| Author |
Topic:
Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Eternal Champions" & "Zelda II: TAOL")
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-Games
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 4:25pm
Subject:
Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Eternal Champions" & "Zelda II: TAOL")
- Date Edited:
6/2 10:43am (7 edits total)
Edited By:
The2ndQuest
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With retro game titles making a comeback- as in-game bonuses (such as Animal Crossing, Ninja Gaiden or Spy Hunter, for example), rereleases (NES Classic Series on GBA, "Sonic Gems Collection" or "arcade treasure"-type collections) and online services (like Gametap or, soon, Nintendo's Virtual Console feature on the Revolution), more younger gamers are gaining access to Old School titles from consoles no longer available, and older gamers are getting an opportunity to play some titles they overlooked originally or still love o this day.
So, the aim of this thread is to provide an ongoing hosted discussion of a pair of retro titles (one 8-bit and one 16-bit title) selected at intervals. As a starting point, I'm going to go through the supposed list of titles to likely be initially available for the Revolution's Virtual Console (so far as the NES and SNES lists go, at least), and as we complete that, the scope of the discussion can expand to other 8 and 16 bit titles on both those platforms as well as others such as the Master System and Genesis, etc.
A running index of each title (including roughly about where in the thread you'll find each title's discussion) will be kept in this first thread for reference purposes.
(8-BIT)
NES:
-Balloon Fight (6/5/06)
-Ice Climber (2/20/06)
-Mega Man 2 (6/5/06)
-Punch-Out!! (1/31/06)
-Yoshi (2/3/06)
(16-BIT)
SNES:
-Battle Clash (2/20/06)
-Contra III: The Alien Wars (5/22/08)
-Earthbound (2/8/06)
-Illusion of Gaia (1/31/06)
-Uniracers (2/3/06)
Genesis:
-Streets of Rage 2 (5/22/08)
-----signature-----
K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker?
Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
"If I don't die, I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth." - Drew_Atreides
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-Games
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
Registered:
Jan '00
|
Date Posted:
1/31/06 4:26pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
- Date Edited:
2/1/06 11:55pm (5 edits total)
Edited By:
The2ndQuest
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Our first two games: "Punch-Out!!" and "Illusion of Gaia"
-Punch-Out!! (1987)
 
 
 
 
A Rocky-esque premise kicks off a classic boxing title, as "Little Mac" fights his up through the pro boxing circuits, against opponent's such as Piston Honda, Mr. Sandman and King Hippo (most well known, due to the infamous tactic to defeating him, as well as his supporting role in the Captain N cartoon series). Mario also cameos as the referee in the game.
Originally released as "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!", it was eventually rereleased sans the boxer's name after the license expired, "Mr Dream" replacing Tyson as the game's final (extremely freaking difficult) opponent.
T2Q's take: I must have rented this game a billion times (certainly one of those "old faithfuls" to fall back on when there was nothing better to rent at the time). Never made it to Tyson (nor played the non-Tyson rerelease), but could usually make it to the middleweight fighters.
I played against all the characters though, through the use of the passcodes to access them, so I did at least get to experience having my ass royally handed to me, even if I didn't earn my way to those ass-handings.
-Illusion of Gaia (1994)
 
 
 
An over-head perspective Adventure/RPG game in the vein of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, set in a fantasy version of historically-based locales in the past during "the age of exploration", as Will- a young boy with growing telekinetic abilities.
When Will stumbles across a portal into Dark Space, he encounters Gaia, who warns him of a returning evil in the form of a comet that brings ill fortune with it. Venturing out from his town of South Cape, joined by various companions, Will will explore sites such as the Incan ruins, Mu, the Great Wall of China and even the Egyptian pyramids, leading to The Tower of Babel, where Will's father dissapeared a year prior.
Along the way Will gains the ability to change into two other warriors- the Dark Knight Freedan and Shadow, a being sorta like the T-1000 from Terminator 2.
Though stand-alone in nature, Illusion of Gaia is technically the second game in the Soul Blazer series (preceeded by Soul Blazer and followed by Terranigma, though the latter was never released in the US), a loose connection hidden in a bonus level if all 50 red jewelks throughout the game are collected .
T2Q's take: One of my top 5 favorite SNES games easily. It has a definite Zelda-vibe to it, but still feels unique. Good use of Mode 7 effects for the map journies and some great level locations make it a very involving adventure that i adore quite a bit. The various character abilities switch things up a good deal (though I really wish Shadow was available in the game longer than he is- he only shows up towards the last couple levels of the game). Great music too.
-----signature-----
K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker?
Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
"If I don't die, I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth." - Drew_Atreides
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Drew_Atreides
Registered:
Apr '02
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 4:44pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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..."Punch-Out' is just one of those rare games that.. No matter the generation, i think EVERYONE can pick it up and play...
Even today, it's still ridiculously fun.
I remember when "Illusions of Gaia" first got released, but i don't recall ever actually playing it (i didn't own my own SNES, it was my loyal videogame compatriot who did. Every saturday afternoon was "SNES" day where i'd head over, and we'd play whatever game he had rented that weekend)
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Don't mess with Tony Jaa's elephants.
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NightHunter319
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 4:46pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
- Date Edited:
1/31/06 5:03pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
NightHunter319
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Mike Tyson= One of the most challenging bosses ever.
But anyways, both great games, although I liked Punch Out in
the arcades better than the NES version, it still has a place in my gaming heart for a good solid game.
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son_of_the_tear
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 4:59pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Punch-Out is one of my favorite games of all time. And to this day, I still consider it and all its incarnations, as the best boxing game out there. It is not only very fun, but it has personality, style and great comic visuals.
However, let me add that Punch Out came out in the arcades in 1984 before the infamous NES version. They are very alike and even share many of the same foes... except it had foes the NES version did not have... such as Pizza Pasta and other colorful cultural stereotypes. It was also very innovative, because the controls for the game were two punching glove like handles. The arcade version was also much tougher.
Super Punch Out was also released in the arcades, which was more like Punch Out 1.5 and was even harder.
To this day, I awat a new game in Punch Out. Either on GBA, DS, GameCube... whatever. Because Super Punch Out for the SNES was an amazing and worthy follow up to the NES game.
I still have my original NES copy and still pop it in every now and then. I mean, I get no greater pleasure than beating the snot out of Glass Joe and Don Flamenco and his incredibly flaming dance and taunt. The game was simple, relying on patterns that got more and more insane as you progressed (except Don Flamenco... who was a punk meant to be pummeled). I mean, I remember the satisfaction I got when I figured out Tiger's weakness and was all like "Ohhh, the stone in his turban just glowed! You're going down you teleporting son of a @#!&$!"
It took me the longest time to beat Mike Tyson. The longest. In the end, sheer luck got me through him. Because not only are his patterns fast and unpredictable... but those damn single hit killers of his were brutal.
As for Gaia... I got it upon first release and I can say that I did not click with it. It had the right ingredients and nice visuals and an interesting world... but Zelda did all those aspects much better and thus I was very dissapointed. So I wish I could add more thoughts on this game... but I didn't eveb finish it due to my dissapointment.
Anyway, great topic 
I hope it stays around.
For the next discussion (maybe next week?)... I'd love to add it. I'd love to touch on Earthbound and Lunar.
I'd also recommend, for this thread... we should avoid Super Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy and those other big guns that are discussed to death on these boards to this very day.
-----signature-----
"The U.S. under Bush is nothing like the Empire. For starters, Palpatine was intelligent." I am Spartacus!
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-Games
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
Registered:
Jan '00
|
Date Posted:
1/31/06 9:04pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
- Date Edited:
1/31/06 9:11pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
The2ndQuest
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I agree that the uber-titles should generallybe shyed away from, in favor of other classics that aren't as well-known or as accessible. Though there are some exceptions, I think (for example- Super Metroid is the only entry in that franchise not readily available for any current platform and thus could be considered inaccessible to the masses, but I'd still hold off on something that big for awhile).
As for Gaia- while there is a similar style to the Zelda series, I think it's unfair to directly comapre it to Zelda (especially when ALTTP is arguably the best entry in the entire series)- IOG is it's own beast. Though it probably has a bit of a slow start, i think it picks up pretty quickly once you get out of the village and start visiting other places.
Earthbound would be fine for an installment- though I'd want to mix it in with a non-RPG NES title for variety (compared to Lunar). Also conforms better to the initial "highlights of the supposed VC launch titles" concept.
-----signature-----
K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker?
Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
"If I don't die, I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth." - Drew_Atreides
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Soontir-Fel
Registered:
Dec '01
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 9:42pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Punch out.
Memories.
/tears form.
It's all coming back to me.
Up at 1:00 in the morning, a soda to the right of me. Me at the main tv in the house with the volume turned to the point where you can barely hear it, as to not wake up the others. Eyes blood shoot, fingers callased and numb. Getting to Tyson just to be beaten senseless. Saying the few curse words I knew at that age and crawling into bed. Only to arise 5 minutes later saying that this would be the last time this night, and that I would beat him.
I never did.
-----signature-----
Errent_Venture Wrote " Listen to Soontir-Fel for he is a man ruling over other men."
Ender_Sai wrote "In other news, I confer Modly praise on Soontir and Rogue_wookie for being superior men, worth of the title of Spartan. They, may keep their penises"
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FlareStorm
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
1/31/06 10:01pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Soontir-Fel posted:
Punch out.
Memories.
/tears form.
It's all coming back to me.
Plus one.
Played this about a year ago, I still remembered EVERY special trick to beat all the guys. EXCEPT FOR SUPER MACHO MAN! (I'm talking the version where Tyson in the last guy). Played that game SOOO much and only got to Tyson like twice.
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dp4m
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 9:03am
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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007-373-5963
Tyson was a total pain to beat. ONE screw-up and you were done-for.
I actually DID manage to beat the game all the way through (without the 007 code) and go undefeated, but that we freakishly hard.
-----signature-----
"Looks like you're about to get pwned" - Eric Cartman
"Awarding experience points for cleverly and creatively generating an enjoyable experience. How warped is that?" - Darths & Droids
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Soontir-Fel
Registered:
Dec '01
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 10:32am
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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This is what Punch Out made me feel like.
-----signature-----
Errent_Venture Wrote " Listen to Soontir-Fel for he is a man ruling over other men."
Ender_Sai wrote "In other news, I confer Modly praise on Soontir and Rogue_wookie for being superior men, worth of the title of Spartan. They, may keep their penises"
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son_of_the_tear
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 3:12pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Hmm, instead of Lunar... Earrthbound paired up with Streets of Rage or Kung-Fu
-----signature-----
"The U.S. under Bush is nothing like the Empire. For starters, Palpatine was intelligent." I am Spartacus!
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son_of_the_tear
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 5:44pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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And also, I agree. There are big titles out there that have been discussed... but not in the range of Mario or Zelda.
Like you said... Super Metroid and even the original Metroid.
Or Mega Man 2... because while Mega Man was the first and was slightly innovative... it was 2 that gave it huge acclaim and success by fixing all the problems that plagued the original and just improving everything. Because while thhe NES had 6 Megaman games... only 2, 3 and to a lesser degree, the first one are considered classics and solid games. 4, 5 and 6 were... duds.
-----signature-----
"The U.S. under Bush is nothing like the Empire. For starters, Palpatine was intelligent." I am Spartacus!
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Drew_Atreides
Registered:
Apr '02
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 6:24pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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..yeah, MegaMan 2 was definitely the landmark for that particular franchise.. I still remember the day that my friend got that one as a birthday gift..Spent the entire night playing it..
That was when i became the master of the METAL MAN stage (course i think nowadays everyone is the master of that one.. At that point in time, though, i was the only person who could do it :P)
-----signature-----
Don't mess with Tony Jaa's elephants.
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son_of_the_tear
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 7:48pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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hehe
And to this day... Quick Man's stage still makes my brain implode. Who ever the hell designed his stage was a a damn sadist.
But Quick Man is my all time favorite Mega Man boss ever 
-----signature-----
"The U.S. under Bush is nothing like the Empire. For starters, Palpatine was intelligent." I am Spartacus!
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Padawan915
Registered:
Oct '02
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 7:59pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Wow, great topic.
Punch Out was a solid game, always fun to pick up. I only made it to the mid-rounds myself as well. I honestly don't think I've ever seen anyone ever beat Mike Tyson.
I remember Illusion of Gaia big time as well. I remember all the hype it got in Nintendo Power (yes, I subscribed from 1990 until 1997). It was a solid Action/Adventure/RPG game. It kinda reminded me of Secret of Mana (another game I hope that gets discussed eventually). But I got to the final boss and could never beat it. A great game all around though.
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"So I live by these two words, **** you, pay me" ` - Kanye West
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Indiana_Fett
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
2/1/06 8:12pm
Subject:
RE: Retro Gaming Retrospective (Now Discussing "Punch Out!!" & "Illusion of Gaia")
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Aside from being a popular YTMND fad, Punchout was very fun for me. Taking out Piston Honda or that guy that looks like Adam Sandler. Good fun. Earthbound? I loved it, if someone mentioned it.
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"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't!"-Gen. George S. Patton http://getphpbb.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=shinycouncil
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