Games Beaten 2016

[marurun]

I played IV coming off III and I enjoyed them both. I enjoyed them differently, but given how easy it is to get these games with all DLC for cheap, no reason not to own both.

[Ack]

I have only ever played Saints Row II...but I did it as Hillary Clinton.

[Fragems]

III is one of the best open world co-op experiences available in my opinion buy it and grab a friend for pure epicness.

[ElkinFencer10]

III is one of the best open world co-op experiences available in my opinion buy it and grab a friend for pure epicness.

I totes agree.

[ExedExes]

1. Flag to Flag - Dreamcast (January 12)
2. The Battle of Olympus - NES (January 18)
3. Thunder Force AC - Arcade/MAME (February 6)
4. Golden Axe - Arcade/MAME (February 14)
5. Rod-Land - Arcade/MAME (February 22)
6. Xexyz - NES (March 14)
7. Smuggler's Run: Warzones - Gamecube (March 26)
8. Rad Racer - NES (March 27)
9. Rad Racer II - NES (March 27)
10. Rise of the Triad 2013 - PC (April 23)
11. Call of Juarez: Bound In Blood - PC (June 2)
12. Call of Duty: World At War - PC (June 26)
13. Medal of Honor: Infiltrator - GBA (June 27)
14. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon - Island Thunder - PC (July 14)
15. Feel The Magic XY/XX - DS (August 9)
16. *NEW* Clubhouse Games - DS (September 1)

Clubhouse Games is a collection of 42 classic card, board, and other games such as darts and billiards. I completed the Stamp mode, which took you through all 42 games to earn completed stamps for each one. In essence, I went through the entire game. There were some interesting Japanese games such as Shogi and a Hanafuda variant called Koi-Koi that were included. It's cheap and it's a great pick up and play option with many customizable rules options and even more modes of play.

[Exhuminator]

98. Armored Core 2|PS2|2000|mech sim|10h 5m|7/10


No, this isn't my AC. Mine had a grade of Excellent.

Armored Core 2 is actually the fourth game in the Armored Core series, and the first entry on the PS2. AC2 largely apes previous installments insofar as main game design is concerned. That is to say; you play as a mercenary (Raven) taking on jobs from competing corporations, using the profits to evolve your armored core (mech), so that you might rule the arena, thereby having maximum prestige and profits. Whether doing missions or fighting in the arena, the gameplay remains the same. This is third person robot shooting action with a tiny hint of strategy.



The most important strategic element, is designing your armored core for maximum capability. You'll choose from hundreds of parts, carefully constructing a custom armored core, all depending on the requirements of any given mission or arena challenger. This aspect is often daunting for newcomers, and some people give up as soon as they realize how deep the customization is. For anyone who thinks maintaining a single armored core is too daunting, all I can say is they should never play Front Mission.



As far as improvements go, AC2 is a fair graphical improvement over its predecessors. (Though this has more to do with the PS2 than FromSoftware really pushing amazing graphics.) And the inclusion of voice acting during mission dialogues is nice. However, I found the arena to be not as challenging as previous installments. But on the other hand, missions were often much tougher than previous AC games. This has more to do with balancing issues, meaning the designers obviously favored one certain type of AC design for their playtesting. And truly Armored Core 2 often feels rough around the edges, likely a result of rushed development, as FromSoftware was in a hurry to release PS2 games ahead of other developers back in 2000.



For the right person, Armored Core 2 is a worthy investment of their time. And by right person, I mean someone who loves giant robots, enjoys endlessly tinkering with configurations, and is tenacious enough to ignore antiquated graphics and short sighted controls. If you are that type of gamer, Armored Core 2 will scratch that mech shaped itch. Albeit not as well as its predecessors did. Still, all things considered, Armored Core 2 is a good start to the long PS2 run of this series.



Also the final mission of this game can kiss my ass. Three stupid hard bosses back to back to back, really FromSoftware? No continues either if you die. Really?

[MrPopo]

I've only played 4 and For Answer. I found the customization to be reasonable at face value, but then there's a level on top that I ignored around doing minor tweaks by modifying the little bits sticking off the parts. That part I never understood, but the swapping out base parts I didn't have a problem with after so much Front Mission.

[ElkinFencer10]

Games Beaten in 2016 So Far - 91

January (20 Games Beaten)

1. Shadow Warrior - Playstation 4 - January 1
2. The Order: 1886 - Playstation 4 - January 2
3. Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop - Wii - January 3
4. NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - WiiWare - January 4
5. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd - Vita - January 5
6. Shadow the Hedgehog - Gamecube - January 9
7. Fairy Bloom Freeia - Steam - January 10
8. Petit Novel Series: Harvest December - 3DS - January 13
9. Gas Guzzlers Extreme - Steam - January 14
10. Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Wii - January 16
11. Project Zero 2: Wii Edition - Wii - January 19
12. Killzone: Liberation - PSP - January 20
13. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor - Wii - January 20
14. Kirby's Epic Yarn - Wii - January 24
15. Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love - Wii - January 25
16. Corpse Party - PSP - January 25
17. Freedom Planet - Wii U - January 25
18. Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space - Vita - January 25
19. Silent Hill: Homecoming - Xbox 360 - January 26
20. Life is Strange - Playstation 4 - January 28

February (8 Games Beaten)

21. Corpse Party: Book of Shadows - PSP - February 2
22. Megadimension Neptunia VII - Playstation 4 - February 12
23. Dr. Discord's Conquest - NES - February 13
24. Corpse Party: Blood Drive - Vita - February 17
25. If My Heart Had Wings - Steam - February 18
26. Missing: An Interactive Thriller - Steam - February 18
27. Her Story - Steam - February 18
28. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright - 3DS - February 26

March (8 Games Beaten)

29. Saints Row 2 - Steam - March 1
30. Saturday Morning RPG - Playstation 4 - March 3
31. Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest - 3DS - March 6
32. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Wii U - March 8
33. Pokken Tournament - Wii U - March 20
34. Moe Chronicle - Vita - March 22
35. Tom Clancey's The Division - Playstation 4 - March 23
36. Yoshi's New Island - 3DS - March 28

April (13 Games Beaten)

37. Alien Rage - Steam - April 1
38. Alien Breed: Impact - Steam - April 2
39. Alien Breed 2: Assault - Steam - April 3
40. Alien Breed 3: Descent - Steam - April 3
41. Bravely Second: Ballad of the Three Cavaliers - 3DS - April 6
42. Quantum Break - Xbox One - April 7
43. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric - Wii U - April 8
44. Akai Katana - Xbox 360 - April 9
45. Otomedius Excellent - Xbox 360 - April 9
46. Chasing Dead - Wii U - April 10
47. Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation - 3DS - April 14
48. Ratchet and Clank - Playstation 4 - April 20
49. Starfox Zero - Wii U - April 23

May (6 Games Beaten)

50. Aero Fighters 2 - NeoGeo - May 8
51. Bravely Second: End Layer - 3DS - May 11
52. Uncharted: Golden Abyss - Vita - May 15
53. Doom - Playstation 4 - May 20
54. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - Playstation 4 - May 22
55. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan - Playstation 4 - May 25

June (13 Games Beaten)

56. MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies - Vita - June 2
57. Republique - Playstation 4 - June 3
58. Splatterhouse - Playstation 3 - June 4
59. Spec Ops: The Line - Playstation 3 - June 5
60. 1943: Battle of Midway - NES - June 6
61. Mirror's Edge: Catalyst - Playstation 4 - June 12
62. Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem - SNES - June 13
63. Homefront: The Revolution - Playstation 4 - June 15
64. Gone Home - Playstation 4 - June 15
65. Double Dragon Neon - Playstation 3 - June 16
66. Vanquish - Playstation 3 - June 17
67. Epic Dumpster Bear - Wii U - June 20
68. B3: Game Expo for Bees - Wii U - June 21

July (7 Games Beaten)

69. Raiden V - Xbox One - July 16
70. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE - Wii U - July 16
71. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES - Playstation 2 - July 23
72. Lost Sea - Playstation 4 - July 24
73. Far Cry Primal - Playstation 4 - July 27
74. Black - Playstation 2 - July 28
75. Until Dawn - Playstation 4 - July 31

August (15 Games Beaten)

76. Divine Sealing - Mega Drive - August 1
77. Gal*Gun: Double Peace - Playstation 4 - August 2
78. Valkyria Chronicles II - PSP - August 5
79. Breach and Clear - Vita - August 10
80. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem - Gamecube - August 12
81. Metal Gear Solid - Playstation - August 15
82. Hello Kitty Kruisers - Wii U - August 16
83. Monster Monpiece - Vita - August 17
84. Army Men: Major Malfunction - Xbox - August 17
85. Layers of Fear - Steam - August 18
86. Kirby: Planet Robobot- 3DS - August 19
87. Disaster: Day of Crisis - Wii - August 20
88. Caladrius Blaze - PlayStation 4 - August 20
89. Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - Vita - August 22
90. Saints Row IV - PS4 - August 30

September (1 Game Beaten)

91. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - PS4 - September 2

91. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - PS4 - September 2



I absolutely adore the Hatsune Miku games. I first played DIVA F 2nd when I picked it up on a whim when I got my Vita because it looked cute and weeby. I've been hooked ever since, and it's become my second favorite rhythm game series (after Theatrhythm). While I still think F 2nd was better (mostly because of song selection), DIVA X is a fantastic addition to the series.



For those not in-the-know, Hatsune Miku is a vocaloid program - basically a digital singer that lets users compose songs to be sung by the program. Somewhere along the line, somebody at Sega said "Hey, let's make a rhythm game with these vocaloid characters!" Weebs worldwide rejoiced and began throwing money. Now the blue haired beauty finally makes her way to the PlayStation 4 (although it's also available on Vita). There's not a whole great deal to say about this game. In terms of gameplay, it's a fairly standard rhythm game, though the outfits and accessories do add a bit of variety since the combinations you choose have different effects on your score multiplier.



The core game is divided into five "clouds," or types of songs - Classic, Cute, Elegant, Cool, and Quirky. Each cloud has - IIRC - five songs plus an finale track with four or five additional songs shortened and mixed that unlocks once you finish the five base songs. The Classic cloud has a second of these mixes that you unlock once you accumulate enough points in the post-game, but I've not done that quite yet. For each song, you have four difficulties; Easy and Normal are unlocked from the start, and Hard and Extreme unlock once you finish each cloud.



I only have one real complaint with the game right now - the omission of the song "Clover Club." I get it, you can't just put the same songs in every game because then no one will buy your game (unless you're making a Mario platformer). Clover Club is - hands down - my favorite Hatsune Miku song, though, so I desperately hope that gets released as DLC at some point. I don't know why I love it so much. It's just so cute and catchy, and Miku's dancing is so damn ADORABLE in that song.


PLEASE ADD THIS SEGA SHE'S SO GOD DAMN CUTE

[MrPopo]

But at least now I'm one of the foremost authorities on the expansion's single player content, considering just how little information there is about Dark Reign out there. Maybe I'll get bored and write something for GameFAQs on it.

If you go that extra mile, I think you should also play through Dark Reign's other expansion "Battles of the Outer Rim ", and include a FAQ for it as well. That would be holistically inclusive and I'm sure people would appreciate it.

Got bored. Shadowhand now has a walkthrough:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/56597-dark-r ... whand/faqs

[Flake]

3/19: Sonic Generations (3DS)
3/22: Sonic Colors (Wii)
4/10: Sonic Adventure DX (GCN)
4/17: Knuckles in Sonic 2 (SG/WiiVC)
6/15: Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (PSP/PSTV)
8/4: Metal Slug (Arcade/PS4)
8/5: Metal Slug 2 (Arcade/PS4)
8/5: Metal Slug X (Arcade/PS4)
8/5: Metal Slug 3 (Arcade/PS4)
8/22: Megaman X (SNES/GCN)
8/29: Megaman X2 (SNES/GCN)
9/3: Megaman X3 (SNES/GCN)
9/3: Megaman X4 (PSX/GCN)
9/4: Megaman X5 (PSX/GCN)

I am entering that really, really hard stretch for any Megaman X marathon. The amazing series' peak that is X2 thru X4 is over with and I am now sitting in a hell of Capcom's making.

Megaman X2 is an okay follow up to Megaman X but it's a real slog for me since it does not have nearly as much charm and doesn't add much.

Megaman X3 and Megaman X4 belong in every Best 100 list ever made, even lists that have nothing to do with video games:

- Top 100 BBQ places in Texas? #87: Megaman X4.
- Readers Choice: 100 best ways to knit a sweater? Megaman X3 is #23.

They are completely different approaches to the series. Megaman X3 has so much content that I feel like they should have toned it down as it is not possible to fully utilize every piece of armor, every weapon, or every mech in a single playthrough.

Megaman X4 is a back to basics approach which is appropriate when a series transitions to new hardware.

...And then there is Megaman X5. Megaman X5 is an utter and total mess. The game is a series of complex systems that do not benefit the player. The level design teeters between terrible and boring but that does not matter because the game's powerups completely defeat all level-design. Even the artwork is terrible. Gone are the rich animations of the bosses from Megaman X4. The sprite count for each enemy is tiny.

It gets worse though. Megaman X6 is next. And then, Megaman X7...the game that made me stop liking video games for an entire year...