Games Beaten in 2011!

[TheGameCollector]

1. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. - NES

2. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 2j (Lost Levels) (repro) - NES

3. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 2 - NES

4. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 3 - NES

5. Jan. 9 - The Legend of Zelda - NES

6. Jan. 15 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - NES

7. Jan. 15 - Kirby's Dream Land - GB

8. Jan. 15 - Super Mario Land - GB

9. Jan. 16 - Kirby's Adventure - NES

10. Jan. 16 - Faxanadu - NES

11. Jan. 26 - Dragon Warrior - NES

12. Jan. 26 - Super Mario World - SNES

13. Jan. 26 - Super Mario Land 2 - GB

14. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog - Genesis

15. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog - SMS

16. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Genesis

17. Jan. 26 - Sonic CD - Sega CD

18. Jan. 29 - Super Mario All-Stars - SNES

19. Feb. 1 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - SMS

20. Feb. 1 - Sonic Chaos - SMS

21. Feb. 5 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - SNES

22. Feb. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

23. Feb. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

24. Feb. 9 - Sonic Chaos - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

25. Feb. 13 - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - GB

26. Feb. 13 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Genesis

27. Feb. 13 - Sonic & Knuckles - Genesis

28. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong - GB

29. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong Country - SNES

30. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong Land - GB

31. Feb. 17 - Sonic Triple Trouble - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

32. Feb. 20 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - SNES

33. Feb. 24 - Sonic Blast - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

34. Feb. 24 - Sonic 3D Blast - Genesis

35. Feb. 24 - Sonic 3D Blast - Saturn

36. Mar. 2 - Super Mario 64 - N64

37. Mar. 5 - Donkey Kong Country 2 - SNES

38. Mar. 5 - Donkey Kong Land 2 - GB

39. Mar. 5 - Bust-A-Move - Neo Geo CD

40. Mar. 6 - Bust-A-Move - 3DO

41. Mar. 13 - Beyond the Beyond - PS1

42. Mar. 21 - Suikoden - PS1

43. Mar. 28 - Gex - PS1

44. Mar. 31 - Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - GB

45. Apr. 2 - Kirby's Dream Land 2 - GB

46. Apr. 2 - Donkey Kong Country 3 - SNES

47. Apr. 2 - Donkey Kong Land III - GB

48. Apr. 3 - Super Mario Kart - SNES

49. Apr. 3 - Star Fox - SNES

50. Apr. 3 - Kirby's Avalanche - SNES

51. Apr. 3 - Tuff E Nuff - SNES

52. Apr. 3 - Dr. Mario - NES

53. Apr. 10 - Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - PS1

54. Apr. 16 - Gex: Enter The Gecko - PS1

55. Apr. 16 - Kirby Super Star - SNES

56. Apr. 22 - Tekken - PS1

57. Apr. 23 - Bust-A-Move 2 - PS1

58. May 3 - Sonic Spinball - Genesis

59. May 3 - Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - Genesis

60. May 3 - Taz-Mania - Genesis

61. May 3 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Genesis

62. May 3 - The Jungle Book - Genesis

63. May 4 - Knuckles' Chaotix - 32X

64. May 4 - Tetris - NES

65. May 4 - Ms. Pac-Man - Genesis

66. May 6 - Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus - PS1

67. May 6 - Star Fox 64 - N64

68. May 6 - Pokemon Red Version - GB

69. May 8 - Bignose the Caveman - NES

70. May 8 - The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy - NES

71. May 8 - Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge - Genesis

72. May 14 - X-Men - Genesis

73. May 14 - Kirby's Dream Land 3 - SNES

74. May 14 - Tekken 2 - PS1

75. May 15 - The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy - NES Aladdin Deck Enhancer

76. May 17 - Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 - PS1

77. May 18 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - PS1

78. May 20 - Tekken 3 - PS1

79. May 22 - Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout - PS1

80. May 25 - Vandal-Hearts - PS1

81. May 27 - Pilotwings - SNES

82. May 27 - Super Off Road - SNES

83. May 27 - Tetris & Dr. Mario - SNES

84. May 30 - Sonic Drift - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

85. May 30 - Sonic Drift 2 - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

86. May 30 - Sonic Spinball - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

87. Jun. 1 - Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

88. Jun. 1 - Tails Skypatrol - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

89. Jun. 1 - Top Gear - SNES

90. Jun. 3 - Top Gear 2 - SNES

91. Jun. 4 - Bust-A-Move - SNES

92. Jun. 5 - Super Off Road: The Baja - SNES

93. Jun. 7 - Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge - SNES

94. Jun. 14 - Dragonball Z: Budokai - PS2

95. Jun. 14 - Mickey Mousecapade - NES

96. Jun. 14 - Renegade - NES

97. Jun. 14 - R.C. Pro-Am - NES

98. Jun. 14 - Tetris 2 - NES

99. Jun. 17 - Super Mario Bros. Special - NES Hack

100. Jun 17 - Tetris 2 - SNES

101. Jun. 23 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64

102. Jun. 27 - Dr. Mario - GB

103. Jun. 27 - The Great Waldo Search - SNES

104. Jun. 29 - Mario Kart 64 - N64

105. Jun. 29 - Yoshi's Story - N64

106. Jun. 30 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - N64

107. Jun. 30 - Bust-A-Move 2 - N64

108. Jul. 3 - Super Smash Bros. - N64

109. Jul. 6 - Dragonball Z: Budokai 2 - PS2

110. Jul. 6 - Championship Pro-Am - Genesis

111. Jul. 6 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - SNES

112. Jul. 7 - Diddy Kong Racing - N64

113. Jul. 8 - Goldeneye 007 - N64

114. Jul. 8 - Super Mario Bros. Deluxe - GBC

115. Jul. 8 - Mario Kart Super Circuit - GBA

116. Jul. 11 - Super Smash Bros. Melee - GCN

117. Jul. 11 - Mario Kart Double Dash - GCN

118. Jul. 23 - Sonic R - Saturn

119. Jul. 23 - Dark Legend - Saturn

120. Jul. 23 - Fighters Megamix - Saturn

121. Aug. 1 - Sonic Jam - Saturn

122. Aug. 1 - Bust-A-Move 3 - Saturn

123. Aug. 5 - Columns - SMS

124. Aug. 11 - Suikoden II - PS1

125. Aug. 14 - Crash Bandicoot - PS1

126. Aug. 14 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii

127. Sep. 21 - Tekken 4 - PS2

128. Sep. 21 - Tekken 5 - PS2

129. Sep. 23 - Alundra - PS1

130. Sep. 30 - Yo! Noid - NES

131. Sep. 30 - Crash Bandicoot 2 - PS1

132. Sep. 30 - Crash Bandicoot Warped - PS1

133. Oct. 1 - CTR: Crash Team Racing - PS1

134. Oct. 2 - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - PS2

135. Oct. 4 - Bust-A-Move 4 - PS1

136. Oct. 6 - Incredible Crisis - PS1

137. Oct. 13 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - PS1

138. Oct. 16 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - PS1

139. Oct. 25 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - DC

140. Oct. 26 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - DC

141. Oct. 30 - Sonic Adventure - DC

142. Nov. 5 - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II - PS2

143. Nov. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure - NGPC

144. Nov. 8 - Super Mario Bros. [Classic NES Series] - GBA

145. Nov. 12 - King's Field (Japanese) - PS1

146. Nov. 14 - King's Field - PS1

147. Nov. 20 - King's Field II - PS1

148. Nov. 20 - Super Mario Advance - GBA

149. Nov. 20 - Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 - GBA

150. Nov. 28 - King's Field: The Ancient City - PS2

 

Ah game number 150 of the year. And finally the nail is in the coffin for the King's Field series. It's been a good year for gaming for me and now we're in the last month. I've got lots of stuff to do. I wonder if I'll beat any more games this year.

[Ratty]

It's been another busy year for me especially for the last (and the next) few weeks. So my game playing in general and game-finishing in particular has been pretty bad. Maybe 6 or 7 games I beat for the first time this year, 2 or 3 of those just being short fighting games. Though I did find and beat some terrific new favorites this year like

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC) and Twilight Princess (GCN).

 

Hm should we count repeated game beatings?

Edited December 4, 2011 by Ratty

[TheGameCollector]

It's been another busy year for me especially for the last (and the next) few weeks. So my game playing in general and game-finishing in particular has been pretty bad. Maybe 6 or 7 games I beat for the first time this year, 2 or 3 of those just being short fighting games. Though I did find and beat some terrific new favorites this year like

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC) and Twilight Princess (GCN).

 

Hm should we count repeated game beatings?

 

I do. The experience never feels the same when you don't play them for a long time. And there's so many different ways to play. Sometimes in platformers you want to take different routes or try to do it without skipping anything.

[+thegoldenband]

46. ESWAT [version A] (Sega Master System)

 

Played for the first time today, and beaten for the first time today. I like the Genesis version of this run-'n-gun arcade port, but the SMS iteration has little of its charm. It's kind of embarrassing that a game this threadbare was a first-party release.

 

It's also embarrassingly easy: I beat Easy the first time I played the game, and 1cc'd Normal on my second attempt (or third, if you count beating Easy). Total gameplay time? Just over an hour. And no, there is no Hard (unless there's a code I don't know about).

 

Having said that, there's allegedly a re-released "B" version that cuts back on your ammo and removes some of the HP restore points, so obviously Sega realized this was ridiculous. I'll give that one a shot at some point. I'm waiting to find out whether the updated version was ever released in the US; if not, I guess the one I beat today is the "US version". (EDIT 2011-12-21: Actually, the "B" version is the only one with a confirmed US release at this point.)

 

This "A" version gets a D-plus, since at least it's sort of fun while it lasts.

[+thegoldenband]

47. Baseball (Game Boy)

 

...and then I beat the CPU in Baseball, 10-9, as the Bears (who bat first) in American mode. I actually led 10-1 at one point, and nearly blew the whole thing in the bottom of the 9th. But then the computer committed a bizarre form of base-running suicide, sending the runner on 1st to 2nd base without moving the runners on 2nd or 3rd. After a bit of fumbling, I got the tag and the third out, and that was that.

 

Is Japanese mode any different, or any harder?

 

Anyway, I'd give the game a C. It's entertaining for what it is, but man, the fielding is slower than dirt.

[+thegoldenband]

48. ESWAT [version B] (Sega Master System)

 

Beat this on Easy last night, and Normal today. In the "B" version, enemies move faster, you don't get nearly as many bullets, and health isn't recharged before boss fights. (Also, the "arrest" graphic on the splash screen before each stage has been removed.)

 

The game is definitely improved by the harder difficulty, since you have to be much more cautious about wasting bullets and taking damage, but it's still pretty much a cakewalk once you get past the first half-stage. The "room full of guns" bosses seem dangerous, but are trivial to beat if you have special attacks saved up. I thought I was actually going to run out of bullets at the final boss, but I made it with a few to spare.

 

Also, I'm guessing both versions of the game are calibrated for PAL timing, since the end credits go on well after the music stops. Seems like the music's last chord ought to synchronize with the still image at the end; as it stands, you have to wait through about 10-15 seconds of silence.

 

This "B" version, I'd give a C. At least it's a real game now, and it's got a certain charm...but the crude graphics, frequent flicker, constantly respawning enemies, barebones level design, repetitive gameplay, occasional slowdown, and unmemorable tunes keep it from being anything better than average. It reminds me a little bit of Art of Fighting for Genesis/Mega Drive, in that you've got four difficulty levels (in effect) split across two different regions, but there's no good reason not to have all four available in one cart.

[+thegoldenband]

49. Cosmic Spacehead (Sega Genesis)

 

Well, when it rains, it pours. And it's a rainy day, at that. I'd never really played this hybrid puzzle/adventure/platform game before, though I've owned a copy for a couple years now. (In fairness, my copy was boxed, and I don't like flying blind on this kind of game: I finally bought a manual last month.)

 

Either way I've been skittish about playing Cosmic Spacehead, thinking that it would be a contrived hassle (or at least James Pond-esque), but actually it was great fun. The menu-driven puzzle solving is relatively smooth sailing, the platforming does a good job of fitting the right amount of challenge into short bursts, and the game's aesthetic is engaging.

 

The review on Sega-16 is pretty accurate...and has a couple minor spoilers, the bigger of which I'm glad I only saw after beating the puzzle in question (though the solution was obvious). I'd probably waffle between 7/10 and 8/10 -- or, in letter grades, B-plus versus A-minus -- since it's short (not that I minded), the graphics are a little bit unambitious, and there are some spelling and grammar mistakes that shouldn't be happening in a text-driven game. But it's actually fun to play, the puzzle-solving is never unfair, and the music is sometimes gorgeous.

[+thegoldenband]

50. Catrap (Game Boy)

 

I worked on this Game Boy puzzler in the interstices of a week-long Christmas visit to my family. Take a bit of Boulder Dash, a bit of Lolo, and all of Pitman, and you've got it -- but the most crucial feature is the rewind button, which turns endless repetitive trial-and-error into a far more pleasant process.

 

This doesn't make the puzzles any less tricky, though -- of the game's 100, there are about a dozen that accounted for the vast majority of the 16-17 hours it took to beat this game (most of the others took under 10 minutes). Given that I bought the game (with manual!) at a yard sale for just a couple bucks, I certainly got my money's worth, and (mostly) enjoyed doing so. Overall I'd give it an A-minus, maybe even an A if I'm feeling generous.

[TheGameCollector]

1. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. - NES

2. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 2j (Lost Levels) (repro) - NES

3. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 2 - NES

4. Jan. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 3 - NES

5. Jan. 9 - The Legend of Zelda - NES

6. Jan. 15 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - NES

7. Jan. 15 - Kirby's Dream Land - GB

8. Jan. 15 - Super Mario Land - GB

9. Jan. 16 - Kirby's Adventure - NES

10. Jan. 16 - Faxanadu - NES

11. Jan. 26 - Dragon Warrior - NES

12. Jan. 26 - Super Mario World - SNES

13. Jan. 26 - Super Mario Land 2 - GB

14. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog - Genesis

15. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog - SMS

16. Jan. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Genesis

17. Jan. 26 - Sonic CD - Sega CD

18. Jan. 29 - Super Mario All-Stars - SNES

19. Feb. 1 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - SMS

20. Feb. 1 - Sonic Chaos - SMS

21. Feb. 5 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - SNES

22. Feb. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

23. Feb. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

24. Feb. 9 - Sonic Chaos - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

25. Feb. 13 - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - GB

26. Feb. 13 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Genesis

27. Feb. 13 - Sonic & Knuckles - Genesis

28. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong - GB

29. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong Country - SNES

30. Feb. 17 - Donkey Kong Land - GB

31. Feb. 17 - Sonic Triple Trouble - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

32. Feb. 20 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - SNES

33. Feb. 24 - Sonic Blast - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

34. Feb. 24 - Sonic 3D Blast - Genesis

35. Feb. 24 - Sonic 3D Blast - Saturn

36. Mar. 2 - Super Mario 64 - N64

37. Mar. 5 - Donkey Kong Country 2 - SNES

38. Mar. 5 - Donkey Kong Land 2 - GB

39. Mar. 5 - Bust-A-Move - Neo Geo CD

40. Mar. 6 - Bust-A-Move - 3DO

41. Mar. 13 - Beyond the Beyond - PS1

42. Mar. 21 - Suikoden - PS1

43. Mar. 28 - Gex - PS1

44. Mar. 31 - Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - GB

45. Apr. 2 - Kirby's Dream Land 2 - GB

46. Apr. 2 - Donkey Kong Country 3 - SNES

47. Apr. 2 - Donkey Kong Land III - GB

48. Apr. 3 - Super Mario Kart - SNES

49. Apr. 3 - Star Fox - SNES

50. Apr. 3 - Kirby's Avalanche - SNES

51. Apr. 3 - Tuff E Nuff - SNES

52. Apr. 3 - Dr. Mario - NES

53. Apr. 10 - Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - PS1

54. Apr. 16 - Gex: Enter The Gecko - PS1

55. Apr. 16 - Kirby Super Star - SNES

56. Apr. 22 - Tekken - PS1

57. Apr. 23 - Bust-A-Move 2 - PS1

58. May 3 - Sonic Spinball - Genesis

59. May 3 - Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - Genesis

60. May 3 - Taz-Mania - Genesis

61. May 3 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Genesis

62. May 3 - The Jungle Book - Genesis

63. May 4 - Knuckles' Chaotix - 32X

64. May 4 - Tetris - NES

65. May 4 - Ms. Pac-Man - Genesis

66. May 6 - Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus - PS1

67. May 6 - Star Fox 64 - N64

68. May 6 - Pokemon Red Version - GB

69. May 8 - Bignose the Caveman - NES

70. May 8 - The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy - NES

71. May 8 - Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge - Genesis

72. May 14 - X-Men - Genesis

73. May 14 - Kirby's Dream Land 3 - SNES

74. May 14 - Tekken 2 - PS1

75. May 15 - The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy - NES Aladdin Deck Enhancer

76. May 17 - Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 - PS1

77. May 18 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - PS1

78. May 20 - Tekken 3 - PS1

79. May 22 - Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout - PS1

80. May 25 - Vandal-Hearts - PS1

81. May 27 - Pilotwings - SNES

82. May 27 - Super Off Road - SNES

83. May 27 - Tetris & Dr. Mario - SNES

84. May 30 - Sonic Drift - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

85. May 30 - Sonic Drift 2 - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

86. May 30 - Sonic Spinball - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

87. Jun. 1 - Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

88. Jun. 1 - Tails Skypatrol - Game Gear (via SADX GCN)

89. Jun. 1 - Top Gear - SNES

90. Jun. 3 - Top Gear 2 - SNES

91. Jun. 4 - Bust-A-Move - SNES

92. Jun. 5 - Super Off Road: The Baja - SNES

93. Jun. 7 - Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge - SNES

94. Jun. 14 - Dragonball Z: Budokai - PS2

95. Jun. 14 - Mickey Mousecapade - NES

96. Jun. 14 - Renegade - NES

97. Jun. 14 - R.C. Pro-Am - NES

98. Jun. 14 - Tetris 2 - NES

99. Jun. 17 - Super Mario Bros. Special - NES Hack

100. Jun 17 - Tetris 2 - SNES

101. Jun. 23 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64

102. Jun. 27 - Dr. Mario - GB

103. Jun. 27 - The Great Waldo Search - SNES

104. Jun. 29 - Mario Kart 64 - N64

105. Jun. 29 - Yoshi's Story - N64

106. Jun. 30 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - N64

107. Jun. 30 - Bust-A-Move 2 - N64

108. Jul. 3 - Super Smash Bros. - N64

109. Jul. 6 - Dragonball Z: Budokai 2 - PS2

110. Jul. 6 - Championship Pro-Am - Genesis

111. Jul. 6 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - SNES

112. Jul. 7 - Diddy Kong Racing - N64

113. Jul. 8 - Goldeneye 007 - N64

114. Jul. 8 - Super Mario Bros. Deluxe - GBC

115. Jul. 8 - Mario Kart Super Circuit - GBA

116. Jul. 11 - Super Smash Bros. Melee - GCN

117. Jul. 11 - Mario Kart Double Dash - GCN

118. Jul. 23 - Sonic R - Saturn

119. Jul. 23 - Dark Legend - Saturn

120. Jul. 23 - Fighters Megamix - Saturn

121. Aug. 1 - Sonic Jam - Saturn

122. Aug. 1 - Bust-A-Move 3 - Saturn

123. Aug. 5 - Columns - SMS

124. Aug. 11 - Suikoden II - PS1

125. Aug. 14 - Crash Bandicoot - PS1

126. Aug. 14 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii

127. Sep. 21 - Tekken 4 - PS2

128. Sep. 21 - Tekken 5 - PS2

129. Sep. 23 - Alundra - PS1

130. Sep. 30 - Yo! Noid - NES

131. Sep. 30 - Crash Bandicoot 2 - PS1

132. Sep. 30 - Crash Bandicoot Warped - PS1

133. Oct. 1 - CTR: Crash Team Racing - PS1

134. Oct. 2 - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - PS2

135. Oct. 4 - Bust-A-Move 4 - PS1

136. Oct. 6 - Incredible Crisis - PS1

137. Oct. 13 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - PS1

138. Oct. 16 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - PS1

139. Oct. 25 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - DC

140. Oct. 26 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - DC

141. Oct. 30 - Sonic Adventure - DC

142. Nov. 5 - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II - PS2

143. Nov. 6 - Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure - NGPC

144. Nov. 8 - Super Mario Bros. [Classic NES Series] - GBA

145. Nov. 12 - King's Field (Japanese) - PS1

146. Nov. 14 - King's Field - PS1

147. Nov. 20 - King's Field II - PS1

148. Nov. 20 - Super Mario Advance - GBA

149. Nov. 20 - Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 - GBA

150. Nov. 28 - King's Field: The Ancient City - PS2

151. Dec. 21 - Sonic Adventure 2 - DC

152. Dec. 21 - Sonic Advance - GBA

 

Well, that's it for the year. I beat 152 games (or made it very far when it comes to the endless ones like RC Pro-Am and such). It was great to start over and play many games that were new to me along the way. This year I will continue the trend and not replay what I've played in 2011, keeping these in my master list. Doesn't mean I won't play some other modes in these games, but as far as beating them goes, they've already been counted and won't go in my 2012 list.

[+thegoldenband]

I beat 50 games in 2011, counting SMS ESWAT twice (one for each version of the ROM) and not counting Star Odyssey (where my save game got corrupted after I reached the final boss, but before I defeated him). I'd hoped to make 52, but so it goes.

 

Here's an Academy Award-style look back at my 2011 in review, if y'all will forgive my self-indulgence:

 

- Most demanding victory: Tie between finishing Marble Madness (Mega Drive/JPN) on Very Hard, and my perfect game in Pitfall (Intellivision).

 

- Least demanding victory: Wonder Dog for Sega CD, or maybe Star Wars Chess for the same system. Both games were pathetically easy to beat; I didn't even use the password system in Wonder Dog.

 

- Longest: Shining in the Darkness took nearly 40 hours to complete.

 

- Shortest: I beat Toys: Let The Toy Wars Begin for SNES within an hour, since I already knew the Genesis version by heart.

 

- Best game: Has to be Marble Madness. Flawless port.

 

- Worst game: Shadow: War of Succession for 3DO. Utter garbage with no redeeming qualities.

 

- Most frustrating: I was an unpleasant person to be around when I was trying to beat Sol-Feace on Mania, banging my head for hours against the wall of the Level 6 boss. Ironically, after a long break from the game, victory came within an hour of picking it back up.

 

- Most repetitive: Did I really need to play every level of Motocross Championship (32X) with every bike, on every difficulty? Really?

 

- Most satisfying: Pitfall, Sol-Feace, and Marble Madness come close, but when I first started playing Championship Tennis for Intellivision, I could hardly imagine ever winning a set. Winning in straight sets on the highest difficulty level felt like tossing the ring into Mt. Doom. I mean, without changing my mind and getting my finger bitten off by Estelle Getty, that is.

 

And here are my near-misses and "someone else would've counted this"-es of 2011, with an eye towards finishing at least some of these off in 2012:

 

- Beat Granada up to Hard (need to beat it on Mania)

- Beat Zoom on the first loop (should really beat the second loop too, and I hope that's the last one because this game isn't really any fun)

- Beat Shaq-Fu on Normal (need to beat Expert)

- Beat Streets of Rage on Normal in co-op mode

- Beat Star Wars: Rebel Assault for Sega CD on Normal (need to beat Hard, but it looks pretty grim)

- Beat Metal Head 32X on Normal (need to beat Hard)

- Beat USCF Chess for Intellivision on all difficulties but the highest (game kept crashing on the top difficulty)

- Beat Quest for the Key of Night Shade for TRS-80 Model I on difficulty #1 (I think anything higher is just about impossible)

- Beat Street Fighter II: Turbo for SNES on 7-star difficulty

[Cybergoth]

- Most repetitive: Did I really need to play every level of Motocross Championship (32X) with every bike, on every difficulty? Really?

 

I gave up on Mega Man Powered Up after sinking probably more than 150 hours into it in over three months. You need to beat every level with every character on three difficulty levels for 100%, i.e. you're supposed to beat each of the 13 levels 36 times!! That includes 36 full boss runs...

 

And here are my near-misses and "someone else would've counted this"-es of 2011, with an eye towards finishing at least some of these off in 2012:

 

I usually consider beating a game on default difficulty for good enough, unless hard gives you a better ending, is required for an unlock/trophy or adds to a completion state/counter