A COUPLE of weeks ago I was given a boxed Commodore 64 from the 1980s from a pal who was clearing his loft.
I was immediately filled with excitement thinking back to my childhood, and all the fun I had playing games on my Spectrum 128k computer.
When I think back to those times I’m filled with a warm glow.
Back then I’d spend hour upon hour playing games like Jet Set Willy, Crazy Golf and Out Run until my parents would shout at me to go to bed.
I’d rush to bed knowing that when sleep eventually found me, I’d soon be awake again to continue playing.
How good were those games?!
But soon enough last week I was reminded of how these games were in fact, crap.Sure, for the time they were awesome.
The screen often boasted no more than two colours, the music was incredibly annoying and, while the gameplay was pretty good, the games were pants.
Oh, that is if you could actually get them to load.
After picking up the C64 and excitedly setting it up at home, I was reminded of exactly how awful the whole experience was – and still is.
The C64 was (obviously) half as good as the Spectrum 128K (given that it had half as much memory).
And plugging it all in and setting it up I was instantly reminded of how archaic the system was – even though it was ‘amazing’ at the time.
Sure, that flashing cursor and seeing ‘Ready’ on the screen brought back some memories but god, how did we ever think that these games were ‘great’?!
After my burst of nostalgia I decided to have a look on YouTube at some videos of ‘classic’ games.
Remember Chase HQ?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onhV55pUejk&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
Or Ghostbusters?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNg8hrGsP6M&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
How about Robocop?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqEBj2JEaxk.Or even more retro... Jet Set Willy?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zYv2c5SyCg.
Or Golden Axe?
Try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0nEH9NkY5Y.
Man, times have changed.
Oh and look at this gem I’ve found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=udPpPDih1Qo.
Fast forward 25+ years and I look at the graphics of games on my PS3 and I’m staggered.
I mean, technology has moved on leaps and bounds.
And how good is that? But what’s next?
In my next blog I’ll be looking at the future of gaming.
In the meantime here are the latest releases:
Title: Final Fantasy XIII-2
Platform: PS3
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 87%
Final Fantasy XIII had its fair share of critics, even within the camp of previously staunch Japanese-RPG fans.
An unnecessary digression to linear storyline progression and levelling up restrictions were just two of the 'features’ that didn’t cut the mustard, but Lightning and her cast of fantasy friends and foes are back to set the record straight.
That’s arguably a punchier story than XIII-2’s narrative, which, despite the standard quota of stunning animated cut-scenes, falls a little short of earlier FF titles.
More open-world options return and the leash is off the levelling, as the series makes a swift return to form.
It’s true that a previous play-through of FF XIII will enhance the experience on Part 2, but overall this is an RPG for a niche gamer audience who love their convoluted storylines, cinematic entertainment and, ultimately, a game that they must commit their life to for a week or two in order to reap the biggest rewards.
Title: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 89%
Crikey, in these times of austerity, who isn’t looking for top quality gaming at bargain prices?
So let’s extend some
recessionary-inspired thanks to Konami, who are treating every console gamer to a trio of top titles featuring the infamous Solid Snake.
Bundling Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is no mean feat in itself, but they’ve also been updated with HD visuals to boot.
Of course, if you haven’t played through these truly incredible adventures already, you have an immense gaming session lying in wait, while seasoned fans of the series should take this graphical update and bargain bundling opportunity to relive the hundreds of brilliant moments that defined the last decade of gaming.
Still a genius showcase for how stealth gaming should be designed, this disc is simply unmissable.
Title: Soul Calibur V
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Fighting
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 84%
Three years in real life, 17 in the game world, and one of the finest fighters around is back.
With new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil, Soul Calibur V recounts the tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, whose family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords.
The series’ revolutionary eight-way run system returns, allowing for true 3D movement during matches, while the overall battle system has also been classily refined.
There’s even a guest appearance from master assassin Ezio Auditore de Firenze from the hugely successful Assassin’s Creed series to pull in the punters who haven’t had the pleasure of playing through the series since its Dreamcast debut in 1999.
Anyone looking for a knock-down, drop-dead gorgeous fight should call off the search, but prepare to be panned online – this franchise has a ferocious following!
Title: Cave Story 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Adventure/Puzzle
Price: £32.99
Hit count: 90%
Cave Story has popped up on Wii and DS in the past 12 months, but this three-dimensional appearance on Nintendo’s latest handheld system is definitely the title’s finest hour to date.
Combining reassuringly retro platformer gameplay with cutting-edge glasses-free 3D technology, Cave Story 3D forms a potent combination of pick-up-and-play action with wonderful characters, entertaining game environments and the kind of accompanying music that will have you harking back to your earliest Eighties platformer experiences.
With strong Metroid-inspired undertones, the game’s core operations remain largely untouched - disappointing when a little retouch here and there would certainly have eradicated frustrations from first time round, such as backtracking and a couple of over-devilish boss battles.
A bit of fresh content wouldn’t have gone amiss either, but overall it’s a cracking little underground adventure.
Title: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Platform: PC
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 92%
It’s the kind of gaming experience that most Star Wars fans will have been praying for for years. A living, breathing MMORPG intergalactic gameplay world, where you can forge your own unique George Lucas-inspired experience.
Here, you explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, choosing to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force.
Whether engaging in incredible space battles or teaming up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat, The Old Republic succeeds in delivering the ultimate engrossing Star Wars experience.
It looks as good as anything on the market right now, and the fact that you can fulfil all your Star Wars fantasies with like-minded Lucas film fans around the world makes it a potent RPG playground.
Title: Resident Evil: Revelations
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Survival Horror
Price: £32.99
Hit count: 90%
The Evil has been lurking in the corners of most consoles in recent years, and now it takes up residence on Nintendo 3DS to deliver a brilliant survival horror story on the small screen.
With a new storyline, locations and characters, plus old favourites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, Revelations showcases the classic tense gameplay within the dark confined spaces of a cruise ship and treacherous snow-covered mountains.
The 3DS touchscreen is also used intuitively to solve puzzles and switch weapons as you tackle the all-new T-Abyss enemy, and the enhanced graphical capabilities prove to add an additional layer of immediacy to the evil threat that lurks round every corner.
As a triple-A adult title, it’s an essential purchase for 3DS owners, and if you’ve long been hooked on the horror from this enduring franchise, you’ll absolutely love this latest instalment.
I was immediately filled with excitement thinking back to my childhood, and all the fun I had playing games on my Spectrum 128k computer.
When I think back to those times I’m filled with a warm glow.
Back then I’d spend hour upon hour playing games like Jet Set Willy, Crazy Golf and Out Run until my parents would shout at me to go to bed.
I’d rush to bed knowing that when sleep eventually found me, I’d soon be awake again to continue playing.
How good were those games?!
But soon enough last week I was reminded of how these games were in fact, crap.Sure, for the time they were awesome.
The screen often boasted no more than two colours, the music was incredibly annoying and, while the gameplay was pretty good, the games were pants.
Oh, that is if you could actually get them to load.
After picking up the C64 and excitedly setting it up at home, I was reminded of exactly how awful the whole experience was – and still is.
The C64 was (obviously) half as good as the Spectrum 128K (given that it had half as much memory).
And plugging it all in and setting it up I was instantly reminded of how archaic the system was – even though it was ‘amazing’ at the time.
Sure, that flashing cursor and seeing ‘Ready’ on the screen brought back some memories but god, how did we ever think that these games were ‘great’?!
After my burst of nostalgia I decided to have a look on YouTube at some videos of ‘classic’ games.
Remember Chase HQ?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onhV55pUejk&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
Or Ghostbusters?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNg8hrGsP6M&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
How about Robocop?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqEBj2JEaxk.Or even more retro... Jet Set Willy?
Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zYv2c5SyCg.
Or Golden Axe?
Try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0nEH9NkY5Y.
Man, times have changed.
Oh and look at this gem I’ve found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=udPpPDih1Qo.
Fast forward 25+ years and I look at the graphics of games on my PS3 and I’m staggered.
I mean, technology has moved on leaps and bounds.
And how good is that? But what’s next?
In my next blog I’ll be looking at the future of gaming.
In the meantime here are the latest releases:
Title: Final Fantasy XIII-2
Platform: PS3
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 87%
Final Fantasy XIII had its fair share of critics, even within the camp of previously staunch Japanese-RPG fans.
An unnecessary digression to linear storyline progression and levelling up restrictions were just two of the 'features’ that didn’t cut the mustard, but Lightning and her cast of fantasy friends and foes are back to set the record straight.
That’s arguably a punchier story than XIII-2’s narrative, which, despite the standard quota of stunning animated cut-scenes, falls a little short of earlier FF titles.
More open-world options return and the leash is off the levelling, as the series makes a swift return to form.
It’s true that a previous play-through of FF XIII will enhance the experience on Part 2, but overall this is an RPG for a niche gamer audience who love their convoluted storylines, cinematic entertainment and, ultimately, a game that they must commit their life to for a week or two in order to reap the biggest rewards.
Title: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 89%
Crikey, in these times of austerity, who isn’t looking for top quality gaming at bargain prices?
So let’s extend some
recessionary-inspired thanks to Konami, who are treating every console gamer to a trio of top titles featuring the infamous Solid Snake.Bundling Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is no mean feat in itself, but they’ve also been updated with HD visuals to boot.
Of course, if you haven’t played through these truly incredible adventures already, you have an immense gaming session lying in wait, while seasoned fans of the series should take this graphical update and bargain bundling opportunity to relive the hundreds of brilliant moments that defined the last decade of gaming.
Still a genius showcase for how stealth gaming should be designed, this disc is simply unmissable.
Title: Soul Calibur V
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Fighting
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 84%
Three years in real life, 17 in the game world, and one of the finest fighters around is back.
With new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil, Soul Calibur V recounts the tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, whose family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords.
The series’ revolutionary eight-way run system returns, allowing for true 3D movement during matches, while the overall battle system has also been classily refined.
There’s even a guest appearance from master assassin Ezio Auditore de Firenze from the hugely successful Assassin’s Creed series to pull in the punters who haven’t had the pleasure of playing through the series since its Dreamcast debut in 1999.
Anyone looking for a knock-down, drop-dead gorgeous fight should call off the search, but prepare to be panned online – this franchise has a ferocious following!
Title: Cave Story 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Adventure/Puzzle
Price: £32.99
Hit count: 90%
Cave Story has popped up on Wii and DS in the past 12 months, but this three-dimensional appearance on Nintendo’s latest handheld system is definitely the title’s finest hour to date.
Combining reassuringly retro platformer gameplay with cutting-edge glasses-free 3D technology, Cave Story 3D forms a potent combination of pick-up-and-play action with wonderful characters, entertaining game environments and the kind of accompanying music that will have you harking back to your earliest Eighties platformer experiences.
With strong Metroid-inspired undertones, the game’s core operations remain largely untouched - disappointing when a little retouch here and there would certainly have eradicated frustrations from first time round, such as backtracking and a couple of over-devilish boss battles.
A bit of fresh content wouldn’t have gone amiss either, but overall it’s a cracking little underground adventure.
Title: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Platform: PC
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 92%
It’s the kind of gaming experience that most Star Wars fans will have been praying for for years. A living, breathing MMORPG intergalactic gameplay world, where you can forge your own unique George Lucas-inspired experience.
Here, you explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, choosing to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force.
Whether engaging in incredible space battles or teaming up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat, The Old Republic succeeds in delivering the ultimate engrossing Star Wars experience.
It looks as good as anything on the market right now, and the fact that you can fulfil all your Star Wars fantasies with like-minded Lucas film fans around the world makes it a potent RPG playground.
Title: Resident Evil: Revelations
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Survival Horror
Price: £32.99
Hit count: 90%
The Evil has been lurking in the corners of most consoles in recent years, and now it takes up residence on Nintendo 3DS to deliver a brilliant survival horror story on the small screen.
With a new storyline, locations and characters, plus old favourites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, Revelations showcases the classic tense gameplay within the dark confined spaces of a cruise ship and treacherous snow-covered mountains.
The 3DS touchscreen is also used intuitively to solve puzzles and switch weapons as you tackle the all-new T-Abyss enemy, and the enhanced graphical capabilities prove to add an additional layer of immediacy to the evil threat that lurks round every corner.
As a triple-A adult title, it’s an essential purchase for 3DS owners, and if you’ve long been hooked on the horror from this enduring franchise, you’ll absolutely love this latest instalment.
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