What games did you complete? 2022 Edition

[cassidy]

Blooming heck the roll continues

Previously 

Spoiler

1. Yakuza 3 remastered

2. Yakuza 4 remastered 

3. Nobody saves the world 

4. Infernax

5. Dreamscaper 

6. Young Souls 

7. A Memoir Blue 

8. Elden Ring 

9. Turnip Boy commits tax evasion. 

10. Gigawing - Capcom arcade stadium version

11. Battle Circuit - Capcom arcade stadium version

12. Life is Strange - True Colours

13. Eiyuden Chronicles : Rising

14.TMNT : Shredders revenge

15.Disc room 

16. House Flipper

17. Powerwash Sim

18. As dusk falls

19. Tinykin

20. Food truck tycoon

21. Arcade paradise

22. Beacon pines

23.Cult of the lamb 

24.Tales of Arise

25.Gotham Knights

26.Super Gem Fighters

27.Son-son

28.Captain commando 

29.Eco fighters 

 

30. Somerville (Series X) saw the credits roll multiple times this morning as I wrapped up the last few achievements. Thought this was a solid 3.5/5 experience. 
 

Only using the visuals to tell the story.  Enjoyed the world and style but yeah janky controls on occasion but a good not great game. 

[Darwock]

On 17/10/2022 at 11:07, Darwock said:

1: 14/02 Astro’s Playroom

2: 08/03 Valkyria Chronicles

3: 10/03 Tetris Effect

4: 31/03 Superhot VR

5: 08/04 Lumines Remastered

6. 04/07 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

7. 06/10 Ecco the Dolphin

8. 17/10 The Secret of Monkey Island

9. 10/17 Zoids - Full Metal Crash

10. 11/25 Castlevania - Dracula X Chronicles

 

I got the true ending a few weeks ago but today I got to 100% completion so now I can count it as done. That only goes for the main portion of the game, which is the remake of Rondo of Blood. I haven’t even touched the version of SOTN or the original ROB that are also included here. The remake is really old school and punishing but very satisfying to overcome the various challenges and puzzles, although I did make use of the PSP quick resume to retry some parts without doing the whole stage over again. I also used a walkthrough to find the last three hidden music tracks, which were not really hidden - I had just missed them. Life is too short to scour through every stage hitting every platform and wall.

 

I love all the secrets, especially the one that is revealed by purchasing the final option in the boss demos. Maria was already kind of god mode for the game, but that extra secret brought her to a whole new level and made doing the boss rush a lot of fun.

[cassidy]

Previously

 

Spoiler

1. Yakuza 3 remastered

2. Yakuza 4 remastered 

3. Nobody saves the world 

4. Infernax

5. Dreamscaper 

6. Young Souls 

7. A Memoir Blue 

8. Elden Ring 

9. Turnip Boy commits tax evasion. 

10. Gigawing - Capcom arcade stadium version

11. Battle Circuit - Capcom arcade stadium version

12. Life is Strange - True Colours

13. Eiyuden Chronicles : Rising

14.TMNT : Shredders revenge

15.Disc room 

16. House Flipper

17. Powerwash Sim

18. As dusk falls

19. Tinykin

20. Food truck tycoon

21. Arcade paradise

22. Beacon pines

23.Cult of the lamb 

24.Tales of Arise

25.Gotham Knights

26.Super Gem Fighters

27.Son-son

28.Captain commando 

29.Eco fighters

30.Somerville

And just completed no 31 for the year

 

The Legend of Tianding. (Series X) 

 

This is on gamepass and it’s a short 6hr scrolling beat em up set in early 20th century Taiwan. Levels are fun to explore and the story was unknown to me. 
7/10. 

 

32. Vampire survivors. What can I say it took over my life for the first 2-3 weeks it was on Gamepass. Seeing gems in my sleep.  Videogame crack if it clicks for you.  10/10 

 

[Sprite Machine]

Previously...

Spoiler

1.) Lego City Undercover - PC - 2017 (2013)
2.) What Remains of Edith Finch - PS4 - 2017
3.) Superliminal - PS4 - 2020 (2019)
4.) Untitled Goose Game - Switch - 2019
5.) One Finger Death Punch 2 - PC - 2019
6.) Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - PC - 2011 (2010)
7.) Vanquish - PC - 2017 (2010)

8.) Mass Effect (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2007)
9.) Telling Lies - PC - 2019
10.) Halo 5: Guardians - Xbox One - 2015
11.) Halo Infinite - Xbox Series - 2021
12.) Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition - PC - 2016 (2015)
13.) Alice: Madness Returns - PC - 2011
14.) The Forgotten City - Xbox Series - 2021
15.) Titanfall 2 - PC - 2016

16.) Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age - Switch - 2019 (2006)

17.) Sonic Origins: Economical Edition - PC - 1991/2020
18.) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Switch - 2017 (2014)
19.) Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Switch - 2018 (2014)
20.) Terranigma - SNES - 1996

21.) Batman: Arkham Origins - PC - 2013

22.) Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition - PC - 2014 (2013)
23.) The Talos Principle - Switch - 2019 (2014)
24.) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - PS4 - 2019
25.) Rock Band 4 - PS4 - 2015
26.) Mass Effect 2 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2010)
27.) Sonic The Hedgehog (8-bit) - SMS/GG - 1991
28.) Superhot - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
29.) Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) - GG - 1992
30.) Superhot VR - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
31.) Sonic Chaos - SMS/GG - 1993
32.) Binary Domain - PC - 2012

33.) Lego Jurassic World - PC - 2015

34.) Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble - GG - 1994
35.) Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit - PC - 2022 (1994)
36.) Sonic Blast - GG - 1996
37.) Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2012)

 

38.) The Walking Dead: Season Two - PC - 2013/14
Played through once, 8.5 hours.

It's been nine years since I played the first season of this. Still had my save file, so the game remembered everything I did... which is more than I can say for me! Thankfully, you don't often need to remember specifics of what happened and can muddle through.

 

This was still before Telltale starting churning out every franchise under the sun, right? It's pretty good, but I think the illusion of choice starts to break a little. The first season was incredibly fresh and this is just more of the same. It's also really bloody bleak and depressing - I don't know if I want to continue into the third season! But I'm glad I played this, finally.

[cassidy]

Makes me feel bad cos I ain’t finished my Binary Domain playthrough. 

[Jamie John]

38. Pikmin 3: Deluxe (2020) - Switch

 

 

I played this on the Wii U years ago but remembered enjoying it enough to buy it again for Switch. It's a lovely game that seems to get overlooked for some reason when it comes to Nintendo's first-party titles. I've been chipping away at it for only 20 minutes or so each morning before work, but the last couple of nights its charm has been enough to pull me away from GOW: Ragnarök, which is saying something.

 

It's a simple game, but very endearing, and being able to command your own private battalion of army ant-like little creatures to gather fruit, swarm enemies and solve undemanding puzzles is consistently satisfying. If you own a Switch and have forgotten about this gem, then absolutely pick it up the next time it's on sale. Barring a little bit of fiddliness in the final stages, it's a great game to unwind with on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

 

8/10

 

Played in 2022:

Spoiler

1. Halo Infinite (2021) - XSX - 7/10

2. Bowser's Fury (2021) - Switch - 8/10

3. The Forgotten City (2021) - XSX - 8/10

4. Grindstone (2020) - Switch - 8/10

5. Inscryption (2021) - PC - 9/10

6. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (replay) (2001) - Switch - 8/10

7. The Wolf Among Us (2013) - PC - 7/10

8. What Remains of Edith Finch (replay) (2017) - XSX - 8/10

9. Kena: Bridge of Spirits (2021) - PS5 - 8/10

10. Kill It With Fire (2020) - XSX - 3/10

11. Islanders (2019) - PC - 5/10

12. Creaks (2020) - Switch - 8/10

13. Shovel Knight: King of Cards (2019) - Switch - 9/10

14. The Last Guardian (replay) (2016) - PS5

15. Exo One (2021) - XSX - 8/10

16. Red Matter (2018) - Quest 2 - 7/10

17. Elden Ring (2022) - XSX - 10/10

18. Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022) - Switch - 8/10

19. Slay the Spire (2019) - Switch - 7/10

20. Blasphemous (2019) - Switch - 7/10

21. Superliminal (2019) - XSX - 8/10

22. Tunic (2022) - XSX - 9.5/10

23. Fez (replay) (2012) - Switch

24. Citizen Sleeper (2022) - PC - 9/10

25. Sifu (2022) - PS5 - 9/10

26. Primordia (2012) - Steam Deck - 4/10

27. Disco Elysium (replay) (2019) - Steam Deck/PC

28. Streets of Rage 4 (2020) - Switch - 7/10

29. Mass Effect 3: Legendary Edition (replay) (2021) - Xbox Series X/Steam Deck via Xbox Cloud Gaming

30. Immortality (2022) - Xbox Series X via Game Pass & Steam Deck via Xbox Cloud Streaming - 9/10

31. Darkwood (2017) - Steam Deck - 7/10

32. Tinykin (2022) - XSX via Game Pass - 7/10

33. Stray (2022) - PS5 via PS Plus - 7/10

34. Rez Infinite (2016) - PS5 via PS Plus - 8/10

35. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number  (2015) - Steam Deck - 7/10

36. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade - Episode INTERmission (2021) - PS5 via PS Plus - 5/10

37. FAR: Changing Tides (2022) - XSX via Game Pass - 8/10

38. Pikmin 3: Deluxe (2020) - Switch - 8/10

 

Abandoned:

 

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) - PC

Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (2020) - Switch

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (2017) - 3DS

Horizon: Forbidden West (2022) - PS5

Dragon Quest XI (2017) - Switch

Mortal Shell (2020) - XSX

The Cat Lady (2012) - Steam Deck

Tekken 7 (2015) - XSX

Scorn (2022) - XSX

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020) - Switch

Olija (2022) - XSX

Final Fantasy X: Remastered (2019) - Switch

 

[Unofficial Who]

Nov

 

27/11 Missile Command:Recharged (2022) (PC) A remake of a remake. I'm a sucker for these games although I feel like people who bought the 2020 version should have gotten a deeper discount. This remake has a less spartan look than the 2020 version and more features. While you can't really "finish" an arcade game I did unlock all the upgrades, complete all the challenges (including a rather tricky boss challenge) as well as get all but one of the achievements. (The last "achievement" being of the "lose many lives" variety.) It's the best version of the arcade classics with limited powerups and chaining explosions. Might be a little too soon for players of the 2020 version, otherwise an easy recomment.

 

 

27/11 Little Inferno (PC) Recovering from the flu I needed something low effort to distract me and noticed Little Inferno now had achievements. Which is weird, it's a bit counter to the theme that games, especially freemium games are a waste of time. There is something hypnotic about sitting in front of a warm virtual fire ordering objects from a catalogue merely to burn them minutes later. There's still not much here but the flames and that music make it atmospheric. Just like ten years ago I can't help but think I wasted part of my life on this but that's the point of the game.

 

 

Earlier this month

21/11 Stray (PS5)

20/11 Miss Fisher and the Deathly Maze (PC)

14/11 The Train:Escape to Normandy (C64)

10/11 Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) (PS5)

10/11 868-HACK (PC)

10/11 Football Game (PC)

07/11 Mafia:Definitive Edition (PS4)

07/11 The Darkside Detective:A Fumble in the Dark (PC)

 

Earlier this year

 

Spoiler

86. 29/10 Astro's Playroom (PS5)

85. 29/10 Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County (PC)

84. 29/10 Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard (PC)

83. 28/10 Frog Detective 1:the Haunted Island (PC) 

82. 27/10 Toem (and Basto DLC) (PS5)

81. 25/10 Universal Paperclips (PC)
-- 23/10 Vampire Survivors (PC) (Again. Sort of.)
80. 16/10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Turtles in Time (PC/Arcade)

79. 16/10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (PC/Arcade)

78. 16/10 The Terrible Old Man (PC)

77. 16/10 Submerged:Hidden Depths (PC)

76. 08/10 Franken (PC)

75. 07/10 Echo Generation (PC)

74. 02/10 Ghosts'n'Goblins (Arcade/PC)

73. 02/10 Life is Strange:True Colours (PC)

72. 28/09 Return to Monkey Island (PC) 

71. 18/09 Tinykin (PC)

70. 13/09 Flynn:Son of Crimson (PC)

69. 11/09 Winter Olympiad 88 (C64)

68. 08/09 Arcade Paradise (PC)

67. 21/08 I Am Dead (PS5) 

66. 20/08 Skate or Die! (C64)

65. 16/08 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

64. 14/08 Eco Fighters (Arcade/PC)

63. 14/08 Grindstone (PC) 

62. 14/08 Borderlands 3 (and DLC) (PC)

61. 10/08 Knights of the Round (Arcade/PC)

60. 10/08 Block Block (Arcade/PC)

59. 06/08 Monument Valley 2 : Panoramic Edition (PC)

58. 06/08 Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition (PC)

57. 31/07 The King of Dragons (Arcade/PC)

56. 30/07 Son Son (Arcade/PS5)

55. 30/07 Don't Pull (Arcade/PC)

54. 30/07 Chariot: Adventure Through The Sky (Arcade/PC)

53. 30/07 Midnight Wanderers: Quest for the Chariot (Arcade/PC)

52. 29/07 Magic Sword (Arcade/PC) 

51. 29/07 LED Storm (Arcade/PC)

50. 29/07 Last Duel (Arcade/PC) 

49. 26/07 Raji:An Ancient Epic (PC)

48. 24/07 Tiger Road (PC/Arcade)

47. 24/07 Side Arms Hyper Dyne (PC/Arcade) 

46. 23/07 Gun.Smoke (PC/Arcade)

45. 23/07 Exed Exes (PC/Arcade) 

44. 10/07 Bangkok Knights (C64)

43. 02/07 Zero Wing (Megadrive/Switch)

42. 26/06 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (PC) 

41. 17/06 Psycho Soldier (Arcade/PC)

40. 16/06 Prehistoric Isle in 1930 (Arcade/PC)

39. 16/06 Street Smart (Arcade/PC)

38. 12/06 Midnight Scenes:The Nanny (PC)

37. 28/05 SUPERHOT (PC) 

36. 28/05 Tetris Effect:Connected (PC)

35. 22/05 Sea of Solitude (PC) 

34. 21/05 Scott Morrison Simulator (Browser) 

33. 16/05 Full Throttle:Remastered (PC)

32. 15/05 Unbeatable [White Label] (PC)

31. 14/05 Trek To Yomi (PC) 

30. 13/05 Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (PC)

29. 09/05 California Games (C64)

28.01/05 The Stanley Parable:Ultra Deluxe (PC)

27. 27/04 The Darkside Detective:A Fumble in the Dark (PC)

26. 23/04 Streets of Rage 4 (PC)

25. 17/04 Exo One (PC)

24. 16/04 A Memoir Blue (PC)

23. 08/04 Slay the Spire (PC)

22. 03/04 Tunic (PC) 

21. 02/04 Kingdom:Two Crowns (PC)

20. 26/03 Say No! More (PC)

19. 21/03 Wizball (C64)

18. 17/03 Battle Circuit (PC/Arcade)

17. 17/03 We Happy Few (PC)

16. 07/03 Powered Gear (PC/Arcade) 

15. 06/03 FAR:Changing Tides (PC)

14. 05/03 In Other Waters (PC)

13. 02/03 Aperture Desk Job (Steam Deck/PC) 

12. 27/02 Final Fantasy 14:A Realm Reborn:Seventh Astral Era (PC) 

11. 25/02 Vampire Survivors (PC) 

10. 18/02 Hypnospace Outlaw

9. 05/02 Final Fight (PC/Arcade)

8. 31/01 Dynasty Wars (Arcade/PC)

7. 31/01 Mega Twins (Arcade/PC) 

6, 29/01 Superhot:Mind Control Delete (PC) 

5. 16/01 The Forgotten City (PC)

4. 09/01 Mr Driller Drill Land (PC)

3. 07/01 Olija (PC)

2. 07/01 It's a Knockout! (C64) 

1. 02/01 Katamari Damacy REROLL (PC)

 

Abandoned games

15/10 Scorn (PC)

03/10 Sable (PC)

06/09 I Am Fish (PC)

28/08 Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4)

28/08 Spiritfarer (PC)

28/08 Signs of the Sojourner (PC)

03/07 Cris Tales (PC)

03/07 Atomicrops (PC)

13/05 The Wild at Heart (PC)

19/03 Narita Boy (PC)

04/01 YIIK: A Postmodern RPG (PC)

 

[RubberJohnny]

Bayonetta 3 - Oof! I went through Bayo 2 recently and loved the combat and hated everything around it, and this is like they've made the combat worse and less varied while quadrupling down on the bullshit. If you drank every time there was just a regular bossfight with no gimmicks, I swear you'd still be able to walk in a straight line come the end of the game.

 

Despite them marketing how happy they were to get the chance to make a third, the impression you get is they resent the series and really don't want to keep it going, they keep assassinating Bayonetta (both literally, and character-wise) and instead what we have here is a mash up of leftovers from Scalebound and Rising 2. Unfortunately the kaiju stuff is a proper stinker that drags the game down, and the new character is not particularly compelling, being a butt-monkey comic relief with no gameplay variety. The less said about the 'plot' the better.

 

I want to like Platinum, but genuinely think the knockoff Chinese gachas are the better games at the moment, at least they focus on mechanical thoroughness rather than empty spectacle. Mihoyo went from never having made a 3D model before to popularising the character action template and making it accessible to millions to making one of the most popular games of all time in a mere 4 years, half the time since the last Bayonetta that it took Platinum to curl out this turd.

 

Spoiler

Goragoa

Mass Effect 3

Red Dead Redemption 2

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Hitman III

GTA V

Rez Infinite

Honkai Impact 3rd

Genshin Impact: Sumeru

 

[AlexM]

I completed a game! Completed! The credits rolled! 
 

I rarely ever complete games, yet this year I’ve finished 4 and there’s a month left! (The 20+ lists earlier in this thread are hard for me to contemplate). 
 

1. Half-Life 2. I started this on release, had a save spanning years.. lost it, started again. Completed it this year, with a ‘new’ save that spanned over 8 years. I started playing this game before my son was born and he completed it before me! 🤣 I can’t even remember the start.
 

It was always a gateway game to CS/TF2/L4D2 to play with my friends. I enjoyed the bits I remember, may even start it again one day. 
 

2. God of War. I was sceptical about starting this, given my record. I played almost the entire game on my iPad mini while my son had trouble sleeping. It completely sucked me in, loved it, loved the gameplay, mythology, everything. I hope to play it again on the TV one day. 
 

3. Half-Life 2: Episode 1. Feeling confident after my first two completions, I started and completed this in the same year. I kid you not. The shorter length suited me and while it still took more sessions than I’d like to admit, I finished it on the TV using a Steam controller and really enjoyed it. 
 

4. Stray. I signed up to PS+ Extra a few days ago for the remainder of my subscription (4 months for £9) as I wanted to play a few games on the service. Obviously I like being a cat as I completed this in record time. The side quests were a little wearing, I stopped doing those and focused on exploring and the main story - enjoyable little romp and just about the right length. I expected more graphical ‘wow’ after reading ‘cyberpunk with cats’ elsewhere on the forum, but it was nice enough (if anything the most disappointing part was the cat). Not sure I’ll play it again but who knows. 
 

Next, maybe - Miles Morales. 

[Gambit]

30/11 - God of War: Ragnarok

 

Credits have rolled. What a game. Loved the evolution of the Kratos character over the years, from someone I grew to absolutely detest in God of War 3 to what he is in Ragnarok. The only blemish on this otherwise fine game would be a rather lengthy, talky bit with Atreus midway through. That's all I'll say, but if you've played the game then you'll know what I'm talking about. Now to mop up some trophies....

 

9/10

 

Spoiler

January

05/01 - Starfox 64

14/01 - Resident Evil 3

15/01 - Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

30/01 - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

 

February

06/02 - Hades

 

April

03/04 - Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files

10/04 - Knights of the Old Republic

25/04 - Horizon: Forbidden West

 

May

15/05 - The Nonary Games

26/05 - Star Wars Squadrons

 

June

05/06 - Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

15/06 - Kirby 64

17/06 - The Quarry

 

July

17/07 - Zero Time Dilemma

23/07 - Hotel Dusk: Room 215

30/07 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge

 

August

10/08 - The Legend of Zelda

 

September

11/09 - Turtles Cowabunga Collection

16/09 - Stranglehold

18/09 - 007: Blood Stone

23/09 - Spec Ops: The Line

 

October

01/10 - Mortal Kombat 11 (Story Modes)

08/10 - Zelda: Link Between Worlds

 

November

06/11 - Bayonetta 3

12/11 - Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X

 

[Gambit]

Making use of my two days off work!

 

01/12 - Xenoblade Chronicles 3

 

This one took a while! Loved all the systems and gameplay. The plot, like a lot of JRPG stuff, gets a little lost in the weeds towards the end with so much stuff being thrown at you, with cut scenes that can sometimes approach Kojima-length. But I enjoyed my time with these characters, so much so I picked up the Expansion Pass. Maybe now it's time to revisit and finally complete XC1.

 

8/10

 

Spoiler

January

05/01 - Starfox 64

14/01 - Resident Evil 3

15/01 - Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

30/01 - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

 

February

06/02 - Hades

 

April

03/04 - Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files

10/04 - Knights of the Old Republic

25/04 - Horizon: Forbidden West

 

May

15/05 - The Nonary Games

26/05 - Star Wars Squadrons

 

June

05/06 - Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

15/06 - Kirby 64

17/06 - The Quarry

 

July

17/07 - Zero Time Dilemma

23/07 - Hotel Dusk: Room 215

30/07 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge

 

August

10/08 - The Legend of Zelda

 

September

11/09 - Turtles Cowabunga Collection

16/09 - Stranglehold

18/09 - 007: Blood Stone

23/09 - Spec Ops: The Line

 

October

01/10 - Mortal Kombat 11 (Story Modes)

08/10 - Zelda: Link Between Worlds

 

November

06/11 - Bayonetta 3

12/11 - Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X

30/11 - God of War: Ragnarok

 

[Vorgot]

30/11 - Later Alligator - Switch

 

Had fun with this, though it's pretty slight. Some great writing and character animation make up a story that revolves around talking to Alligators to solve a mystery and playing each characters mini game. They are pretty hit and miss but are fun little diversions, especially of you use the touch screen. Glad I got it at 50% off, not sure I would say it it worth the full price.

 

But at a discount, it has tons of charm and some genuine laughs.

[CrichStand]

Tomb Raider - 1996 (Xbox Series S internet browser).

 

Had no idea that you could play this in your Internet browser or that this was even a thing. Amazing! Stumbled upon it whilst trying to find out how to play the original games on Windows 11, which I didn’t really want to do as my Desktop and Laptop are used purely for making music. 

 

Thought the game would control badly, have appalling graphics and sound and have dated badly in general. A big case of nostalgia and rose tinted glasses looking back. I was wrong.
 

It looks fantastic full screen on a 65inch 4K TV, nice resolution, 60fps, and some really nice updated water effects on show. Controls amazing too using the Xbox controller. And the gameplay? Oh man, the gameplay! 
 

The way you control Lara is sublime. So many times in the game you get a genuine sense of vertigo because of the way the controls function and you always feel a sense of danger when climbing or navigating the environments. And what environments they are! The level design absolutely destroys 99% of games these days. The Cistern level in particular was a real highlight, with it’s changing water level mechanic and exploration/platforming. The sense of scale and wonder is something else that hammers most modern games too, along with the incredible atmosphere conjured up by the sparse soundtrack and scary ambient sound effects. 

 

It was around this point in the game that it hit me - the Souls games have absolutely, 100%, been massively influenced by Tomb Raider. The same spooky atmosphere, the same graphical style, the same kind of “ah, I’m back here” level design, same wind up with traps and crazy sections, even the same feel! Remarkable how similar they actually are! This was all amplified even more on the Atlantis level towards the end.

 

Its around that point of the game where it went from being this amazing atmospheric/exploration/puzzle/platform game, to quite possibly one of the most claustrophobic, nightmarish, hardest and most brutal games I’ve ever played. I have no idea how I finished this back in the day. Literally spent hours trying to get past 2 enemies with just half a health bar........only to find I had to make my way through countless traps and platforming sections with the tiniest sliver of health. One infinitesimally small mistake and I was dead. Again, soooooo much like the Souls games it was unreal. But when I finally made it through, man, it felt goooooood (again, just like the Souls games)! 😁

 

Overall, this is a masterpiece. It holds up incredibly well all these years later and in many ways is still miles ahead of adventure games these days, including the Anniversary remake, which isn’t a patch on what’s offered here. For the life of me I can’t understand how no-one has just straight up knocked this game off. I get that times and tastes have changed and a big budget version might not sell shit loads but, why has no indie developer made an equivalent on a small budget? It would sell like hotcakes if they managed to pull it off, and provide an opportunity for many more titles. Please, please, pleeeeeaaaase someone make it happen!!!

 

So yeah, fantastic game that pulled me away from God of War and numerous others and didn’t let me go until it was finished. 3 all nighters back to back, of some of the best gaming I’ve had in ages. Not bad for a game that’s 26 years old! 
 

 

 

 

[James Lyon]

2 hours ago, CrichStand said:

For the life of me I can’t understand how no-one has just straight up knocked this game off. I get that times and tastes have changed and a big budget version might not sell shit loads but, why has no indie developer made an equivalent on a small budget? It would sell like hotcakes if they managed to pull it off, and provide an opportunity for many more titles. Please, please, pleeeeeaaaase someone make it happen!!!

 

I guess you're taking about a more recent homage to the original Tomb Raider, but if you want something from back in the day that isn't just the sequels, check out Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. That's a straight up Tomb Raider clone with Indy!

[CrichStand]

53 minutes ago, James Lyon said:

 

I guess you're taking about a more recent homage to the original Tomb Raider, but if you want something from back in the day that isn't just the sequels, check out Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. That's a straight up Tomb Raider clone with Indy!

Yeah, talking about a modern release in the old style. There are so many comments all over the net, including on here, where people are talking about wanting a new Tomb Raider that’s like the originals. I can’t understand how so far, developers have failed to take advantage of that? There’s clearly a big market for that kind of game and obviously the originals used to be massive, breaking into the mainstream.

 

That Indiana Jones game is one that I’ve always wanted to try, because of its comparisons to TR, and obviously it’s Indiana Jones. 😁 Problem is I’ve always been a console gamer and I’m clueless with PCs and stuff outside of making music with them. Both my machines are strictly for running Live and I’m really wary of putting anything else on them. That’s why Tomb Raider on the Xbox Edge browser blew me away. Apparently you can play the other Tomb Raider games on there too, but need the game files, which obviously rules out the Xbox. 😕 Would absolutely love to play the Indy game and TR2, Last Revelation etc in 4K, with a decent controller though!

[James Lyon]

1 hour ago, CrichStand said:

Yeah, talking about a modern release in the old style. There are so many comments all over the net, including on here, where people are talking about wanting a new Tomb Raider that’s like the originals. I can’t understand how so far, developers have failed to take advantage of that? There’s clearly a big market for that kind of game and obviously the originals used to be massive, breaking into the mainstream.

 

That Indiana Jones game is one that I’ve always wanted to try, because of its comparisons to TR, and obviously it’s Indiana Jones. 😁 Problem is I’ve always been a console gamer and I’m clueless with PCs and stuff outside of making music with them. Both my machines are strictly for running Live and I’m really wary of putting anything else on them. That’s why Tomb Raider on the Xbox Edge browser blew me away. Apparently you can play the other Tomb Raider games on there too, but need the game files, which obviously rules out the Xbox. 😕 Would absolutely love to play the Indy game and TR2, Last Revelation etc in 4K, with a decent controller though!

 

It did come out on the N64 as well! I know what you mean about someone trying to do a Tomb Raider game now. We've had people do loving homages to Doom in the original style so we're surely due a nostalgic 90s 3D action adventure renaissance as well.

[CrichStand]

Here’s hoping!  I also can’t understand why there hasn’t been a compilation of the older games released on consoles? Not sure how much work it would be or if there’d be problems with who owns what rights or whatever but, I’d happily pay for them as a bundle on PS5 or Xbox with 4K, decent controls etc so I’m sure many others would too.

 

Just been looking at some footage of that Indy game and noticed it was also released for N64. Definitely would love to give it a go. The story sounds pretty cool with the Babylon and Tower of Babel stuff. Anyway, now bought TR Underworld off the Xbox store to get my next fix. I think I can remember that one being pretty decent.

[gossi the dog]

20/08 - The Magnificent Truffle Pigs (Switch) - Rather boring walking sim that has you metal detecting whilst talking to a long lost friend. I didn't get the ending. The music is great and perfectly suits the game. Good job @noob

 

20/08 - Idol Days (Switch) - short visual novel about a delinquent who becomes an idol. I enjoyed it, but mainly because it reminded me of some of the Haruka storylines in the Yakuza series.

 

12/09 - The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence (Switch) - companion piece to the main game that fleshes out the background to parts of the main story. Recommended if you enjoyed the main game and want more.

 

27/09 - Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series) - I bought this at launch and got dragged down by the absolute mess of icons for events the game throws at you in the first few hours of play. I understand the approach to allow you to have flexibility to do the types of races that you want, but it's just hugely offputting. Once you apply heavy filters and slowly work your way through sections of the map, it has some form of structure. In many ways this is more of the same compared to the prior game, but with an interesting map and a lot more single player events. It's probably the third best game in the series (after the original and the third), however I wish they'd return to the structure of the original where you work your way up versus various rivals with boss battles etc.

 

27/10 - Blind Men (PS4) - short visual novel that's very much a James Bond spoof from the perspective of the bad guy. Enjoyable.

 

 

Previously:

Spoiler

01. 02/01 - Death Come True (PS4)

02. 04/01 - Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (PS4)

03. 11/01 - Song of Memories (PS4)

04. 20/01 - Vostok Inc (PS4)

05. 25/01 - Steins Gate 0 (PS4)

06. 31/01 - Punch Line (PS4) 

07. 04/02 - Uncharted 4 (PS5)

08. 11/02 - Raging Loop (PS4) 

09. 17/02 - World End Syndrome (PS4)

10. 20/02 - Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS5)

11. 10/03 - Hashihime of the Old Book Town (Switch)

12. 07/04 - Fatal Twelve (PS4) 

13. 12/04 - Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix (Switch)

14. 20/04 - Root Letter: Last Answer (PS4) 

15. 29/04 - Marco & The Galaxy Dragon (Switch)

16. 30/04 - To the Moon (Switch) 

17. 03/05 - Legend of Talia: Arcadia (Switch) 

18. 02/06 - AI: The Somnium Files (PS4)

19. 27/07 - GRID Legends (PS5)

20. 07/08 - Picross S: Mega Drive & Master System Version (Switch) 

21. 13/08 - The House In Fata Morgana (Switch)

22. 16/08 - KUUKIYOMI 2: Consider It More! - New Era (Switch) 

 

[BabelRich]

Bit more catching up to do, I really should try better to stay on top of this as I just end up rushing my write ups:

 

05/11 - Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

More Turn-based strategy fun featuring everyone's favourite cast of characters, and Mario. A marked improvement from the original game with open maps instead of corridor maps and many side quests and puzzles to keep you busy outside of the main path.

 

The biggest change is the addition of free movement within the battles. Each character has a movement radius, and they can move as much as they like within that until they fire their primary weapon. It really opens up the battles to be more dynamic and adds a huge extra layer of strategy rather than just 'move here, shoot'.

 

It's slightly chucklesome but not quite as funny as the first I feel with Rabbid Mario being the standout comic this time. I am undecided on the decision to voice the rabbids.

 

9/10

 

09/11 - The Turing Test

Needed something to bridge the gap between Sparks and GOW so played this. Not a bad portal-esque attempt but this time with a gun that shoots electricity. It's all about manipulating power to doors and other obstacles. Some good head scratchers mixed in with an ok story and an omnipotent AI that isn't as well written as it thinks it is.

 

7/10

 

24/11 - God of War: Ragnarok

Given the current argument going on in the edge thread I will be brief here. I bloody loved it. Not as tight as 2018 but the amount of adventure here for those that want it is pretty mind blowing. It has several areas as packed as the Lake of Nine was and a couple of them are completely optional.

 

Story wise, again not as tight as previously but there is some real good stuff in there (and a couple of not-so-great moments) the worst bit is the paucity of Jormundgandr who is reduced to a couple of cameos.

 

9/10

 

26/11 - Escape Academy - Escape from Anti-Escape Island DLC

Escape Academy is my sleeper to enter my GOTY list. This DLC is both extended and reduced at the same time. There are only five new rooms and the first one is very slight indeed. But the remaining four are really good with some levels stretching out to multiple floors and rooms instead of being tied to a single area.

 

Unfortunately, as it's so short it ends just as you get going especially if you are an experienced puzzler. But it's still very enjoyable while it lasts, save for a woefully misjudged 'Minesweeper' puzzle where the controls are simply not tight enough leading to many accidental deaths and is actually, currently unsolvable without guessing. This has been acknowledged by the devs and they are going to patch it. 

 

7/10

 

Spoiler

19/10 - Danganronpa V3 7/10

05/10 - Gone Home 8/10

03/10 - Return to Monkey Island 8/10

07/09 - God of War 10/10

07/09 - Kentucky Route Zero 6/10

07/09 - Tinykin 9/10

30/08 - Saint's Row (2022) 8/10

12/08 - Bug Fables 8/10

29/07 - Escape Academy 10/10

27/07 - Dodgeball Academia 5/10

25/07 - Assassin's Creed: Syndicate 9/10

11/07 - Assassin's Creed: Unity 3/10

10/07 - Donkey Kong Country 4/10

05/07 - Dragon Age: Inquisition 8/10

18/06 - TMNT: Shredder's Revenge 7/10

14/06 - Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 8/10

01/06 - Dragon Quest XI 8/10

26/05 - Tales of Monkey Island 8/10

16/05 - Red Dead Redemption 9/10

12/05 - Lost Words – Beyond the Page 6/10

10/05 - Citizen Sleeper 9/10

06/05 - Lost in Random 6/10

08/04 – Kirby and the Forgotten Kingdom 9/10

01/04 – Danganronpa 2 – Goodbye Despair 08/10

25/03 – Tunic 6/10

16/03 – Danganronpa – Trigger Happy Havok 8/10

13/03 - Horizon - Forbidden West 10/10

15/02 - Agent A 7/10

14/02 - Saint's Row - Gat Out of Hell 6/10

11/02 - Nobody Saves the World 8/10

04/02 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Episode INTERMission 6/10

01/02 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake 8/10

26/01 - Gorogoa 9/10

25/01 - The Gunk 7/10

23/01 - Control 7/10

11/01 - Rise of the Tomb Raider 7/10

07/01 - Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space 9/10

 

[strawdonkey]

On 16/11/2022 at 18:53, strawdonkey said:

2021/65a. Star Hunter DX (Space Cadet, 1CC, 19.3mil)

01. The Artful Escape

02. Rhythm Doctor

03. Monolith

04. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch.2 Watanagashi

05. Outer Wilds

06. OMORI

02a. Rhythm Doctor (all the bonus stuff and B+'d every stage)

07. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (all solo content clear)

08. Windjammers 2 (1CC)

09. Vampire Survivors

10. Ghost Blade HD (1CC Easy)

10a. Ghost Blade HD

07a. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

11. Exceed 2nd - Vampire Rex (uh, 3CC I guess)

12. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 3 Tatarigoroshi

13. Magic The Gathering: Arena (Mythic Rank, constructed)

14. Solitarica

15. Schildmaid MX (Jaeger Mode 1CC, 12.9mil)

16. ZeroRanger - White Vanilla Mode (719k, Type-C, C++)

17. Zenohell (Honestly it took like 20 credits)

18. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 4 Himatsubushi

16a. ZeroRanger - Green Orange Mode 1-ALL (354k, Type-C)

19. Backspace Bouken (and the Numb Lock DLC)

20. Exceed 3rd: Jade Penetrate Black Package (1CC, Easy, 5,388,190)

20a. Exceed 3rd: Jade Penetrate Black Package (1CC, Normal, 3mil and some change)

21. Rez Infinite (Area X)

22. Point Blank (1CC, Expert Mode)
23. Touhou 8 - Imperishable Night (1CC, New Moon, Reimu/Yukari)

23a. Touhou 8 - Imperishable Night (1CC, Waxing Crescent, Reimu/Yukari)

24. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

25. Graze Counter (many 1CCs)

26. Touhou 7 - Perfect Cherry Blossom (1CC, Easy, Reimu)

27. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 5 Meakashi

X1. Carrion

28. Deathsmiles (1CC, Normal, Rosa, 57mil)

29. One Step From Eden (Reva clear, all bosses spared)

30. Panzer Dragoon Remake

31. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 6 Tsumihoroboshi

32. Jamestown+ (Story completion and finished Gauntlet Mode)

X2. Death's Door

33. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 7 Minagoroshi

25a. Graze Counter - Expert mode (Type-7, 474mil)
34. Splatoon

35. Drainus (Normal 2-all 1CC)

36. Neko Navy ("Easy" 1CC, 918mil, Mugi)

37. Mario Golf: Super Rush

38. Wario Ware Gold

39. Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk ...

22a. Point Blank (1CC, Very Hard Mode)

40. Kirby's Adventure

41. Frog Fractions: Game of the Decade Edition

22b. Point Blank (no-miss, Beginner mode)
42. Bloons TD6
43. FTL (Easy Kestrel clear)

44. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 8 Matsuribayashi

45. Dicey Dungeons

46. Hexcells (100%)

47. Hexcells Plus

X3. Crosscells

28a. Deathsmiles Mega Black Label (1CC, Follett, 309mil)

48. Hexcells Infinite

49. SquareCells

50. Long Live The Queen
51. Neon White (bad end, all Ace times)

51a. Neon White (good end, all hidden presents)

 

This was probably not worth the time investment save for the bonus missions you unlock during the process. The hidden presents are a real mixed bag - the good ones are in plain sight or a predictable location (such as the top of the tallest structure in the level) but some of them are hidden in really obnoxious places, such as directly above the spawn or under a grate near the end of the level. 

 

Collecting the presents unlocks a bunch of dialogue and also some bonus levels which really lean in to certain themes - one character's levels prevent you from using any secondary fire, another gives you lethal obstacle courses where the ground and walls and ceiling are all spikes, etc.

 

There's also the ongoing problem with the leaderboard functionality being broken if you resume from sleep mode - it works great on first boot, but if you resume from sleep you can't even manually reconnect to the leaderboards without a full reload of the game. It's really not good enough in a game that thrives on Being The Fastest, though it is otherwise still superb.

[Sprite Machine]

Previously...

Spoiler

1.) Lego City Undercover - PC - 2017 (2013)
2.) What Remains of Edith Finch - PS4 - 2017
3.) Superliminal - PS4 - 2020 (2019)
4.) Untitled Goose Game - Switch - 2019
5.) One Finger Death Punch 2 - PC - 2019
6.) Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - PC - 2011 (2010)
7.) Vanquish - PC - 2017 (2010)

8.) Mass Effect (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2007)
9.) Telling Lies - PC - 2019
10.) Halo 5: Guardians - Xbox One - 2015
11.) Halo Infinite - Xbox Series - 2021
12.) Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition - PC - 2016 (2015)
13.) Alice: Madness Returns - PC - 2011
14.) The Forgotten City - Xbox Series - 2021
15.) Titanfall 2 - PC - 2016

16.) Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age - Switch - 2019 (2006)

17.) Sonic Origins: Economical Edition - PC - 1991/2020
18.) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Switch - 2017 (2014)
19.) Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Switch - 2018 (2014)
20.) Terranigma - SNES - 1996

21.) Batman: Arkham Origins - PC - 2013

22.) Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition - PC - 2014 (2013)
23.) The Talos Principle - Switch - 2019 (2014)
24.) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - PS4 - 2019
25.) Rock Band 4 - PS4 - 2015
26.) Mass Effect 2 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2010)
27.) Sonic The Hedgehog (8-bit) - SMS/GG - 1991
28.) Superhot - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
29.) Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) - GG - 1992
30.) Superhot VR - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
31.) Sonic Chaos - SMS/GG - 1993
32.) Binary Domain - PC - 2012

33.) Lego Jurassic World - PC - 2015

34.) Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble - GG - 1994
35.) Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit - PC - 2022 (1994)
36.) Sonic Blast - GG - 1996
37.) Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2012)
38.) The Walking Dead: Season Two - PC - 2013/14

 

39.) Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments - PS4 - 2014
Completed all six cases.

 

I hadn't heard of Ukraine-based developer Frogwares and their range of Sherlock Holmes games going back to the early noughties. In fact, the first I heard of any recent Sherlock Holmes game was via the Creepy Watson video.

Crimes & Punishments is a significantly better-looking (and sounding) game than I had expected. Character detail and animation are good, the environments (while small) are well realised, voice work is reasonable and the style of game allows for playing at a relaxed pace, with a mix of object searching, dialogue choices and little mini-games and other activities.

 

I will start by saying that, whatever issues I had with the game, I still enjoyed it. It's an interesting format that I haven't seen used before and I think any fan of the great detective will find a lot to enjoy here. More games like this should be encouraged.

However, the problem with a game like this is how do you make the player the one who solves the mysteries and not the character (Sherlock)? Finding all the clues is simply an exercise in ticking each thing off a list and the game helpfully shows you when you've found everything in a given area, and tells you where to go next. Instead, the deduction phase of the game has to offer alternative theories for every piece of evidence, no matter how solid and iron-clad you think it is. As a result, some of the game's cases tie themselves in illogical knots of plot-twists, red herrings and even the occasional outright contradiction. If it gave you all the answers, it wouldn't be a deduction game, but in order to allow for deduction, there has to be an unnatural amount of vague wishy-washiness to the evidence.

 

As Sherlock Holmes himself famously once said, "when you have eliminated the implausible, whatever remains, even if it's also implausible, could also be the truth, maybe". 

[Jamie John]

39. Mushihimesama (2021) - Switch

 

 

(Well, I've not really 'completed' it - it's an arcade shooter; you can't complete it - but I did clear the easy mode without using a continue, which felt awesome.)

 

I've posted about it more in the shmup thread, but I enjoyed this a great deal - it's the first game of its type I've ever really spent any time with, and once it gets its hooks into you and you figure out how to play it, the sheer amount of stuff happening at once combined with how alert you have to be for (what at least feels like) such extended periods of time, even on novice difficulty, is never anything less than thrilling. And going up against a screen-filling boss when you've only got one life left is incredibly tense, getting the heart pumping and the blood flowing in a way that (dare I say it) I found positively Souls-like.

 

If, like me, you've never really played a bullet-hell game before, but they've always piqued your interest, then I'd recommend giving this a go. The novice difficulty is definitely still challenging, but isn't entirely impenetrable, and the game plays very nicely in handheld mode on the Switch - it still looks great for a port of an 18-year-old arcade game. The art, music and overall flow of the game combine beautifully, too. This is a classic for a reason.

 

I'm not going to give this a score as it seems so reductive to do so, but if the screenshot above looks in anyway appealing to you, check this out.

 

Played in 2022:

Spoiler

1. Halo Infinite (2021) - XSX - 7/10

2. Bowser's Fury (2021) - Switch - 8/10

3. The Forgotten City (2021) - XSX - 8/10

4. Grindstone (2020) - Switch - 8/10

5. Inscryption (2021) - PC - 9/10

6. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (replay) (2001) - Switch - 8/10

7. The Wolf Among Us (2013) - PC - 7/10

8. What Remains of Edith Finch (replay) (2017) - XSX - 8/10

9. Kena: Bridge of Spirits (2021) - PS5 - 8/10

10. Kill It With Fire (2020) - XSX - 3/10

11. Islanders (2019) - PC - 5/10

12. Creaks (2020) - Switch - 8/10

13. Shovel Knight: King of Cards (2019) - Switch - 9/10

14. The Last Guardian (replay) (2016) - PS5

15. Exo One (2021) - XSX - 8/10

16. Red Matter (2018) - Quest 2 - 7/10

17. Elden Ring (2022) - XSX - 10/10

18. Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022) - Switch - 8/10

19. Slay the Spire (2019) - Switch - 7/10

20. Blasphemous (2019) - Switch - 7/10

21. Superliminal (2019) - XSX - 8/10

22. Tunic (2022) - XSX - 9.5/10

23. Fez (replay) (2012) - Switch

24. Citizen Sleeper (2022) - PC - 9/10

25. Sifu (2022) - PS5 - 9/10

26. Primordia (2012) - Steam Deck - 4/10

27. Disco Elysium (replay) (2019) - Steam Deck/PC

28. Streets of Rage 4 (2020) - Switch - 7/10

29. Mass Effect 3: Legendary Edition (replay) (2021) - Xbox Series X/Steam Deck via Xbox Cloud Gaming

30. Immortality (2022) - Xbox Series X via Game Pass & Steam Deck via Xbox Cloud Streaming - 9/10

31. Darkwood (2017) - Steam Deck - 7/10

32. Tinykin (2022) - XSX via Game Pass - 7/10

33. Stray (2022) - PS5 via PS Plus - 7/10

34. Rez Infinite (2016) - PS5 via PS Plus - 8/10

35. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number  (2015) - Steam Deck - 7/10

36. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade - Episode INTERmission (2021) - PS5 via PS Plus - 5/10

37. FAR: Changing Tides (2022) - XSX via Game Pass - 8/10

38. Pikmin 3: Deluxe (2020) - Switch - 8/10

39. Mushihimesama (2021) - Switch

 

Abandoned:

 

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) - PC

Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (2020) - Switch

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (2017) - 3DS

Horizon: Forbidden West (2022) - PS5

Dragon Quest XI (2017) - Switch

Mortal Shell (2020) - XSX

The Cat Lady (2012) - Steam Deck

Tekken 7 (2015) - XSX

Scorn (2022) - XSX

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020) - Switch

Olija (2022) - XSX

Final Fantasy X: Remastered (2019) - Switch

 

[strawdonkey]

On 05/12/2022 at 00:01, strawdonkey said:

2021/65a. Star Hunter DX (Space Cadet, 1CC, 19.3mil)

01. The Artful Escape

02. Rhythm Doctor

03. Monolith

04. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch.2 Watanagashi

05. Outer Wilds

06. OMORI

02a. Rhythm Doctor (all the bonus stuff and B+'d every stage)

07. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (all solo content clear)

08. Windjammers 2 (1CC)

09. Vampire Survivors

10. Ghost Blade HD (1CC Easy)

10a. Ghost Blade HD

07a. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

11. Exceed 2nd - Vampire Rex (uh, 3CC I guess)

12. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 3 Tatarigoroshi

13. Magic The Gathering: Arena (Mythic Rank, constructed)

14. Solitarica

15. Schildmaid MX (Jaeger Mode 1CC, 12.9mil)

16. ZeroRanger - White Vanilla Mode (719k, Type-C, C++)

17. Zenohell (Honestly it took like 20 credits)

18. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 4 Himatsubushi

16a. ZeroRanger - Green Orange Mode 1-ALL (354k, Type-C)

19. Backspace Bouken (and the Numb Lock DLC)

20. Exceed 3rd: Jade Penetrate Black Package (1CC, Easy, 5,388,190)

20a. Exceed 3rd: Jade Penetrate Black Package (1CC, Normal, 3mil and some change)

21. Rez Infinite (Area X)

22. Point Blank (1CC, Expert Mode)
23. Touhou 8 - Imperishable Night (1CC, New Moon, Reimu/Yukari)

23a. Touhou 8 - Imperishable Night (1CC, Waxing Crescent, Reimu/Yukari)

24. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

25. Graze Counter (many 1CCs)

26. Touhou 7 - Perfect Cherry Blossom (1CC, Easy, Reimu)

27. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 5 Meakashi

X1. Carrion

28. Deathsmiles (1CC, Normal, Rosa, 57mil)

29. One Step From Eden (Reva clear, all bosses spared)

30. Panzer Dragoon Remake

31. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 6 Tsumihoroboshi

32. Jamestown+ (Story completion and finished Gauntlet Mode)

X2. Death's Door

33. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 7 Minagoroshi

25a. Graze Counter - Expert mode (Type-7, 474mil)
34. Splatoon

35. Drainus (Normal 2-all 1CC)

36. Neko Navy ("Easy" 1CC, 918mil, Mugi)

37. Mario Golf: Super Rush

38. Wario Ware Gold

39. Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk ...

22a. Point Blank (1CC, Very Hard Mode)

40. Kirby's Adventure

41. Frog Fractions: Game of the Decade Edition

22b. Point Blank (no-miss, Beginner mode)
42. Bloons TD6
43. FTL (Easy Kestrel clear)

44. Higurashi When They Cry - Ch. 8 Matsuribayashi

45. Dicey Dungeons

46. Hexcells (100%)

47. Hexcells Plus

X3. Crosscells

28a. Deathsmiles Mega Black Label (1CC, Follett, 309mil)

48. Hexcells Infinite

49. SquareCells

50. Long Live The Queen
51. Neon White (bad end, all Ace times)

51a. Neon White (good end, all hidden presents)

52. Puzzle Quest 2

 

File this one firmly under "what the fuck am I doing with my life". Puzzle Quest 2 is the most match 3-ass match 3 game in existence, with a dungeon crawler layered on top of it. There's some cool ideas - you build up mana by matching the coloured gems, which can be spent on spells(my set up involved turning purple mana into a shield, and then turning other coloured gems purple in order to deal damage and take extra turns whilst topping up the purple mana shield), action points by matching the gauntlets (which can be spent on weapon strikes or shield usage) and deal damage to your opponent by matching skulls. As you progress you level up and can start to put together a build of sorts - getting bonuses for certain attributes, making it easier to build mana of certain colours, along with supplementing your strategy with equipment and weapons.

 

But there's just so fucking much of it. Each room contains at least one dickhead for you to to out-puzzle, often several who must be destroyed via gems before you can progress to the next whatever it is. Occasionally the game throws you a curveball where you have an alternate win condition (usually taking your weapons off you and replacing it with a context action that's an auto win) but also sometimes giving the enemy utterly busted shit that means you need to incorporate resource denial into your play.

 

But mostly it's just matching the gems over and over and over and over again mixed with existential dread. That last bit, I don't think is intentional. 

[CurryKitten]

6/12/2022 - Mass Effect 3 (XSX)

 

So, weird thing about Mass Effect is my time between games.  I completed the first one back along with everyone else in April 2008 on the 360, and then finally got around to playing ME2 and completing in October 2020 on my Xbox One... I started a new character as I didn't have a way of transferring and I didn't like my original character.  So I finally got around to finishing the adventure and got me ME2 save up to the cloud to import back into ME3 on my Series X.  It was only when I was half way through it that I found out there was the Legendary edition available on Gamepass.  I'd actually used my original disks all the way through

 

Anyway, I knew going into this that people didn't like the original ending, but I'd already got the DLC to add this extra one.  The game felt more shooty than the others (I think) but pretty easy in that I'd nailed the sort of weapons and abilities I found useful early on.  In terms of the endings I managed to choose the "extra" one (without knowing this) and found it a little underwhelming, So I spent a few hours watching very long cut scenes over and over so I could get the other 3 original endings.

 

Not the best game in the series - I think that belongs to ME2, but a worthy enough way to finish things off.  Feels quite good personally to finish a trilogy that's been sat on my shelf for 10+ years!

 

[Sprite Machine]

Yay, I've reached 40 completed games this year!

 

Previously...

Spoiler

1.) Lego City Undercover - PC - 2017 (2013)
2.) What Remains of Edith Finch - PS4 - 2017
3.) Superliminal - PS4 - 2020 (2019)
4.) Untitled Goose Game - Switch - 2019
5.) One Finger Death Punch 2 - PC - 2019
6.) Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - PC - 2011 (2010)
7.) Vanquish - PC - 2017 (2010)

8.) Mass Effect (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2007)
9.) Telling Lies - PC - 2019
10.) Halo 5: Guardians - Xbox One - 2015
11.) Halo Infinite - Xbox Series - 2021
12.) Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition - PC - 2016 (2015)
13.) Alice: Madness Returns - PC - 2011
14.) The Forgotten City - Xbox Series - 2021
15.) Titanfall 2 - PC - 2016

16.) Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age - Switch - 2019 (2006)

17.) Sonic Origins: Economical Edition - PC - 1991/2020
18.) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Switch - 2017 (2014)
19.) Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Switch - 2018 (2014)
20.) Terranigma - SNES - 1996

21.) Batman: Arkham Origins - PC - 2013

22.) Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition - PC - 2014 (2013)
23.) The Talos Principle - Switch - 2019 (2014)
24.) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - PS4 - 2019
25.) Rock Band 4 - PS4 - 2015
26.) Mass Effect 2 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2010)
27.) Sonic The Hedgehog (8-bit) - SMS/GG - 1991
28.) Superhot - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
29.) Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) - GG - 1992
30.) Superhot VR - PS4 - 2017 (2016)
31.) Sonic Chaos - SMS/GG - 1993
32.) Binary Domain - PC - 2012

33.) Lego Jurassic World - PC - 2015

34.) Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble - GG - 1994
35.) Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit - PC - 2022 (1994)
36.) Sonic Blast - GG - 1996
37.) Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition) - PS4 - 2021 (2012)
38.) The Walking Dead: Season Two - PC - 2013/14

39.) Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments - PS4 - 2014

 

40.) Super Mario 3D World - Switch - 2021 (2013)

 

Got all 380 green stars, level stamps and gold flagpoles. (Approx 25+ hours according to the Switch). Only thing I haven't got is the final stamps for completing all levels as all characters, but I might plug away at that in the coming months if I can convince the missus to play it with me.

(That said, I don't relish the idea of

Spoiler

Champion's Road with anyone but Rosalina!)

 

Yeah, so I don't really have anyone to play this with regularly and I don't have an online account anymore either, so I played the whole game solo. I think that's probably why I found it underwhelming at first, as well as the lack of stereoscopy, which was an incredible feature of the 3DS game. I can't even comprehend how some of these levels would work with four characters running about, but I'm guessing it's handled with the usual brilliance and fun that Nintendo put into their flagship games, so I look forward to trying it at some point.

 

Nevertheless, even as a solo non-stereo game, this gradually stuck its claws into me and I ended up really enjoying it. I'm counting SM3DW as 'completed' as the Bowser's Fury game is entirely separate (aside from the fact that it's launched from the title screen).

[Mogster]

16/11/2022 - Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose

 

I forgot to write this up at the time, but there's not really much to say. 

 

This was a very small expansion that took me on a brief tour of some of the main locations from Resi 8, adding in some supernatural crowd control abilities due to the new character. It was cool to see these locations in third person, to the point where I might replay the main game with the option at some point, but otherwise I felt it was a bit forgettable really. For the most part it gave me some very generic Resident Evil action, which was fine, but nothing more.

 

I did enjoy one particular encounter though. Without giving too much away, it made some clever use of line of sight to incredibly creepy effect. Unfortunately it directly preceded a really annoying stealth section, complete with vision cones that almost made me stop playing.

 

The story was a bit predictable, but made for a nice enough coda to the Winters story. I'm quite glad Capcom are apparently moving on from this for the next game though, as I can't say I've enjoyed it anywhere near as much as the Umbrella nonsense from the earlier games.

 

Spoiler

January

04/01/2022 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits
24/01/2022 - Hitman (2016)
26/01/2022 - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

May

17/05/2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land

June

09/06/2022 - Elden Ring

July

09/07/2022 - Cyberpunk 2077
10/07/2022 - Citizen Sleeper

August

01/08/2022 - Stray
14/08/2022 - No Man's Sky Expedition Eight: Polestar
30/08/2022 - Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection (GDI Campaign)

September

Nothing!

October

10/10/2022 - The Nonary Games: 999
31/10/2022 - Final Fantasy VII Remake: Episode Intermission

November

16/11/2022 - Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose

 

[ImmaculateClump]

Gunvein - Expert 1cc

 

Spoiler

Nekotosakana - 1cc

Moon Dancer - Normal 1cc (no miss), Hard 1cc (no miss), Expert 1cc

Grand Cross: Renovation - 1cc

Operation STEEL - Normal 1cc, Hard 1cc

Vampire Survivors - Inlaid Library hyper, Mad Forest hyper, Green Acres hyper

Sophstar - 1cc and TLB, Arcade, Intermediate, original scoring, Reyka

Sol Cresta - 2-all, Normal (3-5)

Stainless Night - 1cc

Andro Dunos II - 1cc

Z-Warp - Hardcore 1cc

Galacticon - 1cc, Level 36 (loop 4)
Drainus - Normal 2-all, Arcade 2-all
Red-Hawk - 1cc

Tukiyono - 1cc (ending 1), 1cc (ending 2)

Love - Arcade

Spacewing War - Story mode 1cc

AISZplus - 1cc

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge - Arcade, normal 1cc (April)

Deathsmiles IIX - 1cc TLB

Like Dreamer - [Trial, Maniac 1cc] [Trial+, Expert 1cc] [Trial, Nightmare 1cc] [Speedrun, Expert 1cc] [All Trial, Nightmare 1cc] etc. Lost track now

Shooting Game KARI - Normal 1cc

Tanitani Wizard - Normal 1cc

Mushihimesama Futari Black Label - Maniac 1cc

Valhellio - Normal 1cc

Bullet Hell Monday - Normal 1cc

NeverAwake - All worlds, route A and B

Hazelnut Hex - Normal 1cc, Moderate 1cc

雷鸟Thunderbird - Normal 1cc, Hard 1cc

Dead End City - Normal 1cc, Hard 1cc

Gunvein - Intense 1cc

 

[skondo]

Gears of War Ultimate Edition.

 

Haven’t played a Gears game since I completed 2 back in 2011. This was big, dumb, stupid fun. I guess some of the mechanics of the game are showing their age and the methods that some bosses are defeated seem to be too simple. The very last battle for example requires very little thought or strategy, unless perhaps you didn’t pick up a particular weapon.

 

The cutscenes and dialogue are terrible throughout, however the combat is superb. Whether you’re shooting from cover, wading through the chaos with a shotgun or sniping, it all works so well.

 

Had a lot of fun with this and it put a big grin on my face. Eight stupid guns with chainsaws on out of ten.

[Popo]

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (2021)

 

Im not familiar with this series, and I think the host of characters who appear are from earlier games and supposed to be recognisable, but that lack of familiarity didn’t stop me from enjoying this Symphony of the Night-inspired Metroidvania a great deal. It has beautifully animated sprite work, and like the genre classic, places heavy emphasis on weapon upgrades, levelling and magic, with less focus on power ups. 
 

This game has two great inventions, Firstly, as Deedlit you can switch between two elemental states - wind and fire. Enemy attacks and other obstacles (such as elemental barriers, blocking your path) can also take these states; switching between them to avoid and absorb each element quickly becomes key, and the game makes great use of this in its challenging combat.
 

Secondly, attacking enemies will charge up a meter; once filled to level 3, you begin to regenerate health. This is tied into elemental states - attack while using wind and you’ll charge the fire meter, and vice-versa. Take a hit, and you lose one level of meter - careful management of health is thereby tied to carefully switching states at the right moment.

In fast-paced fights this becomes challenging indeed! Standard enemies aren’t much of a barrier, not at least until the late game - no, this is a game built around boss encounters. There are many bosses spread across each of the game’s six stages. Some huge, screen-filling beasts - some small, agile characters. There’s a great deal of variety and pattern recognition to do, and the game requires nothing less than your full attention to overcome.
 

The fights are not so much difficult - though they are that - as they are intense. They are won or lost in a handful of minutes, and this is not without moments of frustration - especially the multi-stage bosses which require two sets of attack patterns to be memorised. The game even throws in a boss rush at the end, requiring you to recall all the bosses from the game so far. 
 

When you do land the killing blow, however, it’s extremely satisfying. Combat is fluid, varied and responsive (save for a few attack animations that require you to stop all inputs before the game will let you do something else). There are also some great environmental puzzles requiring you to shoot arrows from your bow to operate lifts, open locked doors and other well designed, fun challenges. 
 

On the whole, a brilliant Metroidvania. Highly recommended. 
 

Spoiler

06/01/2022 - Halo Infinite

09/01/2022 - Hyper Light Drifter

05/02/2022 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps

13/02/2022 - Guardians of the Galaxy

20/02/2022 - It Takes Two

20/03/2022 - Super Mario 3D Land

20/03/2022 - Panzer Dragoon: Remake

21/03/2022 - Psychonauts 2

18/04/2022 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

08/05/2022 - New Super Mario Bros 2

19/05/2022 - Resident Evil 4 HD

25/05/2022 - Tunic

16/06/2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land

16:06/2022 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

09/07/2022 - Luigi’s Mansion 2

16/07/2022 - Journey

19/07/2022 - Tomb Raider

03/08/2022 - The Last of Us Part 2

05/08/2022 - Metroid: Samus Returns

08/08/2022 - The Gunk

12/08/2022 - Tomb Raider Underworld

15/08/2022 - Super Metroid

04/09/2022 - Final fantasy VII Remake: INTERmission

13/09/2022 - Sable

11/10/2022 - Far: Lone Sails

16/10/2022 - Immortality

21/10/2022 - A Plague Tale: Innocence

28/10/2022 - Far: Changing Tides

29/10/2022 - The Mummy Demastered

01/11/2022 - Hardspace Shipbreaker

02/11/2022 - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure

15/11/2022 - Attack of the Friday Monsters

10/12/2022 - Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth

 

[Unofficial Who]

Dec

 

11/12 Eiyuden Chronicle:Rising (PC) What a lovely game. I came to it in a weird way, a couple of weeks ago I was trying (and failing) to get far in the amazing Usagi Yojimbo on the C64 and was wondering why there weren't too many other sideways scrolling arcade adventure hybrids around anymore. And a couple of nights later I decided to try this GamePass game and it's sort of like that with a few decades of development. Oh and it's by some of the Suikoden team so it has one of my favourite mechanics in rpgs, a town that levels up with you. It's immensely satisfying to start in this small backwater town and have your actions help build it up and attract new residents. 

 

It's the sort of solid short RPG you used to get on the PSOne or PSP. I'm going down the Octopath Traveller look in terms of look has kept costs down but I really enjoyed my time with it and will likely go back this week to mop up some post endgame quests before putting it to bed. Really looking forward to the the main game coming in early 2023 now.

 

 

Earlier this year

 

Spoiler

95. 27/11 Missile Command:Recharged (2022) (PC)

94. 27/11 Little Inferno (PC)

93. 21/11 Stray (PS5)

92. 20/11 Miss Fisher and the Deathly Maze (PC)

91. 14/11 The Train:Escape to Normandy (C64)

90. 10/11 Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) (PS5)

89. 10/11 868-HACK (PC)

88. 10/11 Football Game (PC)

87. 07/11 Mafia:Definitive Edition (PS4)

-- 07/11 The Darkside Detective:A Fumble in the Dark (PC)

86. 29/10 Astro's Playroom (PS5)

85. 29/10 Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County (PC)

84. 29/10 Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard (PC)

83. 28/10 Frog Detective 1:the Haunted Island (PC) 

82. 27/10 Toem (and Basto DLC) (PS5)

81. 25/10 Universal Paperclips (PC)
-- 23/10 Vampire Survivors (PC) (Again. Sort of.)
80. 16/10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Turtles in Time (PC/Arcade)

79. 16/10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (PC/Arcade)

78. 16/10 The Terrible Old Man (PC)

77. 16/10 Submerged:Hidden Depths (PC)

76. 08/10 Franken (PC)

75. 07/10 Echo Generation (PC)

74. 02/10 Ghosts'n'Goblins (Arcade/PC)

73. 02/10 Life is Strange:True Colours (PC)

72. 28/09 Return to Monkey Island (PC) 

71. 18/09 Tinykin (PC)

70. 13/09 Flynn:Son of Crimson (PC)

69. 11/09 Winter Olympiad 88 (C64)

68. 08/09 Arcade Paradise (PC)

67. 21/08 I Am Dead (PS5) 

66. 20/08 Skate or Die! (C64)

65. 16/08 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

64. 14/08 Eco Fighters (Arcade/PC)

63. 14/08 Grindstone (PC) 

62. 14/08 Borderlands 3 (and DLC) (PC)

61. 10/08 Knights of the Round (Arcade/PC)

60. 10/08 Block Block (Arcade/PC)

59. 06/08 Monument Valley 2 : Panoramic Edition (PC)

58. 06/08 Monument Valley: Panoramic Edition (PC)

57. 31/07 The King of Dragons (Arcade/PC)

56. 30/07 Son Son (Arcade/PS5)

55. 30/07 Don't Pull (Arcade/PC)

54. 30/07 Chariot: Adventure Through The Sky (Arcade/PC)

53. 30/07 Midnight Wanderers: Quest for the Chariot (Arcade/PC)

52. 29/07 Magic Sword (Arcade/PC) 

51. 29/07 LED Storm (Arcade/PC)

50. 29/07 Last Duel (Arcade/PC) 

49. 26/07 Raji:An Ancient Epic (PC)

48. 24/07 Tiger Road (PC/Arcade)

47. 24/07 Side Arms Hyper Dyne (PC/Arcade) 

46. 23/07 Gun.Smoke (PC/Arcade)

45. 23/07 Exed Exes (PC/Arcade) 

44. 10/07 Bangkok Knights (C64)

43. 02/07 Zero Wing (Megadrive/Switch)

42. 26/06 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (PC) 

41. 17/06 Psycho Soldier (Arcade/PC)

40. 16/06 Prehistoric Isle in 1930 (Arcade/PC)

39. 16/06 Street Smart (Arcade/PC)

38. 12/06 Midnight Scenes:The Nanny (PC)

37. 28/05 SUPERHOT (PC) 

36. 28/05 Tetris Effect:Connected (PC)

35. 22/05 Sea of Solitude (PC) 

34. 21/05 Scott Morrison Simulator (Browser) 

33. 16/05 Full Throttle:Remastered (PC)

32. 15/05 Unbeatable [White Label] (PC)

31. 14/05 Trek To Yomi (PC) 

30. 13/05 Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (PC)

29. 09/05 California Games (C64)

28.01/05 The Stanley Parable:Ultra Deluxe (PC)

27. 27/04 The Darkside Detective:A Fumble in the Dark (PC)

26. 23/04 Streets of Rage 4 (PC)

25. 17/04 Exo One (PC)

24. 16/04 A Memoir Blue (PC)

23. 08/04 Slay the Spire (PC)

22. 03/04 Tunic (PC) 

21. 02/04 Kingdom:Two Crowns (PC)

20. 26/03 Say No! More (PC)

19. 21/03 Wizball (C64)

18. 17/03 Battle Circuit (PC/Arcade)

17. 17/03 We Happy Few (PC)

16. 07/03 Powered Gear (PC/Arcade) 

15. 06/03 FAR:Changing Tides (PC)

14. 05/03 In Other Waters (PC)

13. 02/03 Aperture Desk Job (Steam Deck/PC) 

12. 27/02 Final Fantasy 14:A Realm Reborn:Seventh Astral Era (PC) 

11. 25/02 Vampire Survivors (PC) 

10. 18/02 Hypnospace Outlaw

9. 05/02 Final Fight (PC/Arcade)

8. 31/01 Dynasty Wars (Arcade/PC)

7. 31/01 Mega Twins (Arcade/PC) 

6, 29/01 Superhot:Mind Control Delete (PC) 

5. 16/01 The Forgotten City (PC)

4. 09/01 Mr Driller Drill Land (PC)

3. 07/01 Olija (PC)

2. 07/01 It's a Knockout! (C64) 

1. 02/01 Katamari Damacy REROLL (PC)

 

Abandoned games

15/10 Scorn (PC)

03/10 Sable (PC)

06/09 I Am Fish (PC)

28/08 Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4)

28/08 Spiritfarer (PC)

28/08 Signs of the Sojourner (PC)

03/07 Cris Tales (PC)

03/07 Atomicrops (PC)

13/05 The Wild at Heart (PC)

19/03 Narita Boy (PC)

04/01 YIIK: A Postmodern RPG (PC)