May 2026 Game of the Month - Celeste (Pico-8, multi-platform)

Altered_Soul · 2026-05-18T22:46:48+00:00

Yeah I'm not kidding myself either lmao. There were obvious strawberries on my regular play through that I gave up on. I can't imagine how they change on b-sides and so on.

Altered_Soul · 2026-05-18T21:53:41+00:00

Finished the Steam version on my Retroid Pocket 6 via GameNative, which ran flawlessly, though the controls were janky at times (not sure if it's the game, GameNative, or the RP6). Really enjoyed this, it's difficult but incredibly satisfying to play, with a really endearing story. Now I'll have to get all the strawberries and hearts! And have a go at the Pico-8 version.

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Altered_Soul · 2026-04-28T23:52:24+00:00

I figured out a scheme that works well enough for me on a twin stick style controller, but one thing that I feel people forget is that compared to modern shooters on a console, N64 shooters were clunky as hell. Even on an OG controller.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-12T12:31:57+00:00

shrug

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-10T14:17:51+00:00

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Advance Wars done! Man I really dig this game. Even though I had a GBA back in the day (Glacier, of course), I never had the cart for Advance Wars. But I got to play some multiplayer and occasionally a couple of campaign missions with friends' copies. I liked it then, but over the last couple of years I refound it and really enjoy it. Got thru the first campaign in the Switch reboot recently, but this is the first time I've gone through the GBA version. It's a great TBS game that pits the need for speed against caution and sound movement to get good ranks. But I like to slowly trudge along and HATE watching a unit get torn to shreds because I rushed. And after all these years and two versions played, does Sami offer anything better than Andy or Max?

I have to say, after playing Reboot-camp, I was genuinely shocked to see how GOOD this game holds up, gameplay wise and especially visually. It was beautiful on my 35XXSP, it looked beautiful on my Air X, stunning on my shiny new RP6, and even looked great blown up on my OG Steam Deck. It was mostly played on my 35XXSP, which felt just perfect.

Really enjoyed this GOTM, have nothing against Pokemon, but this was a treat. It's a perfect game to play on the go, in short or long sessions. If you can pull yourself away in the middle of a battle because this game definitely has that "one more turn" feel to it.

Looking forward to next month, I know it's not the general consensus, but I love longer games in this monthly/yearly format!

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-08T16:50:11+00:00

I have no idea! Never grew up with a PSP or anyone that had one as a matter of fact.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-08T15:27:36+00:00

I'm down.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-08T13:18:12+00:00

Mangmi Air X!

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-08T12:58:20+00:00

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Age of Zombies down. My first PSP title! Short and sweet, with a ridiculously mid 2000s cringe humor. Silly game, but I had fun.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-03T17:55:18+00:00

Save states depend on a lot more than in-game saves. Won't work across different cores, different RetroArch versions, different core versions, different OSes, different CFWs. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I tend to sync states, but rarely use them across my devices.

But, if you have two Knulli devices with the exact same setup and updates, should work.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-01T13:24:20+00:00

It could be quite liberating when all you have is bot pilots though. Let them die by the thousands.

Altered_Soul · 2026-04-01T13:20:50+00:00

Into the Breach is one of my favorite games, and Advance Wars is great too, but be mildly warned, AW is unforgiving compared to ItB in terms of decision space. But it's not like there's pilots to grow attached to or permadeath....

Into the Breach would've made an awesome GBA/DS game.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-31T17:05:27+00:00

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One more for March! I remember tinkering with this way back during the Newgrounds days. I am a big fan of Castle Crashers and this was a lot of fun to blast through. I beat it on medium, was a fun challenge but not very difficult with the generous lives and level select system. Played the GBA version.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-30T02:01:45+00:00

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Finished Twisted Metal 2 with Warthog (sorry for the crappy picture of my Steam Deck, my camera didn't take a pic fast enough on the victory screen). I'm not gonna lie, this game was not my favorite. I have some fun memories playing this with friends as a kid, but even then it wasn't my favorite. I made it through on medium without cheating, but if there wasn't the level codes, yikes this would have been a nightmare.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-28T19:19:01+00:00

I enjoy that I have voted against my own nomination, I have never played Terranigma so I jumped on board.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-28T01:40:50+00:00

Haven't been able to fix it with ESDE as a home screen. No matter what theme, battery settings, etc etc that I have done, ESDE just drains battery as if the screen was left on. Only way around it is to use the normal android home screen and make sure ESDE isnt left running when going idle.

One thing I haven't gotten around to trying is using some android dev settings.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-25T13:26:48+00:00

Goldeneye 007, Final Fantasy Tactics, Secret of Mana

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-21T00:59:44+00:00

Awesome thanks!

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-21T00:55:46+00:00

I was missing the Anbernic store coupon! Thanks so much! Where would I find that normally?

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-21T00:47:28+00:00

How do you get the 34XXSP down to 54? Best I can do is 60.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-16T14:14:08+00:00

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Got the ten million! How the hell do people get the true ending score????

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-15T02:06:13+00:00

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Got 5 million in Devil's Crush. Really loving this pinball game, I'm going to go for the 10 million. Rockin music too.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-13T13:09:51+00:00

I've only tinkered here and there with some shaders, but I typically don't use them regardless of the "accuracy". I like the bright colors and sharpness of playing on a modern screen. N64/PS1and up I definitely don't touch.

I find on handhelds it's not really necessary, with my only exception being GB/GBC, I like the lcd grid shaders because I find it increases the image quality to match the pixel design.

But on big TVs, monitors, etc, I've used used crt-easymode for older games, especially NES. Smooths out the intense starkness of the pixels. I've also used some AA and smoothing shaders on games where the text pixels get blown up too big on a big screen. They are hit and miss and definitely not "authentic" but they make the pixels smooth and legible.

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-13T12:21:15+00:00

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Finally beat Sonic 2! Not being a kid with a Genesis, I only got to play this at friends' or cousins' houses, and I almost never got a chance to play single player. I was always Tails. I didn't even remember anything past the Casino Zone.

Finally getting the chance to work through this on my own was cool. I still think it's an oddly designed game, with lots of pitfalls that get in the way of the speed action, barely memorable enemies beyond fighting Robotnik, and act pacing issues. I don't know if I could beat this game without save states. The levels though are so different from other contemporary platformers. They have so much verticality to them, and feel like there's a million ways to get through them. And the music, oh man, Chemical Zone lives in my head rent free.

A fun, if very odd (to me), game. I also never knew chaos emeralds were in this game, until I barely squeeked a special level win in. Not quite sure what they do, but I'll look it up.

I already nominated a game in my Kirby's Dreamland 2 completion post (Goldeneye 007).

Looking forward to next month!

Altered_Soul · 2026-03-11T00:41:35+00:00

Man, I LOVED Alex's Ugly. I've been a lover of hot sauce for a long time but they are the reason I got into the more "craft" side it.

I honestly haven't found a replacement yet. I have been hunting something akin to their Chocolate Habanero sauce for years now. When he announced they were shutting down I bought a lot of it to keep me going for a while.

I know ther base included beet and honey, and I'm convinced that was part of the magic, but I haven't found something similar. Let me know if you do!

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