Lens of Truth

Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is the relatively new Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain. The Celeste Team whipped this up in about a week to celebrate Celeste's 6th anniversary. This journey brings Madeline into the 3rd dimension to collect 30 Strawberries, in what ends up feeling like a demo. And if it is a demo for something more, I'm all for it. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Get the game FREE here: https://maddymakesgamesinc.itch.io/celeste64 #celeste #celeste64

"Isn't it kind of late for a video like that?" Well, sister, the fact that it's published at all is a minor miracle. Here's my wrap up of the 56 games I played in 2023. I'll tell you which were my favorites, including two games I've been looking forward to for a while now and a delisted game. Then I'll tell you which were my biggest disappointments. Lots of good music in this one, too. And yes, I did play Tears of the Kingdom last year, and no, I didn't forget to include it here. Are video releases back??? Maybe, I do have a short one planned next, so we'll see. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Auld Lang Syne 8 Bit Remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlhXiXs_A_Y BlazeHedgehog's The Definitive Way to Play Sonic Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uNsTXIzgGI The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is FREE: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2324650/The_Murder_of_Sonic_the_Hedgehog/ Super Pokémon Eevee Edition is HERE: http://dreammodule.com/?spee=about

Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy and its DX mod by huderlem and GreenAndACat. The first ever Kirby game, Kirby's Dream Land will be surprisingly familiar to anyone who has played any other Kirby game, but it lacks Kirby's signature ability. It's the shortest game I've covered so far, but there is an Extra Game mode for those looking for more to sink their teeth into. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Kirby’s Dream Land DX Mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5213/ Kirby’s Dream Land DX Revised Mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5635/ #kirby #kirbysdreamland

One man's struggle with Pokémon Stadium 2's Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup is an early example of the Roguelike experience showing up during the height of Pokémania. It's an incredibly engaging game mode that is, at times, grueling. Test your strategic Gen II battle planning and see if you have what it takes to win all four Challenge Cup trophies. Pokémon Stadium 2 is out on the NSO! Rental FAQ: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/n64/452036-pokemon-stadium-2/faqs/28400 #pokemon #pokemonstadium2 #roguelike

Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is Super Mario Land for the Game Boy and its DX mod by toruzz. The first ever handheld Mario game, Super Mario Land is known for its unique locales and novel shmup stages, thanks to a different team headed by Gunpei Yokoi handling development. Once you get past the steeper than normal learning curve, there's a fun adventure to be had. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Super Mario Land DX Mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4477/

In Part 2 of the Igavanias, we’ll look at the Bonus Playable Characters from Castlevania’s GameBoy Advance trilogy, which was featured in the Castlevania Advance Collection. The modes in these games were easier to research for whatever reason, but I’ve continued to gather all that information here to help future-proof these game modes. This is the second in a series revising my Season 0 video. Part 3 on the DS trilogy to come later. Part 1: https://rumble.com/v2a7yis-bonus-playable-characters-igavanias-part-1.html Bonus Playable Characters Guide - Igavanias: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKX0zB-lKdk8Wru4D4zqGFFoQ_IPZvbxtj8KcnJQOEM/edit?usp=sharing Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Recolor Mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7086/ Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance NoGlo Mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/677/

Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is Rayman 2 for the Game Boy Color. It follows in the footsteps of its GBC predecessor, delivering a solid, if less cohesive, 8-bit platforming adventure. If you played the first one and found it enjoyable, this game is worth a look. Rayman (GBC) Episode: https://rumble.com/v2a8h0c-bite-sized-rayman-gbc.html Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth #rayman

Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is on the indie game Dogurai. Heavily inspired by the GameBoy era, if you're into retro-styled action games packing some challenge, I’d suggest giving Dogurai a shot. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

For this year's Mega Man March, let's look at a game heavily inspired by the Mega Man X games, namely 20XX. It takes the tried and true formula of dashing, wall jumping, and charging shots from the X series and adapts it into a highly addictive Rougelite experience. Capcom has let the dust settle on the blue bomber, so Batterystaple Games have taken it upon themselves to fill the gap, and luckily for us they were up to the task. 20XX is the Mega Man X game you've been waiting for. Oh, and the music is amazing. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth 30XX Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx-XlY6Wh1w Hades Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpo2UgLkLxo Mega Man X DiVE footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvQBL7BLgRU #20XX #MegaManX

Original Post Date: 2/14/2023 Monster World IV was Westone's final Wonder Boy/Monster World title, a colorful little 2D platformer with great music. But its Companion Critter mechanic helps it to stand out in the sea of platformers from that era. Your blue Pepelogoo shakes up the gameplay and how you interact with the game world to the extent that I think it's worth looking into further. I also talk about the remake, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World. After seeing the trailers, I was surprised by what I found there. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Wonderful Southern Island: https://soundcloud.com/doublebytes/wonderful-southern-islands #wonderboy

Original Post Date: 1/13/2023 In the Pokémon series, we've seen Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Dynamax, and the Terastal phenomenon mechanics. The series has established a precedent where one is dropped for the next generation's mechanic. This is a look at arguably the best of these mechanics, Mega Evolution. Let's talk about my thoughts on Mega Evolution, and then brainstorm how we could bring the mechanic back to the series. (FYI, I don't count Ultra Necrozma.) This is a follow up to my video on the best new features in each Pokémon generation. Previous Video: https://rumble.com/v2a8avs-best-new-feature-in-each-pokmon-generation.html Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Pixel Art Megas: https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?p=7972072 Arceus Forms: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/2016/06/21/arceus-colour-critique-part-18-10/ #megaevolution #pokemon

Original Post Date: 12/19/2022 Bite-Sized is a short look at a short game. This time the focus is Rayman for the Game Boy Color. Releasing quite late, there are a number of differences between it and its home console variant. If you're in the market for a quick yet satisfying adventure, this game is worth a look. Rayman 2 (GBC) Episode: https://rumble.com/v2r9hy3-bite-sized-rayman-2-gbc.html Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth #rayman

Original Post Date: 11/14/2022 With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releasing soon, I wanted to take a second to look back through every generation in the series and talk about what I consider to be the best new feature in each. I’ve been immersed in Pokémon essentially my whole life, so I figured covering it was only a matter of time. See if you can guess what kind of player I am with my picks! Mega Evolution video: https://rumble.com/v2a8mxy-pokmons-mega-evolution-mechanic.html Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Some Rom Hacks with the Physical/Special Split: https://www.pokemoncoders.com/best-pokemon-rom-hacks-physical-special-split/ Smogon Article: https://www.smogon.com/articles/physical-special-split Gen 6 Wonder Trade Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ho9yI6-lPg #pokemonscarletandviolet #pokemon

Original Post Date: 10/31/2022 In Part 1 of the Igavanias, we’ll look at the Bonus Playable Characters from all major versions of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. These modes can bring a fresh experience to a well-worn game, but researching all relevant information online can be a nightmare. I tried to gather all that information here to help future-proof these game modes. This is the first in a series revising my Season 0 video. Part 2: https://rumble.com/v2x8i48-bonus-playable-characters-igavanias-part-2.html Bonus Playable Characters Guide - Igavanias: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKX0zB-lKdk8Wru4D4zqGFFoQ_IPZvbxtj8KcnJQOEM/edit?usp=sharing Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SAT) Translation Patch: https://cdromance.com/sega_saturn_isos/akumajou-dracula-x-gekka-no-yasoukyoku-japan/ The Dracula X Chronicles footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exk5sqPcoyc #CastlevaniaSymphonyoftheNight #BloodstainedRitualoftheNight

Original Post Date: 10/14/2022 The Marshmallizer is a method of increasing the replayability of Super Mario Odyssey, especially for collect-a-thon buffs who aren’t too keen on the story and just want to go exploring. Think of this as a baseline, so it’s absolutely open to modification and improvement. Power Moon Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18J6RDhmSGqbwZX8DUZb2ptWODxzljy-oyp-mtFqGwDM/edit?usp=sharing Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth #SuperMarioOdyssey

Original Post Date: 10/14/2022 Didn't want to bog down the Marshmallizer video with behind the scenes stuff, so here's a little update in case you're interested in the lore. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 3/20/2018 The Mega Man series is prolific. Boasting over a hundred games, it’s understandable if the series’ influence is felt in the gaming industry, especially among 2D platformers. Known for jumping and shooting, and yet some of the greatest developments from the Mega Man series are in the field of lateral movement. So for my first ever entry in Mega Man Month Mega March Madness, let’s look at the Evolution of the Dash. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 4/1/2018 Lens of Truth's Top 10 Game Design 2017. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 3/3/2018 Imagine you’re playing your favorite 3D collect-a-thon. You’re long-jumping a chasm, or charging through armor-plated baddies, or guiding a rocket-propelled bubble. You need to gain your bearings, so you stop, enter first-person view, and locate your objective. Back on track. Now imagine recreating that same game, but without the third dimension. Is it possible to translate collect-a-thons out of 3D? It is, and here are a few Non-3D Collect-a-thons to prove it. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 12/14/2017 Yooka-Laylee, the spiritual successor to Rare's 3D collect-a-thon trilogy on the N64, is a game about learning moves. Like in Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, this has a big impact on the game and how it's played. With the revival of the 3D collect-a-thon, it's time to take a hard look at the effects of learning moves in Yooka-Laylee. Jeff Marchiafava's "The Great Breath of the Wild Debate" - http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/11/24/funny-to-a-point-the-great-breath-of-the-wild-debate.aspx Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 11/26/2017 Time to look at integrating story into gameplay, using Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective as a model. Any mystery story, be it in a book, movie or TV show, or video game, needs to be compelling, and Ghost Trick’s story succeeds. The lingering, unanswered questions at the end of chapters leave you hungry for more. But there is a difference in medium. Video games can have great stories, but for many, the mundane slog from cutscene to cutscene is like having to finish your vegetables before getting dessert. That’s not okay. If you chose video games as your medium, you’d better ensure every aspect of said medium unites to present your message. And here is where Ghost Trick stands out. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 10/29/2017 I've begun revising this video, Part 1 is here: https://rumble.com/v21r48z-bonus-playable-characters-igavanias-part-1.html Happy Halloween! Bonus playable characters are a staple of Castlevania games, especially the Metroidvania-styled ones. Usually unlocked by beating the game, these extra modes are fresh and exciting ways to revisit great games, just in time for Halloween! So let’s look into these bonus modes to find the right ingredients to creating the best bonus playable character. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 1/26/2017 The music of Rez Infinite is something to behold. Using a variety of gameplay prompts, the soundtrack is created organically as you battle through Eden’s defenses. So how you play determines what you hear. A unique experience overall, the music of Rez is like nothing you’ve heard before. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth

Original Post Date: 10/20/2017 When to Morph, or The Art of the Henshin: the beginning of a series focused on ideas for making the very best Power Rangers game possible. To start, I look at how and when to morph, considering how important it is to the show (it was originally called Mighty MORPHIN Power Rangers, y'know). I look at some existing Power Rangers games and some games from outside of the series to develop this idea. Support the channel elsewhere: https://linktr.ee/lens_of_truth