29th October 2013, 7:50 PM
Atari 2600
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Solaris - complete, $10. Solaris is a space fighter game released in 1987, so it's a post-death 2600 game Atari made after releasing the 2600 Jr. The game has fantastic graphics and is somewhat complex (and is supposed to be good), so I'd been looking for it... and then I saw this! Yes, I had to get it. And yes, the game is good. It's a big game for the 2600, particularly for a game which does end. Your goal is to explore the galaxy as you try to reach the planet Solaris. There's a galactic map to explore. It's broken into 16 6x8-square areas, connected by warp points. The galaxy is a maze, so you'll have to figure out where to go by exploring (or cheat and look it up, but that'd be no fun). If you go to space with enemies on them, you'll fight them, rail shooter style. The game has some targeting help on screen, to help you actually hit them, which is nice. If you go to a planet, the game turns "2d" - there's no height element anymore, just moving left and right and shooting at stuff. On friendly planets you can refill your fuel, or save them from enemies when enemies attack friendly planets. On enemy planets you save people; save all the hostages and the planet blows up. So yeah, it feels like an expanded, much better version of Imagic's Moonsweeper. It's not the best game, but it is good. And yes, the manual is VERY helpful, so I'm glad I got this complete. I'd probably need to print something, otherwise...
Atari 7800
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Xevious - $7, complete. I've never been the biggest fan of Xevious, and previously only had it in Namco Museums, but eh... it was complete, so I decided to try it. Xevious is a decent early shmup from Namco. It's nowhere near as good as Galaga, and the music is a HORRIBLE two second long droning loop, but the gameplay's solid and somewhat fun, for an endless (and yes, the game is endless) vertical shooter. This is one of the earlier scrolling shooters, and it's not nearly as good as later ones, but yeah, I think I can have some fun with this. Oh, the visuals are okay.
N64
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A Bug's Life - $3, cart only. A thoroughly mediocre 3d platform-action game, and a blatantly obvious port from the PS1. It could be worse, but it could be a LOT better, too.
--
Solaris - complete, $10. Solaris is a space fighter game released in 1987, so it's a post-death 2600 game Atari made after releasing the 2600 Jr. The game has fantastic graphics and is somewhat complex (and is supposed to be good), so I'd been looking for it... and then I saw this! Yes, I had to get it. And yes, the game is good. It's a big game for the 2600, particularly for a game which does end. Your goal is to explore the galaxy as you try to reach the planet Solaris. There's a galactic map to explore. It's broken into 16 6x8-square areas, connected by warp points. The galaxy is a maze, so you'll have to figure out where to go by exploring (or cheat and look it up, but that'd be no fun). If you go to space with enemies on them, you'll fight them, rail shooter style. The game has some targeting help on screen, to help you actually hit them, which is nice. If you go to a planet, the game turns "2d" - there's no height element anymore, just moving left and right and shooting at stuff. On friendly planets you can refill your fuel, or save them from enemies when enemies attack friendly planets. On enemy planets you save people; save all the hostages and the planet blows up. So yeah, it feels like an expanded, much better version of Imagic's Moonsweeper. It's not the best game, but it is good. And yes, the manual is VERY helpful, so I'm glad I got this complete. I'd probably need to print something, otherwise...
Atari 7800
--
Xevious - $7, complete. I've never been the biggest fan of Xevious, and previously only had it in Namco Museums, but eh... it was complete, so I decided to try it. Xevious is a decent early shmup from Namco. It's nowhere near as good as Galaga, and the music is a HORRIBLE two second long droning loop, but the gameplay's solid and somewhat fun, for an endless (and yes, the game is endless) vertical shooter. This is one of the earlier scrolling shooters, and it's not nearly as good as later ones, but yeah, I think I can have some fun with this. Oh, the visuals are okay.
N64
--
A Bug's Life - $3, cart only. A thoroughly mediocre 3d platform-action game, and a blatantly obvious port from the PS1. It could be worse, but it could be a LOT better, too.