So, what you playing at the mo? Retro Edition

I'm playing SMW2 Yoshi's island and Megaman X at the moment on SNES, as part of my quest to play all of the games i missed back then because i was po.

Megaman X is still brilliant, if a little samey in terms of the gameplay, but looks like there's plenty of scope in it for character/abilities progression. I'm determined to finish it, which I've never done.

Yoshi's island is just sheer class though. It's sucking me in.

I started it last night thinking, "ha, ok quirky but interesting, should kill some time", and then i couldn't put it down. The levels are really well designed, and the new mechanics take some getting used to but really work once you get your head around them. It's the first game i've seen on SNES with an auto save feature as well, it saves your progress automatically after each level. That must've been a first for it's time.

I also played chrono trigger for a bit, and while pure RPGs aren't really my thing, it's clear that it was way ahead of it's time on the SNES. Very pretty and well though out game. Also i love anything to do with time travel, so I'm interested to see where it goes.

I also realized while playing CT how the inclusion of a user manual for games is virtually an irrelevance nowadays (given the ubiquitous stage 1 "training wheels" level in most modern games) but back then it was an essential inclusion to the more complex games. Often, you HAD to have read it to have a clue what was going on in-game, just because of the limitations of the 8bit and 16bit era storage media versus the massive scope and ambition of some of the games.

I remember i used to regularly read the manual on the bus trip back home from the game shop when I'd just bought a new game, so I'd have a clue what was going on when i got home and powered it on. Nowadays you'd expect to be just spoon fed the info in-game, or else you'd just pull the interweb out of your pocket and google it.

Ah, the 90's. Those were simpler times. We were poor, but feckit, we were happy!

Retr0gamer

Finished Phantasy Star 3 last night.

It's got some very interesting mechanics spoiled by disappointing execution and an interesting story also spoiled by lack of exposition. There's some real untapped potential in this game. I did enjoy the game and the dungeons were thankfully a whole lot less confusing than the ones in Phantasy Star 2.

johnny_ultimate

Retr0gamer wrote: »

an interesting story also spoiled by lack of exposition.

That is a very, very unusual complaint to make about anything.

Dr Bob

Retr0gamer wrote: »

You really should not be using motioninjoy software on your PC. The software sends back information on your PC back to chinese servers, whatever they are using.

There's information about it here as well as a recommendation for drivers you should be using:

http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2011/08/ps3-sixaxis-on-x64-windows-pc.html

TBH your best bet is to get a wired 360 pad or better yet a 360 fightstick.

What that guy is seeing is the adware built in to the program , not the freaking chinese launching an attack on his pc .Having said that it can cause problems if you're using the bluetooth for other devices later.I've 2 euro Bluetooth dongle pretty much given over to it.
F£$king HATE the 360 controller , so its I'm happy enough with a dualshock 3 (and tbh most of the time I just use an original Dualshock with ps2/usb adaptor)

Retr0gamer

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

That is a very, very unusual complaint to make about anything.

I know Sometimes it can be taken to ridiculous levels such as what Squenix sometimes does or MGS4. There's always the problem that with too much exposition that you'll end up with something like Sword of Mana where the characters discuss for 15 minutes whether the main antagonist is evil or not, an antagonist who is called 'Dark Lord'.

Phantasy Star 3 on the other hand has a really interesting premise, a story taking place over 3 generations, and a really interesting setting, the reveal of what the world actually is and how it finally links with the phantasy star universe are very good. The problem is so much more could have been done with it. All the characters are complete blank slates with no personality, with a game taking place over 3 generations it would have help if you could get attached to these characters.

Also despite the interesting setting there was so much more they could have done with it. Towns all look the same and are barely populated, it's hard to get a feel for the world and a sense of place.

Thankfully Phantasy Star 4 gets the balance perfect and is a wonderful game for it. It's a shame that more wasn't done with PS3, Dragon Quest V came out afterwards with the generation mechanic and had a lot more exposition and it ended up being one of the most endearing and emotional RPGs of the 16-bit era. It's a glimpse of what could have been.

Phantasy Star 2 suffered as well from lack of exposition but a lot of that was down to translation issues. It still managed to create a wonderful world of despair where people have become so dependent of mother brain that they can't act for themselves. You get a lot more attached to your characters as well despite the minute amounts of dialogue and it's got that absolutely cracking ending.

Retr0gamer

Started Phantasy Star 4 again, this time I'll finish it. It's interesting going back to it, even 15 minutes in there's loads of call backs to Phantasy Star 2 which is even more depressing when you consider how phantasy star 2 ended and what it meant.

o1s1n

You didn't finish it the last time? :eek:

I've been away from it for a week and a half. Keep itching to go back, but real life work related things keep eating up all my time

I think I'll dedicate Saturday and Sunday to it 100%.

/Edit - oh by the way, I assume of of these previous civilizations they keep going on about in IV are from one of the previous games? I had a niggling that was going on.

Retr0gamer

I'm OCD about finishing games in order in a series that linked so when I got sidetracked I decided to beat the games in order, even though you can play PS4 and enjoy it without having played the rest of the series. The previous civilisation they talk about is the Phantasy Star 1-2 civilisation and the 'Collapse' they talk about is a direct result of the events of phantasy star 2. I love what they did to Motovia. It was a desert in the first game which was terraformed to a lush verdant green planet in PS2 and by PS4 it's in the process of becoming a desert again, it's really nice touches like that that make me love the game even more now. They even manage to reference PS3 in a really cool optional dungeon that was lost on me before.

CiDeRmAn

Don't tell anyone but I am playing Halo: Anniversary Edition, I got it a year ago but never really played it, but getting through it now... Never remember being quite so irritated with the Library before, all the succession of exactly the same room, again and again and again, within the Halo's substructure

o1s1n

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'm OCD about finishing games in order in a series that linked so when I got sidetracked I decided to beat the games in order, even though you can play PS4 and enjoy it without having played the rest of the series. The previous civilisation they talk about is the Phantasy Star 1-2 civilisation and the 'Collapse' they talk about is a direct result of the events of phantasy star 2. I love what they did to Motovia. It was a desert in the first game which was terraformed to a lush verdant green planet in PS2 and by PS4 it's in the process of becoming a desert again, it's really nice touches like that that make me love the game even more now. They even manage to reference PS3 in a really cool optional dungeon that was lost on me before.

Thanks! That was a really interesting read. You really did do the right thing by going back and starting from the beginning. I wish I had the time to do the same.

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Don't tell anyone but I am playing Halo: Anniversary Edition, I got it a year ago but never really played it, but getting through it now... Never remember being quite so irritated with the Library before, all the succession of exactly the same room, again and again and again, within the Halo's substructure

Remind me to bring Halo 4 on Friday. It's bringing down the tone of my whole house, I need to get rid of it fast. The neighbours are beginning to talk.

Retr0gamer

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Don't tell anyone but I am playing Halo: Anniversary Edition, I got it a year ago but never really played it, but getting through it now... Never remember being quite so irritated with the Library before, all the succession of exactly the same room, again and again and again, within the Halo's substructure

Retr0gamer

o1s1n wrote: »

Thanks! That was a really interesting read. You really did do the right thing by going back and starting from the beginning. I wish I had the time to do the same.

Well the older games really weren't easy to get through. They are very old school with a huge difficulty to scale and lack the exposition that could really bring alive their interesting stories. You'll also need graph paper or a walkthrough for the first two games dungeons, hell PS2 came with a walkthrough! PS4 is the only one really that feels modern and hasn't aged a bit.

If you do want to go back to them then you are probably better off getting the Phantasy Star Generations games, they are remakes for the PS2 of the first 2 games. They never got a western release but a fan translation of the first game has been released recently and hopefully they'll do the same with the second one. They make the gameplay more modern and less of a slog and add extra exposition to the characters and story.

OwaynOTT

I am addicted to Dynablaster at the moment. Game type B not A though.
Cannot get into the main game at all, as it so slow and takes so long to unlock the speed up panel. When I did unlock it, I bought 5 or 6 and used them all at once and got killed because I was too fast. I stupidly rage quit, so easily done on the gameboy, and since haven't had the patience to unlock it again.
So game type B has been getting the attention. It was easily one of my favourite games of the early 90s and I can see why. The music is so catchy and the gameplay is addictive. Looks good for a gameboy title as well and is quite fast when availing of the speed up panels. It's as good as Bomberman on the snes.
Wario Blast is a big pile of yellow snow in comparison.

CiDeRmAn

I had a blast of Gradius on the TG-16, Wow!
Pretty great stuff and makes the Nes edition look like old grey underpants (unwashed).
Gradius II meant the Fami upped it's game but the original on the TG-16/PC Engine is something else.

Retr0gamer

Played some phantasy star online on a hacked server last night. Was a lot of fun. Even more fun when I figured out how to actually activate the episode 1 story quests so I wasn't getting my ass handed to me all the time

valleyoftheunos

Have just yesterday evening started Ocarina Of Time on the 3DS which in some ways is retro gaming.

Never played it before so looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about. after an hour and a bit it's good, Looks great on my 3DSXL and the 3D effect is well used.

Maybe I'm spoiled after playing some current Gen stuff over the last few months but the controls do feel a little wooly and the story a little clunkily handled but its Zelda and I don't really want to put it down!

Myrddin

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

Maybe I'm spoiled after playing some current Gen stuff over the last few months but the controls do feel a little wooly and the story a little clunkily handled but its Zelda and I don't really want to put it down!

Because modern gen stuff is so good at telling stories? Stick with it man, its a very rewarding game

valleyoftheunos

EnterNow wrote: »

Because modern gen stuff is so good at telling stories? Stick with it man, its a very rewarding game

Controlable cameras and super sharp controls was more what I was thinking:D

The story has been a bit briefer than I was expecting, but got the basics across, I'll be sticking with it for sure, am headed off to meet the Gorons this evening

Myrddin

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

Controlable cameras and super sharp controls was more what I was thinking:D

No you wont get that in an N64 era game, but it shows up modern gen stuff on other ways...believe me. I think you do have to be a Zelda fan to really appreciate it though, its fairly simplistic in a lot of ways

Retr0gamer

OoT like all zelda's since starts off very very slow which a lot of people forget about. When I played it for the first time on the Gamecube I was wondering what the big deal about the game was but a few hours into it it clicks. I think it was the forest temple that did it. In usual nintendo fashion they didn't just make a zelda in 3D they did something that could only be done with 3D with OoT and the forest temple was the first time I noticed it.

Myrddin

Retr0gamer wrote: »

OoT like all zelda's since starts off very very slow which a lot of people forget about

It does, & it can seem very child-like until you get two or three dungeons outta the way. I played through it again last year on the 3DS, & found it started slow, but matured rapidly into a game that really feels different to any other Zelda game.

Have fun in the water temple Though admittedly I blitzed through it & found it nowhere near as hard as is generally made out to be

Mr.Saturn

I actually just started OoT on the Gamecube, via the bonus disc from the Wind Waker. Having just finished WW, I fancied diving straight into another, and didn't quite fancy the second quest just yet, but I keep toggling the C-stick, expecting the free-camera, and end up draining half my inventory, because I'm a div for habit.

It's been ages since I've played OoT in any form, so in contrast to the above, I'm surprised at how quickly you're into it, I was expecting a lot more fiddling about for some reason, since it's over a decade since I played any significant amount of the thing.

I'm on the snoop for a GCN copy of Twilight Princess, for reasons too pedantic and contrarian to even bother expanding upon. Problem, even when it pops up on Adverts, Gumtree et al, regardless of the premium, it's gone as quick as it appeared. CeX had a copy on the go a while ago, for €45, that I'd halfway marked, but it was seemingly snapped up pretty sharpish.

WOWHD finally got around to delivering Sonic Colours, so I'll be dropping into that one soon.

I've, more or less, cleared my backlog for the year, so it's cool being back on the market, so to speak.

Daith

Retr0gamer wrote: »

OoT like all zelda's since starts off very very slow which a lot of people forget about.

God yeah. In comparison, aLTTP has you out in the rain, injured uncles, boomerangs, chainball weilding badguys, rescuing Zelda all before the later installments tell you how to use Z/L/Whatever targeting.

Also playing Super Metroid and Secret of Mana. In SoM the first tiger boss is a right pain when he can cast magic and you cant.

Myrddin

Daith wrote: »

God yeah. In comparison, aLTTP has you out in the rain, injured uncles, boomerangs, chainball weilding badguys, rescuing Zelda all before the later installments tell you how to use Z/L/Whatever targeting.

That is true LttP is the near pinnacle of 16bit gaming though

Myrddin

Btw, I'm fugging loving Earthbound

valleyoftheunos

EnterNow wrote: »

No you wont get that in an N64 era game, but it shows up modern gen stuff on other ways...believe me. I think you do have to be a Zelda fan to really appreciate it though, its fairly simplistic in a lot of ways

I'm a big Zelda fan although I've always preferred the 2D ones. Really looking forward to getting my teeth into this one though.

CiDeRmAn

Speaking of Earthbound, please postman, hurry up with my chip!
Mother 2 is just sitting here, waiting for you!
Then, a quick holiday in EnterNow's house and we're off!

o1s1n

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Speaking of Earthbound, please postman, hurry up with my chip!
Mother 2 is just sitting here, waiting for you!
Then, a quick holiday in EnterNow's house and we're off!

The great Tsop adapter race - we both ordered them at the same time. Who will win?!

Retr0gamer

So it's taken nearly 20 years but I finally did it, I beat Revenge of Shinobi. I booted it up last night for a quick game and was playing the game of my life so decided to see how far I could get. I thought I would have trouble when I reached the last stage because of that god damned maze but I somehow managed to recall the correct path through from my memory. Then I faced my ultimate stumbling block the man with the lethal hair, Neo Zeed. Took me 5 lives to get a pattern but once I got that down I started making some real progress. Then on my last life and continue I finally beat the game!

MrVestek

Retr0gamer wrote: »

So it's taken nearly 20 years but I finally did it, I beat Revenge of Shinobi. I booted it up last night for a quick game and was playing the game of my life so decided to see how far I could get. I thought I would have trouble when I reached the last stage because of that god damned maze but I somehow managed to recall the correct path through from my memory. Then I faced my ultimate stumbling block the man with the lethal hair, Neo Zeed. Took me 5 lives to get a pattern but once I got that down I started making some real progress. Then on my last life and continue I finally beat the game!