PixlBit

Hey, guys! 2020 has been a miserable year for the world, so thank God it's over! But it was a really good year for games. This year I was able to beat 25 games, which is almost the most I've ever done in a year. Most of you know that I'm a huge Nintendo fan, so most of these are Nintendo games or games on Nintendo consoles (although I would like to get a PS4, but not sure if that'll happen). As always, I beat some really great retro games this year too. So without further ado, here are the games I beat in 2020. 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS)

I have a love/hate relationship with this game. I first played it years ago, but gave up because it was just too tedious. Constantly going back in time can be frustrating. But I was determined to beat it. Some gamers LOVE this game, but I don't. Don't get me wrong, the dungeons, bosses, story, and characters are all great, but I just don't like the time mechanic. Certain objectives require that you be at a specific place at a specific time, and if you miss it, you have to go all the way back to the beginning of the first day. It's just really tedious. I actually put in the effort to get all the masks so I could use Fierce Deity Link, and yeah, the final boss was really easy. Not a terrible game, it's just low on my list of Zelda games. 

Recommend? No 

Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics (SNES--NSO)

This was a fun game. The levels are simple but fun. The overall game is very colorful and inviting. The characters are really expressive, and the big dinosaur bosses look great! The game doesn't do anything groundbreaking, but that's fine. 

Recommend? Yes 

Penguin Wars (Switch eShop)

Wow! This game is so addicting and fun! The concept is super simple: you just throw colorful balls across a table and try to get all the balls on your opponent's side to win. The original Penguin Wars was on NES (JP only I think) and Game Boy. This remake adds a lot! You can upgrade different characters' stats, and many challenges offer new obstacles which make the game more interesting and challenging. Yes, some opponents can be really tough, which surprised me.

Recommend? Absolutely! 

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors (Switch eShop)

I love this game on SNES, so of course I had to pick this up. It's a remake of sorts, although they add a two player mode and two extra characters (which you have to unlock). Beating up baddies here is a blast! Bosses are really great and the music is a standout. Unfortunately, the game is actually harder with two players because you have to share a lifebar (that's stupid). Still, this is a great game. 

Recommend? Yes

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Switch eShop)

I'm a little mixed on this one. Exploring the castle was fun, boss battles were pretty good, but this game just didn't hook me like Symphony of the Night or other Metroidvanias. They got the feel and atmosphere right, but I wasn't compelled to keep playing after I beat the underwhelming final boss. I got the bad ending, but I didn't really want to try and get the good ending. There's plenty to collect and do, so I think most Castlevania fans were pleased with this game, it just didn't satisfy me the way I had hoped. 

Recommend? If you're a big Castlevania fan, yes 

Pop n' Twin Bee (SNES--NSO)

Nintendo needs to give us more Japan-only games like this one. This is a really fun, colorful, and charming shoot 'em up (also called a cute 'em up, lol). Levels are very good, although some of the bosses can go on for too long. Power-ups are handed out pretty frequently, but the game is still tough. If not for the rewind feature, there's no way I could've beaten this one. 

Recommend? Yes 

Shovel Knight: King of Cards (Wii U eShop)

Yacht Club Games has yet to disappoint with a single entry in the SK franchise, and this is no exception. Levels are just as fantastic as usual, and the characters around King Knight are all so great (his mom, LOL). The card game part of the game mostly works, although sometimes you feel like the computer is totally cheating. King Knight's moveset is really solid, bosses are fun, and the music is superb. The whole package is great. 

Recommend? Absolutely!

Panzer Dragoon Remake (Switch eShop)

I picked this up because I had heard good things about this game, although this is not the best remake. It doesn't look that great, but the gameplay is still good. You can turn to shoot in any direction, and you'll need to since enemies will come in from everywhere. Lock-on targeting is essential if you want to beat the game. It's a really short game (just six levels, and no branching paths). Unlike Star Fox 64, this game has absolutely NO personality, which is a shame. 

Recommend? Only if you have that on-rails shooter itch 

Beyond Oasis (Genesis mini)

This was a fun adventure game. It's actually like a mix of Zelda and a beat 'em up, which is neat. The hit detection could be a problem at times and some puzzles could be a little confusing, but overall, the overworld and the dungeons were pretty good. Some complain that the game is too short, and if you compare it to A Link to the Past, it's very short. I was also disappointed by the music (done by Yuzo Koshiro), which was mostly forgettable. 

Recommend? Sure 

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Switch eShop)

I absolutely loved this game! It is pure platforming bliss. It is very reminiscient of the original DKC games (which makes sense, a bunch of ex-Rare people made it). The 3D overworld is really fun and engaging as you find hidden paths and unlock stuff. Level design is very creative and fun. If you want, you can tackle the final level (the impossible lair) whenever you want, but it's really tough, so you'll probably want to beat as many levels as possible first. I actually found the last level so difficult that I went back to beat about five more levels before trying again. 

Recommend? Absolutely! 

Contra Hard Corps (Genesis mini)

I had played this game before, but never beaten it because it's so tough! But using save states, I was able to finish it. This was an impressive game for the time. There are four playable characters, multiple branching paths, and five different endings! You can also hold up to three different guns and a bomb. There's a lot of variety in the levels, and the bosses are a ton of fun (and also crazy, i.e. giant oozing mutant alien). After playing this game, I realized that (sadly) Konami kinda played it safe with Contra 3 on SNES. 

Recommend? Yes 

Streets of Rage 4 (Switch eShop)

This is easily one of my favorite games of this year! The beat 'em up genre is my favorite genre, but we don't get these games too often. SoR4 is the best beat 'em up I've played in some time. All the main characters have good movesets, levels are the perfect length, enemies are varied and interesting, combat is tons of fun, bosses are good, and the artstyle is just gorgeous. There's also a ton of fan service here, as in, you can unlock every single protagonist from past SoR games! Also, the game is four player (which I seriously didn't know until after I bought the game). This one is a blast to play with friends. 

Recommend? Absolutely! 

Wild Guns (SNES--NSO)

I've always wanted to play this game, so I'm glad Nintendo put it out. This is a fun third-person shooter set in the Old West (with giant robots). It's a very short game, but playing this with a friend is super fun. It's still fun by yourself, but it's best with a friend. This might be an arcade port, can't remember. The game is very colorful and the music is just right. 

Recommend? With a friend, yes 

Mega Man X2 (MMX Legacy Collection)

Really glad I could beat this one since I've beaten both X1 and X4 (and you will see X3 later on this list). This is a hard game. There's no way I could've beaten it without a walkthrough. As usual, you will want to get all the upgrades and sub-tanks as they make the game much easier. Levels are great, bosses are challenging but beatable (especially with the right weapon), and the music is awesome. There's not much new here, except for a couple extra villains to fight, but they're optional (if you beat them, you can become stronger). 

Recommend? Yes 

Okami (Wii)

I've been wanting to play this for awhile, so I finally got around to it. I beat this game in 34 hours, which is longer than I expected (the story just keeps going, even when you think it's over). This is a gorgeous game! Presentation here is off the charts. All the characters are so endearing, and the story is really cool (Japanese mythology, wow). Yes, it plays just like a Zelda game, but that's not a bad thing. Music is also fantastic. A couple problems: first, some enemies can be a pain, and second, the brush strokes don't always work properly, which can be frustrating. But despite those minor problems, this is a fantastic game, and the HD version is currently available, so check it out if you want. 

Recommend? Oh yeah 

The Mummy Demastered (Switch eShop)

This is such a cool game. It's a mix between Contra and Metroid (how come no one's done this yet?). The atmosphere is creepy and unsettling. Your character will gain more health, ammo, and new weapons as you progress. The different areas are distinct and interesting. The bosses are massive and really cool (and like in Super Metroid, they change colors as you hurt them). It's a short game, but it's not that hard, and I think it's worth it. 

Recommend? Sure 

Super Bomberman R (Switch eShop)

Been wanting to play this one. This is kind of a reinvention of classic Bomberman. The story mode has adorable cutscenes where the Bomberman brothers (and sisters) talk and argue, and then they have to fight a dastardly bomber. The gameplay can be repetitive as you have to destroy all the enemies or find a hidden exit. Bosses aren't that interesting either. The best part, of course, is the multiplayer, which can be a ton of fun with friends. It's cool that you can unlock characters from other Konami franchises, like Castlevania and Silent Hill. 

Recommend? If you have friends, yes 

Mega Man X3 (MMX Legacy Collection)

Yes, here it is, the third game in the Mega Man X series. This game is not as good as X1 or X2, but it's still good. It's more of the same. One thing I didn't like was that they force you to fight extra bosses, which I felt interrupted the flow of the game. But besides that, not a bad game. It's probably the weakest of the first four X games. 

Recommend? Sure 

Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition (Switch)

After hearing so many people gush about this game, I finally got it. I was able to beat the game in just 53 hours (that's just the story, I didn't do any side quests). What a game! The main story is really great! There are a few twists here and there. All the characters are interesting too, with strong backstories and motivations. I think perhaps my favorite part is the little stories that play out as the adventure unfolds. For example, you'll go to a town for something, and you discover that the town has been placed under a curse, and you have to save the town. It's stuff like that that makes the story so awesome. The battle system is perfect, as it's simple enough while still having enough unique features to keep it from getting repetitive. The game is challenging at times, but never overbearing. It's very beatable if you want to finish it. The music was redone for the Switch version, and it's very relaxing and enjoyable. 

Recommend? Absolutely! 

Shantae and the Seven Sirens (Switch eShop)

WayForward has done it again, this is another fantastic Shantae game. It's oozing with charm, really colorful game. Excellent level design, great mechanics, and catchy music. The only new thing would be the cartoon cutscenes, which were a lot of fun. A few enemies were annoying, and some of the bosses were underwhelming, but really, this was another fun Shantae game. 

Recommend? Of course 

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (Switch eShop)

This is better than the first game, and I loved the first game! There are four playable characters, each with unique moves and abilities. You can switch between them at any time, which might save your bacon in a tight spot. Level design here was excellent. However, some parts were frustrating and seemed unfair, and most of the bosses were really tough. Maybe they were going for that "retro hard" feel. Still, this is probably the best modern NES game of the year. 

Recommend? If you love retro games, yes 

Super Mario Sunshine (Super Mario 3D All-Stars)

This was the only 3D Mario game I had not beaten, so I jumped at my chance to beat it with the release of Mario 3D All-Stars. Well, this is easily my least favorite 3D Mario game. I know that some people love it, but it's divisive for a reason. FLUDD is cool, the water jetpack is a lot of fun, but many levels can be very frustrating and obtuse (as in, what do I do?). The "classic" Mario levels (in which you lose FLUDD) can be so difficult that I wanted to throw my controller into the TV (don't worry, I didn't). They also didn't fix some of the glitches (@#$**, Nintendo!) and the camera can be a huge pain at times. So yeah, I didn't really like this one. 

Recommend? No 

Act Raiser (SNES)

I was finally able to get a cart of this! Act Raiser is a hybrid game, half-action platformer and half-sim. You play the role of a god that needs to vanquish evil in certain lands so people can repopulate and worship you. The platformer sections are fine, nothing that impressive. But the sim sections are what really shine; it's simpel enough to grasp quickly with just enough nuances to keep things interesting. You can send sunshine, rain, lightning, etc. and they can affect certain areas in unique ways. I really liked the different towns, and each town had unique problems that you had to solve. The oeverall game isn't as difficult as I'd thought it would be (I wasn't sure if I would be able to beat it). Also, the music is really great (done by the legendary Yuzo Koshiro). 

Recommend? Yes! 

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Switch)

This is a really cool game, and I don't think that many people are talking about it, which is a shame. The real standout of the game is the story and the characters. This is a prequel to Breath of the Wild, and the cutscenes are fantastic, showing you Zelda's burden as Calamity Ganon starts taking over Hyrule. All the characters are great, and seeing their interactions is a treat since we didn't get to see that much in BotW. There's a lot of cutscenes here, and it's kinda like watching a Zelda movie, which is super cool. The gameplay is a lot of fun too, as fighting hordes of enemies makes you feel like a badass! The game has a ton of extra content too, lots of side quests and stuff. Don't sleep on this one. 

Recommend? For sure 

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble (SNES--NSO)

Since Nintendo put this out, I figured I'd beat it since it's the only DKC game I haven't beaten. Well, let me say, this is probably my least favorite of the DKC trilogy. Level design is good, of course, with plenty of interesting things happening, BUT the bosses are disappointing, the bonus levels are too short and simple, and the animal buddies aren't nearly as good as the first game. The final boss with King K. Rool was cool, but this migth be the weakest of all five DKC games. 

Recommend? I guess 

Wow, that's a lot! Before I go...

My Personal Game of the Year: 

Streets of Rage 4!!!!

My Favorite Game that I Played this Year: 

Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition!!!!!

Here's hoping that 2021 will be another great year for games!