|
Post by wyrdwad on Nov 25, 2014 5:34:22 GMT -5
I've seen several posts here mention Freedom Planet. Do you guys think I would like it if I don't generally like Sonic? You might. The physics in Freedom Planet are far less floaty, and thus far more conducive to environmental exploration -- which is good, since the stages have no time limit and GREATLY REWARD exploration, giving you just as much incentive to take your time as to run fast (in fact, save for certain very specific situations, I find taking your time in Freedom Planet to be a lot more fun in general!). There's also actual combat in Freedom Planet, with each of the three playable characters having multiple means of attack (and movement) that are all utilized beautifully during boss battles, and also to overcome environmental obstacles from time to time. It reminds me a little bit of Ys Origin, with its three very different approaches to gameplay that are all fun in their own right. If you like classic platformers at all, I'd say at least download the demo and check it out. Ain't nothin' to lose! -Tom
|
|
|
Post by Bobinator on Nov 25, 2014 6:13:39 GMT -5
There's a pretty good demo on the website for it, so you basically have nothing to lose. It looks like Sonic, but in a few ways, it kind of does more of its own thing. The combat feels more Mega Man X-ish, and the general speed is just a little slower. As in, it does go fast, you just don't have quite as many points where you're going full speed. Wyrdwad basically has it.
|
|
|
Post by Discoalucard on Nov 25, 2014 9:40:18 GMT -5
1. Danganronpa 1 & 2. Just crazy, crazy games. Read the article!
2. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. The first two Shantae games were both pretty good, but seemed to be missing something. This one finally refines everything to the making of a true classic, one that easily fills the whole in my portable Metroidvania heart.
3. Shovel Knight. I think I've listened to the soundtrack more than I've played the game...but I've listened to the soundtrack a lot. One of the best faux retro games I've played, one of the few that really gets how to take classic mechanics and update them to something more modern, without losing itself in the process.
4. Bravely Default. I was super enthusiastic for this game at the beginning, but I lost steam by the fourth chapter, especially since I heard what chapters 5-8 were. But the first half is fantastic.
5. None? I don't think I played a whole lot of new games this year enough that I would give it a distinction of putting it on a top 5 list.
|
|
|
Post by wyrdwad on Nov 25, 2014 12:37:32 GMT -5
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse ALMOST made my list. I really liked it, certainly a lot better than Risky's Revenge (which is flawed but fun)... but ultimately, I still think the original Shantae is a slightly better game, and I much prefer the other titles on my list.
Still, it would almost certainly make #6 or #7 if I took it that far.
-Tom
|
|
|
Post by TheChosen on Nov 25, 2014 13:06:03 GMT -5
Dont think I've played any games released this year apart from Ground Zeroes. With PS3 and Steam I've been playing catch-up by playing games from couple of years that I've missed.
|
|
|
Post by The Great Klaid on Nov 25, 2014 13:35:33 GMT -5
Dont think I've played any games released this year apart from Ground Zeroes. With PS3 and Steam I've been playing catch-up by playing games from couple of years that I've missed. Oh good lord I just realized your Avatar is Big Boss!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 13:42:28 GMT -5
1. Dark Souls II 2. Too old 3. Can't remember 4. What else came out 5. This year
|
|
|
Post by Terrifying on Nov 25, 2014 13:43:00 GMT -5
Top 5 consoles: 1. Bayonetta 2 2. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze 3. Mario Kart 8 4. Final Fantasy X HD Remaster 5. Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Top 5 PC: 1. Wasteland 2 2. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost Remake 2.5 3. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers - 20th Anniversary Edition 4. Legend of Grimrock II 5. Shadowrun: Dragonfall 2014 marks the end for me as PC & console gamer. Next year will be PC-only.
|
|
|
Post by 9inchsamurai on Nov 25, 2014 14:22:51 GMT -5
I haven't played shovel knight yet, but it looks pretty good and I haven't heard ppl talk about faults much. What did u not like about it? Most of it stems from how effortless the entire game was for me, and how it really lacked a lot of depth or nuance to its gameplay. People like to talk about it being a "choose your own difficulty" kind of thing but IMO that's a cop out and there are a variety of ways to tackle that from a game design perspective and still end up with a deep game (like most Mario games). The relic weapons are cool but it didn't make sense to me why they were optional because it means the level design never did anything interesting with them outside of a couple isolated stages designed solely for one relic. Hard mode wasn't even an appealing difficulty because it swings too far into the hard direction by getting rid of health pickups entirely. The risk-reward death mechanic was laughable and superfluous to me. I liked most of the boss fights but I never really had to learn how to fight them because the combat was kinda easy to rack up damage quickly and kill them pretty fast.
|
|
|
Post by Bobinator on Nov 25, 2014 14:41:34 GMT -5
I'm gonna change my 5th vote, since MURI technically came out last year... gonna edit my original post, too. 5. The Legend of Korra - You might be wondering why I didn't pick Bayonetta 2. I probably if I actually had a WiiU, but I don't, so. I'll be honest and say while this is far from being Platinum's best work, it's still one of the best licensed games I've played in quite a while, and definitely the best one I've played based on a Nickelodeon cartoon. It's clear this was made by Platinum's B-team, sure, but there's still enough of their soul and depth in there that it's still a pretty decent character action game. You've still got dodge offsets, taunts, equippable items to make things easier or tougher for you, and all that. It's pretty short, about 2-3 hours so, but for $15, you could do far, far worse. ...I haven't bought many new games this year.
|
|
|
Post by wyrdwad on Nov 25, 2014 15:00:24 GMT -5
I haven't played shovel knight yet, but it looks pretty good and I haven't heard ppl talk about faults much. What did u not like about it? Most of it stems from how effortless the entire game was for me, and how it really lacked a lot of depth or nuance to its gameplay. People like to talk about it being a "choose your own difficulty" kind of thing but IMO that's a cop out and there are a variety of ways to tackle that from a game design perspective and still end up with a deep game (like most Mario games). The relic weapons are cool but it didn't make sense to me why they were optional because it means the level design never did anything interesting with them outside of a couple isolated stages designed solely for one relic. Hard mode wasn't even an appealing difficulty because it swings too far into the hard direction by getting rid of health pickups entirely. The risk-reward death mechanic was laughable and superfluous to me. I liked most of the boss fights but I never really had to learn how to fight them because the combat was kinda easy to rack up damage quickly and kill them pretty fast. I think it's another case like Strider, where people looking to play the game for the challenge will be disappointed -- Shovel Knight is very much a game meant to be enjoyed. It's kind of meant to be effortless, I think, so as to avoid any sense of frustration. It's basically a relaxing, fun sort of game, not a grind or a gauntlet. And while it makes some concessions for those who prefer a rip-roaring challenge, you're correct that they do come across kind of like afterthoughts, because I think that's what they were. Basically, I believe Shovel Knight was never truly intended to be a hard game. Same with Strider. And that's part of why I love them both so much. Because when push comes to shove... I loves me some easy games that make me feel like a badass. -Tom
|
|
|
Post by 9inchsamurai on Nov 25, 2014 15:36:20 GMT -5
I'm assuming Strider had deeper and/or more nuanced gameplay though. I never played it. But that's why I mention Mario games because those are ostensibly easy games, except I'm really awful at them because I don't have a firm grasp over their physics. It's not just that it's easy, it's that there was virtually no learning curve for me. Retroactively, I feel like I already knew everything about the game by the time I was done with the first level. That's not entirely accurate since there were no relics or boss fights at the point but I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say.
|
|
|
Post by wyrdwad on Nov 25, 2014 15:44:31 GMT -5
I do understand, but I think that ties in with the point I was making: I felt the same way, but loved that feeling because I found the gameplay to be genuinely fun, and didn't mind knowing how it all worked from the start because it never stopped being enjoyable for me.
Using the relics to solve puzzles in the stages would've been a nice touch, granted -- but I liked being able to just use them however the hell I wanted, too. It made each one feel like a bonus rather than a necessity, and I really enjoyed playing around with them even if there wasn't really a "point" to it most of the time.
As for Strider, it's a full-on Metroidvania, so yes, new abilities are used to navigate environmental obstacles as well as for combat, much more so than in Shovel Knight.
...But it's still a pretty damned easy game, even compared to Shovel Knight (I died more in Shovel Knight than I did in Strider, by far!).
-Tom
|
|
|
Post by 9inchsamurai on Nov 25, 2014 16:07:07 GMT -5
Here's my on-topic contribution: I didn't play enough new games this year. I haven't yet got around to The Wonderful 101, Persona Q just came out today, and Guilty Gear Xrd is still a few weeks out. Bayonetta 2 will definitely be on it though. Bravely Default could be but I got burnt out by chapter 5 and stopped playing cold. Smash is Smash but I don't think I'm as infatuated with it as I once was. I still haven't played Grimrock 2 either.
|
|
|
Post by zerker on Nov 25, 2014 16:08:53 GMT -5
2. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. Still waiting on the Wii U version here
|
|