So somewhere in the darkness of the late 90s, I decided that the breadth of games that I had gone through merited a list. Perhaps for absurdity's sake, perhaps to try and convince myself to kick the "childish" habit; whatever the case, I now have proof positive that I've done some dumb things in my life, I'm a proud (and old) gamer, and I wish to share that very madness with the Giantbomb community.
Very interesting game here. So it seems like a cheap-o fighter, but as you do your moves, you learn them for your moveset. And it was pretty well balanced for what it's worth.
It's a rotating game. But made well and breezed through this.
Now here's a concept I haven't really seen before and like. You chase through traffic, then ram the bad guys. Okay, I guess it's like NFS Hot Pursuit, but it was neat to do in 16 bit.
Good sequel to Battle Clash. Natural evolution of systems, characters, they Dr. Wily you a bit at the end. It's good though. I wonder what this'd be like modernized.
So I played this game back in 1993 or something when I went to Disney World. They had a huge Mario and Yoshi arcade on the fringe of one of the parks and out of all the games, I distinctly remember playing this one on an arcade machine (and being terrible at it). Finally decided to see how it was compared to two decades of kinda remembering. It's a lot like Mystery Quest. Very short, good controls, sort of harmless. Really good though!
I remember liking these games, but this was a little rough. Better than Magic Sword anyways...that game, ugh. But this one felt good. Just sorta dragged at the end.
So here's a weird one. Sorta fight-y, sorta wrestling. Plenty of clotheslines, lots of drop kicks. I didn't get good at throws, but I beat the thing.
Ugh, this game got so rough. Even skipping a bunch of floors, it's still really rough. At least the box art is pretty accurate to real life.
I accidentally ruined that robot on my second try. Also, is the guy's hair color supposed to flip out? it seemed like a weird thing. Also, catching the money from the menu guy.
I beat ToeJam and Earl! I watched the GB guys play this enough to wanna get through it. It was a pretty chill rogue-like. Got through it on my first run (taking my time), but I liked it. Would've loved this when I was younger, but not when I first played it because I was too young and it was too "complicated".
I guess I beat this. People talk about how these kinda games move them, and then I get so very little out of them. Why wasn't this just a short film or something? I dunno, it just doesn't click for some reason.
A neat concept that goes well with how this game looks and the western setting. The right length too. Good job again Adult Swim.
So this wasn't as terrible as I thought it was going to be. It looked like a systems-too-heavy fighting game, and there's a lot to it, but it was easy enough to digest. Had to play WAY too many rounds to get through to the end, but I did it. Lost only ONE goddamn match the whole single-player campaign...stupid Garchomp
Another one in the books. Dark like I heard it was, but also on the same downward path these games have been on for a while now. Oh well.
Well that was a quick, lazy sequel. No real heart put into this. If they had just made Double Dragon Neon but in NES graphics it would've been better. This just seemed like a lazy fanmade thing.
Cute little AI thing, but otherwise a boring walker. I'm really over these games!
Another mobile game the guys got me addicted to. Roguelites are a phenomenal genre when done right (which for me is rarely). This one needed just a hair more persistence and it would've been truly something.
Story's got more thought than I was expecting (although I'm sure they had to given the topic), but it still feels stilted in a way that I've never enjoyed the Battlefield franchise. Too realistic to be enjoyable for me? Something like that.
Surprised I never beat the "original" (or at least it was for me). Pretty standard fare. Something just good enough AND just boring enough at the same time about the game. I love the idea of these games more than actually playing them.
Geese is a complete pushover compared to last time! Wolfgang wasn't too hard either. Or maybe I'm getting better with Joe.
The first three levels felt like I was playing the same game! Rolento is still a threat. And that last guy was a jerk, but I smoked him just the same.
I always wanted to see what this little diddy was like. It's been years since I played Chrono Cross, but it's neat how they came back to this idea and fleshed it out. I wonder if that's not something that the video game industry could do instead of lazy remasters and reboots. Taking an old idea and expanding on it.
I kind of love this game. Premise is simple, and the amount of silliness they come up with to mess you up during your run is not only adorable but animated really well for the time! Short but well worth it.
So this gameplay feels bland, but the connectivity of the levels and the weird ways they switch things up were kind of neat. You never knew what the next piece of candy would do. Was just easy enough.
Alright, well at least it wasn't as unsatisfying as the second one's ending! I felt better about this one. None of the puzzles really stumped me, the story was still decent although it didn't do anything much crazier than the other two. And put in some red herrings for fans of the series. Glad they're still making these kinds of games.
I like the feeling this game gave off, but I feel like it didn't pay off. The Joss Wheadon dialogue was overbearing at times as well. Still, I'd like to see more unnerving stuff like how this flirted to be.
Was kind of soft on this first, but once I put some time into it, I enjoyed its pace. Double Fine is good at making short and sweet games of all genres.
So this game was fun to play, but man was that story bland and uninteresting! I was surprised when the last level was really what it was. You'd think they'd at least try to throw something interesting in there. Anyways, glad I played it. It kind of looks like what I've seen of the new Homefront game in that you just run around and do stuff that doesn't affect much.
More of the same. Meh.
Something about the slight thread with the tilesets made me enjoy this. Felt more fleshed out even though it was 90% the same.
Such a solid game. Yes, the mechanics were just right and all. The only gripe I have is it didn't give me a GREAT reason to keep playing. The story was there but barebones, and while the gameplay felt amazing, it was a bit repetitive. I will say it's the perfect way to do the Doom franchise in this day and age.
Yep, scuba Journey. Neat for what it was.
That was pretty good! Looked great, simple sorta -vania, bit of upgrades, and it was trying to do a story thing. I feel like there's a secret epilogue that isn't there yet.
Probably my game of the year. I love my metroidvania's, and this mysterious lore, gorgeous art, and souls-y difficult were PERFECT in my humble opinion. Would've found 100% of this game naturally if it wasn't for a bug in the Colosseum.
A stupid little godzilla brawler. Pretty bland, but it looks neat
A picture search game with a couple of teeny puzzles in it. Was recommended this series by a friend, and was in the mood for it.
A French game through and through. Lots of misery, bleakness of humanity, that weird aversion to brutal violence. Interesting premise and some decent ideas on mechanics. Didn't deliver as well as it could've though. Decent B game though.
Well that was a cute dumb little game.
That last shot was junk. But I saved all of the president's family!
Yes it was repetitive, but it was forgiving enough that I could do its stealth. I almost had to git gud to beat it! By no means great, but quick enough. Also, put another mark down for a DS game that had its subtitle initial as DS.
Sonic is good again! I found most of the special stages myself (although some were crazy difficult to find). Happy to not feel ashamed about finishing a sonic.
Here's a weird little Genesis remake. Sorta crappy controls, but an interesting premise. A fantasy breakout clone. Get weird stuff like this going again, Switch dev's.
I didn't even know this existed. At least I played the first one before finding this. Sorta decent boss design, everything else was negligible in this though.
This is for the DS version. SO BLAND! Kind of a Rampage but better.
This was by no means a great game, but I got around halfway through it and something happened where I lost my save or had to return the game to the owner? I don't remember, so beating this was a point of pride mostly. Meh story, but it's done!
I feel like I haven't been playing new games lately. So here's a recent release. It felt like a step up from SFV, but still nowhere where this should be. Maybe also easier? Not much reason to learn some of the systems.
Not to be one of these guys, but I actually didn't find it that hard. The dragon was a bitch, but otherwise it didn't take much. Really really enjoyed this though!
PS1 version. A friend of mine remembered this game about a "bumbling professor roaming through the desert but playing tetris" and then we found it! This was actually a really interesting take on the Tetris formula where it's as much about navigating that damn Ooaf Professor than it is clearing lines. Really glad I found this gem.
I always enjoy a nice, chill Klonoa game!
I feel like this is the first big game I've beaten in a while. I dunno, 2017 hasn't really been a year of long games. I worry I'll never get to all those RPGs I promised I'd try one day. Anyways, more of the same, but that's not a bad thing. A smidgen less fun only because it's not as novel. Put it down once, but it never disappoints. Nice little MGS stinger at the end there.
Gorgeous game, intense emotions. I really enjoyed this look into this kind of mental stuff. Very effective, good job Ninja Theory.
Man, I don't like playing as Heihachi, and this was Heihachi the game! Also, fuck that last boss, jesus.
That was way faster than I even thought it'd be. Very interesting that this exists/existed? Well at least I beat it.
Cute little game, got a bit one-note towards the end but glad I got through it.
This is like a dragonball fighting game: just charge your most powerful attack before the other guy and win. I don't think there's a single advantage to the beast and vehicle modes! Garbage
So I beat this I guess. I thought it'd just keep going and not be only one level. Well good!
This is a weird, quick game. Interesting premise, boy is it boring and controls badly (with a controller).
PEPSIMAN~! What a dumb game. Dumb dumb great stupid dumb.
I like how they worked the Mega Man power acquire part into this! Other than that, it was a good kart racer! Man, Wily is a jerk as always.
Glad I finally FINALLY got through this. I had help with this one, going through it with someone else made it more palatable. More interesting than I thought, glad I did it.
Well this is a dumb game. Easier than the first time I tried it a decade and some ago. Maybe cuz I just cloud buster sword'ed my way to the end. But whatever works, right! That quest mode is kind of amazing and kind of a broken mess at the same time. It's like someone hacked the game and put a new mode in it.
WHAT A TERRIBLE GAME! Obviously the MK team that didn't come very far from their roots. The low jump kick trick even works on their Goro stand in. Ugh.
Gamefreak should do more non-Pokemon games! I liked their style in this. Short rhythm games are always a blast.
This was one of those silly B games that it always bothered me that I didn't beat it. Well it was better than it had any right to be! The boyfriend's character Nick was very very well written, made me laugh consistently against Juliet's sincerity. Like all Suda games, it ended weak and it felt like they stopped trying to design the game 3/4th of the way through. So, good!
A straightforward but great, quick metroidvania. We should get a new word for that. Map platformer? It's more than just jumping though. Whatever, the word works, let's just keep it.
I still say this series is the real successor to Mega Man. MM-MMX--MMZ--this. Good gameplay, story is stupider than ever, but that's okay. And as always, I can appreciate a game that can explain it's dying and coming back mechanism in-universe.
I'm putting this twice because I just beat Burial at Sea and there's no separate game for that. I liked it, and I realized it's been a long time since I've played either one of these games. So many good games since then!
Another CoD, another year. Everyone was right with this one doing nothing new or innovative with its story. How many more years before they take a year off? My guess is three.
This game is an unforgiving fucker towards the end. That's what I get for trying to beat a "quick" game.
A good, cute little kart racer. Don't know why I never played this before. Short and sweet.
To help remember a friend. A good pathfinder (Alex's solution for metroidvania) game, I thought the arrows were handhold-y, but I needed more of those as things went along cuz this layout made little sense. Couple of the last bosses were a pain, but like all good things...
A short, bland third person shooter as advertised! I can add this to my "final boss is a rehash" page on the site. They tried to make you care and it really fell flat.
This was a better walking simulator. A bit shorter, very inventive storytelling/gameplay, and still told a touching story. Still can only take these in sparse amounts, but I think we're coming along here.
A quick shooter from the GOTY 2017 lists. Nothing wrong with a cute shmup.
I love a good, abstract cookie clicker sorta deal! Always more addictive than it should be.
I knew I'd love this game, but I kept picking it up when I wasn't in the mood for this kind of a game. Well it finally hit, and I loved it! Something about the way this game gives you all these threads to follow, it's intoxicating. Park Patrol remains one of my favorite games.
Ykno what's a terrible platformer? Skullmonkeys. I had to play it because I loved Neverhood back in the day, but man, these guys cannot make a good platformer.
Well that was 90 minutes of playable garbage. I assume this was an arcade shooter that they brought to PSX? But man, such a barebones premise!
For an anime I've never watched, I sure do enjoy the lore of this series. I've played a few of them now, and aside from mistaking one of them for Kenshiro, I'm liking all of it.
I remember Ryan raving about this silly little thing so so long ago. I finally played it, and I liked it more than I thought I would. Wasn't the best, but it was enough like an incremental game that it kept me going until the end. I kind of wish they had done something other than the exact history of consoles. Put a spin on it somewhere!
I heard too much about this not to give it a try. Wow, this game was unnerving to the point that I was laughing anxiously about stuff. I always enjoy a game that messes with its own script.
Wow, beating super old games today! This was better once I stopped trying to do tricks and just got down the damn hill. Everything but that last guy seemed fair and fun. Damn that 'ding' guy.
Quick sorta crappy game like Korra. But I had to play it because, ykno, Toitles!
Not the best game, but it felt good to play. That camera angle is just steep enough to suck.
I didn't know this was such a decent copy of Goldeneye! I had more fun with this in 2018 than I had any right to.
Alright, these guys can still make a good story mode. Definitely felt more rote than the first. I love the idea of the loot even though I'm never gonna get good enough at the game for that stuff to make a difference. Also kind of weird to not have a final boss from Netherrealm not kick my ass several times!
This game almost got its hooks in me, but there's something generic or lacking about it. The core conceit is great though.
I still enjoy rolling through these games even if it's pretty rote. Still need to get my shanties on in 4 at some point, and I'll need to at least try origins to see if it changes everything. Because this is the same game as the last half dozen.
Another one of those. Gotta learn my lesson, these still don't do anything for me. But it's quick so I'm compelled!
I owned this in 2002 and didn't finish it until 2018. Probably didn't even play it back then, barely knew what it was. But it was good! Probably would've been more impactful had I played it a decade ago. Kinda liked 1 better? I dunno.
I really really enjoyed this game. Didn't think I was in the mood for one of these parkour games, but this was amazing. Felt so good, challenging but not too difficult. And no huge punishment for not trying to get all the collectibles. Just so satisfying!
This was a great mindless game to play while doing other things. Absolutely useless story, just pure point and shoot for the numbers to go up. Continues my hate for helicopters.
Very adorable game with all the secrets, collectibles, and puzzles to keep you interested for as long as it was. Very refreshing against 20 hour epics.
I actually beat a Omega Force game?! How gorgeous this game is why I wanted to play it (don't have any nostalgia for the DQ franchise). And here I am 1-2 years after I started this and 25 hours of play. This really was a great game to play while watching X-Files or listening to the bombcast. I'll take a break for a while, then I'm gonna try Hyrule Warriors.
I didn't need to play this. Laid it on THICK at the end.
Okay, that was pretty good. The end was kind of flat, but they're obviously setting up a pretty great third game.
Another great one! Nothing wrong with these games. So chill and the right scale of incentives!
I tried this when it came back in 2016, got two or three lasers but quickly got frustrated as I didn't understand the puzzles' rules. Came back fresh two years later with my partner and between the two of us we demolished this game. We're going to finish the challenge cave next and then probably maybe up the 60-70 puzzles remaining (probably all hidden?)
This was the GBA version. Quick but cute enough puzzle game.
I actually won at a game of chess! Wish I could actually get good at this.
