The "Currently Playing..." Topic

Edit history:

ryu: 2010-03-10 03:22:41 pm

2010-03-10 01:23:40 pm

Played some MM9. I did pretty well up to Wily's Castle, and just shut off the console when I had to face the Twin Devil. Totally forgot that annoying boss and really didn't want to bother with it (didn't have any weapon refill tanks and zero B. Bomb energy).

At least I managed to do Sheep Man's stage in less than 3 minutes. Could have gotten about 2:35 if I had actually practiced the boss.

Toozin

2010-03-10 02:50:55 pm

Not impossible

just highly unlikely

Da Dood: Nice stack. I've only played B:AA and Muramasa out of those, but I can vouch for the awesomeness of both. Mura isn't as deep as Odin Sphere, but it's faster paced and somehow manages to be even prettier.

Lemmie know how NMH2 is. Loved the first.

Quietus

2010-03-10 02:54:25 pm

Super Secret Area - Dead Ahead!

I still have Odin Sphere sitting untouched. I must force myself toplay it.

Toozin

2010-03-10 02:55:58 pm

Not impossible

just highly unlikely

Quote from Quietus:

I still have Odin Sphere sitting untouched. I must force myself toplay it.

Play it right the fuck now if you know what's good for you and your family.

Idkbutlike2

2010-03-10 07:16:14 pm

Quote from Toozin:

Quote from Quietus:

I still have Odin Sphere sitting untouched. I must force myself toplay it.

Play it right the fuck now if you know what's good for you and your family.

But what if what's good for him and his family is not playing it?

Da Dood

2010-03-10 08:02:02 pm

Dood Trigger™

Thanks Toozin. :) Will post my NMH2 impressions when I play it.

So, Mega Man 10.

tl;dr version: I loved it, Inti, my babies, etc. And 9 is better.

Played and finished Normal mode in 1:55, as Mega Man. Also finished 26 of the challenges in Challenge Mode.

I will break down my mini-review into what I think matters in a Mega Man game, plus the extras. This review is aimed at those who haven't played the game. I'll avoid spoilers, don't worry.

Robot Masters
Just as fun to fight as Mega Man 9's, I found. Patterns are simple, yet somehow quite unforgiving. I would not recommend choosing Blade Man first, he was tricky to defeat with the Buster and getting the hang of his pattern is a painful process when you have two lives or so. My first Robot Master in 10 was Strike Man.

Stages
Level design is classic Mega Man, where most of the challenge comes from timing jumps rather than surviving an enemy assault, and each level features an exclusive gimmick. There's the infamous disappearing block segment here and there, and I thought Commando Man's level was BRUTAL my first time through. Glad I didn't choose him first. Some levels have major branching paths. It's not every level like Mega Man 6, but you'll find that when they appear the choice is welcome. Without spoiling anything, there are a handful of surprises at the fortress that will make Mega Man fans smile.

Arsenal
Nice stuff, Nitro Man's weapon in particular. If you hold the button, Mega Man will hold the wheel in front of him, and if you touch a wall while holding the wheel, Mega Man will rise. They're fun weapons and I'm sure I'll find more use for them. Nothing broken like Jewel Satellite or Black Hole Bomb, which is actually kinda disappointing, and the projectile spammer is a lot weaker than the Metal Blade and 9's Laser Trident. It's also worth noting that you can switch weapons on the fly, which is MUCH better especially if you have a Classic Controller available. There are three extra slots for weapons on the menu AND at the save screen, and they say we're getting three Special Stages DLC, so commence hype for three more weapons.

Music
Nitro's music is the trailer music. My favorite tune in the game. Blade grew on me, perhaps because I went through his level one million times until I finally killed him. There are some cool tracks on the fortress, and actually several boss themes. Wily Machine is frantic (oh, sorry about the spoilers, Wily is the final boss... who would know). Overall the soundtrack is a little shy, but still competent.

Challenge Mode
There are two types of challenges. The first type consists of 88 preset challenges that will test your platforming abilities, teach you how to properly use weapons and (as far as I heard) make you defeat bosses with handicap and such. I've done the first 25, and they're almost like practice mode. The second type are 12 achievements like Mega Man 9, and yes, Mr. Perfect is there (clear the whole game without getting hit), though you can just play on Easy and still nail it. Or him.

Comparison with other Mega Man games
Mega Man 9 left a better taste, maybe because (and you'll have to forgive the following) it was new. 9 is also a more polished game as far as story and presentation are concerned, the ending is a lot more satisfying (I was disappointed that there wasn't an enemy cast roll and amusing Robot Master images during 10's credits). This whole thing makes you realize how much of a gem Mega Man 9 is, it was a classic since the day it came out. But 10 is a very solid entry, definitely better than 1, 6 and every other non-8-bit installment.

I would not mind a game like this every other year for the rest of my life. To me, this is gaming perfection, and I feel totally at home here.

Thanks Toozin. :) Will post my NMH2 impressions when I play it.

So, Mega Man 10.

[b]tl;dr[/b] version: I loved it, Inti, my babies, etc. And 9 is better.

Played and finished Normal mode in 1:55, as Mega Man. Also finished 26 of the challenges in Challenge Mode.

I will break down my mini-review into what I think matters in a Mega Man game, plus the extras. This review is aimed at those who haven't played the game. I'll avoid spoilers, don't worry.

[spoiler][i]Robot Masters[/i]
Just as fun to fight as Mega Man 9's, I found. Patterns are simple, yet somehow quite unforgiving. I would not recommend choosing Blade Man first, he was tricky to defeat with the Buster and getting the hang of his pattern is a painful process when you have two lives or so. My first Robot Master in 10 was Strike Man.

[i]Stages[/i]
Level design is classic Mega Man, where most of the challenge comes from timing jumps rather than surviving an enemy assault, and each level features an exclusive gimmick. There's the infamous disappearing block segment here and there, and I thought Commando Man's level was BRUTAL my first time through. Glad I didn't choose him first. Some levels have major branching paths. It's not every level like Mega Man 6, but you'll find that when they appear the choice is welcome. Without spoiling anything, there are a handful of surprises at the fortress that will make Mega Man fans smile.

[i]Arsenal[/i]
Nice stuff, Nitro Man's weapon in particular. If you hold the button, Mega Man will hold the wheel in front of him, and if you touch a wall while holding the wheel, Mega Man will rise. They're fun weapons and I'm sure I'll find more use for them. Nothing broken like Jewel Satellite or Black Hole Bomb, which is actually kinda disappointing, and the projectile spammer is a lot weaker than the Metal Blade and 9's Laser Trident. It's also worth noting that you can switch weapons on the fly, which is MUCH better especially if you have a Classic Controller available. There are three extra slots for weapons on the menu AND at the save screen, and they say we're getting three Special Stages DLC, so commence hype for three more weapons.

[i]Music[/i]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doxUxFsXCJs]Nitro's music[/url] is the trailer music. My favorite tune in the game. [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xf6qLfJC0c]Blade[/url] grew on me, perhaps because I went through his level one million times until I finally killed him. There are some cool tracks on the fortress, and actually several boss themes. [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OYsaaM4b8Y]Wily Machine[/url] is frantic (oh, sorry about the spoilers, Wily is the final boss... who would know). Overall the soundtrack is a little shy, but still competent.

[i]Challenge Mode[/i]
There are two types of challenges. The first type consists of 88 preset challenges that will test your platforming abilities, teach you how to properly use weapons and (as far as I heard) make you defeat bosses with handicap and such. I've done the first 25, and they're almost like practice mode. The second type are 12 achievements like Mega Man 9, and yes, Mr. Perfect is there (clear the whole game without getting hit), though you can just play on Easy and still nail it. Or him.

[i]Comparison with other Mega Man games[/i]
Mega Man 9 left a better taste, maybe because (and you'll have to forgive the following) it was new. 9 is also a more polished game as far as story and presentation are concerned, the ending is a lot more satisfying (I was disappointed that there wasn't an enemy cast roll and amusing Robot Master images during 10's credits). This whole thing makes you realize how much of a gem Mega Man 9 is, it was a classic since the day it came out. But 10 is a very solid entry, definitely better than 1, 6 and every other non-8-bit installment.[/spoiler]
I would not mind a game like this every other year for the rest of my life. To me, this is gaming perfection, and I feel totally at home here.

Toozin

2010-03-10 08:30:10 pm

Not impossible

just highly unlikely

Quote from Idkbutlike2:

Quote from Toozin:

Quote from Quietus:

I still have Odin Sphere sitting untouched. I must force myself toplay it.

Play it right the fuck now if you know what's good for you and your family.

But what if what's good for him and his family is not playing it?

There's no way that can be the case.

Idkbutlike2

2010-03-10 08:50:11 pm

Quote from Toozin:

Quote from Idkbutlike2:

Quote from Toozin:

Quote from Quietus:

I still have Odin Sphere sitting untouched. I must force myself toplay it.

Play it right the fuck now if you know what's good for you and your family.

But what if what's good for him and his family is not playing it?

There's no way that can be the case.

It can be, with you out of the picture.

Opium

2010-03-10 09:06:22 pm

I'm playing Zero Mission and I have to say I'm very depressed about it. I have completely lost my ability to wall jump, and am even having a very hard time with space jump. My time won't be anywhere near what it used to be. :(

arkarian

2010-03-11 01:54:00 am

red chamber dream

finished rainbow six: vegas. excellent game - safe to say it's one of my very favorite shooters. it's actually not quite as tactical as i was expected (apparently ghost recon has more of that, so i'll be picking that up too), but it was just right considering the setting and type of gameplay. mexico + vegas ftw. two places i have fond memories of visiting in real life, so it was fun to go back.

got pretty far into soul reaver 2 before it started refusing to load some rooms, leaving them in a persistent secret world state. i assume it's the disc ... the game isn't that great, but i'll probably just buy another copy since it's like $2.99 or something.

time for jak ii. hope it's better than jak i.

Quietus

2010-03-11 05:17:46 am

Super Secret Area - Dead Ahead!

Quote from Opium:

I'm playing Zero Mission and I have to say I'm very depressed about it. I have completely lost my ability to wall jump

I found I suffered with this sometimes, and most of it was cause by the difference in timing from Super, which I play all the time. Remember that in Zero Mission, pressing away from the wall and the jump button are pretty much simultaneous in this, without the short delay like Super.

Quote from arkarian:

time for jak ii. hope it's better than jak i.

Definitely a taste thing. They're so different that it's probably difficult to like both.

Currently 100%ing Redesign. I've finished it plenty of times, but haven't done a 100% run for an age - probably not long after I discovered it.

Opium

Edit history:

Opium: 2010-03-11 07:48:32 am

Opium: 2010-03-11 07:47:40 am

2010-03-11 07:45:35 am

Quote from Quietus:

Quote from Opium:

I'm playing Zero Mission and I have to say I'm very depressed about it. I have completely lost my ability to wall jump

I found I suffered with this sometimes, and most of it was cause by the difference in timing from Super, which I play all the time. Remember that in Zero Mission, pressing away from the wall and the jump button are pretty much simultaneous in this, without the short delay like Super.

I'll keep that in mind next time I play. I just kept pushing slightly upward instead of straight away from the wall for some reason. My thumb slipped off the joystick alot too. I felt like a noob.

Quote from Quietus:

Currently 100%ing Redesign. I've finished it plenty of times, but haven't done a 100% run for an age - probably not long after I discovered it.

I did that a week ago right before I got sick for a reason - I thought it might be my last chance to do so. Based on how shitty my playing was today, I think I might have been right.

[quote="Quietus"][quote="Opium"]I'm playing Zero Mission and I have to say I'm very depressed about it.  I have completely lost my ability to wall jump[/quote]
I found I suffered with this sometimes, and most of it was cause by the difference in timing from Super, which I play all the time.  Remember that in Zero Mission, pressing away from the wall and the jump button are pretty much simultaneous in this, without the short delay like Super.
[/quote]

I'll keep that in mind next time I play.  I just kept pushing slightly upward instead of straight away from the wall for some reason.  My thumb slipped off the joystick alot too.  I felt like a noob.
[quote="Quietus"]
Currently 100%ing Redesign.  I've finished it plenty of times, but haven't done a 100% run for an age - probably not long after I discovered it.[/quote]

I did that a week ago right before I got sick for a reason - I thought it might be my last chance to do so.  Based on how shitty my playing was today, I think I might have been right.

Quietus

2010-03-11 09:00:40 am

Super Secret Area - Dead Ahead!

Well, I'm just finishing the big hurdle, and I should be set. The 'big hurdle' is >Kraid, Power Bombs, Grapple, and Speed Booster, with the whole Norfair section. If I lose interest in a run, it's going to be there. I deliberately did it in one sitting, so I wouldn't quit. Now I have passed the big hurdle, I can go for Hi-Jump, and then crack on with Maridia.

ryu

Edit history:

ryu: 2010-03-11 09:49:30 am

2010-03-11 09:39:11 am

I've got an unfinished file of Super Metroid that I can't seem to get back into, because I don't feel like re-learning getting into the crashed ship without having grapple. It's actually kinda too bad, because I had taken lots of time and effort into mockballing to early Super Missiles just to never continue the file.

Quote from Da Dood:

Without spoiling anything, there are a handful of surprises at the fortress that will make Mega Man fans smile.

Heall yeah. It was pretty awesome when the link between Stage 4 and 5 went way up into space. Too bad they didn't make a second Castle out of that fortress in space. Also agreed on Commando Man's stage. Avoiding a pit on one side and spikes on another while being dragged by the storm appears way easier than it actually is.

So far I'm actually liking MM10 a lot more than MM9, but that's probably because I hadn't been prepared for 9 because I hadn't played any Mega Man games in ages before it had been released.

I've got an unfinished file of Super Metroid that I can't seem to get back into, because I don't feel like re-learning getting into the crashed ship without having grapple. It's actually kinda too bad, because I had taken lots of time and effort into mockballing to early Super Missiles just to never continue the file.

[quote="Da Dood"]
[spoiler]Without spoiling anything, there are a handful of surprises at the fortress that will make Mega Man fans smile.[/spoiler]
[/quote]

[spoiler]Heall yeah. It was pretty awesome when the link between Stage 4 and 5 went way up into space. Too bad they didn't make a second Castle out of that fortress in space. Also agreed on Commando Man's stage. Avoiding a pit on one side and spikes on another while being dragged by the storm appears way easier than it actually is.[/spoiler]

So far I'm actually liking MM10 a lot more than MM9, but that's probably because I hadn't been prepared for 9 because I hadn't played any Mega Man games in ages before it had been released.

Da Dood

2010-03-11 10:21:26 am

Dood Trigger™

I just thought MM9 was more memorable, and the weapons are more fun to use. But 10 is really, really good, up there with the best. :)

I'm gonna play Hard mode tonight, then try some more challenges. Mr. Perfect seems much easier this time around, because you can achieve it on Easy mode, and (so I heard, didn't test or pay attention) it might be possible to save your progress between Wily levels.

There is a ton of content for such a simple game, and then there are three more levels and Bass and Endless to download. Looks like my MM9 total play time of 95 hours might be surpassed.

ryu

Edit history:

ryu: 2010-03-11 10:37:51 am

2010-03-11 10:37:28 am

Quote:

I'm gonna play Hard mode tonight

Same here,just don't know if I'll be able to beat it in one go. I heard the bosses are super crazy on hard.

Quote:

it might be possible to save your progress between Wily levels

It is possible, although only on Easy Mode.

Currently playing ALTTP. I wonder if I'll ever actually make it through the game without any deaths? Already fucked up in this playthrough by having died to those crabs at the north-east of Lake Hylia, because I was trying to hit them with the boomerang and didn't pay any attention to my energy. :p
Shit gives me quite the déjà vu. I just know that I must have been killed by those crabs before. Fucking crabs! /pissed

/insert crab battle reference

Quietus

2010-03-11 11:56:05 am

Super Secret Area - Dead Ahead!

Those crabs can kill you very quickly. Unless you go there later, when you have to, for Dungeon 3 of the Dark World, chances are you're getting it very early, which means you have few hearts, and they do three hearts of damage each hit.

Also, keep fairies in bottles, just for extra safety. You can get two bottles as soon as you reach the village, so they should help.

For the Super Metroid thing, Wrecked Ship is actually very easy. All you need is a minor short charge in the room before the lake, and one jump onto the top ledge by the door. Horizontal spark from there, and you're across.

ryu

2010-03-11 12:50:56 pm

FUCKING CRABS

I don't remember to have ever needed the ice wand. Always thought it was optional as an awesome weapon against the second boss.

Bottles are no problem, got 3/4 already.

Quote:

For the Super Metroid thing, Wrecked Ship is actually very easy. All you need is a minor short charge in the room before the lake, and one jump onto the top ledge by the door. Horizontal spark from there, and you're across.

I know it's not that hard, but still pretty annoying to pull off if you're not constantly playing the game. :p

Also what. Something attacked and pushed me back into the Temple of Darkness while typing this. :(

arkarian

2010-03-11 12:57:26 pm

red chamber dream

Quote from Quietus:

Quote from arkarian:

time for jak ii. hope it's better than jak i.

Definitely a taste thing. They're so different that it's probably difficult to like both.

not sure why you say that - lots of people like many types of games, you know. :P

me included. i liked j&d okay but overall it was just too simple to be really fun. it felt even simpler than banjo-kazooie, a game from the previous gen, which is really saying something. perhaps if i had played j&d when it had first come out i would have been more impressed. dunno.

jak ii on the other hand is great so far. my only outstanding complaint is that there's so many pedestrians on the streets/in the air. other than that, the gta thing only feels slightly forced and works pretty well overall. i can see travel becoming tedious as the game goes on but atm i'm only 22% in.

but yeah, huge improvement over the first - i like that it's still a platformer but has a bunch of added elements that were reasonably new at the time. also way more varied than j&d which is a welcome change.
the gun in particular is very well implemented ... when reading about the game i thought i'd hate it, but it works so damn well. the thing that really gets me is the fact that you can still use all your normal melee moves when you have your gun out. in so many other games, it's either one or the other.

[quote="Quietus"][quote="arkarian"]time for jak ii. hope it's better than jak i.[/quote]
Definitely a taste thing.  They're so different that it's probably difficult to like both.[/quote]
not sure why you say that - lots of people like many types of games, you know. :P

me included. i liked j&d okay but overall it was just too simple to be really fun. it felt even simpler than banjo-kazooie, a game from the previous gen, which is really saying something. perhaps if i had played j&d when it had first come out i would have been more impressed. dunno.

jak ii on the other hand is great so far. my only outstanding complaint is that there's so many pedestrians on the streets/in the air. other than that, the gta thing only feels slightly forced and works pretty well overall. i can see travel becoming tedious as the game goes on but atm i'm only 22% in.

but yeah, huge improvement over the first - i like that it's still a platformer but has a bunch of added elements that were reasonably new at the time. also way more varied than j&d which is a welcome change.
the gun in particular is very well implemented ... when reading about the game i thought i'd hate it, but it works so damn well. the thing that really gets me is the fact that you can still use all your normal melee moves when you have your gun out. in so many other games, it's either one or the other.

ryu

2010-03-11 01:30:43 pm

MM10 hard mode is pretty cool. It changes some stage layouts to make the game more challenging instead of being cheap by increasing the amount of damage taken and amount of enemies.

Da Dood

2010-03-11 01:41:43 pm

Dood Trigger™

Yep, just like Super Hero mode in MM9.

ryu

Edit history:

ryu: 2010-03-11 02:42:23 pm

ryu: 2010-03-11 02:42:05 pm

2010-03-11 01:57:47 pm

Quote from Da Dood:

Yep, just like Super Hero mode in MM9.

I thought that mode added just a huge bunch of additional enemies? I've only seen some footage on youtube, though. Didn't bother buying it.

Hey Quietus, from when on is the big bomb actually available? Was is after obatining the 7th crystal?

TailsLover

2010-03-11 03:45:51 pm

Merry Christmas

Heh, just finished Normal mode in Megaman 10. Now onto hard mode

Quietus

2010-03-11 04:42:40 pm

Super Secret Area - Dead Ahead!

Quote from ryu:

Quote from Da Dood:

Yep, just like Super Hero mode in MM9.

Hey Quietus, from when on is the big bomb actually available? Was is after obatining the 7th crystal?

No, you can get it after the sixth, so you can use the stuff for Turtle Rock (number 7) as well as Ganon's tower.

ryu

2010-03-11 05:08:54 pm

Quote from Quietus:

Quote from ryu:

Quote from Da Dood:

Yep, just like Super Hero mode in MM9.

Hey Quietus, from when on is the big bomb actually available? Was is after obatining the 7th crystal?

No, you can get it after the sixth, so you can use the stuff for Turtle Rock (number 7) as well as Ganon's tower.

Alright, that's still better than right before Ganon I guess. :p Thanks.

Finished upgrading my bombs and arrows, by the way. Didn't know there was a maximum amount of "total wishes" so I ended up with 50 bombs and 60 arrows. Oh well. D:
But I'm still at 700 rupees and pretty much just started exploring the Dark World. :| :| :|