I just beat __

it was a few days ago, but Guacamelee 2

overall a fun game. the original is one of my favourite games of all time, and this has near identical gameplay so it's still fun.
i think that, as a sequel, it didn't really do a whole lot of new stuff gameplay-wise. i guess the changes made to the chicken to flesh it out are good but otherwise its more of the same, just with different locations and a different story. like idk i guess i would have just liked to have more new stuff for Juan since thats who you spend a majority of the game playing as, but all he gets is the grappling hook type thing and thats only situational. i guess it just annoyed me getting the same powerups that all function exactly the same and dont really have anything to differentiate them from before. i wouldn't have minded some powers from the previous game being removed to make room for new ones if necessary. or even just have it so that existing ones get upgrades that actually mean something other than 'does more damage' and actually change the way you fight/move/whatever.
also as a side note i feel like some of the memes and jokes were a bit too much at times. particularly the ones that have entire alternate dimensions dedicated to them
that said its still a good game and i did enjoy it a whole lot, i just feel it didnt as much new stuff as i expected it to. if you liked the first, i'd recommend this. if you haven't played the first but still like metroidvanias, you can't go wrong with this, but i would probably also recommend playing the first before this.
 
Kirby Star Allies (100% completion)

You know, Soul Melter was kinda easier than I expected. Maybe it was because I was playing with my friends, but the only fight I had difficulties with was the fight against Void Termina. Though Void Soul was very hard. 100% also means Guest Star Mode. I beat it with JammerJab and started a new file with Daroach. I pretty much like his moveset. However, when I'd like to play the game again, I could try to finish guest star with everyone. So maybe the next game I'd like to get might be Sonic Mania or Shovel Knight TT because Star Allies was very short. Or I could simply have fun with the levels just like I usually do with return to Dreamland.
 
Spyro 2

My favorite game to 100%! Name me another game where you get a new power up and keep it when you start a new game...but then suddenly forget your other abilities like swimming, climbing and ground pound?
 
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Spent what feels like six hours powering through the rest of the game. Marks my first run where I actually went out of my way to upgrade all my weapons and gear to their maximum potential and got the Hylian Shield which made Demise a bit easier since I don't have to worry so much about being penalized for mistiming the shield bash. Another save file finally restored after the formatting incident from a couple months back.
 
New Super Mario Bros. 2. This was the first time I played the entire thing beginning to end on my own. It's nice. One detail I had forgotten about that I love is the end credits where one can control Mario carrying Peach. It's nice to have something to do while the credits roll and I really like that they're going right to left because it feels like such closure - he's spent the whole game going left to right to find and rescue Peach and now he's bringing her home safely. :)
 
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Quell Zen

Although the name of the game didn't indicate this, this is the fourth game in the Quell series, after the simply-named Quell, the second game Quell Reflect and the third game Quell Memento. I have finished them all on the PC, in addition to this one. The second and third games are also available on the 3DS, but not this one and the first game. The main thing about Quell Zen is the Japanese theme.

If you want a succinct description of this game, it's more-or-less an ice physics puzzle game. In case you don't know what I mean, the object you control is a water drop, and once the drop travels in a direction, it will keep moving until it hits something. The objective varies, but the most basic one is to collect all the marbles in the level. It's got some obstacles or elements to keep things interesting. Many of the objectives are carried over from Memento, since we have objectives like lighting up square bulbs so that they are blue, or even using the drops to shine diamonds. This game introduced a few new tricks, namely matching three gems in a row to clear them.

This game boasts 192 main puzzles, in addition to 52 extra puzzles, and altogether there are 244 puzzles which is quite hefty for a simple game, so it's got quite a lot of value for it. As far as the nature of puzzle games go, once they are all cleared, there is not much to do. While the theme of the games have always been about reminiscing the past, this game goes a step further and include letters addressed to the daughter of the letter's writer, which is a nice touch though unremarkable. I found going though this game a comfortable experience because I enjoyed the past Quell games, so a sequel is as close to comfort as you can get.

Thank you for reading.
 
Spyro the Dragon (Playstation)

Standard run. Defeated Gnasty Gnorc and called it a day.
 
The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki III

I enjoyed it, it had similar issues to the other Cold Steel games (bloated cast, bad narrative structure, one and done character arcs, school) but the gameplay was still nice and I loved the addition of Brave Orders. I still prefer what they had in Sky/Crossbell since Cold Steel is all about never getting hit and nuking things, there are so many boss fights where I never got the chance to even see what they could do because they were down so quickly. Any boss that managed to land a hit instantly became a difficult fight because that's more than what any other boss is capable of. Real final dungeon had nice music. Final boss was a bad joke.

The fakeout finale was better than the real finale, that dungeon split your crew into three teams and then you swapped between them as you explored. The music was amazing and the boss fight at the end was really solid to the point where I reloaded an earlier save file the next day so I could fight it again. Kurt nearly clearing the second phase solo while everyone got hit with bitch status effects was a nice highlight. The festival stuff afterwards is kind of a giveaway that it wasn't the end though, especially the quests that let you use all the characters that will be unavailable during the final chapter. No surprises here; Altina had the cutest bonding event.

Loading times when starting fights was smooth however loading between areas and scene transitions would last 10 seconds each. With all the scene changes during the final chapter, for fucks sake I just wanted to skip the entire thing because it would just be 10 seconds of loading, three people saying 'oh nooooo' and then move onto the next scene and repeat 8 times because they need to show off the 50 different characters that are somewhat relevant to whats going on. Fucking shoot me. Most of the game had less padding than usual so half the finale being a complete waste of time was just a kick in the balls. I don't remember them doing this shit before Cold Steel. Someone needs to be fired.

The balls on Falcom to end on a huge cliffhanger when this was said to be the last Cold Steel game. It's a shame they had to transition into 3D and cater to harem losers for money, they can't animate 3d models for shit compared to their sprite work and character interaction that doesn't involve Rean might as well not exist anymore. Sky and Crossbell characters are coming back for Sen IV but I have little faith they'll do them any justice. And yet somehow they managed to make Altina the cutest so there's a small ray of hope. Hopefully they can wrap this shit show up and move onto Calvard.
 
One Way Heroics

This is an RPG that is also a roguelike, which is basically a genre where the world is generated by the computer so that the player will get a different world each playthrough. The gist is that every move that you take will cause the screen to scroll to the right, so the player cannot backtrack as that would mean instant death. Basically it's like the original Super Mario Bros. except you can walk to your death on the left. Before the player starts, they will choose a job, which has their own advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, the player can choose perks, which are stat boosts to help the player. I only completed this game by completing randomly-generated quests each job at least once, since each job will unlock a portrait in the ending screen.

The game's music is basic catchy fare for JRPGs and gets the job done, and I feel like this is a sort of parody game because I don't feel like this is serious in tone. For example, talking to the fairy companion is not a good move since it wastes your turn, and finishing the game with the Hero class (the ultimate class) unlocks a gag picture that I refuse to describe.

It's not a bad game and it's certainly replayable, but if you like roguelikes and RPGs and don't mind a comical tone in-game then it's worth a shot.

Thank you for reading.
 
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The Tiny Bang Story

This game can be best described as a combination of a Hidden Objects Game and a Puzzle Game, since the game features objects to be found, such as jigsaw puzzles and wheels. It's partly a Puzzle Game because there are puzzles that needed to be solved to progress. There are only about 5 areas to travel to, each required to be solved with jigsaw puzzle pieces, and once the game is done, all the puzzles can be selected to re-solve. As such, it's a short and simple game.

I would say that this game has in common with the popularity of Hidden Object Games of old, since this genre was quite a popular type of game on the PC back then, before the mobile proves to be a more viable alternative since this game is very suited for touch interfaces. Essentially Hidden Object Games are probably a thing in the past.

The game has a nice illustrated picture feel, so it's pleasant to look at, at least.

Thank you for reading.
 
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion

I'll never be able to look at autobombs the same way ever again.
 
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Toki Tori (PC)

Also available on (Original): GBC, Windows Mobile, 3DS Virtual Console
Also available on (Remake): WiiWare, Mobile, OS X, OnLive, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch

This game is basically a remake of the original GBC version, which is itself a more complete game that the developers of the game made for the MSX, named Eggbert. The developers formed a company called "Two Tribes" to make the first Toki Tori for the GBC, and it is also published by Capcom. You thought Shantae was the only indie game published by Capcom for the GBC? Yes, this game also has this characteristic. And of course, it also has great music and nice vibrant graphics. Of course, both Toki Tori (original) and Shantae are on GBC's Virtual Console so they're not totally lost in time. The remake of Toki Tori was first developed for the WiiWare, and featured an overhaul in graphics, music and even the level ordering. This essentially made the game reborn into a more complete package and rebalance the difficulty, since the GBC has some tough levels that are moved to the "Hard levels" category, meaning they're completely optional to this game's completion. Although the music in the remake is also good, I think the GBC has really great tunes too.

Now about this game: this is a puzzle platformer where the titular bird has to gather all the eggs, while minding the enemies and hazards (Toki Tori dies in one hit). To help accomplish the objective, Toki Tori has tools at his disposal to help him, such as bridges to cross gaps and teleportation for warping at a direction. Since this game has a limit on tools, they needed to be used wisely, even for the unlimited ones. As an example, the freeze gun usually has unlimited uses, but there are a limited amount of enemies so it still needs to be used wisely. Fortunately, this game has a rewind function, so in the event a misstep is made, it's just as simple as repeating the timing until you get it just right.

The game features Normal levels and Hard levels, interspersed between four worlds (and an extra on Steam, based on Portal). The game starts predictably in a greenery area, but amusingly, the final world is a water world which is breathtaking. Only the Normal levels need to be cleared, and they are usually not difficult to accomplish. The Hard levels sometimes had me looking at a video guide to check the things I missed, and even the smaller puzzles are quite mind-bending. I also did the Bonus levels, which are not as difficult as most Hard levels, but the Portal-inspired ones are certainly tough.

This is a very well-made game and I am glad to have finished it. I also have Toki Tori 2 in the ready, but as with most games, I prefer to tackle the take a break between sequels.

One thing I have to say is the ending: it's morbidly hilarious and weird at the same time. What weird about it? The credits music.

Thank you for reading.
 
Zelda: BotW - The Champions' Ballad

Loving the bike, so far.
And I cannot use the One-Hit Obliterator post-DLC story? I could've use it for the Lynels. Well, I have to fight it like a man.
 
Pheromosa said:
YFJ said:
Pheromosa said:
Mario Party 8's Test for the Best with a perfect score of 10 000 points.
Click to expand...
you are officially an unearthly being

Any advice?
Click to expand...

I can give you some in a PM here
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'd appreciate that. No matter how hard I try, I've never been able to get anywhere near a perfect score in Test for the Best. Closest I've gotten is 7000-8000 points.
 
Sonic Mania Plus

Titanic Monarch was not really enjoyable to me. At least the final boss kinda was. But my favourite act in the game turned out to be Press Garden act 1.
 
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Explodemon (PC)

This game clearly takes inspiration from Mega Man, due to the robotic main character and the robotic enemies. Moreover, the titular character has a specialty. He specialises in, as he name suggests, exploding. Exploding is not only a form of offence, but also a form of mobility, namely performing a second jump and initiating a dash. The game also contains collectibles which can be used to inflate the rank, but I am not interested in that since it's already quite difficult to find and collect them all. Basically completing the game is not difficult, but getting 100% is.

Although there is a brilliance in the simplicity of the gameplay, it admittedly felt dull to play through this game. I think one issue I have is that the game doesn't feel lively enough, due to the soundtrack not being catchy enough. With Mega Man or Shovel Knight, the tunes are memorable, but this game doesn't have the soundtrack to get me pumped up. I also felt that the animation is kind of subdued and rough, and the enemies aren't very lively in design either. While the game is challenging overall, the environments are rather drab. It's a decent game for the concept, but I felt that the presentation is lacking. Well, at least there's some form of humour, and the cutscenes are well done.

Thank you for reading.
 
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Gomo

This game is a point-and-click adventure, but it's also very linear in that once a room is cleared, the player never go back. In this way, it's very easy to finish game, but at the same time, it's pretty short. This game has great music and a nice grim visual, though.

I think I will tackle a couple of Halloween-themed games on Steam next: Costume Quest 2 and Undertale.

Thank you for reading.
 
Kirby Star Allies (100% completion)

After many deaths, injuries, dangers, and tired wrists, I finally conquered this game 100%.

Story Mode, although easy, was also pretty fun. I enjoyed going back and replaying random levels in multiplayer with my siblings. And you gotta admit, that final boss was epic. That throwback to the first game in the final extra level was also beyond cool.

Guest Star mode was certainly interesting. A nice change of pace, to play as another ally instead of Kirby. I played as Chef Kawasaki. There were some modifications in some levels, but the most interesting change was the final boss. The final boss was outright replaced with another boss! And although not as tough or epic as Story Mode's final boss, the final boss in this mode certainly posed a challenge.

The Ultimate Choice was the ultimate challenge of this game, though. I spent months trying to beat this mode. It's a lot like The Arena from previous games. While it started off easy, the later levels certainly got tougher. And as if Fiery Showdown and Infernal Crisis weren't hard enough, they threw in Soul Melter, which is as frustratingly hard as it sounds (think "The True Arena"). On this level, you are limited to half of your full HP, you only have six small tomatoes for healing items, all the bosses have more difficult attack patterns, and you have to fight yet another secret boss at the end. They also threw in some neat retro music in the battles on this level. I could only beat it with my brother's help; it's that hard. If you could beat this solo, I applaud you.

Overall, I enjoyed this game a lot. I would give it an 8/10.
 
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Costume Quest 2 (PC)

Also available on: PS3, PS4, X360, XONE, Wii U

As the title suggests, this game is the sequel to Costume Quest, which is a Halloween-themed game. While the previous game features the tradition of Halloween alongside a villain who will summon a powerful threat, this game features the threat to Halloween as a tradition. You see, the premise is that a dentist managed to travel through time to alter the world in his favour by outlawing Halloween's traditions (costumes, candies) and taking over the world.

This game has the same beats as the first game, in which the player has to knock on doors to either battle foes or receive candy from the owner of the homes, find kids who are in a hide-and-seek quest, and transforming into upgraded forms of their costumes during battle. This game has a few differences though: for one, this game has elemental strengths and weaknesses depending on the costume, and the types are Magic, Monster and Tech. The other thing is that timed commands are more flexible, since not only are there offensive and defensive timed hits, the player can combo with a second weaker attack, and cross-counter with an attack (while greatly reducing damage) if they predict the enemy's attack correctly while defending.

Unlike the first game and its DLC, the cast of characters change, as the third member changes depending on which part of the story took place. For example, on the first third of the story, the main characters travel with Monty, a crocodile tamer. Two other characters are found in different parts, but in terms of battle they function the same so there isn't any difference. In terms of costumes, the superhero costume has a gendered variant, but unfortunately this is the only costume in the game to have it (a female Jefferson would be a sight to see, I suppose).

While this game is more or less the same, the fact that I am somewhat familiar with how this game goes is quite comforting, and a fitting way to "celebrate" Halloween ahead of time. It's also visually an upgrade from the past game so the changes are quite a sight to see too. It's length is on the short side for RPGs but that's OK, since long RPGs can be a real daunting task so to have some short ones is a great thing when it comes to game completions.

Thank you for reading.
 
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