Gabriel

May 17, 2003

I think I'm in love with that gif.

:love:

May 17, 2003

This thing is one reason why I'm considering buying a gamecube. I can't be bothered buying the super expensive GBA SP (Which is More expensive then a Gamecube). The GBA SP is about US$130, and the Gamecube is about US$100. It would probably cost the same if i Got the GBA player and the Gamecube bundle, cause I reckon it would be about US$130-150 all up, which is decent compared with the price of the GBA SP.

Uhm, what are you talking about?

The sticker price (and MSRP) of the GBA-SP is $99.95. I may not be up on current happenings, but the GC was still $149.99 last I checked.

The $149.99 does include a game (or is that the $189.99 pack?), but they're all games heading for the $20 bargain status, so you're really not getting that good of a deal.

May 16, 2003

As anyone can see from my sig, I dislike 3D platformers. I wrote a big ass long post about what I think of 3D platformers. Then I looked at it (always a good thing before hitting submit) and realized it was pissy and inflammatory. So I deleted almost all of it, and was left with this little paragraph and accompanying orphan sentences that sum things up without the ranting.

"There has been one and only one 3D platformer that I liked. That one was Jumping Flash for the PS1. Still, I didn't like Jumping Flash enough to keep it. I traded it or sold it to someone. I don't remember exactly. I also don't know if I'd still like Jumping Flash today, or if the appeal was just it's newness. I think the latter is the case.

I do think that most 3D platformers have serious pacing problems, and they tend to lack any gameplay focus other than wandering around."

May 13, 2003

I found it very worthwhile.

As an old school Ultima fan, one thing you might find distasteful is the linearity of the Final Fantasy games. Unlike the Ultima games, you usually have a certain predestined path to the game's conclusion and deviation from that path is mostly not allowed.

Of the two games, Final Fantasy I is the most enjoyable. It has a nice sort of quest with interesting dungeons and just enough inventory management to make things interesting.

I am finding FF2 to be pretty disappointing. I feel far too railroaded, and the story being told just isn't all that interesting. Plus, the character advancement system (based around improvement of what abilities you use while unused abilities atrophy) is one of the worst I've ever seen.

Even with half the package kind of a waste to me, I find the disc to be worth every penny of the $30 I paid for it. Final Fantasy I has great replay value, and has some nice improvements over the NES release beyond the pretty graphics. If you want to take my recommendation, I say get this game now before it disappears.

May 12, 2003

Tee hee.

I had a kind of semi-bad experience the other day. It was my first negative experience for the store in question.

I had been hunting all over for a brand spankin new copy of Tactics Ogre for the GBA (I needed it to trade for the N64 system I'm currently using to play Ogre Battle 64 on). I hadn't found it anywhere yet, so I decided to check GameStop which has been a pretty good place to find stuff like that.

So they have a copy of the game, and I take it up to the front to check out. The guy looks at the game, does a mild snort, and then comments, "Wow, I've had a lot of complaints about this game."

I think that this is an odd thing for him to say, as it comes across that he's kind of offhandedly dissing my taste in games (he had been raving about some brand new FPS to another customer a little while ago, so I know his tastes in games are probably radically different from mine). So, I ask him, "Really? Like what?"

He responds by saying, "Oh, I guess it wasn't what they expected." I took that as his backpedaling a bit, and I dropped the matter. Maybe he felt he should say something about the game since I'm a regular of the store, and was truly just trying to be helpful. I don't know. It seemed a bit like my purchasing the game was a bit of an inconvenience to him on some level.

It was nothing at all like the rudeness that I would have received had I gone into the pen & paper RPG shop and tried to purchase a game that the clerk didn't like. At the RPG shop, the clerk would have said something like, "This game sucks. Only brain dead morons play this shit. The publishers of this game and the people who play it should be executed. Will that be cash or charge?" So, it was really mild compared to that or any other gauge of such things, but it was irritating, and it gave me flashbacks of that unpleasant shop.

May 11, 2003

Hmmmm. I don't think I've ever been unimpressed with an entire generation. However, I have been unimpressed with certain systems.

I know I was definitely unimpressed with the Nintendo 64. The only game that came close was when I watched Star Wars Episode 1 Racer in a demo. The N64 simply had lots of things going against it: bad games, bad controllers, limited storage, blurry graphics, etc.

Although, I must say that I've reacquired a N64. I finally found ONE killer app game, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber. But, most of this game could be done equally well on the PS1.

For the most part the Dreamcast failed to impress me. The only title that stood out on that system was Soul Calibur. Grandia II and Garou were also impressive, but nothing that any other system couldn't already do.

The X-Box is also failing to impress. The library is pretty dreary, packed with FPS types of games. Panzer Orta utterly failed to even live up to the expectation of being a good game, much less living up to the legacy of Zwei. This year will probably tell if the X-Box will ever wow and amaze or will simply limp along with Microsoft throwing money at it.

May 11, 2003

Sports games don't age well. That's because they weren't that good to start with. I used to love RealSports Volleyball and Pole Position, but now I never touch them. DOA: XXX Volleyball and NASCAR Heat are soooooo much better. Going back to RS Volleyball or Pole Position is like playing kiddie versions of sports. They are just tooooo primitive.

For me, its the opposite. My favorite sports games are Realsports Football on the Atari 5200, Realsports Baseball also on the Atari 5200, Blades of Steel on the NES, and Joe Montana Sports Talk Football II (I think that's the one) on the Genesis. The more modern the sports game, the less I like it. The modern games make me feel that it's all about the stats, and leave me feeling detached from the game. The classics don't do that, and focus on the gameplay.

As for racing games, I don't really consider them sports games. And I enjoy a good game of Turbo, Pole Position, or Enduro just as much as a game of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2.

May 10, 2003

This list started off about average for these sorts of things and ended up in raving Miyamoto worship.

Some comments about some of the other games in the top 10:

#10 Street Fighter 2 = While this game did define the fighting game genre, it is not deserving of being in the top 10. Champion Edition or Turbo are more befitting that distinction, because people play those iterations still to this day, not this prototype.

#9 Final Fantasy 2/4 = This is a fine game in its own right. However, to rank this in the top 10 while leaving FF3/6 far behind is a total crock. FF3/6 is this game's superior in every possible way.

#8 X-Com

#7 Starcraft = On these two items, this list is fairly on target. I don't entirely agree with X-Com, but it is a quality game, and I still know people that play it regularly today.

#4 Tetris = This game was shafted by this farce of a list. It deserves #2 if not #1.

#1 Super Mario Bros.= While the other Miyamoto games being on this list are total, absolute, bullshit, this game does deserve to be in the top 10. However, I don't think that it actually has enough merit to be at #1. I'd venture #3 at best. I think it's a good thing they snubbed Super Mario Bros 3, because this game has much more fun factor and replayablity than the later effort has (SMB3 is much more like work than a game).

And Ms. Pac Man was cheated. That game is much more deserving of the top spot than anything in this top 10.

May 8, 2003

I don't think Gauntlet IV for the Genesis is as common as you might think. I had a hell of a time finding it and that was when the Genesis was still in its active life cycle.

The 4 player adaptors are significantly easier to locate. It's been a while since I've seen the official Sega model, but I do come across the EA model from time to time.

May 7, 2003

OK. I have a question for other Final Fantasy players out there.

First off, some background. On the U.S./SNES version of Final Fantasy 6 (Final Fantasy III) it was possible, once you got decent thief skills on Locke, and the Magicite that converts monsters into items, to get as many economizer relics as you had the patience to acquire.

To do this, you would fight the Brachiosaur (the big nasty Brontosaurus lookin' dino) in the dinosaur forest in the World of Ruin. If you could get him to morph into an item by magicite use, or if Locke could get a good steal result, then you'd get a shiny new economizer.

A while back I had gotten my characters on the PS1 Final Fantasy Anthology version of the game up to the level where they could successfully fight this critter. I wandered around in those woods for several hours fighting that godawful dino as much as it would let me. For some reason, the trick never worked, and I could never get a new economizer off of it. The best I got was a meat item.

My question is, has anyone successfully managed to get an extra economizer in the PS1 version of the game? If that little trick has been taken out, I'd rather not continue to waste time trying to get it to work.

May 7, 2003

Hmmmm. Favorite GC games...

I'd have to say Godzilla. For one, its just damn fun to be stomping around as a famous monster, beating on other monsters, and crushing a city underfoot. Plus, in multiplayer, it's just freakin' awesome.

I liked Super Smash Bros Melee when I first got it, but it got old quickly, and the multiplayer isn't as fun as Godzilla. Although there is the odd satisfaction of watching Mario and Link getting bitch slapped around.

May 7, 2003

I didn't like it. But it was worlds better than FF8, which blew gigantic chunks.

I probably need to pick up a copy of FF9 in case I want to try it again someday. I didn't hate it. I just couldn't get into it because of how goofy the characters looked. Plus, I found the various mini-games irritating.

I've long thought that if they could have combined the graphical design work of FF8 with the game of FF9, then things would have been much better.

May 7, 2003

Dragon Warrior IV ain't that great. It's good, but overrated.

Bang for buck wise, I'd say get Ultima: Quest of the Avatar. It has a lot of depth to it, and it's decidedly non-linear.

Final Fantasy 1 would be a good one to get too, but considering the insane prices that are asked for this rather common cart (the local used game shop wants $25 for a bare cart) you might want to consider getting Final Fantasy Origins for the PS1 instead.

May 6, 2003

Soul Calibur[/b] (DC)
...

#36-Super Smash Bros. - Melee

...

#33-Wave Race 64

Super Smash Bros and Wave Race better than Soul Calibur? The people writing this are officially on dope.

May 6, 2003

but the coleco controller actually at least worked half of the time

Maybe yours did.

I agree, the Coleco controllers are about the worst ever.

May 6, 2003

It's a little choppy, but it does play extremely well. I agree that it wasn't worth the $90 to $100 initial price. However, it was very much worth the $20 I paid for it.

May 5, 2003

Is it a front loader (which fits under the Genesis) or a top loader (which sits to the right of the Genesis)?

Assuming your drive isn't dead, clean the contacts on the parallel port of the Genesis and the connector on the SegaCD.

One stupid question though, you do have both the Genesis's and the Sega CD's AC adaptors plugged in, don't you?

May 5, 2003

"Madden 03 the FIFTH game on the list. Madden is a franchise, but better than CIV, Starcraft?"

Just a typical example of one of these sorts of lists.

"Mortal Kombat II and Dance Dance Revoluttion at 39 and 40 over Unreal."

I've never played Dance Dance Revolution, but here is my test for Unreal: If you still play it 10 years from now, then it deserves to be in the same league as MK2.

"WTF is Devil May Cry on the list at all "

Don't ask me.

"and where the hell is POPULOUS, the orginator of the God game and still alot of fun despite being 15 year old? "

I liked Populous when it was new, but I have to admit that I certainly don't play it anymore. It just doesn't amuse me like it did back in the day. I'd rule it off of a top 100 list that I'd make as well.

"SPY HUNTER?????!!! What is influential or exciting about that? "

I play this regularly on my Midway Collection 2 PS1 disk. It's a game that stands the test of time.

"And they put that over STAR WARS arcade!!!! "

I haven't played Star Wars Arcade in a while (I'm presuming you're referring to the Atari effort and not the Sega machine from a little under 10 years ago). Of course, the reason I don't is because my computer isn't good enough to properly emulate it without massive slowdown in MAME.

"No SYSTEM SHOCK on that fackokta list "

What the hell is System Shock?

"unknown piece of crap arcade game called R Type? "

Damn. I had never actually played R Type until just the past few days, but I had known about it forever.

May 4, 2003

I got a used copy of Thunder Force V for $5, couldn't get anywhere, & sold it to Funco for much less.

If you're any good at that game you must be a GOD.

A friend of mine has it, so I've played it before. I can get a few levels into it before I get slaughtered. But I'm still not quite good enough to be able to actually get past all the levels you can select initially and into new ones.

I seem to remember some kind of boss that would stomp along the ground in a plant level that would always punch my ticket.

My friend is the Lightening Force god. On the Genesis game he could actually beat it without setting his number of ships to 99. He's told me that he's gotten to see some of the further along levels in Thunderforce V, but he has never gotten anywhere near beating it.

But even after finding all the games that I have for this weekend, I still wandered out yesterday and checked to see if there was anything else. It turns out that this was just the week for me to get PS1 games that I had missed out on, because I found a copy of Konami Arcade Classics for $5! I've been looking high or low for that one.

I played Gyruss and Time Pilot for about an hour or hour and a half. It was odd that I played Time Pilot so much, because I remember I had hated it when it was new. But I guess times change, and I've grown to where I really like it.

May 3, 2003

About the Xeye

Not really: back when it came out and it cost $300, the Sega CD was still retailing for $200, and the Genesis for $100.

Sounds about right to me.

I seem to remember when it came out it was $500. It also didn't come with any appealing software. It was being marketed as a "multimedia learning system" and came with a CD of an Encyclopedia set.

At the end of the Genesis/32X/Sega CD life cycle, Best Buy was selling them brand new for $20. I wish I had picked one up, but I passed on it.

Oh well.

May 3, 2003

I'd try to find the first model cd player, that one's very sturdy, the second one's pretty flimsy. I don't know how common they are though (either one).

The second model (the top loader) is much more common. Both models are flakey, but the top loader is even more so. The top loader also has a bad way of scratching discs and making them unplayable. If you get a SegaCD, get the earlier front loading model.

Another thing about the front loading Sega CD, there are at least two different bios versions out there. The earlier bios version has problems with some of the later games. There isn't really much way of telling what version you have until you connect it up and turn it on.

Luckily, the main game that has compatibility issues is Mortal Kombat CD, so you don't have to worry overly much about a early bios version.

May 3, 2003

Well, POO on all of you!

Since no one sees fit to answer my question, I guess I'll just assume that I was ripped off and not worry about it. I was very happy to find a Thunderforce V still sealed in the package. I've wanted that game for some time.

Oddly, I haven't played it yet. It's still sitting with my other PS1 games sealed in its shiny wrap.

I have been playing R-Type. Goddamn, what sicko dreamed this game up? It's almost like an FMV game. In many situations there's just one thing you can do to stay alive. It's very addictive, though. It was definitely worth the $10.

I haven't gotten to playing Master of Monsters yet. I got it because I remembered how fun the Genesis version was in multiplayer (and because of its likeness to Dark Wizard).

And then after finding all that, I wandered into the used game shop on the mall and found:

Saiyuki: Journey West

G Darius

Lunar: The Silver Star Complete (has everything)

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (missing standees and medallion)

I think I got decent, but not great, deals on the Lunar games ($35 for each). I think now I have a complete set of Working Designs deluxe packaged games.

I got ripped off on Saiyuki and G Darius. I paid a sealed in package type price for the used copy of Saiyuki ($30). And I paid $17 for a copy of G Darius that refuses to play the opening FMV (but otherwise works fine).

Oh well. Other than G Darius, they all work well. And I had honestly forgotten about the awesomeness that is G Darius. At least now I can play it while I search for a brand new pristine copy.

May 3, 2003

in your very good list of CD games, you didnt mention Sonic CD, one which many people claim is the best in the series. I dont agree with it, but i will say that it is a dam fine game, and adds a nice twist with the time travel component

another quick note, virtua racing doesnt require the six button, the top three buttons only allow direct access to the different camera angles. with the three button controller, one buttons allows you to cycle through them. However on a game like SFII, you need a six button, otherwise you have to hit the start button to switch between punch and kick (yeah tell me about it)

My omission of Sonic CD was deliberate, but it wasn't vengeful.

I agree that Sonic CD is one of the best in the series (it is second only to the original). However, I have found that I simply don't play any of the Sonic games anymore. For that reason, I, personally, can't say that it is a must have.

If you're a Sonic freak (like I used to be) and you have a Sega CD, then I'd say that you need Sonic CD. However, I don't think that it's worth purchasing the console over.

As for the Virtua Racing thing, I guess I should have made myself clearer. None of the non-fighting games require the 6 button controller. As you also mention, technically, not even the fighting games require the 6 button controller. However, in regards the the fighting games, they really are nearly impossible to play with a 3 button. Most non-fighting games just give you more options with the 6 button, or make life a little easier on you. In any event, any Genesis owner really does need 2 of the 6 button controllers around.

May 3, 2003

I'm very glad to see that Star Control II made the list... that one never seems to get the attention it deserves. Ultima VII definitely deserves to be there too (although V or IV really should be ahead of VII in my opinion...)

Some of my guesses for top ten: Tetris' date=' Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Goldeneye, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, Super Mario 64, Super Metroid, and Final Fantasy VII.

One each of the Mario Kart, Smash Bros, and Mario Party games should make the list somewhere too, although not necessarily in the top 10. Some others I expect to see are Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat 2, Super Mario Bros 3, Perfect Dark, Daytona USA, Samurai Showdown, Metal Slug, Bust a Move, Tony Hawk 2 or 3, Soul Calibur, Sonic 3, Donkey Kong Country, Nights, and Marble Madness.

[/quote']

Well, we basically agree on Ultima. You say that Ultima IV should be higher up the chart than Ultima VII. I just don't agree that Ultima VII should be on the chart

Now, historically from these lists, this is what we can expect:

Final Fantasy 7 won't be in the top 10 at all, but Final Fantasy 6 will be at #10 or #9.

Tetris WILL be in the top 10 for the list to have even the barest of credibility.

No Mortal Kombat game will break the top 10. MK has been snubbed by the gaming press since the release of #3. I'm not saying that it deserves to be in the top 10, but I'm saying its role in videogaming will be diminished in favor of touting FPSes and the new games on the block.

Ms. Pac Man will be somewhere near the top 10 if not firmly in it.

Street Fighter may get to the top 10. Samurai Showdown will probably be forgotten and not be on the list at all.

Soul Calibur has a VERY high chance of appearing high up on the chart, and deservedly so. However, it won't appear because of its merit, it will appear because the sequel comes out in the US this summer.

Super Mario 3 will be in the top 5, for no reason other than to continue to blabber about the "brilliance" of Miyamoto.

At least two best selling games of recent vintage, and probably more, will appear in the top 5.

Since this list is on IGN, it might be entertaining to check out what scores the games received in the review archive. I bet Dragon Warrior 3 won't be on the list, despite it receiving a score of "10"

May 3, 2003

1. Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker
2. Doom

3. Tetris

4. Grand Theft Auto III

4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

5. Madden NFL 2003

Personally, I can agree with Tetris, and that's it. As for Doom, I've always found it (and its entire genre) a very boring and uninteresting game, not deserving to be anywhere on top games list.

As for the rest of this particular list, it's simply an example of advertising current or semi-current games.

As for Grand Theft Auto, I think it will be like Mario 64. In two years hardly anyone will even remember it much less think of it as one of the best games of all time.

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Posts posted by Gabriel