|
|
Post by windfisch on Sept 30, 2020 6:21:43 GMT -5
I'm happy to play some handheld Metroidvanias if they're any good. In fact, I was playing Metroid Fusion just last week and enjoying it a fair bit until I ran into that blasted Yakuza spider boss - the one that keeps grabbing you and draining your health. I've recently realized that I hate sections in games where you're grabbed by an enemy and have to mash an unknown amount of buttons to break free; the uncertainty of it stresses me out way too much and has put me off playing Fusion (even if I were to attempt the easier difficulty in the Japanese version). I've not played a lot of Harmony, but I have heard that its level design in particular is pretty monotonous and irritating. So I may leave it, especially if trying to find the way forward is as frustrating as you say it is. I'm not a big fan of these kinds of bosses either. But while I understand your frustration, I'd still recommend giving Fusion another chance, as it is fantastic as a whole. Naturally the same goes for Zero Mission, which I don't think has a boss similar to Fusion's Arachnid Mafioso. Similar to Fusion its streamlined design ensures that one won't get hopelessly lost, while still allowing for additional exploration.
"Monotonous and irritating" sounds about right when it comes to Harmony of Dissonance. Over the last 15 years or so I've tried multiple times to get into the game, but always got to a point where I quit, usually roughly one third into the game, feeling exactly as quoted. Admittedly it does have its charms: The sprites look great and it controls fluidly. Plus you can use a surprisingly powerful Gradius-shield! So what's not to like? Well, additionally to the gameplay-design issues, there are the backgrounds that tend to be rather boring and mostly seem to alternate between "depressing grey" and "eye-straining color explosion". What's even worse is that most of the music-tracks are not very pleasant to listen to, especially over longer time periods. The often grating instrumentaion makes it possibly the least enjoyable Castlevania-soundtrack out there, at the very least tied with the one from Legends.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2020 7:02:14 GMT -5
Wow, that's a lot of replies! Thank you all for the recommendations, and I'll reply to some of them since I've got some free time. Also maybe DragonBall Advanced Adventure would be a good fit. It's a nice beat em up with light platforming. I've played Advanced Adventure a few times over the years. In fact, I reviewed it for the website a few years ago (although it must be said that I've come to regret how I wrote the review, mainly because I didn't understand the point of HG101 at the time and wrote something a bit harsher and less enthusiastic than if I attempted to review it now). Eh, the review seems fine to me. It does seem you might be a bit more knowledgeable on the GBA library than you let on though. A few more below: Klonoa: Empire of Dreams is more puzzle focused than the main series, but still a nice time. May not be what you're looking for, but if you like pinball games Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire is nice and easy. Also there's a collect 'em all aspect which gives something to do besides just getting high scores. And if you want something incredibly chilled out perhaps try Hamtaro Ham-Ham Heartbreak? |
|
|
|
Post by 🧀Son of Suzy Creamcheese🧀 on Oct 4, 2020 5:33:29 GMT -5
Apollo Chungus, this has got me checking out what some of the other Frogger titles are about. I had no idea there were so many in this general style, I thought the other GBA Froggers were all shitty-looking 2D platformers, but it seems that's only one of them. I have played the first GCN one briefly as a kid, but based on his videos, there seem to be a couple worth checking out. Also, I have to second Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire. Absolutely one of the standouts of the GBA library.
|
|
|
|
Post by jorpho on Oct 20, 2020 1:21:49 GMT -5
A lot of the games mentioned thus far seem pretty difficult, I think.
Astro Boy: Omega Factor has adjustable difficulty and should be an absolute breeze on Easy mode. (And on its Hard mode it is bloody impossible.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2020 1:52:42 GMT -5
A lot of the games mentioned thus far seem pretty difficult, I think. Astro Boy: Omega Factor has adjustable difficulty and should be an absolute breeze on Easy mode. (And on its Hard mode it is bloody impossible.) That's true about Astro Boy, and I found it pretty easy on normal as well. I will say though the best of the game I think is in hard mode. I wouldn't judge the game on it's quality based on easy mode as you just might not see what the fuss is about. I am curious jorpho, which games on here you would say are more difficult? There is a good amount of subjectivity in difficulty of course. |
|
|
|
Post by llj on Oct 20, 2020 17:59:14 GMT -5
Dunno, Astro Boy Omega Factor was still pretty damn hard on normal for me. Not impossible, since I completed it, but many, many, deaths were had, especially in the later stages (Pluto hits hard and if you aren't precise with your flying, you're screwed)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2020 2:54:08 GMT -5
Dunno, Astro Boy Omega Factor was still pretty damn hard on normal for me. Not impossible, since I completed it, but many, many, deaths were had, especially in the later stages (Pluto hits hard and if you aren't precise with your flying, you're screwed) I guess the game must have really clicked with me more than I realised. I didn't die at all on normal. Hard though, that's another matter. |
|
|
|
Post by jorpho on Oct 22, 2020 10:21:10 GMT -5
I am curious jorpho, which games on here you would say are more difficult? Oh, Wario Land 4, Harmony of Dissonance, Minish Cap, Yoshi's Island, and Klonoa all have some obnoxiously tricky bits. There are undoubtedly much more difficult games out there (KH Chain of Memories is the first one I can think of), but those are all at least much harder than Astro Boy OF on Easy mode. I particularly recall that attempting a perfect score on the snowboarding levels in Klonoa led to a great deal of anguished screaming – but of course, not everyone is interested in going for a perfect score in games like that. I guess the game must have really clicked with me more than I realised. I didn't die at all on normal. Hard though, that's another matter. I don't suppose you were playing the Japanese version? The difficulty levels were re-shuffled in subsequent releases. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2020 13:51:37 GMT -5
I am curious jorpho , which games on here you would say are more difficult? Oh, Wario Land 4, Harmony of Dissonance, Minish Cap, Yoshi's Island, and Klonoa all have some obnoxiously tricky bits. There are undoubtedly much more difficult games out there (KH Chain of Memories is the first one I can think of), but those are all at least much harder than Astro Boy OF on Easy mode. I particularly recall that attempting a perfect score on the snowboarding levels in Klonoa led to a great deal of anguished screaming – but of course, not everyone is interested in going for a perfect score in games like that. I guess the game must have really clicked with me more than I realised. I didn't die at all on normal. Hard though, that's another matter. I don't suppose you were playing the Japanese version? The difficulty levels were re-shuffled in subsequent releases. That is a good point in that difficulty can depend on how you play the game. You mentioned Yoshi's Island for instance - I find the main game easy, but trying to 100% is really very frustrating. The version of Astro Boy I played was the PAL version. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the differences. |
|
