Game Title: Mario Party: The Top 100 Platform: Nintendo 3DS Hours Played: about 3
About The Game
Mario Party: The Top 100 was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017 in North America. There are few different modes in this game (including a simple board map and a story mode) but the main focus of this game is just playing the minigames, which is awesome! After all, the minigames are the best part about the Mario Party games. Some of the games are locked until you come across them in Story Mode.
What I Liked
There are a lot of fun minigames in this compilation! I especially enjoyed playing some old favorites from Mario Parties 1-4, because those are the games I’m most familiar with. It was fun seeing the games with updated graphics, too!
What I Didn’t Like
There are definitely some cheap ass, annoying minigames included in this compilation as well, which is unsurprising. I hate luck-based games! And the beach volleyball game can kiss my ass forever and ever, I hate it.
Closing Thoughts
I really enjoyed this game a lot! It’s fun to just play through the minigames without having to worry about some asshole stealing your stars, coins, or both!
Game Title: Pokémon Blue Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Hours Played: around 75
About The Game
Pokémon Blue (and its counterpart, Pokémon Red) was released on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1998 in North America. Basically, even though you are a small child, your mother thinks it’s cool that you want to travel around stuffing all sorts of weird creatures into balls and fighting against trainers who are in some cases way older and way more experienced. Once you receive your starter Pokémon, your mom kicks you out of the house so you can start your journey to the be the Greatest Pokémon Trainer Ever, and you’re not allowed to come home until you do! I may or may not have made that last statement up…
What I Liked
My favorite part of any Pokémon game is, of course, the Pokémon! I’m most fond of this generation of Pokémon probably because of nostalgia. Anyway, this game is so much fun! The music and graphics are adorable. I love the little cries the individual Pokémon make. I also appreciated how the game was a decent challenge without ever being overly difficult- though I did get tripped up on occasion.
What I Didn’t Like
The dungeons were a bit annoying at times, just because of all the random encounters. Sometimes I couldn’t take more than two steps without having to battle! Yeah, yeah, I used Repel and it didn’t work as well as it should have, so there! The Safari Zone sucked ass- Pokémon broke out of the balls way too easily, and it just annoyed me. Also, Moltres was quite the little bitch- I know he’s a Legendary, but still.
Closing Thoughts
Though I REALLY wanted to “Catch ‘Em All”, it really does take quite a bit of time to actually catch and evolve the Pokémon. I did try to do this at first (hence the inflated play time), but ultimately ended up just trying to build a strong team and move on. I’m also proud of myself for catching all the Legendaries as well as Mewtwo 😉 All in all, this was a really fun game, and I’m glad I’ve finally beaten it!
P.S. You can only play as a boy in this game, hence my name being “Brandon” haha.
Game Title: Mario Tennis Aces Platform: Nintendo Switch Hours Played: about 4
About The Game
Mario Tennis Aces was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. It has some kind of whacked out plot, but who the fuck pays attention to that? I didn’t. I have the attention span of a mosquito. Something about an evil tennis racket maybe?
What I Liked
There are so many different characters to play as! It’s neat to see all different denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom on the roster. I also liked the different environments and the fact that there are several game modes to choose from.
What I Didn’t Like
The game’s impressive roster is also kind of its downfall- because there are so many different characters, each with their own special moves, it can get a little confusing. Also, the Reflection Room in Adventure Mode can kiss my ass.
Closing Thoughts
I considered this game beaten when I beat the easiest cup in Tournament Mode. I don’t really have the skills to advance much farther- but it’s fun to dip in and play a quick match now and then!
Whyyyy is this week over already?! My husband and I had the entire week off of work- my birthday is 7/26 and our anniversary is 7/29, so it’s something we do every year. Now, since we are still in the midst of a pandemic, we didn’t stay anywhere, but it was still nice to have a whole week off to relax and do whatever the fuck we wanted! I’m going to try not to cry yet- we still have the glorious weekend to do whatever, so I’ll try to enjoy that and not think about the misery I’m going to feel come Monday. Anyway, here’s an End Game Thoughts post!
Game Title: Yoshi’s Crafted World Platform: Nintendo Switch Hours Played: about 8
About The Game
This adorable little gem of a game came out in March 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. I started playing it January 5, 2020 and beat it February 16, 2020- my first game I beat in 2020, go me!
Anyway, Yoshi’s Crafted World begins with Kamek starting shit because Baby Bowser is a whiny little shit who wants these damn Dream Gems to make his dreams come true, or something. While trying to steal them, Kamek just ends up making a mess and the Gems go flying all over the damn place. All the Yoshis figure they better go get those Dream Gems before those bastards do, so off they go!
What I Liked
This game is SO CUTE! It is an absolute joy to play. I love the graphics and how everything looks like it’s made out of paper/cardboard/crafted objects (though I do prefer Yoshi’s Woolly World in terms of style). The levels and the bosses are fun and unique to play, and there’s a lot of little extras to keep you coming back for more!
What I Didn’t Like
I really don’t have any complaints about this game! It’s fun and enjoyable to play, and the final levels of the game are decently challenging. I guess the only thing I have to say here is that the music is just okay- I didn’t mind it, but I wish there was more variety with the tunes.
Closing Thoughts
This game is wonderful and is a joy to play. I appreciate how much extra content there is besides “just” the levels- there are Poochy pups to find, souvenirs to gather, costumes to purchase, hide and seek to pay, the Hidden Hills levels to conquer… the amount of content is really nice and keeps you coming back after the credits roll!
Game Title: Homescapes Platform: Kindle Fire Hours Played: maybe an hour
About The Game
Homescapes was released in 2017 for mobile platforms; I played on my Kindle Fire. In this game, you help a balding, middle-aged butler (named Austin) with a creepy ass smile restore his parents’ house to its former glory. I guess he moves back in with his parents and you are just some weird, unseen entity that plays a match-3 game so that the butler can earn stars that will magically pay for all the stupid shit this shitty house needs to be awesome again.
What I Liked
Despite my crabbiness, it is kind of a cute concept for a game, and I liked the idea of methodically moving through the house and restoring each room. The house itself was pretty big, with lots of rooms to restore. That’s… about all I liked.
What I Didn’t Like
Unfortunately, Homescapes falls prey to the typical match-3 bullshit that a lot of games seem to be fond of. There are a lot of gimmicks that quickly grew tiresome and sometimes, if your luck is shit like mine, you’ll fail the same level over and over.
Closing Thoughts
This game definitely had potential, but really ends up falling flat. Why you have to play a shitty Candy Crush clone to restore rooms is beyond me. It would have been much better had they implemented different mini games or puzzle varieties. I wanted to like it, but after getting to Day 3 in the game, I got annoyed and uninstalled it. Sorry Austin, looks like you’ll have to find some other sucker to help you with your parents’ house!
P.S. I hope all my US friends have an awesome Thanksgiving! I’m really looking forward to it, although I have laryngitis and probably won’t be able to chat with my family much. Well, at least I can still eat! 😉
Game Title: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Platform: Apple iPhone Hours Played: oh lord… probably over 120 or so
About The Game
I miss this old loading screen… the new one is ugly!
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a mobile game that came out in November 2017. I was SO EXCITED for an Animal Crossing game to play on my phone- I remember I couldn’t wait to get off work so I could download it and play!
This game is a bit different from other AC games in the fact that you “manage” a campsite and invite the villagers to hang out there! You can also decorate you campsite and your rv (and later on, your cabin), collect fish, bugs, fruit and shells, and participate in one of the many events that are always going on!
Note that there really isn’t an “ending” to this game. I considered the game beaten when I invited all of the available animals to my campsite, though more animals are added into the game every so often!
What I Liked
At its core, this game is just… so cute. Seeing so many of my favorite villagers at my campsite is awesome and I love giving them gifts and treats! The more you interact with them, the more they level up, which in turn increases YOUR overall level. As of my time of writing this, I’m at Level 142… after almost 2 years of playing, that’s not too shabby! The level cap is somewhere over 200 right now, though that changes depending on how many villagers are in the game.
I also really like the fact that there are monthly events that keep you wanting to come back and check in. The game has gone through a few evolutions since its inception, but as of now, there are 3 different events each month- a gardening event, a scavenger hunt, and a fishing tourney. These events allow you to collect themed furniture. Last month it was all Halloween furniture, which was awesome!
What I Didn’t Like
Ha… the main gripe I have with this game? It’s a mobile game, and therefore falls into many of the same traps as other mobile games. There is, of course, premium currency (Leaf Tickets) which can be spent on premium items. At first, Leaf Tickets were pretty easy to come by, and it was easy to buy whatever you wanted. THEN they introduced fortune cookies, which can only be purchased with Leaf Tickets (although they do occasionally sell them for Bells, the game’s standard currency). To make matters worse, the item you get is completely random, so you may end up with several of the same item that you don’t want!
I want to point out that I haven’t spent a single dollar on this game. I refuse to participate in gacha type gambles with my real money, so I just earn Leaf Tickets organically as I play the game. Sure, I miss out on stuff sometimes, but oh well.
One other little thing about Pocket Camp… I kind of wish it were more like a mini Animal Crossing town. The villagers don’t really do anything but stand around and sometimes interact with items in your campsite. Even when you visit them in other areas, they are pretty static most of the time. The have little tents, but you can’t go inside and look around like you can with their houses in the core games. With that being said, I know there are probably restrictions placed on the game because it is mobile.
Closing Thoughts
Despite the fact that the gacha mechanics are absolutely ridiculous and the game can be a bit repetitive, I still find myself logging in every day! I just ignore what I don’t like about the game and I don’t feel pressured to spend money either. Animal Crossing has always been about living your life the way you want… don’t want to fish? Don’t bother. Love interacting with villagers and redecorating your house? Do it all day long and no one will try to stop you. Pocket Camp retains some of that charm and doesn’t force you to participate in anything you don’t want to. Many people have Fear Of Missing Out and have to collect ALLTHETHINGS or else their life is ruined, but not me. I’m content to check in on my little buddies, participate in events as much (or as little) as I want, and go about my day.
P.S. The only thing I HAVE to have in this game is all the animal buddies. In the past, new villagers would just randomly appear and you would have to meet them and craft their favorite furniture in order to invite them to your campsite, which was cute and fun. That mechanic has been replaced by a shit mechanic where you have to send Gulliver away for a chance to get an animal map back, and it’s a bit annoying and tedious. Patience is a virtue, though, and it is possible to do it without spending money, so I just take my time with it 😉
Game Title: Bookworm Platform: Kindle Touch Hours Played: about 1 1/2
About The Game
Bookworm is another one of those games that has been released multiple times throughout the years on multiple platforms. It was first released in 2003 I think on the computer? I’m too lazy to do much research. Anywho, the version I played was released in 2012 for the Kindle Touch. (yes, I still have a really old Kindle that has books and games on it!)
So what is Bookworm about? Well, it’s a puzzle game where there are a bunch of Scrabble tiles with letters on them, and you connect the letters together to form words. Shocking, right? Once you make a word, more tiles fall down and you just keep on forming words til your little heart is content… or until the level is over, anyway.
As you progress through the levels, more shit goes down… like, sometimes the tiles will catch on fire and move down the board with each turn! Oh, the horror! If the fire reaches the bottom of the board, you are screwed.
What I Liked
This game is pretty relaxing, for the most part. I really do enjoy word games, so it was fun for me to see how high I could get my score! Even though my Kindle Touch displays everything in black and white, the graphics translated well and I had no problem seeing what I was supposed to be doing!
What I Didn’t Like
Though it is fun, the game does start to drag on the longer you play. It’s definitely designed to play in short bursts- just play a level or two here and there, and it’s fun for everyone!
Closing Thoughts
Bookworm is a fun little game that when played in short bursts, provides a decent distraction from life. I played it for about an hour and a half total, got up to Level 14, and had a final score of 114,790. Not too shabby!
Game Title: Hay Day Platform: Kindle Fire Hours Played: about 6 (so far)
Okay, this post is kind of cheating a little bit. This can’t really be considered an “end game thoughts” post, because Hay Day doesn’t really have an end! I just wanted to write about my experiences with the first few hours I’ve put into the game- by no means have I “beaten” the game! But because I’m horribly lazy and uncreative, I am still lumping this post under End Game Thoughts!
About The Game
Hay Day is a mobile game that was released for iOS in 2012 and Android in 2013. I have had a passing interest in this game for several years, mostly because I loved the shit out of Farmville and wanted to play a game that was similar. I had a co-worker tell me about it when it came out, but I never downloaded it. Fast forward a couple years later, and I downloaded it on my iPad… and still never played it. Finally, I got a Kindle Fire tablet for Christmas this past year, downloaded it, and finally gave it a go!
The premise of Hay Day is simple- you run a farm. You have crops and animals that can make you some money, which you can use to make your farm bigger so you can buy more crops and animals and fancy buildings and all that other necessary shit!
What I Liked
This game is very chill. It’s more chill than Farmville actually, because your crops don’t die, your animals don’t get sick… you could literally leave your farm alone for years and when you come back, everything’s the same! It’s the perfect casual game to sit down and spend a couple minutes with. Plant some crops, feed some animals, then come back in a couple hours to collect your money. I like how the progression of the game is slow and steady, so you aren’t too overwhelmed with everything at once.
What I Didn’t Like
Your ability to earn money is awfully slow at first! You don’t really start out with much, but the game is meant to be played at a slow pace, so I really wasn’t too put off by it. As time goes on you are able to earn money more easily, which allows you to buy machines that can make bread, cheese, etc. so you can earn even more $$$! I played the game pretty consistently over a week’s time and was able to make decent progress. Of course you have the option of buying gems or whatever to speed up your process, but I refuse to fall prey to freemium shit!
One thing that PISSED ME OFF though: I accidentally bought and placed another chicken coop. No problem, I can just put it away, right? FUCKING WRONG. IT STAYS IN YOUR GAME AND YOU CAN NEVER PUT IT AWAY. I may use it someday, but for now, it’s empty, it’s taking up space, it’s in my fucking way! GOD!
Closing Thoughts
Hay Day is a nice relaxing game very reminiscent of Farmville- which is exactly what I was looking for. Why the hell didn’t I start playing it a lot sooner?! Anyway, I’ve put maybe 6 hours total into it so far. It’s kind of a “weekend game” for me in that I play it a few times throughout the day when I’m chilling on my days off. With no real end to the game, it’s something I can enjoy at my leisure for quite some time to come!
Game Title: Shark! Shark! Platform: Intellivision Plug and Play Hours Played: about 40 minutes
Does anyone else have an Intellivision Plug and Play System? There seem to be a few of them out there, but mine is the 10 in 1 version that I bought many years ago! It’s a fun little system and I’ve always enjoyed playing it from time to time. Anyway, this little End Game Thoughts post is about Shark! Shark!, one of the games on this system!
Shark! Shark! was originally released for the Mattel Intellivision in 1982. In this game, you start out as a small fish swimming around with a bunch of other fish. You can only eat fish smaller than you, or else you die. Immediately. Eat a bunch of fish smaller than you, and eventually you become bigger and can eat more of the fish! There’s a giant shark that swims around and makes a really rude sounding noise every time he appears, but I don’t know what he does except try to kill you. Maybe eventually you get big enough to eat the shark? I’m not that cool, so I never found out.
What I Liked
This is a fun game that’s easy to pick up and play for a little bit. It doesn’t really require too much thought or explanation, so I enjoyed playing a few rounds just to beat my high score! I thought the bleeps and bloops the game made in lieu of music was cute and made me feel quite nostalgic.
What I Didn’t Like
So, you have 5 lives. Unfortunately, when you die, you go back to being the smallest size fish, so you have to start all over. Your score is the only thing that rolls over from life to life.
Also, the fish is constantly moving, meaning you are always pushing the D-pad to keep it out of danger. A small gripe, sure, but my poor arthritic hands were tired after awhile!
Closing Comments
This is a fun, cute game that anyone can play! The difficulty gradually rises but doesn’t ever become unbearable. My hands just got tired after awhile! I played this game for around 40 minutes, and my high score was 29,720. Not too shabby I think! I’d like to go back and play again and see if I can eventually eat the shark… 😉
So, I actually beat this game back in April of this year… I’m still a few months behind on all my posts I want to do, but I think I’m making some good headway. I’m also catching up on reading everyone else’s posts too, which is awesome! I’m taking some time off starting Friday (which happens to be my birthday!) and I’ll be off of work all the way until August 6th. Not sure how much time I’ll spend on the internet considering my husband and I are probably going to the beach and other fun stuff if the weather holds up (plus our anniversary is the 29th). Anyway, why am I blabbering so much?! On to the whole point of this post… my End Game Thoughts on the wonderful Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn!
Game Title: Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn Platform: Nintendo 3DS Hours Played: around 8
About The Game
Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn was released for the Nintendo 3DS in March 2019. Naturally, I bought the game the day it came out… it’s Kirby, duh! I’m so proud that I actually bought a damn game and played it close to its release date instead of like 15 years later! Anywho. This game is actually an enhanced port of Kirby’s Epic Yarn for the Nintendo Wii. It featured new abilities, modes, etc.
If you’ve played the original, you know the story for this one… some asswipe named Yin Yarn has been turning the inhabitants of a place called Patch Land into yarn because he’s a freaking weirdo. Prince Fluff (who looks suspiciously like Kirby) asks Kirby for help and because Kirby’s such a sweet little guy, he just jumps right in!
What I Liked
Playing this game just feels so… cozy. That’s the best word I can use to describe it. When you want to relax after a long, annoying day, playing this game is the perfect escape. The beautifully designed levels and chill music never fail to give me a relaxing vibe. Plus, it’s so damn adorable, you can’t help but smile while you are playing it.
I also enjoyed some of the power-ups present in this game. The original Epic Yarn didn’t have them, and while they aren’t necessary to get through the game, they were fun additions that I liked using.
What I Didn’t Like
Losing all my beads because I suck ass and keep getting hit by the same enemy over and over. But that’s my problem, not the game’s!
Closing Thoughts
This game is absolutely wonderful. It was a joy to play through and brightened up my cold, dark little heart every time I played! Plus with new modes and extras, there are more reasons to keep playing after you kick Yin Yarn’s ass.
Walk Away From The Sun... 