Wow, I have to say, this is probably the most invested I've been in a game since I started this challenge. This is it. This is where traditional RPGs and JRPGs split ways. Enix has sucessfully taken what was sucessful about sprawling RPGs and made them fit into a nice polished game on a console.
Nearly everything that you remember about a JRPG is here. Leveling up, EXP, equiping armor, Magic, exploration, dungeons, random battles. And while other games before it have all these features (Bard's Quest being the most recent on the list) this game takes what made those fun and turned it into something 100% unique. Something who's echo can still be heard decades later.
No, it's not quite as complex as other RPGs, the story is almost non-existant, you only have one person in your party and the game is less about good strategy and more about how much you've grinded.
Speaking of grinding, I gotta say, there was a LOT of it. Almost to the point where it was too much. But to be honest, I LIKE grinding. I find it soothing and relaxing. You just put on some youtube and just zone out while you mindlessly kill enemies.
All that said, I love this game. This was something unique and special. I loved the map, I loved the fight system (archaic as it is), I love the enemy designs, I love the open world. Almost everything about this game I absolutely love.
If I had to nitpick I could say that the story is stale, and the music could be better, but overall, this was one amazing game, one that I hope to pick up again soon.
Next up: Defender of the Crown
Friday, December 30, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
#0119 Solomon's Key
Ya know what the problem with older NES games was? A lot of them were ports of better arcade games. So if I'm gonna do a review of Gradius, and I have to choose between the arcade version or the NES version, why wouldn't I choose the arcade version? In 99% of cases, that's the better game, with better graphics and better sound.
This, is not that case. Solomon's Key is a puzzle platformer. A particularly brutal puzzle platformer where you can create and destroy your own blocks that you can use to jump on. It's a particularly brutal platformer in terms of difficulty.
But I gotta say, as an arcade game, it's not super great. Arcade games have to suck you in immediately. If they're not 100% action packed from the very first moment, you're gonna lose players. The more simple you can make it, the better. Pac-Man had only one joystick.
Where this game does shine though is as an NES game. Console games are better for games that you gotta sit down with, figure out and take your time with. This is that game. It doesn't hook you right at the beginning, but it's still a lot of fun, and the mechanics are something we've never seen before, it was honestly really refreshing. If I had this game as a kid with an NES, I would have LOVED this game. Hell, I kinda like it now. Honestly, I think it's one of the better NES games, and that's saying a lot.
Next up: Dragon Quest
This, is not that case. Solomon's Key is a puzzle platformer. A particularly brutal puzzle platformer where you can create and destroy your own blocks that you can use to jump on. It's a particularly brutal platformer in terms of difficulty.
But I gotta say, as an arcade game, it's not super great. Arcade games have to suck you in immediately. If they're not 100% action packed from the very first moment, you're gonna lose players. The more simple you can make it, the better. Pac-Man had only one joystick.
Where this game does shine though is as an NES game. Console games are better for games that you gotta sit down with, figure out and take your time with. This is that game. It doesn't hook you right at the beginning, but it's still a lot of fun, and the mechanics are something we've never seen before, it was honestly really refreshing. If I had this game as a kid with an NES, I would have LOVED this game. Hell, I kinda like it now. Honestly, I think it's one of the better NES games, and that's saying a lot.
Next up: Dragon Quest
#0118 OutRun
This was pretty good. It's Outrun, it's like the first racing game on the list that has an "behind the car" view that's common in every modern racing game. The physics were very lax and forgiving, the controls were tight and responsive, the music was incredible. And who could forget that amazing soundtrack!
Overall, pretty good experience.
Next up: Solomon's Key
Overall, pretty good experience.
Next up: Solomon's Key
#0117 Rebelstar
I'm impressed. I wasn't sure I would like this game, but this was pretty good.
Rebelstar is a turn based Strategy game where one team has to destroy a computer core in a moon base, the other team has to keep them out.
It was actually pretty good. I like the map design, the variety of pieces. Even the controls were intuitive and easy to control.
If I did have one complain it would be that the Opratives felt a little more powerful than the Raiders, I always felt a tad over powered by them.
But, overall, this was a pretty good game, I might actually check out the sequels, see if they're any good.
Next up: Outrun
Rebelstar is a turn based Strategy game where one team has to destroy a computer core in a moon base, the other team has to keep them out.
It was actually pretty good. I like the map design, the variety of pieces. Even the controls were intuitive and easy to control.
If I did have one complain it would be that the Opratives felt a little more powerful than the Raiders, I always felt a tad over powered by them.
But, overall, this was a pretty good game, I might actually check out the sequels, see if they're any good.
Next up: Outrun
Saturday, December 17, 2016
#0116 Ikari Warriors
I should really enjoy this game. I really should. I love SHMUPS, I love run and guns. But for some reason, this, and esspecially Commando before it, I just can't get into. I'm not sure why either. Technically the game is pretty solid. It allows for both strafing and multidirectional firing using a joystick that rotates as well as rocks (which was impossible to emulate btw), it's a pretty solid game, but I don't know, for some reason it didn't keep me throwing "quarters" into it like most of the other Arcade games on this list. Oh well.
Next up: Rebelstar
Next up: Rebelstar
Friday, December 16, 2016
#0115 Spindizzy
Today I played Spindizzy. It's kinda like a Marble Madness ripoff. Honestly, it's not bad. The physics are okay, the music is catchy as heck. As far as PC games from the 80s go, you could do a lot worse.
Next up: Ikari Warriors
Next up: Ikari Warriors
Thursday, December 15, 2016
#0114 Kid Icarus
Today I played Kid Icarus. I played this briefly when it was one of the first game for the Wii Virtual Console. But today I actually really put some time and effort to get to the meat and potatoes of the game and what I found was actually pretty surprising.
Okay, first off, the game is great, no doubt there. It's hard, and unforgiving, but it's a lot of fun. But that's to be expected, it's Nintendo during the Golden Age of Nintendo.
What I did NOT expect to see was so much Zelda in here! You gain weapons, and items as you progress through the game that aid you in your quest. Not only that, but You gain hearts, which is currency, which you can use to buy other weapons and items. It's honestly the first I've ever seen of something like this one the list. Combined with the creative enemies, the fantacy setting, and you can really see the Zelda in here.
Here I thought that Zelda was wholly a 100% unique invention, but here we are, a year earlier and we have the rough outline of what would eventually become Zelda. It's utterly facinating. One of the things I was hoping to find while playing these games.
Next up: Spindizzy
Okay, first off, the game is great, no doubt there. It's hard, and unforgiving, but it's a lot of fun. But that's to be expected, it's Nintendo during the Golden Age of Nintendo.
What I did NOT expect to see was so much Zelda in here! You gain weapons, and items as you progress through the game that aid you in your quest. Not only that, but You gain hearts, which is currency, which you can use to buy other weapons and items. It's honestly the first I've ever seen of something like this one the list. Combined with the creative enemies, the fantacy setting, and you can really see the Zelda in here.
Here I thought that Zelda was wholly a 100% unique invention, but here we are, a year earlier and we have the rough outline of what would eventually become Zelda. It's utterly facinating. One of the things I was hoping to find while playing these games.
Next up: Spindizzy
Sunday, December 11, 2016
#0113 Bubble Bobble
This game is adorable. Like seriously, this is one of the most harmless, adorable games I've ever played. They took the idea of Mario Bros and kinda made it their own. The game isn't hard, the gamplay isn't very engaging, but it's hard to not have a bit of a soft spot for this game. Even if I probably won't be coming back to it.
Next up: Kid Icarus
Next up: Kid Icarus
#0112 Salamander
See, this is how you do a SHMUP. Almost. Darius' only weakness was powerups seemed few and far between while not contributing enough to the game. Salamander gives you powerups when you chain enemies together. Which means that once you get all the powerups that make you blast through the entire game in one button, then the powerups get easier and easier to get. But when you lose them, they're almost impossible to pick up again and you're stuck in a bullet hell with only your single blaster. Kinda sucks.
But overall? Amazing. Loving where these SHMUPS are going. Seems sad that the SHMUP genre becomes nieche after a while. Wonder where these games will end up though?
Next up: Bubble Bobble
But overall? Amazing. Loving where these SHMUPS are going. Seems sad that the SHMUP genre becomes nieche after a while. Wonder where these games will end up though?
Next up: Bubble Bobble
#0111 Gauntlet II
Played Gauntlet II. Remember Gauntlet? Basically more of that. Only difference seems to be that you can now choose your character. It suffers big time by having zero music and after coming of Darius, the graphics aren't much to write home about.
It's okay, for what it is. Probably would have been better if I had someone to play it with.
Next up: Salamander
It's okay, for what it is. Probably would have been better if I had someone to play it with.
Next up: Salamander
#0110 Darius
OMG guys. Look at this game. Like seriously, look at this game:
Looks a little small huh? That's because this game is played on a tripple monitor 1920x480 display. Despite being a tripple monitor setup, the game looks like one seamless screen. They do this by using oneway mirrors to reflect the other two screens on either side of the middle screen. It is honestly ingenious, and is easily the BEST looking game I've seen on this list by a large margin.
Keep in mind when this game came out. It came out in 1986. You know what else came out in 1986? Kid Icarus. The game looks so amazing you'd swear it came out in the early 90s.
Not only does it look incredible with its vibrant and expressive graphics but the music is unlike anything I've heard in a game on this list so far. Listen to this soundtrack:
Seriously, that almost sounds like something out of a MegamanX game. I was blown away by how amazing this game looks and sounds.
That's all well and good, but the question remains. Is it good? Well... It's alright. Didn't hook my attention past several playthoughs. Problem is, other than its amazing graphics, it really doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's a great game. Just not nessesarily a whole new experience. Even still I highly suggest giving this game a play. If only for the amazing visuals.
Up next: Gauntlet II
Looks a little small huh? That's because this game is played on a tripple monitor 1920x480 display. Despite being a tripple monitor setup, the game looks like one seamless screen. They do this by using oneway mirrors to reflect the other two screens on either side of the middle screen. It is honestly ingenious, and is easily the BEST looking game I've seen on this list by a large margin.
Keep in mind when this game came out. It came out in 1986. You know what else came out in 1986? Kid Icarus. The game looks so amazing you'd swear it came out in the early 90s.
Not only does it look incredible with its vibrant and expressive graphics but the music is unlike anything I've heard in a game on this list so far. Listen to this soundtrack:
Seriously, that almost sounds like something out of a MegamanX game. I was blown away by how amazing this game looks and sounds.
That's all well and good, but the question remains. Is it good? Well... It's alright. Didn't hook my attention past several playthoughs. Problem is, other than its amazing graphics, it really doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's a great game. Just not nessesarily a whole new experience. Even still I highly suggest giving this game a play. If only for the amazing visuals.
Up next: Gauntlet II
Saturday, December 10, 2016
#0109 Arkanoid
Okay, yup. That was good. Arkanoid took the already amazing sequel Breakout (Sucessor to Pong) and made it even better with powerups and a variety of really cool level designs. It also has a story. For some reason.This is probably the first remake I've seen on the list, and I gotta say, even by today's standards, this is a pretty DAMN good remake. (Even if It wasn't made by Atari)
Next up: Darius Which was built from the ground up to be impossible to emulate. No idea how I'm gonna do this.
Next up: Darius Which was built from the ground up to be impossible to emulate. No idea how I'm gonna do this.
#0108 Alter Ego
Today I played Alter Ego. This game is the very defenition of the term "Role-Playing Game". Not because you equip weapons and grow levels. But because you actually take on a new role. It's a text based life simulator.
You start the game by taking a personality test, and then you, simply, live your life! Birth to death. The game is presented in a series of decision trees. The game presents you with a scenario and a list of reactions to that scenario. Depending on your answer, the game reacts and changes. You decisions in the game make a real and lasting impact on the game itself. It's honestly facinating, and the first game on the list I've seen do that.
If I had one complaint it's that the game spouts about experimentation, about trying to live life the way YOU want, making the choices you want to make. But if you make a choice the game sees as "bad" it tells you straight up, "you made a bad decision". Way to Guilt trip me out of living my fantasy as a psychopath game!
Next up: Arkanoid
You start the game by taking a personality test, and then you, simply, live your life! Birth to death. The game is presented in a series of decision trees. The game presents you with a scenario and a list of reactions to that scenario. Depending on your answer, the game reacts and changes. You decisions in the game make a real and lasting impact on the game itself. It's honestly facinating, and the first game on the list I've seen do that.
If I had one complaint it's that the game spouts about experimentation, about trying to live life the way YOU want, making the choices you want to make. But if you make a choice the game sees as "bad" it tells you straight up, "you made a bad decision". Way to Guilt trip me out of living my fantasy as a psychopath game!
Next up: Arkanoid
Saturday, December 3, 2016
#0107 Leader Board
Leaderboard! Not gonna lie, this game was probably the first Sports game I didn't mind playing. Mostly due to it being the leading influence for nearly every golf game that came after. It was fun not bad at all.
Next up: Alter Ego
Next up: Alter Ego
#0106 Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Gotta say, I've never played the Sega Master System before. It was Sega's Answer to the NES. Technically, it's a superior console on paper. But because of Nintendo's iron grip on everything they own, it left Sega with almost nothing in terms of thirdparty support. And Alex Kidd in Miracle World was their answer to Super Mario Bros.
Gotta say, it's pretty good! The controls aren't bad, there's some fun powerups, the graphics are colorful and fun. It's no Super Mario Bros, but it's a legit good platformer.
Next Up: Leaderboard
And that finishes off 1985! Game of the Year, we got a tie (to make up for the past two subpar GotY) our games of the year are:
Super Mario Bros. Easily one of the most influential games of all time. Every single platformer that comes after it will be just trying to either imporve SMB, or be SMB. It introduced an entire generation to video games and brought Video Games back into Relevancy and Determined Ninendo as the new King of Video Games.
Tetris, the perfect game. While SMB might have been influential, it hasn't aged very well. Tetris is so perfect that it doesn't need changing you can play Tetris in its original form and it feels exactly like it does today. One of the very few games that I can honestly say is 100% perfect.
Gotta say, it's pretty good! The controls aren't bad, there's some fun powerups, the graphics are colorful and fun. It's no Super Mario Bros, but it's a legit good platformer.
Next Up: Leaderboard
And that finishes off 1985! Game of the Year, we got a tie (to make up for the past two subpar GotY) our games of the year are:
Super Mario Bros. Easily one of the most influential games of all time. Every single platformer that comes after it will be just trying to either imporve SMB, or be SMB. It introduced an entire generation to video games and brought Video Games back into Relevancy and Determined Ninendo as the new King of Video Games.
Tetris, the perfect game. While SMB might have been influential, it hasn't aged very well. Tetris is so perfect that it doesn't need changing you can play Tetris in its original form and it feels exactly like it does today. One of the very few games that I can honestly say is 100% perfect.
#0105 Trinity
Today I played Trinity. First off:
http://www.mocagh.org/infocom/trinity-manual.pdf
That is the manual for the game. Holy crap. Why do we not have manuals like that anymore? This is awesome! That said, this game is about Nuclear war. You play as a dude who, before a nuclear bomb can be dropped on England he jumps into a door that takes him to Wonderland. Okay no it's not Wonderland, but it might as well be with it's dense forrests and mushrooms the size of a house. I got a feeling there's a lot of symbolism in this game. It's not A Mind Forever Voyaging, or even Planetfall, but it was good. As all Infocom games are. Hoping to see more.
Next up: Alex Kidd in Miracle World
http://www.mocagh.org/infocom/trinity-manual.pdf
That is the manual for the game. Holy crap. Why do we not have manuals like that anymore? This is awesome! That said, this game is about Nuclear war. You play as a dude who, before a nuclear bomb can be dropped on England he jumps into a door that takes him to Wonderland. Okay no it's not Wonderland, but it might as well be with it's dense forrests and mushrooms the size of a house. I got a feeling there's a lot of symbolism in this game. It's not A Mind Forever Voyaging, or even Planetfall, but it was good. As all Infocom games are. Hoping to see more.
Next up: Alex Kidd in Miracle World
#0104 Tetris
What can I say about this game? It's perfect. Tetris is the perfect game. There's lots of amazing games out there, nearly all of them have aged more or less. This game, however, has not aged at all. Tetris is like the Shark of Video Games, it is so perfect in conept and execution, that it still being played and has remained unchanged for over 30 years. It's perfect, and one of my favorite games. I could honestly play Tetris for hours and never feels it.
I have a thing about Chaos. I don't like Chaos, something a little personal about me that not many know. So to have a game that's all about making order out of chaos is something I'm drawn to the whole thing just makes so much sense to me. It's like a puzzle, all the pieces just have to fit. Love it.
Next up: Trinity
I have a thing about Chaos. I don't like Chaos, something a little personal about me that not many know. So to have a game that's all about making order out of chaos is something I'm drawn to the whole thing just makes so much sense to me. It's like a puzzle, all the pieces just have to fit. Love it.
Next up: Trinity
#0103 Skool Daze
Skool Daze an action game on the ZX Spectrum... Ugh, this game is... Honestly kinda dull. You play as a bad kid who's supposed to sneak into his principal's office and change his grade. The whole thing is just... Bland. You kinda have to pretend to be a normal student and blend in, while sneaking away to find the combination, but the awful controls combinded with the dull premise just kinda put me off.
Next up: Tetris
Next up: Tetris
#0102 Paradroid
This is more like it! This is Paradroid a Commodore 64 SHMUP from 1985. In this game you play as a little robot trying to kill all the evil robots on a ship. You do this by taking over the bodies of your enemies. and using their body as a puppet to attack others. It's... Incredible. I LOVE the hacking mechanic that allows you to control your enemies, the game is fast paced and the controls are tight. I love it.
Next up: Skool Daze
Next up: Skool Daze
#0101 Fairlight
Fairlight, Sucessor to Knight Lore is an isometric adventure game that was praised during its time for its amazing graphics and treatment of items (which all have unique physical atributes) But the controls are extremely confusing and the combat system is almost broken. I can appreciate it for what it is, but I really didn't much enjoy it.
Next Up: Paradroid
Next Up: Paradroid
#0100 Bard's Tale
Played Bard's Tale. This is proabably one of the first games on the list that I can says is a true RPG that works in the way RPGs of today do. The graphics are a lot of fun, the battle system has depth and it has a decent story...
Too bad like many RPGs of it's time they still didn't know how to balance a game like this. If you don't start grinding the MOMENT you step outside, you're gonna get your ass handed to you.
Next up: Fairlight
Too bad like many RPGs of it's time they still didn't know how to balance a game like this. If you don't start grinding the MOMENT you step outside, you're gonna get your ass handed to you.
Next up: Fairlight
#0099 Super Mario Bros.
Here we go.
Today I played Super Mario Bros. a 1985 NES (formerly Arcade) Platformer created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Feels like I've come full circle. This was the first game I ever played. This was the first game a lot of people ever played. With the Crash of 1983 a LOT of people had just written Video Games off as a kind of fad, something that'll wear off in a few years time. So many game devs lost everything in the crash. Mattel, Coleco abandoned ship altogether, and those who stayed, such as Atari, were merely shells of their former glory, producing maybe one gem a year. Nintendo was one of the few lucky developers who had an IP so popular they could just barely skip by, and in 1985 they released the Nintendo Home Entertainment System, a system that single handedly brought video games back from the dead, learning from the lessons Atari made with a STRICT control over everything they produced. Developers were locked into binding contracts that restricted them to only a few games a year, Nintendo had sole rights to distribute those games, they HAD to make their games on Nintendo's own cartridges and, locked out any games that weren't licensed by Nintendo with their controversial "Lockout Chip". Honestly, Nintendo were kinda Nazis about video games, but considering what happened to Atari when they gave too much freedom, Nintendo just did what they thought would keep video games from dying. And they succeeded until the PS2 it was the highest selling home game console of all time.
It's hard to appreciate just what the NES was like back in its day, but you have to remember that until this came out, your home video games either looked like this if you had an old Atari:
Or if you were lucky you had a Commodore 64, and your games looked like this:
So to see a game system that can not only approximate good arcade graphics, but actually had a KILLER app in Super Mario Bros, then you have the recipe for a legend. Video Games are back!
But I'm getting away from myself. How is this game? Simply put? Amazing! yeah, there's a reason this game was so popular, this was unlike anything you've ever seen in a platformer before. There's powerups, the jumping isn't just one note. There's actual physics to the game. In order to make longer jumps you have to get a running start, you can correct your jumping midair, you can carefully plan your jumps and that makes the game a thousand times more playable and even gives the devs more freedom to do things taht weren't able to do in previous platformers.
I do have to fault it somewhat though. Because thought it was arguably the best game of all time for its period, it's a little rough today. The jumping, though improved, still feels stiff and the difficulty curve is far too high. Honestly though these are nitpicks to an otherwise absolutely amazing game. It feels good to be playing a console again. Can't wait to play more NES games.
Next up: The Bard's Tale
Today I played Super Mario Bros. a 1985 NES (formerly Arcade) Platformer created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Feels like I've come full circle. This was the first game I ever played. This was the first game a lot of people ever played. With the Crash of 1983 a LOT of people had just written Video Games off as a kind of fad, something that'll wear off in a few years time. So many game devs lost everything in the crash. Mattel, Coleco abandoned ship altogether, and those who stayed, such as Atari, were merely shells of their former glory, producing maybe one gem a year. Nintendo was one of the few lucky developers who had an IP so popular they could just barely skip by, and in 1985 they released the Nintendo Home Entertainment System, a system that single handedly brought video games back from the dead, learning from the lessons Atari made with a STRICT control over everything they produced. Developers were locked into binding contracts that restricted them to only a few games a year, Nintendo had sole rights to distribute those games, they HAD to make their games on Nintendo's own cartridges and, locked out any games that weren't licensed by Nintendo with their controversial "Lockout Chip". Honestly, Nintendo were kinda Nazis about video games, but considering what happened to Atari when they gave too much freedom, Nintendo just did what they thought would keep video games from dying. And they succeeded until the PS2 it was the highest selling home game console of all time.
It's hard to appreciate just what the NES was like back in its day, but you have to remember that until this came out, your home video games either looked like this if you had an old Atari:
Or if you were lucky you had a Commodore 64, and your games looked like this:
So to see a game system that can not only approximate good arcade graphics, but actually had a KILLER app in Super Mario Bros, then you have the recipe for a legend. Video Games are back!
But I'm getting away from myself. How is this game? Simply put? Amazing! yeah, there's a reason this game was so popular, this was unlike anything you've ever seen in a platformer before. There's powerups, the jumping isn't just one note. There's actual physics to the game. In order to make longer jumps you have to get a running start, you can correct your jumping midair, you can carefully plan your jumps and that makes the game a thousand times more playable and even gives the devs more freedom to do things taht weren't able to do in previous platformers.
I do have to fault it somewhat though. Because thought it was arguably the best game of all time for its period, it's a little rough today. The jumping, though improved, still feels stiff and the difficulty curve is far too high. Honestly though these are nitpicks to an otherwise absolutely amazing game. It feels good to be playing a console again. Can't wait to play more NES games.
Next up: The Bard's Tale
#0098 Tehkan World Cup
Played Tehkan World Cup... It's a soccer game... Honestly it could have been better, I had a hard time with the controls. It really didn't grab me which is a cardinal sin of Arcade games. You really gotta be able to look at the game and know EXACTLY what you need to be doing.
Next up: Super Mario Bros
Next up: Super Mario Bros
#0097 Little Computer People
Is this a game? Really? It's entertaining, it's kinda like The Sims meets Catz, where you just watch a character on the screen, and you can feed and interact with that character, but there's really no fail state.You can have your little guy play piano, write you a letter, give 'em some food, but you can't really lose.
Whatever it is, I enjoyed it. Not bad Activision
Next up: Tehkan World Cup
Whatever it is, I enjoyed it. Not bad Activision
Next up: Tehkan World Cup
#0096 Mercenary
Today I played Mercenary. An open world sandbox game from Paul Woakes.
In this game you play as a dude who crashlands on an alien planet. On this plant there are two factions, the humans and the robot, the robots are trying to form an uprising against the humans and the humans are trying to avoid being squashed by the robots.
And that's it! The goal is to buy a ship to leave the planet, (I think? But you get a ship at the very beginning so I kinda doubt it) but you don't have to. You can do whatever you want. Wanna join the humans and prevent a robot uprising? Go ahead! Wanna join the robots to help overthrow the humans? Have fun!
All this sounds amazing on paper, and this game truley is worlds ahead of its time. But that's really all it is. An idea. There's no characters, all the buildings are vector aproximations of what KINDA look like buildings, even the story I mentioned before is all told via text boxes.
Plus, there's no real sense of what you can or should be doing. Sure you have a compass that kinda gives you directions to a waypoint, but even then its hard to know exactly what you're doing.
Great concept, very much ahead of its time, but I can't recomend it.
Next up: Little Computer People.
In this game you play as a dude who crashlands on an alien planet. On this plant there are two factions, the humans and the robot, the robots are trying to form an uprising against the humans and the humans are trying to avoid being squashed by the robots.
And that's it! The goal is to buy a ship to leave the planet, (I think? But you get a ship at the very beginning so I kinda doubt it) but you don't have to. You can do whatever you want. Wanna join the humans and prevent a robot uprising? Go ahead! Wanna join the robots to help overthrow the humans? Have fun!
All this sounds amazing on paper, and this game truley is worlds ahead of its time. But that's really all it is. An idea. There's no characters, all the buildings are vector aproximations of what KINDA look like buildings, even the story I mentioned before is all told via text boxes.
Plus, there's no real sense of what you can or should be doing. Sure you have a compass that kinda gives you directions to a waypoint, but even then its hard to know exactly what you're doing.
Great concept, very much ahead of its time, but I can't recomend it.
Next up: Little Computer People.
Friday, December 2, 2016
#0095 Gradius
Gradius, OMG Gradius! I played this on the NES. It's not often that I realize just how limited the hardware for the NES was at the time. These graphics are beautiful, but powerups are a balanced and a lot of fun. Honetsly, maybe I'm being biased because I liked this game when I was a kid, but this has to be one of my favorite shooters.
Next up: Mercenary
Next up: Mercenary
#0093 Ghosts 'n Goblins
Like, holy cow, these games just keep getting better and better! I'd never played Ghosts 'n Goblins before, but it's prettymuch a lighthearted Castlevania! I'm legit impressed, like it was brutally dificult and I didn't even care! I was just having so much fun!
Your attack is fast, you can crouch, controls are responsive, jumping is still very stiff but what can you do? This came before Super Mario Bros.
Up next: Green Beret I'm liking all these arcade games.
#0094 Green Beret
Huh, that was pretty good. It's a precursor to Contra as it turns out. It's a platform shooter (probably the first ive seen on the list if you don't count GnG) and it's surprisingly fun! Like, not GnG fun, but pretty good, I just wish that your standard weapon was a gun or something and not a knife, a more obvious way to know when your powerup weapon goes dead would be welcome too. But overall not bad.
Up next and the last one for the night: Frickin Gradius!
Up next and the last one for the night: Frickin Gradius!
#0092 Gauntlet
Wow, this game was fun. Honestly, this is one of those games that had me popping "quarters" constantly. the amount of action that can be rendered on the screen is staggering. Add to it your three other friends and you got yourself an adicting little game of slaughtering leigions of undead monsters.
Next up: Ghosts 'n Goblins
Next up: Ghosts 'n Goblins
#0091 Yie Ar Kung-Fu
This... Wasn't bad. Remember Karate Champ from just last year? This game is lightyears ahead of that. You have a lifebar, you have fun attacks, you can jump the entire screen, all the enemies are unique and interesting. Honestly, all that's missing are true combos, and a hitbox that isn't complete garbage and you'd almost have Street Fighter II. Not bad Konami!
Next up: Gauntlet
Next up: Gauntlet
#0090 Commando
Honestly, I thouhght I would like this game. Really, I thought I would. This is a multi-Directional Shmup, but unlike Time Pilot, or Sinistar, the game felt unrelentingly slow, and felt claustrophobic in a weird way. Maybe because the screen doesn't scroll horizonatlly so it's possible to get cornered. If they had made you faster, or given you the ability to shoot in a different direction than where you're walking (Robotron 2084) then it probably would have been great.
Next Up: Yie Ar Kung-Fu
Next Up: Yie Ar Kung-Fu
#0089 A Mind Forever Voyaging
This one was interesting. Very interesting. This is a game where you play as a simulated human living out what a Conservative America would look like taken to its logical conclusion. The game has you play out a situation and observe a city in ten year increments, each getting progressivly worse, teaching the message that if a strict conservative nation was to be taken to extreme, it would be a total nightmare.
Honestly, the game felt VERY relevant today and was a simultaneously facinating and horrifying game to experience. I can't recomend this game enough, everyone, go play it. This is Infocom at their best.
Next up: Commando
Honestly, the game felt VERY relevant today and was a simultaneously facinating and horrifying game to experience. I can't recomend this game enough, everyone, go play it. This is Infocom at their best.
Next up: Commando
#0088 Summer Games II
Remember Track&Field? Remember how you had to simply pound the buttons in order to win? This game is the exact opposite. The controls are complex, but they're often very straight forward. After a bit of practice, I was actually able to do things like Long Jump, or Fencing. Still wasn't much fun though.
Nextt up: A Mind Forever Voyaging
Nextt up: A Mind Forever Voyaging
#0082 Jet Set Willy
This game... OMG this game is weird. You play as a guy who is trying to go to bed but his abusive wife is amking him gather things first. So you have to scower this deranged house, avoiding a mulitude of obstacles such as dancing razor blades, buzz saws and even flying pigs. all while an 8 bit rendition of some classical song (I think it's Bach but I'm not 100%) the entire game feels like some poor man's nightmare. It's almost reminds me of Silent Hill in how this man's hell has come to life inside his very home. There's some serious imagry and symolism here if you just look.
Not only that, but apparently this game was unfinishable in it's original format, just to add to the never ending hell this man but be put through.
Unfortunately the controls make for a very poor platformer. Same too. Game has a some serious potential.
Next up: Pac-Land
Not only that, but apparently this game was unfinishable in it's original format, just to add to the never ending hell this man but be put through.
Unfortunately the controls make for a very poor platformer. Same too. Game has a some serious potential.
Next up: Pac-Land
#0087 Deja Vu
I love games like this. Games where you're thown into a situation and are just left to yourself to try and piece together just what the hell happened. That's basically this game. I gotta say, it was hard to emulate, this games was very much an Apple ][ game, but since Apple ][ is so hard to emulate (aparently) on windows, I had to find other means to do it.
Basically, it's like a graphical text adventure. I love the window system and it really streamlines the whole inventory system as well as making the whole game more accessible.
I love that atmophere, I love the mystery. Good game.
Next up: Summer Games II
Basically, it's like a graphical text adventure. I love the window system and it really streamlines the whole inventory system as well as making the whole game more accessible.
I love that atmophere, I love the mystery. Good game.
Next up: Summer Games II
#0086 Bounty Bob Strikes Back
Remember Miner 2049er? After the AMAZING commercial and critical success of that game just two years back they decided that they'd make a sequel! Eh? It's okay, it's basically more of the same with a few more mechanics thown in to keep it fresh like little pipes that you can travel though (Mario?) But the jump physics are just as stiff as ever, so I can't call it a great sequel, but it isn't bad.
Next up: Deja Vu
And that finishes up 1984! That means it's time for U-Gs Game of the Year Award!
Game of the Year 1984 goes to: Paperboy an addicting classic of a game that has an amazing sense of humor, but I gotta say, this was another really slow year.
Next up: Deja Vu
And that finishes up 1984! That means it's time for U-Gs Game of the Year Award!
Game of the Year 1984 goes to: Paperboy an addicting classic of a game that has an amazing sense of humor, but I gotta say, this was another really slow year.
#0085 Spy vs Spy
Spy vs Spy wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. Luckily the controls are simple, and the core gameplay element is pretty entertaining. Setting traps for your buddy can feel pretty rewarding. But the gameplay is kinda clunky and the controls, while simple, are very tempermental and required me to be in JUST the right spot to use them. Good not great.
Up next: Bounty Bob strikes Back
Up next: Bounty Bob strikes Back
#0084 Paperboy
Today i played Paperboy. How can you not like this game? You're a kid, trying to deliver papers to the most bloodthirsty neighborhood I've ever seen in my entire life.
Truth be told, I think everyone lived in this neighborhood as a kid, the ones where the Grim Reaper just hangs out in your front yard.
Seriously though, I've never been good at this game. I've always thrown papers into windows or driveways or yards but never onto doorsteps.
Next up: Spy vs. Spy
Truth be told, I think everyone lived in this neighborhood as a kid, the ones where the Grim Reaper just hangs out in your front yard.
Seriously though, I've never been good at this game. I've always thrown papers into windows or driveways or yards but never onto doorsteps.
Next up: Spy vs. Spy
#0083 Pac-Land
Today I played Pac-Land. ya know, for a pre-Super Mario Bros game, this actually isn't all that bad. In fact, it was kinda fun. Platforming is a little clunky, but hey that's kinda expected in 1984. The graphics are colorful and a lot of fun to look at. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Next up: Paperboy
(As a side note, From Archeon, to Leaderboard (#107) are all games that I've played but haven't reviewed yet. I'm essentially trying to double my post count in only a few short days. This has not been easy)
Next up: Paperboy
(As a side note, From Archeon, to Leaderboard (#107) are all games that I've played but haven't reviewed yet. I'm essentially trying to double my post count in only a few short days. This has not been easy)
Thursday, December 1, 2016
#0081 Lords of Midnight
Aparently this was an amazing game. I wouldn't know. I tried to play this game. I really did. I got it running, I read the entire manual, I did everything by the book. But the controls for the ZX Spectrum emulator did not match up with my PCs controls in an alarming way. I had zero idea how to even move my character. It rendered the game unplayable. I can't befault it for that, but it is a shame nonetheless.
Next up: Jet Set Willy
Next up: Jet Set Willy
#0080 Demolition Derby
Today I played Demolition Derby an arcade game developed by Midway in 1984.
Yet again, the video game crash really shows in this one. You can tell the game had like zero budget. I’ve seen games from 1981 that looked better than this, combine that with the lack of any music, and the game was really uninspiring and not very engaging at all.
Up next: Lords of Midnight
Yet again, the video game crash really shows in this one. You can tell the game had like zero budget. I’ve seen games from 1981 that looked better than this, combine that with the lack of any music, and the game was really uninspiring and not very engaging at all.
Up next: Lords of Midnight
#0079 Knight Lore
Today I played Knight Lore A revolutionary game for 1984, this game introduced the isometric adventure.
You know what’s hard about playing your way through video game history? Until IBM basically standardized everything, we had like four different computers rein supreme. I’ve gone from using an Apple II emulator, to a Commodore 64 emulator, to now a ZX Spectrum emulator, each emulator has it’s own quirks and learning curve. But, once I got the game up and running, it was okay. You play as a little dude, who has to explore a castle(?) to find a cure for his werewolf thing he’s got. You do this by collecting a whole bunch of trinkets and eventually puting them in a cauldren. I think. It’s not very clear. We’re still in the period where if you don’t read the manual you’ll be completely lost.
It’s Dated, for sure, the isometric viewpoint made platforming a bitch. But other than that, the game was totally passable. I probably won’t be playing much of it, again, but it was certanly better than a lot of computer games from this era.
Next up: Demolition Derby
You know what’s hard about playing your way through video game history? Until IBM basically standardized everything, we had like four different computers rein supreme. I’ve gone from using an Apple II emulator, to a Commodore 64 emulator, to now a ZX Spectrum emulator, each emulator has it’s own quirks and learning curve. But, once I got the game up and running, it was okay. You play as a little dude, who has to explore a castle(?) to find a cure for his werewolf thing he’s got. You do this by collecting a whole bunch of trinkets and eventually puting them in a cauldren. I think. It’s not very clear. We’re still in the period where if you don’t read the manual you’ll be completely lost.
It’s Dated, for sure, the isometric viewpoint made platforming a bitch. But other than that, the game was totally passable. I probably won’t be playing much of it, again, but it was certanly better than a lot of computer games from this era.
Next up: Demolition Derby
#0077 Marble Madness
Marble Madness, now THIS is a game! Extremely unique
concept that uses only a trackball, the isometric layout combined with
amazing graphics is stunning. The gameplay is engaging and addicting.
This is how you arcade game. Such as simple concept, you move a marble
around a series of mazes with a track ball(which was very responsive and
immersive, I can’t imagine playing without it) to a time limit. That’s
it. It was kinda like… Glover I guess? Who knows, I know it was fun, and
it proves that Atari’s corpse could still kick up a gem once a year.
Up next: Karate Champ
Up next: Karate Champ
#0076 Hyper Sports
Hyper Sports, Konami’s follow up to Track and Field earlier that year.
This game just… Arcade games are supposed to suck you in from the very
first moment and be instantly playable. Any confusion about controls or
objective at all is going to turn away arcade gamers real quick. That
said, I had no idea how the controls really worked. It started off in a
sort of swimming match thing, where you had to mash the buttons to swim,
and then press another button to breathe, but I kept choking, and I
wasn’t swimming nearly as fast as the computers and I could never even
pass the qualifier round. Blech....
Next up: Marble Madness
Next up: Marble Madness
#0075 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Okay, okay, I'm kinda cheating on this one, but I'm NOT going to reivew this one yet. I've played to the part where you lay in front of your house but... I'm kinda reading the book right now. Yeah, and if this game is going in the direction I think it's going, then I don't want the book spoiled for me.
But it was a good start! For what it's worth. Infocom has yet to let me down.
Next up: Hyper Sports
But it was a good start! For what it's worth. Infocom has yet to let me down.
Next up: Hyper Sports
#0074 Deus Ex Machina
Jesus christ. I just played Deus Ex Machina. I haven’t played a game
that weird in a long LONG time. You play as a living being growing
inside a machine? I think? It is extremely hard to tell, the story is
narrated, beautifully I might add, by a separate cassette tape that
comes with the game. The whole experience is extremely abstract,
esspecially for an 80’s video game. This is probably the first game on
my list that actually felt like it was aimed at adults specifically. As
an experience, it was very sureal, psychedelic, and unsettling. As a
game, it’s --. I had no idea what I was doing most of the time, it
feels like there’s no real fail state for the game at all. I was going
around doing things that I thought needed to be done, I guess, and no
matter what I did, or did not do, I passed to the next level.
I can’t recommend it as a game, but if you’re in the mood for something really psychedelic, and unsettling give it a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwJBsYJ16IE
Up Next: The Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy.
I can’t recommend it as a game, but if you’re in the mood for something really psychedelic, and unsettling give it a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwJBsYJ16IE
Up Next: The Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy.
#0072 Elite
Today I played Elite. A
starship simulatordeveloped by Ian Bell and David Braben in 1984. It
was, surprisingly good. It’s an extremely dense game, learning how to
fly the dang things required a rather big tutorial and took me all day,
but, that was kinda the charm. Not bad, not bad.
Next up: Kung-Fu Master
Next up: Kung-Fu Master
#0071 Bomb Jack
Played Bomb Jack. Gotta say, not bad. Not bad at all. Seriously, this is one of the better attempts at platforming from this early age of arcade games. I just love the manic pacing of the game. Fast paced arcade games always have a place in my heart.
Next up: Elite
Next up: Elite
#0070 Boulder Dash
Played Boulder Dash. As far as computer games from 1984 go, you could do worse. It's basically a watered down version of Dig Dug. basically, add more avoiding boulders, and take away your ability to fight and you basically have Boulder dash. Good not great.
Up next: Bomb Jack
Up next: Bomb Jack
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