Twennytoo Five Hundo

In future year AD2022 I apparently logged 500 video games (mostly just played, not finished - can you even imagine). Am I proud of it? Of course not, brother, pride is a sin. Here they are in their entirety in order of play:

Hagane: The Final Conflict
Hagane: The Final Conflict
Essential Amemiyacore. Very fun movement and awesome art direction - the Zeiram hat is flying around in here! Watch out!!
Immortality
Immortality
Wasn't too keen on where this one ended up but it's an interesting take on FMV games nonetheless. I would watch all of the movies in it.
Mirai Ninja
Mirai Ninja
Probably wouldn't have played this if it wasn't attached to an Amemiya movie. Very frustrating at points!
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors
Played for 10 minutes and refunded it. If I want to waste my time I've a million other pointless games and they let me press an attack button.
Gunstar Heroes
Gunstar Heroes
Also very cool! Good name to say as well. GUNSTAR
Alien Soldier
Alien Soldier
Extremely dope. I was only able to finish it with save states, but I want to try without because it really is just that cool. Play it!
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
Only played the first mission and then put it to the side because I felt like it would deserve some proper time dedicated to it. One for next year.
Contra: Hard Corps
Contra: Hard Corps
Very dope. I was halfway through it before I got "Hard Corps". I played as the wolf guy obviously, he has shades.
Fashion Police Squad
Fashion Police Squad
Fun throwback shooter - I'd never heard of it but a friend said hey, you might like this and they were right. Nice!
Mega Man 8-bit Deathmatch
Mega Man 8-bit Deathmatch
The amount of work that's gone into this is insane, and it wasn't for nothing: this game is very cool! I need to play more.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Played this to test out an Apple TV I had to get for work. Thoroughly depressing.
Rolling
Rolling
For no reason I can discern the song It Came From Japan by the Von Bondies popped into my head, and I had to remember why I even know that song, and I remembered it's because it was in this game so I had to go play it. THPS it is not.
Shinobi 3D
Shinobi 3D
There's something I can never quite put my finger on about 3DS platformers. They always feel like they have pretty similar physics to them, and I don't think those feel particularly good. Didn't jive with this but you could probably do worse.
Nightshade
Nightshade
The first PS2 game iterated on slightly, i.e. very good. You should play these!
The Revenge of Shinobi
The Revenge of Shinobi
Sadly nowhere near as good as the original Revenge.
Shinobi
Shinobi
What a great game! Wish I'd played this at the time as it probably would have blown me away. Hey, listen to this!
Shinobi Legions
Shinobi Legions
Adding in live-action FMVs are fun but otherwise this is an immediate step down from 3.
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Not quite as punishing as Revenge, but also more simplistic in level design. That's my only complaint, though - this game rules otherwise. You can tell they're really pushing the Mega Drive as far as it'll go. Looks awesome, sounds awesome, bunch of new movement options, good game.
Shinobi II: The Silent Fury
Shinobi II: The Silent Fury
Same story, just can't match up to the main games.
Shinobi
Shinobi
Wasn't really into this either. Wouldn't be the Game Gear if it wasn't hit or miss, I guess!
The Cyber Shinobi
The Cyber Shinobi
Decidedly less cool.
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Still hard, still cool. Great music in this.
The Revenge of Shinobi
The Revenge of Shinobi
Also very hard! Such a cool game though.
Shadow Dancer
Shadow Dancer
Liked this more than the first game, but the difficulty is still absolutely sadistic.
Shinobi
Shinobi
Relentless game. Cruel!
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R
Don't like Guilty Gear at all but played this with some friends who were trying to get into it. If I played it I would main Venom.
Mafia II: Definitive Edition
Mafia II: Definitive Edition
Played the original and thought it was boring as hell. In years since I've seen a lot of people talk about how good it was, so I thought I might not have given it a fair shake before and tried this out. I was right the first time.
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Started this whilst I was on a bit of a Holmes kick from watching some of the Jeremy Brett series. I cooled off but I'll get back to it eventually!
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Avoided this for ages because of the shift to JRPG combat, finally gave it a go since it was free on PS+ and confirmed my fears. Just don't enjoy it at all. The battle UI looks insanely cheap as well.
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2
Watching my cousin play this traumatised me as a kid, finally decided to face my demons and play it. Inventory management and backtracking are not very exciting - dropped it with no plans to return after getting out of the police station.
NEO: The World Ends with You
NEO: The World Ends with You
Same story, sitting for ages, finally finished. I didn't like this nearly as much as the original but ate up all the first game fanservice like a champ, so it's all good by me.
The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
Another game I'd had sitting for ages and finally got around to finishing. The final stretch of this had me dancing about like a madman. Real highpoint of the series stuff.
Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III
Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III
Fairly standard beatemup but the Conan aesthetic is very strong here. Has that one great track that's in Taiko as well.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Sublime remake package. I've played this so much this year. THPS gameplay has aged like a fine wine.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby
Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby
I've played all of 10 minutes of this so far, can't say anything.
American Hero
American Hero
The bad kind of FMV game and also barely functional. The cheek of them to act like this is some unearthed classic of the genre.
Ion Fury
Ion Fury
I was having fun with this, but my save messed up and I haven't gone back to it yet.
Chinatown Detective Agency
Chinatown Detective Agency
Fun point-and-click that has a bunch of sections where you'll have to do some googling about real-world locations and history. I like when games do that kind of thing!
Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York
Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York
Better than the previous one, I think. I'd be willing to play more of these.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York
Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York
Had this game in progress for literal years, finally made the effort to finish it this year. It's fine for a short choose your own adventure type thing, don't really have all that much to say about it.
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man
I'm just confused that this was made and released. Did nobody involved know they were making a crap game? Who was it meant to please?
Final Vendetta
Final Vendetta
Pretty decent game! An oddity in that it's very clearly trying to ape the SNK/KOF look - not really something I associate with the genre. It's pretty basic, but short and sweet, worth playing if you can grab it cheap. You may also notice that this is the fourth game of this genre on the list so far that has Genzoman cover art. There can be too much of a good thing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Easily the best Turtles beatemup, just brimming with personality. Went through singleplayer and with four players and had an absolute blast. Best OST of the year easily as well.
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4
Replay. This close to being a perfect videogame. It really is just stupidly good. Play it now if you haven't already!
Battletoads
Battletoads
Wanted to like this, but I just found it kind of obnoxious, and I don't think it's a particularly good beatemup. Disappointing.
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
I'm not really sure who this is for.
Jitsu Squad
Jitsu Squad
Not really into the style of it but it plays pretty well! Was surprised at this one.
Treachery in Beatdown City
Treachery in Beatdown City
Thought this might be cool but as soon as I saw the battle system I nope'd straight out. Not in the market for turn-based beatemups, sorry.
Eight Dragons
Eight Dragons
A throwback to Renegade, so not something I really want to bother with.
​The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
​The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
A good remake of the good remake. Japanese title is better.
River City Girls
River City Girls
I have nothing but disdain for this. Genuinely repellent to me.
Way of the Passive Fist
Way of the Passive Fist
Cool stuff here, almost rhythm-game like. Some of the bosses can be frustrating but I had a good time with it.
The friends of Ringo Ishikawa
The friends of Ringo Ishikawa
Replay. I think this game is cool although it's often an absolute chore to play. If it was half as long it'd be great.
Streets of Red: Devil's Dare Deluxe
Streets of Red: Devil's Dare Deluxe
Mechanically fine but the style just isn't my thing.
Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
This game can fuck right off. Honestly.
Raging Justice
Raging Justice
Why does THIS game look like this? Who put THEM up to it?
Wulverblade
Wulverblade
Just looked and felt low-rent, like a Flash game you would have played in the early 2000s. The whole ancient warriors fuck yeah thing isn't really for me either.
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans
It's really fun that a game devoted to a mainstay Italian cinema duo exists, and it looks really good, but the gameplay could never be accused of being deep. Whole bunch of beatemups like this.
Coffee Crisis
Coffee Crisis
Weird not-very-good game that feels like it's some in-joke I'm not getting between steamers or something.
River City Ransom: Underground
River City Ransom: Underground
Even worse than regular River City Ransom, because it introduces a bunch of characters who would be cool in any other game but are stuck in this one.
Fight'N Rage
Fight'N Rage
Genuinely astounding effort for one guy. Awesome combo system, this was walking the Streets of Rage 4 walk before that game existed. Only problems I have with it are the lighting is a bit much at times and the main girl leans way too hard into anime fanservice for my taste. Genuinely really good game.
Double Dragon IV
Double Dragon IV
Trying very hard to be the NES games, but not quite managing it. A bit sad about this one.
The TakeOver
The TakeOver
Why does this game look like this? Who put them up to it?
Dead Island Retro Revenge
Dead Island Retro Revenge
An interesting deviation from the standard belt scroller formula, but not very engaging beyond that.
River City: Tokyo Rumble
River City: Tokyo Rumble
More Kunio-kun that I cannot abide.
99Vidas
99Vidas
Scott Pilgrimcore. Nope.
Mother Russia Bleeds
Mother Russia Bleeds
Hyper-edgy game. Combat is pretty satisfying but not deep enough to justify the length and large number of samey enemies.
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Scott Pilgrim, but now composed exclusively of anime pervert characters. I wish for a world where its kind cannot exist.
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons
This has about as much relation to actual Double Dragon as the movie does. Total slop, don't even think about it.
Dragon's Crown Pro
Dragon's Crown Pro
A good take on the formula laid down by the D&D games. Just went on a bit too long for me at the time, but I want to get back to it.
Charlie Murder
Charlie Murder
This is in the same vein as something like The Dishwasher for me - i.e., games that I assume you're probably into if you like Jhonen Vasquez.
Double Dragon Neon
Double Dragon Neon
At least, another actually good Double Dragon game! It can be frustrating at points (staring directly at the final boss) but I think the dodge stuff is really fun. Not huge into the 80s throwback stuff, it's always under about ten separate layers of irony, but it does have the single best rendition of the Double Dragon theme.
Abobo's Big Adventure
Abobo's Big Adventure
Fun as a tribute to the NES but it couldn't really hold my attention.
Code of Princess
Code of Princess
Another Guardian Heroes-alike. I don't think I'm into these, sorry!
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition
Replay. Couldn't stand this game when it came out, can't stand the franchise in general. Anamanaguchi can also go away.
The Warriors: Street Brawl
The Warriors: Street Brawl
Nothing like the PS2 game, but a lot like a whole bunch of garbage beatemups. Don't bother with it.
Streets of Fury EX
Streets of Fury EX
Actually pretty good! Just a shame that it contains Doug "The Nostalgia Critic" Walker. If you play it, just try to pretend he's not there.
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers
Replay. Didn't like it on release, didn't like it now.
TMNT
TMNT
Probably a little overlong for what it is, but this is a solid GBA game.
Final Fight: Streetwise
Final Fight: Streetwise
Completely odious game. I genuinely have no idea why or how this got made.
God Hand
God Hand
Replay. One of the best games ever made. If you've never played God Hand, please go play God Hand.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
This is pretty cool but I'm not into Mortal Kombat so I couldn't be bothered finishing it. Probably really fun with two players.
Death by Degrees
Death by Degrees
Replay. Bad. Everyone knows it.
The Warriors
The Warriors
Very cool game. Remake this please.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Not amazing but a pretty charming little game. Parrying blaster bolts back will always be fun.
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation
About as good as GT: Final Bout, i.e. not very.
Dancing Sword: Senkou
Dancing Sword: Senkou
Don't remember much of this beyond there being some long button combinations you had to do for specific sections.
Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms
Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms
Bad. It's not worth it.
Gekido Advance: Kintaro's Revenge
Gekido Advance: Kintaro's Revenge
Beatemup/adventure game hybrid that isn't too great but has some real slick animation. There's one kick in this that I've absolutely seen before but I can't place where from. I think it might be a KOF2002 animation.
Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand
Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand
Do celebrities get mad when people make shitty games with their name on them? I would.
Sengoku 3
Sengoku 3
Supremely frustrating game because it looks and sounds absolutely awesome - they are clearly pushing the Neo Geo to its absolute limit - but it plays like complete ass. It takes two full attack strings to break open an item barrel. Every aspect of gameplay is coated in extra thick molasses.
The Crystal of Kings
The Crystal of Kings
Not ringing many bells. I think it was another digitised one?
Gekido
Gekido
Don't have much to say about the game, but Joe Madureira should be outlawed.
The Bouncer
The Bouncer
Had to give up on this one because I was playing on emulator and the button sensitivity stuff just didn't work. From what I played it felt like this game could probably be finished in about 15 minutes if you skipped every cutscene (which I will absolutely be doing if I ever play a proper copy).
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Just rewatch the movie, which is very good, instead of playing this game, which is very bad.
Age of Heroes: Silkroad 2
Age of Heroes: Silkroad 2
Intensely ugly game.
Knights of Valour
Knights of Valour
Another Three Kingdoms one. That's all I've got.
Zombie Revenge
Zombie Revenge
Interesting as a weird curiosity - a beatemup spinoff of House of the Dead - but otherwise not much to enjoy here. I do like that they threw in a Yusaku Matsuda-inspired guy for no reason.
Gaia Crusaders
Gaia Crusaders
Impressive amount of playable characters by the end of the game but otherwise not really all that great, I thought.
Dynamite Cop
Dynamite Cop
More of the same from Die Hard Arcade, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

4 Comments


1 year ago

I adore the dedication to adding notes to everything, even if they're just like two words. Hachoo sweep.

Bayou Billy is one of the most unfun NES games I ever played, goddamn what a slog-filled and mean-spirited game.

1 year ago

Damn this is impressive

1 year ago

Did you complete Ring Fit?!

1 year ago

@Vee this took me days lol
@Dalaamclouds that's not the word I'd use but thank you!
@letshugbro good lord no. new years resolution though!


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