J.J.S. Boyce

Nice! If you can do it I bet @travplaysgames.bsky.social could too.

#justbeatit Zombies Ate My Neighbors—on PS4 with a save feature—for my first bingo on the @polykillpodcast.bsky.social board. This may be the game I put the most time into as a kid without ever beating; a friend and I rented it over and over and always lost by level 30. It was always fun, even so.

I 100% remember this and I see I’m not the only one. I found a playlist maybe ten years ago on YouTube. The backstory on this is that Canadian kid-focused channels weren’t allowed to play commercials so they needed something to fill in the other eight minutes after a 22-minute show. PJ hosts ditto.

I lost two. Abi on the fourth day and then Max on the last or second last day.

I think Nick was unaccounted for, or more likely I just missed what they said about him in the ending. Maybe I can quickly rewatch the ending before I start my new playthrough.

#justbeatit The Quarry.#GameOfTheMonth

If you’re a wuss like me don’t play this one after dark. Play it in the afternoon and scar your children.

@polykillpodcast.bsky.social @cartridgeclub.bsky.social

PSN! For another week, I think. At least it is in Canada.

Just started @cartridgeclub.bsky.social's October #GameOfTheMonth, The Quarry. A modern spin on the FMV genre, it's like being in an interactive horror movie. Take advantage of the #CCEffect and grab it while it's 85% off. Great so far, but I'm a little afraid to go to sleep right after playing it.

Bringing the stone cold classics.

#justbeatit Wrecking Crew ‘98. I’m such a fan of the NES title I had to play the Japanese sequel for the Super Famicom, even though the gameplay is totally different and I‘m not very good. Persistence and unlimited continues eventually got me through those final levels. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

#justbeatit Garfield’s Scary Scavenger Hunt, a browser-based game I played purely for the @polykillpodcast.bsky.social bingo square. Turns out
it’s a minor cult classic—SkiFree for a different generation. Relatively painless, and if I couldn’t find anything with President Garfield I’ll take Liman.

I had been wondering how that game turns out.

I wouldn’t call it easy. But while I know I’m not as skilled as some action game players I’m persistent enough to see a worthwhile challenge through.

#justbeatit Celeste 64: The Bee Sides, by @wiedo.nl! This was tough but satisfying. I was so jealous of everyone playing it when it first came out, I’m glad I finally got the chance to experience it myself. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

I was as caught up in the hype as anyone but I couldn‘t play Celeste 64 when it came out because for a long time I didn’t have a non-work PC. I finally dug in this week and today #justbeatit. There are still, happily, five missing berries to keep me playing a bit yet. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

#justbeatit Dark Chambers (Atari 7800, via Atari 50). As a former NES kid these games are still a bit foreign to me, but this was a fun dungeon crawler. Unfortunately no credits, after level Z it just loops you back to A, infinitely, odd for 1988 but that’s Atari. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

I had a plan for the @polykillpodcast.bsky.social bingo save file resurrection square, but plans change. It turns out to be two years since I shelved Ape Escape 2 with 30% of the game left. On a whim I reinstalled and just kept playing tonight until I #justbeatit. That showed those damn, dirty apes.

I’ve been digging through the excellent Atari 50 for months now. It‘s more an interactive documentary than a videogame. Can I still say I #justbeatit?

Yes. I’m clearly not beating Cybermorph or Ninja Golf (I’ve tried!) and I need some credit for my time. Validate me @polykillpodcast.bsky.social.

A few years ago I tried to complete the @polykillpodcast.bsky.social challenge and beat a game for every year I’ve been alive. I failed as I could not get through a 1982 game. If only I‘d had Frogs and Flies on the Atari. I #justbeatit and my four-year-old beat it too. Still counts, though!

I loved this game when it first came out. I ended up 100%ing it. Did you play the original release or the HD remake?

#justbeatit Alan Wake: The Writer. With the two DLC chapters I was forced to get better at the game’s unique but decidedly not great combat. In terms of story these special features are not a bad sales job for the real sequel. I’ll definitely play it if I ever buy a PS5. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

After spending the week replaying the main game I dove into the DLC and #justbeatit Alan Wake: The Signal.

It’s not a complete and self-contained story, it doesn’t wrap anything up, but it’s one more chapter. We’ll see how the next DLC builds upon what this one set up. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

My nine-year-old has been playing Celeste and #justbeatit. There were times he got frustrated and had to step away, but in the end he got it done all on his own.

It’s important that children learn masochism is just as valid as fun as a reason for playing videogames. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

It was so good to fire up my Vita this month after a year of neglect. And I played it a lot, it took 50 hours before I #justbeatit Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward.

Half escape room puzzler, half visual novel—both halves are quite difficult but rewarding as well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

As a team-building exercise at work we were sharing which Turtles we each are. One guy said he didn’t know their personalities that well so he would pick a Sex and the City character instead. I’ve never been so disappointed in another human being.

(Not knocking SatC, but he was born in the 80s.)

Puzzler?

I’m glad to hear I can look forward to an increase in quality with the last game.

#justbeatit I Love You, Colonel Sanders: A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator. This has been on my list for a while. I have a hard time passing up a weird novelty game.

Essential? No. Worth the time investment for at least a single playthrough? Solidly maybe.

@polykillpodcast.bsky.social

#justbeatit Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. The improvements to the formula are largely cancelled out by changes that don’t work. I liked the hidden content at first but it soon devolve into 3D “pixel hunting”. I’m hoping the third game will be the one to get it all right. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social

I’m a big DSiWare fan so I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this one.

Congrats on ten years @polykillpodcast.bsky.social! I don’t mean to one-up you but I #justbeatit Bubble Bobble. Starting with a rental in first grade, my incredible 37-year journey included fathering two children and training one of them on NES in order to earn the best ending.

But ten years! Neat.