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Post by wyldephang on Dec 24, 2013 19:15:32 GMT -5
Yesterday, I added one more game to my PS2 collection: Dragon Quest VIII. Published by Square Enix, this J-RPG is an immensely successful installment in the famed Dragon Quest series. I had my first exposure to the franchise at age seven--it was Dragon Warrior III for the NES--and I've never forgotten how influential that game was to my youth. I remember asking my mom to make wooden replicas of the keys and the swords in the game, so I could reenact the adventures in real life. Well, the series has come a long way since then, but in many ways it has stayed true to the original formula. The game uses a turn-based battle system, and while the character customization is not the most robust, there are hours of side-quests to occupy the player's time. It's still widely available on the PS2, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes traditional J-RPG games.
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Post by wyldephang on Jan 2, 2014 16:36:28 GMT -5
So, here's my post-Christmas update. A few more games were added to the PS2 collection, and my brother bought me an Xbox 360 game. First on the list is Psychonauts, a PS2 game that I've been playing quite a bit frequently. It has a very quirky art style and plot that could've easily been hatched from the mind of Tim Burton or other masters of the comic macabre. In Psychonauts, an evil entity called Dr. Loboto is stealing the brains of gifted children to create a super weapon that harnesses pure psychic energy. As an aspiring Psychonaut, a special agent with psychic powers, your character must learn a number of different techniques, including telekinesis, clairvoyance, and pyrokinesis. Further, the character utilizes daring acrobatic tricks throughout the story, where the fullest extent of your dexterity will be tested. I also got Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It's the successor to GTA3, but it takes place in Vice City, a coastal metropolis based on 1980s Miami, so expect to cruise around in sports cars listening to glam rock. (Axl Rose actually makes a cameo appearance as a radio station DJ.) The second-to-last PS2 game in the haul is God of War, the first installment in a very successful franchise based on Greek mythology; instead of worshiping and paying tribute to the god of war, you try to kill him. It's an action game with platforming elements, very fast-paced and challenging. The last PS2 title is one of Glip's favorites: Shadow of the Colossus. Whatever needs to be said about this game has already been said, but I'm happy to finally own a copy. After my brother moved away with his PS2, I wasn't sure that I'd ever have a chance to play this game again because I thought it'd become very collectible and expensive. It turns out the game is a little easier to find than I anticipated as my copy is a Greatest Hits version, indicating that the game sold well in its initial run. I've known it was a great game, but I wasn't aware that it was so popular. I'm glad it caught on. The last game in the Christmas haul is an Xbox 360 title: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I wasn't a fan of the previous game in the series, Oblivion, but Skyrim is an improvement over the predecessor and a real work of art. It fixes all the things I didn't like about the previous game; it's easier to level up and start questing right out of the gate. Oblivion put so much emphasis on open-world exploration that I would get lost and discouraged after meandering about the wilderness. In Skyrim, finding an adventure or quest is very easy, meaning that you always feel there's something to do, and you're always rewarded in some way for exploring a dungeon. I'll be playing this one quite a bit. My character is a Nord, a hearty northern race in the Elder Scrolls universe similar to our Scandinavians. Because of Scandinavia's association with death metal, I gave my character a monicker befitting the most brutal of metal bands: Jan Helltwister. What an evil name. Nice guy, though.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 2, 2014 21:41:13 GMT -5
Here's a "little" something I got for my Genesis....
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Post by wyldephang on Jan 3, 2014 1:37:04 GMT -5
Cool! The Model 1 Sega CDs are difficult to find in working condition these days. A lot of people prefer the second model as there are fewer motorized parts, but I really like the look of a Model 1 Genesis when it's docked into the Model 1 Sega CD. It gives it that "entertainment center" aesthetic.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 3, 2014 8:09:28 GMT -5
Yes, they are hard to find! I almost ended up getting a model 2 but it really is designed for the Genesis Model 2. Since I have model 1, this was my preference. I have heard about the issues with the motorized parts but I still wanted this one. My next step is to get the Mega EverDrive but I need to save up for that one.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 3, 2014 13:11:11 GMT -5
^What's that? Also, the model 1s are more rugged and durable. I got a model 2 from Funcoland from back in the day and it didn't work. It was exchanged for a model 1, which still works to this day, years later Never seen those instructions before though, which is nice.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 3, 2014 15:12:36 GMT -5
The Mega EverDrive is a flashcart for the Genesis that lets you play Genesis, SMS, and Sega CD games if you have the game ROMs.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 3, 2014 16:24:27 GMT -5
Wow, looks nice!
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Post by wyldephang on Jan 4, 2014 1:12:27 GMT -5
Also, the model 1s are more rugged and durable. I got a model 2 from Funcoland from back in the day and it didn't work. It was exchanged for a model 1, which still works to this day, years later The Model 1 Genesis? I agree, and I'm not only saying that because I own a Model 1 myself. When I originally sought out a Genesis for my collection, I gravitated toward the Model 2 because I thought it'd fit my entertainment center better. But a Model 1 came up on eBay for a very attractive price and I couldn't resist the urge to buy it. I think the general consensus is that the Model 1 is the superior machine as it's built like a rock and has the added bonus of having the best FM sound chip available. Incidentally, it won't fit in my entertainment center. It's just too big.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 4, 2014 9:47:28 GMT -5
Yes it is! And pricey! LOL That's why I need to save for it. But it'll let me play all the games.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 4, 2014 12:43:00 GMT -5
Also, the model 1s are more rugged and durable. I got a model 2 from Funcoland from back in the day and it didn't work. It was exchanged for a model 1, which still works to this day, years later The Model 1 Genesis?. No, the cd player.
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Post by wyldephang on Jan 4, 2014 16:09:59 GMT -5
Yes it is! And pricey! LOL That's why I need to save for it. But it'll let me play all the games. So, because the games are on a flash card, does that eliminate the region lock and allow you to play international games like Mega Man: Wily Wars and Golden Axe III? I've seen the flash card cartridges for sale on Stone Age Gamer. They're all fairly expensive, but it's a great alternative to hunting down all the original cartridges.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 4, 2014 22:10:11 GMT -5
I am not sure if the region lock is eliminated or not. I do know that I can play ROMs for the Genesis, the Sega CD, and even 32X with that Mega Everdrive as long as I have the hardware. It also lets me play SMS games.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 25, 2014 17:40:09 GMT -5
Time to post the Sega stuff that I've received this week. I wanted to increase my Genesis game collection but I also got lucky and was able to find a Nomad in very good shape that also included 12 games! Also got some SMS games to play using the PowerBase Mini I recently got. These came in a lot. I wish the packaging was a bit better for Enduro Racer but it'll do. And here are a couple other Genesis titles I purchased... And last, but not least, these CD's...
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Post by VectorX on Jan 25, 2014 19:23:35 GMT -5
Ahhh, Gauntlet 4 and Subterrania side by side, nice!
Also always wanted to play Wiz 'n Liz.
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