Actually, what you mentioned about the Flagship is only true in Hard mode; in Normal, the artillery rooms are still isolated. The difference between Easy and Normal there is only in non-advanced edition, I believe; Easy non-advanced Flagship only has 3 shield, while all other iterations have 4.

That boss randomizer sounds like a nightmare. It's annoying enough getting the right gear to prepare for it while knowing what's coming, never mind throwing randomization into the mix!

[Link] 👋 Bye Bye. (Talk to you on the new site.)

Thanks! I basically Googled "best ships to beat Hard mode with" and landed on Stealth A despite some severe misgivings about the lack of shield at the beginning. But the advice they gave on how to play it early on was solid: shoot the laser first, go into stealth to avoid the first enemy volley, then beam (I had no idea beam weapons didn't decrease stealth time).

I warmed up with it on Normal before tackling Hard. Supposedly the gap between Normal and Hard is smaller than between Easy and Normal, but I couldn't really tell for sure. Other than losing a crew member within the first few jumps and getting reamed pretty badly by a beam drone before I could buy shields, the run went shockingly well. You mainly have to be really careful about where and when you spend your money.

I've heard about the Multiverse type stuff, but that seems like a huge time-sucker and I have a rather large backlog of other games I want to get to.

Yeah, Lady Decade covered it, too, which is good; she has a decently wide reach. I'm pretty surprised that Steph Sterling hasn't put out anything yet, to be honest. Wouldn't it be funny to see a thumbnail of Mr. Beast screaming into a neon background (is that still a thing?) about not killing games? Don't think we'll see quite that level of coverage, though.

Hey, Light Mode can be cool, too; you might be able to put together a pretty solid vaporwave theme, if you're into that sort of thing. The pastel vaporwave; not the black/blue/purple grid with what is essentially the OutRun logo on the horizon, though that is also cool. I was really hoping that'd take off as the next counter-culture movement, because we need something a bit more upbeat, and the hipster movement had zero focus or creativity, but it looks like that's dead in the water now. In any case, I liked the look, too; I didn't care for it much in Yoshi's Island (aside from the final world, where it had a lovely Japan in autumn aesthetic), but Kirby's Dream Land 3 does something different that appeals to me. Doesn't hurt that it has some pretty wild foreground layers, many of which I've saved for desktop backgrounds, though I have to fix them up a bit, since they don't tile well at all.

Admittedly, I've recently taken the opposite path and gone a bit darker; still trying to find a setup I like for the new site, since straight black kinda steamrolls a lot of color there.

I'd greatly appreciate that; it's a really important message. The man's a fucking hero, as far as I'm concerned, and I wish I didn't live in the US, so there were more that I could do to help.

I love the new banner, too!

Da casino is accessed in Bean Valley, my good man. There's a hidden platform above a golden chain chomp. Unless it's different in the remake, you're golden!

So youse also feel that Brand Spankin' New Backloggery looks kinda cold and sterile? It certainly is a tough pill to swallow. There was a reason I've been doing Game Boy colors for the last seven months. The personalization gets lost.

Hey... this is kinda like New Coke, ain't it? If enough people jump ship, maybe they'll bring Backloggery Classic, and then get more users and traffic than before!

Man, I gotta get back on F-Zero 99 in that case. I was wondering where half the stages were, but figured you had to be a higher rank or something. I really hope it doesn't get shut down the same way that Mario game did.

"I'll need to pick up a Japanese copy of F-Zero X though since it looks like the expansion doesn't work with NTSC copies."
Wait, for real? I hadn't considered that... I guess the "Expansion" in the title makes more sense now.

Bubble Bobble is surprisingly hard, especially those later levels. I still have to go back and do the true ending thing. I had no idea you could go about it like that.

Thanks! I like it enough that I think this theme is permanent this time, haha. I kept switching it around for a while, hoping one would stick. I know I've said this before, but I still think your banner is so cool.

Oh, that's really cool. I really love how the game is just filled to the brim with secrets. That reminds me, that I didn't actually finish the last world. I don't know if I still have that save file, since I had to reinstall RetroArch, but I'm sure this won't be the last time I revisit this game!

I'm having a lot of fun with Doom! I played through the first one again too on UV, but never bothered updating. I had so much fun with my previous hurt me plenty runs, so I figued I'd give it another go, especially now that I am more wary of some of the beginner's traps! I actually wasn't intending on finding the secret levels, but I stumbled across the Wolfenstien level on complete accident. I knew it was in the game, but this was the first time I got to play it!

Hello friend, I was thinking of adding every game I'd like to play and that I have access to currently so I just did that, yes. FFI is very good so far, it seems to be a pretty basic RPG but I'm enjoying it quite a bit. The simple battle mechanics are very addictive and upgrading gear is also quite fun. The visuals are nice, too, but I guess there's something about the quality of the music that just isn't on par with the rest of the elements of the game. Not to say it's bad, but I find it a bit distracting. Thank you friend.

I dig the Spinach colors as well, even if some of these might be easier on the eyes, but still you cannot deny the wonderful job MotherKojiro did getting the proper color sets on these.

Indeed, I went invisible ages ago, I felt there wasn't really much point in being visible much, as I've become more withdrawn and don't really play online much anyway. If you're curious, very curious indeed on what I've been playing, there's Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness, Mr. Run and Jump, and Rise of Triad: Ludacris, and Hydlide PC88, to name a few. My brother and I were playing a co-op game when he saw your name pop up, but I thought it was odd when he inquired if you were one of my Fortnite buddies, since I, you know... don't play Fortnite. Pretty sure he knows that, but he's probably just ragging on me. F-Zero 99 could be cool, but I've never been into F-Zero too much. At this point I think I've played more WipEout on the Omega Collection.

For a Nintendo historian such as yourself, I can see why you would be curious. Strange to be getting nostalgic over that one period where everybody thought Nintendo was done for, going as far as thinking you'd see Mario on the PS4. But, if that's what you're interested in, go for it.

Wasn't it? Fifty for pretty much an excellent condition SP. I'm kinda tempted to go back and play somma the games I got. They do still work!

More like "The Beagle Has Landed."

Five Maymeeday games already? Keep going, Fox. Ya doin' good. Peppy, out!

Thanks! I found the shortcut to Bowser's Castle on Star Road and was like "WHAT?!?! You can just do that?" lol. I still haven't beaten the rest of world 7. As for the doors, door 3 was the easiest for me so I stuck with that one. I think the last one I did was door 7.

Yeah, I think it's fun to mess around with, and makes a nice effect. Sometimes I change the theme if I'm not feeling it. I think I'll keep this one for a while.

Wowzers. Star Fox Zero? You brave man. Another grim reminder of Nintendo's dark period. As a matter of fact, that was the peak.

Well, you're certainly better at Picross than I'll ever be.

Oh wow, you have a 64DD with F-Zero X? That's really cool. I thought SamuraiSam was the only one I knew on here who had that lol. I can guarantee you're gonna like it.

Kinda wish I put as much time into 99 as you did. If we ever got an F-Zero X 99, I'd play the hell out of that. Doubt it'll ever happen, though.

"Does the expansion make F-Zero X obsolete, or do you recommend playing it first?"
Since you have access to F-Zero X Expansion, I'd recommend just playing that. It's got all the content from the original game, and then some. There's two additional cups to play through, along with the creator modes. It's definitely the better game overall.

I'm totally late, but thanks. Hope you had a good holiday, too.

Yozers, did you play the homebrew Genesis Cave Story? It's pretty faithful.

Did you play Zero Tolerance? Doom-like gameplay on your Genesis. No 32-bit add on required.

You loving F-Zero 99 luftballons? My older brother saw your name pop up in the corner while him and I were playing and he asked if you were one of my Fortnite buddies. I replied "Let's go with that."

Regarding you getting a Saturn and ODE: [Link]

I got a Sega Satiator last year and I've been very, very pleased with it other than its purchase cost. Panzer Dragoon 1/2 almost made my list of games to beat this year. Still probably will play and beat them at some point, I've already gotten like halfway through 1 but it's moderately hard (for me) and the limited continues demotivate me from playing longer than 1-2 hours most times every couple weeks. Maybe should switch down to easy and then bump it back up to normal difficulty after getting 70-80% into it via easy difficulty. Also kinda' tempted to play the PS2 port of one, but IDK.

Honestly, the main issue with Zelda II is just not being able to save wherever you want, or at least in more convenient places (also that Mt. Doom difficulty curve). I think I played the 3DS virtual console version when I beat it (like 11-12 years ago) and being able to save(state) at the beginnings of temples made it way more tolerable, but I'm also a really big fan of 2D ARPGs that Zelda 2 inspired so maybe I'm a lame apologist. I remember the bonus lives in it are only obtainable once due to the weird way the game works, it's weirder than say Majora's Mask save system to me.

You picked some good choices. I really gotta' play through the Metroid Prime games some day. My childhood friend had 1 and 2 and I had access to borrow them but for some reason I could never beat games that I borrowed (or rented, really). Now that there's a really nice looking Switch version of 1 it complicated things for me since I'm curious if they'll do 2 and 3 or not and wondering if it's better to just do 'em all on Wii (or maybe just 2 and 3 on Wii). Probably will just play the Wii games, I really like the idea of Wiimote aiming.

My friend came over today and I went back and progressed some more in the GC remake of Resident Evil. Almost beat that and Super Mario RPG. A little proud of myself for going back to a game where I was kinda' lost and lost like 15-20 minutes of progress by dying to a boss. Probably going to beat those next.

Also, I ended up ordering a Neo Geo CD and Panasonic 3DO via Sendico. Hoping the shipping of them back to me here in Canada doesn't cost too much, I got the consoles for a decent bit cheaper than I could on eBay but shipping to here and tariffs are getting expensive as hell.

Wishing everyone the best in 2024. Enjoy the rest of 12/31/23, or "123123".

I don't usually get caught up on the numbers, but -22 was pretty damn good for an all-time high of 83 (since records began at least). Not even a record-low progress score despite that, and narrowly avoided my first Herald of Baklaag badge.

Annual year-end themes from my Memory Card: [Link] [Link]
And as is tradition, just so I can line them all up and reflect...

Quake (Steam)
Ice Climber (FDS)
Quake (Steam)
Picross e6 (3DS DL)
Picross e7 (3DS DL)
Picross e7 (3DS DL)
DonPachi (ARC)
Megaman X2 (SNES)
Picross e8 (3DS DL)
Picross e8 (3DS DL)
Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB)
Giga Wing (ARC)
Qix (GB)
Stretchmo (3DS DL)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Trajectile (3DSDL)
Megaman X2 (SNES)
Brain Age ³: Concentration Training (3DS)
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (3DSDL)
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (3DSDL)
Vector Racing (3DS DL)
Vector Racing (3DS DL)
Pokedex 3D Pro (3DS DL)
Kersploosh! (3DS DL)
Kersploosh! (3DS DL)
Megaman X2 (SNES)
Pushmo (3DS DL)
Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch) (My GOTY)
Balloon Fight (NES)
Quake Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon (Steam)
Quake Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon (Steam)
3D Classics Urban Champion (3DSDL)
Ice Climber (3DS VC)
SpeedX 3D (DS DL)
Rival Ball (PC DL)
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC)
Megaman Battle Network (Switch)
BOXBOXBOY! (3DS DL)
BOXBOXBOY! (3DS DL)
Chain Blaster (3DS DL)
Chain Blaster (3DS DL)
Pirate Pop Plus (3DS DL)
Pirate Pop Plus (3DS DL)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)
Quake Mission Pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity (Steam)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster (Switch)
escapeVektor (3DS DL)
Gal Galaxy Pain (3DS DL)
3D Classics TwinBee (3DS DL)
HarmoKnight (3DS DL)
Adventure (2600)
Adventure (2600)
Love Hero (3DL DL)
Steel Driver: Sub Wars (3DS DL)
Steel Driver: Sub Wars (3DS DL)
Tetris (テトリス) (Famicom)
Dr. Mario (GB)
Megaman Xtreme (GBC)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch)
Chroma Star (WiiU DL)
Pink Mite (WiiU DL)
The Queen (WiiU DL)
Megaman Xtreme (GBC)
Sigil (PC)

Total : 83 [NEW RECORD]
Total / / : 65
Your rate for clearing games is: -22
SEE YOU NEXT MISSION

Yeah, I remember Kirby's Bugs Bunny's Birthday Blowout Blast. 2017 right? Nintendo was just starting to come out of their dark period by that point.

F-Zero GX, that's a damn good present! I wish I still had my copy, haha.

See NES
See NES run
Run NES run!

That joke would only work if it was pronounced ness.