Currently Playing #26: Splatoon

I haven't been seriously enamored with a shooter in a very long time. In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, I was really into FPSs with GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark and TimeSplitters but when the HD generation of gaming came in, shooters really, really blew up. But even before the high definition visuals became a thing for video games, I had already fallen out of touch with shooters. The flood of them in the new HD era of video games really didn't do much entice me to come back into the fold. Shooters were in your face whether you wanted them to be or not but at the same time, my first video game genre love was booming just as well as it did in the 16-bit era. I am of course talking about platformers. Shooters continued to dominate the market but the wellspring of solid platforming games had my undivided attention.

I've always wanted to get back into shooters at some point. I just wasn't sure where to start. Call of Duty has become the biggest name in shooters with it's yearly sequels and while I have nothing against the game or those who play it, I've never really been interested in it. I was more inclined to check out the Boarderlands and Bioshock titles, but I never did get around to those. I had no idea that the game that would bring me back into shooters would look and play nothing like anything else in the genre.

When I saw footage of the Splatoon reveal back in 2014, I was surprised for two reasons. One, this was a shooter from Nintendo. The 3D Metroid titles are more akin to adventure and exploration so they hardly count. Two, this shooter had kids running round shooting brightly colored ink. Most shooters are dark and gritty to give a better sense of realism. Splatoon's vibrant visuals paint it as the exact opposite. These things were enough to make me take interest.

I missed the Splatoon global test fire before the game's release and I also missed out on purchasing the game on launch day. Instead, Splatoon was a slightly late, self-bought birthday gift. And it stayed in the shrink wrap until August. I tend to be a bit nervous when it comes to going online. A few weeks passed before I jumped into the chaotic fray of Mario Kart 8 online racing and it was the same thing with Splatoon. I decided to get my squid kid tentacles wet with the single player experience. And wouldn't you know it, my old foe, motion sickness came back with a vengeance. The moving of the camera along with the motion controls was too much for me to take and I could only finish one mission.

Splatoon sat unplayed for about a week or more. I didn't play the game again until the first one of the Splatfest events was going and it happened to be Autobots vs. Decepticons. Seeing the plaza area lit up and everyone partying it up was enough for me to take part in my first few rounds of Turf War. Naturally, I went with the Autobots. We lost in the end, but playing online helped me wave bye-bye to my motion sickness. I got splatted a lot and it was rare that I got splatted anyone since I was new and still learning but I was able to play Splatoon without feeling nauseous.

With my motion sickness sent packing, I dived into Splatoon in earnest. I've completed the single player mode and brought back the Great Zapfish. Solo mode was short but it took me longer to complete than I image it did other players. I played Splatoon while balancing Super Mario Maker, Tomodachi Life and Super Smash Bros. What I really dig about solo Splatoon is that the levels, while they all have the same objective of snag the Zapfish at the end, is that they teach you tactics that you'll use in the online multiplayer modes. Like Super Jumping, using your ink to scale walls and dealing with enemy specials like the Ink Strike and Killer Whale. Even confrontations with other players are replicated through the Octolings, the most aggressive member of the Octerian amry, possessing all of the abilities of the Inklings.

The levels in single player are neat, too. Some levels have you using zip lines but instead of hooking into them, you transform into a squid and travel through them. Using your ink, you cover surfaces to reach areas you otherwise would have no access to. The multiplayer levels are used for single player levels but the original levels tend to stand out more since more often then not, reaching the Zapfish is trickier in these stages. One level has invisible platforms that can't be seen until you shoot them with ink.

Since my first Splatfest, Turf War is where I've gotten the most enjoyment out of Splatoon. There's nothing like fighting alongside a bunch of strangers to cover turf and splat other strangers. I'm more cautious when I play Turf War. Covering ground is the main objective of this mode and while kills do feel good and can be beneficial, it's important not to get caught up in merely splatting the opposition. Granted, I've come across some players that are really good at taking out opponents. I ran into one player that kept splatting out entire team and we were on the losing end. Time was short, there was no way we were going to win and I was fed up with this guy splatting us all. So in  the little time that was left, I engaged him and took him down with me. In the end, he had 20 kills and one splat on his record. If nothing else, I took some pride in the fact that I ruined what would have been a perfect splat streak for him. It can be pretty easy to just start splatting squids when time is almost up and sometimes, that small victory is all you'll get.

I love all the clothing you and deck the Inklings out in. The abilities these things grant you like damage up and invisible landing points from Super Jumps is nice but the look of all the clothing, shoes and head pieces really make each Inkling you'll encounter look different. I'm more of a fan of the tees and gym shoe look myself but they got a great selection of boots, sweat shirts and a ton of other gear. I was able to score both the Inkling Boy and Girl amiibos and I completed both outfits for doing the challenges they grant you. I haven't found the Squid amiibo yet as it seems to be the hardest one to find. It bites that these extra pieces of gear are locked behind a paywall. That's the one thing I don't like about what Nintendo's doing with amiibos.

After much reluctance, I tried out Ranked mode. What kept me from playing this mode was my love for Turf War, which is by far, still my favorite mode in Splatoon and the things I've heard about Ranked. In Ranked you start out with the lowest possible ranking of C-. The goal is to win and earn enough points to raise your rank, going to C, C+, B- and so on. The kicker is that losing docks you points. So if you rank up to B+ and go on a continuous losing streak, your rank will go down. Its very well possible to end up right back where you started. Simply put, Ranked is serious business and losing in Ranked really sucks.

Of the three modes in Ranked Splat Zones is my favorite. Keeping the splat zone covered with your ink for 100 seconds is very intense. The the battles here are more fierce than in Turf Wars, at least for me. I find myself being way more aggressive in Ranked Splat Zones that Turf War. Maybe because I have something to lose if I don't win, but I find myself moving around in ways I don't when I play Turf war. The best weapon for me in Ranked Splat Zone has been the Splattershot. It has a good fire rate, decent damage and the Burst Bomb sup is great for added offense. They don't cause a huge amount of damage but a barrage of them can make the hits added up. The Special lets me unleash a slew of them and I've gotten a surprising amount of kills with the Burst Bombs. I'd like to be able to transfer some of my more aggressive play from Ranked Splat Zone into Turf Wars.

Even if I don't pick up another shooter anytime soon, Splatoon is so much fun that I could be just fine sticking with it for a very long time. Its a fresh take on the genre in both look and feel and with the Splatfests and free updates, I don't see Splatoon getting stale anytime soon. It feels nice to shoot again. I guess that's splatting in this case.

Currently Playing #25: EarthBound Beginnings

The RPG genre is one I've been wanting to leap back into for some time now. I got into RPGs back in the mid 1990s and fell in love with the genre thanks to games like Super Mario RPG, Illusion of Gaia, and Final Fantasy VI. To an extent, even EarthBound played a role in helping me to appreciate RPGs. When I say EarthBound, I'm of course talking about the SNES EarthBound, also known as MOTHER 2, which was the first game in the series to be released outside of Japan. Most of my interest in the first EarthBound stems from watching my friend play it. True, I played a very small portion of the game myself, but most of my time spent with the game was from watching him hold the SNES controller. Still, that alone was enough to spark some interest in the game and the modern day setting of EarthBound really did set it apart from other RPGs that were released in the west at the time.

Over the past few years, I've had a falling out of sorts with RPGs. I can't even remember the last one that I've completed. I thought I'd get back on track with Xenoblade Chronicles when I picked it up in 2012, but alas, it still sits on the shelf, unplayed. So I guess it's fitting that the RPG that gets me back into the game is not only a JRPG, but an old-school JRPG at that. When I saw that the original MOTHER game, was finally going to get an official release outside of Japan under the name EarthBound Beginnings, I thought I'd show my support and fork over the $6.99 for a digital copy on the eShop.

A few weeks after purchasing the game, I decided to fire it up. I didn't come into the game unaware of what I was getting myself into.  I know that EarthBound Beginnings is one tough cookie. With this in mind, I've decided to use maps to help me through the game as well as Chuggaconroy's Let's Play. EarthBound Beinnings does not hold your hand and like a lot of old NES games, there are some things you just have to know, otherwise, you'll remain stuck. I'm no stranger to level grinding and without dying, I quickly caught on that the enemies outside of Ninten's front door could put him to sleep if I did not take the time to beef him up before heading to my next destination. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to sweat bullets because running away isn't working, you have low HP and the enemy keeps dodging your attacks. Its the kinds stuff old RPGs love to do, 

Right now, I've invested more time into EarthBound Beginnings than any other EarthBoung game. I've played through the first chapter of MOTHER 3 and put a few hours into EarthBound, but last week, I sent the better part of my day off putting in work on EarthBound Beginnings. I suppose I have to admit to liking that old-school flavor of RPG since I love retro games, but I'm also playing this one for story purposes. Just what happened to George and Maria when they vanished? How come only George came back and why did he become a recluse? What happened to Maria? All that stuff happened nearly 100 years ago and yet, it holds relevance to what's happening throughout the world in the game. Given the EarthBound series' history with aliens and the fact that I've already fought a Starman Jr. at the zoo, its a safe bet that they were the ones behind George and Maria's disappearance. George is most likely the one who wrote the diary that Ninten found in his basement, so that would make Maria and George his great grand parents. Still doesn't explain why they were abducted and why Maria never returned. It may not seem like much, but its more than enough to drive my curiosity. It really says something when a game can hook a player with just a few opening paragraphs.

Ninten may seem like a pretty flat protagonist even taking into account that he has physic powers (you're not an EarthBound central character without that, right?) but giving him asthma makes him a bit more human and relatable. I actually didn't know Ninten had asthma at first until I talked to one of the NPCs in Podunk and she mentioned that truck exhaust causes her own asthma to flair up. Why do I get the feeling trucks will be part of the random encounters later on? I already had Ninten's asthma get outta hand during a random encounter on Magicant. It almost lead to a game over.

Speaking of Magicant, the place has to be one of my favorite locations in EarthBound Beginnings. I was a little familiar with the place thanks to Super Smash Bros. 3DS, which has Magicant as a selectable stage along with a beautiful remix of the Magicant theme, but to actually go through the area that inspired the Smash stage is pretty amazing. Even before I spoke to Queen Mary and deduced that my gathering of the Eight Melodies was partially for her sake, I knew that Magicant would play a significant role in the game. The spiraling sea shells and color palettes give the place a unique look to be sure and there's the fact that you have to warp to Magicant, suggesting that it exists in some other dimension, but even without taking those things into account, Magicant is clearly no ordinary place.

Its nice to see that much of the humor the MOTHER series is known for is present and accounted for in EarthBound Beginnings. When I caught a cold from a girl in Merrsyville, I went to see the doctor and when I didn't want to pay the insane amount of cash he was charging to be cure of a common aliment, he said "Fine, go die all on your own. I'll phone a mortician." OK, so that one may be leaning more towards black comedy but after I did pay, he told me to hurry up and get hurt so I can pay him another visit.  Why isn't he one of those characters I can crack over the head with my aluminum bat in a random battle?

Unbalanced as it can be, I really do enjoy EarthBound Beginnings. I'm happy that we have two out of the three MOTHER games and hopefully, MOTHER 3 will be released somewhere down the line. It feels good to be playing an RPG again. Well, I gotta be off. That kid that was hiding in the trash isn't gonna level himself up. 

Currently Playing #24: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

The spiritual successor to the DS game, Kirby: Canvas Curse, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse released last Friday and like Majora's Mask 3D, I actually ended up buying it on launch day. Can't be late to every party, now can I?

While I do own Canvas Curse, it is one of the many games I've yet to really play, though I'm fully aware of how much it was herald as being one of the best DS games to make use of the touch screen. Likewise, Rainbow Curse relies heavily on the GamePad and stylus. Much as I'd love to gawk at the splendid HD clay visuals on the TV screen, I can't make precise stylus strokes and take in all that eye candy at the same time. So while that is a bit of a bummer, it doesn't detract too much from my enjoyment of playing Rainbow Curse. I suppose I could play the game with the TV turned off but when I'm not in a level, it's really nice to soak up that clay graphical style. Rainbow Curse has one of those unique art styles that ensures that it will look incredible years from now.

Since Kirby is a ball for the most part, it should go without saying that he doesn't control the way he does in his traditional platform adventures. Simply double tap Kirby to make him dash in the direction he's facing and whatever type of line you draw, Kirby will travel on that path. It's an easy enough concept to grasp and the first few worlds aren't really difficult but when you get to the third area, the challenge starts to ramp up. You'll run into enemies that can kill you in one hit and you'll have to use the right combination of stylus strokes to keep Kirby alive. Prepare for frustration if you're planning on trying to do this game 100%. You probably won't be able to find some of those treasure chests without consulting a guide and even when you know where some chests are, some chests will still test your patience, especially if they happens to lie in a timed room.

Currently I'm at 66% completion with the auto scrolling and fire levels being the bane of my existence. I lost so many lives trying to get the final treasure chest in 4-1, The Wild Red Yonder, an auto scrolling sky level that is definitely going to get a mention in my Frustrating Levels feature. I only played the first level of the token lava world and I don't think I've ever let out so many frustrated sighs while playing a Kirby game. Lava kills you instantly in Rainbow Curse and if you don't use correct stylus work, you're going to melt the flesh right off of Kirby's bones or whatever form of structure he has under all that pink. The game does thankfully allow you to save any lives you collect, probably because the developers knew the later levels were gonna screw you over.

I've played the game multiplayer aand it's a bit like Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Everyone but the first player plays as a bandanna-wearing, spear-wielding Waddle Dee and unlike Kirby, they can move about freely. Waddle Dees can even travel on the stylus strokes that you create. Things can also get quite hectic with more players in on the action. You can be in the process of trying to protect Waddle Dees from enemy attacks and accidentally get them killed. It's tricky business to look out for Kirby as well as your allies. Still, Waddle Dees can dispose of enemies with their spears and they can collect treasure chests for you so it can be nice to have them around in case you miss something.

This game is just effing adorable. It all starts out with that insanely cute opening cut scene, handled in pick-you-jaw-up-off-the-floor claymation. Once this game turns on the cute, it doesn't stop. There are giddy-like pictures to look through if you collect pages for Elline's diary and more often than not, clay figurines are hiding in the treasure chests you find. Every time you think this game is done making you go "Awwww!" it gives you something else to squee over.

Currently Playing #23

Mighty Final Fight (Wii U)

Released late in the NES's life, Mighty Final Fight is not an easy game to track down, meaning that if you come across a physical copy, you can expect to pay a hefty sum pf Benjamins. The game did see a re-release on the GBA's Capcom Classics Mini-Mix, in 2006, which I do have a copy of. Even so, it sure is nice to be able to play Might Final Fight on the big screen.

I suppose you could call Mighty Final Fight an SD version of Capcom's beat 'em up. The super deformed characters give Mighty Final Fight a standout look to be sure. You could even call it a cute-looking game, but this is probably the second best beat 'em up on the NES (River City Ransom being the first).

I'm so much better at this game than I was seven years ago. I can actually get to the Round 5, though Sodom (named Katana in this game as he was in the SNES version of Final Fight) is almost as annoying as he is in the original arcade Final Fight. When I beat him at the end of Round 2, I didn't expect to see him again, but much to my surprise (and annoyance) he pops up again later on. Same deal with Abigail. That's one of my main issues with Mighty Final Fight. Much as I adore the Final Fight baddies, I do not want to see the bosses making second appearances after I beat them. This ain't Mega Man, even if it was birthed from the same company.

Things that make Mighty Final Fight stand out further aside from the chibi-style characters are the bits of trash talking that goes down before each boss fight. You can even play with "Yes" or "No" to each question they ask you. Oh and if Sodom asks if you'd like some water, do yourself a favor and sip that H2O. By leveling up, you'll get a longer health bar and learn new moves for your characters. That chiptune soundtrack is also pretty sick.

I'd like to beat Mighty Final Fight with all three characters but right now, Round 5 is one massive hurdle to jump over. The normal Mad Gear flunkies do insane damage on this level and those bosses that love to show up again and again are a headache that I just cannot find the right amount of pain killers to bring down.

LittleBigPlanet (PS3)

The PS3 and 360 shared many cross platform games. LittleBigPlanet was not one of them, being an IP that was and still is exclusive to Sony systems. This is one of those games that made me a bit misty eyed about not owning a PS3. Sometime after I purchased the system last year, I grabbed a Game of the Year Edition version of LittleBigPlanet and it sat on my shelf for some time. Yeah, I know all the cool kids are playing LittleBigPlanet 3, but I've always been on the outside looking in at the series until now. I wanted to start at the beginning and work my way down the road.

Being a game that is all about customization and creativity, the levels in story mode are quite brilliant. The Wedding Reception stage is certainly going to get talked about in a future post of Best Levels Ever. I've checked out only a few player created levels and while I thought I might initially stay away from this feature at first, I think I may try my hand at creating some stages after I finish story mode.

I cannot say how much that I think being able to customize SackBoy's apperance is one of the greatest things the game has going for it. Yes, being able to make levels is all fine and dandy but if you give me wardrobe options out the wazoo, you've got my interest peaked and then some. I can pimp SackBoy out with a lion's mane, cat ears, Raiden's Metal Gear Rising look, a tuxedo, a bow tie, or a sombrero to name only a sliver of the clothing you can wear. The combinations are endless and I've already lost track of how many times I've stopped in the middle of a level just to change SackBoy's attire. I'm sure LittleBigPlanet 2 improves upon the first game and I'll get to that one in due time but right now, the original LittleBigPlanet is one of my favorite PS3 titles.

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has been spending the most time in the system since November but the second pack of DLC hits in May and I don't want to get rusty by waiting until the last minute to jump back into the fold. I'm alternating between regional and worldwide online races. I'm getting closer to getting in the 3000 point range. I probably would have been a lot higher if I'd kept playing on a daily night basis.

I'm still doing offline gameplay to get all three star rankings and improve my time trial times and thereby better myself at learning the tracks. I tender to let out frustrated sighs whenever playing online and a track I don't like gets picked.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS

What is there to say about this game that hasn't already been said? It's one of the best reasons to own a Wii U. It looks fantastic and plays great. It has so many characters to choose from that whining on internet forums that X character didn't make it in really does sound petty. Oh and I do not care if it isn't as fast or just like Melee. Shut up with that nonsense. Smash 4 has way too many good things going for it to nitpick like some unsatisfied fanboy that can only be happy if his/her demand is met.

The roster in Smash is overwhelming. 49 characters, make that 50 come March. I main Mega Man, partially for my love of the Blue Bomber and well, because I honestly like how he plays. I've heard so many people saying that Mega Man sucks, that' he's too projectile based. Well, what do you expect? Mega Man made his career by, you know, shooting things. Little boy robot has a gun for a hand, after all. He's a long range fighter that has a few up close and personal attacks. Shooting lemons is great for annoying people and you can while most can see the Charge Shot coming from a mile away, getting a KO with that sucker feels oh-so satisfying and at high percentages, you don't have to charge it up to max. For the most part, I think Rock is fine on his own, but I personally can't do much with Crash Bombs. Danger Wrap is a much better Forward B and it gives you another KO move. Metal Blades have more range than Shadow Blade but I like that I can do return damage with the Shadow Blade. But since I may meet up with players that don't have all of Mega Man;s customs, I still make it a habit to play with Rock as he is along with my custom setup. Mega Man takes some work to excel with. He isn't a character you can just pick up and expect to automatically go into beast mode, which is where all this "Mega Man sucks" talk comes from.

I've also really grown quite fond of Pac-Man. His grab kinda sucks, but I love dropping fire hydrants on opponents and throwing fruit and keys at them. He's also got some excellent recovery.

I never knew how much I wanted to cut a tree down or drop a bowling ball on someone's head until I played as Villager. The Villager alternate with the pink hair is actually my favorite and it has nothing to do with her being less creepy than default Villager. I just think she's cute and I cannot get enough of that dancing taunt.

I'm still spending time with the 3DS version of Smash, too. You might be wondering why I would bother with Smash 3DS with the Wii U version being the bees knee and all. Well, for one, I like that I can have a Smash game that is accessible to me at all times. I'm not always at home so its great to be able to get in a few quick Smash matches before work or if I'm in Barns & Nobles drinking coffee. I also really like some of the 3DS exclusive Stages like Prism Tower and Find Mii. Smash Run is also pretty rad.

Currently Playing #22: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

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

This is another one of those games that has been sitting on my shelf for months. With everyone and their mother playing Hyrule Warriors and myself feeling left out because I can't afford a $60 game right now, this seemed as good a time as any to finally crack this bad boy open.

Why on Earth did I wait so long to get around to this game? I've always had great adoration for A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds feels like one huge lover letter to that game and more. Let me just say that I have no qualms with the Zelda series shifting to 3D. Ocarina of Time is still one of my favorite entries in the series and Wind Waker is a marvel as much as it is visually impressive. But I couldn't help but feel as giddy as a school girl as I traveled the dungeons of Hyrule from an overhead perspective. Yes, Phantom Hour Glass and Spirit Tracks play with the classic overhead view, but I haven't gotten around to playing those games yet (still on the shelf sealed), so A Link Between Worlds is the first new Zelda game I've played with the old view in a very long time.

The Hyrule in this game feels very familiar and that's no coincidence. The overworld is is a carbon copy of the one from A Link to the Past so I immediately felt at home. Even so, having been to this Hyrule several times in the past, that doesn't keep things from feeling old hat. The wall merging mechanic is quite the clever innovation. More often than not, wall merging is the solution to many of the game's puzzles, at least from what I've played thus far.

Another thing I love about A Link Between Worlds is how it kicks linear gameplay to the curb. Before I tackled the three first dungeons, I Revio rented out many familiar Zelda items to me. The Hook Shot this early in the game? Yes, yes and yes again! This meant I could go to any of the three dungeons in the order of my choosing. I do hope this keeps up when the inevitable shift to the Dark World comes into play.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Man, the wait for this game was killing me (probably you, too, I'd imagine) but when October 3rd finally rolled around, the waiting was over and it was at last time to Smash. I had to work on October 3rd but when that was done, I was finally (for real this time) able to get my Smash on.

Even after I've spent time with the demo version of the game that I received as a Club Nintendo member, playing it did very little to scratch the surface of the full game, though I am grateful I did get the opportunity to play the demo to get me ready for this version of Smash. I've mostly got the controls down, though the 3DS thumb pad still takes some adjusting to for the kind of game that Smash is. I really wish you could switch over to directional pad controls for movements instead of just taunts. Control wise, that's my only gripe with 3DS Smash.

When I started the game up, I was surprised at how many characters were available from the get go. I was pleased that Mega Man and Pac-Man were characters that I wouldn't have to unlock. While most fighters are there from the start, you still do have to do some work to make a few of them playable and some of these combatants to not want to be playable. I was really taken aback when Duck Hunt was fighting tooth and nail. It took me three attempts to unlock Duck Hunt, including one failed attempt with King Dedede. When I unleashed the Mii Gunner, Duck Hunt got his retro butt kicked something fierce. Even I was surprised at how well the Mii Gunner handled against Duck Hunt because when all was said and done and I sent that mutt and mallard flying, my percent meter was at 0.

As I did not follow Smash leading up to it's release as closely as I should have, I was in the dark about Smash Run, which takes elements from Kirby Air Ride, another Masahiro Sakurai game and implements them into Smash Run. Like City Trial from Air Ride, you have 5 minutes to power up your fighters stats and face off in random challenges. What's more is that you get to keep these stats to customize your fighter and use these customization options in other modes. So I can replace Mega Man's Crash Bomb's with the Ice Slasher, or the Metal Blade with the Shadow Blade. Its mind boggling to think that you'll be able to do this sort of thing with each and every character in the game.

Some fans are miffed that The Ice Climbers, Lucas and Wolf are gone. I do miss the Ice Climbers as they were some of my favorite characters to use, but to say you won't be picking up the game because they or your most coveted third party character didn't make it? Come on, how needy do you have to be? With a roster of over 50 characters, I think you can get over the fact that (insert character here) didn't make the cut. There are way too many cool characters in this game to feel butthurt about a few missing old favorites.

The tweaks that have been made to the old characters and the new ones has be switching from fighter to fighter on a regular basis. Bowser isn't just standing up right. The dude is a freaking tank. And not those crappy Grand Theft Auto Vice City and onward tanks. I mean a GTAIII tank, the kind that dished out so much destruction and took an unfathomable amount of damage to stop. I think Smash 4 has my favorite Bowser to date. Little Mac is a tiny titan, netting me the highest score in Home Run Contest as well as Endless Smash. Link has been improved after he was nerfed in Brawl. I still prefer Toon Link, but if I ever feel like switching it up with the Links I definitely will now.

I really love how 3DS Smash has levels specifically for this version of the game. Even a level from Find Mii was included and has one of favorite songs. One of the Kirby levels I've yet to unlock takes place inside a Game Boy, similar to a few of the Flat Zone arenas from previous Smash Bros. titles. Of course the Boxing Ring representing Punch-Out!! is in both versions of Smash 4. I like that you can jump off the ropes and even make your way to the ring lights and better still, said lights can be brought down on combatants below. The Mute City stage is cool for representing what has now become one of Nintendo's forgotten franchises and I love how it uses SNES graphics.

If you couldn't tell, I love 3DS Smash so much that it's difficult to get back to my other games, including  A Link Between Worlds and Mario Kart 8, but I'll just have to tear myself away from it. Obsession, they name is Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (they really shoulda called it something else)

Still Playing: Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (All-Stars ver.), Shovel Knight

Currently Playing #21: Kirby Triple Deluxe

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (All-Stars ver.)

Also known as the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2. Also know as sheer torture. Having typed that last one out, you may be wondering, "Why are you playing this game?" I'm working on a special Mario feature for this blog that I've had spinning around in my dome for some time now. Much to my deep regret, completing this feature requires me to play what is without question the only game in the Super Mario series that I utterly despise. I'm playing the Wii's Super Mario All-Stars enhanced port because being able to save on every single level is a gift from God in the cruel an unjust world that is Lost Levels.

I can appreciate Luigi's superior jumping skills in this game but I don't feel like dealing with his sub-par traction, which would only make the game even more difficult than it already is. Thus, I've decided to make this painful journey as the older brother, Mario. I've also decided to use a guide for this play through as I've had more than enough of this game screwing me over in the past. In World 3-1, I went down a pipe that I thought was taking to a bonus room. It did, but it was home to a Bill Blaster. which didn't bode well for me. Sure enough it took me to one of those dreaded backwards Warp Zones. Since I had no desire to play through two worlds I had already conquered, I used the conveniently placed pit to kill myself. Cripes, I hate this game. I hate this game, I hate this game, I HATE. THIS. GAME!!! Never have I uttered that phrase so many times in all the years I've been gaming. Just the thought of sitting down to play this one makes me let out frustrated sighs.

Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)

I've decided to start this game and finish it up before the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. releases in about two weeks. Kirby had some of his best outings on the DS and his two Wii adventures are among my favorite Kirby titles. Triple Deluxe  is enjoyable but not on the same level as previous Kirby outings. I dig a lot of the new power ups like Beetle and Bell Kirby and the Hypernova inhale power is nice but even with the 3D effects and everything else it has going for it, Triple Deluxe just doesn't feel on par with Return to Dream Land. No, I didn't come in looking for this baby to surpass my all-time favorite Kirby game, but I'm still more than a little disappointed with this game after three worlds in.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

I've gotten 100% completion of every world except World Crown. My aim is to get 100% completion of this game and I'm well aware of what doing that means. The biggest hurdle to jump over is more than likely going to be Champion's Road, by none, the hardest level in the game. I've played a good chunk of it with my nieces and newphews and some of it solo. I'd have to be crazy to try and tackle this stage without power-ups. The farthest I've gotten is to the long climb with the piranha plants, which just screams of needing a Cat Suit.

The last Mystery House isn't a cake walk either. So far, I've managed to get 12 Green Stars with Luigi. The 13th one, where you have to use a giant shoot to skate past enemies that like to block your way has been giving me trouble. Champion's Road with every character is tough enough but grabbing 30 Green Stars with everyone? Super Mario 3D World may very well be one of the most difficult games in the series to finish 100%.

Also Playing: Mario Kart 8, Shovel Knight

Currently Playing #20: Mario Kart 8, Shovel Knight

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

I don't know if this is the best entry in the long running Mario Kart franchise, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this is one masterfully made game. I've been racing across the tracks of Mario Kart 8 for nearly two months now and I cannot stress enough of my amazement of this game. Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS was an incredible game, and was one of the early titles that made that insane $250 price tag a little easier to swallow for those that adopted the 3DS early. I wondered how Nintendo would manage to top themselves after such an outstanding effort. I'm inclined to say that they've done it with Mario Kart 8.

One thing that makes Mario Kart 8 a more enjoyable experience than previous titles is item management, mainly, that blasted Blue Shell. Regrettably, it still exists in the game, but the odds of it being handed out to the stragglers has greatly been reduced. Its actually quite rare that a Blue Shell will cost you a race, so you'll no longer feel like the game is punishing you for your success. The Super Horn, a new item introduced in Mario Kart 8, is perfect for getting rid of an oncoming Blue Shell or almost any other items that threaten to ruin your day. Now if only Lightning was given out at a lesser degree to racers that are behind. In a lot of ways Lightning has replaced the Blue Shell as the most notorious item because. It strikes without warning and the odds of you having a Star activated when someone uses it are slim to none.

I feel I'm being too negative on the items now. Really, the way items work in Mario Kart 8 is the best they've handled in a long time. Outside of Lightning and the Blue Shell, and arguably the Red Shell, you have to be in close proximity to get a lot of the other ones to work. Also, you cannot have more than one item at a time. If you've got a Green Shell and hold it behind your kart for protection, you won't be able to pick up another item until that Green Shell goes bye-bye. This changes the game up drastically and places an even greater emphasis on how you'll use the items given to you. I've found myself being a much more cautious driver as a result of no longer geing able to stock up items and discovered that sometimes I'm better off guarding my back rather than trying to take out the racer that's ahead of me.

This is the first Mario Kart game that I've gone online with and I'm pleased to say that things turn out quite well. The online races are very smooth and I've never had a problem finding others to race with. I usually do good enough to where I can get points added to my overall online racing total and while I don't take first often, it's always elevating when I do. Yesterday, during an 11 person race, I stole first out from the leader at the last minute thanks to Triple Red Shells. I hit the lead racer with one Red Shell and then another not far from the finish line. Even better, I did this racing as my Mii.

Mario Kart TV is a great addition. There's nothing like savoring your best moments and watching them over again, especially in slow motion. I never thought I'd get this much mileage out of Mario Kart TV and Nintendo simply has to include it in future installments.

Shovel Knight (Wii U, 3DS)

I never really kept up to date on this game following up to it's release. I just watched gameplay videos of the demo and I knew I had to have this game. "Coming soon" seemed like a means of torture for me whenever I checked the eShop only to see that the game still didn't have a concrete release date. Well the game has been out for about a month now and I've been playing and loving it both on the Wii U and 3DS.

I've heard some complaining that the game is too short or that once you beat it, some of the fun is diminished due to know how bosses work and where things are. With the length, I think that just makes it more replayable, and I've played Mega Man games more times than I can count and they didn't suddenly become less fun because I found out how bosses work. So, to me, that doesn't seem like a valid criticism.

I know other people have cleared the game in under 9 hours but I'm taking my time and enjoying Shovel Knight. I'm trying to get as many of the achievements as I can, well, the reasonable ones, at least. I still don't have all the armors and I'm missing one of the relics, so I'm probably gonna have to hit YouTube to find it.

I really hate dying in this game because if you perish at a particularly bad spot, getting your lost gold back can be impossible and if you die multiple times, you lose even more gold since the game doesn't keep track of all the gold lost in each spot, just the very last location you died in. Dying over and over again really hurts.

Currently Playing #19

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

I wanted to finish up Returns first before diving into this game, but I decide, screw it, I'll just fire this puppy up anyway. And man, am I ever glad I did. As much as I enjoyed Returns, I think I have to say at Tropical Freeze is the better game. I do wish I wasn't regulated to DK in single player but the added abilities of the other Kongs grant me are a tremendous asset, even if I have grown far too dependent on them. Having Dixie's twirling hair for extra hang time makes me realize how much I've missed her. Cranky Kong long sits on the sidelines and while I do miss his hilarious chatter, he does a great Scrooge McDuck pogocane impression.

The levels are a marvel to look at. Once could argue that from a visual standpoint that it's only a touched up version of Returns, but Tropical Freeze's environments are still nonetheless jaw dropping. The Lion King inspired level in World 2 had me stopping to take in the scenery on multiple occasions.

The difficulty is on par with Returns from what I've played thus far. I'm a little ways into World 3 and I dread anytime I have to jump on a mine cart. There was one level in world 1, I believe where the level was being created as I was riding the mine cart. Collecting KONG letters in mine cart levels are the worst because you almost always have to flirt with death to get one or more of them.

I cannot praise the music enough in Tropical Freeze. As I said in the latest version of Favorite Tunes, I liked Kenji Yamamoto's work on Returns but I am LOVING the compositions David Wise wrote for Tropical Freeze. I didn't mind screwing up my first attempt on World 1's boss because it allowed me to hear that rocking battle theme one more time. Nintendo will probably release a soundtrack for Tropical Freeze for Club Nintendo members. In Japan, of course.

If I were to compare the three platformers I've been playing on the Wii U thus far between Super Mario 3D World, New Super Mario Bros. U and Tropical Freeze, I'd have to say that 3D World is the best of the lot, but Tropical Freeze is still a solid romp. Whenever I'm at work, I can't wait to finish up so I can go home and plow through a few levels, which for me, is an indicator that you've got a game that is more than just good.

Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)

I picked this up around Christmas time in 2012. I have no idea why I waited so long to start playing this as it really is a shinning example of why the 3DS is the best thing to be gaming on right now. Being a game developed by Masahiro Sakurai, Uprising has controls that only use a few buttons and as a result, is super simple to play. For the most part. In the air, the game controls so fluidly. On the ground, the controls aren't terrible by any means but Pit doesn't move with the same grace he as most characters in third person action games. Turning pit around can be a pain at times, especially when under attack by enemies from behind.

Only four chapters in and I am already loving the characters and voice work in this game. Pit is a brave, if brash, naive hero under the guidance of Paluntena, who, despite her goddess status, isn't above having fun at Pit's expense. Getting Cree Summer to voice Medusa? The casting director is a genius.

Uprising also has plenty of nods to the games that came before it. The Grim Reaper, one of the most annoying foes from the first Kid Icarus returns and acts just as he did in the original game, going insane upon being attacked. Even the music that plays when striking the Grim Reaper plays, much to my great annoyance.

Code of Princess (3DS)

Another game that I had sitting on the shelf, unopened for quite some time. But this one didn't stay sealed for a year or more, so, hey, that's something, right? Right? I've never played the original Guardian Heroes but from what I hear, this game can be seen as a spiritual successor to it. There are loads of characters but my favorites are Solange and Ali. Solange for her strength and Ali for her speed. Speaking of the characters, the lot is in this game are a very likable bunch.  Despite her less than modest attire, Solange is herself a very humble, kindhearted princess. The voice work is also very well done and has me looking forward to the dialogue in between battles just to see how the characters will interact with each other.

Still Playing: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS), Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Currently Playing #18

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

I've long since finished the game but I've been taking the Special Worlds slow. I have to say, I was a little surprised to find out that Super Mario 3D World has more than one Special World. If I recall correctly, I don't think the Super Mario series has featured multiple Special Worlds since the Lost Levels with it's Levels A-D nonsense. Some of the levels in the regular worlds were tough but a lot of the Special World levels are straight up brutality. Faster Fort Fire Bros. was enough to induce rage quit as was World Star-2, the level where you finally unlock Rosalina.

In spite of all the frustration the Special Worlds are causing me, Super Mario 3D World is undoubtedly one of the best Super Mario games I've ever played and it justifies the purchase of a Wii U. The constant shifts in level design keeps things fresh, the Cat Suit is one of the best new power-ups in years and the soundtrack is extremely varied.

New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)

Yes, it's "another" New Super Mario Bros. game, but dang, if I'm not having a ball with it. Nintendo makes these freaking things so well that at times it's hard to blame them when they get accused of rehashing. Admittedly, the game felt very by the numbers at first, but when I got toe World 3, I found myself like NSMBU more and more. Originally, I hadn't planned to start this game up just yet. The idea was to finish Super Mario 3D World first but then the Special Worlds started slapping me in the face over an over and I needed some relief. NSMBU took the kid gloves off much earlier than I anticipated so now I'm juggling two tough Mario platformers at the same time. Granted, it isn't as crazy as 3D World's Special Worlds, but the stuff NSMBU is throwing at me is really starting to get nuts. Flight of the Para-Beetles was a level very much like something out of Sky Land from Super Mario Bros. 3. Upwards auto scrolling and no check points. Not only did I lose a ton of lives on this level, I had to replay it to collect all the Star Coins.

Currently, I'm at Peach's Castle and I see Bowser has turned int into a lava filled wasteland. The third star coin in the first level drove me nuts and was the first time I ever saw the Super Guide appear. I'll more than likely complete NSMBU over the weekend and while I'd like to explore those levels I missed and collect all the every single Star Coin, I'm not quite sure I will as I have other platformers I need to attend to.

Sonic Generations (PS3 ver.)

This is one of the first HD games I wanted to play when I got my hands on a PS3. The big draw of this game is that it offers two different play styles with the two Sonics. Classic Sonic's levels are 2D and Modern Sonic's levels are mostly 3D. I say mostly because there's still a good bit of 2D in his gameplay. Running through new renditions of Green Hill, Chemical Plant, and Sky Sanctuary is quite the thrill ride and the challenges add a lot of replay value to the game. I especially like that you can unlock songs from other Sonic games to listen to during gameplay. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to blast through Green Hill Zone with Sonic Boom blaring.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition (Wii U)

I never knew I wanted to have the Tekken cast wear Nintendo gear until I saw screen shots of the Wii U version of TTT2. Some may say Nintendo clothing doesn't make this game worth a purchase but since it comes with all the character DLC that the PS3 and 360 versions have at no extra charge, I saw it is. Plus, I only paid $15 for this brand new but I easily would have forked over a bit more cash for it. Seeing Heihachi in Mario's clothes is one of the best things ever. This isn't just limited to items from the Mario universe. I just found out I can dress Raven up in to look like Captain Falcon. In the immortal words of the captain, YES!

Currently Playing #18

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

As a huge fan of the original Luigi's Mansion, I had great anticipation for Dark Moon. I've only played a few hours, but I've been loving what I've been seeing.

I was a bit worried about how Dark Moon's controls would handle. The first Luigi's Mansion used both analog sticks and the 3DS only has a single thumb pad and I have no intention of investing in that ridiculous Circle Pad Pro add on. Luckily Dark Moon controls just as smooth as the first game even with a single thumb pad. Moving Luigi around, catching ghosts, aiming the flash light and Poltergust 5000 is easy as pie.

I'm still on the first mansion, Gloomy Manor, but I really do love exploring each room I walk into. I check everything I can and I love how the game rewards your curiosity with hidden passages and gold. I find that searching every nook and cranny is just as satisfying as sucking up those bothersome ghosts.

Speaking of the ghouls, some of these guys are pretty clever. A few of the Greenie ghosts used pots and pans as weapons and to shield them from the shine of my flash light to keep from getting caught. Once their guard was down, I was able to shine the light on them, stun them and vacuum them up. Makes me wonder what the other ghosts are going to be like later down the road.

Luigi is just as cowardly and lovable in Dark Moon as he was in the original game, perhaps even more so. He hums and whistles to the excellent background music, calls out hello in a nervous voice when you press the directional pad and he walks through a room filled with ghosts with the teeth chattering courage.

F-Zero X (N64)

Recently, I downloaded this off the Wii's Virtual Console service. It's been more than 10 years since I've played this N64 racer. When I bought it back in 1999, I only had to part with $30. A digital version on the Virtual Console only set me back 1000 Wii points, or $10. I thought F-Zero X was a steal for $30 in 1999 and it's a steal today for $10.

Playing F-Zero X reminds me of my high school days. Blasting around insane courses against 29 other racers, going up against friends in split screen multiplayer, and killing other racers in Death Race, all at a smooth 60 frames per second. It still blows my mind that this game achieved such a feat. Keeping a consistent frame rate may not seem like that big a deal today but in 1998, this was very impressive stuff, especially on the N64, which is a cartridge based system.

My N64 cart version of F-Zero X has everything unlocked thanks to the cheat that unlocked everything. What can I say, I was quite the impatient fellow back then (still am in some ways) but it was nice to get easy access to the Joker and X Cup, the later of which generates randomized courses. This time, I'm seeing how far I can go unlocking things on my own.

Thus far I've beaten the first three cups on Standard, the lowest difficulty. Even a few narrow roads, sharp turns and big jumps didn't keep me from taking first place. Playing on Novice as Captain Falcon or any of the six default racers is pretty challenging. You have to fight to reach and keep first place the entire time. I was going through the Jack Cup as Captain Falcon and I was in danger of losing the cup to Mr. EAD. Mr. EAD has crappy stats but he managed to take first from me twice. One more loss to him would mean all my efforts would be for naught. So on Port Town, I decided it was time to start killing other racers and Mr. EAD was on my hit list. I couldn't remember what his machine looked like, so I just started going nuts with the spin attack and fortunately, I took him out.

Playing as Baba on Standard, one of the six racers I unlocked from clearing all the cups on Novice, the Queen Cup was a lot easier, probably due to Baba's superior speed over the initial six racers. Much as I like Falcon and Octoman, I have a much harder time on any Standard racing so I'll be going with Baba and other faster cars from here on out.

Still Playing: Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Currently Playing #17

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

My addiction with Animal Crossing begins anew. And since this one is on a portable system, meaning I have all-time access to it, this could be the most addictive one yet. I thought the Animal Crossing games were getting a bit stale but when I heard that you would be the mayor of your own town, I knew that Nintendo had instantly reeled me back in with New Leaf. Having a greater deal of control than ever before? SOLD! Of course, I still feel that, in spite of my new found power, that devilish raccoon, Tom Nook is the one holding all the cards. I mean, I'm the mayor. THE MAYOR. And I'm still indebted to this furry, money grubbing freak? Feh.

I'm already seeing a lot of the old items pop up, but I'm seeing lots of new ones, too. You can wear pants or shorts and even socks! Or if you don't want to wear socks, or shoes, you can walk around barefoot! It's the little touches that make Animal Crossing games so much fun and New Leaf may be the best one yet! One of my favorite things about the Animal Crossing games is all the different clothes your character can wear and I'm already loving what I'm seeing in New Leaf. I'm already trying to collect as many bells as I can to not only pay off Nook to keep the mob off my back, but to keep more cool clothes on my back. You even get long sleeve shirts this time or shirts that have no sleeves!

A few things I don't like are writing letters. I don't know if it's my stylus or the fact that I'm playing on a regular 3DS, but the touch screen is insanely finicky in this game and it makes letter writing a huge headache. I know one way to improve the lives of citizens is to write letters and give them gifts, but if I gotta suffer every time I try to write something then those letters are going to be one word deals.

I'll have a lot to discus concerning New Leaf. So like some of my fellow bloggers have already done, I'm going to start a journal for my experiences with the game right here on this very blog. I'm not yet sure how frequent the updates will be, but it will contain lots of photos since this may be the best use I get out of the 3DS camera.


Mighty Switch Force! (3DSW)

Whoa! Why didn't I get this game when I first got my 3DS back in early 2012?! This game is AWESOME! I mean, I heard great things about it and I've heard the soundtrack so many times that's now a part of my brain. But to finally play the game? It's like trying a new dish that you're genuinely surprised is really good. It's an old-school game and like a lot of old-school games, you learn as you play. Thought it isn't too complicated. A touch of the button switches blocks so that they become solid for you to walk or jump on. You constantly have the switch the blocks to kill enemies, make it to prisoners and overall complete stages without accidentally crushing yourself with your own switch power, which I've found out is quite easy to do.

I'm almost finished with the game but I can easily see myself coming back to this one to get faster times on completing levels or just to play through it again because it's so much fun. Of course I plan to get Mighty Switch Force! 2 once I've wrapped this game up. WayForward has crafted one of my new favorite IPs and I'm itching for more.

Still Playing: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Currently Playing #16

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)

The second game in the Paper Mario series. I picked this up off Amazon a while back and I'm just now getting to it. It's been a while since I played a Mario RPG, especially one in the Paper Mario series but it feels like I haven't been away for long at all. Combat is mainly the same from the first Paper Mario. Timed Hits come into play so you can do double damage or decrease the damage you take from enemy attacks by hitting A at just the right moment. Combat is never a bore in this game and for the most part, I look forward to getting into battles. And since I can pick and choose my fights by seeing enemies on the field, that makes it so much sweeter.

A new element to the game is the audience. Every battle takes place in front of a crowd. Depending on how well or how poorly you perform in battle determines how many you'll have in your audience. There's even good and bad audience participation. Every now and then, some members will throw you items or power ups. Other times you'll have bad eggs that want to throw things at you to knock off some of your HP. You can catch these guys before they act by pressing X, though.

I know the game has those Paper Mario visuals and even though this game is nearly ten years old, I'm still impressed by how good it looks. Being a GameCube game, it's a huge step up from the Nintendo 64. Everyone sports a nice, smoother paper character model and the colors are more vibrant than ever.

I finished the Prologue and Chapter 1 but The Thousand Year Door is already shaping up to be one of my favorite Mario RPGs. I still need to play Super Paper Mario, Sticker Star, Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story but right now, this game is pretty high on the list of Mario RPG favorites.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

The great thing about Mario platformers is that you can run through them time and again. I recently finished Super Mario Bros. 3 and I was looking for another Mario tile for my run 'n jump fix. I was going to start up Super Mario World, but I thought I'd go for something more recent.

Like a lot of Mario fans, I hold firm in the belief that many of Mario's earlier 2D adventures are better than his later ones, but I still think New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a lot of fun, even when playing solo. I'm gonna try to collect all the Star Coins but I don't think I'll be doing the Special World stages. Of all the Special World levels I've played in a Mario game, NSMBW's take the cake for being the most punishing. No, I think I'll stick to just saying Peach and calling it a day.

New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

It may not look as crisp and clear as it's console versions or New Super Mario Bros 2, but the first installment in this series is still one that I find myself coming back to time and time again. I'm actually unsure of whether I like this or the Wii version more so I'm playing them both to find out once and for all.

Currently, I'm on World 3. I usually play every World of the game so I'll have to go back and fight the boss of World 2 as Mini Mario. I never did like facing World 2's boss this way to get to World 4. Why the developers made worlds 4 and 7 so easily skip-able is beyond me. 

Still Playing: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Wario Land: Shake It!

Currently Playing #15

Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

This is another one of those games I've had for some time. I started playing it about a week ago. I've always been fond of the WarioWare series but the Wario platform games are also quite enjoyable. The last one I played was Wario Land 4 back in 2002 so needless to say, I've been away from the series for a very long while.

As the subtitle implies, there's a good deal of shaking going on in Shake It! Wario is in the Shake Dimension looking to fatten up his wallet. He's also there to help rescue some of the world's inhabitants but we all know he could care less about helping anyone but if it helps him get rich, he's game. There are lots of money bags to shake to unleash coins. Seems simple enough and it is, but I found that you really have to be careful just where you're shaking that bag of cash. It's easy to lose coins to a lava pit or have them get shaken to where they fly out of your reach. These coins don't stick around for too long either so you gotta be quick about collecting your reward.

The game also has other motion control use. The Wii Remote can be swung back and forth to help Wario swing on vines. A quick flick of the remote makes Wario slam the ground to cause an earthquake and you even control Wario's aim with the Wii Remote. The most taking use of motion controls I've come across so far is shaking for coins and even then, it isn't that bad.

I just reach Area 3 (yeah, I'm moving at a slug's pace) and the best implementation of motion controls I've seen thus far was the boss of Area 2. Wario's gunning for some speed demon in a convertible who chucks wheels and monkey wrenches at him. Wario's only means of fighting back is using a mounted boxing glove on his car to bounce the projectiles back at his opponent. This is of course done by means of tilting the Wii Remote to aim up or down. I got a bit frustrated on this boss but that mainly due to trying to rush things. It's a pretty cool boss battle.

Each level has three treasures for you to find and like Wario Land 4 you have to escape each stage before time runs out or you won't get to keep any of the cash or treasures you've collected. A lot of these treasures aren't in plain view and I've already repeated levels numerous times trying to find each treasure. This game was made by Good Feel, the same developer of Kirby's Epic Yarn, a game I needed little to no help finding each stage's three items. You'd think it'd be much easier to find these treasures but no, you really gotta work for 'em here. But then, Epic Yarn was Kirby game, so things are supposed to be a lot easier. There are also extra goals you can meet in every level like making it back to the start of the level at a set time, finishing a stage without getting hit and so on. I'm not sure if these extras count as 100% completion but if they are, getting 100% in Shake It! won't be easy.

Still Playing...

Punch-Out!! (Wii) 

I started a new game because I actually lost to Great Tiger. Great Tiger! Granted, he's a lot tougher in this Punch-Out!! but still! I did learn one thing when I started over: I have a terrible tendancy to always dodge left and because of this, I was getting hit by a lot of punches. I'm not sure why I always go left when dodging but I found myself doing it so much that it was like a reflex reaction. Once I started mixing up how I dodged, I was taking less hits.

I'm also still adjusting to how each boxer works. With a guy like Glass Joe, you have all the time in the world to dodge his punches so if you dodge too soon, you can still dodge again and be fine. Do this on a guy like Disco Kid and you're screwed. In a lot of ways, it feels like a have to learn how to play Punch-Out!! again even though I played the NES version and Super Punch-Out!! to death eons ago.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS)

For the record, I have not stopped playing this game since I started playing it a little over two months ago. I've gotten Terra, Cloud, and Warrior of Light up to level 99 and Cecil is almost there with them. My current party consists of Cecil, Lightning, Bartz and Vaan. I've gotten an all critical on The Sunleth Waterscape (Final Fantasy XIII) on Expert mode and a lot of Expert mode level songs aren't as tricky as I thought they'd be. Though some require good eyes and lots of timely taps and swipes. I think this is the first 3DS game I've invested nearly 50 hours into.

Currently Playing #14

Final Fight 2 (SNES)

Some time ago, I downloaded Final Fight 2 off of the Virtual Console. It wasn't until yesterday that I started playing it, so I'm pretty sure it's been years since I've come back to this baby. I went through the entire game yesterday on Easy with Maki. I think I used about three continues getting through with most of my deaths coming from the hands of thugs getting hits on me when I was very low on health. It was a good way to kill an hour or two and it felt great to return to the beat 'em up genre.

 Now I'm going through the game on Normal as Haggar. I rarely play as Haggar when I play a Final Fight game and I regret that because I was reminded how much of a tank he is. Sure, he's a bit sluggish, but he hits ever so hard. Doing a Spinning Pile Driver on the Mad Gears or simply throwing them as Haggar never gets old.

I think the toughest boss for me in Final Fight 2 is Rolento. He was abscent from the SNES Final Fight but he's here for the sequel and he's insanely fast. And I just loooooove how he throws those grenades when he starts getting low on health. As if his fighting stick and speed weren't enough to deal with.

Punch-Out!! (Wii)

Nearly 2 years after I bought this game, I finally opened it up and decided to play it yesterday. I'll knock down that backlog yet.

Playing the Wii version of Punch-Out!! is like meeting up with an old friend. In many ways, this game feels like the the NES Punch-Out!! and the SNES Super Punch-Out!! Glass Joe is still a joke and I had no problems beating him. A lot of these boxers have the same moves and patterns they did from the old games. It's very gratifying to know that the most of the same techniques I used to beat King Hippo nearly two decades ago still work on him here. I say "most" because I'm positive King Hippo never used that nasty headbutt that causes a ton of damage before this game. Piston Hondo (yes, Hondo, not Handa) was my first real threat. It took me some time to learn how he opperates and he seems much faster than he was in the NES game, but on upgraded hardware, I guess that's to be expected.

Right now on on the Major Circuit and it Great Tiger is proving to be one tricky dude. His mirage punch or whatever it's called is hard for me to avoid even when I look at the real deal. I didn't think I'd have this much trouble on him so I can only imagine what Bald Bull and Mr. Sandman will be like.