Game of the Week Club

[exodus]

I haven't owned the last two games ;_;

[_Paul]

I'm sure there are other means... ;)

[esteban]

I have to get VolfieV for PCE.

Yeah, a hentai Qix game on the DUO would have been great

Back in 1999, I loved playing a game of that ilk on MAME. I want to say it was a "detective" theme, where clues of scantily clad digital women were revealed, à la Qix.

Anyone know the name of that game? Why do I feel it was a Korean developed game?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Back in 1999, I loved playing a game of that ilk on MAME. I want to say it was a "detective" theme, where clues of scantily clad digital women were revealed, à la Qix.

Anyone know the name of that game?

That sounds like Gals Panic.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I just went to round 8 and this round is just insane. No bonus, just loads of enemies.

Made it to round 10 and threw the controller.

screw that crap.

[Tatsujin]

Yeah, a hentai Qix game on the DUO would have been great

make one or let one make

[_Paul]

This week:

METAL STOKER
/metalstoker025579249.gif


Next week: L-Dis

[M1Savage]

Metal Stoker is pretty fun once you get a used to the controls. Been so long since I'd played, it took me a minute to figure out how to lock/strafe. Gotta admit though, I'm going to skip ahead to next weeks game. 

[_Paul]

There's a few things I like about Metal Stoker. The overhead graphics are well drawn and nicely coloured, and they remind me of an upgrade to some of the old 8-bit games I used to play. The sound is nice - decent if forgettable music with a few voice samples that add some atmosphere to the game. The game itself is generally pretty good; the aiming lock system is a bit of a hassle to get used to, but there's really no way it could have worked better in those days. Of course, today's twin sticks would be perfect. I just find it hard to get really excited about the gameplay. There's nothing wrong with it but it somehow fails to hook me.

[exodus]

I didn't really like having to press the direction you want to shoot with the d-pad, because I felt like it made me go in directions I didn't want to, occasionally. Mostly in my head though. I watched a complete playthrough of this, and found that interesting, but largely the backgrounds are too drab for me to really get into it.

[_Paul]

L-DIS

/ldis055101131.gif

[shubibiman]

(I haven't played Metal Stoker much but I've never been eager to clear it)

L-Dis is just a fun, though hard, amazing game. On of the best shooters on the PCE. I've never managed to clear it but man, what a game! Everyone would expect an easy game by looking at the cute graphics but it really takes you by surprise.

[exodus]

the kid anime theme at the beginning definitely threw me off, but it is a pretty good shooter! This is one I've never had the urge to complete though, not sure why. I don't like the cover particularly, but I'll give it another go todayyyy

[esteban]

L-Dis. Metal Stoker.


ASIDE: Dear Lord time flies. I'm still playing the first few games.

[RuninRuder]

All righty, here's my L-Dis review with screens:

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2010/03/l-dis.html

[exodus]

gave it another go today - it's good, but a bit harder than I'd like. I wound up playing Download 2 instead ;_;

I do love 2D games with sunsets in them though!

[esteban]

I really should try to beat L-Dis. I don't think I got past the cavalcade of bosses, which made me cry because I thought this game would be easy, easy, easy.

gave it another go today - it's good, but a bit harder than I'd like. I wound up playing Download 2 instead ;_;

I do love 2D games with sunsets in them though!

I love the music in Download 2. SWEETNESS. Really, really good stuff, IMO, and... I often replay the game simply to hear the music.

[_Paul]

I don't know what's wrong with me. After having to continue for a second time on LEVEL ONE I got annoyed and gave up. I know I'm better than this!

[Ceti Alpha]

haha Paul. Pull your socks up! 

[_Paul]

haha Paul. Pull your socks up! 

It was on frakking easy as well. The shame...

[futurematt]

I will play L-Dis tonight but from memory:

In L-Dis you spend a good amount of it bashing your fists as you eat bullets. But apart from that, it's a tight, fast paced shooter which pleases by large degrees. It does this primarily by virtue of its tightness and fastness of pace.
The only thing going against it is it's name which in the UK is a common professionaly abbreviation for learning disabilities.

L-Dis is one of those games which is helped along by the CD ROM soundtrack. It always struck me as odd to have anything other than bleepy 8 bit music to these so called cute-em-ups.

By the way, great thread idea, I look forward to commenting on the other games of the week. Maybe even reply to some old posts.

[Gogan]

Had some time to rip up some L-Dis yestrday. I'm a shmup kinda guy and this game delivers! As the previous post, fast n tight. I like it.

Kinda reminds me of The Lost Sunheart with its cute-but-dark nature.

[turbogrfxfan]

I think its a great idea for the game of the week!!! hopefully we all have the same game!!!

[turbogrfxfan]

metal stoker is such an awesome game!!!  lets do that!

[_Paul]

metal stoker is such an awesome game!!!  lets do that!

That was the week before last so you missed it.

The only thing going against it is it's name which in the UK is a common professionaly abbreviation for learning disabilities.

Really? I've never heard that used. Maybe I'm just not 'street' enough.
I often see carvans with Elddis on them though.

[futurematt]

metal stoker is such an awesome game!!!  lets do that!

That was the week before last so you missed it.

The only thing going against it is it's name which in the UK is a common professionaly abbreviation for learning disabilities.

Really? I've never heard that used. Maybe I'm just not 'street' enough.
I often see carvans with Elddis on them though.

Yes, we often say 'LDs' but sometimes you stick the "I" in to kind of make the term less impersonal...they are people after all...and the funny thing is, folk who work with people with LDs (there you go) can make good humour and jokes about it, without being offensive but the rest of us (me included) can't so I'll steer clear of making any further reference to learning disabilities. Anyway, back to games!  !

[_Paul]

LEGEND OF HERO TONMA

/legendofherotonma066316.gif

[futurematt]

 Legend of Hero Tonma is one of only a few games which utilises the full resolution of the PC Engine. It features at least 33% more pixels on each line, so you are getting a super widescreen game for the price of a 3:4 one. I'd like someone to verify that (see botton).

Anyway, on the game itself, you get a particularly harsh platformer which punishes - fairly I will add - the player's carelessness. Now there's only so many bullets that any crusader can fire from his hand. And in Tonma, without any power ups, that's about three. I suppose it's no different to hack em ups when your moves are on the slow side. Wonderboy in monster land is a good example. How slow the sword. Anyway, with Tonma, it is extremely easy and common to get killed when you are between firing. Those brutes creep up on you from every angle too. You really need to move around alot to avoid them. As with G&G, monsters also come out of the ground and spawn in front of you, so learning spawning points is important.

Onto the design and look - wow, I have got to admit that Tonma delivers a solid, polished performance. Action animation and framerates are impressive. Bullets and other moving parts really do leap around without any judder. I have only got up to level 2 but the graphics and scenery appear very well thought through.

Music is nice, without being brilliant. But that's only my opinion. If I were to sum this game up (which I will as I have spent the whole night on you tube instead of playing any goddam games...!) I would say..."Jeepers, get this slick platform game and don't expect it easy, Montana."


BTW I am literally just uploading a review of HuE for the PSP onto my YT channel, which features this very game. And the reason why is that on HuE's native resolution (cpu mode) you can see how many more pixels you're getting for your buck. Should be up by 4pm pacific state time.

[RuninRuder]

Okay, USA!  Hero Tonma review and screens:

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2009/06/legend-of-hero-tonma.html

[esteban]

The Legend of Hero Tonma and Karnov (NES) are kindred spirits. They both are wonderful, somewhat quirky games, that are often dismissed as "second-" or "third-tier" titles.

I wish Tonma was more polished... but it is a decent game, nonetheless.

The funny thing is that I have developed a higher opinion of Tonma (and other titles, such as JJ & Jeff) after the 32-bit era. Back in the 8-bit/16-bit age, Tonma and JJ & Jeff were runners-up (if that) compared to their contemporaries. Now, though, having exhausted the 8-bit/16-bit libraries, I can better appreciate many games I previously considered "mediocre".

Of course, the alternative explanation is that I have lost my sense of good taste!

I don't think so, though.

[_Paul]

Damn, I completely didn't have time to play Tonma this week, and I was really looking forward to it. However, onwards we must go:

ENERGY

/energy028932756.gif

Let's not be biased to only good games in the Game of the Week Club. I challenge you all to play this and define exactly what makes it so bad.

[_Paul]

My god this game is terrible. Does anyone have a clue how the power-ups (when you press select) work?

[esteban]

My god this game is terrible. Does anyone have a clue how the power-ups (when you press select) work?

I suspect runin is the only one!

[RuninRuder]

Energy review + screens:

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2010/03/energy.html

[Tatsujin]

runin has a damn easy job in this thread. he made some excellent (pre-)homework.

[Ceti Alpha]

Wow! This game looks terrible. 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Wow! This game looks terrible. 

And it plays even better.

[turbogrfxfan]

ha ha Seems a little rough

[blueraven]

A little?!?!

It looks horrid.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Dang missed the Tonma.  Love that game and the eery, sad sounding music in it.

Energy!

The game is rough as hell.  I still like it.  Mostly because I like the post apocalyptic setting. I really like those kind of games.   I take it slow (you kind of have to since the games all gimped).  I get into the atmosphere.   Even if the game is rough, it sure does have a neat feel to it.

Its crummy in comparsion to alot of PCE games (Mostly all of them),and is pretty -made-in-a-garage- feeling, but I still thought it was fun.  I paid 3$ for it and included it in my order of a ton of other crap, so I pretend I never paid to ship it here.

[shubibiman]

Energy sucks in every way. Plays, looks and feels like an early bad NES game.

[Ceti Alpha]

Dang missed the Tonma.  Love that game and the eery, sad sounding music in it.

Energy!

The game is rough as hell.  I still like it.  Mostly because I like the post apocalyptic setting. I really like those kind of games.  

Post apocalyptic, or Flint, Michigan?

[_Paul]

Give it some credit, it has got nice sampled drums.

That's the only thing nice I can think to say.

[_Paul]

POWER DRIFT

/powerdrift054790258.gif

[shubibiman]

I loved the arcade and I kinda like this version. But it must be because of nostalgia, as it doesn't control as smoothly as it should.

[RuninRuder]

I did some pre-homework on this one.  Power Drift review and screens (including one of the extra stage featuring the After Burner craft):

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2009/11/power-drift.html

[rag-time4]

Dang missed the Tonma.  Love that game and the eery, sad sounding music in it.

Energy!

The game is rough as hell.  I still like it.  Mostly because I like the post apocalyptic setting. I really like those kind of games.   I take it slow (you kind of have to since the games all gimped).  I get into the atmosphere.   Even if the game is rough, it sure does have a neat feel to it.

Its crummy in comparsion to alot of PCE games (Mostly all of them),and is pretty -made-in-a-garage- feeling, but I still thought it was fun.  I paid 3$ for it and included it in my order of a ton of other crap, so I pretend I never paid to ship it here.

$3 bucks with free shipping isn't bad.

[esteban]

I did some pre-homework on this one.  Power Drift review and screens (including one of the extra stage featuring the After Burner craft):
pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2009/11/power-drift.html

I was curious, so I had to peek at your review...

Claim first place in every race and you'll gain access to an extra stage in which you'll pilot the After Burner craft.

Hot damn! That's neat. I want to pick up this HuCard now.

[exodus]

I played it for a bit yesterday, and confirmed the fact that I don't really like most sprite-based racing games. There's one that maybe Jaleco made that's really awesome, but largely they just make me confused about where the other cars are and what I'm meant to be doing. Power Drift for PCE is no exception. The high gear/low gear thing is cool, but it's not enough to keep me excited about the game, I'm afraid. I do like the wacky character names though, as well as the fact you're basically racing on logs.

[exodus]

and the guy on the cover looks like zangeif.