Oh I haven't played that yet, But maybe at one Point I may, I hear it's really good
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Media Videogame Thread
- Thread starter Bummer
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Wow, I was going to post in the Xenoblade thread, but now it's locked. I don't know why, but I really should do things before it's too late.
Speaking of, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was the game I was most hyped up for in 2022. And I only played it this year. How time passes.
I am a fan of Xenoblade, but never bought the games; I only read the wiki and watched YouTube. But Xenoblade Chronicles 3 hooked me with its dark story, and the protagonists Noah/Mio. This was the first full-scale RPG I ever played, and the first story I went in blind (in a while), so it was an inspiring experience for me.
Gameplay:
It was a blast to play through Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Exploration is the biggest strength of this game, both the places and characters. Walking through these massive lands was something I never did before, and I came across some awe-inspiring locations. The colonies help break the pace of the game. I like that each colony had different emphasis and problems, but we were there to help them. It was hard to decide whether to do the main mission vs side quests, because both were brimming with mystery.
I have some small criticisms, like the terrible collection system, and not engaging with the battle system (because was overleveled most of the game). However, those didn't detract from my core experience: worldbuilding and story first, while gameplay second.
Music is a big focus on the game, and I think it is great, but for me who listens more and more to music in general, I didn't get the same hype from it. I appreciate the focus on the flute, and that music is intertwined in the story.
Story:
This is where I'm conflicted with Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Despite being a great experience playing through it, I am left empty months later.
Before that though, I think the main cast is great, providing a lot of small talk to make it feel it's a group. Mio is my favorite character, mostly because catgirl, but I like her stoic personality. Taion is probably the most interesting however, with relations to two colonies and a rough pairing with Eunie.
The first Chapter does such a good job with setting up the bleak setting. Introducing us to a war, then the initial conflict that sets the two groups to join together and find meaning to the world. After that, the game kinda forgets that and becomes a normal RPG? I didn't realize it at first and still enjoyed the game, but I realized later that I hoped it could have done more with the premise.
Overall, the game experience was amazing as someone who never played something like this, but it hurts months later at not fulfilling what I wanted. It could be a problem with me, who forgets most of the story and focuses too much on the now.
I also have not played the DLC, which may change my opinion on the game.
Speaking of, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was the game I was most hyped up for in 2022. And I only played it this year. How time passes.
I am a fan of Xenoblade, but never bought the games; I only read the wiki and watched YouTube. But Xenoblade Chronicles 3 hooked me with its dark story, and the protagonists Noah/Mio. This was the first full-scale RPG I ever played, and the first story I went in blind (in a while), so it was an inspiring experience for me.
Gameplay:
It was a blast to play through Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Exploration is the biggest strength of this game, both the places and characters. Walking through these massive lands was something I never did before, and I came across some awe-inspiring locations. The colonies help break the pace of the game. I like that each colony had different emphasis and problems, but we were there to help them. It was hard to decide whether to do the main mission vs side quests, because both were brimming with mystery.
I have some small criticisms, like the terrible collection system, and not engaging with the battle system (because was overleveled most of the game). However, those didn't detract from my core experience: worldbuilding and story first, while gameplay second.
Music is a big focus on the game, and I think it is great, but for me who listens more and more to music in general, I didn't get the same hype from it. I appreciate the focus on the flute, and that music is intertwined in the story.
Story:
This is where I'm conflicted with Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Despite being a great experience playing through it, I am left empty months later.
Before that though, I think the main cast is great, providing a lot of small talk to make it feel it's a group. Mio is my favorite character, mostly because catgirl, but I like her stoic personality. Taion is probably the most interesting however, with relations to two colonies and a rough pairing with Eunie.
The first Chapter does such a good job with setting up the bleak setting. Introducing us to a war, then the initial conflict that sets the two groups to join together and find meaning to the world. After that, the game kinda forgets that and becomes a normal RPG? I didn't realize it at first and still enjoyed the game, but I realized later that I hoped it could have done more with the premise.
Actually, there is one part of the main story that blew my mind. The plot twists in that part were amazing, and what I was looking for. That was the exception, and most of the main mission didn't impact me a lot. The part where the main group finally reaches the destination they were looking for should have been a major celebration, but it was just another quest completed.
More than that, I have mixed opinions on the ending. Another criticism I have is that the villians aren't personal to the protagonists, and this makes the final fight not have that much weight. It does have a heartbreaking ending that fits the game, that I cried to. At the same time, the impact fell short of the other two Xenoblade Chronicle games. When it's the final game of the trilogy, it is disappointing. There are too many loose threads in the end that I want to know.
More than that, I have mixed opinions on the ending. Another criticism I have is that the villians aren't personal to the protagonists, and this makes the final fight not have that much weight. It does have a heartbreaking ending that fits the game, that I cried to. At the same time, the impact fell short of the other two Xenoblade Chronicle games. When it's the final game of the trilogy, it is disappointing. There are too many loose threads in the end that I want to know.
Overall, the game experience was amazing as someone who never played something like this, but it hurts months later at not fulfilling what I wanted. It could be a problem with me, who forgets most of the story and focuses too much on the now.
I also have not played the DLC, which may change my opinion on the game.
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blew my own mind finding the dark cloud series, okage: shadow king (ps2), and legend of dragoon on ps plus.
yeah i'm good for awhile lol.
honestly okage: shadow king blew my mind most - my mom got me it as a whim as a christmas gift (this before i knew what rpgs are - even though i played a few before but younger soul life distracts, but never see anyone mention it) and it made me love it once i was old enough to "want down time to play my game" lol. i'm pretty sure i played ff7-9 and chrono cross prior (beat 9 & cross by then lol) okage was just the first rpg i got lost in [that damn Library at the end] and didnt quit on... final fantasy back then wasnt SO hard TRANSVERSE WISE (like yeah ya could but i mean, just try all the routes lol - maybe my young brain just distracted easy lol) to get lost unless you was doing the most or just not paying attention enough.
i was dumb OP by the time of the final boss lmfao.
I suggest it to everyone who likes the realm in my personal life cus as dated as it may be now being a early 2000s ps2 (purple disk nonsense era) game... so damn good lol. i literally played it over and over till i begged my mom for a memory card so i could save in case i died lmfao.
I know i spoke about it before in passing but getting to replay it again made the childhood i remember in me smile lol.
yeah i'm good for awhile lol.
honestly okage: shadow king blew my mind most - my mom got me it as a whim as a christmas gift (this before i knew what rpgs are - even though i played a few before but younger soul life distracts, but never see anyone mention it) and it made me love it once i was old enough to "want down time to play my game" lol. i'm pretty sure i played ff7-9 and chrono cross prior (beat 9 & cross by then lol) okage was just the first rpg i got lost in [that damn Library at the end] and didnt quit on... final fantasy back then wasnt SO hard TRANSVERSE WISE (like yeah ya could but i mean, just try all the routes lol - maybe my young brain just distracted easy lol) to get lost unless you was doing the most or just not paying attention enough.
i was dumb OP by the time of the final boss lmfao.
I suggest it to everyone who likes the realm in my personal life cus as dated as it may be now being a early 2000s ps2 (purple disk nonsense era) game... so damn good lol. i literally played it over and over till i begged my mom for a memory card so i could save in case i died lmfao.
I know i spoke about it before in passing but getting to replay it again made the childhood i remember in me smile lol.
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You should play the Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake if you haven’t already it’s really really good
Time once again for a year of games in review imo. All of these titles I've played on the Switch, unless otherwise noted. My Switch got a ton of love this past year.
Animal Well: 10/10
Now, this score is skewed quite a bit due to the fact that I'm a huge metroidvania buff (and maybe boosted a bit in that it's dunkey's/BigMode's first published game). That said, it really is an incredibly unique and fun platforming puzzler. It's very directionless which can be quite offputting to some, and some of the optional puzzles are very, very vague and difficult to figure out (and the "ultra secrets" are even more vague and obscure, to the point in that I'm amazed anyone was able to decipher them). However, what really drew me into the game was the atmosphere and pixel art, which are just gorgeous imo, the lore and setting are just enrapturing and mysterious, and the gameplay is just so much fun and satisfying to figure out. A masterpiece that I would consider a must play if you love the puzzle aspect of metroidvanias.
Super Mario Bros Wonder: 10/10
A "return to form" of sorts for the Mario franchise, and an absolutely brilliant one at that. Going into the game I wasn't sure how I felt about the new artstyle (and Elephant Mario???) and the usage of the Wonder Flowers but man, after a few levels I was hooked. The gameplay is so tight, the music is incredible, and the Wonder Flower gimmicks made sure that none of the levels felt stale. I genuinely believe that this game launches itself to the top of the chart of Mario titles, and I would be ecstatic to see a followup of some kind. I wasn't a fan of the Bowser fight in this one but I may actually be in the minority there and it wasn't enough for me to knock this game at all. The number of secrets was surprising and satisfying. My only real gripe was that I wanted to use Yoshi without the difficulty drop but couldn't :/
Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door (2024): 9.5/10
I'm a pretty big fan of the Paper Mario series and had never had a chance to the play the original before, so I was pretty hyped to finally be able to play it without dropping over $100 for a GC copy. A lot of people peg this title as the ultimate Paper Mario experience, and while I would agree that there are a lot of factors that make this Paper Mario feel great -- I just don't see how this one is so much better than the others though lol.. it's still just Paper Mario. Now, having said that, the characters are a huge selling point of this one over some of other titles, and the battle system is I think at it's best here (even though I actually was a fan of the Origami King's system). However, there are some sections in this game that really drag it away from being a perfect title, of particular mention being the slog that is the Glitz Pit. I did really enjoy the Train section and the bosses felt properly tough, however it really felt like your bob-omb teammate just takes over once he joins you. IDK, I definitely enjoyed the game, but I do feel slightly lied to about how perfect and great it is in the echelon of GC games. Call me jaded I guess
Super Mario RPG (2023) 9/10
Continuing in games that I've always wanted to play but didn't want to drop an absurd amount of money on to play... This remake is gorgeous. I still don't know how I feel about the extremely small party in a JRPG-style game considering the vastness of the Mario cast, but the two unique characters, Mallow and Geno, are definitely welcome additions. While I didn't feel like I had to grind much, if at all, the boss fights felt very, very tight. It was a welcome challenge, I enjoy not just breezing through the game, but it definitely removed some creativity in how to approach fights. You were very much tunneled into performing moves a certain way or be heavily punished. I also suck at timing so the action moves and blocks got grating after a while. I was also not a huge fan of the minigames, which I understand to be part of the charm, especially of old JRPGs, but some felt very shoehorned and unpolished. I was surprised at the length and depth of this one considering the small cast, and the environments and NPC interactions really sold me on the game as a whole. Overall, I'm very glad I finally got to experience this one and I think it's definitely worth a play for anyone looking for a JRPG.
Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity: 9/10
This was my first ever "Dynasty Warriors" style game, and while I'm still not sold on the overall button mash beat-em-up gameplay, I just really enjoyed running around and playing as the characters here. The (kind of) alternate timeline story was very entertaining especially in full cinematic style. The game is beautiful and the feedback on your attacks is very satisfying (for the most part). After trying out all of the characters, I found myself just playing base Link for a majority of the game lol. Most characters' gimmicks were cute or interesting, but most were just not... fun. Zelda in particular here was extremely disappointing to play as, as well as the birds and Hestu and Yunobo. Mipha, Impa, Urbosa, and Daruk were all very fun to play as, but Link's snappy movesets and variety just overtook them eventually. The game got a little repetitive as well (my initial fear going into the game) but it wasn't quite as bad as I was worried about. The Mecha levels were also just frustrating and boring more than "epic". It was a fun foray into the genre for me, but I can safely say that I probably won't go back and I felt content not completing this one past its main story.
stitch. 8.5/10
I'm a pretty big fan of "chill puzzlers" and this one fit into my niche very nicely. There's quite a lot to do here, ~120 puzzles in the base game, and an extra large puzzle released every week for free, typically themed with a holiday somewhere in the world for that week (ie. 4th of July for the week of the 4th). There's not too much to the gameplay, a little bit of math or spatial awareness to figure out how the "hoops" fit together, but very, very few that actually stumped me for more than a couple minutes. There was something just so satisfying about seeing the completed picture at the end, and some of the pictures are really pretty. Neat little gimmick of a puzzler game, definitely worth picking up if you spot it on sale.
Box Boy + Box Girl! 8.5/10
Speaking of chill puzzlers. I played almost the entirety of this game on the plane to Hawaii. It's a very simple but satisfying platform puzzler, with some added depth given in that there's a very specific sequence of moves you can take on each stage to beat the level in under x number of blocks. So, naturally, that's where a majority of my time went in playing this one. If not going for that alternate goal this is a very, very short title you can breeze through in a couple of hours, but the added challenges can really scratch that puzzler itch. Very cute to look at and worth a look into again if you like puzzlers.
Gibbon Beyond the Trees 8/10
A very simple and quick game (I think under 3 hours tbh), but absolutely gorgeous both to look at and in sound design. It's a pretty unique sidescrolling platformer based around maintaining momentum and chaining jumps. The gameplay was not quite as tight as I would hope, but when the sequencing and timing went right it was super duper satisfying. It honestly felt a little bit like a tech demo, especially with how overall short it was and how little variation there actually was in the game, however it is a very unique and beautiful experience. Save the gibbons.
Pokemon Infinite Fusion 8/10 (PC)
OK, this one is a fan game not a real one, and one that's still seeing frequent updates. But I did spend quite a while playing around on this one so I figured I'd list it here. The concept is incredible and well-executed. I could, and literally did, spend hours just fusing Pokemon together to see what I could make, and the level of commitment from the sprite artists (some of which are on Smogon, hi!), is absolutely incredible. I would give this a perfect 10/10 for that alone, however I can't because it's set in Kanto again. I cannot stand playing in Kanto anymore, and it made it feel like such a chore to get to the end again (even with the inclusion of the Sevii Islands). I highly recommend checking it out, or at least watching some of the Poketubers play around with it (Alpharad's video is particularly entertaining, along with his Too Many Types vid).
unpacking 7/10
A very cute and satisfying puzzler, right up my alley. However, this title is marred by just how short it is. Unlike stitch. above that has a ton of puzzles, this one was done and over with in the matter of a couple of hours, which was NOT worth the $10-15 I dropped on this one, which was even on sale at the time I believe. While I get that there were a ton of little hidden Easter eggs throughout that some people found satisfying to go back and try to find, I did not see any reason to replay this one, especially because it felt like you were replaying a bunch of levels as it was already. Worth a look if you find it cheap, but do not spend more than $10 on this one.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series (2022) 6.5/10
Haven't actually finished this one completely but I played the original way back in the day. Glad I got this one on sale because playing this one made me remember why this series never quite made the splash that Mario and co. did. It's a unique platformer but unique isn't always better. The gimmicks here being you're locked into a 2D plane on a 3D field, and you use the enemies to help you platform and hit switches and stuff. While jumping around and platforming is done pretty well, the same cannot be said when it comes to enemies and the boss fights. Klonoa's range on the wind ring is abysmal and feels horrible to use 95% of the time. For being such an integral component to the gameplay, having to be basically inside the enemy in order to "capture" and balloon-ball-ify them feels so, so bad. And the boss fights, particularly those that require you to throw objects into the 3D plane from your 2D position, just feels like complete dogshit. I like the overall feel and look to the game, and I still hold out hope that we'll get a fully actualized 3D title a la Mario Sunshine or Odyssey someday, but man the 2D titles feel rough and dated now.
Disney Illusion Island 5/10
Alright, so I'm a big metroidvania buff. I couldn't wait to try Disney's take on it because the ad actually looked interesting. Well, they got me. I couldn't believe it. 3 hours into the game and there STILL was NO COMBAT. I thought, man that's a choice, but maybe I'll get something soon. Nope, first boss over and done and almost to the second, and it finally sunk in... Disney made a metroidvania with no combat, platforming only. Had I known that from the beginning I would have just passed on this title, but after getting halfway through the game I was committed. I at least had to see how it ended. The end boss, to my surprise, was actually challenging. It was the actual perfect culmination of all the platforming techs you acquired throughout the game, so that is like the only positive I can give this game apart from the artstyle and atmosphere. But man, this is a boring one that I had to drag myself to see the end of. Easy pass unless you want a super easy game.
Honorable mentions/currently playing:
Octopath Traveler 10/10 (currently 30+ hours in)
Shovel Knight Treasure Trove 8.5/10 (4 hours in)
Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster 8/10 (3 hours in)
Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time 8/10 (4 hours in)
Final Fantasy 7 8/10 (10ish hours in)
Pikuniku 6/10 (2 hours in, big ???? here lol)
Moonlighter (just started)
Enter the Gungeon (just started)
Tears of the Kingdom (10/10 easy, finally finished 100%ing it at some point the last year)
Death's Gambit (just started)
So, what's everyone been playing?
Animal Well: 10/10
Now, this score is skewed quite a bit due to the fact that I'm a huge metroidvania buff (and maybe boosted a bit in that it's dunkey's/BigMode's first published game). That said, it really is an incredibly unique and fun platforming puzzler. It's very directionless which can be quite offputting to some, and some of the optional puzzles are very, very vague and difficult to figure out (and the "ultra secrets" are even more vague and obscure, to the point in that I'm amazed anyone was able to decipher them). However, what really drew me into the game was the atmosphere and pixel art, which are just gorgeous imo, the lore and setting are just enrapturing and mysterious, and the gameplay is just so much fun and satisfying to figure out. A masterpiece that I would consider a must play if you love the puzzle aspect of metroidvanias.
Super Mario Bros Wonder: 10/10
A "return to form" of sorts for the Mario franchise, and an absolutely brilliant one at that. Going into the game I wasn't sure how I felt about the new artstyle (and Elephant Mario???) and the usage of the Wonder Flowers but man, after a few levels I was hooked. The gameplay is so tight, the music is incredible, and the Wonder Flower gimmicks made sure that none of the levels felt stale. I genuinely believe that this game launches itself to the top of the chart of Mario titles, and I would be ecstatic to see a followup of some kind. I wasn't a fan of the Bowser fight in this one but I may actually be in the minority there and it wasn't enough for me to knock this game at all. The number of secrets was surprising and satisfying. My only real gripe was that I wanted to use Yoshi without the difficulty drop but couldn't :/
Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door (2024): 9.5/10
I'm a pretty big fan of the Paper Mario series and had never had a chance to the play the original before, so I was pretty hyped to finally be able to play it without dropping over $100 for a GC copy. A lot of people peg this title as the ultimate Paper Mario experience, and while I would agree that there are a lot of factors that make this Paper Mario feel great -- I just don't see how this one is so much better than the others though lol.. it's still just Paper Mario. Now, having said that, the characters are a huge selling point of this one over some of other titles, and the battle system is I think at it's best here (even though I actually was a fan of the Origami King's system). However, there are some sections in this game that really drag it away from being a perfect title, of particular mention being the slog that is the Glitz Pit. I did really enjoy the Train section and the bosses felt properly tough, however it really felt like your bob-omb teammate just takes over once he joins you. IDK, I definitely enjoyed the game, but I do feel slightly lied to about how perfect and great it is in the echelon of GC games. Call me jaded I guess
Super Mario RPG (2023) 9/10
Continuing in games that I've always wanted to play but didn't want to drop an absurd amount of money on to play... This remake is gorgeous. I still don't know how I feel about the extremely small party in a JRPG-style game considering the vastness of the Mario cast, but the two unique characters, Mallow and Geno, are definitely welcome additions. While I didn't feel like I had to grind much, if at all, the boss fights felt very, very tight. It was a welcome challenge, I enjoy not just breezing through the game, but it definitely removed some creativity in how to approach fights. You were very much tunneled into performing moves a certain way or be heavily punished. I also suck at timing so the action moves and blocks got grating after a while. I was also not a huge fan of the minigames, which I understand to be part of the charm, especially of old JRPGs, but some felt very shoehorned and unpolished. I was surprised at the length and depth of this one considering the small cast, and the environments and NPC interactions really sold me on the game as a whole. Overall, I'm very glad I finally got to experience this one and I think it's definitely worth a play for anyone looking for a JRPG.
Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity: 9/10
This was my first ever "Dynasty Warriors" style game, and while I'm still not sold on the overall button mash beat-em-up gameplay, I just really enjoyed running around and playing as the characters here. The (kind of) alternate timeline story was very entertaining especially in full cinematic style. The game is beautiful and the feedback on your attacks is very satisfying (for the most part). After trying out all of the characters, I found myself just playing base Link for a majority of the game lol. Most characters' gimmicks were cute or interesting, but most were just not... fun. Zelda in particular here was extremely disappointing to play as, as well as the birds and Hestu and Yunobo. Mipha, Impa, Urbosa, and Daruk were all very fun to play as, but Link's snappy movesets and variety just overtook them eventually. The game got a little repetitive as well (my initial fear going into the game) but it wasn't quite as bad as I was worried about. The Mecha levels were also just frustrating and boring more than "epic". It was a fun foray into the genre for me, but I can safely say that I probably won't go back and I felt content not completing this one past its main story.
stitch. 8.5/10
I'm a pretty big fan of "chill puzzlers" and this one fit into my niche very nicely. There's quite a lot to do here, ~120 puzzles in the base game, and an extra large puzzle released every week for free, typically themed with a holiday somewhere in the world for that week (ie. 4th of July for the week of the 4th). There's not too much to the gameplay, a little bit of math or spatial awareness to figure out how the "hoops" fit together, but very, very few that actually stumped me for more than a couple minutes. There was something just so satisfying about seeing the completed picture at the end, and some of the pictures are really pretty. Neat little gimmick of a puzzler game, definitely worth picking up if you spot it on sale.
Box Boy + Box Girl! 8.5/10
Speaking of chill puzzlers. I played almost the entirety of this game on the plane to Hawaii. It's a very simple but satisfying platform puzzler, with some added depth given in that there's a very specific sequence of moves you can take on each stage to beat the level in under x number of blocks. So, naturally, that's where a majority of my time went in playing this one. If not going for that alternate goal this is a very, very short title you can breeze through in a couple of hours, but the added challenges can really scratch that puzzler itch. Very cute to look at and worth a look into again if you like puzzlers.
Gibbon Beyond the Trees 8/10
A very simple and quick game (I think under 3 hours tbh), but absolutely gorgeous both to look at and in sound design. It's a pretty unique sidescrolling platformer based around maintaining momentum and chaining jumps. The gameplay was not quite as tight as I would hope, but when the sequencing and timing went right it was super duper satisfying. It honestly felt a little bit like a tech demo, especially with how overall short it was and how little variation there actually was in the game, however it is a very unique and beautiful experience. Save the gibbons.
Pokemon Infinite Fusion 8/10 (PC)
OK, this one is a fan game not a real one, and one that's still seeing frequent updates. But I did spend quite a while playing around on this one so I figured I'd list it here. The concept is incredible and well-executed. I could, and literally did, spend hours just fusing Pokemon together to see what I could make, and the level of commitment from the sprite artists (some of which are on Smogon, hi!), is absolutely incredible. I would give this a perfect 10/10 for that alone, however I can't because it's set in Kanto again. I cannot stand playing in Kanto anymore, and it made it feel like such a chore to get to the end again (even with the inclusion of the Sevii Islands). I highly recommend checking it out, or at least watching some of the Poketubers play around with it (Alpharad's video is particularly entertaining, along with his Too Many Types vid).
unpacking 7/10
A very cute and satisfying puzzler, right up my alley. However, this title is marred by just how short it is. Unlike stitch. above that has a ton of puzzles, this one was done and over with in the matter of a couple of hours, which was NOT worth the $10-15 I dropped on this one, which was even on sale at the time I believe. While I get that there were a ton of little hidden Easter eggs throughout that some people found satisfying to go back and try to find, I did not see any reason to replay this one, especially because it felt like you were replaying a bunch of levels as it was already. Worth a look if you find it cheap, but do not spend more than $10 on this one.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series (2022) 6.5/10
Haven't actually finished this one completely but I played the original way back in the day. Glad I got this one on sale because playing this one made me remember why this series never quite made the splash that Mario and co. did. It's a unique platformer but unique isn't always better. The gimmicks here being you're locked into a 2D plane on a 3D field, and you use the enemies to help you platform and hit switches and stuff. While jumping around and platforming is done pretty well, the same cannot be said when it comes to enemies and the boss fights. Klonoa's range on the wind ring is abysmal and feels horrible to use 95% of the time. For being such an integral component to the gameplay, having to be basically inside the enemy in order to "capture" and balloon-ball-ify them feels so, so bad. And the boss fights, particularly those that require you to throw objects into the 3D plane from your 2D position, just feels like complete dogshit. I like the overall feel and look to the game, and I still hold out hope that we'll get a fully actualized 3D title a la Mario Sunshine or Odyssey someday, but man the 2D titles feel rough and dated now.
Disney Illusion Island 5/10
Alright, so I'm a big metroidvania buff. I couldn't wait to try Disney's take on it because the ad actually looked interesting. Well, they got me. I couldn't believe it. 3 hours into the game and there STILL was NO COMBAT. I thought, man that's a choice, but maybe I'll get something soon. Nope, first boss over and done and almost to the second, and it finally sunk in... Disney made a metroidvania with no combat, platforming only. Had I known that from the beginning I would have just passed on this title, but after getting halfway through the game I was committed. I at least had to see how it ended. The end boss, to my surprise, was actually challenging. It was the actual perfect culmination of all the platforming techs you acquired throughout the game, so that is like the only positive I can give this game apart from the artstyle and atmosphere. But man, this is a boring one that I had to drag myself to see the end of. Easy pass unless you want a super easy game.
Honorable mentions/currently playing:
Octopath Traveler 10/10 (currently 30+ hours in)
Shovel Knight Treasure Trove 8.5/10 (4 hours in)
Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster 8/10 (3 hours in)
Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time 8/10 (4 hours in)
Final Fantasy 7 8/10 (10ish hours in)
Pikuniku 6/10 (2 hours in, big ???? here lol)
Moonlighter (just started)
Enter the Gungeon (just started)
Tears of the Kingdom (10/10 easy, finally finished 100%ing it at some point the last year)
Death's Gambit (just started)
So, what's everyone been playing?
Attachments
So after beating FE Engage on Maddening (twice), I'm looking for a new JRPG fix. I've already played both Switch Xenoblade games, and I'm considering getting Dragon Quest XI. Has anyone played it yet? It looked good from what I've seen, and it's had good reviews from what I've seen. I don't need a super deep story, good gameplay is more important to me.
Yes, play Dragon Quest XI, all the way yes.
I'm a Dragon Quest fan, full disclosure but it is a game well worth playing as most Dragon Quests are. Masterfully done game.
This campaign took me about 20 minutes to finish.
After five years of trying.
This is a free single-player mobile strategy game called World Conqueror II. It's a World War II game, but unlike grand strategy like Hearts of Iron, it's small scale and loose with historical accuracy. More like a Polytopia or, to stretch a bit, Fire Emblem.
Above, I beat the second level of the campaign mode, Allies side. To understand why this level is so freaking hard, let's see how this game works.
To win a WCII campaign game, you need to control all land (you and your allies) within a certain number of turns. You gain control of a land piece by walking your land unit on it, and that lasts until an enemy AI walks on it and gains control. Your resources to make new units are $ Money, which matters for everything, and & Industry, which only matters for specific stuff. Each land piece you control gives some Money and Industry every turn, with better-developed land giving more. Developed land also lets you create units on it. Different units cost different money and have their own perks: Infantry is cheap, Artillery stops counter-attack, so on. When they attack, the attacker and defender lose some HP from their respective pools, and weaker units are less effective attackers.
Now lets look at the challenge, defeating Japan in Midway Islands.
The bottom right green cluster is you. The top right green cluster is your ally – they're another commander on your side, and they act independently from you. The orange is Japan, the enemy AI. You have 30 turns to win. Here's your rough goal:
First, prepare to land in the Phillipines, which means sending your tank close by and distracting/defeating the southern Japanese navy.
Second, simultaneously begin the landing and deploy whatever unneeded forces you have to help your ally hold onto their territory. Third, land in the Japanese home islands to win, your ally making that possible by distracting/defeating the northern Japanese navy.
This might look like a pretty even match. It's not. In sum, you have very ambitious goals, very little tools to improve your initial disadvantage, very little breathing room to reverse any mistakes or improve your position, and a battle type almost designed to suck away as much of your limited time as possible.
1. Your victory condition is much harder. You have to control the entire territory within a limited amount of time, while Japan has to just not get completely obliterated. Even if you did have even forces, you'd still be at a disadvantage, because an even outcome isn't acceptable for you specifically, you need complete decisive victory.
2. Your ally's initial forces are a bit weak. In the south, the two sides are pretty even. In the north, where your ally has a Destroyer (worst ship), Japan has a Cruiser (second worst ship) instead. They also have a light tank and infantry instead of just an artillery.
3. Your initial resources per turn is weaker. You start out making $30 and &10 per turn, and your ally starts with $8 and &0 per turn, so $38, &10 combined. Japan starts with $93, &25 per turn, so almost triple your output.
To be fair, all commanders start out with $300 and &150, and your side has two commanders while Japan has one, so you start out with double the resources. However, with your worse resources per turn, that gap will evaporate about 5 turns for money, and about 10 turns for industry. Beyond that point (maximum of 30 turns, remember), you're in the red on resources and sinking deeper unless you conquer more land.
3.5. Resource nuances: Coordination. Japan can spend their money on whatever units they want, wherever, but you can't spend money on your ally's units or territory. Since your ally gets $8 per turn to use, your ally basically is helpless to improve themselves all game. What you see from them is what you'll get, and nothing more.
3.75. Resource nuances II: Marginal Utility. This map has relatively few total units on it, which magnifies the effect of having worse initial setup in units and resource gain. The fewer total units there are, the more proportionately impactful every advantage is. Even though Japan only has 2 more land units in the north than your ally, they have more than triple the land force (tanks are really good), for example.
3.8. Resource nuances III: Resource Arbitrage. In a game like this, you're expected to be better than the AI: the only question is whether you're better enough to complete the tough victory condition. For this reason, situation A is better than situation B below, even though you're seemingly at a disadvantage in A.
Hypothetical Situation A (easier): You get $500, &150 per turn, AI gets $750, $250 per turn.
Hypothetical Situation B (harder): You get $50, &10 per turn, AI gets $50, &10 per turn.
Because you can stretch your resources a lot farther than the AI can, having more resources to stretch out is really valuable. In this situation, you get very little resources per turn, which is disadvantageous.
3.9 Resources Nuances IV: Supply Lines. You can buy certain abilities with resources. One of the most important is the Supply Line, which fully heals all units on a tile. Best-case, you turn four useless husks of damaged-beyond-repair tanks into four shiny new, fully healthy, extra experienced tanks. This ability changes games, really helps the player flex their skill advantage over the AI, and makes absurd starting positions become winnable. It also costs $180/&80, which is repeatedly feasible in missions where you control more territory, and is much less feasible when you gain $30 per turn. Yes, you have more starting resources, and controlling the Phillipines will give you some more resource gain eventuall, but there are competing demands for resources too.
4. Naval Battles are awkward. It's hard to get anything done, because everything can only move one tile per turn in the water, land units struggle to fight in the water, and you can't use many strategies in the water.
4.1. Rushing. Even if you had literally zero enemies, in the absolute best case scenario, it would eat up half of your 30 turns to move your land units into the necessary spaces. You will not get the best case scenario. You have to rush and deploy your land units aggressively to land quickly.
4.15. Rushing AntiSynergy. Deploying your units aggressively to land puts them at risk of enemy navy and army. Normally, losing some units isn't a big deal, but all the previous obstacles combine to make this a big deal. You only have two units to land with, and only one is good at it, the tank (your rocket truck struggles to move and counter-attack), so losing that tank is a big deal. You struggle to get resources to make more units, so you will struggle to replace the tank if you lose it. Even if you make a replacement unit, you have to send it across the water again to land, costing valuable limited time. Your tank will also struggle to fight navy units, because navy units are good against land units. Also you'll struggle to heal your tank to keep it safe because Supply Lines are so hard to use here, and you don't have other units to effectively stack onto the same space as it to protect it. In sum, you can't lose the tank (at least not early), and since you're rushing, keeping it safe is a challenge.
4.2. Naval Unit Limitations. Ships have a bunch of limitations, which means they are hard to strategize with and time-consuming. They are relatively tanky and can only attack once per turn, so naval battles eat into your limited time more. You can't stack multiple ships on one tile, which means Supply Line can only heal one ship at a time, and you're likely to get one Supply Line the whole game, which means keeping your fleet healthy and operational is "very hard" to be nice. They're also very expensive to build - a midgrade Cruiser is $300/&100 when you make $30 per turn - so good luck replacing any losses.
So... how did I win? Besides maximizing every little nuance skill advantage and strategy I could find, I got some help from the AI. Japan over-extended by sending all their land units to take my ally's territory, and I used this to sweep through the home islands one (1) turn before they would have successfully taken that territory, which would've prevented my win. And then I beat the next mission the same guy because of course.
There's honestly more stuff I could get into here, but I'm mentally tapped out lol, at least for now.
Above, I beat the second level of the campaign mode, Allies side. To understand why this level is so freaking hard, let's see how this game works.
To win a WCII campaign game, you need to control all land (you and your allies) within a certain number of turns. You gain control of a land piece by walking your land unit on it, and that lasts until an enemy AI walks on it and gains control. Your resources to make new units are $ Money, which matters for everything, and & Industry, which only matters for specific stuff. Each land piece you control gives some Money and Industry every turn, with better-developed land giving more. Developed land also lets you create units on it. Different units cost different money and have their own perks: Infantry is cheap, Artillery stops counter-attack, so on. When they attack, the attacker and defender lose some HP from their respective pools, and weaker units are less effective attackers.
Now lets look at the challenge, defeating Japan in Midway Islands.
The bottom right green cluster is you. The top right green cluster is your ally – they're another commander on your side, and they act independently from you. The orange is Japan, the enemy AI. You have 30 turns to win. Here's your rough goal:
First, prepare to land in the Phillipines, which means sending your tank close by and distracting/defeating the southern Japanese navy.
Second, simultaneously begin the landing and deploy whatever unneeded forces you have to help your ally hold onto their territory. Third, land in the Japanese home islands to win, your ally making that possible by distracting/defeating the northern Japanese navy.
This might look like a pretty even match. It's not. In sum, you have very ambitious goals, very little tools to improve your initial disadvantage, very little breathing room to reverse any mistakes or improve your position, and a battle type almost designed to suck away as much of your limited time as possible.
1. Your victory condition is much harder. You have to control the entire territory within a limited amount of time, while Japan has to just not get completely obliterated. Even if you did have even forces, you'd still be at a disadvantage, because an even outcome isn't acceptable for you specifically, you need complete decisive victory.
2. Your ally's initial forces are a bit weak. In the south, the two sides are pretty even. In the north, where your ally has a Destroyer (worst ship), Japan has a Cruiser (second worst ship) instead. They also have a light tank and infantry instead of just an artillery.
3. Your initial resources per turn is weaker. You start out making $30 and &10 per turn, and your ally starts with $8 and &0 per turn, so $38, &10 combined. Japan starts with $93, &25 per turn, so almost triple your output.
To be fair, all commanders start out with $300 and &150, and your side has two commanders while Japan has one, so you start out with double the resources. However, with your worse resources per turn, that gap will evaporate about 5 turns for money, and about 10 turns for industry. Beyond that point (maximum of 30 turns, remember), you're in the red on resources and sinking deeper unless you conquer more land.
3.5. Resource nuances: Coordination. Japan can spend their money on whatever units they want, wherever, but you can't spend money on your ally's units or territory. Since your ally gets $8 per turn to use, your ally basically is helpless to improve themselves all game. What you see from them is what you'll get, and nothing more.
3.75. Resource nuances II: Marginal Utility. This map has relatively few total units on it, which magnifies the effect of having worse initial setup in units and resource gain. The fewer total units there are, the more proportionately impactful every advantage is. Even though Japan only has 2 more land units in the north than your ally, they have more than triple the land force (tanks are really good), for example.
3.8. Resource nuances III: Resource Arbitrage. In a game like this, you're expected to be better than the AI: the only question is whether you're better enough to complete the tough victory condition. For this reason, situation A is better than situation B below, even though you're seemingly at a disadvantage in A.
Hypothetical Situation A (easier): You get $500, &150 per turn, AI gets $750, $250 per turn.
Hypothetical Situation B (harder): You get $50, &10 per turn, AI gets $50, &10 per turn.
Because you can stretch your resources a lot farther than the AI can, having more resources to stretch out is really valuable. In this situation, you get very little resources per turn, which is disadvantageous.
3.9 Resources Nuances IV: Supply Lines. You can buy certain abilities with resources. One of the most important is the Supply Line, which fully heals all units on a tile. Best-case, you turn four useless husks of damaged-beyond-repair tanks into four shiny new, fully healthy, extra experienced tanks. This ability changes games, really helps the player flex their skill advantage over the AI, and makes absurd starting positions become winnable. It also costs $180/&80, which is repeatedly feasible in missions where you control more territory, and is much less feasible when you gain $30 per turn. Yes, you have more starting resources, and controlling the Phillipines will give you some more resource gain eventuall, but there are competing demands for resources too.
4. Naval Battles are awkward. It's hard to get anything done, because everything can only move one tile per turn in the water, land units struggle to fight in the water, and you can't use many strategies in the water.
4.1. Rushing. Even if you had literally zero enemies, in the absolute best case scenario, it would eat up half of your 30 turns to move your land units into the necessary spaces. You will not get the best case scenario. You have to rush and deploy your land units aggressively to land quickly.
4.15. Rushing AntiSynergy. Deploying your units aggressively to land puts them at risk of enemy navy and army. Normally, losing some units isn't a big deal, but all the previous obstacles combine to make this a big deal. You only have two units to land with, and only one is good at it, the tank (your rocket truck struggles to move and counter-attack), so losing that tank is a big deal. You struggle to get resources to make more units, so you will struggle to replace the tank if you lose it. Even if you make a replacement unit, you have to send it across the water again to land, costing valuable limited time. Your tank will also struggle to fight navy units, because navy units are good against land units. Also you'll struggle to heal your tank to keep it safe because Supply Lines are so hard to use here, and you don't have other units to effectively stack onto the same space as it to protect it. In sum, you can't lose the tank (at least not early), and since you're rushing, keeping it safe is a challenge.
4.2. Naval Unit Limitations. Ships have a bunch of limitations, which means they are hard to strategize with and time-consuming. They are relatively tanky and can only attack once per turn, so naval battles eat into your limited time more. You can't stack multiple ships on one tile, which means Supply Line can only heal one ship at a time, and you're likely to get one Supply Line the whole game, which means keeping your fleet healthy and operational is "very hard" to be nice. They're also very expensive to build - a midgrade Cruiser is $300/&100 when you make $30 per turn - so good luck replacing any losses.
So... how did I win? Besides maximizing every little nuance skill advantage and strategy I could find, I got some help from the AI. Japan over-extended by sending all their land units to take my ally's territory, and I used this to sweep through the home islands one (1) turn before they would have successfully taken that territory, which would've prevented my win. And then I beat the next mission the same guy because of course.
There's honestly more stuff I could get into here, but I'm mentally tapped out lol, at least for now.
I'm in the middle of XI and dunno if I'm anywhere near beating it.
That's most Dragon Quest games, first I ever played was 8: Journey of the Cursed King, it was def one of those "I hope I'm not near the end" games, when I beat it I was so satisfied (IMO a GOAT tier jrpg) yet still so sad cus I didnt want it to end lol.
Hogwarts Legacy is one of more recent games I felt similar with. (I'd say FF7 remakes too but I only just finally got a PS5, wouldn't be fair till I beat em all.)
Yes absolutely, that game rules. But also the demo is free on Switch, you could easily put 5 hours into it, and entirely transferrable progress if you get the main game. Absolutely no reason not to try it out.
This is usually a thread I lurk for random recommendations but I've played a good amount of random stuff over the summer and I decided that I want to contribute something too.
Hades 2 - hell yeah more Hades it rules and I had to uninstall it because I was playing too much
Couple hours long point and click adventure about a boy and some talking animals, it's cute and insubstantial. Didn't hate my time with it but only barely remembered that I'd played it. If this kind of game is your thing I don't think you'd regret picking it up.
This got buzz in a couple of Nintendo Directs, sorta kinda post-apocalyptic action RPG with lots of story and partner mechanics and cooking. Great vibes and music, not too long, really fun world, and then goes off the deep end at the end? I didn't hate it by any means but I also have no idea what they were going for and what I'm supposed to take away. Just lost me in the weirdness. Real fun though!
I wanted a legally distinct slightly worse A Link to the Past and this game delivered. It doesn't really bring a new spin on or transcend what it's aping (it's no Bug Fables), but the game was cute and fun while it lasted.
This game completely rules 10/10. I'd never heard of it, randomly stumbled on the demo during Next Fest, liked that enough to buy it on launch day, and was not disappointed once. It's a story interspersed with some minigames and walking but presented really beautifully. Great music, great art style, I love the way you interact with the world, the characters are almost always on point with one weird bit that I think only bothers me, and the story starts so small and personal that it really grounds you into these people before taking you in a much crazier sci-fi direction. It's all about high schoolers and their issues and finding direction and even though I'm well past that part of my life it *really* hit home. It also deals with some pretty heavy themes including loss and abuse, the game itself has better content warnings, but if that doesn't stop you then take a chance on this.
I just kinda wanted to try a different RPG. This is a remake of a really old game that spawned a kinda large series that I'd never really heard of or gotten into and yeah, the game feels old. Like, it's cool, the combat is different, I liked it enough to finish it in about 18 hours. But I also didn't engage with a ton of optional mechanics, the battles got tedious by the end, there's almost no fast travel, and the ending section and final boss felt out of nowhere because the plot is entirely thin. I kinda liked it anyway? It's just old charming I guess. If you like random old JRPGs and don't know this one then maybe.
A sequel to the absolutely fucking incredible must play game Golf Club Nostalgia. A short cinematic platformer that's all about the story and the vibes. You're a little kid on an abandoned Earth being chased by humans who're coming back from Mars to scout out the wrecked planet, and that's all cool but the best part is that you listen to their radio the whole time. It's just an excuse to give constant commentary on the world and humanity and I'm a sucker for everything they're saying. Play Golf Club Nostalgia, it's better, but then play this one too.
Super fun little level-based 2D platformer that focuses on getting good at being fast and picking up collectibles. Really effectively encouraged me to shoot for perfect on all of its stages. You could 100% this game in under 10 hours but it's super fun the whole time. Indie 2D platformers are basically never this tight and polished. If that's your genre, buy this.
Couple hours long point and click adventure about a boy and some talking animals, it's cute and insubstantial. Didn't hate my time with it but only barely remembered that I'd played it. If this kind of game is your thing I don't think you'd regret picking it up.
This got buzz in a couple of Nintendo Directs, sorta kinda post-apocalyptic action RPG with lots of story and partner mechanics and cooking. Great vibes and music, not too long, really fun world, and then goes off the deep end at the end? I didn't hate it by any means but I also have no idea what they were going for and what I'm supposed to take away. Just lost me in the weirdness. Real fun though!
I wanted a legally distinct slightly worse A Link to the Past and this game delivered. It doesn't really bring a new spin on or transcend what it's aping (it's no Bug Fables), but the game was cute and fun while it lasted.
This game completely rules 10/10. I'd never heard of it, randomly stumbled on the demo during Next Fest, liked that enough to buy it on launch day, and was not disappointed once. It's a story interspersed with some minigames and walking but presented really beautifully. Great music, great art style, I love the way you interact with the world, the characters are almost always on point with one weird bit that I think only bothers me, and the story starts so small and personal that it really grounds you into these people before taking you in a much crazier sci-fi direction. It's all about high schoolers and their issues and finding direction and even though I'm well past that part of my life it *really* hit home. It also deals with some pretty heavy themes including loss and abuse, the game itself has better content warnings, but if that doesn't stop you then take a chance on this.
I just kinda wanted to try a different RPG. This is a remake of a really old game that spawned a kinda large series that I'd never really heard of or gotten into and yeah, the game feels old. Like, it's cool, the combat is different, I liked it enough to finish it in about 18 hours. But I also didn't engage with a ton of optional mechanics, the battles got tedious by the end, there's almost no fast travel, and the ending section and final boss felt out of nowhere because the plot is entirely thin. I kinda liked it anyway? It's just old charming I guess. If you like random old JRPGs and don't know this one then maybe.
A sequel to the absolutely fucking incredible must play game Golf Club Nostalgia. A short cinematic platformer that's all about the story and the vibes. You're a little kid on an abandoned Earth being chased by humans who're coming back from Mars to scout out the wrecked planet, and that's all cool but the best part is that you listen to their radio the whole time. It's just an excuse to give constant commentary on the world and humanity and I'm a sucker for everything they're saying. Play Golf Club Nostalgia, it's better, but then play this one too.
Super fun little level-based 2D platformer that focuses on getting good at being fast and picking up collectibles. Really effectively encouraged me to shoot for perfect on all of its stages. You could 100% this game in under 10 hours but it's super fun the whole time. Indie 2D platformers are basically never this tight and polished. If that's your genre, buy this.
playing FF7 Remake for the first time [and yes i know im super early in] but that The Stagger Effect Pt. 1 side quest been annoying me lmao.
I kill everything too quick or the stagger is right before one more hit to kill/I didnt get to use the ATB gauge as Cloud (since ima just do it with Punisher mode) out of fear of killing them lol. I've like resigned myself to "This will be mainly gained off (mini-/)bosses. lol [and i play on its top difficulty]
maybe i just zone out in fights a lil too much lol.
edit* finally got it done, the refilling of the atb gauge kept tripping me up killing things too quick lol. barrett & tifa were def easier to use than cloud for this lmaooo.
I kill everything too quick or the stagger is right before one more hit to kill/I didnt get to use the ATB gauge as Cloud (since ima just do it with Punisher mode) out of fear of killing them lol. I've like resigned myself to "This will be mainly gained off (mini-/)bosses. lol [and i play on its top difficulty]
maybe i just zone out in fights a lil too much lol.
edit* finally got it done, the refilling of the atb gauge kept tripping me up killing things too quick lol. barrett & tifa were def easier to use than cloud for this lmaooo.
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This was the first gaming generation where I was actually an adult who had a job and money, and I was so irresponsible lol.
First, I got an Xbox Series S, because I couldn't afford a PS5 in like 2022. Then, in 2023, I sold the Xbox and got a PS5 Digital. Then in 2023, I realized that from a monetary perspective I kinda hated consoles. I grew up with them and they had been my standard for so long, but I realized I just preferred the freedom, emulation, modding, and no paid online of PC games.
So I upgraded my PC, and cheaped out with a RX 580. And now, for my birthday in 2024, I got a RX 6750 XT lol, and gave my PS5 to my family as a thank you.
I really, really wish I didn't literally go through all three and was more responsible, but w/e, live and learn.
But if I were to rank them: PC > PS5 > Series S
Reasons: PC is cheaper longterm for online gaming and with sales. Modding, emulation, etc. Steam Big Picture is great and lets me practically use my PC like a console, for those who haven't used it you just turn on your controller that is connected to the PC, press the home button twice, and it opens the Steam Deck menuing but on desktop. If a game doesn't support your controller you have the menu right there to enable Steam Input and download configurations that let you use that control, sometimes even "Official" options that just weren't made in the game. Xbox Game Pass PC is now actually cheaper than Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox, which is essentially the equivalent. Great deal and probably better than the Xbox version. Also, not sure if I'm allowed to say this but... There's a way to get some free games if you aren't able to afford it, if ya know what I mean. No judgement from me.
PS5 is great as a console but feels more locked down than ever. No themes, no web browser. Feels like it is just an entertainment box with no flexibility, and even in that sense it leaves things to be desired. Even for PS5 games my NEW PS5 still had problems. Miles Morales for instance would crash several times throughout my playthrough, although it played still generally smoothly at a great framerate. The console's menuing can be a bit slow at times and compared to the Xbox systems, switching between games feels slower. But all of this is made up for with the Dualsense, my second favorite controller of all-time. The Dualsense's analog triggers with haptic feedback feel incredible, the gyro is better than Nintendo's (and I'm a gyro enthusiast), and it just has so much cool shit. Now, its battery life is in fact dogshit, but I actually used it on my PC a lot and it felt really comfortable for most games, too. My favorite controller is the Switch Pro controller for ergonomics, but everything I would add to the Dualsense or the Switch Pro controller is basically just cross-fusioning the two into a perfect being. The controller makes games better, more immersive, more fun- games like Rift Apart have weapons where it has a basic fire and then you can slam down against the haptic to get a big blast, and it feels really satisfying.
On the games front, people are a bit harsh on it. It doesn't have many true exclusives, that's true, but that's because they're doing the pro consumer move of actually putting them on PC. Most people who are gaming on consoles the majority of the time are not usually the people to have a PS5 except extreme enthusiasts who will buy a console just for like a few exclusives. Now IMO the real treat is seeing the games that are upgraded for PS5 and how they get more out of it. Great framerates, crazy visuals, haptic feedback from the controller, some of the silkiest experiences I've ever played. And still, from an at least temporary-exclusive perspective, the games made for it feel incredible on it. Rift Apart, FF7 Rebirth, FF16, the Spiderman games etc. are some of my favorite experiences of the generation and while the FFs are likely coming to PC (and SM2), they are still great and made first for PS5. There is something to say about wanting more games of theirs to stay exclusive-exclusive, but I'm a primarily PC gamer now so I'll keep my mouth shut and take the freebies.
Xbox was a great deal to me before I realized how it isn't actually THAT expensive to get a CPU and GPU that is up to snuff (my RX 6750 XT was $300 on sale, and my CPU was around $100, and I got a new motherboard [wasn't that necessary, but I thought my old one broke] for $80, and I probably spent around $200 on Game Pass alone!). With Game Pass the experience is enjoyable, and the console is less locked down than the PS5's OS. But that's because... it's basically just the last gen's OS.
The Xbox Series consoles do not feel like next gen systems, they are perhaps the laziest upgrades I've ever seen. The OS is basically the same (if not literally the same, on the same updates, the same code), the controller is basically the same (Why the fuck am I not getting a rechargeable battery with my controller, Xbox? Why no Gyro in the 2020s? Like seriously?), why would I buy this unless I literally just can't afford a better option? The actual experience with the console is ok, but it literally is just an Xbox One with improved specs. And the Series S is actually technically falling behind, as that cheaped out specs is causing devs some problems- there are debates about this actually being a positive or not, but in general it means don't expect to play your Series S in 4K, let alone 60 on some games.
In 2024, when an Xbox Series S is basically a Windows 10 gaming computer without the bonuses of it, where it seems like Xbox's future prospects are them trying to push Xbox Cloud Gaming rather than their actual systems, I would not in confidence recommend someone to join its ecosystem. It will feel great to have a cheap way to get into the "next gen" of consoles at first, but I do not feel it is worth it long term.
First, I got an Xbox Series S, because I couldn't afford a PS5 in like 2022. Then, in 2023, I sold the Xbox and got a PS5 Digital. Then in 2023, I realized that from a monetary perspective I kinda hated consoles. I grew up with them and they had been my standard for so long, but I realized I just preferred the freedom, emulation, modding, and no paid online of PC games.
So I upgraded my PC, and cheaped out with a RX 580. And now, for my birthday in 2024, I got a RX 6750 XT lol, and gave my PS5 to my family as a thank you.
I really, really wish I didn't literally go through all three and was more responsible, but w/e, live and learn.
But if I were to rank them: PC > PS5 > Series S
Reasons: PC is cheaper longterm for online gaming and with sales. Modding, emulation, etc. Steam Big Picture is great and lets me practically use my PC like a console, for those who haven't used it you just turn on your controller that is connected to the PC, press the home button twice, and it opens the Steam Deck menuing but on desktop. If a game doesn't support your controller you have the menu right there to enable Steam Input and download configurations that let you use that control, sometimes even "Official" options that just weren't made in the game. Xbox Game Pass PC is now actually cheaper than Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox, which is essentially the equivalent. Great deal and probably better than the Xbox version. Also, not sure if I'm allowed to say this but... There's a way to get some free games if you aren't able to afford it, if ya know what I mean. No judgement from me.
PS5 is great as a console but feels more locked down than ever. No themes, no web browser. Feels like it is just an entertainment box with no flexibility, and even in that sense it leaves things to be desired. Even for PS5 games my NEW PS5 still had problems. Miles Morales for instance would crash several times throughout my playthrough, although it played still generally smoothly at a great framerate. The console's menuing can be a bit slow at times and compared to the Xbox systems, switching between games feels slower. But all of this is made up for with the Dualsense, my second favorite controller of all-time. The Dualsense's analog triggers with haptic feedback feel incredible, the gyro is better than Nintendo's (and I'm a gyro enthusiast), and it just has so much cool shit. Now, its battery life is in fact dogshit, but I actually used it on my PC a lot and it felt really comfortable for most games, too. My favorite controller is the Switch Pro controller for ergonomics, but everything I would add to the Dualsense or the Switch Pro controller is basically just cross-fusioning the two into a perfect being. The controller makes games better, more immersive, more fun- games like Rift Apart have weapons where it has a basic fire and then you can slam down against the haptic to get a big blast, and it feels really satisfying.
On the games front, people are a bit harsh on it. It doesn't have many true exclusives, that's true, but that's because they're doing the pro consumer move of actually putting them on PC. Most people who are gaming on consoles the majority of the time are not usually the people to have a PS5 except extreme enthusiasts who will buy a console just for like a few exclusives. Now IMO the real treat is seeing the games that are upgraded for PS5 and how they get more out of it. Great framerates, crazy visuals, haptic feedback from the controller, some of the silkiest experiences I've ever played. And still, from an at least temporary-exclusive perspective, the games made for it feel incredible on it. Rift Apart, FF7 Rebirth, FF16, the Spiderman games etc. are some of my favorite experiences of the generation and while the FFs are likely coming to PC (and SM2), they are still great and made first for PS5. There is something to say about wanting more games of theirs to stay exclusive-exclusive, but I'm a primarily PC gamer now so I'll keep my mouth shut and take the freebies.
Xbox was a great deal to me before I realized how it isn't actually THAT expensive to get a CPU and GPU that is up to snuff (my RX 6750 XT was $300 on sale, and my CPU was around $100, and I got a new motherboard [wasn't that necessary, but I thought my old one broke] for $80, and I probably spent around $200 on Game Pass alone!). With Game Pass the experience is enjoyable, and the console is less locked down than the PS5's OS. But that's because... it's basically just the last gen's OS.
The Xbox Series consoles do not feel like next gen systems, they are perhaps the laziest upgrades I've ever seen. The OS is basically the same (if not literally the same, on the same updates, the same code), the controller is basically the same (Why the fuck am I not getting a rechargeable battery with my controller, Xbox? Why no Gyro in the 2020s? Like seriously?), why would I buy this unless I literally just can't afford a better option? The actual experience with the console is ok, but it literally is just an Xbox One with improved specs. And the Series S is actually technically falling behind, as that cheaped out specs is causing devs some problems- there are debates about this actually being a positive or not, but in general it means don't expect to play your Series S in 4K, let alone 60 on some games.
In 2024, when an Xbox Series S is basically a Windows 10 gaming computer without the bonuses of it, where it seems like Xbox's future prospects are them trying to push Xbox Cloud Gaming rather than their actual systems, I would not in confidence recommend someone to join its ecosystem. It will feel great to have a cheap way to get into the "next gen" of consoles at first, but I do not feel it is worth it long term.
Wow hi hello!
After the Oglemi post, I was meaning to post some of the games I've beaten this year. Unfortunately, this post has taken a very long time because I actually have played a LOT of games already this year, and unlike last year I actually have a lot to say about many of them (there is one in particular that will probably get its own dedicated post lol). I don't know if I'll have time to cover all of the other games I've played so far this year so I just want to post reviews for whatever games I have the energy to write about up till now, everything else will get discussed in my year-end post.
Super Mario Bros 3 (All-Stars Version) (1988/1994)
System: SNES, Wii, Nintendo Switch (I’m playing on Wii)
Developer / Publisher: Nintendo
Completion Notes: Beat the game warpless
I am not really a Mario fan, I find a lot of levels in these games to be pretty forgettable even if they are good in the moment. In particular, I am just not a find of hop-and-stomp platformers with very small margins for error; even if stuff like Mega Man and Castlevania may seem harder, the combat is far more interesting and varied and you actually get a health bar. As you might surmise, I much prefer 3D Mario to 2D Mario. My favorite 2D Mario game is Super Mario Land since its jankness and lo-fi actually makes it stand out as a unique and nostalgic experience.
So with all that said, Super Mario Bros 3 is hailed as the best Mario game and the best game on the NES, and boy howdy I vehemently disagree. Mario 3’s biggest problems is its levels, which come in three flavors: Fun but totally unsatisfying, a boring slog, or ridiculously frustrating (sometimes multiple of these!).
While Mario 3 on the surface seems to be a huge game with all sorts of levels to check out, in practice, these levels are REALLY short. You can blast through a lot of the levels in the first half of the game in like 45 seconds, so you don’t really feel all that satisfied when you beat a level even if it takes you multiple times. Like, there was a level in World 3 where I thought, “This is a cool idea for a level! Big Bertha is chasing you and you have run real fast to avoid—oh, wtf, the level is over after 30 seconds.” You can make the argument that it’s meant to be a potpourri of brief platforming challenges (i-it's the Madvillainy of Mario!!!!!!), but to me, this game just feels like a conga line of undercooked ideas.
Then we have the boring levels; every world has an airship autoscroller which is very long and not fun to go through since it’s mostly dodging enemy projectiles with minimal platforming. If that wasn’t bad enough, half of the levels in World 8 are these sorts of autoscrollers! In most games, this would be tolerable, but Mario 3’s levels lack checkpoints and again, you’re playing a Mario game, so combat sucks!
Finally, we have the levels which I do remember for being ungodly frustrating. World 7, the pipe world, is when the game finally realizes “hey guys, we should maybe make our levels longer than 1 minute long!” Unfortunately, it does this by piling on some unbelievably frustrating levels, like the one pictured above where you have to constantly grab an invincibility star or die (I really love how you can’t predict the way items will move in this game! I really appreciate this added level of BS! ), and then for some reason the level after that is a desert level that is stupid easy????????? Great job Miyamoto.
Since this is an older game, you have very sparse lives, and Game Overs will kick you back several levels. For some unholy reason, the NES version of Mario 3 has NO save feature (I guess you can use warp whistles? But cmon lol), and quite frankly I didn’t want to subject myself to keeping the game on all night so I elected to play the SNES version (which has pretty much the same checkpoint and Continue system). This just serves to make the hard levels even more of a frustrating grind as you keep having to redo significant amounts of progress. I know what I’m saying doesn’t really make sense to normal people who enjoy Mario, but to me, the end of this game was just a frustrating chore to get through. Thank god World 8 is way easier than World 7.
Dark Void Zero (2010)
System: Nintendo DSiWare, PC, iOS (I’m playing on DSi)
Developer: Other Ocean Interactive
Publisher: Capcom
(copying my Backloggd review for this because I like it)
It feels so strange to call a game like this a "poorly-aged product of its time", because I don't mean in terms of what lessons it learned from NES games. Dark Void Zero is an at-best serviceable 2D action 8-bit throwback at a time when they were still a tad underrepresented but absolutely in demand, released for $5 on a platform that DESPERATELY needed any sort of noteworthy games (you know something's wrong when a Shantae game is your "killer app").
The game is aesthetically unremarkable (the soundtrack is...fine...i guess?), has some cute ideas like 8-way shots, multiple weapons, and the rocket, and has a boring boss that is repeated for every level. Enemy bullets phase through walls, but of course yours don't (besides that rare and awful teleport laser); also for some reason aiming is rather finicky and I often had difficulty landing shots on enemies due to small hitboxes. The game has a lot of vibes of what made a game "good" in 2010, with a ton of meaningless collectables and levels that are big and long, but honestly pretty dull and unmemorable, especially when there are only three levels for the whole game. Also for some reason the game does not replenish your lives when you save or beat a stage? This is actually pretty annoying since this made me decide to grind Stage 2 until i could beat it deathless, only to realize that the devs FILLED Stage 3 with health items and 1-ups, perhaps to make up for this oopsie.
Downloadable 8-bit styled games are a dime-a-dozen in this day and age, with games like Prison City having disturbingly low player counts despite being legitimately good. Dark Void Zero was very much a game in the right place at the right time that did its job and has long since left our collective memories. No one remembers it anymore, and honestly, who cares lol.
Mega Man 8 (1996)
System: PS1, Sega Saturn; PS1 version has many many ports, but I’m playing the Saturn version
Developer / Publisher: Capcom
While I am a huge Mega Man fan, the Classic series is definitely my least favorite out of all of the many subseries the franchise offers. By no means is it bad, in fact Mega Man 9 is a great game, but I just find its moment-to-moment gameplay a lot less interesting than Mega Man X1 and especially the Zero and ZX games, even if the Classic games have much tighter level design.
Enter stage left: Mega Man 8.
Mega Man 8 is not the most well-liked Classic game, but it really appeals to my gaming tastes lol. The warm 32-bit spritework is a joy to look at, and the electronic soundtrack is excellent, blending Mega Man’s knack for melodies with a sound that keeps up with the 90s electronic boom while also being a strangely comforting listen. Regarding my favorite tracks, Aqua Man and Search Man are great takes on (ambient) house, and Wily Stage 2 is nothing short of a banger. A shame that Mega Man X4’s synth-heavy soundtrack is not nearly as interesting. The voice acting is iconic, albeit not because it's great, but damn is it entertaining. It's not wooden and it's not like the actors didn't try, but like...w-Mega Man is just legendary LOL. And Aqua Man is indeed a handsome guy.
Mega Man 8 is also a much easier game than most of the classic games I’ve played. It’s very setpiece focused and while it doesn’t push its level gimmicks quite as far as other Classic games, the gimmicks themselves are so inventive and well-themed that I don’t really care lol. The bosses also employ the approach of non-Classic Mega Man games where they don’t move around a ton and instead have several fixed attacks that are individually tricky to dodge. Much better than the other Classic games’ bosses, which are either way too repetitive or “erratic but not particularly interesting”. This is just a game that is a joy to play through. It’s like how most people view Mario games, except Mario games don’t feature a life bar, fun bosses, or a gun, so this is much better for me personally lol. Some of the gimmicks don't really pan out, namely those snowboarding sections (those got me questioning whether or not I had controller issues), but other than those sections, this would probably be a go-to choice for what I would recommend someone who is trying to get into Mega Man.
Oh, and the Sega Saturn version’s extra content is very inconsequential, Cut Man and Wood Man are just short minibosses that don’t really amount to much. Don't bother getting the Saturn version for....uh....$600????? What the fuck!?
System: PC Flash Game
Developer / Publisher: Team Bobo
A Newgrounds flash fangame that’s basically a big ol’ parody of the entire NES library. You play as the boss Abobo from Double Dragon, and you’ve got levels based on that, Mario, Contra, Zelda, even some less celebrated stuff like Pro Wrestling. It plays pretty well, or at least as well as any flash game could be. For as stupid as this game is (being an early 2010s retro game parody), it’s obvious a lot of love and care went into making this game. You’ve got tons of level variety, although the sheer variety of levels does make the game rather inconsistent, as some levels like the Balloon Fight level and the final boss are a bit lame on a gameplay standpoint even if they’re great aesthetically. The bigger turnoff for most people is that well…this is VERY much a Newgrounds game from early 2012. Lots of juvenile/shock humor, gore, over-the-top violence, you name it. I grew up with this era though, so I didn’t mind it much lol and in fact kinda enjoyed it, but I know not everyone can really deal with it. But again, this game is free. It should only take you an hour or two to clear it, so go play it!
Depression Quest (2013):
System: Browser / PC
Developer / Publisher: The Quinnspiracy
Played this one as research material for a game I’m working on, perhaps best known for being the game at the center of the Gamergate debacle, which…god that shit is just a blur to me now. Look, I’m sure Zoe Quinn is a cool person, and as someone who is currently taking a stab at a narrative-heavy indie game centered around mental health (hopefully I'll bring it up in my year end post :p), I can confirm that making this stuff is NOT easy to write or develop. I honestly do think this game is a valid portrayal of depression, and I suppose for 2013, it does a solid enough job communicating the alien issue of mental health to those unfamiliar. I will also note that Zoe Quinn wrote this game alongside one Patrick Lindsey and composer Issac Schankler. So this is all to say, no ill-will towards Zoe, this game was made 10 years ago after all.
I need to preface my review with this because, unfortunately, I am not going to be kind from here on out.
To be blunt, in this year of 2024, I think the writing in this game sucks; there are two major issues with it. Firstly, this game feels like it has its head up its own ass. Sorry, I’m not going to take your game seriously if you preface it with a motherfucking David Foster Wallace quote. The actual game is just filled with these walls of text that are a pain to read through, there’s no smooth scrolling like a visual novel, it just expects you to read it all like a normal book. But games are an interactive and visual medium, you don’t need to limit yourself like that!! Also, the games final message of “[Thank] you for being willing to play games that are meant to be something other than 'fun'”… I get what you’re saying, but it’s still unbelievably patronizing, like video games weren’t already capable of providing engaging experiences above being fun even in 2013 (see: every horror game on the PS2).
Secondly, this game is WAYYYYY too vague. I understand that it’s meant to place the player in these scenarios and create a sense of immersion, but it just doesn’t work at all. Not specifying your job, your friends, your relation to your girlfriend, your family life…I understand that it’s meant to make the game more “relatable” to everyone, but the exact opposite is what ends up happening. I have no investment in any of the events of this game because it’s all just so boring. The music and visuals feel pretty stock (I think I muted the game at some point), and again, there is so much text and yet it just doesn’t say anything of value. My eyes started to glaze over it and I tried to skip ahead to the actual decision-making, which is absolutely NOT something you can have happen in a story-focused game.
I really don't want to criticize its portrayal of depression since, again, I do feel like it’s a valid exploration of the authors’ experience (I too am making my game to help me process these last 5 years of my life). But I will say that as someone who (without even realizing it) has had major depression and anxiety for years, I did not connect with this game at all or feel anything special. There is some attempt at highlighting the experience of having depression by preventing the player from making certain actions (since those with depression likely won't be willing to take such actions), but I don't think we get a proper understanding of how it all manifests, and one goal I really want with my game is for the player to see why we would pick these bad options. I suspect there was some restraint in being more specific on the mental health experiences, since doing so is very uncomfortable (and even unhealthy) to the person playing the game, but that's what content warnings are for. I think we should be making our games as honest as we possibly can and not have to worry about audiences being able to stomach the game or not, it will also result in a more effective experience.
This game got some buzz in 2013 for trying to experiment with game design and inform people about depression. I do commend that, but 2024 is a very different world, and I don’t it’s one this game has aged well for.
Punch-Out!! (2009)
System: Wii
Developer: Next Level Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Completion Notes: Finished Mac's Last Stand. I unlocked the DK fight but haven't beaten it. Played with Wiimote on its side because I have sanity.
(copying stuff from my Backloggd review because I really like it :) )
This game is everything I want a boss-focused game to be. It's a brilliant balance of memorization, reaction, and, most critically, strategy (something that games like Furi really lack). You can mitigate the influence of each of these three aspects by focusing on one of the others.
Take Mr Sandman for example. He's got three key moves, a downwards punch that is REALLY fast, a STAND STILL punch that adds a massive delay such that an instinctive dodge will lead you to get hit by the move, and a hook that has just enough of a wind-up that you can dodge it on reaction. It feels unsurmountable at first. Then, you notice that his STAND STILL punch and his hook always comes from the left while his fastest punches are from the right. So, you can keep your eyes focused on the right side of the screen so you can focus on his fastest attacks, you won't be worried about the paused punch, and you should still be able to react to the hook.
Once you knock him down once, he throws the NIGHT NIGHT punch into the mix to throw you off, which also comes from the right but has a massive delay. So now, you have to differentiate it from the fast punch by paying attention for the distinctive sound effect the fast punch has. Or if you can't react on the fly well enough, you can try to memorize Mr Sandman's attack pattern, as it's not really random. Or if you can't do either, fuck it, just tank the hit and focus on dodging everything else. You don't need a perfect fight, you just need to win.
This is just ONE fight (and not even the entirety of the fight mind you!). Punch-Out Wii is filled to the brim with these small nuances.
Maybe you should leave a little health at the end of Round 1 against Don Flamenco and go for a Round 2 TKO. Maybe you can't figure out Aran Ryan, that's okay, just go for a Decision Win. Against Title Defense Soda Popinski, my strat ended up being to rush him down and win the fight with a Round 1 TKO rather than let it drag out. If you've watched speedruns of this game, you'd know that there are windows in which you can sneak in extra punches even beyond the ones you get from stunning the opponent; you obviously don't need to know what those windows are, but knowing they exist at all is extremely helpful. Go look for them, there's a rhythm I found on Super Macho Man that let me sneak in one or two extra hits after each stun.
When you lose a fight in this game, there's no big YOU DIED message, or a taunting message from the boss, there's Doc Louis, supporting the fuck out of you, reminding you that every little improvement you make counts, even finding that opening for an additional punch, or even just figuring out a strategy that doesn't work. Every fight in the Title Defense segment of the game feels so insurmountable at first, but every time, you eventually find that breakthrough, you get better, and you eventually get that satisfying as fuck W.
The sound design in this game is excellent. Not just the slight sound cue differences to let you know what attack is coming, but also each punch feels satisfying as hell to land. You and your opponents take visible damage as the fight rages on. This might sound minor, but looking back, I think one of my big problems with Cuphead was the shitty sound design and total lack of feedback when you attack a boss. You don't feel that intrinsic satisfaction in Cuphead from just landing a hit at all (partly because your gun can just toss out a hit whenever lol), but you absolutely do in Punch Out. I wish the soundtrack had some more variety or there was at least an option to mute the music (so I can listen to something else while still getting the sound effects), but the credits theme is amazing, especially that rock organ, and fits so warmly with the ending of the game.
By the way, that ending is probably some of the most brilliant gameplay-story integration ever. Eat your heart out Yoko Taro, this game predates Nier by a year.
My heritage is unfortunately not one of the ones featured as a fighter in this game (I'm somewhere in between Great Tiger and Bald Bull), so take my opinion with a huge grain of salt, but I think the fighters were portrayed with a level of sincerity. They're all SO over the top, they have voice actors that, from what I've read, are pretty accurate to their backgrounds, and they don't devolve into the low-hanging racism like the NES and SNES games do at times; no red lips Doc Louis, no Piston Hondo throwing out random Japanese words in-between rounds (Banzai!!!!!!!!), no Dragon Chan with very eyebrow-raising teeth.
Absolutely one of the best games Nintendo ever published, although honestly, I don't think it really needs a follow-up. It's just an individually excellent game.
Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring (2002)
System: GBA
Developer: Cave Barn Studios
Publisher: NewKidCo
Completion Notes: Beat Jerry mode (which is really Jerry for Stages 1-4 and Tom for Stages 5-7)
Inspired by CryoGyro's recent journey in GP through the GBA Bionicle games, I got inspired to pull out a game I've had since I was a kid, have memories of, and yet have never beaten. Funny story, I put in a random password that came to me in a dream (6718, I think I mixed it up with the password 6878) and the game put me in this fucked up level where Jerry was floating in space and had to run from the all-consuming green void, and I kept repeatedly dying despite my efforts, the level just seemed to go on endlessly. Scared the shit out of 5 year old me and nearly made me tell my mom to give away all my games.
Anyways, this game is a bit of a janky piece of shit LOL.
It's an "isometric" "beat-em up" with one attack + items (not one attack button, one attack TOTAL), your default attack is more of a last resort since it does no damage and the hit detection is god awful. You also have one of the largest jumps I've ever seen (and no, there are no air proper attacks) But, I don't know, I didn't hate playing it lol.
I think it really helps that this game is very short and easy and not actively annoying or frustrating; I eventually was able to adjust to the janky hit detection in this game, the game gives you plenty of healing items, and the annoying parts of the game are at least mercifully short. The only part of the game that gets into truly frustrating territory is Stage 6, the Construction Zone. That level requires you to PLATFORM in this isometric space, and you'll realize the collision detection in this game is, um, total fucking nonsense. This level is actually very short, like I'm sure a speedrunner could do it in like 30 seconds, but you will fall through the platforms so many god damn times before you make it to the end.
It's also nice that this game is weirdly faithful to Tom and Jerry. Not the movie, no, this has absolutely nothing to do with the direct-to-video movie (at least from what I can vaguely remember of it as a kid), but there's lots of enemies that are pulled from older Tom and Jerry cartoons like the robot cat, the housemaid (who is thankfully white!!!), and Jerry's Cousin. While the sound design doesn't make sense, I would also like to note the main reason this game has any lasting memory on me and my generation, THE SOUNDTRACK. It is an AWESOME take on chiptune rock reminiscent of classic European Home Computer music, but its heavy use of percussion and complex rhythms results in these manic songs. Honestly, just about every song on the soundtrack is a bop, but for highlights, I'd go with the Sewers and the Magic Shop, and I'll shoutout the Basement as the one the experimental music nerds will fuck with. Honestly, I'm thankful I grew up with so many games with great soundtracks.
So yeah, this game is shit and barely functional and probably deserves a 2 but...it's easy and simple enough that you're not going to be frustrated by how janky it is and I weirdly got some fun out of it, which is more than I can say for other 3/10s I've beaten like Knuckles Chaotix and the soon-to-be-reviewed Final Fantasy Mystic Quest.
(as i said at the top, there are plenty more games I played recently that I will get around to writing about eventually, but this is all for now!)
After the Oglemi post, I was meaning to post some of the games I've beaten this year. Unfortunately, this post has taken a very long time because I actually have played a LOT of games already this year, and unlike last year I actually have a lot to say about many of them (there is one in particular that will probably get its own dedicated post lol). I don't know if I'll have time to cover all of the other games I've played so far this year so I just want to post reviews for whatever games I have the energy to write about up till now, everything else will get discussed in my year-end post.
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Super Mario Bros 3 (All-Stars Version) (1988/1994)
System: SNES, Wii, Nintendo Switch (I’m playing on Wii)
Developer / Publisher: Nintendo
Completion Notes: Beat the game warpless
I am not really a Mario fan, I find a lot of levels in these games to be pretty forgettable even if they are good in the moment. In particular, I am just not a find of hop-and-stomp platformers with very small margins for error; even if stuff like Mega Man and Castlevania may seem harder, the combat is far more interesting and varied and you actually get a health bar. As you might surmise, I much prefer 3D Mario to 2D Mario. My favorite 2D Mario game is Super Mario Land since its jankness and lo-fi actually makes it stand out as a unique and nostalgic experience.
So with all that said, Super Mario Bros 3 is hailed as the best Mario game and the best game on the NES, and boy howdy I vehemently disagree. Mario 3’s biggest problems is its levels, which come in three flavors: Fun but totally unsatisfying, a boring slog, or ridiculously frustrating (sometimes multiple of these!).
While Mario 3 on the surface seems to be a huge game with all sorts of levels to check out, in practice, these levels are REALLY short. You can blast through a lot of the levels in the first half of the game in like 45 seconds, so you don’t really feel all that satisfied when you beat a level even if it takes you multiple times. Like, there was a level in World 3 where I thought, “This is a cool idea for a level! Big Bertha is chasing you and you have run real fast to avoid—oh, wtf, the level is over after 30 seconds.” You can make the argument that it’s meant to be a potpourri of brief platforming challenges (i-it's the Madvillainy of Mario!!!!!!), but to me, this game just feels like a conga line of undercooked ideas.
Then we have the boring levels; every world has an airship autoscroller which is very long and not fun to go through since it’s mostly dodging enemy projectiles with minimal platforming. If that wasn’t bad enough, half of the levels in World 8 are these sorts of autoscrollers! In most games, this would be tolerable, but Mario 3’s levels lack checkpoints and again, you’re playing a Mario game, so combat sucks!
Finally, we have the levels which I do remember for being ungodly frustrating. World 7, the pipe world, is when the game finally realizes “hey guys, we should maybe make our levels longer than 1 minute long!” Unfortunately, it does this by piling on some unbelievably frustrating levels, like the one pictured above where you have to constantly grab an invincibility star or die (I really love how you can’t predict the way items will move in this game! I really appreciate this added level of BS! ), and then for some reason the level after that is a desert level that is stupid easy????????? Great job Miyamoto.
Since this is an older game, you have very sparse lives, and Game Overs will kick you back several levels. For some unholy reason, the NES version of Mario 3 has NO save feature (I guess you can use warp whistles? But cmon lol), and quite frankly I didn’t want to subject myself to keeping the game on all night so I elected to play the SNES version (which has pretty much the same checkpoint and Continue system). This just serves to make the hard levels even more of a frustrating grind as you keep having to redo significant amounts of progress. I know what I’m saying doesn’t really make sense to normal people who enjoy Mario, but to me, the end of this game was just a frustrating chore to get through. Thank god World 8 is way easier than World 7.
5.5/10 (Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)
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Dark Void Zero (2010)
System: Nintendo DSiWare, PC, iOS (I’m playing on DSi)
Developer: Other Ocean Interactive
Publisher: Capcom
(copying my Backloggd review for this because I like it)
It feels so strange to call a game like this a "poorly-aged product of its time", because I don't mean in terms of what lessons it learned from NES games. Dark Void Zero is an at-best serviceable 2D action 8-bit throwback at a time when they were still a tad underrepresented but absolutely in demand, released for $5 on a platform that DESPERATELY needed any sort of noteworthy games (you know something's wrong when a Shantae game is your "killer app").
The game is aesthetically unremarkable (the soundtrack is...fine...i guess?), has some cute ideas like 8-way shots, multiple weapons, and the rocket, and has a boring boss that is repeated for every level. Enemy bullets phase through walls, but of course yours don't (besides that rare and awful teleport laser); also for some reason aiming is rather finicky and I often had difficulty landing shots on enemies due to small hitboxes. The game has a lot of vibes of what made a game "good" in 2010, with a ton of meaningless collectables and levels that are big and long, but honestly pretty dull and unmemorable, especially when there are only three levels for the whole game. Also for some reason the game does not replenish your lives when you save or beat a stage? This is actually pretty annoying since this made me decide to grind Stage 2 until i could beat it deathless, only to realize that the devs FILLED Stage 3 with health items and 1-ups, perhaps to make up for this oopsie.
Downloadable 8-bit styled games are a dime-a-dozen in this day and age, with games like Prison City having disturbingly low player counts despite being legitimately good. Dark Void Zero was very much a game in the right place at the right time that did its job and has long since left our collective memories. No one remembers it anymore, and honestly, who cares lol.
4.5/10 (Did not enjoy)
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Mega Man 8 (1996)
System: PS1, Sega Saturn; PS1 version has many many ports, but I’m playing the Saturn version
Developer / Publisher: Capcom
While I am a huge Mega Man fan, the Classic series is definitely my least favorite out of all of the many subseries the franchise offers. By no means is it bad, in fact Mega Man 9 is a great game, but I just find its moment-to-moment gameplay a lot less interesting than Mega Man X1 and especially the Zero and ZX games, even if the Classic games have much tighter level design.
Enter stage left: Mega Man 8.
Mega Man 8 is not the most well-liked Classic game, but it really appeals to my gaming tastes lol. The warm 32-bit spritework is a joy to look at, and the electronic soundtrack is excellent, blending Mega Man’s knack for melodies with a sound that keeps up with the 90s electronic boom while also being a strangely comforting listen. Regarding my favorite tracks, Aqua Man and Search Man are great takes on (ambient) house, and Wily Stage 2 is nothing short of a banger. A shame that Mega Man X4’s synth-heavy soundtrack is not nearly as interesting. The voice acting is iconic, albeit not because it's great, but damn is it entertaining. It's not wooden and it's not like the actors didn't try, but like...w-Mega Man is just legendary LOL. And Aqua Man is indeed a handsome guy.
Mega Man 8 is also a much easier game than most of the classic games I’ve played. It’s very setpiece focused and while it doesn’t push its level gimmicks quite as far as other Classic games, the gimmicks themselves are so inventive and well-themed that I don’t really care lol. The bosses also employ the approach of non-Classic Mega Man games where they don’t move around a ton and instead have several fixed attacks that are individually tricky to dodge. Much better than the other Classic games’ bosses, which are either way too repetitive or “erratic but not particularly interesting”. This is just a game that is a joy to play through. It’s like how most people view Mario games, except Mario games don’t feature a life bar, fun bosses, or a gun, so this is much better for me personally lol. Some of the gimmicks don't really pan out, namely those snowboarding sections (those got me questioning whether or not I had controller issues), but other than those sections, this would probably be a go-to choice for what I would recommend someone who is trying to get into Mega Man.
Oh, and the Sega Saturn version’s extra content is very inconsequential, Cut Man and Wood Man are just short minibosses that don’t really amount to much. Don't bother getting the Saturn version for....uh....$600????? What the fuck!?
8/10 (Great game!!)
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Abobo’s Big Adventure (2012)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
System: PC Flash Game
Developer / Publisher: Team Bobo
A Newgrounds flash fangame that’s basically a big ol’ parody of the entire NES library. You play as the boss Abobo from Double Dragon, and you’ve got levels based on that, Mario, Contra, Zelda, even some less celebrated stuff like Pro Wrestling. It plays pretty well, or at least as well as any flash game could be. For as stupid as this game is (being an early 2010s retro game parody), it’s obvious a lot of love and care went into making this game. You’ve got tons of level variety, although the sheer variety of levels does make the game rather inconsistent, as some levels like the Balloon Fight level and the final boss are a bit lame on a gameplay standpoint even if they’re great aesthetically. The bigger turnoff for most people is that well…this is VERY much a Newgrounds game from early 2012. Lots of juvenile/shock humor, gore, over-the-top violence, you name it. I grew up with this era though, so I didn’t mind it much lol and in fact kinda enjoyed it, but I know not everyone can really deal with it. But again, this game is free. It should only take you an hour or two to clear it, so go play it!
7.5/10 (“This is a good video game”)
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Depression Quest (2013):
System: Browser / PC
Developer / Publisher: The Quinnspiracy
Played this one as research material for a game I’m working on, perhaps best known for being the game at the center of the Gamergate debacle, which…god that shit is just a blur to me now. Look, I’m sure Zoe Quinn is a cool person, and as someone who is currently taking a stab at a narrative-heavy indie game centered around mental health (hopefully I'll bring it up in my year end post :p), I can confirm that making this stuff is NOT easy to write or develop. I honestly do think this game is a valid portrayal of depression, and I suppose for 2013, it does a solid enough job communicating the alien issue of mental health to those unfamiliar. I will also note that Zoe Quinn wrote this game alongside one Patrick Lindsey and composer Issac Schankler. So this is all to say, no ill-will towards Zoe, this game was made 10 years ago after all.
I need to preface my review with this because, unfortunately, I am not going to be kind from here on out.
To be blunt, in this year of 2024, I think the writing in this game sucks; there are two major issues with it. Firstly, this game feels like it has its head up its own ass. Sorry, I’m not going to take your game seriously if you preface it with a motherfucking David Foster Wallace quote. The actual game is just filled with these walls of text that are a pain to read through, there’s no smooth scrolling like a visual novel, it just expects you to read it all like a normal book. But games are an interactive and visual medium, you don’t need to limit yourself like that!! Also, the games final message of “[Thank] you for being willing to play games that are meant to be something other than 'fun'”… I get what you’re saying, but it’s still unbelievably patronizing, like video games weren’t already capable of providing engaging experiences above being fun even in 2013 (see: every horror game on the PS2).
Secondly, this game is WAYYYYY too vague. I understand that it’s meant to place the player in these scenarios and create a sense of immersion, but it just doesn’t work at all. Not specifying your job, your friends, your relation to your girlfriend, your family life…I understand that it’s meant to make the game more “relatable” to everyone, but the exact opposite is what ends up happening. I have no investment in any of the events of this game because it’s all just so boring. The music and visuals feel pretty stock (I think I muted the game at some point), and again, there is so much text and yet it just doesn’t say anything of value. My eyes started to glaze over it and I tried to skip ahead to the actual decision-making, which is absolutely NOT something you can have happen in a story-focused game.
I really don't want to criticize its portrayal of depression since, again, I do feel like it’s a valid exploration of the authors’ experience (I too am making my game to help me process these last 5 years of my life). But I will say that as someone who (without even realizing it) has had major depression and anxiety for years, I did not connect with this game at all or feel anything special. There is some attempt at highlighting the experience of having depression by preventing the player from making certain actions (since those with depression likely won't be willing to take such actions), but I don't think we get a proper understanding of how it all manifests, and one goal I really want with my game is for the player to see why we would pick these bad options. I suspect there was some restraint in being more specific on the mental health experiences, since doing so is very uncomfortable (and even unhealthy) to the person playing the game, but that's what content warnings are for. I think we should be making our games as honest as we possibly can and not have to worry about audiences being able to stomach the game or not, it will also result in a more effective experience.
This game got some buzz in 2013 for trying to experiment with game design and inform people about depression. I do commend that, but 2024 is a very different world, and I don’t it’s one this game has aged well for.
3.5/10 (“This is a bad video game.”)
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Punch-Out!! (2009)
System: Wii
Developer: Next Level Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Completion Notes: Finished Mac's Last Stand. I unlocked the DK fight but haven't beaten it. Played with Wiimote on its side because I have sanity.
(copying stuff from my Backloggd review because I really like it :) )
This game is everything I want a boss-focused game to be. It's a brilliant balance of memorization, reaction, and, most critically, strategy (something that games like Furi really lack). You can mitigate the influence of each of these three aspects by focusing on one of the others.
Take Mr Sandman for example. He's got three key moves, a downwards punch that is REALLY fast, a STAND STILL punch that adds a massive delay such that an instinctive dodge will lead you to get hit by the move, and a hook that has just enough of a wind-up that you can dodge it on reaction. It feels unsurmountable at first. Then, you notice that his STAND STILL punch and his hook always comes from the left while his fastest punches are from the right. So, you can keep your eyes focused on the right side of the screen so you can focus on his fastest attacks, you won't be worried about the paused punch, and you should still be able to react to the hook.
Once you knock him down once, he throws the NIGHT NIGHT punch into the mix to throw you off, which also comes from the right but has a massive delay. So now, you have to differentiate it from the fast punch by paying attention for the distinctive sound effect the fast punch has. Or if you can't react on the fly well enough, you can try to memorize Mr Sandman's attack pattern, as it's not really random. Or if you can't do either, fuck it, just tank the hit and focus on dodging everything else. You don't need a perfect fight, you just need to win.
This is just ONE fight (and not even the entirety of the fight mind you!). Punch-Out Wii is filled to the brim with these small nuances.
Maybe you should leave a little health at the end of Round 1 against Don Flamenco and go for a Round 2 TKO. Maybe you can't figure out Aran Ryan, that's okay, just go for a Decision Win. Against Title Defense Soda Popinski, my strat ended up being to rush him down and win the fight with a Round 1 TKO rather than let it drag out. If you've watched speedruns of this game, you'd know that there are windows in which you can sneak in extra punches even beyond the ones you get from stunning the opponent; you obviously don't need to know what those windows are, but knowing they exist at all is extremely helpful. Go look for them, there's a rhythm I found on Super Macho Man that let me sneak in one or two extra hits after each stun.
When you lose a fight in this game, there's no big YOU DIED message, or a taunting message from the boss, there's Doc Louis, supporting the fuck out of you, reminding you that every little improvement you make counts, even finding that opening for an additional punch, or even just figuring out a strategy that doesn't work. Every fight in the Title Defense segment of the game feels so insurmountable at first, but every time, you eventually find that breakthrough, you get better, and you eventually get that satisfying as fuck W.
The sound design in this game is excellent. Not just the slight sound cue differences to let you know what attack is coming, but also each punch feels satisfying as hell to land. You and your opponents take visible damage as the fight rages on. This might sound minor, but looking back, I think one of my big problems with Cuphead was the shitty sound design and total lack of feedback when you attack a boss. You don't feel that intrinsic satisfaction in Cuphead from just landing a hit at all (partly because your gun can just toss out a hit whenever lol), but you absolutely do in Punch Out. I wish the soundtrack had some more variety or there was at least an option to mute the music (so I can listen to something else while still getting the sound effects), but the credits theme is amazing, especially that rock organ, and fits so warmly with the ending of the game.
By the way, that ending is probably some of the most brilliant gameplay-story integration ever. Eat your heart out Yoko Taro, this game predates Nier by a year.
My heritage is unfortunately not one of the ones featured as a fighter in this game (I'm somewhere in between Great Tiger and Bald Bull), so take my opinion with a huge grain of salt, but I think the fighters were portrayed with a level of sincerity. They're all SO over the top, they have voice actors that, from what I've read, are pretty accurate to their backgrounds, and they don't devolve into the low-hanging racism like the NES and SNES games do at times; no red lips Doc Louis, no Piston Hondo throwing out random Japanese words in-between rounds (Banzai!!!!!!!!), no Dragon Chan with very eyebrow-raising teeth.
Absolutely one of the best games Nintendo ever published, although honestly, I don't think it really needs a follow-up. It's just an individually excellent game.
9/10 (One of my all-time favs)
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Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring (2002)
System: GBA
Developer: Cave Barn Studios
Publisher: NewKidCo
Completion Notes: Beat Jerry mode (which is really Jerry for Stages 1-4 and Tom for Stages 5-7)
Inspired by CryoGyro's recent journey in GP through the GBA Bionicle games, I got inspired to pull out a game I've had since I was a kid, have memories of, and yet have never beaten. Funny story, I put in a random password that came to me in a dream (6718, I think I mixed it up with the password 6878) and the game put me in this fucked up level where Jerry was floating in space and had to run from the all-consuming green void, and I kept repeatedly dying despite my efforts, the level just seemed to go on endlessly. Scared the shit out of 5 year old me and nearly made me tell my mom to give away all my games.
Anyways, this game is a bit of a janky piece of shit LOL.
It's an "isometric" "beat-em up" with one attack + items (not one attack button, one attack TOTAL), your default attack is more of a last resort since it does no damage and the hit detection is god awful. You also have one of the largest jumps I've ever seen (and no, there are no air proper attacks) But, I don't know, I didn't hate playing it lol.
I think it really helps that this game is very short and easy and not actively annoying or frustrating; I eventually was able to adjust to the janky hit detection in this game, the game gives you plenty of healing items, and the annoying parts of the game are at least mercifully short. The only part of the game that gets into truly frustrating territory is Stage 6, the Construction Zone. That level requires you to PLATFORM in this isometric space, and you'll realize the collision detection in this game is, um, total fucking nonsense. This level is actually very short, like I'm sure a speedrunner could do it in like 30 seconds, but you will fall through the platforms so many god damn times before you make it to the end.
It's also nice that this game is weirdly faithful to Tom and Jerry. Not the movie, no, this has absolutely nothing to do with the direct-to-video movie (at least from what I can vaguely remember of it as a kid), but there's lots of enemies that are pulled from older Tom and Jerry cartoons like the robot cat, the housemaid (who is thankfully white!!!), and Jerry's Cousin. While the sound design doesn't make sense, I would also like to note the main reason this game has any lasting memory on me and my generation, THE SOUNDTRACK. It is an AWESOME take on chiptune rock reminiscent of classic European Home Computer music, but its heavy use of percussion and complex rhythms results in these manic songs. Honestly, just about every song on the soundtrack is a bop, but for highlights, I'd go with the Sewers and the Magic Shop, and I'll shoutout the Basement as the one the experimental music nerds will fuck with. Honestly, I'm thankful I grew up with so many games with great soundtracks.
So yeah, this game is shit and barely functional and probably deserves a 2 but...it's easy and simple enough that you're not going to be frustrated by how janky it is and I weirdly got some fun out of it, which is more than I can say for other 3/10s I've beaten like Knuckles Chaotix and the soon-to-be-reviewed Final Fantasy Mystic Quest.
3/10 ("This is a bad video game")
(as i said at the top, there are plenty more games I played recently that I will get around to writing about eventually, but this is all for now!)
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That's what makes a game good
I beat the main story of the OG Final Fantasy 7 Remake - really loved it (I went in blind so I didn't even know they had a trilogy planned) before I start FF7R: Rebirth I'ma play through Crisis Core then start that up after..
Almost done with the DLC of OG Remake (Yuffie is a badass - hence the avi, wish I had her on the OG team - her throw ability and elemental ninjitsu is chefs kiss lol)
I held off on any and all spoilers and stories till I played it and now I am - loving em.
Almost done with the DLC of OG Remake (Yuffie is a badass - hence the avi, wish I had her on the OG team - her throw ability and elemental ninjitsu is chefs kiss lol)
I held off on any and all spoilers and stories till I played it and now I am - loving em.
Are there any Call of Duty Zombies fans here? I've been watching a bunch of trailers and videos for Black Ops 6 breaking them down recently and I haven't felt this excited since Black Ops 3 about 8 years ago. I am cautiously optimistic though because I don't know if I'll like all the gameplay changes Treyarch have made since Black Ops 3, the last Call of Duty Zombies game I've played was Black Ops 4 which I had mixed feelings about.
Random rant about the 3ds
Recently (few months back) bought a 2nd hand 3ds from a guy on a national 2nd hand sale website at a decent price
Ever since, i've come to the realization that with a few tweaks (better battery and screen connector films, mainly) this might be the best console to give to someone when CFW is installed
The library is fucking GIGANTIC and it's full of great games of almost every genre which also don't even weigh that much, and high storage SD cards are sold dirt cheap nowaday (32 GB for 7€ here). You'll be able to hold so many games at once it's ludicrous. And you ALSO get the ENTIRE libraries of the NDS, GB, GBC and GBA alongside the 3DS one for free...
Easy to transport is also a bonus. The communication features are awesome but no one goes out with a 3ds in their bag anymore. Sad
If i ever get a kid (unlikely) i want to replace the old parts of my 3DS with new ones so i can give it to them to last a loooong time. I think maybe when they're like 9-10 they'd love something like that, unless nintendo decides to re-release the 3DS (equally unlikely)
So far on my 3ds ive played pokemon moon, fire emblem awakening, mario & luigi dream team, smt4a (replay), ghost trick, soul silver (replay) but ive got devil survivor overclocked up next after i finish xenoblade 3
Recently (few months back) bought a 2nd hand 3ds from a guy on a national 2nd hand sale website at a decent price
Ever since, i've come to the realization that with a few tweaks (better battery and screen connector films, mainly) this might be the best console to give to someone when CFW is installed
The library is fucking GIGANTIC and it's full of great games of almost every genre which also don't even weigh that much, and high storage SD cards are sold dirt cheap nowaday (32 GB for 7€ here). You'll be able to hold so many games at once it's ludicrous. And you ALSO get the ENTIRE libraries of the NDS, GB, GBC and GBA alongside the 3DS one for free...
Easy to transport is also a bonus. The communication features are awesome but no one goes out with a 3ds in their bag anymore. Sad
If i ever get a kid (unlikely) i want to replace the old parts of my 3DS with new ones so i can give it to them to last a loooong time. I think maybe when they're like 9-10 they'd love something like that, unless nintendo decides to re-release the 3DS (equally unlikely)
So far on my 3ds ive played pokemon moon, fire emblem awakening, mario & luigi dream team, smt4a (replay), ghost trick, soul silver (replay) but ive got devil survivor overclocked up next after i finish xenoblade 3
IMO the 3DS has a huge library but it also doesn't have the big hitters. It's the best 8/10 library ever, but when I look at it I find it's mostly games that are a good time but not like, anything deeper.
Not that those don't exist or that none of the 3DS games are some of my favorites, (Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon my beloved), it's just that the library is vast, great, but also not nutritionally dense IMO
Not that those don't exist or that none of the 3DS games are some of my favorites, (Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon my beloved), it's just that the library is vast, great, but also not nutritionally dense IMO