Much more than just Shmups this week but I played a lot of Shumps and finally had my fill of getting beaten down. I think I'll put the Shmups aside for the rest of the month. So I've also been exploring games of the late 80s both from hits lists and my own lists. I've got the Switch, Retron 3 and Xbox Series S all running and sourcing whatever I can find. So here goes.
On Switch - Legend of Zelda: I played this on the Switch's subscription service and then on my friend's copy on the Retron 3. I also watched Jeremy Parish's Video Works video because I had some trouble figuring out just what I was supposed to do in this game. Apparently I was wandering the overworld without finding the dungeons. It would've been helpful to have the original booklet with the map, but then again, I have the internet for that. I could be using a guide but I'd rather try and experience the game as you might for the first time. Knowing where all the hidden caves and stairs are kind of ruins the fun of it unless I'm trying to speed run it, which I'm not. Anyway, I've grown a better appreciation for the game but I still haven't gotten very far in it.
Ys 1 Ancient Ys: Vanished Omen: I found a copy of this on the Switch store and bought it for $6 before realizing that it wasn't translated into English. Weird, and annoying. I'll have to settle for finding a copy of Ys I&2 on DS or where ever. I used to have it for PSP but since my system broke, I traded it all. Ah well. One of these days.
Retron 3 - Super Mario Bros: Ran through this as far as I could, which isn't very far. It's still fun to experience from time to time - feel the history as you jump and hop on koopa's heads with fine precision.
Legend of Zelda: Nothing like the original cart with the original controllers. It seemed like I was just killin' things and getting ruppies from caves endlessly with no point. Later I discovered from videos there are some dungeons around somewhere. I may print out a map next time.
Android - Wordament: Finished Wordament to 100%, and I'm done with it finally. I love word games but I've played this almost a whole year now and it's time to move on. On to what though? I may try streaming Vampire Survivors from the Game Pass app.
Xbox Series S: Classics: Mega Man 2 (Legacy Collection), Castlevania III (Anniversary Collection), Xybots and Gauntlet (Midway Arcade Origins), Arkanoid Eternal Battle. I played every character in Mega Man 2 and failed miserable with all of them. Castlevania III kicked my butt. Xybots is a very cool 3D environment shooter I like a lot but hate the limitations on energy. Gauntlet is infuriating but I kind of love the concept of it and keep trying anyway. I wish it was more like the 7800 version of Dark Chambers on the Atari 50 collection. I'm playing the original arcade version of Arkanoid and getting better at it. I'm hoping to find a real cabinet somewhere to play and see how I do on it.
Dead Space Remake: I finished the game on Story mode and loved every minute of it except that the battles were a tad too easy. I started new game + on Easy difficulty and hope to clear every side mission this time. I'm actually looking forward to managing my weapons and ammo a little more as the difficulty raises. Who da thought?
Namco, Komani, SNK, and Capcom Shmups by the dozen (Namco Museum, Arcade Classics, SNK 40th Anniversary, Capcom Arcade Stadium): So many Shmups. I love the mechanics and graphics of many of these games but they are all brutally difficult and I can't get myself to tweak the rules in some of them to make them easier. I just have to play on Score Attack mode for leaderboards and achievements. They seem largely impossible set to serious or arcade original play.
Bluey: The Video Game: Started this on Game Pass for quick rewards. I managed to 100% it in about 3 hours. It was an enjoyable time finding things and playing simple minigames. I didn't know Bluey was herself a girl. I thought it was funny how the parents went along with whatever the two kids wanted to do like they were the kids pets or something. Haha.
PAW Patrol World: Another whoring for Game Pass rewards with this one, but I found I really liked it. I kind of like the PAW Patrol games because, well, vehicles. I love vehicles in games. This is a open world game that reminds me of Lego City Undercover but even simpler. It borders on being boring but I'm determined to 100% it next week. It's a bit larger of a game than Bluey.
Sid Meier's Pirates: The original came out on PCs in 1984, if you can believe that. This is the enhanced remake for consoles in the early 2000s like OG Xbox which is available on current Xboxes. I got it for under $3. My friend Mad Krammer plays it too and we both played it one day this week. It drew me in and threatened to keep me from anything else. I took a break though after knocking off a highly ranked pirate menace and refitting my ship with a copper hull. And oh those mayor's daughters. . .
Forza Horizon 5: I thought with the new European car dlc there would be new story missions but there aren't. So I just played the events on the daily playlist until I was ready to throw my controller. I just don't do well in S1 or higher car. I switched my control style to a more difficult setting and it seems to work better for me. There's less automatic steering and braking control and fewer guidelines on the road, making it feel more realistic. I had a real problem with the default steering controls. I need more realistic controls to master this game and it seems to be working.
Well, that was a busy week. Onto the next.
Comments