Board 8 > Sept. Game of the Month Club ft. Teslagrad, La Mulana 2, Bloodborne, and Spyro

(+) Yeah! (+)

Septembers Games:
Teslagrad (PC/PS4/XB1/Switch/Wii U/PS3/Vita)
La Mulana 2 (PC)
Bloodborne (PS4)
Spyro the Dragon (PS3/PSP/PS1)

What is Game of the Month Club?
Game of the Month is a community project open to all B8ers where users share, discover, play and/or discuss a select few games every month. The games featured each month are chosen by YOU the users (and Lady Luck)

The Basics
- Each month will feature three games that were chosen via a random drawing from a pool of games that users nominated
- For each game you beat, you get a cool point on our just-for-fun standings as well as a nomination for next month's randomized drawing
- In order to receive the point and nomination, you must beat said game within the calendar month
- If you beat one of the current month's games in the previous month, you can apply for a "recently beaten waiver," but you will only receive a point and no nomination should you do so
- Drawing for next month's games is usually around a week before the end of the month
- If you periodically keep us posted on your progress and/or talk about different aspects of the games, then everyone will think you are super awesome!

Nomination Rules
- You get one nomination automatically each month
- You receive additional nominations each month for every chosen game that you beat
- Each game you nominate has to be unique from all other nominations and cannot include a game that has already been selected for GotM
- Each game must be a standalone game that can be acquired and played on its own (aka cannot be DLC/expansion that requires the base game)
- Nominations only carry over if you beat a chosen game after the drawing for next month's games but before the end of the month
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Just-for-Fun Standings (among those who beat a game in 2017-18)
KCF: 77
gameking: 69
Lolo Guru: 41
ArkOfTurus: 38
Mr Crispy: 38
KnightOfNee: 30
Arti: 23
scarletspeed: 23
MegamanX: 18
Fenny: 15
Robazoid: 13
Wickle: 11
profDEADPOOL: 8
Shaduln: 7
Cody: 6
BetrayedTangy: 5
darkx: 5
paperwarior: 5
LordoftheMorons: 4
MrSmartGuy: 4
MZero: 4
Shonen: 3
KommunistKoala: 2
PrinceReva: 2
azuarc: 1
Fake Account: 1
Harrich: 1
Kain66: 1
Peace Frog: 1
SantaRPG: 1
Steiner: 1
Tom Bombadil: 1
Waluigi1: 1
Wiki: 1

Spreadsheet with history
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X8E8oqzES42W4S82j7WTfNnzNa8c3uXdSE1rnqYG7WM/edit?usp=sharing
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Bloodborne is $7 on US PS Store through the weekend with complete edition being $12.24:
https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA00900_00-BLOODBORNE000000
https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA00900_00-BLOODBORNECOMPLE
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I did some Teslagrad for, I don't know, 45 minutes? I have no idea where I am or what I am doing. The game doesn't have names for anything it seems and appears to be intentionally vague across the board, so I don't know how to mark progress.
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Oh, didn't know Teslagrad was a Vita game, and was free at some point. My portable gaming time is split between the Messenger and Into the Breach right now, but I'll probably get to it at some point.

Anyone object to me playing Bloodborne on new game+? I don't really feel like starting a new character, but a runthrough using some of the late game weapons I haven't messed around with that much seems fun. (Enemies do scale up on new game+, if you aren't familiar with it.)
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For the record, definitely get the complete edition if you don't have Bloodborne at all. There's only one DLC for it, but it's easily one of the best DLC's ever created.

That said, if someone ever wants to play Bloodborne co-op, I am absolutely down for it. I just played with Wigs a bit under a year ago and we had a lot of fun. If I use an endgame character, it automatically scales me down to a new player's level if I join their game, so it always works out.
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I have bloodborne through whichever month it was the free game on ps+.

But I haven't played it at all. Intend to, this month.

Buy dlc before first playthrough?

Anyway, La-Mulana 2, I started a second file yesterday, and read the cursed tablet twice for hard mode. At this point, I'm making some good early-game progress. Cleared out the Roots of Yggdrasil, have about half the sub-weapons, Valhalla's up to the ankh, and cleaning up the far side of Annfwn.

I let my brother borrow my PS2 yesterday, so if I'm going to do Spyro, it'll be late in the month after I get it back.
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In order to play the DLC in your first playthrough, you have to do it before you beat the final boss, or the game will automatically put you in NG+.
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tag

I started La-Mulana 2 in the last month technically, when it first came out, but I haven't beaten it and will be continuing it this month. I have seven of the main bosses cleared out, so I am kind of far along. I've recently acquired the items the vase, the cog, the lamp, the destiny tablet, and the giant flute and need to finish finding the necessary places to use them.
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TheKnightOfNee posted...

I have seven of the main bosses cleared out

That's how far my main file is. (though I have not gotten the giant's flute yet, as my 7th boss was Surtr, and I think the giant's flute comes from Echidna, who I haven't beat.

Main reason for the restart (besides the more intense boss fights), is so I can actually record tablets I'm sure I'll need for lategame that are in the earlier areas. Scrounging areas you've already cleared for a hint you've completely forgotten sucks.
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I got stuck fairly early in the game because I couldn't figure out how to acquire the gloves, like an idiot, so I grabbed a notebook and started writing things down. I kept it up so I didn't get stuck like that again. I have about 6 pages of maps and notes now
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I started up Bloodborne last year but probably spent more time customizing my character than actually playing the game. I would be up for continuing, but DQ XI is priority number one this month and I doubt Ill have time to beat another longish game.
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Oh, Teslagrad does have location names on the file loading screen. I am at Brazen Bull. I have been told that this isn't a long game, and I have already beaten two bosses, so I could finish this game by the middle of next week.

This game is harder than I thought it would be. There are no boss checkpoints and many of the puzzles I have come across so far require precise timing.
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Oh man, I was stuck there (gloves) for hours too! Kept exploring and exploring at that point, but yeah, there's only so much treasure you can acquire without them.

Hard mode playthrough is going well, though the cow boss is really hard. =( Skipped it and beat the other three possible bosses, so I've got a lot of map open. Last treasure acquired: Feather.
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I love getting a new item and the hope of progress with it, and the item instead gets me things like a skull and a new weapon.

Feeling a little stuck right now in La-Mulana 2, but I have a few ideas of places to try looking.
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Tag

Will probably replay Spyro this month, that's it for me. I've beaten it quite a few times so it should be a breeze. Now I just need to think of a spooky game or two to nominate for next month.
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Got through another boss in Teslagrad. It took many several attempts despite knowing exactly what I was supposed to do due to the challenging nature of the fight.

Despite not playing Bloodborne yet and might not, I plan on getting the DLC that's on sale before it goes back to full price tomorrow. Worst case scenario, I wasted $6.
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Up to the Forbidden Woods in Bloodborne. Using the Rakuyo and the Burial Blade. Both are fun, although the Rakuyo seems pretty overpowererd. Still managed to die twice at Amelia, though.

Started Teslagrad. It isn't really grabbing me, but I'll give it another shot.
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I beat another boss and what looks like the way forward is gated. It seems that I need to find more of these scrolls (if the room name indicates what those items are), not thinking that the game's collectibles were a requirement to finish the game. So if anybody else ends up playing Teslagrad with the intent on finishing it, try and grab scrolls that you come across or you might have to backtrack like I will be.
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Went on a scroll-hunting tear and am now well above what I need to advance. I think that I might try to go for the remaining ones since I found out you get a different ending if you get them all.
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KCF has beaten Teslagrad

While not a great game that also starts off on the wrong foot, it definitely grew on me.

+ Great puzzles based on magnetism
+ Gorgeous animation helps soften the dreary tone and atmosphere
+ Backtracking is easy given all the rooms within a few minutes from the main hub

- Camera and layout issues will lead to many cheap deaths
- If you die, and you will a lot, during a puzzle or boss fight, you have to do the entire room/fight over again
- Subsequently, every boss fight pretty much sucks (first one wasn't so bad) due to the combination of lack of checkpoints and their trial & error nature

I can understand if those negatives are deal-breakers, because there will be times you are going to be very frustrated. However, I stuck with it, and I came away with plenty more positive than negative feelings toward it.
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For my first two noms, I am going with some more games that I haven't nominated before

Get Even
Poi
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So yeah, been playing way too much la mulana 2.

8 of 9 guardians done on my hard mode file, only Hel left. Who I still haven't gotten to, but I'm pretty sure I have the relevant clues to.
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I got Bloodborne for free, played like an hour and wasn't sold at all. Haven't touched it since.

Was kinda thinking of getting back on it tho.
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Downloading Bloodborne right now. I will probably play it a few times this week unless it hooks me. The odds of me beating it are 5% at best due to its length, but I can hold off on my planned 100% Spyro run until the weekend.
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Bump
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I plan to try Bloodborne tonight. I wonder what chances are that I will rage quit.
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I was stuck for a bit in La-Mulana, but managed to find the Maat's Feather item. I then made progress in a couple rooms after that and beat another boss, Surtr who I believe is the 8th one I've beaten. I then received an item that let me go fight a couple more mini-bosses. Good progress all around tonight.
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Slow month it seems from the non-La Mulana 2 crowd
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KCF0107 posted...

Slow month it seems from the non-La Mulana 2 crowd

I'll move onto Bloodborne if I manage to finish La-Mulana 2. >_>

Incidentally, I'm now through all 9 guardians, (beat Hel, which was a great fight), but I still haven't unlocked the final area just yet.

Have eleven of the twelve crystal skulls, and haven't finished the quest regarding Sakit yet.
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It being the start of the school year, work's been getting in the way of things, but I have been playing both Bloodborne and Teslagrad.

Teslagrad is a good time, but man can it be frustrating. Some of the timing required in the game needs to be perfect, but the presentation is really solid and I'm still overall enjoying the game despite its flaws. Right now I'm collecting the rest of the scrolls before finishing the game.

Bloodborne is a ton of fun. The only other game in the "series" I've played is Demon's Souls, so it's cool to see how far they've come with this. Just made it to the Grand cathedral and beat the boss there. I'll hopefully make some decent progress this weekend.
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I reversed course and went with Spyro. I am going for a 100% run and finished the Artisans and Peace Keepers worlds. Magic Crafters is turning out to be quite the challenge to grab everything.
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Oh hey!

I actually made some more La-Mulana progress; making it all the way into what I'm fairly sure is the final area of the game.
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I have everything on every level in Magic Crafters except Wizard's Peak. It took like a dozen attempts on High Caves to use the supercharge ramp correctly to reach that little plot of land to the side.
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Well Tree Tops is screwing up my bid for a 100% run. Lots of supercharge ramps in the level, and that is my weakness in the game.
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At the final boss in La-Mulana 2; have no idea what to do whatsoever during phase 3.
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KCF0107 posted...

Well Tree Tops is screwing up my bid for a 100% run. Lots of supercharge ramps in the level, and that is my weakness in the game.

Tree Tops is infamous and widely regarded as one of the hardest levels in the entire original trilogy to 100%. So don't feel bad about struggling with it.
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I ended up with two game overs and a total of 16 lives lost, but I eventually grabbed everything in Tree Tops. I am now at Lofty Castle in Dream Weavers.
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I find Tree Tops to be a lot of fun. It is the hardest level in the game, or at least the longest to 100% in my experience.
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Update: Have beaten the final boss.

but there's an escape sequence
and the obvious routes out are blocked.

gotta find my way out or I can't call this a win.
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Ok, it is finished. La-Mulana 2 is done, complete, finished, beaten, and otherwise... SOLVED.

Game says almost 26 hours on this playthrough... and steam says 93 hours played.

So... yeah.
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I now have all the dragons and eggs. All gems left are from the final boss stage and some of those flight missions.
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KCF has beaten Spyro the Dragon

I beat Gnasty Gnorc and immediately went to Gnasty's Loot. I was expecting something totally different. I was either expecting an additional full-blown level or a giant sandbox full of gems and nothing else. It was squarely in the middle

I'm not sure if the hardest part of the game was doing all the supercharge jumps or all the flight levels. I'm leaning toward the former right now.
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For my final nom of the month, I'm going with Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors.I don't really play horror games, but I do play many non-horror games with unsettling atmospheres, so I might as get into the Halloween spirit and make 2/3 of my noms sort of fit the theme.
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Bump
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Didn't play much this weekend, but may have some good time later this week to pour into La-Mulana. I started trying Brahma's puzzle and realized that there is more to this than I thought, and need to think things through.
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I guess I can nominate something October related...

Does Full Mojo Rampage have an endgame?
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Google leads to a Steam thread that says you can if you beat seven maps without dying.
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Oh, so massive roguelike that you completely start over after dying, I'd be interested in playing with some people but not with a limited time frame to beat it.

Would people be interested in doing Gurumin for this? I'd like to try it again now that I have a controller and the monsters might fit a lighthearted October thing.
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I'd be willing to give it a try. I got it for free for like joining the developer's Steam group eons ago.
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