PixlBit

Stage Select:

I've never really bothered much with demos. They weren't a thing for much of my childhood (other than the occasional store kiosk) and by the time the internet had made demos easy to get I had such a backlog of games that it didn't make sense to play snippets of upcoming games when I had so many good ones with me already. We did end up with some demo discs back in the day, though, like the one that game with our PS1. The highlight on there was a Tomb Raider demo where you fought tigers and a T-rex. It was cool but the controls were difficult and I never did get the urge to play the full game. Also on that disc was a demo of Crash Bandicoot, which actively convinced me to NOT get that game. Later we got a GameCube demo disc (I think it was $5 at Target) and we played the Soul Calibur 2 demo a bunch. That was fun. The disc also had Splinter Cell, which I tried a lot because surely THIS time I'd figure out what they wanted me to do but, alas, I never did and the series has remained forever dead to me.

Cage Match:

This one is tough. On the one hand, Mario has overcome so many enemies and obstacles in his career that it's hard to imagine this being more than a slight speed bump for him. On the other hand, Extreme Beach Volleyball has copious fun bags with the best jiggle physics for the time and NOT copious clothing (plus I hear the volleyball gameplay is actually pretty fun). But then again, take a look at Mario. Look at the blank stare in those blue eyes. I'm not sure any sort of jiggly distractions or suggestive poses would work on him. Is he a man into mammaries or just a platforming automaton? Think of the last time he really showed romantic interest in Peach. In Odyssey he clearly was only concerned that Bowser would steal his trophy and Peach blew them both off in favor of going on her own adventures. All I'm saying is that I doubt the saucy spectacle of the DOA girls will get his blood pumping as much as the challenge of crushing their spirits and emerging victorious. Super Mario Sunshine wins.

In general search-and-find or collectathons tend to bore me really fast. That's probably why open world games tend to not excite me.

Throw the first one in your eShop wishlist and wait for a sale and then give it a try. If you enjoy that one, I'd recommend the second also but I'd say pass on the third one. It really feels like they made a third game because they had narratively committed themselves to a third game, not because they still had cool ideas to explore.

The newer one but maybe they'll go back to the original once they finish it. I have especially fond memories of that DuckTales magic lamp movie.

I'm glad they were able to get a definitive Monster Boy collection out, though too bad an incomplete one came out first. I love the look of Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider but your criticism of the slow character movement keeps me back. That was my problem with Shinobi III on the Genesis.

I continue to marvel at your appetite for Lego games lol but I'm glad you enjoy them.

Prime Remastered has all the control schemes, basically. The new addition, though, is true twin stick controls. I bet that would solve your problems.

I can't believe I'm playing two great remastered games at the same time lol. The game has made my kids go through a DuckTales cartoon binge as well.

Metroid Prime Remastered is worth the wait! I hope the park season goes well.

This is one of the few Xbox One exclusives that I really wanted to play and made sure to buy a copy when we got that console...but I still haven't played it!  You definitely make it sound like a lot of fun.