Tag: Retro Game

Categories
4 out of 5 Arcade Adventure C64 Maze

Cops & Robbers

Publisher: Atlantis

Designer: Mike Davis

Type: Shoot-em Up

Platform: Maze

Release Date: 1985

Rating: undefined

This is another one of those awesome games that I remember from back in the days of the commodore 64. In fact, this game was also available on the Vic 20, and there was pretty much no difference between the two. Actually, come to think of it, I believe that there was a cartridge version of the game, which sort of works because it means that the cartridge could actually beef up the computer’s memory, giving the developers more space to be able to play with.

Well, you are a robber, and your job is to basically steal diamonds while avoiding the police. First of all, you have a limited number of bullets so you really need to be careful when you fire willy nilly around the place. There are also a number of locations that you can visit, including the diamond mine and the diamond store (which also have multiple levels).

However, where this game shines is that it is more than just a simple maze game where you avoid nasties and collect diamonds – otherwise, it would just be Pacman with a different skin. No, there are problems that you need to solve, such as getting the combination for the safe, and that certainly is quite tricky. The other thing is that in the mine you have ghosts, and not surprisingly your gun is completely useless against the ghost.

I do remember playing this for hours, and yeah, it is a pretty tricky game, but not as tricky as some. As I suggested, it probably falls into the category of arcade adventure because it is more than just a simple arcade game. There a problems to be solved, as well as numerous rooms that you can explore. Also, as I mentioned, there are the cops, and if they grab you (ditto with the helicopter) you are sent off to prison. However, if the ghosts nab you, then it is off to the morgue. Yeah, this is pretty cool.

Anyway, this game does have an entry in Wikipedia, but that shouldn’t surprise anybody due to its popularity. Also, you can find further details about it on Lemon64.

Categories
3 out of 5 C64 RPG

Ultima 3

Publisher: Origin Systems

Designer: Richard Garriott

Type: Roleplaying

Platform: Various

Release Date: 1983

Rating:

Once again, the Ultima series takes a slightly different turn. Well, first of all, the game has moved away from a single character to where you now have to create a party of characters so be able to solve the game. Also, combat moves into a specific combat screen where you fight against your opponents, which makes it somewhat better than the previous games where you would run around the world trying to escape all of the nasties. Also, one really interesting thing is that you can choose one of three genders, that being male, female, or other (though the choice doesn’t do much). Oh, and there happens to be this race called a Fuzzy, but I have no idea what it is supposed to be.

So, it looks like you haven’t quite finished your job yet because even though Mondain and Minax have both been killed, it seems as if they have left their computer, Exodus, running. Okay, this isn’t quite like the computer that you happen to be using to read this review, but other it is some sort of supercomputer with some hugely impressive AI component that is controlling a world full of nasty monsters. Anyway, your job is to turn it off, and if you think that it just involves pulling the plug, well, it is a little more difficult than that.

I did eventually manage to complete this game, but I can’t say that it was one of my favourites. I guess it is sort of that type of game that straddles the earlier releases, which are sort of a breakthrough, and the really outstanding games that are to come. Though, another interesting thing is seeing what they took, and what they happened to have left behind when they moved onto the next project. For instance, it seems as if creating a party yourself was eventually dropped in the next iteration.

Still, this was a fun game, even if it didn’t quite reach the accolades of some of the others. It was difficult, but not too difficult, but then again that seemed to be the case with a lot of these roleplaying games, where the early part is really hard, but once your characters reach a certain point, then things start to get a little easier. Still, it was fun when I played it, especially with the fact that the whole purpose of the game is to turn off a computer.

Anyway, you can find details about this game on Wikipedia (which shouldn’t surprise anybody), but there are also entries on this game on the Ultima fandom page, as well as on the c64 wiki page. Oh, and if you want a walkthrough, there is one on the Ultima codex.

Categories
3 out of 5 Adventure Interactive Fiction

Voodoo Castle

Publisher: Adventure International

Designer: Scott Adams, Alexis Adams

Type: Adventure

Platform: Various

Release Date: 1979

Rating:

This is a rather interesting turn when it comes to the Scott Adams adventures (a term that seemed to have stuck to these series of games, since he happened to be the developer). Anyway, once again, the plot of this game is a little different to the original one, which was simply running around collecting treasure. However, I guess that is something that sort of hails back to the original adventure game, Colossal Cave (which has since been revamped several times).

So, the story is that there happens to be this guy, Count Cristo, that has fallen asleep, and it is your job to wake him up. Well, you have an entire castle to explore, and you need to collect the ingrediants for the ritual which is required to perform the task. Well, I have to admit that this is certainly somewhat different.

Like a lot of his games, this one is pretty tricky, but it isn’t so hard as to make it basically uncompletable (I managed to do it as a kid, but I also suspect that I managed to get some help from somewhere, I’m just not sure where). Yet, in a way, as we progress through these games, they do get more and more difficult as time goes one. However, they are still fun, especially when you come back to them after a while and attempt to make your way through them again.

Still, I probably wouldn’t consider this to be one of my favourites, probably because I really am not a big fan of the gothic horror genre, which this game clearly falls into.

Anyway, there is a short entry on Wikipedia for this game, and some details on the Interactive Fiction Database. Also, if you are looking for hints (or even a solution), there are plenty to be found.

Categories
3 out of 5 Run & Shoot SNES

Megaman X

Publisher: Capcom

Designer: Tokuro Fujiwara

Type: Run & Shoot

Platform: SNES

Release Date: 1993

Rating:

This appears to be the third game in a series, though I’m not entirely sure what went on before. All I know, from the particularly long intro, is that there are these, well, robot types things that have been taken under the care of this character known as Doctor Dopler. Apparently, they were causing problems for Earth, but that had been sorted out (as I said, I don’t know anything about the original games, though I suspect I could easily find out, if I could be bothered searching the internet).

Anyway, it turns out that Doctor Dopler isn’t as good as people think that he was, and these creatures all turn loose and begin raising havoc across the world. You happen to be this guy named Megaman, and you like some sort of future police officer, or more precisely, some future commando of some sort. Well, because you happen to be so good, you get recruited to solve this problem. Except, the headquarters gets attacked and you have to deal with it.

Basically, this game is sort of a cross between a platform game, and a shootem-up, but I’ll put it into the shootem-up category since you seem to do more shooting than jumping about. It took me a while to work out the controls, particularly when you get to the big boss at the end of the first level. However, it turned out that by holding the buttons down you, well, can jump higher, and a fire a much deadlier shot than if you just press them normally. Oh, you also have another ability which allows you to run really, really, fast, though I’m not sure where that is used. Once you complete the first level (which is relatively easy, but it took me a couple of goes), you then have a choice of where to head next.

This game wasn’t bad, and the first level is interesting because you swap between characters a couple of times. Actually, I was a bit surprised to find the character I started playing gets captured halfway through, and you end up swapping characters to rescue him. The other thing is that when you die (you have an energy counter), you don’t go right back to the beginning, but rather back to a save point. Oh, and there is also a password that you can enter which will jump you much further ahead in the game. However, it isn’t one that I’m all that likely to be pursuing much in the future.

Anyway, as you can probably expect, there is a Wikipedia article on this game (as well as the series). Oh, and since it is a series, there a Megaman wiki, and an entry on the character as well. If you are looking for a solution, there is also one on Strategywiki.

Categories
3 out of 5 Maze Miscellaneous Arcade SNES

Pacman

Publisher: Namco

Designer: Namco

Type: Maze

Platform: SNES

Release Date: 1980

Rating:

After a rather disastrous experience with the Atari version of Pacman, I decided to see what the SNES version was like, and whether it was any easier. Well, my judgement is that it is, though there is still the problem that Pacman can be pretty difficult to control. I guess the reason for that is because once you start him moving, he just doesn’t stop. However, with this version, I did manage to complete the first level, so I guess I can say that it is certainly better.

This game does look a lot more like the version that you would see in the arcade parlours though, and it certainly runs much better as well. The graphics do match the original game, and of course, the ghosts each have their own personality. One thing I noticed is that they don’t all pile out of their inner sanctum at once, which can make it a little tricky. It is also tricky when you find yourself snookered.

Another thing that I noticed is that the maze changes slightly as you progress up the levels. Once again, I’m not sure if that is what is supposed to happen in the original, but it certainly gives this version of the game some more flare to it. However, as I mentioned, it does happen to be difficult, especially since Pacman isn’t as controllable as one would like him to be. Yet, I guess that just adds to the thrill of the game.

Categories
3 out of 5 C64 RPG

Pool of Radiance

Publisher: Strategic Simulations Inc.

Designer: Chuck Kroegel

Type: Roleplaying

Platform: Various

Release Date: 1988

Rating:

I believe that this was basically the first of the official Dungeons and Dragons games, and it certainly showed it. Mind you, I do remember when it was first released, and it was all the rage, namely because my friends and I loved Dungeons and Dragons, so when an official game was released, we all wanted a copy of it so we could not only play it but see who the first to complete it world be (spoiler – it wasn’t me).

So, the whole idea is that you create a party and then you have to go into this ruined city and clear it out of all of the monsters therein. The first level, for want of a better word, was the slums, and I remember that the final battle in the slums was really, really hard, namely because you were low-level characters and had to fight a bunch of ogres are trolls – gee, that was fun.

The interesting thing was that the next level you had to go and fight undead. Seriously, what is it with fighting undead on the second stage of the game – all of the games seemed to do that for some reason. In fact, I find undead overused, and rather boring

Pools of Radiance was a good game, and rather challenging, though of course being the first of a series certainly showed a lot. Obviously, they were still trying to tweak the game as the next ones were produced. I did manage to complete it, and it certainly did get easier one you managed to get through that really annoying battle with the trolls and the ogres (honestly, who thought that a bunch of first level characters could actually beat them). The game was also open to being mapped as well, though back in those days maps tended to be placed on pieces of papers, which meant that I had a huge graph book full of maps form the various games that I played.

Sure, this isn’t going to stand up to any of the modern games, and in hindsight, it really wasn’t all that great either, compared to the forerunners that really set the scene up. However, it was still fun, and does deserve its place in history.

Anyway, you can find out more about this game on Wikipedia, and of course it has an entry on the Forgotten Realms Fandom wiki. Oh, and you might also be looking for a walkthrough as well, and yes, there is one.

Categories
4 out of 5 Platform SNES

Castlevania

Publisher: Konami

Designer: Hitoshi Akamatsu

Type: Platform

Platform: NES

Release Date: 1986

Rating: undefined

So, you happen to be this guy with a whip. Yes, a guy with a whip, but you can upgrade it if you find something to do so, namely turn it from a leather whip to a chain whip. Anyway, you happen to be this guy and you wander into a haunted castle of all places, and you have to use this whip to kill all the nasties in the castle, as well as collect other things to help you in your quest (whatever that happens to be).

This is basically a platform game, sort of, because you also get to kill the nasties with your whip, and if you are lucky enough, with some special items that you pick up. Now here is the catch, you can only use these items a certain number of times, and these times sort of corresponding with the number of hearts that you pick up on the way.

However, these items aren’t necessarily visible – they happen to be hidden, behind torches and candles. Now, this is where the other use for the whip comes in, and that is that you hit the torches (or candles) and these special items (or hearts) drop out which you can collect. Now, this was the other tricky part, and that is if you aren’t careful you might end up using all these special items before they are really needed, and that is when you meet the big baddie (otherwise known as the boss monster, in video game parlance of course) at the end of the level.

Yeah, the game was fun, and it certainly does sound like it was pretty popular. I found that the controls were a bit tricky though. It took me a while to work out how to use the special items, and then I’d discovered that because I was mashing the controls as I was moving through the castle, I would end up using all of them before they were needed. Still, I did rather like this game – it was fun.

Anyway, as with a lot of games (but not all), you can find further details on Wikipedia. Also, I have found a few reviews of this game as well, including this one on retrogames as well as a fan site for the game.\

Categories
2 out of 5 Miscellaneous Arcade Nes Platform

Adventure Island

Publisher: Hudsonsoft

Designer: Hudsonsoft

Type: Platform

Platform: NES

Release Date: 1986

Rating:

It seems as if there are just some games that certain platforms don’t get the rights to, and it seems as if Wonderboy is one of them. Yeah, this is the Nintendo version of Wonderboy, right down to the skateboard and the axe that he happens to through at the nasties. In fact, the only difference that I encountered with this game was the title.

Look, it isn’t a bad game, it is fun, and it isn’t too difficult either, and I suspect that if you plugged away at it you could actually get a rather decent way through. However, I’m not one of those people that is willing to plug away with it all that much, particularly since this isn’t really the type of game that I would spend too much time playing, beyond simply checking it out and writing this review of it.

Then again, when I was a kid I did play Wonderboy often because, well, it wasn’t too difficult, and as I’ve suggested, this is the case with this game as well. Interestingly, another version (which I have already talked about) has appeared on the Super Nintendo, which reminds me of how painful it is when you want to upgrade from one box to another. These days though, well, we have emulators, so I guess it is all good then.

So, you can find more details about it on Wikipedia, of course, but you can also find instructions, and a walkthrough, on Strategywiki. Finally, there is another review of this game on Nintendolife.

Categories
4 out of 5 C64 RPG

Ultima 2

Publisher: Origin Systems/Sierra On-Line

Designer: Richard Garriott

Type: Roleplaying Game

Platform: Various

Release Date: 1982

Rating: undefined

This is one of those games that requires a lot of imagination to appreciate how great it actually is. Initially, when I was playing it (and ironically I got if off a truckie that happened to live just down the road from me) I would just keep on dying, but after years of perseverance, I actually managed to kill Minax, who happens to be hiding in the realm known only as the Realm of Legends (though I suspect that in later versions it would become Britannia).

So, you start off in the modern world, and it appears that these gates have appeared and monsters are all pouring out. Yes, you play the game on Earth, and there are these gates (which also appear in later games as well) that allow you to travel to different time periods. The date of the game shows us the feeling at the time as we end up at a point where the Earth has been destroyed by Nuclear War. However, you can also travel to the distant past, the ancient world, and of course the land of legends.

If that isn’t enough, you can also go to outer space where you visit each of the planets in our solar system (actually, you have to do that to complete the game, though you will need fuel for the rocket which, not surprisingly, lies at the bottom of the dungeons). Yeah, there are dungeons as well, and you can complete the game without actually going into any of them, but as I mentioned in a side remark, you may need to to get fuel for your rocket.

Honestly, while the game, and the gameplay, really isn’t all that great (it was made in 1982), the story behind it, and the concept, is actually pretty awesome. In fact, I don’t think I have found any other games with a similar storyline, though they are probably out there.

Well, not surprisingly, Wikipedia has an entry for this game, since it is pretty popular, and quite well known. You can also find details of this game on one of the Ultima Wikis. Oh, and Moby Games also has an entry, though it isn’t anywhere near as detailed. If you are looking for a walkthrough, you can find one here.

Categories
Atari Platform

Mario Bros

Publisher: Nintendo

Designer: Shigeru Miyamoto, Gunpei Yokoi

Type: Platform

Platform: Atari 2600

Release Date: 1983

Rating:

Yeah, I really had to comment on how bad the Atari 2600 games really looked, especially since it does happen to be an 8-bit machine, and the games that appeared on other 8 bit machines (cough, c64, cough) were so much better looking. Still, I guess we are still looking at the really early days of the video game era so, well, I guess we can’t expect too much to come from these home machines.

Yet, this game certainly is nothing that you would expect to come from the Mario franchise. All you seem to do is to kill nasties and not even that. There are like three platforms and some nasties appear on them (as well as other rather, well, blocky, objects that I have no idea what they are supposed to be, but they didn’t kill me so I guess that is alright) and you have to knock them off the platforms by jumping into them from underneath, and then jumping onto the platform and kicking them off.

Actually, I do vaguely remember these old handhold games that we would get when we were kids (or should I say other kids would get because my parents never saw the point in forking out money for such things – so was the deprived childhood that I had – and I will point to the fact that that phrase is dripping with sarcasm) and this game was among them. I’m not going to go into details of these games because, well, I’m talking about Mario Bros from the Atari 2600.

Look, the game wasn’t bad, graphics aside, and it wasn’t too hard either. However, I certainly would be expecting anything on the level of other games from the period though, although this was a very, very popular machine.

Anyway, I can refer you to the Wikipedia article for more information on the game, and you can also go to a site called Moby Games, which also has a bit of a write up.

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