Finished in 2011
Just a log of the what I finished in 2011 in an attempt to keep track of the insane amount of time I spend playing games.
List items
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January 2, 2011
Okay game; it was a nice interactive narrative. Felt somewhat detached because I had no control over what was being sent to the love interest. Plus, the progression was too rapid to establish any sort of connection with the characters at hand. Did bring up fond memories of dialing into BBSes with my dad.
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January 9, 2011
An excellent follow-up to Assasssin's Creed II with a large single-player portion and surprisingly tense and exciting multiplayer mode. I felt DNA Sequence 9 only existed as a showpiece and that the ending itself wasn't all that it was hyped up to be especially in comparison to the previous game's conclusion. Ultimately, I was left even more confused about the series' direction despite how great this was.
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January 11, 2011
Retired a boxer with G.O.A.T. status. At a point I just turned the difficulty all the way down because all the training and stuff began to erode my interest. Accurate fighting system and detailed character models probably make this the sports game closest to its real-life counterpart. I "beat" this game in anticipation for the new one coming out later this year, but I may just wait until that one is on sale.
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January 16, 2011
Creeped me out to start with because the spider animations are pretty close to how they move in real life. I warmed up to the fact that I was controlling a spider and ended up completing the game in one sitting after it's been sitting in my iPod for months. It was a cool way to tell a narrative, though its aesthetic quickly gave away the ending.
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January 18, 2011
A game with an enjoyable combat system, hampered by a story full of run-of-the-mill Japanese antics and completely deprecating ending. Anything that would sway a good or bad recommendation are at odds with each other%3B this results in something that can only be labeled as average when considering the whole experience. If you want to brave this game’s story, get the International version on PS3. It’ll probably make this bitter pill easier to swallow.
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January 26, 2011
Perfected all the puzzles available in the core game and it said I was a Picross 3D Master. It was one of my top games of 2010 and provides more downloadable content to last me well past even the launch of the 3DS. It's as easy to pick up as it is addicting. Additionally, it's cool to see how odd shapes could be animated and turn into its real-life counterpart.
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February 2, 2011
Another great entry in an equally great series. Even though it felt like the development team was checking off a list for things in previous games, what was on offer was more than enough to satisfy my needs as a fan. If I didn't know there was already a Yakuza 4, I might've WTF'd at the pre-credits cutscene then again, I know Sega wouldn't be so crass as to do that to a fan-favorite character.
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February 3, 2011
A great iPod Touch game that takes advantage of the system's strengths. The slight change in predictable control schemes makes the experience require a bit more action to manage. Translating the events of Metal Gear Solid 4 worked surprisingly well. On a personal note, I wish the unlockable wallpapers took advantage of the Retina Display, but that's more of a hardware issue.
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February 4, 2011
A nice comical Patapon-esque game (without the rhythm aspect) that is easily among my favorite iPod Touch apps. Played it through on the easiest difficulty because I just want to relax and mow down the opposing army. The stick figures are well-drawn and animated, and their over-the-top nature is quite a spectacle.
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February 7, 2011
Another take on a console game ported to iPod Touch. Like Metal Gear Solid Touch, a lot of concessions were made to bring the experience over but it takes advantage of the system's strengths by being relegated to swiping gestures. Even though it's a really short game, it's still highly recommendable given the App Store's low prices. Also, I still think "Still Alive" is a great song and that the backstory of this series has so much potential.
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February 11, 2011
One of the shortest games I have ever beaten. While there are additional challenges to extend the experience, having only three, short arcade stages was disappointing. Then again, the game only cost 99¢. The animations and frame rate are a bit dodgy, considering much better looking games have run much smoother. Still, the hide-and-shoot mechanics work well with the iPod Touch's accelerometer.
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February 11, 2011
A fairly long action RPG from Korean developer Gamevil (pronounced game-ville, contrary to the Bombcast's misread). The main story wasn't a huge draw for me, but I felt compelled to keep playing for some odd reason. Up until the end, the game was extremely easy only to have an insane spike in difficulty during the last dungeon. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a simplistic RPG for the iPod Touch.
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February 12, 2011
Finally beat this game after owning the thing since launch day. That's primarily because I was too obsessed with getting the trophy for beating the game without using a continue. It's much better when you just plow through it. Music is still fantastic. If there's anything I have against this game, it's those damn circular levels. Sidhe would be wise to remove those should a Shatter 2 ever come to fruition.
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February 13, 2011
I think the Microbiology major that is my older brother couldn't resist getting this game. After a very slow start, it gets more interesting because you unlock additional upgrade slots. Other than that, it's extremely repetitive and dull as far as dual-joystick shooters go. This would be a good $5 game though.
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February 13, 2011
Another great remake of Taito's old arcade shmup. It was a bit slow to start, and that's initially what stopped me from continuing on. However, like MicroBot (above) once you reach a certain point with the weapons and unlocks you really start appreciating it more. The music is great and the Music Mode, while no Audiosurf, does a good job of making stages out of your personal music collection.
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February 14, 2011
Stopped during the final boss for whatever reason. Picked it up on a sleepless night and finally beat it. I like it, but there's obviously a contingent of Sonic fans who don't (and they're crazy). Sonic looks like he's made out of plastic and I did find the sense of speed a bit disappointing. Looking forward to Episode II, if that's a thing%3B also, anyone who says they're being gypped on the price clearly do not remember the old days.
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February 14, 2011
Bought this on impulse because it's a Cave shooter. But, because it's a Cave shooter, it's insanely hard. It has a nice Oriental motif and... that's really all the positives I have on this game. Deathsmiles is a much better product and, unless you're a Cave fan of the highest order (i.e. a crazy person) then pass this up for other games in the genre.
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February 16, 2011
Only one level was available at the time of my completion, and I assume the rest are DLC packs. It's pretty humorous, simple, and a fun distraction while listening to a podcast or some music. The game is a bit uneven regarding its progression%3B some stages involve clearing out a certain number of humans while others involve clearing everything (the latter being much more frustrating). Downloaded it when it was free and I feel regret not giving the developer their due.
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February 16, 2011
At the point of this writing, I have only completed the Arcade Mode and have not taken it online. So far I'm finding it much easier to handle than Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and even Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Spencer is probably my favorite character to use followed by Wesker. The Marvel roster is a bit disappointing and the training mode still isn't helpful. Additionally, the lack of a true spectator mode is a terrible omission.
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March 1, 2011
So far, NIS' best offering outside of the first two Disgaea games. A consistently humorous story is what makes this game a joy to play through. The gameplay systems are also much more well-defined in the midst of their initial complications. The Dengeki dungeons were awesome inclusions, and I'd love to see more stuff like that in the future. Oh, and the English voices were just fine. :P
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March 3, 2011
Got a weird Katamari vibe from this game even though they haven't nothing to do with each other in structure or gameplay. It's pretty damn hard, even on the easiest difficulty. Barely recommendable, even for $5, because of that%3B if you don't know what you're getting into, you'll probably tear your hair out during the second level. Also, it seems impossible to get a good rank in that game. I didn't mess up anything in the first level, and I still got a D. What?
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March 11, 2011
It's more Ace Combat, except now it takes place in the real world. While I figured Project Aces would be able to just shoehorn a crazy story into that setting, they really weren't able to--which has me concerned for Assault Horizon coming out later this year. Characters were bad, missions were rote and, expectedly, the game was designed with multiplayer in mind (and I engaged in none of it). Hopefully the new one reclaims this series' former glory.
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March 12, 2011
A really solid shooter on the Wii, but make sure you play it with the Classic Controller Pro. Felt just like a modern shooter should, with all the trappings of the titular James Bond film. Well, except for the fact that laser watch is missing (blasphemy, I know). Played through the entire single player campaign in one sitting--because it was both good and short. The melee fight with Xenia Onatopp was hot.
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March 20, 2011
Continues the fine strategy RPG legacy left by its predecessor and leaves it better than it was before. Everything is easier to manage, battles are a lot smaller and the characters grew on me just the same (despite an initial loathing for the main cast). However, the spike in difficulty towards the end is a bit off-putting, and losing a battle took the wind out of my sails for a few hours. But, getting through a seemingly insurmountable situation was definitely rewarding.
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March 26, 2011
Excellent sequel, though I can't help but feel the first one edges it out simply because it felt more unique. Sure, there were some pretty unique settings and moments, but nothing really grabbed at me as much as the final boss of the original Dead Space. I loved the improved zero-gravity sequences and the quick-time oriented moments. The ending makes me wonder where the series is going to go, though I will say that I didn't like one small part of it.
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April 4, 2011
Pretty good JRPG, and definitely one of the better ones to come out of this generation. A few parts of it were poorly explained and it made the beginning a bit of a hassle to get through. Once the first assignment was completed, this game went from plain easy to stupid easy. Towards the end, I got the whole Harvest Moon thing of "I've done just about all I can do, so I'm just going to sleep." Loved the art, but the animations and 3D character models could use some work%3B Rorona looks perpetually stoned.
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April 7, 2011
A bit slow at the beginning primarily because I didn't know what was going on (I blame the bad subtitles). By the time I got to the end, the story grabbed me much like any other Halo game does. It's not the most emotional or evocative story, but I felt bad for the impossible situation Noble Team had to deal with. Some of the character deaths were a bit sudden though. I still don't really like Halo's FPS flavor and feel, but I can tolerate playing it.
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April 11, 2011
Spent less hours playing this game than the original, but still invested more than I originally thought I would. Leveling up characters is way easier, but I still wasn't sure how equipment worked by the time I was done with the story mode. The additional characters are good inclusions, but there are other people I'd rather see in. Vaan sucks as a character, though he controls really nice; Yuna's probably my favorite new person.
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April 16, 2011
Amazing game. Goes above and beyond Yakuza 3 in almost every regard, and it's nice to see they're able to break away from some repetitive aspects despite taking place in the same setting. Being able to choose what ability to get and when made things go much more smoothly and the different fighting styles were really good on an individual basis. Hopefully Yakuza 5 isn't too far off. Oh, and managing a hostess bar was pretty fun, I'll admit.
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April 16, 2011
Finally got this game behind me, and I can see why people would give it top marks in the year 2009. The game looked pretty and the combat was satisfying, but the story didn't really catch my interest aside from the moments with Scarecrow. Suffered from the same type of "go here and do this" gameplay that hampered the original Dead Space. Also, I could've done without some of the stealth sections.
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April 20, 2011
One of the most sharply written games I have ever played. It was hilarious throughout and hit all the right beats with its pacing. I'm actually kind of disappointed that the achievements and trophies telegraphed some key plot points. As of this writing, I have not even touched the co-op mode but I definitely will someday. The game looks and sounds great and looks promising for Valve's future projects. Also, it reiterates that Portal (and maybe Left 4 Dead) are the only series in Valve's catalog that I care about. Yeah, I don't like Half-Life. I said it.
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April 21, 2011
For now, this game has taken a spot in my top three for the year, ousting Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as my preferential fighting game release. While I still haven't gotten the mechanics and gameplay to a certain level of mastery, I'm okay with that. I haven't tried much of the online components for obvious reasons, but the single player content is so varied and abundant that I was satiated by that alone. The story mode actually made me care about the ridiculous fiction. The Test Your Luck mode is a great equalizer if you're playing against novices too--it's a shame you can't play that online. Easily the best looking 3D fighter, and the backgrounds, character models and moves done in spectacular fashion.
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April 24, 2011
Yet another bullet hell shooter from Cave, this time on the iPod Touch. I was skeptical about how it would work considering how Deathsmiles required a ton of precision that I could only get using an arcade stick. However, the touch screen worked surprisingly well and I was able to complete--the iPhone Mode at least--with deaths kept at a minimum. I'm still not fond of arcade shooters where you play as a person instead of a ship. Highly recommended for iPod or iPhone owners despite its higher price point and short length.
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April 24, 2011
Essentially the same impressions as ESPGaluda II since this is yet another Cave shooter. For whatever reason, this one resonated with me more, probably because of my aforementioned problem with controlling people instead of spaceships. Beyond that, however, the interface seems cleaner, the graphics seem sharper and I can say with certainty that I vastly prefer this game's soundtrack. Recommended, even more so than ESPGaluda II. As a side note, I'm really looking forward to Deathsmiles II later this year.
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April 25, 2011
The spiritual successor to last year's Game Dev Story that I personally believe is a worse game. I could blame it on the fact that it's not about running a game company, an industry I'm at least familiar with. Despite that, this game is just a lot busier. It wouldn't be a problem if the metrics were more apparent or explained. It's still addicting and I'd recommend giving it a look. Also, for anyone that disputes this game as being unbeatable, they explicitly keep the fast mode locked until you "beat" it.
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May 2, 2011
I fairly enjoyed this game even though the core gameplay isn't executed any differently from most other rhythm games. The videos were adorable, endearing and well done; the way the "notes" fly onto the screen allowed me to take in more of the background video than any DJ Max or DDR game normally would. A lot of the costumes were great; especially the pirate despite my firm stance on the side of ninjas. The "Miku's Room" mode is a bit creepy, because all you can do is look at her and take pictures. Anyway, I'll probably invest in the Dreamy Theater pack someday, that thing looks interesting.
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May 4, 2011
I'll just say that as soon as I learned there were no subtitles, I immediately stopped giving a shit about the story. I won't apologize because I'm not going to turn up my TV and disturb my neighbors and I have bad hearing. Also, it's inexcusable to not have them in this day and age. That said, it was a good shooter with some interesting ideas, particularly how to choose the ending. The foreshadowing was terrible and the post-credits scene was stupid. I'd like Raven to explore this time-based shooter thing, but hey, they're under the Activision banner.
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May 7, 2011
A nice bullet hell shooter that rips off (parodies?) Cave's Deathsmiles series--without the ability to shoot in both directions. The art ranges from decent to good looking, and some of the fonts and interface design choices make this look like an Atelier or Ar Tonelico game at some points. The English voice acting job is one of the worst I've ever heard, which is what makes me think the whole thing is a parody and not a serious piece of work. Still, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a good, downloadable shoot 'em up.
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May 13, 2011
I basically have the same impressions as the first game, especially since a lot of the songs are from there. I like the bigger selection of characters, but seeing them with Miku's voice is weird, otherwise I'd probably play with Luka more. Still not getting the point of the Diva Room mode, but I guess that's just for people that are REALLY into this. The holding and dual press icons are a welcome addition.
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May 16, 2011
Pretty good first effort for this series, especially since the DJ scene itself seems rather dead. Even though the game isn't at all representative of the actual act, it's a decent rhythm game that has a few--make that VERY few--good mashups. Most of the songs were long and I couldn't quite grasp why I couldn't play them one at a time; it made the Daft Punk mix more of a chore than I wanted it to be. Still, might pick up the second one on the cheap. Oh, I bought the Renegade Edition because it was on sale. The stand was a great way for me to organize my consoles in the dorm and the wireless turntable was nice.
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May 17, 2011
I beat the "Story Mode" according to the Giant Bomb wiki, which was only three battles, each best of three. This is a really good puzzle game in the vein of Critter Crunch (this one coming first though). The characters were crudely drawn, but that's how all 90s anime looked so I'll give it a pass. I'd buy it again if it came out in some sort of high-definition form.
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May 20, 2011
Definitely the best looking PSP game I've played. Even on the PSPgo, they managed to cram in a clean interface with expressive sprites and amazing character portraits. The combat was a bit grindy, until exploits typical of this genre began showing up. The story was intriguing and I felt like my choices played a huge part in the outcome. An AI-controlled character shot an enemy I wanted to live, so that's probably why I didn't get the most ideal ending. Still, I could always go back and play what I missed, which is a very, very nice touch.
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May 21, 2011
A pretty good game with some interesting beats. Still not 100% sure about some of the plot details, but it was done well enough to keep me hooked until the end. The turn-based combat made this more manageable than other survival horror games of the PlayStation era, but I ran into a few rough spots; specifically, the ending with that slow chase sequence. That was really dumb if only for the fact that you had to fight the final boss over and over. But, thankfully the PSPgo's pause feature made that less of a hassle. Oh, Aya's eyes look hot.
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May 22, 2011
I need not speak about how bad this game is, but it was three dollars with free shipping, so I bit on it. It's pretty stupid, but at least it's playable. Not really recommended even at the price point, just get some DLC or whatever instead. Or, you know, The Darkness; I heard that game is pretty cheap these days. Anyway, the only good things I can say about it are that there are subtitles and a kraken rips apart the Big Ben. Woohoo.
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May 24, 2011
Finished the Chronicle Mode and I'm still not exactly sure what the hell is going on with this series' story. Granted, this was my first time experiencing the Dead or Alive universe as a fighting game, so maybe I didn't have enough knowledge to fill in the gaps. As far as gameplay is concerned, I think it's better suited for the 3DS than Super Street Fighter IV was. The scrolling combo list is really neat and helpful and the parrying system is great. 3D effects are kinda lackluster, and I preferred them off for a better frame rate. Still, the game is really solid.
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June 3, 2011
Probably one of the better JRPGs to come out of this generation of consoles. That's not really saying much, but this one truly stands out. I might have enjoyed it more if I wasn't religiously devoted to completing all of the side stuff, but at least that left me overpowered for the final portion of the main storyline. Speaking of which, I like how detached the characters are from the situation until the very end. Tri-Ace still hasn't lost their touch for producing great visuals in a short amount of time.
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June 12, 2011
More of what the first game was, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. While the choices are still contrived, at least there's a distinct effect on powers and events that aren't as explicit in other games that tout their moral compasses. The endings are wildly different, and I couldn't ask for more. The only truly negative thing I have to say is in regards to this game's combat. There are a bunch of annoyances that hamper the experience; the biggest one, personally, is the fact that there aren't as many places to absorb electricity as the first game. Other than that, this is a clear improvement, even Zeke is tolerable and is probably my favorite character in this franchise now.
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July 19, 2011
As short as, but less impactful than Rez HD. While the graphics and music are absolutely beautiful, there wasn't much going for me in terms of surprise. I pretty much got what I expected out of the game, though there's something inside of me that wanted a little more than what was on offer. It's not a complete disappointment, as I'll play through it during some downtime like Rez; I just wish it was downloadable so I could access it easier in the 360's quick launch.
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July 20, 2011
Decided to actually boot this up after seeing Arino from Game Center CX get through the SNES cartridge. I figured, if he could do it then so could I on a substantially easier version. It didn't take long, especially since some of the strategies from Arino's playthrough were carried over. It was satisfying to get through an old-school classic, though I'm glad the Prince of Persia series transferred itself to 3D in a much better way.
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July 26, 2011
My mind goes back and forth on this game a lot because some parts are masterfully done while the rest is repetitive, vague and uninspired bullshit. I don't have any complaints about the ending like some people do, it's more the interrogations and numerous chase sequences that I wasn't fond of. That said, if there's isn't an L.A. Noire sequel, I wouldn't mind.
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July 28, 2011
I enjoyed the block puzzles more than I thought I would, but what had me going was the story... up until the very end. It's from the Persona team, so I knew what to expect. However, I wish they would've yielded at a very specific point and simply called that the ending. Perhaps I'll revisit the game another day, but I'm not chomping at the bit for another ending. If Catherine or the Golden Playhouse become another Atlus franchise, I hope the next one leaves a better impression, block puzzles or not.
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August 17, 2011
Sixteen years ago, my brother and I first popped in this game because it was among my aunt's video game collection. The both of us were legitimately terrified to play the game alone, but we couldn't stop playing for whatever reason. That fostered some weird fondness for the game and oddly ended up being one of our formative childhood gaming experiences. Looking back, it's one of the easier NES games to beat, and I'm glad to finally put Jason and his hockey mask behind me.
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August 21, 2011
Don't know what's taken me so long to finish this game, but I've had it for a while and apparently had a few unplayed chapters. It's a nice retelling of the earlier Resident Evil games, especially if you care about the chronology/never understood what was going on. The only big problem I had with this game is how specific it is when it comes to critical shots; it's either square-center on the forehead or nothing at all.
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August 22, 2011
Difficult in traditional Treasure fashion. I'm surprised this sequel was even developed, more so that it got published in North America. The Wii remote works really well with the game, as expected. Story is as nonsensical as ever and I didn't really like the characters. Still, awesome box art and, because it's Treasure I have some strange fondness just based on the developer alone.
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August 22, 2011
Finished via The House of the Dead II & III Returns on the Wii. Easily not as iconic as the first or second in the series. In fact, the game is rather bland and doesn't even sport so-bad-it's-good voice acting to tide the tedium over. The bosses took a long time to whittle down their health. If I were playing this on an arcade cabinet, then my trigger finger would've been dead by the end of this.
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August 28, 2011
Never was a Street Fighter kid growing up (my first legitimate foray into the series was vanilla Street Fighter II on the Wii Virtual Console). I can definitely see why professional players consider this the peak of the series, but after investing so much into Street Fighter IV, it's hard to adjust to something not quite like what I'm used to. I'll keep at it--as opposed to Arcana Heart 3--but SSFIV still reigns supreme.
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August 29, 2011
I was looking through my SNES roms and figured that I might as well give one a shot given all the recent hype for Street Fighter III: Third Strike. Definitely the best Street Fighter game I've played on the SNES, but that's considering the fact that the game has load times because the system couldn't rightfully handle it. Beat the arcade mode, and it was nothing special. Actually, I honestly would've preferred to see an HD remix of this game. The world needs more Charlie.
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September 17, 2011
Had this game in my collection for around a year (it was on sale) and I never even put it in because I was so burned out by the original Ninja Gaiden 2 on the 360. However, I'm glad I popped it in eventually, because Sigma 2 is significantly easier and better-looking. The story is pretty nonsensical and shitty, so I'm hoping Team Ninja can pull it back a lot for the next game.
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September 18, 2011
Another Game Center CX fueled gaming foray. I beat this via the Sega Vintage Collection they've been giving out for free to PSN+ subscribers. It wasn't the Genesis version, so the game was one whole stage shorter. As such, it didn't take me as long to complete. I can see why some people would regard it as a classic, but I don't have the nostalgia to care about this.
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September 19, 2011
One of those, "Hey, a system just got released and I need SOMETHING to play" purchases. Not an offensively bad game, but nothing out of the ordinary for this series. The 3D effects were pretty nice, especially when they were layering art. I skipped all the story bits because they were pretty damn boring. The character models looked really nice.
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September 20, 2011
Finally reloaded this after many, many years of putting it down. Didn't grab me the first time because I wasn't too fond of the art style and music. I also thought some of the puzzles were worded poorly or just plain illogical. Got through it only to find the explanation behind the titular curious village was contrived in an almost Kojima-esque sense.
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September 20, 2011
A no-frills Kirby platformer that builds on the series' legacy for being notoriously easy. I enjoyed it a lot up to the point where it forces you to backtrack and find star seals a la Wind Waker's Triforce. No game overs at all, and completed in under five hours. I did love how the basis for this entire game is Kirby trying to get his cake back. He's so cute. ^_^
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September 20, 2011
Basically Meteos for kids. The different themes for the levels were nice to see, although I can't say Lilo & Stitch would be among my first choices. Being able to switch blocks horizontally made the story mode an effortless play. Even though I consider Lumines the superior puzzle game from Q's library, it makes me sad to see that this and Meteos Wars are the only sequels to one of the DS's best games.
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September 22, 2011
Started this one almost immediately after the last one so I wouldn't lose my puzzle-solving flow. An overall better game than Curious Village; they made puzzles flow into the story and conversation better, the mini-games were enjoyable and the subtitles on the cutscenes weren't fragmented like crazy. Still suffers from a contrived explanation and conclusion, but I'll take it. The last puzzle wasn't a doozy like the previous game, and I'm happy for that. Also, Layton is a pretty capable swordsman.
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September 25, 2011
A game that finally broke my year-long hiatus on writing game reviews, and you can read that <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/disgaea-4-a-promise-unforgotten/61-32698/user-reviews/?review_id=20883">here</a>. I love that the story is as Prinny-centric as it is. A wonderful title that could be my game of the year... assuming Dark Souls or The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword don't come out of nowhere and swoop it up.
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September 27, 2011
Always wanted to get this game when it came out, but never got around to it. That, and used copies in my area are hard to come by. I like Izuna's character design even though she's fourteen years old and clearly jailbait. At least the story is self-aware of that fact. The gameplay is very repetitive, but that's par for the course in mystery dungeon games.
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October 4, 2011
Finished via Ys I & II Chronicles. A much shorter game than I expected, but then again, it's pretty damn old; I could definitely tell where it had its roots as a PC game, stuff like the five-tiered equipment inventory made that apparent. I really enjoyed this despite some archaic tropes like exceedingly specific event triggers. The art was really nice and the music more so.
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October 8, 2011
Finished via God of War Collection. I can see why people enjoy this series, but I'm of the kind that always gets caught up in the hype and plays through these begrudgingly. Kratos doesn't have any respectable traits and his reasons for vengeance have been diluted by his excessively angry persona. The action is decent, but I'd easily take a Ninja Gaiden or Devil May Cry game over this.
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October 15, 2011
Yet another Kairosoft game, this time revolving around managing a race team and whatnot. As usual, it's extremely addicting and the art style is charming. Not my favorite of the Story games, but it was compelling enough for me to see it through, and is easily among the most recommendable of the Android's small gaming library.
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October 17, 2011
Yet another Kairosoft game. Wait, I feel like I've said this before. Yup, there's pretty much a core formula underneath Pocket League Story, but this one has probably become my favorite because it feels a lot more hands-on than their previous efforts. I thoroughly enjoyed cheering on my team and had a blast doing all the managerial stuff.
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October 17, 2011
Perhaps the worst thing I've played this year. Much more of an interactive comic, and less an actual game. I had no idea what the hell was going on in the story, and the few interactive bits were just poorly made flash-esque games. People on Siliconera were excited for the sequel coming out, and that has my mind blown. It was free, and I still can't recommend it.
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October 22, 2011
From the outside looking in, this seemed like a fighting game I could get into. However, what I found was that it was a complicated mess, even more than Marvel vs. Capcom 3. I love the character designs and the arcana selection system, but I don't see myself investing any time in improving my ability to play this. In terms of the story mode, the final boss was terrible.
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November 5, 2011
Finally beat this classic after investing in a Super Nintendo and an actual working cartridge. I can see why it's praised as the best in the series' long history, but it's coming at odds with Final Fantasy X, which was my first foray in the numbered entries. It's certainly the best Super Nintendo role-playing game, and deserving of a high spot on many lists.
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November 6, 2011
Been wanting to play this for a while, but only to get a taste of this series before it hit its stride with Ace Combat 04, 5 and Zero. Holds up surprisingly well, but the mission structure and story isn't as good as its successors'. The North American version was gimped, but I wasn't exactly asking for more by the time I reached the end.
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November 9, 2011
Another classic game choice fueled by Game Center CX. I heard lot about its great musical score and simulation mechanics, and it's those things that carried me from beginning to end in an extremely short amount of time. A friend of mine said Soul Blazer was a much, much better game, but a copy of that is much rarer and expensive. Maybe one day, Pix.
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November 15, 2011
An extremely cute game that's equally easy to get through. Multiplayer didn't seem that enjoyable, but it's a nice way to get some gaming out of someone who isn't comfortable playing with other people. This continues to show how dominant Nintendo is in the platforming genre and that Kirby always makes a strong case for innovation and creativity.
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November 15, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this game was. Even though Sonic games primarily lose my interest as soon as it loses momentum, I played this almost straight through because I wanted to see what they threw at me next. It also looks pretty darn good. Rather than make Generations 2 or continue the Sonic 4 episodes, I'd rather see a follow-up to this.
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November 21, 2011
This game felt like Hot Springs Story on a boat. I'm usually a fan of Kairosoft games, but I'm not overly fond of the formula that's heavily reliant on room placement and single-room boosts. That said, I felt this was easier to grasp than Hot Springs Story despite having a few more layers of depth added in. Plus, I don't think the iPhone has this one yet, so neener.
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November 22, 2011
Completed via the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. I bought the UMD copy when it first came out and got about halfway through. I didn't like how they emasculated the character of Big Boss. Understandable, given what happened in Snake Eater and Portable Ops, but certain parts of the story were already seen in previous games and/or delusional.
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November 22, 2011
I like previous King of Fighters games, and never really thought to master any of them. This one is no different, and I was hoping the install base would be big enough within my circles so that I could get better at it. However, the netcode is bad as well as the story mode. A great improvement over King of Fighters XII; I'll never get sick of seeing Terry and Elisabeth in full HD glory though.
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November 26, 2011
Played the Wii version because I didn't want to pay for it and I just wanted to see how crazy the story got. It didn't disappoint in that regard and had a few exciting story beats. I'm glad Infinity Ward had this chapter behind them, but I've been a bigger fan of Treyarch and what they've been doing what Black Ops. And wow, you kill a lot of people in this game.
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November 27, 2011
A bit of a slow burn, especially when compared to previous Zelda games. There's boss you fight over and over that I wasn't fond of and there were one or two sections where I was getting a bit infuriated. But when I put my controller down and thought about what I had accomplished, it truly felt like a substantial adventure. Also, I got sniffly at one part.
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December 7, 2011
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