Who has played ______ and can give me a recommendation?

[Beta Metroid]

True! I'm glad all are accessible. Like I said, I bring it up not because of my opinion of any of the games involved, but because of the strangeness of how the games are allocated (we have three collections released at the same time for the same platforms: Contra, Castlevania, and a Konami arcade grab-bag. Contra arcade games are put on the Contra collection, while a Castlevania arcade game is put on the arcade collection. It just strikes me as mildly odd...not a particularly good or bad decision). The Contra arcade games being the origin point of its series, while Haunted Castle is not is the only distinguishing point that comes to mind, but it still really doesn't answer why the Castlevania game is separated from the Castlevania collection.

 

[YangusKhan]

I didn't hate Haunted Castle when I played through it in MAME years ago, but I specifically played the Japanese version of the game, which drastically reduces how mean it is. I hesitate to call it a "good" game, but playing it with a more sane difficulty turned it into an enjoyable enough experience that I was able to 1CC it (perhaps that means it was *too easy* but who cares). Seeing a Castlevania with huge, arcade-style graphics is probably the biggest reason to play it. And IIRC the music is still excellent, as always.

 

[q 3]

Haunted Castle isn't a Castlevania because it doesn't have Castlevania in the title

yes I know the Japanese title is Akumajou Dracula exactly the same as a dozen other games, maybe that's what got Konami confused they didn't realize they had more than one game with that name

 

[Ludendorkk]

I've only played Haunted Castle on real hardware and it is a miserable experience

 

[Torzelbaum]

So how are the PC/Steam versions of Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 7-9 & Rocket Knight?

And what is different about the Remastered version of 8?

 

[Lokii]

PC/Steam versions of Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 7-9

Chrono Trigger was in sorry states but they've fixed a lot of it so it's pretty alright. The FFs are compromised. Totally playable with some extra bonuses like the ability to turn off encounters or get all items. That kinda stuff. But also the 2D backgrounds are very blurry due to being upscaled to modern resolutions. They're not the most polished versions of the game. Hopefully SE is developing versions that use the same processes that got SaGa Frontier and Legend of Mana looking so nice, but until then there's some fan mods that go a long way to making 8 and 9 look respectable if you want.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Yeah, I do wonder if there could be HD remakes / remasters of them at some point in the near future.

 

[Oathbreaker]

The Steam versions of FFVII and IX in particular are in my opinion the best versions because people have created pretty extensive resolution mods for the backgrounds in each. I don't know what it's called for VII but the Moguri mod for FFIX has done wonders for it. VIII's HD Remaster is fine and introduced even better new character models than IX's remaster did but doesn't seem to have done anything about the backgrounds on its own either so I imagine it'll be some time before a mod comes out to fix them. It also doesn't bode particularly well for a theoretical HD remaster of VII.

 

[Positronic Brain]

What's the word on the street for Chocobo Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy? It's on sale for 16€, but the fact that it has a ton of (cosmetic?) DLC is making my gaming sense tingle.

 

[MetManMas]

What's the word on the street for Chocobo Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy? It's on sale for 16€, but the fact that it has a ton of (cosmetic?) DLC is making my gaming sense tingle.

The DLC is safely ignored, it just lets you take dupes of Chocobo's job forms as an NPC/2nd player companion if you want to. You'll get tons of other companions without spending a dime.

Gameplay-wise it's pretty solid. More friendly than your average Mystery Dungeon, though you lose all your held items if you die and that can extend to your equipped gear if you play on Hard Mode.

Side dungeons are really about getting familiar with how the mechanics work and how to nest utilize your jobs and (sometimes) companions.

 

[Becksworth]

I still kind of want more Chrono Cross after beating it, so was looking for things in the spiritual successor category. How's Baten Kaitos Origin? I think I heard the card combat is more streamlined than the previous game. Is that right?

 

[FelixSH]

I'm not sure I would call it a spiritual successor, but it's a fun game, and yes, the combat is streamlined from the first game. It is still fast-paced, though, and might demand fast decisions.

I'd like to say more on it, but it's been a few years since I played it (so grain of salt to the stuff I said already). I DO remember liking it, it's a quality RPG.

 

[Becksworth]

I'd definitely say the original is spiritual successor to Cross, with the Masato Kato script, painterly pre-rendered background, and a opening cinematic featuring the opening of a book in a dimly lit attic while talking about a cataclysm that lead to humanity ascending to the skies, Zeal style. It's combat was a slog though if I recall...

 

[FelixSH]

Oh, I wasn't arguing the point, just wouldn't have been able to argue for or against it.

Hmm, I remember the battle system of the first as one of my all time favourites. I liked the second ones less. I think there was less of the deck building, and more generall cards, but way more frantic.

This is all based on vague memory, though. There was definitely some streamlining, but in the end, they both have pretty unique battle systems. It's hard to say how much you'll like it, I think.

Sorry, only while writing did realize that I don't remember enough to offer a useful opinion.

 

[Sarge]

Yes, the first game is fantastic. I loved the combat system once I got used to it, and I'm not even a "card game" guy. Getting a long chain was so satisfying.

Only advice if you roll with the first one: turn off voice acting. It destroys the mood of many scenes because it's so awful. Trust me, your brain will do a much better job with it.

 

[lincolnic]

Anyone play Tails of Iron? Saw it on sale today and it looks kinda neat.

 

[Octopus Prime]

I heard it was neat, but can’t confirm that one way or the other myself.

 

[Becksworth]

Hot Wheels Unleashed is on sale on Steam. As a kart racer fan would I like this?