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

Haven't really had time for many games this past year-and-a-bit, but managing to squeeze in a few hours this past couple of weeks, so I've played some shorter games from the backlog. Started Planet of Lana (PS5) last week and really liking it thus far. Similar to the likes of Limbo in gameplay, although much lighter in tone and it looks fantastic, I love the art style.

Rayman (PlayStation 1)

I played through the first level of the music land. The artstyle and music is really nice. This will be a very challenging experience.

I finished a level in the blue mountain region in Rayman 1. The save file says, the game is 25% finished.

Rayman (PlayStation 1)

36% finished, I think. I am starting to really like this game. It just feels nice.

Still messing around with World of Warcraft. I did a couple run throughs of Wailing Caverns a few days ago just wrap up a few quests I had. Now I am in Stonetalon Mountains. Its odd but this time around I am just enjoying the journey. I am not rushing to get to max level or anything like that. I log on for a an hour or two do a few quests and then a bit of crafting, just enjoying the game for what it is.

@Jhena
Do you have the Original Disc, with a PS1 on a CRT?
I want to replay this on my 27" Sony CRT, with a PS1(Still need to rebuy one), brand new/Sealed(Which are on ebay for $200)1995 stick-less PS1 controller, composite connection and 2.1 speaker system.

You can scoop RM on PS1 for cheap on eBay. Sooo much better than buying that crap 30th anniversary collection with the missing original soundtrack, then you've got lag, 4K TV motion blur, you can't manually shrink the 4:3 screen size down to like 32"(27" is preferable for PS1 games imo) etc.

I'm straight up down with most console emulation, i may buy the rare capcom arcade collection, but everything else? Nah, i want the real thing. Carts/Discs on original hardware(Or new FPGA) on a CRT

Did some gaming for the first time in awhile tonight (other things have been going on), played Pinball FX. Specifically the Trolls Pinball table. I forget how much I love this table, especially being someone who loves pinball video games like Sonic Spinball, Pokemon Pinball, and Kirby's Pinball Land. Really great attention to detail with elements from the first two Trolls movies! Zen Studios did a great job turning the series into a pinball table.

One day I shall play a real pinball table, one day.

@WaveBoy
Hehe, I know the feeling of wanting to play the real thing. It just feels right, the way it is supposed to be. And yes, I am using the disk, PlayStation 1 and a CRT.

Rayman (PlayStation 1)

I made really good progress today, 70% finished. What a pleasant experience.

@Jhena
Rayman 1, i remember back when i played it last during December leading into Christmas of 1995(PS1's launch window), got frustratingly difficult during the 2nd half, and I'm glad. lol Still to this day, artistically speaking, it looks sooo much greater and far more appealing than Origins & Legends, and the soundtack absolutely slaps anything and everything that came later in the land of Rayman.

Legends Retold on the other hand looks preeetty beautiful as well and received a much needed face lift, but it's sttil Legends...Floating weird jumping physics, and i hate how the platforming strives to be almost rythmatic. Almost forcing to you to sprint and rebound off enemies and on and off the walls etc It just lacks the precise, kinetic and tight controls of the RM 95'.

I finished Origins back in 2012-ish and it was like a 4/10 for me. Collosal 2D platforming downgrade compared to the likes of Wario Land Shake it!, Klonoa(Wii) and so much more. Can't wrap my head around the praise that one recieved on XBOX360/PS3 other than for being one of the few high budget great 'looking' platformers during it's time. The buzz was more centered around it being a 2D visual spectacle if anything, which was released at a time when the 2D platforming genre was starting to finally see a resurgence and make a comeback after being nearly wiped out during the GameCube/PS2/XBOX era. Dreamcast was an exception to the rule, but DC only survived for around 2 years as incredible as it was.

Wii, Wii Virtual Console and XBOX Live Arcade for 360 had a nice blend of NewWave 2D Games >

Klonoa Remake
Wario Land Shake it!
Mega Man 9&10
Castlevania The Adventure ReBirth
Contra ReBirth
Gradius ReBirth
Super Paper Mario - (2D platformer real time RPG adventure hybrid)
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Donkey Kong Country Returns - (As long as it's played with the ClassicController Pro Mod)
Bit Trip Runner
Wii Virtual Console - (NES, SNES, Genesis, TGFX etc)
XBOX Live Arcade
etc

@WaveBoy
My favourite Rayman games are 2, Legends, and if I can finish Rayman 1, then it will be one of my favourites, too.

2 has a great atmosphere and a fitting soundtrack. It was also one of my first 3D jump and runs, if I remember correctly. Origins and Legends are very good looking games.

I do have a copy of Rayman for the PS1 somewhere... I was given an original model PlayStation years ago, alongside a batch of games that were in a CD zipper case. I remember playing it and finishing the first world. I should give it another shot sometime. I did hear it's pretty difficult, though. I know that the N64 version of Rayman 2 is on Nintendo Classics, too... that's a game I've never played before so I do want to try it later on. I have Rayman Legends for the Wii U, as well, but I just haven't played it too much for some reason. I do want to fix that since I did hear it's really good.

@D-Star92
Yes, Rayman 1 is very challenging, especially since you need to get every collectible to beat it. But it is a lot fun, if you are in a patient mood. I am using a walkthrough, so I can have a chance to beat it.

I can only wholeheartedly recommend giving Rayman 2 and Legends another try someday.

Rayman is 88% finished. Just a little bit more. The first level in the caves was great, the music too.

Finished another mission in Patrician II.

Played a bit of Tetris 99 and got the Splatoon Raiders theme.

@Jhena Aha, good to know... I'm already used to collecting stuff in games like this, so that probably won't be a problem to me. Just the sheer difficulty of the levels themselves, I bet. I'll see how much progress I can make. Thanks! I do love a good platformer so I'll give these games a go sometime.

It’s been a good while(2 years), so I decided to fire up Echoes of Wisdom again. Just trying to get some more Zelda in before OoT

@Jhena
I had the Rayman 2 port back on Dreamcast, which is supposedly the definitive console version, and while it was neat to experience that 2D to 3D transition from a much more powerful console over PS1, i just had a tough time sticking with it. Initially, it was pretty impressive, but it felt almost rudementry in terms of controls and gampley stacked up against the likes of Mario 64 which released almost 2 years prior.

Atmosphere, use of color(which was almost Ocarina of Time-like) and soundtrack were more dark and gloomy vs the enchanting whimsy and oh so colorful PS1 Rayman, for better or worse depending on your taste!

And I highly doubt I could even go back and enjoy RM2 on Dreamcast with where we're at now. Super Mario Odyssey straight up has the best controls of any 3D platformer to date. it's the gold standard imo. Going back to RM2 is going to feel prehi-frkkin-storic.

@WaveBoy
I played the Dreamcast version of Rayman 2 a while ago and liked it. My favourite version is the PC version. Usually I prefer light and colours, but sometimes developers get even darkness right. Games like Rayman 2 and Majora's Mask are dark, but they still feel pleasant, comforting, and like they are made for children. The kind of darkness, that is as light to me.

I think it still feels nice to enjoy older entries, even if newer entries have a better move set and such things.

Also just started playing some splatoon raiders. Did a few levels last night and I’ll do another one or two tonight.

For echoes of wisdom, Currently at the Gerudo temple. Forgot how much I love this game.

Playing Lovish, an absolutely hilarious 2D level-based 1-room action platformer. It deals with getting collectables in a really creative way, unlocking a pacifist collectable for each level for example... and then you have to think what that means for bosses. Each level ends with a jokey scene but some of them are a silly one-panel joke and some are like... an entire vampire surviviors mini game for example which you just get shoved into after you finish a normal platforming level.