VideoGame_Discussion

Thanks!


SupremeSarna wrote:

#2- Splatoon 3: Side Order
The second single-player campaign (from the Expansion Pass). I love Marina so dang much.

Mass Destruction 1 of 2

#16 - Super Mario Bros. via Online

As I just acquired Super Mario Bros. Wonder I’m going on an every Super Mario Bros 2D side scrolling game ever kick starting with the OG here. Beat this one in under 2 hours thanks to the infamous hidden warp pipes. Next stop, The Lost Levels game!

sailorneorune wrote:

I don't think that counts for Mass Destruction, since Side Order's not really about property damage or vehicular carnage. I could count it for 2nd Amendment or even Gamer's Day, if you beat the Spire of Order five times.

And yes, Marina is precious. But Pearl's great, too! I'd say they're both off the hook.

#14 down: Ziggurat 2 on PS5. I would like to count this toward the Grown Ass Man badge. (If that works, then this + my previous clear of Skylanders Superchargers gets me the badge.) As roguelites go, this one's tough. In addition to beating the campaign (which only has a completion rate of 8.6%), I also beat the ziggurat trial (completion rate of 7.4%) and got to level 10 of the infinite dungeon (which has a completion rate of 2.8%). All told, it took me over 60 hours.

Ziggurat 2 is a difficult but fun FPS in which you get amulets, guns, spells, staves, etc. There are literally hundreds of perks you can get as well that change all sorts of aspects of the game and a variety of characters to unlock and use with different playstyles. Great game!

Aliens: Colonial Marines for x360. I forgot to post it here. I beat it with my 6 year old if it counts for a game you've already beaten.

I started Dragon Quest VII the other day. So it could be awhile before I beat something again for this thread. Though I may play some shorter stuff in between, idk yet.

Game #14 of 2024

Farpoint on

Hogwarts Legacy (Xbox series x) 7/10 it was good but not great.

Is this a game that’d qualify towards vault boy?

Johnny wrote:

Yeah, that'd count.

I beat 6×1≠UNLIMITED? , earning me the Localize Mother 3 badge.
[imgt w=2048 h=1536]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIhP56CXgAE5ziM?format...[/imgt]
It's a fun but slightly repetitive SHMUP. I'm perplexed why they never localized it, since far more Japanese games have come over in the past. It has a really cool concept, where getting powerups also upgrades your character's portrait, from simple 8-bit to detailed 8-bit to a full artwork. The six girls you play as are full of personality, so I want more fan art of them.

#17

Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels via Online

As my sidescrolling Mario-a-thon continues, I wrap up the The Lost Levels with a fair amount of relief because even with save states and rewind this one felt more of a chore and challenge than the first game. Some of the jumps needed to be timed so precisely that if you were even off by a hair, you’d fall to your demise. I played as Luigi and utilized his higher jumping ability to cover large gaps which helped a bit. Overall, I thought it was pretty solid, but prefer the original Mario Bros game over it any day. Some of these levels should have kinda stayed lost due to some of their more abstract designs.

2nd In March, 16th overall, 4th on
Lies of P
Badge: 1st toward Grown-Ass Man, this was a great challenge

I've never really got into the Soulslike games, I even rather stunk at the now 20 year old Ninja Gaiden from the I was just too aggressive and not into blocking or having patience to learn their attack patterns. I had tried the original Lords of the Fallen and that team's later The Surge but just didn't get sucked in. Well when I saw the first trailer for Lies I was just enamored, it just looked so dang cool. So I gave it a go, starting it around mid-Feb and playing it nearly every day from then until finally taking down the Nameless Puppet at the end. I died A LOT over the course of my playthrough. To the first 2 bosses likely the most, but also to several others a bunch as well and even just normal sections or smaller mid-bosses. But the entire time I enjoyed it, I didn't get hella frustrated like I have at other games b/c most times I died it still felt generally fair, I just needed to do better.

This easily became my favorite AAA style title played so far in '24 - Astalon: Tears of the Earth was also really good for a much different experience. I already started my second run... but they more/less push you to after the credits and interesting peek at their next title. I might take a bit of a break but am interested in adjusting my stats and such and doing a 2nd playthrough... might get to some of the other games like this that I've been meaning to first though.

I beat two more DK games: Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat .

[imgt w=1280 h=720]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIm-zTEasAARwp3?format...[/imgt]
I raced a friend at DKC. To make it a bit more fair for him, I remapped my Joy-Con and played the game with one hand, even putting said Joy-Con in an awkward-to-hold peripheral. I won by a country mile, but we both expected that given my knowledge of DKC.

I love DKC. The challenge, the personality-filled foes, the Animal Buddies, rolling through enemies, finding bonus rooms, etc. the graphics are a product of their time, yet we’re also revolutionary for said time! My personal favorite stage is Misty Mine—you can practically feel the sweat on your brow as the cave becomes a snake-infested sauna! Poison Pond and Tree Top Town are the worst stages—one likes pelting you with fast hazards that come out of the limited camera, the other has annoying barrel cannon sequences.

[imgt w=1536 h=2048]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIm6-cZXQAATf-U?format...[/imgt]
As for DKJB, it works way better than it has any right to. The would-be Super Mario Galaxy devs got DK flinging around stages, grabbing bananas, killing enemies with sound waves, and racking up combos… using a bongo-themed controller! The game is crazy fun, and even earned the very first E10+ rating from the ESRB. You beat the ever loving snot out of bosses, sometimes in a straight-up boxing match. It’s a blast, and you should really try it if you get a chance.

My #21 is Marvel's Midnight Suns: All DLC

Strange use of DLC in that you complete it before starting the main story. Adds 4 strong characters to your roster while exploring a story with Dracula and Vampyres.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZxscHzgUer4WZFt56

My #22 is Yakuza 3

https://photos.app.goo.gl/76bkVd5JpF1oNjm57

The best story so far in the series with the worst upgrade system. 8/10

#18

Super Mario Bros. 2 via Online

As my trip down side scrolling Mario lane continues, I find myself wrapping Super Mario Bros 2 feeling quite good like I have in the past. However I did notice some more annoyances this playthrough than the previous ones, even with save states, some of the platforming feels a little loose and a bit slippery and some of the levels feel a bit confusing figuring out where to go or what to do next. Granted this game was pretty much a cut/paste from Doki Doki Panic so it’s arguably not really an original Mario title outside of the characters and music, which to note is still as stellar as the original Mario Bros. And the boss music is pretty intense too. Overall it still holds up pretty well for the most part over 35 years later. Next stop, one of the best. Super Mario Bros. 3!

TalonJedi87 wrote:

I've always thought Mario's leg on the boxart looked... regrettable.
[imgt w=256 h=365]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Sup...[/imgt]

3rd in March, 17th overall, 5th on
Sheepy: A Short Adventure
Badge - not sure it counts towards any.

This got touted from the recent Steamfest as a pretty cool game to check out. It's free so I figured why not, plus I like chill EDM from MrSuicideSheep. It was relatively short and was a 2D platformer of sorts with linear progression and a few powers to gain. You face off against a dude like 2-3 times, but really there's no combat. It look me around 80 mins to beat but there's achievements to try and beat it in under 45 and 30 mins, and a no death run (likely don't fall or take any 1-hit deaths from the 2-3 fights) . I explored and collected pretty much all of the stuff for achievements, don't think I care to replay it.

SupremeSarna wrote:

Hah! Wow I never noticed that.

Date: 3/16
Number: 14
Title: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

I've posted about this game a few times in the Final Fantasy topic here, so I won't add much else. Fantastic game, much better than the first (it's Midgar, the landscape is only so good for so long), ended beautifully. Can't wait for the final game! 109 hours to do most side content and complete the story. 71% of trophies. Probably another 20-30 hours if I decide I want to do everything. At this point I'm more than content with the experience and don't want to sully that with 20-30 hours of difficult, tedious, and frustrating filler content.

image

This clear combined with Octopath Traveler on 2/26 is good for the "Level Up!" badge

Time to settle into Unicorn Overlord

4th in March, 18th overall, 4th on
A Little to the Left
Badge: Earns me Puzzler with Mario vs DK

Caught a trailer for this several months ago, it seemed like a chill little puzzle game, so it was on my radar. Then spotted it came to GP recently so I installed it on my XSX and tried it, but didn't like the controls, it's really designed for a mouse. So I uninstalled from my console and installed on my PC. Finally got around to playing it today and in a few sessions I beat all of the levels and got all achievements I could (several remaining are for doing lots of daily puzzles, beating the game again with zero hints or zero skips and the DLC - none of which I care about). I did do all of the extra solutions as well, not just facing every level to get the credits to roll.
Decent game, used some hints in the game and looked up like 3 solutions that stumped me, then looked up a handful of achievements to be fully done with this one.

@SupremeSarna Badge update - I want to claim Binaries for Grown-ass Man, so with Lies of P I have earned that one.
I'm also going to go ahead and claim Ittle Dew and Solar Ash for Girl Power, both have a female lead.

I beat Mario VS Donkey Kong Switch early this month. Thought I already posted in here.

OP updated! As always, tell me if I missed something.

Game #15 of 2024

Sonic Superstars on

I would like to add PS3 and that I finished FINALLY!!! Duck Tales Remastered.

Finn wrote:

Which system for Duck Tales?

My #23 is Marvel's Midnight Suns.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/w5JaeKSNvq8hsq94A

Turn based card combat with bond building friendship system. Reminds me of Fire Emblem Three Houses. Story is ok, and the voice actors are all pretty good with a few exceptions. The gameplay is the highlight but there is too much dialog and busy work in-between missions. 7/10

#15 King's Quest VI -

15 overall and 3rd King's Quest game in a row. I used a guide to finish this. I just want to get through them and experience them. But when I get to the "final" sierra games I want to beat them with no guide. Those are King's Quest VII, Space Quest VI, Torrin's Passage, and Leisure Suit Larry 7. I beat LSL7 before but I don't think I've ever beaten the other ones I listed.

image

SupremeSarna wrote:

PS3

My #24 is The Norwood Suite.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QdUtR49dEYqxUYPD8

Not really sure why this was on my play list but thankfully it was very short. Bad graphics with collectable quests. 5/10

Finn wrote:
I figured as much, but had to make sure.

11 hours into DQ7. Multiple characters still to find, and all the gameplay features aren't unlocked yet. This game definitely has *content*.

Gypsy wrote:

You tracked down the seventh Dairy Queen location ever constructed? Nice. What flavor of Blizzard did you order?

Gypsy wrote:

or ? I played on 3ds, loved it.

Game #16 of 2024

Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs on PSVR2
Beating this and Travel The Words earns the Brain Teaser badge.

ErickRPG wrote:

PS1 for sure.

My #25 is Bright Memory: Infinite.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/82bRVexsvL5D7YDDA

Action packed FPS with amazing graphics. Hard to believe this was developed for mobile. 8/10

#2 firewatch (switch)

Fun game. Short and good story

Submit for guybrush threepwood. Very much a walking sim game

I finished Unicorn Overlord on Switch, fought the true final boss and completed the one post-game quest. One of my favorite SRPGs ever, I think.

I'll be moving onto Kingdom Come Deliverance now. (Actually played through the opening just a little bit ago.) Outward is another open world game coming to Switch next week that I plan to get.

Game #17 of 2024

Concrete Genie for PS4 (but played via PS5 if that matters)

BloodPuppetX wrote:

I just started it, that's good to hear. Definitely hyped for it since it's like a spiritual successor to Ogre Battle.

BloodPuppetX wrote:

What's up with the name? Do they ever explain that?

PizzaTheHutt wrote:

Which system would you prefer I count it toward? I'll default to the system that was actually played (PS5 in this case) unless you'd prefer something different.

SupremeSarna wrote:

Yeah, there's an item called the Unicorn Ring the main character uses to cleanse people. A late game quest also goes into detail about the unicorn, and its importance to the game's world.

BloodPuppetX wrote:

People complain about the name, and while I don't find it as important. I'll admit I think "The Unicorn Ring" would have been a much cooler Title.

The name is based on the person/item that is the focal point of the cookie-cutter story. The depth of the strategy gameplay that lies beneath is what we're really here for.

I beat Gears of War on the xbox 360

#15 down: Yakuza 0 on PS5. I would like to count this toward the Hyrulian Hero badge.

This is a great game and my first of the series. I definitely plan to play through the rest. The story was interesting, and there was so much attention to detail.

My #26 is Kingdom Rush Frontiers

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5HgPD1ZxVWtRT51G7

More of the same tower defence style done so well. This game introduces a bunch of new enemies and maps but it feels like the previous game. And that's a good thing. 8/10

OP updated! The next update will be the last of March.

Bleed_DukeBlue wrote:

Hell yeah

SupremeSarna wrote:

I have cleared 6 runs so far. *update*

sailorneorune wrote:

I like how Smollusk has a different name to reflect the number of attempts (with a number-themed pun).

Final Fantasy II -

#16, Final Fantasy II. Thanks to @som1special2, whom fixed my PSP. I was able to beat this game, as the UMD started screeching loudly midway through beating this game. Now I can say I finally beat FF1 and FF2 on PSP.

image

Finished FFU Remake earlier this evening before dinner.

Having come right off the original FF7, I thoroughly enjoyed part one of the remake trilogy. Can't wait to pick up Rebirth!

Number: 7
Full Title: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Platform Played:
Collection: N/A
Native Platform:
Original Platform:
Applicable Badge: Hackin' and Slashin' (1/2)

https://steamcommunity.com/id/yossydesune/screensh...

It's a shame this one was such a technical mess, especially at launch. It really is a nice follow up to the best Star Wars games in recent memory. Rumor has it a third one is in development, but I trust EA as much as I do a deal with Darth Vader.

Game #18 of 2024

Metal: Hellsinger on
This can count towards Rhythmic badge.

My #27 is Yakuza 4 Remastered

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ukhBorfasK64LCgg6

Can you add on Remastered to the previous game in my list? I forgot it when i posted. Thanks

#16 down: Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on Switch. This (alongside my previous clear of Assassin’s Creed: Mirage) should get me the Days Gone By badge. It took me more than 75 hours (evidence: https://imgur.com/a/G5a2HIX). I enjoyed this one. The graphics are not great (which is how I feel about most Switch games), and the story is fine but nothing special. However, the gameplay is quite addictive. It’s basically Pokémon with some added interesting twists in terms of how you make and modify monsters.

Star Ocean Second Story R -

#17. Enjoyed this one a fair amount. I'd rate it exactly in between "it's ok" and "wow it's great!". Heh heh. It's definitely good enough of a game I'd like to see more remakes like this. I'm also glad I finally beat Star Ocean 2. I actually don't remember if I beat SO2 all the way to the end or not, but I do remember playing it on PS1. Overall, a good RPG in the line up worth playing, and worth owning. 7.5/10

image

I beat Who Wants to be a Millionaire and WWF Smackdown both on the ps1 beaten on the ps2

I beat Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! on TUFST difficulty, using only my right hand, and the controller was in an unergonomic peripheral that covered some of the buttons! The only way to make this tougher is the have someone kick me every time I press the jump button.
[imgt w=1280 h=720]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJyyDk2bUAAETfg?format...[/imgt]

This is one of my favorite games of all time. Many decry it for being gimmicky, but to be fair, the previous games weren't devoid of gimmicky stages. I find very few of these ones intrusive or poorly-implemented--just Murky Mill and Rocket Ride, really. The graphics are top-notch by this point in the series, too. I dig the Northern Kremisphere and its interactive world map, with secret caves to find and NPCs to assist for rewards. The soundtrack is the least of the series, but Eveline Novakovic composed a good one regardless. DKC3 is definitely worth your time if you're on the fence about playing it!

Robocop: Rogue City on PC. This game is amazing. I loved ever second, including the comically bad voice acting.

Three more games and one badge to report!

Number: 16
Full Title: Cruis'n Blast
Platform Played: Arcade
Collection: N/A
Native Platform: Arcade
Original Platforms: Arcade
Badge: Race Drivin' (1/2)

This is another game that I got a lot of screentime with courtesy of my five-year-old son, who loves to sit in my lap at Dave & Buster's and play co-pilot in various driving games. Unlike Mario Kart GP, Cruis'n Blast lets you register a profile and saves your vehicle upgrades and beaten tracks between races. In true arcade fashion, your first few races place you near the front of the pack but rarely squeaking out a win, but after a few upgrades and after learning how you can shave fragments off of your time by doing tricks, you start putting some notches on your steering wheel.

Despite only having five tracks, it took me a while to get wins in all of them. Other than drifting, I didn't bother to research how to do barrel rolls, backflips, and other mid-air spins, which are essential to getting a time bonus at the end of the race. That, and my son is obsessed with the rain-covered Shanghai level with its underwater tube, lightning effects, and rainbow bridge at the end of the race. He finally allowed for a compromise and let me finish London - the last track I'd yet to finish - as long as we followed it up with a run on Shanghai. Twice.

Number: 17
Full Title: Donkey Kong Country
Platform Played: Game Boy Color
Collection: N/A
Native Platform: Game Boy Color
Original Platforms: Super Nintendo
Badge: Hop 'n' Bop (1/2)

Resident Jane Goodall wannabe SupremeSarna suggested I give the Game Boy Color port of Donkey Kong Country a try, and as a fan of both the Super Nintendo original and the Donkey Kong Land series, who am I to refuse? The game's not going to win any awards for graphics or controls, but the added color makes it much easier to parse than the pea soup bog of the Land games, and both the soundtrack and level layouts translate well for a super fan. I just wish the trick jumps, barrels, and other acrobatics were as intuitive to pull off as on the home console release.

Number: 18
Full Title: Donkey Kong Land 2
Platform Played: Game Boy
Collection: N/A
Native Platform: Game Boy
Original Platforms: Game Boy
Badge: Hop 'n' Bop (2/2)

Having played through the original Donkey Kong Land fairly recently (back in 2020 as part of my Year of Replays), I opted for its sequel next. I owned all three Donkey Kong Land games when I was much younger, but I remember this one the least, which was probably for the best. The lack of a bruiser gorilla on your team makes big enemies annoying to deal with, the levels feel distinctly more annoying for no specific reason, and the game introduces a bunch of unnecessary collect-a-thon mechanics, the worst of which is the need to purchase additional saves. As with Donkey Kong '94, I bypassed the Super Game Boy game enhancements in favor of the Analogue Pocket's full screen Game Boy mode, which felt like it helped more than the increased sprite definition.

Number: 19
Full Title: Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong
Platform Played: Game Boy
Collection: N/A
Native Platform: Game Boy
Original Platforms: Game Boy
Badge: Hop 'n' Bop (already earned)

Donkey Kong Land 3 was the next logical choice in my backlog, but after discovering that the game received an official Game Boy Color port in Japan, I had to download a translation patch and explore that version instead. Both the color palette and the more forgiving level design made this a much more enjoyable playthrough than its predecessor, even if Dinky Kong is a bit of a doof and the game's bosses are more annoying than co-habitating in-laws.

I doubt Donkey Kong month is going to finish with another completion, but I've decided to wind things down with DK: King of Swing and see if there's anything there to write home about. I don't think I'm done with Donkey Kong games for the year, but even as the new Games of the Month rotate in, I don't see myself shifting to anything new on the homefront until Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is completed.

#19

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

I finally got around to playing this after it’s been in my queue for almost a year and man all I can say is what a journey. Adventurous and grounded yet emotional are a few words that come to mind after watching the credits roll. I’m definitely going to keep playing the post game to unlock the platinum by completing the rest of the rumors and bounties and such. My only complaint about this game and I can’t believe it’s come to me saying this about a really good Star Wars game, but there’s just too much miscellaneous content that doesn’t really seem worth tracking it all down at the end of the day. There’s only so many color swatches I care to use for my clothing and lightsabers. Besides that though the game is a delight. Rich with lore and lush vistas as well as even more massively interconnected environments than the first game in this series. Plus the visuals are pretty stunning. In cutscenes though the game’s frame rate can appear a little choppy so keep that in mind, but when it’s running at 60fps in game it’s smooth as butter. The new additions to combat are sleek to boot. I enjoyed the different lightsaber stances from duel wielding to double bladed and found myself sticking with those two switching back and forth. The story was pretty solid as well with a nice twist toward the latter half of the game and some cool surprises as well along the ride. At the time of the credits rolling I had about 38 hours in with still about another 10 to go I want to say after I mop up all the post game stuff. A near 50 hour single player Star Wars game I thought I would almost never see again outside of the classic Knights of the Old Republic titles. It’s more than double the length of Jedi Fallen Order and a lot of the time you’re just wandering off with that sense of wanderlust getting immersed into the game’s rich planets but other times it can feel a bit overwhelming with way too much stuff to collect. Overall I really enjoyed and am enjoying my time with Jedi Survivor and am excited to see where it goes next.

#20

Super Mario Bros. 3 via Online

I completed another stop in the Mario 2D sidescrolling journey and this one still aged like fine wine and is just as crisp as when I first played it. It’s only superseded to me by Super Mario World coming up after I tackle Super Mario Land 2 next.

5th in March, 19th overall, 2nd on Luna
Trepang^2
Badge - partly want to claim towards Racoon City as there were clearly some supernatural like sections, but that's a stretch as it's an FPS for sure. Not claiming for 2nd Amend though as I've got others coming for that.

Priorities have been elsewhere especially the past week, but I wanted to beat this before I lost access to in on Luna and I got it in, even with my router deciding to crap out last evening and having to spend a good bit of time figuring that out.
Game was decent, but likely b/c I'm getting older and the streaming factor from Luna, it was a struggle in sections without using the slow-time mode some. Also it gets really hectic in parts and the particles and other stuff didn't help. Another gripe was it was too dark in many sections, though you could use a flashlight. I played 90% via KB/M largely b/c of the extra precision wanted or needed with aiming - getting a headshot was certainly helpful as it could be a 1-3 shot kill depending on if they were wearing helmets. I didn't have the controls mapped great for a while before finally changing them up in the final boss fight. The final section of the next to last mission and the final boss were both pretty big ramps in difficulty and I had to do both bits far too many times. I did try some sections with a controller but didn't love it.
There are only 6 main missions, so it's not too long. There are around that number of side missions as well that I didn't touch during my playthrough but did give the 1 a shot after seeing the credits roll. It was pretty small and a bit odd, but I died against I believe the final big wave that included a high priority target and just stopped playing. Almost certain that I won't go back for it or more of those side missions. Story was alright with lots of intel bits you could collect to expand on it - had circumstances been different and with more time, I could've maybe cared to read all of that stuff, but eh.

We had fun this month, but time Marches on. ...Eh? See what I did there? Oh, never mind...

-In March, we beat a total of 73 games and finished 13 new consoles. Our total was the lowest for any month yet, but I'm sure everyone was busy getting hammered celebrating St. Patrick's Day and having a merry time.
-The user who beat the most games this month was me, with 16. I may have gone overboard on @Renaissance2K 's Retro GotM thread--I can't help myself when the theme is Donkey Kong!
-We earned 15 badges this month, setting a new monthly record for the year. I earned five of them, mostly by wrapping up some badges I'd set up earlier.
-I bit off way more than I can chew gaming-wise. I have a goal of beating six Fire Emblem games and six Shantae games across the whole year, but I haven't booted up another Shantae since the first week of January. FE games are pretty meaty, so that's taking a fair bit of time. Throw in the last gasps of 3DS/Wii U online play (it's terminated as of April 8), the aforementioned Donkey Kong month, Splatoon 3 events, and playthroughs of both Kirby's Epic Yarn and its remake, and it's too much to keep up with! First-world problems, amirite?

Please keep playing video games and having fun! Your participation in this thread means a lot to me.

SupremeSarna wrote:

I really liked that joke.







































APRIL FOOLS!!!

#21

Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins via Switch Online

I forgot how much fun this one was. Music is catchy AF too. I wish they would put the original Mario Land on GB on Switch Online. Been jonesin’ to play that one for a while now too.

Date: 4/2
Number: 15
Title: Unicorn Overlord
Play Time: 103 hours
Badge: The Best Offense [with Braveland Wizard]

Completed all quests and side content. Fantastic game. This is one the SRPG community hasn't gotten a taste of since OB64. Games like Fire Emblem and FFT style games are in the same genre, but not real close in comparison. The use of a 'gambit' combat system really works well here and the combinations are a plenty! I spent so many hours just toying with different combinations of units and abilities, where I was really just sitting in menus for hours upon hours tweaking. This is the real highlight of this game.

If we're comparing it solely to the games it's derived from (OB), I have some complaints.
- For one, there is no detriment to putting a fighter in the back row or a ranged one in the front. Attacks are the same no matter where you place a unit in your formation.
- While confusing/complex at times, the lack of a 'Chaos frame' system that drives your alignment as well as the story and characters you can recruit is a real disservice to Unicorn Overlord. Simply put, recruit every unit you come across, because there isn't any choice that bars you from obtaining anyone else, or changes the story in anyway.
- Speaking of story, UO is about as cookie cutter as it gets. Don't expect an enthralling story a la OB64 or FFT.

Unicorn Overlord isn't a perfect game, but it's a must play for anyone that feels starved of a true Ogre Battle sequel or thinks the last few Fire Emblems have been mediocre at best.

image

.

My #28 is Dragon's Dogma 2.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbD94ZReYfQ9znv18

First off, performance for this game is terrible. Hovers around 40 FPS while most games I play are over 100fps. Pretty good game though. I played as archer and it took me about 28 hours to see the end. I didn't get the true ending and the post game content but i'll get through that next year when I revisit the game. Hopefully Capcom puts out some patches to improve performance and will release a DLC.

My #29 is Mission: It's Complicated

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eQAXgwPxGc98s2mo9

Short visual novel about super-hero dating. It's free so you should check it out.

I beat Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn , earning me the Facelift badge. Here are my Pads in both games:
[imgt w=2048 h=1536]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKN_lR-WMAA1X7E?format...[/imgt]
[imgt w=400 h=240]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKOJ03SWMAAQr2E?format...[/imgt]
(The latter is supposed to be a camel in a box that will be sawed in half by Squashini the magician, but there's no saw item. I also thought of separating the two boxes after the screenshot was taken.)

Kirby's Epic Yarn is by far my favorite Good-Feel game, and in my top five Kirby games. It's a delightful adventure with creative art direction and pristine music. Kirby stranforms into different shapes to help you perform different actions, like turning into a speedy car to dash or a parachute to drift slowly downward. Metamortex transformations spice things up, too--the Dolphin and Fire Engine ones are the best. The game has excellent multiplayer, though I haven't played it that way in almost a decade.

If the game is infamous for anything, it's the lack of difficulty. Kirby can't die. Taking damage simply causes you to drop most of the Beads (money) you've collected, which will quickly disappear if you don't recover them. As a result, many decried it as a step too far, even for a typically easy series like Kirby. I've always felt this criticism was overblown. When you actually play the game, you discover that taking hits or falling in pits is easy when you get reckless. In a game that incentivizes you to get as much cash as possible to buy boatloads of merch at the shop, losing money is frustrating in the moment. Heck, certain stages are only unlocked by obtaining a certain amount of Beads in one attempt.So the game does indeed punish you for poor play, just without killing you.

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is more complicated. I can safely say it is exactly as good as the original, as it adds awesome new content and nerfs/removes previous content. It adds Ravel Abilities, six power-ups that kinda act like Copy Abilities from other games. There's a new Devilish Mode where a devil chases you around, and any hit depletes a brand-new health bar. There are way more furniture pieces to obtain, some of which are interactive! Not to mention you unlock two Score Attack sub-games, Dedede Gogogo and Slash & Bead. This version provides a good reason to play it over the original.

Sadly, it's not all improvements. Multiplayer was cut entirely. There's no way to play the vanilla original, as Ravel Abilities are always provided. The 3DS doesn't have the same processing power as the Wii, so it looks and runs a tiny bit worse. Also, certain Metamortex transformations had to be redesigned to work without the Wii Remote's motion controls, and a few majorly suffered in the transition (the previously-awesome Fire Engine and ever-lame Train come to mind). And of course, the last barrier to entry is Extra's price on the second-hand market--$80+ is way too much when the Wii original is around $10. Still, as a 3DS swansong, it's a worthwhile adventure and goes the extra mile to implement the Touch Screen and other 3DS functions (no stereoscopic 3D, though).

Whether on TV or handheld, with Prince Fluff or without, using Yarn Balls or Ravel Abilities, Epic Yarn is brilliant. Any chance Good-Feel will ditch Yoshi and return to Kirby's domain? One can hope.

1st in April, 20th overall, 1st on
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
Badge - Want to count towards Bear & Bird as it's 3D and will add more support below.

Beat this for Ren2k's RTT GotM and without that push, I might not have bothered. It's far from terrible, but it only has like 12+ levels and to reach the final boss you need to pretty much replay 90% of them at least twice, if not 3 times to earn the 3 to 4 stars per level. Earning stars comes from 1-earning a high score, 2-collect all 200-400+ dots, 3-collect all 7 pieces of fruit, 4-complete a time-trial run. Which is why I'm claiming for B&B badge, though had I not already had the Puzzler badge I think it could count for that instead, or maybe the Quarter Muncher as it's obviously based on the classic Pac-Man and has a classic mode. What's annoying about it, is that there's a block that some levels have which requires a key to get past and you don't earn that key until doing all levels at least once and facing the boss the first time. So you don't know, for certain, if there are dots and/or fruit behind this blocker, so not getting all collectables on the first run can be an unknown and a forced reason to replay the level. You need 42 total stars to face the boss the final time which means you need 4 stars from nearly all levels.

#22

Super Mario World via Switch Online

I guess the old expression never dies or falters when they say something ages like fine wine. Super Mario World is a testament to that statement and the test of time and then some to still be probably the greatest Super Mario sidesscrolling game that I’ve ever played and like many of you I’ve played them all. Simple yet effective and leaves a long lasting impression that will be with you until the very end and beyond. From the music to the gameplay, everything was and is just sensational no matter how many times I experience it.

#23

Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League

I truly disliked this experience. Not as a whole but the live service aspect gave me such a sour taste for this game as to what it could have been that I’m forever going to be salty because of it as I once held the developer Rocksteady in such high regard. Now that they have been consumed by the dark side all we have left to do is roll with the punches in a hollow game that’s filled with repetitive missions, combat and loot to an extent of insanity. The only thing holding this game somewhat together is the interesting story that adds some levity and depth to what’s otherwise a very poorly constructed game. Even the controls are bonkers at times, asking you to hit a random combo of buttons to weaken certain enemy types or bosses that just feels manic and unnatural. But getting back to the only saving grace of this game for me. The story is pretty good for what it’s worth and the team had kind of had a Guardians of the Galaxy like feel and humor surrounding the Suicide Squad. I did enjoy their banter and chemistry and felt that they achieved decent character development by the time the game’s story wrapped. Braniac is an intriguing villain to boot and I thought was a good choice for this type of story and setting. However with that being said it’s just a shame this is how the late, great Kevin Conroy had to be remembered as The Batman before he passed on. I’m sure this is not how he wanted his legacy of Batman to end, going out in such an underwhelming fashion. In fact this game and story is not considered canon to me in the Arkham-verse. Arkham Knight was his last great video game role as far as I’m concerned. This was Earth-2 Batman and friends in a sloppily crafted world. And speaking of world I did not think Metropolis could be so boring and dull even with the highly chaotic things transpiring. It just felt like all I was doing was going from point A to B and ignoring the silly side missions which were just copy/paste wash, rinse and repeat even with some of the familiar Riddler challenges scattered throughout which just felt tacked on with an all too familiar, been there done that with numerous repetitive riddles to undertake. And lastly but certainly not least, it is HIGHLY laughable that the devs think anyone in their right minds would continue this game after the credits roll and go on to defeat Braniac a total of 12 more times in this type of utterly tedious environment. Shame on you Rocksteady and even more shame on you WB Games. You have deeply failed this city.