Awesome games people should know about!

[Rez09]

Oooooooo, more games!

I'm in a similar boat to Vermachtnis on Luminous Arc 1: it was rather 'meh'. I did know about the second game though, but I never picked it up because of my experience with the first. It's good to know an improvement was made.

Also, Super Scribblenauts! \ ^_^ / I played it after Unlimited, but I still had a lot of fun with the game. I don't recall my puzzle solutions being as silly for the most part, but it was still awesome.

I've still never played a Shadow Hearts game, or Koudelka on the PS1 which I hear is a related title, but I've heard good things about the series. I need to fix that.



So, for my next game, this is a title I'm pretty sure EVERYONE has heard of, and yet most people don't know exists. How does that make sense?

Here are the hints before we find out what it is:

1) It's a Nintendo game
2) It's a Gameboy title
3) It involves a kidnapped lady-type person who ISN'T Peach
4) Lots of jumping and acrobatics are involved
5) No plane / spaceship stages

Think you got it?
Let's find out!

Donkey Kong - Nintendo / Nintendo - 1994 - Puzzle Platformer

You know what game ISN'T an arcade port, despite what its name and platform might suggest? Yeah, it's this one. It's actually a super forgivable mistake too, since its first stages ARE just the original DK stages, and I imagine a LOT of people passed it over for that reason. It's really too bad, because once one gets past said stages they'll find what is easily one of the most entertaining games on the platform.

So, what IS this game if it isn't a port? Well, if you are familiar with the Mario Vs. DK series, this is effectively the first game in that line. If not, then . . . read on. After dropping DK on his head at the end of the fourth stage and being happily reunited with Pauline, DK decides he won't be having any of that, grabs her again, and dashes out of the stage with her. Ever the relentless purser, Mario takes off after him and each non-boss stage from there forward is centered around finding and transporting a key to a locked door so you can continue chasing DK.

It almost sounds a bit silly (kind of like everything in the original DK game when you think about it), but everything about the game, from controls to stage design, are executed superbly. Every stage is a puzzle where you have find and bring a key to the door, and new mechanics are thrown into the mix fairly regularly, with a short cutscene, starting with the key on stage 5, showing the player how the mechanic works.

Additionally, Mario himself has received quite the upgrade for the title, being able to perform handstands, backflips, and launch himself off of wires, all of which are vital to completing the game. It's pretty awesome having all these new options open to you, especially when you take unintended shortcuts using them in the original four stages. There's also the ability to block falling objects with your feet during the handstand that is required for boss fights throughout the game, which, maybe, made 10 year old me feel like a total badass.

As I mentioned earlier, the game was later followed up by the much better known Mario Vs. Donkey Kong games, which are great too, but that doesn't change how unknown / underappreciated I've always felt this title was, and if you are up for an awesome Nintendo puzzle platformer, you need to check it out. Actually, if there was any chance ANY excuse I could even theoretically offer you would sway you to try the title, you should try it out. It isn't as well known Super Mario Land (though I happily argue it is much better), nor was it the smashing success that was Pokemon, but it still remains . . .

an awesome game you should know about