wongojack

I'll get us going in 2023 - moderator, please pin and unpin last year's version of this thread Undertale - I first heard about Undertale years ago when it showed up on some reviewers "best of" lists. I stashed it in the backlog and finally got around to playing it last month. I had read a little about the game but discovered all the characters and the story on my own in my first playthrough. Given how highly it was reviewed, I kind of expected there to be a bit more real-world weight to the story. Like, I thought that it might be revealed that the kid was abused and was inventing stories about monsters as a way to deal with trauma or something. However, that extra twist never came, and I'm kinda scratching my head at how this game has been reviewed by critics so well. I mean, it is cute, and it definitely is a love letter to JRPGs, but game of the year? really? Because it knows what is in your save file? I wasn't inspired enough to do a second "pacifist" playthrough, so I could be judging this game unfairly, but playing a game 2x is a HUGE ask for me. If you can't give me your best experience the first time through, I can't really be bothered any more. Undertale is a good game for people already enamored with Earthbound, Pokemon, and JRPGs in general, but I can't recommend it. It is a dumbed down version of any JRPG you can think of, and if the characters and story don't happen to click with you (they didn't with me) then it will feel like a waste of time. I give it a 2 out of 5. The Last of us Part II - Well, this was interesting. First, I'll say that I didn't really enjoy the original game as much as others. It seemed that story-wise (and story is very important in this series) they were treading over well-trodden ground. Even for video games, there are so many zombie and post-apocalyptic games that came before The Last of Us that you wonder how the pitch went. It is NOT an original story or setting at all, so I was surprised at how many people went nuts for the original. Anyway, the first game grew on me as I was able to get into the gameplay, and I ended up liking it enough. The sequel however was immediately more fun. However, I've never played a game that overstayed its welcome more than TLOU pii. The game was simply too long, and I mean that in a way that I've never ever experienced before. This is the first game I've ever played where I was involuntarily prompted to view it like a film and think "they really needed an editor." If this was a movie, it would have been a 3-hour snore-fest that should be 90 minutes. My principal complaint is that the actual gameplay just doesn't really change that much as you are playing. Sure, it is nice to be able to swim or to drive a boat, but those things don't necessitate another 3 hours (or more) of game time. I would have appreciated the Batman Arkham approach where they gave me a lot of choices about what to pursue and then given me even more gameplay through challenge rooms. Challenge rooms would have been perfect for this for another reason, and that is because they put you in many interesting situations, but you only ever get one shot at them. One shot with your various weapons and abilities. It would have been incredible to have been challenged in different ways in a more "arcade" setting, but I sense that someone was really in love with their story, and it hurt the pace of gameplay a bit. With all of that said, this is still an excellent game, and I give a 4 out of 5. I'm not really looking forward to the upcoming show based on this game because of how derivative this series is, but I'm going to watch it anyway, hoping to be surprised. I hope they borrow the composer from the game, because the music was incredible IMO. Something else specifically related to that picture I chose. This game is violent in a way that I've never really experienced before (and I've played a lot of games). Ellie and Abby must both murder in silent, up-close, and personal ways over and over again. There are a handful of times that you as the player happen accidentally on a screen like above where you are "routinely" stealth killing an enemy only to pivot the camera in such a way to see both Ellie's murderous face and her victim's as they expire. It is one thing to shoot an alien and watch it go splat, but entirely different to commit knife stabbing murder more than 50 times in a game. All performed by a teenage girl in the name of simple revenge. It disturbed me.

The way I would phrase it is that the games changed with the PS2 and they've stayed about the same ever since. Same genres, same controller, network play. We are only just now getting to something that is different with VR, no media, and always connected experiences. If the trackers were renamed to "Pre Crash," "Golden Age," and "Platinum Age" that would leave room for something to come along later that you could call anything you want, and we'd never have to talk about classic vs modern or moving systems between the trackers again. That being said, an argument could be made to move the GBA to the classic tracker and the Dreamcast to modern. I'd be happy with either of those moves (or none).

My vote - never. Just rename the trackers.

Cool! There is also a "modern games beaten" thread if you are into such things. I'm sure you can think of more short games if that is what you are after. There are even some on the 2600 that would count.

Looking forward to another year

Wow - have we really already been doing this for 5 years?!

It was a long video talking about the growth of the gaming industry, but I specifically remember a reporter walking around in (I think) NYC, and he talked to several people in arcades about Asteroids. I remember someone explaining that there are two types of Asteroids players - those that camp out and kill the satellites and those that don't. I wish I could remember the exact phrasing that player used. Was it "camp-out?" Probably not Anyway, I THINK I first saw this video from a link here, but searching on Youtube doesn't seem to reveal the exact one that I'm thinking of. Again, I think the bigger context of the video was the financial growth of the video game industry, and it was definitely pre-crash. If anyone knows the vid I'm talking about, plmk.

Incredible job as always @carlsson, and thanks to @thegoldenband for doing this for so many years as well.

Yes Doom 2016 - One of the best games of all time Doom Eternal - I quit and never finished

I found myself just today wondering if Bydo every went back and played Doom 2016. I hope you did because it is probably the one of the greatest games of the last decade.

I hear you, but DFW is on a whole other level. There's at least 6 different mom n pop shops (retrobution, FX, RGR) if that's your thing, and Free Play Arcade makes Pinballz look pretty week. Plus, we have Cidercade, Quarter lounge, NVGM and even others. There's also all the places that have thrown arcade games in the mix next to axe throwing or whatever. On top of that there's the modern arcade stuff like PinStack, Main Event, Dave and Busters. Those at least have a few of the new Stern pinball tables these days . . . Two bit Circus, I can't even keep up.

I love INTV pinball. Here are some tips I wrote when we played it in the HSC a few months ago. It should play great on the Evercade. FYI - I think you bumped it over 1k mins!

Dallas (and kinda Ft Worth) is incredible. I think we are probably the hidden capital of the retro-gaming world (in the Western Hemisphere). Not only do we have multiple retro game shops (both chains and mom n pop), but we also have the Free Play arcade chain as well as a handful of other arcades that specialize in classic games. We've also got multiple cons in the area every year AND the National Video Game Museum. On top of all that, the area is big enough and populated enough that if you are willing to put in the work on Facebook marketplace, Offer Up, Craigslist etc, there are still genuine deals to be found "in the wild." Sure, the Nintendo stuff gets soaked up fast, but I once got Intellivision Sears Backgammon and Checkers here for like $20. I bought my Astrocade and Vectrex for criminally low prices, and there is TONS of second-hand retro computer stuff changing hands all the time. I keep trying to tell people that DFW is a destination for retro gamers. An awesome long weekend would be to come here for the Texas Pinball Festival or the Let's Play gaming Expo (or both). I think most people would go home having seen more retro game stuff than they have in their entire lives. I get to experience it every year. . . . I should go to an arcade today

All right, a big week to close out the year PC Infernax 255 Rebel Galaxy 1463 Return to Monkey Island 514 Undertale 418 PS4 The Last Of Us pii 818 Wii Super Mario Galaxy 80 Super Mario Galaxy 2 642 I am well on my way to finishing Rebel Galaxy and TLOUii, and I was able to finish the main story/game elements for Return to Monkey Island and Super Mario Galaxy 2. This is probably a controversial opinion, but I think 'Galaxy' is my favorite Mario sub-series of all time. I posted about both games here:

As predicted - no classic time for me this week Happy New Year!

Ah - I have some that I just finished. Still got a bit more time off this weekend, but of course it is now 2023. In 2022 Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Took me years to get around to it, and I don't know why. I love the Galaxy series. They are love letters to 3d platforming and all the variety of gameplay involved in both games is truly amazing. There are some things to complain about of course like the lame excuse for a story, and the fact that the sound effects (not music) make my wife have to leave the room, but overall both of these games are an easy 5/5. Return to Monkey Island - A very worthy return to the series for Ron Gilbert and co. I get that some people were turned off by the art style, but I loved it. There are also some nice added little touches like a scrapbook to recap past adventures, and a built-in trivia game. Lots of hidden little secrets and achievements to give you a reason to replay. Easy 5/5.

I'm playing it too (via Xbox Gamepass), and I agree with you. I think it is a worthy sequel and continues the legacy of Monkey Island very well.

LOL - I've never played it. Should I move it up?

No classic time for me this week (and probably the coming week). Focusing heavily on more modern gaming backlog ATM. Happy New Year!

Hey @Nintendo64 - I like this thread and am pleased to see you back and posting. Here's to anxiety reducing activities in 2023!

PC Pinball FX3 119 Rebel Galaxy 85 Return to Monkey Island 184 Tainted Grail: Conquest 128 PS4 The Last Of Us pii 200 Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2 119 XOne Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China 44 Overcooked 2 70 Tunic 70 I spread things around some of the "almost" current gen platforms. I'm hoping to knock some of these out this week.

@bkumanchik It's perfectly fine, I was just trying to clarify. You might however have more luck searching for a thread specifically about the JZIntv and Steamdeck. You can try the AtariAge discord channel too (If that is your thing).

This thread is about a specific user interface for JZIntv. Are you using the UI listed in this thread?

I have some of the same criticisms, and I would also add the fact that often there are many quest-breaking bugs. It is routine to see PC players recommending updates in the edit console to fix simple bugs and outcomes. I pushed through the main story on PC when X360 was still current gen, and I can't get into it again. I did play the VR version for a while, but I quit. I've never sided with a faction or become a werewolf or completed the Elder Scrolls quest. I have played and finished Morrowind since I finished Skyrim, and I honestly have more fond memories of playing that and Oblivion. From a control standpoint, I prefer the "wheel" in Oblivion that keeps you out of the menus by letting you assign gear to a D-pad press (why did they dump that). I also liked that I could configure a button for magic without be limited to the lame shouts in Skyrim. I hated the shouts. All that to say, I loved your last bit "something about Skyrim just works." I don't think that it is the crowning glory of all RPGs, and I don't think it needed to be released 5+ times, but it definitely is a great game. Note to anyone - Please don't recommend mods to me. As an IT software-admin type guy, I've spent a huge portion of my career configuring and installing software. I don't waste time on that for fun.

PC Depixtion 55 Return to Monkey Island 157 PS4 The Last Of Us pii 304 Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2 98 XOne Let's Build a Zoo 80 Overcooked 2 40 Pinball FX3 91 I'm getting ready to put in a bit more serious time next week. I hope to finish Return to Monkey Island, TLOU ii, and Mario Galaxy 2 before the end of 2022.