Tempest 3000:Would it work?

[Nesbroslash]

I got an awesome idea recently for a Tempest 2000 sequel, which I thought sounded awesome. So, the game would just be regular Tempest until about 1 minute into the game, when electronic music tunes in and the graphics gradually soften to HD quaility, then power ups and stronger enemies come. Add in some breath-taking bosses and an awesome soundtrack and this may be a winner! What do you guys think?

[Cebus Capucinis]

Sounds exactly like every single Space Invaders "remix" they've ever made.

 

HINT: None of those are good.

 

I think without substantial gameplay changes or the like there's just no "oomph" to it. HD graphics and a soundtrack are nice, but they've tried it before and it doesn't really add anything. Even the idea of 'stronger enemies' and 'powerups' is exactly the same as all those Space Invaders remixes.

 

It just needs something more than that for an 'update' to be something more than just a 'spiffy graphics remake' in my opinion.

[jaybird3rd]

There was already a Tempest 3000 made, for Nuon-enabled DVD players. There's also Space Giraffe, an "unofficial" update of the Tempest 2000 concept that was done by Jeff Minter, the developer of Tempest 2000/3000. As I recall, reactions to that game were very mixed when it came out; many felt that the special effects were nauseatingly over-the-top.

[Austin]

There was already a Tempest 3000 made, for Nuon-enabled DVD players. There's also Space Giraffe, an "unofficial" update of the Tempest 2000 concept that was done by Jeff Minter, the developer of Tempest 2000/3000. As I recall, reactions to that game were very mixed when it came out; many felt that the special effects were nauseatingly over-the-top.

 

To an extent, Tempest 3000 was way over-the-top on the visual end, too.. It was much more difficult to see what was going on than in Tempest 2K, for sure.

 

Space Giraffe is certainly nauseating.. I think one of the other issues with it though was that it changed up the gameplay style and it wasn't based solely on shooting and dodging anymore. That threw me for a loop for the first who-knows-how-many hours I played it.

 

So, the game would just be regular Tempest until about 1 minute into the game, when electronic music tunes in and the graphics gradually soften to HD quaility, then power ups and stronger enemies come.

 

This is a proven way to implement the new elements into a classic remake. Tempest 2000 and Robotron X/64 do this to an extent, slowly bringing in the new enemies and concepts. I think there have been a couple of others out there that actually start out 100% retro and then slam in the modern-day visuals, to a cool effect. I don't remember what those were, though..

Edited June 25, 2010 by Austin

[Karyyk]

I liked/like both Tempest 3000 and Space Giraffe. I think the main reason that reaction to SG was so mixed is that most reviewers actually never grasped the new rinsing play mechanic, so they were trying to play it like Tempest and failing miserably after a few levels. They never figured it out, so they blamed it on the visuals being too confusing.

[Jess Ragan]

But then you figure out the rinsing play mechanic, get to level thirty, and quit because the playfields really ARE too difficult to see.

[+HammR25]

I just figured I'd be better off buying Frogger.

[Hyper_Eye]

I gave Space Giraffe as fair a shake as possible. I still fire it up and give it "another shot" from time to time. I just can't enjoy it. I like bulling enemies off the web but that is about all I like. It just isn't a fun game except to those couple of people who love it. Tempest 2000 is one of the best games ever made. Space Giraffe is not. You win some and you lose some. Instead of throwing a hissy fit and blaming the reviewers and the players Minter might have reflected on what he did right and what he did wrong. It Isn't that you can't go over the top and still have a fun game. But the outlandish effects are detrimental. I am convinced there is a pretty awesome game behind all that crap. I just can't see it and it kind of hurts to try. And by that I mean it hurts my eyes and my brain.