|
Post by Ex on Jul 19, 2018 23:59:20 GMT -5
Well I put an hour into Adventure Island IV on Famicom. It's... not so great. Sure it's a non-linear exploratory platformer, okay. The level designs are boring, the boss fights are tepid, the music's not very good... the graphics are at least charming though. I did like the graphics Sarge! But, I don't see myself finishing this one. I'll find another tropical/ocean themed retro-platformer to fill its place though. Edit: Did some SNES-ing...
First I tried Lester the Unlikely. Let's just say it's unlikely I'll every play this turd again. It had a strong tropical island theme, but that's all the positives I have to say about it. Utterly TERRIBLE.
Next I tried S.O.S. That's a survival platformer action-adventure that somehow got an official USA release (really that does surprise me). The plot concerns escaping a giant ocean cruise liner as it sinks. You can choose from four different protagonists, with multiple endings based on things you can do or not do (mostly about saving passengers). You've got an hour in real time to make it out of the ship alive. And man, does this game take itself seriously (almost pretentiously so). All of this sounds very intriguing in theory, but unfortunately S.O.S. is about as much fun as sucking on dry cardboard. The platforming is very stiff, clunky, and slow... considering this is a game consisting of constant platforming, that's a big problem. I was impressed at the mode 7 effects which rotate the entire ship around, very innovative usage for its time. I really wanted to like S.O.S. but it's just a chore to play. Oh well, chalk S.O.S. up as "good idea, bad execution".
Lastly I gave Super Bonk 2 a try. The first level was a beach, including a little ocean diving for a hidden extra life. The entire game apparently takes place on an island as well. As such thus far Super Bonk 2 fits the "Summer Theme" just fine. I've beaten a lot of Bonk games in my day guys, but never this particular one. I finished the first stage and had fun with that, so maybe this'll be the keeper. I'll play it some more tomorrow (or later today rather... it's very late now).
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Jul 22, 2018 10:22:52 GMT -5
I put about two hours into Treasures of the Deep on PS1 last night. It's different than what I was expecting (much more arcade-like and combat oriented), but I still had fun with it. I think I'm close to halfway finished now. Finishing this one will be a challenge, this is not an easy game for multiple reasons. It's very impressive for its time though (1997).
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Jul 22, 2018 18:17:17 GMT -5
I've dropped games many times over the years, too, but I don't know there are many cases where it was intentional, though. I just tend to let stuff slide off my plate.
I definitely intentionally quit Gunvalkyrie, though. That crap got really tough fast, and the controls were terrible. I can see why it is a cult classic, but I figured there were better uses of my time.
Sorry you didn't like AI4 much, but it's all good. Super Bonk 2 is on my list to import at some point. SOS always looked to me like one of those weird games that could appeal if you could get past its flaws. And Lester the Unlikely... for some reason, I thought it looked really cool in Nintendo Power. Don't think I've put much time into it, though, and there's probably a reason for that.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Jul 23, 2018 0:49:56 GMT -5
I've beaten my 7th game for this event; Treasures of the Deep.
Review's here. - I've decided instead of playing Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 for the bikini/volleyball theme, I'm playing this next: That'd be 2003's Summer Heat Beach Volleyball on PS2.
I also still plan to beat this, hopefully this week. I'll let you know if it doesn't suck!
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Jul 23, 2018 7:42:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Jul 24, 2018 1:02:57 GMT -5
Started playing Final Fantasy X tonight, HD remaster version on PS3. Haven't played this JRPG since 2007, but I still remembered a lot of it. This particular FF has one of the strangest initial setups of the entire series, with an almost David Lynch level of WTF going on. I don't remember where I quit when I played it originally, nor exactly why I quit. But on this play I'm currently two hours in, just past the part where Tidus "rescues" Yuna from the summoner temple trial. I will say that SQEX did a damn fine job on the remaster, the up res'd polys and textures look very clean and vibrant in 16:9. So far there's been marine diving, sunlit blue skied tropical islands, aquatic monsters... fits the "Summer Theme" well enough to count here.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2018 7:01:11 GMT -5
This particular FF has one of the strangest initial setups of the entire series, with an almost David Lynch level of WTF going on. I did play and beat FFX back in the day and - while I kind of enjoyed it for the most part - I wasn't particularly amazed by the whole experience and I quickly forgot about it. Lately I have been rethinking about the plot and the game world and how Freudian the game is and gets towards the very end. I believe there are some intriguing themes once you get a bit deeper into it. However, while conceptually the game might prove fairly interesting, I can't say I'm that fond of the characters. The writing doesn't help either.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Jul 24, 2018 7:34:12 GMT -5
I can't say I'm that fond of the characters. The writing doesn't help either. The writing so far has been odd, I'll say that much. Time traveling underwater soccer jock with a daddy complex? I'll admit that's not the typical JRPG protagonist. I remember not particularly liking many of the party characters in FFX the first time I played it either. At this point Auron, Lulu, and Riku are okay. Wakka always annoyed me, he still does. Tidus is just too goofy to be a relatable protagonist. I may end up liking Yuna... if she stops being so cloying. Kimahri Ronso looks ridiculous but at least he doesn't say much (so far).
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Jul 24, 2018 7:47:02 GMT -5
It already sounds like you're warming up to it like I did a second time around. Worth noting, I just discovered recently the PS4 version of the remaster has the original OST in it as well and is optional. But I played the PS3 version, didn't really mind the re-arranged OST, I thought the battle theme was catchier but everything else maybe wasn't as good. I also played with the International "unlocked" sphere grid mode when I replayed it which was kind of cool, but I still think I followed the main paths on the character grids until the end when I started having Yuna learn black magic and she was INSANE. Her Int or whatever it was is higher than Lulu's so she actually hit way harder. I still didn't utilize Rikku much but Mix can be pretty devastating. Kimahri just freaking sucks and I think I completely messed him up on the sphere grid having him be a jack of all trades haha. As for characters Yuna isn't too bad. There's far worse...
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Jul 24, 2018 7:50:54 GMT -5
I still haven't played FFVIII. I really ought to do that sometime this year? I think I'll make a FF thread for us actually. Might as well get that over with right?
|
|