Board 8 > Sept. Game of the Month Club ft. Evil Within, Slay Spire, Super Mario, and Zelda

(+) Yeah! (+)

Septembers Games:
The Evil Within (PC/XB1/PS4/360/PS3)
Slay the Spire (PC/XB1/PS4/Switch)
Super Mario Bros. (essentially every Nintendo system)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (essentially every Nintendo system)

What is Game of the Month Club?
Game of the Month is a community project open to all B8ers where users share, discover, play and/or discuss a select few games every month. The games featured each month are chosen by YOU the users (and Lady Luck)

The Basics
- Each month will usually feature three games that were chosen via a random drawing from a pool of games that users nominated
- For each game you beat, you get a cool point on our just-for-fun standings as well as a nomination for next month's randomized drawing
- In order to receive the point and nomination, you must beat said game within the calendar month
- If you beat one of the current month's games in the previous month, you can apply for a "recently beaten waiver," but you will only receive a point and no nomination should you do so
- Drawing for next month's games is usually around a week before the end of the month
- If you periodically keep us posted on your progress and/or talk about different aspects of the games, then everyone will think you are super awesome!

Nomination Rules
- You get one nomination automatically each month
- You receive additional nominations each month for every chosen game that you beat
- Each game you nominate has to be unique from all other nominations and cannot include a game that has already been selected for GotM
- Each game must be a standalone game that can be acquired and played on its own (aka cannot be DLC/expansion that requires the base game)
- Nominations only carry over if you beat a chosen game after the drawing for next month's games but before the end of the month
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Just-for-Fun Standings (among those who beat a game in 2017 or later)
KCF: 94
gameking: 89
Mr Crispy: 57
Lolo Guru: 53
ArkOfTurus: 50
KnightOfNee: 35
Arti: 23
scarletspeed: 23
MegamanX: 20
Cody: 18
Fenny: 15
Robazoid: 13
Wickle: 13
profDEADPOOL: 8
Wigs: 8
Shaduln: 7
Shonen Bat: 7
UndeadUnicorn: 7
darkx: 6
Johnbobb: 6
MZero: 6
BetrayedTangy: 5
MrSmartGuy: 5
paperwarior: 5
LordoftheMorons: 4
Bane: 3
GreatPaul: 3
KommunistKoala: 2
PrinceReva: 2
Waluigi1: 2
azuarc: 1
Cavedweller: 1
Fake Account: 1
Harrich: 1
Kain66: 1
Peace Frog: 1
SantaRPG: 1
SBell: 1
Steiner: 1
Tom Bombadil: 1
Wiki: 1

Spreadsheet with history
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X8E8oqzES42W4S82j7WTfNnzNa8c3uXdSE1rnqYG7WM/edit?usp=sharing

Additional noms this month
Cody - 1
Crispy - 1
Paul - 1
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Oh man Zelda 2

I don't usually have the motivation to finish games for this but I'll definitely play that at least, one of my all time favorites

Will probably do Mario as well since it's short
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Tag

Bought the Switch version of Slay the Spire a couple days ago. Halfway through the playthrough, but I'll be trying to get through ascensions, so I should be beating it a lot.
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Reminder that Slay the Spire is on Game Pass for PC/XB1
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Me: Oh a Zelda game!

*clicks topic* OH GOD WHY

Ah well, guess I'll try.
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Tag

Shooting for Mario and Zelda most likely.
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ArkOfTurus has beaten Super Mario Bros. and Slay the Spire

Been awhile since I've played SMB1. Still a fun way to kill an hour. It was my first time using the Switch NES game app for more than a couple minutes. I think I'd still rather play NES games on something that lets me remap controls.

I'm not sure if we're counting "beating" Slay the Spire as one playthrough, or beating the heart. I think the former should be fine, but I did the latter, too, using a Defect All for One build (probably my favorite to use of any of the characters.) Up to ascension level two for all characters. I think I capped out at 17 as the Silent on the PC version. Maybe I can beat 20 on the Switch version. Probably not.
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KCF0107 posted...

Reminder that Slay the Spire is on Game Pass for PC/XB1

Humble Monthly bundle includes slay the spire through thursday, if you don't have access to Game Pass.

Also, if anyone wants to refer me before I subscribe and get 8$ credit, just PM me your referral link.
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Thank you very much!
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no prob, Ark. ;)

Anyway, did my first attempt til death on slay the spire.

Died to a minion-spawner elite unit in chapter 3. Really sad it's over, felt my deck was going great!
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I downloaded Slay the Spire, but I probably won't be touching it for at least a week. I'm always wary of these type of games. There is nothing more valuable than time, and I typically stay away from rogue-likes with no or minimal progression systems where a failed run is basically time wasted. Since this was free with Game Pass, I might as well give it at least one chance.
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I actually beat Zelda II last month, so I will just take my point there. I actually started it in like March, played through like 85% of the game, didn't touch it again for several months and then finally finished it off. Always a good play.

Spire has been on my list so may try it this month
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oh and sure i'll play mario
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At this point I have had my first "victory?" run with the red character. Working through the green character, feels like such a different experience.

Any slay the spire pros have some general advice on choosing your path, or anything in general?
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Generally I pick the path with the most campfires, so long as it has a shop somewhere.

Silent can be kind of rough at first, since some of the the essential cards for her best builds need to be unlocked. At her best, she's probably my favorite character, though.
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Oh, and as for general tips, don't underestimate the importance of removing starting cards. They're what'll really bog your deck down near the end.
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Goriyas are a pain in my ass. This'll take a while.
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TheArkOfTurus posted...

Generally I pick the path with the most campfires, so long as it has a shop somewhere.

Silent can be kind of rough at first, since some of the the essential cards for her best builds need to be unlocked. At her best, she's probably my favorite character, though.

Yeah, greenie seems cool, but my build was pretty jank. First run was a "victory?" though, shapes were an interesting boss. Onto character 3!

As far as picking paths... I kind of like going for as many ? rooms as I can; not sure if it's a good play in the long run, but I think I've had it work for me. Probably don't go shopping often enough.
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Did the first two dungeons in Zelda as well as Death Mountain. Then I died, oops. The first 'game over return of ganon' of many, I'm sure.
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Slay the spire: Have completed a "victory?" with each character. Trying to get through an "ascension 1" run with well, anyone, while collecting those colored key things, as I think that's what I need to do to actually beat the heart. Having a rougher time of it, though.
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You can do it without turning on ascensions, if you want.
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So next month is Halloween, so I'm going to nominate games that fit the occasion to at least some degree.

My first nom will be Little Nightmares
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Super Mario Bros beated
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Nominations:
Castlevania
Darksiders
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
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Super Mario Bros done

I definitely didn't forget how to do the world 7 castle maze and spend like 10 minutes in there, nope
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Managed an Ascension 1: heart kill as the red dude. Deck was pretty great, had 3 offerings in it, JA-X, bloodletting, etc. Let my deck move fast and all.
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Parapa Palace done, but now I'm stuck in a point where I have to game over because I can't fight the red axe dudes and I'm dreading it so hard. ughhhhhhhh.
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Slay the Spire progress

The Ironclad: Ascension level 5
The Silent: Level 4
The Defect: Level 4
The Anime (mostly Konosuba): Level 1
The Hollow Knight: Too hard for me to beat =(.

Might try out The Sailor Moon next.

(Why did it take me so long to try mods for this game?)

Gonna make a couple nominations due to the release of SNES games on the Switch. Not sure what I'll do for my third game, yet.

Nominate Super Metroid, and Kirby's Dream Land 3
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I could have sworn one or both of those games were featured before but apparently not. I think both having been nominated 5+ times in the past might been a factor in that.
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Super Mario Bros. beaten

also only have the great palace left to do in Zelda 2. Gonna grind up a bit for the last level upgrade before heading out there though.
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At this point, I've offed the heart as both the red dude and the blue dude. Green dude has made it to the heart, but lost to it. (ascension level 2 with each character)

anyway, apparently Slay the Spire will be getting free dlc for a 4th character (the Watcher), it's currently available right now in beta if you have it on steam.

as far as those NES games go, just been enjoying slay the spire too much. I'll get to them eventually.
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Done everything up to entering palace 6 in Zelda. I'll likely finish the game tomorrow, unless the great palace sucks more than usual.
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And Zelda 2 done.

I still don't have a damn clue how to fight the final boss normally. I can block his attacks all day but actually hitting him seems impossible.
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Monthly Progress
The Evil Within -
Slay the Spire - Ark
Super Mario Bros. - Ark, Paul, Shonen, Crispy
Zelda II - Shonen

Nominations
Ark - Super Metroid, Kirby's Dream Land 3
KCF - Little Nightmares
Paul - Castlevania, Darksiders, LoZ: MM
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Oh yeah, nominations.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA)
Shadow Man (PC/N64/Dreamcast/PS1)
Touhou 17 (PC)
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Im gonna change a nom.

Denom: Castlevania
Nom: Dark Cloud

Thanks
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Cody has beaten Super Mario Bros.

I still wouldn't call myself particularly good, but this was definitely my best run through the game.
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Tag.

Gonna do SMB when I get the chance
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KCF has beaten Super Mario Bros.

I dedicate a whole day each year (usually in late December) to play a variety of older racing games for several hours. With how often I go back to the older Super Mario games, maybe I should make a weekend out of it and dedicate a day for them too.
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For my second nom and potentially last nom, I am going with Vampyr
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I just saw Vampyr on clearance for $7. I was strongly considering picking it up for that price but I thought I remembered hearing fairly mixed things about it.
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Gameking has beaten Super Mario Bros. and Zelda 2.

Always good to play Mario, and I'm glad I finally pushed through Zelda 2. I've always stopped pretty early, but once I got used to the difference in style, it was a lot of fun.

Not sure about noms yet.
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Monthly Progress
The Evil Within -
Slay the Spire - Ark
Super Mario Bros. - Ark, Paul, Shonen, Crispy, Cody, KCF, gameking
Zelda II - Shonen, gameking

Nominations
Ark - Super Metroid, Kirby's Dream Land 3
KCF - Little Nightmares, Vampyr
Paul - Dark Cloud, Darksiders, LoZ: MM
Shonen - Castlevania: AoS, Shadowman, Touhou 17
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Nominate 80 Days
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I'm ready to call slay the spire beaten, as I have now finished the heart with the new character in beta.
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Cody has beaten Zelda 2.

Never again lol, that was a difficult game. I am definitely glad they stuck more towards the Zelda 1 format for the series.
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I never understood the appeal of Zelda II. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of better sidescrollers from that era. I don't know if I ever beat it. I think I just got to a point to where I asked myself why I was still playing this if I wasn't having fun and never returned.
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That was basically my exact thought process as I went through the last two dungeons. The latter half is just way more challenging than fun for me.

I will say that the temple music is fantastic, and I'm glad they used it in Smash.
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Drawing maybe on Wednesday
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