30 Days of Gaming Challenge

[Lord Scalgon]

Entry 22 on this website will put you in your place:

https://gannon-banned.com/


Actually, I really don't mind you not liking it, I'm just being silly.

Damn, I feel so offended over it. They should be ashamed about it.

No, not really. Still, new to me - didn't know these types of sarcastic rules existed.

 

[thedestinedblade]

Day 22 - A game sequel which disappointed you

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness was a mess of a sequel, and overall just a crappy game. I loved Twilight of the Spirits and was eager to see a sequel set a couple years after the first. Yet, they decided to strip everything that made the first one good, with the decision to make it a hack-and-slash (when the series is a tactical RPG) being the most questionable choice. There's no redeeming qualities in the gameplay, story, or characters and the game lacks personality. I'm certain this title definitively killed the series, which is why I put it ahead of Tales of Symphonia: DotNW, Phantasy Star Universe and Fable III.

 

[Sonata]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style.

I really liked the art style of The World Ends With You. Everything from the pins and their battle animations to the styling of the characters and enemies was just A+ in my books. I remember the first time I played it I think I actually said wow because I hadn't seen a game that looked and played that well on the DS.

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

Best art style?
Okami and its HD remake.

 

[DerpyTails]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style.

Sound Shapes, a simple platformer with a nice set of Graphics :)

 

[thedestinedblade]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style

Well, you can't go wrong with Paper Mario's endearing diorama art style. Gives the series a really unique charm, and how it incorporates paper elements in the gameplay and setting.

Spoiler:

 

[Judge Mandolore Shepard]

Day 23, Game you think had the best graphics or art style

When it comes to this topic, I would have to go with Saints Row IV. Its graphics are really amazing, particularly when it comes to Virtual Steelport.

 

[Sir Codin]

Day 23. Game With Best Graphics or Style

I don't really think I can answer this one, because there are a lot of games that have wowed me with their graphics. But if I had to pick, I'd say Resident Evil 1 Gamecube Remake, because the artists really did a good job with the photo-rendered environments and that way most of the console's power was focused on character models. The result is not only the best looking character models on the Nintendo Gamecube, but the environments look way more creepy than even some modern day environments rendered completely with computer graphics.

 

[Yukari]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style

Since a game that at one point in time had amazing graphics could be outdated in little more then a year, I think I'll go with the best art style.

That said, I think that the Paper Mario series has a great, unique art style. It something that I haven't seen done in any other games, and honestly I just think it looks very appealing.

 

[Gardevoir the Dragon Slayer]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style
Best Graphics Race driver Grid the really blew me away when I first played, best art style Fire Emblem Awakening, just looks awesome.

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style: Bravely Default

Bravely Default is an excellent example of combining still art with moving gameplay, and it's done with such precision. Traveling through each of the towns in the game is such a joy and I love how much minute detail the developers packed into one image. Not really much else to say except if you haven't played this game yet, you're missing out on an excellent game.

​

 

[Klippy]

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style

Viva Pinata is not only one of the best looking games I've ever played, but it's also one of the funnest. The quality of the graphics used to amaze me because things flow so well in the game. When it rains, you see the wetness of the world and it may not look realistic, but it's as realistic as possible with such a unique style.

 

[machomuu]

Alright, time to make up for lost time. TimeforlongarsepostdeargodI'msorry,

And expect most of them to be "one ofs" rather than definitive favorites, because I'm terrible at choosing and always feel like there's half a library of played games I'm not considering, if that.

Day 5 - Game character you feel you are most like (or wish you were).

There aren't many people that I wish I was, but Phi from VLR is pretty fantastic. She's one of those "I only know what I know" types that speaks Japglish and Latin and can also do flying jump kicks. She's infectiously snarky but gives credit where it's due, and I love her to death. She's definitely a candidate for favorite character.

Day 7 - Favorite game couple.

Kirito and Asu...

*sigh*, sadly I can't even say it off as a joke. Really though, I don't know, but I will say that the relationship between King Krichevskoy and his wife in Disgaea 1 really hits the player as they progress through the game, and ironically the couple is never on screen at the same time in the game.

Day 8 - Best soundtrack.

Oh come on, now this is just mean.

Eh...Touhou. The whole thing. Though I will say that Phantom Brave is a specific game that has almost entirely earwormy and fantastic music, and I think TWEWY is a great example of mixing its soundtrack with the game's general theme without singing about the game itself, which is quite clever (especially considering how it interacts with the main character).

Day 9 - Saddest game scene.

First one that comes to mind, Persona 4. You know the scene.

Day 10 - Best gameplay.

When I think of innovative gameplay, The World Ends With You definitely comes to mind first. Honestly, I'm surprised Nintendo, despite its rating and being a 3rd party title, didn't promote this game more. It's not so much innovative on a universal scale so much as it is innovative on the DS, as it took advantage of every single component of the DS in its gameplay. It's fantastic from a gameplay standpoint in that, from beginning to the postgame, features are constantly added (which I've always considered to be the greatest way to keep a player interested throughout the entirety of the experience).

Then there's the battle system, which is made interesting by the Pin system, which has enough different functioning pins for the game to be a different experience for everyone. Even if it doesn't have the best gameplay, it sure has some of the most memorable gameplay.

Also, Osu! and the Ouendan series (EBA included).

Day 11 - Gaming system of choice.

Lately? PC, followed by the 3DS and (thanks to my roommates) the Playstation TV.

Day 12 - A game everyone should play.

Just...just read 21. It'll save you the "ughs" that would come if I just said it.

Day 13 - A game you've played more than five times.

Klanoa 2. I played that game so many times as a kid that it isn't even funny.

Day 14 - Current (or most recent) gaming wallpaper.

Gonna have to go with most recent, since I have several BGs going on as a slideshow:

Spoiler:

Day 15 - Post a screenshot from the game you're playing right now.

Spoiler:

Day 16 - Game with the best cut scenes.

Well I do love Metal Gear Solid 4, and really, there are a lot of times where I just need a game that I can chill out and experience, and lord knows cutscene heavy games do this well.

But in this case I'll have to go with CyberConnect2's Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3. I'm not going to say that its cutscenes are better than MGS4, nor is it the best that CC2 has to offer (.Hack//G.U. holds that title in my eyes). Heck, it's not even the most cutscene heavy CC2 games, as they made Asura's Wrath, but the reason UNS3 stands out is because it presented Naruto in a way that made me interested again. I never would have imagined at the time that I would have given Naruto any more of my time since I started "hating" it after my fandom ended from when I was younger.

So I ended up pirating the PC port of 3 Full Burst on the computer as a joke, but rather than playing it for five minutes and then dropping it, I was enraptured with the opening cutscene's cinematography and, interestingly, me and my roommates treated it as a movie and played through it. Now I find myself eagerly awaiting UNS4.

Also, a both underrated and overlooked example of well done cinematography, Dragon Ball Z Budokai (the original).

Day 17 - Favorite antagonist.

Zero III. Excuse me getting my VLR juices all over this post, but I can't help but love Zero III. Specifically, dubbed Zero III. The voice actress does a heck of a job with the rabbit as she sells the performance, and you can't help but love the thing as it throws puns at you while guiding you through a death game and giving you ever worsening information. I can't help but sing its praises, but he's really a character that you need to meet to truly understand the greatness of.

Day 18 - Favorite protagonist.

Hm...kinda thought I answered this with Favorite Character.

Alright then, this time, Labrys from Persona 4 Arena. Explaining why would be...impossible, but her story hit me HARD, possibly harder than anything in Shin Megami Tensei. I'll just say that those who skip out on the game because of the genre swap are missing out, that game is worth it for her story alone.

Well, hers and Elizabeth's. Endou Mamoru from Inazuma Eleven is easily my favorite take on "Hot-Blooded Protag", so I think he qualifies as well.

Day 19 - Picture of a game setting you wish you lived in.

Spoiler:

Living in a world where hyperdimensional soccer (and possibly sports in general) is commonplace? Yes please!

Day 20 - Favorite genre.

Rhythm/Music, Rogue-like, and Action RPGs. I've always loved games of these types and in recent years they've taken the most of my time (Oh, the lost hours in Osu!).

Day 21 - Game with the best story.
Virtue's Last Reward. I've said it before and I'll say it- Wait a minute, I HAVE said it before, again

If I haven't already said it enough, Virtue's Last Reward is one I'd recommend, it easily places first in my favorite games on the 3DS (and of the eighth generation, so far). The game lasted me about 40 hours, but that can vary from person to person depending on how you deal with the puzzles. The story for the game is unparalleled, so I definitely recommend buying it.

And again

I just finished Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward and...
...
...Dear God. Know that there is no exaggeration in my words when I say that everybody, and I mean EVERY SINGLE PERSON needs to play that masterpiece of a game. There is no game out there that can match VLR in terms of storytelling...just....

The game's left me speechless. It's an incredible game, and if I were to give it a rating, it'd be a 9.75 out of 10. Buy it, just buy it.

[In response to someone saying that they couldn't see it being better than 999] That's what I said before playing it, I didn't think it could surpass the original...

But it did. Oh God, it did. The characters, the story, the music, the graphics...they all just take dramatic leaps. Given the length of the game in comparison to 999, VLR has a lot more time to craft its story and its characters, as well as its shocks and its twists, and it does. All of it is intelligently planned to lay out what I can [say] without a doubt is the best story I've ever seen in any game I've played.

This one also employs a lot more choice than 999, and because of how it crafts its world, you as a person will feel the weight behind each action on an emotional level. Basically I have this to say: if you liked 999, you will LOVE VLR. I can't guarantee it, but I don't see the contrary being the case.

And again

It's easily up there in my top 10, maybe top 15 games of all time. The game gave you enough information to figure out the plot far before things are actually revealed, but at the same time it gave you little enough to shock you with various twists and outcomes, and very few things are obvious, they require some thought by the player to figure out and predict, and that's what makes the game so engaging. Then there's the sort of "I know something you don't" feeling you get when going to other parts of the flowchart after having beaten the game or played past those points in other timelines, and the way its employed is ingenious.

Hm...as far as favorite characters go, I'd probably say K. He's so original in how he can speak so politely but still be so unpredictable in his actions, made even more effective due to the mask and the air of mystery around him.

EDIT: Wait, what am I saying? My favorite character is without a doubt Zero Jr. He's incredibly enjoyable any time he's on screen, and with the writing and the dub of the translation and the work of the voice actress, I anticipated his return every time he went away. I don't think anyone in that game grasped me as much as Zero Jr., with his puns, personality, and performance.

AND AGAIN

True, but it depends on what the player gets out of it. Take my favorite 3DS game, Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward. It easily has the greatest storyline I've ever seen in a game, and I absolutely loved the story because of how long it lasted. Now, they did add a few things for replay value, but if they hadn't added them, I'd still be satisfied because the game was that good. It was pretty long, too.

DEAR GOD WHEN DOES IT END...AND AGAIN

The sequel to 999: 9 Persons, 9 Doors, 9 Hours (a game that I previously recommended), Virtue's Last Reward is about a college student named Sigma who is kidnapped and, when he wakes up, finds himself in a strange room with a mysterious girl named Phi and a strange bracelet on his arm. After seeking a way out of the room, he introduced to a cast of seven other characters, all of whom seem to be in a similar situation as Sigma. They are then greeted by a charismatic rabbit named Zero Jr. The rabbit tells them that they are apart of the Nonary Game, and the goal for the game is simple, open the number 9 door. How this is done is simple, a player simply has to flash their bracelet over the scanner when it displays the number 9.

The bracelets all of an initial value of 5, and to raise the value they need to complete trials with the help of two other members and then vote whether they want to Ally or Betray the player (or players, if their Bracelet says that they are a solo). If both the solo and the pair pick Ally, they gain 2 points. If they both choose Betray, they both gain no points. If a one chooses Ally and the other chooses betray, the traitor gains 3 points while the ally loses 2. Now, the logical solution would be that each time they are able to vote, everyone chooses Ally each time. After 3 votes, everyone would be able to get out all at once, right?

There's a catch, though. Well, two of them (if not more). The first of them is that the door only opens for nine seconds, only those who have nine points can enter (lest they die), and once the door closes, it closes for good. The second is that if someone's points reach 0 or below, they are injected with a lethal poison.

What this creates is an engaging and tension filled experience where the lines between cooperation and competition are blurred. When it comes down to voting time, VLR turns into a game of trust, and because of how well the characters are developed over the time that the player spends with them, this does incredibly well to make the player feel the weight behind the their decisions as if they were Sigma themselves. The game does well to portray the emotions of the characters, and the sadness or bonafide anger after they've been betrayed by someone they thought they trusted (and vice versa). It's that human element that truly makes that portion of VLR so engaging, but that is only a brief portion of the game.

Much of the game is told in Visual Novel format, so there's a good deal of text. Unlike the first one, all of the lines are voiced. The US version has included the well done dub that features experienced and fitting voice actors such as Laura Bailey, Liam O' Brien, and Travis Willingham. Both the US and European versions contain the Japanese voice acting, though the US version contains both English and Japanese. In comparison to the original, the characters are far more expressive than they were in the original game, and in place of the 2D sprites with fluid animations, Virtue's Last Reward uses 3D models. The game also uses pictures and short animated videos to show action on screen, so as to keep the player interested, and it spares no expense in doing so.

Despite the grim tone of the game, Virtue's Last Reward manages to be a lot brighter and more colorful than its predecessor, and it does so without disrupting the atmosphere. The characters also feel more human, often making jokes and acting as normal people would in such a situation that they're in (this is partially due to the lack of a time limit, unlike the first game, which gave them nine hours). With that in mind, the humor in this game can often times be laugh-out-loud funny, and it does really well in developing the characters.

Finally, there's the puzzles. Dear God, the puzzles. In 999, I had a hard time just beating the puzzles without a guide. I didn't manage, and I did use a guide. I decided against that in VLR, even opting to play on Hard Mode (which changes some of the extra rewards and disallows your partners from give you hints on when you're stuck). I can say without a doubt that this game's puzzles are not only much more difficult than those of the original, but also much more involved and fun as well. While there may be those of you out there who are thinking "Puzzles? I'll pass", I recommend against it. I'm not a puzzle fan myself, but VLR is just such an engaging experience that I actually enjoyed doing the puzzles (and it was INCREDIBLY satisfying when I figured them out on my own).

And, even with all of that, I've barely touched on what makes Virtue's Last Reward so great: the story. VLR has a story that I would easily deem the greatest in gaming (and one of the best in storytelling period, though that might be a stretch) in a heartbeat. The world of VLR is so detailed and so well constructed that it could pull pretty much anyone in. VLR does not simply try to be a game that the player will complete and put away, it was meant to be an experience that will stay with the player days, weeks, and even months after they play it, with an ending (or rather, many endings) that will hit the player emotionally and leave them wanting more. With each playthrough, the game gives the player just enough information to piece the story together and theorize about the big picture, something that will still be incomplete after going through all of the endings (which you will, you won't be able to stop yourself if you enjoy the game). I simply cannot recommend this game enough, and I feel that it is probably one of the most overlooked titles of all time as well as one of my favorites, definitely my favorite 3DS/Vita title. I'd even go as far as to say that it contends for being one of the greatest games of all time.

Digitally, the game's $25 dollars on the 3DS and it was previously free to PS+ subscribers, so please do yourself and Chunsoft a favor and buy this game.

I'd just be wasting my breath. I love this game and its story. Possibly more than any other story I've ever experienced.

Day 22 - A game sequel which disappointed you.

Persona 3. I won't say why, as it will likely be justification quote fodder (and understandably so), but I'll just say that I'll probably never finish it. I will, however, follow the movies.

Day 23 - Game you think had the best graphics or art style.
Dragon's Crown.

Just behind that, literally any other game Vanillaware has made. Go on, pick one. Be careful, though, as your eyes may melt.

 

[Dustmop]

Day 23. Game With Best Graphics or Style

I don't really think I can answer this one, because there are a lot of games that have wowed me with their graphics. But if I had to pick, I'd say Resident Evil 1 Gamecube Remake, because the artists really did a good job with the photo-rendered environments and that way most of the console's power was focused on character models. The result is not only the best looking character models on the Nintendo Gamecube, but the environments look way more creepy than even some modern day environments rendered completely with computer graphics.

You're my hero. I was gonna say RE 1 or 0 on the Gamecube, but now it's time to be different. :P


Day 23: Game you think had the best graphics or art style.

When I first read this one, I immediately expected tons of posts about "artsy" games. Surprisingly, not that many!
But seeing as Paper Mario, Okami, and even RE1 have already been taken, I'm gonna pick: LoZ Wind Waker.

I really liked the art direction they took with this one. It was so adorable, and it just worked so well with the game. Maybe I only loved this one so much because my dad hated it. My dad wouldn't play it because it was too "cartoony," so I never had a problem with "sharing" like we did with OoT, MM, or TP.

Seriously though. Toon Link > Real Link.

Even this snotty kid is adorable because it's fucking Wind Waker.

 

[Sir Codin]

Eh, I prefer the real Link personally.

Also, no, that snotty kid is terrible no matter what art direction the game takes. How could Miyamoto even think it was a good idea to create that atrocious monstrosity???

 

[Klippy]

Day 24 - Favorite classic game.

Since there isn't really a definition for "classic", I guess I'd say anything before the Gamecube counts. Though I'm going a bit further back. :P

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is one of those special titles you never knew existed. I got this one long ago and have loved it since I first began playing. It's a really top-notch RPG with some classic characters (Geno, Mallow, Booster) that everyone wishes Nintendo would bring back. I'm one of those wishing they'd return. :P

Sunset Riders was an arcade game I used to play at a pizza place by my house. It was one of the best shooters there was at the time and it was just a blast to play with a friend or two on the old machines. There's a version for SNES that I really want, so maybe someday I'll be able to get it and relive more childhood memories.

Donkey Kong Country (1-3) is a series of games for the SNES that...I honestly just plain love. They are the best kind of game, made with love and care like nothing else. From the music, to the characters, to the bosses, to the levels, it's just a joy to play through each one. I don't own the third game, but it's on my wishlist alongside Sunset Riders. :/ Tropical Freeze on the Wii U is a beautifully realized successor that brings much of the charm that came with the original trilogy.

 

[Sir Codin]

24 - Favorite Classic Game

Too goddamn many to choose from, so I'll just pick one I played recently:

The game that pretty much saved the Western CRPG genre from extinction and proved that good Dungeons & Dragons video games were possible. It also single handedly kick-started Bioware.

 

[Sonata]

Day 24 - Favorite classic game.

Most of my gaming library is pre 2000's.

Donkey Kong Country (1 & 3)

I remember playing all three of the SNES Donkey Kong Country games as a little kid, however I never really liked Donkey Kong Country 2, like at all. 1 is extremely memorable and was probably one of the first games I actually remember playing and then 3 has some of the most memorable bosses for me personally. I used to actually play DKC 3 just so I could fight the snowman over and over and over and over and then see the ending scene because I used to think that was pretty cool and really funny. My have times changed.

Fear Effect

I'm actually surprised I was allowed to play this game as a little kid, and even more surprised that I was able to beat it. I love video games, but I'm by no means the best at them. I've tried in the past couple of years to play this game again because I remember it being a traumatizing experience for me but I can't even get past disc 1. But as a kid, this game was fun because it was the only challenging game I had ever played and it was scary as hell for little me but by today's standards it's probably laughable.

Digimon World 1

I have always been a pretty big pokemon nerd, and I've also always had a deep passion for Digimon. Pokemon was one of my first games and the Gameboy Color was one of the first systems I actually owned and could call my own. Digimon is totally different in all regards. My parents however saw cute little creatures and thought 'oh this would be perfect for him because he watches and plays that kind of stuff'. So of course they bought me Digimon World. I get it, I start playing it, I can barely read and the grammar in these games back then was just god aweful to begin with, but I made it through only to have my digimon constantly either die or turn into a literal pile of shit. This game was such a struggle and I ended up hardly ever playing it because I wasn't smart enough to figure out just the right way to train my digimon so that they don't turn into piles of shit. So over the years I would just throw it into the playstation to see if anything has changed and of course over those years the game has gotten scratched up enough that the most I can do is watch the opening cutscene and then it's done. Really upsets me because even though I was terrible at the game it was still one of my favorites.

The Misadventures of Tron Bonne

This game was just fan-fucking-tastic and I was lucky enough to have this game right when it first came out so it didn't cost an arm and a leg to get my hands on it. It has and always will be one of my favorites and I refrain from overplaying it because it's already scratched up enough and I'm afraid that it will soon be unplayable. Cue deep deep sense of regret and depression.

 

[DerpyTails]

Day 24 - Favorite classic game.

Console: Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Computer: Rayman (Honorable Mentions to Megarace and Duke Nukem 3D)

 

[Satoshi Ookami]

Favorite classic game?

Pacman and its clones.