Run + Select Horror Stories

[Ceti Alpha]

As OBEYers, we all love the reset feature present on the Turbo and PCE. It was so nice not having to get up to reach for the reset switch like on the NES. However, I think we all have bad experiences with the run + select feature. You've been playing a game for hours -hours full of tears, sweat, and foul language - and you're finally making some headway when something happens, something terrible: you press run + select and reset the game. You quickly comb your brain for ways out of this predicament, but there's nothing you can do except stare blankly at the screen in disbelief.

Though this has happened to me a few times, one time in particular stands out. It was during a long session of Valis III in an attempt to beat that infamous water stage. The Valis games require you to heed a little more caution to the 'run + select' reset feature because the games utilize the run and/or select buttons for either magic or the slide. Well, I was doing really well on the water stage and was set to actually make it to the boss when I tried to use my magic and accidentally reset the game. FAIL. Thankfully Valis has save features, so it's not like I had to play the entire game over again, but it took me a relatively long time to get as far on that stage as I was.

[blueraven]

Tower of Druaga, on the second to last level, causing me to be warped back to the beginning before I got the code.

Splatterhouse, right before the end boss.

Galaga, after a HS run that would have trumped my previous HS.

Once in Wonder Momo on Level 7. The was the second to last time I played that game. The last time I beat it.

[Ceti Alpha]

Tower of Druaga, on the second to last level, causing me to be warped back to the beginning before I got the code.

Splatterhouse, right before the end boss.

Galaga, after a HS run that would have trumped my previous HS.

Once in Wonder Momo on Level 7. The was the second to last time I played that game. The last time I beat it.

OUCH! UBER STINKT! 

[guyjin]

When I was making a serious go at beating Cosmic Fantasy, I did this at least once. 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I can't think of any such instances.  My Run + Select experiences are pretty much always intentional and out of frustration, in that I reset the motherfucker before it can piss me off enough that I punch a kitty.

[1980-20..]

Kitty punching is bad!.
 

[Arkhan Asylum]

Shadow of the Beast, in the jetpack level.

Cosmic Fantasy 2, somewhere in the middle before I saved after like 2 hours of playing.

Ys 1, I was trying to beat it without saving, I got all the way to the tower, went to get a drink.  My jackass dog walked in and walked on the controller and somehow managed to do it.  the dog is no longer allowed in my room.

[Marll]

After 21 years of Turbo gaming, probably too many to count, but pretty much any game that needed to be saved or a password written down I've done Run + Select after hours of play with no saving...Ys stand out in particular having done that many times...

[Duo_R]

Hate the unwanted resets. I think having an Avenue 3 helps with this problem

[Mathius]

I have done this many times in Ys Book II. Especially during hair-raising runs through the caves after the ruins. I did it there twice in one day even!

[SignOfZeta]

I've never done this.

[GameFreak]

yes...I'm guilty of that. Usually after I do it a bunch on purpose I will do it by accident. It can be jaw dropping. At least NEC made it a two button at the same time reset function...So we can only blame ourselves when it happens. 

[Ceti Alpha]

yes...I'm guilty of that. Usually after I do it a bunch on purpose I will do it by accident. It can be jaw dropping. At least NEC made it a two button at the same time reset function...So we can only blame ourselves when it happens. 

Yes, the convenience of the feature far outweighs the rare occurrences of resetting by accident.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

while playing Riot Zone and using the 'punch of doom' easter egg.  (When you only have a sliver of health left, you cannot use your super attack by hitting the 'start' button on the controller.  If you do hit the start button your character will instead throw out one weak punch.  However if you repeatedly tap the start button, or say turn on slow motion you can land one punch that will kill anything, even bosses, in one hit.)

I had to pause the game and hit the select button....  Hello Super CD title screen... :C :C

LOL- at least it was just Riot Zone.

[Ceti Alpha]

while playing Riot Zone and using the 'punch of doom' easter egg.  (When you only have a sliver of health left, you cannot use your super attack by hitting the 'start' button on the controller.  If you do hit the start button your character will instead throw out one weak punch.  However if you repeatedly tap the start button, or say turn on slow motion you can land one punch that will kill anything, even bosses, in one hit.)

I had to pause the game and hit the select button....  Hello Super CD title screen... :C :C

LOL- at least it was just Riot Zone.

Interesting. I didn't know about that secret punch. I guess there's a reason to load up Riot Zone again, after all. ;)

[td741]

Interesting. I didn't know about that secret punch. I guess there's a reason to load up Riot Zone again, after all. ;)

I think the "secret punch" only really works well with Hawk.  Tony's punch is too slow (I think).  With hawk you just pound away without going into the "combo animation".