Lurker > Seanchan

Castlevania

Zelda beated!

Fun final boss!

I'd been down to the bottom before doing any of the dungeons but only got to the 2nd wave of enemies before the battle against Ganondorf. That part was tremendously easier with a crew of 5 backing me up, as I basically just ran around and let them do all the work.

The multi-stage battle against Ganondorf was cool. I liked how the crew came in to help with the phantoms. Didn't even realize he was literally destroying my hearts at first. Had to make good use of Flurry Rush to bring him down.

After the 2nd part, when he pulled the stone from his head, I was like "OH SHIT DRAGON BATTLE!!!". Which...kinda but not really. That last part was very easy, but that's okay.

I know there's 30+ shrines I didn't find/do, loads of armor parts I didn't find/collect, and a lot of side quests. But I'm okay with that as I had my journey through a game that's overstuffed with content.

I can't help but feel that this game kind of makes BotW obsolete, right?

Zelda

Don't forget about Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island!

Ah, Mario 3, truly one of the finest games of all time. Some might argue even the best of the 2D Mario games.

I recently replayed it for GotM Replay, though I made copious use of save states and rewind on the NES Mini to sand off the difficulty. Still, I did do a complete run though, beating every single stage.

That game is just filled with so much wacky shit, many of it "one off" stuff that's literally only in one stage. You never know what you're going to see next! I was also struck by how short many of the stages are; you'll blast through many in under a minute.

Thankfully, I remembered a lot of the tips/tricks from the game, as there's some stages that are puzzle-y in nature, or at the very least the path is non-obvious.

Man, I didn't realize I missed the Gazette HQ because of the non-direct ways I took to the Rito Village. Anyway, I finished all the music troupe quests and got all the Great Fairies unlocked.

It takes a lot of materials to upgrade stuff! More than I have, despite picking up everything and playing for like 150 hours. I upgraded a couple of things a few levels but ain't no way I'm grinding for that stuff. I'm sure I'll be fine to take on the endgame. I got like 8-10 full health meals, so that'll help ease the pain of not having super high level armor.

Tomorrow, we (maybe) finish this game!

Zelda
Portal

When's the last time you went to a brick-and-mortar store to buy a game? Is that less frequent or more than you did 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

Now you know why GameStop stores have had to pivot away from actual game sales.

The old farts who bought games in person don't anymore. But if they see some gaming merch that tickles their nostalgia, they just might walk in and take a look.

MartinFF7 posted...

oh my god the little paws on the couch

"Hello hooman, you have pets for me? Maybe behind the ear scritches?"

Hades
Smash

Did the Spirit Temple yesterday, which is really more about the run up to the Temple. Nice to finally get to do something with the Construct Factory and those Depots, as I couldn't figure out what was going on there. I did use some internet hints with the Surface level stuff, as I just didn't feel like wandering around at this point.

Didn't someone in this topic say that they did the Spirit Temple first? If so, that's absolutely wild to me. I mean, I guess it's technically possible but that's a lot of non-obvious stuff that you need to do.

It's clear that they expected you to do the Master Sword stuff AFTER that but I did all that stuff before taking on any of the Temples. Basically, all I've got left now is to take on Ganondorf, which the game now explicitly tells you where to find him, though I already kinda knew.

I'm about ready to be done with the game but my armor levels are way too low, as every hit just decimates me. I should probably try to do something with the Great Fairies first. No chance I'm otherwise doing all the side adventures/quests and shrines and all that.

FoolFantastic posted...

Like Portishead or Velvet Underground, I imagine this will be among our most controversial choices; even if you don't like the album, I hope I can at least shed some light on why this is so important to some people.

First listen done, and yupppp, this is accurate. Thankfully it's not that long and Immaterial stands out. Likely will not be a favorite of mine but I appreciate you giving the artistic context.

Thing is, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic would all very likely have so many more slams if either of the other 2 didn't exist. Yes, Nadal is miles ahead on clay but he'd have at least a few more Wimbledon and AO trophies without the other 2.

Djokovic should be able to pull 3-4-5-6 ahead without the other 2 there anymore. Same way Federer got so far ahead before the other 2 really joined the scene. Not to mention, didn't Federer and Nadal both all 3-4 more slams after reaching Djokovic current age?

Paratroopa1 posted... counter-argument: actually, super mario bros 1 rules

Like I said, great game but outclassed in this bracket.

_Blur_ posted...

Hot take: SMB 1 probably holds up better than SM64

I'll cosign that! There's just no way 64 loses to 1 straight up on this board or this site.

It's a matter of seeing now if Alcaraz can truly grab the moniker of being the "next big thing" and carry on the legacy of domination from Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. I know he's ranked #1 but the Slams are what matters, so in my mind he's really got to win at least 2 of the next 5 for me to think he's gotten to that level.

ChichiriMuyo posted...

Then again, you seem to think SMB is the worst game in the bracket, somehow, so weird but obvious bias be obvious but weird.

Alright, lets break it down, with the given that I probably should have said "arguably worst game in the bracket" rather than "worst game in the bracket". SMB1 is still a very good game and one of the best on NES, but it's going up against the creme de la creme here.

The other Mario platformers:
(1) Super Mario Bros. 3
(2) Super Mario World
(1) Super Mario 64
(1) Super Mario Galaxy
(4) Super Mario Galaxy 2
(1) Super Mario Odyssey

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? No, personal feelings for 64 aside.

The other Nintendo games:
(4) F-Zero GX
(4) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
(2) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(4) Metroid Dread
(3) Pokmon Red/Blue/Yellow
(3) Super Smash Bros. Melee
(2) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? No, though I could imagine people trying to argue GX, Dread, and maybe Pokemon.

The RPGs:
(1) Chrono Trigger
(1) Final Fantasy X
(2) Persona 5

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? No, though maybe someone would argue X? (I've personally not played Persona.)

The puzzle games:
(3) Portal
(2) Portal 2
(4) Tetris

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? Hell naw!

The rest of the 2D games:
(3) Mega Man 2
(3) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? Nope.

The rest of the 3D games:
(3) NieR: Automata
(4) Bloodborne
(3) Elden Ring
(2) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
(1) Hades
(4) Banjo-Kazooie

Is Mario 1 better than any of those? No, though maybe someone would argue BK.

Alcaraz gets it done!

championship point...

Serving for the championship.

Alcaraz up a break. Just needs to hold serve.

It's a couple of hours with people who are essentially strangers at this point. You can survive, especially if it means something to your parents.

Lots of stupid shit to talk (sports, news, weather) if you don't want to go into a million personal details. The key to deflecting conversation is to listen and ask questions; most people will go on if you ask them.

Onto the 5th.

Certainly feels like advantage Djokovic...

Didn't know there was an end to the bubbulgem rewards. I've got another 8 or so I need to cash in and I'd already gotten like 6-7 things already.

Alcaraz can't let Djokovic get this 4th set. He's got to dig deep and kill him now. I feel like he hasn't quite taken advantage early in this set.

Born in the USA > Pastel Blues > Banjo-Kazooie: Re-Jiggyed

So Born in the USA is just like Fortunate Son then?

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.

ChichiriMuyo posted...

In an alternate reality, somebody is listening to a Taylor Swift album and asking themselves "why does this seem so much like Carley?" I don't know Sigrid, but I can say for sure that comparing either of those two to Kero Kero Bonito or Lorde just does not even make sense. The audience is totally different. In fact, I think if you compared Kero Kero Bonito to Lorde you would understand why the comparison just does not even work.

I was just trying to come up with other examples of "young woman expressing the difficulties of pursuing love and happiness while being a modern pop singer" that we've covered during Rank the Tracks. I was being a bit overly broad in definition to show why I was getting such a strong Carly / Taylor connection.

Ha, okay, that's for the clarification! That makes a bit of sense because When I Needed You has some "ending song" vibes to it.

_Blur_ posted...

I'm okay with SMB 1 winning because of legacy. I am not okay with Galaxy 2 losing to FFX of all things.

LEGACY?!? Fuck that noise. Nostalgia voting sucks. SMB1 is the worst game to make that bracket.

Anywho....here's a vote:

Galaxy
World

FoolFantastic posted...

I don't think it's fair to fault the album for the length here, since MaxGalactica specifically chose an expanded edition. The actual album proper is only 44 minutes.

I don't think you've got that length right. According to Spotify, the regular is 54 minutes and the Deluxe Expanded is 62.

ChichiriMuyo posted...

A good number of these songs could have potentially been big. Not the meme that "Call Me Maybe" was, obviously, but there are songs in here that could have been legit hits

Strong agree with this! There was one in particular that really struck me (other than Run Away With Me) but damn if I can remember this morning.

ChichiriMuyo posted...

I'm going to say you aren't wrong on picking up those vibes, because both were obviously making music that resonated with their own lives and the lives of their target audience. I felt it too, but how many permutations of "young woman expressing the difficulties of pursuing love and happiness while being a modern pop singer" can there really be?

There was just this weird sense of unreality that passed over me at some spots in this album. And I realized that it was because I felt like I was listening to an alternate dimension Taylor Swift, if she had decided to go full synth pop (or however you categorize this). That's not a feeling I got from Kero Kero Bonito, Sigrid, Lorde, etc. This was super particular, so I felt it was worth pointing out.

tazzyboyishere posted...

(1) Final Fantasy X - 28
(4) Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 24

(2) Super Mario Bros. - 23
(3) Elden Ring - 22

What the fucking fuck is wrong with you people

Lightning Temple done. My god, what a reversal from the Water Temple! An actual, good dungeon! Probably the best boss battle yet too.

After that, I went to Hyrule Castle and did the hide and seek with Zelda. Finished the Phantom Ganon battle there, though it's making me realize I really need to upgrade my armor.

Not quite sure what to do next. I suppose I should try to investigate the Spirit Temple again.

I could also try to go back down into the caverns beneath Hyrule Castle again. I went down there before doing any dungeons and there was a multi-round fight against waves of enemies that I wasn't prepared for. Unfortunately it was also before I got the Purah Pad waypoints, so I'll have to find my way back down again. I assumed at the time that that would be where the end game was...

1. Run Away With Me
2. Let's Get Lost
3. Gimmie Love
4. Favourite Colour
5. LA Hallucinations
6. Your Type
7. I Didn't Just Come Here to Dance
8. Making the Most of the Night
9. Emotion
10. Never Get to Hold You
11. When I Needed You
12. Warm Blood
13. Love Again
14. I Really Like You
15. Boy Problems
16. All That
17. Black Heart

I ended up enjoying this a bit more on subsequent listens. That said, I think a lot of my original thoughts still hold. It's overall a very solid and slickly produced album that I wish wasn't quite as long. There wasn't really a single standout hit for me, just a lot of songs I enjoyed, even if long term I think this album is likely to all glom together in my mind.

Also, and this is a weird one, did anyone else get some Taylor Swift vibes at points with the lyrics and sometimes the vocals? In particular I think I'm thinking about Your Type and maybe When I Needed You.

Mario 2 was always such a weird game, naturally because it wasn't really "Mario" game. And yet it's had a lasting legacy on the franchise as a whole.

Ultimately, I think it was probably the right move for it to be Mario 2 in the U.S. rather than the Lost Levels.

Can we rename this place The Retirement Home?

Galaxy
Ring

Blood
Portal

Mega Man X shouldn't have ever been separated from Mega Man.

HoA hell will certainly give the fireworks shooters a big pause about doing it again.

awwww look at those big ears!

is she fireworks safe?

Oh yeah, beat the Water Temple 2 days ago. I thought it was pretty poor overall. Definitely the worst of the 3 Ive done so far.

I went back to the Spirit Temple area again but Ive no idea how to actually start it or get inside. Either Im being dumb or theres some other criteria I havent met yet.

Finally found the dude who starts the quest for the various tablets Ive found around the world. Id already marked some of them on the map, so that will help.

Ive done basically nothing in the Gerudo area so lots of Shrines to still do there in addition to the Temple.

Bump

Castlevania

A good bagel is amazing. But I'd take a nice thicker slice of a toasted bread over a mediocre bagel.

That looked interesting. Not super huge on Star Wars but that seems like something I might watch.

I haven't really watched any of the D+ Star Wars shows other than Mandolorian S1. I've heard the only thing really worth watching is Andor?

Definitely had this when I was younger. Definitely sold me on getting BK.

Thank you for confirming that actually IS Jon Lovitz.

...why...

Okay.......I know......MONEY!

Willy Wonka will always be Gene Wilder. A singular, weird, wild movie that needs no remakes, sequels, or prequels.

FoolFantastic posted...

EMOTION has such a bizarre place in pop culture. Having always paid more attention to critics than the charts, I had always assumed EMOTION was this gigantic cultural smash based on critics treating it as among the greatest pop albums ever released. It wasn't until years later that a friend pointed out to me that it was essentially a commercial flop. It just amazes me that this album was following one of the biggest singles ever, had almost unprecedented acclaim for a mainstream pop album, and then made what is essentially a minor splash.

I have to wonder if it's the very...PG...nature of the album that might have turned people off? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't CRJ try to avoid more overt sexual references/feelings? That seemed to be what I was hearing, with songs about "really, really, really, really, really liking you" or "hoping you take the long way back". A ton of songs about love and romantic/amorous feelings but presented in a very Disney Channel way.

Did a first listen to this yesterday.

We've heard some truly stellar pop albums during this project, so as someone who enjoys that genre, I'm looking for something to really grab me. And, on a first listen this one didn't quite do that. Certainly enjoyable overall and well made, but few songs that really stuck out in my mind. We will see how my feeling evolve though.

I'm also going to say that I think the album is too long for what it is, as 17 songs and an over an hour runtime is a bit much for me.

Mario
Zelda