Monthend Video Game Wrap-Up – November 2016

Hey. November. It’s cold outside now. All the more reason to stay inside all the time and play video games. Except when it’s not and I go outside to play Pokémon Go.

~ Game Over ~

Pokémon Sun (3DS) – FINALLY. I haven’t been so excited about a game since Smash 4. And you know I’m not kidding because I tore through that sucker in only a week. Also, have you seen Crabominable yet??

crabominable

Heaven Island (PC) – A VR walking simulator MMO. Note that I do not own a VR device, so half the experience was lost on me. But I still wandered around until I’d picked up enough apples and seashells to claim all of the “achievements.”

You Deserve (PC) – I think I would have liked this horror adventure a little more if it had run a little bit smoother. It pushed my PC a little harder than it really needed to. Oh, and also it’s got jumpscares placed in seemingly random spots just for the sake of cheap jumpscares. I put up lots more words about it yesterday.

Wario Land 2 (GBC) – I was itching for a replay, so that’s what I did. Considered taking the secret route to complete the game in five levels, but opted to go for good ol’ 100% in the end. I like Wario Land 2 that much.

Paper Mario: Color Splash (WiiU) – Quite a divisive game, though personally, I think it’s incredible. It’s not really much like the N64 or GameCube Paper Marios, but at the same time, it kind of is? Also, it’s super pretty and maybe the funniest game I’ve ever played. If I have one complaint to lobby against it, it’s that they spelled “colour” wrong.

Nano Assault EX (3DS) – This one is on a technicality. I tried playing it, and it consistently locked up my 3DS halfway through the first level, so I gave up. Too bad! It seemed fun!

Kirby’s Adventure (NES) – That tiny NES is full of games I have barely or never played. So what’s the first game I spend a significant amount of time on?

~ Now Playing ~

Rollercoaster Tycoon (PC) – I had completely forgotten how engrossing this game can be. I played ‘er a bit back in the day, but I think I’ve already put more hours into it this month than I ever did when it was new and hip. One of the few sim games I’ve played that doesn’t feel like it’s impossibly difficult, which I appreciate.

Dragon Quest Builders (PS4) – One of the “holy trinity” of PS4-exclusive(ish) games that I purchased the system for, and probably the one that I was most excited about. It’s a lot like Minecraft, but with a Dragon Quest story and quest system built around it. As fun as the Minecraft sandbox is, I personally prefer it with a little more structure. And pretty graphics.

Dragon Quest VII (3DS) – I had set it aside last month to get through Pokémon Pearl. I tried picking it back up afterward to see if I could make some progress before Pokémon Sun and Moon released. And I did! Like, three more islands down. The Almighty knows how many left to go.

Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS) – A new DLC pack came out and Ravio is now a playable character. I had almost forgotten how much I love this dumb game and got sucked in again, albeit very briefly.

BioShock Remastered (PC) – Played on a whim, set to easy mode for maximum progress with minimal frustration. Makes me think about how much I’d like to actually give a damn about BioShock.

Monster Hunter Generations (3DS) – I sometimes wish that there were fewer wonderful things in the world to experience, so that I could just sink all my free time into Monster Hunter and not feel bad about it. But hey, we finally cleared all the six-star quests!

Balloon Fight (NES) – I didn’t play too long. Just enough to earn the high score on Balloon Trip, and remember how terrible I am at the regular mode.

Bubble Bobble (NES) – I haven’t played Bubble Bobble in decades, and in that time, I forgot that it’s not all that fun to play alone. Or maybe at all? I’ll have to try some 2-player action and see if that improves my opinion of it.

Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS) – A neat little game that I got in the eShop bundle earlier this year. It strikes me as being a lot like a Professor Layton game, except with rhythm mini-games punctuating the adventure instead of puzzles.

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