Snickerd00dle's Summer Challenge 2012 - how is it going?

[lisalover1]

I just restarted playing Majora's Mask, and I'm about to go into the Great Bay Temple. I've done most of the side-quests so far and have all the masks I can get up to this point, as well as 5(!) empty bottles and 11 hearts.

[BoringSupreez]

Confession time: I stopped playing my list and have been playing whatever I've felt like.

[lisalover1]

Well, the Great Bay Temple wasted no time in pissing me off, as should any water level. Seriously, if I get stuck and have to use the Song of Soaring to return to the entrance, that's a sign of bad level design, which I should expect better of from a Zelda game.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Well, the Great Bay Temple wasted no time in pissing me off, as should any water level. Seriously, if I get stuck and have to use the Song of Soaring to return to the entrance, that's a sign of bad level design, which I should expect better of from a Zelda game.

Water Temples are rough in any 3D Zelda game besides Wind Waker. Confusing design/do it in the wrong order and you have to start over.

[SpaceBooger]

Classics
1. Shatterhand (NES)
2. Sonic CD (PS3) COMPLETE 7/9
3. Final Fight (PS3 or Mame) COMPLETE 6/24
4. Cave Story (DS) COMPLETE 6/12
5. Ninja Gaiden Black (Xbox) COMPLETE 8/5
6. Jet Grind Radio (DC or PSN when released)
7. Beneath a Steel Sky (PC) COMPLETE 8/8

Not Classics that I want to beat before summer ends
8. Clash of Heroes (DS) COMPLETE 5/31
9. Captain America: Super Soldier (PS3) COMPLETE 7/8
10. Ben There Dan That & Time Gentlemen Please (PC) COMPLETE 7/22
11. Conan (PS3 2007) COMPLETE 7/7
12. Batman the Brave and the Bold (DS) COMPLETE 7/29

Today I finished Beneath a Steel Sky and with that game complete, I technically finished my 2012 Summer Challenge. I put 12 games on the list so that if I really disliked or didn't feel motivated to play through one (Jet Grind Radio and it's control is causing me problems and stifling my motivation) I would have a contingency plan. If I get a couple hours where I have the house to myself I may give Shatterhand another try, but it's hard to play a NES game on the original console with three kids under three running around.

As for Beneath a Steel Sky, I have to admit that I really didn't dig it. I was surprised that I did not like the game since it is revered as a "classic" and that I love point-n-click adventure games. There were three things that annoyed me with this game:

a) The art.
The backgrounds and character designs by Gibbons was great but because it was all hand painted all the objects looked like they belonged in the background. Unless I moved the mouse over every pixel of the screen I could not tell what was background and what was a usable item. I missed many items multiple times because of this.

b) The story and lack of absurd humor.
Most adventure games that I have loved (Sam and Max, Maniac Mansion, Zac McCraken, Leisure Suit Larry, Space Quest, etc) had awesome humor and story. The story of BaSS was too series and too cliche for me. I only stayed focus because I wanted to finish the game.

c) The game's puzzles were TOO logical
As mentioned above I love the odd humor and combinations of items that seem random. I think like that. I remember having no problem coming up with the idea to use dental floss and a wash rag as a thong when playing Leisure Suit Larry. BaSS's puzzles were too logical that the random mixing and trying objects on other objects felt off. The best example that I can think of is at the end where you have to use the virus... that made sense in the story but there were no clues and I had to figure that out randomly.

I don't know if I disliked the game because I started it in July playing for three hours strait and not playing again until today, but I do know that I would not consider this one of the best point-n-click adventure games.

[dsheinem]

I actually played some of one of my summer challenge games (Need for Speed) today...though I think "beating" that one isn't really something one can do. I think I'll play through all the tracks and call it done. I had no idea FF4 would stall my enthusiasm so much

[noiseredux]

I actually played some of one of my summer challenge games (Need for Speed) today...though I think "beating" that one isn't really something one can do. I think I'll play through all the tracks and call it done. I had no idea FF4 would stall my enthusiasm so much

you down for Winter Challenge instead? I lost all steam this Summer.

[Michi]

I had no idea FF4 would stall my enthusiasm so much

I blame my lack of progress in FF4 on the Olympics

I still plan on finishing it, though. It may be the only one I finish, but then again, I wasn't really expecting to beat more than 1 of the 3 games I chose anyway.

[alienjesus]

Well, the Great Bay Temple wasted no time in pissing me off, as should any water level. Seriously, if I get stuck and have to use the Song of Soaring to return to the entrance, that's a sign of bad level design, which I should expect better of from a Zelda game.

I don't see how you even managed this, I'm pretty sure there's never a situation where you just get stuck.

[NihonRobot]

you down for Winter Challenge instead? I lost all steam this Summer.

Winter Challenge would be rough, since that's when all the new games come out. I guess unless your list is all new games...