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Post by toei on Dec 7, 2018 23:18:38 GMT -5
The year is not quite over, but since we already have that other thread, I figured I might as well post this now. We can revive it in three weeks if need be.
Do you all have any specific gaming goal for next year? Any long-delayed game you absolutely want to get to?
As for me, I'd like to finish a few though shmups. This year was the first time I ever beat any, and they were both considered easy - Elemental Master (excellent) and Trouble Shooter (just decent). I definitely want to play through Battle Mania 2, and Twinkle Tale has long been on my list, but there's a few hardcore shmups on Genesis that I've messed with this year but didn't beat. Forgotten Worlds, Wings of Wor, Insector X, Hellfire.
Also on Genesis, I still have a handful of side-scrollers I want to play through. I don't think I've ever said it before, but I never actually finished Shinobi 3. I know, I know. I wanted to keep it for a special occasion, or something. Rolling Thunder 3 sounds nice, too.
Master System-wise, I'm thinking of trying Zillion 2 again for Master System March, since EX recommended it. I've also never played through Wonderboy in Monsterland.
I haven't given up on the NES. I'd like to do Batman, and if I like it, check out more Sunsoft games. And Contra.
SNES-wise, Batman & Robin and Super Punch-Out (I'm not 100% sure if I ever finished it or not, so I should make sure). It'd be cool if I could find the time and get in the right mood to play some of the RPGs that have been fan-translated in the last few years. Particularly Glory of Heracles IV, and maybe Far East of Eden Zero (I've always been intrigued by that series).
On the Turbo CD, I really want to play Exile 2 with the Un-Worked patch. Everyone agrees it's not as good as the prequel, but no matter. I love Exile, so of course I want to play Exile 2.
On PSX, I meant to play Rising Zan last year, and Onimusha on PS2. I'm almost certain I'll like Onimusha. I might get my hands on a used PS3. If so, Yakuza 3 would be nice. I have tons of issues with the writing in the series, but I love the atmosphere and the fighting. It'll turn 10 in 2019, too.
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Post by Ex on Dec 8, 2018 2:16:28 GMT -5
Do you all have any specific gaming goal for next year? My number one goal is to focus on quality over quantity. In 2016 I beat 100 games, in 2017 I beat over a hundred games, in 2018 I am almost at 100 games beaten again. While it's nice to cover so much gaming ground; the fact is the majority of those games fall into the mediocre range when averaged out. My interest in beating lots of games, for the sake of beating lots of games, has waned. I want to finish only good-to-great games for the foreseeable future - which will unfortunately mean dropping more games than usual. Oh well, I'm fine with only beating 40-50 high quality games next year. Final Fantasy VIII for sure, been putting that one off for years. (Surely it's better than FFX...) Arc the Lad 2. More SNES and Genesis games. ( Dark Souls, Mass Effect 3, and Valkyria Chronicles III will happen next year, but they are not HRG compliant unfortunately.) I'm definitely looking forward to "Master System March", it's a platform I love. I think there's enough quality SMS games out there to necessitate a separate Game Gear month someday. I enjoyed it and its sequel, finished them years ago. (I even beat Onimusha Tactics.) Still haven't played 3 or 4 yet though. I do not recommend the Xbox version of Onimusha. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2018 4:57:51 GMT -5
Well, I'm going to play a bunch of SRPGs. Just to clarify, by SRPGs I mean games that generally feature turn-based combat and clear-cut RPG elements like stats, levels, skills, inventory, etc. I'm not going to play turn-based strategy games like Advance Wars or X-COM.
I'm definitely interested in SRPG series such as Arc the Lad, Black/Matrix, Disgaea, Dragon Force, Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, Growlanser, Langrisser, Majin Tensei, Ogre Battle, Riglord Saga, Sakura Wars, Shining Force, Silent Storm, Super Robot Wars, The War of Genesis.
There are also other titles I'm interested in that aren't necessarily part of a longrunning SRPG series like Astonishia Story, Bahamut Lagoon, Crystal Warriors, Dark Wizard, Energy Breaker, Jeanne D'Arc, La Pucelle: Tactics, Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome, Night Watch, Phantom Brave, Suikoden Tactics, Soul Nomad & The World Eaters, Terra Phantastica, Treasure Hunter G, Vanguard Bandits, Wachenroder. I'm sure there are many others.
I'm also going to try and play one 1st person game per month. Same rules as this year apply: combat/action must occur in real-time, unrestrained movement, you're in control of a person and not a vehicle.
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Post by toei on Dec 8, 2018 9:08:30 GMT -5
Lots of nice games in there. Crystal Warriors does have a sequel, Royal Stone, which features some nice improvements. Astonishia Story and Treasure Hunter G are really traditional RPGs with micro-SRPG battle systems, but if that works for you, you might also want to check out LiveALive (which is quite solid and rather original) and Emerald Dragon SNES (the only version available in English).
About Langrisser, I played it this year and I'd say the fan-translated PC remake is the way to go for fairness, speedier gameplay and a more fleshed out story, but I don't know how easy it is to find now. If you want a really hardcore experience, you can still play the Genesis version. Same thing for Langrisser 2 VS Der Langrisser. And while I recommend you stay away from Farland Story, the later Farland Symphony is massively improved and is really good. Oh, and if you enjoy Shining Force, check out Just Breed and FEDA.
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Post by anayo on Dec 8, 2018 10:50:49 GMT -5
I already posted my playlist in the "random retro gaming thoughts" topic, so I won't repost it here, but I would like to mention that in 2019 I want to spend fewer of my gaming hours playing online free-to-play games. I'm OK with playing retail Nintendo Switch games with a defined beginning, middle, and end, but I've always had personal time management problems with competitive online games. I want to experience more of my retro catalog and the aforementioned type of game is holding me back from that.
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Post by Ex on Dec 8, 2018 11:51:10 GMT -5
Arc the Lad, Final Fantasy Tactics, Shining Force Of all the SRPGs you mentioned, these are the only ones I've beaten in those lists. The original Arc the Lad is fun, but not amazing at all, and very easy. I have beaten the PS1 version of Final Fantasy Tactics, which had the PSP version's English translation backwards-hacked into it. I super enjoyed FFT on PS1, but it too was super easy, aside from the short Riovanes Castle section. As for Shining Force, it was OK, but not more than OK. SF had a lot of charm, but once again, it was babby's first SRPG easy. I have personally beaten a fair amount of SRPGs, but there's bucket loads I'd like to play. I have a premonition that your focus on SRPGs next year may just rub off on me. And although you have not asked for suggestions, I can never help myself in that regard, so allow me to mention a few SRPGs I've beaten which are at least moderately challenging: Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001)
(Potato quality trailer - sorry, best I could find.)
I have long-championed this title on gaming forums over the years. And I don't think even once someone has listened to me and given this SRPG a fair shake. Their loss. Fallout Tactics is the best SRPG I've ever played. It's complex, challenging, and immensely rewarding. It has a standalone plot. You can get it right off GOG.Metal Gear AC!D (2005) & Metal Gear AC!D² (2006)
Sadly ignored and dismissed, these two PSP entries are truly forgotten gems. I think most folks were put off by the CCG aspect, which is not nearly as obnoxiously implemented as one might imagine, and actually ends up creating a robust method of strategic combat. Both of these games live up to the Metal Gear name in spirit and aesthetic. The first AC!D is considerably more difficult than the second, but the second ups the presentation noticeably. Both of these have fantastic technoir OSTs, interesting plots, and many memorable battles. I loved them. If you don't own a PSP, the PPSSPP emulator should provide all you need. Valkyria Chronicles (2008)
Did you know that this game was ported to PC? Because it was ported to PC. Anyway... lovely, lovely game. One of the best plots I've ever seen in an SRPG, or any Japanese RPG really. I could say many wonderful things about this amazing experience. I'll just say it's in my top 5 SRPGs of all time. My only complaint is VC is a little too easy, but still totally worth the ride. At this point I would normally begin exalting the virtues of the magnificent Front Mission series, but I believe you are well aware of those games. Overall the Front Mission series is my own all time favorite SRPG saga. If you put them all together as one cumulative experience, nothing else out there in SRPG land can touch it (well that I've played anyway). So I'll just say; if you haven't beaten earlier FM entries, absolutely give those a shot.
I think that will be good for you for variety's sake. My personal wish is to see you start getting into serious military shooters. As much as you proclaim to enjoy hardcore difficulty, in the world of FPS that sub-genre is truly where the manly challenges reside. I could recommend plenty of entries, but I'll restrain for now.  games with a defined beginning, middle, and end I agree. Perhaps it's due to my age and the types of games I grew up with, but I personally cannot stand to play a game that technically never ends. It just feels pointless and wrong to me. I want something I can beat and see the credits for. It seems this concept has become outmoded, or at least unfashionable, with a lot of today's youth. That's fine, they can keep their battle royale bullshit.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 8, 2018 12:00:36 GMT -5
No set objectives. For a couple of reasons. First, I plan on being much busier with IRL stuff come 2019 and my gaming (and internet) time will be heavily reduced as a result. Second, I always fail when I try to "schedule" and plan ahead game playthroughs. I prefer to just explore my collection in a haphazard fashion, haha.
Though, as a soft goal I suppose I'd like to play more new-to-me stuff in 2019. Much of what I played in 2018 I had already experienced some time before.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2018 12:25:47 GMT -5
Astonishia Story and Treasure Hunter G are really traditional RPGs with micro-SRPG battle systems Sounds like Koudelka. Not sure if it fits the theme, I'll have to try them and see. I have actually already beaten Warsong aka Langrisser on the Genesis, so I am looking forward to Langrisser II. I played Just Breed in the past and it left me a bit lukewarm, but I'll consider giving it another chance. And although you have not asked for suggestions, I can never help myself in that regard Needless to say, I'm always glad to receive suggestions from everyone. I'm actually well aware of Fallout Tactics and the Metal Gear Acid games. I just completely forgot to mention them, so thanks for reminding me. By the same token, I'd also like to mention Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity and Eternal Poison for the PS2. I'm also aware Valkyria Chronicles received a PC port, I'll look into it. The only main series FM I haven't finished yet is Front Mission 2nd. While I do enjoy that kind of games here and there, at the end of the day that's usually not my favorite sub-genre as I find the setting often too dry and overly based on reality to provide me with the escapism I seek. As for the difficulty, I already realized I'll either have to swallow my pride here and there and occasionally go for a lower difficulty setting or deprive myself of an otherwise enjoyable gaming experience. In any case, I don't plan out exactly what I'm going to play as I constantly change my mind, but they might as well be first person RPGs or adventure games. Genres where you already gave me a lot of valid recommendations. |
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 8, 2018 12:39:51 GMT -5
I already posted my playlist in the "random retro gaming thoughts" topic, so I won't repost it here, but I would like to mention that in 2019 I want to spend fewer of my gaming hours playing online free-to-play games. I'm OK with playing retail Nintendo Switch games with a defined beginning, middle, and end, but I've always had personal time management problems with competitive online games. I want to experience more of my retro catalog and the aforementioned type of game is holding me back from that. So... is that YOU playing Fortnite on the Switch all the time? I couldn't remember if you had kids or not and wondered if that was the case. Also bit of a weird user name if I'm being honest. 
I love "Objectives" instead of "Goals", haha. I'll have to think of some good ones and we can maybe reflect back on the 2018 thread of goals, pretty sure we had one.
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Post by Ex on Dec 8, 2018 12:54:43 GMT -5
overly based on reality to provide me with the escapism I seek I understand what you are saying. Fighting human soldiers isn't as interesting as fighting aliens or demons and stuff; I get that the escapism isn't the same. What I'm trying to express though, via the military FPS leaning, is that the actual gunplay in that sub-genre far exceeds what you'll find in fantasy based FPS. Having to be extremely thoughtful in approach, use tactical planning, calculate gravitational arcs, ricochet, muzzle flash supression, and deal with realistic damage (one shot one kill typically) ratchets up the intensity of the bullet battling exponentially. That level of challenge can be very gratifying when you succeed. I have beaten many FPS games, but the battles I remember most fondly took place in the realistic military genre. Anyway, if you ever decide to give this sub-genre a fair shot, I've got some rec's in the wing. |
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