Democracy in February roundup
Another February down, another #4iF completed. Kind of. This one is getting the same Barry Bondsesque asterisk treatment as my first Four in February thanks to another game coming in to pinch hit.
Those baseball metaphors were not related.
I’ll tackle these more-or-less in chronological order I played them during study breaks for my GMAT test.
Katamari Damacy
This was such a fun time. There’s no other videogame like Katamari Damacy. It’s a unique and well-executed gameplay concept paired with a bonkers, off-the-wall theme. The colorful characters, the ridiculous story and a lot of the things you can encounter (and subsequently roll up) really boost the fun factor of this game.
I should probably feel bad that people scream when you add them to the katamari, especially considering their ultimate fate is to be ejected into space and be crushed until they ignite stellar fusion, and also especially when police officers start responding to your alien invasion/mass kidnappings by shooting on sight. But it’s all just part of the draw.
Unfortunately, some of the stages are repetitious; I know they wanted to show a sense of progression by showing your bigger and bigger katamaris going further and further from a familiar starting ground, but it’s just odd to absorb the same things over and over when they should be gone for my next rolling rampage.
I’m looking forward to playing the sequels. A want of more stages is, after all, my chief complaint about the game. So clearly the publisher-approved solution is to keep buying more games.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
My reaction to it was a lot like my experience with Super Mario 3D Land, in that I was really into it at first, but I was damn ready for it to be over with by the end. The game isn’t frustrating, but you really do burn out of it quickly just the same.
Captain Toad provides a lot of replay; each level has the goal of reaching the golden star, of course, but also: three challenge rocks (which are actually used to gate later levels much like the stars in Super Mario 64) a hidden objective that is only revealed after you beat the level for the first time, a hidden poster that you’re supposed to spot with eagle eyes and tap on the gamepad to collect, at least one hidden golden mushroom and a tally of your highest coin total.
So there’s plenty to do on the path to 100% (this was not my path), but that way lies madness. Even the super-creative and fun levels (my personal favorite resembled a pinball machine) will become chores if you play this game too often or for too long in a single sitting.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
The Shantae series are a group of good, if short, games. However, I keep putting myself in a perpetual state of disappointment with them because I keep expecting the next one to get serious about its Metroidvania style, but it never does.
I mean, geez, this one even teases me further by including a Shinespark.
Like Risky’s Revenge before it, Shantae 3 remains a linear affair. Unlike its predecessor, the areas are completely isolated from one another. In each new area you will find exactly one new action/movement ability, which you will take the are preceding area to find its remaining secrets and one key item necessary to advance. The telegraphing of this is quite a bit in-your-face and not very exploratory. Considering the townsfolk give always up-to-date hints at where the key items are hidden, it wouldn’t have been too difficult to use some subtlety in the map.
Thank goodness the controls are solid, the music is wonderful and the story has a great sense of humor.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
As I feared, the necessity of using the communal TV sank my chances of making any progress on South Park.
It was obvious I needed a replacement. It would have been best to use the fifth-place winner, which was simultaneously LocoRocco 2 and Kirby Mass Attack. However, with my Graduate Management Admission Test breathing down my neck, if I wanted to get to four games in February, it’d have to take less than 12.5 hours.
Legend of the Dark Witch
For that replacement, I turned to this, which I had already started playing in January after seeing its sequel on this year’s Awesome Games Done Quick.
The game itself is a Mega Man clone (pick a stage, beat the boss, take their weapon) with a Gradius twist: You fill a powerup bar from which you can select progressively more expensive boosts, from augmenting your speed, getting a hovering jump or making your basic weapon all bullet-helly.
You charge this powerup-bestowing meter simply by busting enemies. You discharge the meter by activating a powerup, using boss weapons, or getting hit by an enemy. The game also keeps a running tally of how much meter you built, which is used as currency in-between stages to permanently improve health, lives and boss weapons.
The game’s got a bit of a moe waifu-brigade thing about it (which might not be a turnoff for some even though the game isn’t perverted about it), and the blending of genres could have been done better; you’re constantly choosing between going into a boss fight horribly underpowered or cheesing the game by exploiting a glitch in one boss weapon that builds your power meter much, much faster.
So who else is still on the #4iF bandwagon? Leave a comment below and let us know how you fared.
Backlog status report
Finished since last report: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Katamari Damacy, Legend of the Dark Witch, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Started since last report:Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Fire Emblem Heroes, Katamari Damacy, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Still playing:Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (Season 9), Dragon Quest IX, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Sin and Punishment, Star Trek Online, Star Trek: Timelines
Lagging behind: Final Fantasy: Dissidia 012, Final Fantasy VI Advance (CES Dragon’s Den), Final Fantasy XIII, Mario Kart 8, NewER Super Mario Bros. Wii, Persona 3: FES, Portal 2 (Co-op), Saboteur, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Starcraft: Brood War, Super Smash Bros. (Wii U), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Torchlight, Wii Sports Resort
About The Author
Drew
Features Editor | Drew started behind the 8(bit)-ball in the video game world. He first became interested in anime by chance exposure on the Sci-Fi channel. Drew's the creative force behind blog-wide features, works the movie and food beats, and pioneered Damage Control’s entry into video, podcasts and streaming.
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Did my 4iF with my added challenge of posting a blog within the month, as well. Sir Barnes the Noble even commented on it, so everything gaming-related was perfect. Thought I’d give it a go this month, as well, but, hot damn, Spelunky is a tough game. I knew Stick of Truth was a terrible choice for 4iF. Played it last year, and that took a bit of time. It’s a fun ride to experience, but not a short one for what you were trying to do.
I finished Risky’s Revenge, and it’s ok. I tried to go back and play the original, and that’s no fun at all. Her sprite looks like it has a piece of food on her cheek and seeing it while I play irritates me considerably.
A friend bought me Captain Toad, but I haven’t been able to convince myself to try it yet. Your impression isn’t selling me on the idea of playing any time soon, either.
I’ll add Legend of the Dark Witch to my wishlist and work it in… eventually.
Thanks, Drew.
” However, I keep putting myself in a perpetual state of disappointment with them because I keep expecting the next one to get serious about its Metroidvania style, but it never does.”
Oh boy, I can’t wait to hear what you think of Half-Genie Hero once you get around to it. It makes Pirate’s Curse look open-ended.
Oh, then I might enjoy Pirate’s Curse and Half-Human. Guess I’ll bump PC up on the list. If I enjoy that, I’ll pick up HG.
My 4iF challenge fizzled out for reasons I’ve already listed. Fingers crossed for Four in March, especially now that Persona 5 is on the horizon.