Tetris Attack - 11,046
I've never played Tetris Attack before, most likely because I'm generally terrible at puzzle games of this sort and also don't enjoy playing them for more than about 10 minutes at a time. The original Tetris is a perfect example of this, being a game which I can
appreciate objectively for what it is but stop
enjoying after the first couple of stages. But I have to say, even though I found Tetris Attack as frustrating as any other puzzle game, the game's presentation is top-notch. Catchy music, beautiful graphics and a very accessible control scheme. And even though I didn't get much fun out of extended play, I can see why fans of puzzle games would. This one definitely strikes me as a title worthy of "hidden gem" status for the SNES.
Super R-Type - 137,100
While
Tetris Attack was a title I'd never before played that I proved to be (unsurprisingly) terrible at,
Super R-Type is one I did play a few times in my youth...and I've been reminded why I'd not been back to it much since then. Now, fair warning as I'm going to come off as a bit of a jerk to this game but I recall it infuriating me all those years ago and age has not tempered that experience. Even though I don't think I'm all that good at shoot-em-ups, there are a fair few that I enjoy playing. The R-Type series (those that I've played) has never been one of them. I don't generally like shooters that send you back to the beginning of the stage, especially when combined with one-hit deaths. I don't generally like shooters that prohibit the player from touching the level architecture. I don't generally like shooters with bosses that zip across the screen in an attempt to plow through the player. I don't like how Super R-Type resets your Stage-2 charge beam if you hold it for more than a second. While any single one of these elements would amount to a mere annoyance in a game and be easily forgiven, by compounding them all into the same experience, you're left with a game that feels like it's difficult by just being
unfair to the player. Yeah, yeah...blah blah blah
player mastery blah blah
memorization. I don't buy it. While I'm sure I could get further in the game if I really sunk more hours into it, I don't think it would change my opinion that the game just feels hard for the wrong reasons. Not because it challenges the player to improve but because it punishes the player for lacking perfection. Give me
Blazing Lazers or
Lightening Force anyday.
At least the graphics, sound and music are good.
