Clock Tower: The First Fear

Tonight I went to the next platform up from the Famicom/NES... the Super Famicom/SNES! (please forgive my lack of reporting skills)

Clock Tower The First Fear was never released in the US and it's a shame because it's one of the better SNES games out there. Yes indeed. Tonight I am using my SNES USB controller that I got from RetroZone... and the emulated game translated in English that I got from DGEmu.com.

So I turn off the lights and sit through a pretty eerie introduction scene. I talk to all the girls twice and begin to play.


(PLAYS GAME)

Ok. MUCH creepier than last week's 'Sweet Home' by FAR! It's not pee your pants scary... it's more like a scary story that's being told while camping out scary.

There are some scenes that I had to go back through (because I died) that certain things didn't happen again. The first time through, I looked at the weird painting in the background here (just after I turned on the TV)... and the eyes started to bleed. I didn't notice it until I was walking out the door... and it was pretty spooky.

The second time through, nothing.

So with things that can or won't appear at times, that makes for a pretty good spook-factor in my book. Good replay value as you're gonna need it. You can continue, but you can also start over and try different things.

Playing in the dark REALLY gave me shudders at times. I know I jumped more than once and really felt like I had no idea what to do next. Then something would happen and I jump again!

It's really a shame that this game never saw the light of day in the USA because it would have been very popular. But this was also the time they (Nintendo) didn't want to show blood... and there's a lot of deaths in this game... I mean, all your friends are dying left and right!


I will definitely be playing this game again (in the dark) as the 16 bit graphics won't scare you otherwise. The soundtrack that turns on and off is fantastic as I forget it's there and then it startles me by turning back on.

But you can't go out and get an FAQ... if you know where the scares are going to come from then it won't be scary... or as much fun. This is a fun game. Also, see if you can make the emulator full screen... or at least big. The bigger the spookier.

The controls were a bit tough to get used to... and I really got frustrated at time trying to figure out how to use items you collect (A button, select item, then click on where you want to use it). Having it not gory was a plus, and I felt bad for the character when I didn't make the right decision and she got killed.

Great game, folks. Definitely get it and play it. A fun and not too scary Halloween game.

Legend of Zelda Timeline??

Twilight Princess: 5 hours 47 minutes

You know, My friend Eric really didn't like this game, but I am digging the crap out of it!

The Wiimote controls are almost like the N64 controls, the graphics are wonderful, and the storyline kicks arse. I just got the first bit of armour from the forest dungeon... and I only have 4 and 4/5 hearts... just got the boomerang... and the boss was pretty darn easy. That's making this game feel like it's gonna take quite some time, but all-in-all I really like it.

Here's hoping the rest of the game is just as fun.

The Minish Cap Quest was a Success!

I beat it! No really, I did. Click the image to see one of the closing credit screens (kind'a dark, but it's there). This game doesn't say "The End" so, it was nerve racking to get a picture... especially at 11:35pm. So official time was 23 hours and 4 minutes.


How do I feel about this game? Right off the bat I liked the humor and how it reminded me of Wind Waker. I really liked the searching for holes and ways to get through cracks... that feature was lots of fun. BUT (and this is a big but) I hated how it took forever to advance to a place JUST BECAUSE you had to trigger an event. And with events maybe activating after a dungeon or from talking to a Picori on the other side of the world... that was greatly annoying.

The game engine was tight... but to tell the truth (compared to all the other games) the ending was too easy. I really hate saying that because I really hate it when other people say that about games... it makes them sound smug. For me (who just finished all but the most recent two Zelda games) the ending could have been a bit tougher. In fact all the bosses were easier than I had anticipated. Which was ok... I really hate tough games that are tough just to be tough (koff)majorasmask(koff), but to defeat the enemies was just to wait them out and attack when you can. It's a good game, but I really think a line of code or two could have made it better.

The figurines were a great add-on and I enjoyed collecting them... but I wish I could have looked at them at any time from the menu.

But I still liked it. A lot.

So, for a really interesting game that I wouldn't mind finding all the hidden things... but despise the searching around the whole game world to talk to one character to open the friggin' library... I give Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap four Picori Warios.


Onward ho... to the game that I have been waiting most of a year (literally) to play... and ignoring/avoiding all information about the storyline and gameplay: Twilight Princess on the Wii!

SWEET HOME

So I begin my month of horror video games by going to the first ever horror game: Sweet Home. The idea is not to finish the games, but to rate them on scaryness.

Now, I hate scary movies (rarely see them) and I have not played any scary games... but this is October and I am feeling very brave as of late... and it seemed a fun way to pass the time since I'm not working on a big costume this year. My value of how scared I get may be MUCH different than yours, so I will try to be very specific when I rate them.

I'll also try to record myself playing them, but since it's in the dark (and me with a normal digital cam-corder) it might be tough. But I'll only include the parts that made me jump so you can see my expression.



Now I have actually had this particular game cartridge since 1990 (when I started collecting import games) but I never played it (having, at the time, no ability to read Japanese). This time I can read Japanese but I am going to play it in English on an emulator. I couldn't find a good download for the English patch so I went to DGEmu.com and found it no sweat.

And I'm using an official NES controller via the USB adapter that I bought from RetroZone.

Come to find out that there was a movie released at the same time in the theatres... and it seems that they were based on each other rather than one coming first. If you would like to buy the movie, my "sources for obscure movies" found it for sale, but I'll just play the game for right now. You can also watch a strange shot-by-shot synopsis here. I have not yet gone through this yet as I don't want to have "spoilers".

So, in the words of Arino-sama: "Kachou ON!"

(plays game)

The scariest thing that happened this evening was when my dog "Kitty" started howling out of loneliness upstairs. All the lights were out in the house, I was downstairs, Jen was out... and halfway through my gameplay she starts howling out her sadness...

Bit creepy that.

But as far as the game goes, I was more jumpy by the unexpected things that happen during the game like the falling chandeliers and flying chairs that come out of nowhere. It is a bit frustrating to get anything done as you're constantly switching characters... but since each character has their own "item" then it makes it more challenging. And the barrage of powerful monsters that attack you from the get-go... and keep occurring and occurring...

The frescoes that you're supposed to find looked pretty spooky I guess... but there was this evil doll that popped out of nowhere and gave me a jump. I personally hate dolls. But I really wasn't scared per-se... by any of the game. Perhaps I'm just jaded by the graphics and CD quality of the games today... but to tell you the truth, it was a pretty groovy RPG as RPGs go. There's really no way to heal your HP and so you have to be very careful how you proceed. That's tough. There's interesting puzzles and hidden items.

Very much like the board game Arkham Horror where stuff just keeps popping up and you don't have time to think... that's what 'Sweet Home' is like.

You can definitely tell how the company tried to think of what might be spooky in a game and how they tried to make it so with the fade-ins. This was a brand new genre and the NES pulled it off well and I think that they were the only ones who could do it in the time of 8-bit games.

My suggestion: if you have a NES emulator, play this game. It's pretty good. It's not gonna scare the pants off of you, but it will be a good RPG with interesting horror aspects. Try it out.

I couldn't get the video camera working correctly for this week, so perhaps for next week.

Next week I'm going to mix things up by playing Clock Tower: The First Fear for the SNES... since it will show how horror games progressed from 8-bit to 16 bit. Then, the following week, I will play Resident Evil Code Veronica.

Minish Cap: 15 hours 56 minutes

This game is going FAST.

I have 14 hearts and am almost through to the Wind element. Unfortunately I have been... collecting figurines.

So sue me. I'm a collector.

Tomorrow I start my month of horror.
Also, tomorrow Phantom Hourglass comes out... but I'm not plying/buying it until I'm done with Twilight Princess.

Otherwise, I'm kinda' liking Minish Cap... for all the looking around I'm doing. Seriously... it's WORSE than the first Zelda. I think 6 hours have been JUST looking.

Minish Cap: 4 hours 16 minutes

...

...

...

What?

...you haven't had to make a wish lately.

Yeah. So?

...

...WHAT?

...I'm... I'm lonely...

...aw fer craps sake...

This game is bugging me in that "where the frack do I go now" way. I really despise that of this series. But, having played almost all the games, I am used to it and have a better idea of where to look for things.

So far I have 9 hearts, 2 elements, and I JUST got the Pegasus Boots. I have also been enjoying the figurine collection... although I don't like gettign to the place to do it as it takes a lot of time.

Into the swamps I go!

Ok. So where do I get the bow?

... You're... you're making a wish?

What? Yes.

Go to Castor Wilds, Go north, climb some vines.

Thanks.

No problem. It's good to be back, eh?

Yeah. It's good to be back.

Minish Cap: 1 hour 35 minutes

So far so good... but I am a little concerned. This game is fun, but many parts of it seem dumbed-down. It's actually a bit distracting in that sense.

As for the gameplay, the superior GBA graphics are like a warm breeze to this handheld game. I enjoy looking at it... which means a lot. Some of the finding out "where to go" is hard to determine, but I figured the first one out.

The only sad sad sad thing is that I think I have gotten so used to 'Ocarina', 'Majora's Mask', and 'Wind Waker' viewpoint and gameplay... that the 2/3 view is... old. NO! I must not think that way! 2/3 view FOREVER!!!.... maybe.

OCTOBER IS FRIGHT NIGHT!!!

For the month of October I am going to make Tuesday nights my "FRIGHT NIGHT".

So each week I am going to play a video game alone in the dark and see how I fare. I am not going to play all the way through the game, just for a few hours.

The (suggested) itinerary is:
* October 2nd: Sweet Home for the Famicom.
- This was the first ever horror video game to come out for any gaming system. It was so unique that it inspired the people who made the next game on my list...

* October 9th: Clock Tower for the Super Famicom or for the PS1
- This game series started in Japan and didn't come over until its second game was released on the PS1. I am sorely interested in playing the first one but think I might get more scare-effect from the PS1 game (if I can find it).

* October 16th: Resident Evil: Code Veronica for the PS2.
- I haven't played the game nor seen the movies. In a kind-of backwards way I am actually going to view the movie on October 4th and then play the game two weeks after.

* October 23rd: Silent Hill 2 for the PS1
- Another horror game that I have not seen the movie nor played the game. So on October 25th I will watch the movie but after I play the game (unlike Resident Evil) since it is closer to the actual game... and I don't want spoilers.

* October 30th: Fatal Frame for the X-Box.
-I have been duly warned about playing this game in the dark. I'm gonna do it anyway.

If you think I should play something else, then let me know!

Really Fun Game

And it is done. I figured out the pattern and finally defeated Gannon. Total time: 42 hours and 16 minutes!
Spoilers abound.

For all that I received from the game in gameplay, storyline, adventure, and what-not... I was a bit disappointed in the ending. But That aside, it is a spectacular game in my view.

The ocean sequences were long and drawn out but, in retrospect, they really needed to be. To have treasures hidden all over the oceans and to have the islands diverse enough, they really needed to be THAT far apart. Getting the cyclone power helped immensely.

The side quests were extremely enjoyable even though I wasn't able to finish them all. I want to go back to my copied-save (before I went into Gannon's Tower) and try to get all them completed on my own.

I loved Ocarina Of Time, but this had a different feel. I don't know if it was because of the character styles, the non-linear gameplay or what... but I like Wind Waker just as much as Ocarina but for different reasons. To me, Wind Waker FELT like a Zelda game.

All in all when I sat down to play I knew I was going to have a fun time.

So for giving me such a great game in a way I was not expecting I give "The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker" 5 Zombie Warios.

Now wait a sec... it looks like this has my highest rating!?!

Onwards and upwards.

I am skipping (for now) Four Swords as I feel that even though it is a Zelda game that it was meant for 4 people. So I shall call it what I did the BS Zelda game: "Bonus Game".

The last Zelda title for the GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. I don't know what to expect from this game but I have high hopes. I have three wishes again for this one so.. let's-a begin.

Wind Waker: 37 hours 1 minute

Almost there. I am fighting Gannon right now. But I'm doing very well for not having used any wishes! Well, those were mostly used up from having the Nintendo Power map (I suppose).

I have done quite a bit but have not finished all the side adventures. But...

This makes me feel good. I have almost everything... although I don't know what is the missing item in this spot.

I copied the game before I started fighting Gannon so that I can try to complete more later on. This game is really worth it.

Wind Waker: 5 hours 47 minutes

This game is really fun. The graphics are enjoyable and it's quite the challenge.

Let me re-phrase that...

It's FRIGGIN' TOUGH! This is NOT a game for beginners to the series. I just got the floating leaf and entered the second cave... six hours later! But I do like how the game gives you a few minutes and then gives you a hint if you seem to be stuck. THAT'S well needed!

But I can see taking the time to really dive into this game. I will say that I will avoid doing any of the side-ocean games/tasks until I get a bigger rupee-holding sack. Pulling treasure from the ocean and then not getting it because your purse is already full SUCKS.

I am taking away one of my "wishes" because not only do I have the Nintendo Power map but I have the GBA hook-up to talk to Tingle.

Seasons: 26 hours 34 minutes FINISHED!//Wind Waker: 2 hours 13 minutes

Man, has it really been THAT long? Well, I made it through "Oracle of Seasons" and forgot to take the screen image. I'll try from my save area and take one later on... but onward I venture to "Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

As for "Seasons", it was a pretty good game. Being on the GB AND the GBA was a neat twist as certain things were available in the GBA version that weren't in the other.

All in all nothing really surprised me though. The seasons were fun to work through and finding ways to get to areas unavailable in 3 of the 4 seasons was quite the challenge.

The story was lacking greatly though, in my opinion. From Ocarina and Majora's deep and entertaining storylines to go back to a 1 dimensional pattern was very disappointing.

But my love of the 2/3 view of the original will never waver, I feel, and it was great to have another game that harkened to the one that started it all... although the difficulty was not very difficult at all and that was a bit of a disappointment.

So, for all its retro fun and all its faults, I give Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons one snowball Wario and one spring Wario... for the seasons of winter and spring. A good game if you can find it, but don't expect much out of it.


Now, my journey is drawing closer to the Wii... but first, I have two more games to complete. The first of these is the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker for the Game Cube.


I will be playing this game on the Game Cube as I have been attempting to play all the games I get on the actual systems.

Already a few hours into it, I love the cel-shaded look of the game and the fun storyline. It's gonna be easy to get back to being used to a joystick instead of a D-pad.

GOT ITEM!

Yup, my hard puzzling work has paid off, and I have received my first two leitmarks!

You see when Season 1 of Perplex City was going on, the points you made from solving cards was added up. When you reached a certin amount of points, then they would send you a leitmark.

Well, even though Season 1 is over, they are still awarding these little tokens to people who complete the point requirement for season 1 cards. Cool, huh?

DIG IT!

Perplex City... gone?

Well, it seems that the game that I have been SO gung-ho about lately has had some troubles. They let several of the storyline writers 'go'. I have heard that this was for the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) and not for the card game.

I got into this game at the beginning of April, and was so excited about the Season 2 cards that I bought all of the red-purple Season 1 cards as well. I love puzzles and had subscribed to Games Magazine from 1981-1991. So I love Perplex City, but perhaps for a different reason than the British players in that I love the cards.

Being in the States I have a very small chance of winning any treasure hunt happening in Great Britain. So in all honesty, the ARG was not that important. In fact, it was really just a fun thing to watch... but the cards have always been the first factor for me.

I love having a story, I find the mini things on the backs of the cards of season 2 EXTREMELY fascinating and have come to care for the characters of Sente, Viloet and Caine (my favorite)... but the ARG means nothing to me or the friends and family that I have gotten into the cards.

I will buy the next waves as soon as I can to support the company and I will probably buy the kids puzzle-toys (which they are announcing) when they get made for my cousins Michaela, Jeremy, and Miranda... and for me. Because I love puzzles.

I hope the storyline does come back but if the Season 2 hunt/ARG is lost forever, then I will still support the company. They make good puzzles and that's good enough for me.

As for the last stories of Violet, Kurt, and Scarlet... they were sad indeed. Kurt's was truly touching (and many people have speculated that the Nicholas he talks about was Nicholas Hawksmoor.

For those of you in England who enjoyed the ARG, I really hope that you find other games. I really feel bad that the carpet has just been pulled from under you like it was.

But for those of you like me who like the puzzle cards just for being puzzles, then all I can say is: "See you for some trades in wave 2!"

Well, it seems that the game that I have been SO gung-ho about lately has had some troubles. They let several of the storyline writers 'go'. I have heard that this was for the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) and not for the card game.

I got into this game at the beginning of April, and was so excited about the Season 2 cards that I bought all of the red-purple Season 1 cards as well. I love puzzles and had subscribed to Games Magazine from 1981-1991. So I love Perplex City, but perhaps for a different reason than the British players in that I love the cards.

Being in the States I have a very small chance of winning any treasure hunt happening in Great Britain. So in all honesty, the ARG was not that important. In fact, it was really just a fun thing to watch... but the cards have always been the first factor for me.

I love having a story, I find the mini things on the backs of the cards of season 2 EXTREMELY fascinating and have come to care for the characters of Sente, Viloet and Caine (my favorite)... but the ARG means nothing to me or the friends and family that I have gotten into the cards.

I will buy the next waves as soon as I can to support the company and I will probably buy the kids puzzle-toys (which they are announcing) when they get made for my cousins Michaela, Jeremy, and Miranda... and for me. Because I love puzzles.

I hope the storyline does come back but if the Season 2 hunt/ARG is lost forever, then I will still support the company. They make good puzzles and that's good enough for me.

As for the last stories of Violet, Kurt, and Scarlet... they were sad indeed. Kurt's was truly touching (and many people have speculated that the Nicholas he talks about was Nicholas Hawksmoor.

For those of you in England who enjoyed the ARG, I really hope that you find other games. I really feel bad that the carpet has just been pulled from under you like it was.

But for those of you like me who like the puzzle cards just for being puzzles, then all I can say is: "See you for some trades in wave 2!"