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Post by VectorX on Apr 22, 2013 20:32:36 GMT -5
There is a very chilling moment in Mass Effect when you speak with a Reaper named Sovereign and learn of its genocidal motives: No KIDDING! I only just watched that clip. If this were to exist in real life... (shudders) |
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Post by wyldephang on Apr 23, 2013 2:40:25 GMT -5
Well, Glip, let me know if you'd like suggestions for SNES games. I've got about 70 cartridges in my collection and could give you a detailed review of any one of them. If you do pick up a Supaboy and begin searching for games, I'd be happy to help in any way possible, maybe even keep an eye out for good values and send them your way. There is a very chilling moment in Mass Effect when you speak with a Reaper named Sovereign and learn of its genocidal motives: No KIDDING! I only just watched that clip. If this were to exist in real life... (shudders) Don't worry about it. If they existed, they wouldn't be interested in humanity at its current state. For whatever reason, the Reapers tend to ignore civilizations that are not spacefaring. Humanity may have launched a daring expedition to the moon, and managed to tickle the surface of Mars with our rovers, but our paltry credentials for space travel wouldn't interest the Reapers. The scary thing, though, is that there is no way to disprove that the Reapers exist. According to the Mass Effect files, they are floating around in "dark space," the low-density void in between galaxies. We don't have an eye into that corner of space; we have nothing but theories. Humanity's role in Mass Effect is an intriguing one. The game takes place in the 2180s, not even forty years after humanity has perfected space travel and discovered alien races. Unfortunately, our first meeting with aliens doesn't go so well. Without knowing any better, we violate galactic law by tinkering with old, disabled space structures known as mass relays, which are essentially turbo-powered rail guns that launch vessels through space. Soon, a militant race of aliens known as the Turians catch wind of our antics, and they strike at one of our colonies hard. At this point, we're simply astounded that another intelligent life form exists in the universe, let alone one that is trying to kill us. But humanity wastes no time in planning a counterattack, and we launch an offensive that has the Turians reeling. Humanity's strength surprises the Turians, and more importantly, catches the interest of the Council, a diplomatic body united to preserve galactic peace. (Basically, the United Nations in space.) The human-Turian struggle is anything but peaceful, so the Council intervenes, ends the war, and invites humanity to join the delegation. Many races harbor resentment for humanity as we receive what they consider preferential treatment by the Council. The Turians never fully recovered from the shame of losing territory to the humans, and needless to say, many of them have a poor opinion of humans, though one of your best friends in the games is a Turian agent. Overall, it's a fascinating game. I know I've spoken poorly about modern gaming in recent months, but the first two Mass Effect games are true works of art, easily counted among my favorite games of all time. I haven't played the third one, but I'd like to complete the trilogy. The lore is rich; I could sit down and read it for hours. |
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Post by gliptitude on Apr 23, 2013 10:49:54 GMT -5
Well, Glip, let me know if you'd like suggestions for SNES games. I've got about 70 cartridges in my collection and could give you a detailed review of any one of them. If you do pick up a Supaboy and begin searching for games, I'd be happy to help in any way possible, maybe even keep an eye out for good values and send them your way. Cool thanks. I'd be open to suggestions right away. Please consider that these are the SNES games that currently interest me (mostly ones I am already fully familiar with): Super Metroid Zelda Link to Past Captain America Axelay (bizarre scrolling effects interest me) Cyborg 009 (japan) Chrono Trigger ... I am NOT super into RPG's, and find most of them unplayable. Also consider that these are my favorite video games in general: Web Wars Marble Madness Shadow of the Colossus Ico I, Cyborg Defender Metroid II Bionic Commando Goonies II Super Mario Bros. 2 Zelda (SNES version and the first NES version and first GB version) Asteroids War of the Worlds Gravitar Machinarium |
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Post by wyldephang on Apr 24, 2013 1:16:02 GMT -5
If you like Super Mario Bros. 2, there is an SNES cartridge called Super Mario All-Stars that includes a remastered, enhanced 16-bit version of Mario 2 and the other NES Mario titles. All the game elements are intact from the physics to the world design; everything looks improved, though, with more colors on the screen and sharper character sprites. Another bonus: the game utilizes a back-up save battery, allowing you to save your data as you progress through the games. This would be an example of a good SNES game based on an NES classic, but I hesitate to list the ones that are based on early arcade classics because I'm guessing you want to experience the SNES for its original 16-bit titles. If you're interested, the SNES has a port of Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits, Arkanoid, and Space Invaders. Axelay is a one-of-a-kind game, and I couldn't suggest anything that even approaches it. It's a shooter at heart, putting it in league with Super R-Type, Gradius III, and U.N. Squadron, but if you're intrigued by the scrolling and Mode 7 effects, then I'd recommend F-Zero, Pilotwings, and Hyperzone, three early SNES titles that used Mode 7 effects to demonstrate the power of the console. They're inexpensive, but it may be best to check out some footage beforehand, so you know what to expect. I find Pilotwings to be a bit difficult to control, but F-Zero and Hyperzone are easy enough to pick up and play. RPGs are my favorite game genre, and the SNES has (arguably) the single greatest collection of them. I wish I could recommend more of them to you, but if you're not a fan of the genre, then a lot of my favorites wouldn't appeal to you. If anything, it sounds to me like you'd prefer an action-oriented RPG. If that's the case, then I'd suggest the following games for you: Secret of Mana, Super Mario RPG, Illusion of Gaia, and Secret of Evermore. Each game practically eliminates the nuisance of random battles, as you can see the enemies on the screen and avoid them. In Mario RPG, when you do run into an enemy encounter, you have an active role as a player in making your party attack and defend. It's still a turn-based battle, but interactive. The other games I listed are comparable to Zelda, with the overhead view and real-time action. Still, if you ever soften up to the RPG library, then I'd recommend that you start with Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. It eliminates the random battles, but the interface is simplified to the point of being insulting to most RPG gamers. Other than that, the story lacks the depth we've come to expect from Final Fantasy games, but the economy of design might interest you. I would recommend that you seek out a copy of either Final Fantasy III for the SNES or Final Fantasy VI for the GBA. (They're the same game, actually, but there was a numbering inconsistency in the American Final Fantasy games. We didn't synchronize with the Japanese order until FFVII.) It is a true RPG, but it carries one of the best in-game narratives I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing: a touching story that puts the emphasis on love, trust, and family. There are a lot of memorable moments from beginning to end. If you use eBay, a good tip is to filter your video game searches by console/platform, and then sort them by "Auction Only" to hide the Buy-it-Now listings. Then, change the list priority to "Ending Soonest," and you'll be able to monitor all upcoming Super Nintendo game auctions. Occasionally, you'll catch glimpse of a good deal, or perhaps you'll find that one of the sellers has listed an item incorrectly, rendering it invisible to the people who are actually searching for it. I have come across this twice and have benefited from it both times. A few weeks ago, a seller started an auction for Mortal Kombat 3 on the Super Nintendo. The cartridge sells for about $2-4 on average--nothing to write home about--but I noticed the actual picture was of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, a game that sells for over $10 most of the time. Now we're talking! I ended up bidding on it, and I got UMK3 for $4. Just tonight, an auction ended for another game on my list: Blackthorne, which I first played when I was a youngster. It's similar to the game Flashback, a sort of run-and-gun affair with a Prince of Persia-like movement scheme. I've seen the game sell for over $20 on eBay, occasionally lower, but I happened to notice it floating by for $9.99 and I wasn't sure why until I caught a glimpse of the auction title: Black Hornet! The inattentive seller must have misread Blackthorne as "Black Hornet," and posted the auction with the wrong title. Unfortunately for him, the auction was invisible to the people searching for "Blackthorne," and I was able to nab it with little resistance: the price after shipping came to $10.99. So, you can save a little money here or there. Do note that this technique doesn't work all the time. One time, I saw a copy of Earthbound floating to the top of the "Ending Soonest" auctions. The listing was discretely marked "Super Nintendo game," but the picture of Earthbound with the trademark alien (starman) on the cover was plain as day. I had my bidding hand cocked and ready to unleash with an offer he couldn't refuse until someone else gave him an offer I couldn't match! Such is life.  |
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Post by gamezone on Apr 24, 2013 8:40:43 GMT -5
Some of the above mentioned games. Attachments:
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Post by gamezone on Apr 24, 2013 8:42:37 GMT -5
Zelda and since sj is a Defender fan. Stargate to cut down on the glare from the gold cart  Attachments:
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Post by gamezone on Apr 24, 2013 8:44:47 GMT -5
SNES games and keeping with site theme the bottom of my Vectrex.  Attachments:
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Post by VectorX on Apr 24, 2013 9:03:55 GMT -5
Just tonight, an auction ended for another game on my list: Blackthorne, which I first played when I was a youngster. Yeah, I meant to get that for my 32X; as I was slowly acquiring titles as the add-on was being phased out, the last copy had sold at a Toys 'r Us right before I could snag it  Now good luck trying to find it for a decent price! |
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Post by gamezone on Apr 24, 2013 9:12:32 GMT -5
I thought it was for the 32X. Sometimes for me at least, these systems run together on what games were ported to which systems. Amazing with only 30 plus games for the 32X that Blackthorne made the list.
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Post by sj on Apr 24, 2013 10:16:00 GMT -5
Zelda and since sj is a Defender fan. Stargate to cut down on the glare from the gold cart Anyone else would use a piece of card.   |
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Post by gliptitude on Apr 24, 2013 11:56:39 GMT -5
Thanks wyldephang. Heh, I figured it was necessary to communicate my distaste for RPG's. But I have long since noted, as you say, that SNES was a huge and great venue for these type of games.
... The hands-off turn based battles ARE part of what turns me off these games, as you seemed to intuit, but I think another problem I have with these games is that so many of them fit a profile, in terms of content, which I find to be not very entertaining - swashbuckling youths with funky hair-doos, fighting dragons, running away from evil knights and magicians, infiltrating corrupt kingdoms... And often these things are presented in the most literal ways imaginable. It just doesn't provide the style and aesthetics that are a huge part of gaming for me. ... Zelda is an exception, where the swashbuckling universe is palatable to me, because it is distinctive and essential in it's presentation. ... But even Chrono Trigger, as complete and refined as it is, still annoys me a bit.
Phantasy Star 1, 2 and 4 are fun for me, despite being RPG's, because the narrative and the iconography are much more suitable for me. Kind of has a steam punk and cyber punk aspect to it. Also reminds me of the original Buck Rogers comic strip.
Cool to get your confirmation that Axelay was a one of a kind game. It's at the top of my list. Hyperzone looks cool, and not one I had heard of. I think I'll probably get that INSTEAD of F-Zero.
Any other games for the console that you would describe as a curiosity?
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Post by gamezone on Apr 24, 2013 12:22:00 GMT -5
Zelda and since sj is a Defender fan. Stargate to cut down on the glare from the gold cart Anyone else would use a piece of card. Always a critic. Here I was trying to entertain and inform. ;D |
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Post by VectorX on Apr 24, 2013 12:22:18 GMT -5
I thought it was for the 32X. Looks like it was 32X and SNES, maybe even PC/Mac too for all I know. |
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Post by wyldephang on Apr 25, 2013 2:45:03 GMT -5
GZ, nice pictures! In the last photo, it looks like the Super Nintendo games are about to gang up on the Vectrex schoolyard style. Look at F-Zero: he's the skinny kid who wants to fight, but he's not nearly tough enough to stand on his own, so he hides behind the larger kids. And when it goes down, he'll be the one circling around the perimeter of the fracas shouting, "Yeah! Beat his ass!" I should get around to posting some pictures from my collection. The hands-off turn based battles ARE part of what turns me off these games, as you seemed to intuit, but I think another problem I have with these games is that so many of them fit a profile, in terms of content, which I find to be not very entertaining - swashbuckling youths with funky hair-doos, fighting dragons, running away from evil knights and magicians, infiltrating corrupt kingdoms... And often these things are presented in the most literal ways imaginable. It just doesn't provide the style and aesthetics that are a huge part of gaming for me. I will say that Final Fantasy III on the SNES manages to branch away from the stereotypical mold. The story is a coming-of-age tale in many ways, featuring the amnesiac heroine Terra whose powers were abused by an ill-intentioned military. Part of the intrigue is in unlocking the secrets of her past, and as she finds out about her heritage, she learns to trust people, make friendships, even learn what it means to experience love and family. Terra is the main character for the first half of the game, but she is by no means the only focus. Every character has his or her own background. In the beginning, they're not flawless, but they're at least willing to help. As the game progresses, you'll find that each of the characters undergoes some type of personal transformation, meaning this coming-of-age development cycle travels through the entire party. For instance, one of the characters is a tavern-dwelling mercenary who cares only about money; eventually, he learns the value of self-sacrifice. He recalls his past one memory at at time through a series of dreams that are intermittently experienced at inns. (Before FFIII, an inn was simply an establishment for healing characters. Now, you'll find that the mercenary's background is explained in his dreams, as he's too reserved to speak of it on his own accord.) Also, as I mentioned in the music thread, one of my favorite FFIII subplots involves helping the noble Samurai warrior Cyan achieve closure for all the losses he's endured. It's really a touching story and bears much more weight than anyone could expect from a 16-bit cartridge. The storytelling is the strong point of Final Fantasy III due in part to the workmanlike efforts of Ted Woolsey, the man who handled the unenviable task of localization. He has an M.A. degree in Japanese literature, and his familiarity with the history and culture of Japan really allowed him to get a grasp on the context of the original plot. He did a great job with the antagonist, too, a twisted megalomaniac with a Richard III complex. As such, he's vile and destructive, but he's doesn't approach the all-powerful state like so many RPG villains. (Consider Lavos from Chrono Trigger, or the Reapers from Mass Effect.) In FFIII, the first time he gets smacked around in combat, he lets out a shrill cry and flees from battle! From his humble beginnings to his transformation into a mad tyrant on the loose, he's an interesting, dynamic antagonist, and one that you'll be more than happy to foil. So, I certainly hope you look into FFIII; if the GBA cartridge (FFVI Advance) is less expensive, that's a viable alternative. I'd be happy to recommend a few other titles, too. Since you're interested in the unique SNES games, I'd recommend ActRaiser, which I discussed earlier in this thread. To my knowledge, it's the only SNES title that combines city building with overhead shooter and side-scrolling action game elements. There is another title that I am reluctant to mention because the price would outright inhibit most people from collecting it. But if you're not deterred by the $160-180 price tag, then search for E.V.O.: The Search for Eden. You essentially control the evolution of an organism from Pre-Jurassic times onward. It's a curious game, maybe analogous to Seaman (Dreamcast) and Feeding Frenzy with RPG elements and an exploration of Darwinist theories--after all, you're supposed to pound other species into submission. The hefty price has prohibited me from owning a copy, but it's an intriguing game. Coming down off the hefty cost of E.V.O. is the more reasonably-priced Lost Vikings, an early Blizzard title. You control three stereotypical Vikings with different skills, and you must use all of their talents to defeat enemies and pass obstacles. I should also mention Uniracers, which looks interesting. I've never played it, but it seems to be a side-scrolling racing game involving unicycles, stunts, and a lot of speed. I imagine it was Nintendo's answer to Sega, whose boisterous claims of "blast processing" must have provoked Nintendo into producing a game that rivaled Sonic the Hedgehog in speed. In the end, who was Nintendo fooling? The only way Uniracers excels is by its stripped-down, almost minimalistic visuals; the Genesis has a superior processor and could produce the same speed with twice the graphical flair. Still, Uniracers comes from an interesting point in SNES history; it's very much a "16-bit war" game. Star Fox, arguably the most successful of the fourth-generation 3D-rendering games, was much more impressive. |
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Post by VectorX on Apr 25, 2013 12:38:23 GMT -5
I should get around to posting some pictures from my collection. That'd be good, as we have a sub-board for that that hasn't been used in a while. Coming down off the hefty cost of E.V.O. is the more reasonably-priced Lost Vikings, an early Blizzard title. I always meant to get that for the Genny. A friend of mine had it. |
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Now good luck trying to find it for a decent price!
