Post — Page 134

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 12/01/2014 Written by deKay

The post-game mop-up continues apace. I’ve played through all of Star, Mushroom and Flower worlds (although not collected everything in each level), finishing at Boss Blitz.

It’s not that the level is especially hard, because it isn’t. In fact, most of the bosses in this – which technically classifies as a SuckySuck(TM) Bit – are the same as earlier in the game. The main issue is beating them in the time allowed. Actually, the main issues is beating the Hisstocrats in a short enough time to fit everything else in, as all the other bosses are really easy.

It took about 30 attempts, but not 30 lives as I quit if the Hisstrocrats (the bosses I attempted first) fight was taking too long, but finally:

Woo!

Then nothing. That was it. Surely not! Of course not. I “simply” hadn’t collected all the stars, stamps and gold flags in the rest of the game. Ooops.

So off I set to correct that. I’ve now 100%ed all of worlds 1-5, and almost done all of world 6. This is where the challenge is, I suspect!

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 12/01/2014 Written by deKay

The post-game mop-up continues apace. I’ve played through all of Star, Mushroom and Flower worlds (although not collected everything in each level), finishing at Boss Blitz.

It took about 30 attempts, but not 30 lives as I quit if the Hisstrocrats (the bosses I attempted first) fight was taking too long, but finally:

Woo!

Then nothing. That was it. Surely not! Of course not. I “simply” hadn’t collected all the stars, stamps and gold flags in the rest of the game. Ooops.

So off I set to correct that. I’ve now 100%ed all of worlds 1-5, and almost done all of world 6. This is where the challenge is, I suspect!

Things I’ve Played Recently

Posted on 09/01/2014 Written by deKay

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

Glorious.

Oh, you want more? Erm, really glorious? It’s the best Zelda game since Minish Cap. Mainly because it’s the only Zelda games since Minish Cap, sure, but still.

Yes, yes, I know there was Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass and those Wii ones and stuff, but they’re not proper Zelda games. Don’t argue.

Nintendo have taken the essence of a proper Zelda game, reused the game world from A Link To The Past, and streamlined a new alternative story. By streamlined, I mean you’re essentially handed all Link’s weapons and very quickly obtain most of his abilities and just left to do the job of winning and exploring. Which might sound awful, but it really works. It’s a lot of fun as a result.

I’ve just finished the first dungeon (which didn’t even feel like a dungeon, and it’s only the first in that it’s the first I attempted – you can do them in any order) in Lorule, so there’s a fair way to go yet.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

With the game complete (as in, Bowser beaten) it’s mop-up time. I’ve been back to earlier levels and nabbed more stars, stamps and, er, sflags, and played through the post-game unlocked Star World, and some of the post-Star-World Mushroom World. I’m still yet to find any actually really difficult levels though.

Sure, some of the stars have been hard, and there have been a few moderately difficult levels, but there’s been NOTHING as hard as the hard stuff in New Super Mario Bros U yet. Still, there’s more to come so it might happen eventually…

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

Still playing. Still not missed a day. Still finding things to do. Still getting the same damn statue from Crazy Redd EVERY SINGLE TIME. Seriously – I’ve had the guy with the disc one six times running.

It was New Year in the game too, and there were fireworks and a big countdown clock and stuff. Which was nice.

3D Streets of Rage (3DS): COMPLETED!

Posted on 04/01/2014 Written by deKay

This is not what I expected one of my first completed games of 2014 to be, what with having got A Link Between Worlds and Duck Tales recently. Something made me want to buy and start playing this yesterday (perhaps because I’d just finished Steamworld Dig), and I finished it today.

It’s the same game as it ever was, although you’ll notice I opted for the Japanese version (mainly because I’ve never played it). It made little difference bar the title screen and the small amount of text though.

The 3D effect, however, is impressive. Like 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, it’s entirely superfluous, but the sprites just look gorgeous in the 3D playfield.

There were no surprises – I’ve completed Streets of Rage $hlmun times before after all – but I enjoyed it a great deal. I also found a tactic to deal with the “Blaze Twins” that I don’t think I’d ever realised before: Blaze’s reverse kick. Excellent.

SteamWorld Dig (3DS): COMPLETED!

Posted on 03/01/2014 Written by deKay

First game of 2014 to be completed! Woo!

I was a big fan of the 360 indie game Miner Dig Deep, and many years ago loved Diggers on the Acorn and Amiga, and it was my enjoyment of those two games that made me want SteamWorld Dig. The stars aligned and I was given some eShop credit just as this was on offer, and so I snapped it up.

I’m glad I did. It’s very much in the same vein as those two games I’ve already mentioned, with more combat and much more impressive graphics. Being able to wall jump gets rid of the concern you might dig your way into an inescapable pit, and the ability to carry a teleporter (which takes you back to the surface) means you never need to be too far from home, and the upgrades shop.

It’s a short title (I clocked it at just over five hours), but it’s well worth the journey. The only real downside to the length is it’s difficult to stop playing so the end comes all too quickly.