J.J.S. Boyce

It’s so weird that they bothered with an NES version. I didn’t even know about it until I saw it on the Cowabunga Collection, and you’re right, it’s not good. But I didn’t think of eight-bit consoles as even having fighting games, I thought of that genre as starting with Street Fighter 2.

#justbeatit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournamen Fighters (SNES version). This was a weekend rental back in the day. It’s not a great fighter and the story is barely there. I’ll try the Genesis version and will report back if Sega won that battle in the console war. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

I had Shadowgate on NES as a kid and it was way too hard for me. Decades later I decided it was high time I pick it up and finish the job and it’s even harder than I remember. I looked so much up I can hardly be said to have #justbeatit. Sometimes you run out of steam. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

#justbeatit TMNT 2: The Arcade Game (NES). While the lesser-known TMNT 3 holds its place as my favourite classic Turtles game, TMNT 2 is solid, I even prefer it to the more powerful arcade original, as it’s balanced for home play, not quarter munching. Tough but fair. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

@blinkoom.bsky.social make sure you don’t miss this one, he jist beat it.

We get it from all sides when it comes to anti-consumer behaviour. You’re right, it’s not just one company and it doesn’t matter who‘s the worst offender. I do want to call out BS when I see it and vote with my wallet if I can. No free passes even when my inner fanboy wants to let them off the hook.

There are a number of other things Nintendo does that also feel like price-gouging. All the classic 3rd-5th Gen stuff you used to be able to get on their eShop cheap ($3-5 for first-party SNES, GBA, etc), now you get temp access to a fraction via subscription or a full-price remake (Mario vs DK).

It’s not an unfair reputation. A well-loved three-year-old AAA Sony first party game can be expected to go on sale regularly for at least 50% off while a ten-year-old Wii U title that had already been re-released on Switch was full price right up to the very last day the eShop was open.

How to beat Super Mario Bros. fast!

Super Mario Bros Special, the other OTHER SMB1 sequel, was developed by Hudson for the NEC PC8801 in Japan in 1986. With all new levels it provided a unique opportunity: to play my very first game again, for the first time.

I #justbeatit again, also for the first time. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

We’ve both been having a Mario sorta night it seems. Congrats on all four of these beats.

I like the inclusion of stretch goals.

#justbeatit Zork 1. Of course, purists prefer the original version on a 1900 lb, 1152 kb mainframe computer. I got the 1981 release for QoL features such as compatibility with an electronic text display and standard household voltage. And the grues really pop in blue. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

42 new beats for 2025.

I completed all my gaming goals for 2025:
1) Reduce my backlog (net change -14)
2) Watch my spending (total spend $150, well below my budget)
3) Beat a game on every system I own (done for nine handhelds/consoles, all backlog games)
4) Explore a totally new genre (text adventures!)

Happy New Year!

Congrats on 300!

#justbeatit Pushmo World, my Wii U game for the year. Its 120 platform puzzles were quite challenging; more than once I was tempted to look up the solution. Instead I stepped away when I got stuck and the next day it clicked. Fun; tough: you’d call a real Topper. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

I wanted to play a proper 3DS title before year-end and went with The Starship Damrey, a 2023 eShop rescue. It’s a modern point-and-click with some good dual screen use but also some annoying pixel-hunting moments. A decent game, even so.

I #justbeatit, and guide-free! @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

Yes, this version is probably even easier. I appreciated the simplicity of the dungeons and the easy map at first. After five of the same dungeon, though, it started to wear thin.

I like NIS, though, you always get something different. The Prinny games were my first ultra-hard action platformers.

This year I set a goal of beating a game on every system. My DSi had one final backlog game and I #justbeatit. Rhapsody is a NIS-developed RPG/musical. It’s as you expect, simple surface story, deep unexplained lore, weird Disgaea-like humour, and singing your feelings. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

Good ending got!

#justbeatit Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (Rondo of Blood remake). I got the bad ending so I’ll try again, but credits are credits, and I can knock the PSP off my every-system-challenge checklist. Cool to play the last level of and it’s the first level of SotN. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

18 for me. Everything but dial-up and an AOL address. That is, unless AIM counts, in which case, 19.

Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.

If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity.

I don’t understand why @captaindrachma.bsky.social was making such a fuss about this.

I’ve never heard of this one. One of the GB gaming conventions was that game franchises often had Land in their portable titles (eg Mario, Donkey, and Kirby). Changing Man to Boy also makes sense but I wonder how often it happened. Balloon Kid (the Balloon Fight sequel) is the only one I can name.

Forgot to #justbeatit @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

This revival of a beloved franchise is marred by poor controls, doubly unfortunate given the level of precision some levels demand. Still, Donkey Kong Country Returns is not without its charms. A decent 7/10 experience even if I was hoping for better. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social