4847 replies to this topic

[Cukeman]

When you play Sonic CD remember the trick to time-travel: once you hit a signpost, avoid going fast until you get to a place where you can easily rack up speed (between springs, in a half-pipe, a conveyor wheel, a clean stretch, etc.) The time limit for your signpost isn't triggered until you start going really fast. 

 

Of course you don't have to time travel at all, but I do like going into the past to find and destroy the roboticizer in each stage. I don't think the Metal Sonic hologram projectors do anything, but they're fun to smash, along with a hidden gold robotnik statue in a later stage.

[The Satellite]

I actually haven't decided whether I want to try going for all the time travel points and good futures or just playing through casually. Honestly neither one is a bad choice; the first is the "intended" way but the latter is just as viable. We'll see when I get there.

 

I played through Sonic 3 yesterday. It's locked on with & Knuckles, so I didn't get the Big Arm boss fight, but I'm not too upset; I remember him well enough that I don't need to replay him. I could probably take off the lock-on cartridge and replay Launch Base to see, but it's not important. Plus, I'm a lot more partial to S&K's boss/Knuckles/invincibility frames over 3's, hence why I used lock on from the start. 

 

Before, I always said that Sonic 3 wasn't good until Ice Cap Zone, but I've softened a bit. Only a bit. I like Hydrocity Zone a lot more now, but weirdly I don't like Ice Cap Act 1 as much as before. Act 2's still great though. But I'm still not all that fond of Angel Island, Marble Garden, or Carnival Night. Musically or gameplay wise. Angel Island's just kind of there, same for Marble Garden... and Carnival Night isn't fun at all. Even without the barrel. Also I hate its music.

 

I'm honestly not sure whether I'd still say it's my least-favorite Genesis Sonic game. I think it comes down to whether I hate Labyrinth Zone more than I'm indifferent to Angel Island, Marble Garden, and disliking of Carnival Night. On a technical basis Sonic 3 is better, but honestly right now I feel like it's more a case of "Sonic 2 and Mania are great, 1 and 3 are off to the side somewhere."

 

I remember really liking S&K though so we'll see if that still holds. I think the only zone I can remember having any trouble with is Sandopolis but that's one zone and I don't remember it being as bad as many other people make it out to be. We'll see I suppose.

[Cukeman]

I think it'd be cool if they'd make Chrome Gadget and Desert Palace actual zones in "Sonic Mania 2". I always wanted Chrome Gadget to be a full zone. Dunno about Azure Lake and Balloon Park though, only because they already feel like zones we've actually seen before along the lines of Green Hill and Carnival Night.

 

EDIT: Finished Left 4 Dead's 2-player campaign and started the sequel. It's okay for what it is, but it lacks the strategy and enemy variety of Resident Evil 5's 2-player Mercenaries mode, where you really have to use care, thought, tactics and teamwork to get 5 stars and survive.  Also, L4D has cheap enemies you can't do anything against, so you're left to a teammate's pity.

Edited by Cukeman, 02 September 2017 - 12:28 AM.

[Titanium Justice]

Just finished beating Final Fantasy V. Loved the job system in this. Story was also quite good, even if a bit cliché at times. I was playing the SNES English fan translation rom this whole time. I didn't take into account that other versions, like the GBA version, might be more preferable until I was around the halfway point, but by then I didn't care. SNES version was still good, even if it lacked bonus content and had an unofficial translation.
Still working on FFXII, and trying my hand at Lighting Returns every now and then. After these I have yet to decide about playing Final Fantasy I, II, and/or III. I heard they can be quite challenging and have some more archaic aspects. Does anybody think they are still worth playing?

[ywkls]

After these I have yet to decide about playing Final Fantasy I, II, and/or III. I heard they can be quite challenging and have some more archaic aspects. Does anybody think they are still worth playing?

I really like the original Final Fantasy. I've beaten the NES, PS1 and PSP versions. It is indeed challenging, though once you understand how it works (with forced encounters in certain areas) you can level up very fast. Choosing the right combination of classes is also essential. I usually pick Red Mage, Black Mage, White Mage and Warrior.

 

FFII is decent, but it is a lot harder than one and the change in the battle system can take a while to get used to. I never liked it as much, but that may be just me.

 

I've never finished FFIII (the only version I've tried is the DS re-release) so I can't offer an opinion. I gave up because it got too hard.

 

Currently, I'm near the end of Trial Mode on FFXII: The Zodiac Age, contemplating how to beat its version of Yiazmat.

[Anthus]

I actually haven't decided whether I want to try going for all the time travel points and good futures or just playing through casually. Honestly neither one is a bad choice; the first is the "intended" way but the latter is just as viable. We'll see when I get there.

 

I played through Sonic 3 yesterday. It's locked on with & Knuckles, so I didn't get the Big Arm boss fight, but I'm not too upset; I remember him well enough that I don't need to replay him. I could probably take off the lock-on cartridge and replay Launch Base to see, but it's not important. Plus, I'm a lot more partial to S&K's boss/Knuckles/invincibility frames over 3's, hence why I used lock on from the start. 

 

Before, I always said that Sonic 3 wasn't good until Ice Cap Zone, but I've softened a bit. Only a bit. I like Hydrocity Zone a lot more now, but weirdly I don't like Ice Cap Act 1 as much as before. Act 2's still great though. But I'm still not all that fond of Angel Island, Marble Garden, or Carnival Night. Musically or gameplay wise. Angel Island's just kind of there, same for Marble Garden... and Carnival Night isn't fun at all. Even without the barrel. Also I hate its music.

 

I'm honestly not sure whether I'd still say it's my least-favorite Genesis Sonic game. I think it comes down to whether I hate Labyrinth Zone more than I'm indifferent to Angel Island, Marble Garden, and disliking of Carnival Night. On a technical basis Sonic 3 is better, but honestly right now I feel like it's more a case of "Sonic 2 and Mania are great, 1 and 3 are off to the side somewhere."

 

I remember really liking S&K though so we'll see if that still holds. I think the only zone I can remember having any trouble with is Sandopolis but that's one zone and I don't remember it being as bad as many other people make it out to be. We'll see I suppose.

 

I'll take any zone in Sonic 3 over Labyrinth Zone. I also share your hatred for Carnival Night, but Hydrocity has still got to be my least favorite level there. I think for me, it goes S3&K > Sonic 2 > Sonic 3 > Sonic CD > Sonic 1. I have not had as much experience with CD though. TBH, the more I really think about it, there's a lot of levels in S3&K that, while fine, just go on for too long. Marble Garden, Flying Battery, Hydro City, Sandopolis, and Carnival Night in particular.

 

Also, been playing Sonic Mania, obviously.

[ywkls]

So, I decided to take a chance and buy this recently released game called RPG Maker FES for 3DS. I've played the PS2 game RPG Maker 3 for years and enjoyed it immensely, so I wanted to see just what this was like since I'd read moderately good reviews and hoped I'd be able to figure out how it worked fairly easily.

 

Here's the good stuff:

 

1. Creating events like treasure chests, shops, inns and save points is fairly easy. You just choose the spot on the map to place it, select what you want to do and the game does the rest.

2. There is a lot of versatility in the selection of characters, abilities, weapons, armor and accessories. This includes adding status effects, elemental effects and more.

3. Monster creation is fairly simple. Select either from a preset monster or make one on your own. It's behavior is based on a series of settings as to the probability it will perform any action.

4. Premade towns, dungeons, decorations and buildings exist if you don't want to wade through all the menus to find the exact tile you want to put down in order to create an area.

5, Warping is simple too. Whether its from a town to outside or into or within a dungeon; a few commands is all it takes.

6. There's a lot of free DLC to expand the preset areas, characters and monsters.

 

 

Now for the cons:

 

1. There's no tutorial, for anything. Very little of the meaning of the menus is explained.

2. The more complex something is, the harder it is to do. Forget to see it where an event can be walked through? Then that event will be invisible and solid. Also, weather persists between screens until you turn it off.

3. Every treasure chest in the game uses one of its finite variable. Plus, you have to remember to change their names or you won't be able to recall which does what.

4. The amount of stuff in DLC which isn't free is also large and there's no clue what that might be unless you purchase it.

 

In short, I've played other games which are easier to set up and more fun to mess around with than this is. I probably won't be keeping it.

Edited by ywkls, 02 September 2017 - 11:06 PM.

[Fiyaball]

Had my birthday yesterday, so I got Mario + Rabbids and Bravely Default (was "only" $35). Should have a copy of SMT Nocturne coming in the mail soon, so I should have a blast with that.

[The Satellite]

I really like Sonic & Knuckles. There's only really one level that I dislike, and it's Sandopolis Act 2, but that's not due to level design, it's more my own anxiety from trying to outrun the level trying to crush you. More than once. Otherwise... I may be reevaluating Sonic 2 as my (former) favorite game in the franchise/among the 2D entries. Sonic 2 is solid design-wise and fun to play with a satisfying conclusion, but Sonic & Knuckles stands out more, is more visually interesting, and, while possessing of its own issues (as every Sonic game does), has fewer glaring flaws than 2. I dunno, I'd have to think on it, but S&K is just a really good game.

 

Sonic Mania's better than both, though.

[The Satellite]

I've concluded my run through the classic 2D Sonic games with CD. It's better than I remember, but I'm still overall not fond of it. Even now I'm finding it difficult to recall the stage design of most of the levels, even the level I really liked, Collision Chaos. Wacky Workbench and Stardust Speedway stand out as levels that are just infuriating with their design, but Metallic Madness was a fine closer, some annoyances aside. Bosses though... they were... there's not a single good boss in this game. Well okay, I like the Wacky Workbench boss, but the rest... are just not good. Also, through the first four zones, I found it incredibly easy to reach the end; it never felt like much of an obstacle course or like there were many hazards. This changed later, of course, but it was feeling a bit too simple early on.

 

Special stages are frustrating too. The collision and physics seem off, and they just stop being fun to play after a while. If the Steam port didn't make it easy to replay the stages until you beat them, they would have driven me mad. I think I'd take them over Sonic 2's still but only barely.

 

I played using the Japanese soundtrack and I have no real opinion on the "soundtrack war," not familiar enough with either to be able to. Tidal Tempest present is amazing, Stardust Speedway is a classic, otherwise... soundtrack's fine I guess. Some of the past tracks were really goofy. Overall it's just not as catchy and memorable as the Genesis games' tunes. No idea what the US soundtrack is like in comparison; would have to listen separately later to find out. I do remember the boss theme... but no one can forget that creepy and horrifying tune.

 

It's... hard to say. I feel like I'd take Sonic 3 over this game but am not sure if I'd take it over 1 (which I guess settles that I like 3 more than 1). It's not a bad game at all, just... lacking. I admittedly didn't bother trying to travel around too much, but only because the game made that difficult/obnoxious/tedious at points. Besides, getting all Time Stones gets you automatic good futures anyway. I don't want to put this game down too much, because it's not a bad game. Just... still not my thing I guess.

[Cukeman]

I do think it'd make more sense to play it right after Sonic 1 to see the improvements from that title since it's an alternate Sonic 2, rather than after the final Genesis games which had more time to experiment. Comparing it to previous entries rather than later entries. Just sayin'

 

(possibly hypocritical of me to say)

[The Satellite]

I played the games in this order because in my mind it seems weird to interrupt the numbered entries for... ... would you consider CD a spinoff? It's got all the care put into it as and similar design to the main series entries, but it was only released on an add-on not many people bought. See what I mean? Placing this game is weird. Sega treats it as an important milestone, as they should, but finding a proper place for it in the "canon" is difficult. Plus, this being the Steam port, it's seen some physics and gameplay improvements that, in a sense, makes it seem fair to save it until after the Genesis games; especially since they implemented the Sonic 2 spindash as an option, which I prefer.

 

As well as that, when it was released doesn't normally matter to me, because a good game is a good game. Later games can mechanically improve aspects, but may not have the same great design as the previous games. A Link to the Past is still the smoothest 2D sprite Zelda game for instance; Link's Awakening may be a bit more clunky than the Oracle games, but it's far more fun. For a more relevant example, Sonic 2 to me is a lot more fun to play despite 3's technical advancements. Technical improvements mean little if the rest of the gameplay isn't up to snuff.

[Cukeman]

I didn't realize Steam made physics and gameplay improvements and added a new spindash, I thought they just added Tails.

 

Placing it is tricky, and for me (I've only played the original version of Sonic CD) it does hold up over the Genesis sequels, which is why I said my post was hypocritical- comparing it to later Genesis titles doesn't affect my personal judgement.

 

Just wanted to see if you felt it was a significant improvement over 1, really.

[The Satellite]

I would have to compare to the original version of Sonic CD (which I emulated once) but the physics do feel smoother, yeah.

 

And I would also say that "objectively" it's an improvement over 1 in many areas, except perhaps musically but I'm biased toward the Genesis tunes. Bosses too probably. CD is a little less evil to you (Tidal Tempest is a massive improvement over Labyrinth Zone, Metallic Madness—while mean—is more forgiving than Scrap Brain), which overall makes it a more smooth experience.

 

Still can't say as to which I prefer though. There's probably some nostalgia in play for 1, because from an "objective" standpoint CD is the better experience.

[Cukeman]

Ah, okay.