Topic: What Game(s) are You Currently Playing?

@FishyS If you've never played the series before and can afford to wait for a sale then I would highly recommend picking up the Castlevania Anniversary Collection from a couple years back on the eShop: pinpoint accurate emulation thanks to the wizards over at M2, a decent array of nice options like being able to play the Japanese originals (especially handy for Castlevania III given how the original Famicom release of it is the superior version of an already great game) and a wide variety of titles on offer which pretty much encompass almost every Classic-vania prior to Symphony of the Night (plus a translated version of Kid Dracula for good measure). It's how I've been playing through the series for the past half-year and would definitely recommend it for the convenience factor of it all 👍

...It's okay, we can still talk. ( )

I only first played the original The Legend of Zelda via the 3DS VC about a decade ago. I'll admit it hasn't aged the best in some aspects, but I'd still classify it as one of the best NES games I've played. DEFINITELY above Zelda II (Which I did beat, but I admit to abusing restore points). I highly recommend using an online map (I believe the original game came with a physical one, from what I've seen online?), and I did consult a walkthrough when I became 100% stuck.

I can't comment on the rest of your "infamous" list since I haven't played them (I've never even HEARD of Congo's Caper), though I'm curious what you thoughts are on Altered Beast? That's one I become curious about now and then despite its mixed reputation. I'm not too big on beat-em-ups, but I do quite like Greek/Roman Mythology.

@Anti-Matter I had trouble with that one too. A LOT of rolling and learning Electrode's attack patterns mostly. When you roll, there's a brief window when your character becomes immune to damage. You can also restart the fight from roughly where its damage bar was, so you don't need to start over from the very beginning if you don't want to.

I didn't learn this until after beating the game, but one of the consumable charms you can buy from the old lady at the small prayer shrine just to the north of the training area will double your character's HP. That would've helped in the following fights too. The final noble can be hard, as can the final boss. Still doable though.

@Tyranexx
Oh, I never knew there was a charm to Double my HP.
I will check that shrine.
Thanks for the tips.

I started playing Blast Corps. I did not plan on playing a 1997 Rareware game for the first time in February for the 2nd year in a row but uh...here we are.

I actually dig this game. I love N64 but there's always a part of me painfully self-aware about how dated a lot of the system is, especially since I already played a lot of the better (and equally as important, later) N64 games. Like every 3D game released before OOT probably has at least a 50% chance of no one having any idea of what they're doing, even for some of the great games.

Thankfully this is kind of a top down game so I guess its less of an issue here. And outside of the fact that it could really have used a competent map or one more zoomed out level of camera view, it mostly works pretty well for what it is. And I just have a real fondness for games that are just about destroying everything in your path, its such a simple, quality, cathartic experience, almost inherently.

But the one issue I do have is the truck missions. Like maybe eventually I get it but it is so inherently unnatural how you need to drive to make that work that even on the easy levels I've already struggled significantly more on that than anything else. But other than that, I'm having a good time with it. Though I will say, because of replaying those particularly levels, that one specific level song has been stuck in my head more than any video game song I've heard in ages.

@Anti-Matter No prob! To clarify a little, that training area is in the western part of Jubilife Village.

Assassins Creed:Brotherhood & Watch Dogs 2. Both are delightful games. I'm more surprised by Watch Dogs 2. The game world is filled with life; Ubisoft has outdone itself here. Gameplay-wise, it feels better, and it's more polished than the original one.

Brotherhood is peak Assassin's Creed.

@Fizza So... I'm playing Castlevania Anniversary Collection which I got on a really good sale a while back but hadn't actually played yet. And... the game freezes every time I start level 2 of the nes original game.... any thoughts? Freezing seems to be a common issue according to the Internet but I didn't actually find any consistent guidance on how to fix it.

Also, I totally forgot that the true enemy in that game is stairwells.

@FishyS Oh really? Huh: can't say I've ever encountered that myself. Maybe try making a save state right before the level begins?

Just started Mega Man 9 for the first time.

I haven't played it for too long as of now (just under an hour to be precise) but to me, Mega Man 9 feels like the Mega Man equivalent of that one infamous Justin Wong Mortal Kombat clip from a couple years back (I won't show it here due to it having slight bad language but it's very easy to find on YT); this is not a game for newcomers to the series. If you don't have your fundamentals down in terms of what Mega Man himself is capable of, Mega Man 9 will (and often does) kick you to the curb numerous times over.

And I'm absolutely obsessed with it.

Like don't get me wrong: it is HARD and there's been many a time so far where I've genuinely wanted to vault my Switch through the nearest window with some of the stuff it pulls. BUT (and this is a very big but): if you keep your cool and hunker down, everything it throws at you is more than manageable with good awareness, timing and liiiiitle bit of luck here and there. And if you do manage to get what 9 throws at you? You are treated to one of the most incredibly well put-together retro revivals of the past decade-ish. The spritework, the enemy variety, THE MUSIC OH MY GOD THE MUSIC; it's all absolutely fantastic and has made MM9 feel like such a breath of fresh air, especially after how comparatively underwhelming MM7 and MM8 were.

So far I've only beaten Jewel Man out of the 8 Robot Masters (told you it was difficult XD) but I want to hop back on so badly. I don't know how I'll feel about it come the end (I've heard the Wily stages in particular are absolutely brutal) but for right now? This is a good 'un guys.

Currently I played ACNH and I have accumulated more than 990 hours gameplay.
The current activity I did was designing vacation houses with different ideas.

@Fizza Out of curiosity, do you play Mega Man games the easiest route or do you do them in random order? It's always been a weird property of mega man that it is 5 times harder or easier depending on boss order.

@FishyS I pretty much go off of intuition and try to guess the boss weakness order myself. Sometimes it's pretty straightforward like in 6....and then other times it's very difficult....like in 9 XD

Some gaming this past week...

Some Trolls Remix Rescue to explore around the Trolls world, and more Disney Speedstorm to play some of the "Under the Sea" season. I unlocked Prince Eric, though they put Ariel behind a paywall because of course they did.

Also, did some classic online multiplayer gaming. The PC version of Mortal Kombat 3 and Wing Commander Armada (GOG makes it easy to play their DOSBox stuff multiplayer), and Unreal Tournament 99. Unreal Tournament had its servers shut down, but like most old games, you can still play via direct connect from the game menu.

I was just playing Cat and Castle, a silly puzzle-platformer where you are a cat. And.... level 14 is broken so I can't proceed. >.> This is now the fourth game I've bought in the last year with game-breaking bugs preventing completion of the game. I know these are cheap indies, but surely there should be a minimum standard of the entire game functioning, at least on the main path. It, like 2 of the other games, is aware of the issue and will put out a patch eventually but it's still pretty annoying.

Mostly playing the OG Tropico. The one made by Poptop (not Popcap) from 2001. Still think 4 and 6 are better building sims though 1 makes you feel more like a Banana Republic ruler compared the other games after. (Do wish that there were cars or transport systems in Tropico 1, takes FOREVER for people to move from one side of the island to the other.)

Currently playing Splatoon 3: Side Order... been playing it a lot lately. Been also wanting to play more New Horizons and its DLC.

Mario VS Donkey Kong (Switch) - Just finished this up over the weekend (I did everything except the final EX mission because I'm not going to perfect rank all the boss missions to unlock it, especially the BS ice world boss fights). Not GotY material or anything, but honestly a really solid release (and it does get pretty tough in spots, especially the EX missions).

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5) - Just started it over the weekend, but have been enjoying it so far. The Grasslands have opened up for me and it's really enjoyable exploring on Chocobo back to check out all the points of interest.

Powerwash Simulator (PC Game Pass) - Been playing this off & on since the holidays (in-between Switch releases), and I'm honestly surprised at how much content this has. I've only tackled the main campaign so far and yet after all this time I think I'm only a little over halfway through (currently in the middle of cleaning a Carousel). Haven't even started on the bonus jobs, let alone all the DLC it seems to get regularly. It's a pretty relaxing time, though.

I started play BOTW a while ago and I understand why people like it so much.
Also citizens unite. And honestly they are both pretty good although I like citizens of space more.

FF VI
PM Color Splash which I just started. Battle system is super odd based on my early impressions.
Halo Combat Evolved, about to start this

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Really far into the game now. I’ve been going back to other regions to work on a few side quests I didn’t do before moving on with the story. Obsessed with Queen’s Blood and the piano mini game.