Let's Play Zelda 2

The video above is a great Let's Play video of Zelda 2, the hardest Zelda I have ever played. Of course, I only played the original Zelda, Link's Awakening DX, and Oracle of the Ages. So I'm not a Zelda expert by any stretch of the imagination.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I finished Battle of Olympus and Crystalis - two of the most difficult action RPG for the NES. I beat both games thanks to the miracle of save states. I thought that beating Olympus and Crystalis will prepare me for Zelda 2. Nope! Zelda 2 is harder than both games combined. I hate fighting against armored and shield wielding opponents. I get killed or I get my health down so low that I never get a fighting chance against sub bosses. Yep, you heard me right, sub bosses. Not even the goddamn big boss of the dungeon.

Regardless of the difficulty, I can't seem to put down my console when playing Zelda 2. It is a testament to the awesome game play and immersiveness of the title. A lot of people claim that Zelda 2 is the black sheep of the Zelda franchise, but I really enjoyed this game even if I suck at it.

The controls of the game is responsive, I just really suck at it. I can't seem to get past the first dungeon at my current level. I read somewhere from someone that he allegedly leveled up before going into the first dungeon and yet he could not finish the first dungeon.

Kudos to the LPer in the video above. He makes playing Zelda 2 look easier than it really is. I have been enjoying a lot of LPs lately. I just like watching these great gamers beat a game.

I recommend that you play Zelda 2 if you have the skills. If you suck like me, then I suggest that you stick with  the original.

The Grindtastic Awesomeness of Dragon Warrior

Ah, the seminal console RPG, Dragon Warrior I. What can I say about it, it's the first RPG and it is rock hard, Nintendo hard. That is why I cheated and played the Gameboy color version instead of playing the NES one for my retrogame challenge.

You play the descendant of heavenly hero, Eldrick (or Loto), out to rid the world of the evil Dragon Lord and save princess Lora along the way. Unlike the modern console RPGs we are used to, you play as a lone warrior in a turn-based combat system that has become standard for JRPGs.

This game for the GBC has been toned down a lot. For example, the encounter rate is not that frequent and leveling up is a lot faster. Plus, you get to take advantage of the field log. The field log allows you to save anywhere in the game, which is nice since you can only save when you meet the king in the original Dragon Warrior.

The GBC version also has updated graphics. Nothing spectacular but it's cute and still very much influenced by the art of Akira Toriyama. The sprites really stand out and the monsters are very detailed, much like the NES version.

I can't recommend that you play this game. If you have nothing better to do, then go ahead. However, if you want a good storyline and great visuals, I suggest that you play Final Fantasy XIII, you 3D graphics whore!

NES - Battle of Olympus

This game is hard as nails. Battle of Olympus is an old NES action/RPG that is highly overlooked. It copies a bit of Zelda 2, but it has improved a lot of it greatly. You play an unnamed hero out to prove yourself to the Greek gods of old. Frack the storyline, though. This game is the shit. This must be one of the very first implementation of a Metroidvania gameplay. Much as I hate using that term, that is the best description of the gameplay of this game.

Like I said above, this game is very difficult. I feel that this game is even more difficult than the NES Crystalis. The most dangerous creatures in this game are the small bats, slime, and maybe the birds. Don't worry about boss fights like the Cyclops or Hydra. If you are man enough to survive the little pests, you will have no problem dealing with the bosses for the most part.

The video above is a Let's Play series for this game. As you can see on the 12 episodes, this game is a killer. You can die in levels where you face small but speedy enemies. The screen in some of the levels gets fast and furious even if you are equipped with the best sword in the game.

I have not yet finished the game. I have to load save states multiple times to even get through a lot of the stages. I'm now going for the Pegasus, which is no small task as you can see from video 5 of the Let's Play series.

I'm still charging my Dingoo as I write this post, so it will be some time before I can get back to the game. If you are a retrogamer, this game will satisfy your Action/RPG cravings. It's hard and frustrating, but you will not be able to drop your controller.

Edit: I beat the game after a thousand loads of save states. Any idea what NES games I can play now? I'm planning to play Castlevania 3, Dragon Warrior, or Zelda 2.

Shadowrun for the Genesis (Revisited)

This Let's Play series for Shadowrun on the Genesis inspired me to finish the game without using any cheat codes whatsoever. This Let's Play or LP is one of the funniest LP's I've ever seen.

The LPer, Chilitomatonoodle, is a funny guy. The LP is not yet finished because Chilitomatonoodle got stuck on the quest to find the dragon, but it's still worth watching and waiting for the next installment.

Just go Southwest and West, Chilitomatonoodle! Please continue your great work!

Shadowrun must be the best RPG on the Sega Genesis (Megadrive), not withstanding Phantasy Star 4. If you are a retro gamer, emu gamer, you have to play this great game. This game is one of the first GTA like sandbox games.

Freeware Apps Reviews Tumblr Blog

I made a Tumblr blog consolidating all my freeware apps reviews.

The site is called Bastich's Freeware Reviews. I will write mini reviews or capsule reviews of all the best freeware Windows applications that I really use and obsess about. I made that blog to make freeware apps discovery easy and secure. Instead of going to Download.com or Snapfiles, my site will be something of a filter for the best and most usable freeware apps for Windows.

Of course, the site being a Tumblr blog, I will point to cool links, post pictures, videos, and everything else that a Tumblelog is famous for. Please give it a look see if you are interested in freeware apps.

New Year Gaming - Ironically Old School

Here is my playlist for the new year:

1. Final Fantasy 1 & 2: Dawn of Souls - Classics that should be played at least once.

2. Final Fantasy 4 - My favorite old Final Fantasy. The best being FF6.

3. Swordcraft Story 2 - A GBA exclusive. Plays fun and looks great.

That's all for the year. I'll play the games when I have time.

You can get the ROMs for these games on www.Freeroms.com

For the 3d graphics whores out there, there is a Final Fantasy 1 & 2 on the Playstation one. It's harder than the GBA version, though.

Happy New Year!

Dragon Ball Z - Legendary Super Warriors

Dragon Ball Z - Legendary Super Warriors is a GBC game based on the anime. The story covers the Saiyan saga up to the Buu saga.

Gameplay is card based. You get cards you can play every turn. You have a fighting turn and a defensive turn. Your cards can be beam attack or beam defense, physical attack and physical defense. Most of the time, you can memorize how the AI plays its cards. This means you can counter with the perfect physical defense or beam defense at almost any given time.

The predictability of the AI does not ruin the game, though. I have to admit that I played the game to completion in just a couple of days. And FYI, I have a day job. That is how fun this game is for me.

If you have a Dingoo or a GBC, play this game. It's worth the time and effort.

Get the game ROM here.