FC 45: Retro Game Challenge

[SilentSnake]

Originally Posted by KCar

It really is the most aggressively average and nondescript game title you could imagine, when you think about it.

I also like how so far, two pages of Fun Club talk is bitching about how the game isn't out yet.

Come now. There's at least one page of actual nuggety game talk goodness. And this game needs all the hyping it can get.

Coffee: Don't forget there is a place for that.

[Morbid Coffee]

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

Coffee: Don't forget there is a place for that.

I know, but I'm saving that for when I actually have something to discuss.

Right now, the only thing I could post in there would be that I abused the auto fight button and the recovery spring in the dungeon.

[Josh_AnimeBum]

I picked up my copy during my lunch break, so I'll toss up my impressions of the game tonight after I get a chance to actually play it. (I doubt my students would be happy with me if I played games during class, although sometimes they do the same on their cell phones...)

The manual is pretty nifty looking though, and thankfully in full color. I also learned that there is a in-game memo system that I don't think I remember seeing mentioned in any of the review that allows you to keep the cheat codes handy.

[Octopus Prime]

EB didn't get it in today.

I'm sad.

[Red Hedgehog]

Oh yeah! I knew there was a reason I worked from home today. I think I may have to take a break to the nearest Gamestop/Best Buy.

[Sporophyte]

It's time for game master arino to get stomped.

Game on.

[Calorie Mate]

Shipped from Amazon today, for $27.99. It will be arriving on Friday.


...too bad I'll probably only play it until DQV comes out, but whatever. This is too awesome to pass up.

[Lakupo]

I am a moron who can't read, and it wasn't a delivery estimate, but a SHIPPING estimate, the real delivery estimate is like, two weeks to a month away. I knew they hold on to things to punish people for using free shipping, so this is what I get for being cheap, but I could really use that five bucks. The order is "processing", so I can't upgrade it, either. So yay, frustrated email sent off to Amazon.

[SilentSnake]

Retro Love Explosion!!

I got it and beat the Cosmic Gate and Haggle Man challenges. Oh my gosh I love this game as much as I thought it would. This is suprising in Cosmic Gate's case, as I'm not the biggest Galaga fan. However, because it was so similar while adding new wrinkles, I was completely enraptured. The asteroids as bonus stages as well as the warp gates really changed the way I played the game. The single power-up was cool, but it really didn't do much for me besides boosting my score, which helped. And those asteroids look way too good to be 8-bit. Suspicious!

Haggle Man is an interesting take on the infinitely-scrolling platformer. There wasn't a lot that stood out really, but every single mechanic was rock solid. The one thing that did stand out was the door combat. It seems so weird and awkward to be defeating enemies by slamming doors, but it absolutely works better than you would ever think. They got the timing exactly right and the hit boxes are forgiving. It's charming, plain and simple.

Finally, I can't post without bringing up the magazines. Not only do they simulate real magazines and give cheat codes, but they also have familiar editor-in-chiefs. I completely lost my mind when I saw Shoe in there as well as a reference to Milkman. Of course, then he left and the new one was...Dave Halverson...

[Balrog]

I love it in Cosmic Gate when you get the upgraded shot that takes out an entire column of enemies.

[SilentSnake]

Originally Posted by Not_from_LOTR_Balrog

I love it in Cosmic Gate when you get the upgraded shot that takes out an entire column of enemies.

I'm not really good at counting bullets and also lining up the shot at the same time. But when I happen to do it, it's beautiful.

[Morbid Coffee]

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

I'm not really good at counting bullets and also lining up the shot at the same time. But when I happen to do it, it's beautiful.

Isn't it that every third shot is a missile? I usually just wasted the first two bullets, then lined up my third shot to take each row out.

It's especially useful during the asteroid levels.

[SilentSnake]

Agh! It won't let me use the invincibility cheat in Rally King! What am I doing wrong? I'm pressing Select while holding left on the title screen just like it says, but the thing that is supposed to happen doesn't!

[Morbid Coffee]

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

Cheating stuff

Unless they changed it, it should be (Up-Left + Select).

[SilentSnake]

Hey I got it. I just had to press them at the same time rather than one while holding the other. I guess? Oh well. Cheat on!

[Red Hedgehog]

I have this in my hands!

But I have work to do so expect more news... later.

[Reluctant Hero]

I picked my copy on my lunch also. By I recently moved to a new office and I've lost all the privacy of my prior office, so no more slow-work-DS-gaming for me. Can't wait to play this tonight!

[Starman Deluxe]

Damn, the second challenge was really difficult for me. It took at least a dozen attempts just to enter two gates on a single credit!

[Sporophyte]

The editor pictures in the magazines are amazing and wonderful. Now on to Guadia Quest.

[SilentSnake]

Question about that: Who is the third one? His name is Greg, but I don't recognize him.

[Knight]

This game is awesome. I haven't even beaten the 3rd challenge of Cosmic Gate yet and I want the sequel to come out here.

[Pseudonym]

Well, I did my part! I made sure the game was totally sold out at my Gamestop! Because they only ordered one! My access to the game was held up for a quite a bit due to a dude trying to negotiate pawning stuff off for 20 minutes, a Haggleman if you will! Seriously, it was way annoying.

Even halfway through the opening, I could tell this game is made with love. I love the atmosphere of the game. Kid Arnio is a total hoot. I'm not through Cosmic Gate yet, but I'm doing pretty well. I was stuck on the gate challenge for quite a bit out of pure stupidity. Although I claim to always read the manual, I apparently don't pay attention to it very well. :( But the upside was that I had gained so much practice when I was flailing about, getting a huge asteroid was no problem! I'm going to go for the next challenge before bed. Then I think I'll bring it along to work with me for my lunch break tomorrow.

[nunix]

I'm disappointed they don't ask me to blow in the mic to blow in the cart. =(

EDIT: Was 4 for 4 on the challenges for first tries, that was fun. Fourth challenge was intense.. managed my 200k in Stage 16, with 5 guys (lost a guy in the first asteroid stage). I shooted so many asteroids.

EDITEDIT: Really could've done without the voice overs.

[Warg]

Well, I've done my duty to support the game, having crammed it into my budget. Probably won't be buying another game for a little while, so I'll be enjoying this, Shiren's Final Puzzle, and free indie games for the time being.

There was a Game Crazy closest to me that actually had pre-orders for all 4 of its copies, and they were all picked up -- so even if I couldn't get it from there, that was encouraging to see in terms of sales.

The next closest store to me, a GameStop, had no pre-orders, and so I easily picked it up.

It still sits in the shrinkwrap while I finish other things I need to do.

[Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by nunix

EDITEDIT: Really could've done without the voice overs.

I kind of like being cheered on, although I haven't played very long. I could see it getting old. I wonder if I'm going to get the same reaction from Arnio when I play the RPG. RPG's don't really seem like a "woohoo!" sort of situation to me, more of a "go read a game magazine while your friend hogs the TV all day" sort of situation.

[SilentSnake]

Originally Posted by Pseudonym

I kind of like being cheered on, although I haven't played very long. I could see it getting old. I wonder if I'm going to get the same reaction from Arnio when I play the RPG. RPG's don't really seem like a "woohoo!" sort of situation to me, more of a "go read a game magazine while your friend hogs the TV all day" sort of situation.

He gets excited during the action bits and bored during the exploring bits. He also acts sarcastically facinated when you talk to someone. The game perfectly captures the phenomenon of backseat gaming.

[Chasmang]

So, what's going on with these weird shape-attributes on the weapons in Guadia Quest?

[Parish]

Originally Posted by Chasmang

So, what's going on with these weird shape-attributes on the weapons in Guadia Quest?

It's basically a roulette wheel. Each shape is a different kind of attack -- best attack, sharp attack, etc. -- and the roulette randomly stops when your turn comes up to determine the damage you inflict. It's kind of like a roll of the die without being quite so prosaic.

[pence]

When I picked this up at GameStop, the dude at the counter said 'this thing's getting pretty good reviews, I might have to check it out...' I explained the concept, including the in-game magazines, and he read the back of the box before he rang me up - there is a 10% possibility that I just sold a game to a GameStop employee.

Of course, he could always just open the store's new copy of the game and play that instead.

[Knight]

Arrgh! There's another Rally King? Damn you Arino!