Games completed 2016

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Todinho

Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Todinho »

KSubzero1000 wrote:I can't really comment on any of those as I haven't played them. It was just a dumb snipe at TPP to get you riled up. :)
And I was caught hook-line and sinker :mrgreen:
MagicianArcana

Re: Games completed 2016

Post by MagicianArcana »

Spoiler: show
Jan 6 - Psychonauts
Jan 13 - GTA V
Jan 21 - Hotel Dusk
Apr 22 - Sonic Lost World
July 1 - Fragile Dreams
Sept 15 - Tales of Zestiria
Oct 22 - Last Window
Nov 2 - A Story About My Uncle
A Story About My Uncle is a short one but I'll still include it. It was a really neat game with really neat platforming mechanics. A friend recommended it to me, and when he described the story and the mechanics, to me it sounded like those things wouldn't work well together. A heartwarming story with a relaxing atmosphere, but exciting platforming mechanics with things like grappling hooks and rocket boots? It sounds like those things contrast so much. But to my surprise, the game struck a pretty nice balance.
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Flabyo
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Flabyo »

Flabyo wrote:5th Jan - Wolfenstein: The New Order (XBO)
16th Jan - Oxenfree (XBO)
11th Feb - Firewatch (PS4)
5th April - The Wolf Among Us (XBO)
10th April - Pokken Tournament (WiiU)
24th April - Sunset Overdrive (XBO)
19th June - Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4)
1st July - Street Fighter 5: A Shadow Falls (PS4)
22nd September - Virginia (XBO)
7th October - Valiant Hearts (XBO)
30th October - XCOM 2 (XBO)
2nd November - Titanfall 2 (XBO)

One of the most fun single player FPS campaigns I've played. It's a little short, so tough to recommend you buy Titanfall 2 just for it, you have to want to play the MP too if you're going to get value at the current price.

But my word, it's a doozy. Each mission of the campaign introduces a new idea, and that whole mission is based around it. Then it discards it and moves on to do something else crazy in the next one.

They don't feel like Uncharted style 'set piece' elements either, each new mechanic is fully explored during the mission that introduces it, but then it's discarded in favour of something new.

I'm actually reminded of the campaign from Splatoon. Another MP focused game that had a single player campaign that was expertly crafted.
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seansthomas
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by seansthomas »

Jan 17th - The Legend Of Zelda: A Link to the past
Feb 2nd - Gunman Clive
Feb 15th - Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Mar 8th - Lara Croft Go: Cave of fire adventure
April 2nd - Starfox 64
May 21st - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Hero mode)
June 29th - Starfox Zero
August 21st - Xenoblade Chronicles X
September 13th - Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
September 16th - Tomb Raider: Underworld (Wii)
October 2nd - Little Inferno
October 19th - Starfox Zero (alternate paths)


November 3rd - Bayonetta 2 (3rd Climax)


Been meaning to replay this for months, and I'm so glad I did. What a game.

Colourful, tightly controlled, funny, non-stop action. Managed to get a bunch of Platinum medals on Hard and learned how to counter far better dressed as Link using the Hylian Shield, making the combat more varied. Splashed some cash on some fancy new moves too.

Having replayed both Bayonetta titles now, there is much to love about both.

The second feels more precise, with the controls that bit tighter. Losing the QTEs and overlong Sega shoot em up homages is great and saves a lot of frustrating continues and replaying of bosses. Its more vibrant, colourful and joyful too. Enemy variety in 2 is better and on this playthrough I really realised how important it is to have good weapon sets to switch between for ranged vs close combat if you want to get decent scores. It felt to me that the weapon differences were more pronounced in 1, but that could be down to the closer camera view and set up I used.

The story gets a lot of shit in these games but there are some clever touches in the finales of both, with the two games essentially becoming one neverending time loop you can replay forever. You can skip cutscenes very swiftly in 2 as well on repeat runs.

The consistent scale and epicness of 2 means it doesn't have the rollercoaster feel of 1 where those huge bosses crash into your close combat battles, and the flying combat in 2 is overdone, but overall I think 2 is the better game and possibly the better entry point too. Its easier and the Umbran climax supermove means newcomers should be able to get through the game without too much frustration.

I love the new Nintendo touches to both Wii U titles such as costumes and the secret Starwing level whilst the replay value is huge. Moves, weapons, costumes, challenges, trophies, secret levels, characters... Always find something new.

All in all, one of the best games I've ever played. Hope Nintendo Switch gets a 3rd chapter!
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KSubzero1000
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by KSubzero1000 »

@seansthomas:
Very nice read, thanks for sharing. I completely agree with your analysis of Bayonetta 2. Fantastic game.
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Jobobonobo
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Jobobonobo »

Last night I finished Abzu and that was the most stunning final act of a game I have ever played, an incredible contrast to the disappointment of Arkham Asylum's silly Joker monster. In fact, I would say the whole last third of the game was just a magical experience. Normally, I would be skeptical of games such as this or Endless Ocean on the Wii. After all, videogames, no matter how advanced they can get, will never capture the true complexity of the natural world. And whilst having a lovely time with Abzu and enjoying watching the various sea creatures swim by, this was still my overall view. Pretty but showing a limited view of the ocean. Why are clownfish swimming out in the open and not frolicking in anemones? Why do we never encounter cleaning stations in coral reefs where fish patiently queue in order to get parasites picked off their bodies by a blue streak wrasse? Why do remoras never cling onto large sea creatures using their bizarre sucker like dorsal fin? How come herbivores such as yellow tangs, parrotfishes or manatees never travel to the sea bed to graze on algae/seagrass? How come we never see any reproductive behaviour? Showing the full range of behaviours present in the underwater realm would only serve to make Abzu's world more enchanting and memorable.

However, the last third of the game completely mitigates any complaints I might have had regarding accuracy of natural history. There the story comes into full motion and you are encountering and doing things that you could never do in real life. I will not give anything away as it is truly worth experiencing for yourself without any spoilers. But I was grinning from ear to ear, had my jaw drop and whooping with delight through the whole final third of the game. And all with a sublime soundtrack which gives you goosebumps with its enchanting atmosphere. While it may be a simplified look at nature, nevertheless it ends up being a full throated celebration of the natural world. Abzu may be a short game but it is quite the unforgettable journey and would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to dip into the sea without getting wet or just looking for a unique experience. First Tearaway blew me away with its clever gameplay and charming story, now Abzu comes along and wows me with its splendour. The PS4 may just be the best purchase I made this year if two games already effect me that emotionally!
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Indiana747
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Indiana747 »

Spoiler: show
(Jan) Assassins Creed Liberation HD - PSN.
(Jan) Army of Two:The Devils Cartel - PS3.
(Jan) Assassins Creed Freedom Cry - PS4.
(Jan) Alien Breed Episode 2:Assault - XBOX 360.
(Jan) Beyond: Two Souls - PS3.
(Feb) Bastion - XBL.
(Feb) Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate - PSN.
(Feb) Borderlands The Pre-Sequel - PS4.
(Feb) Bloodborne - PS4.
(Feb) Contrast - PS4.
(Feb) Condemned: Criminal Origins - XBOX 360.
(Feb) Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse - PSN.
(Feb) Nihilumbra - PS Vita.
(Feb) Dishonored: Definitive Edition - PS4.
(Mar) Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken - PS Vita.
(Mar) Firewatch - PS4.
(Mar) Rainbow 6 Seige - PS4.
(Mar) Duke Nukem Forever - PS3.
(Mar)Tom Clancy's The Division(platinum) - PS4.
(Apr) Ether One(platinum) - PS4.
(May) Dead Space 3 - PS3.
(May) Renegade: Arcade Archives - PS4.
(May) Uncharted 4(hard mode) - PS4.
(May) Dead Space Extraction - PSN.
(May) Double Dragon Neon - PSN.
(May) Doom(platinum) - PS4.
(June) Dying Light: The Following - PS4.
(June) Shadow of the Beast - PS4.
(June) Gone Home - PS4.
(July) Zombie Army Trilogy - PS4.
(July) Layers of Fear - PS4.
(July) Resident Evil Revelations 2 - PS4
(July) The Walking Dead: Michonne - PS4.
(July) The Deadly Tower of Monsters - PS4
(July) F.E.A.R. - Xbox 360.
(July) Metro Last Light Redux - PS4.
(July) Left 4 Dead 2 - Xbox 360.
(Aug) Shadow Warrior - PS4.
(Aug) The Vanishing of Ethan Carter - PS4.
(Aug) The Park - PS4.
(Aug) Murdered Soul Suspect(platinum) - PS4.
(Sept) Double Dragon: Arcade Archives - PS4.
(Sept) Middle Earth-Shadow of Mordor - PS4.
(Sept) Need for Speed:The Run - PS3.
(Sept) Inside - PS4.
(Sept) Homefront:The Revolution - PS4.
(Sept) Rachet & Clank - PS4.
(Oct) Killer is Dead - PS3.
(Oct) Prototype 2 - PSN.
(Oct) Portal 2 - PS3.
(Oct) Halo:CE Anniversary - XBO.
(Oct) Battlefield 1(hardcore) - PS4.
(Oct) Watch Dogs - PS4.
(Oct) Until Dawn: Rush of Blood - PSVR.
(Nov) Never Alone - PS4.
(Nov) Alienation - PS4.
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gallo_pinto
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by gallo_pinto »

Spoiler: show
Jan - Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (PS3)
Jan - Escape Plan (Vita)
Jan - That Dragon, Cancer (Mac)
Jan - Super Time Force Ultra (Vita)
Jan - Three Fourths Home (Mac)
Jan - A Bird Story (Mac)
Feb - Super Meat Boy (Vita)
Feb - Bastion (Vita)
Feb - Undertale (Mac)
Feb - Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (Gameboy Color via 3DS)
Feb - Yo-Kai Watch (3DS)
Mar - Super Mario Bros 2 (NES via 3DS)
Mar - Metal Gear (MSX via Vita)
Mar - Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (MSX via Vita)
Mar - Metal Gear Solid (PS1 via Vita)
Mar - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2 via Vita)
Apr - Out Run (Genesis via 3DS)
Apr - Streets of Rage (Genesis via 3DS)
Apr - Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Gameboy Color via 3DS)
Apr - Super Mario Bros 3 (NES via 3DS-Replay)
Apr - SteamWorld Heist (3DS)
Apr - Gunstar Heroes (Genesis via 3DS)
Apr - Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis via 3DS)
May - Metroid (NES via 3DS)
May - Kirby’s Dream Land (Gameboy via 3DS)
May - Super Mario Land (Gameboy via 3DS)
May - Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Gameboy Color via 3DS)
May - Metroid II: The Return of Samus (Gameboy via 3DS)
May - New Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS)
May - Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis via Vita)
May - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis via Vita)
June - Volume (Vita)
June - Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii-Replay)
July - Mutant Blobs Attack (Vita)
July - 80 Days (Mac)
July - Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty (Vita)
July - Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis)
July - Felix the Cat (NES)
July - Kirby’s Adventure (NES)
July - Super Mario World (SNES via Wii)
July - Fez (Vita)
July - Star Fox (SNES via Wii)
July - Luigi’s Mansion (Gamecube)
Aug - Severed (Vita)
Aug - Guacamelee (Vita-Replay)
Aug - Aladdin (Genesis)
Aug - Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Genesis)
Aug - Kirby’s Pinball Land (Gameboy)
Sep - BOXBOXBOY! (3DS)
Sep - The Room (iPad)
Sep - Zelda: The Minish Cap (Gameboy Advance)
Sep - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Oct - Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube)
Oct - Little Inferno (iPad)
Oct - Prune (iPad)
Oct - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2 via Vita)
Oct - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Gameboy via 3DS)
Oct - Rhythm Tengoku (Gameboy Advance)
Oct - Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Gameboy)
Nov - Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS-Replay)

Need a bit more time to process this one. I liked it, but it's with more mixed feelings than any of the other Zelda games I've replayed for the podcast. Will post longer thoughts on the thread once they've settled.
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Alex79
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Alex79 »

Alex79uk wrote:JAN - Bastion (PS Vita)
JAN - The Swapper (PS Vita)
JAN - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)
JAN - Shovel Knight (PS Vita)
JAN - Snatcher (Sega CD emulated on PSP)
FEB - Super Time Force Ultra (PS Vita)
FEB - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots (PS3)
FEB - CounterSpy (PS Vita)
FEB - Flashback (Sega Megadrive emulated on PSP)
MAR - Nilhilumbra (PS Vita)
MAR - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Arcade on PS Vita)
MAR - The Wolf Among Us: Season One (PS Vita)
MAR - Final Fight (Arcade on PS Vita)
MAR - Medal Of Honor: Warfighter (PS3)
APR - Limbo (PS Vita)
APR - Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (PS Vita)
MAY - Risk Of Rain (PS Vita)
MAY - Persona 4 Golden - Bad Ending! (PS Vita)
MAY - Stick It To The Man (PS4)
MAY - Grow Home (PS4)
JUN - Uncharted 4 (PS4)
JUN - Gone Home (PS4)
JUL - 80 Days (Android)
JUL - Disney's Aladdin (Sega Megadrive emulated on PSP)
AUG - Cadillacs & Dinosaurs (Arcade emulated on PS Vita)
AUG - Shock Troopers (Arcade emulated on PS Vita)
AUG - Alien Vs Predator (Arcade emulated on PS Vita
AUG - Ultratron (PS Vita)
AUG - The Witness (PS4)
SEP - Broken Sword - Directors Cut (Android)
SEP - There Is No Game (Android)
OCT - Valiant Hearts: The Great War (PS4)
OCT - God Of War: Chains Of Olympus (PSP on PS Vita)
OCT - Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4)
NOV - Hohokum (PS Vita)

Absolutely loved it. I tried playing it ages ago, but didn't give it much of a go, drifting around aimlessly, it was very pretty but all seemed a bit pointless. I don't know why, but last week I decided to go back to it, and after reading a review discovered there is a point to it! You just need to find your friends, hidden in each level. There was nothing about this game I didn't enjoy. The art, the music, floating around discovering strange and bizarre worlds - a total joy from start to finish, and one of the most satisfying gaming experiences I've had this year.
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Flabyo
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Flabyo »

Flabyo wrote:5th Jan - Wolfenstein: The New Order (XBO)
16th Jan - Oxenfree (XBO)
11th Feb - Firewatch (PS4)
5th April - The Wolf Among Us (XBO)
10th April - Pokken Tournament (WiiU)
24th April - Sunset Overdrive (XBO)
19th June - Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4)
1st July - Street Fighter 5: A Shadow Falls (PS4)
22nd September - Virginia (XBO)
7th October - Valiant Hearts (XBO)
30th October - XCOM 2 (XBO)
2nd November - Titanfall 2 (XBO)
6th November - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (PS4)

This months PS+ game, and one I've been thinking about trying for a while now. Played through in one sitting (though no doubt missed things)

I... liked it. I wouldn't say I loved it.
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Scrustle
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Scrustle »

Spoiler: show
10/02 - Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition (Normal)
19/02 - Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition (Normal)
23/02 - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (Prince of Darkness)
25/02 - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2: Revelations (Prince of Darkness)
27/02 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
02/03 - Portal: Still Alive
08/03 - The Darkness II
25/03 - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Normal Castle)
30/03 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
13/04 - Bayonetta (Normal)
24/04 - Hyper Light Drifter
22/05 - Dark Souls III
07/06 - Halo 5: Guardians
15/06 - Dark Souls III (NG+)
24/06 - Darksiders (Normal)
16/07 - Yakuza 5
05/08 - Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
23/08 - Metroid Prime (Wii version)
20/09 - Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut
05/10 - Fast Racing Neo - Neo Future Pack (Subsonic)
11/10 - Forza Horizon 3
16/10 - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Wii version)
28/10 - Toren
31/10 - Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel DLC (NG+ level)
07/11 - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

With that, I can finally tick these games off my list. Been a good experience, even if Prime 2 was aggravating at times. This one though I enjoyed throughout, and got through it much quicker than the other games. Reasons for that are things I have spoken about before. My overall impressions of the game are more or less the same as when I've shared my thoughts before too. It still retains a lot of what makes the other games good, with how it creates an rich atmosphere and worlds, with great art direction. Although I still feel like it was a bit of a downgrade in the non-linearity compared to the other games. While it does have a positive side, in that it keeps the pacing of the game up, and I think was the major reason why I got through this one so swiftly and not taking breaks from it, it does make the feeling of exploration and isolation feel a bit watered down. Not that it's completely gone though. It does get better throughout the game too, with it slowly opening up more as you play, but it never really reaches the level of the other games, and it does so so gradually that there's never really any point where it feels like things really "get going" in that regard. But for what it was, I enjoyed it. As I've said before, it's kind of the opposite problem to what Prime 2 had with its pacing, but here its far less egregious, so I can overlook it.

Another thought I've had is how this game handles upgrades and such. It's also streamlined, in a way that has pros and cons. Instead of getting various different modes for your beams and other abilities, here a number of different tools get their own linear upgrade path. More so than in the other games at least. In one sense, this feels a bit like taking choice away from the player. You don't have to think about what type of beam you're using for example, as you can only have a single one equipped at a time, and it can deal with everything previous beams could. No need to specialise. On the other hand though, it meant that you used a wider variety of different tools for different jobs. For example the grapple beam here is used far more than in the previous games, and had far more utility. So the game was able to increase the frequency of the player using a wider variety of tools in combat and getting around, which is pretty cool I suppose. It also means you don't have to deal with the slightly clunky system of switching beams the other games had with their Wii versions.

As for the story aspects, again I've already mentioned my thoughts on that elsewhere, but I do have something new to add. I don't necessarily mind there being more characters and more talking in the games. On one level it adds more depth to the world, and creates an interesting dynamic between Samus and the other hunters. But it does make the game feel far less like an adventure in to the unknown, with there always being someone telling you where to go and what to do. But the thing I wanted to add was about the ending of the game, so spoilers I guess...
Spoiler: show
The ending was rather abrupt, and they missed out on a big thing which i think would have been a really cool way to end off the series. The way the game plays out, you defeat Dark Samus and then the corrupted Aurora Unit, and then that's it. Evil planet explodes, bad guys dead, end of. At first it looks like Samus might not have made it out of there. I was expecting there might be an escape sequence, but nope. She somehow got in her ship and is totally okay. But the thing I was most disappointed by (but only still a little) was that they didn't tell you exactly what Dark Samus is. All the way through the game, and through Prime 2 as well, I was expecting at some point they would reveal that Dark Samus was actually Metroid Prime from the first game, but resurrected in the shape of Samus through absorbing the Phazon Suit at the end of the first game. I thought that would have been a logical, but also really interesting way to tie things up. Yet they didn't do anything at all. A little anti-climactic.
Overall though, great experience. Liked it more than 2, but still not quite as much as the first. Either way, I'd still really like to see more 3D Metroid games now. Perhaps not necessarily in this style, but I think there's a lot of potential for the series that has yet to be realised. By the end of it I had 91% completion, at 13:23 play time. So my highest completion rate, and lowest time of all three games. Definitely down to the quicker pacing keeping me moving, but also the more linear nature meaning that I didn't have to explore as far off the beaten track to find extras.

At some point I do plan to get around to Hunters as well. Not so soon though. I don't currently own it, and I finally picked up The Witcher 3 the other day, so I'm probably focusing on that for a while.

(P.S. Wondering if anyone can help me with something too. I remember a long time ago I watched a video, or series of videos, on Youtube that were on the topic of these games. A long and really interesting analysis of them, in the style you might expect from someone like Matthewmatosis, except it doesn't appear to have been him. Looked through all my subscriptions, and can't seem to find the video/s I'm looking for on anyone's channel. Back when I saw it before, I hadn't played these games, so it didn't make all that much sense to me. But now I've played through them all and my memories are fresh, I'd really like to watch through them again. So if by chance anyone know's what I'm talking about, I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Thanks.)
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KSubzero1000
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by KSubzero1000 »

@Scrustle:
Well, regarding your spoiler... I always thought that was implied strongly enough. Makes very little doubt in my mind. A cutscene dedicated to it would have felt borderline redundant.
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Scrustle
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Scrustle »

I don't remember it being implied anywhere. I only assumed it because it made sense, not because it was actually pointed to at any point. After doing some research though, it seems that there was something of a hint in the secret ending to the first game, which I didn't get myself. Apart from that there isn't really anything that references that exact link. Even so, I think some acknowledgement of it at the end of the last game would have been good. They could have done something like that to make it feel like things had come full circle and tied everything up, without bashing you over the head with it.
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KSubzero1000
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by KSubzero1000 »

Oh, that's right. The first Metroid Prime had a secret epilogue that depended on your item collection rate. So not everyone saw it. Quite a good guess on your part, then!
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seansthomas
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by seansthomas »

Scrustle wrote:
Spoiler: show
10/02 - Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition (Normal)
19/02 - Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition (Normal)
23/02 - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (Prince of Darkness)
25/02 - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2: Revelations (Prince of Darkness)
27/02 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
02/03 - Portal: Still Alive
08/03 - The Darkness II
25/03 - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Normal Castle)
30/03 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
13/04 - Bayonetta (Normal)
24/04 - Hyper Light Drifter
22/05 - Dark Souls III
07/06 - Halo 5: Guardians
15/06 - Dark Souls III (NG+)
24/06 - Darksiders (Normal)
16/07 - Yakuza 5
05/08 - Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
23/08 - Metroid Prime (Wii version)
20/09 - Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut
05/10 - Fast Racing Neo - Neo Future Pack (Subsonic)
11/10 - Forza Horizon 3
16/10 - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Wii version)
28/10 - Toren
31/10 - Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel DLC (NG+ level)
07/11 - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

With that, I can finally tick these games off my list. Been a good experience, even if Prime 2 was aggravating at times. This one though I enjoyed throughout, and got through it much quicker than the other games. Reasons for that are things I have spoken about before. My overall impressions of the game are more or less the same as when I've shared my thoughts before too. It still retains a lot of what makes the other games good, with how it creates an rich atmosphere and worlds, with great art direction. Although I still feel like it was a bit of a downgrade in the non-linearity compared to the other games. While it does have a positive side, in that it keeps the pacing of the game up, and I think was the major reason why I got through this one so swiftly and not taking breaks from it, it does make the feeling of exploration and isolation feel a bit watered down. Not that it's completely gone though. It does get better throughout the game too, with it slowly opening up more as you play, but it never really reaches the level of the other games, and it does so so gradually that there's never really any point where it feels like things really "get going" in that regard. But for what it was, I enjoyed it. As I've said before, it's kind of the opposite problem to what Prime 2 had with its pacing, but here its far less egregious, so I can overlook it.

Another thought I've had is how this game handles upgrades and such. It's also streamlined, in a way that has pros and cons. Instead of getting various different modes for your beams and other abilities, here a number of different tools get their own linear upgrade path. More so than in the other games at least. In one sense, this feels a bit like taking choice away from the player. You don't have to think about what type of beam you're using for example, as you can only have a single one equipped at a time, and it can deal with everything previous beams could. No need to specialise. On the other hand though, it meant that you used a wider variety of different tools for different jobs. For example the grapple beam here is used far more than in the previous games, and had far more utility. So the game was able to increase the frequency of the player using a wider variety of tools in combat and getting around, which is pretty cool I suppose. It also means you don't have to deal with the slightly clunky system of switching beams the other games had with their Wii versions.

As for the story aspects, again I've already mentioned my thoughts on that elsewhere, but I do have something new to add. I don't necessarily mind there being more characters and more talking in the games. On one level it adds more depth to the world, and creates an interesting dynamic between Samus and the other hunters. But it does make the game feel far less like an adventure in to the unknown, with there always being someone telling you where to go and what to do. But the thing I wanted to add was about the ending of the game, so spoilers I guess...
Spoiler: show
The ending was rather abrupt, and they missed out on a big thing which i think would have been a really cool way to end off the series. The way the game plays out, you defeat Dark Samus and then the corrupted Aurora Unit, and then that's it. Evil planet explodes, bad guys dead, end of. At first it looks like Samus might not have made it out of there. I was expecting there might be an escape sequence, but nope. She somehow got in her ship and is totally okay. But the thing I was most disappointed by (but only still a little) was that they didn't tell you exactly what Dark Samus is. All the way through the game, and through Prime 2 as well, I was expecting at some point they would reveal that Dark Samus was actually Metroid Prime from the first game, but resurrected in the shape of Samus through absorbing the Phazon Suit at the end of the first game. I thought that would have been a logical, but also really interesting way to tie things up. Yet they didn't do anything at all. A little anti-climactic.
Overall though, great experience. Liked it more than 2, but still not quite as much as the first. Either way, I'd still really like to see more 3D Metroid games now. Perhaps not necessarily in this style, but I think there's a lot of potential for the series that has yet to be realised. By the end of it I had 91% completion, at 13:23 play time. So my highest completion rate, and lowest time of all three games. Definitely down to the quicker pacing keeping me moving, but also the more linear nature meaning that I didn't have to explore as far off the beaten track to find extras.

At some point I do plan to get around to Hunters as well. Not so soon though. I don't currently own it, and I finally picked up The Witcher 3 the other day, so I'm probably focusing on that for a while.

(P.S. Wondering if anyone can help me with something too. I remember a long time ago I watched a video, or series of videos, on Youtube that were on the topic of these games. A long and really interesting analysis of them, in the style you might expect from someone like Matthewmatosis, except it doesn't appear to have been him. Looked through all my subscriptions, and can't seem to find the video/s I'm looking for on anyone's channel. Back when I saw it before, I hadn't played these games, so it didn't make all that much sense to me. But now I've played through them all and my memories are fresh, I'd really like to watch through them again. So if by chance anyone know's what I'm talking about, I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Thanks.)

My thoughts exactly. Also really enjoyed the relationship Samus had with her ship in Corruption and the colourful alien world's. Loved that world on rails. Wonder if it inspired BioShock Infinite?

Went to replay Prime last weekend after your series of posts but haven't got any AA batteries!?!
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gallo_pinto
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by gallo_pinto »

seansthomas wrote:Loved that world on rails. Wonder if it inspired BioShock Infinite?
:o Now that you mention it, they are REALLY similar. I wouldn't be surprised if that was some of the inspiration.
Todinho

Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Todinho »

Salt&Sanctuary(PC)-Finnished it and Im glad to say the game didnt shit the bed and it turned out pretty good :D ,I can totally see people complaining that the game is too similar to Dark souls,I mean part of this you have to buy into it but the game really pushes it at times,like there's a boss that's just Nito and an area that's just Ash Lake for example they arent even trying to hide it and from my part Im fine with it but at times I went "Really do you need to be this obvious?",the game does bring in some interesting additions though,for starters I think they implemented the covenants equivalents here in a much better way then any From Soft game ever did,here they actually change the story a little and it also changes how you play to some degree too,speaking of which I really liked how they handled the sanctuary mechanic it's nothing major but it's a nice touch;Also I love how the weapon upgrade system works the whole transmutation thing is great it allows you to get drops from enemies and combine it with your weapons to make new ones and this not only applies to bosses which makes it alot more fun seeing if a new drop you got from an enemy will allow you to make a new weapon.
Difficultywise I didnt find the game super challenging,it's certainly more difficult then your regular 2D metroidvania but I never had alot of trouble with combat itself,gravity however is another matter and if there's any enemy that killed me constantly was that,which is a shame because I really wanna replay the game but thinking about doing plataforming again is really not appealing and I have to say I think it was a real mistake to put that much plataforming in,it's not like it's meat boy levels of hard but the game follows the souls formula of putting you back at the bonfire and losing souls and having to go through the death sequence multiple times because you missed a jump is very frustrating. Another thing is that I really think they should have put a map,like I said 2D metroidvanias had these for years and for good reasons,not only you cant represent the whole world visually like you can in Dark souls to help you have bearings but you also get new abilities that let you explore further like any other metroidvania but since you have no map you either have to have a photographic memory or be willing to reexplore everything which can get tedious.
Overall I still really liked it,it certainly has that souls quality that makes you want to keep playing,exploring and overcoming adversity;By my account it's better then Dark souls 2(at least it's torch usage is 100% better) and I would love to see more of these but maybe with less plataforming.
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Combine Hunter
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Combine Hunter »

Spoiler: show
23/01 - Advance Wars (Wii U)
29/01 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Wii U)
06/02 - SOMA (PC)
10/02 - Deus Ex: Revision (PC)
12/02 - Firewatch (PC)
18/02 - Catherine (PS3)
28/02 - SUPERHOT (PC)
28/03 - Rise of the Tomb Raider (PC)
12/04 - Lara Croft GO (IOS)
24/04 - XCOM 2 (PC)
30/05 - Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
05/06 - Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)
02/07 - Oxenfree (PC)
04/07 - Dark Souls 3 (PC)
11/07 - Inside (PC)
17/07 - Ratchet & Clank (2016) (PS4)
30/07 - DOOM (2016) (PC)
03/08 - ABZU (PC)
14/08 - Fire Emblem: Fates - Conquest (3DS)
18/08 - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Dolphin)
29/08 - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Wii U)
17/09 - Alien: Isolation (PC)
25/09 - Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches (PC)
22/10 - Amnesia: The Dark Descent (PC)
07/11 - Titanfall 2 (PC)

Great single player campaign. As everyone else has said, a real surprise, as expected it to be a forgettable extra.
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Scrustle
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by Scrustle »

seansthomas wrote:
My thoughts exactly. Also really enjoyed the relationship Samus had with her ship in Corruption and the colourful alien world's. Loved that world on rails. Wonder if it inspired BioShock Infinite?

Went to replay Prime last weekend after your series of posts but haven't got any AA batteries!?!
I'm mostly indifferent about the ship mechanics. They don't really play a significant role in the game, but it was pretty cool way to allow one piece of the world affect another, with how you can pick stuff up from one place and combine with something else in another. Kind of strange that there's so much stuff to toy around with in the cockpit when most of it is useless though.

SkyTown was a very cool place though. I suppose those rails could have been an inspiration on Infinite, but it actually reminded me mostly of the City in the Sky temple in Twilight Princess. All the different egg-shaped pods serving as individual rooms. They're kind of similar in the way they both have odd patterns and architecture that give a sense of an advanced but ancient civilisation too.
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KSubzero1000
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Re: Games completed 2016

Post by KSubzero1000 »

Scrustle wrote:(P.S. Wondering if anyone can help me with something too. I remember a long time ago I watched a video, or series of videos, on Youtube that were on the topic of these games. A long and really interesting analysis of them, in the style you might expect from someone like Matthewmatosis, except it doesn't appear to have been him. Looked through all my subscriptions, and can't seem to find the video/s I'm looking for on anyone's channel. Back when I saw it before, I hadn't played these games, so it didn't make all that much sense to me. But now I've played through them all and my memories are fresh, I'd really like to watch through them again. So if by chance anyone know's what I'm talking about, I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Thanks.)
Bit of a shot in the dark, but could it be either one of these?


Both are pretty good, but the first one is from June 2016, so not "a long time ago". And the second one is older, but focuses primarily on the comparison between the Prime trilogy and Other M.

Unfortunately, any other that I've found is either too short, was uploaded too recently, or is nowhere near the quality standard of someone like Matthewmatosis.
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