#honestly most of these movies started my love for collecting soundtracks - i am pretty proud of my soundtrack collection

[aquaburst3]

Fic asks: 2, 5, 8, 11, 13 and 14.

Undercut, because long and spoilers...

2. What character(s) do you find the most difficult to write for? Why?

So far, I guess Grim (Twisted Wonderland). While he’s a fun character and I love how he’s one of the few mascot characters in anime who gets character development, he’s a bit of a handful. That’s an understatement. I have to try constantly think about how he would act in certain points in the story, and how my OC would react to him.  

 I also find it’s hard to incorporate Grim into scenes. Sometimes I want my OC to be alone talking with someone or be by herself. Since the MC dragged around Grim in the game so much, I have to think of a way to include him in or think of a reason for him to stay out of it. 

Jamil and Kalim (Twisted Wonderland) are also hard to write for that similar reason. I want to make the Pomefiore arc happen earlier in the fic, so I have to constantly think of how to write them pre-character development in an arc that takes place after they grew as characters in the canon. But unlike with Grim, it’s in a fun challenge sort of way. Because it has a bit of a butterfly effect on the story. 

(If you don’t play the game, the Pomefiore arc is the 5th one. But I decided for a few different reasons, which I don’t want to get into, that I want to make it the 3rd, make Octavinelle 4th that happens during December finals season and Sacrabia the 5th, which happens over Spring Break. So because it’s bumped up in the timeline, my OC knows those two a lot better compared to the canon, and spent a lot of time with them in the Pomefiore dorm over the month and half leading up to the competition. Their arc is gonna hurt a fuckton more.)  

5. Do you listen to music when writing?

I enjoy listening to lyricless movie soundtracks or nothing at all. I find it’s easier to concentrate that way. Music with lyrics are way to distracting to me, since my mind latches onto them and I’m much slower at writing. 

11. How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

Honestly, it depends on the story. Some of my fics can be fluffy while others have dark aspects to them and others are character driven. 

How I would describe my writing in a general sense, both fics and original stories? I guess I would describe it as character driven with plot driven elements. I tend to focus on character first and foremost, because I think it’s important for readers to have a compelling character to get attached to push the story forward.  (I had several people say that my biggest strength as a writer is character). But I have a lot of fun and engaging plots, mostly action/adventure, to have these character engage with. I also enjoy doing world building a lot as well. 

The voice for my OCs (both in my TWST fic and in my OG works) is down to earth and witty. A lot of my characters tend to have a sense of snark to them as they try to process the insanity around them, but they still can still feel a wide range of emotions like fear, anger, etc. Though, there are some characters that go against that (like the MC in my reverse isekai original story). 

13. When did you start writing fanfic?

Right in the middle of high school. I got into it, because one of my friends at the time had a FF.net account, and I thought it would be fun to write stories on there. Here I am almost a decade later. 

It’s also how my love of creative writing started, too. My elementary, middle and high schools never taught creative writing in class, and I never took any for my diploma. So, yeah. I’m a self taught writer. 

14. How do you feel about your older work?

Depends on how far back we’re talking as well. If it’s my stuff made during high school, I don’t like most of it outside of a couple expectations. But if we’re talking about my stuff from college and after, it depends on the story. There are some stories I’m pretty proud of years later, expect for how I phrased sentences (before I began learning how to start some sentences with things other than “I” or “Insert Character Name Here”) and odd word choices. Others I think are just weird or outright suck. I think regretting some choices in your past work is normal for any writer. I’m always trying to improve as a writer to create better stories in the future. 

Bonus...since I really want to answer this one...

1. What’s your favorite character(s) to write for?

I love writing for Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls), Pacifica Northwest (Gravity Falls), Vil (Twisted Wonderland), Jamil (Twisted Wonderland) and Ace (Twisted Wonderland). 

Bill Cipher is a chaotic ball of shit. Writing his wit and sass is a lot fun for me. Back in the day, I loved writing him interact with different fictional characters. Though, I only did it for Atem (Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters) and Judai (Yu-Gi-Oh GX) back when I was still into that franchise. (Because I’m certainly not as an adult in my mid 20s.) Might do it for other characters in other franchises if the idea strikes me. 

Pacifica is a complex and interesting character. She started off as the stereotypical mean girl. But with the NWMM episode, we got to see a whole different side of her, which added a lot of layers to her character. I love writing characters who add more complexity to the popular mean girl trope, because I always found them a lot more interesting than the dull MC in bad rom coms. 

Vil never showed up in any of my fics yet, but I’m writing parts with him in it thanks to writing some parts ahead of time. Vil is in a similar vein as Pacifica. In any other story, he would’ve been the one dimensional, vain pretty boy. But instead, he’s a hardworking guy, who wants everyone around him to shine their brightest. He hates lazy people. In that sense, he breaks a lot of tropes. Though, he has his fair share of faults as well, like his control freak tendencies, too harsh with his words and the way he treats Epel isn’t right. As a bi woman, I also love how he’s a guy who wears heels and makeup, but is never once mocked in the game for it. I do the same in my writing. Go, dude. Fuck those gender norms! 

Jamil is a blast to write, because he seems like a layered character to me. He’s a calm guy and collected guy, who he loves wearing hoodies way too much. But he’s also an intelligent, sly, cunning and manipulative guy. He seems loyal at first, but in actuality, he has a trick up his sleeve and wants to take Kalim down. His reasoning for as to why he’s doing this, while doesn’t excuse his actions, are understandable due to his family being in servants to his and him taking out his anger for his situation at the one thing he possibly could. He also has a lot of elements that humanize him as well, like the fact that he enjoys dancing, basketball and watching parrot videos. Tackling a character like him is a lot of fun for me as a writer, just due to how complex and interesting he is. 

Ace is probably the easiest character for me to write. He’s funny, mischievous and cheerful, but yet abrasive, bold, blunt, temperamental, willing to call out other’s bs and a bit of an ass. It’s pretty easy for me to get a handle on him, and understand how he would react in different situations. (As a side note, Ace reminds me of how I used to write Atem and Malik back in my YGO fics that I wrote in high school in that regard. Unlike those stories, he’s actually in character here, instead of extremely OOC like the YGO ones.)  

[jessiemieli]

I was tagged by like eight people to do this 11 questions thing (which made me feel very loved so thank you guys<3) and i put them all in this one post for some reason that i might come to regret later on. you can just skip to your section if you want cause i am sleep-deprived and most of these answers are... just terrible.

rules: answer the questioned given to you by the one who tagged you, write 11 questions of your own, and tag 11 people!

@chlobenet‘s questions

If you could live in any fictional world (book/movie/tv) which would it be and why

Def the mcu cause then I could have superpowers

What was your favourite movie growing up?

Oooohh probably spirit: stallion of the cimarron. I watched that movie like 500 times in a row and my siblings hated me for it

What is your favourite movie now?

I honestly cannot choose one, but few of my top choices are wreck it ralph, breakfast at tiffany’s, and spirit cause i will never stop loving that horse or that soundtrack

Top 5 fanfics? 

ummm this is so hard, but I’d have to say the gloaming by @yourpalmoony, eventide by @emiliachrstine, the dotn series by @fraysquake, ophidian by @chlobenet, and black sheep by @recklessyouthinme

Which of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World would you most liked to have seen? Why?

Probably the hanging gardens cause it looks like it would have been beautiful and very relaxing

Favourite Greek God/Goddess? 

Maybe artemis

Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans or Chris Pine?

I’m gonna have to go with my fave aussie hemsworth

What is the one song you will always sing along to, no matter what mood you’re in?

I have so many but one of my faves is glitter and gold by barns courtney. I can never resist singing along

What OC Crossovers would you most like to see with your own characters?

I know it’s a copout but I am a crossover slut so I would love to see any and all of them (honestly if you have an idea for one hmu cause i love em)

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Ireland Ireland Ireland Ireland. someone should take me to Ireland.

What is something you have in the past/or still do collect?

Books. My room is mostly just books.

@cherylmblossm‘s questions

When is your birthday? (I’m only asking this because I need more birthdays to add to my list lol)

October 20th

What are your writing goals for this year?

To at least start my original story version of my soul to take

Which of your ocs are your favorite/are you the most proud of?

This is so hard but adeline or caroline

Were you a Disney or Nick kid growing up?

Disney more than nick but I watched both religiously

Favorite Holiday?

christmassss

First fandom you were a part of?

Ehhh vampire diaries???

If you were to sit down and have a meal with any famous person in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

Audrey Hepburn hands down, no doubt

What is your least favorite household chore?

Doing the dishes. I still dread doing them to this day

Favorite meal of the day?

Lunch cause it’s the only one I actually eat every day

Are you a coffee person or not?

YUSSSSSSS

If you had to eat only one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would you want it to be?

I’m immature so I’d have to say chicken nuggets. The dinosaur shaped ones preferably. (I’m also really really tired so don’t hold me to this)

@bradysuttcn‘s questions

What’s your favorite tv show?

the walking dead... or game of thrones

For which fandom do you enjoy to write the most?

Atm I’d say none

Your favorite otp of all the times?

kim possible and ron stoppable. They still own me even ten years later.

Your favorite animal?

horses

Which fandom do you prefer in term of mentality/attitude?

Walking dead I guess. They don’t have too many problems, at least not that I’ve seen

What’s your passion in life?

Writing I guess

If you could be another person for one day, who would you choose?

Ummm I honestly have no idea

What’s your favorite season?

winter

What do you find most attractive in a person’s personnality?

Empathy probably

Do you enjoy tv reality show?

Not really

Do you believe in astrology?

Depends on what I read lol

@yourpalmoony‘s questions

You’re stranded on a remote island, and have to survive for what could be months. Which three fictional characters would you want there? And why?

diana prince cause she lived on one (and she’s a total badass), rick grimes cause he’s super survival smart and nice to look at, and jack shepard cause he’s a doctor and he nearly survived THE island… and he’s nice to look at. Gotta have those distractions sometimes

What is your go-to happy show?

These days it’s riverdale cause I spend nearly the whole hour laughing. Before that it would be impractical jokers.

What three songs are you obsessed with at the moment?

breezeblocks by alt-j, blood // water by grandson, and I took a pill in Ibiza by mike posner

Pick one of your ocs, now pick a band or artist who’s music and vibes really resonate with that oc

Uhh idk maybe ruelle for caroline cause like five of her songs are on her playlist lol

What is your guilty pleasure fandom?

Riverdale has turned into my top guilty pleasure lately

Say something nice about someone else's writing (I know its not a question but lets spread some love, huh?)

So many to choose from but @emiliachrstine is amazing at weaving her original characters into existing universes and timelines. Not to mention that all of her ocs are very unique and complex. I’ve fallen in love with every character of hers that I’ve gotten to know and I can’t wait to see what (or who??) else she creates!

Which of your edits are you most proud of? Put it in here!

this one cause making those runes look realistic was super hard

Which of your ocs deserve a damn vacation? Name four of them, and pick where they would go and why?

Caroline would go to some remote town in Ireland or Africa or somewhere that doesn’t have wifi to get away from everyone, if she could Adeline would go visit her hometown NOLA cause she misses it like crazy, Mia would just go anywhere there weren’t a shitload of zombies and bring rick and her fam with her, and Juliet would go to france or Italy cause she’s always wanted to see the world and travel

Make an OC now! Face Claim: Michael Cera

Oooh I love these.

Name: Liam O’Neill

Fandom: Jurassic World

Synopsis: Liam thought it would be fun, working at an amusement park housing a bunch of extinct monsters. He thought that after the boatload of stupid mistakes that were made with the first park, there was no way the new park owners would let history repeat itself. Unfortunately for Liam, he was dead wrong and he just happens to be working tech support at the indominus rex exhibit the day it goes on a murder spree and all hell breaks loose. He’s forced to put up with Claire and Owen’s bickering as they try to outrun a 40 foot tall killing machine, but as with all sci-fi thrillers, amongst the chaos and carnage, the nerdy and lovable Liam might just find the woman of his dreams (spoiler alert: he won’t).

Think of your main oc, now make them a POC, who would play them? If you have a main poc then go with secondary! If this doesn’t pertain to you, then write a few sentences on why you love me.

I was so prepared for this question. I’d change Adeline’s fc from Maia Mitchell to the gorgeous Courtney Eaton (if she had more material, this change would actually happen)

@emiliachrstine​‘s questions

Choose an oc from another fandom you would like to crossover with? (it can be yours or someone else’s)

I think caroline and Melissa would get along pretty well tbh. Caroline and Bianca stilinski (@recklessyouthinme) would have a great time too I think

Favorite sentence or passage from a fic you’ve read?

The opening part of the prologue for Take Me Down by @fraysquake literally made my jaw drop (I would copy and paste it here but it’s a little long) Everyone should go read that amazing fic.

Choose one of your ocs, what would be their theme song?

blood // water by grandson for Caroline

If you could have one of your ocs become canon within the established fandom, which oc would that be?

Juliet for stranger things cause she’d add a new characterization to the mix without having to change too much to fit her in

Which oc would you be willing to become for a day?

Adeline cause I’d get to kiss DOB hahahaha (but just for one day cause I don’t think I could take any longer than that)

Guilty pleasure movies? TV shows?

Chicago PD (only cause I’m the only one in my fam who actually likes it) and Riverdale for tv shows and maybe star wars tfa for movies

What is the one thing that helps to get you into the writing mood?

Music. I usually can’t write if I’m not blasting my tunes so loud that I’m causing early hearing loss

The one thing you absolutely can’t live without.

my computer unfortunately. It’s my only escape.

If you could meet any actor, who would it be and why?

this was nearly impossible, but I’d have to go with my love Daisy Ridley. She just seems so sweet and caring

Top 5 fav fics?

I answered this above somewhere but I should add amamnesis by @wild-stdreams

Current TV show/Movie obsession?

It’ll always be an obsession, but the walking dead. Rick Grimes is (one of) the love of my life

@beepbeep-richietozier‘s questions

What is your favorite movie and why?

Uhhh wreck it ralph is one of them cause it makes my heart happy

Which of your ocs would you get along with best in real life?

Probably adeline and juliet or amelia and sawyer cause they have a lot in common

If you could be a character in any fandom what would it be?

So many options, but I’ll have to go with either teen wolf or shadowhunters

What is your favorite musical?

Singing in the rain if that counts??

Which of your ocs would you put in another fandom?

Caroline would go to Sons of Anarchy cause she’d fit right in with the Tellers and their totally legal “motorcycle club”

Who are you favorite ocs from other creators?

nikita grace by @yourpalmoony, stella sharpe by @recklessyouthinme, princess aspen by @chlobenet, melissa hughes by @emiliachrstine, and ariana petrakis by @fraysquake just to name a very minuscule amount

Do you play video games? If so, what is your favorite?

Used to but not really anymore

What helps you write?

music

Is there a story you’ve been holding off from writing? If so, what is it?

I was putting off writing poisoned but then I wrote the first chapter and it kinda tanked so that’s going back on the shelf for a bit. But I’m also putting off Juliet’s story and Kaden’s story

What are some fcs that you would like to use?

courtney eaton for adeline but she just doesn’t have enough material to work with. I used to want to use Alfred Enoch, but then I made my own dreams come true and have put him in my original story mwahahaha (i’m sleep deprived)

What fandom would you like to read stories for but you haven’t yet?

I think I’ve read stories for most fandoms I’m in, but I wish there were more stories for the walking dead tbh cause I’d be all over that

@curious-fools-howl-to-the-moon‘s questions

3 OCs who you haven’t read but are curious about!

This is hard cause when I find an oc I like I usually annoy the shit out of the creator until I know everything there is to know about their oc. BUT there’s always a few that I miss so I’d like to know more about fred ackerman by @susiesamurai, sawyer grimm and her whole fam by @feralcherry and regan mccall by @jones-fp.

A fic you’ve written that you’re most proud of and why?

Only two chapters in, but My Soul to Take cause I love my baby addie to death and from what I’ve been told my characterization of mental illness is believable so whooo (plus I’m working on turning it into an original story)

One of your OCs can become canon, who will it be?

Ahhh I’d die with joy if that could happen with any of my ocs. I’ll go with Caroline this time just cause

What’s something in a fanfiction will automatically make you want to read it?

best friends to lovers trope

Your favorite sentence from your current WIP?

Every time Caroline looked at her hands, all she saw was blood, none of it her own

Have you ever wanted to write for a fandom you’re not a part of? If so, which one?

I don’t think so… or I’m just too tired to remember it

If the OTP from the last fanfic you wrote in couldn’t happen, who would your OC be with?

Caroline doesn’t really have an otp so I’ll go with Adeline’s fic. If Stadeline (adeline x stiles) couldn’t happen then I’d go with raekall (adeline x theo) [which might actually happen… but someone should probably talk me out of it]

Have you ever completed a fanfiction?

Two and they shall not be named cause they were short and terrible, nothing to be proud of

What’s your longest running fanfic?

I think my game of thrones fic Snow Like Ash but I’m too tired to check sorry

3 OCs (yours or someone else’s) that your current favorite OC would be friends with? (and you can mix fandoms/original stories)

Atm Caroline Grey is my favorite oc and I’d think she’d have fun with Melissa Hughes (@emiliachrstine), Bianca Stilinski (@recklessyouthinme), and definitely Aspen Mills (@chlobenet)

What’s the hardest thing to convey with writing? (ie: emotion, expression)

Anything smut related. I avoid it like the plague when I write.

@recklessyouthinme‘s questions

who are your top 5 favorite celebrities?

I’m going with living celebs: daisy ridley, andrew lincoln, sophie turner, chloe bennet, and tom hardy

what songs make you feel at peace?

georgia by vance joy and Comes and Goes by Greg Laswell

if you could see any concert what would it be?

Imagine dragons

what’s something you want to achieve this year?

Finishing my certification so I can get a good job and get some money and get out of this house of horrors

who is your biggest role model?

My mom

what did you want to be when you were growing up? 

A veterinarian I think

do you have a favorite character to write for? if yes who and why?

I like adeline a lot cause I relate to her in some ways and in other ways I have to go out of my comfort zone

what’s your all time favorite movie?

Ahhhh I honestly can’t choose

describe your perfect weather.

Cloudy and drizzling or raining, whichever

what’s the meaning of life?

Idk, if you ever figure it out let me know though. This girl can use some help

where am i?

At home?? lol

I’m not gonna do the 11 questions cause i am pretty sure everyone has been tagged in one and i am too tired to come up with 11 not-terrible questions at the moment. But thx to everyone who did tag me. I feel very loved right now.

[aion-rsa]

15 Hardest SNES Games of All-Time

https://ift.tt/3tsRYCX

In their move from the NES to the SNES, Nintendo and its development partners often relied on using 8-bit games as the basis for 16-bit innovations. While that approach helped move us towards the future of gaming, it also meant that many SNES games felt spiritually similar to NES titles.

That also means that many SNES games retained that arcade-like difficulty that would, in some ways, define over a decade of gaming. While the average SNES game didn’t feature nearly as many of the technical and design hurdles that contributed to some of the most difficult NES games ever made, the console is still the proud home of some of the most enjoyable challenges in video game history.

Whether you fondly remember them when you look back on this era or whether they’ve become the star of your worst gaming nightmares, these are the 15 hardest SNES games ever made:

15. The Lion King

Much like how Disney tucked Mufasa’s devastating death scene into a children’s movie, the SNES version of The Lion King lures you in with the promise of a whimsical adventure and then stabs you in the back as soon as you let your guard down. 

The Lion King starts off easy enough (at least relative to other games of this era) and even impresses with its colorful visuals and surprisingly faithful soundtrack. However, most new levels introduce a vicious spike in difficulty that will undoubtedly leave you wondering why you suddenly suck. Then, about halfway through, you’re blindsided by an escape level that’s arguably as challenging as the speeder bike segment in Battletoads due to its use of both front and rear threats rendered in not quite ready 3D technology that makes controls frustratingly unresponsive.

While the latter half of the game steps off the gas just a bit, The Lion King’s challenge roadblocks ensure most young gamers never made it that far. 

14. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts

It’s amazing that Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is at least as difficult as its predecessor considering that its controls are vastly improved and the action is significantly smoother overall.

However, it appears that Capcom felt that since Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts was much more “playable” than Ghosts ‘n Goblins on NES, that meant that they could make the game noticeably more difficult. This sequel features more on-screen enemies and more environmental hazards but the same iconic health system that essentially leaves you with a razor-thin margin for error that might as well be non-existent due to how difficult it is to progress after a single hit. 

While this game’s hard mode may be the most difficult challenge on the SNES, I’ll “split the difference” slightly and rightfully refer to this title’s normal mode as one of the most punishing experiences in the history of Nintendo consoles. 

13. Battletoads in Battlemaniacs

Truth be told, I debated whether or not to include Battletoads in Battlemaniacs given that the game is probably slightly easier than the NES original. At the very least, it repeats a lot of the original’s best tricks.

However, familiarity does little to diminish just how difficult this game truly is. Once again, the “highlight” of this game’s difficulty is the various vehicle sections that require you to avoid various obstacles while moving at high speeds. The infamous speeder bike section in this sequel is as hard as it ever was, but I have to give a special shout-out to that vertical scroller level that requires you to maneuver between wall spikes that force you into a “safe zone” that’s only about as wide as your character.

I’d consider this the best way to experience Battletoads due to its visual and control improvements, but the game is so difficult that it rides that line between being addictively challengingly and frustratingly cruel.

12. The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare

Yes, Bart’s Nightmare is a pretty bad game that suffers from some often awful controls, but it would likely still be remembered as one of the most frustrating SNES games ever made even if it was a bit more refined. 

Essentially a collection of “minigame” levels, Bart’s Nightmare forces you to quickly master a series of entirely new scenarios with their own rules. That’s annoying, but what makes this game so noteworthy is that some of the individual levels in this game are as mechanically challenging as they are conceptually confusing. There’s no better example of those concepts than the game’s Indiana Jones tribute level: a bewildering collection of platforms and traps that would still be difficult to figure out even if things weren’t constantly trying to kill you. 

This is one of the SNES’ best examples of a game that lures you in with its familiar name and then compensates for a relatively short amount of content by making everything as hard as possible. 

11. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Growing up, I don’t really remember hearing many kids talk about how hard the Donkey Kong Country series is. It wasn’t until years later I really started to see more people give this franchise the respect it deserves as the home of some of the most infuriating platformers ever crafted. 

Donkey Kong Country 2 is the arguable apex of this franchise’s difficulty curve. Once again, the “problem” here is the variety of the game’s stages. Even if you’re able to keep up with a series of (certainly creative) new challenges, you’ll eventually encounter a new stage that uses an old mechanic but makes things roughly twice as difficult as before. To make matters worse, the mechanics are spaced out in such a way that you basically need to re-learn them while now battling a much more difficult version of the concept. 

The good news is that Donkey Kong Country 2 is actually a genuinely well-designed game that encourages you to keep trying even as it mercilessly forces you to doubt your abilities. 

10. Earthworm Jim 2

While the original Earthworm Jim is difficult, not even that game can prepare you for how unforgiving Earthworm Jim 2 truly is. 

If Earthworm Jim 2 only consisted of its side-scrolling stages, it would still be in the running as one of the harder SNES titles. However, we once again encounter a “Battletoads” scenario where the game’s special vehicle and race sections raise the overall difficulty to such a degree that I honestly can’t say I’ve ever spoken to anyone who managed to beat this game as a kid or adult without at least relying on emulator save scumming. 

Oh, and the fact that some of this game’s most infuriating levels also see you, quite literally, let puppies down every time you fail is an exercise in pure cruelty. 

9. Jurassic Park

During the 8 and 16-bit eras, it was relatively easy to buy into the idea that a game was simply impossible. While that distinction was sometimes afforded to action titles that demanded perfect reflexes and pattern recognition, you more often heard it used to describe titles of that era that left you wondering “Where am I going, and what am I supposed to do?”

Few games of that mold are more memorable than Jurassic Park. What starts off as a seemingly simple top-down action game quickly reveals itself to be a labyrinth of puzzles, awkward first-person segments, and enemies that can kill you before you have a chance of figuring out where you’re supposed to go next. It honestly reminds me a little of the notoriously difficult Fester’s Quest for NES. What’s worse is that there are no save points or passwords, which means that you’ve got to beat the whole thing in one lengthy sitting.

I’m actually a little impressed that this much creativity went into a relatively early licensed game, but Jurassic Park is a prime example of the kind of game that essentially demands a walkthrough as even figuring out which direction you’re supposed to walk in is often unintuitive.

Read more

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15 Hardest NES Games of All-Time

By Matthew Byrd

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25 Underrated SNES Games

By Chris Freiberg

8. ActRaiser 2

The original ActRaiser was also fairly difficult, but its blend of platforming, action, and town building is so impressive that you kind of forgive it for its difficulty spikes. For ActRaiser 2, developer Quintet seemingly convinced themselves that the reason people loved the original was because of its challenging side-scrolling levels rather than its variety. At least that’s my best explanation for why they abandoned the town building elements and instead focused on crafting the hardest side-scrolling levels imaginable. 

Much to the dismay of many young gamers, they accomplished that mission in such a way that ensures the mere mention of ActRaiser 2 can unlock a treasure trove of repressed gaming memories. Some of this game’s challenges are amplified by its sluggish controls and animations, but much of the difficulty comes down to the level design. From floating platforms to the pit of deaths, ActRaiser 2 is like a hall of fame for every controller breaking concept of its era. 

The shame of it is that ActRaiser 2 is really just a few tweaks away from being one of the underrated gems of its time. Instead, the game’s only notable legacy is the crushing weight of its difficulty and some great art direction.

7. The 7th Saga

The SNES is rightfully remembered as the home of some of the best RPGs ever made, but few of those RPGs are necessarily remembered among the console’s most difficult games. That being the case, you may go into a game like The 7th Saga feeling pretty confident. 

If so, then consider this your fair warning that The 7th Saga is absolutely one of the hardest 16-bit games ever made. For some reason, this game’s developers decided to make the U.S. version of this game even more difficult than it already was. The result is a project with typical RPG challenges that are amplified by the fact that enemies can survive an absurd amount of damage that makes level grinding more important than ever. Sadly, the U.S. version of the game makes leveling even slower than before, which means that already challenging battles feel that much more laborious.

The 7th Saga is actually a very good game, but its already challenging puzzles, dungeons, and bosses are made legendary by virtue of one of the most questionable difficulty bumps in gaming history. 

6. Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

I actually love the SNES trilogy of Star Wars games and recently wished that a developer would revisit their core concepts and update them for modern platforms. If that happens, though, then there’s going to be an interesting debate about whether those games should retain the difficulty that has come to define The Empire Strikes Backs. 

The other two Super Star Wars games are difficult, but Empire Strikes Back is on another level. While some of the vehicle stages are annoying, they’re not necessarily the reason so many gamers never beat this sequel. That honor instead belongs to the absurd toughness of the average enemy combined with the need to navigate some tricky levels while battling them. How can so many creatures survive so many blows from a lightsaber? Why is absolutely everything in this galaxy (including wild creatures) so hellbent on killing our heroes?

Empire Strikes Back often avoids feeling cheap or especially cruel, but that’s cold comfort for a legion of fans who have still never beaten this game. 

5. Contra III: The Alien Wars

I don’t have to tell most of you that Contra 3 is a hard game. It is, after all, a Contra game, which means that it was designed to be frustrating. Even still, there are reasons why Contra 3 stands out to this day as the hardest game that many of us played growing up. 

Here again, we have a SNES game where the developers must have thought to themselves “Well, if we’re giving them better graphics and better controls, then we should probably make everything more difficult to compensate for the natural frustration we lost.” As such, Contra 3 ups the ante of the franchise by taking what was already a very difficult action experience and adding a variety of expertly placed environmental hazards that keep you constantly off-balance. It certainly doesn’t help that the bosses are some of the toughest in the series’ history and that the game’s top-down segments offer a uniquely challenging break from the standard side-scrolling action.

This is really just a great action game that so happens to also be maddingly (but appropriately) difficult

4. Hagane: The Final Conflict 

Hagane: The Final Conflict wasn’t especially popular when it was released in 1994, but this is one of those games that was “resurrected” by the internet. Those who did play it spent years passionately encouraging everyone to revisit this truly overlooked gem. 

Before you do play this game, though, you need to know that Hagane is almost comically difficult. While Hagane’s generous controls and incredible overall design mean that you’re not hindered by fundamentally unfair mechanics, the sheer amount of obstacles this game throws at you will leave you laughing at the game over screen as you try to process what just happened. Imagine Shinobi with even more enemies and environmental hazards. That’s the basic Hagane experience.

That said, Hagane’s incredible controls, lightning speed, and excellent level design make it worth every frustrating moment you encounter along the way. 

3. U.N. Squadron

You can’t talk about the hardest SNES games without talking about the console’s collection of side-scrolling shooters. Which shooter is the hardest, though? Super R-Type? Axelay?

Actually, I think that honor belongs to U.N. Squadron. This often underappreciated game initially impresses with its surprising customization options, but it’s perhaps best remembered as a stunningly hard experience. Even though U.N. Squadron isn’t as “cheap” as similar SNES games and doesn’t suffer from as many slowdown problems, this title compensates for its lack of inherent issues in other ways. Actually, U.N. Squadron‘s enemies and levels are cleverly designed to quickly produce some of the tightest death zones you’ll find in any SNES game.

Even genre veterans will find themselves sweating during this game’s final levels. Don’t even get me started on how rough the higher difficulty settings are.

2. Zombies Ate My Neighbors 

At a time when zombie games were still a novelty (which feels like a lifetime ago), Zombies Ate My Neighbors allowed players to test their mettle against an undead horde while enjoying creative and colorful visuals complemented by a fairly tight control scheme. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like it would be one of the hardest SNES titles. From moment to moment, I’m not sure it is.

However, Zombies Ate My Neighbors has truly earned that distinction amongst gamers who have actually tried to beat this game. Not only does Zombies Ate My Neighbors feature nearly 50 levels (each of which is more difficult than the last), but the game’s resource system means that even a minor mistake on a level can make every level that comes afterward even more challenging than it would otherwise be. The constant onslaught of resource-demanding bosses can also easily wear down the patience of even the most composed players.

Even amongst the speedrunning community (to which some of the most skilled gamers in the world belong) Zombies Ate My Neighbors is considered to be one of the most difficult games ever made from a completionist perspective. If you really think about it, you’ll probably realize you never actually made it that far into the game no matter how much you played it. 

1. Castlevania: Dracula X

With Super Castlevania 4, Konami dialed things back a bit by granting the player more control over their character. The game was still difficult, but the fact that it allowed you to do things such as swing your whip in any direction made it much more accessible than anything that came before. 

Castlevania: Dracula X, on the other hand, throws all of that out the window and replaces those expanded controls with more environmental hazards than ever before. Considered to be the “true” successor to Castlevania 3 due to its retro controls and design, Dracula X can also be considered the hardest game in a franchise synonymous with difficulty. There is almost no margin for error in this action title as nearly every jump and swing can end your run if they’re not executed perfectly. 

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The cherry on top of this one is a final boss fight against Dracula that forces you to jump across tiny platforms as you try to beat what would already be a difficult boss even without the gimmick. It’s an appropriate nightmare of a gaming experience.

The post 15 Hardest SNES Games of All-Time appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[introisms]

* wong yukhei. he/him. cismale. ╱ i am pretty sure i saw ashley ’ash’ huang at manon’s party that night. the twenty one year old is in their  second year at west bridge studying film. i hear they were at manon’s party because he always went to manon’s parties or out with her/her friends. i wonder if they got the same restricted call as us. will they comply? + worn down denim jackets, messy stacks of dvd cases, bong disguised as a travel coffee mug . ◜ blue. 18+. est. she/they. ◞ ( yogi bae ex connection + extra cirriculars: track team, newspaper, gaming club )  

[ P I N T E R E S T ]

bio:

good at running theyre definitely very good on the track team yeah he’s not got the longest legs in the world and also has definitely aged his lungs from smoking too much so he needs someone with his inhaler at the end of the track but thats okay you dont need to worry about that. sometimes he skips meets though has probably been threatened to be kicked off once or twice but somehow managed to keep himself on.

also good at dining and dashing. you guys want to go to mcdonalds? yeah he’s not paying and by the time you realize its either your wallet coming out youll have to catch up with him about a block away. yeah he has sticky fingers and yes he does realize thats its like morally wrong but he does try to say its morrally grey more than anything else

hes easily youre every day burn out if you need someone to give you weed hes your guy at a party hes the first one to offer up a joint and if youre really feeling like it shrooms. he doesnt do anything too hard but he likes to have fun. hes definitely very loud and obnoxious hes always the centre of attention or at least tries to be even if that means he has to do multiple keg stands and spend ten minutes in the bathroom just to go back out there. its not exactly what you would expect because he’s definitely a lot quieter in the day.

he loves movies that are so bad his extensive film collection has it all and then some seriously he has enough dvds in milk crates that he could make a whole new bed frame out of them from texas chainsaw massacre 2 to return of the living dead hes a walking film encyclopedia hes definitely the randy from scream meets much cooler marty from cabin in the woods. yeah he spouts off crazy ass theories all the time yes he listened to 40 hours of true crime podcasts and creepypastas last week and yes he submitted his film history assignment about 30 minutes late because he was too busy writing an alternate theory to the candle cove or some shit.

hes an only child with a single mother she worked her ass off for them since she had him very young and he couldnt be more grateful for the life he was given. he learned how to have fun with the little things and yes he defintiely suffers from the only child weridness but its kind of fun.

loves a good night out while he loves to party he can try and make any dumb situation fun. whether it be stealing a shopping cart and ending up with a broken arm or at the skatepark thats really on you if youre willing to follow him. honestly he lives by a if im going to die if im going to taken down it will be on my own terms by my own hands. or you know youre just going to skateboard over to the 711 get a couple slushies and maybe spray paint a cop car. LMSDLMSLM

runs a conspiracy column on the school news paper offers out advice and started a conspiracy theory that the grading system is backwards hes really just trying to convince that so he can get away with barely making it.

makes bad horror films for class hes really hoping one day he’s going to stumble on the next blair witch except its actually interesting and good and he treats them right instead of making a terrible walking simulator movie with a shit ending.

bisexual and very proud of it hes very flirty and just overconfident in what he does stupid idiot thats all i have to say about him. hes just a goof and a lot of times that shit comes off as super flirting and most of the time it actually is.

makes friendship bracelets. he will just give you one he thinks theyre really cool yeah maybe hes got some vsco girl traits whos seriously gonna clock him for that.

nintendos whore has over 3000 hours in animal crossing new leaf actually planned his own funeral when lucky moved out.

doesnt show up to class sometimes actually a lot of times yeah you know that cliche of a student skateboarding down the hallways to make it ontime from the early 2000′s movies thats him. fell asleep under the bleachers at a track meet and almost got kicked off the team and just said that he had diarrhea  

makes too many jokes about jacking off doesnt even mean it most of the time has used it as an excuse to get out of hanging out with people really was just drinking a third can of monster energy drink and dipping a oreo in it to see how far to the edge he could push his body.

loves synth music and movie soundtracks has a playlist of just five hours of vaporwave

doesnt really know what hes doing usually just talks and thats it hes bad for interrupting and talking too much  forgets a frozen pizza in the oven and almost got his dorm burnt down because of it.  

listens to only emo music and punk music from before 2008 and says vibe check constantly about anything. vibe check

WCS

tinder date/ set ups that either led to something or didnt

good friend who hacked their instagram one night and started responding to dms just funny doesnt have to been anything crude. they do it to each other some nights like just hang out

hookups. good or bad. one night stand or on going.

party friends

they stole your muses bike and they caught them LSMDLSMDLMDSLM

they stayed up one night and tried to fully solve a cold case even went to the library so late that they got kicked out. it was a long night full of energy drinks and crazy theories. they still do this sometimes now.

crushes they can be mutual or one sided i really dont mind. like i said before ash kind of gets crushes really easily and they kind of just dissapear out of nowhere as well but like we could work something out

exes any gender is good uhhh ash probably has never been in a serious relationship other than his high school one after that he was like uuuhhhhh we just dont know anymore dudes.

snuck them into a concert with them and maybe they drank when they were too young and ended up almost in trouble with the cops because they got caught. or just generally they dine and dash together or movie hop or go and do dumb shit together.

someone who they ‘tutor’ hes dumb as shit hes not tutoring anyone but really he just stolen answer to exams for them he doesnt always ask for payment but like usually free weed or maybe buy him a pizza or some shit

been in his films before he covered them in really bad fake blood and its probably a horror comedy

idk maybe a good influence makes him eat like... idk a salad at mcdonalds instead of two boxes of 20 chicken nuggets

share his bad films with him watches movies with him and gets high they made friendship bracelets together and put each others names on them they play video games they shoot the shit and yup thats that

camp friends/childhood friends

party friends

someone who thinks hes annoying as all hell

just friends/crushes/fwb idk

a roommate??? do we do those here i need to read the housing bit again

[theactor007]

101 questions: Answers

Ok since SOMEONE wanted me to answer all 101 questions...( if it's the person I'm thinking it is...just know you suck). It's almost 6 in the morning be grateful. So here we go! Long add post ahead just a fair warning. (I need to stop reblogging this crap.)

1. I have white walls, blue carpet, black desk, and a variety of colors and hues due to posters, pops, collectables, etc.

2. Probably my drama/ Chorus teacher, Mrs. Monahan. She's the one who taught me the most about my life.

3. Theatre, Kingdom Hearts, learning, laughing, Lilo and Stitch, (wow I'm a dork)

4. Lol I don't drink coffee

5. My so called "dad bod." How I am with women I like.

6. Accept that you have flaws. They are as much a part of you as the good stuff. But don't focus on the bad focus on what makes you strong, unique. You are you and that's beautiful.

7. I do not have stuff animals.

8. Probably drawing.

9. Usually in the fetal position on my right side on the left side of my bed.

10. Being on stage, the imagination of kids, making someone else smile.

11. Small town easily.

12. Two story house on the beach. Hardwood floors, a balcony overlooking the water, and a game room.

13. I'd honestly love like three dogs. A husky/wolf mix, Tibetan Mastiff, and a Shepard.

14. I have not dyed my hair as of now. But I am looking into getting some darker low lights. I'm yet.

15. To each his own. I personally don't have one, but I'm not gonna judge if you do.

16. Look at 15.

17. Art is all around you. Just use what you see and feel to guide your pen/brush/body etc.

18. I was in middle school. I just got off the bus, was in a really good mood bopping along. I walk in the house, didn't even lay my bad down when I saw my sister with tears in her eyes. She looks at me and says We're picking Funeral music now. My Great Grandmother. So yea.

19. Not so much playlists as much in the order they are in my phone.

20.

My best friend, Nate, Kerry, a few others.

21. Honestly as much as I try to, no. My main priority is making Every one else happy. Usually.

22. Usually typos.

23. Demon Hunter if you like metal. Dear Evan Hansen is amazing. I've been listening to Gorillaz recently so them too.

24. Plain.

25. Yea it's worth a shot at least

26. Nah I didn't see the eclipse. Tried to. But nope not really.

27. Nature is peace. Makes you realize you a part of something bigger than you. The birds chirping, the breeze, just beautiful.

28. Well I'm a hardworking, kind-hearted, socially awkward 22 year old. I enjoy theatre, video games, and making people happy. I will do anything and everything for my friends. I'm a proud dork, but with a wise mind.

29. I listen to basically anything. My music goes from Heavy metal to rap To Game music to Broadway to Disney to 80s.

30.

Probably Hot Topic. Most of my wardrobe is graphic tees. And no better place to get it from Hot Topic.

31.

I really don't shop at either. Name brand I guess?

32. What are s.o clothes?

33. I started Tumblr 2-3 years ago..something like that. I made it cause the girl I liked said I should make one. She help me make it and everything.

34. Wash my face every now and then. I really don't have a face care plan tbh

35. I prefer freckles, but both are equally cute!

36. Hate. And peas.

37. I used to have hot wheels cars. I loved organizing them into lines. Drive em around and line em up. Idk I was wierd.

38. Eh depends on the day

39. Games I use. Pops just sit there. I really don't buy a whole lot of expensive things.

40. Standardized testing in schools. Don't get me started.

41. I am constantly asking for advice. Can't learn if you don't know.

42. I mean prefer bras off but anyway!

43. Lol comfy. T-shirt, shorts, and flip flops is where it's at!

44. Honestly one of the better dates I've gone on. We went to the jazz festival and ended up going to a very nice restaurant. Watched the band play for a while. Went to the movies after and then went back to her place and we talked for like 3 hours. It was a good time. (She later went on to break my heart, but moving on!)

45. I am Christianso that should answer it.

46. I don't drink nearly enough water. I should drink more but I don't.

47. I mean it's good. It's unique. My hair naturally makes a nice little swoop so that's nice.

48. It's cloudy but the sun should be rising here soon.

49.

I'd like to think of be a King, but chances are I'd be a Prince. More like the Other Prince in Into the Woods. The one who isn't Charming.

50. If I'm dressing up it's my black button up, blue jeans, and whatever the nicest pair of sneakers is. (I don't dress up a lot)

51. My hair, my kind-heart, my ethics,

52. I'd like to think I'm open minded.

53. I don't judge. Come as you are. Everyone's got stuff that has made them who they are. If I can be one person who they can talk to about that stuff then I've done my job.

54.

I like to plan ahead as much as I can, but I have ADD so you do the math.

55.

Love learning, Hate the education system.

56.

German Shepard/Sharpei mix named Stitch. He's about 70 pounds of fluff and is as much a dork as I am. He's all bark no bite. Hes loves whoever comes in.

57. I don't like milk.

58. Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Overwatch, LOZ, Assassins Creed, oh and Lilo and Stitch.

59. Pandora.

60. Brave.

61. LILO AND STITCH!

62. (I'm getting my questions from my gallery cause I'm on mobile and I didn't get 62 so yea)

63. Once I get the notification that it needs to be updated it takes me like two weeks of ignoring it to actually update. Once I get tired of the notifications like 20 min.

64. I'm in mobile so it's this stupid question list. I still hate you.

65. Lilo and Stitch probably. STITCH and I have a lot in common. The themes, soundtrack, artwork absotuly beautiful. The jokes are still funny. The characters still amaze me. Just amazing.

66. I've seen one Studio Ghibli movie, Princess Monoke and I enjoyed it.

67.

If I'm playing games headphones are off. If music it's cranking loud as it can get!

68. All the time if by doing small things even If I don't say it verbally.

69. Kingdom Hearts, pops, Lilo and Stitch, I feel like I've answered this question a couple times.

70. God I want a partner. Someone to cuddle with, talk about life with, someone who will listen to me and support me. Someone I can be me around with.

71. Dr. Pepper

72. I'll talk to anyone who will listen. But the person who knew me the best and most intimately was the reason I created this Tumblr. Hope your doing well kid.

73. Ok let's see. Thomas Sanders' personal blog, FuckyeahKingdomHearts, the few mutuals I have, y'all know who you are,

74. To be truly happy with the one I'm supposed to spend forever with.

75. Of course! Is there any other place to sing?

76. I shave like once a week maybe. Mostly the cheeks. I trim my mustache and goatee if needed.

77. Over worrying.

78. Sometimes.

79. There are good and bad days. I try to.

80. It was like freshman year ( maybe 8th grade.) But I went with some friends around a riche part of town. Lol I went as Joseph from the Bible, like no joke. Got a lot of candy. It was good time.

81. It was the last day of third grade. I went to climb the monkey bars. I got to the first bar and fell cause my hands were sweaty. Bit my head on all three rungs to the ladder on the way down. Busted my head open and went home early. I think I still have the scar.

82. I'm tired man it's late for me. Long night at work.

83. My stupid ass had to reblog this. And I was expecting like answer like a few questions. No big deal. NOPE!! Some anon was like hey do All of em! So here I am on mobile, without Wi-Fi, I've been working all night, I've had to take pictures of this just so I can get it done. And I've been going at this now for like 2 hours. It's past my bedtime! I'm pretty sure I know who asked me this, because they have a habit of asking this type stuff. And if it is just know you suck so much. Ok end rant.

84. I say i don't care what people think, but I do. A lot. I worry that I'm being annoying or that I'm being that kid that everyone says hi to out of pity. I worry that I may bother some people. When in a relationship i constantly worry that I'm not doing my job right. That I've made her unhappy or something. It's a bad habit.

85. If both parties are working at it yes. Long distance can work. You gotta have a lot of trust. If there's the slightest bit of mistrust it can crumble in an instant.

86. Depending on how much younger. And yea if date someone older. I went on a date with a 35 year old once. Granted didn't know she was 35 till the date but she still had a great time.

87. Jim Carrey, the late Robin Williams, my great-grandfather whom I was named after, Obama, Hayley Joel Is many, the voice of Stitch.

88. I honestly don't remember.

89. 21st. I got my tattoo on the day before. Then me and my friends went to Disney Springs for the day and had a great time. A lot of laughs. I didn't drink but still had a great time!