What game/s are you Playing? Daily check :)2012 PLEASE CLOSE

[Aussie2B]

I feel like I've gone full circle in gaming. As I've mentioned on the board many times before, I've been slowing reading through Nintendo Power in order, cover to cover, and I finally got up to the issue with the coverage of Super Mario All-Stars for Super Nintendo. I didn't have a subscription to the magazine at that point in time, but that's the very first game that I personally owned. Sure, I was exposed to plenty of games before that, but in my collection, no game has been in my possession longer. When I hold the cart, it's kind of weird to think that it all started here, as I look around at the 1200+ games and mountains of game-related merchandise I now own. Since it was the first I owned, I played the four games on this collection to DEATH, and even after at least a decade of not touching any of them, I can say that, yeah, I still am pretty well sick of them, haha. But even though I've killed them by playing them so much, making any replay mostly just a matter of going through the motions, I still thoroughly love these games and consider them among the best platformers made. Super Mario Bros. 3 is probably the best platformer ever period. Even with my extreme familiarity with it all, I still marvel at the creative brilliance of it. To think that they essentially went from the original Super Mario Bros. to this (since the Lost Levels was basically just an "expansion"). And SMB2, while it may not have been a real Mario game, what charm it has. I want to squee every time an enemy makes its debut. There's just something so likable about the ostriches, hedgehogs, Bob-ombs, fluffy white guys, etc. Oh, and the whales! I love that stage so much. I remember I had a Nintendo calendar as a kid where one of the months was the whales, and it's just burned into my memory for some reason. Anyway, I've completed both quests of the first Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, and now I'm up to the last world in Super Mario Bros. 3. Even though I've done it so many times, there's something about this last world that still intimidates me. I'm saving the Lost Levels for last, since I figure it'll take the most time and effort.

[Darth Binks]

I put down my SNES and moved on to Dreamcast. Started playing Resident Evil 2 and Soul Caliber. Mostly RE 2, I never get sick of playing this game.

[DigitalSpace]

On my PS2:
Bust-A-Move 2: Arcade Edition (PS1)

On my Neo Geo Pocket Color:
Puzzle Bobble Mini
King of Fighters R-2

[Manhattan Sports Club]

On Saturn:
Alien Trilogy
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
Steamgear Mash

[Videogamerdaryll]

[DigitalSpace]

On my PS2:
Ten Pin Alley (PS1)

[Aussie2B]

I'm all done with Super Mario All-Stars on Super Nintendo. I blew through the Lost Levels surprisingly fast, which only reconfirms my stance that it isn't THAT hard, not like people make it out to be, at least. Sure, it's way more challenging than the other games on the collection (although US SMB3 is dumbed down from the original Japanese difficulty, but having played that version too, I'd say Lost Levels is still harder), and it has a few stages that make me blow through several lives. I do admittedly milk the turtle at the beginning of the game for a hundred lives (but considering you can restart at each individual stage, you have unlimited tries anyway; it's just quicker to have a stock pile of lives than to sit through the Game Over screen and continue). It has a handful of spots that are borderline "Asshole Mario"-ish, like I believe it's in 8-3 where a hidden block is placed so that when you try to jump over a hammer brother, you'll hit the block and fall back into the enemy. But overall the game is fairly smooth sailing for me. Granted, I played through this game a ton as a kid. One thing that was great about this replay is that a mystery from my childhood is finally solved. I had read, long before the internet even, that one of the stages in World 9 tells the player "Congratulations!" or "Thank you!" or some such. But as a kid, I couldn't see what the heck people were talking about. I just saw a jumbled assortment of blocks, no matter how hard my brain tried to contort them into some sort of writing. So now years later, as an adult with a minor amount of Japanese knowledge, I play the stage and clear as day I read "Arigatou!" (aka "Thank you!") in katakana. No one had ever pointed out back then that the text was in Japanese, and my childlike brain just never considered the possibility that it would be in anything but English, haha.

Since that's done, I'm back to just trying out some random stuff. My copy of PD Ultraman Battle Collection 64 for Nintendo 64 arrived, and oof, is this game bad. Quite possibly the worst Japan-exclusive N64 game I have (although more playable for me than some others, since some really require fluent knowledge of Japanese). I love how most of the game is just staring at Ultraman walk or pose or whatever, playing no interactive role at all. I also tested some PlayStation 2 imports: Virtua Fighter 4, Gran Turismo 3: A-spec, and Ridge Racer V. Ridge Racer V seems like a downgrade compared to past games, especially with the lame music, so I had the urge to pop in Ridge Racer Type 4 for a bit. I like to play it with the NeGcon, but I didn't feel like digging it out this time. Still a blast to play, although I've never played it seriously. I really should rectify that someday.

[starchildskiss78]

Over the last several days:

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

I had made it my personal mission to progress as far as I could in the game and possibly beat it (which I finally did last night.) I had proven that "cheaters never win" not long ago by screwing up my game save by trying to get a 100% one off the internet so I could just enjoy driving the different cars and just explore the city and have fun, instead of playing errand boy for the Russians, Jamaicans, Italians, etc. I found out that since the name on the save didn't match the PS3 refused to recognize it. This was AFTER deleting my save (where I was stuck on the mission where you had to save Roman anyway). I decided a fresh start was in order.

The funny thing was...a lot of the missions (including the one you had to save Roman) were much easier this time around. I found myself generally improving my skills on most of the missions (and realized I had totally forgotten R1 allowed you hide behind things while shooting) and was having a better time. I did screw up some missions, though. I am far from perfect in that regard. I also used the health and lower wanted level cheats to make it easier. I died enough times using those cheats. I know for a fact I would be writing this in 10 years if I didn't use a little help.

I realized as I watched the credits roll (and marveled at how LONG they were!) that the game was definitely one of the most engaging games I have played in a long time. Even the newer Mario games have not received more than 30 minutes of play in weeks. The game is very well done (albeit very dark at times on the PS3 despite it not supposed to be at certain times of day....had to adjust the contrast and saturation on more than one occasion) and I am going to continue playing to see what little side things I can complete. (I am at 72% done on the game despite beating the main story....there are a lot of little things that bring you to 100%, but like the Ghostbusters game I consider the game beat when you beat the main story. The side things are just that....side things.)

[starchildskiss78]

Today:

Phantasy Star Online Ver 2 (DC)
Daytona USA (Saturn)
Eighteen Wheeler: Pro Trucker (DC)

I was going through my collection deciding what I plan on keeping and what I plan on getting rid of when I noticed the last time I played PSO was in 2007! Since the game tells you the game is supposed to only be played on one console I got nervous thinking I was going to have to start over since I replaced my original Dreamcast. Thankfully that wasn't the case! I played for about 15 minutes just to become acclimated again and realized I had no clue what I was doing! I played a quick race of Daytona USA just for fun, and moved on to Eighteen Wheeler. I made it to Stage 3 with Asphalt Cowboy and I thought I was going to make it but I needed one more second because the screen told me my time was up and I skidded to a halt right before the finish!

[treismac]

... US SMB3 is dumbed down from the original Japanese difficulty...

It is? Oh goodie! Now I have an excuse to buy the Famicom version of Super Mario Bros. 3!!

[Videogamerdaryll]

Gatling Gears (CO-OP =AWESOME) with Son

Trials Evolution..What I like about this is the FREE quick(2 sec=Downloadable Tracks available from Xbox live members...DL and play instantly.
This game could be played for years like this as people are constantly making track and a lot of them are awesome!!

playing ME3...NO I stopped...I just lost interest for now..

Playing DIRT...yep it’s old as dirt but I got it for $10 bucks.
Slerch has some great track times in the game that I plan to beat..



Crazy Machines Elements ..This I play for almost an hour ever night..It’s a me all day game and quite tough..
I could spend 2 hours on one set up trying to figure it out..

[The 1 2 P]

Been playing Modern Warfare 3 and Kinect Sports Season 2 on 360.

[starchildskiss78]

Yesterday:

Mike Tyson's Punch Out! (NES)
City Connection (NES)
Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

I decided I needed to dust off the gem that is Mike Tyson's Punch Out! since it had been a while since I bought it and only had played it once or twice since then. I searched for some Game Genie codes to see if my road to the champ could be made a little easier. I found some interesting codes. One (PTTZZZ) makes the game look like it came out for the original Game Boy! Others were either glitchy in spots (understandable since some codes can created undesired effects. Another one (KOAUTO) basically makes it easier to KO someone (except for the fact it won't let you beat King Hippo). The code EANALL is a phantom punch that knocks the opponent down right after Mario tells you "Fight!" and your fighters get close. You can TKO someone (kind of like the EANALL code) with TZLOSS. You can knock most boxers out with one hit with AAVETLGE. I think the game completely froze at Great Tiger. All in all, interesting codes but I ended up playing the regular mode until Soda Popinski "walked all over me."

I tried a couple codes for City Connection. The code SZNSTPVG gave me infinite lives while SXKPZGVG gave me infinite oil. Even that only helped for so long as I eventually got to a later iteration of Frankfurt that has wider gaps so sometimes you have to pull off a jump then immediately reverse your direction to get to the higher platform. After at least a half hour of frustration of needing only one little spot to hit I shut the game off. (I guess it's better to suck at a game and not get far than to have a genie grant you unlimited lives and STILL not be able to beat the game!)

I had already beat the main story mode in Grand Theft Auto IV, but I still had some side things to accomplish. I brought my friendship/respect level for my remaining friends to 100% and completed the assassin missions. I am also trying out the "Craplist" dating scene! The game is still fun as I like seeing the different cars and just drive about with no destination sometimes without having to do some mission in the meantime. (Don't get me wrong....I thoroughly enjoyed the game and am glad the save file from the internet didn't work. It was much more satisfying when I started over and started beating it mission by mission.)

[Genesaturn]

Diablo 3 - the madness has begun....must...finish...other...games...ughhh..

[starchildskiss78]

Yesterday:

Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

I received my copy of Super Mario Bros (NES) in the mail yesterday. I decided since I have a television that prevents me from playing light gun games I was going to donate my Zapper and my copy of Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt (NES) to Goodwill (along with a bunch of other games I no longer had interest in). Since I was doing that, I needed to find a standalone copy of the quintessential game that made me fall in love with the NES so many years ago. It was weird not seeing the screen where you select between the two games for the first time. I plowed through the game, vowing to stop when I lost all of my lives. In the majority of the stages I was able to get both the 5000 point bonus AND the 6 fireworks! I died the first time somewhere in world 2 (I was moving a bit too fast and feel into a pit) and finally exhausted my lives in 5-3. I found most of the time when I was dying I was just rushing and not paying attention. When I WAS paying attention, I was able to kill the fake Bowsers with fireballs! (Kill it with fire!)

I "liberated" a police car while playing Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) to stop some random crimes and take down Liberty City's most wanted. I got rid of 20 of them and still had time for a successful date (LawChick) and an unsuccessful date (LiberatedWoman). I guess I should have dressed nicer, huh?

[starchildskiss78]

Sunday:

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

Yesterday:

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year (PS3)

I just messed about in GTA IV to kill some time before supper. On Batman, I was trying to advance past the Medical Facility. I had just saved the doctors and (little did I know it) was about to have my encounter with Scarecrow. The ominous music and the voices while in the morgue creeped me out for the first time since Resident Evil and D! I was glad to be through with him as it restored some of my sanity that I lost during that ordeal! I am now trying to make my way to Arkham North to continue my quest.

[starchildskiss78]

Today:

The Beatles: Rock Band
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

I dusted off my Rock Band guitar and blasted through some of my favorite Beatles tunes. After that I decided to play the better of the Sonic racing games. I think the courses are pretty good and the races are pretty fair. The announcer is kind of annoying...good thing I can shut him off! The only thing that sucks is you have to unlock music, races, and characters. I think the stuff should be available from the start.

[The 1 2 P]

After Reach and MW3 I went back to Crysis. I need to finish that and Perfect Dark.

[starchildskiss78]

Yesterday:

Sonic Generations (PS3)
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3)

Speaking of my last check-in and my rant about having to unlock/purchase things....Sega strikes again with the above games! I played through the Chemical Plant Zone and the Sky Sanctuary and it kept talking about points I have earned. It turns out to enhance my abilities (or gain a second chance after losing my lives) I have to take the points I earned and purchase the skills! I find it crazy that you have to go through and acquire skills to give you a better chance of beating the game. The concept of the game is interesting, and it seems Sega has managed a decent Sonic game for once. I liked Sonic and Sonic 2, but thought the worlds were getting TOO big by the time Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles came about. Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were beautiful and awesome, but the whole zipping around with ZERO control at places seemed frustrating. I think Sonic Generations isn't perfect, though. Most of the stages feel like rehashes of the old games (especially the music) and make you want to play the old games instead.

Which is what I did...

I popped in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection to try to unlock the rest of the stuff. I still had not unlocked Space Harrier (by getting 1,000,000 points in Super Thunder Blade) and decided to give it a try. I was dying way too quickly until I switched the controls to "Normal." Apparently the up is down and down is up mechanic was not helping me when I had to think fast and avoid enemy fire. I gave up at 917,000 (and my umpteenth loss) and moved on to something else. I decided to play Sonic 1 and see if I could unlock one of the interviews by getting the first chaos emerald. I managed to make it to the bonus stage where you earn the emerald, but ended up bouncing to the exit just short of getting it. I played until I made it to Marble Zone: Act 3 (where I had lost my last life). I then played Sonic & Knuckles. I get irritated by the constant enemies that don't hurt you (unless you touch them) but DO send you into things that hurt you. I made it to Mushroom Zone: Act 2 before I decided to call it a night.

Bottom line...why do game companies force you to have to jump through hoops to access something that should be there in the first place? It would be like if Nintendo required you in Super Mario All Stars to make it to world 3-1 in Super Mario Bros without collecting any coins or killing any enemies and having a score ending in 50. Ridiculous!

[DigitalSpace]

On my PS2:
Moto Racer 2 (PS1)
Loaded (PS1)

City Connection (NES)

A few years ago, I created a City Connection signature and used it on the forum for a while:

[nouserever]

Borderlands, i started it a while ago but got sidetracked, and i'm back into it now.

[PROTOTYPE]

The Demo was average, the full game ROCKS! I have never had so much fun in a game like this in along time and I've been playing since pong.Can't stop playing it. yes, it has some problems [ some tearing and pop up] but the good out way the bad.This was made by people that know how to make games Capcom..If you like open worlds, monster hunter, RPG,Climbing up on monsters has never been so much fun. You want to feel like your in the lord of rings?

[starchildskiss78]

That is pretty awesome! I remember this game especially growing up because I spent my $5 off coupon from Nintendo on this game. Kinda funny to think now that all that happened was Nintendo was given a license to sell MORE games. Some punishment, huh?

A few years ago, I created a City Connection signature and used it on the forum for a while:

[DigitalSpace]

On my PS2:
Loaded (PS1)

I've made it to level 12 (out of 15). The most hilarious parts of the game:

-Busting into a padded prison cell in level 1, where a guy in a straitjacket instantly rushed towards me.
-Level 7, with its exploding tree stumps and an abandoned village full of zombies. I can now say that I've killed a group of zombies with an exploding tree stump. Yeah, that was pretty awesome.

(Level 7 also features a castle full of zombies. Level 8 takes place in a space port. How do you get to the space port? By finding your way to a teleport... in the castle of the undead. Only in video games!)

[starchildskiss78]

Yesterday:

Sonic Gems Collection (GC)
Namco Museum: Volume 1 (PS1)
Namco Museum: Volume 3 (PS1)

I was testing out the Spongebob Squarepants controller I bought my girlfriend years ago to make sure I put everything back together properly. The main joystick was a little loose but still worked like it was supposed to. (The looseness was still bugging me, though!) I ran through the first few "worlds" of Sonic CD, got my ass handed to me by Metal Sonic in Sonic Fighters, got third place in one race of Sonic R, got beaten by the first boss in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (for Game Gear), and made it a couple worlds in on Sonic Triple Trouble (also for Game Gear).

My girlfriend mentioned we haven't played Dig Dug in a long time. We fondly remember the day we both stayed home from work (we worked at the same place and just weren't feeling up to going in) and played Dig Dug all day. We played Dig Dug for about 45 minutes last night before she got tired of playing (and getting beat by me!). I switched to Ms. Pac-Man and played a little bit. The strangest thing happened, though. I was heading straight for the blue (cyan) ghost and thought I was a goner. I passed right through! After dying, I switched to Namco Museum Volume 1.

I started with (and completely sucked at) Pole Position. My girlfriend did make an interesting observation. The HDTV (coupled with the PS3) made Pole Position look more vibrant and like the arcade game itself than she ever remembered it. I switched to Pac Man and proceeded to make it further than ever by making it to the melon stage! I know that's nothing compared to some people but I was in shock and said "What IS that?" Bottom line: I need to play more of the classics! I had more fun playing those games than I do playing the more modern games. (I want to find Namco Museum: Volume 2 so I can get it and replace the Namco 50th Anniversary game I have for the Gamecube. The Playstation just did it right with the museum and the other nifty touches better than any other iteration!)