5th January - Arkham Origins (Wii U)
12th January - The End of the World (Android)
18th January - Rayman Legends (Wii U)
31st January - Light House (Android)
1st February - Where shadows slumber (Android)
9th February - Pikmin 3 - Story mode (Wii U)
19th February - New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)
7th April - Deus Ex Go (Android)
19th June - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
20th June - Yellow (Android)
9th July - ARMS (Switch)
14th July - Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
20th July - Bulb Boy (Switch)

16th August - Shovel Knight (Switch)


Not really sure why I waited about 5 years and two consoles to play this, but it was worth the wait. What an utterly charming game.

Not always a sucker for retro styled games but this one won me over, largely due to the soundtrack. What a score that is.

Platforming was tight, ramped up at the right moments and was always fair. When I got to the final 3 levels, I started each one thinking 'I'll never beat this' but each time found a way through experimentation and hard work.

Some innovative ideas too, like the RPG-esque power up system and being able to break the checkpoints for rewards if you like a gamble.

Gonna blast through Sonic but fully intend to go back and play the other quests too as this is easily in my top 5 2D platformers.

This thread is a great idea. Makes me wish I'd kept a record of the games I've completed since my first forays into the virtual realm 25-odd years ago - would be fascinating to look back now. Still, better late than never I guess. With that in mind, here's a roughly accurate list (thanks to Steam) of my conquests so far in 2017, and will try and keep this updated.

February - The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition (PC)
March - Stanley Parable (PC)
April - The Wolf Among Us (PC)
April - Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter (PC)
June - Metro 2033 Redux (PC)
June - Firewatch (PC)
August - Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (PC) - Being slightly generous with my definition of 'completed' in this case, but have reached a point where I and the friends I've been playing this with have had our fill for now, and have finished all the missions bar some of the more recent DLC.

It's currently a race between the Witcher 3, which I'm hoping to have finished in time for the podcast (101 hours in and still seem to be miles from the end), and Grim Fandango Remastered, which I'm playing with the missus (my one paltry brain is not sufficient for those puzzles...), as to which one is next to be added to the list.

Man, Grim Fandango... other than the first ever guy to write a walkthrough for that game, I don't believe there is a person alive who's completed that game without looking anything up.

Alex79uk wrote: August 16th, 2017, 11:15 pm Man, Grim Fandango... other than the first ever guy to write a walkthrough for that game, I don't believe there is a person alive who's completed that game without looking anything up.

Based on its reputation I knew I wouldn't last five minutes going solo before resorting to a walkthrough (unfortunately I'm not the most self-disciplined or resilient of gamers), hence I roped in the good lady wife. So far we've resisted the temptation to look anything up, although we've come mighty close to crumbling a couple of times. We've just reached an area which is far bigger than anything which has gone before though, which means way more options and different permutations, which obviously in a point and click means way more head scratching . . . so we'll see.

Rime (PS4)

Fantastic game, and drop-dead gorgeous. One of the best looking games I've seen on the PS4.

17 Aug - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Nintendo DS)

I started playing this game late 2012 on a family visit to the Netherlands, after having bought it in a German hypermarket (REAL) and was quite enjoying another Zelda experience on the go, kids peeking over my shoulders and all. I kept on playing it regularly until I got stuck at the same 'bomb the spot where the gaze of statues around the track in the overworld meet' where my wife got stuck and gave up, on the office copy I borrowed in 2009.

Other games grabbed my attention and I dropped Spirit Tracks.

I always felt that I had to see it through, so I picked it up earlier this year again, using a walkthrough for that particular puzzle and some bits afterwards, since I needed some help to get started again, having no idea about the world and the Tower of Spirits core dungeon anymore. This is what I made of it, for my catalogue mini review.

Where is that fancy image from? Do you have a personal review site?

Edit: And also, haha at buying games at REAL.

No, I'm arduously cataloguing and reviewing my video game collection and DTP-ing it for a printed book, pretty much for my own enjoyment. I do dump some of these mini reviews on my blog/site, however.

I don't want to do that for every little mini review anymore, though (unless there is a specific story tied to it), and plan to bundle a few together by theme, for larger blog entries.

LOL, REAL used to have some good bargain bin fodder! You go and do groceries and come home with a game or two.

I hope we haven't heard the last of that book, then!

Don't know about REAL, but I do recall buying LoZ: Oracle of Seasons & Ages from Kloppenburg of all places when I was in school some 15-ish years ago. Much to the amusement of some judgmental old guy standing in line with me. Brings me back!

Spoiler: show

Jan - Guilty Gear Xrd: Revelator
Jan - Mad Max
Jan - Streets of Rage 2
Jan - Guardian Heroes
Jan - Xcom 2 (+dlc)
Jan - Titanfall 2 (+online G6)
Jan - Shining Force
Jan - Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact
Jan - Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online
Jan - Mr Driller (2500ft)
Feb - Earthworm Jim Special Edition
Feb - Baku Baku
Feb - Day of the Tentacle Remastered
Feb - Resident Evil 7
Feb - Fire Emblem Heroes
Feb - The Last Guardian
Feb - Mercs
Feb - Doom
Feb - Wild Guns
Mar - Devils Third
Mar - The Wonderful 101
Mar - Nier: Automata (platinum)
Apr - Nier
May - Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (platinum)
May - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
May - 1943: The Battle of Midway
May - Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown
May - Soul Calibur
May - Super Hang-On
May - Alex Kidd in Miracle World
May - Magic Sword
May - Soul Calibur 2 HD Online (arcade and main weapon master quest)
Jun - Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Jun - Under Night In-Birth EXE: Late
Jul - Yakuza 0
Jul - R-Type Dimensions
Jul - State of Decay: Year-One
Jul - Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Jul - Gears of War 4
Jul - Guwange (multiple modes, all three characters)
Jul - Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Jul - Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-
Aug - Shining Force 2
Aug - Forza Horizon 3
Aug - BlazBlue: Central Fiction
Aug - Final Fantasy XV
Aug - Zombi
Aug - Darksiders: Warmastered Edition

Aug - Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (platinum)

Jan - Titanfall 2 (XO)
Feb - Mass Effect 3 (X360 via XO)
Jun - The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (Switch)
Jul - Football Manager 2017 (iOS)
Aug - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

Aug – Gears of War 4 (XO)

Finally completed our co-op run through of Gears 4 on Hardcore after my buddy inconveniently decided to go on holiday with his wife for a few weeks. A thoroughly enjoyable Gears game! Won’t convert anyone that’s not a fan of the series, but if you like Gears then this is another highly polished and accomplished entry.

I remember in the lead up to release that people were saying this was a smaller more intimate story with more personal stakes vs the more epic scope of the original trilogy. To some extent that’s true, but it also had plenty of the blockbuster moments and set pieces you’ve come expect. The new cast of youngsters were also a good bunch, and just as much fun to spend time with as the old crew.

On the negative side there were sections where they tried to switch the gameplay up (I’m sure in an effort to add a little variety amongst all the shooting), that were pretty poorly executed. The areas where you have to run through a gauntlet of lightning shafts created by electrical storms in order to make it to next area were incredibly frustrating. It might just be because it’s Hardcore mode but if they touch you it’s pretty much insta-death, and when there’s two of you trying to make it through and you get a fail state if only one you dies, it can become a little vexing to say the least…

Oh and the ending’s crap. Might just be my lack of knowledge about broader Gears lore, or my hazy, topline memories of previous game's narrative, but I really didn't understand the significance of what happened.

But still, overall, really good Gears game! Looking forward to seeing where The Coalition take the series next!

For what it’s worth... gears 4 ending spoilers time...

Spoiler: show

The emblem on the medallion implies that Kait and her mother are blood relatives of the locust queen from the previous game. They’ve been gently hinting that the locust are some sort of bio weapon project gone wrong, with marcus’s father and whoever the locust queen was being behind their accidental creation.

The plot in gears has never been its strong point.

Spoiler: show

02/01 - Hyper Light Drifter (PC)
014/01 - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)
15/01 - Owlboy (PC)
17/01 - Sid Meier's Civilization VI (PC)
04/02 - Resident Evil [Remake] (PC)
09/02 - They Breathe (PC)
11/02 - Resident Evil 2: Leon A (PS Vita)
17/02 - Resident Evil 2: Claire B (PS Vita)
23/03 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)
22/02 - Ninja Gaiden: Black (360 - Xbox Original)
26/04 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
29/05 - Nier: Automata - Ending A through E (PS4)
04/06 - The Witcher (PC)
22/06 - Viewtiful Joe (GC)
26/06 - What Remains of Edith Finch (PC)
04/07 - Life is Strange (PC)

17/08 - Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (PC)

Probably my second favourite Ninja Theory game after DmC. It's very intense, depressing stuff. I think the ending is a bit of an anti-climax, the puzzles quickly get representative and they could have used more enemy variety, but the aesthetics are something else!

Flabyo wrote: August 17th, 2017, 10:18 pm For what it’s worth... gears 4 ending spoilers time...

Spoiler: show

The emblem on the medallion implies that Kait and her mother are blood relatives of the locust queen from the previous game. They’ve been gently hinting that the locust are some sort of bio weapon project gone wrong, with marcus’s father and whoever the locust queen was being behind their accidental creation.[/spoiler

The plot in gears has never been its strong point.

Ah ok! That broader story theme is something I'd certainly already picked up on (as you say narrative subtlety has never been Gears' strong suit), but that specific point about the thing - didn't now that. As suspected, something I'm nowhere near close enough to Gears lore to have recognised!

Sinclair Gregstrum wrote: August 18th, 2017, 9:19 am Gears lore

Am I a horrible person if this made me chuckle?

Spoiler: show

18th January Infinite Warfare Xbox One[/b]

Easily my favourite Call Of Duty Campaign I've played (FYI I have not played Black OPs 2 or 3). Great fun for a franchise that isn't usually my cup of tea.

23rd Jan

The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 2

Brilliant however I do feel that my decisions are based on my previous experiences with Clem which are not relevant here. If you've played it you'll know what I mean. But it is fantastic.

The Bunker

Probably the worst game I have played this gen. Awful, awful game. I can only best describe it as a videogame made by people who have never played videogames. Everything about it was bad. Infuriating controls, instafail sections that were pure luck that you passed. I wouldn't even recommend downloading it when it appears on PS+ or Games With Gold.

Would be a great Cane And Rinse Episode though

Resident Evil 7 Playstation 4

Really enjoy it and would recommend

17th Feb Doom Xbox One

Solid 8/10 for me. It outstayed its welcome but was fun none the less

Bioshock Remastered PS4

Glad I've finally ticked this off my pile of shame after all these years. The last boss reminded me of Metroid Primes final boss for some reason. Looking forward to listening to the show now.

March 3Rd

Batman Arkham VR

Very good, just wish there was more of it!

Rez Infinite PSVR

Acts 1-4 were amazing but I thought 5 was a bit of a let down. I obviously miss the point of it somehow

Area X is absolutely amazing though and apart from a bit in Arkham my highlight of PSVR so far. Would love a game based on Area X


The Walking Dead The New Frontier Season 3 Episode 3.

Quite disappointed in this episode I have to say. There was great momentum, cast and story built up in the two episodes previous and an excellent cliff hanger which fizzles out in episode 3. I was most annoyed about a character becoming pissed off with me when I killed someone instead of letting them turn


The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 4

Telltale have lost the plot this series. Some of the choices in this episode are absolutely ridiculous, I actually let one run out as I didn't feel able to make it leading to a game over screen. I'm happy to be proved wrong but I'm pretty sure they've never tied that to a major decision before?, mind you I have always never shied from making any decisions. Clementine might as well not be there and one scene with her left me scratching my head as the way she acts in that is something that ''my'' Clementine would never even think about let alone want to do what is discussed.


What Remains Of Edith Finch

An interesting "game", I enjoyed it in parts but also had a few questions left at the end of it. I think I'd better play Gone Home now for some kind of comparison.


Gone Home

It was alright, I've preferred What Remains Of Edith Finch and Virginia to be honest. I'll download the show now.


Injustice 2 PS4

Jolly good fun. I enjoyed the story in 1 more but that doesn't mean I'm saying this has a bad story. Combat is better than 1, looking forward to seeing what the extra stuff involves and deciding who to use online.


May 30th The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 5

Dreadful end to a really, really disappointing season. I have no idea what Telltale were thinking during this season it has been all over the place. The first two episodes they released back to back were excellent but it just goes to pieces in episode 3. Real shame as there were some good characters in there. I would not recommend unless cheap and I'm a huge fan of season 1 and 2. There will be a season 4 and I won't be rushing to pick this up like I have every season so far.

There was no point Clem being in it at all being brutally honest. Her story ark doesn't even get resolved. Annoyed!
[/quote]

August 1st Horizon Zero Dawn.

My game of the year so far. Not played anything else really since picking it up. Amazing. Looking forward to the DLC now.
[/quote]

AUGUST 11TH UNTIL DAWN

Great fun. I replayed the final chapter again to get the ''best'' ending I'll pop more details in the thread. Recommend
[/quote]

August 18th Telltale Batman Season Two Episode One

Carrying on from an excellent season one, this wasn't brilliant it was just good. They've set up several plot points going ahead. One of the main changes is the relationships with characters. Through your actions as Bruce/Batman your relationship will strengthen/weaken leading to different things happening. Need episode 2 now please

KSubzero1000 wrote: August 18th, 2017, 3:11 pm

Sinclair Gregstrum wrote: August 18th, 2017, 9:19 am Gears lore

Am I a horrible person if this made me chuckle?

I may be guilty of the same thing...

(Jan) Quantum Break - XB1.
(Jan) Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag - PS4.
(Jan) Adr1ft - PS4.
(Jan) Dear Esther - PS4.
(Jan) Virginia - PS4. (platinum).
(Jan) The London Heist - PSVR
(Feb) Flashback(2013) - PSN.
(Feb) Rain - PSN.
(Feb) Lara Croft & The Guardian of Light - PSN.
(Feb) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - PS3.
(Feb) Far Cry Primal - PS4.
(Feb) Bayonetta 2 - WiiU.
(Feb) Sniper Elite 3 - PS4.
(Mar) Life is Strange - PS4.
(Mar) Nier Automata - PS4.
(Mar) Halo 2:Anniversary - XB1.
(Mar) Guns, Gore & Canoli - PS4.
(Apr) Alien Breed Ep.3:Descent - Xbox 360.
(Apr) Horizon Zero Dawn - PS4.
(May) Battleborn - PS4.
(May) Diablo 3:RoS - PS4.
(May) Deadpool - PS4.
(May) The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing - PS4.
(June) Killing Floor 2 - PS4.
(June) Mirror's Edge: Catalyst - PS4.
(June) Mass Effect:Andromeda - PS4.
(June) Nex Machina - PS4.
(July) Rise of the Tomb Raider - PS4.
(Aug) Zombi - PS4.
(Aug) Injustice:Gods Among Us -PS4.
(Aug) Shadow Warrior 2 - PS4.

Spoiler: show

Jan 2 - Everybody's Gone To The Rapture (PS4)
Jan 11 - very DOOM (PS4)
Jan 21 - The Last Guardian (PS4)
Jan 27 - Pokémon Sun (3DS)
Feb 9 - They Breathe (PC)
Feb 15 - Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)
Feb 19 - Gone Home (PS4)
Mar 11 - The Little Acre (PS4)
Mar 22 - Gravity Rush 2: Raven's Choice (PS4)
Mar 27 - Mega Man (3DS)
Apr 2 – Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Android)
Apr 4 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)
Apr 6 - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS)
Apr 15 - Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Apr 15 - Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (3DS)
May 18 - Mega Man 2 (3DS)
Jul 7 – Persona 5 (PS4)
Jul 9 – Puyo Puyo Tetris (PS4)
Jul 27 - Final Fantasy (Vita)

Aug 18 - Sonic Mania (PS4) (Sonic, Normal ending) (Aug 26 -Sonic, True Ending)

I've seen the end credits but I'm nowhere near finished. I only got 3 Chaos Emeralds as those special stages are really ramping up the difficulty. I'll update this line in future posts for getting all the Chaos Emeralds and completion as Tails and Knuckles.

As for the game itself, it handles as well as I expected from a Sonic game with Christian Whitehead's involvement. I like the actual level design and layout too, which was my biggest concern going into the game.

Spoiler: show

08 Jan: Crypt of the Serpent King (Xbox One, review copy, 100% achievements, one of the worst game's I've ever played)
19 Jan: Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
26 Jan: Dear Esther: Landmark Edition (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
26 Jan: Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
29 Jan: METRICO+ (Xbox One, review copy)
25 Feb: Spheroids (Xbox One, review copy, 100% achievements)
26 Feb: The Swapper (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
27 Feb: Contrast (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
3 Mar: Ghost Blade HD (Xbox One, review copy. Hard mode complete.)
11 Mar: Defense Grid 2 (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
11 Mar: 2Dark (Xbox One, review copy)
11 Mar: Sky Force Anniversary (Xbox One, all but one achievement - too grindy)
16 Mar: Sublevel Zero Redux (Xbox One, review copy - easy campaign completion only)
18 Mar: Death Squared (Xbox One, review copy)
6 Apr: Thimbleweed Park (Xbox One, review copy)
17 Apr: Mass Effect 3 (360 on Xbox One - returned for Omega & Citadel DLCs, plus Insanity run and 100% achievements)
28 Apr: Hitman GO (Windows Phone, 100% achievements)
8 Jun: LEGO Marvel Superheroes (Xbox One)
11 Jun: Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360)
18 Jun: Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One)
12 Jul: Shadow of Mordor (Xbox One, including DLC)
13 Jul: ABZU (Xbox One, 100% achievements)
18 Jul: Picross 3D Round 2 (3DS)
18 Jul: Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+ (Xbox 360 - 100% achievements)
20 Jul: The Room and The Room Two (Android)
26 Jul: The Room Three (Android)
27 Jul: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Game of the Year Edition (Xbox One - 100% achievements)
12 Aug: Aaero (Xbox One)
13 Aug: Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre (Android)
13 Aug: Life is Strange (Xbox One)

18 Aug: Monument Valley (Android)

A charming and beautiful mobile game utilising perspective and Escher-like visual illusion. Unfortunately it's too short and a little too easy - once you've got your head around the optical illusions the puzzles are effectively short mazes with little variance. The story is pretty weak as well - I don't know why games like this insist on having one at all if they're not going to develop it beyond a vague redemption narrative. Just set up a curious environment and let me make up my own story.

The "Forgotten Shores" DLC is better than the base game and worth the extra £1.50. It looks even more beautiful and the puzzles are slightly more complex. It's enough to at least make you feel a bit clever without being frustrating, though I still feel like it's a bit too simple. A step in the right direction, though, and it makes me hopeful for the sequel that is currently only available on iOS. The first game had about a month of Apple exclusivity so I'd expect it to turn up this year on Android.