Games Beaten 2017

by **MrPopo** Sun May 07, 2017 8:32 pm

1. Pokémon Moon - 3DS
2. Tony Hawk's Underground - GCN
3. Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising - PC
4. Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II: Retribution - PC
5. Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness - PSP
6. X-Wing: Imperial Pursuit - PC
7. Star Wars Republic Commando - PC
8. X-Wing: B-Wing - PC
9. Blazing Lazers - TG-16
10. Tales of Xillia 2 - PS3
11. Shining Force CD: Shining Force Gaiden - Sega CD
12. MUSHA - Genesis
13. Sonic CD - Sega CD
14. Final Fantasy Legend III - GB
15. Tales of Zestiria - PS3
16. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Switch
17. Horizon Zero Dawn - PS4
18. Tales of Berseria - PS4
19. Battlefield 1 - PC
20. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil - PC
21. Mass Effect Andromeda - PC
22. Starflight 2 - PC
23. Armored Hunter Gunhound EX - PC
24. Space Megaforce - SNES
25. Persona 5 - PS4
26. Torment: Tides of Numenera - PC
27. Cosmic Star Heroine - PC
28. Prey - PC

Imagine that during the preproduction for System Shock 1 the dev team was sucked through a time portal and deposited to the future year of 2015 and told to make a game using all the fancy new technology. They look at their design docs, look at the shiny future, and say "yeah, we can totally work this". The end result is Prey.

Prey is set in the near future in an alternate time line; things forked right at the start of the space race due to the Soviet discovery of a strange alien creature on one of their probes. This cause them to secretly ally with the US to study the creature and work together to allow man to more properly explore space. The end result is a giant space station devoted to studying this creature and its possibilities. But, like any good sci fi story, the creature escapes and shit goes down.

Once things get going you will be exploring the Talos I space station where this research was conducted. It's post disaster and most people are dead. You need to piece together what happened during and before the disaster and how you can mitigate it. This ends up being told across a combination of notes, emails, and voice logs.

If this all seems pretty System Shock 1 to you then that's good, because it should. This game very heavily borrows from SS1's formula, including having a large station that you slowly uncover. At several points you can say "screw it" and explore areas that aren't related to the step of the main quest you're on. There are a variety of interconnections between the various areas, and opening up some of these paths let you move much faster between areas than you might otherwise. And you even can go EVA and maneuver in zero-G to go from airlock to airlock outside the station.

On top of this they add a variety of System Shock 2's skill system. You can unlock a variety of physical buffs, abilities, and later in the game psionic powers. By the end of the game I had unlocked half the total available abilities, so you'll want to pick and choose what best suits your playstyle. I found there tended to be multiple ways to approach problems that depended on what abilities you had available to you at the time. It all flows very well.

The story was pretty interesting; the mystery slowly unfolds and you are never 100% sure that everything is as it seems. At the end of the day it's going to be up to your judgement of what's true and false and to act accordingly.

Arkane has once again knocked it out of the park.

by **Exhuminator** Sun May 07, 2017 10:17 pm

22. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris | PC | action adventure | 2014 | 5h | 7/10

If you're looking for a good local multiplayer game, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a top choice. Like its predecessor, this experience is designed primarily for co-op (up to four simultaneous players). The gameplay is a fun hybrid of Gauntlet and Tomb Raider. Great graphics, cool boss fights, clever puzzles, and a constant sense of progression make for a pleasant playthrough. However the ridiculous amount of collectables, ludicrously zoomed out camera, easy difficulty, and growing repetitiveness weigh the experience down eventually.

HLTB · by **Xeogred** Mon May 08, 2017 1:27 am

1. Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour (PC)
2. Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter* (PC)
3. Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter (PC)
4. D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (PC)
5. Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight (PC)
6. Deadcore (PC)
7. Yakuza 4 (PS3)
8. Hyper Light Drifter (PC)
9. Doom 2: Valiant (PC)
10. Resident Evil 7 (PS4)
10. Doom 2: Ancient Aliens (PC)
11. Doom 2: Vanguard (PC)
12. Doom 2: Doom 2 The Way id Did (PC)
13. Doom 2: Community Chest Pack 4 (PC)
14. Doom: Doom The Way id Did (PC)
15. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (PC)
16. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 (PC)
17. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (WiiU)
18. Dishonored 2 (PC)
19. Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
20. Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB)
21. Super Mario Land (GB)
22. Super Mario Land 2 (GB)
23. Mighty Final Fight (NES)
24. Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES)
25. Trip World (GB)
26. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Genesis)
27. Aladdin (Genesis)
28. Streets of Rage (SMS)
29. Bare Knuckle (Genesis)
30. Bare Knuckle 2* (Genesis)
31. Bare Knuckle 3* (Genesis)
32. Marchen Adventure Cotton 100% (SNES)
33. Earthworm Jim* (Sega CD)

* replay

Looks like the Cotton series is pretty big. The Genesis game looks awesome so I might check that one out. Anyways, I was on the look out for some good quick and easy shmups and this was one of the recommendations. It's awesome! It took me two attempts, one of the mid bosses (the big tree) drained a ton of my lives. Apparently I was at the final boss on my first run though, haha. Even on normal with 3 lives, it's definitely easy. And my second time through I think I was fully powered by level 3. This is a rare one where you can actually bump into the walls which aids in its easiness.

It's a cute game with some cool little anime-fied cutscenes in between the levels. The standout feature here to me would easily be the insanely awesome graphics. Lots of lush environments and great looking backgrounds:

Earthworm Jim - still fuming at this haha, holy shit. Even if I've beaten this game countless times, it's a case of that not exactly making it any easier when I revisit it! So many instant death traps. Anyways, I grew up probably playing the SNES version the most, but also played the Genesis version a lot and I prefer that one. But I figured I'd give one of the CD versions a shot. Turns out the extra level here was kind of lame, though visually looked cool and had this eerie dark tune. The music was awesome, but I still prefer the crunchier Genesis OST.

The CD ending was absolutely amazing though. Hard ending.

Still love me some Earthworm Jim, but yeah you still have to be ready for some punishment. Maybe I'll try to beat 2 sometime soon, since I think I've only beaten that one... maybe once. I like it a lot too, but as I expressed in another thread recently, I finally realized I definitely like the first game quite a bit more. 2 got a bit too crazy with the experimentation and different level types.

Was going to add some normal picture here but I found this and thought I would share the nightmares with everyone:

Groovy!

Finally getting some nice texture to my HLTB profile.

by **MrPopo** Mon May 08, 2017 1:55 am

Holy shit, that video just keeps going.

by **ElkinFencer10** Mon May 08, 2017 7:45 am

Games Beaten in 2017 So Far - 41

January (10 Games Beaten)

February (12 Games Beaten)

March (6 Games Beaten)

April (9 Games Beaten)

May (4 Games Beaten)

41. Outlast II - PlayStation 4 - May 7

I suppose it's fair to say that I was moderately excited when Outlast II was announced. Actually, if we're being completely honest here, I was basically the conductor of that hype train. The original Outlast remains in first place on my "Games that Scared the Most Shit out of Me" list, and I wouldn't wait to wet myself again with Outlast II. While the game didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations, it's certainly a competent sequel and a must-play for fans of the horror genre.

Outlast II's setting is actually my first disappointment with the game. The first Outlast took place in a creepy af insane asylum, but this one takes place in a village called Temple's Gate run by this insane Christian cult in northern Arizona. Now, this setting does do one positive thing for the game; it harkens back to Resident Evil 4 with the general feel and aesthetic of the village. I can't say for certain if Resident Evil 4 was an intentional inspiration for the game, but that's definitely what I kept thinking about. Personally, however, "decrepit insane asylum" is at the top of my list for perfect horror game/movie locations right in front of "run-down school" and "overly ornate mansion." Sure, creepy cult village is probably #5 or #6 on that list, but the setting was a definite downgrade in my book. To the game's credit, however, while the setting interested me less than in the original game, the develops did an EXCELLENT job of creating that village and the surrounding areas with an atmosphere very conducive of suffocating existential dread.

Having mentioned the game's superb use of atmosphere, allow me to take a moment to explain how Outlast II establishes the horror in the game as that's one part of horror games that developers easily screw up. If you're at all familiar with modern horror games, I'm sure you're well aware that jump scares are typically overdone and poorly used as if they're the only way to "scare" the player. Outlast II, like its predecessor, shows how jump scares can be used artfully and sparingly to enhance an already-existing feeling of terror rather than trying to force one into existence. Out of the four main methods I see of creating a "horror" feeling - jump scares, atmospheric existential dread, being chased, and "everything's fucking me in the anus" - Outlast II strikes what I feel is the perfect balance. It's about 60% existential dread, 15% "everything's fucking me in the anus," 15% being chased, and 10% jump scares. The game doesn't rely on lots of enemies (since there's no combat), constantly being chased, or frequent jump scares as many horror games these days do. Those are all used to accentuate and enhance the oppressive feeling of terror and helplessness that you're already made to feel by the game's brilliantly crafted atmosphere. From the ambient sounds to the minimal light to the derelict and blood-soaked appearance of most of the game's environments, it finds a way to scare you without quite knowing of what it is that you're scared, and that's the kind of soul-penetrating terror that few games can pull out. Outlast II, on the other hand, does it masterfully.

The game is very much one of psychological horror rather than your more traditional survival horror games, and the plot of the game ties into that directly. Unfortunately, for me, the plot was the game's weak point. The player character, Blake, is investigating the mysterious death of an unidentified pregnant woman in Arizona (hence why the game takes place in the village) with his wife, Lynn, but the helicopter crashes. When Blake comes to, the pilot's body has been skinned and strung up to a tree, and Lynn is missing. You go hunt for your wife only to discover that she's been kidnapped by the psycho cult because she's pregnant with the anti-Christ. Then you start having bizarre flashbacks of the Catholic school Blake, Lynn, and some chick named Jessica all attended in their youth. Yall were all BFFs, but it appears that Jessica hanged herself. Perodically throughout the game, you'll go - seemingly at random - between the village in Arizona and the Catholic school where you're tormented by Jessica's spirit and some weird monster that would not be out of place at all in a hentai video.

My big problem with the story is that it feels disjointed and unresolved. To be fair, it's entirely possible that I'm just an idiot and/or didn't pay enough attention to ancillary story texts lying around in the game world, but even having finished the game, I still don't quite understand how Jessica's death plays into the context of the larger story aside from the common thread of religion. There are definitely similarities between the story of Jessica and the story of the batshit crazy cult, but aside from "Blake was going insane," I still don't understand why Jessica became a major element of the game. By all means, if someone can explain to me why I'm an idiot, feel free; I'm desperately curious because I felt absolutely no closure after the credits.

As a horror experience, Outlast II is fantastic and an example of what the genre should be in 2017. The visuals are great, the atmosphere is perfect, and the gameplay is tight and well designed. My only real complaint - aside from the personal opinion that the setting is a downgrade from the first Outlast - is that the story is rather convoluted and obtuse, and it felt to me like it lacked a sense of closure and finality. Some games do that if they're setting up a sequel, of course, and it's entirely possible that Outlast II will get DLC that will provide a little more context and information as Whistleblower did with the first game. As it stand now, though, the game's story, while not bad, was a bit of a let down for me. It was great throughout most of the game, but like a sneeze that builds and builds and builds before vanishing into the ether, it just ended and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

by **Ack** Mon May 08, 2017 10:47 am

1. Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC)(Action)
2. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (SNES)(Fighting)
3. DRAGON: The Bruce Lee Story (SNES)(Fighting)
4. Eradicator (PC)(FPS)
5. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (PC)(FPS)
6. D-Force (SNES)(SHMUP)

Ah, D-Force, you are, well, you're not very good. There are a couple of neat ideas in there, but it's hidden under a lot of poor choices and design faults that would likely drive away most SHMUP fans...or most anybody, truth be told.

Let's go into the problems first. The music and sound effects are extremely limited, and the visuals are quite lacking, though what you do get can sometimes make projectiles difficult to see, such as in one boss which shoots light blue stars over a white background. Frankly the game is pretty hideous at times, and there's a general lack of creativity which leads to repetition. While yes, a lot of SHMUPs involves some level of repetition, but this is perhaps the only one I've encountered where it becomes flat out monotonous in a few levels. There are also problems with the size of your hitbox(which is apparently enormous), occasionally massive enemy projectiles mixed in with tiny ones that are easy to lose track of, and worse, some enemies take potshots at you while off screen. Your unlockable homing missiles will also occasionally latch onto an off screen target, which renders them largely ineffective but does at least point out potential incoming hostiles.

I do have to give D-Force some credit for mixing things up a little with its alternating level design philosophies. D-Force is split into a traditional vertical SHMUP where you unlock powerups for your weapon to shoot oncoming enemies and minibosses along with an "exploration" mode which allows you to adjust your height to the ground to avoid obstacles, enemies, and traps as you navigate the levels. While the bosses in exploration mode are pitifully easy, that's pretty much true for the more traditional "shooting" mode. In fact as a general rule the minibosses were usually tougher than the actual bosses, which is further showcased by a boss rush in the final level right before the final boss. That said, the exploration bosses are flat out pathetic, so don't expect much there. Now if you prefer playing one type of level over the other, D-Force gives the option to play through just the Shooting or Exploration levels in the main menu on start, which can allow for some shorter runs for practice if you like.

There are three difficulties available, though they don't make too much of a difference. On Hard enemies seem to move a little faster and your weapon goes down a level in power if you die, though you still retain your homing missiles apparently. Beyond that, I couldn't see much of a difference. Oh, and apparently running into enemies will kill both you and that enemy, so if you die, you can briefly use your helicopter as a battering ram during your brief period of invincibility.

There is a plot to the game, which apparently involves taking down some Middle Eastern dictator. Unfortunately there's no collusion between levels, and the exploration ones involve time travel. At least one boss is a weird bio-mechanical spider tank, which makes absolutely no sense when compared to literally everything else in the game. It's still better than the weird and pathetically easy dinosaur boss though. But I should stress that it's not all bad. There is one level in particular that impressed me, and that was the final exploration level, where you must choose between the upper height where massive unkillable ships fly around shooting at you or dropping down to the ground to navigate underwater enemies and the ruins of skyscrapers jutting out of the ocean in tight corridors. It's a little nervewracking and very unique compared to the rest of the game, which I suppose is why I enjoyed it so much. The boss afterwards is a letdown though...which is a pretty apt description for the rest of the game.

I'm glad I'm done with D-Force. I don't feel like ever playing it again.

by **Exhuminator** Mon May 08, 2017 12:21 pm

Beat two great fighting games this morning, on arcade mode anyway...

23. The King of Fighters XIII | PC | fighter | 2010 | 25m | 8/10

I've never been the biggest fan of KoF (outside KoF '98) but XIII does a lot of things right. A fast and snappy battle system, plenty of characters to choose from, and precise controls make for a fun fighter. The 2D sprite work is incredibly impressive and very well animated. (I found the background designs and character portraits during dialogue scenes to be kinda subpar in comparison.) The King of Fighters XIII is a great choice for fighting game fans who still hold a torch for hand drawn graphics.

---

24. Street Fighter X Tekken | PC | fighter | 2012 | 15m | 9/10

Tekken is a fighting game series I don't personally care for, however I love Street Fighter. Thanks to the glory of Street Fighter's inclusion, the Tekken aspect of this crossover game doesn't drag it down. Capcom's incredible 3D graphic engine makes for quite the spectacle, coupled with furious battle mechanics matched to perfect responsive control. I would say Street Fighter X Tekken technically outclasses Street Fighter IV, but the inclusion of boring Tekken characters takes the score down a notch. Still, if you enjoy 3D polygon based fighters, you should have a great time with Street Fighter X Tekken.

---

I almost beat Marvel VS Capcom 3 also, but the final boss is BULLSHIT.

HLTB · by **Xeogred** Mon May 08, 2017 12:48 pm

ElkinFencer10 wrote:As a horror experience, Outlast II is fantastic and an example of what the genre should be in 2017. The visuals are great, the atmosphere is perfect, and the gameplay is tight and well designed. My only real complaint - aside from the personal opinion that the setting is a downgrade from the first Outlast - is that the story is rather convoluted and obtuse, and it felt to me like it lacked a sense of closure and finality. Some games do that if they're setting up a sequel, of course, and it's entirely possible that Outlast II will get DLC that will provide a little more context and information as Whistleblower did with the first game. As it stand now, though, the game's story, while not bad, was a bit of a let down for me. It was great throughout most of the game, but like a sneeze that builds and builds and builds before vanishing into the ether, it just ended and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Yeah I was worried about this, namely the setting. I was okay with some corn fields but it sounds like they leaned all in on that alone. I really enjoyed the setting of the first game (lots of Condemned vibes) and we didn't need a repeat of that, but yeah.

Still sounds solid though, I'll get it on a Steam sale.

by **ElkinFencer10** Mon May 08, 2017 1:02 pm

Xeogred wrote:
ElkinFencer10 wrote:As a horror experience, Outlast II is fantastic and an example of what the genre should be in 2017. The visuals are great, the atmosphere is perfect, and the gameplay is tight and well designed. My only real complaint - aside from the personal opinion that the setting is a downgrade from the first Outlast - is that the story is rather convoluted and obtuse, and it felt to me like it lacked a sense of closure and finality. Some games do that if they're setting up a sequel, of course, and it's entirely possible that Outlast II will get DLC that will provide a little more context and information as Whistleblower did with the first game. As it stand now, though, the game's story, while not bad, was a bit of a let down for me. It was great throughout most of the game, but like a sneeze that builds and builds and builds before vanishing into the ether, it just ended and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Yeah I was worried about this, namely the setting. I was okay with some corn fields but it sounds like they leaned all in on that alone. I really enjoyed the setting of the first game (lots of Condemned vibes) and we didn't need a repeat of that, but yeah.

Still sounds solid though, I'll get it on a Steam sale.

It is a great game, for sure - I gave it a 4/5 on my blog - but it doesn't quite live up to the glory of the first game. Waiting for a Steam sale sounds good, but if you enjoyed the first one, definitely don't pass it up in general.

HLTB · by **Xeogred** Mon May 08, 2017 1:03 pm

Did you play the Whistleblower DLC for the first? I never got around to it.

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