Retro Club - 8 & 16-bit puzzlers - The Bear and Badger

[Deleted User]

I always wanted to have a better go at Clockwork Knight, wasn't there a second one too?
Could be a suggestion.

I have a PSP with ems/roms now so should be up for this thread.

davyK

for SNES : RType III Third Lightning. Exclusive and lush.

also Prince of Persia and Cool Spot. SNES versions are very nice but the MD got good versions too I guess.

[Deleted User]

Yes Cool Spot.
I only had a brief go as a kid at my brother's mate's house.

Moot_Geeza

Liveinadive wrote:

I always wanted to have a better go at Clockwork Knight, wasn't there a second one too? Could be a suggestion. I have a PSP with ems/roms now so should be up for this thread.

Clockwork Knight 2 was rather good, despite its length (or lack of). I think I read once that they were intended as a single release which got chopped in two. Difficult to get hold or or emulate though (as far as I know...how is Saturn emulation these days?), but both decent games with some nice bosses.

The MD version of Prince of Persia wasn't all that good according to reviews at the time - the MS version, which I bought at The Future Entertainment show in 1992, was better. I remember liking the look of the SNES one. Cool Spot hasn't stood the test of time compared to some of the better Dave Perry/Virgin games, but I'll happily put it on the list, if only for the bonus stage music.

Edit:

[Deleted User]

Did we do Jurrasic park here?
The MD, Snes and Amiga versions all had their strengths.

I have no idea baout Saturn ems Moot, kinda pressumed it woukd be easy.

retroking1981

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Also, Megaman X pissed me off so much in the later stages that I'm knocking my score down to 86%.

That's harsh considering the conditions we're playing it under, its no wonder we lost our way with it. If we'd played it continuously not only would we have not lost the feel for it but we'd have picked up on the intricacies of the gameplay.

I'll think of some future suggestions.

I also think we should make everything fortnightly instead of weekly. Will give more people the opportunity to join and also give us more time to juggle it with playing current releases.

Moot_Geeza

I played the MD version of Jurassic Park last year, but I don't think it was tied to the thread, I just fancied it. The SNES version pooed on it from what I played, but I was always interested in the Mega CD version.

Moot_Geeza

retroking1981 wrote:

I also think we should make everything fortnightly instead of weekly. Will give more people the opportunity to join and also give us more time to juggle it with playing current releases.

Meant to say this myself, despite my desperation to keep it weekly last year. Makes more sense.

retroking1981

Thank god you agreed, I was expecting an argument there.

davyK

Saturn emulation is pretty good now - check out SSF.

I completed the SNES version of Prince of Persia back in the day - it was excellent. Splendid Arabian Nights soundtrack if memory serves and around 20 levels to get through - some exclusive to SNES.

retroking1981

Moot_Geeza wrote:

I played the MD version of Jurassic Park last year, but I don't think it was tied to the thread, I just fancied it. The SNES version pooed on it from what I played, but I was always interested in the Mega CD version.

All about the sequel on SNES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7LxkpuOAs

That was impressive for cart back in the day, voice acting sounds naff now though.

[Deleted User]

From what I plyed JP on the MD was ok, Snes was really good until the unplayable fps bit.

@davyk I will check that out, want me some Clockwork knight now.

Moot_Geeza

retroking1981 wrote:

Thank god you agreed, I was expecting an argument there.

There's nothing stopping me going off-piste myself, makes more sense than rushing everyone else. 2014 is the year of retro gaming and the 3DS for me. A quick glance at the OP suggests I 'completed' over 30 games in this thread last year; I consider it a personal challenge to beat that.

JonB

I doubt I'll have time to join in this year. Too many new games to play, especially with the Trials thing and Dark Souls 2 on the horizon. Had a great time with it last year though, and probably played and completed more games than I'd ever managed in any previous year.

hylian_elf

I always lurked and commented here and there. This time, I'll definitely not have time as I am still playing Dark Souls for first time and then the sequel arrives soon.

Equinox was my suggestion. Enjoy the puzzles, atmosphere, and great Tim Follin soundtrack guys.

davyK

I'd argue Cool Spot is still worth a look - a bit formulaic perhaps - but it did scrape into Super Play's top 100.

http://www.rvgfanatic.com/7464/1450199.html

retroking1981

davyK wrote:

I'd argue Cool Spot is still worth a look

Most platformers are worth a try I reckon, they lend themselves well to this thread.

I'm gonna stick to NES suggestions for the most part. I've enjoyed opening moot's eyes to the delights on the 8Bit Nintendo.

I hope you can all do the same with your console/computer of choice from back in the day for me.

Console wise the Saturn is the only one really I missed out on, then probably the Nintendo handhelds <DS.

My real blind spot is definitely home computers though. Any Amiga, Spectrum classics will be most welcome.

davyK

Will have a look at my NESTER ROM list - I spent some time putting that together....the NES import library is full of gems.

Check out Moai Kun for starters - a puzzle/platform hybrid in which you control what looks like an Easter Island head.

Moot_Geeza

I haven't played Cool Spot properly since I rented it from Ritz, but the brief time I spent on it when testing an emulator recently suggested that the fizz shot mechanic makes the game feel less accomplished than standard bum-bouncers. I'm not playing devil's advocate here - I'm more than happy to spend a fortnight proving myself wrong, because I have fond memories of the game - but Aladdin/Earthworm Jim and even The Jungle Book raised the bar for well animated Perry platformers imo (although he may have jumped ship before JB come to think of it).

It's a bit like Mickey Mania perhaps - I recently convinced myself that it was a forgotten gem, but played it for half an hour and realised why it was never on par with the majority of other Disney/Sega/Capcom efforts.

It's on the list, I should put this discussion on ice for a while.

[Deleted User]

davyK wrote:

I'd argue Cool Spot is still worth a look - a bit formulaic perhaps - but it did scrape into Super Play's top 100. http://www.rvgfanatic.com/7464/1450199.html

Good link that, I think I will get a few of those |Roms over the weekend, Tiny Toons stands out as one I want to play, I only played the MD version.

davyK

SNES Tiny toons was in the club last year. Superb game and absolutely gorgeous - if there's a game that shows the difference betwen SNES and MD it is this. It's a bit short but it felt epic back in the day. I played it to death - completed it in hard mode with a one hit heart meter. I may have even 1 lifed it.

I'd be up for an HD remake - though it's unnecessary.

davyK

Moot_Geeza wrote:

I haven't played Cool Spot properly since I rented it from Ritz, but the brief time I spent on it when testing an emulator recently suggested that the fizz shot mechanic makes the game feel less accomplished than standard bum-bouncers. I'm not playing devil's advocate here - I'm more than happy to spend a fortnight proving myself wrong, because I have fond memories of the game - but Aladdin/Earthworm Jim and even The Jungle Book raised the bar for well animated Perry platformers imo (although he may have jumped ship before JB come to think of it). It's a bit like Mickey Mania perhaps - I recently convinced myself that it was a forgotten gem, but played it for half an hour and realised why it was never on par with the majority of other Disney/Sega/Capcom efforts. It's on the list, I should put this discussion on ice for a while.

You may well be right there...maybe have a platformer fortnight with one or two others?

Moot_Geeza

I'm up for that. I wonder if games like Aero the Acrobat and Mr. Nutz were actually as bad as some reviews suggested, or if it was just a case of over-saturation with 'mascot' platformers and a touch of 'oh no, not another one' from the Leadbetters and Automatics.

JonB

I actually really liked Mr. Nutz. It was a solid and well designed game even if it looked pretty derivative at the time. Not a classic of course, but nothing really wrong with it mechanically.

davyK

I was always under the impression that Mr Nutz was rather good - at least in places.

Do Re Mi Fantasy is worth a look - goes for a mint on cart but got a VC release (untranslated) and I'm sure the ROM is around.

Moot_Geeza

Actually, iirc Mr. Nutz did score in the 80%+ range in some mags. Pretend I typed Awesome Possum.

Eric

From my Commodore 64 home computer era:
-Skool Daze is definately worth a go if you have never played it before
-Blue Max has some nice isometric graphics and plane handling
-Hover Bovver-Minter game about mowing your lawn using you neighbours mower.
-Green Beret (Great music but rock hard and probably better ports on other systems)
-Werewolves of London- Never understood what I was supposed to be doing in this but it looked good and it was good fun walking round the subways and roof tops of London.

retroking1981

Nice one @Eric I know of Skool Daze but haven't heard of the others. I'm up for any or all of those moot.

My NES suggestions:
Rad Gravity
Street Gangs
Blaster Master
Metal Gear - MSX version would be better but I'm up for either or a pick your own version
Isolated Warrior
Bionic Commando
Star Wars
Life Force
Wreckin Crew
Solar Jetman
Tailspin
Rush N Attack
Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu
Kid Icarus

Big list I know but out of my 86 NES games these are ones I either picked up years later or never originally completed. So I'm selfishly picking these to tick off my own check list, at least I'm being honest eh?

There are some decent games in there at least, I'll be happy to play any you guys are up for.

Eric

No probs. I would suggest due to the length of some of those games (pretty short!) you could do a C64 fortnight followed by a Speccy one.

Moot_Geeza

I plan to start playing through some Playstation games I missed this year - Herc's Adventure, Driver, Wild 9, Silhouette Mirage, Future Cop LAPD, Silent Bomber, Colony Wars Vengeance, Sheep Dog 'n Wolf etc - but I'll probably keep them out of this thread because the ROMs aren't as easy to find (or emulate, I guess) as older games.

I would like to play a few of the following, but it's just brainstorming at the moment (although I've put the ones I particularly fancy in bold):

Cloud Master - Master System
Chakan The Forever Man - Megadrive
Elemental Master - Megadrive
Eathworm Jim II - various (only played this briefly round my mate's gf's)
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel - MD/SNES
Ninja Cop - GBA
Rainbow Bell Adventures - SNES
Powerdrive - MD/SNES
Super Punch Out - SNES
Hagane - SNES
Super Turrican 2 (or a Turrican fortnight) - SNES (various)

A week dedicated to 8-bit ports of 16-bit titles might be fun too (Road Rash, Streets of rage 2 etc).

I also really, really want to play Shinobi X on the Saturn, but my PC is a mess at the moment and struggles to run WMP.

Edit: Just noticed Davy's post before the pageturn, yep, I'll change Fantasy Zone into an any version/sequel/spin-off you like week. I never played The Maze, will probably give that a go.

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