darksnowman

I avoided pretty much all battles in Lyude's because I couldn't handle the torment, so what must it have been like for him. Is it getting the old grey matter going? Mizuti's was the last one for me, and as I've mentioned, when I saw it and since my party was set, I wanted out of there toot sweet but Corellia forbid me passage to Cor Hydrae unless I did it. Haha, yes, I had gaps in the equips but there was something where confusion was the trade-off. I'd no qualms about equipping it either. Unless there were equipment pickups in the final dungeon I probably finished the game in confused status. Worth it.

Can only imagine what matches you old limeys have been glued to the telly watching this midweek. All the while, on a bitter cold night at the Showgrounds, the Sky Blues hopes of a cup run were put to an end after a 1-1 draw followed by 44 penalties. Match highlights and all the penalties through the link. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67360598

They must have been doing something in the photo-realistic realm since the Wii U bird tech-demo.

timeline... where in the... timeline... Also starring: Chris Pratt as Sheik Danny DeVito as Baby Goron Robin Williams as The King of Hyrule

Totally. This seems to get forgotten a lot. Since the GameCube didn't launch with Mario, you'd think they were polishing Sunshine up but nope. Filling it out with invisible coins was madness. I always wonder what could have been with Wind Waker, too, as I don't consider it a top Zelda because the cuts are so blatant. Admittedly, I haven't played Sunshine since the GameCube, so it's hard to honestly say which is worse (Sunshine could be worse than I remember even though I enjoyed playing it to not-100% completion at the time) but I just did not get on at all with 3D World—and I was glad of the opportunity to catch up with it on the Switch! I would prefer to not even consider it part of a Mario series ranking. At least it makes for a fun theme in Mario Maker. I'll take one for a fraction of that!

I'd say it's the most straight line Zelda which isn't what I associate with Metroidvanias. Unless you mean because of motion control it's like Prime 3. Besides, Metroid takes after Zelda rather than the other way around.

Hard to get my head around putting this amount of time into it. With gold coins, I took a punt on MH: Rise in an eShop sale in June and played it pretty much immediately. I put in ~15 hours until credits and couldn't think of much to say about it worth bumping this thread for. It threw a lot at me from the word go (lists of added quests and guff before I'd done anything) and I found it extremely overwhelming. The tutorial was too short, awkward and poorly explained—amongst other basic things, I had to search online for how to even start a quest because you obviously have to talk to the girl outside, it's not the indoors desk near the tutorial guy nor do you just accept it off the noticeboard. Of course it has nice production values with the monster intros, wirebug movement is cool, and I enjoyed the couple of "defend the village gate" bits but it seems like a) you must need to want to grind for drops (like really want to) and b) play the game socially to get the most out of it? Since I got it on sale I felt I got my value out of persevering with the buttons and ticking off quests as far as I did. Nothing ventured, nothing gained... but no, seriously, I gained nothing from my time with this. Was hoping to get into it or I wouldn't have got it. MH remains an acquired taste.

The first step is admitting you're an ingrate. I get where you're coming from—I'd rate the real-world inspired levels as the least preferable tracks, too. They're a bit rigid; the way you bang of the curbs and stuff like that just doesn't feel like Mario Kart, imo. Hear, hear! Nice sky, nice puddles, nice track.

I think he's said Dr No to Dr Maybe, though Robocod would lead naturally into a full playthrough of the Call of Duty series...

I spied Quantum of Solace DS in the bargain bin at the weekend. You need it, @Cube?

Mine says "played for 15 hours or more" but who knows, that might mean 19:59 and going for more flower bits could take it over the 20. Or perhaps your co-op partner cost you five hours. The hottest of Hot-Hot Hot takes from H-o-T there. (NO ONE should image search mario wonder hot hot hot. The things I've just seen.)

Didn't notice/ do that but I'm not surprised it's in there because those people need no excuse. Earth Children had to flee their homes? Let's celebrate!

Looks like it's all done, bar less than 20 outstanding standees. Some overall thoughts: I'll try and keep the spoilers vague. Reckon I did the final level in 30-40 tries. A lot of it was just getting used to what was coming up and knowing how I'd need to adapt, then dying in the most stupid possible ways getting back there—it wasn't angering; the only pressure came from warnings the controller battery was low. Was actually intending to just run through a few levels as Daisy to gauge the purple coin return (did you find a good level for this, @killthenet?) but since I was right at the end I thought I'd have a peek to see what I'd be in for. It's a long one but I felt like I was still getting into it when the flagpole appeared. Went back through it as Mario for posterity since I'd done the rest of the game as him. It's a fun level to replay! Now for some of the nitty gritty. Search Party should have been its own separate multiplayer mode. In this game where you'd think nothing would be out of place, it didn't fit in. When I got to one it was more break time than the Break Time levels because I'd find myself on four golden flower tokens and have to suspend it and come back later to pixel hunt the fifth. If they have to be included, a Master of the Treasure Hunt Poplin should be present, teeheeing about how he's hidden five tokens and, should assistance be required, he'll allow a dummy like you to call on the services of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Extraordinaire... for a price. Or maybe these levels are best left for the sensor badge? For all the creativity, I was expecting the flagpole to bend or even snap when I finished a level in elephant form. Maybe with four elephants? Frequently, I was thinking there were enough ideas and new enemies in each world to iterate on for a full game's worth of worlds. Then in the Fungi Mines, the same Wonder Effect came up in consecutive levels (looks like a space hopper to me but it's a blob that functions like a transformation in Yoshi's Island) which caused me to rethink my stance on that. I enjoyed this particular Wonder Effect as much as the rest but I was already over it. Maybe because the entire game was non-stop throwaway segments? Bosses. Bowser Jr brought something more creative to the table (for him) but it should have been the tip of the iceberg. Might be better off just doing a string of levels than interspersing these anti-climaxes. MC Andross wasn't even close to having his way with me at the end of the Flower Kingdom's Greatest Hits level. I just ran back and forward, from one side of the screen to the other and jumped on the beat. The Mario Movie influence was Jack Black's Bowser personality. On that note (!), can we get 6* levels? 7*? 10*? I don't want to be infuriated but I would like to feel like I overcame something. There's no curve. Flower Road didn't kick it up a gear at all. If you can do the Bullrush level from the opening, you won't face anything harder until the absolute grand finale which, in any case, is generously midwayed, and not really that hard. Spoilers: it didn't reward me with a badge of honour! But yeah. A lot of really nice backgrounds, great music, expressive animations. Lovely colours and details. So much imagination on show. This was long overdue and I don't see them topping it any time soon. It draws inspiration from Mario Maker and can, in turn, breathe new life into a Mario Maker 3. Yesss, I was like "oh, custom scroll!" and things like that when I'd see it. They threw so much variety at me I'd feel like I'd been on it for ages when only 20 mins had passed. A fortnight of short forays into this candy shop of platforming yet it's all melded together. I liked the bob-omb fireworks baddies, the pull-chord guys and the flying Pac-Man gobblers. When I first came across them, I thought the popcorn dudes were so much more of a threat than they actually are. The Phanto fake out! Those top-down sections were good fun. Maybe they'll put out more K.O Arena's like they did the Ninji Speedruns in Mario Maker? Or just Ninji Speedrun events in existing levels because they can definitely be sprinted through. And for the last time, Prince Peasleypillar, I don't want to equip the new badge. Talking flower guy was by far and away the MVP. It wouldn't have been the same without him! Was that time he went Help! Help! a wink towards Pauline? Just me? Hearing him say I'm a wonder and thanks for playing was absolutely worth it. Wonderful game but not beyond criticism, as it shouldn't be. "Come back again sometime, yeah?" ...seems if I want to start a new file it'll have to be under another profile... pfft. Must find out if there's warp pipes/ flutes (a flower horn Mario plays Manbo's Mambo on?)/ shortcuts for a quick run-through at a much later date.

Coming in hot like a flaming Thunderbird 2 for an emergency crash landing on Tracey Island. Sprinklers at the ready! So glad to have got to DK64 before Christmas was a letdown. Kids these days must be disappointed year in, year out.

True, true. Don't remember that one so I must not have been there for it.

I triggered the ? cloud on the first lap and watched you land on the red boards just in the nick of time. Don't mention it. My aspirations for that one ended when I went into the rough because I was watching the Huffin Puffins.

I did the book one first as it was nearby in Komo-Mai so I felt like a smart cookie triggering it with my adventure book magnus from down below and was high on enthusiasm with those random doors. By the time I got to Mizuti's and saw what it was going to be... I wanted out.. Especially since my active party wasn't going to change. Lyude's was freaky. The game tortures him. I had to empty out four or five magnus tor Savyna's. Do you reckon you're still on track for the family tree? Impressive. Wonder if it's going to be worth it!

Ha, golden shower for the princess! You didn't end up soloing it, did you? I agree a visual indicator on the world map of how complete levels are would be welcome. Navigating to levels from the menu is good and handy but imo it'd be extra convenient if you directly started the level you choose rather than just being transported to it.

Thanks for the races!

How has this been overlooked for a discussion thread. Buy it. I've had this collection since the sales at the turn of the year. It contains Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow and Vampire's Kiss (a version of Rondo of Blood). Christmas/ New Year didn't really feel like the time for Castlevania so I only dabbled a bit on Circle of the Moon and left it at that until this time of year would roll around. Couldn't remember where I was heading in CoM so I proceeded on to Harmony of Dissonance this week which I've had a great time going through again—the last time was back on the Game Boy Player. It just feels good dashing or sliding around and whipping everything off the screen. They knew how to nail these fundamentals and build from there. Admittedly, the trail went cold at one point but it didn't matter for a good while because I was just enjoying checking around for the next path that would no doubt open up. I think it was during this period, I figured I was on the hunt for the boost jump (for some reason I was expecting new boots) as that seemed to be what the dead ends were telling me... only to come off a ledge at one point with an enemy below, so I instinctively pressed the jump button while in midair... and double jumped. It was a different item entirely that bestowed this ability so I headed back around again, collecting stuff from previously unreachable areas but still nothing really opened up. Ultimately, I ended up squinting through a wall-of-text guide—it was no mean feat to figure out what the last "story" thing I did was—until I read you need to actually equip a bracelet in order to open a door. That had me entirely stumped but at least I was up and running again and never looked back after that. Could have been carelessness on my part because I don't remember a sticking point like this on the GBA. This collection shows you in the border what pickups you've got in whatever area you're currently in, with question marks to let you know if there's anything else. This was very handy and probably helped keep me engaged during that time I was running around looking for where to go next. They could have taken it further and added a menu to allow you to quick check all areas because as far as I could tell, you had to be in the area to see this info. Further QoL could include map improvements to depict why a dead end was impassable which would have cut down on some circling back just to remind myself. Since they already added collectables in the border, I wonder if they could have squeezed the map in too? And with those bracelets, it would have been nice if just having them in your inventory was enough rather than needing to actually equip them because it goes against the logic of wanting your best gear equipped at all times. There's also a nice selection of background images to choose from but these are a bit pointless since the game window covers it. There's also art, box art and instruction books to peruse. Since I had such a good time, I needed to refresh my memory on which was the better received between the double-pack games (Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow) because I know one is supposed to be a dud. I'm surprised to see it's the latter by a landslide. Not saying that's necessarily mistaken, just there's not a lot wrong with Harmony of Dissonance bar the couple of niggles I've mentioned. Apparently the music is bad but I dunno, it didn't make my ears bleed or anything. Castlevania just went from strength to strength during these years. I'm already looking forward to an Aria of Sorrow replay this time next year.

You'll be able to say which one/s are almost great.

Credits: played. When the first stage on the approach to Castle Bowser was a victory lap, I de-calibrated expectations accordingly. It was a fun finale nonetheless. And fun game overall. Did the level that opens up. One (?) remaining. It threw medals at me. Bought the remaining badges to get the Poplin shop the green stamp and bought more standees. Don't think I'll finish the standees as I'd rather not turn Mario into a grind, tbh. Now to go back and read all the spoilers in this thread! Early on it seemed I was getting more duplicates than it was worth with the random standee purchase so I shifted to the 30 as it seemed better value. ...pretty average, I'd say...

Thought the amiibo section was just to save your time trial ghost to take it over your mates house. Scanned one of my knock-off Animal Crossing Sanrio cards and got that helmet. It's a start!

The very one. Return of the Jack and his Lackey's. I'd at least one retry there which wasn't great because it was the Mr Kipling of exceedingly long encounters. You know how those spirit-dampener things are in play? A morphed cards still came up for me so I think even the game was getting fed up with the nip-and-tuck battle. Based on our yin and yang experiences I just knew it wouldn't be such a spanner in the works for you. I'd no more wipe-outs from then on so there could be tough times ahead for you and your lot. How you liking the story? Probably a cheesefest to plenty but it was working for me. If someone isn't invested by this point they should have called it quits tens of hours ago. Yeah the part when someone comes forward with intel that conveniently makes for one note for each of you. When I got to Mizuti's, I took one look at it and tried to press on to Cor Hydrae but the game was having none of it. Still wondering if they're optional or not without having to resort to an exploit like you did for science/ dinner.