Jax Mandrake

Now for the current instalment: early Game Boy family! Donkey Kong: [You've Played This Before] Complete any of the opening stages with fancy moves. Final Fantasy Adventure: [breakthrough] Use a Mattock seven times. Kirby's Dream Land: [This Is a Fruit?] Eat a Maxim Tomato. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening: [Five Plus] Bring exactly five Secret Seashells to the Seashell Mansion. [You're Ecstatic!] Open a 200-Rupee chest. Link's Awakening DX: [Photogenic] Collect all twelve photo ops. [snazzy Threads] Complete the Color Dungeon. Oracle of Ages/Seasons: [sweet Meet] Bump into Maple. Mario's Picross: [Archaeology Student] Complete the introductory puzzles. [Archaeologist] Complete the Kinoko Course puzzles. [starchaeologist] Complete the Star Course puzzles. Metroid II: [sticky] Acquire the Spider Ball. [indigestion] Defeat the Queen Metroid from the inside. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe: [Hatch] Find a Yoshi Egg. Super Mario Land: [The Right Angle] Defeat a boss with the Superball. Super Mario Land 2: [Dingaling] Ring a stage ending bell. Wizards & Warriors X: [into the Maw] Enter the castle.

I do this regularly. It's great exercise for the thumbs. I said I might go back and label my first list, so here you go. For absolutely nobody's vieweing pleasure, the NES selections: Bionic Commando: [Truck Stop] Meet with the enemy en route and defeat them. [Emergency Shutdown] Destroy six reactors. [Communicate] Collect all radios. Blaster Master: [swirly Bullets] Fully power-up your gun. [shot Down] Defeat an area boss. Bomberman: [Clean Sweep] Defeat all enemies on a floor. [No Way Out] Find an exit door before defeating all enemies. [Have a Heart] Collect a remote detonator. Bubble Bobble: [Perfect Ten] Complete ten rooms without losing a life. [A Skip And a Pop] Collect all six EXTEND bubbles. Castlevania: [bloodsucker] [sssss] [Got a Bandage?] [Adam?] [so Grim] [Your Humble Host] One achievement for each boss you defeat. Contra: [Medal of Honor] Earn an extra life. [i Already Got a Gun] Complete any stage without picking up any power-ups. Double Dragon: [Fisticuffs] Learn a new attack. [Master Bimmy] Learn all attacks. [Too Big To Fall] Knock Abobo off of a conveyor belt. Dragon Warrior: [Fanfare, Please] Gain a level. [A-B-C] Learn a spell. [My Title] Defeat a dragon. Final Fantasy: [Anti-Piracy] Gain the ship. [Elementary] Defeat a Fiend. [Welcome To the Future] Battle WarMech. Kirby's Adventure: [untouchable Puff] Defeat any boss without taking damage. [Lucky Combo] Combine two enemy powers. [One, two...] Use the Microphone. The Legend of Zelda: [Take Any One You Want] Find a Heart Container outside of dungeons. [boy, This Is Really Expensive] Buy a Blue Ring. [Pinpointer] Defeat a Gohma with a single arrow. Mega Man: [scrap Metal] Defeat any Robot Master. [Walking On Air] Find the Magnet Beam Generator. [Who's Next?] Defeat all six Robot Masters. Mega Man 2: [One Shot, One Kill] Defeat any Robot Master with a single attack. Metroid: [i Thought He'd Be Bigger] Defeat Kraid. [The First Of Many] Defeat Ridley. [Full Power] Find six Energy Tanks. Ninja Gaiden: [Can't Touch This] Defeat the first boss without taking damage. Ninja Gaiden II: [in Good Company] Collect two Shadow Ninja power-ups. Super Dodge Ball: [Root For the Winner] Win a match. [There Can Be Only One] Win a Beanball game. [On the Wrong End] Be the first to lose a Beanball game. Super Mario Bros.: [Check My Trophy Case] Collect one of each power-up (Mushroom, Flower, Starman, 1-Up). [Fall of Bowser] Complete a World. Super Mario Bros. 2: [No I In Team] Play as each character at least once. [All By Myself] Complete the game using only one character. Super Mario Bros. 3: [Matchmaker] Win a mini-game. [smooth Finish] Match 3 end-of-stage tiles. Zelda II: [set In Stone] Complete a Palace. [break It Down] Find the Hammer. [book Smart] Learn all eight spells.

Continued, and inspired by BardicKnowledge, with named achievements. Now for the Super NES. ActRaiser: [believe In Me] Max out the population of any town. [Godly Power] Use every magic spell and power of nature. Chrono Trigger: [All Together Now] Use every Double Tech and Triple Tech. Contra III: [Twice As Nice] Collect two of the same special weapon. Donkey Kong Country: [All By Myself] Finish a level with only DK or Diddy. Final Fantasy III: [Osmosis] Any character learns every magic spell. Illusion of Gaia: [Ooo, Sparkly!] Collect all fifty Red Jewels. Killer Instinct: [C-C-C-C-Combo!] Perform one of each level of combo, including Ultra and Ultimate. [Lord of the Dance] View each fighter's Humiliation. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: [Master Using It...] Get the Master Sword. [Aww, a bunny!] Venture into the Dark World. Mega Man X: [Hmm. Upgrades.] Install an upgrade. [shinkuu-Hadoken!] Install the Hadoken upgrade. Secret of Mana: [As the Dragon Flies] Rescue Flammie. [ultimate Weapon] Have Watts forge any level 8 weapon. [The Power...] Maximize the power of any Elemental. Super Mario Kart: [Top This!] Win the Gold Cup in any series. Super Mario RPG: [Visitors] Find Link and Samus. Super Mario World: [behind the Mask] Complete the Special World. [i've Been Everywhere] Find all 96 level exits. Super Metroid: [big!] Defeat Kraid. [Hot Bath] Defeat Crocomire. [Full Power] Collect all Energy Tanks. I may go back and label the achievements I thought up for the NES games. Coming up later, N64 and Game Boy... perhaps.

I'm game. I'll start with a few NES favourites. Bionic Commando: Meet with the enemy en route and defeat them. Destroy six reactors. Collect all radios. Blaster Master: Fully power-up your gun. Defeat an area boss. Bomberman: Defeat all enemies on a floor. Find an exit door before defeating all enemies. Collect a remote detonator. Bubble Bobble: Complete ten rooms without losing a life. Collect all six EXTEND bubbles. Castlevania: One achievement for each boss you defeat. Contra: Earn an extra life. Complete any stage without picking up any power-ups. Double Dragon: Learn a new attack. Learn all attacks. Knock Abobo off of a conveyor belt. Dragon Warrior: Gain a level. Learn a spell. Defeat a dragon. Final Fantasy: Gain the ship. Defeat a Fiend. Battle WarMech. Kirby's Adventure: Defeat any boss without taking damage. Combine two enemy powers. Use the Microphone. The Legend of Zelda: Find a Heart Container outside of dungeons. Buy a Blue Ring. Defeat a Gohma with a single arrow. Mega Man: Defeat any Robot Master. Find the Magnet Beam Generator. Defeat all six Robot Masters. Mega Man 2: Defeat any Robot Master with a single attack. Metroid: Defeat Kraid. Defeat Ridley. Find six Energy Tanks. Ninja Gaiden: Defeat the first boss without taking damage. Ninja Gaiden II: Collect two Shadow Ninja power-ups. Super Dodge Ball: Win a match. Win a Beanball game. Be the first to lose a Beanball game. Super Mario Bros.: Collect one of each power-up (Mushroom, Flower, Starman, 1-Up). Complete a World. Super Mario Bros. 2: Play as each character at least once. Complete the game using only one character. Super Mario Bros. 3: Win a mini-game. Match 3 end-of-stage tiles. Zelda II: Complete a Palace. Find the Hammer. Learn all eight spells. That should be a good start. Maybe later I'll think up some for other systems.

Permit me to give you an excerpt from my most recent thriller en potentia: NOBODY. "I'm gonna take a walk to Paulsen's," Jaicyn announced. "Anything you'd like, Ciaryn?" "See what he's got in chicken tenders," echoed Ciaryn's voice. During the quarter-mile walk, Jaicyn noted how unusually quiet main street was. It was as if it were suddenly Sunday, when most of the townsfolk were either in another city or at church. He thought little of it as he walked, preferring to enjoy the music in his mp3 player. He also thought little of the fact that there were no cars at the local Letsgo gas station, aside from the possibility that it was just a slow day. It wasn't until he reached Paulsen's, his favourite local grocery store, that something began to feel out-of-place. Even then, it took more than a few seconds for the oddities to register. There were no cars in the parking lot, and no empty shopping carts outside. Things only got weirder inside the store. Jaicyn was used to being greeted by at least one of the cashiers unless the lines were particularly busy, but as he walked in he realized that there were no cashiers present. The aisles were as empty as the checkout counters. He saw no movement behind the deli counter. As the song in his earphones ended, he paused his player. The overhead speakers were still playing the usual selection of store music. Curious, he risked venturing into the stockrooms and manager's office, only to find them just as deserted as the rest of the store. He could still buy what he wanted, as there was one automated cashier. Its electronic voice, with which Jaicyn had never truly been comfortable, somehow sounded creepy as he rang up his selection of chicken tenders, cottage cheese, a half-dozen eggs, and powdered drink mix. On the way back home, Jaicyn found himself looking more closely at the other places he liked to stop. The Letsgo station remained empty. He decided to get closer to the building and look inside, and saw nobody: no attendant behind the counter stocking cigarettes, no customers deciding on bags of snacks and soda. The small old-fashioned food stand known for its ice cream was also unpopulated. That seemed unlikely for a warm summer morning, Jaicyn thought, especially as lunchtime was drawing near. He began to subconsciously pick up the pace of his walk. Noon was approaching, and he wanted to see if there was something on the midday news that might provide some insight. His eyes darted into every window he passed. He looked inside the bank as he passed by and saw no tellers. There was nobody he could see in any of the houses, and even stranger, there was no sound from any of the dogs that he always heard. When he got home, he tried to stop thinking about it. "I'm home, Ciaryn!" he called as he entered. "Welcome back," she answered. "How are things out in the big wide world?" "No idea," Jaicyn replied. "I stayed in town." "Did they have any chicken tenders?" Jaicyn rustled the bag. "Your lunch is secure." "Bless your heart," Ciaryn said, rounding a corner. "Ciaryn," Jaicyn began, "have you chatted with anyone today?" "On the phone or on the computer?" "Yes." "No," Ciaryn said. "Not even mom. Why?" "Just curious." He shrugged. "Just a weird feeling, I guess." "Well, I haven't been on the computer at all this morning. I've got to get over to work. See you later." "What, I don't get any chicken?" Jaicyn protested. Ciaryn smiled. "Stop by during my break and I'll share." "Okay, see you in a couple of hours." He blew her a kiss as she headed for her car. He turned on his computer and the TV in a single practised motion. On the TV was an episode of one of the crime dramas. He immedately changed the channel; he'd seen every episode of every such show too many times to enjoy them anymore. The news was not just disappointing, it was... there was no news. Jaicyn looked several times at the several clocks in the vicinity, and all of them agreed that it was a couple of minutes after noon, when the midday news was invariably on the air. The local stations, though, were all black, the condition that broadcasters referred to as dead air. He went to a national news network and found the same thing: dead air, not even commercials to fill the time. The sports stations were also dead air, excepting the ones that showed prerecorded games. Jaicyn turned the TV off and signed on to the computer. His internet browser was set to start on a news page, and he saw instantly that nothing had been updated since he had signed off the previous night. He surfed to a couple of other news pages and found the same results. The forums he frequented all showed no new activity. That was when he began to grow truly concerned. There was always something going on in most of the forums. He surfed to his favourite social network site and found no updates since the previous night. He had plenty of online friends, and for nobody to post anything new in several hours was unheard-of. Where the hell was everybody?

Can we first decide on a way to spell it? I've seen it as oroboros, oroburos, orobourus, and several other variations. If you're up for suggestions for the future, permit me to suggest 'chimaera'.

I have a lot of fond memories watching MST3k when it was on Comedy Central. I still like it - and I wish I could afford the episode collections that keep coming out. I will go a little further than your two-item list. Funniest episode? That's debatable between any two MST devotees. I'll give you a couple of favourites, and let you check them out for yourself. Plenty of clips are on youtube to hunt down. I'll link to one of my favourite clips of all before I end this post. Episode #301 Cave Dwellers - The mighty hero Ator takes on an off-camera giant velour serpent (that growls!) and other dangers. Funny moment. Joel: "Why is she limping?" Crow: "Because she's got an arrow in her chest." Joel and Servo: "Oh I can s-- huh?" Episode #303 Pod People - Alien creatures arrive, befriend a young boy, and kill a bad pop band. Funny moment. "Trumpy, you can do stupid things!" Episode #820 Space Mutiny - Star Wars without budget, plot, heroes, or pretty much anything. Funny moment runs through most of the movie: Mike and the bots constantly think up better names for David Ryder, this film's excuse for a hero. "Big McLargehuge." "Plank Chesthair." I also want to warn you against some episodes, especially if you're trying to interest someone else in MST3k, because aren't the most accessible movies. Among them: Episode #424 "Manos": The Hands of Fate - Considered one of the best MST3k shows, it is among the slowest and most banal movies of all. Episode #515 The Wild Wild World of Batwoman - Not only does this film not know what it wants to be, it does nothing very well. It's so bad that the host segments, where Mike and the Bots return to the bridge of the Satellite of Love, have abandoned it completely in favour of the much more entertaining Cheating short displayed at the start of the episode. Episode #323 The Castle of Fu Manchu - Despite the presence of Christopher Lee, this movie is dismal. NOTHING HAPPENS! The original cast say that the first season isn't very good, so I would say watch some later shows to get a better feel for the show. Personally, what makes this show for me is the short that sometimes precedes the film. This link to the Truck Farmer short (seen in Episode #507 I Accuse My Parents) is among the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF06hofXHtc BTW, Level 99 reminded me that Episode #910 The Final Sacrifice needs to be seen for you to get your daily recommended allowance of ROWSDOWER!

*bump* I reminded myself of a more recent once-and-never-again accomplishment. A month or so ago I played through Final Fantasy on Game Boy Advance and cleared almost the entire game within one day. I could probably do that again, if it weren't for one of the extra dungeons: Whisperwind Cove. Most of it wasn't that bad, but the battle with DeathGaze at the very end... uggggh, I don't even like to be reminded.

This thread is becoming an interesting read... some of these are games I've never played, some I've given only a few minutes of my time (even when I own them, like the majority of the Final Fantasies), and some that I admitted from the very start are too challenging for me to even attempt (F-Zero GX). I mentioned this in the bragging thread before, but it fits here too: defeating all three of the final bosses in Ninja Gaiden [NES] without dying. I guess my truly masochistic days are long behind me.

I just want to share, and I also want to know if you've got moments like this. You probably are familiar with the feeling: you've been playing the same game for a few days in a row, and there's this one thing you've been trying to do. Each time you fail, you get that little bit more frustrated, and at the same time you get that little bit more determined to conquer the frustration. At last, you complete your goal, and you say to yourself, "I did it! And damn me if I ever even try that again!" I will present my favourite example first. The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time - I only once managed to get the Heart Container Piece earned by finishing the race in Dampe's tomb in the required length of time. I know there's a trick to getting to the goal in time, but I cannot consistently nail the trick. Having gotten that Heart Piece once (and having the data on my N64 cart in case I ever need to show off), I've effectively sworn off ever trying to get it again. How about you?

How dare you be right! Thanks, Lemon! Took me about a dozen attempts (just to break through the floor) but I think I've got it down pat. Now for the missile packs on the far right of Ridley's lair that require Matrix-calibre reflexes... (I can get those after a few dozen tries each, but now those constitute my least-favourite part of the game).

I love pretty much the entire Metroid series, and finding favourite moments is a bit of a daunting task. I'll try, though... and I'll also include some less-than-favourite moments. Metroid - I first played it when it came out, got only so far, and set it aside for about seven years. Then I played all the way through it. Best moment has to be the sense of accomplishment when you've destroyed Mother Brain, which is still a challenge to me. My least favourite part is the long tall chamber near Kraid where you have to blast your way up a column of regenerating blocks. That's a time waster and a half every time I play. Metroid II - Favourite moment is the last area leading up to and including the battle with the Queen Metroid. The music alone gives the whole area a touch of intensity. [sEMI-SPOILER ALERT!] I didn't know until very recently about the method of defeating the Queen from the inside... Least favourite moments are pretty much any battle with a Zeta Metroid. Super Metroid - Very difficult to choose a favourite moment in a game that is pretty much completely great. I'll choose the super-fast manner of defeating Draygon, or the revelation of the titular Super Metroid at the end. Least favourite moment is trying to collect one of the Missile Tanks in Maridia which requires perfect use of the Speed Booster's Shinespark, or the battle with Phantoom (I'm always relieved when I've rid the ship of that thing). Metroid Prime - Again, the whole game is one long moment of awesome. The only problem I ever had was occasionally having it freeze when on the elevators. Thankfully I never had a problem playing the Cube disc on Wii, and the Trilogy version has also not locked up on me to date. Echoes - This being my least favourite of the Metroid series that I've completed, perhaps it's ironic that it has my all-time favourite boss battle: Quadraxis. Corruption - I am willing to call this the very best shooter and one of the all-time best games that I have ever played, hands down. The closest thing I have to a complaint about this game is fighting with the Mogenar War Golem on Hard Mode. That stone droid is a bastard and three quarters. Oh, favourite moment: exploring the abandoned GFS Valhalla (which I always save until I've cleared out every other location). Hunters - I haven't finished this one, and I can't really say I'm comfortable with it, so I won't bother finding its best or worst moments for a while. Fusion - When the SA-X first appears is one of those moments that will stay with me forever. There are a couple of moments that piss me off on every play-through, one of which is an unavoidable encounter with SA-X after the power goes out. Zero Mission - My favourite moment here is not a plot point or a battle, but the only instance in which I've successfully broken the game's standard sequence of gathering items: getting the Screw Attack before the Super Missiles (if I remember correctly - it's been a while since I pulled it off). Least favourite moment is definitely trying to collect the Energy Tank in the Pirate Ship, in a corridor lined with security lasers which requires absolute mastery of the Space Jump to maneouvre. I have yet to get this tank and I doubt I will ever pull it off without a miracle. Other M - I don't know why this game gets so maligned just because of the abundance of backstory. Ya'll realize you can skip the cutscenes, right? Anyway, while this certainly isn't the best of the Metroid games, there is no real reason to say it's terrible. Standout moments for me in this one are later boss battles, specifically Nightmare (after activating the Gravity Suit) and Phantoom. I share a few least favourite moments with some reviews: the pixel-hunting sections among them (if you could find exactly what you were looking for without resorting to a guide or FAQ, you are a liar) and a couple of the early mini-boss battles which were a little harder than they needed to be (King Kihunter).

Nothing I read in the rules said that the freeform entry can't be about games or music... so here I go.

I said this once already in another thread, but I have no problem repeating it: I personally would love to see Blast Corps on XBLA, maybe with an HD facelift.

This link is the first episode of Game Center CX translated into Engrish as Retro Game Master via kotaku.com, in which the game being played is Ninja Gaiden. http://kotaku.com/5814938/episode-1-ninja-gaiden This man has much more patience than most. BTW, TMNT for NES is not the hardest game ever (a cursory skim of youtube lists will provide a few names that pop up much more frequently) but I am willing to agree that the bomb-ridden dam stage was programmed by at least one sadist with a grudge against all game-playing humanity.

One time (and only one time) I managed to beat all three of the final bosses in Ninja Gaiden without dying. I'll never do it again. Also, just the other day, I played through Final Fantasy I (GBA) and cleared all four temples and three of the four bonus dungeons in the space of 16 hours - with all four of my warriors sharing the same number of experience points the entire way. I capped that off by defeating Death Gaze at the end of Whisperwind Cove. Then, the next morning, I waltzed through the Chaos Temple and beat Chaos without working up a sweat. BTW, for those who haven't experienced it, the two bosses at the bottom of the Lifespring Grotto (Omega and Shinryu) and Death Gaze are all significantly more difficult to beat than Chaos, no matter how good your equipment and levels are.

Going by what remains in my XBox360 library (I recently sold off a few that I didn't like and wasn't playing)... Fable II & III are getting no love here. Pity, I rather like them and recommend them both - though they seem to fall into the same polarizing category that General Gilliam put Halo: Reach, FFXIII and Borderlands in. Incidentally, I find Borderlands to be a great single-player romp too. Konami Classics Vol. 1 is worth its $20 (or less) admission price for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night alone. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Trilogy - actually most of the LEGO movie games are fairly decent, but the Star Wars ones are my favourites. On the subject of movie-based and similar games, I can't let a list like this slide by without at least mentioning Transformers: War For Cybertron. I've heard good things about Dark of the Moon as well, but I haven't yet been able to try it for myself. I have a thing for compilations, so let me mention three that are well worth the money (particularly because they aren't difficult to find at low prices brand new): Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection [49 games], Namco Museum Virtual Arcade [33 games], and Konami Classics Vol. 1 [Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is worth the price of admission alone]. Finally, I'll give the Arcade a little love: Banjo-Kazooie, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Shadow Complex, and Vigilante 8 Arcade. P.S. Does anyone agree with me that Blast Corps should be upgraded to HD and put on XBox Live Arcade and/or a new Blast Corps game should be produced?

My apologies. I missed that rule. My poems would probably make better songs anyway. I just need to get the music written... I think I should stick to the short story or novel. Is that a separate thread?

ROUTINE Take a good look at me now as I prepare to face my day See me without my plastic smile There's nothing left of the joy that once served to pave my way I've been on the path of decay for a while I go through the motions today as I've done for many years My daily routine with no end in sight Caught in the darkness with no time to shed my futile tears Can't even take time to look for the light Does me no good to put up a fight I think I've forgotten what's wrong and what's right I don't rest in the day and I can't sleep at night My routine's hold on me is far too tight I've been doing the same thing for so long I could do it all blind I know I can do it without thinking at all If I stop to consider my business I would probably lose my mind This is no land of giants but I feel very small I often wonder what life would be like if my routine broke What would happen to me? Could I go on? It's a worry to me that without it my life would go up in smoke And I hope and pray that in this case I'm wrong But I don't see a way to break free My way of life has a firm hold on me Caught in a rut so deep I can't see And I'm clinging for dear life to my sanity [End submission] I actually wrote this in 2003 with the intention of making it a song, but I suck at writing music and playing an instrument, so now it's just a poem.

Just thought this classic (if somewhat glitchy) Capcom platformer needs some remix love. For some reason, I think it would be fun to hear some of the themes redone as if they were being performed by an 80-some piece orchestra. Specific themes that seem to call out for treatment include the Kazakh, Phantom Train, Africa and Red Dragon stages.

It seems there was a bit of positive response on the chatroom, so I might as well try to gather a little more exposure. I am NiceDoggy, a longtime DJ on an internet radio station called iWebRadio. I play around in The Kennel every Thursday from 7-9pm EST, and I play lots of different stuff. My favourite things to play are classic rock-style songs, video game themes (including OC ReMixes), and all manner of comedy. For those who want to listen to my show, or the other shows that come on, just click the listen tab at the top of this link: http://72.233.51.2:8085/ I am always open to taking requests, provided I have access to the stuff you are asking for. I may post a list somewhere of all the music and humour I have available, so you can request from the list or just tease me for not having what you want. In the meantime, if you want to make requests, right here is a good place. I'll be watching this thread closely (unless, of course, it vanishes).

A solution! Not perfect, but just in case someone else needs to know or I need a reminder I can easily access, here's what to do: Configure NEZplug and set the option DisableNSFSupport=0 and save. No fade-in, but now the time for every track is set to 5:05 with the last five seconds fading out, and I don't see how to change the length of the track, if I can change it at all. Oh well, at least this is progress. Thanks Late Mistakes for your input.

I know that it's unlikely to happen, but I have neither the talent nor the patience to do it myself, so here's the request: A megamix of themes from the Game Boy version of Mega Man II (aka Rockman World 2). If I could do it, I'd probably put together a guitar-heavy hard rock style mix... Thanks.

I am using just .nsf files, not .nsfe, so none of the playlist stuff applies. The fade I find only affects the end of a track, not the beginning. I tried removing in_notsofatso.dll, but that resulted in not being able to play .nsf files at all.

It's the NotSoFatso plugin.