Random Gaming Thoughts

[AppleQueso]

I can't deal with a terrible current gen title, but there's something quaint and endearing about bad retro games.

Stuff like early 3D games where everyone's being super creative trying to figure out how to make 3D gameplay actually 'work' is pretty endearing to me, even when it fails spectacularly.

Even stuff like Bubsy 3D, or Superman on N64?

Bubsy 3D was in development pre-Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot, and yeah it's hard to touch but it's sorta neat to look at, and honestly I think it's pretty ambitious of the developers that they wanted to try and be one of the first out the gate with a 3D platformer.

Is it fun? Lol, no, not at all. But certainly it's interesting from that sort of historical perspective.

Superman 64 was a trainwreck top to bottom.

I'd say both are worst picking up and trying out at least once.

[Erik_Twice]

As the year comes to a close I've been thinking what I want my blog to be.

I think what I want to talk about are games that "matter". Not neccessarily great games or historically important games, but simply games I can see an audience for or that have something that makes them stand out. I don't have a lot of time to write and so dedicating space to Rad Racer that could have gone to, say, F-Zero seems like a waste. I want people to be able to see a list of reviews and find something interesting in most of them or at least wonder why that game they have never heard of is up there with those masterpieces of why I have a dissenting opinion on GTA V or Toe Jam & Earl.

I also want to keep a critical tone. I think most places that talk about older games tend to do so in a historical or enthusiast manner but there's also room for something with more edge. Why does Gradius matter? Why is it interesting and why that other old game is not? Stuff like that.

I want to take a cue from Hardcore Gaming 101 in that it's a site you check out because just reading about the games is fun and you learn about stuff you may have heard about not because you are going to actually buy the games.

Still, I really wish I had more time to update more often. I have updated very little this year :/

[lisalover1]

Stuff like early 3D games where everyone's being super creative trying to figure out how to make 3D gameplay actually 'work' is pretty endearing to me, even when it fails spectacularly.

Even stuff like Bubsy 3D, or Superman on N64?

Bubsy 3D was in development pre-Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot, and yeah it's hard to touch but it's sorta neat to look at, and honestly I think it's pretty ambitious of the developers that they wanted to try and be one of the first out the gate with a 3D platformer.

Is it fun? Lol, no, not at all. But certainly it's interesting from that sort of historical perspective.

Superman 64 was a trainwreck top to bottom.

I'd say both are worst picking up and trying out at least once.

I think I heard once that the lead designer at Accolade behind Bubsy 3D went to E3 the year SM64 was being shown off, took one look at it, and audibly muttered "Well, fuck.". If that doesn't perfectly sum up the rest of that game's development, I don't know what does. XD

Anyway, I agree about there being a certain charm to low-poly 3D games - I feel it is a visual aesthetic that is underestimated and underused these days, and still has value.

[Ziggy]

(Still playing RE4)... I'm up to the part where Ashley gets taken again and you end up in those sewers. I just beat that boss, that crazy alien thing. I think that might have been the scariest part of the game so far. The dark tunnels probably helped, but that boss was pretty damn scary. Got my ass handed to me a few times, but then I finally slowed him down with the liquid nitro and blew him up with the rocket launcher. I have no idea how I would beat him without the rocket, but I'm glad that thing isn't taking up room in my attache case anymore.

So the Broken Butterfly is awesome. I'm gonna upgrade the shit out of it. I was able to kill those guys with their eyes stitched shut easily (just two shots to the back each). I'm also liking the mine thrower, I might upgrade that a little too. What does the scope do for that weapon? Is it for long range? It's better than using grenades because you can aim with it, and it sticks to the enemy. It can also potentially take up less room in the case. Sure, the gun itself takes up some room, but you can have it fully loaded with mine darts. Plus, you can have 5 darts in an ammo box which only takes up 2 cells. So it's like having 5 grenades take up just 2 cells instead of 10.

[SNESdrunk]

I love these SNES Atlas videos, and I'm wondering if there's a game out there like this, where you see a HUGE section of the map at once as you play?

[noiseredux]

so The Crew has gotten pretty meh reviews, but I'm actually having lots of fun with it.

[the7k]

Just watching the "Let's Plays" of The Crew, it looks extremely buggy. Game breaking bugs, even.

Some people argue that bugs shouldn't factor into a review. I'll never understand this view.

Hopefully they fix the bugs by the time I get a 'current-gen system', as I am interested. Looks a lot like Burnout Paradise, and I enjoyed that game.

[Damm64]

Just watching the "Let's Plays" of The Crew, it looks extremely buggy. Game breaking bugs, even.

Some people argue that bugs shouldn't factor into a review. I'll never understand this view.

Hopefully they fix the bugs by the time I get a 'current-gen system', as I am interested. Looks a lot like Burnout Paradise, and I enjoyed that game.

People often forget that games are products, and if a product has a fault it should be mentioned and rated according to the performance and if even with said fault the product is still reliable or usseful.

Games are products that we buy don't make a less thing calling it "it's just a game" and don't make excuses like "it's hard to make games give them a break"... just... stop all that.

Sorry mini rant

[noiseredux]

I can't speak for any other reviewers, but I've played about 5 hrs now and seen no bugs at all - nevermind game-breaking ones. I have seen the servers go down once - which admittedly sucks, but a half hour later it was back up.

The single player story is nothing special (you're run-o-the-mill GTA/etc storyline), but the missions are at least fun. The whole "racing game as MMO" thing is interesting though. You've got dudes all over the map to interact with or ignore as you see fit. You level up your car via various races, side-missions and tests of skill.

That said, my favorite thing to do in this game is ignore everything and just pick a direction and drive fast. The sight-seeing in this game is stunning. The sense of speed is great. And once you find a car you actually like, the controls feel decent enough.

The story starts in Detroit, but I've now made my way up to NH in 'free drive' and am planning a cross-country trip from there to CA which I've heard takes about an hour.

[RCBH928]

I'm sure someone has said it before, but it's often harder for a game to enjoyed for its awfulness because unlike film or music games are not a passive experience.

This is why I asked this question, are bad controls or frustrating designs(long save points, lots of back-tracking, glitches) part of the "b-game" experience? Or is the b-game experience has to do with the presentation of the game only?


@Ack
Tell me some of the ones you enjoyed

@FerretGamer

Tell me some of the ones you enjoyed more. Some games on that forum thread probably does not match the B-Movies standard. Vanquish, Duke Nukem Forever, Red steel 2,and Conduit.

@BogusMeatFactory

FMV is basically an interactive B-Movie. I wonder if there was a Triple A FMV. I live video in games, and it was mind blowing in the mid-90's to see video in a game. best...graphics...ever...


btw how did Dark Star sales do? I believe forum member here J T was very closely following that game

@BoneSnapDeez

thanks its in my reading list now