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52 Games Challenge 2024!!!!!

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dhaabi:
45. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars || Super Nintendo || 12.05.24



Realizing some time ago that I should make use of my Super NES Classic Edition unit, I decided it would be the best immediate means for me to experience a game from the Super Nintendo's library. Despite not being someone who'd necessarily identify themselves as a fan of the Mario franchise, I've been wanting to play through Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for many years. Finally, I did just that.

To begin, Super Mario RPG is a game that I think everyone of all ages can appreciate. Like the Super Mario series proper, its story is straightforward, and for some time, it follows the formulaic narrative that Princess Peach must be saved. However, certain aspects within the story and its characters are subverted, including Princess Peach herself and Bowser who both ally themselves with Mario as supporting cast members and battle allies. Adopting Nintendo's family-friendly direction, the game's tone is lighthearted and comedic as well, and very little seems to be taken seriously despite the severe problems at hand which result in the capability for people's wishes to be granted becoming jeopardized. While much of the game's attitude is dictated by story, just as much is influenced by sprite design and expressive animations. In short, though, players acting as Mario must stop an invading evil from the land.

However, much of what else defines the game turns away from series entries before it. Exploration adopts a 3D isometric landscape that feels quite odd for the series, although I imagine that was its goal—to elevate the franchise with new types of gameplay and turn away from pre-established tropes. Despite the game's presentation, though, the most important aspect of what defines Super Mario remains present: platforming. Additionally, as its title implies, Super Mario RPG is a turn-based RPG with a three party member battle system. Much—though not all—of the system is simple. More often than not, I found myself employing the same two battle tactics nearly every battle which was dependent on whether the encounter was a basic field enemy or a boss. Over time, battles do become increasingly more involved, although I wouldn't say that they become more difficult. In fact, I would argue that the game's beginning hours will challenge players more than its ending ones on account of in-game currency which seldom becomes an issue alongside the game's fast travel system that ensures that players maintain the best consumable inventory items, in the event they're needed at all.

Although the game's RPG systems are elementary, the element of timing mechanics does provide battles depth. At certain moments, physical attacks from both party members and enemies can be strengthened or weakened, and it's entirely reliant on timed player input. While it may seem like a small inclusion, it grants players an easier means to overcome enemy encounters which, at times, feel lengthy and a bit monotonous. At the same time, battle items referred to as bonus flowers randomly appear to give acting characters benefits. These include more obvious additions such as heightened stats but also preventing consumable items to be depleted and the ability to act out a second turn. Apart from battles, the leveling system itself is neither so straightforward. As each party members gains enough battle experience to level up, they're not just awarded with default stat gains. An element of stat customization is also present, granting players the opportunity to apply a small stat increase to one specific stat type. Over time, these stats do make a difference in battle, so the ability for players to influence characters builds to adopt specific play styles is welcoming.

To my surprise, there is far more content than I imagined the game to have had with lots of secrets and side objectives to seek out. Some of this content is simple to find, though much of it requires active observation and backtracking, which I think suits players who find themselves invested in the game's world. Initially, I had high hopes for unique battles, though only one instance stands out that is pictured above. Such instance occurs fairly early into the narrative, but nothing else captivated my interest beyond it in the same way that forces players to strategize differently.

Ultimately, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars holds up quite well. I'm glad I decided to play the original game instead of last year's remake, especially on account that the differences from what I've read are largely quality-of-life updates which affect aspects that never bothered me anyway.

telly:
Game 23 - SSX 3 (PS2) - 7 Hours

I counted this game as finished when I obtained at least a bronze medal in racing, freestyle and freeride on all tracks on all three peaks (i.e., a checkmark by all of them). My completion ended up being 64%.

I miss games like these. They just don't make good arcade extreme sports games like Tony Hawk and SSX of decades ago. This is a game that I've had since I was kid and always had fond memories of, but never set out to actually finish. Since I needed to play something on the PS2 this year I thought this would be a great way to return to the game.

SSX 3 is such a fun game. Incredible gameplay, and controls with so many fun tracks to explore and pick over. The deep trick system rewards skill and knowledge of each course and it was fun to try aspects of the game I hadn't done that much previously, like the challenges. There's a great selection of music available topped off with a really entertaining radio DJ which adds a lot of atmosphere to the game. The atmosphere overall is very slick, cool and just. .. fun! In addition, the game is very well optimized to cut down on loading times, meaning you can take long 30 minute runs down the entire mountain without ever needing to load on top of a very smooth consistent framerate. Add in different unlocks, collectible, cheat codes and other goodies to obtain, it makes for a very satisfying overall experience.

Once you get to the 3rd peak the game does get a little loose with the track design and can through you out of bounds more often than what was my fault, but other than that I have a really hard time finding negative things to say. It's just a very solid game.

tripredacus:
17. Ultrakill (Steam)
This is a real neat game but it has its gimmicks. Not only fast paced FPS with a variety of weapons but there are parkour and platforming features. And unfortunately these movement features is why I had to abandon the game. It is too bad because I got through level 7 in one sitting. The pistol that can spin around was my favorite weapon of the whole game and I was trying to use it most of the time. The exception was for bosses and some enemies where it was better to use the minigun that had no cooldown.

I hit my first brick wall about half-way through when dealing with an enemy that could instakill you from anywhere on the map. It was quite frustrating to figure them out. They looked like a box with a crown or something and they would put a circle symbol on the ground you were standing on and then you'd die. What I did not know is that it was possible to escape it as there was a few seconds where this targetting thing wouldn't follow you. Then it became manageable. The other thing about that enemy was that it could kill you even if you were in the air so it did seem impossible.

In 7-2 there is a section where you have to do a grapple puzzle and it was too much for me. You hit the yellow grapple and it would open a door for a few seconds, and you had to go through 3 doors then look up to hit a blue grapple point. You get no momentum when using the yellow points, so you had to use wall jumps to move through the doors. Unlike other areas that use the grapple points, the "death" floor in this corridor is very close to the grapples and there is not a tall ceiling so you have to be perfect to make it through the corridor. I was able to get past the doors but then you have literally like a second to look up and shoot the blue grapple and if you miss then you have to start over. It was not worth my time to do this type of forced platforming sequence.

I did like how you interact with the computer at the beginning and the menu animations. I would take a break and just listen to the music the computer made.

kashell:
88. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

I'm horrible at this game. At least, that's what I thought until I played a TON of it over the weekend and had a blast. Will I purchase it? No. But, I won't be using the qualifier "Yeah, I'll play but you'll kick my ass because I'm horrible at it." It was a lot of fun. More fun than I remember, which I think was during the 3DS era. I never played it on Wii or Wii U. So, it's nice to see that this classic series is still going strong.

realpoketendonl:
28. Devil May Cry 5

As a self-proclaimed hack-'n-slash fan and massive Bayonetta fan, it almost felt weird I never properly played through a Devil May Cry game before. But I got a Steam Deck a while back and Devil May Cry 5 has been in my Steam account for a while, so I figured it was high time to go for it. Just finished my first playthrough (Devil Hunter difficulty) and damn, this game is indeed fantastic! Really enjoyed my time with it.

Combat is smooth and satisfying, with so many options I think it would feel awesome to master, without ever feeling needlessly overwhelming. I also totally get why people like Dante. He's cool! Granted, I still feel like I'm not great at the game, and I barely beat any missions without buying my way through some deaths, but I think that's fairly normal for your first playthrough of a new hack-and-slash series. I'm sure I'll get better if I replay the game, and I'm confident I'd enjoy the upped challenge the newly unlocked higher difficulty levels will bring. (One tip from me though: pick Devil Hunter difficulty for your first playthrough. I initally picked the other difficulty, Human, and after two missions I restarted because it was just too easy. And you can't change difficulty whenever you want: you have to start over. So keep that in mind).

I don't think I'll start another playthrough right away, but damn, even as I'm typing this I honestly do want to jump back in. Maybe I'll find myself picking it up for a quick mission here and there. Definitely top 5 best games I've played this year, maybe top 3.

For now though, I think my end-of-year goal would be to also beat Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and maybe one of the Swordquest games in Atari 50.

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