OK, I'll give this a try, since this year has been really good in my gaming side. My wall of shame:
Game 1: VOLGARR THE VIKING (CAPS BECAUSE GUARRRRR) - 40 hours (I can finish it in 35 minutes now...)
WOA! This game is so awesome! I never was a hardcore gamer, I always played in normal mode; but this game, THIS FUCKING GAME, slowly taught me how bad I was at games and each time I played I got a little better at it; I still can't do a no die run, but with 7 lives and 35 minutes I can finish it normally, and with 12 or so deaths in hard mode. One of the best games I've played in my whole life, puts to shame the old arcade games it's inspired on.
You will feel manly through the whole game, from the shout at the beginning, until you get a fire sword, or defeating a boss that has you naked, everything about this game screams testosterone, and in a good way.
The game is built in a speed run way, so it's a good idea to watch speed runs of levels, to see the real beauty of this game, which I consider masterfully done, true gaming art.
What I really love about it is that you have time to breath, each death is your fault, there are no cheap medusa heads here, no monsters spawns were you are, collision detection is perfect and you are in control the whole time. 10/10 one of the best games ever made.
Game 2: La Mulana - 50 hours or so
OMG! Another awesome one!, Don't think of this as a Metroidvania, because this one will make you cry. Seriously. Gameplay is good (although it has a HUGE learning curve) and monsters are not too bad. Bosses are bitches though, but still, when you learn a pattern, they are defeated easily. What make this game so hardcore, is that you have to practically map and take notes of the whole thing to figure out puzzles; stages connect themselves to each other and the puzzles are incredibly hard, unfair even (some old PC adventure games logic here...), and you'll often solve a puzzle by chance first and then understand what the game was trying to hint you about. I used a guide when stuck, and I'm not ashamed of it. Great game, you'll need the 50 hours though, this game is packed with content. This fucking game didn't let me sleep, because I thought of the riddles while sleeping, and had to come back and try some thing.
If you beat this on your own, I salute you.
Game 3: Hydra Castle Labyrinth (Freeware, AKA La Mulana for babies) - 3 hours
Great freeware game, very easy if you fully explore the starting area. The only problem is that it crashes, A LOT; thankfully the game will save in every room, so if it crashes, you will start at that room, but this can mean having to redo a puzzle or having to defeat a boss; still the game is too good to skip. Download it now folks.
Game 4: Toki Tori - 12 hours
Great puzzle game, but I think it's too difficult for it's own good, it's like it doesn't have a middle ground, or too easy or too difficult.
Game 5: Toki Tori 2+ - 12 hours or so
This is the game that sunk this developer, and you can see why, the production values are through the roof. The game is great, there is no text, everything is explained to you via gameplay, which makes it great. Still, it is one big world filled with puzzles, so it's not focused like the first one, and some puzzles are just too annoying to restart when you screw up; but it's a great game. Also, don't try to play this with an Xbox 360 controller, because it recognizes no dead zone, meaning you'll move without stopping, and there are no controller options (or options of any kind really).
Game 6: Mutant Blobs Attack - 4 hours
An OK platformer, nothing great about it, very very easy; a lot of fun, you are a small blob that absorbs things, and you keep growing through the game until you are gigantic.
Game 7: Octodad Dadliest Catch - 5 hours
This is like a 3D QWOP adventure game; and it's great. The best thing about it is the presentation, from the theme song which is INCREDIBLE; this games has charm written all over it, and the best part IMO is that it doesn't overstay it's welcome. You'll be laughing your ass off the whole game.
Game 8: ArkhamShadow of Mordor - 30 hours
WB took the Batman engine and slapped LOTR all over it (I wonder if they'll keep doing this with other franchises, like with the LEGO games); and it's great. Bow and Arrows are by far the best weapons, and stealth is the best part; great game, a little too long for my tastes, bloated if you may say so.
Game 9: Last Inua - 3 hours
Short indie puzzle platformer. Good story, meh gameplay, thankfully it's short.
Game 10: Hell Yeah! - 9 hours
This is basically Happy Tree Friends the game, presentation is awesome, gameplay is... serviceable I guess. Fun game, a little too long; and too many bosses (101), so there is a lot of repetition.
Game 11: Chronology - 2 hours
Puzzle platformer, great graphics, easy puzzles and short.
Game 12: Treasure Adventure Game (Free on GOG) - Good end 7 hours
This game is so slow, I hate that; character is slow, sailing is slow, even warping is slow. Otherwise, a good Metroidvania game, nothing special IMO; some good stages, some awful and really long ones, bosses are fun and it's a good change that you are not overpowered, in fact, you are really weak and your main attack sucks, so you have to find creative ways to get past enemies and fighting bosses. Fun, but I'm glad it's over.
Game 13: Valdis Story: Abyssal City - Quit after 8 hours, at final boss
This is another Metroidvania game; this one has levels, skill trees, a ton of loot, different characters, different styles with each character, different stories, searching for treasure, searching for lost NPCs, new armor, weapons, attacks, etc. Sounds good, but my problem with this is the loot first; I have to go and kill a ton of demons, angels or ferals so they drop the loot I need to buy stuff; leveling is limited so I have to plan a path to upgrade my character.
The game is still fun, stages are often great and the move upgrades are really intelligently done, and I really enjoyed it, but the final boss is a pain in the ass (not difficult), and I refuse to waste my precious and scarce gaming time to fight him.
Game 14: You have to win the game - 3 hours
A game like VVVVVV, with the difference that here you'll aquire some new moves (double jump, etc) as you progress. A nice free game for those looking for challenging platforming.
Game 15: Wonder Boy in Monster World - 6 hours
Now this was a surprise; I bought the $2 Genesis pack with more than 50 games (it's basically an emulator with roms, but hey! it's legal!) from Amazon the other day, and this was a gem. Holds up really well IMO, very playable and great music. Great game.
