Messages

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:37:42 pm »

10. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated | 2020 | 100%! | Xbox Series X | 3/15:

This one's a real hood classic for me. This is my fourth time completing this game from what I can remember (2x the original, and now 2x the remaster). I recognize in this recent playthough that some of the aura and shine this game once had for me as a kid is a little more duller now. Some jokes don't land as well as they once did and parts that were once troublesome (puzzles, Kelp Forest, etc.) have felt way too easy this time around (that one bowling ball puzzle in the Mermalair still F'd me up though). Despite some faded nostalgia, I still have a lot of love for SpongeBob BFBB. It's simple yet fun to play and gives you just enough content that it never overstays its welcome. It's to me still the greatest, most immersive SpongeBob game money can buy (the point-and-click Employee of the Month game is a close second though).

I do wish the remaster devs were given a little more time for this game to bake in the oven. There were a lot more noticable glitches this time around, more so than the original game. There's also that "multiplayer mode" tacked on that may be one of the most unneccessary bonus modes I've ever seen in a video game. I will say: I am more appreciative of the saturated color palette used in the remaster this time around, as some areas in the original look almost too dark now (looking at you Kelp Forest). Grade: B

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:32:39 pm »

9. R.E.P.O. | 2025 | Early Access | PC - Steam | 3/6:

More than a year after its release, I still play Lethal Company regularly with friends. I think it's a testament to not only the greatness of the game, but also the lasting appeal that game has. Apparantly, other indie devs may feel the same as I do because there's been a recent influx of early access, horror co-op games on Steam with procedurally-generated areas and endless scrap to collect. Of the ones I've played so far, R.E.P.O. has probably felt closest to the Lethal Company experience. It's pretty silly, with the physics-based gameplay that has you navigating tight spaces and keeping loot from smashing into walls while hiding from monsters that will more than likely shatter you in one-shot. For an early-access game, it's pretty well-polished and a lot of fun. I can imagine it will be even better overtime with updates and mods, but the base game is good enough on its own to warrent a $10 purchase. Grade: B+

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:27:51 pm »

8. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap | 2025 | PC - Game Pass | 2/13:

I haven't played any of the previous games in the series, so I don't have anything to compare it to. From what I've played, "Deathtrap" is more of a roguelite compared to prior entries: with larger maps and 4-player co-op now. Seems to me that they made changes that has left people polarized. Personally: I've had my fun playing the first few hours with friends, but it got stale after about hour 10. There's a lack of variety in the roguelite elements. You will get a lot of repeats of cards used to upgrade your traps & character every game, with like 4 bosses and 6 maps that the game pools from. In some ways, it does feel like I was playing an early access game and I did a double-take by checking the store page to make sure, and sure enough I was playing a fully-released game. It's a fun time with friends for a couple of sessions, but not a game I would go out of my way to purchase (and I definitely wouldn't recommend it for solo play unless you're a super fan). Grade: C-

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:24:28 pm »

7. Balatro | 2024 | PC - Steam | 2/10:

This game is literally crack in video game form. I got the same feeling playing this for a short while as I did when I first started Binding of Isaac: Rebirth almost a decade ago. It's fun trying to come up with a build on the fly that will give you just enough points to make it past the ante. Similar to Isaac, some builds synergize better than others, so creating the right build that can "break the game" and make the rest of the run a breeze to go through is very rewarding. The only problem I have with this game is real-life time management (I checked the clock: it was midnight a minute ago, why is it 3 o'clock now?). Grade: A+

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:21:24 pm »

6. Import Tuner Challenge | 2006 | Xbox 360 | 2/7:

I love looking at niche early 360 titles, back when most of them still looked like PS2 games graphically. In case you don't know, this game is a part of the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series and the last one to release in the USA before the series' reboot in 2025. For someone that has never played any of these titles prior to this one, I can say that I'm pretty excited to dive into the series more (especially the new one). That being said: while the racing is pretty fun, I wish there was more to offer in terms of customization. Looking into it, apparently this game had a rushed development and it shows: not only with the limited selection of cars to pick from and roads to drive on, but also with the egregious amount of bugs and textures popping in and out from existence. I think the game's biggest strength for me is being able to beat opponents that have much faster cars than you while simultaneously saving money to afford that big engine upgrade that will have you beating those same opponents with ease. This game is pretty much a breeze towards the end once you fully upgrade your car, but those early moments where you're beating opponents by the skin of your teeth with your shabby ride is something special. Grade: C

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 25, 2025, 12:17:24 pm »

Better late than never! I was the same way when I first started writing out my personal thoughts, too. If the effort is put in, there will definitely be improvement. I've always enjoyed reading others' thoughts here if they decide to share them. Hopefully you keep at it.

Thank you!

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 20, 2025, 06:31:22 pm »

5. Gunfright | 1985 | "Rare Replay" Collection | Xbox Series X | 1/29:

Doing this one to mainly progress in unlocking all achievements in Rare Replay. It could take me years to complete the entire collection or I may never complete it, but it's worth a shot to me. Out of the 5-ish games I've completed so far in this collection, this has to be probably the worst so far. It's not that it's aged poorly -- in fact, it's pretty straightforward: find the wanted criminal and beat them in a duel. It's just that: anything and everything will try and kill you. Cactus kills you, tumbleweeds kill you, walking into pedestrians kills you; it's never-ending.

Even after avoiding all obstacles in your path and getting to challenge your bounty to a duel, there's no guarantee you'll be able to kill them after the third level. There is an absurd difficulty spike after about the third level where the wanted target will give you almost no time to react to shooting them in a duel because you will already be shot dead by them. The only way to cheese this system is by using the Rare Replay "rewind" function to have good enough RNG to react in time and shoot them. The bounty can take less than a second to shoot you if you're unlucky or up to two seconds if you are lucky.

The basic premise of the game and its gameplay are both fun, but most of the game will be spent abusing the rewind button in order to complete it. Grade: D+

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 20, 2025, 06:25:06 pm »

4. Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Xbox Series X | 1/29:

I'm disappointed in this one. I think there's a great game here, but it's missing something. Some more polish, some more personality in the dialogue, a better final boss; something. I think they were doing a little too much with the gameplay as well. There's a pinball section, an Ikaruga-like shoot-em-up section, among other things to spice up the gameplay -- which doesn't really work because they felt cobbled together in a half-baked fashion. I feel like more effort could've been focused on fleshing out and adding more depth to Sonic's gameplay in the open-world instead of having the multiple one-off gameplay sections. I would like to see Sonic Team build off of Frontiers if they decide to make another open-world Sonic game because most of the foundation has been set here -- it's just poorly executed. Grade: D+

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 20, 2025, 06:20:22 pm »

3. Ubari Magic Postcard Maker | 2024 | PC - Browser | 1/22:

Not much of a game per se... The main creator of this little browser game is primarily a musician, and this game seems to be his companion piece to go along with the album. You create your own postcards using the game's limited assets (or import some of your own). You can then save the postcard file and send it to your friends for shits and giggles. It's a fun little browser game that you can spend a couple of minutes in or up to an hour if you want to be real creative. You can also sit back and relax to the ambient music in the background while staring at the Y2K design & visuals on screen. I wish the postcards were saved at a better resolution however. Grade: B-

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 20, 2025, 06:11:57 pm »

2. ATLYSS | 2024 | Early Access | PC - Steam | 1/21:

I really liked this one a lot! This RPG has a very laid-back, comfy feel with a fantasic soundtrack and beautiful environments. It can be quite challenging, especially in solo play. Of course, this game is a lot more fun with friends but I did enjoy my time playing solo as well. Despite being in early access, this game is well worth the $10 asking price at the time of writing this review. It takes about 8 hours with one character, but you'll probably want to start over again to try out the other classes -- or just to play around in the character creator ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). Grade: A

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: September 20, 2025, 06:00:58 pm »

Note: I'm pretty late to writing up reviews. I hadn't fully committed to it but I made sure to write down my thoughts after completing each game, with the possibility of uploading my chicken-scratch on the internet. It's my first time writing something about a game, so I wasn't really confident with what I was writing to begin with. So far however, I think I've improved from when I first started at the beginning of the year to where I'm at now. I went back to revise some of my earlier works and now I'm confident sharing what I've wrote! (albeit several month later).

1. Tomb Raider I | 1996 | "Tomb Raider I-III Remastered" Collection | Xbox Series X | 1/11:

I wasn't familiar at all with the older Tomb Raider games. I did NOT expect the first game to be this difficult. By the end of my playthrough, I had about 190 saves total. I enjoyed the first chapter of the game as it was a lot more calm; not only with the amount of enemies I faced, but the linearity of the levels as well. This helped a lot as I was getting used to the game's tank controls (I really got the hang of them halfway through the game & didn't want to use the modern controls at all).

I didn't care for the next two chapters as the game started to open up. The game's still linear in nature, but it starts to get confusing when you need to find a certain key item to proceed and have to backtrack just to find the right room hidden off to the side. Still, the locations of each level are all very memorable and I didn't feel bored at any point throughout the game (except maybe when pushing the huge puzzle blocks around the map). I can see myself replaying Tomb Raider I again in the near future to work on the numerous Xbox achievements in the collection now that I know more about the game and what to expect. Grade: C+

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General / Re: 52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

« on: December 27, 2024, 10:59:08 pm »

Tier List (Updated: 7/5)

Finished:
1. Tomb Raider I (XSX): 1/11
2. ATLYSS (PC): 1/21
3. Ubari Magic Postcard Maker (PC): 1/22
4. Sonic Frontiers (XSX): 1/29
5. Gunfright (XSX): 1/29
6. Import Tuner Challenge (360): 2/7
7. Balatro (PC): 2/10
8. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (PC): 2/13
9. R.E.P.O. (PC): 3/6
10. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated (XSX): 3/15
11. MULLET MADJACK (PC): 3/18
12. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game (XSX): 3/20
13. Lil Gator Game (PC): 4/1
14. Botany Manor (XSX): 4/15
15. Little Kitty, Big City (XSX): 5/15
16. Fire Truck (Arcade): 5/15
17. Maximum Force (Arcade): 5/18
18. Viper Phase 1: USA (Arcade): 5/18
19. Zenless Zone Zero [Season 1] (PC): 5/23
20. HELLDIVERS 2 (PC): 5/23
21. DOOM: The Dark Ages (PC): 6/2
22. R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 ~USA Story~ (PS1): 6/15
23. Banjo-Kazooie (XSX): 6/21
24. Mafia: Definitive Edition (PC): 7/14
25. ToHeart [2025 Remake] (PC): 8/8
26. PEAK (PC): 8/17
27. OFF [2025 Remaster] (PC): 8/24
28. Snake Rattle 'n' Roll [Rare Replay] (XSX): 9/1
29. Assassin's Creed Mirage (XSX): 9/6
30. Cobra Triangle [Rare Replay] (XSX): 9/10
31. Marble It Up! Ultra (XSX): 9/27
32. Peppa Pig: World Adventures (PC): 9/28

Currently Playing:
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- VA-11 HALL-A

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Video Game Database Discussion / Re: Developer/Publisher Requests

« on: August 29, 2024, 04:14:49 pm »

https://vgcollect.com/item/271386
Developer: Fragaria

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Off Topic / Re: What are your top 10 favorite musical artists/bands/composers?

« on: June 02, 2022, 02:41:46 pm »

I haven't listened to Kanye's extensive discography, as I still need to listen to Graduation, 808s, MBDTF, and Donda 2. Something about Jesus Is King just has a nice, cohesive listening element to it, though. I also really like Yeezus, but I remember there being some tracks that I thought weren't too successful in its back end. If Donda had been halved, I'd probably have a higher opinion for it too. Generally, I think that a project which is more concise and focused on its themes are more successful. Additionally, I also find myself seeing the beauty in more gospel-focused pieces at times. "God Is" is one of my favorite Kanye tracks. I also enjoy The Life of Pablo too, but I consider it a project that becomes less successful as it continues, as its back half struggles and largely loses my interest.

Susumu Hirasawa - Kyuusai no Gihou
Not familiar with Hirasawa in particular, but I have previously heard some P-Model songs that I enjoyed. I can definitely hear the similarities between some tracks and the soundtrack for Paprika, especially with the album's opening track Town-0 Phase-5. World music is okay at times, but it's never something I ever find myself actively listening. I did enjoy this album, though. Also, I started watching the Berserk anime after listening to this album not realizing that Susumi Hirasawa contributed music to its soundtrack, and I immediately recognized it once the vocals began.

The Weeknd - Trilogy (House of Balloons, Thursday, Echoes of Silence)
As a note, I did not listen to these three projects in one sitting. They were originally released as separate works, and that is how I view them. Overall, they're all solid albums to play. Each album has at least a couple of standout tracks I found throughout listening.

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin is an artist I definitely should devote time to listening to their backlog. I've only really ever listened to Drukqs and Come to Daddy prior to listening your suggestion. With that said, this album provided enjoyable background music, although nothing in particular caught my attention.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
I'm actually glad you suggested this album. Early throughout my listen, I was reminded of "Peacebone" from their previous album while listening, although I wasn't sure what exactly the song was or the song's artist but clearly remembered its music video and sound. Up until this point, that was the only song of theirs which I had listened. I found Merriweather to be a great listen with its fun and upbeat moods and will explore more of the artist's releases in time. I've listened to it three or four times already.

Can - Future Days
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of long, drawn out tracks, so the 20-minute album closer wasn't something that I particularly enjoyed in its entirety. With that said, I first didn't really enjoy Future Days at all, but I gave it numerous listens. Finally, after re-visiting it about a week later on my fourth listen, I enjoyed it a lot. The opening minutes to "Bel Air" were nice especially. Did it need to be a 20-minute song, though? Probably not.

The Stooges - Fun House
I have not listened to very much rock and early punk from the '70s. That being said, Fun House was not something that immediately caught my attention. I did enjoy "Dirt," though. It's not to say that this album was bad, but I certainly need more listening experience throughout this moment in time for both rock and punk genres.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Being straightforward, I just don't think I am a fan of the group. I've heard some singles prior to this album listen—and they're okay—but their collective works are not something I would ever find myself visiting on my own. The songs for Paul's Boutique maintain that level of energy that they're known for, but it's not a sound for me with none of the tracks making a stand-out impression or even a favorable sound. After a new album listen, I generally will re-visit tracks that caught my attention, but I couldn't do that with this album.

Viper - The Hiram Clarke Hustler
This was interesting. I haven't listened to much of cloud rap or other sub-genres of experimental hip-hop aside from some Lil B long ago. Going into The Hiram Clarke Hustler, it was definitely something that didn't quite connect with me at first. However, after a subsequent listen, I found myself enjoying each track, with the latter few tracks in particular seeming most successful to me. This isn't an album I would actively play, but it's still something I appreciate and enjoy.

I gave each of these albums at least two full listens (with most receiving more) before making any sound judgement. Overall, I enjoyed the suggestions.

Wow, I'm surprised you listened to everything I recommended, multiple times too. I tried picking albums that were similar to your list, but I wanted to keep it one genre per album (I saw Frank Ocean so I recommended The Weeknd, The Stooges cause I saw Fugazi and Pixies, Beastie Boys cause I saw MF DOOM and other alternative hip-hop, etc.). If I'd known, I would probably have recommended you more experimental shit besides Selected Ambient Works and the Beastie Boys one. I just added those cause they're a part of the essentials.

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Off Topic / Re: What are your top 10 favorite musical artists/bands/composers?

« on: May 07, 2022, 09:49:26 pm »

1. Kanye West
2. Radiohead
3. Can
4. King Crimson
5. Pink Floyd
6. Fishmans
7. Frank Ocean
8. Miles Davis
9. Autechre
10. Viper the Rapper

I wasn't really anticipating to reply to this post, but I did finally finish working on a personal top 100 albums list after working on it casually for about nine months. It's not exactly what this thread is about, but I figured I'd share it somewhere, and this thread seemed best.

Here is the post on imgur. I created four templates—by alphabet, by release date, by genre, and by nationality.

I had certain criteria for my list:
- one album per artist
- no compilations from numerous artists
- no soundtracks

If you have any recommendations based on my choices, I gladly welcome them!

Lots of great shit on this list. I gotta ask though: what made you put Jesus Is King over every other Kanye album?

I'll recommend you:
- Susumu Hirasawa - Kyuusai no gihou (aka. Technique of Relief)
- The Weeknd - Trilogy (compilation of albums House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence)
- Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
- Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
- Can - Future Days
- The Stooges - Fun House
- Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
And if you want some weird hip-hop, try Viper - The Hiram Clarke Hustler