Board 8 > The Great 2017 Video Game Challenge: One Week Left!

(+) Yeah! (+)

Lousy purge. For next year's topic I'll just use GMUN's auto-bump feature.

Credit goes to tazzyboyishere for first starting this in 2016. Basically, there are 50 challenges outlined below that will require you to beat 52 games total. This isn't a competition and there's no prize for winning aside from a sense of accomplishment. This is just a fun thing to participate in while we all work through our video game libraries. It also gives us a place to discuss what we're playing. Feel free to join in!

Rules:
- A game can only be used for one challenge
- Use your own judgment to decide if game fits in a certain category
- Games started in 2016 or earlier are fine as long as they're finished in 2017
- Please add your own games to the spreadsheet linked to below, which anyone can edit
- When using the spreadsheet, please don't mess with checklists/tallies that aren't yours
- There's a tab listing favorite games in the spreadsheet if you need help with challenge 43
- If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OrLeLlkjZ5hrlf1UYpPe2DkPKbApMQrSLVyKxbFhZvU/edit?usp=sharing

Challenges:

Years (5)
1. Beat a game released before 1990
2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
3. Beat a game released between 2000-2009
4. Beat a game released between 2010-2016
5. Beat a game released in 2017

Series (4)
6. Beat a game in a completely new series
7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of
8. Beat a spin-off or a game that rebooted a franchise
9. Beat a remake or enhanced port

Creators (3)
10. Beat a game made by a director/composer/artist/etc that you like
11. Beat a game made by a developer you like
12. Beat a game made by a developer you've never tried

Genres (11)
13. Beat a WRPG
14. Beat a JRPG
15. Beat a puzzle game
16. Beat a rhythm game
17. Beat a first-person shooter
18. Beat a third-person shooter
19. Beat a platformer
20. Beat an action game
21. Beat a strategy game
22. Beat a fighting game
23. Beat a sports game

Themes (6)
24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme
25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme
26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme
27. Beat a game with mystery as a central theme
28. Beat a game with the supernatural as a central theme
29. Beat a game with comedy as a central theme

Demographics (6)
30. Beat a game with a female lead
31. Beat a game with a child lead
32. Beat a game with a non-white lead
33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
34. Beat a game with an animal lead
35. Beat a game with a lead that's from a fictional species

Time (5)
36. Replay a game from a long time ago
37. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time
38. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
39. Finish a game in one day
40. Finish a game that took you at least twenty-five hours to beat

Stats (3)
41. Beat a game with a Metascore below 70
42. Beat a game with a Metascore above 90
43. Beat another user's favorite game

Adaptation (3)
44. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters
45. Beat a game that's been adapted into another medium
46. Beat a game that features historical events or people

Miscellaneous (4)
47. Play a game that can't technically be beaten for at least three hours
48. Beat a game that starts with the first letter of your username
49. Choose a random page on TVTropes and beat something from the video game section
50-52. Beat three games in a series
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2016 SPREADSHEET:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17CXJ-tteBEGdH8mRVN9CFJA8QKdqaLatJiMWP5pBAZo/edit#gid=0

Otherwise, we've decided to continue this into 2018 so if anyone has any opinions about changes to challenges, you have a little more than a week to speak up! So far we only have a rough consensus that the time for Challenge 47 will be doubled to six hours.
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The play a game that can't be beaten is silly and dumb and could be better used with another challenge.
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We added that challenge after 2016 just so there would be one spot for the multitude of games that fit that criteria (online multiplayer shooters, MOBAs (unless you count winning a single game as beating it), certain MMOs, and so on)

Still, next year's list isn't final yet if you have another idea for a challenge!
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Added Super Mario Galaxy to my list and that's it for me and 2017
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Beat a Xbox exclusive. Beat a PlayStation exclusive. Beat a Nintendo Exclusive.

Or a more catchall. Beat a current gen console exclusive if people don't want to be "challenged" to beat a Microsoft exclusive.
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Corrik posted...

Beat an Xbox exclusive.

With most games also appearing on PC, they'd be limited to Sunset Overdrive, Perfect Dark Zero, and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
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ZeroSignal620 posted...

Corrik posted...

Beat an Xbox exclusive.

With most games also appearing on PC, they'd be limited to Sunset Overdrive, Perfect Dark Zero, and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

Nobody counts PC for console exclusives.
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I feel that 'exclusive' type challenges might be limiting for some people. If someone only owns a single console they wouldn't be able to do other exclusives. Even a catch-all 'console exclusive' would cause confusion about whether PC ports would count (and they would need to in case someone didn't own any consoles at all, like me).

Still, if other people like it we can look into including it.
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49. Choose a random page on TVTropes and beat something from the video game section

Super Mario Bros (Damsel in Distress)

Another "wait I've never actually beat this game?" game cleared. Which means.....

49/50 Yes I am going to finish this project.
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28. Beat a game with the supernatural as a central theme
Trace Memory

25/50
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17. Beat a first-person shooter

Gal*Gun: Double Peace

It's actually a competent on-rails shooter despite the subject matter.

43/50
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Robazoid posted...

I feel that 'exclusive' type challenges might be limiting for some people. If someone only owns a single console they wouldn't be able to do other exclusives. Even a catch-all 'console exclusive' would cause confusion about whether PC ports would count (and they would need to in case someone didn't own any consoles at all, like me).

Still, if other people like it we can look into including it.

Yeah, I'm not going to purchase an Xbox or a gaming PC to satisfy a challenge. I don't really have an issue with doubling the time of challenge 47. If anything, I still think it's too easy. It was the first thing I completed this year, and it'll be the first thing I complete next year as well because of Hearthstone. I would assume most people play some sort of League or DOTA or Hearthstone, or even a mobile game, that could easily satisfy the challenge.
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25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme

Doki Doki Literature Club

Just Monika.

44/50
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Looks like I'm gonna finish at 17/50. I Might finish Trails of Cold Steel this weekend, but probably next week.
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wait! I forgot to add Butterfly Soup!
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Bump
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38. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on

Her Story

It wasn't my idea to drop it, but I had to - I tried playing a year ago and my computer couldn't run the game. However, I finally had a chance to go through it today. I wasn't too impressed with it overall, but the story was interesting enough to have me watch all the clips.

45/50
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I have to finish here with whatever I had. I am way too burnt out to try and finish the remaining challenges.
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24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

I've found I really like categorizing the games thematically

I ended up getting every theme but mystery and every lead type but fictional species
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guess i've got 2 days to get an ending out of skyrim
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Arti posted...

25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme

Doki Doki Literature Club

oh whoops forgot to log that one

Gonna move Life is Strange to mystery and then have Doki Doki take the romance slot

All themes completed

That puts me at 24/50

I'd love to get at least 50% but not sure if I have another game I can beat this week unless I really just go for an hourlong indie or something
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Bump

2018 is nearing!
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2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999

Grim Fandango Remastered

The game was originally released in 1998, and I'm going to count it here.

46/50
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Bump
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33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
NieR: Automata

More like several robot/artificial leads
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A new year approaches! This is the list for next year unless anyone jumps in to argue against it now. Only changes were the obvious ones to 4/5 and I doubled 47 along with changing the wording to make it clearer.

I don't mind doing the work of adding this to a google doc spreadsheet but I honestly don't know how to create such a spreadsheet in the first place (I've never really used google docs and someone created one for me last year) so I'll try to figure that out later today.

Challenges:

Years (5)
1. Beat a game released before 1990
2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
3. Beat a game released between 2000-2009
4. Beat a game released between 2010-2017
5. Beat a game released in 2018

Series (4)
6. Beat a game in a completely new series
7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of
8. Beat a spin-off or a game that rebooted a franchise
9. Beat a remake or enhanced port

Creators (3)
10. Beat a game made by a director/composer/artist/etc that you like
11. Beat a game made by a developer you like
12. Beat a game made by a developer you've never tried

Genres (11)
13. Beat a WRPG
14. Beat a JRPG
15. Beat a puzzle game
16. Beat a rhythm game
17. Beat a first-person shooter
18. Beat a third-person shooter
19. Beat a platformer
20. Beat an action game
21. Beat a strategy game
22. Beat a fighting game
23. Beat a sports game

Themes (6)
24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme
25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme
26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme
27. Beat a game with mystery as a central theme
28. Beat a game with the supernatural as a central theme
29. Beat a game with comedy as a central theme

Demographics (6)
30. Beat a game with a female lead
31. Beat a game with a child lead
32. Beat a game with a non-white lead
33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
34. Beat a game with an animal lead
35. Beat a game with a lead that's from a fictional species

Time (5)
36. Replay a game from a long time ago
37. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time
38. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
39. Finish a game in one day
40. Finish a game that took you at least twenty-five hours to beat

Stats (3)
41. Beat a game with a Metascore below 70
42. Beat a game with a Metascore above 90
43. Beat another user's favorite game

Adaptation (3)
44. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters
45. Beat a game that's been adapted into another medium
46. Beat a game that features historical events or people

Miscellaneous (4)
47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
48. Beat a game that starts with the first letter of your username
49. Choose a random page on TVTropes and beat something from the video game section
50-52. Beat three games in a series
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For the new year, I'd like to change my favorite game to Persona 5 for the sake of #43

I'm not entirely sure if I can put it above FFX yet, but it's close enough and FFX has another user anyway so I think it would be better to diversify the pool of games to choose from!
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Robazoid posted...

A new year approaches! This is the list for next year unless anyone jumps in to argue against it now. Only changes were the obvious ones to 4/5 and I doubled 47 along with changing the wording to make it clearer.

I don't mind doing the work of adding this to a google doc spreadsheet but I honestly don't know how to create such a spreadsheet in the first place (I've never really used google docs and someone created one for me last year) so I'll try to figure that out later today.

Challenges:

Years (5)
1. Beat a game released before 1990
2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
3. Beat a game released between 2000-2009
4. Beat a game released between 2010-2017
5. Beat a game released in 2018

Series (4)
6. Beat a game in a completely new series
7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of
8. Beat a spin-off or a game that rebooted a franchise
9. Beat a remake or enhanced port

Creators (3)
10. Beat a game made by a director/composer/artist/etc that you like
11. Beat a game made by a developer you like
12. Beat a game made by a developer you've never tried

Genres (11)
13. Beat a WRPG
14. Beat a JRPG
15. Beat a puzzle game
16. Beat a rhythm game
17. Beat a first-person shooter
18. Beat a third-person shooter
19. Beat a platformer
20. Beat an action game
21. Beat a strategy game
22. Beat a fighting game
23. Beat a sports game

Themes (6)
24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme
25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme
26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme
27. Beat a game with mystery as a central theme
28. Beat a game with the supernatural as a central theme
29. Beat a game with comedy as a central theme

Demographics (6)
30. Beat a game with a female lead
31. Beat a game with a child lead
32. Beat a game with a non-white lead
33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
34. Beat a game with an animal lead
35. Beat a game with a lead that's from a fictional species

Time (5)
36. Replay a game from a long time ago
37. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time
38. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
39. Finish a game in one day
40. Finish a game that took you at least twenty-five hours to beat

Stats (3)
41. Beat a game with a Metascore below 70
42. Beat a game with a Metascore above 90
43. Beat another user's favorite game

Adaptation (3)
44. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters
45. Beat a game that's been adapted into another medium
46. Beat a game that features historical events or people

Miscellaneous (4)
47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
48. Beat a game that starts with the first letter of your username
49. Choose a random page on TVTropes and beat something from the video game section
50-52. Beat three games in a series

I know how. I'll create one and share it with you. Just PM me your e-mail.
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I don't know how it all works but it would need to be a spreadsheet that anyone can anyone can edit, not one where I was given permission through my email. Thanks in advance if you're able to create one, though! I'm tech-illiterate with a lot of things.
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Here is the spreadsheet for 2018.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gGKCP-zOuxihx2KSVCIL0K1MDfcrDszMT4KnETvBtVI/edit?usp=sharing
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Robazoid posted...

I don't know how it all works but it would need to be a spreadsheet that anyone can anyone can edit, not one where I was given permission through my email. Thanks in advance if you're able to create one, though! I'm tech-illiterate with a lot of things.

Anyone can edit this. It is public to everyone at the moment.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gGKCP-zOuxihx2KSVCIL0K1MDfcrDszMT4KnETvBtVI/edit?usp=sharing
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Thanks for copying over the current list, too! It still says we need to request edit access though.
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That's weird because I set it to allow anyone to view it. Maybe that's why, because I didn't actually set it to where people can put stuff on the spreadsheet. Give me a couple of minutes.
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Anonymous Crow really wants everyone to beat Big Rigs! Thanks for creating a spreadsheet doc.
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3. Beat a game released between 2000-2009
Star Ocean: Second Evolution

19. Beat a platformer
Axiom Verge

Puts me at 47/52! I've already got two of the challenges I missed lined up for next year, though!
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Robazoid posted...

Anonymous Crow really wants everyone to beat Big Rigs! Thanks for creating a spreadsheet doc.

Put this spreadsheet on view only because whoever is doing that Big Rigs stuff isn't going to knock it off.
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i literally already said i was done and then you changed the settings after. jeez.
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Can edit again now.
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Okay, I'm gonna beat 200 games in 2017 starting now
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Sharing the link again.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gGKCP-zOuxihx2KSVCIL0K1MDfcrDszMT4KnETvBtVI/edit?usp=sharing
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34. Beat a game with an animal lead

Night in the Woods

Mae Borowski for president

17/50 for me, which I'm happy with. I was never going to come close to all 50 but I like putting stuff in lists.

Johnbobb posted...

I've found I really like categorizing the games thematically

I ended up getting every theme but mystery and every lead type but fictional species

I liked the themed stuff a lot more too. Personally I'd rather see the list with more theme-type stuff (by which I mean focusing on the actual content of the game) instead of release year, Metacritic, etc. I know it's too late for next year but maybe 2019?
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Drakeryn posted...

I liked the themed stuff a lot more too. Personally I'd rather see the list with more theme-type stuff (by which I mean focusing on the actual content of the game) instead of release year, Metacritic, etc. I know it's too late for next year but maybe 2019?

I wouldn't have minded more themes but last year I remember we had a lot of trouble even coming up with those six. It took a week before someone suggested Comedy to fill a blank on the list.

If you have other suggestions, I can make a note of them and bring it up later next year though!
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2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
The Secret of Monkey Island

26/50
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I guess finishing at 46/50 isn't too bad. Last year I did do the full challenge but was aided in the fact that I was unemployed the entire year, so I didn't have nearly as much time as I did this year.

I'll try to do it again next year.
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Robazoid posted...

I wouldn't have minded more themes but last year I remember we had a lot of trouble even coming up with those six. It took a week before someone suggested Comedy to fill a blank on the list.

If you have other suggestions, I can make a note of them and bring it up later next year though!

here are some brainstorm ideas off the top of my head. I've used "involving" for some of them because they might be too rare otherwise - like there are less games centrally featuring heists but just having one is easier.

setting & scope

a cyberpunk game
a post-apocalyptic game
a game featuring exploration/travel
a game that takes place in a single town/city
a game with multiple endings

other

a game involving a heist
a game involving mental illness
a game with a slime
a game where the main character does not use a weapon
a game where you died more than 50 times
replay a game you loved as a kid (or if you didn't play games as a kid, from when you first started playing games)
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Gatarix posted...

Robazoid posted...

I wouldn't have minded more themes but last year I remember we had a lot of trouble even coming up with those six. It took a week before someone suggested Comedy to fill a blank on the list.

If you have other suggestions, I can make a note of them and bring it up later next year though!

here are some brainstorm ideas off the top of my head. I've used "involving" for some of them because they might be too rare otherwise - like there are less games centrally featuring heists but just having one is easier.

setting & scope

a cyberpunk game
a post-apocalyptic game
a game featuring exploration/travel
a game that takes place in a single town/city
a game with multiple endings

other

a game involving a heist
a game involving mental illness
a game with a slime
a game where the main character does not use a weapon
a game where you died more than 50 times
replay a game you loved as a kid (or if you didn't play games as a kid, from when you first started playing games)

I would agree with some of these challenges being added. Some such as a game where the main character does not use a weapon, a game where you died more than 50 times, replaying a game you loved as a kid, etc and of course the setting ones. I'm not sure about a game with a slime as do you mean like you play as a slime or you kill slimes? Also, mental illness is definitely a rarity in video games, I think. Would love to know what games anyone else knows that have themes of mental illness.
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CrazyJake816 posted...

Also, mental illness is definitely a rarity in video games, I think. Would love to know what games anyone else knows that have themes of mental illness.

I believe 2017's Hellblade has a main character with psychosis.
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CrazyJake816 posted...

I'm not sure about a game with a slime as do you mean like you play as a slime or you kill slimes?

Either would work. Trying to make that one broad enough that it works for a variety of games -- a lot of games have slimes as enemies, but there are also some with playable slimes.

Also, mental illness is definitely a rarity in video games, I think. Would love to know what games anyone else knows that have themes of mental illness.

Out of stuff I've played recently, Wonderful Everyday deals extensively with mental issues, as does Spec Ops: The Line. A lot of the negative quirks in Darkest Dungeon involve some kind of mental illness. Doki Doki Literature Club has a depressed character.

edit: oh, right, also Night in the Woods
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Now that the year is over, going off the games I've beaten:

Years (4/5)
1. Beat a game released before 1990 - Super Mario Bros (NES)
2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999 - Kirby's Dreamland (Game Boy)
3. Beat a game released between 2000-2009 - Mario Tennis (N64)
4. Beat a game released between 2010-2016 - Animal Village (PC)

Series (2/4)
7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of - Mario Kart 64 (N64, All cups)
9. Beat a remake or enhanced port - Pokmon Red 151 romhack (GB emulator)

Creators (1/3)
11. Beat a game made by a developer you like - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB, Nintendo)

Genres (3/11)
17. Beat a first-person shooter - GoldenEye 007 (N64, 100%)
19. Beat a platformer - Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
23. Beat a sports game - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (N64)

Themes (0/6)

Demographics (2/6)
31. Beat a game with a child lead - Pokmon Blue (Game Boy)
34. Beat a game with an animal lead - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis)

Time (3/5)
36. Replay a game from a long time ago - Super Mario Land (GB)
38. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on - Quizzes and Dragons (Arcade)
39. Finish a game in one day - Super Mario 64 (N64)

Stats (2/3)
42. Beat a game with a Metascore above 90 - Mario Golf (N64, 91)
43. Beat another user's favorite game - Super Mario World (SNES, 11-exit, MegaManX)

Adaptation (1/3)
44. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters - Mickey's Dangerous Chase (Game Boy)

Miscellaneous (0/4)

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Total: 18/50
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