Ah, but looking at the next few titles I won't be participating for a wee while.  Time for me to go back to the original GTA, and play One (not on your list, obv) which arrived yesterday.

adkm1979 wrote:

My next challenge is to score 500+ points and not concede in a game.

Vectorman is beautifully done - really pushes the Megadrive but without looking like it's pushing it. Controls are slick and the presentation is really swish too.

I was supposed to do this, wasn't I?

Forty Four (fortnight): Mega Man - classic series (NES, SNES, PS1, XBLA, etc.)

From Wikipedia:

Mega Man, alternatively written as Megaman and MegaMan, known as Rockman (ロックマン Rokkuman^?) in Japan, is a video game franchise from Capcom, starring the robot character Mega Man, or one of his many counterparts. Mega Man, released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, began a series of over 50 games on multiple systems. As of December 31, 2010, the series has sold approximately twenty-nine million copies worldwide, making it Capcom's most prolific franchise.

So, basically there are shitloads of MM games, starting on NES and then turning up in various forms on all sorts of systems thereafter. In terms of the basic numbered 'classic' series, there's 1-6 on NES, 7 on SNES, 8 on PS1/Saturn and 9 and 10 on WiiWare, XBLA and PSN. There are various other offshoots, notably the X series on SNES, but perhaps it's worth saving that for another time.

The basic format remains the same throughout. 8 themed platform-shooter levels, each with a boss, that can be tackled in any order. Defeat the boss and you get his weapon. Each boss has weaknesses against certain other boss weapons, so working those out can make things much easier. After defeating all 8, there's a series of final levels culminating in a showdown with Dr. Wily. Later games introduce extra elements, such as multiple routes through levels, the use of Mega Man's robot dog, Rush, and different power suits that grant alternative abilities.



Play and discuss, or simply reminisce.


Schedule:

(11/11, week): PC Kid 2/Bonk 2 (PC Engine, VC)
(18/11, week): Wonderboy week
(25/11, week): Kirby week
(02/12, fortnight): Solstice II/Equinox (SNES)
(16/12, week): Fantasy Zone (MS)
(23/12, fortnight inc. Christmas break): Pinball free choice

(06/01, fortnight): Blackthorne (various)
(20/01, week): Pilotwings Week (various)
(27/01, week): Atari 2600 High-Score Challenge Returns

I've not played the recent games, but the difficulty issue isn't usually that bad in MM, once you get how they work. You're not going to race through it, but that's not really the point anyway.

At first, you shouldn't really expect to complete a level in one go, and it's all about trying out different levels until you find one or two that aren't too tough, and then it's about getting the major breakthrough of beating the first boss. With that done, things get easier, as you can use your new powers to help you through some of the harder bits. You'll also get back up energy tanks, which can be very useful.

The level with the horizontal beams is an example of what I mean about the difficulty. It's really tough, but then use the time freeze power and it isn't (unless I'm thinking of the wrong bit).

All the extra lives should be gettable without dying. I'm not sure which bit that is, but I don't think there are any traps like that.

Just found out we got free iPads with our room, so finding the Internet cafe, and possibly charging myself a shitload of mobile fees checking emails was all a bit unnecessary (Blackberry, data services on, roaming off, mobile network off, hotel wifi....does that sound right retro king?). 

Anyway, I went off the menu and completed Alex Kidd in Shinobi World on a boat journey yesterday.

The 'extreme fishing' is tomorrow. 

It actually is.

I think I know the one you mean. You have to use the crash bombs to destroy stuff, but you only get so many so there's a specific order you have to it in so they don't run out. I can't remember the order now, but it's a puzzle basically, and it's definitely possible to destroy all the guns with the crash bombs you have.

I'm not sure. Certainly if you Continue everything's refilled again, and then use a save state before entering that bit just to make sure. Not very helpful, I know.

Played most of Megaman X with retroking and another mate yesterday, which was absolutely superb.  I think he said we ranked it 9th in the list of 70+ SNES games we've reviewed.  Three [9]s anyway.  It really is a great example of a 16-bit title expanding on the foundations of the 8-bit originals.  It's also far more forgiving that the others that I've played, assuming you tackle the levels in the correct order, and I reckon we're only 30 minutes or so from the credits, as all but one of the main bosses have been vanquished.  Properly good stuff. 92%

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Played most of Megaman X with retroking and another mate yesterday, which was absolutely superb.  I think he said we ranked it 9th in the list of 70+ SNES games we've reviewed.  Three [9]s anyway.  It really is a great example of a 16-bit title expanding on the foundations of the 8-bit originals.  It's also far more forgiving that the others that I've played, assuming you tackle the levels in the correct order, and I reckon we're only 30 minutes or so from the credits, as all but one of the main bosses have been vanquished.  Properly good stuff. 92%

Seconded, only negative is the slow down every so often, but it's nothing game breaking.
5/5

Does whoever suggested Bonk/PC Kid 2 mind if I rearrange some stuff so we can spend a bit longer on some of these?  I'd like another week on Megaman, because I've only played through (most of) II and X so far.  I also think Kirby and Wonderboy deserve a fortnight each.  I'll only bump it by a week or so (which will give me a chance to get a PC Engine emulator working).

Sounds good. I've been playing new games recently and still have a few more left.

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