retro — Page 37

Midnight Resistance (Spectrum): COMPLETED!

Posted on 15/03/2016 Written by deKay

Hey whoa what what what? Didn’t I just completed this only a few days ago? Well actually, yes I did! Fancy that!

After doing so, I was curious about the Spectrum version. And, since RetroPie (which isn’t half getting a lot of use at the moment) does Spectrum games too, I gave it a go on there as well – completing it in the process.

I was quite amazed at it really. Certainly, it isn’t as good looking or sounding (or controlling, sadly) as the Mega Drive version I played the other day, but what was impressive is just how much of the game was the same. The levels, the bosses and the weapons were all present and correct, with only a few slightly shortened sections in the whole game. Even some of the bits I’d have considered pretty hard to manage on the poor little Spectrum, like the ascent into the tree, the massive several-screens-wide gunship, and the huge final boss-head with all his brains and worms were present and well represented. Just look at the screenshots and compare with my other post!

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Castle of Illusion (MS): COMPLETED!

Posted on 12/03/2016 Written by deKay

I have always maintained that 16bit Disney platformers (and, actually, most of the newer ones than that) are dire. Without exception. Yes, even Aladdin. Even World of Illusion. Even Quackshot. All of them. 8bit Disney platformers, however, are a different class. On both the Master System and NES, there’s a massive selection of quality Disney titles, and one of the best, is Castle of Illusion.

It tells the same story as the Mega Drive game with the same name, and broadly visits the same worlds as you try to save Minnie from the evil witch Mizrabel. The Master System version obviously looks cut down and isn’t as pretty as the 16bit version, but it plays so much better. The levels have more platforming to them, the carrying items mechanic adds a bit more to the game, and Mickey doesn’t throw apples for no reason at all.

Castle of Illusion is fun from start to finish, with some excellent bosses (I’d never noticed before how the chocolate boss rips off a classic Mega Man mid-boss before though!) and clever level design. There’s a bit in the clock tower level where you have to use the same key twice via two different routes which I thought particularly ingenious. It takes a slight shortcut hiding two of the seven necessary Rainbow Gems in the levels rather than have seven levels (therefore having just five), but that’s hardly a big complaint.

Land of Illusion next? I think so…

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Mega-lo-Mania (MD): COMPLETED!

Posted on 12/03/2016 Written by deKay

Another 18 months have passed, and once more it was time to play and complete one of the very best of all Mega Drive games – Mega-lo-Mania. It’s such a great game, and I could probably play it over and over until the end of time and never get bored.

As usual when I play, none of the AI players bothered to put any people into suspended animation for the final level, meaning instant win when I got that far. It’s a shame really, as I much prefer to actually fight on it.

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Midnight Resistance (MD): COMPLETED!

Posted on 12/03/2016 Written by deKay

I was expecting more from this, I’m afraid. I’m not actually sure what I was expecting, as these are the facts I know about Midnight Resistance: 1) There’s a Spectrum version that was featured quite heavily in Your Sinclair, 2) There was a Fishnight Resistance joke, also in Your Sinclair, and 3) There is a games website and podcast called Midnight Resistance. Aside from that, I know you control a man with a gun. And perhaps it was a bit like Green Beret? Maybe.

In fact, Midnight Resistance is this: A short clone of Contra, only with a clever weapon upgrade system. This weapon system works by means of keys which baddies drop. Collect up to six of them, and at the end of a level you enter a room where you can unlock display units containing power-ups and new guns. Each unit requires a number of keys. It’s great, aside from that you’re left with a weedy shooter if you have to continue, and have to make it through a whole level (and collect keys) to unlock upgrades. A little infuriating, to say the least, as were a couple of the bosses – the electricity man in particular, which would have been impossible without my three-way shot, I’m sure.

Click to view slideshow.

That said, it wasn’t really a bad game at all. Frustrating and with some cheap almost unavoidable deaths, but with some awesome music and fun power-ups. It’s just not as good as Contra, and to be honest, I’m not really a fan of Contra either. Frankly, I’ve no idea what possessed me to play Midnight Resistance at all to be honest, let alone complete it. Which is what I did.

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ToeJam and Earl (MD): COMPLETED!

Posted on 10/03/2016 Written by deKay

I have completed ToeJam and Earl before, many times, with the last time almost a decade ago on the Wii’s Virtual Console. This time, it was on RetroPie. I think this may be the only time I’ve completed it on Random World though – I normally rely upon knowing exactly where certain presents are in order to know what’s in them.

I played through as ToeJam, obviously, because he is best. I didn’t have many problems until I got to around level 18 or so and then lost three lives in very quick succession to the Bogeyman. Thankfully, I found a life in a present and gained another for a promotion, and that saw me through until the end. In fact, I used very few presents overall at all – mainly through constant fear I’d get a Total Bummer or the randomiser.

ToeJam and Earl is certainly one of the most memorable Mega Drive games, and it hasn’t aged a bit. I wonder how the Kickstartered new version is getting on? I hope it turns out more like this original version than the sequel or Xbox one.

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