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Post by Xeogred on Jul 1, 2019 18:43:43 GMT -5
anayo: If you haven't played this one, it gets a big thumbs up from me! Also not sure what's up with this lame trailer music, but the in-game tunes are classic 8bit styled greatness.
Also I've been meaning to mention this one for all of us here, it's not out yet but get ready for this one: Brave Earth: Prologue
Don't worry Konami, nobody wanted more Castlevania...
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Post by Sarge on Jul 1, 2019 18:59:31 GMT -5
I will second Odallus. While I don't think it's quite as good as some of my favorite indie titles, it's definitely in that 8 or 8.5 range. The graphics feel very NES-meets-TG-16 to me, and I think it's a much better effort than JoyMasher's first title, Oniken. They're also the ones behind the upcoming Blazing Chrome. anayo: I tend to go physical as well, but I'm willing to go without if I can get stuff on GOG. As long as it's DRM-free, I'm pretty happy overall.
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Post by anayo on Jul 1, 2019 20:17:28 GMT -5
Sarge and XeogredThanks for the recommend. I actually bought this twice (once in a Steam sale years ago and again on Play-Asia in the form of a physical Switch release. Because I like to pretend my Nintendo Switch is a 2019 version of a Sega Genesis or something.) I haven't played either yet, but I'm usually playing a modern retro-styled game on Switch in parallel with my actual retro stuff. Your endorsement means a lot so I'll bump this one up in the queue. Also Sarge you have a good point about GOG. I don't savor the thought of an all-digital future without DRM-free options.
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 1, 2019 20:19:33 GMT -5
Oh yeah, Oniken was weak to me. I didn't stick with that one for long. Looks like they keep leveling up, as Blazing Chrome looks fantastic.
I'm usually a purely physical release guy as well and I loved Bloodstained so much, I kind of wish I had something to put on my shelf for it. But yeah in the case of indie games I've pretty much dedicated Steam for that since their sales can be crazy good. I also bought Curse of the Moon there so for continuity sake, got Ritual of the Night there too... and well looks like I'm extra glad in this case with the other versions being weaker.
Oh yeah, I guess we can talk Sonic Mania here now too? Let's just say that might be the best Sonic game of all time, one of my top favorites from 2017 which was a stellar year of hits for my tastes (frankly I liked Sonic Mania way more than Mario Odyssey!). Sonic Mania was so good it was another time I kind of wished I had a physical release to treasure haha. I still even kind of think of picking up the PS4 or Switch version someday, I haven't played it again since it got the new characters and modes. So I'm very exciting to hit that one up again someday. Simply put it's like the Best of 2D Sonic in one package and looks/sounds like something that could have come out on the Saturn, if Sega went for another 2D installment there. It's weird to even consider it a "Retro-Styled Modern Game", it feels more like a legit old lost artifact that never came out. If you like Sonic 1 -> S3&K and CD, you'll love it.
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Post by anayo on Jul 1, 2019 21:06:44 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I guess we can talk Sonic Mania here now too? Let's just say that might be the best Sonic game of all time, one of my top favorites from 2017 which was a stellar year of hits for my tastes (frankly I liked Sonic Mania way more than Mario Odyssey!). Sonic Mania was so good it was another time I kind of wished I had a physical release to treasure haha. I still even kind of think of picking up the PS4 or Switch version someday, I haven't played it again since it got the new characters and modes. So I'm very exciting to hit that one up again someday. Simply put it's like the Best of 2D Sonic in one package and looks/sounds like something that could have come out on the Saturn, if Sega went for another 2D installment there. It's weird to even consider it a "Retro-Styled Modern Game", it feels more like a legit old lost artifact that never came out. If you like Sonic 1 -> S3&K and CD, you'll love it. I played Sonic 3 and Knuckles at a very impressionable time of my life. My parents got it for me along with a Sega Genesis for Christmas of 1995. As a result I have very special memories of that game and probably can't even view it objectively or without any bias today. I was always pining for a return to form for Sonic, so badly that around 2014 I got really hyped for Freedom Planet. Which to be fair was an alright retro-styled modern game in its own right despite its cringey story and rough edges. But Sonic Mania is so good that I bought it twice. The first time was on Steam so I could haul my Windows 7 partition-enabled Mac mini to Chibby's place for us to play together. The second time was the physical Nintendo Switch release. I love how Sonic's sprites match the original art style so closely, but with double the animation frames. I'd love to see more Genesis era games re-imagined that way. Sonic Mania's existence lets me overlook so many of Sonic's recent perceived shortcomings. I was at my friend's house and his 8 year old son asked me if I played Sonic Forces. I tactfully said, "Uh, no, I'm more of a Sonic Mania guy." But that's the funny thing about Sonic, there's never been one solid canonical interpretation of the character. He can be many things to different people. Even in the 90's there was schism between the Sonic video games, the numerous TV shows, and the Archie comics. That just continued into the aughts the teens with Sonic's numerous rebrandings and reboots. I'm not even upset over the upcoming Sonic movie because Anayo's 90's Sonic lives on in Sonic Mania.
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 1, 2019 21:28:21 GMT -5
I'm right there with you dude. I didn't even like Sonic Adventure 1-2 much when I was a kid, seeing Sonic running around in some realistic New York City styled level with humans and dolphins... that ain't my Sonic! But yeah, I continue to hear stories from parents on podcasts or whatever, that Sonic remains to be extremely popular with each new generation of kids and some people seriously love all those 3D games. I don't know any of these people, but this series continues to be Sega's biggest seller ever. Kind of crazy. I'm glad us 2D Sonic fans finally got something like Mania. I would love for them to get do a direct follow up with all new levels. But I didn't mind the mix of old and new either, I recall my first casual run taking like 4-5 hours, it's a pretty beefy journey for a 2D Sonic. The old ones you just burn through in one sitting.
Guess I've never heard anything bad about the Switch version of Sonic Mania, so I guess it's smooth sailing and performs well? I really love the case to that one the most, so that might be the biggest selling point to get that version haha. I'm excited to check out the Encore Mode and new characters.
I also agree on Freedom Planet. I never finished it because I recall the levels taking like 10+ minutes on average, which is way too long.
I'm still excited for Streets of Rage 4, but Sonic Mania definitely spoiled me and I would have much preferred for SoR's comeback to be classically sprite styled too.
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Post by Ex on Jul 1, 2019 21:31:30 GMT -5
I don't savor the thought of an all-digital future without DRM-free options. This is my legendary problem with Steam and its proprietary always-online middleware. But I'll save you all that rant. - I've not played Sonic Mania yet, but it's most be good if Xeogred is so on about it. I still champion Sonic Colors though. Best Sonic game I've played since 1992. Here's two of my favorites stages:
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 1, 2019 21:34:09 GMT -5
I actually do own Colors, so I'll give that one a shot!
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Post by anayo on Jul 1, 2019 21:37:18 GMT -5
I own it too, I just have too many games in my pile so I don't know when I'll get to it. lol
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Post by anayo on Jul 1, 2019 21:54:35 GMT -5
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