Games Beaten 2014

[BoneSnapDeez]

Like Earthbound, it's one of those games where you really need to examine everything and talk to everyone. The journal entries are pretty funny too.

I have the anime on DVD. Season 2 is actually really boring, but I love the early episodes.

I'm kinda considering playing the other Rayearth game I have..... but it's like a cutesy fan service dress-up game.... On Game Gear...... I'll probably pass.

[emwearz]

1. Back to the Future: The Game - PC
2. Syndicate - PC
3. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - PC
4. Resident Evil: Revelations - 3DS
5. The Walking Dead - PC
6. The Walking Dead: 400 Days - PC
7. Cyber-Lip - Neo Geo (Via Neo Geo X)
8. Metal Slug 4 - PS2
9. Aliens: Colonial Marines - Stasis Interrupted (DLC) - PC
10. Metal Slug Advance - GBA (Via Emulation)
11. Assassins Creed III: Liberation HD - PC
12. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations - NDS

Total for 2014: 12

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations - NDS
Not much to say really, more of the same, until about the last two cases which really pull all three of the original games together into a nice little arch. I always have the same issue with Ace Attorney games, by the time I have finished one I have genre fatigue and it takes me another couple years to start the next title.

[Jmustang1968]

Alright, I can contribute!

1. Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen - PS1

[Sload Soap]

Super Mario Land

Super Mario Land is the first game I ever finished and one of the first I owned. I dig it out probably twice a year for a run through as it can be beaten in under twenty minutes.

Anyway, there's not much that can be said that hasn't been said before. Nostalgia used to make me believe that this was the best GB platformer, but now I have finally admitted that Super Mario Land 2 is the much better game. I still love Mario Land 1 though with all it's weird idiosyncrasies and beautiful chiptune soundtrack. And as a non-Miyamoto, non-Kondo Mario it's an interesting and, most importantly, fun aberration.

Fighters Megamix

Like Sonic R, I had foolishly forgotten to back up my data and had to go through and unlock all the characters again. Unlike Sonic R this game is actually good so I didn't mind.

What I like about Fighters Megamix is that even though it is a mash up/face off of two other games (Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers), it feels like its own thing. This can throw you off at first, especially for VF2 players as the roster from that game have their move-sets more inline with the newer (at the time) Virtua Fighter 3. Also included from VF3 is the dodge button which opens up new avenues of play.

In the end I settled on Shun Di (any relation to Lan Di?) and ran through the nine arcade challenges, each made up of seven bouts framed by a theme. For themes think strong characters, all Virtua Fighter and the kotaku-baiting all Girls challenge. As I got used to the games play style I managed to knock down my clear times and continues, while having a damn fine time which is usually the sign of a good fighter.

In the end Fighters Megamix is many things. It's a superlative 3D fighter, a genuine Saturn exclusive to brag about and a self-assured love letter from AM2 to itself. It might seem wacky on first glance with its fighting cars and mexican beans, but that is merely the wrapping for one of the most tightly produced 3D fighters you'll likely play.

Seriously though, if Shun Di and Lan Di are related that would be awesome.

[BoneSnapDeez]

1. Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
2. Caveman Ninja (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
3. Crude Buster (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
4. Heavy Barrel (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
5. Secret Agent (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
6. Wizard Fire (Wii - Data East Arcade Classics)
7. Super Mario Land (Game Boy)
8. Burning Fight (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
9. Magician Lord (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
10. Metal Slug (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
11. Sengoku (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
12. Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy (PlayStation 2 - SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1)
13. Metal Slug 4 (PlayStation 2 - Metal Slug 4 & 5)
14. Metal Slug 5 (PlayStation 2 - Metal Slug 4 & 5)
15. Metal Slug XX (PSP)
16. Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast)
17. Smash TV (PlayStation 2 - Midway Arcade Treasures)
18. Total Carnage (Xbox - Midway Arcade Treasures 2)
19. Skyblazer (SNES)
20. Mega Man II (Game Boy)
21. The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (Wii)
22. Ys (Saturn - Falcom Classics)
23. Super Mario Bros. (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
24. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
25. Super Mario Bros. 2 (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
26. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES - Super Mario All-Stars)
27. Super Mario World (SNES)
28. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
29. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy)
30. 魔法騎士レイアース (Super Famicom)
31. Magic Knight Rayearth (Saturn)
32. Disney's Aladdin (SNES)

I've never cared too much for Disney cartoons, but this is quite an entertaining platformer. It's very simple too - perfect for a night when you just want to kick back and relax.

From what I understand there were a couple of other Aladdin platformers released around the same time, but I've never played them.

[Sload Soap]

From what I understand there were a couple of other Aladdin platformers released around the same time, but I've never played them.

That surprises me. The DOS/Mega Drive version was my favourite, but that is purely from a nostalgic perspective. It's harder than the SNES game and more faithful to the movie but the two games are different enough to void most comparisons. I think it's great, one of the games me and my brothers gathered around the PC for hours to try and beat. I'd say Aladdin (MD) is my favourite 16-bit platformer that isn't a Sonic or Mario game.

I have the Master System version as well. It's a late release (1994!) so it looks good but, I dunno. It's a bit slow and easy. I didn't finish it because a checkpoint glitched and I got stuck in an inescapable room. Haven't been back since.

[Luke]

1) Kung Fu NES
2) Altered Beast Genesis
3) Golden Axe Genesis
4) Golden Axe GBA
5) Golden Axe Dreamcast
6) Golden Axe PS2
7) Golden Axe Sega CD
Golden Axe 360
9) Ninja Gaiden xbox
10) Ninja Gaiden NES
11) Cool Spot Genesis
12) The Duel Genesis
13) Pit Fighter Genesis
14) Hard Drvin' Genesis
15) Death Duel Genesis
16) Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis
17) Mutant League Football Genesis
18) TMNT Hyperstone Heist Genesis
19) Streets of Rage Sega CD
20) Streets of Rage 2 Genesis
21) Golden Axe 2 Genesis
22) Sewer Shark Sega CD
23) Chiki Chiki Boys Genesis
24) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis
25) Mega Man 2 NES
26) Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! NES
27) TMNT Fall of the Footclan Gameboy
28) TMNT Something Sewers Gameboy
29) Punch-Out!! Wii
30) TMNT Hyperstone Heist Genesis
31) Diddy Kong Racing N64 *new*
32) StarFox 64 N64 *new*
33) StarFox snes *new*


Some 64 games really should have dialed it back a bit, and DK Racing is one of them. It's a fun game, without a doubt, but the graphics are a bit all over the place which can cause confusion and glitches.

Best part of the game is the inclusion of Adventure mode. My first thought was "Ah, so this is where Crash Team Racing got the concept". DK Racing is easy to pick up, hard to put down. That said, I still prefer Mario Kart on the snes.

Coincidentally, I also prefer StarFox over StarFox 64. Both games are superb, but I enjoy the simplicity of the snes graphics. I think, think, this is the first time I played SFox64 and then SFox back to back. It was interesting to play the 64 version first as the graphics are leaps and bounds better but StarFox still holds it own.


It was nice to pull out the 64 and play several of the games in its library. Played a bit of Goemon, Road Rash 64, Killer Instinct, WCW Nitro, and 1080. I've got some of the 64 "Greats" that I need to play as well.

32. Disney's Aladdin (SNES)

I've never cared too much for Disney cartoons, but this is quite an entertaining platformer. It's very simple too - perfect for a night when you just want to kick back and relax.

From what I understand there were a couple of other Aladdin platformers released around the same time, but I've never played them.

Aladdin on the snes is a walk in the park, but I agree that's a great game to play when you want a simple platformer with great graphics, responsive contros, and great music.

If you enjoyed Aladdin on the snes, you really need to try the Genesis version. The sprites are larger and the game provides a challenge. It's like the "grown-up" version of the game.

[emwearz]

My first thought was "Ah, so this is where Crash Team Racing got the concept".

Apparently Crash Team Racing started by Naughty Dog making as close to a 1:1 replica of a stage from Diddy Kong Racing to see if the Playstation could handle a game of the same size and detail.

[isiolia]

1.) Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
2.) Remember Me (PC)
3.) Mirror's Edge (PC)
4.) Jumping Flash! (PS1)
5.) Run Saber (SNES)
6.) Heavenly Sword (PS3)
7.) X-Blades (360)
8.) Blades of Time (360)
9.) Trapt (PS2)
10.) Hunted: The Demon's Forge (360)
11.) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
12.) Venetica (PC)
13.) Metal Gear (MSX)
14.) Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (MSX)
15.) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD Edition (PS3)
16.) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)
17.) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition (PS3)
18.) Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (Gamecube)

Thoughts:

Peace Walker
For the most part, I found this to be a nice improvement on the PSP-oriented MGS game model. At least, from what I could tell, playing it entirely single player with a focus on just doing the “main story” stuff. Maybe network play isn’t as good, I wouldn’t know.
The switch to focusing on one character, with a larger inventory, pre-mission loadout selection, and so on works a lot better. The base management stuff wasn’t overly important during the time I spent with the game – definitely needed to an extent in order to have a sufficient arsenal to beat the game, but there was a lot more room to grow.
I imagine that those inclined to tackle all of the side missions, grind up their forces, and so on, that Peace Walker could entertain them for a quite a while.

As a Metal Gear game, however, Peace Walker is kind of Metal Gear Simple. It might be the first Metal Gear game since, well, the first one, that doesn’t let you crawl under or into things in the environment. Items are mostly developed versus found or collected, there’s a generic “call codec” command instead of picking a specific person, and so on.
I think a lot of it is the product of the original hardware. Portable Ops did the small spaces, creeping around bases thing…Peace Walker tries to deliver bigger styles of encounters.

Largely, it does work better. The main thing I wasn’t especially keen on was the tendency to just throw waves of soldiers at you to create challenge. The AI mechs kinda lacked personality as bosses as well. As good as the motion comic cutscenes, story, and so on are, they didn’t feel as connected to the 3D portions.

Enjoyed it, but, still can’t say I prefer mission oriented, in-segments PSP MGS model to more tightly integrated and scripted console model.

Twin Snakes
I’d probably seen most of MGS before, but, hadn’t personally played through it (yay college apartments). I don’t think I’d even seen Twin Snakes in action before…and I’m spoiled and wanted first person view.

It’s definitely made easier compared to the original, but, as I came down with the flu or something while finishing Peace Walker, just mustering the energy to reconnect my Wii in the living room was a hurdle. I probably added 2-3 hours to my clear time half passed out at a Game Over screen.

Added cutscenes are ludicrous. Basic game still more or less sets the standard for what I expect from a game with Metal Gear Solid in the title, good and bad (even if, yes, Metal Gear 2 did a lot of it first). However, going back to the 2D entries, much of the guesswork is gone.

More or less….what I expected? Which I liked, overall.

Now on to the games I've actually beaten before...then maybe Revengeance. Should that count?

[ExedExes]

1. Metal Gear - NES (February 27)
2. *NEW* Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (March 4)

After leaving this game for about a year, a new computer with better hardware meant I could return through this and finally complete it. The load times were rather unbearable, even on the new machine, but the better graphics and overall experience made up for that. I liked the movie-style cutscenes and story, and instead of going alone as in previous MOH games, you had a squad with you at all times (even if they got in your way and yelled a lot of stuff every ten seconds), including a corpsman who was the only way you could be easily healed as opposed to picking up medpacks and canteens. Enemy AI was greatly increased, as the Japanese would resort to banzai-style attacks in which they would charge straight at you. There was even a scene where you piloted a Dauntless bomber, which I really liked as I'm a fan of WWII aircraft. There's too much to like not to recommend this.