RetroGame FunClub: 2010-10-03

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Retro(game)spective - Batman

Retro(game)spective

Every day Ben “Ben Pack” Pack or one of his brave compatriots will play a retro game, and break it down for you. That’s right, every day. To complain about us eventually missing a day or suggest your own, go ahead and comment below the article, or email us at retrogamefunclub@gmail.com.

10/07/2010

The Game: Batman

It's the goddamn Batman.

Release Year: 1989

Skewes: NES, Gameboy

So what’s it like: "Batman," just "Batman," is a side-scrolling action platformer for the NES. You take the role of the caped crusader, as you loosely follow the plot of the 1989 "Batman" film. Your ultimate goal is to fight lots of thugs, robots, and other hazards and eventually take down The Joker.

He's not the hero you want, but he's the hero you deserve... or something.

Your main gameplay mechanics are jumping and attacking (shocking, I know). Not only can you perform regular jumps, but you can (and often must) use wall jumps. You can punch as Batman, which is mostly what you would be doing, But you can also collect ammo for three different weapons. A regular batarang, a spread-shot batarang, and a rocket.

Remember when I said I didn't use guns? I lied.

The game is hard, but like all the best games of the era, can be beaten with enough practice. It's tough to learn when to use your weapons, and when to fight. The platforming is easy enough, and not super unforgiving like other games similar to this (like Ninja Gaiden).

He just punched a dude into flames.

Should you go back: Yes. If you want to play arguably one of the best movie licensed games, if not one of the best NES games of all time, then you should play it.

Should this game be remade: No. Arkham Asylum took care of that

Retro(game)spective - Space Megaforce

Release Year: 1992

Skewes: SNES

So what’s it like: "Space Megaforce," is not only the winner for most generic yet awesome video game name, but it's also a vertical shoot-em-up. It's pretty stock as far as they go, with a few minor exceptions.

That's quite a megaforce, but it's not quite in space now is it.

There are more weapons and variety than in most shmups. There are eight different weapons, each with their own levels of power-ups. Some of the weapons are mostly useless, while some standard ones like the homing missiles and spread shots, always prove to be useful. My favorite weapon created little ships that would fire whenever you fired, and follow your last position.

Look out! It's Mode 7!

Another key difference between this and other shmups, is the health system. You can power up your weapon several times, but every time you get hit, you lose up to 4 powerups. If you have no powerups and you get hit, you die. Think "Sonic" and the rings. This makes the game less frustrating at first, but the levels are long. Very long. The good thing is that you can restart from checkpoints after losing all your lives. The game is fun, but nothing special.

Should you go back: No, there are plenty of better shmups (like U.N. Squadron for example) that deserve playing.

Should this game be remade: No. With plenty of crazy shmups coming out of Japan and other places, this game doesn't need a revival.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Retro(game)spective - Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

The prophecy is complete.

Release Year: 1994

Skewes: SNES, Virtual Console

So what’s it like: The third and final chapter in SNES run-and-gun Star Wars games. "Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" is the most dramatically different of the three, but it is still fun.

Giant floating collectables, dead ahead.

Like the other games (surprisingly), it's a run-and-gun sidescroller, with a few game-changing exceptions. The most obvious of these changes is the different characters. Each level offers you three different characters to choose from, each with their own weapons and powers. Han has blasters, Luke only has his lightsaber and force powers and there are different Leias with different costumes and different powers.

EAT IT DOUCHEBAG

This game falls back to the first game's love of platforming, to a fault. In the first level there is a lot of platforming on small edges with lots of enemies that can fling you off, because this game is the hardest of the three. Each character also is good in specific levels, which can be aggravating and force a trail-by-error. A fun addition is the Ewok levels, which ads a whole new mechanic with arrows that can be used as platforms.

Should you go back: Yes. If you played the first two, you should play this one too.

Should this game be remade: If you read the last two, you already know the answer.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Retro(game)spective - Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Well I wonder if they're gonna make a third...

Release Year: 1993

Skewes: SNES, Virtual console

So what’s it like: "Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" is the second game in the SNES triligy of Star Wars films. It plays just like the first one, but with some key exceptions.

Only jerks don't use the lightsaber.

Like the first game, you can play mainly as Luke, and occasionally Han and Chewie. You start off with your lightsaber, which means you don't ever have to, nor should you ever use your blaster. If you are gonna be a jerk and use your gun, you can run and shoot at the same time, making parts much easier. There is less of a focus on the platforming, but the combat feels ramped up to replace this.

Sorry buddy, but in about an hour I'm gonna climb inside of you.

The most major addition are the force powers. There are eight force powers in total, but odds are you won't use most of them. The only ones I found myself using were the heal and the "Sabre Control," which let you move your lightsaber independently of yourself, but costs a lot of force power. Force power can be lost, and regenerated by collecting green orb-like objects.

The game is fun, and not much more difficult than the original. It's harder, but less for the cheap deaths like the first one and instead focuses on killing you with overwhelming enemies. A little more cluttered than the first makes it less fun for me than the first, but still a good game.

Should you go back: Yes. While in my opinion not as good as the first, it is still fun and easily available on the VC.

Should this game be remade: Nope. Same reasons as yesterday.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Retro(game)spective - Super Star Wars

Retro(game)spective Editor's Note: Apparently instead of publishing this one yesterday, I mearly saved it as a draft. So you got two for today.

Every day Ben “Ben Pack” Pack or one of his brave compatriots will play a retro game, and break it down for you. That’s right, every day. To complain about us eventually missing a day or suggest your own, go ahead and comment below the article, or email us at retrogamefunclub@gmail.com.

10/03/2010

The Game: Super Star Wars

You have no idea how stoaked nine-year-old me was when I opened this on Christmas.

Release Year: 1992

Skewes: SNES, Virtual Console

So what’s it like: “Super Star Wars,” shockingly for the Super Nintendo, is a re-telling of the first (fourth) Star Wars film, “A New Hope.” You play as Luke Skywalker, and you must progress through key events of the film including getting your light saber from Obi-Wan Kenobi, recruiting Han Solo and Chewbacca, and eventually defeating Darth Vader.

Just as annoying in video game.

The game is good, especially if you have a love for the movies (and I have a feeling that you do if you’re reading a video game blog). It plays like a typical side-scrolling shooter with some platforming. The shooting is simple enough, with different weapon upgrades. The enemies include ones seen in the movies, and original creatures that fit in perfectly with the atmosphere.

Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend I once had...

The platforming can get really tricky at times. The bosses can be hard, if not impossible, if you do not have a powered up weapon. Even with both of these, the game is very fun. If you never played any of these games as a child, I'd highly recommend going back. Hell there aren't too many good Star Wars games to choose from.

Holy shit these graphics are blowing my mind!

Should you go back: Yes. Hit up the virtual console versions and relive some of the better days.

Should this game be remade: No. It would be nice to see a new game re-telling the story from the original trilogy, though.

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