Twennytoo Five Hundo

In future year AD2022 I apparently logged 500 video games (mostly just played, not finished - can you even imagine). Am I proud of it? Of course not, brother, pride is a sin. Here they are in their entirety in order of play:

Nightshade
Nightshade
The first PS2 game iterated on slightly, i.e. very good. You should play these!
Gun & Frontier
Gun & Frontier
Every ship just being a flying gun is incredible, but I didn't much like it beyond that, partner.
Dolphin Blue
Dolphin Blue
Metal Slug-ish. Not as good as any of those but still okay!
Summer Carnival '92: Recca
Summer Carnival '92: Recca
Impossibly fast. Possibly made to see how much the NES can't handle? If there's anyone out there who has 1CC'd this they should be preserved in a museum.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
Peak of the series here, I think. Copen is a great addition and is super fun to play.
Gate of Thunder
Gate of Thunder
A better game than Lords of Thunder despite coming first.
Asterix (Arcade)
Asterix (Arcade)
This is probably one of Konami's better licensed efforts if you're a fan of the comics, but I don't really give a shit about Asterix, sorry.
Uppers
Uppers
Got suckered in by the Hiroaki artwork. Lackluster beatemup for anime perverts. I'm good, thanks.
Dynasty Wars
Dynasty Wars
Wanted to like this more than I did (due to it being a few characters removed from being called Dynasty Warriors).
Batsugun
Batsugun
Cool game. Iceman's post-mission dialogue is incredible.
Loaded
Loaded
Another game where if I'd played it at the time I would probably love it, but now just doesn't really hold my attention.
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans
It's really fun that a game devoted to a mainstay Italian cinema duo exists, and it looks really good, but the gameplay could never be accused of being deep. Whole bunch of beatemups like this.
Kingdom Grand Prix
Kingdom Grand Prix
It took me a bit to realise how you actually speed up, and then when I did I found I was either trying to win the race or trying to shoot stuff but trying to do both wasn't really working out. Interesting experiment but I'm not in a hurry to replay it.
Crows: The Battle Action For Sega Saturn
Crows: The Battle Action For Sega Saturn
Looks great, plays bad. Tale as old as time.
Gunbird
Gunbird
Definitely seems like Psikyo games follow a formula. Not my preferred style but this game still has some charm to it.
Border Down
Border Down
I don't think I really got this one. Might need to replay.
Sonic Blast Man
Sonic Blast Man
I really wanted to like this, but it's too slow. Put Sonic Blast Man in a better game please.
Mug Smashers
Mug Smashers
I finished this one but am totally blanking on anything about it.
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Started this whilst I was on a bit of a Holmes kick from watching some of the Jeremy Brett series. I cooled off but I'll get back to it eventually!
The Tick
The Tick
Replay. So, so boring, which is a huge shame considering the license. Come on.
DJMax Respect V
DJMax Respect V
Oh, this is just Beatmania. Well cool, I like Beatmania! Also I'm terrible at Beatmania!
9 Monkeys of Shaolin
9 Monkeys of Shaolin
Another free PS+ game. Serviceable beatemup, it's way longer than it needs to be but the combat is decent and I had replayed Sifu a few days before so I was in the mood for more kung fu.
Wulverblade
Wulverblade
Just looked and felt low-rent, like a Flash game you would have played in the early 2000s. The whole ancient warriors fuck yeah thing isn't really for me either.
Ranger X
Ranger X
Can't really remember it. Looks good from screenshots though!
Desert Child
Desert Child
Still sitting unfinished. A cool look and concept but the race gameplay feels a bit sparse. I'll get round to it eventually.
Sengoku 3
Sengoku 3
Supremely frustrating game because it looks and sounds absolutely awesome - they are clearly pushing the Neo Geo to its absolute limit - but it plays like complete ass. It takes two full attack strings to break open an item barrel. Every aspect of gameplay is coated in extra thick molasses.
Riding Fight
Riding Fight
The essence of the arcade game. You're on a hoverboard, you punch stuff. It's good.
Death by Degrees
Death by Degrees
Replay. Bad. Everyone knows it.
Soukou Kihei Votoms
Soukou Kihei Votoms
The kind of TV show adaptation game we deserve more of - missions are presented like episodes of the show, you get the little title stings, the eyecatches, all of it (The Space Sheriff Spirits is also very good for this stuff). Gameplay-wise it's an otherwise unremarkable TPS but if you like VOTOMs you will probably get a kick out this for a while. You skate about, it does the noise. Mission accomplished.
Legend
Legend
This Legend has been entirely forgotten by me.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII
Haven't played any of the other games in this series but I didn't expect this to be as linear as it is. I guess it's okay but I can't say I was too impressed.
Die Hard Arcade
Die Hard Arcade
This is how you use a license, because it is 10x funnier to try and pass this off as a John McClane adventure. Mental game. There's a review on here that calls it the father of the Yakuza series and they're completely right.
Samurai Warriors 5
Samurai Warriors 5
Started this in 2021 but got around to finishing it in 2022. I like the new cel-shaded look but I'd rather play SW4-II. A little too light on character variety. Shikanosuke Yamanaka is very dreamy!
Dynamite Cop
Dynamite Cop
More of the same from Die Hard Arcade, and I'm perfectly fine with that.
Tower of Heaven
Tower of Heaven
Not much here. Platformer with some rules quirks that you can finish in one quick sitting. Again, one you play once and never go back to, but that's fine.
The Ninja Warriors
The Ninja Warriors
Replay. Superseded by the remakes but this is still okay. Obviously the music rules.
Mutation Nation
Mutation Nation
A little sluggish for the time, but full of cool monster designs for you to punch. Also has a fun title to say.
Cyvern
Cyvern
It's fine. I don't like that title though.
Nekketsu Oyako
Nekketsu Oyako
Just a very average game. Apparently a Playstation launch title in Japan? Only thing really notable about it.
Conquest of the Crystal Palace
Conquest of the Crystal Palace
Another NES platformer that wasn't very good. Think I was playing these because they had translations.
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons
This has about as much relation to actual Double Dragon as the movie does. Total slop, don't even think about it.
Hook
Hook
Decent enough for an arcade movie adaptation, although it's a little long. It's Irem so it looks good.
Mega Man Battle & Chase
Mega Man Battle & Chase
Not really a kart racer guy but this seemed decent enough. Did you know Yoshinori Ono of SF4 fame was the composer for this? Crazy!
Battletoads
Battletoads
A better beatemup than the original game is, but still not particularly great.
Panzer Bandit
Panzer Bandit
Better than Guardian Heroes, although I didn't finish it at the time. I remember thinking the combo system was actually pretty good. Will get back to it.
Gekido
Gekido
Don't have much to say about the game, but Joe Madureira should be outlawed.
Strikers 1945
Strikers 1945
I feel like your ship moves a little too slowly and your hurtbox is massive.
Shadow Force
Shadow Force
I think this is the one where you can possess enemies? Not great but an interesting attempt.
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate
It's Warriors Orochi, it's good. I think this one isn't quite up to the same level of 3 Ultimate, but you're still guaranteed a fun time. The designs of the new characters are very funny to me - stupid sexy Hades!
Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
Not a good game at all, but the obvious big thing here is that it's one of the first instances of microtransactions, and is pure evil.
Zombie Revenge
Zombie Revenge
Interesting as a weird curiosity - a beatemup spinoff of House of the Dead - but otherwise not much to enjoy here. I do like that they threw in a Yusaku Matsuda-inspired guy for no reason.
R-Type Final 2
R-Type Final 2
Didn't blow me away but it's fine. I'll play it a bit more at some point.
Soldier Blade
Soldier Blade
Probably the best of the bunch overall that I'd played on PC-Engine up to this point.
Knights of the Round
Knights of the Round
A little overlong from what I remember, but otherwise pretty much on par with King of Dragons.
G-Darius
G-Darius
It was good, but it's possible that Gaiden has ruined me for the rest of this series.
Growl
Growl
Indiana Jones shoots hordes of animal poachers and also an alien (?). I dunno, I think this game is pretty cool!
Danmaku Unlimited 3
Danmaku Unlimited 3
Decent enough indie shmup, although it doesn't really have much visual personality.
Elemental Master
Elemental Master
This is what I wish wizards in movies and stuff were like. Just firing huge amounts of magic shit at everyone constantly. Doing a highest level Dragon's Dogma spell 50 times a minute. ZAP
Gun Force II
Gun Force II
Metal Slug-ish, but before Metal Slug, by the folk who would make Metal Slug. Covering a wider arc because of your dual guns is cool!
Eight Dragons
Eight Dragons
A throwback to Renegade, so not something I really want to bother with.
Sengoku Ace
Sengoku Ace
This shifted between regular respawning and moving back to checkpoints on death, which was very annoying!
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Mainly played this port to hear the music. Sadly not as good as I was hoping, but this version also has a bunch of low-rent cutscenes where the Brothers Lee are Kenshiro clones with turn of the 90s anime hair. Dope.
Gourmet Warriors
Gourmet Warriors
Looks really cool, but I wasn't too bothered about finishing it. I'll pick it back up at some point.
Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams
Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams
Not good. I think the only notable thing about this to me is that Grifter isn't in it. Is he not this comic's only popular character?
Thunder Force VI
Thunder Force VI
These polygonal entries don't ever really seem to have the oomph of their 2D counterparts, but it's still a good game and I had a big smile on my face when the one boss shifts into TFIV player form and Lightning Strikes Again starts playing.
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers
Okay idea but I don't think EDF gameplay needed streamlining. Also pretty racist!
The Cyber Shinobi
The Cyber Shinobi
Decidedly less cool.
Gunbird 2
Gunbird 2
Same as Gunbird.
Browning
Browning
Did not feel good at all to control, so I dropped it pretty early on.
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
I'm not really sure who this is for.
Silent Dragon
Silent Dragon
Memory not found. I'll take your word for it.
Alien Storm
Alien Storm
Replay. Thought this game was cool as hell as a kid, and hey, I still like it! The first-person sections are still very fun. Did this have Menacer support?
Fashion Police Squad
Fashion Police Squad
Fun throwback shooter - I'd never heard of it but a friend said hey, you might like this and they were right. Nice!
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
Replay. This isn't a good release, but the core gameplay of VF5FS is great, so if you have no other access to FS you should get this. Can't say enough good things about Veef.
City of Heroes
City of Heroes
Replay. I've been dipping in and out all year, only at this point that I decided to actually log it. This game is always going to hold a very special place in my heart, even if I've done pretty much all I want to do in it.
Iron Commando: Koutetsu no Senshi
Iron Commando: Koutetsu no Senshi
Got nothing. Gone.
Kyouryuu Sentai Zyuranger
Kyouryuu Sentai Zyuranger
A much worse NES platformer that I played for the license.
Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II
Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II
Just okay. By this point I'd definitely cemented that I preferred Cave to Psikyo.
Blade Master
Blade Master
Has that high-quality Irem look but I remember it feeling really slow.
The Warriors: Street Brawl
The Warriors: Street Brawl
Nothing like the PS2 game, but a lot like a whole bunch of garbage beatemups. Don't bother with it.
Salamander
Salamander
More bog-standard stuff.
Sorcer Striker
Sorcer Striker
Think this was an Eighting one? Tiny bullets. Tiny!
Mighty Gunvolt
Mighty Gunvolt
Very easy Mega Man clone. I'd seen people say that Beck is hard mode, and I guess he is in relative terms, because I replayed this later in the year as Gunvolt and I could probably have done it with my eyes closed.
DJ Boy
DJ Boy
Bad. Move on.
Astebreed
Astebreed
Emphasis on the melee attack is cool, but otherwise I wasn't that into it.
Undercover Cops
Undercover Cops
The title of this game is so funny. It's like a weird post-apocalyptic setting! Undercover cops for what?!
Anyway it's decent, it's Irem so everything has that slightly Metal Sluggy look.
Coffee Crisis
Coffee Crisis
Weird not-very-good game that feels like it's some in-joke I'm not getting between steamers or something.
Treachery in Beatdown City
Treachery in Beatdown City
Thought this might be cool but as soon as I saw the battle system I nope'd straight out. Not in the market for turn-based beatemups, sorry.
Double Dragon Neon
Double Dragon Neon
At least, another actually good Double Dragon game! It can be frustrating at points (staring directly at the final boss) but I think the dodge stuff is really fun. Not huge into the 80s throwback stuff, it's always under about ten separate layers of irony, but it does have the single best rendition of the Double Dragon theme.
EA Sports UFC 4
EA Sports UFC 4
Free on PS+. I don't follow the UFC (a friend of mine refers to it as a putrid cretin spectacle and I may be forced to agree), and maybe that's just as well cause if I did I'd have ended up wasting my money on this. Series peaked with Undisputed 3, all downhill from there.
Metal Black
Metal Black
Darius Gaiden's little brother. Great atmosphere and boss designs makes up for slightly subpar gameplay.
Golden Axe: The Revenge Of Death Adder
Golden Axe: The Revenge Of Death Adder
One of the best - maybe the best-looking arcade games of the era. Seriously, it's ridiculous! I'm amazed this has never had a home release. Gameplay-wise, well, it's yet more Golden Axe. If you like it you like it. I like it!
Dragon Blaze
Dragon Blaze
Okay I don't remember this one.
Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
This game can fuck right off. Honestly.
Guardian Heroes
Guardian Heroes
Probably would have liked it a lot if I played it at the time of release, but this ended up being a big-time disappointment. Just felt sluggish and killing things took forever. Obviously looks awesome, though.
Guardians: Denjin Makai II
Guardians: Denjin Makai II
Much better than the original. Weird, kind of grotesque designs and Winkysoft doing a Winkysoft as hell soundtrack. Final boss music just sounds like a Masou Kishin track, which is a-OK by me.
Fight'N Rage
Fight'N Rage
Genuinely astounding effort for one guy. Awesome combo system, this was walking the Streets of Rage 4 walk before that game existed. Only problems I have with it are the lighting is a bit much at times and the main girl leans way too hard into anime fanservice for my taste. Genuinely really good game.
Golf It!
Golf It!
Replay. Golf It night with the boys. Get a solid custom map and it's a great laugh.
Dead Island Retro Revenge
Dead Island Retro Revenge
An interesting deviation from the standard belt scroller formula, but not very engaging beyond that.
Out Zone
Out Zone
Kind of cool, but just a little too annoying for me.

4 Comments


1 year ago

I adore the dedication to adding notes to everything, even if they're just like two words. Hachoo sweep.

Bayou Billy is one of the most unfun NES games I ever played, goddamn what a slog-filled and mean-spirited game.

1 year ago

Damn this is impressive

1 year ago

Did you complete Ring Fit?!

1 year ago

@Vee this took me days lol
@Dalaamclouds that's not the word I'd use but thank you!
@letshugbro good lord no. new years resolution though!


Last updated: