January1. Fez (PC)
2. Sakura Spirit (PC)
3. Mega Man 1 (PC - Legacy Collection)
4. Mega Man 2 (PC - Legacy Collection)
5. McPixel (PC)
6. Tower of Heaven (PC)Fez is a charming platformer based around exploration and collecting. It uses a very unique take on a world flipping mechanic. To simply collect the standard 32 cubes and finish the game is not that overly challenging, as was quite relaxing. Collecting the 32 Anti cubes is straight up sadistic. I think I found about half without a guide, which is pretty good all things considered. The 3 red cubes are completely insane. I have no idea how anyone found those without help. Anyways, I enjoyed it, and would play a sequel if one ever came out.
Sakura Spirit barely qualifies as a game. In fact, I honestly debated putting it on here simply because I don't think it should be called a game. Its more like porn targeted at nerdy, anime loving, high school aged boys,
except they took out all the porn. Seriously, its just a bad porn plot without the sex, and all of the innuendos.
Admittedly, the artist does have talent, but looking at these supposedly erotic images just felt weird when you don't even get to see anything. It made me feel like I was staring at someone on the street, clearly perving on them, with no pay off. I'd rather just go look at real porn.
It doesn't even work well as a visual novel for pervs, because unlike every other visual ever, you don't make any damn choices that effect the story (save for one late game choice that changes one scene).
At least the music was pretty good.
Ah, Mega Man, my go to series to replay. I've played them all numerous times, except for
Mega Man 1. I've only ever beaten that one once before. I seem to recall not thinking it was as hard as people say. But upon playing it again I now understand. Mega Man 1 is bullshit. Level design is crap, physics are slightly off, and the boss fights are just kinda off putting. I don't really know how I beat it so easy the first time. But I struggled this time.
Mega Man 2 is leaps and bounds better then number 1. It shocked me playing them back to back how much of an improvement it is. From the graphics, the music, the level design, physics and boss fights. Everything is improved. It reminds me of how big of a jump Uncharted to Uncharted 2 was. And while it is an unpopular opinion, I wish it don't go so far downhill again with Mega Man 3.
McPixel is disappointing. Its sort of supposed to be a comedic take on MacGyver. But it isn't all that effective. And what starts as a light hearted easy to play game, click on things to try and disarm the bomb in the scene, quickly just becomes too repetitive and boring. I can't really recommend it at its normal price of 5 dollars. Even as a more of a joke game, there are better options out there, like the more recent Shower with your dad simulator.
If you have not heard of or played
Tower of Heaven go do it right now:
http://askiisoft.com/games/tower-of-heaven/Go ahead, its short, only 11 levels. I can wait.
...
Have you finished? Good.
Its a pretty great little game don't you think? I first played it back when it release in 2009. Its soundtrack has been on my ipod / phone ever since. I would love to see a fleshed out expanded version of this game. But even if that never happens, I'd be okay with that, because Tower of Heaven does what it sets out to do in a nice tight little package (oh good, the sakura spirit innuendos have infected me...). Even though its short, I found the story to be delivered in a very powerful way. Its simplicity is what makes it great, and somehow makes it complex.