LHCGreg
@lhcgreg.bsky.social
#justbeatit Cattle Crisis, a 4 minute long scoring-focused PICO-8 shmup I tried during a shmupping session with Mr. Sparkle and @wiedo.nl. After an hour of playing my best score was 1.26 million. Mr. Sparkle has gotten 4.06 million in the past but I think I'm done. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 AM
#justbeatit Cattle Crisis, a 4 minute long scoring-focused PICO-8 shmup I tried during a shmupping session with Mr. Sparkle and @wiedo.nl. After an hour of playing my best score was 1.26 million. Mr. Sparkle has gotten 4.06 million in the past but I think I'm done. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Super Smash TV (SNES), a Robotron-style twin stick shooter. It's pretty tough and takes practice to get further each time. I got the pleasuredome ending, unlocking turbo mode with 2x speed, 2x lives, 2x continues and almost beat that second loop. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
#justbeatit Super Smash TV (SNES), a Robotron-style twin stick shooter. It's pretty tough and takes practice to get further each time. I got the pleasuredome ending, unlocking turbo mode with 2x speed, 2x lives, 2x continues and almost beat that second loop. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Flipnic, a weird unrealistic pinball game for PS2 with missions to complete to unlock the next table. I did not like the table design. Too many areas difficult to escape from and areas with weird physics. Pads its length by including mirrored table versions. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
#justbeatit Flipnic, a weird unrealistic pinball game for PS2 with missions to complete to unlock the next table. I did not like the table design. Too many areas difficult to escape from and areas with weird physics. Pads its length by including mirrored table versions. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Thunder Force III, my new favorite 16-bit shmup. Very memo-heavy and has some great FM tunes. On higher difficulties you lose your powerups on death but recovery is manageable. It took me several practice runs but I finally got the Mania difficulty 1cc. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
#justbeatit Thunder Force III, my new favorite 16-bit shmup. Very memo-heavy and has some great FM tunes. On higher difficulties you lose your powerups on death but recovery is manageable. It took me several practice runs but I finally got the Mania difficulty 1cc. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
Reposted by LHCGreg
Natsume Atari has filed a trademark for Shatterhand in Japan: chizai-watch.com/t/2025097921
Shatterhand is a 2D action game originally released for NES. The trademark might suggest a remake or sequel is in the works, a la Shadow of the Ninja Reborn or Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.
Shatterhand is a 2D action game originally released for NES. The trademark might suggest a remake or sequel is in the works, a la Shadow of the Ninja Reborn or Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.
September 3, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Natsume Atari has filed a trademark for Shatterhand in Japan: chizai-watch.com/t/2025097921
Shatterhand is a 2D action game originally released for NES. The trademark might suggest a remake or sequel is in the works, a la Shadow of the Ninja Reborn or Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.
Shatterhand is a 2D action game originally released for NES. The trademark might suggest a remake or sequel is in the works, a la Shadow of the Ninja Reborn or Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.
I did one of those video game music challenges back in June. Here are are my picks. My self-imposed additional rules were no repeating games chosen by myself or other people participating and no reusing songs I used in a previous challenge.
August 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I did one of those video game music challenges back in June. Here are are my picks. My self-imposed additional rules were no repeating games chosen by myself or other people participating and no reusing songs I used in a previous challenge.
#justbeatit Exile III, a Win95 CRPG. Char growth by point allocation, lots of useless skills & spells, tactical grid combat, tons to explore. Beginning is great but a bit of a slog by the end with you overpowered and annoying dungeons. Still good on average. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 7:17 PM
#justbeatit Exile III, a Win95 CRPG. Char growth by point allocation, lots of useless skills & spells, tactical grid combat, tons to explore. Beginning is great but a bit of a slog by the end with you overpowered and annoying dungeons. Still good on average. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
I made a top 50 games list. No ordering, just grouped by system.
August 1, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I made a top 50 games list. No ordering, just grouped by system.
Reposted by LHCGreg
Just to be clear, this kicks in August 29th, so get your orders in now for stuff from outside of the US. There's always the possibility that policy just flips again because nothing is stable. And you can still buy things overseas, you just have to spin the wheel of tarriffs.
July 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Just to be clear, this kicks in August 29th, so get your orders in now for stuff from outside of the US. There's always the possibility that policy just flips again because nothing is stable. And you can still buy things overseas, you just have to spin the wheel of tarriffs.
Reposted by LHCGreg
Posted a checklist of stuff that IMO makes beat 'em ups good in terms of mechanics & game design
www.patreon.com/posts/beat-e...
www.patreon.com/posts/beat-e...
July 17, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Posted a checklist of stuff that IMO makes beat 'em ups good in terms of mechanics & game design
www.patreon.com/posts/beat-e...
www.patreon.com/posts/beat-e...
#justbeatit Tanuki Justice, a run&gun with platforming elements. 3 difficulties are thoughtfully constructed with higher levels adding more enemies in well-designed spots. Unlimited continues let you restart levels. 1cc'ed Hard, cleared Insane after about 8-10 hours. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
June 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
#justbeatit Tanuki Justice, a run&gun with platforming elements. 3 difficulties are thoughtfully constructed with higher levels adding more enemies in well-designed spots. Unlimited continues let you restart levels. 1cc'ed Hard, cleared Insane after about 8-10 hours. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
Reposted by LHCGreg
I've joked about distinguishing between beat 'em ups & "checkmate brawlers" with friends. But the relatively large subset of people who just want every single fucking option in 2D bmups makes me just wanna start doing it unironically.The types that complain about a lack of universal running in SOR4
June 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I've joked about distinguishing between beat 'em ups & "checkmate brawlers" with friends. But the relatively large subset of people who just want every single fucking option in 2D bmups makes me just wanna start doing it unironically.The types that complain about a lack of universal running in SOR4
#justbeatit Castle of the Winds using a Windows 3.1 emulator. It's quite easy for a roguelike. I was never in any real danger. Has a smooth power progression. I beat the shareware episode as a kid. The author has made the full version freely available. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
#justbeatit Castle of the Winds using a Windows 3.1 emulator. It's quite easy for a roguelike. I was never in any real danger. Has a smooth power progression. I beat the shareware episode as a kid. The author has made the full version freely available. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Rainbow Islands (NES), sequel to Bubble Bobble. You're a human instead of dino, you shoot rainbows, and your goal is to reach the top, not beat all enemies. Pretty challenging. I got the good ending on a 2nd play after wishing for fame instead of friendship. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 4:35 AM
#justbeatit Rainbow Islands (NES), sequel to Bubble Bobble. You're a human instead of dino, you shoot rainbows, and your goal is to reach the top, not beat all enemies. Pretty challenging. I got the good ending on a 2nd play after wishing for fame instead of friendship. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Mayhem Brawler, a flawed beat em up. Bosses are spongy on Legend difficulty. There's a wall combo that's infinite for as long as you get the timing right. Some bosses can break out of combos with an attack. But you can just camp them, block, and parry. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 4:24 AM
#justbeatit Mayhem Brawler, a flawed beat em up. Bosses are spongy on Legend difficulty. There's a wall combo that's infinite for as long as you get the timing right. Some bosses can break out of combos with an attack. But you can just camp them, block, and parry. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (GBA), a Diablolike with 5 chars & 4 save slots. Higher difficulties' late game seems balanced for new game+ but early game is not. Some balance issues but decent if you want a portable game of this type. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
#justbeatit Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (GBA), a Diablolike with 5 chars & 4 save slots. Higher difficulties' late game seems balanced for new game+ but early game is not. Some balance issues but decent if you want a portable game of this type. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken 2, a short easy Famicom platformer starring Sanrio's cute frog character. Bosses are minigames like concentration and rock paper scissors. Only one is purely luck, the others you can get an advantage by paying attention. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
April 20, 2025 at 1:48 AM
#justbeatit Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken 2, a short easy Famicom platformer starring Sanrio's cute frog character. Bosses are minigames like concentration and rock paper scissors. Only one is purely luck, the others you can get an advantage by paying attention. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
I looped Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat 3 times and beat the default high score. By VGS rules I #justbeatit. It's Super Off Road with indycars. It should be called Super On Road. Tracks are narrow and hard to pass on and non-Danny cars are just there to get in the way. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I looped Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat 3 times and beat the default high score. By VGS rules I #justbeatit. It's Super Off Road with indycars. It should be called Super On Road. Tracks are narrow and hard to pass on and non-Danny cars are just there to get in the way. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Tiny Toon Adventures (NES). You think you're in for a breezy platformer, then the difficulty spikes up halfway through. Unlimited continues will see you through to the end eventually, if you can figure out the tough parts. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
#justbeatit Tiny Toon Adventures (NES). You think you're in for a breezy platformer, then the difficulty spikes up halfway through. Unlimited continues will see you through to the end eventually, if you can figure out the tough parts. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit UN Squadron, a SNES shmup with a shop where you buy weapons & new planes & select which level to do next. You can, and must, grind the supply truck mini-levels for cash for the last plane, killing the pacing. Otherwise decent. 1cc Easy & Normal, beat Hard. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
April 14, 2025 at 4:33 AM
#justbeatit UN Squadron, a SNES shmup with a shop where you buy weapons & new planes & select which level to do next. You can, and must, grind the supply truck mini-levels for cash for the last plane, killing the pacing. Otherwise decent. 1cc Easy & Normal, beat Hard. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Metal Slug 7. It's Metal Slug on the DS. 1cc'ed Easy, beat Normal with all characters, gave up on Hard. A very challenging game that definitely gave me the hufflepuffs at times. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
April 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
#justbeatit Metal Slug 7. It's Metal Slug on the DS. 1cc'ed Easy, beat Normal with all characters, gave up on Hard. A very challenging game that definitely gave me the hufflepuffs at times. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Jungle Book (SNES). The Lion King has a reputation as a difficult 16-bit Disney game but Jungle Book puts up a fight too, especially the autoscrolling level 8 and its boss. Thankfully you get a continue each time you find enough gems in each sprawling level. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
March 17, 2025 at 2:27 AM
#justbeatit Jungle Book (SNES). The Lion King has a reputation as a difficult 16-bit Disney game but Jungle Book puts up a fight too, especially the autoscrolling level 8 and its boss. Thankfully you get a continue each time you find enough gems in each sprawling level. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Marvelous: Another Treasure Island (with translation patch), a SFC puzzle adventure game with a Zelda-like interface and 3 controllable characters who work together to solve puzzles. The solutions always make sense, unlike something like Shadowgate. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
March 16, 2025 at 3:43 AM
#justbeatit Marvelous: Another Treasure Island (with translation patch), a SFC puzzle adventure game with a Zelda-like interface and 3 controllable characters who work together to solve puzzles. The solutions always make sense, unlike something like Shadowgate. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Bleed, a twin stick platformer-shooter with a time-slow mechanic recommended by Scotch and SNESdrunk. Controls take some getting used to with jump and time-slow on shoulder buttons. A fun challenging game. Cleared story on Very Hard, arcade on Normal. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
#justbeatit Bleed, a twin stick platformer-shooter with a time-slow mechanic recommended by Scotch and SNESdrunk. Controls take some getting used to with jump and time-slow on shoulder buttons. A fun challenging game. Cleared story on Very Hard, arcade on Normal. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
#justbeatit Super C. Like Contra, I used the code to practice before beating without the code. Super C is probably a bit easier than Contra. Overhead levels in Super C are better than the 3D levels in Contra. It's about tied between them I'd say. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social
March 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
#justbeatit Super C. Like Contra, I used the code to practice before beating without the code. Super C is probably a bit easier than Contra. Overhead levels in Super C are better than the 3D levels in Contra. It's about tied between them I'd say. @polykillpodcast.bsky.social