Retro(game)spective - Knights of the Round

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

9/21/2010

The Game: Knights of the Round

Release Year: 1991 Arcade, 1994 SNES

Good thing the characters totally look like this in the game...

Skewes: Arcade, SNES

So what’s it like: Think final fight, but with swords. Well, more swords. “Knights of the Round” is a side-scrolling beat-em-up set in the age of King Arthur. You play as either the king, or one of his fellow knights of the round Lancelot or Perceval, who must defeat Garibaldi, the most flamboyant of evil dictators.

If Liberace was a knight.

Like other beat-em-ups such as “Streets of Rage,” the game’s characters each have their own stats. Although basic, each character has two attributes, speed and strength. Unlike “Streets of Rage,” blocking is a key component, as you can die in an average of 4-5 hits. There is also a timer, which won’t be a problem if you don’t dilly dally and slice dudes up.

Retro(game)spectives - Ghosts 'N Goblins

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

9/18/2010

The Game: Ghosts ‘N Goblins



Release Year: 1985

Skewes: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, IBM PC compatibles, Commodore 16, Sharp X68000, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES, iOS.

So what’s it like: Ghosts ‘N Goblins, primarily played on the NES, is one of the soul-crushingly hardest games I’ve ever played. You play as Arthur, a knight who must rescue his Princess from Satan. Yes (at least in some of the ports) you are literally trying to kill Satan.

Nobody steals my girlfriend AND sees me in

You do this by traversing over 8 levels, fighting demons, zombies or any other undead creatures you find in your path. As well as standard enemies there are bosses who will do everything in their demonic might to stop you.

Retro(game)spective - U.N. Squadron

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

9/16/2010

The Game: U.N. Squadron

Release Year: 1989

Skewes: Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, SNES, ZX Spectrum

So what’s it like: U.N. Squadron is a 2D side-scrolling shooter in the vein of Gradius. You play as one of three pilots who must take down the mysterious Project 4. That’s all the story you’ll get, and all the story you need.

Yes, leave the fate of the world in the hands of a madman.

Each pilot can command six different ships, with a combination of up to 11 different weapons. Weapons differ from bombs to take out tanks and the like, to vulcan cannons to shoot enemies all around you. You can also upgrade your basic attacks by collecting power-ups.

Retro(game)spective - Final Fight

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

9/15/2010

The Game: Final Fight One

Note: game may not be as brutal as pictured

Skewes: (oh boy) Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, PlayStation 2, Mega CD, ZX Spectrum, Super NES, Sharp X68000, Xbox, XBLA, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Network, Virtual Console

So what’s it like: Odds are if you’re a gamer, you’ve played final fight at least once in your life. Many argue Final Fight as being the quintessential side-scrolling beat-em-up. Crime is running amok in Metro City, when the Mad Gear gang kidnap the mayor/ex-professional wrestler Mike Haggar’s daughter.

Couldn't you have stolen, oh I don't know, someone else's daughter?

It is up to you to take control of Haggar, or his daughter’s boyfriend or some other guy. But those last two don’t matter, you want to play as Mike Haggar.

Retro(game)spective - Sunset Riders

Welcome to Retro(game)spectives, in which 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

9/14/2010
The Game: Sunset Riders

Wait so you want me to shoot the game?

Skewes: Arcade, Genesis, SNES

So, what’s it like: Sunset Riders is a side-scrolling shooter, in the vein of Contra. You take the role as one of four cowboy bounty hunters (only two in the Genesis port), who are collecting bounties on various criminals. You can play as Steve or Billy, who each have faster-firing pistols, or Bob and Cormando, who each have shotguns. Trust me, you want shotguns. You can collect power-ups giving you an additional gun and rapid fire, as well as cash. There are eight levels and bounties (again, only half in the Genesis version)

Don't bring a knife to a double shotgun fight.

Aside from being pretty generic in its gameplay and story, but what this game really has going for it is the racism. Each of the bosses represents it’s own stereotype. It’s like Punch-Out!!, but meaner. From the Mexican Paco Loco, to the feminine British dandy Richard Rose, to probably the most racist, Chief Scalpem.