Games

[dng]

Yeah, I was going to say that US Gold somehow managed to be the most depressing company in the world, despite the intoxicating promise of their big boxes, bright covers, screenshots from other formats

[blombluss]

I'm prolly misrememberin' 'ere, but US Gold set up a software label called 'Go!', who seemed to continually release the worst games ever. EDIT: Except for Bionic Commando. And probably other games, too.

[vom]

still seems so weird that you could buy computer games in Boots

[Bruce Sato]

I bought Lemmings for the NES in Boots, and loads of videos too. And even some Transformers, back in the mid 80s.

[blombluss]

Last night I watched this Top 40 Best Sharp MZ-700 Games video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OOcaGI8Mco

I find watching stuff like that most relaxing, and almost a video-gaming parallel universe to my own 80s gaming history. You know/recognise most of the games, but they just look a bit different or 'off' to the C64/CPC/Spectrum/Beeb/etc systems that we know and love.

Like 'ere with Metro Cross:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36RNMn4xZZU

And Space Harrier, obviously.

Lovely colourful, blocky, character set goodness!

[endar]

looks like petscii

[blombluss]

Mans finest and most important invention!

[endar]

Verily

Have you seen Digiloi or Monstro Giganto on C64? They are rather fucking amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V26WAlHFGCs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UNMSeS5l4k

[blombluss]

Indeed I have, Sir, and they are both sensational. I am tempted to explore Petscii, I have to admit.

[An Unicorn]

Yeah, I was going to say that US Gold somehow managed to be the most depressing company in the world, despite the intoxicating promise of their big boxes, bright covers, screenshots from other formats

Didn't they do various Olumpuc Games?
It was incredible how I always got suckered in by the promise of 20 DIFFERENT GAME MODES!!! without ever realizing that it's basically 4 mechanics dressed up in various arrangements ("downhill" vs. "giant slalom"), different spritesets ("bobsled" vs. "luge"), or "just making it longer" (250m vs 500m vs 1000m vs 2000m "speed skating")

[An Unicorn]

Also I was always shit at lugesled no matter how matter how much i got better at other vidya games as I got older.

[blombluss]

I used to think Winter Games on the C64 was the most beautiful looking game I'd ever seen.

[vom]

California Games was fucking great and you'll never convince me otherwise

Name one other game that more accurately modelled the frustration of failing to catch a frisbee

[blombluss]

California Games was reet proper lovely.

My 'From Excellent (1) To Very Good (5) _____ Games' list is thus:

1) Winter Games
2) Summer Games
3) California Games
4) Summer Games II
5) World Games

[An Unicorn]

California Games was fucking ace, especially hitting the seagull with the hackey-sack.

California Games 2 was fucking awful

(F̶r̶i̶s̶b̶e̶e̶ "Flying disc" was rubbish though)

[endar]

A) Hyper Sports

[blombluss]

When I got into the 'zone' whilst skeet shooting on Hyper Sports, I felt as powerful as Thor!

[endar]

B) Combat School

[blombluss]

I never really got on with Combat School, I guess I'm just not made of the right stuff. Lovely looking game, mind.

[Bruce Sato]

Gosh, Elite Dangerous finally did the add-on that lets you get out of your spaceship and walk around. Although I'll probably have to get a new PC before I can play it.

[endar]

That's only just come out? Bloody

[endar]

I never really got on with Combat School, I guess I'm just not made of the right stuff. Lovely looking game, mind.

Never been a fan of joystick busters, especially now that the joysticks are old, fragile and expensive.

My brother had the 2 games i mentioned so we played them quite a bit in 2-player. I may even have beat him at swimming on occasion

[The Robotic Anomaly]

I've been really enjoying Halo

Please don't ban me

[Bruce Sato]

Halo and goodbye

[The Robotic Anomaly]

I like the bits where you're not sure if you're meant to think all the army stuff is cool or just extremely silly

[An Unicorn]

Halo and goodbye

Halo

Halo Halo

I don't know why you say goodbye,
I say Halo

[dng]

I've been playing Zelda skyward sword (the Wii Zelda with the motion controls) with my niece and nephew, and it is so slow it's unbelievable. Four hours so far and we've yet to get anywhere near anything interesting or exciting (although they both seem to be enjoying it so what do I know)

[dng]

Also I've been playing yakuza 6 (not with my niece and nephew) and it is worse than yakuza 0 (the immediately preceding game) in every possible way. It's a bit depressing really

Also they've upped the creepiness/grottiness scale in this one, so much so there's now an internet cam girl subsection, which is genuinely and literally just some webcam footage of Japanese pornstars giggling at the camera and stripping down to their underwear, with not even any jokes or ironic distancing involved at all to try and convince you it's okay

[endar]

Yakuza 7: Hot Tub Edition

[blombluss]

I can imagine Stan and Jack from On The Buses playing Yakuza 6.

[endar]

and having a right old laugh

[endar]

Unlike David, who frowns sternly the whole time

[richschnauzer]

[endar]

Lies and overhype

[Bruce Sato]

I've been playing Zelda skyward sword (the Wii Zelda with the motion controls) with my niece and nephew, and it is so slow it's unbelievable. Four hours so far and we've yet to get anywhere near anything interesting or exciting (although they both seem to be enjoying it so what do I know)

I still haven't played this, despite owning it ever since it came out. I'll probably buy the Switch version and then not play that either.

[dng]

I remember liking this when I played it before (ten years ago, aaaargh). but not so much now

[blombluss]

I've still got that magazine and my copy of Kid Gloves, somewhere!

[blombluss]

Unlike David, who frowns sternly the whole time

"I 'ate you Sega!", yells dng as he channels Blakey!

[Gravid]

I've been playing Zelda skyward sword (the Wii Zelda with the motion controls) with my niece and nephew, and it is so slow it's unbelievable. Four hours so far and we've yet to get anywhere near anything interesting or exciting (although they both seem to be enjoying it so what do I know)

I still haven't played this, despite owning it ever since it came out. I'll probably buy the Switch version and then not play that either.

It's easily the worst 3D Zelda.

[Gravid]

Not quite as bad as that one on the DS where you rode around in a little train or something, which is the only one I never bothered to finish.

[Bruce Sato]

I have evolved on Pacman 99. New tactics mean I'm winning 30-40% of the time rather than one game in 15. Now I'd better stop playing it again for a while.

[blombluss]

If you continue improving at that rate, Bruce, you could become the next Billy Mitchell*!

*The Donkey Kong record holder or the one in Eastenders or both!

[Chortle Hound]

I remember buying C64 games from huge buckets filled with them and placed next to the checkout in lots of different shops.

[blombluss]

Who needed Steam when you had a huge bucket full of software!

[The Robotic Anomaly]

I remember buying Batman for the C64 on our way home from Yorkshire. It was on one of those wonderful spinning carousel things and I was terrified it would be shit.

Luckily it was ace

[vom]

Hyper Light Drifter

this was pretty great! it took me a little while to get into, it kinda just throws you into a sci-fi world (with lots of Studio Ghibli influences) and doesn't tell you what to do. but once I figured out how not to die all the time etc. I had a lovely time. good game. GREAT music.

[dng]

i finished yakuza 6. it was terrible in almost every way

[dng]

then i bought spelunky for some reason even though i've already played it a billion times on other consoles

[dng]

(the reason was it was 3 pounds)

[vom]

I will definitely be buying it again when it comes out on switch