The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
After playing through the depressingly difficult Contra 3 for some time, as well as the equally difficult Battletoads, I came to a startling revelation, I smelt. Who knows what bizarre bacteria had spread over my follicles and pores during my two days of retro gaming. It had gone unnoticed by myself that I had been plugging away at these games for most of the day. And indeed my night times were spent playing whitestripes at Kirbys dream course, which I should add is the most excellent multiplayer game ever made.
I found myself hypnotically engaged in playing these titles, I had never played any game where I was so engrossed. And I think I may know why. In modern day games it strikes me that developers are becoming somewhat complacent with regards to the difficulty that they set their games at. Whilst we are still being spoon-fed so called AAA titles, we are being deceived….
The last game I really played was Return To Castle Wolfenstein, I concede that it was very challenging, the enemies were incredibly smart, and the missions were long. The game was a masterstroke of first person gaming, it may be superseded in the eyes of some by Medal Of honour Allied Assault, but I have not played that, so I cannot judge.
I felt the difficulty of Wolfenstein with every door opened and every enemy encountered, even on easy mode I had no easy time of navigating each expansive mission. However I was able to cope, not necessarily because my eyes were sharp and my wits even sharper, although I would like to think so. But because when I died I did not return to the start of Mission 1: objective 1.
If I felt the overwhelming presence of an omnipresent danger I hit F5, the good old AutoSave. How many times I hit that button I cannot possibly recount, whether that makes me a bad gamer, I cannot say, it is a feature that is included, so I suppose it is not cheating.
These days we hear phrases like Hardcore gamer thrown around as if it still really has a redeeming quality. There are hard games that are still released these days, if a little few and far between. The difficulty is not allowed to supersede the ability of the casual gamer in this industry, after all if the prime gaming demographic cannot feel the excitement of completing a game, perhaps they will stop buying games. A concept which, defies the principles of videogames entirely.
If you have played games like Contra 3 (or Super Probetector by its European name), Final Fight, Battletoads or Streets of Rage then you will know just how dam hard games were during the last gaming age. On my first shot of Contra 3 I didn’t even get 1/3rd of the way through the first level. Enemies are constantly being respawned, and boss creatures are built to be as terribly hard and frustrating to beat as possible. It was a coin op age, a chance to steal as much of your cash as possible.
Games of this era don’t take defensive players with quicksaves to beat; they require practice, skill and finger dexterity. Games of this calibre are all but forgotten, and the gamers who beat them uncelebrated. If you want to be a hardcore gamer, mastery of these games of a bygone era are the only proof I need. I’m going for a shower.
Thanks for reading.
I found myself hypnotically engaged in playing these titles, I had never played any game where I was so engrossed. And I think I may know why. In modern day games it strikes me that developers are becoming somewhat complacent with regards to the difficulty that they set their games at. Whilst we are still being spoon-fed so called AAA titles, we are being deceived….
The last game I really played was Return To Castle Wolfenstein, I concede that it was very challenging, the enemies were incredibly smart, and the missions were long. The game was a masterstroke of first person gaming, it may be superseded in the eyes of some by Medal Of honour Allied Assault, but I have not played that, so I cannot judge.
I felt the difficulty of Wolfenstein with every door opened and every enemy encountered, even on easy mode I had no easy time of navigating each expansive mission. However I was able to cope, not necessarily because my eyes were sharp and my wits even sharper, although I would like to think so. But because when I died I did not return to the start of Mission 1: objective 1.
If I felt the overwhelming presence of an omnipresent danger I hit F5, the good old AutoSave. How many times I hit that button I cannot possibly recount, whether that makes me a bad gamer, I cannot say, it is a feature that is included, so I suppose it is not cheating.
These days we hear phrases like Hardcore gamer thrown around as if it still really has a redeeming quality. There are hard games that are still released these days, if a little few and far between. The difficulty is not allowed to supersede the ability of the casual gamer in this industry, after all if the prime gaming demographic cannot feel the excitement of completing a game, perhaps they will stop buying games. A concept which, defies the principles of videogames entirely.
If you have played games like Contra 3 (or Super Probetector by its European name), Final Fight, Battletoads or Streets of Rage then you will know just how dam hard games were during the last gaming age. On my first shot of Contra 3 I didn’t even get 1/3rd of the way through the first level. Enemies are constantly being respawned, and boss creatures are built to be as terribly hard and frustrating to beat as possible. It was a coin op age, a chance to steal as much of your cash as possible.
Games of this era don’t take defensive players with quicksaves to beat; they require practice, skill and finger dexterity. Games of this calibre are all but forgotten, and the gamers who beat them uncelebrated. If you want to be a hardcore gamer, mastery of these games of a bygone era are the only proof I need. I’m going for a shower.
Thanks for reading.
definitely, otherwise you're never concerned about dying, cos you probably saved 3 seconds ago. Wheres the fun in that?
i agree too. however some games are good as they have save points, instead of saving when you want. i enjoy these games more than ones where you just save when you want.
heh, don't worry, SR has overlooked my brilliance on many occasions....
I was hoping i would come in and see my post in golden colours.
SR must have missed it.
SR must have missed it.
contra 3 rocked, I remember sh*tting myself when for the first time that massive robot ripped the wall open (you know the bit).
I have a SNES emulator for my PC with such great games on.
You're right though, the save (and auto save) has killed off all the skill required to win a game.
I have a SNES emulator for my PC with such great games on.
You're right though, the save (and auto save) has killed off all the skill required to win a game.
Well, erm, I used to play AirAttack online.. and err, that was a biatch to escape from.
Mm, Perfect Dark, and SSBM..
I need more Smash Trophies..
Reminds me, I have to be up at 9:30. Damnit.
Mm, Perfect Dark, and SSBM..
I need more Smash Trophies..
Reminds me, I have to be up at 9:30. Damnit.
After playing through the depressingly difficult Contra 3 for some time, as well as the equally difficult Battletoads, I came to a startling revelation, I smelt. Who knows what bizarre bacteria had spread over my follicles and pores during my two days of retro gaming. It had gone unnoticed by myself that I had been plugging away at these games for most of the day. And indeed my night times were spent playing whitestripes at Kirbys dream course, which I should add is the most excellent multiplayer game ever made.
I found myself hypnotically engaged in playing these titles, I had never played any game where I was so engrossed. And I think I may know why. In modern day games it strikes me that developers are becoming somewhat complacent with regards to the difficulty that they set their games at. Whilst we are still being spoon-fed so called AAA titles, we are being deceived….
The last game I really played was Return To Castle Wolfenstein, I concede that it was very challenging, the enemies were incredibly smart, and the missions were long. The game was a masterstroke of first person gaming, it may be superseded in the eyes of some by Medal Of honour Allied Assault, but I have not played that, so I cannot judge.
I felt the difficulty of Wolfenstein with every door opened and every enemy encountered, even on easy mode I had no easy time of navigating each expansive mission. However I was able to cope, not necessarily because my eyes were sharp and my wits even sharper, although I would like to think so. But because when I died I did not return to the start of Mission 1: objective 1.
If I felt the overwhelming presence of an omnipresent danger I hit F5, the good old AutoSave. How many times I hit that button I cannot possibly recount, whether that makes me a bad gamer, I cannot say, it is a feature that is included, so I suppose it is not cheating.
These days we hear phrases like Hardcore gamer thrown around as if it still really has a redeeming quality. There are hard games that are still released these days, if a little few and far between. The difficulty is not allowed to supersede the ability of the casual gamer in this industry, after all if the prime gaming demographic cannot feel the excitement of completing a game, perhaps they will stop buying games. A concept which, defies the principles of videogames entirely.
If you have played games like Contra 3 (or Super Probetector by its European name), Final Fight, Battletoads or Streets of Rage then you will know just how dam hard games were during the last gaming age. On my first shot of Contra 3 I didn’t even get 1/3rd of the way through the first level. Enemies are constantly being respawned, and boss creatures are built to be as terribly hard and frustrating to beat as possible. It was a coin op age, a chance to steal as much of your cash as possible.
Games of this era don’t take defensive players with quicksaves to beat; they require practice, skill and finger dexterity. Games of this calibre are all but forgotten, and the gamers who beat them uncelebrated. If you want to be a hardcore gamer, mastery of these games of a bygone era are the only proof I need. I’m going for a shower.
Thanks for reading.
I found myself hypnotically engaged in playing these titles, I had never played any game where I was so engrossed. And I think I may know why. In modern day games it strikes me that developers are becoming somewhat complacent with regards to the difficulty that they set their games at. Whilst we are still being spoon-fed so called AAA titles, we are being deceived….
The last game I really played was Return To Castle Wolfenstein, I concede that it was very challenging, the enemies were incredibly smart, and the missions were long. The game was a masterstroke of first person gaming, it may be superseded in the eyes of some by Medal Of honour Allied Assault, but I have not played that, so I cannot judge.
I felt the difficulty of Wolfenstein with every door opened and every enemy encountered, even on easy mode I had no easy time of navigating each expansive mission. However I was able to cope, not necessarily because my eyes were sharp and my wits even sharper, although I would like to think so. But because when I died I did not return to the start of Mission 1: objective 1.
If I felt the overwhelming presence of an omnipresent danger I hit F5, the good old AutoSave. How many times I hit that button I cannot possibly recount, whether that makes me a bad gamer, I cannot say, it is a feature that is included, so I suppose it is not cheating.
These days we hear phrases like Hardcore gamer thrown around as if it still really has a redeeming quality. There are hard games that are still released these days, if a little few and far between. The difficulty is not allowed to supersede the ability of the casual gamer in this industry, after all if the prime gaming demographic cannot feel the excitement of completing a game, perhaps they will stop buying games. A concept which, defies the principles of videogames entirely.
If you have played games like Contra 3 (or Super Probetector by its European name), Final Fight, Battletoads or Streets of Rage then you will know just how dam hard games were during the last gaming age. On my first shot of Contra 3 I didn’t even get 1/3rd of the way through the first level. Enemies are constantly being respawned, and boss creatures are built to be as terribly hard and frustrating to beat as possible. It was a coin op age, a chance to steal as much of your cash as possible.
Games of this era don’t take defensive players with quicksaves to beat; they require practice, skill and finger dexterity. Games of this calibre are all but forgotten, and the gamers who beat them uncelebrated. If you want to be a hardcore gamer, mastery of these games of a bygone era are the only proof I need. I’m going for a shower.
Thanks for reading.