SteCisGreendog
Iron Armour Forever
- 380
- Posts
- 4
- Years
- He/Him, They/Them
- Osaka, Japan
- Seen today
SteCisGreendog's Monthly Gaming Roundup
Hi there,
This game journal of mine is not trying to ride the coattails of the other generous users logging down their gaming lists for the year. Honest!
Alright... maybe it is. But in a format that I am pleased with publishing. I intend to post my journal on a monthly basis outlining all the games I started, beaten and, dare I say it, complete and never to return again. I have no dedicated genre and would just play whatever my unique tastes are quenching. With RetroAchievements on my side - more on that later - nothing can go wrong?!
January
Pokémon Fire Red Version
Game Boy Advance, 2005 (emulated)
I finished what I started last October with my solo run challenge on this version; principally defeating - not catching - every single Pokémon species in existence with my personal favourite, Aron. That's like 1 vs. 1025 in today's economy. I feel proud to attempt this feat. and even documenting it on this forum. With FireRed, I did all the obligatory stuff. Elite Four, Champion, Sevii Islands, Mewtwo... all without event items and online features since the only cheat I resorted to was change one of the starter Pokémon to Aron. Only 14 Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex were unaccounted for, which I must say wasn't bad. I did what I could, and am awaiting to make a start on the fourth generation games from February.
Completion: 41 hours 50 minutes, 137/151 Pokédex
Vampire Survivors
Switch, 2023
I started this in December when it was on sale and I had leftover gold points to buy it for what was an already low price tag. It's a bullet hell shooter meets survival sim with legions of enemies onscreen within minutes and, my goodness, they crammed in lots of small details for you to progress with each playthrough. I survive for 20 minutes, a new stage unlocks. I level up my weapon and pick up an accessory, the weapon gets upgraded. I fill up my inventory with every single collectible, a new game mode is there for the taking. It's well thought out and I feel accomplished to discover how a small indie title becomes much more than what it says on the tin. Keeps me coming back for more.
Completion: ???
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
These two alone would be a modest session for me if it wasn't for RetroAchievements. I forgot the actual target for my gaming goals for the year but it sounds like my real target is going to dwarf that little number thanks to -
Here comes the shameless plug...
...the RetroAchievements' 'World Ticket' series of map-based challenges that circulate on a monthly basis. I've been part of that site since April 2023 and it has given me a new incentive to dive back into emu based gaming with custom achievement sets to give them more of a challenge to complete. I won't delve into that much, but expect some surprises on the list for the games I used to clear each month.
For my first RA World Ticket challenge I started out in my current country and was given a random destination out of other countries on the map. I rolled Russia and luckily had to beat only three genres to reach my goal: Maze Chase (Japan), Kart Racer (China), 2D Platforming (Russia). Seemed simple enough, I thought. Just start out with some low effort titles that match each genre and then leave more time towards something else, which was exactly what I did. Take note that completing the set of achievements 100% was not compulsory to the goal and the incomplete status of these games would be sitting in my backlog until I eventually return to them in future. Here were the first crop of games for January's map:
Lock n' Chase
Game Boy, 1990
A maze chase with a cops and robbers aesthetic going on. You're the thief making the big heist amongst room after room of officers in patrol, collecting every piece of gold and the occasional big diamond along the way. It follows a three level per stage format with a different gimmick on each one - stuff like automatic doors, hidden passageways, alarms and, yes, macro/micro enemies at the touch of a switch. Have fun with that.
Clearing Stage 6 ends the game with the option of unlocking an extra six difficult stages through a code on the menu but fortunately I did not have to go through that because the sixth normal stage presented a massive spike in difficulty. It spoiled my perfect run without using continues, dangit. That's all I need to tell you about the poor balancing right at the end. Extra mode can take a hike.
Completion: 50 minutes, 6/15 achievements
Crazy Frog Racer
Game Boy Advance, 2005
If you're an impressionable youngster of the 2000s and have blocked your mind out of this annoying meme, then you can thank me for reminding you that the Crazy Frog still exists. For those who do not know the Crazy Frog, it's the blue creature with the biker helmet and its manhood proudly dangling out on daytime TV shilling ringtones that was based on a Swedish guy impersonating a car. I remember it, and it sucks.
Now onto the game. A substandard Mario Kart clone featuring the Frog and several unknown cartoon characters to fill up space, like the Dream Boy (excellent stats, boy racer attitude), Rasta Dog (average steering control, stereotyping much?), Mafia Hen (what a joke), and so on, complete with powerups that help the player's performance on the track. Race modes include GP, time attack, competitive time attack and battle endurance but the achievement set concerns with winning the 50GP on all three cups to beat it, in its easiest setting. I did intend to clear the set if it wasn't for the steep difficulty curve in the twelth and final track on time attack. Couldn't cinch it, yet I managed 50GP by staying on pole position 3 seconds within starting each race. Unbalanced as heck.
Call it shovelware but I spent a good 30 minutes riffing the hell out of the game, the characters and the pop culture from the day. In all honesty, I avoid those types of games because I know quality when I see it, and thanks to emulation, I can taste and try anything from the past that piques my curiosity.
Completion: 30 minutes, 12/30 achievements
Ed, Edd and Eddy: the MisdEdventures
Game Boy Advance, 2005
A basic platformer that bears the license from Cartoon Network, featuring the three Eds and their pursuit of the perfect scam to buy all the jawbreakers in their neighbourhood. The protagonists hang out together and each one can be controlled interchangeably at the touch of a button. Use that Ed to do abilities to get over obstacles on a scrolling 2D environment. I'd say it's pretty faithful to the show since the game is broken down into episodic levels that typically end up with the Eds falling short of their schemes in funny fashion yet somehow manage to save those cents to buy all 20 forms of candy to check that 'collectathon' box.
Now a couple of those achievements required a clear file to start on to unlock which I didn't get, so annoyingly enough I am 2 'cheevos' (as the cool kids call them) short on owning this set. They are both 'do this in XX minutes XX seconds' to give you an idea of what RA is about.
I liked the show growing up but not enough to try the handheld copy or its beefed up PS2 cousin. As a GBA title, the market had enough shovelware to satisfy the entire world population so it was what it was. With this game beaten in under an hour, I completed my monthly challenge all in a weekend. I promise I will put in more of an effort for February.
Completion: 50 minutes, 10/12 achievements
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
That's it for that cold butt month. I've already got cracking on February's log save for the mystery Pokémon game I plan to log extensively elsewhere and they will be all posted when said and done near the end of the month.
Hi there,
This game journal of mine is not trying to ride the coattails of the other generous users logging down their gaming lists for the year. Honest!
Alright... maybe it is. But in a format that I am pleased with publishing. I intend to post my journal on a monthly basis outlining all the games I started, beaten and, dare I say it, complete and never to return again. I have no dedicated genre and would just play whatever my unique tastes are quenching. With RetroAchievements on my side - more on that later - nothing can go wrong?!
January
Pokémon Fire Red Version
Game Boy Advance, 2005 (emulated)
I finished what I started last October with my solo run challenge on this version; principally defeating - not catching - every single Pokémon species in existence with my personal favourite, Aron. That's like 1 vs. 1025 in today's economy. I feel proud to attempt this feat. and even documenting it on this forum. With FireRed, I did all the obligatory stuff. Elite Four, Champion, Sevii Islands, Mewtwo... all without event items and online features since the only cheat I resorted to was change one of the starter Pokémon to Aron. Only 14 Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex were unaccounted for, which I must say wasn't bad. I did what I could, and am awaiting to make a start on the fourth generation games from February.
Completion: 41 hours 50 minutes, 137/151 Pokédex
Vampire Survivors
Switch, 2023
I started this in December when it was on sale and I had leftover gold points to buy it for what was an already low price tag. It's a bullet hell shooter meets survival sim with legions of enemies onscreen within minutes and, my goodness, they crammed in lots of small details for you to progress with each playthrough. I survive for 20 minutes, a new stage unlocks. I level up my weapon and pick up an accessory, the weapon gets upgraded. I fill up my inventory with every single collectible, a new game mode is there for the taking. It's well thought out and I feel accomplished to discover how a small indie title becomes much more than what it says on the tin. Keeps me coming back for more.
Completion: ???
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
These two alone would be a modest session for me if it wasn't for RetroAchievements. I forgot the actual target for my gaming goals for the year but it sounds like my real target is going to dwarf that little number thanks to -
Here comes the shameless plug...
...the RetroAchievements' 'World Ticket' series of map-based challenges that circulate on a monthly basis. I've been part of that site since April 2023 and it has given me a new incentive to dive back into emu based gaming with custom achievement sets to give them more of a challenge to complete. I won't delve into that much, but expect some surprises on the list for the games I used to clear each month.
For my first RA World Ticket challenge I started out in my current country and was given a random destination out of other countries on the map. I rolled Russia and luckily had to beat only three genres to reach my goal: Maze Chase (Japan), Kart Racer (China), 2D Platforming (Russia). Seemed simple enough, I thought. Just start out with some low effort titles that match each genre and then leave more time towards something else, which was exactly what I did. Take note that completing the set of achievements 100% was not compulsory to the goal and the incomplete status of these games would be sitting in my backlog until I eventually return to them in future. Here were the first crop of games for January's map:
Lock n' Chase
Game Boy, 1990
A maze chase with a cops and robbers aesthetic going on. You're the thief making the big heist amongst room after room of officers in patrol, collecting every piece of gold and the occasional big diamond along the way. It follows a three level per stage format with a different gimmick on each one - stuff like automatic doors, hidden passageways, alarms and, yes, macro/micro enemies at the touch of a switch. Have fun with that.
Clearing Stage 6 ends the game with the option of unlocking an extra six difficult stages through a code on the menu but fortunately I did not have to go through that because the sixth normal stage presented a massive spike in difficulty. It spoiled my perfect run without using continues, dangit. That's all I need to tell you about the poor balancing right at the end. Extra mode can take a hike.
Completion: 50 minutes, 6/15 achievements
Crazy Frog Racer
Game Boy Advance, 2005
If you're an impressionable youngster of the 2000s and have blocked your mind out of this annoying meme, then you can thank me for reminding you that the Crazy Frog still exists. For those who do not know the Crazy Frog, it's the blue creature with the biker helmet and its manhood proudly dangling out on daytime TV shilling ringtones that was based on a Swedish guy impersonating a car. I remember it, and it sucks.
Now onto the game. A substandard Mario Kart clone featuring the Frog and several unknown cartoon characters to fill up space, like the Dream Boy (excellent stats, boy racer attitude), Rasta Dog (average steering control, stereotyping much?), Mafia Hen (what a joke), and so on, complete with powerups that help the player's performance on the track. Race modes include GP, time attack, competitive time attack and battle endurance but the achievement set concerns with winning the 50GP on all three cups to beat it, in its easiest setting. I did intend to clear the set if it wasn't for the steep difficulty curve in the twelth and final track on time attack. Couldn't cinch it, yet I managed 50GP by staying on pole position 3 seconds within starting each race. Unbalanced as heck.
Call it shovelware but I spent a good 30 minutes riffing the hell out of the game, the characters and the pop culture from the day. In all honesty, I avoid those types of games because I know quality when I see it, and thanks to emulation, I can taste and try anything from the past that piques my curiosity.
Completion: 30 minutes, 12/30 achievements
Ed, Edd and Eddy: the MisdEdventures
Game Boy Advance, 2005
A basic platformer that bears the license from Cartoon Network, featuring the three Eds and their pursuit of the perfect scam to buy all the jawbreakers in their neighbourhood. The protagonists hang out together and each one can be controlled interchangeably at the touch of a button. Use that Ed to do abilities to get over obstacles on a scrolling 2D environment. I'd say it's pretty faithful to the show since the game is broken down into episodic levels that typically end up with the Eds falling short of their schemes in funny fashion yet somehow manage to save those cents to buy all 20 forms of candy to check that 'collectathon' box.
Now a couple of those achievements required a clear file to start on to unlock which I didn't get, so annoyingly enough I am 2 'cheevos' (as the cool kids call them) short on owning this set. They are both 'do this in XX minutes XX seconds' to give you an idea of what RA is about.
I liked the show growing up but not enough to try the handheld copy or its beefed up PS2 cousin. As a GBA title, the market had enough shovelware to satisfy the entire world population so it was what it was. With this game beaten in under an hour, I completed my monthly challenge all in a weekend. I promise I will put in more of an effort for February.
Completion: 50 minutes, 10/12 achievements
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
That's it for that cold butt month. I've already got cracking on February's log save for the mystery Pokémon game I plan to log extensively elsewhere and they will be all posted when said and done near the end of the month.