Game Clearing: 2025 Edition
You know the drill by now, it's time to talk about all those games I played! The Tierlist will be at the end.
Pikmin 1² - Jan 1 - Jan 3
I really enjoy Pikmin 1, though there are a few hurdles that make it difficult to back to, especially compared to Pikmin 2. So, what if Pikmin 1 was remade in Pikmin 2's engine? That's what PikHacker and his team did, and it is amazing. They payed attention to every little detail and made sure it was as accurate to the original as possible, while also improving a few aspects (mainly Pikmin AI). If you wanted to play the best version of Pikmin 1, this is the way to do it. However, if it was just a remake, it would be great but what really puts it over the top is the second quest, with remixed areas and creatures! It's a bit more challenging, though I've heard later versions did fix a few things regarding it (which I won't spoil here). And finally, there's a randomizer with a ton of options! If you enjoy the Pikmin series, I can't recommend this hack enough!
Antonblast - Jan 3 - Jan 10 & Dec 18 - Dec 18
Hoo boy, here's a game I've been looking forward to. It's a shame it released at the tail-end of 2024, cause I'd call this my Game of The Year. The platforming is great, the movement is sick, and the soundtrack is killer. This game is also pretty hard. You will die a lot, but damn I am enjoying myself even as I die to some sections over and over. In some levels, getting the collectibles feel like a mini-challenge in its own right (especially for the last level). I felt like the Combo Chain and the Time Trials were a bit much, so I didn't do them. I also did play The End update, and I really like the new bosses they added as well as the Lime Trials.
Pokemon Black 2 - Jan 11 - Jan 24
After playing White, I knew I had to play the sequel. And yeah, I can see why many people consider the Gen V games to be the series. The story is as good as the first games, and some of those scenematics blew me away a bit. I also do like that they've mixed in mon from previous gens in here, although I usually try to pick mons I've never used for my playthroughs. Seeing Triple and Rotation Battles appear more in this game was a welcome surprise, as I thought they were cool gimmicks that you rarely got to see. Very solid, and I can see myself playing through this multiple times. While I do desire to play the Switch Pokemon games, I also want to check out some of the spin-offs at a later date.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 - Jan 28 - Jan 31
I love the New Super Mario Bros series. I remember getting the DS game with the Mario DS Lite as a Christmas present. So I've played through it many times, the same can be said for the Wii game, and Wii U title I've played through a few times. However, this 3DS game managed to slip my radar for the longest time. Finally playing through it now, it's still pretty great. I liked a lot of the levels, and I feel like almost every gimmick was fun as opposed to annoying, which is good as every level has a gimmick this time. I also enjoy how they turned the cannons from just being a cutscene to an actual level, and a pretty hard one at that. Similar to the Tricky Teasure levels in Rayman Origins, you are constantly running and need to jump at the right time to make it. There is also the Coin Rush mode, which I later learned actually got DLC for new level packs. I would have tried them, but y'know the eShop is discontinued. Oh well.
The Munchables - Feb 7 - Feb 8
Another obscure one, I remember hearing people say it was like Katamari, so I've been curious to check it out. It's a very fun game-loop: eat thing to grow so you can eat larger things to grow even more. You really feel powerful as you go from a tiny weakling to a massive force of nature swallowing down everything in your path. The game itself is not that long, as there's twenty-four stages split into eight worlds, each one having two regular levels and a boss fight. For added challenge, I decided to go for all S-Ranks, and it wasn't much of a difficulty increase. For some stages, it took me multiple attempts and I had to avoid getting hurt at all costs. The rest I got pretty easily, even after getting hit multiple times in a run. After you beat the game, you get a challenge mode, where the levels are mirrored and it turns into a Time Trial. That sounds daunting for S-Ranks, but you also unlock a monster that is much faster than your starting ones. Most of them I got an S-Rank on my first try, and others I got after two or three attempts. Do check this one out if you like games like Katamari, or you just like quirky games.
Mario & Wario - Feb 14 - Feb 15
The SNES Mouse was a neat lil accessory, and while many people know it for only Mario Paint, there were a TON of games made for the mouse, although most of them were Japan Only, such as this game here. I don't know why it never made it to the States, as all of the text of the game is in English already. It's a neat little puzzle game where you play as a faerie and guide your choice of Mario, Yoshi, or the Princess to the Goal (and Luigi). There's also four Stars to find in each level of every world (minus the first one), which definitely add a touch of challenge to the game. The difficulty curve though, is quite sharp as the first 7 or 8 stages (sets of ten levels) were pretty easy, then Stage 9 was challenging, Stage 10 was rough, and then the Extra Stage was BRUTAL! For the last few levels, you will need to be both fast and percise with the mouse. It's also one of those games that doesn't save your progress when turned off. They tried to remedy this by locking the last Stages behind beating Stage 8 (and you can pick that one immediately), but that's still a lot of game you gotta play if you game overed on the last level. No wonder many people didn't beat this as kids. Although I'd imagine most people playing it nowadays have access to save states, so it's not an issue anymore.
Balloon Kid - Feb 17 - Feb 17
I've thought the NES Balloon Fight was neat, so I've always wanted to play the Game Boy title. The game itself is quite simple, float around and avoid the obstacles as the screen scrolls. Unlike the original Balloon Fight, you can walk around on the ground and even jump without your balloons. I also found it to be quite easy, and the game's really good about giving you a lot of lives and sometimes invincibility. There's even a bonus game in each stage to get even more lives. It's also pretty short, consisting of eight stages, and it'd prolly take an hour tops to beat it. The short length is not a negative, as I feel like the game sets out on doing everything it wanted to do, and it would be pretty fun to replay. There's also the Balloon Trip mode, which is an endless survive mode that is really addicting. One last thing to mention is that Japan never got this game, but they instead got an exclusive Game Boy Color remake of it. Other than adding color, the remake saves your progress and gives you a map screen to replay levels. Either version I would definitely recommend checking out; it's a fun little trip that doesn't outstay its welcome.
Spy Vs. Spy - Feb 19 - Feb 20
While I don't really care for the parodies MAD does, there's one part I always enjoy: the Spy Vs. Spy comics. The cat and mouse like antics two big-nosed guys get into where sometimes you don't know who's gonna win until the last panel, simply amazing. Now, there have been a few Spy Vs. Spy games; mainly on the NES, GB, and home computers. But the one that really caught my eye is the 3D game for PS2 and Xbox, which is actually remake of all of those earlier titles. I would have played the Xbox version, but the game is not compatible with neither my 360 or One, so the PS2 it is. What makes this one stand out is that has an actual single player campaign, that's not just playing the multiplayer by yourself. The game itself is a third person shooter, most of the time. During the Story Mode, you will run into little minigames you'll need to complete to progress. There's also quite a bit of platforming in this game, which I would describe as adequate. It's certainly weird going from strafing and shooting to needing to time jumps, but the physics are good enough to where it's rare you'll die doing it. Could do without the fall damage though. You've got quite the arsenal of weapons and tools. There are quite a few cool guns, though I mainly stuck with the Slingshot as it's the only ranged weapon with infinite ammo. The traps were neat, but in Story Mode I had no real use for them outside of when I need them to progress. Overall, I'd call the campaign decent and enjoyable, but I don't know if I'd play through it again. Apparently you can also unlock concept art by beating the Single Player versions of Modern Mode and Classic Mode, but I'd rather play those with actual humans and not bots. Too bad doing that nowadays requires jumping through several hoops to get it functional.
Garfield: Caught in the Act - Feb 22 - Feb 25 & Dec 16 - Dec 16
Garfield is no stranger to merchandising, and turning IPs into video games is a rite of passage for any popular character with as much staying power as the orange cat. In fact, there are over twenty games starring him, but sadly most of them are either downright awful or completely dull (which I'd argue is worse). However, this is one of few games I've heard is actually good. Plus it was in the legendary Sonic & Garfield Pack, so it must be decent, right? First thing I have to say is that graphics are quite good, Garfield is even well-animated. This is too a fault though, as if you get hit, you're treated to a stun animation and the i-frames are barely longer than it, so you may end up getting stunlocked a few times. Getting hit in the air cancels your jump also, which can make some of the later platforming rough. The levels are a mixed bag, as some are fine and others are awful. Notable examples are the Prehistoric stage where platforms will blend in with the background (and sometimes it's a wall) and the Black-And-White stage that is one massive door maze where it's very easy to end up back at the start. Still though, I would never call any of this hard, just frustrating. I'm glad I'd played it, but I don't see myself ever playing this one again. And if this truly is one of the best Garfield games, I sure as hell ain't playing any more of them (except maybe the Famicom game if I feel like it).
And then, the SEGA Channel exclusive Lost Levels was found, so then I played through that. There were three levels included here: Viking / Ice Age level with a lot of sliding, an Alien Landscape with low-grav, and a second Catsablanca level with a train. Playing them now, I can definitely see why they were cut. The sliding around is a neat idea, but is tricky to control. Having the remote on the moving train is a decent concept, but having to jump from car to car while also not suddenly falling off is annoying, especially since the front of the train is a instakill. The space level was probably my favorite of the three, and I can see why it got included in the PC version of the game. Still, it is very cool to finally play this after all these years.
Drill Dozer - Feb 28 - Mar 9
Trying to find a copy of this game, even just the cart, you will notice a pretty high price tag. This isn't just because the retro game market is a load, or that Game Freak made it, it's because it's got a motor inside to create rumble, and it's also a very good game. The game consists of using your drill to destroy things in your way or to traverse the level. There's not too many stages, but each one is quite expansive. You can also buy upgrades to increase your drills' strength, which is required to get everything. I was initially worried that it would be tedious to replay stages to get the Treasures, but you unlock access to alternative paths and short cuts that keep the second run through fresh. You can also buy access to secret stages, which are naturally the most challenging in the game. You will fail plenty of times in them, but at that point you've maxed out the health upgrades to where you can afford to make mistakes to learn the patterns without getting a Game Over. I've heard many people say this is one of the best games on GBA, and I can completely agree with them. I can also see plenty of people playing this on an emulator, but I'd say you might be missing out on the rumble feedback from drilling, which I think really adds to the experience. Either way, it's a massive recommend from me!
Robopon: Sun Version - Mar 14 - Mar 16
I've always been curious about the Robopon series, as it seems to be similar to Pokemon and some of the designs looked cool. I thought the ability to upgrade parts of your robots, and that you can teach any type of move to them with some types mixing to create even powerful moves all sounded cool on paper. However this all kinda falls apart once you get into the game. I spent the majority of the game using the same move over and over until I won. There is type effectiveness in this game, but 90% of time I just picked the strongest move and it would scrap the opponent in a few hits, if not outright OHKO-ing them. You can also only have up to four Robopon in a party, not helped by the fact that there are few times where you need a specific Robopon to progress the story. There's also some minigames sprinkled in, but I didn't care for them, especially when they became mandatory. This is because I would either beat it easily, or get walled and have to grind until I won. Grinding seems to be the answer for everything, instead of any actual strategy. And I'm not grinding to some stupidly high level, I'm merely grinding to match the opponents' level, where I then win with no issue. I was feeling fatigued playing this, but when I realized I was only a few major fights away from being done, I gritted my teeth and beared it. I can't recommend this one, not even in a so-bad-it's-good way. Not even the cuckoo-bananas story could save it.
Virtual Boy Wario Land - Mar 23 - Mar 26
When I learned that the 3DS could now emulate Virtual Boy games (via homebrew), finally playing VB Wario Land crossed my mind. I've heard it named one of the best of the system, even though there's only twenty-ish games for it. As someone who enjoyed the OG Wario Land, it was fun playing another game like it. Unlike later entries, you've got power-ups not transformations, and they're all fun to use. I also found exploring the levels for secrets to be really rewarding, destroying blocks or walls that look off to find goodies or even hidden pathways to more goodies feels great. There's also the treasure to find in every level, which is required for the good ending. If you're going for the treasures, then the amount of coins you collect doesn't mater, which does mean all that gambling I did was for naught. The bosses are also great, really using the 3D to good effect, especially the final boss. The one sin of this game is the console it was released on. Not a lot of people got to play it when it came out, and it's never been re-released officially. Whether you're playing this on a modded console, a computer, or God forbid the actual Virtual Boy, you're in for a good time.
Earthworm Jim 3D - Mar 28 - Apr 2
I don't typically go out of my way to play bad games, but after playing the first two Jim games I've always been morbidly interested about the third game. This game went through Development Hell, and basically killed the series outside of ports and remasters. Finally getting to play it now, and it's not that bad. Let me be clear, I'm not saying it's a hidden gem or even an under-rated classic. It's honestly pretty average. You've got four worlds, each with two levels and boss (except for the third world, which has four for some reason). Golden Udders are the main collectible here, and to beat the game you have to get them all, which is a shame as quite a few levels have one mission that sucks. There's also Marbles scattered everywhere, which act like the Notes from Banjo Kazooie, complete with them resetting when you die. I didn't like it in BK, and I hate it here as well. Outside of that, the actual levels are okay, a decent mix of exploration and platforming. I found the humor to be good, and it did get a chuckle out of me once or twice. And then we have the bosses, hoo boy! They were honestly my least favorite part of the game. The pig you're on controls awkwardly, and then you have the boss shooting missiles at you, which felt impossible to dodge. Keep in mind you also have a health bar during this. Apparently the dodging not working is an emulator issue, from what I've heard, and jumping over the missiles is a bit easier on actual hardware. I am aware of the PC version, but I've heard both the GOG and Steam releases have their own sets of issues, which means you're damned if you don't, damned if you do. All that aside, Jim 3D is just OK. It's not an amazing game, but it's definitely not the worst thing I've played either. I have mentioned in a prior Game Clearing post I wasn't going to play Jim 3D or Menace 2 the Galaxy. Well now that I've played this, will I play that GBC game? The short answer is no, that game looks dull. The long answer? I went into Jim 3D expecting it to be bad but interesing, and was pleasently surprised. Just watching Menace 2 the Galaxy is boring, and I can't imagine playing it would be any better.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX - Apr 10 - Apr 16
I've been meaning to check out the handheld Zelda games, and this is one I've always heard many great things about. And I was aware of the Switch remake, but I wanted to play this version instead (mainly cause it was on NSO). I'd probably call this one of my favorite 2D Zeldas, if I'm being honest. I liked exploring around the island, solving puzzles, getting new items and seeing what they do. I also really enjoyed the story, even as someone with a general idea of what happens, it was great watching it unfold. The dungeons were overall great, though some of the later ones required quite a bit of backtracking, and sometimes the actual way to progress can leave you scratching your head. Bombable walls that you can only discover by listening to the sound your sword makes when hitting them is the worst it gets, and it thankfully only happens a few times. Strongly recommend if you've never played it, and if you have, it's definitely worth playing through more than once.
Chameleon Twist - Apr 19 - Apr 19
An early 3D platformer I always thought was neat. Getting to play it now, it's pretty good. As a chameleon, most of your kit involves your tongue: hooking onto things, swinging around, even doing slick flips. It was kinda fun learning how to use your moves to traverse the levels. There's only six stages, but each one has a unique theme, and it'll probably take you around twenty minutes to beat each one; possibly thirty if you're going for the crowns. Crowns are the main collectible of the game, hidden behind tricky platforming or solving a puzzle. And sometimes, they're just out in the open. Technically, you don't need to get all of the crowns, as the game only rewards you getting 20 of them, with all stages having slightly more than that. This is not a bad thing, as some of them are pretty hidden. The game isn't too challenging, plus you get infinite continues and you'll respawn in the room you died in, with all of the crowns collected, so dying holds no real consequences. The camera in this game ranges from being okay to rough, but I think a bad camera in a early 3D game is just that bitter pill you'll need to swallow. All in all, I'd probably say it's an above-average 3D platformer with some neat ideas that's worth revisiting.
Cookie & Cream - Apr 20 - Apr 21
I have a lot of nostalgia for The Adventures of Cookie & Cream, as I remember playing it my brother a lot. We've never actually beaten it though, we got walled on the final boss. I ran into a copy of the DS port / remake, simply titled Cookie & Cream, a while ago and I've been curious to how different it was to the original. The first thing to note is that it really leans into being a DS game. Cookie is on the top screen, does all the platforming, and is controlled with the d-pad and buttons. Cream is always on the bottom-screen, with a puzzle appearing when Cookie steps on a button, or enters a context-sensitive area. The puzzles usually use the touch controls: turning a wheel, pushing buttons, the like. You also blow into the mic sometimes. The second thing is that it really feels like two players was the intended way to play, even moreso than the original. Later on in the game, you're expected to press a button and have Cookie move pretty much instantly, which means if you're playin solo you need to do some serious finger twister to do this correctly. A third thing involves the time limit. In the PS2 game, it's always ticking down, getting hit costs time, clocks are the only way to restore it, and if it runs out, you start from the beginning. Almost all of that is true in the DS version, except you can continue from right where you left off, and you're given 100 seconds for free. While I am glad it's there, it does remove most of the challenge the original game had. You do get less points for this, but all points do is unlock minigames, so I couldn't care less about them. Also, the Bonus World you get for beating the game is also absent, which is a letdown. I'm being very negative about this game, but I do think it's alright, maybe even good. But it does feel inferior to the original. I can't even recommend it, since setting up co-op on the PS2 game is much easier in the modern age than trying to use DS LAN play.
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines - Apr 24 - Apr 26
I've been waiting for this sequel the moment I learned about it, and I feel like it does what a sequel should do: build on everything the first game established. Luna, the new playable character, is fun to play as and has a kit that is a bit different to Pablo's. Most notably, she has a gun. I have heard some players have issues aiming while also moving around, although I myself never ran into such problems. I did run into some muscle memory issues, as you switch between the two every stage. Sometimes I would jump and try to dash, only to realize I was Pablo now. This didn't happen a lot (and the levels do indicate which dog you'll play as), but it did happen enough for me to notice it. Both dogs also get elemental powers in some stages to spice up gameplay further, which I thought was neat. While I don't care for Time Trials, I found the little time challenges to be pretty fun. Whether or not you've played the first game, I'd say to check this one out.
The Simpsons: Itchy & Scratchy in Miniature Golf Madness - Apr 28 - Apr 28
There are a TON of Simpsons video games, and after playing the "good ones", I wondered if there were any others worth playing. The majority of Simpsons games are bland platformers, and the ones that aren't are bad in other ways. But there was one game that interested me out of the trash pile: Mini Golf Madness. Putting golf mechanics in a 2D platformer tends to work well, so how it is here? It's fine. As Scratchy, you will putt a ball (with a power meter) through a course. All while Itchy will pop out of nowhere and try to kill you. Thankfully, you can pick up a few weapons on the way or simply bash his skull in with your club. Ranged weapons are generally better since up close it can be a crap shoot if you end up killing him before he kills you (and sometimes you trade). The levels are okay, each one having some sort of gimmick; like the pirate one having cannons that'll launch your ball or the haunted house having ghosts that will steal your ball. There is also a par on each course, but outside of getting an extra life if you manage to putt under par, I found no reason to go for it. I do have mention that the graphic look quite nice for GameBoy: the level preview art is good and the few Springfielders that show up look very on-model. Itchy and Scratchy also each have a lot of death animations, with an appropriate amount of violence. The game is also quite easy and short, as you start with 9 lives and can find a few lives in each level, on top of having 2 continues in case you do game over. There's also only 9 courses, so it'll probably take you less than 2 hours, but that's probably a good thing. It's honestly pretty average, but it's probably an above-average Simpsons game just because of how bad most of them are. At the least, I can confidently say it's the best Simpsons Game Boy game, and the best Itchy and Scratchy game.
Cool Spot - Apr 29 - Apr 29
As an avid fan of 7-UP, I'm honestly surprised I haven't played Cool Spot before. I have heard people call this a childhood favorite, and after playing I can see why, as it's a pretty solid licensed game. It's quite simple, you have cool points you need to collect, and you can jump about and shoot sparks from your fingertips in four directions. I do wish there was a way to have Spot stay in place as you shoot, as if you're tying to shoot an enemy below you while on a rope, Spot will also start climbing down. It's also good that the projectile goes through walls, and enemies won't respawn unless you die. Now, you only need to find 60% of the cool points to free your identical friend at the end of the stage, but if you manage to reach 85% coolness, you get a bonus stage! In each bonus, you can find a letter that all-together spell UNCOLA, and you get rewarded with a continue once you got them all (and you do keep the letter if you die in the bonus stage or time runs out). Although once you get all the letters, no more bonus stages will appear, so the only bonus you'll get is an extra life sometimes. The main stages also have a time limit, which I find to be not much of an issue, as the checkpoints are plentiful enough that you'll only replay a small portion of the level if you time out (and then get a massive time bonus as the timer fully resets whenever you die). It was definitely more nerve-wracking with the later levels, which become a lot more vertical where missing a jump can mean a lot of lost progress. I was worried about running out lives, as I died a few times in beginning, but then got into groove and managed to stockpile a bunch of them by the end. I'd say to play either the SNES or Genesis version, but to avoid the Game Gear and GameBoy versions, as they didn't change any of the levels to accommodate for the smaller screen size. Now, if you excuse me, I need to see if my local stores carry the uncola. Call that good advertising!
Kwirk - May 1 - May 1
I've been meaning to check this game out after watching Video Power, which is basically a diet Captain N, but with a video review segment added at the end. His game looked the most interesting (well, second to NARC) but that might be because they actually showed his game in an episode. It's a puzzle game, and quite a simple one. You can push blocks around, and can rotate moving doors. Your goal is to either get to the stairs or the other side of the screen. Later levels include holes in the floor you can fill in with the blocks and Kwirk's other pals whom must also reach the stairs. Going Up? is the standard mode where you can tackle puzzles in any order you'd like (though I'd recommend starting on the easy difficulty first). Heading Out? is more like a challenge more, where how fast you can complete each puzzle gets you a higher bonus. There's roughly forty unique rooms for each difficulty, and the game will flip them vertically sometimes. Alternatively, you can also hold down Left & Select to get only unique rooms, which is what I did. A very solid puzzler for the Game Boy, I can imagine someone playing this on and off during a trip or something. I would not recommend playing it all in a single session like I did, since I feel like I fried my brain after a few hours. But still, if you like puzzle games, it's worth checking out.
Super Magnetic Neo - May 4 - May 9
If you look up anything about this game, you'll see a lot of people calling it a clone of Crash Bandicoot. And, it's definitely not beating any allegations with many hallway-like levels and sections where you ride an animal. However, the game does have one major difference: Neo can use the power of magnetism to pull and repel objects. There's also an inertia factor when holding onto a pendulum or chain. It can be a bit tricky to get a hang of at first, but once you do it's quite satisfying. There's also a run button, and jumping while running gives you a long jump. I did not like using it, as it feel like Neo will sometimes just run off the ledge, and even if you do make it, he sometimes skids or knocks into the wall. Meaning sometimes when you make it, you actually don't. I gaslight myself into thinking I needed the Pinki Medals to fight the final boss, which are these little coins placed around the level and are usually slightly off the beaten path. But no, they're not, so don't bother going for them unless you're trying for 100%. Every stage also has a hidden haniwa buried somewhere, and you must use you magnet to pull it out. While the VMU will work as a metal detector, I didn't feel like combing through every level for them. If you manage to do both of those things, plus the Time Trials (because of course this game has those), you get an extra cutscene of everyone congratulating Neo and then clobbering him with pies. Hooray? There's also a Challenge Mode, the ultimate test of magentism. I thought it as neat, but had no desire to beat it This game had a lot of passion behind it, with magazine coverage and several interactive Flash sites (which was the style at the time), so it makes me a bit sad it ended being kinda average. I kinda wish this game got a sequel, as it prolly could have ironed out a few things, and elevated it to a good, maybe even great game. If you're a DC owner and you're looking for a game that you'll remember, I'd say give it a shot.
Papa's Pizzeria Deluxe - May 11 - May 18
Like I said in my Freezeria Deluxe review, I don't have a lot of nostalgia for this series. However, Pizzeria Deluxe is special, as the original Papa's Pizzeria was the first of these time management games, back when Flash was something most sites supported. So, it's the game that would benefit the most from QoL stuff added in later installments. Yes, I am aware of Pizzeria To Go and Pizzeria HD, remakes of the Flash original for mobile phones and tablets respectively, but the deluxe version adds even more content to the game. The gameplay is still simple, but definitely addicting as you try your best to make the customers' orders to the best of your abilities. You can even earn Special Recipes from your customers. There's also the Stickers, which are basically achievements, with most of them you'll simply get by playing the game. The game is also smart enough to let you know of new cheevos you can get once you have everything you need for it. I would definitely recommend any game in the Gameria series, but I can't really recommend Pizzeria over Freezeria (or vice versa) since it'll probably just come down to personal preference. That being said, if you were someone who spent time in the computer lab playing the original Pizzeria, I would definitely recommend checking this version out.
Family Guy: Video Game! - May 20 - May 21
After playing a bunch of Simpsons games, I was curious if any Family Guy games exist, and there are. I decided to play the first one for now. Since the game was made in 2006, it's a bit of a time capsule, as you get to see and hear a lot of characters that the show has either killed off or phrased out by now. Bertram, the Greased Up Deaf Guy, Death, and the Vaudeville Guys just to name a few. You even end the game with a battle against Ernie the Giant Chicken! But the references are only part of the experience, so how is the gameplay. Well, it kinda sucks. First, you have Stewie's sections, which are mostly mediocre platforming or shooting sections. There's also a few sliding sections that control awfully. Next, we have Peter, who gets a brawler beat-em up. It's pretty mindless, and not mindless fun, more like bashing one of two buttons over and over. They tried to remedy this by having enemies be immune to either punches or kicks, but it just means when you get crowded by enemies, your only way out is through your super move, if you have the meter for it. Which, you probably will, since pickups are usually plentiful as if the devs themselves realized fighting these guys normally was a major pain in the ass. The game also adds long strings of QTEs to the last few boss fights, which add nothing but frustration. And then there's Brian's sections, which are stealth sections and the most unfun part of the game. You're meant to keep out line of sight and hide, but it feels like I'll do the same thing multiple times, and sometimes get caught. I've also seen characters face away from me snap 180 degrees the second I walk by. Definitely puts the error in trial and error. Last thing to mention is the cutaways. Yes, in the middle of a level, you'll be presented a minigame based on a cutaway from the show. They're fun at first, but having to do them over and over if you keep dying really wears out their charm. Honestly, if you are curious about this game, just watch a longplay. You'll get all of the jokes and gags but without needing to play the lackluster gameplay.
Pokemon Unknown - May 21 - May 26
I love randomizers. I've messed around with a few, most notably ones for mainline Pokemon games. So, what if there was a ROMhack that added in all of the modern mons and moves, and randomized the journey? Well, this ROMhack does that to FireRed. Probably the most interesting thing is that rather than having a seed, all of the randomization seems to happen in real time. There's also a bunch of toggles and modifiers you can change, such as turning on Nuzlocke rules or changing the difficulty. I found it to be a neat way to playthrough Fire Red again, and I may have to do another run in the future.
Domino Rally - May 27 - May 27
Little known fact, No One Can Stop Mr. Domino was actually one of my childhood games. I played it a lot, unlocked every character, and even managed to get full combos on all stages. And I've always heard people call Domino Rally a spiritual successor to that game, but outside of the domino theme and a character who will not stop running, there's no similarities between the two. In Mr. Domino, you ran around a circuit-like level, dropping dominoes to fall onto switches, and hopefully getting whatever mechanism to then knock over other dominoes onto more switches for better chains. In Domino Rally, you instead have a open level to walk in, with the ability to place dominoes to create paths for Minion. Goals in levels usually are either to reach an area or to topple over certain objects. You also have a meter that depletes whenever you place dominoes, and the only way to restore it is by shaking the Wii-mote while running over non-domino objects. The game also has cutscenes before and after each level, which are just as wacky and wild as one would hope. It's also a bit short, as there's only eight levels and you could probably beat this game in two hours. There are collectibles, the Memories, which are little pink circles scattered around a stage. Collecting one awards you with a piece of artwork and a paragraph of flavor text. They're neat, but I don't feel compelled to comb through the stages to find them all. In fact, when doing research, I could not find a 100% playthrough of the game, nor even a guide as to where they all are, which is a first for me. All that said, I would consider this game a solid good. If you like weird and obscure titles, definitely give it a shot. Especially since it tends to be pretty cheap on the second hand market.
Futurama - Jun 2 - Jun 3
I am quite a big fan of Futurama, I've watched the original Fox run quite a few times, and watched Comedy Central revival a couple of times as well. After watching the two Hulu seasons, I was reminded of the video game that came out over twenty years ago. Writing and humor-wise, it really feels like an episode of Futurama. Fry, Bender, and Leela each get their own sets of levels, with Dr. Zoidberg even getting an animal riding level. The rest of the game is mostly a platformer. Fry does get to use a gun, but Bender and Leela just get CQC, yes there's combat in this game, it's not great and I often just walked away from enemies unless I had to kill them all to unlock the next section. The platforming in this game is adequate, but the amount of insta-death sucks a lot of fun out of it. Pits full of lava, pits full of sludge (which is different from the sludge that just hurts you), pits of… bottomless nothing? Plus traps that will insta-kill you, even though they look exactly like things that just do damage. There's also fall damage, and if there's any enemies nearby, they will beat the crap out of you before you can get back up on your feet. In every level, you can find Nibblers in cages, free them and you get extras. If the platforming was a bit more lenient, or the checkpoints more plentiful, I would have bothered to comb levels for them. The game also tracks the small collectibles and how many enemies you've killed, but AFAIK it doesn't get you anything. There are also cheat codes for Infinite Health, Ammo, and Lives, which would probably "fix" the difficulty. Personally, I'll call this game just average, where the theming carries the game at points.
Kid Icarus: Of Myths And Monsters - Jun 9 - Jun 9
It's interesting when an installment of series is only released in certain regions, such as the case with Of Myth and Monsters here. Despite being developed in Japan, it only got a US and Europe release. I have played the NES original before, and this game definitely takes many of the gameplay aspects wholesale. The first three levels of a world is either a vertical or horizontal side-scroller, with rooms to enter. Maybe you'll find Zeus or a Shopkeeper, or maybe you'll get swarmed by bats. You'll want to run into Zeus, as completing his training gets you upgrades. Some weapons require you to have health upgrades to use them, which you get at point thresholds. Thankfully, it is very easy to farm points as you can just wait around a pot that spawns snakes, kill them, pick up the Hearts, and then wait for them to respawn. Repeat until you feel like you're prepared. The fourth level of a world is a fortress, where you must traverse the rooms to reach the boss. And these bosses are probably my least favorite part, if only because they are such arrow sponges, even with upgrades. The final boss is probably the most frustrating, if only because he has a second phase and if you die on either phrase, you have to start the level all over again. While that definitely stopped a lot of people from beating the game, it would probably take you around an afternoon otherwise. It's a pretty alright title all-in-all, and it shouldn't be forgotten. Especially with that ending; that Sun gives me the jibblies.
Yoshi's New Island - Jun 12 - Jun 22
When it comes to the Yoshi series, New Island is often pretty mixed, though it does seem reception has softened over the years. Personally, I think it's alright. The big gimmick this time around are giant eggs that destroy pretty much everything. There's also metal eggs that allow Yoshi to travel underwater. This game is also the first in the Yoshi series to split the collectibles into separate missions. I personally prefer it, if only because getting hit once now means I still have a reason to grab the rest of the Coins and Flowers. One small change also makes the Stars more annoying: whenever you die and restart, you always start back at 10 Stars, even if you start at a Middle Ring. This is especially bad for the Fortress and Castle stages, where getting hit during a boss fight means having to restart the whole level over. The transformations are also handled differently here, where each exists in its own section, completely disconnected from the rest of level. I was worried about it all being tilt controls, but since you keep whatever collectibles you grab even if time runs out, I could just stall and try again until I got everything. Having played Woolly World first, I noticed that a lot of ideas I liked from that game actually started here. Some of mechanics where more refined there, but you can definitely see the seeds being planted. I would personally say New Island is decent, even if it's not as nuanced as what came before or after.
Penny's Big Breakaway - Jun 24 - Jun 29
Sometimes, a concept is all a game needs for me to check it out. The idea of swinging and dashing around using a yo-yo sounded very cool. And, the game does nail the movement part almost flawlessly. While it definitely will take practice, the yo-yo is fun to use, and the distance you can cover from one string of aerial moves is quite impressive. At some points I was able to skip certain puzzles or platforming sequences with some sick yo-yo tricks, and I can't really say if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Scattered across the normal levels are big hexagons called Show Pieces, and collected these unlock access to the Star Globes, which are little platforming challenges, testing how well you can use a mechanic or power-up. They're fun little diversions. Additionally, the regular levels have three missions each, usually involving collecting some things or transporting an object to another NPC. These are definitely worth doing, but I kinda wish they had some sort reward like the Show Pieces did, maybe some outfits or even just palette swaps for Penny. When doing tricks, you can start combos ala Tony Hawk to get points. Cross a point threshold for a stage and you get a piece of concept art. Neat, but not something I cared to do. The bosses are honestly a bit of low point for me, the only one I liked was the race through an obstacle course one. I also ran into a few physics quirks and bugs while playing: clipping through objects, getting stuck inside objects, Penny randomly tumbling when going up a soft slope, and some walls simply not having collision. Despite all that, I would still recommend checking this out, if nothing more than the movement being pretty sick.
Goemon's Great Adventure - Jul 8 - Jul 12
I would consider myself a fan of the Goemon games. I've played the Super Nintend- I mean Super Famicom games, and Mystical Ninja. In fact, Mystical Ninja may just be my favorite N64 game. So, I thought it was time to play the other N64 Goemon game, Goemon's Great Adventure! (Yes, I know there's three N64 Goemon games, but that one never made it over here, and it's not a platformer). Unlike Mystical Ninja, most of the game is 2.5D: the levels are side-scrollers, but the towns you visit let you move in all directions. You have the main four characters: Goemon, Ebisumaru, Sasuke, and Yae; with the latter two joining later on. I usually played as Goemon as his double-jump is very useful. You will also need to complete missions for people, sometimes for upgrades, but often for Entry Passes. These passes are needed to get into checkpoints to fight the boss of the area. Much like the previous game, you will be using Impact to fight bosses, and they're just as great as last time. One thing I really gotta mention is the difficulty, as this games does ramp up in the third world, and your three hit points and three lives might not be enough, so you'll need to stock up on extra lives and armor at the shops (or use save states). And, if you were wondering about those Entry Passes, if you get all 44 of them, you get… the ability to purchase alternative outfits. Yes, you have to buy them and they can get really expensive. I kinda wish these costumes could have been gotten during the adventure, as you can't get all the passes until after you beat the final boss. The game can also be played co-op, but I don't think I can get a friend to play this with me to the end. All that said, I do think this game is great, not as great as Mystical Ninja, but I'd still recommend it. It's also a shame this was the last Goemon game to make it to the West, but hopefully fan translations will be made for them in the future…
Sonic X Shadow Generations - Jul 3 - Jul 24
If someone told me Sonic Generations was their favorite Sonic game, I would probably agree them, as it's quite solid title. When I saw it get the re-release treatment, I knew I had to pick it up and play through it again. I can safely say the game is just as fun as 360 original! Of course, it's 90-95% the same experience, other than some new skills and an option for a Frontiers-like control scheme. The script has also been completely re-written, which I know a lot of people weren't thrilled about. I personally don't mind it, and as someone who though the original script was just alright, I can understand that Sega wanted to punch it up a bit. If you haven't played Sonic Generations before, I highly recommend it. Of course, if you're picking this game up, you're not here to play as Sonic, as the other half is an all new game about Shadow! I found the levels to be really great, and it was neat to see how they remixed past stages. White Space here is a lot more open, almost like Frontiers. In fact, you could probably call it trimmed down experience of Frontiers, especially since there's only one landmass to deal with, as opposed to four or five. Using Shadow's Doom Powers to explore the map was also really cool. In fact, playing as Shadow in this game felt cool. Shadow feels cool again for what feels like a forever. The story here is also amazing, and it really does tie all of Shadow's past from the previous games into something incredible. I'd recommend it even if it wasn't sold with Sonic Generations. But since it is, there's no reason NOT to get it.
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams - Jul 29 - Jul 30
I've always been curious about the NiGHTS series, though I don't have a Saturn (or know how to emulate it), so I decided to check out the Wii game. I only knew one thing going into it: do not use the Wii remote. Thankfully, you can use a Numchuk or Classic Controller instead, which is good, I'll take a regular joystick over IR stuff any day. With that hurdle out of the way, how is the gameplay? It's pretty good most of the time. Usually, you'll be flying around a level, trying to go through hoops and collecting orbs, all while maintaining combo and building up score. It's got an arcadey like feel, and I quite like it. However, that's only one style of gameplay here, and the ones used in the other missions range from ok (like when you're flying around collecting things) to a bit dull (like wandering around a maze as one of the kids). There's also vehicle missions, because of course there is. I kinda wish the game focused more on the flying and had more levels based around that, instead of doing a bunch of other stuff. Like, imagine a mission where NiGHTS and Reala raced, like they do in the multiplayer. Would have been cool. Despite me not liking certain aspects of it, I still think the game is good overall, but it's really only at its best when just doing the standard gameplay. If anything, this game makes me want to check out the Saturn original eventually, since it seems it would have the gameplay I'd want without the fluff.
Crash Tag Team Racing - Jul 31 - Aug 3
Three games I played a lot as a child were Crash Team Racing, Simpsons Hit & Run, and Mario Kart Double Dash. So what would happen if you mashed these games together? You'd get something like Crash Tag Team Racing. The exploration and platforming in this game is quite good. Jumping and wandering around the five themed areas of the theme park was quite fun, and it was neat to find Crystals and Minigames to play. Yes, there are minigames, most of them are arcade-style shooters, but two of them are bowling. There's also Gags where Crash abuses the poor staff, and Die-O-Ramas where Crash pays for being an asshole. Each track in the game has five different events, which sounds neat on paper, but two of them are basically on-rails shooters, one has you run into things on the racetrack, and the last two are the standard three-lap race and one-lap time trial. These time trials were probably the most annoying to beat, at least for me. And it's not because of the powersliding mechanic, I actually found it pretty fun once I got the hang of it. It's because of the wonky physics: there were countless times where I would suddenly spin-out or flip over for no reason other than I brushed a piece of geometry or landed after a jump in the way the game didn't like. The actual races though are just alright. Since one track in each of the worlds has a secret shortcut unlocked by exploring the open world, you're incentivized to do them last. The tracks themselves are ok, nothing to really right home about. And that's where the clashing mechanic will be most prevalent. Basically, you can merge with another racer to have one of you race and the other shoot at the racers. As you can imagine, this is very overpowered, to a point where you can win races simply by blasting anyone who dares to pass you, all while the AI does the driving. One other gripe I do have with the game is the small roster size: only eight racers. Sure, there are multiple vehicles and each character gets a skin (except Crash, who gets a lot of skins), but it would have been cool to Chick, Stew, or even Willy behind the wheel. Despite all that, while this game is probably the worse Crash racing game (not including the handhelds or the mobile games), it's still a pretty fun game if you look at the whole package. Also, whatever bonehead decided that the multiplayer unlocks should be separate from the singleplayer, to a point where the two modes have separate currencies, needs to sit down and chat with someone.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons - Aug 5 - Aug 7
After playing Link's Awakening, I knew I would have to play the Oracle games soon. After a lot of deliberation (i.e. staring at the two games on the GB Game Selection screen), I decided to play Seasons first. I quite liked it. I thought the Seasons mechanic was pretty neat, and how it opens up new areas. And while this game is apparently more action focused than puzzle focused, I still found the puzzles in the game to be really good, especially when I got those Magnetic Gloves. One thing I didn't really care for were the Magic Rings. I did appraise all the ones I came across, but I didn't go out of my way for them. And the fact that quite a few either did nothing or have a negative effect made it seem like I wasn't missing out on much. Now that I think about it, some of them are more like achievements than items. And while I didn't do it for my playthrough, the Linking Games thing is a really cool idea and definitely adds a lot of replay value. I would definitely recommend it.
Poinie's Poin - Aug 13 - Aug 14
I don't know Japanese, which means that many games are hard or nearly impossible for me to play, unless someone out there makes a translation patch. But what if the game had a full English dub, despite never leaving Japan? That's Poinie's Poin. It's a simple game, where Poinie is lost in the town, trying to find his home and his mom, and things spiral from there. I knew I had to keep playing just to see where the story would go from there. Outside of some light platforming, the main mechanic is Poins, which are these colors orbs that can affect the moods of people. There's only three colors, and mixing two will make the other color (e.g. if someone is mad and you hit them with the sad poin, they become happy. Learning how to mix and neutralize the poins everyone's been poisoned with is the main puzzle here. It's super simple, maybe even to a fault. While the game really does look like it's for young kids, some of the lines in the script did make me pause for a moment. There's even a curse or two, but if anything it really adds to the experience. And really, that's why I recommend this game, even if there isn't much in replay value. It's worth experiencing once, and sometimes, that's all you need.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages - Aug 19 - Aug 26
After playing Seasons, I knew had to play Ages soon. I was told that Ages was more puzzle-focused than Seasons, and it is. Despite there being more puzzles, it never felt dull or tedious. The Seed Shooter and Switch Hook were probably my favorite items to use, mainly 'cause the devs got really creative with them. The bosses are even big puzzles, rather than just slashing your sword around. I really love how the time travel mechanics are handled, what you do in the past greatly affects the present. This even extends to the story, which I also loved. As I mentioned in my Seasons review, I like the Magic Rings on paper, but I never felt compelled to find them all. Since I did play this as a Linked Game, I got to witness some extra scenes here and there, as well as finally getting to fight Twinrova, which was a solid way to end this adventure. There also codes to say to characters in the other game for additional goodies, which I thought was neat. While I do like Ages more than Seasons, I recommend to play them both to get the full experience. Just make sure to write down or screenshot those codes.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Aug 29 - Sep 2
When it comes to licensed games, there are a relative few that are good. Some even being remembered as great titles; such as Simpsons Hit & Run, DuckTales NES, and today's subject: Battle for Bikini Bottom. As a fan of the sponge and his first few seasons, I'm kinda surprised I didn't play this one growing up. Playing it now, it's a solid 3D platformer, with large open areas to explore, and each world is split up into 3-4 different levels. Golden Spatulas are the main collectible here, often given out by completing a task given to you by an NPC. While you will be spending most of your time playing as SpongeBob, certain levels will have you switch to either Patrick or Sandy, whom have their own mechanics. I found both of them fun to use as well. Patrick has also lost his socks, which serve as a second collectible. Some of these require you to do a certain thing or are just well hidden. I don't think there any truly bad missions here, but some can be pretty frustrating, such as the Ball Room in the Mermalair, the ones in Kelp Caves, and the ones where you have to pay Mr. Krabs tons of shiny objects. Still though, the road to 100% was generally smooth, and I would recommend most people to go for it. If you're a SpongeBob fan, or someone who likes 3D platformers, I'd say to play this. I can definitely see why so many people consider it a childhood classic. It's no wonder it got a sequel, a remaster, and then a sequel based on said remaster.
Pokemon Ephemerald - Sep 4 - Sep 7
I love when Romhacks take the game I know and flip it around, and Ephemerald takes all of the mons (up to Gen 3) and gives them new typing, sprites, and movesets. It's a bit similar to Fool's Gold, a romhack I played a few years ago, in that regard. It also does offer a few minor tweaks to the Gen 3 experience beyond the mons, though. I'm not going to spoil them, because I want everyone who plays this to go in fresh. I do like the redesigns of the mons here, a lot of them are either cool, cute, or just hilarious. Many of them are also straight-up references to other things, which always got a chuckle out of me. I would totally recommend this hack if you're looking for a new way to experience the third generation.
The Glitch Fairy - Sep 12 - Sep 22
Here's an indie game I'm surprised more people aren't talking about. The Glitch Fairy is a platformer game where you can, well, glitch things. Use your glitch on the enemies to alter their properties or give Monie a new property. Learning how to use certain glitches is not only fun to mess around with, but it'll help you find various collectibles. You can even run into a bonus level to further test your platforming prowess. Each stage also ends in a boss fight, which added a nice bit of challenge. However, on top of the mechanics and platforming, I also found myself really invested in the story and world of the game. The story is part of the reason why I made sure to revisit levels and make sure I got everything. I would recommend going into this as blind as possible. It's a very solid indie game that's worth seeing to the end.
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe - Sep 26 - Sep 27
I've been meaning to check out the Monkey Ball series at some point, so I decided to finally check it out with Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. Yes, I played the PS2 version. Yes, I am aware of all of shortcomings of this port. I don't have an OG Xbox, and I've heard trying to play the Xbox version on a 360 has its own problems. Why didn't I just get the Gamecube originals? I thought the idea of the content of both games in one game plus additional content was very appealing. With that out of the way, I really liked the main gameplay: tilting the stage to guide your monkey of choice to the goal. I played through the Story Mode, and I did enjoy my time. Some of those later stages were definitely tricky, but I would say nearly all of them felt like fair challenges, and boy was it satisfying to finally beat a stage after so many attempts. There is also the Challenge Mode, which I thought was neat to check out, but I do not see myself conquering all of the difficulties. I also have to mention the party games, which hosts quite a few minigames that are surprisingly in-depth. They were fun with CPUs, but I would imagine the minigames would be amazing for a four-player gaming session. All in all, I can see why this series has a cult following. I highly recommend playing some version of this. PS2 or Xbox if you can, and I have heard Banana Mania is a viable option if you want to play it on a modern console. Otherwise, you could just play the Gamecube originals. Or if you're really up for it, someone's actually made a mod to add the DX content to SMB2. No matter how you choose to play Super Monkey Ball, you will be in for a good time.
NES Remix - Oct 1 - Oct 2
I don't have much nostalgia for the NES, as it was before my time. However, I was always curious about NES Remix, since it takes a few of the games and makes challenges out of them. I definitely got to try a lot of titles I would not have played otherwise; like Clu Clu Land, Pinball, or the sports games. A lot of the challenges are pretty straight-forward, but there are a few curveballs, such as buying a hint from the old lady or killing Luigi. A few levels are groups of smaller challenges, but most of them will still take less than a minute to beat. Each challenge also has a rating you can get, from one to three stars, based on your time. I often had no issues with getting three stars, as sometimes I would mess up and still get it, but some required some serious time shaving to get. There is a rating higher than 3 stars, a rainbow rank for doing it even faster, but it doesn't get you anything so I didn't feel compelled to go for them. On top of the regular challenges, you also have the Remixes, which take the games and turn them on their head. Stuff like playing as Link in Donkey Kong, controlling two guys at once, or sometimes they'll slap a wacky effect over the screen. These were the most challenging to me, but 90% of the time it felt fair. You also get bits for playing the challenges, and if you get enough bits, you unlock… stamps that you can use on Miiverse posts. I shouldn't have to state why I didn't bother with them. That said, I quite liked playing through NES Remix, as it allowed me to experience curated chunks of games I've never tried before, like a retro hors d'oeuvre. If you still have a Wii U, I'd say to check it out. There's also a disc that has both of the NES Remixes on there, and it tends to be quite cheap from what I recall.
Pokemon Trading Card Game - Oct 21 - Oct 23
When it comes to the Pokemon franchise as a whole, one part I never got into was the trading card game. It doesn't help that getting into it these days seems really daunting. Luckily, there is a GBC game where I play it without spending a lot. As someone who never interacted with the TCG, the game does a good job at getting you up to speed and familiar with its mechanics. The one part that did throw off a few times were the weaknesses and resistances, but that's mostly due to me being familiar with the typings of the mainline games. Whenever you defeat someone, you do get a few booster packs every time, which means as you keep battling, you'll get a pretty solid deck in no time. I really liked experimenting with my deck, trying out different combinations of mons and types, though I usually stick to one main type with additional Psychic and Colorless mons. It was pretty fun playing through this and experiencing Pokemon in a completely new way. I can imagine it introduced a lot of people to the format when it first came out, and nowadays it's still worth checking out.
NES Remix 2 - Oct 27 - Oct 29
A lot of what I said about NES Remix 1 applies to the second one: not really nostalgic for the NES, trying out games I wouldn't have played otherwise, videogame hors d'oeuvre. I just happen to like a lot of the games featured this time around; like Kid Icarus, both Mario 2s, and Wario's Woods. The 3-star rating system is back with the additional rainbow rank, although this time they made the rainbow a bit easier to get, as there is an actual reward to getting all rainbows (other than a rainbow border around the games). Much like the last game, some levels I was able to rainbow in one shot even with mistakes, while others required some serious grit and thought. Remix stages are also back, and while they still do slap wacky effects on the screen, I thought was it really cool to pay as Peach in Mario 3. The stamps return as well, but once again I don't really have a use for them these days. Since this was released during the Year of Luigi, they included a bonus game: Super Luigi Bros, where you play as Luigi through a mirrored version of SMB1, with Luigi physics. It was pretty neat. Like Remix 1, I'd recommend Remix 2 if you're like me and have a Wii U in this day and age. I would not recommend getting a Wii U for this, but if you still have one, check it out. Alternatively, there is an NES Remix for 3DS that combines titles featured in both games. I'd imagine it's also really cool!
The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror - Oct 31 - Oct 31
I always wondered why there was never a game based on the Treehouse of Horror specials. Sure, various Simpsons games have taken concepts from segments over the years, but never one solely based on the segments. Turns out, there is one, on the Gameboy Color. All the stages here are based on classic Treehouse specials; like King Homer, Dial Z for Zombie, and Nightmare Cafeteria. You even get to play as every member of the Simpsons family, even Maggie! Outside of the platforming levels, you have a flying level, a shooter, and a stealth level for a bit of decent variety. The platforming levels are also a bit maze-like, as you need to find keys or hit levers to progress further. There's also fall damage, which is fun. Graphics-wise, the game looks okay, all of the characters are recognizable. The music is also just fine, though since the loops are a bit short, it can drive you mad if you spend too much time in a stage. The game is also pretty short, with only seven levels, and you have four lives plus five continues to get through it (not including passwords). I would personally say this game is just average, but worth checking out. Although, being realistic, there's only two reasons you're playing this: 1) you're looking for something to playthrough on October, or 2) you've decided to play every Simpsons game for some reason. If you've got nothing going on this Halloween, you could try killing some time playing this.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - Nov 4 - Nov 9
The GameCube classic is honestly one of my favorite games of all time, so I was really hyped to see it get a remake. While they did add a bunch of new things, I feel like they stayed true to the heart of the original. The graphics received a massive touch up, all the remixed tracks are great, and it seems like a lot characters also received a few new expressions and animations. There's also quite a few quality-of-life things added, which was pretty nice. I decided to finally 100% this game (all Tattles, Recipes, Badges, Star Pieces, etc.), and it was pretty simple to do, and the rewards for doing it were a nice surprise. If you've played the GameCube original, I would definitely recommend this remake. If you haven't played the original, but do have a Switch, I would also recommend it. I really enjoyed playing through it again, and finally getting to fully complete it. Now when are we getting Paper Luigi: The Marvelous Compass?
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac - Nov 11 - Nov 19
When a remake of the first Pac-Man World was announced, many people (myself included) were hoping World 2 would be on horizon. While the first Re-Pac was a lot closer to a remake, I would define 2 Re-Pac as a re-imagining, as it takes elements from the original game but makes a different experience about it. Pac-Man himself controls quite well, including the skiing and rollerblading sections, which I do recall being a sour spot for some in the original. That is not to say this game is easy. If anything, I found it to be pretty challenging, especially in the latter half. However, it's challenging in way that feels fair, where it will make you want to beat it. Every stage also has a few missions attached to them, such as getting all the fruits, beating a time trial, or doing it deathless. These usually unlock arcade games or outfits for Pac-Man, so I felt incentivized to go for them. You can also spend the tokens you find in levels on Gashapon machines for figures to place around the village. It was neat, but I didn't bother getting all the figures. Lastly, there is the Sonic DLC, where Pac-Man gets to run around Green Hill Zone. I thought it was pretty fun, though I kinda wish we got a Maze or two as well. Whether or not you have played the original, I would definitely recommend playing it, especially if you like 3D platformers.
Sonic Mania - Nov 24 - Nov 30
Another one of those games I've heard a lot of good things about, but never got around to playing. Until now. Finally playing it, it's just as amazing as people said. The music, the graphics, the controls, all simply wonderful. I usually stick to Sonic when playing the classic games, but the levels made we want to experiment with all five of the characters. Mighty and Knuckles ended up being my two favorites. I also really like the Special Stages (not the Blue Spheres, the UFO ones), some of them really got my adrenaline pumping. I enjoyed the mix of returning zones and new zones, although even the returning zones feel fresh with their new layouts and redesigns. And then there's the Encore Mode, which I also found pretty cool, as it remixes all the levels to be a bit harder. And you can also play as all five characters in one playthrough. This whole game was really amazing, and I'll definitely play through it again and again, just like I did with the Genesis titles. Now, will I play either of the follow-ups to Mania? Hmmm… maybe?
Jung Rhythm - Dec 17 - Dec 17
When it comes to Rhythm games, one series that's always been my jam is PaRappa the Rapper. I would often hear about a game very similar to it, to a point where some label it a rip-off. That game is Jung Rhythm, for the Sega Saturn. This game is about a girl named Vanilla who dreams of being a star, and the wacky things that happen in her day-to-day. From dealing with bullies, to painting pictures, to getting a part-time gig, all in hopes of seeing her idol Mr. Chorking perform live; and maybe also sing a duet with him? Let's talk about the gameplay now, it's a rhythm game where you repeat back the notes said by the teacher. Here though you'll use the three face buttons and the D-Pad as your inputs. One small issue is that the game only shows one bar at a time, which make later songs that have two and three bar long lines kinda tricky. Instead of rankings, you have a flow meter: perform good and the meter goes up, perform badly and it drops. If the meter drains, you fail and have to try again. However, simply finishing a song isn't enough. After finishing, you get five ratings based on your performance. If the average of these ratings is high enough, you get to go on to the next stage. The timing system here is ok, but similar to Parappa 1, there were plenty of times where I hit the notes correctly but still got a BOO, and a few times where I flubbed a line but still got a WOW. Unlike PaRappa 1, however, freestyling felt like such a gamble that I was better off not trying it, which is a bit of a shame. There's no COOL equivalent, but there are these ADLIB sections if you want to see Vanilla go nuts. If you do well enough on the sixth and final stage, you get an extra stage and the Good Ending, which thankfully only took me a few tries. A lot of the songs in the game are quite catchy, and I'll definitely be humming quite a few of these. I would definitely recommend trying Jung Rhythm if you like Rhythm games, and if you are able to play Saturn games. There's even a translation patch out there too. To circle back, I wouldn't really call this a rip-off, I feel like it has too much charm for me to label it as such. Also, apparently the two games were in development at the same time, so maybe it's more coincidental than people think?
Daze Before Christmas - Dec 23 - Dec 23
Twas the night before Christmas Eve, so I knew I had to play something to get into the holiday spirit! I ended up going with Daze Before Christmas, a platformer where Santa must save Christmas from a snowman, a mouse, a clock, and an evil snowstorm! Luckily Santa does have some Magic up his sleeve, which he can throw as a projectile. He can also find Presents in the levels, and some he can open for some goodies - or baddies. But the best thing he can find is a cup of tea, which turns him into the invincible Anti-Claus! In this form, he can beat things with his sack, but he can't pick up any presents. And you do need some presents, as every few levels, Santa dons his sleigh to deliver the gifts to various chimneys of the world. Despite the game having twenty-four levels (cause Advent Calendar), most of them are pretty short. It's a pretty okay platformer, but its Holiday theming does mean that most people will likely only play this when they're trying to find something festive to play in December. And in that regard, you could do worse. But you could also do better.
Tempo - Dec 30 - Dec 30
Once I saw this game, I knew I had to play it eventually. This game just oozes so much charm. Like, I haven't seen a game this Jammin' since Toejam & Earl. Tempo's movekit is pretty solid, as he can hover to stall his fall, and can fire a projectile to stun foes to make them easier to kick. You can also dash to jump higher and do slidekicks. You can also get a few powerups, such as giving additional spread to your fire, or headphones that extend your health bar. You can also find these dance zones which kill all the enemies, and grant you Katy, Tempo's girlfriend, to assist you on your adventure. She's very useful, as she'll fly to any enemies you've stunned and knock them out for you. She does disappear if you get hit too many times, but she'll come back if you find another dance spot. The levels also have secret sections only she can open up. Speaking of, the levels are pretty expansive, but it doesn't feel mazelike nor tiresome. The locations Tempo visits are pretty unique and colorful as well. The presentation of this game is what really sells it, although I'd say the gameplay is slightly above average. Kind of a shame for it to be on 32x, although I think most Genesis emulators these days support the addon's library as well. If you're going to play a 32x game for some reason, check out Tempo. It's pretty cool.
And here is the tierlist for this year! If you made it this far, I want to thank you for reading, and have a happy new year!
