This is my post that I will be updating with new games I’ve beaten or currently playing.
Completed Games
August
1. Hollow Knight, Switch
Fun but thought it dragged a bit too much and map traversal isn’t anywhere as good as the best Metroids. Also had beef with the built-in input latency. The game plays like the Knight should move and react lightning quick but there’s a delay to almost everything except the basic attack. Still highly recommend because of the background story you learn as you play and see the game.
2. Furi, Switch
This gave me so much trouble on PC with wireless controller and on a laggy LCD. Finished it on normal difficulty in a couple of days and got a few bosses deep into the Furier difficulty. This is a tough game but it feels fair, even if at first a boss seems highly daunting. I would buy DLC with a handful more bosses in an instant.
September
–The Messenger, Switch
I dropped The Messenger. The backtracking is truly obnoxious and very much out of place for this type of game. It’s a shame because there were some amazing platforming segments interspersed in the few new areas that open up, but getting to them and finding your way around is a boring slog. I’m moving on, but if I have a bit of time and inclination there’s a slim chance I may revisit it.
3. Lifeless Planet, Switch
I started and finished Lifeless Planet on Switch yesterday. I was looking to play a puzzle platform adventure with a sense of mystery and foreboding, like Limbo and Inside. It was an okay game, not great, and pretty rough visually and in terms of occasional jankiness. But it had nice atmosphere at times, game moves at a steady pace and when the music came on it was nice and reminiscent of Westworld and Game of Thrones. Took about 4 hours and I’m glad it didn’t overstay its welcome.
4. Metal Slug 7, NDS
Also finished Metal Slug 7 on DS this morning, which I’ve been playing on and off for a week. Fun game, although the scaling down to the DS’ 192p res is noticeable at times. I’m not good enough to 1CC this game or even get through it with a standard stock of continues, but I at least got through it with Fio as opposed to Ralf like I originally did years ago (he takes multiple hits).
5. Super Mario Bros., NES Online, Switch
Played NES Online’s Super Mario Bros with Conezays. Managed to beat the game, only skipping worlds 2 and 5 with the warp pipes. The added input lag of online play wasn’t so bad, just have to play a little careful and adjust. 6-3 was the hardest with all the large pits, jump springs, bullet bills coming from offscreen, small pulley platforms and small dropping platforms. Always fun, always a nice challenge. This game will hold up forever.
6. River City Ransom, NES Online, Switch
Finished up River City Ransom last night on the Switch’s NES service. I hadn’t really played this before so I was surprised to find out this is basically an action-RPG beat 'em up.
Used save states only as interrupts. Not that you need to save scum; dying only means you lose half your money and start at the previous shopping area on the map. Most deaths were accidentally running into pits! The game flew once I realized I could farm coins for stat upgrades a lot faster from the two-person miniboss near the beginning. My one hiccup was initially thinking the in-game dialogue was nonsense and not realizing I was being directed to find and fight bosses in a specific order that they appear in… I had to look at what was up when I got stuck at the HS gate at the end of the map. Fun game but it’s pretty much a breeze when you have stats up and equip the rapid punch or kick.
October
7. Minit, Switch
I started Minit on the Switch last night and finished it today. Very cute game, easy to pick up and only takes a couple of hours to beat. The monochrome Game Boy aesthetic is a very nice change of pace from the usual “8-bit NES” look of retro indie games. I recommend this for anyone who wants to kill a couple of hours on a trip without diving into anything too long or complex.
8. Legend of Hero Tonma, PC Engine
Sat down in my new little retro setup in the bedroom and on a whim decided to play Legend of Hero Tonma on PCE. Fun little action sidescroller, didn’t realize this was originally an arcade game and could be beat in under 30 minutes (far less if you’re good at it). The last boss is actually really easy and there are a couple harder ones earlier in the game.
Ongoing
-I played Bonk’s Adventure on PCE. It’s a lot longer than the NES version from what I recall. Anyway I died at the freakin’ final boss so I plan to try again soon. It’s a surprisingly fun and attractive game.
