The super duper retro gaming review thread

johnny_ultimate · 31-08-2011 2:30am

The jump from P3 to P4 would be a shame to miss out on because P4 really does fix pretty much every niggling concern one could have with the third one. But as retr0 said, they're both well worth playing as they each have a uniquely compelling story and it would be a shame to miss out on either. Just make sure you're willing to commit 150-200 hours of your life to the games. They're worth every minute.

Dr Bob · 31-08-2011 7:38am

In fairness retr0 I did find the review interesting , its easy to review a game you like , but to take one that we all know you're not too found of and at least be objective makes for interesting reading.
The one thing I always liked about Goldeneye was the fact that the coders had some access to the film sets.So if you've seen the film after playing the game , you can see that yeah ,the stairs behind bond do lead up to a gantry that in turn leads to a library, so when he runs up there and its the same path you took in the game when you shot your mate who was playing as oddjob (regarded as cheating by the way)it adds a little authenticty to the game.
I'm actually going to dig it out and have a play myself in the next few days.

Dr Bob · 31-08-2011 7:48am

Andrew76 wrote: »

Cool video luas, cheers for taking the time to do it.

If I can be picky I thought it would have been useful just to briefly mention what the aim of the game is just for folk who hadn't played it before, maybe I'm the only one in that bracket though! Nice and informative it was too, you mentioned the colours on his back to show health - Dead Space used something similar if I recall correctly. Looks like a cool game, must give it a bash on mame too.

A general thanks to all for doing these reviews, it's cool when it brings a game to your attention that you haven't played before.

Now to build up the courage to read Retr0's Goldeneye review without punching the screen.

Cheers , to be honest I wasnt going to review the game until I received a sealed copy of it.I dont want to start getting into the 'sealed collection '
thing , and I didnt want to waste it , so I figured I may as well film the opening , and when I'd done that I figured , feck it , I'll review.I'd originally been going to do a fairly obscure atari 8 bit game!
The reviews are only vaguely scripted , in that I plan briefly the points I want to make then waffle into the mike while the game plays, but I'll try and add a little more structure to them in future I think, and yeah I'll try to include the aim as part of that in future(tbh in xybots the plot has you clearing a space station of rogue robots , although in reality its a run and gun maze game).
Retr0 have you seen stun runner on the lynx, or warbirds..the lynx can actually throw 3d graphics around fairly handily at least to the level of an average mid nineties pc, so I'd say it could have done wolfenstein 3d style animation.Even without it its a good, fast game.

Dr Bob · 31-08-2011 11:14pm

Obscure C64 games ahoy
StarAce, I remembered it as being great.It is not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrPoR2f-CVU

Mr Vengeance · 01-09-2011 8:56pm

Sparks43 wrote: »

Guys there is a civil war going on in Libiya at the mo

Lets not start one here:D

But i agree Halo is ****

I've argued aobut the merits of Halo more than any other topic ever on the internet. I love it and its my favourite in the series (which has admittedly become quite samey in recent entries). I suppose, my argument down through the years was as follows:

"You're not playing it properly!!1"

Thems were the days!

For me Halo is like a 3D Contra that needs to be played on a high difficulty setting to get the blood pumping. There's loads of depth in the gameplay that you have to uncover on the higher settings.

But its all subjective in the end, and some people just don't get it. I never really got the buzz from Half Life or Call of Duty 4 to be honest with you....

Retr0gamer · 01-09-2011 9:11pm

Halo being compared to Contra? That's a slight against contra

I've played Halo on the higher difficulty levels and there's not difference other than 1. the AI doesn't change but the enemies become bullet sponges, and 2. it gets really frustrating and not a whole of fun anymore compared to the more managable easier difficulties. It's definitely no where near as rewarding as working out a Contra boss and then executing the skills to beat it.

Sparks43 · 01-09-2011 9:18pm

Think Cideys alternate account has gone public:pac:

Dr Bob · 02-09-2011 12:32am

Right , taking a break after this , as I'm knackered.
After the rubbish game from yesterday , I wanted to look at something decent , so an obscure shooter called Zybex was the order of the day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWF762-ztxg

since it isnt a japanese game , and wasnt released on the pc engine or NEoGeo or the like none of you lot will probably have heard of it ..but it was AWWWWWSUM!!(unless you had the spectrum version ,in which case it was kinda crap).Also on uploading this I got my "you can post videos over 15 mins" flag..so time to post that 16 hour 'nyan cat' clip

Dr Bob · 08-09-2011 3:50pm

Something new!
History of Batman games on just about everything (part one )
Its hosted over at gamersireland.ie (as I'll be putting some special content up there over the coming months)
embedded vid to follow but heres the link for now.

http://www.gamersireland.ie/?p=9912

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04sw-HrS2HU

Mr Vengeance · 08-09-2011 6:45pm

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Halo being compared to Contra? That's a slight against contra I've played Halo on the higher difficulty levels and there's not difference other than 1. the AI doesn't change but the enemies become bullet sponges, and 2. it gets really frustrating and not a whole of fun anymore compared to the more managable easier difficulties. It's definitely no where near as rewarding as working out a Contra boss and then executing the skills to beat it.

I see what you mean and I don't expect a whole load of people to agree with me because Halo, like a lot of popular series, divides opinion.

I think the reason it devides opinion is that a lot of people expected it to be perfect after all the hype down through the years. And the Halo games aren't perfect. Halo 1 had some **** levels, Halo 2 ended abysmally, and Halo 3 was one of the biggest letdowns for me in the history of gaming - a superb game taken by itself, but it was nearly unchanged from Halo 2. The first level was very pretty and pushed the 360 hard, but the rest of the game could nearly have been done on the Xbox 1, albeit in lower resolution, in my opinion. I spent the entire gaming waiting, ney hoping it would sparkle. It never came.

Halo 3 ODST is my favourite Halo game on the 360 as it at least offered some innovation, along with the traditional top-notch gameplay. Reach was very good too, but overall, the series does need a big dose of innovation at this stage - after the completely unnecessary remake this Christmas I am hoping the next entry in the series next year will be different - here's hoping for bigger, more open levels, more enemies on screen, some exploration and a weapons upgrade system a la Resident Evil 4 - something to make it stand out, both within the Halo context and the genre as a whole.

Having said all of that though, Halo is still a lot of fun, no matter which version you play. Its a simple game, done well.

Retr0gamer · 09-09-2011 8:00pm

I actually liked Halo 3. It was the lack of the Flood that I liked but I didn't like the lack of Elites. It's no surprise that the final levels with the Flood are some of the worst ever made. I found Halo 2 to be a disaster after a cracking opening. After the opening there was just too much flood and the story was terrible.

Dr Bob · 11-09-2011 6:03pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGeGQT74j4

herp le derp le robocop2

Pyongyang · 11-09-2011 8:09pm

Loving all the reviews. Nice work.

Finally pulled my thumb out and bought Sony Vegas Suite today. Just need a capture device now and I'm good to go.

I had a look at the Hauppage PVR but I think I'm going to take advantage of USB 3.0 on my laptop and get an Intensity Shuttle. Need to see how it co-operates with retro consoles and the kit from Arcade Forge first. Research required!

pdbhp · 11-09-2011 8:18pm

Pyongyang wrote: »

Loving all the reviews. Nice work.

Finally pulled my thumb out and bought Sony Vegas Suite today. Just need a capture device now and I'm good to go.

I had a look at the Hauppage PVR but I think I'm going to take advantage of USB 3.0 on my laptop and get an Intensity Shuttle. Need to see how it co-operates with retro consoles and the kit from Arcade Forge first. Research required!

If you're getting a Haupage head on over to the Fighting Games forum as those lads use the Haupage all the time to record tournaments and other stuff and Doctor Doom will have any info you need.

Pyongyang · 11-09-2011 8:52pm

pdbhp wrote: »

If you're getting a Haupage head on over to the Fighting Games forum as those lads use the Haupage all the time to record tournaments and other stuff and Doctor Doom will have any info you need.

Seems as though the Hauppage is the top choice, maybe because of the USB 3.0 requirement of the Intensity Shuttle?

Might ask the bods on the editing forum, though I'm keen to see how a Retro console works with these first. Anyone here using any of these devices?

Dr Bob · 11-09-2011 8:55pm

Pyongyang wrote: »

Loving all the reviews. Nice work.

Finally pulled my thumb out and bought Sony Vegas Suite today. Just need a capture device now and I'm good to go.

I had a look at the Hauppage PVR but I think I'm going to take advantage of USB 3.0 on my laptop and get an Intensity Shuttle. Need to see how it co-operates with retro consoles and the kit from Arcade Forge first. Research required!

Nice one!
the Hauppage's are awesome , I could just about afford one of the dirt cheap chinese easycap knockoffs which is making its way from china to me as I speak(seemingly by donkey as it takes about 20 working days

)

Pyongyang · 11-09-2011 9:28pm

Ah I was looking at the Easycap and it looks like a lot of gear for little money. I like that it has an S Video connector. Let us know how it goes with retro consoles.

Pyongyang · 13-09-2011 4:56pm

Just ordered a Hauppauge HD PVR for some capture action. Reviews here I come!

Myrddin · 19-09-2011 12:36pm

Retr0, will ya do a review of Cho Aniki for the lulz please

Dr Bob · 19-09-2011 1:21pm

Pyongyang wrote: »

Ah I was looking at the Easycap and it looks like a lot of gear for little money. I like that it has an S Video connector. Let us know how it goes with retro consoles.

Got this at the weekend by the way , actually works quite well for SD recordings , have it going through a vcr for RF stuff (atari VCS , C64, SMS and the like) I need to make up AV/Svideo cables for a few of the older computers though as that might help a little , but feck it I'm happy to record older computers in all their original fuzzy glory .If I wanted it pin sharp I may as well just emulate and be done with it

Retr0gamer · 19-09-2011 1:24pm

EnterNow wrote: »

Retr0, will ya do a review of Cho Aniki for the lulz please

I will once I sort out all this registry crap for college

Pyongyang · 19-09-2011 4:44pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Got this at the weekend by the way , actually works quite well for SD recordings , have it going through a vcr for RF stuff (atari VCS , C64, SMS and the like) I need to make up AV/Svideo cables for a few of the older computers though as that might help a little , but feck it I'm happy to record older computers in all their original fuzzy glory .If I wanted it pin sharp I may as well just emulate and be done with it

Fair play, looking forward to some samples you've made with it.

I ended up buying a HD-PVR which I should be receiving tomorrow or Wednesday. Looking forward to joining you in putting up some reviews. Might start off with that fruity looking athletics game.

Dr Bob · 28-09-2011 12:28am

Granada
not XgranadaX
Granada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7bQtC1dtE

DickyC · 28-09-2011 9:10pm

Mr Vengeance wrote: »

I see what you mean and I don't expect a whole load of people to agree with me because Halo, like a lot of popular series, divides opinion.

I think the reason it devides opinion is that a lot of people expected it to be perfect after all the hype down through the years. And the Halo games aren't perfect. Halo 1 had some **** levels, Halo 2 ended abysmally, and Halo 3 was one of the biggest letdowns for me in the history of gaming - a superb game taken by itself, but it was nearly unchanged from Halo 2. The first level was very pretty and pushed the 360 hard, but the rest of the game could nearly have been done on the Xbox 1, albeit in lower resolution, in my opinion. I spent the entire gaming waiting, ney hoping it would sparkle. It never came.

Halo 3 ODST is my favourite Halo game on the 360 as it at least offered some innovation, along with the traditional top-notch gameplay. Reach was very good too, but overall, the series does need a big dose of innovation at this stage - after the completely unnecessary remake this Christmas I am hoping the next entry in the series next year will be different - here's hoping for bigger, more open levels, more enemies on screen, some exploration and a weapons upgrade system a la Resident Evil 4 - something to make it stand out, both within the Halo context and the genre as a whole.

Having said all of that though, Halo is still a lot of fun, no matter which version you play. Its a simple game, done well.

I loved doing the endure achievement on o.d.s.t. pure tension all the way. The firefight element brought a fresh feeling to the franchise at the time.
I thought reach was just okay, a monument to all your sins was a good challenge. Legendary difficulty forces you to make more head shots, can be slightly frustrating at times but worth the effort

Don't think I could be arsed matchmaking again though. It's kinda been there done that, same sh1t type of thing. Last time I played was room on room and it was a great laugh always up for that. As far as a next installment goes I think Bungie should give it a miss.

Dr Bob · 29-09-2011 12:48pm

Here, before this becomes the Halo thread again (;)) anyone fancy doing an online review?
I'm half thinking of getting a four player game , playing it with other reviewers online via Kailera/mame or whatever . then each of the four using the footage/recording/whatever to do their own seperate vid?
Anyone interested .Ideally you'd need to have a YT account but if not and you fancy doing reviews this might be the way to get started.

Retr0gamer · 29-09-2011 12:55pm

Simpsons arcade?

o1s1n · 29-09-2011 1:01pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Granada
not XgranadaX
Granada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7bQtC1dtE

Nice review!

It's a really underappreciated game. Great fun. Music in it is fantastic too. That's going to be stuck in my head all day after seeing that review. Which isn't a bad thing.

Dr Bob · 29-09-2011 1:03pm

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Simpsons arcade?

Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
I was thinking of gauntlet or warlords but yeah thats a great idea!

Dr Bob · 29-09-2011 1:06pm

o1s1n wrote: »

Nice review!

It's a really underappreciated game. Great fun. Music in it is fantastic too. That's going to be stuck in my head all day after seeing that review. Which isn't a bad thing.

cheers!

Yeah its well worth picking up .I didnt know there was a US version of it up until I was downloading the ro...I mean researching the video.
heh
I'm waiting on my Megadrive II cable from the internets (6 pin mini din plugs are pain in the arse to solder), and I think yer man has stiffed me on the megadrive 1, so despite having a real copy of it I had to emulate.

o1s1n · 29-09-2011 1:13pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

cheers!

Yeah its well worth picking up .I didnt know there was a US version of it up until I was downloading the ro...I mean researching the video.
heh
I'm waiting on my Megadrive II cable from the internets (6 pin mini din plugs are pain in the arse to solder), and I think yer man has stiffed me on the megadrive 1, so despite having a real copy of it I had to emulate.

I didn't know there was a US version till you mentioned that in the review. My own one is Japanese too. I'd assumed it was yet another obscure Japanese only shooter.

If they were willing to bring titles like this over to the English market, I really can't understand why they didn't with things like Gleylancer and Eliminate Down.

Anyway, I think I'll try to look into getting a US Granada (or Granada X as I also thought it was called for a very long time...weird how everyone ignored the first X?!) as my one is a pretty badly multilated cart only version.

In fact it came from an Irish seller. I wonder was it your mate?

Retr0gamer · 29-09-2011 1:19pm

I'd actually be more interested in warlords and the gauntlet games

Could you maybe do a skype group chat while we play it or something although it might be distracting.

Dr Bob · 29-09-2011 1:35pm

o1s1n wrote: »

I didn't know there was a US version till you mentioned that in the review. My own one is Japanese too. I'd assumed it was yet another obscure Japanese only shooter.

If they were willing to bring titles like this over to the English market, I really can't understand why they didn't with things like Gleylancer and Eliminate Down.

Anyway, I think I'll try to look into getting a US Granada (or Granada X as I also thought it was called for a very long time...weird how everyone ignored the first X?!) as my one is a pretty badly multilated cart only version.

In fact it came from an Irish seller. I wonder was it your mate?

Might be , although of the group of friends there were two of us who ended up retro collectors so my gut feeling is the other mate picked it up.

@retro yeah skype group conversation is the way to go (that or mumble or something similar) it would be distracting but that can be part of the fun of multiplayer .I'd need to find a way to make sure it recorded though .Whether people keep the "group" audio or not for a vid is up to them though

TheChief36 · 03-10-2011 8:50pm

Granada is pretty cool. It's deeper than you think at first glance. All the levels are really different and well rendered. I like the level where there's a spotlight around your tank and you get a power-up that makes you look like the starship enterprise!

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 9:44pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Granada

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 9:53pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Granada

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 9:56pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Granada

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 9:58pm

luas_dublin wrote: »

Granada

Retr0gamer · 03-10-2011 10:43pm

Did a review of Ghost Sweeper Mikami for the SNES. It's a japanese only game but a decent castlevania clone and worth checking out. Managed to keep it short and sweet this time as well:

http://lifein16bit.blogspot.com/2011/10/ghost-sweeper-mikami.html

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 10:59pm

I like that game. I remember borrowing a wild card off one of the lads at school many, many moons ago and spent quite some time playing this game, Sonic Blast Man, The Violinist Of Hamelin and Kid Clown In Crazy Chase.

Nice review chief.

Retr0gamer · 03-10-2011 11:07pm

Must give that violinist game a go, heard it's great.

Will throw up a Majyuuou review tomorrow. I took loads of screenshots because it's probably the best looking SNES game made. The demonic art looks amazing and it's like what Shin Megami Tensei would be if it was a platformer.

Pyongyang · 03-10-2011 11:18pm

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Must give that violinist game a go, heard it's great.

It's a personal favourite of mine, always had a soft spot for that game. Kid Clown in Crazy Chase too, mainly because in an odd way it reminded me of Rolling Ronny on the C64 (incidentally also home to one of the catchiest and best C64 soundtracks).

Dr Bob · 04-10-2011 1:05am

Its the game that hates me(and yet I strangely love it!)
Kings Field

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJT9laZmrOs

Retr0gamer · 04-10-2011 1:08am

I'm going to sit down and watch this. Very interested in playing it seeing as it's the spiritual predecessor to Demon's Souls. Also did you know that the english version of Kings Field is actually the second game in the series. First game was japan only but was fan translated.

Dr Bob · 04-10-2011 1:13am

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'm going to sit down and watch this. Very interested in playing it seeing as it's the spiritual predecessor to Demon's Souls. Also did you know that the english version of Kings Field is actually the second game in the series. First game was japan only but was fan translated.

I did indeed .
I never knew though that Kings field (or KFIIin japan ) got an EU release (only found that out recently enough)
Why do I like this game when it wants to hurt me so bad? I just dont know.;)

Retr0gamer · 04-10-2011 2:56am

I have to disagree with Demon's souls being unfair. The game is perfectly fair and balanced and all deaths are the players fault in that game. It's tough but fair. The media just blew the difficlty of that game way out of proportion. Kings Field combat looks ropey as hell but can see myself enjoying it.

Retr0gamer · 04-10-2011 6:26pm

My review of Majyuuou:

http://lifein16bit.blogspot.com/2011/10/majyuuou-king-of-demons.html

One of the best and least known SNES game and one of the best looking games on the system. Well worth playing. Also have initial impressions of Xenoblade up but it's not exactly retro.

Majuuou+%2528J%2529+%255BT%252BEng%255D+3.png

Majuuou+%2528J%2529+%255BT%252BEng%255D+3.png

Dr Bob · 23-10-2011 11:58pm

Right ..about a month later than I planned but part II of the batman retrospective is up on gamersireland
http://www.gamersireland.ie/?p=11000

Dr Bob · 24-10-2011 12:53am

and Gynoug!!
A lovely shooter thats well worth checking out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRN6T6sQfpc

Retr0gamer · 24-10-2011 2:48am

I love Gynoug, great review.

One interesting thing to point out about the game is when in the first level when the ground starts to move. Most people credit Gunstar Heroes or Chuck Rock 2: Son of Chuck with having the first example of limited playfield rotation on the megadrive but Gynoug actually got there first. Nobody noticed that Masay had used the background offset function of the megadrive to create limited rotation and it was only rediscovered 2 years later. Techie but I think interesting.

Andrew76 · 24-10-2011 9:45am

Cool review luas thanks. Must give that game some time. That level four you showed reminded me of the ship levels in Turrican 2, awesome game that.

The super duper retro gaming review thread

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