#❛ ◈ | ◜CHALLENGER APPROACHING.◞ ― super smash bros.

[askstrangeweird]

Another Artfight Attack this time for @draw-n-vent-with-imani! This was loads of fun to bust out. (ignore the one long shin i had no sleep the nighty before X'D)

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

A NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHES!

In a nondescript military base, Solid Snake emerges from underneath a box as some guards leave a nearby room.

Snake: (speaking through his intercom) This is Snake, everything seems to be all clear.

Otacon: Perfect, Snake. Just get the files we need and get out of there as quick as possible.

As Snake enters the room, he discovers that it’s in complete disarray. Scratches made up of three claw marks decorate the walls, monitors were destroyed, and a large glass tube stood shattered in the middle, housing only a strange headset within.

Luckily, Snake was able to find at least one monitor left untouched that he got to work on extracting data from. However, he was interrupted by an unexpected guest in the form of the silhouette of a short man leaning against the wall.

???: You got a lot of nerve coming here, Snake. Just leave while you still can, and I promise I’ll go easy on ya, bub.

Snake: (gets up from the monitor to face the intruder) Well, fancy meeting you again. (the figure pops a set of claws from his hand) Logan.

THE WOLVERINE CUTS INTO BATTLE!

[lgcmanager]

SIDE EVENT 022

a reminder on side-events; they are non-mandatory occasional events that your muse can choose to participate in or not. while missing an event might mean missing out on points, be aware that choosing to take part in it could have positive or negative consequences for your muse. there is also no telling which part of the event will have consequences either since they will be tailored to make it difficult to guess what could impact your muse. while the final consequences are decided at the same time as the event is created, we will only reveal them after the deadline. so choose wisely: are you willing to make a gamble with your muse?

** we are aware that HALLOWEEN can be a sensitive time for some. while making your threads and posts, please make sure to properly identify possible triggers at the top of your post. also, please refrain from posting an image that could be considered as a trigger straight on dash! you may link to it or put it under a read more if you desire, once again with all triggers tagged **

ET TU, ALICE?

the princes of mischiefs are back for this HALLOWEEK, but have decided to forgo hosting HELL WEEK this year. some might celebrate, while others might be disappointed to go yet another year without the threat of surprise prank being pulled on its unsuspecting target (a.k.a you). or perhaps this false sense of security might be a trap that DBSD members are just waiting for you to fall into. who knows?

but, certainly, not everything is all right at the company, as stickers of WHITE BUNNIES WITH CLOCKS have appeared at various places within the company. furthermore, anywhere they are, PLAYING CARDS are hidden neaby. and while all the cards are QUEENS OF HEARTS, instead of the usual drawing of a queen at the center, each card has any of the following words written on it: 'EAT ME', 'DRINK ME', 'TAKE ME' or 'OPEN ME'. maybe you should pick on up? again; who knows...

LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT HALLOWEEN PARTY

on the week of OCTOBER 14, every trainee and artist of the company received an invitation to LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT’S YEARLY COSTUMED HALLOWEEN PARTY. since halloween falls on a thursday, the event will be hosted on NOVEMBER 2. unless stated otherwise in missions posts, everyone’s schedule will be cleared from 12PM to leave time for preparations.

the festivities will begin around 8pm and end at 3am. servers will be passing through the venue during the entire evening with finger foods and non-alcoholic drinks. a dj will be in charge of music, while a host will hold different events during the night ( examples include a dance contest, noraebang battle, and more ) and will crown the person with the best costume!

every year, legacy is known to host the biggest marketing event on that one day. brands compete ferociously to be the one that the company chooses! this year, it’s none other than NINTENDO that won the bid. since the press, lgc staff and higher ups and nintendo representatives will also be present at this event, trainees, actors, models, and idols alike are reminded to have fun but still keep it professional! additionally, on the day of the party, every attendee will be invited to walk the CHALLENGER APPROACH CARPET to enter the venue and join of the FACTIONS once inside!

CHALLENGER APPROACH CARPET

the red carpet is slowly becoming a tradition of its own! NINTENDO decided to bring it back, but of course, with its own flavor! just like during the previous 2 years, professional photographers and 200 lucky legacy fans will get to see the trainees and artists arrivals in person! this time, each arrival will be marked by the famous horn blare of SUPER SMASH BROS' new challenger announcement.

while no challenge will need to be completed this year to gain access to the party proper, all attendees are REQUIRED to wear a costume from any NINTENDO FRANCHISE. with such restrictions, it is likely that characters might be picked more than once, as such, those who wish to costumize/put their own spin on a character are welcomed to do so ! princess peach in pink denim? why not !

( important note: only up to TWO people can arrive at the same time. pairs can be idols in the same permanent group; models and actors of the same gender; participants of a project that has happened/aired in the last 12 months (dramas, plays, lgs girls and lgc spring boys); and trainees of the same gender. )

FACTIONS

instead of the usual halloween decorations, this year, the venue will be full of colors, reflecting nintendo's image. in each corner of the venue, GAMING STATIONS have been set up for multiple people to play either solo, but preferably in groups. each corner has a set theme (and games); ANIMAL CROSSING, POKEMON, SUPER MARIO BROS and SUPER SMASH BROS.

while attendees are free to play at any of the stations (or none), everybody will be asked to pick one FACTION from the four franchises mentioned above before the end of the night !

( important note: up to TWO people can pair up for this activity, without gender or occupation restriction, however, make sure to keep it professional! it’s up to you if the two muses got assigned randomly or decided to do the task together ) REQUIREMENTS

CHALLENGER APPROACH CARPET: OPTION 1 make an edit of your muse’s halloween costume and aesthetics. OPTION 2 write a 200 word solo or headcanon about the costume picked by your muse, any alterations they have made and the reason they went for this costume. completing either option will grant you +4 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +6 NOTORIETY !

AND

ET TU, ALICE: write a 300+ word solo or 4 replies (minimum 8 lines) thread looking for cards and/or finding one (make sure to mention which card your muse got) for +10 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +4 NOTORIETY !

OR

FACTIONS: write a 300+ word solo or 4 replies (minimum 8 lines) about anything happening during the party (make sure to mention which faction your muse picked) for +6 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +8 NOTORIETY !

make sure to tag all your threads with lgc:halloween2k24. to validate your skill points and collect your notoriety points, please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog before DECEMBER 7, 11:59PM EDT.

(pick the form accornding to the requirements you've completed)

TITLE: MUSE NAME ∙ HALLOWEEN 2K24 - CHALLENGER APPROACH CARPET: +4 ( skill points distribution ), + 6 notoriety [ LINK ] - ET TU, ALICE: +10 ( skill points distribution ), + 4 notoriety [ LINK ] - FACTION: (specify which faction your muse picked during the party)

or

TITLE: MUSE NAME ∙ HALLOWEEN 2K24 - CHALLENGER APPROACH CARPET: +4 ( skill points distribution ), + 6 notoriety [ LINK ] - FACTIONS: +6 ( skill points distribution ), + 8 notoriety [ LINK ] - CARD: (specify which card your muse found)

[whereisloopisat]

Loop should be in the Super Smash Bros. roster!

A new challenger approaches!!

[oddlyhale]

Twitter user clipped these from the MultiVerse game, hinting very strongly that Ruby Rose is in this game, maybe? Will Ruby be a surprise guest, the same as Super Smash Bros introduces 'A New Challenger Approaching'?

[alln64games]

Super Smash Bros.

JP release: 21st January 1999

NA release: 26th April 1999

PAL release: 19th November 1999

Developer: HAL

Publisher: Nintendo

N64 Magazine Score: 90%

Considering it’s humble beginnings, I don’t think Nintendo ever expected Super Smash Bros. to be such an important part of its line-up of games on future consoles. The first game was fairly light on what it contained, but it completely nailed the gameplay from the get-go.

It would have been very easy for Nintendo to make a regular fighting game – the N64 certainly had many failed attempts at the genre – yet HAL went for something new instead, something more geared for 4 players. Players no longer had a health bar, but rather a percentage damage (that could go way above 100%). The higher the number, the more you fly when you get hit.

The object of the game is to knock your opponents off the side of the map (or so far into the sky they launch into space). The main mode pits you against each character one at a time, but mixes things up with some team battles, fighting a horde of weaker opponents and fighting giant characters.

Every character has their own set of moves. The controls are simple (no combos to remember), so your focus in entirely how each of the powers work and the intricacies of how they can be used in multiple situations and alongside other powers.

Each player also has some special stages, such as breaking targets and boarding platforms. You’ll need to use the character’s full move set to complete them, especially if you want a good time.

The campaign ends with a fight against master hand, who does have a health bar, but also a set of moves for you to learn how to avoid. Once you finished, it’s not over, as a new challenger will appear.

While the roster starts with 8 very popular characters from Nintendo’s franchises: Mario, DK, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox and Pikachu, there were four more slots to unlock. When you fulfilled the criteria to unlock, a screen would flash up with “A New Challenger Approaches”. This is sadly something the internet has ruined, as discovering these for yourself is no longer possible – instead, these reveals are left entirely up to trailers. Beat them and you would unlock them to use.

Super Smash Bros. is a wonderful game, but was just the beginning for the franchise, the other games have improved upon it in every way – although the game still has dedicated fans, including those who add new content to the original, with a ton of levels and characters added.

Smash Bros is as unique and essential as any Mario game – especially as its multiplayer ranks up there with GoldenEye’s, Mario Kart’s and Quake II’s. The fact that Smash Bros is still an office lunchtime favourite, almost a year after we first got our hands on it, is testament to its greatness. Do not miss it.

- Mark Green, N64 Magazine #36

Remake or remaster?

I don’t think this need a remaster due to later games, but it would be nice to have some of the bonus stages in newer games. It should definitely get re-released, though. Another option is that, if Nintendo feel they can’t top Ultimate, the next console’s Smash can be a port of Ultimate with various options (item sets, levels, moves, etc) from previous titles added as alternative ways to play as a sort of combined collection.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to play Super Smash Bros.

[lgcseojin]

A CHALLENGER APPROACHES ✱ @lgcbk

It takes a little bit of convincing to get Byeongkwan to come to the Halloween event with a smile on his face. Well, whatever it is is close enough for him. ( And by convincing, that would be a week long of pestering and a final, drunk agreement during the wind down of his friend's birthday party. ) Of course, he quickly agreed to the costume idea in itself, particularly when the premise of fighting and showing some skin comes up.

They enter on the carpet together, making all number of ... unique poses, including, jumping, shooting an air version of hadouken and Byeongkwan putting Seojin in a playful headlock before they make their exit. The play fighting would not stop there, of course. Seojin throws a series of ghost punches around his friend's torso before scurrying toward the SUPER SMASH BROS corner. Granted, he was never much of a gamer, despite many of his costume choices over the years being from a number of video games.

Hands on his hips and chest pushed out, he stands before the gaming set and tilts his head in its direction. "We should pick this one since our guys show up in the game," he grabs for one of the controllers and haphazardly tosses it in Byeongkwan's direction. "Let's play some of it and see who wins. And you gotta pick the one you're dressed as or it won't fit. Whoever wins... has to do what the other says the rest of the night..."

[a-ratt]

It is the year 2025. The Game Awards are announcing a big reveal. Geoff Keighley turns. and points at the screen.

It's Majima Goro, patriarch of the Majima Family, a Tojo Clan subsidiary.

He climbs into a trash can to ambush his beloved Kiryu-chan, but there's weird sounds outside.

He lifts the lid and finds himself on a floating arena with Mario jumping around fighting Samus.

A New Challenger approaches. Buy the new Fighter Pass for hit game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

[lgchyunhee]

━━ challenger approach carpet ◞ hyunhee as … kirby .· ( wc: 202 )

it's the third year in a row now that hyunhee and @lgcjisoo decided to pair up when choosing a costume for legacy entertainment's annual halloween party. the theme this year surprises her and she's left scratching her head, trying to figure out who to dress up as.

"but jisoo," she complains, flopping back down on the couch, throwing her phone next to her in the process. hyunhee huffs, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. "i don't play video games; how am i supposed to choose?" the model grumbles, folding her arms across her chest.

after her cousin's reassurance, hyunhee continues her search through pinterest, eventually stumbling upon kirby, best known from his own series of games as well as super smash bros.

"wait, he's from planet popstar?" hyunhee asks, showing jisoo the wiki article on her phone. "that's so cute," she squeals gleefully.

it's decided by the end of the night that she'll dress up as kirby and jisoo will dress up as metaknight. she picks a suitable pink dress from her closet, ordering the rest of the accessories ( a kirby hat and star wand ) online to complete her look just in time for the challenger approach red carpet.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

The forecast indicates an opening well over $100m for INSIDE OUT 2, which is really no surprise to me. Animated movies, even sequels to beloved favorites, tend to be underestimated before opening. They don't make huge bucks right out of the gate like frontloaded fan-driven things like MCU movies and the like. Their business is more in the walk-ups at the theaters, and make those big totals on Saturdays and Sundays. Hence why projections can be quite low. MARIO is a good example, some analysts had that at $70-90m for its opening.

That looks to be the case with INSIDE OUT 2, a sequel to a movie that made $90m on its opening weekend unadjusted... 9 years ago. Of course it was gonna stay flat at the very least, but some projections are suggesting it could cruise past $120m.

The all-timer opening weekends for animated movies:

$191m - THE LION KING (2019)

$182m - INCREDIBLES 2 (2018)

$146m - THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (2023)

$135m - FINDING DORY (2016)

$130m - FROZEN II (2019)

$121m - SHREK THE THIRD (2007)

$120m - TOY STORY 4 (2019)

$120m - SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (2023)

$115m - MINIONS (2015)

$110m - TOY STORY 3 (2010)

$108m - SHREK 2 (2004)

$107m - MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (2022)

$104m - THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (2016)

$103m - THE JUNGLE BOOK (2016)

So, it'll be with the big leagues either way, but I'll be curious to see how high it goes.

Of course, some of the trades are seemingly celebrating this win for all the wrong reasons... And I'm sure Disney execs will use it as some sort of justification for something regarding their original movies. Don't be surprised if another sequel gets slotted before D23 this year, or some time thereafter. But the good news is, people get to keep their jobs once more.

I think $300-400m domestic is also pretty much a lock, could even challenge $1 billion worldwide. For Disney, this is their biggest animated release since FROZEN II, nearly five years ago. In terms of animated movies in general released after March 2020, this may share the top spots with Mario and the Minions.

On the one hand, I'm happy to see Disney finally get some BIG animation box office cake after years of movies either having to release elsewhere for the safety of audiences (SOUL, LUCA, TURNING RED) or outright flopping (LIGHTYEAR, STRANGE WORLD, WISH), and they're sure to get some more with MOANA 2, and possibly MUFASA at the end of the year... But, at the same time, there's all the corporate nonsense. I keep thinking, what are they going to say if ELIO and such perform more like ELEMENTAL?: "Uhhh, uhhh? I guess trying to do this 'general appeal' thing didn't work either??"

INSIDE OUT 2, coupled with MOANA 2, ZOOTOPIA 2, TOY STORY 5, FROZEN III & IV, etc. should make back what was "lost" on the other movies. I'm not against sequels funding the originals, that's the way it has been with many studios since the 2000s, I'm just more concerned about how Disney will go about the originals being made at both studios. If INSIDE OUT 2 holds on at the box office in the coming weeks, it'll just tell me that audiences liked the new story, and that there doesn't need to be any of this needless meddling of Pixar's filmmaking processes. INSIDE OUT 2 was approached the same way ELEMENTAL, TURNING RED, etc. were - so if it has great legs after an expectedly big opening, then that just proves my point. And vindicates those so-called audience-unfriendly movies.

But yeah, I expect a big sequel drop from Pixar by the end of the year. Something that'll come out probably 2-3 years after TOY STORY 5.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Estimates have it at $155m. Could go higher when tomorrow rolls around... Big doins'.

MONDAY UPDATE: $154m. Great CinemaScore grade. This thing's smashing $400m domestic, maybe even makes a play for $500m. $1 billion worldwide locked, too?

[giphit]

Review of Spider-Man 2 (PS2/GCN/Xbox)

A few months ago, I decided to play Spider-Man 2 on my VERY REAL Nintendo GameCube (Dolphin edition). Overall, I had a very fun time. Obviously the swinging is phenomenal, though it is not as approachable as the PS4 game. The combat is clunky but works most of the time. The world itself is honestly kind of barren and carried by the fact that swinging is fun. And the story is a mixed bag.

Long in-depth thoughts:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story

There's not much but the story in this game is very weird. As you'd expect, it covers the main narrative beats of the Raimi Spider-Man 2 movie but it adds its own stuff. And, opposite of what I expected, the movie stuff is the weakest part. As an actual adaptation, it's like we're just given an abridged version of that movie. These parts of the game feel kind of lackluster compared to the other parts of the story.

An example of this is with Doc Ock. In the movie we spend a good amount of time developing his relationship with Peter and establishing him as a mentor figure, meanwhile in the game, he's given a couple cutscenes before his accident and most of his time with Peter is cut off before a fade-to-black, back to the city as Spider-Man. Spidey will then say something along the lines of "Wow dinner with Doc was great, he's so smart, love that guy" and that's it. Maybe they expected you to have seen the movie so you'd know what these gaps were supposed to be.

A retelling of the movie isn't all this game is though, and the original content it gives you alongside the movie is super fun and interesting. My personal highlight is the Mysterio story line- everyone's seen the funny health bar clip. He's introduced as Quentin Beck, who dislikes Spider-Man and challenges him publicly only to lose. Post-humiliation, he puts a fish bowl on his head and uses his mystical power of "too much money and spare time" to pretend to be an alien staging an invasion of earth. This was just a fully enjoyable and funny quest line that doesn't just pad out the game but adds to it.

There's also the entirely new character arc that Peter goes on due to his interactions with Black Cat which actually introduce added depth to the internal "Spider-Man vs Peter Parker" thing he has going on. These two and other minor game-specific beats make it feel kind of "held-back" by having to tell the movie's story. You'll have a sequence of some really fun original quests followed by a watered down version of a moment from Spider-Man 2 (the movie).

I wouldn't say this even really takes away from the fun of the game, it is just a weird discrepancy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swinging

It is nothing short of spectacular that this game, made in 2004, manages to have such enticing, deep and FUN traversal throughout the streets of New York. Jamie Fistrom is a genius, this idea of his was what paved the way for the evolution of Spider-Man games. But it's not perfect.

At the time, it probably was as perfect as could be but now going back to play it, there are some grievances. Mostly the problems are in the fine controls, a lot of games from this era have this "problem" of actually being TOO tight and responsive. Smash Melee is the best example (I love Melee), where it's near unapproachable for newer players due to a lack of buffer and requirement of clean execution on complicated tech.

Spider-Man 2 is not as hard to get into as Super Smash Bros. Melee but it definitely has a learning curve to it. Or I just suck. I was swinging into buildings non stop at the beginning of the game but over time you get better at it and more proficient at keeping your pace up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Combat

The combat in this game is very similar to the Arkham games, which is funny because those games came out 9 years after this. It's fair to say the combat is unrefined but it does get the job done and the combos are fun to pull off. Where the combat fall apart for me is in boss fights.

Despite liking the vibes and progression of the Mysterio parts of this game, I did not like the Mysterio "fight" (if you can call it that) at the statue of liberty. Getting to the orbs was annoying thanks to a lack of cooperation from Spider-Man's webs paired with me probably being a little bad at the game.

Then there's the Doctor Octopus fights which were just annoying. These fights feel really inconsistent and at some point I was just spamming buttons and hoping, which worked because this game was meant for children, but it was not satisfying to bang a head against a wall for a while. I'm sure there is a way to beat him consistently but the game did not convey it very well.

The shocker fights and Rhino were much more manageable but quite simple. Overall the combat is fine but there are points where it feels like a chore.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gameplay

Gameplay loop is very important in video games, and in this game, it ranges from fun to "oh this again, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay". The things to do in the city are: race, pizza, random crime and that fucking balloon.

Racing is a mixed bag. The races that are just swinging are fun because the swinging is fun. The races that ask you to wall run are annoying because the wall running in this game is not fun. Should be noted that I barely did any races during my playthrough and it's been months so maybe not the most accurate perspective coming from me here.

Pizza is fun, mostly because of the song, it is basically just another form of race but with more fun music and less stipulations. You just have to get from point A to points B through Z within an allotted time and make it back to point A. Don't do tricks or you'll ruin the pizza. Overall just fun.

Random crimes are incredibly annoying- after a while at least. When I started in the game, I was enjoying being Spider-Man, helping people out on a whim but as the game progressed, I realised that there are about 15 whole crimes/events to experience here. A couple are added to the RNG pool during the main story like Mysterio's robots and some walking tanks but that's it. Since you are forced to get hero points in every chapter, you have to keep doing these and by the end they are just monotonous tasks. It sucks that this is really all the city has to offer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rating and Conclusion

Very fun game to play, technical achievement for its time and surprisingly well-aged. Combat is average, traversal is phenomenal, gameplay loop is pretty monotonous and the story is enjoyable in some parts and boring in others.

7/10

[smashlawlai]

Here’s a Super Smash Bros. Lawl moveset for Donna Noble from Doctor Who:

Reveal Trailer:

The trailer starts in the TARDIS, where Donna Noble is seen arguing with the Doctor. Suddenly, a vortex pulls her into the Smash Bros. arena. She lands with a mix of confusion and determination, saying, “This is not how I planned my day!”

Moveset:

Donna Noble’s moveset focuses on her sassy attitude, resourcefulness, and some thematic elements from her adventures with the Doctor.

Neutral B (Temp Worker Punch):

Description: Donna delivers a powerful punch with a lot of force. When charged, the punch becomes a combo attack with additional punches and kicks, reflecting her strong and assertive personality.

Inspiration: Represents her straightforward and no-nonsense approach, often seen during her time working at H.C. Clements.

Side B (Doctor’s Assist):

Description: Donna calls for help, and a brief cameo from the Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver appears, emitting a beam that pushes opponents back and causes confusion. This move reflects the occasional help she received from the Doctor.

Inspiration: Showcases her connection to the Doctor and his iconic Sonic Screwdriver.

Down B (Donna’s Defiant Stance):

Description: Donna strikes a defiant pose, creating a temporary shield that reduces incoming damage and allows her to counterattack. If timed correctly, the counterattack is enhanced with an extra kick or punch.

Inspiration: Reflects her fierce determination and ability to stand up against challenges.

Up B (Witty Escape):

Description: Donna uses her quick thinking to perform a jump forward with a burst of energy, resembling a burst of witty humor or cleverness. During the ascent, she can deal damage with a series of rapid kicks.

Inspiration: Represents her cleverness and ability to think on her feet during dangerous situations.

Final Smash (Donna’s Epic Moment):

Description: Donna activates her ultimate power with a sequence of events that include summoning a large TARDIS projection and causing a time anomaly. Opponents are caught in a time vortex that deals high damage and launches them off the stage.

Inspiration: Represents her heroic moments and the epic scale of adventures she experienced with the Doctor.

Taunts:

Up Taunt: Donna strikes a triumphant pose and says, “Who needs a Doctor when you’ve got me?”

Side Taunt: She rolls her eyes and says, “Oh, fantastic. Just what I needed.”

Down Taunt: Donna puts her hands on her hips and says, “Come on then, let’s see what you’ve got!”

Victory Poses:

1. Victory Pose 1: Donna stands proudly with her hands on her hips and says, “I’m absolutely brilliant, aren’t I?”

2. Victory Pose 2: She performs a sassy dance, saying, “Who’s the best? Donna Noble, that’s who!”

3. Victory Pose 3: Donna waves with a big smile and says, “That was fun, wasn’t it?”

Defeat Pose:

Defeat Pose: Donna sighs and says, “Well, that didn’t go as planned. I’ll be back!”

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

A New Challanger Approaches!

(It is a lovely day in the League of Villains. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing... and for some reason, so is the local homicidal space-pirate pterodactyl.)

Ripley: Zippidy-do-DAA, zippidy-DAY! My oh my what a wonderful day!

Bowser: Ok, anyone know what's going on with Ridley, because he's starting to freak me out.

*The rest of the League nods in agreement- this is very un-Ridleylike behavior.*

Ganondorf: Ridley... is there any particular reason for this... behavior?

Ridley: Oh boy is there! My sweetheart is coming, and they're joining the League!

Other Villains: WHAT?!?!?!

Ganondorf: *Angry* Since when do you have the right to induct anyone into the League?!

Wario: Forget that, since when does RIDLEY have a GIRLFRIEND?!

K.Rool: Forget THAT, HOW COME HE HAS ONE AND I DON'T?!

Ridley: Hey, they are nonbinary and you will respect their pronouns!

Wolf: I thought you were straight?

Ridley: Yeah, so did I. Then I met them on a dating site last year, we started videochatting, and we just... clicked!

Sephiroth: So you're Demi?

Deedeedee: Wuzzat?

Sephiroth: When someone develops a sexual/romantic attraction to someone only after they've formed a close bond.

Ridley: *Sighs dreamily* I knew they were the one when they said their favorite pastime was invading planets and devouring all its inhabitants while listening to their screams.

Ganondorf: *Slightly surprised* You're saying this creature is capable of devouring an entire planetsworth of creatures?

Ridley: Thats nothing. They THREW an entire planet at Kirby.

*Deedeedee pales*

Deedeedee:... You didn't...

Ridley: *Evil grin* I did.

*Suddenly a shudder runs through the group. They all run outside to see an enormous star-shaped portal dominating the sky. Through the portal comes a tall turquoise-furred creature with gigantic multicolored ears and a lance.*

*Deedeedee screams*

*Ridley waves*

*Ganondorf is impressed*

*The other villains stare in awe*

???: And here we are!!!

FECTO ELFILIS CONSUMES ALL!!!

[jcmarchi]

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review - Impecunious Nostalgia - Game Informer

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/nintendo-world-championships-nes-edition-review-impecunious-nostalgia-game-informer/

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review - Impecunious Nostalgia - Game Informer

NES games are difficult to revisit. They’re easy to find and play, but they are showing their age and have been for some time. To play the original Legend of Zelda, for example, rewards a difficult-to-control, often obtuse puzzle game whose importance to the industry is undeniable, but its contemporary fun factor is low. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition counters this with a strategy that WarioWare has been using to great effect since its inception: you only play classic Nintendo games for exactly as long as they’re fun – which in 2024 is anywhere from three seconds to a few minutes. The result is a game that lets you challenge yourself and experience the highlights of Nintendo’s ‘80s library without much need for commitment, but it’s not without its annoyances.

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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition features a few modes, but they’re all built off the Speedrun Mode. In it, you play through a series of challenges that, at its lowest levels, force you to jump on a platform in Ice Climbers, to its highest levels, which might task you with beating a full dungeon in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link as fast as possible. Each of the 13 games has a handful of short challenges that range in difficulty. This is where I had the most fun, defeating a number of microgames based on a series of titles that most people probably only know for their appearances in Super Smash Bros.

Successfully completing challenges rewards coins, which can be used to unlock more challenges or avatar icons, but the economy of the unlocks is frustrating. I always felt I was scrounging for money to unlock the next challenge when I was getting A++ and the occasional S rating. If you want to exclusively challenge yourself, you have to do exceptionally well to see everything, and it is an unnecessary hurdle.

Thankfully, playing in the online modes rewards additional (and ultimately necessary) coins, and it is fun to compete with others’ high scores. You don’t compete live, like with Super Mario Bros. 35, but instead, play through a collection of the Speedrun games against other players’ ghosts. I like this approach as it lets you tackle the challenges at your own pace as often as you want without worrying about network connectivity.

Local multiplayer is a highlight, and I had an especially joyful experience playing with my child, who understandably has no nostalgia for this era of Nintendo games. It was borderline educational to see her slowly appreciate what is fun about these games, thanks to the bite-size presentation that never overstays its welcome. The microgames are also varied and offer enough practice options that I was rarely an automatic winner just because I am old. As a local party game for up to eight players, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is definitely a success thanks to its fast pace and nostalgia.

Though barebones, I also like the presentation and explanation of what the Nintendo World Championships is and were. Nintendo understands that, ideally, most players jumping into the game did not see 1989’s The Wizard and probably don’t know that before esports, there was this bizarre thing where people competed in single-player games. It was a different time.

I have my frustrations with the game’s coin system to unlock additional content, and unfortunately, most, if not all, of the games in the collection do not stand up to the test of time. But as a means to highlight Nintendo’s history, participate in some nostalgia with local friends, and play classic games for exactly as long as they’re fun, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition succeeds in its intention.

[fakerobotrealblog]

Mastering Super Smash Bros. requires a combination of skill, strategy, and adaptability. Here's an in-depth breakdown of winning strategies:

**1. Learn the Basics:**

- **Character Familiarity:** Pick a character and become intimately familiar with their moves, strengths, and weaknesses. Each character has a unique playstyle.

- **Controls Mastery:** Understand your character's moveset, including special attacks, grabs, and recovery moves. Practice executing them consistently.

**2. Stage Awareness:**

- **Platform Use:** Utilize platforms strategically for both offense and defense. Learn how to maneuver efficiently between different stages.

- **Edge Guarding:** Master edge-guarding techniques to prevent opponents from recovering. Exploit your character's edge-guarding strengths.

**3. Defensive Techniques:**

- **Shielding:** Knowing when to shield is crucial. Practice shield grabbing, rolling, and dropping out of shield to counter opponent attacks.

- **Dodging and Spot Dodging:** Use dodges and spot dodges wisely to evade attacks and create openings for counterattacks.

**4. Offensive Strategies:**

- **Combo Mastery:** Learn character-specific combos to rack up damage quickly. Experiment with different combos in training mode.

- **Spacing:** Understand the effective range of your attacks and position yourself strategically to land hits while avoiding opponents' attacks.

**5. Mind Games and Adaptability:**

- **Mix-Ups:** Keep opponents guessing by varying your approach. Mix up your offensive and defensive strategies to stay unpredictable.

- **Adapt to Opponents:** Pay attention to your opponents' playstyles and adjust your strategies accordingly. Recognize patterns and exploit weaknesses.

**6. Recovery Techniques:**

- **Recovery Mix-Ups:** Develop creative recovery strategies to catch opponents off guard. Mix up your recovery options to avoid predictability.

- **Edge Snap Timing:** Practice precise timing to snap to the ledge during recovery to avoid edge-guarding attempts.

**7. Item and Stage Control:**

- **Item Utilization:** If items are enabled, learn to use them strategically. Items can provide crucial advantages if utilized effectively.

- **Stage Control:** Aim to control the center stage. Force opponents to the edges, limiting their movement options.

**8. Practice and Analysis:**

- **Training Mode:** Regularly practice advanced techniques and combos in training mode to enhance your execution.

- **Match Analysis:** Review replays of your matches to identify areas of improvement. Analyze opponents' strategies and adapt accordingly.

**9. Stay Calm Under Pressure:**

- **Mindset:** Maintain a positive mindset, even during challenging matches. Staying calm allows for better decision-making and execution.

- **Adapt to Lag:** If playing online, adapt to potential lag by adjusting your timing and reactions.

By incorporating these strategies into your gameplay and continuously honing your skills, you'll increase your chances of achieving success in Super Smash Bros. Remember, consistency and adaptability are key components of becoming a formidable player.

[mental-mario]

100%'ing Games and the Pressures of Perfectionism

"Hey baby I'm not your superhuman, and if that's what you want I hate to let you down. I got your hopes up, now I got you hoping that I'm gonna be the one to let you down."

If you know the song/band without looking it up, I f*** with you! 👌

I know there are many competitive gamers out there, but I am not particularly one of them. Don't get me wrong, I'm no slouch, but I sure do not claim to be an expert. If you beat me online, you won't be the first! 🤣

But I probably will beat you...if you want to find out, friend me on Switch with my friend code: SW - 4419 - 5159 - 3401

Beat me, and I'll s*** your d*** (proverbially) with a shoutout, plug, whatever you like! (within reason) but WHEN I beat you, you gotta chuck a nice tip my way...because I want your tip, baby! Don't worry, I will appreciate you for it.

Anywho, back to the topic of this post, I was raised to be rather competitive, even though my nature is really not to be so competitive. For example, if I got a B for a grade, my parents would be concerned and ask why it wasn't an A. Needless to say, I'm a huge disappointment to my family in this life. Oh well...Comment below if you can relate to that! So it makes for an odd paradox in me of being highly competitive in some respects and not at all in others.

In terms of video games, there are many games I have beaten but not completed 100%. Two that come to mind are Super Mario World and Super Mario 64, but there are many others. It used to bother me quite a bit, due to my OCD, that I didn't finish every task and complete every achievement, even though it really means nothing.

I have also achieved high scores as a kid in the arcade for TMNT, where my name and score was posted up on the cabinet, until it was eventually beaten, and I also participated in the Donkey Kong Country competition edition at Blockbuster, where I had the high score almost to the end. Someone did wind up beating it, and I finished in 2nd place. I have finally accepted that about 25 years later, but I was pissed at the time when I was about 8 years old.

As good as I was in gaming, my friends were always more naturally competitive than me. I have one friend whom I used to beat senseless in Super Smash Bros Melee when we were high school seniors. Didn't matter if it was 4 players, one-on-one, items or not, and no matter what stage or other conditions, I would beat him every single time. I would be Mario and he would always be Captain Falcon. I was a gracious winner, and he was not. He was also a sore loser and couldn't accept losing. He would continue to challenge me for rematch after rematch all the way until 3am, when I would finally let him win a match so he could screech victoriously and I could go home to get some sleep! He never did seem to question the fact that I would always win until that final match...and of course, I had to make it look competitive or else he wouldn't accept the win and harass me for yet another match.

I've known many people growing up who were similar in that they were completely incapable of accepting a defeat or even a setback. They took the phrase "win or die" too literally and grew up competitive to what I believe amounts to a very unhealthy level. I'm thankful to say I have laid down the conditioning of perfectionism and have accepted that I am, of course, not perfect nor do I pretend to be. I think everyone accepts that they aren't perfect, but the attitude and approach and veneer that they were on a daily basis promotes themselves as nothing but perfect. Perfect status, perfect life, perfect possessions, perfect friends, perfect relationship, perfect family, perfect parents, perfect career...you get the gist. Any veering off course of this image portrayed to the world can send one spiraling out of control into a pattern of self destruction, self sabotage, and self abuse (and regular abuse as well). Might be why we as a society need to get super intoxicated on the regular, so as to be able to tolerate ourselves and our shortcomings that we were taught to never embrace, display, or learn how to harness into a strength in our lives.

I'm rambling on now, so forgive me. I have recently reached a more manic, creative and inspired state, so I'm on a bit of a roll now. I've also begun jotting notes towards a script/storyline for a game that came to me last night. Came so hard that me and it were practically up all night together. That said, I'll look to share that in a future post, as long as you promise to click Follow and like the post because I can use your friendship...for my personal gain!!! Hahahahaa!!!!

Wait, did I say that out loud? Whoops!

Please donate as well because I can also use your financial support. The bigger the donations, the better the gifts get! Last gift winner requested to stay anonymous, but thank you so much anyway!

Friend me on Switch and send an invite my way! I'll be happy to help you reach a high score or if you'd rather compete, I can put you in your place...8th! 😁

Until next time, friends, keep your heads up and remember that life squashes us all sometime, but it eventually gets up off of you so it can go squash someone else! (cheery, ain't I)