Mayflash F500 and a Magicboot

So I bought this:

I bought this along with a "magicboot" to use with my Xbox One. I did this because of the lack of options for Xbox compatible arcade sticks. I would have preferred to only have to order one item, but that simply wasn't an option. So I have basically made a makeshift Xbox Arcade stick.

This stick usually works by plugging an official controller into via usb. Doing so will let it work with almost anything. However, having another controller tethered to it at all times is both awkward and cumbersome. The magicboot plugs into the same usb port and takes the place of the other controller.  

This works well, and is a quality stick. I plan to get a bat top for it, and get some art going. Very happy with this. 

I do still want to get a stick for the PS4. I could buy a second magicboot, only in playstation flavor, but I dislike the idea of switching them around. Debating between the Qanba Pearl, and the Hori Real Arcade Pro N. Not sure which direction to go.

Lumines Remastered Review

 

Tetris Effect Connected Review

 

Short version, it's amazing.

November Games and Black Friday

• 11/1/19              3ds       Azure Striker Gunvolt
• 11/3/19              GBA    Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
• 11/3/19              PC        The Outer Worlds
• 11/6/19              DS        Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
• 11/9/19              DS        Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
• 11/13/19            PSP      Lumines 
• 11/15/19            GBA    Super Mario Advance
• 11/28/19            XB1     Darksiders 3

Augest Games 2019

A rather small list this month.Was, and still currently, playing several other games, but they were not finished.

• Mario Kart 7                                   3DS           8/1/2019
• Mario Kart 8                                   Wii U        8/8/2019
• Bendy and the Ink Machine            Steam       8/12/2019
• Far Cry Primal                                Xbox 1      8/17/2019

Final Fantasy 7

I didn't intend to play more of Final Fantasy 7 then it took to make my video. I got it cheap on Xbox 1 during there E3 sale. Yes, I do own the original PS1 version (a very rare time I pre-ordered a game), but I have no way to record footage off a that.

I didn't really intend to play more than that first hour or so, however, I find myself being drawn in. This is the first time playing it in about a decade, and I find myself wanting to play more. I just finished the bit where you visit Red XIII hippie commune.

Not sure what is drawing me in, as I have many times in the past expressed that I think Final Fantasy 7 is one of the lesser entries in the series. However, I find myself driven to play more.

Also I find it odd, as I seem to have forgotten the order of events. I had in my mind, the hippie commune part happening very soon after leaving Midgar. Like it was just one town after Cloud tells his (wrong) story. I guess 10 years between playing will do that.

April Games Finished

Instead of two blogs, one where I list the games, and one where I post the video, there will be one with the content of both. The video will tell you what I thought about the games. The list will be here if you are only interested in the games and dates.

Red Dead Redemption 2                               PS4                                           4/10/2019

Shadow of the Colossus                                PS4                                           4/14/2019

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker                    Switch                                       4/15/2019

Gravity Rush                                                 PS4                                           4/21/2019

Bloodstained Curse of the Moon                  Xbox One                                 4/21/2019

Splatterhouse                                                 Turbo Graphics 16                   4/25/2019

Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD         Wii U                                       4/26/2019

R-Type Dimensions EX                                Switch                                      4/27/2019


First ever Turbo Graphics 16 on the list.

Games finished in February 2019

Yes, I am keeping up with this. Much shorter list this month.

Super Mario Land 2 - Game Boy                    2/4/2019

Dragon Quest 11 - PS4                                    2/14/2019

Super Mario 3d World - Wii U                        2/21/2019

Fry Cry 5 - PS4                                                2/22/2019

Crackdown 3 - Xbox 1                                    2/23/2019

This month brings us are first Xbox 1 and Wii U games of this year. More will come from both.

Currently I am playing Resident Evil 2 Remake (PS4), Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Xbox 1), Octopath Traveler (Switch), and Paper Mario Color Splash (Wii U). 

More Crackdown 3 and Far Cry 5

So I finished both of these games. While both were enjoyable experiences, they were also extremely short. The two combined took less than 20 hours to complete. Crackdown 3 being a worse offender taking only about 7 hours.

In both games, I was taking my time, trying to do all that could be done. I thought both games maps looked large enough that just exploration would take while. Sadly, this was not the case.

These are both AAA big releases. It seems to be a game that goes for 60$ should be a little longer.

Crackdown 3 and Far Cry 5

So I started playing two games on the same day: Far Cry 5 on the PS4, and Crackdown 3 on XB1. These games have a surprising amount in common, which I really didn't expect.

They are both sandboxes centered around freeing parts of the map to take on the lieutenants of an "evil" organization. How do you free parts of the map in both games? Killing NPCs. Go to place, remove all the NPCs in it, and it is now yours. This is the main activity in both games, while one allows for more stealth, and the other for more direct assaults, both are possible in both games.

Both games handle vehicles in deeply flawed ways. In Crackdown 3 they serve virtually no purpose, as the player character has more speed and mobility when on foot. In Far Cray 5, you can start flying a plane with literally no speed build up or runway.

NPCs characters are often around to "help" in both games. And in both games, they never really seem to actually do anything. They show up, they are firing their guns, but none of the opposing NPCs ever seem to be killed by their actions. Making the inclusion in both games pointless.

Evil organizations have taken over the maps of both games. One is a morally corrupt business, the other is a religious cult. I guess both could be described as Apple.

Powera Xbox One Wired Controller

I was in need of a controller for my Xbox one. I also didn't have interest in paying for an official one. At Walmart I found a cheaper option. 

This is a wired controller made by Powera. It was only 20$. It is a pretty good deal.

It has a good hand feel. The buttons and d-pad are responsive. The analog sticks are accurate. As mentioned it is wired, it comes with a removable 8 foot long cable.

The controller is much lighter than standard controller, and its rumble motors do not seem to be as powerful. Neither of these are real problems, but worth noting.

For 20$ this is a great deal. Good to have around as an extra for player 2, or as a back up when your first party controller runs out of batteries.  It also works perfectly on a Windows PC.

Skeleton Lords

Yes, another video. Here I am doing that one boss fight that is in every souls game.

This Year's Black Friday Haul

I don't go to Black Friday sales, at least not when they start. Guess that is actually Thursday night now, but regardless I wait till Friday afternoon. The crowds are gone, but there a lot to find if you are willing to scavenge through the mess.

Most surprising was actually finding a game for the Original Wii still being sold in stores. Just Cause 3 and Mafia 3 were both 12$. Resident Evil 7 came in at 15$. Admittedly I would have preferred to have that Mega Man collection on PS4, but can't argue with that price.

What do you call this?

Is there a term for a game that is very much like a "Legend of Zelda" game, without actually being part of that franchise? There are whole separate franchises that are like this, "Okami" springs to mind.  There however seems to be no single term that describes this.

I hear the term "action role-playing" thrown around, but it not nearly enough of the games in that category are in fact "Zelda-like". For example Square Enix's "Seiken Densetsu" (Secret of Mana) series is very much an "action role-playing" game, while being nothing like a "Zelda" game. Often these kind of games are much closer to true "role-playing" games, simply using a more action oriented style of combat.

Games which are "Zelda-like" are, but are not limited to, "Darksiders", "Recore", "Okami", "Beyond: Good & Evil". These games all feel so very much like "Zelda". They all involve progression based around exploration and the attainment of items of one sort or another. In these games every thing found allows greater access to the world in some way, might let you pass a barrier, might allow you to damage a formerly invincible foe. Often reward are there to be found if you backtrack with what you have newly acquired. 


The lack of a term for this phenomenon just struck me the other day, and it seems odd for the amount of time this has been happening. The first "Zelda" game came out in 1986, the first game to be "Zelda" without the name was also 1986.  It just seems we could use a simple term for this in gaming.