Nine Patricks, Nine Beers, One Spoilercast

Okay, just finally completed true end 999 last night.. words cannot describe. Jeebus. Go play this game if you haven't already. It's one of those rare experiences that leaves a large gaping hole in my heart that cannot be filled the moment I completed it.

I completed every puzzle including the Sudoku puzzle on my own, though I did have to run to my computer to learn the rules of Sudoku (and to be fair, they practically give you the solution to nearly every puzzle if you fail it enough times). With everything that was on the line during that final puzzle, I felt like I would cheapen the experience if I looked up the exact solution. Sudoku isn't too difficult, but it will still take a fair amount of time to "get it" and develop a method to the madness. Do not put down a number unless you are 100% certain it belongs there (there will always be at least one slot you can define with assurance at one time).

Also, I have to give props to how they delivered the story using the DS to its fullest extent in a way that it wouldn't work as well on any other platform; particularly during that final puzzle. Brilliant.

I definitely sympathize with being drawn towards flawed games that try something different. All of my favorite games are games that I could write books on how flawed they are, but at least they experiment and try something that isn't based on solid ground. I can't stand most big budget titles anymore because of how "perfect" they are.

And I agree, Snake was the best character.

Just finished 999 and had some thoughts I would like to share:

Watching 30% of this video compelled me to play 999 and even knowing some of the twists and turns of the story didn’t make this game any less amazing. it has, as Patrick likes to call it, "a earned twist" that may be one of the greatest twists in videogames, because it works in both a story and gameplay level. This game is amazing and is my favorite game ever for the DS.

Thanks to the community for nagging Patrick into playing the game, thanks to Patrick for playing it, talking about it and making this video, and fuck you both very much because now I need to buy a Vita so I can play Virtue's Last Reward.

EDIT: Just bought a copy of VLR and a 3DS online, cant wait for both to get here

Thanks to this, i finally got around to playing virtues last reward. which im very thankful for since its probably my goty now, most fun ive had all year with a game,

Also, whats are peoples problems with Sudoku, its super easy to learn.

#Team Patrick

@XtremePudim said:

EDIT: Just bought a copy of VLR and a 3DS online, cant wait for both to get here

I didn't care at all about the 3DS until I played 999, and now I absolutely have to get one. I'll definitely be doing the same soon enough.

Over the past five days, I went from being vaguely angry and belligerent about people liking 999 so much after my own experience not liking the initial demo puzzle to immediately purchasing VLR as 999's credits rolled.

You win, Patrick.

So happy to see 999 getting the attention I think it deserves and that so many people are enjoying it. I randomly found it on Amazon one day, a Gamespot review said "this is good!", so I bought it on a whim and took it on a trip. I didn't watch any TV the whole time I was there, every spare moment in my hotel room or on the plane was with 999.

Also, it was the second game in as many weeks I'd played with a serious exploration of morphogenetic fields, which is quite apt and.....creepy, when you think about morphogenetic fields.

Great idea to do a spoilercast. This series wouldn't be appropriate for a quick look, but it's too damn good to outright ignore. Looking forward to another for VLR.

I finished this game early this morning, so glad you started talking about it on the bombcast Patrick because it's a game that I always was interested in playing but never had that urge to actually buy it. Fell in love with the game, and now I'm probably going to buy a 3DS just to play VLR. Also really want to try the infinity series if I can find a way to play it.

I also just recently finished the game, and Maaaaaan what a trip. So many times during the game I ended up putting the system down, just to do the math about who can do what that the game was already about to do for me, and also so many times I just had to set the game down for a few minutes to process some crazy new piece of infromation.

A few answers to the concerns Patrick had in the spoilercast are in the block below, and some other thoughts I just need to get out...

I think I need to just ordered a copy of VLR from Amazon. Doesn't seem to be a copy within 25 miles any other way. If you happen to need a second Patrick to chat up on that one later on... Just sayin'

I just beat the game so now I'll reward myself with this! Thanks @patrickklepek for making me play 999!

@Phatmac said:

I just beat the game so now I'll reward myself with this! Thanks @patrickklepek for making me play 999!

I'll have to echo that statement, just finished the game myself with all the endings. Thanks @patrickklepek !

So I just finished 999. I was really expecting a Bioshock type thing with you being zero. Like you, the player. And I think it's kind of there, but less explicit. YOU the player summon all the participants by putting the cart in, YOU the player experience all the endings to make sense of things and direct Junpei around, YOU the player are the one manipulating the bottom screen (which is where all the zero narration takes place). Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. I don't know. Fuck I loved that game.

Borrowed 999 from my friend and just finished it. Amazing story, maybe the best video game story I've ever played, such smart plot design and tons of amazing details, somehow everything makes perfect sense. Such an amazing game

Great video. Patrick's enthusiasm for the game finally convinced me to go back and play through it and I thought it was pretty great. The rough spots can be a drag, especially the text speed, but it's completely worth it in the end.

Literally just finished it, damn..

One of the finest experiences I have had on any system. Brilliant throughout, only had a few very minor gripes like that you can't skip puzzles when replaying it. I kinda think you have to meet the story halfway, but if you do its fantastic. The characters are super well done and the game can get incredibly creepy as well. Some of those bad endings really made me uncomfortable. Something real special that I won't forget anytime soon.

Replayed this game. Despite its flaws, still a great game

Coming to this years after the fact, but the "everyone dies" ending is the only time the game felt like it was truly cheating the twist.

Considering who the killer turns out to be, and who it COULD HAVE been, they generated a lot of fake suspense with that one. That said: helluva story and helluva lot of great twists.