What [not shmup] game are you playing now?

[drauch]

Man, I've always ignored Gremlins 2, because like you said: license game. I'll give it a shot; I do enjoy a good overhead like dat. I've got Getsu on my "next purchase" list. All this talk in the sidescrolling action thread made me realize how pathetic my Famicom selection is and how many great sidescroller action games I've overlooked.

[BIL]

Something I forgot to say is, the enemy presence ramps up along with Gizmo's weaponry. So "champion" type enemies you occasionally see in stage 2 attack en masse in stage 4. Feels good mowing 'em down with the massive spreadshot! The shooting definitely isn't great early on, but it's worth sticking with. Wouldn't quite put it at Batman levels of licensed awesome but it's well within the "worth a go" tier. ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

GETSU FUUMA DEN [1987 Konami] Japan exclusive - I guess the sweet refractive cover was TOO HOT FOR WESTERN CHILDREN. The myriad resemblances to the later TMNT game are fascinating, and invite the question "what the fuck happened?" While TMNT appears to be disintegrating before one's eyes, this is technically solid and smoothly responsive. A Japanese folk horror-themed sidescrolling ARPG that hasn't aged very well in some regards (the FPV labyrinths will enrage some, while others joyfully dive for their graphing paper). But I really dig the odd atmosphere and colourful presentation. Being a lover of oldschool Konami undeniably helps too.

I've been doing my part to right the ancient wrong by buying the boxed game not once but twice (I seem to have a thing for "two copies of game X" ...I guess I'm thinking about a family someday.)

Do the FP dungeons really require maps? From memory, they seemed easy enough just to blunder through and difficult or even impossible to really get stuck in (unless you die, of course).

Loved the lazy jump implementation - in a few places there's intriguing items in pits, enticing you to make use of the free air jump. I don't know if it comes to much better use than that, though.

I don't remember for sure, but it seemed to me that the TMNT games (at least the first couple) both use the same mix of the theme. Obviously, in the west ninjas > samurai. But in Japan, samurai > ninja. Something along those lines. Of course, real ninja don't wear florescent green shells.

Konami sometimes did right by license games. Mission: Impossible seems alright, if unspectacular.

Here's a random thought about another developer because of a game misindentification, but this list os Saffire releases explains everything. It's funny how many of these games I've bumped into at one time or another.

[BIL]

I initially got stuck in the first labyrinth because I hadn't bought the candle. But yeah, I could definitely see making it through just by keeping track of the odd landmark (item, talking dude, doors etc). I also found them a bit unwieldy until I realised you can do a 180 turn by holding down, which made exploring much smoother.

The jump physics are very interesting - besides the odd falling jump, you can also do a kind of low hovering jump by tapping A, then feathering the button while in the air. I also like how enemies freeze and lose their contact damage ability when struck, which allows tactics like rushing through with a hit, then killing them from behind while they stab air (works well on those spear skeletons early on). Reminiscent of Actraiser 2, another quirkier sidescroller I enjoy.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Trying out my new graphics card, I revisited Max Payne 2 and what surprised me this time was how well made character shadows are. Possibly the least videogame-y shadows I've seen rendered in real time.
I have a trouble understanding what special people saw in Doom 3 shadows three years after Enclave and Silent Hill 2.
Then I revisited the original Chronicles of Riddick and its softened shadows, that always seemed to hog too much computing power for the difference they made, looked as ho-hum as before.

Both games (MP2 and ChoR) shape up to be re-played by me soon. In MP2, I will have to start from the basic difficulty level again, but switching auto-aim off and refraining from quick-save/loading should make some difference. In ChoR, there's the commentary mode waiting to be explored.

[BrianC]

Gizmo gets a new and better weapon for each stage, so don't be put off by stage 1's shitty tomato

At least the starting weapon is better than what you get as a main weapon in the GB version. A short ranged pencil!

[broken harbour]

After 17 years of it being on my 'to buy' list, I finally received Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge for my Saturn.

Haven't spent alot of time with it yet, and it's been years since I played the first Darkstalkers, but coming from the SF Alpha series, it feels a bit clunky. Although I like to easier Super Move motions and lack of 'buildup' during Super move animations, I can't string a combo together to save my life yet.

I always liked the character design though.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Inago Rage demo. Play it if you feel even a tiny bit jaded with the FPS genre.

[Ruldra]

I wasn't aware One Finger Death Punch was available for Windows...and hoooly shit the game is incredible. Loving it so much.

Played mission mode just enough to unlock survival mode, this is where the fun is at. Already unlocked Blind and No Luca modes, but I'll stick with plain survival. Best score so far is 1971.

[BIL]

Metal Storm, loop 2. Welcome to memoriser hell.



^MY SUPER 1337 PW TO START LOOP 2 WITH THREE EXTRA LIVES + (P) & (A) ;3

This could easily pass for a coin-op's second loop (or the latter stages of Ninja Spirit). You can tell the devs were totally cutting loose after the masterful restraint of loop 1. Some *really* tight execution required, even just halfway through... having unlimited credits and passwords means it can easily work as a more consolised experience, particularly with the crazy loop stages verging on puzzler territory. A full 2-ALL would be a hell of a run.

[Ed Oscuro]

Musya: The Classic Japanese Game of Badness and Strangeness and Oh God The First Boss is a Trap

Guilty pleasure though. The game, I mean. Not the gameplay and the limp bosses or the red men riding on pencils.

[BIL]

I seem to come across brand new SFC copies of that game all the time. Gave teh ROMz a quick spin some time ago and liked the concept of a spear-wielding sidescroller, but I think my enthusiasm was sapped by the time Mr. Giant Nutsack Raccoon showed up for a wimpy boss battle. Does it get much better later on? I feel like revisiting now that more pressing sidescrolling matters are in the bag. After four SFC Goemons, though, I think my Big Ballbag Raccoon Sprite quota may have been met...

[guigui]

I wasn't aware One Finger Death Punch was available for Windows...and hoooly shit the game is incredible. Loving it so much.

Played mission mode just enough to unlock survival mode, this is where the fun is at. Already unlocked Blind and No Luca modes, but I'll stick with plain survival. Best score so far is 1971.

Completely agree with incredible game One Finger Death Punch.
Even though you intend to play survival, you should also go for missions. This is the place where you learn tricks and unlock abilities that help a lot in survival (the Heal ability for instance)

I am currently stuck on mission mode, master difficulty, hellish-fast laser sword round by the end. I just cant do it.
Only gaming time, excluding shmups, where my TV lag annoys me.

[replayme]

Ikki Tousen Xross Impact on my PSP (via CFW). Pretty good side scrolling brawler. Graphics are beautiful, and the enemies are varied. The move set is a bit limited, but compensates by having OTT specials. Reminds me of a more crazy beat em up version of King of Fighters - but you can't pull out special moves through button/d-pad combos.

Have also briefly checked out Trails in the Sky via CFW on PSP. Graphics are beautiful. Can only imagine what it would like on the Vita.

Going to buy both eventually.

[BIL]

Ah say gatdamn. Metal Storm's loop is as precision machined as I'd expect from Irem... no concessions to home audiences here. Stage 2 is a nightmare of hair-trigger crushers and sniper turrets. Stage 3's traincars are now near-unstoppable armoured behemoths. I hope the terror continues, I want Stage 5's pursuing wall of electric death to pick up the pace.

You can sense the designers' attentions everywhere. There's a 1up guarded by an array of crusher traps in 2-1, which will always reappear if you die later in the stage (or indeed immediately after grabbing it). The one that's just waiting to be grabbed in 3-2 is gone for good once collected. Nice. I'm reminded of an Edge magazine retrospective on Ridge Racer Revolution, where the writer commented on it seeming like no matter what insane tricks he pulled with the drifting engine, he knew the designers were well aware and just waiting for him to catch on ("Spinning Point Mode" is a secret game type that ranks you by how many consecutive 360 drifts you can pull off in a race). I got a similar feeling when I dived for what was an offscreen shield powerup and smashed into a newly installed turret.

The loop definitely lends itself to being played in chapters (1-1, 2-1, 3-1, etc). Passwords are auto-entered when returning to the title screen from a Game Over, and they keep track of not only your remaining lives but powerups as well. So it's fun to see how much gear you can make it to the next password checkpoint with.

[Formless God]

Replaying Ys Origin. I honestly have no idea what to do with this game, though.
- Normal is too easy.
- Why play Hard when there is Nightmare
- In Nightmare, you either kill the boss in 30 minutes (while dodging the same set of patterns 80 times), or grind for 25 minutes and slam it in 5. Neither is very entertaining.
Why is STG the only genre where changing the difficulty doesn't fuck the boss health in the ass? I just want a mode where BOTH of us drop quickly, damnit.

[Ghegs]

Just finished up Gun Metal. It's kind of easy, fairly shot (my final completion time for all 14 missions is under two hours) but damn it's cool. Controlling a Macross-esque vehicle of war that can transform between mech and plane modes feels great. Nothing like taking off, firing off a few missiles towards a big enemy battleship, transforming in mid-air so you land in mech form on top of said battleship, then taking the ship apart piece by piece from there.

The game works great with a 360 controller too. Very much worth the ~€5 the PC version goes for on Gamersgate.

[professor ganson]

Pokemon Conquest (DS)
Pokemon Y (3DS)
Ragarok Tactics (PSP)

Needed some relaxing gaming as a break from Fire Emblem Awakening, which is a bit frustrating at the moment.

[Ed Oscuro]

@ Musya:

Second stage introduces the Hiding Evil and Tricky Teleporting Jizo of DOOM. So many Jizo, so little time.

Jesus fuck that area's difficult, though. It saps all my health and then when you find another upgrade item, you're stuck teleporting back to the start of that area. Many of the hidden statues here will teleport you back to the start of the level or even to the stage segment right before it. All the time there's a damn Tengu dive-bombing you.

Musya love causes brain damage. Or maybe that's just the GameSpot factor, dunno.

"All of the following credited individuals are employees who created the original games; the names of employees at Seta USA who translated Musya have not been revealed."
a.) The names have been changed to protect the innocent
b.) My job was snippin' dem tanooki balls.

[replayme]

Project Rub on the 3DS. Pretty good "dating sim" that mostly consists of mini games. I spotted this when the DS was first released, and seeing as to how I bought a 3DS recently, decided to buy it along with its The Rub Rabbits sequel (after trading in Virtua Tennis 4 for the Vita).

[BIL]

Musya love causes brain damage. Or maybe that's just the GameSpot factor, dunno.

Nothing survives the GameSpot factor with dignity intact. Not even jumbo tanooki gonads.

Thread Title: "FINALLY A GAME WHERE WE GEET GOOD SOUND!!!"

"omg dood FFXCLMVII >>>>> BKC2"

"nuh uh faget MMXVIII >>>>>>>>> FFXCLMVII"

"well doodz I just rly like AXERAY"

[Ed Oscuro]

Spending some more time with Musya...

At the point we last left off, I had just to discover the warp (in the underground forest of jizo) allows a mild exploit for upping attack power and refilling your life gauge. Died on the boss once anyway.

Soon after that was the loop - they don't call it that, but it really is: You get permanent gold armor and enemy placement and frequency changes somewhat in the levels, and there's new bosses.

There is one boss that had me scratching my head for a while - it rises up out of the ground (invincible), and then executes three dashes towards your character, left or right. There's a platform in roughly the center of the arena, which I thought was critical. Welp, I just overthought that one: You use the short periods of vulnerability that bookend the boss' attach phase. You step down onto the left side of a platform just below the rising platform, wait for the boss to start appearing, get under the floating stone, start attacking, wait it out, jump down to get in a few hits near the end. Boring as hell but I don't seriously believe they expect you to try to use your floaty, shit jump to maneuver around that thing while it's attacking.

The next boss is just a Dogu statue. Its attack pattern is pretty much exactly like the "small stone of damaging dust cloud-stirring" boss, except bigger and even easier to dodge - even though it appears out of the sky, it's very easy to start running the other way before it appears. Stomp, and you're to its left, attack. Stomp, and you're to its right, attack. Eventually it breaks down into pieces, and when you finally smash the last bit of immobile crockery, out comes some kind of crawling jelly-like substance which spawns tiny little men. It's just as ineffective as before and you don't even need to use the shoulder button to unleash constant attacks - you will have ample health to maneuver around it if you feel backed into a corner.

The area before the jizo forest (on the second loop - wow, got back here quickly) seems very dangerous, until you realize you can just smash everything (ghosts, red men riding pencils, Gobligans, etc.) with the spear twirl, while jumping. The actual jizo forest is deadly once again, though.

So yep, no consistency whatsoever. One level segment or boss seems insane, and then the next is completely tame.

[null1024]

Delver [PC].

Silly little FPS roguelike that I bought over the autumn Steam sale. It's an early access game, so there's loads of crap about it that seems unpolished. Fired it up today, and there's been an update, so it's a more fun game now. Not bad, but not yet that good.

On my runs, I keep finding myself wishing there were more ranged weapons, getting close enough to hit anything in this means almost certainly getting hit. Also, I kind of wish the game kept a list of deaths and whatnot. If it does, I can't find it.

Ys Origins Demo [PC].

I'll probably buy this soon. Hoping I can get it on sale during the Christmas sale -- the only game on Steam that I've bought at full price is Sonic Generations, long before I had a machine that could reasonably run it .

Ys Seven [PSP].

Fighting the Moon Dragon. After all the other Dragon fights being a bit crap [one of the high points was the Water Dragon though], here's a fun one. I kind of died late in the fight though, gonna retry later.

[Ed Oscuro]

Musya: Next boss is a repeat. Same pattern as before - jump over him, kill his muck spawns when they appear behind you, keep on giving him buttrash.

Final boss really only has one trick, which is crowding you at the bottom of the screen. Beware the skull statue ledges, as it's possible to get on them and get stuck - you get crowded out at the screen edge. Only a real problem if you can't spare one hit, though. Otherwise just stick to the bottom of the screen and use the spin a few times to knock back his fireballs. Man, I feel like I shoulda used magic in this game. His second form is a surprise! Can you find the safespots all over the side of the screen on the statue? No luck needed.

[ZaKa-tokyobassist]

Getting Rank A on Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD is a bitch. I don't know if I can mentally handle having to play up until the Tyrant fight on the plane for a third time again, dying and starting over.

I don't think is was this hard on the PS2 version was it?

[Ed Oscuro]

Dunno, I just played the GameCube version...didn't look for special ranks though. Wasn't difficult to play through.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Star Wars: Republic Commando PC demo yesterday. Years ago I liked the presentation, but thought it was corridorrific for the wrong reasons ("tactical" FPS "dumbed down"). Also, pew-pew-pew guns and rifles didn't feel any more deadly than Halo weaponry.
This time I didn't like the weapons any better, but better understanding what its makers did there I had achieved. It's a candid blaster where you nonetheless need to take care of your squad. So refreshing after all those escort missions. Somewhere inbetween RE4 and H-L2 Episode One.
Normally, games where military men are the playable characters feel pretty alien to me, but this one is different and I just might give it a chance.

Okay, it feels more tunnel-ish than even most linear action games of its ilk. Demo is a forest mission and I happened to play it having just came back from a genuine forest, so it was claustrophobic alright. In this sense, it's more archaic than even Wolfenstein 3D.

Said forest, yesterday:

[BIL]

It's a shame METAFIGHTO didn't get a FC sequel, spiritual or otherwise, circa 1990 when Sunsoft had figured out how to do overhead shooting. Gremlins 2 FC may be a platformer first, shooter second, but its late game tooled-up action is satisfying as hell. Superb Contraesque weaponry and no end of meaty baddies to perforate/incinerate with, and a couple of really good bosses. MF's anemic equivalent is, at very best, tolerable in short doses. Shitty weapons. Bloated, beachball-noggined player sprite. Zero tension. Luckily short doses are exactly what you can limit the badness to with experience. A leisurely ~2hr clear is 95% tankin' now. METAL ATTACKER clearly got all the developer love. Expert balancing of a smidgen's inertia and weight with instantly responsive controls. The way it handles on rough or icy terrain, wheels spinning and suspension bouncing, makes me squee with delight. Heavy machinery sidescrolling this good tied to G2FC calibre shooting would've been a genuine classic. Still a MFN good time, mind.

I just noticed Fuuma really has just finished slicing a monster's face the mother-fuck in half on GFD's front cover, with a jet of crimson issuing fiercely from the superhumanly fine mortal incision. When you angle it properly that is. My flippance was not misplaced! I bet on the NES box he'd be chilling on the beach with a couple of native babes (SUPER CO̶N̶T̶R̶A̶ MANUAL style) before getting word General Cockamamie Cockhole was getting up to no good in Japanese Transylvania.

[evil_ash_xero]

Working on Castlevania III (JP version). The game's really starting to get frustrating. Not a bad thing. Just noticeable.

Getting back to Disgaea 4.

[BIL]

Which route did you take to the castle in CVIII, pirate ship -> bridge (encounter Sypha) or swamp -> catacombs (encounter Alucard)? The former is both easier and better-designed, I find. I had a bad experience taking the latter, the very first time I played (US version). Some of the areas you go through are just punishing/trying (MELTING/FALLING BLOCK MANIA) and best kept for a challenge once you've cleared the overland route.

If you take the optional clock tower for stage 2 and get Grant, he'll make any platforming a hell of a lot easier with his Contra jumping and free dagger. He can also flat-out skip some tricky sections by climbing up into the status bar region, without even wasting hearts like Alucard's bat mode. Alucard kind of sucks compared to Grant and Sypha (who can kill bosses dead with Fire and freeze + 1HKO enemies with Ice), avoid him if you can.