deKay's Lofi Gaming

Mario vs Donkey Kong (GBA)

I went back to this game this evening, although I’m not really sure why. I should be working my way through Fire Emblem or Warrior Within or something. Anyway. Decided to try and see how far through the Game+ mode I could get. Surprisingly, despite the first level on the first world appearing impossible last time I tried, I’ve managed to get to level 3-2 without much difficulty. Had a quick try on Expert 1 again too, but failed. Rubbish.

Mario vs Donkey Kong (GBA): COMPLETED!

Finished the last two worlds today (5 and 6, unsurprisingly), and then defeated the final boss that comes after them. The credits rolled, and the game was over, but then… Then two new modes were opened up – Expert and Plus. Plus is a bit like a cross between the standard levels and the mini-Mario levels, whereas Expert is just a load of difficult levels. Had a go at a few, and may well plough through some more, but for …

Mario vs Donkey Kong (GBA)

Rattled through quite a few more levels today, completing up to World 5. Haven’t had too many taxing levels yet, although 4-MM was difficult until I realised that the Mini-Marios would jump a gap if I jumped it first. Until then it was looking pretty impossible. Tch.

Mario vs Donkey Kong (GBA)

Mario vs Donkey Kong is the sequel (pretty much) to the original Game Boy game Donkey Kong, which in itself was a sort of huge expansion for the even older Donkey Kong arcade game. The GB game was actually the first non-Japanese game to take advantage of the SNES Super Game Boy add-on too. And it was ACES. Mario vs Donkey Kong is also ACES. Basically, you have to travel through puzzley-platformey levels, finding keys to open doors and rescuing …

Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Switch): COMPLETED!

Donkey Kong ’94 on the Game Boy is one of my favourite platformers. After the first four levels, which are the same as the original Donkey Kong arcade game, it becomes this massive puzzle platformer with a very agile Mario up against Donkey Kong. Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the Game Boy Advance sequel, was also great, but it introduced levels with mini Mario toys in it that you have to help to the exit in a very Troddlers/Krusty’s Super Fun …

New Super Mario Bros U (Wii U): COMPLETED!

My first completed Wii U game! And a fantastic one it was! I genuinely believe this is the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World. It’s just perfect. Varied worlds, secret exits, challenging levels (all pretty much missing from the other “New” SMB titles), and for the first time, the 3D Mario character actually works. In every other game with a 3D Mario played in 2D (even as far back as Mario vs Donkey Kong) he just looks wrong. …

The Backlog

Anyone who describes themselves as a gamer, or even those who read a lot of books, collect DVDs (remember them?) or are avid fans of various other arts, know about The Backlog. It is, as a gamer at least, a list of games that have been bought (or acquired – most games are “free” these days) under the full intent to play, but for whatever reason are Pushed on the stack and have not yet reached Pop. Why these games …

Stuff I’ve played recently

A roundup of some of the games I’ve been playing in the last couple of weeks: Pullblox (3DS) Completed this a while back, but have gone back to finish some of the bonus levels that you unlock, and some of the user generated ones I’ve found strewn across the internets. It’s still lovely. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (360) Returned to mop up a few more achievements and actually play some of the side missions and games I’d totally missed. There are …

Top 10 Game Boy Advance Games

Ah, the Game Boy Advance. To many, a portable SNES without enough buttons to effectively be a portable SNES, and one with a screen invisible in all but the glow of a 100W lightbulb. That didn’t stop it from having arguably the best catalogue of games of any system, however, and with the lit screen of the GBA SP (further refined in the GB Micro), it became and remains my favourite handheld ever. And I loved my DS and 3DS a lot. …

Completed 2006

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (N-Gage 07/01/2006) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (GBA 21/01/2006) Mawashite Koron (DS 22/01/2006) Tony Hawk’s Underground (GBA 02/02/2006) Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox 04/02/2006) Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (GBA 10/02/2006) Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land (GBA 13/02/2006) Mario vs Donkey Kong (GBA 16/02/2006) Super Mario Ball (GBA 18/02/2006) Tony Hawk’s Skateboarding (DC 04/03/2006) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (DC 05/03/2006) Mr. Driller (WS 19/03/2006) Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (GC 25/03/2006) XIII (Mobile 29/03/2006) Hexic HD …