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52 Games Challenge 2024!!!!!
dhaabi:
--- Quote from: Cartagia on January 08, 2024, 07:40:01 am ---2. Super Mario RPG
The big problem is that they added two things that trivialize the difficulty: the ability for timed attacks to hit all enemies and a kind of limit break group attack. No combat encounter had any level of hardness. The only time I needed to use items was when I was focusing on filling out the monster compendium instead of killing enemies. A shame, because it's still a fun and funny experience, it's just fulfilling, like empty calories.
--- End quote ---
The only real detail I know about the game is that, toward the end, there is a platforming section that I've been told is quite challenging and unforgiving in the original Super Nintendo release. Has the difficulty been altered for that too?
I realized the other day that I actually do have the immediate means to play Super Mario RPG for SNES since I own a SNES Classic Edition. So, I may prioritize playing that sometime this year.
dhaabi:
03. Flipper Lifter || Playdate || 01.07.24
Not knowing anything about Flipper Lifter prior to playing, I started the game not sure what to expect. After my playthrough, I will say now that it is arguably the Playdate's most arcade-style game yet, of the system's included batch of games.
In short, you as the player control an elevator by exclusively utilizing the system's built-in crank. The gameplay is simple yet quickly becomes challenging, as penguin passengers are needing to be taken to their preferred floor. At the beginning, there is only a small number of floors, with the fewest that some stages offer being two. However, floors are gradually added over time per ten points scored. On my very first playthrough, I managed to drop off 125 passengers while being jostled around up and down fourteen floors which forces the player to micromanage.
Offering only sixty seconds of available time, Flipper Lifter challenges the player to think efficiently. Despite what seems like a short amount of time, additional time is gained to increase the stage's length by unloading passengers, although that time is only a second or two. While passengers will seemingly wait forever to board the elevator, there is only a short amount of time they're willing to wait to exit. If failing to successfully drop off a passenger in time, the elevator temporarily breaks down, costing players valuable time. One detail I particularly thought added to the game's depth is that the elevator's descent is considerably faster than its ascent. So, this requires players to prioritize certain routes to allow one set of passengers to be dropped off first instead of others. At the same time, it is inevitable for the elevator to break down. However, one can utilize this punishment to their advantage, as they can still pick up new passengers to board during that time.
Fortunately, there is a small number of stages to unlock which helps add further depth to the game. Unlocked by the player's cumulative score across all currently available stages, each stage has its own unique layout and gimmicks. These include aspects like multiple elevator shafts, pulley systems, a predator which scares passengers, and more. In general, difficulty increases with each stage unlocked, so gaining high enough scores to unlock the later stages may prove to be difficult to some, but I personally had no issue. I will say that the game's fourth stage of five total is quite challenging.
Overall, Flipper Lifter makes great use of the system's crank on a classic puzzle-action game formula. It's similar to some other arcade-style games from long ago, but the crank definitely sets it apart. It's a welcome addition to the system's library.
Cartagia:
--- Quote from: dhaabi on January 08, 2024, 12:51:00 pm ---
--- Quote from: Cartagia on January 08, 2024, 07:40:01 am ---2. Super Mario RPG
The big problem is that they added two things that trivialize the difficulty: the ability for timed attacks to hit all enemies and a kind of limit break group attack. No combat encounter had any level of hardness. The only time I needed to use items was when I was focusing on filling out the monster compendium instead of killing enemies. A shame, because it's still a fun and funny experience, it's just fulfilling, like empty calories.
--- End quote ---
The only real detail I know about the game is that, toward the end, there is a platforming section that I've been told is quite challenging and unforgiving in the original Super Nintendo release. Has the difficulty been altered for that too?
I realized the other day that I actually do have the immediate means to play Super Mario RPG for SNES since I own a SNES Classic Edition. So, I may prioritize playing that sometime this year.
--- End quote ---
There are some challenge rooms in the second to last dungeon with some (slightly) irritating platforming, but you only have to clear 4 of 6 and only 2 are platforming. I gave up on the second one because it was reversed controls, but I only tried once. That's the only thing that I can think of that people might be referring to.
kashell:
8. Lord of Arcana
This game is as generic and repetitive as it gets. Take mission. Fight monster. Build better equipment. Repeat. It was ideal for downtime during work or long meetings. I never played a Monster Hunter but I'm guessing that's what this is with a different setting and a horrible control scheme. I still don't know why dodging and locking on an enemy required so much effort. But, it's done. And it was entertaining seeing the QTE finishers since enemies would explode into Vandal Hearts pools of blood. This will likely be the only PSP game I play all year. My PSP's nub is in bad shape and staring at its screen just doesn't do it for me anymore. In other words, I need a new one. I'll always fight for the portable that never stood a chance against the DS.
kashell:
9. Star Ocean: The Second Story R
This is a masterclass when it comes to remakes. I have a lot I can't wait to write about when it's review time. One of the things I'm most excited to talk about are all the little things that came together: town/dungeon quick jump, your party members following you, the Bodyguard specialty, ease of manipulating endings, the multi-use item creation, and a bunch more. And just because the credits rolled, it doesn't mean the journey on this file is over. I have a big, ol' Maze of Tribulations to go through. I just made it to the third floor. Then there are some super bosses. There's lots more star ocean-ing ahead.
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