The end of summer is almost here, so let’s have one last big summer fling with some game reviews I’ve recently written over at GamerDad.com. Please click on as many links as you can, and maybe even post a comment or like or two. I’d really appreciate it. OK, let’s begin!
This is an update of the arcade classic, and yes, Jeff Minter was involved with this one in case you were wondering. It’s an all right game, but I never was very good at Tempest, even in the arcade with the paddle controller. But the biggest problem with this game is the price. It’s like, 30 bucks. Tempest is cool and all, but it’s not that cool.
Even though I didn’t get into this one, 20XX (how do you pronounce that), is actually a really neat game. It plays just like Mega Man X. So much so that I’m surprised Capcom didn’t sue. But in this game, the levels are randomly generated so it’s a different experience each time. For me, part of the fun of Mega Man games is learning and remembering the level layouts and enemy patterns, so that’s why 20XX didn’t jive with me as much. But if you need some more Mega Man X in your life and are tired of waiting on Capcom, and you don’t mind randomly generated levels, you may still want to try this.
This game sounded cool at first. You run a restaurant and gather ingredients by battling enemies, RPG style. And the character designs were neat, too. But there isn’t very much interactivity in the game, as battles mostly just play out themselves and the restaurant sim portion isn’t as fun either. Also, the makers of the game offered me a preview version but I couldn’t get it to work, so I had to wait for the final version. One of the many reasons why I only review games that are already finished and on their way out to stores.
This is an interesting pool game where all the balls are alive, so they have different personalities and will react accordingly when you try and hit them. Some will run away, some will fight back, etc. And there are some wacky pool tables to play on, too! While the game has lots of personality, the lack of good instructions and unpredictability of the gameplay kept me from getting into it.
This is a super minimalist game where you are a square and must jump around single screen rooms avoiding an onslaught of obstacles for about a minute. Then you move on to the next stage. Sounds simple, but it’s actually really fun thanks to the great controls and the fact that you can play with up to four others at the same time. Just a fun little Switch game. Sometimes less is more.
This game is styled to be like a 16-bit classic, which I’m all for. It has exploration elements like Metroid mixed with run and gun 2-D platform gameplay like Mega Man or Contra. It’s not very original, but still pretty fun and the only problems I had with it was it got kind of repetitive and near the end the save stations aren’t near enough for you to use. It certainly plays like a game I would’ve rented back in the day, though.
You’re a shark and you swim underwater eating as many fish (and humans) as you can. It’s like a more violent Ecco the Dolphin. It was originally a cell phone game, and some of the elements of the cell phone game just don’t work when you port it to console, so that’s why I got tired of it.
This is a 2-D platform puzzle game where you are a blob with eyes and can dash into certain blocks to make them squash and stretch, and then use them as platforms and shields. It’s an all right puzzler, but the bugginess and lack of variety kept me from being interested very long.
Arcade1up
And finally, this isn’t really a review, but a video where I got quoted. I mentioned Arcade1up in my E3 articles, and they’re making small stand up arcade cabinets to be sold later this year. They’re really cool, and in this video ad/media sizzle reel, they quoted me! I didn’t know about it and they didn’t ask me permission to use my quotes, but I don’t think they really have to. Other companies have asked if they could quote me, but then they never let me know if they really did or not. But either way, I’d be OK with this anyway whether they asked for my permission or not. I didn’t know about this until one of my brothers called and let me know! Anyway, I thought it was kind of neat that I got quoted.
And that’s all for now! Thanks so much for reading my reviews and posting comments and likes and such. I really appreciate it! Later! --Cary
Comments
Super Step
Contributing Writer
08/19/2018 at 10:19 PM
If a quote is copyrighted or comes from a copyrighted work, they might have to at least ask permission first. However, the fact it came from a review of yours, they only used a small piece of the review, and properly attributed the quote to you means things like fair use come into play. It's always good practice to ask first just in case, but they're probably in the legal clear in this specific instance and, as you said, it's not like you're going to fight it. Neat concept though.
I think I'd like 20XX to an extent, but as you said, memorization is kind of part of the bargain for me. I'm currently working my way through VVVVV anyway.
Pool Panic sounds like a neat concept, but I kinda figured the pool balls reacting unexpectedly would get frustrating.
Anyway, I dig that there are so many retro games, but they're always a bit too pricey for me. Something like that I wait for a $5 or less sale. The $30 Tempest is a definite no-go.
Cary Woodham
08/20/2018 at 10:11 AM
Yeah I don't mind that they quoted me. I'm happy about it, in fact. I do wish they would've told me about it, though. Oh well.
KnightDriver
08/19/2018 at 10:37 PM
Neat quotes!
My friend just downloaded Hungry Shark World and I watched him play it. It reminds me of Feeding Frenzy except the sharks don't get bigger the more you eat. I want them to get bigger!
Cary Woodham
08/20/2018 at 10:12 AM
Yeah the shark game could've been a little more fast paced to work better on consoles.
Matt Snee
Staff Writer
08/20/2018 at 10:24 AM
$30 bucks for Tempest??????????????????
Cary Woodham
08/22/2018 at 10:08 AM
Yeah the price is a bit high. They'd be smart to lower it in a sale or something.
SanAndreas
08/20/2018 at 09:59 PM
Minter always was rather proud of his games. Tempest looks cool at least, never was hugely into it to begin with though. One of my favorite of Minter's games was an 8-bit game called Hover Bovver, where the object was to mow your lawn - using a lawnmower stolen from your angry neighbor.
I kind of want the Midway Arcade 1UP cabinet. I actually bought one of the Dig-Dug mini arcades after I read about it in your blog. It seems like they've actually cut the price on these machines down to $300 from the original price of $400 I was seeing. I'll bet you know what kind of cabinet I would really like to see them release, though.
KnightDriver
08/20/2018 at 11:01 PM
Hover Bovver? Neat. I always thought there should be a lawn mowing game. I didn't realize Minter made one. I saw, also, that someone made an Intellivision cart with the game on it. Now I kind of want my Intellivision back.
Cary Woodham
08/22/2018 at 10:13 AM
There are lawn mowing games. I reviewed one a whle back:
I mowed a lot of lawns as a kid for spending money. If only I was into computers, I might have made a lawn mowing game myself.
Cary Woodham
08/23/2018 at 03:26 PM
Making a game sounds really hard! I'd rather just play them.
KnightDriver
08/23/2018 at 11:39 PM
I did a web site a few months ago for a course. That was fun but I can't imagine the complexity of some of these games.
Cary Woodham
08/24/2018 at 10:07 AM
I've made web sites before (a long time ago), but never a game. Sounds very hard.
Cary Woodham
08/22/2018 at 10:10 AM
I don't think a Nintendo arcade cabinet will happen anytime soon. Did you know Hallmark made a DK arcade Christmas ornament this year?
If I were to choose one, the Capcom or Midway cabinet would be my picks, but there may be one down the pipes I may hold out for, but I can't talk about it just yet. If you know me, though, you might be able to guess.
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