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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WEEK ONE

I got a jump-start on 2011 so that I could fit in more retro gaming goodness! So the first week's games have been played and I've given my impressions of them in the following video...

I've also come up with a scoring system for the games. If the game "stands" that means it has stood the test of time. If it "sits" that means it is beginning to show its age. If it "falls" that means it's really not worth playing. At all. This week's results are...









So have you played any of these games recently? Why not give them a go and add some comments to the blog? This coming year will be more fun if I've got others reliving the past along with me. :-)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

Getting Closer...

Over half-way through December now, and I'm starting to get psyched for the year ahead. I'm going to try and finish as many "modern" games as I can before the end of the year. I (finally!) polished off Half-Life 2 and now I'm working through Batman: Arkham Asylum... and it's pretty cool, actually.

I was admittedly stoked to hear that the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIV had been delayed indefinitely while a brand new team cleans up the mess that was left by the original creators. Not only does that mean it will be a much better game by the time I finally buy it, but it gives me more time for retro gaming in 2011. w00t!   :-D

I just updated THE LIST with four games that I hadn't remembered to put on: Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion, ToeJam & Earl and Prince of Persia, in which I'll be playing through the Super NES version. (which I believe was the best one)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The List

(Please note that I have gone by the PAL release dates for these games. Where a PAL version was not available, I've simply used the US or Japanese date. There are a couple that I've had to make roundabout guesses, but it's mostly accurate)



EPISODE ONE
Preparations...    

EPISODE TWO
Balloon Fight  (NES)                                    May 1987
Dig Dug  (NES)                                           May 1987
Golf  (NES)                                                 May 1987
Ice Climber  (NES)                                      May 1987

EPISODE THREE
Kid Icarus  (NES)                                        May 1987
Pinball  (NES)                                              May 1987
Super Mario Bros.  (NES)                            May 1987
Tennis  (NES)                                               May 1987

EPISODE FOUR
The Legend of Zelda  (NES)                        November 1987

EPISODE FOUR-AND-A-HALF
Wonder Boy In Monster Land  (MSystem)  January 1988

EPISODE FIVE
Metroid  (NES)                                           January 1988
Rad Racer  (NES)                                       January 1988
Double Dragon  (NES)                                June 1988

EPISODE SIX
Zelda: Adventure of Link  (NES)                 November 1988

EPISODE SEVEN
Castlevania  (NES)                                      December 1988
Marble Madness  (NES)                             March 1989
Super Mario Bros. 2  (NES)                        May 1989
RoboWarrior  (NES)                                   September 1989

EPISODE EIGHT
A Boy And His Blob  (NES)                        December 1989
Mega Man  (NES)                                       December 1989
Alex Kidd  (MSystem(                                 January 1990
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest  (NES)           April 1990

EPISODE EIGHT-AND-A-HALF
Solar Jetman  (NES)                                    October 1990
Bionic Commando  (NES)                           October 1990

EPISODE NINE
Super Mario Land  (GB)                              September 1990
Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout  (NES)          September 1990
Altered Beast  (MD)                                    November 1990
Golden Axe  (MD)                                       November 1990
Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion  (MD)       November 1990

EPISODE TEN
Duck Tales  (NES)                                       December 1990
Little Nemo  (NES)                                      December 1990
Faxanadu  (NES)                                         December 1990
Contra  (NES)                                             December 1990

EPISODE ELEVEN
Mega Man 2  (NES)                                    January 1991
Street Gangs  (NES)                                     January 1991
Adventures of Lolo  (NES)                           February 1991
Snake, Rattle & Roll  (NES)                         March 1991

EPISODE ELEVEN-AND-A-HALF
Journey To Silius  (NES)                                March 1991
Totally Rad  (NES)                                        March 1991

EPISODE TWELVE
Princess Tomato  (NES)                                March 1991
ToeJam & Earl  (MD)                                    March 1991
Blaster Master  (NES)                                   April 1991

EPISODE TWELVE-AND-A-HALF
The Little Mermaid  (NES)                            June 1991
Battle of Olympus  (NES)                              September 1991

EPISODE THIRTEEN
Battletoads  (NES)                                         June 1991
Sonic The Hedgehog  (MD)                            June 1991
Super Mario Bros. 3  (NES)                          August 1991

EPISODE FOURTEEN
Dr. Mario  (NES)                                           June 1991
Ninja Gaiden  (NES)                                      September 1991
Golden Axe II  (MD)                                      January 1992

EPISODE FOURTEEN-AND-A-HALF
Fantasia  (MD)                                               November 1991
Quack Shot  (MD)                                         December 1991
Chip & Dale  (NES)                                       December 1991
Mega Man  (GB)                                            January 1992

EPISODE FIFTEEN
Mega Man 3  (NES)                                       February 1992
Metroid II  (GB)                                             May 1992
Ecco The Dolphin  (MD)                                 July 1992

EPISODE SIXTEEN
F-Zero  (Super NES)                                      July 1992
Sim City  (Super NES)                                    July 1992
Super Mario World  (Super NES)                   July 1992

EPISODE SEVENTEEN
Final Fantasy IV  (Super NES)                        July 1992

EPISODE EIGHTEEN
Pilotwings  (Super NES)                                  July 1992
Street Fighter II  (Super NES)                         September 1992

EPISODE NINETEEN
Zelda: Link To The Past  (Super NES)            September 1992

EPISODE TWENTY
Legend of the Mystical Ninja  (Super NES)     October 1992
Felix The Cat  (NES)                                        October 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-AND-A-HALF
Kid Chameleon (MD)                                     May 1992
Mega Man II (GB)                                          September 1992
Dino City (Super NES)                                   September 1992
Pit Fighter (Super NES)                                  December 1992
Mega Man III (GB)                                         January 1993

EPISODE TWENTY-ONE
Super Smash T.V. (Super NES)                      October 1992
Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja (Super NES)      October 1992
The Addams Family (Super NES)                  November 1992 
Prince of Persia (Super NES)                          November 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-TWO
Contra III (Super NES)                                    November 1992
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (MD)                          November 1992
Super Adventure Island (Super NES)              November 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-THREE
Super Castlevania IV (Super NES)                    November 1992
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV (Super NES) November 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-FOUR
Mario Paint (Super NES)                                  December 1992
Lemmings (Super NES)                                    December 1992
Mega Man 4 (NES)                                           December 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE
Final Fight (Super NES)                                   December 1992
Super Ghouls & Ghosts (Super NES)               December 1992
Mickey Mouse: World of Illusion (MD)          December 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-SIX
Final Fantasy V (Super NES)                            December 1992

EPISODE TWENTY-SEVEN
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)             December 1992
Home Alone 2 (Super NES)                              January 1993
Super Mario Kart (Super NES)                         January 1993
Bart's Nightmare (Super NES)                          January 1993

EPSIODE TWENTY-EIGHT
Super Mario Land 2 (GB)                                 January 1993
Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt (Super NES)           February 1993
Kirby’s Adventure (NES)                                 March 1993
ActRaiser (Super NES)                                     March 1993

EPISODE TWENTY-NINE
Push-Over (Super NES)                                    March 1993
The Magical Quest (Super NES)                      March 1993
Streets Of Rage 2 (MD)                                    March 1993
Super Star Wars (Super NES)                           April 1993

EPISODE THIRTY
Super Turrican (Super NES)                               May 1993
Another World (MD)                                          May 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-AND-A-HALF
Flashback (MD)                                                  May 1993
Lemmings 2 (Super NES)                                   June 1993
Duck Tales 2 (NES)                                            June 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-ONE
Starfox / Starwing (Super NES)                         June 1993
Tiny Toon Adventures (Super NES)                  June 1993
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (Super NES)        July 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-TWO
Mario & Wario (Super NES)                             August 1993
Smash Tennis (Super NES)                               August 1993
Pocky & Rocky (Super NES)                            August 1993
Mortal Kombat (Super NES)                             September 1993
Axelay (Super NES)                                          September 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-THREE
Mario Is Missing! (Super NES)                        September 1993
Gunstar Heroes (MD)                                       September 1993
Aero The Acro-Bat (Super NES)                     October 1993
CastleVania: Rondo of Blood (P.C. Engine)    October 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-THREE-AND-A-HALF
E.V.O. (Super NES)                                          July 1993
Landstalker (MD)                                             October 1993
Goof Troop (Super NES)                                  November 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-FOUR
Bubsy The Bobcat (Super NES)                       October 1993
Sonic CD (MCD)                                              October 1993
The Lawnmower Man (Super NES)                 November 1993

EPIOSDE THIRTY-FIVE
Mega Man 5 (NES)                                          November 1993
Parodius (Super NES)                                      November 1993
Bomberman '94 (P.C. Engine)                          December 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-SIX
Zelda: Link’s Awakening (GB)                        December 1993
Darkwing Duck (NES)                                     December 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-SEVEN
Jurassic Park (Super NES)                                December 1993
Lunar: The Silver Star (MCD)                          December 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-SEVEN-AND-A-HALF
Claymates (Super NES)                                    November 1993
Mega Man IV (GB)                                           December 1993

EPISODE THIRTY-EIGHT
Zombies Ate My Neighbours (Super NES)      January 1994
Aladdin (Super NES)                                        January 1994
Plok (Super NES)                                              January 1994

EPISODE THIRTY-NINE
Soul Blazer (Super NES)                                  January 1994
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (MD)       January 1994

EPISODE FORTY
Sparkster (Super NES)                                      January 1994
Super Empire Strikes Back (Super NES)          February 1994
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (MD)                            February 1994

EPISODE FORTY-ONE
CastleVania: Bloodlines (MD)                          March 1994
Mega Man 6 (NES)                                           March 1994

EPISODE FORTY-TWO
Young Merlin (Super NES)                               March 1994
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (Super NES)       March 1994
Boogerman (MD)                                               May 1994

EPISODE FORTY-THREE
Clay Fighter (Super NES)                                  May 1994
Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (GB)             May 1994
Mega Man X (Super NES)                                 May 1994

EPISODE FORTY-THREE-AND-A-HALF
Spike McFang (Super NES)                              June 1994
Shining Force II (MD)                                       July 1994

EPISODE FORTY-FOUR
Super Metroid (Super NES)                              July 1994
Shadowrun (Super NES)                                   July 1994

EPISODE FORTY-FIVE
Dynamite Headdy (MD)                                   August 1994
Earthworm Jim (Super NES)                            August 1994

EPISODE FORTY-SIX
Donkey Kong '94 (GB)                                     September 1994
Mortal Kombat II (Super NES)                        October 1994
Sonic & Knuckles (MD)                                   October 1994
Stunt Race FX (Super NES)                             October 1994

EPISODE FORTY-SIX-AND-A-HALF
Mega Man V (GB)                                            September 1994
Robotrek (Super NES)                                      October 1994
Ultimate Parodius (Super NES)                        November 1994

EPISODE FORTY-SEVEN
Secret of Mana (Super NES)                            November 1994

EPISODE FORTY-EIGHT
Donkey Kong Country (Super NES)               November 1994
Demon's Crest (Super NES)                            November 1994

EPISODE FORTY-NINE
Gradius III vs. R-Type III (Super NES)           November 1994
Jurassic Park II (Super NES)                            December 1994
The Lion King (Super NES)                             December 1994

EPISODE FIFTY
Vortex (Super NES)                                          December 1994
Virtua Racing (32X)                                         December 1994
Wario's Woods (NES)                                       December 1994

EPISODE FIFTY-ONE
Final Fantasy VI (Super NES)                          December 1994

EPISODE FIFTY-TWO
Comix Zone (MD)                                            January 1995
Super Adventure Island II (Super NES)           January 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-THREE
Ristar (MD)                                                       February 1995
Magical Quest 2 (Super NES)                           February 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-FOUR
Story of Thor (MD)                                          March 1995
Unirally (Super NES)                                       April 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-FIVE
Illusion of Time (Super NES)                           April 1995
EPISODE FIFTY-FIVE-AND-A-HALF
Shinobi III (MD)                                               July 1993
Mickey Mania (MCD)                                      April 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-SIX
Earthbound (Super NES)                                  June 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-SEVEN
Mega Man X 2 (Super NES)                            July 1995
Starfox 2 (Super NES)                                      August 1995...?
Killer Instinct (Super NES)                              August 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-EIGHT
Chrono Trigger (Super NES)                            August 1995

EPISODE FIFTY-NINE
Mega Man 7 (Super NES)                                September 1995
Yoshi's Island (Super NES)                              October 1995

EPISODE SIXTY
Donkey Kong Country 2 (Super NES)             November 1995
Mortal Kombat 3 (Super NES)                         November 1995

EPISODE SIXTY-ONE
Vectorman (MD)                                               November 1995
Phantasy Star IV (MD)                                     December 1995

EPISODE SIXTY-ONE-AND-A-HALF
Magical Quest 3 (Super NES)                           December 1995
Tales of Phantasia (Super NES)                        December 1995

EPISODE SIXTY-TWO
Earthworm Jim 2 (Super NES)                         January 1996
Secret of Evermore (Super NES)                      February 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-THREE
Super Return of the Jedi (Super NES)              March 1996
Do Re Mi Fantasy (Super NES)                        March 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-FOUR
Seiken Densetsu 3 (Super NES)                        April 1996?

EPISODE SIXTY-FIVE
Super Mario R.P.G. (Super NES)                      May 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-FIVE-AND-A-HALF
Donald Duck in Maui Mallard (Super NES)      July 1996
Wild Guns (Super NES)                                     October 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-SIX
Mega Man X 3 (Super NES)                              July 1996
Donkey Kong Country 3 (Super NES)              November 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-SEVEN
Terranigma (Super NES)                                          December 1996

EPISODE SIXTY-SEVEN-AND-A-HALF
Kirby's Fun Pak (Super NES)                                   January 1997
Kirby's Dreamland 3 (Super NES)                           December 1997

EPISODE SIXTY-EIGHT
Recap & Farewell

Monday, November 8, 2010

First Post: The Year Ahead...

I own too many games. Every year I have an ever-growing list of games piling up to be played, and yet I continue to buy new ones! With that taken into consideration, I have decided that in 2011 I will focus on going back to "the wonder years" of gaming: the 8-bit and 16-bit eras that - let's be honest - was where I was more comfortable anyway. I will spend the year replaying the old classics (including some that I missed back in the day) and commenting on how well they have aged.

I have a list of games that I intend to play throughout the year, starting with the earliest N.E.S. launch titles. Here are my guidelines...

  • Generally, each game (or block of games) will be played for a week before moving on to the next.
  • If a game has not been completed by week's end but I wish to keep playing it, I may.
  • If I am really not enjoying a game, I can skip to the next one straight away.
  • There can be a number of exceptions to my retro year. (eg. I will definitely be buying "Legend of Zelda - Skyward Sword" when it is released) However, I will avoid buying any new games unless they are absolute must-haves.
I will endeavour to create short response videos to post as I go, and I encourage anyone else to come on this journey with me and share their own thoughts on these games of yesteryear.

I've still got some preparation to do - my list of games is almost complete and I'm wondering how on Earth I'm going to play that many games in a year! - but there's still a month or two left to prepare. If you can think of any games that you think must be on the list to play in 2011, leave a comment. Looking forward to it!

Irvyne