Games Beaten 2013

[Blu]

16. Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram

This game has some very challenging moments, but it is quite enjoyable and probably has some incredible depth. I beat the last boss after what felt like an almost impossible feeling without knowing to dash to avoid attacks. Needless to say, it was a great experience and might be a game I whip out with some friends in the near future.

Might I ask which character? I've only beated it with Temjin (my series favorite) and Grys-Vok (aka Belgdor from V/O)

Temjin was really maneuverable, and is my series favorite. He's recognizable to me, so I stuck with him. I'll probably go back through again perhaps with another character. Really fun game, although the controls on the dreamcast controller take some getting used to.

[emwearz]

1. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - PC
2. Hotline Miami - PC
3. Assassin's Creed: Revelations - PC
4. Skate 2 - 360
5. Deponia - PC
6. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - PS3
7. Borderlands 2 - Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty [DLC] - PC
8. The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - 360
9. Assassin's Creed III - PC
10. The Journey Down: Chapter One‏ - PC
11. Aliens: Colonial Marines - PC
12. Tomb Raider - PC
13. Hitman: Absolution - PC
14. BioShock Infinite - PC
Total for 2013: 14

BioShock Infinite - PC
This game was amazing! It plays like a re imagining of the core ideas, in both gameplay and story, as the first game in the series. The gameplay is tight, the characters, story and lore are all amazing. The biggest let down is that the plasmids, or whatever they are now called, are fairly useless compared to the other games in the series and are mostly used to stun enemies.

Really top game, it also has one of the best endings I have seen in a video game.

[prfsnl_gmr]

1. Okamiden (NDS)
2. Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection (Wii)
3. Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection (Wii)
4. Cave Story 3D (3DS)
5. Theatrhytm Final Fantasy (3DS)
6. Rayman Origins (Wii)
7. Kim Possible: What's The Switch (PS2)
8. Super Street Fighter 4: 3d Edition (3DS)

I have been playing around with this one for a while, but I finally sat down and beat it. It is a good fighting game, and while I think I enjoy it more than any version of Street Fighter III, I still hold Street Fighter II in the highest regard.

I used to be pretty good at fighting games 15 to 20 years ago, but I found out that I am bit rusty when I picked this up for the first time. I got back into my rhythm (a little bit...) with Ryu and Ken (and Dan) yesterday, however, and I was able to coast to the end on medium difficulty. (The third fight always gives me problems, however....For whatever reason, it is even more difficult than the "rival" fight and the final boss.) I am now going to turn the difficulty up to "hardest" and see if I can get through the game with a few of the other characters.

[Gamerforlife]

Beat Mike Tyson by decision, but isn't that the only way you can beat the guy? Either way, it is hard to believe how well this game has aged. The music, the graphics, the cut scenes, and the characters are all pretty much perfect. As much as I love Punch-Out! on the Wii and Super Punch-Out!, they're just upgrades of an already almost perfect game.

Ain't it true. They really nailed it the first time around (well, second if we count the arcade game).

I have to say that whilst I like Punch-Out!!, I find Super Punch-Out to be superior in just about every way.

Me too. The Wii game is the weakest

[CFFJR]

A little bit of catchup here, new are in bold.

1. Doom 3: The Lost Mission - X360
2. Doom 3 - PC
3. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (100%) -3DS
4. Phantasy Star Portable - PSP
5. Tempo Jr. - Game Gear
6. The Lost World: Jurassic Park - Game Gear
7. GG Aleste - Game Gear
8. World Trophy Soccer - Genesis
9. Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind - Genesis
10.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Genesis
11.Crystal's Pony Tale - Genesis
12.NHL '98 - Genesis
13.The Death And Return of Superman - Genesis
14.Taz in Escape From Mars - Genesis
15.Shui Hu: Feng Yun Zhuan - Megadrive

So, a batch of games here for Sega 16's Beat 'em all Genesis challenge, plus one for fun at the end.

Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind - Genesis

Would you believe I used to be good at this game as a kid? Seriously, I was capable of turning it on and beating it, no problem. Even though its been years, I was genuinely surprised how much it kicked my ass this time. Also, it pisses me off a lot more now than it did then. I can't say anything about Bubsy that hasn't already been said really, but I've always thought that there was a good game underneath the sharp edges, and I still believe it.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Genesis

A favorite that I can beat in my sleep. I finished it with all character combinations and all emeralds, so there would at least be a time commitment for the challenge. Probably my favorite Sonic game and it never, ever gets old.

Crystal's Pony Tale - Genesis

Don't bust my chops for it. I saw it on the unbeaten list, fired it up on the emulator to check it out, and less than half an hour later I'd beaten it. You don't play Sega Club games for their difficulty though. Its an adventure game of sorts. You wander around the levels collecting keys and items and solving "puzzles" that help you rescue the other ponies. Other than fighting the same "boss" a few times, that's all there is to it, and there's nothing bad about it other than it being a bit slow and choppy.

NHL '98 - Genesis

The Avs won the Stanley Cup. All I can say is its fucking fun. Who can argue with quality hockey? I like the faster pace of this game compared to its predecessors.

The Death and Return of Superman - Genesis

Another childhood favorite. I usually end up using one continue to beat this game. I thought I'd get away without it this time, but failed at the last second against the final boss. Still, that's much better than the usual point I use a continue. Still love this game.

Taz in Escape From Mars - Genesis

I never beat this as a kid, and I've owned it for years as an adult without ever trying to finish it. Finally took care of business. The last level before the final boss is kind of a pain in the ass, but its a good fun platformer overall with some good variety.

Shui Hu: Feng Yun Zhuan - Megadrive

Snagged this on ebay for cheap (its certainly one of the copy versions, but I really just wanted to play it on real hardware). Very cool beat 'em up, if a tad bit repetitive. Sometimes the number of enemies they throw at you is just ridiculous, but then overcoming that sort of thing is part of the fun.

[Luke]

Beat Ninja Gaiden again. I had planned on timing myself to see how quickly I could beat it, but I didn't use a stop watch and I took more than one bathroom break (the Leinenkugel went right through me).

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Company of Heroes PC
Super Mario 3D Land 3DS
Far Cry 3 PC
Mega Man 2 3DS
Resident Evil: Revelations 3DS
Fire Emblem: Awakening 3DS
Need for Speed: Most Wanted U WiiU

Well, the next round of WiiU games is here so now I get to beat them. Need for Speed Most Wanted U is quite an awesome game. Yes it's more of a Burnout Paradise sequel, but, it definitely carries a lot of the original Most Wanted's vibe, sans customization. The WiiU exclusive stuff isn't major but it does make it the best version of the game.

The graphics are definitely better than the 360 counterpart, and at times could pass for a PC game (running at 720p of course). The road textures in particular stand out as looking much sharper, and there are fewer jaggies and more clean AA here. The framerate likes to dip like the 360 version but not as much and not as bad, and I noticed no screen tearing so I'm assuming it's vsynced all the time. The revamped nightime contrast is absolutely beautiful, so much so that often I would force it to be night during many of the races (this is one of the WiiU exclusive features). I didn't really bother with turning cops or traffic off, since that seemed to go against the challenge the game offers, and boy does it offer it in some places. However, having a ton of things unlocked from the start, and the ability to repair and change your car at whim, and the ability to jump into races and some customization from the start is really quite nice.

The game is full of replayability. While I have technically "beaten" the game now by defeating all on the Most Wanted list, there are still at least 10 cars I haven't even driven, and who knows how many events I have yet to complete. This is with 10 hours in the game, and I could easily see all the content running 20 or more hours for 100%. The multiplayer is great as well, focusing less on straight up racing and more on challenges and tricks using a certain class of car. It's a nice model for multiplayer in an online racer. Though I wish there was split-screen. The fact that no further DLC will be brought to the Wii U version is a bummer though.

While I wouldn't go out and buy it again if you already played a previous version, if you haven't given it a try and liked Burnout Paradise, definitely consider it.

[LBJeff]

Dark Souls. I may just be done gaming now.

Also - Super Mario World 100%.

[Ack]

1. Sniper Elite V2 (PS3)(TPS)
2. Teen Agent (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
3. Alpha Protocol (PS3)(RPG)
4. Beneath A Steel Sky (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
5. Imscared - A Pixelated Nightmare (PC)(Horror)
6. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (SNES)(RPG)
7. Celestial Mechanica (PC)(Platformer)
8. Gravity Bone (PC)(First Person Adventure)
9. Secret of Mana (SNES)(RPG)
10. Lure of the Temptress (PC)(Point and Click Adventure)
11. Mario's Early Years: Fun With Numbers (SNES)(Edutainment)
12. CoD of Duty (PC)(FPS)
13. The Bard's Tale (PS2)(RPG)
14. The Great Circus Mystery, Starring Mickey and Minnie (SNES)(Platformer)
15. Deus Ex (PC)(FPS)
16. The King of the Wood (PC)(FPS)
17. Shadows of the Damned (PS3)(Horror Adventure)
18. Chuck Rock (SNES)(Platformer)
19. Arcana (SNES)(RPG)
20. Jurassic Park (SNES)(Action-Adventure)
21. Brawl Brothers (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
22. Monopoly (SNES)(Boardgame)
23. Dr. Mario (SNES)(Puzzle)
24. Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday (SNES)(Platformer)
25. Breath of Fire (SNES)(RPG)
26. The Death and Return of Superman (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)

It's unfortunate I never got to play this as a child, because I remember the ads quite vividly in the comic books I read at the time: the bloody Superman symbol, Doomsday's defiant fist plunging through it like wet paper. In general I grew up reading and preferring Marvel characters, but to see the death of one of the most famous and iconic superheroes of all time at the hands of a creature so powerful it could only be compared to the apocalypse...now THAT was a comic event. And to play through it was a child's superhero dream come true.

But I didn't get to do so, so decades later after Superman's death, I finally have gotten a copy for my SNES and beaten it. I have mixed feelings on the result: there's a lot I want to both praise and criticize.

First, praise: I like how Superman's strength is represented in damaging the interactive stages. Hurling an enemy into the ground or smashing a wall with him just feels good. Superman has the strength to chuck a man like a missile, and a game that wants to accurately represent him must find a way to capture this. And The Death and Return of Superman does exactly that. Once I figured out the throw mechanics, it quickly became my weapon of choice. And while smashing walls would sometimes reveal hidden items and health, I developed a tactical edge in the final beat 'em up levels where I used throws to destroy enemy teleports, thus vastly limiting the numbers of foes I had to face before Superman's final confrontation with The Man of Tomorrow.

Other powers used well: flight and Superman's eye lasers. Now flight had its greatest moments in several levels and level segments which play as bland hori shmups, but certain flying enemies could be easily thinned from the herd by taking to the skies to deal with them one on one. As for the eye lasers...not as useful during the course of the game. The ability to shoot is more beneficial to his various allies that take up the mantle following Supes' demise, though I had some luck using it as a momentary distraction in the air against other flying foes to enable me to swiftly swoop in and initiate an aerial beatdown, and it helped chip off damage in the various boss battles.

The game levels are split between Superman and the four supermen who take his name: players will at times take control of Superman, The Man of Tomorrow, The Last Son of Krypton, Superboy, and The Man of Steel along the way. There are some slight differences between each, such as speed, range, and throw styles. I enjoyed Superboy's quick actions and frantic throws much more than The Man of Steel's bulky frame, even if that sledgehammer of his busted open a few robot skulls. But the game requires you play as each, so it offers a sampler of beat 'em up character types. Think if Final Fight required you to try out Cody, Guy, and Hagar in different levels. Quite the experience.

What I dislike about the game is how poorly Superman's seeming invincibility is handled. While the strength of the supermen is never in question, their ability to take a punch and fight off opponents sure is. Two opponents can be frustratingly difficult to deal with, as you can only ever seem to hit one at a time. So it's better to pick up foes and hurl them about like rag dolls. But then there are issues with hitboxes, where it seems guys like The Man of Steel have bodies the size of semis, so the enemies can hit you even when not perfectly in alignment, though you can not do the same.

Also, beyond the moment you enter the screen after losing a life, the supermen never experience any form of invulnerability. Grab someone to throw, and you may find an enemy lovetapping you in the back of the skull and making you drop your target. Get knocked to the ground and expect a few more punches the instant you are up. Crowds are the worst, because even as you punch one guy, the one behind him standing in the exact same spot is still able to punch you. And dodging is almost pointless, since you are built like a Mack truck. You simply will not get out of the way.

That said, the majority of enemies are actually quite easy to beat and will really try to win by swarming you with numbers. Flying opponents represent a threat on a different axis from the rest, but they can easily be dispatched in one-on-one airborne grudge matches. Really, beyond bosses, the only enemy that ever poses a threat to Superman can be summed up in the name WARBOT. Warbot is the enemy that shows the issues with the game's mechanics: Warbot is the only regular enemy capable of throwing, but it also has a ranged grab and can reach out and touch Superman just about anywhere: I've had these guys grab me while I was grabbing other guys to throw, while I was in the process of getting up off the ground, while I was in the middle of a diving punch, etc.

Warbot is a greater threat than even the flying enemies and can very quickly turn lethal. I mention it because of the contrast to the other enemies: I wish that, instead of having this one tough machine in the midst of somewhat bland an easy hordes, the devs had instead been able to spread that toughness across the various enemies of the game. But they didn't, so Superman must face down one particularly nasty recurring enemy in an army of faceless goons.

Still, it's hard not to like the game. The animation on the Game Over screen is gorgeous, the characters feel powerful, and the overall plot of the comic arch is well represented, even if not always explained or fleshed out. Knowledge of the comic story is preferred for the enjoyment, but someone who has no idea of Superman's demise at Doomsday's bony meathooks will still likely enjoy it.

[dunpeal2064]

1. Mega Man (NES)
2. Kirby's Adventure (NES)
3. Toejam & Earl (GEN)
4. Mortal Kombat (SCD)
5. Rockband (Hard) (360)
6. Mega Man 2 (NES)
7. Metal Storm (NES)
8. Little Samson (NES)
9. Castlevania (NES)
10. Super Mario Bros (NES)
11. Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
12. Contra (NES)
13. Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)
14. Pro Wrestling (NES)
15. Ducktales (NES)
16. Dragon Spirit (NES)
17. Phantasy Star Online Ep 1 (GC)
18. Batman: Arkham Asylum (360)
19. Tomb Raider (360)
20. Final Fantasy XIII (360)
21. The Last Story (Wii)

I picked up Tomb Raider on a whim, mostly because it was a used copy and I knew I could return it if I didn't enjoy it. I was quite surprised by this game though. It didn't really do anything innovative as far as game play goes, but it did feel like a great fusion of Uncharted and Arkham. This game is also extremely intense. I was probably on the edge of my seat for the majority of the game. Between the great writing and voice acting, I really believed and enjoyed the changes Lara went through throughout the game.

Final Fantasy XIII is one I started a few months back, but bogged out on near the end maybe a month ago, and recently decided to go back and finish the main story. I really enjoyed this game. Its not my favorite Final Fantasy title, but was still a very enjoyable experience. It takes a while for things to get off the ground, but when they do they game actually starts moving quite quickly. It does sort of die out a bit later on, but for the most part things move along at a nice pace. The characters varied in quality, but I did enjoy the various ties they had to each other, even if it is somewhat overplayed at times. The combat system was refreshing, and although it felt too easy at first, the difficulty does ramp up eventually. My biggest gripe would actually be the synthesis, which was done terribly.

The Last Story is another one I picked up on a whim, and I am so glad I did. This game really struck a chord with me on every level. The story does take a bit to build up, but the build up is done very well, and once the game gets going, it doesn't stop. The game just has great pacing. You never feel like you are just doing silly shit to kill game time. This results in the game being fairly short for an rpg (I clocked in about 25 hours at the end of the Epilogue), but I really don't mind that, as there are plenty of 100+ hour rpgs these days. The combat system, while simplistic at fist glance, is actually quite in-depth, and features a really unique blend of Action and Strategy RPG elements, both blended together nearly flawlessly. The music in this game is very fitting of the various atmospheres, and the graphics are just gorgeous, down to even the small details. Every character in the game, whether in your party or just standing in the street juggling, has so much personality. The characters in your party in particular, though, are just so well done. This is the sort of game I will be happy to give annual replays through. It was so good that it is actually what boosted me to go back and finish Final Fantasy XIII.