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The Neo Geo is replete with great soundtracks, and oddly enough, very few of those fantastic soundtracks make full use of the Yamaha sound chip in the system. Most in-house development from SNK only used a subset of the chip's capabilities.

Segata wrote:Magician Lord. That's one tough game. I tooka hiatus for a couple weeks because one part frustrated me but I came back and wasn't bad. Beat the game. No doubt one of my favorite OSTs to a Neo Geo sidescroller.

I know which part you're referring to. It's a shame, cuz it drags down the game quite a bit, and the rest of it is quite good.

Yeah, there's a section in which, if you lose all your power-ups, it gets really, really tough to get through without dying over and over. I managed to get through, but it wasn't easy! While they're not related, I ran into the same issue with Osman as well. Basically, don't die at that spot.

It was one of the last stages where it has moving platforms and these meatballs attack you and constantly respawn. So you get hit easy and fall off the platforms.

Segata wrote:It was one of the last stages where it has moving platforms and these meatballs attack you and constantly respawn. So you get hit easy and fall off the platforms.

Good grief, that segment sucks. Yep. I feel for ya there.

lol yeah but I do feel almost every game even the good ones have a bullshit section. It just seems every game has one. Dragon Age it was the Fade. Nier Autmata it
s 9s section. WW The Triforce pieces etc etc.

I think the key problem is that meatballs reign supreme, and ain't nobody a bad enough dude to win against the meatballs.

Markies' Games Beat List Of 2018!
*Denotes Replay For Completion*

1. The Granstream Saga (PS1)
2. Perfect Dark (N64)
*3. Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (PS1)*
4. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (XBOX)
5. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
*6. Pikmin (GCN)*
*7. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (N64)*
8. Shining Force II (GEN)
*9. X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (PS1)*
*10. Mafia (XBOX)*
11. James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire (GCN)
12. ChuChu Rocket! (SDC)
*13. Super Metroid (SNES)*
14. Final Fantasy II (NES)



I completed Final Fantasy II on the Nintendo Entertainment System this evening!

My first experience with Final Fantasy II came with Final Fantasy origins on the PS1. I was nearing the end of playing through every Final Fantasy game I could get my hands on and that was one of the last one along with V and III. Initially, I was put off by the game even though I eventually finished it. After playing that version several more times, I began to understand it especially once I learned the history and the context of the game. While at MAGFest, I was walking around the Vendor Hall when I spotted somebody selling Reproduction Carts. I saw Final Fantasy II on the NES and I decided then and there that this would be my first reproduction purchase. And this year, I finally got a chance to play it.

I won't compare it to the PS1 version because that would be unfair, but the improvements compared to the original Final Fantasy are so vast. I love that magic is a major factor, there are so many more spells and you have MP instead of just slots. Cid and Chocobos make there first appearance here as they eventually become series staples. Characters are introduced, killed and even brought back to the party as they actually have development instead of just D&D archetypes. Dungeons seem more fleshed out and the world even seems larger.

Going back to play the original after a remake is tough. Auto-Targeting is just so nice along with being able to do a Quick Save. With that being said, the original game has some flaws. At the beginning, you are completely broke, but you have like 5 towns to buy stuff. And that's basically it. The rest of your equipment, weapons and magic is found in dungeons and you use all of your money to stock pile Elixirs for the final dungeon. The game has a great way of just killing you out of nowhere. Whether from confusion or death spells, you are doing fine and then you just die. Status ailments are everywhere and it's frustrating to deal with them. But, the leveling system is just a grind. Everything uses 2 Experience points, no matter what your proficiency is.

Obviously, there are aspects that I enjoy and some frustrations with the game. It is a very solid 8-Bit RPG, but it is the obvious weakest in the Final Fantasy series. It is worth a play, but either do the PS1 or the GBA remake to make life easier. The NES version is for fanatics and masochists only, which I happen to be both.

Games Beaten in 2018 So Far - 53
* denotes a replay

January (16 Games Beaten)


February (18 Games Beaten)


March (10 Games Beaten)


April (7 Games Beaten)


May (2 Games Beaten)


53. Guacamelee - Wii U - May 6



Guacamelee is an indie side scrolling beat 'em up in the Metroidvania style themed around the Mexican celebration of el Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). I got it, if I remember correctly, from a Humble Bundle a couple years ago with a bunch of Wii U and 3DS games.



You play as Juan, an agave farmer, preparing for the Dia de los Muertos festival when an undead charro named Carlos Calaca attacks the president's mansion in an attempt to kidnap his daughter for use in an evil ritual. While trying to save the president's daughter, Juan is killed by Calaca until a magical luchador mask resurrects Juan with the legendary power of a Mexican wrestler. You then dedicate yourself to following Calaca, taking out his minions, and hopefully stopping his evil plans and saving the president's daughter. Whether or not you're successful in that last part depends on your play throughout the game as there are multiple endings to the game.



There are a fair variety of different dungeons and environments in Guacamelee, and there are abilities that are unlocked throughout the game that will allow you to access previously restricted areas. This not only gives the game some more variety but also gives some reason to go back to previously cleared areas to try to access new secrets with powerups and money that can be used to unlock improvements and new costumes. Each costume has its own abilities and detriments, so it's totally worth it to try to farm silver and experiment with the different costumes.



Guacamelee isn't a stunningly revolutionary game, and its theme revolving around a Mexican festival is probably its most unique feature. Despite that, however, the game is a TON of fun with some interesting dungeons and some engaging boss battles. If you find it on sale and are a fan of beat 'em ups, definitely give it a download. It should be getting a release on Switch soon, as well, so if that's your platform of choice, you'll soon be in luck.

I don't think Final Fantasy II is nearly as bad as some claim. I like the core gameplay engine, and the visuals and monster designs are quite nice. It has tons of problems, but ultimately ends up being a 5/10 or 6/10 game, which is probably where I'd also rank something like Phantasy Star II.