Topic: Games You Recently Beat?

A Hat in Time

Imaginative, funny, and occassionally janky. The game peaks way too early. By the time I reached the natural last chapters, dlc chapters, and death wish challenges I was kind of sick of it. Between the camera and the controls I had a lot of trouble with the harder challenges. I managed to get all the timepieces and about 40 deathwish tokens.

I would still recommend the game. I didn't enjoy it as much as Mario Odyssey, but it when it was on-point it was fantastic. Just don't bother getting everything.

@baller98 I played it post-update, so I'm not sure what was improved. However, what I did notice was:

-Long load times. Annoyingly long when I had to retry things.
-Framerate stutters occassionally, but nothing too bad. The game does freeze for a second during busy scenes. I noticed this happening at least a dozen times during my playthrough.
-At least two dash crashes during my 30+ hour playthrough (I take way too long to finish games).
-It's kind of ugly. Little jaggy, little muddy. The art style and character charm shine through regardless.

Marathoning through multiple SMT and Persona games to prepare for Nocturne remastered. I'm about 30 ish hours into P2 Innocent Sin and just got to the Last Battalion base on Mt. Katatsumuri. After Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment I'll be doing P3P on my PS Vita, as well as Persona 4 Golden on Steam in addition to emulating Nocturne, the Raidou games and DDS

Finished Rayman Redemption. I've never actually beaten the original Rayman, so I don't know how different the end of this is. But this was great. It's not quite AM2R but its even harder to tell its fan made based purely on the game itself. If someone said this was a Ubisoft made game, I'd believe it (until the credits anyway :V).

@Ralizah I’m more drawn to original art than Elite but I’ve not tried both to know for sure. That’s what I opted for with Steins Gate anyway. I’m a fast reader so I assumed I could go more at my own pace.

I do want to get around to other games in this series eventually. But I have Danganronpa V3, Zero Escape VLR and the Ace Attorney Trilogy in my backlog first.

Some FMV games offer at least a few significant choices, although those have to be rather limited, @Ralizah .... Then, most allow you to skip through the scenes you've seen before on a replay, which helps a lot

Finished up 2064: Read only Memories. It was a lot more visual novel and less point-and-click adventure than I thought it was going to be, but it was pretty good. Not sure about the twist ending. I don't think it had much of an impact because the character involved wasn't too important up to that point so the awe factor wasn't what it could have been.

@JoeDiddley Well, definitely get to those first, then. VLR, DRV3, and the first and third AA games are some of my all-time favorite experiences. I kinda envy you: I wish I could experience them for the first time again.

@Ralizah you’ve got me excited!

I know what you mean feeling that way.

@WoomyNNYes The blast wave sequence was fun!...and very punishing. There were some unique solutions to make it through that area.

Pac-Man Championship Edition Demake

Exclusive to the recently released Namcot Collection / Namco Museum Archive Vol 1. I'm not sure if a game that only has a score attack qualifies as a game that can be beaten? But just playing a round is short, sweet, and exhilarating. Of course you get ten other NES games with the collection, but those take a backseat to this glorious version of Pac-Man.

I just finished Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definite Edition.

Next is Pokemon Sword Expansion

I finished paper Mario origami king for 100% took me around 55+ hours.
Game is great.

@Losermagnet Regarding A Hat in Time, do I need to complete the Time Rift challenges to advance & complete the game? One of these rift challenges where you have to traverse all the floating white blocks with the parade band following, was pretty rough, couldnt tell where to go many times.😠😢😭😥

I just finished DKC 2

Finishing up Color splash now before I get origami king

Yo-Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls (3DS)

This one is an interesting, albeit gimmicky monster-catching RPG series from Level-5 that was quite popular in Japan for some time; the concept is based off of Japan's yokai folklore. Yo-Kai in this universe are spirits/beings responsible for life's daily problems and other occurrences. True to the Pokemon approach, this game has a twin (Bony Spirits) and an enhanced "third" version that compliments them both (Psychic Specters). There are certainly some improvements from the first game, but not quite enough to call this version "#2" IMO.

While each series has its own identity, there will be a couple of Pokemon comparisons here.

Positives

• As with many Level-5 games, the presentation here is vibrant and colorful. Rooms, buildings, and other locations are for the most part unique and have had a ton of detail put into them. The 3D effect, while not essential, is definitely put to good use. I highly recommend using it if possible!
• Some areas are recycled (understandable as this is the same town as the first game), but there are plenty of new ones too.
• The plot this time around is less episodic than the first entry for the most part; there is an overarching narrative. It doesn't stray too far from the stereotypical "bad stuff happens, save the world!" concept, but some of the plot details are certainly intriguing. This is all counterbalanced by some odd, silly moments.
• Much of the writing is entertaining, and many characterizations (such as with your self-proclaimed companion/Yo-Kai butler, Whisper) are more in line with the anime this time around. The game also exhibits some rare self-awareness and tests the fourth wall. Don't go in expecting something TOO serious.
• To go along with the above, many of the side quests also have some interesting, silly, and/or unique story lines that make many of them worth seeking out.
• Much of the music is recycled from the previous game and the anime, but this also makes many of the soundtracks recognizable and enjoyable. Some of the boss music (particularly for the final battle) is catchy IMO.
• There are over 400 Yo-Kai (though some are palette swaps with different names) and a lot of bugs, fish, and items to collect; completionists will have a field day.
• There are a ton of other extras outside of the main game, such as locating Baffle Boards (riddles where you guess/input the name of a Yo-Kai, then summon the correct one when you recruit it to that location), Gates of Whimsy (odd, random doors that can be found in the overworld with different functions, though most are battle rooms) from which you obtain Gate Globes, and a mode (with the Version 2.0 update) that makes the original Yo-Kai Watch: Blasters game playable. Just to name a few.
• As with the first Yo-Kai Watch, there's a good chunk of post-game content. Such as reaching S Rank with the Yo-Kai Watch and discovering/visiting the Infinite Inferno.

Neutral

• I didn't mind the battle system the first time around, but it's almost TOO random. What a Yo-Kai does in battle is completely by will, outside of setting their target (if multiple enemy Yo-Kai are on the field), moving the wheel on the touch screen to rotate three Yo-Kai in at a time (up to six Yo-Kai can be set on the wheel) and their Soultimate attacks; the latter are activated by playing a mini-game of sorts using the touch screen. The stylus is best for this, but many of these moves can be pulled off with buttons as well. In normal fights, the clunky battle system isn't much, but it does shine somewhat in boss fights; this is where the true strategy lies. You can manipulate the natures of Yo-Kai using items (such as giving a Yo-kai a Tender nature to make them more likely to heal party members), but these also aren't 100% foolproof.
• Yo-Kai recruitment isn't quite as finicky in this game, but it's still pretty random at times. The player can increase their chances by feeding an enemy Yo-Kai their favorite food and by having certain Yo-Kai in their party to bolster their odds, but this is still very RNG reliant. I spent well over an hour trying to recruit one Yo-Kai to finish a side quest and had no problems getting a few others without trying.
• I'm...not sure what to think about riding the train. It's a novelty to ride the train in real-time (game-wise) the first time around, but after that it gets old and boring fast. This becomes much less of an issue after fast travel is unlocked.
• The game's difficulty is a bit on the easy side...up until the final boss sequences. Then there's a significant difficulty spike. I get this is a game aimed at kids, but if so...shouldn't this progression have been more gradual?

Negatives/Nitpicks

• The big one for me: I get it, some aspects of Japanese culture need to be localized for audiences who may not fully understand some concepts. To an extent, I'm not against localization. But it's extremely hard, with the game's setting, to sell the fact that "Springdale" is set in America. Between shrines, the abundance of Japanese foods such as rice balls and mochi, the styles of some buildings, and the use of a "$1" coin for a gashapon machine/Crank-A-Kai (Such coins do exist in the USA, but they aren't commonly used) in the opening act, there HAD to be a better way of handling this.
• While I enjoyed many of the side quests, it was a mild annoyance to have to do a certain amount of plot-related ones (usually related, but not always) before the story could advance.
• Actually locating a Yo-Kai, once its general location is pinpointed, is an annoying pain sometimes.

Overall, I recommend this game to series fans, collect-a-thon lovers, or to anyone who's looking for a unique, monster catching RPG that isn't Pokemon. I'd argue that its story and amount of side content blasts more recent Pokemon entries out of the water. Odd difficulty spike near the end aside, the game is relatively easy, and the battle system isn't for everyone. There is a ton of meat to this game, and much of it (outside of introductory quests earlier on) is fully optional. I've logged about 45 hours on my save file and do plan on doing a bit of the post-game content and cleaning up some loose ends.

@WoomyNNYes I'm pretty sure they weren't required. I believe they were extra time pieces and had no bearing on the story chapters. However, the pink time rifts have the story book pages, which will provide a little insight on the characters. They aren't required either, it's really up to you if you want to collect those.

That mission you referenced is a pain. Dead Bird Studios was my favorite section, EXCEPT THAT PART. Having to restart the whole thing after failing was so frustrating.

@Losermagnet Those secret-agent-looking crows in trench coats on the train, always asking personal questions, "oohhh ohhhh MMMmmmm!", were hilarious Kind if amazing. I think that was the same world? Maybe it wasn't. Either way, yeah, the studios world would was good.

That, and that creepy house where the ghost lurks, and chases you, was great.

@WoomyNNYes The crows were my favorite, I loved that voice acting. I kinda ruined the creepy house bit for myself. I knew through reviews and youtube there was a legitimately scary bit, but I didn't know exactly what it was. So naturally I played that part late at night. Still scared me.

Things like that are the reason I think the game is so fun. It's got some problems, but there's some great creativity too.

Shantae & the Seven Sirens (Switch), the latest entry in the cult series.

Ret-To-Go!

Gameplay

• It's a pretty standard side scrolling "Metroidvania" action/platformer, though it has a touch of classic Zelda as well (you obtain most of your required upgrades while exploring themed dungeons where you ultimately use your new ability to reach & defeat it's boss).
• In addition to the ability upgrades you get by working through the game's dungeons, you can upgrade your health by collecting Heart Squids scattered around the world (each dungeon has three, and there's a bunch in the overworld too), augment your abilities by obtaining equippable stat altering Monster Cards (most are dropped by enemies, but the most powerful ones based on the game's bosses can only be obtained by trading Golden Nuggets, another of the game's collectables, for them in Towns), and by buying permanent upgrades in Town Shops, such as increased attack power & speed, and even a shield that invokes total invincibility (these are optional upgrades, and you can turn them on & off in the menu, if you decide you don't want to use them).
• In addition to your various upgrades, you can buy consumable health & magic regenerating potions and weapons (such as fireballs or boomerangs) in Town Shops, and enemies regularly drop health regenerating food items as well. Along with the various upgrades mentioned before (one of which is an ability that lets you heal yourself with magic), it is entirely possible to be completely OP by at least the half way point if you so choose, as you have so many options to heal & reduce damage.

Audio/Visual

• It's by no means a technical marvel, but it has a pleasingly crisp bright & happy look and for the most part runs smoothly (there are one or two spots with a lot going on where it can briefly slow down), and there are some unique biomes in the overworld that buck cliche trends, such as a laboratory and even a small area themed around an Otaku/Nerd's hideout, pictured below.
  
• Of particular note are the high quality (although generally short, given it's budget) anime style cutscenes, such as the one pictured below before a boss fight.
  
• I'd say it's soundtrack fits the game, but as I've mentioned before I'm not someone who gets really fussed over music in a game.

Story

• The story itself isn't anything particularly noteworthy, though there was no indication that the underground city was really a ship, so it does have it's twists, but where it shines is in it's self awareness. It knows you're here to have a fun time so it revels in the silliness of the female characters wearing almost nothing for armor, and other punny moments, such as the one pictured below where you're tasked with collecting the "Dagron Balls".
  
• Characters are generally fun, if not very deep (I will say I look forward to each game's Squid Baron moments).

Overall

• It's not the deepest game around, but it's nice comfort food and is just a game to smile along to.
  
  Time to celebrate!