This year I have completed a number of games already. There's still a bit more time for more games to be completed, but I exceeded 100 so far in the last quarter. I've been writing reviews for each game I completed so far, and you can find those in the articles about Four in February and First Quarter and Second Quarter games. Since last year I've been aiming to actually play and finish the games I've been accumulating, and I think I've been doing an okay job. This quarter was kind of goofy in terms of what was completed, but I had to make time when I could while moving from one house to another.
Here are the games I completed during our rough moving time - July, August, and September:
94. Puyo Puyo Tetris (Switch) - July 1st, 2019
I started Puyo Puyo Tetris some time ago. It was a pretty early game for the Switch, but I actually avoided it for a bit. I didn't love the art style, and the game seemed kind of cheaply made. After playing it for a bit, everything grew on me, though the sluggish story actually put me off for a time. Anyway, the game has a bunch of different Tetris and Puyo Puyo modes (including combination modes), different visuals, and many characters. It's a pretty fun experience and somewhat challenging as the single-player mode goes on. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience when all was said and done, even if it does look a bit like a Flash game.
Rating: Good
Here are the games I completed during our rough moving time - July, August, and September:
94. Puyo Puyo Tetris (Switch) - July 1st, 2019
I started Puyo Puyo Tetris some time ago. It was a pretty early game for the Switch, but I actually avoided it for a bit. I didn't love the art style, and the game seemed kind of cheaply made. After playing it for a bit, everything grew on me, though the sluggish story actually put me off for a time. Anyway, the game has a bunch of different Tetris and Puyo Puyo modes (including combination modes), different visuals, and many characters. It's a pretty fun experience and somewhat challenging as the single-player mode goes on. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience when all was said and done, even if it does look a bit like a Flash game.
Rating: Good
95. Kamiko (Switch) - July 2nd, 2019
Kamiko was one of the first indie titles on the Nintendo Switch. It's a top-down, 2D arcade-style action game, basically a time attack to see how fast you can gather items and defeat enemies. The graphics are nice, there are a few characters to play as, and the gameplay is pretty fun. Kamiko is a bit too simple in my opinion, but it's not a bad game at all. I just wish there was more here.
Rating: Good
Kamiko was one of the first indie titles on the Nintendo Switch. It's a top-down, 2D arcade-style action game, basically a time attack to see how fast you can gather items and defeat enemies. The graphics are nice, there are a few characters to play as, and the gameplay is pretty fun. Kamiko is a bit too simple in my opinion, but it's not a bad game at all. I just wish there was more here.
Rating: Good
96. Robonauts (Switch) - July 3rd, 2019
I got Robonauts for like $1 during a sale. It was worth it for sure, but this title is just okay in my opinion. Robonauts is a shooting game where gravity is a big mechanic, allowing players to stick to planets. Basically, you shoot stuff with a limited range weapon, things explode, more things appear, and you shoot them too. Each level has its own objective, and there's a brief story about a villainous corporation. Multiplayer seems like it could be fun, but this game is kind of gameplay-only with limited attention to artistic detail or story. I'm excited to see what else these developers go on to make, as this is a very solid foundation.
Rating: Neutral
I got Robonauts for like $1 during a sale. It was worth it for sure, but this title is just okay in my opinion. Robonauts is a shooting game where gravity is a big mechanic, allowing players to stick to planets. Basically, you shoot stuff with a limited range weapon, things explode, more things appear, and you shoot them too. Each level has its own objective, and there's a brief story about a villainous corporation. Multiplayer seems like it could be fun, but this game is kind of gameplay-only with limited attention to artistic detail or story. I'm excited to see what else these developers go on to make, as this is a very solid foundation.
Rating: Neutral
97. Ballerburg: Castle Chaos (PS1) - July 4th, 2019
Ballerburg: Castle Chaos is a 3D reimagining of Eckhard Kruse's classic title from 1987. I had never heard of the title before (it seems to be much bigger in Europe), but this was a very fun, simple artillery strategy game for the PS1. The history of this entry in the series is unfortunately a bit murky.
Find the full review in the PlayStation Basement section.
Rating: Good
98. Super Bomberman R (Switch) - July 9th, 2019
I didn't know what to make of Super Bomberman R when it came out. Similar to Puyo Puyo Tetris, this game took a very established franchise, brought it to a new system, and utilized some very cheesy comedy and questionable art. I think that the controls are okay for Bomberman R; something feels off. The comedy and voice-acting are kind of annoying, and the graphics are rough. Even the multiplayer doesn't really feel right, though overall this is basically just your classic Bomberman. Super Bomerman R is not a terrible game, but this isn't one of my favorites in the series.
Rating: Neutral
99. PD Ultraman Invader (PS1) - July 13th, 2019
PD Ultraman Invader is a pretty dumb game. It's a Space Invaders game utilizing Ultraman characters. The graphics are charming, silly, and weird. I like the odd behind-the-back camera angle and sheer weirdness. It works as a nice little package without any fluff.
The full review is available as part of the PlayStation Basement series.
Rating: Good
100. Space Invaders (PS1)
This is the classic arcade game. It was included with PD Ultraman Invader. You can't really beat Space Invaders, but I consider it completed as I was able to loop the game (I cleared a wave), as I have mentioned in the last article about clearing an arcade game without a story or final boss.
Rating: Good
101. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS) - August 9th, 2019
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is a weird one for sure. This is a Final Fantasy title in the Chocobo sub-series, which I'm not actually very familiar with. I don't think I have played any of the other games like Chocobo's Dungeon 2 or Chocobo Racing, so I wasn't familiar with any of these specific characters based off of existing Final Fantasy ideas from the earlier games. This game, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, uses card games and minigames to create a weird blend of touchscreen gameplay about rescuing chocobos from books. Some minigames feel too luck-based, and card games aren't that exciting either. It's still fun to unlock things, though. The art style is also very cute.
Rating: Good
102. Star Fox 64 3D (3DS) - August 12th, 2019
I love Star Fox 64, and this is just a nicer-looking version. The team that worked on this remastering did a wonderful job with color, modeling, 3D effects, controls, sound, and everything else. This is my favorite version of the game. It's just wonderful, and it felt really rejuvenating to play this again. I never had this game as a kid, but it's always been one of my favorites.
Rating: Good
103. Warriors of Fate (Switch) - August 27th, 2019
During our move, I received the stupidly large Capcom Belt Action Collection in the mail. I got the edition with the soundtrack CDs, postcards, posters, and artbook. Included with all of this ephemera were a number of games such as Captain Commando, Final Fight, and the unknown-to-me Warriors of Fate. Is it a Three Kingdoms kind of setting? Why are there Mongols here? The American version morphs Cao Cao into Akkila-Orkhan and Liu Bei into Kuan-Ti, but you can play either version here. The gameplay is great, the classic brawling gameplay of Final Fight with additional maneuvers like suplexesto pull off. The graphics and sound are beautiful, especially with some of the nice filters available to make the Switch's screen resemble an arcade monitor. I had a lot of fun saving the day as Zhang Fei, and I would love to play this with two other players.
Rating: Good
104. Wild Boater (PS1) - September 1st, 2019
Wild Boater is a little-known game in North America, a kayaking simulation with arcade speed and simplicity. It's a bit rough around the edges, but the colors, feel, and elegant gameplay create a good package that never overstays its welcome. The physical package also comes with stickers, which is always a nice touch.
You can read the full review here, an entry in the PlayStation Basement series of reviews.
Rating: Good
105. Ever Oasis (3DS) - September 3rd, 2019
Ever Oasis is an addicting action-RPG from Mana's Koichi Ishii. Taking place in a desert, the player is tasked with building up a community that protects and shelters all from the evils of Chaos. What is Chaos really though, and how do we stop it? I found the story very touching when all was said and done, relating to the tale of redemption, overcoming doubt, and the evil that really does lurk in the hearts of men. The gameplay consists of fighting small monsters, completing quests for villagers, retrieving items, and exploring new areas. Some dungeons have small puzzles too. The game is a bit repetitive, but I really liked Ever Oasis.
Rating: Good
106. Vib-Ribbon (PS1) - September 5th, 2019
Vib-Ribbon is a game that loomed high in legend when I was younger. It was an import game, and I had no way to play it. The graphics looked so cool, basically like weird childhood scribbles of rabbit humanoids and jagged line landscapes. It's a rhythm game, and you can generate new courses with CDs to add to the few courses that come with the game. After playing it, I can assuredly say that the controls are tight, the sounds are top-notch, and this is a great title.
Read the entire review from my PlayStation Basement series.
Rating: Good
107. Super Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts (Switch) - September 11th, 2019
I never would have beaten this without the cheap rewind feature offered by the Switch's online SNES gallery. Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts is tough but still kind of fair. Instead of saying "the Dark Souls of" something, games should really be thought of as "the Ghouls 'n' Ghosts/Ghosts 'n' Goblins" of something for the same kind of gameplay. Here you have to fight through countless hordes of monsters, defeat huge bosses, and then do it all over again. Don't miss the special weapon, Arthur!
Rating: Good
108. Donkey Kong 3 (Switch) - September 12th, 2019
Another Switch online title and another arcade loop, Donkey Kong 3 is the odd one of the trio of original Donkey Kong games. This one stars Stanley, an exterminator who has to shoot bug spray at Donkey Kong and some insects to protect the flowers in a greenhouse. It's not unlike Galaga in a lot of ways, but it's not really like Donkey Kong or Donkey Kong Jr. I was able to shoot many bugs and scare the gorilla away a number of times. The Switch's rewind helped a lot, but I would have got the hang of this over time too.
Rating: Good
109. Armored Warriors (Switch) - September 12th, 2019
Part of the Capcom Belt Action Collection/Capcom Beat 'em Up Bundle, Armored Warriors is such a title with mech combat instead of your standard street brawling, vest-wearing, delinquents rescuing a pretty lady. Originally released in 1994, Armored Warriors' setting served as the spiritual predecessor to Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness, a fighting game with some of the same robot characters. I still want to get that game and see Jin Saotome in his original format before he came to Marvel vs. Capcom. This earlier title is a really fun beat 'em up with much more to offer than just punches, kicks, throws, and cheap opponents. You can find new parts for your mech as you progress, building the perfect machine for the job. The graphics and sound are beautiful. I'm happy to have the soundtrack on CD with the big physical edition of the bundle. Play this if you haven't yet!
Rating: Good
110. Captain Commando (Switch) - September 18th, 2019
Captain Commando was Capcom's mascot and a beat 'em up game about defeating mutant gangs in the future. The characters are pretty weird here with a knife-wielding mummy, a baby piloting a robot suit, a ninja, and the titular hero himself. I first encountered Captain Commando in Marvel vs. Capcom years after this 1991 arcade coin-eater. This game isn't particularly fair compared with Armored Warriors or Warriors of Fate; it's more of the older-school Final Fight style of beat 'em up. While I love the setting, I really think that Captain Commando ranks a bit lower than those other titles in the Capcom Beat 'em Up Bundle.
Rating: Good
111. River City Rival Showdown (3DS) - September 26th, 2019
Here's a beat 'em up that isn't by Capcom - River City Rival Showdown. A remake of sorts of the pre-Final Fight beat 'em up, River City Ransom, this game stars the chibi Kunio who is pitted against an alliance of villains trying to unite gangs across Japan. I really enjoyed the extra time-based features here. You only have so long to finish your quest, and the actions you take each day game effects in the future. There's more of an emphasis on equipment and experience gained from beating up other guys than on eating food to build up your character. The translation is a little haphazard, especially the difficulty screen, as it recommends the harder more to those with experience with Kunio games. I don't recommend you play this mode until you've gone through the game at least once unless you want to whittle the health off of the opponents and avoid every attack. There is a small fighting game mode entitled Double Dragon Duel included with this release that is really fun as a little side thing to the main adventure. Like Ever Oasis, River City Rival Showdown is repetitive, but I didn't want to put it down.
Rating: Good
112. Final Fight (Switch) - September 29th, 2019
Capcom's grandfather of beat 'em ups, Final Fight is included with the collection I've been talking about. Guy, Cody, and Haggar have to rescue Jessica from the Mad Gear gang in this Street Fighter spin-off. As with many of these other characters, I first met these fellows in a fighting game, Street Fighter Alpha 3, I think. Unlike that, Final Fight game is about moving right and punching. There are no complicated fighting maneuvers here. Sometimes the enemy numbers are a little out of hand, and your characters have some pretty minor offensive power to compensate. This game led to a lot of other beat 'em ups, but it really shows its age compared to later titles. The musick and designs are still great though.
Rating: Good
113. Donkey Kong Jr. (Switch) - September 29th, 2019
I went back in time to rescue Donkey Kong from Mario after scaring him away with bug spray. This title is great and really created a lot of classic things for the series such as a ground-based alligators (snapjaws here but klaptraps later), vines, and the rescuing of one Kong by another. I had a lot of fun with this short arcade title. I had only played this briefly before.
Rating: Good
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