![]() There's one more game for me to check out from last month's Switch Online emulator update, and it's the singular NES game of the bunch. BACKGROUND:
This is another blind playthrough of a game I've never heard of before, so there's nothing to say here. SUMMARY: Special Cybernetic Attack Team is a shmup where you control a cyborg person and destroy shit to save the world (or something). It would seem that this isn't any different from other games in the genre, but there are quite a few things that set it apart. For one, you're controlling a person instead of a ship, which is rather uncommon for a shmup (for this time period, at least). Secondly, the movement of the game isn't locked, as the scrolling switches between horizontal and vertical perspectives regularly. In contrast, most other shmups are fixed to only one of these options (Gradius scrolls horizontally, while Ikaruga is vertical, for example). Next, you have a health bar, so you take more hits than the usual "die immediately" that's the usual standard for shmups. Lastly, you can aim behind you, which, again, is not a thing you can usually do in games like this. Though fundamentally the same to most other shmups, these elements come together to give the game a unique feel. I had a greater sense of control of the game, I thought controlling a person on a jetpack was cool, and I enjoyed how the levels constantly changed from horizontal to vertical according to the location. Other than the aforementioned differences, the game has all the usual shmup trappings. Various enemies with hectic attack patterns, power-ups that change up your primary attacks or heal you up, huge-ass bosses that take a lot of hits.... they're all here. There are a few interesting enemy designs and a couple of neat level mechanics here and there, but for the most part, it's pretty standard stuff. The sprites are decent, but given the volume of sci-fi games that came out for the NES that I've seen, the designs are nothing I haven't already seen in other games. I will say that the backgrounds are particularly well done, however. SUMMARY: As of this writing, there are four shmups on the NES Online emulator, and SCAT does enough to stand out from the iconic Gradius, the colorful TwinBee, and the decent Star Soldier. I liked all the things it did differently, even if the rest of the game is stuff I've already encountered elsewhere. Though I'd say Gradius is still the best place to start if you haven't played a shmup before, this game isn't a bad starting point, either. It's definitely much easier than the other shmups given its more lenient health system, so people who have difficulty with this genre may find this less daunting to get into. If you've played shmups before, the gameplay twists may not be enough to hold your interest for long. - end -
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![]() This month's Switch Online update also brought along one new NES game for me to check out. How have they not run out at this point? BACKGROUND:
Never heard of this game, which I suppose is par for the course with NES Online additions at this point. SUMMARY: The Immortal is a dungeon crawler where you navigate several levels of a labyrinth. You are an unnamed wizard tasked with rescuing Mordamir, who is apparently the protagonist's mentor. The story is pretty basic overall, but it does have some fun meta moments and a neat twist near the end. Other than that, there's not much to say about it. The game has an isometric perspective, and you move your character around from room to room in order to proceed. It controls just fine, but sections that require precise movement or positioning can be a bit of a pain to navigate. Although there is no map to guide you through the labyrinth, I didn't really get lost, as the game is pretty linear despite having rooms with multiple doors and such. You'll be doing a fair bit of backtracking to solve puzzles and progress the game, so while I would enjoy a more expansive area to explore, the more straightforward layout of the game is certainly convenient. Throughout the dungeon, you'll be collecting items you see in the area. Like other games of its time, a lot of these items you acquire are required to solve puzzles. In some instances, it is not immediately clear what the items will be used for, while in other situations, it's unclear what a peculiar element in the environment is for. Hell, some of the items you find can even kill you if you're not careful. I didn't really find any puzzle to be particularly obtuse (the game is usually informative when it comes to items and such), but some of them can take a while to figure out. It may be wise to play through this game with a walkthrough handy. The most charming/infuriating thing about this game is the plethora of ways you can die. The labyrinth is filled with hazards, such as deadly green blobs, traps that shoot fire, giant death worms, and all sorts of assorted bullshit. Many of these things will kill you instantly, most of the time with no warning. If it's any consolation, progress is retained, and a lot of the death animations are unique and amusing. You will also be fighting enemies such as goblins as you make your way through the labyrinth. You can either try and damage them from afar with your fireballs, or you can enter into combat mode, which plays out like an RPG random encounter and takes you to a battle screen. The real-time combat itself is pretty basic (swing your sword until one of you dies), but there is a bit of depth with regards to the ability to dodge. Both you and the enemy can avoid attacks coming in from a certain direction by holding the appropriate button, so it's a matter of catching your opponent off guard with an attack coming in from a different direction. Combat unfortunately doesn't feel fluid, and there were some instances where there would be some sort of input delay and the enemy would just beat my ass in response. From a graphical standpoint, it looks OK, but I don't feel like the game aged well with its muted colors and rough-looking overworld. The UI is a bit weird at times too, as you have to hold a direction and then press A to select menu options. There's also a password system so that you can start at the beginning of any level, which would be helpful if the NES Online emulator didn't already have a save state function and a rewind feature. You might as well just use those if you die (which you most likely will). VERDICT: The Immortal is a passable dungeon crawler that presents a respectable challenge with its many instant-kill hazards, occasionally baffling puzzles, and simple but tricky combat. Though the story is your standard RPG fare (with a bit of variation from the norm, to be fair), the controls take some getting used to, and the graphics weren't my style, I can still appreciate this game for what it is. That said, I think I'd be fine if I never played this again. I think it's worth at least trying even if you don't like the visuals or the gameplay doesn't appeal to you, if only to experience the variety of ways you can get yourself killed. It's also not a particularly long game, either, so there's that. - end - BACKGROUND:
I have never even heard of Rygar prior to this update. This is as blind as blind playthroughs can get. SUMMARY: Rygar is perhaps one of the earliest examples of a Metroidvania-type game, having come out around the same time as Metroid itself. Like Metroid, it's a side-scrolling 2D platformer with a somewhat open world, has branching paths, requires traversal upgrades and backtracking in order to progress, and has its fair share of combat. It's not as expansive (or confusing) as Metroid, and it doesn't have much in the way of secrets, but it still executes the Metroidvania tropes well on a smaller scale. Your goal is to collect six special items scattered around the world in order to unlock the final boss. These items range from a grappling hook that allows you to climb overhead platforms, a pulley that allows you to zip across cables, and more. Though you don't use them too much throughout the game (the specific spots you need them for are sparse and they have no application in combat), they still bring the typical satisfaction a Metroidvania does when you get the thing that allows you to explore a new area. For combat, the player is equipped with what's called a Diskarmor. It's essentially a long shield attached to a chain that works a lot like the whip in Castlevania. Killing things is pretty simple (just wail on them until they die) and not too difficult (most enemies, even bosses, have simple attack patterns, if they have any at all), so don't expect anything particularly challenging (other than the Ghosts 'n Goblins-style constant spawning of enemies, I guess). From what I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any massive penalty for dying, either. The game also has a few basic RPG progression elements. Killing enemies can give you experience, which increases your maximum health points when you cross a certain threshold. You can also get what are called Mind points, which allow you to cast a limited number of spells (power boost, HP recovery, ranged attack). It's no Final Fantasy, but it adds a little bit of spice to what would otherwise be a typical action platformer. There are also overworld sections where the game's perspective switches from the usual side-scrolling to a top-down view not unlike Zelda. It didn't really change the game in any way mechanically, but I found the idea somewhat interesting. The plot is typical RPG fare (you are the chosen hero, collect the magic bullshit, kill the evil asshole, save the kingdom), and the game doesn't do a lot to tell you about it. This did come out in 1987, though, so I can't be too harsh on that front. Rygar is an NES game, so don't expect anything mind-blowing in the graphics department. Compared to other games of its time, I don't find Rygar to be particularly unique or impressive when it comes to its pixel art, but it does the job adequately. The music sounds good, but I didn't feel that any of the tracks stood out to me personally. VERDICT: Being the only NES game in the latest Switch Online update is a lot of pressure (especially with Nintendo getting closer to the bottom of the proverbial barrel), but I think Rygar carries the burden just fine. It's a bite-sized Metroidvania experience that controls decently, has some neat RPG elements, and isn't frustrating to explore. I don't think it'll blow any minds, but I found it to be a solid experience regardless. It's no Super Metroid, but if you're new to the Metroidvania genre, this is a great entry point that is on the easier end, will teach you the basics of the genre, and can be beaten quickly with little to no assistance from walkthroughs (for reference, it took me around an hour and a half to finish the game). - end - Switch Online's NES service is still getting games in 2020 somehow, and today, I'm checking out the newest pair of additions to the library. THE GAMES: ![]() SHADOW OF THE NINJA - A short, but decent platformer that allows for simultaneous two-player action (quite uncommon at the time for platformers), Has a pretty basic story, simple but fluid controls, small but passable weapon variety, and manageable enemies/bosses. Significantly easier than Ninja Gaiden. ![]() ELIMINATOR BOAT DUEL: - A racing game where, you guessed it, you race boats across water. There's not a lot of variety to the tracks, but the visuals are pretty decent, and the game itself is actually fun. There's a few cool elements, like a money aspect where you can earn cash to upgrade your boat, the weird characters, and the occasional switch in perspective from top-down to from-behind during races. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Just when I thought Nintendo's run out of games for this service, they pull out a couple more out of their ass, and their selection is actually pretty good this time. At this point, I should probably give them more credit, but the drip feed of content is really starting to hurt.
- end - It's been quite a while since Switch Online's NES library got an update — four months, in fact. People have since moved onto SNES Online and have been waiting for updates to that, but I was still hoping the NES side of things would get some love, too. When a surprise announcement dropped last week that both services would be getting new games, I was naturally excited. While I will get to talking about the SNES games real soon, I thought I'd start by talking about the NES games first. Let's dive in. THE GAMES: ![]() JOURNEY TO SILIUS - This is a sci-fi run-and-gun platformer in the same vein as Contra, but less frenetic. It has some Mega Man elements to it, because getting to the end of the level awards you with a new weapon type to use. Other than that, it's a pretty average platformer, with only five levels, mildly challenging (but not too stressful) level design and enemy placement, and some fairly basic boss fights. ![]() CRYSTALIS - The best description I can think of is that Crystalis is like a blend of the original Legend of Zelda and the first Dragon Quest. Its layout and combat is like that of the former (top-down perspective, stab shit in the overworld with your sword, dungeons), but it also has the RPG conceits of the latter (equipment, towns, shops, spells, XP, stats, quests, etc.). The story is your typical RPG fare (evil is rising, collect the magic bullshit to kill said evil), but there's a bit of a post-apocalytpic, sorta sci-fi flavor to it. I found it a lot of fun, even if it's a little grindy. Once again, it's not a huge update to the existing library (there isn't even an SP game this time), but I feel like Crystalis alone was more than worthwhile. And with the SNES Online getting its own set of new games alongside NES Online, the painful drip feed of content isn't as evident this time.
Like everyone else, my interest going forward will likely lean more towards the SNES side, but I'm still impressed that Nintendo is able to pull a few more gems from the NES pantheon. I still question what more they could possibly add without leaning into third-party/Japan-exclusive games, but given their track record so far, I expect to be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for my ramblings on the new SNES games that came along with this update. - end - With all of today's brouhaha, I almost forgot that NES Online has some new offerings this month. Per usual, I'll comment on each game. Let's roll. THE GAMES: ![]() KUNG-FU HEROES - It's a top-down beat-'em-up where you fight enemies to get from stage to stage. It's not great. Just play a good beat-'em-up like Double Dragon. ![]() VICE: PROJECT DOOM - A platformer in the style of Ninja Gaiden, except in addition to a sword, you have access to guns and grenades. The gameplay is solid (and considerably easier than Ninja Gaiden, in case that's a concern), there's the occasional shmup and shooter section, and the plot is presented in an action movie style. It's quite enjoyable. There's only one SP game this month: ![]() GRADIUS SP 2 - It's another repeat SP game. This puts you at the beginning of the second playthrough (the second loop, as it is called), which is at least more valuable than the first SP game. This month is a pretty mixed bag. Vice: Project Doom is great, but that's about it. They have to be at the bottom of the barrel now, right? Unless we start getting shit like Bubble Bobble, Earthbound Beginnings, the first Fire Emblem, or Ducktales, I don't see this service adding anything of note in the future.
Next month, Nintendo Switch Online will be one year old, and I really hope that September brings subscribers like me better incentives than a couple of NES games per month that may or may not be good. Don't get me wrong; I really enjoy the NES Online service and get a lot of use out of it, but I honestly think they should give it a rest with these updates. NES Online has had its time in the sun, and it's time Nintendo moved on with bigger and better subscriber incentives, like new emulators (for SNES or GB, for example), new exclusive games like Tetris 99, the return of the voucher program, and building on the Game Trials program they started earlier this month. - end - We're halfway through July, but the month can't end without some new additions to the NES Online library. Here's what they added today. THE GAMES: ![]() DONKEY KONG 3 - A complete departure from Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., instead being more of a Space Invaders-style shmup as opposed to a typical platformer. I find this far more enjoyable than the previous games (mostly because it controls significantly better), and that would probably have been an unpopular opinion back in the '80s. ![]() WRECKING CREW - This platformer features Mario taking on a new profession as a demolition man. The level is littered with shit Mario has to smash with his hammer, and the game is all about finding the optimal path to take in order to destroy everything, while also avoiding enemies and fireballs. The game is especially challenging considering how Mario can't jump in this one, so you have to make sure your game plan works, because it's astoundingly easy to make the level impossible to beat just by taking the wrong path. Had a lot of fun with this one. We only have one SP game this month: ![]() MIGHTY BOMB JACK SP - A save state that puts you at the final level of the game. I personally didn't find this game that enjoyable, so it's nice to see how it ends without subjecting myself to needless frustration. Just when I thought they've ran out of interesting games to add, Nintendo surprises me and pulls out two more solid NES games this month. That said, this pleasant surprise doesn't quite assuage my "bottom of the barrel" concerns, and I'm still hoping that a massive shift in Nintendo Switch Online content is coming sooner rather than later.
- end - There wasn't a big update regarding any new Nintendo Switch Online services this E3, but we do still get our monthly fix of new NES games. I played them briefly and share my thoughts below. THE GAMES: ![]() CITY CONNECTION: - A side-scrolling platformer where you drive a car around what is apparently New York City, and you try to travel as many miles as you can (denoted by you "painting" the roads") while avoiding the police. Controls aren't that great, but otherwise a passable experience. ![]() DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE - The sequel to the acclaimed and beloved beat-'em-up game. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it's still fun (probably more fun with a second player). ![]() VOLLEYBALL - Another one of them NES sports games. Kinda hard to play. We also get one SP game in addition: ![]() TWINBEE SP - Another glorified save state that drops you in later into the game. I think it's become a rule that all SP games for shmups do this exact thing. I'm honestly underwhelmed by this month's selection of games, which really speaks to the fact that Nintendo's starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel for this service. I'm really hoping a fresh new bonus for Switch Online subscribers is on the horizon, especially with the anniversary coming up this September.
- end - The NES Online update came a little late this month (it usually comes out on the second Wednesday), but nevertheless, we've got more games to look at! THE GAMES: ![]() CLU CLU LAND: - A peculiar game where you play as this balloonfish named Bubbles and swim in a maze to uncover gold bars (which then uncover a pattern in the maze when you collect them all), all while avoiding sea urchins. A little hard to control, but otherwise fun. ![]() DONKEY KONG JR. - The sequel to the acclaimed arcade hit Donkey Kong. Here, you play as the junior to free the original DK from the clutches of apparent animal abuser Mario (who is still known as Jumpman at this point). Very "of the time" when it comes to its controls (i.e. it controls like ass, though not as bad as the original Donkey Kong, and there's fall damage). Still good. ![]() VS. EXCITEBIKE - It's ExciteBike, except versus. That's not even a joke. It's got the original ExciteBike game, plus a two-player competitive mode (hence the "vs."), and a neat racetrack creator. Pretty solid enhanced version, all things considered. We also get one SP game this month: ![]() STAR SOLDIER SP - It's another one of those save states that drops you off further into the game (in this case, at the halfway point) with some power-ups. Nothing revolutionary when it comes to the current roster of SP games. Just when I thought they've run out of games to add, Nintendo pulls three more out of their ass. I genuinely don't know how long they can keep this going past E3. Unless they start throwing out third-party titles (which they won't), localize Japan-only releases (again, they won't; you'll have to grit your teeth and play it on Famicom Online), or release shit like Mother 1/Earthbound Beginnings (I hope so), I don't know what else is coming to this library that people can consider worthwhile. I mean, even the SP games aren't quite living up to their "special" moniker.
People have long since soured on this aspect of Switch Online's service, and as much as I love checking out these old games, the novelty is honestly starting to wear thin. I can only hope Nintendo has a surprise in store for us at E3 in this regard (GB/GBA emulator, please?). - end - Another month, another set of NES games to play. Let's skip the pleasantries, shall we? THE GAMES: ![]() PUNCH-OUT!! - It's a simple boxing game that has a surprising amount of depth. You'd think the limited buttons would hinder the experience, but they made the absolute best out of what little they had. Figuring out the opponent's patterns is fun, and using what you learned to put their ass in the dirt is utterly satisfying. This is probably in my Top 5 NES games of all time. ![]() STAR SOLDIER - It's a serviceable vertical shmup. The foreground stuff is jarring when you first play the game, but once you adjust, it's pretty fun. ![]() SUPER MARIO BROS.: THE LOST LEVELS - This was Super Mario 2 in Japan, but the developers thought the Western audience were weak-willed punk-ass bitches, so we got a different Mario 2 in its place. Lost Levels feels like what an extra DLC level pack for the original Super Mario Bros. would feel: pretty much the same game, but with all-new levels. And these levels are fucking hard. We only get one SP game this month: ![]() KID ICARUS SP - Another glorified save state where you start near the end of the game and have all the shit unlocked. Instead of the usual two, we got three additions to the library this time around, and they are more than worth the trouble. Punch-Out!! alone excuses the lackluster SP game we got along with the package. But at this point, they have to be scraping the bottom of the NES barrel now. I can count on two hands what games I'd care to see on here that aren't third-party or Japan-exclusive. What could they possibly offer next month?
- end - I almost forgot that this was coming today, but I fortunately saw the update notification on my Switch. We've got all-new games in the NES Online library to play! THE GAMES: ![]() KID ICARUS - If you don't know what game Pit and Palutena in Smash Bros. came from, this is their game of origin. It's a little different from typical platformers, as most of its levels are more vertical than horizontal. It also features a more RPG-esque element in that you can use the hearts that enemies drop as currency to buy things. The game's quite challenging, and the controls aren't the best, but it's worth checking out on the merit of its cult classic status. ![]() STARTROPICS - StarTropics is much like the first Zelda in many respects; it's a top-down adventure game where you traverse through dungeons, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies. It's also got elements of Zelda II, as it has an overworld you navigate from level to level. I'd only seen very little of this game until today, and having played it now, I'm kinda miffed I didn't discover it sooner. The story is simple, but the gameplay is fantastic. Hell, it looks great for an NES game. Per usual, we get two new SP games on top of the new additions: ![]() KIRBY'S ADVENTURE SP - Unlocks the Extra Mode off the bat, which is essentially hard mode. It's a quick way to play the mode without having to beat the main game 100% (it's more challenging than it sounds), which is nice. Extra Mode itself is no joke; having only 3HP instead of the usual 6 doesn't sound as bad until you get your ass rocked. ![]() ZELDA II: THE ADVENTURE OF LINK SP - The same game, except all your stats are fully upgraded, you have every spell unlocked, and you can do the up-air and down-air attack right off the bat. Unlocking all that shit normally is pretty hard, so having it in the early game and destroying the first few palaces was quite cathartic. March brought us a solid pair of new games, and two SP games that I actually appreciate, but I'm starting to feel that NES Online's about to reach the bottom of the barrel. We're only missing a few well-known NES games at this point (Contra and Punch-Out come to mind), but I think those games are coming sooner than later. After that, what then? More SP games?
I also wish they would localize some of the Japan-exclusive shit (Switch Online users in Japan can play the first Fire Emblem right now) so I don't have to make an alt account just to download the region-exclusive Famicom Online. If they really want to continue expanding the NES Online library, this idea may be worth considering, but I wouldn't hold my breath. - end - Love is in the air with Valentine's Day on the horizon, but who gives a shit about that? There's new shit to play on NES Online. That's way more important. THE GAMES: ![]() SUPER MARIO BROS. 2: - Radically different from the first game and all the succeeding 2D Mario games, but I still like it a lot. Many staples of the franchise came from this game, like enemies (Birdo, Shy Guys, Bob-ombs), the ability to pick up and throw shit (something Mario's been able to do since this game), and even character traits (Luigi being taller and having a higher jump, Peach's float in Smash). Super fun, worth playing at least once. ![]() KIRBY'S ADVENTURE: - Believe it or not, this is actually the second game in the franchise (the first one was on the Game Boy). Kirby games are known for being easy yet incredibly fun, and this title is no different. This game introduced Kirby's iconic Copy ability, has some fun minigames, and is just a delightful time all around. I had a dumbass grin on my face the entire time I played through it. In addition, we get two new SP games: ![]() BLASTER MASTER SP: - A save state that puts you at the final level and decks you out with all the upgrades. Nothing special. ![]() METROID SP 2: - A second SP version of a game? This one puts you at the very end of the game where you go through Tourian to kill Mother Brain. If you beat it, you get to see the secret ending that reveals that Samus is a girl (spoilers from 1987). Still a save state, but it's great if you've never seen that ending in your life. We only get two new games again this month, but considering what we got are a pair of NES essentials that really should have been here sooner, I'd say they're worth it. Once again, the SP games aren't much, but I'm starting to get used to that.
I'm hoping the upcoming Nintendo Direct will reveal something other than a NES emulator for online subscribers, because as much as I love this, I'm kinda itching for a GB emulator that has Tetris in it. In any case, I'll be playing through Kirby while I wait for the Direct. - end - The first NES Online update of 2019 has come around, and that means there's a couple of new games to check out. Read on for my thoughts on each game. THE GAMES: ![]() BLASTER MASTER: - A difficult platformer where you pilot a tank, but you can also traverse levels by exiting said tank and walking around as a person. It also features a lot of non-linear progression elements evocative of what people associate with Metroidvanias. Pretty revolutionary for its time; I'm surprised it isn't as well known today. ![]() ZELDA II: THE ADVENTURE OF LINK: - This is often treated as the black sheep of the Zelda franchise because it's a complete departure from what the series has become known for. You still have the exploration aspect the first game provided, but you're now in a side-scrolling platformer with a ton of RPG elements (e.g. overworlds, random encounters, XP, and more). Though it's not my favorite Zelda game, I'd say it's still a respectable entry in the Zelda pantheon. We also get two SP games this month: ![]() GHOSTS 'N GOBLINS SP: - A save state that puts you on the last level. Kinda great, because this game is bullshit hard, but considering you need to beat the game all over again afterwards to get the good ending, it means almost nothing. ![]() NINJA GAIDEN SP: - Also a save state, but this one puts you outside the final boss. I actually don't find Ninja Gaiden particularly difficult, so this SP game means nothing to me, but I'm sure the many people who haven't gotten this far will appreciate this. And yes, the final boss is hard. I wouldn't call this a strong start for NES Online's 2019. We only got two new games and two lackluster SP games, and most people would likely not find that impressive. I personally got a kick out of Blaster Master and Zelda II, so I'm not too bothered by this. With that said, I really hope Nintendo steps it up in the coming months. We still need Contra and Mario 2 in the library, plus I'm pretty sure people are getting antsy for something other than NES ROMs.
- end - I'm a little late to this party, but nonetheless, I'll be talking about the new games on the NES library that dropped earlier this week. I've created a new NES Online blog category in the Categories list where you can see my thoughts from previous months. THE GAMES: ![]() ADVENTURES OF LOLO: - Each level is a single room where you have to collect all the hearts to open a chest and exit to the next room. Really fun puzzle game despite only having a handful of simple mechanics. ![]() NINJA GAIDEN: - A beloved platforming classic, featuring tough-as-nails gameplay, a meaty story (for its time period, anyway), and good ol' ninja action. Should be played at least once. ![]() WARIO'S WOODS: - An interesting blend between a puzzle game and a platformer where you move around as Toad trying to clear the screen of monsters by picking up bombs. Rather tricky to get a hang of. For this month, we get two SP games instead of one: ![]() DR. MARIO: SP - Starts you at the end of Lv. 20 on high. It's basically a save state that makes it easier for you to access the secret 21st level, which I'm pretty sure is fucking impossible. ![]() METROID: SP - The same game, except you have all the shit unlocked, and you start outside Ridley's boss room. Again, it's a save state that lets you see the latter parts of the game. December brought us some solid games, although I can't help but be a little disappointed with the new SP entries. They're nice for people who find these older games difficult, but they don't really feel "special"; perhaps it's on me to have expected some sort of wacky romhack where they change some shit, but surely "special" should refer to something more than a glorified save state?
My gripes aside, I'm excited for what 2019 holds for the NES Online library. I know most people think this isn't worth paying online for (they're right), but as somebody who grew up way after this era of games, it's nice to be able to play a good number of them in one place. I hope they keep adding new shit, and I'm crossing my fingers for Online libraries for, say, SNES or N64 games. - end - It's a new month, and that means Nintendo's NES Online library gets a bunch of new games. As usual, I'll talk a little about the games that arrived in this update. You can check out my thoughts on the base library here, and the games of the October update here. THE NEW GAMES: ![]() METROID - The game that started one of my favorite Nintendo franchises. Worth playing once, but is considerably difficult and first-timers will likely require a walkthrough. If you really want to get into Metroid, Super Metroid on SNES is a better starting point. ![]() MIGHTY BOMB JACK - Weird platformer where you collect shit while avoiding enemies. It's hard to understand what power-ups do, jumping is really floaty, and you get punished for collecting too much shit. This one's not for me. ![]() TWINBEE - Solid vertical shmup. Good entry point into the genre for people who find Gradius too daunting to play. ![]() GRADIUS: SP - The same as Gradius, except you start at Level 5 with all the power-ups. Perfect for people who have a hard time getting past the early levels. Disclaimer: it's still hard as shit. I'd say that (apart from Mighty Bomb Jack) this month's update brought us some neat additions to the NES Online library. It seems a pattern's being established for these monthly updates, with three games announced ahead of time, plus a fourth SP remix of an existing NES game thrown in as a surprise. This has me excited for what other SP remixes might be coming to us in the future.
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