inFamous: Second Son (PS4)

Date Purchased:  August 4, 2015

Date Completed: September 15, 2015
Price: $4.96 (The Souce)

 

Best $5 I’ve ever spent.   I’ve always liked the inFamous series, the first one being my favorite, but I’d heard mixed things about this one.  The gameplay is good, it looks beautiful, but I’ve heard the main character is a little … “bad” … for lack of a better term. I too found this to be true, but in the end I really enjoyed my time with this game.  Summertime gaming is tough, and despite a break for Rocket League in there, I got back in and finished this one strong, even with Mario Maker in the library.  I’d recommend it even at $20.  Had a lot of fun (minus that last boss battle that went on forever, ugh).

Super Mario Deluxe (Gameboy Color/3DS)

Date Purchased:  August 26, 2015
Date Completed: September 11, 2012
Price: $5.99 (eShop)

I’ve played the OG Super Mario Brothers a lot.  I’ve purchased it many times, but for some reason I always thought this “deluxe” version was inferior.  It’s not.  If you’ve never played the original this might be the definitive version to play.  Not only does it have the full game inside it’s little GBA cart, it has extra modes, and the full level set of the unreleased Super Mario Bros 2 (Japan) in there as well (slightly modified from it’s ridiculously hard Japanese brother).  The game also has some extra challenges, and bonuses including a Calendar!  NEAT!  Okay, not so neat.  I’d recommend trying this out, it was worth the price of admission and fun to play through all the levels again.  Thank goodness for restore points on the 3DS though. 

Super Mario Bros 3 (NES/3DS)

Date Purchased:  August 26, 2015
Date Completed: September 7, 2012
Price: $5.99 (eShop)

In anticipation for “Super Mario Maker” I downloaded a bunch of classic Mario games for play on the 3DS.  Yes, I already owned them on other consoles, but thought the portable nature would get me to play them all the way through.  I started with some classic Super Mario, but quickly switched to Super Mario 3.  What a great game.  I’ve played this many times all the way through, but hadn’t done so in a long time.  No level skipping, no warping, one by one I made my way through.  Thank goodness for restore points, this game was much more difficult than I remember.   I’d also forgotten about the variety of levels and enemies I haven’t seen since.  This game deserves it’s rank among the best of all time. If you’ve never played it complete, I highly recommend you do.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D (3DS)

Date Purchased:  August 29, 2015

Date Completed: August 30, 2015

Price: $6.79

 

I’ve owned almost as many versions of Street Fighter as I have versions of Tetris.  I’m not sure how many, but it’s a lot.  I was hesitant to purchase this version due it’s portable nature, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.  This is a great version of an iconic franchise and has all the bells and whistles of it’s console big brother.  Online play is surprisingly good despite that I’m not very good.  Put me on a local stage however and “I will crush you”.  Highly recommend.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (PS3)

Date Purchased: June 9, 2015
Date Completed: August 13, 2015
Price: Free (PS+)

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is a short game in a setting that made me wish it was longer.  I really enjoyed the "Western" element as few games ever go there.  The graphics are cell shaded which gives the game a cartoonish look, but it's actually a nice looking game.  The voice acting is awesome (except for Dwight) and the sound is top notch.  A great story with excellent narrative.  If there are any knocks against it, it's that the story is narrated even in an intense firefight, and it's hard to concentrate on both things at the same time.  The "dueling" system also seemed more like luck than skill.  Overall really good however.  Recommend.

The Pile 08/08/2015

Picked up a couple more games recently, after finishing the last of the unfinished home console Zelda games I decided to start finishing off the handheld ones, so I picked up Link's Awakening from the eShop.  Also found Infamous: Second Son for $5, so I couldn't pass that up.

Halo Master Chief Collection: Halo 3 (Xbox One)

Date Purchased:  November 15, 2014
Date Completed: August 5, 2014
Price: Free (Xbox Game Share)

I was cruising along with Halo 3 and quite enjoying it when Majora’s Mask landed in my lap.  Halo took the back seat and I recently picked it up.  Little did I know I only had a couple hours left.  Great game and it was a huge advantage playing it right after Halo 2 as far as story is concerned.  It was a little difficult playing this one after the remastered Halo 2, but the gameplay still holds up.  The cut scenes are pretty rough compared to the beautiful Halo 2 CG.  Now only ODST and Halo 4 remain until they add Halo: Reach as DLC.  I'm calling it here...