VideoGame_Discussion

February, the slightly longer than usual month of love and Lent, has drawn to a close. But the gaming is as strong as ever, so that's what I'm concerned about right now. Here are our stats from the month:
-We beat 85 games/DLC this month. That's a little less than January's 96, but still respectable. @legendrko25 topped the charts with 11.
-We earned 10 badges this month, which is more than double the badges we earned last month (4). @incubus421 , @Scott , and legendrko25 all tied for top badge-earners, with two each. I finally earned a badge, too!
-I would write another thing here, but most of the other details are at the top of the OP.

As always, comment if I missed something in the update. And keep playing good games!

I beat Donkey Kong Land (originally GB). It's a decent game, but has some noticeable issues. The controls are passable, but you're very stiff and heavy. The sprites are large on a small screen, and the ACM graphics of the SNES make things difficult to see sometimes. There's also an annoying damage mechanic: You switch to your other Kong based on where the first one lands, so if he lands in a pit, you just lose your life and that's it. Couple that with Contra syndrome where the ground below you can turn into a pit as you ascend, and you've got a strenuous DK game.

That said, I appreciate DKL's originality. They made a wholehearted attempt to replicate DKC's graphics and challenge on an 8-bit, monochromatic system. There are plenty of new environments, hazards, and enemies, too. The later Land games borrow heavily from their SNES counterparts, but DKL1 is a new, weird experience. Why are there bouncy tornadoes in the sunken city of Kremlantis? Why do you jump into a portal to end each stage? Why is the final area a metropolis (the same one where the arcade game took place--don't listen to Mario Odyssey's propaganda) after the previous ones were fantastical? We may never know, and that's charming.

I also beat Wario World, knocking off my list.
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I love this game. It's super short but memorable, brimming with personality and weirdness. It's one of those games that delights in being stupid and awesome simultaneously. Wario constantly grunts and yells at enemies, he unhinges his jaw to inhale money, and allsorts of other stuff. The box art is him sitting in a pile of gold, laughing his head off. What more can you ask of a game?

I beat Mr. Gimmick! on Switch but forgot to post. I didn't find all the secet items to fight the true final boss, so maybe I'll try that later.

I beat Golf With Your Friends on the xbox 1

1st in March, 15th on the year, 3rd
Return to Grace
Badge: 1st towards Guybrush Threepwood

I've been sucked into Lies of P for around 2 weeks and loving it, but there are spikes in difficulty or frustration and I ended up seeking out something else to try out. That brought me to this title since it was newly added to GP and I read some favorable comments/reviews... and it was short. There are some alternate choices to make and I could earn a handful or more additional achievements but I would have to replay it fully b/c there aren't any chapters to seemingly load up. The story and well done voice acting was enjoyable with some humorous lines. I could likely run though it a 2nd time rather fast, but if I wanted to 'platinum' it I could see possibly needing to play it 3 times as I think there are some from a few branching paths... so I'm sort of unlikely to bother, but I will say that it was worth my time for this playthrough.

#14 Hyperdimension Neptunia U Action Unleased -

#14, and while I work on some longer RPGs. Here's a fairly quick one. When I bought this Vita several months back, this was one of the games I had never gotten to back when I originally owned a vita that I wanted to play. It's pretty good. Once you understand how to use the upgrade system. Before that I was really struggling. You have to use those medals to power up. It was a big duh moment for me when I realized. I went from struggling to having fun. haha

image

I beat Scribblenauts Remix DLC (iOS), getting me the Brain Teaser badge.
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Twelve constellations are hidden behind a $1 transaction. Some of them are brand new stages, and I was delighted to see the action stages from Super return. (They’re still easy to cheese if you create a bomb disposal expert, heh.) I was bummed they omitted the final confrontation with the doppelgänger, so that’s another point for the DS original.

I can’t decide which is definitively better: Super Scribblenauts or Remix. Both are the same price and available on handhelds. Super has one or two stages not available in Remix, multiple save files, an entire level maker, and some Easter eggs that weren’t ported over. The controls and hitboxes are also a bit better. But Remix adds multiple worlds, has a superior art style, more or less functions the same way, and is right on your phone. So it’s kind of a wash.

I still favor the OG, of course. I got so much play time out of Super Scribblenauts as a kid, it’s not even funny.

I beat Dead Island 2 on the xbox 1 (beat with friend in coop, alongside golf with your friends gets me the BFFL badge)

My #19 is Last Epoch.

Took about 20 hours to make it to the end of this ARPG. Pretty good. Better than D4. 8/10

I finished Unraveled Two on Xbox one with my 6 year old. It's a pretty great game.

My #20 is Trover Saves the Universe.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bJToWwzz9omffFuh7

Fun little game that was made for VR but plays well with a controller. Made by Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland, your main character is Morty (Trover) and the bad guy is Rick. Lots of rambling improv feeling dialog with bad language. Entertaining for it's length (4.6 hours). 7/10

I never watched the show and don’t usually like that kind of humor, but Trover was pretty hilarious.

DemonAlcohol wrote:

I beat and 100%'d Donkey Kong Land 2 . It's decent.
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It's hard to be passionate about DKL2 since, unlike the other Land games, this one sticks very closely to its superior SNES counterpart. The world map, level names, and general gimmicks are all direct imitations. Though the stages have new level designs, it makes you ask, "why bother?" It's still an enjoyable time, but it doesn't do quite enough to justify its existence in 2024.

Operation Winback

Love this game, total comfort game for me. The first several stages especially I have just completely memorized at this point. Had been years since I went through it so I was feeling a run.

Just finished Another Code: Recollection on Switch. It was nice playing the sequel that wasn't released here, but the first part (Trace Memory on DS) is still better.

Nothing like starting off the morning with a hot, steaming bowl of monkey justice.

Number: 15
Full Title: Donkey Kong
Platform Played: Game Boy
Collection: N/A
Native Platform: Game Boy
Original Platforms: Game Boy

Playing through both versions of Mario vs. Donkey Kong re-whet my appetite for this Game Boy classic, which I first played on the 3DS Virtual Console shortly after that platform was released. The formula is largely the same - Mario navigates a series of puzzle platforming levels in pursuit of Donkey Kong, who kidnapped side-piece Pauline - except the levels are laid out as a 100-floor tower that begins with the four levels from the classic Donkey Kong arcade game. Mario pulls off a really impressive set of acrobatics for an 8-bit, two button console, and aside from a couple of unfairly mind-bending mid-levels (and a really frustrating final boss fight, where Mario's extended moves actually work against him), it's a blast and an excellent evolution of both the Mario and Donkey Kong formulae.

Donkey Kong '94 famously offers some of the best Super Game Boy enhancements available. (Lots of people would say it's the best Super Game Boy-enhanced game, but I find being able to play the full Super Nintendo version of Space Invaders really impressive.) The color palette is expertly implemented, Pauline gets an actual voice sample, and there's apparently a bonus when you finish the game (which I didn't actually hear, for some reason) making for a game that feels just as much at home on a Super Nintendo as it does on Game Boy. In practice, however, I preferred playing on my Analogue Pocket's natural Game Boy mode over even its Super Game Boy core. The larger screen size and beautiful DMG filter made for a more enjoyable experience than the smaller, more colorful Super Game Boy viewport.

At @SupremeSarna's suggestion, my next Donkey Kong title is going to be Donkey Kong Country for the Game Boy Color, which I forsook during its initial release but want to explore with the benefits of the Pocket's amazing screen emulation. On the homefront, I'm slowly working through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in all its glory, trying to mainline the primary scenario and skip the optional content before anything gets spoiled.

#15

Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze

Haven’t played this since the Wii U days and it looks so much better cleaned up on the Switch. I forgot how much fun it was too. And oh so damn challenging at times even with all the handicaps it gives you. Great tunes too. Only complaint really would be the length some of these bosses take to beat. Man they can feel like a slog. Overall I’d say it was my favorite DK game since the DK Country games. I liked DK Returns but don’t have too many fond memories of the 3DS game as it didn’t feel as smooth as Tropical Freeze did in regards to its performance and execution. Plus I enjoyed unlocking all the levels and bonus stages.

TalonJedi87 wrote:

Tropical Freeze is phenomenal! The Switch version's graphics are about on par with the Wii U version, but the load times are so much quicker. It really is a cut above most other platformers, and I dare call it Retro Studio's magnum opus. Do you have any favorite stages?

Yes! Any of the mine cart stages I was a sucker for. Played them multiple times. The momentum is great. I hated those rocket barrel stages tho only cause I suck at timing those movements haha

I tested the copy of Kirby's Dream Land that I got in a Kirby-themed merchandise lot, and it worked like a charm. I beat both the Main Game and Extra Game.
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Fun stuff.

TalonJedi87 wrote:

Everyone knocks the Rocket Barrel stages in the Retro Studios games, but I've always liked them. They operate on the same principle as the Mine Cart stages--stay on your toes, watch for immediate obstacles, and respond to them with the right timing--but with elevation and momentum at work.

Sawmill Thrill is a real riot as far as Mine Cart stages go!

OP updated. @Bleed_DukeBlue After a bunch of procrastination, I finished your PS Portal logo. Hope you like it!

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