Re: Gaming Progress Thread

[SargeSmash]

Yeah, DWVII is a beast.

Also, Retro Game Challenge is wonderful.  Now, not all the games are incredible (I'm not a huge fan of the rally racer, or the first two Haggleman games), but the game is worth it solely for Guadia Quest and Haggleman 3.  The sequel was really cool, too, but I had to stop playing when I hit the text adventure bit.  The Pac-Man knockoff was really cool, though.  As was the kung-fu game.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

I actually like the Rally Racer one. Not enough to play it a lot, but I certainly didn't dislike it! I do like Guadia Quest a bit (although I've noticed that it falls under the "grind, grind, and grind forever until you overpower the boss" kind of RPG; the kind where I'm sweeping the floor with the random encounters but the boss just pounds me in one round) and I'm hoping to like Haggleman 3.

[SargeSmash]

Haggleman 3 reminds me a bit of the third TMNT game for Game Boy, actually.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Haggleman 3 reminds me a bit of the third TMNT game for Game Boy, actually.

Someone on Hardcore Gaming 101 says it's kinda like Castlevania (the Metroidvania ones, that is). Does that mean that this third TMNT Gameboy game is like that too? ._. TMNT Metroidvania...

[DankPanties]

Kind of...

Radical Rescue differs from the previous Ninja Turtle games greatly in terms of level structure. The linear levels have been replaced with one huge interconnected fortress. You progress through the game by finding the various bosses hidden within the fortress, defeating them, and then using the keys they leave behind to open up new rooms. When you happen to find one of the turtles that has been captured, they become a playable character.

From:  http://www.mobygames.com/game/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-iii-radical-rescue/

That's one of those games I keep meaning to try, but always forget about.

I thought the first GB TMNT was actually really good.  Surprisingly good even.

[SargeSmash]

Yeah, and each of the turtles has their own skill they bring to the table, enabling further progression.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Hmm... I might end up putting this on my DS, since I doubt Nintendo will ever have it on its Virtual Console. (If it does come out on it and I end up liking it, I'll make sure to buy a VC copy, like I did with Mole Mania... which, btw, HEY GUYS MOLE MANIA ON 3DS VIRTUAL CONSOLE! It's not a bad little game at all)

Edit:

, Raphael can hide himself inside his shell to enter passages that are otherwise too small to enter

Excuse me? Raphael... hiding inside his shell?!

[DankPanties]

I should be putting time into the last case of Justice For All, I need to finish that game.  I put about 20 minutes in the other night, but that last case already starts out overly silly.  I am sure it gets more interesting, eventually...  I tell you what guys, I wish there were a series of court trial games that were serious, dark, and mature.  I would freaking love that.  Grimdark Ace Attorney would rock IMO.

I have however, been putting much time into Front Mission for DS.  It's been so long since I played the original SFC, that it's like playing a brand new game.  I'm enjoying it a lot, but my OCD gets into that kinda thing.  It's certainly much more challenging than Front Mission 3 was (though I loved that game too).  I think this reviewer was right about the DS one:

"This is strategy at its finest and most complex. Gamers with simpler tastes will be taken aback by how demanding Front Mission is, and hardcore strategists will delight in it. This title does not hold any hands; it throws you out there and makes you find your own way, so be prepared. Casual gamers need not apply, as Front Mission is for the hardest of the hardcore gamers. This is strategy at its finest and hardest. The game never babysits the player and never tells him/her how to play any given mission. If you decide this game is for you, be ready; it's very demanding, but also very rewarding."

source

It is very demanding, but man is it rewarding when a plan comes together.  Thus far I've been able to get away with building multiple wanzers of the same design, I'm hoping things get complex enough later on that I'll need to build a squad of specialist units though.

I did beat Gades in L:TLR finally.



I just reached a new continent in that game, it's still fun to munch for lunch.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

It is very demanding, but man is it rewarding when a plan comes together.  Thus far I've been able to get away with building multiple wanzers of the same design, I'm hoping things get complex enough later on that I'll need to build a squad of specialist units though.

Great. Now you're going to make want to play the DS one, aren't you. Stop doing this to meeeeeeeeee.

Actually, I didn't post anything here, but I got through the first three Guadia Quest challenges in Retro Game Challenge. Last night, I spent a bit of time before going to bed looting the dungeon. It's not a good RPG at all (relies so much on grinding, although there's enough to do in the dungeon that you end up grinding if you become OCD about looting) but it's the closest thing to a bite sized play-for-10-minutes RPG as I can my hands on anymore.

My guys are with in levels 15 and 17.

[DankPanties]

I honestly would recommend playing Front Mission 3 first, it's a lot easier, and has a gentler learning curve.  It's faster paced as well.  I wouldn't say it's better though.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

I'll take that as "it'll be like a tutorial for this game" rather than "this game will break your balls, so play its easier sibling" so I can live the rest of the coming months in mental stability. Already breaking my spirit thinking about wanting to play Nocturne and show myselfTHE WORLD that I can be manly enough to beat Nocturne. ...on normal

[DankPanties]

Well I only beat Nocturne on normal.

Yeah FM3 would make a tutorial for FM1 to an extent.  It's just that FM1 really makes you have to pay attention to stats more.  There's a lot of numbers:



Stuff like Hit percentage, Power rating, and Weight, really starts to matter in a hurry.  Also the aspect of terrain cover percentage and movement inhibition become huge factors.   You simply could lazy-over most of that in FM3, it was just so easy.

Still, all the number analyzing is worth it for the great battles:



But you have to be willing to spend upwards of 30 to 45 minutes between battles customizing your fleet of mechs!

I love it, but ultimately I gravitate towards dark, complex, mature, challenging games.  So I readily admit FM1 is not the kind game for everyone.  I wish Square still made stuff like this and Vagrant Story.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Looks like Super Robot Wars... :/ I don't see why I couldn't get into it when I tried it out long ago. I think I definitely was on game over-dose. Man, would it be awesome to be a college freshman again. I also dunno where I got the Mechwarrior design thing from either.

Goes to show you, I barely played the game. (I don't think I even beat the first mission; I can't remember the reason why). Also: There's a lot of earthy colors in the game. Actually, that might have been the reason I fell asleep with it.

I don't think I have any specific genre I gravitate to. I would play something grimdark just as well as something light and cuddly. ...not too cuddly.

And actually, in recent times, I'm noticing I'm not even that crazy about Pokemon. Even Pokemon Conquest just bored me. I want to go back to it but bleh. And Kingdom Hearts? That series makes me barf nowadays. Now Hamtaro Ham Hams Unite on the other hand. Now there's a man's game. It's actually not easy. At least, not for kids.

[DankPanties]

Goes to show you, I barely played the game.

Well you should!  Don't feel too bad though.  There's been a few times in my life where I've revisited games I'd previously written off as crap, only to discover they were actually excellent upon a second chance.  Number one rule for me is it's never good to start a new game if you're very tired.

There's a lot of earthy colors in the game.

I quite enjoy the somber overtone.

I have no idea if anyone else around this board enjoys the Front Mission series though.  I think the only person I can recall lauding it was Square711.  Though I would think Kaio would be into these games, given his enjoyment of strategic battling.

[KaioShin]

I beat and enjoyed FM1 years ago. Too far in the past to say anything specific about it. I tried FM3 once but I didn't play past the first mission. I don't remember the issue, maybe slow gameplay (loading times etc), that was quite a while ago too. Very possibly I simply wasn't really in the mood.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

There's been a few times in my life where I've revisited games I'd previously written off as crap, only to discover they were actually excellent upon a second chance.  Number one rule for me is it's never good to start a new game if you're very tired.

Oh, yes, that's happened to me before! It happened to me with Zelda: Link's Awakening, which is ironic considering how much of a Zelda nerd I am. Link's Awakening was actually my introduction to the series- I tried it out for a bit in the school cafeteria (this was in elementary school!), couldn't get past the raccoon, and gave up due to not understanding what was going on. I don't remember the reason why, but I always blame not reading the text boxes as the reason I couldn't understand the objectives. And then my mom rented Ocarina of Time for me. I picked up Link's Awakening after that with new appreciation for it. Maybe since I actually had time to play OoT, I was able to understand its mechanics much better then.

I quite enjoy the somber overtone.

I don't mind this, actually, but I don't like having the same color palette all the time. ...Or maybe it's something else.

I'm surprised you didn't pick up on the Hamtaro game comment I dropped. The GBC game, at least, is pretty fun from what I remember. Really!

I spent a few minutes playing Guadia Quest (in Retro Game Challenge) last night. I was able to defeat the 4th level boss quite... easily. At the expense of my magic user, though. Well, that marked the end of the Guadia Quest challenges, although I'm a little curious to see what's in the tower now. Maybe I'll continue with Haggleman 3 (which, really, is just... Ninja Gaiden... right down to the player sprite) before I tackle the tower in Guadia Quest. Or not. I don't know. I guess it'll depend on my mood.

[DankPanties]

I beat and enjoyed FM1 years ago. Too far in the past to say anything specific about it. I tried FM3 once but I didn't play past the first mission.

Yeah it kind of hit me last night while playing it, Front Mission DS is a port of a seventeen year old game.  I mean, that's rather ancient... but the strange thing is, the game's so well designed and futuristic, it honestly doesn't feel archaic.

It took me two tries to get into Front Mission 3.  The first time was in 2001, and I barely played more than 15 minutes before I said "meh".  The second try was in 2010, and I pushed myself to play for at least one hour.  I ended up falling in love with the game and put 45 hours into one of its campaigns.  FM3 just like FM1 DS has two alternate campaigns to play through, with different missions and story-lines.  It's cool to be able to see each respective war from both sides of the equation (OCU / USN).  I eventually plan to go back and finish that other campaign in FM3, not to mention FM4 and FM5.  If ever FM2 is translated I'll be ecstatic.  Just because we'll finally have the whole mainline series in English.

but I always blame not reading the text boxes as the reason I couldn't understand the objectives.

Oooookkkaayyy... well I hope you grew out of that.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Oooookkkaayyy... well I hope you grew out of that.

...

Well, considering that I rate Link's Awakening as one of my top favorite games, I think I did! Plus, I'm on a forum, so yeah even if a certain someone here says otherwise.

Remember, I played Link's Awakening in elementary school, in the the cafeteria, for probably no more than 5 minutes. Probably less. Note, most of the games I played before were practically all just Super Mario Bros. or a variation of the platformer genre. So reading in a video game was still quite a new concept to me at the time.

Although, wait. Something doesn't make sense... Pokemon came out before Ocarina of Time... I enjoyed the heck out of that (and I did read the dialog boxes, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the game)... Hmm. My memory. It is messing with me.

I don't know right now. I just know I had to do a double take on Link's Awakening because I was too immature to enjoy it the first time round. And then it became one of my favorite games.

Edit: Note that I did read a lot of books before, more than playing games. I actually didn't get into video games until around the time Pokemon came out; I was really hooked by then. Previous to that, I played some games but never as much as any of you all. I never owned an NES (my next door neighbor had one, but she only owned like Ninja Turtles, Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, Excitebike, and... that's it?).

Darn. First post on a new page and it's an off-topic post. ... :/ Uh....

The Dark Knight Rises! It's pretteh kwel, but man is it different from the movie. If it were more $6.99, it really wouldn't be worth it. I saved that woman, Miranda, and I think I have to meet with Commissioner Gordon for the next objective or something, but I've been clearing some sidequests I get into. In one of them, I had to rescue three hostages. I saved two, but the game still gave me the victory (I think). I don't know, some things in the game are a bit weird. I recommend The Amazing Spider-Man over The Dark Knight Rises, since TAS is just so much more fun to play; TDKR feels like a gimped TAS is all.

[Deets]

Well you should!  Don't feel too bad though.  There's been a few times in my life where I've revisited games I'd previously written off as crap, only to discover they were actually excellent upon a second chance.  Number one rule for me is it's never good to start a new game if you're very tired.

Did you ever try a Monster Hunter other than the first, horribly flawed one

(Also yeah FM1 rules.)

[DankPanties]

Did you ever try a Monster Hunter other than the first, horribly flawed one

No, I haven't.  I shall though.

I have come to realize as you said, the first game was a flawed (though valiant) attempt.  I will give the series a second chance.  Since the first attempt, I have acquired Tri, as well as Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.  My next go at the series will be ad-hoc co-op with my gf via MHFU.  I do wish we had enough cool friends with PSPs* IRL to create a larger MHFU party.  Alas, nobody I know IRL now even owns a PSP outside of myself and my gf.  And her only because I bought her one.

(Also yeah FM1 rules.)

Glad you agree.  I'd be interested in your opinion of 2-5?