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Post by wyldephang on Mar 18, 2015 22:42:11 GMT -5
Another useful addition is that all of the characters on one profile share from the same gold reserves and item stash. So, if you're adventuring with your level 20 Barbarian and you find an item that would be perfect for your level 20 Demon Hunter, then you can easily swap that item over to the other character. In Diablo II, I seem to remember that it was impossible to share items across characters unless you were playing online; That's pretty ridiculous that you can't do that. Although not action games, there's been many turn-based RPGs from decades ago where you could easily exchange items, for example. Definitely. And Diablo is enough of an RPG that I would've liked a swap mechanic in the first two games. But better late than never, I suppose. I haven't played Diablo II in years, but I remember having four or five different characters just to carry the loot I collected--swords, shields, magical rings, and other rare pieces of equipment. I'd hold onto the high-level gear and build a new character just for the sake of using the cool sword I found in Mephisto's dungeon, for instance, or the unique crossbow I dug up in the sands outside Lut Gholein. Then, I'd have a friend stay in my game while I swapped the gear to my other character. The main draw to Diablo II was the online play, and it wasn't as much fun as a single-player game to me. Diablo III seems to be engineered to be enjoyable alone or with friends. I'm really itching to try that.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 20, 2015 20:59:34 GMT -5
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has been my latest obsession. I got it on Thursday and I've already unlocked or downloaded all the secret characters. The roster truly spans multiple generations as you've got representatives from some of the earliest video games (Pac-Man, Game & Watch) and some of the newest (Xenoblade) as well as everything between. Ryu from Street Fighter was a great addition, and it looks like Nintendo is going to continue to support the game later on down the road with possibly more characters and stages. I'm not usually a big proponent of downloadable content, but Nintendo is doing it the right way. Every character has a unique moveset and fighting style, which makes for high replay value anytime Nintendo releases a new one. Though I haven't tried it out yet, it features an eight-player mode.
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Post by VectorX on Jun 20, 2015 22:56:21 GMT -5
I'm not usually a big proponent of downloadable content, but Nintendo is doing it the right way. Every character has a unique moveset and fighting style, which makes for high replay value anytime Nintendo releases a new one. So can Pac-Man eat up enemies? (slappa slappa...WAKKA WAKKA...burp)
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 21, 2015 11:52:41 GMT -5
Funny you mentioned it. All characters have a Final Smash move, an ultra-powered attack that generally kills in one hit. Pac-Man grows into a supersized version of himself and eats opponents.
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Post by VectorX on Jun 21, 2015 11:58:31 GMT -5
Awesome! Super Pac-Man strikes again.
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Post by VectorX on Aug 1, 2015 22:11:26 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, Silpheed for the Sega CD was one of the earliest scores I submitted to highscore.com. I intended to go through it eventually and submit a score playing it on the hard setting, which I did the other week. B A R F. Good lord, that lives up to its name! I made it to the end of level 4--one third of the entire game--not ONE freaking power-up of any kind out of all those levels? That's pretty mean. I just tried it out today with using continues (since you can't do that on High Score), and man, I tried using different weapon configurations (do well enough during a stage and you can customize your ship a bit in between levels) and couldn't get past level 4 with using two continues, so I just quit with even one left. Never playing that on hard again! That took some of the fun out of it, to say the least.
I also went through Flashback for the same system (I do that every once in a while) and Panzer for the Vectrex.
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Post by VectorX on Oct 13, 2015 10:50:04 GMT -5
Bit of a different entry here, as I have a bit of a rant First, in the last couple of months I played some Trapped and Marine Fox for the Vectrex. That stuff's simple enough. Other things became another story though... As I had gotten a loose copy of Urban Strike for my Genesis over the summer, I started playing that, which got to be somewhat of a nightmare. The first mission wasn't difficult until I got to the part where I had to rescue some Green Berets. You had to pick up a piece of equipment and clear out that area somehow so they'd appear. Not having the instructions, I don't know if it tells you want to do or what, so I had to look up a video walkthrough on YouTube just for that part as I couldn't figure it out after trying several things. Cool, got through that then. Other levels kicked my ass though, and once I got through one tough one, I wrote down a password wrong or something and had to start over! I'm in San Francisco right now but kept on getting killed until I changed around part of my strategy, then almost made it through Alcatraz. Any further play is on hold due to that mission taking a while in between chronic fatigue, plus I'm taking care of the house with my mom out of town. Interesting to be on foot for the first time in that series though during certain missions, as well as it being another good entry in the series. I've also been going through The Depths of Doom Trilogy, which I've been doing on and off for over 15 years, due to it having over 3000 homebrewed levels. Why the hell I kept on running into all these levels that I've gone through before on the letter N on Doom 2 I have no idea, as there were batches of WADs with "Newjersey" as part of the name that kept on having the same levels over and over, I just kept on skipping them, it was b. s. and a waste of time. That's why you DON'T throw in others' levels that you didn't make yourself!Then as I also mentioned a few months ago about getting a GameCube controller at a resale place, I just spotted Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex for that system yesterday at another resale shop. I immediately looked it up on one website, and even though only four users cast votes for it, they gave it about an 8.67 or so out of 10. Wow, I couldn't wait to go back and get it, although I couldn't for several hours. It could've been as low as a 6.5 and I would've gotten it. I assume $7 for a complete GameCube game isn't bad but I don't know. The instructions are in great shape without a dog ear on them or anything and it still has the warranty card. DAMN is that a long intro! Nothing like the Sega CD or PC ones that usually only lasted a minute or two and are still cool to show to friends nowadays; I've just watched it once and that's it, I won't be watching that again like I still do for some of my games over the years. I haven't messed around with it much yet/I still don't know if the controller works 100% (there's that one shoulder button that sounds like it has a broken spring in it) but I'll probably have to clean it, as there's tons of fingerprints on the disc and the audio cut out several times for a split second during the intro. I hope there aren't levels that won't load at all with no matter what I do but that remains to be seen. Seems to be a cross of Sonic with Super Mario Bros. and Toejam and Earl from what I've seen so far. Psyched about this though, even though, again, I don't need to be collecting for another console! (It never ends! ) I'll also have to be writing down passwords due to having no memory card either. Even Nintendo.com doesn't sell them any more, although they have GameCube controllers to spare. I'll have to get a new one from them at some point and then have this one not take any more wear and tear on it.
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Post by VectorX on Oct 20, 2015 10:54:30 GMT -5
Bit of updating of my previous post here... Seems to be a cross of Sonic with Super Mario Bros. and Toejam and Earl from what I've seen so far. Hah, that was just the first level of the Earth section! I tried out level 2, which was a nice surprise, as you're in a plane and have to gun down six airborne vessels of some sort. That's fun. Another level has you encased in a huge ball, sort of like a hamster. That one was a bit long without checkpoints, but not very hard though, luckily. Finally, the Wizards and Lizards level added the humor to the Bandicoot series. So this looks to be a diverse game, which is cool. I'll also have to be writing down passwords due to having no memory card either. Well, unfortunately I don't think you get those Why the hell doesn't the GameCube have some internal memory? The Sega CD was from the previous generation and IT had four internal memory slots! (Maybe because Nintendo never took the cd route back then and weren't thinking about what they should do with these mini dvd-type discs of theirs?) Well, at least I have a RAM Backup Cart for that, but nothing for GameCube saves right now. I assume the reason why it looks like you can name stuff (rather than being passwords) is to just rename your saved games. It'd be nice if they at least granted you a password for passing an entire area but I assume they don't even do that, as there's no mention of passwords in the instructions. Plus I'd have to be able to beat Wizards and Lizards, which I haven't yet; all the other levels aren't as difficult. And without saving I haven't unlocked the boss level anyway. Oh well, at least I have an idea as to what to expect with the game.
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Post by wyldephang on Oct 22, 2015 21:52:24 GMT -5
That's right. The GameCube didn't have internal memory, so you'd need a memory card to save game data. I didn't know the Sega CD had on-board RAM, but many disc-based consoles that came after the Sega CD (e.g., PlayStation, Dreamcast) required memory cards to record your game progress. At first it seems like an inconvenience, but I started to like the freedom and peace of mind that memory cards give you. When your data is saved on a cartridge, your game files are safe only as long as the battery stays alive. Most of the time, you cannot transfer the data over to another device for safekeeping. I've lost save files for a number of cartridge-based games on the NES, Genesis, Game Boy, and Super Nintendo because there was no easy way to create a backup. When the data is saved onto a console hard drive, there's still the possibility that one of your files will get corrupted, and even if you try to transfer the data from one console to another, you may run into problems with digital licensing. But when my data is backed up on two or three different memory cards, I feel safer knowing that there's only a one-in-three chance that I'll lose my files. That would've helped me earlier when I fried my GameCube memory card last year and lost everything on the card. Lesson learned; I've since purchased new memory cards and I'm more vigilant about creating backups.
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Post by VectorX on Oct 22, 2015 22:02:22 GMT -5
That's right. The GameCube didn't have internal memory, I still don't see why they didn't do that. I didn't know the Sega CD had on-board RAM, Yeah, enough for four games. With the Backup RAM Cart you've got enough for 10. Luckily I have one of those. When your data is saved on a cartridge, your game files are safe only as long as the battery stays alive. When the data is saved onto a console hard drive, there's still the possibility that one of your files will get corrupted, They say for the Sega RAM Cart you're to put it in your Genesis and turn it on at least once a year and that'll keep your game files alive for...well, no one really knows. I still have files on mine (Shining Force, Wing Commander) where I don't have those games any more. Once I acquire more Sega CD games where I need to save a game onto the Cart then I'll erase the old files once I need the room for my newer ones.
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Post by VectorX on May 21, 2016 20:54:40 GMT -5
I just dug out my Retro Arcade Featuring Pac-Man plug and play unit last night and started going through some games. Wow, I did awful on Pac-Man, losing my first life at only 2,000! I only got 20,000 with that game, as usually a good one I can get 40-50,000 on. But then I had somewhat of a pattern for a while, but it looks like I've since forgotten it; that doesn't help. Galaxian I did my usual on (about 15,000), but I did terrible on Bosconian, getting less than 80,000. However, I got right back up to snuff today, going back up to 220,000+, where I should be. Did badly on Pac & Pal, and strangely enough, I did how I usually do on Super Pac-Man, since I know patterns for it, getting to about the 15th round, but today I didn't do as well. Whatever! I also have been playing a lot of a Free Solitaire Collection on my Chromebook. I'm sure there's half a million of these out there on all platforms, but I'm pretty sure I've found a successor to one of my all-time favorite games of just basic Solitaire on your PC. First there's the Klondike games on there, pretty much being "regular" solitaire, with one and three card draws. There's Spider Solitaire with one, two, and four suits. I thought this game was pretty cool for a while years back but could care less about it now. I wore out several buttons on my FreeCell handheld, so the one included with this package saves me money from buying another unit, although I hardly play it any more now. Golf's interesting (don't know why they call it that?), where you play cards that are much be worth a value of one more or less than the one you're dealt with (i. e. you're dealt a 7 of clubs, then from the stack of cards above there's a 6 that you click on to take it away [it doesn't matter what suit or color it is], then there's a 5, you click on that, another 6, a 7, etc.). It's difficult to win but the games are quick. Same goes with Pyramid Solitaire, where two cards must equal 13. You're dealt cards at the top and the rest are in a pyramid shape (obviously). Only uncovered cards can be disposed of. You don't always win, but again, the games are quick. Then there's a game called 40 Thieves. Holy freakin' hell. This must've been created by some miserable bastard that didn't have any friends in real life. The first few games will take you 10-20 minutes, although you should be able to speed those up in time once you get used to it. You have two full decks to go through and must build up from Aces to Kings at the top right. Unlike with Klondike though where you alternate colors (i. e. a black Jack can only go under a red Queen in a stack of any suit, then a black 10 under that regardless of suit, etc.), you have to match the damn suits. So first, a black 10 of any suit under a red Jack isn't going to work, they have to be the same color AND suit. So basically you throw out a ton of cards for the most part. It's a good feeling though when you have a big stack of cards that you get to dispose of at the top from lowest to highest. It takes literally dozens of games before you can win one; right now I'm at only 2.7% wins, being over 1000 losses and only a few dozen wins. It's quite the (not) impressive pie chart under stats Now, I showed it to my mom, which she downloaded it, got hooked and plays it all the time on her Chromebook, and then the nephew came over the other week and HE got into it! Pretty funny. Although exclusive to the Chromebook, I assume that game is available in other formats, so I'd check it out. However (in voice of Sinistar), "BEWARE!"
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Post by wyldephang on May 29, 2016 12:14:17 GMT -5
I posted this in a different forum and thought I'd share it with you guys as well. I just finished my first playthrough of the new Doom on Hurt Me Plenty (medium) difficulty and I have nothing but enthusiastic praise to give to the single-player story mode. It really epitomizes the essence of Doom: gameplay is fast and fierce, the controls are tight, and there are plenty of secrets of unlock as you navigate each level. By and large, the experience will feel familiar to you if you're a fan of the original games, but there are some twists thrown in. Occasionally, you'll enter a room and the doors will slam shut, forcing you to cut down hordes of demons in what I like to call "arena shooter" segments where health, ammunition, and power-ups are strewn about the environment.
Speaking of the power-ups, Doom makes use of almost all the recognizable items from the first games. The berserk sphere launches you into a frenzy of one-hit kills, making everything you touch disintegrate into piles of gooey red gore. You can still perform these cinematic kills without the berserk sphere; in fact, it's an integral part of the game. If you damage an enemy enough, they'll enter a flashing stagger state, indicating they are primed for a "glory kill." There are dozens of glory kills programmed into the game, and you'll very likely get through an entire playthrough without seeing each one. Every time you pull off one of these moves, you're rewarded with health, making it a tactically sound decision to tear your enemies apart in as gruesome fashion as you can manage. The pacing of the game is satisfactory, too. Quieter moments of exploration are counterbalanced by those frenetic bouts of combat where it's all about survival. My only complaint in this department is that it becomes too easy by the midpoint of the game to predict where the doors will drop closed and one of the aforementioned arena shooter segments will commence. But even if the concept runs a little stale, the gameplay never ceases to be fresh; you're always adapting to enemy spawns and environmental hazards. When you've completed the game, you can go back and revisit prior levels to scoop up whatever you missed the first time through. Secrets usually lead to some kind of weapon or suit upgrade, so there's definitely some incentive to go through the game multiple times.
Based on the strength of the campaign alone, Doom really is one of the best FPS games of the year. The multiplayer by comparison is unbalanced and lacking in impact. It's a fun novelty to transform into demons and hunt down your enemies, but I find the majority of the multiplayer experience to be underwhelming. The only other mode worth mentioning is SnapMap, where you can create your own multiplayer or campaign maps and publish them online. You can take a blank canvas of an arena and transform it into a level of your own design, or build a single-player or co-op stage from scratch and drop in all the weapons, traps, and enemies you desire. I've had fun creating my own stages, but the mode does get a little repetitive after awhile. Overall, Doom is best enjoyed for the incredible single-player mode, which I will certainly be replaying.
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Post by VectorX on Sept 25, 2016 15:30:42 GMT -5
How has the new Doom sold, anyone know?
Nuts that my two recent games are both pretty intense, although I did pick them out (due to coming in second in the last Vector War contest, which only just arrived several weeks ago due to severe delays with Packrat)! But then, I didn't know both of them would be like that!
Yep, Revector and Atari 2600's Skeleton+ are both a bit intense, which I kind of figured with Revector with the computer opponent constantly on the move for the most part. It can also be a bit difficult grabbing the power-ups too, which don't help, but it's satisfying when you grab one, along with blowing up the computer opponent. I think seven minutes is too long an intense game though; it'd be nice if you could choose (like with Ballblazer) an amount of time per game.
With Skeleton+, after you destroy several of them, they start moving faster and taking more and more hits before they're gone, and it takes a second in between shots with your weapon before you can fire it again. It's amazing how long a second can be! You move through mazes clearing out up to 40 skeletons (if you can last that long) and sound really plays a part in locating them. I'll bet the game would be really creepy played on a modern day tablet with better graphics, although at times the game can be creepy anyway, along with ramping up the difficulty level when you play the variation with the difficulty switch when skeleton speed only resets with the next level. So in other words, after destroying just a couple of skeletons later on in the game, they start practically running until you go up to the next level! I only tried playing that variation once, it was nuts.
I really couldn't see coming home from a tough day at work and playing either game for an hour straight.
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Post by kokovec on Sept 26, 2016 10:52:35 GMT -5
My new obsession is Elite Dangerous / Horizons. It's an unforgiving but rewarding game. I've also resurrected my modified Atari Flashback 2 and have been playing through my 2600 cart collection. I'm thinking of taking out my VIC-20 and seeing if my cassette tapes have held up all these years. I might build some type of tape to disk transfer device to preserve the programs I wrote when I was young. I haven't with my Vec in a little while. I tend to round-robin through my gaming systems. I did recently purchase an AtariVox+ so I'll be back in the saddle as soon as that arrives.
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Post by VectorX on Sept 26, 2016 11:51:38 GMT -5
Sounds like a man with quite a few plans
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