A Winner Is You! (2012)

[Zoltor]

I just beat my first playthrough of Devil Survivor 2(yikes the last boss was a pain).

[The Jackal]

Darksiders (360)



Gotta thank Knuckle Duster for suggesting this to me, would of missed out on a fantastic title otherwise. The game itself borrows heavily from other games; combat is just like that in Legacy of Kain Defiance (I might put up a Youtube video to compare the two, they're pretty identical), dungeons (chests, map and 'compass' to be found, boss to be defeated with weapon you aquired in that dungeon, heath upgrade given after boss's death) and as well as item upgrades (hookshot and boomerang) are set up just like in Ocarina of Time (you even get your own horse!), the game utilizes a free-form map system just like the one in Soul Reaver (lots of backtracking, hardly no loading, utilizing upgrades to open up new areas in areas you've previously beaten, etc), the character you play as looks like he was heavily inspired by Hellboy (enlarged hand, giant pistol), etc.

Whilst this might seem lazy and look like the developers are just stealing the ideas of more successful games, you'll look past that when you actually play the game - all of those "borrowed" elements blend beautifully with it's own; good voice acting, excellent story, challenging bosses, upgradable combos and stats, and so much more.

The sequel's coming out in the next few months, so there's no excuse not to grab this whilst you wait for it; trust me, you'll enjoy this. Alot.

[MrMatthews]

Jackal:

I played through Darksiders a while back and found it to be a very enjoyable game. Like you, though, I honestly don't think there's a single element in this game that isn't blatantly ripped off from another popular series, including a rather shameless Portal "homage" towards the end.

Fun fact: that's Mark Hamill as the demon who's supervising you throughout the story.

[The Jackal]

Jackal:

I played through Darksiders a while back and found it to be a very enjoyable game. Like you, though, I honestly don't think there's a single element in this game that isn't blatantly ripped off from another popular series, including a rather shameless Portal "homage" towards the end.

Oh yes, I forgot about that. That was obviously put in at the last minute, you only used it in the one dungeon and nowhere else, whilst the other items/weapons like the hookshot/chain and boomerang/spiked Frisbee are used frequently after you get them.

Fun fact: that's Mark Hamill as the demon who's supervising you throughout the story.

Yeah, I had a look at the game's IMdb page after playing the game for the first time and finding the VA work surprisingly good; was alittle shocked to find out it was Luke Skywalker who did the voice, really had no idea. Oh yes, and he did the voice to the Joker as well in the DC animated cartoons. Talented guy.

[MrMatthews]

Oh yes, I forgot about that. That was obviously put in at the last minute, you only used it in the one dungeon and nowhere else, whilst the other items/weapons like the hookshot/chain and boomerang/spiked Frisbee are used frequently after you get them.

The "Portal" section was the only part where the pacing of the game really stumbled. That final dungeon dragged on for far too long, IMO. Oh, and I thought it took WAY too long to upgrade your weapons.

[jerry coeurl]

Welp, I beat Metal Gear Solid for the first time ever last night. Got the good ending. Really fantastic game, and I think it still holds up quite well.

I got MGS2 & 3 just waiting for me on my shelf, but I got a bunch of homework to do today, unfortunately.

[M4R14NO94]

Yeah, I had a look at the game's IMdb page after playing the game for the first time and finding the VA work surprisingly good; was alittle shocked to find out it was Luke Skywalker who did the voice, really had no idea. Oh yes, and he did the voice to the Joker as well in the DC animated cartoons. Talented guy.

And Goro Majima on the original Yakuza.

[The Jackal]

The "Portal" section was the only part where the pacing of the game really stumbled. That final dungeon dragged on for far too long, IMO. Oh, and I thought it took WAY too long to upgrade your weapons.

Yeah, I agree with you on the length of that dungeon; having to beat 3 of the same mini-bosses and then having to back-track constantly using the portals did get jarring.

As for levelling up weapons, I left that to the last min of the game in perpetration for the final boss battle; made him quite easy to beat to be honest.

Welp, I beat Metal Gear Solid for the first time ever last night. Got the good ending. Really fantastic game, and I think it still holds up quite well..

The best part of the game is the ending reward; adds alot of extra replay value into an already awesome game.

Replay the game with the cleared file; trust me, you'll love it.

[The Jackal]

And Goro Majima on the original Yakuza.

I've not play any Yakuza games; are they any good?

[MrMatthews]

As for levelling up weapons, I left that to the last min of the game in perpetration for the final boss battle; made him quite easy to beat to be honest.

I thought the final boss was an unimaginitive cakewalk compared to the other bosses.

That's my last criticism of the game. I actually did like it. Honest.

[M4R14NO94]

I've not play any Yakuza games; are they any good?

I've only played the first two since I don't have a PS3, but they're very good games. Definitely some of Sega's best recent work.

[goldenband]

16. Jewel Master (Genesis)

Beat Easy yesterday, and Normal and Hard today. Terrific game, and I've written more about it in the review thread.

[MrMatthews]

I have also beaten this game this year. Many times in fact. Great game, I prefer it over the NES version even. The pogo stick gives it a really unique feel. And of course the oldschool Capcom production values were top notch. I'd go as far as saying it's a gaming masterpiece (both NES/GB versions).

(LOL ... Bomb Jack)

I would say that the NES version is superior, if for no other reason than the GameBoy's more cramped screen make pogo-ing under a spiked ceiling a bit more tricky. Other than that, they're pretty much equally great.

[M4R14NO94]

Strikers 1945 (Arcade)

Finished the first loop, with the basic ending (as in no perverted stuff; yes there's fanservice on a freakin' World War II shmup) continuing about 14 or 15 times using the P-38 Lightning (aka the one that looks like the one out of Capcom's 19XX series)

[goldenband]

17. The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy's Invention (Genesis)

Beat Easy last night in 2-player mode, and then Normal and Hard today in 1-player. More comments here; suffice it to say that I'm not a fan.