Shovel Knight (3DS):
Starting off with one of the strongest games I've played in my entire life, let alone one of the strongest on this list. I was really skeptical about this game prior to playing, purely because of all the hype surrounding it (multiple sources calling it the best 2D platformer ever). Despite my skepticism, I love this game. Perfect difficulty, mind-numbing pixel art, dozens of secrets and unlockables, interesting mechanics, and a surprisingly interesting storyline (complete with final boss twist!), this game rocked my world. I have a gaming list way too long right now, and I'm sad about that because I just want to play more Shovel Knight.
My GIPL Rating: S
Super Mario Bros. 3 (3DS Virtual Console):
Prepare yourself for the number of 2D platformers on this list....that's been my go-to genre lately (alongside Metroidvania). While Shovel Knight is an instant classic, SMB3 is usually heralded as the gold standard of the genre. I had never beaten it, so I took a crack at it. While I'm sure it was wonderful for its time (and don't get me wrong, it still holds up rather well), SMB3 has too many dated features like finite lives, a lack of save system, and virtually no checkpoints that really pull it down when directly compared to modern marvels like Shovel Knight and others below. I appreciate how much it laid down the foundation for the games to come, but objectively speaking, this game falls a bit short and probably lands on the piranha plant up there.
My GIPL Rating: B-
SteamWorld Heist (3DS):
My last GIPL entry documented SteamWorld Dig, which I loved, giving it an A+ score. I wouldn't call this game a sequel, but it was developed by the same team and takes place in the same universe (albeit in the future). SteamWorld Heist is a brand new 2D turn-based shooter. Think side-scrolling Fire Emblem with aiming and no permadeath (thank God!). This game was a very layered and rich for an indie game, with dozens upon dozens of weapons that genuinely felt different from one another, and multiple characters that all had unique abilities to give you different ways to approach the mission. The story was adequate, and the writing was charming. I definitely recommend it to strategy fans.
My GIPL Rating: A
LoZ: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS):
Look, I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know about this game. Personally, my playthrough of the 3DS remake of OoT was a bit redemptive for this game. I weary of the perpetual internet godhood that this game as attained, and always view it as over-rated. While I still don't think it holds up to Majora's or Wind Waker, I enjoyed this game a lot more than I would have originally given myself credit for. Take that, my cynical hipster brain.
My GIPL Rating: A
VVVVVV (3DS):
Finally got around to playing this retro-inspired gravity-flipper, and had a lot of fun in the 3 hours or so it took me to complete (may have been less...I didn't keep track). In case you didn't know, there's no jump in this game, only a button that flips gravity. You can't flip it back until you've successfully landed, making for some challenging and mind-bending obstacles. The core objectives of the game were moderately challenging, but masochists like myself will want to find all 20 shiny trinkets, which are deviously placed. 3 of them in particular were really difficult and memorable to obtain, making this game a lot of fun. Everybody should try this one.
My GIPL Rating: A-
Ran out of BB King...switched to The Doors. Great writing music. (I know I'm not a creative writer, but I never will be. This is as good as it gets for me. I'm a scientist, deal with it).
Super Mario Land 2 (GB):
It's no secret to my loyal readers that I really like Wario, so what better game for me to play than Wario's first appearance? I had this game when I was a kid, but never really got into it. I revisited it lately, and think it's a really under-rated Mario title. I think Mario's running and jumping physics feel a bit better in this game than the NES Mario games, or at least they were more comfortable for me. The level designs are zanier than one would typically find in a Mario game, which is great. One can totally see the groundwork being laid for Wario to take over this series. My only real complaints are that it's a pretty quick playthrough, and it's a little on the easy side. I'm gonna be a heretic and say I prefer it to SMB3.
My GIPL Rating: B
Super Castlevania IV (Wii Virtual Console):
I'm a longtime Metroid fan, but never cracked into the other half of the origin of the Metroidvania genre (I realize this game isn't Metroidvania at all....just stay with me here). I find the Castlevania series to be very huge and daunting, but as a rough rehash of the original Castlevania, I heard that this game is a good starting point for n00bs. But seriously, I really don't like this game at all. The platforming and combat are both really clunky and not intuitive at all. I spent several hours on this title and never really felt like I was improving. The lives are really limited, and the power-up balance is horrible. 80% of this game is hitting candles with your whip so you can get ammo to weapons that are barely useful. I finally gave up (against my OCD compulsion to finish games) about 3/4 of the way through this game- I just didn't care anymore. I'm going straight to Symphony of the Night or Aria of Sorrow like I should have in the first place.
My GIPL Rating: D
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PC):
Writing about Super Castlevania IV brought me down, so I'm gonna follow it up with what easily became an instant Top 10 game for me. Guacamelee! is so many things. It is Metroidvania without trying too hard to be Metroid or Castlevania. It is incredibly colorful and immersive in a cartoony Mexican Luchador environment. The beat-em-up combat system is brilliant; simple enough to figure out within minutes, but complex enough that you'll find yourself creating new fighting strategies and combos as you get better. This game is absolutely DRIPPING with charm, personality, and wit, with numerous references to all sorts of pop culture games, movies and memes (again, without seeming like it's trying too hard to do so). And as if it wasn't perfect enough, I found a mod that allowed me to play as Samus (see above). I played through this game (including getting the "true" ending) in 3 sittings, and the only interruptions I faced were mandatory classes. You may not like it as much as I did, but you should absolutely play this game as soon as you get the chance.
My GIPL Rating: S
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS):
I promise this is the last Mario game on this list. Well, sort of. Anyway, this game was pretty standard modern Mario fare, blending the 3D movement and freedom of Super Mario 64 with the smaller, linear level layout of the more traditional Mario games like SMB3. This game actually borrows quite a bit from SMB3, as seen by the Tanooki Suit above. The game was pretty fun, and had good use of the 3D as an actual gameplay element (rarely) instead of just a visual gimmick. It was a bit easy, even for a new Mario game, and even getting 100% completion only took me a few days of dedicated gaming. I think this game would be a lot more fun if it had fewer levels that were more involved. I didn't feel the need to wander around any of the boards. I just popped in, grabbed 3 star coins, and rushed to the flag. Lather, rinse, repeat like 70 times.
My GIPL Rating: C+
Thomas Was Alone (PC):
Thomas Was Alone is a minimalist puzzle platformer where you play as rectangles. And it somehow manages to be immensely entertaining. Each playable quadrilateral is a sentient AI who has different platforming abilities, such as the ability to double jump, fit in small spaces, float in water, etc. As you acquire more compadres, you have a more powerful arsenal (huh huh...arse) with which to complete increasingly more complex levels. The trick is getting everyone to the end, which sometimes can be really challenging. Reminds me of team building/leadership/problem solving exercises we did at Air Force Officer Training School, except for this game is fun. The whole game has a really unique and artsy story that I didn't fully understand, all narrated by some awesome British dude, sort of like Stanley Parable (oh yeah, I also played Stanley Parable, but that game barely qualifies as a game so I'm not writing about it. Deal.). Long story short, you should try it if you get the chance. Can totally be played in one 3-hour session.
My GIPL Rating: B+
Done with The Doors. Switched to Kansas. Got the Song for America album for Christmas: holy crap it's good. I'm hoping I'll finish before it's done, it's getting late and I have things to do tomorrow morning.
Portal (PC):
Yeah, you know this game. This was my second playthrough, although it's been a long time. Spoiler alert: amazing game. I recently bought Portal 2, which I have never played. Super excited to get in there.
My GIPL Rating: A+
Donkey Kong '94 (GB):
The fun extension of the classic arcade game, which takes you briefly through the original levels, then gives you over ninety more. More a puzzle game than an action platformer, Donkey Kong '94 has excellent pacing and teaches the player really well before asking you to take what you have learned and use it in creative ways (similar to the above game, huh?). I've had this one since I was a kid, and have played it several times. Never really gets old.
My GIPL Rating: B+
Inside My Radio (PC):
Here's one you may not have heard of. I was in the mood one day to play a rhythm game, and I found this bad boy on Steam. It's a rhythm platformer, where all jumps, dashes, and slams have to be done to the beat of the game's electronic, rock n roll, and reggae tracks (I use the terms "rock n roll" and "reggae" very loosely). Sounds really cool in concept, but lacks quite a bit in execution. The level design isn't innovative at all, and is a really easy playthrough. I'm pretty sure I even got all of the achievements without much effort at all. The visuals are somewhat interesting, and the music is understandably pretty good. Not a must-buy by any means, but not a bad game if you want to sit on the couch and mellow out to some laid-back beats.
My GIPL Rating: C
Downwell (PC):
Downwell is a fun mobile-type arcade platformer, where you go down instead of right or up. The main character falls rather rapidly, and has a pair of gun boots that can slow his plunge and attack enemies. The boots reload once the character lands or jumps on an enemy. The idea is to get nasty combos going, which replenishes your life and ultimately let's you go farther and farther down the well. Lots of powerups and weapons make this game replayable, but it is super hard. If I'm not mistaken (and I'm too tired to look this up), there are 5 different areas with 3 levels each. I only ever made it to area 3, and that was after a decent amount of time put into this game. It's not very expensive, and it's a good game to get as an entertaining time-killer. I might recommend getting it on your mobile instead of PC though.
My GIPL Rating: B-
Kirby's Dream Land (GB):
Kirby's debut game leaves a bit to be desired. While the little puffball can fly indefinitely after inhaling air and inhale and fire enemies as projectiles, in this game he lacks his signature copy ability, which I think is the main draw of the series (that's a run-on. Deal with it). Without the copy ability, levels seem mundane and this simply becomes a generic platformer. Also, it's insanely short. with only 5 levels and a final boss fight with Dedededede. I would be disappointed if I spent more than $2 on this game, because it can be beat in an hour, probably less.
My GIPL Score: D+
Super Meat Boy (PC):
I'm exhausted and want to be done with this. That's how I feel right now after writing all of this in one sitting, really late at night and after a long day of med school classes. That's also how I felt grinding through this exercise in self-loathing dressed up as a computer game. I'll be candid, I didn't come anywhere close to completing this game. I didn't pick up any extras or beat the more difficult Dark World. I just played through the levels from beginning to end, until I beat the final boss and completed the collapsing lair sequence. For that, I earned one achievement, called "The End", awarded for finishing the main game. This was my goal from the beginning, and I'm very content with leaving Super Meat Boy there for now. And you know what, only 4% of people who own Super Meat Boy on Steam have done that, so I don't feel bad at all. All griping aside, this is probably one of the most pure platformers in existence. There are enemies, but no combat. This game is all about maneuvering your avatar through hundreds of short but unforgiving obstacle courses, and the feeling of reward one attains from beating one level fuels the effort put into the next. Super Meat Boy sets you up to succeed, with instant, infinite respawns and perfect controls, including the best wall jump mechanic in gaming, IMO. I believe anybody can beat this game with enough patience and determination. And crying, hysterical laughter, throwing things, and hitting one's head against the table.
My reluctant GIPL Rating: A
That's FINALLY all. I apolgize for the lack of variety in my verbs and nouns down the strech, and for the (more than usual) grammatical spelling and puntuation errors that surely saturate this post But through all of the tired, it fun writing about these games. If I continue to do this GIPL thing, Im gonna try to keep up with it a bit more in the furture. Deuces.
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