Board 8 > Nov. Game of the Month Club ft. Edith Finch, Rock of Ages, and The Last of Us

(+) Yeah! (+)

I want to get to Last of Us eventually, but I don't think I'll be able to play it any this month.

so I'll just Nominate Seiken Densetsu 3
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Played a good bit of the Last of Us tonight and made it a good ways into the winter section of the game. Just a bit more to go.

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I don't intend to draw for awhile, but this will be my last reminder to get noms and nom changes in.
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Drawing is complete, but I am waiting until I can get on my laptop to post everything since I have like five things to talk about and it would take me like an hour to type it all out on mobile.
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And your December Games of the Month are...

Guacamelee 2 (PC/XB1/PS4/Switch)
(Super) Cloudbuilt (PC/XB1/PS4)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC/XB1/PS4/360/PS3/Ouya)

and for the final edition of our Second Chance program, Ark has chosen Super Metroid(SNES/Switch/3DS/Wii U/Wii) to be our fourth game.

Congrats to Lolo, myself, MMX, and Suprak for having their games selected!

Just so everybody knows why Ark and I found this to be funny was that Ark had Shantae: HGH as his #1 choice, then he switched his Super Metroid nom, then Suprak removed his Shantae nom to Super Metroid. I knew that Ark's updated queue was going to have his former nom at the top after that.

As for Cloudbuilt, the original or Super are eligible. The developer claims that not one single line of code from the original is found in Super, but all levels are the same.
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1. Guacamelee 2
2. Cloudbuilt
3. Batman: Arkham Asylum
4. No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again
5. Final Fantasy Adventure
6. Seiken Densetu 3
7. Her Story
8. Bug Fables
9. Super Metroid
10. Hyper Light Drifter
11. Pokemon Sword/Shield
12. Yooka-Laylee
13. Republique
14. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
15. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage
16. Get Even
17. Mole Mania
18. Crash Bandicoot 2: The Wrath of Cortex
19. Grimm's Hollow
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Guacamelee 2 is available for both XB1 and PC Game Pass

Batman: Arkham Asylum is available for XB1 Game Pass
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I have 150+ B8ers on my Steam Friends, so unless you are one of the few who isn't, I am the only GotM regular who owns it. Steam has also recently introduced Remote Play Together, which allows people to play local co-op games over the internet. Guacamelee 2 has a co-op campaign that can only be played locally with up to 4 players, but thanks to RPT and Guacamelee 2 being an eligible game, that isn't the case.

I am willing to try this out. I believe RPT might still be in beta, or at least is still working out its kinks, but it is available for all to try. I have researched how to do it, but I am going to do some tests later in the week. Also, I haven't played an online co-op Steam game since MSG, Lolo, Wickle, and myself played Castle Crashers two years ago, so we may need to move voice chat to our Discord channel if Steam/Gucamelee's is insufficient. Let me know if anyone is interested.
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Next order of business, Santa KCF has not one but two Steam keys for Super Cloudbuilt. If you don't already own the game, check it out, and if you are very interested in what you see/read, I would be glad to give you a key. Once I give out the key, it is out of my hands, and you can straight up lie to me, but all I ask is that you make an attempt to beat it in December and add/start discussion on it.
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Super Cloudbuilt and Guacamelee 2 are on sale for $5 and $6 respectively at the Humble Store. I think I'll try to play all four games this month, although I'm not confident I'll end up beating Cloudbuilt.

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@Fenny

In the off-chance you return after being absent for several months, nominating Cloudbuilt was for you buddy.
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I'd definitely appreciate the Cloudbuilt key (I'm planning to buy it,) although I'd understand if you want to give the keys to people more confident they'll stick with it.

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This clearly just means Ark has great taste in games.

I'm definitely playing Super Metroid. The other three are all definitely possibilities too depending on my schedule.
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And finally, I want to introduce my plans for 2020 special theme. Since I am thinking that might be the final year that I run this, I was planning on running a birthday theme. I have thought of two options:

1. Each user gets a free pick on their birthday month
2. Each user nominates two games apart from their noms in the month before their birthday and users vote on which of the two will be featured on their birthday month

Basically one option gives a single user all the power while the other makes it more of a collaborative venture.

I can go into further details later, but basically the birthday pick will replace a drawing pick (2 drawn, 1 selected by birthday person). I originally thought about going with the first option, but I realized people might not be on board with fewer draws, so option 2 would guarantee a birthday person a game that they want but the rest of us make the final decision.

If two or more users have a birthday in the same month, then we would have four games that month. I want to guarantee at least two games are chosen from a drawing each month. If somehow 3+ users share a birthday month, I would probably punt however many users I need to another month until we have no more than two user birthday picks in a single month.

Picks/Nominations would be subject to normal rules (cannot have been done before, must be acquirable on its own), but the reason I would ask for these picks/noms beforehand is to avoid the chance for non-birthday people and a birthday person nominating the same game.

I hope this wasn't too complicated/scatterbrained, but let me know if anyone has an opinion on either route.
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TheArkOfTurus posted...

I'd definitely appreciate the Cloudbuilt key (I'm planning to buy it,) although I'd understand if you want to give the keys to people more confident they'll stick with it.

Seeing as you intend to do the other three games first, will you have the time and desire to make an effort to beat and talk about it? If so, that's good enough for me.
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KCF0107 posted...

Seeing as you intend to do the other three games first, will you have the time and desire to make an effort to beat and talk about it? If so, that's good enough for me.

None of the games are that long, are they? I beat Dragon Quest XI recently, and I'm pretty sure that's significantly longer than all four put together. I don't think the holidays will be particularly busy for me, so time shouldn't be a problem.

I can promise you I'll play for at least two hours, and give my opinion on it. I think I remember it being described as difficult, I kind of suck at 3d platformers, and I don't always like games in the genre (including some rather popular ones), but I'll make the effort.

Option 2 sounds more fun to me, for the birthday poll.

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Cloudbuilt is a speedrunning, action/parkour platformer.
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Also, my birthday is in January, and after voluntarily sitting out Second Chance, I would get in on this, so if people do want to go with option 2, I will have my noms ready.

I also want to point out that if we do option 2, birthday users cannot double-dip with noms put to user vote and noms put to RNG draw. That was probably obvious, but I felt that I should explicity say it.
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I like option 2
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I did watch the trailer and some gameplay footage. I was thinking of the Ratchet & Clank games when I mentioned popular 3d platformers, but it looks more exciting than any of them, at least.

My birthday is in November, if you're collecting those yet.

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If you don't have a Game Pass subscription but have XBL Gold, Guacamelee 2 is $5 USD for XB1 and less than a dollar more for the complete edition.
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If you wish to participate in the Birthday theme, please send me your birthday month in a PM. I only revealed my birthday month because A. Most B8ers know the numbers in my username represent my birthday and B. To vote on which option because 2 would mean I would present my choices in less than a week.
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Im def doing

Guacamelee 2 (PC/XB1/PS4/Switch)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC/XB1/PS4/360/PS3/Ouya)

...(Super) Cloudbuilt (PC/XB1/PS4) is a maybe only cause unsure about motion sickness
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KCF0107 posted...

I have 150+ B8ers on my Steam Friends, so unless you are one of the few who isn't, I am the only GotM regular who owns it. Steam has also recently introduced Remote Play Together, which allows people to play local co-op games over the internet. Guacamelee 2 has a co-op campaign that can only be played locally with up to 4 players, but thanks to RPT and Guacamelee 2 being an eligible game, that isn't the case. Only one person has to own a copy, so nobody else has to buy this if they don't want to.

I am willing to try this out. I believe RPT might still be in beta, or at least is still working out its kinks, but it is available for all to try. I have researched how to do it, but I am going to do some tests later in the week. Also, I haven't played an online co-op Steam game since MSG, Lolo, Wickle, and myself played Castle Crashers two years ago, so we may need to move voice chat to our Discord channel if Steam/Gucamelee's is insufficient. Let me know if anyone is interested.

For the record, I have a key for Guacamelee 2 that I just haven't installed yet (hence nominating it.)

But this sounds very interesting, I'm game for another co-op attempt!
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Option 2 sounds the most fun.
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Through posting and PMs, it seems that it may be a unanimous decision to go with Option 2 for the Birthday 2020 theme.
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KCF has beaten The Last of Us

When I first beat it about five years ago, my thoughts were consumed with the utter disappointment with how the game ended with Joel basically becoming the villain to mankind and thus wiping out any sense of accomplishment in the 15 or so hours I spent with the game.

Now that I knew what was coming, I focused harder on the other stuff from the game. The online, when it was still active for PS3, was far and away the best thing about that, but with that being shut down, the campaign is really just okay. The voice acting and ranged weapons are great, and the nail bomb and bladed melee weapon attacks can lead to morbidly hilarious situations, but the campaign isn't all that special.

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Because of Steam's Autumn sale, a few of next month's games are on sale through December 3rd

Batman: Arkham Asylum -$5 USD
https://store.steampowered.com/app/35140/Batman_Arkham_Asylum_Game_of_the_Year_Edition/

Super Cloudbuilt - $4 (I still have one key to give away)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/463700/Super_Cloudbuilt/

Cloudbuilt - $5 (I have no idea what advantages the original might have over the "remastered remake")
https://store.steampowered.com/app/262390/Cloudbuilt/

Guacamelee 2 - $4
https://store.steampowered.com/app/534550/Guacamelee_2/

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As for this month, only Edith Finch is on sale for $10 USD
https://store.steampowered.com/app/501300/What_Remains_of_Edith_Finch/


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Gameking has beaten The Last of Us.

I really love this game, and I'm so glad it holds up. The gameplay isn't revolutionary or anything, and I can see why others might not love it, but I like the pacing of it a lot. I really get into the groove of things, and it's just so satisfying to so well in this game. The characters of Joel and Ellie are a lot of fun, and I think the story, while somewhat simple, is told really well. When I played this in 2013 it was one of my favorite games, and I think it still is today.

I'm hoping to play through Edith Finch tomorrow, so we'll see if I can get finish it in time.

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Edith Finch beaten

That was a fun if short experience. I'm glad it was part of ps+ a while back because it's not the type of game I would have bought myself.

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I'm going to go ahead and call it that we will be doing option 2 for birthday theme.

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Gameking has beaten What Remains of Edith Finch.

I don't play a lot of walking simulators, but I really liked this one. Structuring it with all those mini stories of the family members leads to some really creative sections. Gregory's chapter was far and away my favorite, but the swinging chapter was pretty stand out too.

Definitely a game I'll think about for a while after playing.

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For the second straight month, we are in danger of ending our unbroken beaten games streak. It is all up to @MegamanX I believe.

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Doing it on twitch in a few, no worries
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MegamanX has beaten Rock of Ages
I still like this game but realize how easy it is now.
Turn 1 spam money finder everywhere
Roll your ball to attack
Turn 2 spam flying blimps everywhere
Roll your ball to attack
Turn 3 setup some catapults
Roll your ball to win
Repeat

Took me about 5 hrs total
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Not really a part of this but seeing the topic title reminded me that I wanted to play Edith Finch

Played through it last night while my wife watched. When the deer knocked Sam off the cliff, she gasped and had to take a break to drink some tea.

I watched a video that made the case that Edie Finch is the villain of the story. She initially uses the curse as an excuse for deaths that were caused by negligence (Molly poisoning herself, Calvin going over the cliff from him swing), and she revels in the curse and the attention it brings (the comic book, the tabloid article about the moleman, the fact that all the bedrooms are kept as death shrines). Her obsession with the curse and her fantastical tales of death cause issues with recklessness (Sam) and disillusionment with reality (Milton, Lewis).

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@VintageGin this is open to anyone join us!
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VintageGin posted...

Not really a part of this but seeing the topic title reminded me that I wanted to play Edith Finch

Played through it last night while my wife watched. When the deer knocked Sam off the cliff, she gasped and had to take a break to drink some tea.

I watched a video that made the case that Edie Finch is the villain of the story. She initially uses the curse as an excuse for deaths that were caused by negligence (Molly poisoning herself, Calvin going over the cliff from him swing), and she revels in the curse and the attention it brings (the comic book, the tabloid article about the moleman, the fact that all the bedrooms are kept as death shrines). Her obsession with the curse and her fantastical tales of death cause issues with recklessness (Sam) and disillusionment with reality (Milton, Lewis).

I totally agree with the theory and that was the assumption I had particularly after that final scene with Edie and Edith's mom when she's trying to get Edith out of the house.
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MegamanX comes through HUGE once again.
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Cody has beaten What Remains of Edith Finch.

That was a solid walking simulator. I liked it, wouldn't say I loved it. I felt like the constantly changing formats helped keep it fresh, but man is this one a downer.
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