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Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch): COMPLETED!

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It’s been a few years since I completed the first Blaster Master Zero, because for some reason I forgot to buy the sequel. I have now rectified that and so here is my post. Like the original, it was great. Unlike the original, it was more fragmented, in that it was made up of lots of small levels (mostly separate planets) rather than a handful of large maps. It was still Metroidvania-y though, and a lot of fun with some great bosses.

The levels had plenty of variety, with one of them actually existing as two separate levels that had maps that intermingled. Each was in a different “phase”, so that was interesting and unusual.

After completing it, it was clear I got some sort of bad ending, so had to look up how to get the good ending – turns out you have to finish a handful of side missions, which then unlocks the real final boss.

Now to wait for Blaster Master Zero 3 to come down in price!

57: Photorealistic Horse Testicles

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Two episodes in one month? You lucky, lucky people! You’re even more lucky because this episode has no singing in it. Yes, we know it’s only two episodes because we missed January by a day. Shush.

In Episode 57 of Your Least Favourite Video Game Podcast, deKay, Toby, Luffer and Tim expel lexiconic blather from their phizogial orifii on the subjects of, but not limited to, the closure of the 3DS and Wii U digital stores, people not buying PS4 versions of games that have free upgrades to PS5 versions when that’s cheaper than buying the PS5 version, Fun NFT Discussion, Sony’s PSVR2 announcement, the recent Nintendo Direct, and some Steam Deck stuff. And! Some! Games!

  • Red Dead Online: The Rift
  • Jet Set Radio
  • Sonic Adventure
  • Crazy Taxi Fare Wars
  • Need for Speed: Most Wanted
  • Murder by Numbers
  • Pullblox and all the sequels
  • Animal Crossing
  • Millie and Molly
  • Touhou Luna Nights
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Wordle
  • Lair of the Clockwork God
  • Geometry Dash

All that and who knows what else. Oh, yeah, we know what else. That’s who. And you too will know, if you listen. Be appropriately prepped for the incredible Video Game Characters You Can Draw From Memory stuff which absolutely works in an audio medium no really mate can’t see a problem there.

(Direct link here)

Don’t forget, if you want to contact us with questions or comments for or about the show, you can email podcast@ugvm.org.uk or publicly shame us @ugvmpodcast on the Twittors.

Intro Music Credit – “No Guts No Glory” by Star-Lord Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i23B8kXYZPA
(no, not the plinkety plonkey bit)

Guardians of the Galaxy (PS5): COMPLETED!

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After the reports of how terrible the Avengers game was, and how in this game you only get to play (directly) as Star-Lord, Guardians of the Galaxy went right off my radar. Then I saw some positive reviews, and a lot of people were saying that actually, it was great. And they were right.

But first, some downers. You can only play as Star-Lord, with the rest of the team effectively acting as special attacks. Every level is a linear corridor with obviously sign-posted areas where you’re attacked. The combat isn’t great, especially when it comes to the camera and lock-on. There are plenty of “get stuck in objects” bugs, and sometimes the “activate object” trigger requires far too much character repositioning before it works.

However, it’s really, really good. Mainly because of the banter between the Guardians, partly because of the ridiculous plot, somewhat because of the fantastic mostly 80s soundtrack, and a little because it, in places, looks so damn good. It’s genuinely hilarious, from Mantis calling Rocket “little fuzzy” to the Space Llama eating the ship to the ship’s fridge door constantly needing to be shut, to Drax’s reading glasses. It’s not the GotG you know from the film, or the cartoon, or even the comic, but it’s close enough to some of those things without needing to be the same. There’s recognisable ancillary characters (like Cosmo), enemies (like Fin Fang Foom) and back story, but not so similar that you know exactly where the story is going.

It’s a mid-tier third person shooter, but with so much atmosphere and such fantastic dialogue that you can forgive where it doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch): COMPLETED!

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Yes, I finally caved and bought Mario Kart 8 again. I have it for the Wii U so didn’t really need it on the Switch, but then they went and announced a load of new tracks will be coming to it and it was 33% off so here we are.

It’s the same as on the Wii U. Only you don’t get a screen each in two player and all the cups, tracks and characters are unlocked from the start. I’ve been through and come first in all the cups in 50, 100 and 150cc (so that’s more than enough to consider it “completed”), but haven’t played much of Mirror or 200cc yet.

Best character is Tanooki Mario with all his default kart options.

Touhou Luna Nights (Switch): COMPLETED!

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Apparently this is an authorised fan-game based on the Touhou shooter series, but none of that means anything to me. I was just keeping an eye on it because it looked like an interesting Metroidvania game, and as it turns out, it is.

Plot is something something fake castle world something baddie something, but what that means is Castlevania without a Dracula. It’s very similar to Castlevania, even having some similar areas (like a clock tower) and enemies (like Frankenstein’s monster and skeletons), and of course it has blocked areas you need items or upgrades to access.

What’s different is in the abilities of your character. She can slow and stop time, for one thing. And “graze” enemies and projectiles in which to replenish energy. Or, graze them when time is stopped to replenish magic points. And you’ll need to replenish magic a lot, because all your attacks use it. The time stop power is also used in environmental “puzzles” too, as some objects and enemies aren’t frozen, some are frozen, and some only move (or move backwards) when time is stopped. There’s a lot of hidden room finding too, and of course a map to fill in 100%.

I completed it, and then discovered that there’s a whole extra area afterwards which I think was DLC in the original PC version of the game, so of course I had to finish that too. The end boss was especially tricky (in her second form, anyway), but I managed it. And then I went and found the few remaining areas and items to get 100%.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and it’s certainly different to play compared to how it looks – not a “standard” Metroidvania by any means.