Trials Supreme (3DS)
22. Dragon Quest VII (3DS)
23. Fairune II (3DS)
24. RBI Baseball (NES)
25. River City Tokyo Rumble (3DS)
26. Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (Wii U)
27. Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders (iOS)
28. Device 6 (iOS)
29. Transformers: Human Alliance (ARC)
30. Metroid Samus Returns (3DS)
31. A Ride Into the Mountains (iOS)
32. Super Mario Run (iOS)
33. Legend of Kusakari (3DS)
34. Banjo Kazooie (N64/360)
35. Go! Go! Commander Video (iOS)
36. River City Knights of Justice (3DS)

River City Knights of Justice is a 3DS Kunio-kun game with a high fantasy, swords-and-sorcery setting. This sounds pretty awesome but is, in fact, pretty terrible. Despite its setting, the game actually jettisons most of the series RPG elements, opting instead to simply have your character, Kunio-kun, be extremely overpowered from the very start. (You can’t raise your HP, and you modify your stats only with equipment, which you earn money to purchase by completing fetch quests.). As a result, the game is far too easy at all times. You can pad it out with the aforementioned, and extremely annoying, fetch quests (e.g., “Bring me ten ghosts swords!” <brings ten ghost swords> “Here’s a reward. Now bring me 30 ghost swords!” <sigh...>). It still doesn’t pad out much, however, and you can easily complete the game in a few hours. The battles never really vary, and there is absolutely no strategy to completing them at all. (It is the very definition of “press A to win, and the very hardest thing in the entire game is managing your inventory so that you can complete fetch quests faster.). Finally, the whole thing feels half-baked. (For example, you can stay in an inn in any of the towns for 100 gp. Doing so recovers your character completely and does not penalize you in any way. Alternately, you can go to the restaurants and order a variety of food costing orders of magnitude greater than staying in the inn...that only partially recovers your stats. Why would you ever do that?! I bought every item in the game, and still couldn’t answer that question...). It is apparent the developers were taking the game in a very different direction at some point, but changed course without really finishing the game. I am a fan of this series, but I really cannot recommend this game to anyone. I bought it on sale for half if it’s $15 asking price, ands I still feel ripped off.

Post by **Sarge** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 4:01 pm

I like Circle, even with some of the rough edges. In some ways, it feels like an Iga-vania with a more Classic-vania style. It's my least favorite of the portable hexology, but it's kinda like my feelings about weaker Zelda games; it's still good stuff.

Post by **pierrot** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:09 pm

First 25:

Second 25:

51. Tron ni Kobun (PS1)
52. Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken (via PS1 "Early Collection") (FDS)
53. Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Yokohama-kou Renzoku Satsujin Jiken (via PS1 "Early Collection) (NES)

Episode II of the tales of Tantei Jinguuji Saburou was a much better effort all the way around. The story was more entertaining; the interface was made more snappy and reasonable; visuals were cleaned up to be more presentable; music was way better. There doesn't seem to be a good upload on youtube of the OST, but trust me, it balls so hard, all day. I especially like the intro, ending, password screen, and investigation theme during the climax.

This time around, Saburou is called in by the Yokohama police to investigate the disappearance of one woman, and death of another, both of whom happened to be employees of the Barakan consulate. (I guess Baraka is a fictional country in this game. There's a bartender named Pierre, who speaks Spanish and Barakan, only; So, I'm not sure if the country is meant to be a play on Barakaldo, Spain.) I once knew a girl from Yokohama. Things did not work out, but some dates were had in Minato Mirai, China Town, the red brick warehouses, and various other spots around Yokohama. A number of those places are represented in the game, with particular mention of their popularity as date sites; After all, the missing girl happens to be the fiance of a young man of the sea (last name of Hinode) who tags along with Saburou throughout much of the game. However, while the presentation is much improved from Shinjuku Chuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken, there's still not a lot of resemblance between the locations, and their in game representations. It never really made me feel like I was carrying out an investigation in Yokohama (which is a pretty cool city), but that doesn't really detract from the game at all.

Also, as the titles imply, this turns into a serial murder investigation, where the original game was a simple, isolated homicide. The actions the perp took throughout the course of the game seem kind of outlandish (or maybe just brazen), but the whole thing kind of has that eighties movie vibe to it, with a villain-type to match. It takes some funny little turns at the end, but overall, I enjoyed the story, and the case as a whole. With that said, this one still suffers from some of the same maddening progression requirements as its predecessor, but to a much lesser extent. Fortunately, shortening Saburou's life by making him smoke like a chimney will often provide useful clues on what to do next, which is a far sight better than the nothing on top of nothing that the first game had in place for helping the player.

I think the soundtrack might be the best thing out of this game, but I still enjoyed most of the other aspects of it. I'm glad the developers were able to make these kinds of strides in only a year. I think it might say something that this one actually had credits, unlike the first game. I'd probably just recommend people skip the first game, in favor of Yokohama-kou Renzoku Satsujin Jiken, unless someone really wants to get mildly acquainted with the recurring characters, beforehand.

Post by **ElkinFencer10** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:44 pm

Games Beaten in 2017 So Far - 125
* denotes a replay

January (10 Games Beaten)

February (12 Games Beaten)

March (6 Games Beaten)

April (9 Games Beaten)

May (14 Games Beaten)

June (10 Games Beaten)

July (20 Games Beaten)

August (9 Games Beaten)

September (14 Games Beaten)

October (7 Games Beaten)

November (14 Games Beaten)

125. Blue Reflection - PlayStation 4 - November 17

Blue Reflection is a very unique game. It's a JRPG, but it's not like any JRPG that you've ever played before. It took me a while to decide whether or not I liked it, but I did quite enjoy my time with the game. As an exceptionally weeb-y game, it's sure to please many a Vita collector out there if you opt for the handheld version over the console version.

The story of Blue Reflection is, frankly, fairly standard as far as weeb games go. You're a high school first year who finds out that she's a magical girl who has the ability to cross into another world made up of humanity's emotions and fight four giant gods/monsters that threaten to destroy the world and wipe out humanity. You have to do this while you handle your high school responsibilities - friends, classes, clubs, etc. It's not exactly the most original plot, but it's very well delivered.

What makes the game so unique among JRPGs set in high schools is the way they structure the game play; it can't seem to decide if it wants to be a visual novel or a JRPG. It really is about a 50/50 split. When you're in the "other world" and during the boss fights, it plays like a standard JRPG. When you're in the real world, it plays mostly like a visual novel; most of the game is dialogue and choices as to what personal relationships to try to advance. It's a unique blend, at least as far as the games I've played, but it works well once you get used to it.

Visually, the game is your fairly basic anime inspired style. Not much about the visual design really stands out, but it's adequate enough. The sound design is where the game's ancillary aspects shine, though. The voice acting (it's all Japanese) is very well done, and the music is absolutely fantastic. The music varies from soft instrumental to heavy dubstep, but it's perfectly matched with the scene to fit what's going on in the game. The leveling system is another thing that sets Blue Reflection apart from other RPGs; you don't get any experience from battles. Instead, the way you gain levels is through strengthening your relationships with your friends and finishing key story objectives. It reinforces the importance of the visual novel aspect of the game.

Unfortunately, there are some serious flaws with the game. There's a fair bit of random slowdown even running on PS4 Pro, and while it doesn't break the flow of gameplay, it can be a bit jarring. I also experienced five or six application crashes during my playthrough, although the relatively frequent autosaves kept that from being a major hindrance. The biggest issue and one that is completely inexcusable given the severity of this issue is the translation. I understand a typo or a translation error here or there if there's no quality control. This, however, is on a totally different level. Every ten minutes or so, it seemed, there was a major translation error most of which were less legitimate errors and more just laziness and the lack of any kind of quality assurance whatsoever. It really breaks the flow of the narrative.

Blue Reflection is one of the most unique RPGs that I've played, but it ended up being an enjoyable experience. Mostly. Unfortunately the performance hiccups and egregious translation issues completely break the immersion for me. That's not to say that the experience is ruined - I did still enjoy the game a lot - but the sloppiness and laziness is, in my view, just inexcusable. If you're into hella weeb-y games, I still recommend picking this up, but I can't recommend it to anyone who's into exceptionally Japanese stuff.

Post by **Exhuminator** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:07 pm

ElkinFencer10 wrote:Unfortunately the performance hiccups

I've got the PC version of this, I'm hoping it runs better on PC.

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