Castlevainia 10/10
Of course not. Castlevainia is reaching this legendary status in my head, where no matter how good a game is, I can't help but feel that it's not quite so good as Castlevainia. So I replayed it again really quick, and it's still a damn good game. Good enough to be king of what we've played so far for another month.
MegaMan 9/10
Speaking of replaying games, giving MegaMan another go really improved my opinions of it as well. In fact, I played it a third time after the Bonus Episode we did on it. I feel we didn't do such a good job of explaining just why the game is so great but it's not just one thing. The theme of all the levels is so strong, the music is great on every stage, the controls are incredibly tight. Most of the power ups aren't really worth it and the game suffers from some minor technical errors, but that never takes away from the frantic action, and it's just the right amount of challenge. It's a solid number two.
The Legend of Zelda 9/10
I havn't given Zelda another shake, but despite my co-hosts' problems with it, I still think it was a great game. It doesn't hold up as well as some others, but it's very different and interesting for its time, and of course gave us a ton of great games later down the road, not just limited to the Zelda series.
I havn't given Zelda another shake, but despite my co-hosts' problems with it, I still think it was a great game. It doesn't hold up as well as some others, but it's very different and interesting for its time, and of course gave us a ton of great games later down the road, not just limited to the Zelda series.
Doom 8/10
I'm not a big fan of the First Person Shooter genre and when Zach suggested Doom, I sort of rolled my eyes, but had to admit it was an important part of game history. I had a ton of fun with it though, and while I only played about half way through, I have gone back to the first level a few times to hear the music and just kill some demons for fun. And while it demonstrates a lot of the problem with early 3d games, in particular how much easier it is to get lost in a virtual space than a real one, it has a lot of charm modern shooters have lost. If you're a fan of the genre, check this one out for sure.
I'm not a big fan of the First Person Shooter genre and when Zach suggested Doom, I sort of rolled my eyes, but had to admit it was an important part of game history. I had a ton of fun with it though, and while I only played about half way through, I have gone back to the first level a few times to hear the music and just kill some demons for fun. And while it demonstrates a lot of the problem with early 3d games, in particular how much easier it is to get lost in a virtual space than a real one, it has a lot of charm modern shooters have lost. If you're a fan of the genre, check this one out for sure.
Gradius 8/10
While I havn't given it a replay like Tyler has, I almost certainly will once it hits Wii U Virtual Console and a I can play it anywhere in the house on a screen inches from my face.
While I havn't given it a replay like Tyler has, I almost certainly will once it hits Wii U Virtual Console and a I can play it anywhere in the house on a screen inches from my face.
Metroid 7/10
I honestly didn't expect to hold Metroid in such a high regard after so long, but the game is quite inventive and fun in its own way, not quite as influential as Zelda but clearly similar ideas were at play.
I honestly didn't expect to hold Metroid in such a high regard after so long, but the game is quite inventive and fun in its own way, not quite as influential as Zelda but clearly similar ideas were at play.
Super Mario Bros. 7/10
I really wanted Super Mario Bros. to be a base line, it's such a generic videogame to me, I figured lots would be better. Given the state of the review industry, perhaps it's best that the game I consider to be "just fine" hold steady at a 7/10, but it does mean this podcast hasn't turned up nearly as many diamonds in the rough as I'd hoped it might.
I really wanted Super Mario Bros. to be a base line, it's such a generic videogame to me, I figured lots would be better. Given the state of the review industry, perhaps it's best that the game I consider to be "just fine" hold steady at a 7/10, but it does mean this podcast hasn't turned up nearly as many diamonds in the rough as I'd hoped it might.
Final Fantasy 6/10
Speaking of my expectations for games, I still play Final Fantasy every once in a while, but the combat is just so laggy, after one or two fights I give it up, and I'm pretty lost in the dungeon I'm in. Here's hoping the WiiU port is better than the Wii one in that regard.
Speaking of my expectations for games, I still play Final Fantasy every once in a while, but the combat is just so laggy, after one or two fights I give it up, and I'm pretty lost in the dungeon I'm in. Here's hoping the WiiU port is better than the Wii one in that regard.
Gunstar Heroes 6/10
Gunstar Heroes is just... fine. I feel awkward saying anything bad about it, because Tyler and Alex like it so much and I had fun playing it but... it doesn't seem very deep. It still makes the top half of games we've played thus far easily though, since it is fun.
Gunstar Heroes is just... fine. I feel awkward saying anything bad about it, because Tyler and Alex like it so much and I had fun playing it but... it doesn't seem very deep. It still makes the top half of games we've played thus far easily though, since it is fun.
Kirby’s Adventure 5/10
And now we reach the midstream. Kirby is actually a pretty good game for the mid way point, it's more complex than Mario with brighter colors and a whole lot more power ups, but it's just not as fun. A 5 year old could beat it, and that's kind of the point, but it doesn't hold my interest. Still there's a lot worse... though of the games we played this month, two made it above the 5 point mark and two below, a pretty decent spread.
And now we reach the midstream. Kirby is actually a pretty good game for the mid way point, it's more complex than Mario with brighter colors and a whole lot more power ups, but it's just not as fun. A 5 year old could beat it, and that's kind of the point, but it doesn't hold my interest. Still there's a lot worse... though of the games we played this month, two made it above the 5 point mark and two below, a pretty decent spread.
Harvest Moon 5/10
The second game at the 5 point mark isn't quite as good, and we get the ball rolling into bad games sort of quickly. Harvest Moon is fun, as I've said before, just avoid it like the plague if you have any sort of completionist streak.
The second game at the 5 point mark isn't quite as good, and we get the ball rolling into bad games sort of quickly. Harvest Moon is fun, as I've said before, just avoid it like the plague if you have any sort of completionist streak.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4/10
Sonic is where we hit games that have major failings. We discuss Sonic's heavily in that episode. That said, it's a decent platformer with really pretty graphics, provided you go in without expectations.
Sonic is where we hit games that have major failings. We discuss Sonic's heavily in that episode. That said, it's a decent platformer with really pretty graphics, provided you go in without expectations.
Act Raiser 4/10
Act Raiser was full of potential, which gets it a spot up here, but it wasn't really fun, a trait pretty much all games below this point can "claim."
Act Raiser was full of potential, which gets it a spot up here, but it wasn't really fun, a trait pretty much all games below this point can "claim."
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja 4/10
Mystical Ninja is just a solid "meh" The theme is quite strong in the visuals, but the translation rather "mucks up" the feel of things. The combat is generic, the platforming not much better, and co-op seems almost like a desperate attempt to give the game something to buy it for. Skip this one.
Double Dragon II The Revenge 3/10
Mystical Ninja is bad, but it definately improves on the Co-Op formula from Double Dragon II, adding a lot more that can be done between the players, much much better platforming, and a whole lot more fun.
Mystical Ninja is just a solid "meh" The theme is quite strong in the visuals, but the translation rather "mucks up" the feel of things. The combat is generic, the platforming not much better, and co-op seems almost like a desperate attempt to give the game something to buy it for. Skip this one.
Double Dragon II The Revenge 3/10
Mystical Ninja is bad, but it definately improves on the Co-Op formula from Double Dragon II, adding a lot more that can be done between the players, much much better platforming, and a whole lot more fun.
Ogre Battle
3/10
And now we're to the point where the games just aren't fun. Ogre Battle is at the top of that heap for the same reason as Act Raiser, it tries a lot, it has an interesting (if generic) setting, and it's very different. It would be much much higher if they'd managed to make that fun as well.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins 2/10
Infamously hard, Ghosts 'n Goblins deserves that reputation. Unlike Castlevainia however, which has meticulously planned difficulty that's fun to overcome and master, Ghosts 'n Goblins is a hair tearingly frustrating game with random enemy movement. Random movement that makes the game impossible to predict and learn. Every failure feels more like the game is cheating then like it's hard, and while being one of the hardest games of all time gives it a place in gaming history, I recommend everyone stay far far away. It was recently released on the WiiU Virtual Console, so I may give the game another go with save states, but I don't expect to be converted.
And now we're to the point where the games just aren't fun. Ogre Battle is at the top of that heap for the same reason as Act Raiser, it tries a lot, it has an interesting (if generic) setting, and it's very different. It would be much much higher if they'd managed to make that fun as well.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins 2/10
Infamously hard, Ghosts 'n Goblins deserves that reputation. Unlike Castlevainia however, which has meticulously planned difficulty that's fun to overcome and master, Ghosts 'n Goblins is a hair tearingly frustrating game with random enemy movement. Random movement that makes the game impossible to predict and learn. Every failure feels more like the game is cheating then like it's hard, and while being one of the hardest games of all time gives it a place in gaming history, I recommend everyone stay far far away. It was recently released on the WiiU Virtual Console, so I may give the game another go with save states, but I don't expect to be converted.
Double Dragon 2/10
Take the poor control and bland setting of Double Dragon remove the co-op fun the amusing cut scenes and add terrible terrible music and this is what you get. The difference between this and Ghosts 'n Goblins is that I'd at least get a sense of achievment out of that.
Take the poor control and bland setting of Double Dragon remove the co-op fun the amusing cut scenes and add terrible terrible music and this is what you get. The difference between this and Ghosts 'n Goblins is that I'd at least get a sense of achievment out of that.
Phantasy Star 1/10
And the bottom of the heap. Phantasy Star. Where do I begin? Every bad trope of RPGs is here. Turn based combat (which I normally enjoy) grinding, moon logic puzzles, poor plot... the list goes on and on. Some cool features like a talk command are hinted at, but the first few hours doesn't reveal them. The setting is this blend of Sci-fi and fantasy that could have been really cool, but instead feels half finished, like the level designers and writers never told the monster designers it was a sci-fi game. This is the game I least wish to return to of all the ones we've played thus far. I hope we never play worse.
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