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Joel

Joel

@jbarnettqed.bsky.social

19 followers 97 following 100 posts

Two math degrees, pursuer of games and knowledge. (he/him)

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Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 1d

The cutscene skip functionality and styling is cute. I appreciate their commitment to the aesthetic.

Also, fusion search! I miss having reverse compendium fusion from SMTV, but this is a welcome step forward from P3P.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 1d

Never mind. With a couple of better personas in the lineup, knocking it out on the first visit was sufficient, especially being able to just jump straight to the boss floor from home base. Now I assume I wait until whatever the deadline would've been for the story to progress.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 2d

U is for U.N. Squadron.

Verdict: 5 - U.N. Squadron is a fun shmup, mostly marred by a viciously difficult boss.

A sunset-orange colored view with fluffy clouds in the background. The three jets of the U.N. Squadron pilots are in the foreground. Text reads, "Goodbye, U.N. Squadron!"

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 2d

T is for Top Gear.

Verdict: 6 - Top Gear is a great racing game. Some tweaks to the progression and track layouts would make for a nearly unconditional recommendation.

A driver in blue garb stands behind a railing; he holds champagne(?) in one hand while raising the other in victory. Tiled 'TG' logos fill the background. Text reads, "Congratulations on completing Top Gear but can you win on professional level"

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 2d

Picked up a few fusions, and I may do a bit more work on the early compendium before retreating for gear. I don't see why I can't knock this out on the second proper visit.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 2d

Got as far as Yukiko's Shadow after smoking the Avenger Knight. Protag got OHKO'd, so I suspect his t-shirt will not be sufficient armor. I figure she'll be fire-aligned to fill in the current gap, but maybe I should've run at her a few more times to see.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 2d

Okay, Shuffle Time is way better. The sweep mechanic is cute, and I like that Cups gives you SP (for quicker stabilization), but the real winner here is Emperor - an auto-level up for a persona is amazing for grinding into skills.

I can choose skills for inheritance! That's all that matters.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 6d

The design for the Chie shadow was neat. I liked the incorporation of the little Chies in the base.

Also liking the new Shuffle Time. It's nice to just pick the card you want, which is what you got in P3P basically 95% of the time anyway, and it definitely felt bad when you didn't.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 6d

The new Velvet Room is a fun design. I wonder if there's some lore on the ever-changing attendants.

I like the 3D models for characters, but it's kinda funny that Dojima is always walking around carrying his jacket.

Bear puns!

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

Maybe Izanagi should be more recognizable, but I can't say it really rings a bell.

This Morooka teacher is so comically over the top. Characters seem fine so far. I think Chie needs more than two volume settings.

Just got back from dealing with the first proper visit into the TV realm(?).

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

Ongoing thoughts on:

'Persona 4 Golden'

Finally feel like I've had enough time to breathe after finishing Persona 3. Fun style so far. I like the 3D models. I think Orpheus had a little recognizability (in P3), and Arsene has enough as well (to come in P5). ...

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

S is for Stone Protectors.

Verdict: 4 - Stone Protectors is a serviceable beat 'em up. It’s cute and weird, and it’s fun enough. A lot of ideas here, but the execution doesn’t always come through.

The five protagonists of Stone Protectors (essentially muscular troll dolls in a variety of colors) put on a concert after completing the game.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

R is for R-Type III: The Third Lightning.

Verdict: 5 - R-Type III is a fun, if difficult, shmup. It’s definitely worth persevering to see it through, even if you need a little modern assistance.

A shot of the R-Type ship; the background is half of what is assumedly the Earth, while the other half is the dark void of space.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

Q is for... There are no more Q's.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

P is for The Peace Keepers.

Verdict: 4 - The Peace Keepers is a solid beat-em-up. Some interesting ideas needed a little better execution, but it’s still a fun, if brief, romp.

The villain, something-or-other Iago, who likes to talk like Shakespeare, greets the player with the line "What ho?" which definitely hits a bit differently while you're playing as Echo, the only female character.

The end screen for The Peace Keepers. Text reads, "Produced by Team Pure Heart // It's like the man says, there's no problems - only solutions." Some scene with the final encounter is displayed in somewhat sepia tones behind it.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

O is for Super Off Road - The Baja.

Verdict: 3 - There’s some fun to be had in the Baja, but a combination of questionable design and apparent technical limitations hold things back.

One of the victory screens for the game. A blue-suited person with a white helmet hoists a trophy above their head amidst a crowd of cheering fans.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

N is for NBA Showdown.

Verdict: 3 - NBA Showdown is a competent basketball game with some solid presentation, but there are a few too many annoyances.

A still from NBA Showdown showing players on the basketball court.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 7d

M is for Mecarobot Golf.

Verdict: 3 - Mecarobot Golf is a mostly solid golf game with some rough edges.

A dark landscape shot of the clubhouse (with indoor lights visible) and the night sky.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · 10d

It's also a good life lesson: If someone sues you, you should take it seriously instead of treating it like a big joke for content on your podcast. "'Pretending' to be a crazy person" is probably not going to get you out from underneath a default judgment.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Sep 1

L is for Liberty or Death.

Verdict: 5 - If you’re patient and/or interested in this period of American history, Liberty or Death proves to be a fun and accessible entry to grand strategy.

An early American flag and text atop an artistic rendition of early American colonial boundaries. Text reads, "No longer would despots have control over the destiny of America, the land of liberty and justice."

1993 was indeed a more innocent time.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Sep 1

K is for Kid Klown in Crazy Chase.

Verdict: 4 - Crazy Chase is a cute but brief little runner game with a little extra for those inclined.

Part of the ending for the game. Text reads, "Congratulations! / You made it! Try the hard mode for a real challenge!! / KEMCO / (c) 1994 KEMCO / TONG KING SHOW / Creative Advisor / Kenji Terada"

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Aug 4

J is for Jeopardy! Sports Edition.

Verdict: 3 - J!SE is a functional adaptation of the game show. It’s mechanically identical to the Deluxe Edition, but if you’re not really into sports trivia, this one will be harder to enjoy.

The final results screen for Jeopardy! 'CONGRATULATIONS / JOEL / YOU ARE OUR NEW / JEOPARDY! CHAMPION' on screen. Scores are 3,200 - 2,000 - 1,000.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Aug 4

I is for Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures.

Verdict: 5 - IJGA is a solid adaptation, both visually and in design, of the original Indy movie trilogy. Intermittent frustration is largely mitigated by a pretty good password system.

Indy and crew ride into the sunset after the end of the adventure. 'THE END' is displayed in the center of the screen.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Aug 3

H is for Harvest Moon.

Verdict: 5 - Harvest Moon is a solid and ambitious little package. The basic loop is fun despite some recurring annoyances.

The protagonist and wife Ann stand atop a mountain looking out over a forest and distant mountains.

Joel @jbarnettqed.bsky.social · Jul 22

G is for Super Godzilla.

Verdict: 3 - If you meet the game where it is, Super Godzilla is a cute, though regularly frustrating, adaptation of the classic monster franchise. Some interesting ideas might make it worth a look, especially for Godzilla fans.

Godzilla marches into the sea in sepia. Text reads, "Presented by TOHO. THE END."