How would you fix your favorite flawed games?

[pook99]

Battletoads (nes)

Simple fix, add unlimited continues and a save feature, while I have beaten the game the difficulty is way too offputting for the average gamer, the difficulty is compounded by the fact that you have 3 lives, 3 continues and then have to start at the beginning every time. A save feature, combined with unlimited continues, would allow a far greater number of players to experience this wonderful game in its entirety. Keep the limited lives as unlimited lives would make certain levels a bit too easy.

[MrPopo]

I'm deeply confused. You say the topic is about flawed games but then you use Star Control 2 as your example.

[marurun]

I think the premise is also a bit flawed, despite being an otherwise neat idea. I think we should stick to simple, definable fixes or enhancements. In your Star Control 2 example, making planet exploration more interesting and rebalancing elements are so general that they could potentially involve massive numbers of fairly fundamental alterations. I think it’s actually more compelling to think of how the most simple and basic changes can alter a game.

[MrPopo]

I think the premise is also a bit flawed, despite being an otherwise neat idea. I think we should stick to simple, definable fixes or enhancements. In your Star Control 2 example, making planet exploration more interesting and rebalancing elements are so general that they could potentially involve massive numbers of fairly fundamental alterations. I think it’s actually more compelling to think of how the most simple and basic changes can alter a game.

Example: Ultraman, have the energy bar not deplete when you use a shot (maybe full power drops you to level 3). As it stands, since you need to use a full power shot to finish the fight and it charges so slowly that the stage timer becomes a concern if you use any lower power shots, the shot feature is effectively useless and leaves you with just your punch and kick. Adding the shot would give you more options.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Battletoads...add a basic password feature.

Castlevania II...more signposting, a better translation, and 1-2 more bosses.

NInja Gaiden III...add a basic password feature or allow unlimited continues.

Do these work?

[marurun]

Turrican (any version): more obvious visual indicator and sound of taking damage, minor invulnerability period on taking damages, minor animation jolt on taking damage.

[pook99]

Comix Zone: remove the annoying feature that makes you lose health every time you punch or kick an object, maybe add like 1 or 2 lives so its not a one death game over

Actraiser 2: add a world building sim in between levels like the original had, but updated a bit

[BoneSnapDeez]

Turrican (any version): more obvious visual indicator and sound of taking damage, minor invulnerability period on taking damages, minor animation jolt on taking damage.

I agree with this.

Have you played Gunlord? It's such a faithful tribute that it contains these same flaws. (Still rules though.)

[marurun]

Let's not make this about lazy and dismissve comments on other people's posts.

Well, then it’s great that nobody is doing that.

Edit:
Regarding Turrican, it clearly displays your health and makes a loud noise when you're taking damage.
Invincibility time would require tweaking elsewhere. Small and moving enemies are well balanced for not having it, as are spike traps. The game also rewards exploration with 1-ups, which is linked to this, so you'd have to change those rewards as well to keep exploration meaningful. The smart bomb-like wall of fire attack would also be less important with invincibility time. A damage animation would be annoying if it disrupts your attacks.

I have tried Turrican on a variety of platforms and I always found the small life bar visual and minimal damage feedback as well as the rapidity at which life drains due to physical contact with enemies to be something I bounce off hard. Maybe Turrican is ineligible for a quick fix solution. Perhaps it would indeed remain something of a brick wall without deeper alterations.

Totally agree with the Comix Zone suggestion. Even without adding extra lives, I think eliminating damage from simply attacking would make a huge difference. Though in that case, I could see retaining some self-damage for attacking things like steel doors and barrels and the like to incentivize using the rat to find TNT (which takes out those obstacles fast). But taking damage from punching enemies was just a very poor decision, IMO. It turns a deep and interesting combat system into a game of health attrition.

[marurun]

I strongly suspect you are the only one here who read my comment as “lazy” or “dismissive”, though I’d be perfectly happy to be corrected.