Games I Beat in 2023

It's the end of the year now, and I anticipate doing this for each game I beat in 2024. So to get some practice, how about a lightning round with each game from 2023?

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

Probably my 3rd or 4th time going through this one! This time on the native android port. This was the first game I beat on my Retroid Pocket 3+, my strongest handheld. Fun fact: this is one of the very few Playstation games I've played through to completion. This is one of my all time favorites!

Perfect Dark (N64)

Another one that I've replayed a handful of times, Perfect Dark is an N64 game best experienced on not an N64. Being a later release it tends to CHUG when things start getting hectic. I highly recommend playing the HD rerelease available on XBox consoles or the unofficial PC version that lets you use mouse controls.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (GB)

A fun little sidescroller with decently large sprites. Bring the 4 turtles through a handful of levels to defeat Shredder and Krang. Beat it in less than an hour. It just felt right to play this on the Anbernic RG35XX, my go to handheld for gameboy games.

Shock Troopers (NEOGEO)

One of the best Neo-Geo action titles out there. Shock Troopers is up there with the likes of Metal Slug and Bust-a-Move for one of my favorite Neo-Geo titles. It's definitely my favorite top down shooter. It's got a great 90s artstyle and action that's just enough without being too overwhelming.

SD Great Battle 1 (SFC)

A quick little top down shooter game on the Super Famicom, I originally wanted to play it because it has an SD (super deformed or "chibi") RX-78 Gundam in it. It was ok, just a run of the mill shooter with a fun aesthetic and a nonsense plot. Apparently this series goes all sorts of places and this was the most boring entry, so if you like Gundam and Kamen Rider give the series a chance.

MegaMan 2 (NES)

I finally sat down and beat MegaMan 2 for the first time this February. I've always been a fan of the X and Zero series of MegaMan games but I had never beaten a MegaMan Classic title. I can't recommend this one enough. It's definitely in my top 5 for the NES.

Metroid Zero Mission (GBA)

One of my absolute favorites on the GBA, I did a casual speedrun of Metroid Zero Mission for GOTM back in February. It's a remake of the original Metroid in the style of Super Metroid on the SNES and Metroid Fusion (also on the GBA). I've beaten it dozens of times and was glad to get the best ending this time.

Contra (NES)

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right Start. Its the only way I know how to play this game. Even with the extra lives the Konami code gives you, this game still isn't a cakewalk. You need to pay attention while fighting through the Jungle Island that Blood Falcon inhabits. If you've played the NES version to death, give the famicom disk version a try. It's got new cutscenes that look great!

World of Illusion (GEN)

A rental from a childhood now long gone, World of Illusion is a top 3 Mickey platformer on the Genesis (Hey there were a lot of good ones ok?!). I had never beaten this one before so it was nice to run through it on one of my lunch breaks at work!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES)

One of my favorite beat em ups of all time (although its not as good as its brand new HD sibling on my switch). I love the little additions they made to the home port, like the extra technodrome level and the different bosses. The arcade has extra frames of animation and better/more voices, but its also a good playthrough. What isn't a good playthrough is the Turtles in Time HD Remake that came out on XBox Live Arcade back in 2010. I still haven't forgiven Ubisoft for that dumpster fire of a game.

Sonic Chaos (GameGear)

I need to remind myself to make sure I put the game title in these photos because hunting this down in my discord posts took a hot minute. Sonic Chaos is... fine I guess. The only 8bit Sonic game I enjoy is the first one. The rest were made for people that didn't have a Genesis and I was not a part of that target audience growing up. This one does have rocket shoes though. Make of that what you will.

River City Ransom (NES)

Hey! You got your brawler in my RPG! A little bit of a grindy experience, River City Ransom is one of the more unique entries on the NES. Known for its excellent coop and enemies that say "BARF" when they die, this one took me a couple of sessions to get the hang of. The secret is knowing which items increase what stats, grinding for money, and then buying a bunch of those items. By the end I had enough stat boosts to kick an elephant to death. Would recommend.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PCE-CD)

The TurboGrafx-16 (known as the NEC PC Engine in Japan) didn't sell particularly well in the states, so Konami never decided to bring this one over. It's a shame they didn't because its my favorite "Classic" Castlevania experience that I've played so far. Although not as tough as its brothers on the NES, Rondo can still kick your butt if you aren't careful. There are plenty of alternate paths, and a fun second character in Maria Renard. This is the direct prequel to Symphony of the Night, and I was glad to have finally finished it this year.

Sin and Punishment (N64)

For a guy that loves rail shooters on the N64, I sure took my sweet time getting to this one. The sole N64 game I completed this year, this one was a rollercoaster that I was able to run through in an afternoon. One of my unexpected favorites of the year.

Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland (GBA)

A remake of Kirby's Adventure on the NES, I originally beat this back when my brother got it for his GBA in the early 00s. There are tons of powerups and everything just looks so nice on the GBA (it might have been a Golden Era for spritework). One of my favorite Kirby games. I was glad to have come back to it this year.

Final Fantasy: Pixel Remaster (Steam)

I bought all of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters during a steam sale this year and I got around to playing the first in August. I ran through with a Warrior, a Monk, a White Mage, and a Black Mage. It took me a few days to go through. I'm glad I finally finished this one after starting the GBA and PSP runs and stopping after a few hours, never to pick them up again. After this I started II and VI and am yet to finish those up. Stay tuned!

Cybernator (SNES)

A cult classic SNES gem that I had never found the time to play through before, Cybernator is a fun side-scrolling action game that is slower and more methodical than Contra. I was able to brute force the last level with save states. The ending had me on the edge of my seat! If you haven't played this one yet, there is a re-release on the switch that looks excellent!

Metal Slug (NEOGEO)

I can't count the amount of times I've played through this one. One of my favorite action games of all time, rivaled only by the third installment in my opinion. If you've never given this one or the series in general a shot, you are missing out. It's a 45 minute playthrough you won't regret.

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES/SNES)

Finishing off this year with Super Mario Bros. 3; a game I've beaten countless times, my favorite Mario game, and in my top 5 games of all time. Levels are fun and don't overstay their welcome. You can either run the gauntlet of all the worlds, or get two warp whistles in the first world and skip to Bowser's dominion. I've been playing this game since I could pick up a control, and I don't know if I'll ever tire of it. I've beaten it on NES, SNES, GBA, and now the Switch.

These are just the games I beat, and do not include the many that I play for one night, get distracted, and then never pick back up ever again. I'm trying to do better! I promise!

PS I also beat Amid Evil this year, but forgot to take a picture... but you should also go play that too if you like shooters!