Alright, so I've been thinking to myself about the username I've chosen and while I was content with it at the beginning, now it just seems kind of lame, lol.
So I'm going to be going under a different username: Gamertron. Yes, it still is pretty lame but it has a much better ring to it. I will be exporting my entries over to the new blog soon. This also means that I will be putting up a new youtube account as well to accomodate with the new name. Unfortunately, I will have to delete my current account and re-upload all my videos which is quite a hassle but that's okay.
Once I sort some things out, I will begin posting again under the new name. Zombie month will continue with updates and expect a lot more than just game playthroughs. I'll be doing other things like taking a look at soundtracks, movies, demos, and so on so keep on the look out.
Thanks. :)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Press Start: Zombie-A-Thon
It's the start of zombie month at Press Start.
(I actually meant to have the video up yesterday but time is a jerk so I had iy upload it today).
October is going to be a busy month for me here since I'm going through quite a few games here. All the games in the promo video will be played so that's 4 games (technically five if you count House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return as individual games) plus a special game that I didn't show.
Now I know I'm missing a some classics like the prominent Resident Evil games. This is because I only own Resident Evil 4 and 5 at the moment and to be fair, those games don't necessarily deal with zombies but more like controller people and what not. And I know I'm missing some other games like Zombies Ate My Neighbours but there's always next October. ;]
The games will be played in this order:
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Zombie Apocalypse
Dead Rising
Left 4 Dead
Special Mystery Game
Phew. In a day or two, I will have something up for my first game on the list and the zombie madness can begin.
Have a great October, Halloween, and keep gaming.
(I actually meant to have the video up yesterday but time is a jerk so I had iy upload it today).
October is going to be a busy month for me here since I'm going through quite a few games here. All the games in the promo video will be played so that's 4 games (technically five if you count House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return as individual games) plus a special game that I didn't show.
Now I know I'm missing a some classics like the prominent Resident Evil games. This is because I only own Resident Evil 4 and 5 at the moment and to be fair, those games don't necessarily deal with zombies but more like controller people and what not. And I know I'm missing some other games like Zombies Ate My Neighbours but there's always next October. ;]
The games will be played in this order:
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Zombie Apocalypse
Dead Rising
Left 4 Dead
Special Mystery Game
Phew. In a day or two, I will have something up for my first game on the list and the zombie madness can begin.
Have a great October, Halloween, and keep gaming.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
It's zombie time!
Hey all.
So I was going to start posting for God Hand (Really, I was) but instead, I decided that I'm going to do something special for October. Seeing how October is the scariest month of the year, I'm going to make it "Zombie Month" here at Press Start. So for the whole month of October, I'll be playing games that involve zombies. Games like House of the Dead 2, Resident Evil 5, Dead Rising, Left 4 Dead, and a few special others. This means it's going to be a busy month but I swear I will get through it unscathed or turned into a zombie, whichever comes first.
Because of this, I'm delaying the God Hand posts so there isn't a gap of other games between them.
I'll have a video up in celebration of Zombie Month up soon before October hits. :)
So I was going to start posting for God Hand (Really, I was) but instead, I decided that I'm going to do something special for October. Seeing how October is the scariest month of the year, I'm going to make it "Zombie Month" here at Press Start. So for the whole month of October, I'll be playing games that involve zombies. Games like House of the Dead 2, Resident Evil 5, Dead Rising, Left 4 Dead, and a few special others. This means it's going to be a busy month but I swear I will get through it unscathed or turned into a zombie, whichever comes first.
Because of this, I'm delaying the God Hand posts so there isn't a gap of other games between them.
I'll have a video up in celebration of Zombie Month up soon before October hits. :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum Impressions
Batman: Arkham Asylum Impression
So the game has been out for a few weeks now so I think I'll give me impressions of the game. Don't worry, there's no
spoilers as far as the story goes.
So, this goes without saying but, this game is incredible. While there are minor flaws, this game lived up to the hype, and exceeded my expectations. Definitely one of the best games I've ever played.
Now I could go on and on for hours on end about this game but I'll just talk about a few things to keep things short and save all my rambling for a full review.
The story makes this game feel right at home in the Batman comic book universe. Dark, gritty, and holds true to what Batman is all about; taking down maniacal criminals through his wits and brains rather than brute strength. The story involves Batman returning Joker to Arkham Asylum but once Joker is inside, everything goes awry, the Joker breaks free, and it turns out that his plan all along was to take control of Arkham Asylum. Now with Arkham Asylum under Joker's control and no way for Batman to escape, he's forced to stop Joker. But the story goes much deeper than that but I won't say any more. Let's just say there's a lot of interesting surprises to be had.
Another great thing is the use of villains. While only a few villains make it for the show, there's a lot of references, objects, and other tidbits to most of the Batman villains. A lot of homages get payed to like seeing Scarface, finding Penguin's umbrella, seeing the block of ice Mr. Freeze was held in, and so forth which is a really nice touch. Even the less popular villains like Calander Man, Prometheus, and Hush get mentioned.
The gameplay is where the game hits its high notes though. The freeflow combat system is pretty cool and finding ways to maximize your combos is always fun. I do admit though that it does get a bit repititious and the auto-targetting can be annoying when you're not hitting the enemy you want to. But the stealth parts, oh my. This game shines brilliantly when it comes to the stealth scenes where you have to take down enemies silently. Sneaking up behind them or luring them into traps
is really fun and making the last few standing enemies terrified is genuinely satisfying. There's also enough different layouts when the stealth scenes take place to make each one different from the last. The Joker also makes comments
throughout which are amusing. And of course, to add to the gameplay, Batman has a slew of gadgets at his disposal from batarangs, to a zip line, to explosive gel which all can be used in various ways to take down the enemies.
I think that's pretty much it but I do want to mention one more thing, which I also mentioned in my "demo impressions" post. The voice acting is top notch. Now that you get to hear the full script, it's just awesome hearing some of my favourite
voices from the old cartoon series here. Mark Hamill did an astounding job as Joker and I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job. Kevin Conrow as Batman fits perfectly as well as the voice actress who makes her return as Ivy and Harley.
This game is a definite must buy in my book. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like this game but I'm sure there's a few
people out there. Still, it's an awesome game and at the very least, rent it to give it a go.
Anyway, I'll leave it at that. Whenever I get around to doing a "Press Start" for Batman: Arkham Asylum, you'll get my full thoughts on it all.
So the game has been out for a few weeks now so I think I'll give me impressions of the game. Don't worry, there's no
spoilers as far as the story goes.
So, this goes without saying but, this game is incredible. While there are minor flaws, this game lived up to the hype, and exceeded my expectations. Definitely one of the best games I've ever played.
Now I could go on and on for hours on end about this game but I'll just talk about a few things to keep things short and save all my rambling for a full review.
The story makes this game feel right at home in the Batman comic book universe. Dark, gritty, and holds true to what Batman is all about; taking down maniacal criminals through his wits and brains rather than brute strength. The story involves Batman returning Joker to Arkham Asylum but once Joker is inside, everything goes awry, the Joker breaks free, and it turns out that his plan all along was to take control of Arkham Asylum. Now with Arkham Asylum under Joker's control and no way for Batman to escape, he's forced to stop Joker. But the story goes much deeper than that but I won't say any more. Let's just say there's a lot of interesting surprises to be had.
Another great thing is the use of villains. While only a few villains make it for the show, there's a lot of references, objects, and other tidbits to most of the Batman villains. A lot of homages get payed to like seeing Scarface, finding Penguin's umbrella, seeing the block of ice Mr. Freeze was held in, and so forth which is a really nice touch. Even the less popular villains like Calander Man, Prometheus, and Hush get mentioned.
The gameplay is where the game hits its high notes though. The freeflow combat system is pretty cool and finding ways to maximize your combos is always fun. I do admit though that it does get a bit repititious and the auto-targetting can be annoying when you're not hitting the enemy you want to. But the stealth parts, oh my. This game shines brilliantly when it comes to the stealth scenes where you have to take down enemies silently. Sneaking up behind them or luring them into traps
is really fun and making the last few standing enemies terrified is genuinely satisfying. There's also enough different layouts when the stealth scenes take place to make each one different from the last. The Joker also makes comments
throughout which are amusing. And of course, to add to the gameplay, Batman has a slew of gadgets at his disposal from batarangs, to a zip line, to explosive gel which all can be used in various ways to take down the enemies.
I think that's pretty much it but I do want to mention one more thing, which I also mentioned in my "demo impressions" post. The voice acting is top notch. Now that you get to hear the full script, it's just awesome hearing some of my favourite
voices from the old cartoon series here. Mark Hamill did an astounding job as Joker and I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job. Kevin Conrow as Batman fits perfectly as well as the voice actress who makes her return as Ivy and Harley.
This game is a definite must buy in my book. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like this game but I'm sure there's a few
people out there. Still, it's an awesome game and at the very least, rent it to give it a go.
Anyway, I'll leave it at that. Whenever I get around to doing a "Press Start" for Batman: Arkham Asylum, you'll get my full thoughts on it all.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Movie Quickie: Inglourious Basterds
I saw this awhile ago actually but I haven't bothered with a post about it until now.
So Inglourious Basterds, directed by the talented Quinten Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt whose really the only big name in the movie (though Mike Myers makes a small appearance) is a pretty interesting movie. Basically, it's about a group of of guys (Most of them Americans, a couple of them are Germans) who drop down into France with a goal of killing Nazis.
Now, the one thing I'd like to note is that the trailers shown for this movie lead you to believe something it is actually not. You would think that the movie is just a ridiculous action flick with people dying every moment but it's nothing like that. In fact, there's quite a story that gets told which you wouldn't have guessed.
The movie is broken up into chapters, switching back and forth between the Basterds and another plot featuring a Jewish woman who makes her way into German-occupied France. With that, the chapters with the Basterds are action filled while the chapters with the woman are story heavy until the last chapter which the two stories combine. I'm not going into any details for spoilers sake.
So with that said, you kind of get moments where things are moving slowly and aren't as interesting (assuming you're not interested in the story) and other moments that are filled with bullets and blood.
Speaking of bullets and blood, the scenes with the Basterds are great. The action sequences are tastefully done like a cerain shootout and a scene including the "Bear Jew" he beats a guy to a pulp with a baseball bat. They also show scenes where the Basterds are cutting off the scalps of the Nazis and you see brains. Aldo (Brad Pitt's character) also does this thing with Nazis he lets go where he takes out his knife and carves a deep swastika symbol on the person's forward and you can actually hear the knife digging into the head.
Anyway, Inglourious Basterds and a great movie. It does have some boring moments when the Basterds aren't in the scene but if you were as interested in the story as much as I was, you won't have that kind of problem. It's worth a watch. I'd give it an 8/10.
So Inglourious Basterds, directed by the talented Quinten Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt whose really the only big name in the movie (though Mike Myers makes a small appearance) is a pretty interesting movie. Basically, it's about a group of of guys (Most of them Americans, a couple of them are Germans) who drop down into France with a goal of killing Nazis.
Now, the one thing I'd like to note is that the trailers shown for this movie lead you to believe something it is actually not. You would think that the movie is just a ridiculous action flick with people dying every moment but it's nothing like that. In fact, there's quite a story that gets told which you wouldn't have guessed.
The movie is broken up into chapters, switching back and forth between the Basterds and another plot featuring a Jewish woman who makes her way into German-occupied France. With that, the chapters with the Basterds are action filled while the chapters with the woman are story heavy until the last chapter which the two stories combine. I'm not going into any details for spoilers sake.
So with that said, you kind of get moments where things are moving slowly and aren't as interesting (assuming you're not interested in the story) and other moments that are filled with bullets and blood.
Speaking of bullets and blood, the scenes with the Basterds are great. The action sequences are tastefully done like a cerain shootout and a scene including the "Bear Jew" he beats a guy to a pulp with a baseball bat. They also show scenes where the Basterds are cutting off the scalps of the Nazis and you see brains. Aldo (Brad Pitt's character) also does this thing with Nazis he lets go where he takes out his knife and carves a deep swastika symbol on the person's forward and you can actually hear the knife digging into the head.
Anyway, Inglourious Basterds and a great movie. It does have some boring moments when the Basterds aren't in the scene but if you were as interested in the story as much as I was, you won't have that kind of problem. It's worth a watch. I'd give it an 8/10.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Updates are coming... eventually.
Alright, so I know it's been awhile since I've posted especially for Press Start. I posted for God Hand more than half a month ago and yet there's still no journal posts for it.
Well, the honest answer is that I've been occupied playing other games and have been lazy when it comes to posting. I'll sit down and start to write something up but I'll suddenly decide to do something else. It's not that I don't care or anything, it just takes awhile to actually make a post for Press Start and I find myself wanting to play a game or watch a video or such.
My 360 stopped working at the beginning of August and I recently got it back a week or so ago so I've been catching up on a lot of missed online SF4, Gears 2, and COD4 matches. I also bought Batman: Arkham Asylum the day of release and have been putting a lot of hours into it. I'll probably write something about it in a later post.
I've also picked up a nasty addiction to Beatmania IIDX. I've been going through the PS2 games (Happy Sky, DistorteD, Gold, Troopers), and just been having a blast. I've been playing for a little over a month and I'm up to doing level 8s on Hyper but I'm starting to run through 9s and 10s. And once I get my Pop'n Music ASC, I'll be playing that even more. I also got my hands on the Rock Band 2 special edition last weekend and I've been playing that a bit. While I'm not a huge Rock Band fan (I preferred Guitar Hero, and even then only 1-3), I thought I would add it to my music game collection. Though honestly, I prefer Bemani games over any other music games.
So does this mean it's game over for Press Start? Most certainly not. While I'm not actually making the posts, I'm still playing through God Hand and recording the footage. So I suppose I'm doing half the work which is better than no work at all. But this is good because when I do start posting for Press Start, it'll be a nice steady stream of posts without much gaps.
Anyway, that's all for now. I'll try my best to get Press Start entries going within the week or so.
Well, the honest answer is that I've been occupied playing other games and have been lazy when it comes to posting. I'll sit down and start to write something up but I'll suddenly decide to do something else. It's not that I don't care or anything, it just takes awhile to actually make a post for Press Start and I find myself wanting to play a game or watch a video or such.
My 360 stopped working at the beginning of August and I recently got it back a week or so ago so I've been catching up on a lot of missed online SF4, Gears 2, and COD4 matches. I also bought Batman: Arkham Asylum the day of release and have been putting a lot of hours into it. I'll probably write something about it in a later post.
I've also picked up a nasty addiction to Beatmania IIDX. I've been going through the PS2 games (Happy Sky, DistorteD, Gold, Troopers), and just been having a blast. I've been playing for a little over a month and I'm up to doing level 8s on Hyper but I'm starting to run through 9s and 10s. And once I get my Pop'n Music ASC, I'll be playing that even more. I also got my hands on the Rock Band 2 special edition last weekend and I've been playing that a bit. While I'm not a huge Rock Band fan (I preferred Guitar Hero, and even then only 1-3), I thought I would add it to my music game collection. Though honestly, I prefer Bemani games over any other music games.
So does this mean it's game over for Press Start? Most certainly not. While I'm not actually making the posts, I'm still playing through God Hand and recording the footage. So I suppose I'm doing half the work which is better than no work at all. But this is good because when I do start posting for Press Start, it'll be a nice steady stream of posts without much gaps.
Anyway, that's all for now. I'll try my best to get Press Start entries going within the week or so.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Movie Quickie: District 9
I'm not going to go into any details of the plot or anything of the sort since I don't want to spoil the movie since it just came out. I will probably do a full review once it hits dvd though.
I wasn't sure what to expect from District 9. I got the general idea from the trailers and reading bits and pieces about itmade me interesting. Even James Rolphe (The Angry Video Game Nerd) who I'm a huge fan of seemed extremely impressed by it and he's hard to impress with today's movie standards.
After watching the movie though, wow. I too am quite impressed by it. Maybe it was because I didn't really haveany expectations to begin with but the movie was overall, very good. How it was filmed was interesting because throughout the movie, it has this sort of documentary feeling, doing interviews with people involved with the events or certain characters but about maybe a quarter or halfway through, the movie takes a pretty interesting turn.
The action scenes were fantastic. They weren't over the top with explosions in every direction and they appeared much more realistic than the normal Hollywood trash. That's not to say it's light on the action though, there's arms being cut off, missiles flying, and bodies exploding with guts and blood spewing out.
The one thing I really want to point out are the characters. The main character is someone I actually felt for. I felt happy and sorry for the guy as things kept happening to him. The other character is one of the aliens. He seems to be head and shoulders (not literallly though) above the others and is the one the main character is in contact the most and just like the main character, I felt emotions as things happened to him.
Overall, it was a great film and if you're into sci-fi than this would be for you. Or, if you're interested in human behaviour, you may find this movie interesting as well as it's hard not to see what's really going on in that kind of level.
I ould give the movie a 9/10.
I wasn't sure what to expect from District 9. I got the general idea from the trailers and reading bits and pieces about itmade me interesting. Even James Rolphe (The Angry Video Game Nerd) who I'm a huge fan of seemed extremely impressed by it and he's hard to impress with today's movie standards.
After watching the movie though, wow. I too am quite impressed by it. Maybe it was because I didn't really haveany expectations to begin with but the movie was overall, very good. How it was filmed was interesting because throughout the movie, it has this sort of documentary feeling, doing interviews with people involved with the events or certain characters but about maybe a quarter or halfway through, the movie takes a pretty interesting turn.
The action scenes were fantastic. They weren't over the top with explosions in every direction and they appeared much more realistic than the normal Hollywood trash. That's not to say it's light on the action though, there's arms being cut off, missiles flying, and bodies exploding with guts and blood spewing out.
The one thing I really want to point out are the characters. The main character is someone I actually felt for. I felt happy and sorry for the guy as things kept happening to him. The other character is one of the aliens. He seems to be head and shoulders (not literallly though) above the others and is the one the main character is in contact the most and just like the main character, I felt emotions as things happened to him.
Overall, it was a great film and if you're into sci-fi than this would be for you. Or, if you're interested in human behaviour, you may find this movie interesting as well as it's hard not to see what's really going on in that kind of level.
I ould give the movie a 9/10.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Press Start: God Hand entries
Alright, so it seems like the entries for God Hand are going to be a little more difficult than I thought.
God Hand has several stages and within those stages are several levels., some lasting about 10 or so minutes, even more so if I die. I just finished editing all of Stage 1 to be put up on youtube and there's 9 parts in total. Geez. So like the Super Mario World posts, I'm going to do one post per stage which means that each entry will be one giant wall of text. I might break it up into parts but expect a bit of time between each entry or entries for each stage.
God Hand has several stages and within those stages are several levels., some lasting about 10 or so minutes, even more so if I die. I just finished editing all of Stage 1 to be put up on youtube and there's 9 parts in total. Geez. So like the Super Mario World posts, I'm going to do one post per stage which means that each entry will be one giant wall of text. I might break it up into parts but expect a bit of time between each entry or entries for each stage.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Press Start: God Hand
Alright folks, we're onto the next game. This one is God Hand! One of the most underrated PS2 games in my opinion. The game was released 2006 by Capcom and was made by Capcom's Clover Studios team. Clover Studios is responsible for developing the unique Viewtiful Joe series and the amazing Okami. God Hand was actually Clover Studios' last game before they were shut down so let's share a moment of silence.
*silence*
Fortunately, the members have regrouped and are under the name Platinum Games.
Anyway, God Hand falls under the "you either hate it or love it" category. There are some glaring flaws but some outstanding aspects as well. One thing about God Hand is that this game is a true testament to being "balls to the walls" hard, eanking up there with Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and others. In fact, throughout my video journal of the game, you'll see me die. A lot. And I'm only going to be playing on Normal. But I'll let the videos and entries speak for themselves.
So, just a quick overview about the game. The story involves the characters Gene and Olivia. Gene has been given the God Hand by Olivia (It's more complicated than that but you'll find out by watching the videos) and now it seems like the Four Devas, a group of very strong demons and one human are after the God Hand for ultimate power.
The story alone seems kind of boring, right? Well, just wait till you start playing. This game is filled with humour with it's great cast of characters and enemies, most random of story segments, even some of the attacks in the game are hilarious. If finding out a bunch of gay pride members are working for the baddies, fighting a giant gorilla, and spanking a woman and knocking her 50 feet away with a final slap is wrong, I don't want to be right.
But best thing about the game is the combat system. Gene is able to equip multiple attacks ranging from punches to kicks and many more which can be used for his combos. There's some you can find but most can be bought. This is the big pull of the game, finding out which attacks string together well to create awesome and damaging combos and the combat itself is pretty slick. It's a 3D beat'em up so you get a bunch of thugs (and stranger things) to fight against and you get some cool dodges which makes fighting very fun and addicting.
So the goal for God Hand?
- To complete the game on Normal
- Complete all 51 Fighting Ring matches
- Complete the "Kick Me sign" challenge (Optional)*
*The "Kick Me Sign" challenge is more of a personal challenge. In the second level of Stage 1, Olivia puts "Kick Me" sign on the back of Gene. When you use one of the Roulette Attacks or activate the God Hand, the sign blows off. So essentially, the challenge is to not use Roulette Attacks or the God Hand and coupled with the difficulty of the game, it's one hell of a challenge.
Now for this game, and what I will be doing for all future games, is create a trailer. Something to show off parts of the game. So here's the trailer for God Hand.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjfJa2SoTnw
Expect the first entry in a day or two so stay tuned!
*silence*
Fortunately, the members have regrouped and are under the name Platinum Games.
Anyway, God Hand falls under the "you either hate it or love it" category. There are some glaring flaws but some outstanding aspects as well. One thing about God Hand is that this game is a true testament to being "balls to the walls" hard, eanking up there with Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and others. In fact, throughout my video journal of the game, you'll see me die. A lot. And I'm only going to be playing on Normal. But I'll let the videos and entries speak for themselves.
So, just a quick overview about the game. The story involves the characters Gene and Olivia. Gene has been given the God Hand by Olivia (It's more complicated than that but you'll find out by watching the videos) and now it seems like the Four Devas, a group of very strong demons and one human are after the God Hand for ultimate power.
The story alone seems kind of boring, right? Well, just wait till you start playing. This game is filled with humour with it's great cast of characters and enemies, most random of story segments, even some of the attacks in the game are hilarious. If finding out a bunch of gay pride members are working for the baddies, fighting a giant gorilla, and spanking a woman and knocking her 50 feet away with a final slap is wrong, I don't want to be right.
But best thing about the game is the combat system. Gene is able to equip multiple attacks ranging from punches to kicks and many more which can be used for his combos. There's some you can find but most can be bought. This is the big pull of the game, finding out which attacks string together well to create awesome and damaging combos and the combat itself is pretty slick. It's a 3D beat'em up so you get a bunch of thugs (and stranger things) to fight against and you get some cool dodges which makes fighting very fun and addicting.
So the goal for God Hand?
- To complete the game on Normal
- Complete all 51 Fighting Ring matches
- Complete the "Kick Me sign" challenge (Optional)*
*The "Kick Me Sign" challenge is more of a personal challenge. In the second level of Stage 1, Olivia puts "Kick Me" sign on the back of Gene. When you use one of the Roulette Attacks or activate the God Hand, the sign blows off. So essentially, the challenge is to not use Roulette Attacks or the God Hand and coupled with the difficulty of the game, it's one hell of a challenge.
Now for this game, and what I will be doing for all future games, is create a trailer. Something to show off parts of the game. So here's the trailer for God Hand.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjfJa2SoTnw
Expect the first entry in a day or two so stay tuned!
Press Start: Super Mario World Review
**My reviews are purely opinion. While I may use some facts such as "this game sold X amount of copies" or "this is one of the best selling games for X console", I will never say "you have to like/hate this game." My review will convey what I like about the game and what I dislike as well as an overview of the game and certain aspects such as story, graphics, gameplay, etc. as well as other aspects that may pertain specifically to the reviewed game. The review score is out of 10; 0 being the worst, 5 being average, and 10 being the best. Note that games that recieve a score of 10/10 may not be perfect, but in my opinion, may be one of the best games on the console, in the genre, or what the history of games has to offer."**
Super Mario World
Platform: SNES (Original), GBA (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2), Wii (On Virtual Console)
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
NA Release Date: August 13th, 1991
Super Mario World... is there anything that hasn't been said about this game? Super Mario World is one of the SNES' greatest games and one of Nintendo's finest. It's really one of the few Mario games that can actually stand side by side with Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario World was released back in 1991, alongside the release of the SNES. It's one of the best launch games and even through the SNES years, it remained one of the best.
Now let's move on to the main part of this review, shall we?
Story
Okay, so Super Mario doesn't have an amazing story nor does it have much of a story at all actually. Mario and Luigi are out flying around while Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and the Yoshi eggs. Mario returns to find them all missing and Mario becomes a man on a mission to save Peach and the eggs. In all honestly, the story suits this type of game very well. It's very simple and that's all that's needed.
Graphics
They're bright, they're colourful, and they're easy on the eyes. Super Mario World is one of the best looking games on the SNES with it's child-like appearance that can appeal to anyone. It didn't really push the limits of the SNES but the graphics were far from awful. Definitely one of the better looking games on the SNES library and that's saying something since it was one of the first games to be released.
Music
Kojo Kondo is the composer for Super Mario World as well as a large majority of Nintendo's games. The music in Super Mario World is fitting. It's nice to listen to while playing the game as it suits each level quite well (If the level is bright and colourful, the music is cheery but if it's dark like in a Ghost House or Castle, the music has a darker tone). My one complaint is that the music doesn't really stand out that much. There aren't any tunes that are particularly memorable for me. I know none of the songs will really be stuck in my head unless I'm trying to remember how one of them goes. But, it's all about how it sounds while playing and it sounds great.
Controls
One button to jump, one button to spin jump another button to run and grab things, and a dpad to move. How simple is that? The controls are perfect for this game. No need for button combinations, scrolling through menus, and all that other stuff. Three buttons (Well, some of the other buttons like Select and L/R Trigger have uses, but they're not that important). Easy to learn, easy to master.
Gameplay
This is where Super Mario World shines like a star. It's your simple travel from the left side to the screen to the right side kind of platformer. But everything in between those two sides is awesome. Each level brings something new. There are a large variety of enemies throughout the game, many obstacles to pass, water to swim through, pipes to go down, and so much more. One of the cool things about Super Mario World, which has been a tradition since Super Mario Bros. 3 are the power ups. This time around, Mario can grab a mushroom and become bigger, eat a fire flower and shoot fireballs, and brand new to this game, get a feather and don a cape which allows him to leap into the sky and fly. There's also four different types of Yoshis, each with their own special power. The original Green Yoshi gains power depending on the type of shell in it's mouth. Red Yoshi shoot fireballs, Blue Yoshi grows wings and lets you fly, and Yellow Yoshi stomps on the ground whenever it lands. Each one is useful in different situations but I have to say that Blue Yoshi is probably the best one because being able to fly is incredibly helpful. There is a lot to do in Super Mario World and it's no surprise that the gameplay is top notch. Another nice factor with the gameplay is the enemies. There's a nice variety of enemies in the game that do different things. Some just walk towards you like the Koopa Troopas while others rain fire down on you. Most of the enemies can be taken care of just by jumping on their head but some require the use of one of the powers or Yoshi. The bosses... well the bosses have some interesting quirks about them and how to defeat them but I think they're too easy. Also, some of the later bosses are fought the same was as earlier bosses, just with an added obstacle so there's not a whole lot of variety.
Level Design
Another area where Super Mario World shines. The levels in this game are ingenious. Some of them are simple while others are just mean in design. Some levels have you just running from one end to the other but some levels have you swimming for your life and then there's levels where you're dodging ghosts or traveling across a pool of lava and much more. Not too mention that there are 72 levels in total and 96 exits (some levels have two exits). In my journal for this game, my goal was to find all 96 exits and there's quite a feat, especially if you don't really know where to look but that what makes it challenging and it all adds up to great gameplay.
Multiplayer
There's not a lot to the two player game. One person takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Luigi (In this SNES version, they both are the exact same with a palette swap) and you take your turn until your lose a life. The best way to have fun in 2 player mode is to make a competition out of it and see who can make it the farthest without losing a life. There's also a way to take some of the other player's lives which is fun way to mess with your partner when he's not looking.
Likes: Just about everything about the game. The graphics, the controls, and the gameplay. There's very little wrong with the game. My favourite thing about the game would have to be the Special World levels; 8 levels of madness.
Dislikes: Nothing really. I think the music could be a little more catchier but it's still good regardless.
The the Point: Super Mario World is a superb game. It's got everything a gamer looks in a 2d platformer: good graphics, easy controls, challenges, and awesome gameplay. There's no denying the reasons behind why Super Mario World is so great. If you've never had a chance to play it, you should do so at some point as this is one of Nintendo's best games. If you can't find it on the SNES, there's a "remake" of it for the GBA (Some of the game is slightly changed) and if you own a Wii, you can buy it through the Virtual Console.
Score: 10/10
Super Mario World
Platform: SNES (Original), GBA (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2), Wii (On Virtual Console)
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
NA Release Date: August 13th, 1991
Super Mario World... is there anything that hasn't been said about this game? Super Mario World is one of the SNES' greatest games and one of Nintendo's finest. It's really one of the few Mario games that can actually stand side by side with Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario World was released back in 1991, alongside the release of the SNES. It's one of the best launch games and even through the SNES years, it remained one of the best.
Now let's move on to the main part of this review, shall we?
Story
Okay, so Super Mario doesn't have an amazing story nor does it have much of a story at all actually. Mario and Luigi are out flying around while Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and the Yoshi eggs. Mario returns to find them all missing and Mario becomes a man on a mission to save Peach and the eggs. In all honestly, the story suits this type of game very well. It's very simple and that's all that's needed.
Graphics
They're bright, they're colourful, and they're easy on the eyes. Super Mario World is one of the best looking games on the SNES with it's child-like appearance that can appeal to anyone. It didn't really push the limits of the SNES but the graphics were far from awful. Definitely one of the better looking games on the SNES library and that's saying something since it was one of the first games to be released.
Music
Kojo Kondo is the composer for Super Mario World as well as a large majority of Nintendo's games. The music in Super Mario World is fitting. It's nice to listen to while playing the game as it suits each level quite well (If the level is bright and colourful, the music is cheery but if it's dark like in a Ghost House or Castle, the music has a darker tone). My one complaint is that the music doesn't really stand out that much. There aren't any tunes that are particularly memorable for me. I know none of the songs will really be stuck in my head unless I'm trying to remember how one of them goes. But, it's all about how it sounds while playing and it sounds great.
Controls
One button to jump, one button to spin jump another button to run and grab things, and a dpad to move. How simple is that? The controls are perfect for this game. No need for button combinations, scrolling through menus, and all that other stuff. Three buttons (Well, some of the other buttons like Select and L/R Trigger have uses, but they're not that important). Easy to learn, easy to master.
Gameplay
This is where Super Mario World shines like a star. It's your simple travel from the left side to the screen to the right side kind of platformer. But everything in between those two sides is awesome. Each level brings something new. There are a large variety of enemies throughout the game, many obstacles to pass, water to swim through, pipes to go down, and so much more. One of the cool things about Super Mario World, which has been a tradition since Super Mario Bros. 3 are the power ups. This time around, Mario can grab a mushroom and become bigger, eat a fire flower and shoot fireballs, and brand new to this game, get a feather and don a cape which allows him to leap into the sky and fly. There's also four different types of Yoshis, each with their own special power. The original Green Yoshi gains power depending on the type of shell in it's mouth. Red Yoshi shoot fireballs, Blue Yoshi grows wings and lets you fly, and Yellow Yoshi stomps on the ground whenever it lands. Each one is useful in different situations but I have to say that Blue Yoshi is probably the best one because being able to fly is incredibly helpful. There is a lot to do in Super Mario World and it's no surprise that the gameplay is top notch. Another nice factor with the gameplay is the enemies. There's a nice variety of enemies in the game that do different things. Some just walk towards you like the Koopa Troopas while others rain fire down on you. Most of the enemies can be taken care of just by jumping on their head but some require the use of one of the powers or Yoshi. The bosses... well the bosses have some interesting quirks about them and how to defeat them but I think they're too easy. Also, some of the later bosses are fought the same was as earlier bosses, just with an added obstacle so there's not a whole lot of variety.
Level Design
Another area where Super Mario World shines. The levels in this game are ingenious. Some of them are simple while others are just mean in design. Some levels have you just running from one end to the other but some levels have you swimming for your life and then there's levels where you're dodging ghosts or traveling across a pool of lava and much more. Not too mention that there are 72 levels in total and 96 exits (some levels have two exits). In my journal for this game, my goal was to find all 96 exits and there's quite a feat, especially if you don't really know where to look but that what makes it challenging and it all adds up to great gameplay.
Multiplayer
There's not a lot to the two player game. One person takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Luigi (In this SNES version, they both are the exact same with a palette swap) and you take your turn until your lose a life. The best way to have fun in 2 player mode is to make a competition out of it and see who can make it the farthest without losing a life. There's also a way to take some of the other player's lives which is fun way to mess with your partner when he's not looking.
Likes: Just about everything about the game. The graphics, the controls, and the gameplay. There's very little wrong with the game. My favourite thing about the game would have to be the Special World levels; 8 levels of madness.
Dislikes: Nothing really. I think the music could be a little more catchier but it's still good regardless.
The the Point: Super Mario World is a superb game. It's got everything a gamer looks in a 2d platformer: good graphics, easy controls, challenges, and awesome gameplay. There's no denying the reasons behind why Super Mario World is so great. If you've never had a chance to play it, you should do so at some point as this is one of Nintendo's best games. If you can't find it on the SNES, there's a "remake" of it for the GBA (Some of the game is slightly changed) and if you own a Wii, you can buy it through the Virtual Console.
Score: 10/10
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum Demo Impressions
IF YOU HAVE AN XB0X 360 OR A PS3, DOWNLOAD THE DEMO RIGHT NOWWWW!!!!
Holy crap! This is one of the best demos I've ever played. I was already set on buying Batman: Arkham Asylum when I first heard about it but this demo pretty much expelled any doubts I had about the game. The videos don't do this game justice. Actually sitting there with the controller in hand gives you such an incredible feeling as you watch the story unfold and get into the action. Enough gushing though.
A few things about the demo...
The graphics are awesome. They definitely show off the hardware's power. I believe that the graphics look slightly more realisitc on the PS3 version (textures look a bit cleaner, shadows look more real, etc.) but regardless, the graphics are a great show piece for both systems.
The controls are fairly simple. With the demo, you don't get access to many actions so how the controls work when using all the different gadgets is yet to be seen but so far, they seem spot on. Attacking, countering, grappling, throwing your batarang, moving, and all that is easy to do.
Combat is easy to get into but may be a bit too simplistic. You can hit the enemies with punches and kicks and you can stun them by swinging Batman's cape at them. You can also counter the enemy's attack (There will be these blue/white marks that appear when an enemy is about to hit you).
One cool feature is the "takedown". If you knock an enemy to the ground, you can move over to them if you execute the take down command when it appears, Batman will deliver a final blow, knocking them out. As well, if you're sneaking around the enemy, you can sneak up behind them and take them down quietly. There are also other kinds of take downs which just need to be seen.
Speaking of sneaking, it's a neat feature. You can hide and press your back up against walls ala Metal Gear style and you can also grapple onto ledges to get to higher ground. Throughout the demo there are gargoyle statues by the ceilings of the rooms which you can grapple onto and sit on giving you a great view of your surroundings. You can even swing from gargoyle to gargoyle.
Another cool thing is the "Detective Mode." This turns the screen blue. You can see people's skeletons, even through walls and such so you can get a good idea as to where they are. It also shows people's condition (Unconcious, nervous, terrified, etc.), they're heartbeat, and if they're armed. You can also get notes on some of the objects like locked doors, gargoyle locations, and pathways. Important objects get this brownish colour.
Last but not least, the atmosphere of the game. This game is on the dark side which fits Batman perfectly. Arkham Asylums combines multiple story lines from the comics and even the newer movies. But the most awesome thing? The voice actors! They got many of the voice actors from the 90s cartoon series (which by the way, is one of the best cartoon shows ever), including Mark Hamill doing his Joker and others.
All in all, Batman: Arkham Asylum is looking to be one amazing game. The demo is just torture, making me want to play the game even more. I can't praise the demo enough other than that it should be longer. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a huge favour and play it now. The game's release is just a few weeks away.
Holy crap! This is one of the best demos I've ever played. I was already set on buying Batman: Arkham Asylum when I first heard about it but this demo pretty much expelled any doubts I had about the game. The videos don't do this game justice. Actually sitting there with the controller in hand gives you such an incredible feeling as you watch the story unfold and get into the action. Enough gushing though.
A few things about the demo...
The graphics are awesome. They definitely show off the hardware's power. I believe that the graphics look slightly more realisitc on the PS3 version (textures look a bit cleaner, shadows look more real, etc.) but regardless, the graphics are a great show piece for both systems.
The controls are fairly simple. With the demo, you don't get access to many actions so how the controls work when using all the different gadgets is yet to be seen but so far, they seem spot on. Attacking, countering, grappling, throwing your batarang, moving, and all that is easy to do.
Combat is easy to get into but may be a bit too simplistic. You can hit the enemies with punches and kicks and you can stun them by swinging Batman's cape at them. You can also counter the enemy's attack (There will be these blue/white marks that appear when an enemy is about to hit you).
One cool feature is the "takedown". If you knock an enemy to the ground, you can move over to them if you execute the take down command when it appears, Batman will deliver a final blow, knocking them out. As well, if you're sneaking around the enemy, you can sneak up behind them and take them down quietly. There are also other kinds of take downs which just need to be seen.
Speaking of sneaking, it's a neat feature. You can hide and press your back up against walls ala Metal Gear style and you can also grapple onto ledges to get to higher ground. Throughout the demo there are gargoyle statues by the ceilings of the rooms which you can grapple onto and sit on giving you a great view of your surroundings. You can even swing from gargoyle to gargoyle.
Another cool thing is the "Detective Mode." This turns the screen blue. You can see people's skeletons, even through walls and such so you can get a good idea as to where they are. It also shows people's condition (Unconcious, nervous, terrified, etc.), they're heartbeat, and if they're armed. You can also get notes on some of the objects like locked doors, gargoyle locations, and pathways. Important objects get this brownish colour.
Last but not least, the atmosphere of the game. This game is on the dark side which fits Batman perfectly. Arkham Asylums combines multiple story lines from the comics and even the newer movies. But the most awesome thing? The voice actors! They got many of the voice actors from the 90s cartoon series (which by the way, is one of the best cartoon shows ever), including Mark Hamill doing his Joker and others.
All in all, Batman: Arkham Asylum is looking to be one amazing game. The demo is just torture, making me want to play the game even more. I can't praise the demo enough other than that it should be longer. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a huge favour and play it now. The game's release is just a few weeks away.
Press Start: Super Mario World - Bowser's Castle
So we've finally reached the end of Super Mario World! It only took like.. a few months. Ahem. At any rate, after this post, I'll have a review up of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Procrastination is a dangerous thing...
And mixed with Xbox Live, it becomes deadly. I'm sorry, my last post as a lie. Things aren't really back on track at all (Lol). Unfortunately Xbox Live has taken over a good chunk of my gaming as of late. I'm usually playing Street Fighter 4 or Gears of War 2, with the occasional COD4. But I'm trying to play less at any rate. Expect this month to be full of Press Start posts along with other things. I'll have Super Mario World done in the next few days. Unfortunately the video I had recorded for Special World was messed up so I have to record me playing it again but I haven't had time due to me playing other things.
But, once I finish up Super Mario World, expect some new games. I'm going to be doing two at the same time to keep my on my toes. I won't give their names but one is a little known title for the PS2 while the other game is one of the Dreamcast's finests.
On a side note, I've also been addicted to rhythm games lately. I've started up playing Beatmania IIDX and some of the earlier Guitar Hero games. I'm probably going to try and get back into DDR as well. Also, I recently ordered a Pop'n Music ASC (Arcade Style Controller) which will be here in the next few weeks and I'm just dying to get my hands on it. I'm hoping that I can buy a good camcorder and record myself playing along with the game feed soon so watch out for those.
But, once I finish up Super Mario World, expect some new games. I'm going to be doing two at the same time to keep my on my toes. I won't give their names but one is a little known title for the PS2 while the other game is one of the Dreamcast's finests.
On a side note, I've also been addicted to rhythm games lately. I've started up playing Beatmania IIDX and some of the earlier Guitar Hero games. I'm probably going to try and get back into DDR as well. Also, I recently ordered a Pop'n Music ASC (Arcade Style Controller) which will be here in the next few weeks and I'm just dying to get my hands on it. I'm hoping that I can buy a good camcorder and record myself playing along with the game feed soon so watch out for those.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Star World and Special World
Wow, it's been awhile since my last post. I've been busy with things, not to mention that I had some problems with my laptop which is what I use when recording. Anyway, things are finally back on track and I got around to completing Star World and Special World.
Levels Completed
- Star World 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits), 5 (2 Exits)
- Gnarly
- Tubular
- Way Cool
- Awesome
- Groovy
- Mondo
- Outrageous
- Funky
Nothing really to comment on for Star World except that each level has 2 exits. Also, in Star World 2, I racked up a ton of lives by getting the star at the beginning and at the ? box along the way. I managed to get 16 lives in one go.
The Special World is where the fun really begins. These levels are very fun and interesting, usually deviating from the standard stuff. The most notable levels are Tubular, Groovy, Mondo, Outrageous, and Funky.
Tubular gave me a pretty rough time the first few play throughs. I need to get the P balloon and float through the entire level. One of the ? blocks has another P balloon but along the way, I would keep dying because I kept getting hit by the Volcano Lotus' fireball things since I always waited until the last second to get the second P balloon which would float by the lotus'. This is until I found out that there is a third P balloon on the ? block below one of the Chargin' Chucks. After figuring that out, this level became a breeze.
There's not much to say about Groovy other than that it's filled with Pokey's and since I had Yoshi with me, it was feeding time.
Mondo was another level that gave me a hard time. This is mainly because I kept getting hit by those stupid fish and the hammers thrown by Hammer Bro that sits on the flying blocks. The raising/rising of the water also put me in some rough spots too. Probably one of the more harder levels of Special World.
Ah, Outrageous. Full of flying bullet bills. If you're not careful, you'll be running right into them. This level is pretty fun since you have to stay on your toes.
Funky, the last level of Special World is fairly straight forward as it's just a long run to the right. If you have Blue Yoshi or get a blue shelled Koopa, you can fly across most of the level. There are a few hazards like Sumo Brothers, Super Koopas, and Chargin' Chucks. At the end of the stage, the message "YOU ARE A SUPER PLAYER" is spelled out in coins which is a nice touch.
Overall, Special World is very fun and one of my favourite areas of the game. After you beat Special World, the game changes aesthetically. Most of the colous change and some enemies change as well such as Koopas, becoming Masked Koopas.
Finally, I've reached the end of the game and the only thing left is to go through Bowser's Castle and save Peach. Watch out for the final update of Super Mario World!
Star World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQY0ILxdBJU
Special World (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZJr9SjOCo
Special World (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl7mj29qLkY
You'll notice on the Special World videos that the area is already completed at the start. This is because the videos I recorded messed up so I had to record me playing through them all over again. You'll also notice that the Koopa Troopa's and other things have changed appearances and this is because I'm in the alternate world and I couldn't seem to get back.
As well, at the end of the Special World (Part 2) video, it shows me completing Donut Secret 1. When I beat Special World and checked my data, I only had 95 exits showing and this was the missing exit.
Levels Completed
- Star World 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits), 5 (2 Exits)
- Gnarly
- Tubular
- Way Cool
- Awesome
- Groovy
- Mondo
- Outrageous
- Funky
Nothing really to comment on for Star World except that each level has 2 exits. Also, in Star World 2, I racked up a ton of lives by getting the star at the beginning and at the ? box along the way. I managed to get 16 lives in one go.
The Special World is where the fun really begins. These levels are very fun and interesting, usually deviating from the standard stuff. The most notable levels are Tubular, Groovy, Mondo, Outrageous, and Funky.
Tubular gave me a pretty rough time the first few play throughs. I need to get the P balloon and float through the entire level. One of the ? blocks has another P balloon but along the way, I would keep dying because I kept getting hit by the Volcano Lotus' fireball things since I always waited until the last second to get the second P balloon which would float by the lotus'. This is until I found out that there is a third P balloon on the ? block below one of the Chargin' Chucks. After figuring that out, this level became a breeze.
There's not much to say about Groovy other than that it's filled with Pokey's and since I had Yoshi with me, it was feeding time.
Mondo was another level that gave me a hard time. This is mainly because I kept getting hit by those stupid fish and the hammers thrown by Hammer Bro that sits on the flying blocks. The raising/rising of the water also put me in some rough spots too. Probably one of the more harder levels of Special World.
Ah, Outrageous. Full of flying bullet bills. If you're not careful, you'll be running right into them. This level is pretty fun since you have to stay on your toes.
Funky, the last level of Special World is fairly straight forward as it's just a long run to the right. If you have Blue Yoshi or get a blue shelled Koopa, you can fly across most of the level. There are a few hazards like Sumo Brothers, Super Koopas, and Chargin' Chucks. At the end of the stage, the message "YOU ARE A SUPER PLAYER" is spelled out in coins which is a nice touch.
Overall, Special World is very fun and one of my favourite areas of the game. After you beat Special World, the game changes aesthetically. Most of the colous change and some enemies change as well such as Koopas, becoming Masked Koopas.
Finally, I've reached the end of the game and the only thing left is to go through Bowser's Castle and save Peach. Watch out for the final update of Super Mario World!
Star World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQY0ILxdBJU
Special World (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZJr9SjOCo
Special World (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl7mj29qLkY
You'll notice on the Special World videos that the area is already completed at the start. This is because the videos I recorded messed up so I had to record me playing through them all over again. You'll also notice that the Koopa Troopa's and other things have changed appearances and this is because I'm in the alternate world and I couldn't seem to get back.
As well, at the end of the Special World (Part 2) video, it shows me completing Donut Secret 1. When I beat Special World and checked my data, I only had 95 exits showing and this was the missing exit.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Valley of Bowser
It's been awhile since my last post. I actually had this part of the game down a little while ago but I've been busy (mostly playing Sf4, lol). Anyway, I'm almost done!
Levels Completed
- Sunken Ghost Ship
- Valley of Bowser 1, 2 (2 Exits), 3, 4 (2 Exits)
- Valley Fortress
- Valley Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Larry's Castle
Definitely some of the longest levels in the game are present here.
Sunken Ghost Ship is probably my favourite swimming level for all the ghosts and the second section where the ghosts randomly appear and disappear. Valley of Bowser 1 was kind of annoying cause of all those giant mole wearing shades and it's easy to get lost because there are a lot of platforms. Valley of Bowser 2 is also long especially woth 2 exits. The second section where the giant block rises and lowers and you have to find safety from being crushed is quite intense and rushing ahead can get you killed.
Next up is the Valley Fortress which was actually a bit hard. If there's one thing I don't like in castles, it's those long spikes that come down. If you get hit by one, you're pretty much dead, even if you are any big version of Mario. Halfway through you're narrowly dodging these things that cover entire platforms so you gotta keep moving. The boss is those triceratop things again and they're easy for me now.
The ghost house is actually quite easy when you know where you're going. The first part is just dodging the green bubbles while the other sections are just dodging ghosts and quick moving. In the video, I'm trying to get to the secret exit and to get there, you need to be small Mario and set up a path of blocks. However, I couldn't see the path I was making the first time through and I tried so hard to get through that hole but couldn't make it. Just watch the video and you'll see what I mean.
Valley of Bowser 3 is another one of those levels that kind of puts me on the edge of my seat. I need to constantly keep jumping on platforms that eventually fall while dodging flying koopas and bullet bills. Not too hard but I always get the feeling that I'm going to miss the jump. Valley of Bowser 4 is an annoying level. Those football guys are throwing rocks at me while you're trying to jump onto platforms and if you're timing is slightly off, you'll get hit. What sucks is that you need Yoshi to get the secret exit and the first two times through, I got hit by the boulder and Yoshi ran into the lava. Damn bastards.
Larry's Castle is one of the toughest ones and takes quite awhile to beat. I need to follow a moving set of blocks, dodging those giant spike balls spinning around and in the second part, I need to jump over lava pits, dodge those wooden spikes that slide up and down, and those damn wizards! If I don't hit em exactly on the head, you get hit. Larry is the same as the first boss except three fireballs fly up. I died the first time fighting him so I went to get a flower since it makes knocking him into the lava very easy. Of course that didn't work out as I lost it to the wizard but I managed to get Larry the old fashioned way.
Phew. Big update. Now before I tackle Bowser, I'm going to do the Star Zone and Special Zone. Fun times.
Valley of Bowser (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXxYGj2EW0
Valley of Bowser (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRpR_APVdRc
Valley of Bowser (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHWRYN7b7jo
Valley of Bowser (Part 4) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_KabcEt7Y
Levels Completed
- Sunken Ghost Ship
- Valley of Bowser 1, 2 (2 Exits), 3, 4 (2 Exits)
- Valley Fortress
- Valley Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Larry's Castle
Definitely some of the longest levels in the game are present here.
Sunken Ghost Ship is probably my favourite swimming level for all the ghosts and the second section where the ghosts randomly appear and disappear. Valley of Bowser 1 was kind of annoying cause of all those giant mole wearing shades and it's easy to get lost because there are a lot of platforms. Valley of Bowser 2 is also long especially woth 2 exits. The second section where the giant block rises and lowers and you have to find safety from being crushed is quite intense and rushing ahead can get you killed.
Next up is the Valley Fortress which was actually a bit hard. If there's one thing I don't like in castles, it's those long spikes that come down. If you get hit by one, you're pretty much dead, even if you are any big version of Mario. Halfway through you're narrowly dodging these things that cover entire platforms so you gotta keep moving. The boss is those triceratop things again and they're easy for me now.
The ghost house is actually quite easy when you know where you're going. The first part is just dodging the green bubbles while the other sections are just dodging ghosts and quick moving. In the video, I'm trying to get to the secret exit and to get there, you need to be small Mario and set up a path of blocks. However, I couldn't see the path I was making the first time through and I tried so hard to get through that hole but couldn't make it. Just watch the video and you'll see what I mean.
Valley of Bowser 3 is another one of those levels that kind of puts me on the edge of my seat. I need to constantly keep jumping on platforms that eventually fall while dodging flying koopas and bullet bills. Not too hard but I always get the feeling that I'm going to miss the jump. Valley of Bowser 4 is an annoying level. Those football guys are throwing rocks at me while you're trying to jump onto platforms and if you're timing is slightly off, you'll get hit. What sucks is that you need Yoshi to get the secret exit and the first two times through, I got hit by the boulder and Yoshi ran into the lava. Damn bastards.
Larry's Castle is one of the toughest ones and takes quite awhile to beat. I need to follow a moving set of blocks, dodging those giant spike balls spinning around and in the second part, I need to jump over lava pits, dodge those wooden spikes that slide up and down, and those damn wizards! If I don't hit em exactly on the head, you get hit. Larry is the same as the first boss except three fireballs fly up. I died the first time fighting him so I went to get a flower since it makes knocking him into the lava very easy. Of course that didn't work out as I lost it to the wizard but I managed to get Larry the old fashioned way.
Phew. Big update. Now before I tackle Bowser, I'm going to do the Star Zone and Special Zone. Fun times.
Valley of Bowser (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXxYGj2EW0
Valley of Bowser (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRpR_APVdRc
Valley of Bowser (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHWRYN7b7jo
Valley of Bowser (Part 4) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_KabcEt7Y
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Chocolate Island
Whoopsie. If you saw what was posted here, I accidentally skipped ahead to the Valley of Bowser but forgot to post about Chocolate Island so here it is.
Levels Completed
- Chocolate Island 1, 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4, 5
- Chocolate Secret
- Chocolate Fortress
- Chocolate Ghost House
- Wendy's Castle
An island made of chocolate. Wouldn't that be nice? Not too much to comment on here about this one. Fairly standard stuff going on in these levels.
The first section of the ghost house was annoying because of that Fishin' Boo that has a flame on his lure, following me constantly as I dodge pits and eeries. The second part is kind of annoying too since I have to dodge those line of ghosts that bounce of the walls and I have got a small space to work with.
The secret goal in Chocolate Island 2 is kind of tricky. Or the actual goal is kind of tricky because which goal you get depends on the time on the counter when you exit the second area. If you just speed through the level every time, you probably wouldn't have figured it out.
Chocolate Secret is a fun level for all the constant running while jumping on those cheese blocks that are lowering into a giant lava pit and avoiding Chargin' Chucks. Beating this level gets you directly to Wendy's Castle too.
Chocolate Fortress is a pretty interesting level. In te first area, I've got to dodge those wooden spikes and random fireballs coming at you from the right of the screen. The second area is dodging Thwomps and Thwimps. Not too hard but not that easy either.
Not too much to say about Chocolate Island 4 and 5. Just a lot of jumping and dodging stuff. Standard Mario stuff.
Now Wendy's Castle, that's a hard one. In the first section, you need to dodge those wretched insta-kill spikes while dodging saw blades. No easy task, I tell you since you need to be on the move constantly for most of the area. The next area is probably just as difficult as I need to jump on moving blocks all while avoiding those cute Sparky's and Hotheads that travel along the platform. In the video, I die a couple of times to these things. Onto Wendy. Like Lemmy, there are a bunch of pipes which Wendy and two dummies will come up out of but the added challenge is that you need to dodge two fireballs while trying to hit her. Not quite so easy as Lemmy, but not that much harder either.
Woo. Now with Chocolate Island behind us, we move onto the dreaded Valley of Bowser.
Chocolate Island (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHoUU3ckc3E
Chocolate Island (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKs8XSGfZ2g
Chocolate Island (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_0007rvE9Y
Levels Completed
- Chocolate Island 1, 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4, 5
- Chocolate Secret
- Chocolate Fortress
- Chocolate Ghost House
- Wendy's Castle
An island made of chocolate. Wouldn't that be nice? Not too much to comment on here about this one. Fairly standard stuff going on in these levels.
The first section of the ghost house was annoying because of that Fishin' Boo that has a flame on his lure, following me constantly as I dodge pits and eeries. The second part is kind of annoying too since I have to dodge those line of ghosts that bounce of the walls and I have got a small space to work with.
The secret goal in Chocolate Island 2 is kind of tricky. Or the actual goal is kind of tricky because which goal you get depends on the time on the counter when you exit the second area. If you just speed through the level every time, you probably wouldn't have figured it out.
Chocolate Secret is a fun level for all the constant running while jumping on those cheese blocks that are lowering into a giant lava pit and avoiding Chargin' Chucks. Beating this level gets you directly to Wendy's Castle too.
Chocolate Fortress is a pretty interesting level. In te first area, I've got to dodge those wooden spikes and random fireballs coming at you from the right of the screen. The second area is dodging Thwomps and Thwimps. Not too hard but not that easy either.
Not too much to say about Chocolate Island 4 and 5. Just a lot of jumping and dodging stuff. Standard Mario stuff.
Now Wendy's Castle, that's a hard one. In the first section, you need to dodge those wretched insta-kill spikes while dodging saw blades. No easy task, I tell you since you need to be on the move constantly for most of the area. The next area is probably just as difficult as I need to jump on moving blocks all while avoiding those cute Sparky's and Hotheads that travel along the platform. In the video, I die a couple of times to these things. Onto Wendy. Like Lemmy, there are a bunch of pipes which Wendy and two dummies will come up out of but the added challenge is that you need to dodge two fireballs while trying to hit her. Not quite so easy as Lemmy, but not that much harder either.
Woo. Now with Chocolate Island behind us, we move onto the dreaded Valley of Bowser.
Chocolate Island (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHoUU3ckc3E
Chocolate Island (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKs8XSGfZ2g
Chocolate Island (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_0007rvE9Y
Monday, June 15, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Forest of Illusion
Hooray for an update, this time featuring the Forest of Illusion, a doozie of an area. These levels are definitely the most difficult so far in the game.
Levels Completed
- Forest of Illusion 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits)
- Forest Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Forest Secret Area
- Forest Fortress
- Roy's Castle
- Blue Switch Palace
Talk about long levels. Each of the regular stages had two exits each, with some exits just leading to another regular stage.
Well, what's there to say? I had a lot of fun with these levels. Forest of Illusion 1 introduced Wigglers, those caterpillar things which Yoshi can eat up in one gulp. And yes, I lost Yoshi once again... though I did it on purpose this time (I can be such a jerk sometimes. >_>). Forest of Illusion 2 was a swimming level which I'm not very fond of because it just feels slow. This level was really long too and I had to go through it twice. Forest of Illusion 3 is a fun level and brings in the Bob-ombs... in bubbles. All the enemies are in bubbles actually, just floating and randomly popping. Once again, I get Yoshi who I manage to keep the first time through the level. Forest of Illusion 4 was easy as pie (I don't even know what that phrase is suppose to mean). A lot of Lakitus throwing Spinies at you.
The ghost house was kind of hard because in the first area, you're in such an enclosed space with those boos that chase you if you have your back turned to them. Then you've got Eeries which fly across the screen that you need to dodge.
Forest Secret Area is an interesting level too. You've got two platforms that move diagonally up and down and you have to travel on them across a massive hole while dodging flying koopa troopas. I had a lot of fun in this one playing hacky sack, seeing how long I could keep hitting a shell as Cape Mario. Next up is Forest Fortress (Has a ring to it, doesn't it?). First area I goof up and die while trying to dodge the giant logs (at least I think they're logs) while avoiding spinning blades as the screen scrolls. Next area is like Saw, but more entertaining with spinning blades everywhere you go. If you have Cape Mario and go past the first door, then fly across the lava pit until you reach the end, you can get a ton of green mushrooms. The boss here is just another squad of those fireball shooting triceratops.
Roy's Castle, here we go. The first time through, I end up dying. Mainly because I misjudged my spacing and got hit by a fireball and fall down a hole. The first area you have to travel across a moving platform made out of those blocks which move like the snake in the game Snake while the second area has you jumping over statues shooting fireballs at you while dodging flames. I died in the second area. Anyway, after all that, you get to Roy which is the same as Morton but the walls close after every hit. This was the easiest boss yet. I beat him in about 10 seconds or so. Wow.
Well now that I'm out of the forest, it's onto the delicious Chocolate Island.
Forest of Illusion (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdpxweYKVc4
Forest of Illusion (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW9aChiuRw
Forest of Illusion (Part 3) - Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWlxfvXTE8
Levels Completed
- Forest of Illusion 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits)
- Forest Ghost House (2 Exits)
- Forest Secret Area
- Forest Fortress
- Roy's Castle
- Blue Switch Palace
Talk about long levels. Each of the regular stages had two exits each, with some exits just leading to another regular stage.
Well, what's there to say? I had a lot of fun with these levels. Forest of Illusion 1 introduced Wigglers, those caterpillar things which Yoshi can eat up in one gulp. And yes, I lost Yoshi once again... though I did it on purpose this time (I can be such a jerk sometimes. >_>). Forest of Illusion 2 was a swimming level which I'm not very fond of because it just feels slow. This level was really long too and I had to go through it twice. Forest of Illusion 3 is a fun level and brings in the Bob-ombs... in bubbles. All the enemies are in bubbles actually, just floating and randomly popping. Once again, I get Yoshi who I manage to keep the first time through the level. Forest of Illusion 4 was easy as pie (I don't even know what that phrase is suppose to mean). A lot of Lakitus throwing Spinies at you.
The ghost house was kind of hard because in the first area, you're in such an enclosed space with those boos that chase you if you have your back turned to them. Then you've got Eeries which fly across the screen that you need to dodge.
Forest Secret Area is an interesting level too. You've got two platforms that move diagonally up and down and you have to travel on them across a massive hole while dodging flying koopa troopas. I had a lot of fun in this one playing hacky sack, seeing how long I could keep hitting a shell as Cape Mario. Next up is Forest Fortress (Has a ring to it, doesn't it?). First area I goof up and die while trying to dodge the giant logs (at least I think they're logs) while avoiding spinning blades as the screen scrolls. Next area is like Saw, but more entertaining with spinning blades everywhere you go. If you have Cape Mario and go past the first door, then fly across the lava pit until you reach the end, you can get a ton of green mushrooms. The boss here is just another squad of those fireball shooting triceratops.
Roy's Castle, here we go. The first time through, I end up dying. Mainly because I misjudged my spacing and got hit by a fireball and fall down a hole. The first area you have to travel across a moving platform made out of those blocks which move like the snake in the game Snake while the second area has you jumping over statues shooting fireballs at you while dodging flames. I died in the second area. Anyway, after all that, you get to Roy which is the same as Morton but the walls close after every hit. This was the easiest boss yet. I beat him in about 10 seconds or so. Wow.
Well now that I'm out of the forest, it's onto the delicious Chocolate Island.
Forest of Illusion (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdpxweYKVc4
Forest of Illusion (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYW9aChiuRw
Forest of Illusion (Part 3) - Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWlxfvXTE8
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Butter And Cheese Bridge
It's been awhile since my last update. I've been a bit busy.. mostly playing other games. Haha, SF4 has eaten up a lot of my time but I'm also doing some recording for other games which I'll post up here for Press Start soon.
Anyway, I finally got around to beaten the next section of Super Mario World.
Levels Completed
- Butter Bridge 1, 2
- Cheese Bridge 1 (2 Exits), 2
- Soda Lake
- Ludwig's Castle
Once again, some cool levels this time around. A nice scrolling level in Butter Bridge 1. For Butter Bridge 2, I didn't want to abandon Yoshi and start flying but... well, he got hit and ran so whatever. I got a new Yoshi anyway. Cheese Bridge 1 is one of those levels that makes me a bit antsy because on levels where I have to do some precise jumping, I get to thinking that I might end up missing the platform as well as think that I might slide off the platform when landing so I end up jumping a lot trying to keep on it. Yeah, that's really weird. Anyway, once again, Yoshi bites the dust but it's the only way to get to the secret exit so his sacrifice was not in vain! Now Soda Lake is one of the hardest levels I've played yet. Those damn annoying missiles just kept on coming and they get lined up with you so it's difficult to avoid, espcially when you have four coming at you at once with fish. I ended up dying but I made it the second time around, woo. Ludwig's castle was fairly easy, the first section with the spikes the difficult part. I didn't think I'd make it to the switch in time. Also, Ludwig is by far the easiest boss. He's incredibly easy to dodge and hit so I'm kind of disappointed. Ah well.
The Forest of Illusion is next and oh boy, it'll be a treat.
Butter and Cheese Bridge (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IykoXInvhig
Butter and Cheese Bridge (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBHuKrqEox8
Anyway, I finally got around to beaten the next section of Super Mario World.
Levels Completed
- Butter Bridge 1, 2
- Cheese Bridge 1 (2 Exits), 2
- Soda Lake
- Ludwig's Castle
Once again, some cool levels this time around. A nice scrolling level in Butter Bridge 1. For Butter Bridge 2, I didn't want to abandon Yoshi and start flying but... well, he got hit and ran so whatever. I got a new Yoshi anyway. Cheese Bridge 1 is one of those levels that makes me a bit antsy because on levels where I have to do some precise jumping, I get to thinking that I might end up missing the platform as well as think that I might slide off the platform when landing so I end up jumping a lot trying to keep on it. Yeah, that's really weird. Anyway, once again, Yoshi bites the dust but it's the only way to get to the secret exit so his sacrifice was not in vain! Now Soda Lake is one of the hardest levels I've played yet. Those damn annoying missiles just kept on coming and they get lined up with you so it's difficult to avoid, espcially when you have four coming at you at once with fish. I ended up dying but I made it the second time around, woo. Ludwig's castle was fairly easy, the first section with the spikes the difficult part. I didn't think I'd make it to the switch in time. Also, Ludwig is by far the easiest boss. He's incredibly easy to dodge and hit so I'm kind of disappointed. Ah well.
The Forest of Illusion is next and oh boy, it'll be a treat.
Butter and Cheese Bridge (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IykoXInvhig
Butter and Cheese Bridge (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBHuKrqEox8
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Vanilla Dome
The third update for Super Mario World. Things are going better than before. This time I'm dealing with Vanilla Dome. Oh Super Mario World, you have the best names.
Levels Completed:
- Donut Secret 2
- Vanilla 1 (2 exits), 2 (2 exits), 3, 4
- Vanilla Ghost House
- Vanilla Secret 1 (2 exits), 2, 3
- Vanilla Fortress
- Lemmy's Castle
- Red Switch Palace
So, it seems I accidentally missed an area back in Donut Land. I thought the level in the area after the pipe was something else so you'll have to excuse me for going back and completing it. You'll also see me return to the Top Secret Area. I won't go there all the time but if I have quick passage to it, I will go there to grab some power ups and Yoshi if I've "accidentally" left him behind.
Some noteworthy levels.. welll, uh, Vanilla Secret 3 is pretty fun. I mean, it would be fun had I played it normally instead of just flying across. Vanilla Fortress was kind of annoying, particularly when I died. Fortunately, being mini Mario let's you take a short cut. I goofed up against the four fireball spitting triceratops. but it's not my fault I landed on that stupid fireball. I was even invincible for a moment there too. Blah. I got my revenge the second time around though if you're not careful and get on a platform after killing two of them since the ground starts to disappear.
I usually try to do all the Secret levels before the actual ones. These levels were a nice change from the earlier levels. The Ghost House was fun but damn those green bubble things. If you're not careful and pay attention to the way they're travelling, you'll get hit. I got hit trying to dodge the second one, I went to duck under but it just kept travelling down and hit me, taking away my cape. Boo.
Vanilla Dome 3 and 4 are good levels too. 3 had that skull raft going across the lava with those lava snake things popping out. If you have Yoshi (which I both got and lost in the same level >_>) you can just stand there and Yoshi bounces right on top of them. For Vanilla Dome 4, I just flew across the level but this is probably the hardest level so far had I played it normally because you've got pits, flying koopa, and mini missiles flying all over the place. Crazy stuff.
Lemmy's Castle, oh man. I didn't want to wait for the wizard to hit the block so I could get to the bottom so I did Mario's spin jump which was a bad idea because I couldn't stop spinning and there were no regular platforms. Good thing I got hit or else Mario's ass would have been fried. In the next area with the lava and the moving blocks, I kind of get impatient waiting which is weird because I'm a patient guy. If you've watch the video, you'll see me spinning around a lot, ducking, and doing spin jumps a lot while waiting. Lemmy's a pretty neat boss fight. Not very challenging but a cool idea where you're standing on a platform of pipes and you have to hit Lemmy as he pops up but tries to trick you with two dummies. A pretty easy boss fight but fun none the less.
Vanilla Dome (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywjaVA2FsQg
Vanilla Dome (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcmDFg_k1r0
Vanilla Dome (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQYHLIFdSwo
Phew, that was a long post. Next part coming up soon!
Levels Completed:
- Donut Secret 2
- Vanilla 1 (2 exits), 2 (2 exits), 3, 4
- Vanilla Ghost House
- Vanilla Secret 1 (2 exits), 2, 3
- Vanilla Fortress
- Lemmy's Castle
- Red Switch Palace
So, it seems I accidentally missed an area back in Donut Land. I thought the level in the area after the pipe was something else so you'll have to excuse me for going back and completing it. You'll also see me return to the Top Secret Area. I won't go there all the time but if I have quick passage to it, I will go there to grab some power ups and Yoshi if I've "accidentally" left him behind.
Some noteworthy levels.. welll, uh, Vanilla Secret 3 is pretty fun. I mean, it would be fun had I played it normally instead of just flying across. Vanilla Fortress was kind of annoying, particularly when I died. Fortunately, being mini Mario let's you take a short cut. I goofed up against the four fireball spitting triceratops. but it's not my fault I landed on that stupid fireball. I was even invincible for a moment there too. Blah. I got my revenge the second time around though if you're not careful and get on a platform after killing two of them since the ground starts to disappear.
I usually try to do all the Secret levels before the actual ones. These levels were a nice change from the earlier levels. The Ghost House was fun but damn those green bubble things. If you're not careful and pay attention to the way they're travelling, you'll get hit. I got hit trying to dodge the second one, I went to duck under but it just kept travelling down and hit me, taking away my cape. Boo.
Vanilla Dome 3 and 4 are good levels too. 3 had that skull raft going across the lava with those lava snake things popping out. If you have Yoshi (which I both got and lost in the same level >_>) you can just stand there and Yoshi bounces right on top of them. For Vanilla Dome 4, I just flew across the level but this is probably the hardest level so far had I played it normally because you've got pits, flying koopa, and mini missiles flying all over the place. Crazy stuff.
Lemmy's Castle, oh man. I didn't want to wait for the wizard to hit the block so I could get to the bottom so I did Mario's spin jump which was a bad idea because I couldn't stop spinning and there were no regular platforms. Good thing I got hit or else Mario's ass would have been fried. In the next area with the lava and the moving blocks, I kind of get impatient waiting which is weird because I'm a patient guy. If you've watch the video, you'll see me spinning around a lot, ducking, and doing spin jumps a lot while waiting. Lemmy's a pretty neat boss fight. Not very challenging but a cool idea where you're standing on a platform of pipes and you have to hit Lemmy as he pops up but tries to trick you with two dummies. A pretty easy boss fight but fun none the less.
Vanilla Dome (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywjaVA2FsQg
Vanilla Dome (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcmDFg_k1r0
Vanilla Dome (Part 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQYHLIFdSwo
Phew, that was a long post. Next part coming up soon!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Donut Plains
Things are going quite smoothly over here, as I finish up the next area of Super Mario World, the Donut Plains. Just why is it called Donut Plains anyway? There's no donuts to be seen.
Levels Completed
- Donut Plains #1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3, 4
- Donut Ghost House
- Donut Secret 1
- Donut Secret House (2 Exits)
- Morton's Castle
- Top Secret Area
- Green Switch Palace
Quite a bit longer than Yoshi's Island here with a few secret exits. Not too much to comment on other than I goofed up here and there. Donut Plains #3 and 4 were extremely easy Once I became Cape Mario which is why he's so awesome. I just fly through the entire level. Although Donut Plains #4 does mark my first death in the game, all because I wanted to grab that moon and I think the game just wanted to get revenge on me for flying through the previous level. Morton's Castle is pretty entertaining, particularly the second area of it but Morton himself is easy, if not easier than Iggy. My timing and aim was a bit off though but ah well.
Donut Plains (Part 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P01pJpNFc8c
Donut Plains (Part 2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCffRe8IVaY
I'll have a post up for the next area, Vanilla Dome, either tomorrow or the day after.
Levels Completed
- Donut Plains #1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3, 4
- Donut Ghost House
- Donut Secret 1
- Donut Secret House (2 Exits)
- Morton's Castle
- Top Secret Area
- Green Switch Palace
Quite a bit longer than Yoshi's Island here with a few secret exits. Not too much to comment on other than I goofed up here and there. Donut Plains #3 and 4 were extremely easy Once I became Cape Mario which is why he's so awesome. I just fly through the entire level. Although Donut Plains #4 does mark my first death in the game, all because I wanted to grab that moon and I think the game just wanted to get revenge on me for flying through the previous level. Morton's Castle is pretty entertaining, particularly the second area of it but Morton himself is easy, if not easier than Iggy. My timing and aim was a bit off though but ah well.
Donut Plains (Part 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P01pJpNFc8c
Donut Plains (Part 2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCffRe8IVaY
I'll have a post up for the next area, Vanilla Dome, either tomorrow or the day after.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Yoshi's Island
The first entry for Super Mario World is here. The first area is Yoshi's Island. I don't think there's much to comment on, No secrets or anything of the sort.
Levels Completed
- Yoshi's Island #1-4
- Yellow Switch Palace
- Iggy's Castle
I just flew by all the stages. You could really just run and jump through every stage without having to worry too much. The exception is on Yoshi's Island #3 where you're jumping on the tall platforms and you might accidentally fall to your death. Funny note: A slipped and almost fell down but I was riding on Yoshi and I jumped off him to make it to the ledge. Poor Yoshi. Iggy's castle is a joke and so is Iggy himself since all I needed to do is jump on him and knock him off the ledge. I did suffer a hit and shrunk but I got another Flower power up. All in all, it was an easy set of levels and a good set to ease me in.
Yoshi's Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ClRut8yMg
Levels Completed
- Yoshi's Island #1-4
- Yellow Switch Palace
- Iggy's Castle
I just flew by all the stages. You could really just run and jump through every stage without having to worry too much. The exception is on Yoshi's Island #3 where you're jumping on the tall platforms and you might accidentally fall to your death. Funny note: A slipped and almost fell down but I was riding on Yoshi and I jumped off him to make it to the ledge. Poor Yoshi. Iggy's castle is a joke and so is Iggy himself since all I needed to do is jump on him and knock him off the ledge. I did suffer a hit and shrunk but I got another Flower power up. All in all, it was an easy set of levels and a good set to ease me in.
Yoshi's Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ClRut8yMg
Press Start: Super Mario World
Alright, it's finally begun. And this time, I'm starting with the classic Super Mario World for the SNES. One of the greatest games to ever grace the SNES and one of my all time favourites. Hopefully this will instill some nostalgia for the older viewers and show the newer ones just how awesome games were back in the day.
The goal? To complete all 72 levels and find all 96 exits. I'm not bothering with collecting all the Dragon Coins as they only give extra lives.
The videos will be based on each area of the game such as Yoshi's Island and Donut Land but I imagine that some sections will require two parts. It's been awhile since I've played and I'm not doing a speed run on this one.
Know that I am no Super Mario Master. I'll make mistakes and probably lose a few lives along the way but this is one of my favourite games and I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can.
The goal? To complete all 72 levels and find all 96 exits. I'm not bothering with collecting all the Dragon Coins as they only give extra lives.
The videos will be based on each area of the game such as Yoshi's Island and Donut Land but I imagine that some sections will require two parts. It's been awhile since I've played and I'm not doing a speed run on this one.
Know that I am no Super Mario Master. I'll make mistakes and probably lose a few lives along the way but this is one of my favourite games and I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can.
YouTube Channel
Yes! I finally got a youtube channel going with a couple of videos on there already. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGamermatic
There you'll find all my videos for the entries on here as well as online matches of games like Street Fighter 4 and Gears of War 2. You'll also find a bunch of other random stuff that may or may not be related to video games like Anime Music Videos and animations.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGamermatic
There you'll find all my videos for the entries on here as well as online matches of games like Street Fighter 4 and Gears of War 2. You'll also find a bunch of other random stuff that may or may not be related to video games like Anime Music Videos and animations.
The Journal Process
Alright, so here's how this works.
I'll be recording and posting about the games I play. The games range from all systems from the NES to the Xbox 360 and all types, from shooters to RPGs. Know that I am limited to what I can do since not all games and all systems are available to me.
I will be posting my experience and play through the game. Each entry will cover a certain part of the game like a level, a match, a session (for RPGs), and so on, depending on what the game is. I'll comment on each entry about what I liked, what I didn't like, what I found hard and other such things. It will not be like a walkthru for the game, though you could just watch the video that goes up with each entry for an idea of what to do following what I did.
Due to youtube's limitation of only allowing 10 minute videos for regular users, I may or may not post videos for RPGs simply because RPGs take hours to play and events like dialogue scenes can even last more than 10 minutes, but I may post videos up anyway just for interests sake.
Each playthrough will be as though I'm trying to accomplish everything the game has to offer. That means getting the best weapons or collecting certain items and other things like that. For example, getting all the dog tags in Metal Gear Solid 2. If a game requires multiple playthroughs to get everything, I'll post briefly every playthrough after the first.
Once the game is done with, I'll be posting up a personal review of the game so expect a big wall of text.
I think that covers it for now. So for everyone who wants to travel with me through this journey or to the people who are just passing by, I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable. Thanks.
I'll be recording and posting about the games I play. The games range from all systems from the NES to the Xbox 360 and all types, from shooters to RPGs. Know that I am limited to what I can do since not all games and all systems are available to me.
I will be posting my experience and play through the game. Each entry will cover a certain part of the game like a level, a match, a session (for RPGs), and so on, depending on what the game is. I'll comment on each entry about what I liked, what I didn't like, what I found hard and other such things. It will not be like a walkthru for the game, though you could just watch the video that goes up with each entry for an idea of what to do following what I did.
Due to youtube's limitation of only allowing 10 minute videos for regular users, I may or may not post videos for RPGs simply because RPGs take hours to play and events like dialogue scenes can even last more than 10 minutes, but I may post videos up anyway just for interests sake.
Each playthrough will be as though I'm trying to accomplish everything the game has to offer. That means getting the best weapons or collecting certain items and other things like that. For example, getting all the dog tags in Metal Gear Solid 2. If a game requires multiple playthroughs to get everything, I'll post briefly every playthrough after the first.
Once the game is done with, I'll be posting up a personal review of the game so expect a big wall of text.
I think that covers it for now. So for everyone who wants to travel with me through this journey or to the people who are just passing by, I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable. Thanks.
Welcome Back!
Hello all!
After a long while, I've decided to delete and reopen this blog here. This blog was originally made as a journal to record my gaming adventures, journies, etc, etc. That still remains true but this time, I'm actually going to stick with it. Really. I mean it. Don't roll your eyes at me! Anyway, as I said, this blog is made to be a journal of sorts for the games I'll play. Depending on the type of game, what will be recorded will be different. Like for RPGs, I'll explain the equipment I buy and the strategy I use against or if it's an action game, I'll post what I did throughout the level and so forth. This will be followed up with a grand review at the end of the game. Does that sound boring? Well it seems like it to me. In fact, why the hell are you reading this when there are better things out there?
All joking aside (Do you hear crickets?), this is more for me to look back on and know that I've beaten the game as an accomplishment. BUT, here's the (un)cool part! I'm going to be recording the game as I play it and I'll be uploading it to youtube. That's right, instead of reading a giant wall of text, you get watch it instead! I think it'll be pretty neat actually, especially with the features on youtube videos like adding pop-up messages on the video itself. I will still be writing what happened but I'm sure people would much rather watch it than read it.
You can also expect other videos to appear on my youtube account like Xbox Live matches (I'm a big Sf4 and Gears 2 fan), AMVs and other random stuff.
Well I think that does it for the intro. It's a bit long so I better cut it short. I'll explain it some more in my next post. Until then, keep gaming. I know I will.
After a long while, I've decided to delete and reopen this blog here. This blog was originally made as a journal to record my gaming adventures, journies, etc, etc. That still remains true but this time, I'm actually going to stick with it. Really. I mean it. Don't roll your eyes at me! Anyway, as I said, this blog is made to be a journal of sorts for the games I'll play. Depending on the type of game, what will be recorded will be different. Like for RPGs, I'll explain the equipment I buy and the strategy I use against or if it's an action game, I'll post what I did throughout the level and so forth. This will be followed up with a grand review at the end of the game. Does that sound boring? Well it seems like it to me. In fact, why the hell are you reading this when there are better things out there?
All joking aside (Do you hear crickets?), this is more for me to look back on and know that I've beaten the game as an accomplishment. BUT, here's the (un)cool part! I'm going to be recording the game as I play it and I'll be uploading it to youtube. That's right, instead of reading a giant wall of text, you get watch it instead! I think it'll be pretty neat actually, especially with the features on youtube videos like adding pop-up messages on the video itself. I will still be writing what happened but I'm sure people would much rather watch it than read it.
You can also expect other videos to appear on my youtube account like Xbox Live matches (I'm a big Sf4 and Gears 2 fan), AMVs and other random stuff.
Well I think that does it for the intro. It's a bit long so I better cut it short. I'll explain it some more in my next post. Until then, keep gaming. I know I will.
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