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noiseredux - Next-Gen
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Ack - Moderator
- Posts: 20924
- Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: Games Beaten 2015
noiseredux wrote:Ack, you need to play Cities Skylines - one of my favorite games of the year.
I may get to it eventually...once it's on GOG.
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ExedExes - Next-Gen
- Posts: 7334
- Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:56 pm
- Location: HI-POINT AREA
Re: Games Beaten 2015
prfsnl_gmr wrote:I was able to perfect all but ten puzzles in the 3DS version of Quell Reflect. I was able to look up answers to four of them. The remaining six are exclusive to the 3DS version, however, and no one on the internet has perfected them apparently. (I could probably do it if I felt like spending even more time with the game, but after spending so much time with this great game, I am ready to move on to something else!) I am really looking forward to the sequel, Quell Memento, and if I ever get a tablet, Quell will be one of the first games I get for it.
It's a perfect tablet game. Amazon's also got their GameCircle compatible with these Quell games, basically just achievements and experience levels, so it's a nice boost. It plays well on the TV too!
Xeogred wrote:The obvious answer is that it's time for the Dreamcast 2.
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Michi - Next-Gen
- Posts: 4456
- Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:47 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Games Beaten 2015
I know I don't really post in this thread, but I just wanted anyone wondering to know that, yes, I for one do read through all the thoughts written about the games played. I quite enjoy going through and reading about what others are playing. I just don't comment because, like others have said, I usually don't feel like I have anything to add.
I do enjoy reading them though. Keep up the good work!
I do enjoy reading them though. Keep up the good work!
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KayJay - 24-bit
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:53 pm
Re: Games Beaten 2015
Just beat Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd, Uncharted 2, and Uncharted 3! 
Project Diva F 2nd was a great game. Very fun to play in bursts, and the songs are earworms. I'm currently working on beating the game on the hard difficulty. 9/10.
My all-time favorite Trilogy of games. Although I haven't beaten the first yet (I'm working on it.), I've beaten the first once before, and UC2 & 3 three times each.
Uncharted 2 is a 10/10 game for me. Played it three times, and I still can't find any flaws. Uncharted 3 is a bit lower, with an 8/10. The plot is weaker, and the villains are not nearly as fleshed out (or good, for that matter) but the gameplay is still the same ol' Uncharted I know and love.
Project Diva F 2nd was a great game. Very fun to play in bursts, and the songs are earworms. I'm currently working on beating the game on the hard difficulty. 9/10.
My all-time favorite Trilogy of games. Although I haven't beaten the first yet (I'm working on it.), I've beaten the first once before, and UC2 & 3 three times each.
Uncharted 2 is a 10/10 game for me. Played it three times, and I still can't find any flaws. Uncharted 3 is a bit lower, with an 8/10. The plot is weaker, and the villains are not nearly as fleshed out (or good, for that matter) but the gameplay is still the same ol' Uncharted I know and love.
Currently Playing: Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd (PS3)
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fastbilly1 - Site Admin
- Posts: 13646
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:08 pm
Re: Games Beaten 2015
N64 - Tom and Jerry Fist of Fury
It is slowed down Powerstone, released the same year as Powerstone, in the Tom and Jerry "universe." It has a weird power creep at the end where melee is worthless and weapons plink damage to increase the difficulty. But after the third fight I discovered I could catch objects, and the bots could not until much later in the game, so I ended up running a short loop between object spawn points and catching what was thrown at me. Took about an hour to finish. It would be a fun diversion in multiplayer on a game night, but cant recommend hunting it down.
It is slowed down Powerstone, released the same year as Powerstone, in the Tom and Jerry "universe." It has a weird power creep at the end where melee is worthless and weapons plink damage to increase the difficulty. But after the third fight I discovered I could catch objects, and the bots could not until much later in the game, so I ended up running a short loop between object spawn points and catching what was thrown at me. Took about an hour to finish. It would be a fun diversion in multiplayer on a game night, but cant recommend hunting it down.
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prfsnl_gmr - Next-Gen
- Posts: 10206
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Re: Games Beaten 2015
First 50
51. Mario Kart 8 (WIIU)
52. Quell Reflect (3DS)
53. Electronic Super Joy: Groove City (WIIU)
Electronic Super Joy: Groove City (WIIU) is a simple "hardcore" platformer along the lines of 10001 Spikes, N+, Super Meat Boy, etc. It plays wonderfully, and the "silhouette" sprites against a psychedelic background make it visually arresting. It's storyline is also incredibly silly. (A giant robot stripper named JoJo destroyed Groove City after the nefarious Dr. Swinger stole her laser nipples, and you must recruit the Pope to help you track them back down.) The game is also full of juvenile, prurient humor (if you can take your eyes off of the action long enough to read it). Finally, the game's soundtrack is amazing, and it consists of some of the best house music I have heard in years. (Seriously, the soundtrack alone justifies purchasing this game.)
My only complaint is that the game is a bit too short for its $4.99 price point, and I think it could stand to be about 50% larger. (It is incredibly difficult - I died 50+ times trying to complete some levels - but frequent checkpoints prevent it from being frustrating.) After you beat the game, however, you can return to any level to challenge yourself and improve your score. I therefore recommend it to anyone with a Wii U or a Steam account. (Notably, The original Electronic Super Joy will be released for the Wii U today. It is supposedly amazing, and I plan on purchasing it as soon as I get home. I will probably start it immediately, and I will let you know my thoughts on it too.)
.....
I also ran through Deathsmiles again last night. I had to continue twice - so, I got a 3CC? - but I was able to beat the last boss without continuing. Accordingly, I think that, with a little practice, I could 1CC this game.
51. Mario Kart 8 (WIIU)
52. Quell Reflect (3DS)
53. Electronic Super Joy: Groove City (WIIU)
Electronic Super Joy: Groove City (WIIU) is a simple "hardcore" platformer along the lines of 10001 Spikes, N+, Super Meat Boy, etc. It plays wonderfully, and the "silhouette" sprites against a psychedelic background make it visually arresting. It's storyline is also incredibly silly. (A giant robot stripper named JoJo destroyed Groove City after the nefarious Dr. Swinger stole her laser nipples, and you must recruit the Pope to help you track them back down.) The game is also full of juvenile, prurient humor (if you can take your eyes off of the action long enough to read it). Finally, the game's soundtrack is amazing, and it consists of some of the best house music I have heard in years. (Seriously, the soundtrack alone justifies purchasing this game.)
My only complaint is that the game is a bit too short for its $4.99 price point, and I think it could stand to be about 50% larger. (It is incredibly difficult - I died 50+ times trying to complete some levels - but frequent checkpoints prevent it from being frustrating.) After you beat the game, however, you can return to any level to challenge yourself and improve your score. I therefore recommend it to anyone with a Wii U or a Steam account. (Notably, The original Electronic Super Joy will be released for the Wii U today. It is supposedly amazing, and I plan on purchasing it as soon as I get home. I will probably start it immediately, and I will let you know my thoughts on it too.)
.....
I also ran through Deathsmiles again last night. I had to continue twice - so, I got a 3CC? - but I was able to beat the last boss without continuing. Accordingly, I think that, with a little practice, I could 1CC this game.
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Ack - Moderator
- Posts: 20924
- Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: Games Beaten 2015
fastbilly1 wrote:N64 - Tom and Jerry Fist of Fury
It is slowed down Powerstone, released the same year as Powerstone, in the Tom and Jerry "universe." It has a weird power creep at the end where melee is worthless and weapons plink damage to increase the difficulty. But after the third fight I discovered I could catch objects, and the bots could not until much later in the game, so I ended up running a short loop between object spawn points and catching what was thrown at me. Took about an hour to finish. It would be a fun diversion in multiplayer on a game night, but cant recommend hunting it down.
Did what I say in the TR 2016 nomination thread make you go back to this?
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fastbilly1 - Site Admin
- Posts: 13646
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:08 pm
Re: Games Beaten 2015
Ack wrote:fastbilly1 wrote:N64 - Tom and Jerry Fist of Fury
It is slowed down Powerstone, released the same year as Powerstone, in the Tom and Jerry "universe." It has a weird power creep at the end where melee is worthless and weapons plink damage to increase the difficulty. But after the third fight I discovered I could catch objects, and the bots could not until much later in the game, so I ended up running a short loop between object spawn points and catching what was thrown at me. Took about an hour to finish. It would be a fun diversion in multiplayer on a game night, but cant recommend hunting it down.
Did what I say in the TR 2016 nomination thread make you go back to this?
No, completely by chance. The cart has been sitting next to my N64 for the last few months and after I broke an expensive light fixture last night, I needed something to take my mind off it. Beat Fist of Fury and a good bit of Blast Corps (which I am ashamed to admit that I had not played before last night). Giant robo suit smash!
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Exhuminator - Next-Gen
- Posts: 11573
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:24 am
Re: Games Beaten 2015
Games Exhuminator has beat in 2015...
Shadow Hearts (PS2 | 2001 | JRPG) 8/10
Shadow Hearts did not make a big splash on the Western PS2 scene when it was released in 2001. This may have had to do with the game being released all of five days before Final Fantasy X. But it's just as likely that most gamers would be put off by the very nature of this experience. Shadow Hearts is a seriously dark and unusual game, a continuation of the themes brought on by being a sequel to Koudelka. Yes it is true that Shadow Hearts is a sequel to the sinister JRPG Koudelka, although it's not until late in Shadow Hearts' plot that it's apparent just how much of a sequel it is. Regardless, even those who've never played Koudelka would be fine starting things off with Shadow Hearts. That is if the player can enjoy such a macabre ride as this.
Shadow Hearts' plot is very unique for a JRPG. It takes place in our own world for starters, although during the time period just before World War I. The story involves a protagonist who can fuse into demons alongside an exorcist who casts away demons, and your party's cast only becomes more varied from there. The plot takes you from China to England, and dungeons exist in a wide variety of locales... everything from a runaway train to a haunted dollhouse becomes a dungeon in Shadow Hearts. Truly if you are looking for themes, characters, and locations that do not fit the cookie cutter JRPG mold; you'd be hard pressed to find a more esoteric entry in the genre than this one. Shadow Hearts is named aptly, this game definitely has a dark heart. It deals with subject matter that is often brutal and even at times obscene, yet also has a romance element and laugh out loud humor. With a better localization, I'm sure the idiosyncratic plot would be even more enjoyable. But what's here is highly enjoyable nonetheless.
Gameplay itself is more typical of the genre however, with one big caveat. The Judgement Ring. Every time you perform an action in Shadow Hearts, a ring appears onscreen with a spinning pointer. Your job is to stop the point on specific parts of the ring. When done successfully, you will properly attack, or when done with high precision, your attacks or item usage will have bonus stats applied. This simple system constantly keeps the player engaged during battles, and adds an element of arcade reflex skill to boot. It's pretty impressive how many different ways Sacnoth found to utilize the Judgement Ring system. One other unique aspect of the gameplay is that Yuri (the main character) expands his demon transformation abilities by first having to fight said demons as mini-bosses.
Graphically Shadow Hearts is a mixed bag. There are some really nice prerendered backgrounds and CG cutscenes to be seen here, but the actual 3D character models are lackluster. Honestly the 3D characters and monsters only marginally look better than what could be done on a PS1. However, I was very impressed in seeing that every single item or piece of equipment has its own hand drawn art to view upon examination. Musically, Shadow Hearts is simply astounding. This JRPG has a seriously fantastic OST, with lots of uniquely instrumented songs that are well outside the typical symphonic generics most JRPGs exude. Sound effects are pretty crazy too, with monsters making all manner of unearthly gasps, moans, and squeals. Voice acting though is a mixed bag. Some of it is actually decent, but no one will ever forget the infamous "Sea Mother's Tale" once they cringe through it.
Ultimately if you're a JRPG enthusiast, you've likely gone through the big hitters of the PS2 era. But it's also likely you glossed over Shadow Hearts as many did. If that is the case, I implore you to go back and give this gem of a bygone fruitful era a fair chance. While this JRPG has some issues (unskippable slow battle animations, inferior 3D models, spotty localization, sidequests that need a guide to even find them), its pure uniqueness and horrific atmosphere make up for its few flaws with gusto. There are so many labor of love touches (such as the most entertaining beastiary I've ever seen) it's quite obvious that Sacnoth truly cared about their creation. If you think you've seen it all in JRPG land but haven't played this yet, you're dead wrong. There may be some shadows on this old heart, but it still beats strong and true.
Shadow Hearts (PS2 | 2001 | JRPG) 8/10
Shadow Hearts did not make a big splash on the Western PS2 scene when it was released in 2001. This may have had to do with the game being released all of five days before Final Fantasy X. But it's just as likely that most gamers would be put off by the very nature of this experience. Shadow Hearts is a seriously dark and unusual game, a continuation of the themes brought on by being a sequel to Koudelka. Yes it is true that Shadow Hearts is a sequel to the sinister JRPG Koudelka, although it's not until late in Shadow Hearts' plot that it's apparent just how much of a sequel it is. Regardless, even those who've never played Koudelka would be fine starting things off with Shadow Hearts. That is if the player can enjoy such a macabre ride as this.
Shadow Hearts' plot is very unique for a JRPG. It takes place in our own world for starters, although during the time period just before World War I. The story involves a protagonist who can fuse into demons alongside an exorcist who casts away demons, and your party's cast only becomes more varied from there. The plot takes you from China to England, and dungeons exist in a wide variety of locales... everything from a runaway train to a haunted dollhouse becomes a dungeon in Shadow Hearts. Truly if you are looking for themes, characters, and locations that do not fit the cookie cutter JRPG mold; you'd be hard pressed to find a more esoteric entry in the genre than this one. Shadow Hearts is named aptly, this game definitely has a dark heart. It deals with subject matter that is often brutal and even at times obscene, yet also has a romance element and laugh out loud humor. With a better localization, I'm sure the idiosyncratic plot would be even more enjoyable. But what's here is highly enjoyable nonetheless.
Gameplay itself is more typical of the genre however, with one big caveat. The Judgement Ring. Every time you perform an action in Shadow Hearts, a ring appears onscreen with a spinning pointer. Your job is to stop the point on specific parts of the ring. When done successfully, you will properly attack, or when done with high precision, your attacks or item usage will have bonus stats applied. This simple system constantly keeps the player engaged during battles, and adds an element of arcade reflex skill to boot. It's pretty impressive how many different ways Sacnoth found to utilize the Judgement Ring system. One other unique aspect of the gameplay is that Yuri (the main character) expands his demon transformation abilities by first having to fight said demons as mini-bosses.
Graphically Shadow Hearts is a mixed bag. There are some really nice prerendered backgrounds and CG cutscenes to be seen here, but the actual 3D character models are lackluster. Honestly the 3D characters and monsters only marginally look better than what could be done on a PS1. However, I was very impressed in seeing that every single item or piece of equipment has its own hand drawn art to view upon examination. Musically, Shadow Hearts is simply astounding. This JRPG has a seriously fantastic OST, with lots of uniquely instrumented songs that are well outside the typical symphonic generics most JRPGs exude. Sound effects are pretty crazy too, with monsters making all manner of unearthly gasps, moans, and squeals. Voice acting though is a mixed bag. Some of it is actually decent, but no one will ever forget the infamous "Sea Mother's Tale" once they cringe through it.
Ultimately if you're a JRPG enthusiast, you've likely gone through the big hitters of the PS2 era. But it's also likely you glossed over Shadow Hearts as many did. If that is the case, I implore you to go back and give this gem of a bygone fruitful era a fair chance. While this JRPG has some issues (unskippable slow battle animations, inferior 3D models, spotty localization, sidequests that need a guide to even find them), its pure uniqueness and horrific atmosphere make up for its few flaws with gusto. There are so many labor of love touches (such as the most entertaining beastiary I've ever seen) it's quite obvious that Sacnoth truly cared about their creation. If you think you've seen it all in JRPG land but haven't played this yet, you're dead wrong. There may be some shadows on this old heart, but it still beats strong and true.
PLAY KING'S FIELD.
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