J-Chiptunator's recent activity
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentPrincess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom uses a context-sensitive verb system, but in a fairly simple way. Your character usually stays in place, performs the selected action, and then returns to...Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom uses a context-sensitive verb system, but in a fairly simple way. Your character usually stays in place, performs the selected action, and then returns to their original spot. There's no combining verbs like in The Secret of Monkey Island, so the overall complexity is lower.
Most commands, Look, Check, Talk, Take, Buy, Hit, Fight, and Praise, let you choose a specific object or character if multiple options are present. Meanwhile, Use, Give, and Dump open your inventory menu within the text box.
One odd quirk is the Give command: if more than one character is on-screen, you need to talk to the intended recipient first before giving them an item. The game never explains this, which can make it seem like the command isn't working properly.
Nearly every command is required at some point in the game, except Item, which just displays your inventory. Some verbs are used frequently, while others only come up in very specific situations.
When entering a new area, or revisiting one after unlocking something, it's generally a good idea to try Look, Check, and Talk on everything. In some cases, you'll even need to repeat the same command on the same object or character multiple times to progress.
Overall, the verb system seems simple, and it works fine when puzzle solutions feel logical. However, the game's lack of consistent intuitiveness can make navigation feel clunky, turning menu interaction into a bit of a chore.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentWell, I forgot to mention that I've already beaten Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 ages ago, so these aren't in my scope for now. 3 is the only one I haven't beaten despite being more than halfway...Well, I forgot to mention that I've already beaten Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 ages ago, so these aren't in my scope for now. 3 is the only one I haven't beaten despite being more than halfway through it.
Given the votes I've accumulated between the Backlog Burner announcement and Week 1 thread, Donkey Kong Country 3 is definitely leading the pack with 2 votes. At the rates the votes are coming in, that game might as well be the next I'd play starting after the deadline has been met. And on a brand-new file instead of my 15+ years old save file at that, just so to refresh my perspective.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentPrincess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom A trip through a world of anthropomorphic fruits and veggies to kick off my Backlog Burner journey? It's not VeggieTales, but it's definitely a premise you...Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
A trip through a world of anthropomorphic fruits and veggies to kick off my Backlog Burner journey? It's not VeggieTales, but it's definitely a premise you don't see every day.
I first heard about this game when Corbie Dillard reviewed its Wii Virtual Console release on Nintendo Life back in 2010. It seemed charming, but not enough to justify spending my limited Wii Points at the time.
It wasn't until news of the Wii Shop Channel's closure that I started grabbing a bunch of notable Virtual Console titles that might never return. Among Jeremy Parish's recommendations in an old 1UP article was Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom. I bought it... and then let it sit untouched for years.
That changed after I finished The Secret of Monkey Island last holiday season. Curious, I booted up Princess Tomato on my MiSTer FPGA, played a few chapters in about an hour, then dropped it again. I only came back to it this month as one of two games to start my Backlog Burner run.
This time, I kept a walkthrough handy, cutting down on trial-and-error. Even so, after roughly four hours total, I reached the credits feeling mostly apathetic.
The game is a text-based adventure where you navigate as Sir Cucumber and the baby persimmon, Percy, using a fixed set of commands. Unlike Monkey Island, there's no cursor; just static screens and text descriptions. Since the NES lacked a keyboard, everything is handled through a menu of 14 verbs:
- Move
- Look
- Check
- Talk
- Take
- Use
- Give
- Buy
- Hit
- Fight
- Praise
- Dump
- Item
- Percy
Progression often depends on using the right command at the right time, but puzzle quality is inconsistent. Solutions can feel more obscure than logical, and sometimes you're forced to retry the same actions repeatedly. Without a walkthrough, brute-forcing options is often unavoidable.
The "Percy" command (added in the NES version) gives hints depending on your location, sometimes with a bit of humor. It's a helpful addition, but not always enough to smooth out the design.
Combat comes in the form of "finger wars", a twist on rock-paper-scissors. You must both pick the winning hand and then match your opponent's facing direction. Lose the hand, and you must instead face away from their chosen direction to cancel their win. It's a clever idea, but heavily luck-based.
Most enemies follow patterns you can learn, though one late-game fight is purely random. Oddly enough, that didn't frustrate me as much as expected. My workaround? Rapidly mashing the same direction on the D-pad; my second attempt succeeded much faster than my doomed first attempt. So much for the definition of insanity.
There are also a few simple, pseudo-3D maze sections. They don't add much beyond showing off what the NES could do technically.
Between the obtuse puzzles, RNG-heavy combat, and unremarkable mazes, the game tends to drag despite its short runtime. Even with a forgiving password system and minimal punishment, it felt longer than it actually was. Was it worth it? Maybe.
That said, the game's quaint, nostalgic absurd charm is undeniable. The concept of a produce-filled kingdom, combined with its cartoonish character designs, gives it a unique personality. The humor, often tied to wrong command choices and quirky characters, lands more often than not, and there's even a classic Hudson Soft cameo.
The music is another highlight. The chiptune soundtrack has a mellow Mega Man-like feel; less complex, but adaptable and pleasant, as long as you don't linger in one area for too long.
If you're curious about Princess Tomato, I'd honestly recommend watching this two hours longplay instead of playing it yourself. You'll get most of the charm without the frustration, along with some that I didn't catch on.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkWhile I'm about to start one of two picks, you still have time to vote for up to five games from the list below. Reply to this post with those to make it count. Voting closes on May 5th at 11:59...While I'm about to start one of two picks, you still have time to vote for up to five games from the list below. Reply to this post with those to make it count.
Voting closes on May 5th at 11:59 PM EDT. The three most-voted games will be guaranteed spots in my playlist, while the remaining titles will have their chances increased based on votes (1 + number of votes).
For more details on how I'll tackle this month's Backlog Burner, feel free to check the linked reply.
Let the games begin!
My Backlog Burner Pool
ActRaiser
Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blazing Lazers
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Choplifter (SMS)
Contra (NES)
Contra (Arcade)
Contra: Hard Corps
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
Donkey Kong Land
Dr. Mario 64
Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI)
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Kato-chan & Ken-chan (J.J. & Jeff)
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X
Mega Man Zero 1
Mega Man Zero 2
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (GEN)
New Adventure Island
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (3DO)
Pac-Land (NES)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Road & Track presents: The Need for Speed (3DO)
SD Gundam GCENTURY (SAT)
Shadow Dancer
Sonic 3D Blast (GEN)
Sonic Spinball (GEN)
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)
Streets Of Rage
Streets Of Rage 3
Strider Returns: Journey from Darkness
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Tennis
Sword of Vermilion
The Ignition Factor
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
The Revenge of Shinobi
Top Hunters (Neo Geo)
Treasure Hunter G
Ufouria: The Saga
Wario's Woods (NES)
Wiz 'n' Liz (GEN) -
Comment on Announcing the Backlog Burner event for May 2026: Shrink your unplayed games list this coming month! in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkJ-Chiptunator here, back with more Backlog Burner shenanigans for May 2026! This time, I'm changing things up quite a bit. In the past, I've mostly used my MiSTer FPGA setup for tinkering and...J-Chiptunator here, back with more Backlog Burner shenanigans for May 2026! This time, I'm changing things up quite a bit.
In the past, I've mostly used my MiSTer FPGA setup for tinkering and configuring cores, adjusting upscalers, trying things for a few minutes, then moving on. Not exactly meaningful playtime... so this month is going all-in:
OOPS! All MiSTer FPGAs.
I'll be sticking strictly to platforms with available cores from the MiSTer-devel GitHub:
- Arcade
- NES
- SNES
- N64
- GB
- GBC
- GBA
- SMS
- Genesis
- Saturn
- Game Gear
- TurboGrafx-16
- Neo Geo
- 3DO
- PS1
- WonderSwan
Most of these cores support save states, which should help avoid getting stuck too long on tough sections. Genesis is the main exception here, so that one might be a bit brutal, especially with games that kick you back to the start after a Game Over.
For controls, I'll be using original hardware whenever possible via SNAC (through SNAX64 v3.1 and adapters or SNAC PC-Engine). That means authentic controller feel with zero input lag.
For cores without SNAC support, I'll fall back to a RetroPad32 over USB (still under 1ms latency) with either Wii Classic Controller Pro or the original bean-shaped Neo Geo arcade pad.
Here comes another twist: instead of sampling a bunch of games, I'll aim to finish each one in under 8 hours before moving on. Gotta actually burn that backlog, and write about it properly.
Since my fairly meaty Backloggery list isn't varied enough (200+ playable games), I'm skipping Backlog Bingo categories and doing something more community-driven instead. For that, I've created a pool of 50 randomly selected games for you guys to vote.
To participate, reply with 5 games from the list below you want me to play.
My Backlog Burner Pool
ActRaiser
Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blazing Lazers
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Choplifter (SMS)
Contra (NES)
Contra (Arcade)
Contra: Hard Corps
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
Donkey Kong Land
Dr. Mario 64
Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI)
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Kato-chan & Ken-chan (J.J. & Jeff)
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X
Mega Man Zero 1
Mega Man Zero 2
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (GEN)
New Adventure Island
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (3DO)
Pac-Land (NES)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Road & Track presents: The Need for Speed (3DO)
SD Gundam GCENTURY (SAT)
Shadow Dancer
Sonic 3D Blast (GEN)
Sonic Spinball (GEN)
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)
Streets Of Rage
Streets Of Rage 3
Strider Returns: Journey from Darkness
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Tennis
Sword of Vermilion
The Ignition Factor
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
The Revenge of Shinobi
Top Hunters (Neo Geo)
Treasure Hunter G
Ufouria: The Saga
Wario's Woods (NES)
Wiz 'n' Liz (GEN)After one week:
- The top 3 voted games will be selected for upcoming weeks
- Other voted games will have increased odds (1 + number of votes)
In the meantime, I'll kick things off in Week 1 with a couple of picks from my unbeaten backlog.
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
J-Chiptunator Link-ERROR by Tokoyami Towa The devilishly kind-hearted talent from Hololive JP 4th Generation delivers a faithful cover of niki's -ERROR, while elevating the emotional depth of the song. She brings...- The devilishly kind-hearted talent from Hololive JP 4th Generation delivers a faithful cover of niki's -ERROR, while elevating the emotional depth of the song. She brings out the feelings in the lyrics even more strongly, and her performance highlights her cool, powerful singing voice; especially impressive since the original track is in a higher pitch than her actual range.
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Comment on CGA-2026-03 🕹️🐸🕌🔔 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkCGA Announcement: We have officially ejected the cartridge for Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls). No worries if you're not done -- there is still some time left in...CGA Announcement: We have officially ejected the cartridge for Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls). No worries if you're not done -- there is still some time left in the month to play!
This topic is for people to share their parting thoughts and experiences. Spoilers are NOT required to be hidden for this topic, so if you're reading this before you've finished, be careful about reading any comments here.
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CGA-2026-03 🕹️🐸🕌🔔 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls)
Warning: this post may contain spoilers
switches to an emotional ending music
Once upon a time, in the sun-dappled realm of Millefeuille, a tale of courage, folly, and friendship came to a close. After enduring countless trials born of pride and greed, our gallant yet hapless Prince of Sablé has reached the end of his journey.
It all began when the Prince learned that the radiant Princess Tiramisu had vanished, spirited away just after his umpteenth defeat in a duel against the ever-boastful Prince Richard. Barred from sailing beside his rival, our humble hero took to the road alone, his purse light and his hopes heavy. What he lacked in fortune, he made up for in heart (and the occasional odd purchase).
Along the way, he fell for a trickster's promise, a ludicrously-expensive potion said to restore his human form "at any time", though bound by more strings than a puppet show. In his kindness, he even repaid the damages wrought upon Saltwater Town, tossing a mountain of Nuts to a boy whose gratitude shone brighter than gold.
Though tempted by greed and misled by pride, the Prince of Sablé's heart remained pure. Through tangled mazes and fierce foes he pressed on, never losing sight of his mission to rescue Tiramisu. By the end, even the proud Richard bowed his head, moved by the Prince's resolve to fight without malice and spare his old rival from needless harm in their final duel.
Yet behind every fairytale lies a clever twist. For while our Prince was chasing glory, he unwittingly became a key piece in the grand design of Polnareff's scheme to save Millefeuille from the sly serpent Delarin. His bravery, fuelled more by sincerity than wisdom, turned the tide at last.
And where was the Princess, you ask? Why, she was by his side all along! In disguise as the wise witch Mandola, Tiramisu guided her beloved Prince more times than he ever realized. Perhaps he should have noticed the resemblance in their mannerisms a bit sooner.
And as our story fades to its final act, the air fills not with solemn silence but with the rhythm of celebration, a raucous DJ's beat spun by a mad scientist in his whirring metal giant. A strange ending, perhaps, but a joyous one all the same.
So then, dear travellers, as the curtain falls on this comical and heartfelt adventure, let us gather 'round and share our thoughts on the tale of The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls, a story where even the smallest frog may leap into legend. I'll start.
The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls feels less like a traditional video game and more like an interactive storybook, something remarkably ahead of its time for the early '90s. The combat, platforming, and puzzle segments are kept simple on purpose, serving as stepping stones for the charming storytelling that carries the whole adventure.
Battles play out automatically when you bump into an enemy strong enough to challenge you, with the outcome depending on your stats like HP, attack, defense, and speed (plus whatever items you might have on hand). It's a good idea to keep your health up and hunt for stat-boosting items if you want to make steady progress.
A sprinkle of puzzles and light platforming keeps things fresh, and the ability to switch between forms adds some fun variety, the strong human, the amphibious and nimble frog who can breathe underwater, and the slinky snake who can turn some foes into stepping blocks.
Sure, none of these mechanics are deep by modern standards, but their simplicity works in the game's favor. It keeps the spotlight on the story, one that explores how kindness, greed, and good intentions can intertwine in unexpected ways. It's funny, heartfelt, and often downright ridiculous in the best way possible.
While I might not revisit this one as often as other Nintendo classics, I'm glad I played it. Not only is it interesting to see where Link's Awakening borrowed a few ideas (and a certain prince!), but it's also worth it for the humor alone.
As I make more progress in Cure Dolly's Japanese lessons, I might even try the original version one more time someday. Who knows what little translation quirks or cultural touches I've missed?
That about wraps it up for this month's game. Our time in the whimsical world of the Millefeuille Kingdom may be over, but the adventure continues.
Next time, u/vili takes us on a trip to outer space aboard an overly complicated spaceship, hopefully with fewer spacetime mishaps... but no promises.
Until then, jot down your thoughts and memories; no moment of gaming glory deserves to be forgotten!
THE END
(sorry for my rookie attempt at photographing this screen in real life!)
Month Game Host April 2026 Space Rogue u/vili May 2026 Sid Meier's Pirates u/vili June 2026 Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow u/Lapbunny July 2026 Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals u/zod000 August 2026 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past u/Boojum September 2026 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 u/J-Chiptunator 12 votes -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentCastlevania Advance Collection, the Game Boy Advance focused compilation that includes Aria of Sorrow is on sale at Steam for half of its price, which is $12.49 CAD instead of $24.99.Castlevania Advance Collection, the Game Boy Advance focused compilation that includes Aria of Sorrow is on sale at Steam for half of its price, which is $12.49 CAD instead of $24.99.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI would like to host Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. I've got fairly good grasps on the series' gameplay loop, as I've finished both American Sk8land on DS and completed Underground 2 on PS2, my favorite.I would like to host Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
I've got fairly good grasps on the series' gameplay loop, as I've finished both American Sk8land on DS and completed Underground 2 on PS2, my favorite.
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Comment on CGA-2026-03 🕹️🐸🕌🔔 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkYesterday, I beat The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls for the third time, this time entirely on an original Game Boy with the DMG‑CPU‑07 motherboard for the most authentic experience possible. The...Yesterday, I beat The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls for the third time, this time entirely on an original Game Boy with the DMG‑CPU‑07 motherboard for the most authentic experience possible. The Play It Loud! model I used has a punchier sound than earlier revisions and avoids the WAV playback glitch found on DMG‑CPU‑03 and earlier boards, a bug that's easy to hear when using the chiptune tool LSDJ.
The stronger audio helped the game's dramatic fantasy soundtrack stand out more. However, I noticed more popping noises during certain sound effects. That might be because I wasn't using the original cartridge that consumes the least amount of power. Instead of relying on the ironically very quiet stock speaker, I used a cheap pair of Skullcandy earbuds so I could hear the audio clearly.
The unlit screen was another challenge. Compared with something like the Playdate, a normal light source isn't enough to play comfortably. I had to rely on either broad daylight or a very bright ceiling lamp, and even then I needed to hold the system at the right angle.
The DMG screen also uses four shades of green on a layer, which can create a shadowy effect and sometimes makes detailed sprites harder to see. On top of that, the display is recessed quite deeply into the shell, so the bezel itself can cast shadows over the screen and obstruct the view.
I'll be dropping my full impressions on the upcoming Remove Cartridge topic on March 28th. In the meantime, here are some fun facts about The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls!
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Dr. Arewo Shitain (also known as Dr. Ivan Knit) made his debut in this game. He was later redesigned as Mad Scienstein for Wario Land 3 and Dr. Mario 64, before returning with his original look in Wario Land 4, where he helps out as a throwable character in puzzle rooms.
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In Spring Hill town, if you stand inside Alfred Jinbee's boat shack for about three and a half minutes, a familiar hidden tune will play.
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The game's soundtrack was composed by Kazumi Totaka, the same composer behind music for Mario Paint, Yoshi's Story, Luigi's Mansion, several Wii channels, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. She's famous for sneaking her "Totaka's Song" into many of the games she's worked on!
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Comment on CGA-2026-03 🕹️🐸🕌🔔 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls) in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )Link ParentAccording to Yoshio Sakamoto's 2000 developer interview and Yasuhiko Fujii in 2007, the game originally began as more of an RPG in the style of The Legend of Zelda, but with a stronger focus on...According to Yoshio Sakamoto's 2000 developer interview and Yasuhiko Fujii in 2007, the game originally began as more of an RPG in the style of The Legend of Zelda, but with a stronger focus on parody and subversion.
However, after receiving harsh feedback from the debugging team, Super Mario Club, and because of its heavy similarities to Nintendo's well-known franchise, the formerly titled Paraparesu (Parody Palace), had its battle system revised three different times.
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Comment on Yoshi and the Mysterious Book | Coming May 21st in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI think part of the reason the later Yoshi games don't feel as engaging is that they've increasingly aimed to appeal to players who prefer a more relaxing, low-stress experience rather than...I think part of the reason the later Yoshi games don't feel as engaging is that they've increasingly aimed to appeal to players who prefer a more relaxing, low-stress experience rather than frequent challenges. While that approach can make the games more accessible, it often risks making them less exciting for long-time fans who enjoy a bit more depth and difficulty.
Yoshi himself also doesn't feel quite as satisfying to control as he did in Yoshi's Island. In that original game, he moved quickly, and you could throw eggs without interrupting your flow. Later titles, like Yoshi's Story and Crafted World, force you to stop and aim, breaking momentum. Meanwhile, Island DS and New Island suffer from heavier, less intuitive physics that disrupt the smooth platforming the original nailed.
Level design has also followed a trend toward longer stages, but not always in a good way. Crafted World especially stands out for requiring you to collect flowers just to progress. To make matters worse, full completion demands replaying the same levels multiple times to clear one of the many craft objectives at a time or to find all three Poochies under a time limit in the flipped versions. It turns what could be creative replayability into repetitive busywork.
The music direction has taken a hit too. Starting with Yoshi's Island DS, the series began using simpler melodies and childlike instruments that sound more like preschool music. They fit the cute aesthetic, sure, but they also feel a bit too mellow and uninspired for older fans. Sadly, it looks like The Mysterious Book is continuing down that path.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentThere also exists Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, which also includes skaters and parks from Tony's Hawk Pro Skater 2 alongside its predecessor. Having never played anything before 3 and after...There also exists Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, which also includes skaters and parks from Tony's Hawk Pro Skater 2 alongside its predecessor. Having never played anything before 3 and after American Wasteland, I'm not sure how similar the gameplay experience would be in there compared to the original 2 beyond the content itself.
The Nintendo Switch version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is also currently on sale at Nintendo eShop for $23.99 CAD instead of its usual $59.99 price tag.
According to Pricecharting, you can also easily get a used physical version of the game at under $20 for PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series. PS5, however, is a tad more expensive, especially with the Complete-In-Box variant being only slightly less than a new copy found in any major retailer.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkWhat a great timing! There's already some sales for the first two future CGA titles. Be sure to grab these quickly! Space Rogue | $1.29 CAD on GOG.com (normally $8.19 CAD) Sid Meier's Pirates!...- Exemplary
What a great timing! There's already some sales for the first two future CGA titles. Be sure to grab these quickly!
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
J-Chiptunator LinkVideo games that last over 20 hours Back when I was still in secondary school, I'd get a new game about every three months on average. This was before digital distribution took off on modern...Video games that last over 20 hours
Back when I was still in secondary school, I'd get a new game about every three months on average. This was before digital distribution took off on modern platforms.
Back then, I didn't care how long a game took to finish; I'd happily spend 30-35 hours playing titles like Ocarina of Time, several instalments of Paper Mario, and a few Mario & Luigi games. If someone handed me a massive RPG that stretched past 50 hours, I wouldn't complain either.
My daily routine was simple: school, homework, and a few chores, maybe eight hours in total. That left plenty of free time, most of which went into gaming or tinkering on my PC.
Naturally, long games felt like the best thing ever back then. But now that I have more responsibilities and far less free time, my perspective has changed.
These days, shorter games appeal to me more. They're usually more focused and easier to finish without losing momentum; the perfect balance of fun and manageability.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentDescent needs a s between De and cent.Descent needs a s between De and cent.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentIn the light of strengthened rollover decay, I've adjusted my ballot by removing two titles in favor of Space Rogue. I realized that spreading my votes thin for both StarTropics and Threads of...In the light of strengthened rollover decay, I've adjusted my ballot by removing two titles in favor of Space Rogue. I realized that spreading my votes thin for both StarTropics and Threads of Fate won't help them get out of the bottom 50% this time around.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI cast my votes based on the original rollover and boost system. That meant I didn’t need to vote for some games, since they already had plenty of points and were likely to be selected anyway.I cast my votes based on the original rollover and boost system. That meant I didn’t need to vote for some games, since they already had plenty of points and were likely to be selected anyway.
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The voting period ended yesterday, and the results are in!
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble came out on top, barely, with just one vote ahead of a 9-way tie. Since I can only allow two additional community picks alongside the top choice, I had to randomly select two from the tied titles. Here's what I ended up with:
As for the games that didn't make the top three, each one will receive an extra entry per vote. Here are those titles:
These will be added to my Backlog Burner Pool, while the three selected games will be removed to prevent the randomizer from picking something already decided.
There weren't many voters this time, so no game received more than two votes. I might consider using a StrawPoll next time (yes, it did make a bit of a comeback in the 2020s) to make voting easier than typing out responses.
As for a hint about the next game: it features monkeys, but not from the Donkey Kong series. Donkey Kong Country 3 and the others will follow afterward.